Lynchburg to crack down on skill games; Council to get briefed on increased police video surveillance
Charlottesville is also considering use of FLOCK license-plate readers
There’s just one locality in today’s edition. I feel there’s enough material in the City of Lynchburg to warrant its own podcast and newsletter similar to Charlottesville Community Engagement. Perhaps one day this feed will include longer stories than these previews.
For now, I hope these summaries are providing a glimpse into the differences in how the elected bodies in the 24 localities operate. I continue to be fascinated and look forward to the next one tomorrow.
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City Council to learn more about FUSUS, FLOCK, Hill City Connect
The seven member Lynchburg City Council will meet at 4 p.m for a work session followed by a regular session at 7:30 p.m. Both are in City Council Chambers at 900 Church Street in Lynchburg.
There are four discussion items with the first being an annual report from the Central Virginia Planning District Commission from Executive Director Alec Brebner. (view the presentation)
Lynchburg is one of 23 members of the CVPDC, an entity that also runs the Central Virginia Transportation Planning Organization, the Region 2000 Services Authority, and the Central Virginia Radio Communications Board.
Councilors will next get an update on the construction of the new headquarters for the Lynchburg Police Department. When the project is complete in February 2025, there will be a three story building with 93,991 square feet. Right now the work is 29 percent complete according to the staff report.
“Framing and sheathing on the building exterior is underway as well as roof construction,” the document reads. “Interior mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems are being installed at this time as well.
The third item deals with skill games and how a recent Virginia Supreme Court ruling has rendered them violations of city code. The General Assembly passed a ban in 2021 but an injunction has allowed them to remain in place pending the outcome of litigation.
Staff will lay out what steps will be taken to enforce the new interpretation. This will involve sending a notice of violation to the nine stand alone gaming facilities. There’s another Supreme Court case coming up in December. That one is called Sadler Brothers Oil Company v. Commonwealth of Virginia if you want to pay attention.
Next is an update on an amendment to the Future Land Use Map and conditional use permit for 19 apartments at 3146 and 3150 Wards Ferry. Council held a public hearing on October 10 but deferred action until the regular session later this evening.
At issue is the need to relocate a city-owned stormwater pond to make room for the apartments. The developer can either buy more land for the development to avoid moving the pond, move the pond and share ownership with the city, or build and own the stormwater pond. (view the presentation)
Next up are the four business briefing items for matters coming up at future Council meetings.
The first is for the city’s proposed conveyance of 8 Adams Street to Griffin Pipe Products LLC for the Blackwater CSO Tunnel project. (staff report)
The second item is for future deed restrictions open space for stormwater management related to park improvements in the Tinbridge Hill and Dearington neighborhoods.
“The improvements to both properties will generate surface water runoff (i.e. stormwater) that will need to be managed in accordance with city code and state law,” reads the staff report.
“Conserved open space -- the practice of setting aside land via deed restriction to allow low volumes of runoff to disperse and infiltrate -- is a state-approved measure to mitigate stormwater impacts.”
Staff is recommending denial of the Future Land Use Amendment and the conditional use permit. Council will consider that under General Business later in the meeting. (read that report)
The third item is one that would be of interest to many in Charlottesville. The police department there recently announced they were considering the use of license plate readers operated by FLOCK Safety. Lynchburg is considering the program, too.
“Flock Safety offers compatibility with Virginia’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) to include Amber Alerts, Silver Alerts, Be-on-the-Look-Out (BOLO) advisories, and other items specifically related to vehicle information as a service,” reads the staff report.
This is part of the Real Time Crime Center. FLOCK also includes a gun-shot detection system. The Virginia State Police are covering $10,000 of the cost to install 15 cameras on city-owned utility poles across Lynchburg. The city has budgeted $55,700 in the current fiscal year for this purpose.
The Real Time Crime Center is marketed to localities as the FUSUS Public Safety Platform. The whole operation will increase police surveillance.
“Fusus works with the LPD’s existing body camera and in-car camera technology allowing for enhanced operational and investigative capabilities,” reads the staff report. “Additionally, Fusus allows for live video feeds to be sent to an emergency operations center or directly to officers in the field to enhance the safety of our officers.”
Under this system, businesses can opt into a program called Hill City Connect which will provide police with video feeds in order to aid investigations.
“Violent crime in Lynchburg has become increasingly more difficult to investigate, often as a result of uncooperative witnesses, and in some cases even uncooperative victims,” the report continues.
The $250,000 cost for the first two years has been covered by a grant from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services.
Next up are the roll call items suggested by individual Councilors. Councilor Helgeson wants to implement a City Council Vision Statement. Councilor Misjuns wants to prevent Lynchburg property to be used for elective abortions.
The work session ends with a closed meeting to discuss litigation related to enforcing the ban on skill games.
Public hearing on repeal of city regulation of taxicabs
The regular session begins at 7:30 p.m. with a recognition of the Military Order of the World Wars and the National Public Safety / Law and Order Awards.
There is one public hearing and that is for a repeal of the city’s regulations on taxicabs.
“During the September 26, 2023 work session, Council directed staff to prepare ordinances to repeal provisions of city code that establish rates for taxicabs, along with any unnecessary regulations,” reads the staff report.
Council last adjusted the rates in February 2022 and were told at the time that both the Lynchburg Police Department and cab company owners both want to keep the city involved.
“As part of that packet, the taxicab owners board provided a letter unanimously supporting the city regulating the rate, citing it as a mechanism for taxicabs to avoid price wars and provide a means of fixed-rate transportation that families can build into their budget,” the report continues.
Council has been given choices for how they would like to proceed. They can repeal the whole thing or select things to keep. For instance, the current regulation require background checks of drivers.
Four people to speak at public comment period
To speak at Lynchburg City Council, one has to register with the Clerk of Council in advance.
People cannot discuss the same topic twice within a three month period.
Tonight one person wants to speak about “not closing Sandusky Elementary School.” Another wants to talk about “housing.”
Another wants to talk about “the role of in media politics” but he had originally wanted to talk about Lynchburg City Schools.
“Since you spoke on LCS and politics at the Oct 10th meeting, I'm unable to sign you up to speak on the same topic for the Oct 24th meeting,” wrote Alicia Finney to Gary Taylor. “If you have a different topic you'd like to speak about, I'd be happy to get you scheduled.”
The final speaker tonight wishes to address “community concerns regarding council behavior and what it’s doing to tarnish the name of our beautiful city.”
There are several items under General Business with the first four budget appropriations for public safety equipment purchases.
Another item is the adoption of Council’s legislative agenda for the 2024 General Assembly. (review the draft agenda)
The final item is a budget appropriation of $2,455,000 for the 12th Street Stabilization project. (staff report)
Reading material:
Council votes down talk of MEO resolution, Emma Martin, Lynchburg News & Advance (paywall), October 12, 2023
Organizations voice concerns about ‘Hill City Connect’ program, Duke Carter, WSLS, October 13, 2023
City releases economic development and tourism annual report, cites growth, future planning, Racheal Smith, Lynchburg News & Advance (paywall), October 14, 2023
Vice mayor says he won't support school funding scenario, Emma Martin, Lynchburg News & Advance (paywall), October 20, 2023