Roanoke council recognizes police accreditation, adopts multiple funding and planning measures

Roanoke City Council met at 2 p.m. and opened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance before moving into recognitions, presentations and a series of unanimous votes on grants, staffing and planning measures.

The council recognized the Roanoke Police Department for earning its tenth Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) accreditation and the department’s training academy for its fifth accreditation cycle. Travis Parrish of CALEA presented the certificate and Chief Booth thanked staff who managed the accreditation work. Council members praised the department’s community work and the city’s emergency response during a recent winter storm.

Deputy Director of Finance Aquaneta Harris briefed the council on the city’s December fiscal report for fiscal year 2026. Harris said real‑estate collections are outperforming the prior year and have reached 51% of the current fiscal year budget; business‑license receipts were $461,000 higher year‑to‑date, transient‑occupancy tax was $332,000 above the prior year, and sales tax remained flat. Harris introduced a new deferred capital‑maintenance slide showing committed costs, noting a total committed cost of $3,500,000 for elevator replacements and other items, and said finance will continue to monitor revenues and expenditures monthly. Councilmembers asked for follow‑up on anomalous overtime percentages in some departments and requested that future reports include month‑by‑month meal‑tax revenue and rebate participation data.

During the public comment period, Reverend Carter Mundy urged the council to prioritize strategies that support population growth — including addressing school capacity — and suggested the council consider pausing further pursuit of a casino project in favor of a comprehensive growth plan. He told the council, “I just want you all to know that we’re for the growth of our city,” and emphasized the need for a plan that balances growth and equity.

On the consent and regular agendas, the council approved multiple measures by roll call: - An ordinance accepting and appropriating Helene Business Recovery Initiative funds for the Greater Roanoke and New River Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC), authorized to be executed under the Virginia Growth and Opportunity Fund administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. SBDC representatives were present to answer questions about continuity planning for businesses affected by Hurricane Helene. - An ordinance accepting funding from the governor’s 2026 state budget to expand the city Department of Human and Social Services’ Child Protective Services program by two CPS worker positions and one CPS supervisor position. City Manager Turner said the Commonwealth reimburses approximately 85% of those salary costs. - An ordinance accepting $14,988 in redistributed one‑time local bonus funds from the Virginia Department of Social Services for jurisdictions that provided bonuses to full‑time social services employees. - A resolution initiating amendments to the city zoning ordinance (including review of a 2024 house‑related package and a proposed vape shop rule) and referring those proposed changes to the planning commission for public review and comment. - A resolution initiating a review and update of the Evans Spring master plan as an amendment to the city’s Plan 2040 and referring it to the planning commission.

Council also ratified a contract modification with Taxing Authority Consulting Services PC to expand delinquent‑tax collection services and address unmaintained properties — a move staff said will add the contractor’s fees to delinquent balances rather than cost the city directly, and could support more efficient land‑banking and redevelopment. Finally, the council appointed Laura M. Carini as city attorney, effective March 1, 2026; Carini thanked council and introduced members of the city attorney’s office.

The meeting recessed for a closed session to complete appointments to authorities, boards and commissions. City staff flagged several near‑term follow ups for council, including clarifications on overtime percentages, a meals‑tax rebate participation report, and details about rebate amounts returned to restaurants that pay on time.

What’s next: staff will return with the requested budget clarifications and the planning commission will begin public review of proposed zoning code amendments and the Evans Spring plan update. The council scheduled certification of the closed meeting and announcement of any appointments after reconvening.