Highlight of the Month

City Council Recap

• Boxwood and Berry (417 West Duke of Gloucester St)
• Williamsburg Manor B&B (600 Richmond Road)
• Mrs. Elaine Schrivner
• Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Berryman
• College of William & Mary Gardens and Grounds Department
• Sterling Manor Apartments

• Finance Options for Fire Station and Police Station Projects: Jimmy Sanderson from Davenport briefed Council on a comprehensive overview of the City’s ability to absorb new debt service arising from anticipated Police/Fire station needs, which is projected to be at $13M. Mr. Sanderson provided Council with four options and recommended a public bond sale instead of a direct bank loan. Right now, the City maintains a “AAA” bond rating from S&P and “Aa1” from Moody’s. Our high bond ratings are likely to attract significant interest from underwriters and appropriate for long-term borrowing (20-25 years outlook). The competitive market forces that comes with public bond sales also are more likely to produce the lowest cost of funds compared to a direct bank loan. Council discussed our cash flow projections to sustain debt service payments. It is also worthy to note that interest is included in the debt service payments through FY2020 and leveled off afterwards. Your City Council gave the “green-light” to city staff and Davenport staff to begin compiling documents for a bond sale. Council is expected to hold a public hearing for its November regular meeting and approval of issuance of such bonds by ordinance. For the timeline or more details about the presentation, please click on the link above.
• Goals, Initiatives and Outcomes (GIOs) for the 2017-18 Biennium - Mid-Course Assessment: City Manager Marvin Collins reviewed progress made on the city’s biennial policy initiatives following our mid-year retreat last month. Please do note that his presentation did not include Council’s prioritization on the remaining policy initiatives. Please view the updated GIOs document for more information.
• Downtown Parking Study - Implementation Update: Assistant city manager Andrew Trivette briefed Council on a multi-year implementation plan based on the downtown parking study done in 2016. For the first year, the City plans to replace equipment for our parking enforcement officers and install sensors to track parking. The city parking enforcement officers currently use chalking to take note on a car’s duration of stay. Over the next few years, Council will consider by ordinance whether to implement paid parking for its on-street spots in the downtown area. I expressed skepticism and concern of the unintended consequences for implementing a paid parking. Nevertheless, given that this is a few years ahead, I will remain open to any further discussion along the way.
• Draft 2018 Legislative Agenda: Andrew Trivette, assistant City Manager, briefed on the annual legislative agenda process. Localities each year develop legislative agendas for their delegations (Delegates, State Senators) to pursue during the General Assembly sessions. Staff is beginning to develop this year’s agenda items, which will include meetings with stakeholders. Please view the memo for the timeline and process.

• Midtown Row SUP (unanimous) There was a near unanimous consensus that redevelopment had to have happen. The final design will be determined by the Architectural Review Board, which has yet to schedule its meeting. Please visit their website to receive updated public notices. I will also post about the meeting on my Facebook page once it is released. As for the proposal, here's why I voted for it:

1. The grid-design infuses new streets with "complete streets" within the development and on Monticello Ave. The City has invested $4M to widen sidewalks to make safer for walking. Bike lanes will be added as well. It is also expected to have WATA bus shelters as well. This fills gaps in pedestrian/bike/traffic needs in the area over the past few years.
2. The density accommodates the residential component, which I believe is attractive to young professionals and students. The only question that remains to be seen is whether young professionals and students are willing to co-exist in the same building.
3. Existing businesses (Food Lion, Ace Hardware, Sal's, Marshall's, etc.) are expected to remain in the Shopping Center area. There is a misperception that this proposal would expand commercial space. Not true. The whole redevelopment actually reduces the overall retail and keeps in line with the open space requirement.

• FY17 School Year-End Spending Plan (unanimous) Per contract and based on the Code of Virginia, any surplus funds from the local school system is returned back to the localities (City & James City County). Council authorized ~$61,000 back to the school system in accordance to the School Board’s spending plan.
• Tourism Zone Expansion: (unanimous) Colonial Williamsburg Foundation requested Council to expand its existing Tourism Zone map to include a museum support site adjacent to the zone’s boundaries. As you may remember, tourism zones are a state tax incentive to encourage new and existing businesses to grow and locate to the area. Council last year designated the Williamsburg Tourism Zone in our Northeast Triangle planning area, which will serve as our Culinary Arts and Hospitality District. After the Midtown Row vote, I expect city staff to shift its focus to the Northeast Triangle planning area to fulfill this particular city policy initiative.
• GO Virginia Support Resolution: (unanimous) City Council authorized the City Manager to provide a letter of support to a GO Virginia application for a phased-in development of an Unmanned Systems Testing and Demonstrations Center on 432 acres of property owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia located in York County. Staff determined that this exciting technological proposal would be a boon for the Greater Williamsburg area. Please do note that there may be a future financial contribution from the city. Please see the memo for more details.
• Supplemental Appropriations for General Fund and Sales Tax Fund(unanimous) Good news! The City received money. By statute, City Council must adopt a resolution reflecting amendments to its annual budget. $23,027 was added to the General Fund and $10,570 was added to the Sales Tax Fund. Many thanks to Girl Scouts Troop 1295, Williamsburg Health Foundation, and the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation for grants to the city. Also, the city received a federal police grant that is reflected in the amend to the General Fund. For more information on what the grants were used for, please see the memo hyperlinked in the title.
• Post closed session - Authorization for City Manager to provide economic development incentive to Mellow Mushroom (unanimous) Council approved the city’s Economic Development Authority's (EDA) request to award a $150,000 no-net-loss performance based incentive grant to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation to construct an outdoor dining venue for Mellow Mushroom at 110 South Henry Street (the Henry Street Shops). The EDA will award the incentive grant in amounts equal to a percentage of the local sales and meals tax paid by the customers of Mellow Mushroom during its first three years of operation. The ROI to the City for the first three years of the restaurant’s operation is estimated at more than $470,000.

• Missed the City Council meetings? They are now streamed via Facebook Live.
• Pay a bill? https://egov.williamsburgva.gov/
• See how the City is doing? https://performance.williamsburgva.gov/...
• Have a comment? http://speakupwilliamsburg.com/

• Photo - City of Williamsburg
• Summaries of City memos may be viewed in-depth here: http://bit.ly/29WGEKK

Benny in the News

• "City sees 300-year-old road as path to economic future" (Wydaily.com)

• "City Council unanimously approves redevelopment of Williamsburg Shopping Center" (Wydaily.com) 

• "Real Estate Foundation, Hillel Propose Designs for Building of Shenkman Jewish Center" (The Flat Hat)

• "Reiss: Colonial Williamsburg fence is still an option" (The Virginia Gazette)

• "Colonial Williamsburg's relationship with city becomes strained" (The Virginia Gazette)