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Minutes of the August 14, 2007 Work Session
Minutes of the August 14, 2007 Work Session
2400 Washington Avenue
2:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Madeline McMillan; Joseph C.Whitaker; Charles C. Allen; Herbert H. Bateman, Jr.; Joe S. Frank; and William F. Haskins ------- 6
OTHERS PRESENT: Randy W. Hildebrandt; Stuart E. Katz; Mabel V. Washington; William Mitchell; Alan Archer; Neil Morgan; Butch Blanks; Allen Jackson; Richard Caplan; Sheila McAllister; Al Riutort; Florence Kingston; James Fox; Freddie Simmons; Maria Perkins; Cherry Croushore; Doug Winstead; Chris Morello; Everett Skipper; LaVerne Lovett; Tonya O’Connell; Kandy Kornsby; Philip Hatchett; Iza Ciesynski; Cathy Matthews; Michael King; Chuck Hall; Patty Gilbertson; Arva Davidson; Gloria Morgan; Tony Saltis; Rhonda Sturgis; Sabine Hirschauer; Lottie Vincent; Cleder Jones; Kim Lee; and Jennifer D. Walker
Mr. Randy W. Hildebrandt, City Manager, announced the appointment of Mr. Gregg Jones, Director, Budget & Evaluation, as the Acting Assistant City Manager, effective August 15, 2007. He stated Mr. Jones would fulfill the role as Assistant City Manager and continue to provide leadership and oversight in the Budget office until the recruitment process was finalized for a permanent replacement.
City Manager Hildebrandt sadly informed that Mr. Leonard Carter, a City employee, was shot and killed on the afternoon of August 13, 2007 at the entrance to a convenience store at 36th Street and Wickham Avenue. Mr. Carter was an Assistant Recreation Center Supervisor for the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism in the School Age Program for more than five years. It appeared the shooting was random. He reported that the City would provide grief counselors from Newport News Public Schools and the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board at the center where Mr. Carter worked. City Manager Hildebrandt stated Mr. Carter’s death was a loss, not only to his family, but to the City and the young people who participated in the School Age Program.
I. “Communities That Care” Progress Report
City Manager Hildebrandt introduced Mr. Alan Archer, Assistant City Manager, to give a progress report on the “Communities That Care” initiative.
Assistant City Manager Archer reminded of the February 2007 presentation on the “Communities That Care” initiative. The Communities That Care initiative was a specific outgrowth of the Keeping Our Kids Safe Violence Prevention Network. He reported that the Keeping Our Kids Safe Violence Prevention Network established, as one of their strategic goals, to increase the capacity of neighborhoods where adults provided positive support, demonstrated caring attitudes and became actively involved in the lives of young people. Since February 2007, the Newport News Community Services Board and Alternatives, Inc. had worked collaboratively to implement the “Communities That Care” initiative. One of the specific items asked by City Council in February 2007 was that Communities That Care report back to City Council with an update of their progress to-date. He introduced Mr. Freddie Simmons, Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board, and Maria Perkins, Alternatives, Inc., to provide a brief update of the Communities That Care program.
Mr. Simmons stated the goal of the Communities That Care initiative was to engage community citizens in the process of training and education to develop strategies that improve the fabric and outcome of young people. The Initiative was a nationally modeled program from the Centers of Substance Abuse Prevention and the Substance Abuse Mental Health & Services Administration. He introduced Ms. Maria Perkins, Alternatives, Inc., to give an overview of the Initiative’s accomplishments.
Ms. Perkins stated it was important that citizens recognized their roles within this Initiative by taking ownership and becoming involved and engaged in a meaningful way. She reported she had helped to facilitate and coordinate the process, within the community, over the past couple of months. The initiative’s primary focus group was in the Denbigh area of Newport News bounded by Courthouse Green and Curtis Tignor Road. Dr. Asby Kilgore, Superintendent of Newport News Public Schools, granted Communities That Care permission to conduct a youth survey, which would provide data specific to the community regarding young people’s behavior. Ms. Perkins reported the next steps of the Initiative was to attend the Courthouse Green Back-to-School event, Denbigh Days, and sponsor a fall breakfast meeting for key community leaders.
Ms. Perkins reported that they had discussed the initiative with individuals and groups, i.e. neighborhood watch groups, the Denbigh-Warwick Business Association, the Newport News Police Department, Council members McMillan and Scott, and School Superintendent Ashby Kilgore, in order to raise awareness and community support.
Mr. Simmons stated it took much time to develop a degree of credibility within neighborhoods and a level of trust for people to believe that the initiative was meaningful and part of a long-term solution. He stated plans were underway to sponsor a community leadership breakfast to gain key community leaders involved in the initiative. They were challenged by the size of the targeted area and were looking at the possibility of creating more than one community planning group, i.e. one unique to Courthouse Green and another unique to other specific housing and apartment communities. Mr. Simmons thanked Councilmember’s McMillan and Scott for providing excellent guidance in terms of the area they served.
Mr. Simmons pointed out, in addition to the Communities That Care initiative, the Community Services Board continued to support initiatives in the South East Community, i.e. National Night Out, Back to School events, etc.
Mayor Frank inquired what the Communities That Care initiative hoped to accomplish, how they planned to accomplish it and the timeframe needed to accomplish their goal. Mr. Simmons replied, in the next twelve months, they hoped to see a reduction in juvenile violence, and improvements in reducing truancy. He noted the primary target was juvenile violence, but there would be other outcomes associated with developing the social skills of young people. The process was that citizens, based on the surveys being conducted, would develop unique strategies. Each strategy that was implemented would have targeted outcomes based on information received from children and parents.
City Manager Hildebrandt explained this was an initiative that encouraged citizens to work together to find strategies that engaged positive activities for young people that diverted them from some of the negativity and violence that going on.
Councilman Haskins inquired about the schedule for mobilizing the groups of community citizens and what had been his contact with each group since February 2007. Mr. Simmons replied a list of key people to contact was received from Councilmember’s McMillan and Scott. He stated they had contacted parents of small children and retired citizens and their next challenge was to set up meetings with them. The last six months had been used to create readiness and the next six months a community board would be formed.
Councilman Haskins inquired when the schools were first contracted about the youth survey and what time frame was give for completion. Mr. Simmons replied he contacted the schools in January 2007 and asked that they have the survey completed by the beginning of the fall 2007 school year.
City Manager Hildebrandt referenced memo dated July 31, 2007 to City Council regarding the efforts being made with City and related City agencies about violence reduction efforts (copy of memo is attached and made a part of these minutes). He introduced Mr. Neil Morgan, Assistant City Manager, to report on the accomplishments since July 31, 2007.
Assistant City Manager Morgan reported the City had organized a group and established seven sub-groups based on what was understood to be logical subject areas to see what could be done in the short term in the area of youth violence. He reported the seven sub-groups were named as follows:
2) Legislative Actions – chaired by Dr. Rhonda Sturgis. This group would attempt to identify changes which could be proposed to the General Assembly the fall of 2007;
3) Best Practices - chaired by Dr. Rhonda Sturgis. This group would research actions that other communities had implemented with some success and advise whether they could be applicable to Newport News;
4) Public Information and Community Relations - chaired by Ms. Cleder Jones. This group would assist City Council and other Community leaders to develop and deliver messages to the community, as well as report on other community activities that might be underway to suppress violence. People to People appointed a working group on this particular topic;
5) Camera Technology - chaired by Assistant Police Chief. Dawn Barber. Newport News Public Schools and the Departments of Parks, Recreation and Tourism and Public Works had been involved in various camera technology efforts with the hope of bringing efforts together to establish common standards and pursue economies of scale in acquisition;
6) Information Sharing - chaired by South Precinct Captain Shepherd, Newport News Police Department. This group would find ways to more efficiently share knowledge among law enforcement, schools, Juvenile Services, and Court Services, which could create opportunities to identify suspects and/or intervene with individuals associating with suspects; and
7) Intervention - chaired by Dr. Rosanne Walters, Director, Office on Children, Youth and Families. This group would focus on and identify a small number of existing intervention programs that could assist in the short term, i.e. problems already in place that were working.
Assistant City Manager Morgan stated in addition to the seven sub-groups the Task Force would continue individual meetings and conversations. He stated the Task Force had met with the Daily Press Editorial Board, and held a press conference inconjunction with the Police Department. He stated the People to People working group met on a bi-weekly basis and the Task Force continued to press forward to see whether they could make a difference.
City Manager Hildebrandt stated juvenile crime was not only unique to Newport News. He referenced a television segment aired August 12, 2007, on CBS “60 Minutes,” television news magazine, which noted a prevailing culture among teenagers, wherein they refused to snitch on others. He stated as a community, it was difficult to get information from victims and witnesses of violent crimes. He introduced Police Chief James Fox to report of recent crimes in Newport News.
Police Chief Fox reported on two recent crimes that happened in the City - the fatal shooting of Mr. Leonard Carter, a City employee, at a convenience store at 36th and Wickham Avenue and a fatal shooting at Jefferson Avenue and Dresden Drive. He reported on the status of both investigations. He also reported on a ban of robberies throughout the City, wherein the investigation was soon to close with some federal indictments anticipated in coming weeks.
Councilman Haskins suggested that the City consolidate its resources and focus its funding on the Violence Reduction initiative as opposed to the Communities That Care initiative. He felt the City needed to prioritize its resources on what was most important.
City Manager Hildebrandt explained that the Communities That Care initiative was formed through a special grant that had to be used only for that initiative. The City included the Communities That Care initiative to see if the module could be used to help in the fight to eliminate violence and juvenile crime. There were no simple solutions and the City was tying all its resources together. Violence among young people was one of the most important issues that the City had to get a handle on in the short and long term.
Mayor Frank noted the editorial published in the August 14, 2007 edition of the Daily Press reporting that government could not do it all and that it took citizens to come together. (Copy of the editorial is attached and made a part of these minutes.) He stated he met with the Congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., several weeks ago, and emphasized juvenile crime was an issue that was moving around the country. He urged Congress to provide support to local government and law enforcement to help eliminate juvenile violence. Mayor Frank further advised that he wrote a follow-up letter to members of the Congressional delegation outlining the problems and asked for their involvement in fighting crime by providing more resources to local governments with a copy to members of City Council. He urged Council members to send follow-up letters to the Congressional delegation in support of efforts needed to help fight crime. Mayor Frank reiterated the importance of the federal government becoming involved in this matter, since they had the resources to help the City in this fight.
Councilman Haskins offered his time to attend and speak at community meetings of various civic groups to help in the initiative.
Mayor Frank suggested that City Council send letters to civic organizations, and church groups urging them to invite members of City Council and City staff to meetings to share the message about what the community could do to address juvenile violence. He felt City Council needed to be messengers.
City Manager Hildebrandt reported City staff had been working diligently and continuously to revise an ordinance that supported the desires of City Council as well as most of the taxi-cab industry. He introduced Mr. James Fox, Chief of Police, to report on the changes.
Chief Fox reported that the City had met with representatives of the taxi-cab industry and offered the following changes and explanations to the revised ordinance: (A copy of the draft ordinance is attached and made a part of these minutes.)
1) The definition of “passenger” was deleted and was incorporated into the definition of “taxicab.” The revised definition of “taxicab” allowed the taximeter rate to be paid by either the passenger or a third party. Other than acknowledging that a third party may pay the fare at the taximeter rate, the “taxicab” definition paralleled the State code.
2) Section 41-63 was revised by removing some of the criminal history restrictions of certificate holder applicants and adding a new subsection requiring certificate holders to provide adequate and efficient service as outlined in Section 41-131.
3) Section 41-71 was revised by adding that a ground for suspension or revocation of a certificate was due to failure to provide adequate and efficient service as outlined in Section 41-131.
4) Section 41-82 was revised by easing some of the criminal history restrictions, while requiring broader scrutiny of a taxicab driver’s past and present moving violations.
5) Section 41-131 was revised by outlining the requirements for adequate and efficient service. Taxicab “companies” must provide a radio, mobile telephone or other electronic dispatch service; maintain a business office and business records within the City; and provide 24-hour service. The re-write of this section was in response to Council’s desire to allow small companies to remain in business. By recognizing the existence of a taxicab association as a single “company” responsible for providing adequate and efficient service, individual certificate holders needed not satisfy that criteria if they were a member of such an association. Also, this section clarified that a taxicab may not be out-of-service for a period longer than 48 hours, unless authorized by the Chief of Police for good cause shown.
6) Section 41-133 was revised by clarifying that taxicabs could not park on a public street while awaiting employment, unless at an approved public taxicab stand.
7) Section 41-144 was strengthened by ensuring that taxis operating in Newport News were clean and well maintained.
Chief Fox recommended that City Council appoint an Advisory Group that would advise the Chief of Police on how to regulate the industry.
Mayor Frank felt that was a good approach which would help the City avoid getting involved in the regulation of taxicabs. He felt an Advisory Group would be a great way to go.
Mayor Frank inquired about technical matters in the ordinance and asked the City Attorney and staff to look at the ordinance for any inconsistencies, particularly as it related to Sections 41-82 and 41-88. He felt certain items were inconsistent.
Mayor Frank inquired why there was no mention of the requirement that a taxicab’s taxes, fees and insurance must be paid in Section 41-121, page 24. It seemed that should also be checked during the annual inspection of taxicabs.
Mayor Frank felt there were inconsistencies in Section 41-121 (e), page 24 and Section 41-144 (b), page 30, as it related to cleanliness of taxicabs. He felt these two sections needed to be consistent.
City Manager Hildebrandt stated staff would make the necessary changes and have the ordinance available for action by City Council at its Regular Meeting of September 11, 2007.
City Manager Hildebrandt introduced Mr. Philip Hatchett, Chairman, Board of Trustees – Pensions and Retirement (Retirement Board), to report on the
Mr. Hatchett reported that the recodification culminated a five-year effort, began in 2002, that was in the works with the Retirement Board, the City Attorney’s Office, the Department of Finance, the Department of Human Resources, the Department of Internal Audit and the City Manager’s Office. He explained the purpose of the recodification was to codify the method used by the Human Resources and Finance Departments to administer the retirement plan, provide clear language so that all employees and retirees could understand their rights and benefits, and to minimize certain inadequacies in benefits. However, the recodification did not extend or eliminate benefits to any vested or non-vested employees or retirees.
Mr. Hatchett explained that Newport News employees earned benefits of 2% of their salary for each year they served. The 2% for each year served exceeded the Virginia Retirement System. Employees of other municipalities and the State earned at the rate of 1.7% for each year served. The addition of the .3 of 1% meant, in the case of the Newport News Schools, the teachers and employees were members of the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) and the Newport News Retirement System. It was the Committee’s request that the Newport News teachers always receive their additional .3 supplement, but they did not want the recodification to encourage employees or teachers to leave the system. The Committee worked closely with Dr. Kilgore, the Newport News School System, and the School Board and believed the recodification was a first step in making sure the teachers and the school system were protected.
Mr. Hatchett reported the first draft of the recodification was submitted to the Benefits and Welfare Sub-committee for review and innumerable meetings. In 2006 the final version was prepared and the Retirement Board voted to send the version to outside Counsel, with the assistance of the City Attorney, for tax and legal ramifications, and to the City’s Actuary to ensure the City had complied with all areas of State and Federal laws. In 2007, the Newport News Retirement Board voted to approve the first edition of the recodification, subject to it going to the City Manager’s office and to the Superintendent of Schools. Mr. Hatchett recognized Assistant City Attorney Len Ringler, Retired; Bill Higgins; Ronnie Weston, Fireman and head of the sub-committee; Caroline Hurt, Director, Department of Human Services; Cathy Matthews, Director, Department of Internal Audit; and Susan Keyes, Administrative Assistant, Tonya O’Connell, Assistant Director, Kandy Hornsby, Benefits Administrator and LaVerne Lovett, Director, Department of Finance. He reported, for the FY 2006 – 2007, the City’s return on investments was $16.3%; for the last five fiscal years, ending in June 2007, the City had a 10.8% return; and for the last ten fiscal years, the City had a 9.9% return, although the City’s guidelines required an 8% annual return. He stated that the Newport News Retirement Fund, as ranked by the independent consultant cooperative universe, ranked in the 8th percentile out of 1900 funds. He urged City Council to vote favorably on the recodification of Chapter 31. He introduced Ms. LaVerne Lovett, Director, Department of Finance, to report on the details of the key changes and why the changes were made.
Ms. Lovett reported on the purpose of the recodification and emphasized the notable changes for City and School employees in the recodification process. (A copy of her presentation, “Recodification of Chapter 31 – Pensions & Retirement,” and the draft ordinance are attached and made a part of these minutes.)
Ms. Lovett reported the most significant changes being proposed were as follows:
1) Retirees’ survivor death benefit would be changed from the current prorated $3,300 benefit that decreased annually to a minimum of $550, to a fixed lump sum of $3,300;
2) The $3,300 lump sum death benefit would be eliminated for vested terminated-employees; these were employees who were vested in the City Retirement Program, but left the employment of the City prior to reaching retirement eligibility;
3) The lump sum death benefit payment to a surviving spouse could be transferred to a qualifying tax-deferred account under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC);
4) A Social Security disability award would no longer result in a change in the partial disability award under the City’s pension plan;
5) City Council appointed Retirement Board and Investment Committee members compensation would increase from $50 to $100 per month;
6) Vested-terminated members who were not receiving a retirement benefit, but were re-employed, would not have their retirement benefits recalculated as if they had been separated from City employment and reemployed. The retirement allowance for the two employment periods would be calculated and separately added together to determine the total retirement allowance;
7) School employees who were VRS members would no longer be eligible for a disability benefit under the City’s system;
8) The provision that now allowed a school VRS member to receive a 100% retirement benefit from the City when retiring before the age of 55 would be eliminated;
9) The reliance on the VRS average final salary (AFS), would be eliminated in the calculation of the City retirement benefits; and
10) Schools would no longer have the authority to determine eligibility for City retirement membership. This would instead be determined by an administrative policy approved by City Council. (More details associated with the recodification changes, “Proposed Substantive Changes to Chapter 31 Pensions and Retirement,” is attached and made a part of these minutes.)
Councilman Bateman inquired about the actuarial percentage that the City was using and the timeframe in which it was changed. Ms. Lovett replied the actuarial percentage was 8%, and noted it was changed in 2001 or 2002.
Councilman Bateman inquired when the City would be scrutinized to see whether the actuarial assumption had changed. Ms. Lovett replied the City went through a study every five years., with the last study conducted in 2001.
Mayor Frank inquired whether the City would have any liability exposure by not exceeding an evaluation by Social Security when the City designated a City employee to have a 40% permanent partial disability and Social Security designated that same employee with a 100% permanent partial disability. City Attorney Katz replied he would research the information and report back to City Council.
Mayor Frank inquired whether any thought had been given in prorating the five hours as a ratio to eight hours, in terms of calculating retirement benefits for part-time school employees. If school employees were working five hours and City employees were working eight for the same benefit that might not be equitable. He requested that the issue be looked into to see whether that was the right way to approach the matter. Ms. Lovett replied the issue did come up and the committee decided it was better to maintain the benefit as it was. She stated the committee would reassess the matter and report back to City Council.
Ms. Lovett explained the goal of the recodification was not to make major changes, but rather to update language, reorganize and eliminate outdated provisions. She asked for City Council’s approval of the ordinance at the September 11, 2007, Regular Meeting of City Council, with an effective date of October 1, 2007.
Mayor Frank inquired whether the recodification information had been distributed to School employees. He wanted the information to reach School personnel as soon as possible before the September 11, 2007, Regular Meeting of City Council so that they would have ample time to address the changes. Perhaps the ordinance could be deferred until the September 25, 2007 Regular Meeting if the information could not reach school employees in a timely manner,.
V. Fiscal Year 2008 Community Services Board Performance Contract
City Manager Hildebrandt introduced Mr. Chuck Hall, Executive Director, Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board, to provide a brief overview of the 2008 Performance Contract that City Council must act on before going to the State for approval and execution.
Mr. Hall reported that the Community Services Board (CSB) was required to submit a Performance Contract to the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS). He stated City Council was required to approve the Performance Contract annually by September 14 in order to draw down state funds. This was the ninth year that the Performance Contract between CSB and DMHMRSAS was required. (A copy of his presentation, “Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board,” and a copy of the “FY2008 Performance Contract,” are attached and made a part of these minutes.)
Mr. Hall stated the significant changes for fiscal year 2008 included: 1) Implementation of a Community-wide Geriatric Continuum of Care presently focused on Nursing Homes; 2) Reinvestment/Transformation – a monitored regional effort and the Hampton-Newport News CSB was the fiscal agent for the nine surrounding CSB’s in this region; 3) Implementation of a Transportation System for case managers; 4) Expansion of Therapeutic Day Services in the Hampton Schools; 5) Expansion of Juvenile Justice Services in Newport News and Hampton; and 6) Other significant changes.
Mr. Hall reported that the overall budget for CSB for FY 2008 was $64.6 million, which included state, federal, and local revenues, and fees and other revenues. The fee revenue for the overall CSB budget, including the regional efforts, was 52%, local revenue was 4%, state revenue was 37%, which included regional efforts, and federal revenue was 5%. The CSB was supported 65% by earned revenue that included Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, etc.
Mr. Hall concluded by stating the Performance Contract continued high quality community programs, increased reliance on earned revenue and productivity, introduced Geriatric Services, addressed employee compensation, and provided stewardship of public resources in providing effective and efficient services. The remaining unfunded needs were to provide additional consumer housing, expand Criminal Justice Services to individuals in the jail and City Farm, ramp up the Post Deployment Veterans Services, primary medical care for consumers; and expand internal corporate compliance. He asked for City Council’s approval of the FY 2008 Budget and Performance Contract.
Councilman Haskins inquired about the CSB’s benefits package for its employees. Mr. Hall replied all full-time employees of the CSB were enrolled in the CSB’s managed health plan and the Virginia Retirement System, could purchase life insurance at twice their annual salary and earned annual and sick leave. He noted CSB had constrained healthcare costs by providing incentives for employees to maintain a healthy life-style.
VI. Public Docking Space in Deep Creek Harbor
City Manager Hildebrandt stated the City-owned Pier at the end of Deep Creek Road had reached the point where its condition and structural integrity not only presented a safety hazard, but presented a considerable liability. In recognition of this situation, it was his intention to move forward with demolition of the Deep Creek Pier as quickly as possible. To facilitate this action he directed staff to take the necessary steps. He introduced Mr. Michael Poplawski to review the details of the demolition and the need for investment on the Menchville Marina waterside so that those being displaced from Deep Creek would have a relatively safe place to function in the near future.
Mr. Poplawski gave a short timeline of the Deep Creek Pier from its origin until its declining usage. He stated the following concerns and issues over the years regarding the Deep Creek Pier: 1) lack of land for parking; 2) lack of land for sanitation facilities; 3) trash/storage problems; 4) structural deterioration; 5) safety and liability; 6) declining usage; 7) nuisance to adjacent property owners; and 8) derelict and sunken watercraft. (A copy of his presentation, “Public Docking Space in Deep Creek Harbor,” is attached and made a part of these minutes.)
Mr. Poplawski provided cost comparisons for repair and renovation of the Deep Creek Pier and the Menchville Marina. He stated it was staff’s recommendation to demolish the Deep Creek Pier and remove pilings, etc. and repair/refurbish shoreline protection at the end of Menchville Road. Notification was underway to advise the public of the demolition of the Deep Creek Pier. He stated demolition should be complete by November 1, 2007 and shoreline stabilization would be complete by the spring 2008.
Councilman Bateman inquired about the potential for the owners of the restaurant and the James River Marina to expand once the Deep Creek Pier was demolished. Mr. Poplawski replied the owners of the James River Marina had indicated they might be interested in expanding onto the property; however, it was up to them to apply for the necessary expansion permits.
City Manager Hildebrandt stated there was an appropriation on the August 14, 2007 Regular Meeting agenda for an appropriation of $350,000 for demolition of the Deep Creek Pier and stabilization of the shoreline at Menchville Road. He explained that the funding was being taken from Parks, Recreation & Tourism’s budget (funds that had been allocated for other projects out of general parks improvements). He hoped to give the funding back when the City realized its FY 2007 surplus by asking that City Council appropriate funding back into parks improvements. There were projects that urgently needed improvements on the park side, but because of the demolition of the Deep Creek Pier, had been deferred.
Mayor Frank felt the City should conduct an economic study, before renewing the lease with owners of the James River Marina, to determine whether it was a market lease and whether the City received any fair value out of it. He understood the owners did a lot of things, and asked that staff take that into account as it looked at the matter. In addition, if the City was making a lot of waterfront assessable to non-citizen taxpayers he felt that needed to be looked at as a policy issue. Mayor Frank asked that the City evaluate and have an analysis prepared to understand whether the City was getting fair market value. City Manager Hildebrandt replied he would look into the matter, but felt what would come out of it would be a short term lease with the owners of the restaurant and the James River Marina that would offer the City the option to terminate should the City decide to take a different path and different development approach. He stated a short-term lease would allow Mr. Parote to continue with his operation.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS,
ON MOTION, COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 5:22 P.M.
