City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on: January 10, 2017 -1– ______________________________________________________________________________ The work session of the Petersburg City Council was held on Tuesday, January 10, 2017, at the Union Train Station. Mayor Parham called the work session meeting to order at 6:30p.m. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Member Charles H. Cuthbert, Jr Council Member Darrin Hill Council Member W. Howard Myers Council Member Annette Smith-Lee Council Member Treska Wilson-Smith Vice Mayor John A. Hart, Sr. Mayor Samuel Parham Absent: None Present from City Administration: Interim City Manager Tom Tyrrell Interim Finance Director Nelsie Birch City Attorney Joseph E. Preston Clerk of Council Nykesha D. Jackson, CMC 2. DISCUSSION OF THE FY17 SECOND BUDGET AMENDMENT: Mr. Tyrrell stated that he will be giving some context on how the City got to where they are now in their prospective. He stated that Robert Bobb will go through the presentation on where they need to be, the 2nd amendment and what they are going to propose and respond to questions. He stated that hopefully they will get the 2nd amendment passed at the next regular City Council meeting. He state that they have discovered that there have been inadequate financial books and records for them to answer basic questions He stated that a lot of people existed the City and that when they left they took their knowledge with them. He stated that the enterprise fund budget will be the target for the forensic audit. He stated that they will discuss the 10% restoration for police, fire and emergency services. He stated that the recommendation would be to restore those areas on April 7th pay period. He stated that they will not be talking about the capital budget plan. He stated that there focus is to do City Council’s bidding in a way that balances the budget. He stated that they are happy to do this. Mr. Bobb stated that his colleagues and he had a long meeting on Sunday. He stated that someone once said that the budget is the super bowl of government. He stated that the budget is a powerful public policy document that City Council will approve. He stated that the budget is not a faceless set of numbers. He stated that it is a document that will determine the level of service that they will provide to the community. He stated that they will give a synopsis of the general purpose fund and then a brief on tonight’s work session. He stated that they will go over in the PowerPoint presentation the synopsis from the 1st amendment in August of last year. He stated that they will review the 2nd amendment to FY17 budget. He stated that this budget had input from all City departments in Petersburg. Mr. Bobb begins briefing the PowerPoint presentation on the 2nd Amendment to FY17 budget. There was discussion among Ms. Birch, Mr. Bobb, Mr. Tyrrell, Mr. Brown and City Council Members. *Audio available  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on: January 10, 2017 -2– ______________________________________________________________________________ Council Member Cuthbert asked for itemization of every parcel of real estate on which there is more than two years of indebtedness owed with respect to each of the parcels, whether in a payment plan or on the track to Sands Anderson. Mr. Brown stated that he will that information for Council Member Cuthbert that information in about a week and that he will send this information to all City Council Members as well. Council Member Cuthbert asked Ms. Birch for information on the utility revenues and collection. Ms. Birch stated that it will not be before next week but that she will make sure that they bring it back on how the budget is performing. There was discussion among staff and Council Members regarding the healthcare cost and other amendments in the budget. Dawn Williams, Registrar, gave a review of her budget and the numbers presented. Council Member Cuthbert asked if Ms. Williams would get with Ms. Birch to get an estimate. He stated that when City Council meets this time next week she should be able to have an answer before then and that this would give them an opportunity to change the $10,000 line item and the administrative piece. Shalva Braxton, Circuit Court Clerk, gave information and spoke on her budget. There was discussion with Ms. Birch and Ms. Braxton in regards to Ms. Braxton budget. Ms. Birch went through the remainder of the budget and suggested amendments. Council Member Cuthbert stated that he would like to see a breakdown of each of the four fire stations and the hours that they work. He would like to see which ones fight the most fires. He would like to also see how much the City would save if they closed the Johnson Road Fire Station. He would like to see this for the FY18 budget. He would like a report when they get to the FY18 budget whether they can work out a regional fire department. Ms. Birch gave an update on the CDBG Budget. Council Member Cuthbert asked whether the budget has money for vacant building registration program. Ms. Birch stated that she is not sure. Council Member Cuthbert stated that he thinks that they should look at the Code Section 22-140 and 22-141. He stated that would love to see the vacant building registration program put into play. He stated that he thinks that this would help the tax base in the City and the appearance. He stated that perhaps when they have their meeting one week from tonight they can bring City Council up-to-date as to whether there will be money in Code Compliance for the vacant building registration program. Ms. Birch stated that they will do this. Ms. Birch went over the Sheriff Department and Fleet Department Budget. *Audio available  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on: January 10, 2017 -3– ______________________________________________________________________________ There was discussion among City Council Members and staff regarding the perpetual care trust fund. There was discussion regarding the risk management insurance of the City with Dr. Elsie Jarmon and City Council Members. Ms. Birch went over the non-departmental budget, VA Retirement System and the Freedom Support System. There was discussion among City Council Members and Robert Bobb Group. Ms. Jackson stated to City Council and staff in regards to speaking in the microphone and pressing the appropriate buttons to be heard. 3. CLOSED SESSION (if necessary) *No closed session items. 4. ADJOURNMENT: City Council adjourned at 9:38 p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: _________________________ Mayor *Audio available