City Council

Regular Session 05/27/25 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 May 27, 2025 The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held a regular session on Tuesday, May 27, 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, Fire Chief Mike Jones, Planning and Building Services Director Michael Craig, Economic Development Director Joshua Summits, Finance Director Amanda Six, Senior Budget Analyst LaToya Marshall-Gronhoff and Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Opening Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. The council was led in prayer by Vice-Mayor Charlie L. Frye, Jr., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Fine’ Swain a student athlete from James Monroe High School. Officer Recognized. Mayor Devine recognized the presence of Lieutenant Jason Dring at this evening’s meeting. 22547 Regular Session 05/27/25 Consent Agenda Accepted for Transmittal as Recommended (D25- 225 thru D25-230). Councilor Gerlach moved approval of the City Manager’s consent agenda; motion was seconded by Councilor Graham and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Devine, Frye, Finn, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). o Community Planning and Building Department Fee Schedule • Ordinance 25-07, Second Read, Amending the Fee Schedule for Planning and Zoning Applications (D25-225). • Ordinance 25-08, Second Read, Amending the Schedule of Fees for Building Services (D25-225). o Resolution 25-31, Second Read, Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Amendment Authorizing the Appropriation of Fiscal Year 2024 Carryovers and Approving Additional Appropriations for Certain Capital Projects (D25-226). o Ordinance 25-09, Second Read, Rezoning Approximately 13.2007 Acres of Land Located in Planning Area 5 from Commercial Shopping Center to Commercial Highway and to Adopt Form-Based Regulations, as Recommended in the Draft Small Area Plan for Area 5 (D25-227). o Resolution 25-35, Authorizing the Purchase of Six Vehicles for Fredericksburg Regional Transit (D25-228). o Resolution 25-36, Amending the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget to Appropriate Funds in the City Grants Fund for Donation made to the FXBG Police Department (D25- 229). 22548 Regular Session 05/27/25 o Transmittal of the Board and Commission Minutes • Architectural Review Board – April 14, 2025 (D25-230). Public Hearing (D25-231). The scheduled public hearing was withdrawn. Citizen Comment. The following comments were given and/or submitted to be read during the citizen comment portion of this evening’s meeting. There was one speaker signed up but she was not present when called upon. Council Agenda Presented. The following items were presented to Council for discussion. 8A. Partner Agencies – Councilor Holmes Partner Agencies. Councilor Holmes stated that when the budget process started she took the partner agency binder home to review and she thought it was cumbersome. She said with Council’s consent she would like to serve with Councilor Finn to come up with a better plan for the partner agency review. Council was in agreement. Adoption of Minutes (D25-232). Councilor Graham moved to approve the September 24, 2024, Work Session minutes, the May 13, 2025, Public Hearing and Regular Session minutes; motion was seconded by Vice-Mayor Frye and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Devine, Frye, Finn, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). Board of Zoning Appeals Appointment – Eileen Faile (D25-233). Councilor Mackintosh moved to appoint Eileen Fairle to the Board of Zoning Appeals; 22549 Regular Session 05/27/25 motion was seconded by Councilor Holmes and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Devine, Frye, Finn, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). Rappahannock Area Community Services Board Appointments – Dr. Clarie Curcio and Jason Parcell (D25-234). Councilor Mackintosh moved to reappoint Dr. Clarie Curcio and Jason Parcell to the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board; motion was seconded by Vice-Mayor Frye and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Devine, Frye, Finn, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). Resolution 25-32, Second Read, Budgeting and Appropriating Funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Beginning July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 (D25-235). After staff presentation Councilor Graham moved to approve Resolution 25-32, on second read, budgeting and appropriating funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 beginning July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026; motion was seconded by Councilor Mackintosh. 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 provides services to students of the City Schools under a grant funded contract with 22550 Regular Session 05/27/25 Fredericksburg Public Schools but she could participate in the budget discussion fairly, objectively and in the public interest. The motion passed by the following unanimously recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Devine, Frye, Finn, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). Citizen Comment. The speaker that was called on earlier in the meeting arrived late and Mayor Devine allowed her to speak. Danea Peckler (D25-236), Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc., 1200 Caroline Street, wished Fredericksburg a Happy Preservation month. She stated that the value that HFFI placed on Fredericksburg’s historic fabric is high. Ms. Peckler said the Comprehensive Plan’s public survey showed that managing growth, preserving the character and historic preservation ranked high among the most important issues. She mentioned that the historic preservation working group had highlighted several goals and some of those goals became key priority tasks for the Council. She was hoping by raising awareness of some of the goals such as establishing a historic preservation advisory committee, funding a citywide historic preservation economic impact study and expanding the financial incentive to support preservation rehabilitation of the City’s older commercial and residential assets would have caused forward achievement. Ms. Peckler stated that little progress had been made on those goals and she expressed her disappointment in the lack of action taken. Resolution 25-37, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Contract with DJG, Inc., for Design and Related Services for Fire Station #3 22551 Regular Session 05/27/25 (D25-237). After staff presentation Councilor Holmes asked why the City would not seek LEED or other sustainable registration for the facility. She wanted clarity on how the City was going to work on its sustainability goals. Deputy City Manager Whitley said the City would be working on the sustainability goals. He explained that the building would be a state-of-the-art efficient building. He added that the certification was not worth the effort. Deputy City Manager Brown reiterated that they would be incorporating various components that would be eligible for consideration for LEED certification, but staff would not pursue the certification because of the time and additional costs to get and to maintain the certification. He said they would incorporate all the necessary components for energy efficiency, potential for solar and other components associated with LEED certification. Councilor Graham asked about billing and Mr. Whitley explained that there would be a monthly invoice. Councilor Gerlach asked staff what was going to happen to the baseball fields and basketball courts. City Manager Baroody said they have a plan that preserves the basketball courts and the current concept for the baseball fields is that they will ask for Council’s support in the Sunshine Foundation fields which are underutilized. He said they would build a more significant complex that will meet the community’s growing need. Mayor Devine asked what would happen with the community garden and Mr. Baroody explained that the current goal was to preserve the garden and the basketball courts. 22552 Regular Session 05/27/25 Councilor Mackintosh said the LEED certification was something the Council put in its goals. He said he did not want to waste money on a certification if it did not get the City anything because it would not be a good use of public funds. He asked staff to return regularly with concrete reports on what are the specific things the City is doing to meet the LEED standards. Councilor Graham moved to approve Resolution 25-37, authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with DJG, Inc., for design and related services for Fire Station #3; motion was seconded by Councilor Holmes and passed by the following unanimously recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Devine, Frye, Finn, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). Resolution 25-38, Approving an Addendum to the Interim Agreement with Ulliman Schutte Construction, LLC for Design Completion of the Upgrade and Expansion of the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (D25-238 thru D25-239). After staff presentation and brief discussion Councilor Graham moved to approve Resolution 25-38, approving an addendum to the Interim Agreement with Ulliman Schutte Construction, LLC for design completion of the upgrade and expansion of the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant; motion was seconded by Councilor Gerlach and passed by the following unanimously recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Devine, Frye, Finn, Gerlach, Graham, Holmes and Mackintosh. Nays (0). City Manager’s Report and Council Calendar (D25-240 thru D25- 241). City Manager Baroody directed the Council’s attention to the Manager’s Update: 22553 Regular Session 05/27/25 Weekend Free Trolley Service Returns to Downtown, Grand Opening Exhibit at The Fredericksburg Area Museum, Renwick Bell Tower Repairs, Tax Deadlines, Stay Safe FXBG, Old Mill Park, City Announces Dixon Park Connector Trail Project to Expand Downtown Trail Network, City Welcomes Sustainability Coordinator and Reports Emissions Reductions, Kick Off Summer with FXBG Parks, Recreation & Events!, Enter in the 2025 FXBG Peeps Show!, United Way Benefit Golf Tournament, Primary Early Voting is Open, Stay Informed, Traffic Safety Initiative, 2025 Summer Programs, and FXBG Snapshot. Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, Mayor Devine declared the meeting officially adjourned at 8:08 p.m. Kerry P. Devine Kerry P. Devine, Mayor Tonya B. Lacey Tonya B. Lacey, Clerk of Council 22554