City Council Holds Public Hearings on Budget Amendments

Fredericksburg City Council will hold public hearings on two proposed budget amendments during the Tuesday, Nov. 27, meeting at City Hall.

Resolution 12-96, first read at the November 13 meeting, seeks to amend "the fiscal year 2013 budget by appropriating $6,792,902 in general and school capital, grant, and operating fund balance for various school purposes." 

During the last meeting, the discussion focused on using the money to enable Fredericksburg City Public Schools to construct an addition to Hugh Mercer Elementary School.  The expansion is estimated to cost $2.5 million, with the schools funding $1.1 million and $1.4 million coming from the city's reserves.

The Hugh Mercer expansion project was originally scheduled for 2016, but Superintendent Dr. David Melton notified City Council the project needs to be completed during the summer of 2013.  Enrollment at Hugh Mercer is above capacity.  The school was built for a maximum of 825 students, but there are currently 885 students enrolled.

Enrollment is expected to increase to 927 by 2017, according to a recent school board presentation.

The second resolution seeks to, "Amending the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget by Appropriating $1,740,600 in the Transit Fund for the Maintenance Facility Project."

During the work session, which begins at 5:30 p.m. in the conference room, council members will have a follow-up discussion on the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). 

The city's overhaul of zoning and development regulations is aimed at making the rules easier to understand, the process more efficient and the language more consistent.

The regular session begins at 7:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers. Both sessions are open to the public.

The complete regular session agenda, distributed by Tonya Lacey, Clerk of Council, follows.

November 27, 2012

7:30 p.m.

Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Presiding  

1.    Call to Order  

2.    Invocation Vice-Mayor Bradford C. Ellis

3.    Pledge of Allegiance

4.    Presentation  

A. Presentation on Archeological Findings of Courthouse Site, Cultural Resources Inc.

5.    Comments from the Public

City Council provides this opportunity each regular meeting for comments from citizens who have signed up to speak before the start of the meeting.  To be fair to everyone, please observe the five-minute time limit and yield the floor when the Clerk of Council indicates that your time has expired.  Decorum in the Council Chambers will be maintained.  Comments that are not relevant to City business and disruptive are inappropriate and out of order.

6.    Public Hearings

A. Resolution 12-96, Second Read, Amending the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget by Appropriating $6,792,902 in General and School Capital, Grant, and Operating Fund Balance for Various School Purposes

B. Resolution 12-__,  First Read, Amending the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget by Appropriating $1,740,600 in the Transit Fund for the Maintenance Facility Project

7.    Council Agenda

8.    Consent Agenda

A. Ordinance 12-28, Second Read, Renewing a Lease With the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center for the Use of the Former Maury School Building Gymnasium

B. Ordinance 12-29, Second Read, Requiring the Abatement of “Drug Blight,” and Providing a Definition Thereof, by Amending City Code Chapter 59, “Nuisances,” Article I §59-1, “Definitions,” and Adding a New Article III, “Removing, Repair, Etc., of Buildings and Other Structures Harboring Illegal Drug Use”

C. Transmittal of the Community Development Block Grant Quarterly Report

D. Memo Transmitting the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)

E. Transmittal of Boards and Commission Minutes

-Planning Commission – October 10, 2012

  9.    Council Minutes

A. Work Session – October 9, 2012

B. Public Hearing – November 13, 2012

C. Regular Session – November 13, 2012

10. Boards and Commission

A. Appointment to the Rappahannock Area Alcohol Safety Action Program – Andrew Cornick.

B. Reappointments to the Architectural Review Board – Susan Pates, James Scully.

 11. City Manager Agenda

A. Resolution 12-__, Awarding Contract for Design Services for Riverfront Park

B. Resolution 12-__, City Council Legislative Agenda for 2013 General Assembly

C. City Manager Report  

D. Calendar

12. Adjournment

Related Stories:

City Council to Discuss Unified Development Ordinance

Fredericksburg Revamping Development Regulations

Lack of Interest In Major Overhaul of Development Regulations

City Council to Consider Money for Hugh Mercer Addition

Riverfront Park's Future: What's The Best Next Step?

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