City Council

The “New River” City 10 Robertson St. September 23, 2024 Radford, Virginia Meeting Number 4 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2024-2025 The regular meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 7:00 p.m. on September 23, 2024 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. Foster, Ms. Kellie Artrip, and Mr. Bobby Davis. Others present were as follows: Ms. Jenni Webb, City Clerk Mr. Mike Bedsaul, City Attorney CITIZEN COMMENTS: Mr. Guy Wolford asked if Council could leave their microphones on permanently and if when a presenter is speaker the camera be turned to the presenter. Mr. Ken Ford came and gave an update on the New River City campground project and the next phases of the project. Mr. Ford complimented City officials on the process to date and stated he would let the council know as the project progresses. ACTION: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 PROCLAMATIONS: SUBJECT: Public Power Week SUMMARY: The week of October 6, 2024 through October 12, 2024 is Public Power Week. The week is established nationally to recognize our electric employees, the importance of power in building strong communities, the 2000 community-owned utilities across the country, as well as the significance of reliable power. The Proclamation recognizes the significance of the week locally. ACTION: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to approve proclamation as presented Mr. Davis seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Fire Prevention Week SUMMARY: The week of October 6, 2024 through October 12, 2024 is Nationally recognized as “Fire Prevention Week”. The proposed Proclamation locally endorses “Fire Prevention Week in Radford”. The proposed Proclamation encourages recognition of this important week by promoting smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, as well as fire safety at home, at work, in our schools and in our forests. ACTION: Mr. Davis made a motion to approve proclamation as presented Mrs. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Arts and Humanities Month SUMMARY: The Month of October is nationally designated as “Arts and Humanities Month”. The designation recognizes the importance of the arts in the economy, quality of life, civic life, tourism, education and entertainment. The local proclamation recognizes the importance the arts and humanities have on our community. ACTION: Ms. Foster 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 OLD BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Appointments to Boards and Commissions SUMMARY: Appointments are needed to the following Boards and Commissions…The Tourism Advisory Commission and New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Board. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN NEW BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Radford High School Foundation Lease 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, 2025. ACTION: Mr. Davis made a motion to approve the resolution as presented, Mrs. Artrip seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: CDBG SUMMARY: The Virginia Department of Housing and Urban Development requires that a “Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report” (CAPER) for the City of Radford be available for public comment. The F.Y. 2023-2024 report has been prepared, as required and illustrates project funding for emerging home repairs, recreational facility improvements, sub- recipients, beautification enhancements, homeless intervention programs, as well as economic development enhancement. The comprehensive program was implemented with $255,683 in Community Development Block Grant funding. The CAPER was available for public inspection at the Library, City Administration Office and the City Website. NO ACTION WAS REQUIRED SUBJECT: Vacation of Right of Way SUMMARY: Xeng Feng and Nicholas Olinger have requested the vacation of a portion of public right-of-way located between Ninth Avenue and Prospect Street in Monroe Terrace. The request is for 1,700 sq. ft to expand their property lines and area as adjacent property owners. There would be no impact on utilities or the existing open roadway. The application fee has been paid. A public hearing is required and can be held on October 14, 2024. ACTION: Mrs. Artrip made a motion to schedule a Public Hearing for October 14, 2024; Mrs. Foster seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1802.12 SUMMARY: The City of Radford received $172,251 in Community Development Block Grant funds from the Virginia Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funds follow the “2024 Action Plan” approval by City Council on April 22, 2024. The funds will support Planning and Administration, Emergency Home Repair, Façade Improvements, water and sanitary sewer system improvements on Seventeenth Street, Beautification efforts, planning and improvements to the East Main Street and Third Avenue Parking Lots, as well as continued support of our subrecipients programs. The subrecipients include New River Community Action, the Women’s Resource Center, the Bobcat Backpack Program, Radford Daily Bread and Radford Clothing Bank. ACTION: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1802.12 on the first reading, Mr. Davis seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Ms. Foster, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Appropriation Ordinance 1802.12, Mr. Gillespie seconded that motion. SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1802.13 SUMMARY: The Radford Sheriff’s Office received a TRIAD grant through the Attorney General’s Office to buy and distribute residential lockboxes for senior citizens. The amount of the grant is $2,500 with no local match required. ACTION: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1802.13 on the first reading, Mr. Davis seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Ms. Foster, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Appropriation Ordinance 1802.13, Mr. Davis seconded that motion. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: Mrs. Webb commented that the Paving Project on East Main is complete and that the striping should begin sometime soon. Mrs. Webb commented on the great turn out of Renew the New and that Highlanders Festival and Chairman of the Board are both great City events happening on October 12. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mrs. Foster asked about getting the organizations’ information on the website that offer services to community members. Mrs. Foster talked about eh Field of Honor ceremony, gave a breakdown of the CPMT board and spoke about getting the Commanders Coin from the arsenal. Mrs. Artrip invited the community out to the Highlanders Festival and Chairman of the Board. The farmer’s market is closing on October 19 so come out while you still can. Mrs. Atrip thanked Mr. Ford for his comments and discussed the positive feedback from Community Fest; she also commented on the updates coming out of the Joint Commission including higher enrollment numbers from Radford. Mr. Gillespie echoed much of what had already been stated, thanked the Police Department for all their hard work in recent days, and updated the council on the Planning commission Zoning rewrite. Mr. Davis encouraged everyone to get outside and hit the parks and trails, thanked the PD for their hard work, and sent well wishes to Mr. Ridpath. Mayor Horton echoed much of the above and discussed being a good ambassador for our community, He also encouraged citizens to sign up for Smart911 and get out and vote, as voting began early. Mr. Gillespie made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 p.m. seconded by Ms. Artrip. VOTE: AYES: Mr. Davis, Mr. Gillespie, Ms. Foster, Ms. Artrip, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 ATTEST: _____________________________ Jennifer Goodman, City Clerk