City Council

The “New River” City 10 Robertson St. February 27, 2023 Radford, Virginia Meeting Number 13 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2022-2023 The regular meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 7:00 p.m. on February 27, 2023 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, Vice- Mayor Seth Gillespie, Ms. Jessie Foster, Mr. Bobby Davis, and Ms. Kellie Artrip. Others present were as follows: Mr. David Ridpath, City Manager Ms. Jenni Goodman, City Clerk Mr. Mike Bedsaul, City Attorney CITIZEN COMMENTS: Mr. John Ashley came and spoke to Council about his disappointment with the Police Department and judicial system in the handling of custody of his son. COUNCIL RESPONSE: NONE OLD BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Ordinance 1780 SUMMARY: 10.63 acres of property is zoned R-3 (Single Family Residential) and requires rezoning to R-4 (Multi-Family Residential) to permit the development. Balzer and Associates will serve as the agent and engineer for the project. The units are planned for subdivision and sale. A Joint Public Hearing was held on November 14, 2022 pertaining to the request. Public concerns reflected the density of the development, storm water runoff, parking sufficiency, traffic volume, roadway conditions and site ingress/egress. The Planning Commission met on December 19, 2022 and recommended the approval of the rezoning request by Jeffery Stump to City Council. The vote was 6 affirmative votes with 1 abstention. City staff, our consulting Engineer, as well as the project Engineer have reviewed and evaluated the public concerns from area residents. No items appear to be significant and will be further addressed in the site plan process, if the rezoning is approved. City Council held a second public hearing at its meeting on February 13, 2023 due to additional wording needed in the advertisement. The process and additional action does not impact the previous Planning Commission hearing, nor their recommendation. City Council approved Ordinance #1780 for the Lovely Mount Townhome Project on the first reading following the hearing. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve Ordinance 1780 on the second reading, Mr. Gillespie seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Ordinance 1782-1785 SUMMARY: Price Williams, LLC requested the vacation of seven public parcels of the property adjacent to several of their properties throughout the City. The locations include five parcels along Tyler Avenue, one on Berkley Street and one on Arlington Avenue. A public hearing was held at the June 13, 2022 meeting. There were no objections or comments. The staff did not see a conflict with the requests. A Board of Viewers found no inconveniences to the public on the vacations. City Council Approved Ordinance #1774, #1775, #1776, #1777 on first and second reading on September 12, 2022 as follows.  Ordinance #1774 – Tall Oaks Venture, LLC #1A. The Ordinance includes a vacated area of .782 acres and .522 acres along Tyler Avenue  Ordinance #1775 – Summit Development Company, LLC. The Ordinance includes a vacated area of .426 acers, .875 acres and .503 acres along Tyler Avenue  Ordinance #1776 – Westside 431, LLC. The Ordinance includes a vacated area of .034 acers along Berkley Street  Ordinance #1777 – Westside 106. LLC. The Ordinance includes a vacated area of .029 acers along Arlington Avenue The Ordinances required that final plats be prepared within 60 days, so the deed could be prepared and recorded. The developer missed the deadline and requested a 12-month extension from the date of approval. Four additional Ordinances have been prepared for City Council consideration to amend the original approvals with the expanded timeline as follows:  Ordinance #1782 – Tall Oaks Venture, LLC #1A. The Ordinance includes a vacated area of .782 acres and .522 acres along Tyler Avenue  Ordinance #1783 – Summit Development Company, LLC. The Ordinance includes a vacated area of .426 acers, .875 acres and .503 acres along Tyler Avenue  Ordinance #1784 – Westside 431, LLC. The Ordinance includes a vacated area of .034 acers along Berkley Street  Ordinance #1785 – Westside 106. LLC. The Ordinance includes a vacated area of .029 acers along Arlington Avenue ACTION: Ms. Artrip made a motion to approve Ordinance 1782-1785 on the first reading, Mr. Davis seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 ACTION: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Ordinance 1782-1785, Ms. Foster seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Ordinance 1786 SUMMARY: K & J Properties had requested the vacation of portions of excess public right-of- ways to expand their property at 1925 Second Street to support the development of six townhomes. The right-of-ways include 12ꞌ of Second Street between Custis Street and Ingles Street, as well as 15ꞌ of Custis Street between West Main Street and Second Street. City Council held a public hearing on December 8, 2022. There were no public comments. Following the public hearing, a 3-member Board of Viewers was appointed to look at the request to vacate an area of right-of-way approximately .087 acres and make a recommendation on the vacation’s impact on public convenience. The Board of Viewers met on January 20, 2023 and found the right-of-way vacation creates no public inconvenience. Staff has also reviewed the request and does not see any issues with the vacation on the streets or public utilities. City Council received the Board report of its meeting on January 23, 2023 and requested that the City Attorney draft an Ordinance. City Council approved Ordinance #1781, vacating the right-of-ways for K & J Properties on first and second reading at its meeting on February 13, 2023. Ordinance #1781 as approved on February 13, 2023 needs to be amended. The valuation enumerated in the Ordinance did not account for a necessary easement that would reduce the value from $7,064 to $6,165. The Amended Ordinance would be #1786. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve Ordinance 1786 on the first reading, Mr. Gillespie seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 ACTION: Ms. Artrip made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Ordinance 1786, Mr. Davis seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Appointments to Boards and Commissions SUMMARY: An Appointment to Boards and Commissions is needed for the Board of Zoning Appeals. ACTION: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to appoint Jennifer Bondurant to the Board of Zoning Appeals, Ms. Foster seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 NEW BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Chamber of Commerce SUMMARY: The Radford Chamber of Commerce has provided a proposed contract for services to the City of Radford for F.Y. 2023. Generally, the services would include assistance in economic development, involvement in local government initiatives, fostering of communication, “Festival of Lights” support, promotion of Radford Tourism and business, and increased marketing. A report will be provided at the meeting. ACTION: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to approve the MOU as presented, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: VCI Property Project SUMMARY: The City of Radford has received two grants from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The grants for $50,000 each are to be used specifically to update the 2017 environmental report performed by Haley and Aldrich on the 80 acre VCI property on West Main Street, as well as conduct additional environmental evaluation of the site. The City has an option on the property for a future industrial park. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve award the contract to Haley and Aldrich, Mr. Davis seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 ACTION: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1763.25 on the first reading, Ms. Artrip seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Appropriation Ordinance 1763.25, Mr. Davis seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Opioid Litigation Settlement SUMMARY: The City of Radford has been participating in the global law suit associated with the opioid epidemic and its impact on the local communities. The Opioid substance abuse has impacted costs associated with emergency response, criminal justice, mental health and agency services. The City’s legal Counsel recommended the participation in settlements with the Opioid providers, by approved Resolutions. Past settlements have included Mckesson, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen and Janssen Pharmaceuticals at a value of $501,410 over an 18-year period to recover a portion of the public funds spent on the consequences of the Opioid epidemic. Additional settlements have occurred with Teva, Allergan, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS and their related entities. The City Legal Counsel has recommended a Resolution to participate in the settlement that will recover $314,924 over a period of time. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve the resolution as presented, Mr. Davis seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1763.24-American Flags SUMMARY: A group of citizens has donated $1,600 to the City of Radford. The funds are to be specifically used to purchase new American flags for Memorial Bridge. There are 11 flags. The funds were not programmed in the development of F.Y. 2023 Budget and therefore require Appropriation for expenditure. ACTION: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1763.24 on the first reading, Ms. Artrip seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Appropriation Ordinance 1763.24, Mr. Davis seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: None COUNCIL COMMENTS: Ms. Artrip discusses how excited she is to begin her work with the Joint Commission after attending her first meeting and invited everyone out to Roanoke to cheer on the local girls from Derek Wagner Dance Company in their competition this weekend. Ms. Foster spoke about many upcoming events throughout Radford and encouraged all to mark their calendars for the spring, summer and fall events that have already been scheduled. Mr. Gillespie thanked Gary Harris and the VFW for donating a new flag at McHarg Elementary school. He also spoke about how nice the new Highlander Hotel is going to be and the Planning Commission is still undergoing it Zoning Ordinance rewrite. Mr. Gillespie concluded with Go Bobcats. Mr. Davis spoke about his visit to Lovely Mount and walking the property and meeting with the developer, after his visit he felt good about the project and feels that visits like these help in the decision making process. Mayor Horton spoke about the success of the Polar Plunge and the over $72,000 raised. Ms. Foster made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:56 p.m. seconded by Mr. Gillespie VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 ATTEST: _____________________________ Jennifer Goodman, City Clerk