After slogging their way through several very long and contentious budget meetings in recent weeks, members of the Lynchburg City Council face another busy day Tuesday, with three meetings scheduled beginning at 3 p.m.
Topics will range from proposed changes to council’s rules of conduct to approval of small spending items and closed-door discussion of several board appointments.
Physical Development Committee discusses cell tower, open space
The panel will meet at 3 p.m. in the second floor training room at city hall, 900 Church St.
Agenda items include:
— A proposal by Milestone Communications LLC to put a cell tower at the city’s facilities and transportation department at 3524 John Capron Road. According to staff, the lease would bring monthly revenue to the city. The request went to the city school system. The school board approves of it and requests that the revenue go to the schools’ capital fund. Council will vote on it Aug. 26.
— A proposal to designate conserved open space in connection with planned improvements at Perrymont Park. The open space is intended to mitigate impacts of stormwater runoff that the park upgrades will generate. Council will vote on it Aug. 26.
You can find meeting documents at https://lynchburgva.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2932/files/agenda/2303.
Rules, rules, more rules on the table at work session
The council’s work session will begin at 4 p.m., also in the second floor training room.
A significant agenda item is discussion of proposed changes to the council’s rules of procedure.
Recent meetings, which have focused heavily on efforts to approve the fiscal 2026 budget, have been punctuated by often-unruly arguments among council members and frequent interjections from the audience.
Among the proposed changes are these:
— From Mayor Larry Taylor: That a member may request adding an agenda item by contacting the council clerk by 5 p.m. at least seven days before the meeting; the rules currently do not include a time of day. Also, any requested items would be offered for discussion at a work session.
— From member Marty Misjuns: That no items would be up for a vote in a work session unless a simple majority of the council agrees; the current rule requires a two-thirds majority.
— From Misjuns and Vice Mayor Curt Diemer: That during the public comment period, city residents would be permitted to speak before non-residents.
— From Diemer: That council members would not be allowed to leave the dais during public comments or a public hearing to interact with speakers or the public, unless by consent of the majority.
— From Taylor: That speakers would not be permitted to approach the council dais during public comments or public hearings.
— From city staff: That people attending meetings would be prohibited from using gestures “in a manner which is disruptive.” The rules already prohibit profanity or vulgar language or gestures.
— From staff: That a motion to suspend the rules of procedure would require a simple majority vote; it now requires a two-thirds majority.
— From Misjuns: That a majority vote would be required to cancel or countermand a previously approved matter, except: 1) where a motion to reconsider the same subject already failed, or 2) when a motion is to rescind, repeal or annul a matter that “cannot be undone or is impractical to undo.”
— From staff: Allowing a motion to block consideration of a question on a subject “that is inappropriate or undesirable.”
Also, member Jacqueline Timmer will separately present her proposed changes, including:
— That before adjourning a meeting or recessing a special meeting, the members who sought the special meeting should get an opportunity to address the reasons for calling the meeting.
— Adding to an existing mandate for the presiding officer to preserve order and decorum the phrase “while protecting free speech.”
— That if the presiding officer refuses to acknowledge a member who wants to appeal certain rulings by the presiding officer, that member may appeal to the parliamentarian.
— That a member’s request for an agenda item shall be deemed submitted when the member emails the clerk’s proper email address to request it.
— That if a member of the public makes allegations of impropriety or improper conduct, the council member targeted by the allegations gets the opportunity to respond at the next public meeting.
— That a member holds the floor during council discussions unless given a time limit approved by a super-majority of council before the debate or otherwise articulated in the rules. If the member is interrupted, the member gets more time to offset the interruption.
— That if a member alleges impropriety or improper conduct against another member, the accused member has the right to respond at the end of the discussion.
— Adding a new section on procedures to censure a member, if such motion or resolution is in writing, factually and legally sufficient and supported by documentation, along with other proposed rules.
Also on the work session agenda is a closed meeting to discuss appointments to the Central Virginia Community College Board, the City Employee Appeals Board, the Economic Development Authority, the Historic Preservation Commission, the Martin Luther King Jr./Lynchburg Community Council, the Museum Advisory Board, the Redevelopment and Housing Authority and the Building Code of Appeals Board.
You can find meeting documents at https://lynchburgva.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2875/files/agenda/2307.
Personal protective equipment and meeting dates at city council regular meeting
The council will convene again at 7 p.m. in the council chamber.
Agenda items include:
— A resolution to appropriate $15,000 for a way finding system for the Dunbar community schoolyard.
— A resolution to appropriate nearly $12,300 to buy personal protective equipment for the fire department.
— A resolution setting council meeting dates for the new fiscal year and location of work sessions.
You can find meeting documents at https://lynchburgva.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2901/files/agenda/2305.
