City Council

The New River City 10 Robertson St. August 14, 2017 Radford, Virginia Regular Meeting Number 2 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2017-2018 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 Ms. Gail Cook Devilbiss, City Attorney Mr. Don Goodman, Chief of Police Following the Pledge of Allegiance, led by local Veterans, the invocation was led by Mr. Jim Henagar. MINUTES APPROVALS: On a motion by Dr. Harshberger and seconded by Mr. Marshall that the minutes for the July 10, 2017 Regular Meeting are approved as presented. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 PROCLAMATION: SUBJECT: Hall of Fame Week SUMMARY: The Radford High School Hall of Fame Committee has requested that City Council consider recognizing the week August 20, 2017 through August 26, 2017 as “Radford High School Hall of Fame Week” and that Saturday, August 26, 2017 be recognized as “Radford High School Hall of Fame Day.” Six new members will be inducted into the Hall of Fame for 2017, bringing the total number of athletes and contributors to eighty-six. ACTION: Mr. Marshall moved to approve the Hall of Fame Week Proclamation as presented, Mr. Turk seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Radford-Fairlawn Daily Bread SUMMARY: The Radford – Fairlawn Daily Bread is celebrating its twenty-fifth year of serving free meals to those in need. A Proclamation has been requested to recognize the organization, its volunteers and its efforts to enhance community living conditions. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger moved to approve the Radford-Fairlawn Daily Bread Proclamation as presented, Mr. Gropman seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 RESOLUTION: SUBJECT: Personal Property Tax Relief SUMMARY: The State of Virginia requires localities to provide tax relief to local citizens on a portion of their “personal property”. The percentage of relief on qualifying vehicles is established for each tax year and is based on an amount set by the state, which is currently $625,657 for Radford. To reach this amount of relief, the rate proposed for 2017 is 51% for personal property valued at $1,001 to $20,000. Business vehicles, motor homes and vehicles valued under $1,000 are excluded. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger moved to approve the Personal Property Tax Resolution as presented, Mr. Turk seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 OLD BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Appointments to Boards and Commissions SUMMARY: Appointments are due to several Boards and Commissions for the F.Y. 2017/2018 year. Vacancies have been advertised. Action was deferred at the July 10, 2017 meeting to review the vacancies and seek additional applications. ACTION: City Council moved to approve the following slate of citizen appointments to Boards and Commissions: Board/Commission Citizen Appointed Agency on Aging Mary Ann Semones Sally Anna Stapleton Beautification Commission David Horton Jeff Weaver Steve Frye Radford Economic Development Authority Jeffrey Cumberland New River Community Services Board Vicky Collins Library Board Sonya Nicely Nishant Grover Emma Brockway (Teen Rep) Recreation Commission Mark Armentrout Rick Slavings Social Services Board Penny Sweet Board of Zoning Appeals Pradeepa Ganhewa Fred McCoy Building Code Board of Appeals Bruce VanArsdale Tara Skews New River Resource Authority Thomas Starnes NRV Alcohol Safety Naomi Huntington NRV Regional Commission Helen Harvey Peppers Ferry Robert Asbury (Business Rep) Rob City/University Joint Commission Gropman (Landlord) Mark Williams Highlanders Festival Committee David Ridpath Jenni Wilder Deb Cooney Rob Gropman Tourism Marceline Hunter Naomi Huntington Catherine Cotrupi Steve Frye Bryan Ward VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 CITIZEN COMMENTS: Ms. Catherine Catrupi thanked Council members that were present at the Charlottesville vigil and march in Blacksburg on Sunday. Ms. Catrupi would like to propose to Council the inclusion of wider variety of religious perspectives during the innovation of the Council meetings. Mr. John Fluke requested to open the City composting facility once in the spring and fall for gardeners and community gardeners to go collect compost to use in their yards and gardens. NEW BUSINESS: SUBJECT: New River Valley Community Services A. SUMMARY: Contract – The New River Valley Community Services agency provides Radford citizens and the New River Communities with mental and behavioral health services. The City contributes $40,848 in local required funding to the agency. The F.Y. 2018 contract illustrates the scope of services, reporting requirements, agency responsibility and funding. The City has contracted with this state agency for services for nearly 40 years. Endorsement by City Council of the contract with NRVCS is recommended. ACTION: Mr. Gropman moved to approve the NRVCS Contract Mr. Marshall seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 B. Name Change – New River Valley Community Services has existed more than forty years serving our communities. Although, the organization and its current name, NRVCS, has been recognized with providing service to people with behavioral health problems, the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services has requested all localities formally adopt the name “New River Valley Community Services”. ACTION: Mr. Gropman moved to approve the name change to New River Valley Community Services Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: MOU-Radford Chamber of Commerce SUMMARY: The Radford Chamber of Commerce has provided a proposed contract for services to the City of Radford for F.Y. 2018. Generally, services include assistance in economic development, involvement in local government activities, fostering of communication, “Festival of Lights” support, promotion of Radford Tourism and business, increased marketing, and regional appointments, coordination of the Farmer’s Market and the summer concert series. $15,000 was included in the F.Y. 2018 Budget for these services upon approval of the MOU. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger moved to approve the Radford Chamber of Commerce MOU as presented, Mr. Marshall seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Radford Heritage Foundation SUMMARY: A. Memorandum of Understanding – Radford Heritage Foundation: The Radford Heritage Foundation has provided a proposed contract for services to the City of Radford for F.Y. 2018. Activities include operation of the Glencoe Museum, conducting historical and cultural related special events, as well as identifying and expanding educational activities and opportunities. The amount of the request is $10,000. Scott Gardner, Executive Director of the Heritage Foundation, reviewed the accomplishments over the past year, as well as planned activities for F.Y. 2018. ACTION: Mr. Gropman moved to approve the Radford Heritage Foundation MOU as presented, Mr. Turk seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 B. Naming Request: The Radford Heritage Foundation has requested that the field between Glencoe and Robertson Street be named “Glencoe Field”. The City acquired the property adjacent to Glencoe several years ago and uses it for recreational activities, special events, parking and protection of the historic home/museum. The Recreation Department takes reservations for the site and informally refers to it as Glencoe Field. The request does not appear to be in conflict with the “naming” policy since an individual’s name is not being recommended. Staff sees no conflict with the request. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger moved to approve the field name change to Glencoe Field, Mr. Turk seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Consider Appropriation Ordinance 1691.04 SUMMARY: The City of Radford has received a grant from the Virginia Brownfields Restoration and Economic Development Assistance Fund Program. The $50,000 grant will be used to move the former “foundry” site from a federally identified Resource Conservation Recovery Act classification under the Environmental Protection Agency, to a Voluntary Remediation Program under the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. This designation will assist in making the 80-acre site eligible for state redevelopment grants, should it qualify. ACTION: Mr. Marshall moved to approve the Appropriation Ordinance 1691.04, on the 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 moved to approve the Appropriation Ordinances 1691.04, and dispense with the second reading, Mr. Turk second the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: CDBG ACTION PLAN SUMMARY: Each year, an “Action Plan” is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development relating to expenditure by communities under the Community Development Block Grant. The “Action Plan” for the F.Y. 2017-2018 Community Development Block Grant program is proposed to include funding for five service organizations, project planning and administration related to conducting housing research, as well as increased section 108 loan repayment. Funding is anticipated at $262,058 which includes the 2018 allocation of $152,192 and a 2017 “carryover” of $109,866. All of the proposed projects meet federal CDBG requirements and overall City objectives. ACTION: Mr. Marshall moved to approve the field name change the CDBG 2017-2018 Action Plan as presented, 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 stated that there are several events coming up including Renew the New on August 26 and Highlanders Festival on October 21 in Bisset Park. He also stated the crews and staff are busy preparing for RCPS to head back, as well as Radford University move in. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mr. Gropman congratulated Lt. Wilburn on winning a $5,000 grant from Aftermath on Why We Serve. The money will be used to help with Radford’s partnership with Help Save the Next Girl. Mayor Brown reminded Council that the VML Conference is coming up, as well as the Mayor’s Institute. Mr. Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:30p.m., Mr. Turk seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: Jennifer G. Wilder, Clerk of Council