City Council

Public Hearing 04/17/18 CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA HON. MARY KATHERINE GREENLAW, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL HON. WILLIAM C. WITHERS, JR., VICE -MAYOR, WARD TWO 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 17, 2018 The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held a public hearing on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. City Council Present. Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Council members Kerry P. Devine, Dr. Timothy P. Duffy, Bradford C. Ellis, Charlie L. Frye, Jr. and Matthew J. Kelly. City Council Absent. Vice-Mayor William C. Withers, Jr. – sick. Also Present. City Manager Timothy J. Baroody, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, Assistant City Manager Doug Fawcett, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Budget Manager Deidre Jett, Economic Development Director Bill Freehling, Parks and Recreation and Special Events Director Jane Shelhorse, Acting Transit Director Rodney White, Human Resources Director Robert Bell, Public Works Director David King, Planning and Development Services Director Charles Johnston, Treasurer Lois Jacob, Commissioner of Revenue Brenda Wood, Commonwealth Attorney Labravia Jenkins, Police Chief David Nye and Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Notice of Public Hearings (D18-130 thru D17-141). The Clerk read the notice of the public hearings as they appeared in the local newspaper, the purpose being to solicit citizen input. 19925 Public Hearing 04/17/18 Disclosures. Councilor Duffy disclosed that he was employed by the Fredericksburg School System but he could participate fairly and objectively in the decision. Councilor Frye disclosed that his spouse was employed by the Fredericksburg School System and he could participate fairly and objectively in the decision. Fiscal Year 2018 Recommended Operating and Capital Budget (D18-132). 18 speakers. Staff gave a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the general fund budget a total of $96,050,000, no tax increase, $500,000 increase for schools, 1.5 percent COLA beginning in November, 4 new positions in the General Fund, decreased cost for corrections and detention and increased transfer to Children’s Services Act (CSA). Ms. Jett also highlighted the Fiscal Year 2019 CIP projects, debt service and the tax rate information. Martha Hutzel (D18-132.1), 1105 Walker Drive, Executive Director of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library briefed the Council on the many programs that the library offered thanks to the support of the City. She said they continue to apply for grant to supplement their budget and they received the McDuff Green Grant for $18,000. Ms. Hutzel thanked the Council for all their support. Marta Perry (D18-133 thru D18-134), District Manager for Tri-County/City Soil and Water Conservation District, updated the Council on the districts work within the City and Counties. Ms. Perry talked about the benefits of conservation within the City. She also talked about some of the programs they have participated and partnered with. Joseph Szadvari, Fredericksburg Area Museum, Board Member, thanked the Council for their support over the years. Mr. Szadvari spoke about the reorganization of the museum and how it had reemerged as a stronger organization. In the first year of reopening over 10,000 people participated in their programs. 19926 Public Hearing 04/17/18 Teresa Bowers, Director of Mental Health America, thanked the Council for their support in the past and for the proposed funding for this year. She said they support 113 seniors and 35 percent were city residents. Laura Hatch (D18-135 thru D18-136), Clerk of the Fredericksburg General District Court, on behalf of the General District Court and the Juvenile Domestic Courts she requested the City provide a salary supplement of $3,000 to each clerk. She stated that the City had supplemented the salaries of the Circuit Court Clerks for years and that the base salary scale of the general district court clerk was lower than that of a state employees, circuit court clerks, city employees and regional jail employees. See D18-135 thru D18--136 for more information. Pamela Lima (D18-137), Clerk of the General District Court, also spoke in support of Ms. Hatch’s request for the City to supplement the salaries of the General and Juvenile Domestic Relations Court clerks. She spoke of how their salaries were equivalent to employees at McDonald’s, Walmart and other fast food establishments. See D18-137 for more information. Tamyka Buckman (D18-138), Clerk of the General District Court, also spoke in support of Ms. Hatch’s request. She also spoke of her hardship while trying to survive off of her salary as a clerk. She stated that the district court employees were among the lowest paid state employees in the Commonwealth of Virginia. See D18-138 for more information. Mayor Greenlaw explained to the general public how the state comp board worked regarding payment of those State employees. Dr. John Davis (D18-139), Germanna Community College, thanked the Council for their continued support and for the support in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget. He said the investment would pay off over and over. Dr. Davis also talked about the schools 19927 Public Hearing 04/17/18 demographics, dual enrollments, partnership, community outreach, FredCAT, workforce impact, and Allied Health. See D18-139 for more information. Anne Kloechner (D18-140), Executive Director of Legal Aid Works, thanked the City for all the support over the years and they were appreciative of the level funding. She said there were four full-time attorneys and 1 part-time attorney covering the five counties and fifteen courts. She said they represent low income people, those in domestic violence, help people with unemployment disputes, foreclosure disputes and those with landlord tenant issues. David Cooper, Executive Director of Thurman Brisben Homeless Shelter, stated that they have taken care of the homeless since 1988 and they had done so on a frugal budget. Their cost is about $21 per person per night. Mr. Cooper said they anticipate serving 175 people up to June 2018. He said he was grateful for the support given to them. D.D. Lecky, 1205 Charles Street, President of the Fredericksburg Main Street, thanked the Council for their continued support of Fredericksburg Main Street. She said for every dollar invested in the Main Street district they see a return of $23.70. Kevin Brown, 460 Riverside Drive, spoke about enjoying the amenities such as the trails and he encouraged others to go out and see the trails. He also spoke about the $5 million investment for the Riverfront Park and he did not think that was necessary for an open space for people to gather. He asked the Council to take a good look at that investment. He also asked the Council to look at Ficklin Island Dam because it was unsafe for people as well as the fish trying to go upstream. Katrina Ramos, President and Chief, Fredericksburg Rescue Squad, 510 William Street, came requesting financial support for the EMS activities and for operational issues and concerns. Ms. Ramos said the rescue squad is the 3rd oldest squad in Virginia. She 19928 Public Hearing 04/17/18 spoke on how volunteerism had become more complex. She said on several occasion they have requested that the City apply for Federal funds through various grant sites to be used to recruit and retain volunteers, provide training and support volunteer coordination activities. She said the rescue squad wanted to continue their service in the City but asked if the City wanted the rescue squad to continue that service. Michelle Hedrick (D18-141), Executive Director of Rappahannock Big Brothers Big Sisters, 325 Wallace Street, thanked the Council for their continued support and she asked for approval of level funding this year. This funding would help with recruiting, interviewing and enrolling children, recruit, interview and train new volunteers, and conduct background checks to keep the children safe, to create the matches for the children with mentors and to supervise those mentors. Ms. Hedrick spoke about how their program helps the children they support in their program. LaBravia Jenkins, Commonwealth Attorney, thanked the City staff for listening and considering the reason for her requests. She explained that the Compensation Board provided half of the budget for her office. The office consists of six attorneys and it has been at that level for the past ten years. Mr. Jenkins wanted to make the Council aware of two major issues she was facing the first was retention. She said she continues to have issues retaining Attorney’s. Ms. Jenkins said qualified attorney’s come at a price. She noted that the Counties were paying much better and she had lost 4 of her 6 attorney’s to Spotsylvania because their pay was $10 to $20,000 more. Secondly, Ms. Jenkins wanted Council to know about the work load increase and because of these two issues she asked that the Council consider the increase in her budget. Brenda Wood, Treasurer, asked the City Council to support the City Manager’s recommendation to provide one part-time clerk to her office. Since 2002, the staffing 19929 Public Hearing 04/17/18 remained the same in the office although the population has increased from approximately 20,000 to almost 29,000. Ms. Wood spoke of the many task her office handles such as collecting sate income and estimated taxes as well as all local taxes and many other local functions that provide service convenience to the citizens. She spoke about the services that are not commonly handled by the Treasurer’s office such as the utility billing which had been handled by the Treasurer’s office for years. Ms. Wood also spoke of the many tasked that the City has asked her to handle over the years and she willing took on those responsibilities. Scott Vezina, 1005 Cadmus Court, stated he was a long term strategic budget planner and he said Fredericksburg was one of the fastest growing areas in Virginia and rated one of the best place to live in the state. He spoke highly of the police and the teachers in Fredericksburg. Mr. Vezina expressed his concern with the City’s unknowns. He asked how the City was planning to support those known unknowns. He said the City lacked the known unknown planning. He suggested the City do a five-year budgeting process that’s updated every year and include lifecycle cost estimates for all procurement and investments the city make. Susan Brown, 460 Riverside Drive, thanked the Council for the clearing of the canal near the Route 1 area. Adjournment. There being no more speakers to come before the Council at this time, Mayor Greenlaw declared the hearing officially adjourned at 8:24 p.m. Mary Katherine Greenlaw Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Mayor Tonya B. Lacey Tonya B. Lacey, Clerk of Council, CMC 19930