City Council

Agenda — 5 items

1. Comments on certain Authorities, Boards, Committees and Commissions in which City Council serve as liaisons or appointees.Council Member Volosin commented that at the recent Regional Commission meeting, draft legislative priorities were passed and asked the status of the urban renewal apology. </strong><br><br><strong>Council Member Powers commented that the RVTV Committee's new contract was in motion to be voted on by Council.
2. Acceptance and Appropriation of the FY 2025 HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) Grant Award – Coordinated Assessment System (CAS).Adopted Ordinance No. 43451-081726. (6-0)
3. Acceptance and Appropriation of the FY 2025 HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) Grant Award – Homeless Assistance Team (HAT).Adopted Ordinance No. 43450-081726. (6-0)
4. Acceptance and Appropriation of the FY 2025 HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) Grant Award - CoC Planning.Adopted Ordinance No. 43452-081726. (6-0)
5. COMMENTS OF THE CITY MANAGER.The City Manager shared the following comments:The completed ACFR is now before you for your review. The report will be formally presented at the Audit Committee meeting by our external auditors in September, who will walk through the audit results and provide additional detail regarding the financial statements and audit findings. As you are aware, the ACFR is being presented later than originally anticipated. The delay was primarily the result of significant staffing turnover within the Finance Department, along with the implementation of a new financial system. Both of these factors created additional challenges and required significant time and resources from the Finance team to ensure that the financial information was properly prepared and reconciled.I also want to acknowledge that the audit identified several findings. These findings occurred within the context of the challenges the Finance Department has experienced during this transition period. We recognize the importance of addressing these matters, and corrective actions are already underway. Management is working with the Finance team and the appropriate departments to strengthen processes, improve internal controls, and address the recommendations identified through the audit. While there were challenges during the year, completing the audit and presenting the ACFR is an important step forward. Our focus now is on implementing the corrective actions, strengthening our financial operations, and ensuring that we continue to improve the timeliness and quality of our financial reporting. We appreciate the Council's understanding and continued support as we work through these improvements.I am pleased to welcome and introduce two new city team members. Cathy Stripling, our new Sustainability Manager and Natalie Talis, our new Strategic Projects Manager. Cathy Stripling, most recently served as Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Crossroads Small Business Development Center, where she led center initiatives and funding compliance, provided technical assistance, and collaborated with local and state organizations to support entrepreneurship in Southwest Virginia communities. As it relates to sustainability, Cathy previously served as the Sustainability Program Director at Community Housing Partners, a nonprofit affordable housing organization, with a focus on strategy and implementation to reduce emissions, energy, and water use across more than 100 properties. Cathy has experience building the benchmarking frameworks and impact narratives needed to secure project funding and meet reporting requirements and has presented her sustainability work at state and national conferences. As a Virginia native with deep roots in Southwest Virginia, Cathy has been an active civic leader, serving as Chair of the Town of Pulaski Architectural Review Board, founding Board President of Pulaski on Main, and other local boards and planning committees. Cathy holds a bachelor's degree in Housing, Interior Design and Resource Management from Virginia Tech and is now a new resident in Roanoke.Natalie Talis, MPH, brings more than 15 years of experience leading strategic initiatives, building coalitions, and working alongside residents and communities to solve complex problems. Most recently, she served as Population Health Manager at the City of Alexandria Health Department, where she launched the city’s first Healthy Homes Initiative, developed new approaches to Community Health Assessments and Improvement Plans, and provided technical assistance to city agencies, businesses, nonprofits, and faith leaders. During the COVID-19 response, Natalie also served as the Health Department’s Public Information Officer, leading communications and community engagement efforts and developing vaccine distribution systems designed to ensure equitable access for all residents. Previously, Natalie served as a Policy Associate with the National Farm to School Network, where she advocated for commonsense child nutrition and agricultural policies, and held communications roles in the private sector. Natalie’s work has earned numerous recognitions, including a “40 Under 40” honor from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, a Community Champion Award from the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, and the Public Service Award from the Alexandria Commission on Aging. She holds a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in French from John Carroll University. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s Sorensen Institute Political Leadership Program and is currently completing Virginia Tech’s Local Government Management Certificate program. Natalie is relocating to the region with her husband, daughter, and two cats.

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