Minutes 05/11/2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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May 11, 2020 At a Virtual Called Meeting of the City Council on Monday, May 11, 2020, there were present: Mayor John L. Rowe, Jr., Vice Mayor Lisa L. Lucas-Burke, William E. Moody, Jr., Elizabeth M. Psimas, Nathan J. Clark, Paul J. Battle, Shannon E. Glover, City Manager Dr. L. Pettis Patton, City Attorney Solomon H. Ashby, Jr. 20 - 118 - The Mayor called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance: “In accordance with Governor Ralph Northam’s Declaration of a State of Emergency due to novel coronavirus (Executive Order 51) on March 12, 2020 and the Local Declaration of Emergency ratified by the Portsmouth City Council; and due to the coronavirus pandemic which is continuing in the Commonwealth of Virginia, this work th session of the Portsmouth City Council is being held by video conference on the 11 day of May, 2020 without a quorum present in the City Council Chamber in order to reduce the likely spread of the coronavirus. Each city council member is participating from their home and I am in the City Council Chamber. This meeting is being held in accordance with Portsmouth City Ordinance 2020-21. Please attend a Virtual Called Meeting of the City Council to be held at Portsmouth, Virginia Facebook Live, 5:00 p.m., Monday, May 11, 2020, 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." 20 - 119 - The following items were discussed in Public Work Session: 1. Budget Discussion - Dr. Pettis Patton, City Manager - Councilwoman Psimas proposed to delay the increase of the parking fees and meal tax until 1/1/2021. There was a majority of City Council. - There was a consensus by City Council to increase the boat launch fee to $10 for non-residents. - Councilman Clark proposed to increase staffing level for the fire department by 15 fire fighters and 5 paramedics in the FY2021 budget. There was a consensus by City Council to have that adjustment reflected in the FY 2021 Classification and Pay Plan of the budget hearing meeting for Tuesday, May 12, 2020. - Councilman Moody asked if water meters are inspected and certified by the state’s Weights and Measures Division, or who is testing them for accuracy. Dr. Patton will report back to ensure that we have a meter calibration program in place. - Councilman Moody proposed to defer the increase of all utility fees to 1/1/2021. There was a consensus by City Council to appropriate the revenue amount that would be generated by the increase of fees from 7/1/2020 - 12/31/2020 out of the Utility Fund Balance to avoid further delay in state regulated improvements, and the fee increase will be effective by 1/1/2021. 20 - 120 - Motion by Mr. Clark, and seconded by Mr. Moody, to go into a Closed Electronic Meeting pursuant to Virginia Code 2.2-3711 A.3 and 2.2-3708 A.3 and City Council Ordinance 2020 - 21 for the purpose of: Discussing the disposition of real property where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body, specifically regarding development of the Victory Village site. The motion was adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Battle, Clark, Glover, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Psimas, Rowe Nays: None Motion by Ms. Lucas-Burke, and seconded by Ms. Psimas, pursuant to Virginia Code Section 2.2-3712(D) certifying that, to the best of the Council Members’ knowledge: