[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6320173,"mediaKeyId","2359650-fcb5b6a2449bfa909a82522b817fc7b2","parentId",2359650,"title","Roanoke City Council approves array of ordinances, grants and designations","audioSeconds",3930,"startMs",2797000,"endMs",6727000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2359650-fcb5b6a2449bfa909a82522b817fc7b2&start=2797&end=6727","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2359650-fcb5b6a2449bfa909a82522b817fc7b2/thumbnail_2797000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6320173/Roanoke-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Roanoke-City-Council-approves-array-of-ordinances-grants-and-designations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6320173-79fcb2ff7e372169567f72b789377ca0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171674&Signature=OD87r3-h56TT26ejzXHZf6HiR4JRYg9HiGvZrljhDhXubS6ef2KUe0xrnRwa6ora-cOWSy9CgKUtHHQttqSvnu4gQLbVTHzdBpu2IvjCEXB6S7tds09P~-hw~cYYSaWPgzVKbk36cXRL1bt94G0A1zD6biHIuUPx7wtovhQsJ9j-GrIC~wo~R~SLLkJ1Zve27JbRZzCtwe~5bFkLzy~R~sYkE9Ybdq8bUs3z3LYiKy~6kuacKbhsYv6xXcWWoJxr98tXCQNNuUrnFAaTwWxze8QUpUTiKcjDYGb8LUvcRrc6WPk5SNVvJa~wppjftnf6eoiuW11x2JVNzva63JEK8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Roanoke Valley Television VA","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","Roanoke City Council on Feb. 18 unanimously approved a package of ordinances and resolutions, including grant acceptances, a change to vehicle impound rules, updated extraterritorial arrest authority and two housing- and arts-related designations.

The council convened a 2 p.m. session and adopted the consent agenda as amended to add a request for a closed meeting to consult with legal counsel under Virginia Code section 2.2-337.11. The roll call recorded ayes from Council members Nash, Vollison, Powers, Hagan, Sanchez Jones, Vice Mayor Terry McGuire and Mayor Joe Cobb; the consent agenda passed.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (amended to add closed-meeting consultation with legal counsel pursuant to Va. Code \u0000\u0000 2.2-337.11): Approved (7-0).

- Ordinance amending city code chapter 20 to authorize removal of hazardous or illegally parked vehicles: Adopted (7-0). The title paragraph listed changes to sections 20-93 and 20-94 to allow impoundment under the sheriff's direction.

- Ordinance accepting and appropriating the FY24 State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) reimbursement for the Roanoke City Sheriff's Office ($19,856): Adopted (7-0). Sheriff's Office representative Brandon Jones explained the award is reimbursement for detention costs tied to qualifying inmates and must be used for detention-center purposes only (equipment, programming, medical contracts, food service).

- Ordinance accepting and appropriating a Virginia Department of Emergency Management Local Emergency Management Performance Grant: Adopted (7-0). City staff said funds will support planning, training, equipment and exercises for all hazards preparedness.

- Ordinance accepting Rescue Squad Assistance Fund grant (50/50 program administered by Virginia Office of EMS) to purchase an ambulance: Adopted (7-0). Council was told the grant will fund an ambulance purchase with a local match.

- Ordinance adopting an amended and restated regional extraterritorial arrest agreement among Roanoke and neighboring jurisdictions and sheriffs: Adopted (7-0). Public-safety staff said the change aligns with the Marcus Alert implementation and clarifies arrest powers for on-duty officers outside their employing political subdivision when specified offenses occur in their presence.

- Resolution designating census tracts 22 and 27 as revitalization areas under Virginia code (to support low-income housing tax credit applications): Adopted (7-0). Staff said the designations will support an 86-unit affordable project by the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority in Tract 22 and a 55-unit project (Gateway LLC/Homes for America) in Tract 27; the application deadline noted was March 13.

- Ordinance accepting a $20,000 donation from Pathfinders for Greenways, Inc. to reimburse percent-for-art funds for Greenway murals: Adopted (7-0). City staff listed planned mural locations on the Roanoke River Greenway and other city-owned sites.

- Resolution amending a prior council resolution to authorize the Roanoke City School Board to enter public\u0000private partnerships with subsidiaries of Secured Futures LLC (Star Circle Solar and related entities) to lease school property for rooftop solar and power purchase agreements: Adopted (7-0). Legal staff said the amendment allows use of additional Secured Futures subsidiaries after the original contractor reached statutory megawatt limits; school officials said six buildings already have panels, 11 more are planned, and the arrangement transfers panel ownership and maintenance to the private partner while the schools buy power at reduced rates.

- Resolution naming the front plaza at the Oliver W. Hill Justice Center the Ansley Ware Plaza in honor of the late Judge Ansley Ware: Adopted (7-0). Council authorized the city manager or designee to install appropriate statuary or plaque and to provide the family a copy of the resolution.

Outcome and next steps

All roll-call votes reported in the meeting were unanimous in favor. Several grant acceptances require execution of documents by the city manager or designee. Staff noted time-sensitive deadlines for the revitalization-area applications and grant paperwork; Council members asked staff to return with routine implementation details as needed.

For documents and procurement tied to these actions, the City Manager\u0000s office or the responsible department was authorized to execute necessary paperwork and accept the funds where applicable. No vote failed or was tabled during the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Roanoke City Council Meeting on February 18 2025 at 2:00pm","oneSentenceSummary","Roanoke City Council on Feb. 18 unanimously approved a package of ordinances and resolutions, including grant acceptances, a change to vehicle-impound rules, updated extraterritorial arrest authority and two housing- and arts-related designations.","taxTitle","Roanoke City (Independent City), Virginia","taxId",7053,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6320168,"Roanoke City Manager warns FY26 revenue won—t cover rising costs; employee pay prioritized",735,3369000,4104000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2359650-fcb5b6a2449bfa909a82522b817fc7b2&start=3369&end=4104","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2359650-fcb5b6a2449bfa909a82522b817fc7b2/thumbnail_3369000.jpg","/articles/6320168/Roanoke-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Roanoke-City-Manager-warns-FY26-revenue-wont-cover-rising-costs-employee-pay-prioritized","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6320168-b287cf35e36cb3487eec06401b36e186/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171674&Signature=Y7YQSXvp-jHBBZPl0~UQKChj4F-4U0IZ8tuJiuUkPuiABZNthCgZ2JXZIbZUu6e4S4g9AQNYUzEWFMReTri~~3-hb1FdgSQ-Bjspv0BhEWjNcjrUonU3AUQoyMh~fFoHX2stbGVvFDsmH-oGKuIBu0wicAWCNtEvrV4qlI9uUA2eu7cT6Kg~89lKFd3e6xP29n-gU~HWmwlLMtw3jBkqXridk8rfWpbSOYOxMDosZR4b~zYBNEF3R-xCHGDCWVM4Y5ikXEjxjqIQHERsUEiDcs-0Nv1j41FLwYL2onrESPmD~XMSX0v712kmnDtyfx9Tn35IozSuXqU9gggNSLXgfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Manager Turner and Roanoke finance staff told City Council on Feb. 18 that projected incremental revenue for fiscal year 2026 will not fully cover expected expenditure increases, and they urged that employee compensation be a top priority in the budget process.

Turner presented an overview of FY26 revenue and the city\u0000s principal expenditure pressures: a roughly $23.2 million estimate of incremental revenue; a current policy allocation of about $6.7 million to Roanoke City Public Schools (staff said the schools have been asked to provide a budget at FY25 funding levels); approximately $3.3 million in state-driven social-services match funds that must be used for specified services; and other contractual and cost increases that must be carried forward into FY26.

Key expenditure items and constraints highlighted by staff

- Employee compensation: Turner said the city has about 1,800 full-time equivalent positions and identified roughly 234 employees paid below a living wage ($42,000) and 32 employees making less than $32,000. Staff recommended at minimum a 3% cost-of-living increase across the workforce and step increases for public safety.

- Health insurance and benefits: City staff projected a roughly 10% increase in employee health-insurance costs, an estimated $2 million impact.

- Salary base increases: Turner said the current salary base has increased by about $5.1 million above what was adopted in the FY25 budget and that vacancy hiring practices mean new hires are coming in above minimum budgeted ranges.

- Overtime and temporary wages: The city budgeted $1.8 million for overtime in FY24 but expended about $6.3 million; projections for the current year reach $7.6 million. The temporary-pay budget has also risen (budgeted $2.5 million vs. $2.9 million spent last year and $3.3 million projected this year).

- Capital maintenance backlog: Turner emphasized deferred maintenance is unsustainable; she cited $4.3 million needed for elevators as 1 example. Staff noted additional capital-maintenance amounts are still being quantified.

Finance director Margaret Lindsay provided revenue context and timing notes: fiscal 2025 real-estate tax receipts through January were roughly $66 million year-to-date, with $61 million current installments. Sales-tax remittances operate on a two-month lag and staff said they are watching for signs of consumer spending changes. Lindsay also noted that use-of-money-and-property revenue (interest income) was performing above the conservative budget estimate for FY25.

Next steps and public engagement

Turner said the incremental revenue projection is not sufficient to absorb the listed expenditure demands and described a multi-year, multi-pronged approach staff will use to address compensation and capital maintenance. The council was told the next budget update will be March 3 at a 9 a.m. work session, when staff will present capital-improvement program details, debt service and revenue strategies. Turner and Lindsay said the city plans community outreach on the budget after a proposed budget is released.

No formal vote was required for the briefing; staff requested direction on prioritization and said they will return with specific budget proposals.","City Manager Turner and finance staff told council that FY26 incremental revenue of about $23.2 million will not be sufficient to meet contractual and operating increases. They urged prioritizing employee compensation, school funding and capital maintenance.","actionData","errors"]

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Roanoke City Council approves array of ordinances, grants and designations

Roanoke City Manager warns FY26 revenue won—t cover rising costs; employee pay prioritized