Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/10/2023 - City Council - Minutes - RegularCity Council Meeting MINUTES Monday, April 10, 2023, 6:30 PM Work Session is cancelled for April 10, 2023 Regular Session 6:30 P.M. Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, Salem, Virginia 24153 AMENDED AGENDA WORK SESSION WORK SESSION IS CANCELLED 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; Mike Stevens, Director of Communications; and Jim Guynn, City Attorney. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Mr. Light requested that, if Council was amenable, that Item 6E be added to the agenda, which would be a motion to approve Resolution 1448 authorizing the City Manager to execute a support agreement with the City of Salem Economic Development Authority, as required, to allow the EDA to execute a bank loan, issue a revenue bond, and use the proceeds of such loan for economic development incentives by funding a separate loan to STS Group North America, Incorporated. William Jones motioned to add Item 6E to the agenda to consider adoption of Resolution 1448 authorizing the City Manager to execute a support agreement with the City of Salem Economic Development Authority, as required, to allow the EDA to execute a bank loan, issue a revenue bond, and use the proceeds of such loan for economic development incentives by funding a separate loan to STS Group North America, Incorporated. H Hunter Holliday seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace 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. Laura Saunders, 1807 Epps Drive, was the first citizen to address Council this evening. She spoke on behalf of more than 2400 people that signed a petition and the skate family. She expressed the deep desire of this whole community to see the city prioritize and provide a skatepark in Salem and the willingness of this group to partner with Salem by giving of their time, money, energy, and hearts to make this happen. She asked Council to consider what the skate community has lost, to find value in the importance of this to them, and to take action. Kathryn Elliott, 1434 Brushy Mountain Drive, spoke of the haven that the skatepark provided for many and the need for them to have a place dedicated to skate. She implored Council to rebuild the skatepark in this same spot. Kiersten Jones, 308 Union Street, was the last citizen to address Council. She expressed the significance of the skatepark and the desire to see a skatepark provided in Salem. Mayor Turk thanked the speakers on behalf of Council for coming to express their concerns. She noted that Council does understand and is working toward a resolution for this. B. Minutes Consider acceptance of the March 22, 2023, Special Meeting/Retreat minutes; the March 27, 2023, Work Session and Regular Meeting minutes; and the April 5, 2023, Special Meeting minutes. Mr. Wallace requested that, if the other Council members were in agreement, Mr. Hartgrove's report be added to the official minutes for the March 22, 2023, Special Meeting/Retreat when they become available so that the public has a record. Mayor Turk explained that a Mr. Hartgrove had facilitated a Special Meeting/Retreat for Council to assist them in setting goals, getting some priorities in order, and setting some deadlines and timeframe s for getting those things done. She stated that the meeting had been extreme ly productive and that they were waiting for his report back to them, in order of priority, determinations that were made by Council on what they need to be focusing on in the coming year. This report is due back within a week to ten days. The minutes were approved as written with the amendment to the March 22, 2023, Special Meeting/Retreat minutes as noted above. 5. Old Business A. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Consider ordinance on second reading for the request of Michael O. Garst and Alan L. Garst, property owners, for rezoning the property located at 907 Florida Street (Tax Map # 185 -5-9) from HBD Highway Business District to RSF Residential Single -Family District. (Approved on first reading at the March 27, 2023, meeting.) William Jones motioned to adopt ordinance on second reading for the request of Michael O. Garst and Alan L. Garst, property owners, for rezoning the property located at 907 Florida Street (Tax Map # 185-5-9) from HBD Highway Business District to RSF Residential Single-Family District. H Hunter Holliday seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace B. Law Library Fee Consider ordinance on second reading repealing City of Salem Law Library Fee. (Approved on first reading at the March 27, 2023, meeting.) Mayor Turk noted that the need for the use of a law library no longer exists, and the collection of a fee is no longer applicable. Randy Foley motioned to adopt ordinance on second readin g repealing City of Salem Law Library fee. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace 6. New Business A. Roanoke Valley Resource Authority Budget Consider approval of the 2023-2024 annual budget for the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority. The 2023-2024 annual budget for the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority was presented by Dan Miles, Chief Executive Officer of the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority on behalf of the Board of Directors. Mr. Miles noted that the Executive Summary shows that the budget totals $15,913,793 and that this is a balanced budget. For the upcoming fiscal year, revenues are up approximately one million dollars. Expenses are up by about 1.1 million dollars and this difference is being made up by a reduced contribution to their reserves in the amount of $100,000. He also shared that this budget does not include any increase in the municipal tipp ing fee but that there is a $1.25 per ton increase in the commercial tipping fee. This represents slightly less than a two-percent increase in the commercial sector. A public hearing will be held at the June 28th Regularly scheduled meeting of the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority Board on the Rate and Fee Schedule due to this increase. Mr. Miles respectfully requested Council's consideration and adoption of the Roanoke Valley Resource Author ity budget for 2023-2024. Mr. Foley asked if it was anticipated the new Love's Truck Stop at the Ironto exit would have an impact on the RVRA. Mr. Miles stated that they expect it to be a good thing. He shared that this could open the door to put in a direct discharge connection and they also look for this to increase the value of the property, which is owned by the RVRA. This would enable them to recoup some of the money that was paid in the development of the transportation corridor off the Interstate going back into the landfill. Mayor Turk noted that the transportation corridor was put in to enable trucks to transport trash to the landfill as that was more cost effective for the Resource Authority than train transportation. She stated that this was something Mr. Miles was instrumental in helping to accomplish. She also mentioned that this was for all of the Region's cities, towns, and counties. Mr. Miles stated that revenues are well up over the last couple of years since the road was put in and they a re now able to contribute money to Reserves rather than drawing money out. Mr. Jones expressed appreciation to Mr. Miles for all he had done during difficult times. Mike Tyler spoke to Council and noted that this would be Mr. Miles's last presentation of the budget for the RVRA as he will be retiring at the end of the current year. He noted that the City of Salem would like to thank Mr. Miles for his focus and determination over the past sixteen plus years as CEO of the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority and especially the past eight years as he had been working with Salem. Mr. Tyler spoke of a number of ways that Mr. Miles's expertise and hard work has helped the Valley and the Solid Waste Industry. Randy Foley motioned to approve the 2023-2024 annual budget for the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace B. Roanoke Regional Airport Commission Consider approval of the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission budget for the fiscal year 2023-2024. The Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Roanoke Regional Airport Commission budget was presented by Mike Stewart, Executive Director of the Roanoke - Blacksburg Regional Airport. Mr. Stewart noted that Dale Guidry, Salem Commission member and immediate past Chairman; David Jeavons, Director of Finance and Administration for the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport; and Eric Monday, General Counsel for the Roanoke - Blacksburg Regional Airport and Commission Secretary were with him this evening. Mr. Stewart commented on the separate list of Capital expenditures expected to exceed $100,000 in cost and provide a benefit of more than five years. He noted that no deficit was anticipated in the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. Therefore, no additional appropriations are being requested or anticipated from the City of Salem for this budget. Mr. Stewart shared that they are predicting revenues of $17,009,019 against expenses of $10,150,870 for a Net Operating Income of $6,858,149. This revenue includes $6,876,000 in Federal Pandemic Grant Funds. However, even without these grant funds, they are projecting that they will be operating in the black a little under $1,000,000 for the year and expenses are fully covered. It was noted that the largest source of revenue besides the grants were parking and interest income. The largest expenses were personnel related. Mr. Stewart requested Council's approval of the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission's Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Operating budget. Mr. Wallace expressed concern that the Airport will be requesting appropriations in future years with the ratio of increase in revenues and expenses where they stand. Mr. Stewart responded that they would push expenses down to meet the expected revenues and they have no plans to request funding. Randy Foley motioned to approve the Roanoke Regional Airp ort Commission budget for the fiscal year 2023-2024. H Hunter Holliday seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace C. Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA) Consider request to adopt Resolution 1447 setting the allocation percentage for personal property tax relief for the 2023 tax year. Ms. Jordan noted that this is an annual requirement b y state Code. Each year Finance has to calculate the relief percentage that will be given for personal property tax that qualifies. Each year, Salem receives $2,588,707 that is distributed across the various vehicles that are eligible for that relief. The percentage that was arrived at this year with the calculation was 44%. This is an increase in percentage from the current year. H Hunter Holliday motioned to adopt Resolution 1447 setting the allocation percentage for personal property tax relief for the 2023 tax year. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace D. Boards and Commissions Consider appointment to various boards and commissions. Randy Foley motioned to reappoint Teresa Sizemore-Hernandez to the Personnel Board for a two-year term ending April 26, 2025. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace E. STS Group North America Inc. - Resolution 1448 Consider adoption of Resolution 1448 authorizing the City Manager to execute a support agreement with the City of Salem Economic Development Authority, as required, to allow the EDA to execute a bank loan, issue a revenue bond, and use the proceeds of such loan for economic development incentives by funding a separate loan to STS Group North America, Inc. - SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM Mayor Turk noted that this is the item that Council voted to add to the agenda this evening. James Wallace motioned to approve Resolution 1448 authorizing the City Manager to execute a support agreement with t he City of Salem Economic Development Authority, as required, to allow the EDA to execute a bank loan, issue a revenue bond, and use the proceeds of such loan for economic development incentives by funding a separate loan to STS Group North America, Incorporated. STS is a global supplier of interior and exterior parts for vehicles and will establish its North American headquarters in manufacturing operations in the former General Electric building in the City of Salem. This project will result in the creation of significant jobs and capital investment in the City. Randy Foley 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 (1) of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, for a discussion of a personnel matter pertaining to the Assistant City Manager's annual evaluation. Jim Wallace motioned that, in accordance with Section 2.2-3711 A (1) of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, Council hereby convenes to closed session at 7:05 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the following specific matter: A discussion of a personnel matter pertaining to the Assistant City Manager's annual evaluation. 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 8:17 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 8:17 p.m.