Council adopts flood‑mitigation purchases, watershed modeling and safety and cybersecurity grants; multiple ordinances pass unanimously

Roanoke City Council held roll-call votes on a slate of ordinances and resolutions at its Oct. 6 session. Items adopted unanimously included acceptance of multiple state grants for flood‑mitigation property purchases and watershed modeling, two targeted Department of Motor Vehicles traffic enforcement grants for the police department, execution of a state cybersecurity services consent agreement, an encroachment permit for a new drive‑through, and a contract amendment for the Waseena River Park project. Council also approved technical corrections to earlier ordinances and a polling‑place name update.

Votes at a glance (each item adopted by roll call; votes recorded as listed):

- Track 8 drainage easement acquisition (2002 Blue Hills Circle NE). Motion to authorize acquisition of real property rights; mover: Councilor F. Nash; second: Councilor J. Boleson. Roll call: Sanchez Jones Aye; Vice Mayor Maguire Aye; Nash Aye; Vollison Aye; Powers Aye; Hagen Aye; Mayor Cobb Aye. Outcome: ordinance adopted.

- Accept VDCR Community Flood Preparedness Fund grant and acquire 2034 Indian Village Lane SE (demolition of three flood‑prone duplex buildings). Motion was moved and second (movers recorded in meeting); roll call unanimous. Outcome: ordinance adopted. City staff said the Roanoke Regional Housing Authority will relocate units and rebuild housing outside the floodplain.

- Accept VDCR Community Flood Preparedness Fund grant and acquire two flood‑prone properties at 1941 and 1953 Franklin Road SW (demolition and floodplain restoration). Mover: Councilor Lisonbee (motion made and seconded by Powers/Lisonbee); roll call unanimous. Outcome: ordinance adopted.

- Accept VDCR grant funds for watershed modeling (Trout Run and Hortons Branch). Mover: Councilor R. Vollison; second: Councilor F. Nash. Purpose: survey and hydraulic modeling to guide capital projects and emergency preparedness. Roll call unanimous; ordinance adopted.

- Accept FY2026 DMV Highway Safety Selective Enforcement (alcohol) grant for Roanoke Police Department ($34,350). Mover: Councilor F. Nash; second: Councilor M. Powers. Funds to pay off‑duty officers for targeted impaired‑driving enforcement. Roll call unanimous; ordinance adopted.

- Accept FY2026 DMV Traffic Safety Selective Enforcement (police traffic services) grant (~$67,000). Mover: Councilor M. Powers; second: Councilor F. Nash. Funds to pay off‑duty officers for targeted speed and traffic‑safety enforcement. Roll call unanimous; ordinance adopted.

- Accept VITA State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program services (vulnerability management) through a local consent agreement (services in lieu of direct funding). Mover: Councilor F. Nash; second: Councilor M. Powers. The precise vendor value was undetermined at time of presentation; resolution adopted unanimously.

- Approve an encroachment permit for Charter Foods, Inc. (drive‑through access improvements) adjacent to 2657 Peters Creek Rd NW for a proposed Taco Bell. Mover: Councilor F. Nash; second: Councilor M. Powers. Roll call unanimous; ordinance adopted.

- Authorize execution of an amendment to the Stantec Consulting Services contract for engineering design on the Waseena River Park project. Mover: Councilor Hagen; second: Councilor Nash. Resolution adopted unanimously.

- Repeal/replace two ordinances to correct scrivener errors: a FY2024 HUD Continuum of Care grant acceptance (homeless assistance team) and a FY2026 multi‑jurisdictional special drug prosecutor acceptance (Compensation Board funding). Motions moved/seconded and adopted by roll call; both ordinances corrected and adopted.

- Ordinance amending Chapter 10 (Elections) to update the name of the polling place for Precinct 18 (same location; name change to Sovereign Grace Community Church). Mover: Councilor Lisonbee; second: Councilor Nash. Council attorney noted the change updates the name only; the voting location and address did not change. Ordinance adopted unanimously.

What this means: The combined flood‑mitigation purchases and watershed modeling work are intended to remove structures from floodplains, restore floodplain areas and provide technical modeling to guide future capital work and emergency planning. Police grant funding will be used to staff targeted enforcement shifts focused on impaired driving and traffic safety. The cybersecurity agreement will provide vulnerability‑management services to the city's IT systems through the Virginia Information Technology Agency program.

Quotes (meeting excerpts): “This project will involve the demolition of 3 flood prone buildings, restoration of the flood plain with a bench and native plantings,” City Manager Val Marie Turner said about the Indian Village acquisition.

Next steps: Staff will execute grant agreements and acquisition documents, coordinate relocations with the Roanoke Regional Housing Authority (where relevant), and proceed with consultant services and project design for Waseena River Park and watershed modeling. The city will accept cybersecurity services under the VITA agreement and return with contract documents as vendor negotiations conclude.

Ending: All listed measures passed by unanimous roll-call votes during the meeting; city staff will implement the grant agreements and related acquisition or contract actions as authorized by council.