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A call our Tuesday December 9, 2025. City council meeting to order, roll call, please, Pam.

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Mayor Reed, President, City Manager Bank. City Attorney Brown, Vice Mayor Fleming.

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Yes. Councilmember Allison. Yes. Councilmember Dent. Yes.

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Councilmember Robinson is not here yet. Interim Chief Pollard. Yes. Chief Tobias.

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If you would please stand for a moment of silence or private prayer, whatever you desire,

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And remain standing for the President.

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Thank you.

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I'll pay the allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

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And to the Republic for which it stands.

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One nation, under God, in the visible liberty of the United States are all.

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We don't have any special recognitions this evening.

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We'll go with our consent agenda, any item placed on a consent agenda shall be removed and

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taken up as a separate matter.

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If so, requested by any member of Council, otherwise our items will be voted on with

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one motion.

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Now, I'll move to approve the three items on the consent agenda as presented.

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Second.

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Any discussion?

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And we'll call please, Pam.

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Councilmember Alcedon.

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I.

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Councilmember Dent.

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I.

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Councilmember Robinson.

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I.

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Vice Mayor Fleming.

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I.

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I.

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We'll now go into our public hearings.

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Uh, item six.

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Kristen.

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Good evening, Mayor.

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Council on staff.

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My name is Kristen McCone.

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And I am the CDBG Program Manager for the city.

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I'm here tonight to bring you amendments to the 2023-2024 and 2025 action.

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and for the community development block grant.

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The summary of amendments is that $80,000 will come out of Hill and Dale sidewalks

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and $19,500 will come out of the Hill and Dale playground project.

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And both of those will go into the Kiwannis playground project.

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And then additionally, $76,867.7.7.7.7 will go out of the Habitat for Humanity

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project from last year and into the Ralph Seams and Walking Path project and the Wolf Street Waterline project.

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These amendments are necessary to keep the grant in compliance with Federal Timeliness Calculations for the grant.

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Parks and Recreation has requested for that first section of there that we move the funding for the Project Acmonus Park, which is close to being ready to go.

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And then the Habitat for Humanity has not been able to spend any funding to date for the grant period that ended 6, 30, 25 due to changes in their organizational structure for the most part.

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They're committed to working towards identifying eligible projects with their remaining funding, but they, but they understand that funding cannot be unhold indefinitely.

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Funding is being transferred to CDVG eligible city projects that are in need of additional funding that can be spent in a timely manner.

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And that will keep us in compliance with federal regulations for this funding.

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We plan to begin the 30-day public comment period.

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Tonight, I will accept comments through 9 a.m., on January 12th and then bring this item back to you for you to consider approval on January 13th.

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Residents may use the information on the screen to get in touch with me with any comments on this amendment.

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Can you have any questions?

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We have any questions.

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Thank you for your work.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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All right, so we'll open this item up before public hearing.

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If anyone wishes to speak, please state your name and address your half-bottomments.

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See you in none.

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And person prime that we have any colors.

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One moment,

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please.

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I need to read there enough, Alex.

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Thank you.

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I'll close public hearing on this item.

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And Council, there's no vote on this item as of yet.

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All right, we'll go to item six speed.

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Liz,

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good evening, I'm Liz Webb, housing coordinator, and I'm here regarding the sale of

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city owned property.

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As you know, part of the city's housing strategy, we developed guidelines for disposition

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of surplus lands suited to new housing development in line with the housing studies recommendations.

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five states were identified, one on Norwood and four along Reservoir.

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They were listed in the spring, and you approved the contract for the first parcel over the summer,

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and I am now here with the contract for the next two parcels.

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$24.21 and $24.25 reservoir have a combined size of about 1.15 acres, zoned our 3-medium

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density residential, and the assessment in $20.25 was $308,800.

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In the application

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that staff selected was the one submitted by Central Valley Habitat for Humanity with an

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of $10,000, their proposal is to build at least 10 town homes, the exact number to be determined,

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with at least 80% of them to habitat qualified home buyers, and the contract is contingent

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on land use approvals since the anticipated rezoning, as well as public hearing and approvals.

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So I'm here to seek your approval or that's what we recommend for this sale and

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ratifying the contract.

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So, thank you.

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Any questions?

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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All right.

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I will open this item up for public hearing of anyone who wishes to speak.

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Please state your name and address.

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You'll have five minutes.

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And I see Mr. Porter is approaching the bench.

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Good evening.

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Madam Mayor, Mr. Council, it's good to see you all again.

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My name is Shannon Porter and I'm a Harrison Bird resident and I'm also, I also now serve as the Executive Director of Central Valley Habitat for Humanity.

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First of all, I wanted to speak to the CDBG funds and let everyone know that that was BS before Shannon.

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So we are going to work on that, we're going to get rid of the funds that are still allocated to us and that will be for our critical home repair program,

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Which is doing a lot of good work in our community right now without using community block grant funds as you may know those funds are somewhat restricted of their certain projects that we have to use those funds on and we are working diligently to be able to find those projects.

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I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you this evening and I want to thank you for your continued commitment as a council to addressing our communities housing needs.

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Our affiliate is grateful that you're considering the proposed sale of 241 and excuse me 2421 and 2425 Reservoir Street to Central Valley Habitat.

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I believe deeply in this work and I love this city. Harrisonburg is my home and you know and I know that we can do better for many of the neighbors whose lives are being limited by an unbalanced and increasingly expensive rental market that offers very little pathway to home ownership.

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Harrison Burger continues to have one of the lowest home

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ownership rates in the Commonwealth and the effects are being

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felt across our community. Too many families work here and

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contribute every day without realistically having the

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opportunity to own a home. That means the lost opportunities for

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stability, dignity, and generational wealth are put on

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hold or never happen at all. Such a valley habitat for humanity

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is dedicated and determined to help change the trajectory

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and open the door for homeownership from War Harrisonburg families.

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We have demonstrated this capacity. Our recent suitor street development delivered 22,

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currently affordable homes that is now a vibrant neighborhood full of families who are thriving.

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It shows what is possible when the city believes in our work and partners with us what we can do.

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Habitat will create real value for the city and its investment.

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We appreciate that this land is being sold to a city discount. That will be rolled directly into making these affordable,

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possible to make them. At this moment, we may be the only organization in the community that

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can build housing at this level, and ensure that it remains truly affordable while offering

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a general genuine path the home ownership. If Council will hopefully approve this transaction,

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we plan to build between 11 and 13 high quality, permanently affordable units on reservoir street.

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These homes will be sold to families earning between 60% and 80% of the AMI,

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and we intend to also install solar panels on these units as we get in

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solar street, giving the owners a hedge against rising energy costs and strengthening the long-term stability of those families.

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This project represents a significant opportunity to create stability, dignity, and economic mobility for Harrisonburg families.

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As you consider the matter in the coming weeks, we appreciate your thoughtful review and look forward to continuing this conversation as we move forward.

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On behalf of Central Valley Habitat for Humanity, thank you for your leadership.

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It continued partnership and expanding affordable home ownership.

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We valued the share commitment and we look forward to working with you.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Anyone else?

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Seeing that in person, Pam, do we have any followers for them at please?

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You are now live with City Council.

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Please state your name and address some of your five minutes.

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We'll begin.

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And the U.S. City resident met a mayor of what government excels when it provides public goods.

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When it takes its limited resources and cools them when it takes our limited resources and cools them

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to provide something that many people can benefit from, for example, a park.

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City government has asked you as well when it tries to redirect funds from one user to another

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user. In this case, trying to address a housing issue by subsidizing not even individual

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tenants but individual developers. And doing so, especially at the cost of getting up public

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land. I testified repeatedly about the filing of giving up our public land for such purposes.

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If the intent is to increase housing security, a much better approach for the city would be

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another thing in which the city government can excel, which is wise regulation, or refraining

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from regulation. In particular, in the past year, the city has gone on a rampage of aesthetic

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nuisance enforcement. And soon you will contemplate reducing notice on public nuisance

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enforcement to 24 hours, to simply put in the entire city on probation. Now, people may

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check that this only applies to parties and to students. What applies is only what is in the language.

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And what is in the language is a reduction of notice from 10 to 24 hours.

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This is a massive destabilizing effect.

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What we need is to go into opposite direction. We should have green

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that a person that you're talking about right now, which wouldn't provide

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provided a common pool benefit, residential benefit, to the people in the immediate area, and

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to nearby people, and we should support what has been good in your more recent stormwater

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and environment newsletters, which is that these environmental amenities, as folks start want

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to wonder best, are an important part of housing services.

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Now, if we put the entire city on probation, we're going to have to happen, we're going to

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push the people who value these things into the most welcoming neighborhood.

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With the other words, we're going to trigger green gentrification, and we're going to push people

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out of our organ for a household, for example, in the Northeast, into these new developments,

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re-relude the government that are replacing the space with concentration.

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That idea of bad and bad and bad, and I hope that council will take these issues into consideration. Thank you very much.

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Thank you for calling us. One moment.

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May I read your note of the call?

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Thank you. I will close public hearing on the side of council.

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Well, I think, you know, we've said this before the model that habitat humanity uses to build homes I wish we could scale it and replicate it in ways that

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probably can't because of the sort of equity that goes into it and what you have to do to

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to get that moving forward.

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But getting home ownership for folks where the 60 to 80 percent

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AMI is maybe not easy almost impossible at times without doing this type of project and the type of

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support from the city in this case and from the work that have that puts into making these

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units affordable for folks and getting their work involved and putting that together.

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Now there's no other way to a great home ownership, really.

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The folks at the 68% AMI, which is what this is targeting at.

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So, you know, excited and glad to see habitat and have the opportunity to expand their footprint in the city with more units.

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there's some of the best units we can put together for folks who otherwise don't have

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opportunity for our membership.

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I'll I second all that and add the wonderful partnership with give solar to give renewable

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energy to help people reduce their utility bills and be greener in the environment.

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So I love seeing that synergy happen in our community.

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Thank you.

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I think this is an amazing project.

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I've always loved the work that Habitat does because it offers the possibility of homeownership.

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Those who sometimes may never get that opportunity, and also with the solar with the solar,

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that's another area where, you know, if you don't have the right amount of money in your pocket,

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solar is off limits, which means you continue to pay those high bills.

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So this is just the win-win, and so I just appreciate you all working with us in the city to offer the residents this great opportunity.

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This is a good project. Good project.

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Thank you.

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Madam Mayor, I move that we approve the disposition of real estate owned by the city of Harrisonburg at 2421 and 2425 Reservoir Street to Central Valley Habitat for Humanity

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and adopt the resolution authorizing the self of public phone real estate.

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Second.

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Any more discussion?

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We'll call please.

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Thank you.

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Councilmember Allison.

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Hi.

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Councilmember Dent.

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Councilmember Robinson.

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I.

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I.

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Mayor Fleming.

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Mayor Reed.

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I.

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Thank you Shannon.

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Thank you.

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Thank you for what you do.

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First of all, come in.

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All right, you ready?

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Yes.

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Madam Mayor and Councilmember Chef before you an ordinance

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authorize in the city manager to execute a quick clean deed.

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Combined real property to Jamie Foundation, Virginia Avenue, LLC, the Attorney

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Floor of the Jamie Foundation contacted me a while ago.

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The Foundation bought a couple of parcels of land on Virginia Avenue, it's the old Shenandoah

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Manufacturing Facility there, and when they were doing their title search for the property,

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They realized there was a 1,278 square foot strip that have been included in their property

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description over the many years, but it was actually owned by the City of Harrisonburg.

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And probably what happened is back when that area was still in the county, V dot secured

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that property.

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when they were widening Virginia Avenue,

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brought 42, and then after annexation,

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they got transferred to us.

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So again, the foundation and its predecessors

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entitled, have always treated that small strip of land

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as the run.

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I didn't ask Mr. Hartman this directly,

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but I'm not sure we even realized we owned that.

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And Mr. Hartman is sure is me

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that we have no use for it.

232
00:19:50,370 --> 00:19:53,070
And no objection to transferring it

233
00:19:53,070 --> 00:19:59,470
the foundation clear up this little tidal issue and there's a plant that was attached to the agenda.

234
00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:05,760
That shows where that's located, sort of between the main parcel and the road.

235
00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:06,540
Any questions?

236
00:20:07,620 --> 00:20:07,760
Yes.

237
00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:12,620
This was, like, from 1990, when this was executed initially, it looks like.

238
00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:15,820
I think if you track back in the title chain,

239
00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:18,920
you'll see that little sliver pop-up, even earlier than that.

240
00:20:19,180 --> 00:20:19,700
Yeah, yeah.

241
00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:23,200
And by the way, quick claim to you, just to see, you'll know,

242
00:20:23,420 --> 00:20:27,380
that means the city's not given any kind of warranty we're telling them.

243
00:20:27,380 --> 00:20:34,520
We don't know if we own it. We don't know what interest we have. We're just transferring whatever we have to you

244
00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:38,920
Okay, actually per their original deal. Right

245
00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:40,520
Okay, any more questions?

246
00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:47,540
No, man. All right, I'll open this item up for public hearing. If anyone wishes to speak, please take your name and address your assignments

247
00:20:52,540 --> 00:20:54,800
Send on a person family. We have a call.

248
00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:55,740
Just one minute.

249
00:21:04,270 --> 00:21:05,410
I'm going to read there at your college.

250
00:21:05,870 --> 00:21:06,730
Thank you.

251
00:21:06,750 --> 00:21:08,910
I have a close public room on this side.

252
00:21:09,790 --> 00:21:10,070
Council.

253
00:21:12,630 --> 00:21:17,710
Madam Mayor, I move that we approve the ordinance, authorizing the City Manager to execute

254
00:21:17,710 --> 00:21:18,790
a quick claim deed.

255
00:21:18,830 --> 00:21:25,170
Can they real property to JMU Foundation Virginia Avenue LLC as presented by City Attorney?

256
00:21:25,210 --> 00:21:25,550
Second.

257
00:21:26,050 --> 00:21:26,970
Any more discussion?

258
00:21:28,910 --> 00:21:30,030
We'll call on this panel.

259
00:21:30,690 --> 00:21:31,350
Councilmember Allison.

260
00:21:31,630 --> 00:21:31,990
Hi.

261
00:21:32,250 --> 00:21:32,990
Councilmember Dent.

262
00:21:32,990 --> 00:21:37,370
Council Member Robinson, Vice Mayor Flemme, may you read.

263
00:21:38,450 --> 00:21:38,830
Aye.

264
00:21:39,030 --> 00:21:39,170
Aye.

265
00:21:39,450 --> 00:21:40,130
On 60.

266
00:21:41,450 --> 00:21:41,590
Come.

267
00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:47,360
Good evening.

268
00:21:47,540 --> 00:21:48,580
I'm Hartman Public Works.

269
00:21:48,820 --> 00:21:53,920
Here tonight with a, our public hearing for our state process schools sidewalk project.

270
00:21:54,700 --> 00:21:55,700
This is the public hearing.

271
00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:59,400
So there's no council action needed after I share our project.

272
00:22:00,100 --> 00:22:04,900
This was a, a, a, a, a V dot awarded grant project that we're working through.

273
00:22:04,980 --> 00:22:07,580
Um, it was funded through V dot's transportation alternatives.

274
00:22:07,580 --> 00:22:14,640
program grant funding source. This is an 80-20 grant source. You see on the screen feed up funds

275
00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:18,860
or just over half a million in the city funds which have been appropriate through previous budgets

276
00:22:18,860 --> 00:22:25,720
around $137,000. Working this project is to build three segments of sidewalks at two elementary

277
00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:30,940
schools, one at Waterman and one at Kester. The next lot will show you the locations of their sidewalks.

278
00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:36,960
Tonight is our public hearing. This is a stipulation as far as the grant that we have to go

279
00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:42,080
of healthcare before we can get into the right away phase of the project, which we're ready to enter into.

280
00:22:42,220 --> 00:22:50,400
We have one parcel of right away where we need to get a little bit of a fee-simple right of way as well as some temporary construction easements to build the Salmo-Floom first street.

281
00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:53,560
So, it is not as currently underway with engineering consultants.

282
00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:59,060
We'll try to get the right away knocked out pretty quickly this winter with a hope to be constructed this summer.

283
00:22:59,180 --> 00:23:05,400
That's pretty aggressive for us, time-wise, but I think if we can get through the right away pretty soon,

284
00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:11,120
construction documents are pretty close and ready to do that. So there's sidewalk segments.

285
00:23:12,460 --> 00:23:16,700
This is the first segment at Waterman Elementary. Blue is the current sidewalk.

286
00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:23,600
Infrastructure we have on Gay Street in Chicago. Red is the new limits of the new sidewalk.

287
00:23:23,820 --> 00:23:28,980
We're connected both entrances to the bus loop on Gay Street in front of Mr. Banks's home.

288
00:23:28,980 --> 00:23:31,500
And thanks for pointing out.

289
00:23:33,020 --> 00:23:33,380
All right.

290
00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:35,700
This is the court number of that.

291
00:23:35,780 --> 00:23:36,240
Yeah, really.

292
00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:39,340
And the red line, also, we're connecting from the Gay Street

293
00:23:39,340 --> 00:23:41,100
South Walk up to the bus loop.

294
00:23:43,020 --> 00:23:45,860
And with this project, it also includes a little segment of red

295
00:23:45,860 --> 00:23:49,000
sidewalk over on first street to connect some gaps we have.

296
00:23:49,140 --> 00:23:53,240
With Leah Avenue to get over to the mid-block crossing to get into

297
00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:54,300
the elementary school as well.

298
00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:57,500
That's the portion on first street where we need a little bit of

299
00:23:57,500 --> 00:24:03,740
easement from the property owner. We're working with the schools for the other property and then

300
00:24:03,740 --> 00:24:09,660
Keester, this is overall central avenue. This is the bus loop. For Keester Elementary,

301
00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:14,140
there's sidewalk on either sides of their entrance and there's the gap in the center. So we're

302
00:24:14,140 --> 00:24:20,480
really just going to put some sidewalk in that island area to provide connectivity for students and

303
00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:25,760
parents to walk safely and not have to get out in the street that's small segment as they're taking

304
00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:27,160
because it's two and from school.

305
00:24:27,340 --> 00:24:28,680
And neighbors, I want to hear.

306
00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:30,620
Yeah, neighbors in the community as well.

307
00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:32,860
So that's our project.

308
00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:33,980
So tonight is the public hearing.

309
00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:35,800
If anyone has any comments, suggestions

310
00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:37,760
about how we can improve or change our project now

311
00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:39,780
the time for them to show that with us?

312
00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:41,280
Any questions?

313
00:24:42,300 --> 00:24:44,220
I mean, is it anything to keep our children safe?

314
00:24:44,420 --> 00:24:44,660
That's right.

315
00:24:45,460 --> 00:24:47,480
I mean, it should be a no brainer.

316
00:24:47,820 --> 00:24:50,020
Yeah, it's a pretty highly trafficked areas

317
00:24:50,020 --> 00:24:52,080
both for cars and for pedestrians.

318
00:24:52,620 --> 00:24:54,460
Correct, you have very popular water school events.

319
00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:59,980
Both schools have a big multiple school days and like outside of the multiple school days, they're still very popular.

320
00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:01,380
Okay, James MacK���d. Senator, thank you.

321
00:25:01,380 --> 00:25:01,780
President Boehli, we have a fan of public hearing, and differments.

322
00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:10,140
The first speaker is happy to have a speaker.

323
00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:27,480
This is a positive and a positive speaker.

324
00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:32,160
Okay, if we don't have any more, don't have a partner stuff, thank you.

325
00:25:32,740 --> 00:25:34,940
I'll open this up for public hearing.

326
00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:37,920
If anyone wishes to speak, please state your name and address your assignments.

327
00:25:43,620 --> 00:25:44,600
See you in another person.

328
00:25:44,900 --> 00:25:45,680
Pam, do we have any colleagues?

329
00:25:45,820 --> 00:25:47,020
One moment, please.

330
00:25:56,620 --> 00:25:57,520
May I read there in no college?

331
00:25:57,640 --> 00:25:58,440
Thank you.

332
00:26:00,260 --> 00:26:02,160
I'll close public hearing on the side of them.

333
00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:04,320
There is no vote.

334
00:26:04,980 --> 00:26:06,220
So, we can move on.

335
00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:08,080
Two are regular items.

336
00:26:08,740 --> 00:26:12,720
And it's seven A and we have Abby Tibo.

337
00:26:16,940 --> 00:26:16,940
Hello.

338
00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:25,020
Good evening. Thank you for having me. I also want to point out that several members of our office are here in the building.

339
00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:26,360
Where's your hand?

340
00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:31,980
We have John L. Edge. He's one of our attorneys, Robert Wilson. One of our attorneys.

341
00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:35,120
William White is a paralegal. He's accompanied by his wife.

342
00:26:35,120 --> 00:26:40,880
Michaela Mast is a mitigation specialist, Stephanie Troy is our office manager and she's a company by her husband.

343
00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:49,680
We have a total of 18 employees and we have been off to, I think, an excellent start.

344
00:26:50,120 --> 00:26:52,900
I will begin by just telling you a little bit about our journey.

345
00:26:53,500 --> 00:27:00,600
As many of you know, I started in this position on September 10th of last year and at that point I was a party of one.

346
00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:03,980
And I found myself working at home

347
00:27:03,980 --> 00:27:06,980
until I could eventually move into our current office space

348
00:27:06,980 --> 00:27:09,900
with very limited resources,

349
00:27:10,420 --> 00:27:11,460
no internet, no furniture.

350
00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:15,040
And Stephanie was one of the first employees to join me.

351
00:27:15,360 --> 00:27:16,760
And over the course of those months,

352
00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:18,400
we were able to build our office.

353
00:27:18,540 --> 00:27:20,640
It was very important to us that we honor

354
00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:22,920
what had been represented by the VADC

355
00:27:22,920 --> 00:27:25,680
that we would be willing to begin taking cases in January.

356
00:27:26,060 --> 00:27:28,400
And I just want to compliment my office

357
00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:35,240
because they stuck to that and even though we didn't have internet access until about a week before we started taking cases

358
00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:41,200
nor did we have a copy or her printer, they took that on and we also started the work with six attorneys.

359
00:27:42,060 --> 00:27:50,800
We are now at nine of the ten attorneys, one of our attorneys is awaiting taking the bar exam and then hopefully we'll pass and we'll have full ten attorneys.

360
00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:57,500
The office is staffed with those 10 attorneys, two mitigation specialists, two parodegals,

361
00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:03,260
an investigator, and two legal assistants, as well as Ms. Choi, the office manager.

362
00:28:04,180 --> 00:28:08,480
So we are absolutely blessed to have an excellent staff in the community.

363
00:28:09,380 --> 00:28:17,540
We dive right in, taking on cases and asking the court to appoint us to every case as the Virginia code requires

364
00:28:17,540 --> 00:28:20,740
whereas we're an individual needed court appointed council.

365
00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:26,400
That is mostly happening because we are transitioning out of the court appointed model.

366
00:28:26,620 --> 00:28:27,780
That was in place before.

367
00:28:28,060 --> 00:28:30,800
The court is still appointing some cases to court appointed attorneys.

368
00:28:31,180 --> 00:28:35,520
And court appointed attorneys continue to have a significant and important role in the community

369
00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:40,040
because we often have cases where we have conflicts, co-dependence.

370
00:28:40,260 --> 00:28:42,760
People we've represented before that need their services.

371
00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:50,140
So, we have joined in them in fighting and advocating for our clients here in Rockingham County.

372
00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:54,340
In the short time, we've been taking cases which began at the end of January.

373
00:28:54,980 --> 00:28:58,580
We have opened more than 1,817 cases.

374
00:28:59,160 --> 00:28:59,400
Wow.

375
00:29:00,060 --> 00:29:00,300
Yes.

376
00:29:00,500 --> 00:29:04,580
We have closed a little over 950 cases in that time.

377
00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:10,100
And at least a third of those cases have been closed after being either dismissed,

378
00:29:10,100 --> 00:29:14,180
or the charges were entered normally per seqway, which is a discretionary dismissal by the

379
00:29:14,180 --> 00:29:20,560
common multi-turnee's office. It has been our observation that we have started to turn

380
00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:27,760
the tide in Rockingham County by setting more jury trials than have been set before, fighting

381
00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:33,560
for our clients, which is our mandate and our pleasure. And we have been very successful in the jury

382
00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:39,140
trials. We have set that have actually reached that point of the five jury trials that we've had

383
00:29:39,140 --> 00:29:43,620
so far, all of them have ended in a not guilty verdict or a dismissal.

384
00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:48,040
In addition to absolutely fighting for our clients,

385
00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:53,140
another big part of our work is for those clients for whom we may not be able to reach that

386
00:29:53,860 --> 00:29:56,260
very hopeful and result of a not guilty or a dismissal

387
00:29:56,700 --> 00:29:59,960
to try to work with them to help resolve the issue.

388
00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:17,160
Issues that have led them to be part of the criminal justice system. Whether that's explaining to the court why the traditional measures for criminal justice might not be the best antidote to our societal struggles or it's helping our clients pursue alternatives.

389
00:30:18,240 --> 00:30:23,100
Michaela and her partner Amanda Burley, who's our other medication specialist, have worked

390
00:30:23,100 --> 00:30:29,200
incredibly hard to learn about the resources in both rocking him county, but also Virginia

391
00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:35,580
at large. Putting together a comprehensive resource guide and helping to connect our clients

392
00:30:35,580 --> 00:30:40,660
with those resources. We are constantly in court asking the judges and the Commonwealth

393
00:30:40,660 --> 00:30:45,780
to consider alternatives to incarceration. And when those don't always pan out immediately

394
00:30:45,780 --> 00:30:51,400
to give our clients a second chance because the journey when trying to overcome substance abuse

395
00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:57,460
issues and mental health issues is not as simple as I told you to fix that problem and

396
00:30:57,460 --> 00:31:02,220
presto, you know, longer health schizophrenia and you know, longer are addicted to methamphetamine.

397
00:31:02,820 --> 00:31:09,420
We're trying to bring a tone of care and support and compassion to our clients and the community.

398
00:31:09,420 --> 00:31:16,420
In addition, we drill our best through our mitigation specialists to try to provide many other services,

399
00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:20,680
connect them with the Department of Social Services, provide them with mutual aid resources.

400
00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:28,580
Our primary job is to advocate for our clients in court to uphold the Constitution, but we do what we can

401
00:31:28,580 --> 00:31:34,760
to try to see the client as a whole person and figure out what we can do to make sure they don't come back.

402
00:31:35,100 --> 00:31:36,580
That's the ultimate goal.

403
00:31:36,580 --> 00:31:41,160
I think the thing that I'm most proud that we have brought together as the teams who are

404
00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:45,820
acting him county is our own version of what attorneys call counsel at first appearance.

405
00:31:46,740 --> 00:31:51,860
I previously worked in Maryland for the Public Defender's Office and before that, or

406
00:31:51,860 --> 00:31:56,220
after that, but before this, I was with the federal public defender for the Western District

407
00:31:56,220 --> 00:31:58,340
of Virginia, which includes rocking him county.

408
00:32:00,020 --> 00:32:04,760
In both of those places, individuals who were arrested and appeared before a judge for what

409
00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:08,200
we call their initial appearance had access to council.

410
00:32:08,980 --> 00:32:11,260
But that had not been the practice in rocking him county.

411
00:32:11,340 --> 00:32:13,000
And that's not unique to rocking him county.

412
00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:13,920
I'm not being critical.

413
00:32:14,060 --> 00:32:16,620
It's a right that hasn't been written into the Virginia code.

414
00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:20,720
So we decided we wanted people to have access to council

415
00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:22,260
at that juncture at that stage.

416
00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:26,180
And whereas before people at that initial appearance

417
00:32:26,180 --> 00:32:28,900
appeared, typically on video, before the judge,

418
00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:30,920
with the Commonwealth President in the office,

419
00:32:31,300 --> 00:32:32,540
were advised of their rights,

420
00:32:32,540 --> 00:32:37,080
advise of the charges, ask you if they need a court appointed counsel, and if they did,

421
00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:38,240
appointed an attorney.

422
00:32:39,440 --> 00:32:43,840
We now have an attorney in the courtroom with them, and typically we are the attorney

423
00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:47,460
appointed, because we are essentially the default appointee unless there is a conflict

424
00:32:47,460 --> 00:32:52,160
that the person doesn't qualify, and we were able to immediately ask the court to address

425
00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:57,060
their bond, and we're able to provide the client with advocacy immediately.

426
00:32:57,680 --> 00:33:01,340
In the historical model, because the attorney who was appointed, because it could have been

427
00:33:01,340 --> 00:33:04,620
any one of the attorneys on the court appointed list was not present.

428
00:33:05,460 --> 00:33:08,980
There would be a delay until that person had contact with council.

429
00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:13,180
They would have to wait until the court had completed the paperwork, the paperwork had been

430
00:33:13,180 --> 00:33:17,600
placed in that court appointed attorneys mailbox and then they had the opportunity to retrieve

431
00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:21,480
it and then gone to the jail to meet with that person and then set a bond hearing.

432
00:33:22,380 --> 00:33:25,400
We're not always successful at that first bond hearing, but we think it's a meaningful

433
00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:28,060
opportunity to stand up and advocate for the individual.

434
00:33:28,060 --> 00:33:33,940
Some of what I call our specialists, which are the Medication Specialist, the Paralegals, the

435
00:33:33,940 --> 00:33:38,680
Investigator, they go into the jail in the morning and attempt to interview as many

436
00:33:38,680 --> 00:33:42,560
of these individuals with the idea that we're very likely to be appointed to represent them

437
00:33:42,560 --> 00:33:45,800
so that we have some information available to advocate for them.

438
00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:51,560
So I'm very proud of my office's ability and willingness to do what is sort of extra work

439
00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:55,860
that is consistent with our mission and while there was some surprise and resistance in the

440
00:33:55,860 --> 00:34:01,720
beginning because this was a new thing, it is become common practice and we haven't been able

441
00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:05,520
to implement it in the circuit court yet for those folks who are typically being received

442
00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:10,840
for probation violations, but we do try to set the bond hearings very quickly. We believe

443
00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:15,840
that when people are, when they receive the advocacy and when they can be released pre-trial

444
00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:19,920
that the research shows that outcomes improve for them in the criminal court system.

445
00:34:20,420 --> 00:34:25,340
At every turn that is what we are trying to do. I could probably talk about this in our

446
00:34:25,340 --> 00:34:32,820
at such great length that we'd be here all night, so I would be happy to answer questions from you all about our office and it's future.

447
00:34:33,420 --> 00:34:41,740
I'm curious what you were saying about advocating for alternatives to incarceration. What are some of those as examples?

448
00:34:42,380 --> 00:34:52,600
For us, it's developing a release plan. And sometimes that release plan might involve time spent in a substance abuse or mental health program.

449
00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:59,980
typically most of the programs were able to assist clients with entry into are going to have some kind of substance abuse element and you know, unfortunately

450
00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:07,000
Recently, a lot of the individuals that do cross through the courthouse doors are individuals who struggle with substance abuse issues.

451
00:35:07,720 --> 00:35:16,900
So, trying to say to the court, you know, there's the old adage, fall down nine times, get up ten, that you can't put a limit on opportunities to recover from the disease of addiction,

452
00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:25,780
and that incarcerating someone for months to sometimes years to sometimes decades for behaviors that might have been rooted in their addiction,

453
00:35:25,780 --> 00:35:32,680
or even simply for maybe a subsequent conviction for possession of a drug, so not really doing

454
00:35:32,680 --> 00:35:36,980
something in action that's damaging to the community, but merely being in your addiction

455
00:35:36,980 --> 00:35:41,680
is not going to resolve the problem. It's just delay. It's just removing that person for

456
00:35:41,680 --> 00:35:46,580
the community. And while some people might see that as a benefit, it's our ultimate hope that

457
00:35:46,580 --> 00:35:52,900
we can try to divert people into a program. I once appeared before a judge in Maryland,

458
00:35:52,900 --> 00:36:00,400
And when I was asking for a client who had been removed from a treatment program for a second shot at another program because she had faltered in her first.

459
00:36:00,460 --> 00:36:11,000
And I remember that he looked at the prosecutor who was objecting and said if she had cancer and she had chemotherapy and she was in in remission.

460
00:36:11,160 --> 00:36:16,220
But the cancer came back. Would you tell her that she already had her one shot at recovering from cancer?

461
00:36:16,220 --> 00:36:28,180
And so, trying to get the court to understand and appreciate that, the addiction is just something that's very powerful, is a big component of that.

462
00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:32,200
At other times, it might be someone who doesn't necessarily struggle with substance abuse issues,

463
00:36:32,280 --> 00:36:34,920
but just has tremendous instability in their life.

464
00:36:35,100 --> 00:36:43,100
And maybe we can help explain why their behavior was whatever happened to cause them to come into criminal court, explain the why.

465
00:36:43,100 --> 00:36:48,700
offer alternative services, maybe it's therapy, maybe it's an anger management course,

466
00:36:48,980 --> 00:36:53,120
maybe they have an opportunity there now in the CSB's permanent support of housing

467
00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:58,880
program and we have positive momentum for them. Any one of these things can be an alternative

468
00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:04,120
to incarceration, trying to take the need to punish for the sake of punishment out of the equation

469
00:37:04,120 --> 00:37:09,640
and invest in bettering individuals in our community with the hope of that trickling down

470
00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:15,060
benefiting all of us, which is something I, and I think, Google Greater, we truly believe

471
00:37:15,060 --> 00:37:15,780
it.

472
00:37:16,040 --> 00:37:22,600
So you said you partner with like CSB, who and your team that you have somebody specifically

473
00:37:22,600 --> 00:37:27,560
that that's their outreach to the different organizations in the community?

474
00:37:28,160 --> 00:37:28,180
Yes.

475
00:37:28,700 --> 00:37:32,760
So while we all try to build these relationships, our primary points of contact are going to

476
00:37:32,760 --> 00:37:37,600
come through Ms. Naston, Ms. Burley, who are the mitigation specialists, and we're very lucky

477
00:37:37,600 --> 00:37:40,060
to have these positions in our office.

478
00:37:40,220 --> 00:37:42,560
They are essentially social workers.

479
00:37:42,860 --> 00:37:44,240
That's their type of experience.

480
00:37:44,960 --> 00:37:47,800
And so they are doing some case management work.

481
00:37:47,860 --> 00:37:49,420
And that's where they're literally helping

482
00:37:49,420 --> 00:37:50,400
to develop release plans.

483
00:37:50,700 --> 00:37:53,540
Michaela and I have submitted a complete release plan.

484
00:37:53,980 --> 00:37:57,540
This client has identified as having a issue with grief.

485
00:37:57,560 --> 00:37:59,260
They're recovering from the loss of a parent.

486
00:37:59,460 --> 00:38:00,840
And we've identified a grief counselor

487
00:38:00,840 --> 00:38:03,740
that they're interested in partnering with if they're released.

488
00:38:04,220 --> 00:38:05,680
And here's where their housing is going

489
00:38:05,680 --> 00:38:10,240
here, a potential job opportunities they might have here is where they're going to go for

490
00:38:10,240 --> 00:38:15,800
the recovery aspect. And submitting that to the court and saying this is the proposed plan

491
00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:21,380
in lieu of incarceration. You do that for each client? For anyone for whom it's relevant and

492
00:38:21,380 --> 00:38:29,180
necessary. You know, we do it when we don't think we have another possible outcome. Sometimes it's

493
00:38:29,180 --> 00:38:35,660
trying to pursue the knock guilty and then maybe a release plan is coming later. I wouldn't say we

494
00:38:35,660 --> 00:38:40,640
written sometimes it's verbal, sometimes it's they already have stability, it's just hey let's

495
00:38:40,640 --> 00:38:45,560
they made a mistake let's move on from that. In addition to doing the case management aspects

496
00:38:45,560 --> 00:38:51,340
they also really help us get to know our clients on a deeper level. They're not involved in every

497
00:38:51,340 --> 00:38:55,840
single case, there's two of them and then ten attorneys, but we tried to direct them towards the

498
00:38:55,840 --> 00:39:01,800
cases where we think they can be most useful and helpful. So they partner with us in helping us get

499
00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:07,720
know our clients better as a human being and getting their stories and their perspective so

500
00:39:07,720 --> 00:39:11,500
that we can share that with the court to help explain why things have gotten to where

501
00:39:11,500 --> 00:39:17,360
they are and what it also sometimes that life history can help us explain or the solutions

502
00:39:17,360 --> 00:39:21,760
are because we can identify what's made life difficult for this person and I would say it's

503
00:39:21,760 --> 00:39:27,340
almost when crime is committed it's almost always because life has been tremendously difficult

504
00:39:27,340 --> 00:39:33,460
And sometimes it's life has been difficult and this person doesn't have the tools they need to try to navigate that system.

505
00:39:34,380 --> 00:39:38,120
And, you know, I've been to this meeting and last meeting housing as we all know as a big issue.

506
00:39:38,520 --> 00:39:41,580
That is a huge issue that is painfully we can't resolve everything.

507
00:39:41,860 --> 00:39:45,240
We don't have a lot of ability to just get our clients housing.

508
00:39:46,280 --> 00:39:50,370
But we do what we can and Michaela and Amanda are a huge part of that.

509
00:39:52,330 --> 00:39:57,370
Belated welcome to the city and really excited you're here. I think it's a long overdue

510
00:39:58,570 --> 00:39:59,890
office for us in the city.

511
00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:29,960
The service you're providing is something I think we've been looking at for a long time. And I think what you're doing, well, just to fit the values of Harrisonburg, kind of long tradition of finding alternatives and ideation for this. So I'm glad to just now being executed in a way there. So that's good. How do you measure how we think about measuring success of what you're doing, whether the problems you're working with or having

512
00:40:29,960 --> 00:40:36,520
the intended, you know, impact, and of course, you know, it's hard to understand what the

513
00:40:36,520 --> 00:40:37,480
goals might be.

514
00:40:37,660 --> 00:40:41,960
I think, you know, with folks, it's hard to understand what might be progress and success

515
00:40:41,960 --> 00:40:45,260
for folks depending on the situation in life they're in.

516
00:40:45,760 --> 00:40:50,660
But do you have ways that you're looking to measure the effectiveness of the programs that you're

517
00:40:50,660 --> 00:40:51,640
working with and promoting?

518
00:40:53,240 --> 00:40:57,200
We haven't gotten to the point since we're still sort of getting our feet under us, or we've

519
00:40:57,860 --> 00:41:10,740
And to how we can manage statistics and figure out, you know, the outcomes for getting how we can measure those and then use that on top of what we're doing on a day-to-day basis to enforce the positive benefits of our work.

520
00:41:11,280 --> 00:41:14,520
But I think a big part of it is going to be measuring recidivism.

521
00:41:15,140 --> 00:41:17,720
Do clients come back and it's not going to be an immediate fix.

522
00:41:17,880 --> 00:41:25,220
The fact is, oftentimes our clients are, you know, they're dealing with years of being institutionalized for some of them.

523
00:41:25,220 --> 00:41:29,280
dealing with those instabilities, and I think that's where that component about trying to educate

524
00:41:29,280 --> 00:41:34,740
the other members of the criminal justice system that sometimes we need second and third chances,

525
00:41:35,080 --> 00:41:39,220
but ultimately measuring recidivism. We have individuals who come before the court who

526
00:41:40,160 --> 00:41:45,240
they're just familiar faces for a lot of the court staff. There's that person again. There's that person

527
00:41:45,240 --> 00:41:52,440
again. And that's I think to me, I'm not at this criminal justice system in this country is not solving

528
00:41:52,440 --> 00:41:57,280
the problems. We should be the ones looking back and saying, we're not building the house right

529
00:41:57,280 --> 00:42:03,980
if the people keep coming back. So that's one way. Another way is some of our goals really lie

530
00:42:03,980 --> 00:42:09,860
in the Commonwealth practices, the courts practices, and those are going to be really tangible

531
00:42:09,860 --> 00:42:15,700
and measurable for us, like in certain types of cases, we don't want to see felony convictions.

532
00:42:16,260 --> 00:42:20,580
And so that's where the role of setting cases for trial comes in because it's about holding

533
00:42:20,580 --> 00:42:25,260
the commonwealth accountable, and then we start to see better outcomes in certain cases.

534
00:42:26,020 --> 00:42:30,500
So for some people, felony probation might not be the answer, so finding alternatives

535
00:42:30,500 --> 00:42:35,320
to those things, and we can measure those very clearly when we start to see what we consider

536
00:42:35,320 --> 00:42:39,600
better outcomes in our cases, which is almost always going to be less incarceration, fewer

537
00:42:39,600 --> 00:42:46,380
felonies, fewer convictions, so we can make that happen. In the mind of alternatives, we would

538
00:42:46,380 --> 00:42:53,180
to eventually see more restorative practices, particularly when it comes to cases involving domestic

539
00:42:53,180 --> 00:42:59,380
violence or disputes between neighbors or even disputes between property owners and individuals

540
00:42:59,380 --> 00:43:04,240
in the community who are in house who might go to 7-11, 14 times when they've been told not to,

541
00:43:04,720 --> 00:43:10,200
coming together and employing restorative practices, whether it's some kind of mediation that

542
00:43:10,200 --> 00:43:14,260
completely divert cases away from the criminal justice system, but don't necessarily ignore that

543
00:43:14,260 --> 00:43:16,080
there's a problem that needs to be solved.

544
00:43:19,560 --> 00:43:23,880
I appreciate your passion actually towards our city.

545
00:43:25,480 --> 00:43:27,840
And I'm shocked, actually, like you are shocked.

546
00:43:27,940 --> 00:43:30,920
When you learn that, there is no such office,

547
00:43:31,320 --> 00:43:33,540
public defenders in Harrisonburg.

548
00:43:33,740 --> 00:43:36,040
I appreciate that you're coming from Northern Virginia,

549
00:43:36,340 --> 00:43:40,760
to support the city and the county as well.

550
00:43:40,760 --> 00:43:48,540
really we don't need such a service for our people actually. And I appreciate it.

551
00:43:48,560 --> 00:43:51,980
But I do have like three questions for you. Yes.

552
00:43:53,140 --> 00:43:59,360
First is like, do you clients need to to meet any criteria like any conditions? So they can be

553
00:43:59,360 --> 00:44:06,040
eligible if you want to answer this. Yeah, I can do them on a time. So yes, there are there are

554
00:44:06,040 --> 00:44:11,940
limits imposed by the court, by the Virginia Supreme Court, that essentially say someone who's

555
00:44:11,940 --> 00:44:16,000
receiving public benefits, they are automatically going to qualify for court-appointed council.

556
00:44:16,440 --> 00:44:20,760
If they're not, it's going to come down to an income threshold, and that is how they make

557
00:44:20,760 --> 00:44:21,340
that determination.

558
00:44:21,680 --> 00:44:27,520
There is an avenue for a court to decide that the avenues of justice require that we be appointed.

559
00:44:28,080 --> 00:44:31,980
Sometimes we see that in a situation where someone is employed, but the court's going to be

560
00:44:31,980 --> 00:44:35,340
inclined to detain them, and the court has a suspicion they're going to detain them

561
00:44:35,340 --> 00:44:39,560
quite a long time, such that they're not going to have income. They may appoint us in the

562
00:44:39,560 --> 00:44:44,280
situations. But we do have times when they say, you don't qualify for the public defender.

563
00:44:45,140 --> 00:44:49,120
It's a question bigger than Rocky Hill County. I think some of those thresholds need to increase

564
00:44:49,120 --> 00:44:53,800
because the cost of living has increased so significantly, but there are qualifications.

565
00:44:54,120 --> 00:44:59,240
Thank you. I learned that in Salt Lake City, Utah.

566
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:10,120
They have program for Jewelry, like they work with a police department in state of having teenagers being served in jail.

567
00:45:10,340 --> 00:45:16,120
They can have alternative. And I think that you answered for alternative and case-up and co-sination.

568
00:45:17,560 --> 00:45:24,270
Do you have something in mind to prepare something? I think you will be a pioneer in this aspect for the Jewelry.

569
00:45:24,270 --> 00:45:33,350
And then if you have it like the city hopefully can work with you with a police department, saving those teenagers from

570
00:45:33,350 --> 00:45:42,430
starting like as a life, even like for things that they can be traded, and things that have done like out of their control.

571
00:45:42,910 --> 00:45:44,410
Do you have something in mind?

572
00:45:44,770 --> 00:45:50,430
Well, I do want to give a nod to Chief Pollard and HPD because I do believe there is in place,

573
00:45:50,430 --> 00:46:07,370
But I think it's a great, but more limited that I'd like to see diversion and restorative justice program that is often used for juveniles who might engage in graffiti or other minor offenses so that there's a foundation here for this and I think we could expand it further.

574
00:46:08,170 --> 00:46:19,030
And there's also diversion through the Department of juvenile justice so we have that here, but I think it needs to get, you know, it needs to be used and utilized more often.

575
00:46:19,030 --> 00:46:24,550
I do think there is an issue, and I think it's just going to come with our office pushing

576
00:46:25,310 --> 00:46:34,730
with juvenile detention being utilized as a punishment for kids instead of what it really should

577
00:46:34,730 --> 00:46:41,330
be, which is if a child truly cannot currently independently or with their family exist in the

578
00:46:41,330 --> 00:46:47,070
community at the last, the last straw is putting them in detention, but we have situations where

579
00:46:47,070 --> 00:46:51,670
the Commonwealth is asking for a 10-day sentence in Juvie for something.

580
00:46:51,990 --> 00:46:53,870
And that's, we see that with adults a lot.

581
00:46:54,430 --> 00:46:56,710
It really isn't what should be happening with juveniles.

582
00:46:56,870 --> 00:46:58,330
It should really be a little more black and white.

583
00:46:58,470 --> 00:46:59,770
Like, you've got something very serious.

584
00:47:00,630 --> 00:47:05,070
Maybe it needs to happen on a temporary basis constantly exploring alternatives.

585
00:47:05,490 --> 00:47:12,910
But I'd like to see last of these short punitive sentences that really just, they break

586
00:47:12,910 --> 00:47:15,250
up a child's life who's maybe in school.

587
00:47:15,250 --> 00:47:20,090
And it's traumatizing to be in that and then you know I'm the kid you went in the now the kid you went to

588
00:47:20,090 --> 00:47:25,750
Juby and it can really impact how they see themselves as well. So we have those foundations.

589
00:47:27,050 --> 00:47:31,270
I've tried to talk to Ms. Garce about expanding it. Hopefully those conversations will continue.

590
00:47:31,550 --> 00:47:34,810
We just basically like to see it used more liberally and we do have sometimes

591
00:47:34,810 --> 00:47:39,390
complaints in cases who maybe called the police needed some immediate intervention but what

592
00:47:39,390 --> 00:47:43,350
they ultimately want is to sit down at the table with that person and say,

593
00:47:43,350 --> 00:47:48,850
This is how you hurt me, how can we work it out rather than see that person spend time in jail,

594
00:47:48,990 --> 00:47:55,050
live with a conviction, have court costs and fees and fines, et cetera. So we hope to continue that moment.

595
00:47:56,930 --> 00:48:03,890
And her spirit, like the Virginia, like mix of immigrant communities. And I learned that you

596
00:48:03,890 --> 00:48:09,270
have a mediation also service. So how you will link to your work with the immigrant

597
00:48:09,270 --> 00:48:16,430
communities to try to work with them in terms of mediation, because I know that they use

598
00:48:16,430 --> 00:48:21,370
that mediation about that then they go into the courts, so they use that type of service.

599
00:48:21,990 --> 00:48:26,150
So we can't actually provide mediation services with our current staff, but we do have the

600
00:48:26,150 --> 00:48:31,190
Fairfield Center and other resources in the community and if the court can commit to experimenting

601
00:48:31,190 --> 00:48:37,610
with that, that is something that we could do. We don't actually provide immigration services.

602
00:48:37,610 --> 00:48:43,330
what we have is as essentially a law firm and as individuals representing folks who are going through

603
00:48:43,330 --> 00:48:49,090
criminal court is a mandate that we advise our clients who are facing immigration consequences

604
00:48:49,090 --> 00:48:55,090
on top of their criminal consequences of the impact of their criminal conviction and their criminal

605
00:48:55,090 --> 00:49:00,690
case on their immigration status. We are very grateful to have the Assistant's of an immigration

606
00:49:00,690 --> 00:49:06,390
attorney who is employed by the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission who consults with all of

607
00:49:06,390 --> 00:49:11,030
attorney is across the state specifically on this issue. So if we have a client and we have

608
00:49:11,030 --> 00:49:16,290
a lot of clients at this point in time who have immigration concerns, whether they have

609
00:49:16,290 --> 00:49:20,190
an immigration detain our waiting for them, once they're released from incarceration, whether

610
00:49:20,190 --> 00:49:23,890
they're afraid to come to court because they don't know if ISIS is going to be waiting for

611
00:49:23,890 --> 00:49:28,430
them outside the courthouse stores or they know they have to go get a green card renewal and

612
00:49:28,430 --> 00:49:34,510
they're fearful of the impacts of the criminal conviction should it come on their ability to do that.

613
00:49:34,510 --> 00:49:37,090
we advise them about what to do.

614
00:49:37,450 --> 00:49:43,150
Now, many of the people in my office, I would say all of the people in my office are people who just have

615
00:49:43,150 --> 00:49:49,090
plain old good hearts and so there are a lot of extracurriculars when it comes to working with some of our

616
00:49:49,090 --> 00:49:55,170
immigration advocacy groups in the community and partnerships there, which helps us educate ourselves

617
00:49:55,170 --> 00:49:59,970
as well as when we can offer services and advice do that. I would do wish that there was a great

618
00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:17,540
Greater access to immigration counsel for individuals, mostly we're stuck in a position of strategizing with our clients about, while if you take this plea, you may get out of this jail, but it's going to make you an eligible for asylum, or it's going to cause you to be mandatory, detained by ICE.

619
00:50:18,180 --> 00:50:26,260
For clients who are not in custody, strategizing to avoid going into custody if they have immigration issues, but that is the extent of our immigration practice.

620
00:50:26,260 --> 00:50:27,620
Thank you.

621
00:50:28,380 --> 00:50:29,620
I like to say something.

622
00:50:30,620 --> 00:50:34,780
I think we are truly blessed to have you leading our public defenders office.

623
00:50:35,500 --> 00:50:42,160
And one of the things that I wanted to speak about was Vice Mayor Fleming was asking about data.

624
00:50:42,860 --> 00:50:44,820
And we don't have data because you're a new office.

625
00:50:45,660 --> 00:50:47,920
But I like to keep my ear to the streets so to speak.

626
00:50:48,360 --> 00:50:49,520
And I have data.

627
00:50:50,100 --> 00:50:51,900
What I'm hearing is good things.

628
00:50:51,900 --> 00:50:59,720
hearing that you are a caring for people who are in the midst of all of this with such

629
00:50:59,720 --> 00:51:08,480
loving hands, you're helping them get gel-medicates, you're helping them look for other support

630
00:51:08,480 --> 00:51:15,420
services that they may need. And a lot of times folks have said that we've said there, not knowing

631
00:51:15,420 --> 00:51:20,360
where we're going to get out of this, how we're going to deal with what got us into this.

632
00:51:20,360 --> 00:51:28,540
And in the past, I've never heard people talk about helping you deal with what got you into the situation.

633
00:51:29,140 --> 00:51:34,340
And I think that's more important than actual crime itself, because if you don't deal with that,

634
00:51:34,500 --> 00:51:39,280
like you said, recitivism is going to continue to increase. We're going to see you again. You're going to come back.

635
00:51:39,780 --> 00:51:44,940
So that hard work that you're doing, I think, is outside of the actual courtroom.

636
00:51:44,940 --> 00:51:52,360
And I just have so much respect for you and the folks in your office for going that extra mile.

637
00:51:53,000 --> 00:51:59,060
I'm going above and beyond what's expected of you that I just didn't know that

638
00:51:59,060 --> 00:52:03,080
that's what we get when we get a public defender's office.

639
00:52:03,420 --> 00:52:06,960
But it's not always the case, it's because we have you.

640
00:52:07,580 --> 00:52:10,980
And so your thoughts, and when I'm sitting here listening to you,

641
00:52:10,980 --> 00:52:18,340
be, I now understand why you're staff acts in a way that they have a keep pushing and keep

642
00:52:18,340 --> 00:52:22,040
searching for other resources for folks who are in the midst of a crisis.

643
00:52:22,840 --> 00:52:26,500
And so, but that is there and that is saying you're doing right things.

644
00:52:26,780 --> 00:52:34,140
And I'm hoping that the ideas that you're really pushing for, that trickle over into the

645
00:52:34,140 --> 00:52:40,180
rest of the offices that deal with the same individuals in the midst of a crisis, and we

646
00:52:40,180 --> 00:52:44,280
start caring for that individual in a way that we don't see them again.

647
00:52:44,860 --> 00:52:47,720
If we do see them, it's because they're doing good on the street.

648
00:52:48,100 --> 00:52:52,040
Hey, thanks. I'm now doing blogs and blogs. I have a job now.

649
00:52:52,200 --> 00:52:55,360
You know, I got to correct medical advice that I need to get.

650
00:52:55,420 --> 00:52:57,380
You made me an appointment. Thank you so much.

651
00:52:58,020 --> 00:53:01,600
And so, yes, I just think you're doing an amazing job.

652
00:53:02,120 --> 00:53:06,360
And, um, wow, the dad is there.

653
00:53:06,620 --> 00:53:08,440
And the dad says, keep going, girl.

654
00:53:08,600 --> 00:53:09,180
Thank you.

655
00:53:09,180 --> 00:53:11,920
And Councilwoman Rothins makes a great point.

656
00:53:12,000 --> 00:53:17,960
I think a foundational principle of our office is to have meaningful and frequent

657
00:53:17,960 --> 00:53:22,860
contacts with our clients, whether they're incarcerated or not, to be there for them.

658
00:53:23,000 --> 00:53:27,940
And I do truly believe that sometimes that can be the antidote or at least part of the antidote

659
00:53:27,940 --> 00:53:29,540
to their coming back to the community.

660
00:53:30,040 --> 00:53:34,600
I believe that when individuals feel like they've been treated fairly and that the system

661
00:53:34,600 --> 00:53:39,620
respected them that they had an attorney who advocated for them in completely and entirely

662
00:53:39,620 --> 00:53:45,240
that they have greater accountability if they did make a mistake. They also feel better

663
00:53:45,240 --> 00:53:50,240
about themselves because a lot of our clients have never or maybe not never, but they haven't

664
00:53:50,240 --> 00:53:55,800
had a lot of people care about them and invest in them. They may not have family members who have

665
00:53:55,800 --> 00:54:00,720
stuck by their side or they just may simply not have family members in the area who are capable of

666
00:54:00,720 --> 00:54:05,660
supporting them. But when our attorneys and our mitigation specialists are even our

667
00:54:05,660 --> 00:54:09,840
front desk staff who answer the phones day in and day out, treat them with

668
00:54:09,840 --> 00:54:13,660
courtesy and respect and listen to them. We believe that is another way in which we

669
00:54:13,660 --> 00:54:17,560
are hopefully reducing recidivism. And you know, I don't want to just distill it down

670
00:54:17,560 --> 00:54:23,100
to recidivism. It's about improving people's lives and making people feel good

671
00:54:23,100 --> 00:54:29,740
and treating them like human beings. And that's when we are as a community. Yes. So that's why

672
00:54:29,740 --> 00:54:33,740
It feels like it fits so well, right?

673
00:54:33,900 --> 00:54:36,500
To know, and I know some of the people

674
00:54:36,500 --> 00:54:40,120
that's sitting on your team, so I know the passion

675
00:54:40,120 --> 00:54:42,320
that they have and the heart that they have.

676
00:54:43,160 --> 00:54:45,200
So it fits exactly what we say.

677
00:54:45,820 --> 00:54:46,800
We are as a community.

678
00:54:49,220 --> 00:54:54,480
I just want to mention, going back to the idea of our courts

679
00:54:54,480 --> 00:54:57,880
and folks might go there in a fearful ice immigration

680
00:54:57,880 --> 00:54:59,080
being there.

681
00:54:59,540 --> 00:54:59,980
and close me.

682
00:55:00,000 --> 00:55:12,980
You know, it's being here that those sensitive locations were rescinded. So what had previously been a place where folks could go without fear of additional prosecution was rescinded.

683
00:55:14,160 --> 00:55:20,340
So I think that's something that we actually will talk about later in this meeting about the idea of sensitive location, strictly courts.

684
00:55:21,920 --> 00:55:32,560
And that folks can feel that they can take part in the system without having penalty for taking part in the system.

685
00:55:33,000 --> 00:55:35,360
It doesn't work. It doesn't work otherwise.

686
00:55:36,420 --> 00:55:39,160
So I think something we can, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll talk about later.

687
00:55:40,140 --> 00:55:43,680
So you mentioned the 1800 cases.

688
00:55:44,560 --> 00:55:48,200
It's a lot because and divide it by, yeah, for work.

689
00:55:48,200 --> 00:55:49,080
We don't know why.

690
00:55:49,840 --> 00:55:50,760
We don't know why.

691
00:55:51,300 --> 00:55:57,420
But then the idea of maybe expanding the juvenile services

692
00:55:57,420 --> 00:56:00,760
you talked about, are you anticipating,

693
00:56:01,780 --> 00:56:04,920
potentially growing your office and assuming,

694
00:56:05,460 --> 00:56:06,820
hearing those numbers to me,

695
00:56:07,340 --> 00:56:12,440
seems like you anticipate or imagine getting larger,

696
00:56:12,820 --> 00:56:16,000
growing and finding more services and kind of your ideas

697
00:56:16,000 --> 00:56:19,620
or the thought of how or if and when that might happen.

698
00:56:19,820 --> 00:56:20,620
It's on our minds.

699
00:56:20,620 --> 00:56:22,820
I think we're not going to have the firm abilities

700
00:56:22,820 --> 00:56:26,980
to make that ask of the VIDC until we have our 10th attorney

701
00:56:26,980 --> 00:56:30,300
actually practicing as an attorney because right now we're dividing

702
00:56:30,300 --> 00:56:34,800
our caseload across nine attorneys and two of them started in the fall.

703
00:56:35,340 --> 00:56:37,420
And so they haven't reached their full caseloads.

704
00:56:37,620 --> 00:56:40,940
And when we see that and we can compare to other jurisdictions

705
00:56:40,940 --> 00:56:44,580
that the VIDC is supporting public defender's offices in.

706
00:56:44,580 --> 00:56:46,780
we may be able to ask for more staff.

707
00:56:47,020 --> 00:56:48,360
And I think for us, that name,

708
00:56:48,360 --> 00:56:52,080
in additional attorneys, it's definitely been on our mind.

709
00:56:52,120 --> 00:56:53,160
It's been part of conversation.

710
00:56:53,920 --> 00:56:55,620
And it may mean another investigator,

711
00:56:56,560 --> 00:56:57,760
or another mitigation specialist,

712
00:56:57,960 --> 00:57:00,680
because those additional positions are critical,

713
00:57:00,900 --> 00:57:04,780
especially if we're talking about expanding our work beyond

714
00:57:05,480 --> 00:57:07,320
just what happens in the courtroom,

715
00:57:07,560 --> 00:57:08,820
which is what we would like to do.

716
00:57:09,000 --> 00:57:10,640
And we do have benefit in the partnership.

717
00:57:10,900 --> 00:57:13,280
We built great relationships with the CSB,

718
00:57:13,280 --> 00:57:16,180
with the Gemeinschaft Home, with the Department of Social Services.

719
00:57:16,880 --> 00:57:22,020
I mean, Michaela and Amanda and many of the attorneys know so many people even across the state

720
00:57:22,020 --> 00:57:25,440
at different recovery programs and really try to tailor it to the right person.

721
00:57:25,600 --> 00:57:29,900
So we've got those outside supporters, but we would like to expand, I think, word is not prepared

722
00:57:29,900 --> 00:57:35,380
to make an educated ask until we get a view of what it looks like when we have kind of attorneys.

723
00:57:35,560 --> 00:57:41,220
And some of this is, as I mentioned in the beginning, the circuit court is not yet appointing

724
00:57:41,220 --> 00:57:48,180
in every case where there's not a conflict, they are still rotating us in with the other individuals

725
00:57:48,180 --> 00:57:53,120
on the court appointed list and certainly not here to take away work from anyone but the code

726
00:57:53,120 --> 00:57:57,300
does technically say when a jurisdiction has a public defender's office, the case of

727
00:57:57,300 --> 00:58:02,100
shall be appointed to the public defender. That's part of why you shift into this model. Again

728
00:58:02,100 --> 00:58:06,360
unless there's a conflict or unless for some reason we say in the interest of justice we

729
00:58:06,360 --> 00:58:09,960
can't handle that case. We need to maintain the court appointed list because we do have

730
00:58:09,960 --> 00:58:16,820
It's a small community that happens multi-defendant cases or just situations are like, oh, I know that person

731
00:58:16,820 --> 00:58:22,380
And we're gonna have to cross examine that person as a witness and that's not gonna look good because that's my former client

732
00:58:23,820 --> 00:58:29,560
So we will take stock and then and see what we think we need and

733
00:58:30,120 --> 00:58:32,000
Move forward and hopefully expand

734
00:58:33,780 --> 00:58:39,940
I would just like to say that I like to tell the story some of you know this, but the the origin of my

735
00:58:40,420 --> 00:58:46,840
arriving here at this podium is I have been spending time in Harrisonburg since 2018 and

736
00:58:46,840 --> 00:58:50,700
lived in Harrisonburg. I right now live in Crosi, that's a long story, but I'm planning

737
00:58:50,700 --> 00:58:57,620
I'm moving back. But lived in Harrisonburg from 2021 until 2023. And when I first

738
00:58:57,620 --> 00:59:04,620
made the leap to move to Harrisonburg from the DC area, my caveat was, well, I've got, I've

739
00:59:04,620 --> 00:59:08,540
got to be a public defender. So, and I said, I'll just work at the Rockingham County Public

740
00:59:08,540 --> 00:59:13,860
funders office, and there was no such thing. At the time, I lived across the street from

741
00:59:13,860 --> 00:59:19,320
Council in the dent, and I found myself talking to her husband. He said, well, they're

742
00:59:19,320 --> 00:59:23,900
trying to get a public defender's office here in maybe one day. I was able to get employment

743
00:59:23,900 --> 00:59:28,180
with the federal public defender's office, and just sort of enjoy that work, but quietly

744
00:59:28,180 --> 00:59:32,000
waited because I think the most meaningful way, which you can be a public defender, is important

745
00:59:32,000 --> 00:59:36,640
up in the feds, but it's meaningful because it's so community-based when you're in a state

746
00:59:36,640 --> 00:59:37,920
with Defender's office.

747
00:59:38,560 --> 00:59:41,380
One day, my friends, it was a jam you alumni

748
00:59:41,380 --> 00:59:43,780
inside, they just posted for the Public Defender's

749
00:59:43,780 --> 00:59:44,620
position in Harrisonburg.

750
00:59:44,800 --> 00:59:46,260
And I was like, they're never going to pick me.

751
00:59:47,460 --> 00:59:48,260
And they did.

752
00:59:48,640 --> 00:59:52,020
So I am just thrilled to have the opportunity to thrilled.

753
00:59:52,200 --> 00:59:54,320
I've had so many amazing people join the office

754
00:59:54,320 --> 00:59:56,320
and grateful to all of you.

755
00:59:56,440 --> 00:59:57,300
We'll be glad to have you.

756
00:59:57,300 --> 00:59:57,820
Thank you.

757
00:59:58,120 --> 00:59:58,700
Thank you.

758
01:00:03,340 --> 01:00:05,720
All right, we'll move to 7B, Larry.

759
01:00:13,580 --> 01:00:24,500
Good evening, everybody. Thanks for having me. My name is Matthew Heal. I'm a partner with Brown Edwards and company here to talk a little bit about the audit of the financial statements of the city.

760
01:00:25,460 --> 01:00:34,600
First off, as always, I want to take the opportunity to thank Council and Management for the opportunity to serve the city of Harris, a bird.

761
01:00:34,600 --> 01:00:51,920
I also want to definitely compliment the city finance staff, Larry Propson, his team, and also the school finance staff for being ready for a lot of procedures addressing any issues we raise and answering the many questions we have every year of the audit.

762
01:00:51,920 --> 01:00:59,840
What why I am here is because we are required to talk about in the Virginia County audit of the financial statements.

763
01:01:00,600 --> 01:01:04,780
And I'm happy to talk about the opinion on the financial statements.

764
01:01:05,160 --> 01:01:10,880
We are addressing an unmodified, clean audit opinion on the financial statements themselves.

765
01:01:11,200 --> 01:01:18,400
It means based on our audit, we believe the financial statements and disclosures in those financial statements are materially correct.

766
01:01:18,400 --> 01:01:20,700
and of course, in accordance with accounting principles,

767
01:01:21,320 --> 01:01:23,620
generally accepted in America.

768
01:01:24,780 --> 01:01:27,380
Also in the, in the thick financial report,

769
01:01:27,480 --> 01:01:30,200
you'll see what's called our report on internal control,

770
01:01:30,400 --> 01:01:31,460
our yellow book opinion.

771
01:01:31,840 --> 01:01:34,060
That should be rated conjunction with the audit

772
01:01:34,060 --> 01:01:35,240
of the financial statements.

773
01:01:35,240 --> 01:01:38,420
It is a required document as a part of the audit.

774
01:01:38,900 --> 01:01:41,260
The purpose of that report would be to disclose

775
01:01:41,260 --> 01:01:44,900
any deficiencies or weaknesses in internal controls

776
01:01:44,900 --> 01:01:47,100
or compliance issues with the city

777
01:01:47,100 --> 01:01:52,260
And I'm also very happy to report that they were not noted as a part of our audit for this year.

778
01:01:53,100 --> 01:01:59,560
As always, I'm happy to answer any questions you have and I really appreciate the opportunity to work with the city.

779
01:02:00,000 --> 01:02:00,320
Thank you.

780
01:02:00,660 --> 01:02:00,940
Any questions?

781
01:02:02,560 --> 01:02:09,500
Well, that we have no identified message rights flags or yellow flags in there.

782
01:02:10,280 --> 01:02:11,200
Great job, Larry.

783
01:02:11,200 --> 01:02:17,920
As usual, you have enough of them to ask questions on if you can figure out how we can generate more revenue.

784
01:02:18,740 --> 01:02:20,280
That would be great, but otherwise.

785
01:02:22,060 --> 01:02:22,320
Any questions?

786
01:02:22,960 --> 01:02:23,380
Thank you.

787
01:02:24,380 --> 01:02:24,880
Thank you.

788
01:02:25,020 --> 01:02:25,240
Thank you.

789
01:02:25,580 --> 01:02:28,060
Madam Mayor, if you would allow me, you just want to indulge in.

790
01:02:28,120 --> 01:02:30,340
I'd like to point out, Mr. Crofts in his team.

791
01:02:30,740 --> 01:02:40,360
This is the 30th consecutive year that the Finance Department for the City of Parisburg has received this certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting from GFOA.

792
01:02:40,360 --> 01:02:42,580
So, I don't want that to go on nervous.

793
01:02:43,040 --> 01:02:43,760
Thank you so much.

794
01:02:44,260 --> 01:02:44,520
30.

795
01:02:44,920 --> 01:02:45,080
30.

796
01:02:45,080 --> 01:02:45,600
30.

797
01:02:47,000 --> 01:02:50,120
Basically, when Larry started, he was worked.

798
01:02:50,120 --> 01:02:50,580
Yeah, good.

799
01:02:50,700 --> 01:02:51,660
How old is Larry?

800
01:02:54,740 --> 01:02:55,260
Oh, my God.

801
01:02:55,260 --> 01:02:55,840
How old are you?

802
01:02:55,880 --> 01:02:56,080
How old are you?

803
01:02:56,080 --> 01:02:56,840
Oh, my God.

804
01:02:58,620 --> 01:02:59,240
Thank you.

805
01:02:59,520 --> 01:02:59,860
Thank you.

806
01:03:00,200 --> 01:03:03,920
Well, Dan, we'll move to the 7th.

807
01:03:03,920 --> 01:03:09,020
Well, so just on this document, I want to say, if you think about this,

808
01:03:09,020 --> 01:03:14,960
because, you know, this is one of the most important things we actually get, you know, every year,

809
01:03:16,000 --> 01:03:23,020
this tells us so much about, you know, how our finances are being handled, what our current status is,

810
01:03:24,500 --> 01:03:27,600
and, you know, looking in the future, how we need to think about it.

811
01:03:28,100 --> 01:03:30,120
And this is really the first one for us, this post-COVID.

812
01:03:31,080 --> 01:03:35,840
But, you know, post, you know, the funding we've got in the Orpa and that's our answer for funds.

813
01:03:37,080 --> 01:03:43,160
And so, looking at the budget next year, things will change a lot.

814
01:03:44,840 --> 01:03:49,620
So, you know, just kind of looking through this, and for me, and you know, I dig into these.

815
01:03:49,860 --> 01:03:58,700
And so, you know, going back, say to 2021, to now, to me is really important for us to look at what's happened over those years.

816
01:03:58,700 --> 01:04:07,840
is we've gotten a lot of revenue and there a lot of it is capital but some of it has changed

817
01:04:07,840 --> 01:04:13,420
our operational kind of baseline for us and for some things, you know, the school funding

818
01:04:13,420 --> 01:04:19,260
in particular came in and it's changing that because you know, a far department, you know,

819
01:04:19,460 --> 01:04:25,440
we've been, but capital of money there was changing our operating expenses because of some

820
01:04:25,440 --> 01:04:30,240
are perfons and the navigation center as well is changing that and so I think when you really

821
01:04:30,240 --> 01:04:35,740
need to pay attention to what this is telling us about our trends over the last number

822
01:04:35,740 --> 01:04:38,680
of years as we're looking forward.

823
01:04:41,240 --> 01:04:45,800
The numbers are actually amazingly good considering where

824
01:04:45,800 --> 01:04:55,420
we've been the last never years. Our reserves have grown double. This is kind of not related

825
01:04:55,420 --> 01:04:59,420
So the arpid dollars, and this is kind of our good...

826
01:05:00,000 --> 01:05:08,140
And financial management practices. So like 53 million to 123 million dollars, I think, is the number that we have now.

827
01:05:08,240 --> 01:05:15,320
It's going to run that position. And you did this for the cities. I don't think other cities are societies have that position, generally.

828
01:05:16,440 --> 01:05:21,480
I mean, if you have any thoughts on that, I think that's not usual for a city or a size.

829
01:05:24,260 --> 01:05:25,660
Yeah, Dennis, I'm fine.

830
01:05:25,660 --> 01:05:25,680
Yeah, Dennis, I'm fine.

831
01:05:25,680 --> 01:05:25,980
I'm fine.

832
01:05:25,980 --> 01:05:26,200
I'm

833
01:05:30,070 --> 01:05:30,510
fine.

834
01:05:31,010 --> 01:05:31,310
I'm fine.

835
01:05:31,310 --> 01:05:31,370
I'm fine.

836
01:05:35,340 --> 01:05:35,860
Right.

837
01:05:37,740 --> 01:05:42,940
So I think, you know, for the public, you know, again, this is kind of in the weeds.

838
01:05:43,280 --> 01:05:48,600
But it's really important for the public to understand what this report is saying about,

839
01:05:48,600 --> 01:05:50,620
you know, the position of the city.

840
01:05:51,100 --> 01:05:52,240
How we are, I honestly.

841
01:05:52,820 --> 01:05:57,420
So that this, you know, kind of, unassigned, fun balance is really strong

842
01:05:57,420 --> 01:06:04,620
for us. And that's really important for us, because we're all looking at our federal partner,

843
01:06:05,480 --> 01:06:12,280
not being possible as reliable as we've anticipated. We can see and we already know that

844
01:06:12,280 --> 01:06:27,400
for folks who are depending on housing support, subsidized housing support, we see clearly

845
01:06:27,400 --> 01:06:32,660
time. We see that the cuts that are coming down to that and we also certainly see within

846
01:06:32,660 --> 01:06:41,780
health care. We can kind of see the potential for folks to become very vulnerable and

847
01:06:41,780 --> 01:06:49,260
way we haven't seen. There are other places where folks can get support. I think the reality

848
01:06:49,260 --> 01:06:56,460
for cities is that we're going to have to step into areas that we haven't often had to step

849
01:06:56,460 --> 01:07:02,440
to end the past because the funds aren't there, you know, at the federal level in the state

850
01:07:02,440 --> 01:07:07,940
level, and these are our residents. What we're going to do is so that we aren't such

851
01:07:07,940 --> 01:07:12,640
a good position to be able to step into that, I think, is something we have to pay attention

852
01:07:12,640 --> 01:07:18,140
to as we're budgeting now moving forward. We have to kind of reset our baseline of our

853
01:07:18,140 --> 01:07:25,040
operating, kind of look back at pre-pandemic where we were and what our trends were. I think

854
01:07:25,040 --> 01:07:25,540
They're pretty good.

855
01:07:25,680 --> 01:07:31,040
I mean, we've reduced a lot of debt, so we used some of the arpid dollars and we reduced

856
01:07:31,040 --> 01:07:37,760
what $24 million in debt of the last couple of years, so, of course, we've done a lot

857
01:07:37,760 --> 01:07:42,520
of capital investments, which are good, but there's capital investments often come with

858
01:07:42,520 --> 01:07:46,800
operational costs that's asked to them moving forward and we stuck into that.

859
01:07:46,920 --> 01:07:52,500
But I think this is really important for us to look into, I have all the calcium numbers,

860
01:07:52,500 --> 01:08:03,340
You know, in Larry, maybe you can help us and I will have a treat, but kind of think through what this means for us budgeting moving forward.

861
01:08:03,800 --> 01:08:13,240
So I think it's really important for our residents to know that we're in such a good financial shape relatively over the last couple years.

862
01:08:14,200 --> 01:08:15,980
And that's not always the case with cities our size.

863
01:08:15,980 --> 01:08:21,580
It's not always the case, but we also want to be cautious about how we move forward because

864
01:08:21,580 --> 01:08:29,380
there is going to be a lot of ask for us to step into things that, so we need to use this

865
01:08:29,380 --> 01:08:37,400
document or what we have in a strategic way, and I'm sure that our city manager and our financial

866
01:08:37,400 --> 01:08:38,700
director will help us do that.

867
01:08:39,340 --> 01:08:44,580
I think one of the things I would like to get very possibly is kind of looking at some of those

868
01:08:44,580 --> 01:09:05,060
Apple expenditures and what are the kind of those new operational dollars that are in place that we need to account for moving forward that, you know, we haven't, you know, built into our revenue streams and we also know I think, you know, we're seeing, you know, this in our particular revenue is flattening.

869
01:09:05,060 --> 01:09:12,240
So, you know, we have dependent on, you know, interest from money we borrowed.

870
01:09:12,860 --> 01:09:16,780
You know, that's going to drop you've seen assessments that have gone up.

871
01:09:16,960 --> 01:09:20,860
So, it says some of our increase has not been from necessarily new construction,

872
01:09:21,780 --> 01:09:24,960
but from assessments that might start flattening out.

873
01:09:25,680 --> 01:09:28,160
And we know costs aren't going to flatten out.

874
01:09:28,740 --> 01:09:34,420
And we know that the services we have to provide, you know, are getting, you know, exponentially more expensive to do.

875
01:09:35,760 --> 01:09:41,760
So, you know, again, it's, you know, there's no alarm for us.

876
01:09:42,060 --> 01:09:44,560
I think it's just being mayor as you're saying.

877
01:09:44,820 --> 01:09:46,160
You're thoughtful and moving ahead.

878
01:09:46,640 --> 01:09:49,960
We're positioned in a good spot with our budget

879
01:09:51,600 --> 01:09:54,960
to potentially support some of these needs that are coming down,

880
01:09:54,980 --> 01:09:56,740
but we have to do it thoughtfully.

881
01:09:57,100 --> 01:09:57,640
We'll have to...

882
01:09:57,640 --> 01:09:59,980
You know, as a city, we're...

883
01:10:00,000 --> 01:10:09,300
We're lucky that we're at this position in kind of considering our general population, you know, and we are a moderate to low-income population.

884
01:10:10,680 --> 01:10:20,180
It's not normal, I think, for us, like that, for our revenue ability to be able to have this balance, this one balance available for us.

885
01:10:20,640 --> 01:10:29,220
Thank you for the work, and obviously, you know, City Manager, thank you and your staff for doing this, because the reason we're delivering these services way beyond, you know,

886
01:10:29,220 --> 01:10:32,700
Our revenue generation ability is because of the work you guys do.

887
01:10:33,080 --> 01:10:39,440
I appreciate that, Councilman, but I mean, none of us in this room can take full acceptance

888
01:10:39,440 --> 01:10:39,820
of that.

889
01:10:40,100 --> 01:10:44,220
We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us who also made those tough decisions

890
01:10:44,220 --> 01:10:45,080
year after year.

891
01:10:45,480 --> 01:10:46,100
It's a long history.

892
01:10:47,900 --> 01:10:48,780
Thank you.

893
01:10:49,300 --> 01:10:49,640
All right.

894
01:10:49,840 --> 01:10:50,160
You ready?

895
01:10:50,320 --> 01:10:50,560
It's me.

896
01:10:51,860 --> 01:10:59,180
It's the Councilman has before a Revolution, dedicated East K-Leard Park Drive as a public

897
01:10:59,180 --> 01:10:59,580
street.

898
01:10:59,700 --> 01:11:00,920
This is a little unusual.

899
01:11:01,320 --> 01:11:06,960
Really, it's a precursor to Mr. Hartman's item 7D, which he's going to talk to you about.

900
01:11:07,200 --> 01:11:15,880
But in part, that adds streets to our street inventory and for that street, we get some maintenance

901
01:11:15,880 --> 01:11:16,740
funds.

902
01:11:16,740 --> 01:11:25,620
And, you know, ordinarily when we have new streets coming into our street inventory, usually

903
01:11:25,620 --> 01:11:29,560
it's through a subdivision where a development is developed and when the subdivision

904
01:11:29,560 --> 01:11:34,920
plaza is recorded, the streets are shutting on that flat, are dedicated, or when we're expanding

905
01:11:34,920 --> 01:11:40,060
the road or extending the road, we acquire property from a landowner, and the deed we get

906
01:11:40,060 --> 01:11:41,920
from the landowner's a deeded medication.

907
01:11:41,920 --> 01:11:46,780
And East Kayla Park Drive is a little different in that we are the landowner.

908
01:11:46,780 --> 01:11:51,040
We've owned it for several years, and then we built a street on it.

909
01:11:51,460 --> 01:11:56,980
So, we'd be clear about this, under Virginia law, if a locality builds a street and opens it.

910
01:11:57,160 --> 01:11:57,540
It's dedicated.

911
01:11:57,960 --> 01:12:02,260
Under Common Law, East Kayla Park Drive has been dedicated.

912
01:12:03,020 --> 01:12:06,420
But what Mr. Hartman and I were talking about is with the inventory.

913
01:12:07,780 --> 01:12:12,660
It's clear where the other streets of that inventory, where they were dedicated, but it's

914
01:12:13,060 --> 01:12:18,980
it's a little harder to point to where East Kailer Park Drive was dedicated and just in case

915
01:12:18,980 --> 01:12:21,040
B.E.A.R.A. asked every disorder of an audit.

916
01:12:21,200 --> 01:12:26,480
We'd like to have a document, instead of having Mr. Hartman, if he's still around, then sign

917
01:12:26,480 --> 01:12:35,580
an affidavit that East Kailer Park Drive was opened in June of 2024, so I guess this is really kind

918
01:12:35,580 --> 01:12:39,100
of belts and suspenders kind of thing.

919
01:12:39,620 --> 01:12:42,740
You thought we'd go ahead and formalize the dedication

920
01:12:42,740 --> 01:12:44,200
and then you'll see in the resolution,

921
01:12:44,300 --> 01:12:47,720
it does refer to the fact that it was informally dedicated

922
01:12:47,720 --> 01:12:50,020
back in June of 2024.

923
01:12:51,520 --> 01:12:51,980
Thank you.

924
01:12:52,240 --> 01:12:52,820
Any questions?

925
01:12:53,860 --> 01:12:54,260
No, man.

926
01:12:54,320 --> 01:12:58,020
Makes sense to me, and it's more money to support our streets.

927
01:12:58,820 --> 01:13:00,180
Have a motion please.

928
01:13:02,180 --> 01:13:04,300
Madam Mayor, I mean that we adopt the resolution

929
01:13:04,300 --> 01:13:08,220
and dedicated East Canyon Park Drive as a public street.

930
01:13:08,660 --> 01:13:10,320
I'll second said.

931
01:13:10,320 --> 01:13:11,080
Any discussion?

932
01:13:13,680 --> 01:13:14,700
Rokal please, Pam.

933
01:13:15,180 --> 01:13:16,220
Council member Alcidin?

934
01:13:16,360 --> 01:13:16,880
Aye.

935
01:13:16,880 --> 01:13:17,660
Council member Dent?

936
01:13:18,220 --> 01:13:19,160
Council member Robinson?

937
01:13:19,860 --> 01:13:20,680
Nice to meet you, Flim.

938
01:13:20,800 --> 01:13:21,100
Aye.

939
01:13:21,420 --> 01:13:22,220
May you read.

940
01:13:24,720 --> 01:13:24,900
Come.

941
01:13:32,100 --> 01:13:32,760
Good evening again.

942
01:13:33,020 --> 01:13:34,140
Tom Hartman, Public Works.

943
01:13:35,160 --> 01:13:37,320
The presentation I'm doing is for the next two items together.

944
01:13:37,520 --> 01:13:38,120
So I will talk.

945
01:13:38,640 --> 01:13:40,120
You'll do it together and then we'll vote.

946
01:13:40,120 --> 01:13:42,480
need to vote separately because the two separate resolutions correct.

947
01:13:43,260 --> 01:13:47,220
This is as Mr. Brown will say, and this is what he was talking about was a pretty

948
01:13:47,220 --> 01:13:50,560
really to an update to our VDAR urban maintenance inventory.

949
01:13:51,580 --> 01:13:56,040
Currently our inventory is just over 333 moving lane miles.

950
01:13:56,660 --> 01:13:58,920
So when we tell our staff that's essentially dropped, that's one lane of

951
01:13:58,920 --> 01:14:03,720
interstate 81 from Bristol to Manchester that we maintain within the city limits.

952
01:14:04,240 --> 01:14:07,980
We receive from VDAR just over $7 million annually.

953
01:14:08,760 --> 01:14:13,180
that's for maintenance. So that's the snow and ice control that we just spent a whole week doing

954
01:14:13,180 --> 01:14:18,020
traffic signal signs, pavement markings, curving gutter, sidewalks, bridges, storm drink,

955
01:14:18,100 --> 01:14:22,900
clean, all the stuff public works does to keep our roads safe and operable. We use those funds

956
01:14:23,940 --> 01:14:31,700
to do that. The first resolution that you have is for additions, the additions are three segments

957
01:14:31,700 --> 01:14:37,440
of roadway, largest of which is East Kale Park Drive that connects Main Street to Main Street into

958
01:14:37,440 --> 01:14:42,420
the new Rotten High School. The second section is a small section of people's drive, which is across

959
01:14:42,420 --> 01:14:48,340
Main Street from East Kale Park. It connects West Kale Park and Baxter. You know, the new

960
01:14:48,340 --> 01:14:52,720
tractor supply store is they build a small section of people to connect that for better connectivity.

961
01:14:53,360 --> 01:14:59,120
And the third section is Cobbler's Court. This is over off of Pear Street. This is a small segment of

962
01:14:59,120 --> 01:14:59,960
You need to treat that leads

963
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:04,660
And to a much larger county development. The roadways in that development would maintain my

964
01:15:04,660 --> 01:15:08,740
v dot, but we have a small little segment that still was in the city, city limits, and we'll

965
01:15:08,740 --> 01:15:14,600
maintain that. That is the 200, 2.26 moving lane miles that were at the end of the

966
01:15:14,600 --> 01:15:21,300
inventory. The deletions is 0.3 lane miles, and that's a long east market street between

967
01:15:21,300 --> 01:15:29,560
reservoir street and Mason. There's no other thing was last summer, we converted one of those

968
01:15:29,560 --> 01:15:33,340
at Merdle and Brawd.

969
01:15:35,300 --> 01:15:38,960
So the maintenance payments are only paid for moving lane miles.

970
01:15:39,780 --> 01:15:43,040
So center turn lanes, left, right turn lanes do not count or inventory.

971
01:15:43,340 --> 01:15:48,260
So because we took that vehicle lane out of the moving lane mile category and put it into the turn lane,

972
01:15:48,640 --> 01:15:52,780
we have to deduct that point through lane miles from our inventory.

973
01:15:53,680 --> 01:15:55,900
Bicycle lane conversion is a different one.

974
01:15:56,100 --> 01:15:59,040
We have two segments of street that converted bicycle lanes

975
01:15:59,040 --> 01:16:04,440
Over the past two years, that's Gorbors Church Road from Ericsson Avenue to West Market Street

976
01:16:04,440 --> 01:16:11,960
in Mount Clinton Pike, from just east of Route 42, just past the road attracts out to North

977
01:16:11,960 --> 01:16:17,240
Main Street. That's a conversion that we're allowed to do, and we are not, we do not have to

978
01:16:17,240 --> 01:16:21,780
reduce our maintenance payments. Within State Code in 2014, it changed to save localities,

979
01:16:22,100 --> 01:16:28,180
can convert up to 3% of their moving lane mile inventory to a bike facility. So for us, that's

980
01:16:28,180 --> 01:16:36,260
just over nine miles of inventory that we can convert to a bike lane and still receive nine miles of maintenance payments.

981
01:16:36,500 --> 01:16:41,140
This takes up to 66% essentially of our inventory to do that.

982
01:16:41,860 --> 01:16:46,640
We have some plans on how we could we would get the nine miles. Once we get over that threshold,

983
01:16:47,440 --> 01:16:51,700
where it doesn't preclude us from making those link conversions, it just brings into the calculus,

984
01:16:52,300 --> 01:16:54,440
is it worth it if we're losing those maintenance dollars.

985
01:16:55,400 --> 01:17:00,480
This is a heavily debated thing every couple years to read out about is Lane Miles the best way to

986
01:17:00,480 --> 01:17:06,160
do we out the maintenance payments. We always settle back to moving Lane Miles to that discussion.

987
01:17:07,040 --> 01:17:11,340
So with those adjustments, you'll see at the bottom of the screen are updated inventory when

988
01:17:11,340 --> 01:17:18,860
I'll bump up to just over 335 Lane Miles and our annual maintenance payments bump up to just

989
01:17:18,860 --> 01:17:20,560
over $7.1 million annually.

990
01:17:21,200 --> 01:17:23,640
Those increase every year tied to an index.

991
01:17:24,180 --> 01:17:26,120
So there's a gain as we see.

992
01:17:26,440 --> 01:17:28,720
As the CTP approves, those funds.

993
01:17:29,240 --> 01:17:31,720
In the last page is the map that just kind of highlights

994
01:17:31,720 --> 01:17:35,880
those three different segments of new street conversion

995
01:17:35,880 --> 01:17:38,060
and street deletion that I talked about.

996
01:17:38,340 --> 01:17:39,140
Any questions?

997
01:17:40,680 --> 01:17:45,500
Well, the bike lanes, it's nice that we can convert

998
01:17:45,500 --> 01:17:51,700
without losing the dollars there, but three percent seems awfully low for this.

999
01:17:53,380 --> 01:17:58,600
So, where we are, six miles now, we'll quickly hit the nine miles I'm assuming.

1000
01:18:00,140 --> 01:18:04,040
So, seems like a low number and I imagine there's push.

1001
01:18:04,400 --> 01:18:05,500
I bring it every time.

1002
01:18:05,580 --> 01:18:06,160
Yep, yep.

1003
01:18:06,160 --> 01:18:06,780
That's all we've got.

1004
01:18:06,840 --> 01:18:08,260
Richmond has a 50-mile cap.

1005
01:18:09,480 --> 01:18:10,540
We don't get that.

1006
01:18:10,960 --> 01:18:13,560
But I bring that up every time we talk to Vida about maintenance payments.

1007
01:18:13,560 --> 01:18:16,700
We just haven't gotten enough steam behind that question yet.

1008
01:18:16,960 --> 01:18:23,280
Well, that's something for our kind of associations to, you know, to step into, you know, our

1009
01:18:23,280 --> 01:18:26,200
Virginia Municipal League and for cities and transportation.

1010
01:18:26,880 --> 01:18:30,340
You kind of see if that might be something to step into to have a day before.

1011
01:18:30,660 --> 01:18:31,260
That's really good.

1012
01:18:31,480 --> 01:18:32,540
Now, question on that.

1013
01:18:32,620 --> 01:18:35,020
Would that be something to bring up with the CTV?

1014
01:18:36,180 --> 01:18:38,520
The Commonwealth Transportation Board to say,

1015
01:18:38,640 --> 01:18:41,300
we want war by lanes allowed or is that just strictly V dot?

1016
01:18:41,300 --> 01:18:44,280
Do they make a measure? They're probably not the policy maker for this.

1017
01:18:44,280 --> 01:18:45,780
That would be legislation.

1018
01:18:46,580 --> 01:18:49,940
So I've talked with our legislation staff legislators.

1019
01:18:50,460 --> 01:18:53,420
Correct. That I think the CTP would make a recommendation.

1020
01:18:54,140 --> 01:18:58,300
Well, they would support or not, but I think that we're more of a legislative agenda item.

1021
01:18:59,060 --> 01:19:00,500
Okay, that's good to keep in mind.

1022
01:19:01,400 --> 01:19:05,800
Yeah, and there will be definitely a new CTP operation coming soon with a new administration.

1023
01:19:07,720 --> 01:19:09,180
Okay, good news. Thanks.

1024
01:19:09,780 --> 01:19:12,080
Yes, there's just two resolutions that we're not ready for.

1025
01:19:12,900 --> 01:19:13,360
Thank you.

1026
01:19:14,300 --> 01:19:15,260
Thank you.

1027
01:19:15,260 --> 01:19:15,460
Thank you.

1028
01:19:15,540 --> 01:19:17,360
And so we have to vote on them separately.

1029
01:19:17,820 --> 01:19:20,740
So someone wants to make a motion of 17.

1030
01:19:22,200 --> 01:19:26,640
I move that we approve, I guess, is what?

1031
01:19:26,640 --> 01:19:27,660
Dr. Resolution.

1032
01:19:27,980 --> 01:19:31,160
Adopt the resolution for the V. Urban Maintenance

1033
01:19:31,160 --> 01:19:33,460
Inventory Editions and Deletions.

1034
01:19:34,440 --> 01:19:35,300
Second up.

1035
01:19:35,860 --> 01:19:36,480
Any more discussion?

1036
01:19:36,480 --> 01:19:39,840
We'll call please ma'am.

1037
01:19:39,980 --> 01:19:41,420
Councilmember Alcidun.

1038
01:19:42,840 --> 01:19:43,560
Yes.

1039
01:19:44,900 --> 01:19:45,660
Councilmember Dent.

1040
01:19:46,400 --> 01:19:47,240
Councilmember Robbins.

1041
01:19:47,760 --> 01:19:47,900
Aye.

1042
01:19:48,140 --> 01:19:49,020
Vice Mayor Fleming.

1043
01:19:49,640 --> 01:19:49,660
Aye.

1044
01:19:49,660 --> 01:19:50,200
Mayor Reed.

1045
01:19:53,480 --> 01:19:56,560
Madam Mayor, I move that we adopt the resolution for the V dot

1046
01:19:56,560 --> 01:19:59,980
urban maintenance inventory bike bicycle lane.

1047
01:20:21,510 --> 01:20:30,490
This is a check-up. I don't have a presentation. Sorry. So this is a for your consideration and amendments to our solid waste management to a section of our solid waste collection and disposal ordinance.

1048
01:20:31,710 --> 01:20:40,370
Specifically, sections 6.2, dash 2, dash 2, dash 2, dash 2, dash 6, and 6, dash 2, dash 37.

1049
01:20:40,990 --> 01:20:48,610
So with a couple of things, with the definitions, we went through, since we were making some amendments, we went through and cleaned up and removed some definitions that weren't needed anymore.

1050
01:20:48,950 --> 01:20:53,590
They were holdovers when we operated the steam plant and there were certain things that the steam plant couldn't accept.

1051
01:20:54,010 --> 01:20:59,470
But now we don't reference those materials anywhere in the ordinance, so we just never took the definitions out, now we did.

1052
01:20:59,990 --> 01:21:02,270
The second amendment is the 626.

1053
01:21:02,630 --> 01:21:06,370
This is the better to find refuse and solve waste on premises.

1054
01:21:07,190 --> 01:21:09,930
Currently, that is lumped into abandonment of items.

1055
01:21:10,530 --> 01:21:14,450
And when we get notification about, there's type of item we go to the property.

1056
01:21:14,910 --> 01:21:15,750
We make notification.

1057
01:21:15,970 --> 01:21:18,330
They have a 10-day window to remove the items.

1058
01:21:18,850 --> 01:21:20,690
And then we come back at the 10 days if they're still there,

1059
01:21:20,790 --> 01:21:23,310
then we have processes in place where we hire a contractor,

1060
01:21:23,650 --> 01:21:26,110
remove those items, and then build a property on.

1061
01:21:26,110 --> 01:21:34,410
This amendment adds in the ability for refuse and solid waste to have a shorter time frame.

1062
01:21:34,690 --> 01:21:43,130
So instead of the 10 day waiting period this will allow for solid waste and refuse that were made aware of that are in public view on premises to have a 24 hour window.

1063
01:21:43,770 --> 01:21:46,830
So if we would get a call on them on the morning, our staff would go to the property.

1064
01:21:47,210 --> 01:21:55,350
If we wouldn't visit, we would make contact with the property owner, leave a violation, notice they have 24 hours to remove the items from public view.

1065
01:21:55,350 --> 01:21:58,490
We go back the next day to inspect and make sure that items are removed.

1066
01:21:58,970 --> 01:22:03,210
If they're not, we can then remove them and voice the property owner.

1067
01:22:03,430 --> 01:22:08,130
But hopefully within that 24-25-hour window, they're able to clean up the property and remove

1068
01:22:08,130 --> 01:22:10,770
that solid waste and refuse from public view.

1069
01:22:11,030 --> 01:22:13,050
The abandonment of item section is still at play.

1070
01:22:13,230 --> 01:22:21,810
In the ordinance and that more relates to furniture inoperable vehicles, larger type items,

1071
01:22:21,810 --> 01:22:25,750
That would be outside of the definition of solid waste and refuse.

1072
01:22:26,690 --> 01:22:27,990
I have a question about that.

1073
01:22:28,270 --> 01:22:28,510
Yes.

1074
01:22:28,690 --> 01:22:32,630
I got to call about that in this particular, and I think there's a little confusion.

1075
01:22:33,410 --> 01:22:39,370
So could you clarify what would be refuge and solid waste refuse and solid waste?

1076
01:22:39,470 --> 01:22:50,450
General, you know, bottles, cans, plates, solo cups, anything that you would trash?

1077
01:22:50,450 --> 01:22:53,750
trash, anything that you would find in a trash can, essentially that would be dumped in a front

1078
01:22:53,750 --> 01:23:00,390
yard, bags, you know, grocery bags, food waste, I don't know, I'm trying to...

1079
01:23:00,390 --> 01:23:04,930
So that needs to be picked up. That has to 24-hour window, correct.

1080
01:23:05,070 --> 01:23:13,130
But the 10-day window for removal is for like, Wednesday pick-up type things.

1081
01:23:13,990 --> 01:23:20,430
Or like, we sometimes, most things that we see are like,

1082
01:23:20,430 --> 01:23:25,550
So neighbors would call, we would go out on a reactive basis and say you have 10 days to

1083
01:23:25,550 --> 01:23:26,330
move the couch.

1084
01:23:27,230 --> 01:23:32,450
Or an operable vehicle, place set, you know, something along those lines that is an allowed

1085
01:23:32,450 --> 01:23:33,590
to be in that full of view.

1086
01:23:34,910 --> 01:23:34,990
Yep.

1087
01:23:34,990 --> 01:23:39,610
So I think just kind of hypothetically speaking if a resident is near someplace where there might

1088
01:23:39,610 --> 01:23:47,490
be parties, there might be refuses to find here, strewn across that area.

1089
01:23:49,050 --> 01:23:58,290
Well, you know, you know, longer half 10 days to pick it up, you know, often in the case, there might be another event within that 10 days.

1090
01:23:59,810 --> 01:24:00,170
To go.

1091
01:24:00,390 --> 01:24:07,970
So I think residents who, you know, might be subject to having neighbors with that happens.

1092
01:24:08,290 --> 01:24:08,370
Right.

1093
01:24:08,370 --> 01:24:09,230
And this is reactive.

1094
01:24:09,730 --> 01:24:11,730
So it's now that we drive by and then check on these things.

1095
01:24:11,750 --> 01:24:15,150
If we get phone calls, we have staff on us always to vision that can go out.

1096
01:24:15,150 --> 01:24:18,530
in respect to follow all ordinances to make sure

1097
01:24:18,530 --> 01:24:19,870
that areas are hand-provoking.

1098
01:24:20,050 --> 01:24:21,470
So the theory requires is to do

1099
01:24:21,470 --> 01:24:23,750
for all things for someone to kind of call it

1100
01:24:23,750 --> 01:24:25,830
and make no just for that for staff.

1101
01:24:27,410 --> 01:24:27,510
So.

1102
01:24:27,650 --> 01:24:31,210
And then the last change in 6237 is to amend the bulk

1103
01:24:31,210 --> 01:24:34,170
refuse collection to match what our bulk refuse collection

1104
01:24:34,170 --> 01:24:35,870
will be starting in January 5th.

1105
01:24:35,950 --> 01:24:37,150
We're going with the Wednesday collection

1106
01:24:37,150 --> 01:24:39,590
to be the schedule on your trash day.

1107
01:24:39,610 --> 01:24:41,030
We're just lining up the ordinance

1108
01:24:41,030 --> 01:24:43,150
to match what our new procedure will be.

1109
01:24:44,210 --> 01:24:51,210
I just wanted to call out what I see in here, the disposable refuse was some good examples.

1110
01:24:51,410 --> 01:24:54,510
Disposable cups, beverage, food and so on as you say.

1111
01:24:54,850 --> 01:24:58,130
The violation shall be deemed an immediate public nuisance.

1112
01:24:58,570 --> 01:24:59,970
That important distinction.

1113
01:25:00,000 --> 01:25:04,700
I mean, that looks what gives it the 24-hour threshold, right?

1114
01:25:06,940 --> 01:25:15,980
Yeah, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. The word of use changed from junk, garbage, or solid waste.

1115
01:25:17,380 --> 01:25:26,180
So, doing a thing like the word of views will be a broad meaning, like I can claim that

1116
01:25:26,180 --> 01:25:33,040
this is a few, I mean there is no specific, and do anything that it will be a broad meaning

1117
01:25:33,040 --> 01:25:34,260
for the word of perfumes?

1118
01:25:34,940 --> 01:25:39,800
We provided a definition for that in the definition section that we amended, so we would have,

1119
01:25:39,960 --> 01:25:43,200
I don't know this specific wording of how, I don't know how that word is in front of me,

1120
01:25:43,200 --> 01:25:50,440
but we did try to put some specificity to what refuses and the definitions and that's what we'll follow

1121
01:25:50,440 --> 01:25:57,520
when our staff gets called to a property. And the other thing is that 24 hours,

1122
01:26:00,580 --> 01:26:07,020
do you think that this is a short notice? Typically the way it would work, you know, if

1123
01:26:07,020 --> 01:26:13,040
we would get a phone call on a Monday, our folks would potentially have time to get out to the site

1124
01:26:13,040 --> 01:26:17,580
And so sometime on the afternoon, we see the issue is still present.

1125
01:26:18,240 --> 01:26:22,680
We know that by the property of the issue, we give them a full 24 hours.

1126
01:26:23,160 --> 01:26:26,360
We come back out Tuesday afternoon if they still haven't made progress.

1127
01:26:28,500 --> 01:26:32,280
I'm sure if our step goes out and we see there are 10, we're not going to immediately

1128
01:26:32,280 --> 01:26:33,360
send the contractor in.

1129
01:26:33,920 --> 01:26:35,740
So then that's another 24 hours.

1130
01:26:36,200 --> 01:26:38,280
But if we go then they have made no attempt.

1131
01:26:38,660 --> 01:26:41,960
Then there's still going to be another day or so until we can get our contractor

1132
01:26:41,960 --> 01:26:47,340
engaged to go to the property. Within that time they may be able to get it get the area

1133
01:26:47,340 --> 01:26:51,800
clean to meet the ordinance and there would be no need for an intervention with the contractor.

1134
01:26:53,140 --> 01:26:57,380
So, and this is very similar to how our sidewalks knew removal policy works as well.

1135
01:26:57,680 --> 01:27:03,460
Now, with certain storm events, we have 24 hours to 36 hours to begin to clear the sidewalk

1136
01:27:03,460 --> 01:27:09,400
on your property. Generally, it's just 24, but most cases, it's 48 to 48 to 72 hours

1137
01:27:09,400 --> 01:27:12,460
that they have before we actually have the contractor on site.

1138
01:27:12,680 --> 01:27:15,220
I think this ordinance will work very similar to that.

1139
01:27:15,240 --> 01:27:19,180
It just gives that extra nudge to the property and say,

1140
01:27:19,900 --> 01:27:24,160
this is a nuisance when you just start to work clean the property up.

1141
01:27:24,740 --> 01:27:31,900
I think that we are sending harsh messages for Jamie students.

1142
01:27:32,180 --> 01:27:38,540
Usually they have like parties and I don't think that's 24 hours a good enough for them

1143
01:27:38,540 --> 01:27:44,160
So I don't think that there will be feeling that they are welcome here in our city.

1144
01:27:45,220 --> 01:27:53,300
And I mean 10 days I think it's a realistic and it will be a good time to move anything.

1145
01:27:55,500 --> 01:28:06,180
So I don't want to have people like our students think that we are titaning our audiences towards them.

1146
01:28:06,180 --> 01:28:09,560
And just to have them feel there, I don't know what's going to come here.

1147
01:28:10,180 --> 01:28:12,040
Well, that's just like it about where to have a party.

1148
01:28:12,640 --> 01:28:17,440
And I would leave the cups and stuff thrown about my yard.

1149
01:28:17,940 --> 01:28:24,340
I think it's expected by my neighbors that I would just pick it up in a timely manner.

1150
01:28:24,340 --> 01:28:28,220
They shouldn't have to look at it for 10 days.

1151
01:28:28,540 --> 01:28:32,540
I don't think this is generally geared just towards students.

1152
01:28:33,020 --> 01:28:34,460
It's just what you do.

1153
01:28:34,460 --> 01:28:55,300
You know, I'm with you, I would have to respectfully disagree, because if it doesn't matter who it is, if you have trash in your yard, I think 24 hours is enough time to get the trash out of your yard.

1154
01:28:55,300 --> 01:29:00,380
I mean, and that goes for anybody, that doesn't, I mean, I know when we say we're at solo

1155
01:29:00,380 --> 01:29:07,920
cups, everybody's thinking that it's our students, whatever, I mean, I know other people

1156
01:29:07,920 --> 01:29:10,760
that have parties that have we're at solo cups, so that it just,

1157
01:29:13,740 --> 01:29:16,900
for me, 10 days to clean

1158
01:29:18,280 --> 01:29:25,000
up your yard, that's a lot, that's a lot, that's a lot of time, and it should be what do

1159
01:29:25,000 --> 01:29:29,960
what do you want your neighbor hood?

1160
01:29:30,080 --> 01:29:32,140
It's a look like to look like.

1161
01:29:34,980 --> 01:29:36,980
I think the problem is with time like that,

1162
01:29:37,820 --> 01:29:41,140
is with the refuse that just described here,

1163
01:29:41,480 --> 01:29:44,380
food wrappers, in 10 days that food wrappers

1164
01:29:44,380 --> 01:29:45,940
no longer on that person's property.

1165
01:29:46,600 --> 01:29:46,860
Right.

1166
01:29:48,100 --> 01:29:48,480
Yeah.

1167
01:29:49,580 --> 01:29:52,060
And so I think that's something of concern.

1168
01:29:52,060 --> 01:29:59,980
And it also gets into our system, it goes into our, you know, our servers, I think.

1169
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:26,220
That's a big problem for us. I do appreciate making sure that this isn't a punitive system that we're not proactively, and we aren't being proactive looking for folks, when there's a call that comes in, but it's not used in a punitive way, and I think that's real concern.

1170
01:30:26,220 --> 01:30:31,640
I don't think. I'm not suggesting that our public works department would act in that way.

1171
01:30:32,120 --> 01:30:36,120
But I understand the concern about people thinking they could be used punitively in.

1172
01:30:36,720 --> 01:30:40,480
And I guess, you know, we'll see how this goes forward.

1173
01:30:40,480 --> 01:30:49,860
What I would trust that when folks are called, when the public works is called to go out and say, hey, this is happening.

1174
01:30:51,260 --> 01:30:54,280
We see the trash here. Do you have a plan to pick this up?

1175
01:30:55,340 --> 01:31:01,160
And I would hope that that would be the approach, and you have 24 hours to get this cleaned up.

1176
01:31:01,260 --> 01:31:02,600
Can you do that or not?

1177
01:31:04,860 --> 01:31:11,060
And we would have some leniency, but as well as saying, you also have 24 hours.

1178
01:31:11,200 --> 01:31:15,100
You have neighbors. People expect us to be cleaned up.

1179
01:31:15,460 --> 01:31:19,500
And if you repeat offenders, I think we can be too lenient.

1180
01:31:19,500 --> 01:31:27,480
I mean, this is trash, it'll attract, you know, rodents and, I mean, I don't understand

1181
01:31:27,480 --> 01:31:28,780
what this is a long conversation.

1182
01:31:29,000 --> 01:31:32,840
One of the questions, sorry, they interrupt you.

1183
01:31:32,960 --> 01:31:40,280
One of the questions I had was, what if a person that's out of town, about, like, say someone

1184
01:31:40,280 --> 01:31:44,580
dumps trash in your yard and you're out of town and you don't know about it?

1185
01:31:45,460 --> 01:31:47,580
And you get necessarily fine.

1186
01:31:48,440 --> 01:31:51,640
Right, there would be other ways of communicating with that property owner.

1187
01:31:52,240 --> 01:31:55,580
So if the knocking the door wasn't working, we're just not going to say, we tagged your door

1188
01:31:55,580 --> 01:31:57,500
and come back a day later to send you a built-in contractor.

1189
01:31:57,800 --> 01:32:01,580
I mean, we're going to, we have phone numbers through the billing system, email addresses,

1190
01:32:02,380 --> 01:32:07,220
Christopher and Reggie do this across the city, they're very, very talented at doing it.

1191
01:32:07,780 --> 01:32:09,840
And they, and they, they're, they're, they're great communicators.

1192
01:32:09,940 --> 01:32:12,880
So we're going to do our best to reach out to this property owner and let them know of the issue.

1193
01:32:13,000 --> 01:32:16,100
We're not just going to put a tag on a door you may never use.

1194
01:32:17,840 --> 01:32:28,460
It says clear that the city will hire somebody to clean out and then send them voice to the under.

1195
01:32:29,380 --> 01:32:32,560
So even if he's not here, he'll be charged according to you.

1196
01:32:32,760 --> 01:32:38,020
Well, we have some ability to, when we say the notice was served.

1197
01:32:39,660 --> 01:32:43,400
If we try to make contact, they're not there, we're not going to start the clock.

1198
01:32:43,400 --> 01:32:45,240
We're going to make sure they understand what's going on.

1199
01:32:45,460 --> 01:32:48,660
So we'll try to phone call, email, revisit,

1200
01:32:49,660 --> 01:32:51,380
late on the afternoon and try to catch them at home.

1201
01:32:51,560 --> 01:32:53,240
We're going to do our best to contact this property owners.

1202
01:32:53,400 --> 01:32:55,360
We're not just going to go out and clean the property

1203
01:32:55,360 --> 01:32:57,860
and send them a bill without giving them any notice,

1204
01:32:57,880 --> 01:33:01,220
or any type of way to avoid that, to avoid that cost.

1205
01:33:03,180 --> 01:33:06,680
Well, I had this sort of related issue that we are most often

1206
01:33:06,680 --> 01:33:09,900
the passive recipients of trash being put in our yard,

1207
01:33:09,900 --> 01:33:13,800
beer cans, plastic bags, all manner of stuff.

1208
01:33:14,160 --> 01:33:16,460
I might not even know it's there, somebody might call

1209
01:33:16,460 --> 01:33:18,240
from the neighbors, I don't know.

1210
01:33:19,420 --> 01:33:21,760
But then it is on me to clean up the trash

1211
01:33:21,760 --> 01:33:23,820
on my yard, even though I didn't put it there.

1212
01:33:24,060 --> 01:33:27,500
Oh, well, I might have words with the neighbors.

1213
01:33:27,820 --> 01:33:29,920
Right, right, that would be, but again,

1214
01:33:30,240 --> 01:33:33,220
I don't see this being one or two pieces of trash

1215
01:33:33,220 --> 01:33:34,780
and someone's yard, I don't see us being

1216
01:33:34,780 --> 01:33:36,900
in a neighbors phone calls to go around the city

1217
01:33:36,900 --> 01:33:37,300
and do that.

1218
01:33:37,300 --> 01:33:39,460
I think these are for the larger type of events

1219
01:33:39,460 --> 01:33:42,160
that we do see for issues worth in time here.

1220
01:33:47,730 --> 01:33:48,630
We need a vote.

1221
01:33:54,300 --> 01:33:57,440
So I'll make a motion approving the Ornison Amendment

1222
01:33:59,020 --> 01:34:02,780
as presented, relating to Title VI, Chapter II

1223
01:34:02,780 --> 01:34:06,560
of the Solid Waste Collection Disposal provisions.

1224
01:34:07,180 --> 01:34:08,180
I don't read through the rest of that.

1225
01:34:08,520 --> 01:34:09,640
I could say you want to read at the ID.

1226
01:34:11,020 --> 01:34:11,260
Is that?

1227
01:34:11,260 --> 01:34:12,160
Yeah, that's one.

1228
01:34:12,280 --> 01:34:12,620
I'm clear.

1229
01:34:12,820 --> 01:34:13,580
It's a percentage, aren't you?

1230
01:34:13,900 --> 01:34:15,200
That's presented, yeah.

1231
01:34:15,880 --> 01:34:17,660
Second, any more discussion?

1232
01:34:32,620 --> 01:34:33,420
Hello,

1233
01:34:37,190 --> 01:34:42,990
Madam Mayor, I'm Jacob Zumfeldy, Public Works Planning Manager.

1234
01:34:43,990 --> 01:34:46,070
Here to talk about North Mason Street.

1235
01:34:47,650 --> 01:34:59,970
So the context for this is something you all have already had multiple other presentations on so I certainly won't be going into details on the community connectors overall effort or the historical research that has been presented.

1236
01:35:00,000 --> 01:35:12,440
To you all about urban renewal and its impacts on the neighborhood that led to the construction of the North Mason Street and the other areas surrounding North Mason Street.

1237
01:35:12,860 --> 01:35:24,040
And then the recent northeast neighborhood small area plan are all components of community connectors that this North Mason Street demonstration project was also a component of.

1238
01:35:24,040 --> 01:35:28,820
So at the beginning of this year, as part of that effort, a complete

1239
01:35:28,820 --> 01:35:34,760
streets demonstration, excuse me, a complete streets leadership academy, was begun with

1240
01:35:34,760 --> 01:35:38,340
the community connectors team, as well as this led by the smart growth

1241
01:35:38,340 --> 01:35:44,980
America team, who was part of the whole community connectors effort, as well as

1242
01:35:44,980 --> 01:35:50,340
additional neighborhood residents. So this complete streets leadership academy

1243
01:35:50,340 --> 01:35:57,060
involved multiple different efforts, trainings, and also involved walking

1244
01:35:57,060 --> 01:36:02,780
North Mason Street and then an open house to hear from residents and those

1245
01:36:02,780 --> 01:36:06,660
who experienced North Mason Street about some of their concerns, some of their

1246
01:36:06,660 --> 01:36:12,060
thoughts about that street, and then the complete streets, leadership of

1247
01:36:12,060 --> 01:36:16,180
Academy, involved envisioning what it could look like to temporarily change

1248
01:36:16,180 --> 01:36:21,260
North Mason Street to think about how it could be safer to think about what opportunities there

1249
01:36:21,260 --> 01:36:23,380
could be and what it could look like.

1250
01:36:24,340 --> 01:36:31,600
So those ideas led to this one-month demonstration project, so after a lot of effort by a

1251
01:36:31,600 --> 01:36:37,360
lot of public work staff to acquire the materials and get them installed, there was a one-month

1252
01:36:37,360 --> 01:36:42,200
demonstration project installed in early August, excuse me, in early July, it was then

1253
01:36:42,200 --> 01:36:48,500
moved in early August. And those changes involve a lot of different things, involve changing

1254
01:36:48,500 --> 01:36:56,540
intersections, and involve opening up space on that street for new activities. And in particular

1255
01:36:56,540 --> 01:37:01,880
for the event you can see a picture of on the bottom right corner. The blocks party where a lot of

1256
01:37:01,880 --> 01:37:07,980
people came out to use that unused street space in a different way.

1257
01:37:10,310 --> 01:37:11,870
And also through this one month

1258
01:37:11,870 --> 01:37:17,370
effort, there was a good amount of data collected, so that data showed, for example, that

1259
01:37:17,370 --> 01:37:23,490
people were driving slower on North Mason Street when this was in place. Also, the time

1260
01:37:23,490 --> 01:37:31,250
that it took to drive along the amount of North Mason Street was quicker, was improved.

1261
01:37:31,530 --> 01:37:36,870
So even though vehicles were going slower, at certain points, they didn't have to stop as

1262
01:37:36,870 --> 01:37:40,930
because of the signals, not being in operation and some of the changes.

1263
01:37:42,370 --> 01:37:47,310
We did also see that fewer people were driving on the street during that time,

1264
01:37:47,550 --> 01:37:53,030
compared to a month before, and based on some of the survey responses in feedback,

1265
01:37:53,310 --> 01:37:58,230
we do anticipate that that was some people who experienced the demonstration project

1266
01:37:58,230 --> 01:38:04,170
and maybe were a little confused or weren't quite sure that they wanted to drive on that again.

1267
01:38:04,170 --> 01:38:10,330
So that was not a, you know, and just not a purposeful, you know,

1268
01:38:10,470 --> 01:38:14,410
a result of the demonstration project, everything that the team and the

1269
01:38:14,410 --> 01:38:19,290
complete street leadership academy had talked about was, you know, making it so

1270
01:38:19,290 --> 01:38:24,950
that it's still safe and appropriate for people to drive on and safer for everyone else.

1271
01:38:25,510 --> 01:38:31,130
So, you know, the reality of the temporary nature did lead some people to not

1272
01:38:31,130 --> 01:38:37,130
drive on that street during that time, but that wasn't a desired goal of the effort.

1273
01:38:38,310 --> 01:38:40,870
So I've already indicated we heard from residents.

1274
01:38:41,150 --> 01:38:44,110
We put a question air out, a lot of people to provide their thoughts.

1275
01:38:44,390 --> 01:38:50,170
That was a big reason for the demonstration project was to gather some data, but really

1276
01:38:50,170 --> 01:38:54,650
to hear from people about what they saw as some of the opportunities that this was bringing

1277
01:38:54,650 --> 01:39:01,110
to their mind as well as some of their concerns or feedback that they could give on this

1278
01:39:01,110 --> 01:39:03,450
stemming on this temporary change.

1279
01:39:05,450 --> 01:39:08,690
So some of the things we heard really were

1280
01:39:08,690 --> 01:39:10,070
that public opinion varied.

1281
01:39:11,150 --> 01:39:13,690
There were certainly quite a few people who questioned

1282
01:39:13,690 --> 01:39:17,390
why we were doing this change, what the purpose was,

1283
01:39:17,890 --> 01:39:20,670
what the logic was, why we used the materials we did,

1284
01:39:21,130 --> 01:39:23,190
and expressed some concern about the confusion

1285
01:39:23,190 --> 01:39:27,950
that they felt they're experienced driving on,

1286
01:39:28,130 --> 01:39:30,190
or otherwise using North Mason Street

1287
01:39:30,190 --> 01:39:32,070
for the during this demonstration project.

1288
01:39:32,910 --> 01:39:35,290
But there were also a lot of people who were very excited.

1289
01:39:35,830 --> 01:39:39,170
So all this is very innovative and exciting way

1290
01:39:39,170 --> 01:39:41,670
to think about how this street could be changed

1291
01:39:41,670 --> 01:39:44,490
and to envision how this street could be changed.

1292
01:39:45,590 --> 01:39:48,550
And we did ask a bit about people's thoughts

1293
01:39:48,550 --> 01:39:51,570
for any potential permanent change to North Mason Street.

1294
01:39:52,330 --> 01:39:55,730
What was put out there temporarily was not meant to be,

1295
01:39:56,030 --> 01:39:58,950
OK, maybe this exact thing will be permanent.

1296
01:39:58,950 --> 01:39:59,970
It was getting f-

1297
01:40:00,000 --> 01:40:05,120
Be back on different aspects of what was demonstrated, what was tried.

1298
01:40:06,560 --> 01:40:11,320
And many residents were concerned about even thinking about reducing the number of vehicle

1299
01:40:11,320 --> 01:40:18,980
lands on North Mason Street, with some indicating concern about that change leading to congestion

1300
01:40:18,980 --> 01:40:23,840
or failing to plan for future growth. But on the other hand, a lot of people who responded

1301
01:40:23,840 --> 01:40:30,220
to this survey, and that were over 1500 responses to this survey, indicated that, you know,

1302
01:40:30,300 --> 01:40:35,480
there were very excited about this possibility of, you know, reducing the actual space

1303
01:40:35,480 --> 01:40:41,440
that was needed to accommodate vehicles along this street, and to change that to open up

1304
01:40:41,440 --> 01:40:47,920
new possibilities and to improve safety for everyone there and desire ability of North

1305
01:40:47,920 --> 01:40:49,640
raised in Street or along this corridor.

1306
01:40:52,300 --> 01:40:55,180
So I'll highlight just two or three of the other

1307
01:40:55,180 --> 01:40:57,840
more specific things that I'm more noticed,

1308
01:40:58,180 --> 01:41:00,820
or that came out of the questionnaire,

1309
01:41:01,680 --> 01:41:04,940
the Gay Street Roundabout compared to people

1310
01:41:04,940 --> 01:41:07,560
who are used to stopping and waiting at that signal.

1311
01:41:08,140 --> 01:41:09,860
There were a lot of people who expressed support

1312
01:41:09,860 --> 01:41:13,020
for that Gay Street Roundabout and how well it operated.

1313
01:41:14,120 --> 01:41:16,140
On the other hand, the Elizabeth Street Roundabout

1314
01:41:16,140 --> 01:41:22,060
was pretty tight and was something that, you know, in order to demonstrate what we're trying

1315
01:41:22,060 --> 01:41:28,060
to demonstrate, that's what we saw as the only temporary measure there. But yeah, we hurt quite

1316
01:41:28,060 --> 01:41:36,140
a few people saying, you know, that didn't fit and yeah, or wasn't the right long-term solution

1317
01:41:36,140 --> 01:41:42,960
at that location. And also on the positive side, shorter pedestrian crossing distances, there's

1318
01:41:42,960 --> 01:41:46,340
something that people pointed to as improving safety,

1319
01:41:47,580 --> 01:41:50,100
something that they experienced during the demonstration project.

1320
01:41:50,860 --> 01:41:56,940
At another concern we heard was challenges related to emergency vehicles, trucks, buses.

1321
01:41:57,960 --> 01:42:02,440
It was able to accommodate those for the most part, but definitely we heard some specific

1322
01:42:02,440 --> 01:42:11,260
concerns that will inform the study as we move forward to consider potential long-term change.

1323
01:42:13,050 --> 01:42:19,510
So, apologies for the capitalization being a little strange on these slides, but I should note

1324
01:42:19,510 --> 01:42:26,870
these three slides are also online, of course, on the City Council thing, but also on

1325
01:42:26,870 --> 01:42:27,970
the Public Works webpage.

1326
01:42:28,830 --> 01:42:32,710
So, you know, we have a lot of information there about the demonstration project, why it was

1327
01:42:32,710 --> 01:42:39,670
completed, and so these three pages, we've already been handing out and making sure, you know,

1328
01:42:39,670 --> 01:42:45,870
in response to those 1500 people who commented, making sure that they know that their concerns

1329
01:42:45,870 --> 01:42:49,650
have been heard and their desires have been heard.

1330
01:42:50,990 --> 01:42:55,610
So along with those responses, there's been other community input, has has already been emphasized

1331
01:42:55,610 --> 01:43:00,270
over the past two years that does indicate a desire for change on North Mason Street.

1332
01:43:00,750 --> 01:43:05,710
And if a permanent project is pursued, the design will be different, resulting from new opportunities

1333
01:43:05,710 --> 01:43:09,730
and to address the public feedback that we've heard.

1334
01:43:10,750 --> 01:43:13,990
So there is a study that's beginning right now

1335
01:43:13,990 --> 01:43:17,990
with city staff and support from the Harris

1336
01:43:17,990 --> 01:43:20,310
and we're rocking hand metropolitan planning organization.

1337
01:43:21,290 --> 01:43:22,630
So over these next few months,

1338
01:43:22,890 --> 01:43:26,510
that will be taking the desires we've heard,

1339
01:43:26,990 --> 01:43:29,610
taking the goals and principles that are on the bottom right,

1340
01:43:30,090 --> 01:43:35,310
hand of this image, and working to identify

1341
01:43:35,310 --> 01:43:37,330
what the long-term opportunities are,

1342
01:43:37,370 --> 01:43:40,030
what a long-term potential project could look like,

1343
01:43:40,410 --> 01:43:41,890
and ensuring that it would improve safety,

1344
01:43:41,970 --> 01:43:44,790
particularly for people walking along the street

1345
01:43:44,790 --> 01:43:46,170
or across the street,

1346
01:43:46,810 --> 01:43:49,170
that it would identify some ways to reimagine

1347
01:43:49,170 --> 01:43:50,750
North Mason Street by replacing

1348
01:43:50,750 --> 01:43:53,570
some existing roadway space with new public space.

1349
01:43:54,550 --> 01:43:57,270
And also, you know, ensure adequate capacity

1350
01:43:57,270 --> 01:43:59,710
for traffic, supporting the existing business

1351
01:43:59,710 --> 01:44:02,790
and potential development, and design, you know,

1352
01:44:02,830 --> 01:44:04,770
with all modes of transportation in mind,

1353
01:44:04,770 --> 01:44:07,590
pedestrians, people biking, and then the trucks,

1354
01:44:07,710 --> 01:44:10,290
emergency vehicles, and transit buses that also use the

1355
01:44:10,290 --> 01:44:10,930
core core.

1356
01:44:13,430 --> 01:44:16,430
So for any questions or discussion, that's all I have to say.

1357
01:44:17,290 --> 01:44:19,470
Well, just to commend you on a couple of things,

1358
01:44:19,650 --> 01:44:24,770
one is the process of these pop-up temporary structures

1359
01:44:24,770 --> 01:44:27,590
that help people not just have to imagine it,

1360
01:44:27,650 --> 01:44:30,750
but experience it, and some feedback on it can help

1361
01:44:30,750 --> 01:44:32,650
what you recommend going forward.

1362
01:44:32,650 --> 01:44:47,710
And the second is having to do with the whole community connectors policy grant, the whole approach that connecting the northeast neighborhood to downtown instead of having this sort of mini freeway going through it.

1363
01:44:48,090 --> 01:44:55,110
So it's good in both structural and philosophical way and like that.

1364
01:44:56,940 --> 01:44:59,980
So I'm assuming, um, be good, be good.

1365
01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:06,520
The idea here would be that if there's a project that develops out of this, this would go in the smart scale,

1366
01:45:08,740 --> 01:45:28,340
hopper for us at least in a place that we would consider getting funding for this, through the smart scale project where we get this kind of two projects per year in the city potentially, and then I guess another one through HRNPO, but that might be where we looked to fund this, two and two and two.

1367
01:45:29,640 --> 01:45:35,780
This study is on a pretty fast time frame to line up for the possibility of a smart scale application.

1368
01:45:39,280 --> 01:45:41,360
Looking at this, your smart scale over here too.

1369
01:45:42,220 --> 01:45:42,820
You are.

1370
01:45:43,200 --> 01:45:44,100
Look at that up.

1371
01:45:44,800 --> 01:45:46,980
It is actually up to four city applications.

1372
01:45:47,440 --> 01:45:49,160
That's what for either MPA.

1373
01:45:49,660 --> 01:45:49,760
Yeah.

1374
01:45:49,760 --> 01:45:50,020
Yeah.

1375
01:45:50,020 --> 01:45:51,300
There's some other additional.

1376
01:45:51,620 --> 01:45:54,200
Two for the city and then the MPA gets to additional.

1377
01:45:54,720 --> 01:45:55,040
I guess.

1378
01:45:55,040 --> 01:45:55,240
No.

1379
01:45:55,280 --> 01:45:56,100
It is up to four.

1380
01:45:56,400 --> 01:45:56,880
Four.

1381
01:45:57,160 --> 01:45:58,040
I didn't cut it in half.

1382
01:45:58,280 --> 01:45:58,400
Yeah.

1383
01:45:58,400 --> 01:46:02,100
you're right. It might be tap that's too.

1384
01:46:02,940 --> 01:46:07,200
Yeah, tap. All those acronyms that I do in the HRNPO.

1385
01:46:08,860 --> 01:46:11,320
The important part is, this is state funding.

1386
01:46:12,340 --> 01:46:13,380
There we come for that.

1387
01:46:13,520 --> 01:46:14,100
That was much or much.

1388
01:46:14,540 --> 01:46:15,400
There we pursue.

1389
01:46:15,800 --> 01:46:15,840
Yeah.

1390
01:46:15,840 --> 01:46:19,250
That was much or much.

1391
01:46:19,250 --> 01:46:19,930
Thank you.

1392
01:46:20,590 --> 01:46:20,890
Thank you.

1393
01:46:21,330 --> 01:46:21,790
Thank you.

1394
01:46:25,180 --> 01:46:25,540
Seven.

1395
01:46:26,560 --> 01:46:26,880
Thank you.

1396
01:46:27,200 --> 01:46:27,260
Thank you.

1397
01:46:31,020 --> 01:46:32,100
Thank you.

1398
01:46:32,100 --> 01:46:38,100
This is considered approval of a contract amendment for the public safe roof replacement project.

1399
01:46:39,360 --> 01:46:44,060
Earlier this year there was a contract entered into for the roof replacement of public safety building

1400
01:46:44,060 --> 01:46:49,240
and the residential contract amount was 234,400 dollars.

1401
01:46:49,480 --> 01:46:57,880
As I understand that the contract was based on the original design plans of the public safety building

1402
01:46:57,880 --> 01:47:04,380
and what everyone thought was going to be there in the roof and then once the contractor got in and

1403
01:47:05,300 --> 01:47:11,240
started the demolition process, everyone realized that what was there was not what was on the

1404
01:47:11,240 --> 01:47:17,660
plans and it became a much more expensive process. And so there were two contract amendments,

1405
01:47:17,660 --> 01:47:28,620
that's one in the amount of $77,892.62 and one in the amount of $6,950 and under

1406
01:47:28,620 --> 01:47:35,620
Virginia law, if the contract is amended and the amendment is greater than 25% of the

1407
01:47:35,620 --> 01:47:43,240
original contract price or $50,000, whichever is greater, Council has to approve it and

1408
01:47:43,240 --> 01:47:45,640
certainly hits both those.

1409
01:47:45,900 --> 01:47:51,220
Mr. Hartman, even though I'm bringing this for Mr. Props thing, Mr. Hartman knows a lot

1410
01:47:51,220 --> 01:47:53,360
that more of the technical details than I do.

1411
01:47:53,520 --> 01:47:59,380
So if you have any questions about the engineering or roof replacement aspect of it,

1412
01:47:59,700 --> 01:48:02,760
Mr. Hartman, I think, would be able to answer your questions.

1413
01:48:03,440 --> 01:48:04,300
Are there any questions?

1414
01:48:06,400 --> 01:48:06,580
Yep.

1415
01:48:06,700 --> 01:48:09,020
Yes, is what we need to do to lead the roof.

1416
01:48:09,020 --> 01:48:13,260
Right, and the work's been done in the contractor needs to be paid.

1417
01:48:13,400 --> 01:48:16,660
This is kind of retroactively approving what we've already done.

1418
01:48:18,680 --> 01:48:18,820
Right.

1419
01:48:18,820 --> 01:48:19,720
And at least.

1420
01:48:19,880 --> 01:48:27,760
Eric, I moved to consider a full of contract amendment for the Public Safety Building

1421
01:48:27,760 --> 01:48:29,420
School for a Placement Project.

1422
01:48:29,940 --> 01:48:30,700
Thank you.

1423
01:48:30,980 --> 01:48:31,600
Oh, second one.

1424
01:48:32,220 --> 01:48:32,940
Hey, decision.

1425
01:48:34,320 --> 01:48:35,820
We'll go up these hands.

1426
01:48:36,240 --> 01:48:37,020
Councilmember Allison.

1427
01:48:37,320 --> 01:48:37,740
Hi.

1428
01:48:37,740 --> 01:48:43,200
Councilmember Debt, Councilmember Robinson, Vice Mayor Fleming, may you read.

1429
01:48:44,000 --> 01:48:49,880
We can now go on to other matters, comments from the public limited to five minutes,

1430
01:48:50,000 --> 01:48:54,460
or matters not on the regular agenda, anyone which is to speak, please state your name

1431
01:48:54,460 --> 01:48:54,940
address.

1432
01:48:56,540 --> 01:48:57,420
Go five minutes.

1433
01:49:15,590 --> 01:49:20,910
Good evening, City Council and staff, my name's Tom Dominozki, I live at four, six, one

1434
01:49:20,910 --> 01:49:21,590
the Avenue.

1435
01:49:24,230 --> 01:49:30,570
And there, every morning, before I get out of bed, I give thanks for 10 things.

1436
01:49:32,210 --> 01:49:38,670
One of the things I give thanks for is this city. The city that I get to live in, that

1437
01:49:38,670 --> 01:49:46,410
I get to walk around in, that I get to call home. Harrisonburg works because the dedication

1438
01:49:46,410 --> 01:49:54,190
and commitment of our elected representatives and our staff, and that's you and the people

1439
01:49:54,190 --> 01:49:55,290
you supervise.

1440
01:49:57,530 --> 01:49:59,490
One of the things that I enjoy.

1441
01:50:00,660 --> 01:50:28,720
As a result of all the work that all of you do, it's just walking around this town. I live close, walking as my main mode of transportation. I went to the Liberty Street, unveiling proposal, probably the wrong phrase, last Wednesday. I expect to go to the opening kickoff of the study for Virginia Avenue, which will be this Thursday.

1442
01:50:30,000 --> 01:50:34,840
I want to encourage all the efforts that are being made to make our city more

1443
01:50:34,840 --> 01:50:42,680
bikeable, more walkable, and a less-car dependent culture. That's really tremendous

1444
01:50:42,680 --> 01:50:47,820
work that you all do. And even when you're not working on that, all the other

1445
01:50:47,820 --> 01:50:52,520
work that you do makes this city work and I'm grateful to all of you.

1446
01:50:54,740 --> 01:50:55,160
All those

1447
01:50:55,160 --> 01:51:01,480
things are very easy to talk about. I like expressing gratitude, people

1448
01:51:01,480 --> 01:51:07,400
like to be thanked, but I also want to talk about something that's extremely difficult to talk

1449
01:51:07,400 --> 01:51:07,920
about.

1450
01:51:11,200 --> 01:51:18,900
I watched the discussion that was agenda item 7A on November 12th meeting where you discussed

1451
01:51:19,360 --> 01:51:28,480
how to keep our help our communities stay safe given the actions of eyes and things that

1452
01:51:28,480 --> 01:51:30,000
happening that are just terrible.

1453
01:51:33,250 --> 01:51:36,830
Since that time, things have only gotten worse.

1454
01:51:38,730 --> 01:51:41,450
Since that time, we've had the President of the United States

1455
01:51:41,450 --> 01:51:44,870
called immigrants from Somalia, garbage.

1456
01:51:48,150 --> 01:51:52,470
I don't think that I ever thought I would live in a country

1457
01:51:52,470 --> 01:51:58,290
where our leader, called other citizens, garbage,

1458
01:52:01,950 --> 01:52:04,810
followed by a Secretary of Homeland Security,

1459
01:52:06,500 --> 01:52:16,040
who doubled down on such inhumane conduct and called those people leeches.

1460
01:52:17,780 --> 01:52:25,460
We have an executive branch in charge of a department called ICE that knows no bottom

1461
01:52:25,840 --> 01:52:33,100
to the depths of its depravity because it doesn't understand when it is looking at a human

1462
01:52:33,100 --> 01:52:33,460
be.

1463
01:52:38,530 --> 01:52:43,370
Your comments two weeks ago, or was it three weeks ago? Two meetings ago,

1464
01:52:44,610 --> 01:52:51,090
made clear that you did. I did look and see if the communication had been created.

1465
01:52:52,050 --> 01:52:58,070
Yet, but I'm sure that it's in progress and having served on school board. I know how long things

1466
01:52:58,070 --> 01:53:08,000
take. But I want to encourage you to get that out as soon as possible because people need to hear

1467
01:53:08,000 --> 01:53:19,590
other elected leaders like you standing up for basic decency given what's

1468
01:53:19,590 --> 01:53:24,870
happening by our executive branch and what they are doing to people to human

1469
01:53:24,870 --> 01:53:25,510
beings.

1470
01:53:27,690 --> 01:53:31,790
So I want to thank you for also doing the difficult work like that. In

1471
01:53:31,790 --> 01:53:34,430
addition to all the other things you do to make our city good.

1472
01:53:36,670 --> 01:53:38,190
Thank you. Thank you.

1473
01:53:39,310 --> 01:53:39,870
Anyone

1474
01:53:43,330 --> 01:53:43,890
else?

1475
01:53:44,090 --> 01:53:44,890
Seeing none in person.

1476
01:53:45,070 --> 01:53:45,930
Do we have any inquiries?

1477
01:53:46,450 --> 01:53:47,090
One moment, please.

1478
01:53:58,740 --> 01:54:00,020
You're in our library city council.

1479
01:54:00,020 --> 01:54:02,220
Please take your name and address in your five minutes.

1480
01:54:02,420 --> 01:54:02,720
We'll begin.

1481
01:54:05,080 --> 01:54:07,200
Madam Mayor, and the U.S.

1482
01:54:07,200 --> 01:54:09,860
Santa Cruz City resident.

1483
01:54:13,330 --> 01:54:14,630
Coming from two topics.

1484
01:54:15,370 --> 01:54:17,550
Today, one that was on previous agenda,

1485
01:54:18,390 --> 01:54:25,430
you better report that farmers focus vastly extended its performance grant

1486
01:54:25,430 --> 01:54:31,090
goal of creating a hundred jobs and created nearly a thousand instead.

1487
01:54:31,690 --> 01:54:32,970
This was praised.

1488
01:54:33,930 --> 01:54:35,790
I was shocked that that's not a good thing.

1489
01:54:36,890 --> 01:54:44,490
That's unplanned growth, and that's a failing on our part to have been in front of, not

1490
01:54:44,490 --> 01:54:45,670
been in front of that.

1491
01:54:46,490 --> 01:54:53,130
That growth happened in the context of 2% unemployment, so those were 900 jobs that just wanted

1492
01:54:53,130 --> 01:54:59,970
big producers wanted to read that can't cover the cost of construction. So, as I had warned you in the

1493
01:55:00,080 --> 01:55:11,640
We're looking at green and housing stress people. And we did it in a way that blew out our green infrastructure

1494
01:55:13,360 --> 01:55:23,240
that materially reduces that housing stress one thing on plant growth. On the site one more,

1495
01:55:23,240 --> 01:55:26,480
Now I want more positive note, the Harrisonburg Martin Luther King's

1496
01:55:26,480 --> 01:55:30,220
joint coalition participated in the winter wonder fest this year.

1497
01:55:31,080 --> 01:55:36,960
We were fortunate to have two new volunteers, excellent with the children again, some

1498
01:55:36,960 --> 01:55:42,920
of our school stalwarts being out of the country that makes nearly 2 dozen such volunteers

1499
01:55:42,920 --> 01:55:48,300
who have participated at the level of equivalent to staffing and activity at the table

1500
01:55:48,300 --> 01:55:57,200
around the particular theme that we have been developing upon the nature and harmony of the

1501
01:55:57,200 --> 01:55:59,720
family between people and nature and harmony among people.

1502
01:56:01,780 --> 01:56:08,100
In this event, we have some repeat visitors eagerly brought by their parents, who when

1503
01:56:08,100 --> 01:56:13,860
they saw their signatures laughing at it, having been delivered to council, and without knowing

1504
01:56:13,860 --> 01:56:18,720
the other details, who have had the sense that they made a difference in protecting their

1505
01:56:18,720 --> 01:56:24,320
of its bosses. One, I think, was the child that I mentioned with my previous testimony

1506
01:56:24,320 --> 01:56:30,970
when I shared this delightful names with you. And their parents, their parents, were just

1507
01:56:30,970 --> 01:56:37,610
as eager as the kids. And they brought their stories of their older brush piles, and their

1508
01:56:37,610 --> 01:56:47,590
nature patches, and they shared eagerly and when I completed it for their help so that their children

1509
01:56:47,590 --> 01:56:52,890
and the city's children could continue to have that delightful enrichment.

1510
01:56:54,050 --> 01:56:54,950
They were afraid.

1511
01:56:55,990 --> 01:56:57,350
They were afraid of you.

1512
01:56:59,670 --> 01:57:08,890
You see, the ugly part here is that the habitat that fueled so many of those activities

1513
01:57:08,890 --> 01:57:13,890
up until this year was destroyed as some of you know.

1514
01:57:13,890 --> 01:57:28,730
This spring, while it's Guardians World away, public works on a tag on the door that wasn't seen, until it was stumbled upon by the landscape with the clock still running, and only two business days left.

1515
01:57:28,730 --> 01:57:35,850
dozens of people, nearly dozens of people, came together in mutual aid for the grim

1516
01:57:35,850 --> 01:57:42,730
task of destroying that habitat. They didn't know what to do because our seat

1517
01:57:42,730 --> 01:57:48,250
Patel wouldn't tell them what's in violation. There was just a vague interpretation

1518
01:57:49,410 --> 01:57:50,590
of John.

1519
01:57:53,150 --> 01:57:57,190
That doesn't appear, but the place where it appears in state and

1520
01:57:57,190 --> 01:58:04,170
in legislation, under this guy's, he claims that trimming brushes was a part of cleaning

1521
01:58:04,170 --> 01:58:05,050
up trash.

1522
01:58:05,570 --> 01:58:09,190
This doesn't appear anywhere in state and even legislation, except for planning discipline

1523
01:58:09,190 --> 01:58:10,010
too.

1524
01:58:10,730 --> 01:58:16,450
So, it is addressed, which means that there is not in any legislation to touch it.

1525
01:58:17,230 --> 01:58:22,510
There is a section that defines some of the things that were attacked, brush, polymer,

1526
01:58:22,510 --> 01:58:28,170
under vegetated matter in the definition of nationality.

1527
01:58:28,310 --> 01:58:34,890
It becomes refuse, both refuse, when put on the curbside to go to the lentil.

1528
01:58:35,310 --> 01:58:40,830
Rightly, because being clear to a lentil, it shortens the lifespan of the lentil

1529
01:58:40,830 --> 01:58:48,750
and so should be regulated at the point of pick-up, but even in our stormwater newsletter

1530
01:58:50,050 --> 01:58:57,370
left on premises, these are precious resources, the main payments by poverty, not only

1531
01:58:57,370 --> 01:59:03,830
ecosystems, but other people who live in them, going back again to this parents and their

1532
01:59:03,830 --> 01:59:04,370
kids.

1533
01:59:04,370 --> 01:59:10,230
The psychological resilience that that feels into our community, that we have after our

1534
01:59:10,230 --> 01:59:17,110
street renaming, when our incarceration rate plummeted because we had the resilient community

1535
01:59:17,110 --> 01:59:18,690
that some of you might remember.

1536
01:59:19,950 --> 01:59:22,170
I hope going forward, Madam Mayor,

1537
01:59:22,330 --> 01:59:24,630
that some of the things we should be ashamed of.

1538
01:59:24,630 --> 01:59:26,710
Collor, you should be ashamed of that.

1539
01:59:26,710 --> 01:59:28,810
I should be ashamed of.

1540
01:59:28,810 --> 01:59:29,370
We'll be right back.

1541
01:59:29,370 --> 01:59:30,070
Thank you.

1542
01:59:34,660 --> 01:59:35,600
I'm going to go ahead.

1543
01:59:35,700 --> 01:59:39,260
We're going to go to, are there any more collars, ma'am?

1544
01:59:39,340 --> 01:59:39,980
One moment.

1545
01:59:40,400 --> 01:59:41,160
No other collars.

1546
01:59:43,460 --> 01:59:44,960
I'll close another comment.

1547
01:59:45,900 --> 01:59:49,980
I'm going to go a little out of order for our city council

1548
01:59:49,980 --> 01:59:58,200
staff and I'm going to start with the City Manager so we can take care of a piece of

1549
01:59:58,200 --> 01:59:59,400
business from.

1550
02:00:00,000 --> 02:00:23,820
A council meeting before. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Council, you have before you this evening a hard copy of the draft letter city staff prepared with your input to be used as a notification from city council to the Governor-elect, Lieutenant Governor-elect, Attorney General, and Senator Cain, Senator Warner and Congressman Klein.

1551
02:00:23,820 --> 02:00:33,640
I had previously shared this digitally for you all to review and provide any edits or comments which we did receive,

1552
02:00:34,140 --> 02:00:50,300
and I want to thank my staff, especially Mr. Vandenberg and Mr. Snyder, who took the lead on trying to distill your comments at the previous Council meeting as well as your edits into a comprehensive letter from City Council through those elected representatives.

1553
02:00:50,300 --> 02:01:09,560
And so I thought and trying to be responsive to City Council's directive at the last meeting to have this prepared for your consideration, discussion, any additional edits, and then with your consensus, city staff is prepared to execute this letter as soon as tomorrow or the next day.

1554
02:01:11,220 --> 02:01:16,400
I think we've all had an opportunity to review it, hopefully.

1555
02:01:17,640 --> 02:01:21,100
I know some have given our edits as well.

1556
02:01:21,540 --> 02:01:25,440
Is there any more edits or additions that need to be done to this letter?

1557
02:01:26,340 --> 02:01:32,320
I told our city manager, I will be in Richmond on Friday,

1558
02:01:32,920 --> 02:01:37,900
so I would like to take it to Richmond with me to their administration.

1559
02:01:37,900 --> 02:01:47,940
So, for me personally, the letter's good, so is there any more additions or any changes?

1560
02:01:48,560 --> 02:01:49,100
Anybody else?

1561
02:01:49,600 --> 02:01:56,960
I think we did, we talked about adding the sensitive places.

1562
02:01:59,600 --> 02:02:00,640
Does anybody got that feedback?

1563
02:02:00,640 --> 02:02:00,940
Is it there?

1564
02:02:01,240 --> 02:02:01,320
Yeah.

1565
02:02:02,120 --> 02:02:02,200
Yeah.

1566
02:02:02,200 --> 02:02:04,600
I just like to speak that out.

1567
02:02:04,900 --> 02:02:05,220
All right.

1568
02:02:05,900 --> 02:02:12,400
Where the part that says advancing legislation that prohibits immigration enforcement in sensitive locations

1569
02:02:12,400 --> 02:02:20,860
There was an earlier draft that expanded on that that I found really helpful such as schools, hospitals, churches and other places of worship

1570
02:02:20,860 --> 02:02:26,880
Court houses and emergency shelters and then pick back up with except in the most narrow and urgent serve

1571
02:02:26,880 --> 02:02:32,160
So anyway that just as I understand it that was a federally defined term, but then they took it away

1572
02:02:32,160 --> 02:02:34,700
So I'd vice or a Fleming tell me.

1573
02:02:35,840 --> 02:02:40,560
So anyway, we want to continue to promote

1574
02:02:40,560 --> 02:02:44,200
that I should not be welcome in those sensitive locations.

1575
02:02:46,280 --> 02:02:49,300
So Senator, thank you for putting this together.

1576
02:02:49,740 --> 02:02:51,720
And I appreciate you getting this letter to us.

1577
02:02:53,820 --> 02:02:56,100
And I appreciate it everyone's comments.

1578
02:02:56,300 --> 02:02:59,120
We made it a council meeting when we addressed this.

1579
02:02:59,120 --> 02:03:03,600
And for me, the important thing was, what can we do?

1580
02:03:03,660 --> 02:03:04,920
What can we do as a council,

1581
02:03:07,820 --> 02:03:11,400
and communicating to our state and federal leaders was to

1582
02:03:11,400 --> 02:03:14,300
me the way we could get something done.

1583
02:03:14,720 --> 02:03:21,480
So I think a lot of these are recommendations that I put in here around our policing practices.

1584
02:03:22,060 --> 02:03:27,060
So that's included in the letter, but I guess we will publish this letter at some point

1585
02:03:27,060 --> 02:03:30,260
residents aren't able to see. Right now what we're talking about.

1586
02:03:31,280 --> 02:03:37,120
But in this letter, we are asking our federal legislators, our state legislators, to

1587
02:03:37,120 --> 02:03:44,180
look at the policing practices that I and how much equipment deploying in our city.

1588
02:03:44,820 --> 02:03:56,240
We say our practices that we would accept from law enforcement in Virginia from our

1589
02:03:56,240 --> 02:04:01,400
to those policies, why we're allowing law enforcement to engage in policies that we wouldn't

1590
02:04:01,400 --> 02:04:02,360
accept in Virginia.

1591
02:04:07,040 --> 02:04:13,940
Around the sensitive locations, that was something I'd put in, and there is, that

1592
02:04:13,940 --> 02:04:20,420
is defined, so that was, you know, previously, there was federal guidance to immigration enforcement

1593
02:04:20,420 --> 02:04:25,820
around not going into federal, sorry, into sensitive locations, including a lot of the places

1594
02:04:25,820 --> 02:04:33,920
that you named Councilman Dent and the Trump administration in day one in office, rescinded

1595
02:04:33,920 --> 02:04:35,020
that.

1596
02:04:36,320 --> 02:04:39,800
But that is something that we can ask to be restored.

1597
02:04:39,880 --> 02:04:46,280
There is legislation both in the Senate and the House to address that specifically.

1598
02:04:46,800 --> 02:04:51,880
So asking our senators to sign on that and asking our congressional delegation to sign on to that

1599
02:04:51,880 --> 02:04:53,740
is something we can do.

1600
02:04:54,220 --> 02:04:59,960
as well as, you know, at the state level, asking at the state level for us.

1601
02:05:00,000 --> 02:05:08,640
To address that, Maryland has passed a bill that addresses sensitive locations that restricts

1602
02:05:08,640 --> 02:05:14,420
ICE and Homeland Security from engaging in immigration enforcement.

1603
02:05:15,840 --> 02:05:21,180
So we talked about earlier in courts. That's important because our justice system does not work.

1604
02:05:21,520 --> 02:05:27,680
If people can't go in there, witnesses and victims, if they're scared to go to the court,

1605
02:05:27,680 --> 02:05:34,820
system doesn't work. And so that's one of the areas that we're looking at. I don't know if

1606
02:05:34,820 --> 02:05:39,940
we need to define it more here, because I think this is a general request, you know, up,

1607
02:05:40,780 --> 02:05:48,580
and, you know, I trust that at the state level, if they're looking to address this, they'll

1608
02:05:48,580 --> 02:05:56,140
define those, certainly schools and hospitals or places that we would expect people to be able

1609
02:05:56,140 --> 02:06:03,200
go without fear. People can't get the care they need and the health and medical health they need

1610
02:06:03,200 --> 02:06:11,860
if they fear going to a hospital that ice will be there to pick them up. I actually think

1611
02:06:11,860 --> 02:06:18,400
this is something that we can tangibly do. I don't know this is, I haven't seen this anywhere else

1612
02:06:18,400 --> 02:06:22,320
in Virginia. Anyone else in Virginia? You know, pushing promoting this, but I think we can do

1613
02:06:22,320 --> 02:06:23,960
We've done this in here some more before.

1614
02:06:24,580 --> 02:06:27,900
We're willing to step out and push these separate ideas.

1615
02:06:29,660 --> 02:06:33,880
So I think this is something that both for our senators

1616
02:06:33,880 --> 02:06:38,100
would like them to sign on to this, respond to us.

1617
02:06:38,140 --> 02:06:40,660
So this is asking for people to respond to us.

1618
02:06:41,340 --> 02:06:45,320
I think our governor, our governor, our attorney general.

1619
02:06:46,160 --> 02:06:50,660
I know this is something that they care about or focused about.

1620
02:06:50,660 --> 02:06:56,120
We've heard this from Mayor Reed and her interactions with that team, this is something that's

1621
02:06:56,120 --> 02:06:56,840
on their agenda.

1622
02:06:57,820 --> 02:07:04,000
And I think pushing this forward is one way we can see if we can protect places in our

1623
02:07:04,000 --> 02:07:09,240
community that currently aren't protected in folks can go to school, go to the hospital,

1624
02:07:09,580 --> 02:07:11,520
go to court, finitoo.

1625
02:07:12,660 --> 02:07:21,600
So I hope we can agree to have the city manager send this out and send copies along with

1626
02:07:21,600 --> 02:07:24,120
read and onto our federal delegation.

1627
02:07:27,270 --> 02:07:30,610
Yeah, I appreciate actually all day for it's made for

1628
02:07:32,750 --> 02:07:41,330
preparing this type of message to our religious leaders and we hope that we can

1629
02:07:41,810 --> 02:07:50,590
give something for our residents and assure them that they are here living in peace and they

1630
02:07:50,590 --> 02:07:55,430
and go to schools, hospitals, to churches, and safely,

1631
02:07:55,710 --> 02:07:57,210
and also all of that, go to homes.

1632
02:07:57,730 --> 02:07:59,090
Thank you.

1633
02:07:59,530 --> 02:08:01,270
Another thing I'll do with this is,

1634
02:08:01,410 --> 02:08:03,390
you know, bring it to a Virginia Municipal League.

1635
02:08:04,510 --> 02:08:07,830
And, you know, we can offer this idea to other cities.

1636
02:08:08,750 --> 02:08:10,090
And if there's something I want to step into,

1637
02:08:10,250 --> 02:08:13,290
they'll have a template here that they can push forward

1638
02:08:13,290 --> 02:08:15,690
and get other other cities to sign on to this as well.

1639
02:08:15,730 --> 02:08:19,730
So I think we might be able to build some momentum for that.

1640
02:08:19,730 --> 02:08:21,390
And I guess, would this be published maybe?

1641
02:08:21,710 --> 02:08:26,090
On our, I'm trying to figure out how residents will see this,

1642
02:08:26,190 --> 02:08:27,490
what we published on the website somewhere,

1643
02:08:28,070 --> 02:08:30,130
what would you just need to do when we have that letter like this?

1644
02:08:32,680 --> 02:08:35,960
Yeah, we can certainly look into how we can make that public.

1645
02:08:36,260 --> 02:08:39,360
Of course, I mean, as soon as this is the finalized document,

1646
02:08:39,780 --> 02:08:43,760
it would be a public document, so just to clarify,

1647
02:08:44,260 --> 02:08:45,460
I'm sorry, Councilwoman, did you?

1648
02:08:45,460 --> 02:08:47,880
Oh, no, I was just looking at you to see what you're

1649
02:08:47,880 --> 02:08:50,060
okay, I'm completely fine.

1650
02:08:50,060 --> 02:08:53,860
Okay, I think it's very well written and I think it covers all the basis.

1651
02:08:54,040 --> 02:08:55,060
I have amazing staff.

1652
02:08:55,940 --> 02:08:58,780
I just want to make sure I do understand clarification.

1653
02:08:59,460 --> 02:09:03,920
So I believe I've heard from Council that you would like some of the sensitive areas.

1654
02:09:04,500 --> 02:09:06,120
I further called out and identified.

1655
02:09:07,340 --> 02:09:12,840
I just quickly jotted down Churches School's hospitals and courts as a further explanation

1656
02:09:12,840 --> 02:09:15,020
of what we're talking about there.

1657
02:09:15,020 --> 02:09:22,120
And then, if possible, I would like to arrange for this to be signed by all of you.

1658
02:09:22,280 --> 02:09:29,220
So we can prepare clean copies and have them available and either myself or Ms. Niner, Mr. Vanenberg,

1659
02:09:29,580 --> 02:09:37,220
if it would be easier to can find you and bring these two, these final letters to each of you for your physical signature.

1660
02:09:37,940 --> 02:09:41,300
I'm okay without identifying the specific places necessarily,

1661
02:09:41,300 --> 02:09:48,280
And this will be something legislatively that leaders will get, we'll try to make the best,

1662
02:09:48,840 --> 02:09:53,360
you know, this isn't about what those places are.

1663
02:09:54,360 --> 02:09:59,960
If we do churches we need to think of places of worship specifically as well.

1664
02:10:02,420 --> 02:10:09,160
Maryland has passed this. They have their definition of that. Number of other states have restricted it just to courts.

1665
02:10:10,120 --> 02:10:13,060
So, the five or six other states have addressed sensitive locations.

1666
02:10:15,040 --> 02:10:27,460
So, I might think to leave it to who might take this up either of the governor's office, Attorney General's office, or someone's General Assembly to fully define it.

1667
02:10:27,460 --> 02:10:30,500
And I'm okay if we add specifics in there.

1668
02:10:30,960 --> 02:10:34,520
Well, I feel strongly to add it back in with a such

1669
02:10:34,520 --> 02:10:36,380
as to show that these are examples.

1670
02:10:36,420 --> 02:10:39,380
I think some of the belt and suspenders,

1671
02:10:39,760 --> 02:10:41,380
like legislation may or may not happen,

1672
02:10:41,880 --> 02:10:43,120
but even without the legislation,

1673
02:10:43,300 --> 02:10:46,020
that helps people understand what we're trying to protect.

1674
02:10:47,200 --> 02:10:48,220
So when I said that,

1675
02:10:48,320 --> 02:10:50,120
I gave actually has the locations,

1676
02:10:50,120 --> 02:10:54,020
I think from the Maryland bill.

1677
02:10:54,340 --> 02:10:56,480
Yeah, this was an earlier draft that went around

1678
02:10:56,480 --> 02:10:57,840
Yeah, I had that in it from you.

1679
02:10:58,700 --> 02:10:59,800
You want to write it?

1680
02:10:59,900 --> 02:11:00,540
Do you want to read it?

1681
02:11:01,580 --> 02:11:02,460
We've got it.

1682
02:11:02,460 --> 02:11:02,600
Okay.

1683
02:11:03,220 --> 02:11:03,380
Yep.

1684
02:11:06,130 --> 02:11:06,510
Okay.

1685
02:11:07,350 --> 02:11:07,650
So, yeah.

1686
02:11:08,510 --> 02:11:09,150
Yes, ma'am?

1687
02:11:09,350 --> 02:11:10,790
All right.

1688
02:11:11,310 --> 02:11:14,010
Um, the, I leave Thursday night.

1689
02:11:14,230 --> 02:11:17,970
So, if you want me to take it, it needs to be done and signed.

1690
02:11:18,450 --> 02:11:19,770
So, I can deliver it.

1691
02:11:19,810 --> 02:11:20,470
We'll get it done.

1692
02:11:20,950 --> 02:11:21,070
Okay.

1693
02:11:23,780 --> 02:11:24,100
Okay.

1694
02:11:24,220 --> 02:11:24,680
Do you have anything?

1695
02:11:25,020 --> 02:11:25,440
No, ma'am.

1696
02:11:25,680 --> 02:11:28,220
All right, Councilman.

1697
02:11:28,540 --> 02:11:31,320
Yes, Madam, I think all the things we have,

1698
02:11:31,740 --> 02:11:36,020
are we all witnessed a great event

1699
02:11:36,020 --> 02:11:42,120
for the urban cutting or station number five.

1700
02:11:42,640 --> 02:11:48,620
And we honored with Chief Tobias for that actually station

1701
02:11:48,620 --> 02:11:53,680
that's serving our residents and the North Park

1702
02:11:53,680 --> 02:11:58,260
for Glutopike, and that was in November, 25th,

1703
02:11:58,280 --> 02:12:01,820
so that was a great event that I witnessed that along with you.

1704
02:12:02,180 --> 02:12:03,360
Thank you.

1705
02:12:03,500 --> 02:12:03,980
How's it going?

1706
02:12:04,800 --> 02:12:07,280
Well, the one thing I have going forward

1707
02:12:07,280 --> 02:12:11,620
is I'm speaking in a panel next Monday, December 15th at 2 PM.

1708
02:12:12,060 --> 02:12:14,760
I have a LinkedIn link that's just the easiest way

1709
02:12:14,760 --> 02:12:18,260
to find it through ICT, I-C-L-E-I.

1710
02:12:18,700 --> 02:12:20,720
It's on, I was at COP 30.

1711
02:12:20,720 --> 02:12:26,300
what let me just see this, the full title on it, okay,

1712
02:12:28,950 --> 02:12:32,410
I was a cup 30 what U.S. local governments need to know.

1713
02:12:32,790 --> 02:12:39,070
So this is bringing back the message from the UN Climate negotiations to how we can apply it in the cities.

1714
02:12:39,630 --> 02:12:47,930
Now when I was there, I was mostly taking the message to the world that America at the local level and state level still cares about climate.

1715
02:12:47,930 --> 02:12:50,870
So now it's a matter of bringing it back and putting into action.

1716
02:12:51,390 --> 02:12:52,570
So I'm excited about that.

1717
02:12:52,570 --> 02:13:00,730
Fellow panelists include Mayor Steve Patterson, who is now meeting past president of NLC.

1718
02:13:02,470 --> 02:13:07,170
Nylon Oliver, a sustainability director from Savannah, who was there and speaking, some

1719
02:13:07,170 --> 02:13:13,350
other mayors who were actually not at cop, but at the C-40 mayors meeting in Rio de Janeiro

1720
02:13:13,350 --> 02:13:14,150
before.

1721
02:13:14,150 --> 02:13:21,950
So, I'm looking forward, oh, our Mayor Derek Wood from Dumfries, we know him, so it should be a good thing.

1722
02:13:22,490 --> 02:13:23,650
That's all.

1723
02:13:23,770 --> 02:13:24,770
That was a woman.

1724
02:13:27,090 --> 02:13:29,110
Molly talked about the fire department.

1725
02:13:29,750 --> 02:13:30,350
Ribbon cutting.

1726
02:13:30,750 --> 02:13:32,110
Yeah, we all enjoyed that.

1727
02:13:32,730 --> 02:13:35,350
Also, with Vice Mayor Fleming,

1728
02:13:35,790 --> 02:13:40,330
I went to the Ribbon cutting and tour of Commerce Village too.

1729
02:13:41,750 --> 02:13:49,850
Very nice apartments. Very, very nice. And we'll be attending the NAACP Gallo of this coming

1730
02:13:49,850 --> 02:13:53,230
up Saturday. And that's it for me. I'm sorry.

1731
02:13:54,490 --> 02:13:59,910
Well, commerce bill is too. 16 units. I think they are intending on having that filled

1732
02:13:59,910 --> 02:14:07,310
up by the end of the month. So they'll be 16 folks who otherwise are really vulnerable to being

1733
02:14:07,310 --> 02:14:11,250
to know how you housing by then this month possibly.

1734
02:14:14,190 --> 02:14:21,470
I think anything else we, I think I forwarded you guys information that we were awarded

1735
02:14:21,470 --> 02:14:27,350
a grant from NLC that I've been working on for the last six months with our economic development

1736
02:14:27,350 --> 02:14:27,770
department.

1737
02:14:28,170 --> 02:14:29,470
I'll probably leave it to them.

1738
02:14:29,650 --> 02:14:32,750
Maybe to come and present that to us, but something we've been working on about six

1739
02:14:32,750 --> 02:14:40,470
months and exciting grant for us around the economic development, it came in with other

1740
02:14:40,470 --> 02:14:50,730
that, but we meet before, we won't meet before, so happy holidays, great December, which for

1741
02:14:50,730 --> 02:14:52,730
everybody to you as well.

1742
02:14:52,730 --> 02:14:57,290
Yep. Yes, this is our last meeting for the mother of December.

1743
02:14:58,770 --> 02:14:59,850
I don't have anything.

1744
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:15,460
Much up in work with our administration, it's coming in, and then January. We had a holiday parade, which was

1745
02:15:15,460 --> 02:15:24,080
probably the same like was one of the biggest ones that we've had in the world. Yeah, I think it was a lot of folks out there.

1746
02:15:24,080 --> 02:15:32,760
So, got to light the tree, nice floats, great band,

1747
02:15:34,380 --> 02:15:37,080
Congratulations to our M.U.Dukes.

1748
02:15:38,000 --> 02:15:44,980
I wonder, when, hopefully we can say congratulations again after a play organ.

1749
02:15:45,700 --> 02:15:45,940
Let's see.

1750
02:15:47,060 --> 02:15:47,860
Go Dukes.

1751
02:15:49,980 --> 02:15:50,420
All right.

1752
02:15:50,420 --> 02:15:52,740
Uh, yeah.

1753
02:15:52,940 --> 02:15:53,240
Close session.

1754
02:15:53,840 --> 02:15:54,100
Okay.

1755
02:15:54,160 --> 02:15:55,620
Although I don't see it on my paper.

1756
02:15:56,960 --> 02:15:57,860
I was looking for it.

1757
02:15:58,400 --> 02:15:59,920
But do we really have a close-up?

1758
02:15:59,920 --> 02:16:00,660
No, we've done the paper.

1759
02:16:00,900 --> 02:16:01,420
It's on the agenda.

1760
02:16:01,740 --> 02:16:03,120
I don't really have a close-up.

1761
02:16:03,120 --> 02:16:03,700
I did.

1762
02:16:04,000 --> 02:16:04,180
Yeah.

1763
02:16:04,540 --> 02:16:05,600
I did prepare a motion.

1764
02:16:05,840 --> 02:16:07,320
Move the person to the council.

1765
02:16:07,620 --> 02:16:08,520
Go into closed session.

1766
02:16:08,680 --> 02:16:11,880
It's authorized by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

1767
02:16:12,220 --> 02:16:15,660
Virginia Code Section 2.2-371-1A.

1768
02:16:16,520 --> 02:16:20,180
Under Subsection 3 for discussion of the acquisition of real estate.

1769
02:16:20,180 --> 02:16:24,900
for a public purpose, where the discussion and open session would adversely affect the bargaining

1770
02:16:24,900 --> 02:16:27,580
position or negotiation in position of the public body.

1771
02:16:28,460 --> 02:16:29,400
So, might make that motion.

1772
02:16:29,800 --> 02:16:30,600
I move.

1773
02:16:31,160 --> 02:16:31,900
If we do that.

1774
02:16:32,180 --> 02:16:33,860
Second, any discussion?

1775
02:16:35,180 --> 02:16:36,220
Pro-Couple, please, please.

1776
02:16:36,900 --> 02:16:38,140
Councillor Miller, I'll sit in.

1777
02:16:38,520 --> 02:16:38,760
I.

1778
02:16:38,760 --> 02:16:40,060
Councillor Miller, I.

1779
02:16:40,600 --> 02:16:41,320
Councillor Miller, Robinson.

1780
02:16:42,300 --> 02:16:42,660
All right.

1781
02:16:42,840 --> 02:16:43,340
Nice to meet you.

1782
02:16:43,720 --> 02:16:44,240
All right.

1783
02:16:44,240 --> 02:16:49,060
All right, and now in close session is not on my paper.