[00:00:03]
I'M GONNA CALL TO ORDER THE FRONT ROYAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, MARCH 27TH TO ORDER, AND WE'RE GONNA START WITH A MOMENT
[1. MOMENT OF SILENCE]
OF SILENCE.UM, I, I WOULD ASK, I WOULD INVITE YOU ALL TO, UM, OBSERVE THIS MOMENT OF SILENCE, AND I WOULD HUMBLY REQUEST THAT YOU INCLUDE THIS COUNCIL AND OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, UM, AS THEY DEAL WITH THE TRAGEDY THAT HAPPENED THERE TODAY.
THE FAMILIES AND, UM, LOVED ONES AND JUST THEIR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
[2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
NEXT UP, UM, AS YOU KNOW, DURING MY TERM IS MAYOR, I'M INVITING STUDENTS FROM THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL TO LEAD OUR COUNCIL IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.AND THIS MONTH WE WELCOME SOPHIA WAGNER.
SOPHIA, IF YOU CAN COME FORWARD, UM, AS SOPHIA IS JOINING US, I, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT SOPHIA IS THE DAUGHTER OF STEPHANIE AND EDDIE WAGNER.
UH, I'VE ACTUALLY KNOWN SOPHIA SINCE SHE WAS A YOUNG STUDENT AT HILDA J BARBER, WHERE HER MOTHER AND I TAUGHT TOGETHER.
SOPHIA IS A SENIOR AT RANDOLPH MACON ACADEMY.
MR. SEA ALMA MATER, UH, JUST LEARNED TONIGHT WHERE SHE'S A MEMBER OF THE CADRE UNIT.
SHE RECEIVED THE AMERICAN VETERANS AWARD, AND SHE EXCELS ACADEMICALLY AS EVIDENCED BY EARNING A SPOT ON THE DEAN'S LIST.
SOPHIA'S TRUE PASSION IS SOCCER, RIGHT? YES, MA'AM.
SHE CURRENTLY PLAYS FOR LOUDON, E C N L, TRAVEL OF SOCCER THIS FALL.
SHE'S GONNA PLAY FOR, UM, AS A GOALIE AT EMORY AND HENRY, WHERE SHE RECEIVED AN ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP TO ATTEND.
NOT ONLY IS SHE SWEET, FUNNY, AND LOVES RAMEN
SO I, I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE AMAZING DESSERTS SHE'S CREATED.
SOPHIA ACTUALLY SELECTED HER GIFT CARD TONIGHT FROM SURPRISE PRESS GARCIA AND GINO BAKERY, AND SHE'S RECEIVING A CERTIFICATE THANKING HER FOR HER PATRIOTISM AND PARTICIPATION IN THE FRONT ROW TOWN COUNCIL.
SOPHIA, ARE YOU READY? YES, MA'AM.
SO PLEASE STAND, EVERYONE TURN THIS WAY.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, WHERE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[3. ROLL CALL]
I THINK WE'RE READY FOR A ROLL CALL.COUNCILWOMAN DE DEMONACO PAYNE.
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
OF BUSINESS IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.DO I HEAR A MOTION, MAYOR? I MOVE.
COUNCIL, APPROVE THE REGULAR, UH, MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 27TH, WORK SESSION, MINUTES OF MARCH THE SIXTH AND MARCH THE 13TH AND SPECIAL WORK SESSION.
UH, CAN WE GET A ROLL CALL? DO YOU HAVE DISCUSSION? I'M SORRY.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MINUTES FROM THOSE MEETINGS? YES, I'M SORRY.
THERE WERE A FEW TYPOS AROUND MY NAME, WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE.
UM, SO THEY HAVE, UH, SINCE BEEN CORRECTED, SO, OKAY, GREAT.
I LIKE THE WAY YOU SAY AS KEN.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY, UH, COMMENTS? OKAY.
NOW CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL? COUNCILWOMAN DE MONICA PAYNE? YES.
[00:05:01]
ADDITION OR DELETION OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA OR ANY REVISION TO THE ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THIS EVENING.[6. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS]
GONNA MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, AND THIS IS OUR RECOGNITIONS AWARDS, UH, REPORTS AND PRESENTATION.SO I'M GONNA START OFF FIRST WITH, UH, ITEM NUMBER SIX, UH, THE PROCLAMATION FOR THE FRONT ROW KARATE CLUB'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
UM, MS. PRESLEY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ THE SUMMARY? SURE.
COUNSEL'S RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM CAROLYN D DRAGO TO RECOGNIZE THE FRONT ROW KARATE CLUB ON APRIL 7TH, 2023 FOR CELEBRATING 50 YEARS IN BUSINESS AT THE SAME LOCATION.
SEVEN KID LANE COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO APPROVE THE PROCLAMATION AS PRESENTED.
OKAY, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNSEL, APPROVE THE PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING APRIL 7TH, 2023 AS THE FRONT ROYAL KARATE CLUB 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AS PRESENTED.
OKAY, WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.
UH, WHO WAS SECOND? I'M SORRY.
UH, VICE MAYOR SEAK, YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, AND, UM, I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION AND I'M ACTUALLY ALSO GONNA, I'M GONNA READ THE PROCLAMATION.
UM, AND BEFORE I DO, I JUST WANNA MAKE A COMMENT THAT SINCE ARAGO, UM, UH, IT'S JUST AN AMAZING MAN IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN AROUND HIM AND, AND, UH, THINK ABOUT WHAT HE'S ACCOMPLISHED, UM, IN THE RESOLUTION, YOU'LL HEAR THESE 82 YEARS OLD STILL HOLDING CLASSES.
IN FACT, HE IS NOT HERE THIS EVENING BECAUSE HE IS IN CLASS WITH A, I, UH, GATHER A GROUP OF JUNIORS.
HE'S OFTENTIMES, UH, THEY'RE WORKING TOWARDS A PROMOTION.
UM, I, UH, MY FAMILY'S BEEN, UH, MY SON, UM, HAS TAKEN CLASSES THERE.
UH, AND MY BROTHER, UM, HAS RECEIVED HIS BLACK BELT, ACTUALLY LIKE SIX DEGREES.
SO I I THINK A LOT OF ARTHUR AND CAROL AND I, I WAS SO GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR, UM, FOR THIS.
AND WHILE MR. DUGGAN'S HERE, HE IS GONNA COLLECT THE RESOLUTION, UH, THE PROCLAMATION, I'M ACTUALLY GONNA ATTEND, UM, A CELEBRATION, UH, FOR THE KARATE CLUB LATER ON, UH, IN APRIL.
SO, UH, PROCLAMATION FOR THE FRONT ROW KARATE CLUB 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, WHEREAS THE FRONT ROW COL KARATE CLUB OWNED BY SENSEI DRAGO WILL BE CELEBRATING ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY ON APRIL 7TH, 2023.
AND WHEREAS THE DOJO HAS BEEN IN THE SAME LOCATION SEVEN KID LANE FOR THE FULL 50 YEARS, AND WHEREAS SINCE A DRAGO IS 82 YEARS OLD AND STILL TEACHES HIS OWN CLASSES AND WORKS OUT WITH STUDENTS HOLDING THE RANK OF EIGHTH DEGREE BLACK BELT, HE HAS TAUGHT OVER 50,000 JUNIORS AND ADULTS.
AND WHEREAS OVER THE PERIOD OF 50 YEARS, 131 ADULTS HAVE BEEN PROMOTED TO BLACK BELT FROM FIRST DEGREE TO EIGHTH DEGREE WITH SOME STUDENTS STILL WITH HIM SINCE HE OPENED.
AND NOW THEREFORE, THE MAYOR IN TOWN COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THAT ON FRIDAY, APRIL 7TH, 2023, THE FRONT ROYAL KARATE CLUB WILL CELEBRATE THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AND ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE WITH THEM.
LET'S, ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? NOPE.
CAN WE GO AHEAD THEN AND DO A, UM, ROLL CALL? COUNCILWOMAN D DO MONICA PAYNE? YES.
OKAY, I'M GONNA HAVE MR. DUGGAN, I'M GONNA PRESENT IT TO YOU AFTER MS. PRESLEY SIGNS THIS.
SO NEXT UP IS OUR PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL HAWKS BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM.
MS. PRESLEY, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THAT A SUMMARY FOR US? COUNCILMAN RAPAPORT REQUESTED THAT TOWN COUNCIL RECOGNIZE THE SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL HAWKS BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM FOR THEIR DISTRICT AND REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS
[00:10:01]
AND ADVANCING TO THE STATE'S SEMI-FINALS COUNCIL'S REQUESTED TO APPROVE THE PROCLAMATION AS PRESENTED.OKAY, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING APRIL 7TH.
OH, I'M SORRY, I'M THE WRONG ONE.
I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE A PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING THE RECOGNITION OF SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL HAWKS BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM AS PRESENTED.
UH, I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION AND I'M ACTUALLY GONNA START.
UM, SO I WAS SUPER EXCITED ABOUT MR. RAPPAPORT ASKING ABOUT THIS.
I'M GONNA LET HIM, UM, TO COMMENT ON THIS AS WELL.
I JUST WANNA SAY, UM, TO ALL THE YOUNG MEN THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT, WE ACTUALLY WERE HAVING A WORK SESSION AT YOUR LAST GAME AND WE WERE ON THE SLIDE GETTING UPDATES, THE WHOLE COUNCIL MEETING, AND WE'RE WHISPERING AMONGST EACH OTHER.
SO, UM, WE'RE SUPER PROUD OF YOU ALL.
UH, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION THAT YOUR COACH, UH, MR. COACH CHUN, I HAVE KNOWN SINCE WAY YOUNGER THAN YOU, UM, AND IF YOU THINK HE'S A FINE MAN NOW, HE WAS A FINE YOUNG MAN, AND YOU'RE SO BLESSED TO HAVE HIM, UH, BE A, AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR LIFE.
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE LEARNING WAY MORE THAN JUST BASKETBALL FROM HIM.
SO, MR. RAPPAPORT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO OFFER SOMETHING ELSE? YEAH, I, I, UH, I'VE WRITTEN DOWN SOME THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC.
UH, THE SEASON UP OF THE SKYLINE HAWKS BASKETBALL TEAM CAN BE SUMMED UP BY QUOTING AN OLD PROVERB THAT I HAVE ON MY, UH, UH, REFRIGERATOR.
IF, IF YOU WANT TO GO FAST, GO ALONE.
IF YOU WANT TO GO FAR, GO TOGETHER.
THIS TEAM UNSELFISHLY WENT TOGETHER AND THAT MICROCOSM WAS DEMONSTRATED IN THEIR THRILLING WHEN OVER LAKE TAYLOR, DOWN BY DOUBLE DIGITS.
AT HALFTIME, THEY CAME BACK TO WIN THE GAME.
IN THE FINAL SECONDS, UH, THE PLAYERS BOUGHT INTO COACH SON, UH, CHEN'S, UH, PROGRAM WITH DEDICATION, PREPARATION AND EXECUTION.
THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THESE GUYS.
UH, SOME OF THE STATS TELL THE STORY, 26 AND ONE OVERALL 14 AND OH IN THE REGION FIRST IN NORTHWESTERN DISTRICT TEAM AVERAGED 72 POINTS PER GAME.
THEIR OPPONENTS AVERAGED 49 POINTS PER GAME.
THREE OF THE PLAYERS WERE FIRST TEAM ALL AREA TWO WERE THIRD TEAM, ALL AREA DIVISION THREE, STATE RANKING NUMBER FIVE IN, UH, IN THEIR CLASS.
UH, I WANT TO SAY THAT YOU, UH, MADE YOUR SCHOOL, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR COMMUNITY PROUD YOU ARE CHAMPIONS, AND THANK YOU FOR THE RIDE.
I'M GONNA READ THE, UH, OH YES, MR. JUST A SHORT COMMENT, UH, AS A GRANDFATHER OF A COUPLE OF WRESTLERS AT, AT SKYLINE AND, UH, A FRIEND AND, UH, A FRIEND, A WHOLE BUNCH OF NOT ONLY WRESTLERS, BUT, UH, BUT ATHLETES AT, UH, AT THE SCHOOL AND KNOWING A FEW OF THE COACHES, JUST A QUICK COMMENT.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE FINEST DISCIPLINED AND CARING COACHES AND GENTLEMEN FOR YOU GUYS TO, UH, KIND OF GIVE YOURSELVES TO A COACH AND LET HIM GUIDE YOU AND SEE WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED.
YOU DID, YOU DID INCREDIBLE AND HAD AN AMAZING, AMAZING YEAR.
DON'T EVER FORGET IT, AND I KNOW YOU WON'T, MADAM MAYOR.
I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD, WHEN YOU BOYS PLAYED LAKE TAYLOR, UM, I SHOWED UP TO THE GAME, A SOLD OUT GAME, UH, VERY HIGH ENERGY GAME, AND CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF THE BLEACHERS TO FIND A SEAT, ONLY TO FIND, I WAS SEATED RIGHT NEXT TO COUNCILMAN RAP FOUR, AND, UM, I MAY HAVE SCARED HIM A TIME OR TWO.
I THINK I MAY BE THE FIRST EVER HAWK TO SIT ON THIS COUNCIL.
AND AS A HAWK ALUM, YOU GUYS MADE ME PROUD THE ENTIRE SEASON.
UM, THE COMEBACK AFTER THAT HALFTIME AND THE ENERGY IN THAT GYM WAS UNPRECEDENTED.
UM, AND SO CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WINS THIS SEASON.
AND, UH, WE'RE ALL EXTREMELY PROUD
[00:15:01]
OF YOU.BRUCE LOOKED AT ME AT THE END OF THE GAME AND HE SAID, WHO'S GONNA TAKE THIS TO COUNCIL AND GET THESE BOYS RECOGNIZED? SO THANK YOU BRUCE, FOR HAVING THAT DONE AND, UH, FLY HAWKS.
BEFORE I READ THE PROCLAMATION, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UM, I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T GET MY TICKET EARLY ENOUGH.
I GOT HOME AND I TOLD MY HUSBAND, I SAID, DO YOU THINK IF I CALLED AND SAID, BUT I'M THE MAYOR
SO WE HAD TO, WE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE A MEETING YOUR LAST GAME, AND I HAD TO SELL MY TICKETS, BUT WE DID TUNE IN FROM COUNCIL.
I'M GONNA READ THE PROCLAMATION, BUT I WAS JUST GONNA ASK IF THE COACHES AND THE BOYS CAN COME UP FRONT HERE, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
I KNOW YOU LOOK SO EXCITED TO DO THAT.
LIKE, WE DON'T EVEN WANNA BE, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA, I'M GONNA READ THIS AND THEN I'M GONNA COME OUT AND GIVE IT TO YOU GUYS AND MR. BIANCHINI IS GONNA TAKE YOUR PICTURE.
SO, SO THIS PROCLAMATION IS TO RECOGNIZE RECOGNITION OF SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL HAWKS BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM, WHEREAS THE SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL HAWKS BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM FINISHED THE 2023 SEASON WITH A 26 AND ONE RECORD.
AND WHEREAS THE HAWKS WON THE CLASS THREE NORTHWESTERN DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP, THE REGION THREE B CHAMPIONSHIP AND ADVANCE TO THE STATE SEMI-FINALS.
AND WHEREAS THE HAWKS HAVE GONE DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2007, AND WHEREAS THE HAWKS ARE COACHED BY HAROLD CHUNN AND ALONG WITH THE 2023 TEAM AND ASSISTANCE LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY ON THIS COMMUNITY.
AND NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR AND THE FRONT ROYAL TOWN COUNCIL RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE THE SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL HAWKS BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM FOR A SUCCESSFUL BASKETBALL SEASON.
AND WHILE I COME DOWN THERE, YOU NEED TO TAKE A ROLL CALL, DON'T YOU? OKAY.
AND THANKS FOR OH, COUPLE OF THOSE YOUNG MEN STARTED OFF WITH US AT H J B TOO, SO, ALL RIGHT.
NUMBER SEVEN, UH, ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, MAYOR.
THIS IS TO APPROVE THE PROCLAMATION.
COUNCILWOMAN DE DEMONACO PAYNE.
OKAY, I'M GETTING READY TO MOVE ONE.
NUMBER SEVEN, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I, UH, DWAYNE CAME OUT AND SAID TO MAKE SURE YOUR MICS WERE NEAR YOUR MOUTH, JUST, JUST SAYING.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS OUR PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, WE NOW COME TO THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
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 AND 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.
THERE IS A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR SPEAKERS.
[7.A. Special Use Permit for a Commercial Outdoor Recreation Facility at 1847 N. Royal Avenue – Jeffrey Kelble]
WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH SEVEN A.IF, UH, MS. PRESLEY, YOU WILL READ THE SUMMARY AND IT'S A LONG ONE.
COUNCIL HAS RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM JEFFREY KBU FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW FOR A COMMERCIAL OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITY LOCATED AT 1847 NORTH WORLD AVENUE.
THE PROPERTY IS ZONED A DASH ONE AGRICULTURE AND OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION DISTRICT.
OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES ARE PERMITTED ONLY BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT IN THE A ONE ZONE.
THE PROPERTY CONSISTS OF 12 PLUS ACRES.
IT IS CONTAINED WITHIN FEMA'S FLOODWAY AND THE FLOOD ZONE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS RECOMMENDED APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS.
PROPOSED USES FOR THE FOLLOWING.
PROPOSED USES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING CANOE AND KAYAK RENTALS WITH SHUTTLE
[00:20:01]
RENT, CANOES, AND KAYAKS TO GAS TO INCLUDE SHUTTLING SERVICES UPRIVER TO EASTON PARK, CAIRO PUBLIC BOAT LANDING OR BEYOND.SO GAS CAN PADDLE BACK DOWN RIVER TO THE NORTH ROYAL AVENUE LOCATION, CANOE KAYAK, AND U RENTALS.
DURING LOW WATER LEVELS, RENT, KAYAK'S, CANOES, AND STANDUP PADDLE BOARDS TO BE LAUNCHED AT THE PROPERTY FOR GAS TO EXPLORE DOWNSTREAM BACKWATERS TO WARREN DAM AND RETURN TO THE LAUNCH SITE.
THE, THE SECTION OF THE RIVER FROM EASTON PARK DOWN TO NORTH WORLD AVENUE IS PERFECT FOR EARLY SUMMER INNER TUBING, THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHORTER INNER TUBING OPTIONS FOR GUESTS WHO WOULD LIKE A SHORT TRIP OR WHEN RIVER LEVELS BECOME QUITE LOW AND SLOW, FOING SLOW FLOWING IN THE SUMMER, REQUIRING ACCESS TO THE RIVER THROUGH PRIVATE PROPERTY.
DISCUSSIONS WITH LANDOWNERS BETWEEN LOURAY AVENUE AND THE NORTH WORLD AVENUE.
PROPERTIES HAVE BEGUN CAMPING, LOW IMPACT, RUSTIC CAMPING, AND LIGHT CAMPER CAMPING WOULD GIVE GAS THE ABILITY TO RE RECREATE IN AND EXPLORE FRONT ROYAL FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
THE EFFECTIVE PEAK SEASON FOR RIVER ACTIVITY FROM WHICH MOST VEHICLE TRIPS WILL BE GENERATED IS MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY.
ABOUT 15 WEEKS OUT OF THE YEAR, CAMPSITES WILL BE AT LEAST 30 FEET WIDE AND 1600 SQUARE FEET AS REQUIRED BY CODE TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING DURING PEAK RIVER ACTIVITY DAYS.
THE CAPACITY TO SERVE ABOUT A THOUSAND RIVER USERS IN ANY ONE OF OUR VARIOUS RIVER ACTIVITIES, GUESTS AVERAGE ABOUT THREE PEOPLE PER VEHICLE, WHICH IN FRONT ROYAL WOULD TRANSLATE INTO ABOUT 333 VEHICLES ENTERING.
AND THEN 333 VEHICLES EXITING DURING BUSIEST HANDFUL OF DAYS PER YEAR.
THOSE VEHICLE TRIPS WILL BE SPREAD OUT BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:00 AM AND 7:00 PM MOST OF THE TRAFFIC BETWEEN 8:00 AM AND 12 NOON WILL BE INCOMING, AND IT SWITCHES OVER ORGANICALLY TO MOST TRAFFIC DEPARTING BETWEEN 2:00 PM AND 7:00 PM THE FACILITY WILL ACCEPT ONLINE RESERVATIONS, WHICH WILL SPACE OUT THE NUMBER OF CARS ENTERING AND EXITING THE SITE THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
UM, I AM GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MS. PRESLEY, IS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? WE HAVE ONE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? YES, MA'AM.
NAME'S ROBERT SEA LOCK, 4 37 BELLAIRE AVENUE, HERE IN FRONT.
EARL, I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE, UH, CHANGING FOR THE, UH, OUTDOOR EVENT PUBLIC USE ON NORTH ROYAL AVENUE.
UM, BEING A TOWN RESIDENT, A FATHER THAT HAVE CHILDREN HERE IN THE TOWN, I'VE GROWN UP IN THE TOWN.
THIS IS ANOTHER GREAT AVENUE TO GIVE THESE KIDS SOMETHING TO DO.
WHAT BETTER PLACE THAN TO BE ON THE RIVER IN THE CANOE CAPITAL OF VIRGINIA? WE HOLD THAT TITLE FOR A REASON.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND ON TOP OF, YOU KNOW, BEING THE FATHER OF TEENAGERS AND A TOWN RESIDENT, MANY, MANY MOONS AGO, I WAS ALSO AN EMPLOYEE OF A CANOE COMPANY.
DURING MY TIME THERE, YOU WILL NOT FIND A BETTER GROUP THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF THE RIVER, TAKE CARE OF THE COMMUNITY, UM, DURING THAT TIME.
MOST OF THESE PLACES, THEY KEEP THAT RIVER AND THE BANKS AND THEIR AREAS CLEANER THAN WHAT MOST PEOPLE KEEP THEIR HOMES.
THEY WANT THE RIVER HERE, AND THEY WANT THE RIVER TO REMAIN HERE.
UM, AND THEN SPEAKING ON WITH THE, THE TRAFFIC PART OF IT, YOU KNOW, COMING FROM THAT CANOE COMPANY BACKGROUND, THAT SCHEDULING CUTS DOWN.
NOW YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ALL THOSE CARS AT AT ONE TIME.
THAT SCHEDULING, UH, REALLY CUTS THAT DOWN SO YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MAJOR IMPACT.
UM, AND THEN TO SPEAK ON MR. KELBY, HE'S ALREADY BEEN WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY EVEN BEFORE HE TRULY PURCHASED THAT PROPERTY.
UM, HE HAS THE PAST TWO YEARS HAS, HAS ALREADY GIVEN BACK TO THE COMMUNITY WITH THAT PROPERTY BY ALLOWING THE, UH, YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
WE HAVE YOUTHS, FIELD AND, AND FACILITIES THE PAST TWO SEASONS AT A COST OF NOTHING FOR 150 KIDS TO PRACTICE FOUR NIGHTS A WEEK FOR THE, FOR THE PAST, MORE OR LESS TWO YEARS.
SO HE'S ALREADY PROVEN THAT HE WANTS TO HAVE A GOOD IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, AND I THINK THIS WILL HELP CONTINUE THAT GOOD IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO FOR THE YOUTH.
PLUS, IT WILL BRING A FEW MORE JOBS.
WE CAN ALWAYS USE A FEW MORE JOBS AROUND HERE.
MR. IS THERE ANYONE I KNOW NO ONE ELSE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
WOULD ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? OKAY.
I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP TO COUNSEL.
I BELIEVE, UH, MR. ROGERS, YOU MENTIONED ABOUT
[00:25:01]
THIS MOTION.THEN WE SECOND IT, THEN WE OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
I DON'T THINK HE MAY MADE THE MOTION YET.
I MOVE THE COUNCIL APPROVE A REQUEST FROM JEFFREY KILBY FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A COMMERCIAL OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL FACILITY AT 1847 NORTH ROYAL AVENUE TAX MAP, SECTION 2 83 DASH ONE DASH ONE AND TWO WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.
ONE, THE APPLICANT SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL REGULATIONS REQUIRE, EXCUSE ME, REQUIREMENTS OF VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OBTAIN ALL NECESSARY PERMITS, UH, PRIOR TO THE, UH, COMMENCEMENT OF USE.
TWO, THE HOURS OF OPERATION FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SHALL BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING TWO STAFF PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF THE USE PER TOWN CODE.
1 75 DASH 10 DASH 10 DASH D AND THREE.
AND NUMBER THREE, THAT THE LENGTH OF STAY BE NO MORE THAN 14 DAYS, CALENDAR DAYS AT ONE TIME, EXCLUDING CARETAKER.
OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND WE HAVE A SECOND.
NOW, I'M GONNA OPEN UP OUR DISCUSSION FOR COUNCIL.
I HAVE DISCUSSION, MADAM MAYOR, I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED TO SEE THIS COME BEFORE US.
I HAD THE HONOR OF TALKING TO JEFFREY, UM, KELBY, MR. KELBY BEFORE THE PURCHASE WENT THROUGH AS WELL.
UM, FOR YEARS I'VE HELPED CO-HOST THE JOHN MEMORIAL, THE JOHN SMEDLEY MEMORIAL PIG ROAST AT THE FORMER VFW.
AND I GREW UP ON THE CORNER OF 18TH AND BELMONT.
UM, AND THE ONLY THING WE HAD IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO DO DURING MY TIME DOWN THERE WAS, UH, PLAY ON THE TRAIN TRACKS THAT YOU HAVE TO GO OVER THE UNDERPASS TO GET TO THE PROPERTY AS I ALSO HAVE A SON WHO'S PLAYED FOOTBALL DOWN THERE ON THOSE FIELDS ON AND OFF OVER THE YEARS.
AND, UM, I'M AN AVID KAYAKER, LOVE THE RIVER.
AND I THINK IN MY LIFETIME, I KNOW THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAVE HAD THIS OPTION FOR RECREATION AND THE TOWN LIMITS OF FRONT ROYAL.
UM, IT'S NOT ONLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR JOBS AND TO KEEP THE TEENAGERS AND KIDS BUSY AND THE FAMILIES I GREW UP CAMPING.
AND EVEN THOUGH WE LIVED IN FRONT ROYAL, WE CAMPED AT SKYLINE RANCH RESORT AND K O A ON THREE 40.
UM, IT'LL ALSO BRING IN ANOTHER REVENUE STREAM, WHICH IS LODGING TAX.
IT'LL BRING IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT TAX STREAMS. UM, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THIS BE PUT TO USE AND BE PUT TO GOOD USE AT THAT.
SO, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR COMMUNITY, AND I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS ALREADY HAVE SUCCESSFUL VENTURES, SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO WELCOME THIS TO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
AND I THINK EVERYBODY HERE IS THANK YOU.
COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS, VICE MAYOR SEAK.
I'VE TALKED TO THE, UH, TO JEFF A COUPLE TIMES ON THE PHONE ABOUT IT.
UM, I HAVE BEEN BY HIS PLACE IN HARPERS FERRY, UH, VERY, VERY CLEAN, ORGANIZED.
AND I THINK THE ONE, IF WE GET THIS IN TOWN, IT'S GONNA BE GOOD ALSO.
UM, AND I THINK IT COMES AT A GOOD TIME.
UM, YOU KNOW, US BEING THE CANOE CAPITAL OF VIRGINIA, THE GENTLEMAN THAT GOT US THAT DESIGNATION JUST PASSED AWAY.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK HE WOULD BE TREMENDOUS.
HE'D BE ECSTATIC ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING.
UM, ALL I CAN SAY IS IF, IF WE DO THIS, I, I, I WISH HIM GOOD LUCK.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW, THANK YOU FOR HELPING WITH OUR YOUTH.
UH, I KNOW WE HAVE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY COACHES YOU ALL HAVE NOW, BUT YOU KNOW, THESE COACHES VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME.
IF THEY GO OUT TO SOME FIELDS, THEY GET CHARGED FOR IT.
HE'S OFFERED US FIELDS FOR OUR YOUTH, AND I THINK THAT'S A TREMENDOUS THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IS THERE ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WISH, WISH TO SPEAK? GO AHEAD.
UH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO YOU, JEFF, BUT, UM, UH, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
UH, FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF THE TOURISM, I THINK IT'S GOING GOING TO BE A PLUS.
UH, I, I, I WOULD LIKE TO, I WOULD LIKE US TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE INTERSECTION UP THERE AT 14TH AND, UH, NORTH ROYAL AVENUE.
IT'S HARD TO MAKE THE PEOPLE COMING OUT, OUT THAT, UH, LEAVING.
IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN TO GO BACK INTO TOWN.
UH, BUT, UM, OTHERWISE IT'S A GREAT USE FOR, FOR THE, UM, PROPERTY.
OTHERWISE, UH, THERE'S NOT
THERE'S NOT MUCH TO THAT THAT IT COULD BECOME.
[00:30:01]
AND, UH, UM, I, I DO APPRECIATE YOU, UH, TAKING ON THIS VENTURE.ANYBODY ELSE? YEAH, I GOT ONE MORE THING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT BRUCE JUST TOUCHED ON, IF WE LOOK THROUGH THE APPLICATION THAT HE PUT IN, HE IS TAKING THE TIME TO SHOW US A MAP OF HOW HE, I GUESS HE REFUSES TO LET HIS, I GUESS, BUSES YOU'RE GONNA USE COME OUT TO SHANDO AND FOR OUR NORTH ROYAL IN 14TH AND MAKE A LEFT TURN SO THE TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC SHOULDN'T BACK UP THERE.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST APPLICATIONS I'VE EVER SEEN.
COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YEAH, JUST TWO THINGS.
UM, HAVING FRIENDS THAT COME DOWN HERE QUITE OFTEN, I'VE BEEN ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES, YOU KNOW, YOUR SIGN SAYS CANOE CAPITAL OF VIRGINIA, BUT THERE ARE NO CANOE PLACES IN TOWN.
JOSH, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT'S UP WITH THAT? SO, ONE, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT QUESTION.
UH, TWO, AND THIS RELATES TO, UH, A MEETING THAT MADAM MAYOR AND I WERE ATTENDED, UH, LAST WEEK, UH, WITH THE VIRGINIA RAILS TRAILS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE YOU'RE MAY FAMILIAR WITH.
IT'S GOING TO BE, YOUR PROPERTY'S GONNA BE A KEY COMPONENT TO THAT.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO, HOPEFULLY THAT'LL COME TO FRUITION AND EVEN ADD, ADD MORE, UH, UH, EXPOSURE TO, TO THAT.
SO, BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR TOWN, AND LIKE I SAID, I'M, I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
JEFF, I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE EXCITING THINGS THAT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, IN, IN SO MANY ASPECTS.
IT WILL, IT WILL INFLUENCE, UH, ACTIVITIES FOR OUR KIDS, FOR OUR PARENTS, FOR OUR, FOR OUR FAMILIES, UH, UH, SOCIAL ASPECTS AND THE SOCIAL ACTIVITIES THAT ARE PLANNED IN THIS AREA.
UM, I THINK THE CONTRIBUTION THAT YOU, UH, YOUR FAMILY IS GONNA HAVE WITH, WITH THIS IS GONNA, I THINK, ENABLE US TO, TO REALLY LOOK POSITIVELY ON MORE DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE RIVER WITH THE, WITH THE TRAILS THAT, UH, ARE IN DEVELOPMENT NOW THAT UNDER DISCUSSION.
SO, WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR FORESIGHT, WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR, UH, COMMITMENT, UH, TO MAKING SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN.
WE ARE THE, THE CANOE CAPITAL OF, UH, OF VIRGINIA, AND RIGHTLY SO.
WE USED TO HAVE A MUCH MORE, UH, ACTIVE AND VISIBLE NEW PORTION OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT, UH, COMING BACK.
AND ANYBODY ELSE? NO, GO AHEAD.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION THAT YOU GAVE US.
IT WAS VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT AND PLANNED.
AND, YOU KNOW, CUZ IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE EXCITED ABOUT THE PROJECT, BUT EVEN MORE SO TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SUCCESSFUL.
AND SO IT WAS REALLY APPARENT THAT YOU HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO PULL SOMETHING LIKE THIS OFF.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING RESPONSIVE AND INQUISITIVE AND THANK YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD ONE REALLY EXCITING THING.
AND AS SOMEBODY WHO GREW UP IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND KNOWS THAT NORTH ROYAL AND 14TH STREET HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM LONG BEFORE, UH, ANY DEVELOPMENT DOWN THERE HAPPENED.
AND SOMETIMES VFW HAD A COUPLE HUNDRED CARS DOWN THERE FOR EVENTS WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.
MY FAMILY ARE MEMBERS OF THE VFW.
UM, THIS IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY SITTING ON THE TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE WITH COUNCILMAN INGRAM.
UM, ONCE WE DEVELOP, WE'VE LEARNED, THEN WE CAN APPROACH VDOT.
SO, UH, PERHAPS WITH THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT, THEN WE CAN GET SOME REVENUE SHARING OR, UM, SOME HELP FROM VDOT ABOUT THE INTERSECTION.
THAT'S BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BOTH AT SHENANDOAH AND AT NORTH ROYAL IN 14TH.
SO, IF ANYTHING, THIS IS GONNA HELP US WITH THE TRAFFIC FLOW EVENTUALLY, CUZ WE'LL BE ABLE TO SHOW THE NEED FOR THAT.
SO BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE, I I, I WANTED TO ALSO AGREE WITH, UH, MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES UP HERE THAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
I WATCHED THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING WHERE YOU SPOKE, AND I KNOW TONIGHT, YOU KNOW, YOU, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT WHERE IN PLANNING COMMISSION YOU WERE, YOU KNOW, STATING EVERYTHING, FIELDING QUESTIONS LEFT AND RIGHT.
AND I FEEL LIKE BECAUSE YOU DID SUCH A GREAT JOB THERE, I DIDN'T HA I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE ANYTHING THEY THREW AT YOU, YOU COULD ANSWER AND THEN YOU EVEN ANSWERED SOME THINGS THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW TO ASK.
IT WAS, IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
UM, AS COUNCILMAN INGRAM SAID, UM, LAST THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE SHAU RAILS TRAILS MEETING PARTNERSHIP.
EXPLORATORY PARTNERSHIP, MEANING IT WAS A COMMUNITY MEETING.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT IMPACT AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY, YOU, YOU MAY VERY WELL BE JUST SITTING ON A LITTLE GOLD MINE DOWN THERE CUZ IF THAT TRAIL COMES THROUGH THERE, YOU ARE GONNA BE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE GONNA BE SO EXCITED THAT, UH, YOU HAVE THAT PIECE.
BUT, UM, AS EVERYBODY SAID, YOU, YOUR, YOUR BUSINESS PLAN VERY ORGANIZED, EXPLAINED EVERYTHING.
AND I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR YOU,
[00:35:01]
UH, FOR, FOR THIS TO COME THROUGH.I KEPT SAYING WE WERE THE CANOE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
LIZZIE LEWIS KEEPS CORRECTING ME THAT WE'RE THE CANOE CAPITAL OF VIRGINIA.
UM, DO, DO ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR, UH, THE APPLICANT? NO.
I WANTED TO ADD A THANK YOU TO OUR PLANNING COMMISSION.
THEY WERE, WHEN WE TALKED, YOU EXPLAINED THAT.
AND JUST SO THEY KNOW, EVERYTHING WILL BE MOBILE SO YOU CAN TAKE IT OUT IN CASE OF A FLOOD.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WAS STILL IN THE PLANE.
I CAN AVOID PUTTING, YOU KNOW, BRICK AND MORTAR DOWN THERE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER, BUT, YOU KNOW, LIFE IS LONG.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE REALTOR TRAIL WILL NEED OR IF THERE'S OTHER PLANS AND THINGS.
BUT FOR NOW, AND THAT LINE, WHICH WAS IN YOUR PROPOSAL, IDENTIFYING THOSE POTENTIALS.
CAN WE GO AHEAD AND, UH, TAKE A VOTE? MS. PRESLEY COUNCILWOMAN INDEED TO MONICA PAYNE? YES.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, SEEING YOU DOWN THERE.
LET'S WORK AND TONIGHT, YEAH, WORKED OUT.
[7.B. Ordinance Amendment to Town Code Chapter 4-1]
ITEM SEVEN B.UM, UH, MS. PRESLEY'S GONNA READ THIS SUMMARY, BUT, UM, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
UM, I BROUGHT THIS FORWARD BECAUSE I FELT THAT WE NEED, UM, THIS COUNCIL, NO ONE WANTS TO MEET ANY MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE, BUT WE FOUND THAT, UH, IF WE DON'T MEET MORE OFTEN, WE JUST END UP HAVING MARATHON MEETINGS TO GO TO MIDNIGHT.
SO I THINK THIS IS GONNA BE A MUCH BETTER, UM, SITUATION FOR COUNCIL AND FOR STAFF.
SO, MS. PRESLEY, I'M GONNA READ THE SUMMARY AND SAVE YOU CUZ OF COURSE IT ONLY HAS TWO SENTENCES.
UH, ON FEBRUARY 13TH, 2023, COUNCIL AGREED TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL WORK SESSION A MONTH, SPECIFICALLY THE FIRST MONDAY OF EACH MONTH, BEGINNING AT 7:00 PM COUNCIL IS REQUESTED TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE CHAPTER FOUR DASH ONE AS PRESENTED.
I'LL OPEN UP THE, UH, OPEN UP FOR A MOTION.
MAD MAYOR, HONOR I MOVE THE COUNCIL, APPROVE AN ORDINANCE, AMENDMENT THE TOWN CODE CHAPTER FOUR DASH ONE AS PRESENTED.
SECOND, SAY, MADAM MAYOR, WE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MS. PRESLEY, DID ANYBODY SIGN UP? I, I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYBODY WOULD SPEAK AGAINST EXCEPT WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.
I WAS GONNA SAY, UNLESS ANY OF THESE PEOPLE
WELL, YOU GUYS CAN NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE A MOTION.
AND COUNCILMAN INGRAM OR COUNCILMAN RAP REPORT BOTH.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND WE CAN OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
ANYBODY, ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING TO OFFER OR SAY? I'LL JUST SAY, UH, WHEN I GOT ON COUNCIL MY FIRST, UM, CYCLE, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED FOR A LONG TIME.
WE HAVE OFTEN SEEN MIDNIGHT RING, UM, IN THE TOWN HALL AND HAD VERY LENGTHY MEETINGS.
IT ALSO HAS CAUSED FOR SOME INEFFECTIVE GOVERNING BY HAVING LESS MEETINGS.
IT TAKES LONGER TO GET THINGS DONE.
UM, AND SOME THINGS NEED TO BE DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.
UM, ALSO, I KNOW OUR STAFF THAT SIT HERE AND WAIT, UH, FROM THEIR ENTIRE WORKDAY UNTIL THE MEETING ENDS AT MIDNIGHT.
THEY'RE TIRED AND THEY WANT TO GO HOME.
SO I'M HAPPY THAT YOU BROUGHT THIS BACK AND THAT WE HAVE, UH, COUNSEL THAT'S WILLING AND EAGER TO DO IT AS WELL.
SO PERHAPS WE COULD HAVE A BEDTIME.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING FOR A DISCUSSION BEFORE WE VOTE? OKAY.
WE MAY GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS BEING THE ONLY GROUP THAT ASKS FOR MORE MEETINGS, BUT, SORRY.
[7.C. Bid Award and Budget Amendment for the Fleet Maintenance Building Project]
ALL RIGHT.SEVEN C UM, IS OUR PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE BID AWARD BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE FLEET MAINTENANCE BUILDING PROJECT.
MS. PRESTI, CAN YOU READ THE SUMMARY? COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO APPROVE A BID TO LC W CONSTRUCTION FOR THE FLEET MAINTENANCE BUILDING PROJECT AND THE AMOUNT OF 1,995,000 AND APPROVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF 2,450,000 TO ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
UM, I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO, WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.
I'M SURPRISED THAT, UH, THAT NO, I WAS GONNA SAY, I'M SURPRISED,
[00:40:01]
UH, DON FROM THE FLEET MANS DEPART WOULDN'T WANNA SIGN UP CUZ I KNOW THEY, THEY, UH, NEED THIS.SO, UM, THEN I'M GONNA ENTERTAIN A MOTION, I BELIEVE COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YEAH, I GOT THE MOTION.
UH, MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE A BID TO L C W CONSTRUCTION FOR THE FLEET MANAGEMENT, OUR FLEET MAINTENANCE BUILDING PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE 1,995,000 AND APPROVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,450,000.
OKAY, WE HAVE, UH, A MOTION AND A SECOND, UH, UP FOR DISCUSSION.
ANYBODY, ANYBODY DISCUSS? I THINK I'VE SAID IT A LOT OF TIMES.
I'LL JUST SAY IT HERE AGAIN TONIGHT, FOR ANY PUBLIC THAT ARE WATCHING THAT FLEET MAINTENANCE BUILDING SAVES US A LOT OF MONEY AS A TOWN.
AND WE HAVE SOME AMAZING TALENT THAT DON'S BEEN ABLE TO RETAIN DOWN THERE OVER THE YEARS FOR THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
THEY HAVE WELDED THINGS AND MAY DO WITH WHAT THEY HAVE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
AND THIS HAS BEEN A MUCH NEEDED, UM, BUILDING FOR THE TOWN AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO SAVE US MONEY AND PAY FOR ITSELF FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO COME.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD, UH, MADAM MAYOR, THAT HAVING, UH, TOWARD THE FACILITIES HERE, OF COURSE, OF, OF, UH, THE TOWN THROUGH PUBLIC WORKS AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, WATER TREATMENT PLANT WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, UH, THE, THE MAINTENANCE BUILDING WAS ONE POINT THAT I COULD SEE RIGHT OFF THE BAT THAT THAT NEEDED ATTENTION.
SO I, UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THINK, I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THIS WAS PUT IN MOTION BY THE FORMAL COUNCIL AS WELL, SO WE'RE VOTING ON SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY PUT IN MOTION PREVIOUSLY.
BUT, UH, BUT ANYWAYS, I CAN JUST SAY HAVING SEEN THIS FACILITY, UH, WE, AND AS, AS COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS SAID, I MEAN OUR, OUR MAINTENANCE TEAM, UH, SAVES US, YOU KNOW, SAVES US A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY WITH WORK THAT, THAT THEY DO IN HOUSE.
SO, UM, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE GONNA PUT THIS IN, HOPEFULLY PUT THIS IN MOTION.
SO I JUST, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, WELL, IT'S HIGH TIME THAT WE DEALT WITH THIS.
IT WAS ABOUT A 50 YEAR OLD, UH, BUILDING, UH, DIDN'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING, UH, ON THESE HOT SUMMER DAYS.
AND, UH, I THINK IT'S A WIN-WIN.
ANYBODY ELSE? WISH THE SAME THING? JUST JUST A QUICK ONE.
HAD A HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO, TO VISIT, UH, THE MAINTENANCE, UH, CENTER AND MEET A NUMBER OF THE GUYS AND, AND, UH, LADIES THAT ARE, ARE A PART OF THAT.
THE AMOUNT OF WORK THEY DO, THE AMOUNT OF SKILL THAT IT, THAT IT, UH, REQUIRES.
AND, UH, THEIR ABILITY TO WORK ON THINGS FROM THESE INCREDIBLY LARGE HYDRAULIC TRACTORS DOWN TO, UH, POLICE CARS.
UH, THAT LEVEL OF EXPERTISE IS VITAL, UH, FOR OUR GROWING, UH, UH, COMMUNITY.
SO, HATS OFF TO ALL YOUR GUYS.
ANYBODY ELSE? WISH, WISH TO SPEAK? OH YES, GO AHEAD.
I ALSO TOURED THE FACILITY RECENTLY AND FOUND, UM, THEY HAD A HUGE, I BELIEVE SANITATION TRUCK IN THERE THAT TOOK UP THE ENTIRE AREA.
UM, IT WAS VERY APPARENT THAT THEY NEED MORE SPACE, BUT ALSO IT'S, IT BECAUSE OF THE, JUST THE RANGE OF FLEET, UH, VEHICLES THAT THEY HAVE THROUGH THE TOWN FROM SANITATION AS THEY WERE MENTIONING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THE AGING OF THEM.
IT'S SO NICE TO HAVE, UM, INTERNAL GROUP THAT WILL STILL WORK ON THE OLD VEHICLES THAT WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE NEW MORE ELECTRONIC VEHICLES.
SO IT'S, UM, IT'S AN IMPRESSIVE AMOUNT OF SKILL THAT'S THERE AND, AND IT DESERVES, UM, THE SPACE AND ATTENTION TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK EFFECTIVELY.
JUST LIKE I THANKED OUR PLANNING COMMISSION EARLIER, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR STAFF AND FORMER STAFF.
THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS IN THE WORKS BEFORE EVEN I CAME ON COUNCIL TOO ELECTIONS AGO, UM, AS JOSH MENTIONED.
SO THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS.
GOVERNMENT IS SLOW MOVING AND THANK YOU TO BJ FOR WORK TIRELESSLY ON THE FINANCING ASPECT OF IT.
AND DON, IF YOU'RE WATCHING FROM HOMER, SEE THIS TOMORROW.
ACTUALLY, COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GONNA END WITH, IS THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, UM, EVEN THOUGH THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS ABOUT, UH, AWARDING AND A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE FLEET MAINTENANCE BUILDING PROJECT, IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF BECAUSE THEY DON'T ALWAYS WORK IN THE BEST, UM, UH, SITUATIONS, ENVIRONMENTS.
AND THEY HAVE BEEN MORE THAN PATIENT AS WE WORKED ON THIS.
AND, AND, UM, AMBER CALLED OUT BJ AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY TOO.
WE'VE BEEN SETTING SOME MONEY ASIDE RIGHT.
FOR THIS, UH, SO THAT WE COULD BE PREPARED WHEN IT WAS TIME AND THAT TO ME IS RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT.
UM, MS. PRESLEY, I THINK WE CAN GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL FOR THIS COUNCILWOMAN D DOCO PAYNE? YES.
[00:45:01]
INGRAM? YES.[7.D. Resolution for Bond Purchase and Loan Agreement Related to Fleet Maintenance Building Project]
OUR NEXT ITEM IS 70 AND IT IS ON THE SAME TOPIC.UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE RESOLUTION FOR BOND PURCHASE AND LOAN AGREEMENT RELATED TO THE FLEET MAINTENANCE BUILDING PROJECT.
UM, AND THE SUMMARY IS MS. PRESTON, I MIGHT JUST GO AHEAD AND READ 'EM.
UH, I'M, I'M GONNA ASK YOU THOUGH, DO WE NEED TO READ EVERY ONE OF THE AMOUNTS TOO? YEAH.
COUNCIL IS REQUESTED TO APPROVE A BOND PURCHASE AND LOAN AGREEMENT WITH WEBSTER BANK IN THE AMOUNT OF 2,450,000 WITH AN INTEREST RATE OF 4.345% FOR A TERM OF 20 YEARS FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS RELATED TO THE FLEET MAINTENANCE BUILDING PROJECT.
UM, AND YOU SAY WE DO NOT NEED TO LIST EACH ITEM WITH THEIR AMOUNT? THAT'S, THAT'S TOTALLY UP TO YOU.
WELL, I, I, I THINK I'M GONNA JUST SKIP IT.
IT'S JUST A LOT OF ITEMS WITH A LOT OF MONEY AND IT ALL ADDS UP TO $2,450,000.
SO, UM, BUT IT, IT IS OUT THERE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE IF THEY WANTED TO SEE THE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, TIRE BALANCE OR A TIRE CHANGER OR AIR COMPRESSOR, ALL THAT STUFF.
SO, UH, I'M GONNA OPEN UP TO COUNSEL FOR A MOTION.
MADAM MAYOR PUBLIC HEARING, I'M SORRY, WE KEEP, I'M SORRY, OPEN AND CLOSED.
OPEN AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I CAN, I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYBODY SIGNED UP? WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.
I THINK IT'S CUZ I, I SEE THE
SO ANYBODY WANT TO SPEAK? ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK? OKAY, THEN I'M GONNA CLOSE PUBLIC THE HEARING AND NOW I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL AND COUNCILMAN INGRAM, I BELIEVE YOU ARE GONNA READ THIS MOTION, RIGHT? YOU HAVE A, A MOTION FROM WHAT WE HAD MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE A RESOLUTION ENTITLED RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF ITS GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND SERIES, UH, 2023 IN AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPLE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 2,450,000 AND THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS PREPARED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH AS WRITTEN AND PRESENTED, APPROVING A BOND PURCHASE AND ONE AGREEMENT WITH WEBSTER BANK IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,450,000 FOR A TERM OF 20 YEARS TO BE USED FOR THE FLEET MAINTENANCE BUILDING PROJECT AND AUTHORIZE THE APPROPRIATE TOWN OFFICIALS AND OFFICERS TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
DOES COUNSEL HAVE ANYTHING TO OFFER? I FEEL LIKE WE PROBABLY TALKED TO, WELL, I DO, I DIDN'T REALIZE THE MOTION HAD CHANGED FROM WHAT COUNSEL WAS PRESENTED WITH.
SO IF YOU GUYS SAW SOME CONFUSION ON MY FACE, WHAT I'VE READ AND BEEN PREPARED FOR, FOR THIS MEETING JUST CHANGED TONIGHT.
SO IF GEORGE COULD PERHAPS, UM, JUST SPEAK TO WHY THE MOTION CHANGED.
SEEMS LIKE IT'S A LOT OF LEGALESE.
SO IN THE PACKET FROM BOND COUNSEL, MR. ESTES, UM, THERE'S A SPECIFIC FIVE PAGE RESOLUTION, UH, TO BE, UM, PASSED BY COUNSEL.
AND I FELT THAT THE MOTION NEEDED TO BE EXPANDED ON TO MAKE IT CLEAR IN THE RECORD THAT COUNCIL'S ACTION, UH, WAS ON THAT DRAFT RESOLUTION, WHICH IS A ESSENTIAL PART OF, OF THE BOND PACKAGE.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? I I JUST WANTED TO, UH, REACH OUT TO BJ.
UH, I KNOW COUNCILMAN MORRIS REFERRED TO IT, UH, ABOUT, UH, THE, THE BOND FINANCING AND WHATNOT.
BUT, UH, DID A GREAT JOB TO GET UNDER THESE CONDITIONS TO GET A 4.35%, UH, RATE.
UH, AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND VOTE THEN.
COUNCILWOMAN D DOCO PAYNE? YES.
AND SO YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED NOW, RIGHT? FOR
[8. PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS]
THAT NUMBER EIGHT IS OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION.UH, SO WE NOW HAVE COME TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE RECOGNIZED, THEN COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADD AND ADDRESS.
PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS.
[00:50:01]
TIME LIMIT.THE SPEAKER'S COMMENTS SHALL BE RELEVANT TO THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL AND DIRECTED TO THE COUNCIL.
THE SPEAKER'S COMMENTS DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL NOT ADDRESS THE SUBJECT MATTER OF A PUBLIC HEARING BEING HELD DURING THIS SAME MEETING.
NO PERSONAL TEXTS AND DECOROUS LANGUAGE OR DISPLAY OF SIGNS, PLACARDS, POSTERS, OR OTHER DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT OR DISPLAY WILL BE PREVENTED.
MS. PRESLEY, IS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? YES, WE HAVE TWO.
THE FIRST ONES CHRISTOPHER MORGAN STERN.
UH, THANKS FOR LETTING ME TALK TODAY.
I KNOW THAT I SAW YOU GUYS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND I COULDN'T TALK DURING THAT MEETING MM-HMM.
UH, I LIVE AT IN 1 97 WOOD TSH, WAY OUT IN LINDEN, UP ON BLUE MOUNTAIN.
UM, MR. MORGAN, CHRISTOPHER MORGAN STERN.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY, WHEN YOU SAW US A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, IT WAS A PUB, IT WAS A WORK SESSION, RIGHT? YEAH.
AND WE DON'T HAVE, I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A MEETING WITH THIS.
SO NOBODY THOUGHT WE DIDN'T LET YOU SPEAK BEFORE
UM, BUT, UH, I OWN 1989 BA COMPANY OVER IN THE MARTIN'S PARKING LOT.
UH, MY MAIN THING TODAY IS THAT I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT VAPE SHOPS AND STUFF IN TOWN.
UH, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH EVERYBODY IS QUITE UPSET ABOUT THE SHEER NUMBER OF THEM, AND I JUST KIND OF WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A VAPE STORE AND SOME OF THE STORES THAT HAVE OPENED UP HERE IN TOWN.
UM, IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE HAD EIGHT STORES OPEN UP IN TOWN, AND I PERSONALLY DON'T REALLY CONSIDER ANY OF THEM A VAPE STORE, UH, BECAUSE THEY SELL PRODUCTS RELATED TO, UH, ILLICIT SUBSTANCE USAGE AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS.
UM, I, AS A VAPE STORE OPENED UP MY STORE TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE AND QUIT SMOKING AND USING OTHER SORT OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS USING, UH, PRODUCTS THAT ARE PROVEN TO BE 95% SAFER BY THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS.
UM, AND SORRY, I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS.
BUT, UH, I HAVE SOLD PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN PAID PRODUCTS FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
UM, I USED TO WORK AT THREE LVA FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS.
UH, BJ WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT I HELPED QUIT SMOKING.
UH, AND, UH, THE MAIN REASON WHY I OPENED MY OWN BUSINESS WAS TO JUST BE ABLE TO CONTINUE HELPING PEOPLE BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE MY MOM, UH, AND MY DAD.
AND MY DAD'S NOT HERE TODAY BECAUSE HE WAS OUT IN THE YARD DOING A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF FROM THE WINDSTORM WE HAD A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
UM, BUT MY PARENTS USED TO WHEEZE JUST FROM WALKING UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS, AND NOW THEY'RE RUNNING ULTRA-MARATHONS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
UH, MY DAD, UH, MADE IT ALL THE WAY AT THE ANTELOPE CANYON MARATHON OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT, AND SHE MADE IT, WHAT, 28.6 MILES, UH, WHICH IS STILL A PRETTY FAR DISTANCE.
UM, BUT MY MAIN THING IS JUST THAT I WANT TO TRY TO HELP YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A VAPE STORE BEING HERE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY AND CREATE A POSITIVE HEALTH BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY AND STORES THAT ARE HERE TO, UH, SELL PRODUCTS RELATED TO DRUG USE.
AND I THINK THAT THERE JUST NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SO MANY THAT IT HAS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED MY BUSINESS.
I ADMIT MY BIAS IN THAT, THAT, UH, ME WANTING SOMETHING TO BE DONE DOES HELP ME.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT IT IS A PROBLEM FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW, UH, THAT THE TOWN HAS STRUGGLED AND GRIEVED OVER INCIDENTS RELATED TO DRUG USE.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT HAVING EIGHT STORES IN TOWN THAT SELL PRODUCTS RELATED TO DRUG USE IS VERY HEALTHY FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE ORDINANCE IN PLACES, ORDINANCES IN PLACES FOR, UM, OTHER BUSINESSES SUCH AS PAWN SHOPS.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MUNICIPAL CODE, UH, I THINK IT'S 98 DASH 52 D, UM, THAT IS AN ORDINANCE ON PAWN SHOPS THAT MAKE IT SO THAT, UH, AN OWNER OF A PAWN SHOP CAN ONLY OWN ONE.
UM, AND WE HAVE FIVE STORES IN TOWN THAT ARE OWNED BY TWO PEOPLE.
UM, AND SO THAT WOULD, UM, KIND OF HELP, UH, REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STORES THAT BRING PRODUCTS INTO OUR TOWN THAT I DON'T THINK WE ALL WANT THERE.
UM, BUT, UH, THERE WAS ANOTHER ARTICLE, OR THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE WARREN REPORT, UM, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, UH, DONE BY A GUY NAMED, UH, GREGORY HAROLD.
ONE THING THAT HE HAD, UH, TALKED ABOUT WAS POTENTIALLY CREATING A NEW ZONE, UH, FUNNILY OR FUNNILY NAMED THE, UH, CBD DISTRICT FOR CANNABIS BUSINESS DISTRICT.
UM, AND I THINK THAT MIGHT HELP THE TOWN, UH, MAINLY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IS THAT ALL OF THESE HEAD SHOPS ARE IN OUR MAIN THOROUGHFARES.
SO THE FIRST THING THAT SOMEBODY SEES WHEN THEY WALK INTO A TOWN IS A STORE THAT SELLS A BONG, A BOWL, CIGARETTES,
[00:55:01]
THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER THING.UM, AND IT HAD BASICALLY EVERYBODY IN TOWN.
LIKE IF YOU GO ON FACEBOOK, UH, THERE'S A NEW BUSINESS OWN THING OR EVEN ANY POST THAT'S NOT EVEN ABOUT ANYTHING RELATED TO THAT.
UM, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMMENTS OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT HOW THERE'S A NEW STORE THAT JUST SELLS THESE PRODUCTS.
UM, AND IF THERE WAS SOME SORT OF ZONING ORDINANCE THAT PUT THEM ALL IN ONE PLACE, YOU GUYS MIGHT BE ABLE TO PUT THEM IN A PLACE THAT YOU GUYS DEEM MORE REASONABLE FOR THAT TYPE OF BUSINESS.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING, UM, I I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT THAT DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS, THIS, THIS ISN'T A TIME FOR COUNSEL TO TALK BACK MM-HMM.
UM, I WOULD ACTUALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING AND EDUCATING US.
THAT'S WHAT PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT.
SO THANK YOU FOR EDUCATING US AND, AND, AND COUNSEL IN THE FUTURE MIGHT OKAY.
MIGHT CONTACT YOU AND GET SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
I ALREADY TALKED TO, UH, WARREN, THE HEAD OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
SO SHE HAS MY NUMBER IF YOU NEED ME.
I'M ALWAYS AT THE STORE EXCEPT ON THURSDAY,
MY NAME IS CLAIRE SCHMIDT AND I LIVE AT 3 37 WEST 10TH STREET IN FRONT ROYAL.
UM, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL.
I EMAILED YOU ALL BASICALLY THIS THIS AFTERNOON, UM, AN INTRODUCTION, BUT I WANTED TO SORT OF INTRODUCE MYSELF PUBLICLY.
THANK YOU JOE FOR THE SUGGESTION.
HE MADE THAT TO ME ON THURSDAY.
UM, I KNOW MOST OF YOU ALREADY KNOW ME IN SOME CAPACITY, BUT I AM HERE TONIGHT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AS THE NEWLY APPOINTED PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF DISCOVER FRONT ROYAL.
UM, AS I'M, I THINK YOU ALL ARE AWARE, OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE COMMON ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF ALL THE COMMERCIAL TOURISM ENTERPRISES IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY.
OUR INTENTION WAS TO BE THE DESTINATION MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION AND BE THE BACKBONE OF REGIONAL TOURISM, SUPPORTING THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY AND INCREASING TOURISM REVENUE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WHEN CARRIE BARNHART, WHO SEATED IN THE AUDIENCE, UH, AND D R'S PRIOR CHAIR AND NOW A CURRENT BOARD MEMBER APPROACHED ME TO JOIN THE BOARD, UM, I, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TWO HIGH SCHOOLERS AND I'M A BUSY MOM AND I WASN'T, I WASN'T A HUNDRED PERCENT CONVINCED, BUT I KNOW HOW CRITICAL TOURISM IS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND I KNOW HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT SHE HAS POURED INTO THIS.
SO I SAID YES ON THE CONDITION THAT SHE STAY ON THE BOARD TO SUPPORT ME IN THE TRANSITION AND HELP ME GET UP TO SPEED, WHICH SHE HAS GRACIOUSLY DONE.
I'M STILL ABSORBING THE THOUSAND PLUS PAGES OF READING IN TWO WEEKS.
UM, AND I AM HAPPY TO SAY I'M GETTING MY ARMS AROUND THINGS NOW.
UH, I DO ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO CHECK OUT SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT IS LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE AND ALSO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IF THEY'RE WATCHING THIS AND ARE CURIOUS ABOUT TOURISM.
UM, OUR WEBSITE IS WWW.DISCOVERFRONTROYAL.COM AND THERE'S A PARTNERSHIP RESOURCE TAB THAT HAS ALL OF OUR MEETING AGENDAS, MINUTES STAKEHOLDER AND MARKETING REPORTS, AND THEY'RE ALL THERE.
SO THAT HAS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL TO ME IN GETTING UP TO SPEED.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE SO, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK IT OUT.
UM, I AM INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO CARRY AND THE PREVIOUS BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THEIR WORK IN GETTING DFR TO THIS POINT AND SUPPORTING THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY IN THEIR TOURISM EFFORTS.
UH, I BELIEVE THE COMBINED LODGING TAX HAS GROWN AS WELL AS ALL OTHER LEADING AND LAGGING INDICATORS OF TOURISM, WHICH IS FOLLOWERS.
THERE'S 22,000 FOLLOWERS THAT HAVE BEEN GENERATED IN THE LAST YEAR, SEO POSITIONING, WHICH IS THE WEBSITE RANKINGS, NUMBER OF VISITORS, MEALS TAX, ET CETERA.
UM, WHILE I KNOW WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE ANY ACTIVE AGREEMENTS WITH EITHER THE TOWN OR COUNTY AS OF THE FEBRUARY 27TH VOTE, I AM STILL OPTIMISTIC THAT THE TOWN OF FRONT, ROYAL, WARREN COUNTY AND DISCOVER FRONT ROYAL CAN WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE AND ADVANCE TOURISM GROWTH IN OUR REGION.
OUR ENTIRE BOARD IS COMMITTED TO OUR MISSION.
UH, IN ADDITION TO MYSELF AND CARRIE, WE ALSO HAVE ELLEN AERS AND HANNAH MCKINNON ON OUR BOARD.
ELLEN IS THE OWNER OF ELLEN AERS INSURANCE.
SHE'S VERY ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN ADDITION TO BEING A BOARD MEMBER OF DISCOVER FRONT ROYAL, SHE'S ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF DOWNTOWN FRONT ROYAL BOARD AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ROTARY CLUB.
AND ELLEN WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN HERE TONIGHT WITH ME, ME, BUT SHE IS ACTUALLY IN BOSTON AT THE MAIN STREET NOW CONFERENCE HOSTED BY MAIN STREET AMERICA.
AND SHE'S GONNA BRING BACK ALL OF THAT WONDERFUL KNOWLEDGE AND SHARE IT WITH ALL OF US ON THE VARIOUS BOARDS THAT SHE'S ON.
HANNAH IS THE GENERAL MANAGER OF DOUBLETREE BY HILTON FRONT, ROYAL BLUE RIDGE SHADOWS, AND IS THE VOICE OF LODGING FOR OUR BOARD.
AND SHE WAS ON THE ORIGINAL BOARD AND AGREED TO STAY ON AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO HER FOR DOING SO.
UM, WE'LL ALSO BE ADDING A NEW BOARD MEMBER DURING OUR SPECIAL BOARD MEETING THIS THURSDAY, AND I WILL SHARE MORE ABOUT THAT AFTER IT'S OFFICIAL.
I'M STILL LEARNING ALL OF THE DOS AND DON'TS AND WHAT I CAN SAY AND WHAT I CAN'T SAY AND ALL THAT STUFF.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU HEARING ME OUT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU AND I WILL BE THE POINT OF CONTACT AND FACE OF DFR.
[01:00:01]
SO HAVE A GOOD EVENING.