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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/13/2022 - City Council - Minutes - RegularCity Council Meeting MINUTES Monday, June 13, 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 June 13, 2022, at 6:00 p.m., there being present the following members of said Council to wit: Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor (participated remotely); James W. Wallace, III, Vice-Mayor; Council members: Byron Randolph Foley, William D. Jones, and John Saunders; with James W. Wallace, III, Vice-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; Larado Robinson, Director of Water and Sewer Department; Will Simpson, City Engineer; Crystal Williams, Assistant to the City Manager; Laura Lea Harris, Deputy Clerk of Council; Dr. Curtis Hicks, Superintendent of Salem City Schools; Mandy Hall, Director of Business Services for Salem City Schools; and David Preston, Chairman of Salem City School Board; and the following business was transacted; Vice-Mayor Wallace 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 Item Well Infrastructure Project WHEREAS, Larado Robinson, Director of Water and Sewer Department, presented an update to Council on the City of Salem's current water treatment plant capacity, the Department of Environmental Quality's proposed river intake limitations, and the proposed solution and cost for two wells. Discussion was held on this information by Council; and WHEREAS, Dr. Curtis Hicks, Superintendent of Salem City Schools, presented a request for additional funding from the City of Salem for staff salary needs. Discussion was held. Ms. Hall was requested to provide for Council the figure for savings from unfilled positions. Staff and Council will study this request; and WHEREAS, Mr. Foley referred to other requests that had been made of Council that would need to be responded to. He also stated that he felt alternatives should be considered for the rebate that had been studied at a previous Work Session. Mr. Taliaferro is working on this currently; and 3. Adjournment WHEREAS, there being no further business, Vice-Mayor Wallace 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 (remote); James W. Wallace, III, Vice-Mayor; Councilmembers: Byron Randolph Foley, William D. Jones, and John Saunders; with James W. Wallace, III, Vice-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; Will Simpson, City Engineer; Mike Stevens, Director of Communications; and Jim Guynn, City Attorney. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Vice-Mayor Wallace requested that Mr. Light read a request from Mayor Turk to participate remotely in this Council meeting. The request from Mayor Turk stated: "In accordance with Section 2.2-3708.2 1(B) of the Code of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Remote Participation Policy of the City of Salem, I hereby request to participate remotely due to a personal matter, specifically that I am out of town.” Randy Foley motioned to accept the remote participation of Mayor Turk. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Wallace Abstain: Turk 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 for the same meeting. The following have signed up to speak at this meeting: No citizens signed up to speak at this meeting. B. Minutes Consider acceptance of the May 23, 2022 Work Session and Regular Meeting Minutes. The minutes were accepted as written. 5. Old Business A. Vacation of Right of Way Receive Report of viewers and consider ordinance on first reading permanently vacating and disposing of an approximate .137 acres of a 16' unopened alley situated in the center of Salem Iron and Metal between Indiana Street and Florida Street for Daryl Beckner (As advertised in the April 7 and 14, 2022 issues of the Salem Times-Register). Mr. Taliaferro explained that the request is to vacate a paper alley that runs between 9th Street and the railroad tracks at Hedge Metal. He stated that the viewers met and recommend approval of the vacation contingent on the following conditions: 1)the City retains a public utility easement across the entire width and length of the vacated alley; 2) that the City require the petitioner to install an access gate along 9th Street the entire width of the vacated alley so that the City has access to the sewer line that runs down the alley; and 3) in the event of an emergency any debris must be cleared from the easement within two hours of notification. In the event of a non-emergency access need, debris must be cleared within two business days of being notified. Mr. Foley asked if this particular situation is unique. Mr. Taliaferro responded that the City has vacated right of ways and retained public utility easements in the past. He does not remember one that was specifically like this one. Mr. Jones asked if the petitioners are aware of these conditions. The petitioners were present and responded affirmatively. Mr. Foley asked what the penalty would be if the conditions are not met. Mr. Guynn responded that it would become necessary to go through an injunction process to enforce the ordinance. Mr. Jones asked if there was anything that needed to be added to the ordinance relating to penalties. The consensus was that the ordinance is appropriate as it stands. Mr. Taliaferro noted that it is not customary to have to routinely perform repairs and this would be an unusual event to have to access the property immediately. Mayor Turk asked if the property were to be sold, would this convey with the property. Mr. Guynn and Mr. Taliaferro responded that it would. Randy Foley motioned to receive the report of viewers and adopt ordinance on first reading permanently vacating and disposing of an approximate .137 acres of a 16' unopened alley situated in the center of Salem Iron and Metal between Indiana Street and Florida Street for Daryl Beckner. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace B. Budget Ordinance Consider ordinance on second reading adopting the budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. It was noted that the State budget has not been passed yet and there would potentially need to be amendments to this budget. Ms. Jordan clarified that this is correct; however, the State budget does not have any material impact on the City's budget. Any small changes that would need to be made could be brought back to Council at a later time. Mr. Foley asked if this would likely be on the School side, and Ms. Jordan responded that this was correct. She noted that one change that has been made since the original budget proposal was submitted was that we were notified by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management that the City received a grant for generator work at the Civic Center. An amendment was made to add this State Grant in the amount of $154,800 to the Civic Center budget. That is the only change that has been made to what was presented since the first reading and vote on the budget. John Saunders motioned to adopt ordinance on second reading adopting the budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace C. Budget Appropriation Ordinance Consider ordinance on second reading appropriating funds for the 2022-2023 fiscal year budget. Randy Foley motioned to adopt ordinance on second reading appropriating funds for the 2022-2023 fiscal year budget. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace 6. New Business A. TAP Lease Receive request for renewal of the lease on the old N & W Railway Passenger Station for the Head Start Program for period July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2025. Mr. Wallace noted that the City has received a request for renewal of the lease on the old N & W Railway Passenger Station building for the Head Start program from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025. Mr. Light explained that the City has leased this space to TAP for a number of years and that the lease remains the same as it has been with the exception of one item that has been added to the new lease. A termination for convenience by either side with a six-month written notification has been added to the new lease. Mr. Jones asked what the conditions or parameters would be for terminating the lease. Mr. Light clarified that with a termination for convenience there would not have to be a reason with six months notification given by either side. Mr. Jones gave the example that if the Railroad decided to come in and make this a stop, the lease could be ceased by the City. John Saunders motioned to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute a lease agreement with Total Action for Progress in the Roanoke Valley (TAP) for City property located at 1031 South College Avenue. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace B. Performance Agreement with Moe's Consider a request authorizing the City Manager to finalize and execute a Performance Agreement between Shiv Kripa, LLC, the City of Salem, and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Salem. Continued from the May 23, 2022 Council meeting. Mr. Taliaferro gave background information. He noted that the EDA has approved a Performance Agreement with Moe’s, and this is for City Council's consideration as well. The Performance Agreement is based on improvement in real estate value. The net increase realized by any rehabilitation or renovation that was done in converting from Zaxby's to Moe's is what a grant to Moe's would be based on. The proposal is that thirty percent of that value be granted annually for up to three years as a grant to Moe's. The grant is capped at $30,000. Mr. Jones asked to clarify if this grant is to the property owner or the owner of the business. Mr. Taliaferro noted that the grant is to the property owner. Randy Foley motioned to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute a Performance Agreement between Shiv Kripa, LLC, the City of Salem, and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Salem. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace C. Boards and Commissions Consider appointments to various boards and commissions. John Saunders motioned to reappoint Betty Waldron to the Fair Housing Board for a three-year term ending July 1, 2025; to reappoint Neil Conner, Reid Garst, and Denise P. King to the Planning Commission and NPDES Citizens' Committee for four-year terms ending July 31, 2026; and to reappoint Dr. Forest I. Jones to the Virginia Western Community College Local Advisory Board for a four-year term ending June 30, 2026. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace 7. Adjournment Mr. Wallace pointed out to the citizens in attendance a couple of vacancies that currently exist on the Board of Appeals and the Board of Zoning Appeals and encouraged anyone that would like to serve the City to reach out to Mrs. Harris for an application. Mr. Foley noted that these vacancies are for alternate positions. The meeting was adjourned at 6:46 p.m.