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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19950330APPROVED 6J5/95 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BI-MONTHLY WORK SESSION MARCH 30, 1995 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met on March 30, 1995 at 7:30 p.m. in the meeting room of the new Government Services Center in Hillsborough for their bi-monthly work session. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr., .and Commissioners William L. Crowther, Alice M. Gordon, Stephen H. Halkiotis and Don Willhoit COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Managers Albert Kittrell and Rod Visser, and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe (All other staff will be listed where appropriate) NOTE: A copy of the 1995-2000 CIP is on file in the Clerk's Office. I. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE 1996-2000 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Discussion ensued on unfunded County projects as listed on pages A3 and A4. The Board discussed the projects in the Chapel Hill- Carrboro capital plan which were affected by the additional $800,000 for the high school. Also, John Link said that one challenge will be to fund the capital improvements needed at the Northern Human Services facility. John Link explained the CIP process and how items get into the Capital Improvement Plan. The Board continued through the CIP taking the nonschool items first. Items of interest are listed below. 1. The In Touch computer system needs upgrading because sometimes it does not work. Commissioner Gordon feels it is important to enhance communication with the public. However, she questions if this is the best way. John Link indicated that staff will use the next six months evaluating all possibilities. 2. Commissioner Halkiotis questioned the savings in space that putting records on optical disk will generate. He suggested going back to ledgers if saving space and money is not realized. 3. Rod Visser said that the County will be updating their computer system so the PCs can include office automation and networking capabilities. There are 109 systems that need to be replaced. The mainframes will be maintained for finance and taxes. He does not see the County getting out of the mainframe business anytime soon. In answer to a question from Commissioner Gordon, Mr. Visser indicated that computer advice is being done inhouse. Commissioner Gordon suggested asking UNC at Chapel Hill for their help in networking and upgrading the PC's. She asked that the staff come back soon with a plan for data processing. 4. The CIP money for the GIS system will be used to replace and upgrade the systems presently being used. 2 5. The $55,000 in the CIP for the Rural Education Center will stay in the hopes of finding a suitable site. This will be a phased in project. They have decided not to use the County-owned property at the public works facility because of zoning regulations. Chair Carey noted that the needs of the farming community have changed and that this item needs to be reviewed. 6. Automating the library will be done for all three counties. 7. The $20,000 for the Northside Human Services Center will be used to replace the windows that have not already been replaced. 8. At the Northern Center, the sewer system has been fixed and they plan to do some painting. In terms of lighting, it will cost $700,000 to $800,000 to drop the ceilings, replace windows and upgrade the cooling and heating systems. A decision will need to be made on including these items in the CIP or replacing the building. Commissioner Halkiotis suggested maintaining the building by putting in adequate lighting but forgetting the dropped ceilings. He supports doing whatever is necessary to maintain this building. Chair Carey asked for cost figures before adopting the CIP. 9. EMS Director Nick Waters stated that the new communications system is up and running. The only problem is the quality of the telephone lines. He will present a report to the Board at an upcoming meeting. 10. With regards to Public Works, Rod Visser said that hopefully funds are available for two solid waste sites, depending on whether they have to buy the land or lease. Commissioner Halkiotis suggested giving Fairview Park to the Town of Hillsborough. Purchasing Director Pam Jones said that construction for the motor pool will begin in the next two weeks. il. The Board discussed the $15,000 allocation to the New Hope Creek Corridor and decided to leave it in the CIP. This project provides funds to preserve land along New Hope Creek in Orange County. 12. Recreation and Parks - Planning Director Marvin Collins will give the Board an update on fees collected from payment-in-lieu. Also, an update will be presented on the joint effort with the municipalities for recreation and parks. 13. Efland Sewer Extension - Commissioner Crowther said for the record that he supports money for the Efland Phase II sewer line. Commissioner Willhoit stated his support for creating an Efland sewer district. Chair Carey said that it is a crisis situation and the County needs to do something. Commissiners Willhoit and Crowther agreed. John Link said that in order to apply for grant funds, the County must first develop the engineering plans for the project with local funds. If the grant is received, the cost for the engineering plans may be refunded. Commissioner Willhoit suggested that his idea was to have economic development run the lines requiring the people in that district to tie on. The Board will discuss this further at another meeting. 14. Impact Fee - This will be placed on the next agenda for decision. Chair Carey asked the Board to consider a differential fee which can be justified by the increase in student enrollment. The Board recognizes the fact that they do not have the technical data to justify a sliding scale. Commissioner Halkiotis feels that some responsibility for growth needs to be put on the developers. He still supports a moritorium on development but feels it may be difficult to get the municipalities to agree. Commissioner Crowther supports an impact TAX whereby all segments of growth pay including the University and industry. Chair Carey emphasized that a comprehensive plan for accommodating growth needs to be developed including funding for new schools and facilities. Commissioner Halkiotis supports uniform building standards. Commissioner Willhoit suggested a five-cents property tax for purchasing property for future schools and facilities. He feels it is the school boards' responsibility to identify the sites but money needs to be available for purchasing these sites when they are identified. Also, a five-cents property tax increase would bring attention to the severity of the situation. If the Board decided to go for a bond issue, the five-cents could be used for debt service. It was decided that the technical report needs to be updated now. John Link suggested updating the technical report and holding a public hearing in May. Commissioner Gordon noted that the debt service for the bonds sold after the 1992 bond referendum cost 11 cents on the tax rate rather than the projected 15 cents, a savings of four cents on the tax rate. She would like for the County to adopt a comprehensive long- term financing plan for school construction which includes the costs of the schools needed and methods to pay for them (eg. sales tax, impact fees, bonds, etc.) Chair Carey expressed reservation in supporting a tax increase because of the other County needs and projects. John Link summarized that the County tax rate is 88.5 cents and he expects to add four cents to pay for the bonds approved by the voters which will bring the tax rate to 92.5 cents. Evaluation will take place in 1997. The Board agreed that they don't need to wait for schools to identify sites for future schools before allocating money. They agreed that an overall plan needs to be developed. Neil Pedersen, Superintendent for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, said that sites have not been identified. They do know where growth will occur and he will provide the Commissioners a copy of that report. Geof Gledhill said that the key is identifying property on undeveloped land. Commissioner Willhoit suggested having developers identify sites within large developments so that the site can be idenified in the plan that is approved by Chapel Hill or Carrboro. In answer to a question from Commissioner Crowther, Neil Pedersen said that they are going to move toward zero-based budgeting. However, they still need to define what is meant by zero-based budgeting. This will be an item for the next work session with the schools. It was decided that the impact fee increase would not be on the next agenda but that the Board will consider the other amendments to this ordinance. A public hearing will be held on the impact fee -- the maximum that the technical report will support -- on May 25, 1995 in Superior Courtroom. The Board may choose to take action on that evening or at their next regular meeting of June 5. II. DISCUSSION Q~ COMPOSITION AND CHARGE OF WORK GROOP TO ADDRESS SCHOOL CONSTRIICTION STANDARDS 4 The Board decided that the composition would be two from each of the two school boards and two County Commissioners plus any staff to include superintendents, manager, budget director, etc. The charge will be to develop a set of school construction standards for elementary, middle and high schools for both systems. This committee will begin right away and try to finish in June. Chair Carey and Commissioner Halkiotis volunteered to serve on this committee. III. NBXT STEP - SCHOOL CAPITAL IMPACT FEES This item was^discussed above in #1. ADJOIIRNMENT With no further items to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. The next regular meeting of the Board will be held on April 3, 1995 at 5:30 p.m. at Pleasant Green Community Center in Eno Township. Moses Carey, Jr., Chair Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk