City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 19, 2018 -1– ______________________________________________________________________________ The regular meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at the Union Train Station. Mayor Parham called the meeting to order at 6:30p.m. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Member Charles H. Cuthbert, Jr. Council Member Annette Smith-Lee Council Member Treska Wilson-Smith Council Member W. Howard Myers Council Member Darrin Hill Vice Mayor John A. Hart, Sr. Mayor Samuel Parham Absent: None Present from City Administration: City Manager Aretha R. Ferrell-Benavides City Attorney Joseph E. Preston Clerk of Council Nykesha D. Jackson, CMC 2. PRAYER: Mayor Parham stated, “At this time we will have Belinda Todd, Associate Minister of First Baptist Church, to lead us in a moment of prayer.” Reverend Todd led the City in prayer. 3. CLOSED SESSION: City Attorney Joseph Preston stated that City Council will now move to go into closed session for one purpose pursuant to Section 2.2-3711.A (1) of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended, council will be in closed session for discussion and consideration of the performance of specific public officers or appointees where such evaluation necessarily will involve discussion of performance of specific individuals and under Subsection 3 of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended, council will be in closed for the discussion or consideration of acquisition of real property for a public purpose of the disposition of publicly held property where the discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiation of the strategy of the City of Petersburg. Council Member Myers moved that the City Council go into closed session for the purposes noted by the City Attorney. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Hart. There was no discussion on the motion, which was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Smith-Lee, Myers, Hart and Parham; Absent: Wilson-Smith and Hill City Council entered closed session at 6:34 p.m. CERTIFICATION: Mr. Preston stated that City Council now moves to come out of closed session and certify that only public business matters lawfully exempted from an open meeting requirement pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and only such business matters as were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed or considered in the closed meeting.  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 19, 2018 -2– ______________________________________________________________________________ Council Member Hill made a motion to return City Council into open session and certify the purposes of the closed session. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Hart. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Smith-Lee, Hill, Hart and Parham; Abstain: Cuthbert; Absent: Myers 18-R-36 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. 4. MOMENT OF SILENCE: a. Clerk of Council, Nykesha D. Jackson, led council and the audience in a moment of silence. 5. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: a. Clerk of Council, Nykesha D. Jackson, led council and the audience in the pledge of allegiance. 6. DETERMINATION OF THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM: Ms. Jackson stated that all City Council Members are present for a quorum. 7. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS/PRESENTATION OF CEREMONIAL PROCLAMATIONS: (Each presentation will be limited to 10 minutes.) No items for this portion of the agenda. Mayor Parham stated, “For tonight’s Positive Petersburg story, I would like to talk about the Petersburg Health Department’s ‘Healthy Start Loving Steps Community Action Network’, has partnered with Petersburg’s Vice Mayor, John Hart, to host a fatherhood family fun entitled ‘Celebrating 1000 Father’s. The purpose of the event is to raise community awareness by prevention and reduction of low birth weight and infant mortality in the City of Petersburg. This free event will bring together community resource providers and community stakeholders to participant in networking, information sharing, relationship building and funding.’ Fatherhood Family Fun Day’ will highlight the important roles that father’s play in healthy birth outcomes and raise healthy children and families. This will take place this Saturday, June 23, 2018, from 1pm to 4pm at Petersburg Health Department. Please come out and join Vice Mayor Hart at his event. Thank you.” 8. COMMUNICATIONS/SPECIAL REPORTS: a. Overview of Virginia Outdoors Foundation and open space easements BACKGROUND: VOF was first approach several years ago by members of the Wilcox Lake Conservancy about working with them and the city to protect Lee Memorial Park from future development. VOF currently has funding of approximately $150,000 that it can devote to the acquisition of an open-space easement in Petersburg. It is our desire to work with the city to explore the options and see if a proposal can be crafted that would meet the goals of the city, constituents, and VOF on behalf of the Commonwealth. RECOMMENDATION: Asking City Council to authorize staff in the City Manager’s office and City Planning Department to work with VOF staff and other stakeholders to explore options for protecting Lee  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 19, 2018 -3– ______________________________________________________________________________ Memorial Park, which may result in a future proposal for consideration by City Council. James McGarvey, Communications and Outreach Manager, gave a PowerPoint presentation on Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) and easements. Some supporting details from the PowerPoint presentation:  VOF has currently has funding of approximately $150,000 that can be devoted to the acquisition of an open space easement in Petersburg.  VOF is a state chartered foundation that is working with the community to explore options for using an open-space easement to protect develop land at Lee Memorial Park.  Open Space easement would be separate land that has typical restrictions in what you can do. Really meant to restrict really heavy development in open space character of the land. Council Member Cuthbert made a motion to direct the City staff to work with Virginia Outdoors Foundation and the Wilcox Lake Conservancy to explore options to Lee Memorial Park and bring a recommendation to council by January 1, 2019. The motion was seconded by Council Member Wilson-Smith. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill and Parham; Voting No: Smith-Lee; Abstain: Hart There was discussion among City Council and Mr. McGarvey. b. Presentation on the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) BACKGROUND: In 2017, City Council adopted a five-year capital improvement plan. This presentation will provide an update on these projects. RECOMMENDATION: For informational purposes only. Mr. Lyons stated, “Mayor and council members you have before you a full copy of the CIP Plan for the 2018-2022. Secondly inside your packet you have the first abbreviated ten pages of that. I thought that it was important to invite staff, Tangela Innis and Michelle Peters. They are going to come up and walk you through a ten or so presentation basically to show you out of the CIP this year what it is that we have accomplished and secondly what it is that we plan on accomplishing for the upcoming fiscal year.” Mrs. Peters gave a brief presentation on the general fund of the capital improvement program. Information on the CIP:  The capital budget addresses with general infrastructure projects.  Bonds are what you would be paying back over the time.  You can have projects like acquisitions or buying land to build new structures.  You can purchase vehicles like buses for school and have equipment upgrades.  Completion of the Hustings Court in 2018  Not seeking to borrow anymore funds from the general fund Tangela Innis, Director of Public Works, gave a briefing on Public Works and Utilities. Information from PowerPoint:  Equipment in Public Works became a priority.  Have had a lot of water main breaks in last few months that have been repaired.  Mount Vernon Pump Station will bid November 2018.  $22,000 funds for Poor Creek Project  Force Main Pump will bid 2019  Infiltration and Inflow Reduction Program Study is currently on the way.  Flow monitoring will begin in July 2018.  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 19, 2018 -4– ______________________________________________________________________________ There was discussion among City Council Members and staff. c. Billing and Collections Update BACKGROUND: City Council has requested an update on the Billing and Collections operations process. RECOMMENDATION: Information purposes only. Michael Rogers, Chief Operating Officer, gave a briefing of a PowerPoint on Billing and Collections. Information from the PowerPoint:  Key positions with billing and collections is the City Assessor, Commissioner of Revenue, Public Works and Utilities and Billing and Collections itself.  City Assessor Office deals with real estate taxes and appraisals  Commissioner of Revenue sends out the billing information for rea estate taxes, personal property taxes and machinery and tools and meals tax  New organizations that started back in November.  Utility Billing merged with collections to start new organization. d. City Manager’s Report i. Deputy City Manager for Community Affairs Update ii. Deputy City Manager for Development Update iii. Chief Operations Officer Update Mrs. Benavides stated, “Good Mayor and Council. We have decided to try to do it a little different. You have a copy of my update on my projects and activities but because some of the interest of the citizens and council is what is going with my organization, I am going to yield my time to each of my deputies to give you an update on their organizational flow on what is happening with key projects. My information that is provided in writing talks about public works, planning and transit. But what I like to do is yield my time to them so that they can present to you. I will start with Mr. Lyons. Mr. Lyons gave a summary of activities and projects that he is working on. Updates:  Received $130,000 from taking down ten properties in the City.  $78,000 of that money was used and there is still $51,000 of that money available.  Looked at all of the water contracts with the various jurisdictions of Dinwiddie, Chesterfield and Prince George County. They have been billed back pay of close to $92,000.  Some areas have not been billed in past 15 years.  Cost the City $398,000 to provide demo route to Colonial Heights on the Boulevard and it expires effective June 30, 2018. (have tried negotiations)  City got final approval on Park and Ride Parking Structure and will come back to July 17th meeting for approval from council. The property is adjacent to the transit station.  29 South Union Street has sustained quite a bit of damage. It would cost anywhere from $250,000- $400,000 to stabilize this building. A big wind storm could have the building fall down. It is best interest that the building be taken down because it is a major hazard as stated by the building official, Mr. John Hines. There was discussion among City Council and staff. Council Member Myers made a motion to allow the building official to move with the demolition of this building. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. There was discussion among City Council and  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 19, 2018 -5– ______________________________________________________________________________ staff. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Smith-Lee, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill, Hart and Parham Tami Yerby, Parks and Recreations, gave an update on Community Affairs and Tourism Key points on updated information:  Launched Petersburg Ambassador Program in October 2017. Volunteers are a great asset to the City.  Community volunteers are now up to 98 members.  First event was the City-wide cleanup in the City where 13,000 pounds of trash was removed from the City. A lot of different City departments participated.  Save the Date for November 3rd in empowering the citizens to clean with own streets and neighborhoods. There will be blitz in the City to make sure everyone is informed.  Working with River Street Venue to have activities.  Starting in July will be bringing out senior citizens to have an experience of the River Street Market.  Colonial Honda volunteered to clean all the planters in Old Town.  Worked with faith based community to help the City with volunteerism. In relation with this it was the development of a plan for major fires in the City and how they can help when things of that nature happen.  Farm Street cleanup took place and the lines was repainted on the basketball courts.  Summer employment program is currently taking place in the City.  Job Shadowing event will be taking place in the City. A program through the City Manager.  Staff person will now open and close the Union Train Station.  Train Station is currently booked for 2018 and they are now accepting bookings for 2019.  Summer Camp and Math and Science program for the youth in City.  Working youth in the City will receive a Magic Card to ride the bus for free in the City to work.  Invite everyone to go to City webpage to see any programs that are taken place in the City. Darnetta Tyus, Deputy City Manager, gave an update on Community Affairs and Tourism Key points on updated information:  Excited about the reengineering of the Department of Social Services.  State partnered with Social Services and the City to allow City to spend $1.4 million in the reengineering of Social Services.  Grand Re-Opening will be Friday, June 29th at 5pm and want the community to come out and meet the team.  Thanked Michael Rogers and his team in making sure that Social Services was a priority to complete projects by May 30th and also a big thank you to Tangela Innis and her team.  Morale at Social Services has changed by a big difference.  Social Services will not lose any of the money that amounts to $1.2 million. Michael Rogers, Chief Operating Officer, gave a briefing on the City’s finances. Keep points on updated information:  Focused on ending fiscal year with a balanced budget and slow down on spending.  Overall budget is $102 million dollars  At end of May 2018 received 64% of the $102 million dollars.  Monitoring the expenditures and revenue on daily basis. There was discussion among City Council and staff. Council Member Hill made a motion to cancel the July 3rd and to only have the July 17th for the month of July due to July 4th being a holiday. The motion was seconded by Council Member Myers. The motion was  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 19, 2018 -6– ______________________________________________________________________________ approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Smith-Lee, Myers, Hill, Hart and Parham; Voting No: Cuthbert and Wilson-Smith 9. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA (to include minutes of previous meeting/s) a. Minutes: Regular City Council Meeting: June 5, 2018 and Special City Council Meeting of June 11, 2018 b. Schedule a public hearing for Robert F. Dance, owner of 227 Saint Andrew Street, Tax Parcel 022-27-0016 is appealing the decision of the Architectural Review Board (ARB). c. Schedule a public hearing on potential disposition of public property 29 S. Union Street Council Member Myers made a motion to accept the Consent Agenda with the scheduling of two public hearings for July 17, 2018. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Smith-Lee, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill, Hart and Parham 10. OFFICIAL PUBLIC HEARINGS: a. A public hearing on the potential renaming of Old Fairgrounds Road to W.K. McLaughlin Lane from Farmer Street. BACKGROUND: Pastor McLaughlin is the leader at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. He has served this community for over thirty-three (33) years. As the campus is bordered by Old Fairgrounds Road, members felt it was appropriate to rename one of its roads leading to the church after the Pastor. RECOMMENDATION: Recommend City Council review the resolution to rename Old Fairgrounds Road and provide recommendation to staff. Ms. Jackson opened the floor for public comment. Seeing no hands, Ms. Jackson closed the public comments. Council Member Hill made a motion to name the street after Pastor McLaughlin of Mount Olivet Baptist Church. The motion was seconded by Council Member Smith-Lee. There was discussion among City Council and staff. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Smith-Lee, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill, Hart and Parham 18-R-37 A RESOLUTION TO RENAME OLD FAIRGROUNDS ROAD TO W.K. MCKLAUGHLIN LANE FROM FARMERS STREET TO END. 11. 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 ten (10) 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. Marcus Squires, 1701 Monticello Street, stated, “I was tired of the overgrown grass parked by my house and the gutters covered in dirt for months and nothing has been done. So, I took it upon myself to cut the grass and empty out the gutters and cut the overgrowth over on Sycamore Street. I went over to Arch Park and mowed the park. What my main concern is with the maintenance staff. When I was going out and fixing up the neighborhood a lot of neighbors came out and told me that the guys with the mowers on the week of the 10th came out to Walnut Hill and sat behind Grace Episcopal Church for four hours. One of the neighbors asked them were they going to mow anything today. Their response to her was we are not doing anything today. A neighbor behind the park came out and the mowers came out and parked in the park for about two  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 19, 2018 -7– ______________________________________________________________________________ hours. She went up and approached them and asked them were they going to do anything. They just drove away. I am kind of building towards the maintenance department. If we can setup a photo log of the work that they do each day so that there can be some accountability. Because the grass isn’t getting mowed around the City. I don’t know what they are doing in the trucks for four hours. My second concern is with the Virginia Avenue School. I was talking to members of the school board and they were letting me know that it was in possession of the City and that there was a $90,000 grant that was given to a nonprofit for a study of the site. But the nonprofit took the money and there has not been any communication with that nonprofit. And my third request is an update on the grant from the Cameron Foundation for a study on the old hospital site from the 2011 masterplan. It states that the Cameron Foundation did a comprehensive study on the old hospital site for potential redevelopment purpose. Thank you all very much for your time.” Karen Graham, 402 High Street, stated, “Good evening members of council. At the June 5th, City Council meeting a presentation was made regarding code enforcement in the City’s efforts to target buildings and increase enforcement efforts. I understand approximately 37 properties are initially being targeted by City officials with demolition, imminent danger or spot blight. Apparently, neither 315 High Street nor 269 High Street made it to the list. Both of which has numerous complaints filed with the City over many years regarding the buildings deterioration. This is demolition by neglect. Yet, 315 High Street was already declared by ordinance 13-ORD-116 on December 10th, 2013, a blighted property and a public nuisance to the community. Without demolition until such time to come back to City Council by a vote of City Council. Despite the ordinance nothing has happened to the property over the past nearly five years. At that time, Mr. Myers and Mrs. Wilson-Smith were serving on council and may remember this at the Vernon Johns School where we met that night. Former City Attorney, Mr. Telfair, brought this property before council and had it declared it a blighted property and several neighbors spoke regarding the neglect of the property. The adjoining property owners stated that they have been trying since 2009 to work with code compliance, as part of the building begin to fall in their yard and they were having issues with water causing damage to their properties because the building didn’t have gutters and was not and still is not in kept mode. Mr. Telfair stated that the City’s plan was to fix up the house instead of demolishing it. He referenced that the code enforcement had dealt with the property owners for two years by taking the owner to court. The owner would state that they were the wrong entity to be taken to court and that it was a mortgage company and that the mortgage company would report back and say that it was the responsibility of the home owner. Mr. Telfair was to work with the owner to come up with the timetable to make repairs to the building because the current property received it by deed of gift in 2008. Nothing ever happened with that. The taxes are still owed on the property and within the past year or so there was an attempt to sell it to a tax sale but it was pulled off the list because the owner filed for bankruptcy protection. Enough is enough. Why is there not an effort to get this in the court system? Eleanor may love the property but her dreams to be able to live there, she doesn’t have the financial means to stabilize the property or pay her taxes. Maybe continued force through the courts will force her house to be put on the market so that it can be put in the hands of someone who has the ability to renovate it. The same problem exists with 269 High Street and by not enforcing the code you are continuing to let these buildings to demolish by neglect and yet we pay lift service to the importance of the historic architect in Petersburg and that being a means of attracting new buyers and investors to the City. Please take action.” Willie Noise, 1508 Circle Drive, stated, “Tonight I want to thank the City for the subject we talked about on abandoned cars. I seen the cars gone off the road. The other two things that I am concerned about is the decline of the neighborhood watch. And I would like for something to be done about. Perhaps the ward representatives will talk to their neighborhood watch representative and try to form them up or have a meeting or something. Going back to the time that they were formed I am sure that we lost quite a few of them. They are the eyes and the ears of the City. So, we need to contact them and see what they are saying. The other things is on the Virginia Outdoor Foundation and open space easements, sometime between now and the decision I would like for this council to get with parks and recreation and the other person is Mr. Payton. He has stuff down on the riverfront and quite a few things. Thank you.” Mark Glass, 115 Marshall Street, stated, “My focus this evening is the property at 329 St. Andrews. I would like to pass out pictures of the property. Mr. Robert Dance owns this house and I believe he brought it before I was born. Please look at this photo. It shows the terrible condition of the house today. What is code enforcement actively doing to require Mr. Dance to fix up house. The new plans for code enforcement sound  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 19, 2018 -8– ______________________________________________________________________________ great but perhaps the department needs additional staff to follow through on their new plan to get 329 St. Andrews Street fixed up. Doing this will bring real estate into Petersburg. Thank you for your time and everyone in Petersburg will benefit from a fixed-up City. Thank you.” Barb Rudolph, 1675 Mt. Vernon Street, stated, “I was going to do one of these things like the Trump does and throw away his speak. But I am not going to. But I came to talk about the billing and collections. Unfortunately, Mr. Rogers presentation really addressed quite a few things and I appreciate that. That was a very good presentation and I am pretty confident that he has identified all the problems. It sounds like also that he has a good handle on the process and players. I have a few suggestions. As Council Member Hill mentioned and I am sure all of you are experiencing the same thing but there are so many unhappy citizens guarding their various utilities and tax bills for a number of different reasons. And I am not going to repeat all of that. I do think a big issue is the coordination and collaboration between the different players. And if you remember one of Mr. Rogers early slides was kind of schematic that showed the billing and collections, the assessor, utilities, the treasurer and the commissioner of revenue. Several of the areas of billing and collections and utilities is under the management of the City Manager. So that is one entity. You also have the commissioner of revenue, the treasurer and the assessor. So hopefully and some of those offices are also not accountable to you all as the City Council. So, I am hoping for the best after all this process has been looked at and worked on. If it continues to be issues with appropriate coordination and by that I mean getting the job done and also not pointing fingers and saying something broke down but it was in this other area that I don’t control. And I am not point at you City Manager Ferrell-Benavides. I am just saying that as a generic comment because I don’t think that you have done that but I have heard that others have done it. Take this as a suggestion that if we can’t get it together I would even think that you can bring in an outside mediator to bring those different parties to the table. All you are really going to do is agree to work together. Because right now that seems to be a bit of the sticking point. The other thing I was going to say and again I think that Councilman Hill brought up as an example of accountant numbers on checks. That was a good suggestion. I think that opens up to the idea of how we can educate citizens and what can citizens do to help solve the problem. I mean that that is something that the administration and you all can tell us. I know some of the problems are not the people processing the paperwork in the city. It’s actually all of us not doing it the right way. I have one last question that was brought up in the discussion. I just want to say that I think there is something wrong with the billing cycle. If people can’t who are paying on time but are paying before the cut-off cycle, I think Mr. Rogers said that sometimes that does not count. And it shows up on their next bill. That says to me that there is something wrong with the billing cycle. If you pay by the cut-off date of the billing cycle that should be reflected in your next bill. Thank you.” Linwood Christian, 613 St. Matthew Street, stated, “Good evening members of City Council. First and foremost, there are two people that I definitely have to thank although on the 9th of this month unfortunately got called away. I definitely would like to thank Chief Reid and the fire department and those who did the blitz in the area. I also want to apologize because some of my fellow members in that area who did not act within their color and decided to go outside and act unnecessary. Makes you wonder why you advocate for something for people but we thank Chief Reid anyway and his staff for coming up there. And those few people who he did make contact with it was a success. Also, the other person we have to thank is our Chief of Police. He has been working with our neighborhood association. And one thing that Mr. Noise brought up is that we are preparing, thanks to the chief, our Harding Street area is trying to contact a lot of our former neighborhood association presidents so that we can help revitalize our neighborhoods. Also, one thing I definitely have to say is that a lot of stuff that has just been said about code compliance and our maintenance workers here in the City of Petersburg is definitely unfair and not true. Yes, you have your bad apples in any bunch but overall like any, like our last treasurer and others, our code compliance needs to be given the staff and money to do what needs to be done. There are things that will not go undone or overlooked but they have to prioritize those things. Not saying everything isn’t important but they have to look at what is most important. What is most important? Would be rather let a wall fall down on somebody’s car or there is grass that is an inch too high? We do not have a lot of our maintenance workers here. So, I have said that they are doing the best that they can. They doing just like our school superintendent. They doing the best that they can with the hand that was dealt to them. Also, last but not least when they talked about the water accounts, as a citizen you all may say that the Baltimore thing is working but thank you Mrs. Treska Smith, as a citizen that stuff with the Baltimore account you all need to do something about. Because as those who have worked with person’s who do put  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 19, 2018 -9– ______________________________________________________________________________ their accountant number on the information it is still a mess. I understand administration may think it’s good but when it comes down to it it’s a citizen who has to suffer. Not you. We are the ones that have to deal with that. So, do something about this Baltimore issue. I definitely would like to say this one thing. It bothered me that the City found nothing else better to do then to approach the gentleman with the little farm. Don’t we have other things to deal with other than what kind of plants are grown somewhere. I am going to tell you that that is the best-looking thing down there on the avenue right now. When we have so many other things that need to be addressed. I am not saying again that doesn’t need to be addressed but let’s go back sometime. I have to thank you Mr. Myers as well as you Madam City Manager about the information about putting your account numbers on the checks and all. When we had our neighborhood association you all made that known. I would suggest to try to find a way to work with this young man with that. Again, with everything else going on when we have streets with potholes bigger than craters on the moon, let’s be for real is a plant or what he is growing really something that we should concern ourselves with. Thank you.” 12. BUSINESS OR REPORTS FOR/FROM THE MAYOR OR COUNCIL MEMBERS: Council Member Cuthbert stated, “I want to thank the City of Petersburg for the remarkable job that has been done on the Hustings Courthouse. I am looking forward to the ribbon cutting or celebration or whatever it is that we have coming up pretty soon. I am not quite sure when it is. Mrs. Ferrell- Benavides do you remember when the date is of that event?” Mrs. Benavides stated, “It is this coming Friday sir.” Council Member Cuthbert stated, “This Friday at 2pm. That is a great event and I thank your administration for getting us there. The other item I would like to bring before council is something that was before us at our last meeting and that was making appointments to our board of sinking fund commissioners. Unless someone thinks that that would not be appropriate. But the way we left it I believe last time was that we postponed making those appointment until tonight. And I have that skeleton of a motion. I may not have quite enough to go all the way down the line but I am pretty close I believe. Let me let that copy of the proposed motion reach as far as it will go. If anyone on council feels that it is premature or not appropriate to make those appointments tonight, please say so and we will do it at some other time. I do think that it is important that we do get some people in place and I believe that a number of members of council feel the same way. Mr. Mayor.” Mayor Parham stated, “Council Member Cuthbert I know that we have been working on getting the terms of the board of the sinking fund. Mrs. Benavides do you have any type of terms in place yet for the Board of Sinking Fund.” Mrs. Benavides stated, “I believe what the council presented to the established is that we had some examples of other funds but I would refer to the secretary on what was included in that information. I do not have it in front of me right now. What you can do sir is help us put together a planning group to help formalize that and then bring it back to council as far as the government structure.” Mayor Parham stated, “Council Member Cuthbert to put that in plain terms we were looking for that information on the rules. It has been such a long time since we had them and we couldn’t find them so we had to come up with a board to try to build the terms and everything.” Council Member Cuthbert stated, “I am not sure that I am understanding everything because of acoustics. I was thinking that if we can appoint these people. We got some good candidates and then we can delegate this decision to them of coming up with the rules by which they operate themselves. The motion that I am proposing addresses the questions of duties and I think that is probably the most important thing for council to do to specify. That is that the duties should be stated in the Code Section 30-109 and in addition the board may from time to time may make recommendations to council in any aspect to Blandford Cemetery. If we were to put this off any longer what would be accomplished by the delay and within what time period would it be accomplished Mr. Mayor.” Mayor Parham stated, “Ms. Jackson will we be able to move forward with this and then put together a  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 19, 2018 - 10 – ______________________________________________________________________________ draft of terms and then do the research and then bring it back to council. Then we do not have to create two boards to study one to be on it and one to create rules.” Ms. Jackson stated, “It would be my suggestion, being that I have been dealing with the boards and commissions for the last 15 years that it would be better that before you appoint anyone to the board to at least come up with some guidelines and terms before you appoint. Just in case if you are appointing to the board then you do not have to come back and create a resolution of guidelines for the board. That is just my suggestion.” Council Member Cuthbert stated, “Well that is all fine and I guess that is one reason why I am proposing to kind of tiptoe into this thing tonight. I think in the past you have made a really valued effort to find minutes and records of some sort of guide post to follow but were not able to do so. Is that correct?” Ms. Jackson stated, “That is correct. There is no guidelines for any boards in the State of Virginia. I have gotten some examples from outside the state but have not found anything within the City dating back to when we did have a sinking fund. If there is then they are probably in the minute books that do not have an index which is in old English writing and you are probably going to have to take some time to look.” Council Member Cuthbert stated, “How much time? I am confused. Are you going to come up with a proposal Ms. Jackson for council’s consideration?” Ms. Jackson stated, “I can try to create a proposal once I come back from vacation.” Council Member Cuthbert asked, “What would be reasonable time for you to do that?” Ms. Jackson stated, “I can have something by July 17th.” Council Member Cuthbert asked, “Can you do that?” Ms. Jackson stated, “I sure can.” Council Member Cuthbert stated, “Mr. Mayor, might our game plan at least at this point from July 17th be to adopt this structure that Ms. Jackson has referred to and going to work on for consideration and also appointments for July 17th. I appreciate it.” Vice Mayor Hart, stated, “I would just like doing that process that you resubmit the names for appointment.” Council Member Cuthbert stated, “I think that Ms. Jackson has the list and I think that six people have applied. If Ms. Jackson would send those applications to council again. Thank you very much Ms. Jackson and thank you Mr. Mayor.” Council Member Smith-Lee stated, “Yes, good evening and thank you. I have a council of announcements. There are flyers on the back table and the first announcement is that I am having a Ward 1 Workshop Follow-Up meeting this coming Saturday, June 23rd at Bethany Missionary Baptist Church. And the flyers are in the back. And the very next day on Sunday, we will be having our third session of the Citizens Academy which is called money matters. If you head anything from tonight you should have a lot of questions on Sunday. So, I hope that you will call come out on Sunday. It’s free. I wanted to thank the City Manager and staff for the Ward Walk. They allowed me to invite some citizens from Ward 1 to accompany us. And the purpose was for the citizens to know the ins and outs of where they live. It’s their neighborhoods. They gave us very good information that I thoroughly enjoyed it so much so that I hope we can do it again maybe in September. Thank you. I want to also ask Mr. Preston if it is possible that we can review the Rules of Council at the July 17th meeting.” Mr. Preston stated, “Is this regarding the proposed changes. Yes, we can meet before then. You and I  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 19, 2018 - 11 – ______________________________________________________________________________ can go over it.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “And then we can bring it back to council. The last thing that I wanted to address is today. Today is actually Juneteenth. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordan came to Galveston, Texas, to inform the reluctant community that the President Abraham Lincoln had abolished slavery two years early. Upon hearing of the news, the community broke out in jubilation. Thus, we have Juneteenth. Today, over 100 years later, our society still finds ourselves still trying to write the wrong created by slavery and segregation. In our City alone, we changed the names of our schools and in our state there has been great controversy and dismantling of confederate statues. On today, on Juneteenth I would like to ask you to join in officially with me and support the motion to write the wrong of our council of 1958. And officially overturn the decision to shut down the lake to prevent integration.” Council Member Wilson-Smith made a motion that City Council of 2018 will agree to officially reopen Wilcox Lake and have a commemorative ceremony to do so on Juneteenth 2019. The motion was seconded by Council Member Cuthbert. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Smith-Lee, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill, Hart and Parham Council Member Smith-Lee stated, “I just want to say thank you to the citizens for coming out tonight. Also, I would like to invite each and every one of you all for the ‘Longest Day Alzheimer’s Awareness.’ We are going to light the City in purple. We are going to be at City Hall June 21st, which is Thursday at 8pm. Please wear your purple t-shirts and purple flashlights. We just going to light the City purple. Please come out. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, the Delta Omega Chapter will be also be represented out there. I would like to thank the WOP Group for a job well done on Saturday. Please take a ride and look at Farmer Street Park. The guys that live in 5th War now in 6th Ward, where I grew up, Craig Tucker, Wesley Nicholas, Greg Lee, Bernard Gregory, many of them. I would like to thank the Petersburg Police Department and the Petersburg Fire Department and the Petersburg Recreation Department. And also, the citizens who live in the 5th and 6th Ward. Those guys, it was about 50 or 60 of them, they put together their monies and got basketball hoops. Mrs. Yerby was saying the painting of the basketball court. They put down mulch and cut the grass. That’s what a community do. When you doesn’t have a lot of funds you get together and make it work. And I am so proud that the guys from all wards and some of them do not live in the City. I just want to say thank you. Also, I went down to the Treasurer’s Department because I wanted to go and make a difference to go down there and help Mr. Pritchett out. He and I had some conversations and we are all moving forward. We can always put the blame on each other but at the end of the day we are one. I also, like to ask each and every one of you to continue to pray for the babies, the kids, the teenagers who were separated from their parents. I can’t even imagine my four-year-old great niece and six-year-old great niece being separated from their mother. When kids do not know anybody, can you imagine a four-year-old crying for their mother and father and they don’t know anybody. We have to realize where we all come from. We all are immigrants. Don’t forget that the Spanish and the Indians were here first. Thank you.” Council Member Myers stated, “Yes, Ms. Jackson and Mr. Mayor. I have a resolution that I like to make a motion on. I believe Ms. Jackson is passing that around.” Council Member Myers made a motion to adopt a resolution approving the issuance by Petersburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority of its multifamily housing revenue bonds for the acquisition, construction, renovation, rehabilitation and equipping of the approximately 222-unit Petersburg ArtistSpace Apartments Multifamily Housing Facility located in the City of Petersburg, Virginia, and the location will be 100, 110 and 120 South Perry Street. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Hart. There was discussion among City Council, staff and developers. Council Member Wilson-Smith made a substitute motion to read these documents and come back at the next City Council Meeting ready to vote on it. The motion was seconded by Council Member Cuthbert. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Smith-Lee, Wilson-Smith, Hill, Hart and Parham; Voting No: Myers Council Member Hill stated, “Good evening everyone. First of all, I want to thank everyone for laboring  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 19, 2018 - 12 – ______________________________________________________________________________ with us today during this council meeting. Also, I want to thank public works and our City Manager for handling some grass cutting issues that I reported to them I appreciate the work that is being done. I know that there is always more that we can be doing. I do want attention of courses given to the entire City but you all have driven through the City just as I have and when you come of the Exit 52 and drive towards the City where the old bus station used to be and now there is a lot of weeds that are growing up near the sidewalks and what have you. Can somebody look at that and also downtown in the old town area there are a lot of weeds growing up in the cracks. One gentleman came through the other day with a weed eater and kind of cut. Even up to Tabb Street we need to pay attention to that. Also, Crater Road exit, when you are coming off Crater Road exit going onto Graham Road there is grass that needs to be cut right across the street near that stop sign. So, if they can please get someone to take care of that as well. When we did our little tour of the City in my ward I did identify some things that I want to see happen and I know we are short budget. We did something out in Berkeley Manor and I was under the impression that some doors were being ordered for the playgrounds. And the doors that I am talking about is the men’s and women bathroom. They are dry rotted and you can probably kick your foot through it. The painting of the stripes and the weed eating on the basketball court. I had citizens call me with those items. And also, Oakhurst. I got with our Deputy Director and identified some things to him when we went for a ride around through the ward. I want a follow-up or an update on those things that we discussed. Other than that, thank you all for coming out.” Vice Mayor Hart stated, “Good evening everyone. Thank you for staying out with us. Just a few things. As the Mayor mentioned earlier, on Saturday, from 1pm to 4pm, at the Department of Health there will be the ‘1000 Fatherhood Initiative Event.’ In addition to those things that he listed we will have bounce houses for the kids and hamburgers and hotdogs and drinks and other things. But the most important thing is some health screenings. Come on out and get a checkup and make sure that everything is working fine and if not let’s fix it. I want to thank the City for its collection effort with the personal property taxes for the last couple of weeks. It has really been rough around here but with the City Manager and her staff they jumped out and did the things that the needed to do. I think that it was about all 20 of you downstairs at one point making sure that we collected money within the City to get some processes working. I would like to thank Mr. Lyons as I called him the other and said that we needed to go out and look at some red tag property that was taken care of. I truly appreciate it and the work that you did for that. Other than that, that’s all.” Mayor Parham stated, “Good evening again everyone. I would just like to take this time out to thank all of our City staff that was involved last Thursday when we had Brian Ball, the Secretary of Commerce of Trade, just newly appointed to the State to Governor Northam’s administration. So, we should him around the sites and around the City. He was very enthused to be here. The tour guide was Mr. Tabor and you did an outstanding job showing potential economic development sites. Also, this weekend we have the Autism Walk. It will be at Cameron Field at 9am. I encourage everyone to come out to this event. And the ‘Stop the Violence Event’ is at 11am on Saturday. So, it’s another busy weekend in the City and we thank each and every one of our City workers for all the work you do. And thank you all for hanging out with us late tonight. Thank you.” 13. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA: No items for this portion of the agenda. 14. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: No items for this portion of the agenda. 15. STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: No items for this portion of the agenda. 16. NEW BUSINESS: a. Consideration of an amendment of the 2018-2019 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Plan to allocate and reprogram funds.  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 19, 2018 - 13 – ______________________________________________________________________________ BACKGROUND: The proposed uses of the funds includes $214,155 from the CDBG Revenue Account to be allocated to the Lock’s Waterline Replacement. Also, $43,625 from 2016 Business Assistance Program, $19,644 from 2017 Technical Assistance Program and $24,555 from 2017 Development Grants, all totaling $87,824 to be reprogrammed to Demolition of Blighted Residential Properties $50,000 and $37,824 to Residential Rehabilitation of blighted properties. RECOMMENDATION: Recommend City Council review and vote on the programming amendment of $301,979 for the purposes described in the background. Vice Mayor Hart made a motion to accept the recommendation to review and vote on the programming amendment of $301,979 for the purposes described in the background. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Smith-Lee, Wilson- Smith, Myers, Hill, Hart and Parham b. Consideration of an appropriation for Additional Grant Revenue to Petersburg City Public Schools. BACKGROUND: When the fiscal year 2017-2018 budget was developed by Petersburg City Public Schools, the exact amount for grant awards were unknown. Therefore, an estimated amount was placed in the budget based on a variety of factors. The budget was adopted by Petersburg City Council last spring. As the Schools receives an exact grant amount, the schools must amend the adopted budget RECOMMENDATION: Recommend City Council Appropriate $1,435,668 to the Petersburg City Schools Budget. Council Member Wilson-Smith made a motion to approve the appropriation in the amount of $1,435,668 to the Petersburg City Schools Budget. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Hart. Ms. Jackson opened the floor for public comments. Seeing no hands, the public comments was closed. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Smith-Lee, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill, Hart and Parham 18-ORD-19 AN ORDINANCE, AS AMENDED, SAID ORDINANCE MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING JULY 1, 2017, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2018, IN THE PETERSBURG PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPPLEMENTAL ALLOCATION. 17. REPORTS/REPONSES TO PREVIOUSE PUBLIC INFORMATION PERIOD: Stephanie Harris, Assistant to the City Manager, read the questions and answers from the previous meeting regarding the public information period on June 5, 2018. 1. What should residents do if they have not received a personal property or real estate tax bill? Answer: Late penalties for utility, personal property, and real estate tax bills have been delayed until Friday, June 29. Bills have been reprinted and mailed again. Residents still needing a statement can visit City Hall (135 North Union Street) or view the statement online at www.petersburg-va.org 2. Along Sycamore Street, Northbound, there is overgrown vegetation. Answer: This concern has been reported to the Public Works Department. 18. CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA: Mrs. Benavides stated, “I just want to remind Council that August is quickly approaching and I know  Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 19, 2018 - 14 – ______________________________________________________________________________ that this is traditionally retreat time. This is something that we need to talk about at the next meeting to look at our legislative agenda. We need to start to look at dates in August to have the retreat.” 19. BUSINESS OR REPORTS FROM CLERK: No items for this portion of the agenda. 20. BUSINESS OR REPORTS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY No items for this portion of the agenda. 21. ADJOURNMENT: City Council adjourned at 10:46 p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: _________________________ Mayor