City Council

Regular Session 04/09/24 HON. KERRY P. DEVINE, MAYOR CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA HON. CHARLIE L. FRYE, JR., VICE -MAYOR, WARD FOUR HON. JANNAN W. HOLMES, AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL HON. DR. WILL B. MACKINTOSH, 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 April 9, 2024 The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held a regular session on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. City Council Present. Mayor Kerry P. Devine. Vice-Mayor Charlie L. Frye, Jr., Council members Dr. Timothy P. Duffy, Jonathan A. Gerlach, Jason N. Graham, Jannan W. Holmes and Dr. Will B. Mackintosh. Others Present. City Manager Timothy J. Baroody, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, Assistant City Manager David Brown, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Assistant City Attorney Dori Martin, Planning and Building Services Director Charles Johnston, Development Administrator Marne Sherman, Finance Director Robyn Shugart, Budget Analyst Donna Leahy, Public Works Director William Morris, Assistant Public Works Director Christopher Thomas 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 Devine recognized the presence of Lieutenant Athenry and Officer DeAndre McCoy at this evening’s meeting. 22113 Regular Session 04/09/24 Consent Agenda Accepted for Transmittal as Recommended (D24- 139 thru D24-146). Councilor Duffy moved approval of the City Manager’s consent agenda; motion was seconded by Councilor Gerlach and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Devine, Frye, Duffy, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). o Ordinance 24-04, Second Read, Amending City Code Chapter 14, Article IX, “Urban Agriculture,” to Revise the Regulations Regarding Keeping of Backyard Chickens and Bees (D24-139). o Resolution 24-19, Second Read, Amending the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget to Appropriate Funds for Surface Transportation Block Grant Funding for Project Studies Involving William Street Improvements and a Lafayette Boulevard ADA Accessible Connection to the Virginia Central Railway Trail (D24-140). o Transmittal of the Board and Commission Minutes o Green Committee – February 13, 2024 (D24-141). o Pathways Committee – January 22, 2024 (D24-142). o Pathways Committee – February 26, 2024 (D24-143). o Planning Commission – March 21, 2024 (D24-144). o Planning Commission – January 11, 2023 (D24-145). o Public Transit Advisory Board – February 7, 2024 (D24-146). Citizen Comment. The following comments were given and/or submitted to be read during the citizen comment portion of this evening’s meeting. 22114 Regular Session 04/09/24 Amirah Ahmed (D24-147), 1301 College Avenue, spoke about the inhumane acts on the Palestinians by the Israeli government. She stated that they have turned off all the electricity, the internet was going to collapse, people will have no way to communicate and the water would run out. She spoke of how the US government was enabling the Israeli government’s atrocities. She asked the Council to pass a ceasefire resolution. See D24-147 for more information. Rebecca Brenkman (D24-148), 1515 Princess Anne Street, read a couple of quotes addressing the violence and she said there are countless human rights violations happening and they are supported by American tax dollars. She asked the Council to support and pass a permanent ceasefire resolution. See D24-148 for more information. Alexanna Hengy (D24-149), 2412 Lafayette Blvd, requested the Council pass a ceasefire resolution and an end to all aid and weapons sent to Israel. See D24-149 for more information. Alexis Pineda-Bautista (D24-150), 1301 College Avenue, encouraged the Council to think about Palestine as they travel to work, going home to their families and the fact that they have a home to go to. She asked the Council to call for a ceasefire. See D24- 150 for more information. Council Agenda Presented. The following items were presented to Council for discussion. 8A. Doxxing – Councilor Gerlach Doxxing - Councilor Gerlach stated that doxxing is completely unacceptable as is bullying because we are a civilized society. He offered to meet with the students who 22115 Regular Session 04/09/24 are being doxxed as well as the Police Department. He said this was a public safety issue as well as a law enforcement issue. Adoption of Minutes (D24-151). Councilor Graham moved approval of the June 27, 2023 Work Session minutes and the March 26, 2024 Regular Session minutes; motion was seconded by Councilor Duffy and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Devine, Frye, Duffy, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). Resolution 24-21, Initiating Amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance to Update Landscaping and Performance Guarantee Requirements Associated with New Development (D24-152 thru D24-153). After a brief presentation and discussion, Councilor Duffy moved to approve Resolution 24-21, initiating amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance to update landscaping and performance guarantee requirements associated with new development; motion was seconded by Vice-Mayor Frye and passed by the following unanimously recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Devine, Frye, Duffy, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). Resolution 24-22, Amending the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget to Use General Fund Contingency to Supplement the Budget for the Comprehensive Plan (D24-154). After staff presentation, Councilor Graham moved to approve Resolution 24-22, amending the Fiscal Year 2025 budget to use general fund contingency to supplement the budget for the Comprehensive Plan; motion was 22116 Regular Session 04/09/24 seconded by Councilor Holmes and passed by the following unanimously recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Devine, Frye, Duffy, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). Resolution 24-23, First Read, Amending the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget to Appropriate Funds for the AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) Water Meter Project (D24-155). After staff summary, Councilor Gerlach moved to approve Resolution 24-23, on first read, amending the Fiscal Year 2024 budget to appropriate funds for the AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) water meter project; motion was seconded by Councilor Graham and passed by the following unanimously recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Devine, Frye, Duffy, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). Resolution 24-24, Awarding a Contract to Badger, Inc. for the AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) Project (D24-155). Councilor Graham moved to approve Resolution 24-24, awarding a contract to Badger, Inc. for the AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) project; motion was seconded by Councilor Gerlach and passed by the following unanimously recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Devine, Frye, Duffy, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). City Manager’s Report and Council Calendar (D24-156 thru D24- 157). City Manager Baroody directed the Council’s attention to the Manager’s Update: Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Budget, River Crossing Parkway Study Public Comment Opportunity, April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, Attention Medicaid Subscribers, 22117 Regular Session 04/09/24 Fireworks at the FredNats Virginia Credit Union Stadium, Join the Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation & Events for our 2024 Earth Day Festival, Annual Water Disinfection and Flushing, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community Day, Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg, FXBG Peep Show, During National Safe Digging Month in April, April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, Parks, Recreation and Events Summer Catalog is now Available and Fred Focus. Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, Mayor Devine declared the meeting officially adjourned at 8:15p.m. Kerry P. Devine Kerry P. Devine, Mayor Tonya B. Lacey Tonya B. Lacey, Clerk of Council 22118 APPROVED