2026-09-15 - City Council

05:38We will start with the pledge for anyone

05:40wishing to participate.

05:45I pledge algiance to the flag of the

05:48United States of America and to the

05:51republic for it stands. One nation under

05:55God, indivisible, with liberty and

05:58justice for all.

06:02>> Right. We'll call this meeting to order.

06:04This is Morgantown City Council regular

06:06meeting for Tuesday, September 15th. It

06:08is 700 p.m. and we are in City Hall. Uh

06:12Clerk Wade, would you please call the

06:13role? Yes. Joe Bugan

06:15>> present.

06:17>> Jody Hollings Head

06:19>> here.

06:22>> Weezy Michael

06:23>> here.

06:24>> Jenny Seline

06:25>> here.

06:26>> Deputy Mayor DS

06:28>> here.

06:29>> Mayor [clears throat] Trumbull

06:30>> here. First item on the agenda is

06:32approval of minutes. We have the

06:34September 1st, 2026 special meeting

06:36minutes and the September 1st, 2026

06:38regular meeting minutes. Were there any

06:40additions or corrections?

06:42Seeing none, approved by consensus. Yes.

06:45Great. We will move right into

06:47correspondence. We have a recognition of

06:51the WVU baseball 2026 men's World

06:55College or College World Series. My

06:59apologies.

07:00Um, we have a proclamation to present

07:03and an additional plaque. And then, um,

07:06I believe we'll do a photo. Yes.

07:11This is the application.

07:22Nice to meet you.

07:23>> Am I supposed to walk up there? We're

07:24good.

07:24>> Sure. This is great. Um, if you all

07:27would like to come as well, we'll uh

07:31>> I thought you were going to read the

07:32proclamation first.

07:33>> I'll I'll read the proclamation first,

07:36too.

07:37Whereas the city of Morgantown

07:39recognizes and celebrates the

07:40accomplishments of the West Virginia

07:42University Mountaineers baseball team

07:44and the tremendous pride the team brings

07:46to our university, our city, and the

07:48entire state of West Virginia. And

07:50whereas the 2026 West Virginia

07:52University baseball team completed one

07:54of the most historic seasons in the

07:56history of Mountaineer baseball,

07:57finishing the season with an outstanding

07:594717 record. And whereas the

08:02Mountaineers set a new program record

08:03for wins and continued to demonstrate

08:05exceptional skill, determination,

08:07teamwork, and perseverance throughout

08:09the season. And whereas the Mountaineers

08:11captured the Morgantown Regional

08:13Championship and advanced through the

08:15NCAA Super Regionals, earning the first

08:17College World Series appearance in

08:19program history. Whereas the team's

08:21historic journey continued in Omaha,

08:23Nebraska, where the Mountaineers

08:25competed among the nation's elite and

08:27finished the season as one of the final

08:28four teams in the country. And whereas

08:30the success of the 2026 Mountaineers was

08:33the result of the dedication and hard

08:35work of the student athletes, coaching

08:36staff, athletic staff, families, and

08:39supporters who contributed to an

08:41extraordinary season. And whereas

08:42throughout the season, Mountaineer

08:44baseball brought together students,

08:45alumni, families, and residents from

08:47Morgantown and communities throughout

08:49West Virginia, creating a tremendous

08:51sense of pride and excitement both at

08:53Kendrick Family Ballpark and throughout

08:54our community. And whereas the city of

08:56Morgantown is proud to celebrate the

08:58accomplishments of the West Virginia

09:00University baseball team and recognizes

09:02the positive impact that Mountaineer

09:04athletics has on our community and the

09:06pride these student athletes bring to

09:07Morgantown. Now therefore, I Danielle

09:10Trumbull, mayor of the city of

09:11Morgantown, West Virginia, on behalf of

09:13city council, do hereby recognize and

09:15congratulate the West Virginia

09:17University Mountaineers baseball team on

09:19an extraordinary and historic 2026

09:22season. We commend the players, coaches,

09:24and entire Mountaineer baseball

09:25organization for their hard work,

09:27sportsmanship, perseverance, and

09:28commitment to excellence.

09:31[applause]

09:35[applause]

09:38We will uh get everyone in for a photo.

09:42And uh who would like to want me to hand

09:44this off to you?

09:45>> Sure.

09:48>> [clears throat]

10:00>> You can whip it in first.

10:02>> All right, here we go, guys. Three, two,

10:03one. Three, two, one.

10:09>> Three, two, one. Three, two, one.

10:14>> Thank you.

10:15>> Thank you so much. YEAH.

10:24[applause]

10:26>> Thanks so much. Pleasure being here.

10:29>> Thank you guys. Thanks for all your

10:30leadership.

10:40>> Okay.

10:49It's

10:49>> like, are the CVB folks here? All the

10:52way in the back. Gotcha.

10:53>> I bet there's a pillar.

10:54>> There probably is. [laughter]

10:58>> We certainly thank the baseball team and

11:01this coaching staff for taking time out

11:03of their busy schedule to join us here

11:05at our council meeting this evening. It

11:07was a very exciting season. I watched

11:09one too many games at Mondays. Um, the

11:13next item of correspondence we have is

11:15Visit Mountaineer Country CBB semianual

11:18tourism update.

11:26Probably a few new to some faces this

11:30year.

11:30>> Yes, for sure. Well, first and foremost,

11:32that's hard to follow. Great season for

11:33the baseball team. Um, secondly, thank

11:35you all for having us um today. I'm

11:38Hannah Wana. I'm the interim executive

11:40director for Visit Mountaineer Country.

11:41As you all know, we are undergoing a

11:43transition period with Susan Riddle

11:45leaving the organization and a search

11:47committee um actively searching to find

11:49the next president and CEO. Here with me

11:52today, I have Rachel Johnson, our

11:53dedicated arts and culture specialist

11:55for the Arts Council of Greater

11:56Morgantown um and team member of mine.

11:59Um again, thank you for having us here

12:01today. As you all know, um Visit

12:03Mountain Country is tasked with being

12:04good stewards of the lodging tax

12:06dollars. that means taking those dollars

12:07and reinvesting them into tourism

12:09initiatives um to drive tourism to our

12:12area. So really appreciate our

12:14partnership there. Um importantly right

12:18now, you know, I mentioned we're going

12:19through a transition period. We really

12:20want to take this time to listen to

12:22reconnect with our partners. Um you

12:25probably received hopefully you received

12:26a letter and survey in the mail. If you

12:28did not, please let us know. We have

12:30extras. Um that's a listening tool for

12:32us. We're gathering information. We want

12:34to make sure that we are filling the

12:36needs of the communities, that we're

12:37listening to the concerns of our

12:39stakeholders. Um, and so please take the

12:41time to fill out that survey. Feel free

12:43to contact us if you have any questions.

12:45It is anonymous unless you choose to put

12:46your information there for us to contact

12:48you. Um, so please take the time to do

12:50that and thank you for your partnership.

12:52Next, we do have a tourism token and it

12:55might be a little cheesy, but we're

12:56using it as a token of appreciation. U,

12:58Rachel's going to pass them out if you

13:00all don't mind. um we're giving them to

13:02each of our municipality, our municipal

13:04partners, our county partners, first as

13:06a token of appreciation for driving

13:08tourism, um for making sure that our

13:10community is one that is open for

13:12tourism and welcomes visitors. Um but

13:14also second to as a challenge to keep

13:16tourism top of mind. So when you see

13:18this coin, you know, it it's general in

13:21the sense that it can address all of the

13:22areas that we represent, but it's

13:24specific enough to serve as a reminder

13:26that tourism builds better communities.

13:28I think you all understand that, right?

13:30We commend you, uh, Mayor Trumbull. Your

13:32videos about events in the area are a

13:34fan favorite at the office. We also see

13:36all of your cleanup efforts, whether it

13:38be through Morgantown Forward or the

13:40mowing that takes place. So, um,

13:41beautiful destinations are obviously

13:43easier to promote and more welcoming for

13:45visitors. So, we commend you all um and

13:48and thank you for your service. And so,

13:50please take that as a token of

13:51appreciation, but also as a reminder um

13:53that we are a resource for you as well.

13:56I won't take too much of your time but

13:58just some updates on things that are

14:00going on at the CBB. We are preparing to

14:02launch a marketing miniigrant program

14:04for some smaller events who would like

14:06social media boost. It's the funds will

14:08be used to boost social media posts to

14:10pro promote um these events in

14:12Morgantown. Um and we're doing those in

14:14our other areas that we serve as well.

14:16[clears throat] So we hope that those

14:17will be taken advantage of to help some

14:18push some of those events out. Um and

14:20that should be launched um in January of

14:222027. We're working on that now. Um,

14:25we're also working, um, we've been

14:26working closely with Emily for some

14:28things at the airport, including new

14:30welcoming signage for visitors and some

14:32new visitor display racks and making

14:33sure that we have, um, the appropriate

14:35materials and material stands there to

14:37welcome visitors there as well. Of

14:40course, football season is back and with

14:42that, we have our tourism ambassador

14:43program. Um, so we have our on um, at

14:47the football games, we have stationed

14:49ambassadors around the stadium to

14:52welcome visitors. We also do outreach

14:53ahead to um alumni centers, fellow

14:56alumni centers and athletic directors

14:58welcome welcoming their fans and letting

15:00them know that we do have people

15:01stationed around at the coliseum, at the

15:03tailgate lots um and at the facility as

15:06well as driving those golf cart shuttles

15:08to provide a positive experience for

15:09fans because of course we know that that

15:11makes them more likely to return. Um a

15:14couple of things we want to mention is

15:16we do have our Mountaineer Monster event

15:17coming up on October 24th. This is our

15:19second annual. um that will be at

15:21Chestnut Ridge Park and Campground, but

15:23they do um the routes do take them

15:25through the rail trail and so they'll

15:26get to experience some of that as well.

15:28Um last year we had about 60 attendees

15:30and we have 40 now with knowing that

15:32last minute um registrations are huge

15:34for us. So we anticipate having closer

15:36to 100 this year, so the event should

15:37grow. Um we also know that that is the

15:39same weekend as the Red Bull Chariot

15:41races. So I believe Joe from our team

15:43has reached out. But if there's anything

15:44we can do to support that, maybe

15:46something similar to what we did for the

15:47great race, um whether it's hospitality

15:49or anything of the sort, please let us

15:51know. We'd be happy to do that. Um and

15:53then of course, we've chosen our uh

15:55tourism summit date for 2027. It will be

15:58April 27th, 2027. It's our fifth annual

16:01tourism summit and we certainly

16:02encourage any council members who are

16:05able to attend to do that. Um, as a

16:08reminder, Mayor Trumbull is your

16:09representative on our CBB board. So, I'm

16:12sure she's doing a great job relaying

16:14everything that we have going on anyway,

16:16but just as a reminder that you can

16:17always tap into her, but you also always

16:19have access to us as well. Um, and with

16:23that, um, we also have Leave No Trace

16:26starting back up with the school year.

16:27Um, and for those of you who aren't

16:28familiar, Stella Hartman from our team

16:30goes around to all fifth grade

16:31classrooms and teaches Leave No Trace

16:33principles. She also she's also

16:35introducing them to the area. Um, of

16:37course they live here, but they're not

16:38always, you know, viewing it through a

16:40tourism lens. So, we're introducing them

16:42to careers of tourism. We're teaching

16:43them how to be good stewards in the

16:45outdoors, and they all leave us with a

16:47certificate and and really love that

16:49program. So, that's something that we

16:50have fun with. Um, something recently we

16:52also tapped into through the West

16:54Virginia Department of Tourism was

16:56called destination optimization, which

16:58allowed us to perform an audit on area

17:00businesses and allowed um, Miles

17:02Partnership, who is a creative agency

17:04that the state department of tourism

17:06works with to go in and actually enhance

17:08online presence of um, businesses

17:10through Trip Adviser and Google business

17:12listings um, which was really great. We

17:15got to um, they audited over 400

17:17listings. um they were able to edit 40

17:19and several of those were within city

17:21limits as well. And we've made it a

17:23mission of our team through our

17:25apprentice program and just us keeping a

17:27pulse on things to continue checking

17:28into business listings both on Trip

17:30Adviser and Google business listings to

17:32make sure that we're putting our best

17:33foot forward. Um because as you all know

17:35digital um presence tends to be a lot of

17:38visitors first experience of a

17:39destination. So that was a lot of

17:42information. Um, as you all know, we do

17:44come back in the spring to present our

17:45annual report and we will look forward

17:47to that. Um, but if anyone has any

17:49questions, I would be happy to answer

17:51them.

17:52>> Questions for Hannah and Rachel?

17:56>> Can you describe a little bit more this

17:59um October 24th at Chestnut Ridge event?

18:01>> Sure. Sure.

18:02>> What is it?

18:04>> Sure.

18:04>> I haven't I haven't attended or

18:06>> No, that's okay. One, right?

18:07>> Yes, we've had one. Last year was our

18:09first year.

18:10>> So, just tell us a little bit about it.

18:11>> Sure. So we have invested in it's a

18:14destination development initiative

18:16called mountaineer gravel and what that

18:17does is we have identified we did not

18:20build any trails I want to make that

18:22very clear we took existing public

18:24routes mostly gravel routes but there is

18:26mixed surface as well of course the rail

18:28trail and some other roads as well. Um

18:30we try to identify routes that are not

18:33uh vehicle traffic just for safety

18:35purposes. Um, but what the event is is

18:38it takes these curated routes um that we

18:40have pulled together and it takes them

18:43and there are three different rides that

18:45people can experience. It's called a

18:46bike packing adventure. And so there's a

18:49110, a two, I'm probably going to

18:52butcher this, a 200, 240, 260 something

18:54mile ride, and then a 465 mile ride. And

18:58so riders get to choose, and you would

19:00be surprised, there are so many people

19:01that do the long haul. Um, and so it's

19:04called a self-supported race. So what

19:06they do is they take off and they are

19:08responsible for all of their lodging.

19:10They are responsible for all of their

19:12meals. Um there are some things called

19:14trail magic stops where people along the

19:16routes can set out coolers if they want

19:18to. Um you have people sleeping on

19:20people's porches. You have people um you

19:23know dining in local restaurants.

19:25They're stopping at the gas stations.

19:27They're finding resources wherever they

19:29can um and they're experiencing the

19:31destination while they do it. So, we did

19:33pair that with a crypted themed

19:34scavenger hunt because it is around

19:36Halloween. Um, and so that was a big hit

19:38as well. It's people getting to know the

19:40story. Um, I encourage you to look up

19:42Mountaineer Gravel online. Um, it's on a

19:45platform called Ride with GPS and all of

19:47the routes are fun. They have, you know,

19:49names that are tied to our area. I

19:51believe there's one name named after Don

19:53Knots. Um, and some things like that.

19:55And so, they're getting to experience

19:56the destination. They're experiencing

19:57the storytelling um, and the great

19:59routes that we have to offer. So that's

20:01>> So how many days is it?

20:03>> It Well, it depends. Since it's a

20:05self-supported race, you have people in

20:06the 465 mile that took, you know,

20:08upwards of what close to a week. I would

20:11say fiveish days. Um and then you have

20:13people that do the 110 and are done in,

20:15you know, 1 to two days. But we also had

20:17people that would ride their bike from

20:19was it Maryland or somewhere in PA, do

20:22the long route, ride their bike back to

20:26where they came from. So, you know,

20:27these are extreme people who are really

20:29interested in gravel. And so, that's an

20:31audience, a niche audience that we've

20:32tapped into. Um, and they keep coming

20:34back. We did a recap video that I'd be

20:36happy to share with you all. You can

20:38also find it on our website, but we had

20:40people saying that it was 465 miles to

20:42pick a property. They were interested in

20:44relocating. And so, talking about the

20:46natural beauty and the people, which we

20:48all know is wonderful, but for some

20:49people, this is their first time

20:50experiencing West Virginia. And so, we

20:53were thrilled that we had a great

20:54response from that. So,

20:56>> nice. Thank you.

20:56>> You're welcome.

20:58>> Other questions for Hannah.

21:01>> All right. Thank you very much.

21:08>> We will move on. We have report of

21:11proclamations.

21:13Um, I was able to attend a ribbon

21:16cutting event celebrating Tanner's Alley

21:19Leather Design Studio and owner Charlie

21:22Mcuan who celebrated 50 years of being

21:26in business in downtown Morgantown. So,

21:28I presented a proclamation and many city

21:30staff um, attended with me. So that was

21:33a very great event and our thanks and

21:36congratulations to Charlie for his

21:40longstanding business that contributes

21:42positively to our downtown. He is also a

21:45very involved community member having

21:48served on Main Street, Morgantown, and

21:50several of the city's boards and

21:51commissions. So we definitely appreciate

21:53his service.

21:55Uh public hearings, we have one public

21:58hearing this evening. This is for a

22:00member of the public who is wishing to

22:02speak on this item and this item alone.

22:04There is a public portion later in the

22:05agenda. Uh the public hearing this

22:08evening is an ordinance amending the

22:10plan review and permitting fee schedule.

22:13I will open this public hearing. Is

22:14there any member of the public wishing

22:16to speak on this item?

22:21Seeing none, we will close the public

22:23hearing.

22:24The only item of unfinished business is

22:27boards and commissions, but I do not

22:28believe we have any action to take on

22:31that this evening. So, we will move

22:34along right into the public portion.

22:37Subject to rules established by council

22:39adopted by resolution.

22:41Generally, you have four minutes to

22:43speak. Please state your name and some

22:44form of address. And

22:47sorry, I thought you were trying to get

22:48my attention.

22:50Uh, there was a signup sheet. You do not

22:53have to be signed up to speak, but we

22:54will start on the signup sheet. First,

22:56we have Annie Cronin, York.

23:05>> It does not help a bit to sign up at the

23:07bottom of the page, does it?

23:09[clears throat]

23:10>> Not when you're the only one.

23:11>> Andy Cronin, your seventh word. Sorry,

23:14seventh word. Got to be fourth, right?

23:17Uh, two things to talk about tonight.

23:19First one is

23:21um on August 4th, the city sent out a

23:24solicitation for people interested in

23:26applying for the vacant position on city

23:28council.

23:30And to be eligible, one must be West

23:33Virginia voter and resident in seventh

23:36ward. I am both. I applied. Following

23:39his review of submitted statements of

23:42interest, city council anticipates

23:44conducting interviews with interested

23:45applicants on September 1st or 15th.

23:50So it says council interview interested

23:51applicants. When I didn't get an

23:53interview, I texted Christine and said

23:56where's my interview? Sorry, you were

23:59not selected.

24:00The way this is written, it means all

24:03applicants who are eligible who are

24:05still interested will be interviewed.

24:08Uh it doesn't say anything about people

24:10who annoy us or people we don't like.

24:13Says interested candidates.

24:16I am not delusional. I know that several

24:18of you would rather eat your big toes

24:20than work with me. That's fine. That is

24:24not the problem. The problem is that

24:25either you're not following the rules

24:27that you're setting or that you're not

24:29very good at writing the rules that you

24:30mean to write and it's a matter of

24:34fairness. Only five people applied. You

24:36selected two to interview. One was

24:38knocked out for various reasons. So you

24:41picked another person, the third. So

24:43there two people have not chosen.

24:47Um,

24:49and then the the first interested

24:51candidate failed about 10 days ago and

24:54you didn't replace that person.

24:57So, yes, you have to have somebody

24:59within in place within 30 days or hold

25:01an election.

25:03Understand that. But it's not like I'm

25:05an unknown quantity and you'd have to

25:07interview me to get to know me. Uh, and

25:10I'm not sure about the other person. But

25:12just in the interest of fairness, it'd

25:15be great if you would follow said rules.

25:18Topic number two. I was shocked when

25:21councelor Butcher told me on May 14th

25:24during a 1 hour 45minut conversation

25:27that the city was paying for his

25:28attorney fees for the 1.5 million

25:30slander suit against him. Especially his

25:33point is specific that the case is

25:35against Mr. Butcher and not the city. So

25:38why are we paying for it? and are we

25:40still paying for it now is no longer on

25:42city council.

25:44I tried to ask discreetly through other

25:46channels. I got no answer. So here I am

25:48being all public about it. Apologies.

25:51Thank you.

25:55There any other member of the public

25:56wishing to speak?

26:02Seeing none, we will close the public

26:04portion. We have no special committee

26:07reports this evening. we will move into

26:09our consent agenda. I will read through

26:12each item on the consent agenda. If

26:14there's any member of council wishing to

26:16pull any item off of the consent agenda,

26:18they may do so. Otherwise, the items

26:20will be voted on as a whole with no

26:23deliberation.

26:25Item A, consideration of approval of a

26:27second reading of an ordinance amending

26:29the plan review and permitting fee

26:30schedule. The first reading was August

26:3325th, 2026. Item B, consideration of

26:36approval of bid call 2027-05

26:39for bulk rock salt. Item C,

26:41consideration of approval of a

26:43resolution for Walnut Street Bridge

26:45maintenance agreement. Item D,

26:46consideration of approval of a

26:48resolution authorizing application for

26:50Governor's Highway Safety Program Grant.

26:52And item E, consideration of approval of

26:54a resolution authorizing the appointment

26:55of an audit committee. Is there any

26:57member of council wishing to pull any

26:59item from the consent agenda?

27:04Seeing none, is there a motion to

27:06approve the consent agenda?

27:09>> Motion approved.

27:12>> Second.

27:13>> A second.

27:14>> Thank [laughter] you.

27:15>> Click Wade can sort that out. Would you

27:17please call the poll?

27:18>> Yes. Joe Mugan?

27:20>> Yes.

27:22>> Jody Hollings Head?

27:24>> Yes.

27:26>> We Michael?

27:27>> Yes.

27:28>> Jenny Seline?

27:29>> Yes.

27:31>> Deputy Mayor DS? Yes,

27:33>> Mayor Trumble.

27:34>> Yes. Passes 6. Moving into new business.

27:38Item A, consideration of approval of a

27:40first reading of an ordinance

27:42authorizing the series 2026A utility

27:45system revenue bonds for Morgan's Run

27:47Waterline Extension.

27:49>> Thank you, mayor. We have Tom Aman here

27:51as well as members of the MUB board to

27:53speak with you. um on the actually the

27:55next two ordinances. Uh they were here

27:57at a previous meeting talking a little

28:00bit about the Morgan's Run Water

28:01Extension project that they have before

28:03you. So tonight there will be two

28:05ordinances for your consideration. One

28:07will be for uh establishing the revenue

28:09bonds and then one is for creating the

28:12ordinance authorizing the project. I

28:14will note and I'm sure that they will

28:15bring this before you as well that it is

28:18anticipated uh in November 2027 or

28:21around that time an additional item

28:23related to this will be brought before

28:25council to discuss a search charge for

28:27the funding um for the impacted parties

28:29on this project. Tom, I'll turn it over

28:32to you. [snorts]

28:35>> Good evening.

28:36>> Good evening.

28:37Uh Tom Aean assisting as bond counsel

28:40for the u Morgans's Run Road waterline

28:44extension project.

28:46So um you all are I think pretty

28:49familiar with this. Um the first

28:53document is the bond ordinance. Second

28:55document is project ordinance.

28:58So

29:00a little bit of background information.

29:02Um,

29:05so the project is out to bid right now.

29:08So they will be opening bids um shortly

29:13and we will have more information about

29:15the cost of the project obviously at

29:17that point. But based on the pre-bid

29:19schedule B, we have a uh cost of

29:23estimate of approximately 3.8 million

29:25for the project and we've got various

29:28funding sources for that. uh most of

29:30which are grant. We have a um abandoned

29:35mine lands grant approximately 3.3

29:38million. Have an infrastructure and jobs

29:41development council grant approximately

29:43500,000.

29:45We've got a mub contribution

29:48approximately 30,000. We've got some

29:51private financing or private funding uh

29:54associ associated with the project of

29:5552,000. And then the loan portion is

29:59currently estimated at 721,000.

30:02So obviously we won't know the final

30:05funding scenario until bids are open and

30:08we know the final cost of the project.

30:12But the um

30:15project uh I think was uh mentioned by

30:19the manager um the the repayment of the

30:24debt service portion which will be

30:26$721,000

30:28loan uh will be uh supported by a

30:31customer search charge in the project

30:33area and um Morgantown Utility Board

30:38will be back with a proposed ordinance

30:41for author authorizing that searchcharge

30:43at that point in time. But uh as far as

30:46the bond financing, we uh are able to at

30:50least on a preliminary basis on the cost

30:53uh estimate able to get a CPA

30:56certificate indicating that we have

30:58sufficient rates and charges in place to

31:01cover the debt service for this bond

31:04issue. It's a relatively small project

31:06for uh a utility system the size of

31:09Morgantown Utility Board. Um so the

31:14ordinance bond ordinance authorizes

31:17issuance of bonds uh not to exceed uh

31:21$1.7 million. Obviously I mentioned

31:24before

31:26um we think it may not be more than

31:28721,000

31:30having open bids. want to leave a lot of

31:33room there in case we have to increase

31:35the size of that borrowing.

31:37Um, this uh bond will be secured by the

31:42gross revenues of the system. Um, so

31:45that's basically your combined water,

31:47sewer, storm water. Um, and you have

31:50those rates in place from I think

31:53February of this year for the water and

31:56sewer portion and then the storm water

31:59goes back to like 2021.

32:02Um, this bond will be on an equal lean

32:06for that gross revenues with all your

32:09outstanding utility debt. There's

32:11several series of bonds outstanding

32:13going back to 2000. So, this will be an

32:16equal first lean parody with those

32:18bonds. Um,

32:21similar to your other outstanding

32:24utility debt, um, the bonds are

32:27essentially payable monthly by automated

32:31transfer from the board's uh, revenue

32:34account uh, to the municipal bond

32:36commission. You uh, pay those

32:40essentially. Um

32:43the payments are quarterly but you have

32:45funds sufficient to pay in advance of

32:47the quarterly payments and then the bond

32:50commission actually makes the payment to

32:51the West Virginia water development

32:53authority who'll be the purchaser of the

32:54bond. Um the funding source is

32:59infrastructure and jobs development

33:00council for the loan as I had indicated.

33:04um they have given authorization to bid.

33:07They have the funding commitment in

33:09place for that. Um we'll have a call

33:13with them after the bid opening to go

33:15over the bid results and set a path

33:17forward from there to uh the steps for

33:20closing. Um once the council completes

33:24the three readings of the bond

33:26ordinance, I think octo October 20th or

33:29thereabouts,

33:30um

33:32hopefully we'll be ready for a

33:33supplemental resolution at that time to

33:36provide the final approvals. Uh the

33:39other item is the project ordinance

33:43which is just required by state code

33:47um for a system the size of the utility

33:50board and in lie of going through the

33:53public service commission. You do the

33:55project ordinance which authorizes and

33:58describes the project,

34:01describes that bonds will be issued to

34:04pay for the cost of the project and

34:06describes that the rates and charges

34:10um will be put in place that sir charge

34:13I mentioned in approximately November of

34:1627.

34:19So, um we'll take care of the public the

34:23uh publications for the notice of public

34:25hearing on the uh bond ordinance and the

34:29utility board is taking care of the

34:30legal ads and the customer notice

34:33associated with the project ordinance

34:35and hopefully we'll be ready to close

34:38this. you know, hopefully at that um

34:44I'd say hopefully early November,

34:48late October, early November, somewhere

34:51in that time frame. So,

34:54you guys have any questions? Be happy to

34:56try to answer those

34:59>> questions for Tom.

35:01>> Oh, thank you.

35:02>> I have questions.

35:02>> Thank you.

35:03>> Uh when is the bid opening? Will they

35:06know the the bids before the bond

35:08ordinances are complete?

35:11>> They will. Do do you guys know the

35:13actual bid open date?

35:14>> September 29th.

35:15>> September 29th

35:18is our actual open date and then we will

35:21have a final schedule B put together at

35:24that time and a call with the funding

35:26agencies to go over the path forward to

35:29closing at that point. and if there's

35:32any necessity to increase any of the

35:34funding amounts, we would discuss the

35:37the sources of that at that point in

35:40time.

35:41>> Um, one other question and I'm not sure

35:43if it's appropriate for you or Chair

35:46Carlson, so feel free to jump in. Um

35:49when MUB presented this project in the

35:53past couple of weeks, whenever that was,

35:55um it was

35:57an estimate of that sir charge had been

36:00made and it was significant and it was

36:03said the the cost of them, you know,

36:06hauling in their water right now kind of

36:09panned out. Was that with the estimate

36:11for the 721,000

36:14or was that if this project gets two or

36:17three times more expensive if we're

36:19authorizing up to 1.7 million are folks

36:21still going to be able to afford that

36:23search charge?

36:24>> I think that would be

36:25>> yeah, [laughter]

36:27as I said, this may be more appropriate.

36:29>> Eric Carlson, Morgantown Utility Board.

36:31Uh yeah, the 77 and change I can't

36:34remember exactly what it was even though

36:35I've got on a thumb drive. uh was uh for

36:37that 721,000.

36:39And so yeah, if if it ends up being more

36:42than that, then that's something that uh

36:44I imagine we'd have to go back and talk

36:46with the residents about. Uh I will note

36:49though that when we initially talked

36:51with the residents, uh it was before the

36:54grants, the 1% loan, and the uh other

36:58funding came through for this project.

37:01And there was at least [clears throat]

37:03uh enough of an agreement at that point

37:06to move forward with whatever that

37:08search charge would have been if they

37:09were to pay lock stock the whole lot.

37:11And so um we'd be comfortable to know

37:15that

37:17we should be yeah be able to proceed

37:18forward with that uh if the bids come in

37:21higher. Hopefully they don't. but

37:24wouldn't be the first time that a

37:26municipal entity uh in any county and

37:29any state in this country has had

37:31something come in higher.

37:32>> And I know we always like to build in a

37:33cushion when we're authorizing bonding.

37:36Um and we hope that it comes in much

37:38lower, but

37:39>> that two and a half times the number

37:42that was estimated kind of threw me off

37:44guard and I would hate to catch any of

37:46the residents out there off guard with

37:48>> I would I I would echo that.

37:51>> Great. Those are my questions. Anyone

37:53else? Good question.

37:55>> All right. Is there a motion on item A

37:59for the bond revenue bonds?

38:02>> Move to approve.

38:03>> Thank you.

38:05>> Second.

38:06>> Any additional discussion on the or

38:09ordinance authorizing the revenue bonds?

38:13Clerk. Wait.

38:14>> Yes. Joe Bugam.

38:16>> Yes.

38:17>> Jody Hollings.

38:19>> Yes.

38:21We Michael,

38:22>> yes.

38:24>> Jenny Seline,

38:25>> yes.

38:26>> Deputy Mayor DS,

38:27>> yes.

38:29>> Mayor Trumble,

38:30>> yes. Passes 6. And item B is

38:33consideration of approval of the first

38:35reading of an ordinance authorizing the

38:37Morgan Run Water Extension Project.

38:43Does anyone have any questions

38:44specifically on the project ordinance?

38:47Otherwise, we can entertain a motion on

38:49that one. I move to approve.

38:51>> Thank you.

38:54>> Second.

38:54>> Thank you. Any further discussion on the

38:57project ordinance?

39:00>> Click white, please.

39:01>> Yes.

39:02>> Joe Bugan.

39:04>> Yes.

39:05>> Jody Hollings Head.

39:08>> Yes.

39:09>> Weezy Michael.

39:10>> Yes.

39:11>> Jenny Seline.

39:12>> Yes.

39:14>> Deputy Mayor DS.

39:15>> Yes.

39:16>> Mayor Trumble.

39:17>> Yes. passes 6.

39:20>> Thank you, gentlemen.

39:21>> Thank you.

39:22>> Item C, consideration of approval of

39:25first reading of an ordinance

39:26authorizing and regulating accessory

39:28dwelling units and updating site plan

39:30review procedures.

39:33>> Thank you, mayor. This ordinance is uh

39:35introduced to comply with the state law

39:37passed in the general session at the

39:402026 [clears throat]

39:41legislature. the um the legislature

39:44passed a bill that requires that

39:46municipalities allow accessory dwelling

39:48units on any lot of parcel with an

39:51existing single family dwelling

39:54[clears throat]

39:55and uh the state law also included some

39:58other prohibitions or requirements so

40:00that uh the municipalities allowing

40:03these accessory dwelling units or ADUs

40:06cannot regulate uh how the accessory

40:10dwelling units look except within a

40:13historical district that already has

40:15design standards uh cannot require

40:18additional parking as a condition of

40:20constructing the ADUs and have certain

40:23limitations on permitting. There's a

40:25specific limit of a $250 permit fee and

40:29a bar on additional impact fees. Uh so

40:34the city's existing zoning code had uh

40:37regulations of ADUs and essentially

40:40allowed them in the Wilds Hill overlay

40:42district and did not allow them

40:44elsewhere in residential districts. Uh

40:46city council on its own had taken up an

40:48effort in March of last year to uh

40:52liberalize those rules and to promote

40:54construction of ADUs in the city to

40:57promote additional housing availability.

41:00uh but paused that effort when the state

41:02passed its law which contains some

41:04contrary provisions. So uh the ordinance

41:07in front of you is intended to meet

41:09those state law minimums but it also

41:11includes some of the relaxed provisions

41:13that council had proposed in March to uh

41:17to promote ADU development. So there are

41:20uh there are lower setbacks provided for

41:23ADUs than uh may be applicable to

41:26principal dwellings or other accessory

41:29structures 5 ft from the the rear and

41:31side lot lines. uh provision allowing uh

41:35different placement of ADUs on corner

41:37lots than for other accessory structures

41:41and uh some restrictions on height

41:44limitations that uh would

41:46[clears throat] allow large radius than

41:48other accessory structures if that's not

41:50otherwise limited by the uh the height

41:53of the principal dwelling.

41:55There is uh kind of a lot there because

41:57the state included some uh some defined

42:00terms and uh some specific requirements

42:04that we already had in our zoning code.

42:06So there's

42:08a lot of texts in the bill, but I think

42:10that uh covers the wave tops and if

42:12council has any questions, I'd be happy

42:14to address those.

42:16>> Any specific questions for Ryan?

42:22So

42:24when this was being drafted,

42:27we had already drafted something.

42:31Then this was passed legislatively

42:34and then we're

42:39bringing in some of what we drafted and

42:41we're looking at parking and some other

42:44issues. Um,

42:51I don't even know how to exactly phrase

42:52this. Um so when we're doing this um is

42:58this something that other um

42:59municipalities around the state are

43:01doing and drafting some legislation that

43:07quantifies our expectations and

43:11tells people that even though

43:12legislatively

43:14it's very much allowed that you still

43:16have to follow regular local zoning

43:20rules. Is that

43:22is that how we're looking at this?

43:25>> I think that's a a good description,

43:27counselor, and that is what

43:28municipalities around the state are

43:30doing as well. Um, the ones I'm I'm

43:33familiar with that have drafted

43:34ordinances or enacted them have um have

43:38essentially incorporated those state law

43:40requirements. So there are the the state

43:43law regulations are set out in their

43:45municipal codes, but then the other

43:47building permit and zoning regulations

43:49apply.

43:51>> Great. I I [cough] looks very complete.

43:57>> Any additional questions for Ryan?

44:01All right. Is there a motion?

44:05>> Move to approve.

44:06>> Thank you.

44:08>> Second.

44:10Thank you. Additional discussion on the

44:13ADU

44:15ordinance.

44:18Very quiet group this evening. Clerk,

44:20wave, would you please call the role?

44:22>> Yes. Joe Buganum.

44:23>> Yes.

44:24>> Jody Hollings Head.

44:28>> Yes.

44:30>> We Michael,

44:31>> yes.

44:32>> Jenny Seline,

44:33>> yes.

44:34>> Deputy Mayor DS.

44:36>> Yes.

44:37>> Mayor Trumble.

44:38>> Yes.

44:41passes 6. Item D is consideration of

44:45approval of a resolution approving an

44:46intergovernmental agreement with the

44:48Monalia County Commission for Transport

44:50Services.

44:51>> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, this item before

44:53you tonight. This resolution will allow

44:55us to renew an amended version of a

44:58mutual aid agreement that has been in

45:00place with the sheriff's office since

45:01approximately 2001 uh where they perform

45:05transport services and temporary housing

45:07uh for persons who are arrested. Um what

45:11this resolution accomplishes is that

45:14they the county or sheriff's office has

45:16has proposed an increase of fees which

45:19we expected as the cost has uh risen for

45:23that service. They also will be

45:25implementing a unified billing system

45:27where instead of receiving more than one

45:29bill from the county for these services,

45:31we will receive a consolidated bill. So,

45:34um, the way this would operate is we

45:36would either e either receive a charge

45:38for an intake fee of $40, um, or a

45:41processing fee of $160. So, that would

45:44be the book ends of the amount that

45:46would be charged per person as opposed

45:48to the previous agreement was $35 a

45:51trip. So, uh, this is a critical service

45:54for us to maintain. We are not in a

45:57position at this time to uh, complete

46:00this service ourselves. The reason that

46:02this is not on consent even though it's

46:04it's standard business is I do want to

46:07put it on regular agenda because it is

46:09an anticipated approximately 15 15 to

46:12$20,000 increase uh that is unbudgeted

46:15at this time and we will have to work

46:17with the police department for uh budget

46:19amendments as the year progresses. So

46:21that is the reason that this item is not

46:23on your consent agenda tonight. Chief

46:25Powell is here if you have any other

46:27questions for him. What did uh so it was

46:30originally 35? Correct.

46:32>> 35 per trip. So Okay. There and back,

46:35you know, it usually was about $60.

46:38>> About 60. And sorry,

46:40>> they're still charging per inmate.

46:41Correct. Not per transport.

46:43>> Correct.

46:44>> Okay. So if five people go up in one

46:46van, we're not It's just Sorry.

46:49>> Chief pal.

46:50>> Per inmate.

46:50>> Per inmate. Okay. Just wanted to double

46:52check with that.

46:55That's all I have.

46:57Other specific questions on the

47:00agreement

47:01>> just to elaborate. So when you say per

47:03inmate said $60 round trip, you have a

47:05van of five people.

47:07>> Yeah,

47:07>> that's what it usually.

47:08>> Pay it five times.

47:09>> Yeah.

47:09>> Yeah.

47:11>> Okay.

47:13>> Pay the higher rate five times instead

47:15of the lower rate one.

47:19>> I move to approve.

47:21>> Thank you.

47:24>> Did you do

47:25>> I move to approve? Is there a second?

47:27>> Second.

47:29[clears throat]

47:29>> That's usually the last thing.

47:30>> I know. I just I would second if we need

47:33one. I'm glad that he second.

47:35>> Any additional discussion on the

47:37agreement?

47:40Um I know there were some things in

47:42there that uh we were questioning

47:45>> um or not we not I you had reached out.

47:49Were you able to get answers on those

47:50things or is those still some things

47:52you're working through for a future?

47:55Yes, I I received clarification on a

47:57number of the questions I asked. There

47:59is still some questions that I think as

48:01we go forward, I'd like to continue to

48:04have conversations with the sheriff's

48:05office about.

48:07>> And I appreciate a manager who is coming

48:10in and signing these agreements for the

48:12first time in, you know, a long time.

48:14Um, looking those over and making sure

48:16that everything in there still makes

48:17sense,

48:20right? Any other discussion?

48:23Clerk way.

48:24>> Yes. Joe Bugan,

48:25>> yes.

48:27>> Jody Hollings,

48:29>> no.

48:32>> We Michael,

48:32>> yes.

48:34>> Jenny Seline,

48:35>> yes.

48:37>> Deputy Mayor DS,

48:38>> yes.

48:40>> Mayor Trumble,

48:41>> yes. Passes 51.

48:44That is the end of our new business. We

48:47will move into the city manager report.

48:50>> Yes, mayor. Just two brief items I

48:52wanted to bring up tonight. One is a

48:54reminder on Sep September 29th our

48:57workshop at 700 PM uh council will be

49:00engaging in a strategic prioritization

49:03discussion. So looking forward to that.

49:05Uh that will be a result of we've had

49:08several months of workshops where we put

49:10together a lot of great ideas and a lot

49:12of items that uh council would like to

49:14see put forward. So helping to craft the

49:17the way forward especially as we head

49:19into the budget season. So very much

49:21looking forward to that workshop. Uh the

49:24other item that I know is of major

49:26interest is we had issued a RFP for our

49:30salo and our zoning update that did

49:32close I believe last week or beginning

49:34of this week. Um we have received five

49:37responses to that. Staff is currently

49:39going through the process of making sure

49:42all of the documents that were required

49:44to be submitted for each one to be

49:46considered a valid submission is done.

49:48Uh and then there is a ranking that will

49:50occur based on uh a scoring chart that

49:53was put in the RFP. Uh we do anticipate

49:56to bring to council a recommendation for

49:58an award in the October November time

50:00frame with a kickoff of that project in

50:03January 2027. Uh as we go through that

50:06process, a steering committee will be

50:08established uh which will be made up of

50:11uh potentially the council member staff

50:13as well as members key stakeholders from

50:15the public may be engaged on that. So, I

50:18look forward to additional dialogue of

50:19what the makeup of that committee looks

50:21like. Um, and from a council

50:23perspective, who may be interested in

50:25participating. That concludes my report.

50:29Hallelujah. When people ask us what our

50:32priorities are, it's my last 10 months,

50:35but we're getting there. [laughter]

50:37Um,

50:39sorry. Report from the city clerk.

50:41>> Yes, mayor. Um so as you know municipal

50:44government week is coming and uh we've

50:47already started to celebrate what local

50:50government how they interact with the

50:52residents and our our students and our

50:54our uh folks who live and work and play

50:57in our city. So, um, I just wanted to

51:00share that the coloring contest started

51:03yesterday and if folks are interested in

51:07participating in the coloring contest,

51:10uh, please go to our website at

51:11morgantownw.gov

51:13and search for municipal government

51:15week. Um, I would like to share that,

51:19um, Montangelia County students in

51:21kindergarten through 8th grade,

51:23including public, private, and

51:25homeschool students, are invited to

51:26participate in this coloring contest.

51:29Um, entries will be judged in three age

51:32divisions, kindergarten through 2 grade,

51:353rd through 5th, and 6th through 8th.

51:38And uh, of course, if someone would need

51:42some printouts, please reach out to the

51:44clerk's office and we'll be glad to

51:46print some off for them. Um, I believe

51:48that uh, Shannon, our um, special

51:51projects coordinator, has already

51:52reached out to all the schools in Mon

51:54County and shared this information with

51:56them. So, we're looking forward to

51:59receiving those colored back uh, by

52:01October 8th. Um, also, um, for municipal

52:07government week, the, uh, wiener dog

52:10race, uh, that information has already

52:12been placed on our social media pages.

52:15So, if folks, um, know someone that has

52:18a wiener dog, um, and would like to come

52:20and participate, that is Thursday,

52:24October

52:2615th, so a month from today. uh that

52:28we're doing a also having a I wish I was

52:32a wiener dog race. So if you have an

52:34animal that is or a dog that's 20 pounds

52:37or less, please come. Uh we have lots of

52:40fun things um planned for that evening.

52:44Uh

52:47share with folks how they can register

52:50to vote. Uh we're taking this

52:53opportunity to uh engage our community,

52:56folks. little kids. We're letting them

52:58vote. Uh we we're making a little

53:00polling place for them. Uh so please

53:04share this information with your with

53:06your um your friends and invite them

53:08all. And uh we would love to see

53:10everyone there on October 15th. Um and

53:15then lastly, um the Police Civil Service

53:18Commission will hold their entry level

53:20police officer exam on Saturday, October

53:2224th. Uh that's at 900 a.m. So if folks

53:26are interested in applying for that,

53:28please reach out to us at the clerk's

53:30office. Uh we have a a link on our

53:33website at morgantownwb.gov

53:36uh or uh morgantown police.com. There is

53:39a button or a link to apply. So reach

53:43out. We'll help you get what you need to

53:45uh to apply for that as well. And that's

53:48it for me. Thank you.

53:50>> Report from the city attorney.

53:52>> Thank you, mayor. Uh with the council's

53:54passage on first reading of the ADU

53:56ordinance tonight, that ordinance will

53:58be referred to the planning commission

54:00for its advice on consistency with the

54:02comprehensive plan as required by state

54:05law for ordinances amending the zoning

54:07code. Uh that should be on their October

54:10meeting with the ordinance coming back

54:12to council for adoption in November uh

54:14after a public hearing and in time to

54:17take effect by the January one day by

54:20which the the state law will become

54:21effective. Uh, also with council's

54:24passage of the uh the minimal update to

54:26the plan review and permitting fee

54:28schedule, I will uh check in with

54:31communications on uh posting that notice

54:33that's required by the article 1705, the

54:36building permits ordinance update, as

54:38well as check with uh any other

54:40departments using the schedule on u the

54:43the currency of their fees and and

54:45whether they're using those categories

54:47or require any updates. I think the city

54:49manager mentioned previously that um

54:51she'd be working with staff on a a more

54:55comprehensive plan. That's all I have to

54:57report.

54:58>> Thank you. Report from council members.

55:02Councelor Hollings Head, would you like

55:03to go first so I don't forget you up

55:04there?

55:07>> Sure. Thank you, Mayor. Um the first

55:10thing I want to remind everyone today is

55:12voter registration day. Um, even if you

55:15think everything is all good for the

55:18election in November, um, go to the

55:21Secretary of State West Virginia website

55:24and, um, that'll direct you to go votewv

55:28um, to check your voter registration.

55:30So, you're good to go in November. The

55:32other thing is the annual South Park

55:35block party is this Friday. Um, the NHS

55:39band, marching band will come and kick

55:41things off at 5:30. Um, it's a pot, but

55:44there will be plenty to share. All are

55:46welcome. There's cake painting, there's

55:48DJ. Um, it'll be a lovely time. And

55:51that's all I have.

55:52>> Thank you, Councelor Abugo.

55:56>> Sure. [clears throat]

55:58Let's see. Uh,

56:02September 28th, we have the tree board

56:05as well as the neighborhood meeting that

56:07is taking place at Jack Roberts Park.

56:10No, I lied. It's not a Jack Roberts

56:12Park. It will be at MTech because they

56:14are still under construction. Uh,

56:16additionally, I would add um

56:21that we'll be discussing Halloween. And

56:23thank you to city management the

56:25neighborhood put in for our street road

56:28closure and we got that. And uh thank

56:30you to officer Balderson for calling me

56:33today. And thank you to Miss Steelely

56:35from city engineering for uh getting

56:38back to me so quickly uh with the cones

56:40that we used to shut down the street.

56:42[snorts] Um something I never thought

56:44I'd have to say, but if you see two

56:46cones in front of a road, that means

56:48that road is closed. Please don't try to

56:50drive down it. Uh I would also say

56:52please do not get out of your car to

56:54move the cone to then drive down it. Um

57:00but here we are. Uh tonight they are

57:03doing the kickoff for Hispanic Heritage

57:06Month uh at the co-op. We missed out on

57:09that and the uh raffles and tacos and

57:14music, but

57:17uh hopefully it is a huge success for

57:19them right now. Uh, and

57:24I know that we have it on our executive

57:27session, but I la I had asked last month

57:30to discuss uh an ordinance to do away

57:34with facial recognition cameras and I

57:36would like to bring that up again um

57:41because I was disappointed to not see

57:42it. So that is my report.

57:45>> Thank you.

57:47I have a few uh infrastructure uh

57:51projects to talk about. Um this coming

57:54Saturday, we will be doing uh Don Knots

57:58Boulevard and Greenbag Road between the

58:01hours of 8:00 and noon. So, if you're on

58:05uh either of those roads, try not to run

58:07over us.

58:08>> Um

58:08>> are you doing the company or the

58:10citywide cleanup?

58:11>> Uh yes, the citywide cleanup will be

58:15Sunday, correct? Saturday.

58:18>> Saturday, September 19th at 1.

58:20>> Yeah, I thought Did I get that date

58:22wrong?

58:23>> No, it's after our after we

58:25>> Ours is Saturday. Correct.

58:26>> Yeah, but the citywide Sunday.

58:28>> Saturday. Saturday. Saturday. I did mix

58:31this up.

58:31>> I just wanted to make sure you knew

58:32[clears throat] because you'll be going

58:33from like 8 to 3 at that rate. Double

58:35duty.

58:35>> Yeah. And then I got to go to work. So,

58:38um, so this there is a citywide cleanup,

58:40but that project begins at 1:00. We are

58:43all meeting at the courthouse and we'll

58:46break into uh I think I believe five or

58:49six groups. Correct me if I'm wrong.

58:52>> I know I have a team.

58:53>> Yeah, you have a group. I have a group.

58:55I think Daniel

58:56>> I do not have a group. Woodburn has our

58:58own cleanup that day.

58:58>> Ah, okay. Gosh, there's a lot of

59:00cleanups at state, guys. So, but we have

59:03a lot of uh cleanup projects scheduled

59:06for this week and um I think the DOJ has

59:10uh some more mowing projects as well. I

59:13was looking at their list. They have

59:14quite a bit actually and uh on 68 in

59:18University Avenue on the top of the

59:20hill. So, it's going to be a busy week

59:22cleaning up. So, that's all I have for

59:25tonight.

59:26>> Thank you.

59:29Um I have a constituent who is asking me

59:32questions about various um projects

59:34around town and I guess I will just

59:36forward that to you. Um the um questions

59:40were items like um

59:44working on the UN um Collins Ferry and

59:48University Avenue roundabout and um

59:52maybe completion dates and things like

59:53that. So some of these questions um are

59:56what I would have given to the previous

59:58MMO director maybe would know but we're

1:00:02kind of right in between. So anyway um

1:00:07when we find out some of those answers

1:00:09if we could just forward them to all of

1:00:11council and

1:00:13perhaps even if they're of interest to

1:00:15the public put them out to the public if

1:00:17they're if if we get some firm answers.

1:00:21um because people do want to know um

1:00:26what's going on with some of these major

1:00:27projects at major uh intersections even

1:00:30if they aren't particularly city

1:00:31projects.

1:00:33Uh I appreciate

1:00:36very much the um the work of our uh

1:00:41manager and staff um coming to the

1:00:44Evansdale neighborhood and doing a

1:00:45walkthrough. Uh, I think that the um

1:00:50I think that the neighborhood felt

1:00:52really good um afterwards because they

1:00:55got to ask their questions and even if

1:00:57we didn't have immediate answers on some

1:00:59of them at least they you know felt very

1:01:02heard. So, as we work through work work

1:01:05through some of the um specific some of

1:01:09the questions are very specific. As we

1:01:11work through the very specific questions

1:01:12and the more general questions um we

1:01:14really appreciate the collaboration.

1:01:18Uh I think

1:01:21I think that can be enough from me.

1:01:23Thank you.

1:01:26>> Thanks. Uh well on first I'll start with

1:01:29ADUs. I'm I'm happy that we were able to

1:01:32layer back in some of our original

1:01:33provisions into that ordinance. Um it's

1:01:37one of the I mean from the from the

1:01:39get-go we talk about housing and

1:01:41affordab housing affordability. This is

1:01:44was always one of the least expensive

1:01:47fastest housing supply solutions that

1:01:49council could ever approve. Um, so I'm

1:01:54glad glad we got that done at least

1:01:56through first reading and um, you know,

1:02:00it provides uh, I think it's is just

1:02:02important because it provides uh,

1:02:04options for parents and grandparents to

1:02:07live near family. It gives renters who

1:02:10may be priced out of the market u more

1:02:13options and gives homeowners another way

1:02:16to to make ends meet if uh in the fa

1:02:19we're all faced with climbing costs

1:02:21these days uh especially utility cost.

1:02:25Uh so um the the one thing I wanted to

1:02:29bring up is just in terms of next steps

1:02:31and you know hopefully once this is

1:02:34adopted I would love to see uh staff

1:02:37work towards uh a uh uh a set of

1:02:42preapproved plans for accessory dwelling

1:02:46units that that might serve to fasttrack

1:02:49things. I think it's going to be

1:02:51difficult for in terms of

1:02:53implementation, it's going to make

1:02:55implementation a lot easier. It's going

1:02:57to be difficult for homeowners, I think,

1:02:58to kind of negotiate that that learning

1:03:02curve up front. Uh I think that's

1:03:04something we could do to to to make

1:03:07things make things much that transition

1:03:09more smooth and and you know steer

1:03:12things in a direction maybe that we will

1:03:14we like uh considering that you know

1:03:19what the what the the box the foot state

1:03:21put us in. Um so uh food for thought

1:03:26there. Um

1:03:28happy to hear the update on SAO and

1:03:32zoning change the zoning change RFP and

1:03:35that that moving forward. Uh it's

1:03:38meaningful work. It's long overdue as

1:03:42the mayor pointed out. Um several of us

1:03:44have been very very much looking forward

1:03:47to uh to this and um it it has uh a lot

1:03:53of possibilities and a lot of priorities

1:03:56that uh that uh we have long been

1:04:00championing championing for this

1:04:02community.

1:04:03Um

1:04:05so um very pleased about that. Uh,

1:04:09councelor Michael will mention we'll be

1:04:11on Don Knots and Greenbag again this

1:04:13weekend. Um,

1:04:16so, uh, don't don't run over us.

1:04:20>> Yeah.

1:04:20>> Or or Buddy,

1:04:22>> uh, who's out there with us. Uh, but,

1:04:26uh, and, uh, the last thing for me is I

1:04:29had I had had a lovely time attending

1:04:31the, uh, South Hills block party on

1:04:34Sunday. Uh just wanted to say thanks to

1:04:38everyone who uh worked to organize that

1:04:41and attended.

1:04:42That ends my report.

1:04:45>> Thank you.

1:04:47>> Um couple of things that have been going

1:04:51on. We had our runway committee or

1:04:54runway extension development committee

1:04:56meeting last week um and introduced our

1:05:00new airport director to the folks on

1:05:03that committee. He's very friendly and

1:05:05knowledgeable gentleman. If you have not

1:05:07yet had the opportunity to meet him, I

1:05:09highly recommend trying to get some

1:05:11time. He seems to have a lot of good

1:05:14ideas. We're very happy to have him. Um

1:05:16I'm sure no one's happier than assistant

1:05:18manager [laughter] Maserelli, but um

1:05:21yeah, I think that I think that he will

1:05:23be good for the city and for the airport

1:05:26expansion. Um seems to seems to be on

1:05:29board. Um H3, sorry, Morgantown

1:05:33Community Resources had a meeting

1:05:37recently and um we'll meet again next

1:05:41week. But as the executive committee,

1:05:43we've been meeting and talking about

1:05:45what the warming shelter for the winter

1:05:49could look like and what the budget is

1:05:51going to be. Um, still a lot of

1:05:55questions, but things are falling into

1:05:57place and moving in the right direction.

1:05:58Just to kind of keep everyone in the

1:06:00loop on that. I'm sure I will know more

1:06:02after we have another full board meeting

1:06:06Monday, the 21st. Uh, my NLC human

1:06:11development committee met. I've been

1:06:13meeting with them a couple of times in

1:06:15committee meetings as we form our

1:06:17municipal policy for the year. Um,

1:06:22looking forward to the NLC conference in

1:06:25November to put that before the full

1:06:27board.

1:06:29um working towards things like support

1:06:32for SNAP and Medicaid um workforce

1:06:36development um federal legislation

1:06:40which I also last week had my region 6

1:06:44local elected officials meeting of the

1:06:47workforce development board and there's

1:06:51a lot of things going on with federal

1:06:54funding that helps to fund that program

1:06:57all of the programs There's a lot of

1:06:59youth programs, dislocated worker

1:07:01programs, um, veterans programs that are

1:07:05all struggling for funding. A lot of our

1:07:07staff has gone to a 4-day work week

1:07:10instead of a 5-day work week to try to

1:07:13save some admin costs. Um, but that's

1:07:17definitely going to be uh one of those

1:07:20things, you know, when when folks lose

1:07:22their job and apply for unemployment,

1:07:24they can come to this board and um get

1:07:27some new training and various skills. We

1:07:31do a lot of healthcare training. Um we

1:07:34all know there's a shortage of

1:07:35healthcare workers and now we're losing

1:07:37funding to help train them. So, uh,

1:07:39definitely something that where a couple

1:07:42of my different positions collide. Um,

1:07:45that's one of the things that my human

1:07:47development committee works on is

1:07:49workforce development and then being on

1:07:51that local regional board. Um,

1:07:55federal funding is really tough these

1:07:57days.

1:07:58Speaking of things that we missed this

1:08:00evening, councelor Abu Ganam, Bo Park

1:08:02hosted a neighborhood night at Wild Hill

1:08:05Community Center and Eureka Cafe. They

1:08:08have been closed for the last two weeks

1:08:10doing some renovations and some menu

1:08:13updates. They now sell espresso. Uh got

1:08:16got the espresso machine I've been

1:08:18asking for for 2 and 1/2 years or

1:08:20however long since Eureka opened. Um

1:08:22>> I figured she would

1:08:24>> stopped in on my way. I was there a

1:08:26little early, but they were happy to

1:08:27sell me one. I paid for it. Um also

1:08:30brought some samples that they were

1:08:32giving away. They had Chris Hadex

1:08:33playing up there this evening and giving

1:08:35away samples of some of the new

1:08:37pastries. So, brought some of those for

1:08:39you all for our long executive session.

1:08:42Um, the DO vulnerable road user site

1:08:46visits are happening this week mostly, I

1:08:50believe, Thursday and Friday. There's

1:08:52like five or six different ones,

1:08:54different places that they are meeting.

1:08:56If there's any I will look at the list

1:08:58and if there's any in your specific

1:09:00wards or if you want the whole list, I'm

1:09:01happy to send that out. But I'm not sure

1:09:03who all got those invitations.

1:09:06Um, we talked about cleanups. Woodburn

1:09:08is doing our mosaic

1:09:11um project this month and in lie of our

1:09:16normal adopt a street cleanup. I'll

1:09:19still clean the street, but we are doing

1:09:21the landscaping around our neighborhood

1:09:23signs Saturday at 10:00 a.m. if anyone

1:09:27wishes to join um before the city

1:09:30cleanup at 1. And the last thing I'll

1:09:34mention is Morgantown Forward has nearly

1:09:38finished. I hope we're finished today.

1:09:40We'll see tomorrow. um the installation

1:09:44of the public art, the mural, the fire

1:09:47hydrant. We had a memorial tree and I

1:09:50believe tomorrow a memorial bench placed

1:09:52for um a friend of ours who passed away

1:09:56was the president of Morgantown Rotary

1:09:58at the time. So we are having an event

1:10:01this weekend, Sunday, from 12 to 2 down

1:10:05there near Stanley Spot to unveil that

1:10:09public art. We will have a couple of

1:10:12local pet businesses set up and Bow Park

1:10:16will be there um taking some public

1:10:19input on future phases of improvements

1:10:23to Stanley Spot park itself. They have

1:10:26recently gone through and put in some

1:10:28new benches and a water fountain with

1:10:30the doggy bowl and picnic tables again

1:10:32that had been out of place for a while.

1:10:36um looking to see what people would like

1:10:39to to have in that dog park moving

1:10:41forward. So, join us Sunday from 12 to

1:10:452. Um

1:10:48I think that's all I have. Is there

1:10:52anything else for the good of council or

1:10:56we can move into executive session?

1:11:03>> Somebody ready to do that? Yes. Pursuant

1:11:06to West Virginia State Code section

1:11:0869A-4B2A

1:11:11to discuss personal matters for the

1:11:13boards. Oops, I skipped the wrong part.

1:11:16>> There's four of them.

1:11:18>> Oh, there's four of them. Okay. Well, I

1:11:19got it wrong.

1:11:20>> You can read that one.

1:11:21>> Personal matters for board and

1:11:23commissions.

1:11:24Legal advice related to potential

1:11:26legislation related to the use of

1:11:28cameras or technologies by the city or

1:11:31the city properties. West Virginia code

1:11:336-9A-B12

1:11:37dis discussions of acquisitions or

1:11:39development of real estate in the

1:11:41Evansdale neighborhood. It is

1:11:42anticipated the council will discuss

1:11:44this matter in executive session

1:11:46pursuant to West Virginia code 6-9A4

1:11:51B9. And lastly, discussion of

1:11:54appointment to VA vacant council seat.

1:11:57It is anticipated city council will

1:11:59discuss this item in executive session

1:12:01pursuant to West Virginia State Code

1:12:03section 6-9

1:12:06A-4

1:12:08B2A.

1:12:10>> Second.

1:12:11>> Thank you.

1:12:13>> All in favor? Yes. All right. We will

1:12:16take a brief recess and enter executive

1:12:19session.