City Council

AGENDA--CITY COUNCIL -- CITY OF MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA Council Chambers – Municipal Building Closed Session 7:00pm 7:30pm Regular Session Tuesday, July 25, 2017 7:00 – Closed Session Items to be considered in Closed Session, in accordance with the Code of Virginia, Title 2.2, Chapter 37—Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3711(A)—Closed Meetings, the following: A. A personnel matter as authorized by Subsection 1. B. Consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members, attorneys or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation, or other specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by such counsel, as authorized by Subsection 7. 7:30 - Regular Session Invocation & Pledge to the American Flag – Council Member Lawson 1. Consider approval of minutes of the July 11, 2017 (2 mins) 2. Presentation of proclamation regarding Tuesday, August 1, 2017 National Night Out. (5 mins) 3. Hear an update from Police Animal Control (15 mins) 4. Hear an update on the City’s 2017 Strategic Plan (10 mins) 5. Consider setting a schedule and location for FY18 Council neighborhood meetings (10 mins) 6. Consider approval of consent agenda (2 mins) 7. Business from the Floor This section of the Council meeting provides citizens the opportunity to discuss matters, which are not listed on the printed agenda. Thus, any person wishing to bring a matter to Council’s attention under this Section of the agenda should: (1) come to the podium and state name and address; (2) state the matter that they wish to discuss and what action they would like for Council to take; (3) limit remarks to five minutes; (4) refrain from making any personal references or accusations of a factually false and/or malicious nature. Persons who violate these guidelines will be ruled out of order by the presiding officer and will be asked to leave the podium. Persons who refuse to comply with the direction of the presiding officer may be removed from the chambers. 8. Comments by members of City Council. (5 minutes) 9. Comments by City Manager. (5 minutes)  City Council Agenda Summary Meeting Date: July 25, 2017 Item No: 1. Department: Clerk of Council Issue: Consider approval of minutes from the July 11, 2017 Council Meeting Summary: None Attachments: July 11, 2017 Council Meeting minutes Recommendations: Motion to approve minutes as presented. July 11, 2017 The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia was held on July 11, 2017 in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 7:30 PM with Mayor Gene Teague presiding. Council Members present included Gene Teague, Sharon Hodge, Chad Martin, Jennifer Bowles, and Kathy Lawson. Staff present included City Manager Leon Towarnicki, City Attorney Eric Monday, Clerk of Council Karen Roberts, Finance Director Linda Conover, Public Works Manager Chris Morris and Police Chief Eddie Cassady. Mayor Teague called the meeting to order and advised Council would go into Closed Session beginning at 7:00 PM. In accordance with Section 2.1-344 (A) of the Code of Virginia (1950, and as amended) and upon a motion by Council Member Lawson, seconded by Council Member Hodge, with the following 5-0 recorded vote: Mayor Teague, aye; Vice Mayor Martin, aye; Council Member Lawson, aye; Council Member Bowles, aye; and Council Member Hodge, aye. Council Member Bowles arrived at 6:10pm. Council convened in Closed Session to discuss the following matters: (A) A personnel matter as authorized by Subsection 1 and (B) Consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members, attorneys or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation, or other specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by such counsel, as authorized by Subsection 7. At 7:30pm, Mayor Teague recessed 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 the Session. A motion was made by Council Member Lawson, seconded by Council Member Hodge, with the following 5-0 recorded vote in favor to return to Open Session: Council Member Hodge, aye; Mayor Teague, aye; Council Member Lawson, aye; Council Member Bowles, aye; and Vice Mayor Martin, aye. Mayor Teague stated that Closed Session and discussion regarding item (A) would be continued after the regular session. Following the invocation by Council Member Bowles and Pledge to the American Flag, Teague welcomed everyone to the meeting. Present a proclamation honoring Ridgeway resident Kristen “Krissy” Esget for recent accomplishments in the 2017 Warrior Games in Chicago, Illinois – Mayor Teague read the proclamation, which was presented to Esget by Council Members. Esget stated that she appreciated the support from the community and said there was life after her injury by finding her new normal and encouraged others to do the same. July 11, 2017 Consider approval of minutes of the June 13, 2017 and June 27, 2017 – Council Member Bowles asked for a change to be made in the June 27, 2017 minutes, correcting the name to New Heights Foundation participants. Council Member Bowles made a motion to approve the minutes as amended; Council Member Hodge seconded the motion with all in favor. Hear a presentation from Virginia 2-1-1 Regional Outreach Specialist Carissa South – City Manager Towarnicki summarized the purpose of Virginia 2-1-1 and welcomed Carissa South to the meeting. South further explained that Virginia 2-1-1 is a service of the Department of Social Services and connects residents with information on additional community services including contact numbers and documents needed when the residents visit those organizations. The system allows agencies who participate with them to view data on the systems people need and may not be receiving. Council Member Hodge asked if Council could receive that data from Virginia 2-1-1. South said she could pull reports on needs, locations, and what is available in the Martinsville area. Hodge suggested those reports could be helpful when Council works on the Strategic Plan. Virginia 2-1-1 fields approximately 200,000 calls throughout the state each year. Kim Adkins with the United Way will meet with South regarding the Virginia 2-1-1 program to ensure that all information on local organizations is updated by October 2017. South said there is an application process on their website for any organizations wishing to work with Virginia 2-1-1. July 11, 2017 Consider approval on second reading of the Zoning Ordinance with related updates and amendments as approved and recommended by the Planning Commission – City Manager July 11, 2017 Towarnicki said Council approved the Ordinance on first reading at the last meeting. Tonya Rumley, with the Zoning Department provided details on the total calls, visits, and emails with questions with all inquires being satisfied with responses. Council Member Hodge made a motion to approve the ordinance on second reading; Council Member Bowles seconded the motion with the following roll call: Council Member Hodge, aye; Council Member Lawson, aye; Vice Mayor Martin, aye; Council Member Bowles, aye; and Mayor Teague, aye. Hear an update from the Public Works Department regarding various projects and operations – Public Works Director Chris Morris summarized several projects and operations currently being handled by the Public Works department including the Uptown paving and revitalization project. Bridge Street from Main Street to Church Street will become a 2-way street with new traffic lights and stripping. Council Member Bowles expressed concern for workers during nighttime work. Morris advised there would be lights, flaggers, etc. to ensure those worker’s safety. The City received a grant of $160,000 from the Virginia Department of Transportation for the Starling Avenue milling and paving project; this project will be bid out in the upcoming week. Council Member Hodge asked if there was a list of streets being paved and asked for confirmation that the City would continue to maintain those residential streets that are not included. Morris confirmed that those streets would be maintained. Morris shared the street sweeper schedule, the bulk trash pickup and policy requiring resident’s call in their pickup request as well as what items are accepted. Morris described the grass and leaf disposal policy, information on bulk and brush pickup and reminded residents that yard sale signs are not permitted to be attached to any poles or trees in the city. July 11, 2017 Consider approval of consent agenda – Council Member Lawson made a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented; Council Member Bowles seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Business from the Floor – Ural Harris, 217 Stewart Street – residents are still waiting on information regarding the medical school and he would also like an update on why Danville is getting economic development assistance and Martinsville is not; Harris blames that on the article about the Martinsville opioid prescription rating. Patrick Wright, 1201 Spruce Street – offered to help the YMCA and serve as a spokesman. Comments by members of City Council – Council Member Hodge attended the first school board meeting of the year and congratulated Joan Montgomery for being voted Chairman and Donna Dillard for being voted Vice Chairman. Hodge reached out to other educators in the community sharing that there are nine positons still available in the school system. Council Member Bowles congratulated Rob Fincher and Eddie Cassady of the Police Department on their promotions and offered prayers for Ashley Agee’s family. Agee was struck and killed by a drunk driver Sunday. Comments by City Manager – City Manager Towarnicki pointed out important dates on the Council calendar. The Fire Department is working in the Chatham Heights area on the smoke detector installations on Saturday. Towarnicki thanked the Police, Fire, and Inspection departments for their help on a residential situation in the City. At 8:37pm, Mayor Teague explained that Council would resume Closed session. At approximately 9:45pm Council Member Hodge made a motion to return to Open Session; the motion was seconded by Council Member Lawson, with a 5-0 vote in favor. No action was taken from Closed Session. July 11, 2017 There being no further business, Council Member Hodge made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Council Member Bowles with all Council Members voting in favor. The meeting adjourned at 9:45pm. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Karen Roberts Gene Teague Clerk of Council Mayor  City Council Agenda Summary Meeting Date: July 25, 2017 Item No: 2. Department: City Council Issue: Presentation of proclamation regarding Tuesday, August 1, 2017 National Night Out. Summary: Officer Coretha Gravely and captains of several City Neighborhood Watch Groups will be present to accept the proclamation. Attachments: Proclamation Recommendations: Presentation only  PROCLAMATION NATIONAL NIGHT OUT August 1, 2017 WHEREAS, the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) is sponsoring a unique, nationwide crime, drug and violence prevention program on August 1, 2017 entitled “National Night Out”; and WHEREAS, the Annual National Night Out provides a unique opportunity for the City of Martinsville to join forces with thousands of other communities across the country in promoting cooperative, police-community crime prevention efforts; and WHEREAS, Martinsville City Council plays a vital role in assisting the Martinsville Police Department and Sheriff’s Office through joint crime, drug and violence prevention efforts in the City of Martinsville and is supporting “National Night Out 2017” locally; and WHEREAS, it is essential that all citizens of Martinsville be aware of the importance of crime prevention programs and impact that their participation in Neighborhood Watch groups and their community can have on reducing crime, drugs and violence in Martinsville; and WHEREAS, police-community partnerships, neighborhood safety, awareness and cooperation are important themes of the “National Night Out” and Neighborhood Watch programs; NOW, THEREFORE I, Gene Teague, Mayor of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, do hereby call upon all citizens of Martinsville to join City Council and the National Association of Town Watch in supporting the “Annual National Night Out” and do hereby proclaim Tuesday, August 1, 2017 as NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME in the City of Martinsville. ___________________________ Gene Teague Mayor  City Council Agenda Summary Meeting Date: July 25, 2017 Item No: 3. Department: Police Issue: Hear an update from Police Animal Control. Summary: Police Department Animal Control Officer, E. C. Stone, will provide a brief update for City Council on animal control issues in the City. Attachments: None Recommendations: No action by Council is needed – this item is presented for information purposes.  City Council Agenda Summary Date: July 25, 2017 Item No: 4. Department: City Manager Issue: Hear an update on the City’s 2017 Strategic Plan Summary: In March of this year, Council spent considerable time updating the City’s Strategic Plan and changes have since been incorporated into the document. The plan is now available for viewing online and many of the performance measures are now accompanied with notes regarding efforts related to that specific element of the plan. At the July 25 meeting an update of this process will be provided. Attachments: None Recommendations: No action needed by Council. This is being presented for information purposes for Council and the public.  City Council Agenda Summary Date: July 25, 2017 Item No: 5. Department: City Manager Issue: Consider setting a schedule and location for FY18 Council neighborhood meetings. Summary: Council meetings in various neighborhoods throughout the City have been held for a number of years, giving citizens an opportunity to meet with Council in an informal setting and to discuss issues/concerns in their areas. Typically four meetings are held throughout the year at 7:30 pm (preceded by a neighborhood tour) on the Monday prior to Council’s second monthly meeting The following is last year’s schedule with options for other locations for FY18 neighborhood meetings: September 26, 2016-Druid Hills/Uptown TOUR 5:30 pm LAST YEAR at Patrick Henry School THIS YEAR – September 25, 2017; NCI, Library, Forest Hill Presbyterian Church October 24, 2016-Westside Area LAST YEAR at Albert Harris School TOUR 5:00 pm THIS YEAR – October 23, 2017; Albert Harris School March 27, 2017-Northside/Chatham Hts. TOUR 5:30 pm LAST YEAR at Chatham Heights Baptist THIS YEAR – March 26, 2018; Clearview Wesleyan Church, McCabe Church APRIL 24, 2017-Southside TOUR 5:30 pm LAST YEAR at Wesley Memorial Methodist THIS YEAR – April 23, 2018; Fuller Memorial Church Attachments: None Recommended Action: Direct staff to coordinate meetings and locations  City Council Agenda Summary Meeting Date: July 25, 2017 Item No: 6. Department: Finance Issue: Appropriation Approval Summary: The attachment amends the FY17 and FY18 Budgets with appropriations in the following funds: FY17 General Fund: $ 2,660 – reimbursements FY18 School Oper Fund: $ 4,550 – donation Attachments: Consent Agenda 7-15-17 Recommendations: Approve  BUDGET ADDITIONS FOR 07/25/17 ORG OBJECT DESCRIPTION DEBIT CREDIT FY17 General Fund: 01100909 490137 Recovered Costs/Public Safety 2,660 01331108 501300 Sheriff/Corrections - Part-time & Temporary Wages 2,471 01331108 502100 Sheriff/Corrections - Social Security 153 01331108 502110 Sheriff/Corrections - Medicare 36 Reimbursement for security services Total General Fund: 2,660 2,660 FY18 School Operating Fund: 18103919 489904 Donations/Contributions/Private Grants 4,550 51001100 566013 Middle Sch/Elem - Instructional Materials & Supplies 4,550 Donation from Eastman - MathElites Total School Operating Fund: 4,550 4,550