City Council

Public Hearing 11/22/22 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 November 22, 2022 The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held a public hearing on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, beginning at 7:46 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. City Council Present. Vice-Mayor Charlie L. Frye, Jr. Council members Kerry P. Devine, Dr. Timothy P. Duffy, Jonathan A. Gerlach, Jason N. Graham and Matthew J. Kelly. Council Absent. Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw, left sick before the meeting started. Others Present. City Manager Timothy J. Baroody, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Assistant City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Senior Planner Michael Craig, Finance Director Robyn Shugart, Assistant Finance Director Richard Lawrence, Budget Analyst Donna Leahy and Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Notice of Public Hearings (D22-426. The Clerk read the notice of the public hearings as it appeared in the local newspaper, the purpose being to solicit citizen input. 21571 Public Hearing 11/22/22 Resolution 22-83, First Read, Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Amendment Authorizing the Appropriation of Fiscal Year 2022 Carryovers and Approving Additional Appropriations for Certain Capital Projects (D22- 426). No speakers. After staff presentation Councilor Devine made a motion to approve Resolution 22-83, on first read, Fiscal Year 2023 budget amendment authorizing the appropriation of Fiscal Year 2022 carryovers and approving additional appropriations for certain capital projects; motion was seconded by Councilor Graham and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (6). Councilors Frye, Devine, Duffy, Gerlach, Graham and Kelly. Nays (0). Adjourned. There being no more speakers to come before the Council at this time, Vice-Mayor Frye declared the hearing officially adjourned at 9:14 p.m. Charlie L. Frye, Jr. Charlie L. Frye, Jr., Vice-Mayor Tonya B. Lacey Tonya B. Lacey, Clerk of Council, MMC 21572 Regular Session 11/22/22 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 November 22, 2022 The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held a regular session on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. City Council Present. Vice-Mayor Charlie L. Frye, Jr. Council members Kerry P. Devine, Dr. Timothy P. Duffy, Jonathan A. Gerlach, Jason N. Graham and Matthew J. Kelly. Council Absent. Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw, left sick before the meeting started. Others Present. City Manager Timothy J. Baroody, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Assistant City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Senior Planner Michael Craig, Finance Director Robyn Shugart, Assistant Finance Director Richard Lawrence, Budget Analyst Donna Leahy 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 Councilor Jason N. Graham. 21573 Regular Session 11/22/22 Officer Recognized. Vice-Mayor Frye recognized the presence of Lieutenant Rashawn Cowles, at this evening’s meeting. Small Business Saturday Proclamation (D22-423). Vice-Mayor Frye on behalf of Mayor Greenlaw presented a Proclamation for Small Business Saturday to Brendan Kelley the Executive Director for Fredericksburg Virginia Main Street. He urged the residents of the community and communities across the country to support small businesses and merchants on Small Business Saturday and everyday throughout the year. Update from the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center (D22- 423.1). Ms. Christine Henry, board member for the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center read a letter explaining the challenges they have faced over the past three years because of the pandemic. She said they had to learn to be nimble and change in many ways. Although they had many challenges they were able to remain open. She said they were taking a three prong approach to rebuilding: outreach, volunteer corps and collaboration with the larger community. Ms. Henry stated that they will eventually bring a proposal for funding to the City Council as well as their regional service area. Consent Agenda Accepted for Transmittal as Recommended (D22- 424 thru D22-425). Councilor Kelly moved approval of the City Manager’s consent agenda; motion was seconded by Councilor Gerlach and passed by the following 21574 Regular Session 11/22/22 recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Greenlaw, Frye, Devine, Duffy, Gerlach, Graham and Kelly. Nays (0). • Ordinance 22-27, Second Read, Amending Fredericksburg City Code Chapter 14, Article III, Dangerous and Vicious Dogs, to Reflect Recent Updates to the Code of Virginia (D22-424). • Resolution 22-82, Releasing Prior Allocations of Motor Fuels Tax Funds for Various Projects (D22-425). Public Hearing (D22-426). The regular session was recessed in order to conduct scheduled public hearings and immediately reconvened upon their conclusion. Citizen Comment. The following comments were given and/or submitted to be read during the citizen comment portion of this evening’s meeting. Anne Little, 726 William Street, Executive Director of Tree Fredericksburg, she spoke of the benefits of trees such as clean air, healthier citizens, stormwater mitigation and increased property value. She said the Friends of the Rappahannock did a study and it showed that the City was up to 10 degrees hotter in certain areas. She said they have successfully replanted 255 trees that were damage during the ice storms on the streets, 80 trees in the parks and 186 at the schools. She said they received grants in the amount of $110,000 for pruning and planting of storm damaged trees. She said there was no way to plant our way out but there needed to be new strategies. Ms. Little said many of the trees are being lost due to development and she noted that the General Assembly had passed legislation that allow localities to pass ordinances to protect the tree canopy with 21575 Regular Session 11/22/22 development and she was going to work towards that by coming back to Council in the new year. Council Agenda Presented. The following items were presented to Council for discussion. 8A. City Schools Mission and Vision – Councilor Duffy. City Schools Mission and Vision (D22-427) – Councilor Duffy publicized the project that the City schools were working on revisiting its Mission and Vision. He said they were getting groups together to participate in the workgroups and he encouraged interested citizens to participate. Adoption of Minutes. Councilor Graham moved approval of the November 8, 2022 Regular Session minutes; motion was seconded by Councilor Devine and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (6). Councilors Frye, Devine, Duffy, Gerlach, Graham and Kelly. Nays (0). Resolution 22-84, Approved, Exploring the Feasibility of Ranked Choice Voting for City Council Elections in 2023 (D22-428). Assistant City Attorney Martin explained that if a governing body chooses to adopt an ordinance to implement a ranked choice voting system, it will be responsible for paying not only the local costs of implementation, but any costs incurred by the Virginia Department of Elections related to technology changes that are necessary for implementing ranked choice voting, including changes to how the state will receive election results. In 21576 Regular Session 11/22/22 addition, the governing body is charged with developing and distributing educational information about RCV to the local electorate. The costs of implementing these changes and conducting public education and outreach are unknown at this time. Ms. Martin said consultation with the City Electoral Board and General Registrar on this issue is critical before moving forward on a proposal to adopt RCV. Councilor Graham agreed that more questions needed to be answered before moving forward with this. He said he was concerned with potential cost to the City and it needed to be explored further. Councilor Duffy was also supportive of the resolution because it was more of a gathering of information. He said there needed to be more facts on the cost but he said this gives people more power over their vote. Councilor Gerlach was also in support of the resolution. He said this could bring out more people to run and the only downside he saw was that the ballot could be two pages and the costs. Councilor Devine was in agreement with everyone and she was hopeful this would spark more interest. Councilor Graham moved to approve Resolution 22-84, exploring the feasibility of Ranked Choice Voting for City Council elections in 2023; motion was seconded by Councilor Duffy and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (6). Councilors Frye, Devine, Duffy, Gerlach, Graham and Kelly. Nays (0). 21577 Regular Session 11/22/22 Resolution 22-85, Approved, Supporting Climate Mitigation and Air Quality as Well as Surface Transportation Block Grant Applications (D22- 429). After a brief summary from staff Councilor Graham made a motion to approve supporting climate mitigation and air quality as well as Surface Transportation Block Grant Applications; motion was seconded by Councilor Devine and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (6). Councilors Frye, Devine, Duffy, Gerlach, Graham and Kelly. Nays (0). Resolution 22-86, Approved, Supporting the Designation of the East Coast Greenway Across the Chatham Bridge (D22-430). After staff presentation Councilor Gerlach moved approval of Resolution 22-86, supporting the designation of the East Coast Greenway across the Chatham Bridge; motion was seconded by Councilor Devine and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (6). Councilors Frye, Devine, Duffy, Gerlach, Graham and Kelly. Nays (0). City Manager’s Report and Council Calendar (D22-431 thru D22- 432). City Manager Baroody directed the Council’s attention to the Manager’s Update: Children’s Tree Lighting and Jingle Bell Sing-a-long, Christmas Parade, November is Native American and Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month, Window Wonderland Contest Has Begun, Fall Leaf Collection, Parking Garage Fee Increases Begin November 1, Traffic Safety Initiative, Are You Subscribed to Fredericksburg Alerts, COVID-19 Vaccinations, Board and Commission Openings, The Parks, Recreation and Events Fall Catalog, Fall Programs and Fred Focus. 21578 Regular Session 11/22/22 Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, Vice-Mayor Frye declared the meeting officially adjourned at 8:18 p.m. Charlie L. Frye, Jr. Charlie L. Frye, Jr., Vice-Mayor Tonya B. Lacey Tonya B. Lacey, Clerk of Council 21579 Regular Session 11/22/22 [This page intentionally left blank] 21580