AGENDA #8

 

Friday, February 28, 2003

Engineering Department

Initial Budget Presentation to the Mayor and Town Council

FY 2003-2004

 

MISSION STATEMENT

 

The mission of the Engineering Department is to provide technical expertise, guidance, perspective and products necessary to create and support safe, effective, efficient and quality facilities, services and operations for the Town of Chapel Hill.

 

KEY OBJECTIVES FOR 2003-2004

 

To provide timely, consistent, thorough reviews and construction supervision of both public and private development projects.  (Special Focus:  Administration and implementation of new Land Use Management Ordinance regulations.)

 

To administer a comprehensive Stormwater Management Program which addresses community stormwater quantity and quality issues.  (Special Focus:  Develop and implement a local Stormwater Utility.)

 

To manage, operate, and maintain a computerized traffic signal system in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.  (Special Focus:  Coordination of feasibility study for traffic signal system upgrade project.)

 

To expand and improve in-house land surveying and engineering design services necessary for developing Town improvement projects.  (Special Focus:  Improve and expand computer-aided design and drafting capabilities.)

 

To develop, coordinate, and manage a comprehensive Townwide Geographic Information System. (Special Focus:  Incorporate new aerial photography data into G.I.S.; map streams and drainage infrastructure Townwide.)

 

 

KEY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT SERVICES

 

·                    Management and development of the Stormwater Management Program regarding water quantity and quality.  Provision of comprehensive stormwater and drainage engineering services.

·                    Operation and management of the computerized traffic signal system in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.  Provision of comprehensive traffic engineering services.

·                    Development and administration of the Geographic Information System (G.I.S.) and associated data-sharing network.  Provision of comprehensive G.I.S. training and services.

 

·                    Provision of comprehensive and timely review of development and redevelopment proposals.

·                    Provision of land surveying services including boundary, construction, and as-built surveys in addition to land records research.

·                    Provision of engineering design services and construction supervision on capital improvement projects and associated public infrastructure improvements.

 

ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REVENUE SUMMARY

 

           

We project total fiscal year 2003-2004 Engineering Department revenues to be approximately equal to projected 2002-2003 revenues.  We do not anticipate significant changes in either engineering permit or cemetery sales activity during the coming year, and these are the primary revenue sources in the Engineering Department.

 

It is possible that we will realize some additional revenues in FY 2003-2004 from automated enforcement of red-light violations and if a stormwater utility is implemented before the end of the fiscal year.

 

ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OPERATING BUDGET SUMMARY

Budget Category	2002-2003 Original Budget	Requested 2003-2004 Budget
Personnel	825,951	837,492
Operations	113,491	107,946
Capital Equipment	-0-	-0-
TOTAL	939,442	945,438

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We think that Engineering Department operating costs will be similar in the coming year to those we are experiencing this year.  If additional staff are approved for development review and traffic engineering, as requested, our personnel budget will increase next year.

 

Departmental programs in all major responsibility areas are providing high quality, timely services.  Additional staff resources are needed to maintain quality service levels relating to development review and our capability to effectively implement and enforce the new Land Use Management Ordinance regulations; and with regard to provision of technical Traffic Engineering services.  These two service categories are growing rapidly and each is currently staffed with only a single person to handle both major and minor responsibilities. 

 

We are requesting the following staff additions in the Engineering Department:

 

ADD LIST

 

 

First Priority:                 Add Development Review Technician per following detail sheet.

                                    (Pay Grade Range 35 – Job Rate $40,478)

 

Salary and Benefits........................................................... $51,800

Furniture and Equipment...................................................     4,000

                                                                                         $55,800

 

Second Priority:            Add Traffic Engineering Technician per following detail sheet.

                                    (Pay Grade Range 29-31) – Job Rate $31,715

 

Salary and Benefits........................................................... $40,600

Furniture and Equipment...................................................     4,000

                                                                                         $44,600

(Please see the attached personnel detail sheets.)

 

BUDGET REDUCTION DISCUSSION

 

Because of the potential for continued fiscal constraints in the coming year, all Department Heads were asked by the Manager to identify potential means to achieve a 5% reduction from currently approved departmental base budgets.

 

5% of the Engineering Department FY 2002-2003 total base budget of $939,442 amounts to $46,972.  The only practical means to achieve a 5% reduction in the Engineering Department budget would involve reducing paid hours for some current full-time positions.  Such reductions in paid working hours would result in equivalent reductions in departmental service levels, but would not eliminate any programs or services currently being provided by the Engineering Department.

 

Reducing the Engineering Coordinator position from full-time to half-time would yield annual salary savings of approximately $27,000.  Reducing the G.I.S. Technician position from full-time to half-time would yield annual salary savings of approximately $18,500.  The combined reduction in Engineering Department salaries would be approximately 5% of our FY 2002-2003 total base budget.

 

FORM  2                                      PERSONAL  SERVICES  APPROPRIATION  REQUEST       FY 2003-2004                              PAGE 1 OF 1
FUND	ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT	DIVISION	ACCOUNT CODE 10270-50100
POSITION CLASSIFICATION TITLE		JUSTIFICATION
* ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN (DEVELOPMENT REVIEW):               Pay Grade 35                                                    (Job Rate $40,478)         NATURE OF WORK:                 Take lead role in review of new development and redevelopment applications for compliance with requirements of Land Use Management Ordinance.		The Town’s new Land Use Management Ordinance significantly increases the number and types of requirements for approval of new development applications.  Additional staff is necessary to review applications in a thorough and timely way.       ESTIMATED COST FOR NEW POSITION:                 SALARY AND BENEFITS:.................................. $51,800             FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT:....................... $ 4,000             VEHICLE:...............................................................       N/A

 

 

 

	OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT:                                             ENGINEERING.....$55,800
FORM  2                                      PERSONAL  SERVICES  APPROPRIATION  REQUEST       FY 2003-2004                              PAGE 1 OF 1
FUND		ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT	DIVISION	ACCOUNT CODE 10270-50100
POSITION CLASSIFICATION TITLE			JUSTIFICATION
* ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN (TRAFFIC):           Pay Grade Range 29-31                                                  (Job Rate $31,715)         NATURE OF WORK:                 Assist Traffic Engineer with investigation and resolution of requests for assistance, plan and report reviews for new development, preparation of reports and agenda items, development of traffic calming plans, field review of signal, signs, and markings work, perform traffic counts, perform intersection analyses.			The increasing size of complexity of the Town’s Traffic Control System in conjunction with responsibilities associated with Traffic Impact Statement review, traffic calming, bicycle and pedestrian accommodation, and high levels of citizen requests for assistance have overloaded our Traffic Engineer.  A technician assistant is necessary to share the work.     ESTIMATED COST FOR NEW POSITION:               SALARY AND BENEFITS:.................................. $40,600             FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT:....................... $ 4,000             VEHICLE:...............................................................       N/A