HomeMy Public PortalAbout2007_12_10
Council Work Session
December 10, 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
Councilmembers Absent: None
Staff Present: Town Manager John Wells, Deputy Town Attorney Jeanette Irby,
Assistant to the Town Manager Kathy Leidich, Chief of Police Joe Price, Director of
Planning Zoning and Development Susan Swift, Director of Engineering and Public
Works Tom Mason, Director of Parks and Recreation Kaj Dentler, Director of Utilities
Randy Shoemaker, Director of Capital Projects Management Nagi Elsewaissi,
Economic Development Manager Marantha Edwards, Economic Research Analyst
Betsy Fields, Environmental Planner Irish Grandfield, Senior Engineer Asghar Pariroo,
Senior Legal Secretary Tracy Sury, and Management Specialist/Deputy Clerk of
Council Debi Parry
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Questions on Tuesday Agenda Items
Council Meeting of December 11, 2007
a. Awarding Route 643 Pumping Station variable frequency drives
replacement construction contract
Nagi Elsewaissi stated this project totaling $117,000 will replace aging
equipment to improve water reliability and pressure in the Sycolin Road area.
b. Endorsing the Leesburg Drought Response Plan
Council Member Wright asked how long our reserves and holding tanks
would last if we were unable to draw in and treat new water.
Randy Shoemaker stated the water would last less than one day.
Council Member Wright stated the ordinance currently reads, "Any
officer or other Town employee designated by the Town Manager may issue a
citation to a person reasonably believed to be in violation of the plan."
Jeanette Irby stated the employee would have to be specifically
trained to issue citations.
Council Member Reid stated people use the most water when watering
their lawns. He asked if this plan would prioritize conservation efforts so as
not to hurt business owners who need to water their landscaping as opposed
to homeowners.
Mr. Shoemaker stated the plan has established four different stages
with different restrictions. He stated staff has made allowances for business
owners stating they would restrict residents washing their cars before
restricting commercial car washes. Further, he stated our plan parallels what
other jurisdictions are doing in the Northern Virginia area.
Town Council Work Session of December 10. 2007
Page 2
Mayor Umstattd expressed concern that residents may feel the plan is
arbitrary in allowing commercial car washes to operate when people are not
allowed to wash their car at home. Further, she stated she will not support
this plan.
Mr. Shoemaker stated the language mirrors that of the Washington
Council of Governments.
c. Making an appointment to the Economic Development
Commission
Council Member Wright stated he is recommending the appointment of
Scott Gustavson to the Economic Development Commission.
d. Performing/Cultural Arts Center Feasibility Study Draft RFP
Scope of Work
Mr. Wells introduced Bruce Gemmill, Ara Bagdasarian and
Sandy Kane as members of the Performing Arts Task Force. He stated the
Task Force has worked with staff over the past few weeks to develop a scope
of work for this proposal.
Council Member Burk stated this is exactly what she was hoping for.
Vice Mayor Horne expressed support for the scope of work stating she
was happy to see the inclusion of conference space.
Council Member Hammier thanked the Task Force for their efforts.
Council Member Wright asked that the language be amended to
indicate local government will not be the primary source of funding.
Council Member Reid stated it was his understanding that potential
locations would be identified in the study.
Mr. Wells stated the consensus was to not make this a site selection
process, rather it was to determine what is needed to create a performing
arts facility in Leesburg.
Council Member Reid stated he has received requests from businesses
regarding the need for a blues/jazz venue in Leesburg and asked if a
partnership with a for-profit organization could be examined to bring in
national acts. Further, he stated the Tally Ho could be a possible location.
Council Member Wright stated the idea of a for-profit jazz club may be
more relevant in looking at the recommendations from the Downtown Market
Study.
There was further Council discussion of transportation impacts.
Mayor Umstattd stated she would like to see case studies of other such
facilities to learn best practices and what level of local government funding
was required.
Town Council Work Session of December 10. 2007
Page 3
Sandy Kane, Performing Arts Task Force, thanked Mr. Wells for his
support. She stated the proposal is vague is to allow those responding to the
proposal to provide the specifics.
Ara Bagdasarian, Performing Arts Task Force, stated this is the
blueprint to allow a non-profit organization to step in and move forward. He
stated one of the key criteria is experience, someone who has successfully
laid the foundation for performing arts centers in other localities.
Council Member Reid expressed the importance of selecting a company
with no interest in actually constructing the facility.
Mr. Wells stated it is important to clarify that we are looking for a
company that can help us make this proposal successful as opposed to a
company that is looking to sell us on what the next step might be. '
e. Provisions of Utilities to New High School/Revised Resolution
Mr. Wells stated the proposed resolution is to revise the resolution
passed in July 2005 regarding our willingness to provide utilities to a high
school on a proposed site on the O'Connor property. He stated the Loudoun
County School Board has sense indicated their intention to look at a different
site on this property and have asked Council to amend the prior resolution to
make it less site specific.
Vice Mayor Horne asked what this decision means for the property
owner and for the Town's interest in the future for a possible boundary line
adjustment.
Mr. Wells stated staff is working with school staff in terms of how the
road network would be created. He stated long term implications are a
separate decision as Council has not yet decided whether this property should
be brought into the Town.
Council Member Hammier expressed her appreciation to the
Annexation Committee for their diligence in keeping an eye on this site and
how it fits in with the Town's overall vision. Further, she stated it is
important to note that this will be the second time the school system has
condemned property owned by the O'Connor family.
Council Member Wright stated Section III of the resolution seems to
indicate we are not the sole provider of utilities in this area after we just
finished fighting to preserve those rights. He asked that the language be
amended to state we will provide water and sewer in what has traditionally
been the process with the County to bring the site into the Town by a
boundary line adjustment.
Mr. Wells stated Section III was specifically crafted by our interim
Town Attorney Liz Whiting when the Town initially looked at the prevision of
utilities to Bolen Park. He stated one of the concerns was whether utilities
could be extended to properties outside the Town's boundaries without doing
a boundary line adjustment.
Town Council Work Session of December 10. 2007
Page 4
Council Member Wright expressed the need to ensure we are careful
with our language here so it does not set a precedent in other areas of Town.
Council Member Reid stated he supports a school in the northern part
of Town and asked to see a map of the property to specifically outline the
proposed location of the school. Further, he stated he would like to see the
School Board mitigate any impact to the trout stream on the property.
Mayor Umstattd stated it is critical that this school move forward in a
timely fashion due to the overcrowding at Heritage and Loudoun County High
Schools.
f. PMW Farms - Motion to rescind
Vice Mayor Horne stated she asked that this be added to the agenda
for the following reasons, (1) Council's refusal to defer the decision based on
the open questions; (2) the misinformation that was conveyed regarding
elementary school impact; (3) the absence of a Council Member.
Council Member Martinez stated he was listening to the meeting and
was not happy with the way this decision was made. He stated Council had
the understanding that this property would be a residential area when it was
brought into the Town. Further, he stated the applicants are offering more
than what the proffer guidelines require including amenities for the Little
League fields.
Council Member Reid stated if we are going to recind our decisions so
quickly after we make them we will be sending a bad message to the entire
community that you can not trust the Town of Leesburg. He stated the
proper way to handle this is for the applicant to resubmit. Further, he stated
he spoke with the applicant and they seemed to be amenable to using the
$4.7 million to purchase land for a school in Leesburg.
Council Member Hammier expressed support for Council's decision, as
this development does not pay for itself. She stated the boundary line
adjustment was not done with preconceived notions; rather, it gave Council
the opportunity to have planning and zoning control over the area.
Vice Mayor Horne stated we asked for time to gather information and
that request was refused. She stated there was misinformation conveyed at
the last meeting regarding elementary school capacity and that should be
clarified tomorrow evening.
Council Member Martinez stated the applicant asked Council to bring
the property in so that he could redevelop his property.
Mayor Umstattd expressed concern with the overcrowding issues at
Catoctin Elementary School. Further, she stated she was proud of Council's
decision to vote down this application.
g. Rescinding Resolution 2007-133, authorizing a performance
and proffer compliance agreement, approving a reduction of
the performance guarantee amount, and approving
performance guarantees for completion of the interchange at
Town Council Work Session of December 10. 2007
Page 5
the intersection of East Market Street (Route 7), River Creek
Parkway and Crosstrail Boulevard
Mr. Wells stated this action would replace the bond action Council took
in September. He stated we believe this action will allow for the bonding of
the complete interchange.
h. Motion to rescind the November 27 motion to uphold the
decision of the Board of Architectural Review in case TLHP-
2007-0030
Mayor Umstattd stated if any residents in the audience would like to
make comments they may.
Neil Steinberg, 214 Loudoun Street, asked Council to reconsider the
resident's appeal.
Rick DiZerga, Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company, stated the fire
company has followed the rules throughout this process.
K.D. Kidder, read the following letter into the record from her mother
Doris Kidder:
" We sensed at the appeals hearing that none of you were taking your
decision lightly and though some of you did not consider the BAR
decision arbitrary or an abuse of discretion. The excepts from the
audio tapes prove there was considerably more discussion about
economics and use than there was about why the staff report was not
considered valid. There was no evidence given to refute the staff
report.
The Town Attorney has advised Council that any and all subjects,
economics or otherwise may be discussed by public hearing
participants, we have never argued otherwise. We have argued that
the reasons given for supporting the application are questionable and
our attorney believes there should've been supporting evidence for
rejecting the staff report. At the BAR hearings there was not even a
discussion about why the staff report was wrong. The dictionary's
legal definition of arbitrary is 'Not determined by statute.
Discretionary' .
We do not have to be lawyers to understand that the BAR can review a
proposal and compare it to the guidelines using their discretion, but
my layman's logic tells me that when a project like this one fails the
guidelines on all counts and is not proven otherwise it is an abuse of
discretion to approve it for reasons not connected to the BAR
procedures and guidelines. This decision will have a devastating effect
on the neighborhood."
Council Member Burk asked if action could be taken tomorrow
night if the previous action is rescinded, or would another public hearing be
required.
Ms. Irby stated action could be taken tomorrow night if proper notice
was given. She stated this case differs from the PMW Farms case in that the
fire company was given permission to proceed by the BAR and one of the
Town Council Work Session of December 10. 2007
Page 6
elements of rescission is that the parties can not have changed their position
or have done something to their detriment while they had permission to
proceed. Further, she stated notice is critical in this case because the fire
department may have changed their position by signing a contract, etc.
Council Member Burk asked Ms. Irby if she feels Council can not make
a motion to rescind.
Ms. Irby stated it would be very difficult to make an appropriate
motion to rescind without knowing if the fire department has changed their
position and they will not be able to respond to that without adequate notice.
Mayor Umstattd verified their recourse if Council were to recind the
decision would be to sue the Town to recover funds expended because they
changed position.
Ms. Irby stated the court could find that our decision was made in
error and they would be pu't back to the place they were prior to our motion
to rescind.
Council Member Hammier stated Council is being asked to recind a
very narrow decision and asked if the fire company is in a position where they
would consider stepping back to allow discussions with the neighborhood.
Mr. DiZerega stated the fire company has looked at all issues and
made a decision based on research.
Mayor Umstattd stated she will make a motion tomorrow night to
rescind Council's decision unless evidence is presented indicating the fire
department has moved forward with their plans.
Council Member Martinez asked if the motion is rescinded could
Council then overturn the decision tomorrow night.
Ms. Irby stated that would put Council in a difficult position as the fire
company will not have been provided with enough notice to respond.
However, if fire department comes forward to say they have not changed
their position then there is no reason why Council could not move forward
tomorrow night.
Council Member Wright stated based on Council's previous action to
uphold the decision of the BAR the appellants have 30 days to appeal that
decision to the Circuit Court. He stated Council will not meet again until after
the 30 days have expired.
Council Member Hammier stated she has requested the transcripts
from the BAR meetings. Further, she asked Ms. Irby to provide any input she
has related to the possibility of economic considerations in the BAR decision.
Council Member Reid stated there is going to be a site plan for this
application and that is an opportunity to mitigate the impact. He stated that
may be a better solution than dealing with the massing of the building.
Town Council Work Session of December 10. 2007
Page 7
2. Work Session Items for Discussion
a. FY 2007 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, SAS 61 letter
and Management Comment letter review and presentation by
PBGH auditors
Norm Butts thanked Kim Williams, AI Long and Carrie Curry for their
efforts associated with the audit. Further, introduced Mike Garber from
PBGH.
Mr. Garber stated this is the first time the report has been delivered so
early and this is a direct result of changes made in the finance department
and the implementation of the MUNIS system. He stated there are three
unqualified opinions on the financial statement, internal control and
compliance, and federal awards and the internal compliance and controls
related to those funds. Further, he outlined the financial report and
management letter.
Council Member Burk commented on the recommendation that the
Town maintain a separate ledger for VDOT expenditures to comply with VDOT
policy and asked if that is a new policy.
Mr. Garber stated this is not a new requirement. He stated in the past
we have been able to pull the information from other departments, and while
we could do that this year the requirement is to have a separate ledger for
those expenditures. Further, he stated all money has been spent correctly.
Vice Mayor Horne congratulated staff on the unqualified opinion.
Council Member Martinez asked if an enterprise fund should be
established for parks and recreation given the tennis and pool facilities
coming online.
Mr. Wells stated the objective with an enterprise fund would be to float
separate debt and for a Town this size that is not necessary for parks and
recreation functions. He stated the revenue from the tennis center and pool
will be used to pay the debt service for those sites.
Council Member Hammier asked the anticipated impact of declining
home values on the upcoming budget.
Mr. Wells stated a budget discussion has been scheduled for the first
meeting in January.
Council Member Wright thanked staff for their efforts. He stated he
appreciated the detailed overview on the IT security improvements.
Council Member Reid thanked the staff for their efforts. He stated
there is a $697,000 advance to the airport fund and this has not been paid
back. Further, he stated staff is looking into this issue and will provide a
report to Council.
Mr. Garber stated the $697,000 stated that was a loan from the
general fund to the airport fund, but no date is provided.
Town Council Work Session of December 10. 2007
Page 8
Mr. Wells stated this has been in the CAFR for many years and staff
will look into this issue and report back to Council.
Council Member Wright asked what we are doing to properly show the
airport fund depreciation numbers in the budget.
Mr. Wells stated the key is to find the proper footnote because even
when we have other grant money coming to the Town for cash projects it is
an asset of the Town. He stated the difficulty is that the project is not built
with 100 percent Town funds and is not likely to be replaced with 100 percent
Town funds so it is important to provide clarification in our notes.
There was further Council discussion regarding the Airport Fund and
Utility Fund.
b. Leesburg Watershed Committee Report
Virginia McGuire, Environmental Advisory Commission Chairman,
stated the EAC is pleased to coordinate these efforts and thanked the
Committee and staff for their efforts. She stated the Committee is very
concerned about this issue and worked in a very short period of time to meet
with all stakeholder groups and form these recommendations. Further, she
introduced Neeley Law, Leesburg Watershed Committee Chairman.
Ms. Law stated provided a summary of the Committee's findings
including; (1) comprehensive education program, (2) demonstration projects,
(3) conserve, restore and reforest, (4) establish a stream valley park
network, (5) improve development regulations, (6) manage stormwater in a
new way, and (7) practice good stewardship. Further, she stated the draft
resolution accepts the Committee's report, directs the Town Manager to
include priority action items in the FY09 budget and endorses additional work,
monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.
Council Member Burk thanked Ms. Law and the Committee for their
report. She commented on the recommendation that a stream valley park
network be established and asked if it is too late, do we still have the
potential to do that.
Ms. Law stated the intent of the recommendation is to have a unifying
stream corridor, it will take some communication to see what parcels are
developed or undergoing redevelopment. She stated all we need is two
pieces of adjacent park land abutting a stream to get started. Further, she
stated the project involves amendments to the Stream Valley Buffer
Ordinance.
Council Member Burk asked if we have a water retention pond that
could be used as a pilot to start plantings and stop mowing.
Ms. Law stated the Committee has had discussions with Tom Mason
regarding potential sites.
Council Member Burk stated a couple of months ago the Town required
that the hospital take down trees and install a cement bunker to get the
Town Council Work Session of December 10. 2007
Page 9
water off the property. She stated it would be wonderful if Leesburg could be
a leader in the area of watershed protection.
Vice Mayor Horne thanked the Committee for their efforts to teach us
all to be better stewards of our natural resources. She stated we have an
opportunity to make a difference and she looks forward to exploring the many
recommendations and budget implications.
Council Member Martinez thanked the Committee for their report. He
recognized the fact that this Committee is made up citizens, the business
community, development community, environmental organizations, schools,
Town commissions, and Town staff. Further, he stated he would be interested
in seeing how citizens could implement a rain barrel program.
Council Member Hammier expressed the need to keep the momentum
growing and she would be happy meet with HOAs, recruit community
volunteers. She stated the Town can add basic flyers to water bill mailings to
outline key programs and highlight when meetings are coming up to highlight
benefits to the community and cost savings. Further, she stated it is
important to look at how some of these recommendations could benefit Town
Branch.
Council Member Wright thanked the Committee for their hard work.
He expressed the importance of being mindful of our current staff resources
and County staff resources as it pertains to these goals. Further, he
commented on the policy recommendations stating he shares Council Member
Burk's comments on the hospital site.
Council Member Reid thanked the Committee for their efforts. He
stated he was skeptical of this report; however, the recommendations are on
the spot. Further, he asked whether the Committee has reviewed the
proposal for the river walk along Town Branch.
Ms. Law stated that was not in the Committee's directive, but could be
reviewed.
Mayor Umstattd asked if there is a formalized process whereby the
Committee will review the Design and Construction Standards Manual, the
Subdivision and Land Development Regulations and the Zoning Ordinance to
make proposals to Council regarding regulatory amendments.
Mr. Wells stated staff will be working with many groups including the
Committee on any possible amendments.
c. Downtown Market Study consultant presentation
Betsy Fields introduced Dr. John Accordino with Virginia
Commonwealth University (VCU). She stated this study was commissioned to
help the Town understand the dynamics of the downtown and also a tool for
existing and prospective businesses. Further, she stated the Town was able
to contract with VCU for $17,500 and Dr. Accordino and his two students
spent over 600 man hours collecting and compiling data and writing the
report.
Town Council Work Session of December 10. 2007
Page 11
businesses open in the evening, especially during special events and to
continue work on the Crescent District. Further, he expressed the need for
Council to identify the action items and work with the private business
community to make it happen.
Council Member Reid stated a similar study was conducted in 2003
which found 21 percent of residents in the Leesburg zip codes visited the
Downtown shops; however, this study indicates the number has grown to 44
percent.
Dr. Accordino stated the difference could be accounted for in sample
size, but it is not a very large difference.
Council Member Reid asked why the Town did not choose someone
with a marketing or retail background to conduct this study. He asked EDC
member Sid Lissner to share his thoughts on the study.
Mr. Lissner stated this study provided confirmation of what many
people have said and written over the years. He concurred with Council
Member Wright's comments regarding what the Town could do. Further, he
stated the Town can improve the regulatory climate and the physical
streetscape; however, he feels there is not much the Town can do unless the
business community steps up.
Council Member Reid stated the purpose of this study was to update
numbers and there is little difference in the findings of the 2003 report;
however, the Town never followed up on any of those recommendations. He
stated he appreciates Dr. Accordino's recommendation; however, the Town
has a revised strategy that went into effect in June and it is up to the
businesses to carry this forward. Further, he stated the Town should not
stipulate hours or spend any more money on projects that mayor may not
bring in more business, rather we should continue down the path of
deregulations so we do not have a monstrous Los Angeles river site at the
hospital because we have an engineering staff obsessed with flooding.
Mayor Umstattd stated the similarity of the demographics of the
visitors to the outlet mall and downtown was interesting. She asked if the
same people were shopping in both places.
Dr. Accordino stated there is overlap. He stated the local residents
come Downtown more frequently.
Mayor Umstattd she asked if high rents in the downtown work against
having affordable products in the Downtown.
Dr. Accordino stated people surveyed did not complain about rents in
the Downtown or said it drove up the cost of their merchandise.
Mayor Umstattd verified the study will be shared with the Downtown
merchants and property owners. She stated it seems they should have been
the ones to commission the study as they are the ones with the most to gain.
Further, she thanked Dr. Accordino for his report.
Town Council Work Session of December 10. 2007
Page 12
d. Minor Subdivision Plat
There was no Council discussion of this item.
e. Presentation of potential Council candidate names
Mayor Umstattd listed the candidate names, including Steve Axeman,
David Butler, John Drury, Mary Haberl, Benjamin Burke Key, David Miles,
Weaver Samuel, Dave Schmidt, Todd Severence, Bob Steere, and Bob Zoldos.
There was Council discussion regarding the best way to proceed with
selecting a candidate to fill the unexpired term of Council Member Burk. It
was the consensus of Council to open the floor to nominations at a meeting
during the first week of January.
f. Update on hearing examiners recommendation of Dominion
Virginia Power power line Modified Route D alignment
Jeanette Irby stated she has reviewed the file and felt it is best to
retain outside counsel and the Town has retained Brian Greene who has quite
a bit of experience with the State Corporation Commissioners and he began a
review of the documents yesterday. Further, she asked Council's guidance on
how best to proceed stating it is her understanding that the E-7 alignment is
the primary choice of the Town.
Mayor Umstattd stated we should continue to argue the case we have
always argued. She stated we have never opposed undergrounding;
however, the primary goal is to prevent overhead power lines through the
Town of Leesburg.
Council Member Reid stated he would like to send a letter to the SCC
and all interested parties stating we do not oppose undergrounding; however
we support the E-7 alignment and vigorously oppose modified Route D.
Further, he stated some of the language in the letter was provided by Save
the Trail.
Mayor Umstattd stated she would add language indicating that not
only do we want to protect the W&OD Trail, but we also want to protect all of
the neighborhoods in the Town.
Council Member Wright asked if we have ever provided testimony
regarding the impact of Modified Route D on the airport.
Mayor Umstattd stated Steve Axeman testified in front of the FCC on
the impact to the airport.
Vice Mayor Horne stated this issue was discussed at the Airport
Commission meeting and they are going to try to get correspondence from
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directly relating to this issue.
There was further discussion regarding the airport concerns and the
need for Loudoun County Board of Supervisor support.
Council Member Hammier asked if there is anything Council can do
legislatively or politically.
Town Council Work Session of December 10. 2007
Page 10
Dr. John Accordino of Virginia Commonwealth University presented
Council with his report from the Leesburg Downtown Market Study including
the results of surveys conducted with Downtown business owners, Downtown
property owners, downtown shoppers, outlet mall shoppers and others.
Council Member Burk thanked Dr. Accordino and his students for their
efforts. She stated she was surprised to find Leesburg isn't as much of a
tourist destination. Further, she stated she hopes the Town can use this
report to make this a more viable place where people will want to visit.
Vice Mayor Horne she stated years ago there were bus tours that
brought tourists in for the day. She stated she believes our biggest
competition is the urban centers; however, we can find a way to compete.
Further, she asked the status of the first floor retail report, how creating a
tourism zone to create more of a cultural attraction downtown can help us,
what can our Economic Development Department do to attract the types of
businesses Dr. Accordino mentioned, and how can the economic development
staff partner with the Small Business Development Center to provide training
for our merchants to better position themselves.
Council Member Martinez stated the report highlighted some of his
concerns that businesses are not targeting the local and urban market to visit
downtown by offering incentives. Further, he asked about business
discounts.
Dr. Accordino stated if someone visits your store the chance of them
coming back again is significantly raised even if they do not make a purchase.
He stated the key is to get the customers in the door, so if they have a 25
percent off coupon the chance is increased that they will come to your store.
Council Member Martinez asked Dr. Accordino's impression of the
Downtown at night. He stated his impression is that the Downtown is too
dark.
Dr. Accordino stated some of the potential customers have stated that
Downtown is too dark. He stated the key is to attract the kind of uses to the
Downtown that will be open at night and that the people are asking for like
entertainment and restaurants.
Council Member Hammier stated the importance of staying on track
with the Crescent District and ensuring it is a pedestrian friendly area. She
stated the results of this study do not match the information provided by the
Loudoun Convention Visitors Association (LCVA) who state Leesburg is a
tourist destination and she questioned whether our funding for LCVA is
properly aligned with our needs. Further, she stated she would appreciate
any policy recommendations Dr. Accordino may have.
Council Member Wright thanked Dr. Accordino for his report. He
stated the biggest finding is that the hours need to be adjusted, which we
knew. He stated he was surprised to find that most of our Downtown traffic is
local and perhaps our Downtown businesses are not focusing on the right
market and should focus less on antiques and more on the quality and
affordability of our restaurants. He commented on the need to get the
Town Council Work Session of December 10. 2007
Page 13
Ms. Irby stated our outside counsel indicated Delegate Joe May
introduced legislation or participated in legislation trying to get something
going and was unsuccessful.
Vice Mayor Horne stated at the legislative dinner Delegate May talked
about submitting new legislation to require the SCC to factor property values
into the equation and require the SCC to analyze the cost benefit which they
don't have to do currently.
Ms. Irby stated right now we are limited to what we presented or what
was presented on remand.
Gerry Shamla, Kincaid Forest resident, stated their attorney discussed
the issue of property values on remand and urged Council to review his
comments. He stated there is a regulation in the highway department
regarding cutting trees in the right-of-way which also came up under remand.
3. For information only:
Preview Topics for January 8, 2008:
There was no Council discussion of the following items:
a. EDC Business Process implementation Task Force Report
b. Authorizing offers to acquire easements and condemnation if
offers are not promptly accepted for the North King Street
drainage project
c. Authorizing offers to acquire easements and condemnation if
offers are not promptly accepted for the South King Street Rail
Phase I
New Business
Council Member Burk thanked Council for dinner and for the gifts. She asked
if the Watershed Committee report will be voted on tomorrow night.
Council Member Reid asked if it is possible to fund the Committee's
recommendations in the FY09 Budget.
Mr. Wells recommended that Council accept the report and not commit to
funding the recommendations at this time.
Council Member Burk stated the Board of Supervisors is holding a public
hearing on Ridgewater tomorrow evening and asked if Council plans to reiterate their
position tomorrow evening.
Mayor Umstattd stated Council Member Burk can address the Board if that is
her desire.
Adjournment
On a motion by Council Member Martinez, seconded b
meeting adjourned at 11:47 p.m.
2007 _tcwsmin1210
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