HomeMy Public PortalAbout2002_01_07
Council Work Session Jantlary;~;?;f9~~C::
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Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, 7:00 p.m. May;~r~e~,I?'~T:~fQingj~,it'c:
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Councilmembers Present: George A~~~'; Mervin Jack~pn, Leon<;lrd fJi1aDot)qJQ,
DavidSchmidt, Kristen Umstattd, Roberftoldos and Ma~~L>>,ebb:, ',,, '
Council members Absent: None
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Staff Members Present: Town f'1~ra~.r"1!~b,~~~ttJ-:*,j!,' " ~rn'~~YJ.r"'"')".
DeputyTo~n M~nager Phil Rod~nbe.rg,~?,lr~~torof,~n\)ij.,~., ~ 'r.' '" ,~,..' ,~~, ~,~ ',:,.
Mason, Acting Director of Planning, Zomngand DeveloRm~",}~~lIl~I(~~;' .t,)~,.'
ComprElhensive Planning Randy Hodgson' Chief of Polic.~ Jpe.gti~~fin'~'~."." .,,~~~rL.
Paul York, Director of Utilities Randy Shoemaker, HumanResoUrce"Di,(~tWt;.D'oha'-:'"
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Wolf, Town Arborist Jay Banks, Assistant to the Town ,~aq~ger Njc()le~r~, .~".," ',' -,'
Management Intern Larry DiRe, and Clerk of Council Judy Ahalti ;" ., ,..
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Agenda for Council Meeting:'~,f}apuary $,200.2':; ,." ,.' ::-:: " ~:
Mayor Webb added t,he, folJoWiJl9,~forldiscussloh: (n le9jslative"j~$lLeS, (2)
annexation negotiating team', and Council goals for the coming months,"'; l.
a. Receiving the Planning Commission Annual Report',: .... ;"
Planning Commission members Cliftoh Vaughan, Lyle 'W~rriera[ltl'BtII ,
Zawacki were present. ' " -'.r " .' .;;
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Planning Commission Chairman Clifton Vaughan'outlin,~d ~"~~Ql:
Meeting Activity Summary. He gave a summary 6nlpplications:ahq'- ,.'
administrative activities reviewed adding the Zoning Ordinance review should
be to the Council by the end of the first quarter.
He expressed the Commission's desir.~ to estab.listH\ ~Itlzens Academy
and their support for additional plannin!f~'nd en9ine~itobq;taff'::' ,.
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b. Adopting the depiction of Town Hall a$ jbe 'Official Town of
Leesburg corporate seal. "~' " ,:. '
Phil Rodenberg stated the Town Council hasoe~~t..~ffi~i~.tly.oesignated
the depiction of the eight-sided portion of Town:H~lt\~~ery~~s~~N):t.~he't~'" ' '
corporation. The proposed action will make the use bf:tHiss-eaJ :9'fficjal.
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c. Adopting Town goals for the coming months. ,
Mayor Webb outlined' theCour\CH goals as follows: (1) Annexation, (2)
Tax Rate/Budget, (3) Downtown dev~opment, traffic and par~tng, (4) ,
Elementary school site, (5) Space nee"ds, (6) Zonin~!~gfd!n~,nF~,.,~€vieW and
approval, (7) Organizational culture,and (8) Re,I~~,j99,$Hr'Rt.Wftrl:Loudoun '
County. :"""',...
The Mayor asked that specifics for accom'plishing these goals be
brought to another work session. " '
Town Council Work Session Minutes for January 7.2002
Page 2
d. FY-2002 Legislative Program
Mayor Webb discussed the two issues that Council may want to take a
position on, (1) Legislative Transition Task Force study of the State
Corporation Commission review of generation facilities and (2) Virginia
Housing Study Commission recommendation to treat manufactured homes as
single-family homes for local zoning purposes.
It was the consensus that a resolution would be brought forward for
the Virginia Housing Study Commission in opposition because such a change
would be a dilution of local authority in land use regulation. It was the
opinion that the Legislative Transition Task Force study of the review of
generation facilities will not be going forward at this time.
2. Polling and Precinct Places
Betsy Mayr, Secretary to the Electoral Board, addressed Council with
reference to reducing the number of polling and precinct places for local elections in
Leesburg to four. These precincts will follow the four quadrants (Northeast,
Northwest, Southeast and Southwest) in Town.
It was the consensus of Council to hold a public hearing on January 23rd to
solicit public input on this issue.
3. Report on Woodlea tree replacement
Mr. Peter Vanderloo of Brumsey Court in Woodlea addressed Council in
reference to the replacement of eleven street trees in their neighborhood.
It was decided that this issue would be discussed at the next Tree
Commission meeting with a report to Council in February.
4. FY-02 Mid-year Budget
Town Manager, Bob Noe, addressed Council with reference to his
recommendations for the FY-02 Mid-Year budget. He stated it is too early to take
drastic measures to address a shortfall in this fiscal year, but it is prudent to be
judicious in our expenditures. Therefore, he will be recommending two general fund
expenditure adjustments to the FY-02 Budget - a school resource officer for Heritage
High School and an Administrative Associate II for Human Resources.
Council discussed funding and the possibility of a contribution from Loudoun
County for School Resource Officers.
Council was supportive of these adjustments to the FY-02 Mid-Year budget.
Mayor Webb discussed issues relating to the side streets off Edwards Ferry
Road and asked that the Engineering Department concentrate on completing curb,
gutter, and sidewalk for the streets already open to thru traffic.
Councilmember Schmidt asked that the Bradfield Drive street lights be moved
forward.
Vice-Mayor Umstattd commented that planning staff has immediate needs for
a planner.
A public hearing is scheduled for this item on January 23, 2002.
Town Council Work Session Minutes for Januarv 7. 2002
Page 3
New Business
Mayor Webb read the following memo to Council whereby she withdrew from
the Annexation Negotiation Team:
"I believe it is important for any member of an elected body to honor the
decision made by the majority of that elected body. I believe I have always
done that. It has become increasingly clear to me though during the holidays
that while I respect the decision made by the majority of this Council, I
cannot adequately serve this Council as a member of the Annexation
Negotiating Team.
As all of you know, I opposed the annexation in its present form. I have
always supported the inclusion of Area 2 in to the Corporate Limits of
Leesburg because it is an area appropriate for business development so
crucial to our tax base. I initially broached the subject of boundary line
adjustment for those properties with the incoming Board of Supervisors over
two years ago. Additionally, I have been a strong supporter of the economic
engine we call the Leesburg Executive Airport but, I cannot support and have
found it impossible to debate on your behalf the inclusion of Areas 1 and 3 in
the proposed annexation as we continue our meetings with the Board of
Supervisors.
On October 31st I asked Council to adopt a vision statement. This Council
unanimously supported that statement which says in part, "Future growth will
be carefully planned to preserve our sense of small town and neighborhood."
The inclusion of area 1, already planned and built by Loudoun County as
residential areas without sidewalks on both sides of the streets and no street
lights and area 3 slated for residential development does nothing for our
Town but add more rooftops that come with a high cost of service and
expectations by those in those developed areas that Leesburg will bring their
neighborhoods up to our standards.
I support the Council's desire to protect our airport and to insure important
transportation corridors such as Battlefield Parkway and Cross Trails
Boulevard are built as quickly as possible to insure that our transportation
crisis has relief in sight. Last Thursday alone there were three traffic
accidents during the pm rush hour on the Route 15 Bypass between Route 7
and Route 15. Without these critical corridors being built to move traffic that
already has our bypass at failing levels on all sides of Town, we will continue
to be at ground zero for the continuing nightmare of traffic gridlock in
Loudoun County.
For these reasons, I am withdrawing from the Annexation Negotiating Team
and ask that the Council name a third member of the Team who can
negotiate successfully as the Council has asked with the inclusion of all three
areas being brought into the Corporate Limits."
Councilmember Atwell made a recommendation, seconded by Vice-Mayor
Umstattd, to nominated Councilmember Jackson to fill the vacancy. Council
will take official action on this issue at tomorrow night's meeting.
Town Council Work Session Minutes for January 7. 2002
Paoe 4
5. Xerox/Potomac Station Sanitarv Sewer Outfall Dro-rata
Randy Shoemaker outlined the proposed adoption of a sewer pro-rata for
Xerox/Potomac Station sanitary sewer outfall. He stated the construction of the
sewer system is complete and the pro-rata is necessary to recover our capital costs
from the development community.
6. Boards and Commission Attendance
Mayor Webb asked for consensus from Council as to whether they want to
consider imposing attendance requirements upon boards and commissions?
Councilmember Schmidt suggested that 3 unexcused absences should be
referred to Council.
There was further discussion with reference to retaining councilmanic reps on
the boards and commissions.
Mayor Webb instructed the Clerk of Council to review the Town Code with
reference to commission attendance.
7. AdelDhia's Service
Council member McDonald discussed various complaints he has received from
Adelphia and referenced a recent e-mail from John Gibb.
Cable Commission members Chuck Shotton, Billy Fiske, Bill Webb, and
Michael Glennon were present.
Chuck Shotton, Cable Commission Chairman, addressed Council stating that
Adelphia has not completed their 2001 upgrade.
Nicole Ard added that the town engineers have provided technical assistance
to Adelphia subcontractors in their upgrade process.
Commission member, Billy Fiske, addressed Council in reference to an issue
with bills from Adelphia that do not give 30 days for payment.
Peter Quam, Adelphia Cable, addressed Council. He commented that they
have 7500 customers in Leesburg and had only 6 complaints in December.
Mr. Quam stated that town standards have slowed them down in their
upgrade process. Additionally, the Town has denied them a gO-day extension.
Council expressed concern with the Adelphia call center being located in
Buffalo, New York and the current two-day response for service.
Nicole Ard explained the complaint process.
Councilmember Zoldos stated that Adelphia is in violation of their franchise
agreement and asked the Town Manager to impose the necessary penalties. He
added their customer service is in great need of improvement. He further suggested
that a local center be provided for customers and educating the public on what to do
in the case of an outage.
Town Council Work Session Minutes for January 7. 2002
Page 5
7. SchedulinG meetinGs for Council attendance
Councilmember Schmidt discussed some concerns he had with the process of
scheduling council meetings without Council input.
8. Preview Items for Council Work Session MeetinG of Januarv 22. 2002
a. Jerry's Chevrolet Special Exception Public Hearing
There was no discussion on this item.
b. Entrance sign for Kenneth B. Rollins Water Treatment Plant
Mayor Webb asked that the entrance sign be similar to other Town signs.
The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
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