City Council

The New River City 10 Robertson St September 26, 2016 Radford, Virginia Regular Meeting Number 5 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2016-2017 The regular meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 7:00p.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. Robert Gropman, Dr. Richard Harshberger, Mr. Daniel Keith Marshall and Mr. David Michael Turk. Others present were as follows: Mr. David Ridpath, City Manager Ms. Jenni Wilder, City Clerk Mrs. Gail Cook DeVilbiss, City Attorney Mr. Basil Edwards, Economic Developer Mr. Donald Goodman, Chief of Police Ms. Melissa Skelton, Community Developer Following the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Mayor Brown, and the invocation was led by Rev. John McCandlish. MINUTES APPROVALS: On a motion by Dr. Harshberger and seconded by Mr. Turk that the minutes for September 12, 2016 are approved as presented. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 PROCLAMATIONS: SUBJECT: Arts & Humanities Month SUMMARY: The month of October is nationally recognized as “Arts and Humanities Month”. The Proclamation locally recognizes the significant contributions of art, music, stage and dance to our community, its citizens and our youth. PROCLAMATION October 2016 National Arts and Humanities Month WHEREAS, the arts and humanities are the embodiment of all things beautiful and entertaining in the world, the enduring record of human achievement; and WHEREAS, the arts and humanities enhance every aspect of life in the City of Radford improving our economy, enriching our civic life, driving tourism, and exerting a profound positive influence on the education of our children; and WHEREAS, arts education research shows that the arts help to foster discipline, creativity, imagination, self-expression, and problem solving skills while also helping to develop a heightened appreciation of beauty and cross-cultural understanding; and WHEREAS, we use the humanities: history, literature, and philosophy, to explore what it means to be human; and WHEREAS, the arts and humanities play a unique and intrinsically valuable role in the lives of our families, our communities, and our state; and WHEREAS, the month of October has been recognized as National Arts and Humanities Month by thousands of arts and cultural organizations, communities, and states across the country, as well as by the White House and Congress for more than two decades: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that the Council of the City of Radford, Virginia does hereby proclaim the month of October 2016 as National Arts and Humanities Month, and does call upon the citizens of Radford to celebrate, explore, and participate in the arts and culture of the City of Radford. CITY OF RADFORD, VIRGINIA ________________________________ Bruce Brown, Mayor Adopted: September 26, 2016 ACTION: Mr. Gropman made a motion to approve the proclamation, as presented, Mr. Turk seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 Mrs. Findley, Mrs. Saunders and Ms. Mayer were present on behalf of Radford City Schools to accept the proclamation and speak about arts events which will be held in Radford throughout the school year. SUBJECT: Fire Prevention Month SUMMARY: The month of October is nationally recognized as “Fire Prevention Month” and the week of October 9 through October 15, 2016 is “Fire Prevention Week”. The Proclamation encourages recognition of this important month and week by promoting fire safety at home, at work, in our schools and in our forests. CITY OF RADFORD PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, the City of Radford, VA is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all those living in and visiting Radford; and WHEREAS, fire is a serious public safety concern both locally and nationally, and homes are the locations where people are at greatest risk from fire; and WHEREAS, home fires killed 2,755 people in the United States in 2013, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and fire departments in the United States responded to 369,500 home fires; and WHEREAS, working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half; and WHEREAS, three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in properties without working smoke alarms, when smoke alarms should have operated but did not do so it was usually because batteries were missing, disconnected, or dead; and WHEREAS, half of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep; and WHEREAS, Radford’s residents should install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home and should install smoke alarms and alert devices that meet the needs of people who are deaf or hard of hearing; and WHEREAS, Radford’s residents who have planned and practiced a home fire escape plan are more prepared and will therefore be more likely to survive a fire; and WHEREAS, Radford’s first responders are dedicated to reducing the occurrence of home fires and home fire injuries through prevention and protection education; and WHEREAS, Radford’s residents are responsive to public education measures and are able to take personal steps to increase their safety from fire, especially in their homes; and WHEREAS, the 2016 Fire Prevention Week theme, “Don’t Wait-Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years.” Educates the public about basic but essential elements of smoke alarm safety. NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Radford does hereby proclaim October 9-15, 2016, as Fire Prevention Week throughout this city, and urges all the people of Radford to install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement and to support the many public safety activities and efforts of Radford fire and emergency services during Fire Prevention Week 2016. ______________________________ Dr. Bruce E. Brown, Mayor Adopted: September 26, 2016 ACTION: Mr. Marshall made a motion to approve the proclamation, as presented, Mr. Turk seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Mary Draper Ingles Weekend SUMMARY: The bronze statue to commemorate the life and historic significance of Mary Draper Ingles to Radford and our area will be dedicated on October 21, 2016. The Committee working on the five year project and the cultural heritage development, as well as the Radford Tourism Commission requested that City Council proclaim the weekend of October 21 through October 23, 2016 as “Mary Draper Ingles weekend”. Over 500 guests, contributors and decedents of Mary Draper Ingles have been invited to attend the dedication, author event, Glencoe Exhibition, Ingles Farm and Ingles Ferry Tavern over the dedication weekend, supporting local tourism, restaurants and hotels. Mary Draper Ingles Weekend Proclamation October 21 through October 23, 2016 WHEREAS, the families of Mary Draper and William Ingles made their way down the Great Wagon Road from Philadelphia through the valleys of Virginia and eventually helped establish a settlement in the New River Valley; and WHEREAS, it was there at Drapers Meadows in present-day Blacksburg that the young couple married and began a life on the western frontier; and WHEREAS, the settlers faced daily hardships made even more difficult as the French and British vied for control in the New World with the French encouraging attacks on British settlements by Native American Indians, and WHEREAS, a party of Shawnees attacked the settlement in 1755 and captured Mary and other members of her family, taking them on a march through hundreds of miles of wilderness to the capital of the Shawnee nation near what is now Cincinnati, Ohio; and WHERAS, Mary Draper Ingles demonstrated tremendous courage and great physicality in her daring escape and trek home, relying on her memory of the territorial terrain and showing great resourcefulness as she lived off the land; and WHERAS, she and her husband William came to establish a homestead and ferry along the banks of the New River in what is present-day Radford—an operation that was eventually expanded by the family to include a tavern on the west side of the river in Pulaski County; and WHERAS, the Mary Draper Ingles odyssey has been the subject of numerous articles and books, including a "New York Times" bestseller; several movies and documentaries, and "The Long Way Home,” an outdoor drama produced right here in our city for almost 30 years; and WHEREAS, the interest in Mary’s story continues to this day as demonstrated by her selection as one of the women to be honored in a monument on Richmond’s Capitol Square and most recently by a visit from a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) production crew, who filmed Ingles Farm and interviewed Col. Lewis "Bud” Jeffries, a descendant who still runs the historic homestead where Mary lived out her life; and WHEREAS, the story of Mary Draper Ingles and the local sites depicting her life on Virginia’s frontier are not only important to our heritage but also represent major assets in the City’s Tourism Strategic Plan as we continue to build our Tourism Economy; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that October 21 through October 23, 2016, be Mary Draper Ingles Weekend and that we encourage our citizens to join in this celebration by attending the many events planned for that time period, including the Unveiling of a Statue in Mary’s honor on the grounds of Glencoe Museum & Gallery as well as exhibits, presentations by authors inspired by her story, and open houses at the Ingles Farm and Ingles Ferry Tavern. CITY OF RADFORD, VIRGINIA ________________________________ Bruce Brown, Mayor Adopted: September 26, 2016 ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to approve the proclamation, as presented, Mr. Gropman seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 OLD BUISINESS; SUBJECT: Vacation of Right-Of-Way SUMMARY: Scott Hill requested the vacation of the unimproved section of Henry Street, adjacent to his property at 1312 Fourth Street. The area is approximately 60'X140'. The vacation was requested to increase the size of his lot for additional single family construction. A public hearing was held at the September 12, 2016 meeting, no comments were received. City Council is requested to appoint a three member Board of Viewers to inspect the right-of-way and report on any inconvenience that may result from discontinuing the public right-of-way. ACTION: Mr. Marshall made a motion to appoint Doyle Barton, Bob Nicholson, Katie Craig, Bart Casselberry (alternate).to the Board of Viewers, with a twenty five dollar compensatory rate Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Amending Zoning Ordinance – Craft Beverage Manufacturing SUMMARY: The Code of Virginia permits localities to consider “Craft Beverages”, manufacturing and distribution, with appropriate local ordinances. The Planning Commission has discussed including the provision in the B-1 (Business Neighborhood), B-2 (General Business) and B-3 (Central Business) Zones of the Radford City Code. A public hearing was held at the September 12, 2016 meeting. Several public comments were made in favor of amending the ordinance. The Planning Commission met on September 19, 2016 and have recommended on a 6-1 vote to City Council to consider approval of the Ordinance 1686. Mr. Gropman disclosed that before running for City Council he was at friendly gatherings where discussion of developing a brewery in Radford occurred; however, he was never involved in development of a brewery financially and that after discussion with the City Attorney he is still able to vote on this ordinance. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to accept recommendation of Planning Commission on Ordinance 1686-Craft Beverage Manufacturing, Mr. Gropman seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 Dr. Harshberger made a motion to approve amending Zoning Ordinance 1686-Craft Beverage Manufacturing, Mr. Gropman seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: Mr. Marshall CITIZEN COMMENTS Mr. Tracy Howard-General Registrar of Elections – Reminded everyone that September 27, 2016 is National Voter Registration Day and that October 17, 2016 is the last day to register to vote. Absentee voting began on Friday, September 23, 2016 and is ongoing now through Saturday November 5, 2016. Office will be open October 29 and November 5 from 8:30-5:00 for absentee voting on Saturdays. Mr. Howard encouraged RHS students to have a 100% voter registration for all seniors that are eligible to vote. Mr. John McCandlish, asked Council to consider publicizing that signs are not permitted in the public right of way because of City Code. NEW BUSINESS SUBJECT: NORWOOD SQUARE LOT CLOSURE SUMMARY: Oasis Church requested that the Norwood Square parking lot, located at the intersection of Virginia Street and East Main Street, be closed to accommodate a “carnival” associated with the annual “Trick or Treat Trail”, sponsored by the Radford Chamber of Commerce. The event will be held on Monday, October 31, 2016. The lot will be closed from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to accommodate children’s activities, including games, inflatables, music and face painting. Access to the businesses through the lot will not be impacted by the special event. Ms. Kelly Jesse spoke on behalf of Oasis Church and thanked City Council for giving the church the opportunity for outreach to community. ACTION: Mr. Marshall made a motion to approve the Norwood Square Lot closure, Mr. Gropman seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: ACCE Program Proposal SUMMARY: Access to Community College Education, ACCE, is a public/private partnership that makes college available, tuition fee to high school graduates to participating New River Valley localities at New River Community College. The concept has been discussed by City Council, the School Board and the committee working on the poverty initiative. The program requires the local commitments of the governing body and the school system. Every dollar the locality puts in the program is matched by grants, donation and sponsors. The overall goals of the program are to provide local students a chance to have a degree in higher education, prepare the students for the workforce or to go on to a four year institution, as well as train them in college success skills. Eligibility requirements address GPA, federal aid, college success preparation and community engagement. Radford’s contribution to the program is estimated at $25,000 for F.Y. 2018 for 20 to 30 students with a match from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) that would be obtained by NRCC. Ms. Angie Covey with New River Community College briefly described the program to City Council, discussing the successes of the program in Giles Co. Ms. Covey discussed that students must apply for federal financial aid, using those dollars first before using the program’s dollars. Students must also complete community service within Radford, and pay for their own textbooks, so they are invested in the program. Students are treated as if the program is an employer paying tuition, they are held accountable to meet the program requirements. Ms. Covey also noted that Steve Harvey with Techlab, has already sent a check of 25,000 to support ACCE in RCPS. ACTION: Mr. Marshall made a motion authorizing participating in the program and authorizing New River Community College to pursue the ARC grant to advance the program, Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Vacation of Right of Way-Scott Street SUMMARY: Mark Armentrout has requested the vacation of the unimproved section of Scott Street, adjacent to his property at 93 Ninth Street. The area is approximately 60'X326'. The vacation would improve the residential development potential of the adjacent vacant lot. ACTION: Mr. Gropman made a motion to forward the vacation to the Planning Commission for review, Mr., Turk seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Mr. Gropman made a motion to schedule a Public Hearing for October 24, 2016, Mr. Turk seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 CONSENT AGENDA: SUBJECT: Consider Appropriation Ordinance 1673.42: $26,116 for Radford Transit SUMMARY: The City of Radford received a grant from the Virginia Department of Public Transportation for planning services. The amount of the grant was $26,116 to have the KFH Group provide project development and technical assistance. SUBJECT: Consider Appropriation Ordinance 1682.13: $4,000 VML Risk Management Grant SUMMARY: The City of Radford has received a grant award in the amount of $4,000 from the Virginia Municipal League Insurance Program. The program distributes $250,000 annually to members expanding their “risk management” programs. The grant will be used to purchase safety equipment for the Police Department, “Booking area”, as well as twelve LED rails for weapons to improve night lightning. SUBJECT: Consider Appropriation Ordinance 1682.14: $24,000 for DMV Grant SUMMARY: The Police Department has received a grant in the amount of $15,550 from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles for enhanced alcohol enforcement. The grant will be used for overtime and the purchase of two in-car cameras associated with reducing alcohol violations. An $8,450 match is required and can be accommodated in the Police Department budget. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to place the consent agenda 1673.42, 1682.13, and 1682.14 on its first reading, Mr. Gropman seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to dispense with the second and final readings and approve Appropriations 1673.42, 1682.13, and 1682.14 on its first reading, Mr. Gropman seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Appoints to Board and Commissions-NRV Regional Jail Authority SUMMARY: A vacancy exists on the New River Valley Regional Jail. Nikki Sydnor Cumberland requested to be appointed by City Council to the Board. ACTION: Mr. Marshall made a motion to appoint Nikki Cumberland to the NRV Regional Jail Authority, Mr. Turk seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Consider Disposition of October 10, 2016 Meeting SUMMARY: The regularly scheduled meeting for October 10, 2016 is in conflict with the Virginia Municipal League Conference. Three Council members are attending the event and a quorum will not be in attendance. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to cancel the October 10, 2016 meeting, Mr. Gropman seconded the motion. Mr. Marshall suggested possibly scheduling a work session or another meeting to give Council two meetings in October, Council agreed to discuss dates and pass those along to the Mayor. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 CITY MANAGERS COMMENTS: Mr. Ridpath introduced Chris Childress, Radford’s new Code Enforcement Officer. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mr. Gropman states that he is on the Highlanders Festival Committee and this year’s festival will be on October 8, in Bisset Park. Mr. Gropman also stated that he has started conversations with Ms. Taylor at Radford University about a reach out campaign to businesses. Mr. Gropman has also discussed the crisis intervention center with Dean Hawkins at Radford University . Mayor Brown mentioned that there is a law enforcement conference coming up at Radford University, this is proof that RU and the City are moving in right direction towards bringing people into the community. Mr. Marshall stated he attended the Regional Commission Meeting and they showed a video of Renew the New, which appeared to be an extremely successful cleanup event. Mr. Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:13 p.m., the motion was seconded by Mr. Turk. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: Jennifer G. Wilder, City Clerk of Council