Loading...
APRIL 21, 2011 MINUTES-1- MINUTES VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL Virginia Beach, Virginia April 2l, 2011 Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr. called to order the Virginia Beach City Council 's SPECL4L FORMAL SESSION, at Green Run High School, on Thursday, April 21, 2011, at 6:00 P.M. Council Members Present: Glenn R. Davis, Harry E. Diezel, Robert M. Dyer, Barbara M. Henley, Vice Mayor Louis R. Jones, Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr., John E. Uhrin, Rosemary Wilson and James L. Wood Council Members Absent: Rita Sweet Bellitto [Out of Town Visiting Family April 16 through April 24, 2011) William R. "Bill " DeSteph [Attending Business Meeting in Washington, D.C.J Apri121, 2011 -2- MAYOR'S CALL FOR FORMAL SESSION ITEM # 60877 Mayor Sessoms read the Mayor's Call for Special Formal Session: April 1 S, 2011 "THE HONORABLE MEMBERS OF CITY CO UNCIL In accordance with the Virginia Beach City Code Section 2-21, and by the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Virginia Beach, I hereby call for a SPECIAL SESSION of the VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL for the purpose ojconducting a PUBLIC HEARING at Green Run High School, 1700 Dahlia Drive, on Thursday, April 21, 2011, at 6:00 P.M. The purpose of this SPECIAL FORMAL SESSION will be to invite all citizens to share their concerns re the Management Resource Plan (FY 2011-2012 Budget). Sincerely, William D. Sessoms, Jr. Mayor " April 2l, 2011 ti~,r.. ~~ '_ ;~ "' ~- ~~ ^ ~ City of VirgirZia Beach ~' 2 ~~S . a~~~ OF OUR NA~1~~ VBgov.com WILLIAM D. SESSOMS, JR. MUNICIPAL CENTER MAYOR BUILDING 1 2401 COURTHOUSE DRIVE VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23456-9000 (757) 385-4581 April 1 S, 2011 FAX (757) 385-5699 wsessoms«vbgov.com THE HONORABLE MEMBERS OF CITY CO UNCIL In accordance with the Virginia Beach City Code Section 2-21, and by the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Virginia Beach, I hereby call for a SPECIAL SESSION of the i~IRGINL4 BEACH CITY COUNCIL for the purpose of conducting a PUBLIC HEARING at Green Run High School, 1700 Dahlia Drive, on Thursday, Apri121, 2011, at 6:00 P.M. The purpose of this SPECIAL FORMAL SESSION will be to invite all citizens to share their concerns re the Management Resource Plan (FY 2011-2012 Budget). Sincerely, Willi ess ms, Jr. Mayor cc: Mayor and Members of City Council James K Spore, City Manager Mark D. Stiles, Ciry Attorney Lyndon S. Remias, City Auditor Ruth Hodges Fraser, MMC, City Clerk Robert S. Herbert, Deputy City Manager David L. Hansen, Deputy City Manager Catheryn Whitesell, Director of Management Services Mary Hancock, Media and Communications Administrator Matt Cernigliaro, Director of Multimedia Services Cindy Curtis, Director of Parks and Recreation -3- ITEM # 60878 Mayor Sessoms advised the Speakers will be limited to three-minutes each. In order to be fair to all, the Mayor must hold firm to this time limit. The following registered to speak: Martin Waranch, 111 66`" Street, Phone: 491-3343, spoke re the preparation of the budget and the multitude of expenditures, determining which were basic and which might be eliminated without causing harm. Mr. Waranch was born in Norfolk and has resided here since 1963. The City services forty- five years (45) ago are almost the same as today. Current taxes are suff cient to provide needed City services. Debra Dear, 1821 Beauty Way, Phone: 689-3123, Member of Community Services Board, expressed appreciation re support of Human Services and requested the Development Service Employment Fund of $25, 000 not be reduced. Mary Almaguer, 713 Oxford Drive, Phone: 426-6635, retired Virginia Beach School Teacher and member of the Community Services Board. She is the parent of an adult son with mental illness. Her son has been receiving services for twelve years with the Community Services Board. Over the last several years, there has been a 1 S% reduction in City funds. The Board has been asked to submit a budget with the City for an additional cut of 6.6%. In the area of therapeutic medication and services for individuals with mental health or substance abuse issues, there is a proposed cut of $121,596. This reduction would impact 450 clients. Reduction of funds could also eliminate a mental health substance abuse supervisor, a full time position. This will force the Department to increase the workload of the remaining staff. Donna Morris, 208 87`" Street, Phone: 491-1770, member of the Community Services Board. Mrs. Morris introduced Doris Bartel, who has been a member of the Board for over twelve years. She and her husband are parents of a child who has benefited from the services offered in Virginia Beach. Human Services should be considered a core service of the City. Ms. Morris requested the Mental Health Substance Abuse Prevention Educator position not be eliminated. Two key programs offered in the Elementary Schools, the Navigator and Choices programs, will also be affected. A substantial amount of resources are also devoted to the Adult Correctional Services program, most of which are provided in the Jail. Mary Mathena, Endependence Center, Phone: 351-1587, spoke in support of the Center, which has provided for many years 'services for the disabled. At least `half of the staff are required to be individuals with disabilities. The main services are Peer Counseling, Advocacy (Systems and Individual) and independent living skills. Knowing your rights is extremely important for anyone with a disability. Work Incentive Social Security and a Housing Coordinator are also available. Vincent Morallo, Endependence Center, Phone: 351-1587, advised he was born in Portsmouth, and spent the better part of his life (up to the age of nine years) at St. Mary's Infant Home in Norfolk. He started going to Endependence Center about two years ago, and was assigned to a Peer Counselor. He now finally moved into an apartment in Virginia Beach and started his very first job at McDonalds. Steve Johnson, Endependence Center, Phone: 351-1587, expressed appreciation to the Mayor for his event at the Center for the Twenty-year Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Endependence Center has existed for almost thirty (30) years and he expressed appreciation to the City Council for their support, which he hopes continues. Apri121, 2011 -4- ITEM # 60878 Shannon Hurley, 1109 West Revere Point Road, Phone: 460-3831, requested support of the School Board's decision to spend $20-Million towards a new school building to replace Old Donation Center and Kemps Landing Magnate School. All Children deserve facilities that are physically safe and conducive to learning. Old Donation Center and Kemps Landing Magnate School are now below minimum acceptable standards. Leslie Blustein, 1109 West Revere Point Road, Phone: 460-3831, 7`" Grader at Kemps Landing Magnet School. The curriculum is excellent and the teachers are great. However, the school building is in deplorable condition. The thermostats do not work properly. Robert Dean, Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance, 1204 Shawn Drive, Phone: 427-6606, advised this Public Hearing was scheduled on a very Holy Night. The Virginia Beach Tax Payer Alliance, over the last ten (10) years, has appeared before City Council Public Budget Hearings and made the case that excessive City spending is hurting private sector job creation and pushing many families over the financial edge. In 2000, the City's population was approximately 425, 000. The budget was just over a Billion dollars and per spending per capita was $23.74. Just ten (10) years later, the City population has only grown by 8, 000 people, and the budget is just under $2-Billion. Spending per capita was $23.74. Just ten years later, City City's population had only grown by 8, 000, and the budget was just under $2- Billion. Spending per capita jumped to $4, 575. While the population only increased 1.8% over 10 years, City Council 's spending grew by 92.7%. Unsustainable and excessive City spending and borrowing suppressing private sector job creating were hurting Beach residents struggling to make ends meet. Solution: cut City spending and borrowing. Jessica Abbott, 2505 Lower Greens Place, Phone: 427-6216, spoke re private sector job growth and keeping more of what they earn in their pockets. The City Manager's recommended tax and fee increases are divorced from the economic struggles of Beach families and businesses. For the last ten (10) years, her taxes have increased three (3) times faster than the income to fuel the City spending. Waverly Woods, 2453 Haversham Close, Phone: 228-1570, advised it is not just a right of all citizens to hold our elected officials accountable, but it is our responsibility. Beach families cannot afford the City Manager's recommended budget. City Council 's first obligation is to preserve the financial health of Beach families, which requires spending be significantly cut. Richard Roberts, 1980 Monument Drive, Phone: 270-1875, advised the Real Estate Tax rate has been reduced, but not enough. The actual real estate taxes paid since 1999 have increased at least twice as fast as income. City spending has increased 96% in the last decade, when incomes have grown, if you are lucky, 20%. Keith Freeman, 4152 Church Point Road, Phone: 222-0632, Board of Directors -Hampton Roads Tea Parry spoke on behalf of the Virginia Beach Tax Payers Alliance. The City of Virginia Beach's Five year Forecast for Fiscal Year 2011-2012 to Fiscal Year 2016-2017 is a demand signal for significant reduction in City spending and issuance of debt. Effective government does not equal expensive government. Matthew Cheatham, 4361 Lynnville Crescent, Phone: 477-4368, asked: Will City Council conclude that the financial health of Beach families and businesses defines the quality of life, not the size, scope and cost of local government? " Daniela Cossu, 1621 Handcross Way, Phone: 635-5519, recent Retiree on a fixed income, does not favor having to make additional cuts in her household budget. She does not favor seeing children eat unhealthy food and do without fresh fruit . or juggling the obligation of tithing to her church with contributing to the Wounded Warriors Project. "Cutting spending, not raising taxes, is what City Council must do. " April 2l, 2011 -5- ITEM # 60878 (Continued) Leslie Foster, filling in for Jim Cohen), 3425 Daisy Crescent, Phone: 355-3157, resident for the last seventeen (17) years. She is on a fixed income of $724 a month. She is thinking about leaving Virginia Beach as she cannot afford it if the fees and taxes continue to be raised. Paul Davis, 3937 Sherman Oaks Avenue, Phone: 672-3832, does not endorse the City Manager's recommended budget. The solution is not always higher taxes and fees. The Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance has made twenty-eight (28) recommendations to the City Council. The Beach residents expect City Council to cut spending, not raise taxes and fees. Diana DeBoe, 2613 Cove Point Place, Phone: 463-1665, advised her husband and her have lived in Virginia Beach since 1986. The Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance is rebutting the City Manager's transmittal letter justification for inflicting additional financial stress on Beach residents and businesses. John Fenter, 909 West Ferry Plantation Road, Phone: 497-8092, tax payer and resident of Virginia Beach for over twenty (20) years. As of this week, Mr. Fenter is a part- time employee instead of full time "The current market value of one in four homes is less than the outstanding mortgage. The cost of living in Tidewater is 11.5% higher than the National average, while the wages are 17% below. Just like most Americans, Beach residents are stretched to the financial breaking point. City taxes and fees have, for a decade, reduced their personal standard of living, on top of increases in Federal, State and regional taxes and fees ". Mike Ferris, 332 Ramapo Road, Phone: 499-0044, advised in 2000, City spending per capita was $2, 374, and today it is $4,575, for an increase of 92.8%. Clearly, the City has more room to cut than families whose incomes, if they were lucky, increased 20% over the last ten years. "The problem is too much spending, not too little taxes and fees. " Petie Brower, Member -Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance, advised excessive City spending and borrowing has and continues to crowd out the private sector investment and denies families the chance to get ahead and better their future. The real toll is on the family that needs tax relief. "The message from the voters is clear cut spending and borrowing ". Red Greenmun, 2405 Cliff Cutter Drive, Phone: 426-5589, resident of Virginia Beach since 1979 and Vice Chairman -Virginia Beach Taxpayer's Alliance. "The tax and fee increases being proposed by the City Manager deny families discretionary income that they need to prepare for their future. " The City Council, like families, must find the investment dollars for the City's future of our current cash flow at current tax rates and fees. Robert Harding, 3013 North Lynnhaven Road, Phone: 486-7449. Most economists agree that the recession is over. Since the City Manager's proposed budget does not fundamentally change the cost structure and spending trend lines of City government, his budget recommendations will require annual tax and fee increases. `7n the Five Year Forecast, the City Manager stated the City of Virginia Beach expenditures are expected to outpace revenue growth over the forecasted five year period. The City requires between 4% and S% growth in revenue based on historical trends. Beach families are not going to experience a 4% and S% salary growth annually over the next five (5) years. "The solution is to cut City spending and borrowing. Dianna Howard, 1057 Debaca Court, Phone: 721-5128, member Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance, spoke in opposition to increasing the real estate tax, the personal property car tax, creating a new solid waste fee of $10 a month effective January 1, 2012, increasing the stormwater fee by 7, 5 cents to 31.6 cents in Fiscal Year 2011 and 2012, an additional 5 cents in Fiscal Year 2012 and 2013 and another 5 cents in Fiscal Year 2013 and 2014, a previously approved sewer rate increase that will raise a typical residential customer's bill by $2.58 per month. April 2l, 2011 -6- ITEM # 60878 (Continued) Leslie Jones, 1996 Blue Knob Road, Phone; 217-7825, resident of Virginia Beach since 1961. The City Manager is actually proposing a 4. S-cent increase in the real estate tax rate on an annualized basis. "this 2 cents recommended will then be over and above the new currently included trash pickup covered by the real estate tax rate of 89 cents. In reality, the average single family home owner will pay approximately $400 more in taxes next year, than if the tax rate went unchanged and there was no trash fee. George Keen, residence since the famous 1962 Storm, retired for sixteen (16) years. Mr. Keen spoke in opposition to residentially harmful tax and fee increases. City employees have not had their pay cut in the last three years. Unlike most employees, City employees do not pay their share of their Defined Benefit Plan. The tax payers' pay the employer's share and the employees' S% share. Tom Viele: the City Manager's proposed tax and fee increases have nothing to do with maintaining current services. The $24-Million is a so-called revenue gap the proposed taxes and fees are designed to fill. The Governor, by restoring the Commonwealth's share of the fund to protect NAS Oceana, reduces the Manager's revenue gap by $7-Million. That is more than 1 % of the real estate tax raises. In addition to the across-the-board raises, which would be addressed later, the City Manager wants $4. S-Million to be used to address the degradation of our competitive salary. Fay Kist, 5292 Shenstone Circle, Phone: 460-2833: it has been proposed that 4.5-Million be used to address the degradation of our competitive salary position within Hampton Roads to ensure that Virginia Beach continues to attract and retain qualified employees. Positions with greater job security should pay less than jobs with higher risk of unemployment. Why should taxes and fees be increased to pay raises when City employees already receive a total compensation that is, on the average, 21 % over the private sector. Ben Krause, 1436 Five Hill Trail, Phone: 486-3721. Since City and School pay raises are the real reason, Mr. Spore, the City Manager, is recommending a real estate tax increase, fee increases and new trash fee, it is important the public understand the empirical research rebuts without questioning the need for pay raises. This is especially true when those City pay increases come at the expense of lowering the take- home pay of private sector employees who already earn less for like work. Also, Public Workers put in significantly fewer hours per week, according to the bureau of Labor Statistics. On the average, for State and Local Government employees, the cost per hour worked is $14 higher per hour than the private sector. The fact that employees have not received a pay raise in two years is not evidence that City employees' based on salary plus benefits are undercompensated. John Kuchta, 1132 Little Neck Road, Phone: 468-9020, twenty-five year Beach resident. Mr. Kuchta is a small business operator and a proud member of the Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance. City employees and the Beach residents they serve are natural partners. The Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance in its 28 budget recommendations supports cash bonuses, but not salary increases for City employees at this time. Gil Garcia, 900 Rin~eld Road, Phone: 721-7531, ten year resident. Mr. Garcia would like the City and School Board employees consider the private sector worker, who also has not had a pay increase over several years, but also has to face being laid off, having their hourly wages cut, or having full time work shed to part time work. The proposal by the City Manager is not a shared sacrifice. Robert Weinstein, 4632 Bradston Road, Phone: 464-3083, resident since 1985. The issue is not a shortfall of revenue. It is too much City spending. The proposed tax and fee increases have nothing to do with the sustainable current City services. Proposed tax and fee increases are required to finance proposed pay increase and benefit increases. Families and businesses with flat to declining incomes are being asked to suffer more to finance local government pay raises. The City Council can and must do a better job to ftnancially help families and businesses by reducing spending and borrowing and providing tax relief. April 2l, 2011 -~- ITEM # 60878 (Continued) Sandy Linkous, 5225 South Lake Road, Phone: 464-1947, gave an example of a man requesting a bank manager to increase his credit limit. His business costs are outpacing revenues. The discretionary income of his customers is declining. The bank manager does not increase his credit limit. The City situation is no different from this businessman, with one exception. The City can force their customers to pay higher taxes for services whether they want the service or not. Increasing the City's per capita debt limit is not a good idea. Joan Maguire, Post Office Box 66293, Phone: 287-3401, advised the City adopted a per capital debt limit of $2, 400 in economic good times where the forecast was bright as a prudent and conservative restriction. But now, when the economic times are anything but good and the forecast is uncertain, at best, the City Manager is recommending the per capita debt limit be increased approximately 17% to ~2, 800. Tax payers are struggling with skyrocketing food prices, gasoline prices and medical costs. Since the economic condition is just the opposite as when the $2, 400 per capital limit was established, it is logical to conclude that the recommendation is now imprudent and risky. Raising the City's per capita debt limit will hurt private sector job growth and will hurt the financial health of Virginia Beach families. Judy MacNeill, 3605 Burns Court, Phone: 631-2696, S year resident of Virginia Beach. News from the World Economic Forum indicates that housing should start to recover by 2014, but existing home prices will not see 2007 levels until the end of fiscal year 2015-2016. To balance the Federal budget and address the deficit, a combination of cuts to mandatory programs and tax increases beyond normal growth revenues may be required. Families and individuals moving into the City are making 93% of the income of those who move out. City of Virginia Beach expenditures are expected to outpace revenue growth over the five year forecast period. Amanda Melson, 3640 Monterrey Court, Phone: 373-7709, advised in the City's 2012 Five Year Forecast, the citizens were told the City is reserving a large portion of its current debt capacity in Fiscal Year 2013-14 and beyond in anticipation of major projects, such as Light Rail, the Headquarters Hotel and the Dome site redevelopment. The bottom line is that the things Beach residents truly need and can afford can be accomplished within the current per capita debt ceiling. A policy which should be adopted is all debt issued, to include revenue bonds, general obligation bonds and bonds issued by third parties backed by the City should be subject to voter Referendum. Additionally, the policy should require that when debt is paid off, the borrowing authority is not rolled over. Jo Moore, 967 Sedley Road, Phone: 905-0978, advised her role was to transition the conversation to the 28 recommendations the Virginia Beach Tax Payers Alliance forwarded to the City Council. Tax and fee increases under any condition retard private sector job growth and a family's prosperity. Debbie Parvon, 3497 Glen Arden Road, Phone: 424-6655, Board of Directors -Hampton Roads Tea Party. Ms. Parvon quoted from the City Manager's Five-Year forecast "raising taxes will probably not create a drag on the economy, if the purpose is a focus on core savings and needs ". Ms. Pavon advised maintaining government employment and growing government salaries and benefits by raising taxes and fees does create a drag on the City's economy. Dane Blythe, 2004 Oak Leaf Lane, Phone; 460-2309, requested City Council consider for a moment the following headlines: "Virginia Beach, Virginia, the Number 1 Free Enterprise Zone ", followed by "No Taxes on Businesses Drives Major Job Growth in Virginia Beach " or "Beach Families and Businesses Prosper as Government Scales Back". These are headlines members of City Council can make real by eliminating the machinery and tools tax completely in FY-2012 budget and phasing out the BPOL tax starting with 10% in the 2012 budget. April 2l, 2011 -8- ITEM # 60878 (Continued) Norvell Rose 3288 Doncaster Road, Phone: 340-5422, resident of Virginia Beach. He and his wife are self employed. High wage jobs are educationally intensive for either academic or trade learning, where demand exceeds supply or they are capital intensive, where productivity makes the per production unit labor cost low. If the City wishes to attract and keep high wage jobs, you do not want to have a tax policy that penalizes businesses, such as his which has invested in machines and tools that make them more productive. Bob Ross, 3352 Middle Plantation Quay, representing Virginia Beach Taxpayer Alliance and advised he appreciates being here to witness the journey of educating all of us to the great opportunities before us, which would let citizens keep more of what they earn and would unleash the power of free enterprise. Mr. Ross was appalled at the City Manager 's recommended budget, which takes us down the same old path of bigger and more expensive government. The next several speakers will share constructive and positive actions that you can take to put City Government on a sustainable path that does not require a S% to 6% increase in annual spending, which would include annual tax and fee increases. Bill Stephany, 404 Palletts Road, Phone: 486-4828, resident of Virginia Beach for about 7 years. A sustainable path does not require S% to 6% annual increases in City spending and annual increases in tax and fee increases, but it does require the elimination of the Strategic Growth Development Off ce. This whole concept is predicated on Light Rail, which is a voter Referendum and another five years away, if approved. Mr. Stephany advised not to waste over $7-Million a year on a flawed plan re tax payer subsidies to undermine free enterprise. The residents of Virginia Beach wish to keep our freedom of choice and not be forced out of our homes and cars into a planned urban-style living. Halsey Wilson, 5905 Larchwood Drive, Phone: 377-1053, 21 year resident of Virginia Beach. Ms. Wilson referenced additional Virginia Beach Tax Payer Alliance recommendations to reduce the cost structure and improve the effectiveness of City Government by narrowing its scope: freeze purchases of new vehicles, except for Police patrol Cars and Fire Trucks, reduce current inventory of vehicles by 10% by June 30, 2012; extend the mileage of vehicles by 20% prior to declaring them excess and for sale, unless abusiness-case analysis shows otherwise, posted on the City's web page and provided to City Council at least thirty days prior to sale; Adopt a pilot project to adopt the best practice of UPS, FedEx, and the Postal Service to attract and account for the miles placed on City vehicles to ensure they are the minimum necessary to accomplish assigned tasks. Adopt a City ordinance that states no expenditure or conveyance of direct or indirect economic benefits that provide a subsidy to a private party or State agency to facilitate a private investment shall be authorized by any agent of the City or incorporated in any future contract, contract extension or contract amendment. Drake Tsioutsias, resident of Kempsville since 1976, and proud to participate in this organized effort to convey an independently researched view of the proposed budget. He believes the proposed budget with its associated tax increases and fee increases is both anti job and anti prosperity. It is also not family friendly. Mr. Tsioutsias presented additional recommendations: Reduce personnel costs by eliminating all positions budgeted, but unfilled on January 1, 2011, with the exception of Uniform Public Safety positions. Further, between July 2011 and June 30, 2012, eliminate one position for every three vacated positions except Public Safety positions. Stop the escalating cost of government by mandating that the top line operating budget for Fiscal Year 2011 or 2012 should not exceed that for 2010/2011. Tighten the City's belt by capping Trustee Accounts other than water and sewer enterprise accounts and the storm water management account at 90% of last year's expenditures ,excluding borrowed funds but including principle and interest payments on borrowed funds. Use the forecasted excesses appropriated for General Fund Non-Trustee Account service delivery requirements. Send a better message to constituents by terminating membership in the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Virginia Municipal League. Apri121, 2011 -9- ITEM # 60878 (Continued) Linda Kepley, advised tonight Beach residents are sharing with the City Council that our City Government is too expensive and is NOT affordable. Major change to reduce the cost structure of City Government has to start now in Virginia Beach. Have faith in employees hired before the policy change in last year's budget, paying the employee' share of VRS retirement contribution now paid by us, the tax payers, at the rate of 1 % per year over the next five years. Eliminate the Schools Funding Formula and put the City and Schools on a needs-based budget. Eliminate payment for all Lobbyists to the General Assembly, Congress, or any other governmental entity. Doug Kist, 5292 Shenstone Circle, Phone: 460-2833, local business owner, is aware of the pain of downsizing and cutting of spending in order to survive. In the last two years, over `half of his staff has been lost. He had to fire them. When the economy went under, this company had to "shrink". Besides himself, he has three (3) full-time employees. Revenues are less than `half of two (2) years ago. Eliminate grants and contributions to the Chamber of Commerce, Forward Hampton Roads and the Hampton Roads Partnerships. These are private sector places which should be funding themselves. Kenny Golden, 3425 Montgomery Place, Phone: 463-4988 Montgomery Place, Phone: 463-4988. He is a native Virginian and has visited the Resort area many times before he came here in 1995 which his wife to become a permanent resident. Mr. Golden presented a recommendation from the Virginia Beach Tax Payers Association to establish a partnership with Old Dominion University, an Academic Chair for fiscal policy analysis whose sole purpose would be to assess the economic impact of local, state, and actually national fiscal policies on the discretionary income of the people here in Virginia Beach and the profits of families and businesses, This measure would add to the academic structure of ODU here in Virginia Beach. This initiative would be a win for all stakeholders and all of the tax payers. Dave Wesp, 3785 Candy Court, Phone: 408-6093 member of the Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance, Hampton Roads Tea parry, and resident of thirty-three years. The residents and businesses in this City have had to make tough choices and have had to make do on the same if not less income or revenue than last year. The City Manager has presented two choices; tax and fee increases, or service cuts. The real choice is keeping tax rates and fees the same and not financing City pay raises on the back of private sector workers and Retirees. The City and School Board can maintain current services by keeping their labor and benefits costs the same or less than previous years. Carol Weinstein, 4632 Bradston Road, Phone: 464-3083. Some are not present, as they are residents who work two (2) jobs to almost make ends meet or Retirees who cannot drive after dark Many are priced out from company with gasoline almost $4.00 a gallon. Ms. Weinstein urged the City Council to say "No " to increasing taxes and fees. John Moss, 4109 Richardson Road, Phone: 363-7745, Chairman -Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance, wished to acknowledge all Beach families and small businesses for living within their means by making tough choices. The Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance asks City Council to reduce the burden of local government on families and businesses. Providing immediate tax relief to grow private sector jobs is a must, and the case is most compelling. VBTA petitions you to believe in the free enterprise system and essentially healthy families as the path to a better future for Virginia Beach. Jeanne Mitchell, 1605 Dominion Court, Phone: 471-0314, Virginia Beach resident since 1994. Ms.Mitchell requested the taxes not be raised and spending cut. Ms. Mitchell believes in free enterprise. She does not believe in the redistribution of the wealth. April 2l, 2011 -10- ITEM # 60878 (Continued) Mike Barrett, President -Visions. Visions is composed of a group of 11 S business and professional executives. We are non partisan and focus on the long term. Visions have focused on the long term fiscal health of the City and much less on service provisions or fee adjustments. You must invest in the City to build a solid foundation for the future and must anticipate and budget for new long-term needs. The City must budget now to address deferred maintenance of the City's buildings, vehicles and off ce equipment. The Federal Government may no longer be a partner with state and local governments in financing major infrastructure maintenance and development. Congress has also imposed strict water quality requirements on waters that drain into the Chesapeake Bay, but has provided no funding to support these requirements. The City must invest now to stimulate prosperity for our citizens. We must be willing to continuously grow our tourism industry by supporting the development of a Headquarters Hotel and a major entertainment venue for the Dome site. Further, a Light Rail link to passenger rail services is needed. This Light Rail link is necessary to the passenger rail service at Harbor Park. Gregg Benshoff, 4140 Edinburgh Drive, Phone: 846-6893, President and representative of 464 Virginia Beach Professional Fire Fighters. He is a twenty-five year resident of the City and spoke in support of the compensation issues proposed in the City Manager's operating budget for this fiscal year. Our City employees have found more efficient ways to operate City Government, done more with less and increased customer service. In the last ten years, this resourceful workforce has saved the City and its Tax payers' $45-Million. Equate that to the tax rate, this is a 9 cent tax savings to every tax payer in Virginia Beach. The 1. S% compensation increase recommended by the City Manager is a start in the right direction on our hard working employees. The market adjustment for employees is also a positive shift. Jimmy Frost, 2240 Windom Place, spoke relative these tough times. Individuals have lost jobs held most of their lives, and individuals lose homes and have had to give up possessions while our Government continues to spend as though there is no tomorrow. Applications for TANF, the number of homeless people and children qual ding for free and reduced lunches, is ion the rise, which is a good indicator that the economy is still in a flat spin. He and his wife consider themselves lucky to even have a job. The government should cut their expenses to meet their incomes not budget for a new project at Town Center, Convention Center or an entertainment venue from the old Dome site or waste one more dime on Light Rail. A government should provide core services Neal Mitchell, 1605 Dominion Court, Phone: 471-0314. He works for a living, retired from the Navy, but still has expenses, even though he lives in a small house. What good does building another Recreation Center, widening the road, building another hotel do for the tax payer, who cannot afford this. David M. Lamb, 809 Waterview Place, Apartment #202, Phone: 802-5843, Virginia Beach resident since 2009. With the current economic climate, businesses have already begun to tighten their budgets. With the proposed tax increases, residents and businesses would have to further tighten their already tight budgets and in turn that could further deteriorate the already fragile economy. The increases amount to $30 rather than $12 a month, the new solid waste fee of $10.00 per month, storm water fee increase of $7.33 per month, plus sewer charge, increase of $2. S8 per month, plus real estate increase of 2 cents per hundred dollars are just too much! Max Gonano, 1877 Haverhill Drive, Phone: 642-3776, Vice President and representative for 464 Virginia Beach Professional Fire Fighters. He urged acceptance and affirmation of the City Manager's proposed Operating Budget. The proposed 1. S% raise and market adjustment will not solve the current compensation inequity, but it will be a good faith effort by the City to address the disparity in pay and address compensation that will directly affect and improve the quality of service delivered and the safety of our citizens. Police and Fire have been losing their best and brightest employees because the compensation offered by this City is no longer competitive. April 2l, 2011 -11- ITEM # 60878 (Continued) Nancy Ries, 8300 A Atlantic Avenue, Phone; 425-4441, owner of a single family residence and also a condo in Virginia Beach. The City Manager has presented a responsible budget with a vision for the future. Ms. Ries spoke in support of the trash fee. 25% of residential property owners in the City are not eligible for residential solid waste collection. Even though they pay for it, we pay for it as part of the property tax. For her and 40, 000 other tax payers who own multi family units in Virginia Beach, this means that our taxes have been subsidizing municipal solid waste collection for the 124, 000 households who do receive the services. William Bailey, 674 Edwin Drive, Phone; 288-5761, resident of Kempsville. Mr. Bailey supports the City Manager's Budget. There is a balance. It provides for building two (2) Fire Stations to provide protection for the citizens. There is the possibility of receiving design money for the Blackwater Fire Station. This building is old and decrepit. As a Public Safety employee, he has never heard anybody complain about the service they are provided. Sam Reid, 1733 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Phone; 428-5500, Program Chairman for the Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organizations. Mr. Reid introduced the First Vice President, Cecil Burgett, and one of the Directors, Vivian Blaize. The Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organizations (CCO) has 117 Civic Leagues. There was quite a bit of discussion concerning the people who own condos concerning the trash fees. However, it was an overwhelming vote to OPPOSE the trash fees. Art DeAngelis, 749 Whistling Swan Drive, spoke in opposition to the City Manager's Operating Budget. Virginia Beach has been a government of, by and for the Developers. Luce Pangle, 1109 Daventry Place, Phone: 499-1424, resident of Virginia Beach since 1987. Funds should be applied to create and develop public transportation. Funds should be raised not to just take care of the regular expenses, but it should also take care of the people who have less. There being no further speakers, Mayor Sessoms CLOSED THE PUBIC HEARING. April 2l, 2011 -12- ADJOURNMENT ITEM # 60879 Mayor William D. Sessoms DECLARED the City Council Meeting ADJOURNED at 8:28 P.M. Beverl~~C~ooks, CMC Y Chief Deputy City Clerk uth Hodges Fraser, MMC City Clerk City of Virginia Beach Virginia 1~ William D. Sessoms, Jr. Mayor April 2l, 2011