Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 06-15-2000APPROVED 411712001 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Budget Work Session June 15, 2000 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in Budget Work Session on Tuesday, June 15, 2000 at 7:30 p.m. in the Southern Human Services Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr. and Commissioners Margaret W. Brown, Alice M. Gordan, and Barry Jacobs COUNTY COMMISSIONER ABSENT: Stephen H. Halkiotis COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Manager Rod Visser, and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe (all other staff members will be identified appropriately below) NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE PERMANENT AGENDA FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. ALL RECORDINGS OF THE MEETING WILL BE KEPT FOR 5 YEARS. 1. Appointments -Affordable Housing Task Forces Chair Carey called the meeting to order. There was a request by two Commissioners to discuss the Appointments to the Commissioners' Affordable Housing Task Forces tonight. Commissioners Brawn and Jacobs have some names and recommended positions for the task forces. Commissioner Brown said that this issue was brought up tonight because a meeting was scheduled before August. She would like to leave the membership open to everyone. She had a list of people who signed up at the housing symposium who indicated a desire to serve. Chairman Carey would also like to leave the membership open because there has not been any advertisement for openings yet. Cammissianer Jacobs said that the task farces just wanted to get started and the membership could be open to anyone. Commissioner Gordon suggested getting started with the meetings, advertising, and then coming back in the fall with more appointments. It was decided that Commissioners Brown and Jacobs will serve as co-chairs of the CAHT (Commissioners' Affordable Housing Task Force). Chair Carey will serve as chair of the HousinglUNC Task Force (HUT}. A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to approve the appointments to the Commissioners' Affordable Housing Task Force and the Housing/UNC Task Force. There will be advertising far positions in the fall and the membership will be open to anyone. The fallowing appointments were made: Commissioners' Affordable Housing Task Force (CAHT1 1. Elizabeth Carter, Chapel Hill/Carrboro School Board 2. Yvonne Cleveland, Habitat for Humanity homeowner 3. Pat Connelly, OPC Area Program 4. Matthew Cox, Club Nova 5. Robert Dowling, Orange Community Housing Corporation 6. Karen K. Dunn, Club Nova 7. Sonia Garrison, Community Land Trust in Orange County 8. Warren R. Janes, Shaping Orange County's Future 9. Susan Levy, Habitat for Humanity 10. Nancy Milo, Carolina Affordable Housing Fund 11. Myles Presler, EmPOWERment, Inc. 12. Scott Radway, Kimley-Horn and Associates 13. Mary Winne Sherwood, CH Housing Advisory Board 14. Ruby Sinreich, Advocate 15. Delores Simpson, Orange County School Board 16. Alison Weiner. ABODE 17. Beth Flora, First-time homebuyer 18. Representatives from the Disability Awareness Council, the Advisory Board on Aging, JOCCA,OWASA, and the Orange County Planning Board HousinalUNC Task Force [HUT] 1. Chapel Hill and Carrbora Mayor or his/her designee 2. Representative from the UNC Faculty Senate, Student Body, Alumni Association, and Workers Union 3. Robert Dowling, Orange Community Housing Corporation 4. Henry Clark, Advocate 5. Karen Gilmore, CHICarrboro Chamber of Commerce 6. Richard Luber, Habitat for Humanity 7. Chris Moran, InterFaith Council 8. Jack Symre, Kimley-Horn and Associates VOTE: UNANIMOUS 2. Fire Districts John Link stated that he met with each of the fire department representatives. There were four departments that asked for an increase in the fire district tax. Those four department representatives are here tonight to answer any questions. Assistant County Manager Rod Visser summarized the requested increases from the fire departments. South Orange Fire District is asking far an increase of two-tenths of a cent because Carrboro is going to be building a new station an the north side of the district in the next two to three years and they wanted to build up some fund balance. Cedar Grove Fire District is requesting aone-cent increase from 6.3 to 7.3 cents to replace original equipment. New Hope Fire District is requesting a .35-cent increase to improve their facilities. Orange Rural Fire District is requesting a .5-cent increase. Commissioner Brawn asked if the increase for South Orange would make any difference in the Southern Village. Rod Visser said that under state law, when a municipality annexes a portion of property out of a fire district, the municipality makes a payment for each of the next five years that is equivalent to the amount of tax revenue that the fire department lost. This is what will happen in Southern Village. The Board was in favor of the Manager's recommendation far the fire districts. 3. Outside Aaencies John Link stated that in absence of Assistant County Manager Albert Kittrel, who had always worked with Outside Agencies, he had the staff put in print what he recommended and the reasons for the recommendations. Disability Awareness Council: Chair Carey spoke to Mr. Tim Miles, Interim Chair of the Disability Awareness Council, and asked him to stay for questions even though he would not be able to make statements. John Link said that the Disability Awareness Council would like far the Board to consider additional appropriations for disability awareness. The request focuses on additional funds to assist with same additional staff support. Research Triangle Regional Partnership: This was flagged, and the Board will come back to it on June 20th. Commissioner Jacobs recommends that the funding be cut in half and not funded fully. Commissioner Gordon pointed out that there were two different agencies -The Greater Triangle Research Council and the Research Triangle Regional Partnership. The number of elected officials on the Greater Triangle Research Council was reduced from 10 to 8, and the Triangle J Council of Governments appoints them all. She is representing Orange County an this Council. Chair Carey said that the Research Triangle Regional Partnership was a different group involving 13 counties, and receiving some money from the state. John Link clarified that the Triangle J Council of Governments receives monies from the General Assembly through the various counties. The County repays the money back to the COG. He said that this was the marketing cooperative of the Triangle where the various counties appropriate money based on the population. Commissioner Brown thought that the Research Triangle Regional Partnership was in the Economic Development Commission budget. It was answered that this was reflected on the EDC budget page. Commissioner Jacobs said that there were three central counties -Durham, Orange, and Wake. Orange County pays 15 cents per head. Durham and Wake Counties have ten members an the Board of Directors, and Orange County has three. The other ten counties are paying 5 cents per head, and they all have three members on the Board of Directors. There have only been 15 contacts for the last fiscal year for the $16,100 paid out. Of those, none provided any solid leads. He would like to cut the contribution in half because it is not particularly serving Orange County well. Chair Carey said that he would rather focus on getting the most out of the investment and challenging the EDC to do the same thing before deciding to cut the contribution. Commissioner Jacobs said that one of the problems was that the EDC was not represented on the board. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the extravagant spending within the agency and that it was not applicable to Orange County. He does not mind being a participant, but he does not want to pay far 10 seats. Commissioner Brawn suggested that the Board of County Commissioners appoint the representatives. John Link suggested appropriating half of the funding and writing a letter outlining the County Commissioners' concerns to the organization. Commissioner Gordon would like to know why there are only three representatives from Orange County on the Board of Directors. Commissioner Jacobs would like to flag this at $8,000. Chair Carey would like to approve $16,000, but sequester $8,000 until the concerns are addressed. The Board agreed to approve $8,000 for the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, sequester $8,000, and flag it for further discussion. EI Centro Latino: Commissioner Brawn asked why the recommendation far the EI Centro Latino was far only half of the requested amount. John Link said that he did not normally recommend the full amount for new agencies. It was suggested to add $5,000 for La Fiesta Del Pueblo. Commissioner Gordon said that she was not in favor of increasing any amounts for outside agencies. Middle School After School Program: Chairman Carey asked about the rationale for increasing middle school after school funding. John Link said that this program wants to expand in order to serve more children. Chair Carey asked if there was a waiting list because of space needs or funding needs. Rod Uisser said that it was not a space issue, but a staffing issue. Literacy Council: Commissioner Jacobs asked why the estimated need for 2000 was $14,000 and the Manager's recommendation was a decrease. Budget Director Donna Dean said that they received a special, one-time appropriation out of the Commissioners' Contingency of $5,000 for a program. Interfaith Council and Orange Congregations in Mission: Commissioner Jacobs asked how the Manager looked at funding the IFC and OCIM and why there was a difference (IFC is getting 88% of what it asked for, and OCIM is getting 56°fo of what it asked for). John Link said that the representatives from OCIM came and specifically described all of their effort in trying to address Hurricane Floyd, and they had depleted their resources. John Link said that he was increasing OCIM dramatically, not because he was comparing the two, but he was looking at their effort and need. Commissioner Jacobs thinks that similar organizations such as this should be treated equally. He requested that this be flagged so the staff could look into the different programs offered by these agencies. John Link said that he could provide some analysis by June 20tH Family Counseling Services: Commissioner Jacobs made reference to Family Counseling Services and asked why they were asking for $4,000 after not asking for money for awhile. John Link said that he did not have a clear understanding of what they were asking for so there was not a recommendation for funding. He will find out why they have asked for money this year. Hope Line, Inc.: John Link said they have recently expanded toll free calling to Orange County and they were trying to address the needs of this expansion. Cammissianer Brown wants to know what the new number is and haw it is functioning. It was answered later that this number was working. Land Trust: Commissioner Brown said that she remembers that the Land Trust gat a grant from David Price. She asked why the Manager's recommendation was fora 63°~ increase. John Link said that the $18,000 requested of the County was to carry out the remainder of their program. Housing and Community Development Director Tara Fikes said that the grant could not be used for administration such as needed staff and space. Cammissianer Jacobs said that the Land Trust was to be funded by the municipalities and the County. Chapel Hill funded the entire $18,000. He made reference to the email from Robert Dowling that explained this. He said that the housing task forces should look at haw these organizations interrelate. Chair Carey said that his interpretation of the mama was that if the County gave $18,000, it would allow the $40,000 grant to last two years instead of one year. He suggested sequestering the additional $5,000 until the final plan after two years is determined. Commissioner Gordon is not in favor of any increases to outside agencies, so she would not be in favor of sequestering an additional $5,000. Chapel Hill Museum and Historic Museum: Commissioner Gordon made reference to Commissioner Jacobs' request to fund the two museums equally. Chair Carey would like to know what the Chapel Hill Museum was going to da with $2Q,QQQ. It was decided that the funding for the two museums would remain as recommended by the Manager. Cammissianer Jacobs was not in favor of this decision. Municipal Support: Commissioner Brown made reference to the 8% increase in the funding for the libraries. Jahn Link explained that for the recreation and libraries he applied the increase that the corresponding departments averaged in terms of the budget. Disability Awareness Council: Commissioner Jacobs asked about the issue with the Disability Awareness Council. Sharron Siler said that the organization was requesting funding to hire apart-time Executive Director to assist in grant writing, securing additional funds, and other activities. She explained the various services of the council. Cammissianer Brown said that the County found the Disability Awareness Council space at the Skills Development Center and it was working out fine. Commissioner Jacobs asked about the $1,5QQ. Sharron Siler said that the council does sensitivity awareness training with the towns and other employers. During the awards ceremony they acknowledge employers who have provided assistance in hiring the disabled and employees who have secured jobs that otherwise they would not have secured. The $1,5Q0 is for the ADA celebration in July, the awards ceremony, and the various training in the community. They also requested money from the towns. Cammissianer Gordon asked John Link about funding for the outside agencies and the difference between funding for administrative personnel and personnel that are actually delivering services. She would be interested in knowing which type of position was being funded - administrative or direct service. Jahn Link said that he would try to elaborate on this in the future. Cammissianer Brawn asked if the Commissioners would be interested in a meeting with everyone the County contributes to for youth programming. She would like to know about all of the programs. John Link said that this meeting would be a good prelude to making a decision about the requested $3Q,000 for a youth bureau. The Board supports a meeting with all of the youth service organizations that the County contributes to. The Manager will pursue this. 4. Complete County Departmental Focus (far those departments identified at 6113 budget work session) Human Services Social Services: Commissioner Brown asked for an explanation, for the members of the Board, for the increase in the Medicaid money. Martin Whit said that there was an increase in Medicaid funding because medical casts were rising and there has been a significant increase in the number of people who are eligible far and receiving Medicaid. He mentioned that due to Health Choice, 7QQ Medicaid cases have been added. Chairman Carey pointed out that Orange County was one of the counties that enrolled more than 1 QQ°lo of the projected Health Choice population from the state. Cammissianer Jacobs asked why there was a decrease in personnel services under Budget Highlights and a $6Q,QQQ increase under Operations. This is an page 7.6. Donna Dean said that several seniors retired this year, so there was some basic savings from that. There were also some savings in the travel-related accounts. The savings will go back into the fund balance. Veteran Services: Commissioner Jacobs asked if much outreach was done to the veterans. Martin Whit said that it was a very active program. Commissioner Jacobs would like to see more advertising. Cooperative Extension: Commissioner Jacobs had a question as to what happened to the 4-H summer programs. Commissioner Brawn would like a break down of the state versus County-funded employees for Cooperative Extension. Recreation and Parks: Commissioner Brawn asked if there was a proposal for the use of the Efland Cheeks Park for the summer. John Link said that this report would be forthcoming. Commissioner Brawn would also like to see a daily use calendar for the park. Aging: Commissioner Jacobs made reference to page 7.57 and said that it was his understanding that one result of the Manager's recommendation would be that there would not be $2,000 that was used for feeding seniors when they come to events at the centers. Kathy Kerns said that this was the line item that was not funded. John Link said that with a budget of $130,000, he asked them to find the additional $2,000. Commissioner Jacobs said that it was not worth quibbling over, but he would like for this service to be provided somehow. John Link said that he could make sure that the money was found and the service was provided in the course of the year. Human Rights and Relations: John Link said that they had asked for two scanners, a laptop, and a printer. He was able to locate the funding in the current year budget to address these requests. They also asked for a LCD projector. He is trying to acquire a few of these projectors far everyone's use. Commissioner Brawn asked how the money was addressed that went to the Commission for Women. Commissioner Jacobs said that the Commission for Women asked for funds for transportation for Work First and asked if that was reflected in the transportation for Work First. Donna Dean said that $3,000 was included far the Commission for Women. Several other questions were answered satisfactorily. Commissioner Brown would like some information on non-English speaking services and how that is being coordinated. Library Services: Commissioner Jacobs asked about the Carrbora Library and what the capital outlay was far. He also asked about how the school was changing what was happening in the library. Brenda Stephens said that the $6,950 that was requested was for shelving and a copier. The school found the money for the shelving. She found out that the schools asked the library to move the office space into a classroom. She did not put it into the budget because she did not find out until June 7th She would like to have two desks and some shelving. The amount needed far this move would be $3,055. John Link said that he wonders haw this fits into the three-party agreement between Orange County, the school system, and Carrboro. He questions the focus of this and reserves final judgement until there is some communication about how this decision was arrived at without the County being included. He said that the funds could be found to address these needs. OPC Mental Health: Commissioner Brawn said that she has asked the Manager to have the director come in and do a short presentation as to what is going on in Mental Health in the state and how it might impact the County. This will be in August or September. Public Safety: Commissioner Jacobs asked about the emergency telephone fund. Rod Visser said that it was an on-going program. The rate is 5Q cents per subscriber line per month. This was determined by how much revenue would be needed to cover the charges, the equipment, etc. This amount was determined in 1991. Commissioner Jacobs would like to see what it is casting the County and see if this charge should be increased. Rod Visser said that the fund was in good shape financially. The number of lines has greatly increased. Commissioner Brown asked about fire protection for commercial and industrial fires, and how a fire that was producing toxic fumes would be addressed. Nick Waters said that the fire code included a lot of requirements. There is a site specific pre plan that would be enacted in the event of a commercial fire. Commissioner Jacobs asked if the Sheriff's Department enforced the covering of loads on dump trucks or if it was in the purview of the Highway Patrol. John Link said that as it relates to interstates, the DMV enforces it. He said that the Sheriff would be willing to stop a truck on a secondary road if he was notified about it. He will ask the Sheriff about enforcing the covering of dump truck loads. John Link said that it would be very helpful for citizens to let the County know of a specific case where a dump truck is hauling an uncovered load. Public Works: Commissioner Brown asked about pest control (p. 9.2) and said that she would like to understand what kind of pest control the County does. Commissioner Jacobs said that this was something the Commissioners asked the Innovation and Efficiency Committee to look at specifically. Commissioner Brown mentioned that there has been a real improvement in the maintenance of the County buildings. Rod Visser said that there would be a report an the various building improvements available soon. 5. Solid Waste Enterprise Fund Commissioner Jacobs said that he did not understand why the tipping fee for C&D was nat the same as for mixed waste. He would like to see the tipping fee for clean wood and yard waste lowered because it is more amenable to recycling. Gail Wilson said that about three years ago an analysis was done on the clean wood and yard waste, and a tipping fee was set to break even. Regarding the C&D tipping fee, last year the fee was lowered two dollars and it was subsequently added to the mixed solid waste fee. He said that they try to discourage the placement of C&D materials in the mixed solid waste area. He said that Orange County was the highest in the area in the cost for the disposal of C&D waste. At some point, people tend to not recycle this waste and it is shipped to another locale. Commissioner Brawn asked why an Automotive Mechanic was needed and if it was acost- saving effort. Gail Wilson said that last March there was an internal reorganization where recycling operations were shifted to the landfill and Chapel Hill's maintenance personnel no longer maintained this equipment. They assumed several trucks and other equipment from this reorganization. Also, with the transition of responsibility of solid waste functions to the County, the remaining administrative vehicles came out to the landfill. He said that one mechanic could not keep up with the maintenance of all of the equipment. He said that this position was a critical need. Several questions were answered satisfactorily. Cammissianer Jacobs asked what was going an with the part of the interlacal agreement that had to do with meeting about the disposition about the entire Greene Tract. Chair Carey said that the group had not met yet. Commissioner Jacobs asked when the Solid Waste Advisory Board was going to start meeting. John Link said that it would begin meeting as soon as possible in August. Cammissianer Jacobs would like to make sure that Hillsborough and UNC make appointments to the Solid Waste Advisory Board. John Link said that he would reinforce this. Rod Visser said that UNC has not signed onto the interlocal agreement and he would follow up. 6. School Budgets Commissioner Gordon asked about the information to address the shortfall for start-up costs. John Link said that historically the same amount, $242,000, was appropriated from the capital fund reserve for two different schools. This was for one-time start-up costs that related to capital. He said that if the Commissioners appropriated $235,000 for the start-up costs for Pathways Elementary School, it would address the need. This would allow the Orange County School system to use the fund balance for other expansion items. He recommended that the Board consider appropriating $235,000 to the Orange County School system from the capital fund reserve. A motion was made by Commissioner Gordan, seconded by Commissioner Brawn to appropriate $235,000 from the capital fund reserve for the Orange County School system to address start-up costs for Pathways Elementary School. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Commissioner Brown wants to discuss, in the fall, a strategy far including start-up costs within the schools' capital budgets. Commissioner Jacobs suggested using part of the funds generated from increased impact fees for start-up costs. John Link will get some information together by the meeting with the school districts an September 25`h Commissioner Gordon said that in listening to what the school systems presented, she would like to justify some more funds for the schools, even though the target was exceeded. She said that it seems that the costs of growth are taking over any new initiatives. She asked what the Board thought about trying to find more money for the schools. Commissioner Brawn said that there was a difference in needs in the Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro systems. Chairman Carey said that the decision that was just made would give same flexibility to the Orange County School system. He feels comfortable with the Manager's recommendation and the amendment to it for the Orange County School's capital fund. Commissioner Jacobs said that he was very sympathetic toward the Orange County Schools, and said that the additional allocation far the Orange County Schools would bring them up to 96°~ of the requested funding. He feels that this additional allocation will give the Orange County Schools the tools they need to address the most pressing needs to expand the programming. He is pleased with the Manager's recommendation. Commissioner Gordon verified that the Board was pleased with the Manager's recommendation for the school budget. Commissioner Jacobs said that he would still like to discuss other options for funding the schools that would work better. 7. Potential Tax Rate Reduction Scenarios Commissioner Jacobs said that both scenarios reflect the same identified savings, taking money out of the undesignated fund balance, and the fact that one new position was not funded. Commissioner Gordon pointed out that the new position had two numbers and Budget Director Donna Dean said that $40,904 was the correct figure. Commissioner Jacobs said that one difference in the two scenarios is that there are two increases in the estimated Emergency Management Services fee collections based on the notion that Orange County would be added to the 85 counties that already have legislative authority to more aggressively seek recovering ambulance fees. Also, there is an estimated increase in Planning and Inspection fees. This is a difference of $100,000 that he thinks will go into the undesignated fund balance. He also looked at reducing the Facilities Care Reserve and the Lawn Mowing Reserve. These reductions would save $40,000. Commissioner Brown asked about the Public Communications study and asked if it was imperative for next year. Rod Visser said that it was important to do the study. The towns are all interested in undertaking the study, but no money has been designated for it. He said that it was not absolutely necessary, but it would be important to set aside the money. This amount was $25,oao. Commissioner Jacobs said that the only other differences in the two scenarios relate to the on-call pay, the COLA, the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, and the amount to remove from the undesignated fund balance. In regard to the one cent for affordable housing, he suggests that the County allocate one million dollars over three years, which would necessitate adding $83,333 this year from the $250,000 that the Manager recommended. His scenario would cut the rate of the tax increase to one cent. Chair Carey said that he did not support the reduction of the COLA to 2.75. He agrees with eliminating the on-call pay until a clear plan can be developed that is fair. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the Commissioners' Contingency and said that he could support it being $150,000 instead of $125,000. Chair Carey would like to leave the Commissioners' Contingency at $175,000, but he would agree to reduce it to $150,000. Commissioners Gordon and Brown do not want to reduce the Commissioners' Contingency. Commissioner Brown and Chair Carey are not in favor of reducing the COLA. Commissioner Gordon said that the COLA needed to be flagged to discuss when Commissioner Halkiotis was present. She is not convinced that the cost of living has gone up that much. Chair Carey thinks that the affordable housing fund is a good start. He said that the $250,000 was a reasonable amount and he supports the Manager's recommendation. Commissioners Gordon and Brown also support the Manager's recommendation for affordable housing. Commissioner Jacobs said that to get dawn to a tax increase of one cent, depending on what is done with the COLA, only $389,000 would be taken out of the fund balance at the mast. Chair Carey verified that the Board would like to instruct the Manager to prepare a resolution that includes aone-cent increase in the tax rate, make the recommended adjustments, and to flag the amount of the COLA, the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, the OCI M, and the two museums. John Link summarized the changes made: Expense Eliminating new trails position Commissioners' Contingency will remain the same Facility Care Reserve was reduced by $25,000 Lawn Mowing Reserve was reduced by $15,000 On-Call Pay Reserve was eliminated by $44,125 $5,000 was added for La Fiesta Del Pueblo Revenue Increase in ambulance and planning fees of $200,000 John Link said that only the appropriation of the fund balance would have to be adjusted to get the one-cent tax rate. He suggested adding all of the sequestering issues together and addressing them in the contingency fund. A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Brown to adjourn the meeting from tonight to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20, 2000 at the Government Services Center in Hillsborough to further discuss the budget until 7:15 p.m. (at which time they will go to the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom for the public hearing on the moratorium). If budget discussions are not finished by 7:15 p.m., the Board will reconvene the budget work session after the public hearing in order to complete the budget process and adopt the Budget Ordinance. VOTE: UNANIMOUS ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned to reconvene at 6:00 p.m. on June 20, 2000 at the Government Services Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Moses Carey, Jr., Chair Beverly A. Blythe, CMC