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Home My Public Portal About2013_tcwsmin1007 Council Work Session October 7, 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, Kevin Wright, Marty Martinez and Mayor Umstattd. Council Members Absent: Council Member Dunn arrived at 8:25 p.m. Staff Present: Town Manager John Wells, Town Attorney Jeanette Irby, Human Resources Manager Karen Dilley, Director of Capital Projects Renee LaFollette, Deputy Director of Capital Projects Tom Brandon, Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning Brian Boucher, and Clerk of Council Lee Ann Green AGENDA ITEMS 1. Work Session Items for Discussion a. Transportation Briefing by Mary Hynes, WMATA/NVTC Board Member Mary Hynes, member of the Arlington Board of Supervisors, and Chair of the WMATA and NVTC Boards, presented an overview of Metro transportation activities. Key Points: • Metro is integral to the success of the region • Metro saves the area on need for roads and parking facilities • Metro is overcrowded • Goals are to achieve eight car trains throughout the system • Move people through the stations more efficiently • Will need to make bigger investments to handle capacity • Have to fix problems at the center of the system before concentrating on expansion • Bikeshare program took off in Arlington • Largest bikeshare in the United States • VML conference attendees will get a one day free membership in the Bikeshare program • Phone app gives information on location of stations Council Comments/Questions: • How much capital funding will be covered by fares? Speaker answer: Fares are not part of the capital funding equation • Important to think regionally • Has there been any discussion about extending the Silver Line further west? Speaker answer: Right now, the Metro board is not interested in talking about extending any lines. • How do you choose the locations for the bike stations? 1IPage Council Work Session October 7, 2013 Speaker answer: Start at places that have enough density. Public input was sought to find other places that enough people want to go. The community likes having input b. Health Insurance Briefing by Consultant Greg Snow from Wells Fargo, the town's health insurance advisor, gave a presentation to Council on the changes that the Affordable Care Act will necessitate. Key Points: • Benefits package is competitive versus peer group • Current objectives include managing the costs of sponsoring the employee health pan, knowing the expected expenses, and identifying potential financial risks that may impact the cost of the plan • Affordable Care Act includes many provisions that require further definition and interpretation by the Department of Health and Human Services • Key objectives of the Act include expanded access to coverage and making coverage more affordable to some individuals • Employees will be able to migrate in and out of employer-provided plans • U.S. Citizens and legal residents are required to have minimum essential coverage for themselves and their dependents or be subject to a tax penalty • Certain employers will have to "play or pay" for health care coverage for their employees • Public health exchanges will be available for individuals and certain small employers • Town is not expected to be subject to the "Play or Pay" penalty • Employers with "rich" plans may be subject to an excise tax. Council Comments/Questions: • Need for education about HSA plans • Need to look at ways to get employees healthy • HSAs should be available to all employees c. Analysis of the Morven Park Road Sidewalk CIP Tom Brandon presented this item. Key Points: • In 2008, several residents brought up safety issues due to lack of a contiguous sidewalk along Morven Park Road. • Options were presented at a public input meeting • No clear consensus amongst residents existed 2IPagc Council Work Session October 7, 2013 • 12 different alternatives were presented with cost estimates ranging from$550,000 to $2.5 million • Staff recommends continuous curb and gutter on both sides with no on- street parking • Project would create heavy impact on existing landscaping • Drainage and differences in grade will be of great concern Council Comments/Questions: • What are the safety concerns? Staff answer: Five years ago, a jogger was injured due to lack of sidewalk when he fell into a ditch • Areas have adequate sidewalk, then the road narrows and the sidewalk disappears • Concern that project cost will continually push it out further • Need a lower cost alternative that can actually be built • Can a sidewalk be installed without curb and gutter? Staff answer: Yes, but the impact on the each property will be greater as the drainage has to be put somewhere—normally a ditch • Need to resurvey the residents with less variables to choose from • Some new residents on the street may feel differently about sidewalks than previous residents d. Tents in the B-1 District Brian Boucher presented the request for allowing a temporary tent as an accessory use to restaurants in the B-1 district Key Points: • Argument in this instance is that tent will be less visible • BAR does not look at temporary structures • Safety issues regarding anchoring and heating Council Comments/Questions: • Should the Town Council allow this, would the county have jurisdiction for safety concerns? Staff answer: Yes. • If it cannot be seen from the street, it should not be an aesthetic issue • What constitutes temporary? Staff answer: Previous requests have been for five months through the winter. • Concern over zoning ordinance changes for a single property that will affect the entire downtown • While not visible from the street, could be visible from other properties • Concern over the material of the proposed tent 31Pagc. ..._._..... Council Work Session October 7, 2013 2. Additions to Future Council Meetings Council Member Burk would like information about the work being done on the creek beds. Council Member Martinez stated he will not support a request for Council Member Wright to participate electronically for tomorrow's Council meeting. He stated it is important for all seven council members to be physically present. The Town Attorney clarified that due to Council's Rules of Procedure, a vote on this tonight will require a super majority; however, if voted on tomorrow night, it will require a simple majority. Council Member Wright requested a logistics plan for the VML awards dinner. Council Member Dunn had questions about two items on Tuesday's consent agenda. He expressed concern with a 60 day cut off for Boards and Commission appointees to bring in their withholding forms. He questioned how the zoning ordinance amendment initiation would impact clear title. Mayor Umstattd made a motion to propose the following: MOTION I mo'e that Council Member Kevin Wright be able to participate in the Council meeting of October 8, 2013 electronically. Council Member Wright meets the criteria as set forth in Virginia Code Section 2.2-3708.1 whereby he has made the request;there is a personal matter(work related)that prevents his attendance;and he has not participated in more than two electronic meetings. The motion was seconded by Council Member Dunn and failed by the following vote: Aye: Dunn, Hammier, Wright and Mayor Umstattd Nay: Burk, Butler, and Martinez Vote. 4-3(super majority not achieved) Council Member Hammier made a motion for reconsideration, seconded by Council Member Dunn: The motion to reconsider was approved by the following, simple majority vote: Aye: Dunn, Hammier, Wright and Mayor Umstattd Nay: Burk, Butler, and Martinez Vote. 4-3 Mayor Umstattd made a motion to allow Council Member Wright to participate electronically, seconded by Council Member Dunn. 4IPage Council ork Session October 7, 2013 The otion failed again on the following vote: Aye: Dunn, Hammler, Wright and Mayor Umstattd Nay. Burk, Butler, and Martinez Vote 4-3(super majority not achieved) 3. Clo•ed Session a. None. 4. Adj 0 urnment On A motion by Council Member Wright, seconded by Council Member Dunn, the A me*14 eti wa ad ourned at 10:27 p.m. I Clerk of C e ireti 2013 tcwsmin 10 u 7 5IPagc