[Call to Order]
[00:01:07]
SUPERVISORS WORK SESSION OR MEETING A CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER PLEASE ROLL CALL.
NO, I'LL READ THE STATEMENT FIRST.
ANYWAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MR. SHEPHERD IS PARTICIPATING REMOTELY THIS EVENING BECAUSE OF A TEMPORARY MEDICAL CONDITION OF A FAMILY MEMBER THAT NECESSITATES HIS ABSENCE AS PERMITTED BY CODE OF VIRGINIA.
SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 0 8 0.2 AND THE BOARD'S RULE OF PROCEDURE ONE DASH NINE PROPER NOTIFICATION WAS GIVEN TO THE BOARD CHAIR AND ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR MR. SHEPHERD'S VOICE TO BE HEARD IN THE ROOM.
MRS. NO HERE MR. GREEN, MR. RON, MR. SHEPHERD, MADAM CHAIRMAN, YOU HAVE A QUORUM.
[1. Proposed Fiscal Year 2023 Budget and Tax Rates. Consider adoption of proposed Ordinance No. 22-9 to impose tax levies upon tangible personal property, upon machinery and tools, upon mobile homes, and upon real estate for calendar year 2022; and proposed Resolution R22-77 to approve the budget and appropriate funds for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2022, and ending June 30, 2023. a. Memorandum from County Administrator. b. Proposed Ordinance No. 22-9. c. Proposed Resolution R22-77. ]
I'M CHANGING THE AGENDA A LITTLE BIT.THEY WEREN'T GOING TO, FIRST OF ALL, UH, DO THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2023 BUDGET AND TAX RATES.
SO IF THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS BY THE BOARD BEFORE WE BEGIN, COOL, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO RECEIVE A PRESENTATION BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR? ONE, TRADITIONALLY WE DON'T AT THIS TIME ON CERTAINLY AVAILABLE TO DISCUSS ANYTHING.
SO WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT? THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM? IS THAT BEFORE THE LORD RIGHT NOW, THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE SEPARATE SECTIONS AND I'M LOOKING AT THE FIRST ONE, THE BILL, THE STATE TAX RATE, 78 CENTS.
THAT'S THE FIRST OF ALL, IF THE EXISTING TAX RATE IS 79.50 CENTS PER $100 WORTH OF ASSESS VALUE.
I THOUGHT DURING OUR DISCUSSION OF THE LAST TIME WE MET THAT WE, UH, TALKED ABOUT A 74 CENT TAX RATE, WHICH WOULD HAVE BROUGHT, I THOUGHT, WHICH WOULD HAVE BROUGHT THE INCREASE IN REAL ESTATE TAX INCREASES ON A PAR WITH, UH, WHAT IT WAS BEFORE THIS TAX RATE.
IN OTHER WORDS, TO REFLECT ZERO TAX RATE TO THE, TO THE PROPERTY OWNER, UH, IT WOULD HAVE TO DROP THE 74 CENTS PER 100.
THAT WOULD BE THE EQUALIZED RATE, WHICH WOULD NOT ALLOW THE COUNTY TO, UH, HAVE THE INFLATIONARY INCREASE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY NEEDED TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
TO GIVE US PERHAPS A REVIEW PUBLIC WHAT'S DRIVING THE 4 CENTS.
SO, UM, THE, THE, THE COUNTY'S REAL ESTATE TAX RATE IS THE LOWEST OF ANY PENINSULA COMMUNITY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WILLIAMSBURG, WHICH IS A MUCH DIFFERENT SITUATION.
UM, WE WERE ABLE TO RECOMMEND, UH, A SMALL REDUCTION ONE AND A HALF CENT FROM 79.5 TO 78.
UH, AS WE DISCUSSED IN ONE OF THE WORK SESSIONS, IF WE HAD, UH, SERIOUSLY ENTERTAINED GOING TO 74 CENTS A, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN, UH, LOOKING AT A, A $5 MILLION, UH, UH, REDUCTION IN SPENDING AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE CAN PICK THEIR POISON ABOUT WHAT ON THE SPENDING SIDE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE AWAY WITH, BUT THE CHOICES WERE BASICALLY THE CAPITAL BUDGET, THE SCHOOLS OR COMPENSATION.
AND I DIDN'T FIND ANY OF THOSE TO BE, UH, SATISFACTORY.
AND I, I HAVE A SENSE THAT THE BOARD AGREED WITH ME ON THAT.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I REMEMBER THE DISCUSSION, BUT WHETHER WE WILL AGREE ON THAT ISSUE, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, AS I READ OVER THE BUDGET AND I CAME INTO THE BUDGET WITH AN OPEN MIND, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT PEOPLE DONE ON THE BUDGET, I'M PR I'M PREPARED TO SUPPORT THE BUDGET.
IT PROVIDES FOR MORE FIRE AND LIFE
[00:05:01]
SAFETY PERSONNEL PROVIDES FOR SOME MORE DEPUTIES THAT WE NEED.AND IT PROVIDES FOR SOME COMPENSATION TO, UH, WITH THEIR LOW TO MIDDLE LEVEL EMPLOYEES WHO, UH, YOU KNOW, REALLY GETTING HURT BY THIS INFLATIONARY PROCESS.
AND, UH, NEXT YEAR, UH, I'M PREPARED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BUDGET AGAIN AND, UH, SEE IF WE CAN'T, UH, DROP THE TAX RATE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
BUT, UH, RIGHT NOW I THINK WE'VE GOT A GOOD BUDGET.
WE DROPPED THE TAXES AND WE'RE, UH, SUPPORTING AIRA COUNTY AND OUR, UH, MR. GREEN, ARE YOU GOOD WITH THE ORDINANCE? I WILL MOVE ORDINANCE, BUT WE'RE OKAY.
WELL, TWO, TWO THINGS, ONE MY TAKE AWAY IS THAT 4 CENT DIFFERENCE STARTS TO APPROACH THE INFLATION THAT WE ARE DEALING DEALING WITH.
I DON'T THINK IT MATCHES THE INFLATION RATE ON IT.
SO MY CONCERN WOULD BE, IF YOU TAKE THAT AWAY, WE WILL BE REALLY BEHIND THE CURVE AS FAR AS KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION AND THEN NOT BE ABLE TO MEET OUR LIABILITIES AND DEBTS.
UM, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO ASK IS, UM, READING THE TEA LEAVES AND RICHMOND A WE, HOW ARE WE FEELING ABOUT WHERE THAT BUDGET MAY GO AND ANY CONCERNS WE MAY SHORTFALLS WE MAY FACE DEPEND ON ANY WELL IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
WE CAN TEND TO NOT REALLY KNOW, UH, AS WE'VE BEEN SAYING SINCE THE BUDGET WAS PRESENTED, UH, OUR HOPE IS THAT EITHER THE ONE SET LOCAL GROCERY TAX WILL SURVIVE, WHICH IS $3 MILLION IN OUR GENERAL FUND, OR IF IT DOESN'T THAT BECAUSE THE STATE HAS, IS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE RIGHT NOW THAT AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, THEY WILL PROVIDE SUBSTITUTE REVENUE.
IF I HAD TO BET, I THINK THAT'S THE MOST LIKELY OUTCOME DOWN THE ROAD.
I STILL THINK THAT REVENUE IS THREATENED BECAUSE THE NEXT TIME THERE'S, UH, SOME ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, YOU KNOW, THAT MONEY WILL BE AT RISK.
UH, BUT TRUTHFULLY, IF, UH, IF THE STATE BOTH ELIMINATES THE GROCERY TAX AND FAILS TO PROVIDE SUBSTANTIVE, UH, REVENUE, I WOULD BE NEEDING TO COME BACK WITH AN AMENDED BUDGET.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON THE SUBJECT?
SO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 7% LESS, THE 2% THAT WE KNOCKED IT DOWN WITH THE REAL ESTATE RATE CUT.
SO TH THE 74 CENTS RATE THAT WE AT LEAST TALKED ABOUT THE LAST TIME WOULD HAVE ZEROED OUT FOR MOST PEOPLE, THE TAX INCREASE.
SO THE REAL REAL ESTATE TAX ONE.
OH, SO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN A IN NOMINAL TERMS. IT WOULD HAVE ZEROED IT OUT IN REAL DOLLARS.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TAX RATE.
WHAT, I THINK THIS IN THIS READING, BUT, UH, THE PROPOSED, UH, FISCAL YEAR BUDGET FOR 2 20, 23 COMPARED TO THIS YEAR, BUT WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
UM, WELL, THE GENERAL FUND GOES UP BY, UH, APPROXIMATELY 9%.
UM, I DON'T HAVE THE MATH EXACTLY IN FRONT OF ME, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING ON THE ORDER OF 10 OR $11 MILLION THERESA, IS THAT CLOSE? OKAY.
UM, SO THAT WOULD BE YOU, THAT WOULD BE THE GENERAL ANSWER.
HOW DO THESE NUMBERS AFFECT THE SCHOOL DIVISIONS? OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL DEPENDS.
SO OUR INCREASE IS $1.8 MILLION, UH, WHICH THE SUPERINTENDENT, UH, THOUGHT WAS ADEQUATE MOSTLY BECAUSE THE STATE HAS BEEN PRETTY GENEROUS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THIS BUDGET.
FOR THE MOST PART, THAT PART OF THE STATE BUDGET DOES NOT SEEM TO BE, YOU KNOW, UP FOR, UH, UP FOR CONCERN.
SO AS A PROPORTION OF OUR NEW REVENUE, WE PROVIDED THE SCHOOLS WITH LESS THAN I WOULD SAY, AN AVERAGE OR COUNTY BUDGET YEAR.
AND TO WHAT EXTENT, IF ANY, DID HAVE REFLECT THE CHANGE IN THE SCHOOL POPULATION? UM, WELL, UH, THE SCHOOL POPULATION INCREASED BY ABOUT 500 FROM THE YEAR BEFORE, BUT OF COURSE FROM THE YEAR BEFORE THAT IT WAS DOWN BY A THOUSAND, BUT WHO COVID.
SO YOU HAD A, YOU HAD SORT OF A PEAK AND A DIP AND IT'S STARTED TO RETURN.
SO THE NET INCREASE WAS A MINUS 500, I GUESS, UH, SO FAR, WHETHER THAT'S A PERMANENT TREND OR JUST, YOU KNOW,
[00:10:01]
A LITTLE BIT OF A LAG IN PEOPLE RETURNING TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS A LITTLE BIT UNCLEAR.UH, BUT YOU KNOW, BIG PICTURE OF THE PROPORTION OF STATE REVENUE TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, UH, RELATIVE TO COUNTY, UH, REVENUE WAS, WAS HIGHER IN THIS BUDGET, UH, THAN WE'VE SEEN IN SEVERAL YEARS.
WHAT'S THE AVERAGE PAY INCREASE SO THAT, UH, YOU, THE ADMINISTRATOR AND THE, UH, SUPERINTENDENT ARE PROPOSING TO YOUR RESPECT SPORTS.
SO, UH, IN THE SUPERINTENDENTS AND THE SCHOOLS APPROVED BUDGET, THEY HAVE THE 5% RAISE, WHICH WAS PARTIALLY FUNDED IN THE STATE BUDGET.
AND THEN THEY HAVE SOME SPECIAL ADJUSTMENTS FOR SPECIALIZED CATEGORIES OF EMPLOYEES.
I'M NOT, I CAN'T ARTICULATE ALL OF IT.
UH, IN OUR CASE, AS YOU KNOW, IT WAS 5% PLUS AN ANNUALIZED $1,500, WHICH IS, DO WE EVERYBODY, OR EVERYBODY IN GOOD STANDING AS I'LL THINK ABOUT IT THIS YEAR, BUT BY NOW, NO.
BUT MR. GREEN WOULD LIKE TO, WOW.
I WILL MOVE THE ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT DROPS THE RATE.
UM, WE DON'T LIKE WE WENT TO SLEEP.
THIS IS ANYWAY, THE DROPS, THE RATE PROVIDES MORE MONEY FOR EDUCATION, PROVIDES MORE FIREFIGHTERS AND DEPUTIES, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND IT TAKES CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
I THINK THE, THE RATES, RIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT NEXT YEAR AGAIN, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN, UH, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE SOME MORE RELIEF.
UM, THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT I LOOK AT EVERY YEAR, IF WE CAN DROP THAT.
SO HAVING SAID THAT I'D LIKE TO MOVE ORDINANCE 22 DASH NINE, THE MOTION MADE BY MR. GREEN IS TO ADOPT PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 22 DASH NINE TO IMPOSE TAX LEVIES FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2022.
MR. ZAREMBA, I MEAN, LET ME EXPLAIN WHY I'M VOTING.
WELL, IT'S CERTAINLY, IT'S CERTAINLY, IT'S JUST THE ENTIRE COUNTY EMPLOYEES STAFF.
BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THE 70,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE TAXPAYERS, AND I THINK THAT WE CAN GO DOWN AND MORE THAN TWO 78 CENTS PER $100 WORTH OF SET THAT'S VALUE.
AND SO THAT'S THE RATIONALE FROM, I KNOW.
NOW I'M ASKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE.
THE FUNDING THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF PROPOSED RESOLUTION ARE 22 DASH 77.
THE MOTION MADE BY MR. GREEN IS TO ADOPT PROPOSED RESOLUTION NUMBER R 22 DASH 77 TO APPROVE THE BUDGETS AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING, JULY 1ST, 2022 AND ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2023.
MR. GREEN, MR. ROAN, MR. SHEPHERD.
CAUSE THERE'S A THAT QUICK QUESTION.
THE ADMINISTRATOR, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM AND THIS AGENDA ITEM, THE ORDINANCE IS REQUIRED FOR THE TAX RATE.
THE RESOLUTION IS THE ACTUAL WORD APPROPRIATION OF THIS.
[2. Proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2028 Capital Improvements Program. Consider adoption of proposed Resolution R22-78 to adopt the FY2023-2028 Capital Improvements Program as a long-range planning document. a. Memorandum for County Administrator. b. Proposed Resolution R22-78. ]
WOULD BE A PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR, 2023 TO 2028 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM.ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS SUBJECT? WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT ACROSS THE TABLE FROM ME.
I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FYI 23 DASH 28 CIP TO THE ADOPTION OF PROPOSED RESOLUTION OR 22 DASH 78.
THE MOTION MADE BY MR. SHEPHERD IS TO ADOPT PROPOSED RESOLUTION OR 22 DASH 78 TO ADOPT THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2023 THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2028.
MR. RON, MR. SHEPHERD, MR. ZAREMBA, MR. GREEN.
[3. Designation of Real Property Tax for School Purposes. Consider adoption of proposed Resolution R22-79 to designate a portion of the real property tax for school purposes. a. Memorandum from County Administrator. b. Proposed Resolution R22-79. ]
GET DOWN TO THE DESIGNATION OF REAL PROPERTY TAX FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES.ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS SEEING NONE I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION TO DESIGNATE A PORTION OF THE REAL PROPERTY TAX FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES, TO THE ADOPTION OF PROPOSED RESOLUTION, OUR 22 DASH 79 WE'LL CALL PLATES.
THOSE ARE MADE BY MR. SHEPHERD IS TO ADOPT PROPOSE RESOLUTION R 22 DASH 79 TO DESIGNATE A PORTION OF THE REAL PROPERTY TAX FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES.
[00:15:01]
YES.MR. ZAREMBA, MR. GREEN, MR. ROWAN, MRS. NOLE.
WELL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE NOW HAVE A BUDGET.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
THIS HAS REALLY BEEN QUITE A YEAR.
AND, UH, I TRULY APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
I'M MOVING TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR NOW AND REPLAY.I'M NEVER FLOORS A STREET ACCEPTANCE, ACCEPTANCE AT THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR WILLIAMSBURG PHASE THREE, ITEM NUMBER FIVE STREET ACCEPTANCE.
THE RESERVOIR RESERVOIR DESERVE, EXCUSE ME, I'M GETTING TONGUE TIED AT WILLIAMSBURG ITEM SIX, REQUEST FOR REFUND, A BUSINESS LICENSE TAXES, COASTAL VIRGINIA REHABIL FACILITATION, LLC.
NUMBER SEVEN IS A COMMENDATION FOR THE 20 21 22.
YOUR COUNTY YOUTH COMMISSION, NUMBER EIGHT, JUST TO COMMENDATION, IF A RETIRED EMPLOYEE, JAMES W NORWELL NINE COMMENDATION OF RETIRED EMPLOYEE, BRIAN SHEA, WOODWARD ITEM NUMBER 10 IS THE COMMENDATION OF RETIRE THEN EMPLOYEE
SO ANY ITEM THERE THAT ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WERE CURED, A POLL? WELL, THE ONE ON THE WILLIAMSBURG, SOMETHING, SOME THAT'S A NEW ONE ABOUT, WHICH WAS THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR WILLIAMSBURG PHASE STORY.
UH, WELL, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IT'S JUST A, UH, SOME ROADS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE BUILT TO BE NOT STANDARDS AND DENIED.
ACCEPTANCE HAS BEEN LINGERING.
BUT W WERE THE OLD VISIT CENTER WAS WELL IT'S, UH, IT'S ROSCOE CROSSING AND ASHBY PARK.
SO IT'S REALLY, UH, RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM WHERE YOUR OFFICES WERE.
MR. HENDERSON WAS COMPLEX BACK THERE, BUT THIS WAS THE PART THAT WAS BUILT BEFORE THAT STARTED THE ACCESS.
UH, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LITTLE OFFICE PARK BACK THERE, SO THE, THERE WERE THE ROADS THAT WERE BUILT FOR THAT.
AND THEY FINALLY APPROVED THE HURDLES.
THE MR. MR. MORGAN WAS THIS, UH, PART OF BILL CARS.
UH, HE CAME IN AND HAD A, A LITTLE, BUT THE PARK, IS THAT THE SAME PLACE OR IS THAT NO, THAT'S WHAT WAS BEFORE ARBOR? DALE WAS BUILT, GOT SOME ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALREADY EXISTED AND IT WAS AN OFFICE PARK THAT HAD STARTED, BUT KIND OF RAN OUT OF GAS.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS? I LIKE TO JUST MAKE COMMENT ABOUT ITEM SEVEN, THE COMBINATION FOR THE YOUTH COMMISSION AND I I'VE ENJOYED WORKING THEM OVER THE PAST YEAR, UH, ATTENDED ALL THEIR, THEIR MONTHLY MEETINGS.
AND THEY'VE BEEN IN AN ENERGETIC, ENTHUSIASTIC, UH, UH, GROUP OF YOUNG, YOUNG FOLKS GOING AFTER GETTING AFTER MANY THINGS.
THEY'VE HAD A NUMBER OF PROJECTS HELP OUT WITH NATASHA HAS ADOPTED A HIGHWAY AND DONE SOME FUNDRAISING AND SO FORTH.
SO, UH, I THINK OUR LAST MEETING IS GONNA BE THIS COMING WEDNESDAY.
UM, MAY 17TH, THEY'LL BE HERE TO DO THEIR FINAL PRESENTATION.
SO INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME JOIN IN ALL THAT OR WATCH OVER OVER TV.
IT'S A, AND I HOPE THAT WHOLE, THE WHOLE GROUP WILL GET A CHANCE TO COME OUT THERE.
MAYBE BETWEEN SCHOOL WORK, SPORTS ACTIVITIES, GETTING READY FOR COLLEGE AND YOUTH COMMISSION.
THAT'S A VERY BUSY GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THEM, APPRECIATE THEIR TIME.
SO I'D LIKE TO MOVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR I LIKED YESTERDAY.
CAN WE MOVE EXCEPT GIFTS OUT TO COUNTERPART PLEASE? FOR THE LIGHT ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
THE MOTION MADE BY MR. WRIGHT IS TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS SUBMITTED MR.
[A. Social Services Overview of Department Initiatives and Recognition. Receive presentation from Margaret Mack-Yaroch, Director. ]
PRESENTATIONS, MARGARET? I THINK IF YOU SIT UP HERE PLEASE.SO I THINK EVERYONE ON THE BOARD KNOWS MARGARET YARROW AND SHE IS OUR DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND SHE HASN'T BEEN HERE TO BRIEF THE BOARD IN SOME TIME.
AND WE JUST THOUGHT THAT, UH, AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE, UH, INTERESTING AND IN SOME CASES, VERY POSITIVE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING IN SOCIAL SERVICES WAS WORTH WHILE HERE.
UM, GOOD EVENING, UH, CHAIRMAN MS. HALL AND THE OTHER RESPECTIVE BOARD MEMBERS, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND ATTORNEY.
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A VERY BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR DEPARTMENT PROGRAM DELIVERY, SOME RECOGNITIONS THROUGHOUT THIS PAST YEAR, AS WELL AS SOME INITIATIVES, AS A DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE COUNTY.
I'VE GOT MY DOUBT, MY GLASSES.
[00:20:07]
WHAT'S THIS.SO BRIEFLY, OBVIOUSLY YOUR GLUCOSE IN A DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES SERVES YOUR COUNTY AND THE CITY OF MCKESSON, OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS TO ASSIST, PROMOTE, AND PROTECT.
UM, AND WE ALSO HAVE LISTED OUR VALUES OF THE CUSTOMER SERVICE, TEAMWORK, COMMUNICATION, ATTITUDE, AND DEPENDABILITY.
UM, OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS, UM, SUCCINCT AND THE FACT THAT WE BELIEVE IN ASSISTING THE BASIC NEEDS OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS PROMOTING SELF-SUFFICIENCY WITHIN THE GROUPS AND THE FAMILIES, AS WELL AS THAT WE HELP AND PROTECTING VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND ADULTS BENEFIT PROGRAMS. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW, UM, DIFFERENT LOCALITIES HAVE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT THEY WANT.
SOME ARE STATE MANDATED, SOME ARE NOT, UM, TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE.
OF COURSE, FOR NEEDY FAMILIES ALSO KNOWN AS TANA, AUXILIARY GRANTS, GENERAL RELIEF, SNAP, UM, FORMERLY KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS, FOOD ASSISTANCE, UM, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, MEDICAID ENERGY, AND FUEL ASSISTANCE, ADOPTION ASSISTANCE, TITLE FOUR E FUNDING AND REFUGEE ASSISTANCE FUNDING TITLE FOUR FUNDING HAS TO DO WITH CHILDREN THAT ENTER INTO CARE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR STATE SUBSIDIZED FUNDING.
UM, AS IT RELATES TO THEIR PLACEMENT WITHIN SOCIAL SERVICES, IT'S A SPECIALIZED OVERSIGHT FROM THE STATE AND IT'S TO PREVENT, UM, PEOPLE FROM HAVING TO ENTER INTO OTHER FORMS OF CARE.
YOU'RE WELCOME EMPLOYMENT SERVICES THAT WE OFFER ASSESSMENT, UM, AS WELL AS REFERRAL, UM, WE HELP PEOPLE IDENTIFY, UH, DIFFERENT ASSESSMENTS TO SEE WHERE THEIR NEEDS ARE NEEDING TO BE MET, WHETHER THAT'S WITHIN RESUME BUILDING, TRAINING EDUCATION, OR JUST GETTING THE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION OF WHERE TO APPLY REFERRALS.
WE REFER PEOPLE TO DIFFERENT LOCAL BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY AREAS, UM, TRAINING, EDUCATIONAL CENTERS.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO TO ASSIST OUR, UH, OUR CITIZENS WITH EMPLOYMENT WAS WITH SO MANY BUSINESSES STRUGGLING TO FIND HELP, OR YOU DO, YOU HAVE DIRECT CONTENT WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES FOR, FOR PLACEMENT, WE DO HAVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH POE, WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN PLACEMENTS.
WE CAN REFER PEOPLE TO THEM TO APPLY FOR THE JOBS AND ASSISTANCE SELECTION.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE REFERRAL PROGRAM.
WE DON'T RECOMMEND PEOPLE FOR HIRE AND WE REFER THEM TO THEM FOR EMPLOYMENT.
AND WE ALSO GIVE THEM OUTSIDE RESOURCES AS WELL.
IT DEPENDS ON THE LIST AND WHAT THEY CHOOSE FROM WHAT THEIR SKILL SET IS.
UM, IF THEY'RE LEARNING A TRADE, IF THEY'RE AN ENTRY-LEVEL WORKER, IF THEY'RE A MID-LEVEL WORKER, IT DEPENDS ON WHERE THEY'RE AT WHEN, WHEN THEY MEET WITH US.
BACK IN FEBRUARY WAS BENEFIT PROGRAM SPECIALIST APPRECIATION MONTH.
UM, THIS IS JUST GIVING YOU A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF THE CLIENTS THAT WERE SERVED AND STATE FISCAL YEAR 2021, UM, FOR SNAP, WHICH IS THE FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT I JUST BRIEFLY SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER.
UM, WE SERVE 4,610 PEOPLE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, UM, TO RECEIVE THAT ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS TANF, THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES.
UM, THAT'S SPECIFIC TO FAMILIES THAT HAVE CHILDREN WITHIN THEIR CARE THAT NEEDS ASSISTANCE.
AS THEY'RE GETTING BACK ON THE FEET, CHILDCARE 176 FAMILIES, UM, WE'VE HELPED ASSIST WITH AND MEDICAID, YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBERS ARE 10,057.
HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU PUT TO CHILDCARE SUPPLY? WHAT'S YOUR BUDGET, BUT HELPING PEOPLE WITH CHILDCARE, I DON'T HAVE THE TOTAL NUMBERS FOR YOU FOR WHAT'S EXPENDED, BUT I WILL GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW BRIEF ON THE WEEK BETWEEN THE THREE AREAS THAT WE HAVE FOR CHILDCARE.
SO ET CETERA, IT WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND, I WANT TO SAY ABOUT 300,000, UM, PART OF THE STRUGGLE WITH THAT IS ACTUALLY HAVING CHILDCARE PROVIDERS.
SO IT'S NOT THAT THE NEED ISN'T THERE AS MUCH AS WHERE ARE THEY BEING PLACED? YES.
ONE MORE TIME ON SNAP, THE WHOLE, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT PROGRAM? SNAP? SURE.
UM, SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
THOSE ARE FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP WITH BASIC NEEDS OF SUPPLYING FOOD NOURISHMENT, UM, FOR THEIR FAMILIES INDIVIDUALLY AND FOR THEMSELVES, THIS WAS THAT LIKE IN BULK QUANTITY OR DAILY DELIVERIES TO HOUSES.
UH, SO, UM, THE WAY IT IS DELIVERED NOW, UM, TO REFER BACK TO AN OLDER SYSTEM THAT YOU MAY, MAY OR MAY NOT BE, UM, FAMILIAR WITH, THERE USED TO BE FOOD STAMPS, WHICH WORKED LIKE DOLLARS OR COUPON BOOKS THAT PEOPLE WOULD USE TO HELP PAY FOR GROCERIES AND THINGS THAT THEIR NEEDS THAT MET THAT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT.
COULD IT BE USED ON EVERYTHING? WELL, NOWADAYS, UM, THE WAY IT IS IT'S ROLLED
[00:25:01]
OUT BY THE STATE IS SORT OF ALMOST LIKE A, WELL, IT IS A CREDIT CARD.AND SO THERE'S A CERTAIN ALLOTMENT THAT'S GIVEN PER MONTH, BUT AGAIN, IT GOES THROUGH THE SAME, UH, REGIMEN THAT IT HAS TO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA IN ORDER FOR THE ITEMS TO BE PURCHASED.
OH, IN OTHER WORDS, IF I'M IN LINE IN THE SUPERMARKET THAT MIGHT BE PERSONAL WITH ONE OF THESE CARDS THAT WOULD LOOK JUST LIKE YOUR CREDIT CARD AND YOU WOULDN'T KNOW, IT KNOWS, AND IT, IT DOES HELP.
UM, IT HELPS WITH THE STIGMA AND ALSO TIES IT TO THE SPECIFIC PERSON BECAUSE CASHIERS, AS WE KNOW, AS INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS, OURSELVES, THAT THEY'RE CHECKING FOR SIGNATURES VERY FREE, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY.
DOES YOUR DEPARTMENT HAVE HANDOUT? THESE, THE CARDS DO ISSUE EBT CARDS, OKAY.
THE CARDS ARE LIMITED TO TWO GROCERIES.
UH, THEY'RE LIMITED TO CERTAIN ITEMS. SO SOMEBODY COULDN'T GO AND BUY A PACK OF CIGARETTES PER SE, OUT OF THAT.
UM, SO THERE'S CERTAIN CRITERIA THAT IT HAS TO MEET.
IT HAS EXPANDED FROM BEYOND WHAT IT WAS BEFORE, SO THAT FAMILIES HAVE MORE HEALTHIER OPTIONS IN THEIR EATING.
UM, SO THEY'VE ALSO OPENED FOR CONVENIENCE FOR FAMILIES THAT WORK, BUT IT'S STILL REGIMENTED TO, IT NEEDS TO BE FOOD THAT'S NEEDED FOR THE FAMILY.
YOU USED TO HAVE FOOD STAMPS AND THEN SOMETHING FOR MOTHERS TO GET WITH.
SO IS THIS THE SNACK COMBINE, THE TWO NOW, OR YOU CAN, UM, FAMILIES, UM, CAN BE ELIGIBLE FOR BOTH OF THOSE PROGRAMS. WIC IS VERY, VERY LIMITED IN WHAT IT GIVES.
I DON'T WANT TO DOWN SELL THEIR PROGRAM, BUT IT'S, UM, PEANUT BUTTER MILK BREAD.
IT'S VERY SPECIFIC WHERE SNAP IS ENCOMPASSING A HOUSEHOLD'S NEEDS FOR GROCERIES FOR ALL THREE MEALS, SNACKS, LUNCHES THAT MAY NEED TO BE PROVIDED THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
SO THE WIC PROGRAMS THAT EXIST.
WHEN AN INFANT'S IN SHELL, RIGHT, RIGHT.
CELEBRATING SOCIAL WORKER APPRECIATION MONTH, UM, WE WERE DOING THAT IN MARCH.
SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE WERE RECOGNIZING OUR EMPLOYEES, UM, WAS DIFFERENT, UH, FOOD EVENTS THAT WE WERE OFFERING FOR THEM.
A LOT OF THE WORK THAT THE SOCIAL WORKERS DO IN THEIR DEPARTMENT IS VERY DIFFICULT.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND IT ENCOMPASSES CPS AS WELL AS APS.
SO WE TAKE THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE DIFFERENT MONTHS IN THE CALENDAR THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, MUCH LIKE MANY OTHER PROFESSIONS, PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND ADULT.
UM, THERE ARE MORE THAN 700,000 PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS EMPLOYED IN THE UNITED STATES AND MORE THAN 3 MILLION WORLDWIDE.
UM, IT'S EXISTED FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY ATTRACTS PEOPLE WHO HAVE A STRONG DESIRE TO HELP INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, AND OUR NATION OVERCOME ISSUES THAT PREVENT THEM FROM REACHING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
SO NEXT TIME TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT, UM, THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF THE DEPARTMENT THAT I LEAD, UH, SPECIFICALLY FOR EVERYONE THAT WORKS WITHIN IT.
UM, WE WERE SELECTED IN HAND CHOSEN TO THE, IS IT FOR DR.
DANNY EBOLA, THE NEWLY APPOINTED COMMISSIONER, VIRGINIA SOCIAL SERVICES, UM, ON MARCH 14TH, 2022, HE CAME TO OUR AGENCY AND, UH, TOOK A TOUR OF OUR DEPARTMENT, GOT TO MEET ALL OF THE WORKERS THAT WERE WITHIN THERE HAD SOME ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS, GOT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY THAT WE RUN.
AND HE TOOK A GREAT INTEREST IN ALSO LEARNING ABOUT US AS A COUNTY.
AND HE WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE FACT THAT AS A SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WE ARE, WHAT'S CONSIDERED A DUAL FIPSE AGENCY AND THAT WE SERVE TWO DIFFERENT LOCALITIES AND WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER THROUGH THOSE EFFORTS, APRIL, UH, AS WE JUST ENDED JUST NOW AS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH, AND WE HAD SEVERAL DIFFERENT, UH, SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE RAN THROUGHOUT THE MONTH.
ONCE OBVIOUSLY THE KICKOFF WAS THE PRE PREVENT CHILD ABUSE.
AMERICA INTRODUCED THE PINWHEELS CEREMONY AS A NATIONAL SYMBOL FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION.
AND THAT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE AND RAISE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTING CHILD MALTREATMENT.
ALL CHILDREN DESERVE TO GROW UP IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT IN FISCAL YEAR 2021.
WHY PDSS WORK WITH IN DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, WE RECEIVE 648 CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REFERRALS OF THEM.
WE RESPONDED TO AND VALIDATED REPORTS, ASSESSING SAFETY AND RISK FOR 407 CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
RESPECTIVELY HOW'D YOU LIKE A YEAR OR SO BEFORE? UM, WE HAVE AN UPTICK IN CASES REPORTED BOTH FOR CHILDREN AND ADULT SERVICES.
UM, SOME OF THE REASONS THAT WE FEEL FOR THAT IS COVID AND WITH CHILDREN RETURNING BACK TO SCHOOL AND ADULTS, ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY POPULATION RETURNING BACK TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, SEEING MORE FAMILY MEMBERS AND EXPOSURE
[00:30:01]
IT'S OFTENTIMES THAT'S WHERE WE GET THOSE INITIAL REPORTS.SO AM I READING THIS TO YOU AT 640 REPORTS? AND YOU'RE ABLE TO VALIDATE 272 OF THEM? YES.
SO A LOT OF FALSE POSITIVES THERE CAN BE, AND FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS, SOMETIMES WE DON'T GET ENOUGH INFORMATION.
SO PEOPLE WHO WILL CALL IN A REPORT, THEY CAN DO IT ANONYMOUSLY, OR THEY CAN DO IT ON AN OMINOUSLY, BUT WE HAVE TO MEET A CERTAIN LEVEL OF CRITERIA BEFORE WE CAN VALIDATE A REPORT.
THEN THERE HAS TO BE ENOUGH INFORMATION THAT SAYS IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T ASSESS IT OR THAT WE DON'T SCREEN IT.
BUT WHEN WE ACTUALLY VALIDATE THAT IT IS THOSE NUMBERS, YES, ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS.
DID YOU WALK ME THROUGH THAT PROCESS WHEN THE PERSON CALLS AND WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP WE TAKE THEIR INFORMATION DONE.
WE ASK, FIND OUT IF IT'S AN ANOMALOUS, GET THE DETAILS OF WHAT THEY'RE DESCRIBING.
IF THEY'RE DESCRIBING, I'LL GIVE A FICTITIOUS SCENARIO.
IF SOMEBODY CALLS IN A REPORT AND SAYS THAT THERE'S A FAMILY THAT'S LIVING AND THEY DON'T CHANGE THEIR CAT LITTER BOX AND IT SMELLS AND IT'S INSIDE OF THERE.
AND THEY DON'T THINK THAT THEY THINK THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE INFESTATION OR ROACHES.
WELL, THOSE ARE CERTAINLY SERIOUS CONDITIONS.
AND OUR INTAKE TEAM WOULD WANT TO SEND THEM FOR REFERRALS TO GET HELP WITH THOSE THINGS THAT MIGHT NOT MEET THE DEFINITION OF NEGLECT OR ABUSE.
SO IT ALSO IS, UM, SUBJECTIVE AND INTERPRETED TO THE PERSON THAT'S MAKING THE REPORT.
AND TO YOUR POINT, MR. RON, ONE OF THE OTHER REASONS YOU CAN SEE THE DISCREPANCIES AND THE NUMBERS IS SOMETIMES WE GET MULTIPLE REPORTS ON THE SAME REPORT WITH NOT HAVING ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WILL CALL IN MORE THAN ONE TIME FOR THE SAME REPORT, THINKING THAT IT RAISES THE LEVEL AND THAT CAN AFFECT THE NUMBERS THAT YOU SEE THERE, BUT IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF OVERALL WHAT IT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE VOLUME IS THAT WE RECEIVED.
AND IF IT SOUNDS SERIOUS ENOUGH, YOU, YOU WORK WITH THE SHERIFF'S.
WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, UM, ESPECIALLY ON CASES LIKE THIS.
UM, IT CAN BE SOMETIMES IF SOMEBODY HASN'T CALLED IN THE REFERRAL TO US, IT MIGHT BE COMING, UM, FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT THAT WE FIND OUT ABOUT IT.
WE DO HAVE A REPORTING TIME AND A TIME TO RESPOND WITHIN 24 TO 72 HOURS MEETING THE DIFFERENT LEVEL OF IT DEPENDS ON HOW IT'S RATED WHEN IT COMES IN.
IF IT'S AN R ONE AND R TWO OR AN R THREE SEVERITY LEVEL, OF COURSE, UM, WOULD REQUIRE AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.
WE DO HAVE 24 HOUR ON-CALL COVERAGE FOR, UH, THE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND THAT GOES FROM AN INITIAL WORKER BEING SENT OUT IN A COUNTY VEHICLE THAT WOULD CHECK IN WITH OUR OFFICE, AS WELL AS A SUPERVISOR.
THAT'S SUPERVISING THE PERSON THAT'S GOING OUT ALL THE WAY UP TO MY POSITION THAT REMAINS ON CALL.
AND THAT'S SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 24 HOURS AGO, ONE OR TWO OR THREE, AGAIN, SEVERITY.
IF SOMEBODY CALLS IN A REPORT THAT A CHILD'S ARE MS. BROKEN BEING TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S ACTIVE THREAT OF VIOLENCE IN A HOME DIFFERENT THINGS WITH LATE RAISE, THE LEVEL OF R ONE BEING THE MOST OF SERIOUS ARE THREE BEING THE LEAST, WE WORK BACKWARDS IN THE DEAF COME.
AND HE FOUNDED HIS TAPE A TERM OUT THERE THAT WAS USED.
UH, I WAS INVOLVED WITH SOME, SOMEBODY REPORTED CHILD ABUSE AT CALLED SOCIAL SERVICES.
UH, THEY MADE AN INVESTIGATION, CAME UP WITH THE CONCLUSION.
UNFOUNDED MEANS THERE WASN'T MUCH TO THE ALLEGATION, I GUESS.
OR DID IT MEET THE LEVEL OF CRITERIA FOR US TO MAKE THE FINDING THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT KIND OF COME BACK IN, IN A DIFFERENT REPORT WITH MORE INFORMATION THAN IT COULD BE.
IT JUST MEANS THE INCIDENT THAT WE'RE INVESTIGATING IN ISOLATION MAY NOT HAVE.
I SEE IT SAYS CLIENTS SERVED, I GUESS, STATEWIDE.
IT'S A STATE WIDE MEANING STATE FISCAL YEAR.
SO WE HAVE A DIFFERENT FISCAL YEAR AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
AND THE COUNTY DOES OUR FISCAL YEAR ENDS AT THE END OF MAY.
AND THIS IS FISCAL YEAR 2021 COUNTY WISE.
SO THERE'S A LAG IN YOUR REPORTING.
SO IT MIGHT BE HIGHER BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC ISN'T PANDEMIC HAS DEFINITELY AFFECTED OUR NUMBERS, INCREASED ACROSS THE BOARD, NOT JUST, UM, IN, UH, CHILDREN, PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
WE'VE SEEN THE SAME THING IN OUR BENEFITS.
IN FACT, BENEFITS, UM, MARCH TO APRIL THIS YEAR, 2022, WE SERVED A TOTAL OF 10,308 CLIENTS WITH 8,049 OF THEM STILL ACTIVE AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
AND THAT SENT A ONE MONTH REPORTING PERIOD.
HOW BIG IS THE BENEFITS TOTAL FOR THE WHOLE AGENCY? I HAVE DIFFERENT UNITS.
SO IF YOU'RE TALKING TOTAL FOR THE AGENCY, I'M 63.4
[00:35:02]
ALLOCATED POSITIONS.WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PART-TIME PERMANENT, ROUGHLY 64 BOYS, UM, EACH DEPARTMENT RUNS DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS OF THE CASEWORK THAT THEY HAVE PRETTY BUSY, VERY BUSY DEPARTMENT, RIGHT? YUP.
WHY IS YOUR FISCAL YEAR OF DIFFERENT CADENCE? AS WE TELL US STATE IT'S AND IT'S NOT THE STATE FISCAL YEAR FOR EVERYTHING ELSE, IT'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT SOCIAL SERVICE, SOCIAL SERVICE, I SUSPECT, BUT THERE'S SO MANY, SO MUCH FEDERAL MONEY INVOLVED TOO, AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT FISCAL YEAR.
SO IT'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE TIMING OF FEDERAL MONEY AND STATE MONEY.
I THINK, UM, IT IS, AND IT HAS TO DO WITH REIMBURSEMENT.
SO A LOT OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AS, AS I'M SURE YOU WILL KNOW, UM, IS REIMBURSED BY STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS.
IN FACT, A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF IT IS, UM, SO THE COUNTY DOLLAR MATCH FOR THOSE PROGRAMS, UM, IS A LOT SMALLER AS A RESULT.
SO WE HAVE TO MARRY THOSE FUNDING SOURCES.
THAT'S THE ONLY DEPARTMENT THAT'S OUT OF SYNC WITH.
SO I THINK EVERYONE IS GENERALLY AWARE, BUT MAYBE FOR SOME FOLKS WATCHING, UH, SOCIAL SERVICES MARGARET'S GROUP PROBABLY IS THE MOST HIGHLY REGULATED OPERATION THAT WE'RE TIED TO IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
THERE'S A WHOLE LAYER OF FEDERAL STUFF ABOUT MANY OF THOSE PROGRAMS. AND THEN IT'S ALL ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE STATE.
AND, YOU KNOW, W WE'RE BASICALLY BY FEDERAL AND STATE LAW, WE HAVE TO HAVE AN AGENCY LIKE THIS THAT HAS TO ADMINISTER A BUNCH OF THESE PROGRAMS. SO THE GOOD NEWS IS A LOT OF FEDERAL AND STATE DOLLARS FLOW TO THESE PROGRAMS. THE BAD NEWS IS THEY COME WITH LOTS OF RULES AND REGULATIONS DO NOT AS MUCH DISCRETION AS MAYBE OTHER PARTS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAVE.
AND I BET THE HEADSTART PROGRAM WILL GIVE HIM A RUN FOR IT.
WE'RE FREQUENTLY UNDER AUDIT WORK.
WE CURRENTLY JUST CAME OUT OF ONE AUDIT AND STILL UNDER ANOTHER AUDIT, AND THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO IT'S AN EVER REVOLVING DOOR, RIGHT? THIS IS SOME OF THE PICTURES FROM THE PINWHEEL CEREMONY FROM THIS YEAR.
UM, BUT THAT WAS HELD ON APRIL 4TH, 2022.
UM, WHAT WAS REALLY NICE THIS YEAR THAT WAS EXPANDED FROM LAST YEAR A WITH, YOU KNOW, LIFTING WITH SOME OF THE COVID OBVIOUSLY REGULATIONS.
WE WERE ABLE TO GATHER A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, BUT IT WAS REALLY NICE THAT WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
UM, THERE'S BEEN STRONG COLLABORATIONS MADE WITH ALL PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICIALS.
AND SO AFTER WE HAD THE PINWHEEL CEREMONY, THERE WAS A NICE GATHERING TO GET TOGETHER.
SO WE COULD FIND OUT ABOUT HOW WE CAN SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER, UM, WITHIN THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
SO THAT WAS FIRE LIFE AND SAFETY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
UM, OF COURSE, AS WELL AS EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, NINE 11, WE HAVE REALLY DEVELOPED SOME SOLID RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN OUR TEAMS, AND WE DO SHARE ONBOARDING TO GET KNOW ONE ANOTHER SO THAT WE GET FAMILIAR WITH THE DIFFERENT EMPLOYEES.
AND WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER'S ROLES MAY, UM, IS ADULT ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.
SO CLIENTS SERVED, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS 211.
UM, AND SO THOSE ARE OFTEN CASES THAT MAY EXTEND OUT LONGER, EXCUSE ME.
THEN YOU WOULD SEE IN A, TYPICALLY A CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, UM, THEY CAN HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH GUARDIANSHIP.
THEY CAN HAVE TO DO WITH LONG-TERM CARE.
UM, IT DEPENDS ON HOW THEY ENTER INTO OUR SYSTEM FOR, WITH IT, OF COURSE.
UM, IN ADDITION TO, UH, RECOGNIZING ADULT ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH, UH, WE HAVE RECEIVED, UM, SOME FUNDING THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME ADVERTISEMENT FURTHER EXPAND THE KNOWLEDGE OF ADULT ABUSE PROFESSION, AND THAT WILL BE ON A BILLBOARD, UM, WITH YOUR PROPOSAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES UNDERNEATH THERE, AS WELL AS, UH, INFORMATION HOTLINE SO THAT PEOPLE AS THEY DRIVE DOWN THE TRAFFIC OF 17, UM, WHICH HAS RAISED THE AWARENESS IN 17 AND WILL BE ON 17 FOR AT LEAST THREE MONTHS.
WHEREABOUTS I DON'T HAVE THE PINPOINT LOCATION.
I WANT TO SAY IT'S BETWEEN GRAFTON AND I'M A NEW COVERT COUNTY WITH HERBICIDE BILLBOARDS.
WE'LL OFFER THAT UP FOR A NICE POSTER.
I MIGHT HAVE TO CONTACT, UM, ALSO JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME AWARENESS AND HOW PROUD WE ARE OF THE TEAM THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED.
OUR ADULT SERVICES SUPERVISOR, STEPHANIE EDWARDS IS A DEVELOPER OF THE PENINSULA ELDER ABUSE FORENSIC CENTER.
UM, AND SHE ALSO HELPS TO COORDINATE WITH A LOT OF THE FUNDING THAT THEY RECEIVE.
AND WE WERE JUST, WELL, THAT, THAT COMMITTEE WAS RECENTLY AFFORDED A $300,000 GRANT, UM, THAT ALLOWS FOR CAPACITY EVALUATIONS,
[00:40:01]
FINANCIAL COUNSELING, AND FORENSIC ACCOUNTING, AND EXPLOITATION.UM, IT'S A, UH, VERY MULTIFACETED, UM, MDT MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM THAT HAS PEOPLE, UM, BOTH PRIVATE AS WELL AS OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE ON.
AND SHE APPLIED FOR THE GRANT.
SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HER ON ALSO FOR MAY, UM, JUST AS AN AWARENESS AS AN ASIDE.
UM, AND OF COURSE YOU CAN SEE, UM, THEY HAVE CHANGED FROM CALLING IT ELDER ABUSE.
WE'RE TRYING TO ALWAYS KEEP CURRENT WITH TERMINOLOGY.
SO WE NOW REFER TO IT AS ADULT ABUSE BECAUSE GOING THROUGH APS DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT YOU'RE AN ELDERLY PERSON.
OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN BE AN ADULT AND STILL GOING TO ASK, WHAT AGE RANGE ARE YOU TYPICALLY WORKING IN IF IT'S ABOVE 18, UNLESS THERE'S SOME OTHER DIAGNOSIS THAT'S CONSIDERED AN ADULT, BUT TYPICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING? IT'S HARD TO SAY.
I MEAN, I WOULD SAY THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE CASES THAT WE LOOK THROUGH ARE OF MORE OF A ELDERLY AGING POPULATION, WHERE PEOPLE MIGHT RECOGNIZE THEY MAY BE SUFFERING FROM OTHER MEDICAL ISSUES.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED, BUT I CAN'T SAY THAT THAT'S ALWAYS THE CASE.
I MEAN, WE DO FIND PEOPLE THAT ARE ADULTS THAT ARE STRUGGLING, THAT DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES.
UM, AND I ALSO JUST WANTED TO MENTION MAY, IS ALSO FOSTER CARE AWARENESS MONTH.
AND WITH THAT, UM, THE FOCUS IS KINSHIP AND RELATIVE PLACEMENTS.
UM, IT IS AN IMPORTANT EFFORT IN ORDER TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER.
THE STATE HAS MORE THAN 4,000, 300 YOUTH AND FOSTER HERE AND YORK MACOSA AND DSS DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES HAS CURRENTLY 12 YOUTH IN CARE.
UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO JUST SAY TO THIS COMMITTEE, IF YOU'RE NOT, OR TO THIS BOARD, IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE THAT, UM, THE STRENGTH OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE HERE IS THE FOSTER PARENTS WHO HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE.
WE HAVE SEEN SOME REALLY GREAT TURNAROUND SUCCESS STORIES, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE FAMILIES THAT CURRENTLY NOT ONLY HAVE ADOPTED CHILDREN THAT WERE THEIR FOSTER CARE CHILDREN, BUT THEY'VE ALSO TAKEN IN ADDITIONAL CHILDREN WE HAVE IN CARE.
AND IT'S PRETTY AMAZING OF THE LOCATION THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO BUILD A NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE STATION UP IN THE UPPER COUNTY.
UH, THE SITE, IN FACT, PART OF THE BUILDING OF THAT NEW COMPLEX, UH, WAS A FACILITY THAT HOUSED.
AND I'M NOT REAL SURE WHERE YOU WERE KIDS OR KIDS WHO WERE UNDER SUPERVISION OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
UH, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT WAS? AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PROGRAM? I CAN SPEAK FROM WHAT LITTLE KNOWLEDGE I HAVE, AND THEN I'LL REFER TO, UM, MR. FULLER TO FURTHER BACK ME UP UNLESS I STATED IN CORRECTLY.
CAUSE IT WAS PRIOR TO MY TIME HERE, I DO BELIEVE THAT AS THAT HOME WAS SET UP, THERE HAD TO BE SOME CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT, UM, WITH THE CHILDREN IN PLAY.
THESE JUST WEREN'T, UM, FOLKS THAT, UH, NEEDED A PLACE TO SAY THERE WERE OTHER CONDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY HAD TO DO THAT I BELIEVE WAS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DJJ AND IT'S PART OF DJJ.
AND OVER 50% OF THE INDIVIDUALS AT THE GROUP HOME HAD TO BE DJJ, WHICH IS DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE COURTS.
SO THEY HAD TO BE APPOINTED BY THE JUDGES.
SO AT LEAST HALF OF THE CENSUS THERE AT ALL TIMES HAD TO BE DJJ KIDS.
SO WE WEREN'T GETTING ANY KIDS.
SO WHEN THE ORIGINAL MODEL, WHEN THE COMMUNITY SET IT UP, I THINK THE, UH, THE FUNDING FORMULA WAS A LOT MORE FAVORABLE.
MOST OF THE MONEY WAS COMING FROM THE STATE.
SO PROBABLY WHEN YOU ALL SET IT UP, IT WAS LIKE, THIS IS A NO BRAINER RESOLVE THE STATE MONEY TO DO IT.
AND THEN BY THE TIME WE DECIDED TO CLOSE IT DOWN, IT WAS ALMOST ALL IN THE LOCALITIES COMBINED WITH NEW REGULATIONS THAT WERE GOING TO REQUIRE US TO SPEND A BUNCH MORE MONEY SO THAT IT COULD TAKE MAYBE SOME OF THE KIDS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND, UH, THE JUVENILE JUDGES JUST WEREN'T, YOU KNOW, SENDING PEOPLE OVER 680,000 ORIGINALLY FROM THE STATE.
AND THAT WAS IT'S DOWN TO LESS THAN 280.
AND THEN THE THREE OF YOU, YOUR COUNTY JCC WILLIAMSBURG LOST HER CLOSE TO DESIGNER NOW.
YES, I REMEMBER BEFORE, JUST BEFORE YOU WERE THINKING.
AND SO, UM, WE ALSO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR CITIZENS FOR HELP SUPPORT REALLY.
SO THOSE THAT DON'T FALL WITHIN THE CATCHMENT OF SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE MAY ADMINISTER.
AGAIN, IT IS THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE LOCAL BUSINESSES, THE PARTNER PITCHING THAT OFTEN VOLUNTEER TO PICK UP WHERE SOMETHING FALLS THROUGH THE CRACKS.
SO WE HAVE A PRETTY ROBUST, UM, RESOURCE LIST THAT WE CERTAINLY UTILIZE ON A DAILY BASIS, UM, WITHIN THE SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH SOME OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS COMMUNITY AND HOUSING, UM, TO FIND SUPPORT WHERE WE CAN OR REFER PEOPLE TO OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES SUCH AS UNITED WAY AND OTHERS.
AND THAT IS ALL I HAD JUST SOME PICTURES TO CLOSE WITH YOU ON AS SOME OF
[00:45:01]
THE MARKETS THAT WE GO DOWN TO TO PROVIDE MORE EDUCATION.AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THIS PRESENTATION TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION REALLY WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.
THANK YOU ANYBODY HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE? YOU'VE GOT ONE MORE QUESTION.
YOU HAD SOMEBODY, YOU HAD SOME GREAT SUCCESS STORIES WITH, WITH, UH, FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION.
SO WHAT, WHAT DROVE THAT? WHAT, WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE HERE THAT DROVE THAT SUCCESS? WHAT LESSONS LEARNED? I THINK WE HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT'S INVESTED IN, IN KEEPING THE COMMUNITY AT THRIVE AND OBVIOUSLY, AND INVESTMENT IN HELPING CHILDREN TO LEAD SUCCESSFUL LIVES.
UM, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ALL LOCALITIES.
I CAN TELL YOU COMING FROM TWO OTHER STATES WHERE THEY'RE MUCH LARGER LOCALITIES, IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE CHILDREN BOUNCE FROM PLACEMENT TO PLACEMENT.
WE HAVE FAMILIES TO TAKE KIDS INTO CARE THAT DEFINITELY HAVE CHALLENGES AS THEY COME IN THE DOOR.
THESE FAMILIES ARE DEDICATED FROM THE MINUTE THEY COME IN TO WORK WITH THEM.
UM, BECAUSE IT IS A TRANSITION AND HIS ADJUSTMENT, NO CHILD WANTS TO BE DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOME.
PEOPLE HAVE A TENDENCY TO THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING OUT OF A BAD SITUATION OR HAPPY ABOUT IT, IT'S STILL THEIR FAMILY.
SO I MEAN, YOU CAN DEAL WITH NOT JUST TRANSITION AND ADJUSTMENT MO YOU KNOW, EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENTS, MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO MAYBE THE ANSWER IS WE THINK IT'S THE NATURE OF THE COMMUNITY.
I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S DEFINITELY THE NATURE OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND IF SOMEONE HAS A CONCERN, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET IN CONTACT WITH YOU OR YOUR OFFICE? THE BEST WAY IS OUR WEBSITE GO TO IT AND FIND OUR REFERRAL, WHICH I USE FOR EACH DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE ON THE, YOUR COUNTY WEBSITE AND YOU GO UNDER THE TABS AND CLICK UNDER SOCIAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES IS THE DEPARTMENT WITHIN THEIR, OTHER THAN THE BILL, OTHER THAN THE BILLBOARDS.
BUT IN ADDITION TO GOING TO THE SOCIAL SERVICES WEBSITE, AND THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT, WE HAVE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME THANKS TO THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER AND HELPING US TO BUILD THAT WEBSITE.
AND WE HAVE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS.
SO YOU CAN CLICK THROUGH LINKS AND GET RESOURCES, THE BILLBOARD AND THE BILLBOARD IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE YOUR PROPOSAL, BUT IT ACTUALLY WILL GIVE THE WHAT, THE, THE ONE 800 NUMBER FOR THEM TO CALL BECAUSE IT'S A REFERRAL.
WE DON'T HAVE THE SCREEN, GRAB THE GIRLS TO THE GRANT, TO THE US.
I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SCREENING PROCESS GOES THROUGH.
THE PROBLEM WAS THAT WHEREVER THE LOCATION WOULD BE NICE WORK CONDITION FOR GUESTS, THAT THERE'S AN UPPER COUNTY.
AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I MENTIONED THE BYPASS ROOM.
THERE WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THE KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT OFFICE JUST LIKE IT WOULD BE DOWN AT HIGHWAY 17, SOMEWHERE DOWN THERE, IT WAS NOT CHOSEN FOR ITS, ITS ITS LOCATION.
IT WAS ACTUALLY CHOSEN FOR THE FUNDING THAT WAS RECEIVED AND WHAT BILLBOARDS BILLBOARDS WERE AVAILABLE WHEN WE REACHED OUT.
UM, ALSO WE DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO RUN FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.
WE WERE ABLE TO EXPEND, UH, MONIES THAT FIT WITHIN THAT THREE MONTH TIMEFRAME.
UM, BUT IT WASN'T SELECTED BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? WE HAVE A VERY ELONGATED CALENDAR.
YOU KNOW, THE TENDENCY IS THAT YOUR COUNTY IS HIGHWAY 17.
THAT'S NOT THE CASE, NOT FOR THE COUNTIES, BUT NOT RIGHT NOW.
AND CDR OF COURSE IS ENOUGH FOR YORK COUNTY WHERE WE TRY TO WORK PARTNERSHIP WITH.
AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT, AS YOU KNOW, IT'S A BALANCE, RIGHT.
[B. Tourism Update. Receive presentation from Economic and Tourism Development staff on the upcoming events in Yorktown. ]
WE HAVE CHRISTINEI HAVEN'T SEEN YOUR LONG TEST SINCE THIS MORNING.
YOU MEAN GOOD MORNING, GOOD EVENING.
CHAIRMAN ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. MORGAN AND BARNETT.
THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE THIS EVENING.
UM, BEFORE WE GET STARTED ON OUR PRESENTATION, I DID WANT TO JUST TAG ONTO ONE OF MARGARET'S, UM, COMMENTS, UM, REGARDING SNAP AND EBT ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, UM, WE STARTED ACCEPTING SNAP AT OUR FARMER'S MARKETS AND YORKTOWN.
UM, OF COURSE, AS, AS MARGARET MENTIONED, THERE'S CERTAIN STIPULATIONS OF WHAT THEY CAN USE THOSE CARDS FOR.
THEY CERTAINLY CAN'T GO TO AN ARTS AND CRAFT OR ARTIST AND, YOU KNOW, BUY A CANDLE OR BART BY, YOU KNOW, A PAINTING, HOWEVER, OUR FARMS AND MANY OF THE FOOD VENDORS.
AND WE ALSO HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK IN THE USAGE.
AND EVEN THIS PAST WEEKEND, I THINK I GOT THREE QUESTIONS ON FACEBOOK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE ACCEPTED MAYBE TWO CARDS.
SO THEY ARE ACCEPTED AT OUR WATERFRONT MARKET.
AND YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR VENDORS KNOW, CAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE A CREDIT CARD, RIGHT? THAT I BELIEVE
[00:50:01]
IT'S INDICATED.AND OUR FARMER'S MARKET MANAGER, HE HAS TO REGISTER THROUGH THE STATE AND THEN IT'S LIKE A REIMBURSABLE.
HE HAS COINS AND THE VENDORS TURN THOSE IN TO HIM.
CAUSE WE ALSO DO A MATCHING GRANT.
SO HOWEVER MUCH THEY PURCHASE, THEY GET THAT AMOUNT FREE THROUGH THE STATE AS WELL.
YES, THAT'S CALLED FRESH MATCH.
UM, SO ANYWAY, BACK TO OUR, WE'RE HAPPY TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.
UM, I DID WANT TO MENTION, UH, WITH THE RECENT CONSOLIDATION OF THE OFFICES OF TOURISM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO OUR NEWLY FORMED DEPARTMENT, WE'VE CERTAINLY BEEN REALLY, REALLY BUSY, UM, LEARNING AS MUCH FROM JIM AS WE POSSIBLY CAN AND THAT HE WILL SHARE, UM, SHARING INFORMATION, UM, LOTS OF NEW INTRODUCTIONS.
UM, I MENTIONED THAT THE EDA MEETING LAST WEEK, I ATTENDED MY FIRST EVER VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS ASSOCIATION, UH, CONFERENCE.
UM, SO IN THE, IT WAS THE FIRST ONE THEY'D HAD IN TWO YEARS AND THEN MATT JOHNSON, WHO'S OUR NEW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ATTENDED A TOURISM CONFERENCE THAT I WOULD TYPICALLY BE AT.
SO WE WERE KIND OF GOING TO EACH OTHER'S AREAS AND IRONICALLY, HE SERVED ON A PANEL, UM, WHICH WAS REQUESTED ON TALKING ABOUT THE SYNERGIES BETWEEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM AND HOW MANY COMMUNITIES, UM, WHERE IT'S A FIT, UM, FOR THAT COMMUNITY OR LOOKING AT CONSOLIDATION OF THOSE EFFORTS.
SO IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE PART OF THAT.
UM, SO WE'RE JUST REALLY EXCITED TO BEGIN, UH, IDENTIFYING THOSE SYNERGIES AND HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER AS A DEPARTMENT WITH OUR CONSOLIDATED RESOURCES AND REALLY WITH A FOCUS OF ALIGNED MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE'RE MARKETING TO VISITORS, UM, BUSINESSES, UM, PROSPECTS, WE'RE STILL MARKETING THE SAME COMMUNITY.
SO REALLY WORKING TOWARDS SOME ALIGNED GOALS AND THAT AREA.
SO WE'LL HAVE MORE TO SHARE WITH YOU AS WE CONTINUE TO TRANSITION IN, IN THE NEXT YEAR.
UM, BUT WHY WE'RE HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR DEPARTMENT AND, UM, ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL COMMUNITY, UH, COMMITTEES, PARTNERS, BUSINESSES, AND VOLUNTEERS THAT MAKE ALL OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN OUR PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
WE'RE JUST DELIGHTED TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YORKTOWN, WATERFRONT AND SUCCESSES THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RESUME AT THE WATERFRONT SINCE COVID, UM, AS MANY OF THEM WERE PUT ON HOLD OR MODIFIED IN SOME CAPACITY.
AND I HAVE TWO OF MY FAVORITE COLLEAGUES HERE WITH ME TONIGHT.
UH, SOME FAMILIAR FACES, I'M SURE MAYBE SOME NEW FACES, UH, BUT DARREN WILLIAMS IS OUR WATERFRONT AND OPERATIONS MANAGER.
AND, UM, CAPTAIN SCRUGGS IS OUR, YOUR COUNTY DOCK MASTER AND ALSO, UM, WATERFRONT, UH, OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR.
SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DARREN NOW.
SO, UM, APRIL 1ST SAW THE CHARLIE SERVICE RESUME IN NEW YORK YORKTOWN.
UM, SO SINCE IT STARTED BACK UP, WE'VE SEEN A SERIOUS UPTICK IN RIDERSHIP SPECIFICALLY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
UM, AND, AND REALLY EVEN MORE SO, EXCUSE ME, WHEN THE, UH, TSA LIFTED THE MASCULINE MANDATE.
SO MAKING A MASS OPTIONAL ONE TROLLEYS, UM, BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED, UH, WE HAD A, A REALLY FUN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE TROLLEY TO YORKTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR A CAREER DAY.
SO THE KIDS GOT ON THE BUS, THE DRIVERS GOT TO RING THE BELL, SO I'M NOT SURE WHO HAD MORE FUN THAN DRIVERS ARE THEY ACTUAL STUDENTS, BUT THERE WAS FUN HAD BY ALL.
SO, UM, AND JUST ONE FINAL NOTE ON THE CHARLIE'S, YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY TRANSCENDED FROM A TRANSPORTATION SERVICE INTO AN AMENITY AND AN ATTRACTION DOWN IN YORKTOWN.
SO WE, WE JUST LOVE SEEING IT ON THE ROADS AND OUR VISITORS CONTINUED TO TRACK THE CHARLIE IN REAL TIME ON OUR ETA SPOT, MOBILE TRACKING APP, YOUR DRIVERS.
SO ALSO IN THE BEGINNING OF APRIL, OUR WATERFRONT AMBASSADOR AND PARKING ATTENDANCE SERVICES STARTED UP AGAIN.
SO FOR THE PARKING ATTENDANTS, THEY NOT ONLY ENSURE PARKING ON THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE PARKING DECK FOR SHOPPERS AND DIAMONDS TO THE URBAN WALK LANDING AREA, THEY ALSO HAVE LOOK TO TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND WHAT'S A REALLY BOTTLENECK PART DOWN THERE.
SO, SO THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, USHER CARS TO IDENTIFY WHERE THERE'S EXTRA PARKING AND WHERE THEY CAN PICK UP THE TROLLEY.
UM, AND FOR THE WATERFRONT AMBASSADORS, THESE ARE OUR FRIENDLY FACES DOWN THE WATERFRONT.
THERE THEY'RE LIKE A MOBILE GUEST SERVICES, UM, GIVING OUT AREA INFORMATION.
WHERE'S THE RESTROOMS, WHERE IS THE BATHROOM? HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU HAVE DOING THIS? SO RIGHT NOW FOR OUR AMBASSADORS, WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE RIGHT NOW WE'RE ACTIVELY HIRING AS YOU KNOW, HIRING HAS BEEN, BEEN A CHALLENGE, BUT WE WE'VE HAD SOME REALLY GREAT PEOPLE THAT HAVE STUCK STUCK AROUND WITH US.
AND THEN, SO FOR THE PARKING SERVICE, WE HAVE A, ROUGHLY ABOUT FOUR PEOPLE THAT CYCLED TO THE, SO THE AMBASSADORS ARE TWO DAYS, UH, THEY'RE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY RIGHT NOW.
AND ONCE WE HIT MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY, WE'LL HAVE FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY COVERAGE FOR THE AMBASSADORS, RIGHT? SO REALLY MOST OF THESE PROGRAMS HAVE ELEVATED THE GUEST EXPERIENCE OF THE WATERFRONT.
AND SO NOT ONLY FOR THE TOURISTS, BUT ALSO THE LOCALS AS WELL.
[00:55:02]
SO SOME REALLY GREAT NEWS, SO ON THE FREIGHT SHED FRONT, SO TO SAY THIS YEAR WAS A COMEBACK HERE WOULD BE A HUGE UNDERSTATEMENT.SO REALLY WE LOOK AT FYI 19, THAT WAS A LOT OF OUR AREAS THAT WAS OUR BUSIEST AND OUR MOST ACTIVE AND, AND FOR THE FREIGHT SHED, IT WAS THE HIGHEST YEAR OF REVENUE EARNINGS FOR THE FRAZIER.
SO WE'RE ALREADY ON TRACK TO BEAT THAT BY 10% FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
AND YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER AN EARLY PART OF FY 22, WE'RE STILL KIND OF COMING OUT OF COVID A LITTLE BIT.
SO THE DEMAND FOR THE FACILITY IS FANTASTIC, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THE STAFF WANTED TO TARGET WEEKDAY BOOKINGS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO DO THAT.
AND WE'RE SEEING A POSITIVE RESULT OUT OF THAT.
I THINK ASHA YOU'RE GONNA ATTRIBUTE IT TO THERE'S.
THERE'S A VARIETY OF EVENTS THAT WE'RE SEEING THAT WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
SO WE'RE SEEING BIRTHDAY PARTIES SEE AN ANNIVERSARY RETIREMENT BUSINESS, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY EVEN HOSTING PROMPTS NOW AT THE PHRASE YET.
YOU DO MORE DIFFERENT ADVERTISEMENT.
ARE YOU GETTING THE WORD OUT THAT IT'S AVAILABLE? WHAT'S, WHAT'S DRIVING RECOGNITION THAT THIS IS A PLACE TO COME FORWARD.
SO W WE'VE GOTTEN THE WORD OUT.
I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, WORD OF MOUTH HAS BEEN OUR STRONGEST ADVERTISEMENT FOR, FOR YEARS.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME PENT UP DEMAND FOR, FOR WEDDING VENUES RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK WE'LL SUSTAIN THIS ACTIVITY, YOU KNOW, THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE.
BUT ALSO AS WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT LATER, WE'VE GOT THE LOVE LETTERS RIGHT THERE.
YOU KNOW, WE DO A LOT OF COMMUNITY EVENTS.
THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE PHRASE SHOULD SUPPORTS A LOT OF COMMUNITY EVENTS, UH, JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKENDS AGO FOR THE FREIGHT, THE FREIGHT SHED, HOSTED A HISTORY FAIR DURING THE PIRATES WEEKEND.
THAT'S GREAT ADVERTISEMENT TO NOT ONLY GIVE A PLATFORM FOR THESE HISTORIC, YOU KNOW, ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFITS TO GET THEM EXPOSURE, BUT IT'S ALSO PUTTING PEOPLE THROUGH THE FREIGHT SHED.
SO I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUR STORY OUT AND HEY, THIS IS FOR RENT TOO.
RIGHT? AND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE THE BUILDING, BUT DON'T REALIZE THEY CAN RENT IT FOR ANYTHING.
SO NOW I GUESS YOU CAN ALL TELL THAT WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR, UH, OUR EVENT SEASON, IT'S IN FULL SWING AND IT REALLY KICKED OFF IN FEBRUARY WITH OUR RETURN OF THE WINTER MARKET.
SO WE HAD TWO IN FEBRUARY AND TO ARE MARCH, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S ARE COOLER TIMES OF THE YEAR, BUT THE ATTENDANCE WAS, WAS PHENOMENAL.
SO WE SAW TONS OF ENERGY AND TONS AND TONS OF ACTIVITY FOR THOSE MARKETS.
SO THIS LED INTO OUR YMCAS FAMILY FUND, RUN 5K AND 10 K RACE DOWN AT THE RIVERFRONT.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR NOW.
UM, AND IT'S ACTUALLY A STATE QUALIFIER NOW WITH THE 5K IN THE 10 K ARE ACTUALLY CERTIFIED ROUTES.
SO IT'S KIND OF A BIG DEAL IN THE, IN THE COMMONWEALTH.
SO AFTER THAT, WE OPENED UP OUR MARKET SEASON WITH OUR GO GREEN MARKET, AND THIS WAS IN COORDINATION WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS AND OUR YORKTOWN BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE.
AND THIS IS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AND RECYCLING, JUST ALL THINGS GREEN.
SO WE EVEN HAD THE COLONIAL BEEKEEPERS DOWN THERE WITH A LIVE BEE EXHIBIT.
I LIKE THE NAME, I LIKED THE NAME.
SO THE NEXT WEEKEND WE HAD OUR, UH, FRENCH SISTER CITIES MARKET, WHICH FEATURED TONS OF FRENCH THEMED OFFERINGS.
AND THEN IT WAS PIRATES WEEKEND, WHICH IS QUITE POSSIBLY THE BUSIEST TWO DAYS IN YORKTOWN.
SO WE SAW RECORD TROPS DRAWN IN BY MOCK NAVAL BATTLES, CANON FIRINGS, UM, PIRATE, ENCAMPMENTS, PIRATE SCHOOLS SEE SHANTY SENIOR.
I MEAN, IT WAS JUST, IT WAS JUST A TON OF FUN FOR EVERYBODY.
AND IT'S, IT'S A REALLY GREAT EVENT FOR TWO DAY EVENT FOR YOUR ACCOUNT TO
SO, SO, UM, THAT WAS FOLLOWED UP BY AN EVENT THIS WEEK, HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK RETURNED TO YORKTOWN FOR A SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.
NOW, LAST YEAR WE DIDN'T HAVE AN IN-HOME EXHIBIT.
WE WERE DOWN IN THE
UM, WE ALSO HAD THE LOVE LETTERS DECORATED FOR THE EVENT, AND WE HAD A WEEKDAY MARKET, A MIDWEEK MARKET, WHICH WE'VE NEVER DONE NOW DONE DOWN THERE BEFORE.
I THINK THE FENDERS DID REALLY WELL.
AND THE ATTENDANCE FOR THE HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK WAS ALSO FANTASTIC AS WELL.
SO OBVIOUSLY WE WE'VE, WE'VE HAD A FEW EVENTS, BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE LINED UP.
SO THIS SATURDAY WE'VE GOT THE BLUES BREWS AND BARBECUE FESTIVAL FOLLOWED ON SUNDAY BY OUR ART OF THE RIVER JURIED ART SHOW.
AND THAT'S ACTUALLY ON MOTHER'S DAY THIS YEAR.
SO THAT'S A GREAT PLACE TO TAKE MOM POTENTIALLY.
SO, UH, AFTER THAT, WE'RE REALLY HAPPY.
WE'VE GOT A NEW CONCEPT COMING.
IT'S A VINTAGE MARKET AND, UH, AT THE WATERFRONT IN CONCERT WITH A VINTAGE CAR SHOW ON MAIN STREET.
AND I THINK I MIGHT KNOW SOMEBODY IN THE ROOM THAT MIGHT BE PARTICIPATING MR. GREEN.
WHAT ABOUT THE MARKET THAT WAS AT THE BACK THAT WILL STAY I'LL STAY, BUT YEAH, SO THAT WAS SO SUCCESSFUL AND WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM, FROM ATTENDEES.
THEY'D LOVE TO SEE ANOTHER ONE.
SO WE TOOK THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IT DOWN TO THE WATERFRONT AND THEN HAVE THE VINTAGE CAR SHOW.
YOU KNOW, ANOTHER THING THAT WE'RE TARGETING IS BRINGING LIFE BACK TO MAINSTREAM AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO GET SOME ACTIVITY UP THERE AS WELL.
WE THOUGHT A VINTAGE CAR SHOW WOULD BE A GREAT FIT AND THAT'S ON MAY 14TH.
AND I'LL JUST MENTION ALL THOUGH, THE MACK HAS BEEN WIDELY POPULAR FOR THE VINTAGE MARKET.
SPRING IS NOT AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE THEY WERE FULL DISCLOSURE.
[01:00:03]
AND THEN, SO ANOTHER EVENT, A NEW THEME MARKET THAT WE'VE COMING IN IN JULY, I BELIEVE IT'S JULY 16TH IS OUR FUN IN THE SUN MARKET.SO THAT, THAT WEEKEND WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE ALL THINGS SUMMER.
SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY GREAT FAMILY FUN EVENT.
SO OF COURSE IT WOULDN'T BE SUMMER IN YORKTOWN WITHOUT OUR SOUNDS OF SUMMER CONCERT SERIES.
AND ON JUNE 2ND, WE'RE GOING TO START OUT WITH THE UPTOWN BAND.
AND THEN AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE GOT A FANTASTIC LINEUP FOR THIS YEAR.
UM, I, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL, BUT I DON'T, I CAN'T FIGURE OUT A BETTER WAY TO SPEND A SUNDAY NIGHT OR THURSDAY NIGHT.
THEN THE MOST OF THE MUSIC ON THE RIVER, SO LOOKED TO LOOK TO SEE YOU THERE.
UM, OF COURSE, 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER AND THIS IS A REALLY SPECIAL DAY IN YORKTOWN.
SO, SO STAFF IS WORKING REALLY HARD, UM, TO MAKE IT SOMETHING GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY, WITH A PARADE IN THE MORNING, WE'VE GOT MID DAY ACTIVITIES DOWN AT THE RIVER WALK, AND THEN WE HAVE A CONCERT IN THE EVENING FOLLOWED UP, OF COURSE, BY THE FIREWORKS SHOW WITH THE RIVER, SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY, REALLY HAPPY TO ANALYSIS.
AFTER A TWO YEAR HIATUS, THE VIRGINIA SYMPHONIES COMING BACK DOWN TO THE RIVERWALK.
OBVIOUSLY THIS, THIS WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE CELEBRATE URINETOWN COMMITTEE OF THE YORKTOWN FOUNDATION.
THEY MAKE ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE.
AND OF COURSE A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THEIR VOLUNTEERS THAT MAKE THIS POSSIBLE AS WELL.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO BE A LABOR DAY WEEKEND, SEPTEMBER 3RD.
AND SO IF PEOPLE WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUPPORT TO SUPPORT THIS DAY, SHE CAME MONEY THROUGH THE CELL COUNT.
SO ANOTHER REALLY NEAT ANNOUNCEMENT THEY HAVE IS WE HAVE THE PERMANENT, UH, WE HAVE PERMANENT LOVE LETTERS NOW.
SO WE RANDOM A FEW TIMES AND THERE WAS, THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN THEM.
SO WE, WE FIGURED, YOU KNOW, WHAT, LET'S GET OUR OWN SET.
SO SINCE THEN, THE LOVE LETTERS, WHICH ARE SITUATED BETWEEN THE FREIGHT SHED AND THE WATER STREET GRILL HAVE BECOME ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PLACES IN NEW YORK TOWN TO TAKE A PICTURE.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, BRIDES ARE UDL UTILIZING IT FOR A UNIQUE WEDDING PHOTO.
UM, BUT ALSO THE TOURISM STAFF CAME UP WITH A SH SCHEDULED, A THEME DECORATIONS THAT KIND OF FIT A HOLIDAY OR A THEMED MARKET, OR SOME OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNER TO THAT.
AND ACTUALLY OUR VERY OWN JAMES SCRUGGS, NOT ONLY, UH, OPERATION SUPERVISOR OR TALKING MASK, HE'S ALSO A VERY TALENTED ARTIST.
SO HE'S TAKEN A LOT OF THESE CONCEPTS AND MADE THEM REALITY.
AND ACTUALLY DOES MANY OF THE DECORATIONS ONE THIS MORNING, ACTUALLY HE DID ONE THIS MORNING FOR ART OF THE RIVER.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, I NOW I'M TO PASS IT OVER TO JAMES TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE HAPPENINGS DOWN AT THE RIVER, LIKE LANDING PERIODS.
BUT FIRST I WANTED TO SHOW A SHORT VIDEO THAT WE HAD PRODUCED.
UH THAT'S THAT, THAT SPEAKS TO OUR TALL SHIP.
THERE'S ONE, ONE MORE LITTLE THING WHERE NOW CANADA IS NOW A PRIVATE RECIPIENT OF A MARKER OF LAFAYETTE'S JOURNEYS FOLLOWING HIS RETURN.
POST-WAR I GOT, I GOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT DOWN THERE AND IT WAS KIND OF A BIG DEAL.
GOT A NICE SIGN RIGHT THERE ON THE WATERFRONT TO COMMEMORATE THAT THIS, THE BEAUTIFUL SIGN AND SINCE WE'VE HAD IT.
AND SO I'M THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THAT, BY THE WAY.
AND SINCE WE HAVE THAT IN STUDIES THAT PEOPLE STOPPED BY AND READING THE SIGN, AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY TO MARK LAFAYETTE'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE REVOLUTION.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF ENERGY BUILDING UP TO SOME BIG DATES.
AND ONE OF THOSE BIG DATES IS IN 2024 TO, TO CELEBRATE LAFAYETTE'S 200TH ANNIVERSARY HAS BOTH HITS FRATERNITY YORKTOWN, WHICH IS WHAT THAT MARKER SPEAKS TO.
AND ACTUALLY THE, THERE WAS A FILM CREW IN TOWN.
THIS ACTUALLY THIS DAY DOING A FOLLOW THE FRENCHMAN SERIES, WHICH YOU GUYS CAN BE LOOKING OUT FOR JUNE, JUNE, AND JULY, THAT TELLS A STORY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF YORKTOWN IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE FEATURED ON YOUTUBE.
AND WE'RE GOING TO, WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY PUSH IT OUT AS WELL.
YEAH, IT'LL BE ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL.
YOUR COUNTY.GOV
ALSO THE LOVE LETTERS, UM, REALLY IS A STATE PROMOTION AS WELL ON VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION, UM, IMPLEMENTED THIS PROGRAM AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A TRAIL JUST LIKE YOU HAVE A MUSIC TRAIL, A MURIEL TRAIL, UM, OYSTER TRAILS.
THEY HAVE A LOVE LETTER TRAIL.
SO VISITORS ACTUALLY WILL FOLLOW THE TRAIL AND GO TO ALL THE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO VISIT ALL THE DIFFERENT LOVE LETTERS.
SO IT DOES HAVE A REGIONAL SHORT VIDEO.
MY NAME IS JAMES SCRUGGS ON THE DOCK MASTER AT RIBBLE LENNON PEERS AND FELLOWSHIP LIAISON WITH TALL SHIPS MADE TO RING TALL SHIPS IN THE PORT HERE AT YORKTOWN.
WE, UH, REACH OUT ALL OVER THE WORLD, LOOKING FOR TALL SHIPS, COME TO PORT, AND YOU'VE GOT TALL SHIPS THAT ARE FROM THE 17TH CENTURY, 15TH CENTURY.
LIKE WE JUST HAD THE SANTA MARIA AND IT'S A PIECE OF HISTORY WHETHER IT'S REPLICATED OR IT IS AN ORIGINAL SHIP.
IT'S ONE THING TO READ ABOUT IT IN BOOKS AND OTHER THINGS.
A LOT OF THESE SHIPS, WE HAVE COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
WE WORKED WITH NAVAL ATTACHE TO PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, WE CONTACTED THEM, THEY CONTACT US, BRING THEM INTO COURT.
THE MAIN THING IS GETTING THE MEDIA AND GETTING EVERYBODY TO, TO COME DOWN HERE AND TO WANT TO, TO ENJOY IT.
WHEN YOU GET THESE FOREIGN FLAG VESSELS THAT HAVE SAILED ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE ATLANTIC 28 DAYS AND, UM, COME INTO PORT AND YOU SEE THEM COMING THROUGH THE MOUTH OF THE YORK RIVER AND COMING DOWN HERE, IT REALLY DRAWS A, JUST A FANTASTIC VIEW FOR EVERYBODY DOWN HERE, NOT ONLY THE BEACH PARTICIPANTS, BUT PEOPLE JUST VISITING TOWN FOR THE HISTORY, THEY COME AND SEE THIS AND IT, UM, IT MAKES IT JUST
[01:05:01]
GIVE ME MORE OF A SPECIAL PLACE FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE THEM COMING DOWN HERE.EVERYONE HAS SEEN YOUR REGULAR BOATS.
EVERYONE HAS PROBABLY BEEN ON THE WAR ONCE OR TWICE.
UM, BUT WHEN YOU SEE THE TALL SHIPS ACTUALLY GETTING A GLIMPSE AT HOW EVERYTHING USED TO BE IN THE PAST.
SO WHEN YOU'RE DOWN HERE IN YORKTOWN AND ABOUT THE HISTORY AND THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, AND YOU SEE A TALL SHIP ROLLING DOWN THE RIVER, YOU ALMOST FEEL LIKE YOU WERE BACK IN THE 17, 18 HUNDREDS, NO MATTER WHAT THE SHIP IS.
IT KIND OF BRINGS YOU INTO THAT ERA AND RAN KIND OF MAKES YOU FEEL KIND OF WHAT THEY SAW OR MIGHT'VE SEEN BACK IN THAT DAY.
AND IT'S A, IT'S A HISTORY PIECE AND IT'S A REALISM THAT YOU CAN'T GET ANYWHERE ELSE.
AND YOU CAN'T BE STANDING SOMEWHERE WITH THIS MUCH HISTORY AND SEE SOMEONE LIKE THAT.
IT'S A DRAWL, LIKE NO OTHER OUR AB TEAM PUT THAT TOGETHER.
NOW WE ACTUALLY HAD A COMPANY APPROACH US AND WE, WE GOT, UM, W WE HAD THEM THEN PRODUCE THAT AS WELL AS ANOTHER ADVERTISEMENT THAT WE FEATURE ON THE CHARLIE FOR THE RIVERWALK LANDING PEERS.
SO WE WERE REALLY PROUD OF IT.
AND IT'S A REALLY COOL, I THINK THE PERSPECTIVE ON TALL SHIPS WITH THAT, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO JAMES TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE RIVERWALK LANDING PEERS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US APPRECIATE IT THIS FIRST TIME PRESENTING TO Y'ALL.
I'M EXCITED TO TELL YOU ALL ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE AND WHAT WE HAD GOING ON.
UM, OUR CRUISE SHIPS ARE BACK IN FULL SWING.
UH, THEY STARTED OFF LAST YEAR AND THEY WERE AT MINIMUM CAPACITY, WHICH WAS ABOUT HALF CAPACITY FOR NORMAL ON THAT IS THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION.
THAT IS THE BIGGEST SHIP AND AMERICAN CRUISE LINES FLEET.
SHE'S 170 PASSENGERS THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 27 TRIPS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE MAKING HERE.
UM, NEXT YEAR WE HAVE CONFIRMED 30 CONFIRMED VISITS.
UM, ALONG WITH AMERICAN CRUISE LINES, WE ALSO HAVE A NEW CRUISE SHIP LINE THAT JUST HAS SIGNED ON.
THEY'VE ALREADY MADE ONE VISIT THIS YEAR.
THE OTHER ONE GOT CANCELED FOR WEATHER THAT'S AMERICAN QUEEN VOYAGES, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY OUR FIRST FOREIGN FLAG VESSEL.
UM, TALL SHIP OUT OF THE BAHAMAS.
THESE CRUISES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO YORKTOWN AND BRINGS PEOPLE FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD, INTO YOUR TOWN AND TO SHOWCASE, AND THEY GET TOURS OF YORKTOWN ON THE TROLLEYS AND THE BATTLEFIELDS AND THE MUSEUMS, AS WELL AS GOING TO THE UPPER PART OF WILLIAMSBURG AND JAMESTOWN, AND BACK AROUND THE AREA OR TALL SHIPS AND VISITING VESSELS RUINING FOR TWO ANOTHER YEAR, ROB WAS A TALL SHIPS AND VISITING VESSELS ARE AT REPORT MINING JUST, UM, LAST YEAR, LAST WEEK ON A PIRATES WEEKEND.
UM, THE BOATS IN THE MIDDLE ARE FROM THE, UM, NAVAL ACADEMY AND ANNAPOLIS.
THOSE ARE YPS, UH, CARDI YARD PATROL BOATS, AND THEY ARE VERY EXCITED TO COME BACK.
UM, HOPEFULLY TWO OR THREE MORE TIMES THEY DID DECK TOURS, UM, DURING THE PIRATES WEEKEND.
UM, AND THEY HAD SEEN THE DRAW, BUT THEY WERE SO EXCITED.
AND I SAID, ALL THE PORTS THEY'VE BEEN TO FROM BOSTON TO CHARLESTON, THAT YORKTOWN WAS THEIR FAVORITE PORT THEY'D EVER BEEN TO, AND THEY WANT TO SET IT UP.
YOU LISTED GIVE THEM A GOOD TIME.
WE ALWAYS DO ALWAYS DO ROLL THE RED CARPET.
UM, AND SO NEXT TIME THEY'LL COME BACK.
THEY WANT TO DO A WHOLE, A FULL TOUR WITH EVERYBODY AND SET UP AND PROMOTE IT AND BRING A LOT MORE PEOPLE DOWN.
OH, THE NAO SANTA MARIA, AS THE LAST TOLL SHIP AND THE PILLBRA SAN MARIA IS, UM, A PRIVATELY OWNED VESSEL.
IT'S OUT OF THE NEO VICTORIA FOUNDATION.
WE'VE ALSO HAD HER ON ONE OF HER SISTER SHIPS, EL GALYON, WHICH IS A, UM, 17TH CENTURY SPANISH GALLEON ON SCARE ALLIANCE.
OUR HOME PORT SHIP, THIS SKIRT ALLIANCE AS A STAPLE HERE IN YORKTOWN, THEY OFFER THREE SALES A DAY, THEIR FIRST SALE BEING THE PIRATE CRUISE FOR THE KIDS, WHICH IS REALLY INTERACTIVE AND FUN CRUISE FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN LIKE, AND ACTUALLY GET A LITTLE PIRATE.
UM, WHAT IS IT DIPLOMA? THEY GET OUT OF COLOMBO FOR PASSING THE PIRATE SCHOOL THERE.
THEIR MID DAY SALE IS MORE OF A SIGHT SEEN MID DAY CRUISE ALONG THE, YOUR RIVER AND THEIR SUNSET.
SAIL WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THEIR MOST POPULAR, UM, CRUISES OF THE DAY RESEARCH VESSELS.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY NEAT DOWN IN YORK, TENNESSEE.
WE WORKED WITH MANY DIFFERENT AGENCIES.
UM, I'M GONNA EXPLAIN JUST SOME OF THE WINES AND WHAT WE KIND OF DO WITH THEM.
UM, WE WORKED WITH NOAH AND THEN MOST RECENTLY ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
AND THEY WERE HERE LAST YEAR AS THEY WERE REPLOTTING THE WHOLE, UM, YORK RIVER TO CHANGE ALL THEIR CHART PLOTS.
SO IN A MATTER OF YEARS, THEY HAVE TO CHANGE ALL THE CHART PLOTS BECAUSE CHAP CHARTS
[01:10:01]
FOR MARINERS, BASICALLY LIKE A ROADMAP FOR YOUR GARMENTS.WELL, THE, THE CHANNEL SHIFT TOO, BECAUSE OF WAVES AND STORMS AND CHANGES.
AND SO WHAT THEY DO IS THEY EVERY, SO EVERY TWO YEARS AT THE RECHART PLOT THAT RIVERS AND GIVE MORE ACCURATE CHARTS, UM, WE'VE WORKED WITH THEM, OH, THAT'S ACTUALLY THE VEN, BUT VIRGINIA, THAT WAS CHRISTENED AT THE PIERCE.
UM, AND THEY DO FISH COUNTS, EELGRASS SURVEYS, SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, AND A CHESAPEAKE BAY.
I THINK WE'RE CHRISTIAN THERE TWO YEARS AGO AT OUR PEER CHAT.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL VESSEL.
YOU KNOW WHO BUILT THAT? I DO NOT KNOW.
WE CAN FIND THAT OUT FOR YOU THOUGH.
WE'LL GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.
OH, THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION DOES CORE SAMPLE STUDIES OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.
UM, ODU HAS A RESEARCH VESSEL.
THEY COME AND STAY THE NIGHT OVER HERE WITH HER COLLEGE, DO IT DOING STUDIES THAT YOU SPEAK WITH THE COLLEGE AND THE MARINE LIFE, VIRGINIA LIVING MUSEUM COMES DOWN AND DOES A JELLYFISH COLLECTION STUDIES.
AND THEY COLLECT THE JELLYFISH WAS, WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF
IF ANYBODY GOES IN THERE AND SEES A LOT OF THE JELLYFISH THAT ARE IN THERE, ACTUALLY COME FROM, IT'S A GOOD PLACE.
AND IF THEY TAKE 200 BACK, THEY ACTUALLY ABSORB EACH OTHER.
AND SO THE NEXT DAY I'M ONLY 40 OF THEM SAID TO KEEP COMING AND GETTING THEM AS THEY COME EVERY DAY, WE HAVE PLENTY OF THEM.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, UM, BUT YOUR GREEN PUT US IN CONTACT WITH MARINE SONIC INSTITUTE AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING DOWN THERE AND, UH, RESEARCH AND, AND RUNNING SOME OF THEIR NEW EQUIPMENT ALONG OUR PEERS AND, UM, DOING SOME REALLY GREAT THINGS WITH ULTRASONIC DETECTION UNDERNEATH THE ORDERED AND STUFF TO ADVANCE THEIR EQUIPMENT.
THE LOCAL COMPANY THAT BILLS WHAT'S ON THE SONAR, IT'S UNDERWATER SONAR.
AND I USE IT A LOT IN A RECOVERIES.
UH, IT'S, IT'S REALLY, HIGH-END TOP OF THE LINE TECHNOLOGY RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK.
YOU WERE WITH THEM FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW.
AND THEY COME OUT AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH, SOMETIMES IN THE HIGHEST SUMMER, THREE TIMES A MONTH AND A BIT OVER TWO DAYS, AT LEAST.
AND THEY RUN A TRACK DOWN A PART WITH PRI RESERVE AT ALL FOR THEM.
AND THEY DO THAT TO ADVANCE THEIR TECHNOLOGY, WHICH BEING A, YOUR COUNTY BUSINESS.
IT'S A GREAT THING FOR US TO DO.
AND I'D LIKE TO ADD, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL THESE RESEARCH VESSELS AND IN ANY MILITARY VESSELS, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY APPRECIATE OUR MILITARY AND WE REALLY UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF RESEARCH.
SO WE PROVIDE DOCKAGE FOR FREE OF CHARGE FOR ALL THESE VESSELS, UH, CRUISING AND YACHT CLUBS.
SO A FEW YEARS AGO IN COORDINATION WITH OUR PEER REVIEW COMMITTEE, ONE OF OUR GOALS WAS TO ATTRACT MORE CRUISING AND YACHT CLUBS TO ACHIEVE HIS GOAL.
WE REACHED OUT TO VARIOUS LOCAL AND REGIONAL CLUBS OFFER THEM GROUP DISCOUNTS EVERY THREE YEARS, EXTENSIVE MARKETING AND RESEARCH AND OUTREACH.
WE HAVE GROWN AND HAD A LOT OF GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.
WE HAVE THE CAVALIER CRUISING CLUB, WHICH WILL BASICALLY TAKE OVER THE WHOLE MARINA WITH 18 BOATS FROM THE SMALLEST ONE IS 36 AND THEN THINK EVERY OTHER BOAT AFTER THAT IS 48 TO 78 FEET.
AND SO FOR THREE DAYS THEY WILL FILL UP THE MARINA.
AND AS SOON AS THEY LEAVE, UH, WE HAVE ANOTHER YACHT CLUB COMING INTO THE DAY.
THEY LEAVE BY THE WAY, CAVALIER VIRGINIA BEACH.
WELL, WE HAVE SOME, UM, SEABIRD YACHT CLUB.
AND IN ORDER TO GET THAT DISCOUNT, IT'S YACHT CLUBS WITH AT LEAST SIX MEMBERS COMING OVER.
UM, BUT WE HAVE ALL THE WAY DOWN FROM KERR TUCK, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE, UM, TWO BOATS THAT CAME IN LAST YEAR.
IT'S A GROUP ON THE WEST COAST CALLED UP PANAMA POSSE, AND THEY HAVE ABOUT 280 BOATS TOGETHER.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY MAKING AN EAST COAST, UM, TOUR THIS YEAR.
AND SO WE'RE HOPEFULLY EXPECTING TO GET A LOT OF THOSE BOATS COMING INTO YORKTOWN, MAYBE NOT ALL 200 COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
UM, YOUR COUNTY SAILING TEAM, ANOTHER, UM, THERE WAS MR. GREEN HELPED US OUT WITH, UM, YOUR COUNTY SAILING TEAM IS ANY YOUR COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, KID THAT WANTS TO BE ON THE TEAM CAN BE ON THE, YOUR COUNTY SAILING TEAM AND GO AND COMPETE AGAINST NORFOLK AND OTHER LOCALITIES.
AND USUALLY IN THE SPRING, YOUR NEXT COUPLE WEEKS IN THE FALL, THEY COME DOWN, THEY USUALLY PRACTICE THAT A SECRET YACHT CLUB.
WELL, THEY'LL COME DOWN AND SHOWCASE FOR A WEEK ON THE YORK RIVER.
AND IT'S REALLY NEAT TO SEE ALL THE KIDS OUT THERE, SAILING AROUND IN FRONT OF, UM, YOURTOWN AND THE SAILBOATS AND SEEING WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED AND PRACTICE THEM WITH THE STRONG CURRENTS AND THE STRONG WINDS OUT THERE.
THEY GET A LOT OF, UM, GOOD PRACTICE OUT THERE.
UM, JUST RECENTLY WE WORKED WITH YOUR PROVER ACADEMY AND, UM, DID A CAREER OUTREACH TO THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
ALSO, I'VE HAD DONE IT ONCE WITH CBRE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, A PERSONAL CAREER AND DEVELOP PRESENTATION.
I HAVE ONE THIS FRIDAY AS WELL, GOING TO TALK TO FIFTH GRADERS ABOUT HOW I GOT INTO THE FIELD AND HOW I GOT HERE.
UM, AND SEABROOK YACHT CLUB THIS YEAR DID THEIR, UM, VOTING EXPO.
[01:15:01]
AND WE WERE ABLE TO SET UP A BOOTH AND FEATURE THE RIVERWALK MINING PIERS DOWN THERE.SO WE WERE LOOKING AT VARIOUS WAYS TO SPREAD THE WORD BESIDES OUR MARKETING AND MEDIA CAMPAIGN, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT OTHER WAYS IN THE COMMUNITY TO GET THE NAME OUT AND WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER TO DRAW MORE PEOPLE IN SO EXCITING AND, UM, REALLY JUST REMARKABLE WHAT STAFF AND THE TEAM HAS DONE TO REALLY MARKET OUR PEERS AND JUST BE CREATIVE AND TAKING INITIATIVE OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET PEOPLE HERE, WHETHER IT'S THE FREIGHT SHED AND US TARGETING WEEKDAY BUSINESS.
CAUSE THAT WAS WHERE THE OPPORTUNITIES WERE WITH WEEKENDS BEING BOOKED ALMOST TWO YEARS OUT, UM, FOR THE FREIGHT SHED.
UM, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, THE SYNERGIES AND THE HARD WORK THAT HAVE GONE INTO REALLY TARGETING SPECIFIC GROUPS, UM, THAT ARE FIT WHETHER FOR OUR PEERS OR, UM, FREIGHT SHED, THE TEAM'S JUST DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB.
SO I JUST COMMEND ALL OF THEIR EFFORTS.
AND, AND JUST ONE OTHER THING, NOT ONLY IN BEING AN EXTRAORDINARY DOCK MASTER CAPTAIN SCRUGGS WAS ALSO NAMED DUCKS UNLIMITED CHAIRMAN OF THE YEAR.
I HAD TO THROW THAT IN AND ALSO WE'RE MISSING A MEMBER OF THE TEAM.
KEVIN AND KEVIN IS, IS VERY HARD WORKING DOWN THERE.
WELL, I AM SO GLAD THAT WE INVESTED WHEN WE DID IN THE PIERS AND IN THE WATERFRONT, BECAUSE WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS BRING PEOPLE HERE AND YOU'RE DOING THAT.
AND I, WELL, IT'S JUST A MARVELOUS THING TO SEE IT.
I JUST LOVE IT WHILE I DRIVE DOWN AND I SEE PEOPLE WALKING AND EVERYTHING GOING ON THE ACTIVITY DOWN THERE IS TREMENDOUS.
AND I KNOW IT TOOK A LOT OF HARD WORK AT YOUR OWN PART AND IT CONTINUES TO TAKE A LOT OF HARD WORK, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO REALLY.
AND TRULY, I THINK IT REALLY ADDS SO MUCH TO THE COUNTY.
AND JUST ON A CLOSING NOTE, I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU ARE ALREADY AWARE FROM YOUR BOARD CORRESPONDENCE.
UM, WE ARE PURSUING A FEDERAL GRANT OPPORTUNITY, UH, FOR THE YORKTOWN WATERFRONT DOCK MASTERS OFFICE.
IT WAS KIND OF A LAST MINUTE OPPORTUNITY WE HAD, WAS IT, YOU KNOW, A WEEK'S NOTICE.
UM, BUT AT ANY RATE, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DEFINITELY A NEED, UH, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS ANYWAY, WITH TOURISM AND THE GROWTH THAT WE'RE SEEING AT THE WATERFRONT WITH IT REALLY JUST BEING THIS HUB FOR ALL OF OUR WATERFRONT OPERATIONS, YOU KNOW, EVENT STAFF, FREIGHT SHED, PEER STAFF, UM, THE EVENTS THAT ARE GOING ON.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HOPEFUL AND HAVE OUR FINGERS CROSSED THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE AT THAT GRAND EXPEDITE.
UM, THAT OPPORTUNITY SINCE IT GOT PUSHED BACK AND CIP, LIKE MANY THINGS DID WITH COVID.
UM, AND I KNOW THIS ISN'T ON MARKETING, BUT WE WERE JUST RECENTLY FEATURED IN THE TRAVEL ISSUE, UM, OF CHESAPEAKE BAY MAGAZINE.
WE DID NOT WIN THE BEST SPEECH WITH NO JELLYFISH AND THAT WASN'T A CATEGORY.
HOWEVER, WE DID, UM, WE WERE RECOGNIZED FOR BEING ONE OF THE MOST FREE FAMILY FUN DESTINATIONS, UM, FOR OUR PAGE.
BEST SPEECH WAS WHAT? OH, NO, WE DIDN'T WIN FOR NO JELLYFISH.
IS THERE ANYTHING ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS QUICKLY? NO.
[CLOSED MEETING ]
WANT TO NOW MOVE TO POST MEETING AND MR. SHEPARD, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE US INTO A CLOSE MAYBE? OKAY.IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.2 DASH 37 11, A ONE OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, I MOVED THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONVENIENT, CLOSE MEETING TO PROVIDE A PER, UH, TO CONSIDER A PERSONNEL MATTER INVOLVING APPOINTMENT OF INDIVIDUALS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WE'LL CALL CASE MR. BRAIN.
MR. RON, MR. SHEPHERD, MRS. DOLL.
UH, WE WILL ADJOURN OUR MEETING AFTER THE CLOSED SESSION.
AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.