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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/23/2023 - City Council - Minutes - RegularCity Council Meeting MINUTES Monday, January 23, 2023, 6:30 PM Work Session 5:45 P.M. Council Chambers, 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 Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 N. Broad Street, Salem, Virginia, on January 23, 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; 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; Chief Michael Crawley, Salem Police Department; Mary Ellen Wines, Planning and Zoning Administrator; Max Dillon, City Planner; Crystal Williams, Assistant to the City Manager; 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 1) Proposed Code Chapter Related to Hotels and Similar Establishments 2) Continued Discussion on Code Changes - Signage, Nuisances, Tires, Storage containers WHEREAS, Mary Ellen Wines, Planning and Zoning Administrator, asked Chief Michael Crawley, Salem Police Department, to come forward. He presented background information on criminal activity at some of the local hotels that have led to this proposed Code change. He also shared that a Task Force had been working on this for the last couple of years; and WHEREAS, Ms. Wines presented a summary and highlights of the proposed ordinance. Questions were raised by Council and responded to; and WHEREAS, Mary Ellen Wines also presented further information on tires and storage containers as a continuation to the Work Session held November 28, 2022. She noted that research had been conducted on other localities and how they were handling this issue. Discussion was held and questions were posed about the cost of having tires disposed of. Suggestions were offered, and Ms. Wines noted that this topic would be looked into further. Storage containers were also discussed. Current regulations were reviewed for the benefit of the audience. Options for this section of Code were discussed. It was noted that needs are not the same for each of the corridors of Salem and that it should be considered that Code be revamped to vary by district and individual needs of various businesses. Further work will be done on this proposed amendment and brought back to Council. An approximate inventory of storage containers was requested; 3. Adjournment WHEREAS, there being no further business, Mayor Turk adjourned the meeting at 6:25 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 Mayor Turk welcomed from the Salem Police Department Senior Police Officer Jonathan Watkins and asked that he introduce the new officers that were present with him this evening. Officer Watkins introduced Officer Turpin and Officer Wygal. Mayor Turk expressed appreciation to them for their commitment to the City of Salem to protect the citizens here and for all that they do. Council thanked them for their service and the audience expressed appreciation to the officers. The officers were excused as they were on duty. A. Recognition of Bob Rotanz Recognition of Bob Rotanz for the many ways in which he has contributed to the City of Salem. Mayor Turk requested that Bob Rotanz come forward. She noted that he graduated from Roanoke College in 1978 after leading the Maroons to a National Championship in Men's Lacrosse. He was a three-time All American. Mr. Rotanz has been serving others since his graduation from Roanoke College and the opening of Mac and Bob's in 1980. This establishment is a Landmark in the City of Salem. The annual Mac and Bob's Golf Tournament was noted for raising thousands of dollars for Down Syndrome families in the valley. His provision of free food to non-profits in the area was also highlighted as well as the quiet manner in which it is delivered. Mayor Turk stated that the Lacrosse program at Salem High School was there because of Bob Rotanz . She shared that he started it as a Club team, recruited coaches to support the team, and that it eventually became a part of the Virginia High School League. City Manager Taliaferro said "We're so lucky that he came to this community and decided to stay here. He gives of his time and gives of himself, and he just does so many things to help others." Rotanz was inducted into the Roanoke College Hall of Fame in 1988 and will become the third Lacrosse player in the 50-year history of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame to earn induction into the statewide organization when he is enshrined in Virginia Beach later this year. Mayor Turk noted that "there is no way to put a value on his overall contributions to the City." Mayor Turk presented a Salem Salutes Award to Mr. Rotanz and Mike Stevens took a picture of him with Council. Mr. Rotanz shared how he and his wife decided to stay here in Salem after graduating from college and that they had lived within a four-block radius since 1978. 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 January 9, 2023, Organizational Special Meeting and Regular Meeting and the January 17, 2023, Special Joint Meeting with the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission minutes. The minutes were accepted as written. C. Financial Reports Consider the acceptance of the Statement of Revenues and Expenditures for the six months ending December 31, 2022. The financial reports were received. Mayor Turk noted that from last month the meals taxes were low but that they were back up in December. She encouraged citizens to keep supporting our Salem businesses. 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 the City of Salem, property owner, of the 1900 block of Mill Lane (Tax Map # 179 - 2 - 1.1) for rezoning the property from AG Agriculture District to LM Light Manufacturing. Planning Commission recommends approval 4 to 1 vote; see pages 3 and 4 of Planning Commission minutes. STAFF REPORT Mayor Turk opened the public hearing. No one came forward to speak. Mayor Turk closed the public hearing. Mr. Jones asked to clarify if this item was related to item #6B this evening. It was confirmed that the two items are unrelated. Mr. Jones requested confirmation as to whether he should abstain from the vote as he owns property in this area. It was confirmed that he should abstain from this vote. Randy Foley motioned to adopt ordinance on first reading for rezoning the property of the City of Salem, property owner, located at the 1900 block of Mill Lane (Tax Map #179-2-1.1) from AG Agriculture District to LM Light Manufacturing. H Hunter Holliday seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Holliday, Turk, Wallace Abstain: Jones B. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Hold public hearing and consider ordinance on first reading for the request of Charles N. Dorsey, property owner, of 1900 Mill Lane (Tax Map # 179 - 2 - 1) for rezoning the property from AG Agriculture District and RSF Residential Single-Family District to RSF Residential Single-Family District. Planning Commission recommends approval; see pages 5 and 6 of Planning Commission minutes. STAFF REPORT Mayor Turk opened the public hearing. Jeffrey Dorsey came forward on behalf of his brother, Charles N. Dorsey in case there were any questions. There were no questions and no one else came forward to speak. Mayor Turk closed the public hearing. Randy Foley motioned to adopt ordinance on first reading for rezoning the property of Charles N. Dorsey, property owner, located at 1900 Mill Lane (Tax Map # 179- 2-1) from AG Agriculture District and RSF Residential Single-Family District to RSF Residential Single-Family District. H Hunter Holliday seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Holliday, Turk, Wallace Abstain: Jones 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, to discuss the disposition of publicly held real property, specifically the disposition of real property owned by the City, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body. Jim Wallace motioned that, in accordance with Section 2.2-3711 A(3) of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, Council hereby convenes to closed session at 6:44 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the following specific matter: For discussion of: the disposition of publicly held real property, specifically the disposition of real property owned by the City, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body interest in locating or expanding its facilities in the community. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace James Wallace motioned to reconvene at 7:06 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 7:06 p.m.