City Council voted Tuesday night to amend its regulations for mobile food vendors. The changes will allow operators of towed food trailers the same privileges as those provided for food trucks on city streets and public property.
When City Council adopted the current mobile food vendor regulations in December, it prohibited towed trailers from operating as vendors. The amended language adopted last night by City Council provides more clarity in the general definition and allows for any towed trailer that meets the guidelines as a mobile food vendor to operate in the specified areas.
City staff consulted with the Virginia Department of Health to ensure the changes would be consistent with state regulations. The suggested changes also reflect a limitation on the number of spaces a mobile food vendor can occupy.
In addition to changing the regulations for mobile food vendors, City Council voted Tuesday night to:
• adopt a resolution that will enable the Industrial Development Authority to obtain a six-month extension on repayment of bonds used to finance the purchase of the Schoolfield property formerly owned by Dan River Inc. The extension will allow the IDA time to explore refinancing options. The bonds were issued in 2013 for $7.16 million. They were set to mature on Oct. 1, with a balloon payment of nearly $6.3 million.
• adopt a resolution that acknowledges receipt and approval of the report of delinquent and improperly assessed taxes as of June 30.
• revise the City Code to reflect changes in state law that now require members of every governing body to file annually, instead of semi-annually, a disclosure statement of their personal interests and other information.
• amend the City’s budget to provide for receipt of a $25,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. The grant requires a local match of $25,000 and will be used to make repairs at 221 Jefferson Ave., which is located in the Old West End District.
• amend the City’s budget to provide for receipt of a federal grant for senior citizen programs.
• amend the City’s budget to provide for receipt of a $50,000 grant from the Virginia Housing Development Authority. The grant will be used to conduct further historical and structural investigations on two remaining properties in the Five Forks commercial area of the Old West End Historic District. The investigation was requested by the Commission on Architectural Review after an application to demolish the buildings was denied.
In addition to these votes, City Council held first readings on the following matters:
• amending the City’s budget to provide for receipt of a $25,000 grant from the Danville Regional Foundation. The grant will be used to plan well-connected and meaningful open spaces in the River District. Open spaces can be public plazas, alleyways, vacant lots or natural areas.
• amending the City’s budget to provide for receipt of a highway safety grant for $10,825. The grant will be used to pay for overtime personnel for enforcement at driving under the influence and license checkpoints and to purchase field breath testing units.
• amending the City’s budget to provide for receipt of a $21,605 grant from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. The grant will be used to purchase equipment and software for the fingerprinting and photographing of juveniles convicted or adjudicated delinquent of certain offenses. The system that is currently in use by the Danville Sheriff’s Office to fingerprint/photograph juveniles post adjudication is outdated, limited in its functionality and not capable of capturing photographs.
• amending the City’s budget to provide for receipt of a highway safety grant for $5,760. The grant will provide overtime pay for police officers for the enforcement of safety belt and child safety seat violations.
• amending the City’s budget to provide for receipt of a highway safety grant for $10,939. The grant will provide overtime pay for police officers for the enforcement of speeding ordinances and for a radar & Lidar equipment purchase.
• amending the City’s budget to provide for receipt of U.S. Department of Agriculture funds to offset food service operation cots at W.W. Moore Jr. Detention Home. It is projected the City will receive $45,333. The amount of funds received may be more or less depending on changes in the daily population.
A first reading is an introductory step required by City code before certain matters can be voted upon by City Council. This step serves to provide public notice of pending action. Council cannot vote on this matter Tuesday. The earliest vote that can take place will be the Oct. 4 City Council meeting.
Council's meeting included a business session followed by a work session. In work sessions, Council reviews non-routine matters that will be voted upon in future business meetings. In Tuesday’s work session, City Council reviewed four items:
• financial statements through Aug. 31.
• an amendment to the City’s budget to provide for receipt of nearly $1.2 million from the Virginia Department of Transportation for installation of a storm water drainage system on Patton Street, street and sidewalk improvements on Craghead Street, and street improvements on Lockett Drive and Beech Avenue.
• an amendment to the City’s budget to provide for receipt of $450,000 from the Virginia Department of Transportation for resurfacing of South Boston Road.
• an amendment to the City’s budget to provide for receipt of $45,000 from the Virginia Department of Transportation for installation of flashing left turn arrows at high accident intersections.
River City TV airs live all Council business sessions. The first rebroadcast will be at 8 p.m. Thursday. Watch it on cable (Comcast channel 10 and Gamewood channel 122). The taped broadcast is available now on the City’s YouTube channel -- DanvilleVAGov.
River City TV does not air work sessions, but they are open to the public.