City Council

AGENDA--CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA Council Chambers – Municipal Building 3:30pm Closed Session 7:00pm Regular Session Tuesday May 23, 2023 3:30 – 5:30 pm - 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. Discussion, consideration, or interviews of prospective candidates for employment, as authorized by Subsection 1. 5:30 – 6:00 pm - RECESS 6:00 pm – Reconvene 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. Appointment to Boards and Commissions as authorized by Subsection 1. B. Discussion of the award of a public contract involving the expenditure of public funds, including interviews of bidders or offerors, and discussion of the terms or scope of such contract, where discussion in an open session would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body, as authorized by Subsection 29 7:00 pm - Regular Session Pledge to the American Flag and Invocation by Council Member Pearson 1. Recognize a student from Martinsville Middle School’s 7th grade class as Virginia Municipal League’s Region 2 winner of the 2023 “If I Were Mayor” essay contest. (10 mins) 2. Present awards to Martinsville Middle School students who recently participated in Virginia Municipal League’s “If I Were Mayor Contest.” (10 mins) 3. Consider setting a public hearing for Council’s June 13, 2023 meeting for the purpose of receiving names of citizens interested in appointments for two 3-year terms ending June 30, 2026, and one unexpired 3-year term ending on June 30, 2024 on the Martinsville City School Board. (5 mins) 4. Conduct a Public Hearing on the City’s FY23-24 Budget and consider approval of Budget Ordinance 2023-U-1 on first reading. (30 mins) 5. Business from the Floor - The public comment portion of the Council meeting provides citizens the opportunity to discuss matters relevant to the operation of the City, which are not listed on the printed agenda. Citizens who wish to participate in a meeting’s public comment period may do so by emailing their comments to Karen Roberts, Clerk of Council, at kroberts@ci.martinsville.va.us, calling in their comments to 276-403-5182, faxing comments to 276-403-5280,or mailing comments to City of Martinsville, attn.: Karen Roberts, P.O. Drawer 1112, Martinsville, VA 24114. Comments must be received by 12:00noon Monday May 22, 2023. Citizens may also request to speak at the Council meeting in the same manner. Comments, or a request to speak, must be received by noon the day before a Council meeting for consideration by Council at the meeting. Any person submitting comments or requesting to speak must identify themselves by name and address, including zip code, limit their remarks to 3 minutes or less (as read aloud), address a topic of City business, and refrain from making any personal references or accusations of a factually false and/or malicious nature. Priority for comments is given to City residents, taxpayers, and business owners. Speakers may not yield time. Groups of speakers on the same topic must designate a single representative. Comments violating these rules may not be presented at the Council meeting. Any speaker violating these rules may be removed from the podium or from the Council chamber. This policy does not apply to public hearings, at which any citizen of Martinsville may appear and speak on the subject of the public hearing. 6. Comments by members of City Council. (5 mins) 7. Comments by City Manager. (5 mins)  City Council Agenda Summary Date: May 23, 2023 Item No: 1. Department: City Council Issue: Recognize a student from Martinsville Middle School’s 7th grade class as Virginia Municipal League’s Region 2 winner of the 2023 “If I Were Mayor” essay contest. Summary: Each fall the Virginia Municipal League (VML) invites students from VML member municipalities enrolled in the 7th grade to participate in its “If I Were Mayor” essay contest. The theme-based essays describe what the student would do as mayor to make their communities great places to live. Martinsville Middle School’s 7th grade class submitted entries to this contest with the eventual winning essay from Region 2 coming from Martinsville Middle School student William Wall. William is the 4th MMS student to win this award. A representative from Virginia Municipal League will be attending the meeting to present the award. Attachments: None Recommendation: In addition to the award presented by VML, also present an award certificate on behalf of Council.  City Council Agenda Summary Date: May 23, 2023 Item No: 2. Department: City Council Issue: Present awards to Martinsville Middle School students who recently participated in Virginia Municipal League’s “If I Were Mayor Contest.” Summary: Each fall the Virginia Municipal League (VML) invites Virginia 7th grade students from member municipalities to participate in its “If I Were Mayor” essay contest. The essays describe what the student would do as mayor to address a particular issue or to make their communities great places to live. To recognize the students who participated, City Council reviewed the essays submitted by local students and as a group, selected a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner. Council will recognize the students at the May 23rd meeting. Attachments: None Recommendation: Read the names of students selected as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners, and present award certificates.  City Council Agenda Summary Meeting Date: May 23, 2023 Item No: 3. Department: City Manager Issue: Consider setting a public hearing for Council’s June 13, 2023 meeting for the purpose of receiving names of citizens interested in appointments for two 3-year terms ending June 30, 2026, and one unexpired 3-year term ending on June 30, 2024 on the Martinsville City School Board. Summary: Only those citizens whose names are brought up during the Public Hearing can be considered for appointment, and appointments cannot be made until seven days after the Public Hearing. Citizens may appear in person, stating their name, address, and interest in the position; or their name, address, and interest may be offered by another individual. Council typically conducts interviews with candidates after this meeting, with the appointments to be announced at or after Council’s second meeting in June. Attachments: Martinsville School Board current listing. Recommendations: Set the Public Hearing for June 13, 2023  City Council Agenda Summary Meeting Date: May 23, 2023 Item No: 4. Department: City Council Issue: Conduct a Public Hearing on the City’s FY23-24 Budget and consider approval of Budget Ordinance 2023-U-1 on first reading. Summary: The City’s proposed FY24 Budget was presented to Council at the April 25, 2023 meeting. Work sessions were held on Wednesday, May 10 with Schools, certain outside agencies, and a review of capital; with City departments and certain outside agencies on Tuesday, May 16 and Wednesday, May 17. An additional work session is scheduled for Monday, May 22. The budget as presented includes leaving tax rates and fees at the FY23 levels with the exception of a recommended 8% increase in electric rates. Additional information presented at the May 16 work session now also has a recommended $3 increase in both water and sewer rates. Attachments: Ordinance 2023 –U-1, outlining fund details of the proposed City’s FY23-24 Budget. Recommendations: Conduct the public hearing and approve on first reading (roll call vote), subject to changes or modifications Council desires to make.  Ordinance 2023-U-1 The Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, in regular session assembled June 13, 2023, that the following sums of money be and hereby are appropriated — by specific Fund — for the City's fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, from the following Fund sources of estimated revenue: SUMMARY STATEMENT OF BUDGET ESTIMATES 2023-2024 PROJECTED BUDGETED CHANGES FUND FUND REVENUES EXPENDITURES BALANCE General $35,325,697 $37,828,870 ($2,503,173) Meals Tax $3,072,721 $3,072,721 $0 Capital Reserve $1,795,318 $1,795,318 $0 Refuse $2,081,200 $2,409,704 ($328,504) Telecom $2,023,651 $2,023,651 $0 Water $4,143,760 $4,570,438 ($426,678) Sewer $4,854,012 $7,119,720 ($2,265,708) Electric $23,539,063 $23,293,362 $245,701 CDBG $2,700 $172 $2,528 Cafeteria* $1,700,641 $2,069,368 ($368,727) School Operating* $25,758,772 $25,758,772 $0 TOTALS: $104,297,535 $109,942,096 ($5,644,561) *Cafeteria and School Operating Funds information provided by School Personnel. Tax Rates: Real Estate: $1.03975 per $100 assessed value (unchanged) Personal Property: $2.30 per $100 assessed value (unchanged) Machinery/Tools: $1.85 per $100 assessed value (unchanged) Electric Rate: Average 8% increase Water & Sewer Rates: Increase in monthly rates of $3 each Attest: ________________________________ Karen Roberts, Clerk of Council