City Council

The “New River ” City 10 Robertson St. August 11 , 201 4 Radford, Virginia Regular Meeting Number 3 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2014-2015 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 Dr. Richard Harshberger, Mr. Daniel Keith Marshall, Mr. Robert Nicholson and Mr. David Michael Turk. Others present were as follows: Mr. David Ridpath, City Manager Ms. Melissa Skelton, City Clerk Mr. Basil Edwards, Economic Developer Following the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Mayor Brown, an invocation was pronounced by Chaplin James Hanager. MINUTE APPROVALS: On a motion by Mr. Nicholson, seconded by Mr. Marshall, that the minutes for special meeting of July 14, 2014 are approved with corrections. Page 2 - Council appointments Mr. Turk was not appointed to New River Valley Community Service Board and original intent was for Mr. Nicholson Also, on the motion for Mr. Rider reappointment to the Tourism Commission, there was an absence of the second motion on the votes. Clerk informed Council that she would go back to previous minutes and make appropriate corrections. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 MINUTE APPROVALS: On a motion by Dr. Harshberger, seconded by Mr. Turk, that the minutes for regular meeting of July 14, 2014 are approved as presented. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 RESOLUTION: SUBJECT: Personal Property Tax Relief SUMMARY: The State of Virginia requires localities to provide tax relief to local citizens on a portion of their “Personal Property”. The percentage of relief on qualifying vehicles is established for each tax year and is based on an amount set by the state. The proposed rate for 2014 is 54% for personal property valued at $1,001 to $20,000. Business vehicles, motor homes and vehicles valued under $1,000 are excluded. ACTION: Mr. Nicholson made a motion to approve the resolution as presented, Mr. Marshall seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 REPORT SUBJECT: Cross Country Trail Project SUMMARY: Rob Graham, Assistant Superintendant Radford City Schools. Provided an overview of the proposed Cross Country Trail. Radford High School is proposing a 1.75 to 2.0 mile trail to support cross country training and meets, as well as nature related recreational use. The trail would cross property at Belle Heth School, the Recreation Center and Wildwood Park. The project Conceptual design has been reviewed and endorsed by the City Recreation Commission and the School Board. Formal approval from City Council will be necessary once the Virginia Outdoors Foundation approves a portion crossing through Wildwood Park. PUBLIC HEARING SUBJECT: Townhomes for Jeff Price SUMMARY: Collegiate Development has requested a Special Use Permit to develop a twenty-five unit townhome development on East Main Street near the corportate limits. The property is zoned MU (Mixed Use) and requires a Special Use Permit for townhomes. The 3.28 acre tract is identified as tax parcel 4-(1)-2B. Planning Commission held a public hearing on June 16, 2014. A public hearing is required by City Council. Mayor Brown opened the public input hearing at 7:23 p.m. No Comment Mayor Brown closed the public input hearing at 7:23 p.m. Clerks note: Notice of the public hearing has been duly advertised. OLD BUSINESS SUBJECT: Consider Second reading of Ordinance #1662 – Storm Water Management Act. SUMMARY: The Virginia Storm water management Act requires localities to adopt a storm water management controls that addresses state and local plan requirements, pollution prevention, permitting, inspection, enforcement and fees. Ordinance #1662 was developed by the City of Radford to address the state legislation established by the Virginia code section 62.1-44.15.27. A public hearing and first reading was held at the Council meeting on May 12, 2014. Provisional approval has been given from the oversight agency, the Department of Environmental Quality. However, their review of the “Ordinance” has not been completed at the time of the development of the agenda. ACTION: City Council made a consensus that approval be defer to the September 8, 2014 meeting. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 CITIZEN COMMENTS: No Comments NEW BUSINESS – Consent Agenda SUBJECT: Consider Appropriation Ordinance 1660.02: $53,000 FY 2015 Public Safety Answering Point Grant Program. SUMMARY: The Police Department has been awarded a grant from the Public Safety Answering Point organization. The funds will be used to purchase two additional 911 wireless phone lines, as well as upgrade the current phone and radio recorder. SUBJECT: Consider Appropriation Ordinance 1660.03: $6,060 Four-for-Life SUMMARY: EMS requested the purchase of six portable radios and six pagers. The funds are available in the Four-for-Life account. SUBJECT: Consider Appropriation Ordinance 1660.04: $86,720 Victims Witness Grant SUMMARY: The Commonwealth Attorney’s Office has been awarded a grant from the Virginia Department of Justice. The funds will be used to support the comprehensive services of the Victim Witness Coordinator that assists individuals who have been victims/witnesses of felony or misdemeanor crimes. SUBJECT: Consider Appropriation Ordinance 1660.05: $293,313 Community Development Block Grant. SUMMARY: The City of Radford has received Community Development Block Grant funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funds will be used to support the 2014 CDBG Action Plan approved by City Council on May 12, 2014. Projects will include a new railing along East Main Street, neighborhood beautification, repayment of Section 108 loan, sidewalk and lighting improvements on West Main Street. ACTION: Mr. Marshall made a motion to place 1660.02, 1660.03, 1660.04 and 1660.05 on its first reading, Mr. Nicholson seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Mr. Marshall made a motion to dispense with the second and final readings and approve Appropriations 1660.02, 1660.03, 1660.04 and 1660.05, Mr. Nicholson seconded the motion VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Rezoning Request – Receive Planning Commission Report SUMMARY: The Planning Commission unanimously recommended that the City Council approve Ordinance #1663 to rezone portions of parcels 6-13-3, 4, 5 &7 to R-4 (multi-family). ACTION: Mr. Nicholson made a motion, to recieve the Planning Commission Report, Dr. Harshberger, seconded VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Rezoning Request – Consider Ordinance 1663 SUMMARY: The project known as Westside Crossing, located on the corner of Lawrence St. and Second Avenue requires the rezoning of four land parcels that have “split” zoning. These parcels, identified as 6-13-3, 4, 5 and 7 are partially zoned R-3 (single family residential). R-4 (multi-family) is required to support the apartment complex. These parcels were required by the developer after the project began, from Radford City Schools. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion, to place Ordinance 1663 on its first reading, Mr. Nicholson, seconded VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Consider F.Y.15 Memorandum of Understanding with Radford Chamber of Commerce SUMMARY: The Radford Chamber of Commerce has provided a proposed contract for services to the City of Radford for F.Y. 2015. Services include assistance in economic development, involvement in local government activities, fostering of communications, “Festival of Lights” support, promotion of Radford tourism and business, increased marketing and regional opportunities, coordination of the farmers market and hosting the summer concert series. Lisa Davis, Chamber Director, provided an overview of events that the Chamber has been involved with over the summer. She also shared what her goal was for the upcoming year. She mentioned that since she has taken over as Chair most of her time spent had been preparing for all the events and now that summer is near ending, she will be able to focus more on the businesses. Mr. Marshall mentioned that one of the requirements outlined in the MOU is they will be actively involved in the recruitment of new businesses through the Economic Development Committee and asked how they planned to achieve this. Wolly Gallo, Chamber President, responded that they will continue to be an asset to businesses in helping them find the proper place to locate their business. Mr. Marshall also stated the funding was originally suppose to be it temporary and asked what the goal was for them to become self sustaining. And do they have a short term plan for weaning off local funding and being a completely self sustaining Chamber. Mr. Gallo responded that they have been doing everything they can to work to becoming self sustaining by trying to gain new memberships, he has seen the Chamber move forward since the new executive director was hired and believes they will in time become self sustaining. Mr. Marshall asked if the membership was growing. Mr. Gallo responded that is has. Mrs. Davis, Executive Director, added that yes they have got more business members and the goal in the fall is to have things for Chamber Members good paid speakers to come and talk to business owners to attend and work with new businesses in helping with creating a business plan. Mayor Brown shared that he thinks that a performance dashboard be on someone’s website and show these are the memberships and different Classification and think that people may be interested in individual memberships. He shared some ideas on how to help businesses and would like, in the future, to see the Memorandum of Understanding to be more quantifiable and believes Mrs. Davis can achieve that. Dr. Harshberger shared he has worked with a number of chambers who worked on leadership development and believes this really attracts new members and would be happy to help in anyway. ACTION: Mr. Nicholson made a motion, to approve the Memorandum of Understanding, seconded Mr. Marshall VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 CITY MANAGERS COMMENT: Mr. Ridpath reminded Council and members of the audience that “Summer in the Park” is this upcoming Saturday, this is in partnership with Radford noon Rotary and will have the annual duck race to raise money for scholarship. The Highlander Festival is coming up the first weekend in October and will be held in Bisset Park. COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS: Dr. Harshberger commented that the newsletter provided in packet is wonderful and has gotten better and better and would like to see wider circulation. Mayor Brown made an observation about how much work is getting done on both private and public sector side of things, in particular the New River Sports complex, it’s nice to see its graded and grass is growing and fence is coming up. There is work starting in Riverview Park with boat landing. Mr. Edwards informed Council that the drawing for the boat landing should be done soon. Mayor Brown also mentioned that he gets a lot of comments with Carly and the landscaping throughout the City. Mr. Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:07p.m., Mr. Nicholson seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: _____________________________ Melissa Skelton, City Clerk