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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAPRIL 18, 2012 MINUTESCITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH "COMMUNITY FOR A LIFETIME" CITY COUNCIL MAYOR WILLIAM D. SESSOMS, JR., At-/,arge VICE MAYOR LOUIS R. JONES, Bayside -District d RIT A SWEET BELLITT'O, At-Large GLENN R. DAMS, Rore Hall -District 3 WILLIAM R. DeSTEPH, At-Large HARRY E. DIEZEI„ Kemprville -District 2 ROBERT M DYER„ Centerville -District l BARBARA M HENI,F.Y, Princess Anne -District 7 JOHN F.". UHf2/N, Beach -District 6 IZOSH.'MARY WILSON, At-Large JAMES L. WOOD, Lynnhaven -District 5 CITY COUNCIL APPOINTEES CITY MANAGER -JAMES K. SPORE CITY ATTORNEY- MARK D. STILF,S CITYASSESSOR - JERALD D. BANAGAN CITYAUDITOR- LYNDONS. REMIAS C/TY CLERK - RUT H HODGES FRASER, MMC CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP AGENDA 18 APRIL 2012 SPECIAL FORMAL SESSION COX HIGH SCHOOL 6:00 PM I. PUBLIC HEARING - ", • , ': i~ ~' y 1~,[^~l4r ~ ~ e I~sUF OF NPS ~O~~ C/TY HALL BUILD/NG 2401 COURTHOUSE DRIVE VIRG/NIA BEACH, VIRGINIA 23456-8005 PHONE: (757J 385-4303 FAX (757) 385-5669 E- MAIL: ctycncl@vbgov.com A. FY 2012-2013 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN (Budget) -1- MINUTES VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL Virginia Beach, Virginia April 18, 2012 Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr. called to order the Virginia Beach City Council's SPECIAL FORMAL SESSION, at Cox High School, on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at 6:00 P.M. Council Members Present: William R. "Bill " DeSteph, Robert M. Dyer, Barbara M. Henley, Vice Mayor Louis R. Jones, John D. Moss, Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr., John E. Uhrin and Rosemary Wilson Council Members Absent: Glenn R. Davis, Harry E. Diezel James L. Wood April 18, 2012 -2- MAYOR'S CALL FOR FORMAL SESSION Mayor Sessoms read the Mayor's Call for Special Formal Session: April 13, 2012 "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 FORMAL SESSION of the VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL for the purpose of conducting a PUBLIC HEARING at Frank W. Cox High School, 2425 Shorehaven Drive, on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, 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 2012-2013 Budget). Sincerely, William D. Sessoms, Jr. Mayor " April 18, 2012 City of Virginia Beach n -~..: y - ~ 2, z~ OR OUR NA~1ON5 WILLIAM D. SESSOMS, JR. MAYOR 13 April 2012 HONORABLE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL VBgov.com MUNICIPAL CENTER BUILDING 1 2401 COURTHOUSE DRIVE VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23456-9000 (757)385-4581 FAX (757)385-5699 wsessoms@vbgav.com In accordance with Virginia Beach City Code, Section 2-21, and by the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Virginia Beach, l hereby call for a SPECIAL FORMAL SESSION of the VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCI at 6:00 PM, Thursday, Apri118, 2012, at Cox High School. The purpose of this Special Formal Session is to conduct the advertised PUBLIC HEARING on the FY 2012-2013 Resource Manager Plan and to invite citizens to share their concerns on the next fiscal year Budget. Cc: City Manager City Attorney City Clerk City Auditor Deputy City Managers Director -Management Services MultiMedia Services Media and Communications Sincerely, ~ Willia . Sesso s, Jr. -3- Mayor Sessoms DECLARED A PUBLIC HEARING: The City Council hereby declares a Public Hearing open on the matters of • The proposed Fiscal Year 2012-13 Operating Budget • The proposed fiscal year 2012-13 to 2017-18 Capital Improvement Program, including the FY2012-13 Capital Budget • The proposed issuance of General Obligation Bonds in the estimated maximum amount of $67,700,000 • The proposed issuance of Water and Sewer System Revenue Bonds in the maximum amount of $27,000 • The proposed increase to the real estate tax rate • The proposed establishment of a Planning Department Technology Fee If any citizen is not able to address all of his or her comments or concerns within the allotted time, he or she may provide those comments to the City Clerk in writing for distribution to the City Council 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: Dominic Melito -President of Virginia Beach Education Association. Mr. Melito is in support of the budget requested by the School Board. The School Board has closed a school, discontinued year round schools in four (4) elementary schools, saved millions of dollars in heating and cooling of the buildings, and employed 384 fewer people than in 2009, more than half of which are teaching positions. This year's requested Budget is $55.5-Million less than in 2008. Schools have done everything they can to absorb the State's lack of funding. City Council should be responsible for $28.7-Million to the Schools. Please ensure that all of the cuts that can be made on the City's Budget have been made. If, at that point additional revenue is needed to fully fund the Schools, the VBEA will support an increase in the tax rate only if the additional revenue will go to the Schools in the future. Please restore the Revenue Sharing Formula between the City Council and School Board. Edward Gibbs, 4404 Lakeville Court, Phone, 274-5793, lives in Kempsville and is a 35 year School Employee. Mr. Gibbs stated he has lived in the City for over 30 years and enjoys living in a City that has so much to offer. Give the School System the money to fully fund its programs. There are over 200 School Employees that have received notices their contract won't be renewed, while the City has only 67.5 layoffs. It is easy to blame people but voters know the truth. Please work out the funding for the Schools. Invest in people, not things. George Mendelson, 720 Pinetree Drive, Phone, 252-305-2509, spoke on behalf of Virginia Organizing. The Governor and the State Legislators have put the City in a box by drastically cutting funding for necessary programs rather than raising taxes. Richmond took the easy way out politically and the City and other localities are left holding the bag for that irresponsible and cowardly action. City Council has a hard job ahead of them. The entire community suffers. It is always easier to freeze pay or cut social April 18, 2012 -4- services before raising taxes but the political "easy way" is the wrong way. Salary freezes and personnel cuts unfairly place the blame on a select few. As unpopular as it may be, a general tax increase is the only fair way to address the budget shortfall. George Bryant, 2320 Dood Drive, Phone: 434-0825, stated that just as the money is found for special projects, find the money to fully fund the Schools. The Recession is not over. It is important to fully fund the Schools. Karen Mallard, 1748 Capstone Court, Phone: 818-1858, is a teacher in the City and has 2 school-age children. Ms. Mallard requested the City Council fully fund the School Board's Budget. The Governor and General Assembly have not fulfilled their constitutional obligation to fund the public schools appropriately to provide a quality education for our children. The State has underfunded public schools by over $1-Billion dollars the last few years. The State has used a formula that requires the City to pay more than other localities. It is City Council's duty to fill the gap created by the State and provide an excellent public school system. When the housing boom inflated tax assessments, City Council decreased the tax rate and maybe it is now time to restore the tax rate. This will be the economic engine that will drive this City forward. Everyone wants our children to have the best opportunities. Jimm Capps represented Virginia Beach Vision with 120 businesses and community leaders as members. A tax rate increase is necessary to sustain services and we would like to see the full funding of the Schools. Mike Barrett, 600 22"d Street, Phone: 422-1568, stated it is important to look at three (3) strategic issues that face the City long term. (1) Strategic planning and growth function. Growing must occur in existing corridors so take additional steps for proper rezoning and redevelopment. (2) VRS reform should take place and begin moving towards a Defined Contribution Plan. Young people don't stay at jobs 30 or 40 years and a Defined Contribution Plan makes more sense. (3) Transportation funding.• the State has pulled away from local transportation funding. In the past, the City received $40-Million each year to support construction of local roads but this has been reduced to zero as the State no longer provides funding for local roads. Beverly Anderson, 2105 Commodore Court, is a 36 year teacher with the City. Although the City Council and School Board have disagreed in the past about funding the Schools, they knew what to expect from the City because of the Revenue Sharing Formula which allowed the School Board to plan effectively for their Budget. If the School Board is not fully funded, teachers will lose their jobs. The School employees' salaries have been frozen for many years. Top notch schools are an economic driver. If the money is prioritized, it will be the best investment in the City and the future. Kaitlyn Jensen, 520 Woodshire Way, Phone: 646-5277, stated she and her husband are School employees. Ms. Jensen requested the Schools' are fully funded. Without a pay increase and the rising costs of health care, she will be taking home far less money that she does today. Please support the Schools and provide full funding. William Bailey, 644 Edwin Drive, Phone: 288-5761, President of the Virginia Beach Professional Firefighters. Mr. Bailey stated that recent events have caused fire fighters to be on the news recently. They appreciate the praise the City Council has provided. Mr. Bailey reviewed the City Manager's proposed budget and is pleased to see that 3 fire stations are scheduled to be built. Those buildings will be here 50 or 60 years providing protection to the citizens. Mr. Bailey stated it is not the time to expand our health care services as employees are barely surviving due the economy. Diana Howard, 1057 Debaca Court, Phone 721-5128, stated the City Council approved raises for City employees last year without the financial funding to support the increases and now they want to recta that with an increase in property taxes and use the School Budget as their "scape goat ". Ms. Howard stated that no amount of tax increase will suffice until the Ciry gets spending under control. The economy April 18, 2012 -5- is slow but is starting to improve. Since tourism is what keeps our taxes down then let's allow it by taking funds from the Special District Taxes and put toward the General Fund. Rafil Gil, 907 Prior Court, Phone: 646-270-7878, expressed concerned about the School Budget and urged the City Council to support the Schools and provide full funding. Brian McClure, 6300 East Virginia Beach Boulevard, Phone: 351-1587 stated he is trying to raise awareness about the services the Endependence Center provides. ECI is a great way for people with disabilities to find the resources to assist living everyday life. Mr. McClure suffered a brain injury and fining housing and competitive employment is difficult without ECI's assistance. In the past, funding for ECI wascut and Mr. McClure is asking that the funding be restored. Vincent Morallo, 6300 East Virginia Beach Boulevard, Phone: 351-1587. Mr. Morallo is 45 year old and is requesting fuding for the Endependence Center. With the help of ECI, he began his first job and is still there. He was able to obtain housing and live on his own. Mr. Morallo loves the idea of making money and is proud of all that ECI provides. Ivy Kennedy, 6300 East Virginia Beach Boulevard, Phone: 351-1587. Ms. Kennedy has been involved with Endependence Center since 2004 and stated ECI provides employment enrichment, support groups, and education advocacy. ECI continues to be a great resource for people with disabilities and their families. Dane Blythe, 2004 Oakleaf Lane, Phone: 537-1700, is the Chairman of Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance. Mr. Blythe stated there is no legitimate reason to raise the tax rate. As families have adjusted spending priorities, the City must do the same. Everyone is complaining about how much more they are spending for necessities and raising the tax rate is like rubbing salt in the wound. The City needs to make core services a priority. It appears the City has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. He requested the City make the same sacrifices families have made. At some point, the economy will improve. Carolyn McPherson, 2700 Royster Court, Phone: 412-4786, is a member of Virginia Beach Voices and Past Executive Director at Samaritan House. She would like to address transportation needs. Approximately 9% of citizens do not own a car and rely on public transportation. The City needs improvements to the bus services as it is the 2"d largest expense for families. Only 17% of jobs are reachable by public transportation. Trenace Riggs, 3608 Brannon Drive, Phone: 403-3573, is Vice President of Virginia Beach Education Association and a teacher at Larkspur Middle. Ms. Riggs requested full funding of the School Board's Budget. Lack of funding will require higher class size and fewer teachers. The City would be going backwards and not moving forward. City Council takes great pride in the City and has bragging rights up and down the East Coast about their excellent School system. Jimmy Frost, 2240 Windom Place, Phone: 343-6768. Mr. Frost stated the City could spend all of the money on the Schools and there would be those that claim the City is not spending enough. Many teachers say that the money the Schools receive seems to never make it to their classroom. The City is on a spending rampage, not a spending spree. Mr. Frost will never support one penny more in a tax increase until the City gets their spending under control. Adrian Hayes, 2240 Selwood Drive, Phone: 474-2246, is a lifelong resident of the City and a teacher and loves her job. Ms. Hayes feels her work makes a real difference in the world. She hears how the City really cares, values the School system, promises to do everything possible to find the funding but is not hearing a real plan for making things happen. Instead, she hears excuses and blame shifting. When the City really wants to find money for a project, it does; when the City really cares about the outcome, the investment is made. Ms. Hayes' job is to be a teacher and City Council's job is to provide the Schools the April 18, 2012 -6- funding for her to do her job well. Please fully fund the Schools' budget as no other outcome is acceptable. Steven Kent, 2932 Adam Keeling Road, Phone: 481-3347, requested full funding for the Schools. There are a lot of fights and the Schools need more security personnel. Custodial positions are needed to keep the schools from falling apart. Andy Baan, 2711 Poinciama Drive, Phone: 708-5229, requested the City treat the Budget the way he does in his household. Citizens need more facts. The City should prioritize their spending and then cut out the bottom priorities. It has been stated, service reduction reduces the quality of life and Mr. Baan feels that a tax increase will do the same. Waverly Woods, 2453 Haversham Close, Phone: 749-8266, is the Chapter Chairman of the Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads TeaParty. Ms. Woods stated the last thing the City needs is a job killing real estate tax increase in this struggling economic recovery. What the City needs is for City Council to live within its means. The average family income is less than it was two (2) years ago. Over 30% of students are on free or reduced lunch program. Citizens on food stamps are up 61 %. City Council is in a better position to avoid a tax increase than citizens are to pay the higher tax rate. Bob Fizgerald, 3909 Meeting House Road, Phone: 286-5781, requested the City Council support the Schools and provide full funding. Mr. Fitzgerald does not necessarily want to pay a higher tax rate. Private-Public partnerships have worked well and he encourages those type of partnerships be investigated a little more. Glenn E. Morrill, 1025 Emporia Avenue, Phone: 718-1083. Mr. Morrill stated while great schools costs money, it also is an economic driver for the City. Mr. Morrill requested City Council support the Schools and provide full funding. There being no further speakers, Mayor Sessoms CLOSED THE PUBIC HEARING. April 18, 2012 -~- ADJOURNMENT Mayor William D. Sessoms DECLARED the City Council Meeting ADJOURNED at 7:03 P.M. ~~~ Amanda Finley-Barnes, CMC Deputy City Clerk ------------ ------11-a't"`J uth Hodges Fraser, MMC William D. Sessoms, Jr. City Clerk Mayor City of Virginia Beach Virginia April 18, 2012 -~- ADJOURNMENT Mayor William D. Sessoms DECLARED the City Council Meeting ADJOURNED at 7:03 P.M. -~~' ~GYV-.~.b anda Finley-Barnes, CMC Deputy City Clerk ~~~u.c`~ ----- -------------- Ruth Hodges Fraser, MMC City Clerk City of Virginia Beach Virginia William D. Sessoms, Jr. Mayor April 18, 2012