City Council

304-284-7439 MORGANTOWN Morgantownwv.gov CITY CLERK 389 Spruce St. Morgantown, WV 26505 AGENDA CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING City Hall Council Chambers, 389 Spruce Street, 2nd Floor, Morgantown, WV 26505 Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 7:00 PM This meeting will be broadcast live via YouTube at City of Morgantown - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@CityofMorgantown/streams) 1. PLEDGE: 2. CALL TO ORDER: 3. ROLL CALL: 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (AFFORDABLE HOUSING): A. Council Follow-up Discussion and Prioritization of Policy Review 5. NEW BUSINESS (FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY): A. Staff Presentation: Fiscal Transparency Dashboard B. Staff Presentation: Health Insurance Fund Update C. Council Discussion and Prioritization on Key Topics for Exploration Related to Financial Sustainability 6. EXECUTIVE SESSION: A. Discussion of matters relating to appointment and related matters of public officers or employees, particularly members of City boards and commissions, as permitted by W. Va. Code 6-9A-4(b)(2)(A) B. Discussion of pending or potential litigation as permitted by W. Va. Code 6-9A- 4(b)(12) 7. ADJOURNMENT: For accommodations please call or text 304-288-7072 1  Item 4A. City Council Agenda Item Summary Council Meeting Date: March 31, 2026 Item: Follow Up Discussion: Affordable Housing Department: Various Requested By: N/A Strategic Goal: Compassionate and Engaged Recommended Motion: No motion required. Council Discussion item. Item Summary: In August 2024, Council adopted a resolution on Affordable Housing Initiatives. A study was conducted that included an analysis of housing affordability challenges, comparable policies, programs and initiatives implemented in comparable cities, impact of housing development on the local real estate market, and possible initiatives. In September 2025, Council discussed Affordable Housing initiatives to continue the work on this topic. In early 2026, a variety of public engagement sessions occurred including stakeholder discussions with entities such as social service providers, housing professionals, and builders. An exploration session was also held with the General Public. At the February Committee of the Whole, feedback from these sessions were presented to City Council. Several opportunities and initiatives have developed from these discussions, including both long and short term options. These discussions include but are not limited to topics such as rehabilitation programs, community land trusts, a focus on adaptive reuse, zoning reform, parking reform, regulations surrounding accessory dwelling units (ADU), incentives (such as a density bonus), and rental assistance programs. Work had been in progress related to an ordinance amending ADU regulations. There has been recent legislation on this topic. Attorney Simonton will provide a brief update on this legislation. Another policy currently in progress is related to the revival of abandoned uses. Options will be discussed related to this topic. 2  Item 4A. City Council Agenda Item Summary Council will have an opportunity to engage in any follow up dialogue on any of the recently discussed topics, or additional topics identified by Council. Fiscal Impact: Discussion Item Only 3  Item 5B. City Council Agenda Item Summary Council Meeting Date: 03/31/2026 Item: Staff Presentation: Fiscal Transparency Dashboard Department: Finance/GIS Requested By: Jonathan Furgison, Finance Director and Marvin Davis, Geospatial Services Manager Strategic Goal: Excellent and Responsible Recommended Motion: No motion required. Item Summary: Jon Furgison, Finance Director, will provide a brief presentation of the City’s Financial Transparency Dashboard built in collaboration with Marvin Davis, Geospatial Services Manager. This is an in-house built dashboard that does not have an additional cost. This is intended to provide additional transparency surrounding public funds. The City previously utilized a system that had an annual cost associated with it. The City will also continue to utilize the Check Book System provided by the State of West Virginia at no cost as an additional tool for transparency. The Transparency Dashboard can be accessed here: https://morgantownwv.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/1842848e1bf3473eb6732e04 a13a42d4 Fiscal Impact: Presentation Item Only 8  Item 5C. City Council Agenda Item Summary Council Meeting Date: 03/31/2026 Item: Staff Presentation: Health Insurance Fund Update Department: Finance Requested By: Jonathan Furgison, Finance Director Strategic Goal: Excellent and Responsible Recommended Motion: No motion required. Item Summary: Jon Furgison, Finance Director, will provide a brief presentation of the City’s Health Insurance Fund. Fiscal Impact: Presentation Item Only 9  Item 5A. City Council Agenda Item Summary Council Meeting Date: 03/31/2026 Item: Council Discussion: Fiscal Sustainability Department: City Council Requested By: City Council Strategic Goal: Excellent and Responsible Recommended Motion: No motion required. Council Discussion Item. Item Summary: This item is for the introduction of the workshop topic of Fiscal Sustainability. Workshops are designed as work sessions and public forums where Council will receive public input on a topic or set of topics, discuss priorities and options among Council, or a combination of these. Council will use these workshops to identify and discuss options regarding the topic. City Council will discuss broad concepts and topics related to Fiscal Sustainability that they would like to see reviewed, researched, or policy matters be considered around. If numerous topics, programs, or policies are identified, Council is encouraged to have discussion on the prioritization of these items. Specific items pre-identified by one or more Council members for potential discussion includes:  Municipal Service Fee (M. Downs)  Sales Tax (M. Downs) Additional topics may be discussed. Fiscal Impact: Discussion Item Only 4  Item 5A. Workshop – March Fiscal Sustainability Background Information on Pre-Identified Topics Municipal Service Fee (MSF) The Municipal Service Fee, also occasionally noted as the Safe Streets and Safe Community Service Fee, was enacted initially in 2016 and is governed under Ordinance Article 745. The MSF is $3.00 each week for those working within city limits. This rate has not changed since initial implementation. This fee is due quarterly and is generally submitted to the City through an employer, or directly by self-employed individuals. Under ordinance, revenue generated under this fee is for the maintenance and improvement of public rights-of-way and police protection services. These services include funding for personnel, providing necessary equipment for Police and Public Works personnel, and funds dedicated for paving, resurfacing, cleaning, maintenance, and winter treatment of public rights-of-way including streets, medians, sidewalks, etc. For Public Works, these funds are generally spent in three major categories. These categories include the annual paving budget, public works equipment, and personnel. For the Police, these funds are generally spent in two major categories. These categories include equipment and personnel. The anticipated MSF for the upcoming Fiscal Year is approximately $4.12M. The original estimated revenue under this program on adoption was $4.68M. The ordinance does not prescribe specific percentages for these categories. In practice, the percentage of revenue allocated within each funded activity falls within fairly similar ranges year over year. Below is a summary breakdown of the recently adopted budget for the upcoming fiscal year: 5  Item 5A. Municipal Sales Tax The Municipal Sales Tax is governed under Ordinance Article 733. This is a 1% sales and use tax imposed upon transactions subject to state sales and use tax. This amount is set at the maximum allowable rate under State Statute. This tax is administered by the State Tax Department and remitted quarterly to the City. Under ordinance, the allocation of this revenue based on actual collections is dispersed 25% to BOPARC, 25% to address unfunded liabilities on Public Safety pension, 25% to Capital Escrow Projects, and 25% that is at Council discretion and is general utilized for items funded in the City’s general fund. The anticipated sales tax revenue for the upcoming fiscal year is $10.7M. 6 Item 5A. 7