HomeMy Public PortalAbout2015_tcwsmin0309 Council Work Session March 9, 2015
Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, 7:30 p.m. Mayor Kristen C. Umstattd
presiding.
Council Members Present: Kelly Burk, David Butler, Suzanne D. Fox, Katie
Sheldon Hammler, Marty Martinez and Mayor Umstattd.
Council Members Absent: Thomas Dunn, II.
Staff Present: Town Manager Kaj Dentler, Town Attorney Barbara Notar, Deputy
Town Manager Keith Markel, Director of Parks and Recreation Richard Williams,
Interim Information Technology Manager John Callahan, Library Manager
Alexandra Gressitt, Director of Economic Development Marantha Edwards, Airport
Manager Scott Coffman, Research and Communications Manager Betsy Fields,
Captain Carl Maupin, Captain Vanessa Grigsby, Chief Joseph Price, Interim Human
Resources Manager Annie Carlson, Director of Public Works Tom Mason, Assistant
Town Manager Scott Parker, Human Resources Analyst Mark Hauer, Director of
Planning and Zoning Susan Berry Hill, Director of Plan Review Bill Adman, Deputy
Director of Capital Projects Tom Brandon, Director of Capital Projects Renee
Lafollette, Senior Management Analyst Jason Cournoyer, Senior Management
Analyst Lisa Haley, Director of Finance and Administrative Services Clark Case, and
Executive Associate I Tara Belote.
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Work Session Items for Discussion
a. Budget Work Session
Renee Lafollette presented the draft Capital Improvements Program for
2016-2021.
Key Points:
• Projects were reviewed and ranked by a committee of department
directors.
• Ranked projects were reviewed by the Town Manager's office and the
Department of Finance.
• Projects were limited to those with realistic scopes of work, identified
funding sources, and realistic schedules.
• In 2000, there were 130 projects in the Capital Improvements Program
—currently 32 projects are proposed.
• Schedule changes include:
o Battlefield Parkway, Rt. 15 to the Greenway was delayed from a
spring start to fall 2015 because of utility relocations.
o Lowenbach, Phase V completion was delayed because of gas line
and overhead utility relocations.
o South King Street Widening, Ph. II, start delayed from spring 2015
to summer 2015 because of sound wall analysis.
o Sycolin, Phase IV, schedule was adjusted to better reflect the actual
timeline for design and land acquisition and funding.
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Council Work Session March 9, 2015
o Evergreen Mill Road Widening schedule was adjusted to address
funding source changes as VDOT moved it out of their Six-Year
Plan. Looking at revenue sharing and NVTA funding.
o Chesapeake Bay TMDL Project, start was delayed from spring 2015
to summer 2015 to address time of year concerns—into the drier
part of the year.
o Tuscarora Creek, start was delayed from summer 2015 to summer
2016 to address the FEMA approval schedule and continued
coordination with the Virginia Knolls Community Association.
o Lower Sycolin Sewer, Ph. II Project, schedule was accelerated to
start at the end of FY 2015 to time it with the developer, Peterson's,
schedule.
• New projects include:
o Water play area for the Aquatics Center
o Hope Parkway, which was added as a mid-year adjustment
o Traffic management system for town-wide traffic signals
o Airport Master Plan update
o Airport Stormwater Management Plan and Drainage Study
o Customs General Aviation Clearance Facility
o Taxiway and Runway Lighting Rehabilitation
o Security System for the Water Pollution Control Facility and Utility
Maintenance Building
o Water Booster Pump Station
o Hospital Storage Storage Tank recoating and rehab
o 33" Sewer Trunk Line Assessment
o Water Treatment Plant Filters #1 and #2
• Airport projects are on the funding list with the Federal Aviation
Administration.
• Approximately$11.9 million in projects that have been or will be
completed by the end of the fiscal year.
• Downtown Street Light project was reduced by $1.3 million because an
error was found in the calculations.
• Skate Park Renovation budget was increased by $144,800 due to project
management costs being added in.
• Tuscarora Creek Flood Mitigation budget increased by $1.6 million
partially due to project management costs.
• Lower Sycolin Sewer, Ph. II budget was increased by approximately
$685,000 partially due to project management costs being shown in the
CIP this year.
• Studies included in the operating budget:
o Downtown Sidewalk study to look at Market/Ayr Street
intersection.
o Edwards Ferry between Prince Street and 226 Edwards Ferry Road.
o Other missing link areas of sidewalk where requests have been
received from residents.
o North Street Drainage Study
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Council Work Session March 9, 2015
o Royal Street Drainage Study
o Monroe Street Drainage Study
o Chancellor Street Drainage Study
o Dry Mill Road Sidewalk and Drainage Study
• Will seek reimbursement for project management costs on NVTA
projects.
Council Comments/Questions:
• It is important to reiterate that at one point there were 130 projects on
the list and due to Council requests, the Town has cut them down to a
more likely 32 projects.
• How many projects were completed last year?
Staff answer: 11 projects.
• Will 11 new projects be added?
Staff answer: Not necessarily. It depends on the requests received and
whether there is enough information to put a realistic budget together
and are they in alignment with the Town Plan
• The town will be reimbursed for Airport projects?
Staff answer: The FAA, DOAV or a combination of the two will
reimburse between 80-90% of those projects.
• How is this shown in the budget?
Staff answer: If you look at the breakout of the funding on airport
projects, 80-90% of each project is shown as FAA and a percentage is
also shown as DOAV (state) and the remainder is the town. Project
management costs are town-borne because the audit procedures
necessary to recoup the project management costs from the FAA and
DOAV cost more to perform than what would be returned.
• Would be interested to know what the total amount of the budget
adjustments are.
• What does the increase in funding for the Skate Park Renovation
represent?
Staff answer: The project increased$144,800 - $44,800 is the project
management costs which includes staff time to administer design and
construction. The additional$100,000 is for the skate park itself.
• What are the statistics on the use of the skate park?
Staff answer: We do not have statistics on the number of users;
however, the usage of the park has diminished as a direct correlation to
the condition of the park as well as the features in the park being
outdated.
• Is there a fee for use for the skate park?
Staff answer: It is currently free.
• Is there any way to look at what other municipalities have done in
terms of comparing where they maybe had an outdated skate park and
added renovations or have we done any sort of survey to determine
from those that like to use skate boards the kind of features they are
looking for?
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Council Work Session March 9, 2015
Staff answer: Features have changed to concrete style skate parks, not
necessarily constructed wooden ramps anymore. Part of the
development costs proposed in the project involve a skate park design
and construction company coming forward and engaging the public to
find out exactly what the users want. They have a litany of different
features that can be presented and they will perform public outreach to
be able to incorporate the public desires into the design.
• Are you sure that the decline in usage of the skate park is in direct
correlation with the condition of the park?
Staff answer: Cannot say that for sure, but am pretty confident that is
the case. It is the condition of the park as well as the outdated features
of the park.
• On a recent site visit, every one of the users said that was the reason
they do not come as often as they used to come.
• It is somewhat unusual in the spreadsheet in that under capital projects
we itemize when there is a plan that is going to be designed and plans
separate from, in this case,just the line item that is presumably just for
construction. What is the timeline? I think this needs to be addressed.
This is like the one big project relative to Veteran's Park, any other
park.
Staff answer: That is a component of the project as a whole.
• What is the timeline in terms of coming back to Council with the
results of the study before construction?
Staff answer: I would envision, if we were given the go-ahead for this
project, we would begin community outreach in the early part of the
summer to try to line up a firm as quickly as possible. We could start
July 1. I think we could fulfill the community outreach in the
September/October time frame and then have something in early fall
back to Council. We would hopefully move forward with construction
through the winter season and have it open late spring/early summer.
• The broader question is—is there a way to make it an even higher,
better use to leverage the additional land we may have access to. To
have an opportunity for a teen center or something that would bring
more activity to teens in the town. I don't know if that is something
that could be incorporated into the study. Obviously, you don't want it
to get so big that you don't get your skate park moved along and it
might become a several year process, but to me that is what the
opportunity looks like. It seems like there is such a small segment that
uses skate boards, there may be a way to get a higher, better use out of
that.
• With respect to budget enhancements, our packet mentioned$148,000
for plans, if you will. I am assuming those are all allocated within the
CIP. It was not completely clear.
Staff answer: The $148,500 for the studies is in the operating side of the
capital budget. It does not show up here because they are not projects
yet.
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Council Work Session March 9, 2015
• The airport master plan is in the airport section?
Staff answer: It is in the airport section. A master plan is a lot more
detailed and a lot more expansive than just the studies. In about 2006-
2007 time frame, we made the decision to take studies out of the actual
CIP because of the expectation level it gave to the community that it
will keep moving forward. Studies were put in to the
architectural/engineering budget so that studies could be worked on
and determined whether they rose to the level of moving forward to
become a project.
• Concerned about using general obligation bond money that interest is
being paid on to fund a study. We need to decide the best financial
way to handle this.
• Would appreciate discussing being reimbursed for Hope Parkway—
opportunities to reallocate those funds when they come back. What
projects do we currently have funded and which projects would we
have to go back to market to bond that are not currently funded?
• Leesburg is putting$1.1 million into the Route 7/Battlefield
interchange. Similar to Battlefield Parkway, if there are opportunities
to get this fully funded by other levels of government, it is in the best
interest of the citizens.
Staff answer: It is our anticipation that will be needed.
• On page 169, same issue as relates to road widening. Obviously, we
know that gas tax is going to go away and we have anticipated that.
• I think it is great to know that we will have the customs clearance area.
The Airport Commission has worked very hard getting clearance from
the Federal government. It will be a huge enhancement to have an
international airport.
• Clarification that the shed will be a very large shed for$500,000.
• In discussion about the hanger, I would request a pro-forma that is
revenue neutral from a taxpayer/general fund perspective. If we are
investing in the airport there should be some profit and/or benefit to
doing so relative to increasing the operations at the airport.
• Highlight concern that one of the biggest cost overruns in the CIP is the
$1.6 million for the Tuscarora Creek. Agree that there is a significant
concern as relates to erosion control. Would specifically request that
staff look at the erosion control issue and be able to come back with a
plan for how to take care of that as a priority relative to what would be
the best timeline for completion of the project.
• Assuming that the aquatic feature at Symington is something that will
be able to be funded based on revenues coming into the pool. How
does the pro-forma work relative to the enhancements at Symington?
Staff answer: There is not a specific pro-forma for that specific element.
It is an enhancement to the facility to keep the facility attractive to
users. There is not a specific pro-forma established for that specific
feature.
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Council Work Session March 9, 2015
• At what point will we take a serious look at Izaak Walton Park? We
keep funding the property owner's improvements, such as the bridge.
• Would be open to looking at additional investments to bring more
people downtown.
• Veteran's Park is a very unique asset—having access to the Potomac.
• The skate park is an active amenity. It would make sense to look at
what other localities are doing as far as charging admission fees for
skate parks.
• Would advocate the Council sit down and throw out ideas of what they
would like to see the town be in 10 years, but not during a budget
session. Should just stick to what is being funded for the next few years
through capital projects. Wants should be done in a separate session.
• A lot of people, even in their mid-20s still like to skate board.
• Following up on Battlefield/Rt. 7 interchange - $1.1 million is allocated
for 2017 —exactly what is that for? Can you explain that?
Staff answer: That would be the Interchange Justification Report. It is
the initial survey work, concept designs and initial budget.
• No money is allocated after that for this interchange.
Staff answer: This project the town is working with Loudoun County
through the 70%NVTA funding. Both localities are working together
to request NVTA money for this project. They have requested an
additional million and then $13 million is being requested from the
NVTA 2016 money. The county will be taking an item to request an
additional $37 million in FY 2017 to begin funding this interchange to
move it forward. Everyone recognizes that this is a high accident
interchange that needs to be moved forward to construction as quickly
as possible. Belmont Ridge Road at Rt. 7 will go to construction this
fall—the Battlefield at Rt. 7 interchange is the last one that needs a
funding stream to create the limited access facility from the town to the
Rt. 28 corridor.
• Whenever we discuss the Rt. 15 bypass/Edwards Ferry Road
interchange, we have always made sure that it includes the Fort Evans
Road Interchange. The CIP does not mention Fort Evans Road. There
is no point on spending $1.8 million dollars if both lights are not
eliminated.
Staff answer: The estimates included here include Fort Evans.
• Agree that the Tuscarora Creek Flood Mitigation is necessary, but
when a project goes from$1.28 million to $2.8 million, it makes me
nervous. It is a million more than the Dry Mill/Wage/Anne project,
which was pretty extensive. Are there any alternatives that are less
expensive? Is there a specific reason for the current schedule?
• This is the only time between now and the adoption of the budget to
discuss new projects that might be desired.
• Would like to include a crosswalk at Battlefield Parkway and the
Bypass.
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Council Work Session March 9, 2015
• Would like to include approximately$350,000 for a water feature in
Mervin Jackson Park.
• Question whether the Tuscarora Creek Flood Mitigation impact
Tuscarora Creek Trail (formerly King Street Trail extension). Is it
possible to add the trail in for much less money than to do the trail
separately.
• What has the town been paying for at Izaak Walton Park?
Staff answer: Currently, the lease on the property is $111,000 per year.
The town also pays half the taxes on the property.
• Besides the Dog Park, what else does the town use at Izaak Walton?
Staff answer: The town runs recreation programs out of the building.
Gymnastics and Tae Kwon Do programs are run out of that building.
Dog obedience classes are also located at the park. It is also a passive
park.
• How long has the town been leasing this property?
Staff answer: Since 2000.
• Concerned that the town has been paying rent on a piece of property for
14 years, improved the property and the owners are not interested in
selling.
• Was frustrated with the Major Issues session because Council could
have listed and prioritized as a group from the department and capital
perspective.
Staff answer: There isn't much meat in the budget. Although there are
many needs of the organization, what can be afforded to focus on at
this time, is included in the budget proposal. There is not a lot of new
things included.
Kaj Dentler gave a brief presentation of enhancements to the FY 2016-
2017 proposed budget.
Key Points:
• Enhancements are above the base budget.
• $20,000 for East Market Street Corridor Transportation Analysis
• $42,000 for police overtime ($32,000 is detective overtime that is
already occurring based on cases that are being handled and$10,000 for
targeted enforcement).
• $150,000 in capital projects studies.
• $89,000 in automation improvements.
Council Comments/Questions:
• There is a lot of money allocated to Capital Projects justification
studies. Why is so much money being spent on studies?
Staff answer: They are needed to see if there is reason to go forward.
One that has been requested is the sidewalk improvements on West
Market from Ayr to Morven Park Road. There are a lot of questions
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Council Work Session March 9, 2015
involved that need to be answered prior to bringing it to Council to
determine if the project is one that Council would like to go ahead with.
Drainage studies are more expensive because they include
topographical surveys to determine elevations and what is draining
through a particular area.
• In follow-up to the drainage studies, why is it applicable to the utility
fund, not the general fund as relates to sewer issues?
Staff answer: Drainage studies are storm drainage studies. If they had
something to do with water and sewer, it would be in the utility
department.
• We are under a lot of pressure given things like TMDL and necessities
in terms of what we will be funding from the town's perspective.
People only see the tip of the iceberg in terms of what can be significant
cost and liability to the town. We are going to have to start looking
with fresh eyes about where the expectation was that the town was
going to take complete liability for some of these projects particularly
given the fact that Lowenbach started at about$5 million and it is now
over$10 million. A couple of things you will hear me bring up is the
process for two things —cost overruns — obviously you are doing a great
job working with the communities as you are designing what are
important projects for them; however, we also need to look at the
overall cost from the town perspective. In a number of situations,
Virginia Knolls owns quite a bit of that land, so it might make sense for
homeowners to also contribute. Just a policy for adding a drainage
project so that we determine needs. I don't have full understanding of
what it was because I don't recall any petitioners even coming
necessarily about it. I would like that additional fact for anyone who is
looking back at decisions that Council is making.
Staff answer: Royal Street is one that we have had petitioners before
you. Most of these have had people who have been in here petitioning
you to evaluate their situation.
• In terms of the other couple of things that are on the enhancements.
Could you describe what the functionality is in terms of the new,
specific technology enhancements?
Staff answer: Almost half of the funding is for the implementation
town-wide of an automated time keeping system. Right now, we have
already applied it to part time and temporary help in the recreation
department. The new time keeping system uses a number of different
approaches. It can key in time on the computer, swipe a badge, use a
thumbprint— depending on the location and what is appropriate. The
original scope of the project was to get automation in place because it
helps us meet the very short critical processing window that we have to
meet the ACH deadline. Hand-keying the time sheets into the system is
extremely stressful on the payroll department because if you miss the
deadline, you miss the payroll. It has been very successful with the part
time employees. We have looked at using built in time attendants and
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Council Work Session March 9, 2015
meters, but it was not satisfactory. We propose to use the time and
attendance system that has been successful with the recreation
department for the entire town. The next piece is an upgrade from the
9.4 to the 10.4 version of MUNIS. This upgrades us to the latest
version of MUNIS on July 1. After implementation, there will
additional functionality that will be available and will enhance record
keeping and customer service.
• The one specific area with the police department we have talked about
in terms of leveraging with Loudoun County in terms of getting
additional support was in the Sheriff's area. What is the timeline for
looking at our justification for additional over time versus where there
might be ways that we can leverage the Sheriff?
Staff answer: Justification for the enhancements are two-fold. Number
one, the criminal investigation department has been a historic shortfall
in our last two budget cycles by roughly $30,000-35,000. Criminal
investigations are detectives that are involved in major cases such as
homicide. Drug investigations also take a significant amount of time
over and above their normal work. The second one for$10,000 is a
figure that covers what we believe to be Council initiatives including
additional police presence at crosswalks, First Friday, and even during
Council meetings.
• We are anticipating an average of 3% performance increases. What is
the actual range? What is the highest?
Staff answer: Our current system allows for an employee to either earn
a 3% or not. If you are the top performers, you are eligible for a bonus.
That has not been well received by employees, which is very
interesting. Our thought process is to evaluate going to a range of
between 2-4% with 3%being the average. It allows the top performers
to get what they feel they deserve. Bonuses create different reactions
from employees. The other category is that some in the middle
category get the same amount regardless of where they fall in the
middle category.
• Three percent is not significant—it is only the cost of living. I would
think that you would want to give all employees at least three percent
because of their experience, time and effort. The two to four percent
should be above and beyond the three percent.
• Can you clarify what you mean by a bonus structure?
Staff answer: We have less full time employees today than we did ten
years ago, but we have a significant number of new customers and
visitors than we did 10 years ago. The system that we have used to
manage the additional work load is that every employee has to do their
job because we are understaffed. If you do your job, you receive three
percent. If you do better—a top performer(ten to twenty percent of the
work force), then you received a bonus. What is being looked at today,
is basically a three point scale. Three percent is in the middle category
of doing your job. If you are not quite there, but you are still hitting the
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minimum goals, it is 2 percent. If you are the top, it is four percent,
instead of a bonus. We did focus group sessions with 60+ full time
employees and we were quite surprised with the reaction to the bonus
system. It is only about fifty percent popular with the employees,
including the top performers. A lot of the top performers are not wild
about the bonus. They are uncomfortable with it—they feel like they
are working extremely hard, but not able to advance their salaries. The
amount included in the budget is three percent, but we are not sure how
the system will be tailored based on Council's funding. The employees
have given significant input and the directors have unanimously
endorsed to this approach. At the proposed tax rate, this is what we
can afford.
• It is the town manager's job to look at averages and find out where
there are significant deviations and the reason for those.
• When is the revenue expected for the Panda new employees?
Staff answer: The idea is to begin advertising at the beginning of the
new fiscal year. As the construction is being completed, the employees
need to understand the operations of the entire plant before we can add
the reclaimed water portion of their duties. We need them to be
onboard and trained before we start operations with Panda. The
money will not start until late in 2017 because it is when the plant
begins operation.
• Would like to see what the revenue stream looks like with respect to
these new employees.
• If I wanted to add to the enhancements, based on what you have said it
looks like we have two choices— one option would be to readvertise a
higher tax rate, which I suspect would not find a lot of support amongst
Council members. The other option would be to find savings in the
current budget.
• If Lowenbach went from$5 million to $10 million, perhaps if we had
spent more money on an initial study, we might have known what the
final price tag would have been earlier.
• Did we get it in writing—we were anticipating that we would get the
easements for free. Was that not in writing, because eventually we
ended up having to pay for those easements.
Staff answer: That was what the understanding was.
• We should consider putting agreements for easements in writing, if
landowners initially agreed to donate them.
• Do we anticipate the Airport Commission coming forth by Saturday
with requests for additional enhancements? I know there has been talk
in the Commission about the FBO situation and maintenance situation
at the airport.
Staff answer: The FBO agreement is coming to the end of its first term
in January 2016. The Airport Commission is trying to evaluate all
options to ensure services, particularly aircraft maintenance, stay at the
airport. Aircraft maintenance is difficult because it requires facilities
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Council Work Session March 9, 2015
that the town does not own. The Airport Commission is leaning
towards asking for a pro-forma to look at the costs and determine if it is
revenue neutral or positive to acquire additional hangers. It has not
been included in the budget because it has not yet been determined if it
is revenue neutral or positive.
• On changing the waste water treatment plant to a 24 hour/7 day
weekly schedule, we are planning to have the three new employees in
place about a year ahead of when we estimate Panda will begin
operations?
Staff answer: Panda has a start up period where they will require
reclaimed water. The agreement was written that during that the
annual payment would not start at that time. The employees will come
in as trainees that do not yet have operator's licenses. They will have to
work towards a minimum class IV operator's license. The sooner we
can get them into the licensing class, the better.
• Why doesn't Panda pay for that? Why do we have to wait a year if the
employees are working on Panda operations?
Staff answer: They are not just working on that part—they will have to
learn all operations.
• I was wondering why it is so expensive to have three new employees.
Staff answer: The assumption in the budget is that the employees
would come in as a trainee, which is Operator I. That number also
includes fringe benefits and insurance.
• Reading between the lines, I am inferring we will not be making as
much in additional revenue from Panda as we will be spending for the
three new employees? After we begin receiving revenue, do the current
estimates indicate the additional revenue will pay for the additional
employees?
Staff answer: We will be paying more prior to receiving any revenue
from Panda Power. There were additional costs that will have to be
taken on in the beginning, but it is a net positive to the town.
• We are trying to maintain a AAA bond rating with Standard and
Poors, and trying not to increase the tax rate. Do you still feel that you
can maintain the tax rate while maintaining the services that the town
provides and maintaining the AAA bond rating?
Staff answer: Yes.
It was noted that the Council's budget work session will be held on
Saturday, March 14 beginning at 9 a.m. in the Council Chambers.
2. Additions to Future Council Meetings
Vice Mayor Burk stated she was at the Exeter HOA meeting and they started
talking about their stormwater pond. Who takes over the filters for the stormwater
pond? The HOA seems to think the town will take over the cost of maintaining the
filters.
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Council Work Session March 9, 2015
Tom Mason noted that it is totally the responsibility of the Exeter
Homeowner's Association. He stated all the easements state this. He stated under
the Chesapeake Bay TMDL program, if the town can get the necessary easements to
construct or reconstruct the existing pond areas so that they now do water quality
treatment as well as quantity treatment, part of the negotiations will be who ends up
maintaining the water quality part of the pond. We are anticipating that the HOAs
are not going to want to do that. We anticipate that the HOAs will not want to do
that and it will become something that the town will have to take over and will
become part of General Fund expenses. The town may have to look at initiating a
stormwater utility or some way of generating revenues to retain the water quality
treatment areas. The town can phase the project in over 15 years with the current state
permits.
It was decided that an information memo covering the future ramifications of
the TMDL program would be produced.
Mayor Umstattd noted that property tax bills should include an itemization of
what state and federal unfunded mandates such as TMDL is costing the individual
taxpayer.
Council Member Fox stated she would like to find out if there is a way to work
with the county to pay for some of the CIP projects, especially those in the JLMA and
the Lower Sycolin area.
Renee Lafollette noted that no transportation projects that have been proposed
are outside the town's corporate limits. She stated the town is leveraging NVTA
70/30 money and VDOT revenue sharing(which is 1:1). The majority of the
transportation projects will use little to no bond funding. She clarified that the town is
working closely with the county's transportation department to get the NVTA
funding. The Lower Sycolin Sewer Conveyance project is partially funded by pro-
rata fees.
It was requested that a chart be produced that would show what projects use
what percentage of taxpayer bonds so that Council can determine the best plan of
action for getting additional funds from alternate sources.
Council Member Hammier requested an agenda item allowing her to accept
the Mayor's Maker Challenge. She stated this is the issue that Pat Scannell brought
up about municipalities embracing the manufacturing movement. She stated there is
an opportunity to participate in the White House national conference call of Mayors.
She stated there is no financial obligation, but there are suggested Maker "moves",
which include a roundtable that could be done with the Economic Development
Commission, Maker Fair, Maker Liaison, Maker Spaces, etc. She stated the town
will have the only Maker's organization in the county and one of only four in
Northern Virginia.
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Council Work Session March 9, 2015
There was Council consensus to put this on the agenda for March 24 to give
everyone time to review Council Member Hammler's information about the
Challenge.
Council Member Hammier stated she would like to send a letter to the town's
congresswoman about the EPA investigation that took three years and ultimately
yielded no determination of cause and took a lot of taxpayer money.
There was Council consensus to put this on the agenda for the March 24
meeting.
Council Member Butler stated he wanted to make sure that whatever the
county is spending on their TMDL mitigation, that Leesburg is not paying for it. He
stated there cannot be another opportunity for double taxation for town residents.
There was Council consensus to have an information memo on this subject.
Council Member Butler stated that financial incentives in the Arts and
Cultural District are so weak that there are current businesses that do not feel it is
worth filling out the paperwork to be part of the Arts and Cultural District. He stated
that the state has given localities more authority to increase incentives, so he would
like to add a discussion about potentially increasing the financial incentives including
allowing restaurants to apply.
There was consensus to put this on a future work session.
3. Adjournment
On a motion by Council Member Martinez, seconded by Council Member Butler, the
meeti' was ad'. rned at 9:06 p.m.
I'
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