City Council

The “New River” City 10 Robertson St. April 26, 2021 Radford, Virginia Meeting Number 18 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2020-2021 The regular meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 7:00 p.m. on April 26, 2021 in the Radford City Council Chambers, located at 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 and Ms. Huntington. Others present were as follows: Mr. David Ridpath, City Manager Mrs. Jenni Wilder, City Clerk Mr. Michael Bedsaul, City Attorney CITIZEN COMMENTS: NONE COUNCIL RESPONSE: NONE PROCLAMATION: SUBJECT: Resilience Week SUMMARY: May 2-8, 2021 is Nationally recognized as “Resilience Week”. The event is to help promote awareness of programs and policies that support the resilience of children and adults through positive connections, stability and healthy development. ACTION: Mr. Burress made a motion to approve the proclamation as presented, Mr. Hite seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Ms. Foster, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 NEW BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Ordinance 1749-F.Y. 2022 Budget SUMMARY: The Budget for F.Y. 2022 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 $62,057,466. 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 $28,726,722 Street Maintenance Fund 2,407,851 Water/Wastewater Fund 5,024,934 Electric Fund 20,118,408 Solid Waste Fund 1,541,050 Transit Fund 3,492,592 Internal Services Fund 745,909 In addition to the City Budget, the City Council is also considering the F.Y. 2022 Radford City School Board Budget. The $33,145,146 budget was approved by the School Board on March 23, 2021. The funds are summarized as follows: Operating Fund $18,126,228 Cafeteria Fund 705,026 Grants Fund 2,625,404 Textbook Fund 326,545 Capital Projects Fund 220,000 Health Insurance Fund 2,595,251 McHarg School Project 8,401,804 Region 7 Virtual academy Fund 144,888 ACTION: Mr. Burress made a motion to approve Ordinance 1749 on the second reading, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Ms. Foster, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Ordinance 1750-Calendar Year 2021 Tax Rate SUMMARY: The F.Y. 2022 Budget is supported by revenues generated from taxes, fees and utility rates. Ordinance #1750 is an Ordinance to establish the tax rates for Real Estate, Personal Property and Machinery and Tools for the 2021 calendar year. The proposed F.Y. 2022 Budget reflects a tax rate of .84 for real property. The rate increase from .78 to .84 is to support the debt service payment for the McHarg Elementary School additions and renovations. The tax rates are as follows:  Real Property tax would increase to $0.84 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: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve Ordinance 1750 on the second reading, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Ms. Foster, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 NEW BUSINESS: Onward NRV ACTION: Mr. Hite made a motion to appoint Ms. Repass and Mr. Williams to the Onward NRV Board, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Ms. Foster, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 SUBJECT: Ordinance 1751-Cigarette Tax Increase SUMMARY: The City of Radford has a tax on “tobacco” and “cigarette” products of .15 per pack. The rate has been level for over a decade. Radford has had the tax option since 2004. The state has now given counties similar authority. The rate in Christiansburg is 40 cents/pack and the rate in Blacksburg is 30 cents per pack. The surrounding counties are considering implementing 40 cents. An Ordinance has been prepared for City Council consideration to increase the Radford rate. A 2 cent tax per cigarette is the maximum. Discussion was had surrounding the Cigarette Tax Ordinance Council Decided to hold the Public Hearing at the May 10 meeting. SUBJECT: Special Use Permit 1129 East Main Street SUMMARY: Center at 1129 East Main Street. The company plans to develop 11 residential units on the second floor of the commercial building. The property is zoned B-3, Central Business, and requires a Special Use Permit for residential upper floor use. A public hearing was held on March 8, 2021. There were no objections, but concerns were expressed over parking. The Planning Commission held its public hearing on March 15, 2021, and recommended for approval at its meeting on April 19, 2021. ACTION: Mr. Burress made a motion to accept the report from the planning commission, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve the resolution, Mr. Burress seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: FY 2022 Rate Resolution SUMMARY: The F.Y. 2022 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: Mr. Hite made a motion to approve the resolution as presented, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Resolution Delinquent Accounts SUMMARY: The F.Y. 2020 Audit reflected a “finding” associated with delinquent/uncollectable accounts. The report reflected aging utility accounts associated with water, electric, sanitary sewer and sanitation billing. A Resolution has been prepared that addresses a formal procedure for the proper disposition of uncollectable accounts. The Resolution authorizes the Treasurer to write-off any fees or charges associated with utility accounts that are deemed uncollectable after five years from the date the payment was due. The Resolution has been reviewed by the City Treasurer and Finance Director. ACTION: Mr. Burress made a motion to approve the resolution as presented, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: SUBJECT: CDBG Action Plan SUMMARY:Development as an Entitlement Community to support low and moderate income projects and reduce slum and blight conditions. Every five years, the City is required to develop a “Consolidated Action Plan” identifying housing and community development priorities under the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). The 2021 Plan year, our F.Y. 2022 fiscal year, has a projected allocation of $182,495 with an additional $45,000 in carry over funds from the previous year. Projects proposed support emergency home repairs, beautification, upgrades to Dobbins/Oakley field, façade improvements, Third Avenue parking lot improvements, general administration of the program, as well as agency support for the Women’s Resource Center, New River Community action, Beans and Rice, August Kids, Bobcat Back Pack Program and Radford-Fairlawn Daily Bread. ACTION: Mr. Burress made a motion to endorse the 2021 Action Plan, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: Mr. Ridpath thanked Council for their support of the Budget. Mr. Ridpath stated that is great to be back on track in April, investment in the City is increasing and that is reassuring for our economy. Mr. Ridpath stated that sidewalk and paving improvements are coming this spring. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mr. Foster reminded everyone to visit the Farmer’s Market and thanked Calvary Baptist Church for their handwritten letters. Mayor Horton thanked everyone for their participation in the Earth Day and Arbor Day events. Ms. Huntington made a motion, seconded by Mr. Burress 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. For consultation with legal counsel employed or retained by the public body regarding specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Burress, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 Mr. Burress made a motion to adjourn the closed meeting, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Burress, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 CERTIFICATION OF THE CLOSED MEETING: Ms. Huntington made a motion that nothing was discussed other than for which the closed session was convened, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Burress, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 Mr. Burress made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:39 seconded by Mr. Hite VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: _____________________________ Jennifer Wilder, City Clerk