City Council

The “New River” City 10 Robertson St. October 23, 2023 Radford, Virginia Meeting Number 6 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2023-2024 The regular meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 7:00 p.m. on October 23, 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: NONE COUNCIL RESPONSE: NONE MINUTES: Ms. Artrip made a motion to approve the minutes for October 9, 2023 as presented, MS. Foster seconded the motion. PROCLAMATION: SUBJECT: Veterans Day SUMMARY: The proclamation formally recognizes “Veterans Day” in Radford on November 11, 2023. The Proclamation recognizes the Men and Women who have served our Nation’s Armed Forces, represented our community, as well as have protected the ideals of freedom, justice and liberty. ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to approve the proclamation as presented Mr. Gillespie seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Southern Furniture SUMMARY: Southern Furniture is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. The proclamation recognizes the accomplishments of this successful homegrown business. ACTION: Mayor Horton made a motion to approve the proclamation as presented Mr. Artrip seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 PRESENTATION: SUBJECT: New River Valley Housing Trust SUMMARY: Housing availability and affordability have been identified as a regional need in attracting jobs to support business and industry, as well as broaden market opportunities. The New River Valley Regional Commission has received a $2 million grant from Virginia Housing to evaluate market needs, develop leverage grants, supplement existing funding sources and fund projects. Jennifer Wilsie, Director of Housing for the Regional Commission provided an overview of the program, regional benefits and local investment expectations. NEW BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Radford High School Foundation Lease Renewal 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 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 renewal October, 2017 for another three years which expired December 31, 2020. The Foundation has been requesting additional renewal terms of one year since 2020 to continue its fund raising and project development. The foundation requested another extension to December 2024. ACTION: Davis made a motion to approve the resolution as presented, Mr.Gillespie seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: City Council Legislative Priorities SUMMARY: City Council has discussed legislative priorities for both the state and federal level initiatives to improve economic development, local revenue sources, housing needs, community challenges and property maintenance. West Radford commerce park, economic development Revenue generated here here Housing vouchers-housing needs Property maintenance Parks and recreational activities Main street initiatives, development ACTION: advance legislative prioripties, davis, foster SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1787.15 SUMMARY: The Police Department has received a grant from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management in the amount of $30,000. The funding will support full-time ($2,500) and part-time ($1,250) staffing bonuses for Communication/Dispatch employees. The grant has specific terms through the Public Safety Answering Points to support Public Safety Support Centers/911 Call Centers. The grant is to help with retention, attraction and overall recognitions of communication personnel. No local match is required. An Appropriation is necessary for expenditure of the funds since it was not programmed in the development of the F.Y. 2024 Budget. ACTION: Foster made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1787.15 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: Davis made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Appropriation Ordinance 1787.15, Ms. Foster seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1787.16 SUMMARY: The Police Department has received a grant from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management in the amount of $5,000. The funding will be used to support the City GIS mapping maintenance that is an integral tool utilized in the dispatch Center for 911 public safety responses. No local match is required. An Appropriation is necessary for expenditure of the funds since it was not programmed in the development of the F.Y. 2024 Budget. ACTION: Ms. Artrip made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1787.16 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 1787.16, Mr. Davisseconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: Great to see the extra there from state for pd appropriate funding to help us out Trick or treat trail, holidays schedule changes Leaf collection starts next week. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Gillespie thanks boy scouts for being here, craft and draft and highlandes festivl well attende dnic weather, thanks Charlie meeks, long time coach announcing his retirement served for years veterans day, thanks them and gary, Foster-mos everyone war torn regions, HUB ribbon cutting, recapped heritage foundation, voucher delegate ballard, va hosing authority, meeting Davis-bobcats 9-0 southern furniture, veterans and housing presenation, god bless USA Artrip-many hours at craft and draft great group, everyone come together and help everyone Congrats Karen 50 years business here in Radford, trivia night, both have great businesses in Radford, happy Halloween thanks to veterans, Jessie thanks for meeting with delegate ballard. Horton-Ditto to what everyone else said, community come together, craft and draft, bobcats 9-0 marching band, done well best band, trick or treat trail is onday 4-6 ghost stories, ingles castle lots of great things. Thanks for coming out. Gillespie made a motion, seconded by Artrip to convene a closed meeting for the purpose of 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: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 GIllesie made a motion to adjourn the closed meeting,Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 Gillespie made a motion to re-convene the regular meetingFosterseconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 CERTIFICATION OF THE CLOSED MEETING: Gillespie made a motion that Council did not discuss anything in the closed meeting other than the one time for which it was convened, Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 Gillespie made a motion to adjourn the meeting 7:49 seconded by Artrip VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 ATTEST: _____________________________ Jennifer Goodman, City Clerk