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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-16-99Minutes of the Town Council meeting held February 16, 1999 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. There were present: John A. Johnston, Mayor Council Members: Lane R. Penn, Jeffrey S. Worrell, Bettye H. Steger, W. Edgar Hale, Joseph L. Weddle, Pauline G. Mitchell, Charles W. Stewart Absent/Excused: James M. Neblett Also Present: Thomas M. Combiths, Town Manager David N. Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager Patricia Pendergrast, Clerk Robert L. Dye, Economic Development Director Herb Cooley, Police Chief Sherry Neidigh, Finance Director Jeff Hall, Fire Chief Visitors: Robbie Gardner Claude Yelton David Young David Moye Alfred Anderson Mary Cregger Mike Hudson Sgt. Bill Webb Cmdr. Wesley Davis Captain Robbie Cecil Kenneth Epperley Douglas W. Wilson Jerry Hughes Sgt. Bob VonUchtrup Frank Neice M. L. Mitchell K. E. Martin E. R. Barr Ernie Taylor Sgt. S. W. Ainsworth J. W. Gregory Jill Ritter Chad R. Davis John F. Leeper John A. Goad The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. Councilman Worrell led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilwoman Steger gave the Invocation. Approved requests for modifications to the agenda included: David Young to address Council before the scheduled Public Hearing rather than during the Public Comment period. Safety Committee report moved to Item 4 under Council committee reports. Ordinance Committee report moved to Item 7 under Council committee reports. Mr. David Young addressed Council regarding the Dora Highway Drop Site. He spoke against relocating the Drop Site to another location. Council advised Mr. Young that no decisions have been made on this request, and that further research is being conducted by staff. Council invited Mr. Young to attend future public hearings as they pertain to this topic. The next item on the agenda was a Public Hearing for a 1998-99 budget amendment. Mr. Combiths advised that this amendment is necessary in order to recognize increases in state funding, operating expenses, architectural costs for Calfee Park and capital costs for Maple Shade Plaza, the necessity of bringing the Police Department’s criminal history computer systems into Y2K compliance, training reimbursement and new equipment maintenance for the Fire Department and funding to continue nuisance abatement. The overall impact of these budget amendments will raise the General Funds total expenditures to $6,137,557. To keep the General Fund in balance, a transfer from the fund balance to the General Fund will have to be made in the amount of $113,843.50. After discussion, Councilman Penn made a motion to adopt Resolution 99-5, amending the budget for the Town of Pulaski, Virginia for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1998 and ending June 30, 1999, seconded by Councilwoman Steger and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Absent W. Edgar Hale - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Next, the Consent agenda, consisting of the minutes from February 2, 1999, were adopted on motion from Councilman Weddle, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Absent W. Edgar Hale - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Finance Chairman Weddle advised that Robert Dye, Economic Development Director was to provide Council with a cost/income forecast regarding the Town Industrial Park. Mr. Dye advised that at the last Council meeting, Councilman Stewart requested that staff prepare a realistic recoverable price per acre and a realistic overview of funds that could be returned to UDAG, along with a time line for the Town Industrial Park. Mr. Dye presented Council with said report. He advised that because of the many variables involved, the report focused on Phase I (23.68 acres). The report, using a model industry, presented the cost per acre estimates for Phase I infrastructure development based on the revised PER of 2/2/99. The estimated hard cost per acre was $20,943, excluding road construction cost. Phase I road construction of $357,495 would be paid by V.D.O.T. Industrial Access Funds, based on the model industry providing a building and manufacturing equipment value of $4.3MM. Based on the model’s per acre sale price of $17,500, the Town would experience a shortfall of $3,443 per acre. However, based on anticipated model revenues from Town project fees and tax revenues, the shortfall would be recovered in approximately 2 years. The model suggest that raw land cost and fees paid to date of approximately $59,301, would be returned to UDAG at closing of the land sale. The report also provided benefits to the Phase I infrastructure development that may result from the model industry example. Councilman Stewart requested that staff research the possibility of forming a special tax district for the Industrial Park, and keeping this money isolated from the general fund for the purpose of restoring UDAG funds. Next item on the amended agenda was Public Safety Committee report. Councilman Penn advised that the study was complete. He recognized and thanked Mr. Robbie Gardner, Mr. Claude Yelton and Councilman Neblett for their participation on this committee. He reminded Council that the Committee was formed to study the public safety in the Town of Pulaski. He reviewed the questions that Committee researched and summarized the Committee recommendations: Should the Town develop a plan to increase volunteer staffing in the fire department and reduce the number of career fire fighters to a minimum of 1 per shift? Committee recommends maintaining present level of staffing and enhance volunteer recruitment efforts where feasible. Should the Town retain grant positions in the Police Department for which grant funds expire? Committee recommends that the Town retain at least 2 sworn officers currently in grant positions and determine the financial feasibility for F/Y 1999-2000. Should the Town provide law enforcement and fire officers a retirement supplement (LEOS) to police and fire personnel in hazardous conditions? Committee recommends providing LEOS to Police and Fire Personnel in hazardous positions effective 7-1-99. The Town should identify a long range plan to fund LEOS. Councilwoman Steger advised that at the Legislative meeting in Richmond, it was mentioned that the 599 bill is to be funded and inquired whether that money could be used to assist with the funding of LEOS? Mayor Johnston reminded Council that the 599 House Bill has been appropriated for Police Departments. In the past, this bill has not been fully funded, resulting in lower appropriations to the police department than promised. It is hoped that this year the bill will be fully funded, and perhaps this money could be used to address funding of LEOS. Mr. Penn continued with his Safety report: Should the Town cap the amount of sick time that can be accumulated and put into the supplemental disability insurance program? Committee recommended forwarding this question to the Human Resources Committee. Should the Town investigate the consolidation of the 911 dispatch service with Pulaski County and the Town of Dublin? Committee recommended pursuing this study after the year 2000. Sheriff Davis does not wish to pursue this possibility until that time. Are the Town Police and Fire services being deployed in the most efficient manner? Committee recommended that the Town continue current scheduling practices to ensure anticipated peak demands. After discussion, Council requested that staff include Law Enforcement Officers Supplement (LEOS) in the Draft and 599 Funding in the 1999-2000 budget discussion. Mayor Johnston thanked the Safety Committee for their hard work. Councilman Stewart advised that Planning Commission met February 16, 1999 and considered Case # 99-105SUB, a request for a three lot subdivision of 1.8 acres on Case Knife Road. Staff was instructed to consult with Town Engineer and Town Attorney to see whether or not administrative approval could be granted despite inadequate lot width for septic systems and if the site was to be subdivided only into two parcels. Planning Commission also considered Case # 99-106PH, request to add recycling centers as a conditional use to the M-2 General Industrial District. Staff was instructed to locate at least 2 sites within Town limits with consideration given to: aesthetics, location of the NR Trail, clean appearances of entrances to Town, meeting overall goal of keeping the Town clean. Mr. Stewart also advised that Commission Case 99-107 SUB, a subdivision request from White L.L.C. for a six lot subdivision of 2.477 acres at the northeast corner of Pleasant Hill Drive was approved. Councilman Stewart made a motion to refer Planning Commission Case # 99-108RZ, a request from James and Barbara Blankenship and Jeff and Jeanette Jones-owners, Old Virginia Limited – Mary Wright, agent; for a rezoning of 11 acres from R-1 to R-2 for the purpose of constructing luxury town homes, seconded by Councilman Weddle and carried. Human Resources Committee Chairman Hale advised that Committee met in Executive Session and had nothing to report from that meeting. Ordinance Committee Chairwoman Steger led a discussion regarding a proposed Yard Sale Ordinance. After discussion, the consensus of Council was to allow 2 yard sales per year, each lasting 2 consecutive days; to require a permit for record keeping purposes, but no fee charged for the permit. Further discussion will be needed to discuss where yard sale signs can be located, responsibility for removal of signs and problems of enforcement, with a target date set of March ’99 to adopt Ordinance. Mayor Johnston advised that Virginia’s First Regional Industrial Authority has provided a draft participation agreement with the Resource Authority for Council’s review and comments before the next meeting scheduled for February 17, 1999. Mayor Johnston advised that the Town has been notified that it will receive a 50 year service award with the American Water Works Association and recognition will be conducted after its receipt. The Mayor also advised that Town Council met in Richmond for the annual VML Legislative Session on a variety of topics on February 10 and 11, followed by the Council/Staff Workshop in Roanoke on February 12 and 13. Items discussed at the Workshop were Intergovernmental relations, building community and employee morale, civic accomplishments, upcoming year objectives reports and discussing over 50 action items in the Comprehensive Plan and how they can be updated to make this plan more meaningful in planning the Town’s future. Councilwoman Steger added that she was intrigued by the figures quoted by Honorable Barry Duvall regarding tourism at the VML session. Virginia now receives 11.4 billion dollars a year in revenue from tourists and is now number 4 in the nation. Councilman Weddle made a motion to go into Executive Session regarding 2.1-344 (A1), personnel issue regarding specific individual and 2.1-344 (A3) acquisition of real property for public purpose or disposition of property, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Absent W. Edgar Hale - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye At this time David Young, visitor from the public, asked to speak to Council again. With permission given, Mr. Young addressed nuisance problems that he was having. The Town Manager was asked to address these problems with Mr. Young, as they seemed to be administrative in nature. At 6:30 p.m., Council entered into Executive Session. At 6:59 p.m., Council returned from Executive Session and adopted Certification Resolution on motion made by Councilman Stewart, seconded by Councilman Weddle and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Absent W. Edgar Hale - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye There being no further business, at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Penn made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Worrell and carried.