City Council

The “New River” City 10 Robertson St. November 8, 2021 Radford, Virginia Meeting Number 8 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2021-2022 The regular meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 7:00 p.m. on December 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, Ms. Jessie Foster, Dr. Richard Harshberger, and Ms. Huntington. Mr. Forrest Hite participated remotely. Others present were as follows: Mr. David Ridpath, City Manager Ms. Jenni Wilder, City Clerk Ms. Melissa Skelton, Deputy Clerk ACTION: Ms. Huntington made a motion to all Mr. Hite to participate remotely. Ms. Foster seconded the motion. Mr. Hite stated he was on vacation. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 MINUTES APPROVAL: On a motion by Ms. Foster and a second by Ms. Huntington, the minutes for the October 25, 2021 meeting were approved as presented. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 CITIZEN COMMENTS: Ms. Nancy Kolb sated she own adjacent property to the Harvey Street Vacation and she recommends the whole property not be sold. PRESENTATION: SUBJECT: DMV Zero Award SUMMARY: The City of Radford has been recognized by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles with its “Zero Award”. The award denotes localities with no traffic related fatalities associated with buckling up, slowing down and not driving impaired. A representative from DMV presented the award to Chief Dodson. SUBJECT: Kollmorgan Corporation K-9 Donation SUMMARY: The Police Department has received a donation of $15,000 to support the K-9 Unit. The President of Kollmorgan Corp, Dave Ebling, presented a check to the Police Department. PROCLAMATION: SUBJECT: Veterans’ Day SUMMARY: A Proclamation has been prepared formally recognizing “Veterans Day” in Radford on November 11, 2020. The Proclamation recognizes the Men and Women who have served our Nation’s Armed Forces, represented our community, as well as protected the ideals of freedom, justice and liberty. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve the proclamation as presented, Ms. Huntington, seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Small Business Saturday SUMMARY: Saturday, November 27, 2021 is Nationally recognized as “Small Business Saturday”. The Proclamation is a local designation of the importance of small businesses to the local economy, jobs and quality of life. The Proclamation encourages our citizens to support and shop at local businesses. ACTION: Ms. Huntington made a motion to approve the proclamation as presented, Ms. Foster, seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 OLD BUSSINESS: SUBJECT: Ordinance 1760-Vacation of Right of Way-Harvey Street SUMMARY: Kevin Entrekin, a property owner at 300 Ninth Street, has requested a 60’ x 150’ section of Harvey Street be vacated from Ninth Street to Tenth Street. This .206-acre 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 was held by City Council at its September 13, 2021 meeting. There were three objections to the vacation. No utilities are impacted by the proposed vacation. A 3-member Board of Viewers was appointed by City Council at the September 27, 20121 meeting. The Board of Viewers met on October 11, 2021 and has recommended the vacation of 30’ of the requested 60’ of the right-of-way width. City Council received the report at its October 25, 2021 meeting. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to authorize the City Attorney to draft an Ordinance of Vacation, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 NEW BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1749.27 SUMMARY: The Police Department has received donations totaling $21,322 from citizens and Kollmorgan Corporation. The donations are specific to the K-9 Unit of the department. Plans are to purchase and train and additional K-9. The revenue was not programmed in the development of the F.Y. 2022 Budget and requires appropriation. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve the Appropriation Ordinance 1749.27 on the first reading, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: 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 1749.27, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1749.28: OEMS Grant SUMMARY: The Fire/EMS has received a grant from the office of Emergency Medical Services to support “hardware initiatives”. The $9,903 grant will be used to acquire three laptop computers and other handheld devices to be used on calls to improve efficiency in making Fire and EMS Reports. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve the Appropriation Ordinance 1749.28 on the first reading, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: 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 1749.28, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: Mr. Ridpath stated there is a lot of development going on throughout the City, Happy Thanksgiving to all, and make sure you sign up for a chance to visit McHarg. MR. Ridpath also stated the work session last week was productive and we are going to advance those projects that are priorities of Council in the coming year. Chief Dodson also took a moment to thank citizens who donated money to the RCPD K9 program. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mr. Hite if you are interested in the vacant position keep an eye on my page. Ms. Huntington stated she visited McHarg last week it is incredible to see and she is proud we were able to make this project happen. Sidewalk project, no ramps on many cross streets on Wadsworth, is there a process to fix this in the future. Happy Thanksgiving to all. Ms. Foster moment of silence was dedicated to her father and PC King. Ms. Foster discussed her meeting with DSS and the in Home Detention Program and the funding to support this program. Mayor Horton stated Happy Veterans to all. Thanks to Ms. Foster for all her efforts on the American Legion building. Mayor Horton also wished Mr. Burress the best of luck in his future endeavors. Mayor Horton also stated Council might want to have some walkability sessions in the future. Mayor Horton also took a moment to explain the process for selecting and interim Council Member. Mayor Horton made a motion, seconded by Ms. Foster 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). 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. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 Ms. Huntington made a motion to adjourn the closed meeting, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 Ms. Foster made a motion to re-convene the regular meeting, Ms. Huntington seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 CERTIFICATION OF THE CLOSED MEETING: Mayor Horton made a motion that Council did not discuss anything in the closed meeting other than the two items for which it was convened, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 Ms. Foster made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:26 seconded by Ms. Huntington VOTE: AYES: Ms. Foster, Mr. Hite, Ms. Huntington, Mayor Horton NAYES: None-0 ATTEST: _____________________________ Jennifer Wilder, City Clerk