City Council

The “New River ” City 10 Robertson St. April 13, 201 5 Radford, Virginia Regular Meeting Number 16 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2014-2015 The work session meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 5:30 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 III, and Mr. David Michael Turk. Others present were as follows: Mr. David Ridpath, City Manager Ms. Melissa Skelton, City Clerk Mrs. Patricia Cox, Finance Director Mr. Donald Goodman, Police Chief Mr. Basil Edwards, Economic Developer Mrs. Jenni Wilder, Public Information Officer Mrs. Chelista Linkous, Asst. Finance Director Mr. Parker Mabe, Accounting Clerk City Council discussed the F.Y 2015-2016 No action was taken related to the above-mentioned item 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 Mrs. Gail Cook-DeVilbiss, City Attorney Mr. Donald Goodman, Chief of Police Mrs. Jenni Wilder, Public Information Officer Mrs. Chelista Linkous, Asst. Finance Director Mr. Parker Mabe, Accounting Clerk Following the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Mayor Brown, an invocation was pronounced by Chaplin James Hanagar. MINUTE APPROVALS: On a motion by Dr. Harshberger, seconded by Mr. Marshall, that the minutes for March 23, 2015 are approved as presented. 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. Marshall, that the minutes for April 6, 2015 are approved as presented. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 PUBLIC HEARING SUBJECT: F.Y. 2015-16 Budget SUMMARY: A public hearing was scheduled to consider comments from the public regarding the F.Y. 2015-16 Budget. Mr. Ridpath, City Manager and Becky Greer, School Superintendant both provided a brief overview of the City and Schools budget. Mayor Brown opened the public input hearing at 7:18 p.m. No Comment Mayor Brown closed the public input hearing at 7:18 p.m. Clerks note: Notice of the public hearing has been duly advertised. SUBJECT: F.Y. 2015 Tax Rate SUMMARY: A public hearing is scheduled to consider comments from the public regarding the F.Y. 2015 Tax Rate. Mayor Brown opened the public input hearing at 7:20 p.m. No Comment Mayor Brown closed the public input hearing at 7:20 p.m. Clerks note: Notice of the public hearing has been duly advertised. REPORT: Public Library - Toni Cox, Director of the Radford Public Library presented an overview of services of the Radford Public Library and shared that our Library was ranked in the top 20 percent within our budget range nationally and number 1 in the State of Virginia. PROCLAMATION SUBJECT: National Library Week SUMMARY: April 12-18, 2015 is “National Library Week”. The week recognizes the significant contributions that libraries make in meeting the communities economic needs, providing a place for education, opportunity and life-ling learning, as well as offering a host of community services for citizens of all ages. Mayor Brown read the proclamation for the benefit of the audience. City of Radford PROCLAMATION National Library Week 2015 WHEREAS, libraries have historically served as our nation’s great equalizers of knowledge by providing free access to all; WHEREAS, libraries work to meet the changing needs of their users, including building collections, expanding outreach services and increasing programming; WHEREAS, our nation’s libraries provide a forum for diverse ideas and points of view that help us better understand each other and ourselves; WHEREAS, librarians are trained professionals, helping people of all ages and backgrounds find and interpret the information they need to live, learn and work in a challenging economy; WHEREAS, librarians design and offer programs to meet their community’s economic needs, providing residents with resume writing classes, interviewing workshops and job seeking resources; WHEREAS, libraries are part of the American dream, places for education, opportunity and lifelong learning; WHEREAS, libraries, librarians, library workers and supporters across America are celebrating National Library Week. NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the City Council of the City of Radford, do hereby proclaim April 12-18, 2015 as National Library Week and encourages all residents to visit the library this week to take advantage of the wonderful library resources available @ your Radford Public library. CITY OF RADFORD, VIRIGNIA __________________________ Dr. Bruce Brown, Mayor ATTEST: ________________________ Melissa Skelton, City Clerk Adopted: April 13, 2015 ACTION: Mayor Brown made a motion, seconded by Mr. Nicholson, to approve the proclamation and authorize Mayor Brown to sign and Melissa A. Skelton, City Clerk to attest. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 OLD BUSINESS: None CITIZENS COMMENTS: None NEW BUSINESS SUBJECT: Consider Appropriation Ordinance 1660.17: $28,074 for Ambulance Upgrades SUMMARY: The stretcher mounting system in the two City owned ambulances need to be replaced to meet new federal requirements effective July 1, 2015. The new system minimizes patient movement during transport and significantly improves the safety of the patient and EMS personnel in the event of a crash. ACTION: Mr. Marshall made a motion to place 1660.17 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 1660.17, Mr. Nicholson seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Consider Ordinance # 1673: FY 2015 – 2016 Budget SUMMARY: This ordinance will approve the F.Y.15-16 Annual Budget for the City of Radford and Radford City School Board. As proposed, the total budget will be $58,504,235. ACTION: Mr. Nicholson made a motion to place Ordinance # 1673 on its first reading, seconded by Dr. Harshberger. VOTE: Dr. Harshberger: Yes Mr. Marshall: Yes Mr. Nicholson: Yes Mr. Turk: Yes Mayor Brown: Yes SUBJECT: Consider Ordinance #1674: Establishes the 2015 Tax Rate SUMMARY: This ordinance will approve the F.Y.15 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. Marshall made a motion to place Ordinance #1674 on its first reading, seconded by Mr. Turk. VOTE: Dr. Harshberger: Yes Mr. Marshall: Yes Mr. Nicholson: Yes Mr. Turk: Yes Mayor Brown: Yes SUBJECT: F.Y. 2016 City Rates and Fees SUMMARY: The development of the F. Y. 2015-16 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 Solid Waste fees increased to $18 per month. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion, to approve the resolution as presented, seconded by Mr. Nicholson. VOTE: Dr. Harshberger: Yes Mr. Marshall: No Mr. Nicholson: Yes Mr. Turk: No Mayor Brown: Yes CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS Dr. Harshberger stated that there is so much to be proud of, for the second year in row we have 100% of High School Seniors graduating and the Library is ranked number one in State of Virginia. Mr. Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:37 p.m., seconded by Mr. Turk. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: _________________________________ Melissa A. Skelton, City Clerk of Council