[1. Roll Call] [00:00:04] CONCLUDES OUR CLOSED SESSION. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FOR MARCH 3RD, 2026. AT THIS TIME IS WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COUNCIL MEMBER CUTHBERT HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER JONES HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. WESTBROOK. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. MYERS HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. SMITH. PRESENT. HERE. HERE. NEXT. VICE MAYOR. HE WILL LEAD US IN OUR OPENING PRAYER. LET US PRAY. OUR GOD AND OUR FATHER IS ONCE AGAIN, WE COME BEFORE YOU, FIRST OF ALL, GIVING YOUR NAME, HONOR, PRAISE, AND GLORY. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. WE THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS OF TODAY. NOW, LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU GO WITH US. HEAVENLY FATHER, AS WE DELIBERATE THIS MEETING, HEAVENLY FATHER, CONTINUE TO BLESS US IN OUR CITY AND OUR CITIZENS. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK A SPECIAL BLESSING UPON OUR SENIORS. HEAVENLY FATHER. KEEP THEM STRONG AND KEEP THEM SAFE. DO THE SAME FOR OUR YOUTH. HEAVENLY FATHER, THAT NO HURT, HARM, OR DANGER WILL COME NIGH THEM. LORD, WE ASK A SPECIAL ANOINTING AND BLESSING UPON THIS COUNCIL AS WE DELIBERATE. HEAVENLY FATHER, GIVE US WISDOM ON HOW THAT THAT YOU GAVE SOLOMON BE WITH OUR STAFF, OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR DIRECTORS, HEAVENLY FATHER, OUR ASSISTANT MANAGERS, HEAVENLY FATHER, BE WITH THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES, HEAVENLY FATHER AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. LORD, WE ASK THAT BLESSINGS UPON THIS CITY AND A GREAT WAY. IT'S IN YOUR NAME. WE PRAY AND WE THANK YOU. AMEN. AMEN. NEXT, EVERYONE, PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 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 ITEM FOR DETERMINATION OF PRESENCE OF A QUORUM. WE DO [5. Public Comments ] HAVE A QUORUM. NEXT, WE'LL ROLL RIGHT INTO OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. THIS ONE. OKAY. NEXT, WE'LL START OFF WITH MISS CINDY PERKINS. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CINDY PERKINS. MY ADDRESS IS 1918 DODSON ROAD. I HAVE I'M IN WARD SEVEN. I'VE BEEN AN RN FOR OVER 40 YEARS. I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE BEEN ALL IN ON THIS DATA CENTER, BUT CAN YOU PLEASE LISTEN TO THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS YOU REPRESENT? I'M BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON HEALTH CONCERNS FROM DATA CENTERS BEING CLOSE TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS. I RECOGNIZE THE CITY'S GOAL OF ECONOMIC GROWTH. I WISH TO PLACE ON THE RECORD MY FIRM OPPOSITION TO THE 125 FOOT SETBACK CURRENTLY PROPOSED. ALSO, THE WARRENTON GROUP HAS NO TENANT, AND THEY CAN'T VERIFY ALL CONCERNS THAT RESIDENTS HAVE WILL BE MITIGATED. HAS A HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT BEEN DONE BY THE WARRENTON GROUP? THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN BEFORE ANY CONSTRUCTION PERMIT, BASED ON EMERGING INDUSTRY STANDARDS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA AND INDEPENDENT RESEARCH, 125 FOOT SETBACK IS INSUFFICIENT TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF RESIDENTS IN THE RAMBLEWOOD AND NEIGHBORING AREAS. UNDER THE INTENT OF M-1 LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DESIGNATION, DESIGNATED USES MUST NOT BE INJURIOUS TO THE USE AND ENJOYMENT OF NEIGHBORING PROPERTY. A MERE 125 FOOT LENGTH OF THREE SCHOOL BUSSES FAILS TO MEET THE STANDARD FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS. INADEQUATE ACOUSTIC BUFFER. UNLIKE TRADITIONAL LIGHT INDUSTRIAL USES, DATA CENTERS PRODUCE A 24 OVER SEVEN TOTAL TONAL NOISE, WHICH IS A LOW FREQUENCY CONTINUOUS HUM WHICH CAN BE HEARD FOR MILES AT 125 FOOT. THIS NOISE IS DOCUMENTED TO PENETRATE RESIDENTIAL WALLS, CAUSED SLEEP DEPRIVATION, HEADACHES, INCREASED STRESS, RINGING IN THE EARS AND HEARING LOSS, CHRONIC NOISE EXPOSURE AND POOR AIR QUALITY ARE LINKED TO CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, INCREASED BLOOD PRESSURE, HEART ATTACKS, AND HEART DISEASE. RESPIRATORY ISSUES. THORNTON GROUP SAYS THEY WILL STAY WITHIN REGULATIONS OF EMISSION. HOW CAN THEY SAY THIS WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE A TENANT? THE SITE PLAN IS INCOMPLETE BECAUSE IT CAN'T ACCOUNT FOR THE NOISE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF AN UNKNOWN TENANT. HAS THE CITY COMMISSION TO SOUND STUDY, RATHER THAN RELYING ON THE STUDY PROVIDED BY DEVELOPERS, VCU RESEARCH MAPPED OUT POLLUTION FROM 138 DATA CENTERS IN THE REGION OF ARLINGTON, FAIRFAX, LOUDOUN AND PRINCE WILLIAM BETWEEN 2015 AND 2023. CARBON MONOXIDE INCREASED 196%, NITROUS OXIDE INCREASED 111%, DANGEROUS PARTICULATE MATTER INCREASED 139%. THESE AREAS HAVE ALREADY MOVED SETBACKS TO 200 TO 300FT DUE TO CITIZEN COMPLAINTS AND LAWSUITS. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE COUNCIL REQUIRE THE DEVELOPER TO IMPLEMENT A MINIMUM OF 300FT SETBACK FOR ALL MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT AND BUILDINGS, AND REQUIRE A BINDING PROFFERS FOR SOUND DAMPENING WALLS, NOT JUST LANDSCAPE THAT ENSURES NOISE [00:05:02] LEVELS DO NOT EXCEED 45DB. AT THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY LINE, THE WARRENTON GROUP SAYS THEY WILL BE GOOD NEIGHBORS. NO GOOD NEIGHBOR HAS THE RIGHT TO SUBJECT THEIR NEIGHBORS TO CONDITIONS THAT JEOPARDIZE THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. NEXT, MR. JOHNNY SEKOU. JOHNNY SEKOU, 27 SOUTH SYCAMORE STREET. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. HOW IS EVERYBODY THIS EVENING? ALRIGHT. GREAT, GREAT. I'M ACTUALLY COMING TO YOU GUYS FOR A LITTLE HELP. AS YOU KNOW HOW ACTIVE I AM IN THE COMMUNITY, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I CAN'T TOLERATE ANYMORE. AND THAT'S THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND HOW IT'S BEING RUN RIGHT NOW. I PERSONALLY, WHEN I FIRST CAME TO PETERSBURG FOUR YEARS AGO, I VOLUNTEERED WELL OVER 2000 HOURS. IT WASN'T COURT APPOINTED. IT'S ME WORKING WITH MY COMMUNITY. I'VE BEEN A SUPPORTER OF THE HABITAT FOR OVER 40 YEARS. MY FATHER INTRODUCED THAT TO ME. I KNOW THEIR MISSION. I KNOW WHAT THEY DO PERSONALLY. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH. I KNOW THAT THAT PARTICULAR HABITAT HAS NOT PUT UP A HOUSE IN OVER FIVE YEARS. THEY RECEIVE OVER HISTORICALLY, THEY'VE RECEIVED 125,000 FROM CDBG, WHICH IS CITY MONEY. SO THAT'S WHY I'M COMING TO YOU. I'M DOING MY DUE DILIGENCE CORPORATELY. I'VE ALSO SEEN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF MERCHANDISE COMING IN FROM WALMART, LOWE'S, AMAZON TRUCKLOADS THAT NEVER, EVER HIT THE SHOWROOM FLOOR. PEOPLE ARE BEING UNDERSERVED. THE BUILDING HAS NOT BEEN RENOVATED OR UPDATED. THERE'S MOLD. PEOPLE ARE SHOPPING IN THAT. FLOODING IN THE BASEMENT. I THINK IT'S A TRAVESTY. AND SO LIKE AS WE CLEAN UP OUR CITY, I KNOW WE GOT OTHER THINGS, THE PEOPLE. BUT THIS IS A CONCERN OF MINE AS THIS DIRECTLY AFFECTS LOCALLY OUR PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE AROUND BECAUSE THEY NEED THAT THOSE SERVICES AND THEY SHOULD BE DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. I KNOW THAT'S THE ONLY ONE WORD, BUT I KNOW THIS IS ALL OF OUR WARD, ALL OF OUR CITY, AND IT'S AFFECTS ALL OF US. SO I'M ASKING FOR Y'ALL FOR HELP FOR THIS ONE ON THIS ONE RIGHT HERE, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO DO MY PART AND Y'ALL KNOW I'M GOING TO MAKE SOME NOISE. SO WITH THAT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. I'M GONNA YIELD THE REST. AND I NEED TWO TRASH CANS UP THERE BY WHERE I'M AT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU JOHNNY. ALL RIGHT. NEXT. AND ACCORDING. THAT'S ME. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANNA KORDIC. I'M ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS AT 139 MONROE STREET WITH MR. HARDENBERGH'S LAW FIRM. I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU GUYS TODAY ABOUT OUR PARKING SITUATION. WE HAVE BEEN PARKING AT, ESSENTIALLY WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE NEW COURTHOUSE. SO THERE'S A BIG OPEN LOT RIGHT ACROSS THE POLICE STATION WHERE THE NEW COURTHOUSE IS GOING TO BE BUILT. AND WE ARE ALL VERY EXCITED FOR THE NEW COURTHOUSE. HOWEVER, FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE BEEN PAYING THE CITY FOR ABOUT EIGHT PARKING SPOTS THERE. WE'VE. BEEN UNABLE TO PARK THERE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS WEEK. WE KNEW THAT WAS COMING, SO WE HAVE ACTUALLY SCOPED OUT A ANOTHER PARKING SPOT ACROSS FROM MONROE STREET. AND SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING FROM THE COUNCIL IS ESSENTIALLY PERMISSION TO TRANSFER OUR PERMITS FROM THE PREVIOUS PARKING LOT, ERECT PRIVATE PARKING SIGNS FOR THE EIGHT SPOTS ACROSS THE STREET. IT IS, I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME PRIVATE PARKING THERE ALREADY FOR SOME OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES. SO WE'RE JUST ASKING. THERE'S A THREE THERE'S A COUPLE OF THREE HOUR PARKING SPOTS. WE'RE ASKING FOR THOSE TO BE CHANGED TO OUR PARKING SPOTS, PRIVATE PARKING, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE GIVING THE CITY REVENUE AS WE HAVE. WE'VE BEEN PAYING EVERY SINGLE MONTH. WE ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO DO THAT. BUT A LOT OF OUR OUR PARALEGAL STAFF AND SOME OF OUR ATTORNEYS ARE HAVING SOME TROUBLE FINDING OPEN PARKING, STREET PARKING. NOW THAT THE CITY HAS BLOCKED OFF THE PARKING LOT WHERE THE COURTHOUSE WILL BE BUILT. THANK YOU FOR THAT SO MUCH. AND IF IF BACK IN THE BACK THERE'S JEFF STOKE IN THE BACK. RAISE YOUR HAND JEFF. ALL RIGHT. VAN MARI, WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH JEFF AND WE'LL FIGURE THIS OUT OKAY? YES, SIR. OKAY. AWESOME. THANK YOU OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT I HAVE DOCTOR ROSALIA. DOCTOR ROWE. YES. GOOD [00:10:08] AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DOCTOR ROSALIA WEAVER ROY. AND I'M A RESIDENT OF 2942 HOMESTEAD DRIVE HERE IN PETERSBURG. FIRST, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THE UPLIFTING ECONOMIC ENHANCEMENT AS IT RELATES TO THE CITY OF PETERSBURG. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, IN MY OPINION, THAT I SEE PROGRESS IN JOB AVAILABILITY, CONSTRUCTION, LARGE SCALE CAPITAL INVESTMENT, AND HOUSING. EVEN THOUGH MANY OF US CAN'T AFFORD IT. AS IT RELATES TO THE DATA CENTER, IT IS SHARED THAT WE WILL RECEIVE A SUBSTANTIAL TAX BASE REVENUE IF THE DATA CENTER IS HOUSED IN PETERSBURG, IT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO LOCAL ECONOMY, EXPAND ECONOMIC TAX BASE AND GENERATE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. I STAND HERE THIS EVENING TO VOICE MY CONCERN REGARDING THE DATA CENTER CAMPUS BEING HOUSED IN PETERSBURG, ESPECIALLY IN THE RESIDENTIAL AND SCHOOL AREAS. MANY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS ASK, WHAT IS A DATA CENTER? COUNCILMAN WESTBROOK, I AM FULLY AWARE THAT YOU HAVE HAD WARD MEETINGS TO ADDRESS THIS CONVERSATION, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBERS. I FEEL THAT YOU ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE, BUT FIRSTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO CLEAR THE AIR SO THAT ALL ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE OF A OF DEFINING A DATA CENTER. A DATA CENTER IS A LOCATION THAT STORES COMPUTER MACHINES THAT RELATES TO THEIR HARDWARE EQUIPMENT LIKE SERVERS, STORAGE SYSTEMS, NETWORK EQUIPMENT. FOR MANY YEARS, PETERSBURG HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS THE UNHEALTHIEST CITY IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. THIS IS NOT NOTHING TO BRAG ABOUT. IN 2022, A STUDY ASSESSING THE HEALTH OF EVERY CITY AND COUNTY IN VIRGINIA WAS DONE. THIS WAS KNOWN FOR MANY A. STUDIES BELOW REFLECT THIS ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION. AND THIS IS AN ANNUAL REPORT THAT'S GIVEN OUT. SO WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS SINCE 2015 OR EARLIER. AND I'M SAYING WHAT IT HAS NOTED AS OUR UNHEALTHIEST COMPONENT. OH WOW. THE TIME GOES BY FAST. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY, AS IT RELATES TO THE DATA CENTER RESEARCH, IT'S A LOT OF RESEARCH THAT'S OUT THERE THAT'S RELATING TO THE NEGATIVE COMPONENT OF THE DATA CENTER. ONE IS IN CALIFORNIA. THE OTHER STUDY IS IN. IT'S A HEALTH DIVIDE. THE DATA CENTER WILL HOUSE HEALTH COMPONENTS, WHICH THEY DO HAVE THE STUDY. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE LOOK AT THIS AS A TIME. SO THEY CONTRIBUTE TO IT. I THANK YOU. NEXT IS LINDA MUHAMMAD. NEXT WE'LL GO TO WENDY AUSTIN. GOOD EVENING. COUNCILORS, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER. MISS HILL, I AM WENDY AUSTIN. I LIVE ON HIGH STREET IN WARD FIVE. I'M HERE THIS EVENING ABOUT TWO THINGS. JUST A FOLLOW UP ON A COUPLE OF EMAILS THAT I SENT. BUT I DO FIRST WANT TO SAY I'M VERY BEHIND ON CONGRATULATING YOU ON OPENING SOUTHSIDE DEPOT AND HAVING IT OPERATING. REALLY THRILLED ABOUT THAT. THAT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, AND I THINK IT BODES WELL FOR OTHER COMMUNITY PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE QUEUE. AND THEN ALSO, QUICKLY, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BOND REFINANCING AND GREAT TO SAVE OUR COMMUNITY THAT MONEY. AND AGAIN, IT WAS TIMELY AND WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND AND HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY. AND SO PLEASED ABOUT THAT. THE TWO FOLLOW UP ITEMS I HAVE, I DON'T WANT TO LOSE TRACK OF THE PLASTIC BAG TAX THAT WE HAD BROUGHT, THAT COUNCILOR WESTBROOK HAD BROUGHT FORWARD. I SORT OF FEEL LIKE I DIDN'T SAY ENOUGH POSITIVE ABOUT THAT. SO I HOPE WE DO BRING THAT BACK. I'VE LOOKED AT SOME OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE IT. THEY ARE. I WASN'T SURE OF WHAT THE CODE, YOU KNOW, REQUIRED THE FUNDING BE USED FOR. AND OF COURSE IT IS FOR THINGS LIKE [00:15:02] PURCHASING REUSABLE BAGS FOR FOLKS WHO NEED THAT HELP AND ASSISTANCE, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS. SO I DO HOPE THAT COMES BACK. I THINK THE LAST TIME IT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME BACK AND IT GOT TABLED WAS GOING TO COME BACK AND BE VOTED ON. SO I HOPE THAT YOU DO THAT SOON. AND THEN FINALLY, I DID SEND YOU ALSO SOME SUGGESTIONS ON THE DRAFT ZONING. THAT'S I THINK, COMING UP TO YOU GUYS LATER IN THE MONTH, AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO LOOK AT THAT. I THINK WE'RE IN THE FINAL OF IT. IT'S BEEN GOING ON TWO YEARS AND IT'S A GREAT DOCUMENT. I THINK THE THE CONSULTANTS HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB, AND IT IS A PUBLICLY VETTED DOCUMENT. SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN AT SOME OF THESE MEETINGS AND VOICED OUR NEEDS. AND AS YOU KNOW, I PARTICULARLY POINTED OUT THE DATA CENTER, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR NEW UNKNOWNS, SOMEWHAT SPECULATIVE, WHAT'S COMING WITH THAT. AND IT'S COMING FAST. SO I DO FEEL LIKE THE ZONING IS A WAY TO CREATE GUARDRAILS FOR US AS WE'RE LEARNING WHAT THIS DATA CENTER LANDSLIDE IS BRINGING. I KNOW THAT THE I READ THROUGH THE AGREEMENT WITH DT IS THAT THE DEVELOPER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, AND I THINK THAT LOOKS SOLID. AND, YOU KNOW, IF THERE IS SOME DEFAULT, THE CITY HAS PROTECTED ITSELF AND THERE'S OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU'VE INCLUDED IN THAT AGREEMENT. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WITH THAT. AND THEN AGAIN, I THINK SHORING UP THAT ZONING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS THOUGHT OF. AND. IN A POSITIVE WAY, AND WE CAN GO FORWARD BOTH BALANCED, HEALTHY COMMUNITY AND THEN DATA AND ALL THE MONEY. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE OUR SUE FAMILY HAVE WALKED IN WITH IS LINDA MUHAMMAD. YES. AND THE REST OF THE TEAM. KATIE KHAN. SO I AM EXCUSE ME, THE SPIRITUAL ADVISOR TO MUSLIM CHAPLAIN AT VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY. FOR OUR STUDENTS HERE. THEY'RE GOING TO SPEAK AND I'LL GIVE THEM SOME TIME TO DO THAT. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. OKAY. GREETINGS. OKAY. CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? PERFECT. GREETINGS. THE HUMBLE SALUTATIONS. I AM MARIA KHAN, A JUNIOR COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJOR HAILING FROM, OBVIOUSLY, THE ILLUSTRIOUS VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY. I'M ALSO PRESIDENT OF MUSLIM STUDENTS ASSOCIATION AND OR MSA. AND TODAY MY COLLEAGUES AND I ARE GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT BUSSING FOR JUMAH PRAYER. SO WHAT JUMAH PRAYER IS, IT REALLY JUST TRANSLATES TO FRIDAY PRAYER. AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US MUSLIMS, ESPECIALLY OUR MEN, TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE MASJID AND CONGREGATE AND PRAY TOGETHER. AND SO THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE FACING AT OUR SCHOOL IS, YES, WE HAVE BUSSING. HOWEVER, IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS IT SOUNDS. THE BUSSES DON'T CONNECT. SO IF YOU THINK OF SOUTH PARK MALL, IF YOU LOOK BEHIND THERE, YOU WOULD HAVE TO GET ON A CONNECTING BUS ROUTE JUST TO GET TO THE MASJID. ULTIMATELY MISSING THE PRAYER THAT, LIKE I SAID, IS MANDATORY FOR THE MEN. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT WE'RE COLLEGE STUDENTS AND IT'S NOT EASY TO FINANCE UBERS OR WHATEVER TRANSPORTATION ROUTE YOU WOULD TYPICALLY TAKE. SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE WOULD REALLY LOVE A SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE. AND I'LL HAVE MY VICE PRESIDENT, JORDAN DEVILLE, TAKE IT FROM HERE. HI EVERYBODY. OMAR YATSU SO LITTLE. I AM JORDAN DEVILLE, A JUNIOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE MAJOR FROM PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MARYLAND, AND I HAPPEN TO BE A THIRD GENERATION TROJAN. MY MOM AND MY GRANDMOTHER WENT AS A MUSLIM. LIKE I FEEL LIKE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, ESPECIALLY AS A REVERT TO BE ABLE TO CONGREGATE WITH OTHER MUSLIMS AND BE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FELLOWSHIP. LAST YEAR, MY FIRST YEAR AT VSU, I CAME IN WITH CREDITS. THAT'S WHY I'M A JUNIOR, BUT I ENDED UP UBERING AND IT COST LIKE ALMOST $30 JUST FOR A 15 MINUTE RIDE THERE AND BACK. SO IT CAN BE EXTREMELY LIKE COSTLY TO GO. AND OF COURSE, LIKE FOR OUR MEN IT'S REQUIRED TO GO. SO LIKE WE STARTED HAVING JUMAH AT SCHOOL, BUT WE ARE OFTENTIMES DISCONNECTED FROM OUR OTHER MUSLIMS IN THE COMMUNITY. SO LIKE THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT STRUGGLE TO US. ASSALAMU ALAIKUM. MY NAME IS ISAIAH. I'M A RECENT REVERT PERSON BECAUSE THE WAY THE BUSSES ARE STRUCTURED AND I DO NOT DRIVE, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GO TO A JUMAH WITH THE COMMUNITY. MY JUMA'S HAVE BEEN AT SCHOOL, WHICH ARE BENEFICIAL, BUT I DO AS A MUSLIM MAN, NEED TO DO MY [00:20:02] JUMA IN A COMMUNITY CENTER WITH OTHER MEN OF THE SAME FAITH INTO EXPERIENCE. YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO DO JUMA NEXT TO A DOCTOR, A LAWYER, DIFFERENT LIFESTYLES, DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, WAY OF LIFE THAT IS ESSENTIAL IN THE RELIGION. AND IT IS A MANDATE THAT WE DO HAVE. SO IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL IF WE ARE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE MAKE ANOTHER ROUTE, EXTEND THE ROUTE, HOWEVER, OR IT IS POSSIBLE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. IT IS SOMETHING THAT ALL THE MUSLIM MEN ON CAMPUS ESPECIALLY DO NEED TO, TO FEEL LIKE WE ARE PRACTICING OUR FAITH TO THE FULL EXTENT. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. THANK YOU. AND AT THIS TIME WE'LL HAVE SOME FURTHER CONVERSATIONS. MR. DARIUS MASON, IS MASON HERE TODAY? HE'S OUR DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT, SO WE'LL HAVE SOME CONVERSATION, SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. MASON ON ON HOW WE CAN SOLVE THAT CONNECTION ISSUE. OKAY. WE APPRECIATE THAT OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL. Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT YEAR. WELCOME. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT WE GO TO [6. Approval of Consent Agenda (to include minutes of previous meetings): ] ITEM SIX APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA TO INCLUDE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS A MINUTES. PREVIOUS MEETINGS FEBRUARY 17TH, 2026 CLOSED SESSION MEETING FEBRUARY 17TH, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING BE FIRST READ AND SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE TO APPROVE A REQUEST BY IBRAHIM AL TAMIMI ON BEHALF OF 601 EAST FIFTH STREET, LLC FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO OPERATE A STANDALONE VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP AUTOMOBILE SERVICE STATION AT 601 EAST FIFTH STREET. PARCEL ID 012270012 AND THE B2 GENERAL COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICT C FIRST READ AND SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENT TO THE FY 26 GRANTS FUND D FIRST READING SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENT TO THE FY 26 UTILITIES FUND AND FY 26 STREETS FUND. BUDGET E FIRST READING SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENT TO THE CODE OF ORDINANCE, SECTION 100 AND 6-109 REAL ESTATE TAX TO CHANGE ELDERLY AND DISABLED GROSS AMOUNT AND SECTIONS 106112. CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF THE EXEMPTION. THOSE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ENTERTAIN A MOTION. VICE MAYOR HILL SO MOVED COUNCILOR WESTBROOK SECOND MOTION TO SECOND. MISS HILL, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COUNCIL MEMBER. CUTHBERT. COUNCIL MEMBER. JONES. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. MYERS. COUNCIL MEMBER. WESTBROOK. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. LEE. AYE. VICE MAYOR. HILL. AYE. MAYOR. PARA. THAT MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. NEXT, WE HAVE ITEM SEVEN [7. Special Reports ] SPECIAL REPORTS FROM OUR MASTER COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE, BRITTANY FLOWERS. TAX RELIEF FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED. PRESENTATION. GOOD EVENING, MISS FLOWERS. HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? GREAT. I AM BRITTANY FLOWERS, MASTER COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE UP HERE TO GET YOU GUYS TO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE INCREASE FOR THE TAX RELIEF, ELDERLY AND DISABLED. OH, WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT. THE PURPOSE, LIKE I SAID, IS TO GO OVER THE CURRENT CITY CODES OF 106, DASH ONE, ZERO NINE AND 106-112. THESE TWO SLIDES IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF WHAT IS THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY CODES. THE APPLICATION PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED. TRYING TO GET TO THE SLIDE THAT I NEED OKAY. THIS IS A SLIDE THAT I NEED. SO IN 2024 I WAS UP HERE TO REQUEST THE INCREASE OF THE REVENUE, THE INCOME LIMITS. AND I'M THANKFUL THAT YOU GUYS DID THAT IN 2024, WE MAILED OUT 566 APPLICATIONS. 27 OF THOSE WERE DENIED. LAST YEAR. WE ONLY MAILED OUT 327. THAT IS VERY LOW FROM WHAT WE HAD IN 2024, BECAUSE WHEN THE CITIZENS REALIZED HOW MUCH INFORMATION THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE TO GET APPROVED, THEY DID NOT WANT TO DIVULGE THAT INFORMATION. AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE 150 NEW APPLICATIONS TO SEND OUT, IN ADDITION TO THE 298 APPLICATIONS ALREADY LEAVING IT AT 448 APPLICATIONS SO FAR. THOSE APPLICATIONS WILL BE MAILED ON THE 18TH OF MARCH AND DUE ON THE 1ST OF MAY. THIS SLIDE HERE IS VERY IMPORTANT. THERE WERE SOME LOCALITIES THAT DID INCREASE FROM 2024 TO CURRENT. SO WE HAVE ALAMAK. LAST WE TALK THERE INCOME LIMITS WAS 28,000. NOW THEY'RE AT 36,704. CHESTERFIELD INCREASED FROM 62,000 TO 65,400. AND WITH THEIR ASSETS OF 392,700 TO 514,000, DINWIDDIE DID NOT TOUCH THEIR INCOME LIMIT, BUT THEY DID SOMETHING [00:25:04] DIFFERENT WITH THEIR ASSETS. YOU CANNOT HAVE REAL ESTATE OVER 150,000 OR PERSONAL PROPERTY OVER 75,000. POWHATAN INCREASED THEIR INCOME LIMITS OF 50,000 TO 50, FROM 50,000 TO 75,000, INCREASING THEIR ASSETS 200,000 TO 250,000. PRINCE GEORGE WENT FROM 45,000 TO 55,000, AND THEIR ASSETS OF 120,000 TO 130,001. THAT I DID FAIL TO MENTION. BUT I DID CALL TODAY AND I'M SORRY IT'S UNLIMITED FROM THE SLIDE IS OUR NEIGHBORING LOCALITY, COLONIAL HEIGHTS. THEIR INCOME LIMITS IS 44,000 ASSETS, 100,000 WITH THEIR CAP BEING 1600. SO WHAT I MEAN BY THE CAP, YOUR TAXES OVES LISTED TO THE FAR RIGHT. I AM PROPOSING, BASED OFF OF LISTENING TO THE TAXPAYERS AND THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE RECEIVED IN MY OFFICE IS TO INCREASE OUR LIMIT FROM 45,000 TO 50,000, AND FOR EACH PERSON IN THE HOUSEHOLD, GOING FROM THE FIRST 4000 TO THE FIRST 6000 OF INCOME BEING EXEMPTED. AND IN SECTION 106 DASH 112 FOR THE INCOME OF $0 TO THE FIRST 30,000, THEIR MAXIMUM TAX RELIEF WILL BE UP TO 1700 VERSUS THE FIRST 1500. THEN THOSE THAT CAN RECEIVE 50% WILL BE THE INCOME OF $35,001 TO 50,000. STILL, WITH THE MAXIMUM TAX RELIEF OF 1700. AND THAT'S WHAT IS DISPLAYED HERE. IF I HAVE MISSED A LOCALITY THAT I NEED TO RESEARCH, PLEASE LET ME KNOW SO I CAN DO THAT AND HAVE THAT READY FOR YOU GUYS AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. YOU'RE WELCOME. QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL. NO, I CAN I HAVE IS THERE ANOTHER LOCALITY THAT I NEED TO RESEARCH. I WAS INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT DOES RICHMOND LOOK LIKE? RICHMOND. RIGHT. JUST JUST BECAUSE WE SHARE CITY OF RICHMOND OR CITY OR RICHMOND COUNTY? CITY. CITY OF RICHMOND. JUST JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME OF THE SAME CHALLENGES. OKAY. I KNOW THEIR POPULATION WOULD BE MUCH HIGHER, BUT YES, SIR, I CAN DO THAT, MISS FLOWERS. JUST JUST FOR QUESTION. I MEAN, I WON'T COME AND TALK TO YOU PERSONALLY, BUT DOES DANVILLE OR BRISTOL HAVE ANY EFFECT BEING THERE OR PORTSMOUTH OF NORFOLK BEING THERE? THEY'RE CASINO TOWNS. AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING? OKAY, I WILL FIND THAT. PORTSMOUTH. DANVILLE. DID YOU DID YOU SAY ANOTHER ONE? THE FOUR CASINOS BRISTOL, DANVILLE, NORFOLK AND NORFOLK HASN'T EVEN GOT STARTED YET, SO I GUESS THEY WOULDN'T BE AFFECTED AS MUCH. I WOULD HAVE THAT READY FOR YOU AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. AND AND I'LL PILE ON ONE MORE. OKAY. FREDERICKSBURG, FREDERICKSBURG, FREDERICKSBURG. OUT OF CURIOSITY. BUT I LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT OUR NEIGHBORS. YOU KNOW, THAT'S IMPORTANT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. I WILL HAVE THAT INFORMATION TO YOU GUYS AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. THANK YOU GUYS. YOU'RE WELCOME. OF COURSE. 10:00. SO. GREAT. YES. SO APOLOGIES THAT THE REPORT IS A [9. Finance and Budget Report ] LITTLE BIT DELINQUENT. OKAY, SO THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. SO I HAVE A FEW THINGS FOR THIS UPDATE TONIGHT. WE HAVE BUDGET TO ACTUALS. WE HAVE A COUNCIL REQUESTED FY 25 COLLECTION ANALYSIS AS WELL AS FY 25 AUDIT FINDING REMEDIATION. GARY COZIER THE BUDGET MANAGER I DON'T KNOW IF I SAID THAT. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. SO LOOKING AT WHERE WE ARE IN OUR BUDGET TO ACTUALS AT THIS POINT OF THE YEAR, THESE NUMBERS ARE THROUGH THE END OF JANUARY. WE'VE JUST COMPLETED OUR REPORT THROUGH THE END OF FEBRUARY. SO YOU'LL SEE THAT AT YOUR NEXT MEETING. BUT LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS THROUGH THE END OF JANUARY. AT THAT POINT, 58% OF THE YEAR IS GONE AND WE ARE AT 56% OF SPEND. SO LOOKING GOOD THERE. SAME THING WITH THE REST OF THE FUNDS. EVERYTHING IS TRACKING REALLY WELL. WE'LL BE DOING AN AMENDMENT TO THE DOGWOOD FUND TO GET THAT BACK RIGHT, TO ACCOUNT FOR ALL THE REVENUE ON THE OTHER SIDE THERE. SO THAT LOOKS GOOD AS WELL. MOVING ON INTO THE FY 25 COLLECTION ANALYSIS. SO JUST TO KIND OF [00:30:09] RECAP, OUR REAL PROPERTY ASSESSED VALUE FOR DID I MISS A PAGE. OH NO IT DOESN'T DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE OKAY. THERE WE GO. SORRY. ALL RIGHT SO JUST A NOTE. THE BUDGET MANAGER AND THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER REVIEW PAST PERFORMANCE AND FUTURE PROJECTS TO ESTIMATE THE PROPOSED BUDGET AMOUNT. THE CITY MANAGER APPROVES THE BUDGET TO BE SUBMITTED TO CITY COUNCIL. SO WHEN WE MAKE THESE PROJECTIONS, THAT'S WHAT THEY JUST ARE PROJECTIONS BASED ON OUR BEST KNOWLEDGE AT THE TIME. SO WHEN WE BEGAN FY 25, THE ASSESSED VALUE THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT IN THE BUDGET WAS $33,712,833. WE ADOPTED A RATE OF 28,882,000 AND $796, AND THAT'S DUE TO HISTORICALLY, WE'VE NOT COLLECTED ALL OF THE PROPERTY TAX THAT WE ASSESS, BUT WE ACTUALLY COLLECTED $31,971,395, WHICH IS A 94.8% COLLECTION RATE FOR FISCAL 25. SO THAT'S REALLY, REALLY GOOD JOB. GOOD JOB. GREAT WORK. SO KIND OF RECAPPING THAT AND MOVING ON. SO THE BUDGET THAT 28 MILLION WHICH IS BASED ON PRIOR YEAR PERFORMANCE, WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT IN $31,971,395, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OR POSITIVE VARIANCE OF $3,000,088, $3,088,599, WHICH IS A AND THAT INCREASE IS A MAJOR FACTOR IN THE INCREASE IN OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE. SO OTHER SIGNIFICANT CATEGORIES, THESE WERE LIKE BASICALLY MAIN TAX CATEGORIES THAT SHOW UP IN THE BUDGET. AND THESE ARE THE ACTUAL AMOUNTS THAT WE BROUGHT IN BASED ON THE BUDGET THERE. SO YOU SEE 114% OF WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR. PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX, 126% FOR MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX. WE BROUGHT IN 90%, 97% OF WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR LOCAL SALES AND USE, 40% FOR CONSUMER UTILITY TAXES. SO WE WERE KIND OF OFF THE MARK THERE, 134% FOR BUSINESS LICENSE, 123% FOR LODGING TAXES, AND 110% FROM MEALS TAXES. AND SO, MOVING ON INTO THE FY 25 AUDIT, FINDING REMEDIATIONS. SO JUST AS A NOTE, IN RECENT YEARS, BEFORE THE FY 25 AUDIT, WE'VE HAD CONSISTENTLY 11 UNRESOLVED AUDIT FINDINGS. IN FISCAL 25. THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT ADDRESSED THESE FINDINGS FULLY, RESOLVING SEVEN OF THEM. SO NOW THERE'S ONLY FOUR REMAINING. THE FY 25 AUDIT DOES NOTE THOSE FOUR. AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT EACH FINDING HAS A DRAFT POLICY AND PROCEDURE IN PROGRESS THAT WE ARE WORKING TO FINALIZE. SO MOVING ON INTO THOSE FINDINGS SPECIFICALLY, THE FIRST FINDING WOULD BE MATERIAL WEAKNESS FOR UTILITY BILLING RECONCILIATION. THE FINDING IS THAT THE CITY FAILED TO PERFORM MONTHLY RECONCILIATIONS BETWEEN THE UTILITY BILLING SUBSIDIARY SYSTEM AND THE GENERAL LEDGER. OUR UPDATE THAT WE PROVIDED WAS THAT THE CUSTOMER CARE COLLECTIONS TEAM IS COORDINATING WITH THE CFO'S OFFICE TO ESTABLISH A FORMAL MONTHLY RECONCILIATION PROCESS BETWEEN UTILITY BILLING SYSTEM AND THE GENERAL LEDGER. POLICY AND PROCEDURES ARE NEARING COMPLETION. SO, AS I SAID, WE DO HAVE POLICIES IN DRAFT STATUS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON COMPLETING RIGHT NOW. SECOND, MATERIAL WEAKNESS IS RECONCILIATION OF PROPERTY TAX DELINQUENT LIST TO THE GENERAL LEDGER. DURING THE PRIOR FISCAL YEARS, THE CITY WAS NOT RECONCILING THE PROPERTY TAX DELINQUENT LIST TO THE TAXES RECEIVABLE ACCOUNTS AS REPORTED IN THE GENERAL LEDGER MONTHLY OR AT YEAR END. AND SO THE RESPONSE TO THAT ONES WILL ESTABLISH A FORMAL MONTHLY COLLECTION RECONCILIATION PROCESS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TREASURER'S OFFICE. AND AS A NOTE, BILL POSES, IS INITIATED PRIOR TO THE TRANSACTION DATE RECORDED IN THE REGISTER, WHICH HAS LED TO DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT AND THE TREASURER'S DEPARTMENT. SO IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, THE SOLUTION IS A CONFIGURATION AND NECESSITATES CLEARLY DEFINED DEPARTMENTAL OWNERSHIP TO ENSURE THE CONSISTENT USE OF RECONCILIATION TEMPLATE, SO EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS FRAMEWORK WILL ENHANCE RECEIVABLES ACCURACY, MINIMIZE YEAR END ADJUSTMENTS, AND STRENGTHEN FINANCIAL CONTROLS. SO JUST KEEPING UP WITH IT AS WE GO ALONG THROUGH THE YEAR WOULD HELP US TO TO GET THIS ONE OUT OF THE WAY. MOVING ON INTO THE THIRD MATERIAL WEAKNESS, MATERIAL AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS PROPOSED BY THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR. SO THE AUDITOR REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENTS TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH GAAP, WHICH IS GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES. [00:35:06] THESE ADJUSTMENTS AFFECTED VARIOUS ACCOUNTS, INCLUDING RECEIVABLES, CAPITAL ASSETS, DEBT, REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES. SO AN UPDATE HERE. ACCOUNTING STAFF WILL RECORD YEAR END GAAP ADJUSTMENTS AND STRENGTHEN BUSINESS PROCESSES. THE CITY HAS HIRED QUALIFIED PERSONNEL TO ENHANCE INTERNAL CONTROLS. FINANCE WILL ASSESS TRAINING NEEDS, IMPLEMENT INTERNAL REVIEWS OF RECONCILIATIONS AND AID THE TREASURER'S OFFICE AND CUSTOMER CARE COLLECTIONS WITH REVENUE AND RECEIVABLES. THESE STEPS AIM TO IMPROVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT ACCURACY AND MINIMIZE FUTURE AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS. LAST ONE IS GOING TO BE THE LACK OF RECONCILIATION OF CASH REPORTED AND FUNDS TO CASH AND FUND 999. FUND NINE NINE IS THE TREASURER'S ACCOUNTABILITY FUND. THE CITY HAS NOT MATCHED THE CASH AMOUNTS REPORTED FOR EACH FUND, WITH THE TOTAL CASH SHOWN IN FUND 999 FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM FINANCE, WILL INTRODUCE AN OFFICIAL MONTHLY RECONCILIATION PROCESS. THIS INCLUDES COMPLETING NECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE STEPS SUCH AS SETTING MONTH END CUTOFF DATES, RECORDING CASH BALANCES FOR EACH FUND, PERFORMING PROMPT RECONCILIATIONS, INVESTIGATING ANY DISCREPANCIES POSTED ADJUSTMENT ENTRIES, AND VERIFYING, AS WELL AS PRIORITIZING CORRECTIVE ACTIONS. AND THEN THERE'LL ALSO BE A RECONCILIATION WORKSHEET TO GO WITH THAT. AND SO THAT IS THE UPDATE. AGAIN JUST TO REITERATE, WE DO HAVE POLICIES AND DRAFT STATUS FOR EACH OF THESE FOUR FINDINGS WORKING TO REMEDIATE AND REMOVE THEM FROM THE FY 26 AUDIT WHEN WE GET THERE. AND THAT'S ALL FOR ME. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, MR. COGEN. NEXT QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. VICE MAYOR HILL. YES, PLEASURE. MR. ALTMAN. YES, SIR. HAVE WE LOOKED AT ANY I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT. JUST ONE ON ONE. BUT ANY RELIEF THAT WE ARE, WE AT THE POINT NOW OR DO WE HAVE TO WAIT TO. WHEREAS WE CAN START LOOKING AT LOWERING THE TAX, THE REAL ESTATE TAX AT THIS TIME. WHERE ARE WE WITH THAT OR OR DO WE HAVE TO SEE MORE NUMBERS COME IN. SO ONE WITH THE WITH THE REASSESSMENT THERE IS A NEED. WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TAX RATE BECAUSE THERE'S AN EQUALIZED RATE. AS A RESULT OF THE REASSESSED REASSESSMENT. SO WHEN WE I THINK WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 25TH STILL BECAUSE WE WERE MEETING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A JOINT MEETING. SO AT THAT TIME WE WILL LOOK AT AND WE'LL WE'LL PRESENT. I THINK OUR DISCUSSION WAS TO MAYBE NOT ACT AT THAT POINT, BECAUSE THERE'S SOME THINGS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER, BUT I'M LOOKING AT WHAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY DO TO LOWER THE RATE AS A RESULT OF THE INCREASE IN THE REASSESSMENTS THIS YEAR. AND THEN WE THANK MISS FLOWERS FOR COMING FORWARD WITH THE TAX RELIEF FOR THE ELDERLY, BECAUSE THAT WILL CERTAINLY HELP THAT SEGMENT OF OUR POPULATION, IN ADDITION TO ANYTHING THAT WE MAY DO WITH THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE. THANK YOU. OKAY. COUNCILMAN COOPER. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MR. ALTMAN, WOULD YOU LOOK AT PAGES 111 AND 114 OF THE AGENDA PACKET? YES, SIR. THOSE TWO PAGES DEAL WITH YOUR MICROPHONE NOW. IF YOU WOULD LOOK AT PAGES 111 AND 114 OF THE AGENDA PACKET, THOSE TWO PAGES DEAL WITH OUR OF MAJOR INCOME STREAMS. WHAT IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE? ATTRIBUTABLE TO PAST DUE REAL ESTATE TAXES? WE WERE WE ARE ACTUALLY THAT WAS A QUESTION THAT YOU HAD ASKED DURING THE AUDIT. SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT DATA FOR YOU. IN ADDITION TO COLLECTING, LOOKING AT ALSO THE ITEMS ON PAGE 114 WITH REGARD TO WHAT IS THAT NUMBER, HOW MUCH IS IT AND WHAT THAT AGE OF THAT IS. SO WE'RE PREPARING THAT REPORT FOR YOU AND COUNCIL. WELL THAT'S GREAT. AND CAN YOU BRING THAT TO US, YOU THINK AT OUR MARCH 17TH MEETING WE CAN CERTAINLY TRY. YEAH. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THERE'S SOME PRETTY BIG NUMBERS HERE. AND. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR REVENUES ARE BEING COLLECTED. BECAUSE IF WE DO THAT, THEN THAT TAKES THE HEAT OFF OF THOSE WHO ARE PAYING VOLUNTARILY. AND HELPS US PAY FOR THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES THAT BENEFIT EVERYBODY. ABSOLUTELY. SO IF YOU WOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BRING THAT TO US AT OUR MEETING ON MARCH 17TH, I WOULD SURE APPRECIATE IT. YES, SIR. GREAT. MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AND ALL THE FINANCE TEAM IS DOING KEEP US ROLLING. ITEM TEN CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE. WE'RE GOING TO UTILITIES, THE [11. Utilities ] [00:40:06] DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES. MR. RANDALL WILLIAMS, GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. MAYOR, CITY MANAGER. COUNCIL. SO I'M HERE TO PREPARE THE PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES PRESENTATION. GO STRAIGHT TO OUR UTILITIES ON THE WATER MAIN BREAK SIDE FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, THE CITY STAFF WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE 88% OF THEM, 21 OUT OF THE 24. THIS FIRST PAGE HAS THE LEAKS AS FAR AS WHERE THEY WERE AND THE NUMBER THAT THEY HAD FOR BOTH JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE COULDN'T DO WAS IN THE INDUSTRIAL TANK AREA OR THE SWAMP AREA, AND IT WAS A MAJOR WATER LINE BREAK IN IT. IT AFFECTED MULTIPLE TANKS, THE LEVELS OF MULTIPLE TANKS. SOUTHERN CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED THE REPAIR. WE WORKED WITH THE CITY OF. WE WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORS NEXT DOOR TO TO USE THEIR DRONE. THAT'S WHAT THIS PICTURE. THAT'S WHERE THE PICTURE CAME FROM USING THEIR DRONE. SO WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF WE WE HAVE PROCESSED THE DRONE OURSELVES. WE JUST GOT THAT YESTERDAY. AND WE HAVE AN EMPLOYEE THAT'S CERTIFIED TO OPERATE THE DRONE. AND MATTER OF FACT, WE'RE GOING TO TEST IT OUT TOMORROW. THESE ARE POOR CREEK PROJECT, POOR CREEK PROJECT UPDATES. WE KNOW ABOUT THE ELEVATED WATER TANK. ALSO THE WATER MAIN AND BOOSTER STATION. THAT PROJECT IS COMPLETE. POOR CREEK FOREST MAIN AS WELL AS THE POOR CREEK PUMP STATION ARE BOTH 40% AND 30% COMPLETE RESPECTIVELY. WHAT HAPPENED? OKAY. LOCKS WATER MAIN 90% COMPLETE. WAGNER. WAGNER. ROAD. WATER MAIN EXTENSION. THE PROJECT IS IS APPROACHING BE IT READY, DESIGN LED SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT. WE JUST GOT NOTIFIED THAT WE HAD ABOUT $3 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING FOR THAT, AND THAT IS TO BE ADVERTISED FOR CONSTRUCTION THIS MONTH. OAK HILL ROAD BRIDGE TEMPORARY BRIDGE. THE TEMPORARY BRIDGE WAS DELIVERED FEBRUARY 25TH. TENTATIVE REOPENING DATE OF MARCH 20TH 27TH, 2026, AND THE PERMANENT BRIDGE IS CURRENTLY IN THE DESIGN PHASE. I WANT TO SAY THAT RIGHT NOW THEY ARE SECURING TEMPORARY EASEMENTS AS WELL AS AS WELL AS ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING, AND THAT WILL ALLOW THE PLAN TO BE FINALIZED. BUT IT COULD IT CAN BE PUT OUT TO BID WHILE THEY'RE WAITING ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. DOWNTOWN BEAUTIFICATION, PARKING LOTS. MATTER OF FACT, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE DRONE. BUT THIS IS A PHOTO FROM FROM A DRONE OF THE PARKING LOT. AND THAT WAS SEALED. AND I THINK THIS ASPHALT ON THE OTHER SIDE, CLOSE TO SYCAMORE STREET. SO WE'VE GOT ABOUT ABOUT 89 PARKING SPACES. THIS PICTURE HERE DOESN'T REFLECT THAT. IN THE BACK OVER THERE NEAR THE NEAR THE JAIL. THOSE ARE NOW, I THINK FIVE HANDICAPPED SPACES. WE GOT THAT. AND SO. WE'VE DONE THAT. AND WELL AS SOME SIDEWALK WORK THAT WAS DONE ON THE EAST BANK STREET AS WELL ON SYCAMORE STREET, SIDEWALK SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, OTHER DEPARTMENTS. WE REPLACED THE GENERATOR AND HAD THE RUNNER REMOVED OVER ON ARLINGTON STREET AND ALSO HAD AN HVAC HVAC UNIT REPLACED THERE IN THE BREAK ROOM. SOME WORK WAS DONE. HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WE WANT TO GIVE GROUNDS DEPARTMENT A JUST CONGRATULATIONS. WITH ALL OF THE SIDEWALKS THAT THEY CLEARED, WE HAD THE I PUT THE PICTURE OF THE SKID STEER THERE. WE HAD THE EMPLOYEE THERE THAT THAT WAS ABLE TO USE THAT ALSO FOR ICE. SOME OF THE ICY PARKING LOTS. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, MR. WILLIAMS, I JUST WANT TO ADD ONE LAST THING TO YOUR TO YOUR WHOLE MENU OF ITEMS THAT'S GOING ON. THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE THOSE WATER MAIN BREAKS. WE HAD A TON OF THEM DEALING WITH THE COLD TEMPERATURES. Y'ALL DID A FANTASTIC JOB KEEPING WATER FLOWING. JUST ADD TO THAT LIST THERE WHEN YOU FINISH GET WITH MISTER JOHNNY THERE. HE ASKED FOR SOME RECEPTACLES. I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME FOR THE GARBAGE THERE. THE TWO TRASH CANS. YES. ALRIGHT, SO YOU CAN GIVE UP AND GET HIS ADDRESS AND YOU CAN DROP HIM OFF. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILMAN [00:45:04] COOPER? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MR. WILLIAMS, WOULD YOU WOULD YOU TURN, PLEASE, TO THE PAGE THAT SHOWS THE PICTURE OF THE PARKING LOT? OAK HILL ROAD BRIDGE, TEMPORARY BRIDGE, AND THEN GO ONE PAGE FURTHER AND IT'S TITLED DOWNTOWN BEAUTIFICATION PARKING LOTS. YES. I WANT TO THANK YOU. AND THE CITY MANAGER AND. MR. KEN MILLER AND MR. JONES FOR MR. JONES BEING A THIRD PARTY WORKER AND CONTRACTOR THAT WE DEPEND ON HEAVILY FOR THE TRANSFORMATION THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE ACROSS FROM, I'LL SAY, ACROSS FROM THE DIXIE. AND THOSE SPOTS REALLY CAME IN HANDY DURING THE, THE SNOW BECAUSE THEY COULD BE CLEARED AND THEN PEOPLE COULD SAFELY PARK THERE. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE OF THE SAME ACROSS FROM WABI SABI. I TAKE IT THAT'S IN THE WORKS. IS THAT CORRECT? ACROSS THE STREET FROM THAT RIGHT? YES, SIR. YES, IT WOULD BE ABOUT 75 ADDITIONAL SPACES JUST WAITING FOR THE WEATHER TO BREAK A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR THE TEMPERATURES. ONCE THE TEMPERATURES ARE ADEQUATE, THEN, MR. JONES, WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IT. GREAT. WE'LL WE'LL START THERE AND THERE'LL BE ANOTHER 75 PARKING SPACES. LET ME TURN TO A RELATED BUT DIFFERENT TOPIC. IT'S RELATED BECAUSE IT DEALS WITH TRANSPORTATION BUT IT'S DIFFERENT. AND THAT IS ELECTRIC COST CHARGING STATIONS. I'M WONDERING WHETHER THE ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT ANY THOUGHT INTO THAT. ONE SEEMINGLY LOGICAL PLACE TO PUT THEM WOULD BE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE INFORMATION CENTER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CITY ADMINISTRATION THINKS ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO ME. BUT WOULD YOU SHARE WITH COUNCIL YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT AND THAT AND ANY OTHER ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING STATIONS IN DOWNTOWN? SO YES, WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THEM. ONE, PRIMARILY BECAUSE I HAVE NOTICED A RESIDENT HOOKING UP TO ONE OF OUR RECEPTACLES TO CHARGE THEIR CAR AT NIGHT. AND SO WE'RE PAYING THAT BILL. SO WE NEED TO GET SOME CHARGING STATIONS IN DOWNTOWN. LOOKING AT IN FRONT OF SOUTHSIDE DEPOT IS A GOOD PLACE TO START. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WANT TO DO ANYTHING, SAY, AT THE PARKING LOT, BECAUSE THE PLAN IS TO TEAR DOWN CRUISERS, AND WE DON'T WANT TO MESS ANY OF THAT UP AS WE GO BACK IN AND FINISH THAT OFF. SO LOOKING AROUND SOUTHSIDE DEPOT, I THINK THERE MAY BE ONE ELECTRIC CHARGING STATION THAT WAS PURCHASED FOR THE PARKING DECK THAT WASN'T USED. SO WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO IF WE CAN RELOCATE THAT, AND THEN WHAT WE CAN DO TO WORK WITH DOMINION TO GET ADDITIONAL CHARGING SPACE CHARGING SPOTS LOCATED IN THE DOWNTOWN. BUT WE CERTAINLY ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT, NOT NOT ONLY BECAUSE WE HAVE EXISTING, WE HAVE RESIDENTS, BUT WE KNOW AS TOURISTS AND MORE PEOPLE COME IN AND VISIT. THERE WILL BE A NEED FOR THAT. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ABILITY TO DO THAT IN MULTIPLE PLACES. AND OF COURSE IT WOULD NOT BE FREE. I MEAN, I'VE CHARGED AT ELECTRIC CHARGING STATION AND YOU HAVE TO PUT IN YOUR CREDIT CARD. SO IT'S QUITE DIFFERENT FROM JUST PLUGGING INTO THE CITY'S WALL RECEPTACLE. ABSOLUTELY. WE WANT AND I NO HARM TO THE PERSON, BUT I'D RATHER THEY'RE CHARGING. THEY SHOULD BE PAYING THAT JUST LIKE I PAY AT THE GAS PUMP. THEY SHOULD BE PAYING AT THE ELECTRICAL CHARGING STATION INSTEAD OF USING OUR RECEPTACLE. RIGHT. OKAY. WELL, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO KEEP THAT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN? SO WE'RE I'M GOING TO I'VE GONE DOWN AND LOOKED IN THE EVENING BECAUSE I, I'M LOOKING AT I'M OUT KIND OF OUT SNOOPING FOR THE CAR AGAIN. AND THEN IF WE IF WE SEE IT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE CONTACTING OUR FRIENDS IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, RIGHT. AND SEE. WELL, GOOD THING THAT THERE WAS ONE RESOURCEFUL CITIZEN THAT I AM AWARE OF A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WAS PULLING UP HIS GOLF CART TO AN ELECTRIC OUTLET IN POPLAR LAWN PARK AND CHARGING HIS GOLF CART OVERNIGHT, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I SUPPORT. WELL, IN ANY EVENT, IF YOU WOULD PUSH FORWARD ON THE ELECTRIC CHARGING STATION AT THE INFORMATION CENTER, I THINK IT WOULD GIVE US ONE MORE REASON FOR PEOPLE TO COME DOWN TO THE INFORMATION CENTER. THEY COULD. BE HAVING THEIR THEY COULD HAVE THEIR CAR CHARGED WHILE THEY GO THROUGH THE INFORMATION CENTER. AND WE MAY EVEN WANT TO TALK [00:50:01] WITH, SAY, A SPOT ABOUT SHARING COSTS WITH CROAKER, SPOT OF PUTTING A CHARGING STATION AT CROAKER SPOT. THE MORE BUSINESS CROAKER SPOT DOES, THE MORE MONEY WE MAKE, AND IT'S A GOOD WAY TO CHARGE YOUR CAR IS TO HAVE A MEAL AT CROAKER SPOT WHILE WHILE THE CHARGING IS GOING ON. SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PLACES IN OLD TOWN THAT COULD BENEFIT, I THINK, FROM THAT. SO IF YOU WOULD BE THINKING ABOUT THAT, AND I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER GOOD PEOPLE IN YOUR ADMINISTRATION THAT CAN HELP, THINK ABOUT THAT. I KNOW I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO THEM YET BECAUSE THERE WAS AN THERE WAS A MEETING THIS AFTERNOON OF OUR TEAM THAT'S BEEN WORKING IN DOWNTOWN, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING. SO I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH THEM ABOUT THEIR MEETING THIS AFTERNOON, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY ON OUR RADAR SCREEN. WELL, THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE WITH THESE TESLA. QUICK CHARGING STATIONS, YOU CAN CHARGE YOUR CAR AT 30 TO 40 MINUTES, WHICH IS QUICKER THAN YOU CAN HAVE A MEAL AT MOST RESTAURANTS. SO IF YOU WOULD LOOK INTO THAT AND CONSIDER THAT, THAT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ALSO, MR. ALTMAN, I'M FROM THE PICTURE FROM DOWNTOWN, FROM THE CRUISERS. HAVE WE PUT OUT AN ACTUAL NOTICE OF WHERE PEOPLE CAN PARK FOR COURTHOUSE PARKING? NOW, BEING THAT THE CONSTRUCTION IS GOING ON BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE. NOW, THE CONSTRUCTION ABOUT THE RAMP UP ON THE NEW COURTHOUSE. SO CAN WE HAVE SOME DESIGNATED AREAS THAT PEOPLE CAN SAY, IF YOU'RE IN FOR COURT, YOU CAN COURT HERE, YOU CAN PARK HERE. YEAH. SO IT'S IRONIC THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT. SO I WANT TO SAY DID SOME I'VE MET WITH THE CLERK'S A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. CLERKS OF COURT. THEY'VE GOT PARKING I KNOW THEY'VE GOT PARKING. THEY'RE GOING TO A COUPLE OF SPACES FOR THE CLERKS OVER WHERE THE SHERIFF OR THE SHERIFF PARKS. WHERE THE TWO CLERKS THERE. I THINK ONE HAS TALKED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO PARK OVER THERE IN THAT IN THE POLICE, THEY GOT PERMISSION TO PARK IN THE POLICEMAN ALSO EMAIL WENT OUT. I WANT TO SAY TWO DAYS AGO FOR THE CLERKS CIRCUIT COURT. THERE'S YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, IF YOU WALK AROUND THE SIDE, YOU RIGHT THERE AT THE AT THOSE PARKING SPACES THAT I JUST SHOWED. OKAY. AND THEN WE ALSO GOT LIGHTING. WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING MORE LIGHTING ON THAT ON THAT STREET, THE BACK STREET WHERE THE WHERE THE JAIL IS. SO WE THAT EMAIL WENT OUT TO MR. I WANT TO SAY MISS YOUNG THE TWO CLERKS AND SO IT'S THAT'S HOW I KNOW HOW MANY SPACES IT IS. AND SO I'VE WORKED WITH A COUPLE OF PEOPLE. THAT SAME PICTURE THAT WAS IN THIS WENT OUT TO THEM AS FAR AS TRYING TO PROVIDE PARKING SPACES. AND, AND I KNOW AND THAT'S HOW I KNOW ABOUT THE OTHER 75 THAT'S GOING TO BE THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING. I KNOW ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE POLICE STATION, THE THE TRAILER FOR THE TRAILER IS GOING TO BE OVER THERE. AND I JUST FOUND THAT OUT IN TALKING TO MR. ALTMAN THE OTHER DAY. SO IN ADDITION TO OUR OUTREACH INTERNALLY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO POST SOME, LIKE PARKING LOCATIONS, PUSH THAT OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SO THE COMMUNITY AND OTHERS, PEOPLE THAT KNOW THAT COME IN, PLUS WE CAN LOOK AT HAVE WE HAVE SOME DIRECTIONAL SIGNS DOWN ON BANK SAYING COURTHOUSE PARKING. SO WE'RE TRYING TO PUSH PEOPLE DOWN TO BANK STREET. AND THEN WITH THE RENOVATION OR THE FOR THE PARK ACROSS FROM WABI SABI. BUT WE'RE TRYING TO ALSO OPEN UP SOME SPACES CLOSER TO THE COURTS FOR HANDICAPPED AND SOME OF THE CLERKS WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SO WE'RE TRYING TO COORDINATE ALL THAT. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE GOING TO SET UP THE MEETING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS ON MONROE TO TALK ABOUT MOVING THEIR SPACES. AND WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL IN THE BUILDING AND ON THE CORNER OF MONROE AND TABB THAT RENTS A SPACE OVER THERE. SO WE'LL INCLUDE THAT INDIVIDUAL ALSO AND MOVE IT. ALL RIGHT. VICE MAYOR HILL, YES, VERY QUICKLY, I WANT TO COME BACK UP UPTOWN A LITTLE BIT. MR. ALTMAN, CAN YOU GET A PROPOSAL TOGETHER? WE DON'T HAVE TO GO IN DEEP INTO THIS ABOUT HOW WE CAN BEAUTIFY THE TRIANGLE AREA. WHERE? ON THE AVENUE. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME SUGGESTIONS OF MAYBE PUTTING SOME TYPE OF. MUSIC AREA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OR SOME TYPE OF SHADED AREA. I THINK JAMIE FAGIN HAD AN IDEA TO PUT SOMETHING THERE. AND IF YOU GET WITH MISS WILLIAMS, JOANN WILLIAMS, MAYBE YOU ALL CAN COME TOGETHER AND PRESENT SOMETHING TO US FOR THE SUMMER. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, [00:55:08] MR. WILLIAMS. AND. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PUBLIC WORKS UTILITY STAFF FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO NEXT. ITEM 12 STREETS, NO ITEMS DENIED, 13 FACILITIES, NO ITEMS [15. City Manager's Agenda ] TONIGHT, 14 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NO ITEMS FOR TONIGHT. CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA. MR. ALTMAN, THE ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IS YOU MAY GET SOME CALLS FROM INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE RECEIVED A REAL ESTATE TAX BILL THAT SHOULD HAVE GONE TO THEIR MORTGAGE COMPANY. SO WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH OUR THIRD PARTY BILLER. AND SO THOSE WENT OUT. I WILL SAY THAT. SO IN THIS INSTANCE, SOMETIMES THERE'S GOOD THAT COMES FROM BAD. AND WHAT WE FOUND IS WE'VE HAD SOME INSTANCES RECENTLY WHERE WHILE YOU MAY OR SHOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THAT NOTICE, IT WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO CHECK BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SOME INSTANCES WHERE THE MORTGAGE COMPANIES HAVEN'T BEEN REMITTING REMITTING PAYMENT. SO THAT WOULD GIVE INDIVIDUALS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THEY CHECK TO MAKE SURE THEIR MORTGAGE COMPANY HAS REMITTED PAYMENT. BUT WE'VE SENT OUT A NOTICE TODAY TO THE PUBLIC. JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH OUR THIRD PARTY BILLER, AND WE'RE ON TOP OF THAT ISSUE. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN JONES? YES, MR. CITY MANAGER, TWO THINGS, BUT ONE. I DON'T THINK THE PEOPLE IN HERE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPER. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT HIM, BUT I THINK HE SHOULD COME ON UP AND INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO THE PEOPLE. YOU'RE MAKING SOME GOOD MONEY. AT LEAST TELL US YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE. SO COME ON UP, MR. JEFF STOKES, AND TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF. MR. STOKES. COME ON DOWN. I'M NOT SORRY I PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, MAN, BUT WE GOT WE GOTTA HEAR FROM YOU, BROTHER. TELL HER, BECAUSE WE GOT SOME DEVELOPERS COMING. WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU. SO TELL THEM WHERE THEY CAN FIND YOU. TELL THEM WHAT YOUR VISION IS. ALL OF THAT GOOD STUFF, MAN. I SAID I WASN'T GOING TO SAY NOTHING TODAY, BUT I CAN'T LET YOU GET AWAY WITHOUT SAYING SOMETHING. GO AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITIZENS OF PETERSBURG. MY NAME IS JEFF STOKE. I AM THE NEW DEPUTY CITY MANAGER. WORK FOR MR. ALTMAN. I'M AT 135 NORTH UNION STREET ON THE SECOND FLOOR IN MR. ALTMAN'S OFFICE. COME SEE ME. LITERALLY NOT IN MY OFFICE. IN YOUR. IN THE MANAGER'S NEXT DOOR. YEAH, AND I'M GETTING OUT TO LEARNING THE CITY. ACTUALLY, I HOPE TO COME RIDE THROUGH WARD ONE WITH YOU. I HAD THE HONOR OF GOING WITH THE MAYOR AND THE VICE MAYOR AND DRIVING AROUND THE OTHER DAY AND LEARNING ABOUT THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY, AND COME ON DOWN. COME SEE ME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. STOKES. WE'RE GOING TO BE HEARING MORE FROM HIM. YEAH. THANK YOU MAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER. THAT'S ALL I GOT. ALL RIGHT. MR. OH, MISS HILL, BUSINESS REPORTS FROM THE CLERK. NO REPORTS TONIGHT. BUSINESS REPORTS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY, MR. WILLIAMS. NO REPORT, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS ITEM 18. ADJOURNMENT. SO MOVED. ALL IN FAVOR? * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.