City Council

The “New River” City 10 Robertson St. August 9, 2021 Radford, Virginia Meeting Number 2 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2021-2022 The regular meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 7:00 p.m. on August 9, 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 CITIZEN COMMENTS: NONE PROCLAMTION: SUBJECT: International Overdose Awareness Day SUMMARY: August 31, 2021 is “International Overdose Awareness Day”. The New River Valley Community Services requested that City Council consider a Proclamation to locally recognize the hardship, lives lost and stigma associated with drug overdose. ACTION: Ms. Huntington made a motion to approve the Proclamation as presented on its second reading, Mr. Hite seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 INTRODUCTION: SUBJECT: Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce SUMMARY: The new Executive Director for the Radford Chamber of Commerce, Dan McKinney, was present for introduction to the City Council and to give a brief overview of his background and plans for the Chamber. OLD BUSSINESS: SUBJECT: Ordinance 1754-EDA Property Transfer SUMMARY: The EDA acquired the property at 330 West Main Street in 2019. The structure was removed and the site developed as an outdoor venue for dining, open space and entertainment, as well as perimeter parking and site aesthetics constructed. The EDA would like to transfer the .12 acre parcel, known as the “Triangle Lot”, to the City now that the development is complete to provide ongoing maintenance and insurance coverage. City Council approved the “first” reading of the Ordinance on July 12, 2021. ACTION: Mr. Burress made a motion to approve Ordinance 1754 on its second reading, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Appointments to Boards and Commission SUMMARY: Appointments are needed for the Library and the New River Resource Authority. The vacancies have been posted. These were the remaining appointments not filled at the June 28, 2021 meeting. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve John Yamin to the Library Board, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. Ms. Foster made the motion to appoint Mr. Tom Starnes to the New River Resource Authority, Mr. Burress seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 NEW BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Personal Property Tax Relief SUMMARY: The State of Virginia requires localities to provide tax relief to local citizens on a portion of their “personal property”. The percentage of relief on qualifying vehicles is established for each tax year and is based on an amount set by the State, which is currently $625,657 for Radford. To reach this amount of relief, the rate proposal for 2021 is 45% for personal property valued at $1,001 to $20,000. Business vehicles, motor homes and vehicles valued under $1,000 are excluded. ACTION: Ms. Huntington 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: Opioid Abatement SUMMARY: The Virginia Attorney General is advancing settlements on the Opioid litigation suit with the overall goals of alleviating the impacts of addition and maximizing recoveries A Memorandum of Understanding has been developed related to advancing the common interest of the litigants by establishing the Virginia Opioid Abatement Fund settlement allocation and use of the recoveries in the “global” settlement proceedings. The City Attorney reviewed and the MOU with Ed Spivey, the outside legal Counsel, and recommended approval by City Council of the Resolution and related exhibits. 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: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1749.11-Sheriff’s Office SUMMARY: The Radford Sheriff’s Office is holding a “Life Skills Camp” for Radford’s school age children. The camp will provide experiences associated with real life situations children encounter in a fun and safe environment, as well as skills they can use as they grow. The Appropriation provides for the use of the $2,950 in donations received for the program. ACTION: Mr. Burress made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1749.11 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 Appropriation Ordinance 1749.11, Mr. Hite seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1749.12- VHDA SUMMARY: The Department of Social Services has received additional funding in the amount of $2,106 from the Commonwealth. The funds will be used to support VHDA administration of the “Housing Choice Voucher” Program by the VHDA agent during pandemic conditions. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1749.12 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 Appropriation Ordinance 1749.12, Mr. Burress seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1749.13- CSA SUMMARY: The State has provided an additional $10,787 in funding to support the administration of the Children’s Service Act. CSA provides services to eligible youth and their familiar. A local match of $2,754 is required and can be accommodated from the existing DSS funding. Total funding is $13,541 ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1749.13 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: Mr. Burress made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Appropriation Ordinance 1749.13, 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 stated to check out the website to see what projects are happening throughout the city. Mr. Ridpath stated there are several special events are we head into the fall and that at the next Council meeting there will be a celebration of Radford Transit’s 10th anniversary and an overview of how everything is going with RAVE Mobile Safety. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Ms. Huntington stated the sidewalk projects are looking fantastic. Ms. Huntington also discussed the tourism program and that there are events planned for the fall that Ms. Repass should be releasing soon! Ms. Huntington reminded everyone to check out the addition of the Radford Magazine and a reminder that COVID is still out there and to be safe. Ms. Foster dedicated her moment of silence to TP Bacon and ask about the Emergency Home Repair program. Mr. Burress stated the countdown to school is on and he is excited for the students to get back in the classroom and learn. Mr. Hite stated that the Sheriff’s Office is putting on the life skills camp this weekend and local families should come out and participate. Mayor Horton thanked people for being at the Council meeting and engaging in community conversations. Mayor Horton reminded everyone that there are many events coming up in Bisset Park on August 28 and that the community should come out and participate. Mayor Horton also asked if a discussion on COVID 19 could be on the agenda next meeting. Mayor Horton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Burress to convene a closed meeting for 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 9:02 p.m. seconded by Mr. Burress VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: _____________________________ Jennifer Wilder, City Clerk