City Council

Regular Session 06/04/20 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 June 4, 2020 The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held a special session on Thursday, June 4, 2020, beginning at 10:00 a.m. using electronic communication through GoToMeeting pursuant to and in compliance with the City Council Ordinance 20-05, an ordinance to address Continuity of City Government during the pendency of a pandemic disaster. 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, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Police Chief Brian Layton and Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Opening Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Council was led in prayer by Councilor Matthew J. Kelly followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw. Resolution 20-43, Approved, Ratifying Emergency Order #3 Amended, Extending the Fredericksburg Curfew (D20-188). Clerk of Council Lacey read into the record the following Resolution: City Council convened in a special meeting on June 2, 2020 and adopted Resolution 20-41, confirming the City Manager’s Declaration of a Local Emergency and Ratifying Emergency Orders #2 and 20623 Regular Session 06/04/20 #3 in response to civil unrest. The curfew declared in Emergency Order #3 expired at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. The City Council has received, and is grateful to acknowledge, expressions of support for the City’s actions from residents and business and property owners, including many who participated in peaceful protest of the death of George Floyd. These expressions of support are deeply appreciated. Many have written to express support for an extension of the local curfew. The curfew, along with the decisions by protest organizers to work with City officials, the commitment of protest participants to peaceful protest, and the compassion and understanding of members of the community, have all contributed to easing of tension, the reduction of unlawful activity, and the restoration of a fragile peace in the City. However, credible threats of ongoing unlawful activities persist, as summarized in the City Manager’s Emergency Order #3 Amended, issued on June 3, 2020. Therefore, the City Council hereby resolves that: 1. City Council ratifies the City Manager’s Emergency Order #3 as Amended, Extending Fredericksburg Curfew. 2. City Council commends the people and businesses of Fredericksburg who are rising to the challenges presented by this current situation, and calls on the people of Fredericksburg to continue to come together as a community. 3. City Council commends protest organizers who heeded the call to work with City officials, including law enforcement, to plan for and execute a safe and peaceful protest on June 2, 2020. City Manager Baroody said he regretted that he had to put a curfew in place but he said it was important to continue to carry the curfew on through the weekend and have it expire on Monday morning. He said they want to support peaceful protest and would continue but he had received numerous email asking the City to stay the course with a continued curfew 20624 Regular Session 06/04/20 through the weekend. He asked the Council for a revised Emergency Order out of abundance of caution. He said he was doing this for the safety of the citizens and property owners not because of the protesters. He noted that they were planning a forum to happen in a matter of weeks to have a broader conversation with the protesters. Councilor Kelly made a motion to approve Resolution 20-43, ratifying Emergency Order #3 amended, extending the Fredericksburg curfew; motion was seconded by Vice- Mayor Withers and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Greenlaw, Withers, Devine, Duffy, Frye, Graham and Kelly. Nays (0). Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, Mayor Greenlaw declared the meeting officially adjourned at 10:11 a.m. Mary Katherine Greenlaw Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Mayor Tonya B. Lacey Tonya B. Lacey, Clerk of Council, CMC 20625 Regular Session 06/04/20 [This page intentionally left blank.] 20626