City Council

Regular Session 03/22/22 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. JONATHAN A. GERLACH, WARD TWO HON. DR. TIMOTHY P. DUFFY, WARD THREE Council Chambers, 715 Princess Anne Street Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 March 22, 2022 The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held a regular session on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. City Council Present. Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw. Vice-Mayor Charlie L. Frye, Jr. Council members Kerry P. Devine, Dr. Timothy P. Duffy, Jonathan A. Gerlach and Jason N. Graham. City Council Absent. Matthew J. Kelly, out of town. Others Present. City Manager Timothy J. Baroody, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Assistant City Attorney Dori Martin, Director of Planning and Building Services Charles Johnston (virtual via GoToMeeting), Director of Parks, Recreation and Special Events Todd Brown, Building Official John Schaffer 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 Councilor Jason N. Graham. Officer Recognized. Mayor Greenlaw recognized the presence of Officer Gloria Mehia, at this evening’s meeting. 21313 Regular Session 03/22/22 Proclamation Recognizing Wendy K. Stone for 33 Years of Service (D22-81). Mayor Greenlaw commended and expressed gratitude to Ms. Stone for the excellent professional service she provided to the citizens of Fredericksburg and the entire region and she congratulated her on her retirement and offered her best wishes for future endeavors. Community Health Assessment Update – Dr. Olugbenga Obasanjo, Director of Rappahannock Area Health District and Allison Balmes-John, Population Health Manager (D22-82). Dr. Obasanjo, said there were things he wanted to do to move the City’s health forward and he turned the presentation over to Ms. Balmes-John who presented a PowerPoint. Ms. Balmes-John gave an overview of the Community Health Assessment (CHA) and the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) rationale and process, Snapshot of top priority Issues in Fredericksburg and she discussed the next steps. Vice-Mayor Frye thanked Dr. O and Ms. Balmes-John for all they did for the community during COVID. Councilor Duffy agreed and said they were such leaders in the community. He said it was a great concern to see the areas where help was need in the community. The amount of education needed to provide for healthy living and the prevention of drugs in the community hit hard. He agreed that we must take advantage of partners to help move the community into a better direction and outcome. 21314 Regular Session 03/22/22 Mayor said she looks forward to working with the health district to fill in the gaps and working these items into the Council priorities. Consent Agenda Accepted for Transmittal as Recommended (D22- 83). Councilor Devine moved approval of the City Manager’s consent agenda; motion was seconded by Councilor Graham and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (6). Councilors Greenlaw, Frye, Devine, Duffy, Gerlach and Graham. Nays (0). • Transmittal of CVAS P8A, LLC and CVAS P8, LLC BZA Appeal; Neon Special Exception Application (D22-83) Citizen Comment. There were no comments given and/or 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. 8A. Boards and Commissions Update - Board of Social Services, Central Rappahannock Regional Library, Community Policy Management Team, Fredericksburg Area Museum, Fredericksburg Clean & Green Commission, Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, GWRC/FAMPO, Healthy Generations Area Agency on Aging, Main Street Board. Board of Social Services – Councilor Duffy reported that they were keeping an eye on the end of the public health emergency, which was expected April 16. This would cause many service programs to end waivers and staff expects more people to apply for services. Director Christen Gallik is the co-chair of the Fredericksburg Hunger Action Coalition, they will help farmers bring market fresh feeding programs to the City. 21315 Regular Session 03/22/22 The number of children in foster care was 31 and the number was rising. Adult protective service referral as well as child protective services were both running high. The department was working to fill all the vacancies in the department. Due to the pandemic Social Services was prohibited in closing any Medicaid cases except in specific case and they are working to reinstitute Medicaid Unwinding. Central Rappahannock Regional Library – Councilor Devine reported that they held their last meeting in the new Idea Space. They were still working on getting it up and running but she said along with the books and periodicals this was a place where people can learn how to use new equipment. She said there was also some equipment that could be taken off site to use. Community Policy Management Team – Mayor Greenlaw noted that cases are reviewed and money is appropriated to help children with very special needs. She said they realized there were too few beds across the state for children who need residential care and this was because they do not have the personnel to man the facilities. Fredericksburg Area Museum – Councilor Gerlach said they had completed 81 pre-college programs in 2021 and the programs engaged over 2000 students and teachers. The Sounds of Summer will start in June and run through August. The Museum reopened on March 1 after rearranging their exhibits and they include St. Georges Episcopal Church, which highlights their 300 years of existence in Virginia. Some of the other exhibits that were there are still available Play Ball (baseball), These Old Walls, Heirloom & Relics- A Portrait of a Community and A River Runs. 21316 Regular Session 03/22/22 Fredericksburg Clean and Green Commission – Councilor Duffy reported that George Solley had been voted as the Vice-Chair and several members participated in the making of a video promoting the use of reusable bags and it was shot at the Food-Coop. He said as a Commissioner he went on a tour of the landfill and he was able to see all the plastic waste and was struck by the scale of recycling. He said the Commission was also researching the bottle bill which several other states have passed. Fredericksburg Regional Alliance – Mayor Greenlaw reported that Tom Barkin the President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond came to their meeting and spoke about how they were dealing with the current inflation. Mr. Barkin has made it a mission to get to know those cities in the community. George Washington Regional Commission/Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization – Councilor Graham reported that the Smartscale submission process began last month, they were in the pre-application process and there would be some trimming of the projects because the area would only be allowed four submissions. Those four would go to VDOT to be formally submitted this summer. FAMPO has begun the East/West Mobility study along Route 3. The $2 million housing grant had been approved which will improve houses in the GWRC region. Healthy Generations- Area Agency on Aging – Mayor Greenlaw reported that the cafés were open. The cafés are essential for the seniors. During the pandemic they kept in contact with those seniors and delivered meals to them. She noted that they offer long-term care and respite for those 60 and over or over 18 if the person is disabled. 21317 Regular Session 03/22/22 Main Street – Councilor Gerlach said there would be six bronze otter sculptures showing up in the downtown on May 21. The otters represent a healthy river and a vibrant downtown. The Sip and Stroll event has been successful and they were looking to expand it. Adoption of Minutes. Councilor Graham moved approval of the October 26, 2021, November 9, 2021, December 14, 2021 Work Session minutes and the March 8, 2022 Public Hearing and Regular Session minutes; motion was seconded by Councilor Frye and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (6). Councilors Greenlaw, Frye, Devine, Duffy, Gerlach and Graham. Nays (0). Ordinance 22-03, Second Read Approved, Amending Ordinance 22- 01 to Revise the Local Redistricting Plan Adopted on February 8, 2022 and Amending City Code Chapter 30, Section 30-1, “Election Districts,” to adjust District Boundaries in Accordance with the Revised Redistricting Plan (D22-87 thru D22-88). Assistant City Attorney Martin gave a PowerPoint presentation and Councilor Gerlach made a motion to approved Ordinance 22-03, on second read, amending Ordinance 22-01 to revise the local Redistricting Plan adopted on February 8, 2022 and amending City Code Chapter 30, Section 30-1, “Election Districts,” to adjust district boundaries in accordance with the revised Redistricting Plan; motion was seconded by Councilor Gerlach and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (6). Councilors Greenlaw, Frye, Devine, Duffy, Gerlach and Graham. Nays (0). 21318 Regular Session 03/22/22 Resolution 22-17, Approved, Granting Approval for ARI Transportation, Inc. to Apply for an EMS Agency License to Provide Certain Transport Services within the City of Fredericksburg (D22-89). After staff presentation, Councilor Gerlach moved to approve Resolution 22-17, granting approval for ARI Transportation, Inc. to apply for an EMS Agency License to provide certain transport services within the City of Fredericksburg; motion was seconded by Councilor Devine and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (6). Councilors Greenlaw, Frye, Devine, Duffy, Gerlach and Graham. Nays (0). Resolution 22-18, Approved, Approving Revisions to the City’s Spot Blight Policy (D22-90). After a brief discussion Councilor Gerlach made a motion to approve revisions to the City’s Spot Blight Policy with the deletion of the last sentence of step 6A, referencing properties assessed at $100,000 or less (line 60-63) and removing the phrase ‘dispose of it’ (line 39); motion was seconded by Councilor Graham and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (6). Councilors Greenlaw, Frye, Devine, Duffy, Gerlach and Graham. Nays (0). City Manager’s Report and Council Calendar (D22-91 thru D22-92). City Manager Baroody directed the Council’s attention to the Manager’s Update: Wall of Honor, FY 2023 Recommended Budget Meetings, Marine Corps Historic Half, Semper 5ive Miler and Devil Dog Double Runs, Fredericksburg Regional Transit (FRED), COVID-19 Vaccinations, Traffic Safety Initiative, Board and Commission Openings, Annual Earth 21319 Regular Session 03/22/22 Day Festival, Parks, Recreation and Events Summer Catalog, Spring 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 8:34 p.m. Mary Katherine Greenlaw Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Mayor Tonya B. Lacey Tonya B. Lacey, Clerk of Council, MMC 21320