City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening.

I call to order this 14 September 2026 Waynesboro City Council meeting. Mr. Wood, would you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance?

So, Councilman Sloat, as you can tell, is with us via the computer.

Item two is adoption of the meeting agenda. Is there a motion to adopt the agenda? So moved. Thank you, Mr. Short. Is there a second? I'll second. Thank you, Mr. Wood. Any discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Ayes have it, 5-0. Item three is matters from the mayor. We continue to send our heartfelt prayers to the faculty, students, and parents of Westwood Hills Elementary. Our thoughts remain with the Westwood Hills School families as you begin the healing process, and we want you to know that you are not alone during these challenging times. Council stands ready to assist the school district with any necessary enhancements to improve security at all of our schools. Ensuring the safety of our children and faculty is a priority and we are committed to working closely with you to make meaningful improvements if needed. Please know that you have our ongoing support as we move forward together. I also want to extend my sincere appreciation to the Waynesboro Police Department, the Waynesboro Sheriff's Office, the Virginia State Police, and all the other local and federal law enforcement personnel who responded so swiftly and effectively. Watching the collaboration and partnership firsthand was truly impressive and reassuring as everyone came together to protect and care for our community. Thank you again for your dedication and teamwork. Item four is matters from council.

It's been a while since we've been together, so therefore everybody should have a list, I would think. I got on September 1st, I was at the ribbon cutting for lunch or in lunch for the Dovetail Showroom, which is a new cabinet company, custom cabinet company that came to Waynesboro that's located up behind Zeus Theater. They do some fantastic work, American-made products. It's nice to see them come in. They're They have several locations around the area, so it was nice to get together with those folks, meet them. Last Friday, we had the 9-11 ceremony over at Fishburn. It was nice to see a lot of folks out there to come get up early in the morning and came out and pay our respects. And I have to say that I was asked to speak at a 9-11 ceremony up in Harrisonburg right after that. and the outpouring of support Waynesboro got from the people while I was there for what happened at Westwood, the appreciation they showed for our law enforcement, our firefighters, All of our first responders was I just wanted to pass that along the folks of Augusta County, Rockingham County. They were a lot. A lot of people were there and they all made a point to stop me and make sure I pass that along to everyone here locally. The first chance I got and I have been doing it ever since. So we can't say enough good things about our first responders. Um, and what happened on September 2nd.

I would just echo those remarks and my gratitude to our school division for operating in an awful and terrible circumstance to unite our community and bring children safely back to our school building. So our thoughts will be with them throughout this week and our community as we move forward. Jumping to a different but tangible subject to I want to just with the early voting starting on Friday the 18th wanted to make my observation about we have a 1% tax referendum on the ballot and want to take a moment to just sort of explain the circumstances with that for our community and I'm going to rinse and repeat this all the way through Election Day that Support for this referendum is, I think, vitally important for our community and to be very transparent with, I think, what some folks may say online about, you know, well, this is just another grab from Waynesboro or every other community that's taking this referendum on the ballot. To be clear, in the absence of that revenue, the burden for the high school debt service will fall on the real estate property owners in the city of Waynesboro nearly exclusively. So it's not a matter of this is in addition to, it has the potential to forego future tax increases if that passes so to be very clear it's not an extra it is in substitution of and so i want to make that clear and i'll uh i'll try to say it differently next time so it's not always the same thing every single time but that's my personal opinion just wanted to take a moment to share that

I would like to ditto basically almost everything that everyone said. Dovetail I attended. Also the 9-11 ceremonies. Also what Mr. Short said about the sales tax referendum I think is a good idea. and I'll definitely be voting for it. I also want to, I recently sent out a press release and I also want to verbally state my support for additional third party monitoring of Northrop Grumman. And if you need to reference that press release, I invite you to go out to reference my support of that. Um, and that's it. Thank you.

Councilman Sloat. Do you have anything matters from Council?

Yes. Um, as a family member, one of the students at Westwood that showed up in the midst of the chaos, I would like to personally extend my gratitude to the teachers that showed up and showed out and responded in lightning quick fashion to ensure the maximum amount of safety for our children and our community. It was extremely emotional. Dr. Castle hit the nail on the head when he said if as a human being and a person that you don't get emotional in that instance, acknowledging the gravity of what happened you know, something's not right.

So personally, as an uncle,

I can't extend enough the depth of gratitude that I have personally as a parent, as an uncle, but just as a member of the community. And to say that I'm part of representing such a great community, I'm just thankful. So I wanted to make sure that I put that out there, and I'll send it back to you.

Thank you.

Yeah, I'd be wrong if I didn't tag on there. I'm sorry, I don't mean to take so much people's time, but I think Chief Shaw, Captain Little, some of our police officers here will be the first ones to tell you we need to put out a big debt of gratitude to all the outside area law enforcement that showed up as well. Me and the mayor and the city manager were some of the first city officials there other than law enforcement, and to watch the amount of different badges and different patches roll up in there within minutes, was unbelievable. I saw Harrisonburg SWAT team member in a vest and a pair of shorts. I mean, apparently he was out with his family and heard the call and just dropped everything. So one young lady was standing in a badge I couldn't read, so I stepped a little closer, and it was alcohol beverage control officer. So we had police departments, police officers, bonded folks from... Elkton. Yeah, Elkton, Grottos, Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, Albemarle, you name it. Matter of fact, the state police first sergeant made the comment to me, and I won't tell you how fast he got here because your jaw will drop, but the first sergeant from the state police made it from Appmattox to here. That's where he got the call. So that call went out far and wide without even asking. They showed up. So we need to make sure that our outlying neighbors know how much we appreciate their help as well.

Thank you.

Thank you. Item five is consideration of the consent agenda. Is there a motion to adopt the consent agenda? I'll make the motion. Thank you, Mr. Wood. Is there a second? I'll second. Thank you, Vice Mayor Comby. Is there any discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye.

Aye.

Ayes have it 5-0. Item six is to consider adopting a resolution establishing the personal property tax rate relief for tax year 2026. Mr. Hamm.

Yes, sir. Good evening. This is the annual exercise in which the council is asked to consider a resolution establishing the rate of relief for personal property tax in our community for tax year 2026, as you stated. The qualifying rate of relief this year is 29%. Last year, the rate of relief was 30.5%. In 2004 and 2005, the General Assembly enacted legislation and budget amendments that altered significantly the manner in which personal property tax relief is administered at the local levels. This program has been around for quite some time. The local administration of the PPTRA requires that City Council adopt a resolution establishing annually the rate or percentage of relief, and that's what we're doing here this evening, or what you're asked to do this evening. The amount of personal property tax relief distributed to each locality is determined by the General Assembly and the City of Waynesboro receives $1.7 million annually until otherwise determined by the General Assembly. The rate of relief can vary from year to year and is attributable to the appreciation of value of vehicles in our community, buying and selling the market, if you will, and the trading of vehicles. Additionally, as more vehicles come into inventory in our community, that places a greater number of families or individuals qualifying for relief. The adoption of the resolution is necessary for implementation of personal property tax relief. The program is administered in the Commissioner of Revenue's office, and the council is asked to consider favorably the recommended 29% rate of relief.

Any questions for Ms. Sam? Is there a motion to consider adopting the resolution establishing the personal property tax rate of relief for tax year 2026?

I'll make the motion.

Thank you, Mr. Wood. Is there a second? I'll second. Thank you, Mr. Slope. Any discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it 5-0. Item 7 is to consider adopting an ordinance granting a conditional use permit allowing temporary special events in the RS-12 single-family residential large lot and RG-5 general residential districts at 601 Alphon Avenue, tax map number 23-1-19A and 23-1-19D, Jill Wallace, owner and applicant. Before we get to that, The applicant did send us an email that I shared with Council, has requested that the Council table this matter until January. With that said, is there a motion to table or can we proceed to the final consideration?

I make the motion to table.

I'll second. We have a motion to table and properly second. Any discussion?

Mr. May, I think just for the benefit of the conversation here is I want to make sure that folks understand the context to which the request was made and in which the applicant expressed a willing asking for counsel to help facilitate a productive dialogue amongst parties involved. And specifically given that the continued divide quote given the continued divide between Mimosa Farm and some neighboring residents that she believes additional time would allow for constructive conversations regarding neighborhood concerns possible revisions to the application and reasonable operating conditions. And so given that as I as I've said if there were I I'm at the current application I'm a no. But given that the operating under the auspices that something is reasonable, that is where I think I'd like to afford the applicant and the community an opportunity to see if that exists. As we would for any applicant that came before us requesting a zoning change or a conditional use permit, if that individual came and said, I need some time to see if I can make some revisions, to advance something that is mutually acceptable, we would afford that opportunity, and so that's the reason for my support for that.

Anyone else have any council comments?

I would like to echo Terry's sentiments on that, which is that it seems that the attempt to reach understanding that would be beneficial to the community.

I think affording more time for that is more than reasonable.

So I just wanted to put that out

And I third that too. My observations are that this thing has gotten really, really ugly. And I think whether we voted tonight or in January or whatever, I just don't see how it goes back to neighbor being friendly with neighbor. It's just a big tear right now. It's a big tear.

And I would also offer to thank you, Vice Mayor, that my observation is that, again, at 100, any variations to that of 30, 50 weddings is not acceptable to me. And I think that's where I would be a no. but saying that zero is also unreasonable. And so I think that finding that common ground and affording the opportunity for the community to have a conversation and for the applicant to have a conversation is fair and reasonable to all parties. So with that, I'll pause and call the question.

It's truly a shame it's got to this point. It truly is. The fact that neighbors can't sit down and discuss it and hash it out without it coming to this level, not even the fact that it came to city council for a conditional use permit, that it's been drug out in the newspapers, especially social media, from all angles, all sides. It's really a shame it's come to this. I really wish that it hadn't, uh, had gotten here. Um, I know I encouraged, um, a meeting amongst, um, Jill and the, uh, the group that opposes the leadership, I guess you would call it for lack of a better way of talking. And I know they sit down and I know they have one conversation. Um, I think that should have happened a long time ago and should have multiple ones before it came to this. to begin with. Um, it's been months now though. It's been months and it could have done been done better on both sides. It could have been done better on both sides.

So I've had the opportunity to speak with the applicant. Also had an opportunity to speak with, um, the neighbors. Um, and I shared with them that this is has been tough for me for a number of reasons. Um, because ultimately somebody is not going to be happy. And it was my desire that we could do this in a in a in a manner that would um satisfy both groups. I think that the opportunity to do that still exists. Uh, if we allow the table and maybe we can have some resolution that would be acceptable. I agree with with councilman short. I think that 50 100 is definitely too many. I think 50 is too many. Uh, but I think there is a number that probably would work with the neighbors, with the neighborhood and the applicant. With the right conditions. With the right conditions. Exactly. Absolutely. Right.

However the tabling vote goes or the final vote goes, I know I spoke to the applicant today, and other than what is legally allowed by any person in this room, she has definitely agreed not to do any events other than, events may be the wrong word, gatherings may be a better word, other than what is legally allowed by any person in this room. So you can only go with somebody's word of what they will do. Um, and that's kind of where we have to sit right now. Just for clarity.

Any other comments from council?

No.

All right. So we have a motion for item seven on the agenda to table that is properly second. Go ahead, Councilman.

No, you're good.

Okay. All in favor of tabling the item until the January 2027 meeting, say aye. Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Nay.

Ayes have it, 4-1. Item 8 is to hold a public hearing and consider introducing an ordinance authorizing the issuance of general obligation indebtedness in the amount of $35,250,000. Mr. Mayor, do we want to give maybe a two-minute recess?

Sure.

You're welcome.

Yes, we're taking a two minute to allow folks to dismiss themselves. Jeremy, they're leaving.

Thank you, everybody.

Okey dokey. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Thanks, sir.

Thank you.

Mr. Sloan, we left a package here for you.

I see that. Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Oh, yeah. I know.

It's not cool.

It's not who we are.

She's got some land and space and stuff like that.

But it's right in the rhythm.

It's right in the rhythm. Yeah.

Okay.

All right, we'll continue. Again, item eight is to hold a public hearing and consider introducing an ordinance authorizing the issuance of general obligation indebtedness in the amount of $35,250,000.

So yes or good evening again. If you know as the city works towards clarity on the sales tax referendum. We have several other large projects that are either wrapping up design and headed into construction or on the verge of construction and We were thinking about or Cameron was thinking about cash management and funding strategies for these projects and though we've not seen them in a while we have a partnership a relationship a business relationship with that important company so Courtney Rogers and his colleague Stephen Geist are here this evening to talk about a proposed issuance of indebtedness that will support four projects, Nature's Crossing Technology Center, a general fund economic development project, Shenandoah Village Drive upgrades, that's in our water system, sewer plant upgrades, and then finally a public works administration space. All of these projects, especially the two utility ones, are essential to delivering reliable service to the community. And each of the three of the four projects are supported by grants that are in varying stages of clarity and resolution as well. So this evening, Mr. Rogers is going to outline a recommendation in terms of indebtedness and a plan of finance. And again, I want to emphasize this. While the plan is informed by the high school project and considerations that we have to make knowing that project is underway, this funding strategy does not support that project. As I stated earlier, we're waiting for clarity on the referendum and as Mr. Short referred to, we have a separate plan of finance for that. So with that brief introduction, I'll introduce Mr. Rogers and he'll give you A VERY INFORMATIVE OVERVIEW OF THE PLAN.

GREAT. THANK YOU, MR. HAMP. YOU TOOK CARE OF THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE PRESENTATION, SO THAT'S GREAT. BUT THAT'S RIGHT. I'LL GET BACK THROUGH SOME OF IT. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL. IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THIS ROOM, BUT IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK. AND I GUESS THAT'S A GOOD THING, BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T HAD TO BORROW MONEY. I THINK THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE WAS doing some things for the school, which has been moving forward. So we've been advisors for a number of years, as Mr. Hamp mentioned, and we've been doing a lot of work behind the scenes with Cam, Cameron, and Mr. Hamp as well. And so now at Doe, as Mr. Hamp said, there's a lot of projects that are kind of in the in the works but not quite there yet and so we came up with this plan you've got about eighty two hundred million dollars of capital needs over the next two to three years as mentioned some are on general government schools utility but we're we're not going to talk really about schools tonight So essentially we came up with this plan of fancy finance that I want to go into a little bit more detail here the projects that I'm sure we're just going through. We do list the school on there want to talk more about that here in just a minute. That's where we came up with our numbers on the low in the high end in terms of our estimated need and that kind of tells you right there we don't really know what the final numbers. We're not ready to go out and borrow. We don't want to borrow too much. And so we don't really want to go out right now and borrow the full amount that we can't pay back immediately. So let's talk about schools for just a minute. As everyone knows, the General Assembly has approved legislation, allows you to take this to vote. I understand you all have moved forward with that on July 13th. and uh and so if past those revenues could fund partially or fully the uh the identified school needs uh for the high school and i know uh councilman short was talking about that a little bit earlier and i can't uh emphasize enough how you know folks like myself who don't live here but i may stop and grab gas when i'm coming through going back and forth to richmond into the western part of the state i'm going to help fund that school if this were to pass because part of that sales tax if i stop at chick-fil-a and grab something to eat You've got all the folks who are coming through here who are going to help to take some of that burden off the real estate side. So I do think it's a good thing that the state's giving you that option. So with that sort of still being, you know, we've still got some time before the election and not knowing where that is, we want to wait to come back to you with a plan of finance once we know and have some more certainty, as Mr. Hamp said. So tonight is really not about that, but just wanted to at least let you know we've been thinking about it. So what we're really talking about tonight is the other projects, the Nature's Crossing, the Shenandoah Valley Village, sorry, drive upgrades on the water side, the balance of the sewer plant, because the sewer plant has some money coming from the state, but there's still about four and a half million left that we need to finalize it, and then the public works administration space. So low end is 30 million. If you add the four and a half, it gets you to the number that we're advertising tonight, the 35 and change. The high end's 41, but working with Mr. McCormick, feel like that you've got fund balance that could carry us if we need to. Or we'll get to the point at some point where we know the final pricing on all this so we can go out and do a permanent financing. so our approach is something we've been doing for several years now in the last fifteen plus years with a lot of localities around the state where we call it just-in-time funding because what happens is you get a lot of different projects moving but you don't really know exactly when you're gonna finally get the final bids and so what we do is go out and do a line of credit for two to three years and that's basically uh... set up to where you're not paying interest on it you're only paying interest on the amount you've pulled down So it basically saves on some interest costs. You're not paying principal until you actually pay it off. So you're not paying principal before the project's even being used is kind of the thought process here. Because what happens is if we go out and we were to borrow the whole 41 million right now, yes, we can invest it, but it's gonna be a little bit lower than what we're probably gonna be borrowing it at. So you're losing money right there. And you may not need it all and then we gotta figure out how to pay it back and so they can get costly as well So once the idea is that once this line does get closer to maturity We'll have the ability to pay it down pay it off with permanent financing and that there's various ways We can do that either as a standalone geo bond issuance that you issue or go through VRA whichever we will come back to you with to tell you which one will be the lowest cost and So working with staff, we decided to send out a request for proposals. We sent it out to various national, local, regional banks looking for this short-term line of credit. We asked for two and three year rates. And then again, the number that we put it out was the 35.25 million as a not to exceed number. And so, again, as I said earlier, if the project costs exceed that and we haven't had a chance to pay it all down yet and do the permit financing, Cameron felt like we had enough fund balance, we could take care of that difference. We had some very good results, and we'll talk about that here on the next page. We ended up with six different banks that came back with different options. We had a couple fixed rates down at the bottom, but they weren't quite good enough for us. Even if the Fed is going to raise rates, and there's a chance they will this week, we felt like there are more than 50 basis points. And so we felt like this variable rate right now at a 356 based on their formula at three years with M&T Bank was the way to go. We can pay it off without any penalty. And the last column, unused fee, what that means is that some of the banks, in TD Bank's case, they were going to charge 13 basis points on the amount you hadn't drawn. So day one, if you haven't drawn any dollars yet, you'd be paying 13 basis points on $35 million. And while that's not a huge number over the course of a year, we were hoping not to get any. And in this case, we actually got a bid with no unused fee. And you can see about 14 basis points better than the TD Bank. So that's one of the reasons, a couple of reasons there. So what happens is, again, this is going to be variable month to month. It's tied to the SOFR rate, which is called secured overnight financing rate. You might remember LIBOR, that went away. This is the new rate the banks use. And so it pretty much tracks, and you can show in the graph, it pretty much tracks the Fed funds rate, which is the overnight borrowing rate. So yes, it will go up if the Fed raises it, which is a chance this week they might do that. But even then, It's still outperforming the trade options that we have. So again, it's currently a 356. Again, it would be the overnight SOFR plus 84, and then they multiply it by a factor of 79%. There's no unused fee. We can pay it off at any time without penalty, and so that's why we're recommending to move forward with M&T. It is the best rate that we got. It doesn't have an unused fee, and we can pay it off without penalty at any time. So again, this is the first reading, the public hearing here, an introduction of the ordinance. We'll come back on the 28th and ask, you'll have actual legal documents in front of you with a not-to-exceed number that will enable us to go forward. And then on October 13th, roughly, we would close on that note basically any funds that maybe Cameron's already pulled down. He can reimburse himself with some of those proceeds and then continue these projects and let them keep going. And then once we have, again, at some point in the future, we have a better sense of the final numbers. And if we like where interest rates are, we might come back to you before the final maturity and actually pay it off. But that's something we'll be monitoring along the way. Happy to answer any questions you might have.

Any questions?

What's the frequency for the reset on the variable? It's basically a month, monthly. Month to month? Yes, sir. Of course, with uncertainty, right? Sure.

We could have locked in that rate there, which was just under 50 basis points with one of them, but it had a prepayment penalty. So that can really offset the cost, depending upon where we are. At the very bottom of the page, you'll see a fixed rate that didn't have a penalty, but it was a little over 50 basis points. I mean, right now the market's kind of got a quarter in for sure before the end of the year. Maybe there's another quarter. It depends on, frankly, it depends on us getting, I think, taking care of business overseas and getting that out of the way.

Right, right, yeah. Yeah, that's part of the uncertainty I was talking about.

Absolutely. All right, thank you. That has been a driver in our market, in our interest rate market.

Yeah, and it's one of those things that we're just going to have to almost do a check-in month to month.

The great thing is we've got the ability to pay it off if we need to. The other thing is, I will say this, our tax exempt rates, which is what we would do if we were permanently financing it, is as high as they've been in a long time. So this may not be a bad play. While we might be paying a little bit higher interest on the short term for the short run, by the time hopefully we have a better sense of what the costs are, hopefully rates will be back down.

I like your optimism.

Any other questions? Any questions? Councilman Slope?

No, sir. Thank you.

Thank you. I hear about opening a public hearing.

Okay. Eric Tronovich.

Everyone I just wanted to share that I do not share that optimism. I mean we've seen how high rates of a change in adjusted over the last 2 years in housing and everything else putting us on the hook for 35 million dollars at a rate that we really don't know what it's going to be you're just putting more pressure on the citizens because what if that jumps to 7% right then we're talking about more property tax increases and everything else on top of the one percent you already want us to pay for the school i think looking at other options i mean this to me feels like we're leasing a car because we can't afford the payment and then we're going to do a five-year loan at the end of the lease term so we can keep that car it just doesn't seem to make a lot of sense i like the idea of a line of credit but a variable rate i think could get us in a lot of trouble and then we're all on the hook for it when you guys are moving on to other things so thank you that's it

I hereby close the public hearing. Is there a motion to introduce the ordinance? So moved. Thank you, Mr. Short. Is there a second?

No second.

Thank you, Mr. Wood. This ordinance will receive final consideration at the September 28th meeting. I'm honest to consider reappointing individual to the planning commission for 4 year term ending August 31st 2030 is a motion to reappoint Mister will Floyd to a 4 year term ending August 31st 2030 like that much. Thank you Mister short is the second. Thank you Mister would have a discussion.

You missed it Mister slope sorry.

All in favor say aye aye aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it, 5-0. Item 10 is to consider reappointing two individuals to the Board of Building Code Appeals each to a five-year term ending August 31st, 2031. Is there a motion to reappoint Mr. Ian Hudlow and Mr. Tom Elliott to the Board of Building Code Appeals each to a five-year term ending August 31st, 2031? I'll make that motion. Thank you, Mr. Short. Is there a second? Second. Thank you, Mr. Wood. Any discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed? Aye. 7-5-0. Item 11 is communication correspondence and calendar. Mr. Hemp?

Yes, sir. I have two brief items. In addition, I'd like to add some expressions of gratitude in addition to the ones members of council provided. I'd like to specifically thank the members of our emergency operations center, those that are the 911 communicators who provided who are constantly communicating with law enforcement and rescue and fire individuals. I know that we think about them, but I know it's also important to mention them specifically when we're thanking folks, so I'd like to include those. Additionally, that effort and response received support along the way from our Parks and Recreation Department and our Public Works Department. I just want to say thank you. Part of the remarkable experience was, in addition to the first responders and law enforcement response, the other members of the municipal team that showed up and helped in small but important ways, friends at EOC, that does not include you, should be recognized for their work as well. Additionally, Mr. Short did a great job of sharing information about the upcoming referendum. There are information sheets at the back of the room. If you'd like to know more about that, I encourage you to take those and be on the lookout. The municipal staff will be working up other communication pieces and different media as we approach election day. That's all I have this evening.

Thank you, Sam item 12 citizen comment. Yes, sir.

Andrea Jackson.

Good afternoon. Uh, I just wanted to say one is like, um, the people was doing the mimosa, uh, vote. Now I thought that was very, uh, entitled and rude. Um, y'all have, uh, plenty of times not ruled in my favor. And sometimes we have to listen to what's going on. And I thought maybe they would, they should look back at how they act and interact with the community. And like y'all say, I hope that situation pads itself out. Also, there's a lot of issues going on, and I find that there's a lot of uproar about that, but we should be focusing on a lot of other things, and especially we're having a hearing about the DEQ, about the Northrop Grumman tomorrow, and the Waynesboro High School. I hope everybody comes and also is excited about that. As a Ward A resident, I want to thank Lori for her statement and her support for having TO LOOK MORE INTO THE SITUATION. I KNOW THAT TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THAT DEAL CAME ABOUT, IT WAS VERY UNDERCOVER AND NOT TRANSPARENT. AND I HOPE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL KIND OF LEARN FROM THAT AND IF THEY ARE BRINGING different buildings or different building businesses to the Waysboro that they have enough confidence in the community to let the community know and also be aware of it because North Carolina is one of the fourth largest military or weapons manufacturer and uh polluted and so i don't know maybe at the time when y'all approved that deal i think maybe you didn't have all of the information and in this two years maybe the three who are currently now on the um the the uh the council can kind of redeem themselves and listen to the community and listen to the concerns because at this point i'm quite confused because yes we want economic uh development here, but I just read an article that said that tourism and business went up in 2025. So I don't understand how with nature being a main factor of the appeal of Waynesboro and how to draw people here for tourism, Also, in the same hand, we would want to pollute, you know, our our city as well as, you know, the parks around us and all of our citizens discern deserve water, clean water and air. And we deserve to have even if we cannot stop this, deserve to have adequate OVERHAUL AND OBSERVATION OF THIS COMPANY. BECAUSE IT'S A VERY KNOWN POLLUTOR. THIS IS HAVING A THING WHERE THEY SELF REGULATE THEMSELVES IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE. And I'm asking y'all as a citizen to maybe reconsider this and ask the DEQ commission yourselves to try to have external regulations and maybe to rethink the current WHAT IS IT THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR? PERMIT THAT THEY'RE SEEKING. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING ON. I ALSO WANT TO THANK AGAIN CITY COUNCIL LORI ALWAYS STANDING UP FOR THE CITIZENS AND HER AWARD AND ALSO COMING TO THE LAST DEQ FORUM AND I ENCOURAGE all of the three city councils that did vote for that to go tomorrow and at least stand on your decision of what you did. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay. Nick Patler.

Thank you so much and thank you honorable vice mayor for your recent press release regarding Northrop Grumman and their permit. Thank you. My name is Nicholas Patler and I'm a resident of Waynesboro. We here in Waynesboro and the surrounding area want safe air and water for our families and children and this is just such a basic request. Unfortunately, Northrop Grumman has compromised the water and air in many communities. One such example, which you probably heard quite a bit about, was in Bethpage, New York, where the company was aware that toxic chemicals were polluting the area, but chose to hide this information. As a result, residents suffered from cancer, while Northrop Grumman did everything possible to avoid accountability. Thus, Northrop Grumman and Waynesboro must involve us all. We urge you to work with us and DEQ in creating responsible steps to effectively monitor and manage pollution from Northrop Grumman with independent oversight as well as input from us, from the community that you serve. And this is the very least we can do. But as important as our environment is, when will the well-being of our global neighbors truly be of concern? When will their horrific suffering matter? While clean air and water is important to us, Northrop Grumman poses a significant threat to human life around the world, especially to some of the most impoverished and vulnerable populations whose lives and living spaces are devastated by their killing technology. Northrop Grumman's profit model, similar to others in the defense industry, relies heavily on war and conflict. And I know you may think that Northrop Grumman makes products that protects and enhances our troops, and that may be part of what they do. But according to none other than Military.com, a website run by veterans and defense experts, and yes, there's a lot of veterans and defense experts that are not happy with the unaccountable power of our weapons industry, but according to them, Northrop Grumman wields troubling influence over U.S. foreign policy, promoting military intervention and conflict. The multi-billion dollar company advocates for excessive investment in military technology and lobbies the government in Washington. And they're one of the most powerful lobbyists in the United States in Washington. But they lobby them to stimulate arms sales worldwide because their profits and shareholders are more important than human lives. Which, by the way, they inadvertently acknowledge in a filing with the Security Exchange Commission in 2023. This is tragic. Thus, by promoting weapons and conflict, they're also pushing for scenarios that actually put our American troops in harm's way and untold numbers of others. And you know, God have mercy, profiting from killing and destruction should be a burning moral and ethical issue above all else, even more critical than the potential environmental impact on a specific area. I wish we in the Waynesboro community could demonstrate to the world that we're taking a stand against a massive corporation that contributes to global killing fields and find creative ways to remove their presence from our community despite the fact that their facility is already built. But at the very least, at the very least, we can... At very least, which is still a failure because Waynesboro will now become complicit in an industry that contributes to the deaths and sufferings of millions. But at the very least, we can do is to have responsible, independent environmental oversight and monitoring of north of Grumman. Thank you.

Donnie McClanahan.

I want to thank the council. This is my first city council meeting, so I got to attend an exciting one tonight. And I realize that you all are almost in an impossible position with some of the measures that are on the agenda. Tax increases will never be popular with myself. I'd rather always try to cut or move money from somewhere else. But as opposed to a property tax, I would oppose it. I prefer a sales tax to a property tax in all situations. I'm new resident to the area. My family's been here for a couple years. We transferred from Tennessee to up here. It's obviously different and similar at the same time. I also value personal property rights. One of the reasons I chose Waynesboro as a place to live. So I appreciate the process that the City Council has for a variance, for it to be able to have a conditional use permit for a piece of property that is not conforming to what the existing zoning would be. And I think that's valuable because not every situation can have a strict guideline that fits everybody. So I do think it's important, and I understand, I think, Mr. Wood, you had a good point about that, that both sides could have done better prior to here. As a small business person myself, when I started my business here in Waynesboro as a home based business, I checked the codes. I checked what the zoning was. I filed my permits with the city and got my paid my fees before I conducted any business. So I think that's very important. But like I said, I also struggle with the fact that when you have a unique property like what the most of arms is that there should be some variance in there that allows for the person to still do some of what they're doing ultimately like you said nobody's going to be completely happy and probably everybody's going to be blame the council for it whether no matter what side you're on And I could support a variance myself, personally, me and my family as voters, as long as there's reasonable restrictions on that. My biggest fear with the resolution as it is written is that there's too much gray area between what counts as an event and what if those events change over time. And that's where I think in good faith for Jill's part, that if we narrowed that down, I think that helps. And it's what Mr. Wood said, refraining from doing any events in the meantime would also be a good show of goodwill to that. But myself living less than a mile away from there, my biggest concern is at least that the traffic poles at the end of Bader Avenue get replaced so we don't have the left turn out of there. Because I don't want people cutting through my street just to be able to go to her place. business at that point. But to that effect, I also understand that for economic growth like Northrop Grumman, if people do not want to pay higher taxes or we don't want to have lines of credit, which I think credit during inflationary times is actually not a bad thing. We have to have economic development and we have companies that have bad people that are good companies and we have good companies that have we have bad companies that employ good people. So I think oversight is the best position we could have with a company like Northrop Grumman. But we need high paying jobs. We need economic development. Otherwise, the tax burden for the growing population is burdened on me as a property owner. And that's the tough decision that you all have to make and decide. So I commend all of you no matter whether you support or don't support it. So I just wanted to voice my general support for that. But my opposition to the ordinance has written for Mimosa Farms that it needed to be changed. Thank you.

Thank you.

Ellen O'Hanlon.

Good afternoon, Council.

First, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Mr. Short for bringing to us in light of the new 1%. I think you really shined a great light on that. It gave me a lot of education and i've already talked to 10. oh good okay i gave everybody an assignment also i want to say i know it's difficult with mimosa farms in the neighbors i know you're in a difficult position and i appreciate all the all of you that attended the meetings on your own time i just wanted to let you know i appreciate that and in light of having the school situation i think it was stellar that you showed up thank you

Max daggy.

Well honorable counsel this is my first time being a city council meeting for Waynesboro and I'd like to echo some of the sentiments of my colleagues here about the north of Grumman and the Department of and the DQ permit that is currently waiting approval. I learned today at the press conference that the amount that they say that will be the amount of pollutants that they say will go into the air is just under the amount that would require them to have a more strict type of permit which is a 25 tons and above pollution versus under that they're claiming it'll only be 24.9 tons and My request to this council will be that if some kind of verification or analysis of their pollution shows that it goes even one pound above 25 tons, will that air permit be reconsidered? And we also heard just now that In other places in Virginia, there has been a history of Northup Grumman fudging these numbers to make it sound like things are not as bad. I wanted to cite another example elsewhere in the country. In the San Fernando Valley in California, Northup purchased a property that was another facility in about 2001. And over 23 years, it was found that there was contaminated groundwater under 3,200 properties in that San Fernando town area in a 2.4 mile by 1.8 mile radius, which is about double the size of the actual town itself. And Northup also did their own analysis and found nothing wrong, of course. And I'm echoing the sentiments of my colleagues here in that independent verification is utterly crucial so that we can both keep the nature in Waynesboro and the surrounding area as a popular tourist attraction while also making sure Northup keeps their promises that they will in fact pollute less than 25 tons per year. It is extremely important that third-party verification be used for this as they have a history. There's a specific legal case regarding that San Fernando case that was called Behar et al versus Northup Grumman Corporation et al. And this is the case that went over all of those things that I just mentioned. And Northrop's legal team never commented on that. And the problem is still going on there today. And it would be unfortunate if Waynesboro were to encounter a similar problem over the next several decades. So I would ask that you consider independent verification and analysis of their pollution beyond trusting Northrop at their work. Thank you.

Thank you.

Eric Tronovich. I have nothing additional. Perry Meldon.

Thank you, Council. My name is Perry Meldon, and I'm a resident of Waynesboro. First, I also want to echo thanks to Vice Mayor Aconby, not only for your public statement, but also for meeting with me a couple of weeks ago as I relayed some of the concerns that many of us in this room and outside earlier shared. My husband and I moved to Waynesboro a little over two years ago. We knew about the DuPont Superfund disaster, and we checked air and water quality here in Waynesboro before deciding to call this home, and we're really glad we did. We've loved to see the wetland down by the Greenway get built along with the playgrounds. We've connected with our neighbors here, including neighbors here with very deep roots, and have really appreciated learning from them. We live in the tree streets, and from what I understand, prevailing winds from Northrop Grumman would aim in our direction. I think about the children who ride their bikes and play basketball in front of our house. My husband and I plan on raising a child in the coming years. And I don't like knowing that that child could be exposed to 24.9 tons of emissions, which are somehow considered safer than the 25 ton DEQ limit. But what I'd really like to point out this evening is a hypocrisy that I feel that we saw tonight around Mimosa Farm, that they were granted an opportunity. Mimosa Farm was granted an opportunity to apply for a permit, and Waynesboro residents were allowed to weigh in. But my neighbors who were here in 2023, when three council members in the state and economic development agreed on a deal to welcome Northrop Grumman, my neighbors here were not allowed to weigh in on that decision that was made. Had they been given that opportunity, they could have asked the questions that we three years later are asking. Three years after Northrop Grumman has now applied for an air permit and the facility has already been built. Some of the questions I just want to raise now that I hope that if city council has not already looked into that they are considering, Did City Council know what kind of production would occur at the Northrop Grumman plant when it was welcomed in 2023? What happens after the 15-year lease that Northrop Grumman currently has? Who will be responsible for any unintended environmental consequences like the contaminated groundwater that was just mentioned? And ultimately, I think our big question is, how can we prevent rather than respond to another DuPont disaster. Thank you.

Thank you.

That's it. I'm 13 is a close meeting that's requested by the city manager on the code of Virginia section 2.2-3711A3. Is there a motion to go

Mayor, I move to recess into a closed meeting in order to consult with city attorney regarding specific legal matters requiring a provision of legal advice relating to new legislation and threatened litigation. For such consultation, an open meeting would adversely affect the city's negotiating and litigating posture as authorized by Sections 2.2-3711A7 and 8 of the Virginia Code.

Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you, Mr. Schultz. This requires a roll call vote. Ms. Bortle? Mayor Lee? Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Well, that wasn't on my bucket list for my bingo card for the week.

I hope that went out on YouTube.

Is there a motion to return to open session and certify the closed meeting?

Mr. Mayor, I move to adopt the following resolution. Whereas the City Council of Waynesboro has convened in a closed meeting on this date pursuant to affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, and whereas Section 2.2-3712 of the Code of Virginia requires certification by this City Council that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia law, Now, therefore, be it resolved that the City Council of Waynesboro hereby certifies that, to the best of each member's knowledge, one, only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting to which this certification resolution applies, and two, only such business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed, or considered by the City Council of Waynesboro.

Thank you. Is there a second? I'll second. Thank you, Mr. Sloat. Cards roll call spoke, Mr. Bortle. Aye.

Aye.

That's you, Jeremy. Okay.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye. We are in open session. Item 14 is adjourned. Is there a motion to adjourn?

I make a motion.

Thank you, Mr. Sloan. Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you, Vice Mayor Comey. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. We are adjourned. Thank you, Chairman. Aye.