City Council

The “New River” City 10 Robertson St. September 13, 2021 Radford, Virginia Meeting Number 4 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2021-2022 The regular meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 7:00 p.m. on September 13, 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 MINUTES APPROVAL: On a motion by Mr. Burress and a second by Ms. Foster the minutes for the August 23, 2021 meeting were approved as presented. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 RESOLUTION: SUBJECT: K9 Xander SUMMARY: State laws that came into effect July 1, 2021 have changed the K-9 program throughout Virginia’s Law Enforcement agencies pertaining to marijuana drug enforcement. Xander has been with the City of Radford for 6 years and specializes in the drug enforcement program. Xander will leave the department to work for another agency where his training skills can be better used. His Handler John Tuttle and Xander were present. ACTION: Mayor Horton made a motion to approve the Resolution as presented, Mr. Hite seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Garrett’s and Meg’s SUMMARY: Garrett’s and Meg’s was founded in 1986 and is celebrating its thirty-fifth anniversary on East Main Street. The Proclamation recognizes the accomplishments of this successful homegrown business and Meg and Gary Weddle’s investment in our community. ACTION: Mayor Horton made a motion to approve the Resolution as presented, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 OLD BUSSINESS: SUBJECT: American Legion Building SUMMARY: The American Legion Building, located at 27 West Main Street, is in need of repairs. The 90-year-old historic structure has served the community as a voting precinct, office space for Tourism and the Chamber of Commerce, dance hall space, Senior Center, as well as home to the “Harvey-Howe-Carper Post 30” of the American Legion. The building needs roof, bathroom, HVAC and cosmetic upgrades. The building was built to honor World War I Veterans and has served as a continuous meeting space for the American Legion for nearly a century. The Legion has asked the City for financial support for needed repairs. The Legion is seeking quotes for the roof, guttering, soffits, asbestos removal, and flashing from specialty contractors. Ms. Foster provided contracts for work and the Council collectively agreed to look into the contracts and create an MOU with the American Legion to move the project forward. SUBJECT: Right-Of Way Vacation Harvey Street SUMMARY: Kevin Entrekin, a property owner at 300 Ninth Street, has requested that Harvey Street be vacated from Eighth Street to Ninth Street. This section of Street was never opened due to the steep slope on the southern end. The applicant has paid the processing fee. A public hearing is required and was scheduled by City Council at its July 12, 2021 meeting for September 13, 2021. The public hearing has been advertised as required and the adjacent property owners notified. Following the public hearing, the next step in the process is to appoint a 3-member Board of Viewers. Mayor Horton opened the public hearing at 7:13 p.m. Mr. Kevin Entrekin spoke on behalf of his want to vacate the property. He explained the reasoning is for expansion is to help with his growing family. Ms. Nancy Kolb came to speak against the vacation of the property. She stated this property is used often as a walking path and she would rather it stay in public hands. Ms. Kolb also suggested that Ms. Long might not have received notice of the public hearing and ask if that could be looked into. Ms. Wilder spoke to the fact the Mr. Webb will also like his objection on the record. Mayor Horton closed the public hearing at 7:20 p.m. ACTION: Ms. Huntington made a motion to appoint Ms. Jenn Bondurant to the Board of Viewers, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 NEW BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Resolution Radford High School Foundation Lease SUMMARY: The City of Radford has leased the property on George Street, adjacent to the Radford Recreation Center, to the Radford High School Foundation, Inc. since 2004. The agreement was established to help foster support, private donations and construction of the baseball field on the 5+ acre City owned site. The original lease was established in 2004 for a five-year term. It was renewed in September 2008 under new conditions for another five-year term, renewed in October 2014 for one year, renewed in October 2015 for a two-year term, and renewed in October 2017 for another three years, which expired December 31, 2020. The Foundation requested an additional renewal term with the City through December 31, 2021 to continue its fund raising and project development, which was approved by City Council last year. The Coronavirus impacted this past year’s plans and fund raising resulting in the Foundation requesting another extension to December 2022. ACTION: Ms. Huntington made a motion to approve the resolution as presented Mr. Burress seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1749.14-Library SUMMARY: The State of Virginia has increased its State Aid to local Libraries. The City will receive an additional $9,173, raising our total to $167,575. The funds will be used to purchase books/materials and equipment. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1749.14 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 1749.14, Mr. Hite seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Burress, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1749.15- Police Department SUMMARY: The Police Department requested an Appropriation of $19,360 from the Police Restitution Fund. The designated revenue will be used to purchase 11 rifles for patrol. ACTION: Mr. Hite made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1749.15 on the first reading, Mr. Burress 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 1749.15, 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 that all City projects are moving forward as scheduled. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Ms. Huntington asked about when the last time the Library was renovated and that if there was ever a plan to develop Prospect Hill on Jordan Avenue for recreational use. Ms. Huntington stated that Ms. Cross is putting on the Miles for Hope Campaign and all who can should sponsor and champion this campaign. Ms. Foster stated her moment of silence was dedicate to Mr. Heatherington and special thanks to Community Life Church for the notes. Mr. Burress also thanked Community Life Church for the notes. Mr. Hite thanked Community Life Church for the encouraging notes. Mayor Horton thanked Community Life Church. Mayor Horton also stated we need to do our part with masking and COVID prevention and get vaccinated if you can to help stop the spread of COVID and move beyond the pandemic. Mayor Horton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Burress to convene a closed meeting for Discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property, for a public purpose, or of the disposition of publicly held real property, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body, under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711 (A) (3). 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, Mr. Hite seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Burress, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 Mr. Burress made a motion to re-convene the regular meeting, Mr. Hite 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. Hite seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Burress, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 Ms. Huntington made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:25 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