City Council

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 • •