Council Connection - For the meeting on Nov. 18, 2020

A summary of the proceedings for the Morgantown City Council meeting on Nov. 18, 2020.

View the Meeting Agenda and Packet.
Watch the City Council Meeting.

NOTE: This meeting was held remotely by Cisco WebEx video-conference to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Correspondence:

CELEBRATING SMALL BUSINESSES:

Mayor Ron Dulaney Jr. proclaimed Nov. 28, 2020 as Small Business Saturday in the City of Morgantown. This proclamation encourages citizens to shop at small businesses on Small Business Saturday as well as year round.

RECOGNIZING MAPPING TECHNOLOGY:

Mayor Ron Dulaney Jr. presented the GIS Day Proclamation to City of Morgantown GIS Analyst Marvin Davis and proclaimed Nov. 13, 2020 as GIS Day in the City of Morgantown. This proclamation encourages citizens to recognize and value mapping technology.

Action Items:

BOARD AND COMMISSION NOMINATIONS:

Kim Kelly was nominated and appointed as a member of the Health and Wellness Commission.

Patrick Kirby was nominated and appointed as a member of the Land Reuse and Preservation Agency.

FORMALLY ADOPTIONG CHANGES TO THE WARD BOUNDARIES:

At the recommendation of the Ward and Boundary Commission, and per the city charter, this ordinance would amend Article 103 by updating the text in the Article to match the recent changes to the Ward Boundaries. The changes were approved by the Ward and Boundary Commission during its Sept. 10, 2020 public meeting and were approved by Morgantown City Council at its Oct. 6 public meeting.
First reading Nov. 4, 2020. Passed 7-0.

INVESTING IN FUTURE DEVELOPMENT ON RICHWOOD AVENUE:

This joint collaboration agreement between the Monongalia County Development Authority, the City of Morgantown, the Monongalia County Commission and West Virginia University would authorize the city to use $60,000 of funds from the Wiley, Spruce, Brockway TIF District each year over the next three years to assist in the future redevelopment of 9.5 acres of property located in the Woodburn area of the city. First reading. Passed 7-0.

ASSISTING LOW INCOME AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS:

This resolution would update the city's annual action plan to reflect the allocation of additional Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funds. The city received $458,576 in CDBG-CV funds via the CARES Act. The funds are used to assist programs that service low income and underserved populations that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will be allocated to the United Way Rent & Utility Assistance Program ($200,000); the Food Pantry Assistance Program ($200,000); and Meals on Wheels ($55,000). The remaining funds ($3,576) will be used to cover administrative costs of the city. First reading. Passed 7-0.

AUTHROIZING NEW SIGNATORIES FOR FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS:

This administrative resolution would add Interim and Assistant City Manager Emily Muzzarelli as a signatory for financial and business transactions for the city. First reading. Passed 7-0.

CONTINUING IMPROVEMENTS TO WALNUT STREET LANDING:

This resolution would allow the city to submit a grant application for $100,000 to the West Virginia Development Office for a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. The funds would be used to help construct a kayak rental facility at the Walnut Street Landing. First reading. Passed 7-0.

City Manager's Report:

DISCUSSION OF THE UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR:

The Interim City Manager presented council with a proposed budget calendar for the upcoming year. In a change from years past, considerations have been made to allow for council to provide input prior to starting the budgeting process and an emphasis has been put into transparency, council involvement, and fiscal stability as we head into the budgeting season for FY 2022.