WILLIAMSBURG — The City of Williamsburg held its monthly city council meeting on March 11 at 2 p.m. in the Stryker Center.
On the agenda were two public hearings:
The first public hearing was PCR#22-002 a request of Williamsburg Area Transit Authority (WATA) for a Special Use Permit to operate and Expand the Public Transportation and Maintenance Facility at 7239 Pocahontas Trail.
The conceptual plans for the expansion include new areas for Administration, Operations, and Maintenance. The city planning commission held a public hearing on Feb. 16, 2022, where it voted to recommend approval to the city council by a vote of 6-0.
City Council voted unanimously, 5-0, to approve the request. The next step in the process would be for the applicant to complete and submit a site plan application.
The second public hearing was for consideration and approval of Resolution #22-04- Budget Amendment for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2022.
One of the notable transfers of funds involved American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for a city knuckle boom truck.
“We’re requesting that the purchase be made in FY22 rather than FY23,” said Finance Director Barbara Dameron while presenting at the public hearing. “As you’re aware it has been difficult finding vehicles to purchase recently due to supply and demand. We’re aware that there is currently a knuckle boom truck available and believe that it would be wise given the time limitation on ARPA funding to go ahead and make that purchase while the knuckle boom truck is available.”
Dameron made it clear to the city council that this is not an additional appropriation of funds, but rather, it is a transfer of funds from the One Williamsburg project to the knuckle boom truck purchase in FY22. The amount of transferred funds for the purchase is $200,000.
City Council voted unanimously, in a 5-0 vote, to approve Resolution #22-04 to amend the budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.
The New Business listed on the agenda included 4 items.
The first was for the consideration and approval of resolution #22-05 which authorizes the city manager to proceed with a pay and compensation plan for police and fire department employees.
The move is to help the city improve public safety recruitment and retention efforts.
Part of those efforts is to make the salary more competitive when compared to other localities in the region and the ultimate goal is to fill vacancies in both the fire department and the police department.
There are seven vacancies in the fire department and five in the police department.
City Council voted 5-0 to approve the resolution for the City Manager to implement the payment plan which will go into effect April 1, 2022.
After that item, the City Council then voted, 5-0, to Amend and Restate Section 2-34 of Article II, Chapter 2 of the Williamsburg City Code in order to increase the number of meetings per calendar year in which electronic participation by members is allowed.
The third new business agenda item was for the consideration and award of bid for demolition of buildings at 942-950 Capitol Landing Road.
The staff recommended that the city council award the bid and authorize the city manager to execute a contract for the demolition of buildings at 942-950 Capitol Landing Road with C.M. Munden Construction.
According to the agenda item summary, “In 2017, the City purchased the property located at 942 through 950 Capitol Landing Road, which was the site of the Williamsburg DMV and a small shopping center. This was purchased as part of the City’s economic development efforts in the Capitol Landing Road corridor. The 1.3 acre parcel contained 7,200 SF shopping center building and the 4,400 SF DMV office originally constructed in 1974 & 1975. Demolition of the structures was determined to be the best option for redevelopment.”
There were a total of 11 bids received for the contract.
City Council voted unanimously in favor, 5-0, to award the bid and to authorize the city manager to execute a contract for demolition 942-950 Capitol Landing Road with C.M. Munden Construction for $108,525.00.
The last new business item was “Consideration and Award of Bid for 2021 SGR Street Resurfacing; Jamestown Road & S. Henry Street.”
According to the agenda item summary, “Virginia Code Section 33.2-369 provides funding for paving improvement projects on primary roads under the State of Good Repair (SGR) Program. Under this program, the City was awarded funding in FY21 for resurfacing Jamestown Road (SR31) from Lake Matoaka to Route 199 and two segments of South Henry Street (SR 132) from Francis Street to Route 199. This funding was delayed due to COVID-19 and a transition to a federal aid program.”
City staff prepared bid packages and, after receiving federal authorization to advertise, the 2021 SGR resurfacing program was let in January 2022.
Three bids were received: Allan Myers VA, Inc., Branscome, Inc., and Lee Hy Paving Corporation.
Lee Hy Paving Corp. had the low bid of $699,820.40
The City Council voted 5-0 to pass resolution 21-04 accepting FY21 State of Good Repair Paving Funds from VDOT.
The next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for April 14.
More information on the agenda items can be found on the City of Williamsburg Civic website.
