[3:16] Welcome to our September 23rd, 2020, city council meeting. Please stand for invocation by

[3:24] Mr. Plansom Info-Rodie, followed by the pledge.

[3:37] I went to reflect on where this country is over the last couple of weeks, and then I'll be

[3:45] to center prayer.

[3:56] Father God, I come to you asking for wisdom, for guidance,

[4:02] and for our heart seeking your face. Be with us this evening as we serve

[4:07] of your people and help us to remember that they are your people.

[4:14] Thank you so much for the opportunity to serve and call into our call.

[4:17] In Jesus' name, amen.

[4:20] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic of

[4:26] Korea.

[4:42] The President has divided into four sections, consent agenda, public hearing, public comment

[4:46] and general business.

[4:50] Mr. Mr. Solution, we've got everyone here, we've just gone to our roll call now, and

[4:57] and then come back to the agenda.

[5:01] To clarify, I think there was an issue with broadcasting for roll call, so that was not able

[5:06] to be broadcast, and so the mayor is suggesting that you all do roll call when it's more

[5:10] here in the formal setting.

[5:14] Mr. Prorod.

[5:16] I think I'll also be in the record that I don't need to say it again.

[5:18] There's pep people see it just to see it.

[5:20] Thank you.

[5:25] So, councilors, we're always have a lot of great things about our city and all wonderful things

[5:30] that happened this last week.

[5:31] So it isn't the record, but I would like to share that while there's so much to celebrate

[5:41] about our city and our wonderful people and our citizens, there's been a lot of sadness around

[5:47] our country over the last few weeks as well and we all know what I'm referring to.

[5:52] So what's been on my heart is I would love to see our community and our citizens come together

[5:59] and find a way to work better together and unify and put differences aside and just work better

[6:10] together because things can get accomplished so much better when we do that.

[6:13] So that's what I'm calling on all of us to do.

[6:17] So that's my question.

[6:18] Yeah, so I'm really quick.

[6:20] I'm going to give you a lot of great things happening on the community this weekend at Diamond

[6:23] Hill.

[6:23] the University Day for our community, which is amazing, also a part of peer street.

[6:28] I'm pissed you have such a rich history like community.

[6:31] So it was a glad for that.

[6:32] I also get art festival.

[6:34] It is the last of the annual art show.

[6:36] That was wonderful.

[6:38] Some gifts to artists are in our community.

[6:40] Those for the running counties.

[6:41] Those are the main events that are going on.

[6:43] Thank you.

[6:44] Mr.

[6:44] Oh.

[6:46] Mr. Mayor.

[6:48] And thank you, Mr. Ann Benson, for your help.

[6:52] In role call today, I'm played a video in honor of Mr. Charlie Kirk.

[6:57] It is his light-wife, Erica, and her call to respond with love.

[7:03] And I was, if we could play that again and follow it with a moment of silence.

[7:07] I appreciate that. Thank you, Ms. Rath.

[7:28] I'll just speak briefly to Ms. Rath.

[7:38] Okay.

[7:42] I greatly appreciate the boldness and courage that Erica has continued in her own faith,

[7:52] but also in honor of her husband, Charlie Kirk, and the boldness with which she responds in

[7:59] the midst of division in our nation that we are to respond to to hate with love and not

[8:05] respond with hate, but rather in the opposite spirit, and I think that that is something that

[8:10] we should all be able to rally behind, regardless of faith. I believe that faith is

[8:17] significant, but regardless of faith, that is a truth that we should be able to acknowledge

[8:23] and embrace. So I greatly appreciate her leadership. I greatly appreciate her testimony, and

[8:29] I appreciate their boldness and courage and open dialogue to invite people of differing opinions

[8:36] and viewpoints into conversation.

[8:38] And I believe that's what our nation was built on.

[8:41] And so in honoring her and honoring Charlie's legacy, I do ask that again, we would just

[8:47] take a moment of silence and pray for this nation.

[8:51] And the nation that he loved and the nation that I love, I hope we all love.

[8:56] So thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[8:57] Well, let us out, let's please.

[9:08] Thank you.

[9:09] Listen, the mission.

[9:10] Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[9:17] Sometimes a short period of time can pass,

[9:20] like the last two weeks since our previous meeting.

[9:24] But it feels like it was years or maybe even a decade, right?

[9:30] And that's kind of how I feel with the last two weeks,

[9:33] the things that have happened.

[9:36] On the national stage.

[9:39] Charlie Kirk was killed for his outspoken faith, his profession of Jesus Christ and his passion

[9:44] for meeting full and spirited debate.

[9:48] All driven by his commitment to exercising and preserving our most sacred right, the right

[9:53] to free speech and expression which has been endowed by our creative.

[10:03] Mr. Kirk was no stranger to Lynchburg.

[10:06] He played a foundational role in establishing the Fall Kirk Center at Liberty University, which

[10:10] now known as the Standing for Freedom Center, and he earned an honorary doctor from Liberty

[10:15] as well.

[10:17] Liberty also hosts the nation's largest collegiate chapter of Turning Point USA.

[10:21] The organization founded by Charlie Kirk.

[10:24] Their mission is to identify, train, and organize students to promote the principles of

[10:27] fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government.

[10:31] The size of Liberty's Turning Point USA chapter, alone, underscores the enduring influence

[10:37] The Charlie Kirk has had on our students faculty and staff who are an important part of our community.

[10:46] Charlie Kirk inspired millions of young Americans to get involved in shaping the future of our nation,

[10:50] making their voices heard by exercising their first amendment rates and participating in robust,

[10:56] often spirited debate.

[10:58] Most of all, Charlie was a man of strong faith in conviction in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

[11:03] And he was unapologetic about professing the gospel of Christ.

[11:08] The Jesus was sent here on a rescue mission for our souls to be brutally crucified on a cross.

[11:13] Four our sins and to overcome death through his resurrection.

[11:17] Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins so we don't have to.

[11:20] As long as we turn from our sin and repent, accept God's gifts of salvation and allow the Holy Spirit to enter our lives.

[11:28] Charlie Kirk died as a martyr to the Christian faith.

[11:33] In closing,

[11:36] I really want to thank our Parks and Rec director, Wyatt Wooddy, who was

[11:41] instrumental in helping the Liberty University chapter of Turning Point, USA, we were able

[11:48] to get city stadium booked for a memorial service this Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. for the

[11:56] entire community, open to the public, it'll be September 28th from 7 to 9 p.m.

[12:03] and I just

[12:04] I can't say how thankful I am of why I would be for stepping in and being able to get that done so quickly.

[12:12] It was an honor to be able to serve these students and help facilitate this process.

[12:16] And I'm extremely thankful that they want to join members of our community to pray for our nation and remember the life of Charlie Kirk, who had a profound impact on our nation and our community.

[12:26] Thank you.

[12:30] I would be remiss as well if not Mr.

[12:37] Kirk's assassination, political assassinations change history.

[12:43] What always happens is when you try to silence somebody, you only amplify their voices,

[12:50] and Mr. Kirk's voice has been amplified a million fold.

[12:54] more people know of him now and know what he talked about and they know that he talked about his

[12:58] saver, his Lord, and Jesus Christ. He was asked what he wanted to be remembered for when he

[13:05] died and he was very clear, he answered pretty quickly. He said that he wanted to be remembered

[13:11] for his courage, for his faith. And I want to be remembered that way. As I mentioned earlier,

[13:21] I'm sorry we're having to be redundant, but I'll say it because the video didn't work and I'm sorry that that video didn't work.

[13:30] I'm very sad that that video didn't work because Erica said something that touched me deeply and I struggled with even hearing.

[13:37] Okay, just to be honest, brutally honest. She forgave the man who assassinated her husband in that video.

[13:47] an amazing example of grace and forgiveness.

[13:53] I'm not sure I'm capable of, probably not, but I want to be.

[13:58] And she, she meant it.

[13:59] It was clear.

[14:01] But that example is the example of the Christ set forth as well.

[14:05] And she was following her Savior.

[14:09] And Charlie Kirk was following his, and I want to follow Jesus Christ.

[14:12] And I would encourage every member of the Lynchburg community.

[14:16] out of respect, even, and just to learn something maybe, but to just come out to the

[14:21] vigil, Sunday night, so open to the public, you're welcome, everybody, from all parts

[14:27] of the city, all sections of the city is welcome to come.

[14:31] And if nothing else celebrate, free speech, and be with those kids up at Liberty, who all

[14:38] knew Charlie on a first name basis, and met him, and had been mentored by him, and were loved

[14:44] by that man. He gave his life for the youth of America and the world, and he will be remembered as such.

[14:52] So, come on out. You might find out that, you know, you don't have to write, you don't have to protest, you don't have to...

[15:00] Make light of someone's death. You can, in respect and civility, honor a man who gave his life, fighting

[15:09] for what he believed in and was effective. And that's why they killed him. But he will be more

[15:16] effective in his death than he was in his life. That is the way of history. I want to, also, I

[15:25] would be remiss if I didn't honor this guy.

[15:29] Mr. Steve Dunne, superintendent of the Lynchburg Regional

[15:31] Water Resource Recovery Facility, because he was awarded the William D.

[15:36] fat-filled award for outstanding performance and professionalism

[15:40] in the operation of a wastewater treatment plant.

[15:43] He basically got this statewide honor at the Virginia Water

[15:47] Environment Association Awards luncheon recently, September 10th,

[15:51] and Virginia Beach, one of our own, and we should be proud of him.

[15:54] I've met him. He's not the Steve Dunn, the lawyer. That's the first thing you told me.

[15:59] I knew that. He's the Steve Dunn who threw his efforts, helped result in a cleaner and a more sustainable environment for the citizens of Lynchburg and a cleaner river for us.

[16:12] And especially the people downstream that I've mentioned.

[16:15] Also, I would be remiss if I didn't mention Miss Sarah, who is accepted a new role from the clerk's office.

[16:23] She'll be moving to be the assistant director of HR in the city of Lunchberg, a new role that closely aligns with her personal and career goals.

[16:33] I'm going to miss you, but we want to congratulate you in the new role and we wish you nothing but the best Sarah.

[16:38] So let's have a hand for Sarah.

[16:46] Thank you all.

[16:47] Now we'll continue with the consent agenda.

[16:49] The first section is the consent agenda includes routine items that can be approved with one vote.

[16:58] Mr.

[17:02] Mr. Mayor, I'm objecting to the consent agenda, so it has to be pulled by the rules of procedure.

[17:12] You are objecting to the consent agenda again.

[17:16] Upon a quest for council member and I shall be moved for the consent agenda.

[17:19] The item shall be considered separately after adoption of the consent agenda.

[17:21] I'm objecting to the entire consent agenda.

[17:26] So, Section 5 to D, the Foreign Quest for Council Member, and I'm sure I've been here

[17:31] from the consent agenda of objecting to the entire consent agenda.

[17:34] May I?

[17:35] Mr. Farrow.

[17:36] I just make a little slower so I can understand.

[17:40] Thank you.

[17:43] That's all.

[17:43] I speak a little.

[17:44] No, no, no.

[17:46] You want to repeat yourself, Mr.

[17:47] Section 5 to D, of our rules of procedures, as a panel of quest of accounts,

[17:53] a member and item shall be removed from the consent agenda.

[17:55] The item shall be considered separately after adoption of the consent agenda.

[18:00] So what I'm saying is, I am objecting to the entire consent agenda as a block.

[18:04] We do.

[18:07] It's going to be seven.

[18:08] It would be on consent.

[18:10] Okay.

[18:11] I know that we would all five items from the consent agenda to gender basis, and that we discuss

[18:17] them all tonight.

[18:19] I will second that motion, and I will second that motion, and if you're okay with this kind

[18:26] amendment that would you move to the end of general business or you get with that

[18:29] council member. No, I would like it the beginning, please.

[18:35] We're getting another consent agenda. We're getting your general business.

[18:38] The beginning of general business. General business. I'm satisfied with that too.

[18:42] Is that what you said? It's fine.

[18:43] That'll work. I'm good with that. So I'll second. I'll second the motion.

[18:47] Okay. Thank you.

[18:49] I'll be discussion.

[18:50] I'm going to change that now.

[19:27] Motion passes. 6-1.

[19:34] All right. Moving on to public hearings. The next session is public hearings.

[19:37] These require by law direct to buy council, procedure.

[19:39] Staff will give a presentation, the public can give comments.

[19:42] Individuals have three minutes to speak,

[19:44] is speaking for a group you have five.

[19:46] Group seekers must say which group they're present,

[19:48] each group gets one spokesperson.

[19:50] Each speaker must say their name and loyalty of residents.

[19:53] After public comments, the public hearing will close,

[19:55] and the matter will rest with council.

[19:57] Agenda Item number six,

[19:58] consideration of adopting a resolution

[19:59] through an experimental of FY 2025,

[20:03] consolidated annual performance report

[20:04] for the CDBG and Home Program.

[20:07] This item was discussed during the Finance Committee meeting

[20:09] earlier today.

[20:10] Ms. Noble Walker, Grant Svangel, will provide a summary of the request.

[20:15] Good evening, Mayor Taylor.

[20:17] Vice Mayor Deemer and members of City Council.

[20:19] Tonight, City Council is conducting a public care

[20:22] in to receive the comments regarding the program year 2824.

[20:26] This will year 2025.

[20:28] Consolidated annual performance and evaluation

[20:30] for the community development block grant and home program.

[20:36] And, excuse me, I approve a resolution for some middle of the report to the U.S.

[20:41] Department of Housing and Urban Development Hut.

[20:44] I copy of this report has been provided to you.

[20:47] I'm going to briefly share some of the accomplishments during this past year.

[20:54] Here you can see that the resources that were made available during this program year.

[20:59] with the entitlement funds, the reprogram funds, and the program incomes for the CBBG in home

[21:07] program. Also, there are the CBBG CV funds allocated in fiscal year 2020 as a result of the coronavirus.

[21:17] The fiscal year 25 expenditures are recorded in HUD's data system, known as the integrated

[21:23] disbursement information system from fiscal year 25 and prior years allocations.

[21:30] One of our major accomplishments this year was the Jefferson Park Public Facilities Project.

[21:36] That project has been going on for about three years now and is completed and I believe

[21:40] all of you have gotten an invitation for the rhythm cutting on October 8th.

[21:45] So I look forward to seeing you all there.

[21:48] They have put a lot of work into this project and you can see the list of all of the different

[21:53] things that they did for that project.

[21:55] During this year, they expended 562,395 dollars of CDG funds for this project, and that

[22:04] was from prior year allocations also.

[22:10] Also, the Central Virginia Continuum of Care operated the coordinated home was intake

[22:16] and access known as Chia, and this program year, and there was 2,637 people assisted with 54,700

[22:24] and $6 of CDVG farms expended for this project.

[22:29] Through.

[22:30] To extreme weather center at the Salvation Army, there were a hundred and five people served seeking shelter

[22:38] during the run of season from January 25th through March of 25th. The extreme weather center

[22:44] expended 24,769 dollars of CBG funds. Within the home program, there was the home ownership

[22:52] and rental projects, a total of 57,968 dollars in home funds were

[22:57] expended by a greater lunch break habitat for humanity over on

[23:02] not street, two homes were completed and there are four homes under

[23:07] construction. The Florida Terres departments have been completed. They were

[23:12] completed at the end of this of prior year, but then they didn't get them all

[23:17] stop until this current year. So there are 11 home units within that 31 unit affordable housing

[23:24] complex.

[23:27] Here are the CBG CV funds that were expended, Interfaith Outreach spent $31,374

[23:35] and then Lentag expended $5,213 for its emergency housing and utility program. These were just

[23:44] Some of the highlighted projects, all of the others are within the report.

[23:49] There was a public notice published on September 5th for the public hearing.

[23:54] I have received no public comments prior to the public hearing.

[23:58] At the conclusion of the public hearing and approval of the resolution, I will submit the

[24:03] comments received tonight, if any, and submit the report to have.

[24:10] Is there anyone who would like to speak in favour of this? Is there anyone who would like to speak in opposition?

[24:21] Are there any voicemails?

[24:22] There are none.

[24:25] Public hearing is now closed. I refer to the chair of the committee, Mr. Missions.

[24:33] Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[24:34] Mr. Walker, thank you for your presentation.

[24:36] I have nothing to add to that.

[24:38] I appreciate all the work that you're doing and what's that I'll make a motion to approve.

[24:45] Second, is there any discussion?

[24:49] No discussion?

[24:51] Please cast you both.

[24:53] That's all.

[24:54] This is coming in the work they're doing.

[24:56] It's all by the director.

[24:57] Me and the team will really appreciate it.

[25:00] Thank you.

[25:13] Motion passes 6-1.

[25:18] agenda item number seven, consideration of introducing an ordinance approving the FY-254

[25:23] and an ordinance approving the FY-2526 first quarter of justness. This item was discussed during

[25:28] the Finance Committee meeting earlier today. Ms. Donowitz, Chief Financial Officer, we'll

[25:32] provide a summary of the request.

[25:36] Ms. In there.

[25:38] We have two public hearings tonight. These are items that are typically brought forward

[25:43] about this time each year for the fourth quarter of justness as well as first quarter adjustments.

[25:53] There we go.

[25:55] So these justements are about the same every year.

[25:59] They clean up our fiscal year 2025 that ended June 30th and also allows us to complete some projects

[26:06] that weren't finished in 2025 and to carry those funds forward into 26.

[26:12] And it's also to appropriate additional funds received for 2026.

[26:20] Oh, sorry.

[26:21] So in our fourth quarter adjustments,

[26:24] in dedicated revenue, we received program additional program funding

[26:28] for these various programs, and there is also a local match

[26:32] to two of them, the auxiliary grant, as well as the view,

[26:36] purchase services grant to the tune of about $9,000,

[26:39] which will be funded from the Anasan General Fund Balance.

[26:44] And our general use of Anasan Fund Balance, the registrar and electoral board, these are

[26:49] additional funds for expenditures related to the presidential elections, so that need to

[26:55] be appropriated to make their budget whole.

[26:58] And also, it transferred to the City Federal State Aid Fund to appropriate the local match

[27:03] for the sheriff's office burned jag program for $5,915.

[27:10] And our use of reserve, we have a reserve for health insurance claims.

[27:16] This year we had a higher number of claims than anticipated, well, this will year 25.

[27:23] So this is an up to $1.5 million for still waiting for our last reports to come in for claims.

[27:30] But this is taking funds out of our health insurance reserve and to pay for those claims.

[27:38] And our other funds and our City Federal State Aid Fund, which are our grant fund, this

[27:44] proves up our grants.

[27:46] We received additional funding for our Children's Services Act.

[27:50] In the City Capital Project's fund, we had additional funding for our Highway Maintenance Program

[27:56] and then we rescinded some funds, we just purchased the playground equipment to that the

[28:04] Guadalins Club provided. We made the direct purchase as opposed for the appropriation to be

[28:10] done here so we just needed to clean that up and rescind that appropriation. In our school's

[28:16] capital project fund, this was a state construction grant that the schools received in fiscal year

[28:22] 23 with the funds to be spent by June 30, 2025.

[28:28] This project is complete, but this was done by a former CFO at Schools and it was missed.

[28:36] It should have come to Council in 2023 and did not, but we want to make sure we clean up those

[28:40] books.

[28:41] It's in the schools' capital fund, but the funds were spent as they were intended for

[28:47] that grant.

[28:47] In our fleet services funds, we had to use a use of reserves, and due to inflationary costs for

[28:55] some of the vehicles that were purchased, and also to appropriate funds from the Criminal

[29:00] Virginia Central Virginia Criminal Justice Academy where they reimburse this for a vehicle

[29:05] they purchased.

[29:07] And then the other side of that city payroll agency fund is there.

[29:12] So that's all of our fourth quarter adjustments.

[29:14] And our first quarter adjustments, again, we received additional dedicated revenue.

[29:21] The general assembly provided a 3% state increase in bonuses for constitutional officers and also provided three new positions to in the Commonwealth Attorney's office and one in the Circuit Court Clark's office.

[29:35] And then also approved at previously unfunded state position for the sheriff's office.

[29:41] This does require a local match of a hundred and eighteen thousand three hundred and sixty dollars and then for human services juvenile services

[29:50] We had a use services board and that has become in active due to a change in state code

[29:58] They had some funds invest

[30:00] And a small checking account. And we have taken those funds and in the Youth Services Board always did something for youth. And so we are going to purchase date detectors for the detention hope. And that's going to help them there. So it's in the same spirit to what the Youth Services Board did.

[30:24] And then our library, we did receive additional state aid from the Library of Virginia.

[30:30] To carry forward projects, one of the police department is to replace 24 tactical rifles.

[30:37] And also at the Emergency Communications Center, upcoming improvements and to purchase training laptops.

[30:44] And for public works, the appropriation to purchase a mulcher and replace a utility vehicle to use downtown,

[30:51] including on the Bluff Walk for $60,000.

[30:56] For our use of unassigned general fund balance,

[31:00] we need to true up some grants.

[31:03] And this is where we move money from the general fund

[31:06] to our grant fund for the local match of those grants.

[31:09] And this one is for our arts and cultural district

[31:13] that we true up.

[31:14] This is an annual appropriation that we make every year

[31:17] once we close and figure out how much money we got

[31:20] our lodging tax in that area.

[31:22] For our reserve balance, this is a transfer to the technology fund

[31:26] that Council approved back in June of 2000.

[31:31] This allows us to put some money that was left

[31:34] in the IT budget as well as some other funds that

[31:38] come in for cell service into a tech fund that

[31:41] helps us fund our new IT projects.

[31:46] Other funds, we do have additional funding

[31:49] and our grant fund, our community development block grant, we receive our true appropriation

[31:57] later than what's in the proposed budget. So this screws up our CBG and our home projects.

[32:04] Fourth of the assets, we're now allowed to budget those funds. So once those funds come in that

[32:09] forward the Commonwealth Attorney's Office and also the police department, we appropriate those

[32:14] funds for projects.

[32:18] The technology fund, this is the other side of that entry, and then in our city capital

[32:22] projects funds, we received 13,370,000 dollars as a smart scale grant for the 501,221

[32:31] one-way pair, 850,000 for the VDOT award for Ivy Creek Innovation Park and an additional

[32:39] So $428,333 of revenue share for the fifth street phase four project, and then we rescinded

[32:48] $923,780 that was federal funds that were previously awarded by V dot for nationwide

[32:57] drive past pedestrian improvement project.

[33:01] So this is trueing up V dot funds.

[33:04] And that concludes our one more fleet services fund.

[33:09] Again, this is some vehicles that were appropriated in 2025 that had not been purchased

[33:15] it.

[33:16] You know, there's been a serious lag in the vehicles and how long it's taken to get them.

[33:21] So this is caring for that fund so we can make this purchases.

[33:25] But if the inclusion of the public hearings, I'll be happy to answer any questions.

[33:29] Thank you.

[33:30] Thank you, Ms. Hoyt.

[33:31] Ms. Mayor.

[33:31] The public input piece is correct and is to reiterate.

[33:36] The notice went out for two public hearings for this.

[33:39] So the first one would be for fourth quarter adjustments.

[33:42] Once public input has been received, that public

[33:44] care is closed, then you can open it up for the first quarter adjustments.

[33:48] So two public hearings.

[33:49] Two public hearings.

[33:53] We need to do this again.

[33:55] No, I believe you could open the floor for fourth quarter adjustments.

[33:58] Anybody to speak in favor?

[34:02] I want to speak in favor of both court adjustments.

[34:10] Anyone who is speaking opposition?

[34:11] Who can?

[34:12] Fourth court adjustments.

[34:16] Are there any voicemails?

[34:18] There are none.

[34:20] Public hearing is now closed.

[34:22] I defer to the chair that committee.

[34:25] Excuse me.

[34:30] Is there any other discussion?

[34:34] I read the next public hearing and then take both together

[34:38] individually if that makes sense.

[34:39] What I would recommend that we keep separate. That's right. Public hearings.

[34:48] Two separate votes.

[34:49] They should be seven.

[34:51] Okay. As long as there's two separate votes on them.

[34:53] That's right.

[34:56] Okay.

[34:57] So the fourth quarter distance is now closed.

[34:59] It would be appropriate now to be on to the first quarter adjustments.

[35:01] Looking for anyone to speak in favor.

[35:03] You know, one of us speaking first quarter adjustments.

[35:06] And one of us speak with gas first quarter adjustments.

[35:12] Are there any voicemail?

[35:13] There are none.

[35:18] The public hearing is now closed deferred to the chair of their committee.

[35:23] Most of the missions.

[35:26] I have nothing further to add than Mr. Whip provided.

[35:29] Mr. Mayor.

[35:29] Yes, sir.

[35:30] Now, is there any other discussions?

[35:34] No.

[35:35] Okay.

[35:37] Now, are we able to take a vote?

[35:40] I have to have a motion.

[35:41] A motion to take a vote, please.

[35:43] This

[35:46] did go committee, so Councilor missions could move it forward as a motion it would require

[35:51] no second.

[35:52] We did not vote on this in committee because of the public hearing, so when the why so it

[35:58] would just be, or it makes motion in a second.

[36:09] Just for the first one, that is motion and seconded for approval is the fourth quarter of

[36:15] Yes.

[36:18] All right.

[36:19] Introducing the note now.

[36:33] The motion passes for three.

[36:39] And now we have the second quarter, which is.

[36:43] Can I?

[36:44] Yes.

[36:46] The first quarter at white 2026.

[36:49] The first quarter.

[36:50] And I'll make a motion to approve the first quarter at white 2026.

[36:54] Second.

[36:57] I'd like to speak to that motion when we get it.

[36:59] When you're ready, Mr. Mayor?

[37:03] Yes.

[37:03] And this, there's some pretty significant adjustments being made in this, particularly

[37:08] appropriations.

[37:10] I think 13 million I think is what it was for 501-211 smart scale funding to, we desperately

[37:16] need to get that intersection done and moving very important.

[37:22] Lots of public safety items as well in there, for our police department, for our emergency

[37:26] communications department.

[37:28] I think that there's...

[37:31] A lot of important things that we need to appropriate these funds for in this 1st quarter adjustment. That's why I made a motion for it.

[37:39] Please speak to me, second.

[37:43] Please cast your votes.

[37:45] Initiatives vote now.

[37:55] The motion passes 6-1.

[38:01] The next section is public comment. Speakers have three minutes to talk if you're speaking for a group you have five.

[38:06] City Council listens to your comments and may ask the city manager to follow up. Citizens often have different opinions.

[38:12] To make sure everyone feels comfortable speaking, there is no applause, cheers or cheers.

[38:16] do not intimidate insult or disrupt others, do not use profanity permit businesses or campaign

[38:20] for office.

[38:21] Agenda item number eight, hear from a group representative regarding keeping your word.

[38:25] Greg Barry, City Elders, please restate your name.

[38:30] Group representative and locality presents.

[38:43] Good evening Mayor Taylor, Vice Mayor Deemer, and seat council members.

[38:47] My name is Greg Barry, and I'm representing the Missberg City Elders, and I live in Ward

[38:53] All praise, honor and glory be to God in His Son, Jesus Christ.

[38:58] In Matthew 24, starting with verse 37, reread, but as the days of no war, so shall also

[39:06] the coming of the Son of man be.

[39:09] For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and

[39:15] giving in marriage until the day that no entered into the ark.

[39:20] and knew not until the flood came and took them all away.

[39:26] So shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.

[39:31] On September 11, 2001, for the first time in U.S. history,

[39:37] we were attacked on our own soil by radical Islamist.

[39:42] We were attacked by all most of us were simply going about our daily lives

[39:46] oblivious to the warning signs. We lost nearly 3,000 citizens on that

[39:53] faithful day. It led to a war in Iraq and against Osama bin Laden. These events

[40:01] led Americans back to their churches and underneath before God and we said

[40:07] never forget. But we did forget. Not only did we forget those who died, but we

[40:16] Forgotten those that brought this terror upon us, Radical Islam.

[40:21] We are once again walking around like the blind and ignoring the threats right here as we

[40:27] have Radical Islam as running for public office.

[40:31] We truly have forgotten.

[40:33] On September 10th, 2025, Charlie Kirk was taken away from us because of his stance for truth

[40:42] and freedom.

[40:43] He spoke often about bookism and Marxism combined with Islamism and attempting to destroy

[40:50] the American way of life which is Christendom. Charlie Kirk stood in the way. Charlie's

[40:57] death is yet another reminder that we must first get on our knees before God and then rise

[41:03] and stand for truth, righteousness, and freedom.

[41:09] With this result in civil war or revival, hate

[41:14] I believe it could be both.

[41:17] We already have seen the numbers of people turning to God

[41:21] and the revival has begun.

[41:24] If you bothered to observe any of Charlie's memorial services,

[41:28] this is obvious.

[41:31] But we've also observed many who blatantly lie about the mission of Charlie.

[41:36] What he said, what he stood for,

[41:39] and others who are calling for further violence groups like Antifa.

[41:47] Are we simply going to close our eyes and go back to sleep?

[41:52] We do so at our own peril.

[41:55] My recommendation is City Council take a firm stand for truth and freedom

[42:00] and all the Charlie Kirk stood for.

[42:03] Lynchburg citizens deserve a resolution from you that recognizes him for his sacrifice and love for his Savior and the same time condemns those who resort to violence to silence people who believe in the first amendment.

[42:21] The question is, are you brave enough to do the right thing?

[42:28] And Psalms 112 says, prays the Lord, blesses the man to fear at the Lord, that delighteth

[42:36] greatly in His commandments, He shall not be afraid of tidings, His heart is fixed

[42:42] trusting in the Lord.

[42:44] We must keep our word to never forget.

[42:49] Thank you.

[42:51] agenda item number nine here from a group of representative regarding indivisible

[42:55] liberty and justice for all so single indivisible lynchburg please restate your

[43:00] name group represented in locality of residents mayor Taylor and members of

[43:05] Council my name is Sue Stingle and I'm a resident of lynchburg tonight I'm speaking

[43:10] on behalf of indivisible lynchburg since January we have organized two of the

[43:16] just demonstrations ever held in Lynchburg. Some of you know what indivisible is and what

[43:23] we stand for, some of you don't. At least one of you has made inflammatory statements and

[43:29] put lies about indivisible on your Facebook pages. We are a large dispersed organization that works

[43:36] with hundreds of other groups around the country and the globe. I'm here tonight to specifically address

[43:43] our organizing principle of non-violence.

[43:47] The plethora of allegiance that we all

[43:49] recited earlier contains the words indivisible with liberty

[43:53] and justice for all.

[43:55] Indivisible believes in a multiracial, inclusive democracy.

[43:59] One where everyone has equal rights and equal power,

[44:02] no matter where they live, or what they look like.

[44:06] Indivisible was founded in 2016,

[44:09] when a concerned group of citizens agreed

[44:11] that politics is too important to be left to politicians.

[44:17] Indivisible Lynchburg was formed the following year in 2017.

[44:22] Indivisible has been rooted in the belief that organized people can beat organized hate.

[44:28] From the start, we've been committed to nonviolence as a guiding principle in everything we do.

[44:35] That includes our demonstrations, our organizing, our advocacy.

[44:41] We organize out in the open, and if you want to see that in action, join us in a public

[44:47] Zoom call every Thursday afternoon.

[44:50] Last week, over 7,000 people attended that call.

[44:54] We reject all forms of political violence and intimidation, no matter the target.

[45:00] In the last 10 years, people of our country have politicized non-political tragedies, both the left and right are guilty.

[45:10] By non-political tragedies, I mean events like September 11, gun violence and playing crashes.

[45:18] No matter woman can be held responsible after their life is ended, for how living people react to their death.

[45:26] Only 4% of this country, 4% believe in political violence.

[45:34] But if leaders egg on that 4%, the danger will increase as a 4% willing to do violence

[45:40] increases.

[45:43] The violent rhetoric that was posted on Facebook by Councilman Missions was dangerous and

[45:48] will continue to be a danger to members of indivisible and others who peacefully gathered

[45:54] to make our voices heard.

[45:56] A catalog of missions dangerous Facebook posts

[45:59] was sent to every council member by my friend Pat.

[46:03] I won't review it here.

[46:07] A core principle behind all indivisible

[46:09] events is a commitment to nonviolent action.

[46:13] We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate

[46:16] any potential confrontation with those who disagree

[46:19] with our values.

[46:20] We train and retrain volunteers in de-escalation techniques nationally and divisible prohibits carrying any weapon to an event.

[46:32] Many things can become weapons, including flag poles that are wider than your finger, your little finger.

[46:39] In a guns state like Virginia, we unfortunately cannot prohibit firearms at our events,

[46:44] But we can, and have us, the Lynchburg City Police, to manage the threat with us.

[46:51] Several firearms were brought to the June 14th rally.

[46:55] The police managed the situation for us peacefully.

[46:59] Loudest ruptures were mostly handled by us, including by my activists, friend Molly.

[47:05] Language like that, posted by Missions, can provoke people to violence on either side

[47:10] of the political divide.

[47:11] and we will do our best to continue to control it.

[47:16] But indivisible lynch for must insist

[47:18] that mischens be sanctioned if not removed by a city council

[47:23] for the dangerous hate speech he posted on Facebook.

[47:27] We don't put our faith in individual politicians.

[47:31] We put our faith in organizing.

[47:33] That means holding elected officials accountable,

[47:36] even the ones we've support.

[47:38] We will continue to collaborate with council

[47:40] members of other groups in our area. We are brave. We are courageous and that is contagious.

[47:48] We won't back down. We ask you to heat our request. We are in this together. Thank you.

[47:57] The next section is General Business, includes new items for discussion. The first item for

[48:02] general business now being the minutes that would be June 10, June 23, June 24, June 30,

[48:17] I'll

[48:20] go with the consent agenda order items 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in block.

[48:32] These are individual agenda items to put together in a block would be to essentially keep the consent agenda as it is.

[48:42] And therefore, with the consent agenda usually have a motion to approve a block of items, I believe

[48:51] that this violates the rules of procedure section five, too, because we're not in the consent

[48:55] agencies are now all individual items.

[48:58] And the items shall be considered separately after adoption of the consent agenda.

[49:01] That's what the rules of procedure say.

[49:04] Section five, two dates as a final question of the Council Member.

[49:06] Item shall be removed from the consent agenda.

[49:08] The item shall be considered separately after adoption of the consent agenda.

[49:11] rules are pretty clear we got to do these one by one and I would my point of order is that

[49:17] they're they're motion and second is out of order because the rules of procedure say that

[49:21] we need to do these separately. Speak slower please. Keep up, please.

[49:28] On this ring. All we have to speak to our motions.

[49:32] The motions at order. I got point of order. One motion at order. Section 5 to your day at the

[49:35] rules of procedure. Mr. Freeman. So as I understand that rule, it's and the consent agenda

[49:43] really in and in and in of itself. The consent agenda is approval without discussion.

[49:49] It's where everyone has agreed to proceed. Everyone is still on board. There was no conflict

[49:55] with the issue at a previous meeting and it's put on there for the second approval.

[50:01] As far as splitting the items, the way I interpreted that rule that Councilman mission cited

[50:06] was that the individual matter, if there is a consent agenda that's to be approved, would

[50:14] be taken off and put on general business. I don't think it necessarily means that Council

[50:19] is forced to consider independently every single item that may come off the consent agenda

[50:26] in the event that they're related. So the issue here is whether or not the approval of the

[50:32] minutes together are related. Historically, I understand the Council to always approve the

[50:37] minutes together. Now, Council could decide to address them separately. Certainly, there

[50:43] could be a substitute motion to consider each of those matters separately. Or Council

[50:49] could decide with the motion on the table to consider them all as one. The issue is whether

[50:55] or not there will be discussion on all of the matters. Either way, however they are considered,

[51:00] there would be discussion on all of the minutes considered.

[51:04] So, it's really up to Council how they want to proceed with this.

[51:08] If I may, it was objected to, because in block, I objected to the consent agenda, and it's

[51:15] very clear, it says the item, which could also be items, because it's multiple items shall

[51:21] be considered separately after adoption of the consent agenda.

[51:24] And if you look at the beginning of our purpose and basic principles, and our basic underlying

[51:32] principles of rules of procedure, is that only one subject may claim the attention and

[51:37] the council time.

[51:38] Each item presented for consideration is entitled to a full and free discussion.

[51:41] These are listed as five different items for consideration, five different items to do it

[51:48] in a block would essentially kind of nullifies section 5 to the D of the rules of procedure.

[51:57] And I ask you to open your rules of procedure and actually read this for yourself, Mr.

[52:00] Mayor, and see what this says because it's very clear what the intent of the rules are.

[52:07] I appreciate the commentary that the city attorney offered to this, but there is no point.

[52:20] but even having this in the rules if we're not going to apply it.

[52:30] So, it sounds like the parliamentarian escaped you discretion to decide if you're going to rule on his objection, and once you do that, then we get to speak to our motions.

[52:42] So, if you believe that what the parliamentarian has said is that you actually can't actually vote on the Senate block, then you can rule that, and then we can speak.

[52:57] Mayor, you've heard of the last two questions.

[53:00] Yeah, because we already had one side.

[53:02] You'll see.

[53:02] We've got a point of order on the table.

[53:06] I do not find the point of order in order.

[53:10] That's what I'm doing.

[53:12] That's what I'm doing.

[53:14] Point of order is always on the table.

[53:15] I'm the president of the council and that's what I'm doing.

[53:19] Now.

[53:20] All right, Mr. Mayor, I'll make a substitute.

[53:27] The council member can make a substitute once he re-attains the floor.

[53:32] Mr. Farradi.

[53:34] Good evening, Mayor.

[53:38] So we can pump the brakes a little bit.

[53:42] There's another part of our rules of procedure that allows us to engage however the council needs to engage in order to get the business of the council done.

[53:52] One could contend, that's my intent here.

[53:57] There's no problem with Germanists because they're all the same topic.

[54:01] They're all minutes.

[54:04] If there are issues that need to be highlighted,

[54:07] I'm certain that my colleagues will bring that for us.

[54:13] So that's why I put in them in black and make sentences.

[54:17] They're all minutes.

[54:20] Okay, so I know that our clerk has worked a lot and provided us with some understanding about

[54:29] what the desires of those opposed to seemingly this motion and the concerns they've raised.

[54:36] She's incorporated some of those changes and then provided pretty direct feedback on others.

[54:45] If it isn't appropriate, if it's not inappropriate, I would appreciate hearing at least a little bit from her if that's possible about what I'm talking about.

[54:56] But outside of that, those are my comments.

[54:59] The minutes are the minutes they have been clarified to some degree and I stand by them.

[55:05] They are an accurate representation of what happened.

[55:07] Thank you.

[55:10] Yes.

[55:11] Thank you, Mayor.

[55:11] So as we all remember two weeks ago, we sat here and we were asked for more time from our colleagues, which they've been given, and they praised our amazing clerk, which she is, for all of her hard work and asked her to take more time, and they were given more time, and then she's given them a response, which they clearly didn't like.

[55:38] And so we were then threatened, remember we were threatened, but if we did, what we did tonight last meeting that we were going to get stuck here for endless hours, because we were going to have to discuss each item and nauseam for the full length of 30 minutes per item, if we didn't submit and table it or move it to this agenda to give them more time.

[56:01] So, we did that. We gave them the extra two weeks because they wanted the extra time and they wanted the clerk to

[56:09] Riggs Ammon the request and she did and we have an email. We all have an email. I will pull up from

[56:16] Ms. Finney that says

[56:19] Following the discussion and direction from council on our at our September 9th meeting.

[56:23] I have reviewed all requested edits

[56:25] to the June 23rd, 24th, June 30th, and July 8th,

[56:29] we need minutes.

[56:29] I compare the original language with the proposed changes

[56:32] and determined whether revisions were necessary.

[56:34] The attached chart documents each request,

[56:36] the proposed change and the final outcome, in summary.

[56:40] Most requests did not warrant edits.

[56:43] As the original minutes accurately captured

[56:45] the sequence of events and remained consistent

[56:48] with established practice.

[56:50] Practice.

[56:51] Again, this is the clerk that they all praise for being amazing.

[56:55] Several clarifying modifications were made to reflect accurate context and ensure

[57:01] our activity proposed insertions that were not germane to the motions on the floor or

[57:06] that are better preserved in historical records, I.E. supporting documents were left unchanged

[57:12] as is normal practice, a copy of the detailed review is attached for your reference.

[57:17] So our amazing wonderful clerk that we all agree is amazing and wonderful, as she is.

[57:22] Give you an explanation of what is standard practice, what she did, what is ethical, we all got an explanation, and you've all had time to see it.

[57:35] Our attorney looked through it, agreed. Nothing was left out, nothing was misrepresented, nothing was changed or modified to misrepresent any of all the meetings that were referred.

[57:48] you were giving your time. Now,

[57:53] here we are again. There is absolutely no reason to hijack

[57:58] this meeting. Mayor, I implore you to allow us to call this vote, stop playing games with times

[58:05] we just had a meeting upstairs about our rules of procedure and being transparent and working

[58:13] together and we're playing the game again. Ridiculous. Mr. Mayor, I wasn't finished talking.

[58:22] So, we gave them their two weeks, we gave them the time.

[58:27] Our wonderful clerk has done her job, and she gave them an answer that they did not want

[58:31] to hear, but she gave it, she did everything right by the book.

[58:36] She has not modified or done anything that has, is a misrepresentation of our meetings, we need

[58:45] to move on.

[58:46] Just very quickly I did make the motion at 7.49 and according to our bill's procedure we should only have 30 minutes of debate so I just wanted to record.

[58:54] Mr. Timmer.

[58:56] Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. For all, or Mr. Mission says I identified here as a substitute mission.

[59:02] I have a substitute mission so we're going to have to do this one out.

[59:07] I have a three-part substitute mission.

[59:12] I'm going to say one that we include in our minutes of our meeting city staff's advice that

[59:20] without a vote of council, the real estate rate would have defaulted to 89 cents. Rather

[59:26] than equalize, rather than equalization plus 1% as stated in Virginia law. And I've provided

[59:33] a chart detailing this, I'll speak to my motion a minute. The second part of my motion

[59:37] being that the minutes reflect that no vote was taken on adjournment during our June 23rd

[59:43] meeting and the third part of that motion being that the minutes reflect that a vote

[59:47] was taken on June 24th to adjourn the June 23rd meeting and I'll wait to see if there's a

[59:55] and then I'll speak to my motion.

[1:00:03] Can I get a point of clarification from the city attorney on this?

[1:00:07] What's something?

[1:00:08] Just a point of clarification.

[1:00:08] Can you get a motion on the floor?

[1:00:10] You need to be second.

[1:00:11] We'll have to get a point of clarification before a second.

[1:00:16] Mr. Attorney.

[1:00:17] Mr. Attorney.

[1:00:19] And we'll go over the second just to see if someone's second.

[1:00:22] We have to have a clear ruling.

[1:00:24] The question I have is, do we lose the substitute motion if there's no second?

[1:00:31] Yes.

[1:00:32] I

[1:00:35] would contend that that is withdrawn and we just go ahead and have a substitute motion to approve the minutes for June 10 and then go into everything else.

[1:00:52] I'm trying to prove in June 10th.

[1:00:56] These need to happen.

[1:00:57] It's so critical.

[1:00:58] Okay, I'll second to substitute.

[1:01:03] Thank you, Ed.

[1:01:04] Speak to your substitute.

[1:01:06] As is.

[1:01:06] What's the motion?

[1:01:08] She read it.

[1:01:08] The motion is a three part motion.

[1:01:11] The first aspect, including the recommendation from city staff, that we would hold over at the

[1:01:17] since rather than equalization plus 1 percent of Virginia law that that needs to be included

[1:01:22] in the minutes.

[1:01:23] The other two parts being that on June 23rd there was no vote for adjournment, but on June

[1:01:29] 24th there was a vote for adjournment to the June 23rd meeting. Neither of those, well, none

[1:01:35] of those items have been reflected in the minutes.

[1:01:39] So that's the motion.

[1:01:43] Okay.

[1:01:43] Then I will speak to you all the time.

[1:01:46] I'll speak to my motion.

[1:01:49] In some of the minutes should reflect the incorrect advice cities.

[1:01:53] Well, I'm going to back that.

[1:01:55] Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[1:01:56] Yes, Mr. Mayor.

[1:01:57] Fellow Councilman.

[1:01:59] And citizens of Lynchburg.

[1:02:01] And Mr. Mayor, I will retain the floor.

[1:02:03] I appreciate the opportunity to speak on a matter that goes to the heart of our city's

[1:02:09] Council's integrity, transparency and here it's to the law.

[1:02:13] And some of the minutes should reflect the inaccurate advice of city staff regarding the default real estate rate and that the motion to adjourn at the 23rd June 23rd meeting was not voted on, and that on June 24th those who walked out of the June 23rd meeting moved to adjourn the June 23rd meeting and vote the vote passed for the 3rd.

[1:02:36] To some this may sound like much to do about nothing, but it is far from that.

[1:02:42] This failure to provide proper legal advice and the manipulation of our rules has silenced

[1:02:49] citizen input, improperly and radically altered our discussion on real estate taxes.

[1:02:55] Could have exposed the city to litigation how we defaulted to the 89 cents as Mr.

[1:03:00] Friedman advised was the law.

[1:03:02] And allowed Mr. Feraldi to generate smearing headlines against those with whom he disagrees.

[1:03:08] Before I detail the factual support and this is all cited with timestamps.

[1:03:14] For this statement, let me speak to the common and repeated effort by some uncounsel to divert from substantive discussion.

[1:03:23] We are likely to hear when I give up the floor loud proclamations of fidelity to staff that my comments are heaping a burden on city staff

[1:03:32] and that other members of Council would trust staff

[1:03:35] quote with their lives, Mr. Forali.

[1:03:39] This sound and fury is unfounded and smoke and mirrors.

[1:03:43] I appreciate the hard work of staff

[1:03:45] and have expressed this to them directly and publicly.

[1:03:50] But if we are unwilling to discuss staff errors,

[1:03:53] particularly errors which directly impact transparency

[1:03:57] and Council discussions, then we are not doing our job.

[1:04:02] We have the responsibility to ensure staff does their job properly, consistently with the law,

[1:04:11] and as the law requires transparently.

[1:04:17] First of the city man, it's skipped a page three, I'm missing page two, hold on

[1:04:25] just a moment.

[1:04:33] Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[1:04:44] Imagine a ship's crew miss reading the navigation charts and steering the vessel toward

[1:04:49] dangerous water or the wrong direction.

[1:04:52] When a few vigilant passengers raise the alarm, instead of correcting course, some crew members

[1:04:57] accuse them of disrespecting the sailors.

[1:05:00] But the issue isn't about loyalty.

[1:05:04] It's about accuracy.

[1:05:06] If the charts are wrong, the ship is at risk, no matter how dedicated that crew may be.

[1:05:13] Now let's look at the facts.

[1:05:14] Over the past few months, we've seen a pattern of procedural manipulations and legal misrepair

[1:05:19] presentations that have eroded public trust.

[1:05:23] Today, I want to set the record straight.

[1:05:26] Based on facts, our rules of procedure,

[1:05:29] Virginia law, transcripts, and even audio

[1:05:33] that captures what really happened during our June 23rd

[1:05:36] and 24th meetings.

[1:05:38] Mr. For All these successfully maneuvered his no-car tax plan,

[1:05:42] a proposal to greatly reduce taxes while raising real estate

[1:05:46] rates taxes to $1025 per $100 of assessed value.

[1:05:52] On the agenda for public hearing, as required by Virginia Code 58.1-307 under false pretenses.

[1:06:00] The council was wrongly advised by City Attorney Mr. Matt Friedman that this hearing was mandatory.

[1:06:07] or the rate would default to 89 cents, leading to a, some say, 16, some say, 18% tax hike due to reassessments.

[1:06:17] Potentially increasing taxes on the average homeowner by about $300.

[1:06:22] This false concern prompted members to believe a vote on a new rate was necessary

[1:06:28] or the tax increase would be imposed automatically.

[1:06:31] The rate would remain at 89 cents and impose that burden.

[1:06:36] Unfortunately, that was not true.

[1:06:38] But that's not what the Virginia law says.

[1:06:40] Under Virginia Code 58.1-3321,

[1:06:44] if no hearing was held, the rate would default

[1:06:46] to the equalized rate plus 1%.

[1:06:50] Much lower by law are racing the tax increase.

[1:06:54] The statute is clear.

[1:06:56] The state law takes precedent over city ordinance

[1:06:58] and certainly over a city in turnies incorrect interpretation.

[1:07:04] This false inducement to place the hearing on the agenda shaped the entire debate

[1:07:09] and incorrect interpretation of law that the city attorney still has not acknowledged.

[1:07:15] Mr. Friedman's interpretation inverted the law in certain language in last year's ordinance that contradicted this,

[1:07:23] forcing unnecessary and unnecessary hearing in setting the stage for chaos.

[1:07:27] The fact that the council

[1:07:30] As a result, the public was told the real estate tax would default to 89 cents dramatically impacted the nature and discussion of the budget.

[1:07:39] First, the city manager proposed a budget assuming the 89 cent rate would be there, thus resulting in an average $300 increase in real estate taxes for the average homeowner,

[1:07:49] and couching any reductions in the overall increase as a budget cut.

[1:07:53] Secondly, Mr. Feraldi consistently resisted any discussion of the real estate tax rate

[1:07:59] dirt until the budget was approved. Thus forcing acceptance of the real estate rate

[1:08:05] at least 89 cents. All the while the city staff was telling counsel incorrectly that the

[1:08:12] rate would default to 89 cents. Only when the incorrect advice was exposed and Mr.

[1:08:22] Feraldi's

[1:08:23] exposed as protecting the tax increase of reappraisal was the council finally able to set a real estate tax rate.

[1:08:31] The incorrect advice dramatically altered the discussion of the real estate tax, such that it resulted in spending driving policy rather than policy driving spending.

[1:08:41] As I have previously read into the record twice during the debate, the full text of Virginia Code 58.58.1,

[1:08:49] 1-3321 established as mandatory procedures for real estate tax rates following the general

[1:08:56] reassessment. But don't worry, I'm not going to read it all again.

[1:09:01] In summary, the provision states, when a reassessment results in an increase in total assessed

[1:09:07] property values exceeding 1% as occurred in Virginia with a 16% valuation growth, the local

[1:09:14] governing body must reduce the tax rate to a level that generates no more than 101%.

[1:09:21] Of the previous year's real property tax revenues, unless it opts for a higher rate after

[1:09:27] conducting required public hearings and providing specific notices.

[1:09:33] This provision protects taxpayers.

[1:09:36] By treating any revenue increase beyond the 101% as a deliberative tax hike that demands

[1:09:43] transparency and justification, rather than allowing it to occur automatically through

[1:09:51] an action. Yet during our deliberations, statements were made that suggest the opposite,

[1:09:59] that the pre-reassessment 89 cent rate was the default and would persist if we took no action,

[1:10:07] positioning it as a neutral, rather than an increase.

[1:10:13] This framing shifted the burden on to those advocating for equalization,

[1:10:18] making it seem as though we were proposing drastic cuts.

[1:10:22] When in reality,

[1:10:29] it jumps again.

[1:10:34] Mr. Mayor,

[1:10:42] I will continue with my remarks.

[1:10:47] When in reality, we were adhering to the laws baseline.

[1:10:53] For example, and now we're going to go into quotes.

[1:10:57] On June 24th, 2025, during our work session,

[1:11:01] Deputy City Manager, Greg Patrick stated,

[1:11:04] there's adopting a rate because there's adopting a rate

[1:11:08] because right now there is a rate,

[1:11:09] and unless Council takes action, that rate doesn't change, right?

[1:11:14] Council member Chris, for all the echoed this saying,

[1:11:16] whether that means we leave it at 89, or we lower other rates to get there, or we go to 83 on real estate, and do nothing else.

[1:11:27] I'm very open to any option. And on June 30th, 2025, City Attorney Matt Friedman advised the 89 cents that's on council's books is continuing nature.

[1:11:38] Okay, so council, it should it not want to, doesn't have to address that.

[1:11:45] It does not need to be addressed if council doesn't want to do it.

[1:11:49] When Vice Mayor Deamer clarified, and this is a quote from Vice Mayor Deamer, so if we don't

[1:11:54] address the real estate tax rate tonight, by midnight, it will stay 89 cents, Mr. Friedman

[1:12:00] confirmed, and this is a quote from Mr. Friedman, well it would stay until you changed it.

[1:12:06] To retort directly to this interpretation that the Council need not vote or doesn't have to address the rate for it to remain at 89 and since, this view inverts the statute's mandate, treating the law as optional when it is imperative.

[1:12:24] I could go on with other analogies here, Mr. Mayor, and I have comments regarding my other motions, but it is important to note that this significantly shaped our entire debate on what the real estate rate would be.

[1:12:36] the advice should be included in the minutes.

[1:12:43] Analogously imagine state law required cities to shall elect council members every two years

[1:12:51] and not to cancel an election.

[1:12:54] And one city decided not to have an election one year justifying their actions by claiming

[1:12:58] they did not violate state law because they didn't cancel an election, they just continued

[1:13:03] to honor the results of the last election.

[1:13:05] That's essentially what we were advised in regard to the real estate rate.

[1:13:11] Moreover, if a city had collected taxes at the 89-cent rate,

[1:13:15] without voting to adopt it, post-reassessment,

[1:13:18] generating revenues far exceeding 101% of the prior year,

[1:13:22] it could have exposed Lynchburg to liability from taxpayers after collection.

[1:13:27] Under Virginia Code Section 58.1-3984, taxpayers could challenge the excess

[1:13:34] as an erroneous, erroneous, levy, seeking refunds, interests, or injunctions.

[1:13:42] At brief analysis, the statute's mandatory process makes any unjust rate, non-compliant,

[1:13:49] rendering the taxes erroneous due to procedural failure.

[1:13:54] Court courts have upheld similar challenges.

[1:13:58] Potentially, potentially leading to class actions or corrections that burdened city finances

[1:14:03] and a road trust. Fortunately, we avoided this by adopting a rate, but the guidance provided by Mr. Patrick and Mr. Matt Friedman could have steered us into such risks, and it should be included in our minutes.

[1:14:20] These statements had an effect of inverting the laws intent.

[1:14:25] I

[1:14:32] have a few more statements, Mr. Mayor, and I am going to complete them, and I am going to submit them formally into the record.

[1:14:39] I have them printed, and I have them available to the media with citations, as well as time stamps.

[1:14:51] Under Section 58.

[1:14:54] She's passed her time.

[1:14:55] It's been over 10 minutes.

[1:14:56] You have been here long time.

[1:15:00] Now, the problem I see is that you all have a problem with the real estate rate that we set.

[1:15:07] No, that's not what I'm contending for Mr. Mary, we have been through this.

[1:15:14] You all set here. It's gone back to the 23rd.

[1:15:21] Okay, I'm galvanizing a meeting, I'm galvanizing a meeting,

[1:15:29] a motion was made, the motion was second, and I gathered it out.

[1:15:35] Yes, I did.

[1:15:37] Okay, that's on the 23rd.

[1:15:40] We had another meeting, especially meeting that morning.

[1:15:44] The next day we came in, we voted it on a rate.

[1:15:48] Okay, and you all agreed to the rate, 84 a cent rate,

[1:15:53] That's what was recorded. That's what's important. We got a real estate rate set and that's where we stand

[1:16:05] Okay, at all this unnecessary

[1:16:11] No, no, it's not we got a rate set

[1:16:13] We got a real we got a budget. Our budget has been passed and we got a rate set and that's it

[1:16:21] Speak

[1:16:25] to you second

[1:16:27] Thank you, Samar.

[1:16:29] I appreciate everything you've put together and all your comments, and, you know, sometimes

[1:16:36] it's best just to let us.

[1:16:46] That's not what that means.

[1:16:53] That's not what that means.

[1:16:54] That's not what that means.

[1:16:56] Yes, it is.

[1:16:57] It's what was associated with my lunch.

[1:17:01] That's it.

[1:17:02] It's a bad thing.

[1:17:03] It's a bad thing.

[1:17:05] It's a bad thing.

[1:17:06] It's a bad thing.

[1:17:07] It's a bad thing.

[1:17:08] But I need to understand.

[1:17:09] We're supposed to read budget tonight.

[1:17:11] We met that obligation.

[1:17:14] This one.

[1:17:15] This link.

[1:17:17] But we were told.

[1:17:18] The race already 89 cents.

[1:17:20] So it doesn't need to be voted on if it's not going to be changed.

[1:17:25] So the words of Deputy City Manager Greg Patrick, the race already 89 cents.

[1:17:29] It doesn't need to be voted on unless it's going to be changed.

[1:17:32] That is contradictory to state law.

[1:17:34] And in addition to that, it's pretty clear.

[1:17:39] You don't have to be an attorney to read it.

[1:17:41] So Mr. Mayor, I've got the floor, and the thing about this to me, that is just very interesting.

[1:17:50] One is, I just want to point out that I did not appreciate the Tyler Tory comments made by my council member here.

[1:17:55] Mr. Reid over there saying that there was a threat. There was no threat in the last meeting.

[1:18:02] And council member Reid, there was no threat. There was no threat.

[1:18:06] I do not appreciate the dietary comments made by Councilmember Reed.

[1:18:10] I'm quite frankly, it doesn't help us to do those things.

[1:18:14] But what I will say is, substance and information that leads us to making decisions

[1:18:20] needs to be properly recorded and needs to be accounted for.

[1:18:25] It is absolutely germane.

[1:18:28] But there's one thing to me that was most interesting that Councilmember Reed stated

[1:18:34] that was a shock to me, is that the city attorney was involved in reviewing the minutes.

[1:18:42] That's news to me.

[1:18:43] I didn't know that.

[1:18:44] So I just found out from Council Member Reed, and is that true, Mr. Friedman?

[1:18:49] Did you help the clerk review the minutes?

[1:18:52] Yeah, I help her review the minutes.

[1:18:54] I checked to make sure whether or not when she asked if something was material to a vote

[1:18:59] or a motion and gave my legal opinion on it.

[1:19:03] So, so, one of the other things that was left out was the same comment was made by

[1:19:08] City Attorney Matthew Friedman that if we left the 89 cent tax rate that the 89 cent tax rate

[1:19:16] would remain, even with the assessments, having not acted on the vote.

[1:19:22] So now the same attorney that gave us that advice also weighed in on whether or not that was

[1:19:27] your main to the minutes.

[1:19:29] Well, I mean, that's what I think you just said, Mr. Mr. Mayor.

[1:19:36] I'm being interrupted by a staff member, Mr. Mayor.

[1:19:38] And I don't appreciate that.

[1:19:44] So it is a factual thing that occurred to City Attorney and the Deputy City Manager

[1:19:50] told us that the real estate tax rate would remain the same if we didn't do anything about it.

[1:19:59] That's not what state code says, state code says, equalization plus 1%, that's what it says.

[1:20:06] We were advised by the city attorney and the deputy city manager that that's what would have it.

[1:20:16] And that is what we've been told in the document that we've been provided by the clerk,

[1:20:23] which Madam Clerk, I'm now asking that the document and the email that you provided,

[1:20:28] made a part, I'm formally asking that that is a part of the official record for tonight's meeting.

[1:20:33] Because that contains hyperlinks to all of our emails and all the information that was provided

[1:20:38] with these requests, but we are being told that that was not your main.

[1:20:44] Now,

[1:20:47] I'm unsure how advice from a professional deputy city manager in city attorney that

[1:20:56] It leads to the decisions of the governing body is not germane.

[1:21:03] And I'm actually thankful to find out that there was some guidance into this.

[1:21:11] And it is quite concerning to me.

[1:21:14] And the second piece that you're going to hear me say something that Mr. Mayor, you're going

[1:21:21] The entire public is about to hear me say something, you'll probably only hear me say one time.

[1:21:28] Thank you to the Lynchburg Democrat Committee and Randy Smith for recording and publishing the meeting that did not get recorded.

[1:21:40] That did not get recorded by the staff.

[1:21:44] So the June 23rd work session that we came into, the audio for all of that is actually hidden

[1:21:53] behind the screen.

[1:21:55] Oh, you got to do a turn the volume up.

[1:21:57] And the vote that was made is on video from the Lynchburg Democrat Committee, the vote

[1:22:03] that you went over that is not included in our minutes.

[1:22:06] The Lynchburg Democrat Committee published that video.

[1:22:09] And those three minutes of audio have been removed from the YouTube video, Mr. Bayer.

[1:22:16] I understand that, but the city's official YouTube video, the audio was removed.

[1:22:23] Mr. Bayer, I'm just pointing out the truth and the facts.

[1:22:26] Man, my point of order is that a courting room was missing.

[1:22:30] Mr. Speaker, our time is expired on debate. We should vote on the substance yesterday.

[1:22:35] Just like the suggestion. We should vote on the substance.

[1:22:38] Just like the suggestion. We should vote on the substance too.

[1:22:42] We should vote on the substance too.

[1:22:42] No,

[1:22:47] there was a point of order that's being rolled on.

[1:22:49] You got to roll it.

[1:22:53] My point of order is that's to move vote.

[1:22:58] So I'll just put this out there for the record to the staff.

[1:23:01] I'd like to know where the three minutes of audio is that was missing from the YouTube video.

[1:23:07] And I will provide the link from the link for Democrat committee, YouTube video that shows fully, fully documented,

[1:23:14] a vote by the city council that is not recorded in the minutes that is not published anywhere.

[1:23:19] Thank you, Randy Smith and the link for Democrats for reporting out.

[1:23:23] Still vote.

[1:23:25] Missing the vote now.

[1:23:26] We're voting.

[1:23:27] What are we voting on?

[1:23:28] We're voting on the vote.

[1:23:29] It's a substitute motion to replace the main motion, which is to approve the minutes as a whole.

[1:23:35] So if you vote yes on this particular motion, then it would be considered with Council members requested change.

[1:23:43] Yes.

[1:23:44] Yes.

[1:23:44] That was not the next.

[1:23:46] No.

[1:23:46] I want them to reset the substitute motion please.

[1:23:50] The substitute motion has three parts.

[1:23:53] First, that it would include the advice given by Mr. Friedman and Mr.

[1:23:59] Greg Pactric in the minutes describing that we would remain at the 89 cents rather than

[1:24:05] Comfort was state code that it would be equalization plus 1% as stated in Virginia law.

[1:24:12] Point two that the minutes would reflect that no vote was taken for a German during the June

[1:24:17] twenty-third meeting, that those minutes would be corrected to reflect that no vote was taken.

[1:24:23] And then the June twenty-fourth meeting that the minutes would be changed to correctly reflect,

[1:24:29] that a vote was taken on June twenty-fourth to adjourn the June twenty-third meeting.

[1:24:34] That vote needs to be included.

[1:24:42] The vote has been initiated.

[1:25:01] So, waiting on several votes?

[1:25:08] Mayor, request a roll call,

[1:25:14] I request a roll call, do you give it up?

[1:25:19] Roll call that?

[1:25:21] Roll call, go.

[1:25:21] I vote no.

[1:25:24] Calzone admissions?

[1:25:25] Yes.

[1:25:27] Calzone agreed?

[1:25:28] Nope.

[1:25:30] Calzone were timmer?

[1:25:30] Yes.

[1:25:32] Calzone were waltre?

[1:25:32] No.

[1:25:34] Bice Mayor Deamer?

[1:25:35] Yes.

[1:25:36] Mayor Taylor.

[1:25:38] No.

[1:25:38] The motion fails.

[1:25:43] So the main motion is on the floor which was to move items 1, 3, 5.

[1:25:51] All right.

[1:25:52] All right.

[1:25:53] Full of proof.

[1:25:56] Mr. Mayor.

[1:25:58] I have a motion.

[1:25:59] Mr. Mayor.

[1:26:00] Yes. There is a motion.

[1:26:00] We already have motion.

[1:26:02] There's been no discussion on this.

[1:26:04] Mr. Mayor.

[1:26:04] We have no discussion on this.

[1:26:06] We have not had discussion on this.

[1:26:08] We have no discussion on this.

[1:26:09] I would like to speak more quickly to this.

[1:26:11] And since we made the motion in the second.

[1:26:13] There are 30 minutes passes to our.

[1:26:15] Yes.

[1:26:15] No, it's a different motion.

[1:26:18] No, it's the same.

[1:26:19] All the same is going on.

[1:26:20] It is show us.

[1:26:25] Do you like the section here?

[1:26:26] Mr. Freeman.

[1:26:27] Mary, all of this is connected to the same manner.

[1:26:31] The substitute motion was the same.

[1:26:33] The main motion was on the same subject.

[1:26:35] You have the ability to call for the vote at this point.

[1:26:38] Yes.

[1:26:39] I have a call.

[1:26:40] Mr. Mayor.

[1:26:42] I'd like to amend the motion.

[1:26:46] Mr. Mayor.

[1:26:47] the boat has over there. I'll try to get your attention and get the floor. You would not, you wouldn't recognize me.

[1:26:54] The boat has over there.

[1:26:54] Tower of getting shut down by you, Mr. Mayor, to be honest with you.

[1:26:58] Well, you can shut down again.

[1:26:59] Well, if you're just hiding the truth, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, I'm tired of the cover-ups for city staff.

[1:27:04] I'm not covering up for anybody.

[1:27:06] Yeah, you're allowed to amend the motion. That's all.

[1:27:08] Proper. You can amend it.

[1:27:12] Our rules of procedure allow us to amend a motion twice.

[1:27:18] Okay.

[1:27:19] All right, Mr. Mayor.

[1:27:21] I'm going to amend the motion on the floor to adopt all the minutes.

[1:27:27] Mayor.

[1:27:28] And you can't.

[1:27:29] He can't.

[1:27:30] He can't.

[1:27:31] He can't.

[1:27:38] the timestamp YouTube links that show the comments that were made by Mr. Patrick and Mr.

[1:27:47] Friedman. And I have a hard copy, in case you got the lead of the video published by the

[1:27:54] Lensburg Democrat Committee, showing what happened on the 24th, and I'd like to amend the

[1:28:03] motion to insert that in the official record as well available to the citizens online.

[1:28:08] because apparently the audio was cut off while we were talking about it.

[1:28:13] But all the audio's there, you got to turn it up.

[1:28:15] There's actually a nice exchange between Ms. Whitt and Mr. Patrick,

[1:28:19] that you can hear.

[1:28:20] Would you like to second that amendment?

[1:28:22] So that's my amended motion,

[1:28:23] is that we include what actually happened with the minutes.

[1:28:28] This is all the minutes.

[1:28:31] We'll take all the minutes.

[1:28:33] We'll adopt it, but to include those links with the minutes,

[1:28:36] show what happened.

[1:28:39] Go, sir.

[1:28:41] You're just sick and less vote.

[1:28:44] No, it's going 30 minutes or so.

[1:28:47] I am a fault at this.

[1:28:52] You can laugh all you want.

[1:28:54] I really don't care.

[1:28:55] I'm not surprised for all.

[1:28:57] This is so disgusting that we're allowing.

[1:29:02] Yeah, you know, Mr. Mark can say,

[1:29:04] I'm not surprised that after I speak,

[1:29:07] people are going to defend the staff.

[1:29:09] What are you doing to cover your own selves and what you are trying to defend yourself

[1:29:16] of doing and how you voted, you're sitting here literally, defaming two people's their

[1:29:23] information involves things that didn't happen.

[1:29:25] I'm speaking, you are affecting two men's careers, how dare you, and you of all people

[1:29:32] should understand what that's like, and you should too miss Tim or you should know exactly

[1:29:36] what I'm talking about.

[1:29:37] And the fact that y'all are sitting here doing this and they don't have a, they are not giving the right to speak for themselves.

[1:29:43] I am allowed to speak. You've had plenty of time.

[1:29:47] Point of order.

[1:29:48] I, you've been given plenty of time.

[1:29:50] Point of order.

[1:29:51] And you don't shut down one second when he tells you to be quiet.

[1:29:54] So I'm going to speak. I have the floor.

[1:29:56] Point of order.

[1:29:56] There are two men who have not been given a voice.

[1:30:00] To defend themselves, they have careers, and they have families. And you guys have sat here and done nothing but attack them. And they have to sit here and take it. And they can't sit here and say their explanation and over and over and over and over and over and over again. You sit here and criticize them. And the whole city listens to it. And it's going to be printed in the paper. And you guys are going to use it for sound bites. It's disgusting. And it's her political reasons. I don't want to hear a thing about it because here's the

[1:30:29] You want people to believe and then other people do not get a chance to defend themselves and it's not right.

[1:30:39] It is not right. There may be things that all of us can explain if we had a chance.

[1:30:47] But they had to sit here and be quiet.

[1:30:49] And then you guys can go on on was this pre-planned a hundred percent?

[1:30:52] There's a whole binder over there. This was completely planned.

[1:30:55] And again, we're given two weeks to do this.

[1:30:58] This was a stunt to excuse or defend the border with their men.

[1:31:03] That they didn't want for five meetings that they wanted to cover up for themselves and explain

[1:31:09] the way votes that they were not comfortable doing after the fact.

[1:31:13] And they're going to throw city staff under the bus.

[1:31:16] I will not be part of this.

[1:31:17] It's not okay.

[1:31:19] It's not okay.

[1:31:20] And you can point about it all day long.

[1:31:22] It's germane to the subject. We had to listen to 30 minutes of someone else throwing people under the bus.

[1:31:27] I'm going to defend them. This is not right for A1. It is not right.

[1:31:33] They already the facts, Mr. Mayor. We can call a vote, but I will please do not support.

[1:31:38] I'm sending anything that's going to say that makes it look like we're standing behind what was just

[1:31:42] under our staff. It's not okay. Mr. Mayor, point of order. Three, four, A1.

[1:31:47] dilatory, dilatory remarks, Mr. Mayor,

[1:31:50] or completely out of order, and that's with that voice.

[1:31:52] She was speaking to the subject.

[1:31:53] No, she was speaking to the subject.

[1:31:55] She was speaking to the subject.

[1:31:56] She was speaking to the subject.

[1:31:56] She was speaking to the subject because these things

[1:31:59] has happened.

[1:32:00] Ms. Timma.

[1:32:00] Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[1:32:02] For a second.

[1:32:05] I actually really appreciate the Ms. Reed brought up

[1:32:07] the ability to defend yourself,

[1:32:09] because that is the primary part of my rules proposal

[1:32:11] that I really hope we all pass.

[1:32:13] So I think that's an excellent thing

[1:32:17] to bring up, and I really hope that we can pass that as it comes for it in the rule proposal.

[1:32:22] I also try and strike the dilatory remarks because I think it gets applied arbitrarily.

[1:32:28] So there was a perfect example of the hope that I have for my rules package to help bring

[1:32:35] tensions down on council, but in response to some of those remarks, it is very important that

[1:32:44] minutes reflect the facts.

[1:32:47] It's not character assassination to bring forward a quote

[1:32:51] and to discuss the merits of what we're debating

[1:32:54] as a counsel.

[1:32:56] That's actually, that's our jobs, that's staff's job,

[1:32:58] and it should be reflected in the minutes.

[1:33:02] You know,

[1:33:10] we have to be about truth, Mr. Mayor.

[1:33:13] And if we're not going to be about what happened

[1:33:14] and making sure that it's accurate in the record,

[1:33:17] But if we're not going to record a vote that took place,

[1:33:22] if we're not going to put that in our minutes,

[1:33:25] those are the issues at hand.

[1:33:28] Those are the issues at hand.

[1:33:30] And, you know, Mr. Missions has brought this up.

[1:33:33] I've brought this up.

[1:33:34] I was very intentional in these remarks

[1:33:37] to keep it factual.

[1:33:38] Everything here is cited.

[1:33:40] Everything is cited.

[1:33:42] And it all has time stamps.

[1:33:44] I mean, part of the reason it's so thick

[1:33:46] is because it's citations to support the information

[1:33:51] that's being put forward in order to make sure

[1:33:53] that it's accurately reflected.

[1:33:56] That's our job.

[1:34:00] So again, thank you for bringing up the need

[1:34:03] to be able to defend ourselves against accusations

[1:34:08] that are brought on council.

[1:34:09] I think that's very significant

[1:34:11] and should be added to our rules of procedure.

[1:34:12] I think we should remove the delutory, delutatory, I always mispronounce it, remarks.

[1:34:19] But these three components need to be added to our minutes.

[1:34:22] They happened, they're sighted, let's add them and move on so that the minutes just accurately

[1:34:28] reflect what happened.

[1:34:30] Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[1:34:33] It's a useful road.

[1:34:34] I'm just going to say directly when needs to happen.

[1:34:38] At this point, call for a vote on all five minutes and we vote and we move on and we do

[1:34:48] so because the rules empower us to do what we need to do and move on.

[1:34:53] So that's what I would encourage you to do.

[1:34:55] And I'm not going to engage the vice mayor because he was staring me down for about 30 seconds

[1:34:58] and I'm not going to take it from him, even though he wants to pretend that he sees

[1:35:02] somewhat better than me because he's 35 years older than I am.

[1:35:06] to

[1:35:11] the man in the second.

[1:35:12] It's OK.

[1:35:13] The man in the second.

[1:35:15] Speak to your second.

[1:35:16] I'm not the second.

[1:35:18] Heavy?

[1:35:19] I have a second on me, I'm not.

[1:35:21] I'm just going to say that if you still think we follow these rules, OK?

[1:35:30] Whether you're a Republican Democrat, I don't care what.

[1:35:33] Part of the city you're from.

[1:35:35] I don't care if you're a man or a woman.

[1:35:36] If you think we follow these rules, listen to me.

[1:35:40] closely. Section five, dash two, D,

[1:35:47] the item, this is under

[1:35:48] consent agenda. The item shall be considered separately. We're not following that.

[1:35:56] You know, I listen to us discuss these minutes up there, are these rules upstairs,

[1:36:01] and you would think they were the Bible, but I've also heard our city attorney say

[1:36:06] that, well, they're just here for the comfort and convenience of counsel.

[1:36:12] Where, where are we that is?

[1:36:14] I mean, it's convenient.

[1:36:16] Trash can.

[1:36:18] Let me read another one.

[1:36:20] Section 6.4, action by the council.

[1:36:23] Still think we're following our rules that there are a Bible.

[1:36:27] Biders of business will be considered in dealt with one at a time.

[1:36:35] Still think we're following our rules.

[1:36:39] We talked about it upstairs.

[1:36:40] Don't interrupt.

[1:36:43] How many times has it been interrupt interruptions tonight?

[1:36:48] You still think we're following our rules?

[1:36:51] It's apparently not convenient tonight to follow our rules.

[1:36:55] It also says we're supposed to give a full discussion of everything.

[1:36:58] And I've asked for multiple times for him to cite the 30-minute rule.

[1:37:02] And he refuses.

[1:37:04] So, okay, if it's not there, why do you keep bringing it up?

[1:37:10] Is that like the magic tax increase?

[1:37:11] It's just there when you need it and not when you know.

[1:37:14] You know, we've got a decision to make his council.

[1:37:17] Just truth matter.

[1:37:20] because Ms. Timbers absolutely right, her motion and this amendment should pass, we're

[1:37:27] barely getting a chance to deal with the very suffering.

[1:37:30] Senate issues that we raised about the minutes, not being truthful, not being accurate. Truth and

[1:37:38] accuracy should matter. You say you're transparent, you say you're open, but if you're covering

[1:37:44] up what staff does in the minutes, that's not truthfulness. That's not openness. Throne words

[1:37:51] condemned them. We heard it. I heard it. We all heard it. You told us. It's 89 cents if we do

[1:37:59] I don't ask for you to step in here, okay, this isn't the time for me to debate staff.

[1:38:07] Your own words are your worst enemy, and I got it, I got it from him.

[1:38:13] And then I heard twice from our city attorney who should know better.

[1:38:17] I asked him, state law supersedes over your magic tax increase.

[1:38:21] ordinance, yes it does, at that point you had a responsibility to the people of Lynchburg,

[1:38:29] to say so my ordinance is not what should be packed on here. What should be acted on here

[1:38:35] is the laws that are in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the code of our state. That is what

[1:38:41] should apply, that should supersede, and that code that Mr. Timmerred twice says very clearly,

[1:38:48] If we did nothing, it goes to equalization, 76.7, plus 1%, so that is stay code.

[1:38:59] That is the advice that anybody, you don't need to be an attorney.

[1:39:03] She read it to us, he heard it, he says right next door.

[1:39:07] And we still went and voted for a massive million dollar tax increase.

[1:39:15] And tonight we were asked to vote on the fourth quarter of a budget, I've been told and

[1:39:23] gaslight it and you're believing it's past.

[1:39:27] Then why are you asking me for my vote again?

[1:39:31] If we have a balanced budget to pass, why am I voting on expenses and income for the fourth

[1:39:38] quarter of 2025?

[1:39:41] If it passed, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not yielding the floor to hit this point.

[1:39:48] I'm speaking to my second, and you are not elected member. You are not elected, not.

[1:39:55] And I didn't ask for your advice. And there's a reason I don't almost ever ask for your advice.

[1:40:01] Because the advice you give me is it's so questionable. I don't have to be an attorney.

[1:40:06] know it's wrong. You know, it's sad. I don't want to embarrass you. It's not my goal.

[1:40:13] But I need advice that I can make decisions on that are multi-million dollar decisions.

[1:40:18] And I need the full information to make that informed decision. And when I'm getting

[1:40:23] information from the Deputy City Manager Greg Patrick says it's 89 cents if we do nothing.

[1:40:30] And I'm getting it from you twice.

[1:40:32] And even Sterling Wilder asks, so what you're saying is,

[1:40:36] we're not good in anything here about the tax rate?

[1:40:41] No, I'm just a motion to have anything to do with tax rate.

[1:40:45] All year long, he talked about the tax rate and the car tax

[1:40:49] and he convolled it those two issues into one.

[1:40:52] And now we're being told that because it was a car tax motion

[1:40:55] that suddenly all of our requests and changes are not germane

[1:41:00] because they were about the real estate.

[1:41:03] I mean, they convoluted those two issues multiple times.

[1:41:06] And I don't even accept that they're not germane.

[1:41:08] Most of your objections to our diminished changes,

[1:41:12] which obviously came from you, not from the clerk,

[1:41:15] about whether they were germane or not.

[1:41:18] Whether they were germane or not.

[1:41:19] Germane is a parliamentary procedure, not a minutes thing.

[1:41:22] Can you can either one of you two tell me where there's a side of code reference somewhere or our rules?

[1:41:30] Which says that minutes have to be a germane just a simple question. Here's your chance. They answer point of order. Is there anywhere it says it has to be germane point of order

[1:41:41] Lord Murdy's point of order

[1:41:52] You have to beat you.

[1:41:54] Brace it.

[1:41:54] You have to beat you.

[1:41:54] Brace it.

[1:41:56] I mean, is this thing on?

[1:41:58] Or is that just going to be this?

[1:42:01] And we can hear you.

[1:42:02] You are out of line.

[1:42:05] You want to honor Charlie Kirk?

[1:52:08] May I have a motion to vote on the consent agenda.

[1:52:16] Mr. Mayor, there is a amended motion that has been properly

[1:52:21] seconded ending before the body. Okay,

[1:52:28] let's vote on.

[1:52:30] The amended motion. The amended motion is to adopt the minutes with the inclusion of the YouTube links, reference, showing the comments, regarding the real estate tax, rate remaining the same, and also incorporate, however, we can get a video into public record.

[1:52:52] The Lynchburg Democrat Committee's video showing the vote that took place.

[1:53:00] Lynchburg Democratic Committee, excuse me, showing the motion and the vote that took place

[1:53:15] Well, the audio was cut off on our YouTube feed for City Council on June 24th.

[1:53:24] That's the motion.

[1:53:27] That's the motion.

[1:53:34] I don't know that we have that as something in our rule of the procedure to repress

[1:53:40] the rule quo vote.

[1:53:41] I'm wondering, is that it's not being done for you to lead him out of vote, is it, Mr.

[1:53:45] Ferroly?

[1:53:45] No, it's being clear to the public that's exactly what I'm telling.

[1:53:47] One minute clear when it's on the board.

[1:53:50] I want to clear when it's in the minutes.

[1:53:52] Mayor, I'm not going to argue with the questions about how I want to vote.

[1:53:55] Let's just vote.

[1:53:58] Yes, please.

[1:53:59] Let's just vote.

[1:54:01] Thank you.

[1:54:09] I'm going to change that now.

[1:54:21] The motion mail fails 3-4.

[1:54:24] Mayor.

[1:54:26] The question.

[1:54:27] The vote.

[1:54:28] On my initial motion.

[1:54:31] It's past the minutes.

[1:54:34] Let us vote.

[1:54:40] All right.

[1:54:40] Nishing vote now.

[1:54:54] The motion passes 4-3.

[1:54:56] Mayor.

[1:54:58] Yes, sir.

[1:54:58] And move me adjourned.

[1:54:59] Mr. Mayor.

[1:55:02] I'll be.

[1:55:04] Well, you know what?

[1:55:05] Central Virginia Alliance for Community Living?

[1:55:08] It just lost you 25,000.

[1:55:09] Thank you.

[1:55:10] Thank you.

[1:55:10] This is not a bit of a motion.

[1:55:12] Can you take a vote?

[1:55:13] I'm going to be voting against this.

[1:55:15] I'm going to say a CVACL needs their funding.

[1:55:30] This is coming soon.

[1:55:32] Can I ask a quick question?

[1:55:35] So is it anything pertinent that we need to act on?

[1:55:56] We're delaying law enforcement equipment, we're delaying positions for services, we're delaying funding for CVACL, all of this, most of this stuff is not enough off to the city of Lynchburg, we're delaying all of this right now, but you did, I didn't make the motion to adjourn, opponent Chris.

[1:56:14] We just do this.

[1:56:16] He's people need this.

[1:56:19] I'm just telling you why I'm voting against the voting for the government.

[1:56:22] So you do our business?

[1:56:27] It's not personal for me.

[1:56:30] Six more items on me.

[1:56:33] Miss Whitt.

[1:56:36] They don't get these dollars today.

[1:56:38] If they get them, the first and next month will it be sufficient.

[1:56:44] I don't think there's any reason it has to be heard on tonight.

[1:56:49] So it's the way.

[1:56:51] It's a delay of two weeks.

[1:56:57] So two weeks to get the funding, it's going to take four weeks now.

[1:57:02] So I mean, they will be funded.

[1:57:04] Well, I mean, I didn't come here to not do the business of the citizens.

[1:57:09] I just want to say not a debatable motion, it needs to be considered immediately.

[1:57:13] I mean, with the atmosphere we have here tonight, we need to join, go get some rest and come back.

[1:57:22] Wait down the list on the middle.

[1:57:25] Alright, and we're missing the vote now.

[1:57:37] The motion passes, 4-3.

[1:57:40] Remember who walked that again?

City Council Meeting

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