HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-03-25 LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING - MINUTES
DATE: November 3, 2025
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
PLACE: City Council Chambers
PRESIDING: Vice-Mayor S. Terry McGuire, Chair
I. Call to Order, Roll Call - 9:13 a.m.
PRESENT: Chairman S. Terry MlcGuire, Mayor Joseph L. Cobb, Council
Members Nicolas Hagen, Vivian Sanchez-Jones, Phazhon Nash, Peter
Volosin, Evelyn Powers, Mary "Fr:nny" Apel and Deidre*Trigg.
OTHERS PRESENT: Preston Br, ant, Legislative Liaison (via Microsoft
Teams), and Dr. Alan Seibert, Constituent Services and Government
Relations Officer, Roanoke City public Schools.
ABSENT: None.
OFFICERS PRESENT: Valmarie H. Turner, City Manager; Sam Roman,
Deputy City Manager; and Timo by Spencer, City Attorney.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE S CRETARY: Cecelia Webb, Deputy City
Clerk, City of Roanoke.
II. Opening Remarks: Chairman S. Terry McGuire
Mr. McGuire thanked the Bo.rd, along with Timothy Spencer, City
Attorney, Sam Roman, Deputy City Manager; and Valmarie Turner, City
Manager, for their work on the Legislative Agenda. Ms. Apel referred to
the handouts from the Roanoke City School Board outlining their
priorities.
III. Approval of Minutes: Board Member Volosin moved that the reading of
the minutes be dispensed with and approved as recorded. The motion
was seconded by Board Mem er Hagen and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Members Hagen, Sanchez-Jones, Mayor Cobb, Nash,
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Volosin, Powers, Apel, Trigg and Chairman McGuire-9.
NAYS: None-0.
IV. Discussion of the Legislative Items:
Chairman McGuire briefly reviewed the City's priorities, highlighting an
amendment to the housing pri rity that would allow Roanoke to join
other Virginia localities in adopt' g an affordable housing program aimed
at encouraging the construction f moderately priced homes.
Mr. Bryant advised that the co mittee should engage with the local
delegation soon to review the riorities. Chairman McGuire responded
that the Committee had recentl met with the legislators to discuss the
priorities and apologized for ndt notifying Mr. Bryant. Board Member
Cobb expressed appreciation foil the inclusion of the priority.
Chairman McGuire recommended sending the legislative information to
the City Attorney's Office for r view to ensure accuracy and requested
that their office coordinate with Mr. Bryant.
Mr. Bryant inquired whether the item was funded by the state or the
locality. Chairman McGuire replied that it was state funded.
Mr. Bryant advised that it requir d a.budget amendment.
Chairman McGuire advised the Board would move forward to adopt the
Legislative program.
V. Adoption of Legislative Item egarding Support of Referendum for
1% Sales Tax for Roanoke Cit Public Schools: Program:
No comments or discussion.
VI. Adoption of Remaining Legis ative Agenda: Chairman McGuire made
a motion to adopt the 2026 L gislative program as written but would
undergo final editing. Board Member Volosin seconded the motion and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Board Members Sanchez Jones, Mayor Cobb, Nash, Volosin,
Powers, Apel, Trigg and Chairman McGuire-8.
NAYS: Board Member Hagen-1 .
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Following the vote, Chairman McGuire and Board Member Sanchez Jones
read their Conflict-of-Interest Sta ements into the record and left the dias.
Mayor Cobb made a motion to rescind the vote to adopt the 2026.
Legislative program. The motion was seconded by Board Member Hagen
and adopted by the following vole:
AYES: Mayor Cobb, Hagen, Nash, Volosin, Powers, Apel, and Trigg-7.
NAYS: None-0.
(Chairman McGuire and Board Members Sanchez-Jones abstained from
the vote).
Mayor Cobb then made a motion to adopt the 2026 Legislative Program
for the City of Roanoke and the Roanoke City Public Schools. The motion
was seconded by Board Member ash and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Cobb, Nash, Volosin, Powers, Apel, and Trigg-6
NAYS: Board Member Hagen-1 .
(Chairman McGuire and Board Members Sanchez-Jones abstained from
the vote).
VII. Upcoming Meetings: None
VIII. Other Business: None.
IX. Adjournment: No further business to come before the Committee, the
meeting was adjourned at 9:37 ..m.
APPROVAL g c y ATTEST
S. Terry MdGuire ecelia T. Webb
Chairman Assistant Secretary
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