Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout2004_11_23_r191 2005 Legislative ProgramThe Town of Leesburg, Virginia RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION: PRESENTED 2 0 0/4-191 ADOPTED ADOPTING A 2005 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM November 23, 2004 November 23, 2004 WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council have identified legislative items that are in the best interest of the residents of the Town of Leesburg; and WHEREAS, the Town Council desires to communicate these items to the elected officials representing Leesburg to be addressed by the 2005 General Assembly. THEREFORE, RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Leesburg in Virginia that the following legislative priorities are hereby established and are to be communicated to the elected officials representing Leesburg: Fund Roads to Alleviate Regional Roadway Congestion. Fund Battlefield Parkway, the Route 7/Route 15 Bypass Widening Project at Sycolin Road including the Sycolin Road flyover, and the completion of the Route 15 Route 7 Bypass interchange, the widening of South King Street from Route 621 to the southern corporate limits, the Route 15 Bypass Interchange Improvements at Edwards Ferry Road and Battlefield Parkway, and the Route 7 Interchange Improvements at River Creek Parkway, Battlefield Parkway, and west of Leesburg at White Gate Road. These roads are burdened with major regional traffic. Funding construction of these projects will substantially improve the transportation system of the region. In addition to funding of these regional roads, fund local traffic calming projects. These projects would help reduce speeding and improve safety. Appendix A outlines regional traffic patterns and volume relative to Leesburg roadways. Protect Communities from the Negative Impact of Overhead Power and Transmission Lines. Preclude the location of new, large, overhead transmission lines in populated areas that would impact community quality of life and property values. Support underground alternatives for large, overhead transmission lines, as well as powerlines in historic districts, scenic and park -2- A RESOLUTION: ADOPTING A 2005 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM areas. Explore potential state tax or other incentives to help address the cost to utilities as they attempt to meet the needs of Virginia communities in need of the utility services. Protect the Authority of Towns. Oppose any narrowing of local government authority, such as taxation or land use regulation, and oppose any action to restrict current local revenue sources. The General Assembly and executive branch (or Governor) should continue to recognize towns as essential units of local government, with important roles in providing services. Towns should have clear and full authority to act in a timely manner on matters that protect public health, safety and welfare. Examples of areas of particular concern, but not limited to local government's ability to: a. Impose telecommunications taxes or fees relative to E-911, internet sales, or future technology that would help support community needs; b. Impose local property taxes to address local needs without state imposed limits on tax rates; c. Accept proffers to meet community-identified needs using locally developed guidelines; d. Retain current authority to promote affordable housing including enabling legislation to have the ability to facilitate in-fill development, redevelopment and mixing of uses in redevelopment projects; not limit local authority to enact land use regulations for the benefits of all citizens; e. Retain current rights of eminent domain; f. Retain the authority to regulate the placement of manufactured homes without state intervention; and g. Retain all authority to adopt and inspect rental inspection programs to protect the health and safety of residents. Use the Calendar Year 2005 Billings as the Base to Compute the FY 2006 Car Tax Reimbursements Base from the Commonwealth. This will enable local jurisdictions to make necessary adjustments to billing cycles to accurately reflect the full year assessment. In addition, this will allow an adjustment for a localities delinquency collection experience and additional administrative costs for the extra billing required for the bifurcated tax rate now required. -3- A RESOLUTION: ADOPTING A 2005 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM Fund Safe Pedestrian Travel and the Townwide Trail System throughout Leesburg. This includes, but is not limited to, state support such as TEA-21 grants for pedestrian bridge crossings on the Route 15 Bypass in the vicinity of Fort Evans Road and the proposed Balls Bluff Trail. The town has a year-round pedestrian safety efforts and invested significant funds to help address the dangerous mix of increased pedestrian crossings of individuals and families attempting to cross the busy highway to access Fort Evans Road area services and employment. The Balls Bluff Trail would help connect the townwide trail system and offer residents and visitors access to the historic, scenic offerings of Balls Bluff Park, the Potomac River area, and tourist points north in Loudoun County such as Whites Ferry. Enhance Redevelopment Opportunities. Adopt an urban policy for Virginia and implementation of growth management policies that encourage economic and neighborhood development in urban areas. Support incentives to help encourage redevelopment opportunities. 7. Fund Park and Ride Lots. Fund adequate park and ride lots to assist Loudoun and Leesburg commuters. Fund Bus Rapid Transit. Fund a Bus Rapid Transit System connecting Leesburg and Western Loudoun County with the Dulles Corridor. The Town supports establishing BRT service west of Leesburg with a station in the Route 7/Route 9 corridor and a station in Leesburg adjacent to the Dulles Greenway. Designate Leesburg as a voting member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. In 2001, the General Assembly approved a new regional transportation authority charged with planning and developing an "integrated and efficient transportation system". With respect to regional projects, the authority has been empowered to issue bonds, recommend funding priorities, and allocate funds. The four counties and five cities of the region are granted voting memberships. Leesburg as well as Dumfries, Herndon, and Vienna were given advisory board status. Leesburg deserves full voting rights based on its population and level of transportation responsibilities. -4- A RESOLUTION: ADOPTING A 2005 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM 10. Share Income Tax Revenue with Localities including Towns. Leesburg supports state income tax revenue sharing with towns according to the Virginia Municipal League "50/40/10" Plan. With respect to sharing other tax proceeds such as sales tax, the General Assembly should abandon the formula based on the triennial school census in favor of one based on relative share of the population. 11. Provide Local Government Authority to Modify Subdivision Street Standards. Support proactive, quality neighborhoods via local authority to modify standards for street pavement and right-of-way widths and not jeopardize VDOT payments. The town's various neighborhoods reflect historic, modem, and unique attributes that must be sensibly balanced with good planning, engineering, and public safety without reducing funding for state street maintenance payments. 12. Support Elimination of the Sunset on Photo-Red Enforcement. Permit all localities to enact photo-red traffic enforcement programs to address public safety and traffic accidents and fatalities caused by drivers who run red lights. 13. Support funding for Land and Historic Site Conservation. Dedicate a stable source of long- term state funding to assist agencies, public bodies and tax-exempt nonprofit organizations in acquiring, preserving, developing and maintaining special lands and historic sites. The Town of Leesburg is committed to help preserve and protect such land, and facilitate enjoyment of our town's open spaces, parks, natural areas, historic areas, farmlands, and recreational areas. Such areas are key to quality of life in Leesburg, and provide enjoyment to our visitors from across the region and around the world. 14. Support funding for Arts. Enhance funding for the arts including public arts programs, arts in education, artists in residency, cultural facilities and operational support, and other opportunities to preserve and promote the diverse cultural offerings of Virginians. Grants, training, and technical assistance are vital to such efforts. Accessibility to the arts as well as providing service and assistance to arts organizations and artists is key to maintaining quality of life in Leesburg and Virginia. 5 A RESOLUTION: ADOPTING A 2005 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM 15. Support the Citizens Tax Commission recommendations regarding Virginia's State and Local Tax Structure for the 21st Century. Leesburg supports the commission's findings that: (1) state should increase substantially its support for operational and capital costs for local school divisions; (2) state should assume full operational cost for provision of state and federal mandated services or functions, including the Comprehensive Services Act, public health, Community Services Boards, local and regional jails, and local social services departments; (3) state should return a share of state income tax to localities to broaden their revenue base and decrease dependence on the real estate tax; (4) state should participate in the Streamlined Sales Tax Project designed to standardize state sales and use tax provisions, review all current exemptions to sales and use tax, and extend the tax to services; (5) taxing authority of counties should be made commensurate to that of cities; (6) state should review tax exempt status granted to all non-governmental property and the restrictions that limit the service charges that may be applied to tax-exempt property; (7) localities should retain authority to impose the merchants' capital and BPOL taxes; and (8) localities should be granted increased opportunity to collaborate in regional economic development activities. 16. Support the Widening of Interstate 66. The town supports the widening of 1-66 to help address the region's long-term transportation needs. 17. Support the Legislative Program of the Virginia Municipal League. The town generally supports the positions adopted by the League. 18. Support Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing recommendations. The town firmly believes in public access and competition in public procurement. The town generally supports the positions adopted by the Association to streamline procurement policy that is restrictive, costly, cumbersome and/or inconsistent among different public bodies. This includes clarification of small purchase procedures relative to construction, revising the requirements for public notice, as well as allowing local governments like Leesburg to benefit from the higher, more effective limits currently in effect for the state agencies. The town would continue to post public notice at Town Hall and on the town website, and contact bidders list firms who have expressed interest in doing business with the town, however, newspaper notice would not be required for every Request for Proposal which is costly and low yield. -6- A RESOLUTION: ADOPTING A 2005 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM 19. Fund a Bridge Crossing of the Potomac River. The General Assembly should take a cooperative, regional, leadership role in establishing a new bridge crossing of the Potomac River east of Goose Creek for a limited access highway between Goose Creek and the American Legion Bridge, if a far western bypass is established, without impacting the quality of life in Leesburg area neighborhoods, without terminating at Route 7, and without negatively impacting traffic flow on Route 15. The potential north-south route east of Leesburg should relieve traffic pressure, especially from large trucks, along the Route 15 corridor through Leesburg. The proposed crossing should not draw additional regional commuter traffic through the town. A complete environmental impact study should be completed before any roadwork is started. PASSED this 23rd day of November 2004. Town of Leesburg ft(erk of Council R04: Legislative Agenda 2005 Leqislative Aqenda Adopted- November 23, 2004 Fund Roads to Alleviate Regional Roadway Congestion. Fund Battlefield Parkway, the Route 7/Route 15 Bypass Widening Project at Sycolin Road including the Sycolin Road flyover, and the completion of the Route 15 Route 7 Bypass interchange, the widening of South King Street from Route 621 to the southern corporate limits, the Route 15 Bypass Interchange Improvements at Edwards Ferry Road and Battlefield Parkway, and the Route 7 Interchange Improvements at River Creek Parkway, Battlefield Parkway, and west of Leesburg at White Gate Road. These roads are burdened with major regional traffic. Funding construction of these projects will substantially improve the transportation system of the region. In addition to funding of these regional roads, fund local traffic calming projects. These projects would help reduce speeding and improve safety. Appendix A outlines regional traffic patterns and volume relative to Leesburg roadways. e Protect Communities from the Negative Impact of Overhead Power and Transmission Lines. Preclude the location of new, large, overhead transmission lines in populated areas that would impact community quality of life and property values. Support underground alternatives for large, overhead transmission lines, as well as powerlines in historic districts, scenic and park areas. Explore potential state tax or other incentives to help address the cost to utilities as they attempt to meet the needs of Virginia communities in need of the utility services. Protect the Authority of Towns. Oppose any narrowing of local government authority, such as taxation or land use regulation, and oppose any action to restrict current local revenue sources. The General Assembly and executive branch (or Governor) should continue to recognize towns as essential units of local government, with important roles in providing services. Towns should have clear and full authority to act in a timely manner on matters that protect public health, safety and welfare. Examples of areas of particular concern, but not limited to local government's ability to: Legislative Agenda November 23, 2004 Page 2 a) b) c) d) e) g) Impose telecommunications taxes or fees relative to E-911, internet sales, or future technology that would help support community needs; Impose local property taxes to address local needs without state imposed limits on tax rates; Accept proffers to meet community-identified needs using locally developed guidelines; Retain current authority to promote affordable housing including enabling legislation to have the ability to facilitate in-fill development, redevelopment and mixing of uses in redevelopment projects; not limit local authority to enact land use regulations for the benefits of all citizens; Retain current rights of eminent domain; Retain the authority to regulate the placement of manufactured homes without state intervention; and Retain all authority to adopt and inspect rental inspection programs to protect the health and safety of residents. Use the Calendar Year 2005 Billings as the Base to Compute the FY 2006 Car Tax Reimbursements Base from the Commonwealth. This will enable local jurisdictions to make necessary adjustments to billing cycles to accurately reflect the full year assessment. In addition, this will allow an adjustment for a localities delinquency collection experience and additional administrative costs for the extra billing required for the bifurcated tax rate now required. Fund Safe Pedestrian Travel and the Townwide Trail System throughout Leesburg. This includes, but is not limited to, state support such as TEA-21 grants for pedestrian bridge crossings on the Route 15 Bypass in the vicinity of Fort Evans Road and the proposed Balls Bluff Trail. The town has a year-round pedestrian safety efforts and invested significant funds to help address the dangerous mix of increased pedestrian crossings of individuals and families attempting to cross the busy highway to access Fort Evans Road area services and employment. The Balls Bluff Trail would help connect the townwide trail system and offer Legislative Agenda November 23, 2004 Page 3 residents and visitors access to the historic, scenic offerings of Balls Bluff Park, the Potomac River area, and tourist points north in Loudoun County such as Whites Ferry. Enhance Redevelopment Opportunities. Adopt an urban policy for Virginia and implementation of growth management policies that encourage economic and neighborhood development in urban areas. Support incentives to help encourage redevelopment opportunities. 7. Fund Park and Ride Lots. Fund adequate park and ride lots to assist Loudoun and Leesburg commuters. Fund Bus Rapid Transit. Fund a Bus Rapid Transit System connecting Leesburg and Western Loudoun County with the Dulles Corridor. The Town supports establishing BRT service west of Leesburg with a station in the Route 7/Route 9 corridor and a station in Leesburg adjacent to the Dulles Greenway. Designate Leesburg as a voting member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. In 2001, the General Assembly approved a new regional transportation authority charged with planning and developing an "integrated and efficient transportation system". With respect to regional projects, the authority has been empowered to issue bonds, recommend funding priorities, and allocate funds. The four counties and five cities of the region are granted voting memberships. Leesburg as well as Dumfries, Herndon, and Vienna were given advisory board status. Leesburg deserves full voting rights based on its population and level of transportation responsibilities. 10. Share Income Tax Revenue with Localities including Towns. Leesburg supports state income tax revenue sharing with towns according to the Virginia Municipal League "50/40/10" Plan. With respect to sharing other tax proceeds such as sales tax, the General Assembly should abandon the formula based on the triennial school census in favor of one based on relative share of the population. Legislative Agenda November 23, 2004 Page 4 11. Provide Local Government Authority to Modify Subdivision Street Standards. Support proactive, quality neighborhoods via local authority to modify standards for street pavement and right-of-way widths and not jeopardize VDOT payments. The town's various neighborhoods reflect historic, modern, and unique attributes that must be sensibly balanced with good planning, engineering, and public safety without reducing funding for state street maintenance payments. 12. Support Elimination of the Sunset on Photo-Red Enforcement. Permit all localities to enact photo-red traffic enforcement programs to address public safety and traffic accidents and fatalities caused by drivers who run red lights. 13. Support funding for Land and Historic Site Conservation. Dedicate a stable source of long-term state funding to assist agencies, public bodies and tax-exempt nonprofit organizations in acquiring, preserving, developing and maintaining special lands and historic sites. The Town of Leesburg is committed to help preserve and protect such land, and facilitate enjoyment of our town's open spaces, parks, natural areas, historic areas, farmlands, and recreational areas. Such areas are key to quality of life in Leesburg, and provide enjoyment to our visitors from across the region and around the world. 14. Support funding for Arts. Enhance funding for the arts including public arts programs, arts in education, artists in residency, cultural facilities and operational support, and other opportunities to preserve and promote the diverse cultural offerings of Virginians. Grants, training, and technical assistance are vital to such efforts. Accessibility to the arts as well as providing service and assistance to arts organizations and artists is key to maintaining quality of life in Leesburg and Virginia. 15. Support the Citizens Tax Commission recommendations regarding Virginia's State and Local Tax Structure for the 21st Century. Leesburg supports the commission's findings that: (1) state should increase substantially its support for operational and capital costs for local school divisions; (2) state should assume full operational cost for provision of state and federal mandated services or functions, including the Comprehensive Services Act, public Legislative Agenda November 23, 2004 Page 5 health, Community Services Boards, local and regional jails, and local social services departments; (3) state should return a share of state income tax to localities to broaden their revenue base and decrease dependence on the real estate tax; (4) state should participate in the Streamlined Sales Tax Project designed to standardize state sales and use tax provisions, review all current exemptions to sales and use tax, and extend the tax to services; (5) taxing authority of counties should be made commensurate to that of cities; (6) state should review tax exempt status granted to all non-governmental property and the restrictions that limit the service charges that may be applied to tax-exempt property; (7) localities should retain authority to impose the merchants' capital and BPOL taxes; and (8) localities should be granted increased opportunity to collaborate in regional economic development activities. 16. Support the Widening of Interstate 66. The town supports the widening of 1-66 to help address the region's long-term transportation needs. 17. Support the Legislative Program of the Virginia Municipal League. The town generally supports the positions adopted by the League. 18. Support Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing recommendations. The town firmly believes in public access and competition in public procurement. The town generally supports the positions adopted by the Association to streamline procurement policy that is restrictive, costly, cumbersome and/or inconsistent among different public bodies. This includes clarification of small purchase procedures relative to construction, revising the requirements for public notice, as well as allowing local governments like Leesburg to benefit from the higher, more effective limits currently in effect for the state agencies. The town would continue to post public notice at Town Hall and on the town website, and contact bidders list firms who have expressed interest in doing business with the town, however, newspaper notice would not be required for every Request for Proposal which is costly and low yield. 19. Fund a Bridge Crossing of the Potomac River. The General Assembly should take a cooperative, regional, leadership role in establishing a new bridge crossing of the Potomac Legislative Agenda November 23, 2004 Page 6 River east of Goose Creek for a limited access highway between Goose Creek and the American Legion Bridge, if a far western bypass is established, without impacting the quality of life in Leesburg area neighborhoods, without terminating at Route 7, and without negatively impacting traffic flow on Route 15. The potential north-south route east of Leesburg should relieve traffic pressure, especially from large trucks, along the Route 15 corridor through Leesburg. The proposed crossing should not draw additional regional commuter traffic through the town. A complete environmental impact study should be completed before any roadwork is started. APPENDIX COMPARISON OF TRAFFIC VOLUME: LEESBURG ROADWAYS AND VIRGINIA INTERSTATES Town of Leesburg The traffic volume on Route 15 Bypass between Route 7 (East Market Street) and Fort Evans Road has grown from 23,030 Average Daily Trips (ADT) in 1993 to 53,998 ADT in 2003. The Route 7/15 Bypass between Route 7 (East Market Street) and Route 15 (South King Street) has a 2003 ADT of 50,368. Route 7 (East Market Street) between Cardinal Park Drive and River Creek Parkway has a 2003 ADT of 52,000. Winchester/Frederick County~ Virginia 1-81 between State Route 37 and U.S. 50 has a 2003 ADT of 45,000. Town of South Hill~ Virginia Route 1 between Goodes Ferry Road and Mecklenburg Avenue has a 2003 ADT of 9,600. City of Charlottesville~ Virginia 1-64 between the west corporate limits and the east corporate limits has a 2003 ADT of 35,000. Town of Wytheville 1-77 between the north corporate limits and U.S. 11 has a 2003 ADT of 52,000. City of Emporia 1-95 between the south corporate limits and U.S. 58 has a 2003 ADT of 39,000. City of Richmond 1-64 between 1-295 and U.S. 250 New Short Pump has a 2003 ADT of 49,000. Prepared by the Town of Leesburg Engineering and Public Works Department, November 17, 2004. Source: "Average Daily Traffic Volumes with Vehicle Classification Data on Interstate, Arterial, and Primary Routes ", 2003, Virginia Department of Transportation, US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.