[0:00] healthier and more meaningful life.

[0:02] Learn more at loadstarfoundation.org.

[0:05] And from the sustaining members of this

[0:08] NPR station,

[0:10] >> it's Morning Edition on radioq. I'm Jeff

[0:12] Boser. In recent years, volunteer fire

[0:15] departments have had trouble attracting

[0:17] enough volunteers to handle increasing

[0:19] numbers of emergency calls. But one

[0:21] Virginia department seems to have found

[0:22] a new source of volunteers to fill out

[0:24] its roster. Cardinal News reporter Eric

[0:27] Solzano covered this story. He spoke

[0:29] with Fred Eckles.

[0:30] >> Eric, volunteer fire departments around

[0:32] Virginia and virtually everywhere are

[0:35] having trouble attracting and retaining

[0:38] the numbers of volunteers that they

[0:40] need. What's making it so difficult?

[0:43] >> The main figure to point here is the

[0:45] increased call volume that fire

[0:48] departments across the nation have

[0:49] experienced. Those call volumes have

[0:51] more than tripled over the last 40

[0:54] years. That leads to uh increased time

[0:57] demand on those volunteers. Also more

[1:00] training requirements to respond to the

[1:02] numerous amount of calls. The Blackburg

[1:05] Volunteer Fire Department, which you

[1:07] wrote about in your story, has come up

[1:09] with the idea of attracting students

[1:12] from Virginia Tech to serve as volunteer

[1:15] firefighters. How are they making that

[1:17] an attractive option for college

[1:19] students? The Blackburg Fire Department

[1:22] is saying that they need to invest time

[1:25] and and resources into these students to

[1:28] bring them on. That is translated into

[1:30] providing full turnout gear at uniform

[1:33] and equipment to these students with the

[1:36] initial training that is free of charge

[1:38] for a student. These volunteer

[1:40] firefighters must go through different

[1:42] kind of trainings such as fire one, fire

[1:44] two, hazmat operations and you know

[1:47] these things can be costly. So for a

[1:50] fire department to let these students

[1:52] know that they won't be charged for it

[1:53] is certainly an attractive option there.

[1:56] It's also, you know, a sense of

[1:57] community for these students. The

[1:59] station provides, you know, access to

[2:01] the internet, a washer, a dryer, a day

[2:03] room where students are, you know,

[2:05] encouraged to hang out while they're on

[2:08] call or not and and spend some free time

[2:10] there as well as studying for their

[2:12] classes while they're in university.

[2:14] Yeah.

[2:14] >> How well is it working? Are they getting

[2:16] a lot of response from students?

[2:18] >> Talking with Todd Jones, the public

[2:20] information officer there, he let me

[2:22] know that um numbers of enrollment in

[2:26] terms of the students who are coming on

[2:27] as volunteers has increased. There's

[2:30] about 60 volunteers there. 20 of those

[2:32] volunteers are college students.

[2:34] >> There is getting volunteers and there's

[2:36] keeping volunteers. Are the students

[2:38] remaining with the department for

[2:40] significant time?

[2:42] >> Yeah, certainly. It was a figure that I

[2:44] asked Todd Jones as well from the fire

[2:46] department to to understand a little bit

[2:47] more about that. He tells me that an

[2:49] estimated 95% of students who come on to

[2:53] volunteer stay on for the remaining time

[2:56] in college.

[2:57] >> Being a full-time college student and

[2:59] being a volunteer firefighter on call

[3:01] much of the time is quite a commitment.

[3:05] Do students have a hard time managing

[3:07] that?

[3:07] >> Got to talk to and meet some of these

[3:10] volunteers as well. These students, it

[3:12] seems like they're able to balance their

[3:14] time pretty well with having that place

[3:18] to go on the station and being provided

[3:21] the facilities in which they can go and

[3:23] spend their time to study. They have

[3:25] some time in between being on their

[3:27] calls and being able to dedicate their

[3:29] time to all the other things that

[3:31] they're doing at the same time. So, it

[3:32] seems like they're able to balance it

[3:34] pretty well.

[3:35] >> Eric Solarano reports for cardinals.org.

[3:39] I'm Fred Eckles. Cardinal News is a

[3:41] nonprofit online independent news

[3:43] organization covering Southwest and

[3:46] Southside Virginia.

[3:49] >> In a letter, Thomas Jefferson wrote that

[3:50] wherever the people are well informed,

[3:52] they can be trusted with their own

[3:54] government. At Radio IQ, we echo that

[3:57] every day and especially during election

[3:59] season. So, we've teamed up with the

[4:01] other NPR stations in the Commonwealth

[4:03] to create an election guide to keep you

[4:05] informed with news, candidate profiles,

[4:07] polling information, and more. You can

[4:09] find it on our website, radioiq.org.

[4:16] » Support for RadioIQ comes from Acme

[4:19] Panel, providing structural insulated

[4:21] panels for new homes designed for

[4:23] comfort, energy efficiency, and

[4:26] lowcarbon footprint. Acme panel.com

[4:30] and from 16 Hands Studio Tour presenting

[4:33] the Floyd Potters Market at the Floyd

[4:35] Eco Village, November 20th through the

[4:38] 22nd. benefiting Blue Mountain School.

[4:40] Details at 16hands.com.

[4:44] And from Mutual of Omaha. From the days

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[4:49] Omaha has offered insurance products to

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[4:56] omaha.com.

[4:58] >> Marketplace morning report up in just a

[5:00] moment. A sunny start to the first full

[5:02] week of October, but we've had some

[5:04] early fog in the region.

[5:07] Building in the far southwest, much of

[5:09] it dissipated by now. We have 59° in

[5:12] Ronok, foggy in Lynchburg. Still 61°,

[5:16] 62, a little foggy in Charlottesville.

[5:18] Richmond 62° cloudy early, sunny by

[5:21] afternoon. Highs in the upper 60s to

[5:23] upper 70s. Lows in the low to upper 40s

[5:25] tonight. More sun tomorrow. Highs in the

[5:28] upper 60s to low 70s.

[5:31] >> [music]

[5:33] » Oil exporters try to normalize global

[5:36] supplies and an escape from the world of

[5:38] AI just for a bit. Marketplace Morning

[5:41] Report is supported by HPE with the HPE

[5:45] self-driving network designed to be a

[5:47] self-optimizing, self-healing, and

[5:49] self-protecting network.

[5:50] hpe.com/networking.

[5:54] From Marketplace in Washington, I'm

[5:56] Kimberly Adams. We're starting with oil

[5:58] this morning. There are signs that oil

[6:00] exports from the Middle East are

[6:02] starting to get back to pre-war levels.

[6:04] The research firm Kepler estimates that

[6:06] 40% of crude exports from the Persian

[6:09] Gulf now bypass the straight of Hormuz.

[6:11] Meanwhile, key members of OPEC have

[6:13] pledged to keep their oil production

[6:15] targets steady next month. Marketplaces

[6:18] Nancy Marshall Gendzer explains why.

[6:20] OPEC issued a press release yesterday

[6:22] with a promising headline. It says core

[6:25] OPEC members known as the OPEC plus

[6:27] countries are reaffirming their

[6:29] commitment to market stability. OPEC

[6:32] plus includes Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait

[6:35] and Oman and allies like Russia. Saudi

[6:38] Arabia, Iraq and Russia pledged to

[6:40] produce the most oil next month, but

[6:42] these are mostly paper targets. OPEC

[6:45] plus countries have been missing their

[6:46] quotas because of the war in the Middle

[6:48] East. Reuters estimates their exports

[6:50] have only reached 60 to 80% of normal

[6:54] levels in the past few months. OPEC Plus

[6:56] says it'll meet again on November 1st.

[6:59] They've delayed their annual capacity

[7:01] review that helps them settle on their

[7:03] production quotas for next year,

[7:05] including decisions on which countries

[7:07] get to produce more oil. I'm Nancy

[7:09] Marshall Gendzer for Marketplace.

[7:13] Let's do the numbers.

[7:16] [music] Dow, S&P, and Nasdaq futures are

[7:18] down in the 0ero to 3/10en percent range

[7:21] with the Dow future [music] down just 17

[7:23] points. The 10-year Treasury yield is up

[7:26] at 530%. [music]

[7:28] And since Nancy was just talking about

[7:30] oil, Brent crude is currently trading at

[7:32] $102.51

[7:34] a barrel. Marketplace morning report is

[7:37] supported by Schwab. At Schwab,

[7:39] investors get choices ranging from

[7:41] self-directed investing to [music] full

[7:43] service wealth management all in one

[7:45] place. No matter the investing goal,

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[7:49] knowhow, Schwab [music] can help. More

[7:51] at schwab.com.

[7:53] And by Ubico, makers of the Ubi key,

[7:56] securing business applications from

[7:58] fishing for organizations worldwide.

[8:00] Ubi, [music]

[8:01] powerful protection, instant access.

[8:03] More at yubico.com.

[8:07] This year has been dominated by

[8:08] headlines about artificial intelligence.

[8:11] But as the AI buildout accelerates, some

[8:14] are looking for ways to slow down. I

[8:16] found evidence of that at Makerpace NYC,

[8:19] a community workshop in New York, which

[8:21] was busy with people sewing, welding,

[8:24] drilling, making things. Some just for

[8:26] fun, but for others, it's where they

[8:28] make their living.

[8:34] The sawdust is flying in the maker space

[8:36] wood shop when I visit on a Tuesday

[8:38] afternoon. Scott Vancampen, executive

[8:41] director here, is showing me around,

[8:43] pointing out folks one by one who have

[8:45] come to depend on this place to run

[8:48] their small businesses.

[8:49] >> We're really super proud to be able to

[8:51] support those people uh as they get a

[8:55] foothold in their industry. Creators can

[8:57] rent tools and other resources from the

[9:00] maker space for a fraction of what it

[9:02] would cost them to buy them outright.

[9:04] Scott co-founded this nonprofit with his

[9:06] wife DB Lampman in 2013.

[9:09] >> I think 90% of the people that are here,

[9:11] freelancers that are doing it as a

[9:13] business.

[9:15] >> I meet one of these entrepreneurs, Simon

[9:18] Barry, in the sewing area. These are

[9:20] cushions for a banquet that I made,

[9:23] which is

[9:25] >> because you're you make furniture.

[9:26] >> I make furniture. Yeah.

[9:28] >> I asked Simon how important this place

[9:30] is for his business.

[9:31] >> The initial investment of opening a

[9:34] woodworking studio, whatever the all the

[9:37] tools is pretty prohibited.

[9:39] >> What kind of startup cost would you be

[9:41] looking at if you actually had to buy

[9:42] all the stuff that you're using here?

[9:46] like 20,000

[9:48] >> versus what do you end up paying monthly

[9:50] here for your space?

[9:51] >> 600.

[9:52] >> There's also a cheaper membership, a

[9:54] couple hundred a year for more limited

[9:57] access. The membership fees that Scott

[9:59] and DB collect from about 420 members

[10:02] help keep this place running along with

[10:05] foundation support from the city and

[10:07] state. There's also a limited number of

[10:09] free memberships for lowincome people in

[10:12] the neighborhood.

[10:14] Over in the metal shop, makers hammer

[10:17] away and sparks dance behind thick

[10:19] plastic protective screens amid

[10:21] soldering and welding. One of the

[10:23] artists use this place to pivot careers

[10:26] completely. Seth Cousins is a

[10:28] self-described former tech guy.

[10:30] >> 25, 30 years as a software engineer,

[10:33] product manager, delivery tech stuff.

[10:37] >> And now,

[10:37] >> uh, and now I'm a sculptor. Mhm.

[10:39] >> So, in April, I left the startup that I

[10:41] was working at and started working here

[10:44] full-time.

[10:44] >> He recalls a recent conversation with a

[10:46] younger software engineer, a neighbor,

[10:49] who said that the work had changed from

[10:51] thinking about code and solving problems

[10:54] to now babysitting AI agents that do a

[10:57] lot of the work.

[10:58] >> And I figure when they do take over the

[10:59] world, this sort of physical stuff is

[11:01] going to be the last thing that they

[11:03] take over. So, we'll be safer for a

[11:05] little bit longer.

[11:06] >> That's job safety, he says. And it's

[11:09] better than staring at a screen all day.

[11:14] But not everyone I meet here is doing

[11:16] this for work.

[11:17] >> Hi. This is so beautiful. I'm Kimberly.

[11:20] >> Kimberly. Nice to meet you.

[11:21] >> Nice to meet you also. Um could you

[11:24] describe what you're making here if

[11:25] that's okay?

[11:26] >> I'm making a uh raven.

[11:29] >> Miles Cucker is making this ornate raven

[11:32] out of steel.

[11:33] >> It's my grandson.

[11:36] >> This is great. How many of these have

[11:38] you made?

[11:39] >> This is my first bird.

[11:41] >> Oh, really? What else have you made?

[11:43] >> Uh, it's a cat, a dog, a crocodile, a

[11:47] koala, and a platypus.

[11:50] >> All for your grandkids.

[11:52] >> Yep.

[11:52] >> That's They must love these things. My grandfather used to make whirly gigs

[11:56] for us.

[11:57] >> Oh, when I was a kid.

[11:58] >> And do you still have them?

[12:00] >> I do. I do still have my whly gig. Yes.

[12:02] >> Great.

[12:03] >> I'm not sure you'd get this kind of

[12:04] moment in a room full of robots. And

[12:07] these tactile skills, says executive

[12:10] director Scott Vancampen, are even more

[12:13] valuable in our increasingly digital

[12:15] focused economy.

[12:16] >> The stuff where really we need to

[12:18] manipulate and to make decisions quickly

[12:21] and accurately.

[12:23] I don't think that robots are actually

[12:25] going to replace us.

[12:26] >> He's proud to give people a place to

[12:28] build something, whether that's

[12:30] furniture, an animal made of steel, or a

[12:33] business. It is very rewarding to to be

[12:35] able to support and encourage these

[12:38] people to to really build whatever they

[12:40] want to build.

[12:43] >> You can find pictures and videos of the

[12:45] maker space [music] on our Instagram @

[12:47] marketplace APM in Washington. I'm

[12:50] Kimberly Adams with the [music]

[12:51] Marketplace Morning Report

[12:55] from APM American Public Media.

[13:00] I'm Tanya Mosley.

[13:02] >> And I'm Wana Summers. People collect all

[13:04] [music] sorts of things. Sports

[13:06] memorabilia, stamps, and antique lamps.

[13:09] If you've collected a few classic cars

[13:11] over the years, and you also love public

[13:14] radio, consider this. Donate it to this

[13:16] station and it could mean hundreds

[13:18] [music] of dollars in support. Go to

[13:20] radioiq.org and click the vehicle

[13:22] donation banner at the top of the page.

[13:30] You're listening to Radio IQ on WVTF

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[13:52] RadioIQ, a listenerup supported

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[13:56] your smart speaker and online at

[13:57] radioiq.org.

[14:01] Welcome to NewsHour from the BBC World

[14:03] Service. I'm Paul Henley. Coming up,

[14:06] Spanish voters react to their prime

[14:08] minister calling a snap election as

[14:10] protests rage over a housing crisis.

[14:15] [music]

[14:15] >> I reckon we need an election right now.

[14:18] We've got to get rid of Pedro Sanchez

[14:20] straight away. He's doing a terrible

[14:22] job.

[14:23] >> The presidential elections in Brazil

[14:24] that have South America's biggest

[14:26] democracy bitterly divided. The Russian

[14:29] blogger who turned against the Kremlin

[14:31] and is about to pay the price. We hear

[14:33] about the work of three scientists who

[14:35] today won the Nobel Prize for Medicine.

[14:38] >> This is a new very profound important

[14:41] tool for new scientists [music] to

[14:43] understand the brain and diseases of the

[14:46] brain. and the humble Australian phone

[14:48] box that's been granted heritage status.

[14:51] All after the latest world news.

[15:01] BBC News with Emily Thomas. Spain's

[15:04] Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called

[15:06] a snap election. His announcement comes

[15:09] after his minority government's measures

[15:11] to tackle Spain's housing crisis were

[15:13] rejected by Parliament last Friday. In a

[15:16] televised speech, Mr. Sanchez said he

[15:19] wanted to obtain a broader majority in

[15:21] parliament to push through reforms.

[15:25] >> I have decided to convene an

[15:27] extraordinary council of ministers this

[15:29] very morning to dissolve the Spanish

[15:31] parliament and call a general election

[15:33] to be held on Sunday the 29th of

[15:35] November in accordance with the time

[15:37] frames laid down by law. The time has

[15:40] therefore come for the people of Spain

[15:42] to decide what future you want for

[15:44] yourselves and for your country.

[15:46] >> Yemen's government forces say they've

[15:48] begun an offensive on the capital SA in

[15:51] an effort to retake the city from the

[15:53] Iranbacked Houthi movement. A Houthy

[15:55] affiliated TV station reported a Saudi

[15:58] attack on SA. Mimi Swaybe has more. The

[16:01] offensive comes after a Saudi le

[16:03] coalition said it hit hundreds of

[16:04] targets as attempts to reverse the

[16:06] advances made last month. Yemeni

[16:09] officials say its forces seized control

[16:10] of positions on the Bab al-Mandab Strait

[16:13] as it drove Houthy fighters away from

[16:14] the strategic.

[16:17] >> Good morning and welcome to the October

[16:19] 5th, 2026 9:00 a.m. informal session of

[16:22] Rono City Council. City Council meetings

[16:25] will be televised live and replayed on

[16:27] RVTV channel 3 on Thursdays at 700 p.m.

[16:30] and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00

[16:32] p.m. And our meetings are video streamed

[16:35] through YouTube live at

[16:37] youtube.com/rronoteva.

[16:39] Council meetings are offered with closed

[16:42] captioning for the deaf or heart of

[16:44] hearing. This time I'll ask our deputy

[16:46] city clerk, Miss Webb to please call the

[16:48] role.

[16:49] >> Miss Powers

[16:50] >> here.

[16:51] >> Mr. Hagen

[16:52] >> here. Miss Sanchez Jones, Vice Mayor

[16:54] Magguire

[16:55] >> here,

[16:56] >> Mr. Nash

[16:57] >> here,

[16:57] >> Mr. Volison

[16:58] >> here,

[16:58] >> and Mayor Cobb

[16:59] >> here, and we are all present. Thank you.

[17:02] We have uh three uh items for action

[17:05] this morning. The first is a

[17:07] communication from my office requesting

[17:09] that the council convene in a closed

[17:10] meeting to discuss vacancies on certain

[17:13] authorities, boards, commissions, and

[17:15] committees appointed by the council

[17:17] pursuant to section 2.2-3711A1, 2-3711A1

[17:20] code of Virginia is amended. Uh for

[17:23] those uh interested, the boards and

[17:26] commissions we'll be considering

[17:27] appointments for are listed in the

[17:29] agenda. Need a motion and second. Please

[17:32] >> move the motion.

[17:34] >> Council members Vol and Powers. Madame

[17:37] Clerk, will you please call the role?

[17:39] >> Miss Powers

[17:41] >> here. I [laughter]

[17:43] >> Mr. Hagen.

[17:44] >> I.

[17:44] >> Miss Sanchez Jones.

[17:45] >> Hi.

[17:46] >> Vice Mayor Magguire.

[17:47] >> Hi. Mr. Nash,

[17:49] >> I

[17:49] >> Mr. Vison,

[17:50] >> I mayor Cobb,

[17:52] >> I and the motion is adopted. A

[17:54] communication from the city attorney

[17:56] requesting that city council convene in

[17:58] a closed meeting to consult with legal

[18:00] counsel regarding a certain legal matter

[18:02] requiring the provision of legal advice

[18:04] by the city attorney concerning contract

[18:06] obligations involving a city-owned

[18:08] facility in the central part of the city

[18:10] of Rono pursuant to section 2.2-3711A8

[18:15] code of Virginia is amended. I'll

[18:16] entertain a motion and second, please.

[18:18] >> So moved. [snorts]

[18:19] >> Second.

[18:20] >> Thank you, council members Hagen and

[18:22] Bison. Madame clerk, will you please

[18:23] call the role?

[18:24] >> Miss Powers.

[18:25] >> Hi.

[18:26] >> Mr. Hagen.

[18:27] >> Hi.

[18:27] >> Miss Sanchez Jones.

[18:29] >> Vice Mayor Maguire.

[18:30] >> Hi.

[18:30] >> Mr. Nash.

[18:31] >> Hi.

[18:32] >> Mr. Volison.

[18:33] >> Hi.

[18:33] >> And Mayor Cobb.

[18:34] >> I. The motion is adopted. And lastly, a

[18:37] communication from the city manager

[18:38] requesting that city council convene in

[18:40] a closed meeting to discuss or consider

[18:42] the disposition of publicly held real

[18:44] property in the northwest area of the

[18:46] city where discussion in an open meeting

[18:48] would adversely affect the bargaining

[18:50] position or negotiating strategy of the

[18:53] public body pursuant to section

[18:55] 2.2-3711A3

[18:58] code of Virginia as amended. I'll

[19:00] entertain a motion and second please.

[19:01] >> I moved the motion.

[19:03] >> Second.

[19:04] >> Thank you. Council members Powers and

[19:06] Bolison. Madame Clerk, will you please

[19:08] call the role?

[19:08] >> Miss Powers.

[19:10] >> Hi.

[19:10] >> Mr. Hagen.

[19:11] >> Hi.

[19:12] >> Miss Sanchez Jones. Vice Mayor

[19:14] Magcguire.

[19:14] >> Hi.

[19:15] >> Mr. Nash.

[19:16] >> Hi.

[19:16] >> Mr. Volison.

[19:17] >> Hi.

[19:17] >> And Mayor Cobb.

[19:18] >> Hi. And the motion is adopted. At this

[19:21] time, I'm going to recess our council

[19:22] meeting and turn the meeting over to

[19:24] Vice Mayor McGuire, who also chairs our

[19:26] legislative committee.

[19:29] >> Thank you, Mayor.

[19:31] I will call to order the October 5th

[19:34] meeting of the Rono City Legislative

[19:36] Committee

[19:38] and ask our clerk to please call the

[19:40] role.

[19:41] >> Mr. Hagen

[19:42] >> here.

[19:43] >> Miss Sanchez Jones

[19:44] >> here.

[19:44] >> Mayor Cobb

[19:45] >> here.

[19:46] >> Mr. Nash

[19:47] >> here.

[19:47] >> Mr. Volison

[19:48] >> here.

[19:49] >> Miss Powers

[19:50] >> here.

[19:50] >> Miss Appel

[19:51] >> here.

[19:52] >> Mr. Kaknes

[19:53] >> here.

[19:54] >> And Chairman Magcguire

[19:56] >> here.

[19:58] >> Thank you all for being here today. Um,

[20:00] I'm going to quickly run through uh the

[20:03] agenda and then I hope we can jump right

[20:04] in. We will be joined again by uh

[20:07] Clayton Cox and Scott Binkley, our

[20:08] federal legislative

[20:10] advocates. Uh we'll hear from Mr.

[20:12] Winters regarding one of the housing uh

[20:15] items.

[20:17] Perhaps turn it over, get an update from

[20:19] our RCPS friends if they'd like to share

[20:21] anything. But the goal for today is

[20:22] going to be uh getting this draft

[20:26] document that everyone on council has a

[20:28] copy of. Um if anyone in the audience

[20:30] does not but would like to follow along

[20:32] I have extra copies we can pass that to

[20:34] you. Um what we are working to finalize

[20:38] are our top priorities for the

[20:40] legislative agenda and then under each

[20:42] bucket

[20:43] uh there are also positions. The idea is

[20:46] that we will have a final

[20:49] one pager that lists all of our top

[20:51] priorities very similar I hope to the

[20:52] very nice document that our friends at

[20:54] RCPS put together. We will then have a

[20:56] document that includes all of our

[20:58] positions and then we will have a

[21:00] document that we will use on our side um

[21:03] that includes all of the um code

[21:05] amendment language so that when we're

[21:06] meeting with our legislative officials

[21:08] and they say, "Well, what does this

[21:09] mean? You want to support legislation to

[21:12] allow localities to establish anti-rink

[21:15] gouging ordinances or whatever." we will

[21:16] have um our talking points, but I don't

[21:18] want um I want to keep to based off of

[21:21] the feedback from our delegates and our

[21:23] senator and our lobbyists that we uh

[21:25] keep this to a one-page document. So,

[21:28] that's the goal. At the end of this

[21:29] meeting, I hope to turn this over to the

[21:31] city attorney, the city manager's office

[21:34] uh and Mr. Bryant and his team to

[21:36] finesse this and turn it into a final

[21:38] document that is ready for us to approve

[21:40] at our next meeting. What we have to do

[21:43] today is we can go through I believe we

[21:45] have consensus on a number of the top

[21:47] priorities. Right now we have I think

[21:49] five. Delegate Rousul was clear and

[21:51] asking us to keep this to three to six.

[21:53] So five I think is right there in that.

[21:56] Um I'm going to go through each of these

[21:59] uh and we can discuss those. If we have

[22:00] consensus I'll put a check mark where we

[22:02] don't. We should have discussion

[22:05] and then on any items that have been

[22:07] recently added we received feedback on

[22:09] Friday and over the weekend. um from

[22:12] staff and the mayor. So there are a

[22:13] couple of items in here that are in

[22:14] italics. Uh these are not uh

[22:19] these are suggested. So therefore

[22:21] discussion today, their inclusion in

[22:23] this in italics does not guarantee or

[22:25] indicate that they are going to be in

[22:27] the final. I'm adding them here for the

[22:29] group's discussion because I have not

[22:31] had a chance to review them and council

[22:32] has not had a chance to review them. So

[22:34] this is our opportunity.

[22:36] So, to jump right in before I start,

[22:38] does anyone have any um Oh, and I'll

[22:40] also say um I'm not I'm gonna make uh

[22:42] Miss Keeny, let me know if I need a

[22:43] motion um to approve our minutes at the

[22:45] next meeting.

[22:47] >> Need a motion.

[22:48] >> Okay, great. Thank you. We'll do that at

[22:49] the next meeting.

[22:51] Does anyone have any questions about

[22:52] this before we jump in?

[22:58] Okay, great. Well, the first uh item on

[23:01] the list was housing. Our priority ask

[23:04] is uh well actually I'll yeah I'll do

[23:08] this and then we can turn it over to our

[23:09] friends on the phone. I don't know the

[23:11] best way to jump through this. Um the

[23:14] first item is housing. We are seeking

[23:16] reintroduction of HB181 which would

[23:18] allow the creation of affordable

[23:19] dwelling unit program. Uh this is a

[23:22] state program. We need action from the

[23:24] state to allow Rono to be added to that

[23:26] list. There was a bill put forward last

[23:28] year. uh there is a study uh to look at

[23:32] this that is being conducted right now.

[23:35] This cannot pass if it is not uh we this

[23:37] cannot take effect if it's not acted on

[23:39] again in this session. So if this

[23:41] remains our priority, we have to include

[23:43] it. The caveat here is that the bill

[23:45] last year called for a study to look at

[23:47] what this would um what this would mean

[23:50] for Ronoke. That study does not come out

[23:52] until November. So I'll turn it over if

[23:54] anyone uh would like to say anything

[23:56] about the housing piece of this. I'm

[23:57] just not sure how that intersects

[23:59] directly that we won't get the results

[24:01] of the housing study until November, but

[24:03] we're asking to put this on our

[24:04] legislative agenda right now. So, that's

[24:07] the only piece I'm not sure of on the

[24:08] housing priority. So, I'd open that up

[24:10] for discussion and clarification.

[24:15] » Vice Mayor,

[24:16] >> Mr.

[24:18] November, like next month,

[24:20] >> correct?

[24:20] >> Okay. Not the

[24:21] >> Yeah, not 27.

[24:22] >> I was worried that's what they were

[24:24] thinking. I know that this has been a

[24:25] the study has been a contentious part of

[24:27] this whole legislative part of it. Um I

[24:30] think what I' I've heard is that they're

[24:32] going to be looking at uh what this

[24:34] program has done in other localities and

[24:36] then also looking at what Richmond has

[24:38] done in their area

[24:40] >> which seems to be um favored by the the

[24:43] homebuilders.

[24:44] >> Um I would just suggest that we also

[24:46] reach out to the homebuilders

[24:47] association uh about this issue. Mhm.

[24:50] >> Um but I definitely think that uh this

[24:53] is something we've heard from the the

[24:54] citizens on multiple times that they

[24:56] would like to um

[24:59] to have an affordable dwelling unit

[25:01] program here in the city and I think

[25:02] it's worth being a priority yet again.

[25:05] >> Thank you, Mr. Bison. Before I turn it

[25:06] to Mr. Hagen, I agree. The question

[25:08] though is how do we uh handle the study

[25:11] not being out yet and the inclusion of

[25:12] this item on our legislative agenda, Mr.

[25:14] Hagen?

[25:14] >> Which was what exactly what I was going

[25:16] to point out. like I would be con like

[25:18] I'm in favor of this in general but if

[25:20] the studies suggest that hey this may

[25:22] not be a good idea we won't know that

[25:24] until um November or if it is you know

[25:29] neither good nor bad then we are going

[25:31] to have to weigh it. So that would be a

[25:33] question if it's not necessarily

[25:34] supportive but kind of a neutral stance

[25:37] on the report. So that's the only

[25:39] concern that I would have about

[25:41] approving it pending um any sort of

[25:44] review by this body. How about uh we

[25:47] just remove that last pending a

[25:49] supportive recommendation. Um you know I

[25:52] think even if it uh I think we can

[25:56] approve it today and if we need to if it

[25:58] does come out in a negative form or that

[26:00] we find some reason not to try and

[26:02] continue to go forward with this that we

[26:04] can amend it uh at a future meeting. But

[26:07] I do think that this is an important uh

[26:09] legislation and uh delegate Rul is the

[26:12] one pushing it and if you don't get

[26:14] support from the locality then how are

[26:15] we going to expect the state to take us

[26:18] seriously about this this ask?

[26:21] >> I'll turn it over to Mr. Winter if he

[26:23] has any thoughts. I think what Mr. Vison

[26:25] is suggesting is that we leave this

[26:27] included uh and if we don't get a

[26:30] positive recommendation from the study

[26:32] that we would amend the legislative

[26:34] agenda sometime later this fall. All

[26:37] right. Thank you very much. I'm open to

[26:39] that. Mr. Winter, do you want to share

[26:40] anything?

[26:41] >> Sure. What I'd like to do is uh take you

[26:43] through a presentation. Um I think given

[26:46] our TV audience kind of give a little

[26:48] bit of background about HB 181 um as

[26:51] well as uh toward the end of the

[26:53] presentation kind of give you an update

[26:54] as to where we are uh working on the

[26:57] study. Okay. Um I did uh give you a

[27:02] update on the presentation. I made some

[27:04] slight tweaks to the presentation. U it

[27:07] is there in content pretty much but you

[27:09] know just some uh so you have the

[27:11] updated version. and I can be sure that

[27:12] you get an electronic copy.

[27:20] So, good morning, Vice Mayor Maguire,

[27:22] chair of this legislative committee,

[27:24] Mayor Cobb, members of city council,

[27:27] Miss Turner,

[27:29] city manager, and other guests of the

[27:31] legislative committee. My presentation

[27:33] this morning is a general overview of

[27:35] the Virginia General Assembly House Bill

[27:38] 181, an ordinance for the purpose of

[27:40] developing an affordable dwelling unit

[27:42] program in the city of Rona.

[27:47] My presentation this morning will walk

[27:49] you through these six presentation

[27:51] topics. A brief background of Virginia

[27:54] Bill House Bill 181. An overview of the

[27:57] bill. The primary two features or

[28:00] purposes that shape the scope of work.

[28:03] The analytical framework in which we are

[28:05] working under. In essence, the maximum

[28:07] possible benefit or capacity to produce

[28:10] ADUs,

[28:11] a review of the scope of work being done

[28:13] to complete the study required by the

[28:16] Virginia General Assembly, and what we

[28:18] have accomplished to date.

[28:24] In 2026, the 2026 session of the

[28:27] Virginia General Assembly, legislators

[28:29] enacting HB 181 to add the city of Rono

[28:33] to the list of localities authorized to

[28:36] adopt an affordable housing dwelling

[28:38] unit ADU program. The bill was sponsored

[28:41] by delegate Sam Rasul and approved by

[28:44] the governor on April 13, 2026 with

[28:47] conditions

[28:48] that the with the following condition

[28:50] that Virginia housing analyze the

[28:52] capacity of an ADU program for Rono.

[28:56] will be the seventh community to

[28:58] have an ADU program if approved. Other

[29:01] communities improve improve other

[29:03] communities include Alberal and Lowden

[29:06] County, Alexandria, Charlottesville,

[29:08] Fairfax, and false church.

[29:11] There was an amendment to the bill

[29:13] requiring Virginia Housing

[29:15] to analyze the capacity of an ADU

[29:17] program for Rono.

[29:19] Virginia Housing

[29:22] contacted the city of Rono and the

[29:24] consensus between Virginia Housing and

[29:26] the city of Ronok was to work with

[29:29] Virginia Housing was to contract with

[29:30] the Virginia Housing Research Center who

[29:33] also partnered with Housing First in

[29:35] order to do the study.

[29:41] The passage of HB181 gives Rono specific

[29:44] authority to establish an ADU program by

[29:47] amending its zoning ordinance to allow

[29:49] for the development of ADUs. The general

[29:51] assembly also passed House Bill 867

[29:54] which expands the authority to all

[29:56] localities by July 1, 2027.

[30:00] The expanded bill HB867

[30:04] expounds more on HB81 to address lot

[30:07] size, establishment of an affordable

[30:10] housing trust, conversion of commercial

[30:12] space to multif family housing, and

[30:15] financial incentives for ADU

[30:16] development. It is my understanding that

[30:20] although HB861 go 867 goes into effect

[30:23] July 1227,

[30:26] Rono is the test for HB181 for eventual

[30:29] implementation by other localities.

[30:41] The scope and eventual study is shaped

[30:43] by two things. First analysis of HB181

[30:46] for the provision of affordable housing

[30:48] in Rono and secondly the trigger of the

[30:51] reenactment clause which evidence of the

[30:54] study for the Virginia housing general

[30:56] assembly to for the reenactment

[30:58] decision. In essence the study will help

[31:01] tweak the bill and eventual passage

[31:04] based on the information that they uh

[31:06] discovered in the study when it's

[31:08] completed.

[31:14] As stated previously, Virginia Housing

[31:16] has engaged Virginia Center for Housing

[31:19] Research at Virginia Tech.

[31:22] Thank you.

[31:29] In collaboration with Housing uh Forward

[31:32] Virginia to support the statutoily

[31:33] required analysis and to produce a

[31:36] deliverable suite achieving the

[31:37] following three things. inform the

[31:40] reenactment decision. Support Royal

[31:43] Oak's eventual program design. Contri

[31:46] contribute method methodology to the

[31:49] best practice documentation that can

[31:51] benefit other Virginia communities

[31:54] considering an ADU unit ADU program.

[32:00] The analytical framework. The analytical

[32:03] framework for the study in essence will

[32:05] hopefully produce the following. Project

[32:07] projected unit production will produce

[32:10] the following pardon me. Projected unit

[32:13] production, depth of affordability,

[32:16] durability of affordability,

[32:18] geographic distribution, [snorts]

[32:21] developer uptake, alignment of unit mix

[32:24] with documented housing needs or goals,

[32:26] and the administrative feasibility of

[32:28] the program.

[32:31] [snorts]

[32:34] Excuse me. The scope of work that

[32:36] Virginia Center for Housing Research

[32:38] will conduct consists of these seven

[32:40] task and deliverables.

[32:43] [snorts] Task one, policy and statutory

[32:45] review. The the deliverable policy and

[32:48] statutory memo as authored by Virginia

[32:52] Housing. Um

[32:55] task number two, RO housing market gap

[32:58] analysis. Task number three, ADU

[33:00] exchange calibration analysis. This is

[33:02] one of the things that I'm pretty much

[33:04] looking forward to because it allows us

[33:06] with an Excel spreadsheet to put a lot

[33:08] of data into that information to kind of

[33:10] see what it comes up with. So, we're

[33:12] looking forward to that. Task number

[33:14] four, additional documentation and best

[33:16] practices.

[33:18] Task number five, stakeholder

[33:20] engagement. Task number six,

[33:22] implementation, capacity assessment.

[33:25] Task number seven, program design,

[33:27] recommendations, and final summary

[33:28] findings. All these have deliverables.

[33:31] Um they're in your packet that we'll be

[33:33] looking forward to when the study is

[33:35] completed.

[33:49] the combined program design and the

[33:50] final summary of the findings memo

[33:52] delivered to the city of Ronoke and

[33:55] Virginia housing by October 30th and

[33:58] Virginia housing delivering of the

[34:01] report to the Virginia housing committee

[34:02] on November 1st. So we get a report at

[34:05] the end of October in which in turn the

[34:08] uh consultants that we are working with

[34:10] will also deliver that program to

[34:11] Virginia housing. Virginia Houser will

[34:13] in turn because they're the ones that

[34:15] are tasked with doing the uh the study,

[34:17] they will then report this to the

[34:18] general general assembly committee

[34:29] accomplishments.

[34:31] The city of Ron economic de e economic

[34:33] development department and the office of

[34:35] housing and neighborhood services have

[34:37] been meeting and strategizing with

[34:39] Virginia center for housing research to

[34:42] complete the study.

[34:44] The following are our accomplishments to

[34:46] date. September 9th kickoff meeting.

[34:51] Virginia Center for Housing Research at

[34:53] Virginia Tech, Housing Ford Virginia,

[34:56] City of Ron Nook Department of Economic

[34:58] Development, and the Office of Housing

[35:00] and Neighborhood Services. This was our

[35:01] initial kickoff that we had uh in order

[35:03] to kind of see what the scope was about

[35:05] and how we would move forward with an

[35:06] with a timeline of activities.

[35:09] September 18th, meeting with nonprofit

[35:12] developers, Habitat for Humanity,

[35:15] Renovation Alliance, Restoration

[35:17] Housing, Ron Oak Development and Housing

[35:19] Authority, Total Action for Progress.

[35:22] Actually, Ron Oak development and

[35:23] housing authority is not a nonprofit of

[35:25] course um but they are a stakeholder

[35:26] kind of considered under that category.

[35:31] September 24th meeting held with the

[35:33] for-profit developers. Over 20

[35:36] stakeholders, including for-profit

[35:38] developers, were on the call with the

[35:40] consultants. September 30th, meeting

[35:43] with the city of Rono planning

[35:44] department.

[35:50] Our next steps,

[35:53] another run of calls with none um with

[35:56] none on for-profit developers. Schedule

[35:58] a meeting with Home Builders

[36:00] Association.

[36:02] Focus on deliverables for HB81

[36:05] deadline of November 1st. Continue the

[36:08] study as related to HB867 into November

[36:10] and December. This bill will have to be

[36:13] reintroduced in the 2027 session of the

[36:16] Virginia General Assembly.

[36:18] » [snorts]

[36:18] >> So although we received the reports both

[36:20] in October and November, the consultants

[36:22] are going to continue because it's such

[36:23] a lot of data information that they're

[36:25] putting together for us that we should

[36:27] receive a final report with

[36:29] recommendations and implementation

[36:31] um regarding the ADU program. Hopefully

[36:34] if it's enacted that we can put together

[36:36] fairly quickly and we anticipate that

[36:38] we'll receive that information hopefully

[36:40] by the end of the year.

[36:45] Oops.

[36:47] Thank you. Questions winter

[36:50] >> and I'll rely on my co the legislative

[36:52] colleagues as well to answer any

[36:53] questions that you may have.

[36:58] » Alison,

[37:00] [laughter]

[37:01] >> yeah, I'm I'm kind of surprised at the

[37:04] timeline of this study. It seems to be

[37:06] very um I mean it's only a month to do a

[37:09] study about such an important topic and

[37:11] important issue uh for both the city and

[37:15] the Commonwealth. Um, I guess that

[37:18] that's a I'm kind of wondering why it

[37:21] and this may be not a question for you,

[37:23] Mr. Winter, but for our legislative

[37:25] friends, as to why it took so long to

[37:27] get this uh study ready to go uh when it

[37:31] was enacted back last uh I guess March

[37:35] would been when it was done. And so

[37:37] we're just starting it and we're

[37:38] cramming it into a one-mon period. Um,

[37:40] and as somebody who's worked in uh urban

[37:43] planning and and data analysis, it's not

[37:45] a very long time to deal with all the

[37:47] policies and intricacies of what go into

[37:49] our housing. And so it may not be a

[37:51] question, but more of a comment that um

[37:55] I'll be very interested to see what the

[37:57] results are of this considering the

[37:59] short uh time span uh that there is. I

[38:03] also wonder wondered if there's any um I

[38:06] see that we have stakeholders that are

[38:08] for-profit developers and nonprofit

[38:09] developers. Are there any other

[38:11] stakeholders that would be um brought

[38:14] into this?

[38:16] >> If I may, besides the home builders

[38:18] association, which we want to talk to,

[38:19] we have asked also asked our

[38:21] stakeholders to reach out to anyone else

[38:24] who they think would be interested in

[38:26] this as well. So we're hoping that the

[38:28] next round of meetings that we have that

[38:30] there'll be more people also um

[38:32] including in this meeting and giving

[38:34] their input regarding the

[38:36] >> Is there any um I guess my question is there any uh input from the political

[38:41] stakeholders as well um because it is a

[38:44] political uh ask that we are making

[38:49] >> absolutely um you know when we were when

[38:53] they contacted us we we were pleasantly

[38:55] surprised that um we were being included

[38:58] um and we owe a lot of uh debt of

[39:00] gratitude to Delegate Rasul um for that.

[39:03] Um so anyone that we can get involved um

[39:07] and absolutely I mean it's it's it's

[39:09] your legislative agenda so we certainly

[39:11] would want to make sure that our local

[39:12] officials had a voice at the table as

[39:14] well.

[39:18] » So um and I apologize I'm a little bit

[39:21] confused. What does H uh H18 um1 do that

[39:26] HB867

[39:27] wouldn't

[39:29] >> just besides adding us?

[39:30] >> We we are like the test, [clears throat]

[39:32] right?

[39:32] >> Yeah. Okay.

[39:33] >> Okay. And so what that does once they

[39:35] receive the test then it helps to align

[39:38] the final bill that's going to be um

[39:41] introduced next year. Um

[39:45] >> Okay, I see. So it was just creating

[39:46] this HB181

[39:49] just creates the study puts us on this

[39:51] list but it gets applied to everybody in

[39:53] Virginia it does anyway with 867

[39:55] >> does but we help to frame that study so

[39:58] when it gets ready to for reenactment

[40:00] for instance the study can say that

[40:02] there are certain things certain

[40:03] capacity uh regarding the bill and I'll

[40:05] defer to my legislative um colleagues as

[40:07] well

[40:08] >> but using an example I listed several

[40:11] examples in here lot sizes that study

[40:14] would help the Virginia general general

[40:15] assembly to determine how they're going

[40:17] to move forward with with the final

[40:18] reenactment of the bill. It is my

[40:21] understanding that as they're moving

[40:22] forward, what has happened is there

[40:24] other communities coming forward as well

[40:26] uh in terms of who wants to have this

[40:28] done. So this what we are doing in terms

[40:30] of the study helps to kind of put all of

[40:32] that within context. That is my

[40:33] understanding.

[40:36] >> May I may I um

[40:37] >> well yeah sure Mr. Visonson one second.

[40:39] I think my question is the same. If

[40:41] HB867 has already passed

[40:44] >> and [clears throat] it's going to come

[40:46] into effect in July 1 of 2027, how would

[40:49] our study for HB181 inform a law that's

[40:52] already passed and going into effect?

[40:54] >> I would defer to my legislative

[40:55] committees, but that is how I understand

[40:57] the process.

[40:58] >> Okay, Mr. Bison.

[40:59] >> So, it's actually SB867.

[41:02] It's a state bill that was put in by uh

[41:05] I believe Miss Boy and Mr. Bryant, you

[41:08] can correct me if I'm wrong. Um, but

[41:10] it's a Senate bill. So, ours was a House

[41:13] bill that was put in for Rono to be

[41:15] added to that list. At the same time, in

[41:17] the Senate, uh, Miss Boyco, I believe,

[41:20] put in this bill, uh, that would make

[41:22] every locality in Virginia have the

[41:25] ability to do an an affordable dwelling

[41:27] unit. They then were both tied to this

[41:30] housing study that they're that they're

[41:32] doing for Ron Oak. So the decision on

[41:35] whether HB81 and H SB867

[41:40] because they're very much similar and

[41:43] that we're asking for ADUs and you know

[41:45] this would do it for everybody. They're

[41:47] both tied to that same study and so that

[41:50] will inform whether u final passage

[41:54] actually happens.

[41:55] >> SB 867 passed the legislature.

[41:58] >> Yeah. just like HB181 passed the

[42:00] legislature, but it's it's contingent

[42:03] upon the study that we have.

[42:06] >> And so Rowan Oak is like the pilot to

[42:09] build a statewide model.

[42:11] >> So they'll take our statewide model.

[42:14] >> They're going to implement a bill in

[42:15] July and use what we're doing to inform

[42:17] that.

[42:18] >> Correct. Yes.

[42:21] >> Mr. Hagen, does that help?

[42:23] >> Yeah. Yeah.

[42:23] >> Question. [clears throat]

[42:27] Thank you for the clarification.

[42:31] » Anyone else have any other questions on

[42:33] this bill or Mr. Winter's presentation?

[42:37] >> Mayor,

[42:38] >> uh, Vice Mayor, I would I I appreciate

[42:40] the context and the presentation. Um,

[42:42] and I'm grateful that Ron Oak's uh

[42:45] included in this and that we can be a

[42:46] pilot for this for the larger

[42:49] Commonwealth. I would I would u support

[42:53] keeping this as a priority ask uh with

[42:56] the understanding that um once we

[43:00] receive the final report that if if we

[43:03] need to amend the ask we can do that.

[43:07] >> Sounds good. I think there's agreement.

[43:08] We will move forward then with keeping

[43:10] this as our priority ask uh pending

[43:12] results of that recommendation that

[43:14] we'll get soon and so we'll look to your

[43:16] team to keep us informed um on that and

[43:19] appreciate your information today. Thank

[43:21] you.

[43:21] >> All right. Thank you.

[43:22] >> Oh, vice mayor.

[43:22] >> Yes, sir.

[43:23] >> And I was just going to I was just going

[43:24] to add that on October 30th when that

[43:27] information comes in if we can make sure

[43:29] that council gets that that day as well

[43:32] >> because I want to see that.

[43:34] >> Yeah, I want to see that before Tuesday.

[43:36] Oh, not Tuesday. for the second on

[43:38] Monday. So,

[43:40] >> yep. Yes, I think that's a good idea.

[43:41] Thank you, Mr. Nash.

[43:43] >> Thank you again, Mr. Winter.

[43:45] >> Thank you.

[43:45] >> I'm not going to go through all of the

[43:47] positions that are um on the housing

[43:50] bucket, but if you uh those are none of

[43:53] those are new uh to as of today. Um so,

[43:56] I'll move on to public safety. This is

[43:59] also Yes, sir. Mr. Vol. I just wanted to

[44:01] just make a note that I feel that um the

[44:04] supporting the giving localities more

[44:06] tools to address blight and

[44:08] non-compliant property owners. I think

[44:10] that's something that we hear all the

[44:11] time from our constituents about and I

[44:13] would uh want to put that as a priority.

[44:16] >> Um I know last time we did a ranking s

[44:19] of of our choices and stuff. Um and so I

[44:23] just wanted to make clear that that was

[44:25] something that I think is is a priority

[44:26] for the city.

[44:27] >> Do you think Mr.

[44:28] that should take priority over the

[44:31] current priority ask of HB181.

[44:33] >> No.

[44:34] >> So, you want to keep it in the

[44:35] positions?

[44:36] >> I mean, I would I would think that we

[44:38] should elevate it to a priority ask, but

[44:40] I um you know, I obviously am not the

[44:43] council.

[44:46] >> Well, the feedback we have received is

[44:48] strong strong heavy encouragement to

[44:50] have one priority per area. So, if you

[44:53] would like to make uh a motion that we

[44:55] have two priorities for housing, I'd be

[44:57] glad to entertain that and you can make

[44:59] the case.

[45:00] >> I was just I would make that motion, but

[45:02] I also see that like under

[45:03] transportation we have three asks.

[45:05] >> Well, we have to again we're working

[45:07] towards that where we're going to

[45:08] whittle that down to one.

[45:09] >> Okay. We're going to put make that to

[45:11] one. Okay. All right. Well, then that

[45:12] makes sense. I'm happy to continue the

[45:14] way we are then if we're just doing one.

[45:18] >> Everyone okay with that? All right.

[45:20] Thank you so much. Moving along to

[45:22] public safety, the priority ask would be

[45:24] keeping uh what we asked for last year,

[45:28] which was HB11 in 2026. This was

[45:31] legislation that would provide those

[45:32] under emergency custody order upon

[45:35] completion of medical evaluation or care

[45:37] with transportation to an approved

[45:39] treatment center or return to their

[45:41] residents. The idea is this would help

[45:43] reunite people with their family and

[45:45] community and improve their odds of

[45:46] recovery while reducing strain on local

[45:49] government services. Um this is uh was

[45:53] important to us last year. Ronut

[45:54] Memorial is one of the only uh level one

[45:58] trauma facilities in the state. So we

[46:00] get a lot of folks sent to us under

[46:01] emergency custody order that don't

[46:03] always have resources to get back to

[46:05] where they came from. So this is an

[46:07] attempt um to uh make sure that there

[46:09] are resources for transportation on both

[46:11] ends. U Mayor, this was your priority

[46:14] last year. I'd be glad to turn it over

[46:15] to you if you want to say anything. Um

[46:18] yeah, this this took kind of an

[46:19] interesting twisty road during the

[46:21] general assembly that I didn't quite

[46:23] fully understand. Uh because this was

[46:25] originally to add um this as an

[46:29] additional part of a bill that already

[46:32] exists that's already law uh to provide

[46:35] this provision um and to to look at

[46:38] potential funding um to help expedite

[46:41] this. So I would I would fully support

[46:44] the continuence of this as a priority.

[46:47] And I think it also addresses

[46:49] uh one of the issues we were concerned

[46:51] about um that was a contributing factor

[46:55] to I wouldn't say a large increase but

[46:58] um part of the increase we've seen

[47:01] related to homelessness in the

[47:02] community. So this would be a way for

[47:06] >> Thank you, mayor. I support keeping it

[47:08] as our um priority ask for 2027 and

[47:12] would open it up to feedback from

[47:14] council or city manager or anyone else

[47:16] who would like to say anything or add

[47:18] comment.

[47:20] If we feel good, we can leave that. I

[47:21] think there was agreement on that one.

[47:24] Okay. I will So, moving ahead, there are

[47:25] positions under public safety. I will

[47:27] note that there are two additions that

[47:30] were um that are in italics at the

[47:32] bottom. These were submitted by staff.

[47:34] Because they're new, I'll quickly read

[47:36] them. One, support amending the code of

[47:38] Virginia to include public safety

[47:40] telecommunicators, 911 emergency

[47:42] communications officers, and dispatchers

[47:44] among the public safety professionals

[47:46] eligible for workers compensation

[47:48] benefits for work-related post-traumatic

[47:51] stress disorder, anxiety disorders, and

[47:53] depressive disorders resulting from

[47:55] qualifying mental health and traumatic

[47:57] events experienced in the line of duty.

[47:59] Number two, also related to um E911

[48:03] officers support amending Code of

[48:05] Virginia to provide those officers the

[48:06] same legal protections afforded to other

[48:08] first responders by including them in

[48:10] statutes addressing assaults, threats,

[48:12] intimidation, obstruction, and

[48:13] interference while performing official

[48:16] duties. The legislation should establish

[48:18] enhanced penalties for individuals who

[48:20] knowingly assault, threaten, intimidate,

[48:22] or otherwise interfere with a public

[48:24] safety telecommunicator in the per in

[48:26] the performance of their official

[48:27] duties. Um, again, these were uh

[48:30] recently added, so they're in italics,

[48:32] so we can open them up for feedback or

[48:34] any comments from staff or council.

[48:38] >> Yes, sir. Mr. Hagen,

[48:39] >> I think they're both good uh positions

[48:41] for us to have as we discuss with our

[48:43] legislators. Um, just, you know, it's good to have them, but given the uh

[48:50] the priority ask it, I think like um

[48:53] that it's good to just keep it as

[48:55] position.

[48:56] Just my two cents.

[48:58] Alison.

[48:59] >> So, I would consider these two actually

[49:01] not new, but a kind of more in-depth

[49:03] version of uh two um bullets before

[49:06] that, which is supporting the amending

[49:08] the code of Virginia to include public

[49:10] safety telecommunicators. Um it's just

[49:13] them stating it in a more uh finite way.

[49:16] So, I would suggest that we remove that

[49:18] previous bullet and leave the two that

[49:20] are uh more detailed in.

[49:24] >> Thank you, Mr. Fison. I'll note that.

[49:25] And what we're going to do with this uh

[49:27] because these are new additions and

[49:28] we're um discussing them and digesting

[49:30] them today is uh we will I'm going to

[49:33] run these through the city manager's

[49:34] office and the city attorney's office

[49:35] again just to make sure there's no um

[49:38] duplicative language and that everything

[49:39] in here is uh worded appropriately. So I

[49:42] think that's a good suggestion. Thank

[49:43] you, Mr. Bison.

[49:47] Anything else on those two new

[49:49] positions?

[49:51] >> Okay. Yes, ma'am. I will make a comment

[49:53] on the um 911 the added ones. I have um

[49:57] heard that there are some other

[49:59] localities doing this.

[50:01] >> So we wouldn't you know it's looks like

[50:04] it's going to get at it with some other

[50:07] localities. I wish I could remember

[50:09] which ones told me they were going to do

[50:10] it, but I remember

[50:12] >> and I I'll jump and share an idea that I

[50:15] had when I was kind of reviewing some of

[50:16] this over the weekend in that, you know,

[50:18] we have like VML and I would be

[50:21] interested to see how much of what we

[50:24] have listed here VML are already

[50:28] planning on perhaps lobbying and

[50:30] advocating for and where there's, you

[50:34] know, the, you know, the the

[50:36] similarities between what we have here

[50:38] and what they're going to be working on.

[50:40] Then we can just, you know, have Brian

[50:41] or whoever, right? Kind of work with VML

[50:44] as we go up there. But

[50:46] >> is anybody going to the VML conference

[50:47] this weekend?

[50:48] >> Okay. Then I would suggest that you

[50:52] that's where that's where those things

[50:53] get worked out is at conferences. They

[50:55] do the the policy work in the

[50:56] summertime.

[50:58] >> Yeah.

[50:58] >> I'm glad to see where the crosssections

[51:01] are.

[51:02] >> Yeah. I mean, because I would be

[51:03] interested to see, you know, where we

[51:04] can maybe lighten our load a little bit

[51:06] because this thing is getting kind of

[51:07] thick and if we can reduce some of this

[51:11] um and you know, and they have their own

[51:13] lobbyist and their own kind of levers

[51:15] that they're pulling on. Um it might

[51:16] just be more efficient for um our city's

[51:20] lobbyists if we can kind of reduce this

[51:22] a little bit and and share some of these

[51:24] priorities with BML.

[51:28] >> Yeah, I think that's a good suggestion.

[51:29] Thank you, Mr. Nash. Moving [cough]

[51:32] on to economic development, we have a

[51:34] suggested uh new priority ask for 2027.

[51:37] I'll read it off and then I will let um

[51:40] our mayor, if you would like, or anyone

[51:41] else from the city manager's office say

[51:43] a word about that or staff broadly. Uh,

[51:46] under economic development, support a

[51:48] $17.5 million state investment in the

[51:52] 2027 general assembly session to

[51:54] complete detailed planning for Radford

[51:56] University's new Rono academic health

[51:58] sciences building, positioning Rono to

[52:01] educate more health care professionals

[52:02] and address health workforce shortages

[52:05] across Virginia, particularly in rural

[52:07] and underserved communities.

[52:10] So, I would open that up for um

[52:12] discussion. Mayor, if you'd like to

[52:14] >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. Um, so I handed

[52:16] out to all of you a couple of items that

[52:18] give a lot more more thorough detail on

[52:22] this new academic health sciences

[52:24] building. Uh, for those who may not be

[52:26] aware, um, Bradford is in the early

[52:29] stages of design for this um, and is

[52:34] advocating through the general assembly

[52:36] for state funding to support this

[52:38] effort. Um

[52:42] there was a similar effort that that was

[52:44] completed with um uh Virginia Tech

[52:48] Currillian School of Medicine for their

[52:50] uh expansion or actually their building

[52:52] of a new campus and 5 million of that

[52:55] was part of the construction pool budget

[52:57] this last year. uh in meeting with

[52:59] President Denilowitz and some of the

[53:02] leadership um because this is such a

[53:05] significant investment not only in the

[53:07] city of Rowan Oak but in our region and

[53:09] because it focuses u all of their health

[53:12] sciences into one primary location with

[53:16] an emphasis on rural health um and which

[53:19] is also critical for the region that

[53:21] we're in. I wanted to recommend that we

[53:24] support this. Uh this will be a

[53:25] multi-year process with the general

[53:27] assembly. Um and that's why I wanted you

[53:30] all to have the additional information

[53:32] about what will be included in this

[53:34] center. Um just to share with you the

[53:37] kind of summary ask I sent you a more

[53:40] extensive one earlier that talks about

[53:43] um what this facility will include which

[53:46] is uh modern instructional laboratory

[53:49] simulation and collaborative learning

[53:51] spaces needed to educate more health

[53:53] care professionals for the commonwealth.

[53:54] So this is going to be a big boost to

[53:56] our healthc care workforce pathway

[54:00] and uh it will be in uh located in our

[54:03] innovation corridor which is another key

[54:06] aspect and um as I said will support um

[54:10] Radford University center for rural

[54:12] health. Um so I would just offer that to

[54:15] you. um glad to try and answer any

[54:17] additional questions and if helpful I I

[54:20] would be glad to work with the manager

[54:22] to reach out to President Denilowitz um

[54:25] for a more thorough presentation for

[54:27] council on this. This is going to be an

[54:29] ongoing project.

[54:33] » Thank you, Vice Mayor McGuire and our

[54:34] teams have already been meeting um with

[54:36] Bradford. Um this is going to be a

[54:39] phenomenal addition um as the mayor

[54:41] stated to our innovation corridor. So

[54:44] anything that we can do obviously to

[54:46] assist them um we'd be happy to do so

[54:48] but um our team both economic

[54:50] development planning building and

[54:52] development we have already been meeting

[54:53] to ensure that they have a path forward

[54:56] as they're moving into the city.

[54:58] >> Very much so I think I heard but just to

[55:00] confirm you guys are comfortable with

[55:01] this as our top economic development

[55:03] priority as well.

[55:06] >> Well yes Mr. Vison

[55:07] >> I just had one question um and this was

[55:10] probably from Radford University. I'm

[55:12] just uh kind of surprised at the the

[55:15] high ask for design um because normally

[55:18] I don't see you know design asks that

[55:21] large and so just wondering what that's

[55:22] broken down into.

[55:24] >> I I'll pass that on and share with you

[55:26] all what I learned. Okay. I think it

[55:27] would also be helpful if we could get

[55:29] them here.

[55:30] >> Yeah, absolutely. You know, I'd love to

[55:31] have a present

[55:32] >> even before the general assembly perhaps

[55:34] in November uh to do a president. We

[55:37] could take you up on that. I think

[55:38] that's a great idea. I will extend that

[55:41] invitation.

[55:41] >> Thank you very much.

[55:43] >> Um well, I am comfortable leaving this

[55:46] here as our priority ask per um support

[55:50] from our economic development team and

[55:52] our city manager's office um and the

[55:54] mayor's research and support. Does

[55:57] anyone have any questions? Are we

[55:58] comfortable with this or Yes, sir. Mr.

[56:00] Nash.

[56:01] >> I'm comfortable with it. I just, you

[56:04] know, the wording [clears throat] in the

[56:05] last part of it where it's like

[56:06] positioning Rono to educate more health

[56:08] care professionals,

[56:10] you know, I would I would change Rono to

[56:13] Rafford University because like it's not

[56:15] like we like that what I'm trying to say

[56:19] >> like we're not educating anyone like

[56:22] we're letting them build a non-t taxable

[56:24] structure um in the innovation corridor

[56:27] and then they're doing the work of

[56:28] educating folks. So I don't think we

[56:31] should say Ron to educate more. You

[56:33] know, we're not I mean I don't know how

[56:34] many people are even CPR certified, you

[56:36] know what I mean? So I wouldn't say

[56:38] we're educating anyone. I would

[56:40] [clears throat] say to support Rafford

[56:41] in their pursuit to educate more

[56:44] professionals and health care workforce,

[56:47] you know, to address the health care

[56:48] workforce shortage across,

[56:51] you know, underserved communities

[56:53] because I think rural healthc care is

[56:54] going to look a lot different here for

[56:56] the next few years with a lot of the

[56:57] federal uh legislation and bills that

[57:02] are going on right now. So, but I would

[57:05] just change that. I just don't think it

[57:06] reads well and and you know closes that

[57:10] up that ask up nicely.

[57:13] >> Well, thank you for that suggestion and

[57:15] again we'll take that I wrote that down

[57:16] and we will be giving this to um Mr.

[57:19] Bryant's side and the city attorney city

[57:21] manager's office to get a um like an

[57:23] updated

[57:24] uh rewarding of this. So if uh we'll

[57:27] make sure that that's shared with all of

[57:28] council and uh if you see something that

[57:31] doesn't look like it meets that

[57:33] suggestion just let us know. But yeah,

[57:34] this is not the final wording. Thank you

[57:36] for that comment.

[57:38] Um,

[57:39] there are a number of positions under

[57:41] economic development. I won't read

[57:42] through each of those, but I will

[57:45] note uh Mr. Vol inquired about inclusion

[57:48] of the Rono Valley Alageney Regional

[57:50] Commission 2027 legislative agenda. Um,

[57:53] that's included.

[57:54] Were there any questions or comments

[57:56] about the other positions under economic

[57:58] development?

[58:02] Okay. Um, thank you. Moving on to

[58:05] transportation. Um, we would ideally

[58:08] find a one priority ask for this. If we

[58:11] can't, then maybe we revisit Mr. Volison

[58:13] suggestion that we have two priorities

[58:14] for other areas. Um, but what we are

[58:17] looking at are uh three asks. The

[58:20] support funding for the airport terminal

[58:22] upgrades, support funding for airport

[58:24] expansion feasibility and impact

[58:26] studies. Those were two different um

[58:28] buckets of money and requests.

[58:30] [clears throat] and then support funding

[58:31] to deliver an Amtrak station in downtown

[58:33] Rono. Um, I will just kick it off and

[58:37] say that I was supportive of including

[58:40] uh or having the Amtrak station be our

[58:42] priority ask and my thinking behind that

[58:45] was that it would have tremendous

[58:47] benefit to us to Reano City um directly.

[58:50] Uh there are no other entities that I'm

[58:52] aware of uh fighting for that for us. uh

[58:55] whereas the airport uh has every

[58:58] neighboring locality uh very uh involved

[59:02] and lobbying and very active and it's a

[59:05] clearly stated priority for us and is

[59:07] included um in the Alageney Regional

[59:09] Commission agenda which we say we

[59:11] support. So um that was my thinking on

[59:14] that but of course we are a body so we

[59:17] have to figure that out come to

[59:18] consensus. Um so I'll open it up to

[59:22] comment on that.

[59:24] I'll start with Miss Powers.

[59:26] >> So, I just used um the train this

[59:28] weekend. We took the train to Manasses.

[59:31] So, we had to be downtown very early

[59:33] Saturday morning and of course it was

[59:35] raining and so I think this is very

[59:37] important. I heard so many um

[59:40] complaints. Um no place to sit, no

[59:44] building to go in, no bathrooms nearby.

[59:46] So, I really think this is very

[59:48] important. And the train was sold out.

[59:52] So we were packed and uh so I think this

[59:55] is very important to move up especially

[59:58] um the other places that we went um you

[1:00:01] know they they had a station um so I I

[1:00:05] think for economic reasons as well this

[1:00:08] will really help um our reo

[1:00:13] Mr. Alison.

[1:00:14] >> Um so this past week the uh regional

[1:00:18] commission met with um delegate Russul

[1:00:22] um and we had previously met with

[1:00:24] delegate Austin. Um their suggestion on

[1:00:27] the um the uh airport uh ask is that we

[1:00:34] strike the um airport expansion

[1:00:37] feasibility and impact study. Uh they

[1:00:39] believe that is a more of a federal ask

[1:00:41] than it is a state ask. Mhm.

[1:00:43] >> Um they also supported the $40 million

[1:00:46] number that we put into the regional

[1:00:49] commission. I would suggest that we do

[1:00:51] that as well. Um and I would suggest

[1:00:53] that it still continue to be a priority

[1:00:55] and I do think this is a place where we

[1:00:56] might need to say we have two priorities

[1:00:58] here. um because the uh a lot of that

[1:01:02] lobbying seems to be coming to a head

[1:01:04] and that there might be a strong

[1:01:06] possibility of if we do a capital ask

[1:01:09] that it gets into this budget whereas if

[1:01:11] we're asking for a study or something

[1:01:13] like that it may not. Um the other thing

[1:01:16] with the Amtrak station uh I'm a huge

[1:01:19] proponent of it think that it would be

[1:01:20] great to have our station and have been

[1:01:22] asking on the TPO you know when is this

[1:01:25] happening and we're finally at that

[1:01:26] point where Amtrak wants us to build it.

[1:01:28] Um, do we have numbers for that? I think

[1:01:32] it's best when we're making these asks

[1:01:34] to say, hey, you know, right now we're

[1:01:36] at this point in the project, which may

[1:01:38] be like design and feasibility. I'm not

[1:01:41] sure. U Mandy, if you know where we are

[1:01:44] on the Amtrak station at all.

[1:01:47] [clears throat]

[1:01:47] >> Miss Crib, would you I think you've been

[1:01:49] called forward.

[1:01:50] >> Happen to be here.

[1:01:51] >> Um, yeah. So public works has kind of an

[1:01:55] rough estimate budget and so we have the

[1:01:58] preliminary engineering marked at about

[1:02:01] 300,000 and then full construction. Um

[1:02:05] they have they have a budget breakdown

[1:02:06] is about 20 mil and if we consider the

[1:02:09] 1.8 that we have set aside is like match

[1:02:13] so like maybe like 19 mil ask instead of

[1:02:18] that 20 but that's where we're at. So if

[1:02:22] we include we do have some numbers that

[1:02:23] we could attach to.

[1:02:25] >> Yeah. Okay.

[1:02:25] >> Yeah, we can send those over.

[1:02:26] >> I think that would be helpful. Very very

[1:02:28] helpful. Okay. But I do think that um

[1:02:30] you know even though uh we have a lot of

[1:02:33] partners that are supporting the

[1:02:34] airport, we are where the airport is

[1:02:36] located. And if we they don't have buyin

[1:02:38] from the locality, they're not going to

[1:02:41] uh override the locality with everybody

[1:02:43] else. And it's kind of what we saw with

[1:02:45] the casino in in uh Fairfax and kind of

[1:02:51] >> appreciate your perspective. I think we

[1:02:53] would just to clarify we that we would

[1:02:55] still be demonstrating our buy in and

[1:02:56] support by keeping it in our positions

[1:02:58] and as a priority. So I wouldn't suggest

[1:03:00] that we take out um supporting funding

[1:03:02] for airport terminal upgrades, but I I

[1:03:04] hear your your suggestion.

[1:03:07] Anyone else want to discuss this?

[1:03:09] >> Mr. [clears throat]

[1:03:10] Hill.

[1:03:10] >> Yes, sir. Mr. Nash.

[1:03:13] >> Nash. H, [laughter] excuse me, Hagen.

[1:03:16] >> Three different uh folks there. Um,

[1:03:19] yeah, I'm inclined to be more supportive

[1:03:22] of the airport terminal upgrades with

[1:03:24] that funding. Um, just because first

[1:03:27] off, like the amount of money which the

[1:03:29] airport brings into our region. Um, you

[1:03:32] know, the reality is is that while, you

[1:03:34] know, I am very much am aware of how

[1:03:37] much we need the Amtrak station. I use

[1:03:41] Amtrak as much as I can. Um, right now I

[1:03:45] would be more inclined with the airport

[1:03:47] just to get that done and make sure that

[1:03:49] that's in the budget because they are uh

[1:03:51] they're redoing the budget this year.

[1:03:53] Correct. So that's one of the things

[1:03:55] that I think that we can um leverage

[1:03:58] that and then be able to utilize some

[1:04:00] funding um elsewhere. Not saying we

[1:04:03] shouldn't have it as a position by any

[1:04:04] stretch of the imagination. I want that

[1:04:06] at that Amtrak station done. I live

[1:04:08] downtown. You have no idea how much the

[1:04:10] traffic backs up. Um, but it's

[1:04:13] worthwhile.

[1:04:14] >> Thank you. I I appreciate that. Before I

[1:04:15] would like to hear from other members,

[1:04:17] but Mr. Volison, can you remind me, I'm

[1:04:19] sorry for not remembering, is support

[1:04:20] for um funding to deliver an Amtrak

[1:04:22] station in the Ronic Valley Alageney

[1:04:24] Regional Commission 2027 agenda.

[1:04:27] >> It is not.

[1:04:28] Okay. Yeah, that was the um

[1:04:31] they are aware of the Amtrak, but

[1:04:34] because it hasn't uh you know moved

[1:04:36] farther than it has, I don't think it

[1:04:39] was a priority, especially when it comes

[1:04:41] to the airport, which brings in over

[1:04:43] $600 million per year in economic

[1:04:45] benefit to the city.

[1:04:47] >> I hear you. I feel like the reason it

[1:04:48] hasn't moved forward and may not be in

[1:04:50] that agenda is because no one is

[1:04:51] advocating for that station and we or

[1:04:54] would be the only ones I think that

[1:04:55] would push to drive that forward. Uh,

[1:04:58] Miss Sanchez Jones, do you have any

[1:04:59] comments or an opinion?

[1:05:01] >> So, that means Oh, a quick question. The

[1:05:03] support for the Virginia Bic uh

[1:05:05] bicyclist safety act, will that be

[1:05:08] removed in this position?

[1:05:10] >> Um, no. I think we'd like to include

[1:05:12] that, but before we move down to

[1:05:13] positions, do you have a um an opinion

[1:05:17] on the priority ask for transportation?

[1:05:19] >> Well, one of them was supporting the

[1:05:21] funding for the airport terminal and for

[1:05:24] the entrance.

[1:05:25] >> You have a top priority among the two.

[1:05:27] if you had to choose

[1:05:28] >> just the airport.

[1:05:29] >> Airport. Okay. Gotcha. Thank you.

[1:05:32] And then to your question about the

[1:05:34] positions, um these are all the Virginia

[1:05:37] Bicyclist Safety Act uh did not pass

[1:05:40] last year. That is uh was recommended to

[1:05:44] us, suggested to us by Pedalafe Rono. Um

[1:05:47] several other bicycle advocates. I know

[1:05:49] Miss Durk recommended it a few times. If

[1:05:51] you have any um questions or concerns

[1:05:54] with that, uh let me know. I'd be glad

[1:05:56] to.

[1:05:57] >> Thank you.

[1:05:58] >> I have a question.

[1:05:58] >> Yes, ma'am.

[1:05:59] >> I just want to make sure I clarify this

[1:06:01] right. So, um, if you're asking for the

[1:06:05] priority under transportation, I would

[1:06:08] put the airport terminal upgrades first,

[1:06:10] but are we not going to do two? So,

[1:06:12] maybe that's where I got confused.

[1:06:14] >> No, that's okay, Miss Powers. That's

[1:06:15] what we can decide is it sounds like the

[1:06:17] majority would be in support of funding

[1:06:19] for airport terminal upgrades if we only

[1:06:21] have one priority. Um, and if that's

[1:06:24] where we land, that's Okay,

[1:06:26] >> I can be fine with that. The question

[1:06:28] could then be would we want to have two

[1:06:30] priorities for this bucket

[1:06:32] >> if we Yes, sir. Mr. or sorry, I'll go to

[1:06:34] Mr. Nash and then Mr. Paulison.

[1:06:37] >> No, I think that um

[1:06:40] I mean I would I would be more in favor

[1:06:43] of making both of these priorities. Um

[1:06:47] cuz I took the Amtrak to get back and

[1:06:50] forth to school when I was at Mason like

[1:06:53] every time I needed to come home and

[1:06:55] everywhere else along the route like um Councilwoman Powers said. I mean

[1:07:02] everyone else had a station. They had

[1:07:05] something where you could sit, something

[1:07:06] you could use the bathroom um from

[1:07:09] Charlottesville to Lynchburg. I mean all

[1:07:12] of them. And we were the only ones that

[1:07:15] had nothing. Nothing. And we also have

[1:07:19] to be thinking ahead and not just in a

[1:07:21] moment, but ahead in that there are

[1:07:23] other localities that are south and

[1:07:25] southeast of us that are wanting to get

[1:07:28] Amtrak um connection and that eventually

[1:07:32] I mean they're going to continue to

[1:07:34] expand Amtrak because a lot of people

[1:07:35] are favoring taking rail again over air

[1:07:39] because the planes are crashing. But

[1:07:40] aside from that, like the cost

[1:07:42] difference between the two are fairly

[1:07:45] becoming equal at this point with jet

[1:07:46] fuel becoming so expensive because you

[1:07:49] know of the economy right now and all

[1:07:51] those factors. So I mean I think that

[1:07:54] both of them deserve to have a space

[1:07:58] as our priorities and that takes us to

[1:08:00] six priorities and that is like the top

[1:08:03] of what you identified delegate rul

[1:08:06] saying when he said five to six. So, I

[1:08:09] think that nothing else can be a

[1:08:11] priority at this point except for these

[1:08:13] two. Um, so that's just my my take and I

[1:08:17] think that we also one I would love to

[1:08:20] see whatever information we have

[1:08:22] available on hand about the Amtrak

[1:08:24] station or plat uh station and whether

[1:08:26] we're going to utilize the current

[1:08:28] city-owned property and reconfigure that

[1:08:30] building into that or if we're going to

[1:08:33] like tear that building down and build

[1:08:35] something from ground up. And then also

[1:08:37] make sure we put that uh dollar amount

[1:08:39] in whatever that might be. I remember

[1:08:41] last year when we had the Amtrak

[1:08:44] platform on here, I believe we had we

[1:08:47] had a price tag associated. It was like

[1:08:49] 7 million.

[1:08:50] >> Yeah, something like that.

[1:08:50] >> It was like 7 million last year when we

[1:08:52] did the ask. So, we can actually have

[1:08:54] the actual number with the information

[1:08:56] to back that up. I think it gives it a

[1:08:58] much stronger uh chance of maybe getting

[1:09:02] somewhere eventually, if not this year

[1:09:03] at least.

[1:09:06] Mr. um Bson u so I'm in agreement that

[1:09:10] we could do two on this one and I think

[1:09:12] that both are huge priorities for us. Um

[1:09:15] obviously I I feel the airport is more

[1:09:17] important but I think having two is

[1:09:19] fine. Um I just wanted to put a pin in

[1:09:21] this really quickly because I see it uh

[1:09:23] just above transportation on our page.

[1:09:26] Um support equable equitable roll out of

[1:09:28] cannabis consumer market. I think that's

[1:09:30] a bit outdated. Um that's already

[1:09:33] happening. the the legislation is being

[1:09:35] created. So just maybe striking that off

[1:09:38] of the thing for you for us.

[1:09:40] >> I appreciate that and I am fine striking

[1:09:42] that. I wasn't sure there was a

[1:09:43] suggestion suggestion to include

[1:09:46] something on that in this agenda and I

[1:09:47] wasn't totally sure where they were with

[1:09:49] this. Is there any value and me is do

[1:09:51] they need any input from localities at

[1:09:53] this point? Are they totally done with

[1:09:55] their decision? [clears throat]

[1:09:56] >> Okay, I'm fine striking that.

[1:09:57] >> Call it exactly equitable but sure.

[1:10:00] >> Yeah, [laughter]

[1:10:01] that's fine with me. Thank you, Mr.

[1:10:02] Paul. I have a question too about the

[1:10:04] support funding for a west to east

[1:10:06] Virginia breeze route. What is So I

[1:10:09] assume that's probably a bus is that a

[1:10:11] bus route that we have and the idea is a

[1:10:14] state uh a state bus route and the idea

[1:10:17] I'm sure you're about to say is uh to

[1:10:20] kind of pilot like what we did with the

[1:10:21] Amtrak where we had a bus to Lynchburg

[1:10:23] and then finally we got the Amtrak to

[1:10:25] Lynchber so it would show the demand

[1:10:27] between here and Richmond so that

[1:10:29] hopefully we

[1:10:29] >> can get an Amtrak one day to Richmond.

[1:10:31] >> Yep. Okay.

[1:10:32] >> Yeah. Yes. An Mr. Nash, the the Virginia

[1:10:35] Breezeway system is it's a great bus uh

[1:10:38] option, but it doesn't have a direct

[1:10:40] stop in Ronoke. And there's no good west

[1:10:42] to east line that would run, say, from

[1:10:44] like Bristol to Rono to Richmond to

[1:10:46] Hampton Roads.

[1:10:47] >> Goes north.

[1:10:48] >> Most things go north.

[1:10:48] >> If anything goes north, then you got to

[1:10:49] come back down.

[1:10:50] >> Sort of. Yeah. Or I mean, you could go

[1:10:52] to Salem to catch a bus, but that would

[1:10:54] only take you

[1:10:54] >> got one of these,

[1:10:55] >> but it would only take you to to

[1:10:56] Northern Virginia to the um Yeah. So, we

[1:10:58] don't have a stop. I think um it could

[1:11:00] would be interesting to know if there's

[1:11:02] support for it for a west to east um bus

[1:11:05] line. So that's why that isn't Mr.

[1:11:07] Bison.

[1:11:07] >> And also I know that the regional

[1:11:09] commission is pushing for a bus stop at

[1:11:11] the airport to help make that more

[1:11:13] accessible to the region as well.

[1:11:16] >> Fantastic.

[1:11:19] » Yes, Mr. Mayor.

[1:11:20] >> Sorry to add.

[1:11:21] >> No, no, please.

[1:11:22] >> Um so I would support two priorities

[1:11:25] here. I think they're both critically

[1:11:27] important and I think this is a strong

[1:11:29] starting point for us with the Amtrak

[1:11:31] station. Um I'm wondering if there's a

[1:11:35] way to incorporate the first two lines

[1:11:38] into one supportive statement for the

[1:11:42] airport so that we're not um delineating

[1:11:46] um

[1:11:47] because we know that regionally these

[1:11:49] are both priorities. So that that's one

[1:11:52] comment. Um I'm curious about two

[1:11:56] things. Uh one is I think it would be

[1:11:58] helpful for us as a council to have a

[1:12:01] briefing on overall transportation

[1:12:04] within the region to include you know

[1:12:07] where are we with Amtrak, where are we

[1:12:09] with the airport, where are we with um

[1:12:13] transit, uh where are we with Virginia

[1:12:15] Breeze, just so that we have a more

[1:12:17] comprehensive understanding of how all

[1:12:19] these things work together. Um, and I'm just pitching that as a an

[1:12:25] opportunity for us. Um, and in addition

[1:12:28] to that, I know I I met several months

[1:12:31] ago. I'm grateful that we have a renewed

[1:12:35] relationship with Amtrak. There is

[1:12:38] renewed interest in what's happening

[1:12:40] here and they are very involved in in

[1:12:42] what's happening here and want to see us

[1:12:44] move forward.

[1:12:45] At the time when I met with the

[1:12:47] government affairs person um she

[1:12:49] indicated that um

[1:12:52] you know Rowan Oak wasn't positioned yet

[1:12:55] as a large regional hub for Amtrak. Um

[1:13:00] but there are I think this is a step

[1:13:02] that we can take toward that and with

[1:13:05] the potential I I don't know fully where

[1:13:08] the route you know I know a new station

[1:13:10] is being built in Christiansburg uh for

[1:13:12] that route and I believe that that train

[1:13:16] is going to come through here or connect

[1:13:18] here so we'll have three trains. So this

[1:13:21] is another step along the way. Um

[1:13:25] that with all of that um

[1:13:28] with all of that happening, I think it's

[1:13:30] absolutely critical that we um name this

[1:13:33] as one of our top priority asks. So

[1:13:39] >> I definitely support that and thank you.

[1:13:40] I think that's a great idea that we get

[1:13:42] a um comprehensive transportation

[1:13:45] briefing. Um in fairness [clears throat]

[1:13:47] to go back to Mr. Vison's point earlier.

[1:13:50] Um,

[1:13:52] do we want to consider having two

[1:13:54] priorities under housing as well given

[1:13:57] or leave that where that is?

[1:13:58] >> Give it where it is because that takes

[1:13:59] us to seven.

[1:14:01] >> Okay.

[1:14:03] I will note that our our schoolboard

[1:14:05] friends got away with seven priorities.

[1:14:07] So, we could probably if we want, but

[1:14:08] [laughter]

[1:14:09] um I we can consider if anyone wants to

[1:14:12] consider that, we'll I'll keep us moving

[1:14:13] along. I'm I think that is I like that.

[1:14:16] I'm okay with two priorities under

[1:14:17] transportation if everyone else is as

[1:14:19] well. Okay. Uh agreement and moving

[1:14:22] along. Um environment uh support

[1:14:27] legislation to require stronger public

[1:14:29] health and consumer protection

[1:14:30] guardrails on data center development.

[1:14:32] And then there's some um some language

[1:14:34] there. I don't have a

[1:14:37] uh reference for a specific bill that we

[1:14:40] might consider supporting in the

[1:14:42] upcoming um session. So I'm working to

[1:14:44] finalize that. I can get that before to

[1:14:46] you all soon. But um I would open up

[1:14:48] discussion to do folks want to keep that

[1:14:51] as our priority ask um rateayer public

[1:14:54] health environmental protections around

[1:14:55] um data center development. There are

[1:14:57] also a number of other um positions that

[1:15:00] we could consider. Um so I'll just kind

[1:15:03] of stop there. Mr. Hagen.

[1:15:05] >> Um I would be more inclined to do a

[1:15:07] moratorum for a period of time including

[1:15:11] these um just basically to accommodate

[1:15:14] for after that moratorum would end um

[1:15:18] having those powers to have uh some

[1:15:22] control. But just given the fact that

[1:15:24] Virginia I believe has more data centers

[1:15:27] in the in Virginia than I think anywhere

[1:15:31] else on the planet.

[1:15:34] um it raises some concerns and given the

[1:15:36] fact that we are seeing both the uh

[1:15:39] potential merger of Dominion and

[1:15:42] increased rate pairs I think it's it

[1:15:44] behooves [clears throat] us to push for

[1:15:46] a little bit more control

[1:15:49] >> I there's a suggestion on the table to

[1:15:52] consider a moratorium on data center

[1:15:54] development for a period of time I would

[1:15:56] support that if there was council

[1:15:58] consensus and can open that up for

[1:16:01] discussion

[1:16:02] >> I would support that as well.

[1:16:06] » Anyone else have any comments on that?

[1:16:08] >> I can support that as well.

[1:16:12] >> Yeah, I would say that um a lot is

[1:16:14] happening in in this space right now.

[1:16:17] >> Uh we've seen the governor take an an or

[1:16:20] an action. We're seeing uh Senator Lucas

[1:16:23] is very passionate about this. Um I

[1:16:26] would want to uh set up our ask to be in

[1:16:30] line with others kind of what is VML

[1:16:32] looking at this kind of goes to that

[1:16:33] what is VML looking at what are others

[1:16:35] looking at um to do this um I don't know

[1:16:40] you know it may be that a moratorium is

[1:16:41] what everybody's pushing for it may not

[1:16:43] but I don't think um I think that

[1:16:46] matching us up with what language is

[1:16:48] being used by others is going to help um

[1:16:51] because this is is pretty vague and I

[1:16:54] know that you're going look at it later.

[1:16:55] But um that's where I would say I'm I'm

[1:16:58] not necessarily for a moratorum. I think

[1:17:00] we should be following what

[1:17:01] [clears throat] the state wants to kind

[1:17:03] of lead on this.

[1:17:06] >> Thank you, Mr. Volison.

[1:17:09] Mayor,

[1:17:10] >> yeah, I I appreciate the intent of the

[1:17:13] original um narrative that you've put

[1:17:16] here, Vice Mayor. Um I think all of

[1:17:19] these components are absolutely

[1:17:21] essential. Um I appreciate that. council

[1:17:24] has already, you know, set up

[1:17:26] significant guard rails within the city

[1:17:29] and I think that's a model that I'd like

[1:17:31] to see other localities adopt as well so

[1:17:34] that we have a regional approach to

[1:17:37] this. Um, I would have some concern

[1:17:40] right now about a moratorum without some

[1:17:43] of this additional information in place.

[1:17:46] Um, but I like I said, if we can

[1:17:48] fine-tune

[1:17:50] what the legislative options are here,

[1:17:52] as you've indicated, I would be

[1:17:54] supportive of that.

[1:17:57] >> Alison, do you have another comment?

[1:17:59] >> Yeah, I I apologize. I forgot about this

[1:18:00] comment, but um it was making sure that

[1:18:03] we have uh local control. I think that's

[1:18:06] one of the more important things about

[1:18:08] that is having local control over land

[1:18:10] and zoning and not being preempted by

[1:18:12] the state um on our on what we can do as

[1:18:15] a locality. I think that's an important

[1:18:17] piece um that I would want to see in it.

[1:18:20] >> Okay. Well, I appreciate that

[1:18:23] discussion. I'm hearing some support for

[1:18:25] a moratorium, some support uh two voices

[1:18:29] that would not at this time. What I will

[1:18:31] do is work to update this and circulate

[1:18:34] something for you all to consider that's

[1:18:36] a little more concrete. Um, and I don't

[1:18:40] think we have to decide on that today,

[1:18:42] but it sounds like we will keep as one

[1:18:43] of our priority asks something on um,

[1:18:47] uh, guardrails around data centers just

[1:18:49] to be determined exactly what that looks

[1:18:51] like. Does that sound okay?

[1:18:54] >> That's the biggest threat to the

[1:18:55] environment right now. I mean, honestly,

[1:18:58] I mean, it's an accelerator for all the

[1:18:59] issues we're dealing with that are

[1:19:01] caused by nature and that's been going

[1:19:03] on for decades. Um, so I think that's

[1:19:06] definitely the number one. I mean,

[1:19:08] plastic's been around. Plastic will

[1:19:10] continue to be around. Um, but the the

[1:19:13] effects and the harm of data centers,

[1:19:16] um, not just to the environment, but the

[1:19:18] people, um, is something that I don't

[1:19:20] think we really truly know the impact of

[1:19:23] yet. Um, and I think that the future is

[1:19:26] going to be um a really really uh crazy

[1:19:30] place when we start seeing some of the

[1:19:31] documentaries come out about the effects

[1:19:33] of these data centers.

[1:19:36] >> Definitely share your concerns. Thank

[1:19:38] you, Mr. Nash.

[1:19:40] Um on I think we're almost done to uh we

[1:19:43] were not going to include one of these

[1:19:45] as our priority asks but under

[1:19:47] government governvern governance and

[1:19:48] finances

[1:19:50] um there was the charter change from May

[1:19:52] to November which is a hold over from

[1:19:54] last year or from previous years excuse

[1:19:56] me and then I'll just flag for everyone

[1:19:59] that there are 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 eight staff

[1:20:03] additions or recommended additions that

[1:20:06] um touch on um largely

[1:20:09] financial

[1:20:11] um some tax matters and then um AI

[1:20:14] regulations.

[1:20:16] Um, I am putting these here for

[1:20:17] everyone's awareness and digestion. And,

[1:20:21] um, I'm going to look to the city

[1:20:22] attorney's office to help me work with

[1:20:23] the city manager's office to, um,

[1:20:26] because these came from staff to just,

[1:20:28] uh, vet these and make sure that the

[1:20:30] asks are appropriate and if they are and

[1:20:33] we want to consider them, um, we can

[1:20:36] include them in our positions or adjust

[1:20:38] them around. But I don't have a lot to

[1:20:39] say on these. I'm open to M. Turner,

[1:20:41] anyone wants to say anything about these

[1:20:43] additions. Um if anyone has any

[1:20:46] questions or wants to discuss them, like

[1:20:47] I said, they range from taxes on um vape

[1:20:50] items to um AI regulations. Um

[1:20:56] so it's glad to talk about it. I don't

[1:20:59] have a whole lot that I can share

[1:21:00] personally on it if anyone.

[1:21:02] >> Yes, sir.

[1:21:02] >> I would just say, you know, I second

[1:21:04] that. Um, we all know my passion for

[1:21:07] vape shops, but um October 1, there were

[1:21:12] some laws that went into effect um that

[1:21:15] pertain to licensing and um kind of

[1:21:19] cracking down and enforcing the the the

[1:21:22] um authorized versus non-authorized

[1:21:25] um vape um products they're allowed to

[1:21:28] have on their shelves. And a lot of the

[1:21:31] vape shops were empty when October one

[1:21:33] hit. Um, I went in and did a little a

[1:21:36] little inspection myself,

[1:21:37] >> little little reconnaissance and some of

[1:21:39] them had no nothing on the shelves other

[1:21:42] than cigarettes. Um, so I would say yes,

[1:21:45] let's look at what went into effect

[1:21:46] October one. Um, because like I said,

[1:21:48] the license is already a thing um that

[1:21:52] went into effect. Um, in particularly, I

[1:21:55] would like to see what VML is doing

[1:21:57] about the skill game machines um in the

[1:22:01] uh convenience stores and gas stations

[1:22:04] um that operate mostly within the same

[1:22:07] localities and areas as vape shops. Um

[1:22:11] so yeah, I would really like to see that

[1:22:12] skilled games um one um put into effect

[1:22:16] at a state level.

[1:22:20] And then

[1:22:20] >> oh um the the taxes on vape um liquid

[1:22:25] and and all that stuff I think needs to

[1:22:27] go through but um I was just reminded

[1:22:28] and this might be something for

[1:22:29] environmental

[1:22:31] um and just something uh the plastic bag

[1:22:35] tax the fact that uh one cent stays with

[1:22:38] the stores um state law might be

[1:22:41] something that we might want to like nyx

[1:22:44] that aspect because to me it doesn't

[1:22:45] make any logical sense as to why we are

[1:22:48] subsidizing plastic bag creation if the

[1:22:50] point of it is to and it given the fact

[1:22:52] that Kroger, Walmart, all these other

[1:22:54] companies can purchase it for

[1:22:58] considerably less than. So now we're

[1:23:00] just encouraging the creation of plastic

[1:23:02] bags rather than the point of the tax

[1:23:04] presumably is to end plastic bag usage.

[1:23:06] So sorry the the tax reminded me of

[1:23:09] that.

[1:23:09] >> No, thank you. That's a um interesting

[1:23:11] point. I think one of the arguments in

[1:23:13] favor of that is to give a little bit of

[1:23:14] an incentive to the store, but they hate

[1:23:17] the they don't like it. they all now

[1:23:18] have had the time to implement their

[1:23:21] program. So, it doesn't make any sense

[1:23:22] to continue that. Specifically, 20% of

[1:23:25] it stays with the stores. So, I know

[1:23:27] it's a niche issue. It's a pet peeve of

[1:23:29] mine.

[1:23:30] >> Thank you for raising that. I will um

[1:23:34] look into that

[1:23:36] for a possible addition. Um is there

[1:23:39] anything else on these items that were

[1:23:40] recommended by staff? Any other further

[1:23:44] qu I'm sorry, Mary?

[1:23:45] >> No, you're fine. I I just had a

[1:23:46] follow-up question and this might be

[1:23:48] something that um Mr. Bryant online

[1:23:51] could chime in on uh because I don't

[1:23:53] know what the status of it is. I know

[1:23:56] and this kind of connects with um any

[1:23:59] future uh casino site locations

[1:24:01] throughout the state. the governor

[1:24:04] vetoed um the site location for Fairfax

[1:24:07] and part of that the reason for vetoing

[1:24:09] that was to to want to um

[1:24:13] have a gaming commission and I think

[1:24:15] there's been resistance in the Senate to

[1:24:18] um starting that and I I wondered Mr.

[1:24:22] Bryant, if I may, um, if you have any

[1:24:25] updates on kind of what the status of

[1:24:27] that is, because I think that gaming

[1:24:29] commission also has a correlation with

[1:24:32] issues related to, um, potential

[1:24:34] licensing fees for skill games and other

[1:24:37] things that might fall under that.

[1:24:41] >> Uh, Mr. Chairman, uh, and Mr. Mayor, uh,

[1:24:44] the governor veto the the so-called

[1:24:47] Fairfax bill for for two reasons. One is

[1:24:51] um unlike all other bills passed

[1:24:54] regarding uh casinos, it totally

[1:24:56] bypassed and overrode uh local governing

[1:25:00] authorities. So, she was looking after

[1:25:02] local governments in Fairfax County in

[1:25:04] particular. It was a um heavy-handed

[1:25:07] um uh approach and totally ran over uh

[1:25:11] local government authority. Um, second,

[1:25:14] yes, the governor's long-standing

[1:25:15] position has been, going back to

[1:25:17] candidate Spanberger, was she wasn't

[1:25:19] much in favor of significantly expanding

[1:25:22] Virginia's gaming options until there is

[1:25:26] a Virginia gaming commission

[1:25:28] established.

[1:25:29] Um, I have not heard that she has

[1:25:32] changed her position on that.

[1:25:35] uh there's been a difference of approach

[1:25:36] between the House and the Senate on

[1:25:38] establishing a gaming commission versus

[1:25:41] say having the Department of the Lottery

[1:25:44] sort of become an an Uber agency and

[1:25:46] oversee all gaming. Um and I'm sure that I would presume there will be uh

[1:25:51] legislation introduced in the 2027

[1:25:53] session to establish a gaming

[1:25:55] commission, but but uh but who knows how

[1:25:58] it might fair.

[1:26:00] >> Thank you, Mr. Bryant, and thank you for

[1:26:02] the clarification. I appreciate that.

[1:26:05] >> Thank you for the question.

[1:26:07] >> If we are I think this is a good time to

[1:26:10] I think we're done going over

[1:26:11] [clears throat] uh our draft agenda and

[1:26:14] I will take all the steps I mentioned to

[1:26:16] share it with all the parties to get it

[1:26:18] tied up. I think my question but we can

[1:26:20] do this at the end is when we have a

[1:26:22] final copy but I want to turn it over

[1:26:24] before I turn it over to Mr. Cox and Mr.

[1:26:26] Binkley to give our federal legislative

[1:26:27] update. I wanted to give an opportunity

[1:26:30] um for Miss Ael or Mr. Kaknes or Dr.

[1:26:33] Sbert to say anything if you would like.

[1:26:35] No pressure about the RCPS um

[1:26:38] legislative priorities.

[1:26:40] >> You just give me a thumbs down if you

[1:26:41] don't want to.

[1:26:45] » Thank you, Chair and Vice Mayor Maguire,

[1:26:48] um Mayor Cobb and all council members

[1:26:51] for um having us part of the legislative

[1:26:53] the joint legislative committee meeting

[1:26:55] today. Um so we were able to as a body

[1:26:59] um we had a special meeting for our

[1:27:02] September workshop and thus gave us the

[1:27:04] ability to vote and we were able to

[1:27:07] based on feedback from our board go

[1:27:10] ahead and adopt our legislative

[1:27:11] priorities a little bit earlier as you

[1:27:13] know we had discussed our timeline

[1:27:15] places in o our October meeting which

[1:27:17] would have been after this meeting of

[1:27:19] council so that we were able to adopt

[1:27:21] our legislative priorities um in advance

[1:27:24] of your adoption so that they can be

[1:27:26] rolled in very specifically together.

[1:27:29] Um, and we have discussed those

[1:27:33] priorities with you all. The top two

[1:27:35] that we always espouse as best practices

[1:27:38] and overarching philosophies are about

[1:27:41] no unfunded mandates and local control.

[1:27:44] Just like we always espouse to know

[1:27:46] every student by name, need, and

[1:27:48] strength, we think that that also

[1:27:50] applies to the locality. Nobody knows

[1:27:52] Ronoke citizens and Ronoke students

[1:27:54] better than the people of Rowanoke. And

[1:27:55] so that's why we always advocate that

[1:27:57] for those as overarching

[1:27:59] um avenues of advocacy when the

[1:28:02] legislative session is going. And then

[1:28:05] of course we have our other five

[1:28:07] priorities that have been pretty

[1:28:08] standard over the years. Um but a lot of

[1:28:11] our CTE advocacy um and EL advocacy has

[1:28:15] been under the the heading of commitment

[1:28:17] to serving all students. The position

[1:28:19] papers are still in draft form. So those

[1:28:21] will be continue to be prepared as we

[1:28:23] head into the legislative session. So

[1:28:25] that's it for us.

[1:28:27] >> Thank you very much. I say pelvis. This

[1:28:29] looks great. I appreciate you sharing it

[1:28:31] with us. Um does anyone have any

[1:28:33] thoughts or questions you want to share?

[1:28:39] Well, very much. Um

[1:28:42] I will turn this over now to kind of

[1:28:45] flip this agenda all over the place. Uh

[1:28:47] Mr. Cox and Mr. Binkley. And I want to

[1:28:50] um sorry to make you wait so long. Um if

[1:28:53] you can kind of one of the things I was

[1:28:55] hoping today in your presentation if you

[1:28:57] could just be sure to cover um what are

[1:29:00] um

[1:29:02] I lost my train of thought. Um our

[1:29:04] congressional directed spending request.

[1:29:06] What uh can you just for everyone's

[1:29:08] benefit the public and ours refresh for

[1:29:10] us what have we requested in the past?

[1:29:12] What was um approved? What was not? Sort

[1:29:16] of where are we with that? Is there

[1:29:17] anything council should know? Um, and

[1:29:19] then in addition to any of your other

[1:29:21] I'm sorry for not reviewing this in

[1:29:22] advance, but any of your other federal

[1:29:23] legislative updates you give us, I'd be

[1:29:25] curious if you had any thoughts on what

[1:29:27] um we as a locality might expect heading

[1:29:29] into the new year when um I think the

[1:29:32] Medicaid changes take effect and a lot

[1:29:34] of folks could get kicked off of

[1:29:35] coverage and if there's just anything

[1:29:37] that um we as a locality could or should

[1:29:39] know in the federal context for that.

[1:29:41] So, thank you and sorry for the long

[1:29:44] wait. I'll turn it over to Mr. Cox and

[1:29:45] Mr. Hley.

[1:29:48] Well,

[1:29:48] >> good morning. Uh, thank you all and good

[1:29:50] to be with uh, council members and, uh,

[1:29:53] the mayor and it's great to witness uh,

[1:29:56] sort of the thought that goes into the

[1:29:57] legislative agenda. I know it's not

[1:29:58] easy. There's a lot of things facing

[1:30:00] local governments and there's many

[1:30:01] things to consider. Um, but we will sort

[1:30:03] of dive pretty quickly into um, kind of

[1:30:06] where things are federal policy-wise.

[1:30:10] Right now, uh, the House and Senate are

[1:30:12] both adjourned. They are not in session.

[1:30:15] They're in what's called October recess

[1:30:17] um which is largely a function of uh the

[1:30:20] midterms coming up in a month, less than

[1:30:23] a month now I guess at this point. So um

[1:30:26] a lot of members of Congress, senators

[1:30:27] are back in district campaigning or

[1:30:30] helping others campaign if they have uh

[1:30:32] ambitions for the next few years. Um so

[1:30:35] it's a it's a busy time outside of DC

[1:30:38] and fairly quiet on the hill. um to

[1:30:41] quickly answer your questions before we

[1:30:43] dive in. Um on the earmarks front, uh

[1:30:47] this sort of ties to federal

[1:30:49] appropriations. Um Congress has passed a

[1:30:53] uh continuing resolution which runs

[1:30:55] through December 11th. Um and once we

[1:30:58] get to December 11th, they'll sort of

[1:31:01] renegotiate things for um the

[1:31:04] appropriations bill for next year, FY27.

[1:31:08] Um, in in FY27, we submitted uh I think

[1:31:13] we had five earmarks that we went after.

[1:31:15] Um, we were unsuccessful in three of

[1:31:18] them. Um, we submitted a $3.5 million

[1:31:21] earmark for the In River Kayak Park. We

[1:31:24] submitted $10 million for the Mil

[1:31:25] Mountain Greenway Bridge, $10 million

[1:31:28] for Amtrak phase one uh for the station

[1:31:31] downtown. Those three did not make it

[1:31:33] in. Um, we've had some follow-up

[1:31:36] conversations with our Senate staff uh

[1:31:38] cuz your member of Congress uh does not

[1:31:41] participate in the remarks process. So,

[1:31:42] we we have followed up with Senators

[1:31:44] Kane and Warner Regionals teams. We've

[1:31:46] been great uh to talk to them about uh

[1:31:48] what we can submit for next year. Scott

[1:31:50] will get into what our plan is moving

[1:31:52] forward with them, but um sort of talked

[1:31:54] about what happened with these other

[1:31:55] projects and largely boils down to those

[1:31:58] are very competitive buckets. We

[1:32:00] submitted a pretty large request um for

[1:32:04] those three. So um we're going to go

[1:32:06] back to them with new plans for the In

[1:32:08] River Kayak Park, Mil Mountain Greenway

[1:32:10] Bridge, and uh for Amtrak, uh how we can

[1:32:14] find a way to get some funding flowing

[1:32:16] there. We were however successful on

[1:32:18] some ear marks we co-signed on that we

[1:32:21] um wrote letters of support uh for the

[1:32:24] Rowan Oak Airport. Um those two

[1:32:28] earmarks, uh the towers and facilities

[1:32:31] upgrade is $8.5 million. Um that was

[1:32:35] advanced by Senators Kane and Warner as

[1:32:37] well as the runway study. Um we don't

[1:32:40] have final as a as a function of not

[1:32:43] knowing uh the as the CR the continuing

[1:32:46] resolution being punted till the 11th.

[1:32:48] We don't have final um language yet for

[1:32:51] the appropriations bill. So we don't

[1:32:53] know how those things fully shaped out.

[1:32:54] We do know that they were advanced and

[1:32:56] we do know that they have a pretty good

[1:32:58] shot of being in the final bill. So,

[1:33:00] we're kind of in a little bit of wait

[1:33:02] and see mode. I would say everyone's in

[1:33:04] a slight wait andse mode um with

[1:33:06] Congress pause for the midterms. Um

[1:33:09] after the midterms will sort of be a

[1:33:11] reshuffleling of the deck. Um you'll

[1:33:13] have I would think it's pretty likely at

[1:33:15] this point that at least the House

[1:33:17] control flips. Um so you'll have new

[1:33:19] committee chairs, new members coming in

[1:33:22] and uh just a lot of moving things

[1:33:24] around and sort of a new dynamic and I

[1:33:26] think that'll change um how the end

[1:33:28] ofear uh negotiations go which I'll get

[1:33:31] to in my next slide. Uh there's three

[1:33:33] pieces of legislation just to put on uh

[1:33:36] to put on the council's uh sort of

[1:33:38] radar. The first um is the rateayer

[1:33:41] protection act. Uh this has to do with

[1:33:44] data centers and making sure that um the

[1:33:47] folks who are building the data centers

[1:33:49] uh that their large electrical and water

[1:33:51] needs are not affecting rateayers. Um

[1:33:55] this piece of legislation passed through

[1:33:56] the house. I think it was like 417 to

[1:33:58] three. So uh it is insanely bipartisan.

[1:34:01] Uh is in the Senate now. The Senate

[1:34:04] decided not to take it up. There was

[1:34:06] some back and forth over who pays for

[1:34:08] what. Um but I think this sentiment is

[1:34:11] not going away of making sure that at

[1:34:14] the federal level um there are sorts

[1:34:16] some sort of guarantees for rateayers

[1:34:18] and that data centers um and the

[1:34:20] developers behind them are uh footing

[1:34:23] the bill on sort of the the cost

[1:34:26] associated with them. So, I would put

[1:34:27] the rateayer protection act and that

[1:34:29] sort of idea around um data centers not

[1:34:32] impacting the local community when it

[1:34:34] comes to their bills uh being something

[1:34:37] that I think will move forward

[1:34:38] regardless if that bill passes or not by

[1:34:40] the end of this Congress. I do think

[1:34:42] that uh that sentiment will continue.

[1:34:45] Another thing to put on your radar, the

[1:34:46] 21st Century Road to Housing Act that is

[1:34:48] now law. Um so implementation from HUD

[1:34:52] uh will get moving. Um that creates new

[1:34:55] funding streams uh that sort of

[1:34:57] essentially ask local governments to

[1:34:59] ensure that their um that their policies

[1:35:03] on zoning and on housing are more uh in

[1:35:06] the sort of yes in my backyard uh

[1:35:08] sentiment. And that sort of ties federal

[1:35:11] funding um HUD funds uh to a more open

[1:35:17] um open policy for zoning and multif

[1:35:20] family housing. Um, the third bill, uh,

[1:35:23] which is not on the slide, uh, is it the

[1:35:27] there's a lot of, I think, [snorts]

[1:35:28] pressure kicking upward on what to do

[1:35:31] about flock cameras and things like

[1:35:32] that. Um, so you're seeing some pieces

[1:35:35] of legislation we're not fully formed

[1:35:37] yet. Um, you've seen some in the Senate,

[1:35:39] uh, from Senator Holly, some in the

[1:35:41] House from, uh, bipartisan pair Rajn

[1:35:44] Christian Morphy from Illinois and

[1:35:46] others. um basically trying to uh align

[1:35:50] federal highway funds or federal funds

[1:35:52] on streets or roads with uh with flock

[1:35:57] cameras. Again, this isn't fully baked,

[1:35:59] but I think that there will be more

[1:36:01] federal legislation or more sort of

[1:36:04] federal ideiation about um how to impact

[1:36:08] or get into this conversation because it

[1:36:10] is sort of hitting the front lines of uh

[1:36:12] local governments. Next slide, please.

[1:36:15] And just the final thing to put on your

[1:36:17] radar, the end of the year is going to

[1:36:20] be very busy. So the next month will be

[1:36:21] pretty quiet. Everybody will be uh back

[1:36:24] home in their districts campaigning,

[1:36:26] back home uh trying to raise money,

[1:36:27] doing all the things they need to do

[1:36:29] before election day. Um so they've

[1:36:31] kicked the can on a bunch of bills. Um

[1:36:34] they've kicked the can on uh the like I

[1:36:36] said the appropriations process and

[1:36:39] FY27. So, they're going to have to

[1:36:41] renegotiate all those things um after,

[1:36:44] you know, December 11th when that

[1:36:46] expires. Um they've also got some

[1:36:48] long-term reauthorizations, things like

[1:36:50] the transportation surface

[1:36:51] transportation bill, uh which includes

[1:36:53] funding for roadways, bridges. Um

[1:36:56] they've also got to re they've got to

[1:36:58] negotiate the farm bill, uh the water

[1:37:00] resources word uh legislation, and then

[1:37:04] the defense bill. Um, so there's a lot

[1:37:07] uh that's going to pile up at the end of

[1:37:09] the year. I think you're going to see a

[1:37:10] lot of big uh sort of packages come

[1:37:14] together after the election. Uh again,

[1:37:17] those dynamics will be shaped by who

[1:37:19] wins and who loses in the election. So,

[1:37:22] uh that lame duck period, I think, which

[1:37:24] is normally pretty quiet, is actually

[1:37:26] going to be pretty active. So, we'll be

[1:37:27] giving you some uh big updates coming up

[1:37:30] after the election. But uh for now I'll

[1:37:33] let Scott talk about moving forward some

[1:37:35] of the things we're hyperfocused on

[1:37:37] locally. Next slide please.

[1:37:39] >> Um

[1:37:40] >> I'm sorry real quick uh before you jump

[1:37:42] over to Scott. Mr. Hagen had a question

[1:37:45] about the flock legislation?

[1:37:46] >> Yeah. So are you saying that they're

[1:37:48] looking at tying federal funds for

[1:37:50] highways with implementation of flock

[1:37:52] cameras on the said highways or did I

[1:37:55] mishar that or misinterpret that? the idea is uh basically they would

[1:38:01] they're looking for points of leverage

[1:38:03] where federal and again this is not

[1:38:06] fully baked um but but basically they're

[1:38:08] looking for points of leverage where

[1:38:10] federal funds flow down um and how that

[1:38:12] could uh be used towards the

[1:38:15] implementation of fly cameras which

[1:38:17] isn't necessarily happening but

[1:38:19] basically they're trying to remove some

[1:38:20] of that automation remove any way that

[1:38:23] the federal government could be funding

[1:38:25] it or sort of back back door funding it.

[1:38:29] >> Um, a lot of this is not fully baked and

[1:38:32] we're remains to be seen, but I do think

[1:38:34] the big difference from when we last

[1:38:36] talked to you is that there's now a push

[1:38:41] um, I would say within Congress, they're

[1:38:42] getting pressure to develop some sort of

[1:38:45] legislation around flock cameras,

[1:38:47] automated license pl readers, and things

[1:38:49] like that. So, we'll continue to keep

[1:38:50] you updated, but it's very much in the

[1:38:53] early stages and you're seeing things

[1:38:54] like there's the no flocked act, the ban

[1:38:56] flocked act

[1:38:58] >> um that are starting to come together

[1:38:59] and put put together guard rails and

[1:39:01] other uh ways of changing that that area

[1:39:05] policy.

[1:39:08] >> Vice Mayor,

[1:39:09] >> Mr. Bison has a followup.

[1:39:10] >> Uh this actually on the housing act. Um,

[1:39:14] in your description of it, you stated

[1:39:16] that if there's more Yes, in my backyard

[1:39:18] uh zoning implementation that that can

[1:39:20] be beneficial to a a locality. Could you

[1:39:23] talk a little bit about that?

[1:39:26] >> I think it'll change um some of those uh

[1:39:29] funds that are handed down from HUD. The sort of guidance for how you get the

[1:39:34] money will be more um you know, less

[1:39:38] uh you know, single family single family

[1:39:41] housing. um it'll sort of change. It's

[1:39:44] basically the federal government's way

[1:39:45] of saying if you want to get your HUD

[1:39:47] dollars, if you want to get some of

[1:39:48] these federal funds, you need to have a

[1:39:50] little more openness of zoning, openness

[1:39:53] of um affordable housing and other

[1:39:56] things. Uh trying to put more pressure

[1:39:59] on both uh supply side and put more

[1:40:02] pressure on the federal fund side.

[1:40:06] So, we did a resoning here a couple

[1:40:08] years ago. So, that would probably put

[1:40:10] us higher on the list of getting funding

[1:40:12] if we're able to show that we've already

[1:40:14] done that here in the city. Correct.

[1:40:16] >> I would say so. I mean, I think it's first and foremost a you're not

[1:40:20] going to lose funds. I do think that

[1:40:22] they will they do have new grant

[1:40:24] programs that they're we're remaining.

[1:40:26] We were really waiting to see what uh

[1:40:29] those programs look like where they will

[1:40:31] offer new sort of award opportunities,

[1:40:34] new programs and things that Rona could

[1:40:36] participate participate in due to what

[1:40:38] it sounds like are, you know, pretty

[1:40:40] amenable uh zoning laws.

[1:40:43] >> Thank you.

[1:40:45] for the question, Mr. Vis. And

[1:40:46] Mr. Hagen has a followup.

[1:40:48] >> Just a follow up on the housing thing.

[1:40:49] I'm hearing a lot of ifs and mays and

[1:40:52] this type of thing. Um, it's always good

[1:40:54] to keep our eyes out on for certain

[1:40:57] grants that would come up, but I'd love

[1:40:59] to hear it when it actually becomes

[1:41:01] finalized.

[1:41:03] >> Thank you.

[1:41:04] >> Absolutely.

[1:41:08] » Thank you. Okay. I think uh sorry I

[1:41:11] interrupted you. I think Mr. Binkley,

[1:41:12] you were about to head to the next part

[1:41:14] of your presentation, so I'll turn it

[1:41:15] back to you.

[1:41:16] >> Yep. Thank you very much. Uh great to be

[1:41:19] with you all today. Just wanted to

[1:41:21] highlight a couple of our uh current top

[1:41:23] priorities. [clears throat] Um as an

[1:41:25] update on the Norfol Southern Party of

[1:41:27] Record uh issue, we have officially

[1:41:30] joined the STB merger docket as a party

[1:41:33] of record. Uh this uh affords the city

[1:41:36] an opportunity to monitor filings and

[1:41:39] respond to deadlines um with the city

[1:41:42] attorney. Um, one of the things that we

[1:41:45] wanted to highlight, uh, that we ought

[1:41:47] to do is, uh, flag anything that

[1:41:50] specifically affects the city, uh,

[1:41:52] including things like, uh, changes to

[1:41:54] Norfick Southern facilities or property,

[1:41:57] uh, things like local operations or

[1:41:59] employment issues, uh, freight traffic,

[1:42:01] grade crossings, obviously any effects

[1:42:03] to local infrastructure,

[1:42:06] um, environmental or safety concerns,

[1:42:09] and any proposed merger conditions or

[1:42:12] agreements. ments with other

[1:42:13] communities. I think those are the items

[1:42:15] that we want to help look out for uh

[1:42:18] that could impact the city. U I wanted

[1:42:21] to highlight two upcoming dates that we

[1:42:23] should be aware of. Uh the preliminary

[1:42:25] environmental comments are due September

[1:42:28] 21st and the primary deadline for

[1:42:31] comments, protests and requests for

[1:42:33] conditions is November 18th. Um and so

[1:42:37] the the parties will be providing those

[1:42:39] comments. uh we are obviously able to

[1:42:42] weigh in uh following their preliminary

[1:42:45] environmental comments which will be due

[1:42:47] again September 21st. We can then submit

[1:42:50] uh comments, protests and requests for

[1:42:53] conditions by November 18th. So we will

[1:42:55] work with uh our points of contact to

[1:42:57] make sure that uh everyone has an

[1:42:59] opportunity to weigh in um in this way.

[1:43:06] Then moving to another top. Yeah, happy

[1:43:08] to answer any questions before I move

[1:43:09] on.

[1:43:10] >> Real quick, we had one question about

[1:43:11] the Norfick Southern Party of Record

[1:43:13] update. Mr. Volison,

[1:43:14] >> course, Mr. Chair. Um, Mr. Binkley,

[1:43:17] we've as a city, we've had meetings to

[1:43:20] determine, you know, some of those

[1:43:21] unresolved uh Norfolk Southern

[1:43:23] commitments and potential issues and

[1:43:25] comments. Um, and so I just wanted to

[1:43:28] make sure that we're able to get those

[1:43:31] uh moving forward in this merger

[1:43:33] process. So uh I'm not sure what the

[1:43:35] best way to do that is but we need to

[1:43:37] make sure that we transmit those to you

[1:43:39] because there are quite a few of them um

[1:43:41] that we've identified whether it's at

[1:43:43] grade crossings whether it's derelict

[1:43:45] properties whether it's um you know land

[1:43:48] that may be uh contaminated. Uh so there

[1:43:51] are a lot of issues that we have um

[1:43:53] being the former headquarters of Norfolk

[1:43:55] Southern that um we would make want to

[1:43:57] make sure that those things get into

[1:43:59] this uh merger agreement.

[1:44:02] that sounds like the type perfect type

[1:44:04] of feedback that they would be looking

[1:44:05] for. And so if you have raw notes as a

[1:44:08] result of those meetings, we'd be happy

[1:44:10] to clean them up and and put them in the

[1:44:12] format uh for which we need to submit

[1:44:15] them or we could do a call separate uh

[1:44:17] outside of this uh just to get a

[1:44:20] download from you all on what those

[1:44:22] issues were. So defer to you on how best

[1:44:25] to transmit that information, but we'd

[1:44:27] be happy to get it into the format and clean that up and and and submit it

[1:44:31] for you, help submit it.

[1:44:34] >> Um I see Mr. Bratton.

[1:44:36] >> Yeah, Mr. Bratton, please come down. I

[1:44:37] think I appreciate that question, Mr.

[1:44:38] Vol. I was wondering the same.

[1:44:41] >> Yes, sir. Please come down.

[1:44:42] >> Um good morning. As we start to become

[1:44:44] as they start to transition out,

[1:44:46] nonoperating becomes I mean operating

[1:44:48] becomes nonoperating, that becomes

[1:44:49] taxable. We're starting to get lists

[1:44:51] now. we can't get responses from the

[1:44:53] railroad as far as you know what these

[1:44:55] properties mean. So we would love to

[1:44:57] make sure that they understand that we

[1:44:59] need to have somebody appropriate one

[1:45:01] some kind some person there that we can

[1:45:03] talk with because we're having problems

[1:45:04] matching a lot of this stuff up because

[1:45:07] before it was just coordinates and

[1:45:09] things like that. So we really it

[1:45:10] becomes taxable even beyond the um some

[1:45:14] of the issues a lot of that property

[1:45:16] becomes taxable as becomes nonoperating.

[1:45:18] So, we'd like that to survive any sort

[1:45:20] of agreement.

[1:45:22] >> Thank you. Before you go, Mr. Bratton,

[1:45:24] how do we You might You maybe you were

[1:45:26] about to say this. Sorry. Uh but how do

[1:45:28] we close that loop to make sure that the

[1:45:30] concerns and questions you have are um

[1:45:33] getting to the right team? Is that a

[1:45:35] >> We need a committed conduit. I mean, we

[1:45:37] don't have when we when we reach out. I

[1:45:39] mean, Mr. Volison has been trying to get

[1:45:41] in touch with We've been trying to get

[1:45:42] in touch with Ruben. I know we've had

[1:45:43] some projects we worked on. We just need

[1:45:45] somebody committed to corresponding with

[1:45:47] us so that we can match this stuff up

[1:45:48] because there's a lot of assets over

[1:45:49] there. I mean, we they're non they've

[1:45:51] been when they become nonoperating,

[1:45:52] they're taxable. So, if nothing else,

[1:45:55] there's uh that that's part of what we

[1:45:57] get back and having them here.

[1:45:59] >> This board, did you want to add to that?

[1:46:02] >> Yes. [clears throat] Um, Councilman Vol

[1:46:05] has also met with the director of public

[1:46:07] works, Ross Campbell, and so he was also

[1:46:09] touching base with his staff. So, we'll

[1:46:11] just make sure that we expand that to

[1:46:13] other departments and get a consolidated

[1:46:15] list and we can send it out to you all

[1:46:17] to make sure that we have everything

[1:46:18] included and get it submitted.

[1:46:20] >> Mr. Bratton, you said I'm sorry.

[1:46:21] >> Yeah, we'll reach out to other

[1:46:23] departments as well.

[1:46:24] >> Okay. Does that sound good?

[1:46:27] >> Thank you both very much.

[1:46:29] >> Any other questions on the Norfick

[1:46:31] Southern Party of Record update?

[1:46:34] >> Okay. Sorry about that, Mr. Binkley.

[1:46:35] I'll turn it back over to you.

[1:46:38] >> Nope. All good feedback. Thank you. Um

[1:46:40] and then the other um immediate priority

[1:46:43] is to a schedule a virtual uh delegation

[1:46:47] visit uh with um interested parties with

[1:46:50] the city and uh our elected leadership

[1:46:53] and our congressional uh delegation

[1:46:55] members. So you'd have representative

[1:46:57] from both senator's offices and uh

[1:46:59] congressman Klein's office. all parties

[1:47:01] have been um eager to participate um but

[1:47:05] have been uh difficult to schedule just

[1:47:07] with all of the election activity uh

[1:47:10] going on this fall. So, we're circling

[1:47:12] in a on a date right now that will work

[1:47:14] for everybody. Um really the challenge

[1:47:16] again has been scheduling, especially in

[1:47:18] light of uh the ongoing election um and especially two of your uh delegation

[1:47:24] members wrapped up and their staffs

[1:47:26] wrapped up in that. Um but it was

[1:47:28] valuable to hear um the debate and

[1:47:31] discussion around our legislative

[1:47:32] priorities. Obviously, many of those

[1:47:34] will be points of discussion for this uh

[1:47:37] visit. We can use this as a valuable

[1:47:40] opportunity to go over those legislative

[1:47:42] priorities and the ones that have a

[1:47:44] federal nexus. Uh we can also get

[1:47:46] feedback from them on on items that they

[1:47:48] want to prioritize through the

[1:47:50] congressionally uh directed spending

[1:47:52] process. um and so can have a back and

[1:47:55] forth uh discussion and dialogue with

[1:47:57] our uh congressional delegation uh at

[1:47:59] that time. Um one other piece to that I wanted to highlight that we will

[1:48:04] prioritize and get this to you as soon

[1:48:06] as possible just based on the

[1:48:08] conversation we had earlier on the

[1:48:10] legislative priorities. Uh, one

[1:48:11] deliverable that you will be receiving

[1:48:13] from us is a primer on congressionally

[1:48:16] directed spending, reminding um, anybody

[1:48:19] that would be interested in submitting

[1:48:20] for projects. um what the um the general

[1:48:25] guidelines are, what the best practices

[1:48:27] are from the appropriations committee,

[1:48:29] things like deadlines, and then we'll go

[1:48:32] a step further to highlight projects

[1:48:34] that the city has submitted in the past,

[1:48:36] those that have been successful, those

[1:48:38] that haven't, our analysis on why those

[1:48:40] that hadn't been successful were not

[1:48:42] successful. Um so that we can you know

[1:48:45] um so that as we're you know uh

[1:48:47] soliciting people within the city uh for priority projects we can have that

[1:48:52] reminder as to what had been submitted

[1:48:54] in the past what had been successful um

[1:48:56] and what had not and the reason for

[1:48:58] which uh those that hadn't been

[1:49:00] successful didn't move forward. So

[1:49:02] wanted to highlight that but we will

[1:49:03] prioritize getting you that especially

[1:49:06] um understanding where you are in your process now.

[1:49:10] So those were two um you know uh

[1:49:13] priority updates that we wanted to to

[1:49:15] offer. Um and then we can hit the next

[1:49:17] slide. But uh that's the end of our

[1:49:19] presentation today. Happy to take any

[1:49:21] questions.

[1:49:22] >> Thank you very much. I really appreciate

[1:49:24] all of that. Do we have any questions

[1:49:28] from council or the city attorney's

[1:49:30] office or the city manager's office or

[1:49:32] any of our staff?

[1:49:36] All right. Well, Mr. Binkley, Mr. Cox,

[1:49:38] thank you very much um for that

[1:49:40] presentation and all of the updates and

[1:49:41] we'll look forward to um staying in

[1:49:44] touch on the items you mentioned that

[1:49:46] we're going to be hearing from you on

[1:49:47] some of those visits and the database

[1:49:50] etc. That all sounded good to me. Um, I

[1:49:52] think the last item we have to cover

[1:49:54] today, our next legislative committee

[1:49:56] meeting is Monday, November 2nd, 2026 at

[1:49:59] 9:00 a.m. I think a decision for us

[1:50:01] today is if we want to um

[1:50:06] could we finalize our legislative

[1:50:08] committee agenda at our next meeting in

[1:50:10] two weeks?

[1:50:12] Does that require calling a special

[1:50:14] legislative committee meeting or can we

[1:50:15] do it there? Do we need to or can we?

[1:50:17] What's the preference? In two weeks or a

[1:50:18] month to finalize this? I'd kind of like

[1:50:20] to get it done in two weeks if we can,

[1:50:22] but I don't want to force it forward if

[1:50:24] it's not going to be ready. Mr.

[1:50:26] Ballison,

[1:50:27] >> inclined for us to do it in two in two

[1:50:29] weeks, but I also with the discussion

[1:50:31] about the housing study being on

[1:50:33] November 1st.

[1:50:35] >> Yeah, that was going to be my

[1:50:37] >> behoove us to do it uh

[1:50:40] >> the second to, you know, see what

[1:50:42] happens with that.

[1:50:44] >> Yeah.

[1:50:45] >> Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor,

[1:50:46] >> maybe maybe Vice Mayor, we could have a

[1:50:47] draft. um document um for the 19th or

[1:50:53] maybe

[1:50:56] >> final final final draft.

[1:50:57] >> Yeah.

[1:50:59] >> Second once we have this information

[1:51:01] related to the housing edu to fully

[1:51:05] adopt.

[1:51:08] >> Sounds good to me. That sounds good to

[1:51:09] everyone else.

[1:51:12] All right. Um well, one last item. I

[1:51:14] didn't have a chance to This is a

[1:51:16] federal legislative item. Um I didn't

[1:51:17] have a chance to work on it or prepare

[1:51:19] it, but I will touch base with each of

[1:51:20] you individually. We received requests

[1:51:22] from several members of the community,

[1:51:24] including our former um council

[1:51:27] colleague, not when I was on council,

[1:51:28] and citizen of the year, Rupert Cutler,

[1:51:31] um asking the city of Rono to follow the

[1:51:33] lead of several other Virginia cities

[1:51:36] that have weighed in with a letter to uh

[1:51:39] a comment letter urging um the

[1:51:41] administration to drop their roadless

[1:51:44] rule um changes, which um is um of

[1:51:48] consequence to a lot of protected lands

[1:51:50] and national parks.

[1:51:52] um around us and throughout uh Virginia.

[1:51:54] And so I think Harrisonenberg and some

[1:51:56] other places are putting in um comments.

[1:51:58] We had that request. I apologize for not

[1:52:00] having that draft ready today. The

[1:52:02] comment deadline does close tomorrow. So

[1:52:05] I want you all to consider it. I'll talk

[1:52:07] to you. Um I'm glad to draft something

[1:52:08] up um if it's of council interest. But

[1:52:12] just wanted to put that out there

[1:52:13] because I promised Mr. Cutler I'd bring

[1:52:14] it up. Um

[1:52:16] so if there last call if there's no

[1:52:18] other b business I will adjourn um our

[1:52:21] meeting for today.

[1:52:24] All right we'll meet again on November

[1:52:25] 2nd. Thank you all.

[1:52:30] » Thank you vice mayor uh for your

[1:52:32] leadership of that the committee. Uh

[1:52:34] great accomplishments today. Um, unless

[1:52:39] uh we have any follow-up questions or

[1:52:41] items for our consideration from

[1:52:43] council, we will recess uh until 2:00

[1:52:47] p.m. for our closed meetings. Thank you

[1:52:50] all.

Roanoke City Council Meeting on October 5,, 2026, at 9:00am

Transcript