[0:00] Court order of the September 9th, 2025 meeting of City Council, Brendan, please go the roll.

[0:09] Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. We will now recognize him onward silence and rise for the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Vice Mayor Captain.

[0:24] I pledge

[0:36] allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

[0:44] One question.

[0:56] I'm on the agenda is the approval of minutes.

[0:58] I will entertain a motion to approve the minutes from the regular meeting of August 26th and the work session of August 26th.

[1:05] Motion to approve.

[1:08] Second.

[1:09] All those in favor?

[1:10] Aye.

[1:11] Minutes are approved.

[1:12] Well, one recused.

[1:16] Thank you.

[1:19] The next item when the agenda is the report of the mayor.

[1:22] Thank you.

[1:23] President Council.

[1:24] I have just one thing.

[1:26] I do want to acknowledge.

[1:28] This is a large turnout.

[1:30] The current town battlefield association.

[1:32] Thank you for coming out.

[1:34] This is a population 25th anniversary of the current town battlefield acquisition.

[1:39] We're as a not-for-profit current-style battlefield association, KBA, was formed in 1996 by local

[1:47] government officials and concerned citizens to protect the historic, pictured, grand-farm

[1:53] site of major civil war engagements from potential development.

[1:57] Whereas in 1735, William and Barbara Hogue received the land patent for 411 acres, where they

[2:06] all-home, established a farm, and adornated a portion of their land for a church and cemetery.

[2:12] They sold a farm to Rees, printed in 1756.

[2:15] The printed's later sold a property to James Burton, in 1879, and Mr. Burton sold it to Charles

[2:21] Henry Grimm in 1890.

[2:24] And whereas, on March 23, 1862, the first battle of current town was fought on this property.

[2:31] Though a tactical loss for Confederate General Stonewall Jackson, it became a strategic victory

[2:38] when President Lincoln diverted Union troops to the Chando Valley away from Union General

[2:44] George McCallon's peninsula campaign.

[2:49] And whereas on June 13th, 1863, Confederate General Richard S. E. Well, assaulted Union

[2:56] at Partil Realme Pritcher's Hill in an early action

[2:59] of the second battle of Winchester, opening in the lower

[3:03] Chando Valley for the Confederate Advance

[3:05] to the pivotal battle of Gettysburg.

[3:09] And whereas on July 24th, 1864, the second battle of Kernstown

[3:14] was fought on his same property.

[3:17] To future US presidents and a former US vice president

[3:22] participated in the battle in its aftermath.

[3:26] Marking the last Confederate victory in the Shannon Doe Valley, General Philip Sheridan, was appointed commander of all union forces in the Valley.

[3:35] And whereas after four years of meeting, negotiations with the grim trust and family, the Currence Town Battle Field Association secured ownership of the property on September 28, 2000.

[3:48] We're as a mission of the Currency Town Battlefield Association is to preserve and interpret

[3:54] that the Civil War battlefield and historic farm for the benefit of future generations.

[4:01] Now therefore, we resolve that I, less, see each mayor of the city of Winchester, continue

[4:06] here by proclaim and recognize the 25th anniversary of this accusation of the Currency Town

[4:13] battlefield by the current stand battlefield association.

[4:17] Graduation.

[4:26] I'll send this to you.

[4:29] You don't have to pay the budget.

[4:37] Mayor Beach.

[4:38] Thank you.

[4:39] Thank you.

[4:57] My next item in the agenda is the report of the city manager.

[5:04] I'm so full of your mom.

[5:18] She is our community.

[5:18] German program to know about, is our program, that practice, works with our residents,

[5:29] or three different communities of the United States, and they also are involved

[5:33] without reach to the homeless population, helps get them into treatments, and off the street,

[5:39] so to speak.

[5:40] But that's not why Ashley is being nominated, Ashley is being nominated because while she was

[5:45] at the Winchester Medical Center, emergency room working with a client.

[5:50] A gentleman approached her and said, his wife was in labor outside the hospital.

[5:54] While he stayed in the ER to try to get ER staff to help,

[5:58] Ashley ran outside and delivered the baby.

[6:02] That the three would, without a hitch, thanks to Ashley,

[6:04] the baby is an excellent shape.

[6:05] There's going to be a story about this in our next WinConnect magazine.

[6:09] It comes out in the next few days.

[6:11] She's also, oh, there's a picture of the baby, too.

[6:15] Now, Ashley's very humble, she said, I didn't do much. I just came. I was out there and it just popped out.

[6:22] I think if any of you have had a kid or at least a party to that, you know they don't just pop out.

[6:28] It's not like that.

[6:30] So, Ashley, obviously, beyond just being a fantastic employee also can say she delivered a baby.

[6:38] So, congratulations to Ashley as the employee of the month.

[6:42] Finally, as you all know, Thursday is 24th Anniversary of 9-11, and it's our National Day of Service.

[6:50] To honor our first responders, Chief Loose in the Police Department, we'll be participating in the National Day of Service event organized by at the end of Huntos.

[6:57] It's going to be at on Thursday at the our health green space on North Camus Street at 4 o'clock in the stop-by weekend.

[7:06] Thank you. Next time when we agenda our committee chair reports we will start with that committee.

[7:13] I have no report this evening. Thank you.

[7:15] Oh, I'm sorry I skipped an attorney and apologize.

[7:19] No, that's good. I was just adding the National Day of Service to my notes.

[7:24] So, Pet met last week. We had a very detailed meeting. There's several things that are on the agenda.

[7:30] And including the two subdivision ordinances, and a couple of different zoning requests.

[7:36] But we also had a long conversation about the Ward 1 NDD, and that will continue at the end of September.

[7:42] Thank you.

[7:43] Thank you. Next up, public health and safety.

[7:47] Public health and safety meeting will be meeting September 17.

[7:51] Thank you.

[7:52] Next up is finance. Councillor Bell is not here. Your brief is not at that meeting.

[7:58] So I was in attendance, we met the first Tuesday of the month and pretty much everything we discussed

[8:06] is on the agenda tonight, so there's no real report in addition to that.

[8:11] So that will include Finance Committee report.

[8:13] Next up, we would have boards and commissions, more to commissions, we'll be meeting next

[8:17] week.

[8:20] Next, any strategic planning?

[8:22] strategic planning met yesterday. We discussed IT and Parks and Rec goals for the year and also

[8:30] our city legislative priorities. Thank you. And finally, school board liaison.

[8:37] Thank you. Our school board met last night for a work session and they reviewed a report for the

[8:42] Garland quarrels architectural study RFP that was approved in our FY26 budget. They also got the annual

[8:49] report of the SOLs, where they compare the affinity data to other schools and divisions that

[8:55] are similar to ours, so I would encourage if you have not already, check out that report

[9:00] and you see a lot of positive bright spots for our schools.

[9:04] Thank you.

[9:04] Excellent.

[9:04] Thank you.

[9:06] The next item when we agenda will be public hearings.

[9:09] We have one public hearing this evening that's going to be our 2025-36 resolution approving

[9:15] applications to the Virginia Department of Transportation,

[9:18] for Transportation, Alternative Funds,

[9:20] presented by Councillor Bell, and Perry, ISNOT.

[9:24] I want to open the public hearing.

[9:26] Is there anyone here that wishes to speak on this matter?

[9:29] So you have three minutes.

[9:35] Well, close public hearing and turn it over to Perry.

[9:38] Oh, there's a public hearing.

[9:40] Just hearing, he said.

[9:42] No, this is one of the specific issues.

[9:45] Thank you, Mr. President.

[9:47] I'm joined by Kelly Henshin, too.

[9:48] So, she can answer all the hard questions.

[9:52] Excuse me, every two years, we can apply to V dot for funding through a program called

[10:01] transportation alternatives, and that program has federal dollars in it, which is why we

[10:08] have to have this public hearing.

[10:11] But this program is geared towards primarily pedestrian and bicycle related improvements.

[10:18] such as the green circle trail.

[10:22] So in our long term capital improvement plan,

[10:25] we have two projects that would qualify

[10:30] that we're presenting to you tonight.

[10:34] At this point, these are just concepts

[10:38] that are concepts we haven't designed them.

[10:41] And all we're asking for approval tonight

[10:43] is just for authorization to apply for the funding

[10:47] to see if we will get the funding.

[10:50] So that's really all this is tonight.

[10:55] Certainly, if the projects would move forward,

[10:58] there would be a lot of discussion on the details of each project.

[11:04] There's two projects.

[11:05] The first is one of Council's priorities over the past several years

[11:13] has been to develop a trail to the north end that would connect to the green circle.

[11:24] And after looking at this for multiple years, they're not easy.

[11:30] This is not an easy thing.

[11:33] And so you have a concept on the shows, the possible.

[11:42] All we're talking about tonight is just phase one.

[11:45] The other phases of the project, we'll need a lot more discussion work, there's a lot to it.

[11:53] But we're just focused on phase one, which would connect to the green circle,

[12:00] just south of Larry Drive, at the south end of the park.

[12:04] The trail would be under up through Jim Barnett Park, Cross, Cork Street, then it would go through the school campus,

[12:16] Daniel Morgan school campus, and then it would connect to mold and drive so that everybody in that neighborhood could get on that trail and safely go down to the Great Circle.

[12:29] So that's the first project.

[12:31] The second project

[12:36] is a shared use path on Amper Street.

[12:43] Currently, the green circle goes down Amper Street.

[12:48] But from the stretch from about where the southern state's property is,

[12:53] to the first entrance into the Museum of the Chanado Valley,

[12:57] where the trail actually comes back in on their property.

[13:01] That section trail users have to use the sidewalk, which is very narrow, right next to the street, bicycles have to use the street.

[13:13] So we have received numerous comments over the years.

[13:17] We would really like to have a separated trail through that stretch.

[13:23] And so we have a concept that

[13:29] at three lane section of Ampar Street, right now there's one lane

[13:34] each direction with the center of the turnway, it would convert that to a two lane section,

[13:41] one lane in each direction, and the far southern lane would be raised up, there'd be a curve

[13:50] and there would be a separated trail right there.

[13:54] Between the trail and the street, there would be plenty of room for trees and above.

[14:02] Certainly that may generate some concerns from various folks, but that's what the concept is.

[14:09] So we're asking for approval to submit these applications which are due next week.

[14:18] And our goal has always been and will continue to be until, unless with your otherwise,

[14:25] is to try to maximize the amount of federal and state funds that we can get for our projects.

[14:33] So that's what we're trying to accomplish.

[14:36] And with that, I'll be having to answer any questions.

[14:43] I just want to comment down.

[14:45] like the idea of separating the bike and the walkers for safety during that section.

[14:54] So, what's the funerable order do you have certain time on get progress completed?

[14:59] Once the funds are...

[15:01] So for this program, construction has to start within four years, four years. Yes. So it, and that's probably about how long it would take to go through all the federal processes to get to construction.

[15:17] Yeah, I'm just, and I mentioned this in the committee meeting,

[15:23] plans are not finalized. So it really helps to visualize these kind of things and see a rendering and that type of stuff.

[15:31] I was a little concerned that we might take

[15:35] anniversary street and make it two lanes just because

[15:41] traffic stacking, there's entryways on

[15:44] the anniversary streets, you know, there's a lot of it's a busy street

[15:48] and it's a concern all around the city where we know the traffic is going to

[15:52] increase and we're kind of reducing lanes that people have to

[16:01] So when the time comes, that might still be there.

[16:06] But sure, I don't know if it will prevent me at this point

[16:08] from not trying to seek funds, but I

[16:11] reserve kind of the right to bring that up again

[16:16] in the future.

[16:17] So any additional questions?

[16:20] That's what we want.

[16:21] Thank you.

[16:22] Do you get the latitude, if we are granted the funds,

[16:26] to alter these projects as we go?

[16:29] They can be altered somewhat, but if it's a big alteration note, it would have to be consistent with this.

[16:40] And so do we know how that lane change would affect response times for police, fire?

[16:48] Well, what I would say on that is certainly, yeah, when you take away a turning lane that, that's a concern.

[16:57] But if you're going to the hospital from downtown, you go to Amherstery, every street that you take to get to Amherstery through downtown is too late.

[17:10] But, you know, extradiction, even the first part of Amherstreet, so it's not changing that.

[17:19] But I understand it, sir.

[17:22] But, you know, obviously emergency vehicles make it through downtown every day.

[17:29] Today, you get to the hospital.

[17:31] So, you know, I don't see it as a...

[17:33] Well, I mean, you get the major impediment that it's always the left-hand terms.

[17:39] you know that that that's the pop and I can just envision the only way to be able to make a left hand turn

[17:47] is if somebody yields you the right way to make a turn that's how much traffic is on that street

[17:52] at certain times a day and with that intersection at right there by Bonnie Blue the fucking little

[18:04] trying to think only there it's weird I mean it's it's just it's complicated that intersection

[18:10] we're not changing, right, and all of it, but it does, it's another stack and point kind of

[18:17] thing, certain times of data, this is not a problem at all. I mean, it's, you know, but

[18:22] that's true throughout the city, where it's just peak times where things are really,

[18:28] it's true, every city does.

[18:33] So, yes, it's a contribution.

[18:34] Yeah, I would just add that, first of all, I support both of these concepts, yes, having

[18:43] a connection in the North End is something we've talked about for a long time.

[18:48] With regards to the Amherst,

[18:52] I mean, I think it's just the challenge between living in an

[18:57] older town that has limited access to the ability to put this shared path.

[19:07] And I've walked on Amherst and it's not,

[19:11] I don't feel totally safe.

[19:14] And so I think it would be, to be able to,

[19:17] I mean, if you have a dog and you're walking

[19:19] and you have a strawler, like, oh my goodness,

[19:22] it can be a challenge.

[19:26] So I mean, I think that I certainly support this,

[19:31] if hopefully if the funding, if we get awarded,

[19:34] then we get into the details of how to actually make

[19:37] happen. I think it wouldn't be a bad thing to kind of slow traffic town to some extent more

[19:43] on Amherst because I think, you know, there's already some high speed levels that happen there,

[19:49] but I think we've just got to find that balance between how do we create safe bike pedestrian paths

[19:58] for people and definitely need something on Amherst because it's, I don't feel safe and I walk quite

[20:06] So, this

[20:15] is about the funds tonight, when the funds are received, who actually besides

[20:23] like where the trail will actually go, like on the north end, where it starts and where it finishes

[20:29] or whatever, who designs where it's going to go, how is it, how does it figure it out?

[20:35] So, this is just the first phase of the project, so if V dot would approve the funds, then

[20:44] and city council wouldn't need to appropriate city

[20:48] matching funds before we would start the design.

[20:53] And so, at that time, the council could weigh in

[20:58] on the actual project itself, but I think for this first phase,

[21:04] it's pretty well locked in.

[21:07] It's the future phases that really, we need, I think,

[21:13] we would go through a big public input process

[21:17] where because it's a major, it's a major project

[21:23] to accomplish that.

[21:25] And so we're going to need to get a lot of public input.

[21:28] And this is, that's going to be a long term after.

[21:32] Unfortunately, it's not something that's going to happen quickly

[21:36] but because there's some big pieces to it.

[21:40] For example, getting a bridge over Barryville Avenue or a tunnel under Barryville Avenue is what we would try to achieve.

[21:53] That's just, that traffic out there is just, so, so many cars that it's not safe through the cross that street.

[22:01] So there's a lot of different components to it.

[22:08] Motion to approve.

[22:09] Second to begin in a second and submit the application.

[22:13] Second.

[22:16] Second, a.

[22:17] Brendon, please call the roll.

[22:21] Yes, yes.

[22:23] Yes.

[22:25] Yes.

[22:25] Pass the.

[22:26] Yes.

[22:27] Pass the bell.

[22:29] Pass the box.

[22:30] Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. And that's a crew. Thank you. Thank you all. Next slide, when the agenda are public comments. I have a couple of signed up. We'll call you with order, which is signed up. Remember, you have three minutes.

[22:49] And please state your name and address when you approach the podium first up, we have Arthur Christian.

[23:20] That's her question.

[23:21] I'm a little bit five, twenty three.

[23:23] Fair enough.

[23:24] Avenue.

[23:25] I'm here to not support any more communities because the under 17 crowd period.

[23:34] Friday.

[23:35] Not one of the previous actually used their free pass to go to school.

[23:42] not the one, then went to Walmart, then went to every place else, but the school.

[23:54] On Friday, Tuesday, after the finance committee, I was unable to catch her high

[24:00] because again, the free 17 and under were holding up the buses and I could not get her out of

[24:10] for over an hour. That was, again, we have to stop to stop to the freebies for the

[24:20] 17 and under power.

[24:30] There's a misconception that it's costing the people on extra money

[24:36] on a good isn't because in fact all these people that will get freebies, their parents actually get

[24:45] So they are getting, they are getting, they are writing, they are getting double free

[24:52] be there.

[24:54] So they need to, you need to put a stop to it, but right now, making the people who have

[25:02] paid for the rise feel like second-class citizens, and we have to wait anywhere from

[25:09] for a minute to an hour to get a ride. Meanwhile, they seem to get instantaneous pickup.

[25:18] This is just not a fair thing. We need to put a stop to it.

[25:27] Thank you. Next up I have just the first thing that looks like Lisa.

[25:32] Yes? Yes. Please take your name and address and you have three minutes.

[25:36] I just want to say that this is not live in war, in war, in war, in war, and I just want

[25:43] to give a comment to the committee about last week there was issues that were raised and it

[25:52] was nice to see that you all were concerned about the issues of Winchester, not just making

[25:58] Manchester beautiful, making Winchester bigger and better, but Winchester is made of people, of course.

[26:07] And so if we don't meet the needs of the people, what good are we?

[26:12] So I just want to thank you for bringing up the issues that concern the people of Winchester,

[26:21] Like the homelessness, the illiteracy of child care people that need housing.

[26:29] I just wanted to thank you all for bringing up those issues and, like I said, it's not

[26:35] all about making a winch has to be in better and beautiful.

[26:40] Thank you.

[26:43] It's person, I'm not going to try the last name, the first name is Kara,

[26:50] telling issue, I think.

[26:52] I think it's okay.

[26:53] I'm wearing it, yeah.

[27:05] I just got the way to train there in this place.

[27:10] Because of the person in the Canadian,

[27:11] it's a bi-z rating period.

[27:13] I got here, kind of firsthand, and you said.

[27:16] I guess the only thing that I would say for it is,

[27:19] you know, the necessary necessary.

[27:21] If you could please still lay it for as long as possible

[27:25] because I think that that group would type off 15 people.

[27:27] You guys got this exact for it.

[27:30] everybody had pretty much, you know, I really was against the increase but for very different reasons based on kind of their life experience and they're used to it.

[27:38] And from my perspective, I use it as much as I can.

[27:42] I stopped for a little while because there were some real hiccups with the technology and I know that those are being worked through and I appreciate the whole team that's been doing that because it is getting better and better.

[27:52] But I feel like there's still some things to work through and it may not feel like it to this group

[27:57] But it does feel like there's a lot of very quick change to the people who are using it

[28:01] Just as far as like their ability to learn this system and how it works and how they can actually integrate it into their lives

[28:06] That takes a long time like I was getting around this way, but now I'm using this new system

[28:10] And it may not seem like it but that kind of thing does take a long time to kind of get integrated for people

[28:16] And I feel like a lot of the people who use it regularly kind of feel like they're being kicked while they're down because they had to fight so hard for the loop route to stay and the reason they might perspective they were fighting so hard for the loop route was because there were so many technology issues with the new system even if they had to wait an hour for the loop route they at least knew it was coming and so you know I just think that let's keep a good thing going and let's keep making these improvements slowly over time and then maybe next year really look at the increase

[28:49] It's hard to even say this because it sounds ridiculous, but it's not that much compared

[28:54] to certain other things, especially because this is such a heavily subsidized system anyway.

[29:00] When I ride and I ride for fun, the city pays a little bit so that I can ride down to the

[29:05] park with my kids.

[29:06] And then the only other thing I would say is people who be alert have a burden to vote on things that they may not ever have the privilege of being deeply familiar with with their lives.

[29:20] You know politicians have to vote on big systems that maybe they don't actually take advantage of.

[29:25] And I'm sympathetic to that burden.

[29:28] This is one of those that you, as a citizen,

[29:31] if you have it taken this transportation system,

[29:35] I would really encourage you to do so.

[29:37] I would encourage you to spend a week where you rely on it

[29:40] and you take it to council meetings and you take it home.

[29:43] It's really great.

[29:45] It works really well.

[29:45] And I would love for you guys to see that firsthand,

[29:48] but also for you to see kind of when it doesn't work

[29:51] and how kind of awful that is.

[29:53] So, all right, that's all I have to say about that.

[29:58] Thank you.

[30:00] The next person is Mike Jenkins.

[30:13] Hello everybody, I'm Mike Jenkins, 337 of every you have new. I was here at the 26th of all on the last meeting. I had issues with neighbors, with trash, couches, one side of all of those issues like that.

[30:29] I want to give a shout to Kent. He is stating contact with me. He seems like he really cares. The inspections department I've dealt with, not so much.

[30:39] The inspector I've dealt with for two months, on Thursday after the meeting, the 28th of August,

[30:45] my neighbor took the whole front clip off, the card later in the front yard.

[30:50] It's not to the picture, I haven't sent it to him, and my response to that guy was,

[30:54] okay, thank you, and we recently switched words.

[30:56] We'll have to speak at least the Jackson.

[31:00] I said, well, I was just at a city council meeting, why wasn't that communicated?

[31:04] He said, I don't know what just happened,

[31:08] and so what's going to happen with the open cases,

[31:11] and I think it response for seven days.

[31:15] Seven days later, I got a response, I will still follow up on the cases.

[31:21] Talk to Alfredo from zoning.

[31:25] He didn't really seem too concerned.

[31:27] He said, there's a process, I understand it's a process, and then it's part of why I'm here.

[31:31] It doesn't work.

[31:33] And I'm here to help.

[31:35] Anything I could do to help, I mean taking pictures to address is the issues,

[31:39] the citizens of the inspector doesn't seem to be working,

[31:42] I understand it, but when somebody from Zoninge tells me,

[31:46] I said if this, the couch that was on Virginia Avenue across from the school,

[31:52] it was there for eight days after the meeting and finally moved it.

[31:55] Somebody.

[31:59] When Alfredo told me, I said if it was on Washington Street or Stewart Street,

[32:02] It would have been gone in a day, he said, you're probably right most of the people in that area on their house and don't rent it.

[32:10] So the city of Winchester might want to look into, you know, having some of these people take a class of ethics

[32:16] because that's totally unacceptable. My house was bought paid for about a time I was 40 years old.

[32:22] And if it's the issue with people rent, then the city needs to do a better job on the inspections of people rent in these houses and not have slum lords of rent in Winchester.

[32:31] But again, thank you very much, thank you for your help.

[32:36] He seems like he really cares, it's not even really his saying box, but which has

[32:42] released to be better than that.

[32:44] And I, as the name of the 16 years old, in 173, the victors of their whole life, I said

[32:48] we don't go to the city council meeting, and they said to me, you're wasting your time.

[32:54] So true of false, that's the perception that you all have, so I hope you all can change it.

[32:59] that's the perception of lifelong people here.

[33:02] That's all I have.

[33:04] Thank you.

[33:05] Is there anyone else that, like, speak?

[33:10] I'm a state of need and trust.

[33:12] I have three minutes.

[33:17] Hi, my name is Claire Conner, and I'm from Berryville, Virginia.

[33:20] However, I'm speaking about my case,

[33:22] that was overturned the town of Winchester.

[33:25] I don't know if you all are aware,

[33:26] but there was a situation that aroused in the public eye of our community

[33:29] and our surrounding communities this past weekend.

[33:32] The same thing that I exposed on April 16th of this past year

[33:35] brought to my attention in a news article. A well-known CPS worker from Clark County,

[33:40] well, whether currently employed or not got busted for operating an annual manufacturing

[33:44] and meth lab in his garage in his home in Jared's town West Virginia. The same thing that got

[33:49] brought to the public eye in a news article this weekend is the same thing that I got reprimanded

[33:53] for in silence by when I was trying to bring awareness to this matter, not only by DSS and CPS,

[33:59] but my attorney at the time, Dev and Humphrey's with Buck Bower and McGuire. Dev and Humphrey

[34:04] start me and said she would no longer represent me if I did not take not only that post-down

[34:08] exposing Toby Austin but also others posts on my private page like asking for prayer during

[34:13] prayers for during my time of court. After this exposure came to my attention over the weekend

[34:18] of course everyone around the areas speaking out on their own situations with him. One in which

[34:23] shattered my heart more than any other. A mom named Tiffany Lens comments where I immediately

[34:28] sent me. Her son passed away during the time of having Toby Austin as her case worker

[34:33] winning Clark County. Of course we got in contact over the course of all of this and she

[34:38] tells me the whole story. Her son wasn't just killed because of a CPS and DSS placement into

[34:43] an abusive home. They were fully aware of it and not just DSS and CPS's office but the police

[34:48] department in Clark County. We're also very aware of it after multiple times of her reporting

[34:53] the abuse. Her son Talon died while on the care of a DSS and CPS placement and they were

[34:59] fully aware of the abuse going on. Just like all these placements in Winchester and all over

[35:04] this area. And yes, this mom is willing to share her story and start her fight against all of

[35:09] this, but let's just be honest, no matter how hard she fights, no matter how many rolls she gets,

[35:13] she's never going to get her kit back. CPS is supposed to be protecting kids and they are literally

[35:18] putting kids in abusive situations. They are supposed to be saving them from. You guys are fully

[35:22] aware of what's going on in this town and you can't keep walking around with a preconception

[35:26] that we're just trying to cause issues.

[35:28] We have given you black and white facts and you still choose to walk around and do absolutely

[35:32] nothing about it just like CPS and the courts still.

[35:35] As I said in the beginning of my speech I've been speaking here in multiple other families

[35:38] have as well since March 25th.

[35:40] We have invited you guys to multiple events and not single one of you have shown up, but I

[35:45] personally know from the last one you guys were also some of you told personally not to come

[35:50] because there was nothing you guys could do to change it anyways.

[35:53] A few months back, one of the lawyers in our area, Jonathan Solvester posted on Facebook about his garden flooded,

[35:58] and the next day, less was there with a shovel.

[36:00] He's our mayor.

[36:01] We may not have money to give you guys.

[36:03] We may not have titles like lawyers in this town,

[36:05] but I wanted to remind you that this town and these people in it are who place you guys in these seats.

[36:10] You may not be able to change any of the disgrace and disgusting criminal activity that DSS is doing,

[36:15] but showing up for these families is what matters.

[36:16] That's your time.

[36:27] I'm gonna dress up for a minute.

[36:28] My name's Diana Dettamura.

[36:29] I was at 5.17, Monticello.

[36:32] I'm just gonna be finishing Ms. Conor's speech for her.

[36:35] You all may not be able to change any of this,

[36:36] this graceful and disgusting criminal activity

[36:38] that CPS and DSS are participating in,

[36:40] but you all can show up and show up and show a support for you.

[36:42] Because I know most of you have kids and grandkids as well.

[36:46] These families need you guys

[36:47] and if it's just showing up,

[36:48] you're placing these seats for a reason,

[36:50] and it's your job to know every minimum detail

[36:52] of what's going on in this test.

[36:53] Even if you can't change the corruption,

[36:55] you should be fully aware about it, at least thinking some noise in my opinion.

[36:59] But we're used to people saying pretty silent when the corruption is exposed, especially when certain people are involved in people, other people find out.

[37:07] I'll just be honest, anybody that doesn't support what we're doing to help these families are just as bad as the problem.

[37:14] With all that being said, we'd like to publicly invite you all to, once again, to our next event hosted by Tiffy and Claire, who,

[37:22] and Claire who was our local advocate here in Winchester.

[37:25] The events called Green Families together and it will be at the Haley Library on September 12th.

[37:30] The morning's trial passed away in the placement, with Toby Austin as the case where we'll also be there.

[37:37] So we are hoping you guys will show up this time, like, let's show it up for Donut.

[37:40] And even if it's just for support, thank you so much for being able to be able to be.

[37:47] So you're getting more and also, like, speak during public comments.

[37:56] I will close the public comment section of the meeting.

[37:59] The next line of the meeting agenda is the consent agenda.

[38:02] Does there any member that would like to remove this item from the consent agenda?

[38:07] You're in no one.

[38:08] I will entertain a motion to approve consent agenda.

[38:10] Motion to approve.

[38:12] Second.

[38:13] Second.

[38:14] All of us in favor?

[38:14] Aye.

[38:16] That.

[38:18] The gender item is approved.

[38:23] Regular agenda.

[38:25] The first item on the regular agenda is R-25-3-3-3.

[38:30] Resolution-approving increases to fares for Winchester Transants Services,

[38:34] presented by Councilwoman Bell.

[38:36] And here it is.

[38:40] Thank you, Mr. President.

[38:42] I'm so joined tonight by Kenny Johnson, who's our transit operations manager, and like Kelly,

[38:48] he's here to answer the hard questions.

[38:52] So this process started a while ago.

[38:58] Council may recall that earlier this year, you made some, you approved some changes to

[39:03] Winchester Transit Service, where we did keep one bus operating on the loop route.

[39:09] And because of that, the current FY26 budget had already been approved, which meant that there

[39:18] could be a shortfall of about $30,000 this year.

[39:23] We don't know if it's going to be that much, if there may not be a shortfall depending on what

[39:32] So at that time, Council directed us to look at possible ferry increases.

[39:42] So that is what is in front of you tonight.

[39:51] First went to the Finance Committee with this proposal that would increase the loop route

[39:57] fair from a dollar to a dollar fifty. It would increase the overall rich route from two dollars to three dollars and it would increase

[40:08] when ready from a dollar fifty to two dollars. So finance committee gave us the direction to go out for a 30 day public comment period,

[40:17] which we did. We received a lot of comments. Those are in your packet. The majority of comments were not

[40:27] favor of raising the fairs at all, and so then we came back to the finance committee, the

[40:34] last meeting,

[40:38] and the committee made a recommendation to forward to full council, with

[40:43] the recommendation for approval, with an implementation date of July 1st, 2026.

[40:55] So, these

[40:56] the fair increases would not go into effect until then. So that's where we're at, but this is

[41:04] completely discretionary and up to you all to make the decision. I'm happy to answer any questions.

[41:13] That's one of the questions.

[41:16] I have a question, yes.

[41:18] Perry, can you remind me when was the last time the fairs were changed? So during COVID, there were

[41:27] fairs. And then we implemented fairs once when ready started. So they were increased when

[41:37] fairs started again after COVID. Yes.

[41:46] Okay. I guess, Councillor Bonds. About the riders that get the

[41:50] free ride under 18 years old, can you just explain that to me please? Sure, so if you're under 17,

[41:57] we do not charge and Kenny has put some numbers together here. So during the month of July

[42:06] there were a total of 1,929 free rides, 17 under. In August that number dropped a little bit.

[42:19] I think because school started there were 1,765.

[42:25] So there, it definitely gets used by the youth in the community.

[42:38] That was my question too.

[42:39] I went to follow up on what Councillor Fox said.

[42:42] Has there ever been any discussion that we've had on looking at the charge for 17?

[42:50] Will it win?

[42:51] And is there any history as to the reason why proposed that?

[42:57] So it was discussed back when the fairs were first implemented before when ready started and I think that the thought was that to keep it free for students, if they are writing to school or you to write for school related issue, I think that and Dan maybe you want to chime in a little bit.

[43:25] Perry's right, the only other reason we didn't want to keep families if you're going to the grocery store and you've got two kids.

[43:35] We didn't want to make a further ahead of him to, you know, a single mom taking two kids to the grocery store.

[43:42] So that was another one of the reasons behind it was not to dissuade families.

[43:47] way

[43:57] we're determining youth for the purposes of this calculation as 12 to 17.

[44:03] So, the free part is if you're under 17.

[44:09] If you're, you can be unaccompanied if you're 12 to 17.

[44:14] If you're 12 to 17.

[44:15] If you're 12 to 17.

[44:17] Correct.

[44:19] On any service, you have to be 12 or over to ride solo.

[44:24] Otherwise you have to be a company, and to be a company, you have to be over 70, you can't be 16, and then have three matters with you.

[44:33] Anyone riding without a pain at dawn has to be 12-year-old.

[44:37] Right, so

[44:42] some spirits when I, before I had a license, and was, you know what that 12-year-old range had to get to school.

[44:51] Once you got to high school, you had to find your own right school.

[44:56] You either got parents to take you, you either got.

[45:00] A right on the city bus, which is what we're talking about. You had to pay the fair. And I think there's a ballot point for considering at least something for somebody that's 12, 17. It goes back to my theory that I've mentioned before about things that have no cost, have no value. And it's getting abused. I'm not saying that's a case here. But

[45:32] it's just where I'm at, but I mean, I think it did. I think it did. I think it did. I think it did.

[45:35] I think it's fair point frankly that, you know, they try that and cover the cost when I

[45:41] find a make profit that's never been the drive issue, but it has been to, I think, cover

[45:46] cost.

[45:48] One question you asked if I could get the numbers for the destination to and from, I was able

[45:53] to actually pull that, pull just in the two weeks, this school has been back in August

[45:57] 12th to August 29th and the percentage of the free rides going to John Haley is 25% of

[46:03] and 7% of the rise of one-to-one-to-one, the other percent, outside of that

[46:09] we're going to do any other locations outside of the school.

[46:12] So are those cases missing the boss or they are a different schedule?

[46:15] We have no idea, we don't really know, okay, and we might never know, it's, yeah.

[46:23] So that's a consideration too, I mean, they're, yes, you know, it's a boss.

[46:26] Well, but weekends could that be a separate issue unto itself, because we don't have school.

[46:31] I mean, obviously, we want kids to make the school.

[46:34] I think we want it to be fair, but I also agree with what

[46:38] President, so when it's saying that there is a value to

[46:41] this service and that I mean, this is a thing where it is

[46:44] literally niggles and dimes we're talking about for this amount.

[46:48] So perhaps are there things on the weekends where they're

[46:52] to pay a small nominal amount for this?

[46:55] That's possible.

[46:57] That's completely at council's discretion.

[47:06] I don't know if it can be figured out, but Ryan is who on a school bus is considered as a privilege, and a lot of these students, and I've seen it myself while I'm driving my bus.

[47:19] If these students have been suspended off the school bus, they shouldn't be allowed to ride the transit bus for free or anything

[47:27] in the other reason.

[47:29] So I think some of those percentages, as far as like the kids from Daniel Morgan and even the handling,

[47:35] they can't get on the school bus.

[47:37] Yes, they should go to school, but if you've been kicked off the school bus for whatever reason,

[47:42] I don't just my opinion, I don't feel that you should be able to ride the transit bus to school.

[47:47] Now, how that could be figured out, I don't even know if it could be, but I'm pretty sure some of this percentage is from kids that can't ride to school bus,

[47:56] to school, because they've been suspended off the bus.

[48:04] I think, I don't know, you know, I have the joy of working the weapons detector at the Shahada Innovation Center.

[48:13] And I do see a couple kids on a regular basis

[48:18] using the bus for transportation.

[48:21] And these aren't necessarily, some of the kids

[48:24] in Councillor Sloan might have been talking

[48:25] about who might have been kicked off the bus.

[48:28] I do know that there are some, I've heard from some folks

[48:33] who say that there are kids who, like,

[48:37] let's say, a 17-year-old who signs up for the bus.

[48:41] the bus does not show up.

[48:44] The bus that is diverted away from, you know, some folks who might need it.

[48:48] Do we have any, you know, data on that type of situation?

[48:53] So we do track what we call have shows or late cancellations.

[48:57] And that's across the board for any riders.

[48:59] Those numbers have fallen down.

[49:01] I wouldn't say the under 17 is a glaring, a user of that.

[49:05] It's a low number considering the number of riders we do a month.

[49:07] But if you're correct, if a bus is in route, 10 or 15 minutes drive to get someone,

[49:13] then if they don't show or cancel, then it's another 10 or 15 minutes that gets to the next

[49:17] route, or they could essentially block two or three rides within that half hour block,

[49:21] or someone that doesn't complete their route reservation.

[49:25] And you know, I do know, I have listened to some concerns.

[49:30] I look at the additional revenue for the city.

[49:36] I mean, I don't know, this is something to be honest with you, I'm still struggling with

[49:41] a bit.

[49:42] You know, if someone is struggling to make ends meet, if we're reducing their fairbite, what

[49:47] from a dollar to a dollar fifty, that could be a big deal.

[49:52] And if we were to charge a family of four to use that, you know, and do the math, it starts

[49:58] to become fairly costly.

[50:02] You know, so I'm not necessarily right now I'm not necessarily in support of raising

[50:14] the fairs.

[50:15] I'm just swear I am right now.

[50:19] Yeah, just quick question.

[50:20] We were talking about the ridership under 17, just off top of the head, what percentage

[50:25] of the total ridership is that?

[50:29] So each month we were going around 7,000 rides, so August was 17,000.

[50:35] So 2,000 out of 7,000, probably for the month or more.

[50:44] Well, this has come a long way since I gave you all a hard time at PED.

[50:48] So thank you.

[50:50] I still have a couple of questions.

[50:53] He talked about the nose shows and this came up in our discussion at PED.

[50:56] Are they charged to fear?

[50:58] Is that something that we can consider?

[51:01] I think we could consider doing that.

[51:03] I will say that the majority of our riders are pay cash, so that's more difficult, but it's something we can look at and we're also looking at possibly implementing a policy where if you're a no-show twice that we block your account until you prove to us that you are, you know, that you can come back.

[51:31] Can your account like keep a red balance like you've no show of you owe a dollar so when you get on it?

[51:38] It might be able to do that.

[51:41] I don't want to say it for sure.

[51:43] I thought it could be a lot of disputing that because

[51:46] If you know what the app, they could claim we're early late and I have the right location.

[51:51] And then you're going through every case.

[51:53] You know, we're not about to ride or someone disputing that.

[51:56] But something like another.

[51:57] Yeah, there's no perfect.

[51:58] The other question I have is,

[52:00] I appreciate Mr. Hoffman's point about, you know, you're

[52:04] hopping on with your kids and each one of them costs.

[52:07] Can is there a consideration to look at pay by ride, you know,

[52:10] mom with three kids or they're, you know, under the age of 12.

[52:15] That's one cost.

[52:17] You, you could, that could be part of the fee structure.

[52:20] If, if Council would so desire that.

[52:23] When you're looking on the, on looking on the half or by hand,

[52:27] It has to go down to the riders account, but then anyone.

[52:30] The last ones, or whatever category they fall, and we could arrange a fee for any of those categories of category that's under 17, under 12, they could be shown up as free and wouldn't add to the cost of the ride.

[52:43] I have one more question. And then I'll let you out of the hot seat. So you know the cost per ride? Like when you look at other localities, they can say, you know, this person hopping on the bus pays a dollar, but it costs the city x, y or z.

[52:58] off the top of my head, I don't have that, but we could get the shit that, well, I don't have that meaning that we're running a little short, so.

[53:07] It was that.

[53:08] Sorry, I don't know.

[53:09] It was in the packet.

[53:11] I'll send that out tonight.

[53:13] It was in when we initially implemented the system.

[53:16] We had the cost per ride and split between what?

[53:20] It's covered by the feds and what's covered by the city.

[53:23] So I'll just need to...

[53:24] They said they don't just have it at the figure terms, like I said it on the other side.

[53:28] So I'll just point out what's proposed tonight would not go into fact until next year.

[53:37] Based on the recommendation from the finance.

[53:40] Yes, I came out of finance where this doesn't, this is not immediate.

[53:43] That is not going to affect until next year.

[53:48] Next fiscal year.

[53:50] Okay.

[53:50] So that's July and one of the next years that we're looking at.

[53:52] So folks, we wanted to give them a plenty of time to adjust to the changes in the

[53:58] fee structure.

[54:02] Whatever comes out tonight,

[54:06] it seems to me like we still have some time to tweak this

[54:08] sort of a bit to maybe do what you were mentioning with the app to include, you know, the

[54:16] free kid kind of thing.

[54:19] So if we do that, we would need to go back out for 30-day COVID-19.

[54:24] Okay, so every time this is one of these deals where it's got to be advertised.

[54:28] Yes.

[54:28] Any time you change a fair or increase a fair persona line?

[54:32] I mean, could we add a fair for 12-17 tonight, even though we would have an advertising?

[54:41] That would need a 30-day COVID-19.

[54:43] Okay, so let's separate those two issues.

[54:45] Yes.

[54:46] I would, and I pay to do this, but I would almost, maybe make a motion to table this,

[54:54] because I think if we can get some of the sufficient information and,

[55:00] you know, we do have a time.

[55:02] It's not going to be implemented until 2026, so it's not, you know, we're, we have to apply to some grand or something like that.

[55:10] So I mean, that's what I would do.

[55:14] I mean, I'd be happy to make that motion.

[55:18] comment. Well I think so let me make a motion kind of make a motion to

[55:26] table and then we need a second. Second there's a motion and a second to take all those

[55:32] favor. Well let me comment on that. I was going to take a straw pole to see if there's any

[55:42] if the body would consider a fee for the 12 17 year olds. I am the payer that.

[55:50] We got one, two, three, four, five, that's five, Bell's absent, so that we still

[55:57] wouldn't be still having a problem with you working.

[56:00] So

[56:02] with that being said, if we bring something back, I would like to see that included.

[56:06] So there was a motion to table, there was a second, all of us in favor of table in

[56:11] please say aye.

[56:13] Aye.

[56:14] Aye.

[56:14] Motion to.

[56:15] Thank you.

[56:15] Aye.

[56:16] Aye.

[56:17] Okay.

[56:18] Okay.

[56:19] You know what I'm saying?

[56:19] Do you need a date that has come back?

[56:21] Did you?

[56:23] Yeah.

[56:23] I'll continue to continue to date.

[56:26] Yeah.

[56:28] Okay.

[56:28] The next one.

[56:29] Thank you.

[56:32] Next item.

[56:32] 12.2 is our 2025-35 resolution approving applications to Virginia Department of Transportation for revenue-sharing funds for transportation projects.

[56:42] Set the presented by Councillor Bell and Perry Eisenach.

[56:46] And what's again, Kelly's here?

[56:47] for the hard question.

[56:51] So this is a different funding source that V.H. has, it's called Revenge Shared.

[57:00] It's really, these are state funds.

[57:02] They're not federal funds, and it's really a 50-50 match.

[57:08] So for every dollar, the city gets from V.H.

[57:11] We have to match that with the dollar.

[57:14] We have always thought that this is the best program that B.D. has because once you have

[57:21] federal money, there's a lot of streams attached. With this, it's a very straightforward

[57:27] simple process. And so we have utilized revenue sharing funds on many of our projects.

[57:37] So we can apply for up to $10,000,000 every two years.

[57:42] And so all of these projects that we're proposing are in the capital,

[57:49] the big approved capital improvement plan.

[57:53] There's three projects that have already been awarded revenue,

[57:58] sharing funds in the past from the state,

[58:01] but we want to maximize the amount that we get,

[58:04] So that we get 50% of the cost of the project.

[58:09] So for the Millwood Avenue improvements,

[58:13] for a green circle trail, face four,

[58:17] and for the middle road sidewalks and bike lanes,

[58:22] we want to ask for additional money,

[58:24] so that 50% of the project costs from state funds.

[58:31] Once a project has already been awarded, revenue sharing funds,

[58:35] It is in the highest priority to get additional,

[58:42] so while it's not the guarantee the chances are very, very good that we will get these additional funds.

[58:50] So for those three projects, all three of those projects will start construction by the end of next calendar year.

[58:59] So that's about seven and a half million dollars for those three projects that we would be asked.

[59:03] The

[59:06] fourth project is one that has been awarded.

[59:11] It was awarded a million dollars of revenue,

[59:13] shining funds a few years ago.

[59:16] Council has not appropriated any funds,

[59:19] so it's not a project that we're moving forward with yet.

[59:23] But this is the Green Circle Trail extension

[59:27] and Bridge over Millwood, Pedestrian Bridge over Millwood.

[59:34] And so we're proposing to ask for about 1.8 million of additional funds.

[59:44] I would say that if we do ask for the funds for this project, in the FY27 budget that we will propose,

[59:56] we will put some city matching funds in there to start the design.

[1:00:02] I know that there's been conversations about this project in the past. We're very supportive of it, but we think it would really benefit, not only as you, but the residents of Winchester, and so that's the fourth project.

[1:00:22] Then there's two new projects, new from the standpoint that we haven't really discussed

[1:00:28] them in detail.

[1:00:30] They're in the capital improvement plan.

[1:00:33] The focus is on Cedar Creek Creek.

[1:00:36] So we get a lot of concerns related to us about the speed of traffic on Cedar Creek

[1:00:44] as well as safety at the intersection of Harp Strive and at Stonebridge.

[1:00:53] And so this project, the two biggest parts of it would be constructing roundabouts,

[1:01:01] two different roundabouts, one at Harp Strive, one at Stonebridge.

[1:01:07] And a couple of years ago, V. did a study on valiant, what improvements could be made on valiant.

[1:01:18] One of their recommendations was in the stretch between Jubilee and Cedar Creek grade, which is four lanes, to convert that to a three-lane section with bike lanes.

[1:01:36] And so that concept would apply to see degree grade because the traffic volumes are about the same.

[1:01:44] It would really slow people down.

[1:01:48] And so that is also part of this project.

[1:01:53] So that's see degree grade.

[1:01:56] Again, it's just a concept.

[1:01:59] It's not designed yet, so we don't have that.

[1:02:02] But the schematic that's in your practice is pretty close to what it went.

[1:02:10] Then the other new project we call it,

[1:02:14] neighborhood traffic improvements.

[1:02:18] Winchester is blessed with some very interesting intersections.

[1:02:26] If you built a city new, you would not build intersections this way.

[1:02:31] But there's two in particular that really are, they're not safe, we see near accidents, they're all the time.

[1:02:43] And so we're proposing too many roundabouts.

[1:02:47] The first would be at the intersection of OPEC and in Holland's work.

[1:02:52] And the other would be at, it's a vibratory intersection, woodland, chestnut, and fritter

[1:03:02] cap.

[1:03:05] Those are the two projects that are important.

[1:03:09] Those are all the projects very quickly.

[1:03:13] So we're asking for approval so that we can submit these applications next week.

[1:03:21] Happy to answer any questions.

[1:03:27] To point of clarification, are you saying that we can only approve three, or are you saying we would approve all, what are you, yeah?

[1:03:40] Our recommendation is that you approve applying for all of these projects.

[1:03:45] All of them.

[1:03:46] Yes, all six projects.

[1:03:48] All six projects.

[1:03:49] for a total of $10 million.

[1:03:55] VDOT can approve or deny any one of the six

[1:03:57] and any order they choose.

[1:03:59] Or is it a package to do?

[1:04:01] No, they're each looked at individually, but so we could get three

[1:04:05] and not three, we could get one, not get five.

[1:04:08] Right, okay.

[1:04:09] And we have no idea why they do that.

[1:04:11] Well,

[1:04:13] on smart scan logic projects,

[1:04:16] it's very convoluted.

[1:04:18] We're having a new sharing projects.

[1:04:20] Generally, if the money is available,

[1:04:23] we won't get awarded funds. They don't really scrutinize revenue showing projects when they do smart scale projects.

[1:04:33] Right. So just summary because this was in finance too.

[1:04:40] We're talking raised crosswalks on the road.

[1:04:43] That

[1:04:46] mug of things.

[1:04:48] Yeah.

[1:04:50] We're talking...

[1:04:51] Bridge over Millwood for the despreings.

[1:04:56] They put that.

[1:05:00] And we are talking...

[1:05:05] We're going to see the Greek grade, which is, again,

[1:05:08] Reduction of Plains.

[1:05:16] That one, I said it about the first one,

[1:05:19] that traffic continues to increase

[1:05:20] and reducing the number of lanes.

[1:05:24] I'm not a traffic engineer.

[1:05:27] It just seems awkward.

[1:05:33] I don't have problem with bikes, I don't have problem with bike lanes, but it just seems

[1:05:36] like we're going to put in a bike lane that takes us to the edge.

[1:05:39] It's the bike lane that kind of goes nowhere.

[1:05:42] It dead ends in a lot of bikeers, so I want you to create great, see them all the time

[1:05:47] in the weekends.

[1:05:48] They want you to create great, they can get a row, they, you know, that's a lot of bikes

[1:05:53] out there.

[1:05:54] but I don't know that I can ever stand that desire to do that, to reduce the number of lanes, obviously, yes, people speed, that's a concern.

[1:06:09] Yes, Councillor Fox.

[1:06:10] Now, there were also four Cedar Creek grade.

[1:06:12] I'd been to the meeting just a few weeks ago where I'd seen you,

[1:06:17] and they also had a median that was going to potentially go there.

[1:06:21] So how does that work in with this one also?

[1:06:24] So on Cedar Creek grade, there would be some places where there are no left terms that we

[1:06:32] could put raised landscape center meetings, so that would be part of the Cedar Creek grade.

[1:06:41] It's all part of traffic calming, though, really what's going on.

[1:06:44] I mean, I'm familiar with that, that's where I live, so it does get busy and certainly understand

[1:06:49] what President Sullivan is saying because you kind of see if that one stretch people really

[1:06:55] try to ramp up to hit the hill if they're going out towards 37 and if they're coming in from 37

[1:07:00] they're kind of slowing down so that does it needs a big tweet that intersection at

[1:07:06] harvest is kind of a nightmare but it plays in part along with this they're not connected

[1:07:13] They're just separate pieces of the mediums along with this one, right?

[1:07:18] And what I will add about seated in the grade.

[1:07:20] I certainly understand your concerns.

[1:07:23] Seeker Creek grade from the city line to 37.

[1:07:28] There are no plans.

[1:07:30] That we have ever heard to make that a four-lane roadway. Well, there are not at an open 400 houses on the road yet, either.

[1:07:40] But that's right. And there are still no plans whatsoever to make that four-lane road.

[1:07:49] I'm sorry, did you want to?

[1:07:51] It's good, but I've got one thing that I want.

[1:07:53] Here we go.

[1:07:55] Talk about.

[1:07:55] Okay, let's go to Councillor Ticks.

[1:07:58] I was just going to say, does when you do the circle, does that not eliminate some of the traffic and the safety issues to you create?

[1:08:12] I think that just makes it improved safety a mess way.

[1:08:17] because it is truly unsafe right there on Cedar Creek Great. I don't know if the city is

[1:08:23] noticed but already you know one one sign went up you know is caution and it's down already.

[1:08:30] Somebody is already blown right through it. So it's linked to it now. Yeah.

[1:08:39] I'm going to take you to a different neighborhood. I was very pleased and let me just say

[1:08:44] I support this. Go get the grants. Absolutely. But I was very pleased to see Woodland

[1:08:49] to have that little odd triangle between Frederick and Woodland is my first home. And the

[1:08:55] window that overlooks that five-way intersection is where I used to sit and teach virtually

[1:09:00] and try to keep a straight face as I saw what took place in that intersection. So anything that

[1:09:08] you can do to improve safety. I will say a couple years back you would put just regular crosswalks

[1:09:13] came in and did raised crosswalks. Although I see cars still continue to fly, I think the efforts

[1:09:20] are greatly appreciated. And anything that can be done to consider right now Woodland doesn't stop.

[1:09:27] And I won't pretend to be a traffic expert, but if a stop could mediate until this becomes possible,

[1:09:34] I think that there would be an appetite there as well. So thank you. I think it's well over due

[1:09:39] and anything you can do to make it happen, fantastic.

[1:09:44] Yes, Councilor Oaks.

[1:09:46] I would support moving forward with all of these.

[1:09:52] And this makes me, in a couple of Councilors have said

[1:09:56] that we're not, I don't think any of us are traffic engineers up here.

[1:10:02] And so, and I know in conversations I've had with you, Perry,

[1:10:06] or maybe, you know, sometimes I think that, like, well, why can't that, that road be 35 miles an hour?

[1:10:17] And you have to, you have to know the slope and the height. And like, there's a lot of stuff that I'm like,

[1:10:24] oh my gosh, I didn't even know that all of that goes into determining, you know, speed limit, right?

[1:10:30] And so, as much as I appreciate everyone's comments, and when I look at these, I think that these are all...

[1:10:37] I think these would all be really positive changes that would help pedestrian and bike safety.

[1:10:47] And it takes me to a decision that that several years ago about South Pleasant Valley in the

[1:10:57] Starbucks, if you're heading south on the South Pleasant Valley, and this body did not

[1:11:01] approve that, if I remember correctly.

[1:11:03] And I will tell you that is such an unsafe people want to turn left to get into the Starbucks

[1:11:11] And people stop before the stoplight and this body did not approve cutting that completely off.

[1:11:20] And I think that goes back when some of the counselors that were on at that time are no longer here.

[1:11:27] But I just think for us, I don't have the expertise.

[1:11:30] I don't have the traffic engineering experience in expertise.

[1:11:34] this all looks good. If V dot is saying a good recommendation here would be to do this.

[1:11:43] I would, I mean, I certainly want to look and see what they're proposing.

[1:11:51] But, you know, I think that we read this to the experts who really know and understand this

[1:11:58] or I fear we end up with what happened at all when I saw something like a valley.

[1:12:04] So I would totally support this.

[1:12:06] Again, with this, I hope we get the funding because if we don't have to pay all of this,

[1:12:13] we can get some cost sharing.

[1:12:14] It's a great thing and these are all good projects.

[1:12:17] So thank you.

[1:12:19] Question.

[1:12:20] You're going to do any of these without these share funds.

[1:12:25] These are all predicated and we'll get money from B.

[1:12:29] Right now the way that they are in the capital improvement plan and they're all predicated

[1:12:34] on getting the funds.

[1:12:37] Now certainly Council, if we're not awarded state funds, Council could say we still want

[1:12:43] to do the project, but the city's going to have to fund the whole thing.

[1:12:46] And that comes back.

[1:12:48] That would come.

[1:12:49] Yes.

[1:12:50] So, sorry.

[1:12:53] Yes, come from the.

[1:12:54] I think a couple of things.

[1:12:58] I love the discussions we've been having about, about biking, about walking, about the connections

[1:13:06] of the Green Circle to various parts of the city.

[1:13:11] I think it's not only is it a physical presence, but it's also symbolic of kind of that we live

[1:13:18] in a mutually connected city, right?

[1:13:21] We're four wars, but we're one city.

[1:13:24] I like that.

[1:13:26] I do think it would be interesting and I understand what President Sullivan is saying

[1:13:31] and also appreciate what Councilor Herbst rate is saying.

[1:13:34] In terms of, you've got to, you know, I'm curious about taking a heavily traveled road

[1:13:42] with traffic down to two lanes, right?

[1:13:44] I'm an English teacher, right?

[1:13:46] I'm not great at math, so that doesn't really math for me.

[1:13:49] However, however, someone along the way said,

[1:13:55] hey, this is a good idea.

[1:13:56] So perhaps that a future retreat, it might be kind

[1:13:58] of interesting to talk to a traffic engineer.

[1:14:05] Maybe you can come down to the English teacher level.

[1:14:09] But safety is key.

[1:14:11] In all seriousness, safety is key.

[1:14:14] We got to keep the bikers safe.

[1:14:16] We got to keep the walkers safe.

[1:14:17] We're seeing more and more people biking.

[1:14:18] we're seeing more and more people walking.

[1:14:21] And at the end of the day, this is probably,

[1:14:24] you know, making a more bike-able, walkable cities,

[1:14:27] you know, probably gonna be part of the strike line.

[1:14:32] So I appreciate working as journalists.

[1:14:36] I'll just jump in.

[1:14:37] I'll start off by saying if you want to schedule some time

[1:14:41] of period and talk about traffic and engineering,

[1:14:44] I don't know, offer him up.

[1:14:46] Anytime you want.

[1:14:47] Because it is one of those things that a lot of the more modern mitigation are a little counter to it.

[1:14:57] And there's two other kinds of people.

[1:15:00] Exit, volume, and speed. Every time you, and I get back, well, not you, but anybody says, we need to people's speed too much in this road. We need to go from 35 to 25. It doesn't matter. The design of the road is greatest indicator of how fast people will go. If the road is designed for 55 miles an hour, people will go 65 miles an hour. You can put a stop, you can put a speed limit on there. It's 15. No one's going to do that.

[1:15:30] pay attention to it. These mitigations, not when leasing, calm, traffic, it's meant to slow

[1:15:38] it down a little bit, which is counter-intuitive because you think what we got to get was

[1:15:41] to which traffic was congestion. But you move your more efficient of moving cars out low

[1:15:47] or speeds. The stat I've always heard for years is 35 miles an hour because of the way that

[1:15:52] it's static. You go faster or more spread out. When everyone's going through right speed limit,

[1:15:58] It's definitely correct me if I want to make it in the south.

[1:16:02] When everyone's going the proper speed limit, and the road is designed to slow you down a little bit to go the proper speed limit.

[1:16:11] That actually increases your efficiency of moving volumes of traffic.

[1:16:17] Because then you've got people that are one carlinked apart.

[1:16:19] Then we've twice the number of cars out of it.

[1:16:21] They're either five or three or three weeks back.

[1:16:25] And of course, a lot of students always say for it.

[1:16:27] And so all of these mitigations, whether it's the road diet, a median with trees, all of

[1:16:34] those things serve to kind of as visual cues to slow them out.

[1:16:40] So some of them do seem counterintuitive, because I know what I'm on 81, I want to go as fast

[1:16:45] as I possibly can, because that feels good on, getting there fast.

[1:16:48] But when we have to look at moving thousands of people around, we also have to take into

[1:16:53] in the volume, and what's the most efficient way to improve the volume of people around.

[1:16:59] So anytime you want to deep dive into that, there's your question.

[1:17:03] Question.

[1:17:04] Do you traffic circles actually assist with safety and getting people tremendously?

[1:17:12] That's what I get.

[1:17:13] It increases the safety immensely.

[1:17:17] A good traffic circle is actually safer than a single one.

[1:17:24] And see, we're at the point now, where a traffic signal light is close to being

[1:17:32] warranted at the intersection, so you create an harvest drive.

[1:17:36] And so it's right on the edge of meeting the warrants.

[1:17:39] And so a single lane traffic circle would be actually much safer than a single one

[1:17:48] right there.

[1:17:54] Always put it in.

[1:17:54] You can't keep on somebody at a traffic circle, right?

[1:17:58] You might get, you know, at worst you might get a little fender fender if someone's not paying attention, but you're not going to have high speed collisions in a traffic circle.

[1:18:09] And then the mound, that's in the middle, then allows the rescue people access.

[1:18:17] That's my understanding of, it's mostly for big trucks.

[1:18:21] Yeah, that had trouble making that turn, they can actually drive over part of the center part of it.

[1:18:28] It's just like our tragic circle down here on a picnic with you.

[1:18:33] Big trucks, if they go through that intersection, which you see big trucks do, they drive up on the brakes,

[1:18:42] and it's not a problem for them.

[1:18:44] It works very well.

[1:18:47] And originally, on Cedar Creek, where that 350 houses had gone in, back in the day, maybe

[1:18:56] three, four years ago, and those plans for the county was to have a traffic light right

[1:19:02] there.

[1:19:03] And the reason why they didn't do it, is because they decreased the number of houses.

[1:19:09] It was supposed to be way more than 350, it was supposed to take in the whole section down

[1:19:14] there.

[1:19:16] So, then we're.

[1:19:18] Okay, good discussion.

[1:19:19] We have a couple of comments.

[1:19:21] I would make a motion to approve.

[1:19:24] Motion and second.

[1:19:26] All of us in favor.

[1:19:28] Aye.

[1:19:34] Aye.

[1:19:34] Thank you.

[1:19:35] Thank you.

[1:19:37] Next, I'm really interested.

[1:19:39] 12.3 is our 2025-34 resolution of the Common Council of the City of Winchester, Virginia

[1:19:44] on the modification of $27,500,000 of revenue bonds and the issuance of up to

[1:19:51] 22,500,000 revenue bonds by the economic development authority of the city, but when

[1:19:56] Shuster, for the benefit of Westminster, Canterbury of Winchester 8, presented by Councillor

[1:20:01] Wood, Wendell and Judgment or EDA Director.

[1:20:09] Good evening.

[1:20:10] The pair of pairs are always complicated, mine's very straightforward.

[1:20:21] Westminster, Canterbury has asked us to be a conduit for a bond issue in which would include

[1:20:26] refinancing of a previous bond as well as a new bond issuance for the purchase of roughly

[1:20:32] 98 acres that straddles Winchester and printer county.

[1:20:43] What's the design?

[1:20:45] No questions, tax amplifiers on the property.

[1:20:49] That would be a question for the commissioner, representative.

[1:20:55] Yeah.

[1:20:58] Budget and body.

[1:21:01] Make a motion.

[1:21:02] Thank you.

[1:21:03] Motion and a second.

[1:21:04] All those in favor.

[1:21:05] Hi.

[1:21:06] That is proved.

[1:21:08] Thank you.

[1:21:08] President

[1:21:18] Solman, I need to read a statement to go to this next item.

[1:21:21] Okay, please proceed.

[1:21:23] I'm employed by and provide services to Blurich Habitat that may realize reasonably

[1:21:28] foreseeable direct or indirect benefit or detriment from this transaction.

[1:21:32] My salary French benefits and any other benefits paid or provided by Blurich Habitat

[1:21:37] exceeds or is reasonably anticipated to exceed $5,000.

[1:21:41] Due to my personal interest and in accordance with the Virginia conflict of interest,

[1:21:46] Act on your right to disclose my interest and and disqualifying myself from voting on this transaction, attending any close meetings with respect to this transaction and discussing this transaction with any city officials or employees.

[1:22:00] Thank you.

[1:22:01] Thank you.

[1:22:02] Next item.

[1:22:03] This is 12.4025-24.

[1:22:06] This is a first reading and ordinance screening.

[1:22:09] A student easement to the property owner at 222 South Kent Street to allow a student to be constructed

[1:22:14] in the city's right of way, because I did buy Councilor Wendou and Kelly Hunchoff. Thank you for

[1:22:19] helping me. Yes. So hopefully these next two items are pretty simple. The first one is this

[1:22:24] property at 222 South Kent Street. It's owned by Habitat for Humanity. And as you can see from the

[1:22:30] We'll take pictures on the slide there. The front door opens and there's no way to get out onto the sidewalk. The stairway for that house was demolished many years ago and it's been like that.

[1:22:41] So their request is that council would get grants and easement for their stoop to encroach into the city's right away so that they could construct a stairway down to the sidewalk.

[1:22:52] Simple enough, any questions, just one?

[1:22:55] Yes, ma'am.

[1:22:55] Is there still room enough for a little care to go around?

[1:22:58] Yes.

[1:22:58] We look.

[1:22:59] You can see there's a poll on the corner.

[1:23:01] There we went out and did the measurements based on where they

[1:23:04] Intense put the stairway and we have adequate room there.

[1:23:09] Okay.

[1:23:10] Okay.

[1:23:11] What's the budget?

[1:23:11] Oh, it's first read.

[1:23:12] First read.

[1:23:14] No.

[1:23:15] No motions required.

[1:23:17] No questions.

[1:23:18] we will see you when you come back. Next item, 12.5 is O-2025-25. This is also a first rating

[1:23:28] of an ordinance granting trail easements to the county, to the county of Frederick, Virginia,

[1:23:33] the Frederick County, Virginia, across city, and for ourselves located in Frederick County.

[1:23:38] That's not a map number 54-A-119, 54-A-121, and 54-A-122.

[1:23:50] All right, similar and sort of related, so the city owns a couple of

[1:23:56] piece of property in Frederick County on across the interstate, off of Woodstock

[1:24:01] Lane, it's where our old water treatment was. And right now, fire, rescue and

[1:24:09] police run exercises down there. We do some storage. Frederick County has a

[1:24:15] city to grant an easement for a trail that they are working on, the exhibit that their

[1:24:19] shows their overall plan for the trail. The subject of tonight is just the yellow section,

[1:24:26] and the next slide that we have shows specifically the city's property. The green line is where

[1:24:32] the trail alignment would go on the two pieces of city property. We've reviewed it with them in the

[1:24:38] the staff fully supports this request for the county.

[1:24:44] Questions?

[1:24:46] No, not a question, but we had this at pay.

[1:24:48] I think it's a great thing.

[1:24:49] Good to connect with our friends over there in the Frederick County.

[1:24:52] And I'd love to see it.

[1:24:53] Some point, there's a way to link this up with the Green Circle Trail.

[1:24:55] That would be a fantastic thing for the entire community.

[1:24:59] Excellent.

[1:25:00] All right.

[1:25:00] No questions.

[1:25:01] First reading.

[1:25:02] We'll see you when it comes back.

[1:25:03] Thank you.

[1:25:06] Next slide.

[1:25:06] is 12.6025-26 is the first reading of an ordinance authorizing the issuance and sale of general

[1:25:14] obligation, public improvement bonds, the city of Winchester, Virginia, and an aggregate

[1:25:17] principle about not to exceed 26 million five hundred thousand dollars to finance the cost of

[1:25:23] certain capital improvement projects, presented by Councillor Bell and Mary Blow.

[1:25:28] Great. Thank you, Councillor President. Mayor, members of council. So that's how many years

[1:25:32] Again, for starting our bond issue in season, these projects were reviewed and improved through

[1:25:38] the budget process that we just went through a couple months ago.

[1:25:41] There's nothing new in here, nothing has changed, 25.2 per amount.

[1:25:48] We do figure we'll sell it a premium again, our bond sell very well, so we're trying to

[1:25:54] go out.

[1:25:55] We're doing 20 years again on our bonds, about $1.9 million in your debt service for 20 years.

[1:26:02] We were able to, we have debt dropping off primarily from the Hamlee and Daniel Morgan old projects,

[1:26:07] so that debt's falling off our debt charts and we're able to slide this in so this is actually no budget impact to the city which is fabulous.

[1:26:18] We're looking, last year we sold it about a 378 for our 20 year geobons.

[1:26:23] This year I'm giving you a little bit of a range of 4.1 to 4.3 for market change.

[1:26:29] to stay healthy as everyone's aware of.

[1:26:31] So I'll give you an update at the public hearing.

[1:26:33] You'll be a public hearing on the 23rd for this ordinance

[1:26:35] and companion resolution.

[1:26:38] We project, we like to sell the week of October 20th

[1:26:41] and close November 6th.

[1:26:43] So we receive November 6th of the funds

[1:26:45] to go ahead and start these projects.

[1:26:47] Some of which have already been started.

[1:26:49] So we're going to get these projects wrapped up.

[1:26:53] That's kind of a quick synopsis.

[1:26:55] We'll be back the 23rd for the public hearing on this.

[1:26:58] And then the companion resolution with the details of the bond.

[1:27:01] The next one.

[1:27:03] Any questions on the need of the project?

[1:27:04] Yes, Councillor.

[1:27:05] Just a question for you, Mary.

[1:27:07] Or if you can speak to this, you had said that our bonds do very well.

[1:27:13] Can you explain what that is and what that means for residents in the city?

[1:27:19] Thank you.

[1:27:20] Good question.

[1:27:21] Last year, we had actually ten bidders.

[1:27:24] So the more bidders we get, the more aggressive they are at the pricing.

[1:27:26] So we got that wonderful 378 rate.

[1:27:29] We've been as low as 178, which is an amazing, you know,

[1:27:34] still for one is a great rate.

[1:27:35] And we're AAA rated, that's something we certainly value here.

[1:27:39] It gives us the best rate.

[1:27:40] So we can, these projects are affordable.

[1:27:43] If we weren't AAA rated, I might not be sitting here saying,

[1:27:46] I can slide this in our debt to have no budget impact.

[1:27:48] I might be saying, there's maybe a nexus of a half million dollars,

[1:27:52] and what they would be depending on, with that rate fee.

[1:27:55] but that sound our bond cell,

[1:27:57] a AAA rated geo bond cells cells pretty well,

[1:28:00] and Winchester is in the market frequently.

[1:28:03] We have some very loyal bond holders,

[1:28:06] and I'm very much appreciate that.

[1:28:11] I want to go questions.

[1:28:12] All right, that's the first reading.

[1:28:14] Let's see it in two weeks.

[1:28:16] Thank you very much.

[1:28:17] Thank you.

[1:28:20] The next slide, I'm going to introduce 12.7.

[1:28:22] This is O-2025-23.

[1:28:24] This is a first reading RZ-25-3.

[1:28:28] ordinance to conditionally reason approximately 1.3 two acres of land at 616 and 632 C to

[1:28:36] create grade. From residential office are a one district with Coredorn Antsmen C overlay district

[1:28:41] to highway commercial B2 district with Coredorn Antsmen C D overlay district. So then my council

[1:28:47] from window and David Stewart.

[1:28:52] Welcome.

[1:28:59] Mayor, council.

[1:29:02] Tim Stow here representing the applicant

[1:29:04] of this application, the applicant is the property owner on behalf of a developer interested

[1:29:13] in developing a bank at the property here, 16, 6, 16, 6, 32, C degree grade to vacant parcel

[1:29:20] two parcels.

[1:29:21] There's own RO1 residential office in that zoning district, bank uses our conditional use permit.

[1:29:32] So, their quest here is to rezone the properties to B2 highway commercial with quarter

[1:29:38] enhancement overlay, which would remain on site.

[1:29:43] The applicant originally submitted a proper list that restricted the uses as part of this

[1:29:50] rezoning to only bank uses in the future, and that would be binding for all future property

[1:29:56] owners as well without a revision too.

[1:30:00] The proposed Prophets. So with some concerns from staff and at Planock Commission's first work session, the applicant

[1:30:08] resimitted a proper list with excluded uses from the B2 highway zone. That change offered up some potential uses down the road, if the bank would ever vacate the site. They would not be locked into one use in perpetuity.

[1:30:27] So, the site is surrounded by single family zoning to the north on Hillman Drive.

[1:30:36] The adjacent property immediately to the west is the two conditionally zoned as well.

[1:30:42] That zone rezoning there about roughly 15 years ago did allow that two-store structure to get felt there along Cedar Creek grade.

[1:30:53] The R01 zoning district was originally applied for most of this corridor, but over time there have been a significant number of conditional

[1:31:05] rezoning to the B2 highway use as you can see on the screen, including directly across the street from the subject property.

[1:31:13] The applicant did submit some renderings of the structure and some of the other

[1:31:20] proffers as opposed to the current proffers is in your packet for review.

[1:31:27] Some of the other proffers referenced that the building will comply with the standards and

[1:31:33] will coordinate that with staff as the development where, you know, to move forward.

[1:31:41] The other profit condition is that a potential access to the road punched in to see the

[1:31:50] Greek grade would be opposite, so fee away, which is a private street that hits Cedar

[1:31:55] Cree grade across the street from the west end of the second parcel and the private entrance

[1:32:00] into a office complex on the other side of the road,

[1:32:04] shown here, on the screen.

[1:32:07] I will highlight these two areas.

[1:32:11] This is a profit condition that if two entrances were built

[1:32:14] into these parts, so they would mimic that,

[1:32:16] which is a preferred alternative for a site claim in the future.

[1:32:24] We did receive one comment from a homeowner on Hillman Drive.

[1:32:30] If I were to summarize that comment,

[1:32:31] that they were just concerned about the suitability of the land and not so much the use

[1:32:37] future development use of that parcel.

[1:32:40] So, I'll be happy to answer any other questions and Mr. Stel here, it's here as well.

[1:32:49] Just a comment.

[1:32:50] I do think that changing for that zoning, I think that's correct usage of what you're

[1:32:55] going to do.

[1:32:56] What did it find?

[1:32:57] What the land owner, it's kind of carried this through the whole time just to make sure

[1:33:01] their neighbors of mine want to make sure that they don't have any issues with there and

[1:33:05] for the other counselors if you're looking at the bed the right hand piece is what's

[1:33:09] going to be used the left hand piece is not used at this point but potentially in the future

[1:33:13] could be used under the same restrictions that they're going to do that's the one with a really

[1:33:18] pretty more chilled it's there but otherwise I think it's the correct thing to do there

[1:33:24] I'll just I'm looking at this top graphic map I mean it is relatively steep

[1:33:29] Yes, I have a topographic initiative to the neighbor that did include the letter and there's

[1:33:39] a lot of rock there, I think, potentially,

[1:33:44] yeah,

[1:33:50] do they have any, watch out for the neighbors?

[1:33:53] I mean, I'm sure we do, but we threats that concern.

[1:33:57] I mean, rock mean to mean a lot of things, a lot of hammering it.

[1:34:01] You know, that takes a lot of

[1:34:06] stuff.

[1:34:06] And that's how can you take it?

[1:34:08] I mean, I mean, you don't need G.O. studies or anything like that.

[1:34:12] Yeah, we've had tried engineering outside to do G.O.

[1:34:14] technical studies.

[1:34:15] We have their recommendations back.

[1:34:18] We were pleasantly surprised that how deep rock was throughout most of the site.

[1:34:22] And then when we looked at historical photos on Google Earth,

[1:34:25] when you saw all the basement material from Hillman Drive,

[1:34:30] you got pushed over the hill.

[1:34:34] There's a lot of it.

[1:34:37] you know that was my opinion it's it's it can be a tricky site just for those reasons

[1:34:44] I think it's been used I mean I'll just point out that

[1:34:47] have you have you affected in the the bike lane in one turn lane that we just discussed

[1:34:53] we are your renderings for Cedar Creek. No we we've done traffic analysis to determine what's

[1:35:00] needed there as far as the turn lane yeah and and the turn lane was not used for this like

[1:35:11] First reading.

[1:35:13] There's no questions then.

[1:35:15] We'll see in two weeks.

[1:35:17] Okay.

[1:35:17] Thank you.

[1:35:22] Next item is 12.8.

[1:35:24] This is 0.025-21.

[1:35:25] This is the first reading of T.A.D.

[1:35:28] T.A.-25-1 in ordinance amending and reenacting the land.

[1:35:31] Subdivision to ordinance of the city of Winchester, Virginia.

[1:35:35] The ordinance would authorize the city planning director

[1:35:37] and authorize the designee to review and act upon preliminary and final subdivision

[1:35:42] We have a preliminary class and final class involving commercial or residential parcels

[1:35:48] in recent minutes of class.

[1:35:49] Monify requirements for preliminary and final class establish requirements and procedures

[1:35:53] that apply when a sudden class, when a submission class is not approved

[1:35:57] update varies.

[1:35:58] Other provisions to reflect changes to Virginia law and Winchester City Code presented by Councillor

[1:36:03] Wendell and David Stewart.

[1:36:07] Thank you very much.

[1:36:08] So if I may, this item and the following item, which is TA-25-2, are related to the same

[1:36:18] acts of state legislator, there was a bill passed, HB2660, delivers a number that is forcing

[1:36:29] these changes to our ordinances.

[1:36:32] So the subdivision ordinance being a standalone ordinance from the subdivision ordinance,

[1:36:37] I see it from the zoning one, and that's why they're at the site separately, but it's the same issue in art.

[1:36:44] The gist of it is that the state law changes to the subdivision and site plan approval timeframes has been shortened from 60 in some cases down to 45 days.

[1:36:54] Another significant change that planning commission has been removed from the role of site plan approval, so there can be no site plan public hearings for

[1:37:06] site points under review as they are in a administrative process, so there was a desire

[1:37:12] at the state level to kind of remove that uncertainty of a public hearing from something

[1:37:16] that is administrative.

[1:37:18] Other changes to the subdivision, ordinance, are that, the,

[1:37:30] With the subdivision ordinance, it also remains within the administrator, so that would be the subdivision administrator's roll to enact the subdivision ordinance.

[1:37:43] So, in recent memory we have had major subdivisions coming in front of council for approval.

[1:37:48] It has always been somewhat ministerial act where we're looking for just compliance with the

[1:37:56] subdivision ordinance and barring that approval is expected from Council authorizing the city manager

[1:38:03] to sign a major subdivision plant.

[1:38:06] That process has also changed to become the purview and responsibility of the subdivision

[1:38:13] administrator.

[1:38:14] So throughout the subdivision ordinance, you'll see references to either planning commission

[1:38:21] or counsel or other bodies being references and changed to administrator.

[1:38:29] That would be the subdivision administrator's role in responsibility.

[1:38:34] General code sections, we did take up brief opportunity to look at subdivision ordinance,

[1:38:40] which is a book that has been rarely updated over the years.

[1:38:45] So we did come up with a few changes, kind of in line with HB2660.

[1:38:54] But nothing from really from a standards perspective, just kind of updating some language.

[1:39:01] There was outdated language about the tree commission, for example, which is a section

[1:39:06] of code that was removed from general code, so there is no tree commission to refer to.

[1:39:13] So forth, the subdivision ordinance predates the planned unit

[1:39:16] element ordinance, which is part of zoning ordinance.

[1:39:19] So there were no references to planned unit developments within the subdivision ordinance.

[1:39:23] So we did add some mirroring language in the subdivision amendments.

[1:39:33] And I'd be happy to answer any other detailed questions about the subdivision ordinance, as well as the site-plane ordinance updates, which is 25-ish too.

[1:39:45] Questions?

[1:39:47] I'm so basically this state could clean up.

[1:39:52] And it's reducing the amount of time you have to do, sort of thing.

[1:39:55] There are some shortings of approvals.

[1:39:56] The preliminary plat prove is down to 45 days, and final plat are prove is 60 days.

[1:40:05] Is there a new to your knowledge?

[1:40:15] I think the way the state law is written, there might be some cleanup to the state law, which

[1:40:21] I have to encourage after Bill's get passed, where they get reinterpreted, and this is what

[1:40:25] we actually meant by the law that was just passed, but the way the current law reads

[1:40:30] is that it's an approval must be granted, or the applicant must be made aware of disapproval.

[1:40:38] So basically, it's kind of like a review process that the city should need to inform the

[1:40:43] administrative and you should inform the applicant that their project and proposal does not

[1:40:49] meet the standards for example, and that would need to be, that would need to occur with it

[1:40:53] those a lot of time frames.

[1:40:56] So if you don't have proof something is it

[1:40:57] about the fault of a proof?

[1:41:00] I've never spawned.

[1:41:01] There might be a condition for that I'd have to double check

[1:41:04] on that area sometimes I make this changes.

[1:41:08] It's way very good to be in the room.

[1:41:10] Hi, I can certainly look into that in the future.

[1:41:13] Thank you.

[1:41:13] Any other questions?

[1:41:15] Okay, so you just take a clean up, pretty simple.

[1:41:18] The questions first reading, we'll see you in two weeks.

[1:41:21] Okay, thank you.

[1:41:22] last

[1:41:27] bite of one the agenda. This is $12.9. This is $0.205-22. This is a first reading of

[1:41:35] T-A-25-2 and in order to amend and reenact section of $19-619-7 of the City of Winchester,

[1:41:44] zoning ordinance to reflect changes to Virginia code related to administrative approval

[1:41:48] of site lands. Council window and David Stewart that sounds a lot like what we just did.

[1:41:52] Yes, I did already give the PowerPoint to back to our IT team, but yeah, this is the zoning ordinance change that is dictated by HB266L specifically for the site plan section of the zoning ordinance and removes the planning commission per view from the approval process of the public hearings of planning commission over site plans.

[1:42:22] I'm a big change, I don't know.

[1:42:26] Let me not, you know, it's taken an out of the public,

[1:42:29] but elected public's curbium.

[1:42:33] I'm very open to ask.

[1:42:36] They did not consult us with it, but with the changes.

[1:42:39] Just heads up, you know, just thrown out there.

[1:42:42] Yes, I was just going to say it's this is at the state level.

[1:42:46] No, no, no, no.

[1:42:47] Yeah, yeah, I don't know.

[1:42:49] the pain and the poster.

[1:42:52] We don't have to wipe it.

[1:42:53] No, no, we don't.

[1:42:56] I agree.

[1:42:57] I don't necessarily like the decaying out of the...

[1:43:01] I'm going to show you that.

[1:43:02] Not only that it's at the end of the meeting, everybody's the keys.

[1:43:06] And it's kind of a big deal.

[1:43:08] Yeah, that's how it is.

[1:43:09] I'll just say when this came to PED, I was...

[1:43:11] I agree.

[1:43:12] I was like, wow, this is a really big deal.

[1:43:14] Not that there's anything we could do about it.

[1:43:15] But I think this subdivision plan that we saw recently was a good example of...

[1:43:19] I guess maybe why somebody thought this was a good idea because it wasn't that subdivision

[1:43:24] plan like five years later and so many of these counselors had not seen the steps

[1:43:29] leading up to that. So to me that was kind of how I came to terms with it.

[1:43:35] There was definitely a little bit of a redundancy. Yes Mark. And if I can build on what

[1:43:40] counselor and we'll say a lot of the when if these were to come to you your reasons for

[1:43:47] And they're very, very, very technical.

[1:43:51] So once they get the initial approval,

[1:43:54] the subdivision is a formality.

[1:43:55] It's almost a formality.

[1:43:58] If it comes to you and the next council,

[1:44:00] something that size, they don't like that development,

[1:44:02] they still can't deny it.

[1:44:04] They have to, basically, if the staff has looked at it

[1:44:07] and said, yep, it's compliant, you have to approve it.

[1:44:11] So I think they were also looking to show

[1:44:13] the time frames for businesses that we're looking to develop as well. So it does

[1:44:17] streamline things for applicants, you know, puts a little more on us on us by

[1:44:22] a lot of these approvals, or ones that your hands were already tied on in

[1:44:26] the back anyways. Yeah, and that is very common, the subdivision, the cycling

[1:44:31] coming way after the initial incident. So, okay, first reading no

[1:44:38] no other questions. All right, we'll see you in two weeks. I will entertain

[1:44:42] Thank you very much and do it there.

[1:44:44] I'm moved to the second home of favor.

[1:44:46] Hi.

Sep 09, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting - 6:00 PM - Sep 09 2025

Agenda

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