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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/12/2022 - City Council - Minutes - RegularCity Council Meeting MINUTES Monday, September 12, 2022, 6:30 PM Work Session 6:00 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 September 12, 2022, at 6:00 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; 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) Response to public comments 2) American Rescue Plan Act funds update WHEREAS, Council discussed public comments during the Citizen Comment section of the Council agenda; and requested that staff set aside time in subsequent work sessions for follow-up on questions or issues that warrant further Council input; and WHEREAS, Finance Director Rosemarie Jordan and Assistant City Manager Rob Light presented an update on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding expenditure plan; and reviewed current fiscal year CIP plan projects funded with excess ARPA revenue that would be bro ught before Council as a future action item for formal appropriation. 3. Adjournment WHEREAS, there being no further business, Mayor Turk adjourned the meeting at 6:24 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 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 A. Recognition of Constitution Week and Fort Lewis Chapter of NSDAR Present Proclamation to Elizabeth Vincel, Chapter Regent of the Fort Lewis Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) in recognition of Constitution Week 2022. Mayor Turk read and presented a Proclamation to Chapter Regent of the Fort Lewis Chapter of the NSDAR, Elizabeth Vincel, and other Chapter members, in recognition of Constitution Week. She noted that the signing of Constitution of the United States of America took place on September 17th at 4:00 in the afternoon and that Constitution Week honors the signing of the Constitution. 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) John Breen - 142 Bogey Lane - Looking for answers John Breen, 142 Bogey Lane, addressed Council. He expressed concern about transparency by Council Mr. Breen requested that council change the current speaking rules and allow speakers to address any topic and to allow this with notice only being required prior to commencement of Council meeting. B. Minutes Consider the acceptance of the August 22, 2022, Regular Meeting minutes. The minutes were accepted as written. 5. Old Business A. Vacation of Right of Way Consider ordinance on second reading permanently vacating and disposing of an approximate 0.046 acres if an unopened alley situated off Dalewood Avenue. (Approved on first reading at the August 22, 2022, meeting). Randy Foley motioned to approve ordinance on second reading permanently vacating and disposing of an approximate 0.046 acres if an unopened alley situated off Dalewood Avenue. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace Randy Foley motioned Motion. seconded the motion. 6. New Business A. Salem City School Board Hold a public hearing to receive the views of citizens within the School Division regarding the School Board appointment for the expiring terms ending December 31, 2022 of two members of the City of Salem School Board. (As advertised in the September 1, 2022, issue of the Salem-Times Register). Mayor Turk noted that four people have applied for the two positions at this point: Robyn Goodpasture, Stacy Danstrom, Rachel Thompson, and Andy Raines. She noted that if anyone else wished to be considered that they needed to state their name at this point. Mayor Turk opened the public hearing. Each of the four candidates spoke and provided information for Council and citizens present on their experience and qualifications they felt would make them assets to the School Board. All of them expressed a strong desire to serve the City of Salem in this capacity. Rachel Thompson, 201 S. College Avenue, was the first candidate to address Council. Anastasia Gonzalez Danstrom, 2865 Gleneagles Road, was the next candidate to speak. Third, Robyn Goodpasture, 225 Northern Trail, spoke on behalf of her desire to become a member of the School Board. Andy Raines, 1305 Winston Drive, current School Board member, was the last candidate to address Council. Natalie DiFusco-Funk spoke on behalf of Rachel Thompson as a friend, parent, and teacher. Christine Poarch -spoke on behalf of Rachel Thompson as a friend and partner at Poarch Thompson Law firm. She submitted a letter in support of Mrs. Thompson to Council. Adele Morris, 2670 Turnberry Road, spoke on behalf of Stacy Danstrom. Ella Poarch, Senior at Salem High School, spoke on behalf of Rachel Thompson. Ben Lockhart, 1324 St. Jude Street, pastor in Catawba, spoke on behalf of Rachel Thompson. Mayor Turk closed the public hearing. She acknowledged the appreciation that City Council has for the Superintendent and the Salem School Board members for their hard work and the many hours they put in to take care of the students. She expressed appreciation to Artice Ledbetter for her service on the Salem School Board and the City of Salem. Mayor Turk noted that Council will be interviewing the applicants and will make appointments before the current terms expire on December 31, 2022. She thanked all of the applicants for being there and for wanting to serve in this way. B. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to adjust funding for the renovation to James I. Moyer Sports Complex. Audit - Finance Committee Local funding of $870,500 was identified in the fiscal year 2021 General Fund operating budget and transferred to the Capital Projects Fund for design work on the James I. Moyer Sports Complex renovations. After fully funding the project on July 25, 2022, the $870,500 is no longer needed and can be transferred back to the General Fund contingency account. James Wallace motioned to approve transferring $870,500 from the Moyer Sports Complex Renovation account to the Transfer To General Fund account and appropriating $870,500 to the Transfer From Capital Projects account and the Contingency account. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace C. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to appropriate additional local funding for Downtown Improvements from Union Street to Broad Street. Audit - Finance Committee These funds are included in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget and will result in this phase of the Downtown Revitalization Project being fully funded. Design work and procurement have been completed. James Wallace motioned to appropriate $250,000 to the Transfer from General Fund revenue account and to the Downtown Improvement – E Main/Union Street to Broad Street expenditure account. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace D. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to amend the School Operating Fund budget and the School Grant Fund budget as approved by the School Board on August 9, 2022. Audit - Finance Committee James Wallace motioned to approve appropriation changes of $3,427,173 and $78,845 to the School Operating Fund and the School Grants Fund, respectively as amended by the School Board at their August 9, 2022 meeting. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace E. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to appropriate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Tourism Grant funds. Audit - Finance Committee These funds were provided through the Virginia Tourism Corporation through a formula allocation across all Virginia cities and counties and will be used for marketing initiatives not previously budgeted. James Wallace motioned to appropriate $70,000 in grant revenue to ARPA – VA Tourism Recovery Program- Revenue account and increase the budget for the ARPA – VA Tourism Recovery Program – Expenses Account by $70,000. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace F. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to accept and appropriate Local Law Enforcement (LOLE) Grant Funds. Audit - Finance Committee These funds will be used to purchase traffic warning devices that will be worn by the officers when they are working in the school crossing zones. James Wallace motioned to accept the $1,139 grant from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and to appropriate $1,139 in grant revenue to Police Federal Grants Revenue account and $1,139 to the Police Federal Grants Expenditure account for the purpose stated above. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace G. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to appropriate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Sports Marketing Incentive Program funds. Audit - Finance Committee Jim Wallace motioned to appropriate $5,500 in grant revenue to ARPA Sports Marketing Incentive Program Grant Revenue Account and increase the budget for ARPA Sports Marketing Incentive Program Grant Expense Account by $5,500. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace These grant funds were awarded for offsetting costs related to hosting the November, 2022, CIAA Volleyball Championship at the Salem Civic Center. Mayor Turk noted that the CIAA will be holding a Volleyball Championship and the Football Championship on the same weekend, November 12, 2022 at the Salem Civic Center. She encouraged citizens to attend. H. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to accept and appropriate Virginia Criminal Justice Foundation Grant funds. Audit - Finance Committee James Wallace motioned to accept the $4,000 grant from the Virginia Criminal Justice Foundation received by the City Commonwealth Attorney's Office for training needs not currently budgeted and to appropriate $4,000 in grant revenue to Grants- other account and $4,000 to the grants – other Costs account for the purpose stated above. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace I. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to appropriate additional highway maintenance funding from the state for various projects. Audit - Finance Committee James Wallace motioned to appropriate $1,380,000 of highway maintenance carryover funds for projects that will be completed in Fiscal Year 2023 to the following accounts: Bridge Repairs - $575,000 Resurfacing roads - $175,000 Signal System - $255,000 Machinery And Equipment - $200,000 Storm Drains – Maintenance - $175,000 Highway maintenance funds may only be used for maintenance costs as determined by the State. These projects fall within the guidelines of the highway maintenance program. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace J. Children's Therapy Consider setting bond for erosion and sediment control and landscaping for Children's Therapy. Audit - Finance Committee Jim Wallace motioned to approve bonding in the amount of $6,470 for erosion and sediment control and landscaping for Children’s Therapy located at 928 South College 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 Mr. Foley noted for the public's information that this location is at the corner of 8th and College. This has been a hair salon for a number of years. Mr. Jones added that it is next to Chip & Jo's Restaurant. Mayor Turk expressed appreciation to City Staff for the work they had done in applying for all of the grants. K. Comp and Class Study Request to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute a contract with the Berkley Group to perform a compensation market study for City employee positions; and approve the use of FY23 contingency funds for this project. - Audit - Finance Committee Renee Turk motioned to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute a contract with the Berkley Group to perform a compensation market study for City employee positions; and approve the use of FY23 contingency funds for this project. Mr. Wallace noted that the contract is a fixed fee agreement in the amount of $68,544 and Mr. Guynn has reviewed the agreement. Mayor Turk noted that according to the City Manager it is planned the project will begin as soon as possible and it is predicted to take about seven months to complete. James Wallace seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace 7. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:37 p.m.