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Record of Proceedings

Blacksburg Town Council Meeting: March 24, 2026 – Consent Agenda, Agency Funding Requests, ICE Policy

Town Council — Tuesday, March 24, 2026
BodyBlacksburg, Virginia
SessionTown Council
DateTuesday, March 24, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:26:02

Transcript — Verbatim
0:19

Good evening, everyone.

0:21

Will the council please come to order and will the clerk call the roll?

0:24

Anderson, present Campbell.

0:26

Present.

0:27

Oliver, here.

0:28

Ford.

0:29

Here.

0:29

Good heart.

0:30

Present.

0:32

Present.

0:32

Sutfin.

0:33

Here.

0:35

We will begin tonight with the consent agenda.

0:37

We have three items on the consent agenda.

0:39

The first is the approval of the town council minutes for March 3rd and March 10th.

0:44

The second item is a resolution 3C26, a resolution referring to the Planning Commission proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance to regulate retail sales of marijuana as well as tobacco and hemp products.

0:56

We'll be approving that referral resolution tonight.

0:59

And the third item is resolution 3D 26, a resolution to reauthorize to authorize the reclassification of the code inspector as a code compliance coordinator position in the approved pay plan.

1:11

And we'll also be approving that resolutions tonight.

1:14

What is the council's pleasure on the consent agenda?

1:17

I move approval of the consent agenda.

1:19

Second.

1:20

We have a motion and a second.

1:21

Any discussion on the consent agenda?

1:24

Seeing none, will the clerk please call the roll?

1:26

Campbell.

1:27

Aye.

1:27

Oliver.

1:28

Aye.

1:29

Ford?

1:29

Aye.

1:30

Goodhart?

1:30

Aye.

1:33

Aye.

1:33

Anderson.

1:34

Aye.

1:35

The motion passes and the consent agenda is approved.

1:39

We have no public hearings tonight, but we do have exciting citizen comment section.

1:44

So we're going to actually break this up into two parts.

1:59

Limit your speaking time to three minutes, state your name and what agency you're representing, and direct your comments to the town council.

2:07

We'll do that first, and then after we've concluded the agency funding speakers, we'll then go into the regular citizen comments, and that can be about any topic in the town of Blacksburg.

2:17

So we'll go ahead and open up citizen comments on agency funding requests.

2:21

So who would like to go first?

2:23

I would come up if you have a PowerPoint, let me know and let me know which agency you're from, and I can pull the PowerPoint up.

2:31

I'm Susan Hansen representing the Blacksburg Master Corral.

2:35

And the reason I need to go first is that I have rehearsal tonight.

2:43

So we have requested funding once again for scholarships.

2:49

As you know, the economy has sort of become more shaky than it had been, and we have a number of really good singers, both adults and children who cannot afford the membership fees.

3:08

There are membership fees of approximately 100 dollars per semester plus the cost of purchasing the music.

3:17

So that is what our request is for.

3:20

But I'd like to let you all know, and we have distributed the uh brochures for our upcoming concert, which is going to be fantastic.

3:34

Now last year I probably maybe bored you a little bit with a tape of what we were rehearsing with the orchestra of Virginia Tech.

3:47

We were doing the Mozart Requiem.

3:50

This year we are not doing a major work, but in many ways, what we are doing is very major.

3:58

Our uh music director, our artistic director, our conductor, Dwight Bigler has composed music to three of the poems of Nikki Giovanni, and we will be performing them April 25th and April 26th.

4:20

This is almost our fortieth year of performing.

4:25

It is the children's chorale 20th anniversary of performing, and on the 26th of April, we will both be performing.

4:36

But the three poems of Nicky Giovanni are just so emotional.

4:42

And the music that was composed is a combination of rhythm, of blues, of jazz, of salsa.

4:54

It's incredible.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Immigration Policy█████████████████17%
Community Engagement███████████████15%
Arts And Culture██████████████14%
Youth Programs███████████11%
Historic Preservation███████7%
Economic Development██████6%
Procedural█████5%
Immigrant and Refugee Support████4%
Public Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Blacksburg Town Council Meeting: March 24, 2026 – Consent Agenda, Agency Funding Requests, ICE Policy

This regular meeting of the Blacksburg Town Council on March 24, 2026, began at approximately 6:30 p.m. in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers. The council approved a consent agenda, heard citizen comments on FY2027 agency funding requests and immigration enforcement, appointed Michael Harvey to the NRV Regional Commission, and received a mayoral statement on local ICE policies.

Consent Calendar

  • Town Council Minutes (March 3 and March 10, 2026): Approved unanimously.
  • Resolution 3-C-26 (Referring to the Planning Commission proposed zoning amendments to regulate retail sales of marijuana, tobacco, and hemp products): Approved.
  • Resolution 3-D-26 (Reclassification of Code Inspector to Code Compliance Coordinator position): Approved.
  • The consent agenda passed 7–0 (all members voting yes).

Public Comments & Testimony

FY2027 Agency Funding Requests

Thirteen speakers requested continued or new funding for various community organizations. All expressed support for their respective agencies and urged council consideration. No council vote was taken during these comments; the requests will be considered in the FY2027 budget process.

  • Susan Hansen (Blacksburg Master Chorale): Requested $2,500 for scholarships, noting that 85% of membership is in Blacksburg and that funds support both adult and children’s chorale members.
  • Wendy Baldwin (Imagination Library of Montgomery County): Reported 2,228 children currently enrolled and 43,500 books mailed in two years. Highlighted a positive effect on caregivers and a May 30 fundraising festival.
  • Deborah Kennedy (ACCE Program, NRCC Educational Foundation): Requested $50,000 for tuition support, noting the program’s ninth year, 117 completed applications, and that 80% of NRCC students remain in the region.
  • Ferne Moschella (New River Land Trust): Thanked the town for support and highlighted 59,000 acres conserved, 16 miles of Brush Mountain trails, and a planned carbon sequestration project with The Nature Conservancy.
  • Betsy Kibler (Blacksburg Community Band): Described the all-volunteer band’s eight concerts per year, $12,000–$15,000 in annual expenses, and a scholarship fund. Expressed a “pipe dream” of owning a rehearsal/concert hall.
  • Patrick Malone (Wonder Universe): Sought to re-establish partnership; reported the museum serves 7,500–10,000 Blacksburg residents annually (40% of visitors) and provides reduced-cost admission through Museums for All.
  • Scott Bailey (Blacksburg Refugee Partnership): Requested funds for resettlement costs and legal fees, citing uncertainty due to federal reviews of refugee families. Noted support for 15 families, including six female members of an elite Afghan military unit. This was the organization’s first funding request to the town.
  • Debbie Edwards (Friends of the Farmers Market): Emphasized community gathering, SNAP/VA FreshMatch ($28,000 in tokens in 2025), 40 small businesses supported, and a slight revenue loss in 2025 due to economic uncertainty and weather.
  • Karim Kahn (Literacy NRV): Stated 8% of Blacksburg adults read below a third-grade level and 16% speak a language other than English at home. Requested continued support for free adult literacy programs.
  • Karim Khan (Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library): Thanked the town for support, reported a quarter-million checkouts in 2025 at Blacksburg Library, 3,727 new library cards, and 12,000 programming attendees. Announced a 94% positive customer satisfaction rating.
  • Raymond Parks (New River Valley Agency on Aging): Requested a 5% increase for meals and transportation to meet growing demand. Services include home-delivered meals, transportation, care coordination, and Medicare counseling.
  • Sharon Shipling (Friends of St. Luke Odd Fellows and Household of Ruth): Described the 1905 Oddfellows Hall, a historic segregated community structure, and efforts to preserve and share its history through education and digital preservation.
  • Susan Gardner (Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance): Reported that RAMP has supported 66 companies, raised nearly $50 million, and created 950 jobs. Requested continued support to retain talent and capital in the region.
  • Laina Schneider (Live, Work, Eat, Grow): Noted 124 garden plots across four community gardens (including a new one at Heritage Park) and a solar greenhouse. Requested $20,000 for maintenance, staff, and tool upkeep.
  • Sherry Wyatt (Montgomery Museum of Art and History): Highlighted student art exhibits, the Junior Appalachian Musicians program, and preparations for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. 38% of members have Blacksburg addresses.
  • Ann Cassell (Blacksburg Partnership): Requested funds for retail strategies overhaul, a “Blacksburg 101” program for new students and families, and continued advocacy for NRV passenger rail service.
  • John Walker (Cayambis Institute): (Minutes mention a request; transcript does not include full remarks but the minutes note he spoke in support of the organization’s funding request.)

Other Comments (ICE Enforcement)

Six speakers urged the council to adopt policies limiting local cooperation with ICE enforcement. They requested: 1) prohibition of concealed identities/unmarked vehicles, 2) codifying bans on 287(g) agreements, 3) preventing town agencies from collecting or sharing citizenship information, and 4) barring ICE from using town property for operations. Speakers included:

  • Matt Hudson (VT student): Distributed a document on behalf of VT Migrant Defense and urged adoption of the four demands.
  • Tiffany Suárez (VT student): Voiced support for the demands, saying the community needs safeguards.
  • Ms. Martinez (VT student): Shared personal family fears of deportation and urged the council to protect neighbors.
  • Lora Brown (town resident): Emphasized need for a local ICE policy and solidarity with the Blacksburg Refugee Partnership and Literacy NRV.
  • Rose Griffith (Blacksburg resident): Stressed safety concerns for students, noting her employer already implemented an ICE policy.
  • Carolyn Jones (VT student): Supported the demands, referencing stories of ICE detentions in neighboring states.
  • Baylor Williams (Blacksburg resident): Urged the council to “stand up for what is right” regarding ICE enforcement and described the fear in the community.

Discussion Items

Mayor’s Statement on ICE Enforcement

Mayor Sutphin read a prepared statement addressing the four demands raised by citizens:

  1. Officer identification: The Blacksburg Police Department (BPD) already requires clearly identifiable uniforms and body-worn cameras; pending state legislation would restrict face coverings.
  2. 287(g) agreements: BPD does not participate in 287(g) and does not enforce federal civil immigration law; officers cannot detain based on immigration status.
  3. Collection and sharing of information: BPD does not inquire about citizenship or immigration status; will not participate in the federal homeland security task force established by executive order.
  4. Use of town property: The town has not received requests for staging locations and will not honor such requests without a court order; the town does not operate a jail. The mayor emphasized that BPD is a locally controlled agency committed to public safety and that the council will continue to monitor state developments and engage with the community.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: Approved 7–0, including minutes, zoning referral for marijuana/tobacco/hemp regulation, and reclassification of a code inspector position.
  • Appointment of Michael Harvey: Approved unanimously to the NRV Regional Commission, term ending June 30, 2027, filling a vacancy after the previous representative stepped down.
  • Council Announcements: Vice Mayor Anderson thanked attendees of the Dialogue on Race event and noted that the Lyric Theatre is now showing movies. Upcoming meetings: Work Session April 7 at Blacksburg Motor Company, Regular Meeting April 14 in chambers.
  • Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

Note: The FY2027 agency funding requests were heard but not voted on; they will be considered during the town’s budget process.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Will the council please come to order and will the clerk call the roll? Anderson, present Campbell. Present. Oliver, here. Ford. Here. Good heart. Present. Present. Sutfin. Here. We will begin tonight with the consent agenda. We have three items on the consent agenda. The first is the approval of the town council minutes for March 3rd and March 10th. The second item is a resolution 3C26, a resolution referring to the Planning Commission proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance to regulate retail sales of marijuana as well as tobacco and hemp products. We'll be approving that referral resolution tonight. And the third item is resolution 3D 26, a resolution to reauthorize to authorize the reclassification of the code inspector as a code compliance coordinator position in the approved pay plan. And we'll also be approving that resolutions tonight. What is the council's pleasure on the consent agenda? I move approval of the consent agenda. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on the consent agenda? Seeing none, will the clerk please call the roll? Campbell. Aye. Oliver. Aye. Ford? Aye. Goodhart? Aye. Aye. Anderson. Aye. The motion passes and the consent agenda is approved. We have no public hearings tonight, but we do have exciting citizen comment section. So we're going to actually break this up into two parts. Limit your speaking time to three minutes, state your name and what agency you're representing, and direct your comments to the town council. We'll do that first, and then after we've concluded the agency funding speakers, we'll then go into the regular citizen comments, and that can be about any topic in the town of Blacksburg. So we'll go ahead and open up citizen comments on agency funding requests. So who would like to go first? I would come up if you have a PowerPoint, let me know and let me know which agency you're from, and I can pull the PowerPoint up. I'm Susan Hansen representing the Blacksburg Master Corral. And the reason I need to go first is that I have rehearsal tonight. So we have requested funding once again for scholarships. As you know, the economy has sort of become more shaky than it had been, and we have a number of really good singers, both adults and children who cannot afford the membership fees. There are membership fees of approximately 100 dollars per semester plus the cost of purchasing the music. So that is what our request is for.

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