[00:00:01]
AND, UM, ONE LADY, ONE LADY WAS SAYING, REACH OUT.I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.
SHE INDICATED THAT SHE WAS GOING TO JOIN VIRTUALLY.
SO WE, I I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN WORKING TO GET HER ON.
SHE COULD YOU CALL HER AND SEE IF SHE CAN JUST, UM, SO I THINK SHE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME HEARING ME 'CAUSE SHE HUNG UP.
IT SAYS CONNECTED, BUT IT'S NOT CONNECTED.
WE JUST DOING ATTENDANCE SO YOU CAN GO TO CLOSED SESSIONS.
SO I'M JUST GONNA MARK YOU AS HERE FOR ATTENDANCE.
[CLOSED MEETING ]
THANK YOU.UM, UH, DO I HEAR A, UM, MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION, UH, UNDER VIRGINIA CODE 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A ONE TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER PERSONNEL MATTERS.
ONE SECOND BEFORE SHE CAN VOTE FOR THAT, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO A MOTION TO ALLOW HER OH, THAT'S RIGHT.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ALLOW COUNCILOR STOKES TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY? SO MOVED.
DID, DID WE MISS HER STATEMENT AS TO WHY SHE'S PARTICIPATING REMOTELY? WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO THAT IN A SECOND.
UM, CAN, UM, CAN YOU TELL US, UH, COUNCILLOR STOKES, WHY YOU ARE PARTICIPATING REMOTELY? COUNCILOR STOKES, I NEED YOU TO SAY INTO THE RECORD WHILE YOU'RE PARTICIPATING REMOTELY AND WHERE YOU'RE PARTICIPATING FROM.
I'M PARTICIPATING FROM MY HOME AND I'M, I'M, I'M CURRENTLY UNDER MEDICAL.
SO MAYBE I DO NEED TO, TO REDO THAT.
DO, UH, NO, YOU DO THE MOTION AND THEN YOU DO DISCUSSION.
SO NOW YOU WOULD DO DISCUSSION.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ROLL CALL.
DO WE NEED TO DO ANYTHING SINCE COUNCILOR DAY HAS JUST COME IN SINCE NO.
SHE'LL SHE'LL YOU READ THE CLOSED SESSION LANGUAGE AND THEN SHE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THAT MOTION.
JUST WANNA MAKE SURE SHE WASN'T FOR ROLL CALL.
THAT'S WHAT WE NORMALLY DO, BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, IS THAT CORRECT? THEY STARTED A BUT YOU HAVEN'T DONE THE CLOSE.
IT'S THE SAME THING AS WHAT MAYOR PARTNER DOING.
UM, BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAVE QUORUM.
IT, IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO REDO THAT.
THE ROLL CALL, BUT SHE HAS TO BE PRESENT.
THEY WERE ALREADY GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION.
SHE HAS TO BE COUNTED AS PRESENT.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE SHE'S COUNTED AS PRESENT FOR THE MINUTES.
FOR A MINUTE WISE, I'M GONNA PUT, I'M GONNA PUT LATE IN PARENTHESIS.
SHE AUTOMATICALLY HAVEN'T DID THE, UM, ROLL CALL FOR THE CLOSED SESSION YET.
SO NOW DO I HEAR A SUGGESTED MOTION TO MOVE TO GO INTO CLOSED MEETING UNDER VIRGINIA CODE 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A ONE TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER PERSONNEL MATTERS INCLUDING BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTEES, CITY CLERK CONTRACT, CITY CLERK, CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, PROCESS PLANNING COMMISSION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, VIRGINIA CODE 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A 29 AND EIGHT TO DISCUSS THE AWARD OF A PUBLIC CONTRACT OR DISCUSSION IN AN OPEN SESSION WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE CITY'S BARGAINING POSITION.
AND TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS, DISCUSSION OF AN UNSOLICITED OFFER OF REAL ESTATE, PROPERTY AND VIRGINIA CODE 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 180 8 TREASURERS AND DIRECTOR OF FINANCES DUTIES MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? A.
[RECONVENE OPEN MEETING ]
SO MOVED.MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY VICE MAYOR JOYNER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR HOLLOWAY.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO LIGHTS? ROLL CALL PLEASE.
[00:05:01]
COUNCILLOR STOKE.SEE IF I, I NOT OPPOSED? YEAH.
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE STATION 2.2 DASH THREE SEVEN D WE'RE ONLY PUBLIC.
LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS AND TWO IDENTIFIED ENCLOS MEETING.
ENCLOSED MEETING VICE MAYOR JOYNER? YES.
AT THIS TIME IS THERE A MOTION TO APPOINT, UH, MR. ARNOLD DAY TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION? SO MOVED.
MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY VICE MAYOR JOINER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR ELLIS.
UH, COUNCILLOR HOLLOWAY? WELL, JUST, I HAVEN'T GOTTEN CLARIFICATION, UH, UH, DIRECTLY FROM THIS CITY ATTORNEY.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT IT WAS TALKED TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS NO CONFLICT, THERE'S NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
UM, WITH MR. DAY SERVING, SEEING THAT, UH, HIS WIFE SERVES ON THE CITY COUNCIL, DOES THAT PRESENT ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST? THERE'S, THERE'S NO REASON THAT MR. DAY COULD NOT BE SELECTED, UM, AS TO WHO VOTES ON THE MATTER DEFENSE.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE THAT EVERY COUNSELOR HAS TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION ABOUT.
ABOUT WHAT? AND WHETHER VOTE ON SO AND, AND INCLUDING LIKE VOTES GOING FORWARD FOR PLANNING COMMISSION.
I'M SORRY, I I'M HAVING TROUBLE HEARING YOU COUNSELOR.
IS THAT THE SAME THING WITH VOTING GOING FORWARD? YOU MEAN TO SAY? I MEAN, IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, OH, WAIT, NEVERMIND.
'CAUSE IT, IT IS ALL IN PUBLIC INTEREST, SO NEVERMIND.
I, I I WHAT? I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S SOME FEEDBACK HAPPENING.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHY, BUT, UH, NEVERMIND.
I, I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT SOMETHING THAT KIND OF, UH, RELIEVES MY, UH, CONFLICT.
SO MY CONFLICT INQUIRY, I JUST WANTED TO GET THE CLARIFICATION, BUT I THINK, UM, I THINK IT'S FINE.
'CAUSE UM, IT'S AN, YOU KNOW, THIS, THOSE WOULD BE VOTES FOR PUBLIC INTEREST.
SO SHE COULD STILL THEN VOTE TONIGHT ACCORDING TO, I MEAN, THE INFORMATION THAT WE WERE GIVEN LAST TIME, I, NOW THAT I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THIS VOTE WOULD BE IN PUBLIC INTEREST, CORRECT? I'M NOT QUITE SURE I'M FOLLOWING THE QUESTION.
REMEMBER, WE WERE GIVEN THE, WE WERE GIVEN THE LEGAL LAST TIME THAT THE ONLY REASON IT WOULD BE A CONFLICT IS IF IT WOULD HAVE SOME PERSONAL BENEFIT.
BUT IN THIS CASE, THERE'S NO PERSONAL BENEFIT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VOTING FOR THE, FOR THE OVERALL PUBLIC'S BEST INTEREST.
THAT WAS THE INFORMATION THAT MR. CALEB, WHAT'S HIS NAME? KAYLA.
SO ANYWAY, MY, MY CONCERN WITH CONFLICT IS GONE.
I'M GONNA REFUSE MYSELF IN THE TODAY.
AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT IN THE MINUTES IT'S ANNOTATED THAT COUNSELOR DAY, UH, RECUSED HERSELF.
[COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS ]
UH, MOVING ON TO COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS.DO WE, WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? NO.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THAT DIDN'T SIGN UP? OKAY.
[WORK SESSION ]
MOVING RIGHT ON ALONG INTO WORK SESSIONS.SO, YEAH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
TONIGHT'S WORK SESSION, UH, IS REGARDING A RIGHT OF WAY VACATION REQUEST FOR PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY THAT'S ADJACENT TO, UH, THREE 19 MARYLAND AVENUE.
ALSO IDENTIFIED AS PARCEL 0 2 4 0 5 1 0 0 2 4 0 4 3 0.
[00:10:05]
AGAIN, THIS RIGHT OF WAIT, VACATION REQUEST, UH, IS A PIECE OF PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY THAT'S ACTUALLY ENCLOSED BY THOSE TWO PARCELS.OH 2 4 0 5 1 0 AND OH 2 4 0 4 3 0, APPROXIMATELY 746 SQUARE FEET.
THIS PROPERTY IN QUESTION IS LOCATED IN MORE TWO AND ZONED R TWO.
THERE'S AN IMAGE OF THE, UH, AN AERIAL OF THE CHURCH.
UH, THE APPLICANT IS, UM, THE WEST END PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HOPEWELL, AND THE PORTION SHOWN IN RED IS PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, AND THEY ARE ASKING FOR THE VACATION OF THAT.
UH, SO, UH, LIKE ANY OTHER RIGHT OF WAY VACATION REQUESTS, WE, WE SEND THE REQUEST OFF TO SEVERAL CITY DEPARTMENTS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO UTILITIES OR EASEMENTS, UM, THAT COINCIDE WITH A PARTICULAR RIGHT OF WAY.
AND, UM, THERE ARE NO UTILITIES OR EASEMENTS IN PLACE ACCORDING TO WATER RENEWAL.
PUBLIC WORKS OR STORM WATER STAFF IS RECOMMENDING TO APPROVE THE REQUEST TO VACATE THIS PORTION.
UH, WE DON'T SEE ANY POTENTIAL FUTURE USE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY AT DEAD ENDS FOR ONE.
UH, IT IT INHIBITS THE CHURCH FROM THEIR ABILITY TO EXPAND, UM, ANY OF THEIR BUILDINGS ON THE PROPERTY.
SO STAFF IS RECOMMENDING, UH, TO APPROVE THE REQUEST OF VACATE.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS, IF YOU HAVE ANY.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WARD? OKAY.
SEEING NONE, UH, THANK YOU MR. WARD.
UH, WE'LL MOVE INTO WORK SESSION NUMBER TWO, MS. MARTINEZ.
MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL TONIGHT, I COME BEFORE YOU AGAIN TO DISCUSS THE NOVA SOUTH OF AGREEMENT, UM, IN WHICH OUR LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING YOU HAD ASKED ME TO COME BACK WITH A MODIFIED VERSION, UH, THAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET.
IT IS STILL THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION THAT WE GO WITH THE ORIGINAL, UM, MOA, WHICH, UH, WILL HAVE NOVA OPERATING DURING OPERATIONAL HOURS.
UH, VICE MAYOR JOYNER, YOU HAD ASKED FOR COST PER HOUR TO OPERATE OUR BUILDING.
IT'S $259 AND 80 CENTS PER HOUR.
SO, UM, WITH THAT OPENING UP THREE HOURS EXTRA FOR SWIM TEAM IN THE MORNING IS $779 AND 40 CENTS TIMES TWO.
FOR TWO DAYS A WEEK IS 15 58 80.
AND DURING THAT TIMEFRAME, WE'RE ONLY GENERATING CURRENTLY $396 IN REVENUE.
SO THAT PUTS US AT A LOSS OF 11 62 80.
THE MODIFIED M-O-U-M-O-A, EXCUSE ME, UM, ACTUALLY HAS MOST OF WHAT SWAP HAS REQUESTED, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF INSTEAD OF HAVING FIVE LANES ON TUESDAY, THURSDAY, THEY'RE WORKING WITH FOUR LANES, BUT THEY GET THEIR MONDAYS, OH, SORRY, MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY, FOUR LANES 4 45 TO 7:45 PM TUESDAY, THURSDAY MORNINGS FROM 4 45 TO 7 45, AND THEN SATURDAY HOURS FOR THE THREE HOURS THAT THEY HAD REQUESTED.
UH, COUNSEL IN ORDER, OH, SORRY.
IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS MOA FEASIBLE, UH, WE ARE REQUESTING AN AQUATICS PROGRAM SPECIALIST FOR THE FOUR MONTHS AT $4,680.
SO THAT WOULD BE A TOTAL INVESTMENT OF $18,720 FOR THE FOUR MONTHS REMAINING OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
YOU, I'M OPEN FOR QUESTIONS NOW, MAYOR, IF YOU'RE COUNCIL HOLLOWAY, SO YOU WERE STILL SUGGESTING THE MODIFICATION, EVEN THOUGH THE SWIM TEAM, IT'S BASICALLY SAYING THEY WOULD HAVE TO CANCEL EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT DOESN'T WORK FOR THEM.
I'M SAYING THAT WE'RE OPERATING AT A LOSS, HAVING THEM IN THE POOL DURING, OUTSIDE OF OPERATIONAL HOURS.
AS I JUST MENTIONED, THE COST TO OPEN UP THE BUILDING FOR THEM IS $779 AND 40 CENTS PER DAY.
BUT, BUT WHY WOULD THERE BE A LOSS WHEN THEY WERE HERE SPECIFICALLY? ASK THEM THAT QUESTIONS, WHICH THEY SAID THEY WERE, UH, APPLICABLE TO PAY FOR THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE ONLY PAYING 11 CURRENTLY.
THE MOA IS $11 PER LANE PER HOUR.
THAT'S SIX LANES FOR THOSE HOURS THAT THEY WERE NOT OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
THAT'S $66 PER HOUR, UH, FOR THAT HOUR TIMES THE TWO DAYS A WEEK, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT $198.
AND THEN TIMES TWO IS 200, SORRY, $396.
NO, NO, NO, I'M NOT, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT FOR THE LANE
[00:15:01]
COSTS.WHEN THEY WERE HERE THAT NIGHT, SHE SAID SHE WAS WILLING TO, UM, TAKE ON THE COSTS AND PROVIDE THE NECESSARY STAFFING.
SO IT'D BE NO LOSS IF THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE ON THE EXPENSE.
BECAUSE MY QUESTION TO THEM WAS, UM, WOULD, WELL ONE, I ASKED THEM WOULD THEY BE COMING HERE ADDITIONALLY OR EARLIER THAN, UM, WHAT THE COMMUNITY CENTER OPENS.
AND THEY WERE SAYING, NO, NOT, NOT EARLIER THAN IT OPENS, BUT COMING TO, UM, DURING THE TIME THAT IT'S ALREADY OPENED.
BUT HAVING THAT ACCESSIBILITY OR, OR THAT NATURE.
BUT I FELT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT GETTING WITH THEM TO MAKE THE DIRECTION THAT WAS GIVEN FROM COUNCIL WAS GETTING WITH THEM TO SEE WHAT MIDDLE GROUND THERE COULD BE BECAUSE WE RISK LOSING THEM ALL TOGETHER IF WE COULDN'T AT LEAST GIVE ANOTHER LANE OR SO.
SO THEIR MIDDLE GROUND GROUND IS FOUR LANES MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 4 45 TO 7:45 PM TUESDAY, THURSDAY MORNINGS BEFORE THE BUILDING IS OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR THEIR SOLE USE OF SIX LANES AND THEN SIX LANES ON SATURDAYS.
'CAUSE WE'RE CURRENTLY CLOSED ON SATURDAYS UNTIL WE REOPENED, THEN THEY WOULD GO DOWN TO FOUR LANES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
YOUR QUESTION IN REGARDS TO WHAT THEY SAID, I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MS. WATERWORTH.
UM, WE CAN, WE CAN LOOK AT THE MINUTES AND THE VIDEO.
THEY SAID THEY WERE WILLING TO OCCUR THAT EXTRA COST IF I WERE TO GO DOWN ON THE LANE RENTAL COSTS.
SO AT SOME POINT THEY GOTTA FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS FOR THEIR BUDGET.
BUT I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW, BASED OFF MY PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS WITH HER, ASKING HER TO GET TO $15 AN HOUR WAS ALREADY A STRETCH.
SO IF WE WANT TO HAVE THEM COME IN OUTSIDE OF OPERATIONAL HOURS, THE COST PER LANE PER HOUR IS GONNA BE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT WHERE I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT.
BUT AGAIN, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF JUST BASED OFF OF PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS.
SO I'M SORRY, I I I THINK THAT IT WOULDN'T BE APPROPRIATE TO MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT.
I THINK WE NEED TO BRING THEM BACK IN TOGETHER.
UH, NOT JUST A PRESENTATION OR, SORRY.
YEAH, NO, I'M JUST SAYING, UH, TO BRING THEM BACK IN TOGETHER TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF, UM, HAVING WITH BOTH SIDES SO THAT WE CAN SEE BEFORE, BECAUSE IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THE WAY IT WAS PRESENTED TO US THE LAST TIME THAT WE NOW RISKED LOSING THEM ALTOGETHER.
IF, IF YOU, UH, IF THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT GOES THROUGH THAT IS WHAT THEIR STANCE IS.
UM, MY GOAL AS YOUR DIRECTOR OF RECREATION PARKS IS TO REBUILD OUR AQUATICS TEAM TO PROVIDE THAT ACCESSIBILITY TO OUR RESIDENTS.
IN ORDER FOR ME TO DO THAT, I HAVE TO HAVE LANE USAGE TO PROVIDE SWIM LESSONS, LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATIONS, POTENTIALLY BEGIN BEGINNER KAYAKING CLASSES.
AGAIN, I CAN'T DO THAT IF A OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION IS UTILIZING FIVE, FOUR, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, LANES NINE MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR.
SO WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHERE WE WANT OUR PRIORITIES AT SERVING THE RESIDENTS AND PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE SUBSIDIZE AC UH, ACCESS TO ACCESS, UH, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY OR HAVING AN OUTSIDE AGENCY COME IN AND MONOPOLIZE THAT ASSET.
WE, WE DEFINITELY DON'T, UH, I DON'T, UH, I DON'T STAND, UH, THINK ANY COUNCIL MEMBER UP HERE WILL, WILL TALK ABOUT MONOPOLIZING, WHICH IS WHY WE WERE VERY SPECIFIC, UM, WITH THE LANE USE, UH, MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, FIRST AND FOREMOST TO THE TAXPAYERS.
AND, BUT ALSO, UM, NEGOTIATING TIME USE, AND AGAIN, MEETING DOWN THE MIDDLE.
UH, THE OTHER THING WAS, UH, IT, IT SEEMS A, YOU COULD CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT IT SEEMS A LITTLE BIT OUS, I BELIEVE, TO, FOR US TO TAKE ON THOSE THINGS AT THE TIME, WHICH I BELIEVE YOU WERE SPEAKING ABOUT THE LAST TIME, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT, UM, FOR YOU TO FIND, UH, UH, QUALIFIED, UH, LIFEGUARDS AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.
AND THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN MORE EASILY OBTAIN.
SO ARE YOU SPEAKING OF NOW GOING FORWARD TO OFFER THESE AQUATICS? HAVE WE HAVE, HAVE STUFF TURNED AROUND TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU'RE NOW ABLE TO FIND THESE, UM, LIFEGUARDS AND SO FORTH AND SO ON THAT WERE NOT ACCESSIBLE TO YOU AT ALL AT FIRST? YES, SIR.
SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN OFFER OUT TO AN AQUATICS PROGRAM SPECIALIST, WHICH IS A POSITION THAT YOU ALL ALLOW ME TO COMBINE PART-TIME WAGES FOR.
SO WE HAVE THAT CANDIDATE, SHE'S IN THE PROCESS OF ONBOARDING.
SO THAT GIVES ME AN ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME.
THE REQUEST TODAY TO MAKE SURE THIS MOA HAPPENS THE WAY THAT THEY NOVA SOUTH WOULD LIKE IT TO HAPPEN IN REGARDS TO HAVING THE MORE ACCESSIBILITY,
[00:20:01]
I WOULD NEED THE ADDITIONAL 18,000, OUR BUDGET TO HAVE A SECONDARY.SO WE HAD TWO TOP CANDIDATES FOR THAT SPECIALIST POSITION, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE WANT OUR TOP CANDIDATE 'CAUSE WE ONLY HAD ONE FULL TIME POSITION.
WHAT'S THE ADDITIONAL 18,000 FOR THE SAME THAT WOULD GET ME THROUGH THE FOUR MONTHS REMAINING IN THIS FISCAL YEAR.
SO I CAN HIRE THAT SECOND SPECIALIST.
WHAT, WHAT IS THE NUMBERS THAT YOU WERE SAYING WE WERE LOSING IF WE WERE OPENING UP? WHEN WE OPEN THREE HOURS BEFORE TIMEFRAME, WE ARE LOSING $1,162 AND 80 CENTS BECAUSE WE ARE ONLY CURRENTLY GENERATING $396 OF REVENUE FOR THOSE TWO DATES.
NOW THIS MOA DOES BRING THEM UP TO $15 AN HOUR, WHICH WILL LOWER THE LOSS TO $1,018 AND 80 CENTS.
AND IS THIS PER WEEK, PER MONTH, PER YEAR? THAT, THAT WOULD BE PER WEEK.
BECAUSE THEY, THEY ONLY COME IN OUTSIDE OF OPERATIONAL HOURS RIGHT NOW, TUESDAY, THURSDAY MORNINGS, SATURDAYS I DO PLAN ON RESUMING.
SO THEY WOULD WORK WITHIN OUR OPERATIONAL HOURS AT THAT POINT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO.
UH, OFFICER COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL SPEAK, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEIR FEELINGS AND, AND THINGS ARE.
BUT I, I, I REALLY DON'T DESIRE TO LOSE THE SWIM TEAM.
UM, AND, AND I, I REALLY JUST DON'T DESIRE THAT.
AND, UM, YEAH, I, I I JUST HOPE THAT SOMETHING MORE AMENABLE CAN, CAN TAKE PLACE.
MAN AND THEN, UH, MYSELF, UM, MS. MARTINEZ, IS THIS THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT? SO BOTH OF 'EM ARE INCLUDED IN THERE THOUGH, IF YOU NOTICE ON PAGE FOUR.
I'M SORRY, MY EYES ARE NOT THAT GREAT.
SO THIS IS THE OLD PLUS THE NEW ONE THAT YOU, CORRECT? YES.
BOTH WERE IN INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET.
AND, UM, MS. LAURA, UM, UM, I'M SORRY, I FORGOT WATER AS WATER WORK.
UM, SHE ACTUALLY AGREED TO THE, THE OPTION WE HAVE ON THE SCREEN RIGHT HERE.
THIS, THAT OPTION THAT IS ON THE SCREEN CURRENTLY.
SO I JUST WANNA LET THE COUNSEL KNOW THAT THIS IS MORE THAN WHAT SHE'S RECEIVING NOW.
SO WE DID REACH A MIDDLE GROUND.
SHE EMAILED OVER SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT WE ANSWERED, UM, UH, TODAY.
UM, AND I, I THINK, UM, WE REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL, UM, LIFEGUARD, UM, IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS WORK AND IN ORDER TO KEEP IT OPEN BEFORE OURS.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE REQUEST IS TODAY.
CAN YOU GIMME SOME CLARIFICATION? 'CAUSE NOW I'M CONFUSED.
MY QUESTION WAS, DID, DID, ARE WE GOING WITH THIS AGREEMENT THAT SEEMS LIKE IT'S MIXED IN THE MIDDLE, BUT YOUR OPENING STATEMENT MIGHT HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECT BECAUSE YOU HAD SAID WE WERE, YOU WERE NOT RECOMMENDING WE'RE GOING WITH THIS NEW ONE.
YOU WERE GOING WITH THE ORIGINAL, WHICH IS WHY I WAS SPEAKING THE WAY I WAS.
SO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT GOING WITH THIS ONE, THIS MEETING DOWN THE MIDDLE, OR ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT GOING WITH THE ORIGINAL IT'S STAFF RECOMMENDATION THAT WE GO WITH THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION REQUEST, HOWEVER, BASED OFF OF THE FEEDBACK FROM CITY COUNCIL, I, WE HAVE COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THE SECOND ONE.
THAT'S WHY I WAS TRYING TO GIVE, I WAS SPEAKING TO THAT FACT.
WELL, I'LL HAVE TO END UP, YOU KNOW, REACHING OUT TO THEM AND, YOU KNOW, JUST, YOU KNOW, VERIFYING FOR MYSELF BECAUSE, I MEAN, THE ONLY REASON THAT I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS MIDDLE GROUND CAME ABOUT IS THEY SAW IT ON THE AGENDA AND NOBODY FROM THE CITY HAD REACHED OUT TO 'EM IN A MONTH.
I DID NOT REACH OUT TO THEM WITHIN THAT TIMEFRAME, BUT I DID TELL 'EM THAT WE WERE DOING A PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL IN REGARDS TO THE MOA.
SO DID YOU ASK, YOU KNOW, LAUREN OR MR. ROYSTER, HEY, CAN WE SIT DOWN AND HAVE A MEETING AND TALK, MAYOR? PARDON? THIS IS A FACILITY RENTAL.
IT'S THAT, THAT'S NOT MY QUESTION.
SO WHAT I'M ASKING NOW IS, WELL, NOT EVEN ASKING, I MEAN, IT, IT IS JUST, IT'S GOING BACK.
IT, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, A MIDDLE GROUND, YOU KNOW, I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT RIGHT NOW I'M GONNA HAVE TO VERIFY THIS, YOU KNOW, ON MY OWN BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT THIS HAS BEEN GIVEN THE RESPECT AND HAS, YOU KNOW, GONE THROUGH WHAT THE WISHES OF COUNSEL WAS.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S A WORK SESSION.
WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT TONIGHT.
BUT I'M JUST VERY DISAPPOINTED.
I I WOULD, I WOULD DI ALL THOSE SAME SENTIMENTS BECAUSE IT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS, WE GAVE DIRECTION ON WHAT WAS IMPORTANT TO US, AND I THINK MOST OF COUNCIL, AT LEAST THAT NIGHT, WAS VERY SPECIFIC IN, IN THAT DIRECTION.
SO AGAIN, I I, FOR ME IT WOULD BE LET'S GET THEM IN HERE AT THE SAME TIME.
I MEAN, THE THING IS, WE COULD ALL WORK TOGETHER FOR THIS.
OTHER FACILITIES ARE ABLE TO DO THIS WHERE THEY CAN WORK WITH CITIZEN PROGRAMMING.
WE ALSO ASKED FOR A PLAN ON EXPANDING OUT HOURS FOR MORE WEEKEND ACCESS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE STILL DON'T HAVE THAT.
[00:25:03]
I, I'M JUST, I'M, I'M GONNA HAVE TO JUST REACH OUT TO LAUREN AND MR. ROYSTER MYSELF.LEMME KNOW WHAT THE MOA IS GONNA BE, SIR, AND WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.
I, I, I THINK THAT IS AN INAPPROPRIATE I AGREE.
BUT I'M NOT EVEN GONNA ENTERTAIN THE DISRESPECTFUL, SO, WELL, I THINK STILL I SPEAK TO IT, I THINK THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR YOU TO RESPOND IN THAT MANNER.
UH, I THINK IT WAS QUITE, IT, IT WAS DISRESPECTFUL, IT WAS CONDESCENDING IN THE MOST INAPPROPRIATE WAY.
BUT ANY RATE, UM, AGAIN, I THINK LIKE GOING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, I HAVE MORE CHILDREN PROBABLY THAN ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM.
SO, AND, AND MY KIDS ARE VERY ACTIVE, OUR HONOR ROLL STUDENTS, THANK GOD, AND VERY ACTIVE IN, IN, IN SPORTS.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR I THINK ANY CITIZEN IN THIS ROOM TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE THAT ACCESSIBILITY INSIDE OF THE, UM, INSIDE OF THE, UH, COMMUNITY CENTER.
UH, HOWEVER, I, I STILL THINK THAT EVEN THE CITIZENS WOULD AGREE TO, LIKE, IF THEIR SWIM TEAM, ANYBODY CAN JOIN THE SWIM TEAMS AND SO FORTH, THAT THEY STILL WANT SOME TYPE OF, UM, YOU KNOW, ROAD DOWN THE MIDDLE, BRING US THOSE COSTS AS TO HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO EXTEND HOURS, UM, TO THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, UM, MAPPING OUT, YOU KNOW, NEW COSTS, WE TAKE ON COSTS.
I MEAN, LIKE, THESE ARE, THIS IS FOR OUR CITIZENS.
UM, WHATEVER WE HAVE TO BE AMENABLE TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WORKS.
WE, WE JUST, WE HAVE TO GET THERE.
SO TO OPEN UP AN ADDITIONAL, OUR SATURDAY HOURS TO RESUME OUR SATURDAY HOURS AND THE EXTRA HOUR ON THE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, IT'LL BE A TOTAL INVESTMENT OF $155,360 AND 40 CENTS FOR THE YEAR.
SO, I MEAN, WHY ISN'T THAT INCLUDED IN OUR PACKET? NOT THOSE NUMBERS, RIGHT? YEAH, I MEAN, I APOLOGIZE.
IT WAS NOT, UH, THIS DISCUSSION WAS PART OF THE MOA, I BELIEVE THAT WAS A SEPARATE ONE THAT WAS COMING OUT TO YOU GUYS IN THE EMAIL.
SO THAT'S MY MISUNDERSTANDING.
[REGULAR MEETING]
AND CALL THE REGULAR MEETING ORDER.I, THIS IS THE ATTENDANCE FOR THE REGULAR MEETING.
UH, AT THIS TIME WE'LL HAVE THE PRAYER BY EVANGELIST FILED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY COUNCILLOR DAY.
FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY ONCE AGAIN, GOD, THAT YOU'VE GRANTED US WITH GOD.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US TO THIS POINT THIS DAY.
GOD AND LORD, AS WE COME TOGETHER, FATHER WITH THE CITY OFFICIALS AND ALL OF THOSE CITIZENS, GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU COME INTO THE MIDST, FATHER GOD, AND BRING AN ATMOSPHERE OF PEACE.
LORD, ALLOW EVERYONE TO BE ON THE SAME ACCORD.
FATHER GOD, THAT THE AGENDA AND THE CON ON THE AGENDA, THE CONCERNS AND CARES WILL BE ADDRESSED APPROPRIATELY, DECENTLY, AND IN ORDER.
AMENS TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL FOR LIBERTY.
ALRIGHT, THIS TIME IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE REGULAR MEETING AGENDA? SO MOVED.
MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY COUNCILOR HOLLOWAY AND SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR JOINER.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEE NO LIGHTS.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? SECOND.UH, MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY COUNCILLOR DAY, SECONDED BY MYSELF.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO LIGHTS? ROLL CALL PLEASE.
[INFORMATION/PRESENTATIONS]
TO INFORMATION PRESENTATIONS.[00:30:04]
UM, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND, UH, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.UH, I'M HERE TONIGHT, UH, AS AN INFORMATION PRESENTATION.
UH, THERE'S NO ACTION REQUESTED TONIGHT.
I WOULD, I WILL BE COMING BACK, UM, WITH, UM, MS. MARTINEZ IN, UM, TWO WEEKS AT THE NEXT MEETING, UH, TO ASK FOR A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR A, UH, UH, AN EARMARK THAT, UH, WE ARE PURSUING.
SO, UM, THE WAY THAT THIS CAME ABOUT ESSENTIALLY IS WE MEET REGULARLY WITH OUR, UH, GRANT WRITING CONSULTANTS, UH, THAT ARE UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF HOPEWELL AND A RETAINER TO IDENTIFY PROJECTS, UH, AND POSSIBILITIES FOR APPLICATIONS FOR, FOR EARMARK FUNDING AND OTHER THINGS.
AND, UM, WE WERE GOING DOWN THE LIST OF PROJECTS AND, UH, IN THE CITY AND LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT EARMARK, UM, PROPOSALS, UH, THAT, UH, FUNDING SOURCES WE COULD APPLY FOR.
AND THERE WAS A REALLY, REALLY GOOD MATCH BETWEEN THE HUD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, EARMARK PROGRAM AND THE, UH, HOPEWELL COMMUNITY CENTER SPECIFICALLY, UH, SOME OF THE, UM, AIR CONDITIONING VENTILATION, AND THEN THE UPGRADES TO THE, UM, UH, LOCKER ROOMS, UH, FOR ACCESSIBILITY.
AND SO, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE DO, UH, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT WE LOOK AT IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS ESSENTIALLY THE LIFESTYLES AND AMENITIES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE, UH, WITHIN THE CITY.
AND SO I MET WITH, UH, A DIRECTOR MARTINEZ, WHO WAS, UH, WHO WAS OUT, UM, UH, FOR, FOR TRAINING.
UH, WE MET, UM, AND TRADED TEXT MESSAGES AND INFORMATION THAT WE MET AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON BEFORE THIS PRESENTATION TO MAKE SURE WE WERE ON THE SAME PAGE.
WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER TO GET ALL THE INFORMATION IN ORDER FOR THE GRANT WRITERS TO MAKE THIS APPLICATION.
UH, THEY FEEL LIKE, UH, THAT A, UH, ENHANCEMENT TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH IS OPEN TO ALL OF OUR, OUR CITIZENS, UM, AND SERVES EVERYONE IN THE CITY, IS A REALLY GREAT, UH, PROJECT FOR THE, FOR THIS FUNDING.
AND SO, UM, YOU'LL SEE THIS FUNDING ALSO IN, IN THE CAP REQUEST, ALSO IN THE, IN THE CAPITAL PLAN FROM RECREATION AND PARKS.
I'VE SEEN THE RECREATION AND PARKS PLAN.
AND, UM, AND, UH, SO THIS WOULD BE, IF WE GET THIS EARMARK FUNDING, THEN IT WOULD OBVIOUSLY REPLACE, UM, HAVING TO GET THIS REVENUE FROM, FROM INTERNALLY THE CITY.
SO, UM, IN THE PACKET THAT YOU HAVE, YOU'LL ALSO SEE, UH, DESCRIPTIONS ABOUT THAT PROGRAM AND OTHER PROGRAMS. AND, UH, UH, DIRECTOR CROCKER IS GONNA BE COMING AND SPEAKING ABOUT SOME OF THE PUBLIC WORKS THINGS AS WELL.
BUT, UH, THAT IS WHY I'M HERE.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED IS THAT, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT, IT RESTS ON TOP OF, UH, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE STRONG, VIBRANT, UH, COMMUNITY CENTER.
UH, WHICH I LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE WAS WHERE I LEARNED NOT TO DROWN.
I DID, I DIDN'T REALLY LEARN TO SWIM THERE, BUT I LEARNED NOT TO DROWN THERE.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S HELPED ME MY WHOLE LIFE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. BENNETT? OKAY.
MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL MARK CROCKER, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, ACTING DIRECTOR OF WATER RENEWAL.
UM, JUST FOLLOWING UP ON WHAT CHARLES HAD SAID, UH, EARMARK IS A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR US, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY TO ESSENTIALLY USE FEDERAL FUNDING TO, UM, REPLACE FUNDING THAT WE WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE TO USE LOCAL DOLLARS FOR.
UM, I, I'LL BE ALSO BE COMING BACK TOWARDS THE END OF THE MONTH.
UM, RIGHT NOW WE'RE PURSUING A PATH OF A WATER PROJECT.
UM, WE HAVE PLENTY OF NEEDS IN WATER.
UM, THE TYPICAL ASK FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS WOULD BE 2 MILLION OR LESS.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A 80 20 EARMARK, SO 20% WOULD NEED TO COME FROM THE CITY.
UH, THE PROJECT WOULD NEED TO COMMENCE TOWARDS THE END OF CALENDAR YEAR 2026.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE A PROJECT IN HAND AT THE MOMENT, UM, BUT WHEN WE DO COME BACK TOWARDS THE END OF THE MONTH, IN TWO WEEKS, WE'LL HAVE A PROJECT AND WE'LL NEED A VOTE, UH, SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE 20%.
UM, SO PURE TONIGHT IS PURELY INFORMATIONAL.
UM, FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS IF
[00:35:01]
YOU'D LIKE, AND IF NOT, THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE.ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, FOR MR. CROCKER? OKAY.
UM, I DON'T HAVE A, A QUESTION, BUT MORE JUST A COMMENT.
UM, IT, THERE'S ALSO, UM, SOME POCKETS OF MONEY, UM, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT I THINK JENNIFER MCCLELLAN'S OFFICE, OUR CONGRESSWOMAN FOR THIS AREA, UM, COULD HELP US WITH, UM, HER CHIEF OF STAFF OR POLICY PERSON.
UH, HIS NAME IS DONALD POLLARD.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SPOKEN OR TALKED WITH HIM, HIM ANY, UM, BUT HE CAN HELP GUIDE THROUGH, IN ADDITION TO THIS, SOME OF THESE OTHER BUCKETS OF MONEY THAT COULD HELP US GET SOME FEDERAL FUNDS TO HELP FIX, UM, OUR WASTEWATER PLANT AND SOME, YOU KNOW, STORMWATER ISSUES, UM, AS WELL.
SO OUR GRANT WRITER HAS BEEN IN, UH, CONTACT WITH MR. POLLARD.
UM, AND BY VIRTUE OF MY FORMER POSITIONS, I HAVE PRETTY GOOD CONNECTIONS WITH THOSE FOLKS.
I KEEP AN EYE ON THAT STUFF, WHETHER IT'S REALLY MY RESPONSIBILITY OR NOT.
IF IT BENEFITS THE CITY, THEN THAT'S BY ALL MEANS ALL GOOD.
UM, AND I'LL PUSH IT TO WHOMEVER IS RESPONSIBLE, BUT, UH, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PENDING EARMARK TWO FOR HERETIC NOW THAT'S PENDING IN THE CURRENT FEDERAL BUDGET.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GONNA MATERIALIZE WITH THAT.
SO, UM, I'M NOT REALLY HOLDING OUT HOPE FOR THAT ONE, BUT WE'LL KEEP PUSHING ANYTIME THERE IS A EARMARK OPPORTUNITY.
OR, OR OTHER FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TO PUT A PROJECT TO IT.
AND THEN I KNOW THAT WE HAD A CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, ABOUT SOME UNRELATED PROJECTS, BUT WITH THE HERETIC PROJECT, DO YOU FORESEE THAT ONE, YOU KNOW, LET'S JUST FOR CONVERSATION SAKE, SAY WE DO GET THAT EARMARK.
DO YOU GUYS FORESEE, YOU KNOW, A BIG, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL INCREASE THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO AND BUDGET FOR? UH, IF WE GET THE EARMARK NOT AS BIG AS THE ASK WILL BE RIGHT.
RIGHT NOW THE ASK FOR THE NEXT BUDGET WILL BE FOR THE FULL PROJECT COST.
UM, IF WE GOT THE EARMARK, IT WOULD DRASTICALLY REDUCE THAT OR ALLOW US TO REPURPOSE THAT FOR ANOTHER PROJECT THAT'S THE FULL PROJECT COST.
WELL I KNOW WHAT IT WAS, YOU KNOW, WHEN STEVEN EDWARDS FIRST PUT IT TOGETHER, BUT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, DRASTICALLY, YOU KNOW, INCREASE SINCE THEN.
WHAT WAS THAT? SO WHAT IS IT NOW? UH, WELL I THINK WHEN, UM, STEPHEN EDWARDS HAD, IT WAS LIKE $800,000, BUT I THINK IT'S MUCH MORE THAN THAT NOW.
IT, IT IS, I MEAN, WITH COVID INCREASES SUPPLY CHAIN, IT'S NORTH OF 2 MILLION.
DON'T PUT ME ON THE EXACT FIGURE, BUT WITH, UM, WITH THE PROJECT ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION, IT'S NORTH OF 2 MILLION.
ALSO, ALSO, I, I DID TO WHAT THE, UM, THE MAYOR WAS SAYING THAT, BUT THAT, 'CAUSE I MEAN, IT'S GOOD THAT YOU HAD THOSE CONNECTIONS.
'CAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS, WHEN WE HAD A MEETING, I THINK THERE WAS, UH, THE CITY MANAGER, UH, AND I ATTENDED A MEETING WITH, UM, WITH THE CONGRESSWOMAN AND SHE WAS SAYING THAT O OVERALL WAS MISSING OUT ON THOSE FUNDS.
ALSO WITH THE CRATER UH, PLANNING COMMISSION AS WELL.
THEY HAVE SOME NEW STAFF THERE, UM, THAT IS VERY VERSED ON GRANT FUNDING AND STUFF THAT CAN KIND OF LIKE MOVE WITH THESE PROJECTS BASED UPON CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
SO IF YOU HAVEN'T REACHED OUT TO THEM TOO, THAT'D PROBABLY BE GREAT.
THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL WITH THE MPO AND GETTING FUNDING, ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS WHERE WE HAVE A DEFICIT.
THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL WITH THAT.
UM, I WILL SAY THIS, I'LL OFFER THIS UP AS, YOU KNOW, A A SHAMELESS PLUG FOR A FORMAL FORMER PROGRAM.
AND IT'S REALLY CONTINGENT UPON AUDITS.
UM, HOPEWELL BEING A DISADVANTAGED LOCALITY WITH A LOWER MHI HAS SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES WHEN WE'RE FINANCIALLY CAPABLE AND NEED TO BORROW MONEY THAT SOME OF THAT MONEY GETS GIVEN TO US IN THE FORM OF PRINCIPLE FORGIVENESS AND PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS.
I MEAN, WE WOULD LIKELY QUALIFY DEPENDING ON OUR SEWER RATES.
IT IS A CONDITION OF WHERE YOUR RATES ARE AT RELATIVE TO MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN GET A 0% LOAN AND PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS.
UM, BUT A LOT OF THAT MONEY THAT'S SOLD OUT TO THE STATES HAS TO COME TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, ESPECIALLY DISADVANTAGED ONES IN THE FORM OF PRINCIPLE FORGIVENESS.
SO IT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP OUR EYE ON FOR THE FUTURE FOR SURE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEVER LEAVES MY MIND, BUT I ALSO SPENT 10 YEARS WORKING ON IT, SO IT'S FOREFRONT FOR ME AND OH, BEFORE YOU FINISH.
UM, WELL, WITH THAT, I MEAN THAT'S A, YOU KNOW, GREAT CAVEAT TO KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, OUR AUDIT ISSUE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO ON THE SCHOOL SIDE IN ORDER TO KEEP, YOU KNOW, HEAD START MONEY, WE WERE ABLE TO DO, I THINK THEY CALL 'EM LIKE SPOT AUDITS OR QUICK AUDITS.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU AND DR.
MAKER HAVE MAYBE EXPLORED IN TALKING WITH THE STATE THAT THEY COULD COME IN AND DO SPOT AUDITS TO SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW FISCALLY SOUND WE ARE AT THE WASTEWATER PLANT.
SEE IF WE CAN QUALIFY FOR SOME OF THAT MONEY.
UM, SO HAVING WORKED WITH VIRGINIA RESOURCES AUTHORITY AS THEIR PARTNER IN THE, MY FORMER PROGRAM,
[00:40:01]
UM, WE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO HAVE A FULL AUDIT.UM, THEY'RE NOT THE, IT'S JUST A CONDITION OF THE BOND HOLDERS.
IT IS, IF WE COULD CERTAINLY DO IT.
YEAH, WE'LL PUSH THAT DIRECTION.
I'M, I'M TRYING TO THINK CREATIVELY
UH, MADE YOU READ REED MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UM, WE TOO ARE, UH, REQUESTING FEDERALLY EARMARKED FUNDING.
UM, AND WE WANT TO USE IT TO ENHANCE OUR CURRENT, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY TECHNOLOGY BY THE WAY OF FLOCK.
UM, WHICH YOU'LL SEE UP HERE IS, UH, FULL CITY COVERAGE OF, UH, SHOT DETECTION, GUNSHOT DETECTION, UM, ENHANCED LPR FLOCK OS UH, FLOCK 9 1 1.
AND WHAT IT DOES BASICALLY CENTRALIZES ALL OF OUR CURRENT TECHNOLOGY TO INCLUDE OUR RICOTTA CAMERAS IN THE ONE PLACE.
IT WORKS WITH OUR 9 1 1 DISPATCH SYSTEM.
SO WHEN OFFICERS ARE DISPATCHED, THEY CAN HEAR THE LIVE CALL, UM, FROM THE CALL.
IT WILL ALSO INCORPORATE ALL THE CAMERAS IN THAT GENERAL AREA, UM, IF IT HAS SMART DETECTION AS WELL.
SO IF A VEHICLE'S INVOLVED, THAT VEHICLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE, UM, PICKED UP ON ANY OF THE LPR AS IT GOES THROUGH.
AND THAT WILL BE SENT TO THE OFFICERS.
IT'LL ENHANCE OUR INVESTIGATIVE CAPABILITIES.
IT'LL REDUCE CALL, UH, RESPONSE TIMES, UM, AND, AND DEFINITELY HELP REDUCE THE SHOTS FIRED SOME OF THE VIOLENCE THAT WE'RE SEEING CURRENT CITY.
UM, IT IS IN THE AMOUNT OF $999,000.
UM, WHEN SPEAKING WITH SU UH, SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES, THAT'S THE, THE, THE SWEET SPOT THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT THAT WE NEED TO BE AROUND, UM, WITH THIS FEDERAL REQUEST.
THE MONEY COMES FROM, UH, COPS TECHNOLOGY GRANT FUNDING, AS WELL AS, UH, BURN GRANT FUNDING AS WELL.
SO IS THIS KIND OF LIKE A REAL CRIME DATA CENTER? IS, AM I KIND OF GETTING THAT OUTTA THAT OR TO AN EXTENT, TO AN EXTENT.
UM, IS IT JUST GETTING US THERE ANOTHER, ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS THAT? SO WHAT THIS, THIS IS A REAL TIME CRIME CENTER ON THE OFFICER'S MDT AND THEIR CELL PHONE.
THIS ISN'T JUST A ROOM WITH SCREENS WHERE WE HAVE TO MONITOR OR, OR PAY SOMEONE TO MONITOR MM-HMM
EVERYONE HAS DISABILITY IN THE AGENCY.
UM, AND AS OUR OFFICERS ARE RESPONDING TO CALLS SUPERVISORS, THEY CAN GO LIVE ON THEIR BODY-WORN CAMERAS.
ALL OF OUR TECHNOLOGY TIES INTO IT TO INCLUDE DRONES FOOTAGE.
IF WE DEPLOY DRONES THAT CAN BE TIED IN.
UM, IF, UH, THE SHOT DETECTION, AS SOON AS THE GUNSHOTS GO OFF, IT IMMEDIATELY LINKS WITH EVERY LPR AND PTA CAMERA.
ALSO WITH THE SYSTEM, WE CAN REGISTER 700 ADDITIONAL CAMERAS THROUGHOUT THE CITY WITH THE, WITH CITIZENS AND BUSINESS APPROVAL.
SO THAT WOULD GIVE US A LOT OF THE TECHNOLOGY AS WELL.
SO IT'S NOT JUST, NOT JUST LIMITED TO WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, IT'S WHAT WE CAN KIND OF GET THAT APPROVAL FROM CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES AND, AND KIND OF GROW, YOU KNOW, OUR MAPPING WITH, SO TO SPEAK.
UM, IT ALSO, UH, HAS GPS TECHNOLOGY ON IT TO WHERE, UM, IF THERE'S AN OFFICER DOWN SITUATION, THERE'S OFFICER SAFETY PARAMETERS IN PLACE.
IT JUST GIVES US A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN ADVANTAGE.
UM, COUNCILOR HOLLOWAY, UH, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL.
UH, WITH THE RECENT SHOOTINGS, THIS WAS, UH, ONE OF HIS THINGS, YOU KNOW, CITIZENS ARE QUITE, UH, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN BROUGHT UP TO SPEED SPECIFICALLY, UH, WITH THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIKE LICENSE PLATE READERS AND SO FORTH.
SO EVERYBODY THINKS THE LICENSE PLATE READERS ARE, UH, CAMERAS IN THERE.
LIKE, HOW COME PEOPLE DON'T, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THEY'RE KIND OF GETTING MAD AT THE, YOU KNOW, POLICE DEPARTMENT AND, AND THINGS OF THE NATURE IN THE CITY.
AND SO PUBLICLY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF CLEARING THE AIR WITH SOME OF THAT TO LET THEM KNOW, LIKE, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE IF THERE'S CAMERAS AND ACCESS TO IT, WE WILL GET ON THAT.
SO I'M WHY SUPPORTED THIS ALSO AFTER THIS MONEY IS DONE AND PUT INTO PLACE? DO WE HAVE AN ESTIMATED COST OF HOW MUCH THIS WILL COST ON? YES.
UM, SO THIS FUNDING WOULD PROBABLY BE LATE 2026.
WE WOULD PROBABLY PUT IT INTO EFFECT HOPEFULLY IF, IF WE'RE AWARDED, AWARDED THE MONEY, UM, OF, UH, 2027 JANUARY.
SO IN 2029, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT, WITH THIS CURRENT PACKAGE, WHICH IS BEEFED UP FULL COVERAGE OF THE CITY, UH, JUST UNDER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS MOVING FORWARD WITH, FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY TECHNOLOGY.
HALF NOW, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, SO IT'S GONNA COST THE CITY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS EVERY TWO YEARS, YOU'RE SAYING? NO, I'M SAYING EVERY YEAR.
BUT THIS PACKAGE IS BUILT TO WHERE WE CAN REDUCE IT.
I DON'T EXPECT WE'RE GONNA NEED 10 MILE RADIUS GUNSHOT DETECTIONS.
THIS JUST FITS THE CURRENT EARMARK FUNDING REQUEST.
UM, THAT'S WHERE THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY COMES FROM, IS THE ACTUAL RAVEN SYSTEM ITSELF.
REMEMBER, WE'VE, WE'VE GOT PLANTS, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF AREA THAT WE DON'T NEED THAT COVERAGE FROM.
SO I COULD SEE THIS ALMOST CUT IN HALF DEPENDING ON WHAT DATA, UM, AND INTELLIGENCE SHOWS US OVER THE COURSE OF THOSE TWO YEARS.
UM, SO I, I THINK I, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY IN SUPPORT TO, TO THE CITIZENS, 'CAUSE I KNOW THEY'RE PROBABLY THINKING LIKE, MY GOSH, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
[00:45:01]
THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE GIVEN, THIS WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY HAVE AN IMPACT, UM, ON THE REDUCTION OF CRIME.AND, UM, I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT, UM, OUR COUNTY CITIZENS LOOK, YOU KNOW, LOOK FOR.
AND ALSO, UM, INCOMING PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF PURCHASE HOUSES AND, YOU KNOW, HOUSING STOCK AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT AND OUR CITY.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY WILL HELP MAJORLY REDUCE THAT CRIME.
IT WILL DEFINITELY PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN CRIME REDUCTION.
AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ACTION FOR THIS TONIGHT.
SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS, UH, GAIN APPROVAL.
SO WHEN IT DOES OPEN, SO ONCE THE CURRENT, UH, APPROPRIATION BILL IS MAKE THROUGH HOUSE SENATE AND THEY'RE APPROVED, UM, THEN ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER THIS WILL OPEN AND THEN GO INTO NEXT YEAR'S.
SO WE'RE LOOKING TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT OUR REQUEST, UM, AND TRY TO PURSUE THIS.
MR. UM, MR. UH, CITY ATTORNEY, HOW WOULD I MOVE TO, UH, APPROPRIATELY ASK FOR THAT IN ACCORDANCE TO, SO THESE ARE ALL PRESENTATIONS.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE COMING BACK ON THE AGENDA FOR THE 25TH FOR APPROVING.
SO THIS IS, THIS IS TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION SO YOU'RE NOT HAVING TO APPROVE SOMETHING THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU'RE HERE.
THIS IS THE NEW MEETING STYLE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
AND, ALRIGHT, ONE MORE THING, IF YOU DON'T MIND IT.
THE EXACT NUMBER WITH THE CURRENT PACKAGE AFTER TWO YEARS THAT IT WOULD COST THE CITY AGAIN, UM, WITH THE SPACE OF $350,000 OF THAT IS THE GUNSHOT DETECTION.
SO BY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF RAVEN SYSTEMS, WHICH IS WHAT THE GUNSHOT DETECTION'S CALLED, UM, OR FORMALLY CALLED THAT WOULD REDUCE THE OVERALL COST TO THE CITY MOVING FORWARD.
[PUBLIC HEARING]
UH, MOVING ON TO, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS.UH, MR. WARD, WHILE YOU COME UP, UM, CAN WE HAVE YOU READ THE STATEMENT, UM, MADAM CLERK, ALL PERSONS ADDRESSING THE COUNSEL SHALL STEP TO THE MICROPHONE, GIVE THEIR NAME, AND IF THEY RESIDE IN HOPEWELL, THEIR BOARD NUMBER IN LIMIT IS TO THREE MINUTES.
NO ONE MAY ADDRESS THE COUNCIL MORE THAN ONCE PER MEETING, UNLESS GRANTED PERMISSION BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER.
SPEAKERS ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AS A BODY, NOT INDIVIDUAL COUNSELORS.
QUESTIONS ARE ASKED OF COUNSELORS AND STAFF THROUGH THE PRESIDING OFFICER.
ANY PERSON WHO MAKES PERSONAL IMPERTINENT ABUSIVE OR LANDER STATEMENTS OR INSIGHTS.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER MAY BE REPRIMAND, REPRIMANDED BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER AND REMOVED FROM THE MEETING UPON A MAJORITY VOTE OF COUNSELORS PRESENT, EXCLUDING ANY COUNSELOR WHO IS SUBJECT OF THE MOTION.
OKAY, MR. WARD, GOOD EVENING AGAIN.
UM, TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING IS TO SOLICIT PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THE CITY'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PRIORITIES IN PREPARATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NEW FIVE YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN.
SO, UH, HUD REQUIRES THAT THE CITY, UH, DEVELOP AND ADOPT WHAT THEY CALL A A FIVE YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN.
UH, IT BASICALLY ESTABLISHES, UM, PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY ARE SPENDING PRIORITIES.
AND OUR CURRENT ONE, UH, RAN FROM 2020 UNTIL THIS YEAR, 2025.
SO WE ARE IN OUR FIFTH PROGRAM YEAR.
UH, BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME QUICK, UH, BACKGROUND ON THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK RAMP PROGRAM IN GENERAL.
UH, HOPEWELL IS AN ENTITLEMENT COMMUNITY.
SO WE AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE FUNDING FROM HUD EVERY YEAR.
WE DON'T NEED TO APPLY FOR IT.
THAT AMOUNT, UH, THAT WE RECEIVE NOW, TYPICALLY IS AROUND 245, 200 $50,000 TOTAL.
HUD'S MISSION IS TO CREATE STRONG, SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES WITH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR ALL.
AND, UH, AS A PROGRAM, CDBG FUNDS MUST, UH, THE EXPENDITURE OF CDBG FUNDS MUST MEET ONE OF THREE NATIONAL OBJECTIVES.
THE FIRST ONE BEING BENEFIT TO LOW TO MODERATE INCOME PERSONS, THE PREVENTION OF SLUMS AND BLIGHT OR URGENT NEED, WHICH TYPICALLY WOULD BE A, UH, FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTER.
OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, THE CITY'S RECEIVED TOTAL ABOUT $1.5 MILLION.
AND HISTORICALLY, THE CITY SPENDS, UH, ABOUT HALF OF ITS ALLOCATION ON, UH, EMERGENCY HOME REPAIR FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME, UH, OWNER OCCUPANTS.
AND THEN, UH, WE SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF OUR MONEY, ABOUT 15%, WHICH WE'RE CAPPED AT ON PUBLIC SERVICE.
AND THEN WE HAVE, UM, SOME VARIATION IN OUR SPENDING.
UH, ONE YEAR IT'S BEEN, UH, SOME INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
[00:50:01]
DONE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO SOME CITY PARKS.AND, UH, IN THIS CURRENT YEAR, WE ACTUALLY FUNDED A SECOND EMERGENCY HOME REPAIR PROVIDER, UH, WHO'S DOING ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY HOME REPAIRS.
OUR CURRENT PLAN STATES THE FOLLOWING, FUNDING GOALS, OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSING, REHAB ASSISTANCE, HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, SENIOR AND YOUTH SERVICES.
WE NEED TO DO A MEETING EXTENSION SINCE WE STARTED THE MEETING AT FIVE O'CLOCK.
UM, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING UNTIL WE FINISH, UH, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING THERE, THE, SO MOVE.
MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY VICE MAYOR.
JOIN AND SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR HOLLOWAY.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO LIGHT ROLL CALL PLEASE? VICE MAYOR, JOIN.
UH, JUST TO FINISH OUT SOME OF THE, UH, FUNDING PRIORITIES OF OUR CURRENT CONSOLIDATED PLAN WOULD BE SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CHILDCARE SERVICES, NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUPS, PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, AND FOOD BANKS.
SO AS WE ARE DEVELOPING OUR NEW FIVE YEAR PLAN, UH, WE WILL BE SOLICITING PUBLIC COMMENT IN SEVERAL WAYS TONIGHT BEING THE FIRST, UH, WE DON'T ANTICIPATE GETTING A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT THIS EVENING, BUT IT IS THE FIRST OF MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE WILL BE SOLICITING PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, THE OTHER WAYS WILL BE THROUGH A SURVEY, THROUGH CONSULTATION WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS THROUGH THE CITY WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND OF COURSE ANYONE CAN CONTACT OUR DEPARTMENT IN ANY WAY, UH, IF THEY HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THE CITY'S PRIORITIES, GOALS, OR FUNDING STRATEGIES.
SO I'M NOT ASKING FOR ANY, UH, ACTION FROM CITY COUNCIL THIS EVENING.
IT WAS MORE, UH, JUST TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF OUR, THE START OF OUR, UH, DEVELOPING OUR CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE SOLICITING PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL AS YOURS, UH, IN TERMS OF THE CITY'S FUNDING STRATEGIES GOING FORWARD IN THE NEXT FIVE YEAR PLAN, I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WARD BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY.
SEEING NO LIGHTS, I'M GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON IT? WE DO NOT, NO.
IS THERE ANYONE ON THE, IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC THAT DIDN'T SIGN UP? NO.
UM, ONLY COMMENT THAT I HAVE IN, UM, THANK YOU MR. WARD FOR, YOU KNOW, BRINGING THIS UP AND STARTING THE, UH, THE PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, PROCESS.
UM, I, I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, ALL THE INS AND OUTS WITH, UM, WITH HUD AND UM, CDBG MONEY, BUT, YOU KNOW, COULD WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, ADDING SCHOOLS AS ONE OF THOSE AREAS, LIKE HELPING WITH SOME OF THEIR, UM, CAPITAL NEEDS? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S A FUNDING STRATEGY UNDER CDBG.
UM, THINGS, UH, SOME TYPICAL TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SOLICIT, UH, WOULD BE SOME SMALL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
TYPICALLY LIKE A $75,000 OR LESS.
'CAUSE WE JUST DON'T GET A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY TO BEGIN WITH.
THOSE ARE TOUGH TO FIND 'CAUSE INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS ARE EXPENSIVE.
UM, ANY PART, ANY PARTS THAT NEED SOME IMPROVEMENTS, THOSE WOULD BE GOOD TYPES OF PROJECTS.
UM, OF COURSE HOUSING REHAB SEEMS TO BE EMERGENCY HOME REPAIR SEEMS TO BE A PRETTY POPULAR PROGRAM IN HOPEWELL.
UH, THE CITY'S BEEN DOING THAT FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.
UM, WE GET GOOD RESULTS FROM IT.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT THAT BE A CONTINUED FUNDING STRATEGY.
UM, THE WAYS THAT WE COULD HELP SCHOOLS AND IN FACT WE DID THIS PAST YEAR, UH, WE FUNDED A SCHOOL PROGRAM CALLED HES ROCKS AND RULERS, WHICH IS, UH, TEACHING KIDS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
SO WE CAN SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS IN THAT WAY THROUGH THE PROGRAM, BUT WE CAN'T REALLY, UM, WELL, I MEAN IF WE CAN STILL SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS THAT WAY, THEN THAT GIVES SUPPORT SAVINGS THAT THEY CAN ROLL OVER TO A CAPITAL PROJECT LATER THROUGH.
MAXIMUM'S USUALLY ABOUT $10,000, BUT EVERY BIT HELPS.
UH, BUT MONEY'S MONEY AND, AND, UM, YOUTH SERVICES IS ONE OF OUR FUNDING, UH, GOALS UNDER THE CURRENT PROGRAM AND I WOULD ANTICIPATE IT BEING UNDER THE NEW FIVE YEAR PLAN AS WELL.
WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. WARD.
[REGULAR BUSINESS]
MOVING ON TO, UH, REGULAR BUSINESS, UH, DR.MAKER, UH, R ONE, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
TONIGHT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE ANNUALLY, UM, REAPPROPRIATED, UH, OF UNENDED FUNDS FOR HOPEWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
[00:55:01]
ON JANUARY THE 28TH, THEY, UH, PRESENTED TO COUNCIL A OPTION TO RESERVE, UM, UM, CITY FUNDS.AND IT WAS REQUESTED BY COUNCIL THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY MANAGER DRAFT A RESOLUTION IN WHICH, UM, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS DRAFTED A RESOLUTION AND WE ARE SEEKING, UM, THE, THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATION COUNSEL DESIRES TO, UM, REAPPROPRIATE UNENDED FUNDS, UM, IN THE AMOUNT CREATED BY THE CITY AND DESIGNATE THOSE FUNDS FOR THE CAPITAL NEEDS OF HOPEWELL SCHOOL SYSTEM.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REAPPROPRIATION AS PRESENTED? I'LL SECOND IT AND THEN WE'LL GO TO DISCUSSION.
UH, SO DURING THE DISCUSSION BEFORE, LIKE WE DID, WE CONTINUOUSLY KIND OF LIKE KICKED THE CAN DOWN ROAD WITH THE APPROPRIATION OF THE FUNDING.
WAS THERE A SPECIFIC, UH, OPERATING REQUEST FOR THIS NEED? BECAUSE IT SEEMS AS IF EVERY YEAR THEY END UP HAVING A SURPLUS AND AN UNNECESSARY NEED TO REAPPROPRIATE THESE FUNDINGS, WHICH WE COULD GO TO HAVING FOR CITY USE.
CAN, CAN WE HAVE A FINANCE? GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UH, COUNCIL HOLLOW, COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? SO, SO BASICALLY EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS WE'VE HAD A, UH, SURPLUS AT THE SCHOOL, WHICH WE'RE KIND OF KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, UM, CONTINUOUSLY REAPPROPRIATING THIS, UH, UH, UH, UNNECESSARY IT SEEMS, AMOUNT OF FUNDS BACK TO THE SCHOOL, WHICH THEY WEREN'T USING.
AND AT A POINT IT WAS ALWAYS LIKE A MILLION, A MILLION AND A HALF, $2 MILLION, WHATEVER.
UM, AND SO I'M TRYING TO SEE ARE WE, IS IT UNNECESSARY TO, TO REAPPROPRIATE THESE FUNDS BACK TO THE SCHOOL AND THEIR OPERATING BUDGET JUST FOR THEM TO HAVE THERE AND NOT USE, IF THE CITY COULD USE THIS FUNDING TOWARDS SOMETHING ELSE, THE CITY DEFINITELY COULD USE THE FUNDING TOWARDS SOMETHING ELSE.
BUT, UH, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, WHEN WE WERE SPEAKING AT A PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING, THE SCHOOL BOARD WAS HERE ASKING THAT THEY WOULD, UH, BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK THE FUNDS THAT THEY DON'T USE AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A ORDINANCE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PASSED, UM, TO ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT.
'CAUSE THEY DO HAVE QUITE A FEW CAPITAL PROJECT NEEDS, UM, CURRENTLY OPEN.
SO, BUT THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS, THEY, YOU KNOW, BEEN PRESENTED.
THE, THE, YOU KNOW, IT, IT JUST, IT REALLY CONCERNS ME.
FOR EXAMPLE, UM, WITH, AND, AND I JUST USE THESE DEPARTMENTS, THERE'S PROBABLY PLENTY OF OTHER NEEDS, BUT I USE SPECIFICALLY THE, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, HAVING NEED OF FUNDS, YOU KNOW, FOR THEY, THEY GO OUT AND AID OUR CITIZENS AND THERE WERE SO MANY CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I TOURED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UM, LIKE REALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD SOME REALLY BIG NEEDS THAT THEY NEEDED, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT IF WE WERE NOT AUDITED, BUT IF THERE WAS INSPECTIONS DONE AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY WOULD FAIL THOSE INSPECTIONS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE MORE EMERGING NEEDS.
IT SEEMED LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE, I THINK EVERY COUNSELOR UP HERE WOULD DEFINITELY SUPPORT THE SCHOOL'S NEED, UM, FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
IF THOSE PROJECTS IN COMPARISON TO WHAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT OR POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD NEED, UM, WOULD BE MORE COMPARABLE.
BUT, BUT AGAIN, FOR THE LAST, I KNOW, THREE YEARS OR SO, THEY'VE BEEN ROLLING OVER A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS THAT HAS GONE UNUSED AT ALL AND WE KEEP ON SENDING IT BACK OVER TO THEM.
SO I REALLY LIKE TO KINDA, YEAH.
MR. HOLLOWAY, YOU MAY, UM, SO I JUST WANNA TO, UH, PROVIDE SOME CLARITY FOR EVERYBODY.
IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS ACTUALLY THAT WE ROLL OVER $1.1 MILLION.
BUT, BUT JUST FOR CLARITY, THOSE DOLLARS HAVE WENT TO ACTUALLY MAKE UP THEIR BUDGET.
SO IN OVER THE PAST YEARS, IT'S BEEN FROM 12.5 TO 13.5, THAT ROLLOVER HAS BEEN TO ACTUALLY DEVELOP A BUDGET, NOT GO INTO ANY CAPITAL NEEDS.
SO I DO WANT COUNCIL TO TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION BECAUSE NOW IF WE ROLL OVER THESE DOLLARS TO GO INTO
[01:00:01]
THEIR CAPITAL FUNDS, THO THOSE, THAT 1.1 MILLION THAT WAS ROLLED OVER, IT WAS USED TO HELP FUND THEM EVERY YEAR, MEET THEIR FUNDING REQUESTS.SO NOW, NOW SPECIFICALLY THESE FUNDING REQUESTS WERE COMING.
WELL, WE ARE REQUIRED TO FUND THEM.
SO, SO THE LOCAL MATCH, IF I CAN GO AHEAD.
THE LOCUM MATCH REQUIRED BY THE CITY OF HOPEWELL PER STATE IS CURRENTLY $8.6 MILLION.
THE CITY OF HOPEWELL GIVES THE SCHOOLS 14.5.
SO THAT'S ABOUT $5 MILLION OVER THE LOCAL MATCH REQUIRED BY THE STATE.
SO THEY DO GET ADDITIONAL 5.55 OR ROUGHLY $5.5 MILLION.
BUT AGAIN, AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, THE SCHOOL BOARD DID COME IN AND ASK, BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE A LOT OF OUTSTANDING CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE, UM, COMPLETED.
ASAP, THEY ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL.
AND ONE OF THE TASKS WAS TO LOOK AT WHAT WAS, UM, CONSIDERED THEIR MID-YEAR ASSESSMENT AND WHAT WAS OUTSTANDING, WHICH WAS THE 1.4 MILLION.
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ALMOST LIKE AT THE END OF THE YEAR THEY HAVE THIS SURPLUS AND THIS SURPLUS.
THEY'RE ASKING TO, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT, IT'S STILL NOT RIGHT.
SO AT THE END OF, SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THEY HAVE THIS ONE POINT WHATEVER MILLION, SO LET'S SAY A MILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS.
AND THEN THEY COME IN AND SAY, HEY, FOR THE NEXT YEAR, WE WANT Y'ALL TO GIVE THIS MONEY BACK TO US FOR SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE.
AND THEN AT THE END OF THAT NEXT YEAR, IT'S STILL THE SAME THING.
IT'S A MILLION DOLLARS THAT THEY HAVE NOT SPENT.
SO IT IS REALLY KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
SO EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS NECESSARY AT THE MOMENT, IF, IF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME UP IN HERE AND SAID, YOU KNOW, HAD A $1.1 MILLION SURPLUS, THEY GOT A SURPLUS AND THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THEY SAY, WHOA, LET'S GO BACK AND ASK CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS $1.1 MILLION BACK.
AND IF THEY HAVE SOME PROJECTS THAT THEY CAN USE.
BUT WE STILL, THIS IS THE SAME EXCUSE EVERY YEAR.
WE STILL COME TO THE PLACE WHERE THERE'S STILL A MILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS.
THEY'RE ASKING FOR THAT, THAT MONEY TO GO TO A CAPITAL PROJECT.
BUT THEN THE OTHER FUNDING IS STILL UNUSED.
I THINK IT'S STILL KICKING A CAN DOWN THE ROAD EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AS THE CITY MANAGER SAID FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
AND THERE ARE SO MANY PROJECTS THAT I THINK I, I CANNOT BE IN SUPPORT OF IT.
I AM VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT THAT IF THE MONEY IS NECESSARY, THAT THEY SHOULD REQUEST FOR THOSE MONIES AT THE TIME THAT THEY NEED IT, IF THEY REALLY NEED IT.
BUT AT THIS TIME, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE JUST ASKING FOR EXTRA MONEY THAT WE CAN, FOR GOODNESS SAKE, RIGHT NOW, THEY, THEY'RE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT JUST PRESENTED SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE NOT ASKING US FOR MONEY SPECIFICALLY THIS TIME, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE IF YOU ASK THEM AND WHO, YOU KNOW, IT'S COUNSEL'S DECISION AS TO MY, MY, MY DECISION IS I FULLY SUPPORT SCHOOL AND IF IT IS NECESSARY THAT THE SCHOOLS NEED SOMETHING.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW IT JUST SEEMS LIKE, AGAIN, FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE KEEP KICKING THAT CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
AND I DO NOT THINK THAT IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO, UM, CONTINUE TO KICK THAT CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND, AND HAVE THAT EXTRA MILLION DOLLARS JUST SITTING THERE.
UM, WHAT I'LL SAY IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, TO ME THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE OF KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
UH, THE REASON WHY THEY HAVE THIS EXTENSIVE BACKLOG OF PROJECTS IS BECAUSE OF CAPITAL FUNDS NOT BEING MET OVER THAT SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE RUNNING THEIR BUDGET AND THEY'RE, AND IF THEY ARE UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT IF WE RUN OUR BUDGET CONSERVATIVELY, CAN WE, IF WE CAN TAKE THESE REMAINING DOLLARS AND APPLY IT TO A CAPITAL PROJECT, THAT'S ONE LESS THING FOR US TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BECAUSE THEY CAN COME TO US.
I MEAN, THEY CAME TO US WITH THEIR WHOLE LIST AND THEY SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE NEED $25 MILLION FOR ALL THIS.
I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, HECK, I MEAN, WE HAVE A HARD ENOUGH TIME, YOU KNOW, SCRAPING MONEY TOGETHER.
BUT THAT'S THE GOOD THING ABOUT THE NEW FINANCIAL POLICY THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PLACE, IS THAT WHEN WE HAVE THESE MID-YEAR SAVINGS AND RE APPROPRIATIONS, WE CAN START TACKLING CAPITAL PROJECTS.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT MORE CONFIDENCE NOW WITH, YOU KNOW, MR. CROCKER, YOU KNOW, TAKING THE REALM OF, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS.
BECAUSE THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE CITY APPROPRIATED MONEY FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND JUST SAT ON IT.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I, THAT'S WHAT I WAS SPEAKING TO.
I I, I WAS SPECIFICALLY SPEAKING TO THE SIMPLE FACT OF LETTING IT NOT BE IF, IF, IF THERE'S, IF WE CAN REAPPROPRIATE THE FUNDS AND IT GOES TO THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS IS ONE THING, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS MISSING WHERE AT THE END OF THE YEAR IT ENDS UP BEING A, A SURPLUS AND THEY'RE SAYING IT'S NOT, ONE'S NOT BEING A SURPLUS, IT'S BEING USED TO BUILD THEIR BUDGET FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
[01:05:01]
THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE'VE GOT TO GET AWAY FROM.AND WE'VE GOTTA GET BACK INTO THE MODE OF THE REBUILDING PART, YOU KNOW, THE FUNDING THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS AND THESE, YOU KNOW, PLANS.
BECAUSE IF THE, YOU KNOW, GOD FORBID THE HVAC SYSTEM GOES OUT AT HOPEWELL HIGH SCHOOL.
I MEAN, WE LITERALLY ARE, YOU KNOW, UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE.
BUT I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S MORE CAPITAL NEEDS THAN WHAT WE HAVE MONEY FOR.
BUT THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS JUST GETTING STARTED AND KNOCKING STUFF OUT.
AND I THINK THIS IS A GOOD STEP FORWARD, YOU KNOW, WITH SCHOOLS, JUST AS YOU KNOW, WE DID THIS PAST YEAR WITH OUR, YOU KNOW, MID-YEAR SAVINGS, UM, THAT MS. JORDAN, AND, YOU KNOW, DR.
MAKER DID A GOOD JOB, YOU KNOW, PUTTING PROJECTS TOGETHER FOR US.
SOME OF THEM WERE POSITIONS, SOME OF THEM ARE, YOU KNOW, CAPITAL PROJECTS.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING NEW THAT WE ARE GETTING TO AND IT'S A BEST PRACTICE, UM, THAT MR. BOB AND, YOU KNOW, HIS TEAM, YOU KNOW, PUT TOGETHER FOR US.
SO, SO, SO THEN THEY WOULD HAVE THE APPROVAL TO ACTUALLY GO FORWARD AND USE THE MONEY ON CAPITAL FUND, ON CAPITAL PROJECTS AND IT NOT BE ENROLLED OVER, LIKE IT WOULD YEAH, IT WOULD GO TO A CAPITAL PROJECT.
NOW THAT I AGREED TO, I JUST DON'T WANT IT WHERE IT'S JUST WASTING, IT'S LIKE THEY, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO USE IT.
IT JUST KEEPS GOING A CIRCLE, AND THEN WE DON'T APPROPRIATE THEM TO BE ABLE TO, YEAH.
UH, SEEING NO MORE LIGHTS ROLL CALL PLEASE.
UH, MR. GASTON, R TWO JAMES AND DEPUTY CITY MAYOR.
COUNCIL MEMBERS WANTED TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE OPIOID PROJECT THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH SIRI, PRINCE GEORGE, AND THEN WITTY.
IN ESSENCE, WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS A OPIOID GO TEAM.
AND WHAT THAT TEAM WOULD DO IS IN WITHIN 24 HOURS, WE WOULD HAVE THEM TO VISIT ANY TYPE OF CRISIS THAT HAPPENS IN THESE JURISDICTIONS.
THIS FUNDING IS NOT, AND I REPEAT, NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE DIRECT FUNDING THAT WE ARE RECEIVING FROM THE OPIOID MONEY.
THIS IS FUNDING THAT IS SITTING THAT IF WE DO NOT APPLY AND WORK WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS TO UTILIZE THE FUNDING, IT GOES BACK TO THE JURIS.
I MEAN, IT GOES BACK TO THE COMMONWEALTH.
SO THE APPLICATION IS DUE APRIL 1ST.
WE NEED AN APPROVAL TO ALLOW US OR THE GROUP TO UTILIZE THE FUNDS FOR THE GRANTS.
THE APPLICATION FOR THE CITY HOPEWELL HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE OPIOID GROUP.
SO WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS TO CHIME IN.
AND WE'RE GONNA SUBMIT THE GRANT IN APRIL.
AND WHAT WE NEED IS AN APPROVAL TO UTILIZE THESE FUNDS FOR THAT GRANT.
UH, COUNCILLOR HOLLOWAY, THEN, UH, VICE MAYOR JOYNER, UH, UH, UH, THIS IS THE, WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE A MOTION ON THIS TONIGHT BECAUSE THIS IS THE SECOND RULE.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT STAFF RECOMMENDS THE CITY OF WARE TO ENTER THE COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH DISTRICT 19 COMMUNITY SERVICES THAT SURROUNDING LOCALITIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING A MOBILE OVERDOSE RESPONSE UNIT, AND APPROVE THE FUNDING OF $41,317 TO THE OPIOID DOLLARS FOR THE FY 26 FI, UH, THROUGH FY 30 I SECOND.
UH, MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COUNCILLOR HOLLOWAY AND SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR HARRIS.
IS THERE ANY MORE DISC, ANY, OH, I'M SORRY.
SO THE 41,000 IS COMING FROM STATE FUNDS.
THOSE ARE STATE FUNDS THAT, WELL, THIS IS PART OF THE OPIOID, UM, AG, UH, AGREEMENT THAT THE COMMONWEALTH CAME IN WITH.
AND REAL QUICKLY, THERE ARE THREE BUCKETS OF MONEY.
THERE'S A DIRECT FUNDING THAT WE WERE RECEIVING.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THAT.
THAT FUNDING WILL NOT BE TOUCHED.
THESE ARE TWO SEPARATE FUNDINGS THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WORK WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS, LIKE A RECOVERY COURT OR A DRUG COURT.
IF YOU DON'T USE THOSE TWO BUCKETS OF MONEY, THEY GO BACK TO THE COMMONWEALTH.
THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS CAME TO US, CAME TOGETHER AND SAID, WE NEED TO USE LESS MONEY.
[FINANCE MEETING]
NOW INTO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING PORTION OF TONIGHT.UM, MS. JORDAN, GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
THIS IS THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
[01:10:02]
FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY.CITYWIDE BUDGET TO ACTUALS FOR FEBRUARY.
CITYWIDE REVENUES FOR FEBRUARY ARE TRENDING 0.29% OR 3.5 MILLION HIGHER.
1.2 MILLION HIGHER OR 4.5 MILLION FOR 25 VERSUS 24.
THE NEXT KEY DUE DATE FOR THE CITY OF HOPEWELL WILL BE JUNE THE SECOND ON PAGE FOUR IS THE BREAKDOWN IN DETAIL, AND AGAIN, ON THE SIDE AND THE COMMENTS AS TO WHAT IS, UM, TRENDING, INCREASING OR DECREASING OR REMAINING CONSISTENT.
ANY QUESTIONS ON CITYWIDE? I'M SORRY, SIR.
THE, THESE, UM, FIGURES THAT WE HAVE WITH THE 3.5, THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE THE MEMBER.
THERE'S A, UH, BEEN A, WHAT'S THE WORD? UM, SLOW TO RECEIVE.
TO, TO PUT OUT, UH, A TAX REQUEST, UM, FROM, I GUESS THE CHURCH'S OFFICE.
IS, IS THAT RESOLVED? I'M SORRY.
I'M NOT UNDER, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, I WAS GETTING SOME, SOME CITIZENS WERE SAYING THAT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED SOME OF THEIR TAX BILLS IN THE NORMAL TIME THAT THEY NORMALLY HAVE RECEIVED THEM.
YOU TALKING ABOUT PERSONAL PROPERTY? MM-HMM
REMEMBER COUNSEL DECIDED TO EXTEND THE, THE PEGGY AND I DATE TO MARCH 7TH.
BUT I THOUGHT, WELL, THAT DID SHE, I THOUGHT THAT WAS JUST LAST, JUST THIS YEAR.
SO WHAT, IS THAT A BIG REASON AS TO WHY THE REVENUE REFLECTION IS DAMPED? YES, SIR.
SO, SO WE HAD QUITE A FEW PEOPLE PAY ON FEBRUARY 15TH, BUT, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, BASED ON LAST YEAR, IT WAS 5.3 AND WE'RE ONLY AT 4.5 FOR THIS YEAR.
SO THE ADDITIONAL SHIFT COME THROUGH FOR MARCH.
SO THEN IT, IT WOULD LOOK MUCH BETTER.
GENERAL FUND, GENERAL FUND FOR FEBRUARY IS TRENDING 6.5% OR 601,000 LOWER IN REVENUES FOR 25 VERSUS 24.
THE DECREASE COMES FROM, AGAIN, PSC AND PERSONAL PROPERTY PENALTIES AND INTEREST DATE WAS CHANGED TO MARCH THE SEVENTH.
THAT SHOULD BALANCE ITSELF OUT COME MARCH.
EXPENSES FOR 25 ARE TRENDING 1.4 OR 4.9 HIGHER THAN 24.
AGAIN, THE NEXT KEY DUE DATE IS JUNE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE GENERAL FUND? OKAY.
ENTERPRISE FUND ENTERPRISE FOR FEBRUARY IS TRENDING 2% OR 1.9 HIGHER IN REVENUES FROM 25 FOR 24.
EXPENSES FOR 25 ARE TRENDING 3.6 OR 957,000 LESS THAN EXPENSES IN 24.
REVENUES SHOW A REFLECTION OF ON TIME BILLING VERSUS LAST YEAR.
THEY STEM FROM THE REDUCTION OF EMERGENCY REPAIRS.
ANY QUESTIONS ON ENTERPRISE SCHOOLS? SCHOOLS FOR FEBRUARY IS TRENDING 2.2 OR 303,000 HIGHER IN REVENUES FOR 25 VERSUS 24.
AND EXPENSES ARE TRENDING 0.04 OR 1.9 HIGHER IN 25 VERSUS 24.
OUR DATA INTEGRATORS COLLECTION FROM RATE FOR FEBRUARY WAS 97% ACCOUNTS PAYABLE PROCESS 1,114 INVOICES FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY FOR A TOTAL OF $5 MILLION.
AND WE PAID OUR, OUR SEWER USB 1824 DEBT ON TIME FOR 215,000 ON SLIDE 13.
THIS IS A PROJECTED CASH FLOW FOR THE CITY OF HOPEWELL, PROJECTED OUT TO THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR 6 30, 20 25.
WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, HAVING ABOUT 20 MILLION IN THE BANK ACCOUNT AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR IF WE PROJECT IT OUT.
NO, I SAID MAKE SURE IT PUT THAT, OH,
AND OUR MARCH ITEMS WILL BE AN UPDATE FOR FI UH, FISCAL YEAR 21 A CFR.
AGAIN, WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THE SCHOOL ITEMS. SO, YOU KNOW WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS
IS, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT IS CURRENTLY
[01:15:01]
IN AS A ROADBLOCK THAT IS GONNA PREVENT US FROM HITTING OUR MARCH 31ST DEADLINE? RIGHT NOW? DAVID SEEMS TO THINK THAT WE SHOULD HIT OUR MERCEDES FIRST.THE HOLD UP RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY IS THE SCHOOLS.
UM, THEY HAVE RECEIVED, UH, DAVID HAS RECEIVED ABOUT HALF OF THE ITEMS OFF OF THE PBC LISTING.
WE HAVE BEEN CONSTANTLY FOLLOWING UP WITH SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE ALSO PUT OUT OUR REQUEST TO, UM, OUR VENDOR THAT DOES OUR GSB REPORTS.
THE CITY TURNED IN OURS IN OCTOBER AND THE SCHOOL JUST TURNED IN THEIRS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT ONCE WE ARE FINISHED WITH 21, WE CAN GO RIGHT INTO 22 AND 23.
'CAUSE THAT GS B REPORT HAS TO BE COMPLETED.
UM, THEY'LL SEE THE CONSULTANT WAS IN THE SCHOOLS ON THE 19TH, AND I BELIEVE SHE'S SUPPOSED TO BE COMING BACK.
MAKER TO FINISH UP? DAVID CURRENTLY HAS RECEIVED TWO OUT OF THE FIVE FUNDS FOR THE SCHOOLS, UM, THAT HE'S SUPPOSED TO GET THE OTHER THREE FUNDS NEXT WEEK.
SO WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE, KEEP TRACK OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS AS FAR AS THE ITEMS THAT ARE STILL OUTSTANDING AND NEEDED FOR THE 21 A CFR.
BUT AS FAR AS WE ARE AWARE, THE CITY WE TALKED TO DAVID FRIDAY, THE CITY IS FINE.
HE'S GONNA START WORKING ON ENTERPRISE NEXT WEEK.
ALL OF OUR ITEMS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED.
WE'RE JUST WAITING ON THE SCHOOLS.
CAN YOU JUST SEND ME AN EMAIL? YES.
WITH JUST THE ITEMS THAT ARE STILL NEEDED, JUST A BULLET POINT LIST.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I'LL, YOU KNOW, SEND OUT ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, BIG EMAIL AND I THINK WE MIGHT, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO GET SOME TRACTION.
YOU, YOU'VE RECEIVED THAT ON FRIDAY? IT WAS AN ATTACH YEAH, IT WAS ATTACHED.
I'M JUST SAYING WHAT WAS LEFT ON.
IT'S JUST SO THAT WAY IT'S EASIER ON MY EMAIL FOR ME TO FIND.
I CAN JUST TAKE IT AND PULL IT.
YES, BECAUSE I MEAN, JANELLE MAY HAVE, YOU KNOW, ENDED UP, YOU KNOW, GETTING SOMETHING DONE HERE IN THESE LAST TWO DAYS TOO.
SO THAT WAY I JUST HAVE A, YOU KNOW, A CLEAN, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT AS OF, YOU KNOW, TODAY OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, THESE THINGS ARE STILL OUTSTANDING AND WE HAVE OUR SCHOOL, UM, MEETING WITH THEM MONDAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UM, THE ONLY OTHER THING, AND I MEAN THIS IS KIND OF PROBABLY GOING TO NEXT.
WELL, I'LL, NO, WE'LL, WE'LL WAIT TILL BUDGET PRESENTATION.
BECAUSE I'LL JUST, IT'S MORE APPROPRIATE THERE.
UM, I DON'T SEE ANYONE FROM THE TREASURER'S OFFICE HERE, SO, BUT WE ONLY EXTENDED IT INTO FINANCE.
WELL, WE GOT ALL THE WAY HERE.
R FOUR OR THE FI FINANCE MEETING NUMBER FOUR.
OH, DID YOU, DID EVERYONE RECEIVE THEIR PACKET FROM THE TREASURER'S OFFICE AS WELL? YEAH.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ME OR MS. BOWLING.
SO WE'RE JUST GONNA MOVE RIGHT INTO THE REVENUE REPORT.
UM, CITY COUNCIL, UH, TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA BEGIN OUR BUDGET.
UM, UH, PRESENTATIONS WE'VE BEEN, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND SCHEDULE DUE TO THE, THE RECENT WEATHER EVENTS.
UM, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, YOU HAVE YOUR BUDGET BOOKS, UM, HERE.
SO WE'LL MOVE TO THIS BIG BOOK OKAY.
AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE NEW, UM, WE KICK OFF THE BUDGET EVERY YEAR WITH THE PRESENTATION OF EACH DEPARTMENT.
UM, IF THE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT, ARE NOT REQUESTING ANY, UH, CHANGES TO THEIR BUDGET, YOU WILL NOT HEAR FROM THEM.
AND THAT'S JUST AN EFFORT TO TO, TO KEEP THIS PROCESS MOVING QUICKLY.
UM, I WILL SAY BEFORE WE GET STARTED, THERE'S A TENTATIVE MEETING FOR NEXT, UH, THURSDAY THE 20TH FOR US TO FINISH UP THE BUDGET PRESENTATION.
TONIGHT, WE'RE ONLY GOING TO HEAR FROM FIVE DEPARTMENTS.
UM, AND WE'RE GONNA KICK THIS OFF WITH THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET AND WE'RE GONNA GO IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER ACCORDING TO THE TABLE CONTENTS.
THEN WE'LL HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND FIRE TONIGHT.
UM, AND THEN ON THE 20TH WE'LL COMPLETE THE REMAINDER OF THE TABLE OF CONTENTS.
UM, BUT WE'LL KICK THIS CONVERSATION OFF WITH THE REVENUE AND THEN WE'LL MOVE INTO THE PRESENTATION.
SO YOU SAID WE'RE GOING TO DO CITY COUNCIL TONIGHT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
ALRIGHT, SO THE PRIMARY CITY PROGRAMS AND FUNDS ARE GENERAL GOVERNMENT, ENTERPRISE PUBLIC SERVICES AND SCHOOLS.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT CONSISTS OF THE GENERAL FUND RECREATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CAPITAL PROJECT, DAN, UH, DEBT GRANTS.
THE MARINA AND PERPETUAL CARE ENTERPRISE CONSISTS OF REGIONAL WATER, SEWER REFUSE AND STORM WATER.
OUR PUBLIC SERVICES CONSISTS OF SOCIAL SERVICES, CSA, HEALTHY FAMILIES AND SPECIAL WELFARE.
THE SCHOOLS, OF COURSE, IS THEIR OPERATIONAL BUDGET TEXTBOOK.
WHO MAKES THE REVENUE FORECAST? TAXES COME FROM THE REAL ESTATE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS THE COMMISSIONER OF THE REVENUE STATE AND FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOLS.
USER CHARGES COMES FROM DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS,
[01:20:01]
UH, REFUSE STORMWATER, UM, HRW AND OTHER CONSISTENT OF TRANSFERS AND GRANTS ONLY AS ACCEPTED BY COUNCIL.THE BUDGET PROCESS BUDGET WORK BEGAN ON JANUARY OF 2024 WITH DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET REQUESTS AND FIRST REVENUE FORECAST, DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET ENTRY AND MEETING WITH THE CITY MANAGERS.
REVENUES IS MARCH 11TH, EXPENSES AND CIP WILL BE MARCH 25TH.
DEPARTMENT REQUESTS AND PRESENTATIONS WILL BE MARCH 11TH AND THE 25TH AS WELL.
COUNCIL, PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MEETINGS.
THE TAX RESOLUTION WILL BE APRIL 8TH, MAY 13TH WILL BE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING OF THE BUDGET ORDINANCE.
MAY 27TH WILL BE THE SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF THE BUD BUDGET ORDINANCE.
OF COURSE, REVENUES GAIN FULL MEANING WHEN COMPARED TO EXPENSES.
SO USUALLY YOU SEE A REVENUES ALIGNED AGAINST YOUR, YOUR EXPENSES.
WE SHOULD BE ADOPTING THE STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BUDGET.
PRESENTATION WILL BE MARCH 25TH.
REVENUES MAY CHANGE BEFORE APPROVAL BY COUNCIL.
THE REPORT THAT YOU EVERYONE RECEIVED TONIGHT, WE GOT AN UPDATE ON OUR REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENT.
IT CAME IN ABOUT 11%, WHICH IS GREAT FOR THE CITY OF HOPEWELL.
THIS ISN'T A REASSESSMENT YEAR, SO THAT'S A GREAT THING.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF INITIATIVES THIS YEAR AS FAR AS HEALTHCARE GOING UP 12%.
WE'RE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THE CLASS AND COMP STUDY.
IF REVENUES ARE INSUFFICIENT TO FUND DESIRED SERVICES, EXPENSES MUST BE REDUCED.
AGAIN, WE HAVE TO ADOPT A STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BUDGET.
TAX RATES WILL REMAIN FLAT FOR FISCAL, FISCAL YEAR 26.
TRANSFERS ARE REVENUE MOVED FROM ONE FUND TO ANOTHER.
TRANSFERS CAN MAKE A TOTAL REVENUE APPEAR HIGHER THAN IT REALLY IS.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR TOTAL BUDGET AND YOU SEE THE $220,000, MAJORITY OF THAT COMES FROM TRANSFERS, WHICH IS 20.
SO YOUR ACTUAL REVENUE IS PROBABLY ABOUT 180 INSTEAD OF THE TOTAL TWO 20.
ON PAGE SIX ARE THE TAX RATES FOR THE CITY OF HOPEWELL.
AGAIN, WE'RE KEEPING THEM FLAT.
PAGE SEVEN IS THE SOURCES OF REVENUE.
OUR REVENUES COME FROM, OF COURSE, REAL ESTATE TAX, PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION, STATE REVENUES, LOCAL REVENUES, MISCELLANEOUS, OTHER GOVERNMENTS, CHARGES FOR SERVICES, USE OF MONEY, PERMITS AND LICENSES, PENALTIES AND INTEREST, OTHER TAXES, MACHINERY AND TOOLS, AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX.
IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE OTHER TAXES AND MISCELLANEOUS, PLEASE JUST LET ME KNOW.
OUR REVENUES APPLY TO THE GENERAL FUND, SOCIAL SERVICES, SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS TEXTBOOK, AS WELL AS THE CAFETERIA.
OUR CSA REFUSE, HRW RECREATION MARINA, STORMWATER SEWER PERPETUAL, OUR DEBT CAPITAL AND SELF-INSURANCE.
ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR? YEAH, I GOT A QUESTION.
UM, IF YOU GO BACK, WAS IT TWO PAGES TO PAGE EIGHT? UM, I KNOW ONE THING THAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE, UM, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, MOST COUNSEL PROBABLY WOULD AGREE, IS YOU, IT'S KIND OF SAD THAT WE ONLY 2% GOES TO CAPITAL.
UM, AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF CAPITAL NEEDS, JUST LIKE WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH SCHOOLS.
UM, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE US, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS BUDGET, TO TRY TO WORK OUR WAY UP TO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT AIN'T GONNA BE 10% THIS YEAR, I KNOW THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK OVER TIME I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD TO GET TO A 10% THAT WE'RE REINVESTING BACK INTO CAPITAL NEEDS IN THE CITY.
THE ROADS, YOU KNOW, UTILITIES, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF, YOU KNOW, UM, WHETHER IT'S VEHICLES THAT, YOU KNOW, DEPARTMENTS NEED IT, INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S NEEDED, PUBLIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT THAT'S NEEDED.
UM, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS BUDGET, WE JUST, WE REALLY NEED TO WORK TOWARDS RAMPING UP THAT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PER, UH, PROGRAM.
AND I MEAN, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, ALVAREZ AND MARCEL AND THE ROBERT BOB GROUP BOTH TOLD US WELL, AND THE STATE, YOU KNOW, COULD THROW THEM IN THERE TOO THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE REALLY NEED TO WORK ON.
AND I'VE ALSO ASKED THAT DEPARTMENTS HEADS THIS, THIS YEAR TO NOT ONLY JUST RELY ON THE GENERAL FUND FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, BUT LOOK FOR UNDER OTHER FUNDING SOURCES.
TO MOVE TOWARDS OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
[01:25:01]
THAT, LEMME TELL YOU SOMETHING.YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO OUT ON A CAMPAIGN TRAIL, WHETHER YOU KNOW LOCALLY OR YOU'RE HELPING WITH, UM, STATE PERSONS OR EVEN FEDERAL CITIZENS DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING, BUT MOSTLY EITHER I SAW OR I DIDN'T SEE MY ELECTED OFFICIAL.
AND THEN THE SECOND THING RIGHT AFTER THAT IS OUR ROADS, OUR ROADS ARE NOT FIXED.
IF THEM ROADS ARE NOT FIXED, THEY JUST FEEL LIKE OVERALL WE JUST NOT DOING OUR JOB.
IT'S LIKE A CONSTANT, CONSTANT, CONSTANT, CONSTANT THING.
IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T EVEN, I I'M, I'M NOT GONNA SAY NO, NEITHER ONE OF THE CITIZENS OF COURSE THINK ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.
BUT OVERALL THEY JUST, LIKE, IF THE ROADS ARE NOT FIXED, WE'RE JUST ALL TOGETHER NOT DOING ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT A BUDGET.
UM, SO NOT EVEN IN LIKE THE FARFETCHED FUTURE, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT INPUT IMPUTED IN THIS BUDGET.
UM, FOR INCREASE IN PAVING HUH? INCREASE IN PAVING FOR STREETS.
AND, AND WELL LIKE YOU SAID, ALTOGETHER THE CAPITAL.
UM, BUT I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT, UM, IMPUTED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET PLAN.
YEAH, AND I, AND I KNOW, UM, UH, AUSTIN ANDERSON, UH, BEFORE, YOU KNOW, HE LEFT TO GO WORK FOR VDOT, UH, HIM AND MR. BUTLER WORKED TOGETHER AND ACTUALLY HAD PUT TOGETHER A PLAN, YOU KNOW, GETTING THE CITY BACK ON THE 15 YEAR PAVING PROGRAM MM-HMM
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THIS IS A YEAR THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, REALLY GET, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO, TO DOING THAT.
I KNOW MR. CROCKER IS, YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH AND, YOU KNOW, REEVALUATING, UM, YOU KNOW, PROJECTS THAT WERE APPROVED, YOU KNOW, WITH THE PREVIOUS CITY ADMINISTRATION.
AND BECAUSE THE, THE COST GOING UP SO MUCH, HE'S THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, JUST, YOU KNOW, PULLING THE PLUG ON THOSE REAPPLYING FOR THOSE AND THOSE MONIES THAT WE'VE ALREADY ALLOCATED FOR THOSE THAT WE CAN PUT LIKE, INTO THE PAVING PROGRAM.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE LOOK AT THAT AND THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, SEE WHAT WE NEED TO DO BUDGET WISE TO GET US TO EITHER THE 15 YEAR PAVING PROGRAM OR MAYBE, YOU KNOW, JUST START WITH THE 20 YEAR PAVING PROGRAM.
BUT I THINK IF THE CITIZENS SAW STREETS BEING PAVED, I THINK THAT THEY WOULD BE ECSTATIC TO SEE MORE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BEING DONE, UH, IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THAT AND, AND, AND SEWER COMPLAINTS WITH RUN OFF WATER AND, YOU KNOW, STUFF OF THE NATURE SALT.
ESPECIALLY STORM WATER AND, AND, AND PAVEMENTS.
IT, IT'S JUST, IT'S LIKE A BIG THING.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? CHARGE FORWARD
THE GENERAL FUND HAS GROWN AT A MODERATE PACE IN LINE WITH THE RECENT INFLATION GROWTH.
FISCAL YEAR 26 REVENUE INCREASES OCCURS DIFFERENT TAX CATEGORIES FOR 21 AND 23, THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCREASE THAT STEMMED FROM, OF COURSE, CARES AND FUNDING THAT WAS RECEIVED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
SO FOR 26, FOR 25, WE WERE LOOKING AT 66.5 MILLION.
FOR THE GENERAL FUND THIS YEAR, 26 WE'RE LOOKING FOR AT 69 MILLION.
SO I DID CHANGE THIS ON MY SIDE 'CAUSE I JUST GOT THE INFORMATION FROM THE REAL ESTATE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE TODAY.
SO REAL ESTATE TAXES FOR 26 FOR RESIDENTIAL AS WELL AS COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL HAVE INCREASED 8% OR $2.8 MILLION.
AGAIN, THIS IS A REASSESSMENT YEAR.
AND AS WELL, UM, COUNSEL INCREASE THE TAX FREE ELECTION TAXES ARE DUE IN JUNE AND DECEMBER 23 AND 26 RE UH, UH, REFLECT ASSESSMENT REASSESSMENT YEARS.
SO OF COURSE YOU SEE THE INCREASE FROM 23 TO 24, AND NOW YOU SEE IT AGAIN FROM 25 TO 26.
SO THE TOTAL WILL BE 25,000,004, 408,886 INSTEAD OF THE ORIGINAL 22.
SO TELL ME AGAIN, 25 20 5,408,886.
AND THIS IS WITH THE, JUST THE REAL ESTATE TAXES AND THE REASSESSMENT MM-HMM
AND, AND YOU SAY REAL ESTATE TAXES HAVE 8% OR IT'S 11% TOTAL.
SO THIS, THIS IS WHAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, I TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR WITH US HAVING, WE JUST HAD A, UH, THE STATE ASSESSMENT INCREASED THE, A COUPLE YEARS AGO, AND THEN WE INCREASED THE REAL ESTATE TAXES LAST YEAR.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UM, US CAN TAKE CONSIDERATION BECAUSE WE ARE LIKE ONE OF THE HIGHEST.
UM, AND WE SPECIFICALLY RAISED THE TAXES BASED UPON THE INFORMATION THAT IT WAS TOLD TO US THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEEDED THE MONEY, THAT THE MONEY WASN'T THERE AND WE ENDED UP WITH THE SURPLUS AND SO FORTH BEFORE YOU GOT HERE.
UM, SO I'M MAKE THAT CLEAR FOR EVERYBODY,
[01:30:01]
IT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER FOR THE, THE, THE, THE CITIZENS.UH, BUT, UM, IF I COULD JUST SAY SOMETHING, COUNCILMAN HOLLOWAY, LOOKING AT THE REVENUES FOR THIS BUDGET SEASON, YOU ACTUALLY LOST REVENUE IN MACHINERY AND TOOLS AND PERSONAL PROPERTY.
'CAUSE OF COURSE AS STUFF DEPRECIATES OUT, THE VALUE GOES DOWN.
RIGHT NOW THE CITY DID IMPLEMENT A CIGARETTE TAX THAT ONLY JUST BALANCED YOU RIGHT BACK OUT.
HONESTLY, FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR, WITH THE LOSS IN TANGIBLE PROPERTY AND MACHINERY AND TOOLS, THIS IS THE INCREASE THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE OF 12% AS WELL AS IMPLEMENTATION OF CLASS ACCOUNT STUDY.
I KNOW THAT NOW, YOU KNOW, BASED UPON WHAT WE'RE PRESENTED, I'M TALKING ABOUT OWING TO OUR CITIZENS TO GET TO THAT PLACE.
IT IS NOT A, UH, IT'S NOT RIGHT NOW.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON REAL ESTATE? OKAY.
MACHINERY AND TOOLS, THIS IS THE DECREASE.
WE'RE ONLY GETTING ASSESSED AT 9.3.
SO WE DID HAVE A DECREASE IN MACHINERY AND TOOLS.
ON PAGE 13, PERSONAL PROPERTY.
THIS IS A TAX ON TANGIBLE PROPERTY TAXES ARE DUE IN FEBRUARY AND THE RATE IS 3.5 PER A HUNDRED DOLLARS ASSESSED VALUE.
SO 25 IS 7.5 AND YOU'RE UP TO 8.2 FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY, PUBLIC SERVICE.
THIS IS THE OTHER PIECE THAT IS DOWN FOR 25.
WE'RE LOOKING AT 4.9 LOCAL SALES TAX.
A SLIGHT INCREASE FROM 2.7 FOR 25 TO 2.79, SIX FOR 26.
SO ONE THING I DID NOTICE FOR 25, THE BUSINESS LICENSE PIECE WAS OMITTED FROM THE PROJECTIONS FOR, UM, NOT EXCLUDED FROM YOUR BUDGET, BUT FOR THE PRESENTATION PIECE, I INCLUDED IT IN 26.
THAT IS ROUGHLY ABOUT TWO POINT MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF REVENUE THAT THE CITY CAN BRINGS IN.
SO, UM, TWO POINT WHAT? 2.1 MILLION.
SO THE PRODUCTION FOR 25 WAS 3.2 FOR 26 IS 5.6, WHICH INCLUDES THE $2.1 MILLION THAT WAS OMITTED FROM THE PRESENTATION FROM LAST YEAR FOR THE BUSINESS LICENSE.
THAT'S WHY YOU SEE SUCH A LARGE INCREASE.
IT ALSO INCLUDES THE 675,000 IN REVENUE FROM CIGARETTE TAXES THAT THE CITY WOULD RECEIVE FOR 26.
ON THE, SO FAR IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
I MEAN, THIS JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO MAKE SENSE.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR IT TO GO UP 2.1 MILLION IT DIDN'T GO UP.
IT JUST SO IT'S BEEN ADMITTED HISTORICALLY.
IT'S JUST FROM THE PRESENTATION.
SO I WANTED TO SHOW YOU EVERYONE THE FULL DETAIL OF THE REVENUE.
SO I DIDN'T WANT TO JUST LEAVE IT OUT.
'CAUSE THAT IS PART OF THE REVENUES THAT THE CITY BRINGS IN NON-TAX REVENUES.
USER CHARGER CHARGES AND FEES ARE THE LARGEST SEGMENT OF THE NON-TAX REVENUES.
24 BUDGETED REVENUES REFLECTED CARRY OVER FUNDS FROM ARPA 4 25.
UM, YOU'RE LOOKING AT OTHER 3, 350 6,000 GRANTS.
140,000 USE OF MIS PROPERTY AND MIS UH, MONEY IS 351,000 FINES AND FORFEITURES IS 450 THOU 440,000, EXCUSE ME, USER CHARGES AND FEES IS 2.699 FOR 26.
WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER FOR 364,000 GRANTS.
282,000 USE OF MONEY AND PROPERTY.
290,000 FINES AND FORFEITURES 330,000 AND USER CHARGES AND FEES.
UH, COUNCILOR HOLLOWAY, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE, UM, REVENUES REFLECT THE CARRY OVER FUNDS FOR HARPER? BECAUSE IT, IT, SO DO YOU SEE IT WHERE IT SAYS USE OF SURPLUS AND IT SAYS 1.5 MILLION UHHUH.
THAT REALLY WASN'T ADDITIONAL REVENUES THAT THE CITY RECEIVED.
IT WAS ACTUAL OFFER REVENUE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR THAT JUST ROLLED OVER BECAUSE OF COURSE YOU CARRY A UNTIL THIS YEAR, WE HAVE TO EXPEND EVERYTHING BY DECEMBER ACTUALLY OF 24 FROM THE APA FUNDING.
[01:35:01]
CONFUSED BECAUSE I WAS UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAD ALREADY DISPERSED OF THE APA FUNDING BECAUSE WE WERE CONSIDERING THEY WERE ALREADY ALLOCATED.BUT THEY HAVE TO BE EXPENDED BY DECEMBER 31ST.
OR WE WOULD HAVE TO TURN IT BACK IN THE GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S, UH, GENERAL FUND TRANSFERS REVENUES TO THE GENERAL FUND IS TRANSFERRED OUT OF OTHER FUNDS, WHICH THEN SHOW UP AS REVENUE IN THOSE FUNDS.
SO FOR SCHOOLS, OF COURSE IT'S A 13.5.
OUR DEBT IS A MILLION AND INSURANCE IS 600,000 FOR A TOTAL OF $19.4 MILLION.
OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, SO HRW HISTORICAL REVENUE FOR 25, IT WAS 18.6, BUT IT'S BEEN CONSISTENT AT 15.
SO THE PROJECTED PROJECTION FOR 26 IS GONNA BE 16.5.
MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES IS ZERO.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE CAPITAL.
THIS IS JUST CHARGE USER CHARGES.
SEWER REFUSE AND STORM WATER FOR SEWER FOR 25 WAS 3 79 16.
FOR 2016, IT'S ONLY ABOUT $3 CHEAPER.
PILOT IS CONSISTENT WITH 334,000.
USER CHARGES ARE INCREASING A BIT TO 8.3 FROM 7.09 FOR REFUSE FOR 25 USE OF MONEY IS 5,000 IS CONSISTENT.
AND THERE'S A SLIGHT INCREASE IN USER CHARGES FROM 3.6 3,680,000 TO 3,683,000.
AND STORM WATER REVENUES IS A SLIGHT DROP OF 745.
NOW THIS IS CONSISTENT BASED OFF OF THE INFORMATION THAT I SAW WITHIN THE SYSTEM.
IT LOOKS LIKE A, THEY HAVE BEEN, UM, COLLECTING ABOUT ROUGHLY 745.
SO I DIDN'T WANT TO OVEREXTEND THE REVENUES AT 904.
IT SHOULD BE IN LINE WITH WHAT THEY ACTUALLY RECEIVED, WHICH IS A 7 45.
UM, ON THE SEWER SIDE, THE PILOTS, THE PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES, UM, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ABLE TO ADJUST OR CAN YOU EXPLAIN? I KNOW WHAT THAT IS ON THE STORM WATER SIDE, BUT ON THE SEWER SIDE, WHAT IS THAT? I WILL HAVE TO COME BACK 'CAUSE I'M DRAWING A BLANK RIGHT NOW WHEN IT COMES TO THE PILOT.
BUT I WILL DEFINITELY, UM, PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO EVERYONE ON WHAT THE POLICY STANDS FOR.
THANK, UM, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE THAT I HAVE ON STORMWATER MM-HMM
IS OUR PROJECTION, I WOULD THINK WOULD BE GOING UP ON THAT BECAUSE OF THE POLICY CHANGES THAT WE DID, HOW WE'RE TAKING IT FROM THE DATA INTEGRATORS BILL, AND WE'RE TAKING IT FROM THE MONTHLY BILLING AND WE'RE PUTTING IT ON THE REAL ESTATE TAXES.
SO THEN THAT WAY WE DRIVE COLLECTIONS UP AND THEN WE'RE NOT HAVING TO PAY THE DATA INTEGRATOR PORTION OUT OF THAT, YOU KNOW, FUND OF MONEY.
THIS, THIS IS JUST BASED ON BILLING.
NOW, UM, WE DID NOT DO ANY INCREASES ON THE STORMWATER FEES.
BUT WITH, UH, WITH THE COLLECTION RATE BEING HIGHER ON TAXES THAN IT IS WITH UTILITY COLLECTION, I WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD SEE A PROJECTION GOING UP ON THAT ONLY IF WE WERE, THE BILLING WAS INCREASED.
SO THIS IS BASED OFF OF BILLING.
HEY, MR. BLUE OF TAXES? NO, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE, UM, USER CHARGES FOR STOLEN YES.
NO, I WAS ASKING ABOUT THE PILOTS.
YEAH, NO, I WAS ASKING WHAT WAS THAT, WHAT IT STOOD FOR? NO PAYMENTS IN LIEU.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT STANDS FOR.
NOW DO WE GET A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES, UM, FROM, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT FACILITIES? UM, YOU KNOW, HERE IN OUR CITY? I BELIEVE WE DO.
LIKE THE WASTEWATER PLANT AND ALL THAT.
I BELIEVE IT GOES TO WASTEWATER AND SEWER.
'CAUSE I, I WOULD BE VERY CURIOUS ABOUT THAT.
I'LL PROVIDE THE INFORMATION FOR PAYMENT.
SO, PUBLIC SERVICES, PUBLIC SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDES SOCIAL SERVICES, CSA, SPECIAL WELFARE AND HEALTHY FAMILIES, SOCIAL SOCIAL SERVICES.
FOR TRANSFERS, THEY'RE RECEIVING 1.1.
THAT IS OUR PERCENTAGE BASED OFF OF WHAT THE, UM, STATE PROVIDES THEM.
THE GENERAL FUND PROVIDES, I BELIEVE IT'S 17%.
FEDERAL IS 3.1 FOR 26, AND STATE IS 2.9.
FOR CSA, WE'RE LOOKING AT TRANSFERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS
[01:40:01]
AND STATE OF 2.8 FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES.WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, TRANSFERS ZERO.
THIS IS A GRANT FUNDED PROGRAM.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY HAD AN INCREASE FROM 25 TO 26.
AND THEN FROM STATE IS 461,000.
YEAH, I YOU SAID ZERO FROM THE, UH, TRANSFERS.
YOU MEAN GOING FORWARD? NOT BUDGET, WHAT GOING FORWARD? YES.
WHAT, WHAT WAS IT THAT WE COULD, WE HAD VOTED TO GIVE THEM, TO ALLOCATE THEM FUNDING LAST YEAR.
IS, WAS THAT INCLUDED IN TRANSFERS FROM THE GENERAL FUND? IS THAT WHAT IT WAS? YEAH, THAT'S WHY 382.
OUR DEBT REVENUE SOURCES, THAT IS, UM, COVERED BY FOOD AND LAUNDRY TAXES, HRW AND SEWER RATES AND GENERAL FUND TRANSFERS.
SO TRANSFERS FOR 24 WAS 1.1 FOR 25 1 MILLION.
77,038 IS GONNA BE CONSISTENT WITH 26 FOR THE MILLS TAX.
THE ESTIMATED REVENUE IS GONNA REMAIN THE SAME FOR MILLS TAX AT 2.5 MILLION.
UM, LOING TAXES REMAINING THE SAME AT 1.1.
THESE ARE THE FIGURES THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF THE REVENUES OFFICE.
THE SCHOOLS FUNDING SCHOOL STATE FUNDING HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED.
WE'RE STATE, WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THE STATE TO ADOPT THEIR BUDGET FOR 25, 26.
REVENUES ARE NOT IN MUNI SYSTEM YET.
THE PAST CITY CONTRIBUTIONS HAS BEEN CONSECUTIVELY 13.5, 13.6 MILLION YEARLY.
THE LOCAL MATCH REQUIREMENT FOR 24 AS WELL AS 23 WAS 8.6.
CITY SUPPLIES AN ADDITIONAL 5 MILLION OUTSIDE OF THE LOCAL MATCH REQUIREMENT FOR THE SCHOOL ASSISTANCE.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR GENERAL FUND, THE, UM, EXCUSE ME, THE TABLE BROKEN DOWN BY CATEGORY, REAL ESTATE, PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION, PERSONAL PROPERTY, MACHINERY AND TOOLS, PENALTIES AND INTERESTS, OTHER TAXES, PERMITS AND LICENSE USE OF MONEY, CHARGES FOR SERVICES, OTHER GOVERNMENTS, MISCELLANEOUS LOCAL REVENUES, STATE REVENUES, FEDERAL REVENUES, AS WELL AS TRANSFERS FOR A TOTAL OF 69 MILLION WITH THE INCREASE OF THE REAL ESTATE.
THE TOTAL IS NOW GONNA BE 71,869,501.
AND I WILL DO AN UPDATED PRESENTATION TO INCLUDE, UM, THE ADDITIONAL REVENUES WHEN WE GET ADDITIONAL DETAIL FROM THE STATE AS WELL.
THIS IS JUST OUR PROJECTION SO FAR FOR ALL FUNDS.
WE HAVE OUR GENERAL SOCIAL SERVICES, SCHOOL OPERATIONS, SCHOOLS, TEXTBOOK SCHOOLS, CAFETERIA, CSA REFUSE, A-R-W-H-R-W, EXCUSE ME, RECREATION THE MARINA SEWER, STORMWATER DEBT, PERPETUAL CAPITAL SELF-INSURANCE, AND HEALTHY FAMILIES FOR A TOTAL OF 215 MILLION 631 448 MINUS THE 19.4 MILLION IN TRANSFERS AND THE 12.9 MILLION CAPITAL FOR HRW.
AS YOU CAN SEE, HRW IS INCLUDED IN THE CAPITAL HERE AT 2.9.
WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 183.2 MILLION.
WE'RE, AGAIN, WE'RE AWAITING THE STATE BUDGET FOR THE SCHOOL'S.
LOCAL MATCH REQUIREMENTS FOR 25 FOR 24 WAS 8.6.
AND WE, WE WERE AWAITING COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL, BUT WE RECEIVED THOSE FIGURES TODAY.
IMPLEMENTATION AND FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET WILL GO INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1ST, 2025.
FINANCE STAFF WILL PREPARE FOR 25 BUDGET ROLLOVERS BY UNENCUMBERED BUDGETS THAT DO NOT HAVE ACTIVE CONTRACTS AND ROLLOVER BUDGETS THAT DO NOT HAVE ACTIVE CONTRACTS.
AND THE BUDGET BOOK WILL BE PREPARED FOR DISTRIBUTION FOR A TARGET DATE OF JUNE 30TH, 2025.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
AND AGAIN, I'LL COME BACK, UM, AT A LATER DATE WHEN WE HAVE UPDATED PROJECTIONS FOR THE REVENUE WHEN WE FINALIZE THE BUDGET.
OKAY, MR. MAYOR, AS WE MOVE INTO THE ACTUAL, UM, BUDGET PRESENTATIONS, WE'RE STARTING WITH THE CITY CLERK, THE
[01:45:01]
CITY CLERK'S DEPARTMENT.UM, IT'S NOT REQUESTING, UM, ANY, UM, ADDITIONAL FUNDINGS TO THEIR BUDGET.
HOWEVER, THE CLERK DOES MANAGE THE COUNCIL BUDGET.
AND SO TONIGHT WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL TO, UM, LOOK AT THEIR BUDGET, MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
AND, UM, SO TO SEE YOUR BUDGET, IT WILL BE BEHIND THE CITY CLERK.
IT'S NOT, IT'S THE CITY CLERK.
IT'S ACTUALLY THE VERY LAST PAGE.
UM, WELL, SO YOU HAVE A, A DETAILED BUDGET IN FRONT OF YOU, UM, CURRENTLY, UM, UH, AND SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE IF YOU CAN SEE IT.
IT SAYS THE ORIGINAL BUDGET AND THEN 2026 BUDGET.
AND SO YOU, UH, EACH, UM, COUNSELOR HAS A WARRANT FUND OF $3,000, UM, TRAVEL, UM, TRANSPORTATION IS TEN FIVE, AND THEN ADD COMMUNICATION IS 3000.
UH, AND THEN THERE ARE SOME GENERAL FUNDS, UH, AREA FOR THINGS LIKE, UM, ANY KIND OF RETREATS.
UM, WE PUT THAT UNDER MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTING.
UM, SO I'LL GIVE, GO BACK TO THE MAYOR TO KICK OFF THE DISCUSSION, UM, FOR THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WITH US BEING, YOU KNOW, IN A, YOU KNOW, TIGHT BUDGET SEASON, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD LOOK AT, UM, YOU KNOW, CUTTING SOME THINGS OUT OF OUR BUDGET.
UM, I KNOW IT'S ALWAYS GETS CONTENTIOUS WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, CUTTING DOWN ON THESE, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATIONS, THE TRAVEL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION MONEY.
UM, AND THEN WE NEED TO ROLL THAT OVER INTO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.
UM, I JUST, I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER WAY, YOU KNOW, GOING ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR BUDGET.
I MEAN, I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK WE NEED ANY INCREASES.
UM, COUNCILOR HOLLOWAY AND THEN VICE MAYOR JOINER.
WE, UH, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THE TIGHTNESS CAME FROM.
WE JUST WENT FROM TALKING ABOUT HAVING A $20 MILLION SUR
I I JUST, I THOUGHT WE JUST DISCUSSED HAVING, UH, MORE FUNDING AND COMING TO A BALANCE BUDGET AND THEN ELIMINATING THE, UM, ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO GET, UH, EDUCATE IN THIS AREA.
SO THE, THE, THE TRAVEL PORTION IS DEFINITELY NOT A VACATIONS.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULD ELIMINATE THE, ESPECIALLY WITH NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS COMING IN AND NOT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, NOT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL AND GO TO THE VIA MAIL AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.
AND THEN YOU TALK ABOUT AIR COMMUNICATION.
SO THEN THAT'S TAKEN AWAY FROM THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY SOMEBODY LIKE MYSELF.
WE NEED TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THIS MONEY IS SPENT AND SO FORTH, WHICH THE COUNCIL DOES NOT, UM, PROVIDE THOSE LEARNINGS EXCEPT WE'RE ABLE TO TRAVEL THESE, UH, THE NUMBERS.
MADAM CITY MANAGER THAT ARE PLACED HERE TODAY.
AND MADAM UH, FINANCE DIRECTOR IS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE BALANCE BUDGET.
BUT AS ALWAYS, YES, BUT AS ALWAYS, WE GO THROUGH EVERY BUDGET AND DEPARTMENT AND THEN WE MAKE CHANGES ALONG THE WAY.
BUT AS OF TODAY, IT'S INCLUDED IN THE BALANCE BUDGET.
SO WE ARE ALREADY, GO AHEAD AND I JUST WANNA SAY SOMETHING, COUNCILOR HOLLOWAY, THE INCREASE THAT WE RECEIVED IN THE REVENUES FROM THE REAL ESTATE REASSESSMENT, IT REALLY DOES HELP THE CITY A LOT BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THE CLASS AND COMP AS WELL AS THE HEALTH INSURANCE.
I KNOW THAT I, I WAS AGREEING TO THAT, BUT I WAS SAYING AS FAR AS WHAT THE MAYOR WAS SAYING, GIVEN THE INFORMATION, I THOUGHT IT WAS MISINFORMATION TO, TO EXPLAIN THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MINIMIZING IT.
UH, WE ARE AT A BALANCED BUDGET.
UM, THE MAYOR WASN'T EVEN IN SUPPORT EVEN WHEN WE HAD A, A SURPLUS, I THINK LAST TIME OF LIKE $7 MILLION.
HE JUST WAS NOT IN SUPPORT OF, UH, SUPPORTING THE TRAVELS FOR HIS PERSONAL REASONS AGAINST, BUT WE ARE NOW AT A BALANCED BUDGET WHERE
[01:50:01]
THIS DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM UNDERSTOOD.I, I, I WOULD HAVE TO CONCUR WITH THE MAYOR THAT I THINK TEN FIVE FOR TRAVEL IS, IS EXCESSIVE.
UM, I CERTAINLY WOULD REPORT, WOULD, UH, SUPPORT REDUCING THAT NUMBER SIGNIFICANTLY? UM, I DON'T THINK ANY OF US SPENT THAT.
I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WAS ACTUALLY, WE DON'T SEE ACTUALS.
NO ONE SPENT ANY, OH, PARDON? YEAH.
THE ACTUALS AND, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST NO REASON THAT THAT CUTS LIKE $73,000 OR SOMETHING.
UM, IT WAS MONEY SPENT LAST YEAR.
IT WAS WHO TRAVELED? UH, MAYOR, UH, VICE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR OF TRAVEL, AND I WENT TO NORFOLK, UH, LAST YEAR.
WASN'T ABLE TO, UH, GO TO, ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THOSE WERE THE, YOU KNOW, BUT I, I WOULD, I WOULD CERTAINLY, UM, SUPPORT REDUCING THAT SIGNIFICANTLY.
'CAUSE I WASN'T UNDER THE, THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MAYOR WAS REQUESTING FOR A REDUCTION.
I THOUGHT HE WAS SAYING ELIMINATING.
WELL, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I, I MEAN IT JUST A, A SMALL, I, I AM IN SUPPORT OF, I AM IN SUPPORT, DEFINITELY A SUPPORT OF, UH, REDUCING IT.
BECAUSE EVEN WITH GOING TO ALL OF THE SUGGESTED, UM, THINGS LIKE NATIONAL, UH, LEAGUE OF CITIES VIA MAIL AND A COUPLE THINGS IN WASHINGTON, I THINK WE CAN ALMOST SWIPE IT IN HALF AND IT STILL BE COVERED.
I MEAN, I'M THINKING WE COULD GET AWAY WITH $2,000 YEAH.
AND THEN, I MEAN, THAT'S $8,500 NO TIMES SEVEN THAT WE CAN MOVE OVER INTO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
THAT, THAT, NO, THAT DOESN'T MATCH.
BECAUSE IT WAS $2,000 JUST TO GET TO THE NATIONAL, UH, LEAGUE OF CITIES WITH AIRFARE, WITH THE AIRFARE, UH, HOTEL.
AND, UM, THEN THE, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? THE CONFERENCE PRICES.
THE CONFERENCE PRICES ALONE ARE LIKE $900.
SO THERE'S NO WAY YOU, YOU WOULD ELIMINATE, UM, GOING TO BE A MALE, UM, NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.
IT JUST WOULDN'T BE APPROPRIATE.
I THINK JUST TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND JUST TWO CONFERENCES WITH THE, I THINK THE COST OF THE CONFERENCES IS THEMSELVES ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS IS LIKE EIGHT.
THAT'S WITHOUT THE, UM, THAT'S WITHOUT ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL.
YOU, YOU, YOU GOTTA PAY FOR THE TICKETS OUT OF THIS SAME COST, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN OUR TRAVEL.
AND I THINK SOME OF THE CONFERENCES ARE LIKE 700, $900.
IF I CAN GO TO A CORPS OF ENGINEERS, UH, CLASS, UM, AND I CAN GET IT UNDER $3,000.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S REASONABLE MEAN.
BUT YOU'RE COMPARING SOME AND THAT'S A AND THAT'S A WEEK LONG COURSE.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE COMPARING SOMETHING RESPECTFULLY, MAYOR, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE JOB AT HAND THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRAVELING.
I REFLECT TO THE, THE CITY CLERK AS TO HOW MUCH THE CONFERENCE COSTS FOR THE VIA MAIL.
THE, THE ACTUAL CONFERENCES THEMSELVES, JUST FOR YOU TO REGISTER US AND HOW MUCH THE REGISTRATIONS WORTH APPROXIMATELY FOR THE, UH, NATIONAL LEGAL CITIES.
UM, $900 WAS IF YOU DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THE BLACK CORPUS OR IT'S, IT'S A CAUCUS.
IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR THAT, THEN IT WAS AN, AN ADDITIONAL $200 THEN TAKING ALL YOUR PAY PAYCHECK THEN.
I MEAN,
I MEAN, IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T MAKE, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AT ALL.
FIRST OF ALL, I, MY MONEY'S NOT LONG LIKE YOURS.
Y'ALL KNOW, YOU COME FROM A, A RICH FAMILY.
I THINK IT COULD BE QUITE IGNORANT AS GOVERNING OFFICIALS, CITIZENS COMPLAINTS ALL THE TIME ABOUT LEADING THE CITY APPROPRIATELY AND LEARNING THOSE INFORMATIONS.
WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT YOUR LEADERS, UM, TO GO TO THE APPROPRIATE CONFERENCES AND, AND RECEIVE THE INFORMATION? AND A LOT OF THESE CONFERENCES, A LOT OF THE, UM, A LOT OF THE INFORMATION, UM, THAT WE OBTAIN AT THESE CONFERENCES HELP OUT QUITE A BIT WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO BRINGING BACK INFORMATION FROM THOSE CONFERENCES.
UM, AND THEN, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, THE CITY, WELL, CITY MANAGER AND STUFF IS SEPARATE.
BUT YOU, AGAIN, THE, THE INFORMATION THAT WE GAIN, THE THINGS THAT WE LEARN TO BE ABLE TO BRING BACK THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT.
BUT AGAIN, THOSE THINGS COST MONEY AND YOU CAN'T EXPECT
[01:55:01]
SOMEBODY TO TAKE IT OUT, THEIR PERSONAL FUNDING TO HELP SUPPORT THE INFORMATION TO GET TO THE CITY.I THINK MORE APPROPRIATELY, AT LEAST $3,500 IN THE TRAVEL EXPENSES MAKES SENSE.
IT, IT IS TRAVEL EXPENSES THAT I, I WOULDN'T, I DON'T THINK THAT THE CITIZENS WOULD HAVE AN ISSUE.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LITERALLY HAVING TO GO LEARN INFORMATION, BRING INFORMATION BACK TO OUR CITY, THAT INCREASES THE ABILITY FOR US TO GET MORE GRANT FUNDING AND EVERYTHING.
EVERY DEPARTMENT IN OUR CITY DOES THIS.
THIS IS HOW YOU GET MORE GRANT FUNDING AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.
THIS IS HOW YOU LEARN ABOUT THOSE THINGS.
THIS IS HOW YOU GET EDUCATED, ESPECIALLY WITH THINGS LIKE THE NEW AI, UM, AND DIFFERENT THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
WE LEARN THOSE THINGS AT THOSE CONFERENCES.
SO AGAIN, THE MAYOR JUST SPOKE TO THE SIMPLE FACT OF TAKING IT OUT YOUR OWN POCKET MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.
SO, UH, COUNSELOR DAY, I THINK 2,500 IS A GOOD AMOUNT.
MAKER, I MEAN LIKE VML AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE THEM COME HERE, CORRECT? YES.
BUT WE, BUT WE STILL WILL HAVE A GROUP, LIKE A GROUP CHARGE.
IT WON'T COST AS MUCH AS INDIVIDUAL.
BUT THERE'LL BE A GROUP CHARGE ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
AND, UM, A LOT OF THIS STUFF TOO IS AVAILABLE ONLINE, WHICH IS CHEAPER THAN, YOU KNOW, PLANE TICKETS.
UH, I'M DEFINITELY FOR, YOU KNOW, TAKING THE DIFFERENCE AND PUTTING IT TOWARDS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GONNA BENEFIT EVERYBODY IN THE CITY AND TRYING TO DO MORE OF THE STUFF ONLINE, OR HAVING THEM COME HERE AT A CHEAPER RATE, UM, AND STILL GET, YOU KNOW, THE INFORMATION WE NEED.
SO DO I HAVE A CONSENSUS TO LOWER OUR TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC, TRANS TRAVEL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO 2,500? YEAH, I, I, I HAD MY LIGHT ON FOR A DISCUSSION.
MR. HARRIS A CONSENSUS TO LOWER IT TO 25.
UM, WHAT'S THE NUMBER YOU HAVE IN MIND? I, I DON'T HAVE A NEED FOR 10,500.
I DON'T MYSELF, UH, HOW MANY OF THE COUNSELORS USE ANY OF THE 10,500 LAST YEAR IS A QUESTION THAT I HAD BEFORE I WOULD TALK ABOUT IT.
BECAUSE IF THERE IS SOMETHING INDEED NECESSARY FOR US TO BE IN ATTENDANCE TO, I FIGURE WE SHOULD PAY, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE SET AND IT'S RIGHT HERE SO WE CAN SUBTRACT FROM IT.
SO WE CAN GO WHEREVER WE WANT TO GO UNTIL WE USE THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
ALL WE WOULD NEED, I WOULD THINK IS A BUCKET OF MONEY.
AND IF YOU WANTED TO GO, YOU COULD GO WHERE YOU GO AND IT'D BE DONE WITH IT.
BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I WOULD SAID IT WE WOULD USE TO SAY, UM, I WANT TO GO HERE AND THEN THERE AND THIS, THAT, AND I'M GOING TO, YOU KNOW, EXPAND THAT WAY.
IT, IT, IT IS TO ME NOT, NOT NEED TO HAVE THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY THERE.
IT'S JUST FOR US TO HAVE JUST ONE FIGURE OF MONEY FOR TRAVEL AND EDUCATION AND WE WOULD USE THAT UNTIL IT'S GONE.
I THINK THE REASON WHY IT, OVER TIME IT GOT BROKEN OUT WAS BECAUSE WE ENDED UP HAVING, YOU KNOW, ONE COUNSELOR IN PARTICULAR THAT USED THE WHOLE BUDGET.
OR TWO COUNSELORS THAT USED THE WHOLE BUDGET AND THEN SOME OF THE OTHERS THAT DIDN'T, NEVER WENT ON ANYTHING, WEREN'T ABLE TO GO ON ANYTHING.
SO THEY BROKE IT OUT INTO SEVEN LINE ITEMS. YEAH.
I, YOU KNOW, IN REGARDS TO I CAN SEE REDUCING IT.
I WOULD SEE, YOU KNOW, JUST IF WE GOING TO HAVE A LINE ITEM FOR EACH COUNSELOR MM-HMM
IIII DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO REDUCE IT TO, BECAUSE I DON'T, I HAVEN'T BEEN ANYWHERE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE ANYWHERE THAT WOULD COST THE CITY ANYTHING.
BUT WHAT I, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT COSTS AND WHAT WHAT, UH, IF IT COST TO GO TO, UH, THE LEGAL CITIES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BECAUSE WHATEVER IT COST, I THINK WE SHOULD PUT THE BILL AND WE LOWER IT SO LOW THAT WE CAN'T PUT THE BILL.
BUT I, I JUST DON'T SEE US JUST HAVING TO FIGURE THAT SO THAT WE CAN JUST USE IT AT OUR LEISURE.
AND THEN WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, THE MONEY THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE NEED, HEY, PUSH IT TO WHERE WE NEEDED TO BE.
AND I KNOW LAST YEAR WHAT WE SAID, I THINK, UH, MYSELF AND ANOTHER COUNCIL SAID, HEY, YOU CAN TAKE MINE AND PUT IT MM-HMM
WHEREVER WE SOMEWHERE ELSE, ALL OF, BECAUSE I'M NOT GONNA USE ANY OF THEM NOW.
[02:00:01]
WHAT I BE SAYING THIS YEAR NOW TOO.SO WHEN YOU START SAYING WE GOING TO REDUCE IT, WHAT I DON'T WANT IT IS, 'CAUSE IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY NEED TO GO TO AND IT MIGHT COST 3000 OR $4,000 TO GO TO.
AND I THINK THE BILLS SHOULD BE PUT BY CITY.
NOW IF, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S THE CASE MM-HMM
THEN WE NEED TO LIMIT WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO SAY WE CAN DO.
THAT'S WHERE WE CUT THE LINE WHERE WE CAN'T AFFORD, WE, IT'S NOT IN OUR BEST INTEREST FOR YOU TO GO AND LEARN MAYBE
SO, UH, BUT IF IT IS, WE WANT TO DEFINITELY GO.
SO, BUT WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS PUT OURSELF IN A TRAP IN REGARDS TO REDUCING IT TO AMOUNT THAT WOULDN'T EVEN SATISFY ANY OF US IF IT WAS A NEED FOR US TO GO SOMEWHERE.
SO, UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO, YOU KNOW, REPLACE MY, MY MY, MY UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE, UH, IT WAS LEFT UP TO ME, YOU KNOW, AND I'M SAYING I'M NOT GOING AWAY.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, SO WHAT IT IS, IF WE TALKING ABOUT REDUCING YES.
AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD REDUCE IT AND, UH, PUSH THE MONEY TO WHAT IT IS THAT YOU SAID THAT WE REALLY NEED AND EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT WE NEED.
HEY, WE TALKING, IF I COULD TAKE THE MONEY AND FIX MY OWN STREET, THAT'S WHAT I DO.
I MEAN, BUT, UH, WHEN YOU SAY WHAT I'M IN FAVOR OF REDUCING IT.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO PUT A PRICE ON IT.
HOW MUCH WE GONNA REDUCE IT TONIGHT? I, I MEAN LET'S, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT CAN BE, DO WE HAVE TO DO THAT TONIGHT? WELL, NO, BUT SHE'S JUST ASKING FOR SOME GUIDANCE.
BUT, UH, BUT YEAH, WE'VE GOT DR.
MAKER CAN ARRANGED THE BUDGET.
UM, BUT I DO WANNA BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SECOND PAGE COUNSELOR JOINER.
UM, THERE IS THE BUDGET THAT ACTUAL, UM, OH, OKAY.
STACY JUST CAME UP THAT, SO IT LOOKS LIKE, UH, $2,800 WAS SPENT THE MOST, AND I CAN'T TELL YOU AT THIS MOMENT, IF YOU LOOK IN THE PROJECT CODES, UH, WE IDENTIFY THAT WE ASSOCIATE THAT WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, THE, UH, VICE MAYOR GORES THE ONLY PERSON THAT WENT OUT OF, OUT OF THE STATE LAST YEAR.
UM, UM, UH, COUNCIL HOLLOWAY WENT TO NORFOLK.
HE JUST REFRESHED MY MEMORY ON THAT.
AND SO, UM, HIS COST MAY BE THAT $1,000 DOESN'T MEAN THAT GOES TO, YOU KNOW, MY POINT, YOU KNOW, BUT, BUT AGAIN, HOLD ON, HOLD ON.
COUNCILOR JOINER HASN'T SPOKEN ON THIS ISSUE.
AND THEN YOU CAN SPEAK FOR THE SECOND TIME.
I, I WOULD, THE ONE THING WE DO HAVE TO, I DO THINK IT IS, IT BEHOOVES US TO THINK THAT WE, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE, I THINK IT'S NOT BEEN A GOOD THING THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ACTIVE IN VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.
UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF, WE HAVE NEW MEMBERS.
I HAVE, THERE ARE MEMBERS THAT ARE SITTING ON CITY COUNCIL FOR SEVERAL YEARS THAT HAVE NOT EVEN ATTENDED A VML CONFERENCE OR THAT KIND OF THING.
AND I KNOW THAT, I KNOW THAT THERE IS A CONFERENCE IN NOVEMBER THAT I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND.
IT'S IN ROANOKE, SO THERE, IT'S REASONABLE TO HAVE SOME TRAVEL DOLLARS THERE.
RIGHT? IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT'S EXCESSIVE.
AND, UM, SO I THINK MAYBE IT WOULD, IT WOULD BEHOOVE US TO LOOK AT WHAT THE, WHAT ARE THE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEE IS GONNA BE FOR THE CONFERENCE IN NOVEMBER.
AND HOW MUCH IS IT GONNA COST VML TO COME HERE? THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE PAID TO COME HERE AND DO A CONFERENCE HERE.
SO WE, LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE AND THEN MAYBE WE CAN COME UP WITH A BETTER NUMBER.
UM, THAT I THINK WOULD BE, UM, REASONABLE AND, UH, NOT EXCESSIVE.
TEN FIVE IS EXCESSIVE IN MY OPINION.
AND, AND ALSO IT WAS TO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ENDED UP NAMING THIS JUST TO TRAVEL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, BUT WE HAD, THAT WASN'T, IF I, I MEAN WE CAN GO BACK TO THE, UM, TO THE MINUTES INTO THAT VIDEO, BUT THAT WASN'T THE ORIGINAL, UM, PLAN EITHER FOR THE, IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE JUST TRAVEL 10,500.
WE HAD ELIMINATED OTHER COST LODGING.
UM, AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO TURN INTO WHERE THAT 10,500 WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE TOTAL AMOUNT FOR EVERYTHING.
UM, BUDGET FOR, FOR LIKE OUR TRAVEL, UM, WHAT YOU CALL IT, UH, FOOD MEALS.
NOT, NO, NOT JUST THE, YEAH, THE MEALS, THE COMMUNICATION, WATCHING EVERYTHING WAS SUPPOSED TO GO INTO THAT TEN FIVE, BUT FOR SOME ODD REASON IT SPREAD OUT.
EVEN THE, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE WAR FUNDS, BUT THE COMMUNICATION, THE TRAVEL, EVERYTHING THAT WAS INCLUDED WAS SUPPOSED TO GO IN THERE.
AND ALSO THE EXPRESSIONS, IF YOU GO BACK AND LISTEN TO THAT BUDGET TIME WHERE WE WERE DISCUSSING THAT TEN FIVE NUMBER, ALSO
[02:05:01]
A LOT OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WERE OPPOSING IT, WHICH IS STILL SOME OF THE ONES THAT ARE OPPOSING IT, UH, THE MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR, UH, ESPECIALLY THE, THE MAYOR, UH, WHO WAS OPPOSING IT, SPOKE TO THE SIMPLE FACT OF THEM HAVING ALREADY BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND THOSE THINGS.SO I THINK IT IS QUITE INAPPROPRIATE OR DISCRIMINATORY THAT YOU NOW, UM, ELIMINATE THE ABILITY FOR OTHERS TO BE ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS WHEN YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO 'EM.
THIS IS NOT A, A VOCATION SOMEWHERE, UM, ON THE CITY'S MONEY.
THESE ARE ACTUALLY THINGS THAT'S IMPLEMENTED FOR LEARNING, YOU KNOW,
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.
SO JUST DO, WE'LL WRAP THIS UP, YOUR DISCUSSION.
BANKER, UM, YOU KNOW, THE REQUEST FROM COUNSEL, IT WAS TWOFOLD, YOU KNOW, OPTIONS, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT IT, IF IT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, 2,500, YOU KNOW, PER COUNSELOR AND THEN THE SAVINGS, AND THEN ALSO LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT, YOU KNOW, ONE CONFERENCE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, LODGING, YOU KNOW, PER DIEM, FOOD, WHATEVER MM-HMM
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, BRING THAT FIGURE ALSO BACK TO US.
UM, I'LL, I'LL TRY TO HAVE THIS AT THE NEXT, UM, BUDGET MEETING.
MINKER'S GONNA MOVE THE OTHER ITEMS TO THE NEXT MEETING SINCE IT'S GETTING LATE.
UM, SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO, NOUR.