HomeMy Public PortalAbout2007_06_25
Council Work Session
June 25, 2007
Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, 7: 30 p.m. Mayor Umstattd presiding.
Councilmembers Present: Kelly Burk, Kathryn Sheldon Hammier, Susan Horne,
Marty Martinez, Ken Reid, Kevin Wright and Mayor Kristen Umstattd.
Council members Absent: None
Staff Members Present: Town Manager John Wells, Town Attorney Barbara Beach,
Assistant to the Town Manager Nicole Ard, Assistant to the Town Manager Kathy
Leidich, Director of Engineering and Public Works Tom Mason, Chief of Police Joe
Price, Director of Planning, Zoning and Development Susan Swift, Human Resource
Director Nancy Fixx, Parks and Recreation Director Kaj Dentler, Director of Capital
Projects Management, Recreation Programs Manager Kate Trask, Downtown
Coordinator Lisa Capraro, and Clerk of Council Judy Ahalt
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Questions on Tuesday Agenda Items
Council Meeting of June 26, 2007
John Wells stated the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority preliminary
priorities list include $5,000,000 for the Battlefield Parkway bond issue.
Council Member Reid asked for the petitioners section to be moved in front of
the commission presentations on tomorrow night's agenda.
Council Member Wright asked to have the holiday schedule removed from the
consent agenda tomorrow night. He would first like to find out what the State and
County are doing and whether any of these days conflict with tax deadlines.
He asked if we have the right-of-way lined up for Item Three.
Council Member Burk asked to have the Environmental Advisory Commission
letter ready for tomorrow night.
2. Work Session Items for discussion
a. Approving Battlefield Parkway (Kincaid Boulevard to Route 7)
Town/VDOT Administrative Agreement and authorizing the Town
Manager to execute this agreement
Nagi Elsewaissi stated the packet includes the standard design/build
agreement with Virginia Department of Transportation which needs Council
approval. He stated the last page of this agreement shows funding sources.
He pointed out minimal co"nstruction funds are coming from the S. King Street
project.
Council Member Wright asked the anticipated right-of-way timing for the
Evergreen Mill Rd. to S. King Street segment.
Mr. Elsewaissi stated it probably would be four to six months.
Town Council Work Session Minutes of June 25. 2007
Page 2
Council Member Wright asked if we could anticipate a 2009 opening.
Mr. Elsewaissi stated they would do their best.
Council Member Reid asked for an accounting of how much Leesburg is
putting toward Battlefield Parkway in gas tax and RSTP money.
Mr. Elsewaissi explained the staging of Battlefield Parkway.
Mr. Elsewaissi added the intersection at Sycolin Road and Battlefield
Parkway will not be functional until spring 2009.
Council Member Reid asked that we expedite anything we can.
b. Court and Market Days Update
Kate Trask advised Council she was here to answer any questions they
may have on Court and Market Days.
Vice Mayor Horne asked what type of outreach staff has done.
Ms. Trask stated they have sent out food vendor invitations and listed the
event with the hospitality group.
Ms. Capraro stated there will be a planning meeting with the Leesburg
Downtown Business Association.
Council Member Wright verified the logo was developed out of house and
two vendors have responded thus far.
Council Member Wright asked the status of the grant request for script
writing for this type of event.
Ms. Capraro stated we did not receive the grant.
Mayor Umstattd stated Ms. Tate's Tea Room was unhappy their sign was
not visible at downtown events of this type. She asked staff to make
allowances so downtown businesses are visible to the public.
c. Suzuki sprinkler system
John Wells stated additional issues have come up and staff would like to
meet with them to resolve the issue.
Council Member Wright stated the initial plan did not show an irrigation
system, but they pulled the proper permits. He added staff is continuing to
clarify if there are availability fees due.
d. Battlefield Parkway Update
Nagi Elsewaissi stated all segments of Battlefield Parkway are in one
phase or another from being constructed.
The last section which is Kincaid Boulevard to Tavistock Drive is in
discussion to determine if it can begin construction in conjunction with Town's
Sycolin Road project, currently under construction.
Town Council Work Session Minutes of June 25. 2007
Page 3
e. Report on dog incident
Mayor Umstattd stated this item is being deferred until tomorrow night.
f. Working with Virginia Regional Transit(VRTA) to utilize the
additional 60 hours of transit time approved by the Town Council
as part of the FY 2008 budget
John Wells stated VRTA will extend their hours effective July 1.
Council Member Wright stated the initial intent was to increase the Safe-
T-Ride hours.
Mr. Wells stated the trolley also has the need for additional hours.
Council Member Wright stated the outlet is open past 7:00 pm.
Mr. Wells stated we will track the riders, but usually there are more riders
in the morning.
Council Member Reid agreed the additional hours should go toward Safe-
T-Ride not the trolley.
3. For information only
There was no discussion on these items:
a. Annual Street Repaving
b. Acquiring easements for the N. King Street Drainage
c. Awarding a plan review contract
d. Private collection boxes update
4. New Business
Council Member Burk stated the Environmental Advisory Commission (EAC)
voted to send a letter to the School Board asking to protect runoff to the only fresh
water trout stream left in the Piedmont from the proposed site of the new school.
Further, she encouraged the County to be a leader in designing green
buildings.
Vice Mayor Horne asked if we have gotten input from a LEED Certified
Engineer.
Council Member Burk stated the LEED presentation before Council is what
prompted this.
Council Member Martinez suggested we look into COOL cities initiative and
incorporate into our documents. He stated Blacksburg would be a good jurisdiction
to contact.
Council Member Hammier stated the EAC should take steps to work with the
School Board to see what the parameters are.
Council Member Wright stated he would not want to cause a delay for the
School Board.
Town Council Work Session Minutes of June 25. 2007
Page 4
Council Member Reid asked if the School Board would have to go through an
environment assessment.
Tom Mason stated those requirements come with State money. He stated the
fact we are dealing with is a natural trout stream, the only one in Virginia, and the
EAC would like to keep the stream that way.
Mayor Umstattd stated it is probably too late to make a difference on this
school. She stated she does like the idea of talking to the School Board in relation to
future projects.
The Mayor stated she has no problem with the letter if it is clear to the School
Board that we in no way want them to delay the construction and that these are
things we would like them to consider now and for future schools.
Council Member Burk stated she has spoken to three School Board Members
who are aware of the stream issue and want to have support from the Town.
She stated they are looking to establish an outdoor classroom. The EAC feel
this site has huge environmental issues and if we are silent we are basically
consenting.
Council Member Martinez stated we have the responsibility to ask that this be
done if possible.
Mayor Umstattd suggested we let the School Board members know we
support their efforts to encourage protection of the environment but don't want to
delay the project.
Council Member Burk stated the Public Arts Commission presentation
tomorrow will include hearing from Liesel Fenner, Americans for the Arts
Organization. At this meeting the Commission will be outlining the development of a
public art policy and funding.
Council Member Wright stated he and Council Member Hammier were
discussing the Crescent District and the continuance to get applications for drive-thru
banks and restaurants in the Crescent District. He suggested prohibiting allowance
of a drive-thru in the B-2 District and presented a draft resolution.
Council Member Hammier stated this would be a series of actions related to
the Crescent District. This would be a proactive step to help business grow and
assure that we are not a drive-thru town.
It was the consensus of Council to give this item more thought and discuss at
a future meeting.
s. Closed Session to discuss a legal matter pertaining to a
personnel matter
On a motion by Mayor Umstattd, seconded by Council Member Martinez, the
following closed meeting motion was read:
Town Council Work Session Minutes of June 25. 2007
Page 5
Pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A)(1) and 2.2-3711(A)(7) of the Code of
Virginia, I move that the Leesburg Town Council convene in a closed meeting to
consult with legal counsel on a personnel matter.
The motion was approved by the following vote:
Aye: Burk, Hammier, Horne, Martinez, Reid, Wright and Mayor
Umstattd
Nay: None
Vote: 7-0
Council convened in closed session at 8:39 p.m.
At 9:09 p.m. Council reconvened in open session.
On a motion by Mayor Umstattd, seconded by Council Member Wright, and
certified that in accordance with Section 2.2-3712 of the Code of Virginia, that to the
best of each member's knowledge, only public business matters lawfully exempted
from opening meeting requirements under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act
and such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which the
closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed and considered in the meeting
by Council.
The motion was approved on a role call vote as follows:
Aye: Burk, Hammier, Horne, Martinez, Reid, Wright and Mayor
Umstattd
Nay: None
Vote: 7-0
The meeting adjourned at 9: 10 p.m. on a motion by Council Member
Martinez, seconded by Council Member Hammier.
~~ :DP5
Clerk of Council 0
2007 _tcwsmin0625