City Council Meeting Agendas

City Council Regular Meeting December 6, 2017 Regular Meeting of the Suffolk City Council was held in the City Council Chamber, 442 West Washington Street, on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. PRESENT Council Members - Linda T. Johnson, Mayor, presiding Leroy Bennett, Vice Mayor Michael D. Duman Roger W. Fawcett Donald Z. Goldberg Timothy J. Johnson Curtis R. Milteer, Sr. Lue R. Ward, Jr. Patrick G. Roberts, City Manager Helivi L. Holland, City Attorney Erika S. Dawley, City Clerk ABSENT None. CALL TO ORDER/INVOCATION/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order. Council Member Milteer offered the Invocation and Jaedyn Redmond, Boy Scout Troop #73, led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Council Member Milteer, on a motion seconded by Council Member Fawcett, moved to approve the minutes from the November 1, 2017, Work Session and Regular Meeting, as presented, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor L. Johnson, Vice Mayor Bennett, and Council Members Duman, Fawcett, Goldberg, T. Johnson, Milteer and Ward 8 NAYS: None 0 SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Special Presentation - 2017 National Night Out National Award Utilizing a video presentation, Media and Community Relations Department Director Diana Klink and Police Chief Thomas Bennett supplied a summary of the above referenced item. REMOVAL OF ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA Mayor Johnson advised that a motion was in order at this time to adopt the agenda as presented. 1 City Council Regular Meeting December 6, 2017 Council Member Johnson, on a motion seconded by Council Member Duman, moved to adopt the agenda, as presented, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor L. Johnson, Vice Mayor Bennett, and Council Members Duman, Fawcett, Goldberg, T. Johnson, Milteer and Ward 8 NAYS: None 0 AGENDA SPEAKERS There were no speakers under this portion of the agenda. CONSENT AGENDA City Clerk Dawley presented the following Consent Agenda item: Consent Agenda Item #7 - An ordinance to accept and appropriate a Local Government Challenge Grant award from the Virginia Commission for the Arts Referring to Consent Agenda Item #7, City Manager Roberts submitted a review of the background information as printed in the official agenda. Council Member Duman, on a motion seconded by Vice Mayor Bennett, moved to approve the Consent Agenda, as presented, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor L. Johnson, Vice Mayor Bennett, and Council Members Duman, Fawcett, Goldberg, T. Johnson, Milteer and Ward 8 NAYS: None 0 PUBLIC HEARINGS Public Hearing – An ordinance granting a license agreement for the non-exclusive right and privilege to occupy and use the streets, alleys and public places of the City of Suffolk for the purposes of constructing, installing, and monitoring facilities for telecommunication services within the corporate limits of the City of Suffolk, Virginia Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Public Works Director Eric Nielsen gave a report on the background information as printed in the official agenda. Hearing no speakers, the public hearing was closed. Council Member Goldberg, on a motion seconded by Council Member Ward, moved to approve the ordinance, as presented, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor L. Johnson, Vice Mayor Bennett, and Council Members Duman, Fawcett, Goldberg, T. Johnson, Milteer and Ward 8 NAYS: None 0 2 City Council Regular Meeting December 6, 2017 AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR THE NON-EXCLUSIVE RIGHT AND PRIVILEGE TO OCCUPY AND USE THE STREETS, ALLEYS AND PUBLIC PLACES OF THE CITY OF SUFFOLK FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONSTRUCTING, INSTALLING, AND MONITORING FACILITIES FOR TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF SUFFOLK, VIRGINIA ORDINANCES There were no items under this portion of the agenda. RESOLUTIONS There were no items under this portion of the agenda. STAFF REPORTS Staff Report – Fiscal Impact Report on Exemptions Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, City Assessor Jean Jackson supplied a summary of the background information as printed in the official agenda. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Duman queried about the anticipated timeline for the additional information regarding the exemption of real property tax for surviving spouses of certain emergency services providers. City Assessor Jackson replied that she anticipates receiving the additional information within the next 15 to 20 days. Council Member Duman opined about the feasibility of presenting the additional information at the February 7, 2018, City Council meeting. City Assessor Jackson reported that it is possible for her department, depending upon the response received by the City Attorney’s Office of an opinion by the Attorney General. Council Member Duman moved to continue consideration of the exemption of real property tax for surviving spouses of certain emergency services providers. The motion failed to receive a second. City Attorney Holland opined about the opinion of the Attorney General being nonbinding. Referring to the presentation, Mayor Johnson sought clarity about qualifying for the exemption of real property tax for surviving spouses of certain emergency services providers, if the qualifying spouse dies at home of a heart attack. City Attorney Holland explained that the death could be considered a presumptive service condition, but the Virginia Retirement System is the deciding authority. Referring to the presentation, Mayor Johnson called for information about the language used by the localities that have approved the exemption of real property tax for surviving spouses of certain emergency services providers. City Attorney Holland said it appears some of the localities, which have approved the exemption, prepared an ordinance using the language included in the General Assembly’s bill. 3 City Council Regular Meeting December 6, 2017 Referring to the presentation, Mayor Johnson asked if the exemption of real property tax for surviving spouses of certain emergency services providers is optional. City Assessor Jackson replied in the affirmative. Referring to the presentation, Mayor Johnson requested information about any State funding in order to mitigate the financial impact on localities, should municipalities approve the exemption of real property tax for surviving spouses of certain emergency services providers. City Attorney Holland explained that the State does not provide any funding for localities to subsidize the exemption of real property tax for surviving spouses of certain emergency services providers. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Duman opined about the definition of killed in the line of duty. City Attorney Holland indicated that the determination is made by the Virginia Retirement System. Council Member Fawcett, on a motion seconded by Council Member Johnson, moved to take no action on the exemption of real property tax for surviving spouses of certain emergency services providers. City Clerk Dawley deferred to City Attorney Holland regarding the need for a motion to take no action. City Attorney Holland advised that a motion would not necessarily be needed in this instance; however, it would be the decision of the chair. Members of City Council opined about the exemption of real property tax for surviving spouses of certain emergency services providers. Council Member Duman called for a report on the exemption of real property tax for surviving spouses of certain emergency services providers at a City Council meeting in March 2018. The motion failed to receive a second. Mayor Johnson asked City Manager Roberts to bring back information on the feasibility of enacting an exemption of real property tax for surviving spouses of certain emergency services providers with the presentation of the proposed Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019. City Manager Roberts replied in the affirmative. This approach received the unanimous consent of City Council. Staff Report – Naming/Renaming of Facilities Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Deputy City Manager D. Scott Mills offered a review of the background information as printed in the official agenda. Vice Mayor Bennett, on a motion seconded by Council Member Duman, moved to direct City Manager Roberts to place a recognition plaque in the first floor of the Health and Human Services Building recognizing Dr. L.D. Britt, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor L. Johnson, Vice Mayor Bennett, and Council Members Duman, Fawcett, Goldberg, T. Johnson, Milteer and Ward 8 NAYS: None 0 4 City Council Regular Meeting December 6, 2017 MOTIONS Motion – A motion to schedule a public hearing for December 20, 2017, regarding the disposition of City real property identified as Tax Map Parcel 33B*5A Council Member Fawcett, on a motion seconded by Council Member Milteer, moved to schedule a schedule a public hearing for December 20, 2017, regarding the disposition of City real property identified as Tax Map Parcel 33B*5A, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor L. Johnson, Vice Mayor Bennett, and Council Members Duman, Fawcett, Goldberg, T. Johnson, Milteer and Ward 8 NAYS: None 0 Motion – A motion to schedule a 2017 Council Workshop, for December 15, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Council Member Fawcett, on a motion seconded by Council Member Duman, moved to schedule a 2017 Council Workshop, for December 15, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. - to 5 p.m., by the following vote: AYES: Mayor L. Johnson, Vice Mayor Bennett, and Council Members Duman, Fawcett, Goldberg, T. Johnson, Milteer and Ward 8 NAYS: None 0 Motion – A motion to schedule a Work Session, for December 20, 2017, at 4:00 p.m., unless cancelled Council Member Johnson, on a motion seconded by Council Member Duman, moved to schedule a Work Session, for December 20, 2017, at 4:00 p.m., unless cancelled, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor L. Johnson, Vice Mayor Bennett, and Council Members Duman, Fawcett, Goldberg, T. Johnson, Milteer and Ward 8 NAYS: None 0 Motion – A motion to cancel the January 3, 2018, City Council Meeting Council Member Fawcett, on a motion seconded by Council Member Goldberg, moved to cancel the January 3, 2018, City Council Meeting, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor L. Johnson, Vice Mayor Bennett, and Council Members Duman, Fawcett, Goldberg, T. Johnson, Milteer and Ward 8 NAYS: None 0 NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS Ellen Saunders, 2019 Meade Parkway, representing Western Tidewater Free Clinic, opined about the clinic’s programs and services. 5 City Council Regular Meeting December 6, 2017 NEW BUSINESS There were no items under this portion of the agenda. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMENTS Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Media and Community Relations Assistant Director Tim Kelley reported on the following: the new tax billing system; the grand re-opening for the Suffolk Family YMCA; the ribbon cutting for Chuck’s Fashions; the graduation of Captain Mark Erie, Suffolk Police Department, from the Professional Executive Leadership School; the Painting the Town for the Holidays program by Suffolk Public Schools; the Suffolk Humane Society adopt-a-thons; Family Movie Night at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts; the City’s holiday parade and holiday safety tips from the Suffolk Police Department and Suffolk Fire Department. Council Member Johnson announced he attended the Holland Holiday Tree Lighting. Council Member Johnson extended his condolences to the family of the late former Vice Mayor Rufus Powell. Council Member Johnson thanked the Suffolk Fire Department for their assistance with a fire on Colonel Meade Drive. Council Member Ward opined about the Downtown Initiative Plan Update and the Fiscal Year 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Council Member Ward congratulated the Nansemond River High School football team on its season. Council Member Duman opined about the 2017 National Night Out National Award. Council Member Duman opined about the Downtown Initiative Plan Update. Council Member Duman announced he attended the following: the grand re-opening for the Suffolk Family YMCA; the Suffolk Humane Society’s fundraiser at Broken Egg Bistro and the Grand Illumination. Council Member Duman extended his condolences to the family of the late former Vice Mayor Rufus Powell. Council Member Duman announced the upcoming adoption opportunities at the Suffolk Animal Care Center. Council Member Duman acknowledged the Kings Fork High School marching band. Council Member Milteer extended his condolences to the family of the late former Vice Mayor Rufus Powell. Council Member Milteer opined about the Downtown Initiative Plan Update. Council Member Fawcett reported he attended the grand re-opening of the Suffolk Family YMCA. 6 City Council Regular Meeting December 6, 2017 Council Member Fawcett congratulated Captain Mark Erie, Suffolk Police Department, on his graduation from the Professional Executive Leadership School. Council Member Fawcett announced the upcoming Sheriff’s Department Toy Drive. Council Member Fawcett opined about the 2017 National Night Out National Award. Council Member Fawcett opined about the Downtown Initiative Plan Update. Council Member Fawcett reported he attended the Grand Illumination. Council Member Fawcett encouraged residents to attend the upcoming Holiday Parade. Vice Mayor Bennett announced he attended the ribbon cutting for Chuck’s Fashions and the grand re- opening for the Suffolk Family YMCA. Vice Mayor Bennett opined about the Downtown Initiative Plan Update. Vice Mayor Bennett opined about the holiday shopping safety tips from the Suffolk Police Department Vice Mayor Bennett congratulated Captain Mark Erie, Suffolk Police Department, on his graduation from the Professional Executive Leadership School. Vice Mayor Bennett encouraged residents to attend the upcoming Holiday Parade. Mayor Johnson extended her condolences to the family of the late former Vice Mayor Rufus Powell. Council Member Fawcett, on a motion seconded by Council Member Duman, moved to adjourn, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor L. Johnson, Vice Mayor Bennett, and Council Members Duman, Fawcett, Goldberg, T. Johnson, Milteer and Ward 8 NAYS: None 0 There being no further business to come before City Council, the regular meeting was adjourned at 8:39 p.m. Teste: ________________________________________________ Erika S. Dawley, MMC, City Clerk Approved: ____________________________________________ Linda T. Johnson, Mayor APPROVED: FEBRUARY 21, 2018 7