City Council

The “New River ” City 10 Robertson St. June 10 , 2013 Radford, Virginia Meeting Number 24 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2012-2013 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 Ms. Melissa Skelton, City Clerk Mr. Basil Edwards, Economic Director Mrs. Gail Cook-DeVilbiss, City Attorney Mr. Donald Goodman, Chief of Police The news media was represented by Radford News Journal. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Mayor Brown, an invocation was pronounced by Chaplin Jim Hanagar. MINUTE APPROVALS: On a motion by Dr. Harshberger, seconded by Mr. Marshall, that the minutes of May 13, 2013 are approved with corrections. On page 3 AO 1620: is for $800 for the “Be There Campaign” VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 PUBLIC HEARINGS SUBJECT: Enterprise Zone Overlay SUMMARY: The State of Virginia designates “Enterprise Zone” in communities to enhance industrial and business development, encourage job creation, as well as attract private investment. Pulaski County currently has enterprise zones and has offered Radford the opportunity to jointly apply with them in the renewal of their application. If selected, Radford’s enterprise zones would include, the Industrial Park, the business zone of Tyler Avenue form Cedar Valley Store to the corporate limits and the East and West Main Street business districts. Mayor Brown opened the public input hearing at 7:09 p.m. No Comment Mayor Brown closed the public input hearing at 7:09 p.m. Clerks note: Notice of the public hearing has been duly advertised. SUBJECT: Disposal of Public Safety Building SUMMARY: Since a year has passed without acting on the public hearing that was held on February 27, 2012, the City Attorney recommends that another public hearing be held prior to the transfer to the City’s Industrial Development Authority. Mayor Brown opened the public input hearing at 7:11p.m. John McCandlish asked if the IDA had a specific time period to try and find a use for it before opting to demolish. His concern is that it will just sit there for a long period of time and believes demolition is a good idea. Mayor Brown closed the public input hearing at 7:12 p.m. Clerks note: Notice of the public hearing has been duly advertised. SUBJECT: Proposed Mix Use rezoning – East Main Street SUMMARY: The Planning Commission has requested a joint public hearing with City Council to receive comments from property owners and the public on a proposal to rezone a portion of East Main Street from Jefferson Street, east to the corporate limits. The proposal is to change the area’s B-2, General Business, to MU, Mixed Use, to accommodate a variety of commercial and residential uses. Mr. Howard, Planning Commission Chair, informed Council that the Planning Commission has a quorum. Mayor Brown opened the public input hearing at 7:16 p.m. No Comment Mayor Brown closed the public input hearing at 7:16 p.m. Clerks note: Notice of the public hearing has been duly advertised. SUBJECT: John Ripley Bridge dedication SUMMARY: City Council is considering public input on a request by a citizens committee of veterans to name the bridge along University Drive in honor of Colonel John W. Ripley. Charlie Burton, Chair of the Veteran’s Committee, initially when started out it was the Ripley Committee, he shared that he suggested that they change the name of the committee as to honor all Veteran’s and not just one, very deserving veteran. He shared that they are at a point of moving forward with the bridge dedication if Council so deems worthy to do so. Colonel Ripley’s was an outstanding Marine and American. We felt as a committee that naming the bridge after him is very fitting because of his accomplishments. He shared a replica of the plaque that will go on the bridge. Mr. Burton introduced Mr. Chip Craig who has been instrumental in helping out in the committee. Chip Craig, spoke about the life of Colonel John Ripley, he shared the story of when he blew up the bridge during Vietnam War which saved thousands of lives. He stated that what John did that day was above and beyond any marine, that he received the Navy Cross. I believe what we can do in this City, that would be so appropriate is to name a bridge after him, it would be deserving and justified. He thanked Council for giving him this opportunity to address them. Mayor Brown opened the public input hearing at 7:28 p.m. No Comment Mayor Brown closed the public input hearing at 7:28 p.m. Clerks note: Notice of the public hearing has been duly advertised. RESOLUTIONS SUBJECT: Enterprise Zone Overlay ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion, to approve the resolution as presented and authorize Mayor Brown to sign and Melissa A. Skelton to Attest, seconded by Mr. Nicholson. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Mr. Marshall, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: VDOT Authorization of Local Roadway Projects SUMMARY: City Council approved the advancement of the proposed roadway to connect Tyler Avenue to East Main Street on February 14, 2011. The alignment was approved by resolution and meets state and local transportation goals. In approving the original resolution, no authority was given to sign on VDOT’s contract documents. This resolution permits the City Manager to sign all documents associated with the project. ACTION: Mr. Nicholson made a motion, to approve the resolution as presented and authorize Mayor Brown to sign and Melissa A. Skelton to Attest, seconded by Dr. Harshberger. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Mr. Marshall, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: John Ripley Bridge dedication ACTION: Mr. Cox made a motion, to approve the resolution as presented and authorizes Mayor to sign, attested by Ms. Skelton, seconded by Mr. Nicholson. Mayor Brown shared that the dedication will take place on Veterans Day. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Mr. Marshall, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 Mr. Marshall wanted to take a moment to present three proposals for citizens and Council to ponder. First, would like to consider a plaque with the names of all killed during action, in every public building and school in the City. Second is to consider having an official Veterans Committee, a recognized committee that Council appoints. Third thing is would like to spearhead getting all the stories from war heroes documented. Mayor Brown commented that Bill King got this ball rolling when he approached him about the Ripley designation which led to a formation of the Ripley committee, and under Charlie’s leadership and members of the committee who want to continue their work as a veteran committee and look at area’s of the City that could be a Veterans Park. Mrs. DeVilbiss commented that there are State requirements of how you can categorize the war memorials and how they have to be established and I will have to look into that. This is just something that we need to be aware of. OLD BUSINESS SUBJECT: Consider Ordinance 1650 – Disposal of the old Public Safety Building ACTION: Mr. Cox made a motion to approve Ordinance 1650, seconded by Mr. Marshall VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Mr. Marshall made a motion to dispense with the second reading seconded by Mr. Cox. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 CITIZENS COMMENTS: Dave Knight, Radford citizen, very pleased to see the item of scheduling a public hearing for pneumatic guns is on the agenda, but believes that its amending section 70-39, in order to bring into compliance with State regulations, is pointless unless you look at amending section 70-41 is also amended similarly, because that articulates the same prohibition of dispense pneumatic guns with the City. Wolly Galla, Radford Chamber President, thanked Council for their service and informed them that the Chamber looks forward to bringing Michelle back, hopefully before July 1st. We are looking at the feasibility of cutting cost by combining Main Street and Chamber. Keith Welton, Radford Chamber, shared that Wolly has been doing a wonderful job and wanted to remind Council that on June 19th, the Lt. Governor Bill Bolling will be here in Radford. The Chamber will be hosting the luncheon where Lt. Governor Bolling will be providing an economic update on Southwest Virginia. He shared that there are less than a handful of tickets left. Dave Knight, as a vendor of the Radford farmers market, it would be nice to have more support from the community. NEW BUSINESS SUBJECT: Consider awarding bid for Transformer for Electric Department SUMMARY: The City requested bids for a transformer and circuit breaker to upgrade the electric substation located on Seventeenth Street. Five bids were received, however only three bidders met all of the required specifications. The low bidder was ABB, Inc. in the amount of $183,972. ACTION: Mr. Nicholson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Marshall, to award the bid to ABB in the amount of $183,972. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Consider scheduling a public hearing to receive comments to amend Section 70 -39 of Radford City Code of Ordinances – Pneumatic Guns. SUMMARY: The issue of pneumatic guns has been discussed by City Council over the past several years without action, due to changing legislation and postponement in the General Assembly. The City Attorney and Police Chief have reviewed the requirements and have recommended that section 70-39 of the City Code be amended to accommodate requirements for “pneumatic guns”. The new requirements address the definitions of air guns, BB guns, pneumatic guns and permitted uses to be in accordance with State of Virginia requirements defined in section 15-2, 915.4 of the State code. Mrs. Gail Cook-DeVilbiss stated that there are a couple sections within our code that need work, and request to hold public hearing for a later date. ACTION: No action was taken SUBJECT: Consider approving Main Street Radford’s Memorandum of Understanding SUMMARY: Main Street Radford has provided a proposed contact for services to the City of Radford for F.Y. 2013. The services to be provided are centered on obligations that fulfill the State Main Street objectives of organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring. The F.Y 2014 Annual Budget has $51,000 designated for Main Street Radford, conditional upon approval of an agreement. Mary Day, acting Treasurer and Wanda Pearce, President of Main Street, presented Council with Main Streets Memorandum of Understanding and requested direction from Council on how to move forward with the organization. Council informed them that they have tried for years to try and help Main Street by providing direction and feel their guidance goes unrecognized. Council is in agreement that they will take the Memorandum of Understanding under advisement. No action was taken. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mr. Marshall wanted to mention how proud he is of our student athletes from Radford, 6 out of 7 of our spring teams made it to region play. Couldn’t been more proud of their accomplishments. Mr. Nicholson shared that we received information in their packet from VDOT for a public hearing on June 25th for the interstate 81 exit105 bridge replacement. Since funding has been cut they are coming back for another meeting. My suggestion is that you should come out and look at the plans because they are going to change. Dr. Harshberger asked Deb Cooney, Tourism Director to comment on the upcoming Rubber Duck race. Mrs. Cooney informed the audience that on August 17th they will be having the 2nd Annual Lucky Duck race in collaboration with the Radford noon rotary, proceeds from the race goes toward a scholarship which sends one Radford high school student to Radford University. Without even announcing the event yet, we sold over 100 ducks without any advertisement. Mayor Brown provided some updates throughout the City: there is a lot of paving and landscaping going on throughout the City. The Water Department is nearing completion of replacing a water main on Calhoun Street; recreational tourism had been successful despite the weather. He shared that we have a lot going on throughout the summer, with the Fourth of July celebration and our movies in park series that start this weekend. Work on sports complex is moving forward and development of an 86 unit apartment complex is underway. There is a lot of activity taking place. David does a great job at sending Council frequent updates on everything that is going on in the City. Mayor Brown added that Council recently had David’s evaluation, there were ten performance criteria that they went by and they all agreed that he exceeded all of Council’s expectations. One goal Council has this year is to look at his salary, to be sure that comparable to other communities. We are going to have a compensation classification study done of the City positions and that will be included. It’s important that the community knows that we have an annual evaluation criteria. Mr. Nicholson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:36, seconded by Mr. Marshall VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: _________________________________ Melissa A. Skelton, City Clerk of Council