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Record of Proceedings

Blacksburg Town Council Meeting Summary – October 13, 2026

Town Council — Tuesday, October 13, 2026
BodyBlacksburg, Virginia
SessionTown Council
DateTuesday, October 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 35:47

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

0:41

Present.

Speaker 2

0:43

Present.

Speaker 1

0:44

Here.

Speaker 2

0:46

Here.

0:47

Here.

0:49

Here.

0:50

We will begin tonight with the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:52

Will our Vice Mayor please lead us in the pledge?

Speaker 3

0:57

I pledge allegiance

Speaker 1

0:59

to the flag of the United States of America.

1:02

And to the Republic for which it

Speaker 4

1:04

stands.

1:05

One nation under God.

1:08

Indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Speaker 2

1:14

We will begin tonight with the consent agenda.

1:17

And we have several items on the consent agenda tonight.

1:19

The first item A is the town council minutes for September 1st, September 8th, and September 15th, which we'll be approving tonight.

1:27

Item B is resolution 10B 26, a resolution supporting the town's participation in the Virginia Main Street program.

1:34

Very exciting resolution there.

1:36

Item C is resolution 10 C26, a resolution re-referring to the planning commission proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance to regulate retail sales of marijuana as well as tobacco and hemp products.

1:49

This is we're re-referring that to the planning commission.

1:52

Both items B and C will be approving tonight.

2:17

We'll be introducing that ordinance tonight and scheduling that public hearing for November 10th.

2:22

What is council's pleasure on the consent agenda?

Speaker 1

2:25

I move approval of the consent agenda.

Speaker 2

2:28

We have a motion and a second.

2:30

Is there any discussion?

2:32

Seeing none, will the clerk call the roll?

2:35

Aye.

Sandy Leitner · Speaker 5Inferred

2:36

Aye.

Speaker 2

2:37

Aye.

2:39

Aye.

2:41

Aye.

2:42

Aye.

2:42

The motion passes.

2:44

Um now we'll move on to public hearings.

2:46

We have three public hearings tonight.

Unassigned speaker

2:49

Uh the first is ordinance twenty seventy-three, an ordinance to update the town's home state ordinance to reflect state law changes and establish civil penalties by amending town code sections six six oh one, six six six six six six six zero two, six six oh five, and six six oh six.

Speaker 2

3:04

We'll begin tonight with the staff presentation.

Speaker 6

3:06

And Larry Spencer, town attorney has the presentation.

3:13

Yeah, there you

Unassigned speaker

3:14

go.

Speaker 7

3:18

Um the military ordinance was adopted almost ten years ago.

3:24

Um and it's one of the first on the topic.

3:26

There was a concern of the time that maybe the general assembly might assert the town's legislative authority.

3:33

Um we got something on the books.

3:35

Um what's coming up uh for your vote are really housekeeping changes.

3:42

Um

Unassigned speaker

3:45

we're just conformed with that that's been changed in the past year or two, and uh a third one is about how we replace it.

Unassigned speaker

3:55

Um this is a state of change we need to do, which is in the past

Speaker 7

4:00

uh you had to owe the property uh to be able to uh lease it to do air to the home state.

4:07

And uh the code was changed, and so let's see um provision of the owner may also engage in protrum runs.

4:16

So that would be changed on

Unassigned speaker

4:22

the

Speaker 7

4:24

there's another one.

4:25

Um this ordinance operates like as a registration requirement.

4:29

So uh if you are engaged in short-term rentals, you're supposed to register uh with the town that it's administered by the zoning administrator.

Unassigned speaker

4:38

Um there's a change in the state code that uh if you fall into s a few of these categories, p basically if uh if the short-term rentals are being handled by on your behalf by a real estate agent or um some other exceptions, um then you don't actually have to be the person to register.

Speaker 7

5:02

And then really the most significant, we are changing.

5:07

It used to

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████28%
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████████████████25%
Public Utilities█████████████████17%
Zoning Ordinance███████7%
Public Safety███████7%
Public Engagement██████6%
Community Engagement████4%
Energy Efficiency███3%
Pending Litigation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Blacksburg Town Council Meeting Summary – October 13, 2026

The Blacksburg Town Council held a regular meeting on October 13, 2026, at the Blacksburg Municipal Building. The meeting featured unanimous approval of a consent agenda, three public hearings on code amendments, citizen comments regarding a denied sewer backup insurance claim, appointments to a town board, and various council reports and community announcements.

Consent Calendar

  • Town Council Minutes: Approved minutes from the September 1, 8, and 15, 2026 meetings.
  • Resolution 10-B-26: Approved a resolution supporting the town's participation in the Virginia Main Street Program.
  • Resolution 10-C-26: Approved a resolution re-referring proposed zoning ordinance amendments to regulate the retail sales of marijuana, tobacco, and hemp products to the Planning Commission.
  • Charter Amendment: Scheduled a public hearing for October 27, 2026, on a resolution to amend the town's corporate boundaries (Town Charter Section 1.02).
  • Ordinance 2123 (Water Tank Lease): Introduced an ordinance authorizing a lease of space on the Alleghany Street Water Tank to Virginia Tech and scheduled a public hearing for November 10, 2026. The consent agenda was approved unanimously (7-0).

Public Hearings

  • Ordinance 2073 (Homestay Update): Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer presented housekeeping updates to align the town code with state law. Changes included revised ownership and registration requirements and a reduction of the penalty from a $1,000 criminal fine to a $500 civil penalty. No public comment was offered. The council approved the ordinance unanimously (7-0).
  • Ordinance 2117 (Meals Tax Update): Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer presented amendments to update definitions (e.g., including food trucks, breweries, and caterers), align exemptions with state law, and establish an escalating penalty for late payments (up to 25%). No public comment was offered. The council approved the ordinance unanimously (7-0).
  • Ordinance 2121 (Utility Easement): Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer presented an ordinance authorizing a 40-year utility easement over town property to Appalachian Power Company (AEP) to connect solar panels installed at Blacksburg Transit to the grid. It was reported the solar panel installation was approximately 50% complete. No public comment was offered. The council approved the ordinance unanimously (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Five members of the Blacksburg Church of Christ (BCOC) at 610 Palmer Drive addressed the council regarding a sewage backup on July 4, 2026, following a heavy rain.
  • Randall Burch (trustee/elder) presented evidence, including a check from the town for a similar 2017 backup, arguing the town had prior knowledge of root issues in the sewer main. He requested the council appoint a committee to review the claim, which was denied by the town's insurer (VRSA), detailing over $40,000 in damages.
  • Paul and Sandy Leichner, and Drew Taylor described the financial burden on the modest congregation, the extensive damage from raw sewage (including in the finished basement and nursery), and the church's community outreach programs. Drew Taylor described the scene as "hundreds of gallons of sewage" backing up into the building.
  • Mayor Sutphin acknowledged the severity of the situation and committed to reviewing the submitted materials with town staff.

Appointments

  • The council unanimously approved appointments to the reconstituted Police Towing Advisory Board: Captain J. Teubert (Blacksburg Police Department), Buddy Mason (All Call Towing), Arthur Balarzs (Auto Repair), Johnnie Self (Campus Automotive), and Arthur Shaheen (Citizen Advisor).

Council Reports & Announcements

  • Councilmember Goodhart reported the Blacksburg Farmers Market achieved 200,000 social media views, hosted 262 participants at an apple tasting, and announced upcoming events (garden-themed book swap, author talk with Diane Flint, Double SNAP match on October 17).
  • Councilmember Campbell promoted the grand opening of "The Local" retail incubator on October 14.
  • Vice Mayor Anderson reported on the Virginia Municipal League Annual Conference, the Montgomery County Liaison Committee meeting (September 23), the New River Valley Regional Commission meeting (September 24), and the inaugural Virginia Tech Student Summit (September 25), expressing hope it becomes an annual event.
  • Mayor Sutphin reviewed recent proclamations for Welcoming Week, Hispanic Heritage Month, and National Service Dog Month.
  • Councilmember Colliver reminded the public that early voting is active, including Sunday hours on October 18, 2026, and noted the voter registration deadline is October 23, 2026.
  • Vice Mayor Anderson alerted the public to three Virginia constitutional amendments on the ballot covering reproductive justice, marriage equality, and restoring voting rights for felons, directing attendees to informational pamphlets in the lobby.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved the consent agenda (minutes, Main Street program, marijuana/tobacco zoning referral, charter amendment public hearing, water tank lease public hearing) unanimously (7-0).
  • Adopted Ordinance 2073 (Homestay updates and $500 civil penalty) unanimously (7-0).
  • Adopted Ordinance 2117 (Meals tax definitions and escalating late penalty up to 25%) unanimously (7-0).
  • Adopted Ordinance 2121 (Utility easement for AEP solar connection) unanimously (7-0).
  • Agreed to review the sewer backup claim from Blacksburg Church of Christ with town staff.
  • Approved appointments to the Police Towing Advisory Board unanimously (7-0).

Meeting Transcript

Present. Present. Here. Here. Here. Here. We will begin tonight with the Pledge of Allegiance. Will our Vice Mayor please lead us in the pledge? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. We will begin tonight with the consent agenda. And we have several items on the consent agenda tonight. The first item A is the town council minutes for September 1st, September 8th, and September 15th, which we'll be approving tonight. Item B is resolution 10B 26, a resolution supporting the town's participation in the Virginia Main Street program. Very exciting resolution there. Item C is resolution 10 C26, a resolution re-referring to the planning commission proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance to regulate retail sales of marijuana as well as tobacco and hemp products. This is we're re-referring that to the planning commission. Both items B and C will be approving tonight. We'll be introducing that ordinance tonight and scheduling that public hearing for November 10th. What is council's pleasure on the consent agenda? I move approval of the consent agenda. We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, will the clerk call the roll? Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. The motion passes. Um now we'll move on to public hearings. We have three public hearings tonight. Uh the first is ordinance twenty seventy-three, an ordinance to update the town's home state ordinance to reflect state law changes and establish civil penalties by amending town code sections six six oh one, six six six six six six six zero two, six six oh five, and six six oh six. We'll begin tonight with the staff presentation. And Larry Spencer, town attorney has the presentation. Yeah, there you go. Um the military ordinance was adopted almost ten years ago. Um and it's one of the first on the topic. There was a concern of the time that maybe the general assembly might assert the town's legislative authority. Um we got something on the books. Um what's coming up uh for your vote are really housekeeping changes. Um we're just conformed with that that's been changed in the past year or two, and uh a third one is about how we replace it. Um this is a state of change we need to do, which is in the past

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