City Council

The “New River ” City 10 Robertson St. August 4 , 2020 Radford, Virginia Meeting Number 4 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2020-2021 The special emergency 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 Mr. Onassis Burress, Ms. Jessie Foster, Mr. Forrest Hite, Ms. Naomi Huntington. Others present were as follows: Ms. Jenni Wilder, City Clerk Mr. Jeffery Dodson, Chief of Police Mr. Mike Bedsaul, City Attorney CITIZEN COMMENTS: Mr. Jeff Martin stated there are a couple of things he is concerned about. The first of which is this more of a burden on our law enforcement and do people exercising outside have to run or exercise with the mask on. Mr. Martin also stated he is offended by the comment that people should watch movies about a pandemic to see what we need to do. Jodi Pyles does not make light of the virus, but his questions are why are we waiting until now five months into the virus to make decisions surrounding the virus. How is this going to affect businesses? Exposure in my opinion creates immunity. Why do not force people to take vitamins or eat healthy to be healthy, so why are we forcing them to do this. Jim Tynam stated that Friday’s meeting was a disaster and that it appears the meeting was set at the time it was intentionally. The meeting should have been held in a format and time similar to this. Another law for the City of Radford is completely unnecessary. John McCandless, this virus is a very real thing and it has become politicized to a real degree. We have been asked to do simple things including wearing masks, wash hands and social distance. The mask keeps others from getting the virus, I am doing this to show love to my neighbor. DISCUSSION: After public comments Mayor Horton began the discussion by stating that doing something is better than doing nothing right now. That removing Section 7 is still the way to go with this Ordinance. Mayor Horton also stated that he is ok with removing the medical request out of the Ordinance and that moving the penalties from criminal to civil penalties. Mayor Horton also stated that there needs to be a piece as it pertains to gatherings, which will allow officers a chance disperse the parties and large gatherings around the university. Ms. Huntington thanked the citizens for speaking on the procedures they already have in place and what they are looking for in the Ordinance. Ms. Huntington stated she will give her comments as they go through specific sections. Mrs. Foster stated that we should not be lulled by our low numbers and that our citizens have taken care of the community and each other and that we need to be respectful the work our community has put in to date. We are asking students to make sacrifices for the greater good of Radford as a whole. Mr. Hite thanked the business owners for their voice. Mr. Hite stated he has five major issues with the Ordinance. The first of which is with the enforcement of the proposed ordinance. Mr. Hite is uncomfortable with putting the enforcement on our local law enforcement officers and it is unfair to the department as a whole, from the dispatchers to the officers. Second major issue of the document is the scope include the limitation on gatherings, to include funerals. Another issue is with section 7 and although it is being tabled why is there a two-hour difference between serving alcohol and when one most close. Face covering definition needs to be expanded to include a face shield and that section 6 with the medical proof needed as to why you are not wearing a mask. Mr. Hite pointed out that Radford might not need a mask mandate, as there is one from the state already. Mr. Hite also stated he has not had the opportunity to examine this document as he should because he received notice of this meeting less than 24 hours from the beginning of the meeting. This is not enough time to receive expert opinion, comments from the public, or thoroughly review the document. Mr. Hite stated that he has failed to adequately communicate this document and the meeting itself. Mr. Hite stated his final problem with this Ordinance is the approach of the Ordinance and meeting as a whole and that modeling the Ordinance after localities that do not have similar statistics as Radford is problematic. Mr. Burress thanked Mr. Hite for using evidence based decision making. The fifth lowest number in the Commonwealth speaks to the efforts people are making currently to keep the numbers down throughout Radford. Mr. Burress stated he has three issues with the document, the first of which is enforcement, of parties where people have drinks in their hands, how do we have the ability to stop someone who isn’t wearing a mask and ask for medical proof as to why they are not wearing a mask, and how does stopping an establishment from selling alcohol at 10 p.m. correlated to stopping the spread of Covid-19. How does this Ordinance impact the citizens of our community? Council then worked through the Ordinance to create the best framework of legislation that Council collectively would be willing to work from on Tuesday, August 4, 2020 to then vote on. Both sections 6 and 7 were removed from the Ordinance and the penalties were then moved from criminal penalties to civil penalties. Council determined to separate the face coverings into a separate Ordinance, as well has make this Ordinance just an Ordinance to deal with gatherings. Ms. Huntington made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:20 p.m., seconded by Mr. Hite VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: _____________________________ Jennifer Wilder, City Clerk