HomeMy Public PortalAbout2014_tcwsmin0113 Council Work Session January 13, 2014
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: Council Member Dunn arrived at 8:20 p.m.
Staff Present: Town Manager John Wells, Town Attorney Jeanette Irby, Deputy
Town Manager Kaj Dentler, Assistant Town Manager Scott Parker, Director of
Public Works Tom Mason, Director of Director of Plan Review Bill Ackman, Deputy
Director of Public Works Charles Mumaw, Director of Economic Development
Marantha Edwards and Clerk of Council Lee Ann Green
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Work Session Items for Discussion
a. Briefing on Draft Stormwater Regulations
William Ackman introduced Megan LeBoon from AMEC.
Key Points:
• Final resolution was approved by State Control Board on December 17,
2013
• Final draft must be submitted for review by Wednesday, January 15,
2014
• Will make formal submittal to DEQ on Wednesday, after resolution is
signed
• Initial comments will be returned from DEQ in February
• Tight schedule with presentations to the Planning Commission,
Environmental Advisory Commission and public input
Council Comments/Questions:
• Will Council see these regulations again?
Staff answer: Yes.
• Section 5-600 Stormwater Runoff/Quality Control—where did these
pages go?
Staff answer: Some is completely eliminated because it contained the
old BMP requirements that are no longer in place. Other parts have
been moved.
• Is there grandfathering for applications submitted before July 1?
Staff answer: Site plan, preliminary plat, or rezoning approval would
need to be approved no later than July 1, 2012
• Take steps to notify the development community of the regulations
• State has placed the burden of developing, operating and enforcing this
program on the town, only somewhat offset by fees
• Schedule is very tight. Would like that to be noted in the resolution.
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Council Work Session January 13, 2014
• Staff will continue to search for ways to save taxpayer money as the
town and the county collaborate on ways to fulfill state requirements
• When will the town have estimates on cost?
Staff answer: Need to get at least six months into the regulations to be
able to estimate
b. Loudoun Street Pocket Park
Council Member Martinez stated he would prefer to use the property
on Loudoun Street as a pocket park.
Council Member Comments:
• Would like to formally call it a park under the Parks and Recreation
Department inventory
• Would like it to be formally named after former Vice Mayor, Mervin
Jackson, but would take community input on the name
• Need clarity as to whether this will be a park or a building
• Would like proof that a building on this site is not viable
• Would like input from the Commission on Public Art as well as the
Parks and Recreation Commission
• Believe this is too big of a project for the COPA and P&R
Commissions, but should be spearheaded by the P&R Department
• Do not want to give up town property unless there is nothing that it can
be used for. Once it is sold, it is gone.
• It was decided to put the three choices on the agenda for Tuesday
evening
c. Town Hall Restroom Hours
Key Points:
• Added security costs for additional hours for the bathrooms to be open
during non-Monday through Friday work hours
• Cost would be negligible, usage has historically been low
• Signage can be installed in the parking garage directing people to the
restrooms
• Cannot be justified on volume, but as a tourism-friendly convenience
• Gwen Pangle, LDBA, stated she would bring this issue up with the
membership
• Business owners should be more friendly to potential customers
• Council decided to wait to hear back from LDBA
d. Downtown "Open for Business" Program
Key Points:
• Phase III—King Street—will start after Flower and Garden.
• Many other communities have been researched
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Council Work Session January 13, 2014
• Plan is to utilize the consultant and local expertise
• Working with EDC and LDBA on special events
• LDBA would like to get moving—are happy with doing the work in
increments
• Updates will occur regularly
• One on one work will be done with each and every merchant to ensure
that the construction plan works around the merchant's business needs
Council Comments/Questions:
• Appreciation for Ms. Pangle's assistance
• Would like a flyer to be handed out on First Friday's to customers
informing them about the project
e. Diversity Task Force
Key Points:
• Need direction from Council to put the advertisement together
Council Comments/Questions:
• Need an approximation of the ethnic makeup of Leesburg
• Will need to ensure the right mix of participants
• What will this task force tell us that we do not already know?
• Minorities are not applying for positions with the town—how do we
reach out to minority populations?
• Goal of this committee is to increase the diversity of the pool of
applicants
• Can we look at how other jurisdictions are handling this issue?
• Community demographics have changed dramatically in a short period
of time
• How will we ensure we have diversity on the task force?
• Scope of the task force is only to assess how to widen the base of
applicants
• Possibility exists that minorities are not applying because some sort of
benefit is not being offered that they require
This will be on the agenda for vote on Tuesday evening
f. Clarification on Board and Commission Code Changes
Key Points:
• Housekeeping changes.
• Liaison requirement is a guideline
g. Work Session Agenda Rules
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Council Work Session January 13, 2014
Council Comments/Questions:
• Add the expectation that a work session will be necessary for
complicated land use rezonings
• Would like a majority of Council to agree whether an issue will be
added for discussion or as an information item
• Change "chair" to "council"
2. Additions to Future Council Meetings
Council Member Hammler asked for a discussion of First Night possibilities.
Council Member Dunn asked for flags on the remainder of poles in the town,
both town owned and Dominion Power poles.
3. Adjournment
On a motion by Vice Mayor Butler, seconded by Council Member Martinez at 10:21
p.m.
Clerk of Council
2014 tcwsmin0113
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