City Council

The “New River” City 10 Robertson St. June 14, 2021 Radford, Virginia Meeting Number 21 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2020-2021 The regular meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 7:00 p.m. on May 24, 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 Ms. Jenni Wilder, City Clerk Ms. Melissa Skelton, Deputy Clerk MINTUES APPROVAL: Mr. Burress made a motion to approve the minutes from April 26, 2021 as presented Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 MINTUES APPROVAL: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve the minutes from May 10, 2021 as presented Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 CITIZEN COMMENTS: Mr. Bill Fleischer recently visited Austin, Texas and he spoke on the contrast between Radford and Austin. Mr. Fleischer encouraged Radford to keep our standards high and continue to improve and move forward. COUNCIL RESPONSE: Mayor Horton and Councilman Hite thanked Mr. Fleischer for his comments. RESOLUTIONS: SUBJECT: K-9 Max and K-9 Duke SUMMARY: Due to changes in State laws effective July 1, 2021 associated with Marijuana drug enforcement, the K-9 division of the Police Department is changing. Two of our long-time K-9s, Max and Duke, were retired to their “Handlers”, Justin Miller and John Furhman. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve the resolution recognizing K-9 Max, Mr. Burress seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 ACTION: Mr. Hite made a motion to approve the resolution recognizing K-9 Duke, Ms. Huntington the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Angie Frye SUMMARY: Angie Frye will be retiring at the end of June. She has served the community for 34 years beginning as a Communication Officer and moving through the ranks to Deputy Chief in 2008. She also served as “Interim” Chief in 2019. ACTION: Mayor Horton made a motion to approve the resolution recognizing Angie Frye, Mr. Hite seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 PROCLAMATIONS: SUBJECT: PRIDE Month SUMMARY: The month of June is nationally recognized as PRIDE month. The declaration recognizes the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York advancing the LGBTQ movement and self- affirmation. ACTION: Ms. Huntington made a motion to approve the proclamation recognizing Pride Month, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Juneteenth SUMMARY: June 19th is nationally recognized to commemorate African American freedom and the ending of slavery in the United States. The day also emphasizes education and achievement. ACTION: Mr. Burress made a motion to approve the proclamation Juneteenth, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 PUBLIC HEARING: Appropriation Ordinance #1726.34 : School Board Budget Amendment Mayor Horton opened the Public hearing at 7:42. There were no comments. Mayor Horton closed the public hearing at 7:42 *Public Hearing was advertised as required. Old Business: SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance #1726.34 -F.Y. 2021 Budget Amendment – School Board Budget: SUMMARY: The School Board has requested that its F.Y. 2021 Budget be amended to reflect additional revenues and expenditures associated with the “Virtual” school enrollment, CARES Act funding and a security grant. The amount of the amendment is $4,067,155 corresponding expenses relate to security upgrades, employee bonus, childcare services, virtual academy and air purification. The amendment will increase the school budget for F.Y. 2021 to $40,527,303. ACTION: Mr. Burress made a motion to approve the Appropriation Ordinance 1726.34 on its first reading, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 NEW BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Ordinance 1752-VRA Refunding SUMMARY: The Virginia Resource Authority will offer the refinancing of three bonds for the City of Radford in its Summer bond sale. These include bonds associated with the formal support of the Second Avenue/Park Road improvements (2012C VRA- $2,350,000), the Public Safety Building remodeling (2015A VRA-$4,165,000) and the Little River Dam improvements (2017 BB&T - $1,606,000). The savings to the community will have an estimated present value savings of 3.6% - 5.1%. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve Ordinance 1752 on the first reading, Mr. Hite 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 dispense with the second reading of the Ordinance 1752, Mr. Hite seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Award Bid-Electric Department SUMMARY: The Electric Department solicited proposals to provide three, single-phase voltage regulators. The regulators are planned and budgeted improvements for the North Radford Substation. Only one bid was received from Eaton Power Systems in the amount of $97,242. The vendors for this product are limited, as well as the product availability. ACTION: Ms. Huntington made a motion to award the bid to Eaton Power Systems, Mr. Burress the motion VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance #1726.35 –Body Cameras SUMMARY: The Police Department was awarded a grant from the Department of Criminal Justice Services in the amount of $17,476. The funds will be used to purchase fifteen body-worn cameras. A $8,735 local match is required and can be accommodated in the existing budget for the Police Department. The grant will expand the camera inventory so that all officers will have their own unit. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve the Appropriation Ordinance 1726.35 on its first reading, Mr. Hite seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 ACTION: Mr. Burress made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Appropriation Ordinance 1726.35, Mr. Hite seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: Mr. Ridpath thanked all the crews for their hard work during the storm over the weekend. Mr. Ridpath also referred to Ms. Wilder to discuss the rollout of the Rave Emergency Alert Platform and Smart911. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Ms. Huntington stated it was wonderful to see so many community members out this evening, please come out, join us again, and don’t forget to get in your application for boards and commissions. Ms. Foster asked Mr. Ridpath about the Street Sweeper schedule and then reference the Diverse Our City Committee’s next meeting. She also mentioned buying a friends of the RCPD shirt and brought Council and staff Skittles for pride month. Mr. Burress wished all the fathers a Happy Father’s Day weekend. Mr. Hite told Ms. Foster he had his twenty to buy a shirt. Mayor Horton thanked the community for reaching out regarding the passing of his mother. Mayor Horton also stated it was beautiful seeing the community come together to celebrate Angie, Max and Duke this evening. Mayor Horton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Burress to convene a closed meeting for the purpose of Discussion, consideration, or interviews of prospective candidates for employment; assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining, or resignation of specific public officers, appointees, or employees of any public body; and evaluation of performance of departments, under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711 (A) (1). VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Burress, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 Mayor Horton made a motion to adjourn the closed meeting, Mr. Burress seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Burress, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 Mayor Horton made a motion to re-convene the regular 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: Mayor Horton made a motion that nothing was discussed other than for which the closed session was convened, Mr. Burress seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Burress, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 Mayor Horton made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:39 seconded by Mr. Burress VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: _____________________________ Jennifer Wilder, City Clerk