City Council

The New River City 10 Robertson St. February 13, 2017 Radford, Virginia Regular Meeting Number 11 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2016-2017 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 Mr. Robert Gropman, Dr. Richard Harshberger, Mr. Daniel Keith Marshall, and Mr. Michael Turk. Others present were as follows: Mr. David Ridpath, City Manager Ms. Jenni Wilder, City Clerk Mr. Don Goodman, Chief of Police Ms. Melissa Skelton, Community Development Director Mr. Basil Edwards, Economic Development Director Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the invocation was led by Jim Henagar. MINUTES APPROVALS: On a motion by Mr. Marshall and seconded by Mr. Turk that the minutes for January 23, 2017 are approved as presented. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 PUBLIC HEARING: SUBJECT: Radford Transit Application for F.Y. 18 Operating Funds Mayor Brown opened the public input hearing at 7:06 No Comments. Mayor Brown closed the public input hearing at 7:07 Clerks note: Notice of the public hearing has been duly advertised. OLD BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Ordinance 1688: Right of Way Vacation-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. City Council referred the request to the Planning Commission for review and recommendation as it relates to the City map. A public hearing was held at its meeting on September 26, 2016. No comments were received. All adjacent property owners have been notified of the vacation request. The Planning Commission reviewed the right-of-way vacation at its November 19, 2016 meeting and unanimously voted that the request was compliant with the comprehensive plan, provided a 15' utility easement is maintained. City Staff also reviewed the request and foresees no conflict, as long as an easement is retained for the current and future utilities. City Council appointed a three-member Board of Viewers on December 12, 2016 to review the request and make a recommendation. The Board of Viewers met on January 24, 2017 and have reported no “inconveniences” to the public is created if the Right-of-Way is closed. The Planning Commission, Board of Viewers and City Staff recommend that the right-of-way be vacated and a utility easement retained. ACTION: Mr. Marshall moved to receive the report of the Board of Viewers, the motion was seconded by Dr. Harshberger. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger moved to authorize staff to determine the location of the permanent easement and valuation of the proposed right-of-way, the motion was seconded by Mr. Gropman. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None - 0 SUBJECT: Ordinance 1689: Workforce Consortium Agreement SUMMARY: The New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area Consortium was created to provide workforce training and oversight to local regions in support of economic development. Our local regional Consortium includes the Counties of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, Washington and Wythe, as well as the Cities of Bristol, Galax, and the City of Radford. In 2015, the Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act was revised affecting the original regional agreement established in 2010. A new local Ordinance is required establishing a new Consortium agreement, related powers, membership and governance. The agreement was recommended by the Consortium Board and its Attorney, Sands Anderson. City Council scheduled a public hearing at its meeting on January 9, 2017, as required for January 23, 2017. Marty Holiday, the Executive Director of the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area, reviewed the details of the Consortium. There were no public comments. Councilman Gropman serves as City Council’s representative on the Board. City Council unanimously approved Ordinance #1689 on its first reading. ACTION: Mr. Gropman moved that Ordinance 1689 be approved, on the second and final reading, the motion was seconded by Mr. Turk. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None - 0 CITIZEN COMMENTS Superintendent of Schools Mr. Rob Graham briefed City Council and citizens on an upcoming fundraiser for the ACCE Program, Radford High School Foundation and Radford Partners Foundation. The fundraiser is a raffle called Cow Pie Bingo and will be held at Radford High School on April 29, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. For more information, Mr. Graham suggested to visit Eventbrite, where people can purchase tickets. NEW BUSINESS SUBJECT: School Board Request SUMMARY: The City appropriated $2,045,000 from the School Board Capital Revenue Fund to the school system for the replacement of the roofs at Dalton Intermediate School and Radford High School. Appropriation Ordinance #1682.08 was approved September 12, 2016. The roof replacement was finished ahead of schedule and $264, 068 below budget estimates. The School Board has requested that the remaining funds be used for additional facility improvements that include a new boiler at Belle Heth, HVAC unit on the RHS Vocational building, a fire monitoring system for RHS, Dalton Intermediate School and McHarg Elementary School, as well as additional architectural services from Thompson and Litton. The funds have already been appropriated to the School Board, but ratification by City Council of the reclassification of those funds for other capital uses is required. ACTION: Mr. Marshall moved to authorize the use of funds as requested by the School Superintendent, Rob Graham, Mr. Turk second the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance #1682.28 – Homeland Security: SUMMARY: The Haz-Mat Team has received a Homeland Security Grant in the amount of $60,000. The Grant will be used to purchase equipment related to safety needs to be used when dealing with chemical spills and accidents. The funds were not programmed in the development of the F.Y. 2017 Annual Budget, therefore requiring appropriation. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to place Appropriation 1682.28 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 reading approve Appropriation 1682.28, Mr. Gropman seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Appointment to the Workforce Development Council SUMMARY: The City has a vacant position on the Workforce Development Council. The appointment has to be a business sector representative. Rob Gropman is the Council representative on the WDC and has recommended the position be filled by Mark Tapp. ACTION: Mr. Gropman moved to appoint Mark Tapp to the Workforce Development Council, as Radford’s business sector representative, Mr. Marshall second the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 CITY MANAGERS COMMENTS: Mr. Ridpath informed Council that weather has been challenging over the past couple of weeks, but it looks as though Spring is on the way. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Dr. Harshberger stated that there are seven communities set to grow in population over the next two decades and Radford is one of them, which is a good thing. Mr. Marshall made a motion, seconded by Mr. Turk 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). Discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, or of the disposition of publicly held real property, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body, under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711 (A) (3). VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Gropman Mr. Marshall, 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, Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Gropman, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 Mr. Marshall made a motion to re-convene the regular meeting, Mr. Gropman 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 two items for which it was convened, Mr. Turk seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Gropman, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 Mr. Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 p.m., Mr. Gropman seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: Jennifer G. Wilder, City Clerk of Council