City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Special meeting held on: December 5, 2019 -1– ______________________________________________________________________________ The Special Called Meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Thursday, December 5, 2019, at the Union Train Station. Mayor Parham called the Special Meeting to order at 6:28p.m. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Member Charles Cuthbert Council Member Annette Smith-Lee Council Member Treska Wilson-Smith Council Member W. Howard Myers Council Member Darrin Hill Mayor Samuel Parham Absent: Vice Mayor John A. Hart, Sr. Present from City Administration: City Attorney Anthony Williams City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides Clerk of Council Nykesha D. Jackson 2. CONSENT AGENDA: a. Fiscal Year 2019-20 Petersburg Public Schools Supplemental Appropriation - $7,137,097.72 – 1st Reading b. Schedule a public hearing on the authorization of the acceptance of a donation of real property by Virginia Electric and Power Company and to authorize the City Manager to sign the real estate donation agreement for property located at 1340 East Washington Street. Suggested date is December 16, 2019. Mr. Williams stated, “I did send an email out to council very recently. I think that it was today. I received a call from counsel representing Virginia Electric and Power Company who indicated that they are not going to meet the December 31st deadline to have the building vacated and indicated that it is likely to be the middle of January before they have it vacated. So, while we can and should proceed with scheduling the public hearing and adopting this you could instead of holding your special meeting on the 16th have this at your first meeting in January to allow us to meet the deadline that they are setting.” Mayor Parham stated, “So, we will make an amendment to the date to January 7th, 2020. So, I will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as stated with the amendment to January 7th, 2020.” Council Member Myers made a motion to approve the consent agenda with scheduling the public hearing for January 7th, 2020. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Smith-Lee, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill and Parham; Absent: Hart 3. PURPOSE: a. Consideration of CEO Consortium Agreement BACKGROUND: See attached. RECOMMENDATION: That Council approves the CEO Consortium Agreement. Council Member Cuthbert made a motion approve the CEO Consortium Agreement. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Special meeting held on: December 5, 2019 -2– ______________________________________________________________________________ Mayor Parham opened the floor for public comments. Seeing no hands, Mayor Parham closed the public hearing. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Smith-Lee, Wilson- Smith, Myers, Hill and Parham; Absent: Hart b. Legislative Agenda Review BACKGROUND: The City of Petersburg is impacted by legislative action take by the U.S. Congress and the Virginia Legislature. This is a list of legislative priorities to be advocated through the City’s U.S. and Commonwealth legislative delegations and the City’s legislative partners. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council considers approval of the 2019 Legislative Agenda. Reggie Tabor, Project Manager of Economic Development, gave a review on the legislative agenda. He handed out information on the amendments to the agenda. There was discussion among City Council Members. Council Member Cuthbert stated, “I would like to suggest a small amendment to 58.1-3965. Or if the City Attorney says that the amendment is not necessary that is fine. This bill is attached to the letter dated December 5, 2019. I think it is in draft form addressed to Delegate Aird and Senator Morrisey. If everyone would turn to that statue. It is 58.1-3965 and on line 32 it starts off ‘following the accrual cost.’ I would suggest we consider expanding that language of ‘following the accrual of such taxes and cost.’ It is not just the cost that we are seeking to recover, it is the big enchilada that is the tax piece of it. It is line 32. I think that it is a fine idea and I applaud Council Member Myers and his initiative in bringing it forward. And I thank the City Attorney for his proposal in putting the idea in print for us all to consider. But the subject to that change or amendment, I move that council approve all 12 items on this legislative agenda of pages three and four.” Council Member Cuthbert made motion to approve all 12 items of the legislative agenda on pages three and four. The motion was seconded by Council Member Myers. Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “With the edit that Council Member Cuthbert just did will we do the same for line 33 or will we leave it the same?” Council Member Cuthbert stated, “I think that you make a good point. Let’s do the same on line 33.” Council Member Cuthbert made a motion to approve all 12 items of the legislative agenda on pages three and four with the noted changes. The motion was seconded by Council Member Myers. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Smith-Lee, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill and Parham; Absent: Hart Council Member Myers stated, “I noticed on here that we did not request, the members of City Council who willfully do their job should be supported financially as other jurisdictions are. I believe that if you all so incline to add another request here to ask that the charter be changed to allow the City Council to vote on its own salary. That is as a motion.” Council Member Myers made a motion to add the request of City Council having an oversight over their salary increase. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Special meeting held on: December 5, 2019 -3– ______________________________________________________________________________ Mr. Williams stated, “And just so council is aware of this, for charter amendments you have to adopt an ordinance. So, it will be coming back to you with an ordinance for both of the charter amendments that are on here which is all three.” There was discussion among Council Members and staff. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Smith-Lee, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill and Parham; Voting No: Cuthbert; Absent: Hart 4. ADJOURNMENT: City Council adjourned at 6:52p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: _________________________ Mayor *Audio available upon request.