Town Council - Regular Meeting

Uh good evening. Like to call to order the February 10th, 2026 work session. Um if we could start with the pledge of allegiance. Uh Wayne, if you would lead us. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America is uh anformational discussion on legislative activity and Our town administrator, Samilia Okoto will handle that. Dr. Okoto.

Thank you. So within the packet, council has a memo that outlines the uh bills that were presented during this uh current legislative session. Um these were the bills that were highlighted um as um for either knowledge or for action. So, uh, House Bill 383, um, was titled Municipalities Limiting Access to Beaches, uh, Prohibition. Um, so that was introduced by Delegate Long. Um, and so the mayor and delegate Long have had a discussion about this. And do you want to comment on that? Well, I I think that um Delegate Long uh misunderstood uh what the issues were with Brownie's Beach and so which is that it's small, there's very little beach, there's very little parking and uh and I think that he just didn't understand what led the previous administration to put the restrictions on use of the of the beach um of Brownie's beach. And when I explained it to him, he had uh he has agreed to withdraw the bill.

So we have our um lobbyists following that. So they're aware of what we are the expectations are around that bill and so they'll continue to follow it, but it has not been withdrawn um as of today. Just FYI. Um the next bill that was introduced for action or that required action from from the municipality is uh cross-filed bill um Senate Bill 36 and crossfiled in the House for uh House Bill 239. And I'm going to have our planning and zoning administrator come up to brief you all on uh that bill and where we stand. and then I'll be able to give you an update on the actions that have been taken by the town as of today.

Thank you. Um so Senate Bill 36, House Bill 239 is titled the um si starter and silver homes act. Um and the intent is to help provide more affordable housing. Um however, what the bill does is um preempts local land use authority by defining a single family home to include town houses and making town houses mandatory in any district where single family homes are permitted. It also mandates that the lowest minimum lot size you can have is 5,000 square feet, which is um 2,500 ft smaller than your current smallest lot size. Um it mandates setbacks for your front and sideyards that you cannot have a larger setback than 10 in the front and rear and five on the sides. So that's 3 ft smaller than what you have for sides. It is 10 feet smaller than what you have for rear and five feet smaller than what you have for front right now. So, it's increasing the building envelope while decreasing the lot size. Um, and it prohibits you from doing anything directly or indirectly to alter that. It also permits subdivision. Um, so you cannot prevent subdivision. That clause is very convoluted the way it's written, but it appears that it would permit flag lots um and very narrow lots to be developed without any way for the municipality to limit that. Uh it also restricts you from limiting lot coverage. You all do this by limiting or requiring open space, but it's functionally the same thing. Um and you use this a lot in your critical area. um and in other places to ensure that storm

water's managed and there's places for planting and so on and so forth. Um you also would not be able to have design regulations which you currently do have some design regulations and you would not be able to restrict like the size and architectural elements. Um so that's an overview uh what it does and um do you have any questions? It's sponsored by the department of um housing and community development. It's a who is supporting it?

I mean it it is it's a chair sponsored bill which usually means that it's coming from the executive branch, right? So this would override our comprehensive plan I'm guessing since it's I mean it has impacts to your comprehensive plan. It has impacts to your critical area. it has impacts to your um resiliency efforts. Um but I mean we just passed the comprehensive plan like two years ago, right? So we would have to revisit that and basically update it to what this says.

So yes and no. So it's going to kind of override the comprehensive plan on some level. What is going to be more pressing is right now it has to be implemented by October of this year, which means you're going to have to update your zoning ordinances. Um, and then any other ordinances that we evaluate to be sort of in violation. I wouldn't say that we would want to go ahead and change things ahead of knowing if they're in violation, but you definitely would have to update the zoning ordinance and that would take priority. Um, I've asked the question of how it impacts comprehensive planning because it basically overrides your public engagement process for your comprehensive planning. Um, and so I'm not sure what that will look like with regard to updating jurisdictions comprehensive plans,

right? What when do they do we know when they end session so we know when they act if it actually passes or not? Do I can't Is it March? April. Um in your council memo first hearing is in the house that takes place this Thursday and then it'll be heard Senate next Tuesday. I think Senate is the 17th of February.

Okay. So we put timelines on planning and zoning and the state puts timelines on us. Okay. Um so Oh, go ahead. I'm sorry. So, what Sarah is going to be the best resource for asking because she's also been um providing an outline to MML um but uh using the memo that she sent to me which you all have in your packet. I prepared a letter that has already been uploaded um so that we can that so that we can communicate that we are opposed to the bill as it's presented. Um, as of last night, MML sent out what their proposed amendments are for municipalities. So, MML is also working this to make sure that municipalities are not negatively impacted. And so, um, after uh the conversation I had with our lobbyists, what would likely happen is the letter that was uploaded would be a part of the public record and package for um the House bill. So they review all of that before their hearing and then they close the package. They send it to the Senate. Since we received input from MML, we could submit another just quick letter from the town saying like we are okay with the bill as amended by the proposal of MML. Right? So we can shift our um stance based off of what MML has provided after we've had time to review it. So there is global understanding that this would be a negative impact for municipalities and we're doing what we can on the front end to um influence how this bill is how it moves forward.

Um can I ask and you might not know this at all. I think of like North Beach. Are they more aligned to what's written here? cuz I'm and and you might not know off top of your head, but when you turn off of Fifth Street by the new library, there's like a three or four story blue house that's like this wide. Uh and it blocks another house. And I swear you can almost put your arms out and touch both houses. Uh and it sounds like that's that's where the direction this is when you were describing it. That's kind of the direction this pushes us. Not that small. Not quite that small. Yes. It's it's pushing a high level of density um with well not necessarily density. It's not regulating density,

but um anywhere that you have a higher level density allowed, your buildings are going to be closer together um and larger potentially. Um yeah, thank you for putting this together.

So I think I could have hours and hours and hours of conversation of how it would affect us. I could have talk to Jay. I could talk to Josh. There one or another. I think you're just informing us of this, not for us to question you on it. This is just sort offormational kind of thing and and it I I think you did a really well a nice job on exactly the impacts as written to us. I appreciate that. Any other questions? Thanks, Sarah.

Answer the question that came up. March 23rd is the deadline for bills to pass in their original chamber before moving to the other chamber for consideration. All right. And now going to planning and zoning recommendations. Right. Fences and uh home occupations. I guess you might as well come back up. I'll let you sit down too quick. I believe you have fences first. Is that correct?

Okay. So, um we've we've discussed the fact that currently fences are regulated in the building code. Um that doesn't give folks who have unusual situations on their lots a lot of um leeway. And so we discussed moving um or beefing up the fence regulations that are present in your zoning code which would allow folks to go to the board of appeals if they have a unique situation um on their lot with regard to fencing. And so what you're looking at is um modifications to section 29019 which is zoning G um which refers to fences and walls. Um just to explain what subject to subsection J provisions of subsection A means. Um subsection J refers to corner lots. And so if you have a corner lot, um you have slightly different rules because you have two front yards. Um one of the things in addition to recommending changes to fences is that I am recommending changes to subsection J because it is a little confusing and has caused some questions with um homeowners who have corner lots. And so while we're dealing with this, it makes sense to clarify that. Um, and so subsection A is your setback requirements. And this is basically saying you don't have to follow the sub the setback requirement. Your fence doesn't have to be 8 foot in. It can be right on your property line. Um, as long as you're following all of these rules. Um so it allows it first it changes from currently in the building code you have 42 in uh the planning commission recommended changing it to a straight 4T

because they advised that that is generally how you're buying fencing. Um, then it also allows for you to go up to 6 ft provided you are following the intent of the rules that are currently in the building code. Um, and then it after that it addresses concerns about storm water flow underneath your fence. Um, and then air circulation and wind h how to address wind hazards. Um, it also addresses that you're not allowed to block any rights of way with your fence. And if you do that, your fence can be immediately removed by public works if they need to access something. Um, it prohibits barbed wire. Um, it does have a clause allowing fences larger than six feet because there's another section of the code that requires 8ft fences um around commercial parking. Um, and then it also addresses non-conforming fences and how to make sure that, you know, everybody who has an existing fence doesn't have to immediately change that, but if they are upgrading it that it comes into compliance. We have a couple of fences that are functionally in the front yard um, and that isn't really permitted, but we don't want to make them tear them down because they've been there for a while. one. I'm sorry.

No, I if we have questions on that section and then we can look at the corner lot section separately. You said 8 foot fences on commercial parking. Where would that example be? I think off the top of my head I'm I'm thinking of the boat storage off of 26 260 260. Um, but I don't I I just know that there is a section with design standards around parking and it does require higher fences and screening in it. So, I don't I don't know the specifics of where those are located in town. I just know that that

is that just a general requirement for commercial parking. It has to do with when there's a residential area and then there's a commercial use that's not compatible that might be visually disruptive or make a lot of noise. So then that fence is sort of providing that screening and blocking separation. I know the example you're speaking of. Um but is it so I mean we have a bunch of commercial parking system parking lots and stuff like that. Storage is one thing. I think maybe storage is maybe we can revisit it. I just

Right. So that's a different section of the code 29021 which is different than addressing the residential fences. Um and so that wasn't on the list of things to address but I did not want to contradict it in this code. So,

um I I did have one just one question Sarah just to tie back just to kind of say to to Jay just so I can align with with you both on the process of uh there's this section where if uh if it goes across the the easement of the the rightway um just so I can understand what that process looks like because obviously a fence there are plenty of fences that do go across uh rightways but the current way it's written it would almost sound like if I put it up boom it's going to get removed right away But yeah,

um the the way it's written and and the town attorney will advise also on any changes to this um is meant to say, you know, if if there's a break in the water line and it's behind your fence, that means that Jay and his team are going to need to take that fence out without giving you any notice because they have to fix. Okay. Yes. because that's what we've always gone back to is like how you you should be able to do it and then but you assume the risk and the responsibility should the town need to access it. It's on it's on you. Okay. All right. Perfect. Thank you. Other questions? Sarah's crushing it today. Right.

Um well then if you don't have more questions about the fences, I just want to touch on the corner lots real quick. Um, and so what this would do is it clarifies that your corner lots, both sides that face the street, are front yards and are subject to all the front yard regulations. And then it allows the remaining two to be sideyards. Um, and the planning commission considered having one rear yard and one sideyard or having two sideyards and came down on having two sideyards because it allows the homeowner a little more flexibility and a little more yard area. Um, there's some word verbiage in there about pools so that it doesn't contradict with your pool regulations. Um, I don't know if you wanted to provide a different perspective so you guys can think about it.

No, I agree with you. Um, but Sarah and I had a conversation about whether in a lot of jurisdictions you'll hear that there is a one front yard, one rear yard, everything else is a side. Um, and that just makes it easier from my perspective to interpret, but as Sarah explained to me, as it's written, it actually gives the homeowner more more usable yard with less with more more yard space fenced off. So, I agree with you. Let's do do it your way. Thanks. I have one question. The six-foot fence is allowed in the sideyard as well.

Yes. So, the way it's written in the sixoot fence will be if you go halfway down your walls, your exterior walls, then the fence starts there and goes all the way back or the sideyards that you're talking about on a corner lot could be six feet. Correct. Yes. But there's only two sideyard. So, that the two sideyards are your rear and side, right? it that they they can't put the fence in the front yard. So, some corner lots have been putting the fences in the front yard outside of the setback line in the past. Um, but this would not allow that.

Yeah. I'm just asking because I want to make sure that people that have a pool on a corner lot can have the right size fence. Yes. Um, are you good? Does this address the uh issue we had where it's basically up to Jay to approve the fence?

Yes. So, there's specific clear rules that would come through zoning. I would review it. If it complies with all the rules and regulations, I would be able to issue the permit. If it doesn't, I would issue a denial. And that would allow a property owner who has a unique situation to go to board of appeals and request an appeal um that follows specific procedures that are clearly laid out. I think that is a better process. Questions? All right. Thank you, Sarah. Okay. Home occup home occupations.

So, our next topic that the planning commission has been addressing is home occupations. Um there something happened. We're not really sure what, but it basically um removed home occupations from any area really that has residential uses in town. And so um you all asked that we address that quickly within 90 days. And so we came up with sort of a a quick and dirty solution that will allow people to get permits for their home occupations while we take a larger look at the land use table and home occupations more comprehensively. And so what this does is it conditionally allows home occupations in all districts and it has two separate sets of regulations. So if you are in a RV2 which is residential village 2 neighborhood commercial, town commercial, plaza commercial or marine commercial district. Your home occupation can have an employee. it can have um some folks coming in and out of it and more traffic, not a lot of traffic, but would be generated there. Um, if you're in an RV1, um, a residential low density, residential medium density, residential high density, or a residential plan community, then your home occupation would have no outside employees, no visible signs of it existing and no traffic generated to it. And those conditions are done administratively. So they come in, they ask me for a permit, I give them a permit that says, "Here are the conditions that you have to continue to comply with. Um, so they don't have to go through extra processes to have that happen."

Questions? It's like a one-time permit. Once you get the permit, you're pretty much good to go. You don't have to do it every year.

No, you don't have to do it every year. I would say if you're changing your operations um to a different type of business or in size and scale because it has a 30% I believe um of your home space. So if you're going to start to use more space, you might want to make sure you're not come in and just ask to check compliance. And I think I remember seeing like a list of prohibited like home occupations before because this like this basically replaces that with as long as you meet these requirements then you're good to go.

Yes. That doesn't mean that animal hospitals, tourist homes, rooms and restaurants are permitted home occupations. They wouldn't be permitted because of the other regulations that are in here. Um, and we are having a discussion and probably will offer more changes to this when you get the land use table updates, but this solves an immediate problem.

Yeah, I'll just say thank you uh for work this because I think this is the first step in the right direction with it because there's there's a lot to navigate with the land use table, but uh this um removes a contradiction that was very obvious uh in there. Thank you. Anybody else got any comments or questions? I do have a couple questions and yes, thank you for addressing this. I think, you know, we should not have uh done what we did with home occupations. And just for the record, the planning and zoning commission did not do that. I believe you, Lori.

It did not uh we did not address home occupations or change them in the land use table. Um, but I do have some concerns about how you're going to address um controlled substances for one as a home occupation. Um, I don't see it listed here. So, if the business has to do with a controlled substance, will you be able to deny a permit for it if it's a home occupation? I thought the table calls that specifically out as not allowed no matter what. So, are you are you talking specifically about cannabis is my question?

I'm sorry. Are you talking specifically about cannabis? I'm talking specifically about any controlled substance. I mean, what if somebody was a pharmacist? What if? So, and my thought is that there are certain businesses that belong with the storefront and not in neighborhoods where there's no eyes on them. And controlled substance in businesses related to controlled substances would be one of those. So, what I would want to see is an explicit call out to say your home occupation business should not be related to a controlled substance. that be covered under E.

Um I don't I don't think so. Yeah, because it could be internet sales or just not for what I would recommend is that um it's just for me to tell your flag this for your attorney and have the because the town attorney is going to read this and say maybe they want that to go that line that planning commission took out to go back in and add controlled substances. Um I asked about cannabis because it's a little different like it is explicitly prohibited in our ordinance but that's not in compliance with state law. So that gets trickier. Um, but we'll be addressing that when you get the new land use stable.

Right. So in in my opinion, it would not be appropriate to allow somebody in somebody's neighborhood to run a

a cannabis business out of their home um or you know any other kind of controlled substance business. I also have a concern around um therapy. So, I think that's another type of business where um maybe you have vulnerable customers. Maybe you need more eyes on it and people need to know that you know any kind of therapy is going on or counseling or um so you don't get you know somebody calling something therapy when it's not. Um, so I would say that would be another one that would need a score a storefront and that you might not, you know, there there's lots of reasons why you might not want that in a neighborhood. And then the third one would be some of your um some of your massage or physical type of um interactive businesses. So, those would be my three call outs. And I I think if you move into a neighborhood, you're expecting it to be a neighborhood and you're not expecting um kind of more alternative types of uses to come into your neighborhood. I think it would be appropriate to regulate home occupation in that way. And other than that, you know, we want to allow home occupations. Um, and there's

we don't want to be overly restrictive, but I do think there are some uses that need to be considered and regulated so that you can deny permits to home occupations that might be very disruptive.

I I do want to call out like so in here it does state no on-site retail sales are conducted on the premises and then so I think that one covers a portion of what you said. pharmacy and cannabis I mean is highly regulated uh space so I think that's that would you never get the state permit to operate in your house uh like at all uh let cannabis or a pharmacy I do see maybe you could say uh something along the lines of like you could maybe add a little wording there if you wanted to prevent some certain types of customers coming say because it says no on-site sales it really nobody should be coming to your house to buy stuff. But which which letter is that? That's uh letter H.

H under section two. Last page. Gotcha. That's in the residential neighborhoods. Right. Right. Yeah. So I Yeah, thank you Jamie. Um yeah, I think it's appropriate for us to just ask the attorney and really think about it and um you know, it doesn't say anything about consumption either. So, you know, and I do because planning and zoning had an attorney for the last meeting that I had brief conversations with the attorney on this and she was kind of well, you might need to still call those out. So, I think your attorney may say, "We need to put back in the call outs." And that's something she would advise you to do. No,

I appreciate it. Yeah, it looks like you have had a busy few days. or he's shooting down all my business ideas.

Okay. Another argument for not sure about limiting certain businesses from the residential areas is that you drive it towards a type of growth where there are more storefronts and there are there is more activity in your town and and things like that. So, um it's these are all, you know, things to think about for us to think about when we're passing this zoning.

And your conversation on this will help inform the planning commission's conversation as they update it more comprehensively like the approach is already different to this. Yeah, I appreciate I I watch the meetings so and and I've been in many meetings so I do I appreciate how much work it is and when you really get in the details it becomes very difficult. So um good job. Thank you.

Any other questions for Sarah? Uh, no, no questions. But I just I want to comment a little bit one one comment really on what Lori is saying is um just one thing I I I do think we might need to think through uh those types of prohibitions thoroughly because I am aware of um some resident or residents who do like small batch micro brew in their house and then they sell it to uh bars. Yeah, they don't sell it out of their house individually to people, but

um and I I I am pretty sure that they are licensed because I remember talking them through the licensing process. Uh so that's something to think. They might be grandfathered at this point if they are licensed and permitted. They they sure either don't have a permit, have a permit from before the zoning ordinance was changed. Yeah. Well, if wouldn't that equal a permit if they're if they Right. Yes. It's a permit. Yes. So, this would just be applying to future people that wanted to do that, not necessarily somebody that's already grandfathered. But is it something that we want to prohibit moving forward?

Um, it's it's something to think about. I mean, a residential neighborhood to me is a residential neighborhood. And um yeah, I might I might want to prohibit that or at least put some things into a special exception instead of just a straight up conditional permitting. And the the new way that's going to be coming out of the land use table will make that easier to do. I'm sorry, say that again.

The new way that the land use table is being designed by the planning commission now will make what you're suggesting the special exception easier to include than how this is written this way. We're kind of trying to quickly fix something, right? But the real fix is actually to shift sort of the way it's written entire not entirely but and that will make a special exception easier for specific uses like to put into the code.

Right. I I didn't think that the way that we did our zoning code was confusing. I thought a lot of the laws were confusing, but um I was fine with the method. But um I'm sure that I mean you have to enforce it and you have to implement it. So um most important person to understand it is you and a future planner. Well and I also think it's important for residents and businesses to be able to understand it. So that's that's the goal of the new design.

Right. I'm sure I'm sure you'll do a good job with it. And and I think uh Eric was saying like different people have different hobbies, you know, and you get into a hobby like craft brewing and stuff like that. Like somebody's that's their outlet. I think that's the idea of a home business, whether it's a making lamps or it's like little crafts that turns into a bakery or something like that. I think it's uh you sort of find a little outlet and find an outlet for your creativity and if you need a license and stuff that's sort of the intent that we're trying to do like I I mean I know some people that really enjoy doing that stuff and I don't think we want to take away from people's enjoyment. I think I don't know whatever that is.

I agree but I think there's a monetary threshold for almost anything like that. Is that right Sarah? You can use a monetary threshold. I would really say that this I'm going to send a message to your attorney and say here's some things that got discussed and so she will probably advise what she thinks you if you should put back in some call outs what she advises to be those callouts and then if you all want to put additional requests and discussions I think that's probably the best way to do it because I want to make sure that whatever you're adopting is legally correct Um, and it is a little more complicated of an issue than I'm able to speak to clearly from the legalities.

Okay. Thank you. Anything else before we move on? All right. Colum's draft concept master plan. Jamie, Jeremy, and Wayne. Okay. Jamie and Jenny and Wayne. I'm sorry.

I'll set the stage a little bit here. Uh so everybody has um a couple things. One, you'll have uh Wayne and Jenny put together this uh fantastic packet uh on the concept plan. Um I put in here uh the Kellum's resident survey just for you know reference as we're talking through some of that stuff. And then um in the email uh the email that I sent to the council um really was to just reiterate the the purpose the intent here um not trying to um redesign completely this like we already went through a lot of discussions uh over the last year we've had the committee we've had the surveys uh and now it was taking that putting into a concept plan but really wanted to one bring it up but two give the entire council an opportunity to ask questions questions to both Wayne and Jenny on on concept thoughts. Um, I'll hold off on my my thoughts, but you know, everything's open to interpretation. Uh, this was Jenny taking uh our vision based off of walking Kellums one day, a conversation in here, and then saying like use your imagination to create just a beautiful space for our community. Uh, and and this is iteration one. And I think she's done, you know, what no matter what changes we we decide to ultimately make, she's done a fantastic job of of crafting something. So, um, with that,

and if I can add to that, I spent some time going over this today and I am very impressed with the work that you all have done. I think, and Okay, he's pointing at you. Wayne's pointing at you. I'm just going to give credit where credit's d This is Jenny. She's she's fantastic this and and and and I'm I'm really happy to see it. Uh one thing I will say it's never been known as Kellum Park. It's always been Kellum's Park and so I think we should continue to call it Kellum and it was named after Buddy Kellum and I don't know do you did you know Buddy Kellum? Yes.

Okay. And so uh and so anyway we just want to preserve that. But from what I see here, there are some fantastic ideas here. And I council, I hope you approach all of this with an open mind. I think this is an opportunity for this council to make a lasting uh change to the recreational facilities of of the beautiful town of Ches Peak Beach. And so anyway, take it away.

Yeah. Well, I'm I'm sorry. The last thing I wanted to ask is that the the idea coming out of this is some kind of concurrence on uh next iterations of a draft and then also really thinking through we have some funding in the budget that was prepared for Kellums in general how we can leverage that uh before you know it expires I guess for our budget our budget year ends the 1 of July we go into 2027 so how can we really I'm going to use a terrible political term but how do we get something shovel ready to I never thought I would actually say that but um how do we do that so we can actually start executing on some of this and not just getting in a vicious cycle of talking.

So with that I'll shut up. Thank you.

Can you turn your mic on please? There we go. Okay. Oh, that helps. Thank you.

All right. Um, I have, uh, over 10 years of experience doing park master planning, vision planning, um, and landscape architecture at this scale, but also smaller scales as well. So, um, thank you for for inviting us to be able to envision your project. Um it's actually a you made it very easy for me because uh you had already figured out what needed to go there and said uh now you can do what I think is the fun part which is you know present a vision for what we think we want here. Um so uh and and really Kellum's Park is uh essentially a blank slate. I mean there are there's a lot there already. There's the tot lot and the the field and the parking. You have the infrastructure there. Um but I I can definitely see um a vision for creating the enhancing I should say the heart of Chesapeake Beach. Um one of the things that I took away from our meeting is that Kellum's Park is really where the gathering place is for the town. Anything big that happens here, it's going to be held there. Um, and so the the vision is intended to kind of celebrate that as um a collective public space. So I'm going to be pointing to um one of these slides. If you go back one slide um this so I I I so we did we created a a concept plan. Um and then one of the techniques that we use in in master planning is to use a lot of um precedent imagery because we don't want to go too far in defining what is going to be there or the look or the feel. So, um, so I'm using a lot of, um, precedent imagery, and this is from a park in

Houston where I used to work, um, called Levi Park. And it is a great example of a small space that maximizes the use. And um um so that's kind of what I was thinking of when I sat with you all and I hear Jaime's FA the phasing plan that he had presented and I was like this is a lot but we can do this here. Um it's just all about maximizing the space. Go to the next slide. Um and so I kind of looked a little bit at the history of Chesapeake Beach and a lot of like a lot of this uh Bayside towns here. you know, it has an entertainment area. Um, attracts a lot of people historically and currently um from the regional metropolitans and um to come here and kind of enjoy the weekends and and now to live here full-time. Um so the thought was, you know, again, how do we emphasize that and kind of even maximize the potential here with this, you know, large open public space that you have? Um, and this I'll just say the first this top picture here is from um Bayrass Festival. That's happens in Sandy um Sandy Point Park. Now, I don't know if you've heard about that, but that's a and then the the the lower image is a uh downtown park in Austin where they have their farmers markets and their their vendor um vendor um festivals and things like that. And that was something I heard that also Kellum's Park um hosts. So go to the next. So just to get right into it um I divided up the next few slides kind of organizing how the thinking is um set up for this park and the major program. Um,

one of the things that was not asked but I saw a great opportunity for um is a uh well-defined um entry point and a um facility um where you can go and house a lot of the events that that happen here including things that attract people on a regular basis like concessions or um gather just gathering spaces, that kind of thing. Um, so that's what the uh new park events and facilities building is proposing to be. Um, one of the things that, um, is hard to see from here is that while this would be a building, and later on I do have precedent imagery to show you kind of that open airy space, um, that that would be intended to be, and then this was envisioned as like storage and maybe another kind of concession. Um, but that there's a that it's connected by a long open air kind of pavilion. So, while it looks like a lot of structure, it it really is limited in in the structure. Um because the middle part would be kind of this grand entryway where you could also set up vendors and have a covered space um with seating and that sort of thing. Um and then of course the amphitheater which um was part of the phasing and um including a small play area right here so that if you are sitting here enjoying a show of some sort you know there is you don't have to your your your kids don't have to run all the way over here to play there is a defined space for that. Um and then you know kind of creating little side spaces that are more gardenesque. So, a willow grove inspired by some of the willow trees that I see in the parking lot. And then, of course, um being also civil engineers, always

thinking about how we're going to manage the storm water. So, that's a great opportunity to kind of hide that spot, um there. And then, um the destination playground. Um, this is the other major program and we can get into that in later on in the slides with an adult uh separated adult um exercise area um that really can slide anywhere along this space, but um just kind of tucked it in here as as as a a point along the the walking trail. So, um very inspired by the walking trail that that enters into this space down here and some of these access points. um from the community which kind of shows how this space could really be used and I'm sure the little bit that I have driven around it is used by people all the time. But um it could it could be the destination in the morning for for the run or for the walk. Um um and I I measured this out. I believe it's roughly half a mile if you just did a circle around like this. So to go around all the other side trails would would be longer. Um, and before I leave this slide, and we'll come back to it. Um, there's the the the area here, which was described as, you know, the the retaining wall that needs to be replaced with a covered parking area. Um, the main parking lot. Um, this proposes a new access drive here so that there is essentially a circulation route um for events when events happen through the back edge. um redefining this as a main entry point right here. And one of the things that I see right now is this right now has your signage and some information about the park, but it is essentially the back of of a space. It's dumpsters, it's storage, it's um utility

kind of fencing. So it's it doesn't give that like if you put a lot of of investment into this space um that doesn't show that investment. Yeah.

So um so this this is this part this is like trying to redefine that as as the entryway because this is more of a back road back entry. Um and of course there's little community spaces, public art opportunities. Um if you look if we go back to the slide with the um I think I have another precedent image but the there's a lot of plazas with these little public public art spaces right at the entry plaza and it kind of is like a give back to the community. Um people tend to really enjoy those spaces. Um picnic pavilions will remain but then there's a connection here. So it it then creates a more cohesive um space um um pulls those into the overall program um seating area and then creating more like a so this this building here is not quite where the current building is. it's pushed in slightly and that allows for not modifying the parking lot or losing parking but to allow to recreate a streetscape kind of opportunity. One of the things that I heard is that people want more trees in the parking lot. Um so when you when you get out of your car and you enter into the space, it's like you really have this sense of arrival. So, as landscape architects, that's something we're constantly thinking of, especially when you're trying to redefine a space, is how do you create a sense of arrival? Um, and then of course, concession storage, uh, the amphitheater, the bleacher seating. Now, this space here, this is right now the back of the seating, right? The bleacher seating. So, what can we do with that? Um, the way I was sort of envisioning this is, you know, if you have a stage here of some size, right? And and in the

precedents, I I showed the high high-end to the not so high-end, but still functions and still can produce a great community space. Either way, when you have events, you usually have to think about service and and servicing those events and what happens in the back of the stage. you know, you get play production, for example, or you have um uh scenery or stage stage prep that you have to do. This space right here really sets up to be a great back of house kind of um service area for if you ever house or hold big events. Um, and that starts to kind of create a a need for circulation here and then creating a um a way to go around the bleacher seating. That's sort of that's how these paths take form. So, you're giving access to the trailgoers, access to this secondary parking um and then um creating like we don't want to just have this still feel like the back. So what you can't see here, but in the precedent imagery I tried to show it is a long wall that goes from this point to that point. And it can have, you know, a mural or a mosaic or have some kind of um, you know, history of Chesapeake Beach or, you know, a call to artist for artists, you know, in the area who who has ideas for this wall. So, some kind of community space and community give back in this in this area here to enhance that experience. Um, continuing on around the trail, then you have you get back to the more like wooded wooded space and you start to get into the more of the play the play area. So, we have the exercise park for adults. Um, kids probably would like to older kids would probably like to use

that as well. And then you have the um you know the the the small to big kid play area destination park which is really focused on climbing structures. Um you know they like you know having these internal circulation paths I think are really important to in to making those spaces really interesting. You can put um seating along here for the parents and the families and then the trees of course provide shade for that sort of thing. Um, now the idea is that this part here is built up on a little bit of fill because I noticed the top lot is built up on fill and Jay was talking about the foundations. So, by putting this up on fill, you can have a bridge and like a little se little moment right here where you're you're running from one park playground um typology to another and then um you have some space above the groundwater for your um footings and that sort of thing. Um, we discussed uh taking this pavilion here and making it into restrooms because if this really becomes a kind of family destination, it might be a bit far to go over here. Um, so restrooms on in this area and um and then obvious and then the walking trail continues onward. Um the I did not I rearranged the parking here a little bit just to show that you know there could be more you more like um passenger car usage there. I don't know how much trailer usage that lot gets. I heard not so much. Um so that could be a space that maybe there's there's some further discussion on how that that can get reoriented because if you did put something here, it would make sense to have some more direct park passenger parking um at that location. So with

that, I'll just go through more quickly through the the rest of the slides. So the next slide, um, again, just trying to to diagram out the big program spaces and how they're connected. So the new park facility with the building, the big entry point, the aha moment, and really this has a signage, this is proposing signage across the entry, but you can put signage across this this portion as well. and and you can do either or or both. Um and then obviously the the music and entertainment area where you can kind of have like larger crowds and there's you know spillover space and you know people can get their concessions from this location. Um and the playground complex. So, next, um, so again, circulation's always important. Just showing the pedestrian access into the p into the park and and some of these spots over here were kind of intriguing to me, like how much pedestrian access you get from um some of the street over here. But I really think a lot of it comes from the neighborhoods on this side and this side. Um, but then highlighting the fact that this is a big access point. you know, you can get in on this side if you wanted to or or come down around this side. So, but really this is kind of the big, you know, this is the new a proposed new access point, but then this is kind of a big highlight to re rearrange that space. Okay, next. Um, and then I went through the minor program already, but um an entry mini plaza with public art right here. um an art wall near the amphitheater which offers offers an opportunity for mural or mosaic. Um shaded parking. We we've talked about relocating the scoreboard which I think we need to Jamie already mentioned to me that error there, but that's okay. Um we'll have the field

goals go right.

You did great. It's just there's a goalpost there. You'd kick right into the scoreboard. and then um a new parking lot access point um to allow for flow back through here. But that's really thinking about using this space as a larger event kind of space if you wanted to go that route. Um paved park and trail it's roughly 0.25 miles. So okay, so you'd have to go around twice to get to half a mile. Next slide. Um this was just some imagery I found for some, you know, hardy uh shade structures. Um we have the cantal levered type. Um you know, the type that that has the structure in the middle and the difference is like one allows for probably more dense parking. Um because this has your structures in between, but I don't think parking counts are your issue here. So I feel like with the structure you can go any route. Um the one thing that we were discussing was there was a one thought of incorporating the the the structural supports in with the wall but if there was ever an issue with the wall or the you probably don't want to tie those two things together um and have them be separate so that any maintenance or repairs can be separate. Um and then as far as materiality, this is what's happening in the tot lot. So perhaps the new wall is that same material and we start defi we start you um thinking about um cohesive material use through throughout the park. Next um so so I didn't want you know whenever there's a new building proposed people get really nervous. Um but this this can

be a more of a just shell with with um supports like shown here. And the idea is that, you know, you have this pavilion open space that people pass through and then you have a this is this is a zoo somewhere, but I thought it was kind of a similar idea where you have a smaller space on this side with, you know, maybe like a storage or like smaller concessions or ticket sales or something and then a larger space on the other side that can be more open air, just more free open space where you put your tables as you need them. um camps can run in there. Um there's there's a lot of opportunity for just having um just this big open space and you can make these interesting with how you you you design this the supports. So um that's that's the the thinking behind the the facility building. Next slide. And then the entryway. I mean, this is this is right now more or less the idea for for something that goes across here. But I mean, like Jamie was saying earlier, it can that can be here. We don't it doesn't need to be here. There's there's a lot of op options. The but the concept is that there's a a main entry point that's redesigned. Um and then this is some these are some pictures of of how those public art spaces kind of work and become um interactive. Next slide. And um for the amphitheater um I really wasn't sure about amphitheater when we discussed it first. But then as I started putting some of the forms onto the page, I realized that there is space for you know whatever size you kind of want to go for depending on on your needs around here. Um and I realized there might be need to be some some modifications. Um but these

are some examples of how some other parks have done it where it's it's it's it becomes an architectural feature and um you know when there's not an event there you can have these outdoor um you know meetings or gathering spaces um it it becomes another way for people to kind of um informally maybe less less formally than than in the facilities building kind of get together again. um uh nighttime events, camps that you know, that kind of thing. It's what my mind immediately goes towards. Um very inspired by some of the um new music festivals that are happening um in Anonda County and um the spaces that they're they're using and and that this park reminds me of of you have the infrastructure, I think, for doing something along those lines. Um, so next next slide, but I wanted to just point out like this amp at this stage can be as grandiose as as this design by Lake Fleato, a architecture company that I'm a big fan of. I think they do amazing work. This is in Scottsdale, Arizona. Um, and then next slide. Um this is another type of of of look and feel for um kind of more modernist um amphitheater. And then closer to home on the next slide in Downs Park, we have an amphitheater um which when you get closer it's really pretty with the wood um sophet. Um you know it can be something as simple as as this and you have some of your storage right there. Um, so there's a lot of examples and that that stage can can be different things and I think it's really about not

only budget but what what are the ambitions for for the park and for the events that you could have um because whenever um I work with a group on park master planning one of the big things is obviously as Jay would like to hear the maintenance of it um but also the programming and who's programming it um and what the intentions are there. Is there already a um a structure for that or would that be a new organization? Um that that's those are some of the questions that have to happen around like figuring out what level of investment goes in. Um next slide. Um, so this is the this would be this would be kind of a like easy thing to implement currently with a walking trail is, you know, a an art wall um behind the bleacher seating and you can create a little storm water space there. Um, but lots of trees, a new walking path with a moment that would otherwise be just sort of an in between space, but making it its own space. Um, that's the idea behind the art wall. Next. Um, and then the Did we skip one?

You skipped that

Okay, the exercise area. Um, this is really this can be really straightforward. These are offtheshelf items. Um, and you just, you know, create this the the the pad for it. Um, and there's a little bit of grade. There's probably one, two, three. We go as much as four, but there's at least three feet of rise here. So, this would be at a little bit of a of a point. Um, everything's pretty flat here. So, three feet will feel a little higher. Um, and then and then it slopes down a little bit back down to the destination park. Um, next slide. And then for the destination park was really just kind of thinking about this like main key space with this big attractive sculpture sculptural kind of um play structure and then smaller um play structures. And these are off the shelf. I wanted to make sure something could really fit. The fall zones are in there. Um I got these off the manufacturer websites. And um you know this moment here which connects to the tot lot um this would become emergency access and we can either have that be paved or something called grass pave. So it looks like part of the grass um and then new a new restroom facility. But one of the things I wanted to point out is that I think um some of the best uh and most loved playgrounds that I've experienced h have trees. And um it's it's really important to have that because you know um anyone who sat outside in the blazing hot sun while their kids played understands that those shade structures somehow don't provide shade where you need them. And really the trees are kind of I mean they really make or break the experience. So that's why I wanted to propose a number of of of trees in this area and kind of

continuing to add this like what I would say buffer between um what's what's happening over here and here and then what what the space could be. So your vision is more towards this area um kind of directing your your site. Uh next slide and then okay this just shows into some more examples of what kind of ex what how people have done this and with the internal pathways. Next slide. Um and that's it. I'll stop. Right. Anybody got any questions? Great job. Um thank you.

It is um very well put together. Uh you know, the idea like I was in a few conversations with Jamie about it and then just walking around it and stuff like I think he really did a good job capturing it. Um it seems that you have a quite an open plat like um design avenue. One thing the name Buddy Kellum like Kellum's feels it was given like for it and I don't know if it would be done maybe through art projects or something like that but kind of maybe a nod towards Waterman

you know and like uh the Chesapeake Bay and stuff like that there's a there's good history and maybe have a little nostalgicness not not a throwback whatever but just kind of a some sort of a homage or just kind of brokered and put in that we have like seab bots and oysters I don't know have that if that's done through art or if that's something that's you can see a vision or something like that. It seems like you're able to kind of vision visually put a a underlying theme and a predominant theme and all that. So that's it.

Yeah. Thank you. There's lots of opportunities there through even the play structures um and there's two different art locations, but the those could have a lot of um what you're talking about. Yeah. So, with the um the stage, I I had this I think competition is really good, right? And I was saying to have like for like the orchestra because you know you have we have four different high schools in the county and

Oh, yeah. And just to kind of like we have a nice I mean so Christmas time is really really really nice here you know and just maybe have a sort of size for like an orchestra like a and we could have different years um invite maybe a high school orchestra because it's nice to have your parents come but to play for like a town it it's sort of a rosecolored glasses kind of grandio hope you know but if I don't know if you know what size that is or not. Thank you. Yeah. Other questions or comments? I have a few things. Yeah. Go ahead. Um I'm sorry again. What was your name? Jenny.

Jenny, you did a great job. This is really really nice and uh it's an awesome place to start and uh I just took a few notes while you were giving your presentation. So I just want to go through them. We can hit them fast and sure, you know, it's uh doesn't need to take forever. Um so you had mentioned um moving the utility and waste management area that's right there at the entrance which is I think is obviously a great idea but did you come up with a place to move that to? Well this would be slide number this would be good two I guess. So right now it's here. Yeah,

there is a there's I mean there's definitely some there's like a big drain right here. Um I think I'd have to know more about that would be further conversation. Um have it didn't seem to me and and maybe it's just I don't know that it couldn't flip to this side. Um uh or you know what is happening in there that needs to happen right at that location. Um it seemed like it was dumpsters and more trash and disposal and that can I mean you have enough space back here to get those trucks in and we can you know that's that's definitely ne the next something else to consider the next stage. Um

what are you thinking about? Uh, next thing I have to say, I see that up there in the uh, parking space to the top of the screen there, there's plenty of room for a pickle ball court. Maybe we could um, think about that. Are you thinking I will say up there or or or even up even up further? Yeah. Oh, here. Yeah, one of those two spots would be great for a pickle ball court. Okay. I will say just a comment.

Well, no, no, to your point, we actually are funded for a pickle ball court this year. So, that's one of the few things, but I I just would caution us not to open up too many tennis courts and pickle ball courts and nothing else. So, but we can do both. Pickle ball's huge. Mhm. Huge. I'll still beat you. All right, next thing. Um, trees. I totally agree with you. Trees are awesome. More trees the better. But um just one thing to consider is trees with low foliage is probably not a good idea. We had issues up in Richville Station with kids and drugs and smoking and things like that. And uh so

we have pine trees and they've cut all the branches off the pine tree up to like six feet or whatever to avoid that kind of thing. So when you're thinking about trees, maybe you want to keep that in mind. Um, same thing really with the art wall. I love the idea, but it's almost creating like a barrier where there's like privacy back there where vaping or something like that could occur. Just something to consider.

Okay. Um, I don't know if there's an appetite for a second restroom location, but maybe something near the amphitheater would be good because if that's a if that's a an area of intense gathering, you know, we've kn we've been known to have craft beer festivals at this park. If you're there, that's the music or whatever. You don't want to have to walk all the way across uh across the uh football field to get to a bathroom. I don't know. Just a suggestion. There would definitely be restrooms in that new building just as there are currently restrooms there.

Okay. Um and then let's see slide number three or four. This one. There we go. Um, so now Kell's Field has a fence around it, right? Right. And we're talking about not having any fence or any barrier at all around.

That's something we'd have to that I want to talk about because I am trying to understand the point of the fence. Um, it's a big park and there's a lot of different um areas to get in. So, I guess the question is why why why do we need the fence? I don't really know. I mean, I think that it was there originally to protect the football field. I believe that's accurate,

but um I'm not really for a fence, but if you look at this job, if you look at this uh site plan here where the tractor trailer truck parking lot is, that's a huge entrance right there. I would think most people or a lot of people would be going in that way. Do we want to try to siphon traffic in through the main entrance where we've got this grand signage and and canopy? I mean, can you clarify? He's talking about here. Yeah, that whole that big gap into there.

Oh, yeah. We want to like put a knee wall or something there to cut maybe not prohibit but like uh kind of direct people to go through the main entrance that we're trying to create with the canopy. Yeah.

So, one of the things you can do, well, first off, I think there's some agreement, I'm not sure, with this parking lot servicing the marina. So, I didn't want to tread on that too much. So, I kind of left it left it alone. But, you know, you can do things access wise as far as cars go. You can do things like put up ballards and that kind of thing that they do um and a lot of in front of a lot of buildings. Um, and that kind of protects this space. This isn't this isn't saying you have to enter here. Um, this is saying if you're coming from some other place and you've never been here, but you're coming for an event, this is the way you would be directed to come in, see this point of arrival, park, enter in through the building, experience what it is you're going to experience, and like that's that's the sequence that's set up. If you're everyday person and you want to go to the you're you're here, you want to go to the playground, you're going to just drive up to this parking lot or to the wherever here and get to the closest spot. You don't need to have that that whole procession and and formal entry, but you know it's there. You see the sign. It gives you it gives you this reference point. And there was talk of signage um that can happen on the on this structure here advertising the events. um city announcements, that kind of thing. So,

and Eric, to your point, there was a conversation where I, you know, when we looked at the boat trailer parking, I don't know um what that means, like if there's ability to move that somewhere else or or and convert it into parking spot here or something because it uh usage is interesting, right? Because I mean in my five years here it's it sometimes I've seen it be actually used but a lot of times it's it just sits there completely empty. So I but I don't know who owns it technically or who has the authority to do we I don't know if that's something we own. We can get into it but there's an agreement with the Department of Natural Resources who funds the ramps and we have to provide so many but all of that can be manipulated and discussed for sure. Okay. Okay.

Thanks for bringing it up. Uh, and then next slide, please. May I? Um, the shade. Yeah, right there. Um, I I guess I'm having trouble figuring out why why I can speak to that. Let me just say that there is there is a need right here. One for a retaining wall. So that was the initiator of the conversation and then I will pass it over to

So after seeing this this is this is almost irrelevant because this is a heck of a plan but originally that wall that's wooden timbers needs to be replaced and the best thing to do is concrete. So the thought was similar to the leantos and different things we have and it what it provides is space for events because every event we have I'm public works we're bringing 35 popup canopies but if the wind's too much or if it rains and it's like that's an always fixed space that's always there not necessarily parking it would have electric it would have everything and then on the weekend you could have a flea market whatever so it wasn't necessarily a create spade it was more of a fixed facility but now that I see this grand picture. It may be irrelevant. So that's what it was for.

Okay. Well, that makes sense. Uh, next slide, babe. Um, I love this idea. This this picture on the bottom left. This idea of a of a an open space. If if it could be even if we could have like a like an interior rental space, we could have a birthday party in there or something like that. That's that's great. I like that. Yeah. Um

and art wall. Yeah. Well, I've really already talked about the art wall. My concern being the privacy that it creates. Yeah. Um exercise area. Again, just a comment. This would make a great area for a putting green. We we did mention that before. Eric would love a putting green like a mini golf.

And that's all I have. But thank you. I really appreciate your work. This is good work. Oh, one more question. Would the next would next step be like some type of uh schematic design, elevation drawings? Sure.

Yeah. Next step I think would be kind of identifying the the places that you you want to go to next. You know, where is the investment going to be next? Um we can rein keep envisioning the whole space, but there's just a lot of questions that have to be answered. Um like the extent to which the the stage uh that can be a number of different things. So, which way does that go? Um, but yeah, elevations, renderings, um, there's a design exercise in each one of those um, areas. Uh, you know, at some point for the structure and the stage um, an architect would need to come in. Um um so I think we can talk next steps but it's really I think about prioritizing and there is a phasing plan what would get built next. So actually Wayne you had you mentioned something about this.

Yes there was a funds we have for this year if you will and the initial desire was the covered parking with the pavilion and maybe some park walking trails. That'd be a good first phase if we can do something along those lines that wouldn't that would fit into what we're going to do in the future for the overall master plan. We could build them this year because we have the funds. Uh get that use started and as we envision the rest of this master plan, fit that around that. So I think that's the next the next conversation is what do you think? Give us your comments. We're getting some of that tonight. Um let's envision this thing. Let's plan it out. Let's see what it really what we really want to be, what you want it to be. give you a final master plan if you will and then start talking about phasing of construction and what what we do. Um you know once we start putting numbers and budget together you can then make decisions.

Yeah. Thanks. The I guess plan structure in that way. Um we're a fire works down right and that's kind of like our July 3rd and stuff like that. uh being the 250th anniversary, uh maybe a direction of if what right around July 4th is going to look like um maybe a kind of sooner than later for us to direct a plan one way or another. So, you mean something be in place by

No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying there's a there's a whole bunch going on at town and for us to hear from you, you know, so we can choose to go in a direction of planning something or we can accept that that's a like that's not in a that's a huge hiccup of six months, you know what I mean? and however it is. Mhm. I can plan around or we can just playing around together. But just knowing where a realistic expectation of an overall plan if that's even would even if anything would even be started, you know what I mean? Just so as we approach

Yeah. I think if we did something around that time of the year this year, it be be minor and out of the way. May maybe it's the pavilion and and the uh retaining wall. Maybe it's some walking trails. I don't think it's going to be very disruptive for this year, but you know, I think I said an email to someone, um, let's plan on this year using the budget we have for the facilities we can build that we know are not going to get ruined by future phases. Let's put some money in next year to do plan planning, architecture, and permitting. Um, that's really what's going to take to get this master plan and vision implemented. And it'll evolve over time anyway. It will. Yeah, this looks great. That's true. Anybody else got any comments or questions? Quick question. Oh,

when it comes to that planning and architectural budgeting, since we are moving into budgeting cycle, do you have general a general idea of what those numbers would be? Yeah. Once we kind of have this final discussion of what do you want this to be? This is a great vision. How do you want to tweak it? We can start putting sorry we can put start putting numbers to it as far as construction dollars and your planning and architectural dollars are typically a percentage of that just for rough budgeting. We can give you some numbers that

I just want to tell you I love it. It's it's a great job. I like that you thought about circulation and lots of different ways. Traffic circulation um and pedestrian circulation. And um I'd like to highlight that I like Dan's comment about a nod to the area we're in in Waterman. So if that could be incorporated in just kind of the overall everything that would be really cool. Okay. Um and I would also say that if you could just um work with our green team a little bit. I know they prefer natives. Oh yeah. Um, so you know, I'm not saying, you know, all natives, but um, I know they would like some input in some of the landscaping and potentially like a little area

that might be theirs to landscape or Sure. put a garden in or something like that. Yeah. Um, just an area for them. All paw trees. Yeah. Or they talk about a food uh um what do they call it? Food forest. No, it's like a um Yeah, food farm. Yes. And and it doesn't have to be like vegetables. It could be or we just had that conversation. It could be the JB food farm. Okay. So, you could work with them a little bit. Is that it, Lori? What's that?

You like that? All right. Well, we got Lori St. Great. Well, thank you very much. Thank you. Appreciate your presentation. Um, Anthony, you got anything? Did you have anything, Anthony? Oh, okay. Um, well, there's Yeah. Do you want to bring up the solar because I know you were Yeah,

I've been talking with a solar company. Um, couple trying to figure out partners. I know there's grants out there and everything for the solar parking. So, we're already kind of in discussions. We already sent them like where the closest uh meter is and we've did some of the ground work already on that. So, um obviously my big thing before was the baseball field. We didn't really talk about that much. Um but only six people agreed with me on the survey. So, I guess I'm uh outnumbered on that. Um my only ask is that maybe we could find an alternative um baseball field nearby that we could use some one way or another. But uh I see that it really doesn't kind of fit in with this plan anywhere you put it. I don't think so. It looks like uh I am excited for this plan. It looks it looks awesome and I'm excited to that it's moving forward. I did have a question about the um concession building. We we just like put a mural up there. So, I'd rather not um like demo that building if we can just keep the existing structure and maybe redo the roof to fit in with the uh rest of the buildings. But

that that was something we were going to talk with Anthony and his his committee to figure out how we would I I think it was something like how would we maybe approach that because you know there's there's names and stuff written into the wall as well, but but I I wanted to defer Yeah. Yeah. But I wanted to defer to their committee since it was this their project. That's on the north the north side of the building. Um and so then for next steps I Wayne I'll I'll get with you to make sure we're on the same page uh with it. And then um if we do we do have the pickle ball money. So Dan I I'll touch base with you to see if if that I don't know if that rolls because it's part of open spaces if that rolls into next year for execution. I think we have two years right. It's not one year.

Oh seven. Okay. All right. So, we have time to to worry about that. But, yeah. Okay. I'd say next steps are digest it. Let's get another committee meeting together with us and kind of go through what your final comments are. Let's create what we think this thing looks like and we start putting numbers to it and give you budget numbers.

Okay. So, then I would then ask the council if possible, can you email uh uh everybody here just your comments? Uh and if we can time box us, what is what is today? The at the 10th. Um, you know, can you have it in by like uh next Wednesday? So, it gives you a week to if that is that okay. A week. Is that enough? I I'm trying to I know we obviously won't have our stuff done in a week, but at least get the comments collected and sent in so that Wayne and his team can can start working on it. Does that work for everybody? I'm good with that. Can I make one more comment?

All right. Um and and we already kind of touched on it, but if we are doing things immediately that involve, you know, somewhere that was dedicated, somewhere that was um somewhere called out and somebody was honored. Um let's have a plan for how we are going to handle that. How are we going to um That's a good point. He's done. Yeah. Well, I mean, we're not just gonna Yes. No, there was there was going to be some discussions about um

the the differing u places where there are people who are like recognized and and what we would do in exch because obviously like one of them is Mahoney's diamond and there would be no baseball diamond. So, what would that what would that translate to? I do think that to be very fair and honest, you know, I I actually think that we can honor him in a better way uh somewhere. I just don't I don't know the answer yet, but I do think we can do it. That was kind of a rush job uh from the last administration on the way out. And I actually uh you know, despite our differences, uh he did serve the community for like 28 years. So, uh, I think we can do a better job than a rush, you know, thing.

Was just for the community sake, was was there no other place to like put the have the playground and the baseball field? No. You guys thought about baseball fields are huge. So, there's no The only place you could put a baseball field is in uh Ward Park and Dunkerk Park in uh in in Dunkerk. There's in Mowings, but there's a whole bunch of them. They have a big playground there, too. It's ginormous. Okay. Anything else before we move on to the next item on the agenda. Thank you. Thank you very much. Good presentation. Yes. Thank you. A lot of obviously a lot of thoughts gone into it. And Jamie, thank you for your leadership in this. No, thank it's all Jenny. She She did the hard work.

Well, I think you were working together. I don't think she pulled it out of thin air. I guess thanks to Wayne, too. Yeah. Okay. We'll give Wayne some credit, too. All right. Next item on the agenda, Jamie, water and sewer rates.

Uh, actually, no, this is not me. So, this is uh Silia, I don't know how we wanted to approach this, but um I do know collectively uh you know, we pushed all the information back to uh the executive branch of of our town and and um gave you guys all of our inputs and and here's here's kind of where we're at. Okay. So, based off of the discussions that were had, um, there were numbers that were the the sticking point really seemed to come down to the allocation for salary and wages. Um, so we've had several conversations uh among staff talking to Jay um at length about the input and effort from his team and really trimmed as much fat as possible from that. And so we got to a number that was a little bit higher than what was proposed and then built the rates around that. So, if I can uh call in Dan to kind of walk how that fits in um with the model and then it ultimately ties to proposed rates that were presented um by Jamie to uh Mayor Wall who approved them. So

you um so as far as the uh salary rates go uh the current budget was budgeted at 681,000 uh and as Samia said you know we did the analysis you know the last few months and you know have reallocated some of those costs back to uh public works back to the general fund and it amounted to about $144,000 decrease. So, we took the uh rate proposal that Jamie had put together back in December, uh calculated the revenues that would be generated from that, and then readjusted the salary amounts to reflect the revised amount, which ended up with salary and benefits was um $536,000. So I think did you pass out the

announce? So um Sharon had handed out before the meeting I had done a five-year projection of what the utility fund budget and the uh treatment plan budget would look like under the new rates uh or the proposed rates uh that we have there. And you know it actually comes out uh you know very favorable I think as far as um you know how the the rates would look over the five-year period. I don't know if you wanted to look at that those sheets briefly now. Um but in summary, the utility fund uh would experience a surplus in five four of the five years coming up. Uh that would be fiscal year 27 to 31. uh it would go from 180,000 cumulative surplus in fiscal year 26 to a 948,000 surplus in fiscal year 31. And all of those years except one would um or except two would be uh years with surplus. There'll be two years which is fiscal year 28 and 29 that would have a deficit but the cumulative surplus would still be positive all except for one of those years and that would be by using the rates that are being proposed as well as keeping those rates constant over those four years. So I don't see any large increases unless something else takes place over that fiveyear that's unexpected at this time. I think you Jamie in your last email you had said you put in rates increasing for the utility fund and the treatment plant

by one and a half and 4% or something. I originally put a uh increase in in my analysis but when I came down to it we had the surplus to even cover the additional capital expenditures in fiscal year 28 and 29 in the treatment plant. there's some large expenses there that carry over into utility funds. So I actually back that out. So when you look at the utility fund revenues for uh the water, the sewer rates and the fix rates, I have them showing as constant. We still generate those uh surpluses over that time. Um you know so you know I think uh you know we reflect the salaries accurately for utility fund you know based on the analysis I think that's a fair assessment of what should be uh uh allocated to the utility fund and I think with the rate structure that's being uh proposed you know which I assume you all will discuss somewhat um you know that'll bring in enough revenues to fund the uh utility fund in full and generate a surplus over the next five years. Uh and that should continue but you know based on uh current estimates

and I I'll say this sheet here uh was like kind of my cheat sheet on how because the the model was so cumbersome to understand. I had just created is very simple water, sewer, and then where's the break even point and then to to Dan's point um trying to understand what increases would look like because we did see a huge spike over the last year in costs. Uh but I put one and a half% on I think water and a 3% or no, excuse me, 3% on water and one and a half% on sewer. Uh but I do think ultimately we just it is a part of our requirement in the budget. we're just going to have to assess it annually like we would as part of the budget just because even those numbers are significantly lower than the national average of increases uh every year. So I just it just is on us to understand if we're projecting like if chemicals spike or something like that we

that would be more of a minor tweak rather Yeah. Yeah. It would be, yeah, it'd be instead of maybe four or five cents, it's like a 8 cent increase or something like that, depending on on which direction. But it's just something for us to assess and I think it'd be based off of input from Josh and and and whatever we think. Yeah.

Yeah. I would like to um request that we send out a letter to each customer letting them know what we're doing, our rates, sending it out with the next bill. So, not only do they we email it to the account holder, but everybody that is in the mailing list, we let them know one that the 20% what the price would have been without the 20% that the 20% was temporary while we did all this work. And there's been a lot of that's gone into it. But I think one of the the hard parts from all the different things that were said was the the just really caught off guard. So even though it might not be final kind of sending a letter out that that 20% discount was temporary. I think that that everyone is that's paying attention knows that that's temporary, but utility bills have gone up and stuff like that. I think this is absolutely the best that we can do, but I'd like to be a little over communicated just not too much, but just sometimes a letter and then one with the the bill just each month. So when that bill and the increase, it's as minimal as can be does arrive, it arrives um as expected as can be.

So what I hear you talking about is like a communications roll out plan for how plans to uh communicate how things are going to change moving forward. So absolutely part of that is sending out communication so people know what to expect, but the other part is communicating about Aquahawk and how the town has invested in helping people better have a have a better grasp of their water consumption. Aquahawk has tools where they're able to set up um price cap. So if you don't want your bill to go over a certain amount, you can set up alerts within Aqua Hawk that will allow you to do that. So what I hear is more about how the town plans to roll out the communications about where things are moving.

Yes, thank you. Absolutely. Uh yeah, I agree with that. Good. That's a good idea, Dan. But uh Sam, I just want to just to simplify. I think what Dan is saying is not just what the future holds and um what you can do but more of a communication of what was, what is and what will be. When I think of communication plan, I think of all of that. So, thank you for clarifying, but I think we're on the same page. So, Jamie, just want to check for the interest going into the future. You're looking at somewhere between five and 8%. Right now we're we're closer to 5% but it might be about 8% on the average. You talking about increases? Yeah, increases.

Um yeah, if you I mean if you look at the national average I think it said it was like like six to 8% across the board for for that utilities. But I I think that because we I I think that we'll be able to look at it annually and see like like through Josh what are increases of actuals uh uh and and comparing to what we really need to do.

And then with when you did you do that based on his numbers or you you introduce something else into this? uh the revenues I used were based on his tears and numbers that he passed out in December and you know I applied that over the five-year period. I originally included a increase each year a small increase but after I pulled in all the expenditure numbers uh I don't see that we need an increase over that five years. So I think rates should stay relatively constant uh yeartoyear you know we'll re-evaluate make sure that's the case but from my analysis you know it looks like once we have you know initiate the the starting rates over the five years you know we should be able to cover the costs even including those two years in fiscal year 28 and 29 where we're projected to have some large uh improvements done in the treatment plant that we pay our share of the cost that we won't even have to borrow for that which is something we had talked about

and Anthony sweet

oh I don't mean to cut you and that was exactly why I built that cheat sheet because no matter when I was playing with the rates I always was either way under or way over but as soon as I did like a five-year look at a time be you know because we're adding capital projects or we're finishing a debt service that we have there's going to be some fluctuation and there's no way to have cons you know the idea was how do we have consistency and there was no way to have that consistenc consistency when you remove a debt service for one year, but then two years down the road you add, you know, a half a million dollars projected in debt services or something like that, your your rates would just go like this. So I that that was my recommendation is stop looking at it just one year at a time and really, you know, three to five years at a time. So you have some cumulative.

Well, so my my only reason for asking both of you that is because I don't want the town in the future to get into a place where there were no rate increases happening, even smaller ones, and then all of a sudden boom, somebody says, "Boom, we need to raise it up to this to be able to tweak it." Yeah. Yeah. And it's a good point, but and Jamie already touched on this, it's our responsibility as a council every single year to evaluate this and make a decision and vote on rates deliberately every year. So, we've got that opportunity to do

not agree with you more. Yeah, I think the fact that we were able to keep the fund self- sustaining and lower the increase by about 30% from 2024 is is huge. That's a huge win. I know we've been going back and forth on this for almost a year now. So, it'll be a huge win to get this behind us and get it locked in. So, great job to everybody. Well, I Yeah, thank you for that, Eric. I do I do want to uh caution. I would please don't make announcements on any kind of like uh

the decreases versus different years just because the we're gonna have to massage how we communicate it because when we start talking the percentages it's depending on the lens that you're looking at it from and it can get somebody could easily get very confused and I and when I was talking with Sam about the comm's plan because we had a very thorough discussion about that it was how do we make it as simple as possible so everybody really actually understands what the impact is to them. Uh so just you know my this sheet that I put in here for us is is more like so we have some awareness that you you are seeing some kind of difference but um it could even I got confused for a little bit on this so I'm not a mathematician.

Great. Well, and Jamie, I I I thank you and Dan for and everybody that's been involved in in and working on this for over a year now. And uh it's it's really uh it's it it's really encouraging that we have a council that is able to tackle these difficult subjects and and and come to the best solutions for uh uh for the for the citizens of the town, the council and the staff. So, thank you very much. Please.

Um, so I appreciate that we are recognizing the need for sustainability. That's that's a huge win in of itself. Um, and we do need to do that. So, I'm glad we're doing that. Um I'm a little disappointed that if we are considering um revising upwards from the 20% that we are keeping the tiers in the same categories because um I think there's probably a way to either add a tier or stratify the tiers that would put less of a burden on families and bring our commercial and high user partners in to help with this very huge um adjustment that we have needed to make because of the way we've been running the utility fund in the past. So, I would I would just that would be my comment. Um maybe a fifth tier could make up some of the difference and we could work with partners to acknowledge that the entire burden of needing to write this fund should not fall on only the residential families.

Yeah. I I would just um we can get you the data, but I want to say like 95% of the town is out is below the 36,000 or 36,000 gallons. I want to say it's either Yeah, it's some out. It's very very little, but I can there there is one of the slides from New Gen that shows it, but it's it's usually uh a water main leak or a water leak at somebody's house. Uh they just maybe they're filling their pool or or that and then it's a lot of the commercial uh is in that. So, I'll send you what I can find on it so you can have it.

Right. Just one one more comment on that. I do appreciate that. Um, we have recognized that the tier structure is what we needed to do to protect some of our more vulnerable UN users who who really shouldn't receive the burden of um this utility fund being sustained um their increases. But then we place the burden on only families when when we have other people we can place this burden on. And I think it would be appropriate to work with those partners and learn what they might be amicable to doing to assist with this problem. I find it entirely inappropriate that all of the burden of increasing rates and tiers and and such falls in the residential categories of users. I think that other people can pitch in a little more

comment.

Thank you for your comment. Is there any other comments or questions? All right, moving forward. Uh the SHA update link We received um a updated proposal from Rossy. Um the State Highway Administration's um reviewers have reviewed it. Um they asked us if we were if we would we would accept it. Uh it's I think it's now $68,000 is is is the estimate. And if we accept it and we are willing to move forward with it, uh they will go back and ask for a uh fee increase update to match that. So that's where we are. Um they've said they've included everything in in the in their proposal. It's still higher than our estimate. Our estimate was less than that. Um it's still more than 10% greater than our estimate. When I say our I mean our mean SHA and us um and JMT. Um but in essence what they're saying to us is if we want to accept this proposal at 608 we will be paying we being the town be paying 20% of that. uh the state would reimburse 80% of that. They are willing to go get a increase in their funding to fund that portion of it. Uh I think we've gotten generally positive signs from them. They think they could do that. Then if we want to do that to do that, they would move it forward, get their fee increase, sign a contract, and start start moving forward. So that's where we are. So that will be on the agenda for you all to provide consensus on if you want to move forward that for next Thursday.

Can we just go around and um find out where people are at with this because I was a little alarmed based on some conversations appropriate to do that at the regular meeting. Not here. I just have one um when it comes to actually build the projects is that are we going to be on for 20% of that as well?

We don't know the answer to that yet. That contract will be once so the way this way this project I say project it's the state highway administration's federal highway project system works. You fund 30% you get it approved. You fund 100% design. you get it approved and then you move on to funding bidding and building. We don't know the answer to that. Um I would presume it'd be 8020 as well, but we don't know. I can't say yes for sure. I remember the number I remember from the previous council was like around 10 million. So it was pretty high. But

so the original 30% estimate was roughly 6 million as I recall and they asked me to escalate it forward to a certain date in years and it was about 9 million by the time I finished yesterday. So that's correct.

All right. Can I just comment because I a lot of my fellow councilmen are difficult to reach and if this is coming on the agenda. Um I just want to note that Chesig Village is the one neighborhood that is not connected to the town. They have been promised a sidewalk for 12 years. Um, I don't think we want to be the type of town that doesn't connect their neighborhoods when there are plenty of revenues to consider based on price. And this project from what Wayne just said is completely actionable. is a go. It would be um all of your choice if this project dies. Um and that would be extremely unfortunate. So um I hope you'll support going forward with this project. SHA. Um, I know my neighborhood would appreciate it because we're all landlocked and we venturing out of our neighborhood is extremely dangerous. Um, and I would like to say that I appreciate the talent administration moving this to a place where this council can vote. So if anybody has any question as to whether that I think um one council person said they wanted to see a study that a certain number of people would be using this sidewalk. I I would just point out

that this Kellum's survey had 70 people. Um, I think it's well well documented that um our neighborhood needs and wants a sidewalk and um I I hope you'll support going forward with SHA. Would you all please answer the phone when Lori calls since you being hard to reach? I haven't gotten a call. So, I will answer the call if you call. I will I'm going to feed into this though because because you were explicitly you could have just said me. uh because you asked me would you person that wanted

yeah but when you're the moment you're talking about you said if you would say this on the dis and I told you I will always say what I actually believe and my question has always come back to I'm not against the sidewalk by any stretch my question comes back to cost versus the user so if we're talking millions and millions of dollars I just want to understand that people are going to use it and it's the most appropriate use of the funds of our town taxpayers because while yes I would love to connect Chesapeake Village. We are a council that supports the entire community and not just one neighborhood. The same thing goes when we talk Cox Road and sidewalks there. Like I would love to have a sidewalk that goes in front of John Evans house that would connect Heritage Woods. So my kids don't have to walk down a very dangerous road to go to the other neighborhoods because they can't do that today. They have to walk down a very dangerous road as well. Cox Road is is not safe. So, they are not Heritage Woods is also not connected to uh these other locations. But again, I just want to be very cautious if we're talking millions and millions of dollars for a sidewalk for a neighborhood. I think it is appropriate for us to understand the usage of said sidewalk for the So, I will say that loudly.

Oh, well, I'm not looking for I don't need to answer. I'm just letting you know. Okay. My Okay. I mean, let's let's move on. Um all right, next uh next item on the agenda um is celebrate the trails day. Laura,

oh um my committee has discovered that uh we've been looking for partnerships and there is a great opportunity to partner with the Rails to Trails Conservancy. Um, and this is the organization that essentially is is building rail trails all across the United States. And they have a day that they've designated. It's a national day that they celebrate as celebrate trails day. It's the fourth Saturday of April and it's April 25th this year. Um, so what my committee would like to do is designate this day as a day in Chesapeake Beach and celebrate it. And this year, that weekend falls after a very important event at the Rod and Ree. So, we um don't plan on using staff this year. Uh we just want to celebrate it. We want to put it on the calendar um as a day for Chesapeake Beach to celebrate because we do have a rail trail and um and then celebrate it each year after that. And I I kind of like the idea that we're not going to have it be a cookie cutter celebration that we can flex it and do it differently each year and allow the the committee and the public and and allow whatever's going on rel related to trails each year dictate what that celebration is. So maybe you know this year it would be very small but maybe in a future year it's a big celebration. And so, um, that's what we want to do. And, um, the Rails Trails Conservancy, uh, will support us with infographics and signs and some other things. And all they ask is that we tell them how we're celebrating and we share our pictures of that celebration and we just celebrate that day with them. So, um, but I would

like to use their, um, proclamation template that they provide and bring it to council to actually name the day in our town. Um, so that's what would come before you guys. Um, hopefully next next meeting if possible. Um but that's what we're looking to do and and it very low effort especially this year because we'll just be on the railway trail. Um celebrating trails showing the value of trails. We will not be using any staff this year unless somebody wants to you know ramp up this this event. But um I don't want to make the staff work every every weekend in April. So um we're happy to make it very low-key this time. So um that's what we're looking at. And I hope that maybe by then we'd be celebrating the uh rail trail RFP

that we've had with the town for a while. So that would be something else we could highlight to the community if it comes to fruition. What um what weekend was that? The fourth weekend in April. 25th. Okay. 25th. April 25th. So what exactly would you be planning to do that day? 22nd. So um it's a little far out and we have um what what we put together for Smelia to vet in relation to town staff is just this is the loweffort version. This is

a little bit more effort. Um the Rails to Trails Conservancy has a lot of um infographics and things like that. So the idea would be would we would come to the trail, we'd celebrate it, pass out some things. I had I I don't want to like get into exact specifics because uh we probably pass something out, you know, some some kind of memorabilia for the first annual um celebrate Trails Day in Chesapeake Beach is is the general idea and then um go from there. It' be different every single year depending on what's going on. Well, I truly appreciate that effort. As you know, um I spent 22 years advocating for the Chesake Beach Railway Trail and I was the lead person that managed to actually uh make it happen. And I'm not saying that to glorify myself. I'm just saying that a lot of work uh has already gone into it. And uh because of that um I am in full support of anything that we do to celebrate um the Chesapeake Beach Railway Trail and and I really want to get with you and let's work together to ex at least extend it to the town limits. And so I I mean I think the council is in complete agreement that we want to do that. Um, and as I've shared with you many times before, it was the critical area commission that made us stop where we did, which was ridiculous. And, um, uh, of course, the people that were on the critical area commission when we did that 20 some odd years ago are are all gone now, are not there anymore. Um, but I think that, uh, it's it will it will take a a fair bit of

effort to extend it around the curve. Um, and I'm just basing that on my prior experience that it took 22 years to get it to and you were Yeah. 22 years to get it going the first time. So, I'm anxious to work with you on that and with your your committee and let's let's make that happen. And then the next bigger picture is take it out of the town and further uh through the county up toward Route 260, the where the overpass is. Um, and that is going to be another huge challenge because of property ownership and I know there's a right of way there. Um, but it's those are those are challenges and uh but if we focus appropriately on that I I feel like we can, you know, we can we can make some progress. I really and I love the idea. I mean, and if you haven't read the book, the Ches Peak Beach Railway a Railroad, um, read the book. I mean, because it talks about it all the way. And every time you drive up and down 260, once you go around the turn and it gets to two lanes before you get to Route 4, that's the railroad rightway. And so, um, and I, when I was younger and more able, walked most of the rightway all the way up to Upper Malboro. And as you're driving up Route 4 in the wintertime and you look on the right, just after you go across the river, you'll see the trail, you'll see the cut in the hill, which was the Chesake Beach Railroad. And uh so it's it's a heck of a history and uh um we we just need to move it forward. Yes, I'm with you.

Is isn't when you come across four on the 260 the old the concrete pillars that was one of the historical parts of that, right? Yeah. You can still see it there, right? There's two of them there. You can see them in the winter time and in the summertime they're all covered up with foilage. That was the winter time. You can still see it now. I was there. There's two of them there. Yeah, there's two of them there. Thank Thank you, Mayor. I'm excited to work with you on this. Absolutely. I mean, it's been a passion of mine for I've lived here for over 40 years now. It's been a passion of mine since the day I set foot in this town. Okay. Well, I I am I'm excited and uh

Well, let's get together and let's get this rolling. All right. Is there anything else that anybody has for the good of the order? Uh, Valentine's Day. Yeah. Is there a motion for adjournment? But before we get that out the door, go to the conference room. Second move to approve. Move to adjourn. Okay. Second. All in favor? I. I. Let's have cake. Thank you all. Good meeting. Yeah, pretty good.