Blacksburg Town Council Work Session - November 21, 2023

The Blacksburg Town Council held a work session on November 21, 2023, at the Blacksburg Motor Company, 400 South Main Street. Vice Mayor Susan Anderson and Councilmembers John Bush, Lauren Colliver, Jerry Ford, Jr., Susan Mattingly, and Michael Sutphin were present. Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith and Town Attorney Lawrence S. Spencer, Jr. were absent. The Council reviewed six public hearing ordinances scheduled for December 12, 2023, received updates on the Progress Street and interim Draper Road streetscape projects, and held a staff exchange.

Review of Public Hearings (December 12, 2023)

Engineering Director Randy Formica presented two ordinances:

• Ordinance 2032: Vacating a public utility easement on land at 215 Cork Drive, releasing the Town’s interest in a portion of the easement and relocating some utility easements.
• Ordinance 2034: Amending Town Code Section 18-401 to establish a surcharge for industrial sewer discharges of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) exceeding normal wastewater levels, under an approved Discharge Permit.

Finance Director Susan Kaiser presented four ordinances:

• Ordinance 2039: Amending Town Code Sections 22-221 and 22-222 to increase income and asset limits for tax exemptions for elderly and disabled persons, aligning with Montgomery County’s recent changes.
• Ordinance 2042: Amending the FY 2023/2024 Operating Budget to accept and appropriate an additional $194,000 from the Virginia Department of Health Lead Inventory Grant to the Water/Sewer Capital Improvement Fund.
• Ordinance 2043: Amending the FY 2023/2024 Operating Budget to accept and appropriate $76,680 from the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) to the General Capital Improvement Fund.
• Ordinance 2044: Amending the FY 2023/2024 Operating Budget to accept and appropriate $406,038 in VDOT Primary Extension Paving Funding and $168,750 in VDOT Primary Extension ADA Funding to the General Capital Improvement Fund.

No votes were taken; these items are scheduled for public hearings on December 12, 2023.

Progress Street Streetscape Update

Housing and Community Connections Manager Matt Hanratty reviewed the development of the proposed Progress Street streetscape. He covered existing conditions, various proposed concepts, community engagement efforts, and a drafted final design. There was considerable discussion among Council members regarding street parking along the corridor.

Interim Draper Road Streetscape Update

Matt Hanratty also provided an overview of planned updates to the Draper Road streetscape. Improvements are scheduled to begin in May 2024. The concept plan allows for immediate improvements while larger development occurs later. Hanratty shared slides of the planned design.

Council/Staff Exchange

Town Manager Marc Verniel updated Council on the St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall committee meetings. He noted that the building had recently been painted and minor repairs were completed. Additionally, topics for the Town Council Retreat in January were discussed.

Key Outcomes

• Council reviewed six ordinances that will proceed to public hearings on December 12, 2023.
• No formal votes were taken during the work session.
• The Progress Street streetscape design continues to be refined, with further discussion on parking.
• Draper Road streetscape improvements are planned to begin in May 2024.
• The St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall has received painting and minor repairs; the Council retreat is being planned for January 2024.
• The meeting was adjourned at 12:20 p.m.