Sep 25, 2023 Town Council

[00:00:05]

OKAY, I AM GONNA CALL TO THE FRONT ROYAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF, UH, SEPTEMBER 25TH TO ORDER.

AND WE'RE

[1. MOMENT OF SILENCE]

OKAY.

NEXT.

[2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

AS YOU KNOW, DURING MY TERM AS MAYOR, I AM INVITING STUDENTS FROM THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL TO LEAD OUR COUNCIL IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

AND THIS MONTH WE WELCOME MIA MILLER.

SO, MIA'S GONNA COME FORWARD, UM, AS MIA IS COMING FORWARD.

I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT MIA IS THE DAUGHTER OF COLIN AND MEREDITH MILLER AND THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF DAVID BLA AND THE LATE BETSY BLA, AND CONNIE MCDONALD AND DON MILLER.

I'VE ACTUALLY KNOWN MIA SINCE BIRTH.

SHE MIGHT NOT KNOW THIS, BUT I WAS ACTUALLY AT THE HOSPITAL THE DAY YOU WERE BORN.

UM, MIA'S A SENIOR AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONORS SOCIETY.

SHE ALSO RECEIVED THE NATIONAL RURAL AND SMALL TOWN AWARD FROM THE COLLEGE BOARD IN MAY, UM, SHE WILL GRADUATE WITH HER HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND ALSO HAVE A YEAR OF COLLEGE COMPLETED FROM LAUREL RIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AFTER BEING CHOSEN TO ATTEND UVA'S CORNERSTONE ACADEMY THIS PAST SUMMER, MIA'S EVEN MORE INTENT ON ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA TO STUDY BIOLOGY AND BECOME A CONSERVATION ZOOLOGIST.

SOME OF MIA'S OTHER INTERESTS ARE LOVING CATS.

TAYLOR SWIFT, WHO'S ALL OVER THE INTERNET TODAY, BY THE WAY.

UH, AND DR.

PEPPER, WHICH IS ANOTHER ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

AND SINCE SHE APPARENTLY WOULD LOVE TO EAT AT SPLUNK'S EVERY DAY, OR HER MOM, IT SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE THAT SHE CHOSE SPLUNK'S FOR HER GIFT CARD FROM ME.

UM, MIA'S ALSO RECEIVING A CERTIFICATE THANKING HER FOR HER PATRIOTISM AND PARTICIPATION IN THE FRONT ROW TOWN COUNCIL MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2023.

MIA, ARE YOU READY? YES.

ALL RIGHT.

PLEASE STAND EVERYONE.

I PLEDGE THE, TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA INTO THE REPUBLIC OVER WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE, ONE NATION UNDER GOD INVISIBLE WITH THE LIBERTY OF JUSTICE FOR ALL.

OKAY, NUMBER

[3. ROLL CALL ]

HERE.

COUNCILMAN D DEMON PAYNE? HERE.

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? HERE.

COUNCILMAN MORRIS? HERE.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT.

WAS THAT A YES? I THINK THAT'S A YES.

OKAY.

COUNCILMAN ROGERS? YES.

VICE MAYOR OCK? YES.

OKAY.

ITEM NUMBER FOUR

[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

DO I HEAR A MOTION, MADAM MAYOR? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL, APPROVE THE REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 28TH AND WORK SESSION MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 5TH AND SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2023 AS PRESENTED.

SECOND.

OKAY.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? UH, MADAM MAYOR, I SENT A FEW CORRECTIONS THEN, BUT NOTHING THAT WAS SUBSTANTIAL.

OKAY.

CORRECTIONS WERE SENT IN THE, UM, IN AN EMAIL EARLIER TO COUNSEL, AND THEY WERE SMALL, LITTLE MINOR THINGS.

SO, MR. PRESLEY, WE CAN STILL VOTE, CORRECT? YES.

OKAY.

ROLL CALL.

COUNCILWOMAN D DAMCO PAYNE.

YES.

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES.

COUNCILMAN MORRIS? YES.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES.

COUNCILMAN ROGERS? YES.

VICE MAYOR OCK? YES.

OKAY.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE ARE ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA OR ANY REVISION TO THE ORDER OF BUSINESS.

UM, DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS? OKAY.

MOVING ON TO

[6. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS]

THIS IS OUR SECTION FOR RECOGNITIONS AWARDS, REPORTS, PRESENTATIONS.

AND I'M GONNA START OFF WITH NUMBER SIX.

WILL YOU JUST GIMME A SECOND HERE? WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE INTERESTING THING WITH OUR, UH,

[00:05:01]

THERE WE GO.

SO, UM, TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA BE, UH, RECOGNIZING PUBLIC POWER WEEK, UM, WITH A PROCLAMATION.

AND I'M ACTUALLY GONNA READ THAT.

UM, SO RECOGNIZING PUBLIC POWER WEEK, OCTOBER 1ST THROUGH THE SEVENTH, A WEEK LONG CELEBRATION OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SERVICES, YEAR ROUND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

WHEREAS THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYALS, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SERVICES PLACES HIGH VALUE ON THE BENEFITS OF LOCAL CONTROL OF UTILITY SERVICES, AND THEREFORE OPERATES A COMMUNITY OWNED NOT-FOR-PROFIT, ELECTRIC UTILITY.

WHEREAS BECAUSE WE ARE CUSTOMERS AND OWNERS OF TOWN, OF FRONT ROYALS, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SERVICES AND HAVE A DIRECT SAY IN UTILITY OPERATIONS AND POLICIES, WHEREAS THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYALS DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SERVICES PROVIDES OUR HOMES, BUSINESSES, FARMS, SOCIAL SERVICE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WITH SAFE, RELIABLE, AND EFFICIENT ELECTRICITY AND EMPLOYEE SOUND BUSINESS PRACTICES DESIGNED TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICE AT NOT-FOR-PROFIT RATES.

WHEREAS THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYALS DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SERVICES IS A VALUABLE COMMUNITY ASSET THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE WELLBEING OF LOCAL CITIZENS THROUGH ENERGY EFFICIENCY, CUSTOMER SERVICE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND SAFETY AWARENESS.

WHEREAS THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYALS DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SERVICES IS A DEPENDABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY INSTITUTION WHOSE LOCAL OPERATION PROVIDES MANY CONSUMER PROTECTIONS AND CONTINUES TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK AND CONTRIBUTES TO A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT TOWN OF FRONT ROYALS DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SERVICES WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO BRING SAFE, RELIABLE ELECTRICITY TO COMMUNITY HOMES AND BUSINESSES JUST AS IT HAS SINCE 1894, THE YEAR WHEN THE UTILITY WAS CREATED TO SERVE ALL THE CITIZENS OF FRONT ROYAL AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVE THAT THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 1ST THROUGH SEVENTH, BE DESIGNATED PUBLIC POWER WEEK TO RECOGNIZE TOWN FRONT ROYALS, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SERVICES FOR ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO EDUCATE CUSTOMER OWNERS, POLICY MAKERS AND EMPLOYEES ON THE BENEFITS OF PUBLIC POWER.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT OUR COMMUNITY JOINS HANDS WITH MORE THAN 2000 OTHER PUBLIC POWER SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES IN THIS CELEBRATION OF PUBLIC POWER, WHICH IS BEST FOR CONSUMERS BUSINESS, THE COMMUNITY AND THE NATION.

AND THAT WAS SIGNED BY MYSELF.

MR. PRESLEY, WE WE DON'T NEED TO TAKE A VOTE ON THIS.

NO, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

CAN YOU PASS THAT DOWN? THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT.

UM, NEXT UP IS, UH, SIX B, AND AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA ASK MR. MERCHANT TO COME FORWARD, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

DO YOU MIND? ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? NO.

NO, WE WON'T.

DO YOU NOT NOW.

.

SO FOR THE PUBLIC, JUST TO LET YOU ALL KNOW, UM, MR. MERCHANT SERVED ON OUR FRONT ROYAL PLANNING COMMISSION FROM THE YEAR, FROM JUNE, 2018 TO AUGUST OF 2023.

AND I'M GONNA BE PRESENTING MR. MERCHANT WITH A CERTIFICATE, WHICH IS A RECOGNITION OF SERVICE AND APPRECIATION, PRESENTED TO DARRELL G MERCHANT FRONT WORLD PLANNING COMMISSION JUNE, 2018 TO AUGUST, 2023, RECOGNIZED FOR HIS FIVE YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, ASSISTING AND OVERSEEING COMMUNITY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.

AND THIS IS AWARDED BY THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL.

AND BEFORE I BRING THIS TO YOU, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I KNOW A LOT'S GONE ON IN THESE YEARS, UM, IN THAT, THAT FIVE YEAR PERIOD YOU WERE ACTUALLY THERE BEFORE I, I GOT ON COUNCIL.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I THINK THAT YOU PLAYED A HUGE PART OF IS OUR COMP PLAN.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT, THAT, UM, UH, AN UPDATE TO OUR COMP PLAN.

WE WON'T EVEN SAY HOW MANY YEARS IT'S BEEN, BUT THAT WAS A HUGE UNDERTAKING AND YOU LED THE COMMISSION.

UM, YOU'VE HAD A LOT OF TURNOVER ON THE COMMISSION, YOU WERE THE STABILITY.

UM, AND I JUST AM VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR TIME.

I, I WISH YOU WOULD'VE STAYED, BUT I UNDERSTAND.

SO I'M GONNA BRING THIS TO YOU.

OKAY.

I

[00:10:11]

THANK YOU.

OH, JUST .

NO, I'M JUST SLAPPING 'CAUSE THIS, THIS THING IS SO OUTTA WHACK, AND THEN I'M LIKE, HMM.

IF I TOUCH IT IN THE WRONG SPOT.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

SO NEXT, UM, IS A RECOGNITION OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE AND FINANCIAL REPORTING.

AND THAT, UM, WE WANNA RECOGNIZE MR. WILSON, IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING FORWARD.

UM, MR. WILSON IS OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR HERE AT THE TOWN, AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT I COULD SAY ENOUGH POSITIVE THINGS.

I KNOW WE, I SAY THEM TO HIM, BUT IT'S NICE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT, UM, IN FRONT OF ALL.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE SUPPORTED BY YOUR STAFF.

ABSOLUTELY.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT, THAT ALL GREAT LEADERS HAVE GREAT STAFFS BEHIND THEM, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

DO YOU MIND IF I READ THIS LETTER? SURE.

SO THE PUBLIC, SO THIS WAS SENT TO OUR TOWN MANAGER, MR. WALTZ.

WERE WE PLEASED TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30TH, 2022, QUALIFIES FOR G FOAS, WHICH STANDS FOR GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE AND FINANCIAL REPORTING.

THIS CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF RECOGNITION IN GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL REPORTING.

AND ITS ATTAINMENT REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT BY GOVERNMENT AND ITS MANAGEMENT.

AND I'M, I, I WON'T READ THE REST OF IT, BUT WHAT I THINK IS SO IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS IS, IS THAT GOVERNMENT, WE ARE IN CHARGE OF THE PEOPLE'S MONEY.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST KNOWING THAT SOMEONE ELSE RECOGNIZES THAT WE IN THIS TOWN, UM, HAVE EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING AND I KNOW OUR CITIZENS, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM.

SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL AND THANK YOU ALSO TO YOUR STAFF.

YES, VERY.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, NEXT UP, WE ARE ACTUALLY GONNA START OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS IF YOU'LL GIMME A SECOND.

'CAUSE APPARENTLY THIS THING IS, THERE YOU GO.

OKAY.

ITEM

[7.A. An Ordinance to Amend Town Code §175-3 and §175-110.5 Performance Standards for Urban Agriculture Pertaining to Chickens in Town Limits.]

SO OUR, UM, ITEM SEVEN A IS AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH THREE DEFINITIONS AND 1 75 DASH ONE 10.5 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE PERTAINING TO CHICKENS AND TOWN LIMITS.

MS. PRESLEY, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE SUMMARY? COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND TOWN CODE SECTION 1 75 DASH THREE DEFINITIONS AND SECTION 1 75 DASH ONE 10.5 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE PERTAINING TO CHICKENS AND TOWN LIMITS AS PRESENTED.

THE ORDINANCE, IF APPROVED, WOULD PERMIT AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CHICKENS IN TOWN LIMITS FROM SIX TO 10 BASED ON SQUARE FOOTAGE OF COOP AND RUN SPACE.

ON JUNE 26TH, COUNSEL APPROVED THE REFERRAL OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THEIR RECOMMENDATION.

THANK YOU MS. PRESLEY.

AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MS. PRESLEY, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? WE DO.

WE HAVE ONE.

BARBARA MARTIN.

OKAY.

AND MS. MARTIN, UH, WE, I GENERALLY GIVE A LITTLE INSTRUCTION ABOUT, UM, ABOUT, UH, THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.

UH, SAY YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND, UM, YEAH.

SO IT WON'T TAKE LONG.

I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.

SO, .

WELL, WE'RE A FRIENDLY BUNCH, SO YOU'RE FINE.

YOU ALL LOOK REALLY FRIENDLY.

.

GOOD EVENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

MY NAME IS BARBARA MARTIN.

I LIVE AT 1805 BELMONT AVENUE.

I AM HERE TONIGHT

[00:15:01]

PRESENTLY, I HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND CLEARED FOR THE SIX I NOW HAVE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE ABILITY TO FREE RANGE MY GIRLS.

THAT'S WHAT I CALL MY HENS MY GIRLS, AND NOT HAVE TO KEEP THEM CONSTANTLY CONFINED AS A PRESENT RULE.

STIPULATES MY BACKYARD HAS A SIX FOOT SECURE FENCE THAT CON THAT CONTAINS THEIR MOVEMENTS, PLUS I CLIP THEIR WINGS, GIVES THEM EXERCISE CONTROLS, BUGS AND SO FORTH.

AND THIS WORDING COULD EASILY BE ADDED TO THE HOMEOWNERS WHO QUALIFY WITH FENCING THAT MEETS COUNTY STANDARDS.

AND I HAVE A SIX FOOT FENCE ALL AROUND MY BACKYARD.

AS LONG AS AN INSPECTIONS ARE BEING MADE, THIS SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT COUNSEL COULD POSSIBLY CONSIDER.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

.

THANK YOU MS. MARTIN.

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

MS. PRESLEY, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? THERE'S NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP.

IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY, THEN I'M GONNA CLOSE THE HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL DENY ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS TO TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH THREE DEFINITIONS AND 1 75 DASH 10.5 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE PERTAINING TO CHICKENS IN TOWN LIMITS AS PRESENTED.

OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? OKAY.

MOTION DIES.

UM, IS THERE ANOTHER MOTION? MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THE COUNCIL APPROVAL ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS TO CODE 1 75 DASH THREE DEFINITIONS AND 1 75 DASH TEN FIVE PERFORMANCE STANDARD FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE DISTRICT CHICKENS AND POUND .

OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION.

DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND.

OKAY, SO WE'RE GONNA OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION NOW, MADAM MAYOR.

UM, AS MOST PEOPLE WATCHING THIS OR SITTING ON THIS COUNCIL KNOW TONIGHT, THIS WAS AN INITIATIVE OF A FORMER COUNCIL.

UM, MY FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, SCOTT LLOYD, UM, DEDICATED A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY TO THIS INITIATIVE, AND I PROMISE THAT I WOULD CONTINUE TO BRING IT BACK FORWARD AS A RURAL AGRICULTURAL TOWN.

UM, I THINK THAT IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, UM, TO PROTECT THE LIBERTIES AND FREEDOMS OF FAMILIES WHO WISH TO, UM, USE URBAN AGRICULTURE TO SUPPLY THEIR FAMILY WITH A FOOD SOURCE.

UM, WE HAVE SOME RATHER LARGE LOT SIZES IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYALS, SO I DID THINK THAT SIX WASN'T SUFFICIENT.

UM, EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN EGG SHORTAGE OR AN EGG CRISIS, IF YOU WILL, AND IT WAS SIX PLUS DOLLARS PER DOZEN EGGS.

UM, AND AT THAT TIME EVERYBODY WISHED THEY WERE AN URBAN AGRICULTURAL PERSON.

SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I BROUGHT THIS FORWARD.

UM, WE HAD A COUPLE OF DISCUSSIONS ON IT, AND SINCE THEN I'VE VISITED SEVERAL PROPERTIES, MUCH LIKE THE ONE MS. MARTIN MENTIONED HERE TONIGHT.

AND ONE OF MY CONCERNS AT THE LAST WORK SESSION WAS THAT WE WERE GOING TO IMPEDE THE PEOPLE WHO HAD ALREADY GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THE STEPS TO BE APPROVED AND TO HAVE THEIR CHICKENS AND HENS IN THE TOWN LIMITS.

UM, AND AFTER FURTHER CONSIDERATION AND DISCUSSION WITH THESE PROPERTY OWNERS, UM, IT'S COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS DOESN'T NECESSARILY RESOLVE THE ISSUE AT HAND WHILE IT INCREASES THE CHICKEN AMOUNT.

I DID MENTION THAT IT WAS, UM, MUCH MORE REGULATED WITH THIS NEW ORDINANCE AMENDMENT.

UM, AND SO THAT IS WHY I MADE A MOTION TO DENY THIS, TO SEND IT BACK TO A WORK SESSION FOR MORE DISCUSSION.

I THINK THAT THERE ARE PROPERTIES WITHIN THE TOWN LIMITS THAT LOOK LIKE COUNTY PROPERTY, UM, EVEN SMALL FARMS, IF YOU WILL, ON THE TOWN LIMITS.

UM, AND SO FOR ME, I WOULD RATHER DENY THIS MOTION, SEND IT BACK, DO IT RIGHT THAN TO APPROVE THIS AND CAUSE A LARGER ISSUE, UM, THAT WE DIDN'T SEE COMING.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS THAT I AM A PROPONENT OF PROPERTY RIGHTS, PROPERTY OWNERS' RIGHTS, UM, AND I THINK THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO CAUSE MORE HARM THAN GOOD AFTER BRINGING IT FORWARD.

THANK YOU.

COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS, WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO OFFER TO THE DISCUSSION? YOU USE JOSH'S MICROPHONE, MAYBE YOURS DOESN'T WORK.

CHECK, CHECK.

YEAH, JUST SPEAK LOUD, .

WELL, I DO THAT VERY WELL.

YES.

UM, WELL, I GUESS I'M ON THE UNDER ON THE, UH,

[00:20:01]

I DUNNO.

I CAN MOVE THAT'S DOWN UNDER OTHER SIDE OF THE PENDULUM.

UM, I BELIEVE THAT THE CURRENT, UH, ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE, ALLOWING SIX CHICKENS IS, UH, QUITE ENOUGH.

I THINK WE'RE MORE, WE'RE BECOMING MORE URBAN THAN RURAL.

UH, AND THAT CAN BE CORRELATED TO THE TYPE OF, YOU CAN SEE THE INFILL HOUSING THAT WE'RE HAVING.

AND, UH, I I I I, I HAD IT GOING FORWARD.

I WAS PLANNING TO VOTE AGAINST THE INCREASE.

UH, THAT'S MY POSITION HONOR.

THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO OFFER DISCUSSION? UH, MADAM MAYOR.

I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT, UH, YEAH, I, I'VE FURTHER RESEARCH ON THIS AND, AND AS A SPEAKER TONIGHT BROUGHT UP POINT THAT I WAS, THAT I WAS GONNA POND ON AS WELL, ABOUT THE FACT OF, UH, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE ORDINANCE DOES RESTRICT A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, ANY OF THE FREE RANGE POTENTIAL AND I HAVING CHICKENS GROWING UP, YOU KNOW, AND, AND HAVING FRIENDS AND HAVE CHICKENS.

NOW I KNOW THAT IN SOME CASES, HAVING, YOU KNOW, HAVING THEM CONFINED IN ONE SPACE, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE DON'T, SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE THE, THE BACKYARD FOR IT, BUT, UH, IT CAN CAUSE A NUISANCE IF YOU LEAVE A SET IN ONE SPOT, YOU HAVE TO ROTATE 'EM QUITE OFTEN.

AND I KNOW THAT HAVING, HAVING THEM CONCENTRATED SOMETIMES LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT GIVING THEM SOME FREE RANGE CAN ALSO DRAW A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF RODENTS AROUND, YOU KNOW, IN THAT, IN THAT CASE OF, UH, LIKE I SAID, CHICKENS, CHICKENS, I MEAN, I SAID WE AVOID, WE HAVE, WE DO.

SO, SO I, I TOO WILL BE VOTING TO DENY US, UH, JUST FROM THAT REASON ALONE, BECAUSE I DO THINK WE NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT IT JUST BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO, UM, JUST HAVING WHAT I'VE, JUST FOR THE RESEARCH THAT I'VE DONE, UM, TALKING TO PEOPLE AND, AND, UH, MY EXPERIENCE , I I JUST THINK WE NEED TO, NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE ON THIS END WANNA OFFER? JUST NO, JUST A QUESTION.

SO IF IT, IF, UM, THE MOTION DOES NOT PASS AND IT GOES BACK TO WORK SESSION, THEN I'LL RELOOKING IF OUR AIM TO EXPEDITE IT.

I MEAN, I DON'T WANT IT TO GO ON ANOTHER THREE MONTHS OF, UM, DISCUSSION, SO, RIGHT.

SO THERE'S A MOTION, SO WE HAVE TO TAKE ACTION.

MM-HMM.

, MY REQUEST TO THE MAYOR WILL BE TO ADD IT TO THE NEXT WORK SESSION AVAILABLE.

AND SO WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY IS, SO WHAT CAN TAKE ASH ACTION IF, UM, IF IT'S VOTED DOWN, THEN WHOEVER VOTES TO WHOEVER VOTES TO VOTE IT DOWN CAN BRING IT BACK AND PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA? CORRECT.

MR. SONNETT, LIKE WE CAN ADD IT TO A WORK SESSION.

DISCUSS AGAIN, DISCUSS AGAIN.

I, IF, IF THAT'S, IF, IF, IF THERE'S A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WISHES TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION, I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT OKAY.

TO THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR.

OKAY.

THAT'S SPECIFIC TO THAT, TO THAT PURPOSE.

RIGHT.

OKAY.

SO IF THERE'S A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO WISHES TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION TONIGHT, WHICH, UM, WE ALREADY VOTED DOWN THE DENIAL, BUT THIS WOULD BE THE ONE TO, TO APPROVE IT.

SO I'M ASSUMING COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS, DID YOU WANNA MAKE AN AMENDMENT? SURE, I'D BE GLAD TO.

I JUST ALSO WANTED TO ADD TO MY DISCUSSION WHEN I BROUGHT THIS UP, UM, ONCE OUR AGENDAS CALMED DOWN THIS YEAR, UM, ONE OF THE REASONS FOR BRINGING THIS UP IS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO USE URBAN AGRICULTURE TO EITHER MAKE MONEY THEMSELVES FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD OR PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILY, TYPICALLY DO THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH FISCAL, UH, RESPONSIBILITY.

AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL JUST ADD THAT PART OF MY FIRST DISCUSSION WAS THAT I THINK THAT THIS IS FURTHER BURDENING THEM FINANCIALLY.

UM, AND I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY A CASE BY CASE BASIS HERE.

AND I DO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT LAUREN DID ON THIS.

I KNOW A LOT OF TIME AND RESEARCH WENT INTO IT.

UM, BUT MUCH LIKE THE PARKING ELEPHANT, I MEAN, IF WE'RE GONNA START CHANGING THE AMENDMENTS TO THE TOWN CODE, I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT ALL ASPECTS OF IT.

SO MADAM MAYOR, I WOULD, I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION WITH AN AMENDMENT.

CORRECT.

A WHOLE NEW MOTION AMENDMENT.

I BELIEVE IT'S JUST AN AMENDMENT.

IT'S A SUB, A SUBSTITUTE.

MA OKAY.

MADAM, MADAM CHAIR.

YEAH.

MAYOR, THE RESPONSE TO THAT, UM, IS IF THE MOTION TO AMEND IS SUCH THAT IT'S BASICALLY

[00:25:01]

.

IF IT'S, IF IT'S, UH, IF THE AMENDMENT IS SIMPLY TO JUST MAKE SLIGHT CHANGES TO THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR SUCH THAT THE INTENT CAN BE CARRIED OUT, THEN IT WOULD BE DONE THAT WAY.

YEAH.

IT SOUND, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S MORE OF A, A CHANGE.

UM, YEAH, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT FITS WHAT, WHAT I WISH TO DO.

YES.

OKAY.

SO THEN THE MOTION IS TO SUBSTITUTE, I, I'M JUST WONDERING, THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS WOULD BE DEVOTE IT DOWN AND BRING IT BACK BECAUSE, UH, MY RESPONSE TO THAT WOULD BE VOTING IT DOWN WON'T BRING IT BACK.

OKAY.

IT EITHER NEEDS TO BE, UH, POSTPONED OR REFERRED BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WOULD BE THE TWO CHOICES THAT I SEE.

IF, IF COUNSEL'S NOT PREPARED TO PASS SOMETHING TONIGHT.

WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR THAT NEEDS TO BE VOTED ON FIRST, BUT IT, IT'S SUBJECT TO BEING AMENDED.

HE MADE A MOTION, BUT WE CAN AMEND A MOTION OR HAVE A SECOND MOTION.

SO THE TWO CHOICES ARE TO AMEND THIS MOTION, WHICH, UH, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THAT IT NEEDS TO BE, UM, SIMILAR ENOUGH THAT IT'S, THAT IT'S NOT A MAJOR CHANGE OR A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

CORRECT.

UH, CORRECT.

AND, AND I GUESS TO PUT IT SIMPLY SO THAT IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE WHAT'S BEING VOTED ON, THAT'S, THAT'S TANTAMOUNT.

OKAY.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION? I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION SUBSTITUTE.

I CAN EITHER OR I DON'T, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS COUNSEL, UM, ENTIRELY UNANIMOUSLY HAS THE, UM, KNOWLEDGE TO, TO SUBSTITUTE A MOTION TO THIS.

I, I BELIEVE THAT MY STANCE WILL REMAIN TO VOTE ON THIS MOTION AND BRING IT BACK TO A WORK SESSION BRAND NEW.

SO WE CAN TAKE A VOTE ON THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IF COUNCIL PREFERS.

THAT'S, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT WHAT I BELIEVE MR. SAUNA IS SAYING.

YES.

WELL, IT'S, IT'S NOT UP TO ME.

UH, BUT IF THERE'S A VOTE ON THE MOTION AS IS, THE CHANGES TO THE ORDINANCE ARE ADOPTED UNLESS DENIED, UNLESS THE VOTE FAILS.

CORRECT.

AND IF IT FAILS, THEN THE MATTER'S CONCLUDED.

OKAY.

AND I BELIEVE THAT MR. SAUNA, IT SOUNDS LIKE, UM, THAT THE DISCUSSION IS THAT, UH, WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST AVENUE TO BE ABLE TO, IF COUNSEL SO DESIRES TO TAKE IT BACK TO A WORK SESSION, WHICH WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO BACK TO PLANNING COMMISSIONER FIRST, I BELIEVE BEFORE, OR IT WOULD GO TO US FOR A WORK SESSION, SEND IT BACK TO PLANNING.

WHAT'S THE BEST AVENUE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, IF THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE SO DESIRE? WELL, THERE'S, UH, YOU PRESENTED A COUPLE CHOICES THERE, SO THERE'D HAVE TO BE A MOTION TO CHOOSE ONE OF THOSE, WHICH COULD BE TO REFER IT BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION.

AND IT COULD, OR IT COULD BE TO POSTPONE ACTION TONIGHT AND, AND REFER IT TO THE NEXT WORK SESSION OR A FUTURE WORK SESSION.

BUT ON THAT, I ADVISE IT BE TO A DATE CERTAIN, NOT JUST, I CAN DO THAT.

NOT, NOT OPEN-ENDED.

IT CAN'T BE DO PREFER, UM, NOVEMBER.

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ONE MORE SESSION IN OCTOBER, RIGHT? YEAH.

NOVEMBER WOULD BE BETTER.

SO MADAM MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE PROPOSED MOTION ON THE FLOOR THAT COUNCIL POSTPONE PO THE APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE OF THE AMENDMENTS TO TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH THREE DEFINITIONS AND 1 75 DASH ONE 10.5 PERFORMANCE STANDARD STANDARDS FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE PERTAINING TO CHICKENS AND TOWN LIMITS, AS PRESENTED TO A FUTURE WORK SESSION WITH THE DATE OF NOVEMBER 6TH, 2023.

SECOND.

OKAY.

SO WE'RE VOTING ON THAT CURRENTLY, CORRECT? WE'RE VOTING ON THE AMENDED MOTION, CORRECT? YES.

YES.

FIRST.

FIRST.

THANK YOU.

THE FIRST VOTE IS ON THE AMENDMENT.

I, I'M SORRY, WAS THERE A SECOND ON THE, YES, THERE WAS.

THE FIRST VOTE IS ON THAT.

UM, AND, AND THEN YOU'VE, YOU ACTUALLY VOTE AGAIN, ON, ON THE AMENDED MOTION? CORRECT.

OKAY.

SO TO BE BE, AND AND ACTUALLY BEFORE WE DO ANY OF THAT, REALLY, IS THERE MORE DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON THE TOPIC THAT ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO OFFER? DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? YEAH.

STAFF HERE IF, IF I MAY, IT WOULD BE DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND MM-HMM.

CORRECT.

AT THIS, AT THIS POINT, RIGHT? CORRECT.

ON THIS NEW

[00:30:01]

THAT WAS THE MOTION TO POSTPONE THE VOTE, UM, IN ORDER TO TAKE IT BACK TO A WORK SESSION ON NOVEMBER 6TH.

OKAY.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? WELL, IT APPLIES TO BOTH MOTIONS , BUT IF, UM, IF WE MAKE A DECISION TO AMEND THE MOTION, UM, CAN, I MEAN, CAN'T WE, CAN'T WE GO AHEAD WITH THE ORIGINAL ADDITION OF THE CHICKENS AND SIMULTANEOUSLY GO BACK TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND EXPLORE THESE NEW, EXPLORE THE FREE RANGE ISSUE, EXPLORE SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE PRESENTING THAT YOU'VE DISCOVERED? THE ONLY REASON I DON'T WISH TO DO THAT IS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO CURRENTLY HAVE CHICKENS, IF THEY WENT UP TO 10 FROM SIX AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS OF THIS NEW AMENDMENT, THEY'D BE, UM, CITED FOR VIOLATING THE TOWN CODE AND THEY'D BE REQUIRED TO GO AHEAD AND IMPLEMENT, UM, THE NEW STANDARDS FOR THE RUN.

SO THEY'RE GONNA ALREADY HAVE PAID FOR THAT AND PUT THAT IN PLACE BY THE TIME WE'VE DISCUSSED IT AGAIN, OR THEY HAVE TO GET RID OF FOUR EXTRA CHICKENS.

MADAM MAYOR? YES.

YES, SIR.

LET, LET ME ADD SOME CLARIFICATION.

SO, BECAUSE THE, UH, SORRY ABOUT THIS, BUT THE MOTION TO AMEND IS, IS SO MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE ORIGINAL.

IF THE, IF THE PART, IF THE MEMBER THAT MOVED TO AMEND WOULD CLARIFY THAT IT'S INTENDED TO, UM, TO, AS A SUBSTITUTE MM-HMM.

, THEN ONE VOTE'S REQUIRED.

THAT'S IT.

JUST ONE VOTE.

SO MY MOTION TO AMEND THE CURRENT MOTION REGARDING THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS IS TO REDEFINE OR REVISIT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF COOP AND RUN SPACE BASED ON THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT IN FRONT OF US TONIGHT.

AND THE REASON THAT I ASK THAT COUNSEL SEND IT BACK TO A WORK SESSION IS BECAUSE COUNSEL CANNOT DIRECT THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON WHAT OUR APPETITE AS A COUNCIL IS.

IF WE JUST SEND IT BACK TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND ASK THEM TO DEAL WITH IT, WE DON'T GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS OUR CONCERNS.

AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND THIS IS TEDIOUS, AND IT WAS A DELAY, AND I DIDN'T INTEND FOR THIS TO BECOME THIS TONIGHT, I THINK THAT THANK YOU, FIRST OF ALL FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.

I GREW UP OFF OF BELMONT AVENUE.

IT'S DEFINITELY NOT AN URBAN AREA BY ANY MEANS, BUT I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU HAVE YOUR CHICKENS THERE.

UM, BUT I THINK IT, SINCE WE'VE BROUGHT THIS BACK TO LIGHT AGAIN, THREE YEARS LATER, TWO YEARS LATER, UM, IT'S DRAWN TO LIGHT HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE TOWN LIMITS TRULY DO UTILIZE THIS PART OF THE TOWN CODE.

UM, AND THEY'VE ADHERED TO IT THE WAY THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO.

AND SO I THINK IF WE MOVED FORWARD WITH ADOPTING THIS TONIGHT, THEY'D BE IN VIOLATION, WHICH WILL AL ALSO FURTHER BURDEN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.

OKAY.

I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR WHAT THE INTENTION OF THE, UM, AMENDED MOTION, WHICH WAS TO POSTPONE IT.

SO MADAM MAYOR WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE, THE CLERK, UH, RESTATE THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR JUST TO, FOR CLARITY.

OKAY.

I MOVE THAT COUNSEL POSTPONE THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS TO TOWN CODE SECTION 1 75 DASH THREE DEF DEFINITIONS AND SECTION 1 75 DASH ONE 10.5 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE PERTAINING TO CHICKENS AND TOWN LIMITS.

I FURTHER MOVE THAT THIS MOTION WILL BE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.

YES.

I THINK, AND IS THAT HAVE THE DATE, RIGHT? YEP.

THE DATE, NO, I DON'T, WAS ALSO ON, I FURTHER MOVED THAT THIS IS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO BE HEARD AT A WORK SESSION ON NOVEMBER THE SIXTH.

I THINK IT WAS.

OKAY.

DID I CAPTURE EVERYTHING? I THINK SO.

I DON'T KNOW IF, IF THE PART ABOUT IT BEING AN AMENDED MOTION, BECAUSE AT THE WORK SESSION IT WON'T BE A MOTION, IT'LL BE A DISCUSSION AT THE WORK SESSION.

RIGHT.

RIGHT.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, MR. SONNET, I'M GONNA TAKE A VOTE.

, IF, IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE ISN'T, BUT I'M CERTAINLY WILLING TO ALLOW ANY OTHER DISCUSSION.

OKAY.

SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE MOTION THAT, UH, THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE TAKING ACTION ON.

I HOPE YOU DO.

IF NOT, LONG AND SHORT OF IT IS, DO YOU WANNA POSTPONE THIS UNTIL WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN AT THE NOVEMBER 6TH WORK SESSION? ALRIGHT, MS. PRESLEY, CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL? COUNCILWOMAN DE DAMCO PAYNE?

[00:35:01]

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS? YES.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? NO.

COUNCILMAN ROGERS? NO.

VICE MAYOR OCK? YES.

OKAY.

MOTION PASSES.

SO, UH, WE WILL BE ADDING THAT TO COUNCIL'S WORK SESSION DISCUSSION ON NOVEMBER 6TH.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE, I APOLOGIZE THAT, THAT, UH, WE ENDED UP IN THIS SITUATION.

'CAUSE WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT.

PROBABLY, OBVIOUSLY NOT AS MUCH.

UM, AND WE CAN DISCUSS AGAIN AT THE WORK SESSION.

BUT, UM, MS. CAPISH, THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER FROM THOSE CITIZENS THAT ARE ALREADY, UM, UH, HAVE CHICKENS IN TOWN TO GET INPUT ON, UH, THESE THINGS.

FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, MS. MORRIS BROUGHT UP WAS ABOUT A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.

I'D BE CURIOUS TO SEE HOW THIS, HOW THIS ORDINANCE WHERE THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP IS, BUT, BUT WE'LL DEFER TO THAT AT THE WORK SESSION.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

NEXT UP.

[7.B. An Ordinance Authorizing the Disposition and Sale of Publicly Held Real Property of Previously Conditioned Vacated North Street Extended and a Portion of an Unimproved Alley – Donald McCarty]

SO, SEVEN B IS AN ORDINANCE OF CONDITIONAL VACATION AND SALE, APPROVING THE VACATION OF PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY, AND AUTHORIZING THE DISPOSITION AND SALE OF PUBLICLY HELD REAL PROPERTY OF THE CONDITIONALLY VACATED NORTH STREET EXTENDED AND A PORTION OF AN UNIMPROVED ALLEY.

DONALD MCCARTY.

MS. PRESLEY, CAN YOU READ THE SUMMARY? COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE VACATION OF PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY, AND AUTHORIZING THE DISPOSITION AND SALE OF PUBLICLY HELD REAL PROPERTY TO WIT 13,001 SQUARE FEET OF THE PREVIOUSLY CONDITIONALLY VACATED NORTH STREET EXTENDED TERMINUS, SOUTH OF THE INTERSECTION OF NORTH STREET AND ORCHARD STREET, AND 14 FOOT PORTION OF AN UNAPPROVED ALLEY ADJACENT TO THE SOUTHERN PROPERTY BOUNDARY TO THE ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNER DONALD MCCARTY, FOR AN AMOUNT OF $25,000.

OKAY.

UH, I'M GONNA NOW OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO, WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.

DOES ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK? OKAY, I'M CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNSEL.

DO I HEAR A MOTION, MADAM MAYOR? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADOPT THE ATTACHED ORDINANCE ENTITLED ORDINANCE APPROVING THE CONDITIONAL VACATION OF PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY IN AND SALE OF APPROXIMATELY 13,001 SQUARE FEET OF VARIABLE WIDTH ALLEY AND UNIMPROVED NORTH STREET.

SECOND.

OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.

UH, MADAM MAYOR, UM, I JUST HAVE, UH, ONE COMMENT ON, I BELIEVE IT WAS AT THE LAST, AT THE LAST MEETING AND, UH, PUBLIC HEARING, UH, THE APPLICANT, MR. MCC INDICATED THAT, UH, HE DID NOT HAVE A DESIRE TO, UH, TO CLEAR THE, UH, ADJACENT, UH, GROWTH, UH, BACK IN THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY, UH, FACING AVENUE.

THE VEGETATION.

THE VEGETATION.

EXACTLY.

AND, UH, UH, I, IT, IT IS MY HOPE THAT, UM, HE, HE WILL DO THAT FOR THE RESIDENT CELL FROM GRAND AVENUE AS, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY ARE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT NOT HAVING THAT BARRIER, UH, BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT.

AND, AND, AND TONIGHT WOULD'VE BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE RESIDENTS FROM GRAND AVENUE TO COME AND SPEAK.

RIGHT.

WELL, THAT, THAT'S TRUE.

YEAH.

I, I'M JUST, BUT AT THIS POINT, UH, YEAH.

UH, WE'RE VOTING ON, ON, UH, RIGHT.

WE'RE THAT, THAT KIND OF SHIFT THE SALE, CORRECT.

I, I'M, I'M JUST BRINGING UP THE FORM MM-HMM.

, UH, UH, BECAUSE I, I HAD SEVERAL PHONE CALLS TODAY ABOUT IT AND I HAD TO EXPLAIN TO , OKAY? MM-HMM.

, UM, COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT.

I, I WANTED TO ASK, UM, MR. SONNET A QUESTION.

SO I KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT MR. MCCARTY EXPRESSED IN, UH, IN OUR LAST MEETING, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANYTHING, UH, IN THIS ORDINANCE THAT WOULD HOLD HIM TO NOT REMOVING THE VEGETATION, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

OKAY.

AND, AND, UH, THAT GOES TO THE NEGOTIATION, UH, THAT WAS CONDUCTED BY THE TOWN MANAGER WITH MR. MCCARTY.

RIGHT.

I UNDERSTAND.

I JUST, I

[00:40:01]

YEAH.

BUT OF COURSE, THAT MAYOR YEAH.

AND ONCE HE WOULD PURCHASE THE PROPERTY, THEN IT WOULD BE HIS PROPERTY TO, TO DO WITH IT WHAT HE WISHES.

CORRECT.

OR WHOEVER HE SELLS THE LOTS TO OR WHOEVER HE SELLS THE LOTS TO.

GOOD POINT.

CORRECT.

TRUE.

YEP.

OKAY.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC? I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT I'M EXCITED FOR MR. MCCARTY'S DEVELOPMENT.

UM, WE'VE TALKED AS A COUNCIL ABOUT THE HOUSING CRISIS, SPECIFICALLY IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

UM, FURTHERMORE, THE STATE OF VIRGINIA IS LISTED IN THE TOP FIVE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND, UH, THE, MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT HE NEEDED THIS, UM, VACATION TO, UM, FOR SETBACK PURPOSES.

IT'S NOT ACTUALLY FOR DEVELOPMENTAL PURPOSES, AND IT'S TO, UM, ACTUALLY ALLOW FOR, UM, MASTER BEDROOM HOUSING ON THE GROUND LEVEL, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT IS DESPERATELY NEEDED IN OUR AREA FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR THE ELDERLY, ET CETERA.

SO, MR. MCCARTY HAS BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH, UM, AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HE'LL DO YOU NO, I, I MAYOR, I, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT I BELIEVE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE HIGH END, UH, THAN, UH, WHAT WE WOULD NORMALLY EXPECT, UH, OR WHAT WE WOULD NORMALLY BE SEEING, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF DUPLEXES.

I THINK THEY, THEY, THEY'LL BE HIGH END, THEY'RE GONNA BE GARAGE, UM, AND, UH, RATHER LONGER THAN, THAN SOME OF THE OTHERS.

SO THAT'S GONNA LOOK GOOD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THERE.

I DO BELIEVE THAT, UM, WHAT MR. MCCARTY HAD SHARED WITH US IS, AS COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT SAID, THAT, UM, WHAT THEY'RE ENVISIONING IS A DUPLEXES, BUT, UH, ONE LEVEL, UM, WITH A LARGER MASTER BEDROOM WITH THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, MAYBE EVEN SOMEBODY WITH SOME AGE WOULD WANT A ONE LEVEL, UM, WITH A LARGER MASTER BEDROOM.

UM, SO ANYBODY ELSE WITH ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC? IF NO OTHER DISCUSSION, MS. PRESLEY, CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL? COUNSEL? I INDEED.

DEMON PAYNE? YES.

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES.

COUNCILMAN MORRIS? YES.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES.

COUNCILMAN ROGERS? YES.

VICE MAYOR OCK? YES.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

MOVING ON TO ITEM

[8. PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS]

UM, AND BEFORE I READ THE, UM, RULES, REGULATIONS, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT, IS THERE ANYBODY SIGNED UP? ? THERE IS TWO.

OKAY.

WELL THEN LET ME GO AHEAD AND READ THEM.

AND I DON'T WANNA WASTE Y'ALL'S TIME IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY.

SO WE NOW COME, UM, 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 ADDRESS.

PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS, A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT AT, UH, AT THE THREE MINUTES.

UM, WHEN MS. PRESLEY'S, UH, TIMER GOES OFF, YOU'LL HAVE 30 SECONDS.

AND THEN, UH, MR. DUANE'S GOING TO CUT THE MICROPHONE OFF AT THAT POINT.

THE SPEAKER'S COMMENT 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 THE SAME MEETING.

NO PERSONAL ATTACKS IN DECKER LANGUAGE OR DISPLAY OF SIGNS, PLACARDS, POSTERS, OR OTHER DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT OR DISPLAY WILL BE PERMITTED.

MS. PRESLEY, WHO IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, THE FIRST ONE IS SARAH RANDOLPH.

OKAY.

HI THERE.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

OKAY.

MY NAME IS SARAH RANDOLPH AND I LIVE AT 15 0 2 NORTH ROYAL AVENUE.

I ACTUALLY, I GUESS YOU'D SAY GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

UM, I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL OVER THE WEEKEND, OOH, A PIECE OF PAPER THAT WAS INFORMING ME OF A TOWN COUNCIL MEETING THAT IS TO COME.

BUT THE DATE PLACED ON HERE IS NOT AN ACTUAL CURRENT DATE.

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A MONDAY, OCTOBER 25TH.

OKAY.

BUT THERE IS A MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, AND THERE'S AN MONDAY, OCTOBER 23RD.

WASN'T SURE WHERE THE TYPO CAME IN AT.

MAYBE THE MONTH, MAYBE THE DAY.

SO WE CAME JUST IN CASE.

ACTUALLY MY

[00:45:01]

SO THIS KIND OF ADDED A CHANGE TO OUR DYNAMIC.

A LITTLE.

I I APOLOGIZE FOR THE, IT'S OKAY.

SO I'M NOT SURE.

THIS IS FOR AN EASEMENT TO BE VACATED, UM, THAT I'M BEING INFORMED OF.

AND ON THIS PAPER IT SAYS OCTOBER, I MEAN, YEAH, OCTOBER 25TH, A MONDAY.

NOW, IS THAT THE DAY YOU ALL WILL BE MEETING FOR THIS MR. WALTZ? YES.

UH, THAT IS AN ERROR.

THE ACTUAL PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE ON OCTOBER 23RD.

AND DUE TO THAT ERROR, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO RESEND THOSE LETTERS BACK OUT, AND THAT WILL, MIGHT HAVE A POSSIBLE IMPACT ON OUR PUBLIC HEARING ON OCTOBER 23RD.

I DO APOLOGIZE, AND WE'LL GET A LETTER OUT TOMORROW WITH THE CORRECT DATE.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S KIND OF WHY I ALSO WANTED TO COME MAKE SURE THEN EVERYBODY ELSE WHO WAS ATTACHED TO THIS EASEMENT COULD ALSO GET THE PROPER DATES.

THANK YOU.

UM, AS WELL, I KIND OF WANTED TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I ALSO JOINED YOUR WORK SESSION WHERE YOU FIRST SPOKE OF THIS MEETING.

AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS WERE, I, MY PROPERTY HAS AN ENCROACHMENT, WHICH WE MOVED IN IN 2016, AND I, I HAVE SOME PICTURES PRINTED OF HOW IT LOOKED.

WE HAVE OUR ENCROACHMENT, WHICH I CAN BRING 'EM UP IF I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ALLOWED TO APPROACH.

IT'S OKAY.

IF YOU WANNA, WHEN WHEN YOU'RE DONE, YOU CAN GIVE IT TO MS. PRESLEY.

OKAY.

UM, AND IT SHOWS THE CONDITIONS OF THE EASEMENT.

PRIOR TO, UM, AN APPLICANT WHO SENT IN THE HIKES HAVE SENT IN AN APPLICATION, UM, WE USED TO ACTUALLY USE THAT ENTIRE EASEMENT AS JUST A RUNNING THROUGH, WALKING THROUGH.

AND MY, MY PARKING AT THE FRONT NEVER DETERRED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO NOT TAKE THAT ALLEYWAY OR MY CHILDREN PLAYING WATER AND ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

MY DOGS, NOBODY WAS EVER DETERRED BY OUR ACTIONS.

WE ACTUALLY SAW MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WALK THROUGH THERE.

THEY WOULD WALK THEIR DOGS, WE WOULD SAY HELLO, WE WOULD ALL GREET EACH OTHER.

IT WAS A GREAT MINGLING MOTION.

THE HEIGHTS MOVED IN ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AFTER WE LIVED THERE, AND THEY DECIDED TO START CHANGING DEMOGRAPHIC TO SIT THEM.

UM, THEY ADDED GRAVEL TO THE EASEMENT THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE EASEMENT PRIOR TO THEM MOVING.

THEY DID THAT TO THEIR SOLE BENEFIT TO START PARKING CAMPERS, PARKING UTILITY TRUCKS, ALLOWING THEIR WORKERS FOR THEIR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY TO COME TO THEIR PERSONAL HOME AS WELL AS WHAT THEY'VE TURNED INTO A WORK HOME.

SO NOW WE LIVE NEXT TO A, A CONSTRUCTION HOUSE AND A, AN HOME.

IT'S KIND OF AN ODD SITUATION.

THEY PARK THEIR WORK TRUCKS, LIKE THEIR UTILITY, THEIR BULLDOZERS, THOSE, UM, SO WE'RE NOT SURE THE ACTUAL WAY THEY, THEY MANAGED TO MAKE ALLEYWAY BENEFIT THEM ACCESS TO ALL OF US.

UM, IT WASN'T UNTIL THEY DID ALL OF THAT, BUT WE WEREN'T ALLOWED.

GOTCHA.

HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

MS. RAND, MS. PRESLEY, I BELIEVE THAT THREE MINUTES ARE UP, CORRECT? YES, IT WENT OFF.

OKAY, BUT WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

YEAH, YEAH.

NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY IS, UM, 'CAUSE THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION AND AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR PART YOU WERE ACTUALLY CLARIFYING THE LETTER.

SO IF COUNSEL'S OKAY.

I I WOULD, I'M GONNA LET YOU FINISH WHAT YOU WERE HAVING TO SAY.

OKAY.

UH, EVEN THOUGH LIKE THE PUBLIC HEARING WON'T BE UNTIL LATER, BUT THIS IS USEFUL INFORMATION, SO GO AHEAD.

I ALSO INTERESTED IN THE, UM, THE CONCERN OF MY PARKING BEING A LIABILITY FOR FIRE AND RESCUE.

AND IMMEDIATELY THAT SAME WEEK YOU ALL HELD THAT WORK SESSION.

I REACHED OUT TO OUR FIRE, UM, MARSHALL, GARY MATEO, AKA YEAH.

AND HE, I ASKED HIM, AFTER SPEAKING WITH HIM, IF HE COULD REACH OUT TO YOU ALL AND GIVE HIS PROFESSIONAL OPINION ABOUT WHETHER HIS SERVICE MEMBERS WOULD USE THAT ALLEYWAY AS AN ACCESS TO PROVIDE US ANY OF THEIR SERVICES, WHICH HE SAID IT'S AN UNDERDEVELOPED ALLEYWAY AND THEY WOULD NEVER TAKE THEIR PEOPLE DOWN THERE.

SO MY PARKING FOR THE LEASE THAT I HAVE, I HAVE A PERMIT, A LEASING PERMIT FOR MY PARKING THAT'S NEVER DETERRED.

FIRE AND SAFETY AND MY PARKING HAS NEVER DETERRED OUR MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO WALK THROUGH THERE.

AND THAT WAS SOME OF THE BIG CONCERNS YOU ALL HAD KIND OF AT THAT WORK SESSION.

UM, AND I WANTED TO KIND OF FOLLOW UP AND FIND OUT AS WELL IF MAYBE MY PARKING WAS PERMITTING THOSE THINGS FROM HAPPENING.

UM, OKAY.

SO I WAS GLAD JUST TO BE ABLE TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT MY PERMIT FOR MY PARKING IN THAT AREA

[00:50:01]

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

I'M GONNA ASK YOU A QUESTION.

SURE.

.

UM, 'CAUSE THIS ISN'T REALLY THE TOPIC, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE KIND OF A LITTLE CONFUSION GOING ON HERE ANYWAY.

UM, I'VE, I'VE DRIVEN BY YOUR HOUSE SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO GET A FEEL FOR WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS COME BEFORE COUNCIL.

I LIKE TO, I SAW, I'VE SEEN YOU DRIVE BY.

YEAH.

YOU PROBABLY HAVE.

SORRY, I'M NOT STALKING YOU.

I NO, YOU'RE OKAY.

PLUS, I'M MY MOM.

I'M OUTSIDE WITH MY KIDS ALL THE TIME.

NO.

PLUS I WAS ALSO GOING TO V F W FOR SENATOR KANE'S VISIT.

SO THAT'S WHY I WAS THERE A COUPLE DIFFERENT TIMES.

BUT THE, THE PATCH OF LIKE, UM, WHAT I WOULD CALL LIKE GRAVEL, ALMOST LIKE A PAVED, IT'S NOT PAVED, BUT IT'S LIKE GRAVEL BETWEEN YOUR HOUSE AND RIGHT IN FRONT OF THAT ALLEY, THE UNAPPROVED ALLEY.