City Council

~ °' ~ 319 Sfw,la S~. ~ - m' 26505 REGULAR MEETING April 7, 2020 The Regular Meeting of the Common Council of the City of Morgantown was held in the Council Chambers via Zoom on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at 7:20 p.m. City buildings remain closed to the public to protect public health during the COV[l)...19 pandemic. Personal attendance at the meeting will not be permitted. The public may participate in the public portion by videoconference at the following link: https: zoom.us/j/465 159109 with meeting ID 465 159 109 or by calli.ng i.n to 646-558-8656 with meeting ID 465 159 109. All members of the public may view the meeting on Channel 15 and by streaming hosted on the City's website at www.morgantownwv.gov. If you do not wish to speak at the meeting, please view it by these methods to conserve capacity on the videoconference. Any person who wishes to speak at the meeti.ng may complete the form at http://morgantownwv.gov/FormCenter'Public-Comment-Sign-Up-Sheet- 14 Public-Comment-Morgantown-City-Counci 1-R-58 or provide their name, phone number they will use to participate, and the topic on which they would like to speak by texting 304- 288-0847 or calling 304-288-7072. You may sign up to speak at any time until the meeting begins. Additionally, the public may submit written comments for the public portion of the meeti.ng by sending written comments via email to the City Clerk at cwade<@morgantownwv.gov. In the email, please use the subject line " Public Comment 04/07/2020" and indicate in the body of the email if you would like your comment read aloud during the public portion of the meeting. PRESENT: Via Zoom were City Manager Paul Brake, Assistant City Manager Emily Muzzarelli, City Attorney Ryan Simonton, City Clerk Christine Wade, Deputy Clerk Heather Carl, Mayor William A. Kawecki, Deputy Mayor Rachel Fetty, and Council Members Zackery Cruze, Jenny Selin, Ron Dulaney, Dave Harshbarger, and Barry Wendell. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kawecki. Deputy Mayor Fetty shared that everyone should be obeying the "Stay at Home Order" by the Governor. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: March 24, 2020, Special Meeting minutes; March 24, 2020, Regular Meeting minutes; March 31 , 2020, Committee of the Whole Meeting minutes were approved as printed by consensus. CORRESPONDENCE: Mayor Kawecki presented the proclamation for Fair Housing Month and proclaimed the month of April 2020 to be Fair Housing Month for the City of Morgantown. Mayor Kawecki presented a proclamation to Executive Director Jason Keeling for American Red Cross Month and proclaimed March 2020 as American Red Cross Month for the City of Morgantown. Jason Keeling presented infonnation on the ways the American Red Cross have helped the community during this time in need. PUBLIC HEARING: None UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None BOARDS & COMMISSIONS: Motion by Councilor Cruze, second by Councilor Wendell, to appoint by consensus, Marly Hazen to the Transit Authority Board of Directors. PUBLIC PORTION : Mayor Kawecki declared the Public Portion open. City Clerk Christine Wade read a written comment sent by Susan Case. She expressed concern for the lack of community compliance to the Stay-at-Home order by Governor Justice. She requested council to enact the COVlD - 19 emergency ordinance. There being no other speakers, Mayor Kawecki declared the Public Portion closed. SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS: None CONSENT AGENDA: None NEW BUSINESS: AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A ZONING AMENDMENT FOR THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE: The below entitled Ordinance was presented for first reading. AN ORDINANCE PROVLDING FOR THE ZONING RECLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN PARCELS OF REAL ESTATE IN THE FOURTH AND SEVENTH WARDS OF THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN FROM R-1 , SINGLE-FAMJLY RESIDENTIAL DISTRJCT AND R-3, MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO B-2, SERVICE BUSINESS DISTRICT BY AMENDING ARTICLE 1331 OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING CODE OF THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN AS SHOWN ON THE EXHIBIT HERETO ATTACHED AND DECLARED TO BE A PART OF THIS ORDINANCE AS rF THE SAME WERE FULLY SET FORTH HEREIN Development Services Director Chris Fletcher explained, after discussion, motion by Councilor Selin, second by Councilor Harshbarger, to approve the above entitled Ordinance to second reading. Motion carried 7-0. AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING RECEIVERSHIP FOR UNSAFE STRUCTURES: The below entitled Ordinance was presented for first reading. AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING RECEJVERSHIP FOR UNSAFE STRUCTURES City Manager Paul Brake explained, motion by Councilor Harshbarger, second by Deputy Mayor Fetty, to approve the above entitled Ordinance to second reading. Motion carried 7-0. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FY 2019 - 2020 ANNUAL BUDGET: The below entitled Ordinance was presented for first reading. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FY 2019- 2020 ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN AS SHOWN IN THE REVlSED BUDGET ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART OF THIS ORDJNANCE AS THE SAME APPLIES TO THE GENERAL FUND City Manager Paul Brake explained, after discussion, motion by Councilor Selin, second by Deputy Mayor Fetty, to approve the above entitled Ordinance to second reading. Motion carried 7-0. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: .. .... Information: ► .- ..,- A. City's update on the Coronovirus (COVID-19) in West Virginia At Tuesday's meeting, he gave an update on the latest infonnation from the State of West Virginia and Joint Infonnation Command (JIC) of the Monongalia County Health Department. As you have seen from emails to the city staff, the deadline for the remote work has been adjusted until April 30, 2020. This is in keeping with Governor Justice's stay-at-home and the additional measures to prevent the spread ofCOVLD - 19. City Manager Paul Brake updated council on the city' s response to COVID - 19. The updates consisted of infonnation from the Joint lnfonnation Command of the Monongalia County Health Department, as well as information on how the city is complying with Governor Justices' Executive Order that went into effect on April 7, 2020. City Manager Paul Brake stated that since the Governor has enacted an Executive Order, the city' s emergency ordinance has been eliminated. It allows law enforcement to impose more punitive measures than the city ordinance. City Manager Paul Brake announced that the Morgantown Municipal Airport Air Carrier, Southern Airways, plans to cut the weekly number of flights in half due to the COVID - 19, to take the precautionary measures. B. 2020 Census Update City Manager Paul Brake provided an update on the 2020 Census and mentioned that for every l Opeople not counted, the community could lose up to $200,000 in federal funding for the next ten-years. He also stated that WVU is taking measures to make sure all is WVU students are counted. New Business: A. Proposed Strategic Planning Session As discussed in a previous email to City Council, he recommended that council reconvene a strategic planning session or retreat through our precious facilitator, Julia Novak, sometime in June or July. This is Vitally important given the impending transition (ofmy departure to Ms., Muzzarelli taking over as interim City Manager) and the likely continued financial impacts of the COVID - 19 pandemic. The use of Novak will assist the City in developing strateg ic priorities during the unprecedented time. During the current period of flux, he is sensing greater uneasiness of the unknown. This process will help City Council and department directors to define the knowns and think-through the difficult decisions that lie ahead. Stability and solid decision-making help guide the organization through these difficult times. The cost of the proposal is $12,500 and it is cost neutral that is coming out of the City Manager' s budget. With the upcoming tu.mover, savings from this vacancy will cover the cost of the consulting service, executive search for a successor city manager and, finally the additional salary for the forthcoming interim City Manager. He recommends City Council to approve the proposal as presented. City Manager Paul Brake will be departing with the City of Morgantown and he suggested council to continue with the strategic planning session with Julie Novack. Ms. Novak will assist the city in developing strategic priorities during the COVID - 19 crises. REPORT FROM CITY CLERK: City Clerk Christine Wade stated that the application deadline for the Entry Level Police Officer has been extended to June 19, 2020, and the test date was rescheduled to June 27, 2020. She also stated that Deputy Clerk Heather Carl and herself are working from home and that if anyone needs to reach us for any reason, they can contact us via emaU or phone. REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY: City Attorney Ryan Simonton stated that the City Attorney's office and city staff have been working with the Community Development Block Grant and Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster relief funds regarding COVID - 19. COBO funding will allocate $251,333 to the City. The Finance Department and City of Morgantown will be applying for FEMA disaster relief funds. REPORT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS: DEPUTY MAYOR FETTY: Deputy Mayor Fetty thanked City Personnel, the public, the Caritas House, United Way and all those that have been helping others during this time. She talked about social distancing and playgrounds where children have been playing during this stay-at-home order by the Governor. She announced that there will be an Earth Day poster competition. She mentioned she had a positive experience with the CEO of Mon Health Medical Center Mr. Goldberg. She thanked Mr. Goldberg and everyone in the healthcare field for all they have been doing on the frontlines. COUNCILOR CRUZE: Councilor Cruze announced that if you are part of or manage a non-profit organization the Community Round Table is holding a virtual round table gathering on Thursday, April 9, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. and they wiU be going over the previsions that can support non-profits along with employee tax credits. He stated that during the stay-at-home order the Morgantown Public Library is temporarily al lowing those with library cards the use of their on line services. He also stated that during this time if you are feeling isolated and alone or if you are feeling anxious or depressed you may text Home to 741741 to be contacted by a counselor. For more information, you can contact the Crisis Hotline webpage. COUNCILOR SELIN: Councilor Selin thanked those who are working on the frontlines and using caution with all the appropriate clothing to protect themselves and others. She asked if the Communications Department could add to the city webpage information regarding social distancing and playgrounds that are closed within the city limits. She appreciates how the City is doing their job no matter where they are working. COUNCLLOR DULANEY: No Report COUNCILOR HARSHBARGER: Councilor Harshbarger noted that good news has been coming out of Charleston and from WVU Medicine regarding the sheltering in place and good practice of social distancing and good hygiene. He shared that case numbers will most likely peak 2-weeks short of the original predicted date of May I, 2020. He announced to everyone to keep up the good work. COUNCILOR WENDELL: Councilor Wendell provided tbe following. "This was a hard week ". Passover starts tomorrow night. Normally we would gather with friends andfamily for the seder, the Passover meal, but this year we can't. My sister was supposed to visit from Maryland, but she had to cancel. Tree of Life Congregation will hold a seder online at 5:30 tomorrow from our home with Rabbi Joe Hample and special guests Henry Hample from Louisiana and retired cantorial soloist Barry Wendell. The seder will be broadcasted on Facebookfrom the page "Tree of l ife Congregation-Morgantown, WV" at 5:30 P.M. Our Christian neighbors will be observing Good Friday and Easter this week. like with Passover, people have been advised not to gather in large groups, making these holidays different from other years. Some churches (and some synagogues) have said they will gather in spite of the restrictions placed on large groups. Please don't do this. It is not safe. Hopefully, we will look back from the future to this time, and we will have learned to feel compassion for our neighbors andfound new spiritual strength. "He wished everyone a safe and holy week". MAYOR KAWECKJ: Mayor Kawecki thanked all city employees and commended the way the City is working during this time. He thanked City Manager Paul Brake for all that he has done so far since he has been with the city. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Pursuant to West Virginia Code Section 6-9A-4(b) (9) to discuss acquisition of Real Estate in the Second Ward. Motion by Councilor Wendell, second by Councilor Selin, to go into executive session. Motion carried by acclamation. Present: City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City Attorney, and City Council. Time: 9:00 p.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Pursuant to West Virginia Code Section 6-9A-4(b) to discuss potential or pending litigation. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, motion by Councilor Wendel~ second by Councilor Cruze, to adjourn tbe meeting. Time: I 0:30 p.m. City Clerk Mayor