Public Meetings - Blacksburg, Virginia

The Blacksburg Town Council held a regular meeting on February 13, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers. The meeting was brief, lasting approximately 9 minutes (adjourned at 6:39 p.m.), with no public comments or citizen participation. All items on the agenda were approved unanimously. Consent Calendar - Town Council Minutes: Approved the minutes from January 16, 2024 (work session) and January 23, 2024 (regular meeting). - Resolution 2‑B‑24: Adopted a resolution transferring $67,000 between Water and Sewer Fund capital projects for the Water System Flushing Program. Motion by Vice Mayor Sutphin, seconded by Councilmember Anderson. Unanimous roll‑call vote (7‑0). Public Hearings A. Ordinance 2038 – Civil Penalty for Trash Violations - Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer presented the ordinance, explaining it fills a gap in the current slow-moving trash abatement process. It targets loose trash that becomes a health hazard, typically in apartment complexes, and establishes a $50 civil penalty. Enforcement begins with a conversation, then a fine for noncompliance. - No public comment. - Action: Approved unanimously (7‑0). B. Ordinance 2040 – Prohibiting Overcrowding in Buildings - Town Attorney Spencer noted the ordinance codifies the state Fire Prevention Code, gives the town prosecution powers, and raises awareness to prevent overcrowding. - No public comment. - Action: Approved unanimously (7‑0). C. Resolution 2‑C‑24 – Meadowbrook Greenway Open Space Designation - Town Attorney Spencer explained the resolution authorizes the Mayor to sign a Deed of Designation, permanently dedicating portions of town property along Meadowbrook Drive as open space and trail area. This designation enables the town to apply for a grant from the Virginia Outdoor Foundation. The affected properties include four parcels; two privately owned already have similar deed language. The designation allows future modification through a state code process, unlike a permanent easement. - No public comment. - Action: Approved unanimously (7‑0). Citizen Comments - None. Key Outcomes - All three ordinances and the resolution were adopted without opposition. - No unfinished business, new business, or council announcements were discussed. - The next Town Council Work Session is scheduled for February 20, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., and the next Regular Meeting is February 27, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.

The Blacksburg Planning Commission held its regular meeting on February 7, 2024, in Council Chambers at the Blacksburg Municipal Building, 300 S. Main St. Note: The agenda and minutes identify the meeting date as February 6, 2024, while the date provided for this summary is February 7, 2024. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. and adjourned at 6:35 p.m. Commissioners present were B. Britt, T. Colley, M. Ermann, J. Ford Jr., J. Herbein, A. Kassoff, and L. Walker (arrived at 6:32 p.m.); M. Jones and S. Rinehart were absent. Acting Planning Director Kali Casper also attended. Consent Calendar - Approved the Planning Commission minutes from January 2, 2024. - Scheduled a public hearing for ZOA 61, an amendment to create a new Small Lot Development Option in the R-4 Low Density Residential Zoning District to allow smaller lot sizes, for March 5, 2024. - Cancelled the February 6, 2024 public hearing for CUP 23-4, a conditional use permit request for multi-family residential use on the ground floor in the GC-General Commercial zoning district on 3.94 acres of an 8.44-acre parcel at 203 Country Club Drive SW, and rescheduled it for April 2, 2024. - Jerry Ford Jr. moved to approve the Consent Agenda; Tim Colley seconded. The motion passed 6-0, with all voting yes and none no or abstaining. Latanya Walker arrived after the vote. Public Hearings - The public hearing for CUP 23-4 was cancelled as noted in the Consent Agenda; no public hearing was held. Public Comments & Testimony - No citizens were present, and the citizen comment period was skipped. Discussion Items - No reports were given for the Zoning Ordinance Review Committee, Historic or Design Review Board, Montgomery County Planning Commission, or additional items from Planning Commissioners. - Under the Town Council Report, Jerry Ford Jr. reported that Town Council had approved the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which the Planning Commission had input on, and that the next step is moving to the budget. He also summarized strategic goals from the January 2024 Town Council retreat: transportation, housing, downtown and economic development, expanding recreational opportunities, and continuing work on community well-being and an engaged community. He noted the strategic goals would be posted on the town website. Key Outcomes - Consent Agenda approved 6-0. - ZOA 61 public hearing scheduled for March 5, 2024. - CUP 23-4 public hearing rescheduled to April 2, 2024. - Meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.

Date: January 30, 2024 | Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Location: Highlander Hotel, Radford, VA The Town Council held a special retreat to review strategic goals, prioritize initiatives for the next two years, and discuss topics including land use communications, the future of the old Blacksburg Police Building, capital project priorities, housing strategies, and updates to the Town Council Handbook. The retreat was facilitated by Kevin Byrd, Executive Director of the New River Valley Regional Commission. Discussion Items - Strategic Goals & Accomplishments: Town Manager Marc Verniel reviewed progress on goals, highlighting accomplishments such as Hand in Hand Park, the acquisition and development of Brush Mountain Park, and the Meadowbrook Trail. Council discussed the Town Council Handbook, with minor revisions noted for future review. - Land Use & Development Communications: Council discussed improving communication on land use and development projects. Deputy Town Manager Matt Hanratty demonstrated a proposed project dashboard for the town website to allow citizens to view all development projects. Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer recommended adding an executive summary to make project information easier for the community to understand. Council emphasized the need for clear communication. - Future Use of Old Blacksburg Police Building: Marc Verniel reviewed the building’s current uses: Montgomery County Tourism office, Parks and Recreation camp use, and Technology Department storage, with flex office space available. He proposed a walkthrough in the coming weeks. Mayor Hager-Smith and other members stressed the importance of not underutilizing the space. - Capital Project Priorities: Verniel presented two major Capital Improvement Plan projects: the Progress Street parking garage and a new recreation center. Council discussed whether to prioritize the recreation center over the parking garage. The consensus was to seek larger community engagement before making a final decision. - Housing Strategies: Council discussed current housing projects, noting strong demand, lack of supply, and general lack of affordability. After considerable discussion, Council concluded that options for more housing and increased density should be explored. - Mayor’s Innovation Project Conference: Councilmember Lauren Colliver and Mayor Hager-Smith reported on their trip to Washington, DC. Topics of interest included an innovation showcase highlighting the benefits of a full-time grant writer and a service to assist citizens with starting a business. - Neighborhood Associations: Councilmember Susan Anderson expressed interest in offering resources to neighborhoods interested in forming their own associations—not homeowners associations, but avenues for neighborhood improvement resources. - Other Topics: Discussion included strategic goals for transportation (bike lanes and sidewalk lanes), food insecurity, and game day tailgating. Key Outcomes - Council agreed to pursue larger community engagement on the priority of the Progress Street parking garage versus the new recreation center. - Council concluded that more housing options and density should be explored to address the housing market’s strong demand and lack of affordability. - Staff will prepare a summary of the retreat discussion items for review and input at an upcoming work session. - No formal votes were taken; the retreat was a discussion-oriented session.

The Blacksburg Town Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at 6:30 PM in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers. The meeting was brief, adjourning at 6:39 PM, and included approval of the consent agenda, adoption of the five-year Capital Improvement Program, and council announcements. Consent Calendar - Town Council Minutes: Approved for January 2 and January 9, 2024. - Fire and Rescue Officers 2024: Confirmed the appointment of Blacksburg Fire Officers and Blacksburg Rescue Squad Officers for the year. - 2024 Legislative Priorities: Approved as presented. Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer summarized the priorities, which include protecting local land use and taxation authority, supporting sustainability measures (as analyzed by Carol Davis), endorsing the Virginia Bike Federation's legislative agenda, backing enhanced retirement benefits for 911 operators, a bill addressing rent gouging, and a call for increased mental health funding to reduce hospital wait times for officers. The motion passed unanimously (7-0). Public Comments & Testimony - No public comments were made. Discussion Items - Resolution 1-D-24: Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for Fiscal Years 2024/2025 through 2028/2029. Town Manager Marc Verniel provided an overview. He noted that major projects discussed in prior sessions—the Progress Street parking garage and a potential Recreation Center—are currently outside the five-year period but may be reflected in next year's CIP. Citizen concerns about accelerating the Clay Street sidewalk and downtown restroom projects were also noted; preliminary work will be done this year to assess feasibility. The resolution passed unanimously (7-0). Council Announcements - Councilmember Anderson announced multiple upcoming events: - Virginia Passenger Rail Authority Public Meeting: Monday, January 29, 2024, 4:30–8:30 PM at the Blacksburg Community Center to update on passenger rail service to the New River Valley. There was a discrepancy between the time listed on social media (4:30 PM) and the authority's website (5:30 PM); the confirmed time is 4:30 PM. - Dialogue on Race: Saturday, January 27, 2024, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM at Christiansburg Middle School, preceded by Coffee with the Cops at 9:00 AM. - Town Council Retreat: Tuesday, January 30, 2024, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM at the Highlander Hotel in Radford to discuss priorities and planning with the new council member. - Virginia Municipal League Legislative Day: Thursday, February 1, 2024, in Richmond, with several council members attending. Key Outcomes - Consent agenda approved unanimously (7-0). - Resolution 1-D-24 adopting the five-year CIP passed unanimously (7-0). - No other business or votes occurred.

The Blacksburg Town Council held a work session on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:07 p.m. at the Blacksburg Motor Company. Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith, Vice Mayor Michael Sutphin, Councilmembers Susan Anderson, Lauren Colliver, Jerry Ford, Jr., and Liam Watson were present. Councilmember Susan Mattingly was absent. Staff included Town Manager Marc Verniel, Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer, and Town Clerk Lorraine Spaulding. The session covered upcoming public hearings, a trail easement, the capital improvement plan, council retreat planning, and a special tax district amendment. No formal votes were taken. Discussion Items - Review of Public Hearings Scheduled for February 13, 2024: Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer presented two proposed ordinances. Ordinance 2038 would amend Town Code Sections 14-200, 14-201, and 14-202 to establish a civil penalty for certain trash violations, creating a process to address loose trash or garbage. Ordinance 2040 would add a new Section 17-315 prohibiting overcrowding in buildings, incorporating § 1001.3 of the Virginia Statewide Prevention Code and making violations a Class 1 misdemeanor. Both ordinances will be advertised for a public hearing on February 13. - Meadowbrook Trail Easement: Parks and Recreation Director Dean Crane and Town Attorney Spencer explained a proposed resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign a Deed of Dedication designating a portion of the Meadowbrook Greenway Trail as permanent open space. This item will also be added to the February 13 public hearing. - Recommended Capital Improvement Plan – FY2024/2025 through 2028/2029: Town Manager Marc Verniel summarized the recommended CIP, noting that the priority of the Progress Street parking garage and a new Recreation Center had been raised but that these items are not part of the current timeline and would not require changes to the proposed CIP. No questions followed. - Town Council Retreat Planning: Manager Verniel announced that the retreat would be held on January 30, 2024, at the Highlander Hotel in Radford, Virginia. Proposed discussion topics include the Town Council Handbook, use of the old Police Department building, and housing updates, based on feedback from staff and the Mayor. - Midtown Special Tax District Amendment: Town Attorney Spencer reviewed the current tax district boundaries. The landowner, Midtown Development, has requested to reduce the district's size to cover primarily commercial properties, excluding owner-occupied residences. Council raised concerns, noting that the parking garage and special tax district were key components of the Midtown Development Agreement. Key Outcomes - Ordinance 2038 (trash civil penalty), Ordinance 2040 (overcrowding prohibition), and the Meadowbrook Trail easement resolution will be advertised and considered at the February 13, 2024, public hearing. - Council discussed but took no formal action on the Midtown Special Tax District amendment; further deliberation is expected. - The Town Council retreat is scheduled for January 30, 2024, at the Highlander Hotel. - Town Attorney Spencer provided legislative updates; the Town’s legislative agenda will be included on the January 23 consent agenda for approval.

The Blacksburg Town Council held its first regular meeting of 2024 on January 9, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers. The meeting began with the ceremonial administration of oaths of office for re-elected members Jerry Ford, Jr. and Michael Sutphin, and newly elected member Liam Watson. Councilmember Lauren Colliver was absent. After the Pledge of Allegiance, Council elected Michael Sutphin as Vice Mayor on a motion by Susan Anderson, with Liam Watson seconding; the vote was 5-0-1 (Sutphin abstained). The meeting included a consent agenda, three public hearings, citizen comments, and approval of annual council appointments. The meeting adjourned at 7:03 p.m. Consent Calendar - Town Council Minutes: Approved minutes from December 5, 12, and 19, 2023. - Resolution 1-A-24: Adopted a resolution deleting Rimrock Drive from town ownership and maintenance. - Resolution 1-B-24: Adopted a resolution adjusting two positions in the town's employee pay plan system. - Resolution 1-C-24: Adopted a resolution transferring $426,415 between Water and Sewer Fund capital projects. - Revised Blacksburg Transit Advertising Policy 2024: Authorized the Town Manager to sign the revised policy. - Ordinance 2038: Introduced an ordinance to amend Town Code Sections 14-200, 14-201, and 14-202 establishing a civil penalty for certain trash violations, and scheduled a public hearing for February 13, 2024. - Ordinance 2040: Introduced an ordinance to amend Town Code to establish a new Section 17-315 prohibiting overcrowding in buildings, and scheduled a public hearing for February 13, 2024. Public Hearings Capital Improvement Program (CIP) – FY2024/2025 through 2028/2029 - Staff Presentation: Town Manager Marc Verniel reviewed the five-year capital plan, totaling $172 million across all funds, with $47 million in bonded projects. Key projects include the Progress Street parking garage, Draper Road Streetscape, South Point Community Park, downtown restroom, and ongoing equipment replacement. Council discussed potentially reprioritizing the recreation center ahead of the parking garage. - Public Comment: Charles Schade of 401 Clairmont Drive commended the quality of the CIP and urged Council to advance the downtown restroom project ahead of the Draper Road Streetscape. He also raised safety concerns about pedestrian visibility on Clay Street. - Action: Deferred to the January 23, 2024 meeting for a vote. Ordinance 2045: Budget Amendment for Water/Sewer and Stormwater Funds - Staff Presentation: Finance Director Susan Kaiser explained the ordinance appropriates $927,000 of bond proceeds to the Water/Sewer Capital Improvement Fund and $800,000 to the Stormwater Capital Improvement Fund for cost-sharing agreements with Glade Spring Crossing, LLC related to the Glade Spring Crossing housing development. - Vice Mayor Recusal: Vice Mayor Sutphin disqualified himself from this item, stating his employment with Community Housing Partners, which controls New River Home Trust LLC, could receive an indirect benefit. He stepped away from the meeting from approximately 6:53 p.m. to 6:55 p.m. - Public Comment: None. - Action: Councilmember Anderson moved to approve; Councilmember Mattingly seconded. The motion passed on a 5-0 roll call vote (Mattingly, Watson, Anderson, Ford, Hager-Smith voted yes; Sutphin not voting). Ordinance 2046: Lease of Space at 141 Jackson Street to New River Land Trust - Staff Presentation: Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer presented a two-year lease for storage space at Old Town Hall (141 Jackson Street NE) to the New River Land Trust for a nominal fee of $10 per year. - Public Comment: Susan Terwilliger of 404 Floyd Street, a volunteer with the Blacksburg Clothing Bank (also in the building), asked if the lease would affect their agreement. Attorney Spencer confirmed the lease is for a separate space previously used by the police department and does not impact the clothing bank. - Action: Vice Mayor Sutphin moved to approve; Councilmember Anderson seconded. The motion passed on a 6-0 roll call vote (Sutphin, Watson, Anderson, Ford, Hager-Smith, Mattingly voted yes). Citizen Comments - Hillary Williams of 603 Jefferson Street raised safety concerns about the intersection of Palmer and Hemlock Drive, citing untrimmed shrubs that reduce visibility and create hazards for drivers and cyclists. Town Manager Verniel and Town Attorney Spencer directed her to Deputy Town Manager Matt Hanratty for follow-up. Appointments - Mayor Hager-Smith presented the 2024 Town Council Membership Appointments and Affiliations. The list includes assignments to boards and committees such as the Blacksburg Housing and Community Development Advisory Board, New River Valley Regional Commission, Blacksburg Planning Commission, and others. Vice Mayor Sutphin moved to approve; Councilmember Anderson seconded. The motion passed on a 6-0 roll call vote. Key Outcomes - Vice Mayor Election: Michael Sutphin elected Vice Mayor (5-0-1). - Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (6-0). - Ordinance 2045: Approved 5-0 (Sutphin recused). - Ordinance 2046: Approved 6-0. - CIP Public Hearing: Held; action set for January 23, 2024. - Council Appointments: Approved 6-0. - Council Announcements: Councilmember Anderson announced the annual Dialogue on Race winner summit on January 27, 2024. Councilmember Watson expressed gratitude and enthusiasm for serving the community.

The Blacksburg Town Council held a work session on January 2, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 11:52 a.m. at the Blacksburg Motor Company. The meeting covered six agenda items including updates to the Blacksburg Transit advertising policy, Harding Avenue sewer upgrades, proposed ordinances for trash violations and overcrowding, the Tom's Creek Planning Study, and a follow-up on the Capital Improvement Program. The session concluded with a staff exchange on the Housing and Community Connections Manager position. Discussion Items - Blacksburg Transit Advertising Policy: Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer presented proposed policy updates to clarify acceptable advertisement types. - Harding Avenue Sewer Update: Town Engineer Shawn Veltman provided background on the CIP-approved sewer upgrades, broken into two phases. Phase I bids came in around $2 million, higher than anticipated but reflective of true costs. Veltman recommended rejecting the Phase II bid and rebidding when the market improves. - Proposed Ordinance for Trash Violations: Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer explained a proposal to streamline the current process by establishing a civil penalty for situations where garbage has been spilled. - Proposed Ordinance to Prohibit Overcrowding: Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer proposed amending the Town Code to incorporate provisions of the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code related to overcrowding in buildings. - Tom's Creek Planning Study Discussion: Deputy Town Manager Matt Hanratty presented an overview of the Tom's Creek Basin Planning Study, including elements such as open space, watershed/water quality, land use/zoning, housing, transportation, and water/wastewater. He outlined a robust public engagement process. Council was in overall agreement to move forward. - Recommended Capital Improvement Program Follow-up: Town Manager Marc Verniel addressed concerns about project priorities previously raised by Council at the December work session. Key Outcomes - Council agreed to move forward with the Tom's Creek Basin Planning Study. - Council noted the recommendation to reject Phase II of the Harding Avenue Sewer project and rebid later. - The proposed ordinance amendments for trash violations and overcrowding will be brought to Council for formal consideration. - A resolution regarding the title change for the Housing and Community Connections Manager position will be presented at the January 9, 2024, meeting.

The Blacksburg Planning Commission held a regular meeting on January 2, 2024, at 6:30 PM in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers. The meeting lasted four minutes and included the approval of the consent agenda, cancellation of a public hearing, and a brief report from Town Council liaison Jerry Ford Jr. Consent Calendar - The Commission approved the minutes from the December 5, 2023 meeting. - The Commission cancelled the January 2, 2024 public hearing for CUP 23-4 (conditional use permit for multi-family residential use on the ground floor at 203 Country Club Drive SW) and rescheduled it for February 6, 2024. Public Comments & Testimony - None. Discussion Items - No substantive discussion occurred. Under New Business, Jerry Ford Jr. reported that the Town Council held its first work session of the year and welcomed a new Council member. Key Outcomes - The consent agenda was approved by a vote of 7-0. - The meeting was adjourned at 6:34 PM.

December 19, 2023 This work session covered the annual audit report, a presentation from the New River Valley Regional Commission, a discussion on street ownership changes, review of upcoming public hearings, and the Capital Improvement Program. The meeting also included a closed session for real property acquisition and ended with a resolution certifying that session. Discussion Items 1. Audit Presentation for Year Ended June 30, 2023 - Chris Banta of Brown, Edwards & Company presented the audit results, commending staff and noting the Town's positive net position. He provided an overview of financial statements. 2. New River Valley Regional Commission Presentation - Kevin Byrd presented the Public Health Task Force After Action report, highlighting accomplishments such as the first drive-through COVID testing and COVID call center, as well as the business continuity team's work. 3. Discussion of Proposed Action to Delete Certain Streets from Town Ownership and Maintenance - Engineering Director Randy Formica reviewed the Urban Maintenance Inventory System and proposed removing Rimrock Drive from Town maintenance. 4. Review of Public Hearings Scheduled for January 9, 2024 - a. Ordinance 2045: Finance Director Susan Kaiser discussed the Glade Spring Crossing agreements requiring a budget amendment to appropriate $927,000 in bond proceeds for the Water/Sewer Capital Improvement Fund and $800,000 for the Stormwater Capital Improvement Fund. - b. Ordinance 2046: Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer summarized a proposed one-year lease (with one-year renewal option) of office space at 141 Jackson Street to the New River Land Trust for equipment storage. 5. Review of Recommended Capital Improvement Program FY2024/2025 through 2028/2029 - Town Manager Marc Verniel reviewed the CIP, noting it stays within normal revenue growth. Council inquired about adjusting project priorities, which Verniel indicated could be addressed. Key Outcomes - The Town Council received the audit report and the Regional Commission presentation with no formal action required at this work session. - Council discussed the proposed street deletion of Rimrock Drive. - Council reviewed the upcoming public hearing items and the CIP. - The Council adjourned to a closed session at 12:34 p.m. to discuss potential real property acquisition. - Upon reconvening at 12:58 p.m., Vice Mayor Anderson moved to adopt Resolution 12-B-23 certifying the closed meeting's propriety; the motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote (Anderson, Bush, Colliver, Ford, Hager-Smith, Mattingly, Sutphin voting yes; none voted no).