City Council

The New River City 10 Robertson St. January 27, 2020 Radford, Virginia Regular Meeting Number 13 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 Mrs. Jessie Foster, Mr. Robert Gropman, Dr. Richard Harshberger, and Mrs. Naomi Huntington. Others present were as follows: Mr. David Ridpath, City Manager Mrs. 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 Mr. Gropman and seconded by Ms. Huntington that the minutes for the January 13, 2020 Regular Meeting are approved as presented. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mrs. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 ABSTAIN: Ms. Foster PRESENTATION: SUBJECT: Christiansburg Institute SUMMARY: Representatives of the Christiansburg Institute reported on the project status and funding. They made a presentation to City Council on the project and funding of the institute restoration last spring. PUBLIC HEARING: Radford Transit Operating Budget F.Y. 2021 SUMMARY: The City makes an annual application to the Federal Transit Administration for funding to support Radford Transit. The process requires that the public have an opportunity to provide comments on the application and proposed use of the $1,664,776 for Operating, $1,201,000 for Capital and $140,785 for New Service Connectors in the F.Y. 2021 Budget. A public hearing was scheduled at the January13, 2020 City Council meeting. Mayor Horton opened the public hearing at 7:45 No comments Mayor Horton closed the public hearing at 7:46 ACTION: Mr. Gropman made a motion to approve Radford Transit Operating Budget F.Y. 2021 on the first reading, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mrs. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 OLD BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Appointments Boards and Commissions SUMMARY: City Council appointments were needed to the Recreation Commission, VASAP, and the Board of Zoning Appeals. ACTION: Mr. Gropman made a motion to appoint Mr. Sam Hubbard Jr. to the Recreation Commission, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mrs. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Ms. Huntington made a motion to appoint Mr. John Gieson to the Board of Zoning Appeals, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mrs. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 ACTION: Ms. Huntington made a motion to appoint Mr. Brandon Ratliff to the VASAP board, Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Mrs. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 CITIZEN COMMENTS: NONE CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: Mr. Ridpath said no comments, we just need a closed session. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Ms. Foster said her moment of silence was dedicated to Curtis A. Pillars. Ms. Foster stated that if you are in need of a good gift for anyone check out the Glencoe Mansion gift shop, it has recently expanded and features lots of great local artisans. Ms. Foster stated that the American Legion needs about 5,000 dollars in skilled labor work and they are working to begin raising funds and in kind gifts to move the project along. Mr. Burress has asked that if anyone in the community is interesting in helping with the social media aspect of the project to contact him. Ms. Foster stated that there should be jugs going up to place spare change in to help support the project. Dr. Harshberger discussed that the gift shop at Glencoe will be expanding further once the Visitors Center moves out and down the street and that Scott Gardner is doing an excellent job and will continue to do so with the extra space. Mr. Gropman stated that it is International Holocaust Remembrance Day and read from a plaque on the wall at Auschwitz: “Forever let this place be a cry of despair and a warning to humanity, where the Nazis murdered about one and a half million men, women, and children, Mainly Jews from various of Europe.” Ms. Huntington congratulated Ms. Cooney and the City on all the artwork donated by Ms. Dorothy Gillespie that is going up around Radford. Mayor Horton stated the artwork is a wonderful addition to our community thanks to the Harshbergers for helping to facilitate acquiring the pieces. This is just one-way Council is increasing Tourism in Radford in an effort to bring more people into the City. Mayor Horton stated there will be a retreat on Saturday from 9:00-1:00 p.m Mayor Horton made a motion, seconded by Dr. Harshberger to convene a closed meeting for the purpose of Discussion concerning a prospective business or industry or the expansion of an existing business or industry where no previous announcement has been made of the business' or industry's interest in locating or expanding its facilities in the community. 2.2-3711 (A) (5) Discussion or consideration of the investment of public funds where competition or bargaining is involved, where, if made public initially, the financial interests of the governmental unit would be adversely affected. 2.2-3711 (A) (6) 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, under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711 (A) (3). VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 Dr. Harshberger made a motion to adjourn the closed meeting, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 Ms. Foster made a motion to re-convene the regular meeting, Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 CERTIFICATION OF THE CLOSED MEETING: Mayor Horton made a motion that Council did not discuss anything in the closed meeting other than the item for which it was convened, Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 Dr. Harshberger made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:52 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