SUMMARY MINUTES OF A BUDGET WORK SESSION

OF THE CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2003, AT 4:00 P.M.

 

Mayor Kevin Foy called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

 

Council members present were Flicka Bateman (arrived at 4:15 p.m.), Pat Evans, Ed Harrison, Mark Kleinschmidt, Bill Strom, Dorothy Verkerk, Jim Ward (arrived at 5:20 p.m.) and Edith Wiggins.  Mayor pro tem Evans left the meeting at 6:25 p.m.

 

Staff members present were Town Manager Cal Horton, Assistant Town Manager Florentine Miller, Planning Director Roger Waldon, Library Director Kathy Thompson, Assistant to the Mayor Emily Dickens, Assistant Library Director Mark Bayles, Information Technology Director Bob Avery, Housing Director Tina Vaughn, Finance Director Jim Baker, Principal Community Development Planner Loryn Barnes, Town Planner Than Austin, Transportation Director Mary Lou Kuschatka, Senior Long Range Planning Coordinator Chris Berndt, Library Office Manager Donna Sayers, and Acting Town Clerk Bill Stockard.

 

Item 1 - Library Board of Trustees

 

Library Board Chair Bob Schreiner summarized the main points of the Board's memo to the Council.  He noted that the Public Library checks more books out than any other library in the State, and does so more economically than most.  Mr. Schreiner pointed out that the number of Library patrons had increased by 2%-4% each year.  Over the past year, he said, the Board had completed its Master Plan, had attained another #1 rating in the Hennan's American Public Library Rating Index, and had introduced a web page as well as an online catalog.

 

Mr. Schreiner pointed out that the Library had done all of this despite insufficient resources.  He said that the Board had finished its technology report and building plan and that their largest projected expense was for expanding the building to three times its present size.  Mr. Schreiner also commented on the need to upgrade the web-based catalog and to automate the inventory and check-out system.  He said that there was a need for technical staff dedicated to the Library.

 

Board Member Evelyn Daniel commented that she had been surprised when she arrived in Chapel Hill 18 years ago that the Library was so small, given the Town's reputation for literary excellence.  She acknowledged that the present Library was an improvement, but added that Chapel Hill deserves an even better one. 

 

Board Member Virginia Young asked how soon the Board could expect to receive funding.  She pointed out that the Library grows smaller in relation to the Town's readership.  Town Manager Cal Horton replied that funding would depend on the Town Council's judgment as to what the community is able to bear.   The greatest challenge immediately facing the Town, he said, was the need to build a new Transportation and Public Works Operation Center.  Mr. Horton said that the new Operations Center might cost as much as $30 million.  He explained that the Council would consider a possible bond referendum in November for the Library and other issues

 

Mayor Foy remarked that the Council probably would need to ask voters to approve a bond in the fall.  Whether or not the Library would be part of that, he said, continues to be under discussion.  Mayor Foy explained that the effect on the tax rate was of greater concern than the overall dollar value of the bond.  Mr. Horton stated that interest rates were likely to be favorable in the fall if the economy continues as it has.  He noted the possibility of war with Iraq, however, and the uncertainty of how that could affect rates. 

 

Mayor pro tem Evans noted that the library serves many who do not pay Town property taxes.  She asked Board members if they track the number of out-of-Town users.  This might that be a way of supplementing operating costs or other Library needs, she said.  Mr. Schreiner replied that Orange County's annual per capita contribution has been below the average of what other counties contribute to other libraries.  Mayor pro tem Evans inquired about revenue from Chatham County.  Mr. Schreiner explained that 600-700 Chatham County users each pay a fee of $50 per year.

 

Mayor Foy commented that it might be better to reject the County's subsidy and just charge $50 to each of the 10,000 out-of-Town Library users.  That would not be a "palatable solution," he said, but it would let the County understand the level of service the Town provides.  Even though the Board's presentations to the County each year were excellent, said Mayor Foy, the Library remains under-funded.  Mayor Foy said that asking Chapel Hill residents to support the capital improvements while also continuing to subsidize the use of other county residents is too much of a burden.  He expressed appreciation for the County's $200,000 contribution, but pointed out that it is not enough.  Mayor Foy added that $50 per library card probably would not be enough either.

 

Mr. Schreiner wondered how many patrons would remain if the Town began charging a fee.  Mayor Foy repeated his view that this was not an attractive option.  But, he pointed out, the Town was being asked to pay for capital improvements because of increased usage.  If usage decreases because people do not want to pay a fee, then the Town could reserve its capital investment for the people of Chapel Hill, he said.  Mr. Schreiner remarked that doing this might cause ill will, but he agreed to emphasize the Town's contribution when the Board meets with Orange County.

 

Council Member Harrison expressed reluctance at having a bond issue for the Library this year, although he had asked the Manager about one at last year’s budget work session for the Library Board.  He asked to know as soon as possible the amount that it would request from the public.  Council Member Harrison remarked that it would be better to do this sooner rather than later because construction costs keep going up.   He urged Board members to make users understand that the Town will have to pay for this.

 

Council Member Verkerk inquired about whether bond issues must be separated.   Mr. Horton explained that bond law, and what bond underwriters will agree to, is very specific.  Issues must be separated, he said, and cannot be co-mingled in order to cause an unusual arrangement of votes.

 

Council Member Wiggins asked if it would be a Chapel Hill bond or part of a County package.  Mr. Horton replied that it might be possible to have two separate bond issues for the Library.  It is also possible, he said, that Orange County might make a pledge of contributions over time to help pay the debt service.  He added, though, that Chapel Hill typically stands alone and the Council sponsors the bond issue.  Council Member Wiggins expressed a preference for that.

 

Mayor Foy said that he did not think the County anticipated another bond for at least four or five years.   Mr. Horton agreed, but remarked that he was not an expert on County affairs and could be mistaken.

 

Council Member Strom stated that the County would not issue bonds for at least a few more years.  He inquired about the point at which the Town Council would see a scale of bond that would address the Library plan.  Mr. Horton replied that the recommended full-scale improvement would cost up to $15 million.  He said that the staff had been working on three scenarios for Council consideration.  These include a plan for full improvement, a mid-range plan that would carry the Library for a while, and a minimum plan that would be worth presenting to the voters.

 

Council Member Strom confirmed that the Town could not lock into the favorable interest rates until the bonds are actually sold.   Mr. Horton added that rates can change drastically, noting again that war with Iraq would make the bond rate even more unpredictable.

 

Mayor Foy inquired about the Town's space needs assessment.  Mr. Horton explained that the Library portion had been completed but that the overall report probably would not be finished before next fall.

 

Mayor pro tem Evans asked for a brief review of what happened at the last Library bond issue.  Mr. Schreiner explained that an approved bond referendum had gone to voters.  The amount ended up being too small to build a big enough library for the reasonable future, he said, so another bond issue was added to make up the shortfall.  He noted that the second bond issue had failed.

 

Mayor pro tem Evans commented that sometimes, rather than being realistic about the amount needed for improvement, the Town puts forward bonds that will be approved by the voters.   Board Member Margaret Siefert replied that she had been on the Board at the time of those bond issues.  It took much more time to acquire the land than it should have, she said, so costs had gone up by the time they were ready to build.  Ms. Siefert explained that they had built what they could with the money they had.  She expressed hope that the Town would start construction quickly this time.  Mr. Horton pointed out that construction plans were not yet ready and that a Special Use Permit had not been approved.

 

Mayor Foy asked Mr. Horton to inform the public how much the Town had spent on the last construction and what the amortization schedule of those bonds had been.  That way all will know how much longer it will take to pay off the present building, he said.

 

In response to an inquiry from Mayor pro tem Evans, Town Finance Director Jim Baker said that he did not think the Town had refinanced the 20-year bonds that had been issued in 1989.  Mayor Foy noted that the old bond was almost paid off.

 

Mayor pro tem Evans asked about refinancing the bonds.  Mr. Baker replied that the Town had analyzed the feasibility of refinancing all bonds last year.

 

Item 2 - Housing and Community Development Advisory Board

 

Board Chair Tracy Dudley requested Town support for the Transitional Housing Program.  She said that the program's one home had been working out well and that the bigger the program grows the better it will be.   Ms. Dudley asked Council members to be mindful of possible cuts in HUD financing.  She applauded the Council's affordable housing initiative and thanked the Town’s Public Works Department for its excellence during recent storms.  Ms. Dudley asked Council members to support every affordable housing effort they can and to consider the effect that increased taxes would have on those with the lowest income.  She pointed out that some people merely want to be able to rent in the Town, noting that some Public Housing residents pay more than $500 per month.  Ms. Dudley invited the Council and anyone else interested in affordable housing to attend an open forum at the Chapel Hill Public Library on March 11, 2003 at 7:00 p.m.

 

Council Member Kleinschmidt inquired about the next level of support for the Transitional Housing Program.  Housing Director Tina Vaughn replied that the objective was to have financing in place to purchase one house per year with the ultimate goal of 10 homes.   She explained that money was appropriated last year under the HOME Program and that there still is funding from the first Housing bond issue from the County.  The Department will start shopping for a second house when that money has been dispersed, she said.  Ms. Vaughn stated that this probably would not be possible, though, before the end of the current fiscal year. 

 

Council Member Strom suggested that the staff keep the need for Transitional Housing in mind when applications come in.

 

Council Member Bateman inquired about a rumor that some public housing residents, because of a lack of outside space, had been venting their dryers back into their homes.  Mr. Horton replied that the Town would immediately have hooked up any dryer without a proper hook-up during inspections.  Mayor Foy suggested that Council Member Bateman give the source's name to the Manager.

 

Council Member Bateman asked if the Council could use HOME funds for renovations if HUD funds diminish. Principal Community Development Planner Loryn Barnes said that she thought it had all been allocated to specific approved activities, but agreed to bring back a definite answer.  Mr. Horton noted that the $28,000 in HOME money that had been awarded to the Housing Department had been held up because of a delay in County funding.  He added that it made no sense to him that HUD was reducing the amount of support for public housing at the same time that it was giving additional money for other HUD programs.

 

Council Member Harrison determined that HUD was the ultimate source of HOME funds.

 

Council Member Wiggins asked Mr. Horton which of the several sources of funding for housing might decrease.  Mr. Horton replied that money that HUD provides for the operation of public housing appears to be constrained.  He explained that the situation had improved somewhat, and that HUD was expected to fund at 90% of the real cost, rather than 70% as it previously had said.  But HUD should fund it at 100%, Mr. Horton said, because Public Housing is funded by two sources, federal subsidy and rents, which will not go down. 

 

Mayor Foy asked Ms. Dudley if she had an update on the Residents' Council.  Ms. Dudley said her information was sketchy at best.

 

Council Member Bateman asked for a sense of how children and families were being affected by the redistricting proposal.  Ms. Vaughn replied that Pritchard Park children who attend Estes Hills School appear to be the only ones affected.

 

Item 3 - Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board

 

Town Planner Than Austin pointed out that the three issues noted in the Board's memorandum were for funding outside the CIP budget. The memo encourages the Council to pursue other funding, he said, such as a bond for sidewalk construction and State direct allocation funds.  He stated that the Board was concerned about pedestrian safety at medians, intersections and crossings, and was requesting a study of pedestrian safety improvements throughout Town.  Mr. Austin noted that the Board was also asking for an increase in funds for a staff position to work on bicycle and pedestrian issues.

 

Council Member Harrison pointed out that drivers had been disregarding pedestrian signals in the Downtown area.   He suggested that the best way to understand that would be through the kind of systematic study that the Board was recommending.  Regarding funding for the staff position, Council Member Harrison verified that the point was to replace Mr. Austin.

 

Mayor Foy determined that about 20% of Mr. Austin's time was being devoted to this work.  Council Member Harrison inquired about whether the Board was looking for a full-time person.  Wayne Pein, Chair of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, replied that some on the Board were, but had not articulated what that full-time person would do.

 

With regard to a bond issue for sidewalks, Mr. Pein spoke in favor of doing a wholesale improvement for the entire sidewalk network.

 

Mayor pro tem Evans commented that the Town had a good chance of getting a grant from Active Living by Design.

 

Council Member Verkerk commented that she had noticed people wearing dark clothing crossing at intersections at night.    Mr. Pein pointed out that it is difficult to get people to wear reflectors and carry flashlights, and stressed the importance of having safe areas for people to cross.

 

Council Member Wiggins remarked that she had been unable to cross a street near Duke Hospital because of the low prickly plants that had been placed there by design.  She wondered if such plantings might be used in Chapel Hill.  Mr. Austin agreed that this was a good idea.

 

Council Member Verkerk asked if the staff had ever found out why DOT had eradicated crosswalks near the Glen Lennox Apartments.  Mr. Pein proposed that the DOT did not favor uncontrolled crosswalks, such as those at mid-block with no signal.  The DOT thinks they give a false sense of security to pedestrians, he said, adding that accident studies had shown them to be more hazardous.

 

Council Member Harrison remarked that drivers were not being told that they should yield to pedestrians even at the most enhanced pedestrian crossings in the State.  There ought to be some fairly simple approaches to letting drivers know that these are pedestrian crossings and pedestrian signals, he said.

 

Mayor Foy asked if the Town was empowered to have any enforceable ordinances regarding driving.  Mr. Horton replied that motor vehicle laws were primarily State laws.  The Town can regulate speeds on Town streets with permission and/or agreement of the State, he said.  Mr. Horton added that the Town can influence speed limits on State roads as well.  But, he pointed out, Americans everywhere are arrogant about traffic laws and are not afraid to violate them.   Mr. Horton noted that there were not enough police officers to make people afraid to break the law.  He has not given up on trying to change people's behavior, he said, but it is challenging and expensive.

 

Mayor pro tem Evans pointed out that pedestrians do not always obey signals either.

 

Council Member Verkerk asked if there was a problem with police officers not understanding the law.  Mr. Pein replied that police officers do not always know all the specific nuances of the law.  But they could be directed to selectively enforce the most egregious examples of poor behavior on both sides of the issue, he said.  Council Member Verkerk commented that the police might ticket more pedestrians than drivers.   Mr. Horton replied that he did not feel any need to defend the Police Department because they do an exceptional job and apply laws in an intelligent manner.  He stated that the Town could always improve performance, however, adding that the Town adjusts priorities according to the Council's direction.  Mr. Horton remarked on the difficulty of keeping police officers, and acknowledged the perennial concern that the Town cannot create the kind of civil conditions that the Council wishes.

 

Council Member Bateman inquired about electronic speed monitors.  Mr. Horton said that they were effective and do make some difference.   He added that he had asked the Police Chief to check into solar powered monitors.  Council Member Kleinschmidt commented about a recent "speeding sting" on Airport Road, during which one of his co-workers received a ticket for going 20 miles over the speed limit.  He agreed with Mr. Horton's assessment of the Town's police force as effective and responsibly enforcing the laws.

 

 

 

Item 4 - Transportation Board

 

Transportation Board Chair Loren Hintz reviewed the Board's charge and summarized some of its recent activities.  He praised the work that David Bonk and Mary Lou Kuschatka had been doing, and listed items that the Board felt were relevant to the budget. These included a new Transportation Facility, a Downtown transfer station, increased staffing of the Transportation Department, and at least a half-time position for the Planning staff.  Mr. Hintz noted the Board's ongoing funding requests for sidewalks, bike paths, bike lanes, bus shelters, bus information signs, bicycle routes maps, crosswalks, pedestrian walk signals, maintenance of signs, and non-vehicular and transit facilities.  He also mentioned the need for increased bus service, especially on weekends and holidays.  Mr. Hintz suggested looking for ways other than property taxes to pay for some transportation-related services and facilities.

 

Board Member George Cianciolo remarked that there was hardly ever a Transportation Board meeting where sidewalks were not discussed.  He said that the Board had supported completing the sidewalk system for Chapel Hill.  He praised the Council's foresight in anticipating demand and building a transit system that will be useful 10-20 years from now.  Even though it is not fully utilized today, the Town was doing the right thing for the long run, Mr. Cianciolo said.  

 

Council Member Wiggins clarified that 90% of Chapel Hill's citizens live within ¼ mile of a bus stop, and she inquired about the other 10%.  Transportation Director Mary Lou Kuschatka explained that feeder zones served those 10%.  People may call in and the Town will send a car to take them to the nearest bus or transfer center, she said.  Council Member Wiggins verified that this service was also fare free.  Mr. Horton added that people may schedule a ride home through the service as well. Council Member Wiggins verified that citizens had been using these services.

 

Mayor pro tem Evans expressed appreciation to Ms. Kuschatka for responding and correcting inaccuracies in letters to the editor regarding the Town's bus service.

 

Mayor Foy commented that the Council realized that the system did not really run for free, which is why they had made a conscious effort to call it "fare free."

 

Council Member Strom inquired about revenues from Halloween.  Ms. Kuschatka replied that the Department had collected about $16,000.  Expenses were about $14,000, she said, so they surpassed their goal of breaking even.

 

Council Member Strom asked Mr. Hintz if, by putting the Downtown transfer station recommendation in this report, he was asking the Council to ask the Transportation Board to "put some meat on the bones." Or, do they want to present something that has been thought through, he asked.  Mr. Hintz replied that that System Director had presented ideas to the Transportation Board and that it had made sense to start thinking about it.  But the Transportation Board does not have the expertise to know what is necessary, he said, and the Council might want to consider asking staff to look into the issue.  Council Member Strom wondered about asking the Planning Board to consider this in conjunction with transit-oriented development issues. 

 

Council Member Bateman asked why the Town did not run small buses as some other communities do.   Ms. Kuschatka explained that many of the Town's trips are high volume and that the type of service it has does not lend itself to small buses.  She said that the Town does run a small bus on the M Route, and would like to use small buses in the evening.

 

Council Member Bateman inquired about an experimental late route that runs on weekend evenings.   Ms. Kuschatka said that University students in a program called Safe Ride had proposed the idea for two corridors on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.  She had quoted them a special events cost of  $50/hour, she said, and they had raised the money.  Ms. Kuschatka stated that the route was in its second week of a nine-week trial period.

 

Council Member Bateman explained that friends of hers who do not speak English had been unable to get to work during a recent ice storm because the buses did not arrive.  When they called the Town, they could not understand the message, she said, and had been extremely upset about not being able to get to work.  Council Member Bateman asked if a Spanish language line could be installed.  Ms. Kuschatka and Mr. Horton agreed to do that. 

 

Council Member Harrison emphasized the importance of having a Downtown transfer station.  He also pointed out that this was the second Board that had asked for more help from the Planning staff.  It appears as though there would be enough work for one more planner to work on both sets of issues, he said. 

 

Council Member Verkerk asked about bio-diesel fuel.  Ms. Kuschatka replied that the kerosene that the buses use burns cleaner than diesel fuel.  Mr. Horton added that the staff hoped that a good bio-kerosene would be developed.   Council Member Verkerk inquired about making bus stops more attractive.  Ms. Kuschatka replied that the Town has used portions of its grant money for amenities but was focusing now on using money for the new facility.  Mr. Cianciola suggested asking developers to look at the design books that Ms. Kuschatka has.  He said that the Village Theater had offered to look at new designs for the two bus stops.  Council Member Verkerk suggested collaborating with the Public Arts Commission as well.

 

Council Member Ward stated that the Town should not be causal about providing service when roads are icy.  He was not criticizing the Town's efforts during the storm, he said, but asking for feedback on whether the Council needs to do more to make sure that things stay up and running.  Ms. Kuschatka emphasized how challenging the winter had been.  She praised the Public Works Department for clearing all of the bus routes so that they were usable the day after the storm.   She said that the Transportation Department had worked hard to establish a good relationship with the Public Works Department.  Ms. Kuschatka explained that she had determined during the storm that the visibility was too poor for buses to run while the ice and snow was still coming down.

 

Mr. Horton pointed out that there had been two major challenges: getting the drivers into work, since many of them do not live in this community; and getting the roads clear, which requires tons of salt.  He said that the Town must consider the environmental consequences of putting that much material on the roads.  Mr. Horton added that he did not know enough about the science to have an opinion about it, but that the environmental impact of using more chemicals could be researched.   But the Town cannot solve the problem of getting the drivers into work, he said, and without them the buses cannot go.

 

Council Member Ward suggested that the Council direct the Manager to find out the environmental implications of using more materials to treat the roads.  He also recommended funding more snow and ice removal equipment.  Mr. Horton replied that the University had made it clear that they do not want bus service to stop during storms.  But the Town does not have equipment or personnel or materials for that kind of operation, he said.  Mr. Horton agreed to look at how to improve services under severe weather conditions and to examine what the Transportation Fund could contribute toward equipment dedicated to bus routes.  He predicted that the staff would recommend more expenditures, but cautioned that there will always be periods in which bus service is down because drivers cannot get into Town.         

 

Council Member Ward asked about providing facilities for drivers to stay in the community.  Mr. Horton replied that many times drivers elect to do so, but the Town cannot require it.  Some employees feel a responsibility to be home with their families during bad conditions, he said. 

 

Council Member Ward asked if the Transportation Department intended to replace current small buses with others of the appropriate quality.  There would always be a group of routes and/or timeframes that only have a few passengers, he said.  Ms. Kuschatka agreed about timeframes, but pointed out that all routes carry a full load at certain times.  She said that smaller buses would work during the evenings, however. Council Member Ward urged the staff to explore that, and asked if there were some routes that would accommodate a small bus all of the time.  Ms. Kuschatka replied that, except for the M Route, all routes are very busy at some point during their segment.  Mr. Hintz added that each bus does not follow the same route everyday.  He also said that the difference in cost between small and large buses is not as great as one might think.  Council Member Ward asked to see those figures at some point.

 

Council Member Wiggins praised the work that the Transportation and Public Works Departments had done during the storm, noting that many drivers had left their families to get into Town.  She suggested thinking about back-up plans for when buses are not running.  Council Member Wiggins also recommended that employers be more considerate of people who cannot get to work when buses are delayed during storms.

 

Council Member Ward stressed that his comments had not been meant as criticism of how things had been handled.  They reflected a realization on his part of how important bus service was, he said.  Mr. Horton stated that Town employees had appreciated the Town Council allowing differentials in pay and other accommodations during that period.

 

Council Member Bateman asked that the staff place signs in Spanish in buses, advertising the Town's Spanish-language message and phone number.

 

Council Member Wiggins asked that the staff look at other services in Town that could also benefit from having a Spanish-language phone message. 

 

Council Member Ward suggested that the Town go further in requiring sidewalks and other amenities as an alternative to property taxes.  Mr. Horton replied that the Town pushes that as far as it can and often farther than a strict interpretation of the law might allow.  He said that developers had chosen to accept those costs rather than the facing the delays that would come from court cases.  Mr. Horton stated that the staff would continue to push that as hard as it can.

 

Item 5 - Human Services Advisory Board

 

Vice Chair Bill Powers reported that the Board was in the process of establishing collaboration with the UNC Department of Social Work on a human services needs assessment for the Town, to be conducted as a class project.  This will yield a more solid, data based report, he said.  Mr. Powers reported that many, perhaps most, of the more than 30 agencies that the Town has helped in the past were now facing critical financial situations.  Many had lost funding, he said, and had been combining jobs and eliminating staff members.  Some will have to increase their fees for services, he said.

 

Mr. Powers pointed out that the federal government was cutting funds at the same time that the United Way and private donors were reducing contributions.  This is happening at a time when many agencies are trying to make services available to Spanish-speaking residents, he said.  Mr. Powers noted that Chapel Hill's contribution was a small but essential component of human service agencies' budgets, even though half of them receive less than $500.  He stated that agency directors were aware of the Town's budget constraints and were grateful for the funding that they had received.  Mr. Powers asked Council members to increase funding for Human Services because of the anticipated increase in requests for assistance.  Increasing it by 5%, he said, would raise the total grant to $205,800.

 

Board Member Larry Daquioag commented that Board members understood the impact that the State budget had had on municipalities.   He asked Council members to be mindful of the needs of people that this Board serves.  Board Member Gary Wallach informed the Council that United Way might contribute funds toward the UNC assessment.

 

Mayor Foy expressed appreciation to the Board for taking on the difficult and time-consuming work of coordinating recommendations for grants for agencies with competing interests.

 

Council Member Kleinschmidt clarified that the Board had requested $316,000 and had received $196,000.

 

Mayor pro tem Evans noted that human services is primarily a county function.  Noting that the Board had in the past specified a niche that it wanted to serve, she asked if they had done so for the coming year.  Mr. Powers replied that the Board had set priorities in its Needs Report.  These include family and individual support toward self-sufficiency, at-risk youth, and substance abuse treatment and prevention, he said.  Mr. Powers expressed hope that agencies would focus their programs on those needs.  Mayor pro tem Evans confirmed that allocations would focus on those areas as well.

 

Mr. Daquioag noted that there had been 37 applications last year and that some had not been funded at all.  Mayor Foy noted that Human Services Coordinator Karen Rose was also a member of the Chapel Hill Police Department.  He pointed out that the Police Department works with Human Services in a way that most police departments do not.

 

Council Member Ward asked Board members' opinions about how the process might be improved.  Mr. Daquioag replied that the Board was in the process of simplifying the application form for requests of $2,000 and under.

 

Council Member Wiggins asked if the Board had considered having the Town Council create a contingency for needs and priorities that cannot wait.  Mr. Daquioag replied that he would entertain the idea of a 10% contingency.  Council Member Wiggins pointed out that the Council has sometimes had to refer people to the Board knowing that those people cannot wait until the end of the Board's funding cycle.  Mr. Horton remarked the Council can refer items to the Board with the understanding that they could come back with a recommendation for an allocation from the Council's Contingency Fund.

 

Council Member Strom expressed support for Council Member Wiggins's suggestion for a contingency fund and for the Board's request for an increase in funding.  Council Member Strom asked the Manager to suggest non-essential revenue streams, such as hotel occupancy tax revenue, that might be used to increase funding for Human Services.

 

Council Member Bateman also expressed support for increased funding.  She asked Ms. Rose to bring back information on how many years funds had been frozen, adding that funding had not kept pace with growth, with the number of people in need, or with the economic times.  Ms. Rose agreed to bring back specifics, but said that the funding amount had been the same for three or four years.

 

Council Member Kleinschmidt requested that Ms. Rose include a general history of funding as well as information on what a typical increase would have been if times had been better.

 

The meeting adjourned at  6:32 p.m.