City Council will meet Tuesday, Jan. 3, in a business session at 7 p.m., followed by a work session. Both sessions are open to the public.
The business session will be held in the Council Chambers on the fourth floor of the Municipal Building, which is located at 427 Patton St.
The work session will be held on the same floor, but across the hall in the Council Conference Room. In work sessions, Council reviews non-routine matters that will be voted upon in future business meetings.
During the business session, City Council will vote on on a budget amendment to utilize $5.4 million in bond proceeds for various projects, including nearly $2.2 million for Public Schools.
In addition to the schools, the bonds will be used for general government projects as follows:
- $500,000 for the next phase of reconstruction of Riverside Drive,
- $468,000 for roof replacements,
- $440,677 for airport improvements,
- $440,677 for airport improvements,
- $335,000 to purchase voting machines,
- $275,000 for elevator upgrades in city buildings,
- $275,000 for heating and air conditioning upgrades in city buildings,
- $266,000 for parks paving and recreation facilities improvements,
- $200,000 for fire equipment,
- $75,000 to purchase a crime scene vehicle,
- $33,000 for the regional fire training center.
City Council also is scheduled to vote on whether to test a hybrid fee model that would waive transaction fees when customers pay their utility bills online by credit cards and debit cards. Fees for echeck payments would drop from $2 to $1 per transaction under this model.
If adopted, a one-year trial of the model would begin July 1. During the trial, the City would absorb the cost of the fees.
Currently, customers using credit cards and debit cards to pay their utility bills online pay a $3.75 fee for transactions up to $500. That fee goes to Paymentus Corp., which processes the transactions.
The agenda also includes five other matters:
- A request to rezone property on Colquhoun Street adjacent to the W.W. Moore Detention Center. The rezoning would allow the property to be consolidated with the juvenile detention facility. The Planning Commission has voted unanimously to recommend approval. A public hearing will be held prior to the vote.
- A resolution to transfer ownership of a City-owned lot located between Lynn and Craghead streets to the Industrial Development Authority. The lot was used by Durham Hosiery. The IDA owns the adjacent properties and is planning to develop a parking lot to serve the private development taking place on the 500-600 blocks of Craghead Street. This parcel intersects the proposed parking lot and is needed to provide an entrance into the lot from Craghead Street. A public hearing will be held prior to the vote.
- An appointment to the Industrial Development Authority to fill an unexpired term. John Laramore is being considered for the appointment.
- A first reading on a budget amendment to provide for receipt of a grant in the amount of $10,091 to promote recycling and to provide materials and supplies for educational programs and litter collection. 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 the budget amendment Tuesday. The earliest vote that can take place will be the Jan. 17 City Council meeting.
- A first reading on a budget amendment to provide for receipt of $3.2 million in federal and state funding to rehabilitate a taxiway that provides access to the primary runway at Danville Regional Airport.
For the work session, the agenda includes the following items:
- Presentation by the Danville Science Center of its master plan for the center’s future.
- Discussion of resolution reaffirming the City’s obligation to back a loan for the purchase and up fit of the former Dimon building at 512 Bridge St. The original mortgage carries a five-year fixed interest term that now is due for renewal.
- Discussion of a resolution authorizing a second phase of the Pine Street storm drainage project. The project will improve the existing inadequate system, which is causing flooding behind and under the houses on the south side of the street. Danville Redevelopment Housing Authority owns the majority of the homes on Pine Street that are affected. The second phase will use federal money to safeguard the investment and rehabilitation of the homes on this street and the quality of life for its current and future residents.
- Discussion of focus areas from the City Council retreat held in October.
- Closed meeting as allowed by state law to discuss a prospective business or industry and to discuss acquisition of real property or disposition of publicly held real property.
River City TV, the city’s government access channel, will air the business session. Watch it live on cable (Comcast channel 10 and Gamewood channel 122) or streaming on the River City TV Facebook page and the city's YouTube channel — DanvilleVaGov.
River City TV does not air work sessions, but they are open to the public.
