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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/24/2023 - City Council - Minutes - RegularCity Council Meeting MINUTES Monday, April 24, 2023, 6:30 PM Work Session 5:30 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 AMENDED AGENDA 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 April 24, 2023, at 5:30 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, 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; Crystal Williams, Assistant to the City Manager; Laura Lea Harris, Deputy Clerk of Council; Dr. Curtis Hicks, Superintendent of Salem City Schools; Mandy Hall, Chief Financial Officer for Salem City Schools; and David Preston, Chairman of Salem City School Board; 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 1) Discussion of Salem City School Division Budget - Superintendent Dr. Curtis Hicks, Salem School Board Chairman David Preston, Chief Financial Officer Mandy Hall 2) Follow-up on requests/comments at previous meetings Dr. Hicks shared information about changes being made with scheduling and programming in the Salem City School Division for Council's information. He noted two grants that would enable the schools to offer mental health counseling. Dr. Hicks shared Capital Improvement Projects updates and presented highlights of the 2023-2024 Salem City School's Budget. Discussion was held and questions answered. The Schools are requesting $1.1 million from Council to help fund raises in salaries for the coming year. Mayor Turk noted that staff is continuing to research the citizen request for a property tax freeze upon reaching the age of 80 as well as the request for a flat fee or higher base level on Salem Business Tax for Real Estate agents. Staff was requested to provide demographics on elderly currently receiving property tax relief. 3. Adjournment There being no further business, Mayor Turk adjourned the meeting at 6:22 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 6:30 p.m., there being present the following members to wit: Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor; James W. Wallace, III, Vice -Mayor; Councilmembers: Byron Randolph Foley, 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; Chuck Van Allman, Director of Community Development; Mike Stevens, Director of Communications; and Jim Guynn, City Attorney. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Bid Openings, Awards, Recognitions 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. No citizens signed up to speak this evening. B. Minutes Consider acceptance of the April 10, 2023, Regular Meeting minutes. The minutes were accepted as written. C. Financial Report Consider acceptance of the Statement of Revenues and Expenditures for the nine months ending March 2023. The financial reports were received. 5. Old Business There was no old business this evening. 6. New Business A. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Hold public hearing and consider ordinance on first 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. (Advertised in the April 6 and 13, 2023, issues of the Salem Times-Register.) (Planning Commission recommended approval see page 4 of the April 12, 2023, minutes) STAFF REPORT Mr. Van Allman notes that this is the property that is across from the Mason Creek Trail parking area and that the petitioner was in attendance this evening with their representative. Mayor Turk opened the public hearing. Barney Horrell, Brushy Mountain Engineering, 3553 Carvins Cove Road, came forward to speak on behalf of the petitioners. He noted that this was the property that was the former GE Credit Union right across from the GE building. The current business in this location is HPSRX. They sell pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. Business is very good, and they currently are warehousing some of their stores offsite in the City of Roanoke. The goal is to move all of this closer to their existing business. The proposed site plan is to remove the existing house/business and build a warehouse to support the business next to it. He noted that one of the questions that was posed at Planning Commission was how much traffic would be generated there. The current operation has four to five box trucks that come in and out to deliver to the existing business. This will be consistent with once the warehouse is there and one semi delivery per week. He also stated that there would be a truck dock. Mr. Holliday asked to clarify the size of the structure. Mr. Horrell responded that they were very limited by the space that was there, and that the size of the structure would be 50 by 115, or 5750 square feet. He shared that the building would be dressed up and not just a metal building due to the number of requirements for the materials. He indicated that there would be some brick on facade, landscaping, and fencing as required. Mr. Wallace inquired about fencing. Mr. Horrell responded that the fencing did not show up on the architectural renderings but that it was required that there be fencing or a landscape buffer between them and the residences behind them and that this would be worked out with staff during the site plan review process as current zoning required some type of screening there. He confirmed that this would be on the back side. Mr. Van Allman commented that this was something that would differentiate between different zoning classifications. Mayor Turk closed the public hearing. William Jones motioned to adopt ordinance on first 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 B. Salem High School Forensics Team Consider the adoption of Resolution 1449 honoring the Salem High School Forensics Team for winning the Virginia High School League State Championship. Mayor Turk welcomed Mr. Smithers on behalf of Coach Mark Ingerson and members of the Salem High School Forensics Team and asked them to come forward. Mr. Smithers expressed Coach Ingerson's regrets for not being able to attend this evening. He also expressed his appreciation for the City of Salem's support to the Forensics Team and noted the hard work and time that these students have put into their endeavors. Mr. Smithers spoke of Mr. Ingerson's impressive record of success. This year the team tied the Virginia High School League's record for most consecutive state championships in any activity in the state of Virginia with seventeen straight state championships. He expressed appreciation to Council for honoring the team. Mayor Turk read Resolution 1449 for those present. City Council expressed congratulations and pictures were taken of the team and Council by Mike Stevens. The team members were each presented with a copy of the resolution and a Salem City Championship pin. James Wallace motioned to adopt Resolution 1449 honoring the Salem High School Forensics Team for winning the Virginia High School League State Championship. H Hunter Holliday seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace C. Salem High School Indoor Track Consider the adoption of Resolution 1450 honoring members of the Salem High School Indoor Track Team for winning Virginia High School League State Championships in Indoor events. Mayor Turk called members of the Salem High School Indoor Track Team and coaches forward as she read Resolution 1450 for those in attendance. Members of Council congratulated the athletes for their accomplishments and pictures were made of the team members and Council after they were presented with a copy of the Resolution and a Salem Championship pin. Mayor Turk expressed pride in all of these students and appreciation to their parents and coaches. William Jones motioned to adopt Resolution 1450 honoring members of the Salem High School Indoor Track Team for winning Virginia High School League State Championships in Indoor events. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace D. Presentation of Salem School Division Budget Receive presentation from the Chairman of the Salem School Board regarding the 2023-2024 budget pursuant to Section 8.5 of the 1968 Charter of the City of Salem, as amended. Mayor Turk noted that the material had been presented to Council in the Work Session this evening and that they had been able to have discussion and have any questions answered. Mr. David Preston, 1511 Ashley Drive, Chairman of the Salem City School Board, on behalf of the Salem City School Board, thanked Council and City Administration for the polite, collaborative, and productive manner in which the City and the Schools serve the community in difficult times. He noted that we have identified opportunities during the challenges and continued to improve as organizations. Mr. Preston presented the 2024 Fiscal Year proposed budget consisting of the School Fund Budget of $50,793,616; the Grant Fund Budget of $3,858,581; and the Cafeteria Fund Budget in the amount of $2,285,696 for a total budget of $56,937,893. This budget was unanimously approved by the School Board on March 28, 2023. The Fiscal Year 2024 budget is $1,676,682 or 3% above the current year's adopted budget of $55,261,211. This is primarily due to an increase in state revenue to assist in providing raises for all employees. It is anticipated that the General Assembly will revise revenues for school divisions in the coming weeks or months to provide budgets that will support compensation increases as well as funding for division needs. He noted that the current needs-based budget includes a request for an increase in the local appropriation of $1,098,230 when compared to the Fiscal Year 2023 adopted budget. Mr. Preston pointed out changes in the demographics of the school division, that it will require additional efforts and resources to adequately meet the needs, and he appealed to Council for continued financial support. He outlined specific budget highlights and charts that were included as attachments in the budget for reference purposes. On behalf of the Salem City School Board, the students, and employees Mr. Preston thanked Council for the financial support and the value placed on the education of our youth. He also thanked Ms. Hall, Ms. Jordan, Dr. Hicks, and the school division employees for their collaboration and work with the Board to develop this budget and for their stewardship of the federal, state, and local appropriations that support the schools. By law, a balanced budget must be presented to Council by May 1. He opened the floor to any questions. Mr. Jones thanked Dr. Hicks, Ms. Hall, and everyone for all of the time they put into this budget and how important education is to the people of Salem. He noted that the recognitions this evening were examples of the results of this. Council members expressed appreciation to the School Board for their service to the community. Mayor Turk noted that no action was necessary on this item this evening as it was just a presentation. E. STS/APG Performance Agreement Consider request authorizing the City Manager to finalize and execute a performance agreement between STS Group North America, Inc., the City of Salem, and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Salem subject to approval of form by the City Manager and City Attorney. Mayor Turk noted that this item is dealing with the information in the Performance Agreement for working with the group that will be coming into the GE facility location and it will be worked on by the Economic Development Authority. Randy Foley motioned to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute performance agreement between STS Group North America, Inc., the City of Salem, and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Salem subject to approval of form by the City Manager and City Attorney. Hunter Holliday seconded the motion. Mr. Wallace offered amendment to the motion specific to page 3 of the Performance Agreement, Performance Commitments, section "e" be amended to read "the company's North American area headquarters shall be located within the corporate limits of the City." Mr. Foley asked to clarify the language that needed to be used to amend the motion. James Wallace submitted amended motion to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute performance agreement between STS Group North America, Inc., the City of Salem, and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Salem subject to approval of form by the City Manager and City Attorney. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Aye: Foley, Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace F. Boards and Commissions Consider appointment to a board or commission. - SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM Mr. Light requested that, if Council was amenable, Item 6F Boards and Commissions be added to the agenda. Mayor Turk motioned to amend the agenda by adding Item 6F Boards and Commissions this evening. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Aye: Foley, Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace Randy Foley motioned to appoint Rob Light to the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority for the remainder of a four-year term ending December 31, 2023. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace 7. Closed Session A. Closed Session Hold a closed session in accordance with Section 2.2 -3711 A (3) of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, for a discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, or of the disposition of publicly held real property, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiation strategy of the public body. Specifically, the acquisition of real property. Jim Wallace motioned that, in accordance with Sections 2.2-3711 A (1) and (3) of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, Council hereby convenes to closed session at 7:11 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the following specific matters: (1)A discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, or of the disposition of publicly held real property, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiation strategy of the public body. Specifically, the acquisition of real property. (2) a personnel matter Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace Mayor Turk noted that no action will be taken this evening. James Wallace motioned to reconvene at 8:00 p.m. in accordance with Section 2.2-3712 D. of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended to date, Council certifies that in closed session only items lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and only such items identified in the motion by which the closed session was convened were heard, discussed, or considered by the Council. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace 8. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.