SUMMARY OF A PLANNING SESSION HELD BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA, AQUEDUCT CONFERENCE CENTER, SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1998

 

Mayor Waldorf called the session to order at 8:32 a.m.    Council Members in attendance were Julie Andresen, Joyce Brown, Joe Capowski, Kevin Foy, Lee Pavăo and Edith Wiggins.  Also in attendance were Retreat Facilitator Kurt Jenne, Assistant to the Mayor Alice Joyce, Town Manager Cal Horton, Assistant Town Manager Sonna Loewenthal, Planning Director Roger Waldon, Finance Director James Baker, Solid Waste Director Gayle Wilson, Town Attorney Ralph Karpinos and Town Clerk Peter Richardson.

 

Continuation of Process for Filling Vacant Seat

 

Mayor Waldorf noted that voting ballots were at the Council’s places this morning.  The Council unanimously appointed Ms. Flicka Bateman to the Council upon the third ballot.  Original voting ballots of all Council Members are on file in the Town Clerk’s Office.  Mayor Waldorf stated that Ms. Bateman would be immediately notified of her appointment to the Council and could be sworn in as a Council Member upon her arrival.

 

Topics for Discussion

 

Mr. Jenne inquired which topics individual Council Members wished to discuss at today’s session, the following topics were suggested by Council Members:

 

·      Mayor Waldorf:  Review present Council work plan

·      Council Member Brown:  Consider changes to work plan priorities

·      Council Member Foy:   Comprehensive Plan

·      Council Member Andresen:   Transportation planning;  environmental protection; In-fill development; Council procedures; dealing with University buildings; improving working relationships with Orange County; street lighting 

·     Council Member Wiggins:   Schedule for updating Comprehensive Plan;  Analysis of Town ordinance impacts on costs of housing;  working together in the interest of all citizens; advantages and disadvantages of economic development

·     Council Member Brown:    Developing baseline measures for infrastructure impacts by various housing types;   Examine procedures for Manager’s recommendations relative to proposed developments;  Review possibility of more protection for historical portions of the Town; review possibility of joint employees with Orange County for energy, purchasing and joint consultation of services for new developments

·     Council Member Capowski:   Fiscal impact of OWASA on the Town and the School system;  federal telecommunications legislation; planning for zero-emission vehicles

·     Council Member Foy:   Developable land in Town’s planning jurisdiction; stormwater management; possible redevelopment of University Mall; Town parking lot number five

·     Mayor Waldorf:   Informal discussions with Blue Cross/Blue Shield officials and owners of University Mall;  Continuation of stone quarry discussions

·     Council Member Evans:   Explore why it is perceived that the Town is not a  good place to do business, compared to the Town of Carrboro 

 

Mr. Horton briefly reviewed the status of each of the eleven goals which had received four or more informal “straw” votes at the Council’s August planning session.

 

Noting the arrival of Ms. Bateman, Mayor Waldorf administered the Council oath of office.  Ms. Bateman signed her oath of office and she was seated as the Council’s ninth member.  Ms. Bateman said that she looked forward to serving the community as a Council Member.

 

Council Member Wiggins inquired about staffing of the Tarheel Express.  Noting that salaries for Tarheel Express drivers were relatively competitive, Mr. Horton said that the Town had encountered some difficulty in hiring an adequate number of drivers for the Tarheel Express program.  Referencing the currently robust national economy, Council Member Capowski inquired about the possibility of raising fares in order to increase the wages of drivers.  Mr. Horton said that staff was developing a recommendation for the Council’s consideration.

 

Council Member Foy inquired why bus ridership had recently increased.  Mr. Horton said that the University had agreed to pay for additional shuttle service from park and ride lots to the Business School, UNC Hospitals, and other campus destinations.

 

Mayor Waldorf sought the Council’s feedback on the need for a work session about getting more balanced and complete information for development proposals.  Council Member Brown said although this was a very important issue, she felt that it could be handled during a regular meeting, rather than having a separate work session.   There was Council concurrence that this matter be included on a regular meeting agenda, rather than holding a separate work session.

 

Mayor Waldorf distributed a list of possible Council discussion topics between now and July.  Council Member Brown said she wished to discuss agenda topics for the proposed February 2nd

joint meeting with the Orange County Board of Commissioners.

 

Comprehensive Planning

 

Stating that the Town’s Comprehensive Plan had not been updated in more than ten years, Council Member Foy suggested that Town staff bring the Council up to date on the Development Ordinance, including the possible establishment of an open space acquisition program.  Council Member Evans said that the Comprehensive Plan and the Strategic Plan needed to be reviewed and updated.   Council Member Wiggins said it would be helpful to have a tentative time frame for undertaking these activities.   Mayor Waldorf requested a staff update on this matter.  Mr. Waldon said that there was nothing underway in terms of comprehensively updating the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.   Council Member Brown said she thought that the Council had restated what it wanted on this matter.   Mr. Horton said that staff could provide a follow-up report to the Council.  Mayor Waldorf said that there appeared to be some agreement emerging for the Council to review the Strategic Plan of the Comprehensive Plan.  Mr. Horton said that staff could reissue copies of the strategic reports as well as a possible review schedule.

 

Stating that there had been a number of specific questions about the strategic reports, Council Member Foy suggested that specific interests of Council Members might be clarified.  Council Member Pavăo suggested that individual Council Members could give specific questions to the Manager.  Mr. Horton suggested that Council Members submit any questions within the next two weeks.   Referencing the need to examine how to handle in-fill development proposals,  Mayor Waldorf  said that the Council needed to be proactive in its support of the rural buffer and downzoning in the southern part of the Town.   Council Member Brown said it was very important to continue to offer special protection for the Town’s  historic areas.

 

Council Member Evans stated that in-fill developments could also possibly have some positive impacts.  Council Member Brown said that the Council needed to look at in-fill development in a larger context, given the potential for additional traffic and other possible positive and negative infrastructure impacts.

 

Noting that there would inevitably be many in-fill related requests in the future, Council Member Andresen said that the Council needed to carefully examine site plan requirements in order to protect existing neighborhoods.  Council Member Foy suggested that the Council get more information about the inventory of developable land in the Town.  Mr. Horton said that staff could generate a map showing all privately-owned undeveloped land in the Town.

 

Council Member Wiggins urged the Council to keep in mind the need to balance neighborhood protection concerns with the Council’s priority to provide affordable housing in the Town.  Council Member Andresen suggested that staff could give the Council some options and tools to apply to existing neighborhoods, such as overlay zones.

 

Stating that car storage was becoming a bigger issue in the Town, Council Member Capowski suggested that the Council possibly give more power to neighborhood residents regarding minor subdivision changes.  Council Member Wiggins said that she would support this to the extent that cost impacts of such actions could be known.  Mayor Waldorf suggested that Town staff generate another map of undeveloped land in the Town, leaving out single lots.  She also suggested that the Council have discussions about the Strategic Plan and Comprehensive Plan.  Council Member Brown said she urged the Council to look at the application of zoning standards in central Town neighborhoods versus suburban neighborhoods, because they were very different.  Council Member Capowski said that he encouraged the Council to think about protections in neighborhoods other than historic districts.  Council Member Brown suggested that the Council needed to go forward with an examination of the entire Town.

 

Mr. Horton said that staff could roughly prepare a map delineating areas developed under older zoning regulations versus newer Town zoning rules.

 

Council Member Brown suggested that neighborhood residents, the Historic District Commission and Planning Board could make suggestions on this matter.  Council Member Andresen noted that residents of the Northside neighborhood had concerns about demolition and other matters.

 

Mr. Horton also said that staff could take illustrations from neighborhoods developed under “older rules” and talk about how this situations might be addressed with newer rules, possibly including a map of  undeveloped parcels.   Council Member Andresen requested that staff get data from other communities regarding changes in neighborhoods.    Council Member Brown suggested that staff  bring back a process to look at various neighborhoods, identifying specific neighborhood problems.     Council Member Andresen suggested that the Manager serve as a facilitator to move along in this matter.  Mr. Horton said he would provide a follow-up report with options, schedules and some illustrations.

 

Transportation Planning

 

Council Member Andresen requested an update on Town staff work regarding transportation-related impacts of developments such as Meadowmont.   Mr. Horton said that Town traffic engineering staff was working on a number of traffic models.   Council Member Evans suggested the possibility of examining traffic on a region-wide basis such as through efforts of the Triangle J Council of Governments.

 

Council Member Foy asked whether or not the Council would be getting more information about traffic modeling.  Mr. Waldon said that the staff was planning to bring a report on traffic modeling to the Council on February 9th.   Council Member Foy inquired about the range of costs for traffic modeling software.  Mr. Horton said that such software would cost in the range of $40,000 to $100,000.  Council Member Capowski inquired about the possibility of the Town hiring a traffic consultant.  Mr. Horton noted that the estimated cost of a consultant for one major traffic study would be between $50,000 and $100,000.

 

Council Member Capowski said that the traffic impacts of the proposed Meadowmont development were far greater than Pinehurst Drive.  He also stated that Town staff had recommended a number of major development proposals on Airport Road/NC 86, despite their cumulative traffic impacts.  Mr. Horton and Mr. Karpinos said that there was nothing in the State of North Carolina’s laws to permit the denial of one project in relation to other proposed developments in the same area.  Council Member Foy inquired whether or not the implementation of  an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance would permit the Council to stagger developments.  Mr. Karpinos said that due to capacity concerns, the short-term impact would be to place a burden on the community, rather than on developers.  Mr. Horton said that staff would bring back a report to the Council about mathematical traffic modeling on February 9th, including estimated cost impacts.

 

Environmental Protection

 

Council Member Foy requested an update on the staff’s stormwater management report recommendations.  Mr. Horton stated that staff had made good progress on this matter and could bring a follow-up report, including the status of the Corps of Engineers report to the Council.

Council Member Foy asked whether or not the Council could do anything to help move the Corp of Engineers’ mapping project along any faster.   Noting that requests for expedited treatment had been made to the area’s United States Congressman and Senator, Mr. Horton said that staff could check on the status of this matter and report back to the Council.

 

Council Member Andresen requested that the Council consider increasing livability requirements for larger development projects.  Referencing the Town’s Resource Conservation District Ordinance, Council Member Andresen said that having impoundment ponds located in wooded areas was not a very attractive option. She suggested that the Council think about how to preserve tree buffers along streams.  Referencing livability space in the proposed Meadowmont development, Council Member Evans said that the proposal included the dedication of more than thirty acres of meadow lands by the applicant.  Council Member Bateman requested more information about the effectiveness of detention ponds.

 

Council Member Brown said that the Council needed to look at baseline measurements for roadway and other types of infrastructure capacities.  She also suggested that the Council could develop environmental impact statements.

 

Mayor Waldorf noted that the Orange Water and Sewer Authority had current and sophisticated information about water supply and wastewater treatment capacity.  She also stated that the University had hired a consultant to determine estimated maximum capacities for roadways close to the Horace Williams and Mason Farm areas.

 

Referencing a public facilities ordinance, Council Member Brown said that the Council needed to have some idea about what capacities there were for each service provided in/by the Town and the impacts of new developments on these existing resources.

 

Stating that he would not want to have a legacy of the “asphaltization of the Town”, Council Member Capowski stated that the Council needed to begin seriously thinking about the amount of impervious surface in all parts of the Town.

 

Council Member Andresen said it was her personal preference that staff prepare agenda items regarding an adequate public facilities ordinance and one on environmental impact statements.  Council Member Evans noted that a public facilities ordinance could have the effect of transferring costs from developers to the general public.  She noted that this item was included as item number fourteen on the Council’s work plan.  Council Member Brown noted that Currituck County had an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance in effect.  She also stated that the Council already had the authority to require environmental impact statements.  Council Member Capowski said he would be interested in the Council looking into these matters further.  Mayor Waldorf suggested that staff provide the Council with copies of the Currituck County Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance.  Mr. Horton said that staff could provide the Council with a copy of the ordinance and comment on the ordinance.

 

Council Member Foy noted that Orange County staff had a lot of information about the State of Maryland’s experience with adequate public facilities ordinances.   Council Member Brown said she hoped that the Council would have a main agenda item about adequate public facilities ordinances at a Council meeting in the near future.  She also suggested that the Council have an agenda item during the fall of 1998 regarding environmental impact statements.

 

Mayor Waldorf suggested that the Council take a few minutes before the lunch break to discuss the disposition of remaining items on the Council’s priority listing.

 

Council Member Andresen expressed a desire for the Council to look at and discuss options regarding livability standards.  Council Member Andresen said that she could prepare such a report for Council discussion on a future agenda.

 

Referencing RCD regulations and detention ponds, Council Member Andresen said that there were a number of approaches for handling these matters.  Council Member Evans inquired how it was possible to have detention ponds outside of the Resource Conservation District.  Council Member Brown said that she favored the Council discussing RCD regulations and detention ponds at a future Council meeting.

 

Council Member Brown asked that Town staff prepare a report on baseline measures and a public facility ordinance.  Mr. Horton said that Town staff could prepare such a report.

 

There was Council concurrence for the Council to hold a joint meeting with OWASA in the near future.

 

Council Member Capowski inquired whether or not it was possible for the Town staff to prepare a GIS map of asphalted areas within Town limits.  Mr. Horton said that staff could attempt to prepare such a map.

 

There was a break for lunch between 12:16 and 12:58 p.m.

 

Fiscal and Operating Budgets

 

Mr. Horton presented a brief overview of the current Town’s fiscal situation and preliminary budget forecast.  Mr. Horton said that Town staff welcomed the Council’s guidance in the development of a budget schedule.

 

Council Member Andresen suggested that the Council consider the possibility of scheduling departmental budget overviews on the same evenings as budget public forums.  Noting that January 27th was only a short time away, Mr. Horton said that it would not be possible to have such budget-related staff presentations at this forum.  Council Member Foy suggested that the Council adopt option number two.  Mayor Waldorf noted that this would mean adding budget work sessions on March 4th and April 1st.  Council Member Andresen suggested that departmental budget sessions be televised in the future.  Council Member Capowski suggested having all Council meetings on cable television.  There was no objection from Council Members.

 

Budget Concerns

 

Council Members outlined the following budget-related concerns:

 

Council Member Andresen:

Increasing pace of street lighting; merit pay & cost of living

Council Member Pavăo:

Alternatives to merit pay; incentive package for employees

Council Member Brown:

Bring in outside expert for merit pay guidance; discuss issue of salary compression

Council Member Evans:

Continue sidewalk construction and tree planting program; address concerns of Senior Activities Center; work with State legislature for a bottle/can/plastic deposit bill

Mayor Waldorf:

Ask Manager and Department heads to identify marginal programs; Possibly cap outside human service funding

Council Member Foy:

Information about how Parks and Recreation Department budget compares to other Town departments

Council Member Capowski:

“Pay as you throw” system; street cleaning and basic street repair; Town’s relationship with NC Department of Transportation

Council Member Bateman:

Sewer subsidies

Council Member Capowski:

Landfill neighbors subsidy

Council Member Brown:

Rollout and back yard trash collection systems; examine other ways to reduce Town’s budget

Council Member Capowski:

Bikeways

Mayor Waldorf:

Public works construction for sidewalks versus contracting out

Council Member Evans:

Streetscape funding

 

 

Summary of Discussions regarding Budget Concerns

 

Council Member Andresen said that extra street lamps were needed in a number of areas around the Town.  The Council agreed to receive a staff report about street lighting and maintenance.

 

Stating that the Town’s existing merit pay and cost of living system was complicated and difficult to understand, Council Member Andresen suggested that the Council seek the services of an outside consultant to simplify the current system.  Noting that proposals had been sought from a number of outside consultants, Mr. Horton said he would welcome such a review.  Council Member Wiggins inquired whether or not the existing systems could be changed for the next fiscal year.  Mr. Horton said it was important to get input from Town staff  about any such changes and therefore it might only be possible to make modest changes to the current system during the next year.  Council Member Andresen said that the Orange Water and Sewer Authority Board had made changes to OWASA’s pay system after holding a number of work sessions on this matter.

 

Council Member Andresen said she could provide information about OWASA’s pay system to the Council.

 

Salary Compression

 

Noting that salary compression concerns had been somewhat addressed in last year’s Town budget, Council Member Brown suggested that the Council receive staff comments about compression at a future budget public forum.  Council Member Andresen requested that staff provide the Council with a report on salary compression concerns.  Mr. Horton said that salary compression concerns could be addressed somewhat in next year’s Town budget.

 

Sidewalk Construction

 

Mr. Horton noted that Town staff would be providing a report to the Council about sidewalk project priorities on February 9th.  He noted that Public Works crews could be used to complete sidewalk projects, rather than hiring outside contractors.

 

Tree Planting

 

Council Member Evans requested that tree plantings continue along street rights-of-way.

 

Senior Citizens Center

 

Noting that four years remained on the lease of the existing senior center lease.  Council Member Foy inquired about possible uses of the Town’s library site.  Mayor Waldorf inquired whether or not Pritchard Park had been formally dedicated as a Town park.  Mr. Horton said that there was nothing to preclude the use of  the site as a senior center.  Mayor Waldorf inquired whether any Council Members wanted to change the Council’s existing policy of not using the Pritchard Park/Library site as a Senior Center.  There was no Council support for such a policy change.  Mayor Waldorf also suggested that the Council could discuss the possibility of a cans and plastic bottle deposit bill at the planned February 27th meeting with the legislative delegation.

 

Human Services Funding

 

Council Member Capowski inquired whether the Council favored not increasing the amount of Town funding for human services performance agreements.  There was no opposition to this approach.  Mr. Horton said that the Council could adopt a resolution instructing the Human Services Advisory Board not to go beyond the current overall funding allocation level.  Mayor Waldorf suggested that staff draft such a resolution for the Council’s consideration in the future.

Mr. Horton noted that he could also prepare the report requested by a Council Member regarding the historical percentages of Town funds provided for Parks and Recreation programs.

 

Refuse Collection Alternatives

 

Council Member Brown said although it would be good for the Council to receive a staff report on these matters, the Council needed to think about funding and policy alternatives in a broader context.  Mayor Waldorf suggested that “pay as you throw” system advocates could explore whether or not the Council was willing to move forward with such a system.  Council Member Brown said that the Council needed to get more information from staff about the best type of “pay as you throw” system for the Town.  Council Member Evans said that any proposal needed to contain information about residential and non-residential situations. 

 

Mayor Waldorf suggested that the Council have a straw vote regarding refuse collection options and methods at its first budget work session.  Council Member Capowski said he would compose a brief resolution for the Council to support any type of changes to the Town’s present refuse collection system.

 

Street Cleaning and Repairs/Town Relationship with NC Department of Transportation

 

Mr. Horton said that although staff could prepare a working paper on street cleaning and repair, he was not certain what type of information was desired regarding the Town’s relationship to the NC Department of Transportation.  Council Member Capowski said he did not believe that State roads in the Town were well maintained and cleaned.  Mr. Horton said that staff could report to the Council on this concern.

 

Sewer Subsidies to Unsewered Neighborhoods within Town Limits

 

Council Member Bateman inquired whether or not Town funds were presently available to assist with providing sewer service to unsewered neighborhoods.  Noting that the OWASA Board was awaiting local government input on this matter, Council Member Andresen said she strongly recommended that the Council make a reasonable request to OWASA as soon as practical.  Council Member Bateman suggested the possibility of taking the matter of sewer subsidies up at a joint meeting with OWASA in the near future.  Council Member Andresen suggested that the Council discuss the matter prior to a joint meeting with the OWASA Board.

 

Landfill Neighbors Subsidy

 

Noting that the Council did not have a policy regarding possible subsidies for people residing near the landfill, Council Member Capowski  said he was suggesting that the Council discuss this matter at a future Council meeting.  Council Member Foy noted that the Orange County Commissioners had recently received a report on this matter, outlining specific proposals.  Mayor Waldorf noted that the report contained information about the costs of providing water and sewer service to the area.


 

Other Items

 

Council Member Capowski said that existing bikeways needed more maintenance.

 

Mayor Waldorf requested that staff prepare a report regarding whether it was better for Town staff or contractors to undertake small projects such as sidewalk construction.  Council Member Andresen said it would be interesting to hear from staff about this matter.

 

Noting that streetscape funding had been reduced to zero, Council Member Evans suggested that the Council consider establishing an annual allocation for streetscape projects.  Council Member Andresen said that greater emphasis needed to be placed on working with effected businesses.

 

Council Member Brown suggested that the Council look at the possibility of new joint Town/Orange County employees for energy, purchasing and information systems regarding costs of services in new developments.  She said that this matter could possibly be discussed at the Council’s February 2nd joint meeting with the Orange County Board of Commissioners.

 

Council Member Brown requested that staff identify options for the Council to be able to adopt a no tax increase budget.  Mr. Jenne noted that the Town Manager had said that this was improbable in his financial forecasting projections.  Mr. Horton said that he could bring forward a no tax increase budget proposal which would involve cutting some existing programs and services.  Mayor Waldorf suggested that the Council could direct advisory boards and commissions to identify some marginal services for possible reduction or elimination.  Council Member Brown said it would be helpful to have more detailed information about individual line items within various Town departments.  Mr. Horton said that staff could provide this information, if so directed by the Council.  Council Member Andresen said it was unreasonable to have a no tax increase budget when additional bond debt service had been recently initiated for new facilities.  Mr. Horton said that Town staff could explore cutting programs identified by the Council, rather than evaluating all existing Town services and programs.

 

Council Member Foy said he was interested in learning more about the Council’s options relative to the revenue side of the budget.  Mr. Horton said that the Council did not have too many options under existing North Carolina laws.

 

Stating that cost of solid waste services and programs was growing very rapidly, Council Member Capowski inquired whether or not this would be a good place for the Council to examine possible budget-related reductions.  Mr. Horton said that the Council might wish to discuss these cost elements relative to the Town’s budget for the next fiscal year.

 

Solid Waste Matters

 

Mr. Horton presented a general overview of solid waste issues and the Council’s options.

 

Council Member Brown said that the Landfill Owners Group had a very good meeting during the last week, having passed a resolution regarding potential regional cooperation.  She stated that there was about six months to look at options for a regional materials recovery facility.  Council Member Brown also said that the Landfill Owners Group had also briefly discussed the need to look at financing options for dealing with solid waste.  Noting that the Landfill Owners Group at its most recent meeting had elected Council Member Brown as its chair, Council Member Foy stated that Council Member Brown had excellently chaired the meeting.  Council Member Foy also said that the Council needed to be prepared to give instructions to its Landfill Owners Group representatives about what it did and did not want to accomplish relative to solid waste matters and concerns, such as the disposal of construction and demolition wastes.

 

Council Member Capowski asked whether construction and demolition wastes could be disposed of on the Greene tract.  Solid Waste Director Gayle Wilson said that there were no regulations to preclude such disposal.  Council Member Capowski inquired about the practicality of compacting and transferring construction and demolition wastes.  Mr. Wilson said that this was not practical.

 

Council Member Andresen inquired whether or not the Landfill Owners Group had discussed siting of a materials recovery facility and the possibility of transporting wastes out of Orange County.  Council Member Brown said that there had been a brief discussion regarding siting of such a facility in Orange County or elsewhere.  She added that any residual from any such facility would need to be landfilled in Orange County.  Council Member Brown also said that the Landfill Owners Group was keeping in mind the possible need to use rail as a means of transporting wastes out of Orange County on a long or short-term basis.

 

Council Member Pavăo inquired whether or not staff had information about the micronizing process used by some companies to handle tires and construction and demolition wastes.  Mr. Wilson said that he was not personally familiar with this specific process.

 

Stating that it was a very good idea for Landfill Owners Group meetings to be televised, Council Member Wiggins said she was personally very excited to hear about possible regional efforts about solid waste matters.

 

Mayor Waldorf noted that County governments in North Carolina had the statutory authority to impose a “trash tax”.

 

Mr. Wilson noted that the Triangle J Council of Governments had set up a committee regarding regional construction and demolition materials and had concluded that it was not feasible for the Triangle area to have a central construction and demolition facility.

 

Council Member Brown said that the Landfill Owners Group was suggesting that Mayors, County Commission Chairs and Managers from Durham, Chatham, Alamance and Orange Counties meet to discuss regional solid waste efforts.  Council Member Foy noted that Alamance and Chatham County had already responded with their interest on these matters.

 

Stating that he had been following solid waste matters with a great deal of interest for quite some time, Council Member Capowski said he believed that the best approach was to construct a materials recovery facility and transfer station, rather than moving ahead with a new landfill facility in Orange County.   He noted that the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan had contracted with a Fortune 500 company to handle its recycling program and to absorb the financial risks of the market place.

 

Stating that the Council needed to have a few more discussions in terms of the long-term, Council Member Andresen said that she disagreed with Council Member Capowski’s conclusions about handling solid waste policy matters.  She said that shipping trash out of Orange County was essentially all a short-term solution.  Stating that it was not practical to site an incineration facility in Orange County, Council Member Andresen said the Council should continue to focus its efforts on working in concert with other governmental bodies on solid waste matters.

 

Council Member Brown stated that the Landfill Owners Group and local governments generally appeared to be making good progress on solid waste decisions.  She also noted that a number of attendees at a recent energy conference had informed her that a number of waste to energy plants had recently ceased operations.  Council Member Brown said additional information on this matter could be reported to the Council.

 

Mayor Waldorf noted that she would be putting information regarding Council meeting procedures and a copies of a funding request from Habitat for Humanity in their mailboxes at Town Hall.

 

The session concluded at 3:20 p.m.