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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/16/2013 - RegularMEMBERS PRESENT: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor William W. Nance, Vice Mayor 1. Douglas Adams, Jr. Robert R. Altice STAFF PRESENT: Christopher S. Lawrence, Town Manager Susan N. Johnson, Town Clerk Elizabeth Dillon, Town Attorney Gary Woodson, Public Works Director Anita McMillan, Planning & Zoning Director Joey Hiner, Assistant Public Works Director Mary Beth Layman, Special Programs Director The Mayor called the work session to order at 6:00 p.m. The first item related to a briefing on the Western Virginia Regional Industrial Facility Authority. The Town Manager that was held in February where seven of the surrounding localities met to assess how our region is positioning itself for today and the future economy. A specific focus was on industrial manufacturing and the key conclusion was that our region as a whole is lacking in certain industrial assets, primarily those 100+ acre properties that could be developed as industrial sites. Following the summit, each locality designated a representative to participate in a task force and in March Council directed the Town Manager to be the Town's representative. This task force has been working with the Roanoke Regional Partnership and has been able to identify a section in the State Code that allows local governments to establish industrial facility authorities. Such an Authority already exists in Southwest Virginia in Montgomery County called Virginia's First Industrial Facility Authority; however, the decision was to create our own rather than join this one. Roanoke, Botetourt, Franklin and Montgomery Counties, the Cities of Salem and Roanoke and the Town are currently considering being a part of this Authority, Once created, there will be some operational expenses and the Roanoke Regional Partnership has agreed to oversee the Authority and Beth Doughty has agreed to be the Executive Director, We will then be able to create committees comprised of participants that wish to proceed with the development of a ,;pecific site. All members of the Authority will have the ,*ption of participating in each project and sharing in the costs as well as the resulting revenues of a specific project. The task force perspective is that if any locality can land a 100+ acre industrial site it will be advantageous to our region as a whole. Again, the Town will have the option each time to decide if we should participate or not. The Town Manager further commented that Council needs to make a decision as to whether or not they will participate in the creation • the Authority. We are trying to have the structure created by the end of August so we can proceed looking for available sites. It is staffs recommendation that we participate since we will have the ability to control our level of participation and our costs. Vice Mayor Nance commented that he to not see any I drawbacks from this type of regional cooperation especially since participation would not obligate us financially to any project that was developed. We can make a determination on case b se asis n f R forward. Based on our current percentage of 4% in other regional initiatives, we would probably be looking at around $10,000 or less a year for our participation. 9 specifically. Mr. Nance stated that he does recall that this is an initiative that Mr. Hare has brought up a couple of times and wonders if another informal polling of Council would be in order, In summary the Town Manager commented that he will check with Mr. Hare and re -affirm the numbers in support of the initiative. If Mr. Hare has a sincere interest, then the matter will be brought back to Council for further consideration. The Work Session ended at 6:45 p.m. Council recessed until 7.00 p.m. The Mayor called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 Roll Call p.m. The Town Clerk called the roll with Council Member Adams, Council Member Altice, Vice Mayor Nance, and Mayor Grose present. Council Member Hare was absent After a Moment of Silence Mr. Altice led the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag. Vice Mayor Nance made a motion that the consent � agenda be approved as presented; the motion was seconded Approved minutes of the July 2, by Mr. Adams and carried by the following vote, with all 2013 Council meeting and cost of members voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) — Adams, Altice, Nance, living increase for the Town Grose; Nays (0) — None; Absent (1) - Hare. Manager in the amount of 1.5% I M, Mm e back the Town Manager for addressing the problem in the back of his property and coming up with a resolution. He then asked what was going to happen with the sign at the corner of the alley. The Town Manager responded that staff has discussed the sign with Mr. Gross and we are working together to re- distribute the signage on the poles to allow that visual line of sight down the street. Glen Gross of 725 South Pollard Street stated that he does have a permit and he spent over $1,000 on the sign. He said he will raise it up some and lower the bottom part so anyone can see through it, The real problem is all the harassments by Mr. Overstreet. The Mayor commented that if there is a concern that Council can help with, they will be glad to listen to him, However, a Council meeting is not the place for people to work out their personal differences. Vice Mayor Nance expressed thanks to Mr, Gross for his willingness to work with Planning and Zoning to eliminate any traffic hazards with his sign, El The next item on the agenda was to consider adoptioM of a Resolution authorizing the Town Manager to execu two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) betwe Roanoke County Board of Supervisors and the Vint 0>1 Town Council for providing Stormwater Management PI Review Services and Stormwater Management Faciliti Post -construction Inspection Services to the Town. I Anita McMillan commented that the Town has been working with Roanoke County to have them provide us with stormwater management review and facilities post - construction inspection services. Because we are an MS-4 community, effective July 1, 2014, we have to start submitting Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) permits to the State. In the past we have been contracting private engineering firms to do our review. The fee schedule was furnished to Council in their agenda package. Ms. McMillan stated that a regional subcommittee comprised of Roanoke County, Cities of Roanoke and Salem and the Town will be meeting to review the current fee schedules of each jurisdiction. By July of 2014, each locality must start receiving th4 VSMP permits for any property that is an acre or more. The locality will retain 72% of the permit fee and 28% will Oo to the State. The Town Manager commented that there are two advantages to this approach —continuity of service and less expensive than hiring an on -staff engineer or continuing to use a private engineering firm. Ms. McMillan next commented on the facilities post - construction inspection services of $75 per hour with minimum charge of $150. The County will also inspect the Town's facilities which is required under our stormwater permit. The Town owns four stormwater facilities, but there gre approximately 42 in the Town. We are required to inspect the private facilities as well. as presented; the motion was seconded by Mr. Alti and carried by the following roll call vote, with all membe, voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) — Adams, Altice, Nance, Grosi. None; Absent (1) - Hare. 1- The next item on the agenda was to consider adopti• of a Resolution authorizing the Town Manager to execute Programmatic Project Administration Agreement with t Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and oth I applicable documents necessary for Glade Cre Greenway Project. Adopted Resolution No. 20 authorizing the Town Manager execute two Memorandums Understanding (MOUs) betwe Roanoke County Board Supervisors and the Vinton To Council for providing Stormwat Management Plan Revie Services and Stormwat Management Facilities Pos construction Inspection Servic to the Town 6i Ms. McMillan commented that in 2012 Council authorized the Town Manager to submit an application for VDOT r 4*iru, Glade Creek Greenway from Walnut Avenue to Virginia Avenue. We have been notified that we have been awarded the funds in the amount of $81,000 which requires a 50% match from the Town. The match will be made up of $31,000 of Town funds and $50,000 from Novozymes Biologicals for a total project cost of $162,000. The Town is required to execute a Programmatic Project Administration Agreement for the funds, Ms. McMillan further commented that we hope to have a kick-off meeting with VDOT in early August and complete the project by May of 2015. The Town Manager commented that once the project design has been completed, Council will be asked to award the actual Adopted Resolution No. 2027 contract and approve the funds. Ms. McMillan stated authorizing the Town Manager to these grant funds will be on a reimbursement basis. execute a Programmatic Project Administration Agreement with Mr. Altice made a motion that the Resolution be approved as the Virginia Department of presented; the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Nance Transportation (VDOT) and other and carried by the following roll call vote, with all members applicable documents necessary voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) — Adams, Altice, Nance, Grose; for Glade Creek Greenway None; AbsentProject The next item on the agenda was to consider adoption of a Resolution re -appropriating $3,000.00 received from the Foundation for Roanoke Valley and $500.00 received from Member One to utilize for implementation of a SNAP/EBT program at the Vinton Farmers' Market. Mary Beth Layman commented that the donations made in 2012; however, the implementation had to postponed until the 2013 season because the E machine was not received until mid -October. We a ready to implement the program on July 201h at t Farmer's Market. Approximately $1,800 of the funds will used for staffing and $1,700 for the matching funds for t SNAP/EBT purchases, The customers will purcha tokens with their SNAP cards and we will match dollar IfI tollar up to $10. Mr. Altice made a motion that the Resolution be approved as presented; the motion was seconded by Mr. Adams. Vice Mayor Nance commented that the date of June 30, Adopted Resolution No. 2028 re- 2013 in the first whereas paragraph should be June 30, appropriating $3,000.00 received 2012. Mr. Altice agreed to amend his motion that the from the Foundation for Roanoke Resolution be approved as corrected-, the amended motion Valley and $500.00 received from was seconded by Mr. Adams and carried by the following Member One to utilize for roll call vote, with all members voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) — implementation of a SNAP/EBT Adams, Altice, Nance, Grose; Nays (0) — None; Absent (1) program at the Vinton Farmers' - Hare. Market. The next item on the agenda was to consider adoption #f a Resolution appropriating $1,500 to the Special Programs expenditure account for reimbursement of Vinton Farmers' Market vendors for SNAP and debit token ,A-urchases as detailed in the current budget to properly reflect the source of funds for this expense. Mr. Adams asked if the tokens could be purchased anyone and the response was that SNAP customers c purchase the $1 increment tokens. There is a $5 tok available for anyone to purchase by using their debit car] The $5 token will not be matched by the Town, Mr. Adams made a motion that the Resolution be approved as presented; the motion was seconded by Mr. Altice d carried by the following roll call vote, with all members voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) — Adams, Altice, Nance, Grose; None; Absent Ms. Layman commented that the program will begin this Saturday, July 201h and they will be getting information out to locations like Manna Ministry, Social Services, and areas where they think there are clients that can take advantage of the program, Shake, Bake & Sprout will also be at the Farmers' Market this Saturday. The next item on the agenda was to consider adoption of a Resolution authorizing the payment of $20,000 as the Town's portion of the $60,000 payment required for the early termination of the lease between the County of Roanoke and B, Wayne Dunman and Rebecca J. Dunman for property located at 304 Pollard Street, the site of the new Vinton Library branch. The Town Manager commented that the original lease lj agreement between Roanoke County and Mr, Dunman was for three years. The project is now moving along at a faster pace than originally planned two years ago and we now need to accelerate the time that Mr. Dunman will evacuate the property. Currently there is a year left on the lease and the County negotiated with Mr. Dunman to get out of the lease for the sum of $60,000. This will allow for the demolition of the building in October and then construction is estimated to begin around February 2014. The County did a cost benefit analysis and evaluated construction costs and their indices and the bottom line was even though it is costing $60,000 to buy out the lease, the longer it takes to build the library based on construction market indices, it will cost more to wait 12 more months. Council was briefed on this item earlier and we agreed to partner with the County up to $20,000. This would come *ut of the contingency account that was built into the Adopted Resolution No. 2029 appropriating $1,500.00 to the Special Programs expenditure account for reimbursement of Vinton Farmers' Market vendors for SNAP and debit token purchases as detailed in the current budget to properly reflect the source of funds for this expense N budget for FY2014, The Town Manager further' commented that Mr. Dunman has purchased the old Wise potato chip building on Walnut Avenue and will be relocating his business to that facility. Vice Mayor Nance commented that when we were first discussing the possibility of the library moving out of Town and our ability to keep it in Town, we were talking about construction six to eight years later. Now we are talking about destruction of that building • two and a half years after that process started. Mr. Nance further commented that government cannot be the engine that pulls the economy it has to be private industry, However, the government is responsible for laying the track for that engine. This Council has been aggressive in attempting to do that and it shows that we are serious about this Town continuing to grow and flourish and this is a wise investment of the taxpayers' money. Other Council Members and the Mayor commented how great an investment this is. The Mayor further commented that Adopted Resolution No. 2030 accelerating this project also allows the construction of the authorizing the payment of library to proceed at the same time we are doing our $20,000 as the Town's portion of downtown revitalization program. the $60,000.00 payment required for the early termination of the Vice Mayor Nance made a motion that the Resolution be lease between the County of approved as presented; the motion was seconded by Roanoke and B. Wayne Dunman Mr. Adams and carried by the following roll call vote, with and Rebecca J. Dunman for all members voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) — Adams, Altice, property located at 304 Pollard Nance, Grose; Nays (0) — None; Absent (1) - Hare. Street, the site of the new Vinton Library branch The next item on the agenda was to consider approval of the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding dated June 6, 2010 between the Town and Roanoke County for Emergency 911 services. The Town Manager commented that in 2010 we worked out a partnership for Roanoke County to provide our Emergency 911 Services. As part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), we review the budget every year and we review the cost formula every three years. The formula is based on the number of calls that come into the 911 Center and the number of incidents and averages them out to derive at a percentage. A review of the past three years shows that we are in line with the current formula and no change is recommended. Council is being asked to approve the renewal of the MOU with no changes. After additional comments from Council, Mr. Altice made a motion to approve the renewal of the Memorandum of 1 Approved the renewal of the Understanding; the motion was seconded by Mr. Adams Memorandum of Understanding and carried by the following roll call vote, with all members dated June 6, 2010 between the voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) — Adams, Altice, Nance, Grose; Town and Roanoke County for Nays (0) — None; Absent (1) - Hare. Emergency 911 services 8 Under update on old business, the Town Manager commented that this section has been added to the agenda to give a report for the record on items that are brought up in Council meetings for follow-up. The old business item from the last meeting related to Mr. Overstreet and his business on S. Pollard Street. There were some violation issues regarding the screening of his property. After further review and investigation, it was decided that the existing fence/gate sufficiently screens the inoperable vehicles from public right-of-way. Three buildings screen the rest of the property from the public right-of-way. Mr. Overstreet cleaned up his property and we sent him a written response, The concern regarding Mr. Gross'sign has also been resolved. The Town Manager then commented on the recent storm and the initiative that was taken by our staff and th volunteer fire and rescue squads during the storms. W did not lose any Town equipment as a result of the storms Dave Jones of Southern States expressed concern to m tX?t Xe w2,s A,#t c*,At?.ctei ?*Ve �t*sv,4ility *f that area. As a result of our conversation, Chief Cook i working with the Roanoke County automated alert syste to see if we can populate it with emergency contac information for a defined area so in the future we will b able to those in that area of potential flooding issues. The Mayor expressed appreciation to staff for the[ extra efforts during the recent storm events. He stated tha the Vinton -Roanoke County Veterans Monument is now covered by the Town's insurance policy. The last of the public meetings on the Vinton Library branch will be at the War Memorial on August 1 5th at 7 p.m. His last comments were on the July 4 Ih event and what a success it was this year. All the comments he received were positive and thanks to all who were involved in this event. Comments from Council: Vice Mayor Nance commented on the reception this Thursday at the War Memorial on the release of The Vinton Pride publication and also the success of the July 4 Ih event. Mr. Altice also commented on the July 0 event and on the initiative taken by the Town several years ago on the flood issue and how it has made a difference especially in the Gladetown area. Mr. Adams also expressed thanks for the success of the July 4 Ih event. He mentioned that he has been asked to work with the Fall Festival Committee this year and the Chamber has some new ideas for this year. Mr. Adams asked about the obstruction of view by the business on the corner of Pollard and Jackson and the Town Manager responded that we are already working on the issue. Mr. Adams also asked about the buzzard M situation on 3d Street, the stop sign to be placed at Preston and Fairmont and the barriers that were going to be put on Virginia Avenue at Glade Street. Mary Beth Layman commented that the event Thursday night is being hosted by Leisure Publishing and everyone is invited to the twilight swim and community dinner at the Pool on Wednesday night, weather permitting, from 6 to 8 at a cost of $1 per person. Also, the Vinton Vision Committee has received $2,500 from Woodman of the World that will go to the endowment fund for the High Ground Monument. The Town Manager commented on the paving schedule for the Thursday and Friday of this week and Monday through Friday of the next week. Vice Mayor Nance made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Mr. Adams and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) — Adams, Altice, Nance, Grose; Nays (0) — None; Absent (1) - Hare. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p,m. A IIT* Susan N. JohnsonAown Clerk all