City Council

664 ..• ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL-REGULAR SESSION May 18, 2020 2:00p.m. The Council of the City of Roanoke met in regular session on Monday, May 18, 2020 at 2:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber, Room 450, Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, 215 Church Avenue, S. W., City of Roanoke, with participation by Members of City Council by electronic communication as permitted and authorized by Virginia Code Section 2.2-3708.0(A)(3), as amended, Ordinance No. 41703-032720; and Resolution No. 41704-032720; with Mayor Sherman P. Lea, Sr., presiding, pursuant to Chapter 2, Administration, Article II, City Council, Section 2-15, Rules of Procedure, Rule 1, Regular Meetings, Code of the City of Roanoke (1979), as amended, and pursuant to Resolution No. 41490-070119 adopted by the Council on Monday, July 1, 2019. PRESENT: Council Members William D. Bestpitch, Joseph L. Cobb, Michelle L. Davis, Djuna L. Osborne, Patricia L. White-Boyd and Mayor Sherman P. Lea, Sr.-6. ABSENT: Council Member Anita J. Price-1. The Mayor declared the existence of a quorum. OFFICERS PRESENT: RobertS. Cowell, Jr., City Manager; Daniel J. Callaghan, City Attorney; and Cecelia F. McCoy, City Clerk. The Invocation was delivered by Mayor Sherman P. Lea, Sr. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was led by Mayor Lea. Mayor Lea advised that pursuant to Virginia Code Section 2.2-3708 (A) (3), this regular session of City Council is being conducted by electronic communication means. The COVID-19 pandemic disaster makes it impractical and unsafe for a quorum of City Council to physically assemble in one location during this disaster. Each Member of Council has accessed through the Zoom meeting platform and can participate in this proceeding. The City has provided the public with information to allow the public access to observe this regular session through live broadcast on RVTV, live streaming on Facebook and posted on YouTube. The City has provided notice of this agenda and process to the public on Thursday, May 15, 2020. City staff, including the City Manager, City Clerk, City Attorney, and technical staff are present in the Council Chamber and are participating in this regular session.  665 To facilitate the process today to ensure that all Council Members and the public can follow these proceedings, I ask that whenever a Member speaks, including making a motion, to first state the Member's name then make the motion or second. PRESENTATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: NONE. HEARING OF CITIZENS UPON PUBLIC MATTERS: The Mayor advised that City Council sets this time as a priority for citizens to be heard. All matters would be referred to the City Manager for response, recommendation or report to Council, as he may deem appropriate. Based upon Executive Order Number Fifty-One, issued by Governor Northam on March 12, 2020, Executive Order Number Fifty-Five, issued by Governor Northam on March 30, 2020, Virginia Code Section 2.2-3708.2(A)(3), Virginia Code Section 15.2- 1413, Ordinance No. 41703-032720, and Resolution No. 41704-032720, City Council will be conducting this regular session of City Council by electronic communication means without a quorum of City Council physically present in Council Chamber and without the presence of members of the public in the City Council Chamber. In order to afford citizens an opportunity to provide comments to City Council during the COVID-19 pandemic disaster, citizens wishing to address the Council during this regular session of City Council conducted by electronic communication means were instructed to sign-up by emailing or by calling the City Clerk's Office at clerk@roanokeva.gov and (540) 853-2541, by 12:00 p.m., on Monday, May 18. Those citizens, who have signed up to speak before the Council, have been provided the Zoom meeting information and will be allowed to join the regular session at this Agenda Item 3 and address City Council by electronic communication means. City staff will identify each citizen to speak and then that citizen may address City Council. CITY GREENWAYS: Ken Mcleod, 506 61h Street, S. W., addressed the Council with regard to his appreciation for reopening sections of the City Greenways. CONSENT AGENDA The Mayor advised that all matters listed under the Consent Agenda were considered to be routine by the Members of Council and would be enacted by one motion in the form, or forms, listed on the Consent Agenda, and if discussion were desired, the item would be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately. 666 CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AND BRIEFINGS BY STAFF MEMBERS OR CONSULTANTS PERTAINING TO ACTUAL LITIGATION: A communication from the City Attorney requesting that Council convene in a Closed Meeting for consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members or consultants pertaining to actual litigation, where such consultation or briefing in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body, pursuant to Section 2.2 -3711 (A)(?), Code of Virginia (1950), as amended., was before the Council. (See communication on file in the City Clerk's Office.) Council Member Osborne moved that the communication be received and filed. The motion seconded by Council Member Bestpitch and adopted by the following vote: AYES: Council Members Bestpitch, Cobb, Davis, Osborne, White-Boyd and Mayor Lea-6. NAYS: None-0. (Council Member Price was absent.) ....... REGULAR AGENDA PUBLIC HEARINGS: NONE. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS: ROANOKE REGIONAL AIRPORT COMMISSION: Daniel D. Miles, Chief Executive Officer, Roanoke Valley Resource Authority presented the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority's proposed 2020 - 2021 Annual Budget, by electronic communication means. (For full text, see copy of documents on file in the City Clerk's Office.) Council Member Bestpitch offered the following resolution: (#41726-051820) A RESOLUTION approving the annual budget of the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority for Fiscal Year 2020 - 2021, upon certain terms and conditions. (For full text of resolution, see Resolution Book No. 81, page 38.)  667 Council Member Bestpitch moved the adoption of Resolution No. 41726-051820. The motion seconded by Council Member Davis and was adopted by the following vote: AYES: Council Members Bestpitch, Cobb, Davis, Osborne, White-Boyd and Mayor Lea-6. NAYS: None-0. (Council Member Price was absent.) REPORTS OF CITY OFFICERS AND COMMENTS OF CITY MANAGER: CITY MANAGER: BRIEFINGS: Recommended Budget FY 2020 - 2021 The City Manager and Director of Finance summarized the proposed Fiscal Year 2020- 2021 Recommended Budget and highlighted the following information: (See presentation on file in the City Clerk's Office.) Ms. Merchant advised that the recommended budget was balanced at $298,065,000, a decrease of $1.37 million or 0.456 percent, with the priorities established by City Council protected. She reviewed each budget priority category noting that it accounted for anticipated impacts of COVID-19 on local tax revenues and built in an approximate $1.75 million contingency for further revenue contraction. In terms of local taxes, she noted that for the City of Roanoke taxes totaled 67.7 percent of the total budget, which percentage stressed the importance of how the local taxes perform and how reliant the budget was upon the performance of the local taxes to perform well. She also explained that because of the impact of COVID-19 on local tax projections for Fiscal Year 2020 it was anticipated that local taxes would not reach the budget estimate by 4.25 percent or as much as $9 million; and the lowered expected performance of local taxes would continue into the first, second and even the third and fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2021. She further explained that the projected decrease in local taxes was 1.15 percent or $2.3 million lower than the Fiscal Year 2020 adopted level. 668 Ms. Merchant reviewed the guiding principles for the budget preparation noting that li addition to the guiding principles, the budget has been prepared with specific emphasis on essential services, assisting the vulnerable, supporting economic recovery, reclaiming momentum and strengthening resiliency. In terms of the City's seven priorities, Ms. Merchant highlighted the most significant changes in each and advised that the City continues to support Roanoke City Public Schools based on the formula which provides 40 percent of adjusted local taxes, but due to the local tax expectation, the recommended allocation for RCPS was lowered $557,884.00 from the Fiscal Year 2020 adopted budget level, the schools would still receive $82.8 million. She reviewed the funding for external agencies and noted that the funding support for external agencies totaled nearly three percent of the entire budget and advised that with regard to supplemental funding for external agencies totaled approximately $182,000.00 with the majority budgeted for Roanoke Center for Animal Control and Protection, Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare, Health Department, Hotel Roanoke Conference Center, one percent sales tax and small business development center. With regard to the FY 2021 - 2025 Capital Improvement Program, Ms. Merchant advised that the investments made were within the parameters of the debt policy with "'41 consideration of required debt service. She mentioned that the recommended Capital Improvement Program totaled $112.9 million and in some of the years, budgeted excess debt service may be available for one-time capital needs, undesignated fund balance and the stabilization reserve. Lastly, Ms. Merchant reviewed the budget calendar calling attention to a public hearing scheduled for May 28, at 7:00 p.m. to hear citizen views on the proposed real estate tax rate, General Fund budget, and HUD/CDBG budgets; budget study scheduled for June 1 at 9:00 a.m., and budget adoption on June 15 at 2:00 p.m. Council Member Osborne inquired with regard to the elimination of a library branch location and how long it was anticipated to last until the services could be reestablished; whereupon, Ms. Merchant advised that at a minimum services would be disabled for a year and in preparation for Fiscal Year 2022, funding sources for service would be evaluated at that point. Council Member Davis asked about the closing of the City's two pools and the repairs needed to sustain the pools for future reopening.  669 The City Manager advised that for the pools to exist water would have to remain in them to a certain degree, treated chemically which was not the same as operating the pools and larger repairs would have to occur. He added that at some point replacement would be needed for one or both pools, but until then the City would continue to invest in keeping the existing pools functioning; and also mentioned that a group of individuals offered to raise private funding for the operation of the pools for next season. Council Member Davis also mentioned concern for reduction in GRTC subsidy; whereupon, the Assistant City Manager for Operations advised that the reduction in the subsidy pertained to peak service, basically the 30-minute headway maintained during three hours during the am peak period and three hours during the afternoon and evening peak period. He further advised that as part of the comprehensive national analysis and part of the transit development plan, it was recommended that the peak service hours be reallocated to new routes and the reduction in the subsidy would eliminate the ability to reallocate the peak hours to two new routes. He continued stating that as a result of the Cares Act funding, the peak service would remain intact for the coming fiscal year and will not be eliminated until Fiscal Year 2021 - 2022 and with the reduction it completely eliminates the ability or the planned transition from reallocating the peak service hours to two new routes which would be an item for future consideration that would require additional funding to facilitate. Following additional comments with regard to the proposed changes in the library hours of operation, external agency funding, school funds, fleet vehicles and supplies and City Council meals and cutbacks, the City Manager reminded the Council that once the budget document was reviewed, he would set up individual meetings to answer any further questions with regard to the budget. Ms. Merchant concluded by thanking all the City staff who worked tirelessly on the budget and reviewed the budget calendar again. There being no additional questions and/or comments by the Council Members, Mayor Lea thanked Mr. Cowell and Ms. Merchant for the informative presentation and advised that the briefing would be received and filed. Presentation on refinancing of Western Virginia Regional Industrial Facility Authority Bonds David Rose, Senior Vice-President and Manager of Public Finance, Davenport and Company, LLC, shared information with the Council on the refinancing of Western Virginia Regional Industrial Facility Authority bonds. He advised that the City of Roanoke successfully sold $35.96 million in General Obligation and Refunding Bonds, of which $16.8 million was for new capital projects and $19.1 million was to refund existing debt and realize savings associated with lower interest rates. 670 Mr. Rose further advised that the cost of borrowing funds was approximately 2.3 percent, a historically low interest rate, and by refunding existing debt the City will reduce annual debt service thereby saving $727,000.00 over the life of the debt, as a result of the City's strong credit ratings and fiscal policies. He mentioned that in March the City initiated reviews by the three national credit rating agencies: Moody's, Standard and Poor's and Fitch which resulted in affirmation of the City's strong credit ratings at Aa2, AA+, AA+, respectively. In conclusion, Mr. Rose stated that the City has demonstrated its resilience and ability to swiftly adjust from a financial standpoint to the COVID-19 crisis and as a result, major investors including banks and brokerage firms were willing to partner with the City and Western Virginia Regional Industrial Facility Authority, thus enabling Roanoke to save several million dollars in interest payments. Mayor Lea commented that the interest rates received by the City, along with affirmation from all three national rating agencies in the midst of a pandemic exhibit confidence in the City's economic resiliency and the sound fiscal management of the City. The City Manager advised that in addition to securing the funds at historically low rates and savings realized, the City partnered with Roanoke County and the City of '· .., Salem through the Western Virginia Regional Industrial Facility Authority to refinance existing debt the Authority incurred in the development of the Wood Haven Technology Park; and noted that the City and its partners were in the process of refunding $10.45 million in existing debt having preliminarily secured an interest rate of 2.59 percent, resulting in debt service savings of $950,000.00 over the term of the debt equating to $423,000.00 in savings for the City of Roanoke. He further commented that the combined actions would enable the City to invest more than $35 million in the local economy and save over $1 million in financing costs, with over $170,000.00 in FY21 alone, to continue to invest in critical infrastructure such as bridges, sidewalks, stormwater management, and transit and be as efficient as possible with taxpayers' money. There being no further comments, Mayor Lea thanked Mr. Rose for the presentation and received and filed the briefing.  671 ITEMS RECOMMENDED FOR ACTION: SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM GRANT: The City Manager submitted a written communication recommending acceptance of the Summer Food Program Grant from the Virginia Department of Education. (For full text, see communication on file in the City Clerk's Office.) Vice-Mayor Cobb offered the following resolution: (#41727 -051820) A RESOLUTION authorizing the acceptance of a Summer Food Program Grant from the Virginia Department of Education, and authorizing execution and attestation of any required documents on behalf of the City, in connection with such grant, under certain conditions. (For full text of ordinance, see Ordinance Book No. 81, page 38.) Vice-Mayor Cobb moved the adoption of Ordinance No. 41727-051820. The motion seconded by Council Member Davis and adopted by the following vote: AYES: Council Members Bestpitch, Cobb, Davis, Osborne, White-Boyd and Mayor Lea-6. NAYS: None-0. (Council Member Price was absent.) Vice-Mayor Cobb offered the following budget ordinance: (#41728-051820) AN ORDINANCE to appropriate funding from the Federal Government, through the Virginia Department of Education, for the Summer Food Program, amending and reordaining certain sections of the 2019 - 2020 Grant Fund Appropriations, and dispensing with the second reading by title of this ordinance. (For full text of ordinance, see Ordinance Book No. 81, page 39.) 672 Vice-Mayor Cobb moved the adoption of Budget Ordinance No. 41728-051820. The motion seconded by Council Member Davis and adopted by the following vote: AYES: Council Members Bestpitch, Cobb, Davis, Osborne, White-Boyd and Mayor Lea-6. NAYS: None-0. (Council Member Price was absent.) 2020 URBAN HEAT ISLAND MAPPING SERVICES: The City Manager submitted a written communication recommending acceptance of the 2020 Urban Heat Island Mapping Services from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's Climate Program Office for participation in a scientific field mapping project. (For full text, see communication on file in the City Clerk's Office.) Council Member Bestpitch offered the following resolution: (#41729-051820) A RESOLUTION accepting the 2020 Urban Heat Island Mapping Services to the City from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate Program Office; and authorizing execution of a memorandum of ,.,,.., understanding with CAPA Strategies, LLC and any required documentation with a local non-profit agency that will provide volunteers for the project on behalf of the City. (For full text of ordinance, see Ordinance Book No. 81, page 40.) Council Member Bestpitch moved the adoption of Ordinance No. 41729-051820. The motion seconded by Council Member Osborne and adopted by the following vote: AYES: Council Members Bestpitch, Cobb, Davis, Osborne, White-Boyd and Mayor Lea-6. NAYS: None-0. (Council Member Price was absent.) VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT'S CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN DUE TO COVID-19: The City Manager submitted a written communication recommending amendment to the Virginia Department of Housing and Urban Development's Citizen Participation Plan due to COVID-19. (For full text, see communication on file in the City Clerk's Office.)  673 Council Member White-Boyd offered the following resolution: (#41730-051820) A RESOLUTION amending all citizen comment periods set forth in the Citizen Participation Plan adopted February 3, 2014 (CPP) regarding the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program due to the COVID-19 pandemic emergency; allowing for notification of all such citizen comment periods through posting on the City website; and authorizing the City Manager to submit this amendment to HUD. (For full text of resolution, see Resolution Book No. 81, page 41.) Council Member White-Boyd moved the adoption of Resolution No. 41730- 051820. The motion seconded by Council Member Osborne and adopted by the following vote: AYES: Council Members Bestpitch, Cobb, Davis, Osborne, White-Boyd and Mayor Lea-6. NAYS: None-0. (Council Member Price was absent.) HUNTINGTON BOULEVARD DRAINAGE AND IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT: The City Manager submitted a written communication recommending acquisition of real property rights in connection with the Huntington Boulevard Drainage and Improvements Project. (For full text, see communication on file in the City Clerk's Office.) Council Member White-Boyd offered the following resolution: (#41731-051820) AN ORDINANCE providing for the acquisition of real property rights needed by the City in connection with the Huntington Boulevard Site 5 Drainage and Pedestrian Improvements Project (Project); authorizing City staff to acquire such property rights needed by the City for the Project by negotiation; authorizing the City Manager to execute appropriate acquisition documents; and dispensing with the second reading of this Ordinance by title. (For full text of ordinance, see Ordinance Book No. 81, page 43.) 674 Council Member White-Boyd moved the adoption of Ordinance No. 41731- 051820. The motion seconded by Council Member Osborne and adopted by the following vote: AYES: Council Members Bestpitch, Cobb, Davis, Osborne, White-Boyd and Mayor Lea-6. NAYS: None-0. (Council Member Price was absent.) COMMENTS OF CITY MANAGER. The City Manager offered the following comments: Reopening of Virginia • As we move into Phase 1 of the Governor's "Forward Virginia Guidelines," the City has posted information on its website to assist our community during this time. • The links include: o roanokeva.gov/starcitystrong (Roanoke's recovery/reopening framework and helpful links) o roanokeva.gov/faith (resources for faith based communities) o roanokeva.gov/communityresources o roanokeva .gov/covid 19helpforbusiness • And there is a basic COVID-19 page with links to the Executive Order, VDH, CDC, and municipal services at roanokeva.gov/coronavirus Valley Metro Extends Fare Free Service • Valley Metro has extended suspension of fare collections on all Valley Metro transit services until Sunday, May 31. • Passengers are asked to continue adhering to Valley Metro's guidelines, including: o If you are sick, avoid public transportation. o The use of face coverings or masks is encouraged while using public transportation. o Transit passengers are encouraged to limit interaction with the bus operator and travel for essential trips only. o Passenger capacity is limited to nine passengers per bus. o Use the front door for entry/use the rear doors for exit.  675 National Public Works Week • This week, May 17 - 23, the City of Roanoke is celebrating Public Works Week. • In this unprecedented time of COVID-19, employees in our Public Works Department have diligently served the community without interruption to service. • Across the Country, public works employees make things happen, providing critical services that are often taken for granted until they go away. • The jobs they perform make Roanoke a safe and healthy community. • As City Manager, I want to say "thank you" to every Public Works employee for their dedication. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES: VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: The Roanoke City School Board submitted a written report requesting appropriation of funds for various educational programs; and the City Manager submitted a written report recommending that Council concur in the request. (For full text, see reports on file in the City Clerk's Office.) Council Member Osborne offered the following budget ordinance: (#41732-051820) AN ORDINANCE to appropriate funding from federal and Commonwealth grants for various educational programs, amending and reordaining certain sections of the 2019 - 2020 School Grant Fund Appropriations, and dispensing with the second reading by title of this ordinance. (For full text of ordinance, see Ordinance Book No. 81, page 44.) Council Member Osborne moved the adoption of Budget Ordinance No. 41732- 051820. The motion seconded by Council Member White-Boyd and adopted by the following vote: AYES: Council Members Bestpitch, Cobb, Davis, Osborne, White-Boyd and Mayor Lea-6. NAYS: None-0. (Council Member Price was absent.) 676 UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NONE. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OR ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: GREATER ROANOKE TRANSIT COMPANY (GRTC), D/B/A VALLEY METRO: Vice-Mayor Cobb offered the following ordinance to ratify and approve the extension of the suspension of fares for transit services provided by Greater Roanoke Transit Company (GRTC), d/b/a Valley Metro: (#41733-051820) AN ORDINANCE ratifying and approving the suspension of fares for transit services provided by Greater Roanoke Transit Company (GRTC) d/b/a Valley Metro; authorizing further extension of this suspension to a date not later than June 30, 2020; authorizing the reinstatement of fares upon the expiration of the suspension; authorizing the City Manager to take certain actions; and dispensing with the second reading of this ordinance by title. (For full test of ordinance, see Ordinance Book No. 81, page 45.) Vice-Mayor Cobb moved the adoption of Resolution No. 41733-051820. The ..,.. motion seconded by Council Member Bestpitch and adopted by the following vote: AYES: Council Members Bestpitch, Cobb, Davis, Osborne, White-Boyd and Mayor Lea-6. NAYS: None-0. (Council Member Price was absent.) MOTION AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: INQUIRIES AND/OR COMMENTS BY THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL: ROANOKE STAR CITY STRONG: Council Member Bestpitch thanked the City Manager for his leadership with regard to the city's recovery efforts for the Roanoke Star City Strong: Response, Recovery, Resiliency a framework for our reopening, support of community recovery and building resiliency plan, and advised information was posted on the City's website.  677 HUMAN SERVICES HOMELESS ASSISTANCE TEAM: Vice-Mayor Cobb thanked the Human Services Homeless Assistance Team and other similar agencies who provide services for the less fortunate and homeless; expressed concern regarding the opening of the Circuit Court; thanked the community for wearing masks and those making them for the safety of citizens, as well as restaurants and businesses for honoring the city's guidelines. COMMUNITY: Council Member Davis expressed gratitude for a caring and committed community. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER: Council Member Osborne thanked Tiffany Bradbury, Community Engagement Manager, for coordinating electronic communications for City Council meetings and many other conferences at the City; and encouraged citizens to wear masks, wash hands, and continue to stay safe and healthy. COVID-19 TESTING: Council Member White-Boyd expressed concern regarding limited COVID-19 testing. COVID-19 PANDEMIC: Mayor Lea commended City Council members for their efforts and visibility during this challenging time of the COVID-19 pandemic. VACANCIES ON CERTAIN AUTHORITIES, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES APPOINTED BY COUNCIL: NONE. At 4:30 p.m., Mayor Lea declared the Council meeting in recess to be reconvened at 5:00p.m., in the Council Chamber, to conduct School Board interviews. At 5:07 p.m., the Council meeting reconvened in the Council Chamber, with Mayor Lea presiding and all Members of the Council in attendance except Council Member Price, to consider the following applicants for two upcoming vacancies on the Roanoke City School Board for three year terms of office, each, commencing July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2023: Grace K. Church Justin A. Hunts Elizabeth C. S. Jamison Cheryl M. Mosley Natasha N. Saunders James W. Settle Katrina R. Wood (See list of questions for School Board Applicants on file in the City Clerk's Office.) 678 Mayor Lea advised that Grace K. Church and Katrina R. Wood withdrew their applications from consideration. The Mayor announced each interview would be open forum and Council Member Davis explained the process. Mayor concluded that City Council would receive citizen comments regarding the applicants' appointment to the School Board during its 7:00p.m. public hearing session; and subsequently, City Council would elect two successful applicants at a future meeting. At 6:13 p.m., the interviews concluded, and Mayor Lea declared the Council Meeting in recess until 7:00 p.m., in Council Chamber, Room 450, Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building. At 7:00 p.m., the Council meeting reconvened in the Council Chamber, Room 450, fourth floor, Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, with Mayor Sherman P. Lea, Sr., presiding. PRESENT: Council Members William D. Bestpitch, Joseph L. Cobb, Michelle L. Davis, Djuna L. Osborne, Patricia L. White-Boyd and Mayor Sherman P. Lea, Sr.-7. ..... ABSENT: Council Member Anita J. Price-1. The Mayor declared the existence of a quorum. OFFICERS PRESENT: RobertS. Cowell, Jr., City Manager; Daniel J. Callaghan, City Attorney; and Cecelia F. McCoy, City Clerk. The Invocation was delivered by Vice-Mayor Joseph L. Cobb. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was led by Mayor Lea. PUBLIC HEARINGS: SCHOOLS: Pursuant to instructions by the Council, the City Clerk having advertised a public hearing for Monday, May 18, 2020 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, to receive views of citizens regarding appointment of two Roanoke City School Board Trustees for three-year terms of office, each, commencing on July 1, 2020. The candidates are Grace K. Church, Justin A. Hunts, Elizabeth C. S. Jamison, Cheryl M. Mosley, Natasha N. Saunders, James W. Settle and Katrina R. Wood, the matter was before the body.  679 Legal advertisement of the public hearing was published in The Roanoke Times on Friday, May 8, 2020; and the Roanoke Tribune on Thursday, May 14, 2020. (See publisher's affidavit on file in the City Clerk's Office.) Mayor Lea advised that Grace K. Church and Katrina R. Wood withdrew their applications from consideration. The Mayor inquired if there were persons present who wished to speak in support of the abovementioned seven candidates; there being no speakers, the Mayor declared the public hearing closed. He also pointed out that the selection of two School Board Trustees would be announced at a subsequent Council meeting. HEARING OF CITIZENS UPON PUBLIC MATTERS: NONE. At 7:18 p.m., Mayor Lea declared the Council Meeting in recess for a Closed Meeting through electronic communication means. At 7:35 p.m., the Council Meeting reconvened with Mayor Lea presiding and all Members of the Council in attendance, with the exception of Council Member Price. CERTIFICATION OF CLOSED MEETING: With respect to the Closed Meeting just concluded, Council Member a White-Boyd moved that each Member of City Council certify to the best of his or her knowledge that: ( 1) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and (2) only such public business matters as were identified in any motion by which any Closed Meeting was convened were heard, discussed or considered by City Council. The motion seconded by Council Member Bestpitch and adopted by the following vote: AYES: Council Members Bestpitch, Cobb, Davis, Osborne, White-Boyd and Mayor Lea-6. NAYS: None-D. (Council Member Price was absent.) At 7:38 p.m., the Mayor declared the Council meeting in recess until Thursday, May 28, 2020, in the Council Chamber, for the purpose of conducting public hearings on the City of Roanoke Recommended Fiscal Year 2020 - 2021 Budget at 7:00 p.m.; Proposed Real Estate Tax Increase at 7:10p.m.; and the Recommended 2020- 2021 HUD Funds Budget and 2020- 2021 Annual Update to the 5-year Consolidated Plan at 7:20p.m. 680 The recessed meeting of Roanoke City Council was called to order on Thursday, May 28, 2020 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, Patricia White-Boyd, William D. Bestpitch and Mayor Sherman P. Lea, Sr.-7. ABSENT: None-0. The Mayor declared the existence of a quorum. OFFICERS PRESENT: RobertS. Cowell, Jr., City Manager; Daniel J. Callaghan, City Attorney; and Cecelia F. McCoy, City Clerk. The Invocation was delivered by Mayor Sherman P. Lea, Sr. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was led by the Mayor Sherman P. Lea, Sr. Mayor Lea announced that the purpose of the recessed meeting was to conduct three public hearings regarding the Recommended Fiscal Year 2020 - 2021 City of ~"• Roanoke Budget; Proposed Real Estate Tax Rate Increase; and Recommended 2020- 2021 HUD Funds Budget and 2020 - 2021 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 2020 - 2021 CITY BUDGET: Pursuant to instructions by the Council, the City Clerk having advertised a public hearing for Thursday, May 28, 2020, 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 2020 - 2021 City Budget, in the amount of $298,065,000.00, the matter was before the body. Legal advertisement of the public hearing was published in The Roanoke Times on Wednesday, May 20, 2020; and the Roanoke Tribune on Thursday, May 21, 2020. (See publishers' affidavit on file in the City Clerk's Office.)  681 The Mayor inquired if there were persons present who wished to speak on the proposed budget; whereupon, the following individuals spoke before the Council: The City Clerk read an email, in its entirety, from Barbara Duerk, 2607 Rosalind Avenue, S. W., regarding funding for transportation. The following individuals addressed the Council, by electronic communication means, with regard to funding for Total Action for Progress, TAP, and thanked the Council for their continued support. Annette Lewis, 4606 Casper Drive, N. E.; Charlotte Moore, 5415 Bandy Road, S. E.; Kiesha Preston, 2431 Hanover Avenue, N. W.; Nicole Osborne, 806 Stewart Avenue, S. E.; Patricia Brumley, 406 Mountain Avenue, S. W.; William Tynes, 1525 Riverside Terrace, S. E.; Sidney Taylor, 421 Elm Avenue, S. W.; and R. Craig Balzer, Sr.; 8480 Poplar Springs Lane, S. W. (Roanoke County), Gene Yagow, 802 Loudon Avenue, N. W., addressed the Council to thank the Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates for their recommendation for funding and encouraged Council to accept the recommendation. There being no further speakers, Mayor Lea declared the public hearing closed. PROPOSED REAL ESTATE TAX INCREASE: Pursuant to instructions by the Council, the City Clerk having advertised a public hearing for Thursday, May 28, 2020, 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 The Roanoke Times on Monday, April 27, 2020; and The Roanoke Tribune on Thursday, April 30, 2020. (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 proposed real estate tax increase; whereupon, the following individuals provided comments to the Council: The City Clerk played a voicemail from Cathy Bailey, 2709 Liberty Road, N. W., in opposition of the tax increase. 682 The City Clerk read an email, in its entirety, from Haley Putnam in opposition of the real estate tax increase. There being no further speakers, Mayor Lea declared the public hearing closed. CITY'S PROPOSED 2020 - 2021 HUD FUNDS BUDGET AND 2020 - 2021 ANNUAL UPDATE TO THE 5-YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN: Pursuant to instructions by the Council, the City Clerk having advertised a public hearing for Thursday, May 28, 2020, 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 2020 - 2021 HUD Funds Budget and 2020 - 2021 Annual Update to the 5-Year Consolidated Plan, the matter was before the body. Legal advertisement of the public hearing was published in The Roanoke Times on Monday, May 11, 2020; and The Roanoke Tribune on Thursday, May 14, 2020. (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. The Mayor announced that the City Council would adopt the Recommended FY 2020 - 2021 Budget, along with other related measures during its regular meeting on , "' Monday, June 15 at 2:00 p.m., in the City Council Chamber, by electronic communications means. There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Lea declared the recessed meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m. APPROVED ATTEST: ~-6-J~·~ Cecelia F. McCoy, CMC ~~-~~ Sherman P. Lea, Sr. City Clerk Mayor • •