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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/25/2022 - City Council - Minutes - RegularCity Council Meeting MINUTES Monday, July 25, 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, Sa lem, Virginia 24153 WORK SESSION AMENDED AGENDA 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 July 25, 2022, at 5:30 p.m., there being present the following members of said Council to wit: Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor; Ja mes W. Wallace, III, Vice-Mayor; Council members; Byron Randolph Foley, William D. Jones (absent), 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; A.K. Briele, Director of Electric Department; Jim Guynn, City Attorney; Crystal Williams, Assistant to the City Manager; Laura Lea Harris, Deputy Clerk of Council; Garrett Cole, GDS Associates, Inc.; a nd Alice Wolfe, General Manager, Blue Ridge Power Agency; 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) Electricity/Battery Storage 2) Personal Property Tax Refunding WHEREAS, Mr. Taliaferro noted that the use of alternate power sources during peak hours had been discussed at an earlier Work Session and that Garrett Cole, of GDS Associates, Inc., had been working on gathering and evaluating proposals for this. Mr. Cole presented his findings to Council. Alice Wolfe, General Manager of Blue Ridge Power Agency , also participated in the meeting remotely and added feedback to the presentation. Salem has joined other Blue Ridge Power Agency (BRPA) members in a battery storage process, which provides economies of scale. Salem battery storage installation is expected at the existing substation and the project is expected to commence in June 2024. Mr. Cole shared that battery storage can be used as a load- modifier to shift transmission and other billing demand, resulting in reduced costs. He also shared the benefits and challenges of battery storage as well as a cost/benefit comparison. Council discussed the information and asked questions. It is anticipated that final selection of bidder will be made, and a contract developed for City approval in the fall of 2022; and WHEREAS, Mayor Turk stated that Council has discussed at several previous work sessions and City Staff has been working to develop a plan for refunding a portion of 2022 revenue from Personal Property taxes on eligible vehicles. Mayor Turk shared specific details of this plan. Council discussed the proposal and concerns were shared about the need to set up guidelines to determine protocol for handling potential future situations. It was decided that Council would amend tonight's Regular meeting agenda to add an Ordinance for Council's approval in order to implement the refund to enable refund checks to be issued in September. The estimated administrative costs incurred for this refunding would be approximately $16,250. 3. Adjournment WHEREAS, there being no further business, Mayor Turk adjourned the meeting at 6:19 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 (absent), 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 Mayor Turk stated that we have an amendment for the agenda this evening. She motioned for Council to add New Business Item #6H to the agenda to consider an ordinance on first reading to return a portion of tax year 2022 personal property taxes paid on those vehicles eligible for relief from the Commonwealth of Virginia's Personal Property Tax Relief Act of 1998 (PPTRA). Randy Foley seconded the motion. Council members present unanimously voted to amend the agenda. 3. Bid Openings, Awards, Recognitions There were none. 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 - November 2022 Ballot John Breen, 142 Bogey Lane, addressed Council. He expressed the importance of elected officials acquiring public opinion and utilizing it in making decisions. He noted that Council has the power to place issues on the November ballot for nonbinding public vote. He expressed that the November election offers an opportunity to learn broad-based public opinions and concerns. He suggested that this could be followed by dedicated public meetings to discuss input received and potential responsive actions. Mr. Breen requested that Salem select from a list of twelve questions that he posed for placement on the upcoming November 2022 ballot. B. Minutes Consider acceptance of the July 11, 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 twelve months ending June 2022. The financial reports were received. 5. Old Business 6. New Business A. Resolution 1437 in Support of Industrial Access Railroad Track Funds for New Millennium Consider adoption of Resolution 1437 in support of New Millennium receiving Industrial Access Railroad Track Funds through Virginia ’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation (VDRPT) to extend a new rail spurt across Diuguids Ln. Mr. Taliaferro shared background information on this item that New Millennium would like a railroad spur and the Resolution for Council's consideration is to support them toward $450,000 to acquire that spur at their facility. He shared that part of their facility is located in Roanoke County and part on Diuguids Ln. in Salem. They seek Salem's support in attempting to get this. Mayor Turk confirmed with Mr. Taliaferro that this Resolution offers verbal support only and there is no cost involved. John Saunders motioned to adopt Resolution 1437 in support of New Millennium receiving Industrial Access Railroad Track Funds through Virginia's Department of Rail and Public Transportation (VDRPT) to extend a new rail spurt across Diuguids Ln.. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Saunders, Turk, Wallace Absent: Jones B. Resolution 1438 in Support of Smartscale I-81 Bypass Consider adoption of Resolution 1438 in support of the Interstate 81 By - pass project along Texas Street from Roanoke Boulevard to Electric Road. Mr. Van Allman noted that Smartscale applications are seeking support and money for projects that improve transportation within the Roanoke Valley. Salem has a need for better conducting truck traffic and vehicular traffic through Salem when an accident occurs on I-81. This Resolution is supporting the application for the first phase in a long process of creating a By-pass for I-81 during heavy traffic and/or accidents. V-DOT will administer the project, which would require about fifteen million dollars for phase one. The application is due by August 1, 2022. Mayor Turk noted that this is a much-needed project. Mr. Foley asked if this would compete with the next item on the agenda. Mr. Van Allman stated that each project generally stands on its own and does not compete with another. Renee Turk motioned to adopt Resolution 1438 in support of the Interstate 81 By- pass project along Texas Street from Roanoke Boulevard to Electric Road. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Saunders, Turk, Wallace Absent: Jones C. Resolution 1439 in Support of Roanoke County Improvement Projects Consider adoption of Resolution 1439 in support of Roanoke County pedestrian safety improvement projects at Keagy/Electric Road and along West Main Street. Mr. Van Allman shared background information on this item. He noted that Roanoke County is working on Smartscale applications for safety improvements at Keagy Road, right on the border of Salem. They have approached Salem for an opinion. Both of these pedestrian improvements offer the ability for both the residents of the City of Salem and the County to walk bot h ways in safety. Salem is encouraging Roanoke County in their project. It does not require money but offers support to Roanoke County in their application. Randy Foley motioned to adopt Resolution 1439 in support of Roanoke County pedestrian safety improvement projects at Keagy/Electric Road and along West Main Street. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Saunders, Turk, Wallace Absent: Jones D. Property Catalyst Group Performance Agreement Consider a request of approval and authorizing the City Manager to finalize and execute a Performance Agreement between the City of Salem, Property Catalyst Group, Inc., and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Salem. Audit-Finance Committee Renee Turk motioned to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute a Performance Agreement between the City of Salem, Property Catalyst Group, Inc., and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Salem for a project on City Tax Map Parcels 77-3-12, -13, -14, -15, and -16. James Wallace seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Saunders, Turk, Wallace Absent: Jones E. Approve Execution of Contract and Appropriation of Funds Consider request to execute contract and appropriate funding for the renovation to James I. Moyer Sports Complex. Audit - Finance Committee Mayor Turk noted that the City has been doing some value engineering on this project, and City Staff has been working closely with G& H and will continue to look for ways to reduce cost. James Wallace motioned to authorize the City Manager t o finalize and execute a contract with G&H Construction, Inc. for the James I. Moyer Sports Complex renovation project in an amount not to exceed $20,539,000; and appropriating $12,584,331 to the Transfer from General Fund – Capital Projects account and to the Moyer Sports Complex Renovation account. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Saunders, Turk, Wallace Absent: Jones F. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to amend the School Grant Fund budget as approved by the School Board on July 7, 2022. Audit - Finance Committee James Wallace motioned to approve appropriation changes in the amount of $22,202 to the School Grant Fund as amended by the School Board at their July 7, 2022 meeting. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Saunders, Turk, Wallace Absent: Jones G. Boards and Commissions Consider appointments to various boards and commissions. Randy Foley motioned to appoint Russ Craighead for a three-year term ending July 25, 2025 to the Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Saunders, Turk, Wallace Absent: Jones Mayor Turk introduced Mr. Craighead and thanked him for serving on the Greenway Commission. H. Ordinance to Return Portion of Personal Property Taxes on Eligible Vehicles Consider ordinance on first reading to return a portion of tax year 2022 personal property taxes paid on those vehicles eligib le for relief from the Commonwealth of Virginia's Personal Property Tax Relief Act of 1998 (PPTRA). SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM Mayor Turk read the Ordinance for those present. She noted that there would be a second reading at the next meeting of City Council. John Saunders motioned to adopt Ordinance on first reading to return a portion of tax year 2022 personal property taxes paid on those vehicles eligible for relief from the Commonwealth of Virginia's Personal Property Tax Relief Act of 1998 (PPTRA). James Wallace seconded the motion Ayes: Foley, Saunders, Turk, Wallace Absent: Jones Mr. Foley expressed concern about the need for parameters to be set to set a precedent for the future. Mayor Turk commented that the City was in a position this year to be able to take this action but that it is a one-time action. Mr. Wallace thanked City Staff for all of the work they had put into making it possible to give this relief to the citizens. Mr. Foley noted that the cost to the City for administering this refund was just under $17,000. Mr. Saunders thanked City Staff and the other members of Council. 7. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 6:53 p.m.