HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-15-25 •
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING - MINUTES
DATE: September 1 5, 2025
TIME: 2:00 p.m.
PLACE: City Council Chambers, 215 Church Avenue, SW, 4`h Floor, Roanoke,
Virginia
PRESIDING: Vice-Mayor S. Terry McGuire, Chair
I. Call to Order, Roll Call, 3:16 p.m.
PRESENT: Mayor Joseph L. Cobb, Council Members Nicolas Hagen,
Vivian Sanchez Jones, Phazhon Nash, Peter Volosin, Evelyn Powers,
and Roanoke City School Board Representatives Mary "Franny" Apel
and Deidre Trigg.
OTHERS PRESENT: Margaret C. Rockwell, Legislative Liaison
representative, McGuire Woods Consulting, LLC, via web
teleconference/Zoom.
ABSENT: None.
OFFICERS PRESENT: Valmarie H. Turner, City Manager and Timothy R.
Spencer, City Attorney.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE SECRETARY: Cecelia McCoy, City Clerk,
City of Roanoke.
II. Opening Remarks: Chairman S. Terry McGuire
III. Overview of the Development of 2026 Legislative Program
Dr. H. Alan Seibert, Constituent Services and Government Relations
Officer, Roanoke City School Board, brought greetings on behalf of
Superintendent Dr. Verletta White, thanked the Council Legislative
Committee for including Board Chair Apel and Board Member Trigg as
members, and for incorporating the Board's Legislative Priorities into
its own.
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Dr. Seibert shared that the next meeting of the Superintendent's
Policy, Governance, and Legislative (PGL) Committee is scheduled for
Wednesday, September 17, 2025. At this meeting, the Committee is
expected to continue developing six key priorities for the Board's
consideration:
1 . Local Control
2. School Safety and Security
3. Commitment to Serving All Students
4. Governance and Budget
5. Employee Compensation
6. Assessment Modernization
The PGL Committee will present Legislative Priorities to the School
Board for first review at the September 23, 2025, Board Workshop,
with anticipated adoption at the October 14, 2025, Regular Meeting,
which includes the opportunity to share again on October 6,
2025, Council Legislative Committee meeting.
Dr. Seibert concluded by inviting Council Members to the Board's
annual "Take Your Legislator to School Month" event at 9:30 a.m. on
Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
Following Dr. Seibert's comments, Chairman McGuire informed the
group that Preston L. Bryant, jr., Legislative Liaison, was unable to
attend the meeting due to unforeseen circumstances. In his place, Ms.
Margaret Rockwell, representing McGuireWoods Consulting LLC,
graciously agreed to join the meeting virtually.
Chairman McGuire then shared comments regarding the City of
Roanoke's legislative priorities for 2026, and support legislation which
include:
➢ Housing
■ that address availability of housing for lowest income
households
■ to advance inclusionary zoning, including an act to amend
and reenact VA Code 1 5.2-2304 with the addition of the
City of Roanoke
■ that would shorten the blight remediation timeline to
allow localities greater flexibility in revitalizing derelict
buildings.
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➢ Public Safety
■ expand the allowable use of automated speed
enforcement cameras beyond school zones.
■ create reciprocity between Virginia and other stats to
recognize the professional certifications of law
enforcement officers from other state accredited agencies
with similar standards to the Virginia DCJS.
■ to hold adults accountable for failing to take reasonable
measures to prevent a child from accessing firearms.
➢ Economic Development
■ converting the Virginia Transportation Museum into a
State agency, HB802 from last year.
■ Update the regulatory framework to better allow
commercial scale composting facilities to operate.
• Budget and Funding
■ allow localities to hold a referendum on whether to
increase sales tax by 1% for school construction.
■ Support greater access to Stormwater Local Assistance
Funds for localities by amending code section 62.1 -44,
15.29.1 to ensure that SLAF funds are distributed to all
eligible projects across localities in Virginia.
➢ Transportation
■ funding and support needed to deliver an Amtrak station
in downtown Roanoke.
■ Funding for continued expansion of Amtrak beyond
Christiansburg to Bristol, Virginia.
➢ Sustainability
■ Legislation that expands rural EV charging infrastructure,
HB 1 791 in the last session
■ Protect our water quality from microplastics and PFAs •
"forever chemicals", in the last session.
➢ Civil Liberties
■ Oppose legislation that would erode safe and legal access
to reproductive healthcare and education.
➢ Good Governance
■ Support amendment of the Roanoke City Charter to
change the date of the council and mayoral election from
May to November.
(See file in the Secretary's office for a complete list of recommended
2026 Legislative Priorities).
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Ms. Rockwell proceeded to give a preview of the 2026 General Assembly
to include:
➢ Political Notes
➢ Currently, A Divided Government
➢ Economic Snapshot
➢ Economic Outlook - Rest of 2025, Going into 2026
➢ Anticipated Budget Decision Points and Budget Drivers
➢ 2026 General Assembly: Issues we'll read about
➢ General Assembly Milestones & Deadlines
➢ Discussion of Potential Issues 2026 Legislative Program
Ms. Rockwell provided brief comments on the Smart Scale proposal,
including potential changes and the overall process, which aims to help
Virginia address its most critical transportation needs within limited
resources. Mr. Volosin inserted the City of Richmond had the ability to
do Smart Scale programs; however, we would be competing with northern
Virginia. Ms. Rockwell stated the larger question is how to support road
infrastructure.
Ms. Sanchez-Jones inquired about the possibility of including 911
operators in the designation of first responders.
Mr. Volosin emphasized the need for educational efforts through the
Community Builders Program, as well as support for the Safer
Communities Initiatives.
Mayor Cobb suggested raising the $75,000 limit on the land bank.
Chairman McGuire asked committee members to identify and submit
their top three priorities to him and Mr. Volosin by Wednesday,
September 24, and proposed a potential meeting on Friday, September
26, 2025.
Ms. Rockwell recommended initiating contact or outreach with Delegates
in early October.
IV. Upcoming Meetings: Monday, October 6, 2025.
V. Other Business: The next meeting of the Legislative Committee will
be held Monday, October 6, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in the City Council
Chambers.
VI. Adjournment: No further business to come before the Committee,
the meeting was adjourned at 4:09 p.m.
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APPROVED: IIC ATTEST:
.1 titA-11 Y"/
S. Terry McG ire Cecelia F. McCoy
Chair Secretary
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