Minutes 03/28/2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 28, 2017 At a Called Meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, March 28, 2017, there were present: Mayor John L. Rowe, Jr., Vice Mayor Paige D. Cherry, William E. Moody, Jr., Elizabeth M. Psimas, Dr. Mark M. Whitaker, Nathan J. Clark, Lisa L. Lucas-Burke, City Manager Dr. L. Pettis Patton, City Attorney Solomon H. Ashby, Jr. 17 - 141 - The following call for the meeting was read: th "Please attend a Called Meeting of the City Council to be held in the 6 Floor Conference Room, 801 Crawford Street, 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 28, 2017 for the purpose of a Public Work Session. In addition, you may consider a motion to go into a Closed Meeting. By order of the Mayor." 17 - 142 - The following items were discussed in Public Work Session: 1. FY 2018 Budget Discussion - Dr. Patton, City Manager / Gloria Washington, Budget Manager -Councilman Whitaker asked that Kevin Page, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC), be rescheduled until after the budget. He also asked if the joint meeting with the Economic Development Authority (EDA) be rescheduled until after the budget Mayor Rowe asked for and received a consensus of City Council to have Mr. Page  rescheduled to a meeting after the adoption of the budget and to have the joint meeting with the EDA rescheduled to the June 12, 2017 Public Work Session. -Vice Mayor Cherry asked for the dollar amount of .5% from the proposed 2.5% employee raise. He also asked that staff come back with the amount needed to fund a 2% raise for employees and teachers. -Councilman Whitaker asked for a breakdown of the proposed $500 bonus.  Dr. Patton, City Manager, informed City Council that information would be provided at the April 10, 2017 Public Work Session with regards to the 2% raise and also for the $500 bonus. -Councilman Whitaker asked for a breakdown of the vacancies included in the budget by department and amounts. -Mr. Moody asked that staff provide the amount it would take to fund ½ of the $500 bonus for retirees. -Councilwoman Psimas asked for a chart of the overall cost of living for Portsmouth versus other cities. -Mayor Rowe asked for a breakdown on how the Unrestricted Net Position Funds will be used for Public Utilities and Waste Management. -Councilman Whitaker asked where the City would fall with regards to being in compliance with State regulations if the proposed $5.8 million is taken from the General Fund. -Councilman Moody asked if Meals on Wheels was eligible for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). -Vice Mayor Cherry asked for a breakdown of the $800,000+ increase in the General Fund. He specifically wanted information on the Constitutional Officer’s. Departments and how much of that money was being provided by the State and how much was being provided by the City.  Dr. Patton, City Manager, informed City Council that she and staff will provide information to all inquiries at the April 10, 2017 Public Work Session. 3. City Council Liaison Reports -Councilwoman Psimas -  Update on the EDA/Portsmouth Port and Industrial Commission (PPIC)  Military Affairs Committee update.