Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/11/2022 - Regular1 MINUTES OF RETREAT OF VINTON TOWN COUNCIL HELD AT 1:00 P.M. ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2022, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE VINTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 311 SOUTH POLLARD STREET, VINTON, VIRGINIA MEMBERS PRESENT: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor Sabrina McCarty, Vice Mayor Keith N. Liles Laurie J. Mullins Michael W. Stovall STAFF PRESENT: Pete Peters, Town Manager Cody Sexton, Assistant Town Manager Susan N. Johnson, Executive Assistant/Town Clerk Anne Cantrell, Finance Director/Treasurer Fabricio Drumond, Police Chief Donna Collins, Human Resources Director/Risk Manager William Herndon, Public Works Director Anita McMillan, Planning & Zoning Director Chasity Barbour, Community Programs & Facilities Director Nathan McClung, Assistant Planning & Zoning Director Lydia Verdillo, Assistant Finance Director Tim Lawless, Deputy Police Chief The Council Retreat began on Friday, February 11, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. The Mayor opened the meeting, welcomed everyone and turned the meeting over to the Town Manager. The first item on the agenda was the Western Virginia Water Authority (WVWA) Utility System Transfer and Current CIP Update. Cody Sexton reviewed a printed Overview, which was a part of the agenda package and is on file in the Town Clerk’s Office as a part of the permanent record. The next item on the agenda was the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan Update and Benchmarking Review. The Town Manager reviewed a PowerPoint presentation, which was a part of the agenda package and is on file in the Town Clerk’s Office as a part of the permanent record. Under Achievements-Community Policing & Engagement, Chief Drumond commented that the body worn and in-car camera equipment has been received and a tentative date of March 31, 2022 has been set for Motorola to come and install all the software. Following the training, policy and implementation, a presentation will be given to the media and Council to unveil the new equipment. Chief Drumond next commented that Mike Caldwell is back in his original position as Community Resource Officer and each officer is now visiting our schools twice a week to establish relationships with the students. Additionally, officers are now walking around downtown checking doors and speaking to individuals and they plan to start hosting events again this Spring and Summer. Chief Drumond further commented that Lieutenant Austin retired last year after 20 years and Sergeant Cummings retired on Monday after 23 years. Sergeant Cummings will formally be retired at their annual awards banquet in April. They are also starting a tradition of inviting all those who have retired from the department to the banquet. Additionally, two additional days have been added to the firing range which will be opened up to Staff and Council to train with them. 2 Under Targets-Community Policing & Engagement, Chief Drumond made comments on his process for recruitment and retention. With regard to the re-accreditation, they have a mock accreditation scheduled in March and the full accreditation is scheduled for September 27, 2022. This is the seventh re-accreditation for the department. Chief Drumond next commented on the Violent Crime & Drug Task Force and the partnership with the Virginia State Police, Roanoke City and City of Salem. Council Member Liles asked about changing the name of By-Pass Road. The Town Manager responded that surveys were sent out some time ago to the businesses and one business indicated they had just gone through some software conversion and asked that we wait for a period of time. We do intend to pursue that again. The next item on the agenda was the FY22 YTD Revenue & Fund Balance Review. After opening comments, Anne Cantrell reviewed a PowerPoint presentation, which was a part of the agenda package and is on file in the Town Clerk’s Office as a part of the permanent record. Ms. Cantrell commented that Meal Tax is the No. 1 revenue source for FY23 at 17% of the total General Fund Budget; Highway Maintenance is No 2 at 14%; State Sales Tax is No. 3 at 12%; Parr-Mutuel Taxes are No. 4 at 11% and Business License Tax is No. 5 at 8%. Combining the first four makes up 54% of all of the revenue coming in. The Mayor commented that Rosie’s is not No. 1 as some might think and a strong component is that our revenues are diversified and not dependent on one single big industry. Ms. Cantrell further commented that even though Meals Tax is at 17%, that is across multiple restaurants. With regard to the Excess Unrestricted Fund Balance for FY23, Ms. Cantrell commented that there was an error on the slide and the amount should be $403,000. This does not include the Utility Cash to transfer in, which is estimated to be $2.7-2.9 million and the recommendation is that this cash be committed to Capital Improvement or a very specific purpose like one-time needs so it does not go into the Unrestricted Fund Balance. On Slide No. 20, Ms. Cantrell commented the gray bar is the estimate of Utility Fund balance coming in and that in FY23-25, we are including the Western Virginia Water Authority (WVWA) payments going directly into a committed fund. Council and staff took a break at 2:30 p.m. and the Retreat reconvened at 2:45 p.m. Following the break, Anne Cantrell continued a review of the PowerPoint presentation on the FY23 Budget Development, which was a part of the agenda package and is on file in the Town Clerk’s Office as a part of the permanent record. With regard to the Personnel Budget, the Town Manager asked Ms. Cantrell to give an example of what grade an entry level Police Officer would be at. Ms. Cantrell responded they would be at Grade 18. In response to a question from Council Member Stovall regarding the decrease of seven full-time employee (FTE) positions in FY23, Mr. Sexton commented there are seven full-time positions that have been reduced, but some of those were vacant positions. Council Member Stovall next asked how many are going to the WVWA and Mr. Sexton responded three to four. Mr. Sexton further commented that we are not proposing to create any new full-time positions in the FY23 budget. The next item on the agenda was the FY23-FY30 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The Town Manager reviewed a PowerPoint presentation, which was a part of the agenda package and is on file in the Town Clerk’s Office as a part of the permanent record. The Town Manager first commented that as Ms. Cantrell indicated in her presentation, some adjustments have been made primarily due to the utility transfer. A lot of the operational costs had to be absorbed in the General Fund, so we have transitioned our CIP to be funded through cash. Due to the Utility 3 Fund balance that we will retain, the payments being made by the WVWA for the sale of the system and some current year revenues that are coming in over budget, we were able to front- load some items such as our local match for some of our grants and we are also able to fund some of our CIP with the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Council Member Liles asked about the costs for restrooms at the Wolf Creek and Glade Creek Greenways. The Town Manager responded this is an estimate for pre-fab restrooms with vault toilets and no plumbing and will be the Town’s cost if we fully fund it. We may either seek out grants or ask the Pathfinders or some other entity to assist with the cost. The Town Manager asked if Council had any comments or suggestions or re-shuffling of the items on the CIP list. Council Member Mullins and Vice Mayor McCarty commented they were in favor of the Christmas décor and Council Member Liles was in favor of the Farmers Market Amphitheater Grant. Council Member Liles asked about the South Pollard Development incentives. The Town Manager responded that includes 107, 109 and 111 South Pollard, where Twin Creeks Brewery and the playhouse are located. There are two proposals that will go before the Economic Development Committee. The playhouse will be making a $1.2-1.3 million investment and they are asking for site preparation assistance, which is consistent with what we have done with Vinyard Station and Gish Mill. There is also a request for fire suppression that will not only support Twin Creeks, but any business that may go in that building and will increase our opportunity to always have an occupant there. There was also discussion about the Façade Grant program, the Revolving Loan program and the Change of Use program. Council Member Mullins commented that she supports the Blight acquisition and abatement. The Town Manager commented the estimate was based on the FEMA mitigation match for the funds we applied for to assist with flood properties on Etna and Cedar. We have since declined the federal funds because there is a lot of red tape associated with relocating the tenants. There are some other identified sites that could be rebuildable if we were to acquire and demo the structure If Council wants to support this program, we would establish some design guidelines, maybe three potential end uses and send out an RFP for someone to build according to those guidelines. The Mayor commented that he agreed we need to build to accommodate more people, but we are pretty well congested and we have an aging population. He suggested the idea of some neighborhood parks that are within walking distance to attract young families. Council Member Liles next commented that he supports the Public Works Enclosed Equipment Storage Shelter. There was discussion about replacing fuel tanks, pumps and software and the possibility that if Roanoke County and the Schools were to build a new pump station on this end of the County we would want to try and partner with them and do away with our pumps. Council Member Liles and Vice Mayor McCarty commented they were in favor of the Skate Park and Council Member Mullins was in favor of the Gateway signs. Council Member Liles asked about the Lee Avenue concept and if there was one to close it altogether. The Town Manager responded they did not look at closing the street, but did look at going to one-way street, but we would only gain four parking spaces. We decided it would not be worth the complications that a one-way street would cause especially if we can add the McClung parking. The businesses we talked with seem to be okay with the one-way street concept, but he did not discuss with them closing it all together. 4 The next item on the agenda was the FY23 Budget Time-line Confirmation. Anne Cantrell commented the next step would be the CIP presentation to the Planning Commission; on April 5tth - the Public Hearing and adoption of the tax rates; on April 11th –Town Manager’s proposed budget goes to Finance Committee; May 3rd – Budget Work Session, May 13th – Public Hearing on budget and June 7th – adoption of budget. If the budget adoption had to be pushed off one more meeting, it would be adopted on June 21st. After closing comments, Council Member Liles made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor McCarty and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) – Liles, Mullins, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None. The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m. APPROVED: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________________ Susan N. Johnson, CMC, Town Clerk