MINUTES OF A BUDGET FORUM HELD BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN

OF CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1994

Mayor Broun called the forum to order. Council Members in attendance were Joyce Brown, Joe Capowski, Mark Chilton, Pat Evans, Lee Pavão, Jim Protzman and Rosemary Waldorf. Council Member Powell was absent excused. Also in attendance were Town Manager Cal Horton, Assistant Town Managers Sonna Loewenthal and Florentine Miller and Finance Director James Baker.

Mr. Horton presented an introduction, noting that the purpose of this evening's forum was to receive Council and public comment on the Town's proposed 1994-1995 Budget, 1994-1999 Capital Improvements Program and the proposed Community Development program. He also briefly reviewed the proposed budget schedule.

Noting the increasing popularity of the community's Senior Center on Elliott Road and its programs, Rusty Wagoner requested that the Council provide funding for utilities, rent or building upfits of the Senior Center.

James McEnery, President of Tax Watch, requested that the Council not increase salaries for Town employees. He also requested that the Town's fire protection funding situation relative to the University of North Carolina be examined. A copy of Mr. McEnery's remarks are on file in the Town Clerk's Office.

Rebecca Clark expressed concern about the condition of the Town cemetery on the University campus. She stated that when the University had deeded the cemetery to the Town in 1987, the Town had agreed to make a number of improvements to the facility. Ms. Clark requested that the Council provide as much funding as possible for cemetery beautification projects. She also stated that if some of the Town's public housing units were beyond repair, they should be torn down and rebuilt.

R.D. Smith urged the Council to place adequate funding emphases on maintenance and repair of the Town's existing public housing units. He also expressed concern that "affordable" housing was not adequately defined since many low and moderate income families and individuals did not make 80% of the area's median income. Mr. Smith also said that the Town's existing Development Ordinance was not conducive to the building of affordable housing.

Josh Gurlitz, a new member of the Board of the Orange Community Housing Corporation, requested that the Council continue funding of the Corporation's affordable housing programs. He stated that the Corporation hoped to construct a total of 55 rental units and 52 homes during 1994. Mr. Gurlitz said the Corporation would be submitting its budget request to the Town in the near future.

Bill Farley, representing the ArtsCenter Board of Directors, presented an overview of the Center's capital campaign. He stated that operations had been stabilized over the past 2 1/2 years and programming continued at a reasonable level with a minimum number of staff persons. Mr. Farley said the ArtsCenter was requesting government funding to assist with its capital campaign, with $25,000 per year requested from the Town throughout the course of the campaign.

Tim Williams requested that Community Development Block Grant Funds be used to help people with mental illnesses to achieve economic independence via mental health service programs in the community. Mr. Williams said his agency, Club Nova, currently had seven job sites and could have more sites with additional funding. He requested that the Council provide funding of $31,000 per year for the establishment of a job supporter position to assist with job site monitoring.

Sophie Shiffman presented a petition signed by residents of the Old Oxford Road area requesting the installation of sidewalks along Old Oxford Road. A copy of Ms. Shiffman's remarks are on file in the Clerk's Office.

Pauline Grimson, representing the Westview Neighborhood Association, requested that the Council give serious consideration and priority to the maintenance of sidewalks, especially in the Westview area.

Harvey Reid said residents of the Midway/Northside area had security concerns and needed support systems to develop businesses, including a revolving loan program. He also noted the importance of creating positive publicity for area businesses. Mr. Reid requested that the Town provide technical expertise about its operations.

Karen Dunn, Director of Club Nova, said her organization helped mentally ill people to live in the community self-sufficiently. She urged the Council to provide funding for the Job Supporter position advocated by Mr. Williams earlier in the evening.

Joanne Shirer said the Residents Council had shown a video of poor public housing conditions to the Council in October, 1993. She said approximately $200,000 was needed to properly repair the twenty public housing units depicted in the video. Ms. Shirer said the Public Works and Parks and Recreation Departments were doing a good job in renovating the units. Ms. Shirer urged the Council to provide adequate funding for public housing programs, including continued funding for a van to transport public housing residents to meetings. She requested that the Council put a freeze on Housing Department staff salaries until housing conditions improved.

Mildred Council said she favored using Block Grant funds for housing inspections. Ms. Council expressed concern that there was not adequate housing in the Town for persons with low incomes, including families with small children. She also suggested that housing opportunities be developed for fathers paying child support. Ms. Council thanked the Council for the idea of having a police substation on Graham Street.

Deanna Stroud stated that she resided in Section 8 housing. Ms. Stroud said she wanted grant funds used for improving low-income housing. She also stated that new transitional housing was needed for men recovering from substance abuse. Ms. Stroud urged the Council to end the cycle of homelessness by assessing the community's housing-related needs.

Diana Peterson, a resident of Section 8 housing, said most landlords were unwilling to accept Section 8 funding. She urged the Council to provide more space and housing opportunities for families with children.

Angela Johnson said she and her husband had spent some time residing at the IFC Community Shelter. She stated that apartment rents were too high for many people, especially families with small children. Patrick Johnson spoke in support of a community house to assist people in finding suitable housing.

Maxecine Mitchell, an associate member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Residents Council, thanked members of the Council for recently visiting the area's public housing units. She requested that Council make an effort to spend money to correct poor conditions in some public housing units. Ms. Mitchell also suggested that the Council financially support economic development programs. She stated that once public housing-related concerns were addressed, the Residents Council would be willing to assist with other community concerns.

Mary Bushnell, representing the Orange County Affordable Housing Coalition, said the Coalition attempted to make it affordable for people to live in the community. Ms. Bushnell said the Coalition attempted to fund transitional housing for single women with children. She stated that there was a great need for rehabilitation of some of the Town's public housing units.

Council Member Waldorf said she appreciated the remarks of all who had spoken this evening. Council Member Waldorf said she hoped the Council would discuss what to do with the balance of the Town's parks and recreation and open space bonds. She also noted the importance of the Council discussing the Town's parking deck and the possible refinancing debt for the facility. Council Member Waldorf also said the Council needed to discuss sidewalks, especially in the central business district. She suggested that the Council consider holding a work session on public housing concerns.

Mayor Broun suggested that the Council might discuss the concerns raised by Council Member Waldorf, as well as other issues suggested by other Council Members, at a budget work session on April 5th.

Noting that Orange County handled the majority of human services concerns and programs, Council Member Pavão suggested that the Council having conversations with the Orange County Commissioners about the funding requests by the Senior Center, Club Nova and Interfaith Council. Council Member Pavão asked whether funds were available outside the General Fund to address these types of requests. Mr. Horton said Community Development funds might be used. Council Member Brown inquired about the proposed process for contact with Orange County. Mayor Broun said some possibilities were discussing matters at an Assembly of Governments Meeting, having a joint Council/Orange County Commissioners meeting or inviting a Commissioner to a Council meeting. Council Member Pavão said all of the agencies cited by speakers were agencies providing necessary services to the community.

Council Member Evans noted the need to place an emphasis on bicyclist and pedestrian safety while deemphasizing the use of automobiles. She also suggested that the Council carefully examine Town personnel costs to attain operating efficiencies.

Council Member Brown said it was important to address the Town's sidewalk needs. She suggested that the development of a combined Town-wide sidewalk, bicycle and traffic calming plan be used to determine areas where traffic calming techniques were desirable.

Mayor Broun said the Town already had pedestrian and bicycle plans. Council Member Brown said she was referring to development of an overall joint plan with a schedule including a traffic calming plan. Mr. Horton said Council Member Brown was correct that there was no overall plan or schedule to combine or finance these elements. Council Member Waldorf suggested that the Council read the Town's current pedestrian and bicycle plans. She also suggested that the Council place emphases on holding down personnel costs and constructing sidewalks. Council Member Brown inquired whether it would take a lot of staff time to compile an overall Town bicycle, pedestrian and traffic calming plan. Mr. Horton said this would be a difficult and challenging project. Council Member Brown said the Town did not have a traffic calming plan although one was needed.

Council Member Capowski suggested that the Council focus on maintaining and constructing sidewalks and maintaining public housing units. He stated that Community Development Block Grant funding requirements did not relieve the Town of its responsibility of keeping public housing units safe and healthy for their residents. Council Member Capowski urged the Council to invest more funds in the Town's public housing communities.

Noting that it was not possible to do everything at once, Council Member Protzman suggested that the Council use whatever resources were necessary to improve the conditions in the Town's public housing communities. He inquired when the Council would have an opportunity to explore budget-related matters in greater detail.

Mayor Broun said the Manager would present a preliminary budget to the Council on March 16th, outlining a number of options for Council consideration. He added that work sessions were an opportunity for the Council to discuss budget priorities in detail. Council Member Protzman said no major changes, other than the possibility of a two-year budget horizon, were anticipated. Mr. Horton said staff could also focus on a short list of key issues if the Council provided this direction. Council Member Waldorf said several points of consensus about public safety matters had been reached at the Council's planning session.

Using the Cameron-McCauley neighborhood as an illustration, Council Member Brown emphasized the need for planning, particularly in areas with very narrow streets and few sidewalks. She stated that transportation calming was needed in the central part of the Town and other areas such as the U.S. 15-501 corridor. Council Member Brown said a piecemeal planning approach was not desirable. Council Member Protzman said it would be reasonable to argue that all areas needed this type of planning attention. Council Member Brown said she was thinking holistically, rather than about all streets individually. Council Member Evans said it was important to address community safety issues. She also suggested that the Council move ahead with the maintenance and construction of sidewalks.

Ted Parrish said he was supportive of the Town's Community Development Block Grant program. Mr. Parrish also said he supported the priorities of the Midway Development Corporation. He stated that the 60 to 200 person hours per week were being dedicated to the revitalization of homes in the Knolls neighborhood. Mr. Parrish said that a certificate of occupancy for one of the homes was anticipated during the next few days.

Council Member Brown inquired about the status of efficiency, restructuring and staff involvement concerning the Town's budget development process. Mr. Horton said a report on organizational structure had been presented to the Council at its January 15th planning session. He added that a number of different types of opportunities for staff input in the budget process had been arranged including budget forums and a luncheon.

Council Member Brown requested that the Manager provide a report on solid waste matters, especially concerning a study of organizational financing options, integrated solid waste management options and related matters. Mr. Horton said the Landfill Owners Group was following the agreed upon guidance of the local governmental bodies. He stated that $10 to $30 million in financing would be needed for the new regional landfill facility.

Council Member Waldorf inquired what would be discussed at the Council's first budget work session on April 5th. Mayor Broun suggested that the Council could discuss the topics suggested by Council Member Waldorf and by other Council Members at the January planning retreat. Council Member Waldorf inquired about the possibility of holding the work session earlier. Mr. Horton said any budget guidance from the Council would be useful. He stated that staff hope to receive additional budget related feedback at the Council's March 16th meeting and March 29th public forum.

The forum concluded at 9:28 p.m.