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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/8/2023 - City Council - Minutes - RegularCity Council Meeting MINUTES Monday, May 8, 2023, 6:30 PM Work Session 6:00 P.M. Council Chambers Conference Room, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, Salem, Virginia 24153 Regular Session 6:30 P.M. Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, Salem, Virginia 24153 WORK SESSION 1. Call to Order A work session of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in the Council Chambers Conference Room, City Hall, 114 N. Broad Street, Salem, Virginia, on May 8, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., there being present the following members of said Council to wit: Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor; James W. Wallace, III, Vice-Mayor; Council members: Byron Randolph Foley (participated remotely), William D. Jones, and H. Hunter Holliday; with Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor, presiding together with James E. Taliaferro, II, City Manager; Rob Light, Assistant City Manager and Clerk of Council; Rosemarie B. Jordan, Director of Finance; Kristie Chittum, Commissioner of the Revenue; Sidney Kuzmich, Chief Deputy Commissioner of the Revenue; Crystal Williams, Assistant to the City Manager; and Laura Lea Harris, Deputy Clerk of Council; and the following business was transacted; Mayor Turk reported that this date, place, and time had been set in order for the Council to hold a work session; and 2. New Business A. Discussion Items Follow up on requests/comments at previous meetings. Kristie Chittum, Commissioner of the Revenue, presented information for Council and staff on tax relief for the elderly and disabled. The current guidelines for eligibility for tax relief were shared with Council as well as those of neighboring localities. Ms. Chittum noted that June 2001 was the last time that a change had been made to the income and asset limits and that these were due an update considering the inflation rate and the change in the value of a dollar. It was noted that a number of the applicants that are now eligible could potentially lose the relief if these current guidelines are not amended. She also presented the most recent US Census data for Salem. Data on the total number of qualified tax relief exemptions for each of the past ten years was shared as well as a comparison of the total real estate tax to the amount of tax relief that was provided for those same years. Discussion was held and questions were answered. Staff was asked to investigate various options and to compare three census data points to look for a trend in the age of the population in Salem. Council was asked to be prepared to do a first reading of ordinance to update Section 82-43 of the Code of the City of Salem at the May 22nd Regular Council Meeting. Sidney Kuzmich, Chief Deputy Commissioner of the Revenue, presented information in response to a recent request to amend the current threshold for business taxes. Figures for four potential thresholds was shared with Council and data was given on the impact each would have on the City's budget. Staff was asked to email these numbers to Council for their review and consideration. 3. Adjournment There being no further business, Mayor Turk adjourned the meeting at 6:31 p.m. REGULAR SESSION 1. Call to Order A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia was called to order at 6:33 p.m., there being present the following members to wit: Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor; James W. Wallace, III, Vice -Mayor; Councilmembers: Byron Randolph Foley (participated remotely), William D. Jones, and H. Hunter Holliday; with Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor, presiding together with James E. Taliaferro, II, City Manager; Rob Light, Assistant City Manager and Clerk of Council; Rosemarie B. Jordan, Director of Finance; Mike Stevens, Director of Communications; and Jim Guynn, City Attorney. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Turk requested that Mr. Light read a request from Councilman Foley to participate remotely in this Council meeting. The request from Mr. Foley stated: "In accordance with Section 2.2-3708.3 B.4 of the Code of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Remote Participation Policy of the City of Salem, I hereby request to participate remotely due to a personal matter, specifically that I am out of town." William Jones motioned to accept the remote participation of Councilman Foley. H Hunter Holliday seconded the motion. Ayes: Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace Abstain: Foley 3. Bid Openings, Awards, Recognitions Mayor Turk noted that there were members of Public Safety in attendance this evening and that Council appreciated their attendance as well as their willingness to always put themselves on the line to take care of the safety of the citizens of Salem. 4. Consent Agenda A. Citizen Comments Comments from the public, limited to five minutes, on matters not already having a public hearing component at the same meeting. John Breen, 142 Bogey Lane, was the first citizen to address Council this evening. He expressed concern on the dual role of the Assistant City Manager/ Clerk of Council and requested that Council separate the City Clerk/Clerk of Council position from Salem's administrative service. Laura Saunders, 1807 Epps Drive, had shared information and citizen comments with Council prior to tonight's meeting and asked that they review and consider this information on skate parks. She expressed the social, emotional, and physical benefits of and the need for this type of physical outlet in the City of Salem. She requested that Council provide a skate park. Jane Taylor, 501 Mount Vernon Avenue, was the last citizen to address Council. She expressed concern of problem of vandalism and behavior of some youth at the Salem Farmer's Market and requested that Council look at solutions for graffiti and unruly behavior. Mayor Turk expressed appreciation to everyone that takes their time to come and express their concerns and ideas to Council. She noted that these are taken into consideration and discussed with staff. B. Minutes Consider acceptance of the April 24, 2023, Work Session and Regular Meeting minutes and the April 25, 2023, Budget Work Session minutes. The minutes were accepted as written. 5. Old Business A. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Consider ordinance on second reading for the requests of Patane, LLP and Walter S. Kearns, Jr. and Laurel P. Kearns, property owners, for rezoning the properties located at 1640 Roanoke Boulevard (Tax Map # 222-2-6) and 1630 Roanoke Boulevard (Tax Map # 222-2-5) from RB Residential Business District to LM Light Manufacturing District. (Approved on first reading at the April 24, 2023, meeting.) William Jones motioned to adopt ordinance on second reading for the requests of Patane, LLP and Walter S. Kearns, Jr. and Laurel P. Kearns, property owners, for rezoning the properties located at 1640 Roanoke Boulevard (Tax Map # 222-2-6) and 1630 Roanoke Boulevard (Tax Map # 222-2-5) from RB Residential Business District to LM Light Manufacturing District. H. Hunter Holliday seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace 6. New Business A. Boards and Commissions Consider appointments to various boards and commissions. James Wallace motioned to recommend, upon CPMT approval, appointing Leigh Frazier, Mark Chadwick, Howard Shumate, Courtenay Alleyne, and Chris Park from Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare as additional alternates to the Community Policy Management Team. Also, to reappoint William R. Shepherd to the Personnel Board for a two-year term ending June 9, 2025. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace 7. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 6:51 p.m.