City Council

The New River City 10 Robertson St. April 20, 2020 Radford, Virginia Regular Meeting Number 18 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2019-2020 The special meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 5:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, 10 Robertson Street, Radford, VA. The Mayor of the City, Raymond David Horton, as well as all other members of City Council were present VIA ZOOM were Mrs. Jessie Foster, Mr. Robert Gropman, Dr. Richard Harshberger, and Ms. Naomi Huntington. Others present were as follows: Mr. David Ridpath, City Manager Mrs. Jenni Wilder, City Clerk Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor Horton led citizens in a moment of reflection. MINUTES APPROVAL: The minutes for March 9, March 19, and March 30 were taken as a consent agenda. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to approve the minutes with one correction, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 Public Hearing: SUBJECT: Ordinance 1729: F.Y. 2021 Budget SUMMARY: The Budget for F.Y. 2021 has been delivered to City Council from the City Manager, as required by the City Charter. Revenues are balanced with expenditures in the amount of $59,514,312. The proposed budget provides sufficient revenues to pay for expenditures, maintains positive fund balances, provides resources for maintenance and improvements to infrastructure, supports core customer services and equipment replacement, acknowledges the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as identifies funds for payments to service the City debt. The funds are summarized as follows: General Funds $26,802,275 Street Maintenance Fund 2,505,953 Water/Wastewater Fund 4,639,264 Electric Fund 20,293,253 Solid Waste Fund 1,524,677 Transit Fund 3,002,981 Internal Services Fund 745,909 In addition to the City Budget, the City Council is also considering the F.Y. 2021 Radford City School Board Budget. The $36,460,148 budget was approved by the school board on March 24, 2020. The funds are summarized as follows: Operating Fund $17,540,748 Cafeteria Fund 684,960 Grants Fund 1,452,368 Textbook Fund 246,524 Capital Projects Fund 414,100 Mayor Horton opened the Public hearing at 5:05. Mayor Horton read one comment received from Mr. Bruce Chase, “Hi David, I enjoyed watching the budget presentation last week. The Zoom meeting worked well. I was looking at the budget and it appears that there are no funds for the EDA. That will limit what the EDA can do to help local business recover from the shutdown. We request that you include some funds for the EDA in the budget. Thank you.” Mayor Horton Closed the public hearing at 5:10 Public Hearing: SUBJECT: Ordinance 1730: Tax Rates for Calendar Year 2020 SUMMARY: The F.Y. 2021 Budget is supported by revenues generated from taxes, fees and utility rates. Ordinance #1730 is an Ordinance to establish the tax rates for Real Estate, Personal Property and Machinery and Tools for the 2020 calendar year. The proposed F.Y. 2021 Budget reflects a tax rate of .78 for real property. The rate is reduced from .82 cents to .78 cents to reflect the increase valuation from reassessment resulting in the same levy as the 2019 tax year. The following are the proposed tax rates for the 2020 calendar year.  Real Property tax would increase to $0.78 per $100 of assessed value  Machinery and Tools tax remains at $1.76 per $100 of assessed value  Tangible Personal Property remains at $2.44 per $100 of assessed value as described in section 15 through 19 of 58.1-3503A of the code of Virginia (Personal Property, vehicles, etc.)  Tangible Personal Property remains at $1.76 per $100 of assessed value as described in section 15 through 19 of 58.1-3503A of the code of Virginia (Business Personal Property) Mayor Horton opened the Public hearing on tax rates at 5:10. No comments. Mayor Horton closed the public hearing at 5:12. *Both public hearings met advertising requirements. * NEW BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Ordinance 1729: F.Y. 2021 Budget SUMMARY: The Budget for F.Y. 2021 has been delivered to City Council from the City Manager, as required by the City Charter. Revenues are balanced with expenditures in the amount of $59,514,312. The proposed budget provides sufficient revenues to pay for expenditures, maintains positive fund balances, provides resources for maintenance and improvements to infrastructure, supports core customer services and equipment replacement, acknowledges the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as identifies funds for payments to service the City debt. The funds are summarized as follows: General Funds $26,802,275 Street Maintenance Fund 2,505,953 Water/Wastewater Fund 4,639,264 Electric Fund 20,293,253 Solid Waste Fund 1,524,677 Transit Fund 3,002,981 Internal Services Fund 745,909 In addition to the City Budget, the City Council is also considering the F.Y. 2021 Radford City School Board Budget. The $36,460,148 budget was approved by the school board on March 24, 2020. The funds are summarized as follows: Operating Fund $17,540,748 Cafeteria Fund 684,960 Grants Fund 1,452,368 Textbook Fund 246,524 Capital Projects Fund 414,100 ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to approve Ordinance 1729 on the first reading, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Ordinance 1730: Tax Rates for Calendar Year 2020 SUMMARY: The F.Y. 2021 Budget is supported by revenues generated from taxes, fees and utility rates. Ordinance #1730 is an Ordinance to establish the tax rates for Real Estate, Personal Property and Machinery and Tools for the 2020 calendar year. The proposed F.Y. 2021 Budget reflects a tax rate of .78 for real property. The rate is reduced from .82 cents to .78 cents to reflect the increase valuation from reassessment resulting in the same levy as the 2019 tax year. The following are the proposed tax rates for the 2020 calendar year.  Real Property tax would increase to $0.78 per $100 of assessed value  Machinery and Tools tax remains at $1.76 per $100 of assessed value  Tangible Personal Property remains at $2.44 per $100 of assessed value as described in section 15 through 19 of 58.1-3503A of the code of Virginia (Personal Property, vehicles, etc.)  Tangible Personal Property remains at $1.76 per $100 of assessed value as described in section 15 through 19 of 58.1-3503A of the code of Virginia (Business Personal Property) ACTION: Mr. Gropman made a motion to approve Ordinance 1730 on the first reading, Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: F.Y. 2021 Fee and Rate Resolution SUMMARY: The F.Y. 2021 Budget is supported by utility rates and fees. Utility and fee rates are proposed to remain level for the Water/Wastewater, Electric and Sanitation operations. All other fees and permits reflect actual cost for services or remain level. ACTION: Dr. Harshberger made a motion to approve the Fee and Rate Resolution for 2021, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Audit Engagement Letter SUMMARY: Robinson, Farmer, Cox and Associates has conducted the City Audit for the past three years. Elements of the contract include preparation of the annual audit, as well as development of the cost allocation plan and coordination of other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) reporting. The contract is for $69,550 annually with an extension option of two years. The City Audit portion is $42,950 and is included in the F.Y. 2021 Budget. The Company has served the City for many years, is well respected and trusted in the field. The initial three years has expired and we can opt for an additional two years. ACTION: Ms. Huntington made a motion to approve the Audit Engagement Letter, Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Resolution: EPA Consent Agreement SUMMARY: A break occurred in the supply line providing chlorine to the Water Treatment Plant in October, 2017, resulting in a release of chlorine vapor. The City responded promptly to the emergency in calling the Fire Department, evacuating the building and making repairs. There were no injuries. Because the City did not notify the National Response Center immediately under the guidelines of the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and liability Act, the Environmental Protection Agency advanced an administrative penalty on the City. The City and the EPA have been meeting to discuss compliance with the Act and the process. Because of the City’s earnest efforts in mitigating the situation, the EPA has offered to settle the violation with a $21,466 fine. ACTION: Mr. Gropman made a motion to approve the Resolution for the EPA Consent Agreement, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Virginia Statewide Public Transportation Agency Plan SUMMARY: The Virginia Statewide Public Transportation Agency Plan (PTASP) for Small Public Transportation Providers is a comprehensive plan outlining the Safety Management Systems programs at fifteen small transit agencies throughout the Commonwealth. The Federal Transit Administration requires that agencies receiving federal funding, develop a PTASP. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is the state agency responsible for developing the state-sponsored PTASP for small transit agencies. DRPT was primarily responsible for gathering input from each of the participating small transit agencies during the development, review, and update of the PTASP. The PTASP is organized to provide general information on each agency, including its overall structure and services, the agency Safety Management Policy, Safety Risk Management program, Safety Assurance program and Safety Promotion program. Each section of the plan accurately portrays the current services and programs in place at Radford Transit. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to endorse the PTASAP as presented, Dr. Harshberger seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Ms. Foster stated that her Moment of Silence was dedicated to Albert Reid. Ms. Foster asked Council to consider adding in funding regarding the American Legion Building. Ms. Foster listed the many multiple uses the building has served in the past and stated that she will get Council a more detailed budget for the project before next week. She emphasized the importance of getting a new roof on the building to protect from further water damage. Dr. Harshberger said he didn’t have much to report, but if elections move to November he would be happy to continue to serve on Council until then. Mr. Gropman stated that this is a good budget and he knows this process was not easy. ACTION: Mr. Gropman made a motion to look into raising the lodging tax to 8%. Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 Ms. Huntington stated that this is not the budget we wanted, but rather the budget he City needed. Ms. Huntington is sad that curbside recycling was not able to be accommodated in this budget, but is grateful the budget maintains services and keeps projects moving forward without dipping into reserves. Mayor Horton expressed his appreciation for all the city staff and wants staff to know that they have not been forgotten. Mayor Horton stated to all to keep doing what you are doing and that this too shall pass. Radford is still coming together during this time and is a great community. Dr. Harshberger made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:19 p.m. seconded by Ms. Huntington. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster Mr. Gropman, Dr. Harshberger, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: Jennifer G. Wilder, Clerk of Council