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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/16/2012 - Regular MINUTES OF A COUNCIL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING OF VINTt N TOWN COUNCIL HELD AT :30 P.M. ON TU€SDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2012, AT TIFF LIVING WATER BAPTIST CHURCH OF VINTGN LOCATED AT 627 VALE AVENUE, VINTt N, VIRGINIA. MEMBERS PRESENT: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor William W. Nance, Vice Mayor 1. Douglas Adams, J . Robert R. Altice Matthew S. Hare STAFF PRESENT. Christopher S. Lawrence, Town Manager Susan N. Johnson, Executive Assistant/Town Clerk Stephanie Dearing, Human Resources Director Ben Cook, Police Chief Mary Vaught; Police Lieutenant Glenn Austin, Police Lieutenant Paul Harris, Police Sergeant Christopher Linkous, Fire/EMS Captain Chad Helms, Fire Lieutenant Barry Thompson, Finance Director/Treasurer Gary Woodson,n, Public Works Director Joey Hiner, Assistant Public Works Director Anita McMillan, Planning &Zoning Director Lary Seth Layman, Special Programs Director Kevin Kipp, War Memorial Facility Manager Ryan Spitzer, Assistant to the Town Manager(Guest) The Town Manager opened the meeting at 6:30 pm. and welcomed everyone in attendance. He commented on the walk through the neighborhood prior to the meeting and that the goal is to have an open meeting to listen to the concerns and questions from citizens. Stephanie Goodman of 52 Tinker Avenue, expressed appreciation to the Town for cleaning up across the street (the riparian buffer area . Elmer Kelly, a member of Midland Baptist Church, mentioned the storm -drain at the back of the Church that backs up every time it rains. The location of the Church is at 460 Dale Avenue. At this point in the meeting, all of Tern staff introduced themselves as well as Council. Ryan Spitzer, the new Assistant to the Town Manager, who will begin work on November 5"', introduced himself to the group. Kathryn Kelly mentioned that some of the residents in the neighborhood need to cut their grass. Ms. Goodman commented about the gun-shooting competition at the Fall Festival and the noise it created. She, along with others, had problems with their pets and it also hindered conversations with the vendors near that area. Mary Beth Layman commented that the Chamber sponsors the event and last year it was at a different location.. She will pass the information to the Chamber: 'l Mike Dishon of 210 g ' Street commented that on 8�h Street and Hill there is a lot of growth that is covering;the sidewalk. There being no further comments, the Mayor turned the meeting over to Rev. Greg Clement, pastor of the Church. Rev. Clement welcomed everyone to the meeting and led in prayer: The Mayor called the regular meeting to carer at 6 415 p.m. The Town Manager called the roll with Council Member Attains, Council Member Altice, Council Member Hare, Vice Mayor Nance and Mayor Grose present. The Mayor introduced the Moment of Silence and Mr. Altice led the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S; Flag. The Mayor read the items to be approved under the consent Approved minutes of October agenda. The Town Attorney indicated that Council cannot appoint 15, 2012; approved reappoint- Sabrina Weeks to the Highway Safety Commission because she ment of William Booth to the was recently appointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals and under Planning Commission for a new Virginia Code Section 15 2-2308 (A) she can hold no other public four-year term to expire office. At that time the consent agenda was amended to delete 10/31116. Item 2> (b). Mr. Adams made-a motion to approve the consent agenda as amended; the motion was seconded by Mr. Hare and carried by the fallowing vote, with all members voting: Vote -0; Yeas 5)--Adams, Altice, Flare, Nance, Grose; Nays(0)- None. Vice Mayor Nance read a letter from Chief Cook naming Sergeant 'Todd Bailey as Police Officer for the month of September 2012. Ben Cook, Police Chief; made brief comments can the recent National Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative that was held can September 29, 2012 in the Kroger parking lot. There were 126.8 pounds of prescription and other drugs collected. This event is` held at least every:six months and information on this event in the future can be found on the Town's Facebook page. The next item on the agenda was a Public Hearing can the proposed bridge loan with the VML/VACo Finance Program for the Made-Tinker Creek Wastewater Interceptor Placement- Phase 2 Project. Barry Thompson, Finance Director/Treasurer made brief comments on the loan indicating that an application had been submitted for a $500,000 bridge loan for the mentioned Project. The Town will have a need for additional financing in the next 18 months for a major project with the Western Virginia Water Authority and at that time this loan can be included in that financing. The loan will have a variable rate between 1.5% and 1.75%. After his report, the Mayor opened the Public Hearing at 7:03 p.m. Mr. Dishon asked how much extra money the Town has in the Bank and Mr. Hare responded that if all revenue was stopped, we would have enough to runt the town for about two and a half to three months.. Mr. bare also commented that the reason for 2 the bridge loan is that we have $300, 00 set aside for the Project, but the total is over $700,000. Vice Mayor Nance also commented that we probably have enough in our rainy day fund to cover this project, but then we would have no reserve for any future, unanticipated maintenance and repairs. It gives u financial flexibility. Mr. Thompson also commented that our bonding agency also looks at our cash reserves. Ms. Telly asked if the water in Palling Creek is safe and the response was that it is safe because it is continually tested; Tearing no further comments, the Public fearing was closed at 7:1t1 p.m. The next item on the agenda was to consider adoption of the Approved Resolution No. 1991 Resolution authorizing the Town Manager to execute the issuance authorizing the Town Manager to of a General Obligation Bond of the Town of Minton in a principal execute the issuance of a amount not to exceed $500,0 7C , providing for the form„ details General Obligation Bond of the and payment thereof, and authorizing certain related actions. Dice Town of Vinton in a principal Mayor Nance made a motion to adopt the Resolution as amount not to exceed $5 0,000, presented; the motion was seconded by Mr. Hare and carried by providing for the form, details the following roll call vote, with all remembers voting. Vote - ; and payment thereof, and Yeas(5)—Adams, Altice Hare, Nance, Grose; Nays(0)-None. authorizing certain related actions The Mayor again opened the floor for comments from other citizens. Trey Boyd of 720 2nd Street and owner of Scorpion Towing commented that for two years he had worked with Tanning and Zoning to find a lot suitable for his business and had worked with the Chief Cook to get on the police rotation list. He recently received a telephone call from Planning and Zoning indicating that he was not zoned correctly. He does not understand how it would change and he found documents on the Towns website indicating he is zoned correctly. The 'Town Manager commented that Mr. oyd`s business and another towing company, Request Towing, have both been added to the towing rotation. At the last Council meeting, Roger Overstreet addressed Council with several complaints, one of which included a complaint about Mr. Boyd's property.. Karla Turman contacted Mr. Boyd regarding some vehicles stored on the lot. The lot is permitted as a police impound lot and it has been reported that some vehicles on the lot do not fall in that category. The final result of the investigation is that from a land use perspective, both businesses are fine. One issue involves several vehicles that were moved into the lot at the request of another property owner because the Special Use hermit is only for a police impound lot, those that are police initiated; The original permit issued to Big ,John's in 2005 was specifically for a police impound lot. The other issue involves overgrowth alone the fence line. Mr. Boyd indicated that on the website it states that the Special Use Permit he has allows use for garages and for financial institutions (which would fall under repossessions) 3 and those vans are from a financial institution. The Town Manager explained that the Code establishes what can be allowed by a Special Use Permit; but the ultimate permit approved by Council can restrict the permitted uses. After further discussion and the advice that Mr. Boyd could apply to expand the Special Use Permit, he indicated he would do that. Vice Mayor Nance asked if more uses were requested in 2005 but Council limited the use to only police impound. Anita McMillan indicated that the application from Big John Towing was specifically for a police impound lot and council approved it for that purpose only. Mr. Boyd then stated that the G1S system on the Internet shows his property zoned as M- , but everyone says he is 11-1. He also indicated that he told Planning and Zoning he would be doing repossessions, impounds and storing cars and they advised it was perfectly fine. He has signed a year's lease on the property. Mr. Hare asked Mr. Boyd if he was aware of the Special Use Permit and he responded yes, that Planning and Zoning gave him the Permit. The Town Manager responded that the permit does specifically say police impound lot and that it was provided to Mr. Boyd. Mr. Boyd then mentioned that he is only to held police impounded vehicles for 30 days, but some are required to be there for 60 days. The Town Manager responded that even though the code says 30 days, the police have some discretion in those instances. The Town does have another lot that the vehicles can be moved to if necessary. Vice Mayor Dance asked how lone would an application to amend that Special Use Permit take and lbs. McMillan responded from a month and a half to two months. It has to go through the Planning Commission and then to council for final approval, Mr. Hare asked if his business was being shut down for two months and the response was no. Ms. McMillan indicated they would be glad to assist him with the application. The Mayor asked if the concern about the weeds on the fence was being addressed and Mr, Boyd responded yes. Mr. Dishon indicated that he owned four lots on Hill Street, two of which have houses on them. He was told that he cannot sell the lets separately and he does not understand because he is paying taxes separately on each lot. The Town Manager responded that it may relate to what a minimum lot size is under the zoning ordinance, but staff will have to check on it. The next item on the agenda was a further update on a 1ICT Revenue Sharing Grant application for the Glade Creek Greenway. ids. McMillan indicated that she had worked with an engineer and based on the highest estimate, if environmental documentation is needed, the total project would be $162,000.00 if we apply for $75,000 from VI DOT, which requires a 50% match, and apply the contribution of $50,000 4 from Novozymes; the contribution from the town would be $82, 00.00: A consensus is needed from Council to proceed with the application which is due to VDOT by Friday. The check has already been received from Novozymes. The Town Manager indicated this would be 0.3 miles from Virginia Avenue to Walnut Avenue, Vice Mayor Nance asked that if the VDOT grant slid not come through, would we be on the hook for the cost of the entire project. Ms. McMillan responded no, the revenue sharing funds are on a reimbursement basis, under no obligation to do the project. Vice Mayor dance asked ablaut the recommendation of paving of the greenway, which is a major part of the cost, and Ms. McMillan commented that since we are connecting two paved areas„ they would like for it to be paved. The 10 foot width is a standard width throughout the Roanoke Valley for greenways. Vice Mayor Dance asked if the cost involved provided for any parking and the response was that they could apply again for site improvement. The Town owns the vacant parcel across from the site and it might be e possibility for parking, but we are also considering this a neighborhood greenway and hope that people will walk to the greenway without having to strive. Janet Scheid„ the Town's Greenway representative, was present at the meeting and indicated her support for the project. Mr. blare, who is also on the Greenway Commission, asked if a greenway has been built before without a trail head and the response was that because of this short section of greenway, there is not e real need for a parking area at this time. Mr. Altice made a motion to approve the request. The Mayor asked for a Consensus to proceed with general consensus from Council tonight and the official action application to VDOT for revenue will be taken at the November 0, 2012 meeting. Mr. Altice sharing funds for the Made withdrew his motion and Council Members indicated their Creek Greenway consensus to proceed. The next item on the agenda was are update on the VDOT T funding for. the Walnut Avenue Bridge project. The Town Manager commented that VDOT is ready to move forward with the advertising for the project. The proposal is to build a new bridge beside the old one and then tear down the old bridge. This is to keep traffic flowing during construction. The bridge was originally estimated to cost $2.7 million, but now is a $3. million project. The Town currently has $ 00,000 set aside to fund our second priority project; which is the 8 ' Street intersection. VDOT needs us to allow this funding to be added to this project and needs the Town's consensus. Vice Mayer Consensus to allow VDOT to Nance asked if this would require an official Resolution at a later transfer $ 00,000 from our date and the response was no; just authorization to move these second priority project to the funds to this first priority. Mr. Altice commented that the new Walnut Avenue Bridge project bridge will have sidewalks on both sides and an actual bike lane: Council gave their consensus. 5 The Mayor expressed thanks to the Church for hosting the meeting and thanked staff for their attendance. He also commented on the Fall Festival, the new police vehicles and the new ! -g Unit. Chief Cook commented that Officer Foutz and lax are in their last week of training and will graduate this week. Mary Woodson, Public forks Director, made comments abort the Glade-Tinker Creek Wastewater Interceptor Placement-Phase Project and mentioned that an update along with a slideshw will be put on the Town's website. The Mayor commented on the new AFP transmission line as well as the $700,000 C ?BC Grant' for improvements to the downtown area and the recent approval by Roanoke County of the funding for the A & F drawings of the proposed new Vinton branch of the library. Comments from Council embers: Vice Mayor Nance expressed thanks to the Chamber for the Fall Festival and to the Church for hosting the meeting.. He also indicated that the Finance Committee meeting date will need to be changed since that is election day. Mr. Adams also commented on the Fall Festival and expressed thanks to the Church and the citizens who came to the meeting. The Mayor directed the Town Attorney to prepare the necessary Ordinance to amend the Town Code to dissolve the Fair Housing Board. The Town Manager mentioned that there are other resources in the Roanoke Malley and that the Mate has a Fair Housing Board that we can refer citizens to for help with issues. Vice Mayor Nance moved that the meeting be adjourned, the motion was seconded by Mr. Hare and carried by the following vote, with all members voting. Vote -0, Yeas (5) — Adams, Altce, blare, lance, Grose; Nays (0) — None.. The regular meeting was adjourned at 7-57 p.m. A { V radley rose; o A T: Susan N. Johnso , Town Clerk