MINUTES REGULAR: MEETING September 10,2024  Council fort the City of Covington helda a regular meeting on Tuesday, September 10, 2024: at 6:30 p.m. int the Council Chambers ofCity Halll located at 333 W.Locust Street, Covington, Virginia. Mayor Thomas H. Sibold, Jr. called the meeting to order with the following members present: Mayor Sibold; Vicel Mayor) David S. Crosier; Councilman William (Lance) Carson, Jr.; Councilman Fred! F. Forbes; Councilman, Raymond C. Hunter. Also present were City Manager Allen! Dressler and City Attorney Mark  Popovich.  There was a moment ofs silence followed by thel Pledge of Allegiance.  Approval of Agenda votes. Public) Hearing  Mr. Crosier motioned to approve the agenda, seconded by) Mr. Hunter.. All members werei ini favor with" "aye"  Mr. Sibold opened thel Public) Hearing pursuant to Section 15.2-2204 ofthe Code of Virginia (1950, as amended) too consider Covington City Code by Amending and reenacting the recommendation of Planning Commission, fort thej proposals rezoningi request of Alleghany Highlands Community Service. Board from R-3toC-2.1 Thel lots are described: as 14-146--6-and 14---146---7-, located directly beside 3131 NI Monroe Avenue. Eric' Tyree, Building & Zoning Official, spoke thatt the: zoningi request from the Alleghany Highlands Community Service Board has conditions and would not allow, fore example, al restaurant or bar. The Planning Commission has approved the rezoning request andi itis being taken before City Council: for review Mayor Sibolds spoke about C-2 zoning! being for medical clinic type services and they are wanting to expand Mr. Crosier statedt thatt this would not be for overnight use. Mr. Tyree confirmed that it would not be. Ingrid Barber, Executive! Director oft the CSB-Alleghany: Highlands Community Service Board, spoke that theyt the CSBI had applied fora$ $IM opioid grant and could uset the money to renoyatet these lots and! have 17- 25 offices, training room and psychiatric. services. They have assisted over 4500f fori mental/health disorders. There would not be any overnight stays. Ifgrant funds arei not used, the money would be required to be returned. Thisi isa ap projected $2.4M expansion. There was discussion that there are currently: 2-3 employees Bob) McCallister ofE. Fudge Street and ont the CSBI Board, stated thatt the expansion would be great and will Debbie Stayton ofE. Fudge Street statedt that this is basically in her back yard. Her concerns: are when patients are waiting fort the doors to CSB to open there are many that congregate. She also is concerned about Lee Ann Osborne ofE. Fudge Street, spoke about her concerns that there would bei increased traffic down the alley and 151 more parking spaces seemed excessive. There are 86 exterior doors and without lighting or cameras this could be dangerous. Therei isac designated smoking areay where patients congregate. Cherrie Martino ofPine Street voiced her concerns that changing the: zoning would cause constructioni noise, more traffic and safety concerns for neighbors. The notice that she received from the Planning Commission had 4:30 pm, itl had been changed to 4:00 pm without receiving another notice. The statements that she heard, from the already started meeting, from Ms. Barber were vague. It seems that the CSB is attempting to take over the neighborhood. Shea asked why they couldn't move to downtown or tot the former Kroger building where iti ist not a residential area and the zoning would be already in place. Ms. Martin thanked Council for allowing her to Paulette. Lewis ofE. Pine Street, stated thatt thisi isa a residential area where kids play, elderly live ands safety has  and vote.  to1 use as office and meeting spaces.  Mr." Tyrees statedt they have owned this spacef for 17 years and want tou usei it.  in one office, The expansion would not addi more staff.  assist patients. He would appreciate ifCouncil would bei ini favor ofthis project. what the CSB willl be doing longt term int thes second project.  speak.  not been addressed. She was not notified oft thel Planning Commission's meeting.  Page 10 of4    MINUTES REGULAR: MEETING September 10, 2024  Robin Sweeney ofDolly. Ann Avenue and' Vice Chair oft the CSB is inf favor oft the rezoning. They! have medical conference: meetings viat thei internet. Sher mentioned that everyone: in attendance have relatives or friendst that haver needed thiss service, CSBI has worked with youth as young as pre-school age. Ms. Sweeney isal lifelong resident of Covington. She: strongly anticipates that thist rezoning will bea approved and this Ms. Barber statedt thatt there are 8 cameras around the exterior oft the current building and more cameras insidet thel buildingi including corridors. Cameras are not allowed. int therapy rooms. The Covington] Police Department has worked closely with the CSB over the years and: are ons site in one minute: ifneeded. The cameras recorda and can: zoomi in. Several exterior doors are needed for safety in case ofaf fire for allto escape. Wheni it gets dark early int the winter, patients and staff leave from the front oft the building. Therei is Mr." Tyree stated that with an expansion, egress would need tol bes approved before al building permit is approved.. Also lighting on buildings arei required tol be 'down) lights' sot that ity would not go intoa a Ms.] Barber stated thati note everyone has a vehicle, therefore many walk to CSB or ridet thel RADARI bus. The rezoning request is for Project 1.CSBi is looking at another site forl Project 2.Ther rezoning request does not have overnight stays. Whens she came to CSB there were onlya a few services, shel hopes that whens she is gone Mr. Carson asked about the current hours. Ms. Barber stated hours are! 9 am -5j pm and therel have been requests for evening hours.) IOP-Intense Out Patient services are 3 days a week, 3hours a dayi ing groups, with Mr. Crosier has concerns: after allt that was mentioned att the meeting andt that thisi involves a grant. Ms. Barber advised thatt the grant will not allow for at new build, only renovations to expand. Patients are citizens ofCovington and Alleghany Highlands. Rockbridge serves) Bath County. Some patients ares same day access without appointment, they do nott turn anyone away. Rarelyi isa aj patient from out of the area. Greg) Rice ofE. Oak Street, mentioned that people were brought here toal local hotel and had child Ms. Barber statedt that they are not checked becausei iti isay violation oft their rights. Many CSB do not have the 35 services that this area offers. Same dayi intake could bei for psychiatric care, early intervention, women services, high! bloodj pressure checks, diabetes, veterans with distress disorders, etc... Thel home across from the library has been there for many years. These citizens cannot work and! have nowhere eise to go. This servicel has never been aj problem. Ms. Barber was asked aboutt the cameras ands someone: sleepingi ini front of the CSB. Ms. Barbers stated that the cameras record and there would! have tol be new staff for the cameras to bei monitored at allt times. Ms. Barber was asked about the pharmacy at CSB, shes statedt they doi not have one ons sitel because it became very costly. Thep prescriptions are sent tot the drug store that the patient uses. The crisis services that are offered assists so that the ER isi not ai requirement in most cases. Ifa wellbeing checki is Mr. Sibold mentioned that people are not takent to thel Knights Court motel any more, after getting out of Stephanie Clark, ofA Alleghany Avenue and on the CSB board stateds shei isa a case manager as ane employee of TAP-Total. Action for Progress. TAP: assists those getting out ofjaila andj putst themi ina al hotel. Shel has asked many patients about going! back home with family andt they dor not want tog go back, theyl like tol livei int the Beverly Twitty ofCovington statedt that the CSB does good work. Shei is concerned that Council will be Mayor Sibold thanked everyone for speakinga and statedt that thist rezoningi request would be considered later  would help the community.  lighting all around the building. neighboring! home.  that the 35s services ares stilly provided. breaks, for 12-16 weeks.  molestation crime convictions, etc... he askedi if patients are checked,  needed: for someone in al home thel Policel Department: is called.  prison.  Covington area and work here.  Ms.] Barber suggested that Council be given at tour of thej proposed rezoning area,  hearing the amount of grant that would bes sent back. int the meeting. He closed the! Public) Hearing.  Page 2of4    MINUTES REGULAR: MEETING September 10, 2024 Citizen Comments  Ms. Corey Bowles statedt that shei isi interested in being on the Social Services board. Information has beene e- mailedt to Council ofl her interest. Shet thanked Council for their time and consideration. Andrew] Baker, Covington' Volunteer Fire Chief, spoke about the City's vehicle fleet aging. Two oft the: fire trucks are 1992 and 1995 andi theyl have continuous repair problems. The aerial ladder isa2 2005; support trucki isa 1997; Freightliner isal 1998. Thet truck on) I-64 on a call was totaled by another truck, itd didi not have replacement cost and thati isag gamble withi insurance. There wasi researchi in 20181 fora af fire truck, ity was around $630,000, ity wasi not purchased and now itis $900,000. The City could workt together and talkt tot the County, they arel looking to purchase equipment soon. Recently they were on ai fire call andt thet trucks stalled, they were ablet to fix it quickly, however these aret thei issues they arel upa against with repairs. Thes safety of volunteers and citizens are very important. Mr. Baker thanked Allen) Dressler, David) Bryant and Chris Smith for working witht the fire department ins serving Covington and areas of Alleghany County. Mr. Sibold  thanked Mr. Baker for being att the meeting and speaking.  Minutes  Mr. Crosier motioned to approve the following minutes, seconded by Mr. Hunter:  Regular Meeting August 13, 2024. Alli members were in favor with' "aye" votes. Recognitions by) Director of] Public Safety  Chris Smith, Covington Chiefo ofl Police/Director of Public Safety stated that he wanted to recognize the wonderful, job that dispatchers, fire, rescue and police do each day. Specifically on December 8, 2023 there was a call that came intot the dispatch center that a man was having a heart attack. This was very unusual as he was hunting ini the Overlook area where there are only logging roads. The EMS/Paramedics walked in, found the other hunter that was with him and they walked to get to the patient to stabilize him. Thel Fire Chief and other volunteers arrived on scene and carried thej patient down the logging road and was takent to the landing zone tol be airlifted. Chief Smith appreciates all thet team work and believes that the patient is doing well thanks to the team to get him medical  attention.. Report of City Manager government.  Mr. Dresslert thanked Council and everyone for attending the meeting and being interested in local The Way Finding Sign Program with the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce are: finalized. Mr. Dressler thanked Mr. Baker and appreciates all fire, rescue andj police staff and all thatt they do. In the past budgets the City! has been putting aside funds fora a: firet truck. Mr. Dressler andl David] Bryant, needed: fort the City, thisi includes the additional funds needed for ai fire truck. Mr. Dressler noted he The committee: for The Wall That Heals event arej prepared for this event Oct. 3-6, 2024. There have been bids received for paving. The. Jackson River Sport Complex paving has been in bad shape with citizens and visitors using the complex. Iti is on schedule to get paved. There willl be ai new event on October 12, at the Sport Complex. This willl be 'Farm Fest) In Our Tiny Town'. There willl be old tractors, animals, food, kids activities and: music.  Signs willl be going up in the community. Finance Director, meet with VML/VACO.. can be contacted best! by phone.  last weeki in reference to an equipment list thati is  Page30 of4    MINUTES REGULARMBETING September 10,2024  This coming Friday willl be Cougar Footballl Friday night.  There will bei more holiday lights added tot the Jackson River Sport Complex light show this year. We thank all who contributed tot this event, including Olde Town Covingto....--.  Appointments  Mr. Crosier motioned to1 nominate Charles W. Smith, Jr. tot thel Planning Commission' board. Seconded! byl Mr. Carson. Mr. Smith's term will expire September: 30, 2028. Thei motion was seconded byl Mr. Carson. There was discussion that there isas Social Services board appointment opening, as Gregl Martin! has resigned. This term expires July 31, 2026. There was ai motion by Mr. Crosier tot table this appointment until next month,  ast this would be advertised. Ordinances and) Resolutions  There was ai motion by Mr. Crosier ands seconded by Mr. Hunter to table the Ordinance 0-24-07 Amending andi reenacting thei recommendation of Planning Commission, for thej proposals rezoning request of Alleghany Highlands Community Service! Board from R-3 to C-2. Thel lots are described as 14---146---6-and 14---146---7-, located directly beside 3131 NI Monroe Avenue. All members Ms. Barber was asked to get the time line that the CSBI has in case the opioid grant funds would Mr. Sibold mentioned: aj public meeting may need tol bel held for working together ont this rezoning Ms. Barber was asked about ay walkthrough oft the proposed project and she stated it wouldi need to be after Sp.m. Mr. Dressler mentioned thati ifthere would be a meeting it would bea a Called Mr. Crosier motioned to approve the: following resolutions, seconded byl Mr. Hunter.  were ini favor with 'aye' votes. need to be returned, request from CSB. Meeting of Council.  Resolution R-24-22 Opioid Settlement Recoveries 2) Resolution. R-24-23 Schools Capital Improvements 3) Resolution! R-24-24 Re-appropriations from FY241 fol FY25  4) Resolution. R-24-25 Appropriation EQI Basin Project) Payment (Auditors suggestion to account for this paymen! paidi in. June 2024 or auditors willl have to accountf for iasapre-payment) for the next 303 years) The roll call votes were as follows: Mr. Carson, for; Mr. Forbes, for; Mr. Hunter, for; Vicel Mayor With noi further business to come before Council, thei meeting was adjourned by consensus.  Crosier, for; Mayor Sibold, for.  LEH THOMASI H. SIBOLD, JR., MAYOR  ATTEST:  ResaA1-ks RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTEDBY REBBCCA: BRATTONT NUCKOLS ACTING CITY CLERK  Page 40 of4