AGENDA #4.1a

MEMORANDUM

TO: Mayor and Town Council

FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT: Minutes of April 29, May 6, 15 and 22, 1996

DATE: June 10, 1996

Attached are minutes of the Council's April 29th, May 6th and May 22nd work sessions and May 15th public hearing.

MINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING HELD BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1996

Mayor Waldorf called the hearing to order. Council Members in attendance were Joyce Brown, Joe Capowski, Mark Chilton, Pat Evans, Richard Franck and Lee Pavao. Council Members Andresen and Powell were absent excused. Also in attendance were Town Manager Cal Horton, Assistant Town Managers Sonna Loewenthal and Florentine Miller, Finance Director James Baker and Town Attorney Ralph Karpinos.

Fire Sprinklers

Mayor Waldorf noted that staff was in process of drafting a local bill regarding fire sprinkler systems in sorority and fraternity houses. Mayor Waldorf said that Chancellor Hooker had expressed his support of such an effort. Mayor Waldorf also said she had contacted OWASA Board Chair Barry Jacobs to request that the Board discuss sprinkler fees. She called upon Mr. Horton for a status report on fire sprinklers. Mr. Horton said staff was in the process of drafting a local bill on this matter. He also said the Town Attorney's preliminary research indicated the possibility that the Council could adopt an ordinance, working through the North Carolina Building Council, to require installation of sprinklers in fraternities and sororities. Mr. Horton said the matter was scheduled for inclusion on the Council's May 20th and 29th agendas.

Public Hearing on Proposed Budget

Mr. Horton presented an overview of the proposed budget, noting that no tax rate increase was needed in the General Fund and a one-half cent tax rate increase was recommended in the Transportation Fund, due to reductions in federal operating subsidies. He also said that an increase in bus fares from sixty to seventy-five cents was proposed, and recommended pay increases were a little less than four percent of existing payroll. Mr. Horton said that the Town hoped to receive $325,000 in federal and $471,000 in state assistance for transit operations.

Ellen Perry, a Carrboro resident, said she used EZ-Rider services three to four times per week. Noting that increased demand had made it more difficult to get to appointments on time, Ms. Perry requested that the Town convert two part-time EZ Rider driver positions in to full-time positions. Ms. Perry thanked the Council for the continued provision of EZ Rider service.

Bob Schmitt, representing the Friends of the Chapel Hill Senior Center, thanked the Council for its past support of the Center and its activities. He noted that the Senior Center received operating funds from Orange County and the Friends of the Senior Center.

Mr. Schmitt said an average of two hundred persons per day used the Center's facilities for a variety of social and educational programs. He requested that the Council continue its fiscal support of the Senior Center.

Expressing her support of EZ Rider services, Calissa McKnight said that EZ Rider drivers had a taxing and difficult job, with their services in high demand. Ms. McKnight requested that the Council convert two part-time driver positions in to two full-time positions.

Tommy Gardner said the largest proposed single increase in the General Fund was for salaries and benefits. He stated that these proposed increases needed to correspond to increases in productivity and value received. Stating that approximately $1 million of public funds had been expended to date on the search for a local landfill, Mr. Gardner urged the Council to adopt the proposal of County Commissioner Don Willhoit to ship wastes elsewhere. He also urged the Manager to hold the line on Town expenditures.

Expressing her appreciation for the provision of EZ Rider services, Dana Brower asked the Council to take steps to improve the efficiency of the service.

Katherine Kraft, President of the Graduate and Professional Student Association at UNC, said that students who lived within two miles of the University's Bell Tower were not allowed to park on campus. Ms. Kraft urged the Council to be cautious in considering proposed increases in bus fares, passes and ticket prices.

Resident taxpayer James McEnery said he was concerned about disparities in parking times on West Franklin Street. Stating that someone was being very short-sighted in this matter, Mr. McEnery urged the Council to level this matter out. He also urged the Transportation Department to become more innovative in terms of accommodating EZ Rider services, possibly using larger existing buses to provide these services.

Perry Dowd urged the Council to strive to maintain a vital downtown. She expressed concern that parking restrictions in areas such as West Franklin Street reflected badly on the Town and merchants. Ms. Dowd urged the Council to act as quickly as possible to discontinue the enforcement of parking meters after 6:00 p.m.

Brenda Jackson, an EZ Rider driver since August, 1987, said there was not sufficient coverage to provide an adequate level of service for clients. She asked that the Council provide funding to convert two part-time EZ rider vacancies to full-time positions.

Chris Carlson, a transit driver for twenty-two years and an EZ Rider driver for seventeen years, said some clients were waiting as long as two hours to be picked up. Urging the Council to provide reliable transportation to EZ Rider patrons, Ms. Carlson requested funding to upgrade two part-time driver positions to two full-time positions.

Noting that he frequently bicycled to work, Blair Pollock said it was difficult to get around the Town on a bicycle. Mr. Pollock suggested that a portion of the $50,000 proposed for bicycle improvements be used to infill a bicycle lane on Airport Road between Homestead and Barclay Roads. Stating that the Eubanks Road and U.S. 15-501 park ride lots were currently being underutilized, Mr. Pollock suggested that the Town consider providing reduced price or free bus passes to encourage greater use of these lots. Mr. Pollock said if necessary he would support a property tax increase to pay for the cost of sidewalks along Rosemary Street and Piney Mountain Road.

Robert Humphreys, representing the Chapel Hill Downtown Commission, presented an overview of the Commission's programs and community involvement. He requested that the Council continue its funding support of the Commission's activities.

Cassandra Holman, a part-time EZ Rider driver, requested that the Council convert the two part-time EZ Rider driver positions to full-time as a means of improving service levels to clients.

Harvey Reid requested that the Council earmark funding for start-up of a community newsletter by the Midway Development Corporation. Mr. Reid presented the Council with copies of a proposal relative to the newsletter.

Stating that the University paid about 44% of expenses for the operation of Chapel Hill Transit, UNC Student Body President Aaron Nelson said he did not think it was right for the Council to implement a fifteen cent bus fare increase. Noting the importance of providing low-cost transit alternatives for students, Mr. Nelson requested that the Council not raise the existing fares and pass prices.

Mayor Waldorf inquired whether other speakers wished to address the Council on budget-related matters. Hearing none, Mayor Waldorf thanked the speakers for their articulate and concise remarks.

Council Member Chilton inquired when staff could report back to the Council on Ms. Dowd's suggestions regarding parking lots three and five. Mr. Horton said staff was drafting a report for the Council's May 22nd budget work session.

Council Member Brown inquired when staff could provide additional information about the possibility of converting part-time EZ Rider driver positions into full-time positions. Mr. Horton said staff was preparing a report for the Council's May 29th meeting.

Council Member Evans inquired whether staff would address all the matters raised this evening. Mr. Horton said not necessarily, since some of the matters were not ones which could be addressed by the Town.

Stating the importance of local citizens understanding the Town's tax structure, Council Member Evans asked the Manager to develop a simple, concise and accurate citizen-friendly guide regarding this subject. She requested the possibility of this information being disseminated in the Parks and Recreation Department's brochures. Council Member Evans also requested that staff look into the possibility of initiating a commitment to plant one hundred trees per year as a means of encouraging the Town to remain a tree-oriented community.

Mayor Waldorf inquired whether or not there was Council consensus on the proposal regarding the tax structure information. Inquiring whether or not this information was included in the Town's annual report, Council Member Brown asked how much work would be entailed in the proposed project. Mr. Horton said this information would not be very difficult to pull together. Mr. Horton also said he was intrigued by the suggested way to provide this information to citizens.

Mayor Waldorf inquired whether Council Member Evans was asking the Manager to present the Council with a report on the estimated cost of planting one hundred trees per year. Council Member Evans said this was correct, noting that community development or other funds might be used for this proposal. Mayor Waldorf noted that there was Council consensus on staff preparing a report on this matter.

Council Member Capowski said it would be a good idea for staff to prepare a straightforward primer on property taxes. He also stated that the last time the Council had discussed fire sprinklers, there was a tradeoff between safety and high cost. Stating that he did not believe that anything would be different this time, Council Member Capowski emphasized the importance of providing an opportunity for fraternity and sorority leaders to have input in the process.

Noting that the deadline for submittal of bills in the short legislative session was May 22nd, Mayor Waldorf said the Council needed to move ahead on this matter quickly. She stated that if the Town received authorization for special legislation, the Council could then decide on whether or not to act on the matter.

Stating that EZ Rider vans were specialized pieces of equipment, Council Member Brown said it was important to address the fact that these vehicles were not interchangeable with standard buses. Referencing Ms. Kraft's and Mr. Nelson's earlier comments regarding transit matters, Council Member Brown suggested the possibility of direct contact between the Transportation Board and University students on transit and bus-related concerns. Council Member Evans said she would be willing to talk to Mr. Nelson, Ms. Kraft and other students about their transit-related concerns.

Noting that Council Member Franck had recently suggested Council discussion relative to the development a park and ride lot on U.S. 15-501 North, Mayor Waldorf stated that she had recently received two telephone calls on this matter. She said one of the callers said the idea was a ridiculous one, while the other caller said the proposed lot was desperately needed.

Mayor Waldorf inquired when the Council might discuss the proposed Landfill Owners Group (LOG) budget. Noting that the Landfill Owners Group would take up this matter at its next meeting, Council Member Chilton said the Council could discuss this matter anytime thereafter.

COUNCIL MEMBER CHILTON MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PAVAO, TO REFER COMMENTS FROM THIS EVENING'S HEARING TO THE MANAGER. THE MOTION WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY (7-0).

COUNCIL MEMBER FRANCK MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CHILTON, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. THE MOTION WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY (7-0).

The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m.