City Council

The “New River ” City 10 Robertson St. March 14 , 201 6 Radford, Virginia Regular Meeting Number 13 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2015-2016 The work session meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 5:15 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 City Council discussed the F.Y 2017 Budget 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 Mrs. Gail Cook DeVilbiss, City Attorney Following the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Mayor Brown, and the invocation was led by Chaplain James Henegar. MINUTE APPROVALS: On a motion by Mr. Marshall seconded by Mr. Turk, that the minutes for February 22, 2016 are approved with corrections to page 3, Mr. Marshall requested that the City’s poverty percentage be added to his comments. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ABSTAIN: Dr. Harshberger RESOLUTION SUBJECT: Radford Transit SUMMARY: Radford Transit receives a portion of its funding from the Federal Transit Administration. This assistance for public transportation systems requires an application to receive the funding, as well as certifications and assurances from the transit authority, in our name the City of Radford. A resolution, approved by City Council, is required to authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to execute and file the application, request urban transit funds as designated from the New River Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization, as well as provide the necessary annual certifications and assurances with the FTA. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to the resolution as presented, Mr. Nicholson seconded the motion. Amend the resolution to have the date reflect 2016 and not 2015. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 PROCLAMATION SUBJECT: John N. Dalton SUMMARY: The Radford Heritage Foundation has requested that City Council consider a Proclamation honoring Radford native, John N. Dalton. John Dalton served Radford and the Commonwealth of Virginia in the House of Delegates, as Lieutenant Governor and Governor, from 1978-1982. CITY OF RADFORD PROCLAMATION GOVERNOR JOHN N. DALTON WEEK WHEREAS, John N. Dalton grew up in Radford, practiced law in Radford and raised his family in Radford; and WHEREAS, John N. Dalton approached all aspects of his life with integrity and principle; and WHEREAS, John N. Dalton honorably represented Radford in the Virginia House of Delegates for four consecutive terms and one term in the Virginia Senate; and WHEREAS, John N. Dalton was elected Virginia’s first Republican Lieutenant Governor, serving from 1974 through 1978; and WHEREAS, John N. Dalton was elected Virginia’s 63rd Governor, serving from 1978 to 1982; and WHEREAS, Governor Dalton governed Virginia as a business, creating efficiencies in state government and maintaining Virginia on a stable path through difficult financial times for the United States; and WHEREAS, Governor Dalton played a pivotal role in making Virginia a strong two-party state; and WHEREAS, Governor Dalton moved Virginia forward with race relations by reaching a settlement with the Federal Government over the desegregation of Virginia’s publicly supported colleges and universities; and WHEREAS, Governor Dalton appointed a secretary of human resources in 1978, who served as both the first African-American and first woman cabinet member in Virginia’s history; and WHEREAS, Governor Dalton strengthened higher education in Southwest Virginia by signing the legislation to establish a veterinary school at Virginia Tech and to change Radford College into Radford University. NOW THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAIMED, by the Radford City Council, that the late Governor John N. Dalton be recognized, commended, and appreciated for his service to Radford, the region and Virginia by naming March 28 through April 4, 2016 Governor John N. Dalton Week in the City of Radford. ___________________________ Bruce E. Brown, Mayor City of Radford Dr. Harshberger read the proclamation for the benefit of the audience. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to the proclamation as presented, Mr. Turk seconded the motion. VOTE: Dr. Harshberger YES Mr. Marshall YES Mr. Nicholson YES Mr. TurK YES Mayor Brown YES REPORT SUBJECT: Radford Chamber of Commerce SUMMARY: The Director of the Radford Chamber of Commerce, Lisa Davis, and the President, will present an overview of the Chamber activities and services. CITIZENS COMMENTS: None NEW BUSINESS SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance # 1673.22: $6,410 Litter Grant SUMMARY: The City of Radford has received a grant from the Department of Environmental Quality for FY 2016. The funds will be used to support litter prevention and recycling efforts, purchase of receptacles, as well as promote environmentally friendly activities such as the annual shred-a-thon. ACTION: Mr. Nicholson made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance #1673.22 on its first reading, Mr. Marshall seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Mr. Nicholson made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance #1673.22 on its second and final reading, Mr. Marshall seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 Mayor Brown asked to have Appropriation Ordinances #1673.23 and #1673.24 done by consent. SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance # 1673.23: $175,000 Title IV-E Foster Care SUMMARY: The Department of Social Services has received additional state and federal funds from Title IV-E to support foster care needs. The additional funds will be used for food, clothing, shelter, supervision and travel cost associated with a child’s foster care until the family situation has improved or adoption occurs. SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance # 1673.24: $61,000 Federal Adoption Assistance SUMMARY: Parents of adoptive children are eligible to receive federal Title IV-E assistance from the state. These funds may be used to support special needs during adoption process. There are six children whose adoption will be finalized before June 30, 2016 and have increasing the cost of adoption, requiring the need for the subsidy. Ms. Collins shared that they have been very strong on getting children adopted, and some of these children have special needs, which makes it more challenging to find foster and adoptive homes, but once they find these homes, there is more support that’s needed to meet their daily needs. Mayor Brown stated that these programs are a testimony to the success of the Department of Social Services. Mr. Marshall asked Ms. Collins another program she had mentioned, the last time she was at Council, in regards to research that Giles County was doing to try and help elevate low income problems and if she has learned anymore about their process. Ms. Collins responded that she had reached out to Giles County about a week ago and met with them for several hours. They walked them through the program that was developed and she provided David with some additional information. She said it is a big undertaking and we probably have a lot of the resources to make it happen. Ms. Collins stated that we need to look at what causing the problem and understand what the problem is. The data will dictate the solution. She said that Giles made it very clear, while government has some solutions, they do not all of them and they are looking at faith based organizations and other natural supports to help with long term solutions for people. She said they were very clear that without complete support of every level of government it can’t happen. Mr. Nicholson added that the solution is a public/private combination. Ms. Collins shared that solutions are unique to the locality but if you look at the four general areas, its education, economic opportunities, physical health and mental health. Mr. Nicholson said another thing that makes us unique is when you look at Radford in comparison to the entire State, were a community of 17,000 plus people in 9 sq miles. Most of the data is collected on a county basis and not a town basis. This would benefit us, to be able to narrow down on a particular area. Ms. Collins stated she had shared with Mr. Ridpath that the gentlemen from Giles pulled up the map they created for her. It had the ability to pull up specific neighborhoods and look at the impact data had on that particular. All data is handled with dignity and it is not an effort to stigmatize people, but if you can narrow down where the greatest need is then you can start solving those problems. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinances #1673.23 and #1673.24 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: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance #1673.23 and #1673.24 on its second and final reading, Mr. Nicholson seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance # 1673.25: $3,941 VML Risk Assessment Grant SUMMARY: The City of Radford has received a grant from the Virginia Municipal League Insurance Program, to assist in expanding members risk management program. The grant will be used to purchase and install four heat alarms for vehicles used to support the K-9 unit, increasing the safety of the dogs. ACTION: Mr. Nicholson made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance #1673.25 on its first reading, Mr. Turk seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Mr. Nicholson made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance #1673.25 on its second and final reading, Mr. Turk seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 CITY MANAGERS COMMENTS: Mr. Ridpath shared that with the warmer weather we are able to start fixing all the potholes, along with some crosswalk repair and cleaning up of the public parks. He also mentioned that the items that Vicky mentioned regarding the data study, are in their packets. CITY ATTORNEYS COMMENTS: None CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mr. Marshall said he would like to see us take a look at what Vicky is talking about and collectively work together to help the city. We have seen the poverty rate increase by 20% over the last 10 years. We are more than 20 points above the state average, whereas we have increase 20 percent in the last 10 years, the State has increased 10 percent and that is not good. He is also hearing rumors of crime reports going up and that don’t reflect well upon us. This may not be the answer but certainly looking for a solution. Dr. Harshberger wanted to take a moment to publicly thank everyone, who have expressed their sympathy’s and support upon the passing of his daughter. They are very grateful for that. Mayor Brown asked to go into closed session. Mr. Marshall made a motion, seconded by Dr. Harshberger to convene a closed meeting for the purpose of Discussion, consideration, or interviews of prospective candidates for employment; assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining, or resignation of specific public officers, appointees, or employees of any public body; and evaluation of performance of departments, under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711 (A) (1). Consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation, where such consultation or briefing in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body; and consultation with legal counsel employed or retained by a public body regarding specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by such counsel, under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711 (A) (7) VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 No action was taken in the closed meeting. Mr. Marshall made a motion to adjourn the closed meeting, Mr. Turk seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 Mr. Marshall made a motion to re-convene the regular meeting, Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, 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 three items for which it was convened, Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 Mr. Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:35 p.m., seconded by Dr. Harshberger. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: _________________________________ Melissa A. Skelton, City Clerk of Council