City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: July 7, 2015 -1– ______________________________________________________________________________ The regular meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Tuesday, July 7, 2015, at the Union Train Station. Mayor Myers called the closed session to order at 5:00p.m. 1. CLOSED SESSION MEETING – 5:00 P.M. 2. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Member David R. Coleman Council Member Darrin L. Hill Council Member Brian A. Moore Council Member Wilson-Smith Vice Mayor Samuel Parham Mayor W. Howard Myers Absent: Council Member John A. Hart (arrived at 5:15pm) 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 3 to discuss the disposition of publicly held real property where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the City and 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 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 Parham. There was no discussion on the motion, which was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Hill, Moore, Wilson-Smith, Parham and Myers; Absent: Hart City Council entered closed session at 5:05 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, Wilson-Smith, Parham and Myers 15-R-38 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: July 7, 2015 -2– ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. REGULARLY-SCHEDULED MEETING – 6:45 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 Treska Wilson-Smith Council Member Samuel Parham Mayor W. Howard Myers 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. 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. Recognition of Progress-Index for their 150th Anniversary Mayor Myers read the resolution out loud. Vice Mayor Parham made a motion to approve the resolution recognition The Progress-Index on their 150th Anniversary. The motion was seconded by Council Member Moore. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Hart, Hill, Wilson-Smith, Moore, Parham and Myers 15-R-39 A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE PROGRESS-INDEX ON THEIR 150TH ANNIVERSARY. Mayor Myers presented the key to the city to the progress-index as well. Brian Couturier, representative from the Progress-Index, stated that he would like to thank the City of Petersburg for the honor. He stated that the Progress-Index has been proud to serve the community and its citizens for 150 years in providing news and information. He stated so that their democracy can be stronger every day. He stated that they are planning to be here for the next 150 years as Petersburg continues to grow and prosper. 6. CONSENT AGENDA:  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: July 7, 2015 -3– ______________________________________________________________________________ a. Minutes of June 16, 2015 b. Request to hold a public hearing to receive citizen comment on an appeal of the Architectural Review Board’s decision for 530 Grove Avenue. c. Request to schedule a public hearing on the proposed disposition of publicly-owned property addressed 245 East Bank Street. d. Request to schedule a public hearing to consider an ordinance to move the Sixth Ward Polling Place from Westview Early Childhood Education Center to A.P. Hill Elementary School. e. Request to schedule a public hearing for the adoption of a resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of tax and revenue anticipation note in the maximum principal amount of $4,500,000. Council Member Hart made a motion to accept the Consent Agenda and schedule the public hearing requests for July 21, 2015. The motion was seconded by Council Member Wilson-Smith. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Hart, Hill, Moore, Wilson-Smith, Parham, and Myers 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 for the issuance of Revenue Bonds for Storm Water Utility Capital Projects . BACKGROUND: The City Administration has entered into communication with Grant Capital to fund the FY15 Storm Water Utility projects approved by City Council in November of 2015. Funding is for projects to provide for the improvement of Storm Water management infrastructure and flooding conditions throughout the City. RECOMMENDATION: Adoption. Irvin Carter, Director of Finance, gave a brief summary on the issuance of Revenue Bonds for Storm Water Utility Capital Projects. Ms. Jackson opened the floor for public comment. Seeing no hands, Ms. Jackson closed the public hearing. Vice Mayor Webb made a motion to approve the issuance of Revenue Bonds for Storm Water Utility Capital Projects. The motion was seconded by Council Member Moore. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Coleman, Hart, Hill, Wilson-Smith, Moore, Parham and Myers 15-R-40 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA, APPROVING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF ITS STORMWATER UTILITY REVENUE BOND, SERIES 2015, AND SETTING FORTH THE FORM, DETAILS AND PROVISIONS FOR THE PAYMENT THEREOF. 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  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: July 7, 2015 -4– ______________________________________________________________________________ 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. Willie Noise, 1508 Circle Drive, stated that he is speaking hopefully on behalf of City Council and the audience and in particular Western Hills neighborhood watch and vice president and neighborhood watch of the year. He stated that sometimes their duties go outside of their ward. He stated this is for Delores Smith at 410 Mistletoe Street. He stated that he would like everyone to help him in congratulating her in being an outstanding mother and citizen of the year for 2015. He stated that she is a regular face from start to finish for City Council, the school board, community, neighborhood watch committees and her son and grandson. He stated that her grandson is one of the youngest citizens in Petersburg that attends the meeting regularly. He stated that “we” in which he is referring to City Council and the audience to present a small token of appreciation at this time to Ms. Smith. He stated to Ms. Smith that he thanks her for her services. Delores Smith, 410 Mistletoe Street, stated that she did not know that he was talking about her. She stated that she wants to thank everyone that had something to do with her token of appreciation. She stated that she often think about being the president of the Hardin Street Neighborhood Association for 25 years. She stated that how she got involved with that was when she was working in Richmond at the Social Security Office she was home one week and there was a lot of activity going on in her area. She stated that she got in touch with some neighbors that she can trust and she asked them what was going on. She stated that they told her that these guys are coming around and that they are doing this and doing that and selling drugs. She asked them what they are doing about it. She stated that they said that they just go in their house and close their door at a certain time. She stated to them that this is not what is going to happen. She stated that they had a Harding Street Neighborhood Association. She stated that she started going to the meetings. She stated that they were talking about things that were going on and that she asked them what they are going to do about it. She stated that she got some neighbors and they put the chairs on the corner and they sat outside. She stated that everyone that acted like they were going to sell drugs she acted like she did not know what was going on. She stated that she spoke and asked how they were and asked were they looking for somebody over there. She stated that they told the guy that was standing out there that they were going down to the corner. She stated that when she see people standing out there she get her newspaper and go out and stand beside them and begin talking to them. She stated that they were determined that they were going to take their corner back. She stated that in order to take the neighborhood back they have to take a stand. She stated that they cannot talk about it they have to get out and take a stand with people you can trust. She stated that then you have to go out there and confront these people. She stated that if it is your corner then you need to get your chair and go out on your corner. She stated that the guys use to think that she worked with the police department because she drove a state and government car through the neighborhood. She stated that she is proud of what she has done and that she has been coming to the council meetings for over 30 years or more. She stated that she has seen a big change. She stated that it can be a change. She stated that she would like to see this City Council work with the public and find out what the concerns are and work with them. Linwood Christian, 410 Mistletoe Street, stated that in the years that he has been in existence since the Progress-Index a few good things have come out of it and they are reporters. He stated that if nothing else made it deserving then they did. He stated that with all of the accolades the Progress-Index couldn’t even come and cover the SOL appreciation ceremony for the students last year. He stated that the Progress-Index didn’t think that it was time worthy so forgive him if he didn’t clap. He stated that they are quick for putting the young people in the paper for standing in the street doing wrong but yet when they are talking about their children for scoring more than 400 on their SOLs they can’t put that in the paper. He stated that he had to put that out there. He stated that he would like to thank the Mayor for announcing that he will be having a ward meeting. He stated that it has been a long time coming. He stated that he hopes that this is not the last time that they have a ward meeting. He stated that he hopes to see more of the Mayor in their ward as well. He stated that the biggest problem that they have had is seeing the Mayor in their ward. He stated that on Blick Street a couple of the house that were supposed  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: July 7, 2015 -5– ______________________________________________________________________________ to be torn down there is a lot of overgrowth in the area. He stated that he has sent in some pictures. He stated that he has to give it to Mr. Hicks and others who have addressed it. He stated that they have been good in taking care of it and some they did not know about it. He stated that he sends them the information and he tries to attach pictures to it as well. He stated that a couple of the houses are open on Blick Street. He stated that they are driving by and seeing people on the porch drinking beer and that they have even rode past and seen pipes and needles in the area. He stated that this can be looked into. He stated if they can look on Halifax Street where the restaurant “Who Let the Dogs Out” use to be, with regards to parking and traffic. He stated that it is so hard to pass thru that area when cars are parked there. He stated that it may not have been a good idea to put parking spaces in front of the health department where you come of Liberty Street and turn on Halifax Street. He stated that when trucks are coming out it is a problem and it causes traffic. Talibah Majeed, 1847 Brandon Avenue, stated that the last time she was present she spoke on the lack of economic development in the City. She stated that since then there has been a job fair that was really well attended. She stated that she is hoping that it will be more events like this. She stated that she was present representing her job which is the Virginia Employment Commission. She stated that they were impressed with the number of people that was present. She stated that some of the vendors were surprised that so many people showed up. She stated that she is hoping that they still focus on economic development because they still do need businesses in the City to hire people and give them good wages and benefits. She stated that the last time she spoke she got a note from Mr. Hicks when she sat down. She stated that she will frame it for her memoirs. She stated that it is a note that informs her that there are two buses that go out in the morning to Richmond. She stated that this was in response to her saying that people are getting jobs in Richmond because they cannot find jobs here or they are passing jobs up in Richmond because they cannot get to Richmond because of transportation issues. She stated that she asked about this because she had taken the bus to Richmond on two different phases. She stated that the problem is that the last time that she took the bus was last year and that if she didn’t get on the buses on 4:41pm that was the last bus. She stated that if someone is offered a job and overtime and they cannot take the overtime because of transportation reasons. She stated that a young person finally got a job in Richmond and now he is considering moving to Richmond. She stated that they do not want people to move to Richmond because they got jobs in Richmond. She stated that they want people to stay in Petersburg because they got jobs in the City. She stated that she is hoping that whether the new economic development person will take the job seriously and invest time and businesses and developing relationships with people in Petersburg. She stated that she lastly would like to know when the Vice Mayor is going to be having a meeting in Ward 3. Pamela Bingham, 1717 W. Princeton Road, stated that she would like to come before City Council and talk about poverty but that she will stick to her subject matter of history. She stated that last month she had an experience that she never had growing up in Mississippi and living in Virginia. She stated that she was walking down the street with some colleagues when she was living in Minnesota and group of young girls called them niggers. She stated that this was two days before Charleston. She stated that she was shocked and infuriated. She stated that she was working on a $10 million national science foundation grant. She stated that she told that college where she was staying that this was completely unacceptable. She stated that the racist had become empowered. She stated that they are not talking about it but it is out there. She stated that over the past year she told Mr. Johnson that she was sincerely concerned that there was a lack of balance on the presentation of civil war history in the Petersburg area. She stated that she has acted as a citizen and that she has not been paid by anyone. She stated that she was a native of Mississippi and that she was never called the “n” word growing up. She stated that she did see the confederate flag. She stated that when she moved to Petersburg she was very disappointed in seeing the confederate flag as much as she does here. She stated that she knows that this is Virginia and that her father is from Vicksburg. She stated that her relatives are colored troops and that they fought for the union. She stated that she does not feel that there is balance in this sesquicentennial. She stated that she feels that they are getting so beaten down about heritage that they are failing to see the real truth of the matter. She stated that the confederate flag is a symbol of racism and hate. She stated that it was used for lynches, rapes, beatings and castration. She stated that it is a symbol of slavery and segregation. She stated that she does not want to see the confederate flag on anymore Petersburg documents like the one she passed to Ms. Jackson. She stated that she thinks Council Member Wilson-Smith was with her  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: July 7, 2015 -6– ______________________________________________________________________________ the first day that she saw the flag in the public. She stated that they chose to put Confederate Memorial Day with Juneteenth and with Weekend of Wonder Camp. She stated that she would like to see a community concentration on monuments and renaming of the schools. She asked how she can be Petersburg when she is excluded. She stated that this flag excludes her. She stated that people without knowledge and history is like a tree with no roots. 9. BUSINESS OR REPORTS FOR/FROM THE MAYOR OR OTHER MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL: a. Consideration of a Resolution establishing an Anti-Poverty Commission. BACKGROUND: Many residents in the City of Petersburg live in poverty. The City desires to establish an Anti-Poverty Commission to develop strategies to address poverty in order to improve the lives of the citizens of Petersburg. RECOMMENDATION: Recommend Council adopt the attached resolution. There was discussion among City Council Members. Council Member Wilson-Smith made a motion to approve the resolution establishing anti-poverty commission. 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, Wilson-Smith, Parham and Myers 15-R-41 A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING ANTI-POVERY COMMISSION. Council Member Wilson-Smith stated that in the back are some announcements and flyers. She stated that in the month of June she met with residents and that now in the month of July she will be visiting all of the apartment complexes in Ward 1 at least twice during the month. She stated that everyone is welcome to come to any meeting that they would like. Council Member Hart stated that he will be having a Ward 7 meeting in August. He stated that the dates are to be determined. He stated that they are just waiting on approval of venue. He stated that in the past couple of months he has had discussion with City Manager on some things that he would like to see in the City. He stated that he is waiting on a response for those things that were discussed. He stated that in the past council members and staff has traveled around to look at ideas of other locations to see what we can do in this City that other locations are doing. He stated that he is asking that in the next few weeks that if City Council Members are available to take a van and go down Hampton. He stated that they can look at places that are nearby like Buckroe Beach. He stated that he does not think that they need to go all across the world to do stuff when it is in Virginia. Council Member Coleman stated that Ward 6 will meet towards the end of August. He stated to check the newspaper for times and place. Council Member Hill stated that he will be scheduling a meeting with his ward probably towards the end of August early September. He stated that although they did celebrate the Progress-Index and that he is not going to hold this against them but they had a great job fair and that there was no coverage at all. He stated that he was thoroughly disappointed in the news people in the City. He stated that if something going wrong in the City then it is front page news. He stated that he talked to some of the vendors and that some of them hired some on the spot. He stated that they did interviews and things of that nature. He stated that when they do things that are positive and good they do not get the same coverage as they do when there is something bad happening. He stated that he knows that they are going through some transition but that he hopes that this change. Vice Mayor Parham stated that he would like to thank everyone that came out to the job fair that they hosted in Ward 3. He stated that they had an excellent turnout and that hundreds of people cacme out for jobs. He stated that he would like to thank his partner School Board Chairman Kenneth Pritchett for  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: July 7, 2015 -7– ______________________________________________________________________________ helping him with the many efforts that they have done. He state that he will be having another meeting soon to have a report on how many people that were hired that very day. He stated that he would like to thank everyone for all their support. Mayor Myers stated that he would like to announce that the City of Petersburg along with Anthem HealthKeepers and Commonwealth Coordinating Care will be providing a “I AM PETERSBURG” Health and Back to School Festival that will take place on August 1, 2015, from 10:00am to 1:00pm at Petersburg Sports Complex. He stated that all ages are invited and that it is free to the Petersburg community. He stated that there will be health screenings, backpack giveaways, healthy snacks and food and refreshments. He stated that they look forward in providing all those services to the citizens. 10. CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA: a. City Manager’s report 1. When will Farmer’s Street Pool open? a. The Farmer Street pool will open June 27 through September 7. The Hours are: Monday (closed), Tuesday-Friday (10am to 6pm), Saturday (10am-7pm), and Sunday (1pm to 6pm) 2. When will a Ward 5 meeting be held? a. A ward 5 meeting will be held in August. 3. Please advise about the traffic issue at the Rives Road exit off I-95S. a. The exit at I-95 and Rives Road meet VDOT’s sight distance requirements and does not warrant a traffic signal. 4. Please advise about the traffic light at Wagner Road and Normandy Drive. It does not allow enough time for traffic to pass through. a. The traffic signal has been adjusted in the past to optimize traffic flow at the intersection. More time is provided to Wagner Road as the average wait time is 3 minutes on Normandy Drive. The time allotted allows vehicles to travel through the intersection in a safe manner. 5. Please advise about the traffic signal at Wagner Road and Frontage Road. a. We will continue to monitor this intersection. Based on previous reviews, the level of services are very good and no observation of traffic congestion. 6. Please advise on my water bill issue at 17 Jarratt Court. a. The Department of Public Utilities has been contacted and a history of your bills and usage were analyzed for the last four years. Your current water bills are tracking the same as your prior usage, and your usage history shows as even higher bills due to higher before your most current bill. Public utilities do not have a phone number on file for you, so will be sending a letter to follow up directly to let you know of our discoveries. Mr. Johnson stated that he wanted to remind the community that the answers to each council meeting is also produced an provided in Council Communicates. He stated that he would invite and remind everyone that beginning this Friday beginning at 6 pm until Sunday July 12, 2015, is the Jazz Music Festival. He stated that it is free to the public. He stated to please let everyone know and pass on the information about this activity. He stated that the Parks and Leisure Services is still in the recruit mode for lifeguards. He stated that if anyone knows any individual that can swim and has the ability to pass the certification let them know that the City is looking for lifeguards. 11. CLERK OF CITY COUNCIL'S AGENDA:  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: July 7, 2015 -8– ______________________________________________________________________________ No items for this portion of the agenda. 12. CITY ATTORNEY’S AGENDA: No items for this portion of the agenda. Mr. Johnson stated that he is not sure if they have seen the press release. He stated that this morning the announced the new economic development director. He stated that the person name is Dr. Landis Faulcon. He stated that currently she is the Economic Development Business Manager for Charles County, Maryland. He stated that she comes to the City of Petersburg with over 20 years of economic development experience for the Commonwealth of Virginia in both Hampton, Virginia and Norfolk, Virginia. He stated that she was also the Business Manager in Savannah, Georgia. He stated that she will arrive on Monday, August 3rd. 13. CLOSED SESSION (IF NECESSARY): No closed is necessary. 14. ADJOURNMENT: City Council adjourned at 7:44 p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: _________________________ Mayor