City Council

The “New River ” City 10 Robertson St. April 14, 201 4 Radford, Virginia Meeting Number 15 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 Vice-Mayor of the City, Dr. Richard Harshberger, was present and presiding. Other members of City Council present were Mr. Timothy Cox, 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 Developer Mrs. Gail Cook-DeVilbiss, City Attorney The news media was represented by Radford News Journal. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Vice-Mayor Harshberger, an invocation was pronounced by Chaplin Henagar. MINUTE APPROVALS: On a motion by Mr. Nicholson, seconded by Mr. Marshall, that the minutes of March 24, 2014 are approved as presented. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Vice-Mayor Harshberger NAYES: None-0 MINUTE APPROVALS: On a motion by Mr. Cox, seconded by Mr. Marshall, that the minutes of April 1, 2014 are approved as presented. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Vice-Mayor Harshberger NAYES: None-0 RESOLUTIONS: SUBJECT: K9 Ares Retirement SUMMARY: Ares, a K9 with the City Police Department, has served our community since 2009. He is assigned to Officer John Crowder. The Czech Sheppard has served our community well and it is now time to retire. The Resolution recognizes the service of Ares and transfers ownership to his “handler” for care. A RESOLUTION DECLARING K-9 OFFICER ARES RETIRED FROM SERVICE TO THE RADFORD CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT AND DONATING HIM TO HIS PARTNER AND HANDLER, SENIOR POLICE OFFICER JOHN CROWDER OF THE RADFORD CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT WHEREAS, K9 Officer Ares is an 8 ½ - year old Czech Sheppard who has been member of Radford City Police Department for 5 years; and WHEREAS, Ares has helped the Radford Police Department rebuild its K9 program, sniffing out every drug that he is trained to sniff off of the streets; including: Methamphetamine, Heroin, Marijuana, Cocaine and Ecstasy; and WHEREAS, Ares is not only brave, vigilant, and handsome, but has also been instrumental in fighting crime in our community, including seizing in excess of 10 pounds of marijuana, along with two cars; and WHEREAS, Ares tracked down a criminal on July 4, 2012 in McCoy, hiding in a laurel bush on the side of a mountain, approximately two miles from where the criminal had bailed on the traffic stop, in the 90 degree heat; and WHEREAS, K-9 Officer Crowder’s favorite case he worked with Ares was a breaking and entering in Pulaski, a laptop and cell phone were stolen from a young man who had very little and could not afford to replace the stolen property. K-9 Officer Ares tracked the criminals and recovered the stolen property; and quoting Officer Crowder, “The look on the kids face when we returned the property was worth every minute.” and WHEREAS, Ares is a public relations expert and excellent around children, providing Radford City Police Department with the opportunity to educate the youth of Radford on K-9 Officers and their importance to public safety; and WHEREAS, K9 Ares will be retired from service to the Radford City Police Department and Senior Police Officer John Crowder will accept full responsibility for him; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Radford City Council of Radford, Virginia, that K9 Officer Ares is hereby declared retired and same is authorized to be donated to Senior Police Officer John Crowder of the Radford City Police Department. Dr. Richard Harshberger, Vice-Mayor ATTEST: Melissa Skelton, City Clerk Adopted: April 14, 2014 ACTION: Mr. Marshall made a motion to approve the resolution as presented and authorize Mayor Brown to sign and Melissa A. Skelton, City Clerk to attest, Mr. Nicholson seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Vice-Mayor Harshberger NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Norfolk Southern Lease SUMMARY: Main Street Radford, Inc., held the lease with Norfolk Southern Railway on the .55 acres of property referred to as the “Depot Lot”. The property is located across from the Radford Theater on East Main Street and provides parking for 49 vehicles. With Main Street now dissolved, the City approached Norfolk Southern railroad about making the City the new “lease”. The cost of the lease is $17,500 per year and is appropriated in the annual budget. ACTION: Mr. Nicholson made a motion to approve the resolution as presented and authorize Vice Mayor Harshberger to sign and Melissa A. Skelton, City Clerk to attest, Mr. Cox seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Vice-Mayor Harshberger NAYES: None-0 PUBLIC HEARING SUBJECT: F.Y. 2014-15 Budget SUMMARY: A public hearing was scheduled to consider comments from the public regarding the F.Y. 2014-15 Budget Vice-Mayor Harshberger opened the public input hearing at 7:35 p.m. No Comment Vice-Mayor Harshberger closed the public input hearing at 7:35 p.m. Clerks note: Notice of the public hearing has been duly advertised. SUBJECT: F.Y. 2014 Tax Rate SUMMARY: A public hearing is scheduled to consider comments from the public regarding the F.Y. 2014 Tax Rate. Vice-Mayor Harshberger opened the public input hearing at 7:36 p.m. No Comment Vice-Mayor Harshberger closed the public input hearing at 7:36 p.m. Clerks note: Notice of the public hearing has been duly advertised. OLD BUSINESS SUBJECT: Consider Second reading of Ordinance #1659, Radford Church of God in Christ SUMMARY: Radford Church of God in Christ is planning significant renovations and improvements of its existing sanctuary and educational facility. ACTION: Mr. Marshall made a motion, to place Ordinance #1659 on its second and final reading, Mr. Nicholson seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Vice-Mayor Harshberger NAYES: None-0 CITIZENS COMMENTS: No Comments NEW BUSINESS SUBJECT: Consider Appropriation Ordinance 1648.33: $6,308 for Byrne Justice Assistance Grant SUMMARY: The Police Department received a grant from the Edward Byrne Memorial JAG fund. The grant will be used to purchase medical kits to be placed in police cars. ACTION: Mr. Cox made a motion to place Appropriation Ordinance 1648.33 on its first reading, Mr. Marshall seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Vice-Mayor Harshberger NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Mr. Cox made a motion to dispense with the second and final reading, Mr. Marshall seconded the motion VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Vice-Mayor Harshberger NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Consider Appropriation Ordinance 1648.34: $2,500 for Radford City Schools “Be There Campaign”. SUMMARY: This appropriation is to help support the Radford Public Schools, “Be There Campaign” ACTION: Mr. Marshall made a motion to place Appropriation Ordinance 1648.34 on its first reading, Mr. Nicholson seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Vice-Mayor Harshberger NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Mr. Marshall made a motion to dispense with the second and final reading, Mr. Nicholson seconded the motion VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Vice-Mayor Harshberger NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Consider Ordinance 1660: FY 2014 – 2015 Budget SUMMARY: This ordinance will approve the F.Y.14-15 Annual Budget for the City of Radford and Radford City School Board. As proposed, the total budget will be $59,278,393. ACTION: Mr. Cox made a motion to place Ordinance # 1660 on its first reading, seconded by Mr. Nicholson. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Vice-Mayor Harshberger NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Consider Ordinance #1661: Establishes the 2014 Tax Rate SUMMARY: This ordinance will approve the F.Y.14 Tax Rate with Real Estate Tax Rate of $ 0.76, Personal Property at $2.44, Machinery and Tools at $1.76, and other personal property at $1.76. ACTION: Mr. Nicholson made a motion to place Ordinance #1661 on its first reading, seconded by Mr. Marshall. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Vice-Mayor Harshberger NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: F.Y. 2015 City Rates and Fees SUMMARY: The development of the F. Y. 2015 City Budget is based on revenues from taxes, rates and fees. The City Code provides the basis for determination of fees. All base fees/rates are proposed to remain level with the exception of fees water of an increase of $2.00 per 4,000 gallon and 1.5 times that for wastewater. 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 Mr. Cox. Mr. Cox stated for clarity that the minimum cost for water will be $14.32 and sewer rate was 1.5 times that of the water. Mr. Marshall said overall he is pleased about the Budget and with the Tax Rate remaining flat and not going to vote in favor of raising the water rate, he is just not convinced that we have to raise water rate right now. VOTE: Mr. Cox Yes Mr. Marshall No Mr. Nicholson Yes Vice-Mayor Harshberger Yes CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mr. Marshall thanked the City staff for all their hard work and appreciates everything they do and have a budget that we can be proud of. Vice-Mayor Harshberger agreed with Mr. Marshall and that Mr. Ridpath makes the Budget process sound very cut and dry, but there is nothing cut and dry about it. There is a enormous amount of detail that goes into getting the Budget to balance. He thinks we should be very grateful that we have the leadership that we do. Mr. Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m., seconded by Mr. Cox. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Cox, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: _________________________________ Melissa A. Skelton, City Clerk of Council