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Adjourned Meeting
July 24, 2001
6:00 p.m.
Meeting Convened. An Adjourned Meeting of the York County
Board of Supervisors was called to order at 6:02 p.m., Tuesday, July 24,
2001, in the East Room, York Hall, by Chairman James S. Burgett.
Attendance. The following members of the Board of
Supervisors were present: Walter C. Zaremba, Sheila S. Noll, Donald E.
Wiggins, James S. Burgett, and H. R. Ashe.
Also in attendance were James O. McReynolds, County Administrator;
and James E. Barnett, County Attorney.
WORK SESSION
MEETING WITH PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
Mr. McReynolds explained that several months ago the Parks and
Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) members requested time to address the
Board of Supervisors in a work session. He noted that PRAB member David
White was present to speak on behalf of the entire PRAB.
Mr. David White indicated he wished to outline where the PRAB was
and to discuss ways to increase its opportunities to help the Board of
Supervisors. He noted that Mrs. Anne Smith, Director of Community
Services, had provided the Board of Supervisors with a very good outline
of the PRAB's history since its inception in 1977. Mr. White noted the
committee's desire to better serve the County in terms of finding more
ways to provide leisure and recreation activities for the County's
citizens. In order to do this, he stated the committee needed input from
the Board of Supervisors as to the needs and wishes of the people in
their respective districts. He noted that from time to time the
committee comes across an issue on which it feels the Board needs input.
Although the minutes remain the main form of communications, he stated
the committee feels it should make recommendations to the Board on
individual special issues. Mr. White stated he had met with Mike
Matthews of the James City County Recreation Board, noting that James
City County was very proactive on recreation issues, and he spoke of its
Recreation Board's involvement. He suggested that the PRAB members
attend some of the James City County meetings to see first-hand what
they are doing.
Mr. Wiggins thanked the PRAB for what it has done for the County.
He noted the committee was formed to provide input from the citizens,
yet he has not received many calls from his PRAB representative
regarding recreation issues.
Mrs. Noll also expressed what a fine job the PRAB has done for the
County. She stated the avenues are open for the PRAB members to interact
with the Board of Supervisors, and they have never been closed. She
noted that the current Board of Supervisors and the one before pushed
for better communications with its volunteers, but some people take the
initiative and some do not. Mrs. Noll noted that the Parks and
Recreation Division receives more remarks on recreation conditions than
the PRAB does because they are the ones with day-to-day, hands-on
experience with the citizens. She stated the PRAB was welcome to run a
citizens survey at any time.
Mr. George Stephenson, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation
Advisory Board, stated the committee's frustration was in the mode of
operation. He stated he had envisioned that when a large issue came up,
such as the community center, the Board of Supervisors would come to the
PRAB and solicit its input prior to taking any kind of action, such as
it does with planning issues and the Planning Commission. He noted,
however, that he had never felt that he couldn't call any of the Board
members to pass on an opinion or a comment from a neighbor.
Mr. White stated that given today's energy on the Parks and
Recreation staff, everyone needs to work harder to see how the committee
members and Board members can work to best serve the citizens.
Mr. Wiggins stated he wanted the PRAB's input on everything
recreation-oriented.
Mr. Zaremba stated he read the information provided by Mrs.
Smith's department, and he understands the role of the PRAB. He stated
the Board of Supervisors meets almost every Tuesday and formally on the
first and third Tuesdays, and the PRAB meets every two months. He spoke
of time constraints and getting ideas passed on in a timely manner
because of the meeting schedules, and noted that a solution needed to be
worked out. He stated there was always room for improvement to get the
committee involved, and he recommended that the committee exercise the
authority given it in its bylaws. Mr. Zaremba agreed that the Board of
Supervisors wishes to have the input of the PRAB before it makes any
major decisions on parks and recreation issues.
Mr. Ashe stated he was very appreciative of the job the committee
has done in the past, and he noted he would like the input and
assistance of the PRAB in getting a park facility in the lower end of
the County. He also expressed his appreciation for Mr. Mosier's sharing
his thoughts on District 5 with him.
Mrs. Noll indicated that perhaps staff and the committee could
hold a mini-retreat in order to investigate feelings about what the PRAB
wants to do and how it wants to accomplish it. She stated the PRAB has
all the authority it needs in its bylaws.
Chairman Burgett suggested that the PRAB move to having monthly
meetings. He also suggested that the committee decide what kind of an
organization it wishes to be and how it wants to participate with the
Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors may not accept everything
presented, but a plan is needed. He stated he also had a long-time goal
for a park in the lower end of the County. He noted he felt this was a
worthwhile goal, and he appreciated the members of the PRAB coming this
evening to share their input.
TOURISM FUNDING ALLOCATIONS
Mr. McReynolds noted that staff had provided the Board members
with information on tourism funding requests, and Mr. Carter was present
to answer any questions the Board might have.
At this time the Board members reviewed the requests and staff's
recommendations, and agreed on the following allocations:
Williamsburg Area Convention and Visitors
Bureau
$ 153,400
Watermen's
Museum
75,000
James City County Transit-Relax and Ride
Tourist
46,000
Shuttle
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation-Exhibit
support
40,000
Celebrate Yorktown
Committee-promotions/events
12,950
County Projects:
Walking Tour/Visitors Guide
Brochure
10,000
Special Events staffing (work as
required)
15,000 (not to exceed)
The Board also agreed to fund Waterfront Facilities
Maintenance/Repair from the Contingency Fund in the amount of $12,500.
Mr. McReynolds pointed out that there will be additional
allocations recommended as arrangements are finalized for use of York
Hall and other projects as well in Yorktown of a significant nature that
will bring the amount up to the $350,000-$360,000 range. He stated the
figure was also used to build the Capital Improvements Program (CIP). He
indicated if staff misinterpreted the Board's direction, then it would
have to rework the CIP.
During the discussions, Mrs. Noll expressed her opinion that part
of the request of the Watermen's Museum was for operations, and she did
not feel it was appropriate. She stated the Museum has no plan for
fundraising on its own. She indicated the Board of Directors of the
Museum should develop a strategic plan that includes fundraising
activities. Mrs. Noll stated she attended a Board of Directors meeting
last month at which time the Directors agreed that this should be done.
She stated she was concerned that approving too much funding for these
requests might jeopardize the ability to complete various constructions
projects by 2006/2007.
Mr. Zaremba stressed the importance to the tourist industry in
Yorktown of the activities requesting funds. He stated that because they
work hard to bring in the tourism dollars, they need to be supported.
Mr. Ashe stated he shared some of Mrs. Noll's concerns about the
projects in Yorktown getting accomplished. He indicated he did not have
a history on some of the requests, but he hoped the Board was not
setting a precedent that the activities will be fully funded each year.
Chairman Burgett stated it would be an error on anyone's part to
think that whatever was funded this year will be funded next year or any
other year. He stated these allocations are specific to this point in
time.
Mr. McReynolds noted if the Board were to increase the
contributions by $200,000 annually, this would require that the CIP be
reduced by 10 percent over the next six years. He stated there was some
flexibility, but the CIP was built using contribution figures of
$313,000 this year and $350,000 over the balance. The Board has some
discretionary amounts, but if this is a long-term trend, the Board will
have to rethink the CIP.
Meeting Recessed. At 7:17 p.m., Chairman Burgett declared a short
recess.
Meeting Reconvened. At 7:25 p.m., the meeting was reconvened
in open session by order of the Chair.
PARKING ORDINANCE DRAFT REVIEW
Mr. Barnett indicated that ordinances restricting parking in a
residential area were not uncommon, and he noted he reviewed ordinances
of other jurisdictions to develop the proposed ordinance. He then
reviewed the addition of a subsection regarding "parking of
commercial vehicles in areas zoned for residential use," noting
that the last part of the subsection defined "commercial
vehicle." Mr. Barnett stated he also added an amendment to Section
15-43 regarding the payment of parking citation penalties setting a
voluntary payment of $50 on commercial vehicles.
Chairman Burgett stated his concern dealt with someone who has a
toolbox on the back of his truck, thus making the truck to be considered
commercial.
Mr. Barnett stated the ordinance by itself did not restrict
parking within someone's driveway. In the regulations on home
occupations, any vehicle one ton or larger cannot be parked in a
residential zone. Accessory uses in residential zones lists what
vehicles are permissible; they seem to exclude larger vehicles by not
listing them. He stated these particular sections should be looked at
again.
Mrs. Noll asked if this would exempt rural areas in the County.
She stated she would not want to exclude rural residents from parking
trucks on their properties. The Board wants to protect the neighborhoods
where there are higher densities.
Mr. Barnett suggested that perhaps the ordinance could prohibit
the parking of larger vehicles in certain zoning districts.
Mr. Zaremba stated it boils down to the definition, and he asked
what did the proposed ordinance cover.
Mr. Barnett stated the Board could only adopt a parking ordinance
covering roads in the secondary system. He indicated the ordinance could
list subdivisions by name and make the ordinance enforceable.
Mr. Zaremba stated if the Board could define subdivisions, they
would be applicable to this ordinance. He stated he thought the citizens
would want this to be applicable to all subdivisions.
Mr. Ashe suggested that it be defined by size of lots.
Mr. J. Mark Carter, Planning and Zoning Manager, stated it could
be used as a guideline, but he indicated he thought they would have to
name the subdivisions in the ordinance.
Sheriff Danny Diggs stated that every time a subdivision was added
in the County, the ordinance would have to be revisited.
Discussion followed on the problem areas in the County.
Mr. Carter suggested that if the Board wished to protect the areas
with small roads, they could probably be defined by zoning district.
Then the Board could look at the RR districts and name those
subdivisions specifically.
Mr. Ashe asked to hear from Deputy Superintendent Dick Hixson
regarding the school system's concerns.
Mr. McReynolds noted that the Superintendent of Schools had prepared a
letter and sent it to his office that indicated there were currently 78
drivers who take their buses home. To no longer allow them to park them
at their residences would lower the School Board's ability to recruit
drivers and there are not adequate central parking areas for these buses
that are now going home with the drivers.
Mr. Dick Hixson, Deputy Superintendent of Operations, stated that
two-thirds of all drivers take the buses home. A large part of them do
it because they have no other vehicle at home. York County is not unique
in having a hard time in recruiting bus drivers. This ordinance would
mean the County would lose bus drivers. A result could be going to a
divided elementary school schedule that could generate a lot of turmoil
for many families. He stated the school system would also have to
designate parking areas close to the bus drivers' homes which would be
at school sites, and this would impact on the parks and recreation
programs. Mr. Hixson stated he has worked with the president of the York
Crossing Homeowners Association in order to make it convenient for the
bus drivers, and generally the problems have been worked out. He stated
some people just don't like to look out their windows and see a school
bus.
Chairman Burgett asked if a homeowners' association came to the
School Board and indicated it didn't want school buses parked in its
subdivision, would the School Board accommodate the majority of the
homeowners' associations as it did with York Crossing. He stated if the
School Board would do this, then perhaps the Board could put language in
the ordinance to meet this particular problem.
Mrs. Noll stated she felt that school buses being parked in
neighborhoods was a safety issue.
Mr. Wiggins agreed with Mrs. Noll stating there are open ditches
in some of the neighborhoods with the buses being parked half on and
half off the streets. He stated that perhaps all subdivisions can't be
treated the same.
Mr. Zaremba noted that he has seen school buses parked at the Farm
Fresh parking lot in his district, and he asked if the School Board has
an arrangement with the property owners.
Mr. Hixson stated the School Board has no formal arrangements with
anyone regarding parking. He indicated that to his knowledge the school
system did not have any of its drivers parking their buses in these
lots.
Mr. Ashe asked if it would be possible to require that in the
rural areas the drivers get the buses off the roads and into the
driveways or on their own properties. He stated he felt this might be
more reasonable than outlawing buses altogether.
Mr. Hixson stated the school system would be open to any solution
such as that. He noted it has been done in specific instances at the
request of the neighbors.
Mr. Zaremba stated the Board needed to see an overlay of what
subdivisions fall where.
Chairman Burgett stated the Board would hold another work session
on this topic.
GRAFFITI ORDINANCE DRAFT REVIEW
Mr. Barnett then reviewed the draft graffiti ordinance. He stated
it was an aggressive ordinance such as those adopted by the Cities of
Hampton, Norfolk, and Alexandria. The most important aspect of the
ordinance is that it declares graffiti to be a public nuisance and
authorizes the County Administrator to remove graffiti on privately
owned buildings and to assess the cost against the property owner. He
noted that the legal authority of the Board to impose such costs on
private property owners is not set out in the state code as precisely as
he would like, but he felt the authority was implied.
Mr. Wiggins stated he likes that the proposed ordinance spells out
what happens to the people who commit these acts.
Mrs. Noll stated she realizes there are problems, but she asked if
graffiti was so widespread in the County that this action was necessary.
Chairman Burgett stated the County needs to have something in
order for the people to know the Board means business and that graffiti
will not be tolerated.
Discussion followed concerning the extent of damage done by
graffiti and the possible use of Crime Line to help authorities catch
offenders.
Mr. Zaremba and Mr. Ashe indicated they felt the notification of
assessment should be made by registered mail instead of regular mail.
Mr. Wiggins stated he felt the ordinance was a good one.
Mr. Barnett stated that no ordinance, no matter how aggressive,
would stop graffiti, but the County should be able to at least assess
the costs for paying for damages to the offender or property owner.
By consensus the Board directed that the proposed ordinance be
advertised for public hearing.
REDISTRICTING-PROCESS DISCUSSION
Mr. Carter reviewed the information he distributed to the Board
members regarding a proposal for conducting the redistricting
information meetings. He stated he started with the same number of
meetings held in 1991 and supplemented the list with a couple of
additional sites to get better coverage. He noted the meetings would be
held VDOT-style with staff positioned around the room to explain the
maps and answer questions or collect written questions of the citizens.
Mr. Carter stated that after the information meetings, the Board's
schedule calls for a work session on October 23 to decide on an
alternative on which to hold a public hearing on November 20.
Mr. Zaremba asked for a feel for what would take place at the
information meetings.
Mr. Carter stated there was no real formal presentation except to
explain to the citizens the format of the meetings and explain that
forms would be available for written comments and questions, and staff
would be present to answer questions regarding the alternatives. He
stated it would be a very informal session.
Mr. Wiggins asked if tape recordings of citizen comments and
questions could be set up at the information meetings.
Mr. Carter indicated that could be done.
Mr. McReynolds stated the staff would make every effort to make
sure there is ample opportunity for citizen input.
Chairman Burgett stated he felt the proposed coverage was good.
Mr. Barnett then provided the Board members with a summary of the
information he would be reviewing concerning the redistricting process.
He noted that racial considerations were more important during the last
redistricting that at this time. He stated it was even less possible now
for a majority/minority district to be established, but he felt the
Board needed to see the numbers. Noting that it takes a great deal of
time for the Planning staff to extract those figures, he recommended
that the information not be extracted until such time as the Board has
chosen the alternatives it wishes to take to the public for the
information meetings.
Meeting Adjourned. At 8:27 p.m. Chairman Burgett declared the
meeting adjourned sine die.
_____________________________
_______________________________
James O. McReynolds, Clerk
James S. Burgett, Chairman
York County Board of Supervisors
York County Board of Supervisors
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