City Council

The New River City 10 Robertson St. January 8, 2018 Radford, Virginia Regular Meeting Number 8 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2017-2018 The work session meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 6:00 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. David Michael Turk. F.Y. Audit was presented to City Council by Corbin Stone, from Robinson, Farmer, Cox Associates Others present were as follows: Mr. David Ridpath, City Manager Ms. Melissa Skelton, Deputy City Clerk Mrs. Patricia Cox, Finance Director Mrs. Chelista Linkous, Asst. Finance Director Mr. Donald Goodman, Police Chief Mr. Basil Edwards, Economic Developer 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 Mr. Don Goodman, Chief of Police Ms. Melissa Skelton, Deputy City Clerk/Community Development Director Following the Pledge of Allegiance, led by local Veterans, Jim Henagar led the invocation. MINUTES APPROVALS: On a motion by Mr. Marshall and seconded by Mr. Gropman that the minutes for the December 11, 2017 Regular Meeting are approved with the following amendments: The date in the heading of the minutes to reflect the December 11, 2017 meeting. Mr. Marshall requested that his full motion under the Armory proposal to be included in its entirety within the minutes. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 PUBLIC HEARINGS: SUBJECT: Ordinance # 1696- Cigarette Tax Ordinance SUMMARY: The State of Virginia changed the process for handling refunds associated with unused or damaged cigarette tax stamps by allowing a purchaser/business to receive a full refund. The local Cigarette Tax Ordinance needs to be amended to reflect the new state requirements associated with the refunds. A public hearing is required to amend the ordinance. Mayor Brown opened the Public Hearing at 7:04. No Comments Mayor Brown closed the Public hearing at 7:04. SUBJECT: Ordinance # 1699- Zoning Ordinance Amendment SUMMARY: The Planning Commission requested that section 120.1 of the Zoning Ordinance be amended to permit “Recreational Vehicle Parks” within the Conservation District with an approved special use permit. The amendment would complement outdoor development planning and tourism efforts. Planning Commission did not have a quorum to hold their portion of a public hearing and will reschedule their hearing in the near future. City Council will hold their public hearing tonight as scheduled. Mayor Brown opened the Public Hearing at 7:08. No Comments Mayor Brown closed the Public hearing at 7:08. CITIZEN COMMENTS: David Horton, President Radford Chamber of Commerce, shared that the Chamber is hosting a business forum at the Radford Public Library on Thursday, January 11, 2018 6:30. Mr. Robert Graham, School Superintendent, came to thank Mr. Ridpath and Timmy Litton, who allowed Mr. Calvin Riggs, from Public Works, who assisted them with three buses that were stuck in the recent ice storm and to Chief Goodman who had officers leading and following the salt truck and buses. All students were brought home safely, and without incident. He is grateful for relationship they have with the City. He also wanted to talk to them about the Armory. He realized at Council last meeting that there was a motion and vote to bind into a private/public partnership to make the Armory a fieldhouse. He respectfully requested that in the future the School Division be a part of those conversations. Mr. Graham then stated that they are also very excited, because it gives them the ability to have more room. But more importantly, if Council is willing to support an initiative like this that’s not a part of their needs assessment, that they hope Council will be fully supportive when the School Division comes to them with requests that are within their needs assessment. Lastly, he wanted to invite Council to the community forum that they have that will go over the schools new vision for Radford City Schools, it will be held Thursday January 18th at 5:30, at Radford High School. A meal will be provided to everyone free of charge and will then share a video showing the school division’s vision. NEW BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Ordinance #1696 – Cigarette Tax Ordinance SUMMARY: The State of Virginia changed the process for handling refunds associated with unused or damaged cigarette tax stamps by allowing a purchaser/business to receive a full refund. The local Cigarette Tax Ordinance needs to be amended to reflect the new state requirements associated with the refunds. A public hearing was held early in the meeting. ACTION: Mr. Gropman moved to approve Ordinance # 1696 on its first reading, Mr. Marshall 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 approve on the second and final, Mr. Marshall seconded the motion. SUBJECT: Virginia Department of Health Agreement SUMMARY: The City of Radford provides a local Appropriation to the Virginia Department of Health as required by the Code of Virginia to perform public health services. The local portion is provided in the development of the annual budget and is $99,762 for the F.Y. 2018 Budget. The funds are used to support the local Radford Office with equipment, supplies and the provisions of medical services. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger moved to approve the agreement, Mr. Turk seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Radford Transit Automated Passenger Count System: SUMMARY: The City of Radford received funding from FTA ($259,200) and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation ($51,840) to acquire and “Automated Passenger Counting System” for Radford Transit buses. The equipment, hardware and related software record passenger boarding and exiting data a stop locations, improving ridership reporting and helping to establish use patterns. The information will assist in developing route data, frequency and scheduling. The City received six proposals from vendors on the service request. The vendor that met all specifications and price was Passio Technologies. The cost of the system is $206,757 for equipment and $29,808 for the annual operation cost for software and licensing. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger moved to award the contract to Passio Technologies in the amount of $206,757, Mr. Turk seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 CITY MANAGERS COMMENTS: Mr. Ridpath shared that we have been very busy. The cold weather has been demanding on all the crews. There were about 80 calls for water line breaks and frozen meters. He is very thankful to all the crews for keeping utilities where they needed to be. He informed Council that the company that is working on the Hydro Plant is close to finishing up, they are currently working on the generator and the hydro should be back on line later in the month. Mr. Ridpath shared that the health department is doing great job using their funds and the City will be receiving a refund check from the State. He took a moment to Congratulated Donnie for being a first time grandfather with baby Myers. Chief Goodman shared that Cole, Jenni and Myers are doing great, and a blessing to have her here for Christmas. Lastly, he mentioned since last meeting, they had transitioned EMS over to the City and have done about 200 calls. They are doing excellent job. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mr. Gropman shared that NRVCS are still waiting for licensing to come through and hope to be in February. He said that they are thankful for all City Departments but wanted to highlight the water department, who were out in frigid weather, knee deep in water trying to fix break. Council collected money to thank the crews by treating them to a meal. Dr. Hershberger announced that they are moving ahead with the Mary Ingles fine arts festival will be held in July. Mayor Brown complimented public schools for opening last Friday as a feeding and warming center, and to reinforce to Dr. Graham that the actions of this Council, does not diminish in any way the commitment to the initiatives that the schools have. The Mayor shared that he recently lost another good friend a few weeks ago who fought cancer for a year and he participated in the service where he reference a Scotty McCreery song, The Dash. He shared that all of us have been with him through two cancer surgeries, lumbar fusions and seen him struggle with his weight. He shared that it is with mixed emotions that he shares with his friends on council, city administration and the citizens of Radford of his retirement from elected office, and that he will not be seeking another term once this one completed. He shared there are a couple thing he is most proud of, one being the downtown entertainment that he and Laurie Buchwald championed, though there was many against it, it became a premier summer event. He is also proud of the minor role he played in bikeway/walkway expansion and for council stewardship who sought out and was awarded grant money to supplement the City funds. Mayor Brown said the most pivotal things he had a role is was the appointment of David Ridpath as our City Manager. He shared he is proud of the number of regional partnerships that have formed, including the water agreements with Pulaski and Montgomery Counties, job creation at Volvo and the Sun Plant to name a few. By bringing Amtrak to the New River Valley, and partnering with Christiansburg for the use of their aquatic center. He is proud that Gary Harmon and John Butler saw a vision of taking an old box factory and creating a state of the art public safety building. He is particular proud of the Radford Citizen police class, Sparky’s Dog Park, the Fourth of July, Spirit of America that now attracts 25 thousand people and continue to advance our sport venues. There is a lot of good things going on in this community. The voices we have captured from of our Veterans, which brings him back to the song “The Dash, it not the first or last on the number on the tomb but it is what you do with that dash in between. It has been a privilege and honor to serve this community and thanked everyone for being a part of it. Mr. Marshall said he is very appreciative of the work Mayor Brown has done and they agreed on more things than disagreed. There have been times when they had to argue it out, but have always remained friends. He shared his experience when he was elected in 2010, which was a very rewarding experience for him. He said during his time on Council he has had people suggest that he run for mayor but he had resisted. From the beginning of his term until now, there has been an immense amount of learning. He feels he has been in training in the last 7 ½ year and it’s an honor to say he will seek to run for Mayor in May. He told Mayor Brown that he accounts a lot for what he has learned from him. 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, “to review contracts associated with the City Manager and City Attorney,” under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711 (A) (1). VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, 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, Mr. Gropman seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, 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: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, 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. Gropman seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 Mr. Marshall made a motion as enter into contract with Sands, Anderson and Associates, initial term to begin on February 1, 2018 and end July 31, 2018, with 2 stipulations. First, Council accepts the $10,000 a month stipend for the 1st six months, with the understanding that prior to renewal of contract Sands, Anderson and Associates will provide a cost comparative between a monthly stipend vs hourly rate and Council will decide on the billing choice at that time. Second, is for Sands, Anderson and Associates to include a list of city benchmarks illustrating the scope of services, Mr. Gropman seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 Mr. Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:13 p.m., seconded by Mr. Gropman. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: Melissa A. Skelton, Deputy Clerk of Council