SUMMARY MINUTES OF PUBLIC HEARING
OF THE CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1999 AT 7:00 P.M.
Mayor Waldorf called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Council Members in attendance were Flicka Bateman, Joyce Brown, Kevin Foy, Julie McClintock, Lee Pavăo and Edith Wiggins. Council Members absent, excused were Joe Capowski and Pat Evans. Staff members in attendance were Town Manager Cal Horton, Town Attorney Ralph Karpinos, Assistant Town Managers Sonna Loewenthal and Florentine Miller, Finance Director James Baker, Assistant to the Manager Ruffin Hall, Personnel Director Pat Thomas, Fire Chief Dan Jones, Assistant Fire Chief Robert Bosworth, and Acting Clerk Toni Pendergraph.
Item 1—Initial Public Forum on the Annual Budget, Capital Program, Use of Grants, Related Items and Legislative Requests
Town Manager Cal Horton said that he was pleased that several firefighters and other Town employees had taken the time to participate in the Council’s process by attending this hearing.
Mr. Horton said that the reason for the Public Hearing was for the Council to hear and receive comments from citizens regarding any one or more of the forum topics on this evening’s agenda. He said that the forum provided an opportunity for citizens to comment on any aspect of the Town’s projected budget for fiscal year 1999-2000, to begin on July 1, 1999. Mr. Horton noted that the Annual Budget included primarily operating costs to provide for public services and administration. He said that the topics for the forum included: the Annual Budget, Capital Program, Community Development Grant, Comprehensive Grant, HOME Grant, Transportation Grants, Downtown Service District, Legislative Requests, and an additional topic this year, the Pay System.
Finance Director James Baker discussed the key forecast items in the proposed operating budget. He said that the reports in the Council’s packet projected revenues and costs for major funds for the next five years. Mr. Baker said that the projections were based on current services and positions, but did not include any new programs or new positions. He said that the preliminary forecast expressed the difference between revenues and expenditures as potential tax rate equivalents, with 1 cent of the tax rate on the estimated tax base equal to about $290,000 in 1999-2000. Mr. Baker said that the total revenues projected for this year would exceed the budget estimates by about $450,000, due primarily to estimated revenues exceeding the original budget estimates for property taxes, sales taxes, and building inspection and related permits, because of the extensive building during the year. He said that expenditures were expected to be at least $400,000 less than budgeted. Mr. Baker noted that the $800,000 appropriated for the current year would probably not be used, and would be available to balance next year’s budget. He said that the difference between revenues and expenditures for 1999-2000 is a tax-rate equivalent of 3.2 cents to fund the current services and programs and estimated additional costs. Mr. Baker said that the major components comprised a net increase in additional debt service costs of $318,000; $120,000 in projected increases in Landfill charges; initiation of an annual contribution of $100,000 for the neighborhood sewer assistance program; an additional $50,000 allocation for capital equipment replacement; and funding necessary to provide employee compensation adjustments next year. He said that potential compensation adjustments for the new pay plan implementation were 5%. Mr. Baker said that additional Debt Service Costs of $318,000 would be a tax rate equivalent of 1.1 cent. He said that these projections were preliminary and subject to change, as all departmental requests had not yet been received. Mr. Baker noted that the projections only included continuing the current services, not projected new programs or positions. He said the recommendation for no tax increase for the Transportation Fund was subject to change based on the final federal and State funding assistance for the Transit system. Mr. Baker said that an additional increase to $6 per ton tipping fee was projected for the Landfill Fund, until management of the Landfill was transferred to Orange County in October, 1999. He said that an increase in parking fees for the Parking Fund might have to be considered to ensure adequate funding for maintenance costs in future years. Mr. Baker said that the detailed tables in the Council’s packet supported these forecasts.
Mr. Roland Giduz spoke with reference to an Entertainment Tax. He said that he felt the Council should request the authority to assess a Luxury Tax on big-ticket items such as events, with attendance of more than 15,000, at the Dean Smith Student Activity Center and Kenan Stadium. Mr. Giduz said that he felt that a $1 tax per person, excluding students, would be a fair source of revenue, and could be used to fund the Chapel Hill bus system. He noted that the Council had proposed this to the legislature two years ago, but nothing came of it. Mr. Giduz said that the University was opposed to the tax.
Council Member McClintock asked if Mr. Giduz could suggest any ways to get this through the legislature. Mr. Giduz said that it would be beneficial for the University also because it would relieve the pressure for their contribution to the transit system.
Council Member Bateman wondered if the Council could get some endorsement from the University.
Mr. Will Alexander, Case Manager and Program Director for Community Cuisine, a non-profit social service organization serving economically disadvantaged adults and at-risk youth, requested $37,500 in funds from the Community Development Block Grant. He said that he had delivered a packet of information and grant request to the Council. Mr. Alexander also said that the organization had planned some activities to raise revenues.
Council Member Brown asked where the organization was located and what kind of success they had had in placing the participants for employment. Mr. Alexander said that two churches—the United Church of Christ and the University United Methodist Church—had kitchens where their participants worked, although they had outgrown the kitchen of the United Church, and were presently only using the United Methodist Church. He said that they had placed at least one-half of the class members, usually a total of 12 participants in a class. Mr. Alexander noted that he also worked at the Interfaith Shelter, and encouraged occupants to take part in the program.
Council Member McClintock thought it would be a good idea to submit a request to the Social Service Committee. Mr. Horton said that the request could be considered under both programs, either the Community Development Program or the Human Services Advisory Board.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCCLINTOCK MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FOY, TO REFER THE REQUEST TO BOTH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND THE HUMAN SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD. THE MOTION WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY (7-0).
Mr. Michael Ullman, of Community Cuisine, thanked the Council for its support and said he planned to submit a request to the Human Services Advisory Board. He said that he also had some requests as a private citizen. Mr. Ullman requested funds to renovate and repair the kitchen at Hargraves Center. He felt that a sidewalk was needed as a pathway down from Umstead Road to Pritchard Park. Mr. Ullman also requested that the Town look into the dangerous traffic situation at the intersection of Umstead Road and Airport Road, and asked if it could be graded differently to make it less dangerous.
Ms. Pat Connolly, of Orange-Person-Chatham (OPC) Mental Health, addressed the Council with a request for $150,000 to purchase and renovate homes for special needs citizens, people with disabilities, in a partnership with Orange Community Housing. She said that the Council had been supportive of the organization in past years, but that last year the Council had allocated no money for their program. Ms. Connolly said that with past funds the organization had been able to purchase three condominiums in Old Well Condominium and this had worked well. She noted that the three people living there were living very productive lives.
Mayor Waldorf asked if she was making the same requests of the County and Carrboro. Ms. Connolly responded that she was.
Mayor Waldorf asked how the people in the project were managed or supervised. Ms. Connolly said that they each had a case manager.
Council Member Foy asked if there were residences other than the one mentioned. Ms. Connolly said there were, that she also worked in Person and Chatham Counties as well.
Council Member Foy asked how many residents were in Orange County. Ms. Connolly said that was hard to answer, that she worked in partnership with Orange Community Housing. She said that there were others who needed assistance with rents.
Mayor Waldorf said that there was a wide array of special needs, and asked what the needs were of the people with whom Ms. Connolly worked. Ms. Connolly said the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, and substance abusers was the population she worked with.
Council Member Bateman asked if the homes were transitional. Ms. Connolly said that the homes were permanent. She said that there was a great effort to prevent these residents from going back to their old environments.
Council Member Brown asked in whose name the property was purchased. Ms. Connolly said that the property was purchased in the Orange Community Housing’s name, that it was a joint partnership, and was only for OPC people.
Council Member Brown asked who was responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the property, and if she had any property in mind for the requested funds. Ms. Connolly said that it was the responsibility of OPC and that she did not have any special property in mind.
Mr. John Ryan, Chairman of the Board of TaxWatch, said that he had intended to speak on the proposed salary increases, but had been informed that Mr. Horton would be addressing that matter later, so he would wait for that report. On a second matter, he asked the Council to balance residential and commercial development and the resulting additional necessary infrastructure and amenities required.
Lieutenant Tim Pressley, Chapel Hill Police Department, said that he generally supported the new pay plan, but he had a few concerns. He referred to the charts, handouts for the Council, which diagrammed how a new lieutenant and a new sergeant were almost the highest paid for their rank. Lieutenant Pressley said that he had concerns about: (1) when he was promoted to Lieutenant he was told that he would never be eligible for an “Outstanding Evaluation,” because those were reserved for lower-ranked employees; (2) those officers who jumped rank were paid the same 5% they would have had they been promoted in order; and (3) those officers who had more experience were passed over for salary increases, while less experienced officers received an initial salary, and after six months, an additional increase.
Council Member McClintock asked the Manager to prepare a response to these concerns.
Mr. Robert Dowling, Executive Director of Orange Community Housing Corporation, thanked the Council for their support last year and said that he was asking for funds for two projects this year, affordable housing on Scarlette Drive and at Meadowmont. He said that affordable housing was for those people earning 80% or less than the area median income, which is $35,000 for a family of two. Mr. Dowling said that for Scarlette Drive the total cost for 14 units would be $115,000 per unit, subsidy needed $26,000; for Meadowmont, total cost for 32 units would be $112,000 per unit, subsidy needed $28,000. He said they would need subsidies from many sources and that he was not asking for a dollar amount.
Mayor Waldorf asked if he was also applying to Orange County and Carrboro. Mr. Dowling said that he was.
Council Member Bateman asked about the availability fees for water and sewer. Mr. Dowling said the OWASA fees would be $2,500 per unit.
Council Member Foy asked what the square footage on the units was, and if they were both in the Land Trust. Mr. Dowling said that for Scarlette Drive the average figure for most units was 1,040 square feet. He said that Scarlette Drive was in the Land Trust, but Meadowmont was not.
Council Member Foy asked what would preserve the affordability in the long run. Mr. Dowling answered deed restrictions.
Council Member McClintock asked if the Meadowmont units would be townhomes. Mr. Dowling said they would be and similar in size to the Scarlette Drive units.
Council Member McClintock asked if the Town would be getting any subsidy from the Meadowmont developer. Mr. Horton said that the land developer would make the land available at a reduced cost.
Council Member McClintock asked what the price was for each lot. Mr. Dowling said that he had estimated $2,500 for each Meadowmont unit lot, 2.12 acres, and that the developer would be willing to work with him.
Council Member Brown said that the figures were conjecture, and asked if they had actually negotiated the figures yet. Mr. Dowling said that the figures could not go any higher, because they would not be affordable.
Council Member Brown asked if Mr. Dowling was fairly certain that he would get the $3,000 impact fee back. Mr. Dowling said that he was fairly confident, but it was the County’s decision.
Council Member Wiggins asked if the OWASA fees amount accounted for the recent change in policy for lower fees. Mr. Dowling said they were. He said that the fees would be $6,500 per unit and were already figured in the budget.
Mr. Samuel Erwin, a Chapel Hill firefighter, discussed the new Occupational Safety and Health Administration “Two In and Two Out Rule” for firefighters. He said that two fire fighters may enter a burning building, but two more must remain outside. Mr. Erwin noted that if more firefighters were needed inside, those outside must wait until more personnel arrived. He said that there were not enough personnel to safely cover all the possible places, so he requested the Council to consider more staffing for the Fire Department.
Captain Douglas Cline, a Chapel Hill firefighter representing the Chapel Hill Firefighters Association, discussed the new OSHA rule and the need for more personnel. He said that the budget of the Fire Department had been well thought out and well planned, and that they had worked closely in the past with the Town Council and management. Captain Cline said that he felt the requests were valid. He said that the Association supported the new pay plan and he thanked the Council. Captain Cline said that the OSHA ruling was designed to prevent deaths among firefighters.
Mr. Miles Pressler, of EmPOWERment, Inc., thanked the Council for its help in preserving single-family neighborhoods and requested funds to buy and refurbish two existing apartment buildings in Northside and in Carr Court. He said that they proposed to build 19 units. Mr. Pressler said that the owner of the buildings was willing to work with his organization. He requested $200,000 in Home Funds and $175,000 in Community Block Grant Funds for the projects. Mr. Pressler said that he would also take his request to Carrboro.
Mr. Chris Rice, representing the West Franklin Street Merchants, thanked the Council for its past support and requested $25,000 for a feasibility study for a potential joint project with the Town and the University to provide a parking facility at 140 West Rosemary Street on University-owned property.
Council Member McClintock asked if this would be a Town-owned facility. Mr. Rice said that it would be a joint venture between the Town and the University.
Council Member Bateman asked if the parking problems were as bad in the daytime as they were at night. Mr. Rice said that they were and that the merchants relied on parking in the daytime as well as in the nighttime.
Council Member McClintock asked if there would be requests from the County for funds. She said that she had visited the Skills Development Center, and there was a shortage of parking. Mr. Rice said that they would not request County funding on this particular project.
Council Member Brown asked if it was land cost or land lease. Mr. Rice said that it was land lease, adding that the study would address many of the current parking problems.
Council Member Pavăo asked what the study time-frame was. Mr. Rice said as soon as possible, as the parking problem was immediate.
Council Member Bateman asked what budget allocation time was he looking at. Mr. Rice said as soon as possible.
Ms. Alice Ingram requested $1,000,000 for connecting walkways, pathways, sidewalks and bikeways to preserve the Town as “The Town Park.”
Mr. Doug Parrish, a Chapel Hill firefighter, said that he had been employed by the Fire Department for five years and had grown up in Chapel Hill, but he was the only person in the Fire Department who owned a home in Chapel Hill. He said that he had two concerns: (1) the lack of personnel and equipment, which meant having to rely on Mutual Aid; and (2) why it was necessary to call out the most expensive fire truck for all calls, like power equipment down, grass fires, and car accidents. Mr. Parrish urged the Council to support more personnel, and more fire trucks and equipment.
Council Member Wiggins asked Mr. Parrish if he was the only one on the Fire Department to own his own home, and if there were others who lived in Chapel Hill. Mr. Parrish said that the others probably rented.
Ms. Mildred Council, owner of Dip’s Country Kitchen, a downtown restaurant, requested that the Council consider the need for affordable rental housing or boarding house rentals for single males and females in Chapel Hill so that people who work in the Town could live in the Town. She said that there are people who are willing to work and are good workers, but cannot find a place to live. Ms. Council said that she felt it would keep people off the streets, from being among the homeless, and give them the opportunity to live independently. She said that she also felt the need to teach English to non-English speaking adults, as well as to their children. Ms. Council noted that they were good workers, but could not speak English.
Captain Dace Bergen, a Chapel Hill firefighter, spoke on behalf of the middle and upper middle management Fire staff, who were not paid overtime, but did receive compensatory time, but were usually unable to use it because of staffing shortages. He also said that he was concerned about other pay discrepancies.
Council Member Bateman asked if sick days were lost or if they turned over into retirement days. Captain Bergen said that the days usually ended up as not used, because they are not called out as sick days.
Mr. Howard Baldwin, a retired Public Works employee, said that the Town would save a lot of money and free up the sanitation staff, if trash was collected only once a week in roll-out trash containers. He said that the staff would then have time to collect the leaves and brush on the streets.
Council Member Wiggins said that she supported Mr. Baldwin’s suggestions and that they should receive serious consideration.
Mr. Blair Pollock, a representative of the Bicycle Task Force, requested funds to complete the recommendations of the Task Force, including: bikepaths and sidewalks on both sides of Culbreth Road, and sidewalks and bikepaths on Legion Road, Erwin Road, Estes Drive and Downtown. He also requested pedestrian striping on all intersections of the downtown. Mr. Pollock noted that the recommendations would cost about $4.8 million, but the Town’s portion would be approximately $965,000.
Council Member Brown asked what he meant by striping. Mr. Pollock said N.C. law required drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
Council Member McClintock asked if he could submit his highest priority project. Mr. Pollock responded that it would be Estes Drive.
Mr. Clarence McAdams, a Chapel Hill Transit employee, said that the Transit employees supported the new pay plan and supported the budget proposals for salaries.
Mayor Waldorf thanked all the speakers.
Council Member McClintock pointed out the need for transitional housing in Chapel Hill and requested that the Council clearly state what the most important housing needs were.
Mayor Waldorf entered Council Member Evans’ memorandum of suggestions into the Record:
1. Continue the long term vision of a community with mature trees by again adding 200 newly planted trees in the community. Some of these trees could be located to repair stream beds and buffer areas along DOT controlled entryways.
2. Look at once-a-week back yard garbage pickup.
3. Increase funding for technology so that the agenda items could be placed on the Town’s web site before the Council meeting when the items would be discussed.
4. Review funding necessary for the production of a first-rate Comprehensive Plan in a timely manner. If additional funding was necessary to adequately inform the citizens of the issues and direction, then funding should be proposed. This might include a community newsletter and the establishment of a Comprehensive Plan web site.
5. Funding in the Downtown:
(a) Streetscape—annual budget allocation in addition to bond funding—reason is the increase in requests for additional lighting in the Streetscape improvement areas and continued safety concerns.
(b) Locate a welcome and information center. This might be incorporated in the issues of improvement and use of our “old Court House.”
(c) Funding to result in the ultimate construction of a parking deck in the West Franklin Street area. There has been an increased demand for parking due to the opening of the Skill Center on West Franklin Street.
6. Explore ways for cars that were part of the Chapel Hill community to pay for the demands that were placed on our roads. This was focused on the 15,000 or so cars that belong to students but were not registered in Orange County.
Mayor Waldorf asked how the Council wanted the Manager to handle all the suggestions. There was consensus that the response should be quick.
Mayor Waldorf suggested a discussion with the Legislative delegation regarding the possibility of a Regional Planning Agreement with the local governments in the region, particularly regarding transit and pedestrian planning, watershed protection and preservation of open space and farmland.
Council Member McClintock agreed, but her concern with the authority would be that the regions should agree on what were their shared values.
Council Member Bateman supported the idea, saying that the problems of growth were in all the jurisdictions.
Council Member Wiggins said that she felt that there was support in the legislative delegation and reported that N.C. Senator Howard Lee had recently spoken on the need for regional planning. She said that she felt it was a good direction to explore.
Council Member Foy agreed and suggested looking at programs in the State of Oregon, which he pointed out took a long time to develop.
Council Member Bateman discussed the problem of staffing at the polls during elections and suggested the possibility of changing the “Sunrise to Sunset Rule” for persons who work at the polls. She noted that there had been many complaints about the long day, and getting people to work at the polls.
Council Member Wiggins requested information from the Manager about which Town employees had worked at the polls during elections and whether they worked in Orange County.
Council Member McClintock asked what the status was of the Development Agreement with the University regarding the Horace Williams Tract. Mayor Waldorf said that she would write to the University regarding the status.
The public hearing was adjourned by consensus at 8:55 p.m.
The minutes of January 27, 1999 were adopted on the 22nd day
of March, 1999.
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Joyce A. Smith, CMC