[00:00:06]
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
UM, SO ANTHONY, I'M JUST MAKING SURE 'CAUSE I KNOW WE GOT A NEW, THIS IS OUR FIRST NEW AGENDA TEMPLATE.
WITH OUR NEW COUNSEL, RULES AND PROCEDURES AND PLACE.
ONE ANTHONY LAWYER TO ANOTHER ANTHONY LAWYER.
UM, AT THIS TIME, THIS IS WHERE WE CAN JUST ADOPT THE AGENDA OUTRIGHT, CORRECT? THAT'S RIGHT.
[Additional item]
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO, UH, ADOPT THE AGENDA? SO, MOVE.MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY COUNCILOR DAY AND SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR JOINER.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MAYOR? MAYOR, WE HAVE TO LET HER GO.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ALLOW COUNCILOR STOKES TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY? SO, ALRIGHT, I'LL SECOND IT.
MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY COUNCIL ELLS AND SECONDED BY MYSELF.
UH, COUNCILLOR STOKES, CAN YOU STATE FOR THE RECORD WHY YOU'RE ASKING TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY AND WHERE YOU'RE CONDUCTING THE MEETING FROM? UM, I'M, I'M AT HOME AND I'M IN SOME MEDICAL REASONS.
I'M SEEING NO LIGHTS FOR DISCUSSION.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT? A SECOND.
MOTIONS HAS BEEN MADE BY COUNCILOR, UH, DAY AND SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR JOINER.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO LIGHTS? ROLL CALL PLEASE.
[CLOSED MEETING]
IS THERE A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED MEETING UNDER VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 11? A THREE EIGHT AND 29 TO DISCUSS THE ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION O OF REAL PROPERTY, WHERE DISCUSSION AT AN OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE BARGAINING POSITION OR NEGOTIATING STRATEGY OF THE PUBLIC BODY? THE AWARD OF A PUBLIC CONTRACT WHERE DISCUSSION IN AN OPEN SESSION WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE CITY'S BARGAINING POSITION.AND TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS, REAL ESTATE CONTRACT DISCUSSIONS, UNSOLICITED OFFER ON CITY OWNED REAL ESTATE, AND 2.2 DASH 3 7 11 A ONE TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER PERSONNEL MATTERS INCLUDING BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS.
MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY, UH, VICE MAYOR JOINER, AND SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR DAY.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO LIGHTS? ROLL CALL PLEASE.
MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY VICE MAYOR JOINER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR ELLIS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO LIGHTS? ROLL CALL PLEASE.
CERTIFICATION UNDER VIRGINIA CODE 2.2 DASH THREE SEVEN 2D.
WERE ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS.
LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS AND NUMBER TWO, IDENTIFIED IN THE CLOSED MEETING.
MOTION DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED MEETING.
UH, I WANNA THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TO TONIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, WE'VE GOT A FULL AGENDA, UH, UH, BEFORE US, AND, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE
[00:05:01]
WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD STUFF GOING ON HERE FOR THE CITY.SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT, AND I WILL TURN IT OVER
[REPORT OF THE CITY MANAGER]
TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR, UH, HIS REPORT.UM, FIRST I, I WISH TO RECOGNIZE SHANAE PHILLIPS FULLER AND OFFICER MICHAEL DA RE DAVID AND OFFICER FAYE WILLIAMS ON THEIR SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP IN COORDINATING THE HOPEWELL NATIONAL NIGHT OUT ON OCTOBER 7TH.
WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT RESIDENCE.
UH, IT WAS HELD AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND IT WAS A GREAT COMING TOGETHER OF RESIDENTS AND THEIR GOVERNMENT.
I WANT TO, UH, THANK THE HOPEWELL, UH, DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS FOR THEIR PRESENCE, CHIEF TAYLOR AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND, UH, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR, UH, PARTICIPATION.
UH, PARTICULARLY WANT TO THANK, UH, CHIEF TAYLOR FOR HIS TIME IN THE DUNKING TANK.
IT WAS A BIG HIT AS HAS BEEN REPORTED.
WE ARE LOSING PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, UH, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK MIKE CROCKER FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE CITY.
UH, IN MY TIME HERE, HE HAS BEEN AN EXCELLENT PARTNER AND WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF THINGS DONE.
HE'S THE KIND OF PUBLIC SERVANT, UH, THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN, UH, APPRECIATE AND BE PROUD OF.
AS INTERIM CITY MANAGER, UH, I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE APPOINTMENT OF MS. MONIQUE ROBERTSON AS THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE CITY OF HOPEWELL.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 10TH, MS. ROBERTSON HAS BEEN SERVING AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS SINCE JANUARY, UH, 2023.
WITH OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN, UH, THE PUBLIC SECTOR, INCLUDING 23 YEARS OF DIRECT LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS.
SHE BRINGS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE, STRATEGIC INSIGHT, AND PROVEN MANAGERIAL EXPERTISE TO THIS ROLE IN HER CAPACITY.
AS INTERIM DIRECTOR, MS. ROBERTSON WILL LEAD THE DEPARTMENT IN ADDRESSING, UH, COMPLEX INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES AND ADVANCING KEY STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, UH, THAT SUPPORT THE CITY'S GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.
SHE HOLDS A BACHELOR'S OF SCIENCE AND ACCOUNTING FROM VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY AND A MASTER'S CERTIFICATE IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT FOR THE UNDERSCORING FOR STRONG FOUNDATION IN BOTH TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING MS. MONIQUE ROBERTSON AND, AND THANK YOU MICHAEL CROCKER.
UM, ON OCTOBER, UH, THE LAST, THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING MM-HMM
I, UH, REPORTED THAT, UH, WE SPENT $11,000, UH, ON THE COUNCIL RETREAT IN WILLIAMSBURG, UH, SEPTEMBER 15TH AND 16TH.
$6,000, UM, AMOUNT FOR THE FACILITATOR FROM MCGUIRE WOODS.
THE TOTAL COST OF THE RETREAT WAS $17,000.
THAT AMOUNT WAS WELL SPENT, WELL WORTH IT.
UH, IT IS DEMONSTRATED, UH, AS STATED BY THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND, UH, THE INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, THAT COUNCILS THAT DO STRATEGIC PLANNING AND RETREATS PROVIDE BETTER GOVERNANCE AND MAKE BETTER DECISIONS FOR THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.
THE RETREAT WAS WELL WORTH IT.
UH, AND, UH, THE REPORT THAT WAS, UH, UH, WILL BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL IN THE NEXT WEEK.
WE'VE RECEIVED THE DRAFT FROM, UH, BRIAN, UH, PRESTON BRYANT, AND WE WILL SHARE IT, AND THEN IT CAN, UH, BE MADE PUBLIC.
THE POSITION LISTING FOR THE HOPEWELL WATER RENEWAL DIRECTOR WILL CLOSE IN EARLY NOVEMBER AFTER A 30 DAY POSTING BY MGT, UH, THE RECRUITMENT FIRM.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE WILL PROVIDE OVERSIGHT OF THE HOPEWELL WATER RENEWAL, UH, FACILITY, WORKING WITH OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, WITH SENIOR STAFF, UH, AT THE FACILITY AND, AND THE COMMISSION.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK TO UPDATE THEM AND BRIEF THEM ON, ON WHERE WE ARE IN THIS PROCESS.
[00:10:01]
I THINK WE'LL BE OKAY BECAUSE OUR FOCUS, OF COURSE, IS, UM, ON THE RECRUITMENT OF THE NEW NEW DIRECTOR.AND THAT SHOULD BE, WE HAVE, UH, WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD BE WITHIN THE 90 DAY PERIOD, UH, THAT THE RECRUITMENT FIRM, UH, PROJECTION WILL TAKE TO GET THAT, UH, GET THAT WORK DONE.
THE BROCHURE IS DONE AND, UH, IT HAS BEEN LISTED, UH, ON VARIOUS, VARIOUS SITES.
SO WE SHOULD START RECEIVING, UM, RESUME SOON.
AND I THINK THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AN EARLY CLOSING, UH, IN NOVEMBER.
WE ARE FINALIZING THE SELECTION OF A FIRM FOR CITY MANAGER RECRUITMENT.
WE SHOULD COMPLETE THAT AWARD NEXT WEEK.
NOW THAT I HAVE ALL OF YOUR EVALUATIONS.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THAT.
UH, PROCUREMENT WILL ALLOW ME TO MOVE FORWARD NOW,
SO, SO THAT'S, UH, THAT'S THE OVERVIEW.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE, UH, UH, COUNCIL'S GOING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION, UH, FOR FINANCING, UM, $15 MILLION THAT WE ARE PLACING IN, IN THE PRIVATE MARKET.
AND THERE'LL BE A PRESENTATION ABOUT THAT.
UH, THERE, UH, HAS BEEN SOME QUESTION OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA SPEND THE MONEY ON? AND, UH, AT THE TIME OF THAT, UH, PRESENTATION, WE CAN, UH, WE CAN HIGHLIGHT THE PROJECTS THAT WE, UH, UH, WILL SPEND THE MONEY ON ONCE IT'S CLOSING.
WE ARE ANTICIPATING A CLOSING IN, UH, IN NOVEMBER.
AS, AS IT'S PUT IT HERE, THE, THE CITY MANAGER'S ADDRESS
AND, UM, I KNOW I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL, UH, WHEN I SAY THANK YOU, UH, MR. CROCKER FOR TAKING ON, UM, YOU KNOW, QUITE FRANKLY, THE IMPOSSIBLE, YOU KNOW, TAKING, YOU KNOW, LEADING ONE DEPARTMENT IS ONE THING, LEADING TWO DEPARTMENTS IS ANOTHER.
AND THEN LEADING A DEPARTMENT, UM, THAT REALLY NEEDED SOME TURNAROUND AND STABILIZATION.
AND YOU DID A, UM, A GREAT JOB WITH FIXING THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED, YOU KNOW, O EASILY OVER A DECADE AGO, AND SAW THROUGH, UH, WHAT OTHERS HAD FAILED TO DO.
UH, SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, FOR, UH, MS. RAF FULLER, I'M SHOCKED SHE'S NOT ACTUALLY HERE TONIGHT.
UM, BUT I ALSO, IF YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, WATCHING AND LISTENING IN, I DO WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UH, MS. FULLER, UH, FOR A GREAT JOB.
UM, I HEARD THAT THIS WAS BY FAR ONE OF THE BEST, UH, NATIONAL NIGHTS OUT THAT THE CITY HAS SEEN, UH, IN SOMETI, UH, SOME TIME.
ALRIGHT, MR. TAYLOR, OR CHIEF TAYLOR.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU THE HOPEWELL POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S CRIME SUMMARY, UH, DATED OCTOBER 14TH.
AND I'LL BEGIN WITH THE, UH, CRIME.
UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR VIOLENT CRIME, WE DOWN MINUS 1%, SAME AS, UH, OUR HOMICIDES IS THE SAME AS I REPORTED LAST MONTH.
UH, OUR PROPERTY CRIMES, UH, BURGLARY, WE DOWN MINUS 22%, UH, LAR WE DOWN MINUS 19%.
AND MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT, WE ARE DOWN MINUS 68%.
SO PROPERTY CRIME TOTAL, WE ARE DOWN MINUS 31%.
AND TOTAL MAJOR CRIMES OVERALL, WE MINUS 26%.
FLIPPING TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, THE OPIATE OVERDOSES.
UH, GLAD TO REPORT THAT WE'RE STILL, UH, REPORTING LAST THAN PREVIOUS YEARS, UH, OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
WE REPORTING, CONTINUE TO REPORT THE LOWEST NUMBERS THAT I'M GOOD TO.
OUR VERIFIED SHOTS FIRED, UH, IN 2024.
THIS TIME WE HAD 47, 20 25, WE HAD 43, SO A LITTLE BIT LESS.
UH, WE'LL STILL CONTINUE TO DO PROACTIVE POLICING WHEN WE GET SHOTS FIRED.
I HAVE SOME GOALS AND OBJECTIVES TO TALK ABOUT FOR AS, UH, DEALING WITH THAT AND NEW TECHNOLOGY AND, UM, GRANTS AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH WAS, I WANNA HIT THAT SLIDE BECAUSE, UH, IN WARD THREE THERE WAS A CHANGE AND THAT WARD THREE CHANGE, UH, PASTOR RO ROGER CRUMP AND GREG MCDANIEL ARE THE NEW BLOCK CAPTAINS FOR WARD THREE.
AND THEY NO LONGER MEET ON THE SECOND
[00:15:01]
MONDAY.THEY MEET THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH.
HIRING RECRUITMENT, UH, THIS IS WHAT WE WERE DOING.
WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH FORT LEE.
IT'S CALLED THE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
WE ARE, WE ARE PARTNERED WITH THEM TO, UH, ANY OKAY.
ANY, UH, OFFICERS OR SOLDIERS THAT ARE PLANNING ON, UH, GETTING OUT THEIR SERVICES.
UH, WE GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO JOIN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE ALSO, UH, BRIGHT POINT COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN CHESTER.
WE ARE PARTNER WITH THEIR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM THERE.
AND WE'VE ATTENDED A, A CAREER FAIR AT BRIGHT POINT AND PLAN TO ATTEND MANY MORE, UH, VIRGINIA STATE.
WE HAVE ALSO PARTNERED WITH VIRGINIA STATE, THEIR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM.
AND WE ATTENDED ONE CAMPUS EVENT SINCE, UH, SEPTEMBER THE 24TH.
LONGWOOD COLLEGES IN FARMVILLE.
WE ARE PARTNERED WITH LONGWOOD AND REGISTERED FOR A JOB FAIR ON THEIR CAMPUS.
AND WE JUST RECENTLY HAD THAT OCTOBER THE SECOND, UH, VALLEY, WHICH IS VIRGINIA LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UH, THEY HAD A DAY FAIR, UH, A, UH, CAREER DAY FAIR NATIONALLY, AND WE ATTENDED THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER FAIR.
WE SPOKE WITH, UH, SEVERAL POTENTIAL PARTIES.
THAT WAS ON MAY 18TH, THAT WAS AT GREEN TOP IN NATIONAL, UH, VIRGINIA CAREER WORKS IN CHESTERFIELD.
WE PARTNERED WITH THEM IN THE ATTENDED HIRING EVENTS ON THE FOLLOWING DATES DURING WHICH INDIVIDUALS DID SHOW INTEREST AND COMPLETED, UH, CONTACT INFORMATION FORMS ON THE DATES.
THE DAY OF JUNE THE 25TH, JULY THE 16TH, AUGUST THE 26TH.
AND ANOTHER HIRING DATE IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 3RD, WHICH IS, HAS ALREADY PASSED BY.
WE PARTNER WITH GOALS GYM, WHICH JUST ALLOWS US TO HAVE A TABLE AND MAKE RECRUITMENT EFFORTS AT THIS CREEK LOCATION.
AND WE ATTENDED ONE EVENT BACK IN AUGUST, AND WE ARE DOING ONE DAY HIRING EVENTS.
WE HELD ONE DAY HIRING EVENTS, UH, ON THESE DATES THAT, UH, WHICH APPLICANTS WERE MADE ABLE TO COMPLETE, COMPLETE THE AGILITY TESTS, WRITTEN TESTS AND PANEL INTERVIEWS ALL AT ONE TIME.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE DATES AND THE NUMBER OF ATTENDEES.
AND MAY, MAY THE SEVENTH AND MAY THE EIGHTH WERE JUST PANEL INTERVIEWS ON, UH, HIRING STRATEGIES, SOCIAL MEDIA AND ADVERTISING.
UH, THE FOLLOWING SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS THAT HAVE BEEN HEAVILY USED SINCE MARCH.
THAT'S FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, AND TIKTOK.
A RECRUITMENT BILLBOARD SERVICE WAS PURCHASED AND WAS ADVERTISED BACK IN MARCH OF 2025.
A RECRUITMENT VIDEO THROUGH RICHMOND METRO WAS FILMED IN APRIL, 2025 AND IS POSTED ON OUR POLICE FACEBOOK.
AND IF YOU GO TO OUR POLICE FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW THE LINK, YOU WILL SEE IT.
UH, SINCE BEGINNING OF OUR RECRUIT RECRUITMENT EFFORTS IN MARCH, 2025, WE HAVE RECEIVED AND PROCESSED APPROXIMATELY 195 POLICE APPLICANTS.
WE HAVE PROCESSED AND COMPLETED APPROXIMATELY 47 BACKGROUND APPLICANTS, INCLUDING FOUR, UH, DISPATCHERS POSITIONS.
THESE EFFORTS HAVE RESULTED IN HIRING SEVEN NEW RECRUITS, ONE PRE-CERTIFIED, AND ONE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION OPERATOR.
FOUR OF THE FIVE, FOUR OF THE HIRED RECRUITS ATTEND THE BASIC ACADEMY NOW AND WILL GRADUATE IN DECEMBER.
THEY WILL ASSIGNED THE TRAINING AND RELEASE THE FULL DUTY IN THE MONTH OF APRIL.
SO THEY WILL NOT BE RELEASED TO AT, IN A SOLO CAPACITY UNTIL APRIL.
THAT'S WHEN THEY'LL BE ON THEIR OWN.
UH, THE, THE RECRUITS, THE NEXT THREE, UH, WILL START THE ACADEMY JANUARY 26TH AND GRADUATE IN JULY, 2027.
AFTER THEY, AFTERWARDS THEY WILL BE REASSIGNED THE TRAINING AND RELEASE THE FULL DUTY ONCE AGAIN.
BUT FROM THE TIME WE HIRE 'EM, BAT TIME, THEY GO TO THE ACADEMY.
IF THEY'RE NOT CERTIFIED, THEY GOT SIX MONTHS TO ACADEMY.
THEY GOT ALMOST THREE MONTHS OF FTO.
SO IT'S ALMOST A A YEAR BEFORE THEY ARE IN A SOLO CAPACITY.
SO THE ONES THAT WILL GRADUATE IN, UH, JULY, WILL BE OFF FULL DUTY, ARE SOLO CAPACITY OCTOBER OF 2027.
UH, THE PRE-CERTIFIED OFFICERS HAS ALREADY COMPLETED HIS FIELD TRAINING AND HE'S ALREADY BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE FIELD.
UH, HIRING STRATEGIES OF ADDITIONAL OTHER ADDITIONAL EFFORTS ON, ON STRATEGY BEING USED TO ENHANCE RECRUITMENT AND HIRING.
UH, HIRING RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE OF 10 PLUS MEMBERS HAVE BEEN FORMED AND HAVE HAD
[00:20:01]
THIS FIRST MEETING.THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE ASSISTED WITH PANEL INTERVIEW BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS, THEY ATTENDING EVENTS AND OTHER RECRUITMENT EFFORTS, UH, SUCH AS CREATING SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT.
UH, THE PROCESS OF APPLICANT BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN STEAMLINED BY RECREATING THE PACKAGES SIM SECTIONS TO TRYING TO REDUCE SOME OF THE REDUNDANCY.
UH, WE HAVE CREATED A DIGITAL FORM AS A BARCODE FOR POTENTIAL INTERESTED PARTIES TO COMPLETE AND SUBMIT ONLINE SO THEY CAN BE CONTACTED AND GUIDED THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THIS ALLOWS THOSE UNDECIDED TO REACH OUT TO US TO GET ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS THEY, THEY MAY HAVE.
AND THE BARCODE FORM IS DISPLAYED AT THE HIRING EVENTS AND IS AVAILABLE ON FACEBOOK AS WELL.
WE HAVE CHANGED THE PROCESS OF REFERENCE CHECKS BY MAIL, BY NOT MAILING OR RELYING ON REFERENCES TO EMAIL BACK FORMS. WE CONTACT THE REFERENCE REFERENCES BY TELEPHONE.
AND THAT HAS HELPED TO EXPEDITE THE, THE PROCESS OF GETTING THESE REFERENCES CHECKED, ALTHOUGH WE STILL HAVE TO MAIL OUT FORMS OCCASIONALLY, UH, WE HAVE STARTED USING THE OBSTACLE COURT, THE OBSTACLE COURSE AT, UH, CREATE A CRIMINAL FOR OUR PHYSICAL AGILITY, PHYSICAL AGILITY EXAMS. AND THIS COURSE IS BUILT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE VIRGINIA LAW FIT STANDARDS.
AND WE HAVE CREATED A CONTINUOUS POSTING ON NEO GOV FOR DCGS CERTIFIED APPLICANTS.
UH, SECOND CONTINUOUS POSTING FOR ENTRY-LEVEL APPLICANTS IS ALSO IS OPEN SEPARATELY.
SEPARATING THE TWO POSTINGS WILL HELP US REACH OUR PRE-CERTS FASTER AND, AND WHO WILL CONTINUALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY.
ADDITIONALLY, THE SEPARATION CLARIFIES ANY CONFUSION THAT APPLICANTS MAY HAVE REGARDING SALARY, SIGN ON BONUS QUALIFICATIONS FOR PRE-RESEARCH OR FOR NON PRE-RESEARCH, A HIRING SUMMARY.
THE REASON WHY I'M, I WENT BACK FOR MARCH THE FIRST TO, TO SEPTEMBER, WE DID SOME REORGANIZATIONS AND RESHIFTING OF SOME PERSONNEL AND OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS.
SO THE TIMEFRAME BETWEEN MARCH THE FIRST 2025 AND SEPTEMBER THE 30TH OF 2025.
TOTAL HIRING EVENTS ATTENDED WERE 13, UH, APPLICANT'S RECEIVED 196.
UH, BACKGROUND IN INVESTIGATIONS WERE CONDUCTED WITH 47, UH, TOTAL POLICE POSITIONS.
FIELD WERE EIGHT, UH, TOTAL DISPATCH POSITIONS, FIELD ONE, AND WE TWO HAD, WE HAD TWO OPEN POSITIONS.
THOSE WERE NEW DISPATCH POSITIONS AS WAS RECENTLY CREATED.
AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FILL THOSE TWO POSITIONS AND GOING THROUGH BACKGROUNDS AT THIS TIME.
UH, CURRENT OPEN POSITIONS, WE HAVE 10 POSITIONS.
OF THE TEN THREE POSITIONS ARE UNFUNDED UNTIL JANUARY THE FIRST OF 2026.
AND TWO POSITIONS ARE FROZEN UNTIL JULY THE FIRST 2026, DUE TO BUDGETS.
AND WHEN WE HAD THE NEW PAY SCALE AND THE NEW PAY RAISES, UH, THAT, THAT WAS A FACTOR IN THOSE DECISIONS.
AND MAXIMUM STAFFING FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS 68.
AND CURRENTLY WE, UH, HAVE A TOTAL OF 58, UH, ARE OTHER HIRING INCENTIVES.
WE HAVE A $20,000 BONUS FOR A CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICER THAT ARE HIRED.
AND ADDITIONAL INCREASE IS BASED ON THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IF THEY COME FROM A PRIMARY, ANOTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
AND WE TAKE UP TO SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TO BE CONSIDERED.
WE HAVE A 12,000 BONUS FOR UNCERTIFIED APPLICANTS HIRED AFTER COMPLETION OF THE ACADEMY.
WE HAVE A TAKE HOME CAR PROGRAM AFTER COMPLETING THEIR FTO TRAINING, IF THEY RESIDE WITHIN A 35 MILE RADIUS OF THE CITY OF HOPEWELL.
WE HAVE THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT, WE HAVE THAT STARTED AGAIN.
THEY CAN GO FROM SENIOR OFFICERS, CAREER OFFICERS TO CORPORAL.
AND EACH ADVANCEMENT IS, IS A PAY INCREASE, UH, EDUCATIONAL FUNDS REIMBURSEMENTS IF THEY SEEK IN A COLLEGE DEGREE.
AND THERE'S A 4,000 REFERRAL BONUS FOR ANY POLICE OFFICERS WHO REFERS A POTENTIAL CANDIDATE AND WHO ARE HIRED.
AND THEY COMPLETE THE ALL THE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, OUR COMMUNITY POLICING AWARDS.
UM, I WILL UPDATE THAT AS WELL.
DOWNTOWN ENGAGEMENT CONTINUES WITH THE FOOT PATROLS DOWNTOWN.
OUR BUSINESS CHECKS, UH, WHEN THE BEACON THEATER HAVE, UH, SCHEDULED EVENTS WE CONDUCT IN DIRECT PATROLS THERE.
AND TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT CONTINUES ON RANDOLPH ROAD BY THE POLICE I SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.
ON OCTOBER 2ND, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
[00:25:01]
OFFICER ATTENDED THE CRIME OFFICER REAR FEST ALONG WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMAND STAFF AT SCOTTS PARK.WE HAD NATIONAL NIGHT OUT SCHEDULED BY OCTOBER 7TH FROM FIVE TO SEVEN WE TALKED ABOUT.
THAT WAS A NICE EVENT, WONDERFUL TURNOUT.
OCTOBER 15TH, A SPECIAL OLYMPICS FUNDRAISER WILL BE HELD AT HARDS ON OKLAHOMA MILES FROMTO AT FROM, UH, IT ALSO ON OCTOBER 16TH, A FUNDRAISER WILL BE HELD AT THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HARDS.
THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OFFICER WILL ATTEND THE TRUNK OR TREAT AT DEW POINT SCHOOL FROM FIVE 30 TO 8:00 PM AND THE DATE OF THAT IS OCTOBER THE 24TH.
THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OFFICER WILL ALSO PARTIC PARTICIPATE IN THE DRUG TAKEBACK, WHICH IS BEING HELD AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO AT TRI-CITIES HOSPITAL FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM AND THAT DATE IS OCTOBER THE 25TH.
AND THE CEO WILL ATTEND THE HR HA COMMISSIONER'S MEETING, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER THE 20TH AT 5:00 PM AND WE ALL, WELL, WE, WE, WE WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE CITY'S TRUNK OR TREAT ON OCTOBER 31ST.
AND THAT'S FROM 5:00 PM TO 7:00 PM AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE GRILLING HOT DOGS.
IT'LL BE TO BE HELD AT THE GRAVEL PARKING LOT RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE LIBRARY.
WE ARE LEVERAGING OUR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AVOCADO SECURITY SYSTEM.
WE USE AVOCADO SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS US TO ENHANCE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, MONITOR HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS, AND PROVIDE RAPID INVESTIGATIVE SUPPORT THROUGH HIGH QUALITY EVIDENCE.
OUR FLOCK SAFETY CAMERAS, THESE LICENSE PLATE READERS, UH, HELP US IDENTIFY AND TRACK VEHICLES CONNECTED WITH CRIMES AND HELPS US IN APPREHENSION, APPREHENSION, AND DETER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
WE HAVE STRONG, UH, PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS.
WE MAINTAIN CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH PARTNER AGENCIES, ENSURING THAT WE SHARE INFORMATION, COORDINATE EFFORTS.
WE HAVE A DETECTIVE ASSIGNED TO THE ONE B TASK FORCE FROM HOPEWELL, AND WE ALSO HAVE A DETECTIVE ASSIGNED TO THE CAPITAL AREA, REGION FUGITIVE, UH, TASK FORCE.
OUR COMMUNITY FOCUS PROGRAMS, REAL LIFE PROJECT, OUR PROJECT, SAFE, ALIVE AND FREE.
WE CONNECT INDIVIDUAL WITH RESOURCES THAT ADDRESSES ROOT CAUSES OF CRIMES SUCH AS ADDICTION, UNEMPLOYMENT AND LACK OF SUPPORT, HELPING PEOPLE TRANSITION TO A HEALTHY, HEALTHIER, MORE STABILIZED IN 2025 REAL LIFE, UH, COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATIONAL AWARD, UH, THAT WE RECEIVED FOR COL COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY AND BALANCE INVENTION PROGRAM.
AND THIS AWARD WAS PRESENTED AT THE SPRING GALA, UH, TO THE VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES, CARRIE CORNIER, UH, MYSELF, UH, DEPUTY CHIEF REED, SUPERINTENDENT, SUPERINTENDENT, UH, MELANIE HACKNEY, UH, CHIEF OF PROBATION, ANTHONY MCCLURE, UH, D ARCHIE LEWIS.
AND, UH, JACKIE SCH THAT NOW PROACTIVE POLICING AND VISIBILITY, UH, RECORDS PATROLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS, AND ALSO IN COMMERCIAL AREAS, DIRECTED ENFORCEMENT IN IDENTIF IN IDENTIFIED HOTSPOTS TO HELP, UH, TO STOP CRIME BEFORE THE OCCURS.
PROACTIVE POLICE, WE STILL CONDUCTED OUTRO OUTDOOR ROAD CALLS THAT, THAT THEY ARE HELD IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY.
AND AFTER THE OUTDOOR ROLL CALLS, WE DO FOOT PATROLS IN THOSE AREAS TO SPEAK WITH THE NEIGHBORS TO DETERMINE ANY CONCERNS OR NEEDS.
AND AFTER A MAJOR EVENT, WE DO WHAT'S CALLED A NEIGHBORHOOD RESET THAT WE'LL GO OUT, UH, THE NEXT MORNING AND TO, UH, SEE IF WE GATHER ANY OTHER SIGNIFICANT, UH, INFORMATION OR EVEN EVIDENCE TO TALK WITH CITIZENS TO ASSURE THEM THAT THEY'RE AWARE THAT WHATEVER OCCURRED IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE.
OUR CRIME REDUCTION STRATEGIES WERE DATA DRIVEN DECISION MAKING.
WE UTIL WE UTILIZE CRIME TREND ANALYSIS, INTELLIGENCE REPORTS, AND TECHNOLOGY BASED ON BASED TECHNOLOGY, UH, DATA TO DEPLOY RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY.
FOCUS ON AREAS WHERE WE CAN MAKE THE GREATEST IMPACT PREVENTION AND EDUCATION THROUGH PUBLIC OUTREACH, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH INCENTIVES AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING LIKE THE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY.
WE PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL ON CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGIES AND EMPOWER RESIDENTS TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE.
AND THIS EARMARKED FUNDING REQUEST IS NOW 199,000 709, 999 AND 700.
[00:30:01]
IN LATE 2026 BY CONGRESS, UH, CONGRESSMAN MCCLELLAN, SENATOR KANE AND WARNER.AND IF WE, UH, DO GET THIS EARMARKED FOR THIS FUNDING, THIS WILL BE ABLE TO CONSOLIDATE WHAT WE DO IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND, AND DISPATCH THAT THE FLOCK ENHANCED LPRS, UM, AND THIS VIDEO INTEGRATION GATEWAY, UH, FLOCK SAFETY GUNSHOT DETECTIVES, THAT, THAT WILL GIVE US INFORMATION ABOUT, UH, WHEN GUNS ARE BEING FIRED.
SO, WE'LL, WE'RE HOPING THAT, UH, THAT'S APPROVED.
AND THE OPERATION CEASE SPA CAME BEFORE YOU LAST MONTH.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, IT'S $500,000 MAX PER REQUEST AND A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER REQUEST FOR EQUIPMENT.
AND WE PUT IN FOR WHAT? OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR EQUIPMENT FOR THE DETECTIVE DIVISION AND FOR TECHNOLOGY.
AND THAT WOULD YOU USED TO IMPROVE OUR CRIME SCENE PROCESSING, THE CRIME SCENE MAPPING SOFTWARE, UH, TRAINING ON VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION STRATEGIES AND CRIME ANALYSIS AND ADVANCE OUR TACTICAL SUPPORT.
THAT CONCLUDES MY CRIME SUMMARY AND INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING AND, UH, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO DEAL WITH CRIME IN THE CITY.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF TAYLOR? UH, VICE MAYOR JORDAN, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS.
[ACTIONS RESULTING FROM CLOSED MEETING]
FROM ACTIONS RESULTING FROM CLOSED SESSION.UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPOINT DREW DAY BARRY TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY? SO MOVE.
MOTIONS BEEN MADE BY VICE MAYOR JOYNER AND SECONDED BY, UH, COUNCILLOR DAY.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO LIGHTS? ROLL CALL PLEASE.
UM, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPOINT, UH, MR. THOMAS WAFF AND MR. MATTHEW MELLON TO THE HOPPO REDEVELOPMENT HOUSING AUTHORITY? YES.
SECOND MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY VICE MAYOR JOINER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR ELLIS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO LIGHTS? ROLL CALL PLEASE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPOINT MS. ETT TAYLOR TO THE HOPEWELL REDEVELOPMENT HOUSING AUTHORITY? SECOND MOVED.
SECOND MOTIONS BEEN MADE BY COUNCILLOR DAY AND SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR.
JOY, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO LIGHTS? ROLL CALL PLEASE.
MOVING INTO THE REST OF OUR MEETING.
UM, AT THIS TIME, UH, WE'LL HAVE THE PRAYER BY REVEREND BLOW, UH, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY MYSELF.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU LORD FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL NIGHT THAT YOU'VE MADE, AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE, TO GATHER TOGETHER IN THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING, WE ASK, LORD, THAT YOU WOULD WATCH OVER EVERY MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL, BLESS THEM LORD GOD, WITH WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND UNDERSTANDING.
FATHER, WE PRAY, LORD GOD, THAT THIS CITY, LORD GOD, WOULD COME TOGETHER IN UNITY AND ACCOMPLISH ALL THE GOALS THAT YOU HAVE SET BEFORE IT.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE MANY BLESSINGS YOU GIVE US, AND WE ASK YOU, LORD, TO HAVE YOUR WAY.
WE ASK THIS IN ALL THINGS IN THE PRECIOUS, MIGHTY, MAGNIFICENT NAME OF JESUS.
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH HE STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD.
INDIVIDUAL, INDIVIDUAL, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? SECOND.MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COUNCILOR DAY AND SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR JOINER, SEEING NO LIGHTS FOR DISCUSSION.
[00:35:01]
ELLIS? YES.ALRIGHT, UH, COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS.
UH, MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU READ THE, UH, STATEMENT, A COMMUNICATION FROM CITIZENS PERIOD LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF 30 MINUTES OCCURS AT ALL.
AT EACH REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, PERSONS ADDRESSING COUNCIL APPROACH THE MICROPHONE GIVE THEIR NAME, AND IF THEY RESIDE IN HOPEWELL, THEIR WARD NUMBER, EACH COMMENT IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.
NO PERSON IS PERMITTED TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL REMARKS MUST BE ADDRESSED TO THE COUNCIL.
AS A BODY, ANY PERSON WHO MAKES PERSONAL IMPERTINENT ABUSIVE OR SLANDEROUS SLANDEROUS STATEMENTS OR INCITES DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND COUNCIL CHAMBERS MAY BE BARRED FROM FUTURE COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS AND REMOVED.
I DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS TONIGHT.
[REGULAR BUSINESS]
WE WILL MOVE INTO OUR REGULAR BUSINESS WITH THE FIRST ONE BEING WITH MR. WARD.GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
TONIGHT WE HAVE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUEST AS IT RELATES TO 400 WESTIN LANE, ALSO IDENTIFIED, UH, AS TWO SEPARATE PARCELS.
CURRENTLY PARCEL 0 6 1 0 2 3 1 AND 0 6 1 0 2 3 2.
THE APPLICANT IS HISTORIC HOPEWELL FOUNDATION, UM, AS WELL AS THE OWNER OF THIS PROPERTY.
THIS, UH, PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN WARD THREE AND ZONED R FOUR.
I'VE GOT SOME MAPS HERE JUST SHOWING THE TWO PARCELS AS IT RELATES TO THIS APPLICATION.
UH, THERE'S AN INTERIOR PARCEL AND THEN ONE THAT SURROUNDS, SURROUNDS IT.
SO YOU MAY REMEMBER, UH, WE RECENTLY JUST ADDED THE USE, UH, MUSEUM TO THE R FOUR DISTRICT.
UM, AND WITH THAT APPROVAL AND THAT ALLOWABLE USE, THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUIREMENT, UH, WAS ADDED TO THAT AS AN ALLOWABLE USE.
AND SO CURRENTLY, UM, WE MANOR IS CONSIDERED A LEGAL NON-CONFORMING USE, UH, BECAUSE IT MEETS THE ZONING ORDINANCE INTENT, BUT DOES NOT HAVE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AT THIS POINT.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE THIS EVENING.
UH, BY VIRTUE OF APPROVING THIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, YOU WILL THEN MAKE THEM FULLY LEGAL CONFORMING.
SO, UH, MAKING THEM LEGAL CONFORMING, UH, MEANS THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO REPLACE A SEMI-PERMANENT STRUCTURE, WHICH IN THIS CASE IS A TENT, UH, WITH A PERMANENT STRUCTURE.
UH, HISTORIC OAKWELL FOUNDATION WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL AMENITIES TO SUPPORT EVENTS AT THEIR LOCATION.
UH, SPECIFICALLY A DA COMPLIANT RESTROOMS AS WELL AS A WARMING KITCHEN TO SUPPORT YOU GUYS.
AND, UH, THEY'LL ALSO ALLOW THEM TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN STORAGE SPACE AND A CLIMATE CONTROLLED ARCHIVE SPACE, ALL OF WHICH, UH, THAT I JUST MENTIONED, THEY DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE.
SO, UH, UNDER STAFF ANALYSIS STAFF MAKES THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS.
NUMBER ONE, THAT THIS EVIDENT AS A, AS ESSENTIALLY A, A CULTURAL INSTITUTION, UM, QUOTE UNQUOTE, A MUSEUM UNDER OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE HAS BEEN EVIDENCE SINCE 1972 WITH NO KNOWN NEGATIVE IMPACTS.
AND OF COURSE, OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES SUPPORT, UM, ENHANCEMENT OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES.
SO STAFF DOES RECOMMEND, UH, APPROVAL OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUEST, UH, WITH, I'VE GOT THREE CONDITIONS HERE, BUT I'M GONNA, UM, QUALIFY THIS WHEN I GET TO THE END.
UH, NUMBER ONE, UH, THE FIRST CONDITION BEING THAT THE TWO PARCELS BE ADMINISTRATIVELY RE SUBDIVIDED TO COMBINE THEM INTO ONE.
NUMBER TWO, THAT THE PAVILION WILL BE CONSTRUCTED IN SUBSTANTIAL CONFORMANCE, UH, WITH THE PLANS AND DESIGN SUBMITTED WITH THE APPLICATION, UH, ON AUGUST 19TH.
AND THIS LAST ONE, UH, I ADMIT I WAS UNDER THE, UH, WRONG IMPRESSION AS TO WHAT THE CURRENT USE OF THE STORAGE TRAILER IS THAT'S ON SITE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A, THEY THAT WAS BEING USED FOR THEIR, UH, TO HOUSE THEIR ARCHIVES CURRENTLY.
AND SO I HAD THE CONDITION AND THE C THE TRAILER WOULD BE REMOVED ONCE THE NEW ARCHIVE SPACE WAS
[00:40:01]
PUT IN PLACE.UM, I'VE SINCE LEARNED THAT THAT TRAILER'S ACTUALLY USED TO HOLD, UM, LANDSCAPING EQUIPMENT, STORE STORAGE OF LANDSCAPING EQUIPMENT.
SO IF THAT PARTICULAR CONDITION WAS REMOVED, IT WOULD NOT BE A BIG DEAL.
UH, SO ANYWAY, THAT'S THE END OF MY PRESENTATION.
UM, THE APPLICANT AND HISTORIC COWELL FOUNDATION REPRESENTATIVES ARE HERE.
UM, MR. ROBBINS HAS ASKED TO ACTUALLY, UM, SAY A FEW WORDS, SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO HIM, UH, REAL QUICK, UNLESS YOU WANT TO DO THE PUBLIC HEARING FIRST.
UH, MR. MAYOR, MR. VICE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SPEAK.
UM, WE, MANOR HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD NEIGHBOR FOR THE CITY OF HOPEWELL, AND IT HAS ACTIVITIES THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH THE MUSEUM HOUSE AND THERE IS ACTUALLY A MUSEUM CAMPUS THERE, SO OPERATING WITH A TENT AND PORTA JOHN'S AND A SUBSTAN, UH, SUB, NOT A VERY GOOD KITCHEN, IT'S IN THE CELLAR.
THESE ARE SOME THINGS THAT CAN BE ALL INCORPORATED INTO THIS PAVILION STRUCTURE AS A CULTURAL CENTER.
THEY COULD HAVE EVENTS, LECTURES, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, EVEN WEDDINGS.
UM, NOTHING WOULD CHANGE AS FAR AS THE NUMBERS, THE CAPACITY THAT WE'VE DESIGNED IT FOR IS 133 PEOPLE SITTING IN CHAIRS.
UM, RIGHT NOW, NONE OF THE EVENTS THAT ARE HELD THERE HAVE HAD MORE THAN A HUNDRED PEOPLE OVER OVER TIME.
SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY NEED.
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE DESIGN FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF.
AND I THINK IT'LL BE IN KEEPING WITH THE HARMONY OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE WESTON MANOR ITSELF.
IT'LL HAVE SEAT AND SHAPES AND METAL ROOF, UM, BRICK.
SO IT SHOULD LOOK VERY NICE AND BE A ASSET TO THE CITY.
MOREOVER, I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO KIND OF COUPLE THE BEACON, THE BOATHOUSE AND THE PAVILION.
ALL OF THESE ARE ON THE RIVER, SO, UM, IT KIND OF TIES THAT ALL TOGETHER.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE A WHOLE LOT MORE TO SAY.
SPOKE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THEY APPROVED IT.
SO I'M HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. ROBBINS? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, I'M GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I HAVE THREE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TONIGHT.
UH, THE FIRST ONE IS MR. TOM WAGSTAFF.
I CURRENTLY LIVE IN WARD FOUR.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO CHRIS WARD IN HIS DEPARTMENT.
HISTORIC COLDWELL FOUNDATION HAS ONE PART-TIME ADMINISTRATIVE PERSON AND ONE TIME, ONE PART-TIME PERSON WHO TAKES CARE OF THE, UH, THE PROPERTY.
AND EVERYTHING WE DO IS DONE BY VOLUNTEERS.
THE SUPPORT WE GOT FROM CHRIS AND HIS DEPARTMENT, AND OF COURSE DAN ROBBINS MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
AND WE ARE LOOKING SO FORWARD TO HAVING THIS IN ONLINE SOMETIME NEXT YEAR.
YOU MAY NOT REALIZE THAT WE OFFERED EIGHT CONCERTS THIS YEAR AT NO CHARGE TO THE PUBLIC, AND WE RAN LUNCH AND LEARN OVER AT THE AMERICAN LEGION FROM MID-MAY TO ALMOST THE END OF AUGUST AT NO CHARGE AND THE AVERAGE TENDANCE OF 75 PEOPLE.
ALSO, SINCE I HAVE TO WORK EVERY CONCERT, UH, SO MANY PEOPLE TELL ME THEY HAD NEVER BEEN TO HOPEWELL OR WESTERN BEFORE.
AND IT'S NICE TO SEE WE GET PEOPLE THAT DO NOT KNOW ABOUT OUR WONDERFUL LITTLE CITY COMING IN TO SEE HOW GREAT IT IS.
AND THANK YOU FOR Y'ALL SUPPORT.
UH, NEXT PERSON THAT I HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING ON, UH, HISTORIC COWELL FOUNDATION IS MS. KAREN THAYER.
UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANY HELP.
UM, I'VE APPLIED FOR THE TAX RELIEF AND ON THE APPLICATION IT CLEARLY STATES TO SAY DISABILITY OF VETERANS MUST BE 100% SERVICE CONNECTED AND PERMANENT.
AND TOTAL ON MY PAPERWORK THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE VETERANS AFFAIRS, IT DOES STATE THAT HE
[00:45:01]
IS SERVICE CONNECTED.BUT THE OFFICE UPSTAIRS, BECAUSE IT DOES NOT STATE 100% ON THE PAPERWORK, THEY'RE DENYING MY APPLICATION.
SO WHO DO I TURN TO? WHERE DO I GO? WHO DO I APPEAL THE DECISION TO WHEN AN THAT'S THE ONLY ONE MAKING THE DECISIONS.
SO WHERE DO I GO? UM, I DON'T HAVE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO ANYMORE.
SO, UM, MS. THERE, THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE, UM, STORE COWELL FOUNDATION.
SO DID I, DID I FILL OUT THE PAPER? THE YES MA'AM.
BUT I, I CAN UNDERSTAND THE, THE MISTAKE, UM, WITH FOUR SHEETS UP THERE.
UH, BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, UM, IF, AND I ASSUME YOU WENT TO THE COMMISSIONER REVENUES OFFICE? YES, SIR.
UM, WHAT I, UM, SO IF THAT'S WHAT THE POLICY IS ON THE BOOK, UM, RIGHT NOW, THERE, THERE, I DON'T BELIEVE, UNLESS CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MR. ROGERS, I DON'T THINK THERE IS AN APPEAL POLICY, BUT I DO THINK THAT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT I THINK WOULD BENEFIT OUR CITIZENS, UM, IF WE COULD EXPLORE, UM, TIERED AND PHASED, UM, TAX RELIEF FOR, UH, VETERANS THAT MAY NOT BE A HUNDRED PERCENT DISABLED, BUT THEY MAY BE 50%, 60%, UH, SOMETHING NEW TO THAT EFFECT, WE'LL LOOK INTO IT AND GET BACK TO YOU.
CAN WE HAVE THAT AS A, UM, AN ACTION ITEM? SURE.
AND WE HAVE YOUR, UM, PHONE NUMBER OR NO, WE DON'T HAVE, UH, UH, EITHER OF 'EM.
I WILL GIVE THAT TO YOU, MAYOR.
DO YOU MIND STAYING FOR TO THE END OF THE MEETING? CERTAINLY.
AND CAN I SIGN UP FOR THE, THE OTHER, SO THAT I CAN SPEAK TONIGHT? WELL, WE, THAT'S ALREADY, OR HAS THAT ALREADY FLOOD? THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENED.
SO I JUST SIGNED UP ON THE WRONG PAPER.
SO CAN I HAVE THE, THE TIME TO SPEAK TONIGHT? YES, MA'AM.
I CAN STILL GIVE YOU, YOU KNOW, YOUR TWO MINUTES.
UM, AS FAR AS THE RETREAT, UM, THE ONLY THING THAT I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT IS I WISHED YOU ALL WOULD HAVE SPENT YOUR TIME HERE IN HOPEWELL SO THAT THE, THE MONEY COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT IN THE COMMUNITY RATHER THAN GOING OUT OF THE COMMUNITY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR OPINIONS OR THOUGHTS, YOU KNOW, TO BETTER, BETTER ACCESS HOPEWELL OR GIVE HOPEWELL SOMETHING BETTER TO, TO HAVE.
UM, BUT THE SO MANY RESTAURANTS SUFFERED BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T TAKE THE TIME TO SPEND THE MONEY HERE IN HOPPO.
UM, THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT, THAT I DID STATE SEE THAT, UM, MR. ROGERS IS ASKING FOR A RAISE, UM, AND MY OPINION ON THAT IS RIGHT NOW IS JUST NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO BE ASKING FOR THAT.
UM, JUST BECAUSE OF THE, THE PROBLEMS THAT HOPEWELL IS HAVING.
UM, IT MAY BE A RUMOR THAT YOU HAD ASKED FOR THAT RAISE, UM, BUT EVEN IF IT IS JUST MY OPINION THAT RIGHT NOW WOULD NOT BE THE RIGHT TIME TO SPEND THAT MONEY.
I, I THINK I KNOW WHERE YOUR CONFUSION'S COMING FROM.
UM, AND NO ONE HAS ASKED FOR A RAISE.
UM, I THINK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S AMENDED CONTRACT AND ALL HIS AMENDED CONTRACT DID ON THE SALARY WOULD STATE WHAT HIS CURRENT SALARY WAS FROM WHEN HE WAS CONTRACTED, AND HE GOT THE COLA INCREASE JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER CITY EMPLOYEE DID.
SO THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT I NEEDED TO LOOK BACK AT.
YEAH, I, I WAS SENT A, UH, A SCREENSHOT ON THAT AND THAT WAS, UM, THAT WAS SOME VERY BAD MISINFORMATION THAT WAS COMMUNICATED TO THE PUBLIC.
SO YOU, YOU CAN SEE WHERE I, I CAN FEEL THAT WAY.
YEAH, IT BE, BUT I WOULDN'T EXPECT ANYTHING ELSE FROM THAT INDIVIDUAL
WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK A LOT OF HOPE WILL.
BUT THAT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE COULD CLEAR THAT, UM, THAT INFORMATION UP.
AND I REALLY WOULD, WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS GETTING TAKEN CARE OF IF I COULD SPEAK TO YOU PERSONALLY, UH, AT THE END OF THE MEETING AND HOW WE COULD MAYBE BETTER ACCESS THE VETERANS AND THEIR WIVES.
UH, THE NEXT ONE I HAVE SIGNED UP FOR TONIGHT ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS MR. ED HAUSER.
WELL, APPARENTLY I SIGNED ON THE WRONG SHEET TOO.
UH, I HOPE Y'ALL ENJOYED SPENDING $17,000
[00:50:01]
AT TAXPAYER'S MONEY IN WILLIAMSBURG.IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT CHEAPER.
Y'ALL PAYING ATTENTION NOW? OF COURSE, I'M PAYING ATTENTION.
WELL, ALL THE HEADS ARE TURNED ONE WAY, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU WANNA TAKE HOPEWELL MONEY AND SPEND IN WILLIAMSBURG WHEN WE'RE ALREADY HAVING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES HERE IN HOPEWELL, AND YOU COULD HAVE SAVED US A TON OF MONEY BY DOING WHAT YOU DID HERE IN HOPEWELL.
I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH RIDICULOUS.
YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD THE FAMOUS SAYING, DISAPPOINTED IN PEOPLE, THAT THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT WITH Y'ALL.
I MEAN, Y'ALL CAN'T EVEN SPEND HOPEWELL MONEY IN HOPEWELL.
YOU GOTTA TAKE IT TO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND GIVE IT AWAY.
MOVING ON TO, OH, NO, WE DO NEED TO TAKE ACTION.
UH, ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION, UM, FOR, UH, STORE COWELL FOUNDATION.
UM, THE TWO, UM, REQUESTS FROM STAFF, ARE THOSE OKAY? OKAY.
THEY, THEY'VE ACTUALLY ALREADY, UM, THEY'RE WORKING ON THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE RESUB RIGHT NOW.
YEAH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, UM, TO, UM, APPROVE THE CUP REQUEST TO OPERATE A MUSEUM WITH AN ACCESSORY STRUCTURE ON PARCEL NUMBER OH 6 1 0 2 3 2 ALSO IDENTIFIED AS 400 WEST LANE.
AND THAT'S NOT WITH THE, UM, THIRD, THAT'S CORRECT.
WITH THE ONLY TWO FIRST TWO CONDITIONS.
ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING THE LIFE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? COUNCILLOR HARRIS? YES.
UH, MS. UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR DAVIS WILL BE PRESENTING TO THE NEXT TWO ITEMS. OKAY.
PARDON? I DON'T HAVE THE AGENDA IN FRONT OF ME.
CAN YOU LET ME KNOW WHAT THE OH, SURE.
IT'S THE PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND ARTICLES.
UM, NINE A FOR THE HOPEWELL ZONING ORDINANCE FOR SIGNED REGULATIONS.
ALRIGHT, SO THIS IS THE CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING FOR THIS ZONING AMENDMENT.
UH, THE BACKGROUND ON THIS IS THAT OUR GOAL WITH THIS ORDINANCE IS TO CLARIFY SOME OF THE CITY'S REGULATIONS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO SIGNAGE IN BUSINESS DISTRICTS FOR FREESTANDING SIGNAGE.
ALTHOUGH OTHER SIGN TYPES ARE ADDRESSED AS WELL, UH, WE WILL BE ADDRESSING INCONSISTENCIES THROUGHOUT THE ORDINANCE AND RESPONDING TO BUSINESS AND PROPERTY OWNER REQUESTS.
WE HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE REQUESTS THAT HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THIS ORDINANCE, AND IT WAS INITIATED IN JULY BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
AND IT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
UH, SOME OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO FREESTANDING SIGNS WILL MODIFY SIGN AREA AND HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS IN THE B TWO, B THREE AND B FOUR DISTRICTS.
UM, IT WOULD ALLOW AN ADDITIONAL SIGN ON TRUE LOTS AND B THREE AND B FOUR DISTRICTS WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE MODIFICATION PROCESS THAT CURRENTLY IS REQUIRED TODAY.
UM, IT WOULD ALSO EXEMPT SOME SMALLER SIGNS LESS THAN FOUR SQUARE FEET FROM THEIR MONUMENT TY SIGN REQUIREMENTS TO ALLOW A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY, UM, PARTICULARLY FOR DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE.
UH, IT ALSO HAS SOME CHANGES TO THE VERY SPECIFIC DIMENSIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FREESTANDING SIGNS, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO STANDARDS FOR THE BASE AND THE FOUNDATION AND HEIGHT TO WIDTH RATIO THAT HAVE BECOME PROBLEMATIC FOR SOME APPLICANTS.
UH, ALSO SINCE THERE'S SOME CHANGES TO HEIGHT AND THOSE DIMENSIONS, WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO ADD A, A, A SMALL SETBACK FROM RIGHT OF WAY SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A CASE WHERE A SIGN MIGHT FALL INTO THE RIGHT OF WAY.
OTHER PROPOSED CHANGES INCORPORATED INTO THIS REQUEST ARE ADDING MAXIMUM AGGREGATE OF 25%
[00:55:01]
WINDOW COVERAGE, WHETHER THAT IS TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT.UH, THAT'S FOR WINDOW SIGNAGE.
AND THEN ALSO MODIFYING AND CLARIFYING SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO AWNING SIGN AREA.
THERE ARE ALSO WITHIN THIS ORDINANCE PACKAGE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE B ONE SIGNAGE.
UH, WE TOOK THROUGH SOME AMENDMENTS LAST YEAR AND HAVE RECEIVED SOME FEEDBACK BOTH THROUGH FROM CITIZENS PROPERTY OWNERS AND ALSO FROM A CONSULTANT THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH ON DESIGN GUIDELINES, UH, WITH SOME RECOMMENDED CHANGES FOR A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDINGS THAT HAVE MULTIPLE SIDES AND NEED A LITTLE MORE SIGNAGE TO ATTRACT TO THEIR BUILDING.
UM, ALSO PROJECTING SIGNS, FREESTANDING SIGNS, UM, AND ELIMINATING THE MONUMENT SIGNS STANDARDS FOR FREESTANDING SIGNS IN THIS DISTRICT.
WITH THAT STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AS PRESENTED.
AND PLANNING COMMISSION, AS I SAID BEFORE, HAS ALSO RECOMMENDED APPROVAL AND I STAND READY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. DAVIS? OKAY.
SEEING NONE, I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON, UH, THIS PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT? NO.
UH, DO I HAVE A, UH, MOTION TO ADOPT, UH, THE, UH, AMENDED ARTICLES, UH, AS PRESENTED TONIGHT FOR THE HOPEWELL ZONING ORDINANCE TO MODIFY SIGN REGULATIONS? SO MOVED.
MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY VICE MAYOR JOINER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR ELLIS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.
THE NEXT PACKAGE OF ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS IS A ZONING AMENDMENT REQUEST RELATED TO URBAN AGRICULTURE.
AND THIS IS YOUR PUBLIC HEARING.
SECOND READING FOR THE BACKGROUND, THE APPLICANT IS THE CITY OF HOPEWELL.
THIS IS A, A PROJECT THAT WAS INITIATED ALSO BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE SECTIONS OF THE CURRENT ORDINANCE IMPACTED, PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE'RE ADDING THIS USE, UH, FOR, WE'RE FIRST ADDING THE USE TO DEFINITIONS AS WELL AS ADDING THE USE TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE ORDINANCE AND THEN ADDING DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS TO REGULATE THE USE.
UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS IN JUNE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THEY DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
SO I'VE STREAMLINED THIS A LITTLE BIT FROM THE WORK SESSION.
UM, BUT WE ARE ADDING TWO PRIMARY TYPES OF URBAN AGRICULTURE USES.
ONE IS A MARKET GARDEN WITH A DEFINITION, AND THE SECOND IS FOR INDOOR URBAN AGRICULTURE THAT I'LL TOUCH ON LATER.
THE DEFINITION OF MARKET GARDEN IS SHOWN HERE.
THIS IS PRIMARILY SERVING FOR SOMEONE THAT WANTS TO HAVE A GARDEN AND BE ABLE TO HAVE A SMALL STAND AT THE PROPERTY IN ORDER TO SELL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
THEY COULD ALSO DONATE THE, THE PRODUCE TO OTHER AREAS AS WELL.
THERE'S SOME OTHER DEFINITIONS FOR DIFFERENT, UH, ACCESSORY USES OR STRUCTURES WHO HOUSES GREENHOUSES AND PRODUCE STANDS THAT ARE ADDED FOR THIS PACKAGE, AS WELL AS A SET OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS THAT MARKET GARDENS WILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH.
PRIMARY CONCERNS THAT THIS IS ADDRESSING IS REALLY THE, I, UM, ISSUES RELATED TO JUNK ACCUMULATION, UM, INAPPROPRIATE USES OF PROPERTIES FOR STORAGE OR JUNKYARD CONDITIONS, VEHICLE INOPERABLE VEHICLES.
UM, WE REALLY DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO TAKE THE MARKET GARDEN IDEA AND CREATE, UM, A USE THAT WOULDN'T OTHERWISE BE ALLOWED IN THAT DISTRICT.
UM, THERE'S STANDARDS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF, UH, UM, ONSITE STORAGE FOR COMPOSTING SOILS AND MULCH AS WELL AS MAINTEN MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS.
AND, UM, COUNCILOR JOYNER, I DID MODIFY THE LANGUAGE FROM, BASED OFF OF YOUR COMMENT AT THE WORK SESSION AND ADDED SOME, UH, ADDIT, AN ADDITIONAL STANDARD RELATED TO BOOTH HOUSES.
ADDITIONALLY, THE OTHER USE THAT WILL BE ADDED IS URBAN AGRICULTURE.
UH, THE DEFINITIONS IN IS INCLUDED HERE FOR INDOOR OPERATIONS.
UM, IN THIS CASE, WE ARE PROPOSING THAT THIS BE ADDED TO THE B DISTRICTS AND THE MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS VERSUS MARKET GARDENS WOULD ONLY BE ADDED TO THE BUSINESS
[01:00:01]
DISTRICTS.PROPOSED USE STANDARDS WERE, UH, BASED OFF OF BEST PRACTICES AND PLANNING.
AND PRIMARILY, AGAIN, LIMITS HERE WOULD BE ON EXTERIOR STORAGE, NO KEEPING OF AM ANIMALS.
UM, AND THEN IN THOSE BUSINESS DISTRICTS, MAKING SURE THEY STILL KEEP SOME RETAIL FRONTAGE TO ACTIVATE THE STOREFRONTS.
UM, WE DID RECEIVE A CO PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT I, I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE CITIZEN IS GONNA MAKE THESE COMMENTS THEMSELVES HERE, SO I WILL SAVE THAT FOR HIM.
AND THEN, UH, STAFF IS, DOES RECOMMEND APPROVAL AS PRESENTED AS STATE PLANNING COMMISSION.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. DAVIS BEFORE WE OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY.
SEEING NONE, PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPENED.
I HAVE, UH, MR. ANTHONY SYLVESTER.
I LIVE AT 1 0 9 CRESCENT AVENUE HERE IN THE CITY.
I HAD FORWARDED SOME COMMENTS.
UM, I'M, YOU CAN IGNORE THOSE.
I'VE TALKED TO STAFF ABOUT 'EM, AND I THINK I WOULD ASK THE, THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT IT AS IT IS.
UM, THIS IS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE.
UM, I APPLAUD MR. WARD AND MS. DAVIS FOR WORKING VERY HARD ON THIS.
UM, THIS ADDITION TO THE ORDINANCE.
THIS IS, I DON'T WANNA SAY IT'S A BIG DEAL, BUT IT'S, IT'S KIND OF A BIG DEAL.
UM, THIS IS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO DO SOME WONDERFUL THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK IT'S GONNA HAVE A CONTAGIOUS EFFECT.
I THINK YOU'RE GONNA SEE IT SORT OF SPREAD.
PEOPLE ARE GONNA DO SOMETHING ON THEIR PARCEL THAT THEY COULDN'T DO BEFORE.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT SOME PEOPLE WILL ADOPT PARCELS THAT HAVE LAID, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT USE OR ANY PRODUCTIVE USE FOR MANY YEARS, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SAY, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO DO THAT.
THAT'S AN ADVOCATION FOR ME TO, TO GROW PRODUCE, MAYBE GET IT TO, TO THE FOOD PANTRY AND WHATNOT.
SO, UM, AGAIN, I DON'T WANNA MAKE TOO MUCH OF A MOMENT, BUT I HATE TO SEE AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS NOT TO, UH, TO GO BY NOT TO, TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLAUD, UM, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR DOING WHAT THEY DID.
THIS IS WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK.
UM, I'M NOT GONNA, YOU KNOW, ADDRESS THAT.
BUT THIS IS WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.
AND, AND I THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE THE MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE GOOD PEOPLE HERE IN THE CITY THAT WORK REALLY HARD.
UM, AND, AND I APPLAUD 'EM AGAIN.
I'VE, I'VE SAID THAT A NUMBER OF TIMES.
AGAIN, I WOULDN'T BE MUCH OF A LAWYER IF I DIDN'T FORWARD THOSE, THOSE, UM, THOSE OBSERVATIONS EARLIER, UM, TO COUNSEL.
UM, THIS IS A, A STEP IN FAITH FOR YOU TO DO THIS, TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE.
UM, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, I CAN SPEAK WITH GREAT CONFIDENCE.
I THINK OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE HAVE SHOWN THAT IT WORKS.
SO I'D ASK THAT YOU APPROVE IT AS IS.
UM, IF IT NEEDS TO BE TWEAKED DOWN THE ROAD, I'M SURE STAFF WILL IDENTIFY THOSE, THOSE CONCERNS.
AND, UH, WE BRING 'EM FORWARD.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND, UH, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO, SIR.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY.
SEEING NONE, PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, THE HOPEWELL ZONING ORDINANCE TO ADD HOPEWELL AGRICULTURAL USES AND PERFORMANCE AS PRESENTED TONIGHT? AND I'LL SECOND IT.
UH, MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILOR UH HARRIS, SECONDED BY MYSELF AS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING THE LIGHTS ROLL CALL PLEASE.
VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
I HAVE MR. CHRIS CULP WITH OUR BOND COUNCIL, WITH US FOR AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE AN ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR THE CITY OF HOPEWELL TO TAKE CARE OF SEVERAL PO PROJECTS WITHIN THE CITY.
ONE BEING MANCHIN HILLS PUMP STATION, NORTH COLONIAL PUMP STATION, SOME CAPITAL PROJECTS WITHIN PUBLIC WORK.
CITY HALL, ROOF REPLACEMENT, COURTS BUILDING, HAAK REPLACEMENT, WEST RANDOLPH STREET SHARE USE PATH PAVEMENT REHABILITATION, SOUTH ME DRIVE, HERETIC AVENUE, STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS, AS WELL AS CITY PROJECTS.
RIVER WALK, UH, HOPEWELL COMMUNITY CENTER, RIVERSIDE PARK AT WATER PARK, AND CITY POINT PLAYGROUND.
AGAIN, CHRIS LP FROM HUNT, ANDREWS KTH IN RICHMOND, UH, SERVING AS BOND COUNCIL.
UM, I AND MY COLLEAGUES HAVE, UH, SERVED AT BOND AS BOND COUNCIL AND HAD THAT WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS THE CITY FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS.
WE HAVEN'T HAD OCCASION TO BE BEFORE YOU FOR A LITTLE WHILE, SINCE THE LAST BOND ISSUE
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WAS ABOUT 2015.SO, UH, ANYWAY, GLAD TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
UM, MY ROLE AS BOND COUNSEL IS TO WORK AS PART OF THE TEAM WITH FINANCE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY'S, OFFICE, CITY MANAGER, AND YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, DAVENPORT AND COMPANY, TO PUT TOGETHER, TOGETHER A FINANCING THAT WORKS, UH, BEST FOR THE CITY AND TRIES TO ACHIEVE THE LOWEST COST OF FUNDS THAT WE CAN IN THE MARKET AT THE TIME.
UM, AND THEN MY ROLE AT THE, AS A, UH, FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT IS TO HELP ADVISE THE CITY THAT WE FOLLOW THE NECESSARY STATE LAW PROVISIONS REGARDING THE ISSUANCE OF DEBT.
AND THAT FROM A FEDERAL TAX STANDPOINT, WE ALSO, FOLLOWING THE IRS REGULATIONS SO THAT THE DEBT CAN BE ISSUED ON A TAX EXEMPT BASIS, UH, THAT, THAT HELPS ACHIEVE THE LOWER COST OF FUNDS THAN A REGULAR TAXABLE COMMERCIAL LOAN.
UH, AND THEN WE PROVIDE A LEGAL OPINION TO THE INVESTOR AT THE CLOSING OF THE DEAL THAT THE, THE BOND HAS BEEN DULY AUTHORIZED AS ENFORCEABLE AND THAT THE INTEREST IS TAX EXEMPT.
SO, UM, THIS IS A TWO STEP PROCESS.
IN THE AUTHORIZATION, WE HAVE THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING THAT WAS ADVERTISED FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT.
THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE PUBLIC FINANCE ACT.
AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, FOR YOU THE ORDINANCE, UH, FOR CONSIDERATION.
AND THEN WE WILL BE BACK IN TWO WEEKS FOR THE BOND RESOLUTION, WHICH WILL PROVIDE MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE SPECIFIC FINANCING AND THE, THE STRUCTURE, UH, THAT THE DAVENPORT FOLKS HAVE BEEN WORKING TO, TO ACHIEVE.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO ISSUE THE BONDS IN NOVEMBER.
UH, BUT THIS IS JUST A, THE FIRST STEP OF A TWO PART, UH, PROCESS.
UM, THE ORDINANCE IS A, UM, JUST A SHORT FORM AUTHORIZATION.
THAT'S WHAT'S REQUIRED BY, BY A CITY CHARTER THAT THE, THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZATIONS OF DEBT BY ORDINANCE.
SO WE DO A SHORT FORM ORDINANCE THAT GIVES JUST THE BASICS, AND THEN WE COME BACK WITH A BOND RESOLUTION THAT HAS THE MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS FOR THE ISSUANCE.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S A OVERVIEW, BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT, UH, COUNCIL MAY HAVE.
AND, UH, UH, HAPPY TO BE HERE.
UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, UH, MR. HARRIS, WHAT EXACTLY IS A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND? UH, UM, GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND IS FROM THE BOND HOLDER STANDPOINT, THE MOST SECURE, UH, DEBT INSTRUMENT BECAUSE IT IS, UH, PLEDGING THE CITY'S FULL FAITH AND CREDIT BEHIND THE BOND.
SO THE FULL TAXING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY.
SO THE BOND INVESTOR, UM, HAS THE RIGHT, IF THE CITY WERE NOT TO MAKE A PAYMENT TO GO TO COURT AND, UH, REQUIRE THE CITY TO RAISE TAXES, TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE, NOBODY EXPECTS THAT TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THE CITY WILL PAY ITS DEBTS.
UM, BUT IT IS THE MOST SECURE FINANCING DIFFERENT THAN A REVENUE, UM, BOND, WHICH IS SECURED BY, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, UTILITY REVENUES OR AN ENTERPRISE, UM, BASED, UH, SYSTEM.
SO IT, IT'S THE TYPICAL DEBT THAT, THAT VIRGINIA LOCALITIES ARE ISSUING IS GENERAL OBLIGATION, UH, DEBT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.
UH, SEEING NONE, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, THE ORDINANCE FOR CAPITAL FUNDING, UH, AS PRESENTED TONIGHT? SO, MOVE SECOND.
MR. MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY, UM, MR. MAYOR.
BUT IT, IT, IT'S IN THE REGULAR COURSE.
IT'LL COME BEFORE COUNCIL AGAIN FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
I, OH, SO, SO TONIGHT'S NOT THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR IT.
IT, IT CAN ALSO BE THE VOTE ON IT, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S A SORT OF A FIRST READING VOTE OF FIVE, A FIVE MEMBER VOTE.
ALTERNATIVELY, IT IS GOING TO JUST COME BACK IN FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL IN TWO WEEKS FOR, FOR A VOTE IN REGULAR COURSE.
NEW STUFF WITH THE, WITH THE NEW RULES.
EVERY, EVERYTHING FROM THE PRESENTATION MM-HMM
TO THE, UM, DISCUSSION TO THE PUBLIC HEARING IS ALL ON THE FIRST, AT THE FIRST MEETING.
SO IT'S NOT NECESSARY FOR US TO VOTE ON IT TONIGHT, RIGHT? NOT TONIGHT.
WE DON'T HAVE TO VOTE ON IT TONIGHT.
CORRECT? WE CAN IF WE WANT TO.
THE, THE, THE DEFAULT WOULD BE TO NOT VOTE ON IT TONIGHT, BUT CITY COUNCIL UNDER THE CHARTER IS ALWAYS FREE.
TO DECIDE TO VOTE ON SOMETHING AT A FIRST READING.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S NOT WHAT STAFF IS PROPOSING HERE.
STAFFS PROPOSING A VOTE AT THE NEXT MEETING.
UM, WELL, WE NEED TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING ANYWAY.
UM, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, I DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR IT TONIGHT.
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IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON IN THE AUDIENCES? OKAY.CLOSING UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, WHAT IS THE, UH, WISH OF COUNCIL? WOULD YOU GUYS LIKE TO VOTE ON IT NOW OR, I'D RATHER NOT WAIT TWO WEEKS.
SO WE WILL, UH, HAVE THAT AS, UH, UNFINISHED BUSINESS OR OUR FIRST ITEM AT THE NEXT MEETING.
UH, WE WILL MOVE NOW INTO R FIVE, UH, RESOLUTION FOR THE HOPE CENTER, UH, FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE 26 BUDGET AND DESIGNATED FUNDS FROM CAPITAL EXPENDITURES TO THE HOPE CENTER AND THE AMOUNT OF 90,000.
UM, AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, I BELIEVE, UM, COUNCIL ALLOCATED APPROPRIATE 120,000.
SO WE NEED ADDITIONAL 90,000 FOR THE HOPE CENTER.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET AND DESIGNATED FUNDS, UM, FOR, FROM, UH, CAPITAL EXPENDITURES TO THE HOPE CENTER AS PRESENTED.
MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY VICE MAYOR JOINER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR ELLIS SURPRIS.
YOU DIDN'T JUMP ON THAT ONE, MR. HARRIS.
I A SAID, I'M SURPRISED YOU DIDN'T JUMP ON THAT ONE.
WE HAVE OUR RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE 26 BUDGET AND DESIGNATE FUNDS FROM CAPITAL EXPENDITURES TO CITYWIDE ROAD AND ASPHALT ASSESSMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF 103 $33,050.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. JORDAN? SEEING NO LIGHTS, UM, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET AND DESIGNATE FUNDS FROM THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES TO THE CITYWIDE ROAD AND ASPHALT ASSESSMENT AS PRESENTED TONIGHT.
UM, MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCILOR OLI AND SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR JOINER.
I DIDN'T EVEN GET ON THIS ONE.
SEEING THE LIGHTS FOR DISCU, UH, DISCUSSION.
MR. BENNETT, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
UM, I COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
I'M GONNA, UH, PRESENT, IF THAT'S OKAY.
UM, SEEKING, UH, SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE, UH, HOPE HOPEWELL CITY MARINA AND SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR, UM, OUR PROJECT L DOCK, UH, RESTORATION PROJECT THAT, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, UH, FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW.
AND, UM, UM, UH, ESSENTIALLY IN SUMMARY, UH, WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IS WE'VE, WE'VE, UH, MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN THE, IN THE L DOCK RESTORATION PROJECT.
DURING THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT, WE DISCOVERED, UM, SOME ADDITIONAL DEFICIENCIES THAT WE DID NOT ANTICIPATE.
THE ENGINEER, UH, WHO WAS EVALUATING THE STRUCTURE DID NOT ANTICIPATE.
AND SO I HAVE A, A $90,000 DEFICIT ON THE PROJECT REPRESENTS, UH, JUST UNDER, UM, JUST UNDER 20%.
UM, I JUST, UH, WANTED TO SHOW YOU SOME PICTURES OF WHERE WE STARTED WITH THIS, WITH THIS, UH, PROJECT IN THE, IN, UH, THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER WITH KIND OF THE CONDITION AND, UM, UH, WHEN WE WERE GETTING INTO IT AND REMOVED THE ROOF, UH, STRUCTURE ABOVE.
SOME PIECES JUST ACTUALLY JUST CAME APART.
WE DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW IT WAS ABLE TO STAND AS LONG AS IT WAS.
UH, THIS PICTURE HERE SHOWS THE, THE NEW, ALL THE NEW FRAMING, UH, THAT WAS DONE.
THE, THE ORIGINAL ENGINEER, UM, EVALUATION, UH, ESTIMATED ABOUT 70% OF
[01:15:01]
THE STRUCTURE ABOVE THE PILES WOULD BE, HAVE TO BE REPLACED.AND DURING THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT, SERGEANT WENT IN AND WORKING OUR WAY TO THE OTHER, UH, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ABOUT 95% OF THE STRUCTURE HAD TO BE REPLACED.
UM, THE, THE GOOD NEWS IS, AS YOU GO BY THE PROJECT TODAY, WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE IS, UM, ALL THE HEAVY FRAMING CONSTRUCTION IS DONE.
THE ROOF, UM, UNDERLAYMENT MATERIAL IS ON TOP OF THE, THE PLYWOOD.
AND, UH, WE HAVE ALREADY DELIVERED TO THE SITE.
IN THIS LOWER PHOTO HERE, YOU'LL SEE THE, THE BLUE TARPS.
WE HAVE THE, THE METAL ROOFING DELIVERED TO THE SITE.
THE NEW ROOF THAT WE'RE PUTTING ON THE STRUCTURE IS, UH, IS, IS A STANDING SEAM ROOF THAT WILL NOT HAVE ANY EXPOSED FASTENERS OR SCREWS.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE, THE STRUCTURE FAILED ORIGINALLY WAS, UH, THERE WAS EXPOSED FASTENERS THAT OVER TIME THE WIND WOULD MOVE AND CAUSE EACH NAIL TO LEAK.
AND WHERE EACH NAIL LEAKED INTO THE FRAMING ABOVE FROM THAT NAIL, IT BASICALLY BEGAN TO GROW OUT ROT.
EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE REPLACED IT WITH IS NOW, UH, PRESSURE TREATED, UH, WHICH WILL, WHICH WILL ALSO EXTEND, EXTEND, LIKE THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE WAS NOT TREATED IN, IN THE SAME WAY AS MODERN TREATMENT.
AND, UH, SO, UH, WE'VE RECEIVED SO MANY, UM, COMPLIMENTS FROM CITIZENS, UH, VOTERS, ANGLERS, PEOPLE, UH, COMING TO, UH, COMING TO HOPEWELL.
AND I HAVE A, UH, A FULL WAITING LIST FOR PEOPLE TO GO IN AS SOON AS WE'RE DONE AND, UH, AND LEASE THE SPACES INSIDE.
UM, PEOPLE AS FAR AS THE WAY AS NEW YORK ARE WAITING TO BRING THEIR, THEIR VESSEL DOWN HERE TO GET IT UNDER, UNDER ROOF.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
UM, AND, AND THAT'S, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY, UM, WHERE WE'RE AT.
THERE'S A, A RESOLUTION THAT WAS PUT PUT TOGETHER HERE.
UM, AND THE, UM, THE DIRECTOR, UM, DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND STACY JORDAN, UM, UH, RECOMMENDED THAT WE TAKE THIS, UH, $90,000 FROM, UM, SALARY SAVINGS, UH, FOR THIS OKAY.
IS THERE A RESOLUTION, OR EXCUSE ME, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION? UH, AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET AND DESIGNATE FUNDS TO THE HOPEWELL CITY MARINA REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE FUND AS PRESENTED TONIGHT.
SO, MOVE SECOND MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY VICE MAYOR JOYNER AND SECONDED BY, UH, COUNCILOR DAY.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO LIGHTS ROLL CALL PLEASE.
I'LL INVITE EVERYBODY TO THE BIG RIBBON, CU
SO WITH THAT, I CALL THE MEETING ADJOURNED.