City Council

The “New River ” City 10 Robertson St. November 25, 2013 Radford, Virginia Meeting Number 7 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2013-2014 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. Timothy 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 Mrs. Gail Cook-DeVilbiss, City Attorney Mr. Basil Edwards, Economic Director Mr. Donald Goodman, Police Chief Mrs. Jenni Wilder, Public Information Officer Mr. James Hurt, City Engineer The news media was represented by Radford News Journal. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Mayor Brown, an invocation was pronounced by Rev. McCandlish. MINUTE APPROVALS: On a motion by Mr. Nicholson, seconded by Mr. Marshall, that the minutes of October 28, 2013 are approved as presented. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ABSTAIN: Mr. Cox PROCLAMATION SUBJECT: Small Business Saturday SUMMARY: Small Business Saturday is an American shopping holiday held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. This year it will be held on November 30, 2013. Make this a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. CITY OF RADFORD PROCLAMATION Small Business Saturday WHEREAS, small businesses form the backbone of our local economy, generating jobs and improving the quality of life for citizens; and WHEREAS, the City of Radford supports the efforts of local small businesses and recognizes the critical role they play in our community; and WHEREAS, Small Business Saturday is a nationwide campaign to cultivate business for small merchants on the Saturday after Thanksgiving; and WHEREAS, Small Business Saturday will stimulate economic growth for small merchants in our community by following the tradition of Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year; and WHEREAS, the City of Radford values its local businesses and celebrates the diversity of the goods and services they provide. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Radford does hereby proclaim November 30, 2013 as “Small Business Saturday” in the City of Radford and encourage Radford residents to recognize and support small businesses within our community by shopping at these establishments on the Saturday following Thanksgiving as a way to boost our local economy and strengthen our small business community. Dr. Bruce E. Brown, Mayor ATTEST: Melissa A. Skelton, City Clerk Adopted: November 25, 2013 ACTION: Mr. Cox made a motion to approve the proclamation as presented and authorize Mayor Brown to sign and Melissa Skelton to attest, seconded by Mr. Nicholson. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 RESOLUTION SUBJECT: Virginia’s First – Red Sun Farm’s Grading Project Agreement SUMMARY: In December 2012, the Virginia’s First Regional Industrial Development Authority requested that City Council support a restructure of its $5 million debt on the Regional Commerce Park, as well as participate in a “moral obligation” and investment in the debt service. Due to financial responsibilities of the City, the Council agreed to support the refinance and keep open the possibility of buying more shares of ownership in the corporation as specific projects come up. The City currently holds 8,457 shares of the 150,000 total shared held by the eleven member jurisdiction. The current project is the grading in the Commerce Park necessary to support the development of the Red Sun Farm Greenhouse facility. The Authority is preparing 100 acres of land in the Park, a $2 million value, to support the development of the project VFRIFA is planning to issue 50,000 additional shares to member jurisdictions to help finance the project. Those members participating in this project are Pulaski County, Giles County and the Town of Pulaski. The Authority has asked the City to continue its support of the Commerce Park and specifically the Red Sun Farms project with the possibility of buying additional shares in the future, if it becomes financially feasible. A Resolution supporting the Red Sun Farms Grading Project is required. The Resolution does not commit the City, financially, to the project. ACTION: Mr. Cox made a motion to approve the resolution as presented, seconded by Dr. Harshberger. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 REPORT SUBJECT: Radford Transit – Josh Baker SUMMARY: Josh Baker, Operations Manager for Radford Transit, presented an overview of the system and progress report. OLD BUSINESS SUBJECT: Consider Second Reading of Ordinance # 1654 – Guns and Weapons SUMMARY: Over the past several months, City Council has received and considered public comments and staff recommendations to amend section 70-35 through section 70-44 of the Radford City Code pertaining to “guns and weapons”. Revisions to the Code were needed to remove conflicts with the State Code, pertaining to carrying concealed firearms, discharge of firearms, sale of weapons, as well as regulations associated with air guns, BB guns crossbows and pneumatic guns. The Ordinance has been modified to reflect“repeal” (removal) of these City code sections pertaining to “charges and enforcement” that are contained in the Code of Virginia. ACTION: Mr. Marshall made a motion, seconded by Mr. Cox, to place Ordinance 1654 on its second and final reading. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Consider Second reading of Ordinance # 1655 – Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention SUMMARY: The Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention program protects the public water supply from contaminates entering the system from low water pressure or improper service connections. The program is mandated by the Virginia Health Department. The proposed Ordinance replaces the existing program and conforms to modern requirements and practices pertaining to administration, enforcement, penalties, customer responsibility, as well as maintenance and inspection. The city has had a program since 1996. A public hearing was held on September 9, 2013. The first reading of the Ordinance was held on September 23, 2013. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion, seconded by Mr. Nicholson, to place Ordinance 1654 on its second and final reading. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Receive Planning Commission report on Amendment to Radford Zoning Ordinance SUMMARY: Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance is necessary to promote business and industrial uses that were erroneously omitted from the 2007 Ordinance rewrite. Retail stores and shops, light manufacturing and assembly, as well as warehousing would be added to sections 120.1-(90), 120.1-107, 120.1-109, 120.1-114 and section 120.1-115. City Council held a public hearing on October 28, 2013 and with no public comments, approved Ordinance #1657 on its first reading. Planning Commission held a public hearing on November 18, 2013 and received no comments and recommends that Council approve the amendments to the Zoning Ordinance. ACTION: Mr. Nicholson made a motion to receive Planning Commission’s recommendation, seconded by Mr. Marshall. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Consider Second reading of Ordinance # 1657 – Radford Zoning Ordinance SUMMARY: The Planning Commission has recommended amendments to the City Zoning Ordinance to promote business and industrial uses that were originally omitted in the 2007 Ordinance rewrite. The amendment pertains to sections 120.1 -90 (2), 120.1-107, 120.1-109, 120.1-114 and sections 120.1-115 and adds permitted uses related, generally to retail stores and shops, light manufacturing and assembly, as well as warehousing. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion, seconded by Mr. Marshall, to place Ordinance 1657 on its second and final reading. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 CITIZENS COMMENTS: No Comments NEW BUSINESS ORDINANCE SUBJECT: Consider first reading of Ordinance # 1658 – Employee Bonus SUMMARY: This Ordinance formally authorizes a bonus to recognize the hard work of our employees over the past year in keeping cost down, providing high quality service and meeting our corporate goals. The FY 2014 Audit reflects positive revenues to support the consideration of the Appropriation. The recommendation would provide $450 to our 221 full-time employees and $70 to our 52 part-time employees. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion, seconded by Mr. Cox, to place Ordinance 1658 on its first reading. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion, seconded by Mr. Cox, dispense with the second and final reading. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Consider Appropriation Ordinance 1648.18: $54,950 for 2013 State Homeland Security Program Grant SUMMARY: The City received a grant from the Virginia Homeland Security Department in the amount of $54,950. The funds will be used to acquire a pick-up truck, mobile weather station, 18 helmets, 5 radios, 18 voice amplifiers for masks and inventory tracker. The equipment will support the operations and training of the haz-mat team at the Fire Department. ACTION: Mr. Cox made a motion, seconded by Mr. Nicholson, to place Appropriation Ordinance 1648.18 on its first reading. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Mr. Cox made a motion, seconded by Mr. Nicholson, to dispense with the second and final reading. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Consider Appropriation Ordinance 1648.19: $2,300 for DMV funds for Treasurer SUMMARY: The Treasurer has requested that $2,300 from the revenue generated from the “DMV Select Office” be used to support “supplemental salaries”. The use of the funds is at the discretion of the Treasurer, and in this case, will be used to supplement salaries related to the extensive work load demanded by this service. ACTION: Mr. Cox made a motion, seconded by Mr. Nicholson, to place Appropriation Ordinance 1648.19 on its first reading. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Mr. Cox made a motion, seconded by Mr. Nicholson, to dispense with the second and final reading. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 CITY MANAGER’S COMMENTS: Mr. Ridpath stated that there is a possibility of a winter storm this evening, our crews are ready to go if need be. He also shared that at the next meeting Mr. Hurt, City Engineer, will provide a report on the Storm Water Ordinance. Mr. Nicholson asked about budget process, and if he had any preliminary comments. Mr. Ridpath responded that we have had some improvements on the economy and we are not looking at any significant changes. But it is early and is subject to change. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Dr. Harshberger shared he will be leaving for Philadelphia, PA as soon as the meeting is over. The special closed meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 7:45 p.m. in the City Manager’s Conference Room, 10 Robertson Street, Radford, VA. The Mayor of the City, Mr. Bruce Brown, was present and presiding. Other members of City Council present were Mr. Timothy Cox, Dr. Richard Harshberger, Mr. Keith Marshall and Mr. Robert L. Nicholson III. Others present were as follows: Mr. David Ridpath, City Manager/City Clerk Mrs. Gail Cook-DeVilbiss, City Attorney Mr. Basil Edwards, Economic Director Ms. Melissa Skelton, City Clerk CLOSED MEETING: Mr. Marshall made a motion, seconded by Dr. Harshberger, to convene into a closed meeting for the purpose of discussion of the following subjects as provided in Section 2.2-3711 A, paragraph 5 of the Code of VA 1950 as amended which reads as follows: (5.) Discussion concerning a prospective business or industry or the expansion of an existing business or industry where no previous announcement has been made of the business' or industry's interest in locating or expanding its facilities in the community. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 Mr. Marshall made a motion to adjourn the closed meeting, Mr. Cox seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 Mr. Marshall made a motion to re-convene the regular meeting, Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 CERTIFICATION OF THE CLOSED MEETING Mr. Marshall made a motion that Council did not discuss anything in the closed meeting other than the items for which it was convened. Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 Mr. Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:10, seconded by Dr. Harshberger VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: _________________________________ Melissa A. Skelton, City Clerk of Council