City Council

The New River City 10 Robertson St. April 22, 2019 Radford, Virginia Regular Meeting Number 22 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2018-2019 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, Raymond David Horton, was present and presiding. Other members of City Council present were Ms. Jessie Foster, Mr. Robert P. Gropman, Dr. Richard Harshberger, Ms. Naomi Huntington. Others present were as follows: Mr. David Ridpath, City Manager Ms. Jenni Wilder, City Clerk Ms. Melissa Skelton, Community Development Director Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor Horton led citizens in a moment of reflection. MINUTES APPROVALS: On a motion by Dr. Harshberger and seconded by Ms. Foster that the minutes for the April 8, 2019 Regular Meeting are approved as amended. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 MINUTES APPROVALS: On a motion by Ms. Foster and seconded by Dr. Harshberger that the minutes for the April 15, 2019 Special Meeting are approved as amended. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Mental Health Month SUMMARY: The month of May, 2019 is Mental Health Month in the Commonwealth. The New River Valley Community Services requested that City Council consider a Proclamation to help broaden public awareness and understanding of mental health conditions, as well as the need for appropriate and accessible services for all people. ACTION: Mr. Gropman made a motion to approve the proclamation as presented, Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Children’s Mental Health Week SUMMARY: The month of May, 2019 is Mental Health Month in the Commonwealth. The New River Valley Community Services requested that City Council consider a Proclamation to help broaden public awareness and understanding of mental health conditions during Children’s Mental Health week, which is during the Month of May. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to approve the proclamation as presented, Mr. Gropman seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 OLD BUSINESS: SUBJECT: F.Y. 2019-2020 Budget SUMMARY: Advertised Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Budget in the amount of $59,166,280. The following is a synopsis of the 2019 – 2020 Budgets: CITY OF RADFORD Total for City GENERAL FUND 26,882,767 STREETS MAINTENANCE FUND 2,404,870 TRANSIT 1,734,638 WATER/WASTEWATER FUND 4,970,152 ELECTRIC FUND 20,878,294 SOLID WASTE FUND 1,549,650 *INTERNAL SERVICES 745,909 *Not included in total above as this fund is allocated through all other funds. The Radford City School Board Budget in the amount of $22,183,011. The Summary is as Follows: RADFORD CITY SCHOOL BOARD Total for Schools OPERATING FUND 16,939,263 CAFETERIA FUND 674,641 GRANTS FUND 1,619,931 TEXTBOOKS FUND 386,392 CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND 220,000 ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to approve Ordinance 1713 on its second reading, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: SUBJECT: Calendar Year 2019 Tax Rate SUMMARY: The proposed 2019 Tax Rate with Real Estate Tax Rate of $0.82, Personal Property at $2.44, Machinery and Tools at $1.76, and other personal property at $1.76. ACTION: Ms. Huntington made a motion to approve Ordinance 1714 on its second reading, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Ms. Huntington, Dr. Harshberger, Mayor Horton NAYES: Mr. Gropman ACTION: Ms. Huntington made a motion to put the additional 4 cents of the tax increase into a fund for capital improvements for schools, Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Ms. Huntington, Dr. Harshberger, Mayor Horton NAYES: SUBJECT: F.Y. 2020 Fee/Rate Resolution: SUMMARY: The F.Y. 2020 Budget is supported by utility rates and fees. Utility and fees, rates are proposed to remain level for the Water/Wastewater and Electric Funds. The Sanitation Fund rate needs to increase 1.5% to support operations ($22 for residential service). A Stormwater Management Fee is also proposed, but the details will be considered in an amendment during the fiscal year. All other fees and permits reflect actual cost for services or remain level. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve the Rate Resolution as presented, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mayor Horton Huntington NAYES CITIZEN COMMENTS: Mr. Kenny Alderman stated that he sent the Mayor a text on April 8, 2019 and was surprised when he did not get a response. Mr. Alderman said he agrees with Mr. Gropman on the employee raises and that he apologies for not being at the meeting last week to speak, but he was informed it was a workshop. Mr. Alderman stated he is worried about the effects the tax increased will have on the community in the future because there are already people hanging on by a string. Mr. Bill Flichser said that this is the first time in his life he has seen people asking for their taxes to be raised. Once the tax rate is passed it won’t ever go away and Mr. Flichser is thankful for the money going towards education. Mr. Flichser ended by saying that there are many elderly citizens on fixed incomes who were not well represented last week and they should be considered when passing the tax rate. Mr. Nicholas Brokofsky came to Council to speak from the heart and request that Council help him to request that the Governor pardon his records. Ms. Brokosfsky stated he would like to commission into the U.S. Army and cannot with a felony charge on his record. Mr. Brokofsky has changed his life since the charge and would like to be able to serve his country in the Army uniform. NEW BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Appointments to Boards and Commissions SUMMARY: Appointments are needed to the Onward NRV Board of Directors, Onward NRV Executive Committee and VASAP. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to appoint Abram Williams, Mr. Gropman seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 CITY MANAGERS COMMENTS: Mr. Ridpath stated that Radford was fortunate to have little damage for the recent weather. The City will begin cleaning up to prepare for the Half Marathon and Food Truck Rodeo this weekend. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Ms. Foster stated that her moment of silence was dedicated to Herman J. Easter. Ms. Foster said that Council will be getting copies of the DSS March report shortly and that the Radford Heritage Foundation will have some exciting events coming up. Ms. Foster invited everyone to attend the Food Truck Rodeo on Saturday and talked about her experience passing out dictionaries with Rotary to the Third Graders. Ms. Foster updated everyone on the status of the American Legion Building and said that they will be contacting people in the coming weeks for the nonskilled labor work. Dr. Harshberger stated the Radford University put on a great performance of Macbeth and that the Shred-a-thon is coming up this weekend. Mr. Gropman stated that Council was given a hard copy of the annual police report and that statistics are down. He also said this summer he is going to gather the facts and start on the tax relief program. Ms. Huntington thanked the Christiansburg Institute for their presentation and personally pledged a donation to them. She stated that in the future she hopes the City will be able to chip in as well. Mayor Horton stated that April is an exciting month with many events including the Food truck Rodeo, Premier of the Avengers and many upcoming cleanups. Mayor Horton concluded by saying he is happy with the budget and pleased to be moving forward with bringing in more revenue. Mr. Gropman made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 p.m., seconded by Ms. Foster. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: Jennifer G. Wilder, Clerk of Council