City Council

Public Hearing 04/15/25 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 April 15, 2025 The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held a public hearing on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, beginning at 7:00 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, Finance Director Amanda Six, Senior Budget Analyst LaToya Marshall-Gronhoff and Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Notice of Public Hearings (D25-178 thru D25-183). The Clerk read the notice of the public hearings as it appeared in the local newspaper, the purpose being to solicit citizen input. Disclosures. Vice-Mayor Frye disclosed that his wife was employed by the Fredericksburg City Public School System, but he could participate in the budget discussion 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 22511 Public Hearing 04/15/25 provide services to students of the City Schools under a grant funded contract with Fredericksburg Public Schools but she could participate in the budget discussion fairly, objectively and in the public interest. Fiscal Year 2026 Recommended Operating and Capital Budget (D25- 178 thru D25-181). Proposed Increase in Water & Sewer Rates and Fees (D25-178 thru D25-181). Proposed Increase in Real Estate Tax (D25-178 thru D25-181). Finance Director Six presented a PowerPoint presentation and in her presentation, she discussed the following: Fiscal Year 2026 General Fund Expenditures, School Funding, Fiscal Year 2026 General Fund Revenues, Revenue Highlights, City Council Budget Adjustments, and Public Working Sessions for Budget Review. Laurie Webb (D25-182), Executive Director of SPCA, 10819 Courthouse Road, 22408, stated that the SPCA plays a vital role in the City and throughout Planning District 16. She said there was a growing problem with at-risk and unwanted animals increasing causing a burden on services and presenting health risk to the population. Ms. Webb said they could help by focusing on spaying, neutering, vaccinating and educating. She said without the SPCA the full weight would fall on the City and its taxpayers. More than 16 percent of the families enrolled in the P.E.T.S. programs are from the City. The P.E.T.S. program helps families in crisis by offering safe haven shelters, subsidized vet care and pet food and supply through their pantry delivery 22512 Public Hearing 04/15/25 program. She said they do this to reduce the number of animals that come to the shelter. She asked the Council for full support of their funding request. David Cooper (D25-183), Director of the Thurman Brisben Center, 471 Central Road, thanked the Council for its support of the Brisben Center for the past 36 years. He said there were 250 considered homeless, 1,000 homeless school children and 152 of those are in City Schools, 43 live in hotels, 31 in shelters, 78 are in overcrowded housing. Mr. Cooper said that 32% of those served are children and he requested the Council to hold their request at $80,000 and increase it by another $40,000. Another reason he asks for this increase it that 36% of the women are exposed to domestic violence and were fleeing from it. Ann Kloeckner, Executive Director of Legal Aid Works, has been serving the area since 1973. She thanked the Council for its unwavering support. She asked for level funding. The three full-time attorneys and one part-time attorney cover 5 counties and 15 courts in Planning District 16. Ms. Kloeckner said they are the only agency providing this service. In the City, there are 3,902 eligible people who qualify for their services. More people have slipped into poverty and are eligible for their services, creating an increased demand for legal expertise. She said they help the government in three ways: by taking the strain off social services, they help the courts run efficiently and they aid in law enforcement. Last year they helped 133 City residents, some of which were domestic violence. 22513 Public Hearing 04/15/25 Tommy Mitchell, 312 Sophia Street, asked the Council for consideration of the Real Estate Tax increase. He said he was speaking for several downtown property owners to include: the Sales, the Jarrell’s, the Wilson’s, the Janney’s, the Constantine’s and himself. They were concerned with the assessments and the proposed $.06 tax increase. He said some of the tenants were not doing well and the landlords must charge the tenants the increases that are imposed or they would have to absorb them. He said it is difficult to do either. Mr. Mitchell said with the assessments and the $.06 it is hard to bear. He asked the Council to consider that the downtown was a very vibrant place but to build and renovate is expensive and this cost is passed down to the tenants. Joe Wilson, 913 Caroline Street, thanked the Council on behalf of the Board of the SPCA for reinstating the $5000. He said the animals only have humans to look out for them. He said as one of the larger real estate taxpayers in the city he echoed Mr. Mitchell’s comments about the increase in real estate taxes. Powell Sales, 1022 Albert Rennolds Drive, said his father bought many of the properties downtown during the time when things were dead downtown. He said he was concerned with the recent reassessment and the increase of $.06 on the taxes. Mr. Sale said they try to keep their rates low, and they try to absorb the increases. He asked the Council to give as much of a break as it could. Candice Armstrong, 434 Bridgewater Street, Executive Director of Virginia Community Food Connections, expressed gratitude for the money allocated over the years and especially for the level funding for the FY26 budget. She said they provide 22514 Public Hearing 04/15/25 tokens at the farmer’s market to allow people to use their SNAP benefits for fruits and vegetables. Adjourned. There being no speakers to come before the Council at this time, Mayor Kerry P. Devine declared the hearing officially adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Kerry P. Devine Kerry P. Devine, Mayor Tonya B. Lacey Tonya B. Lacey, Clerk of Council, MMC APPROVED 10-10-23 22515 Public Hearing 04/15/25 [This page intentionally left blank] 22516