HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 199905111
APPROVED 2/14/2000
MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BUDGET WORK SESSION
MAY 11, 1999
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, May 11, 1999 at 7:30 p.m.
in the Government Services Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Alice M. Gordon and
Commissioners Margaret W. Brown, Moses Carey, Jr., Stephen H. Halkiotis, and Barry Jacobs
COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill
COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County
Managers Albert Kitrell and Rod Visser, and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe (All other staff
members will be identified appropriately below)
NOTE:
1. Approval of County Commissioners' 1999-2000 Goals:
Historic Protection
Chair Gordon indicated that there was a new Objective Five in the Commissioners' Goals
and Objectives for historic preservation which reads "Pursue viewshed protection goals to
protect the integrity of significant historic sites and districts."
Natural Resources
In answer to a question from Commissioner Brown, Environmental Resource Conservation
Director David Stancil said that the Resource Acquisition Program was set up to develop a
program for the acquisition of lands such as agricultural easements, natural areas of habitat,
parklands, buffers, etc. For example, they are working with the Commission for the
Environment on natural areas. He said that there was an outline in the Master Recreation and
Parks report, and he would get that outline to the Board for review.
Water Resource Quality and Quantity
There was no discussion on this item.
Watershed Protection
Chair Gordon said that she noticed a new Objective Three in this goal, which reads
"Pursue regional watershed planning issues with adjoining jurisdictions." She asked about the
Jordan Lake Watershed Protection Plan.
Commissioner Jacobs said that there was going to be a proposal through Triangle J that
involves all of the governments that have planning and zoning jurisdictions that affect Jordan
Lake, or who have an allocation. There have been discussions about carrying out this plan
statewide.
2 Commissioner Brown asked about the Watershed Study Steering Committee.
3
4 Environment and Resource Conservation Director David Stancil said that the Watershed
5 Study Steering Committee is a group that the Eno River Association has formed and includes
6 landowners in the Upper Eno and members of the Eno River Association. He explained that
~ there could be some impacts to the County's development standards of the Upper Eno.
8
9 Commissioner Jacobs said that in terms of the Commissioners' goals, they do not need a
1o Watershed Study Steering Committee formed, because it has nothing to do with the
11 Commissioners. He suggested that #4 could just state that, "ERC and Planning Staff Evaluate
12 the Eno River Association Watershed Study," so that it is clear that the County Commissioners
13 are not involved.
14
15 Commissioner Brown made reference to the discussions between OWASA and Carrboro
16 about amending the permitted uses in the University Lake watershed. She said that this has
17 caused quite a stir, and people are renewing their concern and interest to watershed protection
18 on University Lake. She is very interested in keeping abreast of this issue.
19
20 Wastewater Treatment Management Program
21 Chair Gordon asked about the statements made in the goal about new positions that
22 would be needed to fulfill these objectives and said that the County Commissioners do not
23 generally put positions in the goals. She suggested putting these positions in the new position
24 requests.
25
26 -John Link said that the intent was to be as inclusive as possible about the various steps
27 that would be pursued. He said that adopting this goal would not be the same as approving
28 these positions. He said that this could be made clear in this goal.
29
3o The Board agreed to remove the positions in the Wastewater Treatment Management
31 Program goal.
32
33 Chair Gordon pointed out objective 2 which reads "Analyze feasibility and Effectiveness of
34 clustering in watersheds as water quality protection measure as advocated by Cane Creek
35 Watershed Advisory Committee."
36
37 Commissioner Jacobs asked about the timing of considering the Cane Creek Watershed
38 Advisory Committee's recommendations.
39
4o Planning Director Craig Benedict said that they would be addressing the Cane Creek
41 Watershed Advisory Committee's recommendations in Augusta
42
43 Commissioner Jacobs said that the key component of the recommendations is based on
44 the feasibility and effectiveness of clustering in the watersheds. The Committee's
45 recommendation is either for five acres or the current two acres with clusters. He endorses this,
46 but he knows that people are going to have concerns which he would like to address before a
47 decision is made about endorsing the recommendation.
48
49 Commissioner Brown would rather have a public hearing and then see if the Board wants
so to endorse the recommendation.
51
1 John Link said that the staff could go back and see how this can be sequenced.
2
3 Commissioner Halkiotis said that he would like to see what Craig Benedict found out about
4 clustering with respect to the Cane Creek Watershed Advisory Committee. He would like to
5 have this information prior to the public hearing.
6
7 Chair Gordon asked John Link if this sequencing would be a goal.
8
9 John Link said it would be fine to leave the goal as analyzing the feasibility and
to effectiveness and to sequence the target date so that it comes back for a public hearing.
11
12 Solid Waste
13 Commissioner Brown said that she received a call today from a lady who was at the C&D
14 dump and said that there was a huge tractor trailer that brought in all sorts of new lumber. The
15 lady tried to take some of it home and they told her that she could not have it. She said that it
16 was not directed to the recycling area. Commissioner Brown asked that this be investigated with
17 a report back to the County Commissioners.
18
19 John Link said that he would be happy to investigate this matter and report back.
20
21 Expansion of the Efland Sewer System
22 Commissioner Halkiotis asked if the bottom line was that the County continues to lose
23 money in financing the Efland sewer system, and he was told yes.
24
25 Commissioner Jacobs said that the essence of his additions was to examine whether the
26 Orange-Alamance water system is a help or hindrance to what is being done in Efland. Also,
27 whether having a transfer of 600,000 or more gallons a day out of the watershed is something
28 that should be continued, and whether it is meeting the environmental standards that the Board
29 thinks are important for watershed protection.
30
31 Commissioner Brown asked if there was a target date to analyze the Orange-Alamance
32 water system.
33
34 County Engineer Paul Thames said that it could be a long process.
35
36 Commissioner Jacobs said that he did not envision any kind of big project, but that the
37 staff should analyze it and bring it back for the Board to decide if further steps should be taken.
38
39 Commissioner Halkiotis asked if some new discussions with the Town of Mebane could be
4o worked into the project.
41
42 John Link said that one of the elements in the letter that was sent to the Mayor and the
43 Town Council of Mebane was that Orange County would like to pursue joint planning on water
44 and sewer extensions. This would include talking about service provisions within the Economic
45 Development District. With the new growth in Efland, John Link thinks it is a good idea to take a
46 look at the rate structure.
47
48 Commissioner Carey agrees that it is a good idea to explore and analyze this situation,
49 because the Water and Sewer Service Boundary Report will be coming back to the Board
5o before the summer break.
51
4
1 Commissioner Brown said that she thought the goals should be more comprehensive.
2 She said that there were actually two issues; the discussion with Mebane and the Efland water
3 and sewer extension. She would like to see it put together so that there was a report, the two
4 possibilities of how water and sewer could be extended, the feasibility, the pros and cons, and
5 then revisit the rate structure.
6
7 John Link said that they would rewrite this goal.
8
9 Commissioner Halkiotis said that the Board has not discussed this issue since November
10 of 1997. He thinks it would be really helpful to see the plan.
11
12 Commissioner Jacobs said that there are development proposals that are not being acted
13 upon in the Efland area. If something changes with the Orange-Alamance system then the
14 whole structure of development in that area might change.
15
16 Chair Gordon asked about the cost for the six phases of the Efland water and sewer
17 expansion.
18
19 Paul Thames said that the cost of finishing through phase five is approximately two million
20 dollars. Phase six is the area from the western end of the existing sewer to Buckhorn Road on
21 Highway 70. The cost depends on whether this section is going to stand alone or if it will tie into
22 the sewer system of the Buckhom EDD. He said that the cost would range from $600,000 to
23 one million dollars. To provide some more specific figures, he needs to know how the overall
24 system is going to be developed, with or without Buckhom Road.
25
26 The Board agreed for the staff to rewrite this goal and bring it back another time.
27
28 John Link said that they would include a map so that the phases are identified.
29
3o Commissioner Brown and Chair Gordon said that they were a little confused about what
31 was added to the goals, and they felt that some things were left out from the last discussion.
32
33 Commissioner Halkiotis said that he thought the staff had done a wonderful job on the
34 goals and he would not get caught up in the details.
35
36 Chair Gordon said that she was concerned because there were things in the goals that the
37 Board never talked about before.
38
39 Commissioner Halkiotis suggested that in the future to highlight any major changes.
40
41 Communications
42 Commissioner Brown asked if the Board was adopting the Strategic Communications Plan
43 and Chair Gordon said no. She asked about the telephone line that was to be used only for
44 questions and who would answer the telephone.
45
46 Commissioner Jacobs said that someone in the Clerk's office would answer the telephone.
47
48 Chair Gordon said that this question could be put into the Strategic Communications Plan
49 for consideration on how to carry it out.
50
51 Economic Development District
1 Commissioner Brown would like to pull out everything about the Buckhorn EDD and have
2 it refined.
4 John Link said that the staff would bring back a more refined goal for the Buckhorn EDD.
5
6 Chair Gordon mentioned that there should be something in this goal about sustainability
7 and the Board agreed that sustainability should be cross-referenced in the EDD goal.
8
9 Human Services
1o Commissioner Brown made reference to the Community Assessment objective and said
11 that the Board decided that the staff would analyze Wake County's Assessment and report to
12 the Board on the pros and cons. She feels that everything else should not be adopted until the
13 report is received.
14
15 John Link said that he tried to capture what the Board was interested in doing. They
16 wanted to know what Wake County's Community Assessment looked like and whether it was
17 valid for Orange County. He said that staff could remove everything after objective three from
1s the book, but he thinks keeping it in the book, as a reference would be valuable. He said that
19 this goal was based on a statement made by the Board.
20
21 The Board agreed to put everything from Community Assessment after objective three in
22 an appendix.
23
24 Commissioner Jacobs pointed out the Hispanic-Latino Relations objective that was not
2s there before. He suggested adding the following four specifics to the goal:
26
27 1) develop affirmative multi-lingual hiring policies;
28 2) have a presentation by the staff of an analysis of the Los Ninos report with short-term
29 and long-term recommendations;
30 3) advertise employment opportunities at Fiesta del Pueblo; and
31 4) work with the Census Bureau to coordinate efforts to encourage the Hispanic-Latino
32 participation in the census count.
33
34 Joint Master Aging Program
35 Commissioner Brown noted that this goal had been added in response to the Board asking
36 for this as a goal. She said that it sounds very similar to the Human Services goal, but it is
37 going to be done in a completely different fashion.
38
39 Department on Aging Director Jerry Passmore said that a plan would come from this goal.
4o He said that it was less expensive than the Human Services goal because interns and public
41 administration personnel will be used. The outcome of this goal would be a plan that would be
42 focused on the active older adults, the frail, and the institutionalized.
43
44 Commissioner Brown asked if the Commissioners would make the appointments for the
45 MAP Steering Committee and Jerry Passmore said yes.
46
47 Innovation and Efficiency
48 Commissioner Brown said that whatever goal the County Commissioners adopts, the
49 Board should ask the outside agencies that are supported by County funds to do the same
so thing.
51
6
Long and Short Range Planninga
Chair Gordon reminded the staff to cross-reference sustainability here. She also noted
that the sustainability-Shaping Orange County's Future Comprehensive Plan is a new goal.
She said that the Comprehensive Transportation planning process was left out.
Craig Benedict agreed with Chair Gordon that this could be included in the Transportation
element.
Commissioner Jacobs stated that the Comprehensive Planning Agreement with
Hillsborough was to be changed to Cooperative Agreement.
Rural Character
Commissioner Brown asked for clarification on stakeholders, forming workgroups, and
forming an ad hoc task force. She said that she presumes that these are all things in which the
Commissioners would be involved.
Craig Benedict said that the Commissioners would definitely be involved in this process.
He said that the task force would follow up and develop some new ideas on farmland
preservation based on the Agricultural Center.
Chair Gordon said that these ideas should come back to the Commissioners to review.
Telecommunications Tower
Chair Gordon asked about page 2, where it says, "limitation height." She asked if that
means limit the height. She said the language should be clear.
At this time, the Board decided to move to agenda item #3.
John Link asked the Board how they wanted the staff to present the additions to the
County Commissioners' 1999-2000 goals.
The Board decided that any additions or changes should be on colored paper. The
County Commissioners indicated that no other goals would be added.
3. Discussion of Recommended 1999-2009 CIP
a. School Priorities -Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
Commissioner Halkiotis asked if the bathrooms were the major expense of the
athletic facilities expansion, and he was told yes.
Commissioner Brown asked about the new middle school and how the design plays
into the new athletic fields.
Bill Mullin, Director of Facilities Management, said that the fields are designated
either as high school or middle school fields although all of the fields could be shared. He said
that bleachers would not be put on the practice fields so additional restrooms will not be
needed.
John Link said that this item would be on the next BOCC meeting agenda for
approval so that construction on the new bathrooms can begin this summer.
Commissioner Halkiotis cautioned that if the objective is to complete something like
this during the summer, it could be very expensive. He said that he feels that savings could be
achieved by phasing the project over two summers.
John Link referred to the Glenwood Elementary School project. He said that the
school board has indicated its intention of continuing to use Glenwood for many years
considering the amount of investment that is going into it.
Bill Mullin spoke about the reasoning behind not building another facility and
improving the present Glenwood Elementary School.
School Priorities -Orange County Schools
John Link said that the staff did not find anything remarkable about the priorities for
the Orange County School system. They are basically putting their bond money into renovation
projects.
There was no discussion by the Board.
b. Smith Middle School Athletic Fields
John Link pointed out the attachments that address the athletic fields.
Commissioner Carey asked if the $75,000 referenced in the Town of Carrboro letter
is included in Carrboro's upcoming year's budget.
Commissioner Jacobs asked about the memo that came out of the subcommittee
that met to discuss the School/Park reserve fund. He said that the County has made a
commitment to match funds, and that $150,000 would fall short of the $436,000 that is required
for this project. He noted that if the lights and the bleachers were considered separately, and if
the Town of Carrboro came up with $100,000 and the County matched it, that the project could
proceed.
Commissioner Halkiotis suggested that this project could be done in stages.
Commissioner Carey agreed that it makes more sense to do this project in stages.
Bill Mullin said that if all the funding was received then the project could begin. The
idea is to do the site preparation for all of the work in the fall of 1999. The project will be
completed in 2001.
John Link asked Bill Mullin what he thought of the phased approach to the project.
Bill Mullin said that Parks and Recreation is very clear that they need lights in order
to take advantage of the fields. Also, if the fields are to be used intensively, the irrigation
becomes critical.
Commissioner Halkiotis said that he thinks the County Commissioners will get
bombarded with these kinds of requests. He said that the Board needs to be prepared to
address this, although there does not appear to be an urgency to doing it right away.
8
1 c. New OCS Elementary School Athletic Fields
2 John Link said that he discussed these athletic fields with Superintendent Randy
3 Bridges yesterday. Randy Bridges went back to the developer and asked if the developer would
4 be willing to sell the 11 acres outright to the school system or to the County, and the answer
5 was no. There was a discussion that the developer could convey the property to the school
6 system and there could be a process that the County could buy the property from the school
7 system. At this time, there has not been an offer by the developer to sell or convey the
8 property.
9
io In answer to a question from Commissioner Jacobs, John Link clarified that at the
11 point the developer expressed willingness to convey the property, it was with the expectation of
12 how that property might be counted as open space. After it was made clear that there could be
13 no promises made between conveying the property and the approval of the proposed
14 development, that discussion ceased.
15
16 Commissioner Jacobs said that the school board should continue to negotiate with
17 the developer to try and acquire the property with no commitment of the Board's participation in
18 any way until it is in public ownership.
19
20 d. CHCCS Continuing Contracts for Capital Projects
21 John Link listed three projects that the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School System
22 need decisions on before the summer break as follows: 1) repairing the Phillips Middle School
23 roof; 2) purchasing mobile classrooms for McDougle Middle School; and 3) athletic fields.
24
25 In answer to a question from Commissioner Halkiotis about the roof at Phillips Middle
26 School, he was told that it has been in the CIP for years.
27
28 Commissioner Halkiotis said that he would like to give the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City
29 school system authority to move ahead with their roof needs.
30
31 A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Carey
32 to authorize the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City schools to move ahead with their roof and mobile
33 classroom needs.
34
35 Commissioner Brown asked about the mobile classrooms and if they were needed
36 because all of the middle schools are crowded, and she was told yes.
37 VOTE: UNANIMOUS
38
39 e. Status Report on County Building Roof Conditions
4o The report in the agenda was received for information only. There was no
41 discussion.
42
43 f. School/Park Reserve -Report from Subcommittee
44 Commissioner Brown said that she and Commissioner Jacobs met with Ken
45 Chavious and David Stancil last week and discussed this issue. They realized that there were
46 two separate issues: 1) try to come up with some strong recommendations on the short-term
47 issues -developing the park site at the new Orange County elementary school and dealing with
48 the issue of the park site at the new middle school in Chapel Hill; and 2) long-term implications
49 of the park bond ($120,000 expected to be left over from the $3 million). Also, the School/Park
so Reserve Fund has accumulated 2.4 million dollars in the past four years. Commissioners
51 Brown and Jacobs researched specifically the use intended for these funds.
2 John Link said that the County Commissioners should make it clear to the other
3 governing bodies who want the County to participate in funding parks that they are expected to
4 have plans for design and development already in place. The County's money should be
5 directed at the development of the facility.
6
~ Commissioner Carey said that this objective could be accomplished by establishing
8 some criteria that determines when the County is going to contribute to something. One of the
9 criteria could be that the funding is in place to complete the project before the County commits
to to any participation.
11
12 Commissioner Halkiotis asked about the Strategic Issue Team.
13
14 Commissioner Brown said that while long-term recommendations and policies could
15 be developed, there would always be some things that would come up that needed to be dealt
16 with quickly. She said that the Strategic Issue Team was intended to address issues which
17 need a quick response.
18
19 Commissioner Carey said that the best way to give the staff directions on what to do
20 is to develop some criteria to use for projects including a timeline for when to bring them to the
21 County Commissioners.
22
23 Chair Gordon suggested going through the criteria for evaluating funding.
24
25 Commissioner Jacobs said that these recommendations on the School/Parks
26 Reserve Fund did not have to be adopted tonight.
27
28 John Link said that the Board should discuss the one-cent allocations.
29
3o Commissioner Brown said that the 50-50 allocation is not enough to meet all of the
31 capital facility needs, and it should be the entire one-cent, and Commissioner Carey agreed.
32
33 This issue will be brought back at the June 1S' meeting.
34
35 John Link said that there have been two or three occasions where a school board
36 pursues a school site from a developer, and co-location of recreation facilities is factored in. He
37 feels the Board needs to make it clear what can and cannot be done with these funds. He
3s would like permission to add a bullet in this report about this issue.
39
4o Commissioner Halkiotis said that maybe the Manager should have more than one
41 meeting a month with the superintendents. He said that the schools should remember that all of
42 the buildings and facilities belong to the taxpayers.
43
44 4. Employee ~ and Benefits _ Follow-up Report on 401 K Plan
45 This was received as a written report.
46
47 5. Follow-up Information on New Staff Resources Recommended for 1999-2000 and
4s Requested Changes for Existing Orange County Positions
49 This was received as a written report.
so
51
10
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Brown
to adjourn the meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for May 13, 1999 at 7:30 p.m. in the
Board room at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
Alice M. Gordon, Chair
Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk to the Board