Jan 23, 2023 Town Council

DID

[00:00:01]

[1. MOMENT OF SILENCE]

I AM GONNA CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, JANUARY 3RD.

UM, THE 23RD, SORRY, 23RD, 2023.

WE, UM, THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS A MOMENT OF SILENCE, AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UM, AND AS WE ALL OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE DURING THIS TIME, I HUMBLY REQUEST THAT YOU INCLUDE THIS COUNCIL AS WELL AS YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR PRAYERS.

ALSO, WARREN COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE LOST A DISTRICT CHIEF THIS MORNING.

IF YOU WERE NOT AWARE, UM, MR. LARRY CROSS, SO PLEASE KEEP HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COLLEAGUES IN YOUR PRAYERS.

[2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS, UH, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

BUT, UH, I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS.

SO, MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT I'M A 33 YEAR VETERAN TEACHER, AND I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR GOVERNMENT TO BE BETTER PREPARED FOR THE ROLE THEY WILL PLAY IN IT ONE DAY.

SO, FOR THIS REASON, I WILL BE INVITING STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL TO LEAD OUR COUNCIL IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

AT EACH OF OUR REGULAR COUNCIL MEETINGS DURING MY TERM IS MAYOR, I PLAN TO SELECT ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE EDUCATED IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE HOMESCHOOLED.

I'LL INTRODUCE THEM, TELL YOU A LITTLE ABOUT THEM, HAVE THEM LEAD COUNCIL IN THE PLEDGE, AND THEN PRESENT THEM WITH A CERTIFICATE, AS WELL AS A GIFT CARD, UH, THAT I PURCHASED FROM ONE OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT OFFER BAKED GOODS AND OR ICE CREAM.

I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE POPULAR WITH THEM.

SO THESE INCLUDE DOWN HOME COMFORT BAKERY GARCIA, AND GINO CNC FROZEN TREATS, UH, DL CAMPUS COFFEE AND ICE CREAM, AND SPLUNKERS.

SO, OUR FIRST STUDENT IS SOMEONE WHO'S VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO ME, MS. SAGE JACKSON.

SAGE, CAN YOU COME FORWARD JUST RIGHT THERE? SO, SAGE IS MY GREAT NIECE, AND SHE ACCOMPANIED ME FOR MOST OF THE DAY AT THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY.

SHE GOT A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT THE VOTING PROCESS.

SAGE IS THE DAUGHTER OF SARAH ATHE JACKSON, AND ERIN JACKSON.

SAGE IS A FOURTH GRADER AT HILDA, J BARBARA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

SAGE IS ON THE ALL HONOR ROLL, IS A MEMBER OF THE CHORUS AND SERVES AS THE TREASURER OF THE EARLY ACT CLUB.

IN HER SPARE TIME, SHE ENJOYS PLAYING SOFTBALL FOR THE FRONT ROYAL FIRE 10 U TEAM.

THANK YOU SAGE, FOR PARTICIPATING AND ASSISTING THE COUNCIL TONIGHT BY LEADING US ALL IN THE PLEDGE.

ARE YOU READY? OKAY.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR GOD.

IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING, SHE PICKED SPLUNKERS

[3. ROLL CALL]

MS. PRESLEY, ARE YOU READY FOR A ROLL CALL? MAYOR COCKRELL.

HERE.

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? HERE.

COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS? HERE.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? HERE.

COUNCILMAN ROGERS.

HERE.

VICE MAYOR.

SEAK.

MAYOR.

OKAY, MADAM.

[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT.

COUNSEL, APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 12TH, 2022, SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 9TH AND JANUARY 17TH, AND WORK SESSION MINUTES OF JANUARY 9TH, 2023 AS PRESENTED.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

OKAY.

ROLL CALL.

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES.

COUNCILMAN MORRIS? YES.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES.

COUNCILMAN ROGERS? YES.

VICE MAYOR SEAK? YES.

OKAY.

NEXT

[5. ADDITION/DELETION OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA]

[00:05:01]

OKAY.

UH, I MOVE THAT TOWN COUNCIL, DELETE AGENDA ITEM SEVEN C FROM TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

SECOND.

OKAY.

I HAVE A FIRST AND I HAVE A SECOND.

UH, ROLL.

WE, YEP.

WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL.

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES.

COUNCILMAN MORRIS? YES.

COUNCILMAN RAPAPORT? YES.

COUNCILMAN ROGERS.

VICE MAYOR.

SEAK? YEAH.

OKAY.

SO MOVED.

ITEM SEVEN C WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA.

UH,

[6. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS]

AND I BELIEVE FIRST UP IS CHIEFS.

YOU GOT YOURSELF A CROWD THERE, .

YEAH, HE DOES.

MM-HMM.

EVERY ONE.

ABSOLUTELY.

HOW ARE YOU? IS THERE ANYBODY ON THE STREET? YEP.

I GOTTA GAGGLE.

SHE'S COMING.

SHE'S COMING.

SHE'S COMING.

SHE GETS HER OWN NIGHT.

SHE GETS HER OWN NIGHT.

MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

UM, ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THIS TYPE OF A PRESENTATION WHERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT, UH, SOME NEW FOLKS THAT WE'VE BROUGHT ON AND FOLKS THAT WE'RE MOVING INTO DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE, UH, OF THE DEPARTMENT.

UH, AS Y'ALL KNOW, KEVIN, NICE.

WARNER, OUR FORMER MAJ, UH, MA MAJOR.

YOU'RE THE MAYOR.

FORMER MAJOR.

JUST RETIRED, UH, AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

AND HE'S, UM, HE'S FLOOR TO BOUNDS.

SO AFTER 30, ALMOST 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL, HE'S, UH, HE'S HANGING UP HIS SPURS AND, AND HEADING DOWN TO THE, UH, TO THE GULF COAST, UH, TO HANG OUT.

SO THAT'S CREATED A BIT OF A VACUUM, UH, WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

AND HIM BEING NUMBER TWO, WE HAD TO MOVE SOME THINGS ALONG.

SO, UM, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THIS ONE AT A TIME.

WE'RE GONNA START KIND OF WITH OUR NEWER ADDITIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT, UH, AND MOVE ON TO SOME OF THE SENIOR PROMOTIONS.

UM, SO FIRST WE HAVE OFFICER J JACOB DODSON.

UH, HE CAME TO US LAST YEAR AND COMPLETED THE POLICE ACADEMY AND HIS FIELD TRAINING AND HAS SINCE BEEN RELEASED AND IS, UH, NOW OUT ON THE STREETS OF, UH, FRONT ROYAL SERVING AND PROTECTING.

UH, AND HE WENT TO, UM, HE WENT TO THE POLICE ACADEMY WITH, UH, OFFICER WILLIAMSON RIGHT THERE NEXT TO HIM.

OFFICER WILLIAMSON ACTUALLY STARTED A LITTLE BEFORE OFFICER DOTSON.

HE CAME TO US AS A COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, AND HE WORKED IN OUR DISPATCH CENTER, UH, FOR A TIME BEFORE HE, UH, HE ELECTED TO, UH, TO, UH, BECOME A POLICE OFFICER.

UH, AND AGAIN, COMPLETED HIS SAME, SAME TRAINING.

THESE TWO GENTLEMEN HAVE BEEN OUT ON THE STREET SINCE, UM, WHEN YOU GUYS GET RELEASED, SEPTEMBER.

SO LAST FALL THEY GOT RELEASED FROM FTO AND HAVE BEEN, UH, ACTING IN FULL CAPACITY ON THEIR OWN.

UM, THEN WE HAVE OFFICER JACK WEAVER.

UH, OFFICER WEAVER CAME TO US, UH, JUST RECENTLY, BUT HE'S BEEN A POLICE OFFICER WITH THE CITY OF WINCHESTER, UH, SINCE LAST YEAR.

UH, BUT OFFICER, OFFICER WEAVER IS A FRONT ROYAL, A FRONT ROYAL NATIVE, AND WANTED TO COME BACK HOME TO US.

SO, UH, WE WELCOME HIM BACK AS WE, UH, AS WE LIKE TO DO.

UM, SO MOVING FORWARD FROM OUR, UH, POLICE OFFICERS, I'VE GOT, UH, UH, MICHAEL GALLAGHER DOWN HERE WAS FORMALLY A MASTER POLICE OFFICER'S.

BEEN PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF CORPORAL, UH, WHICH WAS, THAT HOLE WAS CREATED BY SERGEANT TONY KLINGMAN DOWN THERE.

IT WAS, UH, FORMALLY OUR CORPORAL.

AND HE, UH, WENT THROUGH THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR SERGEANT AND WE CHOSE TO, UH, TO PROMOTE TONY.

SO WE, WE, WE HAVE HIM OUT RUNNING A SQUAD.

NOW, AGAIN, AS THE VACUUM CONTINUES, WE HAD A, UH, ANOTHER, UH, HOLE TO FILL IN OUR COMMAND STAFF, UH, AT WHICH POINT WE HAD A SELECTION PROCESS AND SERGEANT BRIAN WHITED WAS PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN.

SO BRIAN'S GONNA BE, UH, HANDLING THE LOGISTICS CAPTAIN, UH, PART OF OUR ORGANIZATION.

UM, CAPTAIN KLEIN, WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY IN THAT POSITION, IS GONNA MOVE OVER AND SHE'LL BE HANDLING OPERATIONS.

UH, AND THEN OUR OPERATIONS CAPTAIN, UH, USED TO BE RUN BY NOW, MAJOR JASON RYMAN.

UH, HE STEPPED UP AND HE'S, HE'S, UH, GONNA BE THE MAJOR IN THE DEPARTMENT MOVING FORWARD.

SO, QUITE A BIT OF MOVEMENT.

WE'VE GOT SOME NEW FACES, UH, AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU, JOE.

HR COUNSEL.

WE'RE ACTUALLY BULLY STAFF.

I'M NOT GONNA SAY IT TOO LOUD.

HEY, WE'VE CURRENTLY GOT TWO OFFICERS THAT ARE STILL, UH, THAT ARE STILL ON FTO THAT JUST CAME OUT OF THE ACADEMY LAW NOT

[00:10:01]

BUT RIGHT NOW, UM, AND I'M, I, I AM PROUD TO SAY IT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT, THAT ARE OPERATING, UH, WITH A FULL PATROL, UH, FULL ENFORCEMENT STAFF.

AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE, WE ARE, UM, I DO HAVE ONE VACANCY IN THE, UM, IN THE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY HAPPY ABOUT WHERE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING THE, UH, RECRUITMENT, RETENTION TO.

AND WE'RE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT.

AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP TRYING TO MOVE THAT FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN, UM, ATTRACT QUALIFIED PEOPLE LIKE, LIKE THESE GENTLEMEN HERE, AND, UH, RETAIN ALL THAT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE INSTEAD OF LETTING IT WALK OUT THE DOOR.

CUZ WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO STAFF THIS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO STAFF THIS FROM IN-HOUSE AND THAT'S AWESOME.

SO WE CERTAINLY DO APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

SO I'D JUST LIKE FOR YOU TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF THESE GUYS FOR COMING ON BOARD.

YEAH.

DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB.

WE'RE ACTUALLY YES, INDEED.

ABSOLUTELY, BROTHER.

YES, SIR.

YEAH.

YEAH.

THAT'D BE NICE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

CONGRATULATIONS.

YEAH, I KNOW, RIGHT? .

THANK YOU, SIR.

ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH.

HILLARY'S GONNA HAVE TO HILLARY LIKE STAND, SHE'S GONNA HAVE TO STAY IN A MILE AWAY.

YEAH.

THANK CHAIRS FULLY STAFFED.

HAVEN'T HEARD THAT.

I KNOW SINCE I'VE BEEN ON CAMPUS COUNCIL, SO I'M JUST, WE'RE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.

WE'RE KNOCK ON ALL THE WOOD WE'VE GOT THERE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

, THAT'S KNOCK ON ALL THE WOOD.

SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO LET, UM, COUNCIL KNOW YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED, UH, A VERY ROUGH DRAFT REPORT.

UH, OUR ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2022.

IT'S STILL BEING, UH, WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THE NUMBERS WITH, UH, OVERDOSES.

THINGS LIKE THAT COME FROM THE TASK FORCE.

UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE CULMINATING ALL THOSE.

I HOPE TO HAVE EVERYTHING COMPLETELY SQUARED AWAY AND PUSHED OUT TO YOU GUYS, UH, IN THE NEXT COMING DAYS.

AND WE HOPE TO PUBLISH THAT REPORT TO THE PUBLIC, UM, NEXT WEEK.

AND JUST REAL HIGH LEVEL, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON, AGAIN, IS OUR, IS OUR STAFFING.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST, BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE SEEING THIS YEAR, AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE IT IN OUR, UM, IN OUR REPORT, IS MENTAL HEALTH.

UM, THAT'S WHERE, UH, A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY ISSUES, UH, STEM FROM, FROM, UH, DRUG USE ALL THE WAY THROUGH HANDLING MENTAL CRISIS.

UM, SO WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME WORKING ON THAT.

UM, YOU'LL GO THROUGH AND SEE, UM, I THINK WE HAD 918 MAN HOURS THAT WERE DEDICATED SOLELY TO PEOPLE THAT WERE SUBJECT TO EMERGENCY CUSTODY ORDERS AND CLOSER TO 1100 HOURS JUST HANDLING EVERY, ALL THE MENTAL HEALTH CALLS.

SO THAT'S AN OFFICER FOR SIX MONTHS.

LAST YEAR WE HAD ESSENTIALLY AN OFFICER SIX MONTHS DOING NOTHING BUT THAT.

UM, SO OBVIOUSLY THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON AND WORK THROUGH.

UM, AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR, UM, MOVING THE DRUG COURT FORWARD.

THAT'S GONNA BE A BIG PIECE OF THAT.

UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SUPPORTIVE OF IT.

WE'VE ALREADY ATTENDED TRAINING, UH, TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT STARTED ONCE THE, UH, APPLICATION IS ACCEPTED BY THE SUPREME COURT AND WE'RE ABLE TO GET THAT STOOD UP.

SO WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HIGH LEVEL THINGS, AND IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, OBVIOUSLY ALWAYS YOU CAN REACH OUT, UH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT, UH, FINAL DRAFT OF THAT REPORT IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU CHIEF.

THANKS CHIEF.

SO NEXT UP WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER, MS. LIZZIE LEWIS.

AND I BELIEVE LIZZIE ALSO THIS, YOU ALREADY GAVE US THIS TOO, RIGHT? I DID, I DID.

OKAY, GOOD EVENING.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW ME, I'M LIZZIE LEWIS.

[00:15:01]

UM, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF ALSO MANAGING SOME OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR WEBSITE AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.

SO, UM, MAYOR COCKRELL ASKED ME TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A SUMMARY OF THE EVENTS THAT WE HAD IN 2022.

UM, SO WE AS A TOWN, BOTH, BOTH TOWN HOSTED AND COMMUNITY HOSTED, HAD OVER 45 EVENTS ON MAIN STREET AT THE GAZEBO.

UM, THREE PARADES, FAMILY FUN DAY, FIREMAN'S PARADE, THE CHRISTMAS PARADE.

UM, THERE WERE 11 GAZEBO GATHERINGS, CONCERTS, THOSE ARE HOSTED BY THE BLUE RIDGE ARTS COUNCIL.

UH, WE HAD OUR FIRST ANNUAL EARTH DAY CELEBRATION THAT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED.

THAT'LL BE BACK ON APRIL 22ND THIS YEAR.

UH, FOR GAZEBO MOVIE NIGHTS, WE HAD OUR FIRST EVER FRONT ROYAL FIREWORKS SHOW, WHICH WAS PRETTY WELL RECEIVED AS WELL AT MAINE CROSBY STADIUM.

UM, WE OF COURSE HELPED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH COFFEE, WITH A COP WITH NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.

UM, THE FRONT ROYAL BLOCK PARTY, WHICH IS THE FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE FESTIVAL OF LEAVES, THAT WAS SOMETHING NEW THIS, THIS PAST YEAR.

UM, THEY'RE BRINGING THAT BACK AGAIN.

UM, THE, AND OF COURSE THE TOWN CO-HOSTING THE 50TH FESTIVAL OF LEAVES WAS AN ADVENTURE CUZ THAT ENTIRE ORGANIZATION HAD NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE.

SO WE LEARNED A LOT.

BUT WE, IT WAS A, IT WAS A GREAT DAY.

UM, OF COURSE OUR HOMETOWN HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION, THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING AND CULMINATING IN THE CHRISTMAS PARADE, WHICH EVERYBODY LOVES.

SO IN FRONT OF YOU IS MY PROPOSAL FOR EVENTS FOR THIS YEAR.

UM, THIS LIST IS SIMPLY THE TOWN HOSTED OR TOWN CO-HOSTED EVENTS.

THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE EVENTS AS WE'VE LEARNED THAT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WILL HOLD.

UM, BUT THIS IS WHERE WE'RE HEADED.

SO WE'VE GOT A VIZIER IN FRONT OF US.

UM, AND THIS DOCUMENT WILL BE FINALIZED AND WE'LL BE PUTTING THIS OUT IN PUBLICATION AT THE VISITOR CENTER AND OTHER PLACES AROUND TOWN TO GIVE PEOPLE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE ENGAGED.

UM, THE VIRGINIA HISTORIC GARDEN EVENT IS NEW THIS YEAR.

SO THAT'S THE WARREN COUNTY GARDEN CLUB IS HOSTING THAT EVENT.

UM, THEY WILL BE AT THE HERITAGE SOCIETY HOSTING KIND OF A GARDEN PARTY.

THAT'LL BE INTERESTING CUZ IT'S PART OF VIRGINIA HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE.

UM, THE WINE AND CRAFT FESTIVAL, OF COURSE, IS BACK.

WE'VE ADDED SOME NEW EVENTS LIKE THE SALUTE TO SERVICE EVENT.

UM, FUN FLICKS FRIDAYS IS, THAT'S GAZEBO MOVIES WITH A FUN NAME.

UM, THE RED WHITE AND BREW FESTIVAL.

SO WE'RE GONNA TRY TO BRING A SMALL BEER FESTIVAL TO JULY 4TH WEEKEND, UH, IN CONCERT WITH THE CHAMBER.

THEY KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.

SO WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH THEM ON MAKING THAT A SUCCESS, ALONG WITH A VARIETY OF OTHER EVENTS THIS YEAR TOO.

UM, AND ALSO , I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THAT THE NEWEST EVENT ON HERE, HERE IS CELEBRATING OUR BIRTHDAY.

THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL WILL TURN 235 ON NOVEMBER 15TH.

AND WE FEEL LIKE MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE A BIG CAKE.

I WAS THINKING WE MIGHT MAKE THE TOWN MANAGER JUMP OUT OF A CAKE.

I DON'T KNOW.

WE'LL SEE.

UM, SO ALL OF THIS TO SAY, WE HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITIES, BUT I'M ALWAYS OPEN TO FEEDBACK AND IDEAS.

UM, I KNOW SOMETIMES WE CAN'T NECESSARILY AFFORD OUR IDEAS, BUT WE DO TRY.

SO IF THERE'S EVER AN OPPORTUNITY OR SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT, MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN.

SO IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO BEST SERVE THE COUNCIL? HIT ME WITH IT.

I'M READY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YOU GOT IT.

THANKS SO MUCH.

I JUST WANTED TO MENTION TOO, THIS WAS MORE FOR THE PUBLIC THAT THIS PAST YEAR THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OF THESE EVENTS WHERE BUSINESSES HELPED SPONSOR IT OR CLUBS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO ABSOLUTELY.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THAT, CONTACT B LIZZIE.

YES.

YES.

PARTICULARLY THE FIREWORKS.

YES.

THOSE AREN'T FREE.

YES, YES.

UM, BUT YES, WE, WE DO HAVE A VARIETY OF WAYS THAT WE CAN WORK WITH, UM, ANY TYPE OF BUSINESS IN, IN THE COMMUNITY.

UM, AND OF COURSE, LIKE I SAID, THIS LIST IS JUST THE TOWN SPONSORED AND CO-SPONSORED.

THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER AMAZING EVENTS THAT HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE ON MAIN STREET OR AT THE GAZEBO OR AT THE PAVILION.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE IN OTHER PARTS OF TOWN.

AND WE TRY TO AMPLIFY THOSE AS WELL.

SO, UM, WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO GET OUR LIKES UP HIGHER THAN THE FRONT ROYAL P PD.

THEY'VE GOT ME BY LIKE 800.

SO IF YOU GUYS COULD HELP ME OUT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

THEY DO HAVE DOGS.

I KNOW, I KNOW, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE DOGS.

WE'LL COME UP, WE'LL COME UP WITH SOMETHING.

WE'LL COME UP WITH SOMETHING.

YES.

BUT THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

YOU GOT IT.

THANK YOU MR. BOYER.

I KNOW I WAS TALKING.

SO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS BY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, ROBBIE BOYER.

I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU ENJOY

[00:20:01]

MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.

UH, JUST WANNA GIVE AN UPDATE ON SOME PROJECTS, UM, SOME NEW LARGE PROJECTS AND SOME PROJECTS THAT'S BEEN ONGOING.

UM, FIRST WANNA TALK ABOUT THE, UH, BRA BRAXTON ROAD, UH, WATERLINE GRAY PROJECT.

UH, BUSHONG STARTED, UM, IN LATE DECEMBER.

UM, SO FAR THEY'VE GOT 1200 FEET OF THE NEW WATERLINE IN.

UM, THEY SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE NEW WATER MAIN IN ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF, UM, TIME THAT'S DONE.

AND WE TRANSFER ALL THE SERVICES, UM, AND GET EVERYTHING WRAPPED UP.

WE'RE LOOKING PROBABLY THE FIRST PART OF MARCH.

AND THEN FROM THERE THEY'LL MOVE STRAIGHT TO MANASSAS AVENUE.

UM, SO BOTH OF THOSE ARE, ARE ACTUALLY A LITTLE HIT A SCHEDULE AND LOOKING GOOD SO FAR.

UM, JOHN MARSHALL HIGHWAY, I TALKED TO BO, UH, MR. BOWMAN THIS MORNING.

UM, THE MATERIAL WILL BE HERE IN MARCH, BUT THEY'RE GONNA WAIT TILL APRIL TO START ON JOHN MARSHALL.

THAT PIECE THERE, UM, FROM COLONIAL DOWN TO LEASH RUN TO TAKE THAT PIECE OF EIGHT INCH OUT BETWEEN THE TWO PIECES OF 12TH SO THAT WAY THEY CAN GET ASPHALT, UM, IN APRIL AS THEY WORK.

THAT WAY THEY CAN REPATCH THE ROAD BACK AS THEY GO.

UH, ROBIN HOOD LANE, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT A BUNCH.

THAT WAS THE ONE THAT HAD THE, THE ROAD GRADE LID.

UM, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME WEDNESDAY, UM, BUT WE, WE PUSHED IT BACK CAUSE OF THE WEATHER JUST TO BE SAFE.

SO IT'S GONNA COME THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY.

WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THAT OUT WITH THE CRANE NOW.

UM, AND THEN RICHMOND ROAD IS GONNA COME INTO FEBRUARY.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE BOTH OF THEM ARE GONNA BE COMING HERE PRETTY SOON.

FOR BOTH OF THOSE.

BE BUSY.

UM, NEW PROJECT OR NEW PROJECTS STARTING A BIG PROJECT.

UH, THE REDUNDANT WATERLINE, OF COURSE, WAS PAST PASTED IN OCTOBER.

UH, WE HAD A PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING ON JANUARY 13TH, UH, WITH SNYDER ENVIRONMENTAL.

UM, ALL THE PERMITS ARE DONE.

EVERYTHING'S IN PLACE.

UH, SNYDER HAS ORDERED THE 26,000 FEET OF PIPE.

UM, SO, UM, IT IS A 26 WEIGHT WEEK FOR THE PIPE.

UM, SO IT'LL BE JUNE, JULY BEFORE THEY GET THE PIPE.

UM, SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE WORKING ON UPDATING THEIR SCHEDULE FOR THAT.

UM, THEY ARE WORKING ON STALLING ENS MEASURES, UH, CLEARING AND GRUBBING AND, UH, TAKE, LIKE I SAID, DOING SOME CLEARING TO, UH, MEET THE TIME OF YOUR RESTRICTIONS.

UM, BECAUSE SOME OF THE BAT LIMITATIONS FROM THE STATE, THEY HAVE TO TAKE TREES DOWN BY CERTAIN TIMES.

UM, SO THEY'RE DOING THAT NOW.

UM, AND THEY'RE WORKING ON THE, UH, DIGGING FOR THE MICRO TUNNELING UNDER THE RIVER ON BOTH SIDES THERE AT THE GOLF COURSE AND ON THE OTHER SIDE BY MARY SHADY LANE.

UM, JUST KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEAL ON THE GOLF COURSE SIDE, THAT SHAFTS WILL BE 55 FEET DEEP AND 32 FOOT WIDE.

UM, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER, IT'S GONNA BE 65 FOOT DEEP AND 20 FOOT WIDE.

UM, THE, UH, MICRO TUNNELING, UH, ONCE THEY GET EVERYTHING START, OR THEY, THEY HAVE A SUBCONTRACTOR, THEY'LL START ON THAT IN JUNE AND IT'LL TAKE TILL NOVEMBER, UM, FOR THEM TO GET EVERYTHING DONE ACROSS UNDERNEATH THE RIVER.

UH, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEAL, UM, FOR THE WHOLE PROJECT, UM, IT'S ABOUT GONNA BE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF.

UM, FOR THAT.

UM, OUR PLAN IS, UH, ONCE THEY GET US THE SCHEDULE, WE'RE GONNA START PUTTING OUT WEEKLY UPDATES ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO KIND OF GIVE PEOPLE AN IDEAL, UH, WHERE THEY'LL BE WORKING AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.

UM, THE ILU PUMPS FOR THE WASTEWATER PLANT, UM, YOU ALL HAD TO PROVE THAT WHILE BACK FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE PUMPS BACK IN NOVEMBER.

UM, WE DID GET THOSE ON ORDER TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL 1976 PUMPS WE'RE STILL USING.

UM, SO THEY ARE ON ORDER.

WE TALKED TO FLIGHT PUMPS.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GONNA BE, UH, LATE SPRING, EARLY SUMMER.

UM, SO, BUT THEY ARE ON ORDER.

UM, WE'RE WORKING WITH ESSA NOW.

HOPEFULLY BY THE FIRST PART OF, UH, NEXT MONTH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE REST OF THE DOCUMENTS WE NEED SO WE CAN GET THE CONTROL CABINETS AND THE VFDS AND ALL THAT STUFF APPROVED AND GET ORDERED.

UM, THE SANITARY SEWER PROJECT THAT SNYDER'S ALSO DOING THAT WAS APPROVED IN OCTOBER.

UM, THEY'RE GONNA START THE CCTV WORK IN MARCH AND THEN START LINING IN APRIL.

UM, AND I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE ON THE PROJECTS SCHEDULE FOR THAT.

THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON IT.

SO HOPEFULLY BY THE NEXT MEETING WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE BETTER IDEA, BUT I'M SURE IT'S GONNA BE SEVERAL MONTHS FOR, IT WAS 25,000 FEET OF, UH, LINING AND THEN 192 LATERAL.

SO IT'LL BE A FEW MONTHS FOR THAT.

UM, THE LAST TWO THINGS, UH, UPDATE ON SOME BDOT STUFF.

UH, WE HAD TALKED LAST TIME ABOUT THE NORTH SHANDO AVENUE LANG PROJECT.

MM-HMM.

, THAT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS.

UM, THE ENGINEER HAD TO GO BACK SINCE THERE WAS A BUNCH OF UTILITIES IN A WAY, AND ADJUST THE LIGHT FOOTERS.

UM, SO THAT DID CHANGE THE PRICE, UM, OF THAT BY $260,000.

OH LORD.

SORRY.

NO.

SO I CUT MY MIC OFF, SORRY.

SO WE'VE ALREADY, WE'VE ALREADY FIGURED OUR PART INTO THIS COMING YEAR'S BUDGET.

UM, AND THEN WE CAN REAPPLY FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF REVENUE SHARING IN MAY FOR THE, FOR THE DIFFERENCE.

UM, AND SINCE WE'VE GOTTEN FUNDING, THAT'LL MOVE US CLOSER TO THE TOP, WHICH WILL ACTUALLY HELP US.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT'LL, THAT'LL HELP WITH THAT.

UM, AND THEN THE SECOND ONE, A, OR NOT EASTER, I'M SORRY, HAPPY CREEK PHASE TWO.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UM, THE SCORES HAVE COME OUT FOR THAT.

IN THE STANTON DISTRICT, THERE WAS 40 APPLICATIONS.

WE RANKED 33RD, UM, AND ONLY THE TOP 15 PROJECTS GOT FUNDED.

UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEAL FOR THAT.

UM,

[00:25:03]

BUT YEAH.

UH, WE DID LEARN OUT OF ALL NINE DISTRICTS IN VIRGINIA, STANTON, WHICH IS OUR DISTRICT, GOT THE LOWEST AMOUNT OF FUNDING.

UM, SO OF COURSE THAT DIDN'T HELP ANY, UM, TALK TO SOME OF OUR LEGISLATURES.

YEAH.

THE, THE, UH, COMMONWEALTH TRANSPORTATION BOARD HASN'T VOTED ON IT YET.

UM, BUT I MEAN, IT'S, YEAH.

YEAH.

IT'S OUT AND IT'S, IT'S ALL HIGHLIGHTED, SO I'M SURE WHEN THEY DO, IT'S GONNA, IT'S GONNA BE A DONE DEAL.

BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP THAT, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE IT LANDED.

YEAH.

WE, WE, UH, WE, WE SCORED A 0.87.

SEE, IT WAS, IT WAS REALLY LOW.

YEAH.

SO, ROBBIE YES, SIR.

DO WE HAVE A WAY OF SEEING THE, UH, TOP 15? YEAH, I ACTUALLY HAD THOSE.

YEP.

YES SIR.

I DO.

YEP.

I HAVE THE COST OF THEM AND, AND WHAT THEY WERE.

YEP.

THANK YOU.

YES, SIR.

BUT THAT'S, I'M SORRY, THAT'S ALL I HAVEN'T, UNLESS ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS.

YEP.

DOES ANYBODY FROM COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? DO, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA, ROBBY, UH, AS TO WHY IT SCORED SO LOW? UM, THERE WAS SOME THINGS THAT, THAT HONESTLY, WE GOT LIKE ZEROS ON, LIKE SAFETY.

UM, THEY GO BACK AND LOOK AT WRECKS, YOU KNOW, ACCIDENTS, FATAL FATALITIES, AND THAT SECTION OF HAPPY CREEK.

YOU KNOW, JUST HONESTLY, YOU WOULD THINK IT'D BE WORSE WITH THE TERMS, BUT THERE WASN'T.

SO IT SCORED REALLY LOW.

UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF TALKING ABOUT HOMES, HOUSING, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL, SO THAT REALLY DRIVES US SCORE DOWN.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT SCORE HIGHER THAN OTHERS, BUT, SO THAT'S WHAT HURT US.

YES, SIR.

THANK YOU.

MM-HMM.

.

ABSOLUTE.

THIS IS KIND OFF PAGE.

RALPH, WHERE DO WE STAND WITH THE EIGHTH STREET BRIDGE? UM, WE HAVE, WE HAVE AN R F P OUT THAT ACTUALLY CLOSES THIS WEEK.

I THINK IT'S THURSDAY.

UM, CAUSE WE HAVE THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN, SO THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE THE FIRM CHOSEN TO HELP US START FINISHING IT.

UM, AND THEN WE'VE GOTTEN THE SIGNED AGREEMENT BACK FROM VDOT, SO WE KNOW WE'LL GET THE FUNDING.

UM, AND THAT WAS A 50 50 PROGRAM, SO WE HAVE THE, THE OTHER FUNDING IN THE, UH, BUDGET FOR THAT.

BUT, BUT YES.

YEAH, THAT, I, I BELIEVE OUR PORTION WAS A MILLION, I THINK 2.8 TOTAL I THINK IT WAS.

SO OURS WOULD BE 1.44 A MILLION.

YES, MA'AM.

THAT WAS, WE REMOVED IT FROM PAVING.

YES.

AND THEN IS THERE PLANS FOR PROSPECT STREET? YEAH, WE'RE, WELL, WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE FUNDING PART, BUT YEAH, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT FIGURED OUT AS WELL.

YEP.

YES, SIR.

THANKS YOU, SIR.

ABSOLUTELY.

UM, IS THERE ANY NEWS ON THE SOUTH STREET PROJECT WITH, UH, SMART SCALE? YEAH, IT'S, I MEAN, IT'S ALL APPROVED.

UM, BDOT THE, UH, SURVEYING IS DONE, UM, BY SPRING.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A PRELIMINARY DESIGN FOR THEM FOR THE TOWN TO REVIEW.

UM, THEY'LL HAVE ALL, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, ISLANDS IN IT, THE LIGHTS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF FOR US TO REVIEW, WHERE THEY'RE GONNA RESTRICT A BUNCH OF THE LEFT HAND TURNS.

SO, YEAH.

YEAH.

BUT THEY'RE SAYING BY SPRING RIGHT NOW, WE'LL HAVE A SET OF PLANS TO REVIEW FROM THEM.

OKAY.

YES.

THANK YOU.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU MR. WEER, WE HAVE A YES MA'AM.

I HAVE A LOT GOING ON, DON'T WE? YES, MA'AM.

YES.

THANKS ROBBIE.

OKAY.

SO

[7.A. Special Use Permit for Short-Term Rental at 309 E Prospect Street – Yaohua Gu – L. Kopishke]

UM, JUST A LITTLE, UH, INFORMATION.

UM, PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNSEL TO LEARN OF INFORMATION OF WHICH THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY AWARE.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE RECOGNIZED, THEN COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

IF THE COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE, YOU MAY SIMPLY SAY THAT YOU AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER.

UH, THERE IS A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.

UM, WITH THAT IN MIND, WILL NOW BEGIN.

UM, THE FIRST, UH, PUBLIC HEARING IS THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR SHORT TERM RENTAL AT 3 0 9 EAST PROSPECT STREET.

MS. PRESLEY, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE SUMMARY? COUNSEL COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FROM MRS. GU FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A SHORT TERM RENTAL AT 3 0 9 EAST PROSPECT STREET.

THE PROPERTY IS ZONED R DASH THREE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AND LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO RENT THE ENTIRE HOME.

AN INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED ON NOVEMBER 30TH, 2022, AND IS IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH TOWN CODE SECTION 1 75 DASH 51.

THE PROPERTY IS LIMITED TO THREE CARS IN THE DRIVEWAY.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT AT THEIR MEETING HELD ON DECEMBER 21ST, 2022, WITH NO CONDITIONS.

OKAY.

I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MS. PRESLEY, IS THERE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR THIS ONE? NO, WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.

IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN REGARDS TO THIS ITEM? YOU WOULD? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I'M BOB SKILLMAN.

I LIVE AT THREE 15 BLUE RIDGE AVENUE.

THE ONLY CONCERN I WOULD HAVE BE PARKING THERE ON BLUE RIDGE AVENUE.

IT'S SO

[00:30:01]

AND IF YOU PUT MORE TRAFFIC IN PARKING ON THE CURBS, I MEAN, A FIRE TRUCK WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING THROUGH IF A PICKUP TRUCK WAS ON EACH SIDE OF THE STREET THERE.

OKAY.

SO THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN IS, UH, IF THE STREET WAS A LITTLE BIT WIDER THROUGH IT, 300 BLOCK, IT WOULDN'T BE NO PROBLEM.

GOTCHA.

YOU KNOW WHAT, I HAVE A FEELING THAT YOU'RE GONNA, YOU REALLY WANTED US TO HEAR THAT COMMENT FOR THE ONE ON BLUE RIDGE AVENUE? THIS ONE IS ON EAST PROSPECT STREET.

OH, OKAY.

YEAH.

SO, BUT THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S OKAY.

THAT'S GOOD.

UH, ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS ONE? ALL RIGHT, THEN I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL.

MADAME MAYOR, I MOVED THAT COUNCIL APPROVE A REQUEST FROM, I'M SORRY, I'M GONNA BUTCHER THAT.

I DID NOT HEAR TINA SAY IT.

MRS. GU.

MRS. GU, FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A SHORT TERM RENTAL AT 3 0 9 EAST PROSPECT STREET.

OKAY, DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

OKAY.

WELA FIRST AND A SECOND.

AND, UH, COUNSEL, THIS IS TIME FOR YOU TO DISCUSS.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION.

UM, WE'VE SEEN, I THINK 14 OF THESE LAUREN CONFIRMED AT OUR LAST WORK SESSION.

THIS ONE HAS AMPLE PARKING AVAILABLE FOR IT.

UM, AND SO THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY ISSUES WITH IT WHATSOEVER.

SO ANYBODY ELSE ON COUNCIL COUNCILORS TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS TOPIC? NO.

YEAH, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY AS A MEMBER, FORMER MEMBER OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, THE APPLICATION AND ALL THE INFORMATION IS STILL THE SAME.

SO I DON'T SEE ANY CHANGES.

OKAY.

SO, MS. PRESLEY, I BELIEVE WE'RE READY FOR A VOTE.

I'M SORRY.

WHO'S SECOND? WHO WAS SECOND? I BELIEVE MR. COUNCILMAN ROGERS.

THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES.

COUNCILMAN MORRIS? YES.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES.

COUNCILMAN ROGERS? YES.

VICE MAYOR SEAK? YES.

OKAY.

MOTION PASSES.

UH, SEVEN

[7.B. Special Use Permit for a Short-Term Rental at 302 Blue Ridge Ave – Melody Luskey/ Luskey Properties – Kopishke]

UM, MS. PRESLEY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO, WOULD YOU MIND READING THE SUMMARY? COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A REQUEST FROM TABITHA LUSK OF LUSK PROPERTIES LLL C FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A SHORT-TERM RENTAL LOCATED AT 3 0 2 BLUE RIDGE AVENUE.

THE PROPERTY IS ZONED R DASH THREE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AND LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO RENT THE ENTIRE HOME.

THE INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED ON NOVEMBER 30TH, 2022.

THE SITE IS IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH TOWN CODE SECTION 1 75 DASH 1 51.

THE PROPERTY IS LIMITED TO THREE CARS IN THE DRIVEWAY.

OKAY.

I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING, SUPPOSEDLY.

IS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO, I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.

DID YOU WANNA, DID YOU JUST WANNA, UH, OBJECT THAT THAT WAS THE ONE IF, I MEAN, YOU COULD JUST SAY I ECHO WHAT YOU SAID BEFORE, BUT IF YOU, BUT IF, I'LL ECHO WHAT I SAID BEFORE.

OKAY.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT, UH, LIKE I SAY, THAT 300 BLOCK OF BLUE RIDGE AVENUE IS NARROW.

YOU PUT TWO GOOD SIZED PICKUP TRUCKS ON EACH SIDE OF THE STREET.

A FOREIGN TRUCK WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH, BUT WITHOUT HITTING ONE OF 'EM.

OUR VEHICLES ARE HIT QUITE A BIT WITH THE MIRRORS TAKEN OFF THERE ON BLUE RIDGE AVENUE.

I THINK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT GOT PLENTY OF REPORTS ON IT.

SO IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, THEY COULD PROBABLY GET IT TO YOU.

OKAY.

BUT IT IS A NARROW STREET THROUGH THERE AND THE MORE TRAFFIC ON IT, THE MORE PARKING ON IT, THE HIGHER IT'S GONNA BE FOR EVERYBODY.

OKAY.

DID YOU STATE, YOU STATED YOUR NAME THE FIRST TIME.

WHAT WAS YOUR NAME? BOB SKILLMAN.

MR. BOB SKILLMAN.

THANK YOU MR. SKILLMAN.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT? UM, THERE'S THIS UP.

YES.

OKAY.

HI, HOW YOU DOING? IT'S MY PROPERTY.

HI, I'M TABITHA LUKI.

UM, WE DO HAVE PARKING THREE IN THE DRIVEWAY AND RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE IS A FIRE LANE, SO WE CAN'T EVEN PARK IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE CUZ THERE IS A FIRE LANE RIGHT THERE.

SO, YES.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

DOES, UM, DOES ANYBODY ON COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. LUSK WHILE SHE'S SITTING HERE? YEAH.

YEP.

ANYBODY, ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THEY WANNA SAY? NOPE.

UM, WELL, I I HAVE ONE COMMENT.

UH, GO AHEAD, ADAM.

EM ABSOLUTELY.

UH, OH, WAIT.

MATTER, WE NEED TO CLOSE.

OH, OH, OH.

I'M SORRY.

I'M SORRY.

THAT WAS MY FAULT.

SO IF NOBODY ELSE IS HERE TO SPEAK, I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW.

UH, I'M, WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO OPEN IT UP TO COUNSEL.

SO BEFORE THERE'S A DISCUSSION, WE HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNSEL APPROVE A REQUEST FROM TABITHA LUSK OF LUSK PROPERTIES LLC FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A SHORT TERM RENTAL LOCATED AT 3 0 2 BLUE RIDGE AVENUE TAX MAP.

28 8 1 4 1 1 18.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

OKAY, NOW WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION.

OKAY, MME. MAYER? YES.

UH, THIS, THIS IS NOT,

[00:35:01]

UH, YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN, SIR.

UH, IT IS A NARROW STREET.

PERHAPS WE MAY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT MAYBE PARKING ON ONE SIDE OF THE STREET.

AND, UH, ONE OTHER OBJECTION.

I MEAN, YOU CAN ON THE, UH, EAST SIDE OF BLUE RIDGE, YOU GOT YOUR SIDEWALK, THEN YOU GOT A GRASSY ISLAND IN THAT BLOCK, AND THEN YOU GOT THE CURB AND BITTER.

TAKE THAT ISLAND OUT, WIDEN IT BACK AT IT LIKE IT USED TO BE.

I DON'T WANT THE ISLANDS PUT BACK IN THAT STORE.

YES, SIR.

I HAVE DISCUSSIONS.

ALL THE PROBLEMS. YEAH.

MM-HMM.

, ANYBODY ELSE WANNA COUNSEL? I HAVE DISCUSSION.

MR. SKILLMAN, THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING AND ECHOING YOUR CONCERNS.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT CURRENTLY, UM, THE APPLICANT DOES HAVE THREE OFF STREET PARKING SITES.

UM, AND AS SHE MENTIONED, THERE IS A FIRE LANE OUT FRONT.

I DID DRIVE BY AND LOOK AT IT.

I TRY TO, UH, TEND TO BE, UM, MINDFUL OF THE TRAFFIC ISSUES THAT ALREADY EXIST IN DOWNTOWN FRONT ROYAL.

UM, AND SO IF IT WEREN'T FOR THEM HAVING THEIR THREE OFF STREETE PARKING IN THE FIRE LANE OUT FRONT, I PROBABLY WOULD'VE TAKEN A DIFFERENT CONSIDERATION.

UM, AND ALSO, JUST AS A REMINDER, A LOT OF THESE SHORT-TERM RENTALS AREN'T GOING TO HOUSE ANY MORE PEOPLE THAN IT WOULD'VE THAT OCCUPIED THE HOME AS A LONG-TERM RENTAL OR WHO LIVED THERE AND OWNED IT.

UM, SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING CONCERNS TO US THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS FOR THE LONG TERM AS WELL.

AND THESE ARE ON A COMPLAINT BASIS, ALL SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT WE ADOPT.

UM, SO IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES WITH IT, UM, YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO CONTACT PLANNING AND ZONING, UM, MS. CAP'S OFFICE BACK THERE.

AND, UH, WE RESPOND ON A COMPLAINT BASIS TO ALL SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

I DO AGREE WITH, I DO AGREE WITH MR. WITH MR. SKILLMAN.

UH, I'VE DRIVEN THE FIRETRUCK UP THROUGH THERE AND IT'S TIGHT.

YEAH, IT REALLY IS.

UH, WOULD ANYBODY ELSE COUNSEL WANNA OFFER FOR DISCUSSION? MADAM MAYOR.

MR. SKILLMAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I LIVE ON BLUE RIDGE.

I KNOW HOW NARROW THE STREET GETS UP, UH, ON THE 300 BLOCK.

UH, WHAT I WILL SAY IS, IF, IF THIS MEASURE PASSES, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, UH, YOU AND OTHERS, UH, WOULD LET THE COUNCIL AND THE TOWN KNOW IF THERE ARE ISSUES RELATED TO ANY PARKING, UM, OR EVEN THROUGH, UH, THROUGHPUT, UH, ON THE ROAD THAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT.

OKAY? THANK YOU, SIR.

OKAY.

IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION, MS. PRESLEY, CAN YOU DO ROLL CALL? COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS? YES.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES.

COUNCILMAN ROGERS? YES.

VICE MAYOR SEAK? YES.

OKAY.

NEXT

[7.D. Receive Public Input and Take Action on a Request for Vacation of a Portion of Public Alley located adjacent to 1202 Virginia Ave and 111 & 117 W. 12th St – Mr. & Mrs. Wade Holloway/Mr. & Mrs. William Holloway – Waltz]

UM, SINCE SEVEN C WAS REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA, WE'LL BE MOVING ON TO 70 D UH, WHERE WE WILL RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT AND TAKE ACTION ON A REQUEST FOR A VACATION OF A PORTION OF PUBLIC ALLEY LOCATED ADJACENT TO 1202 VIRGINIA AVENUE AND ONE 11 AND ONE 17 WEST 12TH STREET.

MS. PRESLEY, CAN YOU READ THE SUMMARY FOR US COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO RECEIVE INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 15.2 DASH 2 0 0 6, PERTAINING TO AN APPLICATION FROM MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM HOLLOWAY AND MR. AND MRS. WADE HOLLOWAY REQUESTING THE TOWN TO VACATE A PORTION OF A PUBLIC ALLEYWAY LOCATED ADJACENT TO 1202 VIRGINIA AVENUE AND ONE 11 AND ONE 17 WEST 12TH STREET WITH THE INTENT TO PURCHASE THE VACATED ALLEYWAY FROM THE TOWN.

COUNSEL IS FURTHER REQUESTED TO TAKE ACTION ON THE APPLICATION REQUEST.

OKAY.

AM GONNA GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? YES, WE HAVE SIX.

THE FIRST ONE IS STEVE LONG.

OKAY.

MR. LONG IF YOU'D LIKE TO.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.

I ALSO SERVE AS THE BOARD CHAIR AT CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN AND ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND JUST ABOUT ALL OF OUR MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCH HAVE, UH, ALL SAID THAT THEY'RE IN AGREEMENT IN FAVOR OF LEAVING THE ALLEYWAY JUST AS IT IS.

THERE ARE TIMES WE HAVE ACTIVITIES AT THE CHURCH AND WE USE PART OF THE ALLEYWAY TO HAVE OUR ACTIVITIES THERE ON.

AND ONE OTHER CONCERN IS FOR SAFETY.

WE HAVE TWO EXITS RIGHT NOW, BUT IF AN EMERGENCY OR SOMETHING WOULD COME UP AND THE MAIN ENTRANCE WOULD BE BLOCKED AND WE COULDN'T GET OUT, WE WOULD NEED THE ALLEYWAY IN ORDER FOR THE

[00:40:01]

AND IF, UH, THAT'S DONE, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MR. LONG.

MR. PRESLEY, WHO WOULD BE NEXT? LEE KEELER.

LEE KEELER.

ALL RIGHT.

HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING TONIGHT? GOOD.

UM, MR. KEELER, I'M GONNA LET YOU GO AHEAD AND, AND STATE YOUR ADDRESS AS WELL.

UH, MY ADDRESS IS 20 21 94 RO TOWN ROAD, CLEARBROOK, VIRGINIA.

OKAY.

I AM, MY NAME IS LEE KEELER.

I AM FROM THE CHURCH OF BRELIN AND I OWN LEE'S LAWN CARE.

AND I DO THE MOWING AT THE CHURCH.

I'VE BEEN DOING IT DOING IT FOR SIX YEARS.

SO WHEN I STARTED THIS, I WAS INSTRUCTED TO MOW THE CHURCH YARD AND IF THE ALLEY WASN'T MOWED TO MOW ALLEY, ALSO, IF THIS ALLEY HAS LEFT PUBLIC, I WILL SHARE A MOANING WITH ALL PARTIES.

THAT WAY THERE'S NO MAINTENANCE TO THE TOWN.

AND I STRONGLY, UH, OBJECT TO VOTE VACATING THIS, UH, ALLEYWAY.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE TOWN'S EVER LOOKED AT IT, BUT IT WOULD BE A GOOD ACCESS FAR FOR FAR AND RESCUE ALSO TO USE IT IF ANY OF THEM HOUSES CALLED ON FAR ALL THE WAY UP THE ALLEY.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

MS. PRESLEY.

WHO'S NEXT? MELVIN VULGAR.

HE, I, I AGREE WITH WHAT LEE SAID.

OKAY.

I AGREE WITH WHAT STEVE SAID, SO, OKAY.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

SO MR. VULGAR CAN BE ON RECORD AS AN AGREEMENT WITH TWO PREVIOUS SPEAKERS, AND THEN WHO WOULD BE SIGNED UP NEXT? WAYNE WOODWARD.

WAYNE WOODWARD.

HELLO EVERYBODY.

I, UH, I HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF, BUT I I'M GONNA TAKE A SHORTCUT HERE.

MR. WOODWARD, COULD YOU GO AHEAD AND STATE YOUR ADDRESS FOR, UH, WAYNE WOODWARD? ONE 20 WEST 13TH STREET.

OKAY.

I LIVE RIGHT BESIDE THE CHURCH.

OKAY.

UH, AS A CHURCH MEMBER, I STRONGLY OBJECT TO, IT'S REALLY GOING TO DEVASTATE THEM, BUT I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF HERE BECAUSE I LIVE ON THAT ALLEY AND IT HAS BEEN GREAT FOR ME.

UH, I BOUGHT THE HOUSE THERE AND WE HAD TO DO A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK TO IT.

AND IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE ALLEY.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW I COULD HAVE DONE THAT BECAUSE I COME DOWN THE ALLEY.

I EITHER GO THROUGH THE CHURCH AND COME DOWN, OR I COME ALL THE WAY FROM VIRGINIA AVENUE AND, UH, WE'RE BRINGING THINGS IN THE HOUSE, YOU KNOW, HEATING SYSTEM.