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Good afternoon, and welcome to the November 9th city council work session.

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And I'll call on

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our city manager, Winterbenda.

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Thank you, Mayor and members of city council. Good afternoon.

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We have a healthy work session before us, I'll jump in with both feet, visiting us, but certainly no stranger is central Virginia Planning District's executive director, Gary Christie, also with him, his wife, Fran.

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He will brief you on his organization's 2021 annual report and tell you about some of his professional news.

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co-located with Gary in the Bank of the James is the Virginia career works and

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we have its executive director Tracy Blito. Who will introduce herself in

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their organization and then pitch it to her business engagement and outreach

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coordinator Tim Saunders who will present to us on employment trends in our area.

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Then because the holidays are upon us and we will not be back in this space again

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until December 14th, I've asked Ted from the museum

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and Ricky from the market to engage us in spreads

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and holiday cheer and tell us what to expect

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from them this holiday season.

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We've highlighted the legislative agenda again here

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after the recent election in prior

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to your legislative dinner, which is next Tuesday.

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Then we've a business item briefing and closed session,

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the business item briefing just to remind everyone

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the item itself, Tom, is going to engage you about,

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But it's a style for the planning commission very soon and we wanted you to hear it because by the time it's voted upon

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We will not had time because of meeting schedules to have engaged you about it

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So that's the business item briefing and so knowing time is of the essence

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I will like I said jump in with both feet

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So the first agenda item on the work session is styled as my 90 to 100 days if you recall

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When I first arrived I asked for each of you just for that amount of time to figure out where I am and

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who you are and exactly what Lynchburg is all about and so I stand before you

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today November 9th this is my 99th day. I remember my family I moved here on

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July 29th which midday during that day both my wife and I realized it was our

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21st wedding anniversary so I think we shared a brief kiss and a quick hug and I

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get back to packing the trucks. We arrived physically here in Lynchburg on July 30th

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then I started work on August 2nd.

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Probably of that transition that was maybe the most nervous

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was explaining to my middle daughter

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that school started earlier out here

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than in Hampton Roads, and that she,

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the day after 16th birthday would be starting school.

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So she have started to talk to me again

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and settling and just fine with one another.

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It has indeed been a momentous in first few months

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in our new home.

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We are settling in learning about the city and thriving.

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Today I would like to share with you some of my initial observations and thoughts after

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three months on the job, but please understand, I'm very, very new in this infancy as city

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manager, so there's no broad initiatives, no expectations, just things that I've noticed

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and or you told me about and I want to make sure that you know that I'm paying attention.

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So with that, we have great work to do for the city and for residents that deserve our

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care, attention and best work as public servants. While I have raced all over the seven hills

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and beyond and met many, many people, atop them, I still have so many miles to go to meet.

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So but to my word and it being my 99th day, I am looking forward to working, to continue

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to working alongside you to move this community forward. So first I'd like to start with our

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team. This organization is strong and managed by accomplished and capable staff. I've witnessed

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this strength firsthand during my first city council meeting, which was also my daughter's

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16th birthday. There was an incident at the regional jail. We showed plucking ability that

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evening and these same characteristics have been borne out in my interactions across all

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the 17 city departments. I've met with all of the city department head, city appointees,

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constitutional officers where they work. It has been important for me to meet them

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not meet them where they are not where I am. Bottom line, each and everyone wants

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this organization to be successful, want strong leadership and in turn support

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for their work. As we head into a new fiscal year, a key growth opportunity lies

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in resourcing both people and stuff to get the job done. I've heard you loud and

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clear about compression, which you have correctly diagnosed as an organizational opportunity

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not simply in one or two departments. Another opportunity that I have identified is an

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improving leadership and staff morale. COVID wreaked havoc over the last 18 months and through it we

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asked many people to step up and step in and they have. On day one, we had six acting or interim

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leadership positions across the organization. I have since filled two and got the others into their

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proper lanes so that we can continue to move forward. I think loudly, those who have stepped

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up and continue to do so. As the leader of this organization, my style will be to equip,

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encourage and engage. I've asked the deputy city manager, the assistant city manager, and

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all of our department heads to be bold. And take half step promotions in places where decisions

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need to be made. I expect mistakes and for us to learn from them together. This C is

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is 235 years old.

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Since 1920, eight city managers

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have proceeded to be in this role.

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This city has survived, drought, famine, pestilence,

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well, quite literally, wars, floods,

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and now a pandemic, and very few years have been

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as challenging as this last one.

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So while I look forward to my black and white photo,

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maybe hanging here in city hall

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after some hopefully long tenure,

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I pray that it is a tenure in which

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I and this leadership team make our small contribution to this organization and to this community.

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The next opportunity I will address is our message.

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A couple weeks ago, we heard from Margett and Anna on a city's new destination marketing message.

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LYH loves you.

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I mentioned then that communities often have three brands.

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One, a DMO brand to position the city for tourism and business investment.

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to an organizational brand to clearly communicate to our citizens and three

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sometimes an organic identity adopted by the community over time. Remember,

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Lunchburg? We as an organization haven't talked about what I call small city,

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small city, city communications brand in quite some time. Having come from a city

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and understanding there are literally thousands of more of us that call ourselves

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the greatest place to live or can play. I know that Lynchburg is exactly that but

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but it is also much, much more.

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For example, on any one day, as I travel to work out of my neighborhood, I drive by a

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school of higher education, pass a public high school down in a historic street, into

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our iconic downtown that abuts a famous river.

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And I can see as I drive that we have not maybe captured and may not be communicating effectively

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with the full diversity of this incredible community.

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So how do we capture the essence of us and who we are as a city, drawn from private and nonprofit

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businesses, arts and culture of faith, faith community, history, landscape and

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people, all of the people to reflect who we are as an organization. I offer to

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you that it's the city skyline. Already used graphically in several ways is

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notable and recognizable. We just need to be on message. I believe that this

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organization has an opportunity through the city's website, through our internal

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and external communications and strategies, to hit reset and refresh. If COVID

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would taught us anything, the way in which people give and receive information is broad

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and diverse.

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We need them, the technology and staffing to ensure that our residents are not simply informed

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but also engaged.

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I should add that no one agrees with me more than Ms. Joanne Martin, who I would like to recognize

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and publicly thank for keeping me straight and on message these last 99 days.

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She will be truly missed with Joanne's support now and new communications director in the coming

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months and possibly some outside help I intend to stretch us in this area. And lastly our process.

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In my early work with you and our staff, I've heard that you expect that we

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operate an open and transparent government responsible to the citizens of this community.

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In thinking through those expectations and observing the efficiencies of our meetings

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together over the past several months, I see an opportunity to improve how we're communicating with

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With one another and how we not only inform but also engage the citizens in the work of local government

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I've said before to you that City Council is a City Council meaning is exemptive of a Board of Directors convening their CEO to discuss

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Matters of import of import for their shareholders that for us as our residents while this example is not perfect

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But to that end I would have us begin to think through when where and how we meet the city leadership

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We currently meet together on two Tuesdays a month with work separated into

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committee's work session in formal docket. Committee meetings occur on

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alternating Tuesdays at 8 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. Work session is usually 4 to 6 p.m.

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with a formal docket following at 7.30 p.m. for your reflection this evening.

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I offer that there may be some ways in which to streamline some of this work and

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to optimize your in our residence time and when you're ready I'm prepared to

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offer some options on how to do so.

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As for where it has been important for me

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to hear from you and from staff,

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we have found those instances when we are around a table

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in collaborating with you to be especially helpful.

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Joe and her staff have leaned into this model

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and made the second four conference room connected,

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meaning that that space is able to accommodate broadcast

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and record public meetings.

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In the new year, I suggest that we consider using it

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for committees and or work sessions.

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In closing, I am proud to be standing before you tonight,

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leading a strong and capable staff with opportunities

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before us to improve our service,

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our communications and our processes,

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to better engage the citizens of this amazing community.

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What makes us great are our people, our special places,

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and the things that make up the fabric of this city.

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Over the last 99 days, I've met so many wonderful

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Lynchburgers who have offered their candid feedback,

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but most importantly their support for and their belief in the trajectory of

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this city. Make no mistake while resources help and boy do they. People inside

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and outside of this organization are getting things done. Who and what we want

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this community to be is reflected by each of you sitting before me today. Some of

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you were born and raised here moved away and returned to make a difference in our

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community. Some of you moved here, went to school, started a business, stayed for

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family and friendship. Your stories are the stories of this city, growing, dynamic,

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moving forward. And it was your passion for Lindsburg that made me in my family

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decide to make this our home and commit to its success. And we are not alone. Our

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arts and cultural community is spreading joy reminding us of who we are and

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inspiring the next generation of creators. Our institutions of higher

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education and equipping young people to change the world, rooting many of them right here in our city

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to help drive us forward. Our private and nonprofit businesses continue to invest in their employees

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and their property. Our shops, restaurants and entertainment venues are delighting our citizens

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and creating spaces for recreation and community. Our transportation providers are bringing people from

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all over the world to make an impact in Lynchburg. So what lies ahead? Please know that I will wake

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every day prepared to out hustle anyone to make this city ever better. Outside of ensuring that we

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are providing daily impactful municipal services, I will continually assess our work to identify

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the gaps and resources necessary to fill them. In my next 90 days, I will meet with you to discuss

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opportunities before us, including one, the American Rescue Plan Act or ARPA funding and how we deploy

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this for transformational

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No one time projects. Two, leadership, vacancies, and compression. We are not alone in these conversations as businesses and local governments assessed and adjusted to a post-pandemic future. Three, in a budget process that works for us all, with buying from you, city staff, and more importantly, the residents of the city, to insert ownership over future spending priorities. I will approach my work with humility in public servants asking you, our staff, and our residents, to believe in the greatness of the city. I remind it daily that we are in the

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together and we will succeed in our work for the benefit of our citizens and the prosperity

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of this city through mutual love and respect and common vision of Lynchburg shining

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atop at seven hills. Thank you. Thank you and now I'll call on Gary Christy to give

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the and report of the Central Virginia Planning District Commission 2020.

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Madam Mayor, it was a council good to see you again and special thanks to council member

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Tweety, she serves as our chairman this year on the Planning District Commission.

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A year when we've started in-person meetings again after COVID and we have a variety of

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challenges ahead of us, including staff transitions, so thank you Mayor Tweety.

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We do have annual reports there in your packet and I have printed copies if anybody would

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like one.

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We are a place where localities who come together and talk to each other, build trust with

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each other and we can do multi-gear-stictional planning and multi-gear-stictional projects

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that will save our localities money.

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We are a planning organization, we've completed a long-range transportation plan that will

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position each of our communities for smart scale and other grant applications.

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We've completed a hazard mitigation plan which provides opportunities to plan ahead for natural

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disaster events.

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Once we will be doing a housing study in 2022 and looking at how working family housing

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and looking at the need to identify where that might be.

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We'll also have one and a half million dollars to invest in new construction through a

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grant we received from Virginia Housing that we won't implement until that housing study

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is complete.

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But we will have something to implement with when once we have a plan in place.

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In 2022, we'll do an update to the Economic Development Strategy, our SEDS plan, that keeps

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our economic development players working towards the same set of goals, and this time we will

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include agriculture and civil culture in our planning process.

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We also expect to do an update to the Greenways and Blueways plan, looking at rivers, trails,

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waterways, and opportunities for connections.

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During the end of 2019, 35 local government officials got together for a strategic direction

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meeting and determined that advanced manufacturing was a continued emphasis for our region.

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And as a result, the planning district commission is invested $134,000 in the community colleges

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of CTE program and leveraging a Govergenne grant for staffing there.

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We also invested $150,000 towards the planning and reuse at the Virginia Training Center

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within the Training Center.

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We continued to have transit planning services for GLTC, our rideshare and commuting services

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are restarting now that COVID is getting settled in.

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We've completed transportation studies in the Rusper area and have intersection safety studies

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going on in three counties as well as March scale and transportation alternative applications

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for our counties.

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We're working with the Department of Environmental Quality on Chesapeake Bay practice, best

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management practices and a middle James River Vision project.

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And we continue to run the landfill in Rustburg and have a gas to energy proposal going before

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the Campbell County Board of Supervisors.

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Our planning work continues in the town of Alta Vista, the town of Amherst, where we're

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We're doing their comprehensive plan updates.

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We completed one foot of town of Appomattox, and we completed the Bedford County Transportation

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Conference Plan.

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We continue to work with the radio communication system for public safety, and we're adding

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Campbell County this year to make interoperability for the city and three of its neighboring

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counties, as well as investing $150,000 in new dispatch furniture in the Lynn Compte

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education center. Our county and towns have smaller staff so we do the CDBG

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planning work for them. They have to apply for grants in order to get that CDBG

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funds and we're working with the old town Madison Heights and Amherst and the

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Hilltop project in Bedford for those of those funds. As you hear later we have a

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new workforce development board director on board. We're excited about her work

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and youth partnerships with Benford Campbell and the Parkview

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Missions organization.

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For every $1 in dues that our jurisdiction has paid,

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we brought $24.75 to our communities

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in grants and other incomes during this past year.

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I thank you for supporting me over the past 16 years.

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40 years ago, I started on the third floor city hall,

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working with city officials like Robert Martin,

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Sunday Cover Health and Dr. Joe Freeman. Over that 35 years since then I've

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been fortunate blessed to have worked in managed two cities, a county, and two

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planning district commissions. I appreciate the support you've shown me and to

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our organization. I'll be transitioning out of this position in April,

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friend and I plan to stay in Lynchburg, which has always been our home, and to see

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what retirement looks like. Again, a sincere thank you for the support you've

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given me and the organization and happy to take any questions about the

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planning distribution. Are there any questions? Comments? Councilmember

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Halbison. Thank you, member. Gary, I want to I know this I don't know when you're

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going to be back before us but I've talked a lot or a few of your former staff

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and what not, and they said, man, that's going to be tough to replace you because you've

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done a fabulous job.

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It's not as much notoriety or what not because a lot of times nobody sees it, but because

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of the fact that you're now working with competing jurisdictions sometimes to partner and work

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together.

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It's a difficult thing, especially when you have very different, maybe governing bodies,

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very different land use areas, you've got agriculture, you've got density, you've got lots of different things.

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And you were able to really thread those needles, so thank you for your work and I know it's going to be difficult.

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Hopefully it'll be easier to replace you because you've done so well, but it's going to be difficult to replace you as your personality and your work that you've done.

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So thank you for that.

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Thank you very much.

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I just want to echo that I work with you for years through the Workforce Investment Board and other committees, and I'm just certain I have to work you've done for our community to make this region a stronger region, because of your leadership and the staff and the team that you have with you, so we can just come in, you know it's not your final session, but again, we just want to hear, we just really appreciate you and the work you've done for our region, thank you.

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Thank you.

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Anyone else comes to remember all these?

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Gary, I think one of the first people I met when I first started to get involved with the various entities, organizations, nonprofits, and what not in Lynchburg, you were one of the first time met, and that was back in 2016, 2017, so I just want to say congratulations to you, and wish you all the best with your family as you move into this next stage, so thank you for your service to our region for sure.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Anyone else?

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Well, thank you very much and thank you for the presentation as well.

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Now we're going to hear a presentation from Virginia CareerWorks, Tracy Blito and Tim

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Saunders.

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Thank you so much and good afternoon everyone and it's really good to be here and I've kind

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of come full circle because I worked for Virginia's Reach in 2000 partnership in the Bank

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of the James, went to Bedford County for 10 years and now I'm back and I've been on the

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workforce board that whole time which is how I ended up going. I've been complaining

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about what we need to do better so let's see if I can help out. So that's kind of how

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I ended up here. I started my job on July 1st as the Director of Workforce Development

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and that is for the Central Virginia Workforce Development Board but our workforce area is

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Workforce 7 were one of 14 different regions that have Workforce areas.

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And since that time, I've been really happy to see what a great Workforce team and some

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of you are very familiar because you're on the board or you're associated with our chief

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elected officials that may help make the decisions on our budget and things like that.

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I'm looking at Dr. Tweedy and Dr. Wilde, of course.

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and you might ask you know why I came into workforce development with all the issues that we have

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and I've asked Tim to come and really share a great story that he's been promoting throughout the state

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and people really getting a lot out of about what exactly is happening and why is it happening across the nation

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and what exactly is happening in the Lynchburg region.

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So I think he's going to, you're going to work on getting that presentation up.

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Do you need me to move out of the way?

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Okay, well I'll just keep talking over here then, I'll just talk loudly.

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So we, our organization, the Virginia Career Works Central Region, we are known as the conveners,

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the unity that brings all the different people that are focused on workforce together, so

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So that we can be a good network, we can partner together, we can help send clients from

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one to the other because they can help with something that we can't help with or maybe

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they have a client that they need some help that we can help with.

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So really it's about collaboration and I think our region is very well known for being good

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collaborators and that's shown.

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And with that, I'm going to ask Tim to really go through this whole scenario of what we're

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seeing in the nation.

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I think you'll get a lot out of it.

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I think your constituents are asking you what is going on.

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And so be prepared to take a few notes because I think you're going to really enjoy this.

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Tim's a great asset.

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He's our business outreach person, and he's doing a great job.

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So Tim, please.

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Thank you.

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Thank you, Tracy.

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And it's good to be in front of you all in a different role.

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I think I interacted with all of you at one time or another over the 14 years that I worked

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at WDBJ7.

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So glad to be now in this role in helping kind of tell the story about what's happening in our local workforce

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And there is a lot going on right now as you've probably noticed

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You've heard from our businesses asking for help. I'm sure to find workers

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And we're hearing the same thing Tracy and I are talking to businesses every day

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And they're struggling obviously. We have got to work hard to try and

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Help them find the workforce that they need to fill the jobs now and in the future

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And that's what we do.

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I have this up on the screen because I just wanted to emphasize, I know that Dr. Wilder

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and Dr. Tweety are both part of the workforce system or part of what we do at Virginia

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CareerWorks.

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Councilmember Wilder is actually on our workforce board and has been for a long time.

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And Councilmember Tweety is your representative to the organization that oversees all of what

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we do.

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And I can get into detail about that if you'd like to know more.

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But if you haven't heard about Virginia career works, you're not alone because it is a relatively

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new name that it's a brand that the state came up with a few years ago to kind of give

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us an identity, give the work that we're doing an identity and bring together a little more

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formally, some things that have been going on for a while.

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We are a system of partners.

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We're a collection of state agencies and nonprofits that work together to provide employment services

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to job seekers and to businesses. We serve both of those constituencies, and so we are not

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operating as separate agencies. What we try to do and what the organization that Tracy and I

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work for tries to do is to make sure that all those different agencies that maybe have similar

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things that they do, make sure that they're all on the same page and that we're not duplicating

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our efforts, that we're leveraging our resources appropriately to serve everyone from the job

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who has never worked before to the employer that's now struggling to find workers.

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We want to make sure that we are using our resources in the most efficient way possible to serve everyone.

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And so, you know, we have those agencies like the Virginia Employment Commission that we work with.

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We've more closely been working in the last couple of years with the Department of Social Services here in the city and in the four counties that make up our region.

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We work closely with Central Virginia Community College.

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They have, as you probably know, workforce programs, classes that provide training for

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individuals who want to get directly into a career, something like welding or electrician,

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medical coding, things like that.

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They have those classes and we work very closely with them to promote those opportunities.

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But we also work with, at the state level, the Department of Education and the Virginia

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economic development partnership as well because workforce is a component of

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economic development and we want to make sure that folks like your economic

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development director Margett Upsher and her team have the workforce to support

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their businesses for business retention and for business attraction.

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So our base

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of operations, the main place that we operate from, is the center that you see

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screen. This is a building on Odd Fellows Road that has been known in the past as a base of

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operations for the Virginia Employment Commission, but this is actually a place where all of those

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agencies you saw on the last screen, you can find them there. People can come to this center and

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access the services of not only the Virginia Employment Commission, but also some services that we

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provide directly to youth and adult job seekers. They can also tap into some of the other organizations

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like the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services and also get connected with

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Your Department of Social Services through some of the people that we have there. We have staff that can get any job seeker, any business connected with those different agencies that make up Virginia career works. But the things that we do for people that come to our center, we try to get folks ready for a career. If they've never worked before, we can actually help them to prepare a resume. We can help them prepare for an interview. We can, for individuals, and this is something we really try

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hard to do. Individuals that are what we call out of school youth, they are not quite adults yet,

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but they are not in school for whatever reason, they're not engaged in school or work. We do try

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to work with them to identify things that they can do with their life and get them into a career

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or into something productive in the community. We help them overcome barriers because a lot of times

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that's something that they're facing, that we want to try to help them navigate. Get past those that

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obstacle in their life that's preventing them from engaging with the workforce or getting

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the training they would need to be part of the workforce.

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We also provide services, this is important too, for what we call dislocated workers.

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These are people who have lost their job by no fault of their own.

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These are people that may have been laid off from a company that left our community.

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We've had that happen in the last couple of years.

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And when that happens, these people are automatically eligible, in most cases, for services that we provide and we work with them one on one to figure out what is needed for them to get re-employed, to get a new job in our community whenever possible.

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And we are still working with people like that. I'm pleased to say that we've had some good success even in the last week, finding a job for someone that lost employment through a large employer in our area.

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We were able to get them reconnected with employment here locally in a very good paying job.

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So we have a lot of success stories to share.

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And then we also provide against services for employers.

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The things that we do there, we right now are working very hard to help them with recruitment,

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trying to advertise their jobs through social media, through the state-operated platform called

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the Virginia Workforce Connection, which is it operates much like indeed.

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It's a place that employers can go to post their jobs for free.

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And then we have staff at that center that I showed you, that's on the back end looking at those job postings and trying to find qualified applicants that they can connect with those jobs.

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Finding people that would have a skills match that they can get their resume and send it to the employer to look over.

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And when that's again something that we do collaboratively try to get resumes to our employers to fill some of these jobs right now, we're doing things at that low of a level.

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And then we also try to provide labor market information for businesses.

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A lot of them coming to us recently asking for salary data because they feel that that might be an area that they can improve on to hopefully look more attractive to applicants so we do provide that.

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And then we speak to groups like you all as well because we want our leaders in the community to be aware of what we do.

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We are a federally funded agency and you all are the grant recipient, the City of Lynchburg is, the grant recipient.

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that takes in that money from the federal government and then it comes to us to carry out the work

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that we do. So we want to make sure that you're aware of what's going on. So one thing that we've

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been doing for the last year plus ever since the pandemic started is trying to just keep a track

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of unemployment and I just wanted to very briefly show this to you in case you haven't seen these

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numbers. I know there's been a lot of talk about unemployment and what impact it might be having on

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the hiring situation. This was really something that was talked about a lot earlier in the year,

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but as you can see, I wanted you to have this visual first before I get into the numbers.

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The visual takeaway that I want you to have from this is that

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we did have a high number of people filing claims for unemployment insurance during 2020,

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but it was something that happened and peaked pretty quickly and then came back down almost as

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quickly as it went up, so just to get into the numbers, when the pandemic was declared

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by the World Health Organization, the week of March 14, 2020, we had a very low number

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of people in our region filing claims for unemployment insurance.

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And just to be clear, when I talk about our region, I'm talking about the city of Lynchburg

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and the four counties, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell.

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So in that entire area, that 260,000 plus population area, we had only 642 people filing claims for unemployment insurance. It was very low.

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Now that surged to almost 10,000 people filing claims during the week of May 9, 2020. And that's when it peaked.

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After that thing started coming down, we noticed at the end of July last year, 2020, that after some of the federal extended unemployment benefits

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We're no longer available. We did see those claims come down and this was something that happened across the board, across the country and we

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bottomed out last year in the winter around

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1700 between 17 and 1800 claims

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Before going back up just a little bit after Christmas after the holiday season last year

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But then again continuing to come back down. We got down as low over the summer as

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879 claims filed at the very end of July so by the end of July this year

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We were back almost where we were when the pandemic started as far as unemployment goes.

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So I just point all that out to sort of say that as far as there being a lot of people

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filing unemployment in this area, that's not happening at the moment.

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Claims have come back up just a little bit, but not in a really noticeable way.

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And I will point out that that happened after the last of the extended federal unemployment

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benefits were off the table, we saw those numbers go back up.

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So what's going on?

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Why are employers struggling to find workers right now?

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Well, I always say this.

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Anytime I speak before a group like yours,

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that you can't point to one single thing

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and say this is the problem.

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This is what is driving this shortage of workers

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that we're experiencing.

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But one thing that we are seeing,

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and again, I like to lean on data,

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this is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics is showing us.

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we lost 7,600 workers in our region, our MSA, between February of 2020 and August of

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this year. And we're not alone. This is something that's happened, you know, in many other

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parts of the country, Virginia, itself, the entire state lost almost 160,000 workers,

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looking at those same numbers. Now, I do want to update this slide here. You'll see

427
00:36:54,980 --> 00:37:00,400
it says July 13th. I apologize it has that date. I do have the most updated number and it is actually

428
00:37:01,260 --> 00:37:09,140
fairly close to what you see there. I think as of today there are 8,840 active job openings within

429
00:37:09,140 --> 00:37:15,300
25 miles of Lynchburg on just the national labor exchange and that's something that pulls job openings

430
00:37:15,300 --> 00:37:22,180
from a variety of sources. And then indeed, which is another popular platform where job postings

431
00:37:22,180 --> 00:37:25,840
are available, the number is pretty comparable there as well.

432
00:37:26,020 --> 00:37:29,100
It's above 1800 in both places.

433
00:37:29,880 --> 00:37:31,700
So that's a pretty high number.

434
00:37:31,980 --> 00:37:35,120
For comparison's sake, last year at this time,

435
00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:39,380
I'd say probably last October, November timeframe,

436
00:37:39,660 --> 00:37:41,480
there were only about 1100 job openings.

437
00:37:41,720 --> 00:37:45,700
So we saw a huge surge of job openings this year,

438
00:37:45,780 --> 00:37:48,320
and that again, this has been happening across the country.

439
00:37:48,920 --> 00:37:51,100
This again, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics,

440
00:37:51,100 --> 00:37:56,160
this, it just points out what we're seeing across the country. Job openings have been

441
00:37:56,160 --> 00:38:04,460
going up pretty steadily since January of 2011, over the last 10 years, and things stayed

442
00:38:04,460 --> 00:38:09,620
going up at a pretty steady pace until we got to the pandemic. Right before the pandemic

443
00:38:09,620 --> 00:38:13,360
things started to fall off, and then they really went off a cliff when things were shut

444
00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:17,760
down and businesses were forced to close, but you'll see we rebounded almost immediately.

445
00:38:17,760 --> 00:38:25,120
was a V-shaped recovery. After things started opening back up, after businesses reopened,

446
00:38:26,100 --> 00:38:31,940
job openings just took off into outer space. I mean, we've seen record high

447
00:38:31,940 --> 00:38:37,560
number of job openings in the United States this year during the summer. We're still, I believe,

448
00:38:37,560 --> 00:38:43,680
above 10 million as of today job openings and 10 million is far above even the high water mark

449
00:38:43,680 --> 00:38:48,460
before the pandemic, you know, at least as far as the last 10 years are concerned.

450
00:38:48,860 --> 00:38:56,320
The highest we got was there, you'll see below 8 million in between 2018-2019.

451
00:38:57,100 --> 00:39:00,480
So to be at 10 million now, that's extraordinary.

452
00:39:00,940 --> 00:39:05,780
The problem is, we don't have as many people in the workforce to fill those jobs.

453
00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:10,140
We're seeing all these job openings available, but not nearly as many people to fill the positions.

454
00:39:10,140 --> 00:39:17,640
And again, this is something I do want to point out to you all because our area, the demographics, we are an older area.

455
00:39:17,800 --> 00:39:20,000
We do skew older in certainly the counties.

456
00:39:20,680 --> 00:39:26,040
And one thing that's happening nationally and even locally is we're losing a lot of workers to retirement.

457
00:39:26,740 --> 00:39:36,020
The baby boomer generation, those 55 and older all the way up to mid to late 70s now, they have worked longer than their predecessors.

458
00:39:36,020 --> 00:39:40,500
folks that are in that generation have worked much longer than previous generations.

459
00:39:40,820 --> 00:39:43,000
And they're now retiring in mass.

460
00:39:44,340 --> 00:39:46,000
We've seen that example.

461
00:39:46,100 --> 00:39:49,800
You've probably seen a lot of people coming before you to announce their retirements.

462
00:39:50,020 --> 00:39:51,960
And that's going to continue to be a problem.

463
00:39:52,740 --> 00:39:59,120
We've actually seen nationally several million more retirements than were expected.

464
00:39:59,860 --> 00:40:28,580
and I was actually in a webinar hosted by Chimura Analytics about a month ago where the Director of that organization mentioned that just in the first three months of the pandemic they saw several years worth of retirements take place so it's happening at a pretty fast rate and we actually I don't have the slide to show you but I was looking at some data that showed that retirements are probably going to continue to accelerate.

465
00:40:28,580 --> 00:40:33,800
There's an organization that does a survey every year of people asking them whether they

466
00:40:33,800 --> 00:40:39,620
plan to put off retirement or accelerate their retirement and they're seeing something

467
00:40:39,620 --> 00:40:45,120
like 40% of the respondents saying that they plan to accelerate their retirement in the

468
00:40:45,120 --> 00:40:45,880
next year.

469
00:40:46,440 --> 00:40:51,100
So I do think that this is a trend we're going to see continue and you know baby boomers

470
00:40:51,100 --> 00:40:54,180
are going to be aging out of the workforce very quickly.

471
00:40:55,340 --> 00:40:59,380
But, talking about the positive, I do want to try to just, you know, give you a little

472
00:40:59,380 --> 00:41:04,880
bit of quick data here about the local area and some of our wage trends.

473
00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:09,860
Our annual wages have been going up much like the rest of the state.

474
00:41:10,480 --> 00:41:16,620
Locally, average annual wages per worker have increased 5 percent over the last, or not

475
00:41:16,620 --> 00:41:20,280
over the last four quarters, but the four quarters leading up to the middle part of this year.

476
00:41:20,280 --> 00:41:25,420
So we are seeing quite a bit of wage growth, average annual wages as of the second quarter

477
00:41:25,420 --> 00:41:30,420
of this year, 64,000 in the nation, but for us, 46,000.

478
00:41:31,200 --> 00:41:36,180
And of course, we have a much better cost of living, as you know, than a lot of other

479
00:41:36,180 --> 00:41:36,640
communities.

480
00:41:36,900 --> 00:41:41,020
We have a much, our money goes farther, I should say.

481
00:41:41,320 --> 00:41:43,160
So we do have that going for us.

482
00:41:43,160 --> 00:41:49,720
Our cost of living is 11%, almost 12% lower than the US average, and that's improved even

483
00:41:49,720 --> 00:41:54,600
throughout the year. I've noticed that number creep up as I've given this presentation

484
00:41:54,600 --> 00:41:59,380
and updated the information. Some of your largest industry sectors,

485
00:42:00,340 --> 00:42:05,740
healthcare and social assistance, is the biggest at 16 percent of your workforce.

486
00:42:06,540 --> 00:42:11,940
Next largest sector is manufacturing. Manufacturing really doesn't get the love it deserves,

487
00:42:11,940 --> 00:42:17,720
I think, in this area. I mean, we have very strong manufacturing employers

488
00:42:17,720 --> 00:42:24,840
in the Lynchburg area. We actually saw manufacturing grow during the pandemic. When all the other MSAs

489
00:42:24,840 --> 00:42:32,120
around the state saw their manufacturing sectors decline, we saw 5% growth between June of 19 and

490
00:42:32,120 --> 00:42:38,860
June of 2020. So that's been very positive. And then we also have quite a bit of retail activity

491
00:42:38,860 --> 00:42:47,440
happening as well. The city being the hub for retail activity for this whole MSA, really largely the

492
00:42:47,440 --> 00:42:49,620
hub for employment in this entire MSA.

493
00:42:49,720 --> 00:42:54,120
You all have many of the jobs when we talk about those 1800 jobs most of them are here

494
00:42:54,120 --> 00:42:54,640
in the city.

495
00:42:55,680 --> 00:42:58,200
So that's certainly a good thing for you all.

496
00:42:59,360 --> 00:43:05,460
As far as your highest wages, professional scientific and technical services have the highest

497
00:43:05,460 --> 00:43:13,100
average wages per worker at around 79,000 followed by finance and insurance and then this actually

498
00:43:13,100 --> 00:43:14,020
just changed recently.

499
00:43:14,020 --> 00:43:18,100
I noticed that management of companies and enterprises kind of creeped up as a sector

500
00:43:18,100 --> 00:43:22,180
with the highest average wages per worker at around 67,500.

501
00:43:22,800 --> 00:43:29,400
Job losses over the next 12 months not projected to be super noticeable, around 209 jobs

502
00:43:29,400 --> 00:43:32,460
expected to be lost according to the data that we track.

503
00:43:33,060 --> 00:43:37,540
Your fast-disgrowing sectors again help care and social assistance, expected to add over

504
00:43:37,540 --> 00:43:39,980
130 jobs over the next year.

505
00:43:39,980 --> 00:43:45,480
arts, entertainment, and recreation is very strong in this community. It's one of the top three.

506
00:43:45,740 --> 00:43:50,380
It's actually number two. Not adding a large number of jobs that you'll see there on the screen,

507
00:43:50,380 --> 00:43:57,340
but still seeing second most job growth followed by accommodation and food services in this area,

508
00:43:57,440 --> 00:44:03,420
which is expected to have a net gain of five jobs. So I'll entertain any questions that you all have,

509
00:44:03,480 --> 00:44:09,280
but I also want to just share my contact information and also trace these contact information. We do

510
00:44:09,280 --> 00:44:13,160
We hope you'll reach out to us from time to time to see how we can maybe help you all

511
00:44:13,160 --> 00:44:19,860
with labor market data and addressing this long-term issue of helping our workers, helping

512
00:44:19,860 --> 00:44:21,320
our employers find workers.

513
00:44:21,700 --> 00:44:22,080
I'm

514
00:44:24,770 --> 00:44:25,210
sorry for all this.

515
00:44:25,530 --> 00:44:26,930
Thank you for your presentation.

516
00:44:27,170 --> 00:44:31,870
It was interesting reading through it beforehand, and then also understanding how you were describing

517
00:44:31,870 --> 00:44:32,170
it.

518
00:44:32,470 --> 00:44:36,050
Could you walk a little through maybe what you're seeing either nationally or locally.

519
00:44:36,630 --> 00:44:40,330
You touched on it with the retirement piece, but what percentages of those jobs are

520
00:44:40,330 --> 00:44:44,530
opening up that are maybe not even retirement eligible, but early retirement.

521
00:44:44,650 --> 00:44:49,590
Can you go a little more specific on that and are you guys tracking or able to

522
00:44:49,590 --> 00:44:54,810
articulate on why they're leaving early? I don't want to throw the vaccine

523
00:44:54,810 --> 00:44:58,730
mandate thing in, but I mean that might be a part of it. There might also be, hey,

524
00:44:58,830 --> 00:44:59,890
I've got the funds to do it.

525
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:29,880
I'm just going to do it anyway, because I don't feel like dealing with all this, not, you know, so just kind of curious if you could expand upon that a little bit more. Sure. So I don't unfortunately have data to show how many of those job openings have been created as a result of retirement. But now that you've mentioned that, I think that's something that we'll definitely want to look into and try to get a better handle on. I could only probably offer anecdotal evidence as far as what might be driving them, but from what I've read, I've tried to do a lot of reading on this and I've found that it seems that the

526
00:45:29,880 --> 00:45:34,620
The population that's eligible to retire has a lot of concerns about health and safety

527
00:45:35,120 --> 00:45:35,900
staying in the workforce.

528
00:45:36,400 --> 00:45:40,660
So I do think that there is some concern on their part as far as they're being an active

529
00:45:40,660 --> 00:45:46,320
pandemic still that they would like to try and keep health and safety first and foremost.

530
00:45:46,840 --> 00:45:50,720
I think there's other things that play to, for example women in the workplace, many of

531
00:45:50,720 --> 00:45:58,000
them have decided because of child care issues and the kids at home taking school and things

532
00:45:58,000 --> 00:45:58,480
like that.

533
00:45:58,480 --> 00:46:02,640
They stepped out of the workforce and it's a matter of getting them to come back.

534
00:46:03,280 --> 00:46:08,660
So I think that that's also, there's a lot of things that play and with the retirements

535
00:46:08,660 --> 00:46:12,940
I think you know when the stock market's doing well there's going to be more retirements.

536
00:46:13,460 --> 00:46:18,480
And frankly I think that the hit came even before the vaccine mandates.

537
00:46:18,480 --> 00:46:23,240
It just came from COVID and the fear of COVID and just that type of thing.

538
00:46:23,760 --> 00:46:26,560
But yeah I think now you're seeing some waves of that as well.

539
00:46:26,560 --> 00:46:36,800
Because in my mind, I know my uncle could totally retire right now from working at Delta, and he's nowhere near retirement, you know, and thankfully he's blessed enough he's in that situation.

540
00:46:37,060 --> 00:46:46,200
A lot of folks in our community are not, so I recognize that there could be some, there's a lot of give in this and where the data is coming from.

541
00:46:46,780 --> 00:46:54,180
I guess I'd be curious to see as the courts come out with that if you see a real big spike and even more job openings.

542
00:46:54,680 --> 00:47:12,340
because logically in my mind if you have all those baby winter generations folks leaving it's going to create vacuums down at the front and especially with your front line worker that was the word I was looking for so thank you for the presentation and for anything that's my observation so thank you guys appreciate it.

543
00:47:13,060 --> 00:47:15,620
Yes, so thank you for the information, we really appreciate it.

544
00:47:15,700 --> 00:47:16,440
I was very informative.

545
00:47:17,080 --> 00:47:21,540
I know I've been working for work for 10 plus plus years at the long time.

546
00:47:22,120 --> 00:47:25,980
And we've had some worker shortages in special skid areas the whole time I've been all

547
00:47:25,980 --> 00:47:26,160
there.

548
00:47:26,660 --> 00:47:32,740
So I am glad to notice that CBCC is working with that new CTE program, could you say a little

549
00:47:32,740 --> 00:47:33,560
brief about that?

550
00:47:33,900 --> 00:47:38,080
And I worked with Stan Sean, several years ago, where he did some quick careers, where we

551
00:47:38,080 --> 00:47:42,100
talked about worker in person, getting quick careers, getting skilled workers, and then

552
00:47:42,100 --> 00:47:45,620
and some of those really hot, paying jobs in this particular area.

553
00:47:46,600 --> 00:47:53,100
Well, we're definitely happy to see that CBCC are one of our main partners is a has formed

554
00:47:53,100 --> 00:47:57,660
that CTE academy and we're very supportive of it, we're doing everything we can to support

555
00:47:57,660 --> 00:47:57,860
it.

556
00:47:58,580 --> 00:48:03,580
Tracy and I both said on committees related to that organization and are trying to help

557
00:48:03,580 --> 00:48:03,960
get the word.

558
00:48:04,080 --> 00:48:08,920
I think the thing that the CTE academy is going to really do is going to help people in

559
00:48:08,920 --> 00:48:15,700
our community learn more about some of the high demand careers that exist in the trades

560
00:48:15,700 --> 00:48:21,260
and the training that is available at CVCC to get them there because this academy exists

561
00:48:21,260 --> 00:48:25,680
for both high school students and for college students or college age students I should

562
00:48:25,680 --> 00:48:33,680
say at CVCC. It's a program that will enhance things that have been available in the past

563
00:48:33,680 --> 00:48:38,780
at CVCC and at our high schools, but we'll just kind of accelerate it and make

564
00:48:38,780 --> 00:48:43,400
people more aware of it. I hope. Thank you. And there's so many other programs

565
00:48:43,400 --> 00:48:48,040
that the G3 program and various other programs that have come up the pipeline

566
00:48:48,040 --> 00:48:52,480
lately. What is that G3 program? They are all related to the trades, getting more

567
00:48:52,480 --> 00:48:57,980
students to enroll in the trades. One thing that Lynchburg has really going for it

568
00:48:57,980 --> 00:49:01,660
is this city has the highest percentage of youth

569
00:49:01,660 --> 00:49:04,640
of between, you know, under 24 years old

570
00:49:04,640 --> 00:49:07,220
that I've seen and compared to anywhere else.

571
00:49:07,940 --> 00:49:10,400
So I think it's a matter of capturing them

572
00:49:10,400 --> 00:49:12,180
and getting them connected to the trades

573
00:49:12,180 --> 00:49:15,040
and to the right fields and not only trades,

574
00:49:15,260 --> 00:49:17,480
but professional service as you mentioned,

575
00:49:18,320 --> 00:49:21,000
companies and nuclear engineering advance manufacturing

576
00:49:21,000 --> 00:49:23,740
and those types of management type jobs too,

577
00:49:23,920 --> 00:49:26,000
just getting them connected to the right fields

578
00:49:26,000 --> 00:49:27,040
where the jobs are.

579
00:49:27,420 --> 00:49:30,620
And I think it's so important, you know, for years we've pushed college, pushed college.

580
00:49:31,080 --> 00:49:36,200
And now we know a little bit about those CTE credits, those career programs that are

581
00:49:36,200 --> 00:49:36,800
available now.

582
00:49:37,360 --> 00:49:43,300
Where the education piece is so much shorter and the wage piece is so much larger.

583
00:49:43,760 --> 00:49:47,520
So letting just, I guess, the messaging and trying to continue to get that message out

584
00:49:47,520 --> 00:49:52,060
there to people, to let them know, you know, how I support college, I work with them, who

585
00:49:52,060 --> 00:49:52,400
with that.

586
00:49:52,400 --> 00:49:55,320
but also with CBCC and a short-term careers,

587
00:49:55,940 --> 00:50:00,000
the wages, like when my young man was in a program,

588
00:50:00,600 --> 00:50:03,680
I mean, he was making a minimum wage at one point.

589
00:50:04,200 --> 00:50:06,260
And he's been in new career for three years.

590
00:50:06,680 --> 00:50:08,720
He's made about five times an hour

591
00:50:08,720 --> 00:50:11,660
when he was making that minimum wage job

592
00:50:11,660 --> 00:50:13,500
at that other agency he worked with.

593
00:50:13,860 --> 00:50:16,400
I just went to a program less than six months.

594
00:50:17,160 --> 00:50:18,760
So again, this is just trying to continue

595
00:50:18,760 --> 00:50:19,780
to get that message out there,

596
00:50:19,780 --> 00:50:24,720
and let people in our community know about our great programs that all you have to, they can get into.

597
00:50:25,140 --> 00:50:29,580
If you don't want to have that before you get a degree, there's a one year or two year degree that you can get involved with.

598
00:50:29,680 --> 00:50:30,420
But thank you for the information.

599
00:50:30,520 --> 00:50:33,020
I know a great STEM Center that we can send some of them to.

600
00:50:33,200 --> 00:50:34,600
Yes, we're excited about that.

601
00:50:34,840 --> 00:50:37,440
So, we can continue to partner with these persons in our community.

602
00:50:37,840 --> 00:50:40,980
Again, tackling that high-probative rate, that's how we're going to do it.

603
00:50:41,240 --> 00:50:44,020
It's getting person with great-paying jobs and getting them out of poverty.

604
00:50:44,260 --> 00:50:44,440
Thank you.

605
00:50:45,880 --> 00:50:53,240
Thank you very much for the presentation and to echo Council Member Wilder, those programs

606
00:50:53,240 --> 00:50:58,840
have a lot of funding tied to them, either the G3 program, Virginia career works, and so

607
00:50:58,840 --> 00:51:04,280
the way the funding is braided, the cost for individuals who want to enter is very minimal.

608
00:51:04,820 --> 00:51:09,860
And I will say that, if not free, and so I do know that they are really looking for people.

609
00:51:09,860 --> 00:51:16,520
So to the public we encourage you to go online to research what your side is to register

610
00:51:16,520 --> 00:51:17,060
and enroll.

611
00:51:17,840 --> 00:51:23,760
And also one thing that made that type of success happen was that the partners work

612
00:51:23,760 --> 00:51:26,320
to really meet people where they are.

613
00:51:27,020 --> 00:51:31,480
And so right now that's very important because you have, we have people in our area who are

614
00:51:31,480 --> 00:51:39,160
still seeking their GEDs, who don't always have the high school education, they are, they

615
00:51:39,160 --> 00:51:44,820
It comes with some skill sets that are needed and so adult basic education as a partner and

616
00:51:44,820 --> 00:51:49,520
others who will work with them to kind of walk them through that process and so that's

617
00:51:49,520 --> 00:51:53,940
one thing that I have learned with some younger generations is that they are not always ready

618
00:51:53,940 --> 00:51:58,920
for process and that's very important but there are people that will support them.

619
00:51:59,400 --> 00:52:07,340
Also when you look at we had meetings here with Federal Reserve Chair Tom Barkin, okay

620
00:52:07,340 --> 00:52:09,980
OK, and so we were able to have a lunch meeting.

621
00:52:10,260 --> 00:52:11,940
And he did say on the retirements

622
00:52:11,940 --> 00:52:15,720
that they're like 1.5 million across the country.

623
00:52:15,740 --> 00:52:17,860
That's where we got our data from them.

624
00:52:18,440 --> 00:52:19,920
And we were on that call, too.

625
00:52:20,520 --> 00:52:23,780
Yeah, and it is very much people just

626
00:52:23,780 --> 00:52:27,120
did not want to go back into the work environment with COVID.

627
00:52:27,200 --> 00:52:29,320
He said they had hoped that people would come back.

628
00:52:29,420 --> 00:52:32,440
They had hoped the job market would come back by September 6,

629
00:52:32,660 --> 00:52:33,840
I think, Labor Day.

630
00:52:34,260 --> 00:52:35,980
And it did not happen in that way.

631
00:52:35,980 --> 00:52:42,020
So I mean we will run out of money eventually and they will come back they will they will and

632
00:52:42,020 --> 00:52:46,180
and but it's not like they're still getting assistance and things like that now people are making

633
00:52:46,180 --> 00:52:51,640
choices and that's one thing that we talked about at our lunch meeting people are making choices they've

634
00:52:51,640 --> 00:52:56,660
worked really hard for some of the minimum wage jobs and they're looking at options on who's paying

635
00:52:56,660 --> 00:53:01,860
a higher salary how do they enter a different career field how do they make things better for their

636
00:53:01,860 --> 00:53:06,620
family, so I don't want to ignore the fact that there are people who are just making choices

637
00:53:06,620 --> 00:53:11,120
about their lifestyles, their quality of life, and now is the time for them to do it.

638
00:53:11,300 --> 00:53:16,280
So that's something that I think we need to look at, because one thing that the Mr. Barkin

639
00:53:16,280 --> 00:53:21,740
did agree with is that motivation is really key to getting people into these new career

640
00:53:21,740 --> 00:53:24,300
fields and to education opportunities.

641
00:53:24,540 --> 00:53:31,120
And so I think as a community we need to look at how we support that messaging as a locality

642
00:53:31,120 --> 00:53:34,400
and as the area counties work to do that.

643
00:53:34,480 --> 00:53:38,200
And that's part of what the Cleo Board is looking at

644
00:53:38,200 --> 00:53:40,900
and how are we, our greatest need

645
00:53:40,900 --> 00:53:42,900
is advanced manufacturing in this area.

646
00:53:43,100 --> 00:53:45,180
So how is a region, are we working together

647
00:53:45,540 --> 00:53:47,760
to support the businesses and to give folks

648
00:53:47,760 --> 00:53:48,800
the training they need.

649
00:53:48,960 --> 00:53:50,460
So thank you all for what you're doing,

650
00:53:50,600 --> 00:53:53,580
but we are sitting around the table looking at all of that

651
00:53:53,580 --> 00:53:56,420
and trying to figure out how to get people

652
00:53:56,420 --> 00:53:57,420
into the right seats.

653
00:53:58,180 --> 00:54:00,280
Thank you so much for this time tonight.

654
00:54:02,740 --> 00:54:07,260
I remember before leaving the alliance and I don't remember from our jet you were at

655
00:54:07,260 --> 00:54:12,420
the table for one of those board meetings but there was a discussion about one of the

656
00:54:12,420 --> 00:54:16,880
Amazon centers coming to northern Virginia and do we start marketing towards those remote

657
00:54:16,880 --> 00:54:22,080
jobs based in Lynchburg and then the past year and a half has been so I just wanted to offer

658
00:54:22,080 --> 00:54:26,480
in that that was something that we were talking about when I was employed there and at what

659
00:54:26,480 --> 00:54:30,120
point, and I know you're shaking here because you're probably already there, but at what

660
00:54:30,120 --> 00:54:36,380
point do we start marketing Lynchburg region as live here, work here, not bring your business

661
00:54:36,380 --> 00:54:36,660
here.

662
00:54:37,200 --> 00:54:38,140
And that might be a-

663
00:54:38,140 --> 00:54:43,360
Mar-Jad would tell you that we're kind of already doing that because the DDP has passed

664
00:54:43,360 --> 00:54:48,560
a couple of incentive programs even to allow for incentives to happen that way, where you

665
00:54:48,560 --> 00:54:52,480
can live in Lynchburg and work for the Northern Virginia, you know, whatever.

666
00:54:52,840 --> 00:54:54,280
So that stuff is happening.

667
00:54:54,600 --> 00:54:54,760
Sure.

668
00:54:55,020 --> 00:54:55,460
Thank you.

669
00:54:55,460 --> 00:54:56,140
Thank you.

670
00:54:56,220 --> 00:54:56,380
Okay.

671
00:54:56,500 --> 00:54:57,060
Anyone else?

672
00:54:58,160 --> 00:54:59,800
Well, thank you very much for your report.

673
00:55:00,080 --> 00:55:01,880
It was very helpful.

674
00:55:02,580 --> 00:55:04,420
At some point, we're going to get together.

675
00:55:04,580 --> 00:55:06,560
Tracy, so I'd like to see some numbers.

676
00:55:06,680 --> 00:55:07,860
I think it would be really interesting.

677
00:55:08,440 --> 00:55:08,800
Thank you.

678
00:55:09,020 --> 00:55:09,920
I'm in the bank of the James.

679
00:55:10,220 --> 00:55:10,580
I got it.

680
00:55:10,820 --> 00:55:11,500
I got it.

681
00:55:12,460 --> 00:55:12,700
Okay.

682
00:55:13,020 --> 00:55:13,340
Thank you.

683
00:55:14,240 --> 00:55:19,540
Next, we're going to hear from all we have a presentation on upcoming community events from

684
00:55:19,540 --> 00:55:22,300
Ted Delaney and Ricky.

685
00:55:39,100 --> 00:55:39,740
Okay,

686
00:55:44,840 --> 00:55:49,300
so good afternoon Mayor Dolan, Vice Mayor Wright, members of City Council.

687
00:55:50,120 --> 00:55:54,240
Thank you all so much for the opportunity to very briefly update you on some of the

688
00:55:54,240 --> 00:55:56,580
great things that are happening at our museum.

689
00:55:57,020 --> 00:56:01,300
The Lynchburg Museum System was established by City Council almost 50 years ago during the

690
00:56:01,300 --> 00:56:02,460
National Bicentennial.

691
00:56:03,220 --> 00:56:06,020
Well, much has changed since then our mission has not.

692
00:56:06,020 --> 00:56:06,980
Our

693
00:56:09,350 --> 00:56:15,730
mission is to collect, interpret, preserve and share the history and culture of Lynchburg, Virginia and the surrounding area.

694
00:56:16,570 --> 00:56:28,850
Our vision to be Lynchburg's leading cultural anchor is based on the idea that no other organization is better suited to tell the full story of what Lynchburg is and who we are as a community.

695
00:56:29,630 --> 00:56:36,870
Located at the heart of our city, at the top of Monument Terrace, we want our museum to be the first stop for visitors to Lynchburg,

696
00:56:36,870 --> 00:56:42,990
a place that welcomes them and shows them the hospitality that we would offer guests into our own homes.

697
00:56:44,410 --> 00:56:48,390
The Litchburg Museum at the Oldport has officially opened to the public on July,

698
00:56:48,710 --> 00:56:52,710
in July after being closed for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

699
00:56:53,450 --> 00:56:59,190
I am pleased to report to you that visitation is not only back to pre-pandemic numbers at the museum,

700
00:56:59,590 --> 00:57:03,770
but it is actually up 25% over the same period in 2019.

701
00:57:03,770 --> 00:57:09,730
This is a direct result of the new location of visitor services in the entrance hall of the museum.

702
00:57:10,470 --> 00:57:15,230
Professionally trained staff at our welcome desk, now not only orient museum visitors,

703
00:57:15,850 --> 00:57:19,930
but also curate experiences for them that offer the best of Lynchburg's attractions,

704
00:57:20,530 --> 00:57:21,510
shopping, and dining.

705
00:57:22,430 --> 00:57:25,490
As you well know, this drives crucial revenue for the city,

706
00:57:26,050 --> 00:57:29,590
and as our visitors spend money in local hotels, restaurants, and shops.

707
00:57:29,590 --> 00:57:37,160
In response to the pandemic and public concerns by gathering indoors for programs, we began

708
00:57:37,160 --> 00:57:40,540
a series of free, outdoor guided walking tours this fall.

709
00:57:41,400 --> 00:57:46,000
A professionally trained and certified staff is leading tours of the Dunbar High School campus,

710
00:57:46,780 --> 00:57:51,380
the Quaker Meeting House and burial ground, Presbyterian Cemetery and Miller Park.

711
00:57:52,300 --> 00:57:57,680
Local author and architectural historian Al Chambers led tours of Court Street, pictured here on the right,

712
00:57:57,680 --> 00:58:02,360
from 1st Baptist Church near 11th to 1st Court Street Baptist Church near 5th.

713
00:58:03,120 --> 00:58:08,680
The tours have all been sold out and every single one they have been a huge hit

714
00:58:08,680 --> 00:58:12,720
and every single one has been sold out as a matter of fact Al Chambersour has even had a waiting list.

715
00:58:13,820 --> 00:58:17,220
We continue to care for the cultural heritage of our community,

716
00:58:17,480 --> 00:58:20,880
past now from generation to generation, and entrusted to us today.

717
00:58:21,580 --> 00:58:25,260
There are now over 40,000 individual objects in our collection,

718
00:58:25,260 --> 00:58:29,420
including every type of artifact and archival material you can imagine.

719
00:58:29,980 --> 00:58:33,880
I'd like to highlight for you three recent acquisitions to the museum collection.

720
00:58:34,640 --> 00:58:38,100
The first picture at the top here is the first three paintings

721
00:58:38,100 --> 00:58:42,060
ever painted by Queen Estoval, the famous Amherst County folk artist.

722
00:58:42,560 --> 00:58:46,260
They're now on display in our art and artisans gallery that you see on the right.

723
00:58:46,940 --> 00:58:53,220
This summer, two local family members donated the early family rocking cradle

724
00:58:53,220 --> 00:58:58,400
which some of you all may know, according to one of much worse oldest legends, rocked on its own,

725
00:58:59,160 --> 00:59:02,720
unated in a house on Jackson Street in their early 1800s.

726
00:59:04,720 --> 00:59:10,540
Lastly, we were given just a few months ago the extensive biographical archives of Miss Carolyn Brown,

727
00:59:10,840 --> 00:59:14,720
who you all may know was the longtime secretary in the story of Dunbar High School.

728
00:59:15,360 --> 00:59:18,940
One of my favorite photos from her files, from her thousands of files,

729
00:59:18,940 --> 00:59:22,500
Is this photo that I show here at the bottom of the Glacilla Art Club?

730
00:59:22,620 --> 00:59:25,920
Do you all recognize some of the members there, Pauline, Whedon, Maloney, is in the front left?

731
00:59:26,780 --> 00:59:30,460
And then I also wanted to point out, in the front row, in the far right is Hazel Bolware,

732
00:59:30,700 --> 00:59:34,100
who was the first black woman to run for City Council in the City of Lynchburg.

733
00:59:38,320 --> 00:59:42,180
One of the essential ways that we share our exhibits with our citizens is through,

734
00:59:42,740 --> 00:59:45,900
that we share our collections with our citizens is through exhibits.

735
00:59:46,260 --> 00:59:50,300
And right now the museum has three incredible exhibits at the museum for you all to see.

736
00:59:50,300 --> 00:59:58,180
The first is we the women, which commemorates a 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote in 1920.

737
00:59:58,860 --> 00:59:59,700
It has a companion

738
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:24,260
We traveling exhibit from the Library of Virginia and Richmond called We Demand, which tells a broader story of the women's suffrage movement in Virginia. We also have a very special traveling exhibit now through December 6th from the Virginia Museum of History and Culture and Richmond. This exhibit is titled Determined, the 400-year struggle for black equality, which includes the well-known Lidsburg poet and librarian and stensor.

739
01:00:26,640 --> 01:00:31,600
Now closed by inviting all of you all to visit our museum, we're located on Court Street at the

740
01:00:31,600 --> 01:00:37,160
top of Monument Terrace, we're open five days a week, Thursday through Monday, from 10

741
01:00:37,160 --> 01:00:39,620
to 4 each day, and 12 to 4 on Sundays.

742
01:00:40,360 --> 01:00:41,560
Admission is always free.

743
01:00:42,100 --> 01:00:46,980
We encourage everyone to visit our two websites as well, linchpermuseum.org, and point

744
01:00:46,980 --> 01:00:47,680
of honor.org.

745
01:00:48,220 --> 01:00:53,580
And you can always find us on our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and

746
01:00:53,580 --> 01:00:53,800
YouTube.

747
01:00:54,460 --> 01:00:54,960
Thank you.

748
01:00:55,140 --> 01:00:56,360
And I'm happy to answer any questions.

749
01:00:56,680 --> 01:00:57,300
Anybody has a one?

750
01:00:57,600 --> 01:00:58,340
Any questions?

751
01:00:58,920 --> 01:00:59,700
Mr. Delaney?

752
01:01:06,440 --> 01:01:12,680
That is a list of fall events and activities, and I'm not sure if somebody is speaking

753
01:01:12,680 --> 01:01:16,380
to those in particular, Ricky or Margett.

754
01:01:16,380 --> 01:01:19,440
So is the winter Christmas parade actually on a Wednesday this year?

755
01:01:21,680 --> 01:01:22,900
That is a great question.

756
01:01:23,220 --> 01:01:29,740
It says 12-8, which is a Wednesday, which there normally has always been on Sunday, but I'm

757
01:01:29,740 --> 01:01:35,580
I'm surprised to see it on a Wednesday, 12-8 on the back.

758
01:01:38,450 --> 01:01:46,090
I was on the Sunday, this thing that we just got all nice and printed and December 3rd.

759
01:01:46,350 --> 01:01:47,190
It's incorrect.

760
01:01:48,410 --> 01:01:50,170
Thank you very much.

761
01:01:50,570 --> 01:01:51,350
What else is wrong?

762
01:01:53,710 --> 01:01:54,050
Okay.

763
01:01:55,950 --> 01:01:58,230
Any other comments, questions, criticisms?

764
01:01:58,230 --> 01:02:05,930
I don't remember a while ago, Mr. Laney for the work they do in our community.

765
01:02:06,330 --> 01:02:07,290
What thing about Lynchburg?

766
01:02:07,870 --> 01:02:09,410
It's not the third.

767
01:02:10,210 --> 01:02:11,390
It's the fifth, sorry.

768
01:02:12,650 --> 01:02:13,810
Okay, thank you.

769
01:02:14,130 --> 01:02:15,490
Okay, excuse me.

770
01:02:16,050 --> 01:02:19,550
One thing about the history of Lynchburg, it is just so amazing.

771
01:02:20,730 --> 01:02:25,450
And Mr. Laney has worked on so many projects with Ms. White, with historical markers.

772
01:02:25,450 --> 01:02:31,490
We went to an event this past Saturday at the the Jones Memorial Library

773
01:02:31,490 --> 01:02:35,730
And I know you were recognized for some of the work that you've done by the I'm not sure

774
01:02:35,730 --> 01:02:38,930
But the name of the community I recognize you. It was Lynch for chapter D.A.R

775
01:02:38,930 --> 01:02:44,770
Yeah, yeah, I can just commend you for the work you're doing our community keeping those historical records together and all the great

776
01:02:44,770 --> 01:02:50,930
Exhibition bringing to our community. I mean we in Lynch for we are really blessed with so much diverse history

777
01:02:50,930 --> 01:02:53,970
especially with Anne Spencer and all the history there

778
01:02:53,970 --> 01:02:56,770
with the Renaissance period and just in the middle of Clayton House,

779
01:02:57,050 --> 01:02:59,350
I grew up down the street from the middle of Clayton House.

780
01:02:59,890 --> 01:03:03,470
So I just grew up next door almost pretty much to that facility.

781
01:03:04,070 --> 01:03:07,730
So I'm just so excited to see all these things that continue to flourish

782
01:03:07,730 --> 01:03:12,550
and having other persons come to our city to see the great history we have to offer

783
01:03:12,550 --> 01:03:16,390
and to be maintained all the great records and those great, great facilities.

784
01:03:16,470 --> 01:03:17,690
So thank you for the work you do.

785
01:03:17,690 --> 01:03:21,350
I continue to make this a great destination spot for people to come to thank you.

786
01:03:21,530 --> 01:03:21,770
Thank you.

787
01:03:21,830 --> 01:03:22,410
I appreciate that.

788
01:03:26,800 --> 01:03:28,060
Thank you so much.

789
01:03:28,060 --> 01:03:28,500
Thank you very much.

790
01:03:28,640 --> 01:03:34,900
Thank you for all the help that you gave to the D-A-R and to facilitate in the movement

791
01:03:34,900 --> 01:03:35,680
of that monument.

792
01:03:35,880 --> 01:03:37,320
That was really a fantastic event.

793
01:03:37,740 --> 01:03:42,400
If you haven't seen that, make sure you notice the new World War I monument that's now outside

794
01:03:42,400 --> 01:03:46,240
of the public library was moved from E-C-Glass closer to the library to get more visibility.

795
01:03:46,800 --> 01:03:47,380
Pretty incredible.

796
01:03:47,720 --> 01:03:48,080
Thank you.

797
01:03:50,210 --> 01:03:50,610
Okay.

798
01:03:51,090 --> 01:03:51,750
Next up.

799
01:03:53,790 --> 01:04:00,010
Oh, we're going to do a continuing review, our draft of the 2022 legislative agenda.

800
01:04:00,790 --> 01:04:03,430
May we have one more person, this is Ricky from the market.

801
01:04:03,730 --> 01:04:04,210
Oh, I'm sorry.

802
01:04:04,470 --> 01:04:07,910
Ricky's going to have to tell about some holiday things that are happening in it, so he's

803
01:04:07,910 --> 01:04:08,410
going to solve that.

804
01:04:08,410 --> 01:04:09,210
Oh, that would be this.

805
01:04:11,420 --> 01:04:14,840
I don't seem to have my slide on the hand, but I can roll with it.

806
01:04:20,020 --> 01:04:20,580
I'm going to have a presentation.

807
01:04:21,620 --> 01:04:22,200
Got it.

808
01:04:22,680 --> 01:04:24,540
It wasn't that last slide on this one, though.

809
01:04:24,540 --> 01:04:27,240
We'll talk more about it, we got it, we got it.

810
01:04:27,580 --> 01:04:27,860
Come

811
01:04:30,380 --> 01:04:30,820
on with it.

812
01:04:31,580 --> 01:04:32,780
All right, good afternoon, yo.

813
01:04:34,260 --> 01:04:37,220
You know, the market, we love our holidays.

814
01:04:37,580 --> 01:04:38,060
We love everything.

815
01:04:38,720 --> 01:04:39,900
We're always excited for something.

816
01:04:40,460 --> 01:04:44,660
We are quickly running into the holiday season,

817
01:04:44,820 --> 01:04:45,960
and we're very excited about it.

818
01:04:46,480 --> 01:04:49,180
As you can see, we've got the missile show market coming up

819
01:04:49,180 --> 01:04:51,460
in December, starting at the end of November.

820
01:04:51,640 --> 01:04:55,880
But before that, we actually have our second annual Thanksgiving

821
01:04:55,880 --> 01:04:58,740
giving Wednesday market that we just announced recently.

822
01:04:58,920 --> 01:05:01,260
We've got some farmers come in back on Wednesday mornings,

823
01:05:01,640 --> 01:05:05,020
let everybody grab some of their last minute Thanksgiving things.

824
01:05:05,640 --> 01:05:06,880
I'm really excited about that.

825
01:05:06,940 --> 01:05:10,020
That'll be about nine to one on Wednesday the 24th.

826
01:05:10,020 --> 01:05:11,200
We'll have vendors outside.

827
01:05:11,360 --> 01:05:12,500
Hopefully it won't be too cold.

828
01:05:13,380 --> 01:05:17,840
If today is any guide, then probably we won't be.

829
01:05:19,100 --> 01:05:20,940
We also will have our vendors inside.

830
01:05:21,160 --> 01:05:23,920
You know, we'll have the gallery open for any crafts

831
01:05:23,920 --> 01:05:24,940
or anything like that.

832
01:05:24,940 --> 01:05:31,180
We're also booking with Lynchburg Daily Bread a couple of produce drives right before those big holidays, too

833
01:05:31,180 --> 01:05:33,260
We did that for our

834
01:05:34,860 --> 01:05:37,620
Halt excuse me harvest festival last year

835
01:05:38,440 --> 01:05:43,700
So we're really excited to bring that back. We'll be taking some extra produce if anybody wants to buy anything

836
01:05:44,200 --> 01:05:48,280
Donated at the end of the day. We'll take it to the daily bread and that'll be the Saturday

837
01:05:49,140 --> 01:05:54,920
Before Thanksgiving and then the Saturday really before Christmas. So that'll be Saturday the 20th and then December

838
01:05:54,940 --> 01:06:02,240
18 really excited about that as well so you know come to the market buy some things don't some things

839
01:06:02,240 --> 01:06:07,080
it'll be great and then you know running right into it the holiday season mr.

840
01:06:07,220 --> 01:06:10,620
market kicks off we're very excited that we can actually have a real missile

841
01:06:10,620 --> 01:06:16,160
market again this year carrot drives included you know with covid last year we

842
01:06:16,160 --> 01:06:19,620
couldn't do anything like that we had Santa in a bubble in the armory which was

843
01:06:19,620 --> 01:06:23,880
really cool we're really excited about that but you know have Santa more

844
01:06:23,880 --> 01:06:28,180
more accessible this year, downstairs in the market building, we'll have some carriage rides and stuff.

845
01:06:29,440 --> 01:06:36,740
So we kick off the 27th with Small Business Saturday and we're really excited about Small Business Saturday as we have about 40 something,

846
01:06:37,000 --> 01:06:41,060
Small Businesses in the market that we open up the market for.

847
01:06:41,640 --> 01:06:45,240
We're partnering with DLA for the retail crawl, so we're really excited about that.

848
01:06:45,380 --> 01:06:48,440
We'll have some of those stamp cards that I'm sure they'll be announcing pretty soon.

849
01:06:50,000 --> 01:06:54,240
every week of missile-to-market this year will also have gift wrapping. We're

850
01:06:54,240 --> 01:06:57,720
bringing that back. We couldn't do that last year because of COVID and

851
01:06:57,720 --> 01:07:00,960
everything like that but we'll have that so anything you buy in the gallery or

852
01:07:00,960 --> 01:07:05,260
anything like that, just bring it over to our friends of the market friends. No,

853
01:07:05,480 --> 01:07:08,280
they'll wrap it for you, put it in a nice bag, put it put a bell on it and everything

854
01:07:08,280 --> 01:07:14,200
for you. Moving on to the fourth, we're really excited. We'll have music. We should

855
01:07:14,200 --> 01:07:21,300
have, I believe, violinist outside as long as it's not too cold. If it's too cold,

856
01:07:21,440 --> 01:07:27,500
you know, we'll move them inside, can't play violin and freezing weather. So, but really

857
01:07:27,500 --> 01:07:32,180
the last two weeks of the holiday season, of our holiday season, are always the big ones, right?

858
01:07:32,600 --> 01:07:36,580
So the 11th and 18th are those days we're going to have the carriages outside. We'll have the

859
01:07:36,580 --> 01:07:43,340
horse-tron carriages running around downtown, so apologies in advance, anyone driving downtown,

860
01:07:43,340 --> 01:07:48,800
those two days but you know you might get stuck behind a horse on carriage. So we're really

861
01:07:48,800 --> 01:07:53,520
excited about that. That is also sponsored by the Friends of the Market so they have sponsored

862
01:07:53,520 --> 01:07:57,820
the carriage rides for years and we're really excited that we can bring that back downtown again

863
01:07:57,820 --> 01:08:03,960
because you know we had to do a lot a lot of fun stuff last year for COVID. Those those carriage rides

864
01:08:03,960 --> 01:08:08,940
like should be three dollars a person. I know we've got a lot of questions about that we usually do

865
01:08:08,940 --> 01:08:12,680
and I'm sure that we will up until after Christmas really.

866
01:08:13,580 --> 01:08:16,600
We'll also have pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus

867
01:08:16,600 --> 01:08:17,920
those last two days.

868
01:08:18,120 --> 01:08:19,660
So again, those are our big programming days.

869
01:08:19,880 --> 01:08:22,160
Let's go to Christmas, let's do it.

870
01:08:22,480 --> 01:08:25,920
So we'll have Santa and Mrs. Claus pictures with them.

871
01:08:26,140 --> 01:08:29,060
You know, can't really tell you to bring a dog or anything

872
01:08:29,060 --> 01:08:31,400
but maybe you can give them to go outside.

873
01:08:32,080 --> 01:08:33,680
We've had some questions about that too

874
01:08:33,680 --> 01:08:36,680
which is always a fun little conversation.

875
01:08:37,280 --> 01:08:41,920
And then, you know, the 18th, the last day before Christmas, that's our last chance market.

876
01:08:42,060 --> 01:08:47,240
That's the last chance you have to really see all of our really good producers and farmers

877
01:08:47,240 --> 01:08:49,260
and everything like that before Christmas.

878
01:08:50,800 --> 01:08:54,540
Care drives that day, pictures with San and Mrs. Claus that day as well.

879
01:08:55,120 --> 01:08:57,280
Both of those are 10-2, both of those weeks.

880
01:08:58,560 --> 01:08:59,760
So that's really fun.

881
01:08:59,900 --> 01:09:04,720
And then again, we will have our produce drive as well that day.

882
01:09:05,340 --> 01:09:12,280
We're also looking at and probably will have a Wednesday market that that following week right before Christmas same deal is Thanksgiving.

883
01:09:13,680 --> 01:09:19,480
So, you know, we're again, we're really excited about the holiday season really excited to get back into our holiday groove.

884
01:09:20,340 --> 01:09:28,640
Instead of having to have a space everybody out, you know, do some crazy things up in the armory with some bubbles and sand and stuff, but we are really excited.

885
01:09:28,640 --> 01:09:34,740
We're also continuing through the next few years, actually, but this one really hits home,

886
01:09:34,740 --> 01:09:41,680
especially with these produce drives, continuing our SNAP and matching incentives for anyone

887
01:09:41,680 --> 01:09:42,560
that's SNAP eligible.

888
01:09:43,140 --> 01:09:46,280
Bring your card down to the market, we'll give you some wood and tokens, you can buy some

889
01:09:46,280 --> 01:09:47,840
stuff for your holidays.

890
01:09:48,820 --> 01:09:54,120
I appreciate the opportunity come and talk about our super exciting holiday season.

891
01:09:54,220 --> 01:09:56,380
I'd be happy to answer any questions anybody has.

892
01:09:57,240 --> 01:10:00,000
Thank you very much. Are there any questions or comments?

893
01:10:01,300 --> 01:10:03,180
Perfect. Thanks, y'all.

894
01:10:04,020 --> 01:10:13,660
Thank you very much. Okay. Next item will continue to review the draft of the 2022 legislative

895
01:10:13,660 --> 01:10:14,380
agenda.

896
01:10:19,560 --> 01:10:25,440
Mayor Vice Mayor of Kansas City Council since we were last before you and issued

897
01:10:25,440 --> 01:10:30,120
the draft, what you have in your packets was the draft as it was given to you originally

898
01:10:30,120 --> 01:10:35,680
and we continue to receive input through November 17th about the draft agenda itself.

899
01:10:35,940 --> 01:10:43,780
This, in it, post-election and pre-legislative dinner, which is next Tuesday, the 16th at

900
01:10:43,780 --> 01:10:45,220
University of Lynchburg at 6 p.m.

901
01:10:45,820 --> 01:10:52,040
You invited our delegation, the council and some city staff to participate in the legislative

902
01:10:52,040 --> 01:10:52,500
dinner.

903
01:10:52,500 --> 01:10:59,560
So this was just a moment here, excuse me, during your work session to revisit the agenda and

904
01:10:59,560 --> 01:11:05,300
say in light of the election and prior to the dinner, was there anything else staff should be made aware of?

905
01:11:05,540 --> 01:11:09,120
And so I just leave it to you and your peers to tell us what you need.

906
01:11:10,340 --> 01:11:13,640
And so, Council Member Halgason?

907
01:11:13,920 --> 01:11:14,620
Thank God, Mayor.

908
01:11:14,780 --> 01:11:21,500
I've got several things that I think we should, and I'm glad we can bring this back up because now we know who's in Richmond.

909
01:11:21,500 --> 01:11:24,700
We know who's the new governor elect.

910
01:11:25,400 --> 01:11:30,700
We know the House of Delegates, and many times, and as I read this agenda,

911
01:11:31,440 --> 01:11:38,400
there are certain things that may, city council may ask for, but the delegation isn't going to support,

912
01:11:38,740 --> 01:11:44,160
because it's totally different from what they campaigned on and what the voters elected them to do.

913
01:11:45,500 --> 01:11:52,980
With that, we should ask and try to hone this legislative agenda so it's not just, you know,

914
01:11:52,980 --> 01:12:02,500
fodder that just kind of gets looked at and tossed, but actually focus on what we really want them to act upon, where it could be a win, win.

915
01:12:02,780 --> 01:12:07,040
Where we ask for something that they're wanting to push and wanting to do.

916
01:12:07,040 --> 01:12:11,860
So, I hope we can kind of go through some of these items on here.

917
01:12:12,740 --> 01:12:18,740
As I read through this, one thing that really kind of struck out to me at first when

918
01:12:18,740 --> 01:12:23,620
we read just the principles, and we read the third principle on here.

919
01:12:26,730 --> 01:12:31,110
As we read this third principle, we're asking the state.

920
01:12:31,930 --> 01:12:40,390
So, when the state experiences an anticipated or unanticipated surplus, what do we ask them

921
01:12:40,390 --> 01:12:40,730
to do?

922
01:12:41,910 --> 01:12:45,710
We ask them to give it back to the locality.

923
01:12:47,110 --> 01:12:51,130
We had a surplus, unexpected, a lot bigger than we anticipated.

924
01:12:51,790 --> 01:12:57,270
Maybe we ought to do what we're asking others to do it, we ought to do it ourselves.

925
01:12:57,270 --> 01:13:08,450
So when we have a $27 million surplus, maybe we've got to follow what we're asking for in this principle, and say hey, our citizens paid more than they needed to.

926
01:13:08,870 --> 01:13:16,110
Maybe we ought to give it back and relieve just like we're asking the state to relieve localities of funding responsibility.

927
01:13:16,690 --> 01:13:20,930
Maybe we ought to relieve our local taxpayers on their funding responsibility.

928
01:13:21,930 --> 01:13:29,830
As I go down here, I'm so delighted to see that we have a strong element on the ECOs.

929
01:13:30,530 --> 01:13:37,110
Years ago, I remember going on a ride along and seeing how devastating this is for a police department.

930
01:13:37,290 --> 01:13:43,350
Not just Lynchburgs, but you go do a ride along and they have an emergency custody order.

931
01:13:44,110 --> 01:13:48,870
And you go around the back to the hospital, the emergency room.

932
01:13:48,870 --> 01:13:51,530
And it's like a FOP meeting.

933
01:13:51,890 --> 01:13:55,030
I mean, there's Campbell County, there's Bedford Sheriff's,

934
01:13:55,150 --> 01:13:56,470
Lynchburg Sheriff's, all sitting there waiting.

935
01:13:57,110 --> 01:13:59,790
All sitting there when we have lots of officers

936
01:13:59,790 --> 01:14:00,990
that need to be on the streets.

937
01:14:01,770 --> 01:14:03,970
I'm glad that we really understand this.

938
01:14:04,110 --> 01:14:08,490
Years ago, Senator Newman, which hopefully we can fine tune

939
01:14:08,490 --> 01:14:11,510
this a little bit more, had pushed a bill that would actually

940
01:14:11,510 --> 01:14:13,370
help away some of these problems.

941
01:14:13,370 --> 01:14:22,870
but instead due to an isolated instance where one senator's son attacked him,

942
01:14:22,930 --> 01:14:27,990
it became a big issue, and I think they had kind of a legislation that probably

943
01:14:27,990 --> 01:14:32,010
wasn't well thought out. Lots of people understood unintended consequences,

944
01:14:32,250 --> 01:14:36,270
presented it, and that's what we got, and we're in lots of trouble now, and not just

945
01:14:36,270 --> 01:14:40,850
Lynchburg, but localities. I think everybody understands that. If there's something

946
01:14:40,850 --> 01:14:47,170
that we can do, and Senator Newman had led that charge years ago, unfortunately he was

947
01:14:47,170 --> 01:14:51,310
in the minority and got shot down, maybe that's something that could be easily resurrected.

948
01:14:51,310 --> 01:14:53,150
as

949
01:14:58,660 --> 01:14:59,780
we could

950
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:28,120
Continue down here. A city charter change. I know we're going to talk about that tonight, but I just, you know, when we think about the issues, the things that are happening, maybe this isn't a good time to ask for that when we can actually focus on something that they're wanting to do. You know, obviously they've been elected for just recently this last November or last week. And is that something they're going to want to have political capital on?

951
01:15:28,820 --> 01:15:33,060
asking the city to change the charter only to change it back a few years later.

952
01:15:34,400 --> 01:15:38,520
Again, if we can look in the paradigm of trying to have a win-win,

953
01:15:38,880 --> 01:15:41,520
we ask for something that will help us win.

954
01:15:42,480 --> 01:15:46,640
They offer something that helps them win because that's what they campaigned on.

955
01:15:47,600 --> 01:15:51,980
As opposed to a political statement, we want this document to actually

956
01:15:53,440 --> 01:15:56,540
the things that we stress actually would be implemented.

957
01:15:57,560 --> 01:16:03,520
some things that I think could be really easy for us to ask for, that would benefit Lynchburg,

958
01:16:04,560 --> 01:16:07,540
and it's actually something that they campaigned on.

959
01:16:07,920 --> 01:16:13,180
And that's when we look at our educational, our public schools, when we look at the test scores,

960
01:16:13,380 --> 01:16:14,500
we look at our SOL scores.

961
01:16:14,500 --> 01:16:17,040
We look at math, got a 36% passing.

962
01:16:17,600 --> 01:16:21,460
We have some challenges with our SOL scores and the achievement.

963
01:16:24,380 --> 01:16:29,260
Governor-elect Junkin and others in the House of delegates campaigned on having given

964
01:16:29,260 --> 01:16:34,860
parents choice and the ability to say, hey, we're going to go to a different school

965
01:16:34,860 --> 01:16:38,040
and having a charter school is something that they said they wanted.

966
01:16:38,180 --> 01:16:39,860
They wanted 20 new charter schools.

967
01:16:40,560 --> 01:16:44,600
Why don't we at least kind of say, hey, this could something that could benefit the city of

968
01:16:44,600 --> 01:16:44,940
Lunchburg.

969
01:16:45,140 --> 01:16:50,620
And the citizens of Lunchburg tremendously, anytime you see a charter school, which is a

970
01:16:50,620 --> 01:16:56,220
public school. So it's not a private school. It's a charter school, which is funded by

971
01:16:56,220 --> 01:17:01,300
the public, and the lottery sets up who goes to it, so it's not just somebody gets to pick

972
01:17:01,680 --> 01:17:07,380
like you would in a private school. But it's run with an eye towards actual achievement

973
01:17:07,380 --> 01:17:12,080
and actual education. They have autonomy that says, here's what we're going to try and what

974
01:17:12,080 --> 01:17:17,620
we're going to do. Normally when a charter school comes into place, there's at least ten

975
01:17:17,620 --> 01:17:25,320
the one applicants to acceptance. So that tells us I think that lots of citizens could

976
01:17:25,320 --> 01:17:30,880
benefit from that. And it's not, it's picked not by income. It's picked because you

977
01:17:30,880 --> 01:17:36,680
get to actually choose, you know, the lottery picks who goes in. So it's not somebody

978
01:17:36,680 --> 01:17:43,100
has the money like a private school that they get to pick and select. So I think that could

979
01:17:43,100 --> 01:17:48,120
really benefit. We have some empty buildings. You know, we have several of our school system

980
01:17:48,120 --> 01:17:52,640
buildings that are already there. If we look at the facility study and understand that

981
01:17:52,640 --> 01:17:58,340
we've lost two thousand students in our public education, we could easily do some changing

982
01:17:58,340 --> 01:18:03,860
and have a school building that we already have. We can look at holy cross that is sitting

983
01:18:03,860 --> 01:18:11,100
there empty. Lots of opportunities that we could really give some choice for our parents

984
01:18:13,000 --> 01:18:15,440
and improve the education for our students.

985
01:18:17,040 --> 01:18:18,800
Qualified immunity, that's on here, right?

986
01:18:19,200 --> 01:18:20,280
We think it is.

987
01:18:23,060 --> 01:18:23,460
Okay.

988
01:18:24,920 --> 01:18:25,320
Huh?

989
01:18:25,640 --> 01:18:26,800
Does the body qualify for the report?

990
01:18:27,640 --> 01:18:28,720
The body qualify for the report?

991
01:18:29,100 --> 01:18:29,720
No, no, no.

992
01:18:29,800 --> 01:18:30,380
Qualified immunity.

993
01:18:30,780 --> 01:18:30,980
Okay.

994
01:18:31,300 --> 01:18:32,120
I think we look at the school.

995
01:18:32,900 --> 01:18:33,240
I think we look at the school.

996
01:18:33,240 --> 01:18:34,860
No, I'm not on my qualified immunity for school.

997
01:18:35,080 --> 01:18:36,560
I'm talking about qualified immunity for our police officer.

998
01:18:36,780 --> 01:18:37,160
Yeah, okay.

999
01:18:37,620 --> 01:18:38,420
So that's on here.

1000
01:18:38,480 --> 01:18:38,720
Okay.

1001
01:18:39,200 --> 01:18:39,760
Thank you.

1002
01:18:39,920 --> 01:18:42,900
And the 599 money we're obviously dealing with that.

1003
01:18:42,900 --> 01:18:50,620
Not looking at some of the language on here is something that we may want to consider.

1004
01:18:52,280 --> 01:18:57,320
We have a poverty reduction title on here.

1005
01:18:57,400 --> 01:18:58,520
Let's find where that is.

1006
01:18:58,760 --> 01:19:03,040
That's on page three or four or something.

1007
01:19:04,860 --> 01:19:06,620
Comprehensive poverty reduction.

1008
01:19:08,020 --> 01:19:10,880
And I understand the programs and what not.

1009
01:19:10,880 --> 01:19:17,820
But we've just talked about some things, and I heard councilmember Wilder talk about one thing that was fabulous for reducing poverty was education.

1010
01:19:18,920 --> 01:19:28,520
And so when we look back of what has happened over this last year when schools were closed, when people weren't working with the huge spike in unemployment.

1011
01:19:29,180 --> 01:19:39,300
And I'm not sure about having kids before married, but we understand that everybody has said the three ways to solve poverty is to finish high school.

1012
01:19:39,300 --> 01:19:42,540
Work 40 hours a week, and don't have kids until you're married.

1013
01:19:43,660 --> 01:19:46,340
So do we need yet another program?

1014
01:19:47,800 --> 01:19:54,420
The next time down, I think we can strike that and actually get people back to work as council member while they're suggested.

1015
01:19:55,120 --> 01:19:57,760
The next item down, community wealth building.

1016
01:19:58,680 --> 01:20:06,680
So when we think about wealth building, and you look at actual people's wealth, lots of people have lots of their wealth in their real property.

1017
01:20:08,040 --> 01:20:11,000
into their actual houses, right?

1018
01:20:11,740 --> 01:20:19,800
So I don't understand how having more public housing helps for individuals to build wealth.

1019
01:20:20,840 --> 01:20:28,940
So asking for $4 million for more, you know, maybe ask for it for what it is, but don't

1020
01:20:28,940 --> 01:20:34,780
kind of put a bow on it and call it's community wealth building because how people build, how

1021
01:20:34,780 --> 01:20:40,440
a community builds wealth is how individuals build wealth. As individuals build wealth,

1022
01:20:40,480 --> 01:20:47,020
we become a more wealthy community. And having more subsidized housing through a housing

1023
01:20:47,020 --> 01:20:54,180
redevelopment project, I don't think actually does what we're asking for. The next item

1024
01:20:54,180 --> 01:21:01,420
down, disposal of property due to eviction. I look back at what happened last time.

1025
01:21:03,760 --> 01:21:04,480
You

1026
01:21:04,480 --> 01:21:09,300
is designed to actually enforce private contracts.

1027
01:21:10,080 --> 01:21:13,160
And when a private contract is a landlord says,

1028
01:21:13,480 --> 01:21:15,620
I will rent this to you if you pay me.

1029
01:21:16,340 --> 01:21:18,220
And the tenant says, I'll pay you.

1030
01:21:18,840 --> 01:21:20,940
And with that, that's a private contract

1031
01:21:20,940 --> 01:21:22,040
that they enter into.

1032
01:21:22,660 --> 01:21:25,020
And when the government puts their thumb on the scale

1033
01:21:25,020 --> 01:21:27,600
like they did with the moratorium on evictions,

1034
01:21:28,360 --> 01:21:30,160
that creates a whole lot of problems.

1035
01:21:30,960 --> 01:21:33,300
It seems like now with what this is saying

1036
01:21:33,300 --> 01:21:37,660
is by, hey, landlord, you got to do something with somebody else's property.

1037
01:21:37,960 --> 01:21:43,500
We're not going to almost put the film on the scale again by saying you got to do something

1038
01:21:44,020 --> 01:21:46,640
different than what has been historically happening.

1039
01:21:47,220 --> 01:21:50,460
So I'm not really too totally sure about this.

1040
01:21:50,940 --> 01:21:55,540
Putting the film on the scale saying that the landlord has got to do something completely

1041
01:21:55,540 --> 01:21:57,200
different than what's happened before.

1042
01:21:57,200 --> 01:22:05,440
I recognize the set-outs, I recognize the junk that has been on our streets and looks terrible,

1043
01:22:05,980 --> 01:22:12,200
but let's really kind of think twice before we keep on putting the film on the scale against

1044
01:22:12,200 --> 01:22:20,240
the landlord. We want landlords that do a good job that can rent out a good tenants and they both pay.

1045
01:22:20,240 --> 01:22:27,080
You know, this eviction on this moratorium on evictions obviously was

1046
01:22:27,080 --> 01:22:33,920
unconstitutional, but yet continued, stated by the courts, but yet continued.

1047
01:22:35,880 --> 01:22:41,680
Early childhood education, the next one down, we understand that, is that

1048
01:22:41,680 --> 01:22:44,700
something that they're going to want to support more of by having more

1049
01:22:44,700 --> 01:22:51,460
government programs or is it something with regarding, you know, early childhood education,

1050
01:22:51,720 --> 01:22:59,380
the very early portion is parents, and then after of which is daycares. And maybe it

1051
01:22:59,380 --> 01:23:04,760
is the state really have something to do with that, or is it us locally trying to figure

1052
01:23:04,760 --> 01:23:11,740
out what we can do to have more daycares, rather than funding yet another government program

1053
01:23:11,740 --> 01:23:17,380
with early childhood education. Again, now we go down the list. I see another one here,

1054
01:23:17,500 --> 01:23:24,120
another affordable housing. I understand affordable housing. Does that really have something

1055
01:23:24,700 --> 01:23:31,140
to do with the state of Virginia? Granted, there may have grants or the funding of it,

1056
01:23:31,240 --> 01:23:38,840
but is that something we need more of in the city of Lynchburg? Tourism, question on this

1057
01:23:38,840 --> 01:23:44,680
improvement district. Help me understand that and I'll stop for dancing so I can hear

1058
01:23:44,680 --> 01:23:50,340
what this tourism improvement district actually is referring to.

1059
01:23:56,100 --> 01:24:04,560
So tourism improvement districts were set out. They have to be, I think, at least 50%

1060
01:24:04,560 --> 01:24:12,420
of your stakeholders, your hoteliers would have to agree before you would be

1061
01:24:12,420 --> 01:24:15,440
able to set up a tourism improvement district?

1062
01:24:15,820 --> 01:24:19,920
So, I mean, it's not just, you know, so one thing I don't, hopefully this doesn't do and

1063
01:24:19,920 --> 01:24:24,020
hopefully you can tell me that it's definitely not going to do that and that'd be fabulous.

1064
01:24:24,740 --> 01:24:32,640
But what I've seen over the last decade is we've done a similar kind of not quasi-tour

1065
01:24:32,640 --> 01:24:36,720
improvement district where we actually funded tourism destinations.

1066
01:24:36,720 --> 01:24:51,500
We funded three hotels within, you know, a few blocks of here, meanwhile, folks that weren't in the downtown tourism business, the hotels on Ward's Road, the hotels out Candler's Mountain Road didn't get any Lynchburg funding.

1067
01:24:52,020 --> 01:24:59,060
So hopefully this isn't going to be a tourism district that's going to say just this particular area, but it's going to include the entire city.

1068
01:24:59,060 --> 01:25:08,400
Well, first of all, it would have to be set up, and what this does is just support the ability to have tourism districts.

1069
01:25:08,820 --> 01:25:15,000
So the district would be decided, probably by council, where that would be.

1070
01:25:15,160 --> 01:25:21,720
But you can't even have one if you don't have the buy-in from the hotels themselves.

1071
01:25:22,540 --> 01:25:28,000
Well, I guess that is a function of where that district lies, like I just outlined.

1072
01:25:28,500 --> 01:25:34,780
I mean, I'd sure these hotels that are having to compete with the government funded hotel are not going to say,

1073
01:25:34,840 --> 01:25:43,220
hey, let's do another thing and allow for another tourism district that's going to get benefits from the state of Virginia to make it that much more difficult for us to compete.

1074
01:25:43,220 --> 01:26:11,920
I don't, I don't, there's, the tourism improvement zones are done have to be sanctioned at the state level because we're the Commonwealth of Virginia, but then would be set up by each municipality and they, they can or cannot, they could be the whole city or they could be districts, but those districts would be set up just like your, the James River Arts and Cultural District would be set up in sanctioned by Council.

1075
01:26:12,840 --> 01:26:19,460
Thank you. So with that I'm a little concerned about that, just for again, the unintended consequences

1076
01:26:19,460 --> 01:26:26,580
of what I just outlined. The ABC licenses, you know, I can appreciate, you know, when we're

1077
01:26:26,580 --> 01:26:33,760
looking at outdoor dining and the ABC stores, you know, one thing may be beneficial back during

1078
01:26:33,760 --> 01:26:37,660
of shutdowns and what not.

1079
01:26:38,180 --> 01:26:44,800
I heard from a lot of the restaurants that have had actual the ABC enforcement arm coming

1080
01:26:44,800 --> 01:26:48,820
to their restaurants, and they didn't appreciate that.

1081
01:26:49,360 --> 01:26:53,860
Because of the fact the ABC arm does, I obviously have an enforcement arm.

1082
01:26:54,400 --> 01:27:01,660
They have the ABC agents that have the badges and people are having a restaurant that couldn't

1083
01:27:01,660 --> 01:27:06,920
It had to close because of some state edict by a certain time.

1084
01:27:07,460 --> 01:27:13,280
If they're open a little bit later, showing up so if we want to really look at our restaurants

1085
01:27:13,280 --> 01:27:21,860
and businesses, maybe we can appreciate having alcohol outside and licenses there.

1086
01:27:22,340 --> 01:27:27,900
It almost be a better thing, maybe if we can think about how much less could we have them

1087
01:27:27,900 --> 01:27:29,520
have control on our businesses.

1088
01:27:29,520 --> 01:27:38,300
You know, a lot of these businesses, every bottle of alcohol that they have in their restaurant has to be stamped from the Virginia ABC.

1089
01:27:39,040 --> 01:27:52,500
So they can't find competition and go to North Carolina or different, if we had a private ABC place and a private ABC liquor store like lots of states have, like where Mary Jane and I came from, they had private liquor stores.

1090
01:27:52,500 --> 01:27:57,300
you know maybe that's something as opposed to saying hey enforce more do do less

1091
01:27:57,300 --> 01:28:02,780
enforcement or something maybe it's something we ought to say they kind of showed

1092
01:28:02,780 --> 01:28:07,740
their hand last year to the detriment of a lot of these restaurants they didn't

1093
01:28:07,740 --> 01:28:15,260
appreciate that and so we can't keep it in as part because to your point what we

1094
01:28:15,260 --> 01:28:20,480
found before I came here is that that alcohol on top of that bill is the impactful

1095
01:28:20,480 --> 01:28:24,360
piece that gets the most revenue, so we can take a go at it.

1096
01:28:24,360 --> 01:28:27,940
No, I didn't see him when it looks like, but I asked him to keep it.

1097
01:28:28,340 --> 01:28:32,340
Keeping it as fine, I just, I guess, when I, as I read that and I just, you know,

1098
01:28:32,360 --> 01:28:35,800
you kind of think about what happened over this last 18 months,

1099
01:28:36,780 --> 01:28:40,140
kind of want to pause and reflect and say, what could we do better?

1100
01:28:40,460 --> 01:28:43,620
You know, we, we had lots of things that have never been done before.

1101
01:28:44,080 --> 01:28:47,000
Lots of action has happened that's never been done before.

1102
01:28:47,000 --> 01:28:50,280
Or maybe we can look and say, how could we protect our businesses?

1103
01:28:51,000 --> 01:28:55,800
How could we actually ask our, which I think we all care about protecting our businesses?

1104
01:28:56,100 --> 01:29:00,800
Because we like our businesses to grow and thrive because that means more tax revenue to the city.

1105
01:29:01,620 --> 01:29:10,480
I think our delegation and the governor elect and the lieutenant governor would also agree that, hey,

1106
01:29:10,720 --> 01:29:13,000
having a little more freedom probably may be good.

1107
01:29:13,000 --> 01:29:17,940
So if there's a way that we can kind of talk about that, I think, isn't a bad thing.

1108
01:29:20,360 --> 01:29:25,180
It didn't mean to go off on so many things, but as I keep reading down this, and just

1109
01:29:25,180 --> 01:29:31,900
if we could, again, think about something that they want, I know lots of the, our local

1110
01:29:31,900 --> 01:29:34,040
delegation is who this actually goes to.

1111
01:29:35,320 --> 01:29:41,040
Maybe we can ask for other things in addition to what I kind of suggested, or kind of maybe

1112
01:29:41,040 --> 01:29:49,140
fine-tuning, things that there be to their benefit as well because that's what they campaigned on, so thank you.

1113
01:29:49,480 --> 01:29:59,720
So I just so I understand this, so what you are suggesting is that our legislators do not represent the entire community.

1114
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:29,980
But rather just those who supported the platform that they ran on and that we should speak to our needs based on that platform. And I really don't believe that I believe that they represent the entire community and that they are there to serve us and that we need to develop our platform or our agenda according to what is needed in our community. And that's why I suggested there are several things that I think we need in our community that they campaigned on. And I believe they could easily

1115
01:30:30,780 --> 01:30:37,940
But if we have something in our, in our legislative agenda, for example, that says, we as a

1116
01:30:37,940 --> 01:30:43,860
moddy, the citizens didn't vote on having another program for poverty reduction.

1117
01:30:44,500 --> 01:30:48,340
The citizens didn't have a vote on saying, let's fund hotels downtown.

1118
01:30:49,300 --> 01:30:54,280
The citizens elected us to make decisions, and so we made decisions throughout the years.

1119
01:30:54,280 --> 01:31:03,240
And with that, all I'm suggesting is maybe we can have a little bit more benefit like we

1120
01:31:03,240 --> 01:31:09,340
did a few years ago when we asked for specific items like the CSO, the combined sewer overflow.

1121
01:31:09,940 --> 01:31:13,860
With that, the General Assembly was said absolutely.

1122
01:31:15,020 --> 01:31:20,500
Another item that I can think of very vividly is the bridge on the Oddfellow Road to extension.

1123
01:31:20,500 --> 01:31:25,220
years ago, we drove across that, and not years ago we drove across it, but we drove

1124
01:31:25,220 --> 01:31:29,900
across it. But years ago, that oddfellas road extension was a dead end. I suggested

1125
01:31:29,900 --> 01:31:35,440
to counsel that this may be a great thing for our local businesses that are back

1126
01:31:35,440 --> 01:31:40,880
there in the industrial zone. Senator Newman said, hey, it would be great for the

1127
01:31:40,880 --> 01:31:46,640
state to have a connection from 460, which is, you know, you've got highways

1128
01:31:46,640 --> 01:31:51,420
that are there. How can you connect? How can you make this bridge work? And with

1129
01:31:51,420 --> 01:31:55,700
that, the two of us got this beautiful bridge and now people utilize that all

1130
01:31:55,700 --> 01:32:00,380
the time because it was very helpful to Lynchburg and the state had extra

1131
01:32:00,380 --> 01:32:05,680
head funds that they could utilize for improving transportation. That's all I'm

1132
01:32:05,680 --> 01:32:10,000
suggesting. So please don't put words in my mouth. Thank you.

1133
01:32:17,740 --> 01:32:27,120
I'll defer to anyone else. I'd love to hear other. Okay, so I heard a lot in that. And you know, we can all have our

1134
01:32:28,180 --> 01:32:37,020
opinions on what should go in the legislative agenda. But as an at large representative, I represent many constituents throughout the city who have

1135
01:32:37,020 --> 01:32:42,280
many differing viewpoints, some we agree with, some we don't. And we make decisions based

1136
01:32:42,280 --> 01:32:55,700
on the best information at the time. You know, I heard a lot of campaign points and council

1137
01:32:55,700 --> 01:33:03,160
member Herglson's suggestion of legislation, changing the legislative agenda, and that's

1138
01:33:03,160 --> 01:33:09,760
council member have the sins view point. Some things I heard sounds like I'm in the

1139
01:33:09,760 --> 01:33:16,320
wild wild west and it's a free for all. It's just a free for all. We can change everything.

1140
01:33:17,180 --> 01:33:22,260
And then some of it is the devils and the details. And I didn't hear a lot of details.

1141
01:33:23,440 --> 01:33:30,480
And I like everyone else heard different campaign points that would be made. And I think there

1142
01:33:30,480 --> 01:33:37,980
There was a limited number of, even with the charter school suggestion of maybe 20 is

1143
01:33:37,980 --> 01:33:43,880
what I heard on the stage, and but again, a lottery system is interesting, but again

1144
01:33:43,880 --> 01:33:44,980
the devil's in the details.

1145
01:33:46,420 --> 01:33:54,480
Do we just get a glass bowl, throw 8,000 names in it, and just pick out the first 100, 200

1146
01:33:54,480 --> 01:33:55,200
names.

1147
01:33:56,530 --> 01:33:58,240
What's the criteria after that?

1148
01:33:58,980 --> 01:34:06,820
If it's for remediation, which I hear that is the argument for why we should have that type of opportunity.

1149
01:34:07,240 --> 01:34:09,120
Is it based on the lowest test scores?

1150
01:34:09,820 --> 01:34:12,460
Is it based on what are we basing?

1151
01:34:12,620 --> 01:34:14,120
Again, the devil is in the details.

1152
01:34:14,820 --> 01:34:20,360
What are we basing having this charter school on and do dollars follow students?

1153
01:34:20,820 --> 01:34:26,260
So if you have 25% of your students with special needs in that charter school,

1154
01:34:26,260 --> 01:34:30,200
will they get those special education dollars like other schools will?

1155
01:34:31,060 --> 01:34:35,100
What does that do for the other special education students who are in public schools?

1156
01:34:35,500 --> 01:34:40,240
So I think the double is in the details on how you would implement that type of thing.

1157
01:34:40,360 --> 01:34:46,160
I know it works for some places, but when you look at how it works, I mean they still have

1158
01:34:46,160 --> 01:34:48,160
to meet the needs of all the students that attend.

1159
01:34:48,420 --> 01:34:53,660
So I'm just kind of wondering how that type of system would work.

1160
01:34:53,660 --> 01:34:56,360
the charter piece as a recommendation.

1161
01:34:56,920 --> 01:35:01,240
Then when you look at affordable housing as a center piece

1162
01:35:01,780 --> 01:35:04,000
of the region, Lynchburg is.

1163
01:35:04,900 --> 01:35:07,960
So when people come here for tourism for economic development,

1164
01:35:08,140 --> 01:35:09,880
they do stay in the majority of our hotels.

1165
01:35:10,120 --> 01:35:11,160
They eat in our restaurants.

1166
01:35:11,160 --> 01:35:13,520
They visit our entertainment venues.

1167
01:35:13,720 --> 01:35:19,700
And most of those are people working for less than $20 an hour.

1168
01:35:20,300 --> 01:35:23,300
Right now we haven't hit quite $15 an hour,

1169
01:35:23,300 --> 01:35:25,620
except for those who can compete at that wage level.

1170
01:35:26,240 --> 01:35:30,860
So then what we're saying is that we don't want affordable housing options for people

1171
01:35:30,860 --> 01:35:37,100
who are working in our hospitality, venues, and our retail establishments, and our restaurants,

1172
01:35:37,100 --> 01:35:42,920
and our service industries. We want them to go find housing somewhere else, but then we're looking

1173
01:35:42,920 --> 01:35:48,240
at transportation issues for people because folks in that income bracket range that provide

1174
01:35:48,240 --> 01:35:53,940
many of our services including those who work at our hospitals who work at other

1175
01:35:53,940 --> 01:35:58,940
areas they need affordable housing which is near the places they work. And so

1176
01:35:58,940 --> 01:36:03,640
it's not just a public housing issue it's affordable housing for people who are

1177
01:36:03,640 --> 01:36:09,500
out here working 40, 50, 60 hours a week, slaving away sometimes two jobs at wages

1178
01:36:09,500 --> 01:36:14,380
that are just now catching up to the cost of living. And we're saying go live

1179
01:36:14,380 --> 01:36:17,880
somewhere else go figure out your transportation because Lynchburg is not

1180
01:36:17,880 --> 01:36:23,180
going to be a friendly place for you to work and or be a resident in our city because you

1181
01:36:23,180 --> 01:36:28,020
won't be able to afford in the market that's happening now, which I do know that we have

1182
01:36:28,020 --> 01:36:33,880
a high market right now, a rental housing. People that are having average wage jobs, living,

1183
01:36:34,160 --> 01:36:40,100
working, average hours that people, hard workers work, and they can't find places to rent and

1184
01:36:40,100 --> 01:36:44,920
lunch work. So then we're encouraging home ownership. Again, we've got to look at what's

1185
01:36:44,920 --> 01:36:52,900
is connected to what? The devil is in the details. There are other things I could talk

1186
01:36:52,900 --> 01:36:59,700
about from the poverty to all the other points of living in the wild, wild west now, but

1187
01:36:59,700 --> 01:37:05,920
I will just defer to some of maybe my other council members and I just see a bit more of

1188
01:37:05,920 --> 01:37:11,400
connectivity between just throwing out things and I think that our legislative delegation

1189
01:37:11,400 --> 01:37:13,540
with think about the devil and the details.

1190
01:37:14,280 --> 01:37:18,860
So in other words, they don't want to live in an area that's not economically successful.

1191
01:37:19,280 --> 01:37:21,860
They don't want to live in an area that people don't want to tour in.

1192
01:37:22,120 --> 01:37:27,320
They don't want to live in an area that has no redevelopment, no businesses that are relocating

1193
01:37:27,320 --> 01:37:28,660
because of the quality of life.

1194
01:37:28,800 --> 01:37:35,780
So I think there's a balance that has to be struck between those citizens we all represent.

1195
01:37:36,920 --> 01:37:41,900
citizens who feel like they have special interests, businesses that have special interests.

1196
01:37:42,220 --> 01:37:50,740
But also, what's the common sense connectivity, rational approach to making sure that we are a holistic, successful city?

1197
01:37:52,740 --> 01:37:56,940
That's what I'm interested in our legislative agenda representing.

1198
01:37:58,260 --> 01:37:59,200
Thank you.

1199
01:38:01,160 --> 01:38:05,380
I think I do understand at least where Councilmember Hova some was coming from, and

1200
01:38:05,380 --> 01:38:09,960
could we include items that was articulated that will likely get through?

1201
01:38:10,440 --> 01:38:12,680
One of those I do know will be teacher pay.

1202
01:38:13,040 --> 01:38:19,520
If that is not addressed in this general assembly, I'll be shocked, and there'll be a lot of press going crazy about that.

1203
01:38:19,620 --> 01:38:25,120
I do think that is something we could include in here, maybe to a finer point, to say, you know,

1204
01:38:25,120 --> 01:38:29,360
of these dollars should not be going just a blank check to school divisions specifically

1205
01:38:29,360 --> 01:38:34,600
for teacher pay. That might be something that was articulated throughout this campaign

1206
01:38:34,600 --> 01:38:37,880
cycle. I don't know what the language looked like. I don't know how it gets implemented,

1207
01:38:38,120 --> 01:38:43,140
but that it was something that we might include to just point could be a win-win.

1208
01:38:44,320 --> 01:38:48,980
I mean, I would like to know more information about the charter schools. I think if we can

1209
01:38:48,980 --> 01:38:53,620
articulate, hey, we're willing to participate with Richmond to say, what could this look

1210
01:38:53,620 --> 01:38:56,200
like, I think would be foolish not to at least explore it.

1211
01:38:56,760 --> 01:38:58,560
I do think there would be some benefits there.

1212
01:38:59,060 --> 01:39:04,020
And if we do have resources available to us that we could use for infrastructure, realizing

1213
01:39:04,020 --> 01:39:09,960
Holy Cross was sold, we might be able to be a pilot program for that why not try it.

1214
01:39:11,280 --> 01:39:19,960
I know we're talking about funding for law enforcement that was an item talked about very heavily by

1215
01:39:21,280 --> 01:39:33,620
the campaign cycle, and I do believe our language does currently meet some of that, but that might be some things we might be able to adjust to meet what we might expect to see coming down the pike again to articulate the win-win scenario.

1216
01:39:34,280 --> 01:39:40,360
And then, there's just some of my observations with what Councilmember Housen was offering

1217
01:39:40,360 --> 01:39:43,800
and we might be able to include and incorporate some of that to a degree.

1218
01:39:44,240 --> 01:39:47,310
And thank you.

1219
01:39:47,730 --> 01:39:48,770
Either any of the comments?

1220
01:39:52,760 --> 01:39:52,860
None?

1221
01:39:53,840 --> 01:39:54,080
Okay.

1222
01:39:54,740 --> 01:40:04,600
I guess just to talk about this affordable housing that Councilmember Twitties said, I'm

1223
01:40:04,600 --> 01:40:12,280
Reading this, affordable housing plays a substantial and reinforcing role in local economic development.

1224
01:40:12,910 --> 01:40:26,580
Without a sufficient supply of affordable housing, employers and entire regional economies can be at a competitive disadvantage given the subsequent difficulty to attract and retain qualified workers.

1225
01:40:27,260 --> 01:40:31,220
Expand opportunities for housing, a community's workforce,

1226
01:40:32,320 --> 01:40:36,180
expanded opportunities for housing, a community's workforce are critical

1227
01:40:36,180 --> 01:40:39,200
to keeping and growing jobs in Virginia.

1228
01:40:40,740 --> 01:40:47,370
So back to the comment with regarding either a bumper sticker or a campaign slogan,

1229
01:40:48,170 --> 01:40:53,750
this is saying something that is a cut and paste that could be anywhere.

1230
01:40:54,690 --> 01:41:00,130
It's a decent thing, it's good for the region, it's good to have affordable housing.

1231
01:41:00,250 --> 01:41:06,930
We just heard from career works that said our cost of living is 12% less than the state

1232
01:41:06,930 --> 01:41:14,110
average, which says, yes, that's, we have more affordable housing by 12% than the state

1233
01:41:14,110 --> 01:41:14,430
average.

1234
01:41:14,690 --> 01:41:15,710
That's a pretty good thing.

1235
01:41:16,610 --> 01:41:18,430
Actually, a whole lot less than the state average.

1236
01:41:18,530 --> 01:41:22,370
Actually, the state average was like at 115%, if you look at the numbers, we're probably

1237
01:41:22,370 --> 01:41:25,550
about a 27% if you look at the delta from what he presented.

1238
01:41:26,090 --> 01:41:28,810
It's a huge difference from affordable housing.

1239
01:41:29,350 --> 01:41:32,850
Now, when we look at that, what does the state of Virginia

1240
01:41:32,850 --> 01:41:34,970
have to do with that as opposed to Lynchburg?

1241
01:41:35,890 --> 01:41:39,110
Lynchburg, we have zoning.

1242
01:41:39,590 --> 01:41:43,250
We have places that are an R1 zone, R4 zone.

1243
01:41:44,770 --> 01:41:50,030
We have the problems with high taxes on our property owners,

1244
01:41:50,030 --> 01:41:53,250
which make a housing less affordable.

1245
01:41:54,070 --> 01:41:59,250
So I think there's lots of things that this doesn't apply to necessarily the state.

1246
01:41:59,630 --> 01:42:04,650
Or if it does, maybe you think it should have a finer point rather than kind of giving

1247
01:42:04,650 --> 01:42:09,930
a general paragraph of says housing is good to have for people to work.

1248
01:42:10,450 --> 01:42:10,730
Absolutely.

1249
01:42:11,190 --> 01:42:12,210
Everybody agrees on that.

1250
01:42:15,770 --> 01:42:23,530
I guess it's two questions I should apologize. The first question was going to be I was going

1251
01:42:23,530 --> 01:42:28,410
to ask if for the record for counsel when this agenda is adopted, if there could at least

1252
01:42:28,410 --> 01:42:34,850
be a vote to include the charter piece, because that is an item that I do object to, but

1253
01:42:34,850 --> 01:42:39,010
I do wish to, I don't have many objections with the document as it stands overall.

1254
01:42:39,010 --> 01:42:43,850
And so at least for the record for when it does go to Richmond that this council wants

1255
01:42:43,850 --> 01:42:48,990
to pursue it, as I imagine, the vote breakdown would be the same, just so that's in the record

1256
01:42:48,990 --> 01:42:52,590
that there were some objections to this document and this being included.

1257
01:42:52,890 --> 01:42:58,130
And then, considering the document, overall, incorporate in that, when are we expecting to vote

1258
01:42:58,130 --> 01:42:59,050
on this document today?

1259
01:42:59,290 --> 01:43:00,370
December 14th.

1260
01:43:00,450 --> 01:43:05,890
This is a process, remember, which came to you presented it since that of an election in

1261
01:43:05,890 --> 01:43:11,590
And prior to dinner, so you have a whole other Tuesday now with your delegation as you can talk to us December 14th.

1262
01:43:11,810 --> 01:43:13,930
Thank you, and I apologize, I forgot about that.

1263
01:43:14,310 --> 01:43:18,850
I would just ask if for process, if that could be considered, that would be appreciated.

1264
01:43:19,670 --> 01:43:20,210
Thank you.

1265
01:43:20,530 --> 01:43:21,630
Can we add that?

1266
01:43:22,210 --> 01:43:28,970
Does that need to be a formal motion metamare, or do you want to add the charter asking for charter schools to be on here?

1267
01:43:29,070 --> 01:43:31,650
He's not, he's not, he's talking about the charter change.

1268
01:43:31,650 --> 01:43:39,210
Not the charter change, that's going to be this afternoon, but charter adding the charter schools in our legislative agenda, sorry, is something I think we should put in here.

1269
01:43:40,270 --> 01:43:46,030
I would motion to direct staff to at least come up with language we can consider on the 14th, that would be my motion.

1270
01:43:46,530 --> 01:43:50,610
For the charter, not the charter change, but adding charter schools.

1271
01:43:51,610 --> 01:43:53,550
For charter schools, yes.

1272
01:43:53,790 --> 01:43:54,710
Okay, I'll second that.

1273
01:43:59,880 --> 01:44:03,620
I mean, either that or I mean, we're obviously going to vote on the whole document.

1274
01:44:04,260 --> 01:44:09,440
But I think you can instruct staff to put it in the document and then when it comes

1275
01:44:09,440 --> 01:44:13,820
up for a vote on December 14th, we can either pull it out, but I don't want that.

1276
01:44:13,820 --> 01:44:14,340
Keep it in there.

1277
01:44:14,480 --> 01:44:14,660
Okay.

1278
01:44:14,840 --> 01:44:15,180
Yeah, perfect.

1279
01:44:15,820 --> 01:44:16,480
So it's good to have.

1280
01:44:18,640 --> 01:44:22,640
My experience with this, having worked with this 10-plus years, is it this process, so things

1281
01:44:22,640 --> 01:44:23,460
come in, things come out.

1282
01:44:23,920 --> 01:44:30,880
What's helpful is to narrow the focus on what I hear loud if there's the TDOs I wanted to get just a quick and the ECLs

1283
01:44:30,880 --> 01:44:34,560
These issues, excuse me, and that Central Health has actually reached out

1284
01:44:34,560 --> 01:44:39,440
They too don't want the thing that you've proposed that the congregation of folks outside the back

1285
01:44:39,440 --> 01:44:42,360
They know that they want officers and in and in out there

1286
01:44:42,360 --> 01:44:48,680
So as we contemplate the state and going ahead with I think what's across the board some of the everyone supports

1287
01:44:49,360 --> 01:44:52,620
Central Health has said that they're going to support us in that effort, so I thought that'd be something.

1288
01:44:53,140 --> 01:44:56,360
Just to your point, we would, this is a process, we'll have the dinner and we'll talk through it there,

1289
01:44:56,560 --> 01:44:59,880
and to the degree that I can get you a document with language and some things moved.

1290
01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:29,260
That would be before you may or in your peers. Can I ask him a question about that? With regard to the ECOs, especially. The olden days, you know, before the Creed Eads bill, basically what happened is our police officers would bring people that were subject to the emergency custody order, bring them to Central Health and leave. Is that something that, I mean, Central Health, it seems like they could have, you know, once, once our,

1291
01:45:29,260 --> 01:45:35,220
fire department or ambulance brings them a patient. Our fire department doesn't

1292
01:45:35,220 --> 01:45:40,880
sit there and wait what you know what happens in the emergency room. They drop

1293
01:45:40,880 --> 01:45:46,500
them off and leave. If there's a way that we can have central health working with

1294
01:45:46,500 --> 01:45:50,800
that so our police officers can bring them and leave and get back on the

1295
01:45:50,800 --> 01:45:55,320
street because we're down tremendously. I think right now we have to follow the

1296
01:45:55,320 --> 01:45:59,260
state mandate, and it's all we can change that.

1297
01:45:59,360 --> 01:46:01,200
And Central has to fear of.

1298
01:46:01,640 --> 01:46:05,940
And so with that, if we could ask Central as well to partner with us, because they're

1299
01:46:05,940 --> 01:46:11,280
the ones who used to actually take those patients in, they used to have a facility that our

1300
01:46:11,280 --> 01:46:16,220
police officers could bring them to, and leave, rather than having to sit there.

1301
01:46:16,620 --> 01:46:18,000
So about it, I wasn't clear.

1302
01:46:18,280 --> 01:46:22,480
This is what Amy the new CEO and machine I talked about, together with Michael L.A., is that

1303
01:46:22,480 --> 01:46:24,440
they are in full support of exactly that.

1304
01:46:24,440 --> 01:46:29,980
They're good. They want the same thing that Chief Sudomus said is that police policing is opposed to what's happening current.

1305
01:46:30,380 --> 01:46:31,200
So they're on board.

1306
01:46:31,600 --> 01:46:32,500
Hell will you. Thank you.

1307
01:46:34,220 --> 01:46:35,340
Council Member Tweet.

1308
01:46:35,960 --> 01:46:46,220
To follow up on Council Member Hegelson's question of affordable housing, I guess because we do sit around the conversation of workforce development and career services so much.

1309
01:46:46,660 --> 01:46:54,120
There is a thing called workforce housing and I think I would like for additional expansion of definition of that.

1310
01:46:54,120 --> 01:47:09,460
And maybe the criteria, at least for council members to understand that what salaries can be qualified in workforce housing because some of our very own public safety and other city workers may qualify for affordable housing through their salaries.

1311
01:47:10,340 --> 01:47:18,860
And so just expanding those options of where even our own folks who work and live with us and around us can have in our city.

1312
01:47:18,860 --> 01:47:28,720
So, workforce housing is a state understanding through career works and development and so I'd like for some type of expansion on that.

1313
01:47:29,340 --> 01:47:29,680
Thank you.

1314
01:47:29,800 --> 01:47:30,660
Thank you, Vice Mayor, right?

1315
01:47:30,960 --> 01:47:39,740
Thank you. I just want to make a quick point that, and I hear Council Member Heperson's point that we should try to find items on which we align with the state delegation.

1316
01:47:40,060 --> 01:47:40,600
That's reasonable.

1317
01:47:41,280 --> 01:47:46,840
You know, it's politics, you want to make sure that the, you know, extension can, you find common ground.

1318
01:47:47,480 --> 01:47:51,980
But the point I think I want to emphasize is that this is Lynchburg's legislative agenda.

1319
01:47:52,520 --> 01:47:59,260
We are here to represent Lynchburg. We are not here to necessarily represent the interests of the legislators and what they campaigned on.

1320
01:47:59,260 --> 01:48:02,320
So I think it's important that we find common ground where we can.

1321
01:48:02,840 --> 01:48:09,900
But otherwise this agenda is that we're that we're aligning on is a statement of what Lynchburg believes and values and wants to see happen.

1322
01:48:09,900 --> 01:48:15,640
and as opposed to necessarily what other legislators or other entities might want.

1323
01:48:16,000 --> 01:48:18,020
So thank you for letting me add that.

1324
01:48:18,260 --> 01:48:18,700
Thank you.

1325
01:48:20,570 --> 01:48:21,280
Any other comments?

1326
01:48:23,640 --> 01:48:30,480
Okay, moving right along to our business item briefing, Tom Martin, Enterprise Drive Resoning Petition.

1327
01:48:34,210 --> 01:48:41,530
And it's on the petition of Rick Barker Properties to rezone approximately 6.9 acres.

1328
01:48:41,530 --> 01:48:47,010
located at 2001 and 2003 enterprise drive that's right at the corner of

1329
01:48:47,010 --> 01:48:51,550
Enterprise and Dillard. The position is to resume from I-2 light industrial

1330
01:48:51,550 --> 01:48:58,130
district to B-5C conditional general business district. Right now the

1331
01:48:58,130 --> 01:49:04,750
property is used for warehousing and distribution which means that an unrelated

1332
01:49:04,750 --> 01:49:10,410
office use cannot be in the same building. The building has about 4,500 square

1333
01:49:10,410 --> 01:49:16,470
feet of office use that is desired to be used by the Center for Pediatric Therapies.

1334
01:49:16,950 --> 01:49:19,050
They'd like to expand into this.

1335
01:49:19,230 --> 01:49:21,290
They have an existing facility on-fast.

1336
01:49:21,910 --> 01:49:28,290
If approved, they would expand into this vacant office space while the distribution and

1337
01:49:28,290 --> 01:49:30,110
warehouseing would remain also.

1338
01:49:30,810 --> 01:49:36,250
This petition is scheduled for a public hearing before the Planning Commission tomorrow afternoon.

1339
01:49:37,210 --> 01:49:38,890
Pending the outcome of that.

1340
01:49:38,890 --> 01:49:44,810
That this would be on Council's agenda for public hearing on December the 14th.

1341
01:49:46,440 --> 01:49:46,980
Thank you.

1342
01:49:47,640 --> 01:49:49,520
Any questions, comments?

1343
01:49:53,030 --> 01:49:53,870
Councilmember Albuson?

1344
01:49:53,970 --> 01:49:58,790
I guess just a quick question of just process as opposed to the specific.

1345
01:50:01,440 --> 01:50:06,610
You're normally what happens with these rezoning's is that there's a public hearing,

1346
01:50:06,610 --> 01:50:12,750
The public hearing then goes to the planning commission where they hear it, they vet it,

1347
01:50:13,070 --> 01:50:18,730
they look at the different pluses and minuses, they hear the land use issues and hear from

1348
01:50:18,730 --> 01:50:21,010
citizens there sometimes, maybe don't.

1349
01:50:22,920 --> 01:50:28,050
Then with that we get a packet that says here's what the planning commission recommends,

1350
01:50:28,450 --> 01:50:30,810
here's their vote, here's their minutes, here's why.

1351
01:50:32,630 --> 01:50:38,510
so we're kind of changing the process a bit and so I'm a little curious I'm glad

1352
01:50:38,510 --> 01:50:43,350
that we're not responding or I mean kind of you know everybody's saying here's

1353
01:50:43,350 --> 01:50:49,150
what I think should happen or here's what I think should happen as a public body

1354
01:50:49,150 --> 01:50:56,130
well before it meets those those processes. Sure and that's a good point those

1355
01:50:56,130 --> 01:51:03,330
processes will still occur. The public hearing will be tomorrow when we send out the council agenda

1356
01:51:03,330 --> 01:51:08,330
summary for December 14th. All those minutes will be in there. It's just the way the schedule

1357
01:51:08,330 --> 01:51:14,310
worked this time. Your council meeting occurred before the planning commission meeting. And that may

1358
01:51:14,310 --> 01:51:21,810
happen periodically, but we're just trying to give you an idea of what's coming to you in December.

1359
01:51:21,810 --> 01:51:27,910
So hopefully the precedent would be that we don't necessarily put our thumb on the scale

1360
01:51:27,910 --> 01:51:34,450
of that, but we listen to the presentations, kind of like what we do with the items when

1361
01:51:34,450 --> 01:51:35,510
people have a public comment.

1362
01:51:35,750 --> 01:51:36,310
We won't engage.

1363
01:51:37,270 --> 01:51:41,450
I think that is to let you know it's coming, then if you have some type of questions, you

1364
01:51:41,450 --> 01:51:41,930
may comment.

1365
01:51:41,930 --> 01:51:45,850
Call you to the manager separately and we can get that information.

1366
01:51:46,190 --> 01:51:46,350
Perfect.

1367
01:51:46,550 --> 01:51:46,890
Thank you.

1368
01:51:47,830 --> 01:51:48,490
Thank you.

1369
01:51:48,490 --> 01:51:49,750
So

1370
01:51:51,800 --> 01:51:55,240
we are now at roll call.

1371
01:51:56,000 --> 01:51:57,040
Councilmember Nelson.

1372
01:51:57,880 --> 01:51:59,020
Councilmember Tweety.

1373
01:51:59,280 --> 01:51:59,720
No items.

1374
01:52:00,040 --> 01:52:01,000
Councilmember Halgice.

1375
01:52:01,360 --> 01:52:02,120
Thank you, Madam Mayor.

1376
01:52:02,520 --> 01:52:08,460
As I mentioned in their legislative agenda, I think we need to take this another step.

1377
01:52:08,780 --> 01:52:15,480
And fortunately the finance committee is looking at the why we had a $27 million surplus.

1378
01:52:16,060 --> 01:52:25,820
One thing I think we should look at, just like our legislative agenda says, that when we overtax and have a larger surplus, we ought to give it back.

1379
01:52:26,360 --> 01:52:35,340
So I think this is something that we should do as a explore the ability to give a rebate on this $27 million tax increase.

1380
01:52:35,340 --> 01:52:42,480
granted I recognize one time money but we can explore that as a one-time

1381
01:52:42,480 --> 01:52:50,040
rebate so it doesn't violate a principle that says continued funds if we can

1382
01:52:50,040 --> 01:52:56,100
explore that because it's I think it's it's a little troubling when you know

1383
01:52:56,100 --> 01:53:02,540
especially I guess next week the 15th is when real estate tax bills are due and

1384
01:53:02,540 --> 01:53:10,060
And they're seeing this not just a surplus of $22 million, but a surplus that's $27 million more from the previous

1385
01:53:11,440 --> 01:53:17,700
Estimate and now they're seeing an increase in their real estate taxes that they're sending in for this first quarter

1386
01:53:17,700 --> 01:53:20,500
So if there's something we can explore there

1387
01:53:20,500 --> 01:53:25,380
I would appreciate that the finance committee is going to look at the

1388
01:53:26,200 --> 01:53:32,100
More in-depth in the December meeting as far as kind of the why and how so

1389
01:53:32,540 --> 01:53:39,840
But if we can explore as a council, I think that would or as the administration to give options to what we could do as a tax

1390
01:53:39,840 --> 01:53:42,700
rebate that as a rebate to our taxpayers.

1391
01:53:42,700 --> 01:53:44,880
I think that would be would be prudent.

1392
01:53:45,220 --> 01:53:45,500
Thank you.

1393
01:53:48,520 --> 01:53:52,180
Council Member Huggleston, it does make me think to follow up with that.

1394
01:53:52,880 --> 01:53:59,980
We still have items on our budget agenda, such as a new police building, public safety needs.

1395
01:53:59,980 --> 01:54:07,520
So, I would like to add to that what are our competing needs that even though there is a surplus,

1396
01:54:08,140 --> 01:54:14,120
we have some serious public safety and other issues that citizens are concerned about.

1397
01:54:14,360 --> 01:54:18,780
And I know my constituents have asked to hear how we are going to fund those.

1398
01:54:19,720 --> 01:54:20,680
So thank you.

1399
01:54:21,160 --> 01:54:22,220
Council Member for all of you?

1400
01:54:23,360 --> 01:54:25,940
Mr. Ben, I want to thank you for your presentation earlier.

1401
01:54:26,460 --> 01:54:30,460
I can tell you at least from one council member, I'm already seeing some of the changes here.

1402
01:54:30,820 --> 01:54:34,480
You're looking to do in our processes and the communications and I want to thank you for that.

1403
01:54:35,200 --> 01:54:40,060
I'm very much looking to pour and see how you help us continue to take steps to improve the city.

1404
01:54:40,280 --> 01:54:43,160
And I've got full faith you're going to do a great job with that.

1405
01:54:43,340 --> 01:54:44,880
So thank you for the 90 days.

1406
01:54:45,040 --> 01:54:49,080
I know that was probably tough to sit and not do anything and just listen.

1407
01:54:49,260 --> 01:54:55,320
But truthfully, I know you're going to be very helpful with us in taking this to the next step, next place.

1408
01:54:55,320 --> 01:54:58,620
So, and I know you weren't doing nothing, but I should probably should praise that better.

1409
01:54:59,080 --> 01:54:59,820
I apologize.

1410
01:55:00,140 --> 01:55:04,080
I do want to commend the fire department for their promotional ceremony the other night,

1411
01:55:04,200 --> 01:55:05,520
might have been last night, was that sterling?

1412
01:55:06,680 --> 01:55:08,360
That was wonderful to attend.

1413
01:55:08,780 --> 01:55:13,180
I do not understand my own writing, so I'm going to skip over that one.

1414
01:55:14,240 --> 01:55:18,400
And then, I know about a month ago, I asked for an update where we stand with Main Street,

1415
01:55:18,400 --> 01:55:23,080
and there was some update on that, if we can get some updates similar to that, that would

1416
01:55:23,080 --> 01:55:30,460
be appreciative, just to make sure Ron point with moving forward and if I can dissect my own handwriting before it gets to you, Madam Mayor.

1417
01:55:30,680 --> 01:55:31,500
I'll come back to you.

1418
01:55:31,880 --> 01:55:33,240
Thank you, Council Member Waller.

1419
01:55:33,380 --> 01:55:37,140
Okay, again, I want to also commend the firefighters for the promotion ceremony.

1420
01:55:37,380 --> 01:55:41,220
Again, last night, two of us were there, we commended them for the hard work they're doing.

1421
01:55:41,580 --> 01:55:50,660
The one thing we talk about, the small business entity event, it is so important for us to support our local businesses.

1422
01:55:50,660 --> 01:55:54,580
and one way we can do that by supporting some of our front line workers,

1423
01:55:55,000 --> 01:55:58,160
like going to like different local businesses and buying things,

1424
01:55:58,560 --> 01:56:01,760
and giving them to some of our front line workers, like the police, the fire, the nurses.

1425
01:56:02,340 --> 01:56:04,420
They have been under the health care professionals.

1426
01:56:04,840 --> 01:56:07,500
They have been so much stressed this year with the pandemic.

1427
01:56:07,980 --> 01:56:10,780
It would be nice for us to have community that is so seasoned through our own community,

1428
01:56:11,220 --> 01:56:14,240
and small businesses, and it gives back to our front line workers.

1429
01:56:14,580 --> 01:56:16,680
I think it would be so good to just support them.

1430
01:56:16,680 --> 01:56:22,960
I want to also mention there's a vaccination event Saturday 11 o'clock at the Jubilee Center from 11 to 2

1431
01:56:22,960 --> 01:56:30,500
There are several doctors going to be there answering a question about the vaccine. It's really stressing on the now the age of 5 to 11 and eligible

1432
01:56:30,500 --> 01:56:35,140
So there'd be focusing on that group especially but also the booster shot also the flu shot

1433
01:56:35,140 --> 01:56:38,280
So this Saturday at the Jubilee Center Florida Avenue

1434
01:56:38,280 --> 01:56:43,800
Again, doctors are going to be there answering your questions about the vaccine and other concerns you might have

1435
01:56:43,800 --> 01:56:46,580
that's the kind that really have free access to doctors.

1436
01:56:46,760 --> 01:56:49,300
So I've prepared a community to go to that event as well.

1437
01:56:50,420 --> 01:56:52,340
And then I said, first off, I'm gonna miss it.

1438
01:56:52,680 --> 01:56:55,260
I'll be seeing Lila Melvin being inducted

1439
01:56:55,260 --> 01:56:59,300
into the, I think it's Airspace, Virginia Museum

1440
01:57:00,260 --> 01:57:02,200
of aeronautics, all the way, all the way.

1441
01:57:02,380 --> 01:57:02,620
Thank you.

1442
01:57:03,400 --> 01:57:06,100
So seeing Lila Melvin do the local hero from here.

1443
01:57:06,520 --> 01:57:06,840
That's right.

1444
01:57:07,320 --> 01:57:09,420
And the last point, I do want to commend

1445
01:57:09,820 --> 01:57:10,920
the mustache for kids.

1446
01:57:10,920 --> 01:57:18,960
So, the work they're doing there, well, you see I cut my mustache off, so they're raising funds for children's charities in our community.

1447
01:57:19,460 --> 01:57:22,940
We commend them, I know I've seen in manager, police chief, a fire chief.

1448
01:57:23,500 --> 01:57:25,980
They've all done that. I'm raising funds for charities.

1449
01:57:26,500 --> 01:57:30,720
You know, for 30 days, they raised about $300,000 for kids in our community.

1450
01:57:31,080 --> 01:57:36,060
And I still remember even today, one of the businesses are matched to donation from 9 to 12.

1451
01:57:36,880 --> 01:57:40,420
I can't take the name of the business right now, but again we want to commend them for

1452
01:57:40,420 --> 01:57:44,940
the work they're doing on community and they've got together, that's the big, let's

1453
01:57:44,940 --> 01:57:46,300
make some things happen on community.

1454
01:57:46,860 --> 01:57:51,560
And just about cutting my stash off for 30 days and they're doing like $300,000 and 30 days

1455
01:57:51,560 --> 01:57:53,680
for children's charity is not a community.

1456
01:57:54,380 --> 01:57:59,160
I want to commend what foster he is really excelling, I'm doing a very way, if you look at

1457
01:57:59,160 --> 01:58:04,240
some of the leaderboards, some of you know, but he is doing a tremendous job for all the

1458
01:58:04,240 --> 01:58:09,380
May, it's like over 100 that are raising funds for children in our community, and it's

1459
01:58:09,380 --> 01:58:10,820
so good a great place for Lynchburg against.

1460
01:58:10,960 --> 01:58:11,180
Thank you.

1461
01:58:11,600 --> 01:58:12,340
Vice Mayor, right?

1462
01:58:12,700 --> 01:58:13,300
Thank you, Madam Mayor.

1463
01:58:13,840 --> 01:58:16,960
I just want to commend the Lynchburg Registrar's office and the election administrators

1464
01:58:16,960 --> 01:58:22,500
and poll workers who made that, sure, the last Tuesday with such a smooth election day that

1465
01:58:22,500 --> 01:58:27,420
worked really hard in under tough conditions, so we owe them a great deal of thanks.

1466
01:58:27,640 --> 01:58:33,120
And then I'm sure you'll be mentioning it about folks getting the booster shot, but if

1467
01:58:33,120 --> 01:58:36,740
Would you recommend it to your employer, health care provider, please do get the, get the shot.

1468
01:58:37,620 --> 01:58:41,420
Thank you, and back to Councilmember Faroli, who's not able to read his hand right now.

1469
01:58:41,420 --> 01:58:44,380
Well, apparently the Vice-Mayer could read it better than mine, because that was my comment.

1470
01:58:45,020 --> 01:58:50,300
But on Councilmember Walder's note, as a matter of fact, a few months ago, with the most

1471
01:58:50,300 --> 01:58:55,360
asked for kids, I was listening to WONI, the sports line, and they had an interview with some

1472
01:58:55,360 --> 01:58:57,300
NASCAR driver, I don't follow our NASCAR whatsoever.

1473
01:58:57,460 --> 01:59:01,480
So, there's a NASCAR driver somewhere in the United States right now going around that circuit

1474
01:59:01,480 --> 01:59:05,300
who was promoting the fact that he's raising money for Lynchburg, Virginia, doing

1475
01:59:05,300 --> 01:59:07,300
much as for kids, so kind of a cool subject.

1476
01:59:07,780 --> 01:59:08,120
Thank you.

1477
01:59:08,780 --> 01:59:10,400
And I have a couple announcements.

1478
01:59:10,900 --> 01:59:13,940
Lynchburg Museum and Visitor Services update hours.

1479
01:59:14,400 --> 01:59:18,840
The Lynchburg Museum and Visitor Services has expanded their hours to five days a week.

1480
01:59:19,360 --> 01:59:24,860
Thursday through Monday from 10 to 4, Sunday hours are 12 a.m. to 4 p.m.

1481
01:59:25,040 --> 01:59:30,300
The museum is also opened by appointment at other times for special events, meetings or research.

1482
01:59:30,300 --> 01:59:36,580
The Lynchburg Museum and Visitor Services will also host an upcoming walking tour at Presbyterian Cemetery.

1483
01:59:37,260 --> 01:59:47,720
On Sunday November 14th, from 2 to 3, please call 434-455-6226 or visit Lynchburgmuseum.org for additional information.

1484
01:59:48,760 --> 01:59:53,940
Parks and Recreation Announcements. Celebration of Holiday Lights returns to Riverside Park.

1485
01:59:54,660 --> 01:59:59,420
The Apple Drive through kicks off on December 1st and operates through December 31st.

1486
02:00:00,000 --> 02:00:29,980
Lights turned on at dusk, the event is free of charge. There will be a new photo opportunity available this year located near the parking lot. On Saturday, November 13, the 22nd annual Veterans of Fritiation Luncheon will take place at Miller Park from 11 to 1. There will be free barbecue lunches for all veterans. Fire Department recognition. Captain Candace Brown with the Lunch for Fire Department received the Governor's Award for a standing pre-hospital provider in the Commonwealth.

1487
02:00:29,980 --> 02:00:35,600
of Virginia. Captain Ron was selected by her peers out of thousands of pre-hospital providers

1488
02:00:35,600 --> 02:00:40,160
across the Commonwealth. Additionally she became the third Lynchburg Fire Department

1489
02:00:40,160 --> 02:00:47,960
Pyramidic Firefighter to receive this award over the past six years. And those are my announcements.

1490
02:00:49,160 --> 02:00:54,360
Next item, consideration of a close meeting to discuss the acquisition or disposal of real estate

1491
02:00:54,360 --> 02:01:00,000
in the city for a PPEA project and to discuss an appointment to the Lynchburg

1492
02:01:00,000 --> 02:01:09,240
redevelopment and housing authority, pursuant to section 2.23711A, and section 2.23711A1 at the Code of

1493
02:01:09,240 --> 02:01:14,180
Virginia, 1950 as amended. May I have an emotion to go into closed meeting?

1494
02:01:17,480 --> 02:01:18,040
Second.

1495
02:01:18,420 --> 02:01:20,020
Second. Cash to vote.

1496
02:01:23,920 --> 02:01:26,060
We are now in closed session.

1497
02:01:32,080 --> 02:01:33,840
Welcome to the November 9th City

1498
02:01:33,840 --> 02:01:39,080
council meeting. Please stand for the invocation by councilmember for all the follow-up by the

1499
02:01:39,080 --> 02:01:39,700
pledge of allegiance.

1500
02:01:42,070 --> 02:01:44,870
Lord, we thank you for the opportunity to come together as a community

1501
02:01:44,870 --> 02:01:51,350
and discuss items before us. I pray you're blessing on this meeting for wisdom and guidance and we thank

1502
02:01:51,350 --> 02:01:58,310
you for the opportunity to serve you in this way. Jesus name I pray. Amen. I pledge allegiance

1503
02:01:58,310 --> 02:02:10,470
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.

1504
02:02:16,960 --> 02:02:22,100
We have some recognitions of a proclamation for Nurse Practitioner Week.

1505
02:02:22,920 --> 02:02:24,200
I'd like to read it.

1506
02:02:24,200 --> 02:02:30,000
Whereas nurse practitioners, MPs serve as trusted health care providers for patients.

1507
02:02:30,460 --> 02:02:35,600
And whereas there are more than 325,000 licensed MPs in the United States.

1508
02:02:36,160 --> 02:02:41,340
And whereas MPs continue to work tirelessly to diagnose and treat patients with COVID-19,

1509
02:02:41,900 --> 02:02:46,980
and to combat community spread nationwide while grieving MP colleagues who have lost their

1510
02:02:46,980 --> 02:02:48,340
lives during the pandemic.

1511
02:02:48,340 --> 02:02:53,540
And whereas nurse practitioners work to expand access to care in underserved communities

1512
02:02:53,540 --> 02:02:59,840
and health disparities and combat systemic racism and health care.

1513
02:03:00,360 --> 02:03:05,620
And whereas NPs provide high quality primary, acute and specialty care services while focusing

1514
02:03:05,620 --> 02:03:11,060
on health promotion, disease prevention, health education, and counseling guiding patients

1515
02:03:11,060 --> 02:03:14,420
to make smarter health and lifestyle choices every day.

1516
02:03:14,420 --> 02:03:23,480
And whereas they are highly skilled practitioners with advanced education and clinical training building upon their initial registered nurse preparation.

1517
02:03:24,120 --> 02:03:33,920
And whereas the confidence that patients have an MP's delivered health care is evidenced by the more than one billion visits made annually to NPs across the country.

1518
02:03:34,540 --> 02:03:42,080
And whereas better utilization of NPs through modernized state laws and improved policies creates better health through a more accessible,

1519
02:03:42,080 --> 02:03:45,980
available, efficient, cost effective, and higher quality health care system.

1520
02:03:46,440 --> 02:03:57,400
Now therefore, I, Mary Jane Chuzignadol, on mayor of the City of Lynchburg, Virginia, do hereby proclaim the week of November 7th through the 13th, 2021, Nurse Practitioners Week.

1521
02:03:57,560 --> 02:04:08,460
In recognition of the countless contributions, Nurse Practitioners have made over the past half century, and will continue to make on behalf of the health and well-being of citizens of our city.

1522
02:04:08,460 --> 02:04:11,280
And I believe that

1523
02:04:23,760 --> 02:04:29,200
Gabriel Crawford is here to accept the proclamation.

1524
02:04:43,140 --> 02:04:43,820
Congratulations.

1525
02:04:45,460 --> 02:04:47,180
Thank you.

1526
02:04:47,180 --> 02:04:50,840
Our next recognition is a small business Saturday.

1527
02:04:52,080 --> 02:04:58,460
Whereas the City of Lynchburg celebrates local small businesses and the contributions that they make to our local economy and community.

1528
02:04:58,460 --> 02:05:16,760
According to the United States small business administration there are 31.7 million small businesses in the United States representing 99.7% of firms with paid employees and were responsible for 65.1% of net new jobs created from 2000 to 2019.

1529
02:05:17,460 --> 02:05:24,240
And whereas small businesses employ 47.1% of workers in the private sector in the United States approximately,

1530
02:05:24,700 --> 02:05:31,040
88% of US consumers feel a personal commitment to support small businesses in the wake of the pandemic.

1531
02:05:31,400 --> 02:05:37,280
And 92% of small business owners have pivoted the way they do business to stay open during the pandemic.

1532
02:05:37,280 --> 02:05:48,760
And whereas 97% of small business, business Saturday shoppers recognize the impact they can be made by shopping small and encouraging friends and families to do so too.

1533
02:05:49,440 --> 02:05:58,800
And whereas 56% of shoppers reported, they made purchases online with a small business on small business Saturday in 2020.

1534
02:05:59,220 --> 02:06:06,920
And more than 50% of consumers who reported shopping small endorsed a local business on social media or shopped at a local business

1535
02:06:06,920 --> 02:06:09,280
because of a social media recommendation.

1536
02:06:09,980 --> 02:06:14,040
And whereas the City of Lynchburg supports local businesses that create jobs,

1537
02:06:14,480 --> 02:06:17,120
boost the local economy and preserve our communities.

1538
02:06:17,820 --> 02:06:22,440
And whereas advocacy groups as well as public and private organizations across the country

1539
02:06:22,780 --> 02:06:26,920
have endorsed the Saturday after Thanksgiving as small business Saturday.

1540
02:06:27,360 --> 02:06:35,240
Now therefore, I am Mary Jane Tuzignodola and Mayor of the City of Lynchburg do hereby proclaim Saturday, November 27th, 2021.

1541
02:06:35,240 --> 02:06:40,500
one, small business Saturday in Lynchburg and urge residents to support small businesses

1542
02:06:40,500 --> 02:06:43,040
and merchants now and throughout the year.

1543
02:06:44,040 --> 02:06:50,200
And I guess, Margez, I'm sure, I'm going to accept this population.

1544
02:06:51,940 --> 02:06:58,820
And if I can get a plug in real quick, this recognition is important and more timely than ever.

1545
02:06:59,280 --> 02:07:03,000
Small businesses are the economic lifeblood of our city.

1546
02:07:03,000 --> 02:07:08,660
Nearly 70% of the businesses in the city of Lynchburg have less than 10 employees.

1547
02:07:09,080 --> 02:07:12,480
And they have all been on the front lines for the past 18 months.

1548
02:07:13,220 --> 02:07:19,900
As we head into the holiday season, please remember to shop small and shop local.

1549
02:07:20,420 --> 02:07:25,900
For every $100 spent locally, $68 stays in this community.

1550
02:07:26,380 --> 02:07:27,780
You'll keep more money here.

1551
02:07:27,780 --> 02:07:35,540
Small business Saturday reminds us to celebrate who we are as a city, support local jobs, benefit

1552
02:07:35,540 --> 02:07:39,460
from local expertise, and invest in entrepreneurship.

1553
02:07:40,000 --> 02:07:48,260
If each of us spent $100 more a year in small, locally owned businesses, it would put millions

1554
02:07:48,260 --> 02:07:51,780
into our economy and create thousands more jobs.

1555
02:07:51,780 --> 02:07:57,720
There is no better time to show our small business community that Lynchburg

1556
02:07:57,720 --> 02:07:58,720
love you.

1557
02:08:07,410 --> 02:08:12,630
Thank you, Martin. Recognition Virginia Park, Virginia Park and

1558
02:08:12,630 --> 02:08:17,190
Recreation Society Awards and Jenny Jones, our Director of Parks and

1559
02:08:17,190 --> 02:08:18,770
Recreation will give brief remarks.

1560
02:08:29,460 --> 02:08:32,680
Mayor Dolan, Vice Mayor Wright, members of

1561
02:08:32,680 --> 02:08:36,480
City Council, today we'd like to celebrate our Virginia Recreation and Park

1562
02:08:36,480 --> 02:08:42,920
Society Awards. The Statewide Program honors individuals, departments and organizations throughout

1563
02:08:42,920 --> 02:08:48,600
Virginia who have demonstrated excellence in any of several areas during the previous year.

1564
02:08:49,160 --> 02:08:57,160
Over 100 applications were received from the many of the 110 Park and Recreation Department

1565
02:08:57,160 --> 02:09:04,700
Statewide, vying for 14 different categories. Judged by a jury of our peers, Lynchburg Parks and

1566
02:09:04,700 --> 02:09:08,980
creation was selected for two of those awards. First,

1567
02:09:11,580 --> 02:09:13,180
the Langhorn Tressel Trail

1568
02:09:13,180 --> 02:09:18,460
project was honored in the category of Best New Facility. This category is

1569
02:09:18,460 --> 02:09:22,840
awarded in recognition of a facility ground up, which depicts innovative

1570
02:09:22,840 --> 02:09:28,800
outdoor facility or property design and construction. The Langhorn Bridge

1571
02:09:28,800 --> 02:09:33,580
renovation and black water creek trail extension to Linkhorn Middle School.

1572
02:09:33,580 --> 02:09:45,140
That's a very long title, but that's the official title, extended the existing Blackwater Creek Trail from Ed Page entrance and continued at West to connect to Linkhorn Middle School parking lot.

1573
02:09:45,500 --> 02:09:54,540
This added 2,600 linear fee almost a half a mile of new shared use path to the city's active pedestrian network.

1574
02:09:54,540 --> 02:10:00,540
work. Today, I'd like to recognize key individuals responsible for bringing this project to fruition.

1575
02:10:01,680 --> 02:10:07,640
And if they're here, ask them to come forward for a photo with the mayor. Campaign, a previous

1576
02:10:07,640 --> 02:10:13,720
city manager who worked for 20 years to negotiate one key property easement from a private citizen

1577
02:10:14,140 --> 02:10:20,040
took him 20 years, but that was the key component that moved the project forward. Kay Frazier,

1578
02:10:20,040 --> 02:10:26,440
previous park immigration director and Andrew Reader, our previous park service manager

1579
02:10:26,800 --> 02:10:31,200
who conceptualized the trail extension and secured the initial CIP funding.

1580
02:10:32,360 --> 02:10:34,520
Dave Owen, if you're here, come on up.

1581
02:10:34,940 --> 02:10:40,460
The initial project manager who worked with V.Dot to secure 80% of the matching funds and

1582
02:10:40,460 --> 02:10:42,860
solve the project through the construction phase.

1583
02:10:43,760 --> 02:10:48,660
Melissa Tillman from the finance department worked on the project RFP and was incredibly

1584
02:10:48,660 --> 02:10:55,800
helpful in coordinating with the contractor. Susanna Smith, who took over for Dave Owen

1585
02:10:55,800 --> 02:11:01,960
as project manager, she successfully led a team through a federal audit. As many of

1586
02:11:01,960 --> 02:11:07,840
you know, the Virginia Department of Transportation is a pass-through of federal highway funds. Chris

1587
02:11:07,840 --> 02:11:12,740
Higgins, Park Service Manager, who supported Susanna as they worked through the punch list

1588
02:11:12,740 --> 02:11:14,020
and many audit issues.

1589
02:11:15,300 --> 02:11:21,180
Greg Allen, our V.OT locally administered projects coordinator, he worked with administration

1590
02:11:21,640 --> 02:11:28,520
to secure three iterations of funding for this project, which was over $1.6 million of

1591
02:11:28,520 --> 02:11:34,920
the $2.2 million project, and this was awarded through V.OT's Transportation Alternative Program.

1592
02:11:35,760 --> 02:11:41,060
Shane Weekly and Rodney Hill from WRA, and they were engineering and design consultants.

1593
02:11:41,060 --> 02:11:47,140
Charlie Evans from Coleman Adams Construction was the construction project manager.

1594
02:11:47,880 --> 02:11:53,580
And I also want to thank City Council for the Capital Improvement Project funding that made this project possible.

1595
02:11:54,420 --> 02:11:56,920
And we'd like to get a photo with the mayor and the award.

1596
02:11:58,580 --> 02:12:05,820
And I also want to say for anybody watching from home, this project ribbon cutting is viewable on the City's YouTube channel.

1597
02:12:24,310 --> 02:12:25,290
Thank you all very much.

1598
02:12:25,290 --> 02:12:26,290
Next

1599
02:12:36,050 --> 02:12:42,070
up is the Riverside Overlook, which was honored in the category of Best New Renovation

1600
02:12:42,070 --> 02:12:42,530
Edition.

1601
02:12:43,190 --> 02:12:50,890
This project was a complex and delicate undertaking that combined both heavy construction for

1602
02:12:50,890 --> 02:12:55,930
the rebuilt portions of the overlook and the careful preservation of existing elements

1603
02:12:55,930 --> 02:12:58,670
of the structure that were to remain in place.

1604
02:12:59,270 --> 02:13:01,290
The resulting project did just that.

1605
02:13:01,290 --> 02:13:11,630
The crowning achievement of this project was a discovery and restoration of the fountain structure which was believed to be a planter at the time and it sits on the overlook lawn.

1606
02:13:12,330 --> 02:13:20,070
Today I'd like to recognize the individuals who played a role in realizing this project and asked them to come forward with a photo with the mayor for a photo with the mayor.

1607
02:13:20,750 --> 02:13:27,870
First, Gaynell Hart Director of Public Works, she and her department contributed the engineering expertise to the project.

1608
02:13:27,870 --> 02:13:34,510
Clay Simmons, Deputy Director of Public Works, actually spearheaded the project on behalf

1609
02:13:34,510 --> 02:13:39,910
of Parks and Recreation, coordinating the project through design bidding and construction

1610
02:13:39,910 --> 02:13:44,350
phases of work. Howard Covey served as the Parks and Recreation

1611
02:13:44,350 --> 02:13:50,770
Departments Project Consultant. Don Dye was Public Works Construction Coordinator

1612
02:13:50,770 --> 02:13:57,590
One and Sheree Taylor was Public Works Construction Manager. Those two assisted in all the

1613
02:13:57,590 --> 02:14:01,710
design reviews and they oversaw the construction of the structure.

1614
02:14:02,730 --> 02:14:07,930
The project was designed by Bill Allen and Josh Knight of Virginia A&E and constructed

1615
02:14:07,930 --> 02:14:12,470
by first-class contracting of Richmond, Virginia.

1616
02:14:13,110 --> 02:14:18,590
Chris Higgins, Park Service Manager, and Susanna Smith, construction coordinator, organized

1617
02:14:18,590 --> 02:14:24,370
the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which included in-depth and in-depth historical overview.

1618
02:14:24,370 --> 02:14:29,410
the ribbon cutting can also be viewed on a city's YouTube channel as well as a

1619
02:14:29,410 --> 02:14:33,910
documentary about the Riverside Overlook. So again I want to thank City Council

1620
02:14:33,910 --> 02:14:38,290
for the Capitol Improvement Project funding that made this project possible and

1621
02:14:38,870 --> 02:14:41,390
we'd like to get another photo with the Mayor. Thank

1622
02:14:57,330 --> 02:14:58,030
you all very much.

1623
02:15:27,730 --> 02:15:47,530
Tonight, city council agenda is divided into four sections. Consent agenda, public hearing, public comment, and general business. The first section is the consent agenda. This section includes all routine items, and all items may be approved by one vote. May I have a motion for the consent agenda? Please cast your vote.

1624
02:15:52,030 --> 02:15:54,410
Motion passes 70. Thank you.

1625
02:15:59,530 --> 02:16:05,390
Next section is public hearings. This section includes all public hearings as required by law, or as council made

1626
02:16:06,070 --> 02:16:10,470
proceed your staff will make a presentation comments will then be solicited from the public

1627
02:16:10,470 --> 02:16:15,570
and individual speakers shall have three minutes to speak. If the speaker represents a group

1628
02:16:15,570 --> 02:16:19,650
the speaker shall have five minutes. A speaker representing a group shall identify that group

1629
02:16:19,650 --> 02:16:25,370
at the beginning of his or her remarks and a group may have only one spokesperson. Each speaker

1630
02:16:25,370 --> 02:16:30,750
shall clearly state his or her name and locality of residence. Upon the conclusion of public comments

1631
02:16:30,750 --> 02:16:35,010
the public hearing will be closed and the matter will be referred to council for deliberation.

1632
02:16:35,850 --> 02:16:44,910
First item consideration of doping a resolution to approve a COP to allow the construction of a oil change facility at 8209 and 8213.

1633
02:16:45,610 --> 02:16:54,570
Timberlake Road, this item was presented to City Council on October 26th, 2021 under our business item briefings.

1634
02:16:55,030 --> 02:16:56,670
Is there anyone to make a presentation?

1635
02:17:01,400 --> 02:17:05,480
Mayor Dullan, members of the City Council, my name is William Schumach, I'm going to

1636
02:17:05,480 --> 02:17:10,360
turn it with Wood Rogers, and I represent the applicant in this case.

1637
02:17:19,070 --> 02:17:24,790
This is a straight forward case, at first I want to thank Mr. Martin, his planning staff,

1638
02:17:25,110 --> 02:17:29,490
as well as Mr. Newland, the traffic engineer, working with us closely to bring this before

1639
02:17:29,490 --> 02:17:29,690
you.

1640
02:17:30,130 --> 02:17:34,370
I would note that staff has recommended approval in the planning commission unanimously

1641
02:17:34,370 --> 02:17:37,490
recommended approval of the six members that were there.

1642
02:17:38,210 --> 02:17:44,650
This is basically on the county line with Campbell County of Timber Lake Road.

1643
02:17:52,640 --> 02:17:52,920
Thank you.

1644
02:17:54,770 --> 02:17:59,790
This is laying out the site plan for the oil change.

1645
02:17:59,870 --> 02:18:07,190
It's basically a, there's a 7-11 that's being constructed on the corner, which is in Campbell County.

1646
02:18:07,190 --> 02:18:09,110
This is take 5 oil change.

1647
02:18:09,110 --> 02:18:14,650
It's a 1,450 square foot facility with three bays.

1648
02:18:15,210 --> 02:18:16,570
It would be next to the 7-11.

1649
02:18:16,730 --> 02:18:19,490
It would have access from Timberlake Road and Lachston Road.

1650
02:18:20,990 --> 02:18:27,610
Working with Mr. Newland, we provided a traffic analysis to the city.

1651
02:18:28,230 --> 02:18:32,650
As I think has been noted, it is an extremely low traffic generator.

1652
02:18:32,650 --> 02:18:37,630
This is actually B-3 zoning, we technically need to come in with a conditional use permit,

1653
02:18:38,030 --> 02:18:43,930
but there are many more intensive uses as a matter of right that could have gone here that would have generated a lot more traffic.

1654
02:18:44,710 --> 02:18:51,050
As we noted, I think the traffic engineer said that there would be about a hundred trips for the entire day.

1655
02:18:51,730 --> 02:18:54,430
And I think during peak hours, the most would be about six.

1656
02:18:57,610 --> 02:19:09,910
The working with Mr. Newland, though, we did recognize and agree as part of the site plan to add a taper off the road, off the timber-like road, even though we're such a low generator.

1657
02:19:10,510 --> 02:19:15,030
Most of the traffic's going to be generated, obviously, overwhelmingly, by the 7-11, so I've been approved.

1658
02:19:15,030 --> 02:19:15,670
in the county,

1659
02:19:18,210 --> 02:19:21,850
as I noted, it's only about 1,450 square feet.

1660
02:19:22,010 --> 02:19:25,570
We have about seven employees at a time on a shift.

1661
02:19:26,190 --> 02:19:30,330
And the hours are generally seven to seven Monday through Friday, Saturday,

1662
02:19:30,550 --> 02:19:32,630
eight to six, and generally Sunday, nine to five.

1663
02:19:33,330 --> 02:19:39,390
I will be in ground stormwater.

1664
02:19:41,590 --> 02:19:53,370
We've done the conditions that we've settled be in substantial compliance with the concept plan and our building will be consistent with the elevations, which I think matches well with the surrounding area, and we will provide a taper.

1665
02:19:55,190 --> 02:20:02,070
That's my presentation. I'd be glad to answer any questions, but as I said, I think it's a pretty straightforward case.

1666
02:20:02,450 --> 02:20:03,970
We'll call you back if we have any questions.

1667
02:20:04,070 --> 02:20:05,230
Thank you very much for the opportunity.

1668
02:20:05,230 --> 02:20:07,990
Is there anyone who would like to speak in favor?

1669
02:20:11,950 --> 02:20:14,110
Is there anyone who would like to speak in opposition?

1670
02:20:17,440 --> 02:20:19,840
Are there any emails or phone calls from citizens?

1671
02:20:21,680 --> 02:20:21,820
No.

1672
02:20:21,900 --> 02:20:22,540
No, everybody needed.

1673
02:20:23,060 --> 02:20:25,920
Public hearing is closed and the matter rests with counsel.

1674
02:20:27,660 --> 02:20:30,740
Council member, how does it make a motion for approval?

1675
02:20:31,020 --> 02:20:31,220
Second.

1676
02:20:32,220 --> 02:20:32,360
Okay.

1677
02:20:33,120 --> 02:20:33,660
And.

1678
02:20:34,520 --> 02:20:35,280
Thank you.

1679
02:20:35,360 --> 02:20:39,960
As presented, it's not a rezoning as was stated.

1680
02:20:39,960 --> 02:20:44,500
And it's a conditional use permit, so it's already the property is already zoned for business.

1681
02:20:45,060 --> 02:20:49,000
And I think it's a good use and glad that you're employing more Lynchburg citizens.

1682
02:20:49,380 --> 02:20:55,740
Glad you're increasing and proving a piece of property and I hope we all vote in favor of this.

1683
02:20:56,480 --> 02:20:56,560
Thank

1684
02:20:58,930 --> 02:20:58,930
you.

1685
02:20:59,170 --> 02:21:06,290
According to this motion, I would like to offer for the record similar condiments from when we discuss this previously.

1686
02:21:06,290 --> 02:21:13,430
I do realize the traffic may not be a lot going into this little business, but the intersection

1687
02:21:14,030 --> 02:21:19,350
associated with Timberlake and Lachson is quite intense, and it's particularly certain

1688
02:21:19,350 --> 02:21:19,970
times of days.

1689
02:21:20,810 --> 02:21:27,770
As such, Wood Road and Mountain V Drive are notoriously used as cut-arounds and to get around

1690
02:21:27,770 --> 02:21:35,250
the intersection, both by heavy trucking and heavy vehicles as well as your average day motorists

1691
02:21:35,250 --> 02:21:40,290
like ourselves. So, as we move forward in this intercession in approving this, we just

1692
02:21:40,290 --> 02:21:46,470
want to be very mindful as we look at development in this corridor and how the impacts could

1693
02:21:46,470 --> 02:21:50,910
be associated. So, happy to support it, happy to see a business coming into a new slot

1694
02:21:50,910 --> 02:21:54,490
of land and just want to be mindful as this part of town develops.

1695
02:21:55,230 --> 02:21:55,450
Thank you.

1696
02:21:55,830 --> 02:22:00,030
Other hand in the comments or questions? Please cash through vote.

1697
02:22:03,270 --> 02:22:04,830
Motion passes, 7-0.

1698
02:22:04,830 --> 02:22:06,450
Thank you very much.

1699
02:22:07,930 --> 02:22:19,750
Next item, consideration of adopting an ordinance to rezone, 16191701, 12th Street at 1114 Buchanan Street to renovate the existing building into 24 apartments.

1700
02:22:20,390 --> 02:22:22,190
Is there anyone to make a presentation?

1701
02:22:29,790 --> 02:22:32,430
Thank you, Madam Mayor, Mr. Vice Mayor, members of council.

1702
02:22:32,890 --> 02:22:40,110
My name is Jamie White, I'm with White Engineering and Zan in force Virginia, representing the owner and developer of these three lots.

1703
02:22:41,210 --> 02:22:49,270
This piece of property now, it's an existing building, it has actually gone through the process to get a historic recognition.

1704
02:22:50,470 --> 02:22:57,090
And it currently is being used in an industrial use, I think there's some wood shopper stuff like that in the lower levels there.

1705
02:22:57,930 --> 02:23:02,650
The owner developer is looking to convert this into apartments.

1706
02:23:02,650 --> 02:23:15,150
what we're looking at is four apartments on the first level and five apartments on each level above is five stories told us that we're looking at 24 residential apartments in the building.

1707
02:23:15,970 --> 02:23:31,070
Right now existing at 1701 where the building is actually sitting, there's an existing gravel lot that we are looking to improve and we are looking to add parking at the building itself and add dumpsters and things of that nature.

1708
02:23:31,070 --> 02:23:37,630
here. They also owned a lot of 1619, which is across Buchanan Street, and we were looking

1709
02:23:37,630 --> 02:23:43,590
to renovate that in traditional parking. Currently, right now, it is vacant. It's used

1710
02:23:43,590 --> 02:23:49,190
for accessory parking to some of the adjoining businesses that are there under, and it's

1711
02:23:49,190 --> 02:23:54,070
a verbal agreement, and they understand of what we're looking to come through and do with

1712
02:23:54,070 --> 02:23:59,430
the property. Also, at 1114 Buchanan, we're looking to expand onto that property as well

1713
02:23:59,430 --> 02:24:01,050
just to add additional parking.

1714
02:24:01,390 --> 02:24:05,250
So there's a mix of zoning that's already out there.

1715
02:24:05,510 --> 02:24:10,970
It's I-2, B-5, and R-3 in that little intersection.

1716
02:24:11,130 --> 02:24:13,130
And we're looking for rezoning to B-4.

1717
02:24:13,750 --> 02:24:15,930
And we're looking for B-4 just to have some flexibility

1718
02:24:15,930 --> 02:24:20,310
with landscaping and parking and buffer requirements

1719
02:24:20,870 --> 02:24:23,110
and additional options for buffering

1720
02:24:23,110 --> 02:24:24,570
that you don't typically get

1721
02:24:24,570 --> 02:24:26,350
in some of the other business

1722
02:24:26,350 --> 02:24:28,070
and residential destinations there.

1723
02:24:29,990 --> 02:24:35,510
So we think that the property would be a great use for residential.

1724
02:24:36,530 --> 02:24:42,510
We are, even though we're not going to be required before to have parking, we're going to meet the parking requirements as if it was.

1725
02:24:42,530 --> 02:24:45,510
We're going to have 24 spaces off street parking.

1726
02:24:45,810 --> 02:24:49,190
There is some ability to put parking on.

1727
02:24:49,290 --> 02:24:50,250
You can't ensure it as well.

1728
02:24:50,490 --> 02:24:53,610
The road is wide enough and we could have additional parking there.

1729
02:24:53,610 --> 02:25:00,610
and we're going to work with the City's traffic engineer to kind of locate some additional spots to mark as parking on on street.

1730
02:25:01,330 --> 02:25:08,590
With the improvements that have gone on in the Kimper Street Park Avenue and the future development that's going to be happening with the New Police Station

1731
02:25:08,590 --> 02:25:20,670
and we think that this is a good opportunity for additional growth in the area and we believe that this would be a great opportunity to do that now.

1732
02:25:20,670 --> 02:25:25,690
The development right here where it's located now, it overlaps the community commercial

1733
02:25:25,690 --> 02:25:31,230
and neighborhood commercial zones on the future land use map, and we think a multi-family

1734
02:25:31,230 --> 02:25:36,230
with use with adequate parking provides an audio transition between the existing residential

1735
02:25:36,590 --> 02:25:39,630
and the commercial areas that are along to our street.

1736
02:25:41,070 --> 02:25:46,890
There's adequate water, adequate sewer, storm water management is not going to be required

1737
02:25:46,890 --> 02:25:52,130
We are interested to provide proof that the existing system is already adequate since we are all in the CSO area

1738
02:25:52,130 --> 02:25:54,770
And I'll be happy to answer any questions that you have.

1739
02:25:54,950 --> 02:25:55,230
Thank you.

1740
02:25:55,350 --> 02:25:55,950
We'll call you back.

1741
02:25:56,270 --> 02:25:59,370
Is there anyone to speak in favor?

1742
02:26:02,180 --> 02:26:04,220
Is there anyone to speak in opposition?

1743
02:26:08,390 --> 02:26:10,790
Are there any emails from citizens or phone calls?

1744
02:26:11,850 --> 02:26:11,910
No.

1745
02:26:12,830 --> 02:26:13,710
No rebuttal.

1746
02:26:14,050 --> 02:26:17,090
Public hearing is closed and the matter rests with council vice mayor.

1747
02:26:18,170 --> 02:26:18,770
Thank you Madam Mayor.

1748
02:26:18,890 --> 02:26:19,510
I'd move approval.

1749
02:26:22,670 --> 02:26:31,670
I think it's a really important historical building on 12th Street and it's really exciting

1750
02:26:31,670 --> 02:26:37,230
to see it being restored and converted into more housing units which we need here in

1751
02:26:37,230 --> 02:26:37,650
Lynchburg.

1752
02:26:38,690 --> 02:26:47,910
You know, it's also not often that we get petitioners with the name stud muffins LLC, which is also

1753
02:26:47,910 --> 02:26:48,450
kind of fun.

1754
02:26:48,450 --> 02:26:52,070
And so excited about the project and good luck to you.

1755
02:26:53,070 --> 02:26:57,730
I think it's a great building for the intended use.

1756
02:26:58,230 --> 02:27:03,310
And I think it's set kind of with some, needing some TLC for a while.

1757
02:27:03,470 --> 02:27:05,890
So I think this is a great use for it.

1758
02:27:05,950 --> 02:27:07,530
And I look forward to seeing it afterwards.

1759
02:27:08,050 --> 02:27:08,310
Thank you.

1760
02:27:10,070 --> 02:27:12,890
I'll do any other comments, come to my room for early.

1761
02:27:13,050 --> 02:27:14,850
I associate my comments with my colleagues.

1762
02:27:14,850 --> 02:27:18,390
I just had general observation and I apologize for not bringing this up.

1763
02:27:18,390 --> 02:27:24,510
But when you brought it up to your bib, I'm still getting used to the flow of it, a love word's going.

1764
02:27:24,910 --> 02:27:36,710
But just a general comment that has been mentioned before, if there has been some conversation in the past since I've been elected about using B4 or business districts for residential use.

1765
02:27:37,130 --> 02:27:45,490
So just a general note that that has been discussed and there has been some hesitation with that, definitely associated by comments I'm glad to see this is being pursued.

1766
02:27:45,490 --> 02:27:52,610
But that might be something we take a look at as there have been previous conversations along those lines.

1767
02:27:53,350 --> 02:27:55,390
Thank you, thank you, Council Member Allison.

1768
02:27:55,850 --> 02:28:01,550
I guess question for, maybe Mr. Martin, normally when there's a rezoning,

1769
02:28:03,410 --> 02:28:09,570
there's usually some ancillary either proffers or the site plan that is going there.

1770
02:28:10,030 --> 02:28:15,110
We've heard that parking is going to go separate and it's going to be off street as mentioned 24 spaces.

1771
02:28:15,110 --> 02:28:19,590
is this one is asking for a change to the zoning.

1772
02:28:20,130 --> 02:28:25,130
Is there any drawings or plans other than verbal?

1773
02:28:26,710 --> 02:28:29,570
There was a site plan that was submitted along

1774
02:28:29,570 --> 02:28:33,010
with petitioned, the petitioner chose not to proper

1775
02:28:33,010 --> 02:28:36,930
that site plan, again, of Proffers or Voluntary.

1776
02:28:37,710 --> 02:28:39,290
So it's entirely up to them.

1777
02:28:40,970 --> 02:28:43,710
I would not hesitate to say that they are going

1778
02:28:43,710 --> 02:28:50,090
and provide all street parking because it's in their best interest to do so in order to market the apartments.

1779
02:28:50,910 --> 02:28:57,550
And yes, they're not going to be the section 8 housing I've heard and they're going to be full rent.

1780
02:28:58,670 --> 02:29:00,790
I believe so, yes sir.

1781
02:29:02,090 --> 02:29:03,030
Thank you.

1782
02:29:03,770 --> 02:29:04,810
Councillor Neillander.

1783
02:29:05,250 --> 02:29:05,710
Yes, thank you.

1784
02:29:05,790 --> 02:29:09,690
I'm glad she's an improvement in that particular area, so I'm glad for the investment that was important.

1785
02:29:09,690 --> 02:29:14,430
And just a curiosity, it's rather a part of the common event, but what are they?

1786
02:29:20,080 --> 02:29:20,580
It is unique.

1787
02:29:23,140 --> 02:29:23,680
Okay.

1788
02:29:26,480 --> 02:29:27,180
Thank you.

1789
02:29:27,260 --> 02:29:28,400
Appreciate it.

1790
02:29:28,400 --> 02:29:30,120
Any other questions, comments?

1791
02:29:31,140 --> 02:29:31,300
Okay.

1792
02:29:31,660 --> 02:29:32,060
Thank you.

1793
02:29:32,860 --> 02:29:33,660
Cast your vote.

1794
02:29:38,600 --> 02:29:39,980
Motion passes, 7-0.

1795
02:29:41,100 --> 02:29:41,860
Thank you very much.

1796
02:29:42,780 --> 02:29:48,700
Next item, consideration of introducing an ordinance authorizing the city manager to sell 3-1-7

1797
02:29:48,700 --> 02:29:54,320
Hancock Street. This item was presented to City Council October 26 under our business

1798
02:29:54,320 --> 02:29:59,820
item briefings. Is there anyone to speak in favor?

1799
02:30:15,660 --> 02:30:44,980
Council, good evening. My name is Gerald Calfi, resident and business owner of Lynchburg for almost 20 years. We currently own the Bacon Street bagels building across the bridge and after cleaning up that property, looked across the ravine and said, what can we do over there? And so after a few months of going back and forth with Margett and the city, I think it would be exciting to see what we can do across the street. Cabo was such an important part

1800
02:30:44,980 --> 02:30:49,580
part of the Danielsville area and with the B1 zoning, I think we can do some fun things

1801
02:30:49,580 --> 02:30:54,940
that bring hopefully some commerce and some new life to that side of the bridge as well.

1802
02:30:55,300 --> 02:31:01,080
So it would be myself and Billy Hanson and we have a kind of long history in Lynchburg

1803
02:31:01,080 --> 02:31:05,960
of like doing great things with little spaces so that's it.

1804
02:31:06,180 --> 02:31:06,540
Thank you guys.

1805
02:31:06,840 --> 02:31:07,240
Thank you.

1806
02:31:08,780 --> 02:31:11,180
Is there anyone who would like to speak in opposition?

1807
02:31:37,450 --> 02:31:49,450
I'm sorry I'm Gina Smith and I located and I'm in Vaxden but I have houses here in Lynchburg. I have a house over on 311 F street.

1808
02:31:50,270 --> 02:31:51,330
Thank you.

1809
02:31:51,330 --> 02:32:08,130
So, in concerns with that, I'm not understanding how even though this land, the 317 on the D-street, is worth significantly more and is also significantly bigger.

1810
02:32:08,130 --> 02:32:16,930
the value of only the land from, I have to switch glasses,

1811
02:32:21,660 --> 02:32:25,000
from 2005 to 2004 it was

1812
02:32:25,000 --> 02:32:36,960
6800. And then this is the D-street area. Then from 2007 to 2018 it jumped significantly

1813
02:32:36,960 --> 02:32:47,540
to $22,500, and then from 2019 to 2021, it's assessed again at $45,000.

1814
02:32:47,540 --> 02:32:56,660
My property and the surrounding properties are significantly less, just the land,

1815
02:32:56,860 --> 02:33:00,180
not including the homes up there.

1816
02:33:00,180 --> 02:33:04,940
So my property that

1817
02:33:07,150 --> 02:33:10,890
is only worth $9,000.

1818
02:33:11,530 --> 02:33:18,570
I have a little house on it and the value that goes around there,

1819
02:33:18,730 --> 02:33:22,950
I'm just not understanding how the assessment is going.

1820
02:33:23,330 --> 02:33:27,250
When I'm wanting to turn around and fix mine up and sell it,

1821
02:33:27,250 --> 02:33:35,930
And I have appraisers coming in saying it's a lot less than what this property is.

1822
02:33:36,130 --> 02:33:47,890
And also, when they destroyed the bridge that was once there, they buried on the D Street 317 all of that iron and stuff.

1823
02:33:48,670 --> 02:33:51,750
So I'm not getting it.

1824
02:33:51,750 --> 02:34:00,670
But I think that's a question really for the city assessor, and we're having a public hearing at this moment about 317 Hancock Street, so it doesn't really.

1825
02:34:00,970 --> 02:34:08,350
So Mayor, what I can do is follow up with a resident and talk to her and get her acquainted, how kind of give an explanation as to the values in that area.

1826
02:34:08,570 --> 02:34:12,850
And just make sure that he's our city assessor and he's very helpful to help kind of understand property values.

1827
02:34:12,850 --> 02:34:18,150
Okay, but all of us who are wanting to sell our property, is a lot less than this.

1828
02:34:18,830 --> 02:34:20,150
And it's not fair.

1829
02:34:22,810 --> 02:34:24,150
Thank you for your concern.

1830
02:34:29,790 --> 02:34:31,810
Is there anyone who would like to speak in opposition?

1831
02:34:35,920 --> 02:34:38,140
Are there any emails or phone calls from citizens?

1832
02:34:38,880 --> 02:34:39,280
Thank you.

1833
02:34:39,500 --> 02:34:42,100
Public hearing is closed and the matter rests with council.

1834
02:34:43,020 --> 02:34:44,960
Council member Helles, can you have a question?

1835
02:34:45,100 --> 02:34:45,960
Yes, thank you, Madam Mayor.

1836
02:34:45,960 --> 02:34:51,360
I guess it's, it's, it's, the, the general lady brings up a good question.

1837
02:34:51,780 --> 02:34:57,420
And so I guess the beauty of her question, though, helps to kind of frame the fact

1838
02:34:57,420 --> 02:35:02,660
that we are selling this amount for fair market value.

1839
02:35:02,880 --> 02:35:09,380
And so I was always concerned that we're selling property, Lynchburg owned property,

1840
02:35:09,620 --> 02:35:13,360
Lynchburg citizen owned property, for less than fair market value.

1841
02:35:13,360 --> 02:35:20,340
so I'm hopeful it sounds like we're selling it for a fair market value and this

1842
02:35:20,340 --> 02:35:26,820
37 or 39,000 that were netting that is based on a fair market value that had

1843
02:35:26,820 --> 02:35:32,420
other folks that could possibly buy it so with that you have a willing

1844
02:35:32,420 --> 02:35:37,080
buyer and a willing seller so hopefully to answer your your question which is

1845
02:35:37,080 --> 02:35:41,940
think is a good one is the fact that once this actually sells between a willing

1846
02:35:41,940 --> 02:35:47,480
buyer and a willing seller for a higher amount, that hopefully is going to push up the value

1847
02:35:47,480 --> 02:35:48,220
of your property.

1848
02:35:48,600 --> 02:35:54,320
So normally, comparable are made, and so when the price of the property sells, now I would

1849
02:35:54,320 --> 02:35:59,120
be concerned if it was worth 45,000, we're selling it for 10,000.

1850
02:35:59,480 --> 02:36:01,280
Now I would really raise my hackles.

1851
02:36:01,400 --> 02:36:07,260
So hopefully it sounds like we're selling it for the fair market value, and don't tell

1852
02:36:07,260 --> 02:36:12,340
All the city assessor too loud and proud that your assessment is too low because they'll

1853
02:36:12,340 --> 02:36:17,020
be out there tomorrow and raise your taxes so I'd yeah

1854
02:36:19,160 --> 02:36:22,760
but good great question, thank

1855
02:36:22,760 --> 02:36:23,300
you.

1856
02:36:23,580 --> 02:36:24,060
We'll

1857
02:36:32,670 --> 02:36:33,490
come to Member Tweet.

1858
02:36:33,550 --> 02:36:34,170
You have a question?

1859
02:36:34,770 --> 02:36:34,970
No.

1860
02:36:35,330 --> 02:36:37,590
Just follow the public hearing for the call.

1861
02:36:37,830 --> 02:36:37,990
All right.

1862
02:36:38,230 --> 02:36:38,490
Great.

1863
02:36:38,630 --> 02:36:39,130
Thank you.

1864
02:36:39,590 --> 02:36:42,290
So public hearing is closed and matter rest with council.

1865
02:36:44,630 --> 02:36:45,590
Any questions?

1866
02:36:45,590 --> 02:36:46,110
in his comments,

1867
02:36:50,460 --> 02:36:51,460
we have a motion.

1868
02:36:52,800 --> 02:36:53,880
I'll move for approval.

1869
02:36:59,610 --> 02:36:59,930
Second.

1870
02:37:02,460 --> 02:37:03,320
Councilmember Wilde.

1871
02:37:03,440 --> 02:37:06,880
And I'm always in courtesy of different establishments

1872
02:37:06,880 --> 02:37:10,560
expand their area for the rest of the run.

1873
02:37:10,940 --> 02:37:13,200
I was in there the other day by the fact

1874
02:37:13,200 --> 02:37:15,100
I did have a challenging time at the parking,

1875
02:37:15,720 --> 02:37:16,720
but the food was great.

1876
02:37:17,180 --> 02:37:19,980
But I'm glad to see them take on the next lot

1877
02:37:19,980 --> 02:37:22,120
over and do some improvements there

1878
02:37:22,120 --> 02:37:23,320
to expand their business.

1879
02:37:23,500 --> 02:37:23,720
Thank you.

1880
02:37:25,380 --> 02:37:25,860
Okay.

1881
02:37:26,640 --> 02:37:27,200
Any other?

1882
02:37:27,380 --> 02:37:33,900
I guess just a general comment that when we have property that the city has, there's

1883
02:37:33,900 --> 02:37:39,960
no tax bearing assumption because it's tax exempts in the city, tax bears on it.

1884
02:37:40,380 --> 02:37:44,440
So the more property that we have that we can sell for fair market value that we have no

1885
02:37:44,440 --> 02:37:46,340
use for, I'm in favor of.

1886
02:37:46,620 --> 02:37:51,860
And I appreciate Mr. Calfey, I've seen some of the work that they've done before and hopefully

1887
02:37:51,860 --> 02:37:54,900
they'll do a good job in this area of Daniel Sills as well.

1888
02:37:55,480 --> 02:37:58,640
Great. Thank you. Anything else? No?

1889
02:37:58,840 --> 02:37:59,320
Cash to vote.

1890
02:38:03,110 --> 02:38:05,850
Motion passes, 7-0. Thank you.

1891
02:38:07,110 --> 02:38:11,010
Next item, consideration of adopting a resolution requesting an amendment and

1892
02:38:11,010 --> 02:38:16,290
reenactment of Section 5 of Chapter 3 of the city's charter regarding general elections.

1893
02:38:17,450 --> 02:38:23,650
This item was presented to City Council at the October 26 meeting under our business item briefings.

1894
02:38:23,650 --> 02:38:26,690
is there anyone to speak in favor?

1895
02:38:35,840 --> 02:38:40,260
Good evening. My name is Michael Gillette. I live here in Lynchburg, Virginia. It's great

1896
02:38:40,260 --> 02:38:46,820
to see you all. And thank you for opening up this public hearing. As someone who has

1897
02:38:46,820 --> 02:38:51,460
some experience in local government, having served 12 years on City Council and four years

1898
02:38:51,460 --> 02:38:57,460
as the mayor of the city, I am here to speak in favor of the plan that you have published.

1899
02:38:57,460 --> 02:39:06,180
I think that it's extremely important that you make every effort to move elections into those odd numbered years.

1900
02:39:07,060 --> 02:39:19,280
Well, based on my experience as a council member, I have to say that when the state government made the decision to prohibit us from maintaining our elections in May, I was rather distraught.

1901
02:39:19,280 --> 02:39:24,780
I think that it was a terrible overreach from Richmond and assault on the notion of

1902
02:39:24,780 --> 02:39:30,960
home rule, and that they were not taking our needs into consideration when they decided

1903
02:39:30,960 --> 02:39:37,800
that they would rather subsume local elections and local election issues onto a higher level

1904
02:39:37,800 --> 02:39:39,940
of the political structure.

1905
02:39:40,400 --> 02:39:46,660
I think that it's very dangerous for local issues to be debated and discussed in an environment

1906
02:39:46,660 --> 02:39:51,420
where they could be drowned out by discussions about issues on a different level.

1907
02:39:51,780 --> 02:39:55,900
I think that's probably true as we mix local elections with state elections,

1908
02:39:55,900 --> 02:40:00,780
which is why I think that it was a mistake for Richmond to rob from us our ability

1909
02:40:00,780 --> 02:40:05,020
to autonomously decide what is best for our local government.

1910
02:40:05,560 --> 02:40:10,500
But I think that that problem would be accentuated by orders of magnitude

1911
02:40:10,500 --> 02:40:15,960
if city council elections were to take place at the same time that national elections were taking place.

1912
02:40:15,960 --> 02:40:22,420
I don't believe that a local discussion would be able to break through the airwaves when

1913
02:40:22,420 --> 02:40:27,080
presidential candidates are eating up the oxygen in absolutely every room.

1914
02:40:27,640 --> 02:40:30,740
Local government in many ways is the most important form of government.

1915
02:40:30,860 --> 02:40:32,020
It is closest to the people.

1916
02:40:32,300 --> 02:40:37,340
It needs to be attuned to the will and the needs of the local citizenry.

1917
02:40:37,960 --> 02:40:43,640
And I don't think that it will be healthy for our political dialogue or for our local

1918
02:40:43,640 --> 02:40:50,620
democracy if our local elections are lost in the shuffle of other higher level issues.

1919
02:40:51,340 --> 02:40:56,920
And for all of those reasons, I urge you to adopt the plan that you have developed.

1920
02:40:57,340 --> 02:40:58,820
Thank you, and have a good evening.

1921
02:41:10,250 --> 02:41:14,990
Good evening, Mayor Dole and Vice Mayor Wright, members of the City Council.

1922
02:41:15,970 --> 02:41:21,230
I'm Dr. Owen Cardwell, and I reside in Ward 4107, Pleasantville Drive.

1923
02:41:21,230 --> 02:41:28,090
I professed my statement tonight by saying I return home to Lynchburg a little over a year ago

1924
02:41:28,090 --> 02:41:35,490
to serve and give back to my home city that nurtured and helped to mold me. I currently serve as a

1925
02:41:35,490 --> 02:41:41,990
distinguished professor at the University of Lynchburg and Leadership Studies and one of the courses I

1926
02:41:41,990 --> 02:41:49,230
teach is on leadership and change. One of the things I understand is that leaders don't manage change,

1927
02:41:49,230 --> 02:41:54,290
effective leaders must lead change. So I applaud the members of council who are

1928
02:41:54,290 --> 02:41:59,590
attempting to lead in a time of sudden and often tumultuous change. I'm also

1929
02:41:59,590 --> 02:42:04,170
pastor of Diamond Hill Baptist Church following a legacy of pastors and

1930
02:42:04,170 --> 02:42:08,290
church members who have laid their lives on the line to ensure voting rights for

1931
02:42:08,290 --> 02:42:12,690
all our citizens. I want to speak tonight in support of the proposed charter

1932
02:42:12,690 --> 02:42:17,320
amendment to bring our charter on alignment with the Virginia Department of

1933
02:42:17,320 --> 02:42:22,660
elections of Virginia code 15.2-1400.

1934
02:42:23,230 --> 02:42:26,140
It has been said that all politics are local.

1935
02:42:26,560 --> 02:42:28,640
However, the change in the Virginia code

1936
02:42:29,130 --> 02:42:32,180
moving municipal elections from May to November

1937
02:42:32,530 --> 02:42:35,180
under our current practice of even year voting,

1938
02:42:35,440 --> 02:42:39,260
which subsume our local issues and concerns

1939
02:42:39,390 --> 02:42:42,440
to presidential and gubernatorial elections.

1940
02:42:43,130 --> 02:42:46,000
The persona and persuasive power of national

1941
02:42:46,000 --> 02:42:52,940
and statewide political candidates would take center stage and push adequate vetting

1942
02:42:52,940 --> 02:42:55,460
and debating of local issues to the back burner.

1943
02:42:56,640 --> 02:43:03,720
Garbage pickup, plugging potholes, school board budgets are not sexy items, but they matter

1944
02:43:03,720 --> 02:43:11,540
to the everyday quality of life for local taxpayers, so moving local elections to odd years solves

1945
02:43:11,540 --> 02:43:12,500
this quandary.

1946
02:43:12,500 --> 02:43:19,200
Someone said that the proposed charter change goals against 50 plus years of voting during

1947
02:43:19,200 --> 02:43:20,380
presidential election.

1948
02:43:20,900 --> 02:43:26,260
That statement attempts to obfuscate the reality that even during presidential election

1949
02:43:26,260 --> 02:43:32,080
years, the municipal elections were held in May and not during November when federal elections

1950
02:43:32,080 --> 02:43:32,820
take place.

1951
02:43:33,580 --> 02:43:37,820
It has also been said that the proposed amendment is an attempt at voter suppression.

1952
02:43:37,820 --> 02:43:44,800
and odd turn of phraseology usually referred to as the pot calling the kettle black, but

1953
02:43:44,800 --> 02:43:49,920
of these statements both of these statements are attempts to suggest that there is something

1954
02:43:49,920 --> 02:43:51,060
nefarious for foot.

1955
02:43:51,780 --> 02:43:56,180
In this season it appears that reason and cooperation have gone on hiatus.

1956
02:43:56,900 --> 02:44:03,700
In actuality successful councilmanic candidates for voting cycles, for two voting cycles are

1957
02:44:03,700 --> 02:44:06,560
being asked to voluntarily serve less time,

1958
02:44:07,100 --> 02:44:09,760
three years as opposed to the customer for your term

1959
02:44:10,140 --> 02:44:13,760
until 2025 and 2027 respectively.

1960
02:44:15,880 --> 02:44:17,660
This proposal seems to be reasonable

1961
02:44:18,180 --> 02:44:20,160
and I urge the members of Council to vote

1962
02:44:20,160 --> 02:44:22,740
in the affirmative for this proposal.

1963
02:44:22,980 --> 02:44:25,540
Thank you and may God bless you and I'll heal soon.

1964
02:44:28,380 --> 02:44:29,980
Is there anyone else who's speaking favor?

1965
02:44:30,600 --> 02:44:31,620
Please come forward.

1966
02:44:43,640 --> 02:44:44,600
Good evening.

1967
02:44:44,960 --> 02:44:45,880
Thank you so much.

1968
02:44:45,880 --> 02:44:55,380
My name is Nicole Sanders. I'm a resident of Lynchburg. I come to speak in favor of the proposal to sync our elections to odd years.

1969
02:44:56,120 --> 02:44:59,880
My story is a little bit different than Dr. Cardwell's and he's a hard-ass.

1970
02:45:01,640 --> 02:45:29,840
I am not from Lynchburg. I grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, which is a huge city with a huge number of suburbs. And there was absolutely no way that you could get to know your local representatives. I've lived in Lynchburg now for 18 years. And one of the things that I value is my ability to connect with my local officials. For example, I live in Ward 3, Mr. Helgison has been to my home to Canvas me. And I appreciated our interactions, even if we didn't agree on all of the issues.

1971
02:45:29,840 --> 02:45:35,780
I believe like the others who have spoken before me that if we have elections on even

1972
02:45:35,780 --> 02:45:44,380
years, these issues of our locality that are so important and so crucial to our citizens

1973
02:45:44,380 --> 02:45:47,700
are going to get lost in the hub of presidential year elections.

1974
02:45:49,820 --> 02:45:57,480
So I believe that the local is the most important, it's the thing that these laws and these policies

1975
02:45:57,480 --> 02:46:10,380
These are the ones that are going to affect our daily lives as citizens of this city, and I urge City Council to take that into consideration, and I speak in favor of this proposal.

1976
02:46:10,760 --> 02:46:11,540
Thank you very much.

1977
02:46:12,960 --> 02:46:14,800
Is there anyone else to speak in favor?

1978
02:46:22,900 --> 02:46:24,700
Good afternoon mayor, City Council.

1979
02:46:25,300 --> 02:46:29,860
It's Bert from Dotson, Jr. 3332, George F. the Court in Lynchburg.

1980
02:46:29,860 --> 02:46:37,660
I rise again with my friends that have been up here before in relation to change in the charter.

1981
02:46:38,540 --> 02:46:44,540
I guess you know that 160 towns and 16 cities are going through exactly the same thing the Lynchburg is going through.

1982
02:46:45,520 --> 02:46:52,900
To have an election doing a presidential year, US senators elected, congressman or congresswoman are elected.

1983
02:46:52,900 --> 02:46:56,640
It's going to be very bad in relation to issues.

1984
02:46:56,960 --> 02:47:01,120
Obviously, I spent 12 years served with some of you on City Council during that time.

1985
02:47:01,860 --> 02:47:04,320
And one thing I would enjoy about the word elections, and

1986
02:47:04,320 --> 02:47:06,580
at our elections, we talked about city elections.

1987
02:47:07,440 --> 02:47:12,860
You know there was a 1919 tie in the senate and the lieutenant governor broke the tie.

1988
02:47:13,540 --> 02:47:19,560
And this issue came out of nowhere from Chesapeake up on the state senator from Chesapeake proposals.

1989
02:47:19,560 --> 02:47:23,620
New part of the woods down in Hampton Roads, not blaming you.

1990
02:47:24,140 --> 02:47:30,920
But what I'm saying is that moving forward, whoever sits in these seats in the future will

1991
02:47:30,920 --> 02:47:35,360
deal with city issues rather than state or national issues.

1992
02:47:36,360 --> 02:47:42,200
Wars go on, payments overthrow governments, that's national, international issues.

1993
02:47:42,980 --> 02:47:47,920
And obviously the issue that you deal with in us, a dealt with in the past, relation to

1994
02:47:47,920 --> 02:47:50,660
City Council members have to do with the Senate so much for going away.

1995
02:47:51,440 --> 02:47:57,720
So I really, truly think that going to the General Assembly with the charter chains will

1996
02:47:57,720 --> 02:48:00,380
be the best thing for future generation of City Council members.

1997
02:48:00,880 --> 02:48:01,380
Thank you, Mayor.

1998
02:48:01,400 --> 02:48:01,760
Thank you.

1999
02:48:03,680 --> 02:48:06,040
Is there anyone else who would like to speak in favor?

2000
02:48:14,510 --> 02:48:15,470
Good evening, everybody.

2001
02:48:16,130 --> 02:48:16,250
Good evening.

2002
02:48:16,710 --> 02:48:19,670
My name is Caesar Johnson, and I'm winging it.

2003
02:48:20,490 --> 02:48:25,030
I've been on this out of the podium in a long time, Alpha really, and I served on this

2004
02:48:25,030 --> 02:48:28,590
the Legislative State Council for 12 years as the ward two representatives in the Vice

2005
02:48:28,590 --> 02:48:29,590
Marathon for six years.

2006
02:48:30,430 --> 02:48:37,150
And I'd like to say that I really think that our citizens, especially our minority citizens

2007
02:48:37,150 --> 02:48:42,190
and our unrepresentative communities, need our voices and your voices to be heard.

2008
02:48:42,630 --> 02:48:47,250
And I really feel that their voices, the least of us, the least voices in our community,

2009
02:48:47,430 --> 02:48:49,170
won't be heard in a national election.

2010
02:48:50,210 --> 02:48:53,890
And our issues are local and they are citizens and they need to be heard.

2011
02:48:54,410 --> 02:49:00,270
and they're not going to be heard in the hog wash of national debates. I often

2012
02:49:00,270 --> 02:49:04,090
said when I was on City Council that potholes are not Republican or

2013
02:49:04,090 --> 02:49:08,370
Democrats, they're potholes that our citizens need fixing. And when you hear

2014
02:49:08,370 --> 02:49:11,550
citizens comment, ask your questions. You're not going to be able to explain it

2015
02:49:11,550 --> 02:49:15,730
away. It's because we got caught up in a national cycle. And then we lose seats

2016
02:49:15,730 --> 02:49:19,410
and representations from our citizens that we want there to represent us.

2017
02:49:23,410 --> 02:49:23,870
So I'm

2018
02:49:23,870 --> 02:49:30,350
It's not major for no other city, but I was where you need we are on the city who has the issues that our city has

2019
02:49:30,350 --> 02:49:37,110
And we don't have this plan. I says and they should have talked to us and they assured us that they wouldn't do this and then they did it

2020
02:49:37,110 --> 02:49:43,830
And so you all be brave enough to take this back to them and ask them to change it for us our citizens. Thank you

2021
02:49:45,190 --> 02:49:47,090
Is there anyone else who'd like to speak in David?

2022
02:49:56,430 --> 02:49:59,110
Thank you for this opportunity to speak my mayor vice mayor

2023
02:49:59,110 --> 02:50:02,330
I support everything that the people before me have said.

2024
02:50:02,430 --> 02:50:04,790
My name is Daniel Talk, a little cool citizen, went to

2025
02:50:04,790 --> 02:50:05,470
Intrared College.

2026
02:50:06,690 --> 02:50:11,510
I think we've seen the pendulum swing a lot and I like in prior

2027
02:50:11,510 --> 02:50:14,090
years when our city council elections, we had people that

2028
02:50:14,090 --> 02:50:16,150
actually oppose each other and they had to get their voices

2029
02:50:16,150 --> 02:50:19,630
out there and we had to hear between two candidates instead of

2030
02:50:19,630 --> 02:50:24,010
being overrun by a national debate and I think would be more

2031
02:50:24,010 --> 02:50:28,210
stable for the city to maintain it in to follow through with

2032
02:50:28,210 --> 02:50:31,210
the amendment as proposed, and I don't have anything else to add, thank you for your

2033
02:50:31,210 --> 02:50:38,170
time. Thank you very much. Is there anyone else who would like to speak in favor? Please

2034
02:50:38,170 --> 02:50:38,730
come forward.

2035
02:50:55,520 --> 02:51:01,020
Thank you. My name is Jeffrey Rosner, and I'd like to speak to a slightly

2036
02:51:01,020 --> 02:51:09,600
different aspect of this issue, and that is civility. I think we can agree there has been a real

2037
02:51:09,600 --> 02:51:18,820
loss of civility in our politics, in our elections, and it's particularly true at the

2038
02:51:18,820 --> 02:51:31,160
national level, presidential and congressional elections. So if the local elections are

2039
02:51:31,160 --> 02:51:48,940
scheduled in odd-numbered years, then we have a better chance of avoiding the loss of civility and maintaining our existing civility level for local elections.

2040
02:51:49,780 --> 02:51:50,080
Thank you.

2041
02:51:51,060 --> 02:51:51,360
Thank you.

2042
02:51:53,220 --> 02:51:55,200
Is there anyone else who would like to speak in favor?

2043
02:52:00,890 --> 02:52:02,830
Is there anyone who would like to speak in opposition?

2044
02:52:23,070 --> 02:52:28,230
Thank you for this opportunity. My name is John Vassar. I'm a retired military

2045
02:52:28,230 --> 02:52:35,010
aviator and a retired university professor. And I like to say for one moment I

2046
02:52:35,010 --> 02:52:38,450
just like to give a shout out to the veterans out there because veterans days

2047
02:52:38,450 --> 02:52:44,990
coming up in my fellow veterans who are in this room like to acknowledge you. I'm

2048
02:52:44,990 --> 02:52:49,790
sort of what I call representing the loyal opposition on this issue and with

2049
02:52:49,790 --> 02:52:55,470
If I'll do respect to my fellow citizens and their views, I'd like to present another

2050
02:52:55,470 --> 02:52:56,070
point of view.

2051
02:52:58,390 --> 02:53:03,890
The federal government and several studies have been including the Manhattan Institute

2052
02:53:03,890 --> 02:53:09,370
study, which I have forwarded to the City Council and to the House of Delegates.

2053
02:53:10,270 --> 02:53:16,430
It has encouraged the synchronization of elections for practical and economic reasons.

2054
02:53:20,070 --> 02:53:27,250
However, we're in a unique situation where we would not be in synchronization.

2055
02:53:28,650 --> 02:53:33,270
And we would have elected officials that in some cases could have their terms extended

2056
02:53:33,770 --> 02:53:37,810
by 18 months without a special, some kind of special election.

2057
02:53:38,530 --> 02:53:42,230
Now, ask you to forgive me for this because my, all my political experience has been inside

2058
02:53:42,230 --> 02:53:43,290
the DC beltways.

2059
02:53:43,590 --> 02:53:45,050
So, please don't hold that against me.

2060
02:53:45,730 --> 02:53:56,010
But, I'm thinking that this idea of synchronization has been discussed at the national level, and I think it's certain that we should at least consider.

2061
02:53:56,750 --> 02:54:03,990
Because you've got a situation here where I'm sitting here working with the board of elections.

2062
02:54:04,730 --> 02:54:07,250
And I'm thinking we've got a continuous cycle of elections.

2063
02:54:07,250 --> 02:54:15,270
decisions. The voters are going to be constantly dealing with political campaigns. We got an election

2064
02:54:15,270 --> 02:54:15,870
next year.

2065
02:54:18,110 --> 02:54:24,550
We got one next year, got one the year after, and you're constantly being bombarded

2066
02:54:25,270 --> 02:54:29,850
with political ads. And I was thinking, according to the Manhattan Institute study, it had

2067
02:54:29,850 --> 02:54:30,510
and several reasons.

2068
02:54:31,130 --> 02:54:35,790
The two reasons they had was it would stop political fatigue

2069
02:54:36,790 --> 02:54:39,070
and it would be more efficient, all right?

2070
02:54:39,170 --> 02:54:42,090
I'm just asking you to consider that as a point of view.

2071
02:54:42,530 --> 02:54:44,050
And I yield the balance of my time.

2072
02:54:44,330 --> 02:54:44,630
Thank you.

2073
02:54:45,150 --> 02:54:45,590
Thank you.

2074
02:54:47,150 --> 02:54:49,610
Is there anyone else who would like to speak in opposition?

2075
02:55:02,430 --> 02:55:03,830
Good evening, Lynchbrook City Council.

2076
02:55:04,010 --> 02:55:04,790
My name is Andrew Glover.

2077
02:55:05,410 --> 02:55:08,630
I'm a citizen award-for and a Lynchbrook City business owner.

2078
02:55:09,730 --> 02:55:17,270
I'm not a fan of word games, so before I begin I want to start with a definition of some terminology straight out of the encyclopedia.

2079
02:55:18,590 --> 02:55:33,330
Voter suppression. Voter suppression is any legal or extra legal measure whose purpose or practical effect is to reduce voting by members of a targeted group, political party or religious community.

2080
02:55:34,290 --> 02:55:39,270
I'm here to be up to oppose the resolution as is presented.

2081
02:55:40,090 --> 02:55:45,270
The Virginia Assembly is requiring us to move local elections from the previous May date,

2082
02:55:45,550 --> 02:55:53,290
to a November general election date, for the purposeful intent of increasing voter turnout in local elections.

2083
02:55:54,050 --> 02:55:58,870
However, the proposal that you have all presented does the opposite.

2084
02:55:58,870 --> 02:56:04,110
It uses complicated legal maneuvers that change the city charter for the purpose of moving

2085
02:56:04,110 --> 02:56:06,950
elections away from federal election cycles.

2086
02:56:07,710 --> 02:56:15,510
This has the practical effect of reducing voter turnout in Lynchburg City by 200% or more.

2087
02:56:16,430 --> 02:56:23,750
For example, in 2020 election, which was a federal election, Lynchburg City had 36,000 voters

2088
02:56:23,750 --> 02:56:32,110
turn out compared to the 2019 election that only had 10,000 voters turn out, that's one third of the turn out.

2089
02:56:33,110 --> 02:56:44,570
Now, one of the main arguments I have heard tonight is that in favor of this action was that it moves local elections to a more local issue for smaller races so that local campaigns get more attention.

2090
02:56:45,170 --> 02:56:53,110
However, to be, I find this argument, honestly, to be incredibly offensive to the Lynchburg

2091
02:56:53,110 --> 02:56:53,810
City residents.

2092
02:56:54,210 --> 02:56:59,750
To suggest that Lynchburg residents are so unattentive to their needs that they wouldn't

2093
02:56:59,750 --> 02:57:05,350
be able to decide who they want to lead their city, you are in effect calling us too dumb

2094
02:57:05,350 --> 02:57:06,390
to make our own choices.

2095
02:57:08,090 --> 02:57:10,030
Now my offense isn't without a defense.

2096
02:57:10,030 --> 02:57:19,390
We have the benefit of a very local example from a recent election to point to the fact that our community is fully informed voters.

2097
02:57:20,170 --> 02:57:25,990
Last week, our neighbors in Bedford had the same noise from a large political race in the Governor's race,

2098
02:57:26,250 --> 02:57:30,230
where millions of dollars were poured in and drowned out many other local races.

2099
02:57:30,230 --> 02:57:36,830
However, voters in Bedford being fully informed voters voted not for one, but for two,

2100
02:57:37,130 --> 02:57:41,110
right and candidates instead of the candidates that were on the ballot.

2101
02:57:41,870 --> 02:57:46,330
If right and candidates can win against ballot candidates in an election where millions

2102
02:57:46,330 --> 02:57:51,330
of dollars and ads were flooding and aware airwaves, then we can trust our own citizens to

2103
02:57:51,330 --> 02:57:51,970
do what's best.

2104
02:57:53,170 --> 02:57:59,110
When you put into a place a process with a known outcome of a reduced voter turnout, you

2105
02:57:59,110 --> 02:58:06,030
You are explicitly, you, and you, and you are explicitly guilty of voter suppression.

2106
02:58:06,690 --> 02:58:07,310
Thank you.

2107
02:58:07,750 --> 02:58:08,150
Thank you.

2108
02:58:09,590 --> 02:58:12,090
Is there anyone else who would like to speak in that position?

2109
02:58:19,840 --> 02:58:23,700
Good evening Council. My name is Stephanie Reed and I live in Ward 1 in Lynchburg.

2110
02:58:24,980 --> 02:58:30,000
Before I get into my concerns, I wanted to just familiarize everyone in the room with a Google search

2111
02:58:30,000 --> 02:58:33,100
I did on the purpose of City Council and here's what it said.

2112
02:58:33,100 --> 02:58:38,560
A City Council enables the economic, social, and cultural development of the municipal area

2113
02:58:38,560 --> 02:58:39,280
it represents.

2114
02:58:39,840 --> 02:58:44,720
Supports individuals and groups and provides a wide range of services for the well-being

2115
02:58:44,720 --> 02:58:46,020
of the local community.

2116
02:58:46,500 --> 02:58:50,560
They're responsible to the elected government, not a political party.

2117
02:58:51,580 --> 02:58:56,020
And I wish that I believed the motives of this change were actually good, and they were

2118
02:58:56,020 --> 02:58:56,680
for the well-being.

2119
02:58:57,680 --> 02:59:10,320
But up until tonight I'm trying to figure out who's well being caused this proposal to take place because as a resident of Lynchburg I have heard zero people concerned about this.

2120
02:59:11,020 --> 02:59:22,720
I haven't heard an outcry of anyone in the city saying oh my goodness we need to move the new updated elections cycle to a new election cycle.

2121
02:59:22,720 --> 02:59:29,940
What I'm hearing in the community is why are we at a double digit deficit for our police officers?

2122
02:59:30,520 --> 02:59:33,460
Why are we the double digit deficit on our fire department?

2123
02:59:33,860 --> 02:59:37,720
Why are we the double digit deficit at our 911 call center?

2124
02:59:38,120 --> 02:59:39,580
That's the outcry I'm hearing.

2125
02:59:40,040 --> 02:59:44,640
And if you guys have been elected to look at the well-being of the community of Lynchburg and

2126
02:59:44,640 --> 02:59:49,280
the city and the representatives, I would love to see that that would be the first priority in focus

2127
02:59:49,280 --> 02:59:54,900
of your concern versus changing an election cycle that I haven't heard anybody

2128
02:59:54,900 --> 02:59:59,820
aside up until tonight say anything about. I stood in this room, I think

2129
03:00:00,000 --> 03:00:28,300
Earlier this year, as I heard Lynchburg residents pretty much beg you not to raise taxes, and they gave a variety of really upsetting reasons, yet you raised taxes. And now it's come to my attention that there's $50 million left of this past year's budget, unused tax payer dollars that are available that could have filled all the positions in our public safety offices, yet we're still at a double digit deficit.

2130
03:00:28,300 --> 03:00:34,700
Our city's unsafe, our families are unsafe, yet this is what we're discussing to vote on.

2131
03:00:35,180 --> 03:00:39,960
It comes across as a self-serving initiative, not something that truly benefits the needs

2132
03:00:39,960 --> 03:00:40,460
of the city.

2133
03:00:41,200 --> 03:00:44,880
So I encourage each of you to really give thought to decisions you make from this point

2134
03:00:44,880 --> 03:00:50,160
on, because last week's elections showed that there were a lot of angry Virginians who

2135
03:00:50,160 --> 03:00:53,920
are holding the decision makers in the state accountable.

2136
03:00:53,920 --> 03:01:01,560
And I believe the residents of Lynchburg will be ready to see a change on this council if we continue to put things that are truly not an

2137
03:01:01,560 --> 03:01:07,360
important need of the city in front of what truly is important which is the safety of our citizens. Thank you.

2138
03:01:09,350 --> 03:01:11,610
Is there anyone else who would like to speak to that position?

2139
03:01:19,110 --> 03:01:21,730
Are there any citizen emails or phone calls?

2140
03:01:27,850 --> 03:01:31,090
Public hearing is closed and the matter now rests with council.

2141
03:01:35,540 --> 03:01:36,400
Councilmember Nelson.

2142
03:01:37,220 --> 03:01:43,760
Thank you Madam Mayor and thank all of you who took the time to be here tonight after

2143
03:01:43,760 --> 03:01:45,920
a long agenda to share your thoughts with us.

2144
03:01:47,600 --> 03:01:55,020
I disagree with but understand why the General Assembly moved all local elections to the

2145
03:01:55,020 --> 03:01:56,820
November general election date.

2146
03:01:57,560 --> 03:02:02,300
At this point, City Council has no voice in that decision.

2147
03:02:02,300 --> 03:02:13,640
For me, the primary question is how to best disconnect the distasteful details of partisan

2148
03:02:13,640 --> 03:02:22,820
federal elections from the delicate details and decisions needed to choose the most qualified

2149
03:02:22,820 --> 03:02:23,760
city candidates.

2150
03:02:25,770 --> 03:02:31,530
It is certain that having local elections with federal elections will increase the number

2151
03:02:31,530 --> 03:02:34,310
of voters choosing city council members.

2152
03:02:36,170 --> 03:02:45,250
Higher voter turnout is a good thing, especially if all or even most of those voters are well

2153
03:02:45,250 --> 03:02:49,410
informed about city council candidates and the issues.

2154
03:02:52,410 --> 03:03:00,010
Unfortunately, several factors operate against that being the case when local elections coincide

2155
03:03:00,010 --> 03:03:02,310
with high-profile federal elections.

2156
03:03:05,910 --> 03:03:13,990
In assessing these factors, we must ask why is voter turnout greater when there are

2157
03:03:13,990 --> 03:03:19,110
presidential, senate, and congressional campaigns and elections?

2158
03:03:20,230 --> 03:03:21,450
I think the answer is obvious.

2159
03:03:22,870 --> 03:03:28,010
These are high-profile elections that draw greater voter attention.

2160
03:03:28,010 --> 03:03:35,630
So then we must ask, why is the greater voter attention for federal elections?

2161
03:03:36,550 --> 03:03:38,670
Again, the answer is obvious.

2162
03:03:40,030 --> 03:03:49,170
Major political parties saturate national and local media with obscene amounts of money to dispense

2163
03:03:49,170 --> 03:03:55,130
incessant campaign messages surrounding the broad regional and national issues

2164
03:03:55,130 --> 03:03:56,990
favored by their party.

2165
03:04:00,660 --> 03:04:05,220
As a result, voters primarily see and hear those

2166
03:04:05,220 --> 03:04:11,100
national and regional candidates and messages and lose focus on local

2167
03:04:11,100 --> 03:04:13,240
candidates and issues.

2168
03:04:15,680 --> 03:04:19,400
Nothing and I repeat nothing suggests that voters who

2169
03:04:19,400 --> 03:04:24,060
cast ballots in federal election years are better informed about local

2170
03:04:24,060 --> 03:04:26,260
candidates and local issues.

2171
03:04:28,420 --> 03:04:30,720
Another major factor is the media's

2172
03:04:30,720 --> 03:04:33,480
inherent focus on marketing priorities.

2173
03:04:35,040 --> 03:04:39,320
Media must decide how much it should focus on local races

2174
03:04:40,000 --> 03:04:43,120
versus those regional and national issues in races.

2175
03:04:44,740 --> 03:04:48,880
Their decision is greatly driven by the media's obvious need

2176
03:04:48,880 --> 03:04:52,000
to maintain and expand its media audience.

2177
03:04:53,180 --> 03:04:57,000
While local media does cover local news and campaigns,

2178
03:04:57,000 --> 03:05:02,420
states, they tend to give more attention to broader issues in candidates that attract

2179
03:05:02,420 --> 03:05:08,040
and have appeal to a broader viewing, reading, and listening audience.

2180
03:05:10,890 --> 03:05:19,530
Very few newspaper, radio, and TV stories widely highlight issues in specific city wards

2181
03:05:19,910 --> 03:05:25,590
or closely analyze each candidate with federal elections are occurring.

2182
03:05:25,590 --> 03:05:33,480
and then there's the impact of national media. Most voters watch national

2183
03:05:33,480 --> 03:05:40,020
major news channels. The nightly news networks and social media primarily

2184
03:05:40,020 --> 03:05:45,780
focus on national issues. They often adopt sensational themes to attract

2185
03:05:45,780 --> 03:05:52,540
broader audiences but they infrequently if ever highlight Lynchburg local

2186
03:05:52,540 --> 03:05:59,460
candidate's or issues. When was the last time a Lynchburg election issue or candidate

2187
03:05:59,460 --> 03:06:09,160
was mentioned on the National Nightly News Program of Fox, CNN, ABC, CBS or the CW.

2188
03:06:11,350 --> 03:06:12,050
Then there's

2189
03:06:12,050 --> 03:06:17,550
the issue of increased advertising costs when competition increases during federal elections.

2190
03:06:18,770 --> 03:06:25,190
The cost of campaign ads and publicity increases when candidates must compete with

2191
03:06:25,190 --> 03:06:31,130
high-profile national candidates who have large funding sources during a fixed and limited

2192
03:06:31,130 --> 03:06:32,290
campaign period.

2193
03:06:33,950 --> 03:06:39,130
Independent local candidates are less able to afford the cost of publicizing their platforms

2194
03:06:39,130 --> 03:06:46,190
forms and ideas when higher advertising costs naturally rise preceding the election day.

2195
03:06:47,550 --> 03:06:53,690
Only candidates with hefty financial resources can afford to widely market their candidacy.

2196
03:06:54,810 --> 03:07:01,350
This incentivizes local candidates to seek funding from political parties, which inherently

2197
03:07:01,350 --> 03:07:05,670
injects greater partisanship into the profile of city council.

2198
03:07:05,670 --> 03:07:06,750
Then

2199
03:07:10,910 --> 03:07:16,570
there is the inevitable factor of straight-party line voting in federal elections.

2200
03:07:17,710 --> 03:07:21,990
Many voters vote a straight-party line ticket in all federal elections.

2201
03:07:22,930 --> 03:07:27,310
They vote for every candidate on the ballot who has a certain partisan letter following

2202
03:07:27,310 --> 03:07:28,990
that candidate's name on the ballot.

2203
03:07:30,030 --> 03:07:36,230
As such, local candidates will be incentivized to run as the nominee of a major political

2204
03:07:36,230 --> 03:07:44,490
party whose co-tails they may garner additional votes, again this injects partisanship into

2205
03:07:44,490 --> 03:07:52,290
local election campaigns. So essentially the political partisanship that is inherently

2206
03:07:52,290 --> 03:07:59,390
embedded in federal campaigns will be more likely injected into local campaigns when local

2207
03:07:59,390 --> 03:08:04,630
candidates seek to ride those co-tails or seek the major political party funding to help

2208
03:08:04,630 --> 03:08:05,870
them finance their campaign.

2209
03:08:15,310 --> 03:08:20,730
I am confident that such national partisanship does not benefit

2210
03:08:20,730 --> 03:08:28,150
our city, nor does it increase voters' knowledge of local issues and candidates. We don't

2211
03:08:28,150 --> 03:08:35,870
need the partisan politics of Washington and Richmond artificially injected into City Hall and

2212
03:08:35,870 --> 03:08:46,090
the City Council. So again, I ask, does Lynchburg need more voters? Or do we need more informed

2213
03:08:46,090 --> 03:08:53,890
voters? Federal elections clearly generate a higher volume of voter turnout. But why should

2214
03:08:53,890 --> 03:09:02,950
we increase the number of voters at the expense of the quality of the voters? If you in this

2215
03:09:02,950 --> 03:09:07,950
room or in this city dispute the value of an informed enlightened and engaged local

2216
03:09:07,950 --> 03:09:14,770
electorate who understand all candidates positions on local issues, free from distracting

2217
03:09:14,770 --> 03:09:23,150
national and statewide cattle calls to partisan voters through partisan talking points, cliches

2218
03:09:23,150 --> 03:09:30,550
and soundbikes. Having a high percentage of informed voters is far more important to

2219
03:09:30,550 --> 03:09:35,650
to me than having a high percentage of uninformed or misinformed voters.

2220
03:09:36,970 --> 03:09:44,010
So fundamentally, I think we need to maximize the focus on local candidates and issues,

2221
03:09:45,310 --> 03:09:51,390
to minimize partisanship, to better enable City Council to be composed of those who are

2222
03:09:51,390 --> 03:09:57,850
truly independent and free from the dictates of major political parties, and relieved of

2223
03:09:57,850 --> 03:10:03,430
the financial and practical incentives to align themselves with any major political party.

2224
03:10:05,520 --> 03:10:11,020
Council members should seek accountability, excuse me, for the issues that impact local

2225
03:10:11,020 --> 03:10:19,940
voters, issues that impact local citizens, issues that impact that which are truly our local

2226
03:10:19,940 --> 03:10:27,220
needs and not cater to partisanship. I think this can be better achieved by separating

2227
03:10:27,220 --> 03:10:31,300
local elections from federal elections. Thank you Madam Mayor.

2228
03:10:31,820 --> 03:10:34,380
Thank you councilmember Hal Wilson. Thank you Madam Mayor.

2229
03:10:36,320 --> 03:10:42,760
You know we've I've heard the the reason why we should change you know and I think everybody

2230
03:10:42,760 --> 03:10:47,060
in agreement in what we've heard is the fact that we didn't like the fact that Richmond

2231
03:10:47,960 --> 03:10:55,260
from afar said here is what you must do. You must do that. Well and we look back a little

2232
03:10:55,260 --> 03:11:02,100
bit and see how did that happen. It happened from a partisan group of Democrats in the Senate

2233
03:11:02,100 --> 03:11:07,880
that said, we're going to force this change on you. I've been elected five times in May.

2234
03:11:08,440 --> 03:11:13,240
I appreciate the voters in May. I get to go by all sorts of folks as houses, whether

2235
03:11:13,240 --> 03:11:16,840
it be Republicans or Democrats, and go visit with them as stated earlier.

2236
03:11:17,980 --> 03:11:24,200
With that now we're going to say, okay, we're so mad at them that they changed our election

2237
03:11:24,200 --> 03:11:30,400
And without our say, now we're going to go back with our tin cup in our hand, begging for

2238
03:11:30,400 --> 03:11:31,500
them to change our charter.

2239
03:11:32,140 --> 03:11:35,380
And quite frankly, what we have to do, it's a high hurdle.

2240
03:11:36,160 --> 03:11:42,140
That hurdle, not only if council passes it five to two, that's somewhat irrelevant like

2241
03:11:42,140 --> 03:11:49,120
what's happened before, we've got to get the local delegation to say yes, this is a great

2242
03:11:49,120 --> 03:11:53,860
thing for Lynchburg citizens to change it from the even year where there's a whole lot

2243
03:11:53,860 --> 03:12:00,740
more voters. I think voters, I wouldn't question their intelligence. I would appreciate

2244
03:12:00,740 --> 03:12:06,940
their fact that they're going to vote. Whether it be a lot of voters in the federal elections

2245
03:12:06,940 --> 03:12:13,160
or less voters in an off-year congressional election, they can decide as was stated, because

2246
03:12:13,160 --> 03:12:18,820
we have some pretty smart voters. They've looked at issues. Now we're going to take our local

2247
03:12:18,820 --> 03:12:25,620
delegation, and I heard someone mention about the civility. Now you have this split in

2248
03:12:25,620 --> 03:12:29,600
Richmond that said, hey, we're going to force this on the local city of Lynchburg regardless

2249
03:12:29,600 --> 03:12:33,960
of what other people say. Regardless of what Lynchburg says, we're going to force you to

2250
03:12:33,960 --> 03:12:40,260
change it from May to November. Now our local delegation which are Republicans are going

2251
03:12:40,260 --> 03:12:49,300
have to go and get 75% a super majority to change Lynchburg's charter, a charter that's

2252
03:12:49,300 --> 03:12:55,920
been there for 50-some years that has said we're voting in even years only to say hey, don't

2253
03:12:55,920 --> 03:13:02,000
change the charter for long. Let's do the Hokey-Pokey. We'll change the charter, get people elected

2254
03:13:02,000 --> 03:13:07,940
for three years and we'll change the charter back for the four-year terms. I think Richmond

2255
03:13:07,940 --> 03:13:14,600
as was stated earlier by Ms. Reed, that Richmond and we as a council have lots of really big challenges.

2256
03:13:15,660 --> 03:13:22,000
We have big challenges just like to have in Richmond that we have in Lynchburg. We have high taxes.

2257
03:13:22,660 --> 03:13:30,420
We have high crime rate without the ability to actually recruit and retain good public safety officers.

2258
03:13:31,040 --> 03:13:35,820
We have a big problem with our educational achievement with our low test scores.

2259
03:13:35,820 --> 03:13:45,460
Now, we're going to say, okay, local delegates, take lots of time to now try to help Lynchburg

2260
03:13:45,460 --> 03:13:53,680
one city to get 75 percent folks agreeing that say, yeah, that's great thing to do in this

2261
03:13:53,680 --> 03:13:54,760
time of change.

2262
03:13:54,760 --> 03:14:01,380
We're going to focus our capital, our political capital, rather than putting Virginia forward

2263
03:14:01,380 --> 03:14:07,620
moving academic achievement, moving our fact of our limiting the role of government

2264
03:14:07,620 --> 03:14:11,920
our lives, we're going to say we're going to take that political capital and ask

2265
03:14:11,920 --> 03:14:18,620
them to just push to get us to change a charter. I don't want to ask that. I want

2266
03:14:18,620 --> 03:14:23,840
them to actually fix the problems in Virginia. I'm delighted to see the the

2267
03:14:23,840 --> 03:14:28,640
election that happened. I'm glad to see that lots of the informed voters

2268
03:14:28,640 --> 03:14:35,560
recognized that we need some changes. We're going on a lot of problems. And so I'm not going to

2269
03:14:35,560 --> 03:14:42,900
support the change to this resolution or to support asking the General Assembly to somehow

2270
03:14:42,900 --> 03:14:51,440
miraculously get 75% of all of them to agree. Yeah, that'll be a miracle in itself to say that we can

2271
03:14:51,440 --> 03:14:57,640
change the charter. Let's focus on real issues. Let's focus on things that aren't just a preference

2272
03:14:57,640 --> 03:14:59,900
and focus on things that

2273
03:15:00,000 --> 03:15:29,940
That actually move Lynchburg forward and move Virginia forward. I don't, I want more people to vote, not less. I think voters as presented earlier, and as I watch that case are the election in that Bedford County school board race. It was shocked. A right in candidate one, because the voters were informed, because the voters knew, which is shocking, that they expelled the candidates name right. I mean, lots of times those are thrown out.

2274
03:15:29,940 --> 03:15:36,940
but with this we've heard both sides. I don't think we want to ask our general

2275
03:15:36,940 --> 03:15:41,500
assembly delegation to be really fighting tooth and nail against the very

2276
03:15:41,500 --> 03:15:46,780
folks who just a few months ago about a year ago forced the moving of our

2277
03:15:46,780 --> 03:15:52,260
elections from made in November. Now to go back and say, hey will you 75% of you

2278
03:15:52,260 --> 03:15:57,360
vote with us? I don't think that's good. I think keeping it as the charter has

2279
03:15:57,360 --> 03:16:00,480
stated for 50 some years that were on even elections.

2280
03:16:01,680 --> 03:16:02,840
I think that is fine.

2281
03:16:03,000 --> 03:16:07,180
I think our voters are intelligent enough to see the fact

2282
03:16:07,180 --> 03:16:10,900
of if somebody is looking at growing government

2283
03:16:10,900 --> 03:16:12,720
or looking at accountability.

2284
03:16:13,160 --> 03:16:15,720
So I think our voters are smart enough.

2285
03:16:16,300 --> 03:16:18,740
I think that we can actually move forward

2286
03:16:18,740 --> 03:16:19,960
without changing the charter.

2287
03:16:20,560 --> 03:16:23,840
Even if council votes today to change the charter,

2288
03:16:24,620 --> 03:16:27,960
you now still got to find delegates that are going to carry that.

2289
03:16:28,680 --> 03:16:33,840
I've talked a lot of our constitutional officers that are in the even years.

2290
03:16:34,920 --> 03:16:38,020
There's lots of people in that ballot. A lot of you just voted last Tuesday.

2291
03:16:38,540 --> 03:16:39,720
There's a lot of people in the ballot.

2292
03:16:41,260 --> 03:16:44,820
Some of you voted and then flipped over the ballot only to have a few more.

2293
03:16:45,500 --> 03:16:47,960
Now we're going to add on their 6 to 9 to 12.

2294
03:16:48,060 --> 03:16:52,320
I think one time we had 12 council candidates that ran on the ballot.

2295
03:16:52,320 --> 03:17:00,260
But you're going to be voting and have three pieces of paper that you've got to figure out how to fill out or it's going to have such a small print.

2296
03:17:02,640 --> 03:17:06,960
So I think keeping it as is and I appreciate the concerns and I appreciate the thoughts.

2297
03:17:07,300 --> 03:17:13,880
I mean, I think there are valid points on both sides that say, yep, let's change it because we think there'll be less people to vote.

2298
03:17:14,640 --> 03:17:22,880
I really want more people to vote and whether it be in May, whether it be November, I think

2299
03:17:22,880 --> 03:17:26,500
leaving it in November does exactly what our charter says.

2300
03:17:27,100 --> 03:17:32,700
And you know, lots of times we've heard from citizens, as was mentioned earlier, we heard

2301
03:17:32,700 --> 03:17:35,020
about public hearings that we've had.

2302
03:17:35,560 --> 03:17:39,160
We've heard actually very informed people get up.

2303
03:17:39,160 --> 03:17:44,060
I remember last, or a couple of years ago, we had a public hearing on a second amendment sanctuary.

2304
03:17:44,680 --> 03:17:51,040
We had hundreds of people got up, articulated their position, but yet we chose not to listen.

2305
03:17:51,640 --> 03:17:57,160
So I think they have learned, and so let's keep the elections the same.

2306
03:17:57,680 --> 03:18:02,420
And I'll make a motion that we, I don't think there's been a motion on the table as we're still saying it.

2307
03:18:02,920 --> 03:18:06,360
But I'll be supporting keeping it in the even years.

2308
03:18:06,680 --> 03:18:06,940
Thank you.

2309
03:18:10,540 --> 03:18:17,680
Madam Mayor, before I go to what I had, that will keep me more online and hopefully more timely.

2310
03:18:18,340 --> 03:18:22,640
Just some observations, this is what has been offered this evening.

2311
03:18:22,860 --> 03:18:30,840
I would challenge those watching in here today to look at any of the former colleagues,

2312
03:18:30,840 --> 03:18:34,640
I should say, not mine, but I do realize we have some former council members here today.

2313
03:18:34,640 --> 03:18:40,780
any of them, or us on this bias, who were not in any way affiliated with any of the political

2314
03:18:40,780 --> 03:18:47,520
party, whether endorsed or nominated, all of us were in some way, it's in my knowledge.

2315
03:18:48,820 --> 03:18:54,840
Maybe not all of us, my point is the majority of us on this bias, the majority of the folks

2316
03:18:54,840 --> 03:19:04,700
in the room, were endorsed by either the Democrat or Republican party. To say that we're all

2317
03:19:04,700 --> 03:19:11,600
challenge that argument. I think the Bedford and Campbell situation proves that even with

2318
03:19:11,600 --> 03:19:18,020
the most expensive election in the history of the Commonwealth, that media will cover

2319
03:19:18,020 --> 03:19:23,600
local issues. We saw plenty of coverage from the news advance in WSET about some of the

2320
03:19:23,600 --> 03:19:29,620
right in candidates. There was discussion about home rule versus Dylan's law, where Dylan's

2321
03:19:29,620 --> 03:19:36,100
law state. If Richmond says it, that's the way our Commonwealth goes and I'm sure the

2322
03:19:36,100 --> 03:19:40,340
Liberty students here this evening just observing could have a very intellectual discussion

2323
03:19:40,340 --> 03:19:49,060
about home law versus Dylan's law. And so I'll get back to my main reason for opposition

2324
03:19:49,060 --> 03:19:59,730
this evening. I agree that federal politics should not influence local issues. I've said

2325
03:19:59,730 --> 03:20:06,510
that publicly, I've said my great respect for a May election because I went through it.

2326
03:20:06,670 --> 03:20:12,070
I came to appreciate the challenge of getting at least 1,000 people out to the polls.

2327
03:20:12,750 --> 03:20:20,450
I really respect that and I do see the pitfalls of involving local issues with other elections.

2328
03:20:20,450 --> 03:20:31,640
But the question I would ask is should personal philosophical preferences, particularly of

2329
03:20:31,640 --> 03:20:38,720
incumbents, dictate to the voters when elections or re-elections are, and I say no.

2330
03:20:39,600 --> 03:20:46,280
In my opinion, it is not proper I have and will continue to argue for counsel to mandate

2331
03:20:46,280 --> 03:20:51,720
when elections be held through a charter change, particularly if this change has not been

2332
03:20:51,720 --> 03:20:57,680
asked by the general public. It was said this evening, there has not been an outcry

2333
03:20:57,680 --> 03:21:04,540
of public call. Up until this coming up, I know there was a very slight mention of should

2334
03:21:04,540 --> 03:21:12,200
we consider this by one of our colleagues, not much else. To this, if the community and

2335
03:21:12,200 --> 03:21:18,560
voters wanted this change to occur, and this truly was a debate that the city should

2336
03:21:18,560 --> 03:21:22,540
to grapple with, I would say the proper course of action would be to have for this ballot

2337
03:21:22,540 --> 03:21:28,960
be put, this question be put as a ballot question or referendum whereby the empowered voter

2338
03:21:28,960 --> 03:21:33,240
could make the decision, not council members who may have preferences one way or the other

2339
03:21:33,240 --> 03:21:41,960
way. Otherwise, to affirm the justified course of action is enabled by a simple majority of

2340
03:21:41,960 --> 03:21:46,600
council members. What if the sheet was on the other foot and council had the opportunity

2341
03:21:46,600 --> 03:21:52,960
to move to November to a federal cycle and that's my preference and we had enough folks

2342
03:21:52,960 --> 03:21:58,540
to say to do it. Does that make it the right thing to do? I still say no.

2343
03:22:01,700 --> 03:22:02,520
I take issue

2344
03:22:02,520 --> 03:22:07,740
with this notion and would even argue that if conservatives wanted to be with federal

2345
03:22:07,740 --> 03:22:15,280
election cycles, my logic and my argument would be the same. Regardless of how it benefits

2346
03:22:15,280 --> 03:22:20,120
it's one sect of the community who has a political ideology or another.

2347
03:22:21,140 --> 03:22:29,840
Simply, I believe as an incumbent may feel better about running in one election or another, one November or another.

2348
03:22:30,160 --> 03:22:33,260
Spring versus autumn, yet my argument still maintains its footing.

2349
03:22:33,880 --> 03:22:41,040
Voting for this proposal, two degree places the preferences of elected officials over the will of the voters.

2350
03:22:42,320 --> 03:22:48,620
We as elected official on occasion must sacrifice our own inclinations, and I believe this to be one of those instances.

2351
03:22:49,400 --> 03:22:56,360
Therefore, I do believe it is improper for council to consider this charter amendment and proposal on the grounds that our preference is void.

2352
03:22:57,660 --> 03:22:59,720
There are some other things to consider.

2353
03:23:00,320 --> 03:23:08,380
The Senate bill 1157 was mentioned, and it was cited publicly by the patron that the pure legislative intent was for

2354
03:23:08,380 --> 03:23:11,720
this bill to be tied into the federal cycle.

2355
03:23:12,380 --> 03:23:14,180
Councilmember Helgeson brings up a good point.

2356
03:23:14,940 --> 03:23:19,460
We would need 24 Democrats to go along with the Republican majority in the House,

2357
03:23:19,840 --> 03:23:25,540
and potentially 30 years, I'm fudging my mouth, so I apologize.

2358
03:23:25,700 --> 03:23:29,400
We would need 30 senators to agree that that is the right course of action.

2359
03:23:31,890 --> 03:23:37,710
Knowing this past 19 to 19 or 20 to 20 in the Senate this last year,

2360
03:23:37,710 --> 03:23:43,530
with the tie-breaking vote being the lieutenant governor, and only one Republican voting in favor.

2361
03:23:44,070 --> 03:23:49,050
I do not see the chances of this getting through the General Assembly at all.

2362
03:23:51,280 --> 03:23:56,180
It is profoundly doubtful, and again, the proposal would be contrary to the previous actions of the General Assembly.

2363
03:23:57,340 --> 03:24:02,420
The numbers don't lie, and I will concede maybe the terminology voter suppression should not be used.

2364
03:24:02,420 --> 03:24:05,160
But the data is still valid.

2365
03:24:08,400 --> 03:24:14,420
The ward cycles in their current iteration, combined with presidential US Senate or

2366
03:24:14,420 --> 03:24:19,340
House of Representatives, would have a total turnout on average of about 35,000, which

2367
03:24:19,340 --> 03:24:20,220
was previously mentioned.

2368
03:24:20,600 --> 03:24:25,120
For at-large in their current iteration, which would be the US Senate and House of Representatives,

2369
03:24:25,560 --> 03:24:28,420
in the midterms, so to speak, is approximately 22,000.

2370
03:24:29,680 --> 03:24:46,760
The proposed cycles would have turnout for award elections, which would then be the very special time of the cycles where it's the Virginia House of delegates and the Senate on the same ballot, historical data of the city has turnout of approximately 10,000.

2371
03:24:47,100 --> 03:24:55,920
I do realize that's cut between four different seats, two House of delegates and two Senate seats, and that's wrong, hopefully it's remedied in the future.

2372
03:24:55,920 --> 03:24:59,740
but that's the historical trend that we have to look at with the data.

2373
03:25:01,000 --> 03:25:04,360
Similarly, at large would be the governor and House of Delegates race,

2374
03:25:04,740 --> 03:25:09,220
which, if you put all the numbers together, is approximately 18,000 voters.

2375
03:25:09,940 --> 03:25:12,620
This election was different, incredibly high turnout.

2376
03:25:13,400 --> 03:25:16,680
I do think, to degree, this election was a bit of an anomaly.

2377
03:25:18,200 --> 03:25:21,920
Adopting this proposal with this data in mind is moving forward with a policy

2378
03:25:21,920 --> 03:25:28,460
that has associated data indicating lower turnout and avoiding the term suppression,

2379
03:25:29,180 --> 03:25:37,740
that would be an argument or a stance we're taking that does adopt lower turnout.

2380
03:25:37,980 --> 03:25:39,880
And that is something I am not comfortable with.

2381
03:25:41,000 --> 03:25:45,720
One other thing that Jeff did mention that I do want to go into a little bit more detail with.

2382
03:25:46,360 --> 03:25:51,220
The proposed cycles would place at large seats in the same elections that we just voted in.

2383
03:25:51,220 --> 03:25:53,880
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, House of Delegates,

2384
03:25:54,020 --> 03:25:57,720
Commonwealth Attorney, Trevor, Commissioner of the Revenue, and Sheriff.

2385
03:25:59,320 --> 03:26:02,600
One year, there was over nine candidates for at-large.

2386
03:26:03,860 --> 03:26:09,400
Now, if the argument was, and is, that it is too confusing, and too much for

2387
03:26:09,400 --> 03:26:15,200
the voter to sift their way through, the presidential cycle, the House of Representatives, and so on,

2388
03:26:15,900 --> 03:26:20,640
how does that then line up to say it is more proper to get all of those folks

2389
03:26:20,640 --> 03:26:22,780
on to one ballot in this iteration.

2390
03:26:23,440 --> 03:26:26,420
That logic, to my understanding, does not make sense.

2391
03:26:27,940 --> 03:26:34,220
Surely this is far more convoluted and complex and less favorable compared to having council

2392
03:26:34,220 --> 03:26:36,440
elections stay with federal ones.

2393
03:26:37,440 --> 03:26:41,740
I'd finally, I do conclude it is wrong to adopt this proposal and will continue to vote

2394
03:26:41,740 --> 03:26:47,840
no on principal, data, and requirements for it to pass enrichment considering their previous

2395
03:26:47,840 --> 03:26:48,280
actions.

2396
03:26:51,530 --> 03:26:55,050
We don't necessarily know what other communities are doing.

2397
03:26:58,430 --> 03:27:10,330
Have we gotten a commitment from anyone in our delegation, including my boss, which I have been very transparent from the get go on this, saying I will advise him and tell him whatever he needs to be successful.

2398
03:27:10,570 --> 03:27:16,390
And if he determines he wants to take this bill on, that's his decision and I will not influence him one way or the other.

2399
03:27:16,390 --> 03:27:21,170
That being said, that is something that this Council may move forward with, and we don't

2400
03:27:21,170 --> 03:27:25,850
only have to have a verbal commitment to move forward with, and that presents problems

2401
03:27:25,850 --> 03:27:33,130
with the success of this proposal. So, those are my thoughts, my comments. I will vote

2402
03:27:33,130 --> 03:27:40,270
accordingly, and I want to say, I think this evening was a good representation of how our

2403
03:27:40,270 --> 03:27:46,310
community, you can come out, have respectful dialogue of, I guess, public policy 101.

2404
03:27:46,810 --> 03:27:50,590
So, thank you everybody for coming out and thank my colleagues for your indulgence.

2405
03:27:51,190 --> 03:27:51,610
Thanks, Mary.

2406
03:27:51,970 --> 03:27:52,310
Did you know?

2407
03:27:53,130 --> 03:27:56,070
Well, I'll defer to Council on Tweeter, she would like to speak.

2408
03:27:56,710 --> 03:27:57,190
Thanks, my pleasure.

2409
03:27:58,130 --> 03:27:58,810
Thank you.

2410
03:27:59,030 --> 03:28:03,330
I was elected at large.

2411
03:28:03,770 --> 03:28:11,190
I was elected by Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, who identify with all of those

2412
03:28:11,190 --> 03:28:16,550
letters behind them because I know some of you know them, some of the viewing audience

2413
03:28:16,550 --> 03:28:21,750
knows them, and I know them. I've grown to know them on the boards I serve on. I've

2414
03:28:21,750 --> 03:28:28,170
grown to know them on the work that I do. And what's important to me is keeping Lynchburg

2415
03:28:28,170 --> 03:28:28,610
first.

2416
03:28:31,030 --> 03:28:36,470
No one wants to move to a town that's dying. No one wants to move to a town that

2417
03:28:36,470 --> 03:28:42,430
a council doesn't take bold decisive action to get the results that we do here in Lynchburg

2418
03:28:42,430 --> 03:28:44,550
We are the center of this region.

2419
03:28:45,910 --> 03:28:49,730
We can't shallow back from our responsibility

2420
03:28:50,770 --> 03:28:52,410
of being leaders in the region.

2421
03:28:53,150 --> 03:28:55,070
An environment for opportunity.

2422
03:28:55,570 --> 03:28:57,830
This is what's important to me in this decision.

2423
03:28:58,590 --> 03:29:00,430
The City of Lynchburg is rapidly growing

2424
03:29:00,430 --> 03:29:03,270
as Central Virginia's urban center for commerce and culture.

2425
03:29:03,730 --> 03:29:06,490
This is evident in our expanding diverse population,

2426
03:29:06,510 --> 03:29:09,130
our flourishing higher education institutions,

2427
03:29:09,590 --> 03:29:10,890
and our economic growth.

2428
03:29:10,890 --> 03:29:28,170
Read below, so obviously I'm reading from our city's economic development website, median age is 28.3 with 58% of the population age 34 and under 46.2% of the population have an associates or bachelor's degree or higher.

2429
03:29:28,170 --> 03:29:36,450
2020 population is 79,09, a 4.5% increase since 2010.

2430
03:29:37,310 --> 03:29:43,070
Lynchburg is projected to grow by 22% by 2040.

2431
03:29:46,560 --> 03:29:53,280
Largest employment sectors include healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and accommodation and food services.

2432
03:29:53,280 --> 03:29:59,700
Cost of living is 13.3% lower than the national average in average annual wages in

2433
03:30:04,080 --> 03:30:31,370
We are a hub and a draw for business, for people who want to move to this area, for people who send their students to our town. We provide services. I don't know of any council in the past several rotations of Lynchburg City Council, who have not supported public safety needs. I speak directly to that because we have made the commitment to our public safety police.

2434
03:30:31,370 --> 03:30:38,210
fire and 9-1-1 operators most recently particularly in the investment of a

2435
03:30:38,210 --> 03:30:41,130
public police building so

2436
03:30:43,530 --> 03:30:46,490
all of the councils that I've known since I've

2437
03:30:46,490 --> 03:30:52,590
lived here and that's been growing up here then becoming an adult raising a

2438
03:30:52,590 --> 03:30:59,630
family here and serving on almost 16-17 years of public service have always

2439
03:30:59,630 --> 03:31:05,450
is invested in the needs and the services of our locality. That's why we have growth.

2440
03:31:06,950 --> 03:31:15,570
So I am about the participation of voters who understand how we are growing. It's not

2441
03:31:15,570 --> 03:31:22,790
about voters not being educated. It's about voters often being misinformed. Provided with

2442
03:31:22,790 --> 03:31:29,090
misinformation, manipulative information because politics tends to rule the day. I

2443
03:31:31,590 --> 03:31:31,870
am in

2444
03:31:31,870 --> 03:31:38,570
agreement with this charter amendment presentation to our local delegation and I would also present

2445
03:31:38,570 --> 03:31:40,850
the same information to our local delegation.

2446
03:31:43,030 --> 03:31:49,390
Lynchburg has fared well for a number of years when the housing crisis of 2008 occurred.

2447
03:31:49,650 --> 03:31:50,750
Lynchburg fared well.

2448
03:31:52,250 --> 03:31:58,070
That's because there are people at the helm who put the investment and the economic growth

2449
03:31:58,070 --> 03:32:05,670
and the quality of life, and businesses locating here, our neighborhoods, our commerce at the forefront.

2450
03:32:07,170 --> 03:32:17,210
This year we had trash trucks that we had to send to Canada to have an arm put on, and do you know how many people complained about not having trash picked up?

2451
03:32:18,710 --> 03:32:22,670
But they don't understand that we have to send that to Canada to have it upgraded.

2452
03:32:22,670 --> 03:32:30,170
it. That's not our fault. The cost of rising cost of these services is not our

2453
03:32:30,170 --> 03:32:39,030
fault. We offered $5,000 recruitment bonuses for potential officers, veteran

2454
03:32:39,030 --> 03:32:45,290
experience. I'm a veteran. I'd love to hire more veterans and our police

2455
03:32:45,290 --> 03:32:50,750
force and throughout our public safety areas. But we have to be in a

2456
03:32:50,750 --> 03:32:57,510
attractive city. We have to be an attractive locality that puts the needs of our community

2457
03:32:57,510 --> 03:32:59,070
first versus the politics.

2458
03:33:01,470 --> 03:33:03,930
However, we got here, we didn't ask for it,

2459
03:33:06,690 --> 03:33:08,430
but it's our responsibility

2460
03:33:08,820 --> 03:33:11,730
to put forth the best foot for Lynchburg.

2461
03:33:16,310 --> 03:33:19,210
Elections, they affect sometimes what happens

2462
03:33:19,210 --> 03:33:24,480
in locality, but they're not sitting in these seats, talking to people and croakers and

2463
03:33:24,480 --> 03:33:30,580
grocery stores, going to school events, meeting each other at park events, helping each

2464
03:33:30,580 --> 03:33:32,600
other at university events.

2465
03:33:35,180 --> 03:33:39,800
So we got to keep the main thing, the main thing as someone used to say, and keep what's

2466
03:33:39,800 --> 03:33:40,860
important and important.

2467
03:33:42,360 --> 03:33:47,440
Civility matters, correct and truthful information matters.

2468
03:33:48,240 --> 03:33:56,810
Not using our airways for 30-second soundbites and rhetoric that does not fix the potholes

2469
03:33:56,810 --> 03:33:57,090
here.

2470
03:33:57,090 --> 03:33:57,710
I

2471
03:34:00,650 --> 03:34:06,110
am supporting the motion, but for all the reasons that I gave you on the growth of

2472
03:34:06,110 --> 03:34:11,690
Lynchburg, the continued growth of Lynchburg, we don't always agree or disagree on how we

2473
03:34:11,690 --> 03:34:18,070
get there, but I think the proof is in the numbers, and the proof is in the services, and

2474
03:34:18,070 --> 03:34:24,590
the proof is in how many folks are deciding intentionally to invest in Lynchburg and

2475
03:34:24,590 --> 03:34:26,930
property development, real estate development.

2476
03:34:26,930 --> 03:34:27,930
people

2477
03:34:30,110 --> 03:34:35,530
have been witness to the the projects we've approved that's jobs that's

2478
03:34:35,530 --> 03:34:37,150
taxes and

2479
03:34:40,610 --> 03:34:48,130
that helps provide services so I'm supporting it and you know I just

2480
03:34:48,130 --> 03:34:53,430
asked that the voters be informed about from whence we have come and where

2481
03:34:53,430 --> 03:34:59,810
we're going because rhetoric and politics don't get there coming to the table

2482
03:35:00,350 --> 03:35:08,910
deciding as a council, listening to constituents, and still making the decisions that we were voted in to do is what matters.

2483
03:35:17,140 --> 03:35:23,380
I think I'll defer the rest of my time, but if I hear something else great, I'll come back.

2484
03:35:23,760 --> 03:35:24,160
Thank you.

2485
03:35:36,220 --> 03:35:37,260
Thank you.

2486
03:35:37,260 --> 03:35:48,080
that you have given today. You know, as far as I'm concerned, I came in not really having a set

2487
03:35:49,160 --> 03:35:56,500
purpose as far as whether it's in this time or this time. For me, it doesn't make a difference

2488
03:35:56,500 --> 03:36:04,220
as far as that's concerned. My biggest concern for all of this is the election rhetoric that comes with

2489
03:36:04,220 --> 03:36:15,000
those national elections, it must be truthful, it must be transparent. For the month of November and before, I watched no television.

2490
03:36:16,260 --> 03:36:27,820
If I do, I watch Hallmark Channel. I cannot watch ABC any kind of morning news. I can't watch any news, period. I cut it off.

2491
03:36:27,820 --> 03:36:33,900
I listen, I read my Bible, and I don't do any news whatsoever, none.

2492
03:36:34,660 --> 03:36:39,960
Okay, when I see it come on, I cut it off, I have watched every hallmark Christmas special

2493
03:36:40,450 --> 03:36:45,440
they have on, and I'm being honest, I cannot tolerate it.

2494
03:36:46,160 --> 03:36:53,020
It's sickening to me, and even everything I'm so much has been said in on this note.

2495
03:36:53,020 --> 03:36:59,380
But whenever we allow politics and all the other issues to come to our community, it's

2496
03:36:59,380 --> 03:37:01,540
so damaging, it's so degrading.

2497
03:37:02,080 --> 03:37:07,980
If I can read you, some of the emails we get, and be honest, most of the time when we

2498
03:37:07,980 --> 03:37:14,900
get them, it comes from another constituent, another council member who sends out an email

2499
03:37:14,900 --> 03:37:18,840
or another person's email saying some information.

2500
03:37:19,700 --> 03:37:20,600
I've been...

2501
03:37:20,600 --> 03:37:21,660
Okay, let's...

2502
03:37:21,660 --> 03:37:23,080
Different information, okay?

2503
03:37:23,600 --> 03:37:25,500
Well, you've sent us on.

2504
03:37:25,680 --> 03:37:25,900
Okay.

2505
03:37:26,180 --> 03:37:28,580
I don't want to be seeing you.

2506
03:37:28,760 --> 03:37:29,320
Yeah, I want to see you.

2507
03:37:29,620 --> 03:37:30,420
Okay, I will.

2508
03:37:30,740 --> 03:37:30,860
Yes.

2509
03:37:31,300 --> 03:37:33,560
So, again, I've been called Communists.

2510
03:37:34,260 --> 03:37:34,960
I've been called...

2511
03:37:34,960 --> 03:37:35,980
I said, I'm a Communist.

2512
03:37:36,840 --> 03:37:41,260
It's just amazing how when you invoke all this rhetoric

2513
03:37:41,260 --> 03:37:44,220
into a local election, it's sickening to me.

2514
03:37:44,220 --> 03:37:50,660
That's why I do not want our election to be involved in so much negativity.

2515
03:37:51,500 --> 03:37:52,820
One thing I love our community.

2516
03:37:53,500 --> 03:37:55,260
It's a great place to live, work and play.

2517
03:37:55,620 --> 03:37:59,080
We talked to our early-day about the beef or cherries we have,

2518
03:37:59,560 --> 03:38:02,060
about the investment they have made in our community,

2519
03:38:02,440 --> 03:38:03,960
about all the great churches we have,

2520
03:38:04,360 --> 03:38:05,640
all the great synagogue we have,

2521
03:38:06,000 --> 03:38:06,900
all the way in place of love,

2522
03:38:07,140 --> 03:38:10,380
and we did a new campaign for the city about tourism,

2523
03:38:10,920 --> 03:38:12,560
the main thing they talked about was love.

2524
03:38:12,560 --> 03:38:20,000
love. That is the greatest gift we have as love. So we, I encourage us to get back to

2525
03:38:20,000 --> 03:38:23,940
that, show more love to another, regardless of your pillow cuff, fiction, affiliation

2526
03:38:23,940 --> 03:38:28,380
or whatever it is. I think we just need to get rid of that whole piece and get back to

2527
03:38:28,380 --> 03:38:34,200
us best for our citizens. So I'm moving, well, whenever we get to the motion, I'd rather

2528
03:38:34,200 --> 03:38:39,480
do it on off-year cycles because it gets more attention to the real issues that affect

2529
03:38:39,480 --> 03:38:40,660
our community. Thank you.

2530
03:38:40,660 --> 03:38:42,240
Madam Mayor, if I may respond very briefly.

2531
03:38:45,320 --> 03:38:46,820
Is it all right if I just come up in here?

2532
03:38:46,960 --> 03:38:47,200
Thank you.

2533
03:38:48,580 --> 03:38:49,760
Well, thank you, Council Member.

2534
03:38:50,180 --> 03:38:51,480
And thank you, Mr. Vassar.

2535
03:38:51,680 --> 03:38:56,100
You pointed out that November 11th is armistice day.

2536
03:38:56,220 --> 03:38:56,940
It's Veterans Day.

2537
03:38:57,180 --> 03:38:57,900
Thank you for your service.

2538
03:38:58,080 --> 03:39:00,900
Thank you, Council Member Tweetie for your service as a veteran.

2539
03:39:01,440 --> 03:39:04,360
Mr. Ball, Mr. Tuck, and the other veterans in the room.

2540
03:39:04,460 --> 03:39:05,280
Thank you very much.

2541
03:39:05,780 --> 03:39:06,760
And for that reminder.

2542
03:39:06,760 --> 03:39:14,600
And as I think Councilmember Helgison said, there are a lot of good points on either side,

2543
03:39:15,480 --> 03:39:16,360
on impeachable points.

2544
03:39:19,020 --> 03:39:26,200
And so I think it's important just to focus on what the question is before us and it's

2545
03:39:26,200 --> 03:39:31,540
that we need to decide to align local elections with federal elections or state elections,

2546
03:39:31,580 --> 03:39:33,420
which one is a natural fit.

2547
03:39:33,520 --> 03:39:35,000
We only get to choose one.

2548
03:39:35,000 --> 03:39:39,940
And I think it's really important that we're doing this here tonight.

2549
03:39:39,960 --> 03:39:45,500
Everybody here having this public hearing because there's really nothing more important than how we choose our representative.

2550
03:39:45,860 --> 03:39:48,000
So this is an important evening.

2551
03:39:49,300 --> 03:39:55,300
And of course, it's possible, as some of my colleagues have said that the legislators may not take this up.

2552
03:39:55,420 --> 03:39:58,180
It may not pass the legislature.

2553
03:39:58,640 --> 03:40:00,720
That's the reality, that may not happen.

2554
03:40:02,340 --> 03:40:07,680
But it's our obligation of course here tonight as a body, as representatives of the community

2555
03:40:07,680 --> 03:40:13,000
consider the options before us and make a decision and send it forward and if something

2556
03:40:13,000 --> 03:40:17,260
happens from that okay but if not that's also okay then we'll just revert to November

2557
03:40:17,260 --> 03:40:22,740
on the even years and I should point out that this change will not benefit any of the members

2558
03:40:22,740 --> 03:40:23,940
currently sitting here.

2559
03:40:24,660 --> 03:40:29,180
If any of us choose to run again, we will all have to run in even years.

2560
03:40:30,120 --> 03:40:32,940
So the next set of cycles would be on even years.

2561
03:40:33,960 --> 03:40:37,280
And then we would actually move over to odd years, okay.

2562
03:40:38,040 --> 03:40:39,020
So that's how it would work.

2563
03:40:39,220 --> 03:40:43,520
And then the next group of people would sit for three years, and then we would align with

2564
03:40:43,520 --> 03:40:44,220
odd year elections.

2565
03:40:44,280 --> 03:40:45,360
That's how it would go.

2566
03:40:46,200 --> 03:40:49,460
So nobody up here is going to be able to benefit from this change.

2567
03:40:49,460 --> 03:40:55,920
no masquerading there, nothing, as Dr. Carwell said, nothing nefarious as a foot, you know,

2568
03:40:56,000 --> 03:41:01,640
this was sort of forced upon us, but here's why I lean towards moving to align with state

2569
03:41:01,640 --> 03:41:07,540
elections and it's, so Council Member Nelson as many of you may know as a lawyer, he's

2570
03:41:07,540 --> 03:41:13,600
a very capable lawyer and you saw that tonight, he laid out the case very well for why I think

2571
03:41:13,600 --> 03:41:21,360
and get makes a lot of sense because primarily if we were to align local elections with federal

2572
03:41:21,360 --> 03:41:26,620
elections they will subsume, actually, and Dr. Wilder also illustrated, he watches the

2573
03:41:26,620 --> 03:41:29,860
home market channel for just that reason, but federal elections will subsume local elections.

2574
03:41:30,520 --> 03:41:37,140
We won't be able to talk about as vice mayor, former vice mayor, the former vice mayor said

2575
03:41:37,140 --> 03:41:40,440
that we won't be able to talk about potholes because we're talking about nationalized politics.

2576
03:41:40,440 --> 03:41:44,760
And there's an example of one member on that currently sits on his body.

2577
03:41:44,960 --> 03:41:49,840
So my colleague, Councilmember Faraday, talked about whether all of us receive the endorsement.

2578
03:41:49,960 --> 03:41:53,360
There's one, and for some members, that's true.

2579
03:41:53,680 --> 03:41:54,480
That is absolutely true.

2580
03:41:55,080 --> 03:41:58,060
Receive the endorsement of a party, whether they seek it or not.

2581
03:41:58,200 --> 03:42:01,180
Sometimes parties choose to offer it, sometimes candidates seek it.

2582
03:42:01,540 --> 03:42:05,940
But there's one member up here who is studiously avoided, very much so,

2583
03:42:06,300 --> 03:42:08,240
any kind of endorsement from anybody.

2584
03:42:09,160 --> 03:42:20,000
And this member also ran, yeah, Jeff does the way, and this member also ran, so this

2585
03:42:20,000 --> 03:42:22,780
member doesn't, I'm going to reveal who it is in a second if you don't already know,

2586
03:42:22,940 --> 03:42:24,860
but this member doesn't believe in campaign spending.

2587
03:42:25,680 --> 03:42:30,080
He just does not believe that you should spend money on elections, which is a principled

2588
03:42:30,080 --> 03:42:30,620
thing to do.

2589
03:42:30,760 --> 03:42:32,040
It's a principled stand to take.

2590
03:42:32,680 --> 03:42:35,020
I think most of us would like to see less money in politics.

2591
03:42:35,020 --> 03:42:45,800
And so, in the last election that this person ran in, they didn't spend, I don't think, a dime, not one dime on their election.

2592
03:42:45,960 --> 03:42:52,760
They ran because they are independent, they genuinely believe in serving Lynchburg first.

2593
03:42:53,440 --> 03:43:00,140
Not any kind of party, no obligations to anybody else, just what they think is the right thing to do for their citizens according to their conscience.

2594
03:43:00,140 --> 03:43:06,980
and look, I disagree with Council Member Nelson pretty frequently, but you can't question

2595
03:43:06,980 --> 03:43:14,580
his integrity as a leader for Lynchburg. And my worry in part is that if we move to sink

2596
03:43:14,580 --> 03:43:18,500
our elections with federal elections, the incentive structure, as he said, changes,

2597
03:43:18,940 --> 03:43:23,740
everybody has the incentive to run as a party, and you lose out on dedicated civil servants

2598
03:43:23,740 --> 03:43:29,580
like Council Member Nelson, who don't believe that you should have to choose between

2599
03:43:29,580 --> 03:43:30,380
right or left.

2600
03:43:30,560 --> 03:43:34,420
They just, local elections, they just want to do the right thing for Lynchburg.

2601
03:43:34,520 --> 03:43:38,360
They don't want to have to deal with all that other stuff that isn't helpful.

2602
03:43:39,200 --> 03:43:42,980
So, I'm in favor of moving it to the odd years.

2603
03:43:44,080 --> 03:43:45,160
Actually, I'll make the motion.

2604
03:43:45,160 --> 03:43:46,760
I don't actually think the motion is on the table.

2605
03:43:47,100 --> 03:43:50,140
So, I'll make it, but I want to thank my colleagues for the conversations.

2606
03:43:50,140 --> 03:43:51,100
It's been a really good one.

2607
03:43:51,100 --> 03:43:52,120
I'll second that.

2608
03:43:54,170 --> 03:43:55,950
Would you like to add anything to that?

2609
03:43:56,370 --> 03:44:05,870
I do address some of the specific counter-arguments, but I think that really wouldn't be productive in any way.

2610
03:44:06,690 --> 03:44:07,430
Thank you.

2611
03:44:12,020 --> 03:44:13,020
Council member for all.

2612
03:44:14,870 --> 03:44:16,370
I will never apologize.

2613
03:44:17,550 --> 03:44:25,310
Is this to any constituent in addressing them on matters before this council?

2614
03:44:25,310 --> 03:44:34,950
by any medium, email, media, social media, in person, over the phone.

2615
03:44:36,990 --> 03:44:40,630
And quite frankly, the notion of

2616
03:44:42,640 --> 03:44:46,540
imputing my reputation simply because you do not

2617
03:44:46,540 --> 03:44:50,740
like the content I put out is absurd.

2618
03:44:50,740 --> 03:44:59,410
If you listened to my comments this evening, it was respectful, full of data.

2619
03:45:00,050 --> 03:45:15,670
And principle. If you read my comments about anything I submit, there is nothing associated with the comments. I will continue. I know, and I have to. It's not your main to the motion. It absolutely is your main to the motion, Madam Chair.

2620
03:45:18,670 --> 03:45:32,290
I am not responsible for what any of these folks, any of our neighbors say, to you and what they call you. I cannot control that. I apologize. That that is where they go.

2621
03:45:33,590 --> 03:45:41,010
But the fact of the matter is, I will never, never stop communicating with a

2622
03:45:41,010 --> 03:45:46,070
constituency that elected me, also, by the way, in the campaign where I was

2623
03:45:46,070 --> 03:45:51,140
overly communicated with them. It is so unfortunate.

2624
03:45:51,180 --> 03:45:53,320
Council Member, I beg to differ with you.

2625
03:45:53,580 --> 03:45:59,720
Ma'am, I have the floor and I would like to respectfully submit that if you don't

2626
03:45:59,720 --> 03:46:03,720
like it, deal with it. Are you back?

2627
03:46:06,610 --> 03:46:07,190
Excuse me.

2628
03:46:07,370 --> 03:46:10,010
Madam Mayor. May I comment?

2629
03:46:11,350 --> 03:46:19,870
Thank you. I do agree with Councilmember Foralty with regard to the fact that we all

2630
03:46:19,870 --> 03:46:26,690
have a constituent base. We bring the sentiments and perspectives of that base to this Council.

2631
03:46:26,690 --> 03:46:39,210
And that perspective and that those sentiments may not coincide and be totally acceptable to those others of us who bring their separate bases.

2632
03:46:40,250 --> 03:46:54,590
But consistent with the message I first delivered tonight and that is that we need to hear dialogue among local constituents from local candidates, from local issues.

2633
03:46:54,590 --> 03:47:03,650
I would never want to stifle the expression of any of the seven of us who are elected to

2634
03:47:03,650 --> 03:47:09,690
represent our citizens. And to the extent that Council Member Faraldi is expressing the

2635
03:47:09,690 --> 03:47:17,890
fact that this is his settlement, constitutionally and ethically and practically. We need to be respectful

2636
03:47:17,890 --> 03:47:21,350
of what said, even if we don't agree with it. Thank you.

2637
03:47:22,820 --> 03:47:26,880
Okay, we have a motion on the floor and seconded.

2638
03:47:27,160 --> 03:47:28,740
We have another person to speak.

2639
03:47:31,020 --> 03:47:31,600
Oh, me.

2640
03:47:32,980 --> 03:47:34,100
Thank you, Madam Mayor.

2641
03:47:35,060 --> 03:47:43,860
You know, with this, I am very thankful, as the vice mayor stated, that we didn't arbitrarily

2642
03:47:43,860 --> 03:47:46,240
add another year on our terms.

2643
03:47:46,760 --> 03:47:47,800
That was before us before.

2644
03:47:48,340 --> 03:47:50,860
And it was because we had opposition.

2645
03:47:50,860 --> 03:47:55,900
I opposed it strongly, others opposed it strongly, we heard from lots of citizens that said

2646
03:47:55,900 --> 03:48:04,340
don't arbitrarily add another year term on your another year on your term, that's rotten.

2647
03:48:05,000 --> 03:48:10,340
So with that, I'm very thankful that dialogue happened that we heard from citizens that said

2648
03:48:10,340 --> 03:48:13,320
do not do that and that's why it's not before us today.

2649
03:48:13,920 --> 03:48:18,500
That was being presented to us before and I'm glad that was a shot down and I believe

2650
03:48:18,500 --> 03:48:26,400
eventually unanimously. As we're looking at this particular issue, we've heard of

2651
03:48:26,400 --> 03:48:32,580
vehement opposition from the electoral board that said don't change it to the

2652
03:48:32,580 --> 03:48:36,380
even year, which I was quite frankly surprised. A lot of times you see

2653
03:48:37,360 --> 03:48:41,340
partisanship issues that say hey do this because it benefits us or do this because it

2654
03:48:41,340 --> 03:48:51,760
fits us, the electoral board chairman raised a vehement opposition against this motion

2655
03:48:51,760 --> 03:48:52,560
that's on the floor.

2656
03:48:53,080 --> 03:48:58,500
Also, when I've heard about, talking about partisanship and the national elections,

2657
03:49:00,820 --> 03:49:07,160
apparently, lots of people shut off those ads just like, remember, Wilder, that when these

2658
03:49:07,160 --> 03:49:14,340
These ads come on, whether it be national or state, their partisanship, advertisements as

2659
03:49:14,340 --> 03:49:14,500
well.

2660
03:49:14,980 --> 03:49:18,900
So, if we're with the federal elections or the state elections, you're going to have

2661
03:49:18,900 --> 03:49:20,040
those same things.

2662
03:49:20,340 --> 03:49:28,080
So I think that's somewhat of a moot point and so I do hope that we'll vote this down,

2663
03:49:28,220 --> 03:49:28,920
this resolution.

2664
03:49:29,420 --> 03:49:36,300
I'm glad to have very good dialogue and Council Member for all the IM, glad to hear your

2665
03:49:36,300 --> 03:49:41,480
concerns in your points, and I do appreciate Councilmember Nelson saying that we can't just

2666
03:49:41,480 --> 03:49:47,360
arbitrarily say if somebody is talking about some completely different issue that you just

2667
03:49:47,360 --> 03:49:52,700
try to let them speak, but then if somebody is speaking about the issue that we try to silence

2668
03:49:52,700 --> 03:49:59,420
them, let's be fair, and let's all Councilmember speak, and we can have a divided vote, but

2669
03:49:59,420 --> 03:50:02,060
we can leave and be fine. So, thank you.

2670
03:50:07,400 --> 03:50:09,860
So we have a motion on a table, a second on a table.

2671
03:50:10,380 --> 03:50:14,380
I guess I didn't get it not going to speak, I was going to speak until you spoke, but

2672
03:50:15,360 --> 03:50:19,680
my decision to support this resolution is not whether or not it's going to be carried

2673
03:50:19,680 --> 03:50:20,220
to Richmond.

2674
03:50:21,660 --> 03:50:25,860
I'm sure it won't be carried to Richmond, but I'm going to support it for all of the reasons

2675
03:50:25,860 --> 03:50:32,460
that Councilmember Nelson, so clearly articulated I have a whole list here, but it's just a repetition

2676
03:50:32,460 --> 03:50:35,440
of what my other colleagues have said, so I'm not going to go through that.

2677
03:50:35,440 --> 03:50:38,060
So I'm going to just go ahead and call for the vote.

2678
03:50:42,940 --> 03:50:44,540
Motion passes five, too.

2679
03:50:45,060 --> 03:50:45,380
Thank you.

2680
03:50:48,170 --> 03:50:50,070
Next section is public comment.

2681
03:50:50,390 --> 03:50:53,230
During public comment, individual speakers have three minutes to speak.

2682
03:50:53,350 --> 03:50:55,690
And those representing a group have five minutes to speak.

2683
03:50:56,070 --> 03:51:00,490
Typically, city council takes comments made during the public comment section of the agenda,

2684
03:51:00,730 --> 03:51:01,450
under advisement.

2685
03:51:01,850 --> 03:51:05,050
And maybe for those concerns to the city manager for follow-up.

2686
03:51:05,670 --> 03:51:09,650
We're going to hear from a citizen regarding a concern, Mr. James Crawford.

2687
03:51:09,650 --> 03:51:13,690
and thank you so much for sitting through this whole evening

2688
03:51:13,690 --> 03:51:18,830
a long time log, games give you a good flavor, right?

2689
03:51:19,370 --> 03:51:22,430
Good afternoon, my name is James Crawford.

2690
03:51:23,190 --> 03:51:26,370
I'm a resident at Love 100 Buck Island Street,

2691
03:51:27,150 --> 03:51:29,370
which is a couple of houses up the street

2692
03:51:29,370 --> 03:51:32,290
from Love 14 Buck Island Street,

2693
03:51:32,530 --> 03:51:35,410
where they can build a new law set that might concern

2694
03:51:35,410 --> 03:51:46,270
tonight is safe. In the past, goes back to 2019, I have achieved the time that I've

2695
03:51:46,270 --> 03:51:51,230
called down to the police station for a long, different reason. Too much noise,

2696
03:51:51,530 --> 03:51:56,150
fighting, shooting, just like the time. So I'm asking you to cancel the numbers and

2697
03:51:56,150 --> 03:52:03,650
set a line for Kujal, please work with me and work with the city police to try

2698
03:52:06,290 --> 03:52:10,470
Thank you very much. I think if you leave here, I'm going to go over and say,

2699
03:52:10,650 --> 03:52:18,030
follow up with that. Thank you very much, and we certainly will follow up on that.

2700
03:52:22,280 --> 03:52:27,760
Next item is consideration of this general business, items in new business,

2701
03:52:28,220 --> 03:52:32,860
item consideration, introducing a resolution, approving a grant awarded to assist with

2702
03:52:32,860 --> 03:52:36,460
response to the infestation of the spotted lantern fly.

2703
03:52:36,900 --> 03:52:41,200
And we were briefed on this at our October 26th meeting

2704
03:52:41,200 --> 03:52:43,520
under business item briefings.

2705
03:52:46,650 --> 03:52:51,170
So just, well, I'm looking for a motion.

2706
03:52:51,270 --> 03:52:52,030
May I make the motion then?

2707
03:52:52,950 --> 03:52:53,450
Thank you.

2708
03:52:54,630 --> 03:52:55,310
Third second.

2709
03:52:55,830 --> 03:52:57,010
Thank you, any discussion?

2710
03:52:57,370 --> 03:52:59,110
Yeah, I'll just add that this is,

2711
03:52:59,570 --> 03:53:01,990
so we've already been briefed on this for the community.

2712
03:53:01,990 --> 03:53:11,510
And this is to accept a grant of, I believe, it's $20,000 to, is that right?

2713
03:53:13,070 --> 03:53:18,630
To assist with the eradication of the spotted lantern fly, which is an invasive species,

2714
03:53:21,490 --> 03:53:23,790
and so it's all around a good thing.

2715
03:53:23,970 --> 03:53:25,950
We're just taking money to do some good stuff with it.

2716
03:53:27,980 --> 03:53:28,340
Okay.

2717
03:53:28,340 --> 03:53:29,600
Okay, any other comments from board?

2718
03:53:30,540 --> 03:53:31,380
No, I just want to comment.

2719
03:53:31,500 --> 03:53:31,900
I'm sorry.

2720
03:53:32,500 --> 03:53:33,340
No, just from comments.

2721
03:53:33,680 --> 03:53:34,380
Comments from comments.

2722
03:53:34,900 --> 03:53:38,980
Not very good thing for the spotted fly that's getting

2723
03:53:38,980 --> 03:53:39,800
now on this, but.

2724
03:53:40,060 --> 03:53:40,700
That for the fly.

2725
03:53:40,940 --> 03:53:41,460
That for the fly.

2726
03:53:41,520 --> 03:53:42,020
That for the fly.

2727
03:53:42,620 --> 03:53:45,750
Any other comments?

2728
03:53:47,410 --> 03:53:48,030
Coffee's both.

2729
03:53:48,770 --> 03:53:49,250
Cash's both.

2730
03:53:51,130 --> 03:53:55,170
Motion passes 70 to approve the grant.

2731
03:53:58,080 --> 03:54:00,660
Second item, consideration of adopting an ordinance

2732
03:54:00,660 --> 03:54:03,240
to change the main general elections to November

2733
03:54:03,240 --> 03:54:05,520
to ensure compliance with Virginia law.

2734
03:54:10,350 --> 03:54:11,170
Let's have both.

2735
03:54:11,230 --> 03:54:13,430
I was going to say Madam Mayor would recall

2736
03:54:13,430 --> 03:54:15,430
that this is something we are doing

2737
03:54:15,890 --> 03:54:17,490
to ensure we're in compliance

2738
03:54:18,070 --> 03:54:20,010
with the Department of State Elections

2739
03:54:20,010 --> 03:54:21,470
while we wait and see what happens

2740
03:54:21,470 --> 03:54:22,470
with the charter amendment.

2741
03:54:22,830 --> 03:54:24,270
Thank you, I want the public to.

2742
03:54:24,650 --> 03:54:24,790
Yes.

2743
03:54:25,230 --> 03:54:26,630
And I have a motion.

2744
03:54:27,530 --> 03:54:27,870
Move a little.

2745
03:54:28,090 --> 03:54:28,310
Second.

2746
03:54:29,450 --> 03:54:30,350
Any comments?

2747
03:54:30,890 --> 03:54:31,070
No.

2748
03:54:31,110 --> 03:54:31,430
I'm sorry.

2749
03:54:32,110 --> 03:54:33,410
You have to do this with the state.

2750
03:54:33,410 --> 03:54:35,950
I know we have to do it to comply with the state law.

2751
03:54:36,330 --> 03:54:37,250
So this is the public.

2752
03:54:39,350 --> 03:54:40,010
I'm sorry.

2753
03:54:40,270 --> 03:54:40,510
I'm sorry.

2754
03:54:41,290 --> 03:54:42,250
I seconded it.

2755
03:54:42,430 --> 03:54:43,230
We don't have a choice.

2756
03:54:43,730 --> 03:54:44,170
Right.

2757
03:54:44,430 --> 03:54:46,590
That's not probably.

2758
03:54:47,230 --> 03:54:51,930
I was just going to clarify the six-months extension here is what came down from Richmond

2759
03:54:51,930 --> 03:54:52,330
from this.

2760
03:54:52,450 --> 03:54:54,310
So this is definitely in line with the legislation.

2761
03:54:55,710 --> 03:54:56,150
Okay.

2762
03:54:56,390 --> 03:55:01,150
And just so it can be clear, I think our city attorney was describing it and kind of

2763
03:55:01,150 --> 03:55:02,190
cut off short a little bit.

2764
03:55:02,190 --> 03:55:05,390
Can you describe this a little bit more clearly?

2765
03:55:05,750 --> 03:55:10,730
This has nothing to do with changing or charter, even though it's stated in here.

2766
03:55:11,110 --> 03:55:12,210
Please describe it again.

2767
03:55:12,950 --> 03:55:13,870
That's having us, it's me.

2768
03:55:14,250 --> 03:55:15,290
Sure, I'd be happy to.

2769
03:55:15,510 --> 03:55:23,710
So, recently in the 2021 session, the General Assembly had passed, I believe it's 15.2-1400,

2770
03:55:23,710 --> 03:55:33,830
which required really all local elections to be in line with general elections.

2771
03:55:34,370 --> 03:55:40,530
That was really left open to interpretation as relates to the definition of general election.

2772
03:55:40,630 --> 03:55:47,910
It wasn't specific to presidential or the immediate following election, but that is the terminology that was used.

2773
03:55:48,890 --> 03:55:58,810
That being said, as Council recalls, it chose as a body with exceptions noted to seek a charter amendment.

2774
03:55:59,330 --> 03:56:11,290
With that charter amendment, it would alter the terms for the years 2022 and 2024 to be for three years,

2775
03:56:11,290 --> 03:56:17,890
which would then end up in an odd year cycle if it's approved by the General Assembly.

2776
03:56:18,270 --> 03:56:28,790
So really, as I'd stated before, adopting this un-conified ordinance is in preparation of those elections that are coming up in 2022 and 2024.

2777
03:56:29,610 --> 03:56:40,970
So when it's something we have to have in place, because the Department of Elections and our Registrar needs to begin the process of preparing for those elections, even though we may or

2778
03:56:40,970 --> 03:56:44,610
may not have the charter amendment adopted by the General Assembly.

2779
03:56:45,730 --> 03:56:46,750
I hope that helps.

2780
03:56:47,590 --> 03:56:53,970
So regardless of the charter amendment, we have got to change the elections from May to November.

2781
03:56:55,250 --> 03:56:58,190
Yes, based on that new legislation, that's correct.

2782
03:56:58,490 --> 03:57:02,810
So this has nothing to do with what we voted to, five to two, just a moment ago.

2783
03:57:03,650 --> 03:57:08,050
Well, it's related, but it's a separate action that's correct.

2784
03:57:08,050 --> 03:57:08,850
It's

2785
03:57:12,180 --> 03:57:14,400
really changing the May of November to the months.

2786
03:57:14,660 --> 03:57:19,060
This only is the May to November not the seeking the charter transfer.

2787
03:57:19,840 --> 03:57:19,980
Yes.

2788
03:57:21,620 --> 03:57:23,160
So we have.

2789
03:57:23,380 --> 03:57:23,560
Yes.

2790
03:57:25,280 --> 03:57:25,520
Okay.

2791
03:57:27,560 --> 03:57:32,160
I was just going to say, I did say we don't have a choice.

2792
03:57:32,740 --> 03:57:39,760
And that choice that we don't have results in our regular May elections being conducted in

2793
03:57:39,760 --> 03:57:47,080
In the general election in the November, in the year in which we are next scheduled to be elected.

2794
03:57:47,280 --> 03:57:53,620
And that would be the first of those would be next year, which would affect three at large council members.

2795
03:57:54,600 --> 03:57:55,900
That's correct, there is no choice.

2796
03:57:56,320 --> 03:58:00,100
It's adoption, adoption of the ordinance or not, it's happened in November.

2797
03:58:00,540 --> 03:58:07,060
And because our terms previously had ended on June 30th, because the election occurs in November,

2798
03:58:07,760 --> 03:58:11,620
the terms of those three are going to be extended to the end of December.

2799
03:58:12,080 --> 03:58:12,400
Yes, sir.

2800
03:58:12,480 --> 03:58:15,880
Otherwise, we'll have only four council members of six months.

2801
03:58:16,040 --> 03:58:16,400
That's right.

2802
03:58:18,650 --> 03:58:21,870
So, if we don't adopt that, we'll only have four council members for six months.

2803
03:58:23,090 --> 03:58:26,730
Well, I mean, you have to have someone else.

2804
03:58:27,310 --> 03:58:30,290
That now you bring a whole new dynamic here.

2805
03:58:30,750 --> 03:58:31,530
Council member Nelson.

2806
03:58:31,530 --> 03:58:32,030
That's it? Let's hope?

2807
03:58:32,390 --> 03:58:32,590
Yeah.

2808
03:58:33,630 --> 03:58:35,210
That's it. Let's hope.

2809
03:58:35,390 --> 03:58:37,430
I can't give up. Please, thank you.

2810
03:58:37,910 --> 03:58:38,850
Oh, gosh.

2811
03:58:39,410 --> 03:58:41,030
Welcome back to 7-0.

2812
03:58:41,750 --> 03:58:43,690
That is all we have this evening.

2813
03:58:44,030 --> 03:58:45,290
You are adjourned.