City Council

CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA HON. MARY KATHERINE GREENLAW, MAYOR 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 Council Chambers, 715 Princess Anne Street HON. DR. TIMOTHY P. DUFFY, WARD THREE Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 Council Work Session April 6, 2021 Fiscal Year 2022 Recommended Budget Discussions The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia held a work session on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, beginning at 6:00 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. Council Present. Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Presiding. Vice-Mayor Charlie L. Frye, Jr. Councilors Kerry P. Devine, Timothy P. Duffy, Jason N. Graham, Matthew J. Kelly and William C. Withers, Jr. Also Present. City Manager Timothy J. Baroody, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, Assistant City Manager Doug Fawcett, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Budget Manager Brenna Erford, Fire Chief Mike Jones, Public Works Director Diane Jones, Assistant Director of Public Works Edwin Regan, Assistant Public Works Director Milas Smith and Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Fiscal Year 2022 Recommended Budget Discussions. Councilor Duffy disclosed that he was employed by the Fredericksburg Schools System as the Principal at James Monroe High School but that he could participate fairly, objectively and in the public interest. Vice-Mayor Frye disclosed that his wife was employed by the Fredericksburg Schools System but that he could participate fairly, objectively and in the public interest. Budget Manager Erford presented a PowerPoint presentation she also had help from other members of staff. This work session was focused on the financially and policy significant projects in the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP). Ms. Erford begin the presentation with a look at the CIP Current City Debt Service – Governmental & Enterprise, Future City Debt Service – 1 CIP Scenario, CIP Major Project Presentations, New School and Budget Calendar. See Attachment I for more information. Fire Station – Chief Jones Presented a PowerPoint presentation on Fire Department Infrastructure Improvements in the presentation he discussed the following: Fire Station Feasibility Study, Goals, Standards of Cover, Fire Station 1 (Princess Anne Street) Expansion/Renovation and New Fire Station Replacement for Fire Station 2 (Altoona). See Attachment II for more information. Mr. Baroody noted that if council approved the approach on Cowan Boulevard staff would begin conversations regarding acquisitions. Councilor Kelly asked Chief Jones when was the last time staff was increased at the Fire Department and Chief Jones added that the fire suppression staff had not been increased since 1987. Chief jones said with all the density it was more difficult dealing with the same size Fire Department as in 1987. He said to be proactive they have Mutual Aid Agreements with Stafford and Spotsylvania to help when they are in need and they call for the assistance up front. Chief Jones said the department would need three units and a ladder company, he said currently they get credit because of the assistance from Stafford and Spotsylvania. He said the current condition of equipment was they purchased an engine last year but they kept the old one because of maintenance, they will need to replace an aerial ladder truck next year. Chief Jones said in order to set up a new unit he would need 12 people to run it. He said they have the ability to run three ALS units. Dr. Duffy asked how many staff members would be able to be housed in Station One after renovations and how many would a new station be able to accommodate. Chief Jones said Station I would be able to hold up to 11 and hold three units with no issues. The new station would accommodate up to 20. Mr. Baroody explained the plan would be to get rid of Fire Station II and move all the apparatus to the new station and the new station would accommodate two Engine Companies. Pond D and Stream Restoration – Mr. Rae presented a PowerPoint presentation and in his presentation he discussed the following: Why are we here, Pond D-Smith Run, Great Oak Estates, Stream Restoration – Alum Springs/Idlewild, Existing Stream Conditions Reach 2, Existing Stream Conditions -Reaches 1&2, What to expect, What’s next relative to restoration of degraded stream segments and when do we start. See Attachment III for more information. 2  Councilor Kelly asked how much funding outside of the City would the city be able to get to go towards the projects and Mr. Rae said there was an opportunity for $500,000 from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the City must contribute $167,000 (1/3). The State also has a Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) and this funding had received record breaking numbers by the Governor and the General Assembly $75 million to fund programs throughout Virginia and the City stands to get about $4 million. Mr. Rae said in 2023-2028 they would need $12-16 million to take care of the stormwater issues. Mr. Rae explained that the construction envelope in Idlewild would not extend beyond 50 feet on either side of the stream. It would not go beyond the cuts in order to get the flood plain to join back into the stream system. The designers would minimize the work and the residents would not see the construction going on. He said the trails may be altered but would not disappear. This work was planned for a year and a half and was to be completed by June 2023. Downtown Pedestrian Improvements – Assistant City Manager Fawcett presented a PowerPoint presentation and he discussed the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) funded project the City received $2,040,000 for the project and the City must match this at 25 percent $510,000. The scope of the work would include brick sidewalk installation on twenty- one blocks sides, install street lighting on eight block sides upgrade to meet ADA standards at the Market Square Alley and install curb extensions at William and Charles Streets. He showed a map of the streets with the enhancement project and he discussed the revised schedule for this project. See Attachment IV for more information. Colonial Downtown Streetlights – Public Works Director Beyer presented a PowerPoint presentation and she discussed the following: Colonial Lights – Issues, Colonial Lights – Photos, Colonial Lights – Solutions, Map of the Downtown Colonial Lights Area, Colonial Lights – Estimated Budget /Cost, Colonial Lights – Additional Opportunities and Colonial Lights Tentative Schedule. See Attachment V for more information. Wastewater Treatment Update – Assistant City Manager Fawcett presented a PowerPoint presentation and he discussed the following: A Brief History, Map of the Inceptor Sewers in the City, Fiscal Year 21 Budget, Current Staffing, Why Invest in Upgrades at the Wastewater Treatment Facilities, December 12 Reports, What’s happened since December 12 presentation, Recommendation and Cost on Upgrading to 6.0 million gallon per day, Additional 3 Alternative Being Explored, Future Rates Needed and Current User Rates. See Attachment VI for more information. Councilor Kelly asked if there would be any significant savings by going with privatization and Mr. Fawcett said it was too early to say if there would be significant savings the main benefit would be spreading the cost out over a longer period of time. He said the City would still be eligible for the Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQIF) and a low interest revolving fund through the State. The primary benefit would be the ability to spread the cost out over time. Mr. Fawcett explained that the City needed to get started on this now and that was the reason for bringing the non-consolidation option for consideration while possibly pursuing the privatization option. Water Meter Improvement Concept Update – Assistant Director of Public Works Smith presented a PowerPoint presentation and he discussed the following: Water Meters and Meter Installation History, Reasons for Improving and Updating Meters, Benefits of Replacing and Water Meter Replacement Cost. See Attachment VII for more information. Some of the benefits would be less miles on vehicles and they would not have to put as many hours in on collecting usage data. Mr. Smith said there would be a website portal for the residents so that they could keep an eye on their usage. He said they would try to encourage everyone to log on to the portal. Mr. Smith said from study and research residents who watch their usage tend to save. Mr. Fawcett noted that this Council and previous Councils had invested heavily in the City’s utility systems but it was a very old City and there were a lot of old lines and the City would continue to invest in those systems into the future. Mr. Baroody also added that the City would continue to spend more money and there was no end in sight and he said the City was in need of having the right leadership on board and he was asking for a new position in the new budget for the creation of a Utility Department. This department would better focus on the utilities. Schools – Budget Manager Erford presented a PowerPoint slide to show the estimates of the new construction cost between $30-35 million. The annual debt for a $30 million school would be approximately $1.99 Million and for a $35 million school it would cost $2.33 million. The operating cost would run about $1.5 million annually. See attachment I for more information. 4  Councilor Graham noted that the Taskforce recognized the need for a new school but the question was when. He said he would like to present a proposition to include the funding necessary to open the school two years earlier (FY 2025). He said it was necessary to have the space for the kids to learn. He said this need is at the top of the list. Councilor Devine agreed that there was a true need for a new school. The schools would have to be creative until a new school could be opened. She said the growth seemed to be at the lower grades and that maybe where the school was built but there was also a need for Workforce Development and she would like to see both needs met. She was hopeful that the Council could work with the School board to design programs for the Workforce Development. Vice-Mayor Frye agreed with Councilor Devine and he was hoping there was a way to get the Workforce Development moving. He said with the new school he wanted to make sure the kids were not segregated not only in the lower levels but also in the classes that may be offered in the Workforce Development. He would like to see the kids go from Kindergarten through twelfth grade together. Mayor Greenlaw explained that first they must decide on a site, then design, and construction and this would be at least a three-year process. She said the Council was supportive but it was going to take time. Councilor Devine said she did not want to step on the School Board’s toes and there was only so much the Council could do. She wanted the public to know the Schools would be designing the programs and figuring out the configuration of the schools. The Council provides funding and building structure pieces only. There was extensive discussion on needs of the City, as well as the schools, and some of the Council were not willing to take any votes on a new school until all of the information was shared regarding the cost of the City’s needs. Councilor Duffy said he could support Councilor Graham in moving the schools up because not moving forward was looming bigger and bigger causing problems for the children in school. Mayor Greenlaw noted that all the needs were critical and some had very specific deadlines and many are critical. 5  Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time. Mayor Greenlaw declared the session officially adjourned at 9:17 p.m. ______________________ Tonya B. Lacey Clerk of Council City of Fredericksburg 6