HomeMy Public PortalAbout2015_tcwsmin0112 Council Work Session January 12, 2015
Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, 7:30 p.m. Mayor Kristen C. Umstattd
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presiding.
Council Members Present: Kelly Burk, David Butler, Thomas Dunn, Suzanne D.
Fox, Katie Sheldon Hammler, Marty Martinez and Mayor Umstattd.
Council Members Absent: All present
Staff Present: Town Manager Kaj Dentler, Deputy Town Manager Keith Markel,
Assistant Town Manager Scott Parker, Director of Planning and Zoning Susan Berry
Hill, and Executive Associate I Tara Belote.
AGE NDA ITEMS
1. Work Session Items for Discussion
a. Animal Shelter Site Location
Scott Parker introduced members of the County Animal Services
Division regarding their proposal to locate an animal shelter at the County
Government Support Services Center.
• Paul Brown, Deputy Director, Loudoun County Department of
Transportation and Capital Infrastructure.
• Tom Koenig, Director of Animal Services.
Key Points:
• Board of Supervisor's Finance Committee asked that Council be briefed
on proposed changes to the Support Services Center Master Plan.
• Decision was made to construct a single, large facility to serve the needs
of all of Loudoun County.
• First choice was co-location with the Advanced Academy school site
because of the pre-veterinary program; however, second choice was the
Government Support Services Center site.
• School board has declined the co-location site.
• Location at the Support Services Center is subject to the Special
Exception process.
• Community concerns include proximity to the neighborhood with the
closest house being between 900-1100 feet.
• Project is fully funded through voter referendum.
• Current facility was not originally designed as an animal shelter and is
almost 50 years old.
• Access to the facility has been impacted by development and related
traffic issues.
• Not convenient to county population centers.
• Noise abatement is a primary concern and can be addressed by internal
and external design elements.
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Council Work Session January 12, 2015
• Noise will be addressed at the property line and decibels at the property
line will be included in the RFP for the construction and design.
• Delays will cost the taxpayers money with respect to construction.
• The county has always been a good neighbor and makes every attempt
to mitigate the impact of their facilities.
Council Comments/Questions:
• Has the distance between the proposed shelter and the closest
residences been studied to ensure that there will be no sound issues?
• Is the project fully funded for any site, or just this site?
Staff answer: Only fully funded for one of the two previously identified
sites because it does not include money to purchase additional property
• Do the decibel levels pertain to one dog or multiple dogs?
Staff answer: Externally, it pertains to the loudest dog, whether that be
one dog or multiple dogs.
• How will the length of time the dogs are barking be controlled?
Staff answer: Dogs will not be outside for lengths of time by themselves
—no dogs would be outside at night. Neighbors close to the existing
shelter have never had an issue with noise.
• How large will the new facility be?
Staff answer: It is expected that the new facility will be 25,000 square
feet, but will include bringing all the things that are currently stored
outside to inside storage. Interior space has not been designed yet but
there will not be a significant addition in number of cages.
• Does the county plan to do a demonstration to show the community
what to expect as far as noise?
Staff answer: After the Board takes action, outreach meetings will be
held with the HOAs. At this time, no demonstration is planned, but
could be added if feedback shows it is desired by the community.
• Is there an alternate area on this site for location of the facility?
Staff answer: This is the farthest that this can be located from the
residences while utilizing this site.
• Is there the possibility of sharing the walking area with the community?
Staff answer: There is an issue of mixing community dogs with shelter
dogs. Safety and health of the community's dogs would be the most
important factor.
• Have there been any instances of escaped animals?
Staff answer: No escapes of shelter animals; however, animals that
were being brought in to be surrendered have escaped.
• Have there been any issues with disease transmission to the public at
the current shelter?
Staff answer: Not that staff is aware of. Any disease within the shelter
causes the shelter to be shut down to outside visitors.
• Appreciate the proactive outreach to the community.
• Why did the School Board decide not to co-locate the facilities?
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Council Work Session January 12, 2015
Staff answer: School Board wanted to partner with something on the
education spectrum—chose to pursue a STEM library and Northern
Virginia Community College.
• Is odor an issue?
Staff answer: No. There is not enough volume to create an odor issue.
• Noise can be mitigated by limiting the number of dogs that are allowed
outside at any given time. Has the County considered this as a noise
mitigation tool?
Staff answer: It is limited based on the number of staff available.
However, play times for dogs do not include more than five dogs at any
given time.
• Would like the county to consider a guideline to limit the number of
dogs that are outside at any given time.
• Would encourage the Board to look at other county owned structures
and facilities that are not being used.
• Why is the Sycolin Road site superior as far as road access?
Staff answer: The Rt. 9 location only has one way in. Sycolin Road is
more accessible for the rest of the county.
• What are the plans for trail access along Kincaid Boulevard?
Staff answer: The sidewalk along Kincaid has already been installed.
• A good tree buffer between the homes and the facility will be
important.
Mr. Koenig invited Council to tour the existing facility.
b. Major Issues 2016 Report
Kaj Dentler stated that this is an attempt to give Council a two year
outlook of what staff feels are important issues and challenges.
Key Points:
• Focused on the five areas of the budget document—long term
sustainability, technology and automation, customer service,
organizational efficiency and employee development.
• Tax rate has been held steady for several years, but the town continues
to grow and the demand on the town's resources has grown as well.
• Staff is focusing on emergency management, succession planning and
becoming more efficient.
• Staff needs help establishing Council's priorities.
• Would suggest a work session to focus on these issues.
Council Comments/Questions
• Good, proactive document.
• Would like to have Commissioners take a look at the document and
provide feedback.
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Council Work Session January 12, 2015
• Look at ways to tap into the community for their feedback on a regular
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basis.
• Has staff looked at ways to get funding from other sources, such as the
county, specifically as it relates to traffic enforcement?
• Concerned that Council asked staff to review the H-2 corridor, yet this
is still not included in this document.
Staff response: If this elected body wants that to be on their list of top
priorities, then it will be on the list.
Council will give staff their availability.
c. Joint Land Management Area (JLMA)
Kaj Dentler stated his notes show that Council Member Dunn asked for
a discussion about what Council would like to see in the JLMA, but not a
specific discussion about Tuscarora Crossing.
Susan Berry Hill noted that the Tuscarora Crossing land use application
is going to the Transportation and Land Use Committee meeting on January
14. She further noted that the applicant has submitted updated proffers.
Council Comments:
• Need to know what the current zoning is and what uses are allowed
under that zoning.
• Need to know whether the Council is willing to suggest changes to the
County.
• Is the town expected to annex the JLMA at some point?
Council answer: Nothing this specific has been discussed.
Staff answer: Policies in the town and county plans do not specify
when or if annexation might occur. A key point is that it will be served
by the town for water and sewer.
• County is trying to align their General Plan with their zoning.
• Would like to get rid of the word "industrial" —possibly call it
something else so that people are not confused with tire factories.
• Council Members Hammier and Burk distributed a draft resolution for
Council's consideration.
• Would be helpful to have the definitions of the various zoning
categories to reference.
• Town and County staff need to work together.
• What is the JLMA-20 designation?
Staff answer: It was conceived to acknowledge that the area was to be
developed. Very little is by-right.
• The question of how to work with the county on joint planning is
important—would suggest this be included in the resolution.
• Council Members Hammier and Burk's draft resolution could be
moved as amendments to Council Member Butler's draft resolution.
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Council Work Session January 12, 2015
• Will not support any resolution as Council has already taken care of
this.
2. Additions to Future Council Meetings
Council Member Burk requested Council consider the Diversity Task Force's
recommendation to create a Diversity Commission. There was consensus to put this
on a work session for discussion.
Council Member Martinez requested a discussion about police presence
downtown during First Fridays. He stated the presence of police would help control
pedestrian traffic. It was noted that this could be addressed during the Major Issues
work session.
Council Member Fox had no requests.
Council Member Hammier requested a memo on the possibility that the
Federal Aviation Administration has changed its policy on prohibited uses at airports.
An information memo was advised with possible scheduling of a work session, if the
memo warrants. She requested the powerpoint from the County EDAC on craft
breweries in Loudoun be forwarded to the Economic Development Commission as
there is a great opportunity to develop partnerships. She further requested a memo on
food truck regulations in town so that Council can determine if they would like to
amend the regulations. She requested an information item on rapid transit from
Leesburg to the new metro stations.
Council Member Butler questioned when the striping on Plaza Street for the
bike lanes would occur. He requested the noise ordinance be put on a future work
session for discussion. There was consensus to put this on a future work session.
Council Member Butler stated he would provide a draft ordinance for staff to review.
Council Member Dunn commented that he was involved in the meeting this
evening and his delay in arrival was because he attended a Court of Honor for the
Boy Scouts.
3. Adjournment
On a motion by Council Member Butler, seconded by Council Member Burk, the
meepacg was a• burned at 9.•33 p.m.
Clerk of_ • � i �
2015 tcwsmin0112
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