City Council

The New River City 10 Robertson St. August 12, 2019 Radford, Virginia Regular Meeting Number 1 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2019-2020 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, and Ms. Naomi Huntington. Others present were as follows: Mr. David Ridpath, City Manager Ms. Jenni Wilder, City Clerk Ms. Melissa Skelton, Deputy Clerk 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 July 8, 2019 Regular Meeting are approved as amended. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 ABSTAIN: Ms. Huntington PROCLAMATION: SUBJECT: RHS Hall of Fame Week SUMMARY: The Radford High School Hall of Fame Committee requested that City Council consider recognizing the week of August 25, 2019 through August 31, 2019 as “Radford High School Hall of Fame Week” and that Saturday, August 31, 2019 be recognized as “Radford High School Hall of Fame Day”. Six new members will be inducted into the Hall of Fame for 2019, bring the total number of athletes and contributors to ninety-eight, since the program began eleven years ago. ACTION: Mr. Gropman made a motion to approve the Proclamation as presented, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 REPORTS: SUBJECT: New River Valley Wonder Universe SUMMARY: A Children’s Museum is being developed in Christiansburg that will be educationally driven to benefit children throughout the New River Valley. Organizers made a brief presentation on the project. SUBJECT: Radford Fire and EMS SUMMARY: The Radford Fire and Emergency Medical Service Department presented an overview of “Wildfire Safety and Prevention”. The report is a follow-up to what many communities are doing to better educate the public, since the devastating wildfires in California and Tennessee over the past three years. PUBLIC HEARING: SUBJECT: Dick Davis Drive Mayor Horton opened the public hearing at 7:42 p.m. Dr. Bruce Brown thanked Sheriff Armentrout for collaborating with him on advancing this project. Dr. Brown also thanked City Council and staff for the expedited process and he cannot think of anything that would make Mr. Davis more proud. Mayor Horton closed the public hearing at 7:44 p.m. RESOLUTIONS: 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 proposal for 2019 is 48% 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 made a motion to approve the resolution as presented, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Special Use Permit-Recreational Vehicle Park SUMMARY: Islands on the New, LLC. requested a Special Use Permit to construct and operate a Recreational Vehicle Park on Tax Parcel #24-1-8. The 36-acre site is adjacent to the New River and West Main Street at the Westward City Limits at 3080 Little River Road. The Planning Commission reviewed the request and recommended approval at its meeting on April 15, 2019. They considered public comments associated with traffic, litter and smoke, noise and overall impact on the New River. 195 spaces are proposed. The property is zoned CD (conservation) and M-1 (industrial) and requires a Special Use Permit for a Recreational Vehicle Park. A public hearing was held at the March 25, 2019 City Council meeting. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to approve the Special Use Permit Resolution as presented, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Dick Davis Drive SUMMARY: City Council has received proposals to name a Street “Richard “Dick” Davis Street”. Staff looked at the option to re-name the portion of “Scott Street” from Sixth Street to the Armory. The Armory would be the only address affected. The resolution names Scott Street from Sixth Street to the back of the High School Dick Davis Drive. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve the resolution as presented, Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Sanitation Equipment Lease SUMMARY: The F.Y. 2019/2020 Radford City Budget included the purchase of a new sanitation truck. The scheduled purchase replaces an eight-year-old unit and is essential to sanitation collection services. The acquisition of the truck was planned through a capital lease. The lease will be paid over a 60-month period at a 3.93% rate provided by First Midwest Finance. The truck and packer were procured from Mid Atlantic Waste Systems in the amount of $185,817. ACTION: Mayor Horton made a motion to approve the resolution 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: Appointments to Boards and Commissions SUMMARY: The following citizens were appointed to Boards and Commissions: ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to appoint the members below to the Agency on Aging, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Mr. Gropman made a motion to appoint the below member to the Library Board, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Ms. Huntington made a motion to appoint the below member to the Tourism Commission, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to appoint the below member to the Pepper’s Ferry Water Treatment Authority, Mr. Gropman seconded the motion. AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 Board/Commission Member Appointed Interested Citizens Agency on Aging Mary Ann Semones Salley Anna Stapleton Library Board Tommie Bloomer Tourism Susan Lockwood Pepper's Ferry Water Treatment Authority Chris Cambell CITIZEN COMMENTS: Mr. McCandlish wanted to urge Council to use caution when defining citizen, as it pertains to Boards and Commissions. Mr. McCandlish stated he opposed to allowing non-taxpayers to serve on City Boards and Commissions. Mr. Phillips wanted to inform City Council that the Recreation Commission Senior Representative has no vote. Ms. Fluke spoke on behalf of the Beautification Commission, they want to make sure that some of the tree being cut down for the development of Food City will be replanted and that Food City has a plan for landscaping. Mr. Filcher thanked Council for the naming of Dick Davis Drive and wanted clarification on why a larger portion of the Street wasn’t named. NEW BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Sewer Agreement MCPSA SUMMARY: The Montgomery County Public Service Authority requested that the City of Radford provide a sanitary sewer connection to a duplex on Rock Road. The property is located adjacent to the City corporate limits. The MCPSA cannot serve sanitary sewer utilities to the property. The applicant will pay all City connection and availability fees. An Agreement has been provided by the MCPSA and has been reviewed by the City Attorney. ACTION: Ms. Huntington made a motion to approve the agreement, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1713.04 SUMMARY: The City of Radford and Montgomery County were awarded a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to study local broadband service. The objective of the study is to examine current service resources, determine focus locations, as well as infrastructure needed to support broadband service for the two localities. Strong broadband service helps advance economic development, education and quality of life. The Regional Commission will oversee the study. The grant is for $30,000 and requires a local match of $7,000 from the City of Radford and $40,000 from Montgomery County, Blacksburg and Christiansburg. Thompson and Litton has been selected to conduct the study. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1713.04 on the first reading, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Appropriation Ordinance 1713.04, Mr. Gropman seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1713.05 SUMMARY: The City of Radford has received Community Development Block Grant funding in the amount of $169,689 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funds will be used to support the 2019 CDBG Action Plan approved by City Council on May 14, 2019. Projects will include funding to support zoning ordinance review and modifications, emergency home repair, West Main Street improvements associated with the “triangle” redevelopment project, Planning and Administration, as well as support beautification and improvements to slum and blighted areas. The funds will also continue to provide funding for several agency partners. ACTION: Mr. Gropman made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1713.05 on the first reading, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Mr. Gropman made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Appropriation Ordinance 1713.05, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1713.06 SUMMARY: The Department of Social Services has received an additional $45,866 from the State for their base budget for Operations. A local match of $7,110 is required and can be accommodated in the Department’s Budget. Since additional funds were allocated from the State after the City Budget process, Appropriation is required. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1713.06 on the first reading, Mr. Gropman seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Appropriation Ordinance 1713.06, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1713.07 SUMMARY: The Sheriff’s Department requested an Appropriation to support an additional Deputy in the amount of $51,472. The position would support security needs at the Municipal Building and the Courtroom. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1713.07 on the first reading, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Appropriation Ordinance 1713.07, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: Mr. Ridpath stated that there is a lot of activity in Radford including construction and economic growth. The RFP fire improvements on the Fire Station will go out this Friday and the Police Chief Search is underway. This has been a busy summer with a lot of activities. Both the University Drive Bridge Repairs and the Tyler to East Main Connector Road will continue to move forward into the fall. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Ms. Foster dedicated her moment of silence to Lawrence Gabe. Ms. Foster stated they she hopes everyone has a wonderful start to the school year. Ms. Foster gave an exciting update about the American Legion building Home Depot has released the first $8,200 to cover supplies. The plan with the building is to mitigate the source of water damage, moving forward donations will be needed to complete the work. Dr. Harshberger commented on the last performance of the Long Way Home and what a good play season this summer brought to the City fo Radford. Dr. Harshberger also stated that Radford should market itself as a breakfast destination with all the new and previous breakfast restaurants now in the City. Mr. Gropman asked David to send Council a final number on reserves when he has it and reminded citizen that Highlanders Festival is on October 12 on Radford University campus. Ms. Huntington mentioned that Wednesday will be the last West End Wednesday and she encourages everyone to come out and attend. Mayor Horton again invited everyone to come out for West End Wednesday and also reminded everyone of the upcoming Renew the New event and International Street Faire. Mayor Horton said to keep an eye open for a Radford legislative day in the Spring. Ms. Huntington made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 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