City Council

Regular Session 10/22/24 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 October 22, 2024 The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held a regular session on Tuesday, October 22, 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 (via telephone), Jonathan A. Gerlach, Jason N. Graham, Jannan W. Holmes and Dr. Will B. Mackintosh. Others Present. City Manager Timothy J. Baroody, Deputy City Manager Mark Whitley, Deputy City Manager David Brown, City Attorney Kelly Lackey, Economic Development Director Josh Summits, Director of Community Planning and Building Michael Craig 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 Jason Dring at this evening’s meeting. Health Department Update on the Community Health Assessment Process and Results (D24-434). Dr. Olugbenga Obasanjo presented a PowerPoint 22291 Regular Session 10/22/24 presentation and in the presentation he reviewed the following: Community Health Assessment (CHA) Process; What is Health; Who is the Community; Map of the Rappahannock Health District and Mary Washington Additional Service Area; What is CHA; What is CHIP; 2022 CHIP Priorities and Goals; 2025 CHA/CHIP MAPP; 3 assessments; Timeline; Ways to be involved. Consent Agenda Accepted for Transmittal as Recommended (D24- 435 thru D24-442). Councilor Graham moved approval of the City Manager’s consent agenda; motion was seconded by Councilor Holmes and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Devine, Frye, Duffy, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). o Transmittal of Board and Commission Minutes • Architectural Review Board – January 22, 2024 (D24-435). • Architectural Review Board – May 13, 2024 (D24-436). • Architectural Review Board – August 12, 2024 (D24-437). • Architectural Review Board – August 26, 2024 (D24-438). • Architectural Review Board – September 9, 2024 (D24-439). • Board of Social Services – August 1, 2024 (D24-440). • Economic Development Authority – April 8, 2024 (D24-441). • Economic Development Authority – April 12, 2024 (D24-442). Public Hearing. There was no scheduled public hearing. 22292 Regular Session 10/22/24 Citizen Comment. The following comments were given and/or submitted to be read during the citizen comment portion of this evening’s meeting. Marilyn Brown, 629 Clover Hill Drive, Ruther Glen, VA 22546, stated that Micah had a lot of homeless living in tents and there were a couple of pregnant girls living in the tents. She did not think Micah was doing enough for them. Sabrina Johnson, NAACP Chair of the Environmental Justice Committee, said she was remiss in not thanking the City Administration for its collaboration on the Pipeline Safety Awareness event in Mayfield. She also said she was in support of Vice-Mayor Frye’s statement regarding the ceasing of storing rail cars in the Mayfield community. She also did not like the new location of the derailment device, which can be seen from the Mayfield Community. Ms. Johnson requested the Council/City continue a level of scrutiny with CSX and ask them to be detailed in their description of all of their safety proactive mitigation risks to ensure the safety of that derailment device. Rebecca Brenkman (D24-443), 1515 Princess Anne Street, asked the City Council to propose a Ceasefire Solidarity Resolution for Palestine. Brent Hunsinger, Friends of the Rappahannock, thanked the Council for including its support to protect urban trees and preserve or expand urban forest on the legislative agenda. He said it was important to show lawmakers what is important. Mark Averi, 180 Denison Street, 22406, spoke on behalf of DCB MMA Gym, located at 624 Wolfe Street, he said he supports small businesses and he said it was a shame that no one has been lending a listening ear to the owners. He said the owners of the gym have been in this establishment since September 2019 and everything was 22293 Regular Session 10/22/24 going smoothly until there was a massive rainstorm and the building flooded and the equipment was ruined. The leasing company did not want to help, and there has been a downward spiral, and the owners are going to lose their business. He spoke of how committed the business was to the community and if they leave, the City will lose a lot of community support. Tania Sneed, owner of DCB MMA Athletic Training, 624 Wolfe Street, spoke of the struggles they went through because of a business partner. She said they worked hard get the business going again and in 2019 they moved to 624 Wolfe Street. She stated that this property had environmental hazards that were never revealed by the rental agent. She said these hazards have caused physical harm to her. Ms. Sneed accused the building department of concealing this information. Jerome Wilson, owner of DCB MMA Athletic Training, 624 Wolfe Street, stated that throughout this entire process he has not been treated fair. He said this was about a crime and not just a landlord tenant dispute. He said all he was asking for was that he be treated fair and he said he was not done getting justice for his family. He said he would do what he had to get justice. He stated that it would be advantageous for Mr. Baroody to sit down with him. Rupert Farley, 1305 Caroline Street, spoke on ranked choice voting and why the City should have it. He hoped the City Council would get it on the dockets to be used for the next election. Aleksander Radoulov (D24-444), 2510 Manor Drive, asked that the City do as it did for Ukraine and pass a ceasefire resolution as other cities have done in America. 22294 Regular Session 10/22/24 Council Agenda Presented. There were no items presented for discussion. Adoption of Minutes (D24-445 thru D24-448). Councilor Gerlach moved approval of the June 20 & June 21, 2024 Biannual Session minutes, July 9, 2024 Work Session minutes, July 15, Biannual Session minutes and the October 8, 2024 Regular Session minutes; motion was seconded by Councilor Mackintosh and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Devine, Frye, Duffy, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). Resolution 24-72, Approving the Fredericksburg 2025 General Assembly Legislative Program (D24-449 thru D24-450). Deputy City Manager Whitley presented the changes to the Legislative Program and after a brief discussion Councilor Mackintosh moved to approve Resolution 24-72, approving the Fredericksburg 2025 General Assembly Legislative Program; motion was 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 24-73, Adopting Revised Vision, Desired Future States and Council Priorities for 2024-2027 and Implementation Plan (D24-451). City Manager Baroody presented the revised Vision, Desired Future States and Council Priorities for 2024-2027. Council thanked staff for their work and they spoke about what they really liked about the document. Councilor Holmes moved to approve Resolution 24-73, adopting revised Vision, Desired Future States and Council Priorities for 2024-2027 and Implementation Plan; 22295 Regular Session 10/22/24 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 (D24-452 thru D24- 453). City Manager Baroody directed the Council’s attention to the Manager’s Update: Cowan Boulevard to Close for 3 weeks Beginning October 21st, Moody’s Rating Service Upgrades City of Fredericksburg ‘s GO Bond, Fredericksburg Prepares to Open New “Top-Tier” Visitor Center, Update on Learning Lane Emergency Stormwater Repairs, General Election Voting, Public Comment Invited on Route 1 Over Rappahannock Canal Bridge Replacement, Annual Scarecrow Fest, FXBGO!, Yearlong Bicentennial Celebration of Lafayette’s Visit to Fredericksburg, UVA Students Survey City's Tree Canopy, Traffic Safety Initiative, Parks, Recreation and Events Fall 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 8:40 p.m. Kerry P. Devine Kerry P. Devine, Mayor Tonya B. Lacey Tonya B. Lacey, Clerk of Council 22296