City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: May 19, 2015 -1– ______________________________________________________________________________ The regular meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Tuesday, May 19, 2015, at the Union Train Station. Mayor Myers called the closed session meeting to order at 5:30p.m. 1. CLOSED SESSION MEETING – 5:30 P.M. 2. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Member David R. Coleman Council Member John A. Hart Council Member Darrin L. Hill Council Member Brian A. Moore Vice Mayor Samuel Parham Mayor W. Howard Myers Absent: Council Member Treska Wilson-Smith 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: 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 under Subsection 7 to consult with legal counsel and obtain a staff briefing where a briefing in an open meeting could potentially and adversely affect the negotiating posture of the City. Council Member Moore moved that the City Council go into closed session for the purposes noted by the City Attorney. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. There was no discussion on the motion, which was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Hart, Hill, Moore, Parham and Myers; Absent: Wilson-Smith City Council entered closed session at 5:34 p.m. CERTIFICATION: Council Member Coleman 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 Hart. There was no discussion on the motion, which was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Hart, Hill, Moore, Parham and Myers; Absent: Wilson-Smith 15-R-31 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 BUSINESS MATTERS AS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION CONVENING THE CLOSED SESSION WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED, OR CONSIDERED.  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: May 19, 2015 -2– ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. REGULARLY-SCHEDULED MEETING – 6:30 P.M. 2. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Member David R. Coleman Council Member John Hart, Sr. Council Member Darrin L. Hill Council Member Brian A. Moore Council Member Samuel Parham Mayor W. Howard Myers Absent: Council Member Treska Wilson-Smith Present from City Administration: City Manager William E. Johnson, III City Attorney Brian K. Telfair Clerk of Council Nykesha D. Jackson, CMC 3. MOMENT OF SILENCE: a. Clerk of Council, Nykesha D. Jackson, led council and the audience in a moment of silence . 4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: a. Clerk of Council, Nykesha D. Jackson, led council and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. 5. PRESENTATION/PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS: (Each presentation will be limited to 10 minutes.) a. A Proclamation recognizing Victoria Brown for her achievements. BACKGROUND: Victoria Brown is a graduating student from the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School. She has been accepted and will be attending Spelman College. She is a product of the Petersburg Public School System serving as the president of the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School Key Club of Kiwanis. RECOMMENDATION: Recommend Mayor Myers read the attached Proclamation. Mayor Myers read the proclamation out loud. Commonwealth Attorney, Cassandra Conover, stated that Ms. Brown’s scholarship pays from her undergrad to her doctorate degree. b. Proclamation designating May 17-23, 2015, as National Public Works Week. BACKGROUND: Public works Professionals provide essential infrastructure services to the citizens of Petersburg to protect the general health, safety, and welfare of the community. RECOMMENDATION: Recommend Mayor Myers read the attached proclamation. Mayor Myers read the proclamation out loud.  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: May 19, 2015 -3– ______________________________________________________________________________ Steven Hicks, Director of Public Works, accepted the proclamation. He stated that it takes a lot of effort. He stated that he would like to thank Wanda, City Council, City Manager, City Attorney and all other agencies that are involved in making this successful. He stated that he wishes public works could get all the credit for these accomplishments but the reality is that there are a lot of other departments that make this possible. c. Presentation by Tara Anderson, Executive Director of the Petersburg Freedom Support Center. BACKGROUND: The Petersburg Freedom Support Center is a highly collaborative, public- private sponsored hub for veterans, reserve, and National Guard service members and their families. The facility currently houses eighteen independent agencies that offer a variety of services that assist individuals with sustainment in areas of housing, employment, mental health, finances, and healthcare. RECOMMENDATION: For information only. Tara Anderson, Executive Director of the Petersburg Freedom Support Center, gave a PowerPoint presentation. d. Presentation by Feshona Claiborne, Practice Administrator, Bon Secours Freedom Healthcare Associates. BACKGROUND: Bon Secours Freedom Healthcare Associates is a new primary care medical facility located within the Petersburg Freedom Support Center. The primary care serves the entire community offering health screenings, school physicals and management of chronic health conditions. RECOMMENDATION: For information only. Feshona Claiborne, Practice Administrator, gave a PowerPoint presentation. 6. CONSENT AGENDA: a. Request to schedule a public hearing on a proposed ordinance declaring 226 South Jones Street a blighted property and a nuisance to the community. b. Request to schedule a public hearing on a proposed ordinance declaring 836-38 Hinton Street a blighted property and a nuisance to the community. c. Request to schedule a public hearing on a proposed ordinance declaring 554 Halifax Street a blighted property and a nuisance to the community. d. Request to schedule a public hearing on a proposed ordinance declaring 834 South Jones Street a blighted property and a nuisance to the community. e. Request to schedule a public hearing on a proposed ordinance declaring 218 North West Street a blighted property and a nuisance to the community. f. Request to schedule a public hearing on a proposed ordinance declaring 29 West Tabb Street a blighted property and a nuisance to the community. g. Request to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance amending the Code of the City of Petersburg by adding Section 110-270 to Article VII of Chapter 110, allowing for a civil penalty for passing a stopped school bus. h. Request to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance granting an easement across 1320 Farmer Street to Columbia Gas of Virginia.  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: May 19, 2015 -4– ______________________________________________________________________________ i. Request a public hearing be scheduled on the proposed disposition, by lease, of a portion of publicly-owned property addressed as 801 South Adams Street. Council Member Moore made a motion to accept the Consent Agenda and schedule the public hearing requests for June 2, 2015. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hart. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Hart, Hill, Moore, Parham, and Myers; Absent: Wilson-Smith 7. 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 City’s Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2016-2020. BACKGROUND: The Code of the State of Virginia allows a local planning commission to, and at the direction of the governing body shall, prepare and revise annually a capital improvement program based on the comprehensive plan of the locality for a period not to exceed the ensuing five years. The commission shall submit the program annually to the governing body, or to the chief administration officer or other official charged with preparation of the budget for the locality, at such time as it or he shall direct. The capital improvement program shall include the commission’s recommendations, and estimates of cost of the facilities and life cycle costs, including any road improvement and any transportation improvement the locality chooses to include in its capital improvement plan and as provided for in the comprehensive plan, and the means of financing them, to be undertaken in the ensuing fiscal year and in a period not to exceed the next four years, as the basis of the capital budget for the locality. In the preparation of its capital budget recommendations, the commission shall consult with the chief administrative officer or other executive head of the government of the locality, the heads of departments and interested citizens and organizations and shall hold such public hearings as it deems necessary. RECOMMENDATION: Following a duly advertised public hearing, Council may affirm the Planning Commission recommendation, overturn the Planning Commission recommendation, table for further consideration, or return the item under consideration to the Planning Commission requesting further review. The recommendation of the Planning Commission was to approve the request with a vote of 7-0. Michelle Peters, Director of Planning and Community Development, gave a PowerPoint presentation. Ms. Jackson opened the floor for public comment. Seeing no hands, Ms. Jackson closed the public hearing. Council Member Hart made a motion to approve the City’s Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2016-2020. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Parham. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Hart, Hill, Moore, Parham and Myers; Absent: Wilson-Smith 15-ORD-38 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE CITY’S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEARS 2016-2020 b. A public hearing on the proposed renaming of Fleet and Canal Streets to University Boulevard. BACKGROUND: On November 20, 2014, all property owners along the proposed section of Fleet and Canal Streets were provided with a complete questionnaire and notification of the proposed name change from Fleet and Canal Streets to University Boulevard. They were also provided the attached map denoting the name change from High Street to City Limits/Appomattox River. In addition, on January  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: May 19, 2015 -5– ______________________________________________________________________________ 13, 2015, a second notification was sent to all property owners along the proposed section advising them of the change and requesting notification within 30 working days from January 13th of any concerns or objection to the name change. As a result, there were no objections to changing the name to University Boulevard. It should be noted that the Crater Planning District Commission (CPDC) was notified about the proposed name change and their findings found University Boulevard has not been used. CPDC will update the Crater Street Name Clearinghouse as University Boulevard as a Petersburg street upon Council approval. Therefore, staff recommends the street name change to University Boulevard. With Council’s approval, the following is required: -Sign fabrication, Post Office, property owners, City departments and agencies notifications. -News release in local newspaper and City website. RECOMMENDATION: Recommend Council adopt the attached resolution. Steven Hicks, Director of Public Works, gave an overview on the proposed renaming of Fleet and Canal Streets to University Boulevard. Ms. Jackson opened the floor for public comment. Lawrence McLaughlin, 709 High Street, stated that he did not receive any of the information that Mr. Hicks suggested. He stated that University sounds very nice but that he thinks that they should not ignore Fleet Street and Canal Street since this reflects the City past. He stated that it does not just reflect the past but it reflects the private enterprise which they are looking for to revitalize the City. He stated that the City use to be a really powerful shipping area, canal area and railroad area. He stated that these were done by individuals and not federal governments coming in. He stated that he thinks that Canal Street and Fleet Street reflect that past which they hope will continue to revitalize. Rasheedah Farid, 18 Jarratt Court, stated that she thinks that this is a brilliant idea. She stated that it will connect to VSU finally in the physical form to Petersburg. She stated that she would say to move forward. She stated that she agrees on the name change. Michael Edwards, 409 Grove Avenue, stated that he stands present to oppose the renaming of Fleet Street and Canal Street. He stated that he would like to be clear that before they go forward that the City does need to build relations with Virginia State University (VSU) but not with changing the names of some of the older streets in the City of Petersburg. He stated that Virginia State University is not located in the City of Petersburg but it is located in Chesterfield County. He stated that they have already transformed the Village of Ettrick and now the City of Petersburg is opening the door for them to do so as well. He stated that a while back the City Manager made the statement in a public meeting that the City was not going to make this into a college town. He stated that this proposal opens the door to do just that. He stated that he has information on a brief history lesson that they City will destroy if they do just that. He stated that a Fleets Hill is the name of the hill on which Virginia State University was built. He stated that the name does have a direct association with VSU. He stated that the hill was so called at least as early as spring of 1676, when the House of Burgess ordered that a fort be constructed at masonry at Fort Henry or over against it on Fleets or Fleets Hill. He stated that Fleet Street originated when a couple of merchant millers where building mills on a north bank below Fleets Hill asked the Town of Petersburg to extend Old Street, which is now Grove Avenue, westward and hence north to the bridge. He stated that the two merchant millers were constructed to link their mills to Petersburg. He stated that the town did so. He stated that it has been called Fleet Street ever since. He stated that Canal Street came a little bit later in probably 1810. He gave information regarding the connections of the surrounding streets to Canal Street. He stated that he ask City Council to consider Petersburg’s history as this is what attracts the visitors to the City. He stated that if they keep erasing it then what will be left for the citizen to visit.  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: May 19, 2015 -6– ______________________________________________________________________________ Seeing no further hands, Ms. Jackson closed the public hearing. There was discussion among City Council and staff. Council Member Moore made a motion to table the public hearing until the next regular council meeting to give City Council more time to consider the change. The motion was seconded by Council Member Moore. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Hart, Hill, Moore, Parham and Myers; Absent: Wilson-Smith c. A public hearing on an ordinance granting a non-exclusive, variable-width easement to Virginia Electric and Power Company. BACKGROUND: The City of Petersburg, in conjunction with the Cameron Foundation, is developing design documents for Gateway Improvements located Fleet Street near the Appomattox River. The project includes park improvements, additional parking, and relocation of overhead utilities. The relocation of overhead utilities will require the granting of permanent easements to Virginia Electric and Power Company along and across the City-owned property identified as a portion of Tax Parcel 009- 010005. RECOMMENDATION: Recommend Council adopt the attached ordinance. Ms. Jackson opened the floor for public comment. Seeing no hands, Ms. Jackson closed the public hearing. There was discussion among City Council and staff. Council Member Moore made a motion to adopt the ordinance with the correction of “wises” to “wishes”. The motion was seconded by Council Member Coleman. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Hart, Hill, Moore, Parham and Myers; Absent: Wilson-Smith 15-ORD-39 AN ORDINANCE TO GRANT A NON-EXCLUSIVE VARIABLE-WIDTH EASEMENT ON TAX PARCEL 009-010005 TO VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY. 8. 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. Talibah Majeed, 1847 Brandon Avenue, stated that the day after the last council meeting she received a call from Mia Montero from the Utility Department. She stated that she was totally surprised. She stated that they played phone tag and then they finally touched base. She stated that Ms. Montero answered all of her questions and cleared up all her issues about her misunderstanding about the bills. She stated that the same week she distributed flyers about a job fair for a company called Enclos for Assemblers. She stated that the company paid $11-$13 per hour. She stated that everyone that she talked said that even if they were qualified or knew someone that was qualified the transportation was not there to get them to Richmond. She stated that the job was in Richmond. She stated that this emphasized the need for the City to have big businesses within the City so that the residents can actually get to work. She stated that she is a wellness ambassador for the wellness project. She stated that this summer they have a program that is specifically for families. She stated that it is a program that recruits families from Ward 1 and Ward 6 who have middle school and high school families. She stated that the  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: May 19, 2015 -7– ______________________________________________________________________________ intention is to help the families learn and have fun in changing some of their habits that are causing them to not be so healthy. She stated that they really hope that they can get the support from the City and the guidance on recruiting 40 families. Rasheedah Farid, 18 Jarratt Court, stated that she would like to talk about her experience that she had this weekend at the Petersburg Police Department Academy. She stated that it was an imitation from Police Chief John Dixon that stated, “In an effort to build trust while in positive police and community relationships, Chief John I. Dixon, III, is hosting Community Training Day. It is designed to help citizens better understand decision making factors that police officers experience while performing their duties.” She stated that training was from 8:30am to a little past 2:00pm. She stated they provided the theory then they were allowed five minutes of being a police officer. She stated that she must say that she does not wish to be a police officer. She stated that she can also say that the City is in good hands with the Petersburg Police Department. She stated that it was very informative and that they had residents attending from Petersburg, Richmond, Chester and Prince George that attended. She stated that when they talk about opportunities to experience Petersburg she would like to invite everyone to take advantage of those opportunities. She stated that she missed two other events to attend that event. She stated that another opportunity to experience Petersburg is the first home game of the Petersburg Generals on Wednesday, May 27th. She stated that she was not in advocate of the Petersburg Generals. She stated that she does not like baseball and that she thinks that it was of the most boring games on the planet. She stated that she attended one game and that she got hooked on the Petersburg Generals. She stated that she loves attending the baseball games and that she knows a little about baseball. She stated that she knows that they pick up the bat and hit the ball. She stated that she hopes to learn a little bit more this year. She stated that it is so much fun at the games and that you are able to meet people from out of town. 9. BUSINESS OR REPORTS FOR/FROM THE MAYOR OR OTHER MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL: a. Consideration of appointment to the Board of Public Art Petersburg. BACKGROUND: Public Art Petersburg is a new nonprofit organization. Its purpose is to forge a powerful sense of place, to foster the growth of community pride, and to ignite the vital spirit of creativity through commissioning, preserving, promoting, and interpreting public art in Petersburg. One of the principal goals has been to build a strong alliance with the City of Petersburg to further its goals. RECOMMENDATION: Recommend Council appoint Michelle Peters, Director of Planning and Community Development, as a member of the Board of Public Art Petersburg. Vice Mayor Parham made a motion to appoint Michelle Peters, Director of Planning and Community Development, as a member of the Board of Public Art Petersburg. The motion was seconded by Council Member Coleman. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Hart, Hill, Moore, Parham and Myers; Absent: Wilson-Smith 15-R-32 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING MICHELLE PETERS, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC ART PETERSBURG. b. Consideration of a resolution approving the Governor’s Agricultural & Forestry Industries Development Fund Performance Agreement by and among the Economic Development Authority, the City of Petersburg, and Big Trouble LLC and a Cooperative Agreement authorizing receipt and payment of incentive grants and related actions. BACKGROUND: The attached resolution approves the Governor’s Agriculture & Forestry Industries Development Fund Performance Agreement by and among the Economic development Authority, the City of Petersburg, Virginia, and Big Trouble, LLC. This resolution also approves a Cooperation Agreement with the City of Petersburg, Virginia, and the City of Petersburg Economic  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: May 19, 2015 -8– ______________________________________________________________________________ Development Authority authorizing the receipt and payment of incentive grants and related actions. The City of Petersburg Economic Development Authority approved the agreements by resolution during their May 5, 2015, meeting. The resolution and agreements facilities passage of funds to the developer which will benefit the City of Petersburg through job creation, development of vacant property, and by generating increased tax revenues for the City of Petersburg and the Commonwealth of Virginia. RECOMMENDATION: Recommend Council adopt the attached resolution; adopt the attached appropriation ordinance; and authorize the City Manager to execute both the Cooperation Agreement between the City of Petersburg and the Economic Development Authority and the Governor’s Agricultural & Forestry Industries Development Performance Agreement. Vice Mayor Parham made a motion to adopt the resolution, appropriation ordinance and to authorize the City Manager to execute both the Cooperation Agreement between the City of Petersburg and the Economic Development Authority and the Governor’s Agricultural & Forestry Industries Development Performance Agreement. The motion was seconded by Council Member Moore. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Hart, Hill, Moore, Parham and Myers; Absent: Wilson-Smith 15-R-33 A RESOLUTION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA, APPROVING GOVERNOR’S AGRICULTURE & FORESTRY INDUSTRIES DEVELOPMENT FUND PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG THE AUTHORITY, THE CITY OF PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA , AND BIG TROUBLE, LLC., AND A COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA, AUTHORIZING THE RECEIPT AND PAYMENT OF INCENTIVE GRANTS AND RELATED ACTIONS. 15-ORD-40 AN ORDINANCE, AS AMENDED, SAID ORDINANCE MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING JULY 1, 2014, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2015, IN THE SPECIAL FUNDS FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000 FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE GRANT. 15-ORD-41 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE BOTH THE COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND THE GOVERNOR’S AGRICULTURAL & FORESTRY INDUSTRIES DEVELOPMENT PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT. c. Consideration of the appropriation of a grant award received by the Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services. BACKGROUND: The City of Petersburg Fire, Rescue, & Emergency Services have received an Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Assistance to Firefighter Grant Programs’ primary goal is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations. The grant funds will be utilized solely for the purchase of new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and personal protective equipment (PPE) for enhanced firefighting and emergency response safety. The federal share of this grant is $568,410, with a required local match of $56,840. The local match will be provided from the Fire Department’s State Fire Program Funds. RECOMMENDATION: Recommend Council adopt the attached appropriation ordinance. Vice Mayor Parham made a motion to adopt the appropriation ordinance in the amount of $625,250 for 2014 FEMA Assistance to firefighters grant. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hart. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Hart, Hill, Moore,  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: May 19, 2015 -9– ______________________________________________________________________________ Parham and Myers; Absent: Wilson-Smith 15-ORD-42 AN ORDINANCE, AS AMENDED, SAID ORDINANCE MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING JULY 1, 2014, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2015 IN THE SPECIAL FUNDS FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $625,250 FOR 2014 FEMA ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT. d. Consideration of the appropriation of a grant award received by the Department of Parks and Leisure Services. BACKGROUND: The Department of Parks and Leisure Services has received a grant award in the amount of $40,000 from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for the purpose of providing a functional and cosmetically appealing boating access at Willcox Lake for the benefit of the public. A Cooperative Grant Agreement is attached for your review. Due to the fact that the Willcox Watershed Conservancy is a non-profit organization, it is not able to act as the Grantee for this project. The Conservancy asked the City to act as the Grantee since the project will benefit a City park. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries seeks to establish a boating access facility using State Funds not to exceed $40,000 at Willcox Lake. There is a required 25% ($10,000) match consisting of in-kind services and/or local matching funds as well as the use of the land necessary for the small, non- powered boating access facility at Willcox Lake in Lee Memorial Park. The 25% match has been identified by the Willcox Watershed Conservancy (WWC). The Conservancy will provide the City with $4,000 for a cash match prior to June 30, 2015, and the Conservancy has identified in-kind services from vendors (materials) that equal $6,000. The City will use the $30,000 grant award to pay the contractor for 75% of the project cost plus an additional $4,000 cash match for a total of $34,000 and the City will be reimbursed by the Willcox Watershed Conservancy by June 30, 2015. RECOMMENDATION: Recommend Council adopt the attached appropriation ordinance. Council Member Coleman made a motion to adopt the appropriation ordinance in the amount of $40,000 for Willcox Lake Boat Access. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Hart, Hill, Moore, Parham and Myers; Absent: Wilson-Smith 15-ORD-43 AN ORDINANCE, AS AMENDED, SAID ORDINANCE MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING JULY 1, 2014, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2015 IN THE SPECIAL FUNDS FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,000 FOR WILLCOX LAKE BOAT ACCESS. Council Member Hill stated that he stated that he would like to let the citizens know about the Business Town Hall Meeting that will be on May 26th at 6:30pm at the Mexico Plaza Restaurant. He stated that this will be with Ward 2 and Ward 3. He asked Mr. Telfair if he would address or get back with him on how they let the citizens know when their businesses are opening up next to them. He asked if he can get back to him at the next meeting regarding this information. Vice Mayor Parham stated that he would like to thank everyone that came out on May 13th for the Ward 3 Summer Fair. He stated that he would like to thank the school board chairman Ken Pritchett as well for working with him. He stated that the next item is in regards to May 7th Neighborhood Watch Meeting that he had. He stated that he would like to thank Chief Dixon for sending out Lieutenant Moore, Officer Mack and Officer Elkins. He stated that he would like to thank Sheriff Crawford for sending Captain Gray. He stated that the citizen’s questions were answered and that everyone left the meeting feeling energized in getting all the neighborhood watches going in Ward 3. He stated that he would like to reiterate what Council Member Hill stated regarding the May 26th meeting. He stated that they are looking at getting the businesses in Ward 2 and Ward 3 together. He stated that they are showing love for the  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: May 19, 2015 - 10 – ______________________________________________________________________________ businesses in those areas in the City. 10. CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA: a. City Manager’s report 1) Please provide clarity on my recent utility bill. When will the monthly billing begin? Ms. Talibah Majeed has been contacted by our Utility Billing Manager to clarify her personal utility account. The payment made on April 14th covered the usage from December to January. The bill was mailed out March 9, 2015, and was due April 6, 2015. The new bill is for February to March. Ms. Majeed’s first bill for 30-day usage will be received in May, and bills will continue to be monthly. Mr. Johnson stated that the only item under his portion of the agenda had been responded to already by Ms. Majeed. He stated that this was the question from the last City Council meeting in regarding the utility bill. He stated that he would like to reiterate with his Monday morning and A.P. Hill friend. He stated that next Wednesday, May 27th at 7:00pm will be the opening day for the Petersburg Generals. He asked everyone to come out and support the City’s baseball team. He stated that Ms. Farid has been a help in encouraging the young men and women attending school every first Monday of every month. He stated that there is a group of them between 10 to 15 City employees, school teachers and people from Club Benedict. He stated that he does not think that it would have been if it was not for Ms. Farid sending out reminders every month aspiring and motivating everyone to come out to support the young students. He stated to Ms. Farid that he would to recognize her for the energy and the reminders as well. He stated that he would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Memorial Day weekend. 11. CLERK OF CITY COUNCIL'S AGENDA: No items for this portion of the agenda. 12. CITY ATTORNEY’S AGENDA: No items for this portion of the agenda. 13. CLOSED SESSION (IF NECESSARY): No closed is necessary. 14. ADJOURNMENT: City Council adjourned at 7:43 p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: _________________________ Mayor