City Council

The New River City 10 Robertson St. February 27, 2017 Radford, Virginia Regular Meeting Number 12 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 Rev. John McCandlish. MINUTES APPROVALS: On a motion by Dr. Harshberger and seconded by Mr. Marshall that the minutes for February 13, 2017 Work Session are approved as presented. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 MINUTES APPROVALS: On a motion by Mr. Gropman and seconded by Mr. Marshall that the minutes for February 13, 2017 are approved as presented. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 RESOLUTION: SUBJECT: Reimbursement Hydro Renovation SUMMARY: The City of Radford is spending $2.6 million to renovate and upgrade the hydro generation facility at Little River Dam. Funding for the project has been designated from the Electric Department Reserve account. The repair will result in improved service reliability and efficiency, as well as result in purchase power savings. Since the improvement is expected to have a twenty to thirty years’ life, the City has the option of pursing tax-exempt financing. If the City decided to finance the project, a Resolution is required to provide for reimbursement of expenses associated with the project for engineering and construction. The resolution does not commit the City to finance the project, just opens the door to investigate this option. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger moved to approve the Reimbursement Resolution the motion was seconded by Mr. Marshall. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 OLD BUSINESS: NONE CITIZEN COMMENTS: Ms. Catherine Cotrupi stated that she wants to discourage City Council from having our local Police Department enter into any agreement with immigration services, customs, and border protection agencies. Our communities are safer when people can trust police and having the local police involved in deportation efforts undermines that trust. Ms. Cotrupi also stated that immigration services should not rely on local resources to do “their” jobs, but rather local resources are better spent within community. NEW BUSISNESS: SUBJECT: Vacation of Right-of-Way Tyler Avenue SUMMARY: Price Williams Developers/East Radford Development Corporation LLC, has requested the vacation of the residual unimproved right-of-way adjacent to Tyler Avenue. The site is located on the West side of Tyler Avenue adjacent to the Rock Road intersection and consist of 2.195 acres. The vacation would enhance the development of the adjacent commercial property. ACTION: Mr. Gropman moved to schedule a Public Hearing for the March 13, 2017 meeting, the motion was seconded by Mr. Turk. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: ACTION: Dr. Harshberger moved to refer the request to the Planning Commission for review and recommendations as it relates to the Comprehensive Plan, the motion was seconded by Mr. Turk. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: SUBJECT: Zoning Ordinance Amendment 1690 SUMMARY: The Zoning Ordinance requires a Special Use Permit and a 100' setback for recreational facilities in the R-1, R-2, and R-3 single family zoning districts, as well as in the R-4 Multi-family district. The Planning Commission has been considering an amendment to the zoning ordinance to retain the special use requirements, but consider the setback based on the proposed use and zoning impact. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on February 22, 2017 and received no public comments. The Planning Commission approved recommending Ordinance #1690 to City Council on a 6-0, 1 absent, vote. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger moved to receive the recommendation of the Planning Commission, the motion was seconded by Mr. Turk. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: ACTION: Mr. Marshall moved to schedule a Public Hearing for the March 13, 2017 meeting, the motion was seconded by Mr. Gropman. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: SUBJECT: Armory Contract SUMMARY: The City requested proposals to remove the asbestos and lead paint from the former Armory building located on Scott Street. Three proposals were received. The lowest price is from A&A Environmental from Christiansburg in the amount of $28,260. The design team on the project, Thompson and Litton, is recommending the contractor’s experience and knowledge to perform the work. ACTION: Mr. Marshall moved to award the contract to A&A Environmental, in the amount of $28,260, Mr. Turk second the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Mr. Marshall moved to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1682.34 in the amount of $3,458, on its first reading, Mr. Turk second the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Mr. Marshall made a motion to dispense with the second and final reading approve Appropriation 1682.34, Mr. Turk seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Consider Appropriation Ordinance 1682.29 General District Court Renovations SUMMARY: The General District Court Clerk has requested $8,000 to upgrade the General District Court offices and public areas. The much needed improvements include carpet replacement, painting, lobby enhancement and environmental remediation. Adequate funds are available for the Appropriation from the Court House Maintenance Fund. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger moved to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1682.29 in the amount of $8,000, on its first reading, Mr. Gropman second 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 1682.29, Mr. Gropman seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 CONSENT AGENDA: SUBJECT: Consider Appropriation Ordinance 1682.30 Medicaid Overtime Pay SUMMARY: The State of Virginia is providing $5,000 for overtime hours required to convert DSS cases to a new state computer system. No Local match is required. SUBJECT: Consider Appropriation Ordinance 1682.31 Aid to Families-Foster Care SUMMARY: Additional maintenance costs are incurred for the Foster Care Program that includes food, clothing, shelter, supervision, school supplies, liability insurance, travel and personal incidentals. The case management services for the program are expected to cost $134,000 to be covered 50% by Federal reimbursement and 50% State reimbursement. No local funds are required. SUBJECT: Consider Appropriation Ordinance 1682.32 Adoption Subsidy SUMMARY: Adoption Assistance funding in the amount of $85,000 has been provided from the State of Virginia (50%) and the Federal Government (50%). The funds will be used to help facilitate adoptions and provide care for children with special needs, supplementing the resources of the adoptive parents. Funds are available to families that meet Title IV-E eligibility. No match is required. SUBJECT: Consider Appropriation Ordinance 1682.33 Fostering Futures SUMMARY: The State of Virginia is providing $12,600 to local DSS agencies to assist in implementing the “Fostering Futures” program under the Adoption Act of 2008. The Act provides extended foster care to youth who turn 18 years of age while in foster care until the age of 21. The funds provide for maintenance cost of eligible youth. No local match is required. ACTION: Mr. Marshall made a motion to place the consent agenda of Appropriations 1682.30, 1682.31, 1682.32, and 1682.33 on its first reading, Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Mr. Marshall a motion to dispense with the second and final readings of the consent agenda and approve Appropriations 1682.29, 1682.30, 1682.31, 1682.32, and 1682.33, Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 CITY MANAGERS COMMENTS: Mr. Ridpath briefed Council on development throughout Radford. He also informed Council that the Comprehensive Plan is on track and moving forward. Mr. Ridpath discussed the Regional Watershed Activities and that Public Works has begun Spring cleanup efforts. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mr. Marshall stated that with Radford University on Spring Break it can be hard on local businesses. This serves as a reminder to citizens to choose Radford when you choose to shop and dine out. Mr. Marshall also challenged City Council to match his $100 ticket purchase for the ACCE program fundraiser Cow Pie Bingo and all of City Council came through purchasing $100 of tickets a piece. Mr. Gropman made a motion to create a small committee to create a strategy to bring Tesla to Radford. Members of the committee will be Mr. David Horton, Mr. Paul Pallante, Ms. Jenni Wilder, Mr. John Gieson, and Mr. Rob Gropman. Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion, but there is no need to vote, to form this committee. The committee will meet and report back to Council on the progress. Dr. Brown mentioned that there is development happening in Radford including the relocation of Ship on Site into Radford’s City limits and Lucy Monroe’s Coffee Restaurant opening a second location on East Main Street. Mr. Marshall made a motion, seconded by Mr. Gropman 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). 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, 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 two items for which it was convened, 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 adjourn the meeting at 8:35 p.m., Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: Jennifer G. Wilder, City Clerk of Council