City Council

DocuSign Envelope ID: 5B5990B7-FB48-46BB-9F10-58344AE30C2D MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SEAT PLEASANT REGULAR WORK SESSION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 6:00P.M. 1. OPENING 1.1.1 Call to Order Council President Yeargin called the meeting to order at 6:08p.m. 1.1.2 Roll Call Present: Mayor Eugene Grant (Excused), Councilmember Charl Jones, Councilmember Hope Love, Councilmember Lamar Maxwell, Councilmember Shireka McCarthy, Councilmember Kelly Porter, Councilmember Gloria Sistrunk, Councilmember Reveral Yeargin Staff: Dashaun N. Lanham, City Clerk, Diamond Plater, Council Clerk, Jeannelle Wallace, Chief Operating Officer 1.1.3 Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance: The invocation was given by Councilmember Kelly Porter 1.1.4. Approval of Agenda It was motioned by Councilmember Porter and seconded by Councilmember Jones to approve the agenda. The motion carried and was unanimously approved by the City Council. 2. PRESENTATIONS: 2.1. None 3. REPORTS: 3.1. Mayor’s Report  Mayor Grant was excused from the Regular Work Session Meeting on Monday, April 6, 2020. 3.2. Chief Operating Officer  Mrs. Wallace stated that as most of the council is aware, we have been really busy although we are home. Page 1 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 5B5990B7-FB48-46BB-9F10-58344AE30C2D  We have been working around the clock. We had a press conference a week ago regarding the Telehealth and partnership with MasterCard.  We are working on a grant application with the County to assist with COVID-19 pandemic.  We have been informed by MML that we will have a loss in revenue with Highway User revenue, personal property taxes, business property taxes.  We will need to keep in mind of this with preparation on the FY2021 Budget.  The quarterly reports were submitted, and the Administration Department has met 85% of the goals, we had collected money on the property liens, and spent less money on devices. We are currently working on the Audit report for FY19.  The Economic Development is working on the financial infrastructure loan for the USDA report.  The City Clerk had processed fourteen PIA requests for this quarter, which is substantial increase from this time last year.  The City Clerk had reported on the Business Personal Property Taxes and we are not sure of how we will collect due to the businesses being shut down. She has collected $1,423, 590. She has mailed $1,286, for FY19. The objective outcomes to date have been met.  The Economic Development Department has been working on the Grant application for Community Legacy program. They are working on the State Department Infrastructure program.  The Public Works Department has been moving forward with implementing the in-house trash services and preparing a new brochure and they will be collecting trash and yard waste. We have been experiencing concerns with our current vendor for trash services.  The Finance Department is working on the FY19 audit report, and still working on cutting checks while everyone is working from home.  The Human Resources department worked on a virtual Health Renewal. The challenge was to update the online renewal for the benefits.  The Police Department has been working on the violations of vehicle traffic violations. We had recovered 100% of stolen vehicles recovery. The department had completed over 5000 hours of required training. The k-9 officers had been assisting with 43 searches. 43% drug searches, they are still trying to engage in the Seat Pleasant Basketball games, and they are hoping to have it resolved by the next fiscal year.  We had been notified today that the City had received the MML Achievement Award for the Command and Control Center. Page 2 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 5B5990B7-FB48-46BB-9F10-58344AE30C2D  The City Council did not have any questions for Mrs. Wallace. 3.3. City Council Committee Reports Finance & Budget Committee  Councilmember Sistrunk stated that on March 27, 2020 the committee met via Zoom and they discussed the recommended changes to the following cost center, office supply, training, professional development, council retreat and Council uniforms.  Councilmember Sistrunk stated that the Finance and Budget Committee agreed to keep all the cost centers in the FY2019-2020 budget and to add a new cost center for legislative initiatives for funding to engage the elected body. The committee recommended the name change of Ward Events to Council Events.  The finance committee recommended that the City adopts insurance for all devices.  The Council Clerk will make changes and recommendations to the Council on Monday, April 13, 2020. 4. LEGISLATION 4.1. Ordinance O-20-13 Amendment of Chapter 39-Purchasing. Ordinance O- 20-13 was introduced by the City Council and read by the City Clerk on Monday, April 6, 2020. 4.2. Resolution R-20-11 Approval of Line of Credit through Industrial Bank. Resolution R-20-11 was introduced by the City Council and read by the City Clerk on Monday, April 6, 2020.  Councilmember Jones and Councilmember Sistrunk inquired why is the city seeking another loan for short falls when this was approved last year?  Mrs. Wallace stated that the City Council provided approval last year to seek the loan, but no legislation was approved. The city had sought three banks and decided to go with Industrial Bank since we did not have to provide collateral.  Councilmember Sistrunk inquired why the city continues to have short falls?  Mrs. Wallace stated that a letter was provided to the City Council last year explaining the increase in the premiums and in the previous years the city was able to collect revenues from the Speed and Red-Light Camera to sustain us. However, the slow period of revenues is from July to October every year. The City had received the report for the speed and red-light Page 3 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 5B5990B7-FB48-46BB-9F10-58344AE30C2D camera fund, and it is significantly lower. We were successful in making arrangements with LGIT and Chesapeake Insurance to pay them monthly.  Councilmember Porter wanted to know what has caused the increased.  Mrs. Wallace stated that due to increase in the claims from Public Works and Public Safety employees were open for a long period of time. Chesapeake has a guide that states when each person should recover. We are requesting an IME from each person individual physicians when the employee may recover or be able to return to work. We had an increase in vehicle accidents not at fault by our employees. Although LGIT will go after the offender, but it caused an increased in the premiums. We had a lot of employees who incurred work related injuries and out of work for extended periods of time.  Councilmember Sistrunk stated that she is concerned with everything being shut down and business that have paid and may not be able to pay until September.  Mrs. Wallace stated that we do not have a short fall now and we are preparing in the event that we have a short fall.  Councilmember Sistrunk stated that this is in addition to the loan for the trash trucks?  Mrs. Wallace stated that loan for the trucks are not due until March 2021.  Councilmember Sistrunk asked if the cameras could be moved?  Mrs. Wallace stated that the cameras had been moved and the city installed additional cameras.  It was motioned by Councilmember Maxwell and seconded by Councilmember Jones to approve Resolution R-20-11. The motion carried  For: Jones, Love, Maxwell, McCarthy, Porter and Yeargin  Against: Sistrunk 4.3 Resolution R-20-13 To Oppose the Development of the Commons at Addison Road Project. Resolution R-20-13 was introduced by the City Council and read by the City Clerk on Monday, April 6, 2020.  Councilmember Jones inquired if the City Council has been apprised of the projects?  Mrs. Wallace stated that the development is adjacent to the city and the issue is that the developer has not provided information to the city regarding the project. When this has come to the city about a decade ago, it was supposed to be condominiums. It has now been stated that the developer is building the property as rentals which can have a negative impact if the apartments are being rented at market rate. We have not seen the latest plan for parking Page 4 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 5B5990B7-FB48-46BB-9F10-58344AE30C2D and site plans with the water run-off that can have impact on the city and other homes in the neighborhood. They had asked the city to support the project and they have not provided the information.  Councilmember McCarthy has inquired if the information was requested from the developer?  Mrs. Wallace stated that Mr. Bagley had requested to meet with the Developer; and they did not want to meet.  Councilmember Jones stated that with their arrogance and them doing what they are doing, and they want us to support or entertain the request.  Councilmember Sistrunk stated that this development has nothing to do with the city.  Councilmember Porter stated that it looks like we are opposing development in the county.  Councilmember Porter stated that we are either for or against the development.  Councilmember Jones stated that we can only be in opposition since the developer has not provided the requested information to the city.  Mrs. Wallace stated that they developer met with Mr. Ayu and stated they were interested in annexing in the city. Mr. Bagley had reached out to them to request that we meet to discuss the development project and they declined to meet with the city.  Mrs. Wallace stated that any development adjacent to the city can impact future development in the city.  Councilmember Jones stated that anything that was discussed with Mr. Ayu is null and avoid, as he is no longer with the city. If they are not willing to meet with Mr. Bagley to discuss the project, we cannot support their project.  Councilmember Porter stated that the letter is written in opposition of the project?  Mrs. Wallace stated that the letter is a draft and states that we cannot make a decision until the city reviews the site plan.  Councilmember Sistrunk stated that the County will approve the project regardless if the city passes a resolution or not.  Mrs. Wallace stated that the statement is not necessarily true, as we are the neighboring jurisdiction and they want to know the city's opinion.  Councilmember Sistrunk stated that we have businesses that have come into the city and open and we did not know they were here or coming.  Mrs. Wallace stated that this is true because the city cannot approve zoning. Page 5 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 5B5990B7-FB48-46BB-9F10-58344AE30C2D  Mrs. Wallace stated that this is the reason that we had requested during our legislative breakfast for the city to have an in-put on the businesses that come into the city. We can request at the Permit office that they need to come to the city to get approval. The Permit office just rubber stamp and give out permits.  Mrs. Wallace stated the hearing is scheduled for Thursday, April 9, 2020.  Councilmember Porter stated that he wanted it clear that we are not in opposition of any development, but this development until we can review the plans.  The City Council requested for this the following language to be added to the letter: The City of Seat Pleasant will not approve the development of the Commons at Addison Metro until the City Council has respectively reviewed the plans for the development.  It was motioned by Councilmember Jones and seconded by Councilmember Maxwell to approve Resolution R-20-13. The motion carried.  For: Charl Jones, Hope Love, Lamar Maxwell, Reveral L Yeargin, Shireka McCarthy  Against: Gloria L Sistrunk  Abstain: Kelly Porter 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5.1. FY2021 Budget Hearing Dates  City Clerk, Dashaun Lanham provided the City Council with the Budget Hearing Dates for Monday, May 11, 2020 and Saturday, May 16, 2020 and Saturday, May 23, 2020.  The City Council agreed to be available on both Saturday, May 16 and May 23, 2020. 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1. None 7 ANNOUNCEMENTS 7.1. Regular Work Session, Monday, May 4, 2020, Seat Pleasant City Hall- Council Chambers or by Telephone Conference Line at 6:00p.m. 7.2. Public Session, Monday, May 11, 2020, Seat Pleasant City Hall-Council Chamber or by Telephone Conference Line at 7:00p.m. 8. ADJOURN Page 6 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 5B5990B7-FB48-46BB-9F10-58344AE30C2D Action: 8.1 Adjourn- The meeting was adjourned at 7:54p.m. Submitted by, Dashaun N. Lanham, CMC City Clerk Page 7 of 7