City Council

December 8, 2020 Council Meeting The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia was held on December 8, 2020 in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 7:30 PM with Mayor Kathy Lawson presiding. Other Council Members present included Jim Woods, Danny Turner, Jennifer Bowles and Chad Martin. Staff present included City Manager Leon Towarnicki, Assistant City Manager/City Attorney Eric Monday, Clerk of Council Karen Roberts, Finance Director Linda Conover, Assistant Finance Director Mandy McGhee, Community Development Director Mark McCaskill and Police Chief Eddie Cassady. Mayor Lawson called the meeting to order. Following the Pledge to the American Flag and invocation by Council Member Woods, Mayor Lawson welcomed everyone to the meeting. She explained that the meeting would follow COVID guidelines and recognized social distancing recommendations. Approve minutes for the November 10, 2020 Meeting – Council Member Bowles and Council Member Turner stated that they did not receive a copy of the minutes and asked if the approval of these could be moved to the next meeting allowing them time to review. Recognize City Employees who are eligible for Service Awards for the Period October 1 – December 31, 2020 – City Manager Towarnicki recognized the following employees and their years of service. Recognition of outgoing Council Member Jim Woods for his service to the citizens of Martinsville as a Council Member from August 2018 through December 2020 – Mayor Lawson recognized Council Member Woods for his service on City Council and read a proclamation in his honor. Mayor Lawson and Council Members presented Woods a key to the City in addition to other gifts of appreciation. Lawson opened the floor for any comments. Ralph Lawson, 909 Barrows Mill Road shared appreciation from the Martinsville Exchange Club for Woods participation and assistance. City Manager Towarnicki shared a story about Woods from a December 8, 2020 Council Meeting previous VML conference where Woods stood up and boldly sang the National Anthem. Dan Woods, former Martinsville resident and Council Member Woods’ father said the family is very proud of Council Member Woods for his service on Council and of his continued service to the public. He is a good citizen and the best is yet to be. Council Member Bowles told Woods that it had been a pleasure to get to know him and work with him; she loves his creative side and he inspired her to participate in Dancing with the Arts. Woods is a highly intelligent man and she wishes him all the best. Vice Mayor Martin said Woods genuinely cares about people. Martin shared that Wood looks at people and their heart, not their color or religion; Martin shared a quote by Theodore Roosevelt in honor of Woods. Mayor Lawson thanked Woods for serving the City. Woods service has enriched the meetings since he has been on Council. Woods says it has been an honor to serve the City and he thanked former Mayor Teague and current Council Members for their support and in guiding him in his position. Hear a report from Robinson Farmer Cox Associates on the City’s FY20 audit – Michael Lupton, representative of RFC Associates directed Council to the Independent Auditor’s report while he summarized the FY20 audit of City funds and financial procedures. In FY2020, no significant deficiencies or weaknesses were documented. Lupton commended the City staff, the finance department and City departments for their assistance and for being forthcoming and providing all requested information to complete the audit. Hear an update from Uptown Partnership – City Manager Towarnicki said the timing of the Uptown Partnership group is perfect and there is a lot of buzz and well-needed energy for redevelopment in Uptown. Lee Prillaman and Natalie Hodge, representatives of Uptown Partnership presented a PowerPoint to update Council on the organization’s purpose, who’s December 8, 2020 Council Meeting involved, 2020 activities, the organization’s progress so far, and what they look to accomplish with the Main Street program. Wayne Draper updated Council on the TAD Center located in the former Rucker Plaza. Draper encourages uptown activity and visiting other uptown businesses when residents visit the TAD Center. Tammy Pearson highlighted her business Shindig located at 37 East Main Street and the updates at that location including the installation of a garage door allowing an open-air concept to the building. Pearson shared that brunch will be offered at Shindig and at her other business, Wild Magnolia. Hodge said they look for opportunities to assist local businesses with attractive business fronts and street appeal. Prillaman shared some information obtained by a secret shopper and their suggestions to make Uptown more appealing. December 8, 2020 Council Meeting ADDENDUM Consider an appropriation from the General Fund to transfer to the Capital (16) Fund to cover City capital needs - City Manager Towarnicki explained the need to transfer these funds including emergency work on the Sheriff’s Department roof and necessary departmental vehicle repairs. Council Member Woods made a motion to approve the appropriation. Council Member Bowles seconded the motion. All Council Members voted in favor. Consider adoption on second reading, Ordinance 2020-6, adding J&DR Court to section 1- 16 of the City Code regarding charging courthouse security fees – City Attorney Monday explained the need for the ordinance which was in place previously for the General District and Circuit Court. Council Member Bowles made a motion to adopt the ordinance on second reading. Council Member Bowles seconded the motion with the following 5-0 roll call vote: Council Member Woods, aye; Council Member Bowles, aye; Vice Mayor Martin, aye; Council Member Turner, aye; and Mayor Lawson, aye. December 8, 2020 Council Meeting Hear information regarding Historic Tax Credits – City Attorney Monday presented details on the Historic Tax Credits and how those may be used to assist with financing local projects in historic buildings or those locations with historic architecture. Monday detailed the requirements to be considered a contributing structure. Martinsville has several historic districts with locations that could qualify for those credits. The City has applied for grants that could assist with beautification of entryways in those historic buildings. If a location qualifies for tax credits, those credits could pay for up to 45% of the cost of the beautification project for income producing locations or 20% on projects that are private properties or non-income producing locations. There is also the opportunity to sell those tax credits to help pay for out- of-pocket expenses. Historic tax credits are not a DIY project, the application process is complicated and lengthy and he encourages residents to hire a firm with experience to complete the process correctly. Consider information related to the 2021 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) list – Community Development Director Mark McCaskill directed Council to the Proposed Project Addition page of the CEDS report and summarized those requests. Mayor Lawson asked that “curb and gutter” be added to the revitalization of Amy Avenue. Vice Mayor Martin suggested a space for a pull-in park and the Local Foods/Local Places space if there is any partnership to create a fresh fruit and vegetable park. Council Member Bowles asked that entrance corridors and corridors Uptown should be added. Bowles made a motion to approve the CEDS list as amended. Vice Mayor Martin seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. December 8, 2020 Council Meeting Consider information related to the City proposed 2021 Legislative Agenda – City Attorney Monday pointed out #8 which was added at the request of Council Member Bowles, regarding school resource officers. Monday detailed steps to a referendum if Council chose to make Charter changes later. Council Member Turner made the motion that the City should have the final decision within the City if new state laws are passed related to legalizing marijuana. Council Member Bowles seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Vice Mayor Martin made a motion to ask the General Assembly to change the name Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day. Council Member Bowles seconded the motion with the following voice vote: Martin and Bowles, aye; Turner, Lawson, and Woods, nay. Council Member December 8, 2020 Council Meeting Turner made a motion to approve the Legislative Agenda as amended. Council Member Bowles seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. December 8, 2020 Council Meeting Consider approval of consent agenda – Vice Mayor Martin 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 – No requests for comment were received Comments by City Council – Council Member Turner and others will be visiting Arlington Cemetery to place wreaths on Martinsville veteran graves and will be recognizing ten others at local cemeteries. Council Member Bowles wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and hopes everyone will be safe. Bowles wished a happy belated birthday to Council Member Turner. Bowles asked if Skyline was doing annual tree trimming on behalf of the City and wanted to December 8, 2020 Council Meeting thank them for that. Vice Mayor Martin attended a funeral for a local youth who committed suicide, his heart goes out to the family. He encourages residents to visit New College website to get information on some amazing new programs and certifications. Mayor Lawson called the fire department recently for concerns she had at home; she wanted to thank them for their professionalism and problem-solving skills. Lawson thanked Council Member Woods, Council Member Turner and City Manager Towarnicki for helping with flags put out for Pearl Harbor Day. She and Council Member Turner participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony at Racers Edge Car Wash, she welcomed them to the area. Effective January 1, laws will change where you can not hold any electrical device such as cell phones in your hand while driving. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and she hopes residents will be safe. There will be no other Council meetings in December. Comments by the City Manager – City Manager Towarnicki updated Council on the CARES funding to help City utility customers who have agreed to a payment plan. Those funds must be spent by the end of 2020. There was around $115,000 used as of last week. The utility assistance program cutoff is Friday. There was a municipal utilities fund which was made available, the application was quickly submitted and he received notification that the City will receive another $205,000 which will need to be distributed by the end of the year to assist in delinquent utility accounts. Those funds can not be used on accounts with payment plans or delinquent accounts prior to March 2020. Any money not spent would need to be returned. There being no further business, Council Member Bowles made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Council Member Turner with all Council Members voting in favor. The meeting adjourned at 9:40pm ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Karen Roberts Kathy Lawson Clerk of Council Mayor