Live Blog Town of Leesburg Council April 26

Update 9: 35 p.m.: The council then had a public hearing on the 2010 batch amendments to the zoning ordinance.

Zoning Administrator Chris Murphy said batch amendment process exists to correct errors staff finds in every day usage of the ordinance or make changes mandated by state or local government. “These are the simple things,” Murphy said. “We try to bring them to you on a yearly basis. These are a little late‑ they’re the 2010 amendments, but here we go.”

One question council members had was what fundamental difference a “brewpub” has from a restaurant.

Murphy said it was simple: the brewing process. Because a brewpub brews beer on premises, the hops wheat and barley require storage, processing and disposal. Regulations that would be added would describe the correct methods of storage, processing and disposal, he said.

The public hearing was closed, and no one spoke.

The council members present adopted the amendments, with some changes, unaninmously, with Council Member David Butler dissenting and Martinez absent.

The council’s last agenda item was setting its meeting schedule for fiscal year 2012.

Update 8:25 p.m.: The Council held a public hearing on water and service charges, with regards to “snow birds,” or residents of town that leave for the winter.

Norm Butts, director of the town’s Finance Department, said the winter quarter is a very important item in our utility billing and collection system, because it establishes the threshold for high-use surcharge (of 45 percent). What happens in the winter quarter is that “snow birds” use very little water during this time, therefore they could incur this surcharge very easily once they return, according to staff.

“Probably after the first shower,” said Vice Mayor Kevin D. Wright.

Butts said staff will come up with a figure so that customers who have a one-time situation where they are out of town during this quarter can have their surcharge threshold based on historical data, or base it on a commonly recognized figure – for a two person household this would be 18,000 gallons.

No members of the public spoke out about this issue.

Council Member Kenneth “Ken” Reid said he had no problem dealing with customers on a case-by-case basis, but the council should revisit this issue in March of 2012.

The council members present voted unanimously to support this measure, with Council Member Fernando “Marty” Martinez absent.

Original post 8 p.m.: The Council recognized participants in the Special Olympics Basketball Championships, Cyber Security Forum organizers, Tolbert Award Winners and a proclamation for Preservation Week. Video and photos will be posted tomorrow.