City Council

December 12, 2023 Council Meeting The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia was held on December 12, 2023, in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 7:00 PM with Mayor LC Jones presiding. Other Council Members present included Kathy Lawson, Lawrence Mitchell, Aaron Rawls, and Tammy Pearson. Staff present included City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides, Clerk of Council Karen Roberts, Finance Director Mandy McGhee, Utility Director Durwin Joyce, Community Development Director Keith Holland, Fire Chief Dan Howell, Human Resources Director Travis Hodge, and Deputy Police Chief?? Chad Rhoads. Mayor Jones called the meeting to order and advised Council would go into Closed Session beginning at 6:30 PM. In accordance with the Code of Virginia, Title 2.2 Chapter 37, Freedom of Information Act and upon a motion by Council Member Lawson and seconded by Council Member Pearson with the following 5-0 recorded vote: Vice Mayor Rawls, aye; Council Member Pearson, aye; Mayor Jones, aye; Council Member Lawrence Mitchell, aye; and Council Member Lawson, aye. Council convened in Closed Session to discuss the following matters: (A) Discussion concerning a prospective business or industry or the expansion of an existing business or industry where no previous announcement has been made of the business or industry’s interest in locating or expanding its facilities in the community, as authorized by Subsection 5 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. Mayor Jones explained that Council recessed Closed Session and would return at the end of regular 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 meeting. A motion was made by Council Member Lawson; seconded by Pearson with the following 5-0 recorded vote in favor to return to Open Session: Vice Mayor Rawls, aye; Council Member Lawrence Mitchell, aye; Council Member Pearson, aye; Council Member Lawson, aye; and Mayor Jones, aye. Mayor Jones stated that no action was taken out of Closed Session. Mayor Jones called the meeting to order. Council Member Pearson led the pledge to the American flag and offered invocation. Jones welcomed everyone to the meeting, stating printed agendas could be found in the back of the room and on the City website for those watching from home. Approve minutes from the September 19, 2023 Joint Session with the School Board, September 25, 2023 Closed Session, September 26, 2023 Council Meeting, October 4, 2023 Special Meeting, October 6 City Manager Oath and Welcome, October 16, 2023 Closed Meeting, and October 21, 2023 Closed Meeting - Council Member Lawson made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Pearson seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Hear a presentation and consider approval of a resolution supporting Share the Air – Rachel December 12, 2023 Council Meeting Johnson, representative of the Virginia Foundation of Healthy Youth introduced Cheyenne Sebastian, a student at William Fleming High School and member of the Share the Air Y Street Leadership Team. Sebastian presented a PowerPoint explaining the Share the Air organization. Mayor Jones explained that he had met Cheyenne at VML and felt this policy would be a good fit for Martinsville, especially with the plan to update the City parks. Council Member Lawson made a motion to approve the resolution; Council Member Pearson seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Mayor Jones read the resolution and signed the commitment letter. December 12, 2023 Council Meeting December 12, 2023 Council Meeting Hear an end of the year update from Uptown Partnership – Spencer Koger, Executive Director for Uptown Partnership provided a PowerPoint updating Council on the Uptown Partnership over the past year and future plans. December 12, 2023 Council Meeting Consider approval of the Nuisance Ordinance amendment – Moved to the December 19, 2023 Council meeting. Consider the Ordinance to adopt the City’s participation in the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program on second reading – Community Development Director Keith Holland summarized the program; the public hearing and first reading by Council have been completed so staff recommends approval on second reading tonight. Council Member Lawson made the motion to adopt the ordinance; Council Member Pearson seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. December 12, 2023 Council Meeting December 12, 2023 Council Meeting December 12, 2023 Council Meeting December 12, 2023 Council Meeting Discuss a proposed electric rate increase – Utilities Director Durwin Joyce presented a PowerPoint explaining the need for the electric rate increase. This adjustment was discussed at the beginning of the budget process, so it was expected. There is more uncertainty in the market then they’ve seen over the past decade. Joyce encourages residents to educate themselves on energy efficiency. Joyce explained that solar is a good investment for some, but not all. Council Member Lawson made the motion to approve the power cost adjustment. There was no second so the motion dies. The Mayor requested that this request be added again to the December 19, 2023 meeting. December 12, 2023 Council Meeting Hear an update on expenditure of funds the City received through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 – Finance Director Mandy McGhee presented a PowerPoint summarizing ARPA background and expenditures to date. Council Member Lawson questioned the $200,000 allotted for the Danville Redevelopment Housing Authority as a point of order and, with the time restraints, should those funds be reappropriated to the Housing Authority so they can continue as previously planned. City Manager Ferrell-Benavides confirmed that yes, those funds could be transferred to the Housing Authority to reappropriate. Vice Mayor Rawls would prefer to go back through his notes before approving anything ARPA related; his priority is the IDA approval. Lawson pointed out that most items on the list had already been approved at previous meetings. Mayor Jones suggested an additional meeting to better discuss remaining ARPA funds. Ferrell- Benavides recommended a workshop in early 2024 and encouraged Council to not feel rushed to decisions. They don’t know what’s coming next and they have a year to finalize the allocation. December 12, 2023 Council Meeting Business from the Floor – Ural Harris, 217 Stuart Street questions Council’s actions for the legislative assembly. Harris questioned the Rives Road project, asking why take a good industrial site to put houses on; Harris suggested Lester properties if Council is looking for housing sites. Harris questioned who would be paying for the infrastructure on that property including bridges and noted that the land was in a flood plain which would increase house costs. Harris stated that Vice Mayor Rawls quote in the Martinsville paper related to property and citizens moving to the County was unacceptable. Rawls disputed Harris’s statements about the Rives Rd property and about the quote in the Bulletin. Comments by City Council – Council Member Pearson asked Deputy Chief Rhoads to share information about the Cops with Kids shopping event. Rhoads shared that the event was successful, and they served 125 children who were nominated by local churches, schools, and law enforcement. Each child received $100 to shop. Rhoad’s also mentioned Harley Durham who was selected as the Police Department’s Employee of the Year for the second time; Durham was also named in 2016. Rhoads pointed out that several members of the police department December 12, 2023 Council Meeting had retired this month including Jim Minter after 40 years of service and Coretha Gravely after 32 years. Rhoads updated Council about action taken by the Police Department on Martinsville businesses who had been promoting skills games. Council Member Lawson attended the annual Christmas concert by the Smith River Singers which was amazing and encouraged others to attend the next concert at the BlackBox Theater. Lawson received complaints from Uptown merchants regarding Uptown merchant parking and questioned why the parking ordinances are not being enforced. Lawson wished a happy belated birthday to Dr. King who turned 90 years old. Vice Mayor Rawls questioned the parking ordinance enforcement and shared that Council would discuss the legislative agenda during the December 19 Council meeting. Rawls stated that Martinsville did not elect to participate in the past with the 1% school tax, but he would like to revisit that; he does not want to rely on the state to cover repairs of the schools. Lawson met with School Superintendent Dr. Tally who told her that repairs to the schools would cost $13.5million. Mayor Jones invited the public to the December 17 toy giveaway at the Sportsman Club; this event is sponsored by Watkins Lodge 320 and food will be offered. Comments by the City Manager – City Manager Ferrell-Benavides shared that several City employees had retired this year and the City is losing a number of great employees. Council will recognize those retirees at the January 9, 2024 meeting. Ferrell-Benavides encouraged Council to follow the state holiday schedule, which would allow a full day on Friday for the Christmas Eve holiday versus the half-day currently on the schedule, sharing that some constitutions have already closed their offices for the day. Ferrell-Benavides pointed out that there is no cost impact. Council Member Lawson made the motion to approve a full day holiday on Friday December 22, 2023; Council Member Pearson seconded the motion. Vice Mayor Rawls pointed out that December 26 is not listed as a holiday either and suggested that it should be. Jones suggested amending the original motion to include a full day on December 26 also. Lawson accepted the amendment; Rawls seconded the amendment with all Council Members voting in favor. Human Resources Director Travis Hodge thanked Council Members on behalf of staff. Ferrell-Benavides introduced Josh Blubough to Council and said that he would be serving as Management Fellow on several City projects; Blubough will be relocating to Martinsville and will begin his fulltime position with the City in May. Council Member Lawson made the motion to reconvene Closed Session at 8:45pm. Council Members returned to open session with no action taken out of Closed Session. There being no further business, Council Member Lawson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:30pm. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Karen Roberts, Clerk of Council LC Jones, Mayor