City Council

Public Hearing 11/24/20 HON. MARY KATHERINE GREENLAW, MAYOR CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA HON. CHARLIE L. FRYE, JR., VICE -MAYOR, WARD FOUR CITY COUNCIL HON. KERRY P. DEVINE, AT-LARGE HON. MATTHEW J. KELLY, AT-LARGE HON. JASON N. GRAHAM, WARD ONE HON. WILLIAM C. WITHERS, JR., WARD TWO HON. DR. TIMOTHY P. DUFFY, WARD THREE Council Chambers, 715 Princess Anne Street Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 November 24, 2020 The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held a public hearing on Tuesday, November 24, 2020, beginning at 8:08 p.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 Charlie L. Frye, Jr., Council members Kerry P. Devine, Dr. Timothy P. Duffy, Jason N. Graham, Matthew J. Kelly and William C. Withers, Jr. Also Present. Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Community Planning and Building Services Director Charles Johnston, Community Development Planner Susanna Finn, Fire Chief Mike Jones and Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Notice of Public Hearings (D20-541). The Clerk read the notice of the public hearings as they appeared in the local newspaper, the purpose being to solicit citizen input. Incorporating a Substantial Amendment to the 2019-2020 CDBG Annual Action Plan to Incorporate Additional CDBG-CV Emergency Funding in the Amount of $205,866 to Support Public Services for 20799 Public Hearing 11/24/20 Emergency Housing and Food Assistance (D20-541). no speakers. Ms. Finn reported that the City had been awarded a second allocation of CDBG-CV funds in the amount of $205,866 to respond to COVID-19 related community development needs. The Housing Advisory Committee met and approved an allocation plan to expand the three community programs funded through the first round of CDBG-CV funds. Those programs included the Central Virginia Housing Coalition – Emergency Housing Assistance ($130,500), Fredericksburg City Schools – COVID-19 Emergency Feeding Program ($40,500), and the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank – Food for Life ($34,866). Mayor Greenlaw closed the public hearing but kept the comment period open until December 8, 2020. Adjourned. There being no more speakers to come before the Council at this time, Mayor Greenlaw declared the hearing officially adjourned at 8:13 p.m. Mary Katherine Greenlaw Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Mayor Tonya B. Lacey Tonya B. Lacey, Clerk of Council, CMC 20800 Regular Session 11/24/20 HON. MARY KATHERINE GREENLAW, MAYOR CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA HON. CHARLIE L. FRYE, JR., VICE -MAYOR, WARD FOUR HON. KERRY P. DEVINE, AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL HON. MATTHEW J. KELLY, AT-LARGE HON. JASON N. GRAHAM, WARD ONE HON. WILLIAM C. WITHERS, JR., WARD TWO HON. DR. TIMOTHY P. DUFFY, WARD THREE Council Chambers, 715 Princess Anne Street Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 November 24, 2020 The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held a regular session on Tuesday, November 24, 2020, beginning at 7:30 p.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 Charlie L. Frye, Jr., Council members Kerry P. Devine, Dr. Timothy P. Duffy, Jason N. Graham, Matthew J. Kelly and William C. Withers, Jr. Also Present. Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Community Planning and Building Services Director Charles Johnston, Community Development Planner Susanna Finn, Fire Chief Mike Jones and Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Opening Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Council was led in prayer by Vice-Mayor Charlie L. Frye, Jr. followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw. Proclamation for Small Business Saturday (D20-536). Mayor Greenlaw urged the residents of the community and across the country, to support small businesses and merchants on Small Business Saturday and every Saturday throughout the year, and especially 20801 Regular Session 11/24/20 in 2020 as the local business owners navigate through the pandemic. She proclaimed November 28, 2020 as the beginning of Fredericksburg’s Small Business Saturdays through the month of December. Proclaiming the Month of November as TAR Syndrome Awareness (D20-537). Mayor Greenlaw urged the residents of the community and across the country, to support the research and study of TAR Syndrome and the families who are challenged by the disease and she recognized the month of November as TAR Syndrome Awareness Month. COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update. Chief Jones reported that there was a sharp increase in the numbers statewide and in the Rappahannock Health District. There has also been an increase in hospitalizations at both local and state levels and it is causing problems for some of the health care systems. Mary Washington Hospital currently has forty-four (44) people that are COVID-19 positive which was doubled from a week and a half ago. One of the big issues if the number keep rising, is the ability to care for the patients. He said Spotsylvania Reginal Hospital and Mary Washington Hospital both have the capability, but people are leaving the medical field and it had become hard to attract people to the medical field due to the pandemic. He said there were more acute patients that were being seen in the hospital. Mary Washington Hospital has started to see an increase in pregnant women with COVID. There have been surges in cases in Northern Virginia and the upper Shenandoah Valley. The local health district has a higher positivity rate than anywhere else in Virginia except Culpeper and Prince William County. Fredericksburg was one of the better localities 20802 Regular Session 11/24/20 in the health district but there are problems. Chief Jones said there were eight new cases yesterday and the moving average has doubled, and there was one new hospitalization and no new deaths in over three weeks. The University of Mary Washington did well the fall semester and they tested 859 people in the last week and there were only eight positive results. They had a cumulative of 44 cases since the start of the semester. Chief Jones said they needed to move the curve and he recommended the following: washing hands and using good quality hand sanitizer, practice social distancing, wear a mask, limit your time around people who are not from your household, and have Thanksgiving with your household only. On a positive note the deaths have decreased since the beginning, testing is readily available to anyone and vaccines are on the way. There are three different vaccines that are 90 percent effective. Councilor Duffy thanked everyone who had participated in the free testing and he urged everyone to think twice about expanding the holidays. He also urged everyone to wear masks. He also asked about the plans for rolling out the vaccines and he wanted to make sure the elderly, as well as people of color who tend to get the virus at a higher rate would have priority. Chief Jones stated that the at-risk would get the vaccine first and the others would be addressed. He said the State had a plan for the vaccinations. Councilor Graham asked if there were any extra precautions being taken at the Rappahannock Regional Jail to prevent outbreaks. Chief Jones said he did not know specifics, but he was sure Sheriff Decatur had protocols in place and he was sure the health district had been watching them closely. Councilor Devine encouraged citizens to download the COVID Wise App so that it could alert them if they are possibly exposed. She noted the toll this pandemic was taking on 20803 Regular Session 11/24/20 those who are transporting patients with COVID as well as those taking care of patients in the hospital. Vice-Mayor Frye said he noticed that apartment buildings were not regularly sanitizing the entry doors to apartment complexes and he asked if there was a way to get them to do that regularly. Chief Jones said it was up to the apartment maintenance crew to clean those areas, but he said they could reach out with service announcements. Councilor Withers noted that he saw a couple in the grocery store without masks and he asked whether it was a mandate for them to have mask on. Chief Jones said it was mandated by the governor’s executive order and he said most places would give mask if you do not have one. He said they must make sure businesses are following the law and businesses must take responsibility. Consent Agenda Accepted for Transmittal as Recommended (D20- 538 thru D20-540). 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, Frye, Devine, Duffy, Graham, Kelly, Withers. Nays (0). • Ordinance 20-25, Second Reading, Setting the Real Estate Rate at $0.80 Per Every $100.00 of Assessed Value of Real Estate for the Second Half of Fiscal Year 2021 (D20-538). • Transmittal of Board and Commissions Minutes o Economic Development Authority – October 12, 2020 (D20-539). o Planning Commission – October 28, 2020 (D20-540). Public Hearing (D20-541). The regular session was recessed in order to conduct scheduled public hearings and immediately reconvened upon their conclusion. 20804 Regular Session 11/24/20 Citizen Comment. There were no comments submitted to be read during the citizen comment portion of this evening’s meeting. Council Agenda Presented. The following items were presented to Council for discussion. 7A. City Recruitment Opportunity – Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw 7B. Officers Sheffield and Purdue – Vice-Mayor Frye City Recruitment Opportunity – Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw reported that the City’s Police Department was hiring officers and communications officers. She encouraged anyone who wanted to work for a great community, enhance the lives of people and make a positive difference in the community she directed them to apply. Mayor Greenlaw said the City’s Police Department was one of the most highly trained police forces in the State of Virginia. Officers Sheffield and Purdue – Vice-Mayor Frye spoke about an incident that happened with an elderly lady who was a little disoriented and was having car troubles and Officers Sheffield and Purdue came to the scene and spent two hours with her and they were able to get her neighbor to come pick her up and had her car towed. He said the time they spent and the care they took with the lady was remarkable. Adoption of Minutes (D20-542 thru D20-547. Councilor Graham moved approval of the August 12, and September 23, 2020 City Council – Planning Commission Joint Work Session minutes, the August 25, September 8 and September 22, 2020 Work Session minutes and the November 10, 2020 Regular Session minutes; motion was seconded by Councilor Duffy and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Greenlaw, Frye, Devine, Duffy, Graham, Kelly, Withers. Nays (0). 20805 Regular Session 11/24/20 Ordinance 20-24, Second Read Approved, Amending City Code §10-333 to Adjust Appointment Procedures and Membership Qualifications for the Fredericksburg Planning Commission to Allow for Staggered Terms and Reduce the Number of Planning Commission Members who are Required to Own Real Property (D20-548). After staff presentation, Councilor Graham made a motion to approve Ordinance 20-24, on Second Read, amending City Code §10-333 to adjust appointment procedures and membership qualifications for the Fredericksburg Planning Commission to allow for staggered terms and reduce the number of Planning Commission members who are required to own real property; motion was seconded by Councilor Duffy and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (6). Councilors Greenlaw, Frye, Devine, Duffy, Graham and Kelly. Nays (1). Councilor Withers. First Quarter Financial Update for Fiscal Year 2021 (D20-549 thru D20-550). Assistant City Manager Whitley presented a PowerPoint presentation. In his presentation he discussed the major sources of the general fund revenues: Meals Taxes which are meeting the reduced target; Sales Taxes and the first two months exceeded fiscal year 2020 and are on track; Real Estate Taxes, 14.9 million received through November 23 and Personal Property Taxes, $3 million received on the 2nd half billing with a budgeted amount of $4.98 million. Other revenue sources include street maintenance, which will slightly miss the target for the year; lodging taxes are meeting the reduced target; tobacco taxes have a variation in collections and admissions taxes are not on target, because they were heavily impacted by the pandemic. 20806 Regular Session 11/24/20 The first quarter of the general fund expenditures are at 22.22% of the 100% expenditure level. The original general fund budget is $94,324,942. The coronavirus relief fund budgeted amount is $5,066,558. The fiscal year 2020 expenditures are $284,709.01 and the fiscal year 2021 actual expenditures plus encumbrances are $3,526,986.82 and the remaining balance is $1,254,862. Council had discussion on the lag in taxes and whether there was any concern and Mr. Whitley said there was no concern with the Real Estate but there was a little concern with personal property taxes and he was not too concerned with meals taxes as he thought they would meet the reduced tax amount. Resolution 20-87, Providing Support for The Financing of a Hanger at Stafford Regional Airport (D20-551 thru D20-552). Mr. Chris Hornung the City’s representative on the Stafford Airport Authority presented a PowerPoint and he reviewed the Virginia Airport system, he also discussed the Virginia Airport System Economic Impact Study, Media Release about Centerport Property being among the top 15 largest sites in Virginia, he showed the location of hanger #5 and expansion of the runway, he discussed original construction cost, he talked about other reliever airports and their runway lengths, he reviewed the corporate aircrafts that utilize the airport, he reviewed the Hanger #5 cost and rental charges, and he discussed the City benefits of the airport, the T-Hanger benefits and the moral obligations request. After some discussion Councilor Graham made a motion to approve Resolution 20- 87, providing support for the financing of a hangar at Stafford Regional Airport; motion was seconded by Councilor Devine and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Greenlaw, Frye, Devine, Duffy, Graham, Kelly, Withers. Nays (0). 20807 Regular Session 11/24/20 City Manager’s Report and Council Calendar (D20-553 thru D20- 554). City Manager Baroody directed the Council’s attention to the Manager’s Update: Fire Recruit School Graduates and Housing of Engine 1Ceremony, Christmas Parade 2020, New Video on Moment of Recognition, Fall Leaf Collection, COVID-19 (Coronavirus), Chatham Bridge Closure, Upcoming Council Meetings, Fall Programs and Fred Focus. Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, Mayor Greenlaw declared the meeting officially adjourned at 9:13 a.m. Mary Katherine Greenlaw Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Mayor Tonya B. Lacey Tonya B. Lacey, Clerk of Council, CMC 20808