SUMMARY OF A RETREAT HELD BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE

   TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL, SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1990, 9:00 A.M.

 

Mayor Howes welcomed all those in attendance at the retreat. He noted that another retreat could be held in the spring, if all matters were not addressed at today's session.

 

Council Members in attendance were: Julie Andresen, Joyce Brown, Joe Herzenberg, Nancy Preston, Alan Rimer, Arthur Werner and Roosevelt Wilkerson, Jr. Council Member James C. Wallace was unable to attend due to illness.

 

Also in attendance were: Interim Town Manager Sonna Loewenthal, Assistant Town Manager Florentine Miller, Public Safety Director Cal Horton, Assistant to the Town Manager Greg Feller, Planning Director Roger Waldon, Long Range Planning Coordinator Chris Berndt, Finance Director James Baker, Public Works Director Bruce Heflin, Town Engineer George Small, Transportation Director Bob Godding, and Town Attorney Ralph Karpinos.

 

Council Member Goals and Objectives

 

Council Member Preston stressed the importance of the Council dealing with current issues, rather than taking on new ones.

 

Council Member Andresen said she preferred to concentrate on the main goals of the Comprehensive Plan.

 

Council Member Preston expressed a desire to maintain good work­ing relationships between the Council and its advisory boards and commissions.

 

Council Member Andresen stated the importance of maintaining close contact with the Orange Water and Sewer Authority Board. Council Member Andresen suggested that the Council receive a re­port from the Board on a semi‑annual basis.

 

Council Member Preston suggested adjusting the Capital Improve­ments Project formula for allocating monies between roadways and sidewalks, giving greater emphasis to sidewalk improvements.

 

Council Member Andresen stated the need for an overall pedestrian circulation plan.

 

Council Member Werner stressed the need to address financial is­sues prior to initiating new projects. Council Member Rimer proposed the usage of fiscal and personnel impact statements as a decision‑making tool.

 

Overview of Town's Financial Standing

 

Finance Director James Baker provided an overview of the Town's past, current and future financial health and standing.

 

Mr. Baker said that four components contribute greatly to the Town's continuing good financial health: a debt service reserve plan; maintenance of an adequate fund balance; establishment of performance based pay; and the existence of a special small capital improvement program ($500,000 per year).

 

Transportation Director Bob Godding reviewed the Durham Transit situation as related to the Town's continued transit operation. Mr. Godding noted that Durham had requested the vast majority of funds in the Governor's Allocation Pool. He stressed the Town's past reliance on these funds.

 

South Columbia Street Alternatives

 

Town Engineer George Small responded to questions from the Coun­cil concerning alignment alternatives.

 

Mayor Howes, noting that North Carolina Department of Transporta­tion staff had contributed considerable time to developing op­tions for South Columbia Street, stressed the need for the Coun­cil to make a decision on the matter at its January 8th meeting.

 

At Mayor Howes' request, Ms. Loewenthal outlined several other major roadway projects warranting the Council's attention in the near term, including: Fordham Boulevard landscaping, right‑of‑way dedication for NC 86, reconstruction of Stephens Street, realignment of Sage Road at Brendle's, paving of Dixie Drive, and improvements to the Franklin Street/Estes Drive intersection.

 

Council Member Brown inquired about the possible impact of the public hearing on South Columbia Street. Mayor Howes responded that the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) would decide which, if any of the options, should be pursued following the NCDOT sponsored public hearing.

 

Council Member Herzenberg stated that other than peak hours, it appeared that the volume of traffic on South Columbia Street had been overstated.

 

Council Member Brown inquired whether the Town could widen South Columbia Street from two to three lanes independently. Mr. Small said that State approval of such a project would be necessary.

 

Mr. Small stated that the Bike Division of the North Carolina Department of Transportation had forwarded a letter to the Town favoring street widening to accommodate bicycle traffic.

 

Mr. Small showed an exhibit map, depicting University buildings, relative to the possible alignments of South Columbia Street.

 

Council Member Brown said she never encountered problems on the portion of South Columbia Street under discussion. Council Mem­ber Brown expressed concern about the possibility of having a major thoroughfare running through the center of the Town. Plan­ning Director Roger Waldon noted that traffic backs up on South Columbia Street and 15‑501 to the County line at peak hours. Council Member Brown suggested examining traffic reduction alter­natives to address the situation. Council Member Werner noted that these types of alternatives were being explored by the Uni­versity, the major employer in the Town.

 

Mayor Howes, noting the necessity to make a decision on Monday evening, recapped the options available to the Council.

 

Historic Districts

 

Mr. Waldon stated that the staff's emphasis for historic dis­tricts would focus on neighborhoods supporting district forma­tion. Council Member Werner noted that since the Council had not taken an official position on historic district formation, it would be advisable for the staff to continue focusing on Council‑directed priorities. Council Member Werner also suggest­ed that the Council could hold a public hearing on historic district formation.

 

Council Member Preston suggested that the Chapel Hill Preserva­tion Society could hold discussions among neighborhood groups to clear up misconceptions about the formation of historic dis­tricts. Mayor Howes suggested the involvement of Historic District Commission in such meetings.

 

Mr. Waldon indicated that the staff would report to the Council in the near future concerning the local government certification process for historic districts.

 

Small Area Plans

 

Mr. Waldon indicated that a full report on small area plans would be made at the January 23rd Council meeting. At the Mayor's re­quest, Mr. Waldon provided a status report on development projects in the downtown area.

 

Energy Efficiency

 

Council Member Brown expressed interest in the Town pursuing en­ergy efficiency programs to retrofit existing buildings. Council Member Preston noted that measures had been taken in the Town Hall construction/expansion project to address this concern.

 

Council Relations with Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA)

 

Council Member Andresen suggested that members of the OWASA Board could make periodic reports to the Town Council. Stressing the importance of OWASA matters, Mayor Howes suggested that the Coun­cil could further explore this issue following the Annual OWASA intergovernmental dinner on January 31st. Council Member Wilkerson inquired about interactions between the OWASA and Town staffs. Ms. Loewenthal responded that Orange Water and Sewer Authority was trying to respond to development proposals and an­nexations as they arise.

 

Thoroughfare Plan

 

Mr. Waldon noted that the City of Durham and the Town of Carrboro had recently taken action on the updated thoroughfare plan. Mr. waldon indicated that additional information concerning the pro­posed plan would be furnished to the Council in March. Council Member Werner noted that the City of Durham had requested that Laurel Hill Parkway intersect in Chapel Hill, rather than Durham.

 

Traffic Reduction

 

Council Member Brown stated that she was open to council member suggestions concerning traffic reduction. Mayor Howes noted that the University had initiated some voluntary programs which were working well. Mayor Howes also noted the Town's active role in promoting a regional transportation authority.

 

Solid Waste

 

Council Member Rimer expressed his desire to establish a house­hold hazardous waste day. Council Member Rimer noted that Inter­im Town Manager Loewenthal and the staff were composing a budget proposal to address this concern.

 

Council Member Preston and Public Works Director Bruce Heflin provided a brief overview of recent activities of the regional solid waste task force.

 

Mr. Heflin noted that the current landfill would be filled by 1997. Mr. Heflin also noted that future Federal mandates would require the diversion of 25? of the waste stream. Mr. Heflin added that voluntary recycling programs seem to be working well in Town and surrounding areas.

 

Council Meeting Structure

 

Council Member Andresen proposed listing reports on the consent agenda. Mayor Howes said this would be a possible approach.  Mayor Howes stated that on‑going public hearings presented time problems to the Council.  Town Attorney Karpinos noted that the Council could choose to place time limitations on individual speakers.

 

Council Member Andresen suggested the use of a timing device to monitor the length of speaker's time. Interim Town Manager Loewenthal indicated that such a device would be acquired as soon as possible.

 

Council Member Preston suggested that council members could meet from time to time with citizens on an informal basis.

 

Council Member Werner suggested that Assistant to the Mayor Lisa Price could provide a weekly briefing newsletter to the Council, providing an overview of daily Town events.

 

Mayor Howes noted that the Council had addressed all topics on its retreat agenda. Mayor Howes noted that the Council would hold a discussion concerning the Town Manager selection process at its Monday, January 8th meeting. Mayor Howes thanked the Council and all others in attendance for their participation in the retreat.

 

The retreat concluded at 3:39 p.m.