City Council

The “New River” City 10 Robertson St. April 10, 2023 Radford, Virginia Meeting Number 16 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2022-2023 The regular meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 7:00 p.m. on April 10, 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 CITIZEN COMMENTS: Mr. John Ashley came and played a video before City Council. COUNCIL RESPONSE: NONE MINUTES APPROVAL: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to approve the minutes for March 27, 2023 as presented, Mr. Davis seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 PROCLAMATIONS: SUBJECT: National Public Safety Telecommunicates Week SUMMARY: April 9 - 15, 2023 is ''National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week". The week is designated to recognize the professionals who are first and most critical contract our citizens have with emergency services. Public Safety Telecommunicators serve as a vital link to police and fire personnel by monitoring their activities, relaying information and establishing the link from the caller to the scene. ACTION: Mr. Davis made a motion to approve the proclamation as presented, Ms. Artrip seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: National Animal Care and Control Week SUMMARY: April 9 -15, 2023 is "National Animal Control Officer's Appreciation Week". The week is designated to celebrate and promote the professionalism and service within the Animal Control field for all they do in protecting the welfare of animals, providing public information and education, as well as enforcing animal control laws. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve the proclamation as presented, Ms. Artrip seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: National Crime Victims’ Rights Week SUMMARY: The week of April 23-29, 2023 is recognized as "National Crime Victims' Rights Week." A local proclamation was requested by our Victim Witness Office. The Proclamation calls on our citizens to recognize the emotional, physical, psychological and financial effects of crime on its victims, as well as highlights the programs, service providers and criminal justice professionals who respond to the needs of victims of crime. ACTION: Ms. Artrip made a motion to approve the proclamation as presented, Mr. Gillespie seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 PUBLIC HEARING: Ordinance 1787-F.Y. 24 Budget SUMMARY: The Budget for F.Y. 2023 has been delivered to City Council from the City Manager, as required by the City Charter. Revenues are balanced with expenditures in the amount of $71,784,499. The proposed budget provides sufficient revenues to pay for expenditures, maintains positive fund balances, provides resources for maintenance and improvements to infrastructure, supports core customer services and equipment replacement, acknowledges the impact of inflation, as well as identifies funds for payments to service the City debt. The funds are summarized as follows: General Funds $34,033,899 Street Maintenance Fund 2,541,025 Water/Wastewater Fund 5,972,031 Electric Fund 23,026,633 Solid Waste Fund 1,619,292 Transit Fund 3,560,319 Internal Services Fund 1,031,300 In addition to the City Budget, the City Council is also considering the F.Y. 2024 Radford City School Board Budget. The $39,194,498 budget was approved by the School Board on March 1, 2023. The funds are summarized as follows: Operating Fund $30,796,232 School Nutrition Fund 940,965 Grants Fund 2,019,620 Textbook Fund 738,099 Capital Projects Fund 1,820,000 Health Insurance Fund 2,721,251 Region 7 Virtual Academy Fund 158,331 Mayor Horton opened the public hearing at 7:32 There were no comments. Mayor Horton closed the Public Hearing at 7:32. *The public hearing has been advertised as required. ACTION: Ms. Artrip made a motion to approve Ordinance 1787 on the first reading as presented, Mr. Davis seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 PUBLIC HEARING: Ordinance 1788-Calendar Year 2023 Tax Rate SUMMARY: The F.Y. 2024 Budget is supported by revenues generated from taxes, fees and utility rates. Ordinance #1788 is an Ordinance to establish the tax rates for Real Estate, Personal Property and Machinery and Tools for the 2023 calendar year. The proposed F.Y. 2024 Budget reflects a tax rate of .84 for Real Property. The rate is level to calendar year 2023. The tax rates are as follows: • Real Property tax would remain at $0.84 per $100 of assessed value • Machinery and Tools tax remains at $1.76 per $100 of assessed value • Tangible Personal Property remains at $2.44 per $100 of assessed value as described in section 15 through 19 of 58.l-3503A of the code of Virginia (Personal Property, vehicles, etc.) • Tangible Personal Property remains at $1.76 per $100 of assessed value as described in section 15 through 19 of 58.1-3503A of the code of Virginia (Business Personal Property) Mayor Horton opened the public hearing at 7:34. There were no comments. Mayor Horton closed the Public Hearing at 7:34. *The Public Hearing was advertised as required. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve Ordinance 1788 on the first reading, Mr. Gillespie seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 OLD BUSINESS: NONE NEW BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Thirteenth Street Subdivision SUMMARY: New River Valley Home Rentals, LLC has requested approval of a five (5) lot subdivision on Thirteenth Street, between Staples Street and Preston Street. The property is zoned R-3, single family residential. The .80 Acre site would be accessed by a private drive with a maintenance agreement. The site has access to public utilities. No staff issues have been identified with development. The Planning Commission has reviewed the Subdivision proposal and recommended its approval at its meeting on March 20, 2023. ACTION: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to approve the Thirteenth Street Subdivisions, Ms. Foster seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Montgomery County 232 Property SUMMARY: The City owns approximately 200 acres of land just East of the 105 Exit in Montgomery County. The property has been used for passive birding, hunting and mountain biking over the years. City Council requested that consideration be placed on the agenda to discuss a "special" committee to study use options for the property. Mr. Gillespie suggested to form a committee to look into the possibility of forming a shooting range on the site, which would be a great recruiting tool for the police department and an asset to recreational tourism. Other council members spoke up about evaluating the site for Animal Control, as well as Fire Department Training. The committee will include Mr. Gillespie, Mr. Tracy Howard, Mr. Justin Mosby, Mr. Rob Gropman, Mr. Don Goodman, Ms. Adele Katrovitz. SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1763.26-Police Department Grant SUMMARY: The Police Department has received a grant from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services in the amount of $3,725. The funds would be used to purchase two (2) covert cameras for utilization by Detectives in narcotics investigations for surveillance operations. The grant was not programmed in the development of the F.Y. 2023 Budget requiring Appropriation for expenditure. A local match of $65 is required and will be accommodated from the existing Police Department Budget. ACTION: Ms. Artrip made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1763.26 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. Foster made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Appropriation Ordinance 1763.26, Mr. Gillespie seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1763.27-Toursim Department SUMMARY: The Tourism office has received a $30,000 grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation under the American Rescue Plan Act, "Tourism Recovery Plan". The funds are to be used with the existing departmental budget to broaden marketing efforts to reach new patrons, markets and visitors to highlight the assets of Radford. The funds were not programmed in the development of the F.Y. 2023 Budget, therefore requiring Appropriation for expenditure. ACTION: Mr. Davis made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1763.27 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. Artrip made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Appropriation Ordinance 1763.27, Ms. Foster seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1763.28-East Main Street Project SUMMARY: The City of Radford has received a grant from the Department of Housing and Community Development in the amount of $7,000. The funds, from the "Community Vitality Grant", are to be used to pan and create and/or repair murals in the Radford Historic District. The project will be part of the East Main Street Improvement Project. No match is required. The funds were not programmed in the development of the F.Y. 2023 Budget and require Appropriation for expenditure. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1763.28 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. Davis made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Appropriation Ordinance 1763.28, Mr. Gillespie seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1763.29-Emergency Housing Grant SUMMARY: Radford is receiving five emergency housing vouchers that are being distributed through VHDA in partnership with local housing agency partners in the amount of $10,000. The vouchers allow qualifying prospective tenants to select from a wider range of housing options, as opposed to being limited to designated housing projects. The tenant pays the landlord a percentage of their monthly income towards the rent, with the voucher subsidizing the remainder. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1763.29 on the first reading, Ms. Davis 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 1763.29, Mr. Davis seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1763.30-Housing Choice Voucher Grant SUMMARY: The local Virginia Housing Development Authority received additional funds in the amount of $9,370 for F.Y. 2023 from the "Housing Choice Voucher Program". The funds are to be used for a percentage of rental expense for housing for individuals, families' individuals with disabilities and senior citizens that qualify based on very low to low incomes. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1763.30 on the first reading, Ms. Davis 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 1763.30, Mr. Davis seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: Mr. Ridpath discussed the cleanups for Spring that are going around town as well as the opening of farmer’s market on April 22. Mr. Ridpath also spoke about the emergency operations plan rewrite and how much staff appreciates Council’s support throughout the budget process. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Ms. Foster spoke about his moment of silence being dedicated to Mr. William Latrell and gave an overview of her ride along with Officer Winkler. Ms. Foster stated there will be some upcoming clean up days at the American Legion building and discussed summaries from her various board meetings. Ms. Artrip thanked the dispatchers and animal control, as well as David and the budget team for all their hard work this spring. She said she will be at the Ref Bud Festival on April 22. Mr. Gillespie echoed the comments of Ms. Artrip and discussed how user friendly the budget process was for the new Council members. Mr. Davis stated likewise, thanks all around and he feels good about the direction of Radford. Mayor Horton stated that there a lot of good things happening here in Radford from new businesses to new tourism opportunities. There are many upcoming events as we lead into spring including the Red Bud Festival, the Farmer’s Market and the Summer Concert Series. Mr. Gillespie made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:17 seconded by Ms. Foster. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 ATTEST: _____________________________ Jennifer Goodman, City Clerk