City Council

Regular Session 03/25/25 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. SUSANNA R. FINN, WARD THREE Council Chambers, 715 Princess Anne Street Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 March 25, 2025 The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held a regular session on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, 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 Susanna R. Finn, 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 J. Lackey, Economic Development Director Joshua Summits, Finance Director Amanda Six 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 Graham. Officer Recognized. Mayor Devine recognized the presence of Lieutenant Jason Dring at this evening’s meeting. Proclamation in Support of Second Chance Month – Juanita Shanks (D25-139). Mayor Devine presented Board Member Alayna Stiffler, with a 22483 Regular Session 03/25/25 proclamation supporting Second Chance Month, and proclaimed April 4, 2025, as FailSafe-ERA Hall of Change Day to honor those who dared to change and committed to remaining crime-free to promote public safety. Consent Agenda Accepted for Transmittal as Recommended (D25- 140 thru D25-__). Councilor Mackintosh moved approval of the City Manager’s consent agenda; motion was seconded by Councilor Graham and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (5). Councilors Devine, Frye, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (2). Councilors Gerlach and Graham. o Resolution 25-18, Approved, Authorizing Entry of a Release of Claims Associated with Gormley v. City Council and Amending the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget to Authorize the Use of General Fund Contingency for Purposes of Settlement (D25- 140). o Transmittal of the Board and Commission Minutes o Architectural Review Board – February 10, 2025 (D25-141). o Architectural Review Board – February 24, 2025 (D25-142). o Pathways Committee – January 27, 2025 (D25-143). o Planning Commission – November 13, 2024 (D25-144). o Recreation Commission – January 16, 2025 (D25-145). Public Hearing. There was no scheduled public hearing. Citizen Comment. The following comments were given and/or submitted to be read during the citizen comment portion of this evening’s meeting. 22484 Regular Session 03/25/25 Rupert Farley, 1305 Caroline Street – spoke on Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). He suggested the Council move forward with RCV before the November election. Council Agenda Presented. There were no items presented to Council for discussion. Adoption of Minutes. There were no minutes submitted for approval. Planning Commission – Kimberly Doucette, John Hague, Jason Hillman, Thomas Johnson, Matthew Kelly, Evan Lawson (D25-146). Clerk Lacey suggested that if it was Council’s will to appoint the replacement for Susanna Finn for the remainder of her term, which expires in October, plus the first term as well so that the applicant would not have to reapply in a few months. After the recorded vote was taken, Thomas Johnson was appointed to serve on the Planning Commission with a vote resulting between applicants Kimberly Doucette, John Hague, Jason Hillman, Thomas Johnson, Matthew Kelly, Evan Lawson. Doucette (0); Hague (2) Devine, Gerlach; Hillman (0); Johnson (5) Frye, Finn, Graham, Holmes, Mackintosh; Kelly (0); Lawson (0). Councilor Graham moved to extend Mr. Johnson’s unexpired term through his first term; motion was seconded by Vice-Mayor Frye and passed by the following unanimously recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Devine, Frye, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). Resolution 25-19, Approved, Committing Unassigned General Fund Balances to Various Purposes (D25-147). After staff presentation, Vice-Mayor 22485 Regular Session 03/25/25 Frye disclosed that his wife was an employee of the Fredericksburg City public Schools and he could participate fairly, objectively and in the public interest. Councilor Holmes disclosed that she is a member of a business, profession, occupation or group of three or more members affected by the transaction, namely: she provide services to students of City Schools under a grant-funded contract with Fredericksburg Public Schools and she could participate fairly, objectively and in the public interest. Councilor Graham moved to approve Resolution 25-19, committing unassigned general fund balances to various purposes; motion was seconded by Councilor Gerlach and passed by the following unanimously recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Devine, Frye, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). Resolution 25-20, Approved, Approving an Agreement with Fredericksburg City Public Schools on Facility and Grounds Shared Use (D25-148). Vice-Mayor Frye moved to approve Resolution 25-20, approving an agreement with Fredericksburg City Public Schools on facility and grounds shared use; motion was seconded by Councilor Mackintosh and passed by the following unanimously recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Devine, Frye, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). City Manager’s Report and Council Calendar (D25-149 thru D25- 150). City Manager Baroody directed the Council’s attention to the Manager’s Update: City Manager's Recommended Budget for FY 2026, Council Priorities: Phase 4 Final 22486 Regular Session 03/25/25 Report, The Fredericksburg Memorials Advisory Commission is Seeking Nominations for the City Wall of Honor, Water Meter Project, Annual Water Disinfection and Flushing, Fire Hydrant Flushing, Community Cleanup Dumpsters will be available March 31 through April 6, Fredericksburg Launches Public Tree Inventory & Management Program – New Online Platform Enhances Urban Forestry Efforts and Community Engagement, Volunteers Welcome, Local Resources to Know, Stay Informed, Mental Health, Wellness & Safety Resource Fair, Arbor Day, 2025 Summer Programs, and FXBG Snapshot. Closed Meeting Approved. Upon a motion Councilor Gerlach, moved approval to convene in closed session for consultation with legal counsel pertaining to actual or probable litigation, specifically pending opioid-related litigation and consultation with legal counsel pertaining to actual or probable litigation, specifically a federal claim in which the City is a potential defendant, in which the city Council is a plaintiff, where such consultation in open session would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of City Council pursuant to Virginia Code §2.2-3711(A)(7); motion was seconded by Vice-Mayor Frye and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7) Councilors Devine, Frye, Finn, Graham, Gerlach, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). Return to Open Meeting Approved. Councilor Graham moved to return to open session; motion was seconded by Councilor Gerlach and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7) Councilors Devine, Frye, Finn, Graham, Gerlach, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). Resolution 25-21, Approved, Certifying Closed Meeting (D25-151). Upon the motion Councilor Graham, approved Resolution 25-21 certifying the closed 22487 Regular Session 03/25/25 meeting; seconded by Councilor Gerlach and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (6) Councilors Devine, Frye, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, Mayor Devine declared the meeting officially adjourned at 8:23p.m. Kerry P. Devine Kerry P. Devine, Mayor Tonya B. Lacey Tonya B. Lacey, Clerk of Council APPROVED 22488 01-09-24 APPROVED