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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-02-14Minutes of the Town Council meeting held Tuesday, September 2, 2014 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 David Warburton, Town Attorney David Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Gary Roche, Police Chief John White, Economic Development Director Pam Witten, Finance Director Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer Chris Phillips, Public Works Others: Suzanne Bowen Ron Hall Brenda Blackburne Catherine Humphrey Windell Bolt John Seagle Ann King Bob McKinney Jeffrey Stout Meredith McCrady Edward L. Mabry David Hagan Dan Coltrane Joey Earles Betty T. Quesenberry Ann Dowdy Tony Blair Linda Hall Joseph Goodman Vera S. Terry Alphia Bolt Richard A. Arehart Katherine Martin Gregory Quesenberry Wayne Carpenter Bobby Safewright Janet Golden John McElroy AnneMarie Mulvihill Bill Warden James Babb Calvin Pynn, Press John Merriweather Laura Lea Tammy Duncan Hubert Terry Amy Lewis Blair Hoke Donald Martin Paula Blevins Rosalind S. Carpenter Drema Mabry Thom Rutledge W. E. Hale Donia Eley Charles Wade Marty Dowdy Mike Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Kidd led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Clark gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Mayor Worrell welcomed the visitors to the meeting. He advised of a Public Hearing scheduled to discuss Calfee Park proposed ownership transfer. Mr. Utt advised that there were some serious issues at Calfee Park that needed to be addressed. The visitor's locker room had to be upgraded in order to keep baseball in the Town. Additionally, he advised that some of the drain pipe under Calfee Park needed to be replaced and the retaining wall behind the press box needed to be repaired. He noted that the total cost for these upgrades was in the $500,000 range. Parking was also an issue as well as local housing for the players. He advised that a proposal had been received to purchase the Calfee Park property by a company to be created by the Shelor group called Historic Calfee Park, LLC. He added that a community meeting had been held previously where the company representative, David Hagan, presented his proposal and planned improvements to the members of the community present. This proposal included major improvements such as new locker rooms for home and visiting teams, press box construction, Page 1 of 4/September 2, 2014 parking improvements and other efforts to assure that the Calfee Park experience was the first class ` experience that everyone wanted it to be. He added that it was required to hold a Public Hearing before the release of any ownership of any publicly held real estate property. He noted that Mr. Hagan was present to address Council at the end of the Public Hearing. Mayor Worrell opened the Public Hearing at 7:05 p.m. From the public, Suzanne Bowen addressed Council speaking against the proposed sale. She advised that she was a business owner in Town, she lived in the Town and she loved the Town. She added that she wanted to see Calfee Park maintained and upgraded the way that it needed to be so that baseball could continue in Town. However, she violently opposed relinquishing control and ownership to an entity from out of Town. She added that people don't have to own the Park to help maintain it. She felt the Town needed to maintain ownership of the Park, dig deep and find a way to do it without relinquishing property to a private entity. Next, Tony Blair addressed Council speaking in favor of the proposed sale of Calfee Park. He advised that he was glad to have someone else spend their money for the Town's benefit. John Merriweather advised that he was speaking on behalf of himself and the neighbors. He felt the sale could be a good deal for the Town financially. However, he continued that he lived next to the Park and he hoped that the new owners would work with the residents with the volume of the loudspeakers as the Town has. He noted that if the games went long or if there was a double header, the current owners would turn the loudspeakers down. He added that if the sale went through, a parking lot would be coming in next to his neighbors' house. He hoped that the new owners would put some type of shielding in place such as a row of pine trees, or a fence. Next, Ron Hall addressed Council speaking in favor of the sale of Calfee Park to Historic Calfee Park, LLC. He felt the fact that the Shelor organization was not in Town was anon-issue. He added that they had made clear their plans to become Pulaskians and he felt their presence in the Town would be good for everyone. There being no further comments, Mayor Worrell closed the Public Hearing at 7:17 p.m. Mayor Worrell advised that he was in favor of the sale of the Park to Historic Calfee Park, LLC. He felt that it was an opportunity to make the future of baseball much more secure for Pulaski. He added that with the other improvements that had been proposed for the Town and the immediate area, it could be a huge economic engine. He felt it was an opportunity that might not occur again. He urged Council to move forward with the proposal. Vice-Mayor East advised that when the proposal first came forward, he was hesitant. He added that after further consideration, and speaking with Mr. Hagan, he was in favor of the sale. He noted that "the Town of Pulaski simply does not have the means to support the ball field in the way that is going to be conducive to the future of the ball field." He continued that the half a million dollars that was needed was a complete stretch of the budget. He added that Council was having to consider things that while sound financially, he was not comfortable doing. It was money that was hard to spend considering all of the needs of the Town as a whole. He noted that the Shelor organization had the financial means to make the needed improvements to the Park. He felt that private investment was needed to grow the Town. Councilman Radcliffe agreed with the Mayor and Vice-Mayor. He advised that it was a very hard decision for him, but after weighing all of the facts, he was in favor of the sale. He added that he knew Mr. Hagan and knew that they would do a first class job on the Park. Councilman Clark spoke in favor of the sale. He felt it was a great opportunity for the Town. He advised that one of the comments that he had heard from the citizens was the fear that the family atmosphere at the Page 2 of 4/September 2, 2014 ballpark would be lost. He opined that would not happen. He felt that Mr. Hagan would make a good addition to the Town. Councilman Kidd also spoke in favor of the sale. He was looking forward to moving forward. Mr. Hagan addressed Council advising that he wished to address a previous comment from the public that the Shelor group were "out-of-towners". He advised that his wife grew up in Pulaski and the family still had that home. He added that the Shelor group owned approximately thirty million dollars-worth of property in Pulaski County. He advised that he had learned that the Mariners were not going to return to Pulaski. He continued that he had already had a meeting with another major league team that visited the park. He advised that the Appalachian League was working very hard to find another team quickly because they knew the amount of renovations that had to be done to the Park for next year. He added that there was no guarantee that Pulaski would get another team, however, he still planned to invest approximately two million dollars at the Park and approximately another million dollars in the Town. He urged Council to move forward for the best interest of the Town. Councilman East moved to authorize the Town Manager, in conjunction with the Town Attorney, to negotiate a final purchase agreement to be reviewed by Council at the September 16, 2014 Work Session. Councilman Penn 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 called a ten minute .recess. At 5:40 p.m., Mayor Worrell reconvened the meeting. The first item was the Consent Agenda. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the minutes of the August 5, 2014 Town Council meeting. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on voice vote. Next, Mr. Utt reviewed the draft Project Review Chart for Council. He advised that if Council found other issues that needed to be included in the chart, to inform him. Councilman East commended Mr. Pedigo on the paving work on Washington Avenue. He inquired when the Finance software would be up and running. Mr. Utt felt the program would be up and running by June 2015 at the latest. Councilman Penn advised that the height of some of the signs in the parking lots around Town needed to be adjusted because new cars ride higher. Mayor Worrell moved on to Old Business. The first item was Ordinance 2014-21, regarding unclaimed property. Mr. Utt advised that draft Ordinance 14-21 had been prepared as a result of discussions held at the August Work Session. He added that the.:Ordinance would allow the Town's Police Department to dispose of unclaimed property that was seized:~during police investigations. Page 3 of 4/September 2, 2014 Councilman Clark moved to adopt Ordinance 2014-21, Providing for the Disposal of Unclaimed Personal Property in Possession of the Police Department. Councilman East seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: 1 Heather L. Steele -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd - qye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye The next item on the agenda was discussion of the Loving Field Auctioneer agreement. Mr. Utt advised that two separate draft agreements from Woltz and Associates had been received. He explained the difference between the two drafts and asked Council which agreement they preferred. Following discussion, Councilman Clark moved to direct staff to prepare the paperwork to enter into the confirmation sale option with Woltz and Associates. Councilman Penn 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. Mr. Utt advised that one of the needs identified in the Joint Dispatch Operations study was the need to replace the handheld and vehicle radios from the current VHF to UHF to match the other agencies in the area. He added that security cameras at the doors were needed as well as some software changes. The resulting need was approximately $65,000. Following discussion, staff was asked to bring more information to the next Council Work Session. Next, Councilman Clark moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (A-7), Consult with legal counsel and briefings by staff, consultants. Possible litigation. 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 Council returned from Closed Session and adopted the Certification Resolution on motion by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Penn 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 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned on motion by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Kidd and carried on voice vote. Approved: rey S. Worrell, Mayor Page 4 of 4/September 2, 2014