Several residents used the Nov. 5 work session to report community events, grant awards and preservation projects and to offer volunteer support for city services.

Marlo Green, an organizer with OCR Community Empowerment Group, told council the group is running an African American tour on Nov. 16 (midday trolley route including Pocahontas Island) and a "Stories by Candlelight" program with a historical presentation at the Appomattox Event Center on Dec. 4. "We're bringing out a new quartet too from D. C.," Green said, and added that early-bird and VIP tickets remain available.

On grant funding, Green said the group did not receive a BIPOC grant for the Jared House but that it secured a $75,000 EPA grant for capacity building on Pocahontas Island. The EPA funds, she said, will support hiring and community engagement for park and trail planning on Pocahontas Island. Green also said an architectural firm that previously completed a historic structures report provided an estimate "about 118" for cost estimates and community engagement work; Green said she would continue to seek grant funding and asked whether the city might provide matching support.

Other public comments and follow-up

- Otis Hill asked staff to help find a newspaper photo of a 2023 donation of a fire system intended for deaf residents; staff asked the city's public information officer to coordinate.

- Cheryl Brown praised downtown cleanup efforts and offered her organization’s help filling food donation bins after noticing one bin on Hinton Street emptied quickly.

- Anthony Mills and other residents praised parks and recreation crews for recent improvements.

Ending: Staff committed to follow up with residents: the public information officer will assist Otis Hill in locating the requested photograph, and council members were invited to coordinate with community volunteers on food-bin locations and volunteer efforts.