Amanda DiMeo

This Capital Improvement Plan for FY2027-FY2031 outlines strategic investments and projects for the City of Staunton. The plan aligns with the City Council's 2026-2028 Staunton Plan, focusing on key pillars such as creating a resilient and sustainable community through infrastructure repairs and environmental initiatives, fostering a healthy community by enhancing biking, walking, and recreation infrastructure, and promoting an economically vibrant community through downtown revitalization and strategic development projects. Key areas include city infrastructure improvements, environmental sustainability, multi-modal transportation networks, community space reimagining, recreation master planning, and specific projects related to water, sewer, stormwater, and school facilities.

The Community Connections Sub-Committee meeting agenda included discussions on a Belonging Event, DEI Messaging, a Mutual Aid Event, and outreach efforts to various Boards and Commissions. The agenda also listed approval of the minutes from the previous meeting as the first item.

The combined agenda covered multiple sessions, beginning with a Work Session that included consideration of the meeting agendas, a presentation on the Augusta County Military Memorial, and a closed meeting for legal advice concerning a potential agreement with the Staunton Redevelopment and Housing Authority and operations of the Police Department, as well as discussion of a prospective business. The Regular Meeting included a Consent Agenda featuring the authorization of a Staunton Crossing Utility Easement, consideration of updating bylaws for the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) to clarify its role and composition, approval of a proclamation for Brain Injury Awareness Month, and consideration of an Arts in Practice Grant application. The Regular Meeting also featured a public hearing and consideration of a request to rezone 912 W Beverley Street from R-4 to B-5 Conditional to allow for low-income senior housing, with proffers offered by the applicant to limit the use to residential purposes. Additionally, the Council considered the adoption of the revised Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Emergency Operations Plan, an inventory adjustment resolution for newly accepted streets with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and an update on Phase I of the Downtown Tunnel and Street Repairs concerning Byers Street. Matters from the City Manager included updates on a Comprehensive Plan stakeholder meeting and preparations for a winter storm, and Matters from the Public involved citizen comments regarding federal agents and neighborhood safety concerns.

The agenda for the meeting includes the approval of minutes from the November 19, 2025 and January 21, 2026 sessions, a review and discussion concerning City Onboarding processes, and other general business before adjournment. The content from the previous meetings highlighted analysis of applicant versus hire statistics by race and gender, noting a high number of applicants not specifying race/ethnicity and variations in pipeline diversity across job types. Discussions also covered proposed changes and best practices recommendations for City onboarding and training, including connecting with Human Resources for implementation timelines and collaborative next steps.

The subcommittee meeting focused on the review of the City Council Presentation and determination of next steps for the Data & Research Subcommittee. Key actions identified include sharing presentation information with Human Resources (HR), creating guided questions for the subsequent meeting, and establishing a mechanism for HR to provide feedback, self-assessment, and proposals for moving forward. A specific action item requires AnhThu to connect with HR to define next steps for review, collaboration, and collective actions between the commission and the city.