[00:00:02]
          CLOSED SESSION. MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. NEXT, WE ARE HEADING INTO THE CITY COUNCIL WORK 
          [1. Roll Call]
SESSION FOR OCTOBER 1ST, 2024. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, MISS HILL. COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? COUNCIL MEMBER CUTHBERT. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. JONES. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. MYERS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER. WESTBROOK. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. SMITH. LEE. PRESENT. VICE MAYOR. HILL. HERE. 
          MAYOR PERRY. AYE, SIR. YOU HAVE A QUORUM. ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS ITEM TWO. THE PRAYER. VICE MAYOR HILL WILL LEAD US IN OUR OPENING PRAYER. LET US PRAY. OUR GOD AND OUR FATHERS. ONCE AGAIN, WE COME BEFORE YOU, GIVING YOUR NAME, HONOR, PRAISE, AND GLORY. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. WE THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS OF THE DAY. NOW, LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH US IN THE MIDST OF THIS MEETING AS WE DO YOUR WILL. HEAVENLY FATHER, AS WE LEAD THIS CITY TO WHAT YOU WILL HAVE IT TO BE. LORD, WE ASK THY BLESSINGS UPON OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. HEAVENLY FATHER, KEEP THEM SAFE FROM ALL HURT, HARM, AND DANGER. OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OUR EMS WORKERS, HEAVENLY FATHER, DO THE SAME FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS. DO THE SAME FOR OUR STAFF AND OUR EMPLOYEES IN THIS COUNCIL. HEAVENLY FATHER, LET US DO THOSE THINGS THAT ARE PLEASING IN THY SIGHT. 
          FORGIVE US OF OUR SINS OF OMISSION AND COMMISSION, AND WE BE EVER CAREFUL TO GIVE YOUR NAME ALL THE HONOR, PRAISE, AND THE GLORY. IT'S IN JESUS NAME. WE PRAY AND WE THANK YOU. AMEN. 
          AMEN. NEXT IS ITEM THREE, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. CAN EVERYONE STAND AND JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. 
          [4. Determination of the Presence of a Quorum]
NEXT IS ITEM FOUR, DETERMINATION OF THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM. WE HAVE A QUORUM. NEXT IS ITEM 
          [5. Public Comments]
FIVE. PUBLIC COMMENTS. WE'LL START OFF WITH BRUCE. NO 239 SOUTH ADAMS STREET. MAYOR PARHAM, COUNCIL MEMBERS. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BRUCE SNOW, AND THIS IS MY WIFE, LAURA INOUYE. WE LIVE AT 239 SOUTH ADAMS STREET. WE ALSO OWN TWO PROPERTIES THAT ARE ON CENTRAL PARK, 109 CENTRAL PARK AND 111 CENTRAL PARK. THIS EVENING, WE WANT TO COME BEFORE YOU TO ALERT YOU TO A SERIOUS, DANGEROUS PROBLEM IN POPLAR LAWN PARK. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DISEASED TREES THAT ARE BOTH DANGEROUS TO PROPERTY AND HUMAN BEINGS. I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU ONE OF THE HOUSES THAT WE ARE RESTORING. WE'VE RESTORED A NUMBER OF HOUSES IN PETERSBURG. 
          THERE ARE TWO THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY RESTORING. THIS IS THE HOUSE AT 109 CENTRAL PARK. YOU SEE A LARGE TREE IN FRONT OF IT. THIS PAST WEEKEND, A LARGE PART OF THAT TREE FELL RIGHT ACROSS THE SIDEWALK THAT SEPARATES THE PARK FROM THE HOUSE. I WAS MOWING THE LAWN IN THIS EXACT SPOT TWO DAYS BEFORE THAT. NOW I DON'T MOW THE LAWN IN BAD WEATHER, BUT WE HAVE POSTAL WORKERS AND DELIVERY PEOPLE WHO USE THIS ROUTE EVERY SINGLE DAY. IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER AND THIS WOULD HAVE FALLEN RIGHT ON A PERSON IF THEY WERE SO STATIONED. SO WE HAVE TALKED TO THE CITY NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT THE THESE DISEASED TREES WHICH LINED ALL ALONG THE SIDEWALK HERE. TWO OF THEM HAVE ALREADY FALLEN DOWN, AND THIS ONE THAT YOU SEE HERE IS ABOUT TO FALL DOWN. I BELIEVE. SO AS A TAXPAYER AND A CITIZEN, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL LIABILITY FOR THE CITY. AS A HOMEOWNER, I'M VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY MY HOUSE THAT WILL BE DAMAGED IF THAT TREE FALLS. AND JUST FOR HUMANITY'S SAKE, I'M CONCERNED THAT SOMEBODY COULD EASILY BE KILLED BY ONE OF THESE DISEASED TREES. NOW, THERE'S ANOTHER TREE IN THE PARK THAT IS SHOWN IN THE BACK HERE ON THE VISUAL THAT HAS A VERY LONG BRANCH THAT EXTENDS OVER ONE OF THE PATHS. AND PEOPLE WALK ALONG THAT PATH. I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. SO I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU PROMPTLY ADDRESS THIS 
          [00:05:11]
SITUATION AND REMOVE THESE DANGEROUS TREES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. NEXT, MISS BARBARA RUDOLPH. EXCUSE ME. THREE SECONDS ON THE TABLE. 
          THANK YOU, MR. ALTMAN. AND THANK YOU, GARRETT. THANK YOU, BARB RUDOLPH, 1675 MOUNT VERNON STREET. GOOD EVENING. I'M REVISITING WHAT I BROUGHT UP TO YOU LAST MEETING. 
          SINCE THERE WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT I SAID, WHICH I WILL REPEAT IN IN BRIEF, WHICH WAS THAT OUT OF 38 CITIES IN VIRGINIA, EITHER THEY EAT 35 OF THEM, EITHER VOTED FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AT LARGE, THE MAYOR AT LARGE, OR BOTH. THAT'S AN EITHER OR STATEMENT. I NEVER SAID THAT THERE WERE 35 CITIES THAT ELECTED MAYORS AT LARGE. JUST IN CASE YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, JUST PLEASE RELISTEN TO THE VIDEO, BUT I BROUGHT THIS VISUAL AID SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE I CAME FROM. I DID THIS TWO YEARS AGO. I UNDERSTAND FROM MR. WILLIAMS THAT, THE VML HANDBOOK HAS A DIFFERENT NUMBER, WHICH IS NEWER THAN WHAT I DID. I THINK HE SAID THERE WERE 22 CITIES ELECTING THE MAYOR AT LARGE. THERE WERE 21 AT THE TIME I DID THIS, BUT I DON'T THINK IT CHANGES THE CONCLUSION THAT INDEED, PETERSBURG, AS ONE OF THREE CITIES THAT DOESN'T HAVE EITHER, THAT WE ARE AN OUTLIER. SO I HOPE THAT THIS WILL HELP YOU SEE WHERE I'M COMING FROM. NOW, THERE WAS, WHEN THIS THIS GOT BROUGHT UP TWICE, SO I'M TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE THAT THE MAYOR SAID THAT SEEMED TO BE A CONCERN OF HIS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED 50, OVER 50 YEARS AGO WHEN PETERSBURG WENT FROM AT LARGE ELECTIONS TO THE WARD SYSTEM. I BELIEVE IT'S THE WARD SYSTEM. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S SACRED BECAUSE THE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSED IT TO BE IMPOSED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE CHANGED REMARKABLY IN THE 50 YEARS SINCE IT HAPPENED. IF YOU LOOK AT THE LOWER AT THIS SLIDE. THANK YOU. GARRETT, BETWEEN 1972 IS WHEN PETERSBURG ANNEXED PARTS OF PRINCE GEORGE AND DINWIDDIE AND INCREASED THE WHITE POPULATION BY OVER 7000 PEOPLE. THE BLACK POPULATION ONLY INCREASED BY LESS BY OVER 200. BUT BETWEEN 1972, WHEN THE WARD SYSTEM WAS IMPLEMENTED, AND 2010, WHICH IS JUST A DATE, I PICKED THE BLACK POPULATION IN PETERSBURG INCREASED BY 5472 DURING THAT SAME PERIOD, THE WHITE POPULATION DECREASED. YOU HEARD ME NOW. DECREASED BY 18,845, WHICH LEFT WITH OVER 25,000 BLACKS AND LESS THAN 5000 WHITES. THAT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC SITUATION THAN WHEN THE WARD SYSTEM WAS ADDED, SO THERE'S NO LONGER THE POSSIBILITY OF A WHITE DOMINATED CITY COUNCIL, WHICH IS AS IT SHOULD BE, THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS COMMUNITY, WHICH IS CURRENTLY AROUND 77 OR 78% BLACK. AND THIS AND I BELIEVE THAT A AT LARGE ELECTION WOULD LEAVE IT AT LEAST AS REPRESENTATIVE AS IT IS NOW. THANK YOU. NEXT, MISS SHERROD BROWN. GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL AND RESIDENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. AND I'M GOING TO MAKE IT BRIEF. I FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE EXCELLENT JOB THEY DID IN MAKING THE ENTRANCE OF PETERSBURG LOOK BEAUTIFUL. I HAD MENTIONED THAT BEFORE, AND THEY WERE ON IT. I THANK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I WROTE A LETTER BECAUSE THEY WERE INSTRUMENTAL. THE WALNUT HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN SAVING MY GRANDCHILD'S LIFE. 
          [00:10:02]
I'M THANKFUL FOR A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS CITY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A FORMAL MOTION IF THAT'S THE CORRECT WAY TO REQUEST THAT THE RESIDENTS OF PETERSBURG BE ACKNOWLEDGED OFFICIALLY AS A LEADERSHIP PART OF GOVERNANCE, IN THAT THERE'S A SPOT ON THE WEBSITE FOR RESIDENTS OF PETERSBURG TO DOCK, INFORMATION TO COLLECT, INFORMATION TO DOCK IT, AND TO AGGREGATE AGGREGATE DATA. ALSO, I'D LIKE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION, A PARTICIPATORY BUDGET WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY COMING INTO THE CITY. NAMELY, I SPOKE WITH, Z. SMITH AND HE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY MONEY COMING INTO THE CITY. AND THERE'S A NEWLY FORMED ADVISORY COUNCIL TO PROBABLY EARMARK THAT MONEY. AND THEN IN THE IN THE PROGRESS INDEX, THERE'S $3.4 MILLION GIVEN TO PATTON PARK. LONG STORY SHORT, THERE'S MONEY COMING INTO PETERSBURG, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT. BUT BEFORE WE GET HAPPY ABOUT DESIGNATING THAT MONEY, I WOULD LIKE A SPOT ON THE OFFICIAL PETERSBURG WEBSITE WHERE THAT THE RESIDENTS OF PETERSBURG CAN DOCK INFORMATION AGGRAVATED AND MANAGE IT SO THAT WE DON'T GET THE INFORMATION AFTER THE FACT AS TO WHAT A FEW PEOPLE DEEM APPROPRIATE FOR THE MONEY SPENT. WE WANT A PARTICIPATORY BUDGET AND PEOPLE TO VOTE ON WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND THAT WAY IT WOULD BE. IT WILL OFFER MORE TRANSPARENCY THAT THERE'S NO COLLUSION, THERE'S NO POLITICAL SHENANIGANS. IT'S ONLY A PORTION OF THE BUDGET, USUALLY LIKE 1 TO $5 MILLION. IT'S NOT THE ENTIRE BUDGET. SO PLEASE CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING A PARTICIPATORY BUDGET. AND LAST OF ALL, A SURVEY FOR WHEN WE HAVE WARD MEETINGS THAT OFFER COMMENT, QUESTION AND FYI, THAT RATES THE LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE SO WE CAN HAVE STATISTICS AS TO WHAT WE'RE RESOLVING AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED SO WE CAN TRACK THINGS. 
          THAT'S MEASURABLE. AND I DON'T I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE TOO HARD TO IMPLEMENT WITH TECHNOLOGY TODAY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU. NEXT, MISS HINES. ODISEO. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS OTIS HILL. MY ADDRESS IS 1025 WITH STREET. HELLO EVERYONE. HELLO, RESIDENTS. I HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING WITH THIS THE DEAF WITHIN OUR CITY AND THEY HAVE BEEN TELLING ME THAT THEY ARE IN THE NEED AND THEY WANT SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR HURRICANE ALERTS. IF YOU SEE, YOU KNOW THE NEWS INFORMATION FROM KENTUCKY. THERE IS A TOWN THERE CALLED FRANKFOR, KENTUCKY, AND THEY HAVE EQUIPMENT THAT IS HURRICANE ALERTING. AND IT FLASHES TO LET THEM KNOW IT'S ABOUT $600 A BOX OR THEY HAVE 600 BOXES. EXCUSE ME. INTERPRETER AND I WAS WONDERING IF MAYBE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTACT THEM TO SEE WHERE THEY GOT IT, OR IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO SHARE. I DO HAVE A PICTURE HERE. I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT IN AND IT LIGHTS UP AND IT FLASHES. I CAN GIVE IT TO THE DEPUTY AND HE CAN IF HE WOULD LIKE OR MAKE A COPY, AND YOU CAN VIEW IT. I WAS HOPING THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THIS. MAYBE YOU WOULD BE IN AGREEMENT AND IT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR US. IT WOULD BE FOR SAFETY, ESPECIALLY FOR OVERNIGHT WHEN SLEEPING. YOU KNOW, WE MAY NOT KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING. WE CAN'T ALWAYS GET ALERTS, NOT KNOW WHEN TO ESCAPE. 
          AND THIS WOULD HELP WITH SAFETY ISSUES BEFORE IT HAPPENED. I HOPE THAT IS CLEAR. 
          AND THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OKAY THANK YOU. NEXT, KARA STEVENS. 
          [00:15:04]
HELLO. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY, KIRA STEVENS, TWO, TWO, SIX ROLFE STREET, POCAHONTAS ISLAND, TODAY, I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT THE SAME THING, THIS GENTLEMAN WAS SPEAKING ABOUT, I GUESS, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, THE WEATHER AND EVERYTHING. SO I WAS COMING HOME FROM THE COUNTRY, FROM BRUNSWICK COUNTY, AND 6:00 IN THE MORNING. IT'S A BAD ACCIDENT. SO A LOT OF US ARE DETOURING OFF ONTO SQUIRREL LEVEL. WE'RE COMING DOWN HALIFAX AND HALIFAX IS COMPLETELY FLOODED. SO I'M LOOKING I'M LIKE, OKAY, THERE'S A FEW GAPS WHERE THE WATER ISN'T POOLING, WHICH IS GREAT. AND SO IT'S NOT THAT THE STREETS ARE NOT KIND OF DESIGNED FOR THE WATER TO RUN DOWN TOWARDS THE DRAINS. THE DRAINS AREN'T DRAINING. SO EVERY TIME WE GET TO A DRAIN, IT'S LIKE A PUDDLE, A POND, A POND. AND, THEN THAT WAS ABOUT TO BE ANOTHER ACCIDENT. SO ONE OF THE MAIN ROADS YOU CAN'T EVEN USE ANYMOR. AND IT'S KIND OF LIKE IN PETERSBURG, WE HAVE GOTTEN USED TO THINGS BECOMING WHERE BECAUSE I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE 2015, YOU'VE KIND OF GOT USED TO THINGS WHERE LIKE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG OR YOU ADAPT TO A TOXIC SITUATION AND NOW IT'S NOT TOXIC BECAUSE YOU HAVE ADAPTED TO IT. YOU JUST LIKE IT'S A NORMAL. SO WHEN WE COME TO BANK STREET OR BOLLINGBROOK STREET, WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSED. WE KNOW THAT ALWAYS FLOODS. OR IF WE GET DOWN TOWARDS, GOLDEN SKILLET OR CERTAIN AREAS, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO FLOOD. IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE YOU'RE USED TO IT. IT'S LIKE A NORMAL BUT WITH IT RAINING SO MUCH NOW, IT'S LIKE, WHAT DO WE DO? IS IT PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE? IS IT BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE DRAINS SEWAGE? HOW DO WE ACCOMMODATE? BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONE AREA THAT'S SUFFERING. IT'S LIKE THE WHOLE CITY IS KIND OF SUFFERING FROM IT, ANOTHER THING, THANK YOU GUYS FOR VOTING ON THE PROPOSED ROAD FOR POCAHONTAS. AND THIS IS LIKE A KEY POINT. EVERYTHING FLOODED, BUT THE AREA, THE ROADS SUPPOSED TO BE IN. I THOUGHT THAT WAS FUNNY, BUT I KNOW THAT'S A CONCERN. IT'S ABOUT THAT FLOODING. BUT IF WE CAN USE THE REST OF THE CITY AS A WAY TO HAVE BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE WHEN WE CREATE THAT, THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE CITY, THAT ROAD, ANYWHERE FLOODING. WE'RE GOING TO BE ABOVE IT. AND HOW HE SAID, THOUGH I NEVER EVEN KNEW. I'M GLAD HE SHARED THAT, THAT THEY HAVE STUFF TO ALARM, LIKE WHEN DISASTERS ARE COMING, WHETHER IT'S HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM, BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING THE BACKLASH FROM IT. I DON'T WANT US TO BE LIKE THE TOWNS IN NORTH CAROLINA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA THAT BEEN HIT SO HARD. THEY HAVE NO ACCESS TO NOTHING, NO BRIDGES, NO ROADS. EVERYTHING'S BEEN WASHED AWAY. 
          THEY'RE JUST ISOLATED IN THEIR TOWN NOW. FLOODED. THEY GOT TO WORRY ABOUT RESOURCES. THEY CAN'T CONTACT ANYBODY. YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOUR PHONE IS CHARGED OR IT'S DEAD. YOU DON'T HAVE ELECTRICITY TO DO IT. AND THEN HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET TO THE STORE OR GET ANYWHERE TO GET RESOURCES? YOU'RE STRANDED IN YOUR HOME. SO IT'S JUST TO PREVENT US FROM BECOMING ONE OF THOSE STATISTICS OR ONE OF THOSE CITIES THAT'S LOST LIKE THAT. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THANK YOU. 
          EVERYBODY HAD A GOOD WEEKEND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, AMANDA GREEN. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING, AMANDA GREEN, 301 ROFF STREET, I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE WHAT MY NEIGHBOR SAID. HERE IS THAT, IT DID NOT FLOOD AT THE ROPER SITE, BUT I WANTED TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR APPROVING THE RESOLUTION, AT THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING, LIKE I SAID, FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE VERY EXCITED, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO MANAGE EMOTIONS RIGHT NOW AND NOT GET TOO HAPPY, I KNOW MR. ALTMAN MENTIONED THAT HE'S WORKING WITH DCR TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION, ON THE FLOODPLAIN WHERE THAT ROAD IS PROPOSED CURRENTLY, BUT I KNOW THERE'S SOME MITIGATION THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE, SUCH AS RAISING THE ROAD AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE TO KIND OF MITIGATE, MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF, FLOODING, SO JUST HOPING WE CAN INVESTIGATE THOSE THINGS IN DCR HOLDS OUR HAND THROUGH THE PROCESS, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS, AS FAR AS WHAT KIARA MENTIONED AS WELL, IS THAT THE FLOODING IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT THROUGHOUT THE CITY. 
          I THINK WE'RE A LITTLE BIT DESENSITIZED TO IT. WE'RE JUST USED TO SEEING IT NOW, AND WE COULD DO BETTER. AND SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHY WE NEED THE CASINO, SO WE CAN GET THAT MONEY AND DO BETTER. SO, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TONIGHT. WELL, I GOT ONE LAST THING, MY MOTHER'S SHOP IS GOING TO BE HAVING A RIBBON CUTTING ON FRIDAY AT 1:00. IT'S AN ANTIQUE SHOP, SHE SELLS FURNITURE. SHE SHE WAS DOING LAMP REPAIR, RE-UPHOLSTERING FURNITURE AND WHATNOT. SO WE ARE DOING THE RIBBON CUTTING AT 1:00 ON FRIDAY, AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU GUYS THERE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. NEXT WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE 
          [6. Approval of Consent Agenda]
APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, TO INCLUDE ITEM A, MINUTES JULY 30TH, 2024 SPECIAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2024 CITY COUNCIL CLOSED SESSION SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2024. CITY COUNCIL CLOSED 
          [00:20:01]
SESSION. ITEM B HAS BEEN STRICKEN FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT. SO WE'LL GO TO ITEM C, WHICH IS FIRST READING, AND SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND RE ADOPT THE FY 25 PETERSBURG CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUDGET TO ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR FOOD SERVICE UPGRADES TO INCLUDE CAPITAL AND OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS. ITEM D FIRST READING AND SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE TO UTILIZE THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND TO FUND EMERGENCY REPAIRS. ITEM E FIRST READING AND SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF ACCEPTANCE AND APPROPRIATION OF FUNDING FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ELECTIONS FOR THE 2024 ELECTION. EQUIPMENT GRANT ITEM F FIRST READING AND SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION AND REFUNDING BONDS OF THE CITY OF PETERSBURG. ITEM G FIRST READING AND SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARING FOR COUNCIL TO RESOLVE TO REALLOCATE $279,552.95 OF CDBG CV FUNDS AND CRITICAL HOME REPAIR ITEM H FIRST READING IS SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE READOPT SECTION 20 1-2 OF THE PETERSBURG CITY CODE PERTAINING TO THE PETERSBURG ARTS COMMISSION. VICE MAYOR HILL, I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS DELIVERED. 
          COUNCILMAN CUTHBERT. SECOND, HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND. MR. HILL, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COUNCIL MEMBER CUTHBERT? AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. JONES. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. WESTBROOK. AYE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER. LEE. AYE. VICE MAYOR. HILL. AYE. MAYOR. PERRY AYE. THAT MOTION CARRIES. NEXT 
          [7. Special Reports]
IS ITEM SEVEN. SPECIAL REPORTS. ITEM. YES IS THERE A MOTION TO TABLE THAT ITEM B? YES, YES, I SEE IT AS READ. THAT'S THAT'S WHY I PUT THAT IN THERE. OKAY OKAY. YES. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ITEM SEVEN SPECIAL REPORTS A AN UPDATE FROM PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REGARDING SIGNS WINDOW POORLY MAINTAINED FLASHING LIGHTS AND SANDWICH BOARD, HOUSING RESOURCES AND THE ICE MACHINE AT 1916 SOUTH SYCAMORE STREET. MISS. MARK GOOD EVENING. YES. GOOD EVENING MAYOR. HELLO. COUNCIL. NAOMI SIODMAK AGAIN, PLANNING DIRECTOR. THERE WERE A FEW ITEMS AT THE LAST MEETING THAT CAME UP, SEPTEMBER 3RD WORK SESSION THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A HOUSING RESOURCE THAT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO SHARE THAT I ALSO ADDED TO THIS AGENDA. SO BACKGROUND AT THE LAST WORK SESSION IN SEPTEMBER, COUNCIL TOOK ACTION TO REMOVE ZONING REGULATIONS FROM SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS. THAT WAS A REQUEST TO TAKE THIS TO PLANNING COMMISSION, TO HAVE THIS MOVE FORWARD AS A REMOVAL. I JUST WANTED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON THIS AND SHARE SOME INFORMATION WITH YOU ALL ON THAT REQUEST, BUT WE CAN STILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT REQUEST. AS COUNCIL PRESENTED IT. ALSO, COUNCIL ASKED STAFF TO INVESTIGATE A FEW THINGS MAINTENANCE OF SIGNS, WINDOW SIGN REGULATIONS, FLASHING LIGHTS AS SIGNS, AS WELL, AND THEN THE HOUSING RESOURCE I MENTIONED. I'LL SHARE. SO SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHERE THIS CAME FROM, WHERE THIS ORIGINATED FROM THE START. SO AT THE END OF 2023, STAFF WAS MADE AWARE THAT WE WERE INEQUITABLY ENFORCING THE CITY'S SIGN ORDINANCE. SO WE WERE CURRENTLY GOING OUT AND ENFORCING OTHER REGULATIONS, BANNERS AND SO FORTH. AND A COMMUNITY MEMBER SAID, WELL, WHAT ABOUT THESE? SO IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT UNDER TWO SECTIONS OF CODE, CHAPTER 28 AND ARTICLE 21 OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE, SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS WERE ILLEGAL. I WANTED TO SHOW YOU HERE THIS PICTURE. THIS IS A PICTURE FROM GOOGLE STREET VIEW FROM 2016. THOSE SANDWICH BOARDS HAVE BEEN ILLEGAL. THEY HAVE BEEN OPERATING, YOU KNOW, WITH WITH BENEFIT TO THE BUSINESSES AND SO FORTH. SINCE 2016. SO THAT TOOK US TO OUR NEXT STEP. HOW DO WE WORK WITH PLANNING COMMISSION AND COUNCIL TO MAKE THIS ASSET CONTINUE AND BE LEGAL, PER OUR CODE, SO THAT WE WORKED WITH LEGAL AND RISK MANAGEMENT TO DEVELOP AN ORDINANCE RISK MANAGEMENT HAD AN INITIAL CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY FOR THE CITY. THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE CITY'S STREET WAYS, IN THE RIGHT OF WAY, THAT THE CITY WOULD BE HELD HARMLESS, NOT RESPONSIBLE, SHOULD SOMEONE GET INJURED BY SUCH A SIGN. WE ALSO GOT FEEDBACK FROM LEGAL, NOTING THAT WE CAN DO A FEW THINGS ONE. PROHIBIT THEM ENTIRELY. TWO NOT REGULATE THEM OR THREE REQUIRE A PERMIT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HELD HARMLESS. SO BASED ON THAT, STAFF AND PLANNING COMMISSION WORKED TOGETHER. WE WEREN'T INTERESTED IN KEEPING IT PROHIBITED BECAUSE WE SAW THE BENEFIT OF THESE SIGNS IN HELPING LOCAL BUSINESSES FURTHER. WE'RE PAST THE POINT OF JUST NOT REGULATING. SO THEY'RE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION. THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED. SO WE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE THIRD OPTION PRESENTED BY LEGAL AND THE DESIRED OPTION FROM RISK MANAGEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S THIS LIABILITY INSURANCE THAT THE CITY'S COVERED. SHOULD 
          [00:25:01]
THESE EXIST. I WANTED TO SHARE HERE JUST THE KIND OF QUICK FACTS ABOUT SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS, TOO. SO AGAIN, PRIOR TO THIS TEXT AMENDMENT, PRIOR TO THE ZONING REGULATIONS, SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS WERE ILLEGAL. REMOVING THIS LANGUAGE WILL AGAIN MAKE THEM ILLEGAL. I ALSO WANT TO SHARE THAT MOST LOCAL BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN REALLY SUPPORTIVE AND RECEPTIVE OF THIS LANGUAGE, AND EVEN WE HAD LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE THAT SHOWED THAT SUPPORT. I HAVE A VIDEO IN THE NEXT SLIDE JUST TO SHARE WITH YOU. ALL REGULATIONS WERE PUT IN PLACE TO ENSURE SAFETY OF THE CITY, PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER RIGHT OF WAY USERS AND TO ENSURE THE EQUITY IN SIGN ENFORCEMENT. 
          ALSO, REGULATIONS WERE IN PLACE TO HELP CONTROL ESTHETICS AND THE MAINTENANCE OF SIGNS AND MAKE SURE WE KEEP A BEAUTIFUL CITY. AND JUST TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE SIGNS APPLY, THIS REGULATION APPLIES TO THE WHOLE CITY AND NOT JUST DOWNTOWN. SO WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE AREN'T PUTTING SIGNS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY ON CRATER ROAD. THEY'RE REQUIRED TO KEEP THEM ON THEIR PROPERTY. IF THEIR BUILDING DOESN'T FRONT CRATER ROAD. SO I REALLY JUST WANTED TO SHARE. WE'LL MOVE THIS FORWARD WITH PLANNING COMMISSION UNLESS I HEAR OTHERWISE. BUT I WANTED TO SHARE OUR CONCERNS WITH REMOVING THIS LANGUAGE THAT WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD WITH YOU ALL ON TO ADOPT, TO THEN MAKE THESE SIGNS ILLEGAL. SO I WANTED TO SHARE THIS QUICK VIDEO, FROM THE NEWS OF PEOPLE SUPPORTING THESE SIGNS, PETERSBURG CITY LEADERS WILL SOON DISCUSS THE FATE OF SIGN RULES. RIGHT NOW, A LOCAL LAW PROHIBITS BUSINESSES FROM PUTTING UP SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS LIKE THIS ONE IN FRONT OF THEIR STORES. BUT SOME BUSINESS OWNERS SAY CHANGING THIS COULD GIVE THEM A REAL BOOST. EIGHT NEWS REPORTER NICOLE DANTZLER IS IN PETERSBURG WITH THAT STORY. SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS HAVE BEEN HELPING BUSINESS OWNERS DRAW IN FOOT TRAFFIC, BUT THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED IN PETERSBURG. NOW, CITY LEADERS ARE CONSIDERING PUTTING SANDWICH BOARDS BACK ON THE MEN. OUT THEY GO EACH MORNING, CHECKLIST AND IN THEY COME EACH NIGHT PUTTING IN A FRAME SIGN OR SANDWICH BOARD OUTSIDE A BUSINESS IS A COMMON SIGHT IN PETERSBURG'S OLD TOWN DISTRICT, ALONG SIDEWALKS, THERE ARE POPULAR WAY TO ATTRACT CUSTOMERS AND FOR BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE ZACHARY LANCASTER, POINTING OUT THAT WE GOT TACOS, TEQUILA AND MORE TO SHOW THEIR CREATIVITY. BUT IN PETERSBURG, THOSE TYPES OF SIGNS AREN'T ACTUALLY ALLOWED DUE TO ACCESSIBILITY CONCERNS. NOW, SOME CITY LEADERS ARE TRYING TO CHANGE THAT. THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DRAFTED A RECOMMENDATION TO ALLOW BUSINESSES TO USE SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS. BUT LANCASTER, CO-OWNER OF LOCAL KITTY, SAYS THE ORDINANCE ON THE BOOKS NOW ISN'T EVEN ENFORCED. I'VE BEEN USING THE SANDWICH BOARD CHALKBOARD SIGNS THIS WHOLE TIME, JUST LIKE MANY OF THE OTHER STORES AROUND HERE, HE SAYS. MAKING THE SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS LEGAL WOULD BE A VICTORY FOR BUSINESS OWNERS IN PETERSBURG AND RICHMOND. 
          BUSINESSES ARE CURRENTLY ALLOWED TO HAVE PORTABLE SIGNS OF A CERTAIN SIZE DURING BUSINESS HOURS, LANCASTER SAYS. WITHOUT THEM, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO PROMOTE RESTAURANT SPECIALS TO PEOPLE PASSING BY. I'VE HAD MULTIPLE CUSTOMERS COME IN JUST BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY SAW A QUIRKY SIGN I DREW, OR SOMETHING, LEADING THEM THIS WAY AND CAUGHT THEIR EYES. THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT'S RESOLUTION ADVISES PETERSBURG BUSINESSES TO HAVE ONE SANDWICH BOARD SIGN. A MAXIMUM OF FOUR FEET HIGH AND TWO FEET WIDE, MADE OUT OF METAL OR WOOD, AMONG SOME OTHER LIMITATIONS. THEY'RE CHEAP AND THEY WORK. GREAT. SO I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL THAT INFORMATION. WE'LL MOVE IT FORWARD FOR PLANNING COMMISSION TO REMOVE THE ALLOWANCE OF SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS AS REQUESTED BY COUNCIL. BUT I JUST WANTED YOU TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION BEFORE YOU FOR THAT CONSIDERATION. SO NEXT I'LL TALK ABOUT A FEW OTHER ITEMS THAT YOU ALL REQUESTED TO HEAR BACK ON SIGN MAINTENANCE, MR. MAYOR. 
          YES. QUESTION. CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YES, SIR, MR. MARK, GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. I THINK ALLOWING THE SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS IS A GREAT IDEA, I DON'T THINK. WELL, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ANYONE BUT MYSELF, BUT I CERTAINLY DID NOT MEAN TO INDICATE OPPOSITION TO SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS. WHAT? WAS WHAT BROUGHT THE ISSUE TO MY ATTENTION WAS A PROP, A RESTAURANT BUSINESS THAT, AS WAS NOT AT THE CORNER OF ACTIVITY, LET'S SAY, BUT AT A DISTANCE FROM THAT CORNER. AND HE WANTED TO PUT A SANDWICH BOARD SIGN AT THE CORNER WHERE THERE WAS A LOT OF FOOT TRAFFIC. BUT OUR ORDINANCE SIGN ORDINANCE AT THE TIME SAID THAT THE SANDWICH BOARD SIGN HAD TO BE IN FRONT OF OR BESIDE. I THINK THE BUSINESS THAT WAS PROMOTING THE SANDWICH 
          [00:30:02]
BOARD SIGN, AND THAT DIDN'T WORK FOR THE MAN WHO WANTED TO PUT HIS SIGN ON THE ON THE ACTIVITY CORNER. I'LL CALL IT, I THINK, OLD STREET AND NORTH SYCAMORE. THAT'S WHERE HE'D LIKE TO PUT THE SANDWICH BOARD SIGN. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. I MEAN, WE ALL WANT TO SEE EVERYBODY THRIVE. THAT'S RUNNING A, YOU KNOW, A BUSINESS THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE VITALITY OF THE CITY. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK CREATIVELY ABOUT A WAY TO ALLOW SOMEONE TO HAVE A SANDWICH BOARD SIGN AND PUT IT SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN JUST IN FRONT OF HIS BUILDING. IF HIS BASIC PROBLEM IS HE'S NOT REAL VISIBLE. SO WITH THAT, SINCE I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU CAN SEE THIS PICTURE ON THE SLIDE HERE WHERE BUSINESSES ON THOSE SIDE STREETS USED TO ASSEMBLE THEIR SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS RIGHT AT THE END OF SYCAMORE AND OLD STREET. IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S COUNCIL WOULD BE OPEN TO, WE COULD POTENTIALLY JUST HAVE AN EXCEPTION ADDED TO THE CODE WHERE BUSINESSES ON OLD STREET ARE ABLE TO HAVE SIGNS AT THAT LOCATION. SO. WELL, THAT'S CERTAINLY ONE WAY TO DO IT. 
          ANOTHER WAY TO DO IT IS TO SAY YOU CAN HAVE ONE SANDWICH BOARD SIGN, YOU CAN PUT IT ANYWHERE YOU WANT TO. OKAY. I MEAN, I'M NOT TRYING TO TIE ANYBODY'S HANDS AND I DON'T THINK THE CITY WANTS TO TIE ANYBODY'S HANDS. BUT THINK ABOUT THOSE DIFFERENT OPTIONS. AND IF YOU COULD BRING THE PLANNING COMMISSION COULD BRING BACK A RECOMMENDATION THAT WOULD BE SUPER. AND I THINK THE SOONER THE BETTER, BECAUSE IT AFFECTS THE LIFEBLOOD OF SOME OF OUR BUSINESSES. SO I GUESS JUST TO CLARIFY. SO THE MOTION BY COUNCIL IS NO LONGER TO RESCIND. LIKE I WOULD JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME PAGE THAT IT'S NO LONGER TO RESCIND ZONING REGULATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS. WELL, ONE ONE THING TO DO IS TO BRING US SOME OPTIONS. YOU KNOW, OPTION A, OPTION B, OPTION C. SO WE SEE EXACTLY WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US, I MEAN, WE'RE NOT THIS IS A, A WORK SESSION. AND UNLESS WE SUSPEND OUR RULES OR SOMETHING, WE CAN'T PASS A MOTION. BUT PERHAPS THE MAYOR HAS SOME THOUGHTS ON HOW TO PROCEED, YES. I THINK THE SPIRIT OF THE MOTION WAS TO MORE AMEND THAT TO, TO ALLOW FOR SOME EXCEPTIONS ON THAT OLD STREET CORRIDOR. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS WE HAVE GROWTH OF NEW RESTAURANTS DOWN THERE THAT HAVEN'T QUITE GOTTEN THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT IS AT THAT CORNER OF SYCAMORE AND OLD STREET. SO JUST BEING ABLE TO CREATIVELY COME UP WITH A WAY THAT WE CAN ADVERTISE FOR THAT, THAT SLOWER END OF THE STREET TO HELP THOSE BUSINESSES GET TRAFFIC SO THEY CAN STAY IN BUSINESS, WAS THE IDEA OF, OF THAT MOTION AT THAT TIME WAS TO REMOVE THE CONSTRAINTS AND TO BASICALLY COME UP WITH SOMETHING CREATIVE, I'M GOING TO DEFER TO VICE MAYOR HILL, WHO'S DOWN THERE ON SYCAMORE STREET AS WELL, TO. YES. I THINK TWO OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IN THIS, AND I'M GLAD WE'RE WORKING THROUGH IT. IF I WAS A BUSINESS RIGHT THERE, IF THAT WAS MY BUSINESS RIGHT THERE, WHICH MY BUSINESS IS FURTHER UP THE STREET, I WOULD I WOULDN'T WANT THOSE SIGNS IN FRONT OF MY BUSINESS. OKAY, FIRST OF ALL. SO IF WE'RE GOING TO LIMIT ANYTHING IT SHOULD BE IN FRONT OF THE BUSINESS THAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE. I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WANT TO POINT THAT WAY, BUT THERE'S ONLY TWO WAYS THAT YOU CAN GO WHEN YOU COME TO THE BOTTOM OF SYCAMORE STREET LIKE THAT. I'M JUST SAYING THAT HYPOTHETICALLY, BECAUSE ONE DAY, EVENTUALLY SOMEBODY'S GOING TO PROBABLY PUT A BUSINESS THERE OR APARTMENT OR SOMETHING THERE. SO THAT'S ONE THING. THE NEXT THING IS, IT SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF PERMIT THAT YOU HAVE IT JUST TO GET US OUT OF THE WATER. IF SOMEBODY TRIP OVER HERE AND IT SHOULD BE IN SUCH A WAY THAT THAT PEOPLE CAN WALK PAST, WE HAVE A ONE BUSINESS UP THE STREET. I'M NOT GOING TO CALL IT THE BUSINESS OUT, BUT WHEN THEY HEAR THEIR SIGN, YOU HAVE TO LITERALLY WALK IN THE STREET IN ORDER TO GET AROUND THE SIGN. THEY'RE ON A CORNER PART. THEY DON'T DO IT NOW, SINCE WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT. BUT YOU KNOW, THOSE SAFETY HAZARDS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON, WE REALLY GOT TO LOOK AT THAT TOO, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO HAVE TO WALK IN THE STREET IN ORDER TO GET DOWN THE STREET OR GET DOWN THE WALKWAY. 
          SO THOSE THINGS LIKE THAT, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, THOSE SIGNS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. THAT'S PART OF THE NATURE, YOU KNOW, WE NEVER REALLY ENFORCED IT, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE ILLEGAL. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE 1 OR 2 PEOPLE THAT SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THEM AND IT'S VERY I'M GOING TO TELL YOU ALL RIGHT, NOW, THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETITION DOWN THERE. AND IF SOMEBODY'S BUSINESS IS NOT DOING WELL AND ANOTHER PERSON'S BUSINESS IS NOT DOING WELL, THEY 
          [00:35:05]
WANT TO THEY WANT TO SEE HOW THEY CAN GET AN UPPER HAND AT TIMES, YOU KNOW, OR TO DRAW AT LEAST SOME TRAFFIC TO THEM. YOU HAVE CERTAIN BUSINESSES THAT'S ALWAYS POPPING. THEY'RE ALWAYS OPEN. THEN YOU GOT OTHER BUSINESS. YOU MAY HAVE 1 OR 2 PEOPLE JUST SITTING IN THERE OR WHAT HAVE YOU. SO I THINK LIKE COUNCILMAN CUTLER SAID, YOU KNOW, BRING US SOME OPTIONS AND THEN WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE OPTION. BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S THE SPIRIT OF THE COUNCIL THAT WANT TO COUNCIL. THEY WANT TO DO AWAY WITH THEM. AND WHAT HAVE YOU. BUT I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY AND IT BEING IN SOMEBODY'S IN FRONT OF SOMEBODY ELSE'S BUSINESS OR SOMEBODY ELSE'S HOME OR WHAT HAVE YOU, BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT WANT IT THERE OR WHAT HAVE YOU. SO THOSE THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANKS. COUNCIL MEMBER HILL, I WILL NOTE THAT OUR CURRENT LANGUAGE, WE MAKE IT SO THE SANDWICH BOARD SIGN HAS TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE ESTABLISHMENT. THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS IF A BUSINESS IS LOCATED IN AN ALLEYWAY, THAT THEY CAN BRING IT TO THE MAIN ROAD. WE ALSO REQUIRE 36 INCH CLEARANCE. SO THREE FEET SO PEOPLE CAN GET AROUND THE SIGNS AND THEN LET'S SEE. YOU HAD ANOTHER CONCERN AS WELL. BUT THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT I REMEMBER. SO WE'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED THAT IN THE CURRENT CODE. THANK YOU. LET'S TALK ABOUT OKAY OKAY. OKAY. 
          COUNCILMAN JONES, MISS NEWMAN, DID YOU WANT TO FINISH YOUR PRESENTATION? THEN ASK MY QUESTIONS? YES. THAT SOUNDS GREAT. I CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT. OKAY, GREAT. ALL RIGHT. SIGN MAINTENANCE. THIS WAS BROUGHT UP AT ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND I WAS UNAWARE WHETHER WE HAD SOMETHING IN OUR CODE TO ADDRESS THE QUALITY AND UPKEEP OF SIGNS. WE DID FIND SOMETHING IN OUR ZONING ORDINANCE THAT ALL SIGNS SHALL BE MAINTAINED IN A GOOD STRUCTURAL CONDITION. AND THE MATERIALS USED IN SIGNS SHALL BE KEPT IN GOOD CONDITION, FREE OF HOLES, ROTTING, PEELING, PAINT, AND OTHER FORMS OF DECAY. SO ONCE WE FOUND THIS LANGUAGE, WE ARE ALREADY WORKING ON IT. SO THESE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE SIGNS THAT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN AND ARE GETTING LETTERS OUT TO, TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY NEED TO MAINTAIN THEIR SIGNS IN A QUALITY STATE. SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT CONCERN BEING SHARED SO WE CAN GET OUT AND ADDRESS THAT. THE NEXT ONE. 
          WINDOW SIGNS AND FLASHING SIGNS. SO WE HAVE A VERY LONG DEFINITION OF WHAT A SIGN IS. 
          BUT RIGHT AT THE END IT SAYS A SIGN DOES NOT INCLUDE A SIMILAR STRUCTURE OR DEVICE LOCATED WITHIN A BUILDING, EXCEPT WHEN ILLUMINATED. SO I DID WANT TO SHARE THAT. AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THE INTERPRETATION OF THAT LANGUAGE IN A MOMENT. FLASHING SIGNS. WE DO HAVE LANGUAGE THAT STRICTLY SAYS THEY'RE PROHIBITED. ANY FLASHING SIGN. SO SPEAKING ON THESE ITEMS, I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WINDOW SIGNS AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF WINDOW SIGNS. LOOKING AT THAT FIRST LANGUAGE THAT I SHARED WITH YOU, ALL THAT SAID, ANY SIGN IN A WINDOW OR THING THAT RESEMBLES A SIGN THAT'S INSIDE A WINDOW, UNLESS IT'S LIT UP, IS NOT A SIGN. THAT'S WHERE WE UNFORTUNATELY SEE THE INABILITY TO ENFORCE THOSE WINDOW SIGNS WHEN THEY'RE INSIDE THE BUILDING. THE NEXT THING I DID WANT TO SHARE, OUR SIGN ORDINANCE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME NEW SUPREME COURT ACTIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN BECAUSE WE REGULATE A LOT OF CONTENT. SO WITH OUR ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATE, WE HAD THE KICKOFF LAST WEEK. THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF CHANGES TO OUR SIGN ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT'S PART OF OUR ZONING ORDINANCE. SO WE'RE GOING TO GET IT UP TO SPEED. WE'LL MAKE SURE TO PUT IN REQUIREMENTS FOR WINDOW SIGNS BECAUSE WE AGREE THAT VISIBILITY INTO A BUSINESS IS WELCOMING. IT JUST HELPS WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE STREET AS WELL. SO WE DO SEE THAT CONCERN AND WE WILL LOOK TO ADDRESS THA. 
          OKAY. THE ICE MACHINE, THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC ONE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP 1916 SOUTH SYCAMORE. 
          I WAS ASKED WHY WAS THERE AN ICE MACHINE THERE VERSUS ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT WHERE SUBWAY IS LOCATED OFF OF CRATER ROAD? SO I WAS ABLE TO GO INTO OUR PERMIT PORTAL CALLED IWORK, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE COMMENTS FROM OUR PREVIOUS ZONING ADMINISTRATOR IN THERE. SO IT LOOKS LIKE TO THEM, THE STRUCTURE SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM FOR RIGHT OF WAY, SINCE IT WILL BE IN PLACES PLACED ON THE PROPERTY OWNER'S PROPERTY, AND THEY NOTED THAT THEY DID NOT NOTICE ANY SPECIAL SETBACK ALONG SYCAMORE STREET AND WAKEFIELD STREET, AND THAT WAS APPROVED BACK IN FEBRUARY 2023. I DID LOOK AT THE CODE THOUGH, AND JUST LIKE ON CRATER ROAD, WHERE THE OTHER ICE MACHINE IS LOCATED, THERE IS LANGUAGE IN THE CODE THAT SAYS ON SYCAMORE STREET SOUTH OF HALIFAX STREET, THE MINIMUM SETBACK SHALL BE 45FT. THIS IS MEASURED FROM THE CENTER LINE OF THE PROPERTY. SO LIKE THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY AND THIS ICE MACHINE DOES NOT MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS. BUT THE ADMINISTRATOR AT THE TIME DETERMINED THAT IT WAS ALLOWABL. THE INVESTMENT HAS BEEN MADE. 
          IT'S BEEN CONSTRUCTED. BUT I DID WANT TO SHARE WITH THAT. AND THEN THE HOUSING RESOURCE. WE DO HAVE A HOMEOWNER AND RENTER RESOURCE. THIS WAS PUT TOGETHER WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE'S HELP. THE 
          [00:40:03]
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ADMINISTRATOR, OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM HELPED LAY IT OUT AND THEN SOME OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE LISC AND CAMERON FOUNDATION HELPED GIVE SOME FEEDBACK ON SOME RESOURCES THAT COULD GO IN HERE. IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO SEE ON HERE, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES IN HERE THAT YOU CAN SEE TRI CITIES HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, VIRGINIA CREDIT UNION, HOME OF VIRGINIA, IT PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE, THE HOURS, THE LOCATIONS AND WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES THEY PROVIDE TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE OR ENTITIES AS WELL. HERE YOU CAN SEE WE ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT ARE JUST WEBSITES WHERE PEOPLE CAN CHECK OUT THESE RESOURCES TO FIND OUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRANTS, FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ON SOCIAL SERVICES, NONPROFITS THAT HELP WITH HOUSING INJUSTICE, AND SO FORTH. 
          SO I WANT TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU ALL. THAT IS THE END OF MY PRESENTATION. SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. I HAVE A QUESTION. ALL RIGHT. BACK TO COUNCILMAN JONES. 
          NO, NO. GO AHEAD. MISS NAOMI, FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS AS A DEPARTMENT HEAD TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T MAKE MISTAKES. AS WE KNOW, MISTAKES HAPPEN. BUT TO SIT THERE AND CLARIFY TO US AND SAY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GOT THE SPIRIT OF COUNSEL. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. YOU KNOW, BEFORE YOU GO BACK AND WRITE SOMETHING AND COME BACK AND WE CHANGE OUR MINDS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT, GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU. ALL RIGHT. WHEN THE QUESTION WAS BROUGHT UP TO BRING BACK SOME OPTIONS, I THINK MAYBE WE MISHEARD YOU OR DIDN'T HEAR IT, BUT YOU BROUGHT OPTIONS ONE, TWO AND THREE. ONE WAS TO NOT DO IT AT ALL. TWO WAS TO. WE PASSED NUMBER TWO ALREADY, LIKE YOU SAID. NUMBER THREE WAS TO DO PERMITS. RIGHT? SO AND I'M WITH THE REST OF THEM, WE LIKE NUMBER THREE. RIGHT. I THINK THOSE WERE THE OPTIONS THAT SHE BROUGHT US ALREADY, FELLAS. IN ARTICLE 21, SECTION 12.1, MEANING ALL SIGNS. THAT WAS ONE OF MY ISSUES THAT I HAD THE LAST TIME I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU. IT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS FOR TONIGHT. HOW ARE WE GOING TO ADDRESS THOSE SIGNS WITH THE RUSTY POLES UP AND DOWN EAST WASHINGTON STREET AND CRATER ROAD AND EVERYTHING, AND YOU READ MY MIND AND YOU ALREADY ADDRESSED THAT. SO THOSE THINGS, THOSE CHANGES ALONE WOULD MAKE THE CITY LOOK SO MUCH BETTER, VACANT PROPERTIES OR EXISTING PROPERTIES. I THINK WE NEED TO ADD THAT IN THERE, WHETHER IT'S VACANT OR OCCUPIED, OKAY. ANOTHER QUESTION IS, THE 36 INCH CLEARANCE, WHAT'S THE INTENT ON THAT? THAT'S MOSTLY FOR WALKABILITY AND HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY. SO MAKING SURE SOMEONE IN A WHEELCHAIR CAN MAKE IT THROUGH. COOL. I'M GLAD YOU SAID THAT, BECAUSE, I KNOW YOU SAID WE TALKED ABOUT ONE SIGN SANDWICH BOARD SIGN, BUT. HOW MANY LIVING ROOM SHOOTS DO THAT COVER ON THE SIDEWALK? BECAUSE WE JUST LOOKED AT THAT NEWS ARTICLE AND IT SHOWED THE SIGNS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY SAW THAT. IT HAD A WHOLE SIDEWALK FULL OF LIVING ROOM FURNITURE UP AND DOWN THE STRIP. IT WAS NOT 36IN FROM THE BUILDING, AND I THINK I BROUGHT THAT UP BEFORE. WE'RE GOING TO DO IT FOR WALKABILITY. THOSE NEED TO BE DEALT WITH TOO. IT JUST AS DANGEROUS, YOU KNOW, SO THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AS WELL. 
          RIGHT. AND THAT'S ALL I GOT. BUT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE LIVING ROOM SUITS IF WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS SIGNS, YOU KNOW, DINETTE SETS AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF. BUT IT'S OUT THERE. WE SAW IT ON THE NEWS, BUT THE NEWS POINTED US TO THE SIGNS AND. ALL RIGHT. SO THANK YOU THAT SOUNDS GOOD. 
          I'LL DEFINITELY WORK WITH MARK ON THAT ONE. I THINK THAT'S A RIGHT OF WAY ITEM. SO WE'LL WE'LL WORK ON THAT. SO IN ANOTHER COMMUNITY WHERE I WORKED WE HAD A SET A SEPARATE SET OF SIDEWALK DISPLAY GUIDELINES THAT ADDRESS THE ABILITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO PASS SAFELY THROUGH THE SIDEWALK. BUT ALLOWED FOR THE DISPLAY OF SANDWICH BOARDS. OR IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE A CAFE SEATING RIGHT OUTSIDE YOUR RESTAURANT DOOR. HOW FAR THAT COULD COME OUT. SO THOSE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I THINK FROM THE OPTION PERSPECTIVE, THAT CERTAINLY COULD BE BROUGHT BACK TO ADDRESS. BUT I THINK FROM WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, IF IT'S OUT THERE PERMANENTLY, THAT BECOMES KIND OF A CODE ISSUE TO DEAL WITH. IF IT'S THERE TEMPORARILY WHILE THEY'RE MOVING IT INTO THE BACK OF THEIR STORE AFTER THEY RECEIVE DELIVERY. BECAUSE I SEE THAT A LOT ON SYCAMORE WITH THE ANTIQUE STORES. THEY BRING IT IN, THEY PUT IT DOWN, AND THEN THEY BRING IT INTO THEIR BUILDING. BUT WE DEFINITELY CAN BRING BACK SOME OPTIONS BECAUSE THE SAFETY PIECE 
          [00:45:02]
IS REALLY CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC PASSING THROUGH THAT AREA. SO WE DEFINITELY CAN BRING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT AND WE'LL BRING SOME OPTIONS BACK. I SAVE SOME TIME. I MEAN, JUST ADD IT TO THAT PERMITTING, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'M NOT AGAINST IT. I'M ONLY AGAINST NOT BEING FAIR. I MEAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE THE SIGNS BUT LEAVE FURNITURE OUT THERE, THAT'S THAT'S CRAZY. SO THEY WANT ANYTHING OUT THERE, THEY JUST ADD IT TO THE PERMIT PROCESS. YOU KNOW, THAT'S REAL SIMPLE. WE CAN DO IT LIKE THAT. AND IF THERE IS AN URGENCY, I WILL SAY OUR ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATE WILL LUCKILY LIKELY TOUCH ON WHAT IS IN THAT FURNITURE ZONE. SIDEWALK RIGHT OF WAY. SO IF WE CAN WAIT FOR THAT TO THAT'S ALSO AN OPTION. MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR HILL, YES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I HAVE ONE QUESTION AND MAYBE YOU ANSWERED IT AND IT JUST GOT PAST ME. SO THE FLAG SIGNS, HOW ARE WE DEALING WITH THAT OR ARE WE DEALING WITH THAT OR NOT? YOU KNOW, THE UP AND DOWN THE ROAD AND SOME OF THEM ARE WORN OUT AND POLES ARE STILL THERE. HOW DO WE HANDLE THAT? OR MAYBE YOU ANSWERED IT. I'M NOT SURE. NO THIS DID COME UP. I BELIEVE, RECENTLY. OKAY, FOR FLAG SIGNS, STAFF HAS BEEN TAKING THE TIME TO NOTIFY PEOPLE TO REMOVE THEIR FLAG SIGNS. OKAY THERE IS A CODE SECTION. I'D WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A BETTER CODE SECTION. YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT FOR THE MOST PART, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RECEPTIVE, AND THEY JUST REMOVE THE FLAG SIGN. WE DON'T NEED TO GO THROUGH ANY PROCESS OR VIOLATION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT'S BEEN MOSTLY CONVERSATIONS. 
          ONE EXAMPLE THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION, THERE'S A I THINK IT'S A VACANT CHURCH NOW, RIGHT NEXT TO THE FOOD LION IN THE WALNUT HILL COMMUNITY. IT HAD SO MANY FLAG SIGNS OUT THE FRONT AND IT WASN'T EVEN OPERATIONAL. NOW THAT THE FLAG SIGNS ARE GONE, IT JUST LOOKS SO MUCH CLEANER, SO MUCH BETTER. THEY'RE NOT TANGLED UP IN FRONT OF THE BUSINESS. SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT, ENFORCING THAT. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE GOOD STANDING ON THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN CUTHBERT. THANK YOU. MR. MARK. 
          GOING BACK TO SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS. I HAVE CONSTITUENTS THAT DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEW ZONING ORDINANCE IS PRESENTED, FOR A SOLUTION TO THEIR, THEIR RELATIVELY MODEST REQUEST. WHEN WILL YOU. WELL, ARE YOU GOING TO BRING BACK TO COUNCIL A PROPOSAL WITH SEVERAL OPTIONS FOR SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS? FOR EXAMPLE, OPTION ONE MIGHT BE AS IT IS OR AS IT WAS IN FRONT OF YOUR OWN BUILDING BUSINESS, OPTION TWO MIGHT BE ANY WAY YOU WANT TO PUT IT. OPTION THREE MIGHT BE AT ANY CORNER WHERE IT DOES NOT DETRACT FROM AN ADJACENT BUSINESS. I DON'T KNOW, YOU YOU YOU CAN GIVE US SOME OPTIONS, BUT THAT'S WHAT I MEANT BY OPTIONS, BUT I DO HAVE WE, THE CITY COUNCIL, WHO DO REPRESENT ALL THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF PETERSBURG. WE HAVE CONSTITUENTS THAT FEEL CONSTRAINED AND LIMITED BY THE PROHIBITION OF A SANDWICH SIGN. 
          IF IT'S NOT IN FRONT OF THEIR OWN BUSINESS. AND THAT'S WHAT AT LEAST I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE PRESENTED TO US AS A I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN OPTION PRESENTED TO US THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THAT RESTRICTION. I DO APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE INTEREST WAS REMOVING ZONING REGULATIONS. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR JUST WANTING TO SEE MAYBE SOME MORE OPTIONS AND FLEXIBILITY OF SIGN LOCATIONS, I'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO START THE CONVERSATION. USUALLY THE PROCESS IS WE HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH PLANNING COMMISSION ON THE TOPIC. WE PRESENT TO THEM. WHAT COUNCIL HAS REQUESTED. THEN THE NEXT MEETING, IF THEY'RE READY, WE DRAFT THE LANGUAGE FOR THEM TO HAVE A HEARING ON IT, AND THEN IT WOULD COME TO YOU ALL THE NEXT MONTH. SO THAT IS ABOUT A THREE MONTH PROCESS BEFORE IT WOULD COME TO YOU ALL. WELL IF IT HAS TO BE, IT HAS TO BE, WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS. ON THE OTHER HAND, WE DID JUST TALK ABOUT HAVING A JOINT MEETING, WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER THE 6TH. 
          THE SPECIAL MEETING? IS THAT WHAT IT WAS ON NOVEMBER THE SIXTH? RIGHT. I WONDER IF WE COULD PUT THINGS TOGETHER BY THEN, NOW THAT MR. MAYOR, THAT MAY MAYBE WE GOT TO GO BACK AND 
          [00:50:09]
AMEND OUR MOTION OR MAKE A NEW ONE TO HAVE AN ADD THAT TO THE AGENDA OF THE SPECIAL MEETING, AT WHICH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND COUNCIL WILL MAKE DECISIONS. ALL RIGHT, MR. ALTMAN. SO I JUST ONE, ONE QUESTION OF CLARITY IS THE CONCERN ON THE SANDWICH BOARDS AND THE ABILITY TO HAVE FLEXIBILITY, THE ABILITY TO HAVE FLEXIBILITY PRIMARILY FOR DOWNTOWN, OR THROUGHOUT. YES. OKAY. SO I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO KIND OF ACCOMPLISH IN A QUICKER MANNER WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO. SO WE'LL PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND SEE IF WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING BACK TO YOU. ALL RIGHT. WELL, DOES THAT MEAN WE SHOULD, ADD THIS TO THE AGENDA FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING ON NOVEMBER 6TH OR NOT? WELL, I THINK WE CAN CERTAINLY DISCUSS IT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL GOOD, BUT WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS IF WE CAN PUT OUR HEAD TOGETHER AND MAYBE SEND SOMETHING OUT, SEE WHAT WE GET. KIND OF. WHAT Y'ALL THINK, WHAT? I'M KIND OF THINKING AT THE MOMENT IS IF YOU HAVE A SET OF SIDEWALK DISPLAY GUIDELINES FOR SPECIFICALLY FOR DOWNTOWN, WHAT YOU MAY BE DOING IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE IS SANDWICH BOARD. WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND THEN HAVE A EXCEPT FOR DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS REGULATED BY THESE SET OF SEPARATE SET OF GUIDELINES. AND THEN A SEPARATE SET OF GUIDELINES, DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION. IT CAN JUST COME TO COUNCIL AND EXPEDITE THE PROCESS A LITTLE BIT. SO WE'LL GET TOGETHER AND WE'LL THINK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO. BUT WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR, AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE CLARITY. OKAY. 
          THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK COUNCILMAN JONES. YEAH. IS THIS A SENSING URGENCY? BUT IT'S NOT JUST LET THE PEOPLE MAINTAIN WHAT THEY GOT RIGHT NOW. KEEP IT GOING UNTIL YOU COME UP WITH A NEW ORDINANCE OR WHATEVER. SO THEY GOT THEM OUT THERE. YOU CAN SAY, HEY, IT'S GOING TO CHANGE. 
          WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT LIKE IT IS UNTIL SOMETHING. THE GOOD NEWS IS THE ORDINANCE HASN'T BEEN AMENDED. SO CURRENTLY, EVEN THOUGH COUNCIL REQUESTED THAT THE ORDINANCE BE AMENDED, WE HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH THAT PROCESS. SO THE ALLOWANCE OF SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS IN FRONT OF YOUR BUSINESS IS CURRENTLY ALLOWED AND STILL ALLOWED, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BROUGHT ANYTHING BACK TO COUNCIL THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THAT OTHERWISE. SO WE'RE GOOD THERE. WE JUST NEED TO HAVE THE OPTIONS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR TO ALLOW SOME FLEXIBILITY THAT OKAY. ALL RIGHT OKAY. THANK YOU. SO MUCH, NAOMI. WE APPRECIATE YOU, NEXT WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM EIGHT MONTHLY 
          [9. Finance and Budget Report]
REPORTS, ITEM NINE, FINANCE AND BUDGET REPORT. WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE MONTHLY UPDATE. OKAY. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. MAYOR, PARENT MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. OKAY, HERE WE GO. 
          ALL RIGHT. SO TONIGHT WE HAVE OUR MONTHLY UPDATE FOR YOU, YEAH, WE'LL JUST GET RIGHT OFF INTO IT, ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, WE HAVE A EARNED INTEREST UPDATE, WE'LL DO OUR BUDGET TO ACTUALS, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A DISTINGUISHED BUDGET AWARD. SO SOME BACKGROUND ON THE EARNED INTEREST. THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT PROJECTED 1.4 MILLION IN INTEREST. AND THAT IS INCLUDED IN OUR FY 25 BUDGET. THAT REVENUE PROJECTION WAS BASED ON 30, $35 MILLION BEING DEPOSITED INTO THE LGIP AT A 4% INTEREST RATE, DURING THE FIRST 90 DAYS, WE'VE GOT A RETURN OF ABOUT 5.5% ON THE INTEREST. SO A LITTLE TIMELINE CURRENTLY SEPTEMBER 18TH. SO THE FEDERAL RESERVE LOWERED THE INTEREST BASIS POINTS BY A HALF A PERCENTAGE, SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS BELIEVE THAT THE FED WILL INITIATE SEVERAL INTEREST RATE REDUCTIONS IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS, AS OF THE 20TH OF SEPTEMBER, FINANCE AND THE TREASURER'S OFFICE, WE DID A CASH FLOW ANALYSIS OF OUR GENERAL DEMAND ACCOUNT, WHICH IS THE MAIN ACCOUNT THAT IS HELD BY THE CITY FOR CITY OPERATIONS. THAT ANALYSIS RESULTED THAT WE COULD DEPOSIT AN ADDITIONAL 7 MILLION INTO THE LGIP, AND AS OF TODAY, THAT DEPOSIT WAS COMPLETED. SO, YES, SEVEN ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS DEPOSITED INTO THE LGIP AS OF TODAY, SO FUTURE STATE, THE ADDITIONAL DEPOSIT, FOR THE LAST NINE MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR, PROJECTED AT AN INTEREST RATE OF 3.75%, SHOULD YIELD AN ADDITIONAL ALMOST $200,000. WE BELIEVE THAT USING THE INTEREST RATE OF 4%, THAT WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET WILL SHIELD THE CITY FROM HAVING SIGNIFICANT REVENUE PROJECTION DECREASE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE GETTING 5.5%, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A CUSHION IN 
          [00:55:03]
THERE, AS WE SEE THAT THE RATES ARE CHANGING, AND THEN FINANCE AND TREASURY IS ALSO NEGOTIATED AN OVERNIGHT SWEEP WITH OUR DEMAND ACCOUNT, WHICH YIELDS ADDITIONAL INCOME. IT'S AN INTEREST BEARING ACCOUNT ESSENTIALLY, SO HERE WE ARE WITH NUMBERS. SO FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR UP UNTIL YESTERDAY, WE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $458,371 IN INTEREST, AND THAT'S IN THE LGIP FOR OUR OVERNIGHT SWEEP ACCOUNT, TO DATE, WE RECEIVED $144,100 IN INTEREST. SO THE PROJECTION FOR THE NEXT NINE MONTHS FOR LGIP BASED ON THE 42 MILLION NOW, WHICH IS THE 35 ORIGINAL, PLUS THE SEVEN THAT WE JUST PUT IN AT A 3.75 INTEREST RATE WILL BE ABOUT $1.1 MILLION. PROJECTION FOR THE INTEREST BEARING ACCOUNT FOR THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR WILL BE $370,483, SO IN THE BUDGET, WE INCORPORATED 1.4 MILLION. THAT WAS THE PROJECTIO. 
          EXCUSE ME. THAT WAS THE PROJECTION FOR THE FY 25 BUDGET, BUT RIGHT NOW, IF EVERYTHING STAYS AS IS AND HOPE ALL STAYS. WELL, WE'RE LOOKING AT A LITTLE OVER $2 MILLION IN INTEREST, WHICH IS FAVORABLE. OBVIOUSLY HERE WE ARE MOVING INTO BUDGET TO ACTUALS, ALL THE DEPARTMENTS ARE PRETTY MUCH TRACKING. REALLY? WELL, WE DON'T HAVE ANY EGREGIOUS, OUTLIERS. SO THIS LOOKS PRETTY GOOD HERE, AND YOU CAN SEE THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENTS, THIS REPORT IS AVAILABLE IN DETAIL OR WILL BE AVAILABLE IN DETAIL ON OUR CITY WEBSITE. IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW, AND HERE WE ARE AT TOTAL. SO WE'RE AT 18% OF EXPENDITURES ON THE YEAR, WHICH LIKE I SAID, IS REALLY GOOD. WE'RE TRACKING. WELL, AND LASTLY. OH HERE'S THE OTHER FUNDS. EXCUSE ME, WE HAD GENERAL FUND THAT WAS ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE, AND HERE ARE THE OTHER FUNDS, AND LASTLY, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT AN AWARD THAT WE'VE RECENTLY RECEIVED IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SO THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION IS AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION MADE UP OF FINANCE OFFICERS. THEY DO YEARLY AND AWARD SERIES WHERE THEY GIVE LOCALITIES AWARDS BASED ON HOW THEY HAVE PRESENTED THEIR BUDGET, THERE IS A LOT OF CRITERIA THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO MEET, SO WE DID APPLY FOR THIS AWARD THIS YEAR. AND AFTER A LONG REVIEW, WE WERE AWARDED THIS AWARD. SO WE JUST LIKE TO BRING THAT TO COUNCIL'S ATTENTION AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE WERE ENTERED AND DID RECEIVE THIS AWARD. SO GREAT WORK. THANK YOU. AND THAT'S ALL THAT'S ALL FROM ME. SO ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, GARY. NEXT WE GO TO QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN JONES, HOW ARE YOU DOING, SIR? I'M WELL. 
          AND YOURSELF. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR TEAM. AND, MY MAN BACK THERE, TOO. MAN. HOW YOU DOING? THAT AWARD IS REAL BIG TO US, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. I WANT TO, MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT JUST FOR YOU, BUT ANY DEPARTMENT HEAD, ANYBODY. WHEN YOU COME UP, WHEN YOU SPEAK TO US, YOU'RE NOT JUST SPEAKING TO US, BUT YOU'RE SPEAKING TO THE COMMUNITY. RIGHT? SO WHEN WE START USING LETTERS, LIKE, I WAS JUST ASKING THE MAYOR, WHAT IS LGIP? I MAY KNOW IT, THEY MAY KNOW IT, BUT THE COMMUNITY IS WATCHING. YOU DON'T KNOW IT, YOU KNOW. AND THE PEOPLE HERE DON'T KNOW IT. AND I'M SO TIRED OF HEARING PEOPLE SAYING MONEY IS GOING INTO OUR POCKETS. I'M PROBABLY THE BROKEST ONE UP HERE. YOU KNOW. BUT I WANT YOU TO EXPLAIN TO US WHAT IS LGIP NUMBER ONE, YOU KNOW, NUMBER TWO, SO THAT THE PEOPLE WOULD KNOW THAT THIS MONEY IS GOING INTO A CERTAIN PLACE FOR A CERTAIN REASON. COULD YOU DO THAT? YES. SO, LGIP STANDS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOL. LOCALITIES AROUND THE STATE WILL PUT MONIES THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM INTO THIS SO THAT IT WILL YIELD MONEY BACK TO THEM. SO ESSENTIALLY, MAKING OUR MONEY WORK FOR US, SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THERE ARE CERTAIN INTEREST RATES. THEY FLUCTUATE AS THE GOVERNMENT IS FLUCTUATING. BUT RIGHT NOW SO ALL THE MONEY INSTEAD OF OUR FUNDS THAT WE HAVE JUST SITTING IN AN ACCOUNT NOT DOING ANYTHING, AND WE UTILIZING IT ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS, WE'VE TAKEN THAT MONEY AND DEPOSITED IT INTO THIS ACCOUNT SO THAT OUR MONEY CAN WORK FOR US. AND THEN WE'RE ESSENTIALLY ADDING MORE MONEY INTO THE BUDGET. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND JUST BY BEING ABLE TO EXPLAIN IT, THAT TELLS ME THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB WELL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM. AND TO ADD TO 
          [01:00:03]
THAT, JUST GO AHEAD AND ADD TO IT. WE'RE GOING TO ADD TO THAT IS MANAGED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY. SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WE INVEST THE MONEY, BUT THE STATE MANAGES THE FUNDS. CORRECT. AND THAT'S GOOD TO HAVE 7 MILLION BACK IN THAT THING. SO THANK YOU. SO MUCH. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU AGAIN. FINANCE TEAM CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT AWARD, NEXT WE MOVE ON TO ITEM TEN CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE. THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THERE. UTILITIES STREETS NOTHING. TONIGHT. 
          [13. Facilities]
FACILITIES MR. MAYOR, YOU DO HAVE A HANDOUT AT YOUR DESK IF COUNCIL WANTS TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WE PROVIDED IT FOR YOU. WHAT? JUST WASN'T ON THE AGENDA. BUT IT'S HERE OKAY I DO I DO WANT ONE THING. OKAY. SURE YES. GO FOR IT. YEAH FOR STREETS. I KNOW 
          [12. Streets]
WE'RE UP HERE, BUT I KNOW, YOUNG LADY WAS TALKING ABOUT FLOODING, AND I KNOW WE HAVE OLDER INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE HAVE A POOR CREEK THAT WILL BE HELPING WITH THAT. ON THE SOUTHERN END OF THE CITY, AND WE PRETTY MUCH KNOW THE AREAS LIKE BANK STREET THAT NORMALLY FLOODS BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE THE TRAIN TRACKS IS TO HOLD, IT'S NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR ALL OF THE DEBRIS TO RUN THROUGH THERE. SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT. SO I WANT TO STRESS TWO THINGS. THE IMPORTANCE OF TRASH IN OUR GRASS BEING CUT AND OUR COVERAGE. BECAUSE THAT THAT PLAYS A PART IN FLOODING, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE REAL HEAVY DOWNPOURS. SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE'RE ALWAYS UP HERE TALKING ABOUT WE NEED TO CUT THE GRASS. WE NEED TO CUT THE GRASS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO WHEN WE DO HAVE STORMS AND DEBRIS, LIKE THE YOUNG MAN BROUGHT TO US ABOUT THE TREE LIMBS FALLING DOWN, THAT IT WON'T CLOG UP EVERYTHING. SO IT'S KIND OF DISHEARTENING AT TIMES THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU RIDE BY. AND WE DID A GOOD JOB LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO SPRAYING FOR THE WEEDS. BUT IT'S LIKE A LITTLE BIT TOO LATE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ALL DURING THE SUMMER WE HAD TO WATCH AND SEE THE WEEDS AND STUFF COME UP THROUGH THE CRACKS. SO PRAYERFULLY WE CAN GET ON TOP OF THIS. AND WHAT IS THE PLAN TO GET ON TOP OF IT EARLY IN THE SPRING AND ALL DURING THE SUMMER AND UNTIL WE GET TO THE FALL. WHAT IS THE PLAN AS FAR AS YOU KNOW? OUR GRASS AND TRASH. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN? I'VE GOT A PROPOSAL TO TAKE TO MR. ALTMAN FOR HIS REVIEW, AND IF HE IF HE'S GOOD WITH IT, AFTER ANY COMMENTS FROM HIM, WE'LL BRING THAT TO COUNCIL. THERE IS A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT COLONIAL HEIGHTS HAS JUST PURCHASED ONE AND ESSENTIALLY IT CLEANS THE GRASS ON THE TOP OF THE CURB AND DOWN IN THE GUTTER. IT'S A STREET SWEEPER, ESSENTIALLY. BUT INSTEAD OF A BRISTLE BRUSH LIKE THE ONES WE HAVE, IT'S A WIRE BRUSH. IT CUTS THE GRASS. IT MAKES THE CURB LOOK SLICK, JUST LIKE WHEN IT WAS NEW, IT WORKS REALLY WELL. THEY'VE THEY'RE USING IT IN COLONIAL HEIGHTS, THE ATLANTIC MACHINERY SELLS IT. SO THAT'S PART OF THE PROPOSAL TO COME TO MR. ALTMAN AS FAR AS SPRAYING. WE TALKED TO JAMIE AT THE GOLF COURSE, GOING TO WORK WITH HIM? YEAH, I HEARD THAT BEFORE. I THINK WE GOT TO TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH WITH THAT. AND WE'VE ALSO GOT A CONTRACTOR LINED UP. OKAY. THANK YOU. IN MARCH, WE HOPE TO START SPRAYING PRE-EMERGENT ONCE WE GET PAST THE WORST OF THE FREEZES. YOU HAVE TO WAIT TILL IT'S PAST FREEZING. YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE WARM ENOUGH. BUT LOOK AT SPRAY AND PRE-EMERGENCE ON THE AREAS OF SYCAMORE AND THE MAIN WALKS, THE SIDEWALKS AND WHATNOT TO TRY TO KILL IT BEFORE IT COMES UP. OKAY. AND ALSO, OUR PLANNER, WHAT IS OUR. AND MAYBE I DON'T KNOW IF THIS FALLS ON YOU OR NOT. WHAT IS OUR CODE AS FAR AS, DO OUR RESIDENTS? THIS IS OUR RESIDENTS RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR SIDEWALKS OR THEIR COVERAGE FROM THE BACK OF THE CURB. IS RESIDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY. WHEN YOU SAY THE BACK OF THE CURB, EXPLAIN THAT YOU KNOW WHERE THE CURB COMES UP AND GOES OVER AT THE EDGE OF THE STREET, THE BACK SIDE OF THAT CURB, THE UTILITY STRIP, THE SIDEWALK, THE GRASS. THAT'S THE THAT'S ON THE RESIDENTS. THE CURB TO THE CENTER LINE OF STREETS IS THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. 
          AND IF I COULD SPEAK TO THE TREES I'VE WORKED WITH, WITH NAOMI, WE MET WITH A AND I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LADY'S NAME. WHO DEALS WITH TREES? ARBORIST. AND SHE'S IDENTIFIED 34 TREES IN THE PARK THAT NEED TO BE CUT BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION OF THE TREES. AND WHICH PARK, ON PAPILLON, SYCAMORE STREET. AND SO I'VE GOT AN EMAIL OUT TO MR. ALLEN AT PARKS AND REC, AND WE'LL BE WORKING WITH HIM TO GET QUOTES FOR THOSE TREES AND TRY TO FIND THE FUNDING TO GET THOSE TREES TAKEN DOWN. OKAY. THANK YOU, BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY TIME, YOU KNOW, I TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER, OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW, I TRY NOT TO YOU KNOW, SAY A WHOLE LOT ABOUT THAT IN THIS SETTING BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO CITY MANAGER, GO TO ONE ON ONE DIRECTORS AND GET THINGS DONE. BUT THIS YEAR, I MEAN, WE GOT TO DO BETTER. WE JUST GOT TO DO 
          [01:05:01]
BETTER. SO THAT'S ALL I WANT TO STRESS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OKAY NEXT, MR. MAYOR. YES. MAY I ASK MR. YES. YEAH. I'M GOING TO ASK SOMEONE AND THEN I COME BACK AROUND TO YOU, ALSO, I KNOW WE I WAS LOOKING AT THE WHOLE SIDEWALK REPLACEMENTS PROJECT, WHICH IS IN THE STREET OPERATIONS DIVISION HERE, THE PETERSBURG GARDEN CLUB, MR. JACK CROCKER AND HIS WIFE ARE HOSTING THE NATIONAL GARDEN WEEK ON BRANDON AVENUE AND ON BRANDON. THEY HAVE SOME PICTURES I JUST SENT TO THE CITY MANAGER OF THEIR SIDEWALKS. THEY'RE EXPECTING A LOT OF GUESTS. DO WE HAVE SOME RESOURCES TO REDO THEIR THEIR SIDEWALKS OVER THERE BEING THEY'RE HAVING A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THIS IS FOR I'M GONNA GET YOU HIS ADDRESS FOR THAT BLOCK BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING. I JUST SENT YOU THE PICTURES. THEY ARE IN BAD SHAPE, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY'VE JUST FRACTURED SO BAD. SO I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT I HADN'T SEEN. WE'RE TALKING REPLACING THE SIDEWALK. YES. JUST REPLACING, IT'S JUST A STRIP OF SIDEWALK ON BRANDON WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THE NATIONAL GARDEN WEEK. WHEN PEOPLE WHEN HOW LONG HAVE I GOT, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, YESTERDAY. IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE SPRING. THE SPRING OF THE YEAR. SO, SO WE CAN GET THAT DONE, FOR THEM, BECAUSE WE GET A LOT OF GOOD NATIONAL EXPOSURE ON THAT, BEING THAT THEY'VE BEEN SELECTED TO HOST FOR GARDEN WEEK, IF YOU COULD GET THAT TO ME. RIGHT, AND I'M GONNA GET YOU RIGHT, AND I'LL GET YOU THE ADDRESS, AND THEN WE'LL GET OUT THERE AND TAKE A LOOK. OKAY? WE'LL DO ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE'LL GO TO COUNCILMAN COOPER. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND MR. BAILEY, GOOD TO SEE YOU, SIR. AND YOU, SIR. THANK YOU FOR THE, ARRANGING FOR THE WORK DONE ON MONTEBELLO. OH. YOU'RE WELCOME, IT, THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK. YES, SIR, I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH WORK UNTIL I SAW THAT TREE FALL, THAT HAD BEEN. I'M SURE IT STARTED SMALL, BUT IT WAS A GOOD SIZE, AND ADDED TO THE, ABANDONED LOOK OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THERE ARE TWO PARKING LOTS THAT CONCERN ME. ONE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE, THERE'S STILL SOME WEEDS GROWING, LIKE PEOPLE, I GUESS CITY EMPLOYEES CAN'T SEE THEM WHEN WE ASK THEM TO CLEAN UP THE PARKING LOT. I DON'T KNOW WHY NOT, BUT, AND ALSO THOSE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL THEM. THE CONCRETE BUMPERS. YES. SOME OF THOSE ARE ASKEW AND LOOK LIKE NOBODY CARES. WE HAD FIXED THOSE ABOUT A MONTH AGO, BUT IF THEY'RE IF THEY'RE BACK, IF THEY'RE BACK OUT OF MAINTENANCE AGAIN, WE'LL GET BACK. YOU MAY WELL BE RIGHT ABOUT THE WEATHER. 
          THEY COULD BE. THEY COULD BE. THEY COULD GOT HIT AGAIN. HIT AGAIN. THEY'RE FIXING THEM. ALL RIGHT. THE OTHER PARKING LOT IS THE ONE, BETWEEN, THE ONE ON MARKET. WELL IT'S THE CLOSEST ONE TO THE DIXIE RESTAURANT. OKAY OKAY. AND THERE ARE WEEDS THERE THAT ARE TALLER THAN I AM. 
          AND THEY HAVE GROWN QUITE A BIT THIS THIS SUMMER, IF YOU WOULD HAVE. AND THE THERE'S TRASH. 
          IT'S IT REALLY DOES LOOK ABANDONED. IF YOU WOULD, GIVE THAT A GOOD CLOSE LOOK I WOULD PASS THAT ALONG FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. THANK YOU. PARKING LOT FROM THE COURTHOUSE IS AT SYCAMORE, FURTHER UP FROM THAT SAME PARKING LOT. NO, NO, NO. RIGHT AT THE FOOT OF THE COURTHOUSE. THE SYMBOL OF THE CITY, THE HUSTINGS, COURTHOUSE BUILDING WITH THE CLOCK ON TOP. 
          OKAY, THAT WAS THE FIRST PARKING LOT I TALKED ABOUT. AND THE SECOND ONE IS THE ONE THAT'S CLOSEST TO THE DIXIE. I'LL MAKE A NOTE THAT'S GOT WEEDS. I TELL YOU, THEY'RE A COUPLE OF THEM ARE TALLER THAN I AM. AND THERE'S A LOT OF LITTER RIGHT UP A AT THE STREET. THE SYCAMORE STREET EDGE OF THAT PARKING LOT. SO IF YOU WOULD ASK THE STAFF TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THAT AND DO WHAT THEY CAN, WE WILL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT, COUNCILMAN JONES. HEY, DON'T SIT DOWN YET. HOW YOU DOING? I'M GOOD. YOU, SIR. ALL RIGHT. I'M GONNA START OFF, I WANT TO SAY GOOD JOB ON THE RESPONSE OF YOUR TEAM AND ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT THAT WERE INVOLVED ON THE, OLD DMV BUILDING COLLAPSE. IT WAS REAL QUICK. IT WAS EFFECTIVE. AND, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. THAT WAS REAL GOOD WORK. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, GOING TO THE STREET OPERATIONS ON THE SIDEWALKS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GOT THIS OR NOT, BUT WE HAVE A SIXTH GRADE SCHOOL, BLANDFORD, AND THAT SIDEWALK HAS BEEN MESSED UP. AND IT'S A CITY ISSUE. IT'S A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I WAS THERE ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, AND KIDS WERE 
          [01:10:02]
TRIPPING. PARENTS WERE TRIPPING OVER IT. WE NEED THAT REPAIRED LIKE YESTERDAY. WE'VE ALREADY LOOKED AT THAT. WE GOT A QUOTE, $196,000. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIND THE MONEY. SO TRYING TO FIND THE MONEY. I HEAR SOME SOME WISE MAN TELL ME THAT'S NOT AN EXCUSE. TRYING TO FIND THE MONEY. SO, MR. WISE MAN, TELL ME. OKAY, ALL RIGHT. THE WISE MAN SAID THAT YOU GIVE ME THE QUOTE, AND I GOTTA. I GOTTA TRY TO FIND THE MONEY. SO WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THE MONEY. 
          IF WE CAN'T FIND IT INTERNALLY WITH STUFF WE HAVE NOW WILL BE COMING AND ASKING FOR SOME MONEY BECAUSE WE ONLY GET LIKE $500,000. AND WE SPENT ALL BUT 23,000 OF IT SO FAR. PAVING AND SIDEWALK WORK. SO WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO BOOST THAT UP WITHOUT HAVING TO UTILIZE ALL CITY MONEY TO DO THAT. IN UPCOMING YEARS. USE SOME VDOT FUNDS. JUST JUST ASK US FOR THE MONEY NOW. YEAH, ASK US. WELL, YOU YOU BUT IT'S OUR PROPERTY AND WE HAVE MONEY. WE GOT TECHNICALLY, WE GOT TO GO THROUGH KIND OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT PROCESS, BUT WE'LL BRING IT TO YOU. DON'T WORRY. AND IF I CAN'T, IF I CAN'T FIND IT AND I CAN MOVE IT MYSELF, THEN I'LL COME AND ASK FOR MONEY. EVERY MOMENT WE'RE WAITING, THERE'S. THAT'S A RISK YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S JUST BLANDFORD SCHOOL. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT, FLIPPING THE PAGE. 
          PEABODY SCHOOL. NOW MONTHS AGO, YOU SAID, I REMEMBER IN THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU GAVE YOU SAID WE FOUND THE MONEY TO PUT A TARP ON THAT BUILDING AND TO BOARD UP THE WINDOWS. TODAY, THE WINDOWS ARE NOT BOARDED. AND HERE YOU SAID YOU BOARDED UP THE BROKEN WINDOW ON THE ANNEX BUILDING. NOW THE CODE. I KNOW THE CITY. WE HAD A CODE AND WE STILL GOT IT TO WHERE ANY VACANT BUILDINGS LIKE THAT SHOULD BE BOARDED UP AND PAINTED BLACK. IT'S BEEN YEARS IN THIS BUILDIN. 
          IT'S NOT BEEN BOARDED OR PAINTED BLACK. NOW, THERE'S ALSO IN THE FIRE CODE. MISTER FIRE CHIEF, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I KNOW COLONIAL HEIGHTS WAS DOING IT, AND WE HAVE YET TO DO IT. NOT ONLY ARE YOU BLOWING IT UP AND YOU PAINT IT, BUT IT SHOULD BE AN X WHETHER YOU SHOULD GO IN OR NOT. IS IT SAFE OR NOT? AM I RIGHT, MISTER FIRE CHIEF? YES, SIR. SO WE HAVE TO DO ALL OF THAT STUFF NOW. WE GOT TO CHIEF. THEY KNOW ABOUT IT AND WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN. BUT PEABODY AND TITMUS AND ALL THESE BUILDINGS ARE A DEATH TRAP. IF NOBODY KNOWS, IF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT DON'T KNOW. IF THE POLICE DON'T KNOW IT'S A DEATH TRAP. AND WE CANNOT SIT THERE AND LET IT STAY LIKE THIS. UNPAINTED UNBOARDED AND JUST AIN'T NO TELLING WHAT'S IN THERE RIGHT NOW. IF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WENT IN THERE WITH THEIR CADAVER DOGS, YOU MAY FIND SOMETHING YOU KNOW, BUT YOU SAID MONTHS AGO THAT WE WERE GOING. WE HAD THE MONEY TO TARP IT AND BOUGHT IT. WHY ARE WE JUST DOING THE ANNEX BUILDING? I'D HAVE TO CHECK WITH STAFF AND I KNOW WE N ENGINEERING FIRM GO IN AND LOOK AT THE STRUCTURAL STABILITY OF ALL THE BUILDINGS. WE WENT IN. 
          WELL, SO. FUNDING FOR THE BOARDING UP OF THE WINDOWS. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH BUILDING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TARPON, BECAUSE THERE'S ONE THAT PAT ONE RIGHT. 
          YEAH SO WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT DONE. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, WE SAID WE HAD THE MONEY, SO WE HAVE TO GET THAT DONE. BUT WE HAVE ALSO HAD A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER COME IN AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE OVERALL BUILDING. AND PROVIDE US A REPORT, WHICH WE'RE GOING THROUGH, AND WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL THAT AT A FUTURE DATE, AND THEN WE'LL LOOK AT ALSO ANY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES INSIDE THE BUILDING. THERE'S ANY ASBESTOS, ANY DAMAGE. THAT WAS OCCURRED OR ANYTHING LEFT OVER FROM THE FIRE THAT OCCURRED. SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH THOSE DUE DILIGENCE PIECES TO HELP MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU ALL ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE BUILDING. BUT IN THE INTERIM, YES. AND WE WILL WORK WITH THE FIRE CHIEF AND MAKE SURE WHEN WE DO THE BOARDING UP, THEY GO IN AND TAKE A LOOK FIRST AND WE CAN MAKE THE APPROPRIATE ANNOTATION OF AN X ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING. I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT ON ALL OF OUR DILAPIDATED PROPERTIES, NOT JUST OURS, BUT THE CITY AS A WHOLE. WHETHER IT'S PRIVATELY OWNED OR OWNED BY US, IT NEEDS TO BE TAGGED AND NEED TO BE STRIPED. COLONIAL HEIGHTS DID A GREAT JOB DOING THAT, AND WE RIGHT. JUST A JUMP ACROSS A BRIDGE AND WE'RE NOT DOING IT FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR PEOPLE, MY CONCERN IS NOT JUST THE FUTURE OF PEABODY, BUT JUST RIGHT NOW. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BOARDED THOSE WINDOWS UP AND PAINTED THEM BLACK. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE. THERE'S NOTHING ELSE IN THERE. YEAH. YOU KNOW, SO A LITTLE BIT. BUT NOT A WHOLE LOT I'VE BEEN THROUGH, WE TRY TO SAVE WHAT WE COULD SAVE WHILE WE WENT THROUGH, SO. ALL RIGHT, SO THANK YOU ON THAT, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, BERKELEY MANOR. SENT A REQUEST ABOUT SPEED BUMPS JUST ON THE MAIN STRIP. WE TALKED ABOUT IT THIS WEEK, RIGHT? YEAH. SO, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CITY ENGINEER ON WITH DOMINION ON THE LIGHTS AROUND THE ON THE FRONTAGE ROAD. AND HE AND I ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE LOOKING AT DOING THE TRAFFIC STUDY ON THAT, THE SPEED, SPEED HUMPS THROUGH THERE. SO A FEW TRAFFIC STUDIES HAS BEEN DONE OUT THERE. AND WE NEED THE SPEED HUMPS LIKE YESTERDAY AND THE LIGHTS 
          [01:15:04]
DEFINITELY NEED IN THE OLD PART OF BERKELEY MANOR. AND THE NEW SUBDIVISION IS DARK. IT'S REAL DARK AND WE'RE ABOUT TO INCREASE TRAFFIC EVEN MORE. THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN LIKE YESTERDAY. SO THE NEW SECTION WAS THE ONE THAT IS THE VICE MAYOR HAD INDICATED WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE THAT HAD A PROFFER. SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT PROPER PIECE WITH THE DEVELOPER TO INSTALL THOSE LIGHTS. THERE ARE SECTIONS OF THE SUBDIVISION THAT WERE ALREADY DEVELOPED THAT WE'RE RELEASING THE BOND ON BECAUSE THE LIGHTS WERE INSTALLED. BUT THE LIGHTS THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT ON THE PERIMETER OF THIS GOING, COMING IN AND THEN GOING DOWN THE FRONTAGE ROAD, WE'RE WORKING WITH DOMINION ON LOOKING AT THOSE, THE SPACING OF WHAT WE WOULD NEED TO DO TO PROVIDE MORE LIGHT IN THAT AREA, BECAUSE THAT RUN THAT RUNS FROM NORMANDY, IF I REMEMBER NORMANDY DOWN TO JONES, IS IT JONES TO THE BACK OF FORT ROSS? BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THERE WAS A LIGHT RIGHT THERE. AND WHEN THEY TOOK THAT POLE DOWN, THEY NEVER PUT IT BACK. THAT'S THAT'S THE ISSUE RIGHT THERE. THERE WAS A LIGHT THERE. THEY TOOK THE POLE DOWN AND REPLACED IT. AND THEY NEVER PUT THE LIGHT BACK RIGHT THERE WHERE THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE IS. YES, SIR. SO THAT'S THAT'S JUST A MATTER OF PUTTING THE LIGHT BACK WHERE IT WAS AT RIGHT THERE, FLOODING IN BERKELEY MANOR, YOU SEE, IT FLOODS IN THE FRONT PART. BUT I WANT TO SAY THIS, THE PARK PROJECT, MR. MARQUIS ALLEN AND YOURSELF, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH MR. BRAWLEY, BUT I DO KNOW, PARKS AND REC AND THE CITY MANAGER TEAMED UP, AND THEY DID A PROJECT WHERE THEY WIDENED, WHERE THEY WENT IN TO WIDEN IT, THE DRIVEWAY. IT WAS JUST TO ELIMINATE THE MUD AND PUT SOME KIND OF TRACTION DOWN. AND YOU PUT A TRACK AROUND IT FOR THE PEOPLE. RIGHT. BUT WHAT YOU DID WAS DISCOVERED AND SOLVED A PROBLEM. YOU WIDENED IT, OR MARQUIS ALLEN AND WHOEVER WAS INVOLVED, IT WIDENED THE PARKING LOT TO WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY WAS. WELL, WE FOUND A SIDEWALK, A MANHOLE COVER THAT WAS COVERED UP FOR 20 SOMETHING YEARS, WHICH WAS CAUSING FLOODING AT THAT PARK FOR YEARS. NOW, TODAY, WITH ALL THE RAIN THAT WE HAVE HAD, WATER IS RUNNING SMOOTH AND LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR FIXING SOMETHING BY MISTAKE. YOU KNOW? BUT, IT WAS FIXED JUST BY MAINTENANCE, AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MR. MARQUIS ALLEN AND YOURSELF FOR TAKING INTEREST IN WHAT YOU WERE FIXING UP A PARK, BUT YOU FIXED ANOTHER BIGGER PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT WAS, SCOTT FLAHERTY. IT WAS ON MY STAFF THAT RECENTLY RETIRED ISSUE WITH THAT. NO, I DON'T REMEMBER SCOTT BEING IN THERE. 
          AND WE HAD SOME DPW, AND, RECREATION. THEY WERE ALL INVOLVED. A BIG TEAM EFFORT. 
          KIND OF LIKE AN ARCHEOLOGICAL MISSION. WE DUG SOMETHING UP AND FOUND SOMETHING THAT HAD BEEN MISSING FOR A LONG TIME. SO I KNOW WHEN I WAS OUT THERE, IT WAS MARQUIS, THE CONTRACTOR AND MYSELF. I AIN'T SEE NO SCOTT. AND I DIDN'T SEE YOU. BUT I DO KNOW YOU WAS BEHIND THE SCENES SOMEWHERE. I KNOW YOU WERE, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, MAN, JUST LOOK INTO THOSE SPEED BUMPS BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER, STUDY DONE. WE STUDIED TOO MUCH. WE FORGET TO TAKE THE TEST, YOU KNOW? SO THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER, MR. ALDERMAN, WHAT IS THE POLICY OF THE CITY ON INSTALLING SPEED BUMPS? I THINK THEY'RE A GREAT IDEA IN THE APPROPRIATE LOCATION, BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE CITY TO PUT ONE UP IN. AND SO I WONDER IF I'M NOT ASKING THE RIGHT PERSON OR NOT ASKING FOR THE RIGHT THING. NO, I THINK YOU'RE YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY ASKING FOR THE RIGHT THING. WE PRESENTED A PROCESS AND A POLICY PROBABLY, MAYBE A YEAR AGO, TO COUNCIL AND COUNCIL APPROVED. SO IF YOU CAN GET ME THE REMIND ME OF THE RIGHT LOCATIONS, YOU'RE LOOKING AT, I CAN GO BACK WITH, WITH MR. BAILEY AND STAFF TO MAKE SURE WE'RE WORKING THOSE THROUGH THE PROCESS TO GET A RECOMMENDATION BACK TO COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT. GREAT THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION FROM COUNCIL OR A VOTE FROM COUNCIL TO ESTABLISH A SPEED BUMP. WE. WELL, WE WOULD THE PROCESS FOR PROCEDURE WAS YOU WOULD REPORT BACK FOR COUNCIL TO AUTHORIZE IT FOR THE INSTALLATION, AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GO DO IT. SO AND I KNOW THERE'S A COUPLE LOCATIONS THAT YOU WOULD TALKED ABOUT AND I CAN'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT GET WITH ME AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THE PROCESS TO COME BACK TO YOU GUYS. ALL RIGHT. THANKS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. RILEY, AS ALWAYS. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM. I MEAN, WE HAD A ROUGH OVERNIGHT AND Y'ALL DID A GREAT JOB. THE PUBLIC WORKS STAFF OF KEEPING KEEPING A LOT OF OUR MAIN STREETS OPEN. THE GUYS WAS OUT THERE EARLY THIS MORNING WORKING AND, THEY DEFINITELY SOME OF OUR 
          [01:20:05]
UNSUNG HEROES KEEPING THIS CITY MOVING. THANK YOU JEFF. THANK YOU, NEXT WE GO TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE'VE ALREADY HAD THAT EARLIER CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA. MR. ALTMAN. ANYTHING, NOTHING THIS EVENING, MR. MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO, JUST GOT A TEXT FROM, MISS NICOLE LOVING. SHE HAD AN EXCELLENT RECOVERY EVENT HERE. SHE WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING HERE LAST WEEK AND FOR, AND FOR THE TREE OF HEAVEN, W HOWARD MYERS WAS THE SONG AMAZING GRACE HERE FOR HER RECOVERY EVENT. SO NICOLE SAID, TELL HOWARD THANK YOU FOR SINGING AT HER EVENT. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS, BUSINESS REPORTS FROM THE CLERK, MISS HILL. ANYTHING? NOTHING TONIGHT. NEXT BUSINESS OF REPORTS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY. ANY ITEMS TONIGHT, MISS WILLIAMS? NO REPORT, MISTER MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS ITEM 18. ADJOURNMENT SO MOVED. ALL RIGHT, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.