City Council

Special Session 03/20/20 HON. MARY KATHERINE GREENLAW, MAYOR CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA HON. WILLIAM C. WITHERS, JR., VICE -MAYOR, WARD TWO HON. KERRY P. DEVINE, AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL HON. MATTHEW J. KELLY, AT-LARGE HON. JASON N. GRAHAM, WARD ONE HON. DR. TIMOTHY P. DUFFY, WARD THREE HON. CHARLIE L. FRYE, JR., WARD FOUR Council Chambers, 715 Princess Anne Street Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 March 20, 2020 The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held a special session on Friday, March 20, 2020, beginning at 4:00 p.m. using electronic communication through GoToMeeting. City Council Present. Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw. Vice-Mayor William C. Withers, Jr., Council members Kerry P. Devine, Dr. Timothy P. Duffy, Charlie L. Frye, Jr., Jason N. Graham and Matthew J. Kelly. Also Present. City Manager Timothy J. Baroody, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Deputy Fire Chief Mike Jones, and Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Opening Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Council was led in prayer by Councilor Charlie L. Frye, Jr. followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw. Resolution 20-20, Approved, Approving Meeting by Electronic Communication Means Under Virginia Code §2.2-3708.2 (D19-104). Councilor Kelly made a motion approving meeting by electronic communication means under Virginia Code §2.2-3708.2; motion was seconded by Councilor Devine and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Greenlaw, Withers, Devine, Duffy, Frye, Graham and Kelly. Nays (0). 20549 Special Session 03/20/20 Resolution 20-21, Approved, Confirming the City Manager’s Declaration of a Local Emergency Due to COVID-19 (D19-105). Councilor Devine made a motion confirming the City Manager’s Declaration of a Local Emergency due to COVID-19; motion was seconded by Councilor Kelly and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Greenlaw, Withers, Devine, Duffy, Frye, Graham and Kelly. Nays (0). Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update. Deputy Chief Mike Jones reported that as of noon there were 16,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States and 219 deaths. In Virginia, over 2,300 people had been tested and there were 114 positive cases, 20 hospitalized and two deaths in the Peninsula. There were three positive cases in this area one in Spotsylvania and two in Stafford County. He stressed that social distancing was important to flattening the curve. Deputy Chief Jones sated that all public buildings were closed to the public to limit exposure to the workforce. He said there was a plan to divide staff in half to limit exposure. He reported that all essential services would continue. Mayor Greenlaw complemented Deputy Chief Jones and the entire staff on the extraordinary measures taken to brief the public. Councilor Frye asked to public to tune into the City’s website for updates and to share with those neighbors who do not have access to the website. Councilor Devine thanked staff and the community for pulling together. She was appreciative of how everyone was working together. She reminded people that the wastewater treatment plant was old and not to flush anything but toilet paper because we did not want any issues with the plant. 20550 Special Session 03/20/20 Councilor Kelly echoed Councilor Devine’s comments and he reminded the public that the Police and Fire departments will have a lot to deal with and he hoped the community would cooperate and follow the rules because they have a big role to play. Councilor Duffy elaborated on another resources, such as the city school’s website and said it would have a feeding stations for students 18 and under to eat for free, as well as resources for students at home. Mayor Greenlaw noted that the City staff was regrouping but also working with the Schools and their efforts as this continues. She gave kudos to Mary Washington Healthcare for their quick response and she said staff was also working closely with others in the community as well. Vice-Mayor Withers thanked staff and Mr. Baroody for their hard work. He asked the public to support the small businesses and order out, when possible. Councilor Graham echoed Vice-Mayor Wither’s comments and he noted that Virginia ABC has allowed restaurants with ABC licenses to deliver beer, wine and cocktails. Councilor Kelly said there were a lot of questions from restaurants and businesses asking if the City could defer the collection of taxes. He said the state put up $11 million for transit to maintain those services and he was hopeful they would come forward with help for businesses. He asked if staff could link to some of the useful websites through the City website so people can go to one location for all information. He said there needed to be a voice at the table from the small business community so there could be an understanding of what this was doing to them and their business. 20551 Special Session 03/20/20 Councilor Devine said the State Small business site was crashing but she encouraged businesses to keep trying and she reminded them that the Economic Development Authority would be meeting on Monday to discuss help for small businesses. City Manager’s Consent Agenda Accepted for Transmittal as Recommended (D20-106). Councilor Devine moved approval of the City Manager’s consent agenda; motion was seconded by Councilor Kelly and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Greenlaw, Withers, Devine, Duffy, Frye, Graham and Kelly. Nays (0). • Resolution 20-22, approved, Consenting to the Appointment of Mike Jones as Coordinator of Emergency Management for the City of Fredericksburg. (D20- 106). Resolution 20-17, Second Read Failed, Amending the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget to Increase the Forecast for Local Option Sales Tax Revenue to Increase General Fund Contingency and Decrease the Budget for Use of Fund Balance (D19-107). Staff stated that due to the rapidly changing situation and response to the COVID-19 pandemic they recommended denial of the second read. Staff explained that the pandemic would have a negative impact on a variety of City business revenues including sales, meals lodging and admissions taxes as well as other. Councilor Kelly made a motion to deny Resolution 20-17, on second read, amending the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget to increase the forecast for local option sales tax revenue to increase general fund contingency and decrease the budget for use of fund balance; motion 20552 Special Session 03/20/20 was seconded by Councilor Devine and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Greenlaw, Withers, Devine, Duffy, Frye, Graham and Kelly. Nays (0). Resolution 20-23, Approved, Assigning Fund Balance in the General Fund for Pandemic Response (D19-108). After staff presentation Vice- Mayor Withers made a motion to approve Resolution 20-23, assigning Fund Balance in the General Fund for pandemic response; motion was seconded by Councilor Devine and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Greenlaw, Withers, Devine, Duffy, Frye, Graham and Kelly. Nays (0). Council Calendar (D19-109). City Manager Baroody suggested not setting future meeting dates until a later time so as not to cause any confusion. Ratifying Emergency Order. City Manager noted that the Governor had made a determination on similar matters as in Emergency Order #1. He presented a first amendment to Order #1 and it defines 10 or fewer as the patrons in restaurants and it also as fitness centers using the Governor’s language and it offers clarity on misdemeanors. He asked the Council to ratify the first amendment to Order #1 to reflect those changes. Councilor Graham made a motion to ratify Emergency Order #1 as recommended by City Manager Baroody; motion was seconded by Councilor Devine and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Greenlaw, Withers, Devine, Duffy, Frye, Graham and Kelly. Nays (0). Councilor Kelly reiterated that he would like to bring the business community into discussions so the City could understand what they are faced with. Councilor Frye asked staff to gather information regarding public parks and possibly add that information to the website. Mr. Baroody added that this was an ongoing 20553 Special Session 03/20/20 conversation and they were seeking guidance from the Center for Disease Control and State Park Association. He said this was a work in progress but there was no formalized plan. Mayor Greenlaw stated that were are all in this together, the City, the businesses, the employees out of work. She further stated that the city’s revenues would be reduced and expenses will be increased. The best way to get through this was to heed the warnings of social distancing and she sent a huge thanks to the City employees. Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, Mayor Greenlaw declared the meeting officially adjourned at 4:45 p.m. Mary Katherine Greenlaw Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Mayor Tonya B. Lacey Tonya B. Lacey, Clerk of Council, CMC 20554