Tasha L. Burkett

The meeting agenda included the approval of minutes from the December 15 meeting and discussions pertaining to City Council Expenditures for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2025. Key investigative topics involved the Group Violence Intervention Grant Investigation and an update on the audit of the City's Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Reports. The associated documentation also details findings from a municipal auditing report concerning City Council travel and expense policy compliance for FY2025, noting issues with budget reallocations for newly seated members and payroll errors.

The meeting addressed several key items, commencing with the Financial Audit Status Report. This report detailed that preliminary audit work is nearly complete, pending a stable trial balance, and noted that the VRS examination and Sheriff Agreed-Upon Procedures are finished. Significant coordination was required to settle fund balance receivable/payable issues with Roanoke City Public Schools, resulting in a reduction of local funding for FY 2025. Updates were also provided regarding delays in the Schedule of Federal Awards (SEFA) due to Oracle system implementation complications, and internal control narratives are being revised. The committee also reviewed the Audit of City Purchasing Cards, observing that the P-Card Policy needs revision, gift card purchases were prevalent, and object coding accuracy required improvement. Finally, a briefing was provided on the 2025 Annual Simplified Comparative Report, focusing on regional comparisons related to expenditures per capita, household incomes, home values, poverty rates, human services utilization, and crime trends.

The regular meetings covered proclamations recognizing Black History Month and celebrating the contributions of the Harrison Museum of African-American Culture. Public comments addressed school funding and local cycling opportunities. The Reno Valley Alagany Regional Commission presented an update on the hazard mitigation plan, which identifies risks like flooding and establishes community resilience goals. Council approved the acceptance of Virginia Department of Transportation funds for the Tinker Creek Greenway and a one-year naming rights agreement for the Berglin Center. A code amendment was approved to update the city's transient occupancy tax to align with state regulations. The afternoon session concluded with an adjustment to the city treasurer's salary. The evening session included the passage of a resolution recognizing the service of the retiring city attorney, Tim Spencer, and the approval of a new lease agreement between the city and Orvis.

The meeting commenced with recognition for the Ronach Public Library's January term interns from Hollands University and the winners of the Association of Government Accountants Government Finance Case Challenge. City council heard several briefings covering opioid abatement authority funds, traffic control for special events, the preliminary fiscal year 2027 budget, and Park Roanoke. Action items passed included funding from VOTE and Operation Ceasefire, acquiring property rights for grading in Blue Hills, adopting the amended school funding policy, reappropriating FY25 Trueup funds for schools, and an agreement with the Virginia Department of Health for operating the Roanoke Health Department. Council also approved a code amendment for a partial real estate tax exemption for developers in conservation or rehabilitation districts and approved the school board's fund appropriation request for educational programs. A resolution for a fair free transit day was also approved.

The City Council meeting included a joint session with the Gun Violence Prevention Commission followed by a legislative committee meeting to discuss the current general assembly session. Key action items ratified included the declaration of a local state of emergency due to the January winter storm and garage parking waivers. The planning department provided updates on council member initiatives related to 2024 zoning amendments, the Evans spring plan, and a new vape shop ordinance. Discussions also covered a proposed code amendment for the transient occupancy tax, and a briefing on the FY27 budget focused on the capital improvement plan. The afternoon session involved recognition of the Police Department for achieving Kalia accreditation, presentation of the December budget report, and acceptance of various grant funds to support small business development and child protective services staff. Finally, the council officially appointed a new city attorney.