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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/9/2024 - City Council - Minutes - Regular CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Amended Agenda Monday, December 9, 2024, 6:30 PM Work Session, 6:00 PM Council Chambers Conference Room, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, Salem, Virginia 24153 Regular Session, 6:30 PM, 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 December 9, 2024, 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 H. Hunter Holliday; with Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor, presiding; together with Chris Dorsey, 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; and John Aldridge, CPA/Partner, Brown Edwards; 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 Overview of Annual Comprehensive Financial Report - Brown Edwards - John Aldridge John Aldridge, with Brown Edwards, stated that he had met with the Audit-Finance Committee on Wednesday, December 4, and he went over the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report in detail. The state requires that the audit be presented in a public meeting and approved before being certified and filed with the state prior to December 15. The City of Salem received an unmodified or clean report. He noted that this includes the Salem City Schools and the Economic Development Authority. He highlighted pertinent sections in the report. 3. Adjournment There being no further business, Mayor Turk adjourned the meeting at 6:22 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 H. Hunter Holliday; with Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor, presiding together with Chris Dorsey, 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 Opening, Awards, Recognitions 4. Consent Agenda A. Citizen Comments Comments from the public, limited to five minutes, on matters not already having a public hearing at the same meeting. Garry Lautenschlager, 440 High Street, was the first citizen to address Council. With him was Cindy Neathawk, 3074 Bent Ridge Lane, Board Chair for the Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries. He expressed appreciation to Council for support of the Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries. He also shared an update for this year and made Council aware of the need to locate Mrs. Dorsey’s Clothes Closet to a new location due to a lack of space. Mr. Lautenschlager noted that this organization was recently honored with the Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for an Outstanding Faith-Based Organization. Stella Reinhard, 213 North Broad Street, expressed opposition to the HopeTree rezoning proposal. She voiced concerns about unanswered questions, traffic, quality of life, protection of the neighborhood's character, and opportunities for citizen input. She asked Council to vote no this evening in order to give more time. Teresa Sizemore, 309 Orchard Street, conveyed appreciation for the fact that the Salem City School Board is appointed and not elected and also for the working relationship between the School Board and Council. In addition, Ms. Sizemore voiced gratitude for Resolution 487, adopted in 1984, which allows the Salem School System to keep any unspent funds annually for non-recurring expenses. She noted that this is mainly utilized for maintenance. Sterling Hite, 122 Par Drive, spoke on the impact of volunteers and Host families when hosting a NCAA event. He shared the positive benefits reaped by the City by holding these tournaments in Salem and requested that Council continue to support these tournaments and the positive economic impact that they bring to Salem. Terry LaRocco, 317 Idaho Street, shared positive comments regarding the work of Council and the direction for the future. She noted that Salem provides great services and has rapid restoration of power when outages occur. She also commended Council on their rising level of involvement in intergovernmental discussions and noted progress in dealing with infrastructure problems. . B. Minutes Consider acceptance of the November 13, 2024, Special Meeting/Joint Public Hearings with the Planning Commission, and the November 25, 2024, Regular Meeting minutes. The minutes were approved as written. 5. Old Business A. Council Salary Ordinance Consider the second reading of an ordinance increasing and establishing the annual salaries of the Mayor and Council effective July 1, 2027. (Approved on first reading at the November 25, 2024, Council meeting.) William Jones motioned to adopt ordinance increasing and establishing the annual salaries of the Mayor and Council effective July 1, 2027. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: William Jones, Randy Foley, Renee Turk Nays: Hunter Holliday, James Wallace Abstaining: None B. Amendment to the City Code - Chapter 106, Zoning Consider ordinance on second reading amending Chapter 106, Zoning, Article IV Development Standards, section 106-406 miscellaneous provisions of the CODE OF THE CITY OF SALEM, VIRGINIA pertaining to storage containers. (Approved on first reading at the November 25, 2024, Council meeting.) James Wallace motioned to adopt ordinance on second reading amending Chapter 106, Zoning, Article IV Development Standards, Section 106 -406 miscellaneous provisions of the CODE OF THE CITY OF SALEM, VIRGINIA pertaining to storage containers as presented. Hunter Holliday seconded the motion. Ayes: Hunter Holliday, William Jones, Randy Foley, James Wallace, Renee Turk Nays: None Abstaining: None C. Amendment to City Code - Chapter 18 Consider adoption of ordinance on second reading amending Chapter 18, Buildings and Building Regulations, Article VII, Historic Structures be renamed and by adopting additional sections 18-701 through 18-805 of the Code of the City of Salem, Virginia, pertaining to the Maintenance of Structures, Spot Blight Abatement, and Vacant Building Registration. (Approved on first reading at the November 25, 2024, Council meeting.) Vice-Mayor Wallace noted that he was glad to see that the City was able to get this done and that it was going to make a big improvement in the appearance of the City. James Wallace motioned to adopt on second reading the ordinance amending Chapter 18, Buildings and Building Regulations, Article VII, Historic Structures be renamed and by adopting additional sections 18-701 through 18-805 of the Code of the City of Salem, Virginia, pertaining to the Maintenance of Structures, Spot Blight Abatement, and Vacant Building Registration as presented. Hunter Holliday seconded the motion. Ayes: Hunter Holliday, William Jones, Randy Foley, James Wallace, Renee Turk Nays: None Abstaining: None D. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Consider ordinance on second reading regarding the request of Virginia Baptist Children's Home and Family Services d/b/a Hopetree Family Services (Salem CI) f/k/a The Virginia Baptist Childrens' Home f/k/a Baptist Orphanage of Virginia, property owner, for rezoning the properties located at 1000 block Red Lane and a portion of 860 Mount Vernon Lane (Tax Map #'s 41-1-1, 41-1- 2, 41-1-3, 41-1-4, 41-1-5, 41-1-6, and a portion of 44-3-10) from RSF Residential Single Family District to PUD Planned Unit District with proffered conditions. (Approved on first reading at the November 25, 2024, Council meeting.) Randy Foley motioned to adopt ordinance on second reading regarding the request of Virginia Baptist Children's Home and Family Services d/b/a Hopetree Family Services (Salem CI) f/k/a The Virginia Baptist Childrens' Home f/k/a Baptist Orphanage of Virginia, property owner, for rezoning the properties located at 1000 block Red Lane and a portion of 860 Mount Vernon Lane (Tax Map #'s 41-1-1, 41-1-2, 41-1-3, 41-1-4, 41-1-5, 41-1-6, and a portion of 44-3-10) from RSF Residential Single Family District to PUD Planned Unit District with proffered conditions. William Jones seconded the motion. Councilman Holliday addressed the citizens of Salem and made a statement in which he shared his final thoughts and reasons for his opposition to the HopeTree application. Ayes: William Jones, Randy Foley, Renee Turk Nays: Hunter Holliday, James Wallace Abstaining: None 6. New Business A. Annual Comprehensive Financial Report Presentation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Year Ended June 30, 2024. Audit - Finance Committee Vice-Mayor Wallace invited Mr. John Aldridge forward to comment on the Annual Comprehensive Financial report for the past year. John Aldridge, Brown Edwards, shared that he was here this evening to share the results of the annual audit. He noted that he had met with Council during the Work Session and gone over the report in detail. He also noted he is required by Virginia State Code to present this information to Council in a public meeting for acceptance. He noted that the City of Salem received a clean or unmodified opinion on the financial statements. Mr. Aldridge indicated that this report will be filed with the State and that they would meet the filing deadline of December 15th. He thanked City staff for their work in putting this together. Council thanked Mr. Aldridge for his presentation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. It was clarified that no action was required and the report was received by Council. B. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to appropriate Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program grant from Virginia Tourism Corporation. Audit - Finance Committee James Wallace motioned to appropriate a $10,000 grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation to the state grant revenue account and increase the state grants expenditure account by $10,000. This grant was awarded to support marketing for holiday events in Salem. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Hunter Holliday, William Jones, Randy Foley, James Wallace, Renee Turk Nays: None Abstaining: None Mr. Dorsey noted that they had put out a great Christmas commercial on one of the local stations. C. Appropriation of Funds Request to appropriate additional Victim Witness grant funds. Audit - Finance Committee The City received grant funds in excess of those budgeted in the current year from the State for the Victim Witness program. James Wallace motioned to appropriate $9,333 in the State grant revenue account and to increase the expenditure budgets for the Victim Witness grant as follows: Salaries- Regular by $5,000; Mileage by $1,118, Meals and Lodging by $2,912 and Registration/Training Costs by $303. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Hunter Holliday, William Jones, Randy Foley, James Wallace, Renee Turk Nays: None Abstaining: None D. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to appropriate local funding for capital projects. Audit - Finance Committee As part of the Fiscal Year 2025 approved Capital Improvement Plan, local funding was included in the General Fund fiscal year 2025 operating budget to program multi- year funding for several future year storm water projects and one current year project. James Wallace motioned to appropriate $712,500 to the Capital Projects Fund revenue account, Transfer From General Fund, and to the following Capital Projects Fund expenditure accounts. • $125,000 for Upland Drive storm drain and curb and gutter improvements. • $162,500 for 4th Street/Union Street intersection storm sewer upgrades. • $100,000 for Roanoke Boulevard storm drain upgrades. • $100,000 for Texas Street/Idaho Street pond • $225,000 for Bainbridge Drive storm drain expansion. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Hunter Holliday, William Jones, Randy Foley, James Wallace, Renee Turk Nays: None Abstaining: None Mayor Turk noted that many of these would be phased in over a period of years. E. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to appropriate Downtown Improvement Reserve in the Capital Projects Fund. Audit - Finance Committee Local funding of $250,000 was included in the General Fund fiscal year 2025 operating budget for the Downtown Plan to support future phases of this project and needs to be appropriated. James Wallace motioned to appropriate $250,000 to the Transfer from General Fund revenue account and to the Downtown Improvements Reserve expenditure account. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Hunter Holliday, William Jones, Randy Foley, James Wallace, Renee Turk Nays: None Abstaining: None F. Appropriation of Funds Appropriate grant funds awarded by the Opioid Abatement Authority. Audit - Finance Committee The City of Salem was awarded a planning grant totaling $45,000 from the Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA) to procure services for creating an actionable plan meeting the requirements for opioid settlement funds the City has and will continue to receive. A match of $5,000 is required for the grant and is available from opioid settlement funds received. James Wallace motioned to appropriate $45,000 to Opioid Settlement Funds - OAA Account, $5,000 to Opioid Settlement Funds-Direct Distribution Account and $50,000 to Opioid Settlement Funds – Costs Account for the purpose stated above. William Jones seconded the motion. Mayor Turk asked Ms. Jordan to share details on how much has actually come through this fund. Ms. Jordan noted that as of today, the City had received $562,581.55 and that this was direct distribution. She added that the City had also received two other payments that were outside of the Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA). Salem has received $32,585.84 from the McKinsey Settlement and $16,937.02 from the Endo Settlement. The amount of $45,000 was received from the OAA for the planning grant. There is a receivable on the books for the rest of the money that the City expects to receive in the amount of $1,209,180.45. At this point, according to the Opioid Abatement Authority website, the City is scheduled to receive $1,771, 762. Other funds are available if the City elects to adopt the Gold Standard. These numbers can change as additional settlements come in through the State and the OAA handles them. At this point, $1.77 million is the amount Salem is scheduled to receive in total, with $562,000 of that direct distribution already having been received. Mayor Turk requested clarification on the Gold Standard. Ms. Jordan explained that there is additional work that has to be done if you want to adopt the Gold Standard. Staff is currently evaluating this. It is an additional 25% of certain funds if Salem chooses to adopt those standards, When you do that, however, you are locked into different procedures on how the money is used. Staff is evaluating whether that is the right direction to take. They will also work with the company that is secured through this planning grant that will help guide how the money is spent and whether the Gold Standard is something that Salem wishes to choose. Mayor Turk asked to confirm that with the grant the city gets $45,000 with that planning grant and has to match $5,000. Ms. Jordan responded affirmatively that they would hire someone to develop the actionable plan of spending the money and what services to spend the money on to best serve the citizens and the region. Ayes: Hunter Holliday, William Jones, Randy Foley, James Wallace, Renee Turk Nays: None Abstaining: None G. Abstract of Votes Receive the Abstract of Votes cast at the General and Special Election held on November 5, 2024. Council received the Abstract of Votes. Mayor Turk thanked the Registrar. H. Boards and Commissions Consider appointments to various boards and commissions. Randy Foley motioned to reappoint Denise P. King for a full three -year term ending December 31, 2027, and endorse reappointing Bobby Russell as an at-large member for a three-year term ending December 31, 2027, to the Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare Board. Also to appoint Rosemarie Jordan as Member and Chris Dorsey as Alternate to the Roanoke Valley Detention Commission. In addition, to reappoint Rosemarie Jordan as Member for a one-year term ending December 31, 2025, to the Western Virginia Regional Jail Authority. Hunter Holliday seconded the motion. Ayes: Hunter Holliday, William Jones, Randy Foley, James Wallace, Renee Turk Nays: None Abstaining: None Mayor Turk recognized Vice-Mayor Wallace and Councilman Jones for their service as members of Council as this was their last meeting. She also recognized and welcomed Anne Marie Green, newly elected Councilmember. Mayor Turk encouraged the citizens to shop local during this Christmas season. 7. Closed Session A. Closed Session Hold a closed session in accordance with Section 2.2-3711 A(7) of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, for discussion of the following specific matter: Consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation, where such consultation or briefing in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body. For the purposes of this subdivision, "probable litigation" means litigation that has been specifically threatened or on which the public body or its legal counsel has a reasonable basis to believe will be commenced by or against a known party. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to permit the closure of a meeting merely because an attorney representing the public body is in attendance or is consulted on a matter. James Wallace motioned that, in accordance with Section 2.2-3711 A(7) of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, Council hereby convenes to closed session at 7:21 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the following specific matters: Consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation, where such consultation or briefing in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body. For the purposes of this subdivision, "probable litigation" means litigation that has been specifically threatened or on which the public body or its legal counsel has a reasonable basis to believe will be commenced by or against a known party. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to permit the closure of a meeting merely because an attorney representing the public body is in attendance or is consulted on a matter. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Hunter Holliday, William Jones, Randy Foley, James Wallace, Renee Turk Nays: None Abstaining: None James Wallace motioned to reconvene at 7:57 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: Hunter Holliday, William Jones, Randy Foley, James Wallace, Renee Turk 8. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m.