City Council

CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA HON. THOMAS J. TOMZAK, MAYOR HON. MARY KATHERINE GREENLAW, VICE MAYOR CITY COUNCIL HON. KERRY P. DEVINE, AT-LARGE HON. BRADFORD C. ELLIS, WARD ONE HON. GEORGE C. SOLLEY, WARD TWO HON. FREDERIC N. HOWE , III, WARD THREE Council Chambers, 715 Princess Anne Street HON. BEATRICE ROSE PAOLUCCI, WARD FOUR Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 Council Work Session April 17, 2012 Review and Discussion of Fiscal 2013 Operating and Capital Budgets The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held a work session on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the conference room of City Hall. Council Present. Mayor Thomas J. Tomzak, presiding. Vice-Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw. Councilors Kerry P. Devine, Bradford C. Ellis, Frederic N. Howe, III, Beatrice R. Paolucci and George C. Solley. Also Present. City Manager Beverly R. Cameron, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Budget Manager Amanda Lickey, Fire Chief Edwin Allen, Fire Lieutenant Victor Podbielski and Deputy Clerk of Council Brenda T. Martin. Budget Wish List. City Manager Cameron opened the meeting by explaining the Council will be presented with the updated propositions list and given time for discussion, and at the end of the session straw votes will take place. Assistant City Manager Whitley reviewed the wish list in detail. They were as follows: Zoning/Property Maintenance Inspector, Rappahannock Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Heritage Festival, capital transfer of $400,000 to schools, restoring vocational fire training in the high school, Dandridge Street storm/sanitary improvements, paint the train viaduct, Wicklow Drive sidewalk and roadway improvements, field lighting at Dixon Park, painting the Rappahannock Canal gate building, School Board admissions compliance officer, and funding to the Volunteer Fire Department. 1  Fire Chief Allen and Lieutenant Podbielski answered questions regarding restoring vocational fire training in the high school. They stated the school has been very supportive of their efforts and that if hired the one full-time instructor, would teach emergency management technicians (EMT’s). Councilor Howe stated he was a volunteer firefighter when he was younger and that he brought this proposal to Council because he feels it is a worthwhile investment of our future needs. He asked what similar programs are being provided in the surrounding jurisdictions. Lieutenant Podbielski stated Stafford and Spotsylvania County do provide some in school classes. The Volunteer Fire Company does offer some training, and the surrounding counties assist by offering our interested applicants the class for Firefighter I. Assistant City Manager Whitley reviewed the status of Dandridge Street improvements which is still being evaluated by Public Works. He recommends beginning the work this year and completing it in the next year. Painting the train viaduct would require further exploration. VRE has leftover funds in the project to extend sealant/painting over Princess Anne Streets and Caroline Streets but may not have enough to seal/paint the abutments underneath. It would be a temporary cosmetic improvement since extensive concrete rehabilitation remains to be done and longevity of sealant/painting is an unknown. Wicklow Drive sidewalk and roadway improvements includes sidewalk, curb and gutters for an estimated $180,000 and if Council wishes to move forward, estimates would need to be further refined. The sidewalk in question is the area behind 7-11 next to the Central Park townhomes because there is a ditch/raven there. On the other side, it is heavily treed and pedestrians don’t have a place to walk other than the street. More traffic will be going to the Cal Ripken baseball fields since it is open now. Assistant City Manager reviewed the field lighting at Dixon Park. Staff recommends referring to the Recreation Commission for their input. Further study will be required to develop cost estimates. Councilor Howe recommends reviewing the possibility further with cost estimates and offered to do the study with his company for free. Consensus was that this issue be referred to the Recreation Commission. Painting the entire Rappahannock Canal gate building would cost an estimated $10,000 based on limited scope. Painting just the railings, removing the large vine and 2 possible cleaning and washing the concrete surfaces was discussed as a starting place to improve the appearance with less costs. Improvements other than painting need to be considered, including removing the protruding and bent rebar. The School Board Admissions Compliance Officer would require the City to provide funds to the schools which cannot legally be earmarked. The cost estimate for the position is $73,900. Concerns were voiced about what this position would offer. It was not known whether there is a problem in monitoring where the students actually reside. Funding to the Volunteer Fire Department, in the amount of $20,000, is still in question. Like in previous years, their budget is somewhat unknown. No City funding was provided in 2011 or 2012. Virginia Retirement System (VRS) has been mandated to change by the Governor. More details to follow with the phase-in approach, with member contribution of five percent and an off-setting raise of five percent. New employees are required to pay the full five percent beginning July 1, 2012. The new Zoning/Property Maintenance Inspector position was also discussed as a budget proposition. A straw vote was taken on each of the propositions presented. The following items were supported and discussed. Big Brothers Big Sisters for $10,000, Heritage Festival Fireworks, Original Walker-Grant design funding to be considered in yearend wrap-up funds, the Fire Department’s vocational needs was referred to the Fire Department, the Dandridge Street improvements are continuing to be analyzed and staff will report back findings on costs, more research is needed for the painting of the Train Viaduct before a decision can be made, Wicklow Drive sidewalk will be considered in the yearend wrap up funds, Dixon Park lights will be referred to the Recreation Commission, the Canal Gate will be worked on with current resources, the School Admissions Officer was not supported, the Volunteer Fire Department was not supported, and the Zoning/Property Maintenance Officer position is under consideration after further discussion with staff on how it will impact/improve enforcement. Staff said this position will need further clarification on multiple issues and multiple departments; and they will report back on this position. 3  Staff stated they will bring a comprehensive list of items, at yearend to prioritize all the needs not provided for in this budget. There are many other needs departmental staff identified in their budgets, which were not included in the final budget. Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, Mayor Tomzak declared the work session officially adjourned at 6:56 p.m. Brenda T. Martin Brenda T. Martin Deputy Clerk of Council City of Fredericksburg 4