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 August 10, 2021 Council Priorities - Phase 3 Update Redistricting Update Motts Run The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia held a work session on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. 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, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, assistant City Attorney Dori Martin, Finance Director Robyn Shugart, Director of Public Works Diane Beyer, Assistant Public Works Director Ray Regan, Community Planning and Building Services Director Charles Johnston, Community Development Planner William Suggs, Chief Information Officer Suzanne Tills, Director of Transit and Transportation Jamie Jackson, Director of Social Services Christen Gallik, Police Chief Brian Layton, Director of Economic Development Bill Freehling, Public Information Officer Sonja Cantu, Director of Human Resources Lesley Moore and Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Council Priorities - Phase 3 Update. City Manager Baroody reminded everyone that in 2016 the Council spent a couple days crafting their 2036 Vision and staff reported out the first Phase and began on the second phase. In 2018-2020, staff reported out the progress made and because of COVID there was a delay in reporting. In the third phase, the Council handed staff a new set of priorities and staff has created a roadmap for execution. Public Information Officer Cantu reviewed that 2036 Vision Statement and she noted the new addition to the desired future states, “Where We All Come Together”. She noted that all 1 photographs in the pamphlet were updated and the brochure now included a timeline of the work on the back. See Attachment I for more information. Ms. Cantu reported that they were currently working on scheduling in person event dates to reveal the new Future States and initiatives. They were also working on developing the language for the website and they plan to create the brochure in multiple languages. Ms. Cantu said they would be creating videos to gear people up to attend the in person meetings. She said they would distribute a press release through several outlets as well as set up a meeting with the press. Councilor Duffy and Mayor Greenlaw spoke of how excellent the work was and how the Council uses it to make decisions. Councilor Kelly said he would hope the City would reach out to local groups to help the City move some of the items forward such as the Chamber of Commerce, the hospital, the University and Fredericksburg Area Museum as well as other groups. He said the community needed to feel as though they were part of the process. He also asked what the Council’s involvement would be in some of the initiatives. Mr. Baroody stated that there were 34 priorities but staff consolidated a couple to make 32 priorities. Mr. Baroody and staff walked through the priorities task list. See Attachment II – IV for more information. Redistricting Update. City Attorney Dooley presented a PowerPoint presentation and she explained that the Virginia Constitution requires redistricting every ten years. When the district boundaries are adjusted staff uses the U.S. Census data but this year the General Assembly has charged the Division of Legislative Services (DLS) with adjusting the U.S. Census Data. The Census data reports those who are incarcerated as citizens of the locality in which they are incarcerated. The General Assembly asked the DLS to take them out as being residents of the location of where they are incarcerated and put them in the locality where they resided immediately before their incarceration. Due to COVID the Census data was delayed until mid-August. Ms. Dooley explained that this has caused a time crunch on getting the redistricting done. She also reviewed the redistricting principles or criteria that must be used during the redistricting. Staff recommended a Public hearing on November 23, public would comment at any meeting and 2 public information and there would be outreach to include social meeting and on the website. See Attachments V-VI for more information. Motts Run. Mr. Whitley reported that the City had a shared utility agreement with Spotsylvania County it has 12-million-gallon facility and the City has a reservation of 5 million of the 12 million. Spotsylvania was in the process of expanding its capacity to 24 million gallons and under the utility agreement the City has the option to purchase no more capacity, or 1-2 million per day. If the City decided to move forward with this plan the City would owe the funds after the completion of the work. The average water demand in 2019 was about 3.4 million gallons per day and on a peek day it could exceed 7 million gallons. Staff recommended moving forward with the purchase of 2 million gallons. Councilor Withers stated that the way the City was growing he would consider the 2 million gallons. Councilor Graham asked if the City would have the option for purchase later and Mr. Whitely explained that the County was asking if the City wanted to buy the capacity so that they could plan their improvement. He said if the City does not buy it, it forfeits the opportunity because there was no mechanism to purchase it later. Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time. Mayor Greenlaw declared the session officially adjourned at 7:16 p.m. ______________________ Tonya B. Lacey, MMC Clerk of Council City of Fredericksburg 3