HomeMy Public PortalAbout2002_10_21
Council Work Session
October 21, 2002
Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, 7:30 p.m. Mayor Umstattd presiding.
Councilmembers Present: Frank Buttery, Mervin Jackson, Melinda Kramer, David
Schmidt, and Mayor Umstattd.
Councilmembers Absent: Marty Martinez and Robert Zoldos
Staff Members Present: Town Manager Bob Noe, Town Attorney William Donnelly,
Deputy Town Manager Phil Rodenberg, Director of Engineering and Public Works Tom
Mason, Director of Planning, Zoning and Development Susan Swift, Director of
Finance Paul York, Chief of Police Joe Price, Zoning Administrator Brian Boucher,
Deputy Director of Utilities Aref Etemadi, Utilities Engineer Amy Wyks, Water
Pollution Control Facility Superintendent Steve Cawthron, Assistant to the Town
Manager Nicole Ard, Management Intern Adam Brown and Clerk of Council Judy
Ahalt.
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Agenda for Council Meeting of October 22, 2002
a. Modifying the 1987 Water System Master Plan
Aref Etemadi addressed Council stating that there has been no new
information since the last Council meeting at which Whitman, Requardt &
Associates presented their study of water tank sitings.
There was a discussion with reference to whether our different water tank
sites would be able to meet the revised EPA standards.
Mr. Etemadi stated that the further most sites from the pumping station
would have more difficulty in complying with the revised standards.
There was further discussion with reference to the Beacon Hill site and the
intent of Council when they approved that location.
Councilmember Buttery stated it was never the intent of Council for the
Beacon Hill site to serve citizens outside the town limits.
Councilmember Schmidt verified that the current priorities are one tank in
the Main Zone, two tanks in the Sycolin Zone, and creation of a mini-zone in
the Western Pressure Zone.
Councjlmember Buttery verified the current storage capacity of the main
zone is three million gallons.
2. Draft Zoning Ordinance - Overview and review of Articles 4-9
Brian Boucher gave an overview of changes for Articles 4-9 of the Draft
Zoning Ordinance.
Mr. Boucher pointed out the significant changes in Article 5 - Residential
Zoning Districts as follows: (1) cluster development use has been amended to be a
by-right development option, (2) a special exception will now be required for fire
Town Council Work session minutes for October 21. 2002
Paqe 2
and/or rescue facility, library, recreation facility and public school, and (3) minimum
lot size have been modified in the R-6 and R-8 Districts.
Further, some of the significant changes in Article 6 are the addition of a floor
area ratio standard in all districts except the B-1; and the addition of 0-2 - Office
Park District; B-4- Mixed Use Business District; 1-2 - Industrial/Warehouse/Office
District, and M-1 - Basic Industry District.
Article 7 will include changes to require all sidewalks in the H-1 District be
constructed of brick and give staff the administrative authority to review changes in
building color schemes in the Historic District.
Mayor Umstattd suggested a change that would require any commercial
development adjacent to residential areas to not exceed in height the residential
properties it adjoins.
Mr. Boucher stated this will be addressed in an amendment to the 0-1, 0-2,
B-2, B-3, B-4, 1-1, 1-2, and M-1 Districts where the front, side and rear yard
minimum setback shall be increased to be equal to the height of the building where
the building height exceeds the required minimum yard setback adjacent to
residential uses only.
Council agreed to review the remainder of the draft Zoning Ordinance at the
next Council worksession on November 12th. The public hearing will take place on
Novem ber 26th.
3. Loudoun Museum lease milestones and inducements
Bill Donnelly advised Council that negotiations have been ongoing with
Loudoun Museum to secure a long-term lease agreement to enable them to more
readily raise funds for their expansion.
He stated a 40-year lease is proposed and certain milestones and
inducements have been agreed upon by the Museum.
They have agreed to submit a completed application for accreditation from
the American Association of Museums and to retain a professional fundraiser to
launch a capital program to raise $5 million toward construction of a new building.
Upon construction of the new facility they will permanently devote one gallery to
exhibit Leesburg history and will permit the Town to use meeting space in their new
faci Iity.
Mr. Donnelly suggested that a clause be added giving the Town the right to
review and approve any architectural plans for the museum since a future conflict
may arise between the town hall and Loudoun Museum expansion plans,
Councilmember Buttery asked how far along the museum expansion plans
are?
Karen Jones stated that their board has approved only general plans; they are
awaiting the outcome of a lease agreement with the Town.
Council authorized the town attorney to move forward with drafting a lease
for approval.
Town Council Work session minutes for October 21. 2002
Paoe 3
4. Debt funding proposed
Paul York stated the town recently consulted Davenport & Company to review
our outstanding bond debt to determine if any refunding opportunities may exist as a
result of the current market conditions.
As a result, he is recommending that Town Council authorize a refunding
bond issue of up to $8,300,000 for the refunding of a portion of the outstanding
Series 1993, General Obligation Refunding Bonds. This would save the town about
$372,000.
Mr. York stated we need to proceed in an expeditious manner and that a
$10,000 administrative cost may incur.
After further discussion, Council determined that they would not lose any
critical time by delaying action until the first meeting in November.
S. Initiation of International Pavilion Boundary Line Adjustment
Bill Donnelly addressed Council with a recommendation to initiate a boundary
line adjustment to bring into the Town a 5.5-acre parcel of land owned by
International Pavilion, LP. This request would allow the inclusion of this parcel within
the town boundaries together with the balance of International Pavilion's property in
order to consolidate all use and development issues within one jurisdiction.
Mr. Donnelly added that the County and Town would have to agree and that
the same process would be followed that has been used in connection with several
school sites.
He added that International Pavilion would have revised their plat to reflect
the recent boundary line adjustments for school sites.
Mayor Umstattd asked if there are any site plan approvals from Loudoun
County on this site?
Bob Sevila addressed Council stating there are no approvals or proposals on
this parcel at this time. He added the 5.5-acre parcel was intended to be part of the
1982 annexation.
6. Kenneth B. Rollins Water Filtration Plant, sludge storage tank mixing
project contract award
Aref Etemadi stated that difficulties have been encountered with current tank
operations. Therefore, a mixing system is required to eliminate problems
encountered with the removal of solids from these tanks.
He stated they have gone through the bid process and the lowest bidder is
from Norair Engineering Corporation in the amount of $152,000.
Mr. Etemadi added the project is currently funded in the FY '03 Utility Fund
budget and requires no additional appropriation.
There was no Council discussion.
Town Council Work session minutes for October 21. 2002
Page 4
7. Amending Chapter 12.1, Article 24 of the Personnel Manual regarding
gifts, gratuities and expenses
Bob Noe outlined three proposed changes to the Personnel Manual as follows:
(1) allowing department directors to pre-approve staff travel instead of the town
manager, (2) authorizing the mayor or town manager to pre-approve use of town
funds for alcoholic beverages in limited circumstances, and (3) clarifying that boards,
commissions and committee members are the appointed officials who require pre-
approval from Council for travel.
Councilmember Schmidt agreed these are reasonable recommendations,
however, he would recommend pre-approval be granted by the town manager.
Mayor Umstattd stated the wording on the third recommendation needs to be
clarified.
Vice-Mayor Jackson stated that he could not recommend granting any funds
for alcoholic beverages and suggested that board and commission travel be approved
by the town manager.
Councilmember Buttery stated he would like to see the proposed language for
the first recommendation exclude "or designee". Further, he cannot support the
second recommendation and asked for some clarification on the recommendation for
board and commission travel.
Councilmember Kramer asked for a history of how these processes have been
handled in the past.
Mayor Umstattd stated she too would like to see the proposed deletion of "or
designee" in the first recommendation. She could not support the recommendation
to allow alcoholic beverages and would like to see some oversight be given to board
and commission travel.
The mayor asked that these proposed changes be returned to Council.
8. Biosolids product distribution and marketing program
Aref Etemadi stated the distribution and marketing program for "Tuscarora
Landscaper's Choice" is now ready for implementation. He added that currently the
product is being used on town sites and has been made available to town citizens.
Mr. Etemadi stated the trademark process has begun, and that once the
program has been endorsed sale of the product to other potential users will proceed.
9. Police Department reorganization
Chief Joe Price discussed a request to reorganize its command structure by
adding two (2) police lieutenant positions, one through under filling the position of
major and one by converting a police officer position. He stated these changes
would require a modification to the FY 2003 Pay and Classification Plan.
Council had no objection to this reorganization.
Councilmember Schmidt asked the Town's input in regional
discussions/decisions with reference to the recent sniper incident.
Town Council Work session minutes for October 21. 2002
Paqe 5
Chief Price stated that Leesburg has been working with the Fairfax task force
and has participated in Montgomery County, Maryland training.
Chief Price also advised that areas school superintendents are making the
school decisions.
10. Details of Russian Visit
Nicole Ard briefly outlined the draft schedule for the Russian Visit on
November 6 - 14th. She asked Council to be aware of the dates so that they could
participate in the planned events.
11. Preview items for November 12, 2002 Town Council Worksession
a. SE-2002-03 - First Citizens Bank - Public Hearing
There was no Council discussion on this item.
b. SE-2002-02 - God's Children Child Care - Special Exception -
Public Hearing
There was no Council discussion on this item.
c. ZOAM-02-02 - Home occupation - WISP exterior antenna - Public
Hearing
There was no Council discussion on this item.
The meeting adjourned at 9:17 p.m.
2002_tcwsminl021.doc