City Council Meeting Agendas

City Council Regular Meeting May 20, 2020 Electronic Emergency Management Meeting of the Suffolk City Council on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. at the following locations: PRESENT Council Members - Linda T. Johnson, Mayor, presiding, Suffolk City Council Chamber, 442 West Washington Street Leroy Bennett, Vice Mayor, Fire Station Number 6, 300 Kings Fork Road Michael D. Duman, Fire Station Number 6, 300 Kings Fork Road Roger W. Fawcett, Fire Station Number 5, 3901 Bridge Road Donald Z. Goldberg, City Council Conference Room, 442 West Washington Street Timothy J. Johnson, Suffolk Executive Airport, 1200 Gene Bolton Drive Curtis R. Milteer, Sr., Suffolk Executive Airport, 1200 Gene Bolton Drive Lue R. Ward, Jr., Fire Station Number 5, 3901 Bridge Road Patrick G. Roberts, City Manager Helivi L. Holland, City Attorney Erika S. Dawley, City Clerk ABSENT None CALL TO ORDER Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order. City Clerk Dawley called the roll, and all members of City Council were in attendance. Mayor Johnson provided the following announcement: on March 12, 2020, Governor Ralph S. Northam declared a State of Emergency for the Commonwealth of Virginia, due to the rapid spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Following that declaration, City Manager Patrick G. Roberts declared the City of Suffolk to be in a State of Emergency. Because of the catastrophic nature of the declared emergency, it is impractical and unsafe to assemble a quorum of City Council in a single location. In accordance with the code of Virginia and Suffolk City Code, this Emergency Meeting of Suffolk City Council will be held via video and video conference. The meeting will be broadcasted live on the City’s local cable channel (Spectrum Channel 190) and stream via the internet at http://suffolkva.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=2 Public Hearing – A public hearing to receive public comment on the Proposed Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Citywide effective real estate tax increase due to reassessment of 1.87% Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Finance Director Tealen Hansen provided an overview of the background information as printed in the official agenda. Mayor Johnson reviewed the instructions and process for the submission of public comment regarding the Proposed Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Citywide effective real estate tax increase due to reassessment of 1.87% during the emergency electronic meeting. Mayor Johnson opened the public hearing. 1 City Council Regular Meeting May 20, 2020 Finance Director Hansen stated all of the comments that have been received have been provided to all members of City Council and will posted on the City’s webpage. The following individual submitted comments via email regarding the Proposed Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Citywide effective real estate tax increase due to reassessment of 1.87% and is included as an attachment to these minutes: Ron Segerstrom, 2042 Nicklaus Drive, representing self. Hearing no additional comments, the public hearing was closed. Mayor Johnson announced that there is no action necessary at this time on this item. Ordinances – Adoption of the proposed Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 and related ordinances as amended Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Finance Director Hansen gave a summary of the background information as printed in the official agenda. City Manager Roberts offered supplementary information as it relates to the resolution that was approved at the May 6, 2020, City Council meeting - a resolution to encourage compassionate real estate tax collections due on June 5, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic; to direct the City Manager to make certain amendments to the proposed Fiscal Year 2020- 2021 Operating and Capital Budget; and develop a utility bill relief program. He explained that these amendments have been incorporated in the proposed Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 and related ordinances as amended and presented for City Council’s consideration. Council Member Goldberg, on a motion seconded by Council Member Duman, moved to approve the proposed Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 and related ordinances as amended, as presented. Members of City Council opined about the proposed Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 and related ordinances as amended, as presented. Council Member Goldberg, on a motion seconded by Council Member Duman, moved to approve the proposed Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 and related ordinances as amended, as presented, by the following roll call vote: AYES: Mayor L. Johnson, Vice Mayor Bennett, and Council Members Duman, Fawcett, Goldberg, T. Johnson, Milteer and Ward 8 NAYS: None 0 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE CITY BUDGET AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR EXPENDITURES CONTEMPLATED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2020, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2021, AND REGULATING THE PAYMENT OF MONEY OUT OF THE CITY TREASURY, AS AMENDED AN ORDINANCE LEVYING REAL PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE TAX YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2020, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2021, FOLLOWING THE MAY 6, 2020, AND MAY 20, 2020, ELECTRONIC PUBLIC HEARING ADOPTING 1.87% INCREASE IN THE CITYWIDE ASSESSMENT 2 City Council Regular Meeting May 20, 2020 AN ORDINANCE TO LEVY TAXES ON ALL TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY NOT EITHER EXEMPT FROM TAXATION OR OTHERWISE OR OTHERWISE TAXED FOR THE 2020 AND 2021 TAX YEARS AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A FEE SCHEDULE FOR THE CITY OF SUFFOLK, AS AMENDED AN ORDINANCE APPROVING NEW POSITIONS, PAY GRADES, PAY GRADE CHANGES AND JOB DESCRIPTIONS REGARDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET AND THE CITY’S CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION PLAN AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE APPROPRIATION OF REMAINING FUNDS FROM THE MOSQUITO TAXING DISTRICT COMMITTED FUND BALANCE TO THE STORMWATER UTILITY FUND AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 82-743 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SUFFOLK Ordinance - An ordinance to accept and appropriate a Justice Assistance Grant from the United States Department of Justice in support of the COVID-19 response by the Suffolk Police Department, the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Department, the Suffolk Sheriff’s Department, and the Western Tidewater Regional Jail City Manager Roberts supplied a report on the background information as printed in the official agenda. Vice Mayor Bennett, on a motion seconded by Council Member Fawcett, moved to approve the ordinance, as presented, by the following roll call vote: AYES: Mayor L. Johnson, Vice Mayor Bennett, and Council Members Duman, Fawcett, Goldberg, T. Johnson, Milteer and Ward 8 NAYS: None 0 AN ORDINANCE TO ACCEPT AND APPROPRIATE A JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN SUPPORT OF THE COVID- 19 RESPONSE BY THE SUFFOLK POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE SUFFOLK FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT, THE SUFFOLK SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, AND THE WESTERN TIDEWATER REGIONAL JAIL Ordinance - An ordinance to accept and appropriate funds from the United States Department of Health and Human Services in support of cost recovery for COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment by the Suffolk Department of Fire and Rescue City Manager Roberts reviewed the background information as printed in the official agenda. 3 City Council Regular Meeting May 20, 2020 Council Member Goldberg, on a motion seconded by Council Member Milteer, moved to approve the ordinance, as presented, by the following roll call vote: AYES: Mayor L. Johnson, Vice Mayor Bennett, and Council Members Duman, Fawcett, Goldberg, T. Johnson, Milteer and Ward 8 NAYS: None 0 AN ORDINANCE TO ACCEPT AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF COST RECOVERY FOR COVID-19 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT BY THE SUFFOLK DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AND RESCUE Resolution – A resolution to request an Economic Development Access Program Allocation pursuant to a deadline imposed by the Commonwealth Transportation Board Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Economic Development Director Kevin Hughes gave a summation of the background information as printed in the official agenda. Council Member Fawcett, on motion seconded by Council Member Milteer, moved to approve the resolution, as presented, by the following roll call vote: AYES: Mayor L. Johnson, Vice Mayor Bennett, and Council Members Duman, Fawcett, Goldberg, T. Johnson, Milteer and Ward 8 NAYS: None 0 A RESOLUTION TO REQUEST AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACCESS PROGRAM ALLOCATION PURSUANT TO A DEADLINE IMPOSED BY THE COMMONWEALTH TRANSPORTATION BOARD Coronavirus Update - The City Manager or designee will provide an update related to COVID-19 Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Deputy Fire Chief Brian Spicer provided a synopsis of the above referenced item. Mayor Johnson queried about the availability of testing for asymptomatic individuals. Deputy Fire Chief Spicer indicated that the Western Tidewater Health Department will provide a test to any individual, regardless of whether they have symptoms of COVID-19. Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Mayor Johnson inquired about the feasibility of more than one community wide testing event. City Manager Roberts stated that staff is working with the Western Tidewater Health Department to schedule future community wide testing events. Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Economic Development Director Hughes and Finance Director Hansen supplied supplementary information. Council Member Duman opined about a monthly update on CARES Act Funding. City Manager Roberts indicated that staff would provide City Council with periodic updates as feasible, based on the federal deadlines associated with utilizing the funding. 4 City Council Regular Meeting May 20, 2020 Referring to the presentation, Mayor Johnson called for additional information about the timeline to establish a plan to utilizing the CARES Act Funding. City Manager Roberts stated that it is the intention of staff to present a plan in the next 30 days. City Attorney Holland explained to City Council that there was a need to amend the following ordinance for an additional 60 days – “an emergency ordinance to effectuate temporary changes in certain deadlines and to modify public meeting and public hearing practices and procedures to address continuity of operations associated with pandemic disaster, as amended.” She added that an amendment would be necessary in the event that City Council was unable to meet in person, the ordinance does not require remote meetings, but they are permitted. Council Member Fawcett, on a motion seconded by Vice Mayor Bennett, moved to amend and approve the aforementioned item. Referring to the motion, Council Member Duman opined about the methodology that would be used to determine the meeting format. City Attorney Holland replied that Mayor Johnson would consult with City Manager Roberts in accordance with public health conditions. Referring to the motion, Mayor Johnson asked for clarification that should Governor Northam direct localities that in-person meetings are not feasible due to public health conditions that this action would avoid the need for a Special Called Meeting of the City Council. City Attorney Holland replied in the affirmative. Council Member Fawcett, on a motion seconded by Vice Mayor Bennett, moved to amend and approve the aforementioned item by the following roll call vote: AYES: Mayor L. Johnson, Vice Mayor Bennett, and Council Members Duman, Fawcett, Goldberg, T. Johnson, Milteer and Ward 8 NAYS: None 0 Mayor Johnson announced that the City Council will have an electronic or regular meeting on the regularly scheduled City Council meeting date of June 5, 2020, at 7:00 p.m., unless cancelled. The decision of the type of meeting will be governed by the state of the local emergency or any federal or state order. Notice of the meeting will be provided to the public as soon as practical. Instructions on how citizens may participate in scheduled public hearings for electronic meetings will be provided in the public notice of the electronic meeting Vice Mayor Bennett, on a motion seconded by Council Member Johnson, 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 5 City Council Regular Meeting May 20, 2020 There being no further business to come before City Council, the regular meeting was adjourned at 3:12 p.m. Teste: ________________________________________________ Erika S. Dawley, MMC, City Clerk Approved: ____________________________________________ Linda T. Johnson, Mayor APPROVED: AUGUST 19, 2020 6