Mayor & Council

MINUTES Town of Smyrna Council Meeting Bi-Monthly Meeting Tuesday, September 3, 2024, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Hybrid MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING by teleconference by calling 1-301-715-8592 and entering Meeting ID number: Passcode: or by visiting Join Zoom meeting at: 1. 7:00 PM - Call to order Zoom issues. Danielle visually saw the Mayor call the meeting to order and have everyone stand for the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:00 p.m. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Roll call Zoom issues, (microphones not working). Danielle did this visually and all were present. 4. Additions/deletions to the published agenda Zoom issues, (microphones not working). Danielle was not present if/when this was done. 5. Consent agenda a. Workshop minutes of 8/19/2024 Zoom issues, (microphones not working). Danielle was not present if/when this was done. b. Council minutes of 8/19/2024 Zoom issues, (microphones not working). Danielle was not present if/when this was done. c. Executive session minutes of 8/19/2024 Zoom issues, (microphones not working). Danielle was not present if/when this was done. 6. Non-agenda items a. Mayor and Council members Zoom issues, (microphones not working). Danielle was not present if/when this was done. b. Police Chief Zoom issues, (microphones not working). Danielle was not present if/when this was done. c. Town Manager Zoom issues, (microphones not working). Danielle was not present if/when this was done. 7. Old business, including discussion and possible action on the following items: a. Second reading of Ord. 011-24 to amend Chapter 32, (Impact Fees), of the Town Code to adjust the amount charged for Fire Protection Impact Fees and Ambulance Service Impact Fees Danielle joined the meeting in-person. Vice Mayor Rasmussen motioned to void the second reading and make this the third reading due to pending State applications. Councilwoman Gott seconded.  Vice Mayor Rasmussen motioned to make this the third reading. Councilman Pressley second. All approved. No discussion had. 8. New business, including discussion and possible action on the following items: a. Review of Economic Development incentives that were brought up during Ord. 012-24 reading Councilwoman Gott began, stating that a 50% decrease of fees after raise taxes is not an option, but wanted to hear what the options could be. Councilman Pressley said that this is just an option. Councilwoman Gott said that we have to be consistent or we'll have legal issues. Vice Mayor Rasmussen said this is why this is going to Town Code. There are specific incentives and read from Article 22. There are waivers and we use the State's metrics. There is a minimum investment of $5.7 million before they would reach the 50%. Councilwoman Gott was concerned about business retainment and with some having come and gone, what could have been collected. There was overlapping discussion between Vice Mayor Rasmussen, Councilman Pressley and Councilman Pope about specifics and qualifications, as well as just general issues about the 50% waiver. Town Solicitor B. Edwards reminded everyone that this money is collected and then given to Fire and Ambulance Services. Councilwoman Gott asked if there have been any studies done; even by other municipalities, and if so she would like to see those results. Town Solicitor B. Edwards talked about the money that could be collected; $37,000-150,000 ends up growing to $300-400,000. He continued and said that impact fees are active, but the incentives may just need updating. Councilwoman Gott said she just wanted to know where the money is coming from and going. Vice Mayor Rasmussen agreed and said that the incentives should be looked at every 2-3 years. Town Solicitor B. Edwards said there are lots of variable and taking too little or too much could vacate the business park. Mayor Johnson said that the Town shouldn't burden the citizens. Vice Mayor Rasmussen followed up on that saying that the town is citizen-heavy; almost 70%. We need to be more 60/40 [citizen/business] for tax revenue. Councilman Pressley agreed and said this is why this is needed. Town Solicitor B. Edwards asked them to think about property taxes revenue on a large industrial building. Vice Mayor Rasmussen said that those businesses are committed to the long run. Councilwoman Gott said that she wants to see the monetary differences and maybe re-evaluate the incentives. Councilman Pressley mentioned about the business park idea being shut down twice in the past before KRM came back and starting building, [Duck Creek Business Park].  Town Solicitor B. Edwards replied to Councilwoman Gott and said that City Planning Directory Jeremy Rothwell could probably put something together. Vice Mayor Rasmussen responded to an overlapping conversation, saying that these incentives are applicable mainly to KRM businesses, [Duck Creek Business Park]. Town Solicitor B. Edwards said that business are looking at municipalities and seeing what are the best deals for them. Councilwoman Gott said she would like to see what other cities are proposing to businesses. b. First reading of Ord. 013-24 to amend Chapter 2, (Administration), Article III, (Finance), Division 1, (Generally) to clarify how the capital reserve account is calculated Town Solicitor B. Edwards suggested to Council on waiving the 3 readings as this Ordinance is clarifying a previous ordinance. Councilman Pope motioned to waive the 3 readings, making this the final reading to adopt. Councilwoman Gott motioned to approve this as third and final reading. All approved. There was no discussion had. c. Dover/Kent Metropolitan Planning Organization presentation Marilyn Smith, Executive Director, from the Dover/Kent Metropolitan Planning Organization, (MPO), presented. She talked about the MTP and CTP projects and why they matter to municipalities. DelDOT develops a 6-year Capital Transportation Program, (CTP), every 2 years, which helps identify anticipated capital investments. The CPT program is in cooperation with the MPOs and it provides capital and maintenance programs and estimated cost expenditures. She went over the 2024 calendar and announced upcoming public workshops: Sept. 16 at Milford Public Works building from 5p-7, Sept. 17 at Citizen Hose in Smyrna from 6p-8p, and Sept. 18 at Camden Town Hall from 6p-8p. Councilwoman Gott asked if she was okay with the information being shared on our Town Tidbits e-newsletter. She handed Danielle a print copy of the presentation to share. 9. Presentation and public comments (3 minutes) Pastor Dave Souder with the Smyrna Wesleyan Church asking for help with payment from a sewer backup that occurred a year ago on 8/21/2023. It was confirmed that the backup was not the church's fault and was told that the Town would pay, however insurance said otherwise and that the Town was not at fault. ServPro came out and cleaned. W.D. Pressley LLC gave an estimate of $75,000 to $104,000 for work. Fletchers Plumbing checked the pipes and did not find any issues/cracks. The manholes continue to come up and trucks park on top of them to keep them down. He continued, saying that they pay their bills, they are active in the community and have been since 1934, and other churches have asked for help and gotten it. Mayor Johnson asked for the itemized list for review and will have a statement from the Town in the near future. 10. Adjournment Councilman Pope motioned to adjourn. Councilwoman Gott seconded. All approved the meeting was adjourned at 7:59 p.m. Posted on 0925/2023 at 4:30 PM NOTE: This agenda as listed may not be considered in sequence. This agenda is subject to change to include additional items, including Executive Sessions, and/or deletion of items, including Executive Sessions that arise at time of meeting.