City Council

January 8, 2013 The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, was held on January 8, 2013, in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 7:30 PM, with Mayor Kim Adkins presiding. Council Members present included: Mayor Kim Adkins, Vice Mayor Gene Teague, Mark Stroud, Danny Turner and Sharon Brooks Hodge. Staff present included: Leon Towarnicki, Interim City Manager, Brenda Prillaman, Eric Monday, Linda Conover, Wayne Knox and Mike Rogers. Following the invocation by Mayor Kim Adkins and Pledge to the American Flag, the Mayor welcomed everyone to the meeting and announced that 2 addendum items have been added to the agenda. The Mayor also recognized Scouts present who are working on merit badges. Minutes: On a motion by Gene Teague, seconded by Mark Stroud, with a 5-0 vote, Council approved the minutes of the November 13, 2012, November 26, 2012 tour, and November 26, 2012 Neighborhood meetings. Finance Report: Linda Conover presented the following finance report: exclusive of School and Special Revenue funds, actual revenues were $14,130,096, representing 103.2% of the anticipated $13,689,825 through October 31st. Actual expenditures were $21,482,234, greater than the anticipated amount by $2,056,850. The “actual” figures include all outstanding encumbrances and most of those funds may not have really been spent yet, but must be considered as such. Reflecting three months collections, Local Sales/Use Taxes collected through October 31st are slightly ahead of what was anticipated by $37,808. If all budgeted and re-appropriated funds for FY13 are realized and expended, the projected fund balance is $10,726,531 – a decrease from FY12 year-end of $14,304,232. Exclusive of Utility Funds and based upon this projection, the unassigned Fund Balance would be $2,003,653, 6.6% of the budgeted General Fund expenditures for FY13. On a motion by Gene Teague, seconded by Danny Turner, with a 5-0 vote, Council approved the finance report. Victim Witness recognition: Commonwealth Attorney Joan Ziglar briefed Council on the recent recognition received by the Martinsville Victim Witness Program and introduced Mary Ware, Director of the VA Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund. Ms. Ware presented the award to Vicky Belcher, Director, and Gwen Howell, Assistant Director, of the Martinsville Victim Witness Assistance Program for excellence noting that Martinsville’s Program was chosen from among 105 programs in Virginia. Consent Agenda: On a motion by Gene Teague, seconded by Mark Stroud, with a 5-0 vote, Council approved the following consent agenda: BUDGET ADDITIONS FOR 1/8/13 ORG OBJECT DESCRIPTION DEBIT CREDIT FY13 General Fund: 01100905 450209 Revenue from Use of Money/Prop - Surplus 2,700 01322105 503320 Emergency Medical Services - Prof Serv Equip Maint 370 01322105 506104 Emergency Medical Services - Non-capital Equip 2,330 Sales of Hurst Tools through GovDeals for Ambulance Equipment 01101917 442810 Categorical Other State - Highway Projects 183,578 01413151 503140 Thorofare Construction - Prof Serv - Utility Relocation 262 01413151 508220 Thorofare Construction - Physical Plant Expansion 183,316 Liberty St & Rives Rd project funding 01102925 436103 Non-categorical Federal - Police/Byrne/JAG Grant 4,701 01311085 506082 Police Dept - Byrne/JAG Grant Program 4,701 Grant funding 01102926 436427 Categorical Federal - Org Crime/Drug Enf Task Force 772 01311085 501219 Police Dept - OCDETF Overtime 772 Grant funding Total General Fund: 191,751 191,751 Set public hearing on updated transportation priorities: Leon Towarnicki briefed Council on updated transportation priorities previously approved by Council and advised a public hearing will need to be set to satisfy VDOT requirements for the update priorities to be included in VDOT’s FY2014-2019 Six-Year January 8, 2013 Improvement Plan. On a motion by Gene Teague, seconded by Mark Stroud, with a 5-0 vote, Council set the public hearing for January 22, 2013 to allow for citizen input and to adopt a resolution confirming any changes. Skateboarding issues: City Attorney Eric Monday briefed Council on his research on skateboarding ordinance issue. At present the only city ordinance on skating/skateboarding makes it a Class 4 misdemeanor for anyone over 14 to skate on city sidewalks. The issue of skateboarding and, in particular, destruction of private property has arisen, primarily in the Uptown area. He pointed out the staff recommendation would be to ban skateboarding in the Uptown/Historic overlay area. After lengthy discussion, Council authorized, by consensus, the city attorney to draft an ordinance to amend the current skateboarding ordinance with a $50 penalty for Council consideration at the January 22, 2013 meeting. Council will also hold a public input period on January 22nd on the skateboarding issue. FY14 Budget process schedule: Leon Towarnicki reviewed with Council the proposed FY14 budget process schedule. Council agreed on April 11, 2013 as target date for presentation of budget to Council. Council requested worksessions be arranged for outside agencies including mandated agencies, schools, departmental reviews, and a capital worksession. FY2013 CEDS list approval: Wayne Knox briefed Council on the annual update for the 2013 Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) which is required to be submitted to the West Piedmont Planning District Commission. After lengthy discussion, a motion was made by Mark Stroud, seconded by Sharon Hodge, with a 5-0 vote, to approve the amended CEDS list: COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY PRIORITY PROJECTS April 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014 ENVIRON- NO. PRIORI TY FUNDING MENTAL OF PROJECT /TYPE DESCRIPTION SOURCE AMOUNT TOTAL IMPACT JOBS Revitalization of Uptown Incentivize small businesses (interior Busi- 1 - III makeover/elevator) EDA $900,000 $900,000 Positive 80 ness District - City of Martins- ville Revitalization of Uptown Busi- 1 - II Construct/ retrofit condos in Uptown EDA $1,00,000 $2,00,000 Positive 15 ness District DHCD $300,000 VHDA $500,000 City $200,000 Commonwealth Crossing Establishment of new 740 - acre Business 1-I regional industrial park VTC $5,000,000 $16,500,000 NA 500-1000 Center - Henry County & and Enterprise Zone in the Route 220 City of South corridor. Local $10,000,000 grading of lots 1 and 2; entrance; road Martinsville development; Other $1,500,000 stormwater, environmental measures Neighborhood Housing rehab; creation of community Revitalization Project 2 - IV space CDBG $1,000,000 $1,250,000 Positive Indirect Northside Neighborhod - City of Martinsville Community Development Upgrade electrical capacity at Project 2 - IV Clearview Business Park EDA $100,000 $100,000 Positive 25 City of Martinsville Henry Hotel Rehabilitation - City of 1-1 Rehab bulding for mixed use Local $425,000 $3,925,000 Positive Indirect VCC / Martinsville VHDA $3,500,000 January 8, 2013 Phoenix CDC Uptown Construction of a new Mixed - Use 2-I residential/commercial structure VCC $3,000,000 $3,000,000 Positive Indirect Central Business District- City of with off - street parking Martinsville Community Development Construction of new Academic Project - 1-I Building- Baldwin Block CDBG $700,000 $15,000,000 Positive Indirect CDBG - Martinsville Area & Central Local $300,000 Business District - City of Martinsville Other $14,000,000 Community Development Purchase blighted properties, prepare Brownfi Projects - 1 - IV site - for develop- eld $400,000 $825,000 Unknown 100/ Indirect Martinsville Area & Central ment (Draper - West Church Street) - Business City of EDA $325,000 District - City of Martinsville Martinsville City $100,000 Community Development Rives Road Site Development- full site Project 1 - III development EDA $1,400,000 $1,400,000 Positive 400 Martinsville Area & Central Business including A & E, site grading District- City of Martinsville Community Development Further develop 20 acre lots- at Projects 1 - III Clearview Business Park EDA $750,000 $750,000 Positive 200+ to prepare for companies- Parcels 2 & City of Martinsville 5 Community Development Adaptive reuse of historical building on Project- 1 -III Fayette Street- VHDA $500,000 $1,500,000 Positive 100 Martinsville Area & Central Business Paradise Inn EDA $800,000 District - City of Martinsville VTC $200,000 Community Development Recruit manufacturers of Clean Energy Develop- 1-V Components to EDA $100,000 $100,000 Positive Indirect ment Projects - City of Martinsville Martinsville Area and Enterprise Zone Community Development Upgrade, widen, and landscape Beaver Project - 1 - III Street from ISTEA $800,000 $850,000 Positive Indirect Martinsville Area and Central Fayette Street to Memorial Blvd - City Business of Martinsville VHDA $50,000 District Community Development Prepare City - owned site at corner of Project- 1 - III Fayette & Beaver Sts EDA $300,000 $500,000 Positive Indirect Martinsville Area & Central for residential, educational or Business commercial development - Local $200,000 Martinsville Area and Central Business District District- City of Martinsville Community Development Conduct arts & cultural assessment at Project- 1-I corner of Starling & NEA $70,000 $140,000 Positive Indirect Martinsville Area & Central Business Market Streets Harvest $70,000 District Business from floor: Dr. Mervyn King, Jones St.- updated Council on deluxe apartments he is working on at Walnut St. and encouraged promotion of retirees to live Uptown; Ethan Harr-Wedgewood Rd., Ridgeway- apologized for skateboarder kids who have been disrespectful and asked Council to consider option for fixing the water retention issue at the Wilson Park skatepark; Chad Martin-reported on canned food drive, noted that January is National Poverty Awareness Month, advised community gardens will soon be gearing up and he is partnering with city parks & recreation, and MLK celebration is this Saturday; Tony Millner-inquired about a joint meeting of Harvest and City Council which was announced in the Grace Presbyterian church bulletin. January 8, 2013 Council comments: Turner-reported he has spoken with Delegate Merricks about contacting the Attorney General regarding the city getting into cable business; Mayor Adkins pointed out a fiber optic worksession is set for January 30; City Attorney Eric Monday noted it would be preferred by the Attorney General’s office to have a specific request from Council; Council directed the City Attorney to contact the Comcast attorney; Stroud- expressed good wishes for the new year; Teague-asked Mr. Towarnicki to have staff address the water retention issue at the skatepark; Hodge-noted volunteers are needed for homeless population survey and she will email information on this to Mr. Towarnicki for MGTV and she encouraged participation in area MLK activities. Interim City Manager comments: Mr. Towarnicki reported a Council worksession is set for January 30, 2013 at 6:00pm. Closed Session: In accordance with Section 2.1-344 (A) of the Code of Virginia (1950, and as amended) and upon a motion by Gene Teague, seconded by Sharon Hodge, with the following 5-0 recorded vote: Adkins, aye; Teague, aye; Stroud, aye; Hodge, aye; and Turner, aye, Council convened in Closed Session, for the purpose of discussing the following matter: (A) Appointments to Boards and Commissions as authorized by Subsection 1. (B) A personnel matter as authorized by Subsection 1. At the conclusion of Closed Session, each returning member of Council certified that (1) only public business matters exempt from open meeting requirements were discussed in said Closed Session; and (2) only those business matters identified in the motion convening the Closed Session were heard, discussed, or considered during Session on a motion by Mark Stroud, seconded by Sharon Hodge, with the following recorded 5-0 vote: Adkins, aye; Hodge, aye; Teague, aye; Stroud, aye; and Turner, aye. Board appointments action taken: On a motion by Danny Turner, seconded by Sharon Hodge, with a 5-0 vote, Council re-appointed Ashby Pritchett, 715 Corn Tassel Trail, to a 3-year term ending 3/31/15 on the Architectural Review Board. On a motion by Mark Stroud, seconded by Gene Teague, with a 5-0 vote, Council re-appointed Kris Shrader, 65 W. Church St., to a 3-year term ending 1/31/16 on the Western VA EMS Council. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:15 pm. _______________________________ __________________________ Brenda Prillaman Kim Adkins Clerk of Council Mayor