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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2001_07_09 Council Work Session July 9, 2001 Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, 7:00 p.m. Mayor Webb presiding. Councilmembers Present: George Atwell, Mervin Jackson, Leonard McDonald, David Schmidt, Vice-Mayor Kristen Umstattd and Mayor Webb. Councilmembers Absent: Robert Zoldos Staff Members Present: Bob Noe Town Manager, William Donnelly Town Attorney, Deputy Town Manager Phil Rodenberg, Director of Engineering and Public Works Tom Mason, Director of Planning, Zoning and Development Michael Tompkins, Director of Finance Paul York, Deputy Director of Utilities Aref Etemadi, Chief of Comprehensive Planning Randy Hodgson, Capital Projects Manager Nagi Elsewassi, Budget Officer Mike Freda, Assistant to the Town Manager Nicole Ard, and Clerk of Council Judy Ahalt. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Agenda for Council Meeting of July 10, 2001 a. RezoninQ ADDlication ZM-2000-0S - Potomac CrossinQ PRC. ConceDt Plan and Proffer Amendment. b. TP-2000-02 - AmendinQ the Land Use Element of the Town Plan for Potomac CrossinQ Residential and non-residential densitv. Doug Fleming, representing the Arcadia Corporation, addressed Council requesting that this application be considered for a future date. He stated that staff's recommendation has changed and the applicant would like additional time to address the issues. Mr. Fleming will contact staff with a recommended date for this item to retu rn to Cou nci I. c. AmendinQ ChaDter 10. Article VI. Division 3. Sections 10-187 &. 10- 188. of the Town Code for hours of free DarkinQ and for DarkinQ fees for SDaces rented on a monthlv basis in the DarkinQ QaraQe. Councilmember Atwell stated he is opposed to a change limiting free parking to one hour. Councilmember Schmidt added that he proposes eliminating the discount fee for group parking. d. RescindinQ Resolution No. 2000-244 aDDrOvinQ enQineerinQ services for the Chancellor Street extension. There were no comments on this item. e. SettinQ the Town Council Calendar Councilmember Atwell asked staff to verify that the 2002 May election date would not interfere with a scheduled May Council meeting. Town Council Work Session Minutes for Julv 9, 2001 Paqe 2 2. Bus Rapid Transit Mayor Webb read a statement she provided to the press this morning with reference to bus rapid transit. She stated that since the BOS had eliminated critical roads off the Loudoun County maps, she proposes bus rapid transit as a solution with a station to the west of Leesburg in the Rt. 7 jRt. 9 area and in Leesburg adjacent to the Greenway. The transit system will run in the median strips of the GreenwayjDulles Toll Road and Rt. 7. A video was shown of the proposed design of the Bus Rapid Transit. Vice-Mayor Umstattd questioned what percentage of this proposal our gas tax monies would fund. Mayor Webb stated this proposal would require federal funding. Councilmember Atwell stated we should to continue to explore possibilities to solve traffic issues. Mayor Webb stated the county believes the BRT would promote growth. Councilmember McDonald added Leesburg's gas tax dollars need to be spent in Leesburg to help address our transportation problems. Councilmember Schmidt commented this is an excellent proposal adding that the Western Transportation Corridor and a bridge crossing are still needed. Vice-Mayor Umstattd suggested contacting the Washington Group to find out the cost of this proposal. She requested more information on comparing a metro bus cost to a bus rapid transit system, and compared to rail to Dulles. 3. Real estate tax relief for certain elderly and handicapped persons. Phil Rodenberg outlined the recommendation to raise the elderly and handicapped exemption for real estate to the new limits allowed by a 2001 state law. He stated the enabling legislation would allow a maximum income limit of $62,000 and a financial worth limit to $240,000. Mr. Rodenberg asked if it is Council's desire to raise the limits to the maximum and to mirror the anticipated county action. Councilmembers McDonald, Umstattd, Schmidt stated they would support the maximum limits. 4. Amendment of Town Code Sections 15-12 and 19-21 regarding water and sewer connection fees. Aref Etemadi outlined the need to recover current costs for water and sewer connections due the rising material costs with the conversion of a radio-read meter system. Mayor Webb verified that existing meters would be replaced with the radio- read system. Town Council Work Session Minutes for July 9, 2001 Paqe 3 5. Community Communication Mayor Webb discussed the difficulty encountered by Mr. Schott on Wage Drive when he had a sewer backup at his residence. The Mayor discussed the Town's need for better communication with citizens. Vice-Mayor Umstattd suggested the utility bills might be an avenue to get information out to citizens. Mr. Noe acknowledged the Town does have legitimate communication issues. He added the leaf/stump collection might be better served by doing as a business. Councilmember Atwell added that a newsletter from the Public Information Officer would be helpful in getting information out to the citizens. 6. Ida Lee Lacrosse/Soccer Field naming Mayor Webb stated that the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission are suggesting the Ida Lee Lacrosse Field be named for Thomas Horne and the Ida Lee Soccer Field named for Terry Young. Mayor Webb added there is a proposal to name the Rt. 621 Park for Mr. Irwin Uran. Vice-Mayor Umstattd stated there is an alternate proposal from the American legion to name the Rt. 621 Park for Col. Michael C. Grenata. 7. Catoctin Circle Widening Project Nagi Elsewassi stated the Commonwealth Transportation Board has approved the recommendation to award a contract to Rustler Construction for the Catoctin Circle widening project. He added construction should begin in September/October 2001 with completion in April 2003. Councilmember Atwell asked staff to do all they can to avoid liquidated damages and still get the job done on time. Tom Mason said the contract allows 18 months for construction. Councilmember Atwell discussed another traffic issue. The possible need for a traffic signal at E. Market Street, Edwards Ferry Road and Church Street. Further, with the completion of the courts complex there will be additional traffic on Edwards Ferry Road. 8. Zoning Ordinance Amendment to allow a public hearing to occur at the Planning Commission for Special Exceptions Brian Boucher outlined this recommendation to allow a public hearing at the Planning Commission level for all special exceptions. Mr. Boucher stated the Planning Commission unanimously endorsed this recommendation. Town Council Work Session Minutes for Julv 9, 2001 Paqe 4 9. Collection of Tree Limbs and Brush Mayor Webb discussed brush clean up after major storms and the abuse of the system by contractors. Councilmember McDonald added that contractors include the cost removal in their fee. Tom Mason discussed the town's resources for brush removal. He stated that ultimately the Town would probably have a route instead of a call in system. Mayor Webb suggested the Zoning Ordinance address limiting certain kind of trees. The Zoning Administrator commented the Town Arborist has recommended discontinuing the use of Bradford Pears. Vice-Mayor Umstattd recommended the ordinance be amended for pick up of any brush 6" in diameter or less, regardless of whom cuts it down. Councilmember McDonald suggested the homeowner either remove the large pieces or give the name of the contractor. Mayor Webb asked to staff prepare a cost estimate for brush removal of all types and sizes. 10. Preview Items for Town Council Meeting of July 24, 2001 a. Thru truck restriction on Lawson Road - Public Hearing b. Authorizing a contract extension to Amliner East, Inc. for Phase III Sanitary Sewer Relining Project There were no comments on these preview items. 11. Other Business Mayor Webb read into the record a letter from Loudoun County Board of Supervisor Drew Hiatt with reference to the County Draft Comprehensive Plan. Supervisor Hiatt asked whether the Leesburg Town Council has taken formal policy positions on the issues involving Leesburg. He asked for the Town Council's official view on the issues. He suggested Council contact the County to obtain a complete list of the votes already taken thus far on policy matters affecting Leesburg. Mayor Webb added the Board of Supervisors is voting on the plan a week from today. She discussed rezoning the property around the airport and Cross Trails Boulevard. Councilmember McDonald stated Supervisor Burton knows the town's position on Crosstrail Boulevard. Further, it has been indicated by board members that they would build their portion of Crosstrail. He added Council has taken the formal position to not rezone the UGA until we have completed our UGA study. Vice-Mayor Umstattd stated we should request a list of the votes taken from Julie Pastor. Town Council Work Session Minutes for Julv 9, 2001 Paqe 5 It was the consensus of Council to forward formal comments to the Board of Supervisors. Mayor Webb asked that staff provide a list of legislative actions from the Loudoun County Planning Department on the draft general plan. Council decided upon July 17th at 6:00 p.m. for an executive session to discuss personnel matters. Immediately following there will be another executive session to discuss UGA. Vice-Mayor Umstattd stated that the public is questioning whether the UGA can be discussed in a closed session. Bill Donnelly stated there are two basises for going into closed session, (1) to discuss legal matters with Council and the possibility of annexation in the UGA; (2) to discuss what position to take in response to a petition to annex. He stated there are separate statutes dealing with closed sessions to discuss annexation and consolidation issues. He stated we would list both statutes on the closed session motion. Vice-Mayor Umstattd asked the status on the request to DEQ to hold a public hearing in Leesburg on the Tractebel power plant. Bill Donnelly sated that an e-mail has been sent to Council informing them that it was premature to request a hearing at this time because an application had not been submitted to the DEQ. He stated the Tractebel application would have to show that the proposed use complies with the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. He added that staff at DEQ indicated to him they probably would not proceed if the application were not certified by Loudoun County that it complies with the zoning ordinance. Mayor Webb added the Kincaid Forest developer and homeowner's association had filed as formal respondents in opposition to the Tractebel application. Bill Donnelly added that the schedule hearing is set for July 16th on the landowner's petition for annexation. The meeting adjourned at 9: 10 p.m. dIL jJ {lid dith W. Ahalt lerk of Council