City Council

96 Council Member Bestpitch reminded the Council of the clause listed on the agenda which read "response recommendation or report to Council as the City Manager may deem appropriate"; and he cautioned all not to expect the City Manager to respond to every person who spoke before the Council, adding for many citizens do not want to be engaged, only want responses based on what they wish to hear. Council Member Davis commented that Council Member Bestpitch made an excellent point and in the case of Ms. Andes, she was speaking on the Council's response to Mr. Priddy's comments, which was incumbent upon the Council to respond to the constituents, and what was done for one should be done for all. She further stated that the Council-Appointed Officers were the only City employees the Council could hire and terminate. Following additional dialogue with regard to the citizen response process, the City Manager reminded everyone that Council was not allowed to engage in dialogue with any person at the podium because the general public had not been given benefit of knowing if Council would or would not engage in discussion of those items. COVE ROAD REPAVING AND 10TH STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT: Mayor Lea reiterated a Community Meeting to receive updates on the Cove Road Repaving and 1oth Street Improvement Project scheduled for Tuesday, April 16 at 6:30p.m. at Garden of Prayer No. 7 in the Fellowship Hall. - At 7:57 p.m., the Mayor declared the Council meeting in recess until Thursday, April 25, 2019, at 7:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber, for the purpose of conducting public hearings on the City of Roanoke Recommended Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Budget at 7:00p.m.; Proposed Real Estate Tax Increase at 7:10p.m.; and the Recommmended 2019 - 2020 HUD Funds Budget and 2019 - 2020 Annual Update to the 5-year Consolidated Plan at 7:20 p.m. The recessed meeting of Roanoke City Council was called to order on Thursday, April 25, 2019 at 7:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber, Room 450, fourth floor, Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, 215 Church Avenue, S. W., with Mayor Sherman P. Lea, Sr., presiding. PRESENT: Council Members Joseph L. Cobb, Michelle L. Davis, Anita J. Price, Djuna L. Osborne, William D. Bestpitch and Mayor Sherman P. Lea, Sr.-6. ABSENT: Council Member Patricia White-Boyd-1. The Mayor declared the existence of a quorum.  97 OFFICERS PRESENT: RobertS. Cowell, Jr., City Manager; Daniel J. Callaghan, City Attorney; and Cecelia F. McCoy, Deputy City Clerk. The Invocation was delivered by Mayor Lea. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was led by the Mayor Lea. Mayor Lea announced that the purpose of the recessed meeting was to conduct three public hearings regarding the Recommended Fiscal Year 2019 - 2020 City of Roanoke Budget; Proposed Real Estate Tax Rate Increase; and Recommended 2019- 2020 HUD Funds Budget and 2019 - 2020 Annual Update to the 5-Year Consolidated Plan. He explained there would be no discussion or action taken by the Council during or at the conclusion of the public hearings. RECOMMENDED FISCAL YEAR 2019 - 2020 CITY BUDGET: Pursuant to instructions by the Council, the City Clerk having advertised a public hearing for Thursday, April 25, 2019, at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, to afford persons an opportunity to speak and state their views concerning all aspects of the Recommended Fiscal Year 2019 - 2020 City Budget, in the amount of $299,431,000.00, the matter was before the body. Legal advertisement of the public hearing was published in The Roanoke Times on Wednesday, April 17, 2019. (See publishers' affidavit on file in the City Clerk's Office.) The Mayor inquired if there were persons present who wished to speak on the proposed budget; whereupon, the following individuals appeared before the Council: Christopher Levering, President, Roanoke City Police Association, requested implementation of short and long-term measures to address the needs of salary adjustments and personnel retention. (See copy of remarks and handout on file in the City Clerk's Office.) Matthew Kelley, 3051 Hemlock Road, S. W., spoke in support of increased funding for parks and recreation. There being no further speakers, Mayor Lea declared the public hearing closed. 98 PROPOSED REAL ESTATE TAX INCREASE: Pursuant to instructions by the Council, the City Clerk having advertised a public hearing for Thursday, April 25, 2019, at 7:10 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, to afford persons an opportunity to speak and state their views concerning all aspects of the proposed increase in property tax levies, the matter was before the body. Legal advertisement of the public hearing was published in Tl7e Roanoke Times on Monday, March 25, 2019; and Tl7e Roanoke Tribune on Thursday, March 28, 2019. (See publishers' affidavits on file in the City Clerk's Office.) The Mayor inquired if there were persons present who wished to speak on the matter. There being none, he declared the public hearing closed. CITY'S PROPOSED 2019 - 2020 HUD FUNDS BUDGET AND 2019 - 2020 ANNUAL UPDATE TO THE 5-YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN: Pursuant to instructions by the Council, the City Clerk having advertised a public hearing for Thursday, April 25, 2019, at 7:20 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, to afford persons an opportunity to speak and state their views concerning all aspects of the City's Proposed 2019 - 2020 HUD Funds Budget and 2019 - 2020 Annual Update to the 5-Year Consolidated Plan, the matter was before the body. .,.~ Legal advertisement of the public hearing was published in Tl7e Roanoke Times · '*' on Monday, March 25, 2019; and Tl7e Roanoke Tribune on Thursday, March 28, 2019. (See publishers' affidavits on file in the City Clerk's Office.) Keith Holland, Community Resources Program Administrator, advised that the HUD Funds Budget figures had changed since publication of the public hearing. He pointed out that the revised proposed plan funds 27 different activities among the various nonprofits and neighborhood associations. In summary, Mr. Holland stated the City would once again be focusing a majority of the funds into the Melrose-Orange Target Area, with a concentration on affordable and sustainable housing for low to moderate income citizens, human services aimed at low to moderate income families, homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing, and addressing blight conditions. (See copy of statement and FY 2020 HUD Funds summary on file in the City Clerk's Office.)  99 The Mayor inquired if there were persons present who wished to speak on the matter; whereupon, the following individuals appeared before Council: Jenny Lee, Development Director, Habitat for Humanity, expressed appreciation for City's support of Habitat for Humanity. Deborah Tucker, recipient of a Habitat home, 2754 Brandon Avenue, S. W., expressed appreciation to Habitat for changing the lives of families. Jackie Bledsoe, 1950 Montclair Drive (Roanoke County), expressed appreciation for CDBG funding for playground equipment in Horton Park. There being no further speakers, the Mayor declared the public hearing closed. Comments by the Mayor and Members of Council: Council Member Bestpitch announced the Haley Toyota Kiwanis Pancake and Auction Day on Saturday, May 11 from 7:00a.m.-· 1:00 p.m., at the Berglund Center. Mayor Lea expressed sincerest appreciation to Ric Morrison for his support at Community Solutions Center. The Mayor announced that the City Council would adopt the Recommended FY 2019 - 2020 Budget, along with other related measures during its Recessed Meeting on Monday, May 13 at 2:00p.m., in the City Council Chamber. There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Lea declared the Recessed meeting adjourned at 7:41 p.m. APPROVED ATTEST: ~~~ ~d.~s ~· ...... Sherman P. Lea, Sr. City Clerk Mayor