We have an indication by Vice Mayor Dr. Miller, followed by a pledge of allegiance, actually want to please say.
Let's pray your Lord, since the start of 2023, there have been over 30 mass slangs, hundreds of men, women, and particularly children who died.
What are we doing wrong?
This is not on you, Lord. This is not on our children. This is on us. We're failing our children. We're failing ourselves. We can produce vaccines to save millions. We can put astronauts on the moon.
All these things we're able to do, but we can't seem to control our anger.
What can we do, Lord?
We must work together.
We can work together, save our planet, return this garden, return our planet to the
garden of Eden.
And find peace in our lifetime.
The power of prayer is all powerful.
As is your saving grace and your forgiveness, we implore you to help us find our way.
I mean, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
I want to say good evening to those of you who are here in the chambers.
We welcome you here. Those of you who are viewing us by River City TV. We say good evening to you and those of you who are in your homes.
We want to say good evening.
Council will under the consideration of approval.
It's much of a pleasure.
Councilor Barker.
Man, I can make a motion that we approve the minutes as presented.
Second, I can have Councilman Mayo.
Discussion of the motion.
Madam quick, if you would call the roll, please.
Mr. Buckner.
All right.
Mr. Hood.
All right.
Mayor Jones.
Mr. Mayor.
Vice Mayor Miller.
Mr. Saunders.
Mr. Robler.
Mr. Will.
Consideration of vacating the right away at Ann Bird Court in Harrow Way Lane.
I open the public here and anyone desires to speak on this agenda item may come forward
at this time.
Anyone who desires to speak on this agenda item may come forward at this time.
Please state your name.
You address for the record and good evening to you, sir.
David May.
City Council members.
Thank you.
John Stiltoner.
You can give that microphone up for us, so we're about to get you very good.
Thank you.
John Stilner with Lamark Development for O-1, East Worse-Free,
Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
I appreciate being here today.
I am here to ask for the abandonment or the vacation right away on
Ceilin Drive for the Ceilin Valley Apartments, which was awarded last year,
and reasoned last year for 52 senior living units over next to the
panel, housing authority, we've partnered with and here to answer any questions.
Everything's moving pretty good with designs, got ourselves really excited by getting
the project going and this is one of the steps that we have to take to keep it moving forward.
Thank you so much for being any questions?
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
We're sending public hearing, anyone who's not speaking on this agenda item may come forward
at this time.
We're still in public hearing, anyone who's not speaking on this agenda item may come forward
this time.
I close the public here in Casman of Ogler.
Yes, Mayor, I move we adopt an ordinance vacating approximately 1.42 acres of unimproved public right away identified as Ann Bird, Court, and Harroway Lane.
Second by Councilman Campbell, discussion of the motion.
Madam Clerk, if you would call the roll please.
Reverend Campbell?
Mr. Hood?
I've stayed.
May your Jones?
Hold on, Councilman, who have reached the statement?
I, Brian Hood, do hear by state that I have a conflict of interest regarding the consideration
of an ordinance vacating approximately 1.42 acres of unimproved public right of way identified
as Anne Bird Court and Harold Way Lane listed on agenda as new business item 1.
Item A, I'm sorry, therefore, pursuant to the state and local government conflict of interest
Virginia code 2.2-3112.
I must abstain from voting on this agenda item.
Mayor Jones?
I'll answer the Jones through here by state that I have a conflict of interest regarding the consideration of an ordinance vacating approximately 1.42.
Acres on improved public right away.
I identify this amber court and how are we laying listed on the agenda's new business item A.
Therefore, pursuing to the state and local government conflict of interest like Virginia code 2.23112.
I must abstain from vote on this agenda item.
Mr. Mayor?
Aye.
Vice Mayor Miller?
Aye.
Mr. Song.
Mr. Vogel? Aye.
Mr. Wood?
Mr. Buckner?
Aye.
Consider some special use permit.
At 2.5.2.
Lipton Lane, Part Cell 5.6147.
To allow short-term rental as principal use,
I open the public here in anyone's sole desires.
As we go, this agenda item may come forward to this time.
Anyone decides to speak on this agenda item may come forward to this time.
Please take your name and address for the record. Good evening to you, sir. My name is Quincey Petite and I am out of
Charlotte, North Carolina, 70, the one in the current way. This is a property that I've owned and I've just
brushed it up and I would like to turn into an Airbnb for a usage. Thank you. Thank you any questions?
Thank you so much for being here. We're still in public here and anyone has desires to be
going to this agenda either may come forward at this time. Anyone else who desires please
state your name and address what I'm good evening to you man.
Good evening.
My name is Dolores Tate and I'm just this is not I guess only I but we cannot hear back
here what's being said everything is going this way is there something that can be done
about that.
Yes we'll get everyone to speak directly into council put your microphones directly in.
We're still in the public hearing anyone decides to speak on this agenda either may
for this time. Thank you. I'll take me some more. Thank you so much. Anyone
does I speak on this agenda? If not, if we get too loud, let's know.
I
close the public here in Councillor Mr. Plaza, Councillor Vogueler. Yes, Mayor, I
moved. We adopted an ordained screening special use permit application, PZ23001-825 by
So, Lairdus Enterprises LLC, requesting a special use permit to operate a short-term rental at Parcel ID 5-6-147, which is 2-5-2-litton lane in accordance with Article 3-E, Section C, item 29.
Second by Councilman Campbell, discussion of the motion.
Madam, Councilman Vogler.
Who's here to, because we got several of these.
You can handle them, can't I know we're going to have several of these tonight. I just
yes, our plane director Renee Burton is here who can help answer that question. We got a full
house tonight.
I just want to make sure that I'm reading everything in the packet right before we
vote a so plan and commission to prove this five zero correct and I think 27 notices were sent
to surrounding property owners of the 27, and they only had five who are opposed. That's right.
Yes.
And staff has recommended approval for this as well.
That's right.
Thank you.
Thank you, anyone else?
Thank you, Willie.
Madam, Clerk of you, we'll call the roll, please.
Mr. Hood.
Hi.
Mayor, Mr. Mayo.
Vice Mayor Miller.
Hi.
Mr. Saunders.
Mr. Vowgler.
Hi.
Mr. Whittle.
Mr. Buckner.
If you're in the back, and this is too loud for you, just raise your hand, I can let
out techno to turn it down.
Under item C, consideration of a special use permit at 54 Glent Oak Drive, Part Cell 55396,
to allow short term rental as principle use, I open the public here in any one so desires
to speak on this agenda item may come forward at this time.
Please state your name and your address for the record and good evening to you, sir and ma
'am.
Mr. and Derek Adams, we're at 117 Woodstock Way in Windsor Heights.
We're requesting a special use permit for 54 Glenoke to do a short-term rental.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you both for being here.
We're still in public here, and anyone has to decide to speak on this agenda item may come forward at this time.
Anyone has to decide to speak on this agenda item may come forward at this time.
I close the public here in Casman Buckner.
Now I'd like to make a motion that we approve in ordnance, granting a special use permit application,
BZ23-00189, followed by DM Woodstock Enterprise LLC, requesting a special use permit to operate a short term rental,
at parcel ID number 5, 5, 3, 9, 6, but are known as 54 Glent Oak Drive and accordance with Article 3, E, Section C, item 29.
Second, that Councilman Mayo, Discussion of the Motion, Discussion of the Motion, Madam Corrective, if you would call the Robles.
Mayor Jones, Mr. Mayo, Vice Mayor Miller, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Robler, Mr. Whittle, Mr. Buckner, Reverend Campbell, Mr. Hood.
Consideration of a special use permit, 21 ash lawn drive, Perseparcel 53030, to allow short-term rental as principal use.
I open the public here in anyone so desires to speak on this agenda item may come forward this time.
Good evening to you, man. Please state your name. You address for the record points.
Jennifer Durham, 1155 sitting in hollow and I'm requesting to use a special short term special permit for 21 ash lawn.
Thank you so much for being here. Thank you so much. We're still in public here and anyone
decides to speak on this agenda item may come forward this time. Anyone else who
decides to speak on this agenda item may come forward this time?
I close the public in Councilman Buckner.
Mayor, like to make a motion, we approve an ordinance granting a special use permit application.
PZ2300195, followed by for tous investments LLC, requesting a special use permit to
operator short term rental at parcel ID number 53030, better known as 21 Ashland Drive,
and accordance with Article 3E, Section C, item 29.
Second, my Councilman Campbell, discussing of the motion.
Councilman Vogler.
Renee, you can give me a head, not if you want.
41 notices, one out, I'm seeing four, opposed out of 41, not correct.
And again, unanimous approval from the Planning Commission, correct.
All right, thank you.
Thank you.
Anyone else?
Dr. Miller.
That's a question, Renee.
A short-term rental definition is up to 30 days by our statutes.
That's correct.
Greater than 18 hours less than 30 days.
Great.
So it has to, it can't be under 18 hours.
That's correct.
Thank you.
Thank you, Renee.
Anyone else?
Thank you, Renee.
Mine will put a call to roll please.
Mr. Mayor?
All right. Vice-Mayor Mill.
Mr. Saunders.
Aye. Mr. Bogler. Aye. Mr. Whittle. Aye. Mr. Buckner. Aye.
Reverend Campbell. Aye. Mr. Hood. Aye. Mayor Jones.
Aye. Consideration of a special use permit at 162 college avenue,
partial 21264, to allow short term rental as principal use.
I open the public here in anyone so desires to speak on this agenda item.
come forward at this time if there are any parties with you please stand at this once you make
your presentation. Good evening to you sir. Good evening. My name is Patrick San Miguel,
resident in homeowner of 162 college Avenue. I recently moved into Danville back in January as I've
been assigned to work here in the foreseeable future of working on the casino as a project manager.
By only me, I had purchasing clothes on this beautiful property with plants to renovate and
to revitalize the century old home and eventually utilize the ex of bedrooms to host families
and professionals traveling to Dandel while I reside here.
To do so, I was advised by zoning that a special use permit is required even if this
helmet is my primary residence and so I did.
When I stood before the city planning commission on July 10th, I was informed of the concerns
for my neighbors with regards to turning my home into a short-term rental.
While some concerns were typical due to the perceived nature of short-term rentals, others were specific to the location and existing issues in such as parking.
Regardless, all were fair concerns that need to be addressed.
Therefore, I've sent letters to all my neighbors along college, to give them a better understanding of mine.
I want to read the whole thing, but I would like to read some of the excerpts from that letter.
Several weeks ago, when again last week, you received notices from this city stating that I am requesting
a special use permit to allow short-term rental as principal use of my home.
While I did apply for the permit, I found that the verbiage is a bit misleading and inconsistent with why intent to do.
I can understand and certainly appreciate the concerns that were raised by the residents of this neighborhood, when these notices went out.
First and foremost, I would like to make it very clear that I have no desire to turn my home into a motel for anyone and everyone to simply book and stay.
The primary use of this home is and will remain as my primary residents while I reside here in Dandel.
I am responsible for my guests, just as much as everyone else in this neighborhood is responsible for theirs.
When I purchased this home in Nurli May, I spent that month moving in, renovating and furnishing my new century old home.
It was a fun and challenging renovation project that I took on while also making a concerted effort in preserving its timeless Victorian charm.
A fine completion, I decided to take advantage of the extra bedrooms by hosting traveling guests and families while I live here.
But Memorial Day weekend, I listed my home as a three-bedroom rental with a maximum occupancy of six adults on Airbnb and VRBO.
This is only for a single reservation at a time, as I do not intend on renting each room separately.
In total, this is a five-bedroom home. However, I do occupy the fourth bedroom, and I turn the fifth bedroom into an entertainment group with a pool table.
I understand that doing this was premature as the entire permit process had not yet been completed.
However, the permitting process is neither cheap nor easy.
As I mentioned during the City Planning Commission public hearing,
I had to be sure that I myself felt safe in what I'm doing
and can cater only to the right demographics of guests to invite to my home.
Otherwise, I would not be continuing this process.
I have invested a lot of time to sweat and savings in this home
and I am truly proud of what I have accomplished with it.
Therefore, I have no desire to invite guests who will disrespect my home and neighborhood.
All my guests today have left my home extremely clean, dishes washed, trash taken out and placed in a trash bin.
On all occasions, no guests have brought more than two cars.
I certainly recognize the existing challenge with parking on college avenue,
and do not wish to exacerbate it by adding more cars and traffic from a single household every different time.
To remain consistent with average of two cars per household industry,
I intend to enforce the maximum guest in two car parking capacity as I greet my guests when they check in or as I pass through my security camera when they enter if I'm not home
I've also made a range mode of friends and a fellow host in Danville for me to stay in their homes on nights when my homes book
So I won't have to park my car at home when I have guests
Please register sure that parking for my guests is limited to my driveway and the street part street parking directly in front of my house
On days when I do not have guests, I continue to make the street parking directly in front of my house available for my neighbors and with their guests to use.
Based on this trial period, I anticipate my home to be booked only 8-13 nights per month on average, mainly on weekends.
This is assuming I make every night available at a given month.
However, I do block off certain days so allow my family and friends to visit me here at dental.
My naively rate for this home is now cheap, coupled with the added taxes fees of flat rate
cleaning fees, this pricing deterrence people who are just looking for a cheap place to stay
for a night from booking.
Instead I've been able to host families and respectable working professionals.
I do not wish to profit from this home at the expense of the safety of my neighbors.
Through my listening strategies and selective process I expect to make just enough from
for guests, to help recoup some of what I had invested in this home, continue to provide routine
professional maintenance and cleaning services and safer future renovations that I will need.
After issuing this letter, I receive a few responses from neighbors, voicing their support
and appreciation for clarifying my intent. One of those responses came from a neighbor who originally
wrote a lengthy opposition response to my application. I emphasize the fact that this home is my
residents because in the short-term rental world this is an important distinction that
makes a big difference in the quality of guests and how the home and surrounding areas are
treated by both the older and guests. In terms of street condition, college Avenue is a bit
narrower than usual and parking can be hard to come by if there are more than two or three
cars per household. However, this has been a long issue long, this has been an issue long before
parking than what each of my neighbors and I are already allotted.
Approving or denying my application will not change or resolve this issue.
Instead, I would petition for street improvements such as
driving and curb markings to identify parking locations so that all cars can
park on the street more efficiently and avoid blocking fire hydrants.
I would petition for added street signage and speed limits and speed bumps
to ensure that cars are driving with caution.
Hopefully, the transient taxes collected from my home can contribute to funding these improvements.
I'm a civil engineer graduate and construction manager by profession.
I'm a real estate investor and developer.
My goal is to enhance my community and not tear it down for quick profits.
Just like all of you, I have a very strong optimism for the growth of this beautiful city
and I am always eager to find meaningful solutions and compromise.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Thank you so much.
We still have part of the key or any one else
designed to speak on this agenda either may come forward this time.
Please state your name for the record.
I was David Gleuth here at 119, 119 College Avenue,
from one entrepreneur to another, I like the idea,
just not in our neighborhood.
That house did not need to be revitalized,
or there's no big reimagining for that home,
because that was my aunt and uncle's home,
which he moved in.
I think he just stated as being a real estate developer.
that's what he's doing. So, the parking issue with the kids, pets, the narrowness, yes,
the fire hydrants, I walk, I do a lot of my cardio, fitness stuff at night, when everybody's
asleep. I've had so many, I didn't even know what was going on, why so many cars I didn't know
were coming in the neighborhood, 10, 11, 12, one o'clock in the morning, now I know. So, I'm not
for this at all, and there's no way we can house it. That home is just a family home. I'm
sure how that would even be appropriate and we're talking I think on the letter he put in our mail box
was used 11 times already. So this is sort of coming after the fact asking for forgiveness but there's that
model this has been planned this is not some by accident thing he knew what he was doing and I had no clue
I'm not nothing against him but our our neighborhoods is not suitable for that we we are super tight here.
Well thank you for being let me do this those persons
those persons for the first speaker who
before, we'll actually please stand.
Those he said that was some for it, would you please stand?
Those of you are opposed, please stand.
Thank you all for being here.
Madam, back to you.
Thank you.
Hi, I'm Helen Harris, 172 strayed from place.
Homeowner for 36 and a half years.
I have most of my street is homeowners and friends,
and we look after each other.
They're five single women, right?
This will circle and we look after each other and I feel one should not be comfortable to have unknown as many as four men I heard coming in and out of the house at night.
I like to know who's next door to me and I don't go out that much at night but I want to feel safe when I do and come back in.
I'd like to ask the City Council members if you would like your mother or your sister to live next door to an Airbnb.
I'm saying this in the instance that it may happen on my street.
I would not be comfortable.
And my father was on City Council in the 60 and he helped me get this house 36 and half years ago.
And I know he would not like me living next door
where strange people go and in and out.
Thank you.
Thank you, ma'am, ma'am, ma'am, ma'am.
We're sitting in public here in any one of us.
Does that speak on this agenda?
I'd only come forward at this time, please go forward.
Good evening to you, ma'am.
Good evening.
I'm Nancy Sism, reside at 152, 156 College Avenue,
which next door to the said property.
I sent all of your emails this weekend.
Hopefully you got them in red.
So,
I have just a normal concerns, a safety matter, the street, emergency vehicles coming
in, noise, and the fact that this permit people become in any time night or day.
It's just not what our neighborhood is, and also the decline in our property value.
I mean people that moved to our neighborhood, they had a golden man moving up
keeping house that type thing which I'm sure he will do but he's only going to be here
two years. I'm very much opposed to a business operating such as this within 20
feet of my house when I look up, look out the door, there's a different face every day.
I think with motels and hotels I expect with zoning there's quite a bit of difference
in spacing there and basically this is what we're having.
Can you imagine running every 18 hours?
Basically different folks every 18 hours because if it's passed it's 18 hours to 30 days.
I met Mr McGuire, San McGuire, the middle of May, and at the time he told me he was here with Caesar's project that he would be here about two years and that he would be a way lots of weekends that his home was in Northern Virginia.
He bought this home as five bedroom home, but he advertised as three bedrooms with the fourth bedroom being his art personal space.
He's not that does not stay there when he has gearsed.
Another thing when asked at the last meeting that he won't see extra income that this would generate to help with this mortgage and expenses.
And frankly, we've all had mortgages to pay.
So then he said he needed the fourth.
He was just one person he did not need for bedrooms, but he borrowed it as five bedrooms.
So, with the city code for short-term rental, there was a guidelines for it.
The article is so forth, not sure what you call it.
But according to that, I read it to say no advertising or renting before approval
that you need a business license, that you have to register with the Commissioner of Revenue.
Not what the other criteria was.
But as the system your time is up, but I want to give you 30 more seconds.
Thank you. The applicant is violation of all of those, because he started running.
He moved in May 4th and started running Memorial Day weekend.
And he continued to run it till the middle of June, July 9th.
off and on, but the last 10 days before we were to plan a commission, it was July 4th
weekend to July 9th. It was rented.
Thank you so much for being here. Thank you.
Thank you. We're still in front of the key in any one of us.
As I speak on this agenda item, we come forward this time. Please state your name.
You address for the record. Good evening to you sir.
Good evening, my name is Ralph Hawkins. I live at 166 College Avenue.
College Avenue is one of the best streets in the city in my opinion, it's really a great place
to live. We live in really close proximity to each other on College Avenue, houses are within
just a few feet of each other as most of the folks have already mentioned. Very few of the residents
on College Avenue have private driveways and those that do have space for only one vehicle.
Most college avenue families have at least two cars and we share very limited on street parking.
The road is narrow and allows for one vehicle to pass through the cars parked on both sides of the street.
This proximity brings a great blessing in that we can get to know our neighbors really well,
but it also brings significant challenges.
And I would suggest that allowing 162 College Avenue a five-bedroom, three-bathroom house in the middle of the block to be established as a short-term rental would be not only inconvenient but also frustrating and dangerous for the current residents.
I would point out specifically five things that I'd like to ask the Council to consider
when they evaluate the specific application that we're looking at.
Number one is property damage.
As I mentioned, College Avenue is very narrow with room for just one card a pass between
the cars parked on both sides.
It's also a two-way street.
And we moved here in 2012 and residents on the street who have lived there over that time that we've lived there.
Everyone's aware of the caution that's necessary in navigating college Avenue.
And in the 11 years we've lived there. We've had four vehicles hit on the street.
And, excuse me, most of our neighbors have had at least one vehicle hit or sidestewite.
Just a constant challenge. And so increasing the traffic on the street by having visitors in a short term rental, we're going to have visitors who are distracted, looking for the short term rental. They're new to the area. They're unaware of the tight dimensions on the street. And so I would suggest that the risk of property damage is a big problem.
Lack of parking has been mentioned by several of the speakers, the residents, in most cases
have at least two cars and in many cases folks have a shared driveway or no driveway.
So two or more cars are parked in front of their house.
There's no extra parking on the street and there's really no way to accommodate the cars
that a large short-term rental would bring.
Number three, lack of driving space.
But the Hawking's your time is up, but I'm going to give you 30 more seconds.
There's lack of driving space on the street, I've already mentioned, danger to residents and
children from cars.
One of our children was actually hit several years ago on the road, but fortunately was
unheard.
And then finally I would mention danger to children from anonymous renters, very few of the
yards have enclosed yards and we have a family with a new baby across the street, a family
with five children, just up the street, children all up and down the street and having anonymous
renters.
Thank you for being here.
All right.
We're still in public here and anyone has decided to speak to on this agenda item,
make
come forward at this time.
Why she's coming forward.
Let me just thank all of you all for being here.
Everyone for being here tonight.
Ma'am, good evening to you.
Please state your name, address or the record.
Yes.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you tonight.
My name is Judith Turberville, and I live at 157 College Avenue right across the street from
the property in question, 162 College Avenue.
There are several things that concern me about this special use permit, which would change the
principle use of the home from a primary residence to a short-term rental property.
I spoke to Ms. Forten who told me that this designation is assigned to the property
that is to the land not to the property owner. So if the permit is approved and Mr. Samigwell
decides to sell the property, it will remain a short-term rental property. She also said this designation
can only be vacated that it's changed if the property is not used as a rental for two years.
Mr. Sam McWelver had a very nice letter to the neighbors about the property and his intentions
for it for its use. But the bottom line is that its principle use would be as a short-term rental,
not as a primary residence. That used changes the nature of the neighborhood. There have been
and are currently a few long-term rentals on the street, but long-term rentals are different from
short-term rentals as residents live in the home for more than a few hours or days.
In an article in the Dambal Register and Beam, Mr. Rick Barker, owner of the Vantage
Art Flats Airbnb, which is located in a commercial district in the river district, said
quote, short-term rentals can pose problems in residential areas, if not properly managed and
regulated, they can have unintended negative impacts within neighborhoods. Airbnb began
by making available for rent a space, bedroom, basement, or mother-in-law suite.
Now that the platform is used to rent entire houses, it takes on a different meaning.
Some streets are not prepared for the density and parking required to support overnight
lodging in court.
Our neighborhood is almost 100 years old.
The street is narrow.
The houses are closed together and the lot sizes do not meet current housing codes.
Neighbors are closed this day and parking is a problem for everyone.
Mr. Samigwell said in his letter that he would emphasize to his renters that there are only two available parking spaces for the property.
One in the driveway and one on the street.
There is a farhoudron on the property's easement, which limits its street parking.
It is nice to emphasize the available parking, but does not ensure that parking issues won't happen.
Another concern I have is that Mr. Samigwell has rented the property prior to approval from the Planning Commission in City Council.
It was rented over Memorial Day weekend.
The Planning Commission meeting on this request was July 10th.
The property assisted and has been reviewed on the Airbnb website.
The property may meet the legal requirements for licensing it as a short term rental.
But I know that this neighborhood is not the right place for such rentals.
Therefore, I ask you to deny this application.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Williams.
We're still in public here.
Anything else?
Does that speak on this agenda?
Please come forward.
States and Amy address with a record and good evening to you, sir.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
It's tough to follow such an eloquent speaker as a previous lady.
My name is Pierce Torberville and I live at 157 College Avenue.
I was born and raised at 172 College and I house my grandmother built in 1926.
I'm a member of my family.
It's been all college Avenue for almost 100 years.
This has always been a friendly, quiet, and caring neighbor.
I'm fully invested in this neighborhood, or short-term rental will change all of that.
After going off to school at the Air Force Academy of 18, I served an Air Force for over 20 years,
and I came back to Danville in 1990 and bought the house at 157 College Avenue.
My mom, my aging mom, was still at 172 College Avenue.
I've paid great neighbors at 162 for 33 years.
They take great care and back in their car out of the driveway and not hitting my car, which is a classic.
That all changes with the short-term rental.
The new owner cannot assure us that the renters will be upstanding people and not be unruly.
There are no fences behind the adjoining property, so noise from that property will be heard to a three-houses down.
We've got new babies next door and across the street from this property.
A member of the family who previously on that house had no idea what was coming.
I talked to the daughter of the previous owner, her mouth dropped open when I told her,
her house is going to be used for her previous house is going to be used for a short-term
room.
If any of you accounts, I'm members of the Liberal College Avenue, you would strongly
oppose this request.
Do the right thing.
Thank you.
We want to thank you for being here.
I also want to thank you for being here.
I also thank you for your service.
Good evening, ma'am.
Evening again, my name is Dolores Tate, and while I do not live on college, I live on the street adjacent to that, and a poem comes to mind that I said if I didn't speak out, no one spoke out, no one spoke for me when was my turn.
So what I'm looking out for is for my interest also, even though I don't live on that street,
I don't want it to happen on my street either.
So I am very much opposed to the idea of this change happening on college Avenue.
Thank you so much for being here, man.
We're still in public here and even when else like to speak on this agenda, I may come forward this time.
Good evening to you, sir.
And my name is Doncism, I live at 156 College Avenue, and may sound for me.
We've been living in Danville, my wife, and I for 162 years.
You don't look like what you've been through.
Most of it's mad.
But I'd like to start out in kind of change, a piece of it, and take you back for a little
history lesson.
We received this and noticed on June the 12th for the short term, which was strange to us
At the time, because the person was asking permission for something he was already doing.
And so the whole thing turned strange.
We got these forms sent back in the opposition we filled them out, in the comment section
of it.
And I'm not sure anybody ever read them, but we do definitely send them in.
We went to the July 10th meeting that didn't turn out so good for us.
But, strange after that happened, it gets even weirder.
Got a newspaper, we take this thing still from July the 20th.
And then that letter, believe it or not, it quotes a bunch of city people,
some want to collect taxes on it, which that's fine.
He has a council member, gave a statement.
But the statement, the stuck in my mind, after we went to that meeting
and poured a heart out in that meeting was from the chair of the Dambal Planning Commission.
In that statement, he said he did not care what the public opinion was, that they paid more attention to that.
That statement changed, I don't think it at all.
So they went more about the legal aspect of it.
And so, you know, a cynic would think, well, why do we go to that meeting?
where we just spectators to somebody filling out a bunch of rules
and regulations checking all of the boxes
to make sure they fill within that thing, I don't know.
But it would seem to me that if we're going to make a plan
that we would look at what's going on in that neighborhood,
what makes that neighborhood up, what is a make-up of that neighborhood?
And not just throw that out there, well it's legal, here we go.
And when I read these things about Airbnb's, I would say it's not a good feeling for me being living next door to one.
And I ask all of you, please just don't do this to our neighborhood.
It's just not right place for it.
It's just not the right place.
Thank you, sir, for being here.
We're still in the key or anyone else's desire to speak on this agenda item.
We can afford this time.
Anyone else who desires to speak on this agenda item?
come for this time. Good evening to your man. Please state your name. You address for the record.
My name is Haley Walters. I live at 150 Stratford Place. This is the street directly behind
the proposed Airbnb. I've received notice from the Planning Commission about my area where I live.
It would also be affected by this proposed short-term rental. I have lived at my residence for over 13 years.
I'm opposed to this short-term rental, and my concerns, pretty much mirror, most of what my neighbors have said.
But one, I'm concerned about the integrity of this neighborhood.
We are a community of families, professionals, and even students as Avery is just literally a stone's throw away from where we all live.
Safety is a major concern, as we will likely already see an increase in crime,
and unusual behavior and traffic thanks to the casino literally being in our
backyards. And like others, I'm also concerned about my property values and
with allowing this Airbnb and other short-term rentals would do to our
neighborhood. I see a domino effect where if this has allowed others would then
ensue. Thank you. Thank you Ms. Walt.
We are still in the
Here in anyone else's eyes speaking on this agenda, I didn't make them for this time.
Anyone else's eyes speaking on this agenda, I didn't make them for this time.
Thank you so much.
Good evening to you, sir.
I'm not sure how this works.
I'm a new homeowner, I moved in here in Danville.
Five years ago, my name is Kirk Rusten.
I also represent James Hoveus.
We live at 67 Park Avenue, the Lipton Dying, which I have from what I gather.
I miss that part of the hearing, but I still want to speak to the council.
I want to say that he and I who have the own the property out right on Park Avenue,
Lipton Lane, and the third one next to it.
So we have three pieces of property there, backed up onto the house that is going
up for Airbnb short-term rental, we oppose it, James Elvis would be here with me right now,
but he's dealing with health issues, cancer, and a few other things so he couldn't make
For the eloquent speakers that I have heard, I want to say I reiterate what they have said about safety, property values, being right next to the school, safety of children, and you know, being a first time home man, remember home owner, first time being here at the DC Center Council, I just want to express, I hope you all do not allow Airbnb to pop up everywhere here in Danville just because in my particular case,
house that was foreclosed in, in August of 2021, a tree fell into the roof. Somebody comes
and it took me to get somebody to fix the house, to get down the trees. There was threatening
my property. They still don't take care of the bushes and stuff surrounding that house. And
the care and uptake, and turning it into an Airbnb, I don't think someone is going to take care
like a real homeowner, wood and it's a...
Ellen, I'm sorry for never sorry for rambling on, but I just wanted to know that it's
fought at 670 Park Avenue, there are two people there that own three pieces of property
right there that we oppose having an Airbnb from the history of what we've seen already
with that damn real being a great wonderful city, I'm from DC, Metro,
earlier, my James is from New Orleans, we appreciate the community that's here in Danville,
the smartest, the affordability as well as being close to the University of hospital.
Yeah, and that's what I want to say now, realize it got 43 seconds and thank you for your time.
So you are not, you know, we're not rambling, we are pretty desperate, we're here for, and we appreciate
you being here, and thank you for choosing Danville. It's a wonderful city, my friend,
convinced me again. Say it again, say it again, say that first part of it. It's a wonderful
What do you have to do with the wonderful city?
Thank you.
And far more personal than what you get in DC and what you get in New Orleans. Thank you so much. I love it down here, but I don't want to see. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. We're still in
public hearing. Going once,
we got them. We got them. You're not on mic. So those of you who are viewing and you're not in the chambers. If you're wondering what the young man was asking, he was asking for those persons who were for and
and it was, I can actually tell you there were more people opposed.
If you go back to this, I've served you that I did just a few minutes ago.
I axed all those persons and I'll do it again.
All persons who afford this project, please stay.
All who are opposed, please stay.
That speaks for itself.
Thank you so much to them.
I close the public hearing council before we start asking questions.
Remember, we got to get emotional on the floor.
All right, so yeah, that's what I just wanted to clarify.
So we gotta put on the floor before we can put on the fly so don't get mad at me. I'm just putting it on the floor
So we're allowed to get on the floor. So the
Vocalist point for us to have a discussion on this when you hear the motion going on the floor
It doesn't mean that we're voting for or against it but for a cancel
But have a discussion of it we have to put the motion on the floor. Is there such a motion hang with me
I guess
Mayor I
Make a motion to
adopted on a screening special use permit application, PZ2300196, filed by
eDric, M, San Miguel, requesting a special use permit to operate a short term rental.
At parts of ID21264162 college drive, in accordance with Article 3E, Section C, item 29.
A second by Councilman Mayo, and once again, Councilman Mayo and Councilman Vogler, they
just asking to put this on the floor so Council can I have a discussion now we
in discussion council council council to vote yeah I want to first of all thank
all the speakers and and I appreciate Mr. Sam McGill's coming in and given
his side of it as well just to point out the planning commission it was approved
it was three two it was not like the other ones earlier that were five oh it was close
I think what you were asking there were 53 notices and now we had 20 we received
back in opposition, which is a high amount as has been pointed out.
I understand Mr. San Miguel when he says, you know, he bought the home, he's living in
the home and he's also just running out of rooms for it, but from my understanding, I believe
he's just here for a couple years, he's working on the project, he's here by himself, but
bought a five bedroom house, which I understand, it was the place to be right now and it's
a little hard to find a home, but I would think that you could find as a solo individual living
accommodations and there's a five bedroom house. It seems to me like it was bought with the
intention of it to be an Airbnb in the first place.
So my concern also not just what is with
the here and now and what it would happen in the two years that he's here but in two years after
that if he's gone two years from now, you're going to have a full blown Airbnb in that neighborhood
that doesn't have any kind of local connection or oversight whatsoever.
And for all the reasons that have already been mentioned, look, I'm not anti-airbnb in and
of itself, but I think they have to be in the right locations and the right circumstance
with spacing and all these kinds of things involved.
That college neighborhood in area all through there, I love it, it's a great neighborhood,
great place for trick or treating.
I don't think it's a great place for Airbnb.
I'm going to vote now.
Vice Mayor?
We'll sort of appreciate Mr. Sam McGill working
coming here and investing in our community.
And I'm certainly not opposed to Airbnb in the last six months.
I've stayed in two in different cities and countries.
But these were in business areas.
And they turned into mixed use.
In other words, they put a apartment over a business.
And not in a community, not in a neighborhood.
And so I certainly support Airbnb's.
But this is a tough location,
the parking,
I drove through there the other day.
And as you've been pouring out to you,
this is a one-way street.
It's like, good not a one-way bridge.
What do you do?
You have to wait till the other person comes through,
or you play chicken there, you go through,
there's only one car can pass at a time.
But what concerns me the most is, I'm afraid we're going,
if we approve of this, we're going to set a present.
And we allow somebody to do something, and then ask forgiveness later.
And that's not a good precedent to set.
Most communities have regulations like this.
So maybe the owner didn't realize you have to go through a process, but most communities
and they're facing a very B&Bs, but even before that they knew you have to get a permission
zoning has to be approved before you open your facility and this wasn't done in
this case and I'm just afraid of we allow this it's going to open the
floodgates for other businesses other people to do this and then come to
Council later and say hey can we do this we've already done it so I'll have to be
opposed to the Councillor SONDERS. I think I'm a smear. It's always good when
people come to our city to live here to invest here and Dan Bull is a great
city and Danville is growing and housing is an issue that we are trying to address here in
our city.
I know I said imagine this staff will work in very hard on that.
So as we move to Danville and invest in Danville and work in Danville, welcome.
At the same time we have people who have been here to help Danville grow like it's growing
now and I think that they deserve some attention respect as well.
So I appreciate new people coming in, I appreciate the investment, and I really appreciate the people of Daniel for a while to make
Dan Bull, what it is today, a great city.
Thank you, Mayor.
Thank you, sir.
I've said often before I call for the vote.
I heard everyone speak, and I've said it quite often in regards to the persons in the community.
And first of all, Mr. Wil, let me thank you so much for choosing Danville.
But one of the things that I've shared, and I've shared it often, and this council has shared it very often.
I've met her, so I want to mention just a few minutes ago in regards to the law.
Well, one of the things that this council believes in, and it is community, and those persons who speak in the community,
you oftentimes tell persons to go to the neighbors, see what the neighbors.
This meeting, if it was me, should it took place somewhere at Avery University, and just heard from everyone,
I don't think for me personally, I definitely can't vote for this because the persons I've spoken so eloquently and they care about their community and I think you care about the community and that's why you spoke
So I just want to say this to say that thank you so much and to all of those persons who are here
We want to thank you and to the person who spoke and you will seems like you were someone questionable about you went before the planning commission
in the Planning Commission passes on the City Council.
Always know that your City Council is always going to be here for you.
Madam Pric, on their no-called role, please.
Vice-man Miller?
Mr. Saunders?
No.
Mr. Bogler?
No.
Mr. Whittle?
Mr. Buckner?
No.
Reverend Campbell?
Mr. Hood?
No.
Mayor Jones?
No.
Consideration of a special use permit at 81 as long dry, partial, 5, 0, 0, 0, 5, 6, to allow short-term
As principal use, I open the public here and anyone does not speak on this agenda either may come forward this time
Anyone does not speak on this agenda either may come forward this time. I close the public here in Council and Campbell
This may move for Dr. Ordinance Green special use for mid for application PZ
23-0020 file by Martin Luther King
Just in that the question a special use permit operating short term rental at Pouser ID
505505681 Ashland Drive and accordance with Article 3, E Section C, Item 2, 29.
Ms. Bonita, chestnuts, is there second, second by Councilor Mayo, discussion of the motion.
Councilman Vogler.
Yeah, I just want to point out for those watching home or in the audience here.
So, you know, as I've done to these other ones, this one was approved by Planning Commission 508 notices
that were sent out to this surrounding property owners, there was only one in opposition out of
the 58.
So thank you.
Man, what are you going to call the world, please?
Mr. Saunders.
Hi.
Mr. Voguer.
Hi.
Mr. Whittle.
Yes.
Mr. Buffner.
I.
Reverend Gamble.
Mr. Hood.
Mr. Mayor.
Hi.
Mr. Mayor Miller.
Consideration of a special use from it at 1, 4, 5,
Benefield Street,
Park Cells, 0, 0, 0, 3, 9, 8,
to allow short-term rental as principal use.
I opened the public here in anyone,
so desire is to speak on this agenda item.
They come for this time, please state your name.
And you had Joshua, the record, good evening to you, man.
Good evening.
My name is Charlene Flemens.
I live at 254 Guild for Street.
I'm here this evening on behalf of Felix Hamlet,
for short-term, Ronaldette.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for being here tonight.
We sit in public here and anyone has to decide to speak on this agenda item may come
for this time.
Anyone else who decides to speak on this agenda item may come for this time.
I close the public here.
Councillor Woodell.
Motion is there.
Second by Councilman.
Mayor.
Discussion or the motion.
Madam Clerk of Viewer Caller, please.
Mr. Bowler, Mr. Whittle, Mr. Buckner, Reverend Campbell, Mr. Hood, Mayor Jones, Mr. Mayo,
Vice Mayor Miller, Mr. Saunders.
I consider way some of the special use permit for a plan-unit development on Stuart and
Akin Streets.
I hope with the public here in anyone desire to speak on this agenda item may come forward this
time.
Good evening to you, sir.
Good evening Mr. Mayor members of Council and staff.
My name is Stephen Gould.
I'm an attorney with sovillegal representing the applicants for the project this evening.
And I just have a brief presentation that I want to pull up for your benefit here.
Just to, as a quick refresher, last year we came before you for an initial presentation and
approval for a planned unit development on Stewart Street, that was for 162 market rate units
with high-end finishes, the plan and vision 231 parking spaces that spread across more than
six and a half acres.
And importantly, Resident Access was from West Main Street only, which was something that
generated a significant amount of discussion.
And before you is a map of the site plan, as it existed last year, with the proposal that
you approved.
As you'll note, on the left there are the parcels that were included in that, especially
use permit for the planned unit development on the right is a site plan.
Importantly, that plan only went about two-thirds of the way down the street.
Access, again, was just from Westman for residents.
first responders would have access though from, from Watson Street.
Please to share with you tonight that the applicants have acquired additional
parcels down Stuart Street toward Watson that have allowed them to expand the
original concept to have it evolve further. And also at the same time we think
address some of the concerns that neighbors had brought last year. Before you,
Tonight we have a request to amend the approval that you graded last year to incorporate
these new parcels in have an updated development plan.
Highlighted in orange here are the parcels that have been added by the applicant since
your approval last year and then there's one parcel that you'll see in blue that has not
been acquired the applicant's hope to acquire it but irrespective of whether it's under
their control it does not affect the plan that's before you tonight.
Here is an updated cyclam, you'll see that on the left it runs from West Main all the way
down to Watson Street on the right.
Previously, the plan was spread across six buildings, now that has increased to 11.
Here is a side by side, similar to what you saw before, that shows again on the left.
The parcels in question and then on the right, what that plan looks like kind of overlaid
on top of those parcels.
We want to share with you what this project
as an in its updated form looks like by the numbers.
There's an increase in units by 33.
It's 20% going from 162 units to 195.
The parking has increased significantly,
a jump of 62 parking spaces nearly two spaces
for each unit that's added,
that allows the average number of spaces per unit
to increase from 1.4 to 1.5.
City Code requires one space per unit, so we've already exceeding that and now have exceeded
it more. The project footprint has grown by nearly two and a half acres, and at the same
time the density of the project has decreased by the addition of those parcels. A couple of
things that I want to highlight, the addition of a second access point for residents we think
is crucial here.
Residents will continue to have primary access from West Main Street, but they will have
gated access from Watson Street.
The applicants are committed to making an investment to place stormwater infrastructure
here underground.
There have been some concerns raised in the past about drainage on money.
We believe that this will help to address that even more than the original plan from
last year.
And also, the applicants have taken to heart feedback that they've received about the design
for these structures, making sure that they are complementary to the buildings that exist
in the neighborhood.
And here you'll see a handful of updated design concepts, so renderings that really incorporate
the brick.
A aesthetic that you see in the neighborhood, this is consistent with the materials requirements that the planning department had included in their recommendations last year and carried forward to the recommendation that's before you tonight.
Please to share with you that the project continues to have strong support, both from key employers, several of whom you'll hear from, I believe in the next few minutes.
But also from neighbors, you'll see highlighted in green here support from the neighbors who are at the located on the four corners of this development, essentially the two on West Main and then two down on Watson.
I'm happy to answer any questions that you may have, but certainly want to give folks a chance to share with you there, thoughts on it.
Let's do that first.
Let's see if there are other persons here who want to speak on this item.
Then Stephen, I'll bring you back up.
We're still in public here.
We need one of those.
This is our CEO.
Steve Hedley.
Good evening to you, Steve.
Good to see you all again.
So again, I'm Steve Hedley on the market president for Sova Health.
And we enthusiastically support this project, transition housing is a significant need in this
community.
And it can be a rate-limiting factor.
We find that a rate-limiting factor for young professionals who want to come here to work
live and play.
At sobo, let me give you some statistics about our organization.
In any given moment, we have 45 to 50 residents in the family practice and internal medicine,
all of whom potentially benefit from this type of housing.
Every year we have 45 to 53rd and 4th year medical school students who could benefit from this type of housing.
We also have at any given moment, 40 imaging students in our school of health professionals,
who could benefit from this type of housing in each year,
we're hiring dozens of young professionals starting their careers
or making transitions in their careers last year, that number was about 80, 80 nurses,
80 imaging technicians, lab technicians, those types of folks, and projects like this
are a critical part of the thriving community that wants to be attractive to young professionals.
So we want these individuals not only to work in our community, but to live in our community.
So service sees this as a critical need in one that would aid in the recruitment of the next generation
of the healthcare workforce. Thank you.
Thank you, sir. Thank you. We're sitting in public here, and anyone else, as I speak on this agenda item, I come for this time.
Anyone else, as I speak on this agenda item, I come for this time.
This is our CFO from Avery University. Good evening to you. We've got a lot of brass in here tonight.
Good evening, sir.
Hi, good evening. My name's Don Ones, I'm the Avery University Chief Financial and Operating Officer.
As the slide suggested, we supported this earlier.
Human Resources is one of the areas that I oversee, and we hear repeatedly that our faculty and staff need affordable, convenient, and quality housing.
This project meets those needs.
As the city prospers, Avery University prospers, and the cities in dire need of affordable quality housing, so I strongly support this project.
Thank you so much, sir.
We're still in public here and anyone has to decide to speak on this agenda item. Please come forward this time
Anyone has to decide to speak on this agenda item. Just come forward this time. I close the public here in council. What's your pledge? Councilman Vogler
Yes, Mayor. I move. We adopt an ordained screening special use permit application PZ230020 to
file by Southern Virginia legal PLLC on
B-half of C-W-C-Hodings L-L-C, Stewart Street Hodings L-L-C, big-time Reynolds L-L-C, and Elizabeth
and Keith Walden, requesting a special use permit for a planned unit development on Stewart
and A-C and Streets, in accordance with Article 17, entitled planned unit developments of
Chapter 41 entitled Zoning Ordnance, are the code of the city of Danville, Virginia, to include
3, 2, 3, 8, 8, 8, 8, 6, 2, 3, 5, 6, 1, 2, 2, 9, 2, 4, 2, 4, 9, 7, 4, 2, 1, 1, 7, 3,
2, 0,
2,5,0,0,7,2,2,4,0,4,4,5, 2,3,9,5,8,2,4,9,8,4,2,5,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
two, five, zero, eight, nine.
Malcolm, I'll let each council member do it all over again.
I didn't understand.
No, second by councilman, will.
Man, we're going to the discussion.
You won't Stephen back at the podium?
Yes, please.
Stephen.
Stephen, thank you for the presentation.
I think you already covered it, but just real quick.
So again, council, we approved this a year ago.
But I do remember some of the concern at that time was the fact
that it was kind of dead in there.
And it was almost kind of cold to say,
now that's opened up with a gated entry and exit on the back end, which I think a
address to concern that there was, even though the project has expanded, it's become
less dense than it was before, so it's a little more spread out, which I think is also
a good thing.
So to me, I think, you know, we certainly, as has been pointed out, we needed this project
a year ago.
And the housing crisis here is only grown in the time since, so to me, I think it's the case
of a good project that's gotten even better.
I'm in favor of it.
Thank you.
Dr. Miller.
Yeah.
Thank you back about 12 to 14 years.
When we started the student and then later the residency program, at the hospital, we had no
place to lodge these people.
These students and their families.
Literally, we had to call out people that we knew and say, hey, if you got an extra
bedroom, can you take a student for a year, can you rent a place to them?
And it was tough, which is no place for the students and people to stay.
It's time we buy the river district and the development out there has alleviated, but
not solve the problem.
We still have trouble finding lodging near the hospital.
So this is something that's a direly needed, and we welcome it.
Secondly, there were some things I had to have been for the program of the development.
I was really concerned about the lack of a second entrance as I mentioned before in New Jersey
near Horma, not only for a while they built a lot of cold-to-sac places, we had one way
in and out and one of them burned and the people couldn't evacuate and some people got injured
because they couldn't get out of the part of the complex.
So you've got to have an ingress in an egress for these, and I assume this is a car of the
individual.
People who have a car, they can go through the gate to get out, for something like that.
because you need to wake it out and the other problem is we don't do that we're going to
be punta go over again. And a few years the city will have to come up with a back exit to get
out of the home development or the development developer didn't put one and it always falls
in the lapse of the city to solve the problem. So it's better to solve this problem upfront. There's
more parking now. So I got two out of the three things I wanted the third thing out of
on West Main, and the traffic stadiums show that, but I can tell you, I avoid going, when
I come from the office up there, I avoid going up that way because you come out on Main Street
and look up Main Street toward the west, it's a turkeyshoot, what you're going to get out
before you get hit.
The cars come fast down Main Street, you can't see, and it's a dangerous intersection now,
and it's going to get worse.
So I assume, sorry, the traffic study didn't show this.
I guess we'll have to wait until what happened at Southwake
and two people get killed, then we'll decide
to restate it and put a traffic light in.
Where we hope that doesn't happen.
So hopefully that won't happen, but that was my only,
that's my only reservation, but not enough to keep me
from supporting the project.
Thank you.
Steve, I want to thank you for your presentation tonight.
If this passes tonight, what's the next steps?
Next step will be negotiation of the of a written agreement with the city to allow everything
to proceed, but the plan is to move as quickly as possible to have the project open
ideally in the second quarter of 2025.
Fantastic.
Thank you for being here tonight.
Madame Percol, a roll please.
Mr. Whittle.
Mr. Buckner.
Aye.
Reverend Campbell.
Mr. Hood.
Aye.
Mayor.
Aye.
Mr. Mayor, Vice Mayor Miller, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Wilbur.
Consider a reason of a more obligation from the seat of Vancouver, Virginia, to American National Bank,
Vice Mayor.
I'm a page here.
I'd like to propose a resolution in authorizing and improving the execution of a more
obligation to remain between the City of Downward, Virginia, and American National Bank of Virginia Bank and Corporation.
Second by Councilman Mayo, discussion of the motion.
Madam Clerk of View, we'll call a roll, please.
Mr. Buckner.
Hi.
Reverend Campbell.
Mr. Hood.
Hi.
Mayor Jones.
Hi.
Mr. Mayor.
Vice Mayor Miller.
Mr. Saunder.
Mr. Bogler.
Hi.
Mr. Whittle.
Concentration will prove in the updated emergency operations plan.
Councilman Buckner.
I'm sorry.
No.
I'm sorry.
Let me go back. Let me go back. I miss one. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I'm considerate some more obligations from the City of Denver, Virginia, to American National Bank.
I think they got it only at twice.
Are we on the J? Two different properties. Two different properties. Two different properties.
Two different properties. Okay. Go ahead.
I like to make a motion that we approve a resolution authorizing and approving the execution of a moral obligation,
agreement by and between the City of Damaged over a Virginia and American National Bank of Virginia Bank Corporation.
second by Councilman Mayo. Discuss on the motion. Councilman Bogor.
Clark, when their name changes, do we have to re-vote on this or is it just transverse
over? It'll, it'll just transfer over so we will not have to re-vote on this. The only
time we'll have to re-vote on anything is in five years. These, in five years, these
will come back up again as part of the refinancing and that, that time you may get.
Thank you.
Madam Clerk of the Police.
Reverend Campbell.
Hi.
Mr. Hood.
Hi.
Mayor Jones.
Aye.
Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Saunders.
Hi.
Mr. Vogler.
Hi.
Mr. Whittle.
Just want to be clear, though, it was a cross-clatter-rise loan.
And it was close to 9 million.
was, and it's now down significantly less than that. But yes, it's up to $7 per cent with
a $4 million murder, anyway. But yeah, that was the surprise, but it is across collateralized
loan. Thank you. Mr. Buckner.
All right.
Just to raise the approval of the updated emergency operation plan.
Councilman Buckner.
I'd like to make a motion.
We approve that we adopt a resolution of
Proving an updated emergency operations plan for the city of Dan
Bill Virginia.
Second of my smear.
Discussive of the motion.
I would like to pass it on to those of you.
Council members who are ready to read it.
I mean, happy to pass it on.
You didn't read it yet?
Not a clerk called a robo.
Mr. Hood.
Aye.
Mayer Jones.
Aye.
Mr. Mayo.
Vice-mayer Miller.
We'd be able to type down to read it.
Aye.
Mr. Saunders.
Aye.
Mr. Vogue.
Aye.
Mr. Willle.
Mr. Buckner.
And Audements.
Consideration of amendment.
Banvel City Colory Garden.
Unpermitted Camping.
Councillor Vogue.
Yes, ma'am, move.
We adopt an ordinance to add section 23-9.1 entitled.
unpermitted camping on city property the chapter 23 entitled offenses miscellaneous of the code of the city of Danville, Virginia.
Second, I counsel in Mayo, discuss another motion, counsel in Campbell.
I would like for the city manager if he can go and explain to the citizens of Danville, would this consist of please?
So, currently under city code, if somebody's, there, well, currently in the city, there are certain places that the city allows camping to occur.
It's usually within a park, and you have to get a permit to get to be able to camps there.
Our parks operate usually during daylight hours, and we've experienced a situation where we've noticed people that are camping on public properties, sometimes adjacent to the riverwalk trail, sometimes close by, and it's overnight, which isn't permitted.
And when they're doing that, technically, they're trespassing.
And the only enforcement measure that we have to prevent that from occurring is to ask the leave and charge them with trespassing.
This, what this ordinance does here is it's actually a little lighter touch.
It provides for first a police officer, somebody to walk up, usually a police officer, to explain to the people that they're not allowed to camp there,
if they're, they're because they're homeless or for whatever reason they're asked to provide information.
The officer provides information to those people about services that they can take advantage of to help whatever situation they're in.
And then hopefully they comply if not then they can be charged with a misdemeanor which it is a much lesser offense than class four.
Class four misdemeanor which is a much lesser offense than, and I'm,
I'm entering a little bit dangerous ground trying to talk about law, so I'll keep looking at Clark to make sure I'm talking, or speaking correctly.
So that's the basics of it. There are other cities in Virginia that have adopted very similar ordinances, I believe, Roanoke and Bristol have adopted them and they've found success in adopting these.
In a conjunction with what we're doing here, which we believe is a lighter touch to dealing with issue.
We're working with various providers to try to come with a plan to assist people who are experiencing homelessness and we're in the midst of that process now.
We work closely with the housing authority.
We had a meeting today or when I about a plan that they have and a request for funding from the city to help people with immediate needs regarding housing.
So we're constantly talking to providers about that, and we've adopted a plan.
There are some recommendations in that plan, which is included in your agenda packet.
We'll be coming to you later about some of those recommendations to see what Council is willing to do in this area.
This is a very complicated issue, and there's not a cookie cutter approach to how to solve it.
But what I will say is that when it comes to camping and erecting tents on public property,
it can include all sorts of things and we've all seen if we're watching the National News
where people, some communities are faced with tents that are on sidewalks that are blocking
entrance into businesses can impact those businesses in various ways and not everybody's comfortable
with that. And it can impact the success of businesses. And since we're seeing more and more in that
here in our community, we wanted to be proactive and have some way to deal with it. I'll give
an example of one thing that I was very concerning to me. We learned of folks who were camping underneath
the Robertson Bridge and lighting fires for camping purposes or whatever, cooking. There are
high pressure gas lines that are underneath the Robertson Bridge. And what we don't want to
happen is to have a situation and we can't allow people to do that.
I can't can't underneath the bridge and light fires and potentially cause problems that
would be pretty catastrophic if got not a hand.
So there's got to be some rules in place and we're going to, you know, we're a compassionate
city.
We have a police department that operates very carefully with community.
We're going to try to help people get the services they need, but we do have to establish
some rules for people to go by, and that's what the purpose of this ordinance is.
Can you thank the council, can you very modest, but dam a redevelopment in housing
authority, CEO Larissa has been working with grants. And I think you need to touch on the funding
because what we are doing is solution driven. We have some solutions also. Working with them.
Is that correct? That's correct. I mentioned today the meeting that we had with
Laura said housing authority early on I think it would say maybe it was yesterday. My days were going to gather in any event
We you know, we're we are going to come back to council and ask for support for funding to help with some immediate housing needs for folks that are experiencing homelessness
And we're also looking at other options. So we want to
We're not going to just turn a blind eye to the issue
We want to help people in our community, they're experiencing hard times in a comprehensive way, but it has to be a balanced approach.
And the balanced approach means that we can't allow certain things to occur that, frankly, are not helpful to businesses in our community.
Thank you, Councillor Bucke.
Yeah, Clark or Kenny the one, are we making camping in the public property on public property a crime?
is it going to be a crime to do so?
Well, it already technically is.
What we're doing, is it going to stiffen the crime or make the crime more harsh?
No, it's...
Well, we criminalize people for being homeless.
No, our goal is not to criminalize people for being homeless.
Our goal is to help people.
And the first step in this process is to provide them with resources that they can take advantage of to help them with whatever
situation they're dealing with.
But currently,
if you're camping on property that where it's not allowed, they can be asked to leave.
And if they don't leave, they can be charged with trespassing, which currently exists.
Well, that's one of the reasons that I've said it. Sometimes we don't do that on a run, enough.
That's why it's so important to partnerships that we have and with DRHA and others because that part of it,
We are not talking a lot about it, that how we are helping and putting money towards
having these persons who are less fortunate who come up on some hard times.
It's all canceled in the global design.
Yes, sir.
Thank you, Mayor.
First, I want to thank Dave Gluherer for the fantastic email and letter that he sent and well
thought out in thorough when a lot of great points.
And, you know, this issue has only gotten worse in our city, but it's not unique to Danville.
I agree.
I like we all do.
We read articles about other cities and issues and things that their local governments
are going through.
And I think I saw the other day, Charlottesville, their city council, they names that their
number one priority right now is addressing the rampant homelessness and aggressive panhandling
all this that's happening in their city, you know, how we had top priorities of education and
economic development and public safety. There's right now is homelessness. That's how bad it's
gotten there. And it's happening in other places too. For a number of reasons, the housing market,
we all know that the cost of housing has gone up quite a bit in the last couple of years. And during
the pandemic, there was COVID funding. Do help with people with housing and that money is now not
available, and so the ramifications of that are some of the things that you're seeing with homelessness.
So I don't know if we're voting on a night as a perfect solution, but I do think it's a step
in the right direction.
And for us to continue to do nothing is not a solution.
So what we're voting on a night, I think, will be helpful.
It will allow folks in our community to feel safer again.
And I want to be very careful.
I'm not typecasting people who are currently without a home.
certainly there are quite a few who are legitimate reasons for why that has happened and
we are very compassionate and we want to continue to do everything we can to help those
folks, but there's also folks who are beginning to abuse the leniency that is out there and
again in that letter there was a lot of great examples and I won't go through them all but
there are in other folks who have brought it up and called me about it and I've witnessed
some of it too but I mean we've got folks who don't feel safe walking on the riverwalk
trail anymore, you know, that is a place where families go and walk and they're being harassed
and threatened by folks who were permanently camping out under bridges and popping out
from behind the orders and all these kinds of things and so with the amount of investments
that we've had in our city, particularly along these areas, we want folks in our community
to feel safe and so all the tools and resources I think that we can provide to help ensure
that I think we should do and the most fundamental responsibility of a local government in my
opinion is public safety and I think what we're voting on and I will help take steps along
with other things that the City Manager mentioned to help ensure that so I'll be voting in favor
of this.
Thank you.
Councillor Mayell.
Yes, I was wondering from what I'm hearing and I was very, um, fortunate to be in a good
to be in a meeting, a conference last week, where it addressed to this.
We know it's a nationwide thing, but in talking with our city, with homelessness,
one thing I'm hearing, and one echo on it, is I know that we want to, we don't want to,
we don't want to put that person in the jeopardy of trying to penalize them harshly, but
we're trying to get my opportunity to seek the right things that we're offering.
And in that right there, we must see as well as know of the individuals who are homeless
is what's causing to be homeless is, and I've learned that is because of a mental health
could be the issue to addiction, what is drug alcohol, but those are some of the things
and just depressing.
So in the area of what we're doing, and I think I know we're moving to the right direction,
And we've seen this often, but I also want to take you in the net that know that this is just
some going on to why they're in the situation and we know that.
So just wanted to share with that right there.
I've gathered that last week in the conference and it was very enlightening.
Thank you, Councillor Samos.
But for the grace of God, go on.
We don't know what's going to happen to us before we leave this world.
I think before watching it, that our city, our city, manager, his staff, residents, about
30s and others, is a caring city, care about people.
Yes we are growing and that's wonderful, and with growth come I will say opportunities to make
things even better, especially for people.
The idea about not camping on the bridges
if the next one idea is also safety idea
in terms of the gas line for on the SO4.
You know, the dambo's growth includes, for example,
a $100,000 was given to the house of hope, okay?
Four homeless.
Also, I'm Mr. Mayor, I think a district of $50,000
to work on that.
So while we're growing, we're trying to make sure that everyone is taking care of, regardless of their social, social, economic status that they're being taken care of.
So I'm convinced that we'll do the best we can, we'll do all the weekend to take care of those who have special needs and I anticipate that need increasing and already the city manager and his staff are finding ways to address that.
So, as we go forward, we're considering everything every move forward, not, you know, one side
it, we're considering everything, and I think that's a good way to do it, okay?
And thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you, and Mr. Manager, and please, thank you, staff.
Thank you. Mr. Dietrich is here.
Leris, I just want to say to you in what you do and in the team what you do and thank you.
As Sherman said, a few minutes ago, these opportunities.
The opportunities that we have is Council and Mayo, Council and Vogue and others are stated,
persons who are faced with all kinds of addictions, mental illness, one of the things I,
and this is tough, one of the things I like about this, it's gearing those persons into those resources that they need.
That mental health with that will pits of any county community service.
So many times we see those persons that are sitting there and camping in Blue Park and doing the things they're doing.
We passed by them. They need help. They don't need a dollar. They don't need $5. Because we know
what that's going to do. They need help. That was rich in resources. Very rich in resources.
But the pride of a person who's heard is Councilman Saunders stated, the pride of a person
who's heard even a person who's not hurt. One of the things that most people don't want to
is asked for help. They think they could do it on their own and they can't. And sometimes
our pride, even whether you're homeless or not, even our pride gets in a way of us getting
the right help that we need. I want to commend you because I know this has been tough. I got
in calls all day in regards to this. But we have got to do something to gear these individuals
towards the help that we have in our community because that's lots of it. And I want to thank
you so much for this on it, no doubt I call for the vote.
Madam chair.
Mayor Jones?
Mr. Mayor?
Yes.
Vice Mayor Miller?
Aye.
Mr. Saunders?
Aye.
Mr. Vogler?
Aye.
Mr. Wittl?
Reverend Campbell?
Mr. Hood?
Aye.
Go ahead and speak sir.
I must have missed the call for the...
It wasn't a public ear, but you can speak.
So I appreciate the incredible amount of
Just to give you, by the way, my name is Jude Swanson,
deja vu, nice to see you all again.
I'm the director for House of Hope,
the region's only homeless shelter,
and to give you an idea of the gravity of the situation
that we're looking at in 2021, House of Hope served 140 individuals
came through our doors.
In 2022, we served 240.
In 2023, we're on track for 400 people coming through House of Hope.
And I can tell you from my position as working directly with homeless folks every day is that this ordinance is at best mis timed and at worst ineffective and misdirected.
In my conversations with many business owners downtown, the issue is often a ordering and panhandling.
And if we take someone's sleeping range and move them elsewhere, that doesn't address that
issue or address the root causes of why they're there in the first place.
We were lucky enough that the Sidhive Danville had the forethought to bring in a consultant
who was an expert in homelessness services, and they took a lot of time and effort into
canvassing the region's resources that are responding to homelessness, including the shelter,
which I very much appreciated, being invited into that conversation.
Other considerations, not one of them mentioned an ordinance about public camping.
There was talk of day shelters, there was talk of having it dedicated city employee who
would work exclusively on homelessness, that kind of thing, but not this, and I think
that there's a reason for that.
If our first step, our first major step, especially a legal step in terms of homelessness addressing, is a punitive measure, that sets a president that I'm afraid is not going to have a positive outcome.
Welcome. We speak of compassion in the city. I would urge that we continue to follow that up with our actions
in what we do. And note about our police officers. I've had the pleasure of working with a lot
of folks because they are often first contact with our folks who are experiencing homelessness
and they do a wonderful job from what I've seen. They are compassionate, they're kind, most
other patient. This will make our police officers the primary response to homelessness, which
is not a good use of their resources. It's not a good use of their time. It's not why
they joined the force was to take people and move their tents elsewhere, and I'm afraid
it might drain that well of compassion, that our good folks are drawing from. Just as a member
of the Homeless and Services community who directly works with these folks, and since I don't
see anyone here?
Your time is up, so I give you 30 more seconds.
Directly experiencing homelessness, I feel that's important that we speak for them.
Let me ask your question.
First of all, thank you for what you do.
Thank you for all the joy.
We visit it and tour it.
Is there any conversation on a table with you and your board of directors, instead of persons
having to leave at 7 o'clock, you mentioned a day, is there any conversation with the
the shelter room, allowing persons to remain throughout the day?
Yeah, there's conversations primarily center around survival, the shelter because we can't operate
at 24-7 facility at House of Hope.
If you have a platform now, when we talked about our partnerships, and those persons who are
concerned, like you stated a few minutes ago, being more of action, what would you present to
our community, how could we help the homeless shelter to be, what would it take for you all to help
to have these persons by operating a day shelter as well as a home result.
Sure. I mean, as far as helping House of Hope, I think the initial realization is that we can't be your answer for everything homelessness.
So a day shelter would be wonderful. The facility that is currently at House of Hope is just physically not set up to be a day center.
I understand that it seems like it's the most obvious answer, but I think that comes from like a short-sighted approach to that, because it's more than just saying we can't they all just stay in the shelter.
It's really just a way of saying, can we keep them there so they don't have to be on our streets and then our shops.
So, a day center would be wonderful.
That is first and foremost what I think would help a lot with a lot of the homelessness issues
that we're looking at.
And that has been what a lot of folks in the West P amount better housing coalition have
been crying for is a day center.
Just for people who are not necessarily staying at the shelter to have a place go during
the day where there could be a concentrated focus of resources where they can get some help.
Councilman Sanders.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Would you say again the numbers, the increase that you've had in Glendale, in the last
week or three years?
Yeah, so in 2021 we had around 140, sorry, 170, 222 around 240 and on 2023 so far we're on track
for 400 folks served at the end of the year.
Okay, so clearly the issue is growing and I believe that homeless people, many are just
down on their lock and being one when your lock can lead to mental illness and mental
kind of issues.
And that's certainly having the impact in terms of people finding money houses well, housing.
And as we try to get people to help, but the mirror is talking about, you know, I appreciate
police officers being involved and trying to help people, and we have a lot of public parks,
and a lot of people sometimes go into the park, and I've gotten calls money, for example,
where people were homeless around here, and the parents were afraid for their children to go down
because they go down to the park. And so police department, they're cooperating to helping,
But I'm just saying that that that problem your number is evidence, the numbers they're growing and I hope we keep on trying to find ways to address it.
I don't, I don't want to see, you know, a big city where people out there and on the streets and sidewalks and my rabbi, I give them a cup of dollars, I give them a cup of coffee.
I don't want to see that, and also in terms of prevention.
So, we're working with the Dan Bell Patts Bank
and the Services, I'm sure that weren't a partner
that we're working with as well.
So, I would encourage all of us, all of us,
to try to help people who have weekend,
if we have some ideas, please let our authority
manage your know what the ideas are,
because you just heard the evidence tonight
that the problem is escalating.
Thank you, Ms. Mayor.
Councilman Wittled in Councilman Vogler?
Yes, so I thought a pastor Farrell had a day center above your house of hope there.
He had a church up there which he was kind enough to let some folks the shelter stay at, but I wouldn't call it a day center.
Okay, so it was effective for them to come in and get some training or how does a day shelter work?
So, a day center operates as a concentrated area of resources for folks experiencing homelessness
to go to during the day, because the struggle at House of Hope is that we are open when everyone
else is not, which means that when we see our guests, everyone else, that could help them
is at home, and so it's a struggle to connect them with those resources, even though we do have
some wonderful folks that work with us, there are some CHWs here who I think I'm taking up all
time. Sorry. And we work with DRHA closely. But it's hard to do that outside the bounds of
the regular 9 to 5 work schedule. So often they have to do it outside that, which is difficult.
So a day center where to have a concentration or a concentrated place for folks to be,
where those resources know that they can go to meet them because a lot of our guests either
don't have phones, or the phone is, you know,
half of the screen is working because it broke or it doesn't
have any minutes or that kind of thing.
So a day center would.
So one of the visitors do is it seems to be pretty effective
during the day because they could maybe train on a computer
or they could get some resources at his day shelter.
at a day center. Yeah, right. So the church that was above the shelter is now a part of the shelter.
Normus place, it's our, our expansion that the city helped us, helped us get accomplished with a spantastic and is evidence that it was much much needed.
So that church is no longer there to operate and do that.
But I will say that a day center would be more than just a few computers and someone who just has a space.
It has to be a concentrated investment of resources that are directly geared towards homelessness.
Not a social service is a person who happens to be there two days a week, but has a direct, homelessness focused resource.
Thank you, I thought you did a great job.
Can I have some of open?
Yes, first of all, thank you for everything you do and thank you for coming and sharing this information with us.
I got a couple of questions going back to the mayor's question a few minutes ago then and just so that we all understand
And those who may be watching and I think these are questions we've probably been asked before, but if I can't know we have
So what you're saying is
That house of hope as it as it is, it's not a matter of you know funding all of the if if you just had more funding all of a sudden
You could be a 24-hour operation. You're saying that's not the case, right?
Well, I mean if we had an unlimited amount sure
but I'm saying, you're saying it's really not structured to be that,
as what you're saying.
Right, I mean, we certainly use more funding.
But the way that a day center would be,
it's a congregation of other resources,
because House of Hope is a part of the homelessness
service system, but judging by the fact
that our WestPemon better housing coalition
is formed of a multitude of service organizations,
means that we can't be the only one.
Well, I appreciate you bringing up the information
about the day center because I'm very interested in talking more about that and actually trying
to address and solve the root cause of homeless as not rather, like you said, just trying
to figure out where to move people around and all that. And of course, you know, it's a needed
service to find places for folks, certainly. But ultimately, I think we all in the goal is to
lift people up out of that circumstance and so it sounds like the day center is a
great avenue to help achieve that if I'm here incorrectly. I think it'd be a
wonderful addition for homeless services in the city. Yeah, would it be helpful
going back to Councilman Wittl's point, the kind of unofficial one that was
functioning if it was able to exist in a space very close to your existing
space. Would that be the ideal scenario on the swimming?
We're trying to distance and proximity is definitely the forefront of when we're thinking
of day-center operations. So yeah, geographic distance that's close to kind of the homeless
shelter for the region is definitely important to consider.
Thank you. My last question. The 400-ish folks who have mentioned more on track for this year.
And the increase over the last few years.
Have you or do you have a way of knowing are these folks who have been here locally?
Are these folks who are coming new to the area?
A mix of both or what are you kind of seeing in terms of who are these people?
Yeah. Absolutely.
So, three quarters are from either the immediate vicinity or the surrounding area, which we serve because we're the only homeless shelter around right now.
And then, a quarter of our folks are chronically homeless, which means that they go where the resources are.
So, they may come through Danville for a bit, they'll say it the shelter for a lot of 30 days.
And then, either we help them find permanent housing, which is wonderful, and they become a citizen of Danville, or they move on to a different resource and continue there.
they're journey to hopefully being housed again thank you for the information and that's very helpful for me
and I'm sure everyone else up here and thank you for all you do.
Councillor Campbell.
My question just was asked to that I want to know what percentage of them billions
would say and repas to how do you just answered it.
Councillor Miller.
Yeah so I'm certainly sympathetic to the homeless and all of us are we need to solve
probably can't ignore it any longer. I like the idea of a day center or any other
adhesion come up with. On the other hand, Councils charged with protecting the
citizens too and you know, so we get a lot of complaints from citizens about the
homeless. So we certainly don't want this city to turn into a San Francisco where
they just let us you know, tent cities in parks and they've turned into drug
cities and so forth and people to stay there all the time and that's not a
and they've not faced the problem and not tried to help the homeless so we can't allow
that either.
So we have to balance this as the city council.
I would say that fears of things that something is city that's many times our size is experiencing
isn't something that I would benchmark or next moves off of.
And also I would like to say that someone experiencing homelessness is many, many more times
likely to be the victim of a violent attack than the perpetrator of a violent attack.
That's not the perception of the public, and we have to deal with the perception of
public.
What I'm trying to say, Council has to balance this.
Council, but Vogue, we have to try to find a solution, we can't ignore it, but we've got to
find a place for the homeless for the same time, answer the concerns of our other citizens.
I think the coalition, as we're stated, and we don't want to put you on the spot.
but I think I concur with everyone else and I'm sure Dr. Miller saying the same thing.
This is an issue that we have to work together.
It is a coalition and a coalition that's doing it.
I mentioned the research, I mentioned the others.
When you talk about that day camp,
and when Madison talked about what Reverend Furrow was doing and how effective
there's so many things that I can say, but we have really together got to tackle this together.
Dr. Miller back to you. Anything else?
that's good. Thank you. We open this up because I'm sure I think there was other
persons who probably want to speak on this. I saw some hands if you want to
speak on this because this is issue any ideas will be great. Come on forward
and now let the lady come first. I think she was first.
Let's take
give us your name. Jennifer Kennedy I'm one of the community health workers in
Danville and we deal with all the homelessness. They come straight to us. We would
work with the House of Jew, we have go in twice a week, just once a week to sit with them
to go through each client to find out why they homeless, we deal with a lot of people coming
from jail to going straight to the House hope.
Our biggest issue as community health workers is we on the ground, we go into homes and we
are dealing with everybody personally.
So when we go to, you say you got work of housing thought, when we go into places like this
and everything is shut down like we can't get,
we're not getting away.
But we are the ones out in the streets
from Caswell, Danville, Pittsburgh,
and County, we are out there.
So it'd be a good idea to reach out to us
because we're going, we're going door to door,
we're going house house,
we're right around looking at fake in houses,
could damn houses.
It's trying to figure out
issue a way to resolve this on our end.
But if y'all got a plane
And y'all involve us. We're guaranteed to get to cut your house and your homeless in Dan Vedam. It's 10 of us. Well, it's more than 10 of us now, but between the eight of us, I think, got like four 15 now, it started with eight. So we're here, right? West, we're here for, we don't know. We're not excited about y'all new thing, because you were saying there's a lot of not-to-ish
and stuff like that, like it's deeper than that.
Like, people don't speak out because of judgment.
We deal with a lot of people because they won't,
they won't ask for help because they are already judged.
So we break that bond between them being judged
and let them know they got somebody who
go to the film and who gonna advocate for them.
So you can reach out to Cassandra Shelter.
She's the Reach Program.
It was a community health work program
and it's called Reach Program.
And, I mean, even to the on section eight vouchers, we get them, they get them, but when we go
looking for them, we bring that out of the milk to help people gather, but we got the homeless people.
Yeah, I got the milk to help people with housing.
We got the milk to help people that's homeless.
So it's not a balance in what we're doing and what they are about trying to see them.
So I feel like we need to just come together and put it together so we can see what needs to be done.
I know everybody's coming together to meet, but nobody's bringing out the people who's on the ground to see what's really going on.
But thank you so much for being here tonight. Thank you. And thank you for all that you're all doing.
I thought I'd rather than I think I saw you.
Reverend First of all, thank you for what you're doing.
Councilman Willow, I had to concur with him.
I'll talk about you all the time and to work that you're doing in the community.
We appreciate you sir.
We're praise as a Lord.
Reverend Willis Sparrow, my name was mentioned earlier as being the pastor of the Redemption
Center Church, we were located directly above the House of Hope homeless shelter.
We were a center, Mr. Sullivan took over as the executive director to House of Hope
after we had gotten informed that we would be leaving.
So, Mr. Sullivan is not really familiar with the services that we were providing.
We were a warm in station.
We were a cool in station.
And we had various facilities that came through our church.
Two to three times a week, mental health was there.
There were other entities that came through.
We did training for resumes.
We were resumes for them.
Help them with resumes.
The clients at House of Hope.
As well as jobs searching,
and we provided transportation for housing and as well as other things.
We train, we did train on the computers that we had there.
Right now we have a, we have more space and we are open doing the day for people to come in
For those type of resources, we never advertise or ask for any resources from the city for what we were doing.
We were just volunteering and doing what Christians do in the city of Danville, Virginia.
But we are readily available.
I will make my contact information available to each of you and anyone else that needs it.
I met Ms. Larissa at an event and we exchanged information, but I'd just like to
say right now that we are available, and we do have space with that location.
And the location is that 625 Shelton Street.
We are at the old Hatchett Center building there.
So reach out to us.
I'll leave my card and information in the night.
Thank you.
Thank you for what you do.
Thank you.
We have one person who wants to speak but not all the whiley is we are now in communications
from visitors.
Councillor.
I miss one.
Yeah.
I am.
I'm sorry.
Councilman told him that Councilman Buckner.
Now I'd like to make a motion that we approve in order to amend the fiscal year 2024 budget
appropriation ordinance to provide for the proceeds from the sale of utility revenue bonds
and appropriating the same in this first reading.
Second by Councilman Mayo, first reading, communications, but not the Wally.
Good evening, sir.
I want to, first of all, thank you all for allowing me to speak tonight at the City Council
And, of course, my name is Bronado Wally, I'm a resident of Pissivani County.
You need to, you have to wrong meeting.
Councilor Campbell told me to tell you, you're at the wrong meeting.
The Pissivani County Board of Supervisors, they need the same time part.
Well, here, take this and go with the Pissivani getting this kid.
You're not going to say anything.
We're not going to say anything.
It's for Danville.
I actually retired.
I worked for the Danville Housing Authority.
I work for campus and community services where for over 25 years for both now I'm a supervisor
for casual county, child protective services.
So, I'm here tonight, I do have some individuals with me because I'm concerned about the safety
of some children, or children, here in Danville, as it relates to children attending sporting
events and where there are specifically aluminum bleaches that are there.
So I want to give y'all an example of what happened on July 18th, my wife and I were attended
the Danville Autobots baseball game at Dan Daniels Park and we were sitting in the aluminum
bleachers on the right side of the stadium about three rolls from the top. We observed a
child who was there. We thought with her mom or sister we didn't know because we didn't
know the child but my wife she was all children so she asked the child the child was
they said the child was one year old and said her name was ivory. So as we continue
watching the baseball game my wife started. No, she's gone. She disappeared. She
fell through the bleachers. I noticed the one year old child had fallen through the
open area between the bleachers. I reacted by going through the area in the bleachers
the child had fallen. I landed on the concrete on my stomach near where the baby was laying
and observed the child laying seemingly splattered and lifeless. With the arms stretched,
her face was on one side on the concrete and showing no size signs of breathing or movement.
The law approached the child, a young lady came up, and I told her to call 911.
She picked up the child, and I later found that she took the child to an emergency care
personnel at the entrance of the stadium.
I'm here today to bring attention to what the time is up to take 30 more seconds.
I'm here to bring attention to the Anderson environment that presents a danger to children
regarding the bleachers at Danville, Baseball Stadium, and may present dangers to other
fields of stadiums in Danville.
After dealing with the trauma of seeing this child fall, what is a preventable accident,
then I return to that stadium, I talk with the manager, he told me that the city of Danville
earned that property and they leased it from them. I measured how far that child fell
in it was 83 inches. And the area that I went through took five more seconds was only
eight inches. So what I'm asking is for a safety assessment be done throughout the state of
Danville and that all of the bleachers be checked because I could go through anybody that can't
that you all can see who I'm representing here today.
Family, please stay
in.
And is that the baby?
How's she doing?
We continue here with Councilman Vogler.
Yeah, Mr. Wally, thank you for coming and speaking.
And for the family who is here, I actually,
I got to, we go to all of my kids,
and I would go to all the games.
We got there, that even in a little late,
and I think that had just occurred when we got there,
and I'd been wondering what had happened
in the time since so I'm glad to see that beautiful face back there and but as far as the
stadium, I know that we brought this up a few months ago something I asked about particularly
about the stadium. The city manager, we're in the process now of the beginning stages of
significant upgrades of that stadium as a whole, maybe not particularly related to this incident.
It was already kind of in the process of happening but it's a 30-year-old stadium that hasn't
had largely anything changed to it in those 30 years and so I just wanted to say we're already
in the process of looking at substantially enhancing that stadium in a number of ways.
So thank you.
Thank you.
I'll be in another communication.
City manager is going to tell you all about these blue shirts.
City manager?
Sure.
So thank you, Council for sporting your new visit, so see, Danville, Pizzlevin, the County
So, many people may be know in the community that Danville and Pennsylvania County now work together to promote tourism and the region.
We not only promote our city in the county, but we also promote areas around the city and the county where visitors may be coming to our community.
And the tourism division of our economic development and tourism department recently launched the visit soci brand.
and so you'll be seeing more of that, so follow visit so see on Facebook, Instagram, various
other social media platforms, you can learn more about what the cool things that are happening
in our community where people can come visit and not only see what's new in-dambal that many
people are talking about, but all the existing tourism assets that are throughout our region that
we've always had and will continue to promote.
You can pick these up at the visitors.
We can pick up stuff at the visitor centers.
It's my understanding that the hats were flying off the shelf.
At the visitor center, the visitor center.
So we had reorder more hats from what I was told.
So apparently there's folks that enjoy the brand.
You can get t-shirts hats very.
So they're what I guess they call it collateral.
I don't want sure why they use that term.
But anyway, we'll swag, swag at our visitor center, and you'll get to meet some great folks
that work there called Travel Counselors, which is a new term as well.
So I'm learning all sorts of things about how tourism is supposed to occur in a day of
well now that we've put an extra focus on tourism in our area.
Anything else for you on the community?
So speaking of the stadium study, we have our kickoff meeting coming up
But later this month, August 30th, and there's an opportunity if Council members would like to provide input to that process.
We have some time right now. We really have a short amount of time probably enough for two Council members since you can only have two at a time.
But if you, if there are more than two Council members who are interested in providing input, obviously we're going to listen to folks and we can arrange for more time.
that on August 30th, 1030 is our first opportunity for council members to provide that input.
And we can send that to anyone else.
There you go, Councilman Vogler, very good.
Anybody else is interested in August 30th, 1030, and I'll give you the place that will be meeting.
Can you give us other dates and we will wait a minute?
If you want to provide input, certainly we can offer that opportunity.
And the other thing I wanted to mention is the Virginia Municipal League Conference is in Norfolk, I'm sorry, I'm not from Virginia, so I probably mispronounce that.
October 8th through the 10th of this year, so in the past we've tried to make sure we can get people signed up, so please, you'll get information out, let us know if you're planning to attend.
We try to get rooms where the conference is staying and make sure you check those dates and are available.
We don't want to over-register if we don't have to.
So if you can check the calendars for October 8th through the 10th for the VML Conference and let the staff know.
Correct? Anything else?
That's it. Thank you.
Deputy City Manager.
City Attorney?
Nothing. The seating, Mr. Mayor.
City Clerk nothing sir roll call please Mr. Mayo. Yes, I'm just just putting that note in it
But then it's just in meeting tonight and definitely
In
Speaking on homelessness, you know, it's not a lot. It's it's a lot you can we can definitely talk about
And I'm definitely interested if it's about change
If any councilman is being able to be involved because of the work that I've been doing
Do the past years as well as continuing to do. I wanted to add the fact of, you know, the incarceration
on local jails, who people come out, you know, as an issue also that we have to see along with
the homelessness. But I, I, I, I've thank you for coming up to talk about the shelter. I, I like
fact of the day soon, but I tell you, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I have a opportunity to see one stop
centers also that people can come at the, and various agencies are there to assist in every way
they can, you know, that's one of the things that I found that's so successful because when people
can go to there, whether it's for whatever reason, they can get some assistance right away, and
being on several boards for already and see what the reach program does, as well as all others.
It's very, damn well has a lot of services.
We just, we have to continue to get that out to the people to know what they can get
and what their services that are available.
When you're looking at a lot of this agencies from Salvation Army to the PCCA,
Virginia Care's programs, definitely social services, various churches, definitely spoke
on his, and what he does, bright view, and I can name others, but I think the education
part to the citizens is netting and continuing to pull out the scene what's available.
I get a call every week, mayor, on someone that's in this situation, and right the fact
had a call today and it's it's it's been very fortunate working with a lot of agencies. I enjoyed
it's my passion and I know we together will make all things possible for us is that in need
and we've got to continue to do that and bring out the ideas that that's going to help them. Thank you.
Thank you. Vice-man Miller. Yeah the hospital is mourning a loss for a good man Dr. Johnson
chrome dad recently in orthopedic surgeon, great skill.
He was a sports medicine, he'd done a fellowship in sports medicine, and he's actually
the physician for avert athletics and for the damsel braves, and, unfortunately, he died
after a long illness, a good man, and he'll be sorely missed.
The utility's commission had a couple of interesting highlights, I'm not going to anything
we went through, but the battery storage project that was started last year, and the first
If you're a saved animal, $1.2 million of charges, you know, when we have the peak
shaving, and it takes over when the peak power of UCG is, and if you don't have that,
then Apple Edge and Mara, the rates are based on the highest rate, the hottest day of the
year of the coldest day of year, and not an average, but the hottest or the coldest.
So that means the rates are going to be higher for all of us.
So last year, in the first year, there was an operation, it saved $1.2 million, pretty impressive.
We're going to need some power.
Some interesting things, Tyson, when they get going, only 10 megivolts of electricity,
air farms, five, seizures, seven, they're going to be massive power consumers.
So we're going to have to come up with some more energy for all but it's a good thing.
It's a good thing.
And finally, we always talk about kids staying around the youth a few years ago, it was a bad storm, and I was going, my wife and I were going to eat it a Mexican restaurant there at Blue Park.
And on the way, I noticed too, they returned out there at high school, just after high school age, they were walking along, and they got there, they walked from Marshall Terrace, which is quite a hike.
But then the storm hit, and it was a drenching rainfall, so I felt sorry for them, so I
got to offer you to take them back, and ask them what they did, and they finished high
school when I'm a G.W., and I said, what are you doing now, you're going to school and you're
going to school in the dealer's school at Seasers, and two weeks I'll graduate, and I'll be
able to deal six hands with black jacket once, and then make a lot of money.
So this is a probably a kid that would have gone elsewhere before Seasers came, and now he's
in here because he's got a good, darn good job. That was our plan to keep the young people here.
Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Sondos.
Nothing is there. Thank you. Mr. Vogue. You all ready for this? Nothing.
Thank you.
Mr. Whittle. Yeah, you know, we are the city of churches. So I figured we got 250,
to your 30s. So if you take two people from each church with the homeless that I shouldn't be that
big of a burden on it to pick it up. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Buckner. Nothing. Thank you. Thank you.
Reverend Campbell. Mrs. Sosey. That's all I can.
Reverend Campbell. Nothing. Thank you. Mr. Hood? I want to give a shout out first to the citizens of Danville
Because Dan will have shown that we are a proactive city to where our citizens get involved and our citizens come out and with their concerns and able to come here and present that to us with transparency and to be able to have, you know, not not debates but be able to share people's feelings and concerns and to hear council take it and take it and try to take it in the heart.
a couple people I want to give a shout out to is the RHA staff, Miss Lerissa and Claudia and I
want to also their staff and board members. Jude from House of Hope, Rev. Ferrell and Mr. Dave again
for, you know, your intense, extraneous email that gave us all details that we needed from a
concern business owner and citizen. Just the resources and partnership that we talk about is something
else does very major. I know we speak on homelessness and with the camp and I'll go back
to that for a split second. But if I'm not mistaken, you have to have ID to actually stay
at the homeless centre. Correct.
So if I'm out of line, please tell me.
So yeah, it's some form of photo ID and that's just so we can be sure of who's actually
staying at the shelter. It doesn't have to be stayed issue, it doesn't have to be current.
It just has to be something from somewhere that has your name and your picture.
Okay, and maybe I was thinking, you know, as far as people sent up tents that's already prior, it's happening
We come up with some type of resource to be able to together because I'm sure as a abundant amount without ID
So if we could come up with some type of program to a help of system that could help a system with their resources
Because now we know exactly how to identify them. So it's just different ways that we can go about
So I'm all on board and I appreciate everything the system staff is doing and everybody with working with this
inside of moving forward, so that's it.
Thank you.
We've held you all here long enough.
Dr. Miller, read us into closed session.
Thank you all for being here, Dr. Miller.
All right.
Mr. Mayor, I'm going to move this meeting in the city council.
The city of Downbridge, in the B. Recess, in council meeting.
We can be in a closed meeting for the following purposes.
The discussion or consideration of a
disposition, real property for public purpose.
We're discussion.
Open meeting.
We've ever seen back the bargaining position in the city.
permitted subsection of A3 of Section 223,
Sam Wong on the cover unit.
As a minute, specifically to consider the sale
of purchase of civic property for use
by prospective industrial commercial or mixed-use projects
looking to locate in the city,
and an economic development discussion
and up there concerning the complexity of business or industry.
We're no previous announcement has been made,
and expansion of a existing business
or industry, we're no previous announcement would be made.
We've made about subsection of Section A5,
Section 223, Sam Wong on the cover unit,
as a man in a more specific considered perspective commercial mixed use hospitality and
lesser projects considering locating within the city within the region of
cooperation with the city's region of partners. I think it's all.
Second by Councilman Widow, Madam Clerk called a role police.
Mr. Buckner, Reverend Campbell, Mr. Hood,
Mayor Jones, Mr. Mayo, Vice Mayor Miller, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Vowbore, Mr. Widow.
To all of you here we are in a close meeting. We thank you all so much for being here tonight.
Thank you so much for visiting your city government.
We accept you drive home safely and thank you for that novel you allow me to read it for
in this long.
Thank you.