City Council

February 27, 2024 Council Meeting A Work Session and Briefing was held at 5:00 pm in room 208, Martinsville City Municipal Building on February 27, 2024. Mayor Jones, Vice Mayor Rawls, Council Member Lawson, Council Member Pearson, Council Member Mitchell, City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides, Chief Operating Officer Edena Reese-Atmore, Finance Director Mandy McGhee, Assistant Finance Director Crystal Ferguson, Community Development Director Keith Holland, Public Information Officer Kendall Davis, and Police Chief Rob Fincher Police Chief Rob Fincher presented a Quarterly Update PowerPoint. February 27, 2024 Council Meeting The Fire Department Quarterly Update was rescheduled for the next meeting. Regular Session began at 7:00pm in the Council Chambers Call to Order – Mayor Jones welcomed everyone to the meeting, pointing out that agendas could be found on the wall in the back of the room and on the City’s website. Pledge to the American Flag an Invocation by Council Member Kathy Lawson. Proclamations and Presentations – Council Member Lawson read the proclamation which was presented to Barry Nelson, 2024 TIME Dealer of the Year for Virginia. February 27, 2024 Council Meeting Consent Agenda – Mayor Jones shared the items listed under the Consent Agenda including State Grant Appropriation, Virginia Department of Transportation Commitment and Signatory Resolution, Consideration of Amendments to Nuisance Code Ordinance and the Budget Calendar. Council Member Lawson made a motion to approve all consent agenda items; Council Member Lawson seconded the motion. Vice Mayor Rawls said the work session was over the allotted time and he doesn’t feel that enough time was spent discussing the Nuisance Code Ordinance. Council agreed to move the ordinance discussion forward to the Regular Agenda/New Business section of the agenda. City Manager Ferrell-Benavides confirmed that Council would be voting to approve the State Grant Appropriation, the Transportation Commitment and Signatory Resolution, and Budget Calendar only. All Council Members voted in favor. Public Hearing – Community Development Director Keith Holland explained the need for the public hearing to receive citizen input on the consideration of the Ordinance to Amend and Restate the Establishment of the Martinsville Land Bank Authority. Approval of the ordinance is urgent. Holland provided a PowerPoint to better explain the need for changes. Mayor Jones opened the public hearing. John Stiltner with Landmark Asset spoke and offered to answer any questions Council may have. City Manager Ferrell-Benavides pointed out that City Council could no longer serve as the Land Bank Authority. Council Member Lawson made a motion to adopt February 27, 2024 Council Meeting the ordinance to amend and restate the establishment of the Martinsville Land Bank Authority. Council Member Mitchell seconded the motion. Council Member Pearson asked how the new board was selected. Ferrell-Benavides explained that they looked at existing individuals; because this is a state-established board, we needed to get the transfer, and they looked at individuals who had already gone through the ethics filing process. It’s much like the IDA and there are several areas of conflict of interest that will exist. This board will allow internal employees to serve. Our goal is not long range, but we needed to move expeditiously because of the ongoing projects. Roll Call vote 5-0 in favor of approving the ordinance: Mitchell, aye; Lawson, aye; Rawls, aye; Pearson, aye; and Jones, aye. Regular agenda or New business: MRHA Resolution for Donation Option Agreement for Aaron Mills Senior Housing Project - Council Member Lawson made a motion to recess as City Council and convene as the Martinsville Redevelopment Housing Authority. Vice Mayor Rawls seconded the motion, with all Council Members voting in favor. Community Development Director Keith Holland explained the purpose of the resolution. The MRHA would need to approve the resolution for the Property Donation Option Agreement and authorize a letter of commitment for $500,000 in ARPA funds as a low-interest 3% loan to support the project. Holland requests MRHA authorize the transfer of the property to MidAtlantic Foundation, a North Carolina non-profit that, in turn, would donate the property back to Aaron Street Lofts as a capital contribution with all actions effective upon transfer of the property from the Martinsville Land Bank Authority to the MHRA. Housing Authority Member Lawson made the motion to approve the resolution; Housing Authority Member Pearson seconded the motion. Housing Authority Vice Chair Rawls questioned the transfer from a nonprofit to a for-profit for February 27, 2024 Council Meeting business purposes, has shut down some civic duties, and asked for more explanation. John Stiltner with Landmark Asset explained the process and the need for the transfer, and the various “moving parts” to be handled in that way. All Council Members voted in favor of approving the resolution. Housing Authority Member Lawson made the motion to adjourn as MRHA and reconvene as City Council; Housing Authority Vice Chair Rawls seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Extension of Sales Agreement with Kayak Hotel Group - Community Development Director Keith Holland explained the need for an extension of the sales agreement with Kayak Hotel Group. Due to delays in submission of the required Erosion and Sediment Control Plan to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Kayak Hotel Group is requesting an extension of the contract for sales agreement dated December 1, 2023. They request an extension of the due diligence period for 90 days to May 28, 2024. The amendment of the agreement must also be approved by the Martinsville Industrial Development Authority. No adverse impacts are anticipated by this extension request. Vice Mayor Rawls made a motion to adopt the resolution related to the extension; Council Member Lawson seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. ARPA Funding Update – City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides and Finance Director Mandy McGhee provided a PowerPoint on the ARPA funding. Vice Mayor Rawls made a motion to adopt the updated ARPA project list with the clarification that the Council retains the initial amount approved for community branding and marketing, at least until they can discuss it further in a work session. Council Member Lawson seconded the motion, with all Council Members voting in favor. Mayor Jones would like to take the ARPA list home to review and then reconvene another day. Vice Mayor Rawls made a motion to accept the ARPA expenses as presented for Inspections, The Berkley Group expense. MiNET, the jail roof, the water generator for the pump house, and the updated asset plan for the water/sewer department. Lawson seconded the motion and questioned if the bus stop should be added. Mayor Jones would like to add the Youth Employment program and asked if the chiller is an immediate need. Council Member Pearson questioned the status of the Fire Department roof. Ferrell-Benavides said there is still time to make additional approvals for items not quite as urgent. Rawls requested that the Council approve the water/sewer plant roof, which should have been in last year's capital, so it needs to be done. Lawson confirmed that Council would be approving Inspections, The Berkley Group, MiNET, the Jail roof, asset management updates, the water/sewer plant roof, the Youth Employment program, and the water generator for the pump house. All Council Members approved the motion. Consideration of amendments to the Nuisance Code Ordinance – Community Development Director Keith Holland briefly explained the need for amendments to the ordinance. February 27, 2024 Council Meeting Communications from Visitors / Business from the Floor – Noone approached the podium. Comments by Members of City Council – Council Member Mitchell attended two events this month celebrating Black History Month and for the first time, he feels that residents “showed February 27, 2024 Council Meeting up” to recognize black history. Council Member Pearson thanked PIO Kendall Davis for his work putting together the Expo this past weekend, and she looks forward to working on additional events in the City going forward. Pearson encourages residents to contact Council Members with input. Fast Track is March 6 at the Clock Tower in Martinsville with over 125 businesses exhibiting. Pearson informed residents of the Visit Martinsville App and encouraged them to download it. Council Member Lawson thanked staff, and Council Members involved in the City’s BHM event. The next Hazardous Waste Day is April 13, 2024, at the Bassett PSA warehouse. Vice Mayor Rawls shared details on potential energy and electric funding through the state with an explanation of how the City purchases power. Mayor Jones thanked residents for attending the meeting and thanked volunteers for assisting with this past weekend's event. Jones invited Pastor Caleb Robinson to offer the invocation at the end of the meeting. City Manager Ferrell-Benavides thanked the children who volunteered for the BHM event. Martinsville is a member of the National League of Cities, and she hopes that the Council will continue to participate in this organization as they continue to move the City forward. Aretha and the Mayor will be attending a meeting on March 11, so the March 12 meeting will be moved to March 19. Aretha mentioned Fast Tract on March 5 and 6, 2024. There will be a Council Retreat soon to discuss the vision for the city. Monthly Financial Update – Finance Director Mandy McGhee presented the Financial Update. Pastor Robinson offered a closing invocation. Adjournment – Council Member Lawson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 pm. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Karen Roberts, Clerk of Council LC Jones, Mayor