City Council

The “New River” City 10 Robertson St. February 24, 2025 Radford, Virginia Meeting Number 12 of Radford City Council, F.Y. 2024-2025 The regular meeting of the Radford City Council was convened at 7:00 p.m. on February 24, 2025 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, and Ms. Kellie Artrip. Mr. Guy Wohlford participated remotely due to illness. Others present were as follows: Mr. Craig Meadows, Interim City Manager Ms. Jenni Goodman, City Clerk REMOTE PARTICIAPTION: Mr. Wohlford stated that he was home sick. ACTION: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to allow Mr. Wohlford to participate remotely, Ms. Foster seconded that motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Artrip, Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gillespie, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 MINUTES APPROVAL: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Artrip, Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gillespie, Mr. Wohlford, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 CITIZEN COMMENTS: NONE INTRODUCTION: SUBJECT: New Officer SUMMARY: Chief Jerry Holdaway introduced Officer Keely Dezern, who has recently completed her field training with the department. OLD BUSINESS SUBJECT: Rezoning Request: 901 Eighth Street SUMMARY: Brame Family Properties, LLC applied for the rezoning on property known as 901 8th Street, Tax Map #’s # 14-(5)-SEC12-6-7; 14-(5)-SEC12-8. The request is to rezone from a portion of (R-3), Single-Family Residential to (B-1) Limited Business; and a portion from (B-1) Limited Business to (R-3), Single-Family Residential. Planning Commission recommended that Council proceed with rezoning request. ACTION: Mrs. Foster made a motion to receive the report of the Planning Commission, Mr. Gillespie seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Artrip, Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gillespie, Mr. Wohlford, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 ACTION: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to approve Ordinance 1812 on the first reading, Mrs. Artrip seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Artrip, Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gillespie, Mr. Wohlford, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 ACTION: Ms. Foster made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Ordinance 1812, Mrs. Artrip seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Artrip, Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gillespie, Mr. Wohlford, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 NEW BUSINESS: SUBJECT: Appropriation Ordinance 1802.21 SUMMARY Radford City Animal Control received donations post Hurricane Helene for recovery efforts. The funds totaling $21,529 from the donation account will be used to off-set the cost of cabinets and counter tops at the refurbished facility, as well as negate the cost for pre- storm preparations. ACTION: Ms. Artrip made a motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance 1802.21 on the first reading, Mr. Gillespie seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Artrip, Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gillespie, Mr. Wohlford, Mayor Horton NAYES: None ACTION: Mr. Gillespie made a motion to dispense with the second reading of Appropriation Ordinance 1802.21, Ms. Foster seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Artrip, Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gillespie, Mr. Wohlford, Mayor Horton NAYES: None CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: Mr. Meadows stated he is wrapping up his second full month as Interim Manager and is focused on all budget all the time. Mr. Meadows stated there is illness everywhere and that can hurt a lean staff, but we are going to keep moving forward. Mr. Meadows discussed the budget process and generating more revenues and looking at expenses and addressed the City’s efforts to get reimbursement from FEMA for Helene recovery. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mrs. Artrip welcomed Keely to the RCPD team and congratulated Adele on all her fundraising efforts. Mrs. Artrip thanked Mrs. Linkous for all her hard work getting the audit together and welcomed Mr. Goens to the Recreation Center team. Mrs. Artrip stated there are challenges ahead, but we need to move forward together, we are resilient and need to stick together and be kind. Mrs. Foster stated there is hard work ahead, but Council is committed to working hard through the tough times and begin good stewards of the money we bring in. Council will have to increase rates and look at cutting expenses based off of necessary services. Mr. Gillespie welcomed the new city employees and expressed his excitement for the new Recreation Director. Mr. Gillespie stated you cannot escape the audit and we have to accept it and move forward, with rate increases and pausing services, as well as looking at all the wants and needs. There are no easy decisions and thanks to staff for all the help and guidance. Mayor Horton brough up that next Monday there will be a Budget Work Session where we look more into the numbers of where we are today and begin to make adjustments. Mayor Horton expresses his concerns for the challenges ahead and the adjustments that will need to be made. Mr. Gillespie made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Artrip to convene a closed meeting for the purpose of Discussion, consideration, or interviews of prospective candidates for employment; assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining, or resignation of specific public officers, appointees, or employees of any public body; and evaluation of performance of departments, under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711 (A) (1). VOTE: AYES: Ms. Artrip, Ms. Foster, Mr. Gillespie, Mr. Wohlford, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 Mr. Gillespie made a motion to adjourn the closed meeting, Mrs. Artrip seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Artrip, Ms. Foster, Mr. Gillespie, Mr. Wohlford, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 Mr. Gillespie made a motion to re-convene the regular meeting, Mrs. Artrip seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Artrip, Ms. Foster, Mr. Gillespie, Mr. Wohlford, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 CERTIFICATION OF THE CLOSED MEETING: Mr. Gillespie made a motion that Council did not discuss anything in the closed meeting other than the items for which it was convened, Mrs. Artrip seconded the motion. VOTE: AYES: Ms. Artrip, Ms. Foster, Mr. Gillespie, Mr. Wohlford, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 Mrs. Artrip made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:26 seconded by Mayor Horton. VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Artrip, Mrs. Foster, Mr. Gillespie, Mr. Wohlford, Mayor Horton NAYES: NONE-0 ATTEST: _____________________________ Jennifer Goodman, City Clerk