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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-05-16Minutes of the Town Council meeting held Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. There were present: Mayor: Jeffrey S. Worrell Council: Heather L. Steele, Gregory C. East, David L. Clark, H. M. Kidd, James A. Radcliffe, Lane R. Penn Staff: Shawn M. Utt, Town Manager Nichole Hair, Deputy Town Manager David Warburton, Town Attorney Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council David Quesenberry, Assistant to the Town Manager Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer Rebecca Reece, Acting Finance Director Robbie Kiser, Fire Chief Gary Roche, Police Chief John White, Economic Development Director Others: R. J. Faddis Lisa Faddis Roger Stilwell Monica Musick Jennifer Viers Nick Glenn Elijah Sharp Michael Gottfredson Melinda Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Radcliffe led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Clark gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Mayor Worrell advised that the first item on the agenda was Presentation of the Gatewood Master Plan by the New River Valley Regional Commission. Mr. Utt introduced Ellijah Sharp and Michael Gottfredson from the Regional Commission to present the Gatewood Master Plan. Mr. Gottfredson summarized the Gatewood Master Plan. He advised that the purpose of the Plan was to prepare a twenty year vision for Gatewood Park. He added that there was a need to identify the existing characteristics of the property, to develop conceptual ideas to improve or preserve the existing conditions and then to create strategies for the future development opportunities. He provided a slide show for Council's review. Mr. Sharp addressed Council. He reviewed the overall planning process for the Gatewood Master Plan. Councilman Radcliffe asked what should be targeted first to improve Gatewood this season? Mr. Sharp responded that there were approximately twenty short term items listed in the Master Plan that Council could choose from. He added that some of the strategies improved the aesthetics, while other strategies could potentially generate new revenue. He noted that it would be up to Council to decide which project to work on first. ,Mayor Worrell interjected that looking over the list there were several projects that would not be difficult to accomplish. Following discussion, Mayor Worrell thanked Mr. Gottfredson and Mr. Sharp for their presentations. Page 1 of 4/January 5, 2016 Councilman East moved to adopt the Gatewood Park 2035 Master Plan. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye The next item for discussion was the Consent Agenda. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the Minutes of the December 1, 2015 Council meeting; receive, accept and adopt the Architectural Review Board's 2015 Annual Report; the Board of Zoning Appeal's 2015 Annual Report; the Housing Board of Adjustment and Appeal's 2015 Annual Report; the Planning Commission's 2015 Annual Report and the Pulaski Redevelopment and Housing Authority's 2015 Annual Report. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye David L. Clark - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye The next item for consideration was Project Updates. Mr. Utt reviewed some of the Project Review Chart including that a Planning Grant had been awarded to consider direct injection of the sewer for James Hardie. He added that the Town would be able to cover the matching funds with current budget funds. He noted that the buyer has completed 80% of the work on the drying bed greenhouses. He advised that staff was beginning to evaluate the 2016 Town -wide paving needs. He noted that the environmental review process for the Kersey Bottom/Case Knife Road CDBG Housing grant would be extended out approximately a month. He hoped that the contract signing would be in mid-February. He advised that Ms. Hair was investigating ways to revamp the process for 2016 since staff did not have a good response from contractors this season. Regarding the computer software update, Mr. Utt advised that the Payroll module went "live" in November. He added that Code Enforcement/Permit training would be completed via seminar as employees' schedules became available. Mayor Worrell moved on to Old Business. Mr. Utt advised that the Planning Commission had two vacancies. He added that four citizens had expressed interest. He provided the names of the interested citizens and asked for Council's input. Following discussion, Councilwoman Steele moved to direct staff to prepare the documentation appointing Kathy Sealander and Clark Payne to the Planning Commission for Council's consideration. Councilman Penn seconded the motion. Councilman Clark commented that he felt that Mr. Goodman had much more experience with things that the Council has been doing. Additionally, he advised that Mr. Goodman was very involved in the Town website. He felt Mr. Goodman should be appointed to the Planning Commission. The original motion then carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye H. M. Kidd - No Gregory C. East - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye David L. Clark - No Lane R. Penn - Aye Mr. Warburton interjected that he was not clear on the length of the term for each of the nominees to the Planning Commission. He inquired whether staff could just use past practice in writing the Ordinance? Page 2 of 4/January 5, 2016 Mayor Worrell responded in favor of the request. The next item on the agenda was Ordinance 2016-01. Mayor Worrell advised that this completed action of Council. Councilman East moved to adopt Ordinance 2016-01, Establishing the Cost of Cemetery Lots and the Distribution of Proceeds from Lot Sales. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye The next item for consideration was Ordinance 2016-02. Mayor Worrell advised that this completed action of Council. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Ordinance 2016-02, Amending Chapter 38, Article II, Section 38-31 of the Town Code of Ordinance as written. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye The next item on the agenda was credit card fees. Mr. Utt advised that in the past, Council had discussed the convenience fee for credit cards. He added that currently, the credit card usage fees of 2.95% were passed on to citizens when they use a credit card to pay a bill, while the fee for using a "Visa debit card" was $3.95 per transaction. He noted these fees were basic pass-through charges from the third -party vendor who processes the credit card payments. After researching various alternatives, staff recommended moving forward with National Bank of Blacksburg (NBB) because the Town's operating funds were housed with NBB and they were able to provide a lower rate for credit card and debit card payment. He added that NBB proposed a rate of 2.1 % for credit cards which would be reevaluated in six months for a potentially lower rate. For debit cards, NBB proposed a flat rate of $0.30 per transaction. Based on the lower fees offered by NBB, he recommended moving forward with NBB. Additionally, he recommended that the Town absorb the customer fees based on the relatively low anticipated amount. He noted that these fees could be worked into the existing budget to make it as seamless as possible for the customers and hopefully help increase the collection rates for utilities and taxes. He also recommended continuing to allow for payments by phone as was currently done. He noted that the Finance Department was implementing the automatic bank draft payment system for utility customers whereby the customer's bank would automatically debit his/her checking account on a monthly basis to pay their utility bills. He added that it was hoped this would be rather popular and result in less traffic in the billing office and a lower number of monthly disconnections due to nonpayment. Following discussion, Councilman East moved to direct staff to proceed forward with National Bank of Blacksburg as the merchant service provider, with the Town absorbing the debit card and credit card fees. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to New Business. The first item was Pulaski Area Transit Budget Request. Page 3 of 4/January 5, 2016 Mr. Utt advised that a summary of Pulaski Area Transit's budget request had been included in the Council packet. He noted that the funding cycle for the Transit operations did not line up with the Town's budget process, so this budget request had to be reviewed much earlier than other agencies. He added that the funding grant application to the Department of Rail and Public Transportation was due by February 1, 2016. He advised that the request was for $96,000. He noted that the Town had approved $70,000 last year. Ms. Monica Musick, Transit Manager Director, addressed Council. She reviewed the budget request and provided a review of the statistics for the last year. Following discussion regarding the amount of funding requested from the Town, Council decided to revisit this item at the January 19 Work Session after more staff research. The next item on the agenda was USDA Rural Business Development Grant opportunity. Mr. White advised that he had been working to develop alternative funding methods that would provide incentives for owners of downtown properties to invest in their buildings. He noted that the main issue with the downtown buildings was leaky roofs (especially in vacant buildings). He added that during his research, he approached the USDA Rural Development office in Wytheville since they had provided some economic development grants in the past. He noted that the Rural Business Development grant program would be able to provide up to $75,000 in grant funds with a 1 to 1 matching requirement. He added that these funds could help to create a revolving loan fund specifically for downtown buildings and specifically for structural repairs and roof repairs to help stabilize the buildings. If this grant was awarded, the Town would have to match that amount. He noted that there was enough money in the UDAG fund and the RBAG fund to cover the match without utilizing the General Fund. Following discussion, Councilman East moved to authorize staff to apply for a USDA Rural Business Development grant of $75,000 and utilize the UDAG fund and the RBAG fund for the one to one match up to $75,000. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye The next item on the agenda was Oakwood Cemetery Family Plot donation. Mr. Utt advised that a family wished to sell or donate a family plot of 7 spaces in Oakwood Cemetery that was purchased in the early 1900's. He added that the normal policy for this type of situation was for the Town to purchase the plots for the same amount that was originally paid if they felt they could resell them. In this case, that amount would be $12.50 per space. After discussion at the Cemetery Board of Trustees meeting, staff recommendation was to allow the owner of the plots to donate them to a local funeral home of the owners choice to be used for families in need. Following discussion, Councilman Clark moved to direct staff to prepare the proper paperwork to donate the plots. Councilman Radcliffe seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye At 8:25, there being no further business, the meeting adjourned on motion by o it an ark, onded by Councilman Kidd and so carried. Approved: e rey S. Worrell, Mayor Page 4 of 4/January 5, 2016