HomeMy Public PortalAbout2016_tcwsmin0808 Council Work Session August 8, 2016
Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, 7:30 p.m. Mayor David S. Butler
presiding.
Council Members Present: Kelly Burk, Thomas Dunn, Suzanne Fox, R. Bruce
Gemmill, Katie Sheldon Hammler, Marty Martinez and Mayor Butler.
Council Members Absent: None.
Staff Present: Town Manager Kaj Dentler, Town Attorney Barbara Notar, Deputy
Town Manager Keith Markel, Senior Management Analyst Jason Cournoyer and
Paralegal Carmen Smith.
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Items for Discussion
a. Pennington Parking Garage
Council Member Dunn stated he has contacted the Loudoun County
Board of Supervisors in relation to requesting that the County not construct the
fourth level on the proposed parking garage on the Pennington Lot. He stated
he has only heard back from Supervisor Volpe thus far and she was not
supportive. He noted that the county used the two highest usage days, rather
than the average, in their study.
Council Comments/Questions:
• Hammler: Stated she has not previously heard that the County
government center will move out of the downtown in the future.
• Dunn: Stated that some uses have already moved, but this is possible
for the 10-15 year time frame.
• Hammier: Stated that when Council voted on the Courthouse garage,
there was good faith that the additional parking would benefit
businesses and the public as well as meet the parking needs of the
courts.
• Fox: Stated she does not understand why the County would use the
fourth floor of the garage for fleet vehicles.
• Dunn: Stated he would be happy to come up with bullet points for a
letter to the Board of Supervisors.
b. Lease of Courthouse Square Lot for Public Parking
Kaj Dentler presented this opportunity to provide parking in the
downtown.
Key Points:
• Lot is at the corner of Loudoun and Church Streets, S.E.
• This are has a shortage of parking during the work week.
• County is amenable to the proposal.
• Identified 44 spaces as paid public parking.
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Council Work Session August 8, 2016
• Identified 35 spaces for rental to the county.
• Town would have an agreement for the entire lot with Landmark
Realty.
• Parkmobile will be utilized.
• 40% usage throughout the work day will neutralize revenue expense.
Council Comments:
• Fox: Questioned where the county staff will park their fleet vehicles if
the town goes through with this lease.
Dentler: Stated the county feels the 35 spaces will be adequate.
• Fox: Questioned whether the county will begin to charge for spaces in
their garage.
Dentler: Stated the county does not intend to charge for the county
garage since those spaces are reserved for employees only.
• Fox: Questioned what would happen to the pay station equipment if
the lease is terminated.
Dentler: Stated there is only one station and it is leased.
• Hammler: Questioned the credit card service fee for ParkMobile.
Cournoyer: Stated that the fee is $0.25 flat fee regardless of how long
you park.
• Hamlmer: Questioned the use of short term parking restrictions for this
lot to keep office employees from using the lot all day.
Markel: Stated there is an abundance of on street parallel parking, so
this lot could have longer terms.
• Hammler: Questioned marketing efforts for the new lot.
Markel: Stated that there will be signage and the asphalt will be
repaired to make it more like other town facilities. Further, he noted it
will be named and added to all the town's marketing.
• Martinez: Questioned how enforcement is handled with ParkMobile.
Markel: Stated there will still be on street enforcement.
• Martinez: Questioned whether the town's parking garage will be
updated to the electronic parking.
Dentler: Stated that the town's parking garage equipment will be
discussed during the budget cycle; however, if it fails prior to that, it
may need to be replaced.
• Burk: Stated she supports this idea as that area has a need for
additional public parking.
• Gemmill: Stated one of the biggest things the business owners
complain about is lack of parking. He stated he is in full support of this
proposal.
• Dunn: Expressed concern that the county parking garage is short 157
spaces and this lot is currently used for fleet parking. He stated there is
nothing to stop county employees from using this lot. He stated he
does not see this as being a benefit for shoppers or citizens, but creating
a town sponsored parking lot for county employees and fleet vehicles.
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Council Work Session August 8, 2016
• Burk: Questioned if county employees could be limited from parking in
this lot.
Dentler: Stated that the county administrator does not want them
parking there either. He stated that if this lot becomes more popular,
each year the number of spaces leased to the county can be decreased.
The sublease to the county reduces the town's financial risk.
• Dunn: Questioned why the county doesn't lease the lot directly from
the property owner. He questioned why the town is getting involved.
2. Additions to Future Council Meetings
Dunn: Asked for an email regarding the disposition of a PRC mixed use text
amendment. He asked about no U turn signs at Plaza and Fieldstone on Battlefield
Parkway. Council Member Martinez requested a time limit for the no U turns.
This item will be added to the first regular meeting in September.
Asked for notice from the schools if a large political event is to be held at a
school. Mr. Dentler stated there is always communication between the schools and
Leesburg with regards to special events.
Gemmill: Asked for a follow-up on the BPOL taxes at the next meeting in
September. It was noted that this is on the agenda for a future meeting. He
questioned who he should contact about having the Diversity Commission look into
an ESL program. Council Member Martinez stated that the Diversity Commission is
working on ESL and he stated he would ask them to make a presentation on the
subject.
Burk: Stated that the Country Club residents are delighted that the situation
with the temporary portable storage unit has been resolved.
Hammier: Stated she would appreciate a memo about no through traffic on
Sections 1 and 2 of Battlefield— only local traffic.
Fox: Stated the BAR has asked to start a conversation about the new
intersection at Church and Market.
Martinez: Requested a "don't block the box" sign or demarcation at
intersections in Exeter.
3. Adjournment
�A On a motion by Council Member Dunn, seconded by Council Member Gemmill, the
mee ngt as adjourned at 8:39 .m.
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