Town and Gown Committee

T O W N A ND G OWN C O M M I T T E E M E E T I N G 1 2 : 0 0 PM T U E S D A Y , A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 2 0 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE ROOM H AMPTON C ITY H A L L 2 2 L I N C O L N S T R E E T , 5 TH F L O O R MINUTES I. Call to Order – Chair Tripp called the meeting to order at 12:12pm II. Roll Call Present: Ann Bane, Steve Bond, Mark Crump, Steve Lynch, Darren Robinson, Donnie Tuck, Elizabeth “Lizz” Yimer, Raymond Tripp Electronic: Beth Dickens, Anzell Harrell, Bill Thomas Absent: Novelle Dickenson, Naima Ford, Mary Fugere, Giuseppe Giaimo, Evelyn Graham, Kellie Goral, Eric Harrell, Valencia Huggins, Jonathan Mack, Dan Mackey, Steve Mallon, Richard Mason, Robin McCormick, Bob McKenna, Nakia Peek, Charrita Quimby, Pamela Richardson, Jeffery Smith, and Toni Williams III. Vote to Hold Electronic Meeting – Steve Bond read “Resolution of the Town and Gown Committee of the City of Hampton, Virginia adopting an Electronic Meeting Policy” advising of the following reasons for attending the meeting electronically: 1. Temporary or permanent disability, or other medical condition that prevents the member’s physical attendance; or 2. An emergency or personal matter provided the member identifies with specificity the nature of the emergency or personal matter. Electronic participation pursuant to this subdivision (ii) by each member shall be limited to two meetings per year and the committee members physically present voted unanimously to adopt the policy. Donnie Tuck motioned to allow Mr. Thomas and Ms. Dickens to join the meeting electronically, Steve Lynch seconded, and the motion carried unanimously Bill Thomas participated electronically from his office at Hampton University and claimed exemption option 1; Beth Dickens participated from her office at Thomas Nelson Community College and claimed exemption option 1;; Anzell Harrell joined the meeting electronically at 12:24pm and claimed exemption option 1; Steve Lynch motioned to allow Mr. Harrell to join the meeting electronically, Mark Crump seconded, and the motion passed unanimously IV. Approve March 10 , 2020 Meeting Minutes – Steve Lynch motioned to accept the meeting minutes as presented, Steve Bond seconded, and the motion passed unanimously V. Strategic Direction Subcommittees Goals & Objectives Update 1. Communications/Community Engagement – Brenda Bailey shared a report received via email from Mary Fugere with statistics related to messaging ads delivered by a Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau vendor and provided a very basic summary of the information. Brenda will forward the electronic version of the report to the committee 2. Economic Development/Student Retention – Steve Lynch advised the group, who has not met in several months, had previously planned a pep rally and internship fair but both were canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. The subcommittee hopes to meet again as soon as possible to resume their work VI. Updates since the March 10, 2020 meeting  Steve Lynch advised the City has closed on the Goodyear site project (WVS) on Settlers Landing Road in Downtown Hampton and anticipate construction will begin in 30 days; the new AREC project at 15 Rudd Lane will close August 13 on a $9M, 22K square foot building for which all site and building plans have been approved; the Lumen Apartments in Hampton Roads Center North are accepting tenants and the planned retail project is moving forward; Monroe Gates Apartments in Phoebus already has a waiting list of 90 potential tenants and there is a grand opening planned for December 2020; area developers are taking advantage of low interest rates and moving forward with projects despite the Corona virus impacts, Economic Development staff have been conducting virtual tours of available sites; demolition of the former Quality Inn site is progressing in anticipation of the relocation of Verizon antenna towers  Steve Bond noted that facing uncertain & unprecedented times has highlighted the need for community and community relationships; he reminded the group that peak hurricane season is September and all protocols have been adjusted to include COVID-19 protocols; CARES funds are on the agenda for August 12 City Council meeting; he ended with a reminder to please be kind and empathetic when dealing with others during this time of heightened uncertainty  Mark advised his agency hosted a school supply drive Saturday, August 8 in order to have supplies ready when needed; Kroger will be donating an additional $1,000 of supplies  Mayor Tuck stated he has been holding community conversations with City stakeholders where he has learned that, in some respects, Hampton is not as healthy as we would like to think when considering what are young people doing during the COVID-19 shutdown; while he believes we will come through this difficult period together, some things in the pipeline are being adapted to provide vibrancy  Darren noted Habitat for Humanity has been postponed to spring of 2021, Hampton 101 may be held electronically, and no decision has been made about Codes Academy; he congratulated Beth Dickens on her promotion to Assistant Professor at Thomas Nelson Community College  Ann gave kudos to everyone’s inspiring messages today; Hampton City Schools 2020 commencement was remarkable and the community came out to support the graduates in a big way; the data regarding COVID-19 statistics prompted a decision to only provide virtual classes for fall 2020; virtual summer school was very successfully completed; the 21st Century Learning Centers program (federally funded) identified twelve Hampton schools for four grants to fund case studies  Lizz noted the Thomas Nelson Community College (TNCC) virtual commencement offered six international speakers’ sessions; fall classes at TNCC will be held virtually with some hybrid options (i.e.: laboratories); the virtual studio will host podcasts and webinars that will broadcast from TNCC campus; a societal and justice committee was formed to explore and implement necessary changes on campus   Beth advised the search for a new TNCC President is ongoing and she anticipates an update at the Town Hall meeting on Monday, August 17; technical programs will be conducted on campus with social distancing observed; the virtual commencement ceremony is available now on YouTube  Anzell announced that all Hampton University classes will be virtual; the student leader 12-hour retreat was held virtually; a new Student Government Association president will be announced; the freshman election was conducted via Zoom and email and all elections will be held virtually; as many student activities as possible will be conducted virtually with student input  Bill noted that all sports are postponed to spring session; General Assembly is reconvening and COVID-19 has exposed disparity of race as African Americans are heavily impacted by respiratory infections so we must act to bring racial injustice to an end; the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel has prompted the tern population at Fort Wool to relocate to campus and Hampton University is asking for assistance from the City of Hampton to mitigate the situation; Hampton University weather research center stands ready to assist the City with forecasting of hurricane and storm events  Raymond advised the Coliseum Central Business Improvement District (BID) has been speaking with business owners and tenants out of great concern for the financial instability resulting from COVID-19 closures; the BID has pivoted leftover marketing funds to feed Sentara first responders and providing masks to high risk citizens and employees; the 2020 graduation was highlighted by a vendor who framed pictures of students and sent them out virtually; CARES funds were utilized to provide restaurants with hand sanitizer; a planned blood drive was postponed to August; Kroger will sponsor the Mayflower Marathon this year; the Neighborhood Night Out will feature videos from vendors and sponsors; the Thanksgiving holiday parade will be virtual this year with a Saturday kickoff and will run through to Christmas with a planned extravaganza which may include drive-in family themed movies thanks to the Coliseum Central BID staff VII. Next Meeting: September 8, 2020 5 TH F LOOR C O M M U N ITY D E V E L O P M E N T C O N F E R E N C E R O O M VIII. Adjourn – there being no further business, the meeting was adjourned