City Council Work Session January 23, 2024

City Council Work Session January 23, 2024

Presentations were made by major grantees of funds through Council.

Horizon Behavioral Health (CEO Melissa Lucy) reported serving 12,125 clients 

61,000 in-person encounters and 44,000 through telehealth. 

Also, supporting housing concerns including assisting unhoused people in collaboration with Miriam’s House.

Central Virginai Continuum of Care (Sarah Quarantotto, Executive DIrector of Miriam’s House) reported on homelessness in Lynchbirg and the surrounding area, indicating that increased housing costs coupled with decreasing housing stock have contributed to the problem.  In addition, there is a lack of emergency shelter.

Miriam’s HOuse conducts aggressive outreach to people who are unhoused but never compels any participation, although there are only “a handful” of people who have not engaged with services offered.

Both Sterling WIlder and Stephanie Reed express appreciation and support for these efforts.

Park View Community Mission (Todd Blake, Executive Director) presented a brief concise historical overview of the development of PVCM and then mentioned the primary services offered [Community Cafe; Food for Neighbors; Food for Thought; Community Services; Clothing Connection and Life Skills Institute.

LSI provides instruction in financial literacy, job readiness including computer skills and business etiquette; a teaching kitchen; career mentoring and on-going support; bus passes and work-appropriate clothing.

There mission is to remove barriers for people to be independent. PVCM has srerved 130,000 neighbors since its inception in 2017.

Blake thanked Council for its grants of $100,000 over time which has provided more than $360,000 in income to individuals.  

In 2023, twenty-two people entered the workforce generating $360,000 in income.

Over the past two years, $2 million in individual income to 101 people was created.

Councilmember WIlder pointed out that working together works.

Mayor Reed saluted PVCM for “meeting people where they are” and “teaching men to fish, not just giving, but equipping.”

Councilmember Dolan congratulated PVCM for providing “key work” and creating “long-term transformation.”   

 

Business Items

Lead and Copper Rule Revisions require Council to conduct a public hearing to revise funding resolution passed in June 2023.  

These Rules are from the State Departrment of Health and require a timetalbe to report results of inspection of water pipe systems in the City on a revised timetable.

The new rules require the city to allocate up to $1,450,000 (up from previous allocation of $1,250,000).

Councilmember WIlder expressed support for city departments working together to accomplish compliance with new regulations. 

Councilmember Taylor asked if there is, in fact, a lead problem in Lynchburg. Staff reports that there is no lead as water leaves the filtration plants, and there is only minor concern that soem private delivery lines may contain low levels of lead. Talor then stated that this is just a move “to just appease the federal government.”

Council approved request for action on February 13 meeting.

 

Roll Call

Councilmember Wilder noted services and programs related to MLK Day, noted upcoming Race for Space featuring Lynchburg’s Leland Melvin. Also noted that 500 new winter coats had been provided to needy people by the community working together.

Councilmember Faraldi asked that staff look inot erosion at some vague location.

Mayor Reed noted that many citizens had complained about extremely high bills for AEP, and she made the point that these are not related to the city government.  This is an issue for the General Assembly.

She also highlighted her summit on human trafficking which was well attended.  She then saluted the 700 Parks & recreation programs provided, seving 7,500 participants.