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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/28/2022 - City Council - Minutes - RegularCity Council Meeting MINUTES Monday, November 28, 2022, 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 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 November 28, 2022, 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 John Saunders; 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; Max Dillon, City Planner; Tommy Miller, Director of Economic Development; Jim Guynn, City Attorney; 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) Continued discussion on Code Enforcement - signage, tires, storage trailers 2) Discussion of 2023 Legislative Agenda for the General Assembly 3) Economic Development Department Update WHEREAS, Chuck Van Allman introduced Max Dillon, City Planner, for a presentation on Code Enforcement. Max presented information on possible changes to City Code in the areas of signage, tires, and storage containers. Existing and proposed regulations were shared, and discussion was held on specifics. Council asked questions and was asked to submit feedback prior to presentation of a final draft of ordinance to amend City Code; and WHEREAS, Rob Light noted that staff would like to get feedback from Council over the next couple of weeks and have Legislative Agenda to present for approval by Council at the December 12, 2022, Council meeting. He requested that Council email any feedback on items they would like to see included. Mayor Turk requested that an extension of the runway at the Roanoke Regional Airport be included in this agenda. Discussion was held by Council; and WHEREAS, Tommy Miller presented an update from the Economic Development Department. He noted that they have planned eleven stakeholder meetings in the development of the Strategic Plan. All but two of these have already been held. Mr. Miller shared some of the feedback from these meetings. It is expected that the Strategic Plan will be ready during the first quarter of 2023. He shared recent initiatives, projects, and future initiatives. It is hoped that a committee will be formed to review the Facade Grant initiative; and 3. Adjournment WHEREAS, there being no further business, Mayor Turk adjourned the meeting at 6:30 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 6:31 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 John Saunders; 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 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. The following have signed up to speak at this meeting: 1) Eddie Hite - 122 Par Drive - Public Safety Staffing Shortage Eddie Hite, 122 Par Drive, was the only citizen to appear before Council this evening. He expressed concern for the public safety staffing shortage. He asked that compensation for paramedics be raised to at least $25 per hour. He requested that the City change to a Step system of compensation. He also expressed concern at the issue of compression as senior staff retires and requested a mid-year adjustment in the compensation of the Police and Fire Departments to address this. Mr. Hite asked that a committee be formed to address this issue and that it include the City Manager, someone from Council, the Fire Chief, and the Police Chief. B. Minutes Consider acceptance of the November 14, 2022, 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 four months ending October 31, 2022. The financial reports were received. Mayor Turk noted that the trend indicated that there was a slight reduction in sales tax the last couple of months. Meals tax and lodging tax were up a little from last year. 5. Old Business There was no old business this evening. 6. New Business A. Special Exception Permit Hold public hearing to consider the request of Jefferson Bennett Development Group, LLC, contract purchaser, and Layman Candy Co, Inc, property owner, for the issuance of a Special Exception Permit to allow for personal storage on the property located at 1630 West Main Street, (Tax Map # 139-4-6) and 1700 blk West Main Street (Tax Map # 139-4-7). (As advertised in the November 10 and 17, 2022, issues of the Salem Times-Register). (Recommended approval see page 3 of November Planning Commission minutes.) Mr. Van Allman shared background information on this request and noted that the building is the old Layman Candy building, and the purchaser would like to come in and put personal storage. For any zoning district in the City, this requires a Special Exception Permit. They are proposing to utilize the existing site and do improvements to the parking and landscaping. They plan to add a front-loading zone. This is the only part of the plan that will be a new build on the front. The structure is partially in the flood plain. They are aware of the requirements that are needed in order to complete the renovations to this property. He asked Council to look at Item #6 in the staff report which indicates uses that are prohibited. Mr., Van Allman indicated that the owner and engineer were present this evening. Mayor Turk opened the public hearing. No one came forward to speak. Mayor Turk closed the public hearing. Mayor Turk noted that Council receives a very extensive copy of the minutes from the Planning Commission that gives them a copy of the background information including questions that were asked by the Planning Commission and what the responses were from the people involved. Randy Foley motioned to approve the request of Jefferson Bennett Development Group, LLC, applicant, and Layman Candy Co, Inc, owner, for the issuance of a Special Exception Permit to allow for the personal storage use type (self-storage facility) on the property located at 1630 West Main Street, (Tax Map # 139-4-6) and 1700 blk West Main Street (Tax Map # 139-4-7). John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace B. Special Exception Permit Hold public hearing to consider the request of DBMB, LLC, property owner, to replace the zoning and use permit, with conditions, issued May 1987, to store scrap metal on the properties located at 1108 Florida St. (T/M# 198-3-2), 1112 Florida St. (T/M# 198-3-3), 1100 blk. Florida St. (T/M# 198-3-6), 1100 blk. Florida St. (T/M# 198-3-7), and 1100 blk. Indiana St. (T/M# 198-3-11) with a special exception permit to allow scrap and salvage services. This updated special exception permit would include the addition of the properties located at 600 9th Street (T/M# 198-3-1), 1116 Florida St. (T/M# 198-3-4), 1120 Florida St. (T/M# 198-3-5), 1103 Indiana St. (T/M# 198-3-8), 1100 blk Indiana St. (T/M# 198-3-9), and 1115 Indiana St. (T/M# 198-3-10). (As advertised in the November 10 and 17, 2022, issues of the Salem Times-Register). (Recommended approval with conditions, see page 4 of November Planning Commission minutes.) Mr. Van Allman clarified that essentially, they have a permit to do scrap metal storage on certain lots in that block. Over time, they have accumulated more of the property and would like to change their operations a little bit. In order to do that, they need the ordinance to reflect a Special Exception permit for those additional properties. They are not doing anything new. They are changing how their operations work, and by doing so, they need this Special Exception permit. It is zoned as Heavy Manufacturing. They will be coming off of 9th Street. He noted that the engineer and the owners were present this evening. Mr. Wallace asked when the pictures of fences had been taken that were included in the packet. Mr. Van Allman responded that the pictures were taken about three and a half to four weeks ago. He also asked if Mr. Van Allman deemed the fence to be in good repair in the pictures. Mr. Van Allman responded that he did not deem the fence in good repair. Mr. Wallace requested that the definition of "good repair" be elaborated on. Mr. Van Allman said that this had been discussed and would be included in the site plan. Mayor Turk opened the public hearing. Barney Horrell, 3553 Carvins Cove Road, stated that he was the engineer for this project and that the owners were present as well. He commented that the minutes were very good from the Planning Commission meeting and that they were satisfied with the revised conditions. He noted that the owner was currently in the process of making fence revisions. Mr. Horrell stated that the nature of the operation is not changing. What is changing is the location of the scale that they weigh in and out of. The scale is being moved from along the alley to the opposite side rear. This moves most of the traffic to the Southwest corner, furthest away from the Valleydale property. Basically, they are just rearranging how things are on the site. The fences are currently being revised to allow for the new traffic pattern. This traffic pattern is reflected on the site plan included in the agenda packet. Mayor Turk closed the public hearing. Mr. Foley questioned whether it was required that the conditions be verbalized. Mr. Taliaferro noted that the Staff Report to Planning Commission included five recommendations for conditions. Planning Commission recommended four of those and omitted the landscaping requirement from the recommendation. They changed the requirement on the fencing from "like-new" to "good repair". Otherwise, they recommended adopting everything that was included in the Staff report. Mr. Saunders asked if what the City is doing on Indiana with Valleydale as far as Streetscape would be affected. Mr. Taliaferro responded that everything being talked about with Valleydale is within the right-of-way as opposed to being on their property. Mr. Taliaferro clarified that as the Planning Commission recommendation had the four amended recommendations included in it, that Council could move to approve based on the Planning Commission recommendation. Randy Foley motioned to approve request of DBMB, LLC, property owner, for a Special Exception Permit including the amended conditions recommended by the Planning Commission. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace C. Sale of Public Land Hold a public hearing to consider the sale of an approximate .046-acre tract located adjacent to the Interstate I-81 frontage, Salem, Virginia, being a portion of Tax Map # 91-1-2.1. (As advertised in the November 17, 2022, issue of the Salem Times-Register). Mayor Turk noted that due to widening of I-81, there is a certain property on the backside of Salem High School that the City will request an easement for. Mr. Light clarified that VDOT is acquiring rights-of-way all along the area to the west of the track at Salem High School, adjacent to the Interstate. The City's parcel is a very small stormwater facility parcel. City engineers have reviewed this and there is no impact to the City's stormwater facilities. The action that Council is being requested to take to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute the documents required for this sale. He noted that the City needs an easement for an electric line that runs through. Easements are now in existence to the east and west of that and the City desires for that to remain continuous through that area. Mayor Turk opened the public hearing. No citizens came forward to speak. Mayor Turk closed the public hearing. The dollar amount was clarified at the request of Mr. Jones. Mr. Light stated that the purchase price is $7,205, which includes the land and fencing and $280 for a temporary construction easement. The total consideration is $7,485. William Jones motioned to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute documents required for the sale of the sale of an approximate .046-acre tract located adjacent to the Interstate I-81 frontage, Salem, Virginia, being a portion of Tax Map # 91-1-2.1and a temporary construction easement in forms acceptable to the City Attorney. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace D. Amendment to City Code - Chapter 82 Consider the adoption of ordinance on first reading to amend Chapter 82, Article I, Section 82-5 (a) Returns 1-3 pertaining to payment of tangible personal property taxes and motor vehicle license fee; proration of personal property tax generally. Mr. Light noted that this item had been requested by the Commissioner of Revenue and that it was a housekeeping item. He explained that many years ago a return was required to be submitted for personal property items. The State Code changed to reflect that boats were eligible to not go through that process. The City followed suit procedurally and went that direction and this is a housekeeping measure to have the City Code reflect what State Code says. There is no change in how citizens are taxed. Randy Foley motioned to adopt on first reading an ordinance to amend Chapter 82, Article I, Section 82-5 (a) Returns 1-3 pertaining to payment of tangible personal property taxes and motor vehicle license fee; proration of personal property tax generally. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace E. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to amend the School Capital Projects Fund budget as approved by the School Board on October 11, 2022. Ms. Jordan noted that this action is done as a formality to approve what Superintendent Hicks presented at the Work Session on November 14, 2022. John Saunders motioned to approve the School Board’s appropriation change of $3,859,859 to the School Capital Projects Fund as presented by the Dr. Hicks at the Work Session held on November 14, 2022. This motion is also to approve of the six-year CIP document submitted by the School Board. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace F. Public Comment Rules Consideration adoption of Resolution 1441 incorporating changes by Council to the City's current adopted public comment procedures at Council meetings. Mayor Turk noted that two items were being updated. The deadline for signing up to speak will be noon on Friday as opposed to noon on Wednesday. The second item notes that a speaker may not speak on the same topic at two consecutive meetings rather than months as previously stated. John Saunders motioned to adopt Resolution 1441 incorporating changes to the City's current adopted public comment procedures at Salem City Council meetings. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace G. Abstract of Votes Receive the Abstract of Votes cast at the General Election held on November 8, 2022. Mayor Turk stated that no vote was required, and that Council accepted the Abstract of Votes. She congratulated Mr. Foley and Mr. Holliday. H. Boards and Commissions Consider appointments to various boards and commissions. Randy Foley motioned to reappoint Rev. C. Todd Hester for a three-year term ending December 31, 2025, and endorse reappointing Patrick Kenney as an at-large member for a three-year term ending December 31, 2025, to the Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare Board and to reappoint William D. Jones, James E. Taliaferro, II, and April M. Staton as Members and Byron R. Foley, Rosemarie Jordan, and Steve Garber as Alternates for a one-year terms ending December 31, 2023 to the Western Virginia Regional Jail Authority. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace 7. Adjournment Mayor Turk noted that the NCAA Soccer Tournament will be held here in Salem, starting with a banquet on Wednesday. All of the games will be taking place at Roanoke College. She encouraged citizens to come and take place in these events. The meeting was adjourned at 6:58 p.m.