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Home My Public Portal About2014_tcwsmin0210 Council Work Session February 10, 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: None. Staff Present: Town Manager John Wells, Town Attorney Jeanette Irby, Deputy Town Manager Kaj Dentler, Director of Public Works Tom Mason, Director of Finance Norm Butts, Director of Planning and Zoning Susan Berry Hill, Director of Economic Development Marantha Edwards, Research and Communications Manager Betsy Fields and Executive Associate I Tara Belote AGENDA ITEMS 1. Work Session Items for Discussion a. Garage Mural Tom O'Neil, Chair of the Commission on Public Art, presented the Commission's proposal for a mural for the south entrance to the town parking garage. Key Points: • Made up of small tiles painted by citizens • Community involvement • Tiles fit into frame that can be removed • Recommend the left side of the parking garage closest to the log cabin • Possible theme could include old landmarks that once existed in Town of Leesburg Council Comments/Questions: • Like the community involvement • People can paint anything they want? Speaker answer: Within a color scheme • Can previous donors still have a plaque commemorating their donation? Speaker answer: Yes. • Question about the contracts? Staff answer: Depends on the level of volunteer involvement. This is a community involvement project. Council chose not to pick any of the respondents to the RFP. Speaker answer: The Design and Management fee should be paid for if a$10-15 charge/donation is assessed per tile and corporate sponsors are found for the larger line items such as paint and tiles. • Like the concept of community engagement 1 Page Council Work Session February 10, 2014 • Make sure this ties into the Parks and Recreation p lan for the entire space • How is it coated to make it last? Would like to find out the life span. Speaker answer: It is coated with sealant. • Look for an opportunity for local artists to get involved • Concern that plywood tiles will not hold up very long b. Preparation for County Transit Summit John Wells reminded Council that Thursday evening at 6 p.m. the Board of Supervisors is having their transportation summit. He stated there are a number of items on the agenda. Key items: • Leesburg bus service, which will be presented with only local dollars used for Safe-T-Ride and the Saturday trolley service • Mayor will attend in case there are questions • Weather may postpone the meeting Council Comments: • Population that needs transit will likely require a safety net • DATA is trying to pull grant applications together • What is the Safe-T-Ride route? Staff Answer: Plan for the future is to limit the route, but Council can make the decision on the route. • Recommend communication with Supervisor Reid c. PPEA for Liberty Street Parking Lot Council Member Hammier stated that while the Liberty Street lot may not be where the next parking garage needs to be located, Council should be focused on locating another garage somewhere downtown. Mr. Wells stated staff can update the PPEA review process so that it will be ready in case an unsolicited proposal is received. d. Legislative Update Betsy Fields distributed an updated Hot List of legislation that the town is monitoring. She recommended going down earlier in the session as VML Day is so late in the session. Council Comments/Questions: • Would be helpful to know what legislation our representatives have sponsored. • Many things are being opposed because they affect government's power, not the citizens • Losing the ability to protect the citizens, affects the citizens. 2IPage Council Work Session February 10, 2014 e. Bond Reimbursement Resolution Norm Butts stated this is a housekeeping measure that has been done a number of times in the past. Key Points: • Ten million dollar bank qualified bond issue to be done next fiscal year. • Required by the Internal Revenue Service • If we run short of money this fiscal year, we will keep paying the bills and reimburse the working capital out of the proceeds of the bond issue that is performed in July. • Without the reimbursement in place, legally the proceeds cannot be used to reimburse. Council Comments/Questions: • Important to start thinking about how to start reducing dependency on long term debt • If Council decided not to issue bonds in July, what would happen? Staff answer: Council would have to revisit the Six-Year CIP to decide which projects would not be funded f. Amendments to the Town Noise Ordinance Scott Parker stated that the Town's noise ordinance was amended in 2009 to bring it in line with a Virginia Supreme Court decision; however, with the emergence of night life in the downtown area, the noise ordinance needs updated. Key Points: • Zoning Ordinance has additional standards to regulate noise using decibels during the day, which is a civil penalty • Police Department enforces the Town Code in the evenings • Decibel standards and time frame for standards are a policy direction • Staff will return with draft ordinance Council Comments/Questions: • Downtown vibrancy will bring increased activity and noise • Take into account noises from delivery trucks and other low-level noises associated with commercial activities 2. Additions to Future Council Meetings Mayor Umstattd stated that the amendments to the Rules of Procedure are in effect. Council Member Burk reminded Council of Keep Leesburg Beautiful. She stated it is usually the week prior to Flower and Garden. 3IPage Council Work Session February 10, 2014 Council Member Martinez stated that he and the Parks and Recreation Commission would like to have the Loudoun Street park named after the late Vice Mayor Mervin Jackson. It was noted that if it was delayed for two weeks, the family could be invited. Council Member Hammier stated she would like to have a vote on support for the IT Strategic Plan in two weeks. She requested a clarification on the NVTA funding process in the budget process. She noted she will be nominating Ann Robinson for the Diversity Task Force. Vice Mayor Butler stated he would like to initiate a Zoning Amendment or Town Plan Amendment at tomorrow night's meeting to reduce the number of houses in certain zoning districts to get press so that Richmond will see that their proposed legislation is designed to take money from town's taxpayers and put it in the pockets of home builders. Mayor Umstattd suggested sending a letter to NVBIA that if this legislation passes it could have a serious, detrimental impact on the ability of home builders to get the rezonings or town plan amendments that they need to go forward with additional housing that they need in Leesburg. There was majority support for adding this item to the agenda for tomorrow night for action. Council Member Dunn asked what the delta would be for eliminating availability fees. Mr. Wells stated that staff is still working on that question. Council Member Dunn questioned whether there are any other options for Community Grant applications that the town would be able to apply for. Mr. Wells stated he would provide those dates. Would like to find out about getting more County CIP dollars for town CIP projects. There was support for this. Tom asked to have an informational memo on having town water towers painted with pictures. 3. Adjournment On a motion by Council Member Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Butler, the meeting was adjourned,at 8:59 p.m. Clerk of Couril 2014 tcwsmin0210 41Page