SUMMARY MINUTES OF A WORK SESSION

OF THE CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2004 AT 5:30 P.M.

 

Mayor Kevin Foy called the meetings to order at 5:30 p.m.

 

Council members present were Sally Greene, Ed Harrison, Cam Hill, Mark Kleinschmidt, Bill Strom, Dorothy Verkerk, Jim Ward, and Edith Wiggins.

 

Staff members present were Town Manager Cal Horton, Deputy Town Manager Florentine Miller, Assistant Town Manager Bruce Heflin, Interim Finance Director Kay Johnson, Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Bill Webster, Parks and Recreation Director Kathryn Spatz, Human Services Coordinator Karen Rose, Transportation Director Mary Lou Kuschatka, Information Technology Director Bob Avery, Principal Planner Gene Poveromo, Senior Development Coordinator J. B. Culpepper, and Town Clerk Joyce Smith.

 

Item 1 - Greenways Commission

 

Commission members present were Peter Calingaert, Glenn Parks, Mary Ann Freedman, and Jim Earnhardt.  

 

Mr. Calingaert gave a brief presentation with an overview of the activities of the Greenways Commission during the current year.  He thanked the Council for their support and their hard work to inform citizens about the bond issues that had been passed by voters in November.  Mr. Calingaert also brought the Council up to date on greenways projects currently underway or planned.

 

Council Member Strom inquired about UNC's timeframe for improving the Battle Branch Trail according to the OI-4 agreement.  Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Bill Webster replied that UNC had promised this would be done soon but had not attached a date to that promise.  Council Member Strom inquired about plans to upgrade that link.  Mr. Webster said that the Commission would hold a public forum and report back to the Council regarding on the neighborhood's reaction. Council Member Strom commented that the Town could convey that data to UNC so that the Town and UNC could decide how to proceed together on that project. 

 

Council Member Verkerk thanked Mr. Calingaert for helping with the bond referendum.  She asked Mr. Parks for more specifics on what the Commission was expecting from UNC regarding the Rail Trail.  Mr. Parks replied that the Rail Trail ought to be coordinated with other trails throughout UNC's property and the University needs to provide some way of moving pedestrians through that large piece of land.  It would be unfortunate for the University or Town to begin making plans without talking to each other, Mr. Parks said.

 

Mayor Foy asked Mr. Horton to relate the Town's plans for the bond. Mr. Horton explained that the Council had decided to schedule a time in the spring to consider a schedule for issuing bonds and a mix of bonds to be issued.  They would do so before adopting the budget for next year, he said.  

 

Council Member Ward asked the location of the Bolin Creek expansion part of the trail.  Mr. Webster replied that it ran from Airport Road to Estes Drive.  It goes through Umstead Park, he said, adding that all of the wastewater from Carolina North would go into that intercept.  Mr. Webster told Council members that UNC was studying whether or not they would need to replace the pipe.  Council Member Ward asked how the trail would cross Airport Road.  Mr. Webster and Mr. Parks replied that they would explore options for going over as well as under the road.  Mr. Horton noted that people already do walk under it, using it as a cut-through.    

 

Item 2 - Parks and Recreation Commission

 

Commission members present were:  Robert Broad, Andrea Rohrbacher, Terri Tyson, Faith Nager, Terry Blalock, Diane VandenBroek, Cory Brooks, and Peter Schwartz.

 

Ms. Rohrbacher thanked Council members for their support over the past year on the following projects: two free shuttles to and from the street fair; the Fourth of July celebration at Kenan Stadium; the Hargraves Center renovations and diligence in seeing that through to completion; and seed money for Friends of Parks, Recreation and Greenways.

 

Terry Blalock explained that the 23-year-old Community Center had never been renovated and was beginning to show its age.  He cited some patron demographics, including the fact that 96% of patrons live in Chapel Hill and 63% are 12 years old and under.  Mr. Blalock told Council members that about 143 people use the Community Center each day for basketball, swimming, and special activities.  Special populations also frequently used it, he said.

 

Mr. Blalock discussed water damage from the Community Center's leaky roof.  He described problems with the water piping system, which makes hot water unreliable, mentioned the chipped tile floor, and explained that defective doors drain energy from the building.  Mr. Blalock requested that the engineering of these repairs start in FY 2004-2005, with a 10-year installment financing structure.  He estimated that the renovation would cost about $1.4 million.

 

Commission Chair Pam Hemminger noted that 800 people participate in the basketball program.  She said that patrons had noticed the renovations at the Hargraves Center and had wondered when the same would be done for the Community Center.  Ms. Hemminger asked Council members to reinstate the Small Park Improvement Fund.  She said that dangerous bleachers had been removed in some parts of Town and that they needed to be replaced or repaired.  Ms. Hemminger told Council members that the Commission had not been able to make repairs, or even produce information signs for some areas, at the11 Town-operated parks.

 

Ms. Hemminger pointed out that there were no winterized bathrooms or water facilities at any of the parks. The Commission was considering turf renovations at athletic fields, she said, and she noted that some parking areas and trails needed improvements. Ms. Hemminger pointed out that these small things were not in the current budget.  She requested $150,000 towards such renovations and repairs.

 

Robert Broad said that he had tried reactivating The Friends of Parks and Recreation by going out into the community and generating funds for some of the projects that Ms. Hemminger had outlined.  The Commission had re-established the Friends’ IRS 501c3 status, he said, adding that they had also done an annual report and compiled other financial statements to go along with their grant writing.  Mr. Broad mentioned that the Commission had produced promotional brochures, public information releases, and had written an article about The Friends in their magazine.  They had also explored the idea of naming rights, and had checked out other communities for ideas, he said.  Mr. Broad explained that the Commission had developed a list of about 30 projects, but had taken on the following four: a therapeutic recreation summer day camp program, developing AV materials for the Hargraves Center, a Meadowmont picnic shelter, and special events sponsorship. Mr. Broad said that the Commission had made significant progress with the therapeutic recreation program.

 

The Commission had applied for 14 grants, totaling $140,000, and had received a very positive response, he said.  Mr. Broad explained, though, that the Commission had been turned down on several of these grants because they were "the new kid on the block."  He pointed out that the Commission had $80,000 remaining and was hoping for about $25,000 to $30,000 to help develop the summer program.  They had garnered $11,000-$12,000 from special funding projects, and had receive some contributions in kind, he said.  Mr. Broad expressed appreciation for the seed money the Commission had received from the Town.  They had spent about 30% of that in nine months, he said.

 

Council Member Verkerk asked Mr. Horton if the Community Center would be a good project for energy bond funds.  Mr. Horton replied that certain elements, such as the Community Center pool heating system and auxiliary heat for the deck areas,  would be perfectly appropriate.  The Public Arts Commission could have a role as well, Mr. Horton said, but pointed out that "it will still be $1 million short."

 

Council Member Ward asked if Commission members felt the Town's parks and recreation areas were well served by public transit.  He also asked about the kinds of improvements that would help serve more cars.  Ms. Hemminger explained that the Commission had erected signs encouraging people to park in neighboring areas, and that people had done so. The transit system was working well, she said, noting that there were stops located near the Community Center and close to parks.

 

Council Member Ward determined that the parking arrangement with the Community Center's neighbors had not been formalized.  He recommended that the Department recognize the neighbors' contribution to alleviating parking at the Center.  Council Member Ward asked about the nature of the problem at the Meadowmont fields.  Ms. Hemminger explained that there was a huge sinkhole at the back corner of one of the fields.  It had not been built correctly, she said, and Council Member Ward ascertained that the Department had not accepted the field and would not pay for redoing it.

 

Mr. Webster explained that the contract was with the School System, which had since hired a different contractor who is more experienced with fields.  The fields have to be totally rebuilt, Mr. Webster said, adding that they hope to be ready by the fall but were not promising that.  Council Member Ward determined that communication between the School System's architect and the Department had been good.  Ms. Hemminger commented that it was increasingly difficult to get people involved in soccer in Chapel Hill because of the decreasing number of playing fields.

 

Council Member Kleinschmidt asked if a family changing space, particularly for those with special needs, would be included in the renovations.  Town Parks and Recreation Director Kathryn Spatz replied that doing that would require significant renovation to realign the locker rooms and add new space.  They had added a private area at the pool deck, however, and they had a special table there for people with disabilities, she said.

 

Council Member Greene asked why the Scroggs Field was closing.  Ms. Spatz replied that the Homestead and Scroggs fields had been the Department's first experience with Bermuda turf, which requires significance maintenance.  The Department had not budgeted for that in the past, she said.  Ms. Spatz pointed out that the Scroggs Field could not get much worse.  The Department needs to look at some long-term maintenance, she said.

 

Council Member Greene ascertained that Southern Community Park was three years away from completion because it took a while to get the Project Planning Committee together.  Ms. Hemminger pointed out that there will have to be a growing season even after the park has been opened.  So it will be another year before people will be able to play on those fields, she said.

 

Mayor Foy verified with Mr. Webster that the subcontractor for Southern Community Park was also rebuilding the Homestead and Scroggs fields.  He suggested letting the subcontractor know about the Town's concerns.  Perhaps the schedule for building those fields could be moved up to account for the extra growing time, he said.  Mr. Webster pointed out that this would depend on the phasing plan that the Council decides upon during the Special Use Permit process.

 

Council Member Harrison requested that Parks and Recreation members support a "Community Center connector" from the western end of the Bolin Creek Trail to University Mall, which would make access to the trail much safer for bicyclists and pedestrians from parts of the Town east of Estes Drive.  He added that many considered this a potential project for use of bond funds.

 

On the topic of the Small Parks Improvement Fund, Council Member Harrison asked the Manager if the Council could use bond money for such small park expenses.  Mr. Horton advised against it, explaining that bond money was usually reserved for projects that exceed the capacity of the Town to fund on a regular, year-by-year basis.

 

Council Member Harrison asked Mr. Horton for his reaction to the amount of money the Commission was requesting.  Mr. Horton pointed out that the Town had been through a difficult financial period.  The amount that the Commission had mentioned would be more generous than the Town had been able to be in the last four to five years, he said.       

Item 3 - Human Services Advisory Board

 

Board members present were Lew Borman, Bill Powers, and Larry Daquioag.

 

Chair Lew Borman explained that the Board had been empowered in 1981 to make recommendations which the Council considers in May or June of each year. The Town had allocated $206,000 last year, he said, and the Board had been able to fund 37 local agencies.  This year, Mr. Borman explained, the Board had identified three main areas of need: family and individual support toward self-sufficiency; services for at-risk youth; and substance abuse treatment, prevention and mental health services.  The Board also wanted to target amounts toward the increasing Hispanic population, he said.  Mr. Borman noted that needs grow as the Town grows and said that the situation was not getting brighter.  Carrboro and Orange County shared responsibility with Chapel Hill for addressing these needs, he pointed out.  The Board preferred to serve as many non-profit agencies as they could, rather than ranking and evaluating according to the strictest concerns, Mr. Borman explained.

 

Vice Chair Bill Powers pointed out that thousands of volunteers perform most of the day-to-day work at human service agencies.  These agencies generate a great deal of activity of a very worthwhile nature for the residents of Chapel Hill, he said.

 

Larry Daquioag, who also sits on the Board of the Greater Orange County United Way, told Council members that the United Way's allocations to their agencies would be reduced by 15% this year.  So the Human Services Advisory Board would be imposing on the Town's generosity as much as they can, he said.

 

Council Member Kleinschmidt commented on the Board's equitable distribution of funds and praised Advisory Board members for developing a process that works so well.  He often explains that the Board does it all and that the Council really has nothing to do with human service allocations, he said.  Council Member Kleinschmidt stated that he'd heard nothing but positive comments about last year's process in particular.  

 

Mr. Borman pointed out that the Board had been working with the UNC Masters of Public Administration School to evaluate how it performs compared to processes in other towns. Mr. Borman explained that the Board was trying to refine their process and had been fine-tuning the application form each year.  The liaison with the Masters of Public Administration students will be helpful to the Board, he said. 

 

Council Member Strom expressed appreciation for the focus, effort, and careful consideration that the Board gives human service applications.  These would be easy budget dollars for some towns to eliminate, he pointed out.  Council Member Strom stressed that he and other Council members were committed to human service programs and that these were "safe dollars."  He said that he wished the Council could increase the funding.  Council Member Strom thanked Board members for their fine job and pointed out that the results of their work showed in the community.

 

Council Member Verkerk described Mr. Borman as the "brain behind the bonds," and thanked him for all he had done.

 

Council Member Harrison remarked that the Board relieves the Town of a "truly grueling process" each year, and thanked Advisory Board members for the time they spend doing this.  Mr. Borman told the Council that the Advisory Board tries to makes sure that non-profits and human service agencies know that the Town of Chapel Hill cares deeply about those services.

 

Mayor pro tem Wiggins explained that she had been in groups that allocated funds to agencies.  It is grueling to get more requests than you have funds to allocate, she remarked.  She thanked Board members for being willing to do this for the Council and the Town.

 

Mayor Foy reminded the Council that the $200,000 allocation to the Board was more than it had been in previous years when the Council had frozen it at $180,000.  He pointed out that this was not a typical part of a Town budget.  It shows the Town's commitment, he said, adding that Chapel Hill's taxpayers were also making a significant contribution to the IFC Homeless Shelter.

 

Mayor pro tem Wiggins pointed out that the Town also supports the Senior Center directly.  Mr. Daquioag noted that the Council allocates about $65,000 to the Senior Center as a line item in its budget, which is why the Board does not get those requests.  Mayor Foy ascertained that the Board had discussed including seniors.  Mr. Daquioag commented that seniors made up a socio-economic group that was different from those whom the Board serves.

 

Item 4 - Transportation Board

 

Board members present were George Cianciolo, Loren Hintz, and Eleanor Howe. 

 

Chair George Cianciolo explained that the Board was working on two projects at the Council's request: a proposal for traffic calming requests; and how to deal with highway noise as it relates to new project development.  He reported that Carrboro's transportation board had recently co-hosted a transit forum and that Chapel Hill Transit had conducted an on-board survey, which was being analyzed.

 

Mr. Cianciolo strongly encouraged the Council to consider having the consultant doing the market analysis of Parking Lots 2 and 5 consider the impact of having a transfer station at one of those locations.  A transfer station will be important for connectivity within the Town's own system, as well as connectivity to surrounding systems, such as Durham or TTA, he said.

 

Mr. Cianciolo expressed support for initiating a long-range transit plan, which will become more important as Carolina North is developed, he said.  He stated that this probably would require a consultant to do financial modeling.  Mr. Cianciolo asked that funds be kept available for a park and ride lot on the US 15-501 corridor.  With regard to the 2020/2030 plan, Mr. Cianciolo asked Council members to consider obtaining more sophisticated software programs, if available, and approaching UNC to do so as well.  He recommended looking carefully at the growth of Chapel Hill Transit, noting that several routes were operating at or over capacity.  Decisions will have to be made to cut service at those routes or to add additional service, which would mean a capital expenditure on new buses, Mr. Cianciolo said.

 

Mr. Cianciolo proposed extending service on Saturdays and Sundays, or later into the day.  He asked the Town to consider expanding service on Elliott Road (which would relieve parking at the theater area) and from East Chapel Hill High School to the Erwin Road area.  Mr. Cianciolo suggested increasing amenities, such as having more schedules at bus shelters and improving the shelters themselves.

 

Mayor Foy verified that the Town had received a grant for new bus schedules at about 30 stops.  Mr. Cianciolo said that those would be a nice addition when they finally go in.  He noted, however, that there still was a need for schedules at other stops.  Mr. Cianciolo reported that the Board had concurred with everything the Bicycle and Pedestrian Board had recommended, specifically the recommendation to make up for lost time and get the bulk of the bond money in the first few years. But the Transportation Board felt that more than $10,000 was needed for promotion, he said.  Mr. Cianciolo mentioned that the Board wanted Town funding for the bike trail that Council Member Harrison had mentioned.  He also suggested striping the bike lanes on Cameron Avenue and requested looking into putting concrete bus pads at bus stops.

 

Loren Hintz suggested that new Council members might like to look at the "Twenty Five Year Review for Chapel Hill Transit" to get a sense of Chapel Hill's past and its plan for the future.  The Board had done an intersection study a few years back and the traffic engineer continues to work on those intersections, he said.  Mr. Hintz explained that the Board had been split on solutions for keeping sidewalks clean and clear.  He listed some Board members' suggestions, which included writing an ordinance requiring people to clear off sidewalks, investing in a sidewalk cleaner, requiring institutions to clean sidewalks, or adopting a sidewalk program.

 

Council Member Verkerk asked Board members to think more ambitiously about improving bus shelters.  She suggested that they collaborate with the Public Arts Commission on that, since there was some funding and a lot of enthusiasm on the Council for that collaboration.  Council Member Verkerk thanked Mr. Hintz for his suggestions regarding sidewalks.  The issue had been on her mind too, she said, ever since she noticed people in wheelchairs trying to maneuver sidewalks during a recent snow event.

 

Mayor pro tem Wiggins verified with Mr. Horton that the Council would have to make the long range transit plan a definite goal before the staff would propose a schedule for proceeding.  She asked Transportation Director Mary Lou Kuschatka to discuss funding for bus shelters.  Ms. Kuschatka replied that the Department could use some of its grant money for bus enhancements.  But that's one pot that they use for various things each year, she said, adding that there was no line in the operating budget for purchasing shelters.  Ms. Kuschatka explained that the Department does purchase some shelters each year through the grant program, but not many.

 

Council Member Strom described the proposed budget as very helpful, noting that there were a few large ticket items listed.  He said that the Parking Lots 2 and 5 Committee had already made a contract with a market research consultant by the time the Board's request had come in.  But the consultant had agreed to include some discussion of transfer stations in their case study, Council Member Strom said.  He added that he, Mayor Foy, and Council Member Harrison had all advocated strongly at Transportation Advisory Committee meetings for the improved modeling software.

 

With regard to the park and ride lot on Highway 15-501, Mayor Foy asked what the minimum number of spaces would be to make that function.  Ms. Kuschatka proposed a minimum of 450. Mayor Foy noted that the lot could be decked, but acknowledged that doing so would be expensive.  He ascertained from Mr. Horton that six acres would be needed for a 450-space lot. 

 

Council Member Verkerk determined from Ms. Kuschatka that the Town could use more tripper buses and more driver hours.  Ms. Kuschatka said that the North-South, D and J routes were the most stressed.  Council Member Harrison noted that having people standing on buses was a problem that the Town should be envied for.  Ms. Kuschatka agreed that it was a problem that every transit system would like to have.

 

Council Member Ward asked if the Board had specific examples of other cities where sidewalk cleaning had been handled successfully. Mr. Hintz replied that the majority of Board members had not wanted a regulation requiring citizens to keep sidewalks clean.  But those rules do exist in other parts of the country, he said.  Mr. Hintz described bobcat-type sidewalk cleaners that can also be used in the summer.  They're fairly common throughout the country, he said, but he did not know the specific cost.

 

Council Member Verkerk petitioned the Council to ask the staff to look into purchasing the necessary equipment and manpower to clear sidewalks on major arteries. The transit system fails if the Town does not have the sidewalk system to support it, she said. Council Member Verkerk stressed the importance of people getting on the bus instead of into their cars during snow events.

 

MAYOR PRO TEM WIGGINS MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WARD, COUNCIL MEMBER VERKERK'S PETITION TO STUDY PURCHASING EQUIPMENT AND MANPOWER TO KEEP SIDEWALKS CLEAR DURING AND AFTER STORMS.  THE MOTION WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY (9-0).

 

Mr. Cianciolo pointed out that this concern had arisen independent of issues regarding snow.  There is tree overgrowth, he said, and some sidewalks are not properly maintained.

 

Council Member Greene asked Mr. Horton to obtain a copy of the "Twenty Five Year Chapel Hill Transit Review" for new Council members.  She asked if the Board had given any thought to increasing the frequency of buses from Southern Village northward.  Mr. Cianciolo replied that the Board would like to increase the frequency of buses on several routes.  But then they would be faced with the difficult decision of having to decrease them somewhere else, he pointed out.  Mr. Cianciolo noted that an increase in their operating budget would allow the Board to increase frequency.

 

Mayor Foy pointed out that the Transportation budget was a separate component of the Town's tax rate. Chapel Hill Transit functions in conjunction with UNC and Carrboro based on a formula, which comes to about 5.1 cents on the Town tax rate, he said. 

Item 5 - Citizens Technology Committee

 

Committee members present were Alan Rimer, Ralph Beisner, Terrelle Buckner, and Bill Groves.

 

Committee Chair Alan Rimer characterized the Council's vision as consisting of participatory government and an informed citizenry.  Information Technology is part of both of those notions, he said.  Mr. Rimer proposed that the Town was under-invested in information technology (IT) when compared to other communities, such as Greenville, NC, Ann Arbor, Michigan and Boulder, Colorado. He displayed graphs comparing these towns in terms of IT as a percentage of budget and IT per capita expenditures.

 

Mr. Rimer said that the Committee had reviewed the Town's Comprehensive Plan, had surveyed department managers, and had determined three major priorities: infrastructure, data management, and communications (e-democracy).  The Committee had made several recommendations three years ago, he said, noting that some of those had not been implemented.  But the most important accomplishments were that Bob Avery had become head of IT, in an IT system that reports to the Manager, and the infrastructure had been increase to a point where all equipment is replaced on a routine basis, Mr. Rimer said.

 

Ralph Beisner outlined IT requests from various Town departments and recommended upgrading the current wide area network (WAN) in the next two or three years.  He suggested determining a combination of leased and owned fiber lines and wireless towers, and suggested that a consultant perform an analysis of this for the Town. Mr. Beisner recommended Town-wide standards for document production, chiefly in the Planning Department where there is a need for an IT based system for record retention.  He presented the Committee's recommended data management, growth and communications strategies and asked the Council for funding support.

 

Council Member Kleinschmidt expressed complete support for the Committee's agenda for more personnel.  He described the Committee's assessment that the Town had not gleaned the benefits that IT has to offer as "understated."  Council Member Kleinschmidt wondered about the recommendations regarding the WAN, fiber optics, and wireless towers.  Where do those interests intersect, he asked, and which is the correct approach, fiber or wireless?  Mr. Rimer replied that the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School System was planning to use wireless.  But sometimes that doesn't work because Chapel Hill is a hill, he pointed out, adding that there probably always will be a need for some fiber.  Mr. Rimer stated that no one on the IT Committee had the knowledge to judge the best plan for the community.  That was why they had recommended doing a study, along with the University and with the School System, of the most effective way system for Chapel Hill, he said.

 

Council Member Greene mentioned that she could not do business using her laptop at Town Hall even though she can get a full signal from the wireless network.  Her laptop is not compatible with the PC Microsoft system, she explained, and Mr. Rimer replied that the Committee would be studying open sources this year.

 

Council Member Ward asked Committee members to prioritize the four new positions that they had recommended.  Mr. Rimer said that he would put the webmaster first, followed by the PC maintenance person, and then the GIS enterprise manager.  The Manager can fight for the other one in his office, Mr. Rimer quipped.  Committee Member Terrelle Buckner argued that that position should be first.

 

Item 6 - Community Design Commission

 

Commission Chair Charlotte Newby commented on page five of the January 21, 2004 memo from the Town Manager regarding the Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO).  The memo had suggested that the Community Design Commission (CDC) begin reviewing plans for proposed duplexes.  Ms. Newby stated that the CDC was happy to accept that challenge, however, they did have a problem with the five design guidelines for new duplexes.  Ms. Newby described those guidelines as "both too restrictive and too general."  She suggested adopting a statement that the appearance of duplexes should resemble the homes or other appropriate buildings of the neighborhood in which it is to be constructed.  Also, because the CDC will be new at this, Ms. Newby said, they would like to have two workshops with developers and designers to create a set of guidelines for the design manual.

 

Mayor Foy inquired about the Commission's authority with regard to appearance and what it can insist on.  Principal Planner Gene Poveromo explained that the LUMO allows the CDC to review elevations and lighting plans for SUPs.  Current regulations do not extend that authority to duplexes unless the duplex is part of a SUP, he said.  Mr. Poveromo pointed out that the Town Manager was proposing revising the LUMO so that someone wanting to build a duplex on a lot that was not part of a SUP would need to have the elevation for that building approved by the CDC.  Mayor Foy ascertained from Mr. Poveromo that an appeal of a CDC denial based on elevation would go to the Board of Adjustment, not back to the Council.

 

Ms. Newly commented that the guidelines had grown out of discontent with duplexes in specific areas of Town and the feeling that someone should oversee the issue.  But there are other areas where developers have built beautiful duplexes that provide options for people who want to afford to live in Chapel Hill, she said.  Ms. Newby stated that the CDC was willing to review duplexes, but they wanted time to develop guidelines that were not as limiting.  There were some attractive duplexes around town that would not fit into the Manager's guidelines, she said.

 

Senior Development Coordinator J. B. Culpepper commented that the idea had been to have guidelines that the CDC could use in reviewing new duplex structures.  But the CDC had proposed some good ideas that were different from those that the Council heard on January 21, Ms. Culpepper said.

 

Council Member Hill stated that the CDC's proposed alternative guidelines addressed some of the problems, but could perpetuate bad design.  If a criterion is that it must look like what's already there, and what's there is bad, then you're just going to get more of what you've got, he said. Council Member Hill remarked that duplexes in recent years had become "unzoned apartment houses" with no garages and lots of cars parked in the front yard.  The primary tool for stopping that probably would have to be a size limit, he said, adding that addressing that would be more interesting to him than addressing whether garages face or do not face the street.

 

CDC Board Member Scott Radway noted that one argument for raising the square footage to 3,000 was that the living space could be larger in a duplex with three bedrooms on each side.  This would result in a building that is likely to be attractive to people other than just students, he said.  Mr. Radway also argued that more elements than those listed in the guidelines are involved in making a building a good neighbor.  The CDC wanted to try one more time to make duplexes, where appropriate, a valuable housing option in the community, he said.

 

Council Member Greene noted that the duplex moratorium would end at the end of the month.  The Council would not want to vote on lifting that ban without a set of guidelines in place, she stressed.  Council Member Greene pointed out that there were two distinct categories of duplexes - infill and whole neighborhoods - and this is not addressed by blanket guidelines.  Council Member Greene remarked that to have duplexes resemble the housing around them would be vaguer than the guidelines it would be replacing.

 

Council Member Ward recommended melding these two visions, since the common goal is that duplexes fit into neighborhoods.  He expressed support for the CDC's idea of workshops and asked if that would mean extending the moratorium.  Ms. Newby replied that she was not asking for an extension, since she would not appreciate that if she were a developer who had been waiting for it to end.

 

Mr. Horton explained that infill had been the more controversial type of duplexes and was a legitimate source of concern by nearby residents.  He could not recall any concern about planned duplex developments, he said.  Mr. Horton stated that the Council's SUP process gives the Council, as well as the CDC, adequate control over appearance issues.  The problem had been to find a way to regulate at the same time as allowing a little flexibility, but with guidelines, so that a reasonable person could read the ordinance and the Council's policies and have a sense of how to proceed, he explained. Mr. Horton added that this would also give the CDC a sense of what the Council wishes on behalf of the community.

 

Council Member Harrison praised the CDC for its work.  As someone who had appeared before them as a citizen speaking on concept plans and other issues in his local neighborhood, he had found working with them to be an enriching experience, he said.  Council Member Harrison described the CDC as unique in the community for the range of duties they try to do, and which they do so well.

 

CDC Board Member Thatcher Freund commented that the Board had felt that the fewer specifics that were put into the actual ordinance the better off everyone would be. Aside from square footage, the CDC had not thought it was a good idea to call for specifics, he said.

 

Council Member Greene argued that guidelines should be in place the very moment the Town lifts the duplex ban.  She had thought there would be a possibility of a zone in which a Pickard Oaks, for example, could be built without a SUP, she said.  Ms. Culpepper replied that a subdivision proposal could come in for any zoning district and be of any variety, including a whole subdivision of duplexes. Council Member Greene proposed that there still was the issue of how the Council might want to regulate an infill situation as opposed to a SUP.

 

Mayor Foy remarked that Council Member Greene's argument that something needs to be put in place does not preclude the Council from having further discussions and perhaps modifying what they have done.  Mr. Horton commented that two different issues were being dealt with: a set of ordinance requirements, which must be met as a matter of law; and a very short list of guidelines, which are not requirements of law and do not bind the CDC as to its opinion.

 

Chris Culbreth referred to an earlier statement by Council Member Verkerk about a "brutal" building.  He noted that commercial businesses increase the tax base. The Council should send applicants back to the CDC if a design is bad, Mr. Culbreth said.

 

Polly van de Velde noted that a developer could go down the list and say they had done all that's required.  But it still could be a hideous building, she pointed out.  So the CDC prefers to have it vague, which then enables them to say that the building is not aesthetically okay, Ms. Van de Velde explained. 

 

Ms. Newby clarified with Mr. Horton that his recommended guidelines were not binding.  "If they're not binding, then I would not put them in there," she said.  Ms. Newby suggested that what should be binding is that a duplex must enhance the neighborhood where it is constructed.

 

Item 7 - Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission

 

Commission members present were Janet Kagan and Kate Billings.

 

Ms. Kagan thanked the Town for its generous support.  She noted that the first Percent for Art project, a sculpture by artist Mike Roig, would soon be dedicated at Fire Station #5.  Ms. Kagan described public art as a democratic process which, like government, should demonstrate leadership within its historical moment and offer the possibility for personal engagement.  The Commission had initiated two new Percent for Art projects this year, she said.  These were David Wilson's work at the Hargraves Center and Sally Erickson's designs for the IFC Shelter.   Ms. Kagan mentioned the 2004 exhibition series at Town Hall and at the Public Library.  The self-portrait project of the Community Public Art Program had provided a unique opportunity to collaborate with Orange County and the Town of Carrboro, she said.

 

Ms. Kagan told Council members that the Commission had been one of 248 recipients of a National Endowment for the Arts award, for which there had been 1,100 applicants. She said that a $10,000 Arts Learning award had supported the sculpture by Brian Holsenbeck and the 8^th grade students at Phillips Middle School that is temporarily on display at the police station on Airport Road.  Ms. Kagan noted that artist Maggie Grace had worked with 55 students to produce 112 bus cards, and that Sculpture Visions had grown this year to include seven sites throughout Chapel Hill.  The Commission had also recently held a Community Open House at the Library as a first step toward developing a strategic master plan, Ms. Kagan said.

 

Ms. Kagan explained that, since coming before the Council last year, the Commission had received financial support from the NC Public Arts Council, Orange County Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, and individual contributions.  She pointed out that 2004 will mark the first joint Percent for Art projects between the Town of Chapel Hill and Orange County.  Ms. Kagan thanked the Council members and staff who had participated on public art review committees.  She expressed delight that Council members had agreed to engage in the planning and development of future Percent for Art commissions, including the expansion of the Public Library and greenways projects.

 

Ms. Kagan stated that the number of Percent for Arts projects was expected to double in 2004-2005.  The Commission looks forward to recommending specific projects during their presentation of the Annual Public Art Plan in March 2004, she said.  In their proposed budget for 2004-2005, the Commission estimates managing $540,191, and Ms. Kagan asked the Council to fund two full-time staff members to manage and administer programs. The Commission's expenses total $10,800, with the budget for the exhibition series being $6,300, she explained.  Ms Kagan listed the following additional expenses: Arts in Education proposed budget is $3,000, Annual Community Art Project, $4,600, and Sculpture Visions, $9,200. They requested $148,000 from the Town.

 

Mayor Foy praised the maturing of public art in Chapel Hill over the last several years.  He gave thanks to Commission members who had volunteered much time and energy.  Council Member Verkerk noted that she had encouraged the Transportation Board earlier in the evening to contact the Public Arts Commission about working together on bus stops as public art.

 

Mayor pro tem Wiggins asked Mr. Horton if the Town could use any of the Percent for Art money to help the Commission with administration costs.   Mr. Horton replied he did not think so, because that money was intended by the ordinance to purchase art and pay for its installation. Mayor pro tem Wiggins verified that the Council could change that, however.

 

Council Member Strom stated that he would not be enthusiastic about diverting the production budget, which was already constrained, into administration.  He commented on the significance of Orange County Commissioners being eager to participate.

 

Council Member Ward asked if Percent for Art funding was site specific. Ms. Kagan replied that some of the Transit dollars were. Council Member Ward asked what part of the TOC funding could be used off site. Mr. Horton replied that the Town Attorney and Acting Finance Director were working on determining that.  He added that bond attorneys would require using bond money on site, but Certificates of Participation might have a little more flexibility.

 

Council Member Ward determined that the two positions would actually total 1-1/4 time, since Ms. Billings was already working 3/4 time.

 

Council Member Greene commented that her mind had been changed about Public Art now that it has been integrated into the very fabric of the Aquatics Center and the Town Operations Center.  Once citizens start to realize what the goal is, there will be even more excitement than there is now, she said.

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.