City Council Work Sessions

City Council Work Session December 6, 2023 A Joint Work Session of the Suffolk City Council and the Suffolk School Board was held in the City Council Chamber on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. PRESENT Council Members - Michael D. Duman, Mayor, presiding Lue R. Ward, Jr., Vice Mayor Leroy Bennett Roger W. Fawcett Timothy J. Johnson John T. Rector LeOtis L. Williams Erika S. Dawley, City Clerk William E. Hutchings, Jr., City Attorney Albert S. Moor, II, City Manager ABSENT Shelley Butler Barlow (excused) The following members of the Suffolk School Board were present: Tyron Riddick, Chair Heather Howell, Vice Chair Dr. Dawn Marie Brittingham Dr. Judith Brooks-Buck Karen Jenkins Kimberly Slingluff ABSENT Phyllis Byrum (excused) Also present from School Administration: Dr. John B. Gordon III, School Superintendent Wendell Waller, School Board Attorney Tarshia Gardner, Clerk of the School Board ABSENT None JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE SCHOOL BOARD Mayor Duman and Chair Riddick offered introductory remarks. Mayor Duman announced that Council Member Butler Barlow was excused. Chair Riddick announced that Ms. Byrum was excused. Dr. Gordon and City Manager Moor supplied additional introductory remarks. Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Wendy Forsman, Chief Financial Officer, and Terry Napier, Director of Facilities and Planning, with Suffolk Public Schools provided a summary of the Suffolk Public Schools’ Capital Improvements Plan submission. 1 City Council Work Session December 6, 2023 Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Interim Budget Director Charles Meek gave a synopsis and update on the City’s Capital Improvement Plan process. Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Dr. Stenette Byrd III, Chief of Schools, and Mr. Napier, with Suffolk Public Schools, offered a report about the functional capacity process and related recommendations. Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Mark Probst, Principal, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, RRMM Architects, the Suffolk Public Schools’ facilities master plan consultant, submitted data about the facility condition index. Utilizing a Power Point presentation, Deputy City Manager Kevin Hughes presentation information student generation and school capacity projections. Referring to the presentation, Dr. Brooks-Buck sought clarification about the determination of space in classrooms, specifically in the case of disabled students. Dr. Gordon replied that the classroom space is determined by formulas set by the State. Referring to the presentation, Ms. Jenkins called for an update on the conditions of mobile units. Dr. Gordon said that there was an adjustment in the Capital Improvement Plan to eliminate the need for mobile units. He added that due to various funding challenges the mobile units have stayed in place and concluded that staff monitors the mobile units to address any safety issues. Members of the School Board opined about eliminating the use of mobile units. Referring to the presentation, Chair Riddick queried about the borough with the projected highest population growth and the potential impact of that projected growth. Deputy City Manager Hughes advised that the study has information about the impacts of the projected growth, including the subsets of the schools in those areas. He added that there is growth in the student population occurring in the central area of the City. He concluded that as broadband expands to the rural areas of the City, there might be more student growth in those areas. Referring to the presentation, Chair Riddick asked whether mobile units are being considered when projecting student population and school capacity. Deputy City Manager Hughes said when the City receives a rezoning request, staff calculates student capacity of area schools without the mobile units. He further explained that no calculations are made for developments that do not require rezoning. Chair Riddick inquired about making new communities near schools more walkable. Deputy City Manager Hughes stated that the City’s Unified Development Ordinance requires sidewalks, curbs and gutter when development comes online. Chair Riddick called for information about making infill development near schools more walkable. Deputy City Manager Hughes replied that the City’s Unified Development Ordinance does not require sidewalks, curbs and gutter when infill development is built. He added that there are some projects in the City’s Capital Improvement Plan for such infrastructure. Chair Riddick opined about the feasibility of renovating historical structures. City Manager Moor indicated that type of determination would depend on the building itself and the surrounding area. 2 City Council Work Session December 6, 2023 Members of City Council opined about the proposed Suffolk Public Schools Fiscal Year 2035-2034 Capital Improvements Plans. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Williams opined about the status of preventative maintenance funding for Suffolk Public Schools. City Manager Moor explained that staff from the City and Suffolk Public Schools worked together to appropriate the funding difference to the Northern Shores Elementary School expansion. Dr. Gordon added that Suffolk Public Schools asked for more funding in the out years to address the mobile unit issues. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Johnson asked if all of the mobile units would be removed from Northern Shores Elementary School once the expansion is complete. Dr. Gordon replied removal of the mobile units is the projected course of action. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Bennett queried about the student generation rates as a result of the increasing number of new apartments. Deputy City Manager Hughes reported that the current lifestyle trends including less births, more transient residents, and home schooling are impacting student generation rates. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Bennett called for information about the feasibility of shared school sites. Dr. Gordon advised that RRMM, the facilities master plan consultant, stated that option was not feasible. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Bennett inquired about the number of schools with mobile units. Dr. Gordon said there were six schools with mobile units. Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, City Manager Moor supplied a report about the possible disposition of Suffolk Public School property on Finney Avenue and Driver Facility. Mayor Duman and Chair Riddick made closing remarks. The Work Session adjourned at 5:27 p.m. Teste: _____________________________________________ Erika S. Dawley, MMC, City Clerk Approved: _________________________________________ Michael D. Duman, Mayor APPROVED: FEBRUARY 21, 2024 3