SUMMARY OF THE QUARTERLY PLANNING AND REPORTING SESSION OF THE

MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA,

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1992 AT 5:30 P.M.

Mayor Broun called the meeting to order. Council Members in attendance were Joyce Brown, Joe Capowski, Mark Chilton, Joe Herzenberg, Alan Rimer, Arthur Werner and Roosevelt Wilkerson, Jr. Council Member Julie Andresen was absent excused. Also in attendance were Town Manager Cal Horton, Assistant Town Managers Sonna Loewenthal and Florentine Miller, Planning Director Roger Waldon and Town Attorney Ralph Karpinos.

Mayor Broun noted that he suggested that the Council attempt to conclude this evening's planning and reporting session by 9:00 p.m. Mayor Broun called on Mr. Horton for introductory remarks.Mr. Horton noted that he had distributed a brief memorandum to the Council, outlining the Town's efforts to provide emergency assistance to Florida residents impacted by Hurricane Andrew. Mr. Horton noted that Orange County's Emergency Management Director had assured him that the Town would receive reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Mayor Broun said he was glad that the Town was able to provide assistance.

Item 1 Financial Review

Finance Director James Baker said the Town's current financial position was consistent with earlier estimates. He noted that adequate fund balances would be available and revenues and expenditures to date were on target. Mr. Baker reported that the Town's first quarterly sales tax reimbursement was about eight percent higher than expected. He also noted that Orange County was conducting a property revaluation to be effective January 1, 1993, for fiscal year 1993-94. Mayor Broun inquired whether the revaluation would be reflected in 1993 tax bills. Mr. Baker said this was correct. Council Member Capowski inquired what types of properties would be revaluated. Mr. Baker said all real property would be revaluated. Council Member Capowski asked if no distinction was made between commercial and residential properties. Mr. Baker said this was correct. Council Member Capowski thanked Mr. Baker for his capable handling of Town finances.

Council Member Werner inquired about the State legislature attitude concerning new local revenue options. Mr. Baker said it appeared that the legislature did not appear to be inclined to approve new revenue sources. Mr. Horton said although he was not optimistic about flexibility for new revenue sources, the fiscal trends study commission might recommend some new sources. Council Member Herzenberg noted that the November elections might result in greater urban representation in both houses of the state legislature. Council Member Brown inquired about the League of Municipalities position on local revenues. Mr. Horton said the League would likely continue lobbying for restoration of local revenue sources. Council Member Werner inquired about the status of school impact fees. Mr. Horton said he could provide a follow-up report on this matter. Council Member Werner inquired whether any new local revenue sources were under consideration. Mr. Horton said he was not aware of any such sources. Council Member Herzenberg noted that a prepared meals tax had been proposed by Mecklenburg County.

Item 2 Quarterly Reports

Mr. Horton noted that the Annual Report was being offered in a somewhat different format, with a table of contents, graphics and limited summary of key items. He stated that items could be added to the report if the Council desired. Mr. Horton said staff would continue to experiment in some areas related to the quarterly report.

Council Member Wilkerson inquired about the trend in new housing and development starts. Mr. Horton said the beginning of August, there were 223 active housing permits. He added that it was difficult to judge whether or not the housing market would continue at similar levels. Council Member Wilkerson asked whether there was a correlation between housing starts and franchise taxes collected. Mr. Horton said as housing starts increased, the level of franchise taxes also increased. Council Member Wilkerson inquired about the fiscal impact of the Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation. Mr. Baker said it was quite small. Council Member Wilkerson said additional information on the amount of revenue and the service area within Town limits would be useful. Mr. Horton said this information would be provided. Mr. Baker noted that franchise taxes were frozen at their current level. Council Member Wilkerson said this was another reason for the Council to impress upon their legislative colleagues the importance of lifting such moratoriums.

Council Member Capowski said the section of graphs was wonderful. He inquired why there had been a fourteen percent personnel turnover during the fourth quarter. Mr. Horton said it was difficult to tell why the turnover rate had increased. Noting that the Town maintained 123 miles of street, Council Member Capowski asked whether the Town's resurfacing program was adequate to maintain good roads. Mr. Horton said the Town was on a twelve-year resurfacing cycle which was adequate. Council Member Capowski inquired about the number of false alarms and related costs at UNC hospitals and on the university campus. Mr. Horton said he could provide this information. He added that there were few prank alarms. Council Member Capowski asked why the mileage between mechanical road calls for the transit system had decreased. Mr. Horton said a number of new buses had been added to the Town's fleet. Council Member Capowski inquired why the public utility tax base had decreased by thirteen percent. Mr. Baker said this reflected a revaluation by the state. Council Member Capowski asked whether every county in the state had been impacted by the revaluation. Mr. Baker said no.

Noting that she had a number of questions concerning solid waste, Council Member Brown inquired why figures concerning solid waste disposal differed in the report. Noting that Public Works Director Bruce Heflin was out of town, Mr. Horton suggested that Public Works staff respond to Council Member Brown's specific questions. Council Member Brown inquired about the market for demolition waste from road reconstruction. Mr. Horton said demolition wastes primarily consisted of old asphalt, stone and muck. He said that this was not suitable for standard fill or any other uses. Council Member Brown inquired about the meaning of efficiency of public transit service. Mr. Horton said the standard measure of efficiency was the number of passengers carried per mile travelled. Council Member Brown inquired why the fire department had the same number of calls but less damage. Mr. Horton said a portion was luck. He added that this statistic could change dramatically because of a few fires. Council Member Brown inquired about the increase in the number of calls to the Town's 24-hour city hall information center. Mr. Horton said system usage was increasing as more people became aware of its availability.

Council Member Rimer inquired about the status of the citizen's computer bulletin board interest group. Town Clerk Peter Richardson said the group had recently met to refocus its mission. Council Member Brown inquired why some public housing units were unoccupied. Mr. Horton said some time was needed to refurbished some units following vacation of residents. He added that housing staff was attempting to reduce the number of days that public housing units remained vacant. Council Member Brown inquired about the reduction in revenues in lot number four. Mr. Horton said he could provide follow-up information on the reduction in leases at lot number four. Council Member Brown inquired about the nature of "other" stated-share revenues. Mr. Baker said this included a refund on gasoline tax, food stamp tax exemption and a variety of other taxes. He added that additional information could be provided.

Council Member Werner noted that there had been large increases in major crimes such as robberies and breaking and entering. He also noted that library circulation had increased markedly. Council Member Werner inquired whether these would be long-term trends. Mr. Horton said the increase in major crimes was related to drug trafficking. He added that a huge service increase was expected when the Town's new library facility opened. Council Member Werner inquired about the possibility of a new bond referendum for a larger library facility. Mr. Horton said it would be necessary to examine circulation and staffing trends at the new facility prior to considering the possibility of a new referendum. Council Member Werner inquired about the implications of increased major crime for local law enforcement officials. Mr. Horton said although the Police Department was doing a good job of solving crimes and catching criminals, there was an acute need for computer equipment and additional investigators.

Council Member Wilkerson inquired whether there had been problems with an increase in staff turnover in the Town's Police department. Mr. Horton said there had been a number of retirements in the department during the past year. He stated that there had not been an unusually large number of personnel leaving to join other departments. Mr. Horton said that turnover might increase if salaries were not competitive with the local market. Noting the recent retirement of Carrboro's police chief, Council Member Wilkerson said the possibility of merging the Chapel Hill and Carrboro police departments should be seriously discussed. Council Member Werner noted that Carrboro's elected officials did not embrace this approach. Council Member Brown inquired whether crime patterns had changed in terms of places of incidence. Mr. Horton said he believed that crime patterns were basically similar. Council Member Brown asked whether crime had increased in residential areas. Mr. Horton said he was not aware of a significant increase in this regard. He added that acquisition of computer equipment would be useful in compiling and analyzing crime patterns.

Item 3 Review of Future Agendas

Mr. Horton briefly reviewed proposed agenda items for upcoming Council meetings. Council Member Herzenberg said he hoped that the proposed hearing on the tree ordinance would not be postponed again. Mr. Horton noted that the Sierra Club had requested an opportunity to review the proposed ordinance. He inquired whether the Council objected to postponing the hearing for one month. Noting that the proposal had been available for approximately one month, Council Member Herzenberg said an additional one month delay seemed unreasonable. Mr. Horton said staff would contact the Sierra Club to review the proposed ordinance. Council Member Capowski requested that the Mayor reappoint a committee concerning the allocation of hotel-motel tax proceeds. Mayor Broun said he would take this request under advisement.

Item 4 Strategic Plan Update

Mr. Horton provided an overview of the Council's strategic plan. Council Member Werner inquired whether the Town received notice of the University's intent to purchase commercial property. Mr. Horton said it was customary to find out about such acquisitions informally. Council Member Werner inquired about the feasibility of the University making a payment-in-lieu for tax base replacements related to commercial acquisitions. Mr. Horton said this might be an appropriate discussion topic for the Consultation and Coordination Committee (CCC). Council Member Brown asked whether Council Member Werner was limiting his proposal to commercial property. Council Member Werner said he was not. Mayor Broun suggested that the matter might be discussed at the next CCC meeting. Council Member Werner expressed concern about learning of university development plans from local media or by receiving memorandums. Mayor Broun suggested that the CCC was the best forum for handling these types of concerns. He added that discussions of development processes could be handled by Town and University staff.

Mr. Horton noted that the downtown planning committee would present a report in the near future, including the status of the small business incubator concept. He also provided a status report on on-going projects such as reports on design guidelines, the pedestrian plan and acquisition of open space. Mr. Horton said he hoped to satisfy most of the Council's strategic plan objectives by January. Council Member Werner said the bikeway trail between the Booker Creek area and WCHL radio station should not be a high priority. He emphasized the importance of developing neighborhood parks. Council Member Werner inquired whether it was possible to require developers to make payments-in-lieu with options for the dedication of open space. Mr. Horton said this would depend upon individual development situations. Council Member Werner said it would be desirable to create three-acre or four-acre community parks. Council Member Capowski said the Design Review Board was thoroughly examining its role and effectiveness. Mayor Broun suggested that the Council consider prioritizing items in its strategic plan. Mr. Horton said this would be a very helpful tool.

Item 5a Report on Transportation Issues

Transportation Planner David Bonk reviewed current regional transportation issues, including the status of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Improvement Program. He noted that the State Department of Transportation objected to the removal of US 15-501 from the plan. He noted that the Transportation Advisory Committee's (TAC) program should be incorporated into the State Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Mayor Broun said there was very much a direct conflict of interpretation in this matter. He said the TIP would not be approved by state and local governments as far as the state was concerned. Council Member Brown asked whether Laurel Hill Parkway was included in the proposed plan. Mr. Bonk said it was not mentioned. Mayor Broun said the Laurel Hill Parkway was still on the State's thoroughfare plan. Mayor Broun noted that the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro TAC hoped to meet with the Raleigh TAC sometime in the next six to eight weeks.

Mr. Bonk noted that the north NC 86 project had been accelerated by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. He also said no funds had been identified for an access road to a proposed park and ride lot on U.S. 15-501. He said accelerated funding had been approved for Phase II of the Bolin Creek bikeway project and the installation of bicycle racks on the UNC campus. Council Member Capowski requested additional information concerning the bicycle racks. Mr. Bonk said the university had performed a thorough study to determine where racks were needed. Noting that he had no objection to the bicycle rack program, Mayor Broun noted that the TAC did not have an opportunity to review the project proposal. Council Member Brown said it would have been a good idea to have a public hearing on the proposals. Council Member Chilton said he could vouch for the need for bicycle racks on the university campus.

Mr. Bonk said the North Carolina Department of Transportation had outlined some objections to the proposed removal of the Laurel Hill Parkway and Pittsboro Street Extension from the Transportation Improvement Program. Council Member Werner inquired whether the Council could approve a small area plan including a portion of the proposed Laurel Hill Parkway. Mr. Bonk said the Town would not have to reserve right-of-way. He added that the State could possibly make a case that the Town was not living up to its obligations outlined in a memorandum of understanding. Mr. Horton said development plans in the area might be received sooner than expected. Mr. Bonk briefly reviewed other related transportation issues including the fixed guideway study and the development of a regional transportation model and congestion management plan.

Council Member Capowski asked about the status of the proposed Wal-Mart store in western Durham. Mr. Bonk said a marginally different proposal had recently been submitted. He noted that Durham planning staff was recommending denial of the request. Mr. Horton noted that the Cross-county Neighborhood Association opposed the project. Council Member Rimer said the State was in the process of developing an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed project. Mr. Waldon said Durham planning staff had informed him that a formal EIS was not required. Mayor Broun said he would continue to advise the Council on activities of the TAC.

Item 5b NC 86 Status Report

Assistant Engineering Director Michael Neal briefly reviewed roadway design alternatives for NC 86. He said staff was pursuing additional funding for the construction of a four-lane section of NC 86. Mr. Neal said staff would report back on the matter in September. Council Member Brown stated that roadway lanes in the downtown Wilmington area appeared narrower than standard roadways. She added that medians in the entranceway area were very small yet attractive. Council Member Brown inquired whether it was feasible to reduce lane and median widths and thus costs on NC 86 while maintaining amenities such as landscaping and plantings. Mr. Neal said reducing the median width would also eliminate certain types of plantings and larger bushes and shrubs. He added that as lane widths were reduced, there would be a corresponding reduction in roadway capacity. Council Member Werner inquired about the impact of reduced lane widths on bicycle and automobile safety. Council Member Rimer said there was no marked difference between an eleven and twelve-foot wide roadway.

Council Member Capowski said the largest difference in costs was for the purchase of right-of-way. Mr. Horton said the Town was still negotiating with State officials for partial funding of amenities such as sidewalks and landscaping. Council Member Brown said the State's proposed design was similar to a freeway.

Item 5c Small Area Planning Process

Mr. Waldon said the small area planning process included examination of lots on a parcel-by-parcel basis. He noted that the southern area was the first one examined. Council Member Rimer said he placed this item on the agenda to foster a discussion of how the Council felt about the philosophy of the small area planning process. He stated that the staff and Council had done a good job concerning the southern small area plan. Mayor Broun emphasized the importance of taking into account economic and aesthetic considerations in small area planning process. Council Member Brown said involving property owners and area residents in the planning process was a very important element. Council Member Rimer said the small area planning process was very sensitive to economics and input from area residents. Council Member Werner said the true measure of success of the proposal would occur when a development proposal was presented. He suggested that the Council not interfere with the proposed small area planning process. Council Member Rimer said he was not advocating tinkering with the planning process. He inquired whether there had been any interest in small area planning in the northern area. Mr. Horton said yes, noting that staff could assess the feasibility of a northern plan, if the Council desired.

Item 5d Solid Waste Planning

Council Member Rimer said staff was drafting a proposed scope of work for solid waste planning. He also noted that the Orange County Commissioners were planning a meeting concerning proposed landfill siting. Council Member Rimer said that all other local elected officials and interested persons were invited to the meeting. He stated that there was little sentiment for anyone other than the Landfill Search Committee to handle the landfill site search. Mr. Horton stated that no definite date had been scheduled for the meeting, although it would most likely take place between September 15th and 22nd.

Item 6 Discussion with Transportation Board

Transportation Director Bob Godding introduced Transportation Board Chairperson Rachel Willis, Vice-Chairperson Richard Franck, and members Dan Coleman, Steve Manton, Wayne Pein, Paul Killough and Ruby Seinreich.

Mr. Franck said the Transportation Board had traditionally focused on the Town's bus system. He stated that the Board had recently completed an action plan concerning the use of single-occupant vehicles. Mr. Franck reviewed the report, noting the importance of identifying transit corridors and corresponding land uses. He also noted the importance of making regional mass transit viable. Mr. Franck said the Transportation Board also thought it important that Transportation Management Plan guidelines be shared with existing employers and possible developers in the Triangle. He emphasized the importance of high-density development in making a fixed-guideway mass transit system feasible. Mr. Franck also said that Town transportation patterns should be examined to get a better handle on transit-related problems.

Rachel Willis said the Transportation Board had compiled a spending priority list for transportation-related projects. She stated that funding for the access road to the proposed park and ride lot on US 15-501 was the highest priority item. Dr. Willis also said the Board felt that funding for an additional transportation planner position and additional buses, shelters and benches were critical in maintaining the Town's commitment to transportation services. She also noted that the last five items on the priority list would be relatively inexpensive to implement. Dr. Willis emphasized the importance of working with the Chamber of Commerce and business community in developing solutions to transportation problems. She also noted the importance of a regional strategy to foster programs such as the Blue and Green Line transit routes.

Council Member Capowski inquired about the status of the access road to the US 15-501 park and ride lot. Mayor Broun said this project was included in the local area Transportation Advisory Committee's TIP, but was not in the State's Transportation Improvement Program. He said the matter was being negotiated. Mr. Godding stated that State transportation staff were reviewing the availability of funding for the access roadway. Council Member Brown inquired whether a specific timeframe for determining funding availability had been developed. Mr. Godding said no time frame had been determined. Council Member Werner inquired whether the funding discussion impacted funding for the NC 86 project. Mayor Broun said many transportation-related items were intertwined.

Council Member Brown commended the Transportation Board for their thought and care in the development of the report on single-occupant vehicles and project priority listing. She inquired about the next steps in the process. Mr. Horton said one possibility would be to refer the matter to staff to develop a follow-up on key issues.

Council Member Capowski said he had recently received phone calls from the Starpoint area, noting that it took twenty-five minutes to commute from Starpoint to the intersection of US 15-501 and NC 54 bypass. Council Member Rimer inquired whether Town staff had any information concerning the possible location of fixed-guideway routes. Mr. Waldon said no specific routes had been determined. Council Member Werner inquired who would designate the location of corridors. Mr. Waldon said this was one of the objectives of preparing the fixed-guideway report.

Council Member Werner said the Transportation Board had presented an interesting set of recommendations. He also said transportation planning matters called for financial and political decision-making. Council Member Werner stated that the siting of corridors was a political issue. He noted that the selection of corridors least impacting existing neighborhoods would be most desirable. Noting that several locations had been designated for mixed-use, Dr. Willis said the Board was not arguing to increase densities throughout the Town. She emphasized the importance of making the fixed-guideway system economically viable. Council Member Werner noted that the Council had recently taking steps to reduce and eliminate parking requirements in the downtown area. Mr. Franck said the Transportation Board applauded this action.

Council Member Capowski inquired about the scope of the Town's taxing authority relative to the Transportation Fund. Mr. Godding said an authorization of up to ten cents per $100 had been authorized in 1973. He noted that the current transit fund tax rate was slightly less than five cents. Council Member Capowski inquired about the possible use for transportation tax funds. Mr. Godding said the funds could be used for public transportation, operations and capital. Council Member Herzenberg inquired whether the General Assembly had lifted some of these restrictions in this last session. Mr. Horton said he was not aware of any such modifications.

Dr. Willis noted that Board members Billie Cox and Laura Thomas regretted that they were unable to attend this evening's meeting. She noted that the last five items on the priority list, relating to other institutions and agencies, would be relatively inexpensive to implement. Council Member Werner expressed appreciation to the Transportation Board for identifying and advocating transportation improvements in the community. Mayor Broun said the Manager could provide a follow-up report on the Board's recommendations. Dr. Willis thanked Council Member Brown for asking for a transportation study. Council Member Brown said she appreciated the Transportation Board's efforts.

Item 7 Discussion with Bicycling Advisory Committee

Transportation Planner David Bonk introduced Bicycle Advisory Committee Chairperson Wayne Pein, Committee Member Dick Terry and Town staff liaison Mark Fiers.

Mr. Pein said the committee had initiated a bicycle helmet safety and awareness program, including newspaper articles and a variety of community events. He noted that a $4,000 grant had been received for the purchase of bicycle helmets. Mr. Pein stated that efforts had been initiated to incorporate bicycle awareness safety into school programs. He also noted that the committee was working with Town police officer Rick Innis on a bicycle awareness program.

Council Member Werner inquired whether there was anything the Council could do to encourage greater cooperation with the committee's programs. Mr. Pein said there had been strong community participation to date. He stated that the primary problems appeared to be with deterrent and enforcement matters. Mr. Pein added that about forty percent of young riders were complying with the bicycle helmet ordinance.

Council Member Werner noted that incentives had been used to reinforce the use of seatbelts in automobiles. Mr. Pein said reward programs were a powerful motivator, particularly for young people. Council Member Rimer inquired why the school board had been hesitant to assist with the bicycle program. Mr. Pein said teachers had multiple priorities to address. Council Member Herzenberg inquired about the source of the $4,000 grant for bicycle helmets. Mr. Pein said the grant was from the State of North Carolina. Mayor Broun emphasized the importance of educating motorists to respect the rights of bicyclists. Council Member Capowski noted that local radio stations would probably be willing to assist with public information about bicycle safety programs. Mr. Pein said the media would play a major role in the community's bicycle safety awareness week. Council Member Werner inquired whether programs continued with local scout troops. Mr. Pein said yes, including bicycle rodeos at local mall parking lots and in neighborhoods.

Mr. Pein thanked the Council for their pro-bicycling initiatives. He added that staff support for the committee had been very good. Mr. Pein also said the committee applauded the Town's aggressive position in reducing the use of single-occupant vehicles. He also noted that there were many disconnected bicycle paths around the Town. Mr. Pein said the provision of separate bicycle paths and "share the road" signs was desirable. He briefly reviewed the committee's recommendations including possibly paving over gutters on some roadways. Mr. Pein said greater emphasis needed to be given to non-motorized vehicles and additional staff support for transportation programs.

Council Member Rimer inquired whether a map was available depicting discontinuities in bicycle trails. Mr. Pein said the Town's 1976 bikeways concept plan could be updated with the assistance of transportation planning staff. He also stated that bicycle safety treatments did not cost a lot and greatly enhanced the safety of bicyclists. Council Member Rimer inquired about program proposals related to the maintenance of bicycle trails. Mr. Pein said the committee was attempting to incorporate help from fraternities, sororities and other community organizations. Mayor Broun suggested that an "adopt a bike path" program might be implemented.

Council Member Werner said it might be useful to produce a map outlining safe bicycling routes in the community. Mr. Pein noted that neither bicyclists nor drivers preferred circuitous routes to their destinations. He also noted that the City of Boulder, Colorado had a full-time bicycle coordinator position and a $7,000 per year allocation for a bicycle awareness week program. Mayor Broun said it would be very useful to have guidance on good bicycling routes. Mr. Terry said the matter of safe routes could be addressed once the matter of helmets was addressed. He also noted that the regional bicycle plan had several good recommendations concerning safer bicycling routes. Mayor Broun thanked the members of the Bicycle Advisory Committee for their service.

Mayor Broun inquired whether there were any reports from Council members. Council Member Herzenberg noted that a rewriting of the Council's Procedures Manual was underway. He also reported that activities of the Naming Committee continued. Noting his limited involvement with the Orange County EMS Council, Council Member Herzenberg requested that a new Council representative be appointed to the body. Mayor Broun said he would take the request under advisement.

Council Member Werner reported that the Durham-Chapel Hill Joint Work Group was focusing its energies on coordination of a work plan. He also stated that costs for the US 15-501 corridor study would be divided up.

Mayor Broun stated that he would contact individual Council members concerning their interest in serving on the Orange County Human Services Coordinating Council. Council Member Rimer stated that the Triangle J Council of Governments would hold its World Class Conference on December 2nd, to provide an overview of the COG's activities since the last conference.

The session concluded at 8:51 p.m.