City Council

The “New River ” City 10 Robertson St. October 22, 2012 Radford, Virginia Meeting Number 7 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2012-2013 The special dinner meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 5:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, 10 Robertson Street, Radford, VA. The Mayor of the City, Dr. Bruce Brown and School Board Chair, Mr. Lynn Burris, were present and presiding. Other members of City Council present were Dr. Richard Harshberger, Mr. Robert L. Nicholson III, Mr. Tim Cox and Mr. Keith Marshall, School Board members Mr. Steven Cox, Mr. Kenny Alderman, and Mr. William Flora, and Mr. Karen Gerlach. Others present were as follows: Mr. David Ridpath, City Manager Ms. Melissa Skelton, Zoning Administrator/ City Clerk Ms. Patricia Cox, Finance Director Dr. Becky Greer, School Superintendent Mr. Rob Graham, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Ms. Kerri Long, Clerk of School Board Mr. Basil Edwards, Economic Director Mr. Donald Goodman, Chief of Police DISCUSSION ONLY: Facilities 1. Completed School Facility Improvements 2. Results of “Facility Study” 3. Planned Capital Improvements Budget 1. F.Y. 2014 Budget Expectations 2. Bus System Miscellaneous 1. Cross Country Trail 2. “Be There Campaign” The regular meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, 10 Robertson Street, Radford, VA. The Mayor of the City, Dr. Bruce Brown, was present and presiding. Other members of City Council present were Mr. Cox, Dr. Richard Harshberger, Mr. Keith Marshall, and Mr. Robert Nicholson III. Others present were as follows: Mr. David Ridpath, City Manager Mr. Donald Goodman, Chief of Police Mrs. Gail Cook-DeVilbiss, City Attorney Mr. Basil Edwards, Economic Director Mr. James Hurt, City Engineer Following the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Mayor Brown, the invocation was pronounced by Rev. McCandlish. MINUTES APPROVAL: On a motion by Dr. Harshberger, seconded by Mr. Marshall that the minutes of October 8, 2012 were approved with minor edits. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 MINUTES APPROVAL: On a motion by Mr. Nicholson, seconded by Mr. Cox that the minutes of October 17, 2012 were approved with minor edits. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 OLD BUSINESS SUBJECT: Consider the option of “Underground Power” vs the bid “Alternate A” for overhead power service - Second Avenue Transportation Enhancement Project SUMMARY: A large power transmission line runs parallel to the existing Second Avenue/Park Road which needs to be relocated to accommodate the proposed improvements to the corridor. The project was bid to have the lines placed underground and remove all the pole structure along with an alternate bid to move the poles from their existing location to the edge of the right-of- way. The bids received on the project priced the cost of underground service at $2.5 million and overhead service relocation at $661,500. Action is needed to select which option is desired for the project. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to select Alternate A” from the bid specifications for “overhead power service” at a cost of $661,500, seconded by Mr. Cox. VOTE: Mr. Cox: Yes Dr. Harshberger: Yes Mr. Marshall: No Mr. Nicholson: Yes Mayor Brown: Yes SUBJECT: Second Reading Ordinance 1642.01: VRA Financing Agreement - Second Avenue Transportation Enhancement Project SUMMARY: $3,083,800 is required to finance the portion of the Second Avenue/Park Road project not funded with grant or revenue sharing dollars from VDOT. A loan is available from the Virginia Resource Authority with terms for fixed rate financing for thirty years. The rate is subject to the sale of the bonds, but is expected to be under 4%. First reading of Ordinance # 1642 was held at the special meeting on October 14, 2012. ACTION: Mr. Cox made a motion to put Ordinance 1642.01 on its second and final reading, seconded by Dr. Harshberger. VOTE: Mr. Cox: Yes Dr. Harshberger: Yes Mr. Marshall: No Mr. Nicholson: Yes Mayor Brown: Yes SUBJECT: Consider Award of Contract for Construction Services - Second Avenue Transportation Enhancement Project. SUMMARY: Six bids were received for the Second Avenue/Park Road project. The lowest bidder for the project was Fielder’s Choice Enterprises, Inc. of Charlottesville, VA with a bid of $7,047,246.73 for the base bid and underground electric service and $5,156,746.73 for the base bid and overhead electric service. The project engineer, Anderson & Associates has recommended the selection of the low bidder with the bid “Alternate A” relocating the overhead power lines. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to award the contract to Fielder’s Choice Enterprises, Inc of Charlottesville, VA in the amount of $5,156,746.73 subject to final review by VDOT and Virginia Resource Authority Financing approval, seconded by Mr. Cox. Mr. Ridpath stated that we need authority of signature for this contract Mrs. DeVilbiss agreed and said once the approval came in, we need someone who is authorized to sign the contracts. Dr. Harshberger added that he amended his motion to reflect authorization. Mayor Brown added that the amendment to the motion to authorize Mr. Ridpath, City Manager, to sign the contract on behalf of the City. VOTE: Mr. Cox: Yes Dr. Harshberger: Yes Mr. Marshall: No Mr. Nicholson: Yes Mayor Brown: Yes CITIZEN COMMENTS: John McCandlish, Radford citizen, commended City Council on their action on the Second Avenue project. Chief Goodman shared that he is going to allow his officers to grow their beards between November 1st and March 1st but will have to pay a $75 “Beard Bounty”. All proceeds will go McHarg Elementary School’s Outdoor Classroom Garden. NEW BUSINESS SUBJECT: Consider “Zip-line” landing proposed for Bisset Park SUMMARY: Mark Gordon, owner Nesselrod and Shawn Hash, owner of Tangent Outfitters are proposing to construct a 1000’ “Zip-line” recreational attraction that will originate at Nesselrod and span the New River with a landing on the western side of Bisset Park. Mark Gordan made a presentation to City Council. Mr. Ridpath said we asked Mr. Gordan to present proposal to City Council because we didn’t want a project moving forward without Council’s endorsement. This has gone before the Recreation Commission and they have endorsed it and suggested it go before Council. If you have a general like for the project and want to pursue it, we will then have Mrs. DeVilbiss look at the project and put together necessary agreements. Mr. Gordan stated that they would like to get the permit process moving forward. Mrs. DeVilbiss stated that there is a great deal of legal issue that I need to look into and address and I will get busy on that. Mr. Nicholson asked when they proposed to be opening. Mr. Gordan responded that we would like to be open April of 2013. ACTION: Mr. Marshall made a motion endorse the concept of a “Zip-Line” in Bisset Park, seconded by Mr. Cox. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 Dr. Harshberger made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:50, seconded by Mr. Cox. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mr. Marshall – wanted to say a couple things about the Second Avenue project. I’m obvious the one in a four to one vote. First want thank City Staff, City Attorney, Mr. Hurt and all those who worked really hard on this project and they have done exactly what Council has asked them to do. They followed plan that council set forth. Ultimately the decision falls with Council, we were elected to make these decisions. I’m going to do my best to convince Council to change mind. He shared he is adamant apposed to this project, we all represent certain set of beliefs and I respect your opinion and hope you respect mind. We all agree that this is a dangerous stretch of road but disagree on the $5.1 Million dollars project is necessary to rectify this problem. I want our children safe and personally support a safe sidewalk. There are a couple of components that drive up the cost, one being the lighting that’s involved. There are 87 decorative lighting to a cost of over $800,000. Tonight we met with the School Board and Superintendant, and they discussed all the improvements they have been able to get done within their budget. While they do that, we are spending well over ¾ of a million dollars on decorative lighting and believe its a waste of tax payer’s money. The second reason pertains to the power lines along the road. We are forced to shift that power lines back a significant distance at a cost of $661,000. That’s just telephone poles and lines. Those two represent 1.5 million dollars of this project. We have an opportunity to receive a grant for $500,000 from SRTS, in order to qualify for this loan we had to have a walking plan. I believe we could have built this sidewalk with this money without redoing the whole road. We didn’t set aside any money for this project, as a result for not planning and setting aside any money for this project, we will not realize the benefit of State and federal funds because we will have to pay back every cent of that money in interest over those years. This is why I ran for office, to keep taxes low and be fiscally responsible with tax payer’s dollars. I hope tonight that you recognize that at least I kept my word and will continue to do so as long as I’m here. Mr. Nicholson stated he recognized a number of the comments and appreciate Keith’s remarks and decision. I don’t want to argue your point. I know Councils in the past have tried to set aside money for projects and build reserves, but over the years Council has pulled money out of reserves to balance the budget, so the money we tried to save, we couldn’t. That’s always a challenge that a Council will run into. As we talked with School Board earlier this evening, I know they have some projects that we in the community will be faced with, one of them is McHarg School and, whether to renovate or replace, I agree that they have done a tremendous job with what they have achieved by painting, fixing up, preparing making the facilities much better. But reality is that McHarg, Dalton Intermediate and the High School will need significant work in the future. I agree that it will be nice to save the money, but if this Council or a future Council was told the only way to balance the budget was to use the money reserves or by tax increase, I can guarantee you that the reserves will be used to balance it. I’m not trying to argue Mr. Marshall’s points, I wish previous Councils didn’t deplete reserves to the point they did. I appreciate your perspective. Dr. Harshberger commented that when we looked at building Belle Heth, we delayed it and when we delayed it, the cost doubled. Had we built it when we knew we needed to build, it would have been half price. The cost of this road has increased over the years, because of the delay. I understand the point about financing it, but we are financing it in a way where we don’t have to increase taxes. I believe we are behaving responsible in financing it the way we are. I am a fiscal conservative and it does concern me just as much as everyone else. Mayor Brown pointed out that this Council did consider and had the option to pay cash for this project. We had set aside $3 million in reserves over last couple years. But to do that it would have put the bond ratings in stress. This Council, all five of us, have taken steps to do what Mr. Marshall has suggested. I think we have been very fiscally sound in our decisions for financing. And that we have made a good decision to try and build an amenity that’s going to be attractive to the community at whole. Dr. Harshberger made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:50, Seconded by Mr. Cox. ATTEST: _________________________________ Melissa A. Skelton, City Clerk of Council