Public Meetings - Blacksburg, Virginia

The Town Council of Blacksburg, Virginia, held its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers. Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith was absent; Vice Mayor Susan Anderson presided. Council members present included John Bush, Lauren Colliver, Jerry Ford Jr., Susan Mattingly, and Michael Sutphin. The meeting covered a consent agenda, three public hearings, and extensive citizen comments regarding the preservation of St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall. Consent Calendar - Town Council Minutes: The minutes of July 5, 2023 (work session) and July 11, 2023 (regular meeting) were approved unanimously. - Ordinance 2023: An ordinance authorizing the lease of space on the North Main Street water tank to New River Valley Unwired Ventures, LLC was introduced, and a public hearing was scheduled for September 12, 2023. Motion passed on a roll call vote with all six present council members voting yes. Public Hearings & Testimony - CUP 23-0003: A conditional use permit for hotel use at 501 South Main Street was canceled and will be rescheduled. - Ordinance 2025: An ordinance vacating a waterline easement at 615 Southgate Drive to allow construction of an airport hangar. Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer explained that Virginia Tech provided letters authorizing the action. No public comment. Motion to approve passed unanimously. - Ordinance 2016: An ordinance to amend Westview Cemetery rules to establish green burial regulations. Town Attorney Spencer noted growing interest and that the fee is the same as standard burials but with specific location and shroud requirements. - Public Comment: Linda Plaut of 620 Watson Lane, board secretary for the Funeral Consumers Alliance, spoke in favor, describing a personal experience where the lack of local green burial options required driving an hour and added expense. She expressed support for the ordinance. - Action: Councilmember Sutphin moved approval; seconded by Councilmember Ford. Councilmember Mattingly reported neighbor support. Motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote. - Ordinance 2029: An ordinance updating Town Code sections related to Westview Cemetery. Town Attorney Spencer described minor housekeeping changes, including increasing the cemetery committee from five to seven members and removing outdated references to a caretaker. No public comment. Approved unanimously. Citizen Comments - Nick Bryans (906 Derby Lane): Proposed increasing sidewalk closure fees from $45 to $450 per 200 feet per day, arguing that current fees are minimal compared to developer costs and that the increase could generate an estimated $270,000 annually for the town. - Jody Booze-Daniels (909 Allendale Court): Volunteered at the Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation (BMCF). Raised concerns about the preservation of St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall, stating that its “rustic” state is not a preservation standard. Noted the lack of financial and governance transparency at BMCF and urged council to review the 2005 deed of gift and the five-year operating agreement between the town and BMCF. - Gabrielle Spennacchio-Parker (209 South Knollwood Drive): Expressed support for preserving African American culture at St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall. - Lauren (450 Alexander Street): Donated her speaking time to other speakers. - Brandy Faulkner (607 Hampton Court, representing New River Valley chapter of Virginia Organizing): Called for better representation, funding equity, decision-making, and inclusive community-centered engagement regarding St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall. Stated that the community will continue to demand accountability. - Danille Christensen (700 Broce Drive, associate professor at Virginia Tech): Voiced concerns about staffing at BMCF and the preservation of St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall. Urged council to revise public-facing texts that trivialize the hall’s history and to fill staff positions with professionals trained in conservation and cultural heritage. - Sylvester Johnson (3450 Evergreen Trail): Spoke on the need to properly restore and curate the hall, emphasizing its role in African American economic and social resilience. Called for dignified restoration. - Latanya Walker (2104 Birch Leaf Lane): Shared personal family history and the emotional impact of neglect of Black history. Asked council to ensure the board represents the community professionally and that history is told with knowledge and respect. - Virginia Hunnicutt (404 Willard Drive): Expressed concern over disrepair of the hall and alleged mistreatment of BMCF volunteers. - Christine King (great-granddaughter of Aubrey Mills Sr., signatory to the 2005 deed): Read numerous emails documenting difficulty in communicating with BMCF leadership, including cancellation of committee meetings, denial of board access, and suspension of tours. She requested that the upcoming August 15 work session amend the operational agreement to require BMCF to work with descendants and community members, or void the agreement. Council Announcements - Vice Mayor Anderson thanked Amelia from Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. for organizing the successful Steppin’ Out event, noting record T-shirt sales. - Announced upcoming events: League of Women Voters election forum on August 24 at the Lyric; Renew the New volunteer event on August 26; Dialogue on Race on August 26 at Huckleberry Park in Christiansburg. - Staff prepared historical materials for council; copies were made available to the public. Key Outcomes - All ordinances (2023 introduced, 2025, 2016, 2029) were passed unanimously on roll call votes. - The public hearing for CUP 23-0003 was postponed to a future date. - Council directed no specific action on citizen comments, but acknowledged the concerns raised about St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall and the BMCF. The August 15 work session will include discussion of the town’s five-year operating agreement with BMCF. - The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

The Blacksburg Town Council met for a work session on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:11 p.m. at the Town Hall. Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith, Vice Mayor Susan Anderson, and Councilmembers John Bush, Lauren Colliver, Jerry Ford Jr., Susan Mattingly, and Michael Sutphin were present. Deputy Town Managers Steve Ross and Chris Lawrence, and Town Clerk Lorraine S. Spaulding also attended. Town Manager Marc A. Verniel and Town Attorney Lawrence S. Spencer Jr. were absent. The meeting covered five agenda items: Midtown Redevelopment Parcel DC2, New River Unwired lease, Blacksburg Transit update, Fall Semester updates, and Kent Square Parking Garage Agreement. Items 6 (Regional Housing Trust Fund) and 7 (Interim Draper Road Streetscape) were not discussed. Midtown Redevelopment Parcel DC2 Planning Director Anne McClung presented the proposed construction plan and building materials for Parcel DC2, noting adjacent lots would include townhomes and mixed-use housing. She summarized the Historic Design Review Board's consultation, which accepted the renderings with minor recommendations. The Council raised concerns about the building height and setback. After discussion, it was agreed that further consideration of the Conditional Use Permit (CUP 23-0003) was needed, and the item was postponed to a later date. New River Unwired Lease Deputy Town Manager Chris Lawrence explained the lease with New River Valley Unwired/All Points Broadband for a one-year term, renewable for an additional year. The wireless site's customer base is very limited, and the company plans to phase out its use. Blacksburg Transit Update Blacksburg Transit Director Brian Booth provided an overview of the department's service performance, staffing, and ridership. He highlighted upcoming projects, including the Multimodal Transit Facility and the purchase of additional electric buses. Fall Semester Updates Several officials reported on preparations for the fall semester: - Housing and Community Connections Manager Matt Hanratty described updates to code enforcement regarding tall grass, weeds, trash, and clutter, including civil penalties. - Planning Director Anne McClung outlined a new ticketing capability to address over-occupancy and parking issues, coordinated between the Zoning/Code Inspector and the Police Department. - Police Chief Todd Brewster explained management of pre-game activities, coordination with Virginia Tech on student logistics, and continued community outreach. Virginia Tech is organizing an on-campus student event that may grow long-term. Kent Square Parking Garage Agreement Deputy Town Manager Steve Ross briefed the Council on the parking garage agreement with Kent Square owners, which is up for renewal. The owners requested that the Town stop charging a monthly fee. The Council's general consensus was to continue charging the fee. Consent Calendar No consent calendar items were listed or approved during the work session. Public Comments & Testimony No public comments or testimony were recorded. Key Outcomes - The Midtown Parcel DC2 Conditional Use Permit discussion was postponed. - The Council agreed to continue charging the monthly fee for the Kent Square parking garage. - The New River Unwired lease was presented for information; no action taken. - Blacksburg Transit and Fall Semester updates were informational. - Items 6 (Regional Housing Trust Fund) and 7 (Interim Draper Road Streetscape) were not addressed during the meeting.

The Blacksburg Planning Commission held its regular meeting on August 1, 2023, at 6:30 PM in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers. The meeting was called to order by Chair Andy Kassoff, with a quorum present. Commissioner Jerry Ford Jr. read a statement of abstention due to a perceived conflict of interest related to a rezoning request by Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley, and then left the chambers during the consent agenda vote. The meeting adjourned at 6:36 PM. Consent Calendar - Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the July 6, 2023 meeting were approved. - ROW 23-0001: Request to vacate approximately 20,439 square feet of Town-owned right-of-way at 2600 Research Center Drive, adjacent to Tax Parcel 347-8 1. Action: Scheduled public hearing for September 5, 2023. - RZN 23-0002/ORD 2035: Request to rezone approximately 1.1 acres from R-4 Low Density Residential to PR Planned Residential in the 1200 block of Airport Road (Tax Map Numbers 317-2 31, 32, 34A & 317-2 32A, 33, 34) by Balzer and Associates on behalf of Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley. Action: Scheduled public hearing for September 5, 2023. - ROW 23-0002/ORD 2032: Request to vacate approximately 0.13 and 0.09 acres (total 0.22 acres) of Town-owned right-of-way in the 1200 block of Airport Road by Balzer and Associates on behalf of Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley. Action: Scheduled public hearing for September 5, 2023. - The consent agenda was approved 5-0, with Commissioner Ford abstaining. Public Comments & Testimony - None. Discussion Items - Commissioner Ford’s Abstention Statement: Commissioner Jerry Ford Jr. stated he would abstain from the consent agenda due to his membership on the board of the NRV Bike Kitchen, a nonprofit that received rent-free space from Habitat for Humanity Restore. He expressed concern about the perception of a conflict of interest regarding the Habitat for Humanity rezoning request (RZN 23-0002). - Zoning Ordinance Review Committee: Chair Kassoff reported the committee had not met. - Historic or Design Review Board: Commissioner Michael Ermann stated the board will meet later in August. - Montgomery County Planning Commission: Assignment schedule discussed; it was clarified that Commissioner Ermann will serve in August and Commissioner Ford in September. - New Commissioners: Planning Director Kali Casper welcomed new commissioners Brian Britt (absent) and Michael Ermann (present). Key Outcomes - The consent agenda was approved with a 5-0 vote (Ford abstained), scheduling public hearings for September 5, 2023, for all three right-of-way and rezoning items. - No public hearings or citizen comments were held. - The meeting adjourned at 6:36 PM.

No agenda, minutes, or transcript were provided for this meeting. Therefore, no summary can be generated.

The Blacksburg Town Council held its regular meeting on July 11, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers. The meeting covered a consent agenda, three public hearings, council announcements, and a closed session. Key actions included approving routine items, leasing office space to the Montgomery County Tourism Council, reappropriating federal grant funds, accepting a $255,000 state grant for police equipment, and entering a closed meeting to discuss potential real estate acquisition. Consent Calendar - Town Council Minutes: Approved minutes from June 20 and June 27, 2023. - CUP 23-0003: Scheduled a public hearing for August 8, 2023, regarding a conditional use permit for a hotel and additional height at 501 South Main Street. - Ordinance 2025: Introduced an ordinance to vacate a waterline easement at 615 Southgate Drive, with a public hearing set for August 8, 2023. - Ordinance 2016: Introduced an ordinance to amend Westview Cemetery rules to establish green burial regulations, with a public hearing set for August 8, 2023. - Ordinance 2029: Introduced an ordinance to amend Town Code sections 7-100, 7-103, 7-104, 7-105, 7-108, and 7-109 pertaining to the town cemetery, with a public hearing set for August 8, 2023. - Resolution 7-A-23: Approved a resolution setting the regular meeting dates for Blacksburg Town Council. - All consent items were approved unanimously on a roll call vote (7-0). Public Hearings A. Ordinance 2026: Lease of Office Space at 200 Clay Street, S.W. - Town Manager Marc Verniel presented the request to authorize a two-year lease for the Montgomery County Tourism Development Council in the former Blacksburg Police Department building at 200 Clay Street, effective retroactively from July 1, 2023. - No public comment was offered. - Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2026 (7-0). B. Ordinance 2027: Reappropriating Prior Year CDBG and HOME Revenues - Town Manager explained that this item, conducted annually, appropriates unspent prior-year Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Consortium funds into the FY2022/2023 operating budget. - Councilmember Michael Sutphin disqualified himself from voting, citing a conflict of interest under the Virginia State and Local Government Conflict of Interest Act (he stated CHP headquarters is located in Christiansburg). He did not vote. - The ordinance was approved on a roll call vote: Councillors Ford, Hager-Smith, Mattingly, Anderson, Bush, and Colliver voted yes (6-0-1, with Sutphin abstaining). C. Ordinance 2028: Accepting $255,000 Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Grant - Town Manager presented that the police department applied for and received $255,000 in ARPA Law Enforcement Grant funds from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. Funds must be expended by June 30, 2024, and will be used to purchase specialized law enforcement equipment. - Councilmember Bush asked whether this was in addition to the $13 million ARPA allocation previously discussed; the manager confirmed it is separate, noting transit also received ARPA funds. - No public comment was offered. - Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2028 (7-0). Citizen Comments - No citizens spoke during the public comment period. Council Announcements - Vice Mayor Susan Anderson announced that candidate forum information for the fall (including for Blacksburg Town Council, Christiansburg Town Council, Board of Supervisors, and constitutional officers) is available on the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County website. - Councilmember Colliver reminded attendees about Saturday's Breakfast at the Farmers Market and Art at the Market event, which supports local artists and the market's SNAP benefit program. - Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith announced that the next two regularly scheduled meetings (July 18 work session and July 25 regular meeting) are cancelled, as is customary for a July break. The next meeting will be a work session on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Key Outcomes - All ordinances and resolutions under the consent agenda and public hearings were approved as described. - Councilmember Sutphin recused himself from voting on Ordinance 2027. - The meeting adjourned to a closed session at 6:42 p.m. pursuant to Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711(A)(3) to discuss the potential acquisition of real property in central Blacksburg. The closed session motion passed unanimously (7-0). - Council reconvened in open session at 7:24 p.m. and unanimously approved Resolution 7-B-23 certifying the propriety of the closed meeting (7-0). The meeting then adjourned.

The Blacksburg Planning Commission held a regular meeting on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at 6:30 PM in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers. The primary agenda item was a public hearing on Conditional Use Permit (CUP) 23-0003 for a hotel and additional building height at 501 South Main Street. The Commission also approved the consent agenda and received reports on committee activities. Consent Calendar - Approved the Planning Commission minutes from June 6, 2023, by a unanimous vote of 7-0. Public Comments & Testimony - No public comments were made during the public hearing for CUP 23-0003 or during the citizen comment period. Discussion Items - CUP 23-0003 – Midtown DC Parcel 2 Hotel and Building Height: Senior Planner Kinsey O’Shea presented staff analysis, recommending approval with five conditions, including limiting height to 75 feet from the Commons entrance and requiring additional streetscaping. Applicant Steve Semones of Balzer and Associates described project revisions made in response to prior feedback, such as reducing rooms from 155 to 144, adding red brick, and improving the corner plaza interface. Commissioners expressed satisfaction with the changes, particularly the widened setback on South Main Street (approximately 35 feet from the road), the stepped-back upper floors to mitigate visual impact, and the inclusion of meeting space. Commissioner Jerry Ford Jr. noted concerns about the change from office to hotel use but was satisfied with the inclusion of office space and design improvements. The motion to approve with staff conditions passed unanimously (7-0). Key Outcomes - Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously. - CUP 23-0003: Approved and recommended to Town Council with five staff conditions, all voting in favor. - Upcoming Meeting: The July 18 work session was cancelled. The next Planning Commission meeting is August 1, 2023, which will include a consent agenda only and two new commissioners (Brian Britt and Michael Ermann).

The Blacksburg Town Council met in a work session on July 5, 2023, at Blacksburg Motor Company to review public hearings scheduled for August 8, 2023, and to discuss Downtown Northwest zoning. The session was primarily a discussion and consensus-building meeting; it adjourned at 12:50 p.m. Discussion Items - Review of Public Hearings scheduled for August 8, 2023 - CUP 23-0003 – Midtown DC-2 Hotel and Increased Height Request: Senior Planner Kinsey O'Shea provided an overview of the request for hotel use and increased height above 60 feet at 501 South Main Street. The building is proposed to have a maximum height of 75 feet. The hotel use would be a 144-room hotel on Midtown DC Parcel 2; this room count is a reduction from the original request. Staff made recommendations related to sidewalk and landscaping. Council raised concerns about the building height's effect on the view-shed and about accessibility to the public commons area. Steve Semones of Balzer and Associates addressed those concerns and said the developer had been in contact with the hotel to confirm the common area would be closed as needed for community events. - Ordinance 2025 – Vacation of Waterline Easement at 615 Southgate Drive: Engineering Director Randy Formica summarized the request to vacate a waterline easement at the Virginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport. Virginia Tech plans to build a hangar, and the waterline easement would encroach on that project. The Town has no interest in the easement, and the vacation would assist the project. - Ordinance 2016 – Westview Cemetery Green Burial Regulations: Town Manager Marc Verniel provided a refresher on the proposal to amend the Westview Cemetery Rules and Regulations to establish green burial regulations. There were no changes since the last meeting, and Council had no questions. - Ordinance 2029 – Town Cemetery Code Amendments: Town Manager Marc Verniel also reviewed proposed amendments to Town Code Sections 7-100, 7-103, 7-104, 7-105, 7-108, and 7-109 pertaining to the Town Cemetery. There were no changes since the last meeting, and Council had no questions. - Downtown Northwest Zoning Discussion: Planning Director Anne McClung provided a brief review of the issues to be addressed for the Downtown Northwest District. She noted that the meeting was intended to gather Council's general thoughts on the district and then presented the strategic plan and a more formalized framework for the district. Council expressed overall consensus with moving forward and indicated that more discussion on the tiered approach to building heights would be needed. - Council/Staff Exchange – Summer Arts Festival Funding: Town Manager Marc Verniel noted that the Summer Arts Festival organization had requested an additional $1,000 for the Summer Arts program and asked whether Council would approve taking that amount from the contingency fund. Council was in agreement. Key Outcomes - Council reached overall consensus to move forward with the Downtown Northwest District discussion and requested continued discussion on the tiered approach to building heights. - Council agreed to provide an additional $1,000 from the contingency fund to the Summer Arts Festival organization for the Summer Arts program. - No formal votes were recorded; the work session was preparatory for the August 8, 2023 public hearings.

The Blacksburg Town Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers. Council approved the consent agenda and 2023 board/committee appointments, heard extensive citizen comments regarding the preservation of St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall, and received an update from Councilmember Bush on the museum's Conservation Assessment Program (CAP) report. The meeting adjourned at 7:08 p.m. Consent Calendar - Approved Town Council minutes from June 6, 2023, and June 13, 2023. - Approved Resolution 6-C-23 declaring the Town's intention to reimburse itself from the proceeds of one or more financings for public improvements. - Approved Resolution 6-D-23 transferring $695,000 between American Rescue Plan/Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds projects. - Approved Resolution 6-E-23 writing off uncollectible water, sewer, and refuse service receivables, miscellaneous receivables, and real estate taxes. - Approved Resolution 6-F-23 authorizing the waiver of sidewalk closing fees in downtown Blacksburg. - The consent agenda was adopted by unanimous roll call vote: Bush, Colliver, Hager-Smith, Mattingly, Sutphin, and Anderson voted yes; none voted no. Councilmember Ford was absent. Public Comments & Testimony - Latanya Walker, speaking for the Montgomery County Community Review Council, provided historical background on St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall and raised concerns about its preservation. - Christine King, also from the Montgomery County Community Review Council, requested that Town Council amend its agreement with the Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation, citing lack of diversity on the Foundation Board and institutional neglect. She also called for increased town oversight and an external investigation into workplace harassment and inequitable treatment of employees. - Heather Nicholson expressed concern that the Town is failing in its duty to preserve St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall, which she said represents not only Blacksburg history but Virginia and U.S. history. - Jody Daniels, a Montgomery County Community Review Council member and volunteer collections manager, raised concerns about museum artifact preservation. She cited the CAP report, noted that the collection had been stored in non-climate-controlled conditions, and stated that less than one-third of the collection has been properly curated. She proposed hiring a museum consultant, securing safer storage, and providing dedicated curatorial funding. - Toni Pitts expressed support for preserving Odd Fellows Hall, stating the Town has a responsibility to preserve a building significant to African American history. - Gabriella Parker spoke twice. First, she expressed opposition to the Town's use of chloramines and fluoride in drinking water, claiming negative health effects. Second, she raised concerns about lead in drinking water and requested the raw lead data from the 2020 sampling and the Town's plan for this year's testing. - Nikki Giovanni expressed concern about the preservation of St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall, asking why Blacksburg is not prouder of its history and what the Town is afraid of when it comes to preserving the building and Newtown's history. - Delores Walker expressed concern that African American neighborhoods in Blacksburg have been eliminated piece by piece, and that Odd Fellows Hall is the last remnant of a once-thriving Black neighborhood. - Joshua Fitzgerald expressed support for preserving St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall, stating that the Black community has the same right to have its history preserved as the white community. Appointments - Mayor Hager-Smith presented reappointments and new appointments to multiple boards and committees, including the Blacksburg Planning Commission, Blacksburg Housing and Community Development Advisory Board, Board of Building Code Appeals, Board of Zoning Appeals, Business Relations Committee, Corridor Advisory Committee, Historic or Design Review Board, Public Arts Committee, and Recreation Advisory Board. - Council approved the appointments as presented by unanimous roll call vote: Colliver, Hager-Smith, Mattingly, Sutphin, Anderson, and Bush voted yes; none voted no. Councilmember Ford was absent. Discussion / New Business - Councilmember John Bush responded to citizen concerns about St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall. He said subcommittees are being formed to review the CAP report—one for the Alexander Black House and one for St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall. He noted that the Odd Fellows building has been restored to be as authentic as possible, and invited audience members to speak with him directly. Key Outcomes - The consent agenda was approved unanimously (6-0). - The 2023 board and committee appointments were approved unanimously (6-0). - Council heard citizen comments and committed to reviewing the CAP report recommendations through subcommittees. - Councilmember Bush offered to discuss the museum and hall preservation concerns with interested citizens. - The meeting was adjourned at 7:08 p.m.

The Town Council held a work session on June 20, 2023, at 11 a.m. to review upcoming public hearings, discuss proposed changes to green burial ordinances, and consider a request for a sidewalk closure fee waiver. Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith presided with Councilmembers John Bush, Lauren Colliver, Susan Mattingly, and Michael Sutphin present. Vice Mayor Susan Anderson and Councilmember Jerry Ford Jr. were absent. Review of Public Hearings Scheduled for July 11, 2023 - Ordinance 2026: Town Manager Marc Verniel summarized a proposed lease with the Montgomery County Tourism Development Council for office space at 200 Clay Street, S.W., formerly occupied by the Blacksburg Police Department. The lease would be similar to those previously granted to local community groups at Old Town Hall. - Ordinance 2027: Finance Director Susan Kaiser explained the ordinance to reappropriate prior year CDBG entitlement funds and prior year HOME Consortium funds that lapsed in fiscal year 2021/2022, increasing revenues and appropriations in the respective funds. Funds will be spent per the Annual Action Plans. - Ordinance 2028: Town Manager Marc Verniel and Deputy Chief Brian Roe presented the ordinance to appropriate $255,000 from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services ARPA Law Enforcement Grant to the Police Grant Expenditure line item in the General Fund, to be used for technical equipment for law enforcement officers. Green Burial Ordinance Review Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer provided an overview of housekeeping changes to the Westview Cemetery ordinances in the Town Code and reviewed proposed changes to cemetery rules and regulations to permit green burials. Discussion of Request for Sidewalk Closure Fee Waiver (Midtown Redevelopment) Deputy Town Manager Chris Lawrence informed the Council about ongoing reconstruction of the sidewalk at Eheart Street. Midtown Redevelopment requested that the $45 per day closure fee be waived, citing that the long-term project would not affect Main Street pedestrian activity. Council/Staff Exchange Council and staff discussed the Advanced Spending Resolution, including language review by the Town Attorney. They also discussed the Blacksburg Museum and Odd Fellows Hall regarding maintenance and use of the facilities. Key Outcomes - The public hearings for Ordinances 2026, 2027, and 2028 are scheduled for July 11, 2023. - The green burial ordinance changes were presented for review; further action may be taken at a future meeting. - The sidewalk closure fee waiver request was discussed; no formal decision was recorded. - The meeting adjourned at 12:06 p.m. Note: The raw transcript was unavailable; this summary is based solely on the agenda and minutes.