City Council

The “New River” City 10 Robertson St. April 24, 2023 Radford, Virginia Meeting Number 17 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 24, 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: NONE COUNCIL RESPONSE: NONE MINUTES APPROVAL: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to approve the minutes for April 10, 2023 as presented, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 PROCLAMATION: SUBJECT: National Library Week SUMMARY: April 23-29, 2023 is “National Library Week”. The week recognizes the significant contributions that libraries make in meeting the communities’ economic needs, providing a place for education, opportunities for life-long learning, as well as offering a host of community services for citizens of all ages. The Proclamation recognizes “National Library Week” locally, as well as encourages our residents to visit the Radford Public Library. 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 RESOLUTION: SUBJECT: Basil Edwards SUMMARY: Basil Edwards, Director of Operations and Information Technology, will be retiring June 1, 2023 after Twenty-four years of service. He also served as Economic Director. His career included oversite of City public facilities, industrial site development, business & industry locations and expansions, marketing, as well as handling insurance policies. ACTION: Mayor Horton made a motion to approve the resolution as presented, Mr. Gillespie seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 OLD BUSINESS: 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 ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve Ordinance 1787 on the second 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) ACTION: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to approve Ordinance 1788 on the second reading, Ms. Foster seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 NEW BUSINESS: SUBJECT: F.Y. 2024 Rate Resolution SUMMARY: The F.Y. 2024 Budget is supported by utility rates and fees. Utility and fee rates are proposed to remain level for Electric and Sanitation operations. All other fees are generally level to reflect actual cost for services. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve the Rate Resolution as modified and schedule a public hearing for May 8 on the Water and Waste Water Rate increase, 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: Appointments are needed to Onward, NRV, the Regional Economic Development Organization for the New River Valley. Kim Repass and Abram Williams currently serve and are eligible for reappointment. ACTION: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to appoint Ms. Repass and Mr. Williams to the Onward NRV Board, Mr. Davis seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: CDBG 2023 Program Year SUMMARY: The City of Radford receives funds from the Virginia Department of Housing and Urban Development as an Entitlement Community to support low and moderate income projects and reduce slum and blight conditions. Every five years, the City is required to develop a “Consolidated Action Plan” identifying housing and community development priorities under the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). The 2023 Plan year, our F.Y. 2024 fiscal year, has a projected allocation of $204,683 with an additional $51,000 in carry over funds from the previous year. Projects proposed support emergency home repairs, beautification, fencing at Dobbins Park, façade improvements, Third Avenue parking lot improvements, general administration of the program, as well as agency support for the Women’s Resource Center, New River Community Action, August Kids, Bobcat Back Pack Program, and Radford-Fairlawn Daily Bread. ACTION: Ms. Artrip made a motion to endorse the P.Y. 2023 Plan, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 CONSENT AGENDA: Appropriation Ordinances 1763.31-34 ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinances 1763.3-34 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 Ordinances 1763.31-34, Mr. Davis seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1763.31-DSS Foster Service SUMMARY: The Radford Department of Social Services oversees foster care in other localities when a conflict of interest is determined. The City will receive up to $60,000 of additional funding for salaries, benefits, legal services and travel costs when these cases occur. No local match is required. Funds were not programmed in the F.Y. 2023 Budget, requiring Appropriation for expenditure. SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1763.32-DSS Public Assistance SUMMARY: The Radford Department of Social Services administers public assistance programming to low income individuals to promote and support the development of health individuals and facilities, as well as protect adults and children from abuse and neglect. The City will receive up to $36,423 of additional funding for staffing and operational expenses. A local match of $6,681 is required and will be accommodated in the DSS Budget. Funds were not programmed in the F.Y. 2023 Budget, requiring Appropriation for expenditure. SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1763.33-CSA Funding SUMMARY: The Radford Department of Social Services administers the Comprehensive Services Act to assist eligible youth and their families with planning and overseeing specialized youth services. The City received an additional $13,405 for salaries and benefits for the program. A local match of $3,423 is required and can be accommodated in the DSS Budget. The funds were not programmed in the development of the F.Y. 2023 Budget, requiring Appropriation for expenditure. SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1763.34-DSS Safe Families SUMMARY: The Radford Department of Social Services administers the “Safe & Stable families” program. The program reports costs provided to a child who is removed from the child’s home and placed in foster care or child care institution, as well as costs associated with the child’s return home. The funds are used for non-administrative costs in managing a child’s care such as transportation, meals and specialist’s services. No local match is required. The funds were not programmed in the development of the F.Y. 2023 Budget, requiring Appropriation for expenditure. SUBJECT: Ordinance 1789-VCI Property Option SUMMARY: The City obtained an option and purchase agreement with VCI on 80+ acres of property located at the northern end of Bolling Street in October,2022. The property is zoned Industrial and will serve as a business and industrial site for marketing and development. The City received three grants from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to test and evaluate site “Brownfield” related issues. Little to no risk was found. The option provides a $250,000 purchase price. Grants will be pursued for site access, improvements and environmental enhancements. Closing on the property would be within 60 – 90 days. ACTION: Ms. Davis made a motion to approve Ordinance 1789 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: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Ordinance 1789, Ms. Foster seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 CITY MANAGER COMMENTS Mr. Ridpath stated lots of exciting things are happening moving forward. There is lots of positive momentum moving into Spring in Radford. We will also be watching the budget closely throughout the year. Ms. Repass outlined the Summer Concert Series and July 4th programming and Scott Gardner overviewed the Mary Draper Ingles weekend. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Ms. Artrip outlined her weekend doing all things Radford and discussed how much she enjoys being able to do things in Radford as a whole family and all Radford has to offer. Ms. Artrip wished the Derek Wagner Dance company good luck this weekend at their competition. Ms. Foster stated her moment of silence to Ernest Kyle Moore. Ms. Foster thanked staff for all the hard work on the foundry property and outlined her visit to the Regional Jail. Mr. Gillespie spoke about attending the regional planners meeting as well as the Recreation Commission meeting, out of that came discussion of Radford on the River. Mr. Gillespie also spoke about excitement around the summer concert series, the fun he and his family had at the Red Bud Festival, and the excitement he has regarding the purchase of the foundry property. Mr. Davis spoke about his excitement around the foundry property, as well as thanked staff for all they do to keep the city running. Bobby also mentioned the excitement surrounding the summer concert series. Mayor Horton also thanked staff and council for all their hard work not only with the foundry property, but every day. Mayor Horton also spoke about the fun red bud festival and the upcoming arbor day tree planting. Mayor Horton concluded by restating how much good work has been accomplished over the last 4 years. Mr. Gillespie made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:22 seconded by Ms. Foster. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 ATTEST: _____________________________ Jennifer Goodman, City Clerk