HomeMy Public PortalAbout2001_08_13
Council Work Session
August 13, 2001
Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, 7:00 p.m. Mayor Webb presiding.
Councilmembers Present: George Atwell, Mervin Jackson, Kristen Umstattd,
Robert Zoldos and Mayor Webb.
Councilmembers Absent: Leonard McDonald and David Schmidt
Staff Members Present: Bob Noe Town Manager, William Donnelly Town Attorney,
Deputy Town Manager Phil Rodenberg, Airport Director, Doug McNeeley, Director of
Engineering and Public Works Tom Mason, Director of Parks & Recreation Kaj
Dentler, Director of Utilities Randy Shoemaker, Deputy Director Utilities Aref
Etemadi, Chief of Current Planning, Lee Phillips, Chief of Planning Preview Paul
Gauthier, Zoning Administrator Brian Boucher, Tourism Coordinator Marantha
Edwards, Assistant to the Town Manager Nicole Ard, Management Intern Larry DiRe,
Clerk of Council Judy Ahalt and Assistant to the Clerk Deborah Parry.
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Agenda for Council Meeting of August 14, 2001
a. AwardinQ a contract for the final develoDment Dhase of the Ida
Lee Park Tennis ComDlex (Davilion and restroom) to Lovko Vetter
Construction ComDanv. in the amount of $370.000.
Kaj Dentler recommended that Council award a contract for construction
for the final phase of the tennis complex to Loyko Vetter Construction.
b. Economic DeveloDment Director reclassification to Chief of
Downtown/Mainstreet DeveloDment.
Bob Noe addressed Council outlining his proposal for the reclassification of
the Economic Development Director position. He reminded Council that at the
beginning of the fiscal year $66,000 was approved for a consultant study to
look into a Downtown Coordinator position and a parking study.
Mr. Noe stated that the staff would work closely with the County for the
economic development duties and would target more small businesses for the
town.
Mr. Noe informed Council the Economic Development Commission (EDe)
does not support this proposal, but ensured that if Council does approve the
EDC will have input.
In conclusion, Mr. Noe stated that the Downtown area deserves primary
focus and therefore recommended that Council approve the reclassification.
LaMott Smith addressed Council on behalf of the Economic Development
Commission. He thanked Mr. Noe for reaching out to the County to improve
relations. He outlined his concern with not having an Economic Development
Director and putting the town in a reactive position.
Mr. Smith informed Council that the EDC voted unanimously to not
support this proposal.
Town Council Worksession of August 13,2000
Page2
Karen Jones also addressed Council and strongly recommended that the
town retain an Economic Development Director position.
Councilmember Zoldos informed Council that he is not in favor of this
proposal, but agreed that the Town could use County resources and
coordination to focus on revitalization.
Councilmembers Atwell and Jackson concurred with the Economic
Development Commission.
Vice-Mayor Umstattd agreed with the Economic Development Commission
and clarified that the Economic Development Commission will be involved in
the director recruitment efforts.
Mayor Webb suggested a consultant for the downtown work. She stated
we need to focus on the big picture and a Director of Economic Development
is necessary.
c. ZoninQ Ordinance Revision.
Mayor Webb outlined this issue and suggested that Council move
forward to get the revisions done as quickly as possible and to address the
issue of relieving the Planning Commission of the responsibility of reviewing
preliminary plats and site plans.
Brian Boucher expressed the urgency of bringing the zoning ordinance
revisions to Council and asked if they would prefer to receive the revisions
article by article or as a whole.
Bill Donnelly recommended the urgent revisions be brought forward
as they are revised, with the others forwarded as a whole when completed.
The Planning Commission should be relieved of the responsibility of reviewing
plans in order to focus on the ordinance revisions.
Mayor Webb informed Council that she had spoken with Clifton Vaughn,
Chairman of the Planning Commission, about this issue and recommended
that Council endorse the staff's recommendation.
Vice-Mayor Umstattd suggested that the Council wait until September to
vote on this issue to give the Planning Commission a chance to discuss at
their next meeting.
Councilmember Zoldos stated that he would support this plan.
Mayor Webb directed the Town Attorney to draft legislation for the
tomorrow night's meeting.
2. Town Office Space Options
Bob Noe made a recommendation to Council to proceed with a Loudoun
Street addition to Town Hall stating the Economic Development Commission supports
this proposal. Further, he suggested the Chief of Engineering evaluate the Tally-Ho
and another site on Market Street as a short-term option.
Town Council Worksession of August 13,2000
Page3
The recommendation included having the Utilities Fund purchase the building
and a reimbursement through a General Fund lease agreement. By financing the
building it would lessen the impact on the tax rate.
Council member Zoldos confirmed the lease for the inglenook site has not
been terminated. He expressed concern with the lack of parking for the Loudoun
Street option and suggested first floor retail for any addition.
Councilmember Atwell suggested building only on the east side of Loudoun
Street and the possibility of utilizing private property on Wirt Street.
Mr. Noe informed Council that staff is still working on the parking issues and
hopes to have a study to them soon.
Paul Gauthier showed Council the original plan of the town office building
which reflects a Loudoun Street expansion.
Mayor Webb read the following comments from Councilmember Schmidt into
the record:
"Regarding office space, I would like to pursue the Tally-Ho as a first step and
try to negotiate a lease-purchase agreement Step two would be to plan for the new
addition, but hopefully further out than originally recommended by staff. Every
citizen I have spoken with supports any measures to reopen the Tally-Ho, so if we
can do that and get more space in the process, it's the best kind of win-win we can
get. "
Vice Mayor Umstattd agreed with Councilmember Schmidt's comments.
It was the consensus of Council to proceed with an engineering assessment
and a cost and feasibility study for the Tally-Ho. Further an assessment of the
environmental issues at Liberty Street and feasibility as a parking structure.
Mayor Webb added the Tally-Ho should be considered as a short term lease
option provided the structure is suitable and ADA complaint.
Karen Jones informed Council that the Economic Development Commission
supports an expansion on Loudoun Street.
3. Rt. 621 Park Naming
Kaj Dentler informed Council that the Parks and Recreation Commission have
officially endorsed the name of the park to be the John W. Tolbert. Jr. Youth Sports
Park.
Mayor Webb confirmed that Tolbert Lane would become a cul-de-sac once
Battlefield Parkway is extended.
Councilmember Atwell stated that he was asked by a member of the Parks
and Recreation Commission to think of anyone in our area who had contributed to
baseball and might be a good name choice. He suggested John Vance and Toby
Atwell.
Mayor Webb suggested that Council move forward with the naming of the
Town Council Worksession of August 13,2000
Page4
Park in honor of Mr. Tolbert and that some of the other suggestions be taken into
consideration when naming the pavilion and fields.
Council member Jackson stated that he would not vote for the park to be
named for Mr. Tolbert and suggested that more discussion is needed.
It was the consensus of Council that more discussion is needed on the issue.
4. Temporary Use Fee Waiver Request.
Bill Donnelly suggested that Council deny this request because there is no
provision in the zoning ordinance to waive fees. He also stated that is against State
regulations to make a gift to a religious organization, and that waiving the fee could
be viewed as such.
Mayor Webb verified that the original purpose of the fee is for commercial
events but has always covered religious events in town.
Brian Boucher suggested reducing the fee during the zoning ordinance
update.
5. Preview items for Town Council Meeting of September 11, 2001.
a. SE 2001-04, Ms. Fakhra Khalid, 108 Phesant Plase SW
b. Proposed Town Code Revision; Section 13-18. Organization;
Establishment of planning Commission Committees
c. Wilson/Pershing Survey Results
There were no comments on these preview items.
6. Other Business
Councilmember Zoldos asked why another snow removal tractor was being
purchased for the airport when a new one had been purchased a couple of years
ago?
Mayor Webb informed Council that the airport was in need of more equipment
for the additional field areas.
Bob Noe asked that Council let staff know if they will be attending VML on
October 14-16 so that the extra rooms can be released.
He also informed Council that he would be requesting an executive session
tomorrow night to discuss acquisition of real property for public purpose.
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
, ~ if'!, aw
J ith W. Ahalt
I erk of Council