SUMMARY OF A BUDGET WORK SESSION HELD BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL
OF THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL, THURSDAY,
FEBRUARY 14, 1991, 7:30 P.M.
Mayor Howes called the proceedings to
order. Council Members in attendance
were Julie Andresen, Joyce Brown, Joe Herzenberg, Alan Rimer and Roosevelt
Wilkerson, Jr. Mayor Howes noted that
Mayor Pro Tem Preston was unable to attend due to illness of a family member.
Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation Director Mike
Loveman presented an overview of key issues including: land acquistion, program demand levels,
interior and exterior facilities maintenance, and special programs, such as
adpative aquatics and wheelchair basketball.
Mr. Loveman stated that program evaluations were conducted periodically
by Town staff and the services evaluation committee of the Parks and Recreation
Commission. He added that program user
fees were reviewed by the user fees committee of the Parks and Recreation
Commission. Mr. Loveman noted that fee
waivers were investigated on an individual case basis, with final determination
being made by the Parks and Recreation Director. He introduced Administrative Officer Bill Webster and Facilities
Superintendent Fred Battle. Mr. Loveman
noted that Recreation Superintendent Lisa Baaske was ill and was unable to
attend this evening's meeting. Mayor
Howes expressed his admiration and appreciation for the work of the Town staff.
Council Member Andresen inquired
about the percentage of Town residents receiving program subsidies. Mr. Loveman responded that approximately
eighty percent of those receiving reduced fees were Town residents. Council Member Brown inquired how residence
was determined. Mr. Loveman responded
that the staff used a map to pinpoint residency. Council Member Andresen asked whether Orange County residents
were charged higher fees for programs.
Mr. Loveman said no. Council
Member Andresen inquired about the percentage of program costs covered. Mr. Loveman stated that the Town covered
about twenty-two perecent of its costs, while other area communities covered
about ten percent. Council Member
Andresen asked whether the Town had waiting lists for youth programs. Mr. Loveman said yes. Council Member Andresen asked why waiting
lists were necessary. Mr. Loveman said
that there were an inadequate number of fields and personnel.
Council Member Andresen inquired how
many additional staff would be needed, in the event that adequate playing
fields were available. Mr. Loveman said
he could not provide a specific answer.
He added that research on this matter could be undertaken. Council Member Wilkerson asked whether any
of the department's programs were geared to public housing residents. Mr. Loveman stated that Hargraves Center
staff worked closely with public housing residents. He added that the Parks Department was working with Housing and
Community Development staff to address needs of 751 Pritchard Avenue tenants.
Council Member Brown inquired how
departmental programs could be fiscally streamlined. Mr. Loveman responded that those programs with lower
participation rates could be reduced in number. He also suggested that more creative means of financing might be
implemented, including possible surcharges for some programs.
Council Member Andresen asked
whethere this could be implemented, if it was not possible to give the
department it's full funding request.
Mr. Loveman said yes, noting that the staff was uncertain of the level
of increases acceptable to most program participants.
Council Member Andresen inquired what
could be done in the event that departmental funding were cut by ten
percent. Mr. Loveman responded that
cuts could be made in training and travel, supplemented by possible adaptation
of program financing. Council Member
Rimer asked how program costs were determined.
Town Manager Horton stated that the Parks staff had worked hard to
determine the costs of individual programs.
Council Member Andresen asked why no funding for greenways was
recommended in preliminary budget discussions.
Mr. Horton said this item was under review.
Housing and Community Development
Housing and Community Development
Director Tina Vaughn noted that the department contains three divisions: public housing, community development, and
human services. She noted that the
major focus of current attention is the routine and extraordinary maintenance
of public housing units. Ms. Vaughn
added that efforts were underway to address concerns about illegal drug use,
particularly at 751 Pritchard Avenue Extension.
Council Member Wilkerson asked how
much of the department's budget was from Town funding. Ms. Vaughn stated that approximately
$125,000 out of $1,000,000 was Town funded.
Council Member Wilkerson asked whether the Town funds included costs of
performance agreements. Ms. Vaughn said
yes. Council Member Wilkerson inquired
about additional staffing needs for housing maintenance programs. Ms. Vaughn stated that one additional
Maintenance Mechanic II position was being requested.
Council Member Herzenberg said he was
pleased with efforts to encourage neighborhood development in public housing
neighborhoods. He inquired about the
possible implementation of tenant empowerment programs. Ms. Vaughn responded that pilot community
oriented programs were planned for the Ridgefield and 751 Pritchard Avenue
Extension neighborhoods. Council Member
Andresen expressed hope that the staff would explore the possibility of
tenant-controlled programs. Council
Member Wilkerson expressed concurrence with this suggestion, noting that the
housing staff had spent the past two years building credibility with housing
residents, following the transition of ownership from the Housing Authority to
the Town.
Council Member Brown inquired about
the budget role of tenant rental receipts.
Ms. Vaughn responded that approximately thirty pecent of the
department's budget came from tenant's rent payments. Mayor Howes asked how the Triangle Housing Partnership and Orange
County Housing Corporation fit into the department's program plans. Ms. Vaughn stated that the staff was
exploring the viability of having the Orange County Housing Corporation manage
the Culbreth Park homeownership program.
Council Member Andresen inquired about the estimated combined costs for
Culbreth Park program administration and funding for Orange County Housing
Corporation. Ms. Vaughn responded that
these figures had not been calculated.
Council Member Rimer inquired about the department's greatest
needs. Ms. Vaughn noted that approximately
$1,500,000 of necessary capital improvements were currently unfunded. Council Member Andresen stated that tenant
efforts should be employed in the maintenance of units. Ms. Vaughn noted the United States
Department of Housing and Urban Development encouraged these types of programs.
Engineering
Engineering Director George Small
said he had chosen to provide an overview of three major programs important to
the community: traffic management, stormwater management and geographic
information systems. Mr. Small stated
that increases in traffic and additional congestion and pollution were
anticipated. He noted that the prime
objective was to maximize existing facilities.
Mr. Small observed that there were increasing State and Federal
pressures relative to stormwater management programs. He noted that more work was needed on a local drainage
policy. Mr. Small said that the Town
was one participant in a major geographic information system program. He stated that a lot of data was being
provided in an electrical format at a reasonable cost. Mr. Small stated that the system was needed
for flexibilty and creativity in problem solving.
Council Member Brown inquired about
the timeframe and proposed operation of a geographic information system. Mr. Small said that the Town was
participating in a GIS program coordinated by Orange County. He noted that the Town had a work station on
site, not currently connected to the mainframe computer in Hillsborough.
Mr. Small stated that Orange County
was in the process of becoming part of a statewide GIS information exchange
network. He added that it would take
about six months to complete input of the initial digital data base.
Council Member Andresen expressed
concern about the commitment of personnel required for data entry. She inquired about practical advantages of
GIS over existing methods. Mr. Horton
responded that the GIS would provide more timely and accurate answers to
complex inquiries. Mayor Howes noted
that GIS is an evolving technology, but a worthwhile long-term tool. Council Member Rimer stated that increased
Federal requirements being placed on local governments would require use of
long-term timesaving tools such as GIS.
Mayor Howes noted that stormwater management and GIS were topics of
great interest to Council Member Werner, who was unable to attend this
evening's session.
Mr. Horton noted that new
environmental regulations would require the Town to file permit applications
for its motor maintenance shop and landfill facility. Council Member Andresen inquired about the status of stormwater
management impact fees. Mr. Small said
the staff was in the process of preparing a report to the Council. Council Member Andresen said this was a high
priority. Mr. Horton said a utility
arrangement might be possible.
Transportation
Transportation Director Bob Godding
said that his department's principal concern was outside funding sources and
their continued availability. Mr.
Godding noted the excellent level of cooperation between the University, Carrboro
and the Town, in providing transit services and facilities. He stated that the Triangle Transit
Authority faced a significant challenge in accomplishing its objectives. Mr. Godding said that the Town's transit
system was in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. He stated that the system had adequate
capital equipment, while fuel costs and air quality would be ongoing concerns.
Council Member Herzenberg requested
inclusion of bus ridership information in future quarterly reports. Council Member Andresen inquired how about
non-student usage of buses. Mr. Godding
responded that route usages varied from about twelve to fifty passengers per
hour, with the "A" route and Blue Line having lowest ridership. Mayor Howes noted that the "A" route
served a high-density corridor. Council
Member Rimer inquired whether the staff had any transit related suggestions for
discussion at the Council's breakfast with the local legislative delegation. Mr. Godding responded that the North
Carolina Public Transportation Association was holding a meeting for State
legislators and elected officials in the near future.
Council Member Brown inquired about
the statewide mass transportation outlook.
Mr. Godding noted that representatives of urban areas were more
interested in mass transit than those in rural areas, who continued to support
highway funding. Council Member
Herzenberg stressed the importance of Council support for high Federal funding
levels for mass transportation.
Mr. Horton stated that Council Member
Werner had requested that the Council continue to consider the possible
appointment of citizens to review the proposed budget. Mayor Howes said Council Member Werner wsa
proposing that legislative assistants work directly with individual Council
Members, rather than establishing a large group.
The session ended at 7:18 p.m.