Council approves Verizon cable franchise, adopts five-year CIP and clears consent agenda

The Culpeper Town Council on June 10 approved a five-year cable franchise renewal with Verizon Virginia LLC, adopted the town's FY2026'FY2030 Capital Improvement Program and approved the consent agenda, council members said during the regular meeting.

The council voted unanimously to grant Verizon a five-year franchise that would run through 2029 and preserves the 15-cent-per-subscriber monthly PEG (public, educational and governmental) fee that funds the Culpeper Media Network. The motion to waive further readings and approve the uncodified ordinance O2025004 passed on a roll-call vote with all council members present voting aye.

The planning commission'recommended capital improvement program for FY2026 through FY2030 was adopted by roll call. The CIP includes a funded study for a new police building, a Madison Road connector trail pushed into FY2029'FY2030 to await outside grant funding, proposed multipurpose courts at Yalmetto Park, and an out-year provision for a salt and abrasive storage building. The council recorded a unanimous roll-call vote in favor of adopting the CIP.

The consent agenda, presented by staff, covered a fiscal-year 2025 budget amendment for the snow-and-ice division; FY2026 vehicle and equipment purchases; an internal budget transfer for the joint community pool; recommendations for uncollectible utility account write-offs; treasurer's reports; and minutes of prior meetings. The consent agenda was approved by unanimous voice vote.

Public comments made during the Verizon franchise hearing included local residents urging the town to ensure Verizon completes service to all areas that meet density requirements; W. M. Bunker of Willow Shade subdivision asked the council to monitor Verizon's franchise compliance, noting his neighborhood lacked Fios service for years before eventually receiving it. Jonathan Krawcheck of the Culpeper Media Network thanked Finance Director Howard Cartel for assistance in securing service that supports the media network.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda: Approved (items: FY25 snow-and-ice budget amendment; FY26 vehicle and equipment purchases; internal budget transfer for joint community pool; uncollectible utility account write-offs; treasurer's reports; minutes). Motion moved and approved by voice vote; no roll-call names recorded in the transcript. - Ordinance O2025004, cable franchise renewal (Verizon Virginia LLC): Motion to waive reading and approve passed by roll-call (Dyke: Aye; Olinger: Aye; Mayor Reeves: Aye; Russell: Aye; Schmidt: Aye; Short: Aye; Vice Mayor Yao: Aye). Outcome: approved. - FY2026'FY2030 Capital Improvement Program (planning commission recommendation pursuant to Virginia Code 15.2-2239): Adopted by roll-call (Olinger: Aye; Mayor Reeves: Aye; Russell: Aye; Schmidt: Aye; Short: Aye; Vice Mayor Yao: Aye; Dyke: Aye). Outcome: approved.

Council and staff said they would return to items as needed in later meetings; no further formal actions were recorded on these items during the meeting.