City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 -1– ______________________________________________________________________________ The regular meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, 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 Treska Wilson-Smith Council Member W. Howard Myers (left meeting at 8:43pm) Council Member Darrin Hill Vice Mayor John A. Hart, Sr. Mayor Samuel Parham Absent: Council Member Annette Smith-Lee Present from City Administration: City Manager Aretha R. Ferrell Benavides City Attorney Anthony C. Williams Clerk of City Council Nykesha D. Jackson 2. PRAYER: Mayor Parham stated, “Reverend Dr. George Lyons of Gillfield Baptist Church will lead us in our opening prayer.” Reverend Dr. Lyons led the council meeting in prayer. 3. CLOSED SESSION: No items for this portion of the meeting. 4. MOMENT OF SILENCE: Mayor Parham led council and the audience in a moment of silence. 5. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Parham led council and the audience in the pledge of allegiance. 6. DETERMINATION OF THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM: A quorum was determined with the presence of all City Council Members except Council Member Annette Smith-Lee. Mayor Parham stated, “I would like to highlight the great day that we had yesterday in the City of Petersburg as we designated, June 17th was designated as AMPAC Day here in the City of Petersburg! Yesterday we had an amazing morning and we celebrated a grand opening ceremony for AMPAC Fine Chemicals right here in Petersburg. AMPAC is a leading manufacturer of Active pharmaceutical Ingredients in the United States. AMPAC has only three facilities in the Country and one of those is right here in our community. This re-opening will generate hundreds of jobs for our community in many diverse positions. AMPAC also presented our Fire Safety Team with an incredible donation, providing the funding for a self- *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 -2– ______________________________________________________________________________ contained breathing apparatus that will allow our firefighters to refill their air tanks on site at the scene of a fire. We were overjoyed to welcome AMPAC CEO, Aslam Malik to Petersburg and we thank AMPAC Fine Chemicals for their contribution to the Petersburg community. Round of applause for AMPAC.” 7. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS/PRESENTATION OF CEREMONIAL PROCLAMATIONS: a. Proclamation recognizing Nicholas Riggs Day. Mayor Parham read the proclamation out loud and presented it to Nicholas Riggs. 8. COMMUNICATIONS/SPECIAL REPORTS: a. City Assessor Report – Brian Gordineer, AAS, City Assessor Mr. Gordineer stated that he has no presentation or updates for tonight’s meeting. b. City Manager Report – Aretha R. Ferrell-Benavides, City Manager Mrs. Benavides stated, “Good evening Mayor and Council. You have been provided a copy of the City Manager’s update and report. I would like to highlight a few activities on there and provide you some information that was requested. One item of particular notice is streets and operations. There were about 175 street lights that are in need of repair within the City. B&B Contracting services have been repairing over 285 street lights in the past five months. We are still diligently working towards repair on Grove Avenue. There were six street lights that are not working, and the City contractors are having issues finding parts. But they are working on getting those fixed. Second thing is grass. It is that season again and summer has kicked in and we have moved to a grass cutting cycle of 14-day cycle starting on the fifth cycle of last week. So, you will see more going there. Also, a particular note in budget and procurement, through May 30, 2019, the City has sold over $110,000 worth of surplus goods through GovDeals. This is an opportunity for us to make sure not only that we are not only clearing it out but that we are not just keeping things until it is in dismay. And public safety operations ‘No Guns, Safe Streets’ and 134 illegal guns have been removed from Petersburg streets as of 2019. Also, included in your packet is an update on the Petersburg courthouse repairs just for council update. And we will keep providing updates. One question of particular note, I was asked to provide you is regarding the use of body cameras in the City of Petersburg. The question is ‘What is the frequency of body cameras used in the City of Petersburg?’ The answer is all sworn members of the rank of Sergeant and below, assigned to patrol operations have body cameras. This includes school resource officers and so they wear activate body cameras. The second question is ‘What is the practice of saving the image?’ All officers dock their body cameras in a docking station at police head quarters that automatically uploads images to a cloud-based server. As you are aware in our budget one of the things that the legislature passed was a need for an additional position to be funded under the Commonwealth Attorney Office in order to address the body camera images. So, this was funded in our budget. ‘When are the images downloaded?’ At the end of each shift he or she does the download. And the last is ‘How long are the images preserved?’ Images are not considered evidence shall be retained for 60 days if not required to support known investigation. That concludes my report, but I am available for questions.” There was discussion among City Council and staff. c. Monthly Financials (April & May) Michael Rogers, Chief Operating Officer, gave a PowerPoint presentation of April and May financials. Links for presentations: *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 -3– ______________________________________________________________________________  April Financials - http://petersburgva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4516/April-Financials_05062019  May Financials - http://petersburgva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4517/May-Financials_06052019 9. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA (to include minutes of previous meeting/s) a. Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of May 28, 2019 (including amended minutes of May 28, 2019) b. Request to schedule a public hearing of Christopher and Colleen Riggs to rezone the property from the R-3 (Two-Family) Residence District to B-2c (General Commercial) District to allow a commercial use (a small first floor office). The property address is 323 W. Washington Street, T.P. 023-12-0018. (July 2, 2019) c. Request to schedule a public hearing on an appeal to repeal Article 27 §5 “Special Use Exceptions’ of the Zoning Ordinance (Appendix A) of the Code of the City of Petersburg (2017) (as amended), and add a number (19) Height may be exceeded for certain Commercial uses, such as hotels, offices, and other desired economic development proposals that meet a policy goal or objective. To add under Article 27 §6 “Special Yards and Height Exceptions”, a number (5) to establish a waiver in height for commercial uses when deemed appropriate by the Board of Zoning Appeals. (July 2, 2019) d. Request to schedule a public hearing to consider adopting an Ordinance Creating a Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Program & Guidelines. (July 2, 2019) Council Member Myers made a motion to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Hart. Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “In the minutes on page 28, I just want to be clear, because I did vote for this motion. It says, ‘Mayor Parham made a motion that anything past $1 million dollars go into our capital fund to support the library auditorium project up to $250,000.’ But anything past what?” Mayor Parham stated, “Past our million-dollar reserve is what it would be.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “Is that what you want it to say? Because it does not read that. But you want to correct it?” Mayor Parham stated, “Yes. It should read ‘anything after the $1 million-dollar reserve has been reached to go towards the library expansion of the auditorium.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “And let me also ask Mrs. Benavides. Does that fit into our current budget that we just passed? So, were you aware of this motion and us doing this?” Mrs. Benavides stated, “Yes, I am aware of the motion. And so, what it would mean is anything above, so for example, last fiscal year our audited numbers we budgeted for $1 million in our reserves, but we were at $1.6 million. So, this would be a way of funding the library project if our numbers are met as we end this next fiscal year. So, that we have a surplus beyond the $1 million that we add towards the fund balance then we would have the $250,000 that is necessary for the library construction. So, anything above $1 million up to $250,000.” Council Member Wilson-Smith made a substitute motion to accept the Consent Agenda with the correction to the minutes and reserve and scheduling the public hearings for July 2, 2019. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 -4– ______________________________________________________________________________ Cuthbert, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill, Hart and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee 10. OFFICIAL PUBLIC HEARINGS: a. A public hearing to amend and re-adopt Section 42-2(B) of the Petersburg Code of Ordinances pertaining to assessment for courthouse construction, renovation or maintenance. BACKGROUND: While working with the Honorable Circuit Court Judge Teefey on issues related to Courthouse construction, renovation, or maintenance of the Petersburg, the working group was notified of a discrepancy in the current City Code Section 42-4 relating to the assessment of a $3 fee which may be collected by both the General District Court and Circuit Court for each criminal and traffic case in accordance with §17.1-281(C) of the Code of Virginia. It was discovered that although the applicable State Code provisions allow for collection of the fee in both General District and Circuit Court, the authorization for collection of the fee for cases in Circuit Court was omitted from the adopted provisions of Section 42-2(b) of the Petersburg Code of Ordinances. Adoption of this Ordinance will remedy this discrepancy and allow the fee to be properly collected. RECOMMENDATION: City Council adopt an ordinance. Anthony Williams, City Attorney, gave a briefing of the consideration of the amendment and re-adoption of Section42-2(B) of the Petersburg Code of Ordinances pertaining to assessment for courthouse construction, renovation or maintenance. Mayor Parham opened the floor for public comments. Seeing no hands, Mayor Parham closed the public hearing. Vice Mayor Hart made a motion to approve the adoption of the ordinance. The motion was seconded by Council Member Myers. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill, Hart and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee 19-ORD-33 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND RE-ADOPT SECTION 42-2(B) OF THE PETERSBURG CODE OF ORDINANCES PERTAINING TO ASSESSMENT FOR COURTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, OR MAINTENANCE. b. A public hearing and subsequently considers adoption of an Ordinance approving and authorizing the City Manager to execute a Purchase Agreement and proceed with the sale of City-owned property, located at 505 High Street, 857 East Bank Street and 801 South Adams Street, in accordance with applicable legal requirements. BACKGROUND: The City has received proposals to purchase the following City-owned properties: Parcel ID Premise Street Total Proposed Proposed Gross Land Area Assessed Purchase Investment Building (ac) Value Price Area (Sf) 1 010-170003 505 High St $ 2,500 $ 1,000 $ - 0.02 2 012-070015 857 Bank St E $ 10,700 $ 1,000 $ 140,000 0.12 *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 -5– ______________________________________________________________________________ 3 031-300002 801 Adams St S $ 61,010 $ 175,000 $ 1,500,000 9,197 1.22 Parcel ID Premise Street Zoning Current Use Proposed Use City Council Prospective Authorized Purchaser Sale of Property Date 1 010-170003 505 High St R-3 Vacant Lot Open Space 3/19/2019 Haddon 2 012-070015 857 Bank St E R-3 Vacant Lot SF Residential 3/19/2019 Optimal Cap 3 031-300002 801 Adams St S RB Vacant Lot Commercial 3/20/2019 Par 5 Dev In accordance with applicable legal requirements, A public hearing is required prior to approving and authorizing the sale of City-owned property. The City Council scheduled a Public Hearing to be held on May 28, 2019. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council considers adoption of an ordinance approving and authorizing the City Manager to execute a Purchase Agreement and proceed with the sale of City-owned property in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Reggie Tabor, Economic Development Manager, gave a briefing of the public hearing on the adoption of an Ordinance approving and authorizing the City Manager to execute a Purchase Agreement and proceed with the sale of City-owned property, located at 505 High Street, 857 East Bank Street and 801 South Adams Street, in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Mayor Parham opened the floor for public comments. Barb Rudolph, 1675 Mt. Vernon Street, stated, “I wanted to comment on 801 South Adams, the former hospital property. Having looked at the web page for Par 5 Development it appears that this group in North Carolina specializes in developing Dollar General Stores. In fact, I think that just about every property that they are actively working on or pending in Virginia is designated as a Dollar General Store development. So, as a concern is that the best and highest use of that property to have a Dollar General Store over there. I would hope that maybe somebody that is involved in economic development for the City can comment on that. Also, the fact that it is part of a larger parcel which I believe is about 24 acres, how is that located on that 24-acre parcel and how does it impact the sale and development of the remainder of the 24-acre parcel. But looking just for something that this is not isolation that the developer is just going to come in and build a Dollar General store there when right across the street from it there was practically a 7-11 that closed recently for some reason. Suggested that it may not have been a good place to have that kind of business. Thank you.” Michael Edwards, 409 Grove Avenue, stated, “Like Mrs. Rudolph I have done my research and Par 5 does specialize in dollar stores. This City has seven-dollar stores, three Family Dollar’s, three Dollar General’s and one Dollar Tree. There is an article that I will be sending to your emails shortly that is circulating online that says dollar stores are taking over the grocery business and that it is bad news for public health and local economies. The Institute of Local Self Reliance did a study and I will also send a study of that to you as well. The dollar stores are profiting off customers in food deserts. As we all know Petersburg is a food desert. Just to give you a couple of statistics on how these dollar stores prey on areas like ours, Dollar Tree and Dollar General have expanded their footprint in just under 20,000 stores in 2010 to nearly 30,000 in 2018. But plans to yet open another 20,000 in the near future. Dollar General alone opens roughly three stores a day. In 2015, Dollar Tree and Dollar General represented two-thirds of all new stores in food deserts. Dollar stores do not provide a good quality food source to areas which they are placed. Moving forward I hope that you all do not approve this developer to put another dollar store in this area. But moving forward I would like to see council *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 -6– ______________________________________________________________________________ work to pass a zoning ordinance to limit dollar store developments and encourage full service grocery shops in the City. I know for a fact that Councilwoman Wilson-Smith has sent letters to numerous grocery stores to entertain Petersburg. I, myself, in one of our Anti-Poverty Commission meetings presented to our commission the new pilot program that the Salvation Army as started. They chose Baltimore to get into the grocery store business. Now why would the Salvation Army get into the grocery store business. Well their model is doing the most good. Their grocery store model is unique, different and it helps areas such as ours. They help citizens that come in to shop by introducing programs of assistance that are available to them. They help them do financial management and budgets. They help them to shop and eat healthy. And they also have people within the store to help with workforce development. So, I encourage this City Council to take into consideration that we have seven-dollar stores and this City cannot afford another one, especially at 801 South Adams Street. Thank you.” Willie Noise, 1508 Circle Drive, stated, “Under my thinking is preventive maintenance versus corrective maintenance. And I am just wondering what plans do the City have and these properties when they come up for sale and how do they fit within the plan that the City have on the sale and purchase of these properties. Because outsiders, insiders or other interested personnel are going to be looking at their profit or their benefit. So, we as a City are going to have to and should already be looking at that. And see how it either fits in our objective or vision or not. So, just be conscience of that. Thank you.” Marcus Squires, 1701 Monticello Street, stated, “I am here today to talk to you about 801 South Adams Street. I am not for the sale of that property. In the past the Cameron Foundation has promised to help the City to draft a vision for the property. They failed on their promise. Our economic development office does not have a great vision for the property. The property is next to 85 and 95 and a direct access road on Graham Street. There is a lot of potential that can be found on this property. So, I hope you don’t squander that potential by dividing it up when we could have a great piece of redevelopment on our City one day. Thank you.” Julian Greene, 1625 Blair Road, stated, “I have just become aware of that site. That site was going to be used particularly and specifically for the nurse’s dormitory. There is a college that has planned and still is planning to come to Petersburg, CIC (Central International College) aligned with PALDC for a theology school. That has been awarded by the State Board of Education. And the administrators know this. Here is an opportunity that is not going to conflict with Virginia State University and it is not going to conflict with Richard Bland College. Where we can have students go to theology but may not have it to get into the bigger schools but the grade level up to exceed. Two years after coming at that site, the State has agreed to allow them to award bachelor’s degree. Now this is utterly ridiculous. We continue to sell Petersburg down the drain. With all the resources and accesses that we have we cannot do any better than what I am hearing now. Come on guys. This is ridiculous, and the administrators are not apprising you to what the plans are. The collaboration that we have with PALDC, the number one HBCU in the nation working with us. Twenty-five HBCU working with us and we cannot get them to talk about PALDC and Peabody. We have come to you and the city attorney and personally gave you documentation on the preservation of historic sites. I personally gave, in which I should not have done because our lawyers advised us not to do, a copy of the deed. It was said that the site did not have a deed. And now I see the revert in terms of what you are trying to do. You are trying to sell that property. And yes, she has a copy of that deed. I gave it to her personally. Now that is just a microscopic view of what’s being planned. If you plan to sell that site, then there is a plan to sell Peabody. It does not take an Einstein to read between the lines of what is trying to be done. And I am mad, and I am angry because we came in good earnest faith to deal with the economic community. We came to the city manager and city attorney and you are doing this to us. Our kids in our community will be in a rude awakening in September when scores come out from the school system. We should have been in their now working with the kids with Virginia State as part of a collaborative part with us. We have colleges all over the country working with us and you are doing this to us.” *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 -7– ______________________________________________________________________________ Ron Flock, 1708 Pender Avenue, stated, “It’s just astounding to me that we are having a conversation, and, in that conversation, we are considering a Dollar General or Dollar Tree as a grocery store. It is ridiculous. It is a junk store and I am sure that you all would not mind if your family or parents would have to go there and get something to eat. I have been coming to these meeting for about three years now. And I have not yet seen a good economic development plan. And seriously to take that large of a parcel and plop a Dollar Tree in the middle of it. That is insane, and it makes absolutely no sense. You cannot justify that in any plan of economic development and if you can I want to see it. Because whoever that is has to be a miracle worker. So, just that one thing you have to turn that down. It just cannot happen. Thank you.” Brandi Jarmon, 458 Deerfield Drive, stated, “I came in on the tail end so please excuse me. I have been trying to catch up to a lot of the dialogue when comes to this whole development. And my concern is what other options did we have. Was Dollar Tree the only option within that corporation or that development that we had to choose from? With the number of stores that we do have popping up in Petersburg in designated areas it is almost as if it is a surplus and takeover but for what reasoning. We cannot use Dollar Tree as our go to as a grocery store. They do not offer the healthy options and produce is not available. The meat selection is not of the finest manner. And with everything already happening with agriculture and the United States and having so many food recalls we just do not want to trust the health of our people to the Dollar Tree. So, that is my input when it comes to that. What other options do we have available when it comes to this company? Has anybody searched those options? What teams were out there and what redevelopment head hunters do we have that can come in when some of these other grocery stores were leaving and say that these are the healthy options that we need as a City. And we want to keep talking about the growth and the well-being of our City it does start with what we are putting into bodies. The Farmer’s Market opens once, and it doesn’t help us. A lot of people travel and the amount of currency they pay doesn’t help us there. We do need options that are available to all that are here and wanting to shop in Petersburg. So, that we are not going to Colonial Heights to Publix or we are not trying to find a local Kroger. We are trying to get those opportunities here in Petersburg.” Linwood Christian, 410 Mistletoe Street, “It looks like here of late we have always having a conversation about something that is in my neighborhood or close to my neighborhood. Now just as the previous speaker coming in on the tail end, I will say this one thing. If this is the case that somebody think that we are dumb enough to say yes to a Dollar Tree being the substitute for a grocery store I am wondering what they are smoking. Because we all know the setup of Dollar Tree and most of the stores now. As the previous speaker said there is nothing and it is just a quick fix. It is no more than 7-11 and some of those stores that are already on the corner. Although I am quite sure they do not sell some of the other items that are in those stores on our corners. But still if this is the case, I wonder whoever puts that there what are they smoking. To think that is going to surpass as a grocery store. Our current governor and our last governor when their wife was talking about the food desert, I wrote them and asked them to not just let this be a platform that they are standing on. Because this is a serious thing here that nutrition, especially in our poor communities, it is a serious thing. So, if that is the case I don’t want a Dollar Tree coming there just to say that we are also giving them an opportunity to have a grocery store. No, that is not happening. Because, if that is the case then I can go right down there to what used to be the Harding Street Recreation Center. Even, if they are not coming there you don’t need to think about putting a Dollar Tree on Sycamore Street until something is done about that little hill coming over there. You cannot hardly see when traffic and cars are coming over there and you still have cars making that left turn right there. So, in other words, the increased traffic we stand a better chance in having more traffic accidents. But again, I have to echo the sentiments but because it is right there near my community, so much has been done saying that we are going to teach people about nutrition and nothing has happened yet. So, please again, and I hope that person is here who wants to put that Dollar Tree there, so they can hear the one question that I am asking. If you think that is going to surpass as a grocery store what are you smoking.” *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 -8– ______________________________________________________________________________ Brandon Martin, 1546 Berkeley Avenue, stated, “Personally I consider these a point source of litter and let’s leave it at that. The 7-11 was the same. For forty years, I have been picking up people’s trash and a lot of it comes from these stores. We don’t need that kind of business in this City. Let’s take another look at that parcel, the big piece, the old hospital property. This City has got a dire need for consolidated utilities ground garage in one place. Right now, the garage is out to what used to be the stables back in the 20s. Public works and buildings and grounds are back out in the midway. Utilities is down on St. Andrews Street and I believe is still a leased-out trailer. Code enforcement condemned their office building back in 2005. It is going to take a big pile of money to do but frankly you have the opportunity and it is not in a float plane. You do not have any demolition or significant demolition to be involved in. So, seize the opportunity while you have the access to.” Mariam Sankoh, 1025 Bolling Street, stated, “I am here to talk about the 801 South Adams Street parcel. I understand that there are a lot of charged emotions. I do not want to approach you with a sense of malice. I understand that property has languished on the market for years in addition to other City owned properties. And as someone with an active real estate license, I do understand that subsidized the property would be the in a very commercial sense the most forward option for something that isn’t selling. But I do ask you about the health in the community. I went on ‘Clean Sweep Petersburg’ onto Mrs. Rudolph blog and asked them what they wanted. And they don’t really want a Dollar Tree or Dollar General. I know it seems like an easy quick option, but the long-term implications indicate to people a lack of caring and consideration. Not only for them but for their communities in which you represent. I understand that it is hard to get national change here given the income restrictions and the restrictions due to income population size. But, I ask that we go another way and expand Farmer’s Market and look at getting nationals changed here. But, don’t limit to this is quick fix option. I don’t want to say that the person that came up with this had a malicious intent. I do not know who they are. But I am saying to please consider the other options because it puts another wall against the City Council and the community at-large.” Seeing no further hands, Mayor Parham closed the public hearing. There was discussion among City Council and staff. Council Member Cuthbert made a motion to approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the purchase agreement and proceed with the sale of parcel 010-170003. 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, Hill, Hart and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee; Voting No: Myers Council Member Cuthbert made a motion to adopt an ordinance approving and authorizing the City Manager to execute the purchase agreement and proceed with the sale of parcel 012-070015. 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, Hart and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee Council Member Cuthbert made a motion that City Council refuses to adopt an ordinance approving and authorizing the City Manager to execute a purchase agreement and proceed with the sale of parcel 031- 300002. The motion was seconded by Council Member Wilson-Smith. There was discussion among City Council Members. Council Member Cuthbert amended his motion to read that City Council refuses to adopt an ordinance approving and authorizing the City Manager to execute a purchase agreement and proceed with the sale of parcel 031-300002, for the purpose of a Dollar General Store. 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, Hill, Hart and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee; Abstain: Myers 19-ORD-34 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF CITY PROPERTY LOCATED AT 505 HIGH *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 -9– ______________________________________________________________________________ STREET PARCEL NO.:010-170003. 19-ORD-35 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF CITY PROPERTY LOCATED 857 EAST BANK STREET PARCEL NO.:012-070015. c. A public hearing on the expansion of local historic district – historic landmarks in National Register of Historic Buildings. BACKGROUND: The City’s local historic district does not include certain buildings which have been designated as historic landmarks in the National Register of Historic Buildings. These are valuable historic assets to the City. Expansion of the local district to include these structures will aid in the preservation of these valuable properties. RECOMMENDATION: Adopt resolution. Council Member Cuthbert stated, “Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Let me turn to this in my agenda packet. Mr. Mayor, I propose to make a motion then we can engage into discussion. Is that the way that to perceive?” Council Member Cuthbert made a motion to instruct the City Manager to initiate the process for expansion of the local historic district to include properties designated as historic landmarks in the national registry of historic buildings. Mayor Parham stated, “First Council Member Cuthbert let me open the floor for the public hearing first before the motion.” Mayor Parham read the background information out loud. Mayor Parham opened the floor for public comments. Willie Noise, 1508 Circle Drive, stated, “Historic buildings and locations have been on the subject for quite some time here lately. And since you are bringing it up, I have no idea of the historic district what now on the register is considered. And I have no idea what the reason is to expand that. I would like to add two more sites to the listing or the consideration. And I would like for Mrs. Smith to head it off on these two requests. And they are a location down on the Appomattox River. Not to far from the bridge that goes to Virginia State. Now there have been some kids diving off the bridge. And that little area is considered the toilet bowl. The reason that the call it the toilet bowl is that when conditions are right the water right there swerves and it resembles flushing a toilet. So, those that are into that when they talk on the internet and ask where we are going, and they say the toilet bowl. And a little further up is a rock and it should be, and they call it the rock. I would like those two things to be established and put on the record. Because the history goes back so far that the people lost lives and the train is in the water or whatever. It should go on the touring list in Petersburg. So, if you all would think about that it would be a start. Thank you.” Brandon Martin, 1546 Berkeley Avenue, stated, “Just out of curiosity I should have done my homework and I neglected to on what specific buildings at this point to be included in that protection. What buildings are we talking about to be included in this concept that needs additional protection. I can think of a couple, but I will leave it to those who know because I have not done my homework. Thank you.” Richard Stewart, 129 Rolfe Street, stated, “I am very concerned about historical things. You should highlight what buildings they are. Pocahontas is on the historical registry and not a district. We cannot afford a district. We have poverty-stricken areas of historical sites. Now, if you can single out a particular building. We went through that in Pocahontas and we are on a historical registry. Now they got the Jarratt House over there. *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 - 10 – ______________________________________________________________________________ Do not put the whole district because people cannot afford $35,000-$40,000 tin roofs on an $1,800 building. Because most of the people over there barely get enough food stamps to eat. So, take a very good look at what you expand in the City of Petersburg and the income base of that community. Thank you.” Marcus Squires, 1701 Monticello Street, stated, “I am all for the expansion of historical districts. Apparently, I submitted a PIF to the State to turn Walnut Hill into the historical district. Anybody can do that, but a lot of people do not realize the difference between a national, state and local historical district. The local historical district has to go in front of the Architectural Review Board. You have limitations to wear a state and a national historical district you can do whatever you want to your home. You can paint it, you can add additions to it. You just cannot add high-rise buildings in a state and national historical district. Thank you.” Linwood Christian, 410 Mistletoe Street, stated, “I have to echo what Mr. Stewart said. The reason being is that I am not sure, but I would hope that when I look at Peabody and if you are talking about expanding a district, what district are you going to be expanding ad if we would include Peabody. Then are we talking about it as the previous speaker said where about you have to go to the Architectural Review Board. Which would also mean that many of the houses over there near Peabody. I know that the house that we live in is almost as old as the City of Petersburg. In fact, my father who was the first black to buy a house in that area where we live at when Halifax Street was predominantly white. And so now looking at the make-up of our area even landlords, who is going to spend money into trying to bring properties back up to whatever that code may be. So, I think that this is something that really needs to come out if not through the ward member then someone let the City know what is going on. I think that these are questions that we have to ask when we get up here. You all prove it and let’s say something happens to someone house and a senior citizen are being told that they cannot do ‘A, B & C’ and then it is a big mess. So, even before you pass this I think that it needs to be some kind of education that goes along with it. What are the buildings, what are they, what district, how is it going and where? Because again just like Mr. Stewart said again my family owns property on Pocahontas Island. Some of what you are talking about and looking at a lot of people who are not here are as confused as everyone that is here. So, if there is nothing else you should take this back to the drawing board and rethink that. Thank you.” Julian Greene, 1625 Blair Road, stated, “I know a little something about the historic district and the expansion. And I am working with Mark Wagner, the State Landmark Registry and working with the Registrar of Historic Places. You have to understand that if you are in a historic area it doesn’t have any criteria or requirements on you. It is only if your particular site is a contributor or either a non-contributor. Say for example on Harrison Street, I am working, and we are trying to get five sites for historical markers. One is the Roger Pryor Campbell House and Carrie Brad Campbell which is 223 Harrison Street adjacent to First Baptist Church. We are getting a sign for that. Then there is First Baptist Church. Further down Harrison Street at 514 Harrison Street was a safe house for Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King whenever he came to this particular area. There were no motels or hotels for him to go. So, that was a safe house that he had access to stay in and eat. And when they left a particular rally there was no dining area to go to. They had to leave Petersburg and go to Nottaway County in order to eat. So, that house is the same as the Maggie Walker House that have a historical marker. And the other is Peabody. Now, Poplar Lawn is a historical district. Not every house in Poplar Lawn is a contributor to that historic designation. So, they have no impact. So, there is a house to contribute. And it is not that costly because there are grants out there to help you to acquire that. It is not as complicated and complex that people make it out to be. That whole First Baptist and Zion and Old Street, Trinity and Gillfield are all in the new expanding historic district. Now those churches are as old as they are. They stop when it gets to Tabernacle. They can get sacred grants and I have all the information and applications for those. It does not have the impact that people make it out to be.” Mr. Williams stated, “I thought that I should give some clarification given the comments that were received from individuals during the public hearing. The resolution simply initiates the process. It directs staff to come forward with the process for amending the historic district. In other words, if council approves this then *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 - 11 – ______________________________________________________________________________ staff has a number of statutory steps that they must go through. One of which is identification of the properties that would be impacted. Right now, it simply addresses those properties that are listed in the national registry of historic places. But if council was to approve this it doesn’t expand the district it just directs staff to expend those resources.” Mayor Parham closed the public hearing. There was discussion among City Council and staff. Council Member Cuthbert made a motion to table until the July 2nd meeting and in the interval ask staff if staff would present council with an itemization of the buildings that would be affected by the proposed expansion of the local historic protection if council were to adopt that proposed expansion at some future point. 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, Hart and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee 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. Willie Noise, 1508 Circle Drive, stated, “I am charging the council with a violation of procedures. I had my hand up before you closed. My hand was up for a second comment. I understand comment is either denied or granted but the opportunity is afforded. This thing about historical, I know one big issue was that you could not replace the roof with shingles if it was tin. I had an incident where I had fuses in my house and not circuit breakers. And the insurance company canceled my insurance. So, how do the code department fit into or what input do they have as to fitting historical mom and pop structures?” D. Scott Fisher, 827 Commerce Street, stated, “At the April 16th council meeting the Community Development Block Grant administration presented their list of funding proposals for the 2019-2020 year. Among those that were not funded was the Hope Center. The Hope Center is the arm of Downtown Churches United where all our ministries are run. There was left in the budget $50,000 in unallocated public service funds. Through some sort of miscommunication, I missed the meeting and didn’t realize that it was being voted on that night. I do know that CARES was funded $20,000 from that $50,000 and I do know that the YMCA was funded $20,000 from that $50,000 leaving $10,000 behind to be allocated by City Council at a later date. So, I am here to advocate for the HOPE Center and Downtown Churches United for the $10,000 that is remaining. I have been in touch with Cathy Parker. She and I have talked, and I just want to reiterate the importance of Downtown Churches United and the HOPE Center to this community. We feed 9,600 people a year. We are on track to feed 9,600 fresh vegetables and meat spreads in the middle of a food desert. We run a food program that feeds people Monday through Friday and now to Sundays a month. We also pay utility bills for many residents who are on the verge of getting their utilities cut-off. So, far we have spent a little over $17,500 just in 8 months preventing people from getting their utilities cut-off. We make a huge impact on this community. I am sorry that we do not have anyone on council that understands anything that we do and can make a case for what we do. Maybe I need to do a better job of educating the public. I wish that you would please grant us $10,000 that is left over. Thank you.” Marcus Squires, 1701 Monticello Street, stated, “My first question for City Council and staff is concerning the Economic Development Authority. I am not sure that every meeting of the Economic *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 - 12 – ______________________________________________________________________________ Development Authority has to pay between $500-$700 for an attorney that is in the meeting. The attorney a lot of times is just observing what is going on. Is there a way that we can have our City Attorney sit in on Economic Development Authority and help mitigate their budget? Because it is shrinking dramatically. My next question is for the Jarratt House on Pocahontas Island. I was running by today and it looks like a part of the chimney stack is about collapse. One of the bricks is teetering and it is holding up a large portion of the chimney. It looks like it is going to fall pretty soon. My next question is about the old library on Sycamore Street. The internal gutter has been left to decay for over a year. A small leak has turned into a catastrophe and the building is falling off. My next question is concerning the Southside Depot. Where is the City currently on the Southside Depot? Is he City still going to work with the Cameron Foundation in completing the VSU Gateway. Also, the bridge looks like it need an inspection. You can see through the iron railings underneath the bridges support beams. And then my final concern is concerning the Westview Preschool roof. Is the City ever going to address that? Thank you for your time.” Brandon Martin, 1546 Berkeley Avenue, stated, “First on my list is the topic of affordable housing. It has been kicked around so many times that I have lost count. If housing is such an issue, then why are there so many unoccupied dwellings throughout the City. Every ward is just loaded with them. I am asking right now what is the count of unoccupied dwellings throughout the City? Every ward is just loaded with them. I am asking right now how about what the count of unoccupied dwellings in the City is compared to the total number of dwellings. And then of the number that is unoccupied how many of them are red tagged. And I would ask that a quarterly report be posted on the City’s website under the inspection department to say what is going on with each of these red tagged dwellings. Why do I bring this up? Because two months ago you had historic garden week here and a lot of folks came from throughout the state as well the nation to see this City. Two of the properties of derelict buildings that have been eyesores and headaches for years and nothing has been done about it. Next, recently I believe it was $15,000 spent on a trip by certain folks to the Las Vegas area for some kind of economic development activity. We got six or seven burned out houses that are now almost a year ago burned on Halifax, Washington and I believe Commerce Street. Only one of these has been torn down and the rest are still standing and an eyesore. If you think people are going to come to this City and want to live here and start jobs and they drive around town. They are heading out and they are not coming back. This is not how we sell this City. Next, walk around this building and take a look at it. You try and market this building and there is paint peeling on all four sides. The window sashes and the window seals itself are rotting away. The door on the east end, two of the hinges are about ready to come off. One of these days someone is going to go out and that door is going to fall on them. And this has been going on for a month and a half and hadn’t been fixed. I do have a compliment. Grounds folks are doing a great job at Blandford Cemetery. I volunteer over there from time to time and the place hasn’t looked this great in years. Thank you. Also, the pothole crew, these folks respond in what it seems like 24 hours. It is great. Lastly, the volunteers. If you keep kicking the volunteers in the shin, then one of these days you are going to wake up and the volunteers are going to be gone. They voted with their feet. So, please be mindful. Thank you.” Julian Greene, Jr., 1625 Blair Road, stated, “And the purpose and the reason that I am here is that on the 23rd of this month at 4pm there will be a ceremony at First Baptist Church for the unveiling of the Virginia Voter League. And that was led by Dr. Luther Porter Jackson. It is historic because the movement they did was to help and inform people on how to vote. And it started in Petersburg right there on Halifax Street and it spread all over the United States of America. These are papers in the library of Dr. Luther Porter Jackson. There were others with him and there are a number from the 1920s to 1940s of what that gentleman was able to do. It came from here. He was born in Kentucky, but he stayed here, and he went to Colombia, Yale and Harvard and did a magnificent job. But being recognized here in the City of Petersburg. So, we ask you to please come out and that some family members will be there. And some of the federal judges will be there as well. The next point of coming out as Council Member Hill asked some time ago about First Baptist some time ago about its historic recognition. First Baptist is recognized, and I am working along with Mark Wagner. The application has been submitted for First Baptist Church to receive its historical marker along with the Roger, Pryor, and Campbell House which is adjacent to First Baptist. But that family is significant because they helped *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 - 13 – ______________________________________________________________________________ to create St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. And Ms. Carrie Brad Campbell was a senior at Virginia State University back in the 1800s. And the person that they had chose to do the teaching desired to not come to Petersburg. So, as a senior they appointed Ms. Carrie Brad to be the voice teacher at Virginia State University. And they had the first black newspaper in Virginia called The Planet. So, Petersburg has a rich history. Next, thing I come to is that we have talked earnestly and very openly about Peabody. With everything cut-off in Peabody, it is deteriorating more. We have resources and we have not and will not ask for a dime from this council. We have two major architects. The architect that created the African American Museum in Washington, DC, Zena Howard, and now the new school superintendent husband who is a very good friend of Zena Howard wants to help us.” Pastor George W.C. Lyons, 209 Perry Street, stated, “I am representing the Board of Directors Downtown Churches United Hope Center. Our executive director recently spoke a few minutes ago about the need for continued CDBG funding. I want to first of all thank you for your support in previous years. Just to give you some updated information. In May 2018 we served 1,526 adults and 63 children with meals Monday through Friday. Since last year we have increased that to two Sundays out of the month. And we are looking forward to serving whoever becomes hungry. We are fulfilling our mission of feeding whoever becomes hungry and we are asking for your support in this coming year. Thank you.” Linwood Christian, 410 Mistletoe Street, stated, “There are a couple of things that I did have. But one of those I must say is that has a person that has had clients from the Crater Youth Action Program that we have had to refer to the Hope Center for various things. I too stand up here and would hope that they would get what they are asking for. Because they do make an impact on our City. And sometimes as I said before when we are talking about a Positive Petersburg Story, Mr. Mayor I would like to hear you one day say the Hope Center and talk about them as one of the Positive Petersburg Story’s. Also, one of the biggest things that I was concerned about even when Robert Bobb came here is that we no longer see our recreation department as we used to. Only today I was confronted by several parents that really depended on that. And after I reminded them that I was the only one down here advocating for the recreation department to stay an independent department where were you. But I would hope because I keep hearing all this stuff about young people shadowing and this and that. That is good, but our young people need more than just shadowing. Our young people need some activities. And I am sorry I just can’t help but say that we lost a jewel in this City when we redesigned stuff. Tami Yerby is no longer a face that people put with recreation. Because again that was the babysitter for the City of Petersburg. With that and this summer are we going to see an enforcement of our curfew. Because on last night around 1:00am this morning, kids that I know are under seven years old are walking the streets. And I am here to tell you that if they come in that yard where they don’t have any business doing something that they do not need to be they may not come out of that yard the way they walked in my yard. So, I would definitely hope that you all would enforce that curfew. Also, when we talked about the street naming. I will like to say this, the whole intimate to me and others in this community was a mess and the way it was done. We know that a church in our area owns nine houses on Harding Street alone. I want you all to understand that it wasn’t so much to what was done, or the streets being named. A lot of people in our area up and down Harding Street and Porterville were not going to come out. But here is one of the biggest things that they said. It was not the fact that they were renaming the streets, but it was who they were renaming the streets after.” Ron Flock, 1708 Pender Avenue, stated, “At the last meeting I showed you that I had a pile of credit card statements. I have spent quite a bit of time converting that from PDF to an excel spreadsheet so that I could look at it and try to better understand it. I have a topic in mind that I wanted to bring to your attention but going through this there is a lot more topic to bring to mind. And it is just that there is a lot of fiscal responsibility. I wanted to talk to you about this. I cannot imagine how much blue ink it took to change this paper from white to blue. I just wanted to through that out there. But that handout I gave you, if you all want to look at the top right corner of that pink block, for the month of January on the P-Cards, the $5,300 is the sum spent on businesses outside of the City where Petersburg has those same businesses. So, this is $50,000 or *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 - 14 – ______________________________________________________________________________ better a year that we could be spending in our City instead of another City’s. In the middle of the page the $2,200 that is highlighted is what I am seeing here that is coded as travel along on P-Card that belongs on a T- Card. If you go straight down from that at the lowest pink line on that page, this is a training certification. And if you are a member that certification program is $350. If you are non-member then it is $400. So, I will tell you the most intelligent thing to do right off the bat is to spend $139 to get your members so you can safe $50 on the certification. This is just January and I have six hours putting this over here and there is just way more and there is just some crazy stuff on there. I am not going to call anybody out. That is not why I am doing this. Because there are rules that are going with these cards and they are not being followed and it doesn’t appear that they are being audited either. Someone is not looking at these charges and saying hey that you are doing these wrong and that this is how you need to do it so that it can be done in the right way. And I did not highlight it in here but just, so you know there are two charges in here for Williamsburg and they do not total $15. But one of them is for a thrift shop and the other one is for the Goodwill. I do not know why Petersburg is at the Williamsburg Goodwill when we have a Goodwill of our own.” Barb Rudolph, 1675 Mt. Vernon Street, stated, “I wanted to talk to you tonight about an unwritten rule when you work in government. And that is that you do not want to see blown up on the front page of the local newspapers or on the 6:00pm news anything that would make the City look bad. Having said that with years of flattering news stories about the financial crisis and mismanagement in the City of Petersburg, the last thing we need is the appearance of unnecessary nonessential spending. We also constantly hear from the City about rebuilding our financial reserve and how key that is to our credit rating and gaining access to lower interest loans and bonds. So, given all of that it would seem like the government should be trying to save every nickel and dime towards that end. Also, bear in mind that the rank and file City are concerned about stagnant pay, rising health insurance cost and increased hours of work. They are not seeing that the City leaders have any slack to spending. So, following up to what Ron Flock was doing I also reviewed some credit card spending but not in the detail that he did, but I looked just March and April. And I found on there catered events and local meals out of this area that cost hundreds of dollars, horse and carriage or pony rides, I am not sure which. And buying a table at a charitable organization’s function and apparently the only locality to do so. The most offensive part to me as a concerned citizen who has closely watch the City’s financial difficulties is that lower level employees struggle to get by while a handful of top managers appear to be spending with little regard for the bottom line let alone how it looks on the inside and outside of the City. If pressured I am sure the credit card holders will come up with some rationale for these and some other expenditures that boarder on fluff. But going back to would you want it in the newspaper rule, do you really want it talked about that only Petersburg officials were mentioned by name in the charitable organization press release. Do you want to read that some small group of people benefited from $3,500 in catering and $600 worth of horse and carriage or pony rides? I am going to give you one copy to pass around. Thank you.” Willie Noise, 1508 Circle Drive, stated, “Neighborhood Watch Ward 7, Western Hills, Dinwiddie Court, June 18, 2019 attention subject for thought among others. Light and Darkness come car loads and no parking. God Bless the Council. Let us pray together. Don’t like my family personality until it is all gone. Three things to try to image which is image, character and pride. Young blood outlaw negative ads. Is God still in charge? What are doing and what you can do. Write down 1302 Commerce Street. That is the best example of the worst. Yard of the month is 1625 Halcun Drive and that is in Western Hills. Norfolk Southern Corporation Art Flash Hazard PP request and find out what that is all about. Harvell substation has been property of Dominion down on Grove Avenue and Johnson Alley. That is a historical wall. Leading down to the water to the powerhouse the gate has been locked for too long for us fishermen. And the same thing goes with Squaw Alley going down to Payton Park. Some of the things left over from last meeting and I am going to speak on a couple. The railroad tracks on Youngs Road and Lieutenant Run. Senator Rosalyn Dance thank you for your service to Petersburg and other places. Charlie Cuthbert, we appreciate you man. The main thing on my agenda is where are vets on your priority list if one. We are talking about the totem pole and where are we on that totem pole. Request more money for Virginia Lottery for Petersburg education. And then there was Chief Travis and Officer Hall and Officer Smith, we want to congratulate and the Police Department. I had wanted to *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 - 15 – ______________________________________________________________________________ put a shout out to the Fire Department. I saw them the other day doing preventive maintenance on their fire truck and that was right nice.” 12. BUSINESS OR REPORTS FOR/FROM THE MAYOR OR COUNCIL MEMBERS: Council Member Cuthbert stated, “Thank you Mr. Mayor. I have a couple of things. One, I have a Ward 4 Meeting, to be held at Bethany Baptist Church on Monday, June 24th at 6:30pm. I am very grateful for the trustees of Bethany Baptist Church for making the church available. I am looking forward to the meeting. The meeting is not limited in anyway to Ward 4 residents. And I would welcome everybody who is here tonight and everybody that you know to come to that meeting. One of the things that I want to focus on is issues of special concern to the Blandford Community. But again, not limited to that. If you have any potholes that need to be filled in and if you have any City storm drains that need to be made to flow easily again, if you have any other public works issues I hope that you would come and bring the address with you to the meeting. That is this Monday, June 24th at Bethany Baptist Church. Next thing I would like to pick up on is two issues that were brought to council attention during the public information session. With the Jarratt House, Mrs. Ferrell- Benavides, would you please ask staff to look at the chimney that Mr. Marcus Squires mentioned to us. And if Mr. Lyons would look into that and assess the situation and when we meet on July 2nd Mr. Lyons if you would let us know your findings. In any event, if you would bring us up-to-date.” Mr. Lyons stated, “Will do sir.” Council Member Cuthbert stated, “Great. Thank you. And I thank you Mr. Lyons for responding so promptly to the other issues involving the Jarratt House that you and I discussed previously. The opened window on the north side of the second floor and also the tin was pulled back on the north end and Mr. Lyons and the City responded in a very rapid and professional way and addressed those problems. Last thing, Mr. Tony Williams, would you tell us about Southside Depot. Is there anything that is public information that you can share with us about the status of Southside Depot.” Mr. Williams stated, “We are working on bringing the current issue to closure. I think that the Mayor maybe be requesting council to approve a motion to authorize the manager and I to conclude that matter and hopefully put the remainder of the project out for bid and it expeditiously concluded. I know that project has been languishing for some time due to issues beyond the City’s control and hopefully this will reignite in getting that concluded in the near future.” Council Member Cuthbert stated, “Thank you Mr. Williams. The Mayor just handed me a piece of paper that outlines what you were just referring to Mr. Williams. And I am honored to make the motion.” Council Member Cuthbert made a motion to add a motion to authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to execute the certification waiver and release regarding RMT’s performance on the Southside Depot Project. 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, Hart and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee Council Member Cuthbert stated, “That is great and that really does represent the breaking of a log jam. And I am grateful to Mr. Williams for spearheading that and of course the Department of Public Works for working so well with Mr. Williams.” Mr. Williams stated, “And that motion added the item to the agenda so can we take a vote on passing the item.” Council Member Cuthbert made a motion the City Manager and City Attorney to execute the certification waiver and release regarding RMT’s performance on the Southside Depot Project. The motion was *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 - 16 – ______________________________________________________________________________ seconded by Council Member Wilson-Smith. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill, Hart and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “I have quite a few things. In hearing the concern of Mr. Fisher and Pastor Lyons, I honestly and truly feel very ashamed that I did not catch that we did not give anything to the Hope Center.” Council Member Wilson-Smith made a motion to take the remainder of the money in CDBG funds of $10,000 and allot it to Downtown Churches United Hope Center. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. There was discussion on the motion among City Council and staff. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson-Smith, Hill, Hart and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee and Myers Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “The second thing is that last year June 19th I made a motion and it was seconded by Council Member Cuthbert and we made a decision to have a commemorative ceremony on Juneteenth 2019. The motion was approved on roll call vote and everyone voted in favor of it. But I do not know what time our ceremony is tomorrow. Can anybody tell me what we are doing tomorrow for Juneteenth?” Mrs. Benavides stated, “I can honestly say that we dropped the ball on that. Once we started talking about the reopening of the lake, many people started in opposition and asked questions. And so, if it is all possible Ms. Tyus if we can pull together a commemorative, I just need to follow up with folks who stopped us before to make sure that there was not some specific reason why we had not moved forward with that. As a Texan, I support Juneteenth.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “Thank you. The third thing is Ward 1 will be having a meeting on June 22nd, which is a Saturday, at 11:00am, at Bethany Missionary Baptist Church. There are flyers in the back. We will have guest and one of the guests will be Mr. Joe. Morrissey. All are welcome to attend the ward meeting. And the fourth thing is that we were given several dates and places for our advance at the May 28, 2019, meeting. Those places were Ashton Creek Event Center, Smithfield Station, Pamplin Historical Park and the Valentine Museum.” Council Member Wilson-Smith made a motion to secure a place closest to home or Petersburg and perhaps look at Pamplin Historical Park, Virginia State University or Richard Bland College as opposed to going out of the City for our Advance. The motion was seconded by Council Member Cuthbert. There was discussion on the motion. The motion was not approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert and Wilson-Smith; Voting No: Hill, Hart and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee and Myers Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “I would like to say something about all of the comments. We were given this list two meetings ago. We talked about follow-up and this is a follow-up. We have the dates and we talked about and now we do nothing. We also have the dates for the retreat on here and in addition to that I proposed a yearly calendar which had the dates on it for the retreat. Had we done that and gone by it, according to our vote it would not be a question. We would already know the dates for the retreat and what we were going to do. My next motion was to vote on those proposed dates, but I can only assume that maybe nobody else read this but me. So, I will not make the motion about the dates. My next thing is that I feel like we must establish a working relationship with the school board in an effort to promote our educational system.” Council Member Wilson-Smith made a motion that this council put within its calendar to start to meet with the school board on a quarterly basis and those dates being the second week in September, January and May. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Hart. There was discussion on the motion. Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “the last thing I wanted to bring up is that the Anti-Poverty *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 - 17 – ______________________________________________________________________________ Commission and the Virginia Cooperative Extension Agency request the presence of the Mayor and the remainder of City Council and administration to its poverty simulation scheduled for August 22nd, right here at the train station at 6pm. You will get it in writing and thank you.” Mayor Parham stated, “There is a motion on the floor that was seconded. Madam Clerk would you….” Council Member Cuthbert stated, “Mr. Mayor may I ask a question about these meetings. It seems to me that the process is being driven the wrong way. I think we need to start with an agenda. I don’t think we should have a meeting to just have a meeting. And having a meeting without an agenda does not result into a working relationship. I know that when we had the meeting with the school board in the fall it was no interchange and there was no agenda. And we all have plenty of meetings to go to as it is. I think we should wait until there is a reason to meet before we put a meeting on our calendar rather then to just have a meeting to say we have a meeting. I am all with having a working relationship with the school board and I am all with helping the schools. I realize how important the schools are to the City, our youth and to our future. With all that said I don’t think that having four meetings a year with no agenda is going to advance the course very far. So, I think we should wait until we have a reason to meet before we decide to meet.” Council Member Cuthbert made a substitute motion that City Council meet with the school board when we have an agenda that justifies meeting with the school board. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Hill, Hart and Parham; Voting No: Wilson-Smith; Absent: Smith-Lee and Myers Council Member Hill stated, “Good evening again. I just want to thank all of our workers in Petersburg in particularly our Public Works Department who have been doing a good job with the cemetery. I noticed that we have gotten a contracting company to do some of the work throughout the City. I saw them spraying the weeds on the sidewalks so hopefully that can take care of that soon because it is an eyesore seeing those weeds grow up out of the cracks of the sidewalks. But on a more positive note AMPAC Pharmaceutical Company came and they have been here for a while. But they had their unveiling on yesterday. We had a great time. And we talk about all the bad and I had a few phone calls from citizens today and some stuff that they read online. And it is almost like they were attacking us without even knowing this information right here. This company is three like the Mayor said in the beginning. There are only three in the nation. There is one in California, Texas and one in Petersburg. So, this is something for us to be proud of that we are getting a technology industry back in the City of Petersburg. The unfortunate thing and I don’t know if there was anything inside the facility but there was no news there. Let someone get shot and the news will be everywhere. If something bad happen then the news would be all over the City. But this right here was a great unveiling of the company and it is off of Wagner Road which happens to be in my ward. This is one of the things that I campaigned and ran on with economic development. So, it is good to see a company such as this to come to our City. Prayerfully we will have many more in the near future. So, I just want us to celebrate milestone of our City. There is so much to talk about the negative but let’s try to focus on the positive to ward out the negative that is going on. Not only in the streets but also on Facebook and things like that. Thank you, Mr. Mayor that is, all I have.” Vice Mayor Hart stated, “Yes, just a few things. First, I want to make the announcement that on the 25th I will be having a meeting on how we move the City of Petersburg forward. It will take place here at 6pm on the 25th of June. The second, Mrs. Innis if you can take a look at Youngs Road and the tree and grass buildup I would appreciate it. And finally, I would like to actually make a motion to bring back the discussions of the revitalization to stabilization just, so we can talk about the possible funding behind this program.” Vice Mayor Hart made a motion to bring back the discussions of the revitalization to stabilization just, so we can talk about the possible funding behind this program. The motion was seconded by Council Member Cuthbert. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson- Smith, Hill, Hart *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 - 18 – ______________________________________________________________________________ and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee and Myers Vice Mayor Hart stated, “What I would like to do in that discussion is that information would come back, and I prefer that we have it at the next meeting instead of this meeting so that we can have all the information in front of us.” Council Member Cuthbert stated, “Vice Mayor Hart can you give staff some direction as to what you would like to see staff bring back.” Vice Mayor Hart stated, “What I would like to see on that is what properties that we may be looking at. I know that all seven wards are being considered. However, with the maximum amount of $50,000, how do we divide that money, where will it come from and most importantly how do we guarantee that this money will come back to us.” Council Member Cuthbert stated, “Mr. Mayor I want to thank Vice Mayor for bringing that issue back to us and I look forward to the discussion on July 2nd. Thank you, Vice Mayor Hart.” Mayor Parham stated, “I just want to piggyback on what Council Member Hill said. AMPAC was a great day we had people from Korea, California and Texas to come here to Petersburg to check out this fine facility. And they were ecstatic. We had a huge turnout. But getting back to something that I said earlier, we had the news media there and everyone not present on council. Please do not respond and say that you are going to be at these events and people call your name they are looking around the room for you and no one is there. It is a bad look for the City of Petersburg. And I am just talking on this because it happened before. As we have heard people talking about us and having tables at events. We have had Chamber dinners where council members did not show up for the Chamber dinner and a hot meal is right there on the table. If you are not going to make the meeting please let someone know to take your name off the list to avoid the City looking bad. Next, I would like to welcome Maria Pitre-Martin as the new school Superintendent for the City of Petersburg. She is moving to Petersburg. She is going to live here, and she has invested efforts. She made a four-year commitment to be here. Please welcome her with open arms and open up that dialogue with her day one. And the school board Chairman Ken Pritchett and I talked almost every other day about an issue with the schools and with Petersburg. We have our ward meetings together. As council members it is up to us to have relationships with the school board members in our ward. Ken and I have joint meetings together all the time. We never go separate. We always are abreast of what the other one is doing. So, I ask each and every one of you all to establish a relationship. It does not have to be done in a structured meeting but to have that conversation. Next, I would like to thank my Petersburg Police. I got a letter here from the Governor and he wanted to thank you all for your leader and to making his visit to Petersburg a success. Governor Northam says, ‘I was especially impressed with the individuals of your Petersburg Police Department whose dedication and professionalism keep me safe and allowed my schedule to run smoothly.’ Thank you, guys, for what you do. That is coming from the Governor. Lastly, I would like to make a motion to appoint Mr. Craig Richards to the Virginia Gateway Region of the Progress-Index to represent the City of Petersburg on the Gateway Region Board.” Mayor Parham made a motion to appoint Mr. Craig Richards to the Virginia Gateway Region of the Progress-Index to represent the City of Petersburg on the Gateway Region Board. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson- Smith, Hill, Hart and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee and Myers 19-R-35 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING CRAIG RICHARDS TO THE VIRGINIA GATEWAY REGION OF THE PROGRESS-INDEX. *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 - 19 – ______________________________________________________________________________ 13. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA: No items for this portion of the agenda. 14. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: a. Consideration of MOU with Petersburg Preservation Task Force. BACKGROUND: The PPTF entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the City on March 20, 2018 for a one-year period. Currently, PPTF manages the Blandford Church and Reception Center, Centre Hill Mansion and The Exchange Building (formerly The Siege Museum). RECOMMENDATION: Recommend City Council extends the MOU with the Preservation Task Force until April 17, 2020, with an option at the City’s sole discretion to extend for an additional one-year period. Darnetta Tyus gave briefing on the MOU between the City of Petersburg and the Petersburg Preservation Task Force. Mr. Sam Johnson, Attorney for Cameron Foundation, gave a briefing on the MOU. There was discussion among staff and City Council Members. Council Member Wilson-Smith made a motion table action until the next council meeting when the City Attorney would have the opportunity to talk to Mr. Johnson and come back with an MOU that satisfies all parties involved. The motion was seconded by Council Member Cuthbert. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson- Smith, Hill, Hart and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee and Myers 15. STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: No items for this portion of the agenda. 16. NEW BUSINESS: a. Consideration of the adoption of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Holiday Calendar BACKGROUND: For information only. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council pass a resolution to adopt the State calendar for the remainder of 2019 and in perpetuity. Mrs. Benavides stated, “Mayor and Council it has been brought to my attention that one of the things that are surrounding jurisdictions follow is that not only do they establish a holiday calendar, but they also adopt the state holiday calendar. And what we are recommending and in following suit is that the City adopts also the state holiday calendar. One example that exist right now is that the State of Virginia and a lot of jurisdictions are following have approved July 5th as a holiday following the 4th. So, this will allow the City the flexibility to follow their league in some cases for example. We have looked at it from a fiscal standpoint and where it affects us most is from a public safety standpoint. But in talking to the police chief we are confident that our budget can accommodate that holiday. I believe council did this two years ago for staff also.” *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 - 20 – ______________________________________________________________________________ There was discussion among City Council and staff. Council Member Cuthbert made a motion that City Council pass a resolution not adopting the state calendar for the remainder of 2019 and in perpetuity. The motion dies due to lack of a second. There was discussion among City Council Members. Council Member Wilson-Smith made a motion that from this point on to adopt the state holiday for the City of Petersburg from 2019 and moving forward for the sake of continuity so that employees know what days they have off and what days are holidays and it would allow them all can manage affairs in their life in a much more comfortable manner. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Wilson- Smith, Hill, Hart and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee and Myers; Voting No: Cuthbert 19-R-36 A RESOLUTION FOR THE CITY OF PETERSBURG TO ADOPT THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA’S ANNUAL HOLIDAY CALENDAR. b. Consideration of authorization to participate in VRA Pool Financing for Net Savings on City of Petersburg VRA Bonds. BACKGROUND: As part of VRA’s ongoing monitoring of the bonds outstanding in our programs, a portion of the Petersburg Series 2009A Virginia Pooled Financing Program (VPFP) loan has been identified as potentially eligible to be refunded for debt service savings. VRA is in the process of bringing our summer pool to market in August of this year, and I wanted to provide you with an update on the estimated savings that could be achieved based on current market rates in case Petersburg has an interest in participating in our summer pool to pursue the refunding. Based on market rates as of April 22nd, $9,230,000 in par amount of the City’s Series 2009A loan is showing estimated net present value savings of $1,740,543 (18.86% NPV savings as a percentage of refunded par). The estimated annual savings are shown on the page numbered 60 and range from $91,180 to $106,988 between FY2020 and FY2040. These estimated savings do not include local costs of issuance (i.e. local bond counsel and local municipal advisory services), but the analysis can be further updated if you have a sense of what those fees might be for a transaction like this. Additionally, rates on the refunding loan would not be locked in until VRA prices its summer pool bonds in late July. RECOMMENDATION: Council approve the City’s participation in Bond Financing. Mr. Rogers introduced Roland Kooch and a representative from the bond counsel to do a brief presentation on the bond financing. There was discussion among City Council and staff. Vice Mayor Hart made a motion approve the City Anticipation Bond Financing and to approve the resolution. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. Mayor Parham opened the floor for public comments. *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 - 21 – ______________________________________________________________________________ Seeing no hands, Mayor Parham closed the public comments. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson- Smith, Hill, Hart and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee and Myers 19-R-30 A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE, SALE AND AWARD OF GENERAL OBLIGATION REFUNDING BONDS, SERIES 2019 (A)(B), OF THE CITY OF PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA AND PROVIDING FOR THE FORM, DETAILS AND PAYMENT THEREOF. c. Consideration of a motion to authorize the City Manager, City Attorney, and City Assessor to execute the Final Order and conclude erroneous tax assessment case styled Eden’s New Perry, LLC v. City of Petersburg, Virginia - Petersburg Circuit Court Case No.: CL19-282 upon the terms of the Draft Order. Mr. Williams stated, “This is an item that arouse prior to the tenure of the current City Assessor. It is an erroneous tax assessment claim as you may recall. The assessor has provided information to council regarding the calculations that were contained in the draft order that is consistent with his own. I would concur that they are consistent to the law that would pertain to this particular case and would ask that council authorize the three of us to execute the order. Council Member Wilson-Smith made a motion to authorize the City Manager, City Attorney, and City Assessor to execute the Final Order and conclude erroneous tax assessment case styled Eden’s New Perry, LLC v. City of Petersburg, Virginia - Petersburg Circuit Court Case No.: CL19-282 upon the terms of the Draft Order. The motion was seconded by Council Member Cuthbert. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson- Smith, Hill, Hart and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee and Myers d. Consideration of reappointment to the Anti-Poverty Commission. BACKGROUND: The members of the Anti-Poverty Commission shall be persons with human service backgrounds either via education or experience. Those backgrounds shall consist of financial, educational, public housing, business, transportation, police and legislation, the criminal justice system and health and most of all genuine interest in the development and progression of the citizens affected by poverty. Members shall be either residents of Petersburg or employees of some capacity in the City of Petersburg. RECOMMENDATION: Recommend Council reappoint Mr. Michael Shannon. Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “Yes, we have two individuals who wish to be reinstated to the Anti-Poverty Commission. They are Pastor Michael Shannon and Barbara Hoosier.” Council Member Wilson-Smith made a motion reappoint Michael Shannon and Barbara Hoosier to the Anti-Poverty Commission. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Hart. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson- Smith, Hill, Hart and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee and Myers 19-R-31 A RESOLUTION REAPPOINTING MICHAEL SHANNON AND BARBARA HOOSIER TO THE ANTI-POVERTY COMMISSION. e. Consideration of MOU with the City of Petersburg and FLITE Foundation (Freedom Support Center). BACKGROUND: The Agreement between the City and the FLITE Foundation reflects the *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 - 22 – ______________________________________________________________________________ mutual understanding of the City and FLITE regarding actions necessary to operate the Freedom Support Center. The City and FLITE intend to actively work together, in good faith and with due diligence whereas FLITE Foundation will manage daily operations of the Freedom Support Center. RECOMMENDATION: City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and sign the MOU with the FLITE Foundation (Freedom Support Center). FLITE and the City of Petersburg will maintain a collaborative working relationship to meet needs of the Veterans in the community. Darnetta Tyus, Deputy City Manager, gave a briefing on the MOU for the FLITE Foundation. Tara Anderson, Executive Director of the Freedom Support Center, gave a briefing on the Freedom Support Center progress. Mayor Parham stated, “Any questions for Ms. Anderson, if not have a question for Mr. Williams on the MOU. If you turn to page 6 it has term of this agreement shall be from September 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019, with the option of renewal annually. Shouldn’t that be from 2019 to 2020 instead of 2018.” Mr. Williams stated, “It is a typo.” Mayor Parham stated, “I will accept a motion to accept the MOU with those changes.” Vice Mayor Hart made a motion to authorize the City Manager to negotiate signing the MOU with the FLITE Foundation and the City of Petersburg maintaining a collaborative working relationship to meet needs of the Veterans in the community with the amendments that were announced. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson- Smith, Hill, Hart and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee and Myers 17. REPORTS/REPONSES TO PREVIOUSE PUBLIC INFORMATION PERIOD: Kemi Osoba, Public Relations Officer, read comments and responses from previous public information at the June 4, 2019, regular council meeting. 1. Is the City aware of status of High Street Methodist Church? Answer: Per the Historic Preservation Planner, contractors have removed the partially collapsed, non- historic chimney from the church. Code department has been made aware of this property. 2. Can a pedestrian crosswalk be added in front of City Hall? Answer: Public Work – Street Division is working to prepare a needs assessment for an additional crosswalk and identifying a potential funding source. 3. What can be done about Lieutenant Run Road? Answer: Public Works & Public Utilities Department continues to work on assessing needs/concerns for Lieutenant Run. 4. Trash trucks are not being cleaned at the end of the shift. Answer: Trash issues can be reported at (804) 425-0500 or emailing customerservice@cvwma.com. 18. CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA Mrs. Benavides stated, “Two quick notes. I would like to introduce two individuals Francis Poulin, would you please stand. Francis has joined us from the City of Suffolk. He is an attorney who has joined us to focus *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council meeting held on: June 18, 2019 - 23 – ______________________________________________________________________________ on our neighborhood services. And you will see a lot of him working with Mr. Lyons on neighborhood services and also, he will be taking over our FOIA responsibilities as he served as the Deputy FOIA Officer previously in the City of Suffolk. Also, I would like to introduce Ms. India Adams. Ms. Adams joins us from Tacoma, Washington, where she served as a management person. She will be working on our new team which is our Innovation Team. They will be focusing on our strategic planning and management performance reviews and you will see a lot more of both of these individuals. I am thankful that we have both of them. She is a local and a native of Virginia and a graduate of Virginia Tech and George Mason University. So, I hope each of you and citizens will get a chance to work with them and we are so grateful to have them on board serving in our departments.” Mayor Parham stated, “Thank you Mrs. Benavides and welcome to Petersburg.” 19. BUSINESS OR REPORTS FROM CLERK: *There are no items for this portion of the agenda. 20. BUSINESS OR REPORTS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY: Mr. Williams stated, “Just one quick note. Upon review of information provided regarding item ‘10b’ from the May 28, 2019, meeting, specifically regarding the sale of real property. I believe that the City is in compliance with the requirements regarding this item and that no further action is required by council. I just wanted to make that report.” 21. ADJOURNMENT: City Council adjourned at 9:53 p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: _________________________ Mayor *Audio available upon request.