HomeMy Public PortalAbout2012_tcwsmin0227Council Work Session February 27, 2012
Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street,7:35 p.m. Mayor Kristen C. Umstattd
presiding.
Council Members Present: David S. Butler, Thomas Dunn, Katie Sheldon Hammler,
Marty Martinez, C. Terry Titus, Kevin Wright, and Mayor Umstattd.
Council Members Absent: Council Member Dunn arrived at 7:45 p.m.
Staff Present: Town Manager John Wells, Town Attorney Jeanette Irby, Deputy
Town Manager Kaj Dentler, Senior Management Analyst Bob Berkey, Senior
Management Analyst Annie Carlson, Senior Planner Irish Grandfield, Director of
Planning and Zoning Susan Berry Hill, Director of Human Resources Nancy Fixx,
Employee Benefits Administrator Maritza Irizarry, Library Director Alexandra
Gressitt, Economic Development Manager Marantha Edwards, Director of Public
Works Tom Mason, Director of Parks and Recreation Richard Williams,
Transportation Engineer Calvin Grow, Acting Director of Utilities Aref Etemadi,
Director of Plan Review Bill Ackman, Director of Finance Norm Butts, Acting
Deputy Director of Capital Projects Tom Brandon, Chief of Police Joseph Price,
Research and Communications Manager Betsy Fields, Deputy Director of Parks and
Recreation Kate Trask and Clerk of Council Lee Ann Green
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Work Session Items for Discussion
a. Health Insurance Presentation
Mr. Greg Snow from Wells Fargo Associates gave a presentation on the
proposed employee healthcare contract.
Summary of Key Points:
• Potential action tomorrow evening.
• Anthem was chosen due to its financial competitiveness, network
access, ability to meet high standards of delivering administrative
services and no network disruption for employees
• Anthem Dental rates are guaranteed through June 30, 2014
• Estimated savings approximately $175,000 versus original renewal cost.
• Opt -out feature for employees who have proof of alternative coverage
• 78/22 split (employer/ employee) is lower than the norm of 75/25.
• Contract was reviewed by the Benefits Task Force which has
representation from all departments.
• Wellness program including health screenings will be a key component
• Rates per employee will go up about 4% for the town
• Rates that each employee pays out of pocket will go up about 4%
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Council Work Session February 27, 2012
b. Town Plan Briefing
Irish Grandfield gave a presentation on the proposed changes to the
Town Plan, as identified by the Planning Commission.
Summary of key points:
• Public hearing is scheduled for March 13.
• Current Town Plan was adopted in September 2005
• State law requires jurisdictions to review and update every five years.
• Planning Commission began review 1 '/2 years ago.
• Town Plan provides guidance in land use development.
• Input was received from all the Town Boards, Commissions and
Departments.
Council discussed:
• Community commercial /industrial development
• Lack of consistency across the town
• Square footage designations
• Elimination of industrial uses within the bypass
• Timeline, including Town Council public hearing
Council consensus was to delay the public hearing until after at least
one, if not more, Council work sessions can be held to more fully discuss the
proposed changes.
Legislative Update
Betsy Fields distributed updated status spreadsheets to those Council
Members who wanted hard copies.
Summary of bills of importance to Leesburg:
• Town Charter amendment has passed both houses
• Proffered conditions bill has passed the senate and is on the floor of the
house
• Stormwater service districts bill has passed the senate and reported out
of house committees
• HB 1286 and 910 (cash proffers bill) will be heard at committee
tomorrow afternoon
• Eminent domain bill has been approved and the constitutional
amendment will go forward for voter approval
• HB166 (rezoning by mistake) bill has passed the house
• HB10 (BPOL) is before the Senate finance committee
• HB 1193 which would make newspaper ads for RFPs optional, is in
committee
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Council Work Session February 27, 2012
After action will be scheduled after the session closes.
d. Bus Shelter Update
John Wells gave a brief update on the bus shelters for the Virginia
Regional Transit routes.
Council comments:
• Town to meet local match so construction can move forward
• Identify sponsors for bus shelters (construction /maintenance)
It was Council consensus to have staff draft a resolution for action at
tomorrow night's Council meeting to pledge up to $8,000 to meet local match
needs if sponsorship cannot be found. Further staff will be assigned to assist
VRTA in moving the bus shelter project forward.
FY 2013 Budget /CIP Work Session
Mr. Wells summarized the important issues with respect to the FY
2013 budget including the long range financial picture.
Summary of key points:
• Part of the financial plan adopted last year was restructuring of debt so
that some of the debt repayment obligations are pushed out to later
years when the economy may have recovered
• Establishment of a debt service reserve fund may help eliminate some
of the need for tax rate increases in future years
• Any time expenditures drop, budget to budget, excess revenue will feed
into the debt service reserve fund
• Initial money to be transferred to the debt service reserve fund will
come partially from the release of funds held in the Airport Fund
• The maximum amount for debt service should be 15% of general fund
revenues
• Capital asset and vehicle replacement funds will allow the town to
replace assets as necessary
• Performance based pay increase of 3% recommended
• 1% revenue growth is anticipated
Council Comments:
• Pleased with long range planning effort
• Concerned about impacts of decisions made in Richmond and
Washington
• Concerned about the passage of the eminent domain bill in the Virginia
House of Delegates
• Council must keep budget in mind when adding new CIP projects
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Council Work Session February 27, 2012
• Be sure that developers pay their fair share
• Consideration of tax rate increases equaling the inflation rate
Capital Improvements Program Key Points:
• CIP projects are those that cost more than $60,000 and have a useful
life of at least five years
• This is the second year of the two year budget, so changes were only
made if they were significant — meaning a schedule adjustment of more
than six months or budget impact greater than $100,000
Greater than six month schedule changes:
• Downtown Improvements Project
• Water Pollution Control Facility digester cover replacement
• Airport perimeter fence (west side)
• Airport runway — safety area grading project
Budget changes:
o Battlefield Parkway — Rt. 15 to the Dulles Greenway replacing town
bond funding with VDOT funding
• Edwards Ferry Road right turn lane at the bypass
• Linden Hill access road
• Turn lane at Sycolin Road and Tavistock Drive
• Virts Corner — utility relocation costs
• Tuscarora Creek
• Miscellaneous water /sanitary
• Lower Sycolin Sewage conveyance system
New projects added to the CIP
• Rt. 15 widening, phase II moved forward from priority future list
into FY 13 CIP because enough funding is available from VDOT
related to phase I and Virt's Corner projects to start design and
move into construction
• Airport south apron helipad and airport north end access road —
Council authorized as mid -year additions to the budget
• Future projects list was added to the CIP in 2004 as a mechanism to
keep track of projects
• Priority future projects list was added at the recommendation of the
Planning Commission last year for projects with a more defined scope,
potential funding source, and a realistic schedule but there is no funding
available in the current CIP
• Vehicles and studies were taken out of the CIP in 2006
• CIP projects have realistic scopes of work, identified funding sources
and realistic schedules
• CIP now has 35 projects
Council Comments
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Council Work Session February 27, 2012
• Staff to report on eminent domain act impacts
f. Board of Supervisors /Town Council Joint Meeting Follow -up
Council Comments/ Questions:
• Participation in a Raspberry Falls water task force — the Board has not
yet established a task force
• Council needs to decide whether there is support for annexation
• Add an Annexation workshop to a future work session agenda
2. Additions to Future Council Meetings
Vice Mayor Wright: Possible modifications to the Arts and Cultural District
ordinance.
Mayor Umstattd: Letter to the county /school board requesting assistance for
first tier cable television cooperation. Town Manager will draft letter.
3. Closed Session
On a motion by Mayor Umstattd, seconded by Vice Mayor Wright, the following was
proposed.•
Pursuant to Section 2.2- 3711(A)(3) of the Code of Virginia, I move that the Leesburg
Town Council convene in a closed meeting for the purpose or receiving information and
discussion regarding:
a. Leesburg Airport Associates, LC
The motion was approved by the following vote:
Aye: Butler, Dunn, Hammler, Titus, Wright and Mayor Umstattd
Nay: None
Vote: 6-0-1 (Martinez absent)
The Council convened in closed session at 10:15 p.m.
The Council reconvened in open session at 10:30 p.m.
On a motion by Mayor Umstattd, seconded by Council Member Martinez, the following
was proposed-
In accordance with Section 2.2 -3712 of the Code of Virginia, I move that Council certify
that to the best of each member's knowledge, only public business matters lawfully
exempted from open 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 or considered in the meeting by
Council.
The motion was approved by the following vote:
Aye: Butler, Dunn, Hammler, Martinez, Titus, Wright and Mayor Umstattd
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Council Work Session February 27, 2012
Nay: None
Vote: 7 -0
4. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
Clerk of un
2012 tcwsmin0227
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