City Council Work Session

AGENDA City of Williamsburg City Council Work Session Monday, May 11, 2026 The City Council Work Session will be held Monday, May 11, 2026, in the Stryker Center, 412 N. Boundary Street commencing at 4:00 PM. Page 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. ITEMS FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 14, 2026 A. Council Preview B. Public Comment 4. BACKGROUND PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSION A. Presentation and Discussion Concerning the FY27 Proposed Budget - 3 - 13 Michele Mixner DeWitt, Interim City Manager, and Barbara Dameron, Chief Financial Officer B. Presentation by AVAdventure Productions Detailing Event Outcomes 14 - 48 from its Three-Year Contract and Future Plans - Adam Stackhouse, AVAdventure Founder 5. CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS 6. SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS May 12 May 20 Architectural Review Board Williamsburg Area Arts Commission 6:30 p.m., Stryker Center 3:00 p.m., Stryker Center May 13 May 20 Economic Development Authority CANCELED: Planning Commission 3:00 p.m., Stryker Center 3:30 p.m., Stryker Center May 13 May 26 CANCELED: Historic Triangle Recreational Architectural Review Board Facilities Authority 6:30 p.m., Stryker Center 3:00 p.m., Stryker Center May 14 June 2 City Council Board of Zoning Appeals 2:00 p.m., Stryker Center 4:003:00 p.m., Stryker Center May 18 June 8 Williamsburg Public Art Council City Council Work Session 3:30 p.m., Stryker Center 4:00 p.m., Stryker Center 7. OPEN FORUM 8. CLOSED SESSION A. Closed Session Pursuant to Section 2.2-3711 of the Code of Virginia for 49 the Purpose of Discussing One Personnel Matter per Subparagraph 1, Regarding Appointments to Boards and Commissions. B. Certification of Closed Session 50 9. ADJOURNMENT The City Council invites public comment on any subject during "Open Forum." To speak, fill out a Speaker's Card (available at the door) and give it to the Clerk of Council. Please direct all comments to the Chair, limited to 5 minutes. Thank you.  City Council Work Session Agenda Item Summary Related Goal Staff Contact Courageously Leading Michele Mixner DeWitt, Interim City Manager Agenda Item Wording Presentation and Discussion Concerning the FY27 Proposed Budget - Michele Mixner DeWitt, Interim City Manager, and Barbara Dameron, Chief Financial Officer Background Information The Interim City Manager’s Fiscal Year 2027 Proposed Budget was published March 30, 2026. Since then, City Council and staff received input from the public and identified revisions to the proposed budget. The Interim City Manager will review these revisions at the Work Session. Additionally, due to the questions from the public, the City's financial advisor, Davenport, will provide information about the City's debt portfolio. To provide time for continued discussion and input, the City Council has scheduled a Special Called Meeting at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 27, 2026, for adoption of the FY27 budget. Previous Relevant Action February 13, 2026 - Budget Retreat with City Council April 6, 2026 - Budget Presented by the Interim City Manager April 9, 2026 - Public Hearing at the City Council Business Meeting Staff Recommendation None Attachments FY27 Budget Presentation  FISCAL YEAR 2027 PROPOSED Page 2 of 11 BUDGET The City of Williamsburg May 11, 2026  BUDGET FLOW PROCESS Page 3 of 11 2  THE FY27 PROPOSED BUDGET STILL SINCE APRIL 9 INCLUDES City staff have considered Page 4 of 11 adjustments in the following areas:  FTE Changes No change to the real estate tax  Operational Efficiencies rate of 62 cents per $100 of assessed value.  Pending Real Estate Assessment Appeals  Capital Priorities A $7 water rate increase, from $6.89/1,000 gallons for City customers, to fund water and sewer infrastructure upgrades. 3  FTEs General Fund Changes $34 6,513 Expenditures Reduced Reduce proposed FTEs in General Fund FTEs: $346,513 from 13 ($884,622) to 7.5 ($538,109). 3 Police Officers 1 Vehicle Maintenance Apprentice 1 Building Maintenance Apprentice Page 5 of 11 1 Assistant Park Manager 1 Communications Specialist 0.5 Grant Writer 4  OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES General Fund Changes $370,000 Expenditures Reduced • City Attorney: $5,000 FTEs: $346,513 • • City Manager’s Office: $5,000 Economic Development: $110,000 Dept. Budgets: $370,000 • Finance: $8,000 • Fire: $30,000 TOTAL: $716,513 • Information Technology: $25,000 Page 6 of 11 • Police: $17,000 • Public Works: $170,000 5  REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENT APPEAL General Fund Changes $232,4 50 Expenditures Reduced Possible revenue decrease due to FTEs: $346,513 commercial real estate assessment appeals Dept. Budgets: $370,000 The Board of Equalization meets on June 23. TOTAL: $716,513 Page 7 of 11 Revenue Decrease R.E. Appeals: $232,450 $4 84 ,063 Transfer from General Fund to Capital Improvement Plan. Increases the transfer from $2,724,804 to $3,208,867 6  PRIORITY CIP PROJECT UPDATES Quarterpath HVAC Reappropriating $500,000 made available by a William & Mary contribution toward a new fire truck in FY26, pending Council action on May 14. Prince George Park ing Garage Repairs Page 8 of 11 Transfer and reappropriate $500,000 from various FY26 carryforwards, pending Council action on May 14. • Medication Drug Dispensing Program African American • Cardiac Monitoring & Defibrillator • GIS Performance Dashboard Heritage Trail • Crosswalk In-Road Lighting System • Smart City Infrastructure Deployment Reappropriating $450,000 from FY26 carryforward • Quarterpath Park (Volleyball Fence) funds for Historic Street Maintenance and Kiwanis • Waller Mill Park (Lighting) Park (benches), pending Council action on May 14. • Kiwanis Park (Irrigation) Also assigning a portion of the FTE savings • Kiwanis Park (Benches) ($114,063) and operational efficiencies ($370,000) from the proposed FY27 budget. 7  UNAWARDED GRANT FUNDS IN THE CIP FY23 Adopted Budget FY27 Proposed Budget Waller Mill Training Facility Duk e of Gloucester Street B ollard Project Contingent on Grant: $1,500,000 Contingent on Grant: $450,000 Remove from carr y for ward Moved to FY 28 Page 9 of 11 Trail 757 (Capital Trail) Contingent on Grant: $1,500,000 Moved to FY 28 FY26 Adopted Budget Librar y Regional Partner Revenue Partner Contribution: $4,000,000 (appropriated at $10M) Remove from carr y for ward 8  NEX T STEPS Continued Cost & Revenue Analysis  External: State Budget, Regional Partnerships  Evaluate Project & Operational Costs Page 10 of 11 Opportunities for Feedback  May 11  May 14  May 27 (Council Adoption) 9  FISCAL YEAR 2027 PROPOSED Page 11 of 11 BUDGET The City of Williamsburg May 11, 2026 10  City Council Work Session Agenda Item Summary Related Goal Staff Contact Innovating a Modern City Joanna Skrabala, Tourism Division Manager Agenda Item Wording Presentation by AVAdventure Productions Detailing Event Outcomes from its Three-Year Contract and Future Plans - Adam Stackhouse, AVAdventure Founder Background Information In the fall of 2022, the City of Williamsburg issued an RFP for Year-Round Event Management Services. Following this process, City Council awarded AVAdventure Productions the contract from the City's Tourism Development Fund for FY24, FY25, and FY26, subject to Council approval. During its tenure, AVAdventure annually completed the following events: The Last Word Comedy Festival, Ampersand International Arts Festival, Williamsburg Whiskey & Wine Weekend, BurgQuest, and the Virginia Cat Festival. Today, AVAdventure founder, Adam Stackhouse, will present an overview of the growth and successes of the events, as well as the proposed path forward, should City Council choose to renew the contract. Attachments City Council Presentation - AVAdventure - May 2026 Page 2 of 35 Page 3 of 35 Page 4 of 35 Page 5 of 35 Four days of comedy shows, workshops, and social events including headliner acts and submission-based stand up and improv acts. Page 6 of 35 Page 7 of 35 Page 8 of 35 Page 9 of 35 Page 10 of 35 Page 11 of 35 Page 12 of 35 Page 13 of 35 Page 14 of 35 Week long arts festival featuring guests, films, theater, dance, author talks, visual arts, and a professional arts industry summit. Page 15 of 35 RECAP VIDEO Page 16 of 35 Page 17 of 35 Page 18 of 35 Page 19 of 35 Three days of tastings, classes, tours, live music, and more at locations throughout the City of Williamsburg. Page 20 of 35  July 10-12, 2026 - Participating Businesses (as of May 1) ● Amber Ox ● Precarious Beer Project ● Blue Talon Bistro ● Revolution Golf & Grille ● Brick & Vine ● Silver Hand Meadery ● Copper Fox Page 21 of 35 ● The Peanut Shop Distillery ● Three Sisters Boutique ● DoG Street Pub ● Williamsburg Sports & Events Center ● Food for Thought ● Williamsburg Winery ● illy Cafe ● W&M Entrepreneurial Hub ● Paint on Pottery Page 22 of 35 Page 23 of 35 Page 24 of 35 Page 25 of 35 Three days of board game and RPG free play, panels, performances, guests, game demos, field trips, and game design workshops. Page 26 of 35 Page 27 of 35 Page 28 of 35 Page 29 of 35 Page 30 of 35 Page 31 of 35 A two day celebration of all things feline, including special guests, film screenings, live performances, educational sessions, panel presentations, meet-and-greets, a vendor marketplace, cat adoptions, and more! Page 32 of 35 Page 33 of 35 Page 34 of 35 Page 35 of 35  City Council Agenda Item Summary Related Goal Staff Contact Michele Mixner DeWitt, Interim City Manager Agenda Item Wording Closed Session Pursuant to Section 2.2-3711 of the Code of Virginia for the Purpose of Discussing One Personnel Matter per Subparagraph 1, Regarding Appointments to Boards and Commissions.  City Council Work Session Agenda Item Summary Related Goal Staff Contact Michele Mixner DeWitt, Interim City Manager Agenda Item Wording Certification of Closed Session Background Information The City Council is required to certify that only matters covered by the closed session motion were discussed in the preceding closed session.