FOIA: Williamsburg City Council Tours Live Performance Venue in Omaha
Trips in 2023, conducted in pairs, were “due diligence” research for a local venue in City near the new sports complex
Information obtained as part of a Freedom of Information request (FOIA) indicates that between September 2023 and October 2023, members of the Williamsburg City Council traveled to tour a music venue in Omaha, Nebraska called the The Astro. Graciously, the City provided the information in response to the FOIA request at no cost.
The City’s response indicates that in several instances, Council Members traveled two-at-a-time and on sequential dates. Multiple representatives of the City didn’t respond to follow-up emails requesting an explanation as to why the Council did not travel as a group for the tours.
Live Music Venue background
Williamsburg leadership has frequently expressed the desire to build a live music and performance center near the site of the sports complex currently under construction. A statement about the potential performance venue is mentioned in the City’s Fiscal Year 2026 proposed budget and states that they hoped to “[c]omplete initial design of the Williamsburg live performance venue, determine regional support, and evaluate facility completion by July 4, 2026.” (The City has yet to release the final FY26 budget approved by Council).
Travel Details
Trip Purpose: According to an email from a City representative, the travel was “[p]art of the City’s due diligence research into live performance venues, the city manager and members of the City Council visited venues that could serve as models for design.” The email further described the Astro as “as a hybrid indoor/outdoor venue that could inspire the design and function of a potential live performance venue in the City of Williamsburg.”
Total Travel Cost: $15,956.39
Travel Dates:
September 2023: Mayor Doug Pons and City Manager Andrew Trivette
October 23-25, 2023: Vice-Mayor Pat Dent and Council Member Stacy Kern-Scheerer
October 25-27, 2023: Council Member Barbara Ramsey and former Council Member Caleb Rogers
City Manager Andrew Trivette traveled to Omaha again in October 2023 to escort the Council Members, but based on the provided information, it’s unclear when he arrived and left.
Subsequent Official Action
In December 2023, the Williamsburg City Council voted unanimously to forward a request to the Historic Triangle Recreation Facilities Authority (HTRFA) to pursue development of a live performance venue and to express continued support for funding the initiative. Williamsburg City Manager Andrew Trivette, who made the recommendation for the action to the City Council, is also Chair of the HTRFA Board of Directors.
Following the recommendation by City Council, the HTRFA website states that that the Board “voted unanimously on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, to approve an interim agreement with MEB General Contractors Inc. to design a live performance venue on property in the City of Williamsburg.” The proposed site is on property owned by Colonial Williamsburg that will be leased to the HTRFA.
Public Meetings & Disclosure
The Code of Virginia dictates several relevant conditions regarding what constitutes public meetings and required disclosure necessary to ensure government transparency and public participation.
Quorum: Article 2. Meetings of Governing Bodies.§ 15.2-1415 dictates that the majority of the governing body constitutes a quorum (the minimum number of the body needed to conduct official business). Williamsburg City Council has 5 members, so three members represents a quorum.
Definition of a Public Meeting: The Virginia Freedom of Information Act: §§ 2.2-3700 – 2.2-3714 dictates that any gathering of at least three members constitutes a public meeting, except for instances of gatherings with public employees, social gatherings, as well as public forums and candidate debates.
Public Meeting Requirements: Also under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, all meetings of public bodies must be open to the public, and reasonable notice must be provided. Additionally, minutes must be recorded, detailing the date, time, location, members present and absent, a summary of discussions, and any votes taken.
Download the information obtained from the City regarding the trips to Omaha:
Use of AI: Several AI tools were used to help research and fact check this post.
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