[Call to order and roll call]
[00:00:03]
GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
COUNCILOR ELLIS, VICE MAYOR JOINER.
[Additional Item]
UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGENDA FOR AN R SIX FOR A RESOLUTION FOR COLONEL BINKY'S RETIREMENT? SO MOVE SECOND.IS THERE A, ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO LIGHTS ROLL CALL PLEASE.
[CLOSED MEETING]
UH, AT THIS TIME IS THERE A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 11 A ONE TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS, HR, CLASS AND COMPENSATION STUDY? 2.2 DASH 3 7 11 A SEVEN.TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ON ACTUAL OR PROBABLE LITIGATION, HOPEWELL WATER RENEWAL COMMISSION AND 2.2 DASH 3 7 11 A EIGHT FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL OFFER OF GIFTED PROPERTIES AND FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.
SO, MOTION MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY, UH, COUNCILOR WHEAT AND SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR JOINER.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO LIGHTS ROLL CALL PLEASE.
UH, CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO COME OUT A CLOSED MEETING, PLEASE? I MAY DRAW.
MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY, UH, COUNCILOR DAY AND SECOND BY VICE MAYOR JOINER.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO LIGHTS ROLL CALL PLEASE.
CERTIFICATION UNDER VIRGINIA CODE 2.2 DASH 3 7 12 D WERE ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS.
LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS AND TWO IDENTIFIED IN THE CLOSED MEETING.
MOTION DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED MEETING.
UH, I WANNA WELCOME ALL OUR VISITORS FOR TONIGHT'S, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
[REPORT OF THE CITY MANAGER]
UH, WE WILL BEGIN WITH OUR CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.I DO HAVE TWO BRIEF UPDATES FOR YOU THIS EVENING BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO OUR, UM, UPDATES THAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA FOR YOU.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON TWO ITEMS FROM YOUR JUNE 23RD MEETING.
UM, THERE WERE TWO ITEMS THAT CAME UP FOR, UH, CITIZEN COMMENT.
THE FIRST WAS AROUND THE CONVENIENCE CENTER FEES FOR DUAL AXLE TRAILERS.
THIS WAS, UH, AN UPDATE IN FEES THAT HAPPENED IN 2017.
AND THE DIFFERENCE IN FEES IS BECAUSE THE DUAL AXLE TRAILERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE MORE REFUSE OR WEIGHT OR YARD WASTE, ET CETERA.
SO THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE IN FEES THAT WAS SET UP BETWEEN A DUAL AXLE TRAILER AND A SINGLE AXLE TRAILER.
SO, UM, THAT WILL REMAIN IN PLACE UN UNLESS WE HAVE SOME ACTION OR DIRECTION BY COUNCIL TO, TO CHANGE THAT.
AND THEN THE LAST ITEM WAS, I, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL PROVIDING ME WITH THAT DIRECTION AND I WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE ANIMAL CONTROL UNIT, AND WE WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE HOPEWELL HUMANE SOCIETY AND HAVING THEM, UH, CONTINUE THEIR FERAL CAT TREATMENT PROGRAM.
SO, UM, THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR, FOR OUR RESIDENTS AS WELL.
SO I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT HAD HAPPENED.
AND WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE ITEMS ON THE PRINTED AGENDA.
UH, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE JULY, UH, CRIME SUMMARY REPORT, UH, UH, CRIME SUMMARY FOR VIOLENT CRIME AND THIS FOR A VIOLENT CRIME.
WE ARE DOWN MINUS 37%, UH, PROPERTY CRIME
[00:05:01]
AT THIS TIME, WE ARE DOWN MINUS 2% AND TOTAL MAJOR CRIME, WE ARE DOWN MINUS 10%.THIS IS A, THE 2022 VERSUS 2026.
UH, THE, THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF WHEN WE BEGINNING OUR TECHNOLOGY INCREASES.
AND SO WE WERE LOOKING AT 2022 AS OUR BENCHMARK AND WHERE WE AT IN 2026.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT A VIOLENT CRIME COMPARED TO 2022 AND 2026 WOULD MINUS 40% IN VIOLENT CRIME PROPERTY CRIMES COMPARED TO 2022 AND 2026 WILL MINUS 30% REDUCTION IN PROPERTY CRIMES.
AND TOTAL MAJOR CRIME IS DOWN MINUS 32%.
SUSPECTED DRUG OVERDOSE, OPIATE OVERDOSES, UH, SO FORTH.
WE'VE HAD A TOTAL OF SEVEN, UH, GRAND TOTAL, THUS FOUR IN 2026 IS NINE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, 2026 IS, UH, MUCH LOWER COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS.
SO GRAND TOTAL, UH, FATAL IS 40.
NON-FATAL 217 AND GRAND TOTAL 257.
LOOKING AT FROM 2021 THROUGH 2026, NARCOTIC INCIDENT INCIDENTS AND ARRESTS FOR 20 20 60, WE HAVE TOTAL NARCOTIC INCIDENTS WITH ARRESTS AND THAT'S 25 ARRESTS.
UH, FELONY ARRESTS, TWO MISDEMEANOR ARRESTS.
SO, SO FAR IN 2027, IT'S A TOTAL OF 27.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE THREE YEAR AVERAGE, UH, TOTAL ARREST IS 58 AND TOTAL MISDEMEANORS IS SEVEN A TOTAL OF 59.
IF YOU GO TO TOTAL PERSONS ARRESTED FOR NARCOTICS OFFENSES.
SO FOUR IN 2026, UH, TOTAL PERSONS ARRESTED HAS BEEN 25 ON FELONY CHARGES.
UH, TWO ON MISDEMEANOR FOR A TOTAL OF 27.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE THREE YEAR AVERAGE, UH, IT WAS 51.
AND ALSO FOR MISDEMEANORS IS, IS 7 51 FELONIES.
AND, UH, SEVEN MISDEMEANORS FOR TOTAL PERSONS ARRESTED.
AND THE TOTAL OF AVERAGE, UH, ARRESTED FOR NARCOTICS IS 53.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE THREE YEAR AVERAGE AND 2025, WE WERE BIT LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS YEARS DUE TO, DUE TO, UH, LOT OF VARIATIONS.
VERIFIED SHOTS FIRED 2024, WE HAD A TOTAL OF 64 IN 2025 YEAR YEARLY TOTAL OF 54 OR LESS.
SO 10 LESS THAN 2024, THUS FOUR AND 2026.
WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 12, UH, VERIFIED SHOTS FIRED, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETINGS.
THE ONLY NOTABLE CHANGE IS IN WARD FOUR AND WARD FIVE, AND THEY ARE COMBINED NOW AND THEY MEET THE FIRST MONDAY OF EACH MONTH FROM 6:00 PM TO 7:00 PM AT WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
AND MS. SHARI FULLER, SHE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH CAPTAIN, SO THAT'S THE ONLY CHANGE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETING.
UH, CURRENTLY WE ONLY HAVE ONE DISPATCH OPENING AND WE HAVE TWO APPLICANTS THAT ARE IN BACKGROUND AND FIVE POLICE, FIVE POLICE POSITIONS ARE OPEN.
UH, ONE APPLICANT IS CURRENTLY IN BACKGROUND.
AND, UH, NEXT, UH, TESTING DATE IS JULY THE 18TH.
AND CURRENTLY WE DO HAVE THREE IN THREE IN THE ACADEMY.
THEY STARTED JULY THE FIRST, SO THEY WON'T GRADUATE UNTIL DECEMBER THE 18TH OF 2026.
AND ONCE THEY GRADUATE, COME OUT, GET THEIR FTO TRAINING SO THEY WON'T BE READY, BE PREPARED FOR THE ROAD UNTIL SPRING OF 2027.
UH, COMMUNITY POLICING OFFICERS BY WARS, UH, NOTHING HAS CHANGED ON THAT SLIDE.
UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UH, UPCOMING EVENTS.
SO ON JULY THE 18TH, HOPEWELL, UH, SCHOOLS HAVING A BACK SCHOOL EVENT.
UH, THE TIMES ARE FROM 9:00 AM TO 12:00 PM UH, ALSO JULY THE 18TH, HOPEWELL PARKS AND RECREATION, HAVING A COMMUNITY APPRECIATION EVENT.
UH, THE LOCATION IS MATH FIELDS AND THE TIME IS FROM 6:00 PM TO 8:00 PM AND JULY THE 18TH AS WELL.
THE JAMES HOUSE IS HAVING APPRECIATION DAY.
UH, THE LOCATION IS IN, IN PRINCE GEORGE'S AT PRINCE GEORGE COMMONS, LOCATED AT 66 10 COMMONS DRIVE AND THE TIMES ARE FROM ONE TO FOUR.
AND LASTLY, ON JULY THE 21ST, UH, THE SUMMER CAMP HEROES
[00:10:01]
DAY, UH, THAT'S SPONSORED BY PARKS AND RECREATION AND THAT WILL BE AT MATHIS PARK.AND THAT'S THE POLICE, UH, OUR DAY AT, AT MATHIS FIELD.
AND WE'LL HAVE REP WESTROCK THERE AND THE TIMES ARE FROM 8:00 AM TO 4:00 PM AND THE POLICE OFFICER WILL HAVE OUR FLEET IN ON DISPLAY.
AND WE, UH, WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING KICKBALL THAT DAY.
UM, THE, UH, STRATEGIC ENFORCEMENT TEAM THAT SET, THIS IS OUR SUMMER MONTH'S FOCUS, UH, AND WE, UH, CONTINUALLY FOR THE MONTHS OF JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST, UH, WITH THE FOCUS IS ON CURFEW VIOLATIONS, AS YOU ALREADY KNOW, THAT WE ALSO SET THE PRESS RELEASE OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO REMIND PARENTS IN ALL COMMUNITIES ABOUT, UH, THE CURFEW, UH, VIOLATIONS AND THE TIMES ON THAT.
UH, WE FOCUSED ON CITIZENS CONTACTS LOUD OF MUSIC HOTSPOTS, HR HA PROPERTIES, UH, AS, UH, DISCUSSED BY HR.
A PROPERTIES OFFICER HAD DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN DOING OUTDOOR ROLL CALLS, SPECIFICALLY IN DAVISVILLE AND PIPER SQUARE.
THEY'RE GETTING OUT THEIR CARS.
THEY'RE HAVING OUTDOOR ROLL CALLS CONSISTENTLY SINCE JULY, UH, FOCUSING ON CRIME AND DISORDER.
UH, THEY ALSO IN PATROL ON PRIOR CALLS FOR SERVICE AND FIREARMS AND NARCOTICS VIOLATIONS AND ALSO SERVING WARRANTS.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT I ADDED TO THIS, UH, FOR, FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST, IS I HAD GETTING SOME REPORTS OF SOME, OF SOME ACTIVITY IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA.
AND, UH, I, I HAVE DIRECTED STAFF TO START SOME OVERTIME ACTIVITY ON CERTAIN DAYS OF THE WEEKS, THEN AFTERNOONS, LATE AFTERNOONS AND EVENING TO, UH, FOCUS ON THE DOWNTOWN AREAS AND THE COMPLAINTS THAT WE'RE RECEIVING IN THOSE AREAS.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF TAYLOR? I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CHIEF.
IS THERE A WAY GOING FORWARD THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE AS PART OF YOUR REPORT TO US CURFEW VIOLATIONS EACH TIME YOU COME BEFORE? YES, SIR.
AND, UH, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS, CHIEF ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY AFTER, YOU KNOW, THE POLICE DOING A, A REALLY GOOD JOB OF DIFFUSING, UM, YOU KNOW, THE SITUATION THIS, THIS WEEKEND.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, REDUCING THE, UM, THE CURFEW DOWN TO EITHER 10 30 OR 10 O'CLOCK LIKE SOME OTHER LOCALITIES HAVE STARTED DOING? THAT'S A DISCUSSION THAT WE CAN HAVE AND WE'LL LOOK AT HOW OTHER JURISDICTIONS HAVE DONE THAT AND RESULTS OF THAT AND WE'LL DISCUSS IT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
YEAH, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO CONSIDER.
UH, AND, AND YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY TAKE ACTION ON.
UM, BUT I, I'D LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT OTHER LOCALITIES ARE DOING OUTSIDE OF JUST HERE IN OUR REGION.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UM, FOCUS ON DOWNTOWN.
WE DO HAVE SOME TROUBLE SPOTS THAT I KNOW YOU'RE AWARE OF.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
THESE ARE PRELIMINARY YEAR END FIGURES FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 CITYWIDE BUDGET TO ACTUALS.
PRELIMINARY YEAR END REVENUES ARE TRENDING 6.05% OR 9.4 MILLION HIGHER FOR 26 VERSUS 25 EXPENSES PRELIMINARY YEAR AND ARE TRENDING 14.8 OR 10.4 MILLION LOWER FOR 26 VERSUS 25.
AN INCREASE IN OUR REVENUES STEM FROM OUR STATE REVENUES INCREASE IN HWR CAPITAL BILLING AND COLLECTIONS FROM A NO INCREASES IN EXPENSES OF COURSE STEM FROM OUR ANNUAL INCREASE IN CLASS COMM STUDY IMPLEMENTATION, AS WELL AS INCREASES IN SCHOOL AND ENTERPRISE CAPITAL EXPENSES FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 REVENUES OVER EXPENSES.
CITYWIDE PRELIMINARY FIGURE IS COMING AT $8.4 MILLION.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY AP OR PAYROLL ACCRUALS OR ANY ADDITIONAL TRANSFERS NEEDED TO CLOSE OUT THE FISCAL YEAR.
ANY QUESTIONS ON OUR CITYWIDE? OKAY.
FOR OUR GENERAL FUND, PRELIMINARY YEAR END IS TRENDING 1.68 OR 4.1 MILLION.
HIGHER IN REVENUES FOR 26 VERSUS 25.
EXPENSES FOR 26 OR TRENDING 3.18% FOR 354,000 LOWER THAN 25.
INCREASE IN EXPENSES STEM AGAIN FOR GENERAL FUND FROM OUR ANNUAL INCREASE AS WELL AS CLASS AND COMP STUDY IMPLEMENTATION.
GENERAL FUND YEAR END REVENUES OVER EXPENSES.
AGAIN, THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY AP OR PAYROLL ACCRUALS OR ANY ADDITIONAL TRANSFERS.
[00:15:05]
OUR ENTERPRISE FUND, WHICH INCLUDES OUR HWR SEWER SOLID WASTE, AS WELL AS STORM ORDER ENTERPRISE FUND PRELIMINARY YEAR END IS TRENDING 26.9 OR 12.8 MILLION.HIGHER IN REVENUES FOR 26 VERSUS 25.
EXPENSES FOR 26 ARE TRENDING 5.65 OR 3.9 MILLION.
LOWER IN EXPENSES INCREASE IN OUR REVENUES STEM FROM ON TIME BILLING AND CAPITAL BILLING FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.
INCREASING EXPENSES STEM FROM WORKING THROUGH CAPITAL PROJECTS AS WELL AS THE D-E-Q-N-O-V ENTERPRISE.
PRELIMINARY REVENUES OVER EXPENSES IS $4.9 MILLION.
AGAIN, THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY AP OR PAYROLL ACCRUALS OR ANY ADDITIONAL TRANSFERS TO CLOSE OUT THE FISCAL YEAR.
AND FOR OUR SCHOOLS PRELIMINARY YEAR END AGAIN FOR SCHOOLS, WE JUST REALLY ACCOUNT FOR STATE AND FEDERAL REVENUES AS WELL AS THE MONIES THAT WE ALLOCATE TO THE SCHOOLS.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THEIR GRANTS OR ADDITIONAL SUR UM, SUPPLEMENTALS THAT THEY RECEIVE THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR.
SCHOOLS IS TRENDING 23.55 OR 1.4 MILLION HIGHER IN REVENUES FOR 26 VERSUS 25.
EXPENSES ARE TRENDING 15.35 OR 7.5 MILLION HIGHER IN 26 VERSUS 25.
A LOT OF THE INCREASE FOR THE SCHOOL'S REVENUE COMES FROM THE SR GRANT THAT THEY NO LONGER RECEIVE, WHICH IS PART OF THE, UM, UM, NOT THE COVID FUNDS.
THE, UM, PRETTY MUCH THE COVID FUNDS THAT THEY GOT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE ESSER GRANT IS NO LONGER VALID.
PRELIMINARY REVENUES OVER EXPENSES FOR SCHOOLS IS 14 K INCREASE IN OPERATING EXPENSES OVERALL FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.
FOR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FOURTH QUARTER, ENTIRE FOURTH QUARTER, WE PAID 5,036 INVOICES FOR A TOTAL OF 21 MILLION 5 72 3 24.
THIS INCLUDE ALL, UH, DEBT AS WELL.
AND WE ARE YEAR TO DATE IN ALL OF OUR DEBT PAYMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.
WE BEGIN OUR BIWEEKLY MEETINGS FOR THE CLOSEOUT OF FISCAL YEAR 2027 A CFR WITH SCHOOLS AS WELL AS THE CITY AND RFC.
THE PLAN IS TO HAVE EVERYTHING SUBMITTED FROM THE CITY TO RFC BY, UH, AUGUST 31ST.
THE SCHOOLS WILL HAVE EVERYTHING SUBMITTED BY SEPTEMBER 15TH, NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 30TH, AS THEY HAVE A SCHOOL, UH, STATE REPORT THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE DUE.
YOU CANNOT SUBMIT IT BEFORE SEPTEMBER 15TH.
ONCE THAT IS SUBMITTED, WE WILL CONTINUE ON WITH THE PROCESS.
AND THE PLAN IS TO HAVE THE A CFR FOR 26 ON TIME BEFORE DECEMBER 15TH.
NEXT WILL BE JC A CR TREASURER'S REPORT.
UM, I'M JUST GOING OFF THE SCREEN OVER HERE 'CAUSE I THOUGHT IT'D BE HERE, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
UM, I WAS HERE BACK IN MARCH DOING A SUMMARY REPORT ON COLLECTIONS FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS LICENSES.
UM, THIS WAS THE NUMBERS WE WERE AT.
THESE WERE THE YEARS TRENDING WHEN I DID THE REPORT, UH, BACK IN MARCH.
JUST NUMBERS TO KIND OF PAY ATTENTION TO AS WE MOVED FORWARD.
UM, THE SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON FOR 2024.
SO BACK IN MARCH, UM, WE WERE ON THE 94 ISH PERCENT RANGE.
UM, BEAR WITH ME, I'LL PULL IT UP ON MY PHONE.
UH, AND THEN AS OF JULY 1ST THIS YEAR, UH, WE WERE AT 95.65.
SO A TICK IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
DEFINITELY NOT WHERE I WANT TO BE YET.
UM, BUT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.
UM, AND THAT WAS FOR REAL ESTATE.
UH, THE NEXT ONE YOU'LL SEE IS, NO, I'M SORRY, THAT WAS, IT WAS A PERSONAL PROPERTY.
YEAH, THAT WAS PERSONAL PROPERTY.
NOW I WENT TO REAL ESTATE, UH, BACK IN MARCH WE WERE AT 98.5.
LITTLE BIT BIT OF A TICK IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
NOW WE'RE AT 98.74%, UM, BUSINESS LICENSES, I KNOW IT'S A LOT SMALLER OF A SCREEN.
NOW WE WERE AT AS OF JULY 1ST, AND THIS IS ALL FOR 2024.
WE'RE AT 99.99, MISSING $843 IS THE END RECEIVABLE MOVING ON TO 2025.
UM, I TOLD YOU GUYS LAST TIME I WOULD GET THAT UP, WE DID.
WE'RE NOW AT 92% AND I CHECKED IT TODAY.
WE'RE ACTUALLY ANOTHER LIKE QUARTER OF A PERCENT HIGHER THAN THAT AS OF TODAY.
UM, SO WE'RE DEFINITELY TICKING IN THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT WAY.
UH, BUSINESS LICENSE WE'RE WORKING ON, UM, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN THAN I WANTED IT
[00:20:01]
TO BE AT THIS POINT.UH, AT 95, UM, ALMOST 96%, UH, BACK IN MARCH.
NOW WE ARE UP TO 98.31% ON BUSINESS LICENSES.
UM, AND THEN REAL ESTATE, 96.45 BACK IN MARCH FOR 25.
NOW WE'RE AT 97.76% COLLECTION RATE.
UM, AND THEN I WENT AHEAD AND THREW IN 2026.
FIRST HALF, UH, WE'RE AT 50.81, WHICH IS AHEAD OF THE GAME.
UM, 50% IS, IS WHAT WE WERE COLLECTING.
SO PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY PAID AHEAD.
SO WE'RE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD FOR 2026.
UM, MOVING ON TO OUR INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS.
UM, OUR LGIP MARKET VALUE AS OF JUNE 30TH WAS SITTING JUST OVER 9 MILLION.
UH, SCHWAB ESTIMATED VALUE OF MAY 31ST, UH, SIX POINT, ALMOST 6.2 MILLION.
AND THEN OUR SEWER SYSTEM MARKET VALUE AS OF MARCH 31ST, UH, IS 1.7 MILLION.
UM, AND THEN OUR BANK ACCOUNTS, UH, WE AS OF JULY 1ST, UH, ALMOST 19 POINT A HALF MILLION SITTING IN THE MASTER ACCOUNT.
THE PREPAID CAFETERIA FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD AT 300, BEACON THEATER IS 11 509 9.
UH, AND THEN OUR EMS REVENUE RECOVERY WAS AT 10,051.
AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR COLLECTIONS AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS, BUT GREAT JOB.
I THINK YOU'VE DONE A DARN GOOD JOB.
SO WE GOT A LOT OF, A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER, SO
UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY ACTIONS RESULTING FROM, UH, CLOSED SESSION.
SO WE WILL MOVE, UH, RIGHT INTO THE REGULAR BUSINESS OF THE MEETING.
UH, WE HAVE OUR PRAYER BY REVEREND BOGGS, FILED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, BY MYSELF.
PLEASE RISE, COUNSEL AND FRIENDS OF THE CITY.
WOULD YOU JOIN ME AS WE PRAY? SO, HOLY FATHER, WE COME INTO YOUR PRESENCE, MINDFUL ON THIS OCCASION THAT YOU ARE THE GIVER OF ALL GOOD AND PERFECT GIFTS, THE AUTHOR OF LIFE ITSELF.
AND SO WE PAUSE TO GIVE YOU THANKS.
THE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFTS OF GRACE, LOVE, MERCY AND KINDNESS, THE GOODNESS THAT YOU'VE SHOWN TO US, AND PARTICULARLY ON THIS OCCASION.
LORD, WE PRAY, LIFT OUR VOICES TO YOU TO ASK FOR PATIENCE, TO ASK FOR WISDOM THAT COMES FROM YOUR HOLY HAND.
THAT WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS THAT BRING DIGNITY AND THAT BRING GRACE TO THOSE WHOM WE SERVE.
AND TO MAKE DECISIONS TO BRING HONOR TO YOU.
SO WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD HEAR THE CRIES OF OUR HEARTS THIS DAY, IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, AMEN.
PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND THAT TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS FOR ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE SPRAWL.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? SO MOVED.MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY VICE MAYOR, JOIN AND SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR DAY.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO LIGHTS ROLL CALL PLEASE.
UH, AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO ASK, UM, MS. MARTINEZ TO COME UP AND, UH, DO A SPECIAL RECOGNITION.
GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UH, TONIGHT I COME BEFORE YOU, UM, REQUESTING A PROCLAMATION, WHICH YOU HAVE SO GRACIOUSLY APPROVED IN YOUR CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, I DON'T DO THIS FOR MYSELF.
I DO THIS FOR RECOGNITION OF MY STAFF.
MY STAFF, UH, ARE OUR FRONTLINE PEOPLE.
WE HAVE SEVERAL IN OUR ATTENDANCE TODAY.
UH, SO FORGIVE ME IF I GET EMOTIONAL.
UH, THEY ARE, THE REASON WHY WE ARE SO SUCCESSFUL IS BECAUSE OF THEIR HARD WORK EACH AND EVERY DAY.
SO YOU ALL APPROVING THIS PROCLAMATION FOR US IS, IS SO MUCH GRATITUDE FOR THEM.
UM, SO I DON'T LIKE TO BE IN THE FOREFRONT OF THINGS.
I LIKE TO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT IT'S MY STAFF THAT REALLY TRUE, TRULY DESERVES RECOGNITION.
SO I'D JUST LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND JUST HAVE THEM STAND FOR US.
I'M JUST GONNA READ THIS REAL QUICK FOR THEM.
UM, SO THIS PROCLAMATION, UM, WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOPEWELL RECOGNIZES PARK AND RECREATION ARE VITAL TO THE HEALTH, WELLBEING, AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF ITS RESIDENTS, HELPING TO BUILD A VIBRANT, CONNECTED AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY, UH, COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS HOPEWELL PARKS, TRAILS, PLAYGROUNDS, ATHLETIC FACILITIES AND RECREATION PROGRAMS PROMOTE PHYSICAL AND
[00:25:01]
MENTAL WELLNESS SUPPORT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, ENCOURAGE LIFELONG LEARNING, STRENGTHENING FAMILIES, AND PROVIDING SAFE, ACCESSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION AND CONNECTION WITH NATURE.WHEREAS PARK AND RECREATION COORDINATE, UH, CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY'S ECONOMIC VI VITALITY BY ATTRACTING VISITORS, SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES, ENHANCING PROPERTY VALUES, AND IMPROVING THE OVERALL LIVABILITY OF THE COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS HOPEWELL PARKS AND A NATURAL AREA PROTECTS ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES, ENHANCES RESILIENCE TO FLOODING AND SEVERE WEATHER AND PRESERVE GREEN SPACES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
WHEREAS THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOPEWELL VIRGINIA RECOGNIZES AND APPRECIATE THE DEDICATION OF THE CITY PARKS, UH, RECREATION AND PROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVICE, UH, INCLU ENSURES THAT PO EXCUSE ME, PUBLIC SPACES REMAIN SAFE, WELCOMING, INCLUSIVE, AND ENRICHING FOR RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES.
AND WHEREAS THE US UH, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS BEEN A DESIGNATED JULY AS PARK AND RECREATION MONTH AND RECOGNITION OF THE ESSENTIAL WALL PARKS AND RECREATION PLAY IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION.
UH, NOW THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE CITY OF HOPEWELL, VIRGINIA HEREBY PROCLAIMS THE MONTH OF JULY AS 2026 AS PARK AND RECREATION MONTH IN THE CITY OF HOPEWELL.
BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED THAT THE CITY OF, UH, COUNCIL OF HOPEWELL, VIRGINIA, PROCLAIMS THAT JULY 17TH, WHICH IS THIS FRIDAY, UH, AS PARKS AND RECREATION PROFESSIONALS DAY IN THE CITY OF HOPEWELL, HONORING THE DEDICATION PROFESSIONAL AND VOLUNTEERS FOR THOSE COMMITMENT ENRICHING THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS AND STRENGTHENING THE COMMUNITY OF EVERY DAY.
AND WE ARE LOOKING VERY FORWARD TO, TO CELEBRATING THEM ON FRIDAY, UM, FOR A SMALL APPRECIATION LUNCHEON WITH THEM.
AND WE HOPE TO SEE A FEW OF YOU THERE.
I THINK A COUPLE OF RSAP, AND AGAIN, THIS IS SO APPRECIATED.
UM, I, THEY GET ALL THE KUDOS, THEY GET ALL THE GREATNESS, THEY GET ALL THE COMPLIMENTS THAT IT, THAT ALL GOES TO THEM.
IF ANYTHING'S MESSED UP, IT'S PROBABLY MY FAULT 'CAUSE I CHANGED SOMETHING ON THEM
UM, BUT THEY, THEY ARE PHENOMENAL AND I COULDN'T DO THIS JOB WITHOUT THEM.
AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOU DOING THIS.
AND I KNOW THAT I CAN, YOU KNOW, SPEAK ON BEHALF OF CITY COUNCIL, UH, WHEN WE SAY THAT WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THAT YOU GUYS DO AND, UH, ESPECIALLY A LOT OF THE CREATIVE PROGRAMMING, UH, THAT YOU GUYS DO.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, FUNDING IS TIGHT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE WORK THROUGH.
BUT YOU GUYS, UH, DO A LOT OF GREAT WORK.
AND, UM, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T, UH, GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY MAN DANIEL, WHO STILL DOES GREAT RIVER CLEANUPS ON HIS OWN TIME.
AND SO, UM, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU GUYS AND ALL THAT YOU GUYS DO.
ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT, UM, I BELIEVE MS. JOYNER WOULD LIKE TO DO A, UH, A RECOGNITION.
OUR NEXT RECIPIENT IS NOT HERE TO RECEIVE THIS.
SO, UH, KELLY DAVIS, WHO IS, UM, UH, OVER THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW FOR IS OUR, OUR CITY LIAISON.
SHE'S HERE TO ACCEPT THIS AWARD, BUT THIS IS A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MARY FRENCH BOULDER FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE.
AND LET ME READ THIS PROCLAMATION.
WHERE IS MARY FRENCH ELDER DEVOTE MORE THAN 25 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER SERVICE IN THE CITY OF HOPEWELL.
THROUGH HER DEDICATED SERVICE ON THE ARCHITECTURAL NEW BOARD AND DOWNTOWN DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE DEMONSTRATING AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION, THOUGHTFUL DESIGN OF THE BETTER OF THE COMMUNITY.
MS. ELDER WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY POINT HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGN GUIDELINES, CREATING A LASTING RESOURCE THAT CONTINUES TO GUIDE PRESERVATION EFFORTS AND PROTECT THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF ONE OF HOPE'S MOST TREASURED BANK BOATS.
WHEREAS THROUGHOUT HER YEARS OF SERVICE, THE ELDER HAS BEEN A STEADFAST ADVOCATE OF PRESERVATION AND REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN HOPEWELL, HELPING SHAPE POLICIES AND PROJECTS THAT CELEBRATE THE CITY'S HISTORY WHILE ENCOURAGING INVESTMENT ECONOMIC VITALITY.
AND WHEREAS AFTER MORE THAN 45 YEARS OF EXEM EXEMPLARY PUBLIC SERVICE, MS. ELDER HAS RETIRED, LEAVING A LASTING LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION, AND STEWARDSHIP THAT HAS ENRICHED THE CITY OF HOPEWELL INSPIRED THOSE WHO'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ALONGSIDE HER.
NOW THEREFORE BE PROCLAIMED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOPEWELL VIRGINIA HEREBY EXPRESSES ITS SINCERE APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE TO MARY FRENCH ELDER FOR A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE OF THE CITY OF HOPEWELL, AND RECOGNIZES HER INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF THE CITY POINT OF HISTORIC DISTRICT, AND THE REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN HOPEWELL.
WE HAD FURTHER PROCLAIMED THAT COUNCIL CONGRATULATES MARY FROM CHILDREN ON HER RETIREMENT FROM PUBLIC SERVICE AND EXTENDS HIS HEARTFELT THANKS AND BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED HEALTH, HAPPINESS, AND FULFILLMENT WITH APPRECIATION FOR THE LASTING IMPACT OR SERVICE WILL HAVE ON THE CITY OF HOPE WEALTH FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
IT'S BEEN ADOPTED THIS 14TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOPE VIRGINIA HAS SIGNED BY JOHN BAR, MAYOR OF CITY HOPEWELL.
[00:30:01]
AND KELLY, YOU'RE HERE TO RECEIVE IT.AND MAY I JUST ADD THAT I HAD THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH MARY FRENCH ELDER FOR MANY OF THOSE 25 YEARS.
AND I THINK THOSE OF US IN THIS, IN THIS, UM, IN THIS AUDIENCE, THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD DOES AN IMPORTANT SERVICE.
I MEAN, THE ARCHITECTURAL VIEW BOARD HELPS TO PRESERVE THE MATERIAL CULTURE OF THE CITY OF HOPEWELL AND THE ARCHITECTURAL VIEW BOARDS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY DO THAT, WHETHER IT'S IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, WHERE THEY'RE PRESERVING 18TH CENTURY, UM, STRUCTURES, OR WHETHER HERE WE ARE IN THE HOPEWELL VIRGINIA, PRESERVING THE DUPONT VILLAGES, WHETHER IT'S A VILLAGE B VILLAGE OR SOME OF OUR EARLY, EARLY, UM, BUILDINGS SUCH AS APAX, APAX BANNER, THOSE, THOSE STRUCTURES THAT ARE ON PRINCE HENRY AVENUE.
SO THIS, SHE HAS CONTRIBUTED GREATLY.
SHE HAS A FINE ARTS BACKGROUND AND, UM, WAS JUST TREMENDOUS IN, UM, IN BEING AN ARBITRARY OF CASE AND, AND, AND, AND INTERPRETING THE SECTION AND TEARS GUIDELINES.
SO IT WAS AN HONOR PRIVILEGE TO SERVE WITH HER.
IT'S AN HONOR PRIVILEGE TO GIVE THIS TO YOU, KELLY, ON BEHALF.
[COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS]
WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS.UH, MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE STATEMENT, COMMUNICATION FROM CITIZENS PERIOD LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF 30 MINUTES APPEARS AT EACH REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, PERSONS ADDRESSING COUNCIL APPROACH, THE MICROPHONE GIVE THEIR NAME, AND IF THEY RESIDE IN HOPEWELL IN AWARD NUMBER, EACH COMMENT IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.
NO PERSON IS PERMITTED TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL THE REMARKS MUST BE ADDRESSED TO THE COUNCIL.
AS A BODY, ANY PERSON WHO MAKES PERSONAL IMPERTINENT ABUSIVE OR SLANDER STATEMENTS OR INCITE DISORDERLY CONDUCT IN IN COUNCIL CHAMBER MAY BE BARRED FROM FUTURE COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS AND REMOVED.
OKAY, UH, FIRST ONE THAT I HAVE SIGNED UP FOR TONIGHT IS JEFFREY TORRES.
GREAT EVENING MAYOR, VICE, ME MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M JEFFREY MAURICE TORRES FROM THE MARTY THIRD WARD.
FIRSTLY, I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION TO THE CITY REAL ESTATE TAX FOR ALL SENIOR CITIZENS.
THIS WILL REWARD THEIR ACHIEVEMENT AND ENCOURAGE THE NEXT GENERATION TO THRIVE AND HOPE.
SECONDLY, ALL CITY OFFICES SHOULD BE REACHABLE BY TEXT MESSAGE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND DOCUMENTATION OF COMMUNICATION WITH CITIZENS.
VOICEMAIL AND EMAIL ALLOW FOR TOO MUCH DELAY IN CONFUSION.
FINALLY, SINCE VAPES CONSTITUTE THE PRIMARY FORM OF CONTRABAND IN HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, I BELIEVE WE CAN AND WE SHOULD REDUCE CHILDHOOD ACCESS BY BANNING THE SALE OF VAPES IN OUR CITY.
THE CURRENT PERMISSIVE SITUATION MAKES OBTAINING A VAPE EASIER FOR A CHILD TODAY THAN CIGARETTES.
WERE FROM UNENDING VENDING MACHINES.
FOR MANY OF US IN THE 1980S, VAPES ARE INTRODUCING OUR CHILDREN TO ADDICTION, CONTRABAND, SMUGGLING, AND DISRUPTING THE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF OUR SCHOOLS.
AFTER SPEAKING WITH EDUCATORS AND SROS, I FOUND OUT THEIR LOW METALLIC CONTENT MAKES THEM NEARLY IMMUNE TO EFFORTS TO FIND THEM BY COMMON METAL DETECTORS.
PLEASE CONSIDER THIS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS TO SENIOR CITIZENS TO PROMOTE HOME OWNERSHIP, THE TEXT OFF THE OFFICE TEXT MESSAGING, AND THE BANNING OF SALE OF VAPES AND HOPEWELL TO DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO THE YOUTH.
AND LASTLY, THE PRIMARY ISSUE WITH VAPES IS HOW AMBIGUOUS THEY ARE.
IF I WERE TO SEE AN 8-YEAR-OLD ENJOYING A VAPE RIGHT NOW PUFFING ON IT, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO TELL IF IT WAS T-H-C-C-B-D DELTA 3 6 9 NICOTINE CAFFEINE, OVALTINE, FEBREZE, OR LISTERINE.
AND THAT SEEMS RIDICULOUS TO ME.
IN A COMMUNITY WHERE WE CAN COMMONLY SEE OPEN ADDICTION ON THE STREET, THIS LARGELY SYMBOLIC GESTURE, WE'LL SEND A SOLID MESS MESSAGE THAT WE CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR YOUTH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAVE A GREAT ONE.
UH, GOOD EVENING MAYORS, UH, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND THANK YOU FOR PRONOUNCING MY NAME PROPERLY.
MY NAME IS KEVIN RAND AND I'M A COMMERCIAL
[00:35:01]
PROPERTY OWNER HERE IN THE CITY OF HOPEWELL IN WARD TWO.AND TONIGHT I WANNA SPEAK ABOUT THE B ONE, UH, ZONING DISTRICT AND ASK A SIMPLE QUESTION.
ARE WE MAKING IT EASIER OR HARDER FOR PROPERTY OWNERS TO INVEST IN DOWNTOWN HOPEWELL? MANY OF THE PROPERTIES IN DOWNTOWN HOPEWELL ARE IN SERIOUS DISREPAIR AND NEED WORK, AND WE NEED PEOPLE WILLING TO INVEST IN THESE PROPERTIES AND BRING BUSINESS TO DOWNTOWN HOPEWELL.
BUT WHEN I READ THE B ONE ZONING ORDINANCE, I SEE REGULATIONS THAT GO WAY BEYOND WHAT I BELIEVE IS REASONABLY NECESSARY.
UH, SOME OF THESE EXAMPLES INCLUDE UNDER TRANSPARENCY, IT SAYS BLINDS AND OR DRAPERIES ARE ACCE ACCEPTABLE, BUT SHALL BE OPEN DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS.
UM, DOES THAT MEAN AN ATTORNEY COUNSELOR OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL CLOSING THEIR BLINDS FOR A CONFIDENTIAL MEETING DURING BUSINESS HOURS IS TECHNICALLY VIOLATING THE BUSINESS ORDINANCE OR VIOLATING THE ZONING ORDINANCE? UH, SIGN AND CANOPY REGULATIONS ARE VERY COMPLEX AND RESTRICTIVE.
THE ORDINANCE EVEN DICTATES THE STYLE OF STRING LIGHTING.
BUSINESSES CAN USE GLOBE STYLE LIGHT BULBS ONLY, AND THEN MANY DECISIONS ARE SUBJECT TO THE DISCRETION AND APPROVAL OF THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD.
ARE THESE REGULATIONS PROTECTING DOWNTOWN HOPEWELL OR CREATING UNNECESSARY BARRIERS TO INVESTMENT? I WOULD OFFER A COUPLE OF SOLUTIONS.
FIRST, DISTINGUISHED BETWEEN HISTORIC AND NON HISTORIC PROPERTIES.
CONSIDER A DOWNTOWN HISTORIC BUSINESS DISTRICT AND A DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT.
PROPERTIES WITH GENUINE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE DESERVE APPROPRIATE PRESERVATION STANDARDS.
WHILE PROPERTIES THAT ARE NON HISTORIC OR NON-CONTRIBUTING BE, UH, BUILDINGS SHOULD HAVE GREATER FLEXIBILITY TO USE MODERN MATERIALS AND MAKE REASONABLE IMPROVEMENTS.
SECOND, WE NEED FEWER BARRIERS TO RESPONSIBLE REDEVELOPMENT, AND WE DON'T NEED THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD TO HAVE BROAD AUTHORITY OVER ALL EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS.
I SAY, LET'S PROTECT A HISTORY THAT DESERVES PROTECTION.
WE'LL, MAKING IT EASIER FOR RESPONSIBLE PROPERTY OWNERS TO INVEST IN DOWNTOWN HOPEWELL.
OUR ORDINANCES SHOULD ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT IN BUSINESS GROWTH, NOT MAKE PEOPLE QUESTION WHETHER INVESTING HERE OR OPENING A BUSINESS HERE IS WORTH THE TROUBLE.
UH, DEBBIE RANDOLPH, WARD ONE.
UM, BEEN A LOT OF HOPEWELL IN THE NEWS AND UH, CERTAINLY, UH, SOMETIMES THAT'S A GOOD THING.
UM, HOWEVER, I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME ISSUES THAT AREN'T IN THE NEWS RIGHT NOW.
UH, I'VE GOT TWO ISSUES THAT I WANT TO ADDRESS WITH COUNCIL.
THE FIRST ONE IS FROM THE $15 MILLION BOND IN FALL OF LAST YEAR THAT YOU ALL DID FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES.
UM, UH, AT THE TIME THAT THEY WERE DONE, YOU ALL LISTED VERY NICELY WHAT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THESE PROJECTS AND WHAT PART WOULD HAVE IN A LARGE RANGE POTENTIAL FOR EACH OF THOSE PROJECTS.
WELL, MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN OR HEARD ANY UPDATES ON ANY OF THAT.
IT WOULD BE NICE FOR THE CITIZENS TO KNOW WHERE THEIR $15 MILLION BOND IS GOING, AND WHETHER IT'S MEETING THAT RANGE AS EXPECTED, AND WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GONNA HAVE ENOUGH IN THAT PARTICULAR BOND TO DO ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT WERE ON THAT LIST.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO HELP CITIZENS TO FOLLOW THE MONEY AND TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THESE PROJECTS.
WE HAVE A SECOND BOND THAT WAS DONE THIS YEAR FOR THE SCHOOLS, AND CERTAINLY I WOULD ASK THAT YOU ALL DO THE SAME WITH THOSE THAT SPENDING AS WELL, EVEN THOUGH THAT BOND HASN'T REACHED THEIR $15 MILLION POTENTIAL.
THE SECOND ISSUE I HAVE IS FOR THE $391,000, THAT COUNCIL SO GRACIOUSLY, UH, VOLUNTEER TO HRHA FOR AN OPERATIONAL AUDIT.
IT'S NOT THE AUDIT PER SE, ALTHOUGH I THINK THAT'S A BIT HEFTY OF A PRICE.
MY CONCERN IS THAT COUNSEL HAS SOLICITED FOR ONE FIRM TO BE DOING THAT AUDIT.
WHILE IT'S NOT REQUIRED THAT THIS REQUIRE AN RFP TO GO OUT, IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW WHY A SINGLE FIRM IS BEING PUSHED TO DO TWO DIFFERENT HRA BOAT BOARDS AND WHY WE CAN'T DO AN RFP TO POTENTIALLY LOOK AT THE COST OF THAT $391,000 OPERATIONAL AUDIT AND SEE IF WE CAN COME IN A LITTLE BIT LOWER.
I APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING AT MY CONCERNS.
[00:40:07]
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER.PREVIOUS COMMENTS HAVE ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT HOPEWELL HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS.
UM, AND SPECIFICALLY REGARDING A DATA CENTER.
UM, I'VE TAKEN THE TIME TO READ SOME OF THE ARTICLES OUT THERE, UM, FROM WHAT I WAS ABLE TO GATHER, UH, A STUDY WAS DONE, BUT THEN MAYBE IT WASN'T DONE.
OR MAYBE IT WASN'T DONE IN HOPEWELL, OR MAYBE THE COMPANY CHANGED THEIR WEBSITE OR MAYBE THEY DIDN'T.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION AROUND THAT, BUT I HAVE TO AGREE WITH MY NEIGHBOR TORRES AND THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A FASTER COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.
IT'S VERY DISCOURAGING TO READ IN THOSE ARTICLES THAT, YOU KNOW, JOURNALISTS REACHED OUT TO THE CITY AND THERE WAS NO COMMENT.
AND THEN WHEN THE STORY STARTS TO BLOW UP, THEN THERE'S A COMMENT.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A, A WAY FOR CITIZENS TO REACH THE CITY FASTER AND FOR THERE TO BE A RESPONSE THAT'S NOT LOOKING LIKE A REACTION WHEN PUBLIC SENTIMENT SEEMS TO BE SOUR ON ANY PARTICULAR IDEA.
UM, I THINK THAT AT THE VERY LEAST, IT COULD BE GOOD TO DO A FEASIBILITY STUDY AND LOOK AT, OKAY, WHAT WOULD IT COST TO SET UP A SYSTEM LIKE THAT? HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE? WHAT PERSONNEL WOULD NEED TO BE HIRED? UM, I THINK THAT BY ITSELF COULD BE A GOOD STEP TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU REALLY ARE INTERESTED IN BEING AS RESPONSIVE AS POSSIBLE AND NOT REACTING TO STORIES WHEN THEY SEEM TO PAINT THE CITY IN A BAD LIGHT.
MY CONCERN IS THIS, UH, DATA CENTER THAT WE'RE HEARING ALL ABOUT COMING TO HOPEWELL.
THAT WILL BE THE NAIL IN THE COFFIN FOR THIS CITY.
WE'RE ALREADY A LESS THAN DESIRABLE PLACE TO DRAW PEOPLE INTO, WHETHER IT BE RESIDENTIAL, WHETHER IT BE BUSINESSES AND SO FORTH.
PRICES KEEP GOING UP, TAXES ON STUFF AROUND HERE GO UP.
WE'RE NOT SEEING NOTHING POSITIVE COME FROM IT, YOU KNOW, AND IT CONTINUES TO GO ON.
YOU BRING A DATA CENTER IN HERE, MILE TWO MILE RADIUS TO THIS PLACE ARE THESE PROPERTIES.
VALUE WILL REFLECT THE DROP IN THEIR VALUE FOR THIS DATA CENTER BEING HERE.
YOU KNOW, Y'ALL GONNA RAISE PROPERTY TAXES AGAIN.
WE COULD BE PAYING MORE ON PROPERTY THAN OUR PROPERTY COULD BE SOLD FOR.
IF A DATA CENTER COMES IN HERE, YOU'RE, YOU'LL BE SHIPPING A BUNCH OF WATER TO A WASTEWATER PLANT THAT'S COVERED IN BAND-AIDS AS IT IS, IT'S GONNA BE A DISASTER.
YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE BEEN READ SEVERAL THINGS ON THESE DATA CENTERS AND NONE OF IT'S GOOD.
VIRGINIA ALREADY HAS TOO MANY DATA CENTERS, MORE DATA CENTERS IN THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES DOES.
YOU KNOW, LOOK DOWN THE ROAD, ARE Y'ALL WILL STILL BE HERE TO FEEL THE FALLOUT OF A DECISION Y'ALL MADE, LETTING A DATA SETTER COME HERE WHEN IT GETS HERE.
YOU KNOW, WE SIT HERE, GET A RESPONSE FROM Y'ALL KINDA SAYING, Y'ALL DIDN'T HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
YOU KNOW, HOW MANY OF Y'ALL UP THERE CAN ACTUALLY BE TRUSTED? HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HEARD ONE THING AND SOMETHING TOTALLY ELSE HAPPENED? YOU KNOW, NONE OF Y'ALL CAN BE TRUSTED FOR ANYTHING THAT COMES OUTTA Y'ALL'S MOUTH.
SO ANYTHING THAT COMES FROM Y'ALL COMES WITH A GRAIN OF SALT IN A RESPONSE.
UH, FIRST THINGS FIRST, UH, DUE TO THE INFORMATION FROM THE CITY MANAGER, UH, I FORMALLY STAND BEFORE Y'ALL TO FORMALLY REQUEST THAT COUNCIL TAKE ACTION TO MAKE, UH, 10 AND MAX TRAILERS THE SAME COST FOR RESIDENTS WHEN THE TRAILERS ARE REGISTERED TO AN INDIVIDUAL AND NOT TO A BUSINESS WHEN UTILIZING THE CITY DUMP.
UH, I ALREADY PAY TAXES IN THE CITY TO OWN MY TRAILER HERE.
UM, UH, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY MORE TO USE SOMETHING THAT'S FREE TO EVERY OTHER RESIDENT, UH, REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT IT WEIGHS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
UM, LAST MEETING, THE MINUTES MADE MENTION OF, UH, A CITY COUNCIL RULE CHANGE THAT WAS DONE IN
[00:45:01]
CLOSED SESSION.HOWEVER, THERE'S NO NEW RULES POSTED ONLINE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
SO I'M A LITTLE CURIOUS, UH, WHAT NEW RULE WAS CHANGED, UH, IMPLEMENTED OR CONSIDERED AND SHOT DOWN, UM, THE CITY ATTORNEY, IF I COULD TALK, THAT'D BE GREAT.
THE CITY ATTORNEY TOLD ME ABOUT A WEBSITE THAT WAS BEING CREATED THAT WOULD HAVE ALL PUBLIC DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE FOR CITIZEN REVIEW.
UM, BUT I'VE NOT HEARD ANYTHING OR ANY MORE MENTION OF THAT SINCE HE TOLD ME ABOUT THAT.
UM, SO I'M WONDERING WHAT THE STATUS OF THAT IS.
UM, MS. RANDOLPH HAD MENTIONED BEING ABLE TO FOLLOW THE MONEY.
I ARGUE THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FOLLOW ANYTHING OUR CITY IS DOING AND OR PLANNING.
AND WE SHOULDN'T BE LEARNING ABOUT THESE THINGS THROUGH THE NEWS OR FACEBOOK POST.
WE SHOULD BE HAVING TRANSPARENCY THROUGH MEETINGS, OPEN MEETINGS, OR TOWN HALL TYPE MEETINGS.
WE SHOULDN'T BE ASKING FOR COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY FROM Y'ALL.
INSTEAD, WE SHOULD BE GROWING TIRED OF IT, UH, DUE TO Y'ALL'S OPENNESS.
UH, THAT BEING SAID, UM, I SAW ONLINE, UM, A SCHOOL DISTRICT ACTUALLY PUT SOLAR PANELS ON THE ROOFS OF THEIR SCHOOLS.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT WOULD BE COSTLY.
HOWEVER, THEY WERE ABLE TO SAVE OVER $6 MILLION BETWEEN SAVINGS AND TAX BREAKS.
AND IT ALSO KEPT THE SCHOOL OR SCHOOL COOLER DUE TO SUN SHIELDING.
AND IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD WANT TO LOOK AT HERE FOR HOPEWELL AS A COST REDUCTION PROCESS.
UH, THE LAST ONE I HAVE SIGNED UP, UH, FOR TIME.
I BELIEVE IT'S, UH, JENNIFER SCHAFER.
UH, SCHAFER SCHAFER KIND OF CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD 'CAUSE I THOUGHT I DID AWAY WITH THAT.
HOWEVER, MY NAME IS JENNIFER SCHAFER, UM, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.
MY FIRST TIME EVER DOING ANYTHING LIKE THIS, AND I'M A LITTLE SHAKEN, BUT I'M ALSO A LITTLE GUTSY.
I MOVED TO HOPEWELL 41 YEARS AGO, THE 21ST OF THIS MONTH.
I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT BECAUSE IT REMINDED ME OF MY HOMETOWN BACK IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.
WISE COUNTY, A LITTLE PLACE CALLED NORTON.
BUT FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, HOPEWELL HAS DISHEARTENED ME AND I HAVE COME VERY MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT IT.
UM, I'M A MEMBER OF THE VFW AND THE AMERICAN LEGION.
I DO A LOT OF VOLUNTEERING WORK.
I BUILT MY FIRST HOUSE 20 YEARS AGO, HOPEWELL FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
YOU HELPED RAISE MY HOUSE PAYMENT, $500.
I HAVE ASKED WHAT KIND OF BREAKS I CAN GET ON TAXES, AND THEY'VE TOLD ME I I GOT THE LIMIT.
WELL, AGAIN, THANKS TO YOU ALL, WHOEVER RAISED THEM, MY $1,700, 1300 GOES TO MY HOUSE PAYMENT.
SO IF YOU ALL CAN DO ANYTHING ON THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED TO HELP THEM KEEP THEIR HOUSES IN HOPEWELL, IT WOULD BE MUCH GREATLY APPRECIATED.
BECAUSE AS SOME OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE SAID, I DON'T HAVE, I GOT TWO CHILDREN HERE, BUT THEY'RE OLD GUYS.
A LOT OF YOU ALL MAY HAVE GRANDCHILDREN COMING UP.
AND I THINK YOU ALL ARE PUTTING A LITTLE BIT OF SOUR TASTE IN OUR MOUTHS TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN.
AND GRANDCHILDREN DON'T LIKE HOPEWELL.
HOPEWELL JUST SLAPS YOU IN THE FACE.
THEY TAKE YOU FOR WHAT YOU CAN GET TO THEM OR GIVE TO THEM, BUT THEY DON'T WANNA HELP GIVE IT BACK TO YOU.
SO IF 41 YEARS COME NEXT, NEXT TUESDAY, JULY THE 21ST, I THANK YOU ALL OR WHOEVER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING ME AT A POINT TO WHERE DO I SELL MY HOUSE AND LEAVE HOPEWELL AND GO BACK TO SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA, OR DO I STAY HERE AND TRY TO FIGHT AND CONTINUE WORKING, FOUND DISABILITY WITH HEART FAILURE AT 68 YEARS OLD TO TRY TO STAY HERE TO A PLACE THAT I REALLY LIKE WHERE I'M LIVING.
SO I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND I DO HOPE THAT SOME OF YOU WILL AT LEAST THINK ABOUT THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED.
[REGULAR BUSINESS ]
ON TO REGULAR BUSINESS.WE HAVE OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING FOR TONIGHT.
SO THIS ACTUALLY CAME OUT OF A, UH, A REQUEST THAT WE GOT FROM A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS CONSIDERING, UH, OP OPENING UP SUCH A BUSINESS HERE.
THIS, THIS, UH, THERE'S A REQUEST FROM A COUNSELOR.
I TOOK A LOOK AT OUR ORDINANCE ON TATTOO PARLORS AND PIERCING SALONS.
AND THE LONG STORY SHORT IS THAT IT WAS RATHER
[00:50:01]
OUT OF DATE, ARCHAIC, UM, PRETTY SHORT ON DISCUSSION OF HEALTH AND SAFETY.UM, LONG ON THINGS LIKE, UH, IF YOU WEREN'T AWARE, OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE FORBIDS THE TATTOOING OF RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS, UM, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO IN ANY CASE, THE POINT IS IT SEEMED TO ME TO BE IN NEED OF A MODERNIZATION.
SO I LOOKED AT SIMILAR ORDINANCES FROM VARIOUS CITIES IN VIRGINIA AND, UH, PIECED TOGETHER SOMETHING THAT, UH, THAT IS GONNA BE FIT TO PURPOSE, IS GOING TO BE, UM, SUITABLE TO HOPEWELL.
AND I BROUGHT IT, UH, TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, GOT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S INPUT ON IT.
UH, AND THE DRAFT THAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU IS, UH, IS JOINTLY RECOMMENDED BY MY OFFICE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
UH, SEEING NO LIGHTS FOR QUESTIONS, GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE IT.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE? REPEALING AND REENACTING THE HOPEWELL CITY CODE CHAPTER NINE, BARBERSHOPS BEAUTY PARLORS, TATTOO PARLORS SECTIONS NINE THROUGH 41 THROUGH, OR EXCUSE ME, NINE DASH 41 THROUGH NINE DASH 61 AS PRESENTED TONIGHT.
SO WE HAVE TO CHECK, WE HAVE TO WAIT ON THIS.
DON, NOT YOU COUNSEL CAN ALWAYS ENTERTAIN, UM, A MOTION FOR AN ORDINANCE EARLY.
IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A FIVE VOTE RATHER THAN FOUR VOTE.
BUT, UH, OUR GENERAL PRACTICE IS TO MOVE IT TO CONSENT AGENDA ON THIS, UH, ON THE NEXT MEETING, BUT THERE'S NO PROHIBITION ON IT.
UH, SO SEEING THE LIGHTS FOR DISCUSSION, ROLL CALL VICEMAN JOINER.
R TWO MAY WHAT WAS THE FIRST NAME? SECOND.
WAS IT COUNCILOR WHEAT? DID YOU MAKE NO, I DIDN'T SECOND IT.
I BELIEVE NOW WE HAVE, UH, YES.
UH, THIS, THIS IS SORT OF A HOUSEKEEPING AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCES.
UM, IN OUR, UM, ORDINANCES RIGHT NOW AS WRITTEN, IT GIVES THE AUTHORITY AND THE DUTY TO INSPECT, UH, WORK TO THE ROADWAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN, WHEN UTILITIES AND, AND OTHERS TEAR UP THE ROADWAY TO, UH, TO, TO, TO WORK ON UTILITY LINES.
UM, RIGHT NOW THAT AUTHORITY AND DUTY LIES WITH THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, BUT IN PRACTICE IT IS, AND IT REALLY SHOULD BE, UH, THE, THE STORM WATER AND ENGINEERING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
SO THIS IS, THIS IS A HOUSEKEEPING AMENDMENT THAT GIVES THAT DUTY AND AUTHORITY TO THE STORMWATER AND, UM, THE STORMWATER AND ENGINEERING DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND PUBLIC WORKS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. BASSETT? SEEING THE LIGHTS? ALRIGHT, GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR TONIGHT, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE IT.
WHAT'S THE WILL ACCOUNT? SO YOU GUYS WANNA DO CONSENT AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING.
JUST GO AHEAD AND APPROVE IT TONIGHT.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AMENDING HOPEWELL CITY CODE CHAPTER 33 STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.
SECTIONS 33 33 DASH SIX THROUGH 33 DASH 62 AS PRESENTED TONIGHT.
MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY VICE MAYOR JOINER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR DAY.
OH MAN, MY HEARING IS REALLY OFF TONIGHT.
UH, COUNCILOR REP POLL HAS DONE THE SECOND, UH, SEEING NO LIGHTS FOR DISCUSSION.
[00:55:01]
COUNSELOR OTLEY? YES.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UH, TONIGHT WE HAVE A MODIFICATION TO DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS REQUEST.
UH, THIS IS THE FIRST READING IN A PUBLIC HEARING.
IT RELATES TO 33 0 2 SLASH 33 0 8 OAKLAWN BOULEVARD PARCEL 0 8 9 1 4 6 2.
THE APPLICANT IS THE WELL OF HOPE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE.
THE PROPERTY, UH, THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING THIS EVENING IS OWNED BY MR. RILEY INGRAM AND LOCATED IN WARD SEVEN, ZONED B FOUR CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT.
OUR ORDINANCE, UH, RESTRICTS INDIVIDUAL PARCELS TO ONE SINGLE FREESTANDING SIGN.
UM, SO ON THE EAST SIDE OF THIS NEW BUILDING IS INGRAM AND ASSOCIATES, UH, REAL ESTATE COMPANY.
AND ON THE WEST SIDE OF THIS BUILDING, THE CHURCH HAS NOW MOVED INTO THAT SPACE.
UM, SO THEY ARE A, UH, SECOND OCCUPANT OF THIS BUILDING.
THEY, UM, JUST SOME BACKGROUND, THEY INSTALLED A POST AND PANEL SIGN FOR THE CHURCH, UM, WITHOUT A PERMIT.
AND THAT'S HOW WE ARE HERE TONIGHT, THIS EVENING.
UH, BECAUSE ONLY ONE FREESTANDING SIGN IS PERMITTED PER PARCEL.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE MAP ON THE LEFT GENERAL LOCATION.
AND THEN ON THE RIGHT IS AN AERIAL, UH, VIEW OF THIS BUILDING SECTION, OR EXCUSE ME, ARTICLE 18.
SECTION F OF OUR DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS STATES ONLY ONE FREESTANDING SIGN PER PARCEL EXCEPT ON, UM, NON THROUGH LOTS ASSIGNED MUST BE LOCATED ON THE SAME PARCEL AS THE ORGANIZATION UTILIZING A SIGN POST AND PANEL SIGNS DO NOT MEET THE ORDINANCES SPECIFICATIONS FOR A FREESTANDING SIGN AND A SIGN PERMIT IS REQUIRED FOR ALL SIGNS.
WITH JUST A FEW EXCEPTIONS RELATED TO SIZE AND INTENT FOR MODIFICATIONS TO DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
UM, COUNSEL SHOULD, SHOULD CONSIDER NOT GRANTING ONE IF THE FOLLOWING, UH, INSTANCES, UH, PRESENT A PROBLEM FOR THAT.
NUMBER ONE IS THE GRANTING OF THE MODIFICATION WILL CONSTITUTE THE GRANTING OF A VARIANCE, SPECIAL EXCEPTION, CONDITIONAL USE OR REZONING.
IN STAFF'S OPINION, IT DOES NOT, UH, THE ORDINARY FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS ARE THE PRINCIPAL REASON FOR THE REQUESTED MODIFICATION.
THE APPLICANT'S POSITION IS, IS NOT BASED OFF FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS.
UH, THE MODIFICATION AMENDS A PROPERTY SPECIFIC CONDITION IMPOSED BY COUNSEL OR, OR THE BZA UNLESS SUCH CONDITIONS SPECIFICALLY GRANTS SUCH MODIFICATION AUTHORITY TO THE COUNSEL.
AND LASTLY, THE APPLICANT CREATED THE CONDITION OR SITUATION GENERATING THE NEED FOR THE MODIFICATION.
AND THE APPLICANT HAS NOT EXHAUSTED ALL OTHER PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE ACQUISITION OF ADDITIONAL PROPERTY, THE ELIMINATION OR REDESIGN OF STRUCTURES, OR THE REDUCTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT DENSITY.
IN THIS CASE, THE OPTIONS TO THE APPLICANT WOULD BE TO EITHER HAVE A BUILDING MOUNTED SIGN, UM, OR TO ADD THEIR CHURCH NAME TO THE EXISTING FREESTANDING SIGN.
BUT THE PROBLEM, AND I'LL GO BACK TO THE MAP ON THE RIGHT, UH, THE PROBLEM WITH ADDING THEIR NAME TO THE EXISTING FREESTANDING SIGN IS THAT WITH OAKLAWN BOULEVARD BEING ONE WAY, YOU HAD ALREADY PASSED THE ENTRANCE INTO THE, ONTO THE PROPERTY WHERE THE CHURCH IS LOCATED BEFORE YOU EVEN GET TO THE SIGN.
UH, 'CAUSE THE SIGN IS LOCATED AT THE CORNER, UH, THAT'S OVER AT BLACKSTONE IN, IN OAK LAWN.
SO THEY DID NOT THINK THAT WAS AN IDEAL LOCATION BECAUSE YOU WOULD'VE ALREADY PASSED THE CHURCH BY THE TIME YOU SEE THE SIGN FOR IT.
SECONDLY, THE PROPERTY OWNER DOES, UH, IS NOT ALLOWING ANY BUILDING MOUNTED SIGNS AT THIS PROPERTY.
SO, MOVING ON, BASED OFF THOSE CONSIDERATIONS, STAFF DOES RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF THE MODIFICATION TO DEVELOP THE STANDARDS REQUEST TO INSTALL A SECOND FREESTANDING SIGN ON PARCEL 0 8 9 1 4 6 2 WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS THAT THE FREESTANDING SIGN WILL COMPLY WITH THE SIGN STANDARD SET FORTH IN ARTICLE 18, SECTION
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F.AND THAT THE SIGN WILL BE PLACED ON PARCEL 0 8 9 1 4 6 2 IN A LOCATION THAT DOES NOT CREATE A VISUAL OBSTRUCTION TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.
UH, PLAINTIFF COMMISSIONED, UH, I LEFT THAT SLIDE OUT, BUT THE PLAINTIFF COMMISSION DID VOTE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST AT THEIR PUBLIC HEARING HELD LAST MONTH.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WARD? OKAY.
SEEING NONE, GO AHEAD AND NOTE OUT THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TONIGHT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, SO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE IT.
AT THIS TIME IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MODIFICATION OF DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS REQUEST FROM THE WELL OF HOPE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE TO INSTALL A SECOND FREESTANDING SIGN ON PARCEL NUMBER 0 8 9 1 4 6 2 AS PRESENTED TONIGHT.
MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COUNCIL OLE AND SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR JOINER.
SEEING THERE LIGHTS FOR DISCUSSION.
UH, MS. MARTINEZ, GOOD EVENING.
AND MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UM, TONIGHT, OH, SCREENS ARE OFF.
UH, TONIGHT I JUST COME BEFORE YOU TO DO A QUICK PRESENTATION OF A UPDATED MOA FOR THE WHAT WAS FORMALLY KNOWN AS NOVA SOUTH.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN THIS OMOA AND THE PREVIOUS MOA IS THAT WE'VE CHANGED THE NAME BECAUSE THEY HAVE LEGALLY CHANGED THEIR BUSINESS NAME FROM NOVA SOUTH TO LEGACY, UH, SWIM CLUB.
SO I'M JUST BRINGING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION JUST AS AN UPDATE, UM, AS WRITTEN IN THE MOA, THE CITY MANAGER WILL BE ABLE TO, UH, ASSIGN THE NEW UPDATED VERSION.
BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I KEPT YOU ALL IN THE LOOP, UH, BASED OFF OF OUR PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS IN REGARDS TO THIS PARTICULAR, UH, MOA.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO THAT? YOU DON'T NEED A MOTION OR ANYTHING FROM US? NO, SIR.
UH, MS. JORDAN, GOOD EVENING AGAIN.
MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO ALLOW THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO USE THEIR SURPLUS FUNDS TO FUND AN OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION, UH, AS AMENDED, UH, FOR THE, UH, OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, UH, REVIEW FOR THE HOPEWELL PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM? I MOVE, I'LL SECOND THAT.
MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY COUNCILLOR DAY AND SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR JOYNER.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO LIGHTS ROLL CALL PLEASE.
AND THE LAST ITEM, UH, IS AN R SIX, UH, FOR A, UH, RETIREMENT PROCLAMATION FOR COLONEL BINKI, UH, RETIREMENT AS THE GARRISON COMMANDER AT FORT LEE.
UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO HAVE THE CITY CLERK PREPARE A PROCLAMATION FOR COLONEL BEND DUSKYS RETIREMENT? SO MAD.
MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY COUNCILLOR WHEAT AND SECOND BY VICE MAYOR JOINER.
ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO LIGHTS ROLL CALL PLEASE.