City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 3, 2014 -1– ______________________________________________________________________________ The regular meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at the Union Train Station. Mayor Moore called the closed session meeting to order at 5:30p.m. 1. CLOSED SESSION – 5:30 P.M. 2. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Member David R. Coleman Council Member W. Howard Myers Council Member Ken M. Pritchett Council Member Carl M. Ross Council Member Treska Wilson-Smith Vice Mayor Horace P. Webb Mayor Brian A. Moore Absent: None Present from City Administration: City Manager William E. Johnson, III City Attorney Brian K. Telfair Clerk of Council Nykesha D. Jackson, CMC 3. CLOSED SESSION (a): City Attorney Brian Telfair, stated that it was City Council’s desire to enter into a closed session under Section 2.2-3711.A (1) of the Code of Virginia, and specifically under the Subsection 1 to discuss certain matters related to Council appointees; and under Subsection 3 to discuss matters pertaining to real estate, where the discussion in open meeting would adversely affect the City’s bargaining and or negotiation of the City; under Subsection 5 to discuss matters relating to business industry; and Subsection 7 to consult with legal counsel, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the position of the City. Council Member Coleman moved that the City Council go into closed session for the purposes noted by the City Attorney. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Webb. There was no discussion on the motion, which was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Myers, Pritchett, Ross, Wilson-Smith, Webb and Moore City Council entered closed session at 5:30 p.m. CERTIFICATION: Vice Mayor Webb made a motion to return City Council into open session and certify the purposes of the closed session. The motion was seconded by Council Member Pritchett. There was no discussion on the motion, which was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Myers, Pritchett, Ross, Wilson-Smith, Webb and Moore 14-R-23 A RESOLUTION CERTIFYING, AS REQUIRED BY THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, SECTION 2.2- 3712, THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER’S KNOWLEDGE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS OF VIRGINIA LAW WERE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED SESSION, AND ONLY SUCH PUBLIC  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 3, 2014 -2– ______________________________________________________________________________ BUSINESS MATTERS AS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION CONVENING THE CLOSED SESSION WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED, OR CONSIDERED. 1. REGULARLY-SCHEDULED MEETING – 7:30 P.M. 2. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Member David R. Coleman Council Member W. Howard Myers Council Member Ken M. Pritchett Council Member Carl M. Ross Council Member Treska Wilson-Smith Vice Mayor Horace P. Webb Mayor Brian A. Moore Absent: None Present from City Administration: City Manager William E. Johnson, III City Attorney Brian K. Telfair Clerk of Council Nykesha D. Jackson, CMC 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: a. Clerk of Council, Nykesha D. Jackson, led council and the audience in the pledge of allegiance. 4. PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS: (Each presentation will be limited to 10 minutes.) a. Presentation on an engineering study regarding the removal of six (6) traffic signals. BACKGROUND: Tennille Wade, City Engineer, will present information regarding the proposed removal of traffic signals. The purpose of proposed traffic signal removal is to improve traffic flow and system operations with the City of Petersburg. The Department of Public Works strives to minimize stops and delays resulting in lower vehicle emissions while also reducing yearly operations and maintenance cost for the illegal system. Collected traffic volume and roadway geometry data was compared to the guidelines set forth inFederal Highway Administration’s 2009 Edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and the Transportation Research Board’s 2000 Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) to determine the feasibility of removing existing traffic signals operating at the six subject locations. The following intersections were studied, inclusive of previously studied intersections: 1. W. Washington Street/Elm Street 2. S. West Street/Farmer Street 3. E. Washington Street/ Slagle Avenue 4. W. Wythe Street/ West Street 5. W. Wythe Street/ South Street 6. W. Washington Street/ West Street 7. E. Washington Street/ Lakemont Avenue (signal removed)  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 3, 2014 -3– ______________________________________________________________________________ 8. Sycamore Street/ Graham Street (signal removed) 9. Halifax Street/ Young Street The MUTCD describes nine warrants which provide guidance on justification on traffic signal installation. Similarly, not satisfying the federally defined warrants provides support to justify the removal of an existing traffic signal. The traffic signal warrant analysis conducted for each studied intersection indicated that MUTCD traffic signal warrant were not met based on existing traffic volumes and roadway geometry. The HCM capacity analysis projects that the removal of the traffic signals would improve overall intersection operations to a level of service (LOS) B or better at all analyzed intersections based on the calculated seconds of delay per vehicle. This task is part of a continual effort by the City of Petersburg Public Works Department to improve traffic flow and congestion. The traffic signal warrant analysis studies and left turn phase studies were completed in January 2014 and included:  Traffic Signal Warrant Analysis (6-interestions)  Left turn phase studies (2-interesctions) RECOMMENDATION: Recommend Council approve the removal of existing traffic signals at the six subject intersections and convert to stop-controlled intersections. Tennille Wade, City Engineer, gave a brief PowerPoint presentation on the removal of existing traffic signals at the six subject intersections. There was discussion among City Council Members. 5. CONSENT AGENDA: a. A request to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance declaring 1150-52 Farmer Street a lighted property and a public nuisance to the community and authoring the abatement a such nuisance. b. A request to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance declaring 1333 Farmer Street a lighted property and a public nuisance to the community and authoring the abatement a such nuisance. c. A request to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance declaring 554 Halifax Street a lighted property and a public nuisance to the community and authoring the abatement a such nuisance. d. A request to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance declaring 212 South Jones Street a lighted property and a public nuisance to the community and authoring the abatement a such nuisance. e. A request to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance declaring 216 South Jones Street a lighted property and a public nuisance to the community and authoring the abatement a such nuisance. f. A request to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance declaring 222-224 South Jones Street a lighted property and a public nuisance to the community and authoring the abatement a such nuisance. g. A request to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance declaring 227 South Jones Street a lighted property and a public nuisance to the community and authoring the abatement a such nuisance.  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 3, 2014 -4– ______________________________________________________________________________ h. A request to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance declaring 834 South Jones Street a lighted property and a public nuisance to the community and authoring the abatement a such nuisance. i. A request to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance declaring 1364 Rome Street a lighted property and a public nuisance to the community and authoring the abatement a such nuisance. j. A request to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance declaring 206 S. South Street a lighted property and a public nuisance to the community and authoring the abatement a such nuisance. k. A request to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance declaring 1110 Stainback Street a lighted property and a public nuisance to the community and authoring the abatement a such nuisance. l. A request to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance declaring 110 North West Street a lighted property and a public nuisance to the community and authoring the abatement a such nuisance. m. A request to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance declaring 509-11 South West Street a lighted property and a public nuisance to the community and authoring the abatement a such nuisance. n. A request to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance declaring 1135 Willcox Street a lighted property and a public nuisance to the community and authoring the abatement a such nuisance. o. A request to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance declaring 1137-39 Willcox Street a lighted property and a public nuisance to the community and authoring the abatement a such nuisance. p. A request to schedule a public hearing to dispose of the Old Peabody High School. Council Member Myers made a motion to adopt the consent agenda to hold public hearing for items 5a- p for June 17, 2017..The motion was seconded by Council Member Ross. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Myers, Pritchett, Ross, Wilson-Smith, Webb, and Moore 6. OFFICIAL PUBLIC HEARINGS: (In accordance with the Rules of Council, public comment will be heard before discussion by Council. Once discussion has started, no further input from the public will be accepted. Each speaker will be limited to three (3) minutes.) a. A public hearing on the proposed disposition of publicly-owned properties addressed as 1004 and 1015 Commerce Street. BACKGROUND: The City is considering the disposition of publicly-owned property addressed as 1004 and 1015 Commerce Street, further identified as Tax Parcels 024-18-0001 and 024-14-0014, respectively. The property addressed as 1004 Commerce Street is a parking lot and the property addressed as 1015 Commerce Street is improved with a multi-story manufacturing building that is known as the Titmus Optical building. The City has received a contract from a developer to redevelop the subject properties. RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation Council authorizes the City Manager to dispose of the publicly-owned properties addressed as 1004 and 1015 Commerce Street.  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 3, 2014 -5– ______________________________________________________________________________ Vandy Jones, Director of Economic Development, gave a brief presentation of the proposed disposition of publicly-owned property addressed as 1004 and 1015 Commerce Street. Mayor Moore opened the floor for public comment. Seeing no hands, Mayor Moore closed the public hearing. There was discussion among City Council Members. Council Member Coleman made a motion to dispose of properties addressed as 1004 and 1015 Commerce Street. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Webb. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Myers, Ross, Webb, Moore; Abstain: Coleman; Voting No: Pritchett, Wilson-Smith 14-ORD-50 AN ORDINANCE DISPOSING OF PROPERTIES ADDRESSED AS 1004 AND 1015 COMMERCE STREET. 7. PUBLIC INFORMATION PERIOD: The Public Information Period is established by the Rules of Council to hear input from City residents or owners of businesses in the City. It will last for a maximum of 30 minutes. Speakers will be called in the order that they have signed up to speak. If there are ten or fewer speakers, each shall speak for a maximum of 3 minutes. If there are more than six (6) people desiring to speak, the time allotted to each person may be adjusted or the number of speakers limited to meet the time limitation. A speaker may speak on items except those that are listed on tonight’s Council agenda. Any matter brought before the attention of the City Council during the public information period will not be acted upon by the City Council at this meeting. George Friday, Commander of VFW Post 622, stated that he would like to know what are the hours of operation of the Freedom Support Center. He stated that he would also like to know what is the City’s involvement with the Freedom Support Center. He stated that he would like to also know how can he be served and what are the initiatives of the center. He stated that daily involvement and planning in the Freedom Support Center by a council member is not correct. Mike Jackson, Director of Program “Think Then Choose Wisely”, stated that he has a 501-c(3) program that they address at risk youth and impulsive behavior in the youth as well. He stated that he has been involved in detention centers throughout the area, local jails in the tri-city area. He stated that he has come up with a program that he spoke with the City Manager about. He stated that they proposed some of the vacant lots they can use. He stated that they have gained interest in a particular lot in the area of Council Member Myers jurisdiction off of Halifax and Wesley Street. He stated that Vandy Jones has helped them in securing this location that they want to use this lot to start a mentoring program. He stated that they would like to seed, plant and harvest vegetables. He stated that this program gives them the opportunity to mentor to the young people. He stated that this would teach them basic work skills. He stated that they are hopeful to submit this to the City. He stated that they are asking to expedite this as soon as they possibly can. He stated that he is asking for help from City Council and all other local City governments that have been helpful to them. He stated that Jaqueline Zemmitt will be supplying children to the program. He stated that this would be a joy to these young people to plant a seed, harvest, and then sell it. He stated that he is asking for help from the City to expedite the lease. He stated that there are businesses like Lowes and Home Depot that will be donating tools to help with this project. Linwood Christian, 410 Mistletoe Street, stated that he would like to come forward today to say that he had to pick up a young lady from Southpark Mall and that it was real interesting about a particular restaurant that was over there. He stated that he said wow this would save him from going all the way to Chester, VA. He stated that at the same time in a City such as ours and the talks about a convention center, the City does not have an IHOP in Petersburg but that there is one at Southpark Mall. He stated that this makes a difference. He stated that when there is a City that services two highways on the east coast you have three  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 3, 2014 -6– ______________________________________________________________________________ major secondary highways. He stated that Rt. 460 takes you as far as Kentucky. He asked why the City does not have anything like this here. He stated that these are the things that they should look at. He asked whether the City has a strategic plan in place. He stated that this would be a plan that sets up times and places for everything. He stated that this would be real nice. He stated that he is looking at some of the vacant buildings. He stated that he hopes that they are not going to be lofts. He stated that most of the lofts in the City now are not occupied. He stated that they know what the basic income is of most of the City citizens are presently. He asked why they don’t look at outlet malls or something of that nature. He stated that these things are a place where people that do not make that much money can still spend their money. He stated that he would like to know when they will be getting a copy of the strategic plan and when will they know about it as well. He stated that when the City has a strategic plan this also helps the school system develop one as well. He stated that the school system cannot go any further than the City. He stated that he hopes to see in the strategic plan that the City will have a better system to have a relationship between City Council and School Board other than budget times. He stated that he has to give his hat off to Council Member Pritchett. He stated that any ward meeting that he has been to Council Member Pritchett and School Board Member Ken Pritchett get together and work on issues in their ward as well as others. He stated that these are the things that the City needs to have done. He stated that he hopes to see this soon. 8. BUSINESS OR REPORTS FOR/FROM THE MAYOR OR OTHER MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL: a. Consideration of appointments to the Riverside Regional Jail Authority Board. BACKGROUND: The City of Petersburg is a member of the Riverside Regional Jail Authority, a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Authority includes the Cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, and Petersburg and the counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Prince George and Surry. The Authority is responsible for the operation of the Riverside Regional Jail which is used to hold prisoners from each of the member jurisdictions. The Board of the Authority consists of one (1) member appointed by the local governing body of each of the seven member jurisdictions for a term of four (4) years, plus the sheriff from each jurisdiction. The terms of the current non-sheriff members expires June 30, 2014. Consequently, the governing body of each jurisdiction needs to re-appoint the current member from that jurisdiction (or appoint a new member) for a four- year term expiring June 30, 2018. City Council traditionally has appointed the City Manager as the City’s representative on the Board of the Authority. The governing body may also appoint an alternate for the member. The terms of the Sheriffs from each jurisdiction does not expire; they serve on the Board the entire time they are in office. Additionally, the General Assembly amended the Authority’s legislation this year to allow Sheriff’s to appoint alternates to vote for them at meetings they cannot attend, beginning July 1, 2014. RECOMMENDATION: Recommend Council adopt the attached resolution appointing William E. Johnson III, as the City’s representative on the Riverside Regional Jail Authority Board and Irvin Carter, Finance Director, as his alternate. Council Member Myers made a motion to reappoint William E. Johnson III, as the City’s representative on the Riverside Regional Jail Authority Board and Irvin Carter, Finance Director, as his alternate. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Webb. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Myers, Pritchett, Ross, Wilson-Smith, Webb, Moore 14-R-24 A RESOLUTION REAPPOINTING WILLIAM E. JOHNSON, III, AS THE CITY’S REPRESENTATIVE ON THE RIVERSIDE REGIONAL JAIL AUTHORITY BOARD AND IRVIN M. CARTER, JR, AS THE ALTERNATE MEMBER TO THE RIVERSIDE REGIONAL JAIL AUTHORITY.  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 3, 2014 -7– ______________________________________________________________________________ b. Consideration of amending the Mass Transit Fund budget by re-appropriating Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Capital Grant funds to Petersburg Area Transit (PAT). BACKGROUND: The Federal capital funding program makes resources available to PAT for the preventative maintenance of transit and transit related facilities. These Federal Transit Administration funds originally became available July 2002. The re-appropriation of these funds will allow for eligible preventative maintenance activities at PAT transit facilities. RECOMMENDATION: Recommend Council adopt the attached appropriation ordinance. Vice Mayor Webb made a motion to adopt the appropriation ordinance in the amount of $48,383 for the FTA Preventative Maintenance Capital Grant. The motion was seconded by Council Member Myers. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Myers, Pritchett, Ross, Wilson-Smith, Webb, and Moore; 14-ORD-51 AN ORDINANCE MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE MASS TRANSIT FUND, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING ON JULY 1, 2013, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2014 FOR FTA PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE CAPITAL GRANT. c. Consideration of a proposed ordinance increasing water and sewer charges. BACKGROUND: A public hearing on this matter was held on May 20, 2014. Following the public hearing, Council voted to table action on the matter. The ordinance is brought back tonight for consideration. The cost to operate the water and sewer systems is continuing to increase due to the cost to purchase and distribute water and the cost of wastewater collection and treatment. While at the same time, the customer base is stable and revenue from water and sewer billings is not increasing. The proposed budget recommends an increase of 8.4% to water rates and 10.4% to sewer rates (combined increase is 9.7%). The below chart represents the average bi-monthly utility bill for residential users. Bi-Monthly Water and Sewer Charges – Residential Users Based on Consumption of 12 CCF over 2 months Water (8.4%) Sewer (10.4%) Total (9.7%) Current FY14 $23.85 $49.39 $73.24 Proposed FY15 $26.30 $54.47 $80.77 Increase $2.45 $5.08 $7.53 RECOMMENDATION: Recommend Council approve and adopt the proposed ordinance increasing Water and Sewer Commodity Rates and Capacity Charges. Steven Hicks, Director of Public Works, gave a brief overview of the proposed ordinance increasing water and sewer charges. There was discussion among City Council Members. Council Member Pritchett made a motion to approve and adopt the proposed ordinance increasing water and sewer charges. The motion was seconded by Council Member Ross. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Myers, Pritchett, Ross, Webb, and Moore; Voting No: Coleman, Wilson- Smith  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 3, 2014 -8– ______________________________________________________________________________ 14-ORD-52 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 114-136 AND SECTION 114-236 OF THE 2000 CODE OF THE CITY OF PETERSBURG, AS AMENDED, TO INCREASE THE PUBLIC UTILITY RATES FOR WATER AND SEWER COMMODITY AND CAPACITY CHARGES. Council Member Coleman stated at the last meeting Council Member Wilson-Smith spoke on the work session that Council had on April 15th. He stated that after consideration and that he did look at the minutes and that every council member did vote yes to give $10,000 to Pathways, $5,000 to Serenity and that TRIAD, 4 -H, and PAL would be placed for non-department funding deliberation. He stated that he is going to yield his comments to Council Member Wilson-Smith. Council Member Ross stated that he would like to thank Mr. Crocker and Mr. Jones for attending his ward meeting last week. He stated that it was very productive and that he had a full house. He stated that he needs the City to check on the new subdivision in Berkeley Manor. He stated that there are no street lights in that area. He stated that he has been getting calls as to why the lights have not been installed. He stated that they are still building houses in that area. He stated that there are about ten houses in that area and that there are still no lights. He asked whether the City can in some way use the TV station Channel 15 to put the City’s Week Ahead on it as far as information. He stated that any activities that the City has needs to go on this. Council Member Pritchett stated that at the last meeting there was discussion on Verizon paying the City $24,000 for use of the tower at B.I. Chemical. He stated that this money has not been designated for anything and that he would like to have the City consider using this money for TRIAD, Pathways and the non- departmental items that have not been funded. He stated that he is asking the City Manager to come back with a breakdown of how the City can disburse money for these organizations. He stated that he thinks a couple of weeks or months ago the Supreme Court stated that it is okay to have prayer at Council Meetings. He stated that he would ask the Mayor to have the traditional way done like they did in the past inviting various clergy to open the meetings with prayer. Council Member Wilson-Smith stated that in reference to what Council Member Coleman was discussing in the last City Council Meeting on May 20th she read to the audience and to City Council the minutes of April 15th work session. She stated that this stipulated that City Council would include three items on the special fund budget. She stated that a motion had been made and properly seconded and it has unanimously been voted for. She stated that when they did discuss the budget these items were not there. She stated that this was not brought forth prior to City Council voting on the budget. She stated that she brought it back to City Council at the last meeting because she thought that if she made the motion which was seconded and approved that it would have went through. She stated that they all voted on this. She stated that her motion stated “that the current budget be amended to include items that they have already voted for and that the money for these items which totaled $15,000 would come from the contingency fund.” She stated that the contingency fund currently has $35,000 and that if they took $15,000 from this fund it would leave $10,000 in it. She stated that last year they used money from the contingency fund and that they had $18,000 left in it. She stated that they are still $2,000 to the good. She stated that this does not change the budget in any kind of way. She stated that the budget remains balanced and that they are not taking from anyone else other than the contingency fund. She stated that they are not taking from any other organization. She stated that they are only doing what they stated that they were going to do. She stated that this is her motion. Mr. Telfair stated that as they discussed at the last City Council meeting a motion to amend the adopted budget requires notice to the public. He stated that there has not been adequate notice to the public with respect to this particular motion. He stated that he stated at the last City Council meeting that it was pretty clear regarding giving notice. He stated that it does not meet the amount of the 1% threshold that is required for a public hearing. He stated that despite that the public has to have some form of notice. Mayor Moore stated that there is a motion on the floor and asked Mr. Telfair whether this was a valid and legal motion.  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 3, 2014 -9– ______________________________________________________________________________ Mr. Telfair responded no. He stated that in terms of notice there are certain time requirements that the public is entitled to have. He stated if notice is given to the public then the basic understanding would be that the City of Petersburg. He stated that for example Council Member Pritchett made a way for those entities that he spoke about to be funded and he asked the City Manager to bring this back with a proposal on how the $24,000 for Verizon would work. He stated that what he would recommend City Council do is to consider both proposals at the same time. Council Member Wilson-Smith stated that if it is agreeable then with Council Member Pritchett that they can do both things at the same time then this is fine with her. She asked would this suffice as far as the public being informed and bringing it to the agenda. Mayor Moore responded yes. He stated that as long as it is put into the packet and accurate public notice is given. Council Member Wilson-Smith asked that to say put in the packet and on the agenda, would this be two separate things. Mr. Telfair stated that if it is in the packet then it must be on the agenda. Council Member Wilson-Smith stated no one will allow her to put this on the agenda. She stated that the information was sent in to be put on the agenda. She stated that she had tried and that this is her second attempt to get this done. She stated that she is trying to get them to do what they need to do. She stated that she is not getting them to do anything for herself or any one of them. She stated that she is asking them to do something that they sat down and made a unanimous decision to do. Mr. Johnson stated that at the work session the request was made that those four items be brought forward to the meeting that they will be adopting the budget so City Council could have a conversation to add these items to the non-departmental budget and not the special revenue budget. He stated that at the same meeting the Mayor asked all members of council to provide his office with recommended changes to the non- departmental budget and where these funds will come from. He stated that once the City Manager turns over his proposed budget it is then the budget of the Mayor and City Council. He stated that any increase on the budget must show a decrease on the budget. He stated that this did not happen in the past. He stated that they had the spread sheet that showed the one percent budget. He stated that when the vote was called to adopt the non-departmental funds budget there was no discussion of changes as to the non-departmental. He stated that if City Council chooses to decide to amend the non-departmental budget by $15,000 then they can have this item on the agenda. He stated that this is no problem. He stated that he just wants to make it clear whenever the budget has been recommended and they would like to make changes it is the responsibility of City Council to make a recommendation to where these dollars would come from. He stated that they got the recommendation last week after the budget had been adopted. He stated in terms of the $24,000 for Verizon this money is going into the general fund as they do all of the lease payments for Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and other entities. He stated that this money should not be earmarked for a particular entity because it is considered a part of the general fund revenue as far other items in the general fund. He stated that there is no problem amending the budget. He stated that he wants to make sure that when the motion was made it was not directed to add these items to the budget. He stated that there was a discussion that they had when they adopted the budget as it related to providing the funding for those particular agencies. He stated that this is what he recalled from the work session. Council Member Coleman stated that from those items that the City Manager mentioned for the CDBG fund the only items for funding was TRIAD, 4-H and PAL. He stated that they recommending taking $10,000 from Project Homes and giving it to Pathways, take $5,000 from Freedom Support Center and give to Serenity and the remaining 4-H, TRIAD and PAL was a non-departmental liberation funding.  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 3, 2014 - 10 – ______________________________________________________________________________ Mayor Moore stated that he does not have the last meeting minutes in front of him but that they will get staff to review this again and go through the process. Council Member Myers stated with respect to comments that were made during the public information period he would like to respond. He stated that based on the initiative from the Petersburg Freedom Support Center it was supported by City Council. He stated that he does not run the center and that they hired an Executive Director. He stated that he would like to also make clear the services that they provide at the Freedom Support Center. He stated that all of City Council Members received. He stated that last month they served 151 non-repeat veterans. He stated that since November 25, 2013 until the end of last month they served 1,173 non-repeat veterans with services. He stated that you would be surprised how many veterans are homeless and need services. Mayor Moore stated that he will have the clerk to rerun the tape and come back. He stated that the third line should be deliberation for funding. He stated that the non-departmental was consideration for 4-H, TRIAD, and PAL. He stated that there was 1% that was on the table. He stated that he does not have the numbers in front of him but that this would be about $7,200. He stated that this would be a 1% cut across the ones that they did do cuts for. He stated that there was clarity in what they need to do to get an appropriate budget ordinance to the table. He stated in some of the discussions the source of funding was the issue. He stated that he is not in support of taking the monies from the contingency fund. He stated that it is there for contingencies. Mayor Moore stated to Mr. Johnson that in regards to the City Council appointing members to the Jail Review Board there has not been in discussion or meetings. He stated that there is now some consideration for renovation of the jail. He stated that it has been over a year. He stated that he needs the status of the meetings. He stated to Mr. Johnson that they need to know the status of any meetings that they have. He stated that now there is a consideration of renovation for the jail and that they need to move forward. Mr. Johnson stated that he and the sheriff have a meeting set for either next Wednesday or Thursday regarding the jail renovations. He stated that he would have to get with Sheriff Crawford in terms of the number of meetings that they have had regarding the appointed jail review team by City Council. He stated that he will bring this information back to City Council as requested. 9. CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA: Mr. Johnson stated that that he has the answers from the public comment period from the last City Council meeting. Questions/Answers: 1. Will the parking be improved for the Multimodal Transit Station? a. He stated that the lot that is adjacent to the Petersburg Area Transit Center has been paved with 43 spaces. He stated that those that ride the bus to Richmond have been parking there. 2. Will the water increase concerns be addressed at the June 3, 2014, City Council meeting? a. He stated that this was addressed the tonight’s meeting and that City Council approved the increase. Mr. Johnson stated that in the essence of time and in the responding to the request to expedite the potential disposition of property located at 704 Wesley Street, 706 Wesley Street, 710 Wesley Street, 708 Federal Street and 709 Pegram Street for the community garden that Mr. Jackson came in this evening to make a request. He stated that if it is the wish of City Council he would like to ask that they give the authority to go ahead and advertise for a public hearing on Tuesday, June 17, 2014, to dispose of the previously noted addresses.  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 3, 2014 - 11 – ______________________________________________________________________________ There was discussion among City Council Members. Council Member Myers made a motion to approve for a public hearing on June 17, 2014, for the availability of 704 Wesley Street, 706 Wesley Street, 710 Wesley Street, 708 Federal Street and 709 Pegram Street for the community garden. The motion was seconded by Council Member Ross. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Myers, Pritchett, Ross, Wilson-Smith, Webb, and Moore Mr. Johnson stated that they have entered into an agreement through the procurement process through Johnson, Inc. He stated that this is an entity out of Richmond, Virginia, with the desire of rebranding, marketing and repositioning the City of Petersburg. He stated that they had their first kick-off meeting yesterday with the committee. He stated that they will be adding a representative from Petersburg Public Schools, Virginia State University and they are going to reach out to Fort Lee as well. He stated that once they move forward and have a couple more meetings then they will bring this back to City Council for an update as well as they will be have meetings with the community to get feedback from the citizens. He stated that the ultimate goal is changing the perception inside the City of Petersburg and external as well. 10. CLERK OF CITY COUNCIL'S AGENDA: No items for this portion of the agenda. 11. CITY ATTORNEY’S AGENDA: Mr. Telfair stated that earlier in the meeting Council Member Pritchett mentioned that the City begin prayer. He stated that the Town of Greece decision actually upheld the town’s prayer policy. He stated that he would recommend that to the extent that the City wants to begin secular prayer that the City must first draft a policy before doing so. 12. CLOSED SESSION (IF NECESSARY): No closed is necessary. 13. ADJOURNMENT: Council Member Coleman moved for adjournment. The motion was seconded by Council Member Ross. There was no discussion. The motion was approved on roll call vote City Council adjourned at 9:26 p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: _________________________ Mayor