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2021 SESSION

21101306D
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 231
Offered January 14, 2021
Commending Robert Raymond Matthias.
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Patrons-- Knight, Convirs-Fowler, Davis, Guy and Miyares
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WHEREAS, Robert Raymond Matthias has honorably served in many capacities within the City of Virginia Beach since 1976, most notably as assistant to the city manager of Virginia Beach since 1985; and

WHEREAS, Robert “Bob” Raymond Matthias has managed a very successful intergovernmental relations program, overseeing and developing strategies, sharing information, and working to protect and promote the interests of the City of Virginia Beach; and

WHEREAS, as the liaison between members of the Virginia Beach delegation to the General Assembly of Virginia and the city administration, members of the City Council, and various city departments, boards, and commissions, Bob Matthias was the chief point of contact for appointed and elected officials and their staffs to coordinate with and advocate on behalf of the city’s priorities and initiatives; and

WHEREAS, Bob Matthias coordinated and collaborated with other organizations, associations, and administration appointees on issues impacting the City of Virginia Beach; and

WHEREAS, Bob Matthias regularly worked with the Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance to promote federal interests in Virginia Beach and the region as well as to facilitate and participate in meetings between the city manager, mayor, and the base commanders of the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Naval Air Station Oceana/Dam Neck Annex, and Camp Pendleton state military reservation; and

WHEREAS, Bob Matthias worked closely with the Office of the City Attorney to maintain the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Compliance Program and Oceana Land Use Conformity Committee, including efforts to receive funding from the Commonwealth each year totaling more than $190 million for the successful BRAC program; and

WHEREAS, Bob Matthias met monthly with the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization and its Transportation Technical Advisory Commission, the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, the Military Economic Development Advisory Commission, and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission to maintain up-to-date information and coordinate resources for the mayor and city council members; and

WHEREAS, Bob Matthias worked with local officials and members of the business community to create the Urban Crescent Initiative and develop a transportation funding strategy for the Urban Crescent communities along the I-64/I-95 Corridor, culminating in successful legislation that provided the most transportation funding since the 1980s; and

WHEREAS, Bob Matthias championed alternative energy, primarily wind development off the coast of Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads, via committee memberships and as a gubernatorial appointee and chair of the Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority, resulting in the development of the multibillion-dollar Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Robert Raymond Matthias, a greatly admired and valued member of the City of Virginia Beach government team, hereby be commended for his years of hard work and dedication to the city; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Robert Raymond Matthias as an expression of the House of Delegates’ profound respect and heartfelt admiration for his contributions to the Commonwealth.