City Council

The New River City 10 Robertson St. January 22, 2018 Radford, Virginia Regular Meeting Number 9 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 Mr. Don Goodman, Chief of Police Ms. Melissa Skelton, Deputy City Clerk/Community Development Director Following the Pledge of Allegiance, led by local Veterans, Rev. MacCandlish led the invocation. Mayor Brown announced that on behave of council; they have evaluated a number of functions in an effort to assess both the ethically and effectiveness of those functions. One thing they generally do during reorganization time is look at a number of contracted services and one of them being City Legal services. Mr. Gropman and Mr. Marshall led an effort to prepare for a request for proposals. They had a number of interested firms that showed an interest and Council chose to contract with Sands Anderson. He also took a moment to thank Gail Cook- DeVilbiss for her services over the last 8 years. Mayor Brown requested that the letter that Council sent to Gail be entered into public record: It reads as follow: Dear Gail: On behalf of City Council and City Administration, we want to convey to you our heartfelt thanks for your 8 years of faithful and dedicated service as our City Attorney. Your love for the City has always been evident in your performance of your duties and we have benefited greatly from that. As you know, we recently advertised for Requests For Proposals (RFP’s) for legal services for the City. You chose not to participate in that process, and we respect that decision. From a number of respondents to the RFP, and based on cost and scope of services, Sands Anderson has been chosen to represent the City beginning February 1, 2018. We greatly appreciate the many contributions you have made over the years in support of our City Manager and City Council in helping to maintain the smooth operations of the City of Radford. We wish you great success in all of your future endeavors. Best Regards, Bruce E. Brown Mayor City of Radford Mayor Brown stated that Sands Anderson would take over effective February 1st. He also share that they have other initiatives that they will be working on that will reflect the priorities that Council would like to set relative to economic development, business and retail, and housing. Council will have more detail in the coming months. MINUTES APPROVALS: On a motion by Dr. Harshberber and seconded by Mr. Marshall that the minutes for the January 8, 2018 Regular Meeting are approved as presented. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 REPORT: Chamber of Commerce SUMMARY: Lisa Davis, Director of Radford Chamber of Commerce presented an overview of the Chambers accomplishments during FY 2017 and shared the plans that the Chamber has for the upcoming year. David Horton, Radford Chamber of Commerce President, took a moment to share the highlights from the recent Business Forum that was held at the Library on January 11th. PUBLIC HEARINGS: SUBJECT: Radford Transit Application for F.Y. 19 Operating Funds SUMMARY: Radford Transit receives a portion of its funding from the Federal Transit Administration. This assistance for public transportation systems requires an application to receive the funding, as well as certification and assurances from the transit authority, in our name the City of Radford. A public hearing is required to request urban transit funds as designated from the New River Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization, as well as provide the necessary annual certifications and assurances with the FTA. Mayor Brown opened the Public Hearing at 7:49. Bruce said we need more neighborhood penetration. Mayor Brown closed the Public hearing at 7:49. SUBJECT: Resolution - Radford Transit Application for F.Y. 19 Operating Funds SUMMARY: Radford Transit receives a portion of its funding from the Federal Transit Administration. This assistance for public transportation systems requires an application to receive the funding, as well as certification and assurances from the transit authority, in our name the City of Radford. A Resolution, approved by City Council, is required to authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to execute and file the application, request urban transit funds as designated from the New River Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization, as well as provide the necessary annual certifications and assurances with the FTA. ACTION: Mr. Marshall moved to approve and adopt the resolution as presented, Mr. Turk, seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 CITIZEN COMMENTS: No Comments NEW BUSINESS: NONE CITY MANAGERS COMMENTS: Mr. Ridpath shared that the new Transit Buses and Fire Truck have come in and the ems program is going well. He also shared that we are working with a couple classes from Virginia Tech, one class is working on river access within Bisset Park and the other class is working with the Heritage Foundation to design and build a train-viewing platform. He appreciates the relationship we have with Virginia Tech. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mr. Gropman thanked the chamber for the forum and their presentation this evening, and shared there are many items on the list that are in their radar. He also asked if the library could assemble books as a resource on how to start a business and also put together the framework of who to call for various businesses issues and to put them on both the Library and City’s Main website. In addition, put a link to the New River Mount Rogers Workforce website. Dr. Harshberger shared that they are gearing up for the “Walk for Freedom” and festival that will be held in June and July. 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, “to review contracts associated with the City Manager and City Attorney,” 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. Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711 (A) (3). Consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation, where such consultation or briefing in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body; and consultation with legal counsel employed or retained by a public body regarding specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by such counsel. For the purposes of this subdivision, "probable litigation" means litigation that has been specifically threatened or on which the public body or its legal counsel has a reasonable basis to believe will be commenced by or against a known party. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to permit the closure of a meeting merely because an attorney representing the public body is in attendance or is consulted on a matter. Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711 (A) (7). 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. Turk 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. Turk 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. Turk 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 9:11 p.m., seconded by Mr. Turk. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Turk, Mayor Brown NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: Melissa A. Skelton, Deputy Clerk of Council