Jan 06, 2026 Regular Work Session

AYE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT.

[00:00:02]

[1. Roll Call]

AT THIS TIME, IT'S HILL. COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? COUNCIL MEMBER CUTHBERT HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER JONES HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER. MYERS HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER. WESTBROOK. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. SMITH. LEE. PRESENT. VICE MAYOR.

HILL. PRESENT. MAYOR. PEAR.

HERE. SO YOU HAVE A QUORUM.

NEXT. VICE MAYOR HERE WILL LEAD US IN OUR OPENING PRAYER.

I WANT TO, BEFORE I PRAY.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS ON THE WAY IN.

IF I MAY TAKE A LITTLE LIBERTY 2016.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD A WHOLE LOT GOING ON IN OUR CITY, AND WE FOUGHT TO GET PRAYER INSTITUTED BACK INTO OUR CHAMBERS.

AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WAS KIND OF UNEASY WITH IT, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE AS SOON AS WE STARTED PRAYING, THAT'S WHEN THINGS STARTED CHANGING FOR OUR CITY.

AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR CITY MIGHTILY.

I'M A MAN OF FAITH, AND I'M PRETTY SURE MANY OF YOU ARE.

AND THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE WE STARTED PRAYING.

SO FOR THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE IN PRAYER, LET US PRAY.

LET US PRAY THE LORD'S PRAYER ALL TOGETHER.

OUR FATHER, WHICH ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME.

THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD, AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, AND THE GLORY, FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ITEM THREE, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

COULD YOU 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. NEXT IS ITEM FOUR, DETERMINATION OF THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM.

WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. NEXT ITEM IS PUBLIC COMMENT.

[5. Public Comments]

FOR 10S. GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, COREY HARRIS, 2316 ANDERSON STREET.

I WANT TO SHOW THE ACTING CITY MANAGER AND THE VICE MAYOR SOMETHING.

FOR THE RECORD, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE CITY.

IT'S ABOUT ME. IF YOU DON'T MIND, IF I COULD.

GO. EITHER ONE.

I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THE BUSINESSES ON EACH PAPER.

IT'S TWO DIFFERENT ONES, BUT I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT IT.

YOU SEE US, DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY, WORLD BANK, ETC. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE CIRCLE, YOU CAN SEE THE BUSINESS WHO MANAGES THOSE INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES.

AND IF YOU NOTICE THAT BUSINESS HAS MY LAST NAME ON IT BECAUSE IT'S MINE.

DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A NO NAME BUSINESS, DOES IT? LOOK AT ALL THE BUSINESSES ON THERE.

MATTER OF FACT, IF YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE IN THE ROOM, BY ALL MEANS GO RIGHT AHEAD.

HERE'S MY POINT. 2026.

WE DON'T HAVE TO BE GOING AT EACH OTHER.

BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BIGGER POINT THAT I'M GOING TO ADDRESS.

OUT OF EVERY DEMOGRAPHIC IN THE CITY, BLACK MEN ARE AT THE BOTTOM.

EVERYTHING. AND WE, WE AS IN BLACK MEN, WE MUST BE ROLE MODELS FOR THOSE KIDS OR YOUNG MEN THAT ARE WATCHING.

AND IF WE'RE NOT ROLE MODELS, WE CAN'T MAKE MUCH PROGRESS WHEN IT COMES TO REBUILDING THIS CITY, BECAUSE WE CAN'T REBUILD PETERSBURG WITHOUT BLACK MEN. IT JUST CAN'T HAPPEN.

ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA, I HAVE READ SOME OF THE MOST VILE, INSENSITIVE, RACIST COMMENTS THAT I'VE EVER SEEN AND YOU'LL BE SURPRISED SOME OF THE VERY PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY CHALLENGED THESE INDIVIDUALS.

KENNY AND BOBBY BEVERLY, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO CHALLENGE THEM CONSTANTLY. IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT A GENTLEMAN THAT'S DOING A LOT OF GREAT THINGS AND INSPIRING PEOPLE EVERY DAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA,

[00:05:02]

HE WANTS THEM TO STAY FOCUSED.

SO WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU, WITH MY 19 SECONDS LEFT, IF YOU SEE THOSE PIECES OF PAPER FOR ALMOST EIGHT YEARS, YOU ASSUMED A LOT AND YOU ASSUME WRONG.

THANK YOU. BUT I LIKE THE PAPERWORK.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP, MR. JOE MADISON. MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL.

HERE TO SPEAK ON THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING A DECK ON MONROE STREET.

WHICH IS THE REAR SIDE OF THE SYCAMORE STREET, I SHOULD SAY THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE SYCAMORE STREET.

THE REAR OF THOSE BUILDINGS.

REASON FOR THE PARKING DECK ON MONROE STREET.

SYCAMORE STREET, BETWEEN TAB AND FRANKLIN IS A MESS.

THE ONLY WAY WE CAN ATTRACT INVESTORS TO RENOVATE THE SECTION WOULD BE TO ALLOW THEM TO SHOW THAT WE HAVE SUFFICIENT PARKING FOR THOSE INVESTORS.

PARKING ON SYCAMORE STREET IS HORRENDOUS FOR THE FEW BUSINESSES THAT EXIST THAT ARE EXISTING. THERE IS NO PARKING FOR CUSTOMERS WHEN THEY ARE OPEN, SO HOW CAN WE EXPECT NEW BUSINESSES TO EVEN GET OFF THEIR FEET? ABOUT HALF OF THE GROUND FLOOR SPACES ARE VACANT, EVEN IF YOU WERE ABLE TO FILL SOME OF THEM.

WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO PARK? THAT BRINGS US TO THE VACANT UPPER FLOORS.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS CAN OCCUPY ALL THOSE VACANT SPACES? A LOT. MANY OF THESE BUILDINGS ARE THREE OR MORE STOREYS TALL.

THE TAXES THAT WOULD BE GENERATED BETWEEN THE REAL ESTATE TAXES, MEALS, TAXES SHOULD COVER A GOOD SIZED DECK.

SO MANY OF THESE PARKING SPACES IN THE MONROE STREET LOT ARE UNDERUTILIZED ONLY BECAUSE THE CITY LEASED MOST OF THE SPACES TO A HANDFUL OF BUSINESSES, LEAVING THE REST TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES WITH NO OPTIONS.

SO THEIR CUSTOMERS GO ELSEWHERE IN THE NEW BUSINESSES THAT TRY THIS SECTION OF SYCAMORE STREET FAIL, WITH A FEW CAUGHT WITH THE NEW COURTHOUSE COMING SOON.

IT'S ONLY GOING TO PUT EVEN MORE PRESSURE ON THAT LOT.

PLEASE HOLD A MEETING WITH THESE BUSINESSES BETWEEN TAB AND FRANKLIN AND LISTEN TO THEIR NEEDS. PARKING IS NUMBER ONE.

JUST FOR THE RECORD, I DO NOT OWN ANY PROPERTIES WITHIN THIS BAND OF SYCAMORE STREET. I JUST WANT TO SEE THIS SECTION LOOK AS NICE AS FRANKLIN TO WASHINGTON AND TAB TO OLD STREET BY ADDING A DECK ON MONROE.

IT WILL BE MUCH EASIER TO ATTRACT WILLING INVESTORS.

I DO HAVE PETITIONS FROM PEOPLE THAT I GOT ON TAB FROM TAB TO FRANKLIN.

I DIDN'T SEND IT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

I JUST DID THAT ONE LITTLE STRETCH THERE, AND I GOT 100 AND SOME SIGNATURES AND ESPECIALLY THE SALON OWNERS OVER THERE, THEY ARE ECSTATIC THAT SOMEBODY ACTUALLY LOOKING INTO DOING THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE STRUGGLING, BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T FIND PARKING, THEY DON'T SHOW UP FOR THEIR APPOINTMENTS AND SO FORTH. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT UP, MR. AJANI SEKOU. JOHNNY SEKOU, 27 SOUTH SYCAMORE STREET.

I GOT THREE MINUTES, SO I'M GOING TO BE SWIFT. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU.

GREAT. YEAH. I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.

FIRST OFF JOE BASTIAN.

YEAH, WE DO NEED PARKING DOWN ON SYCAMORE STREET, BUT SYCAMORE STREET IS MORE THAN JUST OLD TOWN.

WE HAVE SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENING AT THE TOP OF SYCAMORE STREET THAT YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND FIFTH.

WE ARE BUILDING A GATEWAY TO DOWNTOWN PETERSBURG.

THAT MIGHT NOT. IT MIGHT BE THE FIRST TIME YOU HEARD IT.

THAT'S BECAUSE WE ARE CREATING. THE BUSINESS OWNERS UP THERE ARE CREATING THIS GATEWAY TO DOWNTOWN PETERSBURG IN ORDER FOR THE PEOPLE TO COME IN AND SEE THE BUSINESSES, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO NEED YOU TO SUPPORT US. I KNOW, LIKE LAST YEAR WHEN I GOT FLOODED OUT, NONE OF Y'ALL CAME TO SEE ME.

[00:10:04]

WHAT IS THE CULTURE OF THE COMMUNITY? IS IT JUST OLD TOWN? IS IT JUST SYCAMORE STREET? ARE YOU GUYS TALKING TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS AS YOU'RE CREATING YOUR PLANS? YOU HAVEN'T TALKED TO ME YET.

YOU HAVEN'T TALKED TO MY OTHER BUSINESS PARTNERS. WE NEED TO TALK TO Y'ALL.

THIS IS NOT A BIG PLACE, CHARLIE.

I WALKED PAST YOU TODAY. YOU DIDN'T EVEN SPEAK. IT'S COOL.

I WALKED PAST A LOT OF Y'ALL. YOU DON'T SPEAK COOL.

YEAH. NO WORRIES. BUT I'M HERE TO SUPPORT.

I'M PETERSBURG STRONG AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. BECAUSE, SEE, WHAT HAPPENS IS, IF WE'RE NOT READY WHEN THE WHEN THE WHEN THE CASINO OPENS NEXT WEEK, WEEK AFTER NEXT, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE OVER OUR TOWN.

THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE OVER OUR TOWN. SO YOU NEED TO WORK WITH THE ENGINE. YOU NEED TO WORK WITH THE PEOPLE, NOT JUST FILL UP THE POCKETS.

NOT JUST TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

COME TALK TO US. COME SEE US.

IT'S NOT HARD TO FIND US.

THIS IS A SMALL TOWN. IT'S ONLY 35,000 PEOPLE HERE.

MAYBE ABOUT A THOUSAND BUSINESSES.

SOME OF THEM ARE RIGHT IN YOUR FACE.

BUT WE, THE BUSINESS OWNERS, WE ARE THE ENGINE OF THIS CITY.

YOU GUYS ARE JUST A TRANSMISSION.

BUT YOU NEED AN ENGINE TO MOVE FORWARD.

THE PEOPLE ARE THE FUEL.

WE GOT TO GET THE FUEL INTO THE ENGINE.

GOT TO GET THEM INTO THE TANK.

WE NEED SOME CREATIVE THINGS.

YOU GUYS GOTTA DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. NOT WHAT YOU DID WHEN YOU WAS RAPING AND ROBBING BACK IN THE DAY. WE NEED SOME DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS.

WE NEED SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

CAN WE GET SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN 2026? CAN I GET SOME COMMUNICATION FROM SOME OF Y'ALL? BECAUSE WE GOTTA WORK ALL TOGETHER. ALL THESE WARDS ARE DISCLOSED.

I COULD PUT A MURAL ANYWHERE TO SAY ANYTHING.

COME HOLLER AT US. THANK YOU.

NEXT, MR. VERNON GANNAWAY.

MR. MAYOR. YES. COUNCIL RESPOND TO THAT A MINUTE.

YES. COUNCILMAN COFFEY CALLS ME.

PULL, PULL! PULL YOUR MIC DOWN.

PULL YOUR MIC DOWN, MIKE.

I WAS IN PETERSBURG TODAY FOR 15 MINUTES BETWEEN ABOUT 315 TO 330, WHEN I STOPPED BY MY OFFICE TO PICK UP THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING.

I PUT MY FLASHES ON, PARKED IN A LOADING ZONE, WENT INTO MY OFFICE, GRABBED THE PAPERWORK I NEEDED, CAME BACK OUT AND DROVE TO THE CLOSED SESSION MEETING.

I'M SORRY I WAS LATE, I WAS LATE.

IF I DID NOT SPEAK TO SOMEONE IT WASN'T INTENTIONAL, I CAN ASSURE YOU. I ENJOY CONVERSATIONS, AND I AGREE THAT WE ARE ALL A TEAM, AND WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER, AND I'M READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO DO SO.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT, MR. GANAWAY GOOD AFTERNOON.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.

HAPPY NEW YEAR. MY NAME IS VERNAL GANAWAY, 652 OLD WAGONER ROAD.

I'D LIKE TO JUST DITTO ON EVERYBODY I'VE HEARD SO FAR.

WE BEING A RESIDENT, TOTAL RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY HAVE PUT PUT UP THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT DISAGREE AND AGREE ON.

I, LIKE THE GENTLEMAN SAID.

2026 IS A BETTER YEAR.

I WANT TO REALIZE THIS AS WELL.

COUNCILMAN AND EVERYBODY.

THE CASINO IS NOT OUR SAVIOR.

THE CASINO IS NOT OUR SAVIOR.

WE GOT TO REMEMBER, YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE WHO BUILT THIS CITY AND STILL LIVE HERE. AND THROUGH ALL OF THE CHANGES YOU MADE, AND YOU MIGHT PAY SOMEBODY TO COME UP AND SAY HOW GREAT YOU'RE DOING.

I DO NOT GIVE GREATNESS TO PEOPLE THAT UNTIL THEY TOTALLY COMPLETE THE JOB.

THAT'S WHERE I AM. AND MY DAD TAUGHT ME THAT I CAN I CAN AWARD YOU.

SO YEAH. GOOD JOB. BUT YOU HAVEN'T COMPLETED THE JOB YET FOR ALMOST GOING INTO THE 11TH YEAR, I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR ONE SIMPLE LIGHT.

I'VE BEEN EVERY KIND OF EXCUSE. I'VE TALKED TO EVERY COUNCILMAN I HAD, MR. DARREN HILL, HE WAS THERE.

WE HAD MR. MIKE RALSTON THERE.

NOW, I HAVE, YOU KNOW, MR. MARLOW JONES WHO WENT AFTER IT AGAIN WHILE WE GOT TO WAIT SO LONG FOR JUST A LIGHT.

COME ON, WE CAN GET ALL THE NEW LIGHTS DOWNTOWN.

IT'S JUST ONE SIMPLE LIGHT. I WASN'T, THEY TOLD DAN TOOK IT DOWN FROM A STORM.

THEY PUT THE POLE BACK AND NO LIGHT PUT BACK UP.

I'M IN AN AREA WHERE I DON'T GET.

I DON'T GET ALL THE NICEST OF THE SIDEWALKS.

[00:15:01]

MANY TIMES I SAW A MAN COME UP ABOUT MY LIGHT.

ONE TIME HE LOOKED UP THE LIGHT I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM SIX MONTHS AGO.

IT DOESN'T TAKE THAT LONG TO DO THIS, FOLKS.

AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT, I MEAN, WE GOT TO JUST LIKE THE GENTLEMAN SAID, WE GOT TO WORK TOGETHER. THIS THIS CITY IS NOT BUILT JUST ON CASINO.

WE GOT PEOPLE THAT'S RAILROADING COMING IN THIS CITY TO MAKE MONEY.

NOTHING WRONG WITH MAKE MONEY. I LOVE MAKE MONEY. I'M A SELF-EMPLOYED BUSINESSMAN TOO.

BUT DON'T FORGET THE CITIZENS. BECAUSE YOU.

WHEN WHEN ONE FALL ALL GOING TO FALL AND YOU'RE SITTING UP HERE.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE SITTING UP HIGH LIKE THAT, SOMETIMES WE GET A MENTALITY THAT IF FOR SOME REASON THAT WE'RE OVER THIS, WE'RE OVER THEM.

THEY YOU HEARD THE GENTLEMAN WHO CAME UP HERE.

HE'S BEHIND THE WORLD BANK.

WE DON'T HAVE. NO. JUST FROM THIS CITY HAS BROUGHT IN MAYORS, DOCTORS, LAWYERS, YOU NAME.

IT CAME FROM THE EVIDENCE OF PEABODY HIGH SCHOOL, HENRY WILLIAMS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, JOHN COOK SCHOOL.

AND THESE ARE THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT SOME OF THEM ARE STILL HERE LIKE I AM.

SO ALL THE NICENESS YOU SEE IN THE CUTTING THE RIBBONS, I DON'T SEE YOU CUTTING RIBBONS FOR EVERYBODY. I DON'T SEE A LOT OF PLACES HAVEN'T BEEN CUT. I AIN'T SEEN THEM CUT. THEY GOT NEW BUSINESS. I SEE NO RIBBONS. CUT FOR THEM. CUT RIBBONS FOR EVERYBODY.

OKAY. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M HERE.

I'M NOT LEAVING. SOME PEOPLE HAVE LEFT HERE.

LOOK AT YOUR YOUR SENSES.

NOW, OF THIS CITY, YOU'LL FIND OUT THAT SOME OF THEM LEFT.

I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE SAID ABOUT.

WELL, WHY IS HE. I'M NOT COMPLAINING.

YES, SOME GOOD THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE, BUT THE JOB IS NOT FINISHED YET. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT, MISS BARBARA RUDOLPH.

GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL.

BARBARA RUDOLPH, 1675 MOUNT VERNON STREET.

AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

I'LL BE I'LL BE SHORT AND AND LIGHT ON YOU.

BUT I THINK THERE'S ALREADY BEEN SOME GREAT SUGGESTIONS MADE, AND I'M KIND OF SPEAKING IN THE SAME VEIN OF SOME OF THE OTHER FOLKS OF, LIKE, LOOKING FORWARD THROUGH 2026 SINCE WE'RE JUST STARTING A NEW YEAR.

AND HOW COULD WE DO THINGS MAYBE DIFFERENTLY AND BETTER? AND, YOU KNOW, TOPPING MY LIST AND THIS WON'T SURPRISE YOU IS TRANSPARENCY.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LOT MORE TRANSPARENCY.

I WON'T ELABORATE, I'M NOT GOING TO ELABORATE ON ANY OF THIS RIGHT NOW. I'M JUST THROWING THE IDEAS OUT THERE. AND WE COULD BE DOING A LOT BETTER WITH THAT.

THE SECOND THING I'M PUTTING IS COMMUNICATION, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE I'VE REALLY BOUNCING OFF THE IDEAS.

EXCELLENT COMMENTS MADE BY OTHER FOLKS, WHICH IS CITY PEOPLE COMMUNICATING WITH ONE ANOTHER, THE CITY COMMUNICATING WITH CITIZENS, THE CITY COMMUNICATING WITH BUSINESSES.

I KNOW, I KNOW, YOU'RE MAKING EFFORTS, BUT ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT BECAUSE I THINK VERNELL MENTIONED IT. AND ANA JOHNNY IS LIKE, EVERYTHING IS NOT ABOUT OLD TOWN.

SO WE HAD A NICE MARKETING VIDEO THAT WE THAT WAS PUT OUT RECENTLY, AND IT WAS A LOT OF GOOD THINGS WERE FEATURED, BUT I NOTICED THERE WAS NOTHING.

I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN THERE REALLY ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS IN PARTICULAR.

I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD THING TO EMPHASIZE, AND I KNOW YOU ALL ARE INTERESTED IN IT, BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT TOURISM.

AND FINALLY, IT'S JUST YOU BROUGHT SOMETHING UP TODAY THAT HADN'T OCCURRED TO ME, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT IS RESPECT FOR CITIZENS.

STARTING OFF THE YEAR WITH COMING THIS MEETING, STARTING AN HOUR AND 15 MINUTES AFTER THE STATED TIME IS PRETTY BAD.

I REALIZE YOU SAID, MR. MAYOR, THAT YOU KNOW, YOU'VE HAD A WHOLE MONTH AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND MEETINGS AND YOU HAD A LOT TO DO.

I RECOGNIZED THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU MEET FROM 3:00 TO 615, ALMOST TO 615. THAT'S A LONG MEETING.

THERE'S A LOT THAT GETS TALKED ABOUT AND DECIDED IN THOSE MEETINGS THAT WE NEVER SEE.

SO THAT LOOPS RIGHT BACK TO TRANSPARENCY.

SO LET'S SEE MORE TALKED ABOUT IN PUBLIC AND LESS TALKED ABOUT IN CLOSED MEETINGS.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS ITEM SIX TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA TO INCLUDE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS

[6. Approval of Consent Agenda (to include minutes of previous meetings)]

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS.

CLOSED SESSION MINUTES OF DECEMBER 9TH, 2025.

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF DECEMBER 9TH, 2025 MEETING BE FIRST READ AND SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE FY 26.

PETERSBURG CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUDGET.

ITEM C FIRST READ AND SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENT TO THE FY 26 GRANTS FUND.

ITEM D FIRST READING SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A DEED OF EASEMENT AT 3101 JOHNSON ROAD.

ITEM E FIRST READING SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ATTENTION OF THE PETERSBURG CITY COUNCIL TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF,

[00:20:04]

COUNCILMAN JONES SECOND.

MISS, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? COUNCIL MEMBER. CUTHBERT. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. JONES.

AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. MYERS.

AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. WESTBROOK. AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER. SMITH. A VICE MAYOR.

HILL, A MAYOR. AYE. THAT MOTION CARRIES.

[7. Special Reports]

A PRESENTATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF RAIL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

MR. DARIUS MASON, GOOD EVENING.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.

HAPPY NEW YEAR. SO TODAY WE WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU GUYS.

I'VE GOT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF RAIL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WITH ME, ALONG WITH THE KIMLEY-HORN GROUP, TO KIND OF GIVE COUNCIL AN OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT PAT HAS ONGOING.

BUT BEFORE I PRESENT THEM, I'D LIKE TO HAVE MY OPERATIONS MANAGER, LESTER STEVENSON, COME UP AND GIVE COUNCIL AN OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE GREAT PROJECTS THAT WERE ACCOMPLISHED IN 2025 BY PETERSBURG AREA TRANSIT.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING, GOOD EVENING. THIS IS NOT ONE OF MY BIGGER SUITS, PUBLIC SPEAKING, BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU GUYS AN OVERVIEW OF THE THINGS THAT WE WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH OVER AT PETERSBURG AREA TRANSIT OVER THE LAST YEAR.

OKAY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THAT WE ADOPTED A SYSTEM CALLED MAGA MOTIVE. THIS SYSTEM, IT ALLOWS US TO DO A LIVE LOOKING INTO THE BUSSES FOR THE SAFETY AND FOR THE CORRECTION OF OPERATORS, WHICH MAKES IT SAFER FOR THE PETERSBURG AREA TRANSIT AND THE EXCUSE ME, THE RESIDENTS OF PETERSBURG.

AS FAR AS THE MURDERER, THE MOTORIST AS WELL.

OKAY. THAT SYSTEM GIVES US OUR REPORTING KPIS, KEY POINT INDICATORS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT HELP US IMPROVE IN THE FUTURE.

AND IT'S AN APPLES TO APPLES SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS US TO SAVE A LOT OF MONEY, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY SAVED A LOT OF FUNDS TO GET THIS SYSTEM GOING.

THE OTHER SIDE OF IT IS THE INTEGRATION THAT GOES WITH A SYSTEM THAT'S CALLED BUS WHERE.

BUS WHERE GIVES THE PASSENGERS THE CAPABILITY TO BE ABLE TO LOOK ON THEIR CELL PHONES AND SEE WHERE THE BUS IS AT, STOP THE STOP AND STREET TO STREET.

SO THIS KEEPS PEOPLE OUT OF CLIMATE.

KEEP THEM OUT OF THE EXCUSE ME, THE THE WEATHER SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY COME OUT WHEN THE BUS IS AVAILABLE.

OKAY. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE IS AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE STARTED EVENING SERVICE.

AND WITHIN THAT EVENING SERVICE, WE HAVE ALREADY SO FAR PICKED UP A GREAT DEAL OF FOLKS. SO THE SERVICE IS ACTUALLY BEING USED.

UTILIZED. WE HAVE GOTTEN THE WEBSITE GOING.

THE WEBSITE IS WW DOT.

AND WITHIN THAT WEBSITE YOU CAN GO IN AND YOU CAN WE CAN WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH ALL OF THE PASSENGERS AND THE CITIZENS OF PETERSBURG, WHETHER IT'S A LIVE EVENT, ETC.

ANYTHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT UP ON THE WEBSITE TO COMMUNICATE TO THE PASSENGERS.

IT ALSO GIVES THEM ACCESS TO THE BUS WHERE THROUGH A TAB.

I KNOW IT'S NOT A LOT OF TIME.

I'M GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS AS QUICK AS I TAKE YOUR TIME. YOU'RE GOOD, YOU'RE GOOD. SO FAR, WE'VE ALSO PUT UP OVER 40 MAPS THROUGHOUT THE PETERSBURG AND THE TRI CITY AREA. THAT CONNECT SHOWS EVERYBODY HOW TO CONNECT TO OUR SYSTEM, AND WHERE THEY CAN MAKE THEIR CONNECTIONS AT BEYOND INTO THE GREATER RICHMOND.

WE'VE ALSO ALREADY WAS PARTNERED WITH RICHARD BLAND.

WE GO THROUGH VSU, AND NOW WE'RE AT BRIGHT POINT COLLEGE, WHICH WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING THE ROUTE THREE.

THAT WAS ONLY GOING TO MCGUIRE HOSPITAL.

SO NOW THAT'S COVERING THE BOULEVARD CHESTER, VIRGINIA AREA. AS LONG AS AS WELL AS EXCUSE ME.

AS WELL AS COLONIAL HEIGHTS.

SO WE'RE NOW WAITING ON THAT MOU FROM COLONIAL HEIGHTS TO COME THROUGH, WHICH IS ALREADY BASICALLY BEEN APPROVED BY DOUG SMITH.

AND ONCE THAT COMES THROUGH, THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THOSE FOLKS INTO THAT AREA AS WELL. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A LOT MORE THAT WE'VE COVERED, BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A TIME THING, SO ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE DONE A LOT IN 2025 AND WE'RE LOOKING TO

[00:25:05]

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANKS, DARIUS.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE A QUICK UPDATE ON THE MODERNIZATION STUDY ON THE STATUS OF THE TRANSIT FLEET AND IN MODERNIZING THAT.

AND THEN WE'RE ALSO GOING TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE PROPOSED NEW FACILITY AT 800 ARLINGTON STREET, STARTING WITH THE MODERNIZATION STUDY.

THIS IS ONE STUDY UMBRELLA FROM A FUNDING PERSPECTIVE, BUT THERE'S REALLY THREE PARTS TO IT.

THE TWO THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED THUS FAR ARE THE COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS FOR THE ADA COMPLEMENTARY PARATRANSIT SERVICE, AS WELL AS THE ACCESSIBILITY GAP ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH THE FIXED ROUTE, THE REGULAR BUSSES AND THE ADA PARATRANSIT SERVICE. AND IN 2025, WE BEGAN WORK ON THE ALTERNATIVE FUEL FEASIBILITY STUDY, LOOKING AT LOW EMISSION VEHICLES AND ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES, AND KIND OF WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF THOSE WERE IMPLEMENTED. SO I BELIEVE YOU RECEIVED A PRESENTATION IN 2025, KIND OF ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE OPERATIONS ANALYSIS AND GAP ASSESSMENT.

BUT JUST AS A QUICK REVIEW AS TO WHAT THE THOSE MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS WERE.

THOSE INCLUDE ENHANCING EXISTING SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO INCREASE ACCESS, WHICH IS PROJECTS LIKE EXTENDING THE SERVICE HOURS THAT THE BUSSES RUN.

EVALUATING AND REFINING THE SERVICE TO UNDERSERVED AREAS AND IMPROVING THE BUS STOP.

AMENITIES AND THE GENERAL ACCESS TO BUS STOPS.

UNDER THE IMPROVED PUBLIC FAMILIARITY WITH PET SERVICES RECOMMENDATION.

YOU KNOW, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, WORK HAS REALLY ALREADY BEGUN ON THAT.

ESPECIALLY THE ESTABLISHING CHANNELS FOR REGULAR PUBLIC FEEDBACK.

YOU KNOW, ALREADY UP AND RUNNING ON THE WEBSITE.

IS A NEW WAY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK.

BUT THIS RECOMMENDATION ALSO INCLUDES IMPROVING ACCESS TO AND SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT PET SERVICES. AND THEN THE LAST RECOMMENDATION INCLUDES IS FOR OPTIMIZING EXISTING OPERATIONS, WHICH INCLUDES ADDRESSING WORKFORCE CHALLENGES, MAKING SURE THAT PET CAN HIRE ENOUGH MECHANICS AND OPERATORS TO KEEP THE SERVICE RUNNING EVERY DAY AND ALSO UTILIZING NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES. AGAIN, WORK HAS ALREADY BEGUN ON THAT AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THE RESULTS.

SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO KATIE MILLER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF RAIL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE FLEET.

YEAH. SO ONE OF PETERSBURG AREA TRANSIT'S CONTINUAL PROBLEMS IS THEIR AGING FLEET AND MAKING SURE THEY HAVE ENOUGH VEHICLES TO OPERATE THEIR SERVICE.

AT THEIR DESIRED RATES ACROSS THEIR BOTH THE LARGE BUSSES AND THE PARATRANSIT VEHICLES, THEY HAVE 28 VEHICLES THAT ARE PAST THEIR USEFUL LIFE.

SO MEANING FOR THE LARGE VEHICLES THAT THESE BUSSES ARE 10 TO 12 YEARS OLD AND THEN THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ORDER SEVEN NEW BUSSES IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP THEIR FLEET UP TO DATE, AS WELL AS WORKING REALLY HARD WITH GRTC TO GET SOME DONATED BUSSES IN ORDER TO KIND OF FILL THOSE GAPS IN THE MEANTIME BECAUSE THESE VEHICLES DO HAVE A PRODUCTION LEAD TIME OF 18 TO 21 MONTHS. SO HOPEFULLY THESE NEW BUSSES THAT HAVE BEEN ORDERED WILL BE ARRIVING IN 2027, IF NOT EARLY 2028.

AND WITH THE FLEET PAT IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE DRAFT MERIT CAPITAL PROGRAM.

THEY'LL BE APPLYING IN THE FISCAL YEAR 27 CYCLE UNDER FOR THE STATE OF GOOD REPAIR, WHICH IS REALLY A PROGRAM THAT PRIORITIZES REPLACING VEHICLES THAT ARE BEYOND THEIR USEFUL LIFE. AND WITH THIS, THEY'LL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A STATE MATCH RATE OF UP TO 68%. I'LL TURN IT BACK TO SAM.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND LASTLY, WE'LL GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE NEW MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS FACILITY.

AS A REMINDER, THERE WAS A FEASIBILITY STUDY COMPLETED BACK IN 2024 LOOKING AT MULTIPLE SITES THROUGHOUT THE CITY WITH A FOCUS ON CITY OWNED SITES TO KIND OF REMOVE THAT NEED TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY. AND THE SELECTED SITE WAS THE CITY OWNED SITE AT 800 ARLINGTON STREET. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO ADVANCE THAT PROJECT.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE WORK IS ONGOING, AND WE ALSO BEGAN THE 30% DESIGN LATE IN 2025, SO THAT IS ONGOING AS WELL.

AND THIS REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY $1 MILLION THAT'S BEEN INVESTED SO FAR IN THIS NEW FACILITY. AND LOOKING AHEAD, WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.

PAT WILL BE APPLYING FOR SOME MERIT FUNDING THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF RAIL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO FUND FINAL DESIGN.

THAT APPLICATION IS DUE FEBRUARY 1ST.

AND THAT MONEY, IF SUCCESSFUL, WOULD BE AVAILABLE STARTING JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR. AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE A PORTION OF A MATCH TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT FUNDING FROM THE CITY. SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO NOTE.

BUT IF THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL YOU KNOW, THIS COULD PUT THEM IN LINE TO BEGIN

[00:30:04]

SO THAT'S THE STATUS OF THE NEW FACILITY.

HERE'S A QUICK, UPDATED RENDERING OF WHAT THE NEW FACILITY AT 800 ARLINGTON WOULD LOOK LIKE. IT INCLUDES NEW ADMINISTRATIVE, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AREAS.

YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS BUS WASH, PARKING, FUELING AND ALL THOSE FACILITIES.

SO WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I, MR. MASON, I'M NOT SURE WHO WHO CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION BEST, BUT I'M SURE YOU CAN EITHER ANSWER IT OR CALL SOMEONE TO THE PODIUM TO ADDRESS IT, AND I APPRECIATE IT, IF YOU WILL.

WHAT IS THE NUMBER OF ROUTE MILES WITHIN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG ON THAT MAP? THAT WAS PART OF THE PRESENTATION.

OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I WOULD SAY.

I KNOW THE CITY IS 23,000MI².

I WOULD SAY ABOUT 150 MILES OF ROUTES.

OKAY. ABOUT 150 MILES.

OKAY. THANK YOU. AND WHAT IS THE NUMBER OF ROUTE MILES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF PETERSBURG THAT WAS SHOWN ON THAT MAP? WE HAVE A ROUTE THAT GOES TO MCGUIRE VETERANS HOSPITAL.

THAT'S ABOUT 40 MILES.

BRIGHT POINT COLLEGE IS ABOUT 22 MILES.

SO LET'S SAY 70 MILES ALTOGETHER.

NOW, DIDN'T I SAW SOMETHING? I SAW A ROUTE GOING DOWN I-85.

I SAW A ROUTE GOING OVER TO HOPEWELL.

I SAW A ROUTE GOING TO COLONIAL HEIGHTS.

I DON'T THINK THE 40 WAS TO MCGUIRE'S.

THE 22 WAS WHERE? REPEAT THAT.

YOU GAVE US TWO NUMBERS, 40 AND 22.

YEAH, I THINK MCGUIRE HOSPITAL IS ABOUT 40 MILES.

22 TO 23 MILES WILL BE BRIGHT POINT COLLEGE, CITY OF HOPEWELL.

YOU'RE TALKING MAYBE 15 MILES UP THE BOULEVARD RIGHT NOW, WHICH WE CURRENTLY WENT BACK UP.

THAT'S ABOUT TEN MILES.

WAIT A MINUTE. ARE THESE ONE WAY MILES OR ROUND TRIP? MILES ROUND TRIP. SO YOU GO TO HOPEWELL AND IT'S ONLY 15 MILES ROUND TRIP.

THAT BUS STAYS IN THE CITY OF HOPEWELL.

IT DOESN'T COME BACK TO PETERSBURG.

TO THE LAST TRIP. OKAY.

IT'S A CIRCULAR ROUTE THAT STAYS IN THE CITY OF HOPEWELL.

DO WE DO OUR BUSSES WEAR OUT QUICKER IF WE RUN THEM OUTSIDE OF PETERSBURG, AS OPPOSED TO NOT RUNNING THEM OUTSIDE OF PETERSBURG? THEY'RE GOING TO WEAR OUT QUICKER BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF BUSSES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

SOME OF OUR FIVE 50S. THEY'RE NOT HEAVY DUTY BUSSES, SO THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET MORE WEAR AND TEAR ON THOSE TYPE OF BUSSES.

WE HAVE 40 FOOT BUSSES, 35 FOOT BUSSES THAT HAVE MET THEIR USEFUL LIFE, AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO KEEP THEM RUNNING AS BEST AS WE CAN RIGHT NOW.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, LET ME GO BACK TO MY QUESTION. DO OUR BUSSES WEAR OUT QUICKER IF WE RUN THEM OUTSIDE OF PETERSBURG? IF IT'S IF IT'S IN PETERSBURG OR OUTSIDE OF PETERSBURG, THEY'RE GOING TO WEAR OUT. YEAH, BUT.

THEY WILL WEAR OUT QUICKER IF WE RUN THEM OUTSIDE OF PETERSBURG.

AS COMPARED TO LIMITING THEM TO PETERSBURG.

WOULDN'T YOU AGREE? NO, NOT.

NOT NECESSARILY, SIR. THE NEW MATH FOR ME.

OKAY. OUR GENERAL BUDGET FOR THE PETERSBURG AREA TRANSIT DEPARTMENT. HOW MUCH OF THAT GENERAL BUDGET COMES FROM PETERSBURG TAXPAYERS? TYPICALLY ABOUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE FARE FREE.

WE'VE BEEN FARE FREE SINCE COVID.

IF WE WERE ACCEPTING FARES, OUR FARE BOX REVENUE BRINGS ABOUT 395 TO $400,000 A YEAR. OKAY.

AND BUT HOW MUCH OF OUR GENERAL BUDGET COMES FROM IS PAID BY PETERSBURG TAXPAYERS.

NOW I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.

I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION RIGHT NOW. WELL, IF YOU COULD. AND WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S PERMISSION, IF YOU WOULD REPORT THAT BACK TO US BOTH IN TERMS OF DOLLARS AND IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGE OF THE GENERAL BUDGET.

OKAY. THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

AND LET ME GO TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET.

AND I THINK THE ANSWERS WOULD BE THE SAME, BECAUSE THE QUESTION IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.

YES. BUT THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH OF OUR CAPITAL BUDGET IS PAID BY PETERSBURG TAXPAYERS? AGAIN, I WILL I WILL GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.

OKAY. BOTH IN DOLLAR SIGNS AND IN PERCENTAGES.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MASON. AND IF YOU COULD BRING THAT TO US AT OUR WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S PERMISSION, IF YOU COULD BRING THAT TO US AT OUR JANUARY 20TH MEETING,

[00:35:02]

THANK YOU. OKAY. VICE MAYOR HILL.

MR. MASON, I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND YOUR STAFF ON A JOB WELL DONE.

I'LL SEE YOU GUYS ALL THE TIME.

THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUSSES ARE CLEAN.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SEEM LIKE THEY'RE DOING WELL. AND ONE THING THAT WAS SO UNIQUE THE GENTLEMAN WHO GAVE THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU HAD COME UP, I SAW A YOUNG LADY. I GUESS SHE WAS DOING A LITTLE CODE ON THE BUS STOP OR SOMETHING.

I GUESS SEEING WHERE THE BUS WAS.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SHE WAS DOING, BUT SHE HAD HER PHONE, AND AT FIRST I THOUGHT SHE WAS TAKING A PICTURE, BUT I NOTICED SHE WAS SHE WAS TAKING DOING THE THING WITH THE COACH. SO I THINK THAT'S THAT'S PRETTY NEAT. THAT WAY THEY CAN SEE EXACTLY HOW LONG THEY HAVE TO WAIT.

AND THAT'S THAT'S IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW, IF ANYBODY EVER I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A CHILD, WE USED TO HAVE TO CATCH THE BUS FROM WHERE WE LIVED DOWNTOWN THEN TO WANTED, WANTED MALL. I MEAN WANTED PLAZA AND WANTED HILL THE MALL.

AND I CAN REMEMBER GETTING TRANSFERS AND ALL THAT STUFF AND HOW THE WAY WE USED TO THE BUS USED TO COME ON SYCAMORE STREET AND ALL THAT FUMES AND STUFF.

YOU KNOW, IF WE'VE COME A LONG WAY, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

AND BY BEING THE NATIVE UP HERE, I WAS LOOKING AT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO MOST OF US OTHER THAN COUNCILMAN MYERS ON COUNCIL AND EVEN HIM BEING HERE, YOU KNOW, BEING IN RICHMOND, HE KNOWS A LOT ABOUT PETERSBURG AS WELL.

BUT ALL OF US, WE'RE FROM PETERSBURG, ALL OF US WENT TO PEABODY.

YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T GO TO PEABODY HIGH SCHOOL.

WE WENT TO PEABODY JUNIOR HIGH.

AND WHAT HAVE YOU. AND IT'S JUST IT'S JUST REFRESHING TO SEE WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE I THINK SOMETIMES WHEN WE SPEAK OF CERTAIN THINGS, ESPECIALLY TO THE COUNCIL, AS IF WE DON'T HAVE A I'M LOOKING AT MOST OF EVERYBODY UP HERE, GOT SOME TYPE OF BUSINESS UP HERE, SOME TYPE OF WAY. AND I'M NOT THROWING SHADE AT ANYBODY.

WE ARE VESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE HOW FAR WE'VE COME.

AS FAR AS WITH OUR BUSSES AND WHAT HAVE YOU OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS OR SO AND WHAT HAVE YOU. I REMEMBER THE SILVER GREEN BUSSES, YOU KNOW, THAT'S HOW FAR WE WERE GOING BACK WHEN WE GOT TO PULL THE LEVER, THE LEVER AND EVERYTHING.

SO, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU YOU'VE DONE.

THANKS TO YOUR STAFF. THANKS TO I LOVE THE TROLLEYS.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THEY'RE A GREAT LOOK EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO CHRISTMAS TIME AND THINGS LIKE THAT, PARADES AND ALL THAT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S THAT FIREHOUSE RED, I CALL IT.

SO KUDOS TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF.

THANK YOU. OKAY. RIGHT.

COUNCILWOMAN SMITH LEE.

EXCUSE ME. I'M A LITTLE UNDER THE WEATHER, BUT ANYWAY, I'M HERE, MR. MASON. THANK YOU.

ON MY WAY TO WORK IN THE MORNING, GOING TO THE DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY.

I SEE PEOPLE GETTING ON THE BUS AND GETTING OFF THE BUS THERE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL LADIES WHO WORK AT SOME OF THE HOTELS RIGHT DOWN THERE ON JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY. I SEE THEM GOING TO WORK.

SO THIS IS A PLUS. AND I KNOW THEY COMING FROM PETERSBURG BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T BE GETTING OFF RIGHT THEN AND THERE.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, AND HOPE THAT WE CAN HELP OUT PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMAN MYERS? YEAH. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, BUT I DO WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO EXPLAIN TO SOME OF THE MEMBERS ON COUNCIL THAT IT COSTS MORE TO STOP A BUS THAN IT DOES TO RUN A BUS, DOESN'T IT? CORRECT. AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT AN OPERATION OF AN AUTOMOBILE AND ASK YOU WHAT'S THE MILEAGE ON YOUR CAR, AND YOU SAY, WHAT? IT'S HIGHWAY MILES.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MASON. SO, AS COUNCIL CAN SEE, TRANSIT IS MOVING FORWARD.

WE ARE DILIGENTLY DOING A LOT OF GREAT THINGS.

AND IT'S IT'S NOT JUST ME.

IT'S IT'S MY TEAM OF MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS THAT I HAVE WITH ME.

AND WE WANT TO THANK TRANSIT.

I MEAN, THANK COUNCIL ALSO ALONG WITH DRPT AND THE KIMLEY-HORN GROUP FOR BACKING US WITH ALL OF THESE PROJECTS? YES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU GUYS.

GREAT JOB. NEXT IS ITEM SEVEN B THE FY 27 REAL ESTATE REASSESSMENT.

MRS. WILLIAMS, GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

HAPPY NEW YEAR. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

OKAY. SO WE JUST WANT TO GIVE AN OFFER, A QUICK RUNDOWN OF THE REASSESSMENT PROCESS.

IN THE NOTICES THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS WILL RECEIVE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

SO ASSESSMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO REFLECT FAIR MARKET VALUE ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION OF VIRGINIA AND THE CODE OF VIRGINIA.

SO WHEN WE SAY FAIR MARKET VALUE, WE'RE REFERRING TO THE PRICE AT WHICH A WILLING BUYER AND WILLING SELLER WILL EXCHANGE FOR PROPERTY WITH NEITHER SIDE UNDER ANY OBLIGATION TO ACQUIRE OR SELL.

[00:40:01]

VIRGINIA IS A DISCLOSURE STATE AND THAT THE SALES PRICE IS INCLUDED ON THE DEEDS.

SO SOME EXAMPLES OF SALES THAT DO NOT REPRESENT FAIR MARKET VALUE ARE FORECLOSURES, BANK SALES AND FAMILY SALES.

SO AND THEN SOME OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT HELP US DETERMINE FAIR MARKET VALUE COSTAR, WHICH IS AN INDUSTRY LEADER OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DATA, MLS IS A MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE IS A DATABASE ESTABLISHED BY REAL ESTATE BROKERS.

EAGLEVIEW IS A HIGH RESOLUTION AERIAL IMAGERY THAT ALLOWS OUR TEAM TO VIEW PROPERTY AND MEASURE STRUCTURES AND DETECT ANY CHANGES.

AND OF COURSE, MARKET REPORTS PROVIDE STATISTICS SHOWING DATA LIKE MEDIAN, SALES PRICE, INVENTORY LEVELS, AND DAYS ON MARKET.

OKAY, SO THIS IS WHAT OUR NOTICES ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

IT WILL INCLUDE THE NEW VALUE FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEARS, AS WELL AS THE LAST TWO PER STATE CODE.

IT INFORMS PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE APPEAL DEADLINES AND WHERE THEY CAN ACCESS APPEAL APPLICATIONS IN OUR CONTACT INFORMATION.

THERE'LL BE ABOUT 14,000 REASSESSMENT NOTICES THAT WILL BE MAILED ON JANUARY 21ST.

BASED ON THE NEW FIGURES WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW, AROUND A 14% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS ASSESSMENT.

BUT WE'LL HAVE THOSE FINAL FIGURES FOR YOU BY NEXT WEEK.

SO SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DOING A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. WE'RE ADDING AN FAQ PAGE ON THE BACK OF THE REASSESSMENT NOTICES.

WE CAN KIND OF GO THROUGH THEM QUICKLY, BUT IT'S ALSO LOCATED ON OUR WEBSITE THAT WE'VE POSTED FOR THE PUBLIC.

SO THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE PRIMARY FUNCTION IS TO PROVIDE ACCURATE AND STATUTORY COMPLIANT REAL ESTATE INFORMATION.

THE CITY WIDE GENERAL REASSESSMENT IS EVERY TWO YEARS ON EVEN NUMBERED YEARS WITH THE APPEAL DEADLINE APRIL 1ST.

AGAIN. STATE CODE MANDATES.

LOCALITIES ASSESSED AT FAIR MARKET VALUE TO REFLECT THE CURRENT REAL ESTATE MARKET.

FOR RESIDENTIAL PARCELS VALUES DETERMINED BY USING SALES APPROACH FOR PROPERTIES THAT ARE SIMILAR IN CONDITION, SIZE, AGE AND CONDITION.

AND THEN THE INCOME APPROACH IS USED TO DETERMINE THE FAIR MARKET VALUE BASED ON INCOME THE PROPERTY GENERATES FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS.

PEOPLE THINK IT'S RENOVATIONS, BUT REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THERE ARE ANY PERMANENT ADDITIONS OR ENHANCEMENT TO THE LAND.

SO THIS DOESN'T MEAN RENOVATIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE, BUT JUST AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE BUILDING WAS MADE TO REFLECT THE CURRENT MARKET.

SO IF THE PROPERTY OWNER DISAGREES WITH THE ASSESSED VALUE, THEY CAN FILE APPEAL AT NO COST.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR AN APPRAISAL.

AND OUR OFFICE CAN PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR THE APPEAL PAPERWORK AS WELL.

CITYWIDE REASSESSMENTS ARE CONDUCTED BY ANNUALLY, AND THE THE TAX RATE IS ESTABLISHED EVERY YEAR.

AND THEN WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT PROPERTY OWNERS REACH OUT TO THEIR MORTGAGE PROVIDERS IF THEY'RE ESCROWED TO UPDATE THEIR ESCROW ACCOUNT.

AND WE ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING THE TAX RELIEF.

IN ADDITION TO THE REASSESSMENT NOTICES, WE'RE ALSO LAUNCHING A NEW GIS.

THE GIS, OR GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM, IS AN ONLINE PUBLIC PORTAL THAT COMBINES ASSESSMENT DATA, SALES RECORDS, AND MAPPING ONTO ONE PLATFORM.

IT ELIMINATES THE NEED TO CHECK MULTIPLE SOURCES.

IT'S IT'S A HELPFUL TOOL FOR PROPERTY OWNERS DURING THE APPEAL PROCESS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE ORIGINAL GIS UNTIL JULY OF THIS YEAR, GIVING USERS TIME TO GET ADJUSTED TO THE NEW VERSION.

SO HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER.

JANUARY 21ST ASSESSMENT NOTICES WILL BE MAILED.

THE INFORMAL REVIEW PERIOD IS FROM JANUARY 21ST TO MARCH 1ST.

IF YOU ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE DECISION FROM THE OFFICE.

REVIEW OR MISS THE DEADLINE.

YOU CAN APPEAL TO THE BOE, WHICH IS THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, AND THEN IF ALL DEADLINES ARE MISSED, YOU CAN APPEAL TO THE CIRCUIT COURT.

OKAY. AND THIS IS OUR CONTACT INFORMATION.

WE ARE LOCATED THIRD FLOOR OF CITY HALL.

SO WE UNDERSTAND THIS CAN BE A STRESSFUL TIME, BUT PLEASE REACH OUT TO US. WE'RE HERE TO HELP. WHATEVER YOU NEED.

SO. YEAH, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. AND YOUR STAFF ALWAYS DOING SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB FOR US.

I NOTICED IN THERE THAT WE HAD THE THE TAX RATE NUMBER THERE TO BE TO BE DETERMINED.

AND, AND I HEARD YOU SAY, I THINK THE, THE TAX WAS UP, THE APPRAISALS WAS UP ABOUT 14%, THE ASSESSMENTS WAS UP 14%.

SO I THINK IN BUILDING BUILDING UP WHAT THAT WHAT THAT NEW NUMBER IS I KNOW COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO, TO, TO LOWER OUR TAX RATE AT LEAST A NICKEL.

[00:45:03]

YEAH, YEAH. COUNCILMAN.

WELL WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE PASSAGE IN THE BIBLE DEALING WITH SOLOMON AND HOW HE CUT THE BABY IN HALF OR PROPOSED TO CUT IT IN HALF.

AND IT WOULD. I DON'T KNOW HOW A NICKEL FALLS INTO CUTTING THE 14% INCREASE IN HALF, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF DIVIDING THE INCREASE IN HALF AND RETURN 7% OF THAT 14 OR WHATEVER IT TURNS OUT TO BE.

TO THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF PETERSBURG, BECAUSE EVERY, EVERY CITIZEN IN PETERSBURG WHO LIVES IN PETERSBURG PAYS REAL ESTATE TAXES, EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.

EITHER THEY WRITE A CHECK TO THE CITY OR IT'S REFLECTED IN THEIR RENT PAYMENT.

BUT THERE'S JUST NO FREE LUNCH.

I MEAN, WHEN WHEN THE.

IF THEY HAVE AN APARTMENT AND THE.

LANDOWNER'S REAL ESTATE TAXES INCREASE, HE'S GOING TO RAISE THE RENT BECAUSE HE'S GOT A MORTGAGE TO PAY, AND HE'S GOT TO KEEP THAT CASH FLOW EVERY MONTH GOING TO THE BANK.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER A NICKEL IS MORE OR LESS THAN 7% OF THE ANTICIPATED TOTAL REVENUE, BUT I WOULD LIKE US TO FOCUS ON A 50% RULE OF CUTTING THAT TAX INCREASE IN HALF AND DEVOTING 7% TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND 7% TO THE CITIZENS.

I HAVE YET TO SEE A BUREAUCRAT WHO COULD NOT SPEND MORE MONEY THAN HE WAS GIVEN.

I MEAN, IT IT'S. IT'S NOT BLANK CHECK TIME.

IT REALLY ISN'T. WE ARE WORKING WITH CONFIDENCE.

BUT THIS IS ALL PRELIMINARY.

WE WERE JUST SAYING OUT OF THE LET'S GET DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT NUMBER IS ON THAT 14%.

SHE HAS TO PUT OUT IN THE IN THE MAIL, WHICH IS GOING TO JUST BE OUR REGULAR TAX RATE UNTIL WE ADJUST IT, UNTIL WE GET THOSE NUMBERS. SO WE'LL JUST KEEP IT STATUS QUO FOR WHAT IT IS UNTIL THE CITY MANAGER CAN COME BACK TO US WITH WHAT, THE 14% NUMBER? YEAH. WE WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT IT COULD CHANGE.

YES. WHICH WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU, MISTER MAYOR. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

MISTER MAYOR, AND NOT ONLY WHAT IS THE INCREASE GOING TO BE IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGE, BUT IF WE DID CUT THE BABY IN HALF HOW MUCH WOULD THAT ALLOW US TO LOWER THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE? SO IF WE COULD INCLUDE BOTH THOSE THINGS IN THE REQUEST OF THE CITY MANAGER.

ONE, WHAT IS THE TOTAL INCREASE? DOLLAR AMOUNT. AND TWO IF WE CUT THE BABY IN HALF AND USE THAT HALF OF THE BABY TO REDUCE THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE, WHAT WOULD THE NEW REAL ESTATE TAX RATE BE? OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, MR. WILLIAMS. AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, GARY OR MARY, BUT I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A REPORT FROM FINANCE AT THE NEXT MEETING OR IN THE IN THE NEAR FUTURE, YOU'LL HAVE A MORE REFINED FIGURE, AND HE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL NUMBERS THAT WILL HELP YOU IN DETERMINING WHAT YOUR RATE WILL BE. ALL RIGHT. PERFECT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT WE MOVE ON TO ITEM EIGHT MONTHLY REPORTS.

[9. Finance and Budget Report]

THE MONTHLY UPDATE. MR. GARY COZIER. GOOD EVENING.

HAPPY NEW YEAR. GOOD EVENING.

HAPPY NEW YEAR. GARY COZIER, BUDGET MANAGER.

YES, HERE WE ARE. MONTHLY FINANCE UPDATE.

AS A NOTE, WE'LL HAVE TWO UPDATES THIS MONTH.

SINCE THERE WAS ONLY ONE MEETING IN DECEMBER.

SO. YES, NEXT MEETING WE'LL DO ANOTHER BUDGET TO ACTUALS.

SOME OTHER STUFF HERE. BUT THESE ARE BUDGET TO ACTUALS THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH.

OKAY. SO NOVEMBER 30TH, 41% OF THE YEAR HAS BEEN COMPLETED.

WE HAD 37% OF SPEND ON THE GENERAL FUND.

AND WE'RE TRACKING VERY GOOD ON THE REST OF THE OTHER FUNDS.

YEAH. THAT'S ALL. SO THANK YOU.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. KOCHER.

ANY ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS? YES, VICE MAYOR. NOT REALLY A QUESTION, BUT. SO WITH OUR ASSESSOR, MISS WILLIAMS, AND YOU BASE MOST OF YOUR FIGURES OFF OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING IN FOR THE MOST PART, CORRECT. SO WOULD IT BE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THE TWO TWO TO TALK SOMEHOW? I MEAN, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YEAH. YEAH, THAT MAKES SENSE.

ARE YOU REFERRING TO. ARE YOU REFERRING TO FINANCE AND THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE? I'M TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU. WHEN WE'RE BUDGETING, I MEAN TO SEE MAKE SURE WE DON'T FALL LOW OF

[00:50:04]

SO YES, WE WE WILL HAVE THAT.

AND YEAH, WE DO A LOT OF COLLABORATION WITH.

OKAY. BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO GET THAT ESTATE TAX DOWN AS LOW AS WE CAN, BUT WITHOUT IMPACTING EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE GOING ON, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE KNOW WE GOT, YOU KNOW, WATER LEAKS AND EVERYTHING GOING ON. YOU CAN DRIVE DOWN THE STREETS NOW.

I GAVE SOME SOME INFORMATION TO OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER TODAY.

SO WE STILL GOT WE STILL GOT TO OPERATE THE CITY. BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE MAYBE AT A POINT NOW WHERE WE CAN DROP DOWN.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BOTH ENTITIES ARE TALKING.

THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

[10. Capital Projects Update]

POOR CREEK. UPDATE TEN.

JMT.

GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY TO BE BACK AND EXCITED TO GIVE SOME UPDATES TO THE PETERSBURG WATER AND WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC UTILITIES.

I'LL GO THROUGH A HANDFUL OF THESE PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT FEW SLIDES.

OOPS. CAN YOU GET ME BACK? THERE YOU GO. SO THE FIRST ARE TWO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON THE LAST YEAR AND CHANGE.

THERE'S A WATER LINE EXTENSION AND A BOOSTER PUMP STATION OFF OF SOUTH CRATER AND PORT CREEK. AND THEN THE 2 MILLION GALLON WATER STORAGE TANK OFF OF FRONTAGE ROAD.

BOTH ARE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE.

THEY WERE PERMITTED BY PRIOR TO THE HOLIDAYS AND THE TANK IS FULL AS OF TODAY.

SO IT'S GOT 2 MILLION GALLONS OF DRINKING WATER AND IS FUNCTIONING AS IT WRAPS UP.

SOME OF THE SITE WORK AND WE MOVE TOWARDS FINAL COMPLETION.

SO BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS ARE WRAPPING UP AND SHOULD BE DONE WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH, BUT ARE BOTH FUNCTIONING.

THE PORT CREEK FORCE MAIN PROJECT.

THE CONSTRUCTION IS ONGOING PROJECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN SUMMER 2026.

AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY ENTERING SOUTH CRATER FROM WINFIELD AND MOVING MOVING NORTH.

AND THE WATER MAIN PORTION OF THE PROJECT IS BEING WRAPPED UP ON OLD CHURCH.

THE PUMP STATION PROJECT IS ALSO ONGOING AND PROJECTED TO BE COMPLETE IN FALL OF 2026.

SO BOTH THESE PROJECTS ARE ONGOING MOVING FORWARD AND WRAPPING UP THIS YEAR A FEW LOCKS. WATER MAIN PROJECT, ALSO AN ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THE LAST YEAR AND CHANGE IT IS WRAPPING UP AND PROJECTED TO FINISH ON TIME ROUGHLY MARCH OF THIS YEAR. SO THAT IS ANOTHER BIG PROJECT WRAPPING UP REPLACING AN 80 YEAR OLD 20 INCH ASBESTOS WATER MAIN, THE FIRST OF MULTIPLE PHASES OF THAT REPLACEMENT.

THE LEAD SERVICE LINE INVENTORY AND REPLACEMENT PROJECT.

WE ARE WRAPPING UP, CLOSING ON FUNDING FOR THE REPLACEMENT PHASE AND PRELIMINARY PLANNING. WE ACTUALLY JUST SUBMITTED SOME PAPERWORK TO TO CLOSE ON THAT 3.4 MILLION GRANT AND ARE EXPECTING A STATUS UPDATE FROM VH ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR FUTURE REPLACEMENT. SO THAT PROJECT IS GOING TO START WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AND GO THROUGH WINTER 2029 AT THE LATEST.

THE SECOND ROUND OF FUNDING, SHOULD WE RECEIVE AN AWARD, WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE VH AND EPA DEADLINES.

A FEW OTHER PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN ONGOING THAT ARE NEARING CONSTRUCTION IS THE MOUNT VERNON WATER TANK REPLACEMENT.

IT WAS INSPECTED AND DEEMED HAVING STRUCTURAL MAJOR STRUCTURAL ISSUES.

THAT IS HAD FINAL PERMITTING, BUT WE ACTUALLY JUST GOT THE CONSTRUCTION PERMIT TODAY. SO WE ARE WRAPPING UP THE FRONT END CONFIRMING FUNDING, AND ARE HOPING TO ADVERTISE WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. THAT'S A PRETTY LARGE PROJECT THAT WE'RE HOPING TO GET CONSTRUCTED BY THE END OF 2026.

THE MOUNT VERNON BOOSTER STATION, WHICH IS A MAJOR NEEDED UPGRADE TO ADD A THIRD PUMP TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH IN POOR CREEK, HAS BEEN ADVERTISED JUST BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING TO GET BIDS LATER THIS MONTH AND THAT WILL BE ANOTHER ONE MOVING FORWARD.

CONSTRUCTED IN 2026, A WATER MAIN OR EXCUSE ME WAGNER ROAD WATER MAIN EXTENSION.

THERE'S ACTUALLY MULTIPLE PHASES OF THIS TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH IN POOR CREEK COMING FROM BOTH SOUTH CRATER AS WELL AS FOR 60.

SO PORTIONS ARE GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN 2026 WITH ARPA FUNDING.

THE ONE IS IN PRELIMINARY DESIGN, BUT IT'S A VERY QUICK ACCELERATED DESIGN EXPECTED PROBABLY SUMMER 2026.

[00:55:01]

SO HOPEFULLY TO HAVE SOME OF THAT CONSTRUCTED THIS YEAR AS WELL.

THE PRINCE GEORGE INTERCONNECT PROJECT IS THE EMERGENCY WATER CONNECTION BETWEEN PETERSBURG AND PRINCE GEORGE, OFF OF BAXTER AND TRAVIS LANE.

THAT PROJECT WAS ALSO ADVERTISED JUST BEFORE THE HOLIDAY AND HOPING TO GET BIDS LATER THIS MONTH. ANOTHER PROJECT THAT WE'VE BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING ON IS THE WATER AND SEWER EXTENSION FOR THE NEW ANIMAL SHELTER OFF OF PLANK ROAD.

THAT PROJECT IS WRAPPING UP FINAL DESIGN AND HOPING TO GET THAT ADVERTISED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THIS IS PURELY FOR THE WATER AND SEWER EXTENSION TO THE PROPERTY.

THAT'S ANOTHER 2026 PROJECT.

SOUTH CRATER ROAD INTERCEPTOR.

THIS IS THE LARGE DIAMETER SEWER THAT GOES THROUGH THE POOR CREEK SWAMP THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS HAVING INFLOW AND INFILTRATION ISSUES.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT CONFIRMING FUNDING HOPEFULLY THIS MONTH WITH DIC AND GETTING THAT ONE ALSO CONSTRUCTED IN 2026.

THE POOR CREEK ACCELERATED SEWER REHABILITATION IS A SCALABLE SEWER REHAB PROJECT ALSO IN PORT CREEK.

SO THAT IS BEGINNING STUDY AND FUNDING CONFIRMATION WITH DIC.

SO WE'RE HOPING TO GET THAT STARTED IN 2026 AS WELL WITH A VARIABLE FUNDING AMOUNT.

A COUPLE FUTURE PROJECTS LOCKS, WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT PHASES TWO AND THREE.

SO IT'S REPLACING THE FURTHER SOUTH PORTIONS OF THE LOCKS.

WATER MAIN THAT IS ALSO 80 YEAR OLD 20 INCH ASBESTOS WATER MAIN.

SO THOSE ARE BEGINNING STUDY AND LOOKING AT GETTING FUNDING FOR BOTH THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION. THE LOCKS BOOSTER STATION, THAT WHICH DELIVERS WATER TO BOTH THE SECOND AND NEW THIRD PRESSURE ZONES.

THAT PROJECT WAS A SHELF DESIGN, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT FUNDING TO SHELVE IT AND GET THAT CONSTRUCTED. CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR 2029 DEPENDING ON FUNDING.

SO THOSE ARE A HANDFUL OF ACTIVE PROJECTS.

THERE'S PLENTY OF OTHER ONES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE END OF LAST YEAR THAT NEED FUNDING. SOME ANNUAL SOME CIP PROJECTS.

SO WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING WITH UTILITIES TO IDENTIFYING FUNDING SOURCES TO GET THESE CONSTRUCTED. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.

SO I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. ALL THE WORK IS DEFINITELY MORE THAN A FEW PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE GOING ON HERE.

AND WE THANK YOU FOR KEEPING A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS ON BUDGET, ON BUDGET AND ON TIME.

BECAUSE IT'S DEFINITELY VITAL FOR THE GROWTH THAT'S GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? YES. COUNCILMAN JONES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. HOW YOU DOING? GOOD. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PROJECT GOING DOWN WAGNER ROAD NEXT YEAR.

WHAT PARTS OF WAGNER ROAD ARE WE GOING DOWN? ARE WE GOING IN THE MIDDLE? ON THE SIDE? I'M ASKING BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING PROBABLY ABOUT 3000 CARS A DAY COMING DOWN WAGNER ROAD, GOING TO ONE OF OUR NEW VENTURES.

SO HOW IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT THAT PROJECT, GOING TO AFFECT THE BUSINESSES OVER THERE? YES, SIR. AND AFFECT BROOKLYN MANOR RESIDENTS BECAUSE WE DEPEND ON THAT WATER.

SO HOW'S THAT GOING TO AFFECT EVERYTHING. SO ONE OF THE PROJECTS IS OFF OF SOUTH CRATER.

THERE'S ACTUALLY A TEE AND A VALVE INSTALLED AS PART OF THE OTHER PAW CREEK PROJECT FOR FUTURE EXTENSION TO GO FROM SOUTH CRATER TO BRASFIELD, WHICH IS CURRENTLY BEING DESIGNED BY THE SAME ENGINEER OF THAT PROJECT.

AND THAT IS OBVIOUSLY THE ROAD LEAVING THE CASINO.

THAT'S HOPING TO STAY IN ONE LANE.

SO IT'S PURELY AS MINIMAL IMPACT AS POSSIBLE.

THERE'S ALSO A POTENTIAL TO IT'LL COST MORE, BUT POTENTIAL NIGHT WORK OR SOME WAY TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACTS. AND THE OTHER PROJECT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE FROM 460.

THE CITY IS PURSUING GETTING THAT CONSTRUCTED, BUT THAT WOULD COME OFF AND CROSS WAGNER BEFORE THE RAILROAD TRACKS.

SO THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE CASINO AND WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE PHASED. SO THERE WASN'T ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION ON BOTH SIDES.

SO I THINK WHAT I'M ASKING, IS IT GOING TO BE ON THE DMV SIDE OF WAGNER ROAD OR THE CASINO SIDE OF WAGNER ROAD? THE FIRST PROJECT IS GOING TO BE ON THE WEST SIDE OF OF WAGNER ROAD CLOSER TO SOUTH CRATER, AND THE OTHER SIDE IS ACTUALLY A TRENCHLESS CROSSING, SO THERE'LL BE NO ROAD IMPACTS.

SO I USE LANDMARK BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING TO THE PEOPLE, RIGHT? A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHICH SIDE IS THE WEST SIDE AND NORTH SIDE. EAST SIDE.

SO THE DMV SIDE OR THE CASINO SIDE.

WHICH ONE? WHICH SIDE ARE WE DOING THE WORK ON?

[01:00:03]

GOTCHA. THAT'S ALL I GOT.

THANK YOU. OKAY. YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD JOB. NEXT ITEM, 11 UTILITIES.

NO ITEMS FOR TONIGHT. ITEM 12 STREETS.

NO ITEMS FOR TONIGHT. ITEM 13 FACILITIES.

NO ITEMS FOR TONIGHT. NUMBER 14, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

NOTHING FOR TONIGHT. ITEM 15.

[15. City Manager's Agenda]

I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF OUR GOOD CITIZENS, CITY EMPLOYEES WHO'VE BEEN DOING A REMARKABLE JOB.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ITEMS FOR YOU TILL THESE STREETS FACILITIES, BUT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MR. RICHARD HARRIS, THINGS.

AND THAT DEPARTMENT HAS MADE A REMARKABLE TURNAROUND, SIR. AND I WANTED TO LET YOU AND YOUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES JUST KNOW ABOUT THAT.

SO MR. ALTMAN WILL BE SAYING THE EXACT SAME THING, RIGHT? DEFINITELY. COUNCILMAN JONES.

TWO THINGS. I DO WANT TO VISIT THE STREETS AND UTILITIES.

BECAUSE YOU HAD A YOUNG MAN COME UP AND HE'S BEEN ASKING ABOUT THAT LIGHT.

I KNOW WE'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO IT SO WE CAN VISIT THAT AGAIN.

THE SECOND THING IS, I AGREE WITH THE CITY MANAGER ON MR. RICHARD HARRIS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN DIRECT HIM AT THIS MOMENT, BUT I THINK RICHARD HARRIS, MR. HARRIS IS A PERFECT PERSON TO BE PERMANENT IN THAT POSITION.

BUT I KNOW WE CAN'T DO IT, YOU KNOW? I KNOW THIS PERSON NOW, BUT LET ME TELL Y'ALL SOMETHING.

PUBLIC WORKS IS THE FIRST FIRST RESPONDERS.

IT'S NOT THE POLICE. IT'S NOT THE FIRE.

I KNOW OF NO OFFENSE TO Y'ALL, BUT WHEN WE NEED THEM FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE THERE. WE NEED THEM FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THEY'RE THERE. IT AIN'T ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT.

BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN TIMES WHEN POLICE WAS DOING FIREMAN JOB AND FIREMAN, BUT THEY WEREN'T DOING POLICE JOBS.

BUT BUT THEY THEY'RE OUR REAL FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR POLICE, FIRE EMS. BUT WE CAN'T SLEEP ON PUBLIC WORKS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE REASON WHY WE GET IN OUR WATER. THEY'RE THE REASON WHY WE'RE GETTING THINGS FIXED IN THE CITY.

AND I WANT THEM TO BE THE REASON THAT WE CAN FIX THESE LIGHTS.

THAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU, MISTER MAYOR.

OKAY. COUNCILMAN COOPER.

I WANT TO SECOND WHAT OR REPEAT FROM MY EXPERIENCE, WHAT COUNCILMAN JONES JUST SAID, I FOUND RICHARD HARRIS TO BE PHENOMENALLY DEDICATED, ENERGETIC, EFFECTIVE AND I HOPE THE CITY MANAGER WILL RECOGNIZE HIS TALENTS IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, VICE MAYOR HILL.

ON ANOTHER NOTE MR. MILLER IF YOU'RE GOING SOUTH, CRATER ROAD, AND BEFORE YOU GET TO HERE, THERE'S ANOTHER LANDMARK BEFORE YOU GET TO KING'S BARBECUE. I THINK THERE'S A LEAK RIGHT THERE SPEWING FROM THE STREET.

YEAH. VICE MAYOR, I TALKED WITH MR. RICHARD HARRIS ABOUT THAT. HE LOOKED INTO IT AND FOUND OUT THAT IT'S PART OF THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON ON POOR CREEK, AND IT'S UNDER WARRANTY.

SO THE CONTRACTOR IS GOING TO COME BACK OUT THERE, DIG IT UP, FIX IT, AND THEN REPAIR THE.

OKAY. OKAY. SO ALONG WITH THE ONE I GAVE YOU EARLIER, THAT ONE. AND WE SHOULD BE GOOD, I BELIEVE.

I'VE BEEN SEEING THE PUBLIC WORKS THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON ALL OVER THE PLACE, SO WE THANK THEM FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK ALONG WITH MR. RICHARD HARRIS. THANK YOU. YES, SIR.

OKAY. THANK YOU. NOW, ANY BUSINESS REPORTS FROM THE CLERK,

[16. Business or reports from the Clerk]

ON JANUARY 13TH AT 5 P.M., COUNCILORS WESTBROOK AND SMITH LEE WILL BE HOSTING A WARD SIX AND SEVEN MEETING, AND THAT WILL BE HELD HERE AT THE LIBRARY AS WELL. WE WILL HAVE A CITY OF PETERSBURG FOOD DISTRIBUTION COMING UP.

IF YOU MISSED THE JANUARY 21ST ONE, WHICH WAS A GREAT EVENT, THE CITY WAS ABLE TO SERVE OVER 400 FAMILIES.

THE NEXT ONE WILL BE FEBRUARY.

I'M SORRY, JANUARY 21ST AT 5 P.M.

AND FEBRUARY THE 18TH AT 5 P.M..

AND THEY BOTH WILL BE AT UNION TRAIN STATION AND VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED, SO WE NEED YOU. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.

ORGANIZATIONS AND CITY EMPLOYEES.

PUBLIC. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

AND THE STAFF DEFINITELY THANKS THE MAYOR.

COUNCILMAN MYERS, ALL OF THE COUNCIL.

WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT. I'M MAD BECAUSE WE AIN'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT.

WE TALKED TO COUNCILMAN MYERS ABOUT THAT.

YEAH, HE SHUT US OUT OF THAT ONE.

[01:05:01]

AND ALSO THE DAY OF SERVICE EVENT WILL BE AT TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH, HOSTED BY COMMUNITY TRANSFORMERS IN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT REPORTS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY, MR. WILLIAMS. NO REPORT, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS ITEM 18.

ADJOURNMENT. ADJOURN THIS MEETING.

SO MOVED. SO MOVED. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THIS MEANS. ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU. GOOD NIGHT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.