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Home My WebLink About6/9/2008 - City Council - Minutes - RegularUNAPPROVED MINUTES COUNCIL MEETING June 9, 2008 A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, on June 9, 2008, at 7:30 p.m., there being present all the members of said Council, to wit: Howard C. Packett, John C. Givens, Jane W. Johnson, Byron R. Foley, and William D. Jones; with Howard C. Packett, Mayor, presiding; together with Kevin S. Boggess, City Manager; James E. Taliaferro, II, Assistant City Manager and Clerk of Council; Frank P. Turk, Director of Finance; Melinda J. Payne, Director of Planning and Economic Development; Charles E. Van Allman, Jr.; and Stephen M. Yost, City Attorney; and the following business was transacted: The minutes of the regular meeting of May 27, 2008, were approved as written. Mayor Packett requested that Council receive a presentation from the Roanoke Valley Crime Line; and WHEREAS, Laird Manlove, Chairman, Roanoke Valley Crime Line, appeared before the Council to make a presentation; he stated that the Roanoke Valley Crime Line is an organization of community leaders and private business people that provide an anonymous conduit whereby people in the Roanoke Valley can supply both intelligent information and criminal felony information which will hopefully result in the arrest of criminals; he stated that the Roanoke Valley Crime Line has been in operation for eight years and represents eight jurisdictions in the Valley including Salem, Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Vinton, Rocky Mount, Franklin County, Botetourt County, and the Virginia State Police; he further stated that all funding for the Roanoke Valley Crime Line comes from private donations, and rewards are given to people who ask for a reward for providing information resulting in an arrest or an indictment in the ITEM 1 PRESENTATION FROM ROANOKE VALLEY CRIME LINE 2 Valley; he stated that funds were getting low and Salem came to the rescue, particularly Kathy Murphy, the Special Events Coordinator for the City of Salem; he stated that the Crime Line was almost out of money and Mrs. Murphy came to them and asked if they would like to help with the Oktoberfest; he commended Mrs. Murphy on her competence, hard work, and on a job well done; he further stated that over the last year, the Roanoke Valley Crime Line has cleared eight bank robberies, over 100 commercial and residential burglaries, 15 “deadbeat” parents, and numerous other things; he stated that the monies the Roanoke Valley Crime Line received from the Oktoberfest helped tremendously; he then presented a plaque to Kathy Murphy commending her for her help; THEREUPON, presentation was received. Mayor Packett reported that Council at its regular meeting held May 27, 2008, passed an ordinance on first reading appropriating funds for the operation of the City of Salem, Virginia, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008; ON MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN FOLEY, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON, AND DULY CARRIED, the following ordinance was duly passed and adopted on second reading: (HERE SET OUT ORDINANCE ADOPTING BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008- 2009) -- the roll call vote: all – aye. Mayor Packett reported that Council at its regular meeting held on May 27, 2008, passed an ordinance on first reading establishing tax rates for real estate and personal property to become effective July 1, 2008; ON MOTION MADE BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN JONES, AND DULY CARRIED, the following ordinance was duly ITEM 2 ORDINANCE ADOPTED ON SECOND READING APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE CITY OF SALEM, VIRGINIA, FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2008 ITEM 3 ORDINANCE ADOPTED ESTABLISHING TAX RATES FOR REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2008 3 passed and adopted on second reading: (HERE SET OUT ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING TAX RATES FOR REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY) -- the roll call vote: all – aye. Mayor Packett requested that Council consider adopting Resolution 1119 amending certain rate schedules for electric services/fees; and WHEREAS, Vice Mayor Givens, Chairman of Council’s Audit-Finance Committee, reported that the 20 year energy contract with AEP provides for certain price escalation based on AEP financial filings with FERC; in 2005-2006, the City implemented new retail rates as developed by GDS Inc.; these rates included a Power Cost Adjustment factor to offset the rising cost of energy purchases; after further review, the Director of Finance recommended that the rate be increased to .0100 per KW; this will result in a $1.50 increase per month to a customer using 1,000 KW; the Committee reviewed the retail rates and concurred with the recommendation that the rate be increased to .0100 per KW effective July 1, 2008; and WHEREAS, Councilman Jones questioned how the increase would affect the “average” household; and WHEREAS, the City Manager stated that it is hard to determine exactly, because it depends upon the size of the home and the number of people living in the home; he stated that a 1,000 KW per month is close to an average, which would be approximately $1.50 more per month; ON MOTION MADE BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON, AND DULY CARRIED, Resolution 1119 amending certain rate schedules for electric services/fees was hereby adopted: (HERE SET OUT RESOLUTION 1119) -- the roll call vote: all - aye. ITEM 4 RESOLUTION 1119 ADOPTED AMENDING CERTAIN RATE SCHEDULES FOR ELECTRIC SERVICES/FEES 4 Mayor Packett requested that Council receive report and consider awarding placement of the City’s Insurance Program for property/liability insurance; and WHEREAS, Vice Mayor Givens, Chairman of Council’s Audit-Finance Committee, reported that the current insurance package expires on June 30, 2008; after issuance of the Request for Proposals for the general liability, property, auto, boiler and machinery, and crime insurance package, the following three bids were received by the May 14, 2008, deadline: Brown and Brown in the amount of $386,308; Humphrey, Stump & Haney in the amount of $647,865; and Virginia Municipal League in the amount of $533,104; after further review, the Director of Finance with Charles Lunsford Sons and Associates, the City’s consultants, recommended the bid be awarded to Brown and Brown; the Committee reviewed the bids that were received and concurred with the recommendation that the bid be awarded to Brown and Brown at a price of $386,308; ON MOTION MADE BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FOLEY, AND DULY CARRIED, the contract for the City’s Insurance Program (property/liability insurance) was hereby awarded to Brown and Brown in the amount of $386,308 and city officials are authorized to review various options available and use them in the best interest of the city -- the roll call vote: all – aye. Mayor Packett requested that Council consider setting bond for physical improvements and erosion and sediment control for the Hope Tree School project; and WHEREAS, Vice Mayor Givens, Chairman of Council’s Audit-Finance Committee, reported that the Committee reviewed the performance bond for physical improvements and erosion and sediment control for the Hope Tree ITEM 5 CONTRACT FOR CITY’S INSURANCE PROGRAM AWARDED TO BROWN AND BROWN ITEM S1 BOND AND TIME LIMIT SET FOR PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS AND EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL FOR THE HOPE TREE SCHOOL PROJECT 5 School Project and recommends bond be set at $118,937.50 with a time limit of twelve (12) months for completion; ON MOTION MADE BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON, AND DULY CARRIED, the performance bond for physical improvements and erosion and sediment control for the Hope Tree School project was hereby set at $118,937.50 with a time limit of twelve (12) months for completion -- the roll call vote: all – aye. Mayor Packett requested that Council consider appointments to fill vacancies on various boards and commissions; No action was taken. There being no further business to come before the Council, the same on motion adjourned at 7:43 p.m. ITEM 6 NO ACTION TAKEN