City Council

Regular Session 04/26/16 CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA HON. MARY KATHERINE GREENLAW, MAYOR HON. WILLIAM C. WITHERS, JR., VICE -MAYOR, WARD TWO CITY COUNCIL HON. KERRY P. DEVINE, AT-LARGE HON. MATTHEW J. KELLY, AT-LARGE HON. BRADFORD C. ELLIS, WARD ONE HON. DR. TIMOTHY P. DUFFY, WARD THREE Council Chambers, 715 Princess Anne Street HON. CHARLIE L. FRYE, JR., WARD FOUR Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 April 26, 2016 The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held a regular session on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. City Council Present. Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Vice-Mayor William C. Withers, Jr. and Council members Kerry P. Devine, Dr. Timothy P. Duffy, Bradford C. Ellis, Charlie L. Frye, Jr. and Matthew J. Kelly. Also Present. City Manager Beverly R. Cameron, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Budget Manager Deidre Jett, and Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Opening Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Council was led in prayer by Councilor Bradford C. Ellis followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw. Officer Recognized. Mayor Greenlaw recognized the presence of Officer Chris Menck at this evening’s meeting. Public Hearings Conducted. The public hearings were postponed until the May 10 meeting. Citizen Comment. There were no speakers to participate in the citizen comment portion of this evening’s meeting. 19317 Regular Session 04/26/16 Council Agenda Presented. There were no items presented to Council for discussion. City Manager’s Consent Agenda Accepted for Transmittal as Recommended (D16-159 thru D16-167). Following review and as recommended Councilor Kelly moved approval of the City Manager’s consent agenda items; motion was seconded by Councilor Ellis and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Greenlaw, Withers, Devine, Duffy, Ellis, Frye and Kelly. Nays (0). • Transmittal of FRED Transit Progress Report – 1st Quarter 2016 (D16- 159). • Transmittal of Ordinance Authorizing the City to Establish a Trust for Other Post-Employment Benefits (D16-160). • Transmittal of Boards and Commission Minutes o Architectural Review Board - March 14, 2016 (D16-161). o Architectural Review Board Supplemental - March 28, 2016 (D16- 162). o Board of Social Services - February 11, 2016 (D16-163). o Economic Development Authority - March 14, 2016 (D16-164). o Potomac, Rappahannock Transportation Commission - March 3, 2016 (D16-165). o Public Transit Advisory Board - December 9, 2015 (D16-166). o Public Transit Advisory Board - February 3, 2016 (D16-167). Adoption of Minutes. Councilor Devine moved approval of the April 12, 2016 Public Hearing and Regular Session minutes; motion was seconded by Councilor 19318 Regular Session 04/26/16 Kelly and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Greenlaw, Withers, Devine, Duffy, Ellis, Frye, and Kelly. Nays (0). Resolution 16-36, First Read, Appropriating Funds for Fiscal Year 2017 Beginning July 1, 2016 Through June 30, 2017 (D16-168). Staff noted that per City Council’s request they have added an additional $5,000 to the Arts Commissions budget increasing the proposition budget to $112,300. Councilors Devine and Duffy disclosed that they were members of a business, profession, occupation or group of three or more members affected by the transaction, namely they are employees of the Fredericksburg Public School system. Councilors Frye and Ellis disclosed that their spouses are members of a business, profession, occupation or group of three or more members affected by the transaction, namely they are employees of the Fredericksburg Public School system. Vice-Mayor Withers moved to approve Resolution 16-36, on first read, appropriating funds for Fiscal Year 2017 beginning July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017; motion was seconded by Councilor Devine. Councilor Ellis said he could not support a budget that did not provide the schools with all the funding they needed. He said he searched the budget to find $453,000 needed to fund the schools and he came up with several solutions. In the Public Works budget he suggested using the $500,000 that was set for the Riverfront Park, $100,000 from refuse cart, in public facilities budget he suggested using the $100,000 for tech replacements and the $105,000 for Memorial Park restrooms and finally he suggested using the $250,000 from the Renwick repairs. He said the schools were finally competitive and he would like to see them stay that way. 19319 Regular Session 04/26/16 Councilor Devine was pleased that the budget did not include a tax increase and she felt the City did a good job supporting the schools and this was an opportunity for the schools to dig into their budget and provide the needed money for the teachers and students. She said this budget provided a lot for the citizens. Councilor Duffy agreed this was a great budget and he explained that it was important for the citizens to understand that this was an equalization year and those with modest homes would have a tax increase because the homes were going to be valued more. He warned that the City departments would need to continue spending cautiously. He also noted that the City had made a sound investment into the Original Walker-Grant and he would support and assistance in closing the gap with the schools but he recognized the support they City had already given them. Councilor Kelly reminded Council that the schools were not the only ones who were not fully funded. He noted that fire and police did not get everything they needed. He commended Councilor Ellis for searching the budget and coming up with funding for the schools, but he warned that the funding was one-time costs to the city and he would not recommend using that to fund operational cost. He stated that he hoped the School Board would put the teachers first and find the funding for them in their budget. He said this was a great budget and he would support it. Councilor Frye also commended Councilor Ellis on his efforts, but he was happy with the proposed budget. He said he hoped the money put towards the original Walker- Grant would help save money in the future. Councilor Ellis expressed his concerns with the proposed cuts to the schools if they were not fully funded he noted there would be cuts to programs, freezing of salaries, 19320 Regular Session 04/26/16 increased classroom sizes and increases in health insurance premiums. He said he could not find the additional money in the operations budget because it was lean; therefore, he suggested the one-time costs and stated that there would have to be a tax increase in the future to cover the costs. Mayor Greenlaw also stated that she appreciated Councilor Ellis’ efforts to find funding. She commented on the great working relationship the City has with the schools and she noted how the City has been able to fully fund the schools request over the years which has resulted in the teachers’ pay being brought up to scale with the surrounding counties. The budget is a compromise and no one department has been fully funded therefore she could not support Councilor Ellis’ proposal. She was in support of letting the School Board know their support and emphasis on the cost of living in their budget. Councilors Kelly and Frye noted that with the increases in the moderate home levels there maybe residents that cannot afford the tax increase and they reminded them that the City offered assistance and that there would be an appeals process as well. The motion passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (6). Councilors Greenlaw, Withers, Devine, Duffy, Frye, and Kelly. Nays (1). Councilor Ellis. City Manager’s Report and Council Calendar (D16-169 thru D16- 170). City Manager Cameron asked if there were any questions regarding the Manager’s report or the Council Calendar. Activities highlighted on the report were as follows: 900 Block of Princess Anne Street – Conversion to Brick Sidewalk, Fredericksburg Department of Social Services’ Protective Services Team Receives State Award from the Family and Children’s Trust Fund (FACT), Police Department Hosted Skills USA Events at Police Headquarters, School Resource Officer Julie Keen Participated in Wounded 19321 Regular Session 04/26/16 Warrior Fly-Fishing Event, Police Department Celebrated Communications Officers During National Telecommunications Week, Picnic in the Park Concert Series, Property Maintenance Report for March 2016 and Building Construction Report for March 2016. City Manager Cameron also noted that he R-Board had adopted their Fiscal Year 2017 budget at $8.3 million which included $3 million in closure cost for cells B, C and D. This is the first time in several years of the R-Board adopting a budget without using their reserve funds for operations. The commercial haulers are estimated to bring in $4.1 million which is up $700,000 over the current year and the City will continue to pay $20.00 per ton for waste disposal. Mr. Cameron also report that he Rappahannock Regional Jail’s current superintendent would be retiring. He has served 12 years and the Authority will begin the process next week to find his replacement. The Fire Department has taken possession of its 14,000 square feet of leased warehouse space on Harkness Boulevard. Apparatuses and various equipment that the Fire Department had previously stored outside would now be stored in the warehouse. The Parks and Recreation Department would also use some of the space to store items. The contractor working at 1016 Charles Street will begin work on the lot on May 2 and will complete the work around May 15. Councilor Withers noted that this would be free parking and Mr. Cameron stated it would be two hour parking during the day Monday through Friday. Councilor Duffy highlighted that Social Services received an award from the State for their “Safe Sleep Program” at the statewide Child Abuse Prevention Conference. 19322 Regular Session 04/26/16 Mayor Greenlaw also complimented the tourism staff for their assistance in the Skills USA event that used all of the Expo Center and Germanna. It was said that this was the best run state competition and that was due in part of the planning and assistance they received from Fredericksburg. Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, Mayor Greenlaw Declared the meeting officially adjourned at 8:01 p.m. Mary Katherine Greenlaw Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Mayor Tonya B. Lacey Tonya B. Lacey, Clerk of Council, CMC 19323 Regular Session 04/26/16 [This page intentionally left blank.] 19324