City Council will meet Tuesday, June 5, in a business session and two work sessions. All three sessions are open to the public.
Council's meeting will begin with a special work session at 5:30 p.m. to continue developing a budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1 and continues through June 30, 2019.
The regular business session will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a second work session.
The business session will be held in the Council Chambers on the fourth floor of the Municipal Building, which is located at 427 Patton Street. Both work sessions will be held on the same floor, but across the hall in the Council Conference Room.
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.
River City TV does not air work sessions, but they are open to the public.
In March, City Manager Ken Larking submitted to City Council a proposed budget that maintains basic city services and programs, addresses budget challenges, and invests additional money in crime reduction initiatives, public schools and projects designed to grow Danville.
To help pay for these costs, Larking proposed a one percentage-point increase in the meals tax from 6 percent to 7 percent. No changes were proposed in the real estate and personal property tax rates. In addition, no changes are proposed in base rates for utilities.
Since the proposal was presented, City Council has met in a series of work sessions to review the budget. During those sessions, City Council has strived to enhance retirement benefits for public safety employees and balance the budget without an increase in the meals tax. Among other cuts, City Council has agreed to reduce spending for blight eradication by $300,000.
As it stands, the changes would still require a 0.5 percentage point increase in meals tax, but in the special budget work session on Tuesday, Council will deliberate further on balancing the budget.
In the business session, a vote is scheduled on the proposed meals tax increase, but that could change depending on what takes place earlier in the special budget work session.
Also during the business session, public hearings will be held on the proposed city government and Danville Public Schools budgets for the next fiscal year. City Council will note vote on the budgets, however, until its June 19 meeting at the earliest.
Votes are scheduled Tuesday on the following matters:
- allowing Danville Public Schools to carry forward additional unexpended money from the current school year to the next school year.
- revising rental rates for T-hangars and corporate hangars at Danville Regional Airport.
- increasing building inspection fees and adjusting fees to accommodate the acceptance of credit cards for payment.
- appropriating $1.3 million for a feasibility study and construction of a track facility to be used by Danville Public Schools and Averett University, and to promote AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) track meets.
- amending the budget to provide for receipt and appropriation of a grant to replace the gate access and camera surveillance systems at Danville Regional Airport.
- adopting a resolution to request the Virginia Department of Transportation to rename a portion of the US58/29 Bypass as “Wendell O. Scott Sr. Memorial Highway.”
- conveying a lot located between Newton and 600 Lynn St. to the Industrial Development Authority. A public hearing will precede the vote.
- submitting an annual housing and urban development action plan. A public hearing will precede the vote.
- granting a special use permit to construct a commercial communication tower and antenna at 300 Goode St. A public hearing will precede the vote.
- amending the zoning code to allow for communication towers within transitional office zones. A public hearing will precede the vote.
- granting a special use permit to allow a barber school at 101 Franklin Turnpike. A public hearing will precede the vote.
- granting a special use permit to allow a ballroom/dance hall or event center for weddings, parties or special events at 1340 West Main St. A public hearing will precede the vote.
- amending the personnel system to adopt proposed changes in job descriptions, salary ranges and title changes.
In addition to these votes, City Council will hold a first reading on four matters:
- appropriation of economic development incentive grants secured for Kyocera SGS Precision Tool, Overfinch North America and Engineered BioPharmaceuticals.
- acceptance of a state grant for the Commonwealth Attorney’s office to be used to fund the salary of an attorney or victim’s advocate to work in the Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court dealing with victims of domestic violence.
- acceptance of $173,611 in state and federal money for the continuation of the victim witness assistance program operated through the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office.
- appropriation of a grant from the Danville Regional Foundation for an Eagle Scout project at Dan Daniel Park.
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 June 19 City Council meeting.
During the second work session, City Council will discuss several items, including a lease agreement with Norfolk Southern that would allow the City to landscape a portion of Norfolk Southern’s property on Craghead Street across the Danville Science Center.
