HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 17 2010 Joint Meeting with City Council314
A Joint Meeting of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors and Winchester City
Council was held on Wednesday, February 17, 2010, at 5:30 P.M., in the 4` Floor Exhibit Hall,
Rouss City Hall, 15 N. Cameron Street, Winchester, Virginia.
PRESENT
Chairman Richard C. Shickle; Vice - Chairman Bill M. Ewing; Charles S. DeHaven, Jr.;
Gary W. Dove; Gene E. Fisher; and Gary A. Lofton.
ABSENT
Christopher E. Collins.
OTHERS PRESENT:
John R. Riley, Jr., County Administrator; Jay Tibbs, Deputy County Administrator;
Roderick Williams, County Attorney; Tim Welsh, Fire and Rescue Chief, LeeAnna Pyles,
Director of Public Safety Communications Winchester City Council members: President Jeff
Buettner; Evan Clark; Art Major; Les Veach; Milt McInturff; and Mike Butler; City Manager
James O'Connor, Assistant City Manager Anne Lewis; City Attorney Anthony Williams; Frank
Wright; Winchester Fire Chief, and Kari Van Diest, Clerk of City Council.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Shickle called the joint meeting to order.
PUBLIC INEBRIATE CENTER
County Administrator John R. Riley, Jr. presented a proposal to relocate, reorganize, and
revise funding formulas for the public inebriate center. Under this proposal, the cost to renovate
the former NREP building located on Smithfield Avenue was estimated at $142,500. He noted
this estimate does not include funding for a security, surveillance, or communications system,
furniture, equipment, signage, etc. The revised organizational chart would place the inebriate
center under the umbrella of the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center's Community
Corrections Center. Finally, under the revised funding formula, the City and County would
share capital financing on a 50 -50 basis. With regard to operating, intake would be allocated on
a 50 -50 City /County basis with a possible new billing structure based on actual usage rather than
projections.
Council President Jeff Buettner thanked Administrator Riley for addressing his concerns
in the proposal.
Minute Book Number 35
Board of Supervisors Joint Meeting with City Council on 02/17/10
315
Council member Mike Butler agreed with Mr. Buettner and went on to say he felt the
reorganization was a good idea.
Chairman Shickle advised the city council that it was the County's intent, if the city did
not participate in the public inebriate center, to stay and make a go of it.
REPORT FROM EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS UNIFICATION
SUBCOMMITTEE
Winchester Fire Chief Frank Wright provided the two bodies with a presentation from the
Emergency Communications Unification Subcommittee. The report stated the biggest gain was
one 911 center. He stated the subcommittee did not put a dollar figure for unification in this
presentation because they did not want to over or underestimate things. The presentation
concluded by stating the subcommittee felt:
- It was feasible to continue pursuing unification;
- There was a willingness to work together;
- A consultant should be hired.
Chairman Shickle stated that from his perspective any unification proposal would have to
save us money from the "get go ".
Supervisor Dove stated he was ready to put out a Request for Proposals in order to get
pricing /consultant to see where we go.
Council member Mike Butler agreed with Supervisor Dove.
Vice - Chairman Ewing stated he would like to see more facts and figures regarding the
consultant before making a decision. He went on to say that hiring a consultant might be the
way to go.
Supervisor Fisher agreed with Supervisor Dove.
Supervisor DeHaven supported issuing the RFP and moving forward, but he was not
convinced there would be a cost savings. He went on to say he was convinced there would be
increased services for the citizens.
Supervisor Lofton stated he was torn on this one. He wondered if the City would be
willing to fund the consultant since they were under a deadline to purchase a new radio system.
Chairman Shickle asked if the City would be willing to put out the RFP.
City Manager James O'Connor responded yes. He suggested a possible process of
sending the RFP to the respective finance committees and then to the Joint Finance Committee to
iron out the details.
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Board of Supervisors Joint Meeting with City Council on 02/17/10
316
WINCHESTER - FREDERICK COUNTY CONVENTION AND VISITORS
BUREAU
Natalie Wills, Director of the Winchester- Frederick County Convention and Visitors
Bureau, reviewed the organization's marketing plan. She stated the Bureau has a $25,000
advertising budget and an 800 number to track the effectiveness of ads placed in four Virginia
travel guides. She went on to say the marketing program results in 5,000 leads per year.
Chairman Shickle stated that it bothered him that we have an MOU but do not abide by it.
Council President Jeff Buettner asked Administrator Riley and City Manager O'Connor
to look at the current MOU and come back with something that was more reflective of how
funding was being allocated.
There being no further business, the joint meeting adjourned at 7:21 P.M.
Richard C. Shickle
Chairman, Board of Supervisors
Jo iley, Jr.
Clerk, Board of Supervisors
Minutes Prepared By:
Jay W. T bs
Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors
Minute Book Number 35
Board of Supervisors Joint Meeting with City Council on 02/17/10