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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/21/2012 - Regular MINUTES OF A COUNCIL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING OF VINTON TOWN COUNCIL HELD AT 6:30 P.M. ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2012, AT W, E. CUNDIFF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LOCATED AT 1200 HARDY ROAD,VINTON, VIRGINIA. MEMBERS PRESENT: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor Vice Mayor Carolyn D. Fidler Robert R.Altice William W. Nance MEMBERS ABSENT: Matthew S. Hare STAFF PRESENT: Christopher S. Lawrence, Town Manager Susan N. Johnson, Town Clerk Consuella Caudill, Assistant Town Manager/Economic Development Manager Ben Cook, Police Chief Joey Hiner, Assistant Public Works Director Christopher Linkous, Fire/EMS Captain Lauren Hodges, Facilities Manager Barry Thompson, Finance Director/Treasurer Anita McMillan, Planning and Zoning Director Mary Beth Layman, Special Programs Director Stephanie Dearing, Human Resources Director Mark Vaught, Police Lieutenant-Services Glenn Austin, Police Lieutenant-Patrol The Mayor opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. and welcomed everyone in attendance. He then invited any comments from citizens in attendance. Lynn Andrews of 208 Minnie Bell Lane indicated she would like to see a yellow dividing line on Preston Avenue. Traffic traveling down Fairmont onto Preston to get to Hardy Road has problems with oncoming traffic crossing the center of the road. Bob Andrews, also of 208 Minnie Bell Lane also indicated he has experienced the same problem and Vice Mayor Fidler commented on the road being narrow at that point. Ms. Andrews next mentioned the traffic in the morning on Hardy Road that is backed up from the intersection past the school. Traffic that is trying to turn right or left cannot because the intersection is blocked. If traffic coming westbound could be stopped a little bit longer and let the traffic on Hardy Road flow a little longer, it might help with the problem. Ms. Andrews then commented on a gray Ford Explorer on Tobias that is parked on the street every day and wonders if they are storing their car there. Mr. Nance asked if the stickers were kept up to date and Mr. Andrews responded he thinks they are. Chief Cook then responded that about two weeks ago the Department received a complaint and they talked with the owner of the vehicle. The stickers are up to date and he is legally parked. However, they are monitoring how long the vehicle is sifting there and if it is not moved for more than four days then they will address that. The other complaint was parking in front of the mailbox and the Postal Service said there is no federal law that says you cannot parr in front of someone's mailbox. Ms. Andrews then commented that there are a lot of Kids in their neighborhood and some people are not aware of this and drive too fast. The Town Manager there commented on the section in the Town Code that;states a vehicle cannot be parked for more than four days on the street. Paul St. Clair of 960 Colbourne Avenue and who also works at Vinton Appliance thanked the Town for painting the curbs downtown. He would life to see crosswalks back in the Town because in the morning people are not paying attention to pedestrians. Mr. St. Clair then commented on the parking issue in downtown, He indicated there are some merchants in downtown that still park in front of their businesses and are bragging that they do net get a ticket. He thinks if they would get a first ticket of 10, the next one of 50 and then get towed, it might help. Mr. t. Glair then commented on the light at Clearview. If you come down Clearview Avenue and get clown to the light and you are facing the new Family Cellar, he has seen people run the red light because it will not turn.. If you come out of Family dollar it changes, but not if you are coming down the hill. Mr. Altice indicated we need to raise the fees on parking to get their attention and Mr. t. Clair agreed. Vice Mayor Fidler commented about why people complain about the parking i Vinton but they will go to a shopping center and walk a mile. Mr. Nance then commented about trying to be pro-business and at the same time trying to please the citizens. There is parking available downtown if you are willing to walk a block and a half. If friendly reminders do not work, then he indicated you should go the next step by issuing parking tickets. Mr. St. Clair commented that the Town has sent letters out, but the merchants that are doing it are laughing that they do not get a ticket and that is not right: The law says you can park there two hours and some are parked there all day, every day that their businesses are open. Mr.Altice indicated that some go out and move their vehicles every two hours which' makes it hard to enforce. The Town Manager indicated that he` ill work with Public Works on the crosswalks issue to see what can be done not only in the downtown area but in other areas such as Washington Avenue. Regarding the parking, Town staff has sent two letters to business owners regarding parking. He indicated that no one on his staff is telling business owners that it is okay. He then commented that the ticket price was increased last year as part of the regular budget to $20, but new tickets were not ordered, so it has not been implemented. Council will officially adapt the new rates at their March 5, 2012 meeting and new tickets will be ordered to reflect the changes; 2 Chief Cook indicated that he has watched some of the business owners go out and move their vehicles every two hours to avoid getting a ticket. Mr. St. Clair commented that sometimes people call their stare and indicate that because they could not find parking close by; they went and made their purchase somewhere else; The Town Manager commented further about the available parking downtown. The issue of the light at Clearview was addressed by Joey Hiner: The light is timed after it is triggered. They have had a contractor look at it make some adjustments and it will be fine for four or five days and then resets itself again. We know w there is some sort of timing issue and we have even bumped up the sensitivity level. The 'Town ]Manager commented that part of the Hardy Road concern is linked back to the Clearview intersection. Mr. Hiner indicated that the problem seems to be the light at Bypass Road: The Town does not have a synchronized light system and it is very expensive. Mr. Hiner indicated that we have to look at timing issues and because Route 24 is a State road, it has to have a little more priority. Ms Andrews mentioned maybe putting up a sign that says"Do not black the intersection"would help. Mr. Hiner indicated they would review the issue on Preston of putting a yellow center line. He agreed that the crest is very steep. They did just recently put a white line on Fairmont because of complaints of the edge. Ms. Andrews commented that the owner of Leonard's Copy parks his truck behind his business on Fairmont and it is hard to see. The Mayor made comments about a pool of water for decades at the intersection of Aragona and Broad Hill that was very dangerous especially in the winter and the recent work than Public Works had done to alleviate the problem. Mr. Hiner commented that they had put in a dry well and that there are four of these wells in the Town. These systems seem to work well, but they do not drain immediately. You have to give it an hour or so to soak down. The Mayor expressed his appreciation to Public Works for addressing this problem and how effective it is. Town Staff and Council then introduced themselves to the audience. The Mayor calked the regular meeting to order at 7 16 pm. Roll Call The Clerk called the roll with Council Member Altice, Council Member Nance, Vice Mayor Fidler and Mayor Grose present. Mr. Hare was absent. The Mayor introduced the Moment of Silence and Mr. Altide led the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag. 3 Mr. Nance made.a motion to approve the consent agenda as Approved minutes of February 7, presented, the motion was seconded by Mr. Altice and carried by 2012 and adopted Resolution the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) - No. 1952 authorizing the Town Altice, Nance, Fidler, Grose; Nays (0),Absent(1). Manager to execute a Mutual Aid Agreement with Bedford County and Roanoke County for Emergency Fire and EMS Services Mr. Nance read a letter from Chief Cook naming Officer Timothy Lawless as Police Officer for the month of January, Under citizens' comments, Mr. St. Clair commented about the nursing home that is in his back yard and the noise that they make cleaning their hoods between 10:00 pm, and midnight. He has complained to the Police Department and they have responded, but it appears there is nothing that can be done. The Town Manager indicated that we could follow up with the facility. Ms, Andrews thanked the Town for the terrific refuse pick up and snow removal during the weekend snowfall, Officer Stephen Foutz arrived at the meeting and introduced himself. The next item on the agenda was a Public Hearing for citizen comments on the submission of the VA DHCD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the Downtown Business District Revitalization Project. The Town Manager gave a brief history of the grant application and then turned the meeting over to Anita McMillan for the report from staff. He indicated that we applied for the grant in March 2011, but the request was not funded. The biggest hurdle we struggle with is not having enough private investment partnerships, Ms. McMillan then made brief comments on the requirements of the grant to have two public hearings. There are three national objectives for the funding which are low and moderate income benefit; slum and blight elimination and urgent community development needs. The Town's application for $700,000 will focus on the area of slum and blight elimination. There is $19 million in CDBG funding available with $9 million allocated to competitive grants. In May of 2009 the Town received a $35,000 Planning Grant which they used to develop a Downtown Revitalization Master Plan. She mentioned the Downtown Management Team Meeting at the War Memorial on Friday, February 24, 2012 at 8.00 a.m.-and invited any business owners to attend. The second public hearing will be at the March 6, 2012 Council meeting. Mr. Andrews mentioned the blight property at the comer of Gus Nicks Boulevard and Pollard Street and Mr. Nance indicated that Council and staff were aware of that property and we are 4 diligently working to see what options the Town has to address the problem. Mr. Andrews asked if there are guidelines to entice businesses to change their fa ade. Ms. McMillan and Ms. Caudill commented on the current preferred design guidelines. However, Ms. Caudill indicated that they try to work with the property owners to try and comply with the guidelines as far as colors, uses and materials to try to preserve the architectural components that were a part of the Town back in the 40's and 50's when the majority of the buildings were built, Mr. Andrews then asked if there are any particular types of businesses that the Town is seeking to draw for the empty buildings or spaces; Ms. McMillan indicated that part of the planning grant identified types of businesses and a Market Retail Data Analysis was completed. Vice Mayor Fidler commented on new businesses that have come into the Town. Barney Arthur of 204 Minnie Bell Lane asked what are the disadvantages to obtaining this grant. What strings are the fells or state going to put on the grant? Ms. McMillan mentioned there will be matching funds required and a guarantee required that private investments will be there for the long term, not just funding from the Town. The Town Manager commented that some strings attached relate to minorities and the contract labor the Town would use. If some of the money is spent on housing, we may have to guarantee that the properties will be rented to low to moderate income individuals for a period of ten years. Ms. McMillan commented on the grant that the Town received back in early 2000 to purchase the property in flood-pruned areas and that the Town had to guarantee that they would not develop that property: Vice- Mayor Fidler commented on the gentleman who made the investment in Floyd and the Town Manager mentioned that we need these types of private investments in the Town. Ms. McMillan indicated that the Town will still receive comments and suggestions up to March 6, 2012. Mr. Andrews asked about the developers who have come here from Richmond and the Tidewater area to develop the properties in the City of Roanoke. Ms. Caudill indicated that Mr. Bill Chapman who is doing the lofts on Salem Avenue met with her, and took a tour of the Town. However, his feeling and those of other investors is that there has to be business investments to drive the residential investment in a community. The Mayor indicated that the Staff report went right into public public Hearing opened comments and considered that the Public Hearing was open. Pau St. Clair asked about any future plans for the Vinton Ford Motors property or is there anything that can be done to make it more presentable for visitors coming into the Town. He also commented on what is there to draw a family to Vinton, to keep a family in Vinton and what is the Town doing actively to improve the Town. He also thanked the churches that assisted with the pool and stated that there is nothing else in the Town for children to do, everything else is out in the County. The Mayor then responded that part of the planning grant that was mentioned earlier had three different options to develop the Vinton Ford Motors property, The current economic situation has affected the future development of the property. The Mayor indicated that although Roanoke County handles our parks and recreation activities, there are five parks within two miles of the Town and we do have the Greenway;. The Mayor then mentioned the quality of life, the low crime rate and that development was going well until the economy took downturn. He then commented on his first term as Mayor that the War Memorial was renovated and money was spent on some capital improvements for several of the Town departments. The purchase of the lunman property for the future Vinton Library Branch is a positive investment for our Town. Town staff has done a great job doing a lot with a reduced budget and has been able to maintain our care services. He thinks the Town has a great future but there are some challenges to maintain our quality life with a reduced budget. We are going to have to depend more on partnerships and volunteerism. Hearing no more comments, the Mayer Public Nearing closed closed the Public Nearing at 8:07 p.m: The Town Manager clarified that the second Public Nearing on the CDBG grant application will be at the March 6 2012 meeting and Council:will consider adoption of the resolution to allow us to apply for the grant. Comments from Council - Vice Mayor Fidler expressed agreement with the Mayor about the future of the Town and the positive impact the future library branch will have. Mr. Altice said that we are all struggling with the economy and that more partnerships are going to be needed. Mr. Nance expressed appreciation for the Neighborhood meetings; He stated that the Town cannot drive the engine of the economy, it takes private investors. The best use of the citizens' money over the past four years during the tight economy has been to maintain our core services. He mentioned Kroger's, Bojangle ; McDonald's, Burger King and other businesses who have invested new funds in their businesses and the fact that several other new businesses have opened in the Town. The Mayor commented on the Veterans' Monument and the fact that it was a citizen-driven project. Vice Mayor Fidler also mentioned the opening of The Charity Cottage. 6 Mr; St. Clair said there is no destination spot in the Town of Vinton like there was years ago to bring people to the Town. Ms. Andrews indicated that people will drive to other areas for good daces to eat. Vice Mayor Fidler moved that the meeting be adjourned, the motion was seconded by Mr. Nance and carried by the following vote; with all members voting, Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) -Altice, Nance; Fidler, Grose; Nays (0); Absent (1). The regular meeting was adjourned at 8: 17'p.m. APPROVED {n radley Et,6rose, Mayor tA Susan N. ,Johns t Town Clerk