Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/27/2023 - City Council - Minutes - Regular City Council Meeting MINUTES Monday, March 27, 2023, 6:30 PM Work Session 5:45 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 March 27, 2023, at 5:45 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 (absent); with Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor, presiding; together with James E. Taliaferro, II, City Manager; Rosemarie B. Jordan, Director of Finance; Crystal Williams, Assistant to the City Manager; Laura Lea Harris, Deputy Clerk of Council; John Hull, Executive Director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership; and Pete Eshelman, Senior Director of Creative Strategies; 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) Annual Presentation - John Hull, Executive Director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership 2) Follow-up on requests/comments at previous meetings. John Hull, Executive Director with the Roanoke Regional Partnership, noted that Pete Eshelman, Senior Director of Creative Strategies, was with him this evening. He presented an overview of the Roanoke Regional Partnership's structure and shared projects and accomplishments over the past year. Mr. Hull shared that the Roanoke Regional Partnership is a public/private partnership with a $1.6 million budget. It was noted that the Partnership launched Thrive 2027, its five-year strategic campaign, in February 2022 and that it had exceeded its $3.6 million goal by twelve percent. The strategic priorities of the partnership which were shared are: economic growth and innovation, talent attraction and workforce development, commercial real estate and infrastructure, and placemaking and livability. Specific strategies being utilized in each area were noted. Mr. Hull shared that the total economic impact for 2022 events was $3.7 million. This included the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon, Freedom First Down by Downtown, Virginia's Blue Ridge Go Cross, and Anthem Go Outside Festival. His presentation was followed by questions from Council, which were responded to by Mr. Hull and Mr. Eshelman. Mayor Turk presented requests/ suggestions that had been made by citizens during the Public Comment period of Council meetings from December through March. One request that was discussed was to schedule Council meeting at 7:00. Council desires to continue beginning Regular Council meetings at 6:30 p.m. Most of the items had been discussed at the March 22, 2023, Council Work Session/Retreat and for those, further research was being done by staff. In regard to the request to adopt a plan delineating specific uses for and appropriating amounts for Reserve funds, development of a capital reserve fund policy is currently underway. Council was requested to look further into the request for a property tax freeze when a homeowner turns 80. Some research has been done on this request, and staff was requested to continue to work on this item and to factor in inflation, estimate what the cost to the City would be, and find out what percent of the population is utilizing current real estate tax freeze/relief program. The request to make the Registrar's Office a priority was discussed, and staff was asked to look at options. Staff was asked to look into the financial impact for the request for a flat fee or a higher base level on the Salem Business Tax rate for Real Estate agents. It was agreed that requested follow-up information would be provided once gathered at a future work session . 3. Adjournment There being no further business, Mayor Turk adjourned the meeting at 6:28 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 (absent); with Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor, presiding together with James E. Taliaferro, II, City Manager; Laura Lea Harris, Deputy Clerk of Council; Rosemarie B. Jordan, Director of Finance; Chuck Van Allman, Director of Community Development; Clark Ruhland, Assistant Director of Communications; and Mike Lockaby, on behalf of City Attorney, Jim Guynn. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Bid Openings, Awards, Recognitions There were none this evening. 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. He expressed concern about the enforcement of Code violations. He also suggested that Council should set Work Session agendas. Mr. Breen suggested that the Comprehensive Plan should be reviewed and updated every five years and that citizens should participate in this process from the beginning. He also requested that Council ask the Planning Commission to permit public comments and that quarterly town meetings and citizen surveys be utilized. In conclusion, Mr. Breen suggested that Council and the Planning Commission should meet jointly at least annually. Brent Caldwell, 625 Hagan Street, was the last citizen to speak before Council this evening. He shared a copy of his comments and a map with Council to enable them to visualize the specific area he was speaking about. He expressed concern about the noise and the speed of Semi Trucks on Route 419 from the Interstate towards E. Main Street. He requested that Section 30.1 of the existing Noise Ordinance be amended to prohibit the use of Jake Brake Engine Retarders within the City of Salem and that signs be posted in multiple locations on that section of 419 warning truckers of the new noise ordinance. Mr. Caldwell asked to clarify if the City of Salem had the authority to set the speed limit or if this was a VDOT function. Mr. Taliaferro clarified that this was a staff function and that ordinarily if there was an issue with speed, a staff committee would review the situation. He also requested that the speed limit be reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph to limit the speed of trucks driving south on Route 419 coming off the hill from I-81 and approaching the Lakeside area. In addition, he requested that Council instruct the Police Department to enforce the noise ordinance and the lowered speed limits. Mayor Turk noted that this would be investigated further. B. Minutes Consider acceptance of the March 13, 2023, Work Session and Regular Meeting minutes. The minutes were accepted as written. C. Financial Reports Consider acceptance of the Statement of Revenues and Expenditures for the eight months ending February 2023. Mr. Jones asked if it was unusual for sales tax to be this different for two years. Ms. Jordan responded that they do not receive any details from the Department of Taxation and are unable to monitor why the taxes fluctuate from month to month and year to year and have no ability to monitor that data. 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 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. (Advertised in the March 9 and 16, 2023, issues of the Salem Times-Register). Planning Commission recommended approval. See page 2 of the March 15, 2023, minutes. STAFF REPORT Mayor Turk opened the public hearing. Mr. Van Allman noted that this property is on Florida across from Calvary Baptist. Mayor Turk closed that public hearing as no one came forward to speak. Mr. Foley noted that when the Comprehensive Plan is done, changing properties in that area from HBD, Highway Business District, to RSF, Residential Single Family, should be addressed as that area is developed. Mr. Taliaferro confirmed that years ago, the idea was that the 8th Street corridor would possibly turn Commercial; however, this has not been the case. This is something that needs to be looked at. William Jones motioned to adopt ordinance on first 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. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Turk, Wallace Absent: Holliday B. Special Exception Permit Hold public hearing and consider the request of Daniel N Suggs Excavating & Grading, Inc., property owner, and AM Transportation of Roanoke, LLC, contract purchaser, for the issuance of a Special Exception Permit to allow a truck parking facility on the property located at 2730 West Main Street, (Tax Map # 174-5-1). (Advertised in the March 9 and 16, 2023, issues of the Salem Times-Register). Planning Commission recommended denial. See page 3 of the March 15, 2023, minutes. STAFF REPORT Mayor Turk noted that the Item 6B request had been withdrawn by the petitioner and will not be discussed this evening. C. Law Library Fee Consider ordinance repealing City of Salem Law Library Fee. Mr. Taliaferro explained that years ago Salem City Council adopted an ordinance that established an assessment on Civil judgements. This was initially two dollars and was later amended to four dollars. This was put in place to maintain a Law Library at the Courthouse. Due to the move to digitalization of documents, the need for the Law Library is no longer there. To remove this fee, Council needs to adopt an ordinance. If Council desires to move forward with this, please note that this will be a first reading and there would need to be a second reading at the next Council meeting. Mr. Wallace asked if the City has any burden to provide the digital library. Mr. Taliaferro responded that the City does not bear this burden. Randy Foley motioned to adopt ordinance on first reading repealing the City of Salem Law Library fee. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Turk, Wallace Absent: Holliday 7. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 6:46 p.m.