City Council

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. JASON N. GRAHAM, 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 Council Work Session December 10, 2019 Public Safety Area 7 Downtown Plan Comprehensive Plan Amendment Council Meetings: Citizen Engagement Efforts/Technology The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia held a work session on Tuesday, December 10, 2019, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall, Executive Conference Room. Council Present. Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw Presiding. Vice-Mayor William C. Withers, Jr., Councilors Kerry P. Devine, Timothy P. Duffy, Jason N. Graham and Matthew J. Kelly. Council Absent. Charlie L. Frye, Jr., working. Also Present. City Manager Timothy J. Baroody, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, City Attorney Kathleen A. Dooley, Community Planning and Building Services Director Charles Johnston, Senior Planner Mike Craig, Community Development Planner Susanna Finn, Police Chief David Nye, Captain Brian Layton, Sargent Crystal Hill, Lieutenant Mary Mason, Fire Chief Eddie Allen, Deputy Fire Chief Mike Jones, Division Chief Calvin Balderson, Sheriff Captain Jon Foster and Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Public Safety Police Department. Chief Nye presented a PowerPoint presentation and he discussed the vision and mission of the Police Department, CALEA Accreditation Awards, statement from the 2019 Accreditation Assessment, Patrol Staffing Plan, National Police Staffing Crisis, local dynamics, Police Officer Departures, Staffing crisis as a result of staff departures in 2016 & 2017, Current Department overview, Fredericksburg Police Department Public Safety Address Information, considerations, immediate action and future action. (See Attachment I for more information). Councilor Kelly asked what the cost was to train a police officer and Chief Nye said with salary and benefits about $40,000. He also asked if the step process interfered with upward mobility in the department and Chief said he did not think there was a problem with upward mobility. Councilor Graham reminded Chief Nye that they could use the down payment assistance 1 program as an incentive for the new recruits when they are hired. He also asked if the department had noticed a growth in the number of calls with the growth in the City and Chief Nye said yes, the calls had increased every year. Councilor Devine said the City was working hard on economic development so that they could give employees better pay. She also asked if the shifts were comparable to Spotsylvania and Stafford counties, and Lt. Mason said they were. Mayor asked if there were other incentives they should be looking at and Chief Nye suggested if those who live in the City could have a take home car that would be great. Vice-Mayor Wither said he would like to move forward with the additional compensation for public safety personnel. Council agreed. Public Safety Police Department. Deputy Mike Jones presented a PowerPoint presentation and he discussed the Manitou Study, the fire station feasibility study, what we have accomplished, what still needs to be done, what changed have brought forward new challenges, challenges and challenges and solutions. Councilor Graham asked if there was an increase in response time and Deputy Jones said they don’t have that information because there is a time lag in the system. Councilor Graham also asked what the impacts would be to homeowner’s insurance if the Fire Department dropped to a class 4. Deputy Jones said he was not sure of the percentage increase but it would affect the commercial properties more than the residential properties. Councilor Duffy asked what size training facility would the department need and Deputy Jones said they could use a fairly small burn safe building but there must be room to add on over the years. He said they currently use the shared facility in Spotsylvania but they do not get to use it often because there were a lot of people using it. Deputy Jones explained that Station II’s land was donated to the City and there had been foundation issues with the front ramp which had dropped 2-3 inches and the building always had issues. Chief Allen said his employees were the most valuable commodity. He said they have Stafford and Spotsylvania counties to watch out for when it comes to recruiting. He thanked the City Manager for coming up with a plan to help retain their employees. Area 7 Downtown Plan Comprehensive Plan Amendment. Mr. Craig presented a PowerPoint presentation. He stated that Fredericksburg was 6, 711 acres and according to Weldon Cooper it is going to grow by 9,500 people by 2040. Area 7 is 11% of the City at 733 acres and it contains a proximity of land uses that encourage walking and bicycling, multiple modes 2 of transportation, strong public open spaces and a compact form that precipitates the provision of more energy proficient public services. The American Planning Association recognizes these elements as being critical to climate sustainability. Area 7’s systems would support incremental infill in conjunction with that, these systems would need upgrading to enhance the high quality of life. The desire for sustainability was often expressed in terms of protecting community character, which was multi-faceted. It was often expressed in terms of historical architecture or established patterns of development. Another facet was the provision of a variety of housing choices accessible to the full socio-economic spectrum of the City’s citizens within the same neighborhood. A third facet was the diversity of economic activity within Area 7’s commercial cores ranging from destination retail and experiential dining to urban production and craft-industry. Mr. Craig stated that residential living and the types of economic activity occurring in Area 7 would continue to evolve but they must be regulated to ensure it as a place of vibrancy and innovation. The Area 7 Plan addresses the appropriate balance between protecting the critical environmental functions of the River system, while also enhancing the community’s access to it. Mr. Craig said many members of the community focused on the fiscal sustainability of the City and view Area 7 as its most valuable asset. He also added that there are places within Area 7 that will look different in twenty years. William Square, Liberty Place, the Post Office properties, the blocks around the Train Station were all core economic development opportunities. The Area 7 Plan would put this change in the appropriate context so that the City could continue to appropriately grow and retain its vibrancy and character through the next generations. See Attachment III for more information. Mayor Greenlaw stated that the Area plans were the best thing the City has done for a long time. Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time. Mayor Greenlaw declared the session officially adjourned at 7:08 p.m. _Tonya B. Lacey _______ Tonya B. Lacey Clerk of Council City of Fredericksburg 3