HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Actions 07-11-95 JtMtg JOINT MEETING
ROANOKE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY~ JULY 11~ 1995
12'.30 P.M.
ROANOKE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION CENTER
AGENDA
A. WELCOME
H. Odell Minnix. Chairman
B. INVOCATION AND LUNCH
Invocation by John M. Chambliss, Jr, Assistant Administrator
C. ROLL CALL
D. OPENING REMARKS
H. Odell M/nnix, Chairman, Roanoke County Board of Superv/sors
Da,fid A. BoWers, Mayor, City of Roanoke
E. REQUESTS TO ADD TO OR CHANGE ~ ORDER OF AGENDA ITEMS
F. DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS:
Metropolitan Public Transit per Towers Perrin Study. (Mayor Bowers)
Request for an update on affordable housing in Roanoke County, in
particular, Habitat for Humanity. (Mayor Bowers)
3. Ridgeline Protection. (Mayor Bowers)
Update on Greenways Corridor Study. (Mayor Bowers)
1
5.~ Joint City/County Employee Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield Group Coverage
for local governments and schools. (Mayor Bowers)
~/ Followup to Towers-Pen-in Regionalization Report. (Lee B. Eddy)
7. Creation of an Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Cornmi~sion.
(Lee B. Eddy)
10.
11.
12.
13.
Status Report on Greenways Study. (Lee B. Eddy)
Discussion on Joint Funding of a "Mega' Industrial Park with the Cities of
Roanoke and Salem and County of Roanoke. (Bob g Johnson)
Regionalization of water resources through the creation of a Roanoke Valley
Water Authority. (Bob L. Johnson)
Consideration of a joint commission to review and make recommendation for
funding of human, social and cultural agencies. (Bob L. Johnson)
Economic Development Pannership. (Harry C. Nickens)
Visitor Destination Attractions. (Harry C. Nickens)
Concept of Regional Visitors Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. (Timothy G.
Gubala)
OTHER ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
ADJOURNMENT
COUNTY OF ROANOKE
MEMORANDUM
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
RE:
July 7, 1995
Roanoke County Board of Supervisors
Elmer C. Hodge
Roanoke County Administrator
Proposal for Blue Ridge Parkway Visitors Center
The enclosed paper on a Roanoke Valley Visitors Center along the Blue Ridge
Parkway covers the information which Mr. Gubala will present at the joint meeting with
the Roanoke City Council next week. It is both background and a call for action among
valley governments. An estimated 2.7 million visitors are annually passing by our doorstep.
Explore is stopping some of those travelers, but there is more that we can do to help the
travelers and ourselves. The Valley governments should agree on a site for a Roanoke
Valley Visitors Center along the Parkway and approach the National Park Service. It is
time we moved this idea forward before some other locality does.
The report is an accumulation of work by Dr. Nickens, staff, the National Park
Service and others, and is included on the agenda at Dr. Nickens' request. Please let me
know if you have any changes which should be made to the document before the joint
meeting on Tuesday.
I welcome your ideas, suggestions and support.
Proposals for Roanoke Valley Visitors Center
on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Every year, millions of tourists drive through the Roanoke Valley on the Blue
Ridge Parkway. Enticing those visitors to stop and visit the Valley has long been a goal
of the local governments. One of the original purposes of the Explore Park was to give
tourists a reason to pull off the Parkway and spend money and time here. Other
proposals have also been discussed and the need for a visitors center on the Parkway has
become clear. Such a center would provide information on the Parkway, and also on
regional attractions, lodging and restaurants so that interested visitors would be able to
stop and see some of the Roanoke Valley's attractions.
In 1988, Congressman Olin obtained a congressional appropriation of $450,000 to
study whether a Visitors Information Center should be constructed on the Blue Ridge
Parkway in the Roanoke Valley. In connection with the Roanoke River Reconnaissance
Survey in 1987-1989, teams of National Park Service planners and architects visited the
Roanoke Valley, viewed several sites between Route 460 and Route 220, and determined
that five sites passed the environmental impact study and were suitable for a Visitors
Center location (see attached map):
a) McDonald Farm This property, Site VC1 on the attachment, is owned by
the Town of Vinton, and located north of the Parkway.
b) Al Hammond Sites VC2 and VC3 are located south of the Parkway and
north of the Roanoke River, near the original Parkway Spur site. VC2 includes land
owned by Al Hammond and the National Park Service. VC3, which also belongs to
Hammond and is close to property owned by Explore, was the site chosen as the preferred
location.
c) Blue Ridge Parkway Spur Road Site VC4 is located south of the Roanoke
River, close to the former Regional Landfill, on one of the proposed spur sites which
connected to the Roanoke River Parkway. The Roanoke County Board of Supen, isors
endorsed it in 1993 when negotiations with the owner of the preferred Visitors Center site
were not proceeding in a positive manner. The National Park Service took over one year
to respond and indicated that this site "did not meet the criteria."
d) ~fill Site This site, VC5, is also located south of the Roanoke
River on the now closed Roanoke Regional Landfill. It was located off another proposed
Parkway Spur site which was to connect to the Roanoke River Parkway.
All five sites were depicted in the June 1992 final environmental impact statement
for the Roanoke River Parkway and as noted above, Site VC3 was selected for proposed
action as part of the location for the spur road to be constructed to Explore. A later
Record of Decision identified VC3 as the preferred site. No funds were allocated to
acquire land, plan or construct a National Park Service Visitor Center at this location.
The Visitors Center was planned to be approximately 11,000 square feet, including
an extu~oit area, auditorium and administrative/support spaces. It would provide an
2
orientation to the Roanoke Valley for the Blue Ridge Parkway traveler and offer
interpretive exhibits of the natural and man-made environment on the Parkway. The
Center was originally designed in concept to include regional, statewide and national travel
information.
Formal support for a Visitors Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway has the
endorsements of Downtown Roanoke, Inc., the City of Roanoke, Roanoke County and
the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau.
A Brief Overview of Other Roanoke Valley Visitor Center
Proposals and Alternatives
The topic of a Visitors Center has drawn a series of proposals since 1992:
Virginia Mountain Country_ Al Hammond, owner of the preferred Visitors Center
site, developed a proposal for an orientation/interpretation center, related commercial uses
and National Park Service offices and facilities in 1994. Mr. Hammond has mailed this
concept to, and visited with, tourism organizations in this region, the Virginia Division of
Tourism and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
U.S. Forest Service--I-81 Visitors Center The merger of the Jefferson and George
Washington National Forests has resulted in a small exhibit area at the new regional U.S.
Forest Service offices at Valleypointe. Some discussions of a larger Visitors Center have
occurred.
Salem Visitors Center The City of Salem has received a study in March 1994 of a
Visitors Center concept from a committee that reviewed different sites, including a
renovation of the old Carriage House at Longwood Park. No action was taken by Salem
City Council on the study.
Passenger Station Proposal Several Virginia Tech professors have studied the
architectural uniqueness of the vacant Norfolk/Western passenger station across from the
Hotel Roanoke and have proposed that the building be renovated and used as a Visitors
Center. No funding is available for the project. The project has been presented to the
Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau as a location for their operation.
While these proposals are all important to the Valley, only the Virginia Mountain
Country proposal would succeed in the goal of attracting visitors off the Parkway.
The National Park Service has stated that there is a need for a Visitors Center on
the Parkway in the Roanoke Valley. They have also indicated that federal funds for this
Visitors Center are highly unlikely. The best chance for this Visitors Center to be
constructed is with non-federal funds in partnership with the National Park Service.
Other Western Virginia Visitors Centers
Tourism and convention organizations in western Virginia have formed marketing
alliances to jointly promote their regions. Roanoke lies between two of these: the
Shenandoah Valley Travel Council and Southwest Virginia Blue Ridge Highlands.
In May 1995, the Virginia Southwest Blue Ridge Highlands group established a
4
regional (19 counties and 5 cities) Visitors Center at the intersection of 1-77 and 1-81 in
long-term, low rent space at the outlet mall. Prior to this time, the group operated a
modest, small office operation in the community. The group partnered with the U.S.
Forest Service, which contributed $250,000 to design, lay-out and upfit the center as part
of a pilot project effort to reach tourists. Other partners in this effort include Virginia
Tech and the Division of Tourism, which have been responsible for a pilot computer touch
screen and a video which will be produced in the future.
Nelson County is constructing a new Visitors Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway,
which will be built on 17 acres adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway and leased from the
builder. Construction began on June 8, 1995 and administrative costs are being shared
50/50 by Wintergreen Resort and Nelson County Division of Tourism. The Visitors Center
will be open from April to November, seven days a week.
There is a small, non-profit Visitors Center in its second season just off the Blue
Ridge Parkway at milepost 189 at Orchard Gap, near Doe Run Lodge operated by the
Virginia Parkway Hosts. In addition, there are two other Visitors Centers located on the
Parkway about an hour north and south of Roanoke that are run by the National Park
Service: Peaks of Otter at milepost 86 and Rocky Knob at milepost 169.
Need for Action
The Roanoke Valley has an opportunity to locate a Visitors Center on the Blue
Ridge Parkway. Congressman Goodlatte recently recommended that the Roanoke Valley
reach a consensus on an appropriate site which could then be used in negotiations with
the National Park Service. Otherwise, the National Park Service can concentrate its funds
and efforts on planning and constructing other projects, i.e., the Blue Ridge Parkway
Headquarters at Hemphill Knob in Asheville, NC and the music center at Rocky Knob.
If we do not act soon, it is also possible that other communities will propose additional
visitors centers, diluting the amount of funds which may be available for such a project.
Staff recommends that the Roanoke Valley work with the National Park Service to
develop a regional process to evaluate and select the best Roanoke Valley Visitors Center
site on the Blue Ridge Parkway and to outline a partnership that will design, fund,
construct and operate the facility.
A joint regional task force comprised of City and County staff, the Roanoke Valley
Convention and Visitors Bureau, Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the National
Park Service should be formed to complete this evaluation and select the site location,
reporting back to the local governments within 90 days.
6
VISITOR CENTER SITES - VICINITY MAP~
' VCle
N
VC4 o
VIS'TO. O~.TE. s~TE 2
N
VISITOR CENTER SITE 4
N
"~ VISITOR CENTER SITE
VISITOR CENTER SITE 3
PROPOSED ACTION
VISITOR CENTER SITE
United States Deportment of the Interior
National Park Service
601 '40,044B,DSC.January 92
Visitor Center Sites
Roanoke River Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway
SUMMARY
TABLE Il: SUMMARy OF VISITOR CENTER ALTERNAllVEE
CRITERIA
Location
SITE 3
(PeoPosEo
SITE I SITE 2 ACTION)
North of Rca- North of Rca- North of Roa-
noke River noke River noke River
Natural Resource Impacts
· Lancl ecosystems Minimal
· Water ecosystems Minimal
Cultural Resource impacts
· Archeological sites
affected 0
· Historic structures
affected 1
Sr/E 4
Sout~ of Roa-
noke River
South of Roa-
noke Rive~. pros*
ent lan~'fll~ site
Moderate Moderate Mind,al Minimal
Minimal Minimal Minimal Minimal
0
0
Fair
M~erate
Traffic (2011)
· Access to Blue
Ridge Parkway ancl
alternative roacl
alignments Good Goccl Best*
· Access to parking
area Good Goo;i Very good
· Impacts to IocaJ roacl
network Minimal Minimal Minimal
Good
Goocl
Minimal
Impacts on Regional Air
Quality (2011) Slight Slight Slight Slight Slight
Impacts on Local Noise
Levels (2011) Slight Slight Slight Slight Slight
Moderate
FaJ~
Visual Quality
· Impacts on views
from Blue Ridge
Parkway None Moderate None
· Quality of scenic
views from site Goo;I Very goo,~ Best
* No connection between t~e visitor center and alignment 4.
None
Very goo¢l
xii
MARY F. PARKER, CMC/AAE
City Clerk
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
215 Church Avenue. S.W., Room 456
Roanoke, Virginia 24011-1536
Telephone: (703) 981-2541
July 6, 1995
SANDRA H. EAKIN
Deputy City Clerk
The Honorable Mayor and Members
of the Roanoke City Council
Roanoke, Virginia
Dear Members of Council:
The Roanoke City Council and the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors will meet
on Tuesday, July 11, 1995, at 12:30 p.m., at the Roanoke County Administration
Building (behind Shoney's), 5204 Bernard Drive, fourth floor Conference Room.
(Please note the change in the meeting location.)
Sincerely yours,
Mary F. Parker, CMCIAAE
City Clerk
MFP:gd
pc:
James D. Ritchie, Sr., Assistant City Manager
Wilburn C. Dibling, Jr., City Attorney
James D. Grisso, Director of Finance
DAVID A. BOWERS
Mayor
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
215 Church Avenue. S,W., Room 452
Roanoke, Virginia 24011 - 1594
Telephone: (703) 981-2444
July 14, 1995
The Honorable Members of the Roanoke City Council
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
Dear Members of Council:
I thought it would be helpful to recall in writing the actions taken by Roanoke City
Council and the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors at our joint meeting held at
the Roanoke County Administration Center on Tuesday, July 11, 1995. I thought it
was a very positive and productive meeting.
As I remember the details, the following action was taken:
Metropolitan Public Transit: Our GRTC and City staff will offer to all local
governments, including Roanoke County, the briefing on the need for a valley
wide transportation district not only to include public transit, but aiso
greenways, bikeways, and transportation for the disabled. Roanoke County
can receive this briefing either administratively or formally at a Supervisors'
Meeting.
o
Habitat for Humanity: The City will provide, through Mr. Ritchie,
information to Roanoke County as to how we in the City assist Habitat for
Humanity with CDBG funding, waiver of permits, etc., or anything else that
we might do to assist the availability of affordable housing in the City.
Greenways: Supervisor Lee Eddy gave a very favorable report on the
continued progress of the Greenways Committee and indicated that a Raieigh,
North Carolina, firm has been hired to scope out a greenways system for the
Roanoke Valley.
Joint City/County Employee Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield Group Coverage:
The administrators of the City and County wili meet and coordinate plans to
jointly combine both employee groups for valley wide medical health coverage.
Towers/Perrin Regionaltzation Report: I asked the County Board of
Supervisors to provide us with specific suggestions as to the implementation
of the Council of governments or the means to meet and confer between the
City and the County, as a response to the Towers/Perrin recommendation.
Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Commission: Mary Allen,
Clerk to the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors, is coordinating the
organization of this Commission, and the County Board has been advised that
Roanoke City Council has approved a Resolution creating that Commission.
Regional~Visitors Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway: It was agreed that the
City and County should reach a consensus as to the specific preferred location
for the Regional Visitors Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I believe Bob
Herbert has advised us earlier that he prefers the Explore Park, but I will ask
him to notify Council if my memory on his position is incorrect. Jim Ritchie
will make sure that we have administrative representatives to meet with the
County regarding this matter, and without objection from other Members of
Council, I will ask Council Member Linda Wyatt to serve as the Council's
liaison to this task force.
Should you recall any of these developments differently, please let me know so that
I may correct my recollection for the record.
Best personal regards to each of you.
Sincerely,
Mayor
DAB :is: sc
W. Robert Herbert, City Manager
Wilburn C. Dibling, Jr., City Attorney
James D. Grisso, Director of Finance
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL --- ROANOKE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
July 11, 1995
12:30 p.m.
A joint meeting of the Roanoke City Council and the Roanoke County Board
of Supervisors was called to order on Tuesday, July 11, 1995, at 12:30 p.m., in the
Roanoke County Administration Center, 5204 Bernard Drive, S. W., County of
Roanoke, fourth floor Conference Room, with Mayor David A. Bowers and Chairman
H. Odell Minnix presiding.
ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Elizabeth T. Bowles,
John S. Edwards, John H. Parrott, William White, Sr., Linda F. Wyatt and Mayor
David A. Bowers ............................................................................................ 6.
ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Delvis O. McCadden ......... 1.
OFFICERS PRESENT REPRESENTING ROANOKE CITY: James D. Ritchie, Sr.,
Assistant City Manager; Wilburn C. Dibling, Jr., City Attorney; James D. Grisso,
Director of Finance; Mary F. Parker, City Clerk; William F. Clark, Director of Public
Works; and Kit B. Kiser, Director of Utilities and Operations.
ROANOKE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PRESENT: Bob L.
Johnson, Harry C. Nickens, Lee B. Eddy, Edward G. Kohinke and Chairman
H. Odell Minnix ............................................................................................... 5.
ROANOKE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ABSENT: None ................ 0.
OFFICERS PRESENT REPRESENTING ROANOKE COUNTY: Elmer C. Hodge,
County Administrator; John M. Chambliss, Assistant County Administrator; Don C.
Myers, Assistant County Administrator; Paul M. Mahoney, County Attorney; Diane D.
Hyatt, Director of Finance; Ann Marie Green, Public Information Officer; Mary H.
Allen, Clerk to the Board of Supervisors; and Timothy W. Gubala, Director of the
Economic Development Department.
The meeting was opened with a prayer by John M. Chambliss, Assistant
County Administrator.
Following lunch, the business portion of the meeting commenced at 1:10 p.m.
Chairman Minnix called attention to a lengthy agenda in which it was noted
that because of time constraints, it would be difficult to address all agenda items;
whereupon, the Chairman advised that Roanoke City had agreed to limit its list of
items for discussion to three and Roanoke County would do likewise. He noted that
Roanoke City had selected the following items for discussion:
(1) Metropolitan Public Transit per Towers/Perrin study,
(2)
request for an update on affordable housing in Roanoke
County, in particular, Habitat for Humanity, and
(3)
joint City-County employee Trigon Blue Cross/Blue Shield
group coverage for local governments and schools.
He further noted that Roanoke County had selected the following items:
(1) follow-up on the Towers Perrin/Regionalization Report,
(2) status report on greenways study, and
(3)
concept of a regional visitors center on the Blue Ridge
Parkway.
If time permits, Chairman Minnix advised that since both localities would like
to discuss the Towers/Perrin Regionalization report, Roanoke County would like to
discuss the matter of regionalization of water resources through creation of a
Roanoke Valley Water Authority.
METROPOLITAN PUBLIC TRANSIT PER TOWERS/PERRIN STUDY:
Mayor Bowers referred to correspondence from the City Manager advising that
Virginia law allows local governments, or a group of local governments, to create
transit districts for the purpose of coordinating, not only mass transit, but bikeways,
greenways and transportation for the elderly and the disabled. He called attention
to two transit districts in the Commonwealth of Virginia at the present time, both of
which have received special authority from the General Assembly. He noted that the
Roanoke City Council is pleased that the Towers/Perrin study addressed the matter
of a Metropolitan Transportation Authority which focuses on not only transportation
needs but also greenways. He pointed out that RADAR operates in Roanoke City
and CORTRAN operates in Roanoke County which groups offer identical services,
yet they operate under two different offices. He advised that for fiscal year 1995-96,
Roanoke City Council increased its funding subsidy to Valley Metro by $190,000.00
because the Federal Government has decreased funding for transportation; and it
is possible that within three years, the City's loss from the Federal Government for
Greater Roanoke Transit Company could be as high as $300,000.00; therefore, the
City believes that the issue of greenways, transportation for the disabled, and mass
transit are issues that should be considered regionally.
Vice-Mayor Edwards called attention to an idea which surfaced as a result of
The New Century Council's recommendations in regard to providing bus service
from Lynchburg to the Roanoke Valley, advising that in the future, there will be a
need to tie the New River Valley and the Roanoke Valley closer together, especially
with the opening of The Hotel Roanoke Conference Center and the opportunity to
provide continuing education programs. Therefore, he stated that the entire issue
of mass transit, which is a growing issue, should be addressed jointly by Roanoke
City and Roanoke County.
Following discussion, it was the consensus that Roanoke City would make its
staff available to any jurisdiction of the Roanoke Valley or the New River Valley for
appropriate briefings; and the two administrative staffs would discuss the matter.
FOLLOW-UP ON TOWERS/PERRIN REGIONALIZATION REPORT'
Mr. Eddy advised that the Towers/Perrin report addressed regionalization of
services and explored criteria for potential regionalization where similar services are
provided by more than one jurisdiction, where economy of scale is significant, where
quality of services will not be reduced, and where expected savings or service
improvements are significant. He stated that specifically mentioned in the report are
fire and rescue, purchasing, refuse collection, health care, emergency dispatch,
training and bus service, and added that there are a number of other services that
could also be considered. He noted that the Towers/Perrin report also addressed
formation of an organization referred to as the "Council of Governments" which
could be composed of the chief elected officers of each of the five jurisdictions
participating in the Towers/Perrin report that would meet periodically to discuss
various issues and provide feedback to their respective localities. In addition to the
policy board composed of chief elected officers, he noted that the Towers/Perrin
report suggested the formation of an administrative board to be composed of chief
executive officers or city managers.
Following discussion, it was the consensus that the matter should receive
further discussion at an upcoming regional meeting of the two governing bodies.
REQUEST FOR AN UPDATE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ROANOKE COUNTY, IN
PARTICULAR, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY:
Mr. White called attention to the need for affordable housing not only in the
City of Roanoke, but the entire Roanoke Valley. He encouraged Roanoke County to
work with Roanoke City to help expand the program of Habitat for Humanity into
other Roanoke Valley jurisdictions. He stated that since the availability of building
lots in the City of Roanoke is limited, Roanoke County has a building resource that
currently does not exist in Roanoke City, and encouraged all jurisdictions in the
Roanoke metropolitan area to be involved in the program of Habitat for Humanity.
The Chairman called attention to a program in his district, the Cave Spring
Magisterial District, where approximately five acres of land has been offered to
Habitat for Humanity which is of sufficient size to accommodate eight to ten houses.
Mr. Hodge called attention to meetings with Neva J. Smith, Executive Director
of the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority, which has resulted in joint
application for certain grants to be administered regionally. He added that pursuant
to a statement by Ms. Smith that Roanoke needs a program whereby the Housing
Authority would represent the entire Roanoke Valley, he has requested the County
Planning staff to study the matter.
Following discussion, it was the consensus that the City Administration will
provide the County Administration with specific information on how the City has
worked with Habitat for Humanity.
CONCEPT OF A REGIONAL VISITORS CENTER ON THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY:
Dr. Nickens and Mr. Gubala presented prepared information on a proposal for
a Blue Ridge Parkway Visitors Center.
(See position paper on file in the City Clerk's Office.)
It was recommended by Roanoke County that the Roanoke Valley work with
the National Park Service to develop a regional process to evaluate and select the
best Roanoke Valley Visitors Center site on the Blue Ridge Parkway and to outline
a partnership that will design, fund, construct and operate the facility, and that a
joint regional task force comprised of City and County staff, the Roanoke Valley
Convention and Visitors Bureau, Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the
National Park Service be formed to complete the evaluation and to select the site
location, with a report to the local governments within 90 days.
Dr. Nickens advised that a facility is needed that will be much broader than
just a Visitors Center, which could serve as an Orientation/Interpretation Center
where the history of the Blue Ridge Parkway could be told to visitors travelling on
the Parkway through a 12 - 15 minute video, and/or numerous artifacts could be
displayed, etc.
The Mayor advised that the City will communicate with Roanoke County within
ten days as to the Council's representative and the City Administration's
representative to serve on the Task Force.
Mr. Hodge advised that Roanoke County will contact appropriate Roanoke
Valley jurisdictions/organizations to invite their representation/participation.
CREATION OF AN ORGAN AND TISSUE TRANSPLANTATION COMMISSION:
Mayor Bowers advised that Roanoke City and Roanoke County have adopted
measures in support of the Organ and Tissue Transplantation Commission;
whereupon, it was reported that all of the jurisdictions in the Allegheny Health
District have adopted similar resolutions, with the exception of the City of Covington
and Allegheny County, and Dr. Molly L. Rutledge, Director, Roanoke City Health
Department, plans to implement the program by August 1, 1995.
JOINT CITY/COUNTY EMPLOYEE TRIGON BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD GROUP
_COVERAGE:
Mayor Bowers advised that the City supports joint health care coverage, and
Vice-Mayor Edwards called attention to those persons who retire at the age of 65
whose health insurance costs increase drastically; however, recently Roanoke City
initiated a program to make health insurance more affordable for its retirees. He
called attention to other ways to help retirees, employees and taxpayers through
group purchasing which would create less expensive insurance premiums and a
variety of coverage, and participation by a larger group would lead to more
bargaining power. He spoke in support of instructing the City Manager and the
County Administrator to investigate a program that will save taxpayers and retirees
money.
At this point, 2:20 p.m., Mr. White and Mr. Parrott left the meeting.
Ms. Wyatt suggested that HMO's be investigated which would be less
expensive and provide quality service and that methods be explored to make health
insurance policies more affordable at the family level.
STATUS REPORT ON GREENWAYS STUDY:
Mr. Eddy, a member of the Greenways Steering Committee, advised that
several months ago each of the four Roanoke Valley governments appropriated
funds for a greenway plan; a request for proposals was submitted for a Roanoke
Valley conceptual greenways plan and six responses were received, with four firms
having been interviewed and Greenways, Inc., of Carey, North Carolina, having been
selected to prepare the study. He called attention a kick-off luncheon to be held on
July 24 at the Vinton War Memorial to which local government officials were invited
to see examples of the work of Greenways, Inc., in other localities; and a workshop
that evening which is open to the public at the Roanoke Civic Center, to be followed
by two additional workshops on August 17 and August 30. He stated that in
September and October, the plan will be finalized for presentation to the various
governments, and is envisioned that the consultant will assist in making application
for ISTEA grants for one or more projects to be funded with Federal monies.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP:
Mr. Johnson advised that at some future date, the localities of the Roanoke
Valley will have to resolve economic development issues, and it is time that the two
localities combined their economic development staffs with the regional partnership
to form an alliance with Montgomery County and the City of Salem to purchase 2,000
- 3,000 acres of land on both sides of the Smart Road, establish a business, and
divide the revenue.
There being no further business, the Mayor and Chair declared the joint
meeting adjourned at 2:35 p.m.
APPROVED
ATTEST:
Mary F. Parker David A. Bowers
City Clerk Mayor