Sep 05, 2023 Regular Work Session

[00:00:05]

ALRIGHTY IT IS NOW. FIVE O'CLOCK. WE'RE READY TO GET STARTED. WITH OUR SEPTEMBER 5TH 2023. CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. THANK EVERYONE FOR JOINING US. UM READY TO GET STARTED. SO AT THIS TIME. MADAM CLERK. COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROAD? COUNCIL

[1. Roll Call ]

GIVEN YOUR NAME ON APPRAISING GLORY WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY WE THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENCE OF TODAY. DOWNLOADED. WE ASK THAT BLESSINGS UPON THIS MEETING HEAVENLY FATHER THAT THERE MAY BE FRUITFUL TO YOUR NAME. HAVING A FATHER WAX A SPECIAL BLESSING UPON THOSE STUDENTS, FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST THEIR THEIR LIVES SO TRAGICALLY IN OUR CITY HAVING THEIR FATHER AND EVEN ALL THOSE WHO ARE DEALING WITH BEREAVEMENT OF THEIR LOVED ONES HAVING A FATHER. WE ASK THAT YOU WILL HEAL IN THE NAME OF JESUS. WE ASK THAT YOU WILL COMFORT THEM HAVING A FATHER. TO COME TO A PLACE TO GET AN EDUCATION AND THEN TO LEAVE, UH TO BE VIEWED AND NOT SEEN AS A HURTFUL THING FOR A FAMILY HAVING A FATHER. SO WE ASK THAT YOU WERE COMFORT THEM HAVING A FATHER. WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD GO WITH ALL THE STUDENTS, UH, VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WHO ARE MOURNING HEAVENLY FATHER. BE WITH THEM AS WELL. WE THANK YOU FOR THE PROVISION ALLOWING OUR STUDENTS TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL TODAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD KEEP YOUR HEAD TO PROTECTION AROUND THEM HAVING A FATHER LET NO HURT HARM OR DANGER. COME NOW THEM. AND LORD, WE ASK THAT BLESSING UPON OUR CITY ADMINISTRATION, OUR STAFF OUR EMPLOYEES HAVING A FATHER, OUR CITIZENS IN THIS COUNCIL HAVING A FATHER AND THEN WE MAY LEAD THE CITY TO GREATER HEIGHTS AND DEEPER DEPTHS. AND YOU LORD BE WITH US DOING THIS MEETING THAT EVERYTHING THAT PEACE AND HARMONY PREVAIL WITH EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF US, AND WE'LL BE ABLE CAREFUL TO GIVE YOUR NAME. THE GLORY IS IN YOUR NAME. WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. COULD EVERYONE PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? PLEASURE LEADERS TO THE FLAG. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IS THING. AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANKS ITEM. FOUR

[4. Determination of the Presence of a Quorum ]

[5. Public Comments ]

SOME SLIDES. IT COULD BE RENTED OUT FOR PARTIES, TOURISM. I COULD PAY. YOU KNOW IF WE COULD BREAK EVEN BUT THE THING IS, IS IT SWIM TEAM IS SUCH A VIABLE AND IMPORTANT SPORT. AND UNFORTUNATELY 98% OF THE AMERICAN SWIMMING ASSOCIATION RIGHT NOW IS CAUCASIAN, AND I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO OFFER THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ALL THE CITIZENS AND PETERSBURG TO

[00:05:01]

WHY WHAT'S THE PROBLEM HERE? DO Y'ALL KNOW Y'ALL AGREE ON WHAT THE PROBLEM IS? WHAT THE GOAL IS. ARE YOU ALL WORKING FOR THE SAME GOAL? DO YOU DISCUSS THAT IN YOUR CLOSED MEETINGS? UNTIL WE ALL GET TOGETHER. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE WHERE WE WANT TO BE. SO THINK ABOUT THIS. WHAT'S THE PLAN TO FILL THESE VACANCIES? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE DR SEAN SMITH. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING. AND HIS DOCTOR, SEAN SMITH. I'M THE OWNER OF GENESIS BRAND MANAGEMENT HERE IN PETERSBURG. I'M ALSO NEW TO THE PEACE BURGER AREA. I CURRENTLY LIVE RIGHT NOW IS THAT ON DUNLOP TO 14 NORTH DUNLOP? RIGHT NOW.

I'M GONNA HAVE A PROJECT AMANDA PROJECT AND WANT TO BRING TO THE COUNCIL'S ADVANCEMENT. UM COMMERCIAL SPACE, A SMALL BUSINESSES. HERE IN THE TRIANGLE. I SEE THE TRIANGLE, UM, SERVED AT ONE POINT I USED TO BE THE MECCA OF BLACK BUSINESSES. AND I ALSO WANT TO ASSIST THAT BY HAVING COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO GROW. SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME, MY TEAM AND I, MY COMPANY IS WORKING DILIGENTLY TO BRING FORTH THINGS THAT YOU GUYS CAN SEE ON A PHYSICAL NOTE VERSUS A VERBAL SO WE ALL CAN SEE THIS. I KNOW I HAVE A MEETING WITH THE MAYOR THIS THURSDAY. THAT I WILL PREVENT ALL THIS INFORMATION WITH. THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL MOVE ON. THANK EVERYONE FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT WHEN WE ARE MOVING, UM LET'S START OFF WITH . BUT MR MS RUDOLF, OKAY, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL

[00:10:06]

WHAT'S THE HURRY? WHY CAN'T THE ORDINANCE BE REVISED. SO THE LIST OF THE CRITERIA FOR THE MEMBERSHIP MEET, YOU KNOW, CONFORMS OR ALIGNS WITH THE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN YOU ALL APPROVED. RIGHT NOW. YOU'VE APPROVED A BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T FIT WITH THEIR ORDINANCE. I KNOW THAT MAYBE ISN'T A CONCERN TO MOST OF YOU. BUT IT SEEMS KIND OF INDICATIVE OF THE WAY BUSINESS IS DONE HERE , AND IT'S NOT GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR RUDOLPH. UM AT THIS TIME, I DON'T LIKE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO CHARM IN BECAUSE NO, WE JUST ALLEGED THAT SOMETHING WAS DONE ILLEGAL AND WE HAVE LEGAL COUNSEL RIGHT HERE. MR WILLIAMS. YOU WANNA ELABORATE IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL QUALIFICATIONS OF THE MEMBERS? YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW. WHETHER IT'S RUDOLPH IS CORRECT OR NOT, IF THAT IS THE CASE IF THEY DON'T MEET THE CURRENT ORDINANCE CRITERIA, THEN THEY WEREN'T PROPERLY APPOINTED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REAPPOINTED AFTER THE ORDINANCE. AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED, BUT I BELIEVE AT LEAST WHAT WAS REPRESENTED TO ME WHEN THE LIST WAS HANDED OUT TONIGHT IS THAT THE PEOPLE ON THAT CURRENT LIST MEET THE CRITERIA THAT'S IN THE CURRENT ORDINANCE , AND THEREFORE THEY WERE MAKING WHAT APPOINTMENTS COULD BE MADE UNDER THIS ORDINANCE AND WAITING UNTIL THE AMENDMENTS ARE MADE TO ADAPT TO APPOINT THE ADDITIONAL MEMBERS. ALRIGHT THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR WILLIAMS. AND MR RUDOLPH. WE'RE NOT GETTING INTO DEBATE. WE JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT FORD FOR ON THE AUDIENCE, OKAY? THAT THAT'S FINE, MISS GENEVIEVE BLOWER, PLEASE. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING . GOOD EVENING. GENEVIEVE LAURA 19 GUARANTEES ST. PETERSBURG UH , IT'S GREAT TO BE TALKING WITH Y'ALL. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. I FEEL LIKE BUT I'M GLAD TO BE UP HERE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO, UH AND EXCELLENT BEFORE BOTH GERRY AND BARB HAD VERY GOOD POINTS, SO ALRIGHT TONIGHT. I HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT. BUT I ALSO KNOW I HAVE THREE MINUTES SO WE'RE ONLY GONNA TALK ABOUT ONE THING AND THEN I'LL COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS. WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE SO ALRIGHT. SO TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WEEKLY CRIME REPORT THAT'S PUBLISHED EVERY SINGLE WEEK BY OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. NOW THE REASON I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO

[00:15:02]

ALRIGHT SO THE WEEKLY CRIME REPORTS PUBLISHED EVERY WEEK. AND THE REASON I BRING IT UP IS BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ALL OF YOU READ IT NECESSARILY, AND I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE OF SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID DURING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. SOME OF THEM ABOUT SPEEDING, SPECIFICALLY. WE HAVE A WHOLE TRAFFIC DIVISION. THAT'S PART OF THE PETERSBURG BUREAU OF POLICE.

AND LAST WEEK. OUR TRAFFIC DIVISION. ISSUED 110 CITATIONS. WHICH I THINK IS QUITE A BIT I ALSO KNOW A BUNCH OF THOSE WERE ISSUED ON HIGH STREET. I BELIEVE SO THAT SHOULD MAKE EVERYONE EXCITED. RIGHT? SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT SERIOUSLY. Y'ALL WERE TALKING ABOUT SPEEDING ONE DAY DISCUSSING THIS PETERSBURG POLICE AND ISSUING CITATIONS AND YOU HAD PEOPLE FROM THE TRAFFIC UNIT SITTING IN THIS VERY ROOM. THEY'RE WORKING THEIR BUTTS OFF.

SO I THINK ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IS FAIR. ALL RIGHT. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION FROM THE WEEKLY CRIME REPORT. ARE THE NUMBER OF CALLS ARE 911 IS TAKING 911 LAST WEEK TOOK 2791 CALLS. 2791. I CANNOT IMAGINE ANSWERING THE PHONE THAT MANY TIMES THAT'S A LOT ALL RIGHT. I THINK THAT IT'S FAIR TO RECOGNIZE THAT AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY, AND THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THIS REPORT. OKAY SERIOUSLY, EVERY SINGLE WEEK THIS IS PUBLISHED. I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR ALL OF YOU TO READ IT. AND FOR ALL OF YOU TO KNOW WHAT THESE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE EVERY SINGLE WEEK. FINALLY THE LAST THING ABOUT SPEEDING. I KNOW THAT SPEEDING IS A BIG TOPIC. I'VE HEARD MORE ABOUT SPEEDING FROM CITY COUNCIL THAT I HAVE ABOUT OTHER MAJOR ISSUES . POVERTY HEALTH, THE LEAST HEALTHY CITY IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, AND WE HEAR MORE ABOUT SPEEDING. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU GUYS TO REMEMBER THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT SPEEDING ARE CAPABLE OF DOING SO BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT WORRIED ABOUT HOW THEY'RE FEEDING THEIR KIDS. ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GETTING TO WORK IN THE MORNING OR IF THEY'RE LIVING IN SAFE HOUSING. NOW THOSE THINGS ARE THERE FOR A LOT OF REASONS, AND I COULD GO INTO A WHOLE THING. BUT I'M OUT OF TIME SO MAYBE, YOU KNOW IN SEPTEMBER ARE NO. THIS IS SEPTEMBER OCTOBER.

MAYBE WE'LL DO THAT, THEN. OKAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT.

[6. Approval of Consent Agenda ]

[00:20:02]

COUNCIL MEMBER JONES. COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH LEE HIGH COUNCIL MEMBER, MYERS WESTBROOK, VICE MAYOR HILL PERM PAST NEXT IS, UM ITEM SEVEN SPECIAL REPORTS ITEM, A PRESENTATION AND UPDATE ON THE

[7. Special Reports ]

DECIDE MY GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. AGAIN I'M NAOMI SOD MARK AND THE PLANNING DIRECTOR.

IT'S NICE TO BE BEFORE YOU ALL AGAIN, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SO TODAY, I'LL BE TALKING TO YOU JUST GIVING AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, AND WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS, AND I JUST WANT TO SHARE WHAT THAT PROGRESS IS. SO I KNOW ALL OF YOU KNOW THIS, BUT FOR PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT MAY NOT BE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS A LONG RANGE DOCUMENT, REALLY EMPHASIZING WHAT THE COMMUNITY'S VISION IS FOR THE FUTURE. IT'S ALSO REQUIRED BY OUR LAW AS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE IN PLACE AN UPDATE EVERY SO OFTEN, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW. WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR CONSULTANTS, THE BERKELEY GROUP ON THIS UPDATE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND HOW THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS FORMED. AS WE GET IDEAS AND INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC. WE'VE HAD WORKSHOPS, FOCUS GROUPS AND IDEA WALL AND SURVEY. WE EVEN STILL TAKE SURVEY INPUT RIGHT NOW ON OUR WEBSITE. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE WORK SESSIONS WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT WE HOLD EVERY TWO MONTHS. AND THEN FROM THERE, WE'LL TAKE ALL THAT INFORMATION TO MAKE A PLAN AND WILL ADOPT THAT WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS WELL AS COUNCIL REVIEWING IT BEFORE ITS ADOPTION. SOME INPUT WE'VE RECEIVED SO FAR. WE HAVE A PUBLIC SURVEY WE'VE DONE WITH 374 RESPONSES. EIGHT FOCUS GROUPS WITH 54 FOCUS GROUP ATTENDEES AND FOR PUBLIC WORKSHOPS WITH OVER 60 PARTICIPANTS. PROGRESS THAT YOU CAN SEE. WE'VE ALREADY DRAFTED OVER HALF OF THE CHAPTERS WERE LOOKING TO DO THE ABOUT IDENTITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. PURCHASING BRECK AND ART RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE DRAFTED BY THE LATE SEPTEMBER WORK SESSION WITH OUR PLANNING COMMISSION, UM PUBLIC SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, MOBILITY AND TRANSPORTATION. AND THEN FROM THERE, WE HAVE TWO MORE KEY CHAPTERS THAT WE HAD TO FOCUS ON AND WE'LL COME BEFORE YOU ALL WITH PLANNING COMMISSION IN NOVEMBER TO HAVE A COMBINED WORK SESSION ON LAND USE AND IMPLEMENTATION. THIS IS REALLY FRAMED AROUND A SPECIFIC STRUCTURE, WHERE EACH CHAPTER THAT WE FOCUS ON LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY OR TRANSPORTATION HAS A BIG, OVERARCHING GOAL STATEMENT . FROM THERE, WE ESTABLISHED KEY OBJECTIVES THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS BASED ON INPUT AND RESEARCH ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES, AND THEN WE HAVE SPECIFIC STRATEGIES THAT WE LOOK TO HAVE IN PLACE BECAUSE OF WHAT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH FROM THOSE OBJECTIVES AND THOSE TRYING TO BE MEASURABLE, DEFINITIVE GOALS THAT WE SEEK TO ADDRESS. SO SOME OF THE CHAPTERS WE'VE DONE SO FAR IS CHAPTER ONE. THAT'S THE ABOUT CHAPTER. REALLY. JUST TELL THE PUBLIC WHAT IS A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE AND SUMMARIZES SOME OF THE ENGAGEMENT WE'VE HAD SO FAR. CHAPTER TWO LOOKS AT OUR IDENTITY. SO WHAT ARE WE LOOKING LIKE, IN TERMS OF HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY AND DEMOGRAPHICS? WHAT ARE THE THEMES THAT WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON IN THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN? UPDATE HERE . I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A SNAPSHOT AND SOME OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS YOU CAN SEE A COMPARISON OF US. THE CITY OF PETERSBURG BETWEEN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA SO YOU CAN SEE SOME OF OUR DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS IN TERMS OF RACIAL BREAKDOWN, WHERE 77% BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICAN VERSUS 19% IN THE STATE AND 17% WHITE VERSUS 66% WITH ALL THE OTHER RACIAL BREAKDOWNS BEING PRETTY MINOR IN THE BREAKDOWN.

HERE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS POPULATION PYRAMID, YOU LOOK AT AGE AND SEX AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT KIND OF EXPANDS ON THE EDGES SO YOU CAN SEE THE YOUNGER GRADES AGES NINE AND BELOW. IT'S A LITTLE WIDER. SO THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE OUR BIGGEST POPULATION. SO NINE AND YOUNGER. SOME OF THESE MIDDLE AGE RANGES AS WELL , WHICH IS LIKE 20 TO 34 AND SOME OF THE OLDER AGE RANGES AS

[00:25:04]

[00:30:01]

WE GOT FEEDBACK FROM OUR PARKING REC DIRECTOR. WE ALSO GOT FEEDBACK FROM THE PRESERVATION PLANNER. SO WE ARE LOOKING TO CONTINUALLY GET INPUT FROM OUR STAFF TO MAKE SURE WHAT THIS PLAN SAYS. ONLINE'S WITH THE GOALS THAT THEY'RE SEEING AS WELL AND THE STRATEGIES THAT THEIR UNDERSTANDING AS WELL. AND THEN THE NEXT CHAPTER THAT WE HAVE DRAFTED SO FAR AS COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE AGAIN HAVE THE GOAL STATEMENT HERE WE REALLY WANT TO HAVE ACCESSION, EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNITY FACILITIES, SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAVE A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE. REALLY HIGHLIGHTING THINGS THAT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN, LIKE WATER AND SEWER AND STORMWATER, UM, OFFERING CITY FACILITIES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING RESIDENT AND BUSINESS NEEDS AND RECOGNIZING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FACILITIES , INFRASTRUCTURE, COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS. AND THIS HAS GONE BEFORE MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM. I THINK WE HAVE THREE MEMBERS OF THAT TEAM THAT PROVIDED US FEEDBACK RECENTLY. SO WE ARE GOING TO BE INTEGRATING ALL THAT FEEDBACK TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING THAT'S IN DISCUSSION NOW AND WHERE WE'RE LOOKING TO IN THE FUTURE IS INTEGRATED AS WELL. AND WHAT THIS WILL ALL CULMINATE INTO IS AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WILL HAVE A MATRIX THAT REALLY DESIGNATES. WHAT IS THE STRATEGY WHO'S RESPONSIBLE? WHAT IS WHAT'S THE TIMELINE? WHAT'S THE PRIORITY AND WHAT RESOURCES CAN BE UTILIZED TO IMPLEMENT THOSE STRATEGIES IN THE PLAN? HERE YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE'RE LOOKING TO GO FROM HERE ON SO SEPTEMBER. 26 IS OUR NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION. WE HAVE ALREADY INVITED THE DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THESE CHAPTERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE THEY'RE REGARDING PUBLIC SAFETY, MOBILITY AND TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. AND THEN THE NEXT SESSION WILL HAVE IS WITH YOU ALL AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION NUMBER. 5 NOVEMBER 28TH 2023. THAT'S WHEN WE'LL BE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE KEY CHAPTERS. SOME OF THE ONES THAT WE DISCUSSED TONIGHT. EVEN WHAT WILL OUR LAND USE MAPS LOOK LIKE? WHAT WILL WE LOOK LIKE? IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION? WHAT DO WE REALLY WANT TO SEE? THE GOAL IS TO HAVE US ALL ADOPTED AND APPROVED BY MAY 2024. SO WITHIN THAT TIME WE'LL GET THAT DRAFT BEFORE THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE ANOTHER WORK SESSION WILL HAVE A HEARING BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THEN HEARING BEFORE YOU ALL AS WELL. WITH THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND OF COURSE COUNCIL. YOU CAN ASK THOSE NOW, IF YOU'D LIKE. MY CONTACT INFORMATION IS UP HERE. THE BERKELEY GROUP ALSO HAS THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION AND YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE VIA THE QR CODE ON THIS PRESENTATION AS WELL. SO LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION INSIDE MARK, AND NEXT. WE HAVE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL STOP ADVICE. MARY HILL, THEN COUNCILOR JONES. YES IT'S NOT SO MUCH OF A QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE THUS FAR, UH TO OUR CITY MANAGER AND CITY DIRECTORS. AH THIS IS A GREAT PLAN. BUT IN ORDER FOR US TO ACHIEVE THIS PLAN AND THE THINGS JUST THE RUNNING OF THE CITY. UH WE HAVE TO HIRE QUALIFIED PEOPLE. UM I SAW THE ARTICLE IN THE PAPER. AND UH, OF COURSE WE KNEW IT BEFORE THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE STRUGGLED WITH OVER THIS PAST SUMMER. I KNOW OF AT LEAST THREE JOB FAIRS THAT WE'VE HAD. A LEAST SO IT'S NOT THE CITY NOT TRYING TO DO IS PART IN TRYING TO HIRE PEOPLE. BUT FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER. AH AND THEN EVEN SOME OF THE WAGES HAVE GONE UP IN SOME OF THOSE AREAS. UH FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER. WE JUST HAVE TO TRY OUR BEST TO GET QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS TO WORK IN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG. UM AND WORK WITH THOSE WHO ARE STILL HERE. THIS WORKING WOULD I MEAN, THIS IS A GREAT PLAN, BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE WORKFORCE, UH, TO SUSTAIN IT, THEN WE WILL NEVER GET TO WHERE WE REALLY WANT TO BE SO IT IS TROUBLING TO HAVE 100 SO INDIVIDUALS OR POSITIONS THAT ARE VACANT. BUT IT CAN BE DOABLE . AT ONE TIME. WHEN I FIRST CAME ON COUNCIL, I FELT LIKE THAT WE HAD TOO MANY EMPLOYEES. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF OUR CITY. BUT JUST LOOKING AT THE WORKLOAD THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE SOME OF THE PEOPLE AND DIRECTORS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. THEY ARE OVERWORKED AND SOME AREAS. UH AND I KNOW THEY'RE CUTTING CORNERS IN DIFFERENT AREAS WHERE

[00:35:01]

UM LAND BANKS. ANOTHER ONE AND CENTERS. AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. RIGHT? UM. WE HAVE TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE, MULTIFACETED APPROACH. STRONG LEADERSHIP. AND CREATIVE STRATEGY. AND AGAIN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. I WANNA POINT OUT. SOMETHING THAT WE ALL OVERLOOK.

IN THIS CITY AND IN EVERY CITY. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DEMOGRAPHICS. BECAUSE I NOTICED WHEN YOU GOT DOWN TO THE 1. THE 1% AND THE 2% AND YOU MENTIONED THAT THEY WERE PRETTY MINOR. RIGHT, THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID. WELL. WHETHER IT'S 1. 5% OR 10. THEY CANNOT BE LOOKED AT HIS MINOR ANYTHING. THEY ARE JUST AS MAJOR AS THE 90% 50% AND THE 20. AND WE HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. OR ELSE WE'LL MOVE ON WITHOUT HIM. AND WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. IF WE'RE GONNA LIVE UP TO PETERSBURG IS CULTURALLY DIVERSE FOR ALL RESIDENTS TO ENJOY. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, UM NICE, SAYING THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. SO WE MAKE SURE NOBODY HAS FORGOTTEN ABOUT IN THIS CITY. THAT'S ALL I GOT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, UM COUNCILMAN WESTBROOK. UM YES , MISS MISS. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, MR. ADAM UM I JUST HAVE A, UM, A QUESTION SLASH CONCERN. MAYBE UM, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AS I LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS, THE COMMUNITY SURVEY ONLY 374 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED. AND FOR THE PUBLIC WORKSHOPS, ONLY 64 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED. TO ME THAT I DID. THE MATH IS ABOUT 1% OF THE CITY. UM IS THERE WAYS THAT WE CAN TRY TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE THE CITY TO RELEASE VOICE THEIR OPINIONS SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE OTHER 99% AND MY MAIN TARGET IS THE UTILIZING THE STUDENTS. I SAW YOU UP THERE WE HAVE A YOUNG CITY. IF YOU LOOK AT THAT DEMOGRAPHIC 18 AND UNDER IS IT A WAY THAT WE EVEN THOUGH SOME PEOPLE SAY WELL, THEY DON'T HAVE A VOTE, BUT THEY HAVE A VOICE.

IS THERE SOME WAY THAT WE CAN UTILIZE AT LEAST OF THE HIGH SCHOOL AND VERNON JOHNS MIDDLE SCHOOL TO GET THAT YOUTH INPUT TO AT LEAST HAVE A BETTER PERCENTAGE OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY REALLY WANTS AND REALLY ENGAGE THEM. NO THAT'S A GREAT POINT, AND WE DO STILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKSHOPS IN THE BUDGET WITH THE, UM WITH THE CONSULTANTS WERE WORKING AT SO MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT GETTING MORE CREATIVE BECAUSE THESE STANDARDS WAYS OF INPUT DIDN'T GET US AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE WANTED TO ENGAGE, SO I ALWAYS SEE THINGS LIKE, UM KIND OF HAVING A POP UP AT AN EVENT. SOMETHING THAT ATTRACTS A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE CITY IS A GREAT FOOTBALL GAMES FOOTBALL GAME. YEAH SO ATTENDING THEIR THE PARENTS ARE THERE THE STUDENTS ARE THERE AND GETTING ENGAGEMENT IN A WAY LIKE THAT, SO I DEFINITELY THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT A MORE CREATIVE WAY OF GETTING ENGAGEMENT THAN A STANDARD. UM, KIND OF WORKSHOP.

[00:40:03]

AND WHEREAS SICKLE CELL DISEASE IS A GENETIC DISORDER, AFFECTING APPROXIMATELY 100,000 AMERICANS , MANY OF WHOM ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN AND MORE THAN 20 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE. AND WHEREAS SICKLE CELL DISEASE IS A CHRONIC CONDITION THAT CAN AFFECT ANY ORGAN, INCLUDING THE KIDNEYS, LUNGS AND SPLEEN. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT PATIENTS EXPERIENCED MANY SEVERE COMPLICATIONS, COMPLICATIONS INCLUDING STROKE INFECTIONS, PULMONARY EMBOLISM AND SHORTER LIFE EXPECTANCY. AND WHEREAS VASSALLO RECLUSIVE CRISIS ARE A COMMON PAINFUL COMPLICATIONS OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE, WHICH MAY OCCUR SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR. CRISIS TYPICALLY LAST SEVERAL DAYS AND ALL THE LEADING CALLS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS DUE TO SEVERE PAIN AND LIFE THREATENING COMPLICATIONS, INCLUDING STROKE. AND WHEREAS INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE ENCOUNTER BARRIERS TO OBTAINING QUALITY CARE AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE, INCLUDING LIMITATIONS AND ACCESS TO CARE OF NEW AND INNOVATIVE TREATMENTS , THE VERY USE OF EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS THAT HIGH RELIANCE ON EMERGENCY CARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS PROGRAMS HE LIM LIMITED NUMBER OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WITH KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO MANAGE AND TREAT SICKLE CELL DISEASE. AND THE PERVASIVE IMPACT OF STIGMA, BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION. AND WHEREAS WHILE THERE IS NO WIDELY AVAILABLE CURE FOR SICKLE CELL DISEASE, ONE TIME GENE THERAPIES INCLUDE GENE EDITING. THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES ARE BEING DEVELOPED AND MAY OFFER POTENTIAL CARE FOR SOME PATIENTS. THEY ARE. THEREFORE I MARRIED SAMUEL PARENTED BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE CITY OF PETERSBURG DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2023 AS SICKLE CELL AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG AND URGED ALL THE CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN THIS SPECIAL OBSERVANCE SIGNED BY MYSELF AND THE CLERK OF COUNSELORS LAKISHA LUCAS. AT THIS TIME, MR KWON MOHAMMED COME UP. HE JUST HAD A WONDERFUL SICKLE CELL EVENT HERE AT THE LIBRARY. WHY COME ON.

QUICK. 20 QUANTO TALK TO US BECAUSE HE DID A VIDEO ON SINGLE SALE OF WENT TO YOU INTERVIEWED SOMEONE WAS SICK WAS THEIR DESTINY. AND HE HAD HIS EVENT HERE LAST SATURDAY. KWAN SO, BASICALLY, YOU KNOW THAT DAVID IS NAMED AT THIS ONE FROM PETERSBURG NAME IS DESTINY. UM, IT'S CALLED BEYOND YOUR DESTINY. UM BASICALLY WHAT IT'S SAYING IS THAT WE FIGHT WITH EVERYTHING EVERY DAY, DIFFERENT THINGS DIFFERENT PEOPLE. AND IT AND THIS POTENTIAL LOOK CASE. UM SHE WAS FIGHTING WITH SICKLE CELL. UM SO WE DID WE ORGANIZE THIS EVENT. FOR PEOPLE TO COME OUT TO SPEAK ON WHAT THEY HAVE GOING ON EACH AND EVERY DAY, NO MATTER WHAT IT WAS FOR WHETHER IT'S SICKLE CELL COUNSELOR, ANYTHING . UM BUT WITH THIS BEING, STICKER SAYS, WE DO KNOW THAT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY FACES THIS FIGHT EVERY DAY. WITH NO VOICE. UM. AND AS YOU KNOW, MOVIES, MOTIVATING OTHER VOICES EVERYWHERE. UH SOLE PURPOSE IS TO HELP EVERY VOICE BE HEARD.

AND PETERSBURG, ESPECIALLY UM, THE EVENT WAS SUCCESSFUL. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING MANY MORE

[00:45:03]

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR EVENT. IF ANYBODY CAN REMEMBER, I KNOW I'M OLD, BUT WE USED TO GET TESTED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR SICKLE CELL. DO YOU DO ANYBODY REMEMBER THAT? YEAH THEY THEY TEST. UM, THE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. SO THAT THEY WOULD KNOW IF THEY HAD A TRAIT OR HAD SICKLE CELL. CORRECT JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE. QUESTION TO YOU. IS IT POSSIBLE TO BRING THAT BACK OR EVEN WHAT MY PURPOSE OF THAT EVENT WAS TO DO THAT TO GET PEOPLE TESTED? HOPEFULLY AWARE, HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO THAT AND GET PEOPLE TESTED MPS BIRD, ESPECIALLY SO THAT WEEKEND. SO MAYBE YOU CAN GET IN CONTACT WITH TOM CAN PRITCHARD WHO'S THE CHAIR OF THE SCHOOL BOARD? OKAY DEFINITELY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, QUAN. NEXT. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION, A PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING SEPTEMBER 10TH. HE WAS 16 2023 AS NATIONAL ASSISTED LIVING WEEK. IN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG IN THE STATES, WHEREAS RESIDENTS IN ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITIES ARE ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE LARGER COMMUNITY, OFFERING THEIR KNOWLEDGE, LIFE EXPERIENCES AND INVOLVEMENT. THEIR PAST CONTRIBUTIONS CONTINUE TO BE A VITAL PART OF THE CITY OF PETERSBURG'S RICH HISTORY, AND THE ONGOING PARTICIPATION DEEPENS OUR CITY'S IDENTITY. AND WHEREAS A SISTER LIVING IS A CRITICAL LONG TERM CARE OPTION FOR OLDER ADULTS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THAT FOSTERS CHOICE, DIGNITY AND INDEPENDENCE. ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITIES ARE COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE, INNOVATION AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF PERSON CENTERED CARE. WHEREAS IN 1995, THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR ASSISTED LIVING, ESTABLISHED NATIONALS ASSISTED LIVING WEEK TO HONOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDING LONG TERM CARE TO AMERICA'S SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR'S THEME OF NATIONAL ASSISTED LIVING WEEK IS SEASON OF REFLECTION HIGHLIGHTS THE INCREDIBLE CARE PROVIDED BY A CENTRAL CAREGIVERS AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND WHEREAS DURING THIS SPECIAL WEEK ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE ENCOURAGED TO ORGANIZE ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS WITH CELEBRATE THE DEDICATION OF STAFF, THE INDIVIDUALITY OF RESIDENTS AND THE DEEP CONNECTION FORMED IN THESE SETTINGS WHILE THEY'RE HEARING TO COVID 19 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND PRECAUTIONS. THEREFORE I SAY I'M YOUR PARENT BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PETERSBURG DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 10TH TO 16TH AS NATIONAL ASSISTED LIVING WEEK.

IN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG AND URGED ALL CITIZENS TO VIRTUALLY VISIT OR CALL A LOVED ONE FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND, RESIDING IN ANY CARE, SETTING AND OFFER A KIND WORD AND SPEND TIME PARTICIPATING IN VARIOUS VIRTUAL ACTIVITIES TO UNITE THOSE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE IN NEED OF OUR CONTINUING LOVE AND SUPPORT AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITIES. DATA SEPTEMBER 10TH 2023 SIDE BY MYSELF AND THE CLERK OF COUNSEL, MS NYKESHA LUCAS. AND WE HAVE MISS CROCKER HERE FROM THE PETERSBURG HOME FOR LADIES, AS THEY SAY, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR EXCELLENT FACILITIES HERE IN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG. WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO HERE FOR OUR SENIORS IN PETERSBURG AND COUNCIL UNCOVERED. COULD YOU JOIN ME DOWN WHEN YOU PRESENTED.

THEY WONDER. HAVING OFFICIALS, PLEASE. THANK YOU. IN FRONT OF YOU. HMM. MY NAME IS LAURA CROCKER. I HAVE MY MASTERS IN CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK FROM RADFORD UNIVERSITY, AND I CURRENTLY AND THE RECREATION SUPERVISOR AT THE PETERSBURG HOME FOR LADIES. UM WE HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH GREAT SUPPORT FROM MR CUTHBERT. FROM OUR CITY EMPLOYEES FROM PETERSBURG FIRE AND RESCUE FROM THE EMERGENCY CREW FROM THE POLICE FROM EVERY DEPARTMENT

[00:50:03]

OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR CROCKER. SAY THE HOME FOR LADIES HAVE BEEN DOING THIS EXCEPTIONALLY WELL FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE, THEIR COMPUTERS BAG NEXT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM D, WHICH IS A PRESENTATION. UH B D A. C S. A F I D PLANNING GRANT FOR MAPPING SUITABILITY FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE ACROSS THE CITY OF PETERSBURG. JONES COUNCIL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING WITH ME. CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY LITTLE BIT OF A FROG IN MY THROAT THIS MORNING. SO APOLOGIES IF YOU NEED ME TO SPEAK OF JUST LET ME KNOW. OKAY. THANK YOU. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I JUST WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU ALL. WHEN I FIRST WALKED IN HERE ABOUT MAYBE AN HOUR AGO OR SO. JUST WHEN I SAW THE P HOB, UM, THE LITTLE SHOP THAT'S AVAILABLE THERE, AND WHEN I TALKED TO THE PERSON THEY WERE SPEAKING ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT PETERSBURG IS FACING WITH FOOD SECURITY AND THAT THAT INITIATIVE THAT THAT'S A WONDERFUL INITIATIVE. SO MY HATS OFF TO ALL OF YOU AND DOING THAT, SO I'M AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN THE CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AT VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY. SPECIFICALLY I STUDY FOOD, SECURITY AND URBAN ENVIRONMENTS. I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT AN ONGOING PROJECT THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON TO CREATE IDEAL LOCATIONS ARE SORRY TO MAP AND IDENTIFY IDEAL LOCATIONS FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE IN URBAN SPACES. UH, AND LET'S SEE HERE. SO THERE IS A STATEWIDE PLANNING GRANT. IT IS CALLED THE AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY , INDUSTRY AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING GRANT THAT THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OFFERS AND I SPOKE WITH, UM, BELIEVE NAOMI. NO MAN, SHE SHE SUGGESTED THAT I HAD TO COME HERE AND SPEAK WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY, SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE IN FRONT OF YOU. AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF OVERVIEW OF MY RESEARCH AND THEN OF THE POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS THAT HAS FOR THE CITY OF PETERSBURG. I'M TRYING TO IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY AMONGST THEIR COMMUNITY HERE, SO I THINK I COVERED MOST OF THIS.

THIS IS A GOVERNOR IS AN ISSUE THROUGH THE THROUGH THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSUMER SERVICES. THERE'S A MATCHING GRANT, SO I AM ASKING FOR SOME LOCAL MATCH COMMITMENT FROM YOU ALL, UH TO, UH, TO SECURE ADDITIONAL MONEY FROM THE STATE TO PAY FOR THE RESEARCH THAT I AND MY FORMER GRADUATE STUDENT NOW FOR FULL TIME EMPLOYEE WOULD BE DOING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. SO I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN URBAN AGRICULTURE. BUT MORE FROM THE PLANNING PERSPECTIVE, SO WHY SHOULD WE BE DOING THIS IN CITIES AND THERE'S LOTS OF EXAMPLES ACROSS THE COUNTRY OF URBAN FARMS AND GARDENS FAILING DUE TO IMPROPER SITE SELECTION.

BASICALLY, WE'RE SAYING HEY, WE TRY TO PUT A COMMUNITY GARDEN SOMEWHERE, BUT THE CONDITIONS AT THE SITE REGARDLESS OF HOW, HOW HOW EFFECTIVE THE HUMANS WERE WORKING IN THAT SPACE THAT THE SITE CONDITIONS WERE POOR, THEREFORE, THAT LED IT'S TO FAIL. AND I'VE SEEN THAT IN MANY, MANY COMMUNITIES THAT I'VE WORKED IN. AND I READ ABOUT OVER THE YEARS AND SO FOR MANY YEARS NOW, I'VE BEEN THINKING OF HOW COULD WE FIND A FIND A BETTER WAY TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THE BEST SITES. IF WE'RE GOING TO PUT A COMMUNITY GARDEN IN OR WE'RE GOING TO PUT AN URBAN FARM IN WHERE THE BEST PLACES TO PUT IT, AND SO FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW SINCE I CAME TO VIRGINIA AND FALL OF NINE INVOLVED 2019, WHICH I HAVE TO SAY, IS PROBABLY NOT THE BEST TIME TO SHOW UP TO A NEW REGION. UH, BUT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT. AND SO WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU? THIS IS AN INFOGRAPHIC EXPLAINING THE METHOD THAT WE USE. AND SO WE HAVE THREE MAJOR THEMES OF VARIABLES THAT WE ANALYZE TO TRY TO SAY. OKAY, YOU'RE GOING TO PUT AN URBAN FARM ANYWHERE WHERE THE BEST PLACE TO PUT IT. IT WAS. VARIABLES ARE THOSE MAJOR THEMES OF VARIABLES ARE AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE IS A B EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY B AND THEN C CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION. I'M ASSUMING YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF URBAN HEAT ISLANDS. VIRGINIA SCIENCE MUSEUM HAS DONE A LOT TO DOCUMENT THE EFFECT OF URBAN HEAT ISLANDS IN RICHMOND. I'M SURE THAT PETERSBURG FACES SIMILAR PROBLEMS FROM LACK OF GREEN SPACE IS POTENTIALLY URBAN FARMS CAN PLAY A ROLE IN HELPING TO MITIGATE TEMPERATURE INCREASES DUE TO DO THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS, AND THAT WAS ONE ADDITIONAL THING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO INCORPORATE INTO THIS.

AS I AM URGING YOU ALL WHEN YOU CONSIDER ENCOURAGING URBAN FOOD SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT, VISA, THE, UH COMMUNITY GARDENS AND URBAN FARMS THAT THEY ALSO HAVE A CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION EFFECT AS WELL THAT WE CAN BE DOING MULTIPLE THINGS AT ONCE. AND SO, WITH MY ANALYSIS HERE, YOU CAN SEE WE'RE GONNA CARVE UP PART OF OR YOU'RE GOING TO CARVE UP THE ENTIRE CITY INTO INTO EQUAL SQUARES. PROBABLY 100 100. M BY I'M SORRY. 100. FT BY 100 FT SQUARES. AH AND SOME AREAS ARE GOING TO BE EXCLUDED. SOME AREAS WON'T ALL OF THE VARIABLES ARE POSITIVE. SO BASICALLY JUST HIGHER NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE ALWAYS BETTER. YOU CAN SEE THAT HERE ON THE SHEET HERE OR ON THE INFOGRAPHIC HERE, UH AND THEN THE MOST SUITABLE SITES WILL WILL EMERGE. AND SO I'LL MOVE OVER AND YOU CAN SEE THIS BETTER HERE. THIS IS CHESTERFIELD COUNTY. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH

[00:55:01]

UM I'LL PAUSE FOR ANOTHER SECOND TO LET EVERYBODY LOOK AT THIS. AND SO WHAT ARE THE WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES AND IMPLICATIONS OF THIS RESEARCH? WELL, YOU WOULD HAVE THIS MAP AND YOU WOULD HAVE THIS DATA TO DO WITH AS YOU SAW FIT TO TARGET. DEVELOPMENT OF URBAN FARMS AND COMMUNITY GARDENS WITHIN YOUR CITY. AND YOU WOULD HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT HEY, THIS PARTICULAR STATE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. THIS IS THE SEVENTH BEST SITE. POTENTIALLY THIS IS THE HYPOTHETICAL. THIS IS THE SEVENTH BEST SITE IN THE CITY TO BE DOING THIS. SO YOU CAN SAY THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE INVESTING RESOURCES AT ALL HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT FROM A SITE PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS THE BEST PLACE TO DO THIS IN. ADDITIONALLY THIS IS IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY. THIS IS THE READS LANDING CROSS CORPORATION SITE. CAPITAL REGION. LAND CONSERVANCY WAS VERY INTERESTED IN ACQUIRING THIS LAND FOR AGRICULTURAL EASEMENT, BUT THE LANDOWNER WAS RESISTANT TO SELLING AN EASEMENT TO CAPITAL REGION. LAND CONSERVANCY. THIS IS THE THIS IS THE THIRD HIGHEST SOR HIGHEST SCORING SITE IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY AND THE HIGHEST PRIVATELY OWNED SITE IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY. ACCORDING TO OUR METHODOLOGY, BASED ON THAT ADDITIONAL RESEARCH CAPITAL REGION, LAND CONSERVANCY WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE THE LANDOWNER TO SELL AN EASEMENT SELLING AGRICULTURAL EASEMENT FOR THAT LAND. AND SO NOW THAT LAND IS ASSUMING THAT THE EASEMENT PROCESS COMPLETES ITSELF. THAT LAND IS GOING TO NOW BE HELD IN PERPETUITY FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES, SO THAT IS ONE PARTICULAR APPLICATION THAT YOU COULD WORK WITH CAPITAL REGION, LAND CONSERVANCY AND MAGGIE WALKER LAND TRUST. I BELIEVE THEIR JURISDICTION ALSO COMES DOWN HERE AS WELL TO TARGET FOR LONG TERM AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION. SO THAT 50 YEARS FROM NOW, 100 YEARS FROM NOW, SOME OF THE BEST SITES FOR GARDENING AND FARMING IN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG ARE GOING TO REMAIN THAT LAND USE AND SO YOU PUT, OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED DEVELOPMENT. DEPARTMENTS NEED TO GO PLACES. BUT LET'S RESERVE THE BEST LAND FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES SO THAT THE STABILITY OF THE FOOD SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE INSURED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. AH SO THAT IS I'VE GOT A COUPLE EXTRA SLIDES DEPENDING ON WHAT QUESTIONS MIGHT COME UP.

BUT THAT IS THAT IS MY COMMENTS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO MUCH FOR US FOR THE PRESENTATION. MR JONES QUESTION COUNSEL AND WESTBROOK. UM YES, SIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I JUST HAD A QUESTION. I WAS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS ASKING YOU, RIGHT? BUT UM IS IT POSSIBLE TO USE WETLANDS OR THE AREAS OF THE CITY THAT ARE CONSIDERED, YOU KNOW? NOT USABLE . I HAVE A LOT OF IT IN SEVENTH WAR, BUT I NOTICED THAT TRADE OFF FOR YOU KNOW IF WHAT IF YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THIS LAND? WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO PUT IT? UH SO AGAIN, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS THE USE OF WETLANDS OR FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS. SWAMP AREAS GENERALLY TRYING TO GROW FOOD ON WETLANDS GENERALLY TENDS TO NOT WORK. SO WE EXCLUDE THAT FROM THE ANALYSIS NOW THERE MAY BE CERTAIN TYPES OF SOIL TYPES WITHIN THAT WETLAND THAT MIGHT BE INCLUDED. BUT LIKE IF YOU GO BACK TO MY UM, SOME OF THE WHITE AREAS THAT WERE EXCLUDED. AND THEN NOW IN THIS ANALYSIS FOR WETLAND SPACES, SO WE DROPPED THOSE OUT OF THE ANALYSIS SAY, DON'T EVEN REALLY WORRY ABOUT THAT. BUT THERE MAY BE SOME SPECIFIC SOIL TYPES. A LOT OF IT DEPENDS UPON DRAINAGE. YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WATER POTENTIAL YOU MIGHT HAVE IN A CERTAIN SPACE. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THERE'S NO MORE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR JONES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU DOING TO HELP US. THANK YOU. NEXT TIME WE WANT TO ITEM EIGHT. MONTHLY REPORTS. UM NO MONTH

[9. Finance and Budget Report ]

[10. Capital Projects Update ]

[01:00:05]

EVERYTHING ELSE HAS REMAINED THE SAME ON THE WASTEWATER SIDE. THE NEW, LARGER FORCE MAIN ABANDONMENT OF THE EXISTING FORCE MAIN REHABILITATION OF THE EXISTING WASTEWATER PUMP STATION AND THEN ON THE WATERSIDE, THE NEW ELEVATED WATER TANK ON FRONTAGE ROAD, THE NEW WATER MAIN BOOSTER STATION AND THE NEW PRVS HERE'S A LIST OF SOME OF THE CONTINUING EFFORTS REGARDING FUNDING ENGINEERING AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THIS IS KIND OF EVER GROWING. AND IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANY OF THESE IN PARTICULAR, I CAN, BUT I'M GOING TO DISCUSS A COUPLE ON THE NEXT SLIDE. THE DESIGNS ARE PROGRESSING. LAST MONTH WE COMPLETED THE 60% PLANS GOT THEM FROM THE TO DESIGN FIRMS. TIMMONS AN AMERICAN REVIEWED THOSE ALONG WITH THE CITY AND RETURN COMMENTS TO THE FIRM, SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE ADDRESSING THOSE COMMENTS AND SUBMITTING 100% PLANS THIS MONTH. SO IT'S PROGRESSING. UM. ONE OF THE ITEMS ON THE PREVIOUS TABLE ON THE WASTEWATER SIDE, THE CATEGORY COAL EXCLUSIONS UNDER REVIEW BY THE U Q. AND THAT'S ON SCHEDULE TO BE GRANTED PRIOR TO ADVERTISEMENT AND ON THE WATERSIDE. WE HAD TO APPLY FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT. HOWEVER WITH CLOSE COORDINATION BE TH THAT IS ALSO UNSCHEDULED TO BE GRANTED PROJECT ADVERTISEMENT TO AVOID ANY DELAYS. SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.

THE DESIGN TEAMS HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO COMPRESSED SCHEDULE . EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GOING ACCORDINGLY. AND RIGHT NOW AFTER TALKING TO THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT WE ARE SCHEDULED TO GO OUT TO BED IN NOVEMBER BEGAN CONSTRUCTION IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, 2024 AND ALL PROJECTS WOULD BE COMPLETELY CONSTRUCTED BY THE FALL OF 2025. WE'RE REVIEWING PROGRESS WEEKLY WITH THE CITY. MOSTLY DAILY. WE MEET WITH THE DESIGN FIRMS BI WEEKLY . WE'RE MEETING WITH HIM THIS WEEK. TODAY AND THURSDAY AND THEN WE'VE HAD A EXTREME EMPHASIS ON RESPONSIVENESS. ANY IN BETWEEN MEETINGS TO GET THE PROJECT'S MOVING ALONG AND GET EVERYTHING COORDINATED. UM WE'RE ALSO MEETING WITH THE FUNDING OR SEASON MEETING WITH VD H AND D Q. BI WEEKLY AS WELL TO MAKE SURE ANY PERMITTING AND REVIEWS GO SMOOTHLY AND RIGHT NOW THE CURRENT SCHEDULE MEETS ALL FUNDING AGENCY REQUIREMENTS. BETWEEN E D A E P A AND THE ART OF MONEY THROUGH D Q AS WELL AS VIDEO. AAH! SO EVERYTHING IS ON SCHEDULE AND ON BUDGET. IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO A MORE DETAIL, THIS IS THE KIND OF BROKEN DOWN SCHEDULE AFTER WE COORDINATED WITH LISA FROM PROCUREMENT. WE ADDED THESE SPECIFIC BIDDING AWARD PHASES FOR THE WASTE WATER AND THE WATER PROJECTS. YOU CAN SEE THE WASTE WATERS ONE PROJECT , THE WATER IS BROKEN UP INTO TWO AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY STAGGERED WITH THE WASTEWATER PROJECT AND THE TANK. THE WATER TANK PROJECT BEING BUILT AT THE SAME TIME. THAT WAY ANY CONTRACTORS INTERESTED IN THE WATER BOOSTER PUMP STATION AND WATER MAIN PROJECT, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO THE WASTEWATER PROJECT. CAN HAVE TIME TO BID ON BOTH AND NOT AT THE SAME TIME, BUT THIS IS UH, MEETS THE SAME SCHEDULE JUST A LITTLE MORE DETAILED, AND IF YOU WANT TO BREAKDOWN PER WATER VERSUS WASTEWATER, THOSE ARE THE NEXT TWO SLIDES A LITTLE HARD TO READ WITH THE BREAKDOWN INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES. BUT IF YOU WANT MORE DETAIL UM THROUGH THERE, SO I'M OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE OTHERWISE. THAT'S THE

[01:05:01]

UM AFTER THEY REVIEWED IT ACTUALLY NEEDED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, HOWEVER, THROUGH SOME OF THE GRANT WRITING THAT WE ASSISTED THE CITY WITH WE'RE ABLE TO REUSE THAT NARRATIVE AND WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE TH HAD MULTIPLE CALLS TO ENSURE THE NARRATIVE WAS REVISED INCLUDED ALL THE INFORMATION NEEDED. SO EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS AN OBSTACLE , WE WERE ABLE TO COORDINATE DIRECTLY WITH THEM, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY OR ON SCHEDULE TO GET THAT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT BEFORE BIDS. SO THAT WAS A POTENTIAL DELAY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DO AN ENTIRE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND THERE'S A 60 DAY. ADVERTISEMENT PUBLIC NOTICE THAT'S REQUIRED IN BETWEEN, SO WE KIND OF CAUGHT IT. SOME SOMEWHAT EARLY, BUT, UM IT WAS ABLE TO NOT DELAY THE OVERALL PROJECTS IN TERMS OF BIDDING, ADVERTISEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION, SO NOTHING IS DELAYED THE PROJECT FROM THE PREVIOUS SCHEDULE. OKAY, SO ARE THERE ANY MORE? ANY ROADBLOCKS. THAT YOU CAN SEE RIGHT NOW THAT YOU HAVE DISCOVERED THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT. NOT THAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WILL GO OUT TO PUBLIC NOTICE THAT SHOULD BE ADVERTISED EITHER BY THE END OF THE WEEK OR EARLY NEXT WEEK, SO THERE'S ANY COMMENTS THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. BUT THAT IS A 2 30 DAY. WINDOWS 1ST 30 DAYS FOR THE CITY THROUGH JMT TO, UH ADVERTISED PUBLICLY AND THEN VD . H DOES THEIR OWN NOTIFICATION . UM PUBLIC NOTICE AFTER THE 1ST 30 DAYS, SO IF THERE WAS ANY COMMENTS BACK OF POTENTIALLY COSTLY, HOWEVER, THROUGH THE GRAND NARRATIVE PROCESS, WE DID A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION TO ENSURE NOTHING THAT THE AGENCIES COULD POTENTIALLY FIND COULD BE AN ISSUE. SO WE'VE ALREADY DONE THAT DUE DILIGENCE, SO WE'RE NOT EXPECTING ANY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I GOT, MR MAYOR. OKAY? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT, CNN. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND ALL YOU DO ALSO, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE. PUBLIC WORKS ALREADY KNOW YOU WERE HAND IN HAND AND ALSO MISS JOANNE WILLIAMS IN THE BACK. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MONTHLY MEETINGS. WITH OUR FARMER CLUSTER. AND UM PART OF OUR REPORTS, IS WHAT WE WHAT WE'RE GETTING FROM YOU. OR WHERE WE ARE ON THE POOR CREEK EXPANSION WITH A LOT OF EXPANSION, GOING ON BETWEEN FLOW AND PACK AND CIVICA. SO UM, WE THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US ABREAST AND WE CAN KEEP EDUCATING EVERYBODY ON ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THE PROJECT AND WE RELATED TO HERE, 25. TO GET THIS COMPLETED. SOUNDS SOUNDS EXCELLENT. YES SIR. THANK YOU, MR MAYOR AND COUNCIL. OKAY, THANK YOU. NEXT MOVE ON TO UTILITIES. ANYTHING TONIGHT? NO NOTHING FROM UTILITY STREETS. ANYTHING TONIGHT FROM STREETS

[13. Facilities]

[01:10:05]

THAT'S IT. ITEM 18 IS ADJOURNMENT. AL

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.