City Council Work Sessions

City Council Work Session February 5, 2020 A Joint Work Session of the Suffolk City Council and the Suffolk School Board was held in the City Council Chamber on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, at 4:00 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 The following members of the Suffolk School Board were present: Phyllis Byrum, Chairman Dr. Judith Brooks-Buck, Vice Chairman Karen L. Jenkins Lorita W. Mayo David P. Mitnick Tyron D. Riddick Sherri D. Story Also present from School Administration: Dr. John B. Gordon III, School Superintendent Wendell Waller, School Board Attorney Tarshia L. Gardner, Clerk of the School Board JOINT WORK SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE SCHOOL BOARD Mayor Johnson and Ms. Byrum offered introductory remarks. Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation and the distributed handout, Duane Harver, President/Director of K12 Project Overview, RRMM Architects, the City’s architectural consultants, provided an overview of the process to be used for the joint facilities study. Finance Director Tealen Hansen gave supplemental information regarding school capital funding transfers. Referring to the presentation, Mr. Mitnick queried about the inclusion of school rezoning in the joint facilities study. Mr. Harver advised that RRMM’s mandate did not call for a redistricting study, but the information acquired may be helpful in a future rezoning. 1 City Council Work Session February 5, 2020 Referring to the presentation, Council Member Johnson asked if the previously approved housing developments would be included in the joint facilities study. Mr. Harver said those developments would be included in the joint facilities study. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Johnson solicited information about the period of time covered by the joint facilities study. Mr. Harver offered that the joint facilities study can extend to the standard five years, but ten years is the maximum length of time. Referring to the presentation, Mayor Johnson sought clarification about the feasibility of the School Board using the joint facilities study’s results for a future school rezoning review. Mr. Harver replied in the affirmative. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Duman inquired about the inclusion of the technical education facilities in the joint facilities study. Mr. Harver said there would be technical educational facilities included in the joint facilities study. Referring to the presentation, Ms. Story requested an explanation of the projects that would be funded by City Council’s proposed ordinance to authorize the transfer of capital project funds from the Florence Bowser Elementary School and Colonel Fred Cherry Middle School projects to the Schools Major Repairs/Systems Replacement project. Dr. Gordon said that the funding could be used for security and information technology investments. F. Terry Napier, Director of Facilities and Planning, added that fuels tanks will be installed at Colonel Fred Cherry Middle School and Florence Bowser Elementary School, as the infrastructure was installed, but not the fuel tanks, when the schools were originally constructed. Ms. Story asked if the School Administration Building was included in the joint facilities study. Dr. Gordon replied in the negative. City Manager Roberts explained that the future of the School Administration Building will be considered in the City’s Capital Improvement Program. Ms. Story solicited information about the timeline for the completion of the new School’s Maintenance Facility. Mr. Napier said that Phase 1 will be completed around May 2020, and Phase 2 will concentrate on relocating the maintenance functions to the former Mount Zion Elementary School site. Mr. Roberts added that the City has funded the School Maintenance Facility over two years. Council Member Fawcett opined about the feasibility of the City acquiring the former Driver Elementary School for use as a recreation center. Mr. Napier said that the former Driver Elementary School site is being used to store surplus items. He added that moving those item to the current School’s Maintenance Facility Finney Avenue site is not feasible at this time. Council Member Fawcett called for information about the percentage of the former Driver Elementary School that is being used for the storage of surplus items. Mr. Napier replied that 75% of the building is being used for storage. Council Member Fawcett asked about the amount of heating and cooling being used at former Driver Elementary School. Mr. Napier reported that only partial heating and cooling is being used at the building, as its being used for the storage of surplus. 2 City Council Work Session February 5, 2020 Council Member Fawcett inquired about the cost to operate the former Driver Elementary School. Mr. Napier explained the costs are minimal, and the value is in the savings that would otherwise be paid for storage. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Duman solicited information about the inclusion of joint use facilities in the joint facilities study. Mr. Harver advised that joint use facilities are not a part of the joint facilities study. Referring to the presentation, Mr. Mitnick asked whether Colonel Fred Cherry Middle School and Florence Bowser Elementary School would be included in the joint use study. Mr. Harver replied that the facilities would not be included in the study, as they were recently constructed. Ms. Story asked whether quarterly meetings could be planned at this time. Mr. Roberts and Dr. Gordon explained that future meetings would be planned based on the bodies’ shared concerns. The Joint Work Session of the City Council and School Board adjourned and City Council recessed at 4:56 p.m. and reconvened at 5:10 p.m. FISCAL YEAR 2021-2030 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM & PLAN Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Finance Director Hansen gave a summation of the above referenced. Public Utilities Director Albert Moor gave supplementary information. City Clerk Dawley presented the Closed Meeting motion for City Council’s consideration: 1. Pursuant to Virginia Code Sections 2.2-3711(A)(8) and (A)(1), the consultation with legal counsel employed by a public body regarding specific legal matters requiring the legal advice of such counsel, and the discussion, consideration, or interviews of prospective candidates for appointment and the assignment, appointment, and performance of specific public officers or appointees of the City, specifically the appointments as shown on the attached list for vacancies or term expirations for Agricultural Advisory Committee, Early Childhood Development Commission, Economic Development Authority of the City of Suffolk, Fine Arts Commission, Human Services Advisory Board, Local Board of Building Code Appeals, Tidewater Youth Services Commission and Wetlands Board. Council Member Fawcett, on a motion seconded by Vice Mayor Bennett, moved that City Council convene in a closed meeting for the above referenced purpose, 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 3 City Council Work Session February 5, 2020 City Council convened in Closed Meeting at 5:51 p.m. The Closed Meeting concluded at 6:01 p.m. Teste: _____________________________________________ Erika S. Dawley, MMC, City Clerk Approved: _________________________________________ Linda T. Johnson, Mayor APPROVED: JUNE 3, 2020 4