City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on June 6, 2023 -1– ______________________________________________________________________________ The work session meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at the Petersburg Public Library. Mayor Parham called the meeting to order at 5:25 p.m. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Member Charles H. Cuthbert, Jr. Council Member Marlow Jones Council Member Annette Smith-Lee Council Member W. Howard Myers Council Member Arnold Westbrook, Jr. Mayor Samuel Parham Absent: Vice Mayor Darrin Hill Present from City Council Administration: Clerk of City Council Nykesha D. Lucas City Manager John March Altman, Jr. City Attorney Anthony C. Williams 2. PRAYER: Mayor Parham stated, “Council Member Smith-Lee will lead us in our opening prayer.” Council Member Smith-Lee led the council meeting in prayer. 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Parham led the council and the citizens in the pledge of allegiance. 4. DETERMINATION OF THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM: A quorum is present. 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Gary Talley, 2323 Fort Rice, stated that he is currently the chair of the Community Services Board. He stated that they must be familiar with the sinkhole that is in between the buildings and that it is getting worse. He stated that it has been this way for about a year. He stated that he has emailed people to find out what is going on with this problem and that he was given two stories. He stated that he was told that the city has all the permits that are waiting on someone’s desk waiting to be approved. He stated that the other story was that they are waiting for permits to be submitted. He asked can someone look into this problem. He stated that if a really bad storm comes it will create a bigger problem. He asked can the meetings start on time. He stated that with the infrastructure list he would like to know what the city is doing with the money pertaining to the projects. He stated that the city has an economic development director but that it looks like there are outside parties being hired to assist with that. He stated that he hopes that this information will be talked about during the meeting. 6. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA (TO INCLUDE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING/S): a. Minutes: -May 16, 2023 – Closed Session Minutes -May 16, 2023 – Regular City Council Meeting Minutes b. First reading of an ordinance approving a petition to rezone the property located at 2255 Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on June 6, 2023 -2– ______________________________________________________________________________ Jamestown Road, from A, Agriculture Zoning District to M-1, Light Industrial Zoning District, and 2262 County Drive, from B-2, General Commercial Zoning District to M-1, Light Industrial Zoning District – 1st Reading c. Consideration of an ordinance authorizing the City Manager to execute a Pilot Operating Agreement with Bird Rides, Inc to establish a Stand-up Electric Scooter sharing system within the City of Petersburg. – 1st Reading d. Consideration to adopt the FY 2024 Capital Budget – 1st Reading. Council Member Westbrook made a motion to approve the consent agenda. Council Member Smith- Lee seconded the motion. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Jones, Smith-Lee, Myers, Westbrook, and Parham; Absent: Hill 7. SPECIAL REPORTS: a. Recognition of Blandford Diamonds Mayor Parham and Council Member Smith-Lee presented six young ladies with certificates of recognition for participating in the Blandford Diamonds. Their names are Gihanna Colson, Ladianna Brown, Jaszmyne Elliott, K’Mani Jackson, ChaMari Perry, and Janiya Womack. b. Presentation of a Proclamation designating June 19th – July 20th as Black Future Month. Mayor Parham read the proclamation aloud. c. Presentation of a Proclamation designating June 15, 2023, as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Mayor Parham read the proclamation aloud. Dr. Harold Sayles, Executive Director of Crater District Area Agency on Aging, accepted the proclamation. d. Presentation on Bird Micro-Mobility Electric Scooters. Reginald Tabor, Planning Manager, Department of Economic Development, Planning and Community Development stated, “Unfortunately, the representative from Bird was not able to attend the meeting tonight. But we do have the presentation document in your packet and the item was approved on the consent agenda for a public hearing on the 20th. We ask that the information be provided during the public hearing.” e. Presentation on Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Acquire, Renovate, Sell (SRS) Pilot Program. BACKGROUND: The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) established and administers the Acquire, Renovate Sell (ARS) program to create affordable homeownership opportunities for low- to moderate- income (LMI), first-time homebuyers while allowing providers increased discretion over acquisition type, region, and resale. A goal of ARS is to help transform a street, a neighborhood, a community, and a family. The program is the result of a partnership between DHCD, the primary administrator, and the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA), the financial backing. Providers will acquire undervalued homes that are assessed below market value using their own lines of credit, renovate using ARS funding and other leveraged sources if necessary, and resell the property at fair market value to a first-time homebuyer who is an individual or family who has not owned AND occupied a primary residence within the last three years. Homebuyers must also meet VHDA Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on June 6, 2023 -3– ______________________________________________________________________________ income limits, however, exceptions to the first-time homebuyer definition as well as higher income limits are available for properties located in Areas of Economic Opportunity (Federal Targeted Areas) in accordance with VHDA income and location guidelines. After the sale of the home, the ARS funding is returned, and the provider uses the net proceeds as program income to reinvest in local, affordable housing efforts and cover a portion of administrative costs. The ARS provider network is encouraged to leverage local, state, federal, and private resources during all three stages of their projects to increase the program’s overall effectiveness. Currently, homes being renovated and constructed by Habitat for Humanity and other local entities are being targeted as a pilot project for the program in Petersburg. RECOMMENDATION: For information only. Reginald Tabor, Planning Manager, Department of Economic Development, Planning and Community Development, gave a brief presentation on the program. Key points:  The City Council proclaimed June 2023 as Homeownership month.  Throughout the month, the city in partnership with others will host events and provide information about resources and services available to prospective homebuyers, realtors, financial institutions, and developers to promote homeownership in Petersburg.  A Homeownership Fair is scheduled to be held on June 28, 2023, from 4-7pm in the Petersburg Public Library.  The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) established and administers the Acquire, Renovate, Sell (ARS) Program.  The program objective is to create affordable homeownership opportunities for low- to moderate- income (LMI), first-time homebuyers while allowing providers increased discretion over acquisition type, region, and resale.  A goal of ARS is to help transform a street, a neighborhood, a community, and a family through the program.  The program is the result of a partnership between DHCD, the primary administrator, and Virginia Housing (VH). There was discussion among City Council Members and staff. f. Presentation Petersburg Downtown Master Plan. Brian Moore, Economic Development Director, gave a brief overview of the plan and activities and introduced the consultant Mindy Watts to provide more information. Mindy Watts, Principal of Interface Studio, gave a brief presentation on forthcoming activities. Key points:  They have done 18 One-on-One interviews.  2 Advisory Committee Meetings –(a) Meeting 01: Existing Conditions Analysis, (b) Meeting 02: Economic Analysis  They have conducted two walking tours downtown.  There will be a looping presentation on existing conditions in the Downtown on the second floor.  The event will be on June 7, 2023, 4pm-8pm with a formal presentation at 6pm at the Petersburg Area Art League. 8. MONTHLY REPORTS: *There are no items for this portion of the agenda. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on June 6, 2023 -4– ______________________________________________________________________________ 9. FINANCE AND BUDGET REPORT: a. City of Petersburg Financial Policy Update David Rose and Roland Kooch, Representatives from Davenport, gave a PowerPoint Presentation. Key points:  Davenport was tasked with preparing a review of the City’s existing financial policy guidelines and providing recommendations on any updates or enhancements that could be made to help further improve the city’s financial standing.  They consider key ratios for a peer group of rated Virginia cities, industry standard benchmarks, and the city’s existing and projected debt and fund balance ratios.  The city’s existing financial policies include five major sections: Financial Policy Objectives, Budget Development Policies, Capital Improvement Policies, and Reserve Policies. It was last updated 2021.  Approximately $41.0 million of existing tax-supported debt was outstanding as of June 30, 2022.  The FY2023 for the General Fund debt service budget and transfer to the Golf Fund for debt service totaled $3,503,647. There was a discussion between the city council and Davenport. 10. CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE: *There are no items for this portion of the agenda. 11. UTILITIES: a. Presentation of an update from JMT on Poor Creek Project. Michael P. Luning, Vice President of JMT, gave a briefing. Key Notes:  Design is progressing.  Surveying is nearly completed.  Geotechnical studies for wastewater force main are completed and scheduled for elevated water tank.  Thirty percent complete plans due for review near the end of June.  Design teams committed to compressed schedule. Out for bid in November 2023.  Prepurchase of material (pipe/tank) with long lead times. No advantage on water main and tank. Sewer force main is to be determined. Continue to monitor supply chain issues, adjust as needed.  Review progress weekly. Meeting bi-weekly with firms. Emphases on being responsive.  Preliminary water main route and force main routes are determined.  Schedule beats funding agency requirements (EDA, DEQ, VDH). There was a discussion between the City Council and Mr. Luning. 12. STREETS: a. Neighborhoods Traffic Management Program Presentation Reggie Lantz, General Manager of Street Operations in the Department of Public Works, gave a PowerPoint presentation. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on June 6, 2023 -5– ______________________________________________________________________________ Key points:  The City of Petersburg’s Department of Public Works and Utilities is committed to improving safety of the city’s roadway network using various strategies found in the Virginia Department of Transportation Calming Guide for Neighborhood Streets and Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.  The City of Petersburg will utilize a comprehensive speed management approach to address traffic calming concerns.  The comprehensive approach will be defined in the approved Petersburg Neighborhood Traffic Management Program.  Citizens, council members, and city staff will be able to submit Traffic Calming Request through the approved process.  Each Traffic Calming Request will be taken seriously and will go through the same engineering evaluation process.  Site visits will be conducted to observe existing conditions, collect geometric data and photo- document the location.  Crash data as well as any existing traffic speed data and volume data will be reviewed.  Preliminary assessments may lead to a full engineering evaluation of the Traffic Calming Request.  Funding will be identified for each approved project before it is programmed for design and construction. There was discussion among the council members and Mr. Lantz. Council Member Cuthbert stated that he expects Mr. Lantz to come back at the September meeting to present the Neighborhood Traffic Program to city council and the citizens. 13. FACILITIES: *There are no items for this portion of the agenda. 14. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: *There are no items for this portion of the agenda. 15. CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA: *No items for this portion of the agenda. 16. BUSINESS OR REPORTS FROM THE CLERK: *No items for this portion of the agenda. 17. BUSINESS OR REPORTS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY: *No items for this portion of the agenda. 18. ADJOURNMENT: The City Council adjourned at 6:04 p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: _________________________ Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on June 6, 2023 -6– ______________________________________________________________________________ Mayor