For the City Council meeting on November 1, 2022.

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IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to upcoming renovations at Morgantown City Hall, all Morgantown City Council meetings will be held in Monongalia County Commission Chambers located on the second floor of the Monongalia County Building at 243 High Street.

Meeting Highlights:

ADDITION OF A NEW FIRST RESPONDER TRAINING FACILITY

Council will consider an ordinance authorizing purchase of assets and lease of space at the current Defense in Depth facility. Police Chief Eric Powell has worked with the property owners on this proposal, which would establish a state-of-the-art training center for the community’s first responders, providing them with opportunities for range training, night training, and other essential support for emergency services personnel. The city would lease a 19,938 square foot space to offer this training, and it would have the capability to continue offering public access for concealed carry permit or other training.

UPDATING CITY PURCHASE PROCEDURES

Updates to the purchasing code will clearly specify distinctions between purchasing and bidding procedures for construction projects and materials purchases, codify exceptions for products with a sole source or other unavailability of bidding processes, and specify procedures for purchasing by cooperative agreements with other local governments.

UPDATING THE ORDER OF MEETING PROCEDURE

This ordinance would update the order of procedure for Morgantown City Council meetings and allow Council to coordinate orders of procedure as necessary for each meeting rather than adhering to a strict, unchanging order of proceedings.

REVIEWING THE APPLICABILITY OF ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER

This ordinance would establish that Robert's Rules of Order are mere guidelines for the Morgantown City Council rather than a strict set of requirements.

ACQUISITION OF A VERMEER DIESEL WOODCHIPPER

Morgantown's Public Works department has requested that Council approve the purchase of a Vermeer Diesel Woodchipper through the City's membership in Sourcewell, a municipal contracting agency which provides nationally leveraged purchasing contracts.

ESTABLISHMENT OF COLD SHELTER PLAN

Council will review a proposal outlining the logistics and budget of a cold shelter plan developed by Milan Puskar Health Right, Bartlett Housing Solutions, and The United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties. The cost to operate the cold shelter is estimated at $49,676.

PARTNERING WITH BUILDING COMMISSION TO SECURE BONDS FOR ICE ARENA AND MARILLA POOL

This ordinance would establish the City's agreement with the Morgantown Building Commission to secure revenue bonds for funding the Morgantown Ice Arena and Marilla Pool renovation projects. Expenses for the Morgantown Ice Arena project are estimated at approximately $10.4 to $11.5 million, while the Marilla Pool project is estimated to cost anywhere from $9 million to $11 million. Council will consider the placement of this ordinance onto a future meeting agenda.

REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS ACCRUED BEFORE BOND FUNDING WAS SECURED

This resolution would authorize the Morgantown Building Commission to reimburse the City for any project-related expenses that may have already been accrued before the revenue bonds were approved. This includes costs related to the design, acquisition, construction, furnishing, and equipping of the aforementioned recreational facilities. Council will consider the placement of this resolution onto a future meeting agenda.

PROPOSED CHANGES TO CITY SALES AND USE TAX

Council will review an ordinance which would make amendments to the City's sales tax, including the assignment of specific percentages to revenue funds for allowable uses.