HomeMy Public PortalAbout2012_tcwsmin0709Council Work Session July 9, 2012
Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street,7:30 p.m. Mayor Kristen C. Umstattd
presiding.
Council Members Present: David S. Butler, Thomas Dunn, Katie Sheldon Hammler,
Kelly Burk, Marty Martinez, Kevin Wright and Mayor Umstattd.
Council Members Absent: None.
Staff Present: Town Manager John Wells, Town Attorney Jeanette Irby, Director of
Public Works Tom Mason, Director of Planning and Zoning Susan Berry Hill,
Director of Utilities Amy Wyks, Deputy Director of Utilities Aref Etemadi, Director
of Finance Norm Butts and Clerk of Council Lee Ann Green
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Work Session Items for Discussion
a. Annual Street Resurfacing Program
Tom Mason gave a summary of the currently proposed program
Summary of Key points (Rt. 7 Climbing Lane):
• Streets were selected based on evaluation / 19 point inspection
• Budget is set at $750,000 for milling and paving
• Budget is set at $100,000 for concrete repairs and handicap ramps
• Contract with F. O. Day and the contract has been re -bid with bids
coming in tomorrow
• Action on this item will occur after the contract is awarded
Council Comments/ Questions:
• Can town employees be used to seal cracks?
Staff answer: It can be considered. Economy of scale sometimes
allows the vendor to do it more economically than the town.
• Is it cost effective to only pave parts of certain roads, rather than the
entire road?
Staff answer: Coordination with Capital Projects creates the need to fill
in the gaps
b. Raspberry Falls Update
John Wells updated the Council on the status of the request by the
Raspberry Falls Homeowners for the town to provide them with water.
, of Loudoun Water, gave additional information.
Summary of key points:
Community is currently served by two wells.
Emergency interconnect system with Selma is in place as an emergency
back up, not a supplementary supply
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• Would like confirmation that the pipeline option is still available.
Council Comments /Questions:
• Will wholesale rate on water be profitable for Leesburg?
Staff answer: It would depend on a lot of variables
• Is membrane system the best practice for treating well water?
Loudoun Water answer: It is a proven technology and has been used
elsewhere in Virginia successfully.
• Who will pay for the pipeline?
Loudoun Water answer: the users would pay for the pipeline.
• What will happen if all Raspberry Falls owners do not wish to be
connected?
Loudoun Water answer: If the treatment system is installed, then all
existing and future customers will have to be connected. If the wells are
replaced by pipeline, all customers have to be connected.
• If the town cannot guarantee quality, quantity or pressure, does that
leave the town open to legal ramifications?
Loudoun Water answer: Loudoun Water does not seek guarantees, but
would like to have standards in place. Failure to meet contractual
obligations would have to be written into the contract.
• Is there adequate capacity within the wells in Raspberry to meet the
current needs?
Loudoun Water answer: There is. What we would likely do is bring
the Goudy well back on line because it would be acceptable under all
standards with membrane treatment in place. The three wells would be
more than sufficient to meet the demand for water in the community.
• Well failure is common in Karst ground types.
• Study is intended to answer which is the most viable long term option
for Raspberry Falls
• The town is guaranteed to make money
• Pipeline could be sized to only provide water for the Raspberry
Falls /Selma Estates properties to control development
Staff answer: Limiting the size of the pipe does not necessarily limit the
development
• When will the town run out of capacity?
Staff answer: Based on current projections, the town will have enough
capacity to service build out.
• What types of water saving measures can be instituted to make capacity
last longer?
Staff answer: Water restrictions cannot be put into place to save
capacity, but only if drought conditions exist.
• What are the state requirements for excess capacity?
Staff answer: The plants have to be able to supply /handle the
maximum daily load. Emergency demands are handled by the storage
tanks, as required by regulations. When you hit 80% of capacity, you
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Council Work Session July 9, 2012
have to start design, at 85 -90% you have to be actively under
construction. Full build out of currently zoned vacant property would
put the town at or near capacity.
Inclusion of numbers from Form Based zoning increases capacity to the
point where it will need to be addressed.
Limitation to a cost or wholesale rate decrease financial feasibility for
the town
Membrane system is least expensive system to guarantee quantity and
quality of water
It was noted that a resolution would be brought to Council on Tuesday
night for consideration.
C. URAC Rate Consultant RFP
John Wells stated the URAC has been working on the scope of work
for a rate study and has transmitted their recommendation to Council. No
action is necessary at this time.
Council Comments:
• Prior to engaging a consultant discuss whether scope of work is what
Council wants
d. Annexation Briefing
John Wells stated this item is to reacquaint Council with the issue of
annexation.
Jeanette Irby gave a brief overview of the legal aspects of annexation:
• Process is described by statute
• Need to start with some idea of what areas are considered for
annexation and the reasons why
• If population increases more than 5 %, there will need to be another
election
• Estimated timeline published by the Local Government Attorney's is
13 -18 months
• Voluntary settlement agreement with the County would save time and
money
• Outside counsel would be necessary
Council Comments:
• Issue of water rates put the annexation discussion on hold
• Possibility of boundary line adjustment
• Can we include properties that have requested annexation?
Staff answer: 51% of an area have to desire inclusion
• Possibility of including O'Connor Property and Morven Park
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Council Work Session July 9, 2012
Can roads in annexation area be grandfathered to acceptance into the
town system?
Staff answer: Only if they meet town standards. They must be
contiguous.
Is fiscal impact report for the various areas ready?
Staff answer: Should be available after the August break
2. Additions to Future Council Meetings
a. John Wells distributed the Council priorities list that was distributed to
Council 12 months ago amended to show which projects have been
completed. He stated he would be scheduling this year's priorities as well. He
noted four out of six major CIP projects scheduled for completion last year
have been completed. He distributed an additional list of projects to be
completed in the coming year.
b. Vice Mayor Wright asked for a discussion regarding the Sycolin Road
closure including changes in wayfinding signage.
C. Mayor Umstattd stated there is an issue with utility repairs by property
owners. She stated the Journey through Hallowed Ground will be requesting
a $5,000 contribution from Leesburg on an annual basis to support their
marketing of the town.
d. Council Member Dunn questioned whether employees are being hired
to replace those whose positions were eliminated as a result of reductions in
force. He asked for more details with regards to the Loudoun Symphony
request
3. Adjournment
On a motion by Vice Mayor Wright, seconded by Council Member Dunn, the meeting
was a 'ourned a :11 p. m.
Clerk of Co n
2012 tcwsmin0709
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