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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/14/2022 - City Council - Minutes - RegularCity Council Meeting MINUTES Monday, November 14, 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 14, 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; Crystal Williams, Assistant to the City Manager; Laura Lea Harris, Deputy Clerk of Council; Dr. Curtis Hicks, Superintendent of Salem City Schools; David Preston, Chairman of Salem City School Board; Mandy Hall, Director of Business Services for Salem City Schools; Sunny Shah, and Amit Patel; 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) Informational presentation on BAPS Charities in the community - Sunny Shah 2) Presentation of the Salem City Schools' fiscal years 2023 through 2029 proposed Capital Improvement Plan - Dr. Curtis Hicks WHEREAS, Sunny Shah and Amit Patel gave a presentation to Council on charitable works and activities of BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) in the community; and WHEREAS, Mandy Hall gave a presentation on the Salem City Schools' 2022- 2029 proposed Capital Improvement Plan. She shared highlights and priorities of the proposed project list. Council clarified questions they had and discussed the proposed plan; and WHEREAS, Mr. Light presented requests that had been made by citizens during the Public Comment period of Council meetings since September 1, 2022, to Council. They discussed each one and also requested that staff bring a future action item for consideration to amend the current policies to extend the deadline for a citizen to sign up to speak at a Council meeting to noon on the Friday prior to the Council meeting; and WHEREAS, Mr. Light shared that a request had been made by the Commissioner of Revenue to consider an amendment to Chapter 82 of the City Code. This ordinance is a housekeeping item to reflect the City’s long-standing adopted methodology based on the State Code’s inclusion of boats with other tangible personal property related to filing requirements. There is no change or impact to citizens. Staff will include this item on a future agenda for Council action; 3. Adjournment WHEREAS, 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 6:32 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 At Mayor Turk's request, a moment of silence was observed for the shooting at The University of Virginia today. She asked that we pause to think about those involved. 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: No citizens have signed up to speak at this meeting. B. Minutes Consider acceptance of the October 24, 2022, Regular Meeting minutes. The minutes were accepted as written. 5. Old Business There was no old business this evening. 6. New Business A. Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity Hold a public hearing in accordance with Section 98-94 of THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SALEM, VIRGINIA, and, if Council deems appropriate, consider issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the remainder of the twelve (12) month period ending March 31, 2023, for Spartan VIP Limousine, LLC. Date set for public hearing at October 24, 2022 meeting. (Advertised in the November 3, 2022 issue of the Salem Times- Register). Mayor Turk opened the public hearing. Mayor Turk closed the public hearing. Randy Foley motioned to issue a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the remainder of the twelve (12) month period ending March 31, 2023, for Spartan VIP Limousine, LLC. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace B. Salem Band Boosters Consider request from the Salem Band Boosters for a donation ($694.87) equal to the amount of admissions tax paid in connection with the annual Blue Ridge Regional High School Band Competition held on September 24, 2022, at the Salem Stadium. Mr. Taliaferro noted that a couple of times a year the Band Boosters will usually ask for a donation. City Council cannot do a tax rebate, but they can do a donation in the amount of the tax paid. That is the request that City Council has looked favorably on in the past. John Saunders motioned to approve a donation in the amount of $694.87 to the Salem Band Boosters equal to the amount of admissions tax paid in connection with the annual Blue Ridge Regional High School Band Competition held on September 24, 2022, at the Salem Stadium. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace C. Salem Municipal Golf Course Consider renewing the lease for Salem Municipal Golf Course for 2023. Mr. Light noted that the City has had a lease on the golf course for a number of years and Mr. Johnston, the current lessee, would like to renew. The terms are the same as they were previously. He retains the first $16,000 and the City retains ten percent of everything beyond that. This is not a profit-maker; however, it keeps a green space available that is open to the public for all ages and socioeconomic levels. The lease would provide for a one-year renewal with one additional year upon lessee and lessor agreement. John Saunders motioned to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute a one-year lease agreement commencing on January 1, 2023. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace D. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to appropriate revenue for advertising rebates from Virginia Tourism Corporation. Audit - Finance Committee James Wallace motioned to approve appropriating $12,000 in advertising co-op rebate revenue from the Virginia Department of Tourism Co-op Advertising Program. The City of Salem is rebated a portion of the amount spent on ads that promote Salem by utilizing Google Adwords and Facebook through the Virginia Tourism Co-op Advertising Program. These funds will be leveraged for additional advertising. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace E. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to amend the School Operating Fund budget and the School Grants Fund budget as approved by the School Board on October 11, 2022. Audit - Finance Committee James Wallace motioned to approve appropriating changes of $3,366 and $2,097,748 to the School Operating Fund and the School Grants Fund, respectively for fiscal year 2022-2023 budget as amended by the School Board at their October 11, 2022, meeting. These changes are necessary to reflect new grants and carryover balances on existing grants. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace F. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to accept and appropriate Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant. Audit - Finance Committee Mr. Jones clarified that we are just tearing down the house an empty lot on Front Street. Mayor Turk noted that there had been a lot of flooding issues with the home. James Wallace motioned to accept $111,900 in FEMA hazard mitigation grant funds and $29,840 in funding from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to purchase a property located in the flood plain and demolish the structure on the property. Additionally, appropriate $111,900 in Federal Grant revenue to Federal Grant revenue account and $29,840 to State Grant revenue account. Appropriate $141,740 to Flood Mitigation account for the purpose state above. This grant requires an in-kind local match of $7,460. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace G. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to appropriate Virginia Tourism Corporation Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program Grant. Audit - Finance Committee James Wallace motioned to appropriate $5,000 in state grant revenue to State Grants – Tourism account and increase the budget for state grant expenditures, State Grants account, by $5,000. The City of Salem was awarded a Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program grant through Virginia Tourism Corporation. A local match of $5,000 is required and is available in the Visitor’s Center advertising and promotions budgets. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace H. Parking Lot Improvements - 2132 Salem Industrial Drive Consider setting bond for erosion and sediment control and landscaping for Parking Lot Improvements - 2132 Salem Industrial Drive. Audit - Finance Committee James Wallace motioned to approve bonding in the amount of $2,200.00 for erosion and sediment control and landscaping for Parking Lot Improvements, located at 2132 Salem Industrial Drive with a time for completion set at 12 months as recommended by staff. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace I. East Main Storage Consider setting bond for erosion and sediment control, landscaping and physical improvements for East Main Storage. Audit - Finance Committee Mr. Jones noted for the public's information that the Old Layman Candy building, Givens Book Store, and one other building will come down in this project. It will be a very attractive storage building similar to what has been seen in other locations in the Valley. James Wallace motioned to approve bonding in the amount of $68,147.00 for erosion and sediment control, landscaping, and physical improvements for East Main Storage, located at 1637 E. Main Street, 1641 E. Main Street, and 11-15 Dalewood Avenue with a time for completion set at 12 months as recommended by staff. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace J. Lakeside Golf Center, LLC Consider setting bond for erosion and sediment control, landscaping and physical improvements for Lakeside Golf Center, LLC. Audit - Finance Committee Mr. Jones requested clarification on this item. Mr. Van Allman noted that this is redoing the driving range that was there. Kevin Poff, the owner of the facility, originally sold the building to another business venture but still had enough room to move his facility forward and recreate it. He is just moving forward a little bit and recreating what he previously had. James Wallace motioned to approve bonding in the amount of $58,608.00 for erosion and sediment control, landscaping, and physical improvements for Lakeside Golf Center, LLC, located at 403 Northern Drive with a time for completion set at 12 months as recommended by staff. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace K. Boards and Commissions Consider appointments to various boards and commissions. Randy Foley motioned to recommend Robert S. Fry, III and Joseph Driscoll for reappointment to the Board of Appeals (USBC) for five-year terms ending January 1, 2028, and to recommend reappointing Deputy Chief Matt Rickman to the Western Virginia Emergency Medical Services Council for a three-year term ending December 31, 2025. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, 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, to discuss a personnel matter pertaining to School Board appointments. 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 6:48 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the following specific matter: Discussion of a personnel matter pertaining to School Board appointments. Bill Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace Jim 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, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace Upon reconvening from Closed Session, Jim Wallace motioned to reappoint Andy Raines to another three-year term on the Salem City School Board and to appoint Stacey Danstrom for a three-year term on the Salem City School Board. John Saunders seconded the motion. Mr. Foley stated that all of them were wonderful candidates and that hopefully those that weren't selected would attempt to seek appointment in the future. Mayor Turk stated that Council was pleased to have such a wonderful group of applicants. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace 8. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:07 p.m.