City Council

Agenda — 6 items

1. Helen Ferguson, Strategic Coordinator and Grants Manager, reported on the following matters from the October 20 and November 3 City Council Meetings:Fare Free DayTuesday, November 4, was a Fare Free Day for Valley Metro due to Election Day. On Election Day, there were 5,663 boarders across the entire system. The previous Tuesday, October 28, 2025, there were 4,670 boarders. On November 4, 2024, there were 5,249 boarders. This shows an increase of nearly 1,000 boarders on Fare Free Day.Brandon Avenue/Greater Deyerle TrafficAdam Mastrangelo, President of the Greater Deyerle Neighborhood Association, and Gary Stein both shared concerns about increasing traffic along Brandon Avenue and Deyerle Road due to new town homes and the construction of a hotel in the area.Report Back:Ian Coffey, the City’s Traffic Engineer, shared data from several streets and intersections in this area. While the neighborhood may see a slight increase in traffic volume, Brandon Avenue currently has the capacity to absorb more input due to its five-lane cross-section. Any additional traffic signals from cross streets would only formalize delays experienced during peak hours.<br><br><u>Public Apology</u><br>Jordan Bell shared recommendations for the Urban Renewal Apology, which were received in writing and passed on to the Equity and Empowerment Advisory Board.Brandon Avenue Traffic NotesStratford Park Town homes - Approximately 80–100 vehicles (1,300 daily) are added during peak hours due to the town home project. Aside from turn lane warrants on Brandon at the proposed driveway, no other traffic improvements, such as a traffic signal, are recommended due to the minimal impact on peak-hour volumes and beyond. Further, traffic will be distributed to two separate driveways along Brandon, facilitating the absorption of traffic into the street network. The intersections between Keagy and Peters Creek were analyzed with the level of service remaining at acceptable or similar conditions as currently reported.Stratford Hotel – Approximately 40–50 vehicles (639 daily) are added during peak hours due to the hotel project. No Traffic Impact Assessment was required for this project, as the trip threshold is below the 100/1000 benchmark. The expectation is that traffic volumes below the 100/1000 threshold will be absorbed into the existing street network as is.A signal warrant at Deyerle/Brandon was performed as part of the early discussion for this project. The result is that a signal is not warranted at this time, even with the additional vehicles from the developments.The current estimated daily traffic volume for the subject street segment is 21,000, with a peak of up to 1,800 vehicles per hour. However, the side streets and driveways are well below the threshold warranting a traffic signal or other measures. In practice, Brandon can be viewed as a corridor with more than enough capacity to absorb more input due to its five or more lane cross-section. In other words, to date, Brandon Ave remains underutilized in its potential, and the most recent development contributes in a minor way to its future expansion potential. This is not to say that side streets and driveways will not experience delays when attempting left turns onto Brandon during the peak hours. Additional traffic signals along the corridor would only formalize those delays.
2. A communication from the City Attorney requesting that City Council convene in a Closed Meeting to consult with legal counsel regarding a certain legal matter requiring the provision of legal advice by the City Attorney concerning contract obligations involving a City-owned facility in the Central part of the City of Roanoke, pursuant to Section 2.2-3711 (A)(8), Code of Virginia, (1950), as amended.
3. Acceptance of State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) consent agreement for a Data Protection System for the City of Roanoke Technologies.Adopted Resolution No. 43315-111725. (7-0)
4. Presentation from Secure Solar Futures and Roanoke City Public Schools to share information with regard to potential cost-saving options through a solar power purchase agreement. Matt McFadden, Director of Business Development, Secure Solar Futures. (Sponsored by Vice-Mayor McGuire and Council Member Nash)Received and filed.
5. Public Hearing on the Proposed Substantial Amendment on the Program Year 25 Annual Action Plan. No action taken.
6. Garrett Robinson, on behalf of PedalSafe Roanoke, appeared before the Council and spoke with regard to keeping the greenway accessible to bike riders and open during the Wasena bridge construction. Sylvia King, appeared before the Council and spoke with regard to solar panel companies being a top-tier scam and also announced the 50th anniversary of Valley Metro on November 18. Barbara Duerk, appeared before the Council as a bicycle advocate and spoke with regard to bicycle safety legislation and the reenactment of Virginia Code section 46.2.905.Duane Howard, appeared before the Council and spoke with regard to the City producing a magazine to advise citizens about happenings in the City as well as a mail out to the southeast neighborhood organization.Nicholas Houck, appeared before the Council and spoke with regard to the city annexing his property to the County of Roanoke, for it is located in both localities and very cumbersome to pay taxes. </strong><br><br><strong>Ralph Smith, appeared before the Council and spoke in opposition to a city casino and asked the Council to pass a resolution to deny the proposal. Nell Boyle, appeared before the Council in support of the city's proposed energy initiatives and the implementation of the Climate Action Plan.Rebekah Murphy, appeared before the Council to inquire about the capital fund balance reallocation removal from the Council agenda and the true-up funds. She thanked Vice-Mayor McGuire, Council Members Hagen and Powers for meeting with the Council of PTA's and referenced future meetings with the remaining Council Members. Emily Casey, appeared before the Council and spoke with regard to the consulting firm the City used to evaluate its finances and the city's contribution to Roanoke City Public Schools should increase to account for the changes that have occurred in the school system over the past ten years.

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