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Home My Public Portal About2013_tcwsmin0708 Council Work Session July 8, 2013 Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street,7:30 p.m. Mayor Kristen C. Umstattd presiding. Council Members Present: Kelly Burk, David Butler, Thomas Dunn, Katie Sheldon Hammler, Marty Martinez, Kevin Wright and Mayor Umstattd. Council Members Absent: None. Staff Present: Town Manager John Wells, Town Attorney Jeanette Irby, Deputy Town Manager Kaj Dentler, Chief of Police Joseph Price, Director of Parks and Recreation Rich Williams, Parks and Public Space Planner Bill Ference, Director of Planning and Zoning Susan Berry Hill, Police Captain Clagett Moxley, Environmental Planner Irish Grandfield, Director of Utilities Amy Wyks, Director of Public Works Tom Mason, and Clerk of Council Lee Ann Green AGENDA ITEMS 1. Work Session Items for Discussion a. Downtown Improvements. John Wells reviewed two issues for the Downtown Improvements. Key Points: • Issue 1: Request from the owners of the Lightfoot to amend the plan for North King Street to retain a passenger loading zone in front of their establishment. • Staff recommends Plan A, version 4 • Lightfoot owners have not responded regarding this recommendation • Issue 2: Property owner on Loudoun Street, SE would like street tree removed from in front of his property. • Council requested further information on issues regarding the trees, which has been provided • Vote would affect only one tree Council Comments/Questions: • Plan A, version 2 was not accepted by the owners of the Lightfoot • Plan A, version 3 was submitted by the owners of the Lightfoot, but would negatively affect other property owners • How is the loading zone enforced? Staff answer: Police officers enforce the loading zone after 5 p.m. Prior to that, the area is used for parking. • Council should be willing to accommodate the property owner with respect to the street tree • Could install the infrastructure to accommodate the tree and make the decision on the tree later 11Pig Council Work Session July 8, 2013 • Modifying the plan for individual property owners will cause more requests for modification • Would prefer using a planter system to keep the trees mobile • Would like to investigate whether it would be possible to put lights in the trees b. Public Safety Staffing John Wells stated staff has responded to all questions posed by Council Members. Key Points: • Presentation of the need for this staffing with the Annual Report caused confusion as to why this additional staffing is needed • Employees on workman's comp or training leaves the department short staffed • Does the town get its fair share of county public safety funds Council Comments/Questions: • Why is this being requested outside the budget cycle? Staff Answer: Growing trend of workman's comp injuries • Does the town need to address training deficiencies that may be causing workman's comp injuries? Staff Answer: Officer training is excellent; however, public safety is a dangerous job • How long does training take? Staff Answer: New hires that are not already certified by the state, one year. Already certified officers, six months • There is a reasonable expectation to receive county public safety services for the amount of county taxes paid • Preference would be to study this more closely prior to making a decision • Are there limits to how much overtime an employee can undertake both within the town and outside the town? Staff answer: There are specific guidelines for approval of overtime. • Encourage the Town Manager and Chief of Police to work with the county to ensure that the town gets the maximum assistance from the Sheriffs Department • There is cooperation between the county and the town law enforcement functions • Not in favor of outsourcing of public safety functions c. Town Plan Action Program— Planning Commission and Staff Recommendations Susan Berry Hill reviewed the items recommended for Town Council action with respect to the Town Plan. 2Ii} ant• Council Work Session July 8, 2013 Key Points: • The Planning Commission has forwarded eight items for consideration • Several of these items are already scheduled for work • Tree Commission recommendations are part of the Planning Commission's recommended items Council Comments/Questions: • What is the timeline? Staff answer: Would need Council direction as to which of the eight items Council would like to be pursued. Ranking and work plan could be formulated. • Would like to remove or revise the H-2 d. Morven Park BLA Initiation John Wells stated the request is to have Council take formal steps to initiate the Boundary Line Adjustment process to bring Morven Park into the Town Limits. Key Points: • A Morven Park zoning district would be required • Special event ordinance would be important to help handle special event requests • Vote scheduled for tomorrow night's meeting would direct staff to initiate process • Morven Park can choose to withdraw from the Agricultural District in 2014 without county approval • Seventy percent of the property is within a conservation easement Council Comments/Questions: • Do not agree with attempt to avoid Loudoun County Karst Limestone Overlay District • If the town needs to accept the roads, they may be expensive to maintain • Extension of water and sewer would be expensive, if ever needed • Police services for special events would be reimbursed • Need clarification on whether Rt. 15 would be included by BLA • What is the preference of the Equine Center? Staff answer: they have not expressed a preference • Drain on taxpayers for little or no return Representatives from Morven Park withdrew their request for Boundary Line Adjustment to give them time to prepare responses to Council's questions. 3 [.) g Council Work Session July 8, 2013 e. Illegal Signs Susan Berry Hill stated there has been a change in the State Code pertaining to off-site signs. Key Points: • Previously signs that were in state right of way could be removed and civil penalties of$100 could be imposed on offenders • Agreements with local governing bodies could be established to enforce the provisions of the code • Change allows the localities to keep fines collected pursuant to the agreement, if this is included in the agreement • Town staff currently picks up these signs during the week, but does not perform this service during the weekend • As a courtesy to businesses, the signs are returned to the owners and no fine is levied Council consensus was to not pursue this. f. County Referral: Crosstrail— Second Submission Susan Berry Hill stated this is the second submission of the Crosstrail application. Key Points: • Concept plan shows retail with outdoor sales, convenience store with gas pumps, hotel, and a main street concept with a mixture of office and retail • Staff recommends the developer construct two lanes of Hawling from Battlefield Parkway or limit develop to maintain Level of Service C. • The developer proposes to bring utilities from the north. • The Town prefers utilities to be brought from the south. • If an interim pump station is required, certain conditions are recommended • Developer believes the southern approach is not economically feasible for them—they would pay for construction of the temporary pump station • Small parcel near the off ramp of the Dulles Greenway next to Freedom Park would be given to the town to add to Freedom Park Council Comments/Questions: • What is the status of a possible BLA? Staff answer: The applicant has no desire to be brought into the town. • Would like to see previous submission • Would like to have a cover letter signed by the Mayor 4 g Council Work Session July 8, 2013 g. County Referral: Zoning ordinance change to JLMA Districts pertaining to Utilities Susan Berry Hill stated this proposed zoning ordinance amendment would allow developments in JLMA areas to be served by private utility facilities. Key Points: • Does not apply to JLMA 20 areas • Questions about how the county zoning administrator could determine the availability of town utilities Council Comments/Questions: • This is the town's service area and can only be changed based on mutual agreement between the town and the county • Amendment will cause unintended consequences for several Loudoun towns • Would like to see the letters that Hamilton and Round Hill generated Council consensus was for a more strongly worded letter expressing the town's disagreement with this proposed amendment to be approved at Tuesday night's meeting. 2. Additions to Future Council Meetings Vice Mayor Butler requested to be allowed to participate in the July 22-23 meetings electronically. Council Member Hammier requested to be allowed to participate in the August 12-13 meetings electronically. Mayor Umstattd requested that staff investigate the need for a handicapped parking space in front of a residence. 3. Closed Session None. 4. Adjournment On a motion by Vice Mayor Butler, seconded by Council Member Wright, the meeting was adjourned at 10:38 p.m. Clerk of oui 2013 tcwsmin0708 5 I P a g e