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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2014_tcwsmin0908 Council Work Session September 8, 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, Deputy Town Manager Kaj Derider, Town Attorney Jeanette Irby, Director of Parks and Recreation Richard Williams, Director of Economic Development Marantha Edwards, and Executive Associate I Tara Belote. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Work Session Items for Discussion a. Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) Update Mark Gibb, Director of NVRC, gave a brief presentation updating Council on the activities of NVRC in the region. He introduced Bob Lazaro, an employee with NVRC and former Mayor of Purcellville, as well as Cynthia Adams, Executive Director of Local Energy Alliance Program(LEAP). Key Points: • NVRC has been involved in specific planning efforts throughout Northern Virginia • Passenger ferry service between Maryland and Virginia • Water supply plan for the region • Community energy plan— Solarize Northern Virginia o Grass roots campaign o Self-funded through multiple sources o Money saved on utilities can be spent in the local economy o Local businesses can be qualified to do the improvements o Promote local government's environmental "street cred" o Free energy efficiency inspections for homeowners Dominion customers o LEAP contractors will go into homes and do energy assessments and install energy saving items such as florescent lights, energy strips, door weatherization, and water heater tank wrap. o Launch week of September 22 and run through the end of November o Working with the Loudoun environmental community o Official endorsement and press release would give the program respect Council Comments/Questions: • What happens if the homeowner moves? 1iPage Council Work Session September 8, 2014 Presenter answer: If the homeowner took a loan out, when the home is sold, the loan would be paid off. • Can businesses take advantage of this program? Presenter answer: Working on the commercial side as well— businesses, churches, and schools. • Some homeowner's associations will not allow solar panels—is there some way to make them less unattractive? Presenter answer: Mounting systems now blend in better. There has been legislation proposed in recent years to keep HOAs from refusing solar installations. Being proactive with HOA groups to work with them to understand the benefits can be helpful as well. • How does your organization benefit? Presenter answer: LEAP connects installers with customers—because of economies of scale, installers are able to lower their prices, making solar power more affordable. Contractors pay LEAP a referral fee per kilowatt installed. • Very impressed with this program. • Participants need to understand that the town's role is spreading the word, not fixing problems Presenter answer: LEAP will work with NVRC to make sure they are able to respond to that concern • Does the Town's promotion of tree canopy conflict with the goals of Solarize NOVA? Presenter answer: If you live in an area with a lot of tree canopy, you are not a good solar energy candidate, but you are still a good candidate for conservation. • Concern that there is not enough time for homeowners to research and contract for installation before program ends b. Edwards Landing Trail Rich Williams stated the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail was being used by horse riders from the Dennis property to access the Balls Bluff Regional Park, which has many trails that are appropriate for horses. However, horse droppings and wear from the horses were creating problems for pedestrian trail users. Key Points: • Alternate trail will be cut for horse usage • Topography is more conducive to horse traffic • Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail is controlled by the jurisdictions that it passes through Council Comments/Questions • Who pays to cut the trail? Staff answer: It will only require minor clearing that would be performed by volunteer groups 21Page Council Work Session September 8, 2014 • Why isn't the trail completely on the Dennis property, since they have a for-hire equestrian business? Staff answer: This was the option that was developed. Keeping the trail completely on the Dennis property brings it through heavily wooded areas. An option can be developed to keep the trail completely on the Dennis property, if desired. • Why don't horse owners have to pick up the horse droppings? Staff answer: Horse owners feel the contributions are "natural" • How much staff time has been dedicated to this issue? Staff answer: 2-4 hours thus far and whatever coordination will be necessary to blaze the trail. • Who will monitor this? Staff answer: There will be occasional staff monitoring, like any of the trails in the town's system • Did we look into giving this trail to the Park Authority? Staff answer: No, as it is on our property. • Is this the same property that was requesting that the town take care of their water runoff issue? Staff answer: Yes. They would like a combination of the Town, the County and VDOT to address their runoff issue. • How much volunteer involvement will the Dennis' have? Staff answer: Volunteer help will be solicited for blazing the trail. We would work with the Dennis' to ensure the trail is used in an effective manner. • Would encourage the town to consider leasing or another type of financial arrangement • What happens if residents still have complaints? Staff answer: If it is Council's desire, if more complaints are received, equestrian use can be terminated. It was decided to take the proposal to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission for their input. c. Comprehensive Parking Program Council Comments/Questions: • What is the problem statement today, as relates to parking? Staff answer: The question at the parking summit was do we have a parking problem and how do we address the perception of a parking problem? • One specific problem in 2003 was that long-term parkers were using short term spaces. Staff answer: Higher rates on the street at the meters will send long term parkers to the garage. 31Page Council Work Session September 8, 2014 o Staff recommendation at this time is to retain paid parking on the streets, remove the bags from the meters at Liberty and Harrison Streets after the holiday parking program. o Kiosks are expensive and narrow sidewalks make it difficult to site them. A walking tour of the downtown is recommended o Acceptance of credit cards at kiosks adds additional cost so determination will need to be made if cost will be passed on to the user o If the parking garage is made free to park, signs, gates and booths will need to be removed—this should be done as part of budget discussions. o Better signage for the county garage, Pennington Lot and Jail Lot and to promote free nights and weekends. • Permit parking will need to be addressed—would be willing to allow reserved permit parking to remain in the lower levels. • How many spaces do town employees use in the garage? Staff answer: 60-70 spaces out of 300. During the Holiday free parking program, employees are asked to park in the Liberty lot. • What are the implications for parking downtown if and when the county puts a parking structure on the Pennington Lot? Staff answer: There will be some impact, but not a huge amount as the area of the Pennington Lot is only partial utilized at this time. The question will be whether the garage will be used because of its distance to the county government center and the courts • Staff's opinion has been that it is illegal to offer a public parking lot for valet parking purposes for a for-profit business. • Removing meters on the street may make the street look nice without the visual clutter of meters; however, it encourages people who work in the businesses to park their cars in prime parking spaces for the entire day. • What is the recommended rate if we accept debit/credit? • Recommend leaving the meters bagged at Liberty, but removing the bags from Harrison Street meters. • Need to be able to change the sign to "free" public parking • Would like to see parking meters in permit parking zones • Development in the area will drive more cars into public parking • Town staff members are a large customer block for the downtown • There is plenty of parking downtown— it is a perception problem. A series of motions will be brought for Council's consideration at a future meeting. 4IPage Council Work Session September 8, 2014 2. Additions to Future Council Meetings g Council Member Dunn stated that he does not feel it is appropriate that an item he wanted to discuss was removed from the agenda because several Council members did not want to talk about it tonight. Council Member Burk stated she would like to see if it is possible for Vo-Tech to get involved with producing signs for the Town. She questioned whether Council would send a letter to the FAA to get them to clean up their Rt. 7 entrance. Council agreed to send a letter to the FAA. Further, Council Member Burk noted that the television show, the Millers, is set in a fictional Leesburg, Virginia; however, nothing in the show is actually showing Leesburg. She recommended inviting the show's producer to actually come to Leesburg. She noted that Girl Scouts would like to build some additional butterfly gardens in Leesburg. She also asked about setting up another recycling center at the Liberty lot and the disposition of flags that were purchased by the Marshall Foundation. She requested recognition of Constitution Week. There was Council consensus regarding a recognition of Constitution week. It was noted that the flags could be addressed with an information memo, and recycling center at Liberty Street could also be addressed with a memo. She questioned whether the use of food trucks has been addressed. Mr. Wells stated he would look into whether this had been addressed previously. Council Member Martinez asked for an update on some transportation issues including speed limits on Battlefield Parkway. He stated that it is dangerous when people try to turn left off Sycolin onto Gateway. There was Council support to look at Battlefield Parkway speed limits. He asked for an update on the progress on a connector to the Silver Line stop at Wiehle Avenue. Council Member Wright stated the Airport Commission would like to use their waived stipends to help support the Airshow. There was Council support for an information memo to let Council know how this can be accomplished. Council Member Hammier stated she would like to have Solarize NOVA for formal action and an update on transparency issue. There was majority support to take action on Solarize NOVA in two weeks. Vice Mayor Butler stated he would like to participate electronically tomorrow night, if there is something for which his vote would be needed. He asked for a discussion on crosswalks across the bypass at Battlefield. There was Council consensus to consider this. Mayor Umstattd questioned whether there was any interest on Council to address the Dennis' drainage issue. The majority of Council felt it is a County/VDOT issue. 5IPage Council Work Session September 8, 2014 3. Adjournment On a motion by Council Member Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Butler, the meeting was adjourned at 10:28 p.m. Clerk of Co nc' 2014 tcwsmin090: 6IPage