Blacksburg Town Council Work Session – January 16, 2024

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.