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MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISISONERS
BUDGET PRESENTATION AND WORK SESSION
MAY 20, 2004
7:30 p.m.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Budget Presentation and Work
Session on Thursday, May 20, 2004 p.m. at 7:30 p.m. at the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom
in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Barry Jacobs, Moses Carey, Jr.,
Alice M. Gordan, and Stephen Halkiotis
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Margaret Brown
COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill, Sean Borhanian
COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County
Managers Rod Visser and Gwen Harvey and Clerk to the Board Danna S. Baker (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.
Chair Jacobs called the meeting to order and said that tonight they will get the 2004-05
Manager's recommended budget and CIP plans and then have a recess and have
presentations on Carolina North and Twin Creeks.
1. Presentation of Manaaer's Recommended FY 2004-2005 Budaet
John Link thanked all the staff that worked so hard on the budget, including Budget
Director Donna Dean, Rooney Mestas, Paul Laughton, MPA budget intern Rebecca
Crawford, Assistant County Managers Rod Visser and Gwen Harvey, Purchasing and
Central Services Director Pam Jones, Personnel Director Elaine Holmes, Keith Cook,
and Greg Wilder. He said that there was also good participation with the two school
superintendents.
The proposed budget is $137 million and the total request was $147 million from county
departments and both school systems. The largest percentage goes to education, at
48.4°~. The next largest goes to Human Services, at almost 22°!0.
County Manager's Recommended 2004-05 Annual Operating Budget
Proposed General Fund Budget Totals $137,351,929
Proposed General Fund Tax Rate Increase of 4.5 Cents
• Recommended tax rate of 89 cents per $100 of assessed valuation
• Nearly 1.4 cents of proposed increase attributable to funds needed to pay debt
service on the sale of the 2001 voter approved bonds and recently issued alternative
financing
• One cent on tax rate generates $1,011,179
Major Milestones for Fiscal Year 2003-04
• Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (SAPFO) provides for reasonable and
sustainable construction of new school space for students
• Fundamental changes in delivery of animal shelter services
• Planning of recreational facilities at Little River Park, Efland Cheeks Park, Twin
Creeks Park and West Ten Soccer Complex
• Reduced building inspection related wait times far citizens
• Creation of emergency notification network for non-English speaking residents during
natural disaster periods
• Cedar Grove Branch Library at Northern Human Services Center opened in April
2004
• Planning and design of Phase I expansion of the Justice Facility in Hillsborough
began
• Orange County Schools students have the opportunity to learn in alternative school
environments
• Opening of Rashkis Elementary School provided 619 new elementary seats for
CHCCS students
Tonight°s Presentation
/General Fund Revenue Highlights
/General Fund Expenditure Highlights
/Solid Waste Enterprise Fund
/On the Horizon
General Fund Revenue Highlights
Property Taxes Remain Largest Single Source of Revenue
General Fund Revenues
• Estimated real property tax base growth for fiscal year 2004-05 will be about 4
percent
- Property Tax revenue increases about $7.65 million from original 2003-04 budget
. Approximately $3.1 million comes from natural tax base growth and the
balance produced by the proposed tax rate increase
• Projected overall growth in sales tax is 4.5 percent
Able to appropriate $1.6 million out of fund balance
- Equivalent of about 1.6 cents on tax rate
• Overall expected growth in other County revenues, including those revenues received
from State and Federal sources, totals $300,000
General Fund Expenditure Highlights
Orange County Has Historically Led The State in Education Funding
Source: Annual Public School Forum Report
Public Education Funding for Fiscal Year 2004-05
Total General Fund appropriation far Education increases by 5.6 percent and totals
$65.3 million
- Reflects a $3.5 million increase from 2003-04
• Overall share of County budget is 48.4 percent
- BOCC funding target is 48.1 percent
• CHCCS District Tax remains at 20 cents per $100 valuation
- Anticipated collections of $12.9 million
• Equivalent of $1,178 per student
Proposed Per Pupil Appropriation of $2,620
• Increase of $54 over the FY 2003-04 allocation of $2,566
• Both systems experiencing increases in student membership
- Orange County Schools - 127 students
- Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools - 277 students
• Animal Services
Human Services
- Transfer of responsibility from Animal Protection Society to County management
effective for July 1
- Next phase, County management of both animal sheltering and animal control
functions, to occur in upcoming fiscal year
• Social Services
- Medicaid increase of approximately $250,000 over original budget
- Budget reflects rising demand for public assistance
• Health
- New service to offer primary health care to women who are served in the Maternal
Health and Family Planning programs and children who are served in the Child
Health Services programs
• Human Services Safety Net
- Reserves funding to help address budgetary crises in human services programs
- $100,000 included in 2004-05 Manager's Recommended Budget with plans to
carry forward $150,000 in unexpended funds from fiscal year 2003-04
Public Safety
• EMS Ambulance Transportation Component
- Completes transition of bringing in-house
• Homeland Security
- Recently announced grant funds of $1.4 million will enable County to improve the
reliability and linkages for fire, police and other emergency responder agencies
and personnel
- Future grants anticipated to be received from Homeland Security
Emaloyee Pay and Benefits
• Classification & Pay Study
- Implemented during fiscal year 2003-04
• Cost of Living
- 2 percent increase effective October 11, 2004
• In-Range Salary Increases
- 2.5 percent far employees whose work performance is proficient or higher effective
with the employee's performance review date
• Health Insurance
- Projected increase up to 12 percent effective January 1, 2005
• Benefits for Domestic Partners
- Effective January 1, 2005, in conjunction with the County's health insurance
renewal
Debt Service
• 2001 Voter Approved Bonds and Alternative Financing Plan
- $22.65 million issued in fiscal year 2002-03
- $38.6 million planned for issuance in fiscal year 2004-05 later this summer
- Nearly 1.4 cents of proposed increase attributable to funds needed to pay debt
service an the sale of the 2001 voter approved bonds and recently issued
alternative financing
• Debt service equates to approximately 13 percent of total recommended General
Fund Operating Budget
- County's Debt Management Policy allows for debt service to be na more than 15
percent of total General Fund Budget
Capital Funding
• Over last few years, recurring capital for both County and Schools has been
negatively impacted by State budget crisis
- For County projects, sales tax normally dedicated to recurring capital is being used
to balance the budget and avoid larger tax rate increases
- Amount dedicated to School recurring capital maintained at 2 cent level
• County Capital Funding Proposal Includes:
- Funding replacement of critical vehicles in fiscal year 2004-05 through short-term
lease-purchase plan
- Funding immediate facility repair needs with two-thirds net debt reduction bonds
New Staff Beginning July 1, 2004
Cooperative Extension
- Program Assistants (2 FTE) to assist law-income families and pregnant teens by
providing basic nutrition education, food preparation, safety and selection, and
infant feeding instruction.
- Community Health Aide to encourage and support pregnant women regarding the
benefits of breastfeeding
• Health Department
- Reimbursement Specialist to address current and anticipated increased billing and
follow-up on uncollected billings
• Recreation and Parks
- Park Conservation Technician (Little River Park) to provide necessary
maintenance and operational care at Little River Park
• Social Services
New Staff Beginninq July 1, 2004
- Income Maintenance Caseworker III to address the number of families and
individuals requesting assistance for medical care, food and funds for on-going
shelter costs
• Time-limited, effective 2 years from the hire date
• Waste Reduction, Reuse, Recycling Fee Coordinator
- To determine and implement a billing and collection system for the county-wide
solid waste recycling program
- Position would be "housed" in Tax Collector's Office and funded with Solid Waste
Enterprise revenues
New Staff Beginninq October 1, 2004
• Emergency Management
- Paramedic to address an increase in the acuity of patients needing emergency
medical services and an increase in the clearance times experienced at medical
facilities
• Health Department
- Dental Assistant (bi-lingual} to manage the increased number of Hispanic clients
and provide clinical services to the dentist
• Information Technology
- Web Application Developer to implement and maintain an e-Government web site
• Personnel
- Human Resources Technician to address workload growth and provide quality
service levels to employees and supervisors
New Staff Beginninq October 1, 2004
• Public Works
Custodian to provide custodial care and address additional square footage that
has come online in recent years
• Recreation and Parks
- Park Conservation Technician to provide necessary maintenance and operational
care at current facilities
Social Services
- Income Maintenance Caseworker II to address increases in the number of
individuals and families requesting Medicaid and Food Stamp services
• Time-limited, effective 2 years from the hire date
Social Worker to provide early intervention services to families with certain risk
factors in order to prevent the need for more expensive and intrusive intervention
later
New Staff Beainnina February 1, 2005
• Rural Curbside Recycling Program
- Increase of 5 FTE
3 Recycling Materials Handlers
2 Solid Waste Collectors
To operate the rural curbside recycling program as an in-house function
• Current program is contracted with outside vendor, Waste Industries
• Potential cost savings of approximately $800,000 over the next ten years
Organizational Initiatives
• Animal Services
- Positions approved by BOCC on May 18, 2004
• 14 positions to staff and operate the Shelter effective July 1, 2004
• Animal Control Officer effective July 1, 2004 funded by revenue from Town of
Chapel Hill
• Emergency Transportation
- 8 Emergency Medical Technicians effective October 1, 2004
- Completes the final phasing of staff needed to provide Emergency Transportation
• Staff Attorney
- Supplement legal services provided by County Attorney
Solid Waste Enterprise Fund
Fiscal Year 2004-05 Budget Focus
• Orange County leads the State with a per capita waste reduction of 45 percent
• July 2004 implementation of Waste Reduction, Reuse and Recycling Fee structure
• Establishment of financial stability in the Fund through "3R Fee"
• Rural curbside recycling program comes "in-house" in spring 2005
- Cost savings over time, improved quality of service
• Minor program enhancements include:
- Curbside dry cell battery collection
- Infill of addresses into rural and urban curbside recycling routes
- Planning far new/relocated recycling drop-off sites
Solid Waste Enterprise Fund
Waste Reduction, Reuse and Recycling Fees
• Presented to BOCC on April 13, 2004
Elements of proposed fee structure include:
- Basic Services Fee - $36 per year for services provided to or on behalf of all
residents
- Rural Curbside Services Fee - $52 per year for those who have biweekly curbside
recycling collection in the unincorporated areas of the County
- Urban Curbside Services Fee - $75 per year {including the Basic Fee) for those
who have weekly curbside recycling collection in the unincorporated areas of the
County
- Multi-Family Services Fee - $50 per year (including the Basic Fee) far those who
have apartmentlcondominium recycling services
• Expected to generate about $3 million in revenue next year
On the Horizon
• Factors shaping County budgets, policies, and programs for 2005-06 and beyond:
- Future BOCC decisions on school funding equity
- Operatinglmaintenance/support services for new facilities
• Durham Tech satellite campus, Senior Centers, Justice Facility, Animal Shelter,
new parks
- Operating impacts from the opening of three new schools
• OCS Middle School #3, CHCCS High School #3, and CHCCS Elementary #10
- Additional park acquisition and development through 2001 bonds and Lands
Legacy program
- 5ustainability of Orange County government in terms of organizational mission,
functions and resources
Public Hearings and Work Sessions
fAll Meetings Begin at 7:30 a.m.}
Document Availability
• Clerk to Board of Commissioners
• County Budget Office
• Orange County Library
• Chapel Hill Public Library
• Carrbora Library
• Cedar Grove Library
• Orange County Website:
- vvww.co.orange.nc.us
John Link said that there would be two budget public hearings: one on May 27th at the
Southern Human Services Center and the other on June 3`d at the F. Gordon Battle
Courtroom. There are also four work sessions and they hope to adopt the budget either
June 21 St or 23`d.
Commissioner Gordon asked haw much money was brought in by 1 cents on the
CHCCS district tax. Donna Dean said that it is about $649,000. Commissioner Gordon
asked to know the exact numbers for the County's tax rate and the CHCCS district tax.
Commissioner Gordon asked staff to put all new positions in one list. She did not see
the position listed for the Carrboro Cybrary. She also asked the staff to categorize the
total far non-departmental.
Commissioner Gordon also asked for a list of vacant positions, the list of positions that
existed in County government as of July 1, 2003 and on what date various positions
were added. She also asked for the line item detail.
Commissioner Brawn asked for clarification on the Cooperative Extension position and it
was answered that this is just sustaining the federal money that disappeared and it is not
an increase in positions. Donna Dean said that for one of those positions Orange
County would only pay one half of the salary and North Carolina State would fund the
other part.
Commissioner Brown asked if Cooperative Extension was looking far other revenue
sources and John Link said that they have been looking at other sources, but as of now
they have not found any. Commissioner Brown said that this was a change in the Board
of County Commissioners' perspective.
Commissioner Brown made reference to "On the Horizon" and said that she is very
interested in the piece on the operations and maintenance and support services for new
facilities. She said that maybe there needs to be a long-range plan for each of the new
facilities (parks} so that the building space can be anticipated. She would like along-
range view on what the senior centers and parks are going to cost. John Link said that
staff would welcome direction from the Board an this during the budget process ar in the
fall.
Commissioner Brown asked for more information on the long term financing issues and
how the County is doing on its debt and how the debt corresponds to what the State will
support and approve. She asked that it go out five years. John Link said that they
would address this as part of the budget.
Commissioner Halkiotis said that he would like to know haw many positions have not yet
been filled this year and the total dollar value of the salaries. He asked that the
Manager, in his opening statements at bath public hearings and also at the work session
with the two school systems, clearly state in a positive manner that the County does not
have budget line authority for the school system budgets. Every year, citizens ask for
funding for specific line items.
Commissioner Halkiotis asked how much the tax rate would go up if the County was to
fund everything that was requested and Jahn Link said that it would be at least aten-
cent tax increase.
Commissioner Halkiotis said that people need to understand how much equipment
costs. He said to show a picture of the equipment with the price tag an it.
Commissioner Carey said that on page 1 Q it says that the County will fund immediate
facility repair needs with two-thirds net debt reduction bonds. He asked about the timing
on this and if it means that the money is incorporated in this proposed budget. Donna
Dean said that one half of the interest is included in this year's budget.
Chair Jacobs suggested that the presentation on school funding include the percentage
of the request that was funded. He said to also point out that just the increase in
students this year amounts to approximately $1 million, which is one cent on the tax rate.
This is beyond anyone's control.
Chair Jacobs made reference to the issue of the Program Assistants through
Cooperative Extension. He suggested bringing this up with Congressman Price to see if
there has been any positive disposition an this funding.
Chair Jacobs made reference to Animal Services and said to cite how much the County
has been spending already on animal services and what the increase is when it is
brought in-house.
Chair Jacobs asked to see how much the basic fee far solid waste would translate to in
the property tax, just for information.
Commissioner Gordon made reference to capital and said that she would like to know
what 2% equals in dollars available.
Commissioner Halkiotis asked Chair Jacobs to provide a short written statement on how
he feels the level of understanding currently is of the other elected officials in Chapel
Hill, Carrbora, and Hillsborough related to the solid waste fee proposal. He was not at
this meeting, and he would like to hear the Chair's assessment.
2. 2004-2U14 Schools Capital Investment Plans Presentation
Donna Dean made the PowerPoint presentation, as shaven below:
Schools and County
2004-14 Capital Investment Plans
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
Total Capital Investment Plan
$138 Million
Includes Funded and Unfunded Projects
Highlights of CHCCS Proiects
~ New Facilities
^ High School #3 - $30 Million
^ Athletic Facilities far High School #3 - $982,000
^ Elementary #10 - $13.9 Million
^ Reserve for Unforeseen Costs of High School #3 and Elementary #10 - $1.5
Million
• Renovations of Older Facilities
^ Examples include classroom/building improvements, mechanical systems,
energy efficiency and lighting improvements, and roofing
~ Mobile Classrooms and Technology Applications
Highlights of CHCCS Proiects
~ Unfunded Requests
^ Elementary #10 Site -Utilities and Connector Road - $2.6 Million
^ Middle School #5 (opening 2009-10) - $20.8 Million
^ New Central Office (opening 2008-09} - $6.3 Million
^ Conversion of Lincoln Center to High School space (opening 2010} - $11.9
Million
^ School Site for Elementary #11 - $2.7 Million
^ Elementary School #11 (opening 2012-13} - $16.2 Million
Orange County Schools
Total Capital Investment Plan
$108 Million
Includes Funded and Unfunded Projects
Highlights of OCS Projects
~ New Facilities
Middle School #3 - $18.5 Million {funded with 2001 bonds)
~ Renovations of Older Facilities
^ Examples include classroom/building improvements, mechanical
systems, energy efficiency and lighting improvements, and roofing
• Technology Applications
Highlights of OCS Proiects
~ Unfunded Projects
^ Flooring Replacement (system-wide) - $582,000
^ Hillsborough Elementary Renovations - $857,500
^ HVAC Replacements (system-wide) - $213,098
^ Roofing Projects (system-wide) - $147,077
^ Technology Applications (system-wide} - $233,502
3. 2004-2014 County Capital Investment Plan Presentation
Orange County
Total Capital Investment Plan
$170 Million
Includes Funded and Unfunded Projects
Highlights of Orange County Projects
Recreation and Park Projects
Efland Cheeks Park -Phase 2 - $250,000
Fairview Park - $850,000
Homestead Aquatics Center - $4.3 Million
Joint Town/County Open Space and Greenways - $1.75 Million
Little River Park - $965,966
Northern Human Services Center Park - $1.2 Million
River Park - $50,000
Smith Middle School Park Lighting - $250,000
Soccer Superfund - $2 Million
Southern Community Park - $2.8 Million
Sportsplex Annual Contract and Reserve - $7.7 Million
Twin Creeks Park - $1.2 Million
Highliqhts of Orange County Projects
• New Facilities
^ County Storage Facility Located at Public Works site - $300,000
^ Farmers Market - $90,000
^ Justice Facility - $6.5 Million
^ Orange County Satellite Campus of Durham Technical Community College -
$4Million
^ Senior Centers (Chapel Hill and Central/Northern Orange) - $6.1 Million
Hiahliahts of Oranae County Projects
• Repairs of Older Facilities
^ Blackwood and Cate Farms Structures
^ Central Recreation
^ Emergency Managementl911 Center
^ Historic and New Courthouses
^ Northern Human Services Center
^ Planning and Agriculture Building
Highliqhts of Orange County Projects
• Immediate Needs for Additional Space
^ Jail - $600,000
^ Orange Enterprises - $525,000
• Longer Range Needs far Additional Space
^ Southern Human Services Center - $3 Million
^ Whiffed Human Services Center - $5.6 Million
^ Future County Facilities (not yet identified) - $11.8 Million
Highliqhts of Orange County Projects
• Efland Sewer Extension Development - $2.1 Million
• Information Technology - $6.6 Million
• Lands Legacy - $20.1 Million
• Conservation Easements - $3 Million
• Roofing and HVAC System Replacements - $4.6 Million
• Utilities Extension Development - $150,000
• Equipment and Vehicle Replacements - $8 Million
Plans for Fiscal Year 2004-05
• Information Technology Projects
^ $300,000 from pay-as-you-go funds to address network security and
reliability
• Equipment and Vehicle Replacements
^ Plans include using short-term leaselpurchase arrangement to purchase
Sheriff and Public Works fleet replacements, Recreation and Parks
equipment, etc.
• County Building Repairs
^ Immediate building repair needs addressed through use of two-thirds net
debt reduction bonds
Commissioner Halkiotis asked about CHCCS having a total CIP of $138 million with
10,600 students and many mare schools than Orange County and OCS has $211 million
in CIP. He thought it was $21.1 million. Donna Dean said that she would find out this
information.
Commissioner Halkiotis said that he wants a listing of all the projects from both school
systems in their CIPs. Donna Dean said that the two CIPs were in a packet for each
County Commissioner.
Commissioner Gordon asked for the complete list for future County facilities for $8.5
million.
Donna Dean answered some clarifying questions for Commissioner Gordon
Chair Jacobs made reference to "Highlights of CHCCS Projects" and asked if they were
going to contribute $2.6 million from their capital funds to provide all utilities and
connector roads. Donna Dean said that this was included as an unfunded project.
Commissioner Gordon asked far Donna Dean to follow up with CHCCS on this issue.
Commissioner Brown asked for clarification an High School #3. Her understanding was
that the price was $27.8 million. She asked about the $30 million. Donna Dean said
that the high school #3 project would include the $2.2 million for smart growth, making
the total budget $30 million.
At this point, the County Commissioners took a short break
4. Presentation on the Proposed Development of Carolina North (Horace
Williams Property)
Chair Jacobs introduced Tony Waldrop, Vice Chancellor for Research and Development
at UNC, and Mark Crowell, Associate Chancellor for Economic Development.
Tony Waldrop and Mark Crowell made the following presentation.
CAROLINA NORTH
Conceptual Draft Master Plan May 2004
AyerslSaintlGross - Stonebridge Associates - Martin/AlexioulBryson
MISSION STATEMENT
Carolina North is a living and learning community, expanding Carolina's multiple
missions, intensifying innovation and redefining our engagement with the region, the
state and the world.
Carolina North is an environment where diverse partnerships are created and new
endeavors are born and nurtured.
Carolina North is a place of exceptional energy, beauty and contemplation, connecting to
and enhancing bath the original campus and neighboring communities.
CAROLINA NORTH
CHARACTERISTICS
1. Living and learning community
2. Mixed uses including office space and research, residential and service retail
3. Environmentally sensitive
4. Multi-modal transportation
5. Pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly
6. Look and feel of Carolina's historic campus
THE RIGHT TIME FOR CAROLINA NORTH
1. Expanding academic programs
Research, teaching, engagement
2. Engaging with partners to connect the University to economic development of the
region and state
3. Responding to employee housing needs
4. Ability to plan carefully for future of University
LOCATING AT CAROLINA NORTH
1. Any program or organization desiring to locate at Carolina North must support and
advance the mission of the University in research, teaching and public service
2. All programs must have a University sponsor
3. All programs should provide opportunities for involvement by faculty, staff and
students
4. Carolina North should contribute to the economic development of the region and the
State of North Carolina
AERIAL LOOKING NORTHWEST
Chapel Hill High School
Smith Middle School Seawell Elem. School
Horace Williams Airport
Airport Road
EXISTING STREETS
Weaver Dairy Extension
Homestead Road
Airport Road
Seawell School Road
Estes Drive Extension
TIMELINE CREATING DRAFT PLAN
1. Mission Statement Created by University Leadership -Fall 2002
2. North Carolina Advisory Groups Work Effort and Reports -Spring 2003
3. Initial Carolina North Draft Conceptual Plan -Fall 2003
4. Community and State Feedback -Winter 2004
5. Revised Carolina North Conceptual Plan -Spring 2004
6. Presentation to University Board of Trustees -March 2004
7. Presentation to Town of Chapel Hill Council -May 2004
8. Presentation to the Orange County Board of Commissioners -May 2004
TIMELINE FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
1. Projected build out of 50 years
2. Pace of development determined by programmatic needs for space and resources
3. Developed in 5- to 10-year phases
4. Mixed-use communities will be created
DEVELOPMENT
Full Build Out f7 phases)
Off-Street Deck Parking 10,600 spaces
Off-Street Surface Parking 1,400 spaces
On-Street Parking (all streets} 5,000 spaces
Institutional/Research - 6 million gross square feet
Residential - 2 million gross square feet
Service Retail - 300,000 gross square feet
Common Uses - 100,000 gross square feet
48 acres of green space
30 acres of landscaped parks & quads
18 acres of natural areas
NEIGHBORHOODS
The plan includes five neighborhoods, each having a recognizable center, mix of uses
and apedestrian-friendly street network.
The goal would be that anyone that worked in the development would be able to afford
to live there.
LAND CURRENTLY IN USE
AND STREET NETWORK
landfill
chemical site
Town Public Works
Horace Williams Airport
UNC Facilities Services
TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTATION GOALS
1. Maximize accessibility by all modes
2. Design far and encourage use of alternative modes
3. Minimize impacts on neighborhoods
TRANSPORTATION PLAN ELEMENTS
1. Trip-reduction measures
2. Local transit enhancements
3. Regional transit connections
4. Park-and-ride
5. Roadway and traffic improvements
6. Bicycle and pedestrian routes and connectians
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
1. Improvements will be phased
2. Must partner with local and state governments
RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PLAN
1. School Site
2. Realigned Street
3. Residential Buffer
4. Parking Reduction
5. Building Heights
6. Housing
7. Green Space
8. Stream Buffers
The reports from the four advisory groups, as well as all other documents, are an the
website, which is cn.unc.edu.
The County Commissioners asked how the property would be developed when there
was still uncertainty about whether and/or when the airport would be closing. When
Tony Waldrop indicated the University was looking for another airport site in Orange
County or Chatham County, the Commissioners expressed great concern about UNC
locating another airport in Orange County.
Tony Waldrop said that they were asked to meet with the CHCCS regarding an
elementary Schaal site at Carolina North. The school system indicated that it would
need 12-14 acres for an elementary school site for the CHCCS.
Commissioner Brown asked who would pay for the property and the new school. Tony
Waldrop said that the University would provide the land and the schaol would be paid far
in the normal fashion.
Commissioner Brown said that she heard that the County Commissioners would pay for
the building of the Frank Porter Graham Schaal facility. Tony Waldrop said that the
Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute is in the early planning stages to
develop a new type of school that has been presented in concept to the school board.
The school would focus on early childhood and would take children from ages 3-4 and
have them in school until 3rd or 4t" grade. They are planning for it to be built as a charter
school, in which the University with the help of a donor would construct the school and
pay for it. This is not the school site identified on the map.
Regarding building heights, the buildings would range between two and five stories, with
the bigger buildings more interior to the property so that they would not be next to the
neighborhoods.
Regarding housing, Tony Waldrop said that they are referring to it as housing that will
reflect the income levels of the people that would work at Carolina North.
Commissioner Brown asked if they would want to use the County's definition of
affordable housing. She asked if they would come to the County for affordable housing
money. Tony Waldrop said that their plan is to not seek money from the municipalities.
Tony Waldrop said that there is a great deal of concern about Bolin Creek. He said that
they could not, as the University, permanently set aside any lands for conservation
easements, but they are recommending that these be set aside by the State. He said
that they did not intend to develop the rest of the property but they are not permanently
setting it aside because they do not want to tie the hands of future leadership of the
University.
Commissioner Halkiotis asked about the total number of parking spaces on campus at
this time and Tony Waldrop said that he could not remember. Commissioner Halkiotis
said that there are a lot of parking spaces and he saw only one bus in the presentation.
He made reference to Duke and the people mover that they have. He hopes that there
is a futuristic plan to move people without depending on cars so much.
Tony Waldrop agreed and said that they need to look at alternative transportation, and
this plan does show many parking spaces. He said that this is not something that the
University can or should do unilaterally. They do not want people driving back and forth
between the two campuses and they would like to look at light rail or a dedicated bus
way.
Commissioner Gordon asked what the University is budgeting for transportation. Tony
Waldrop said that in the beginning there would be a heavy dependence on bussing, but
they will be looking beyond the traditional. They do not want to develop a plan by
themselves, but they want to have a plan that deals with transportation for the
community as a whole. They would like to meet with Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and others
to develop a plan.
Commissioner Gordon said that the question is what the University can do to participate
in transportation planning for this region. She said that it would also be helpful if the
University could provide some monies to help with the transportation plan and partner
with other entities (OPT, TTA, Chapel Hill Transit, etc.). Tony Waldrop said that, so far,
they have worked with NCDOT to get some advice.
Commissioner Gordon asked if there were any plans for an Institute of Aging. Tony
Waldrop said that they have not made any commitments yet to anyone, but he has
talked with Chair Jacobs and that the possibility has not been ruled out. They would like
to get the departments that are in leased space to this campus, such as the Institute of
Aging.
Commissioner Gordon asked about fiscal impacts such as the schools. She said that
the residential component would be under the impact fee structure.
Commissioner Gordon said that the first phase is right where the airport is. She does
not understand the logistics. Tony Waldrop said that if the airport does not close
immediately, they could go ahead and build some things with the airport in place. This
would include office, research, residential, service/retail, and community uses.
Commissioner Gordon said that this is a serious problem because it will not be easy to
relocate an airport. Tony Waldrop said that there are major things to overcame, but they
could build some areas with the airport in place.
Commissioner Brown said that she served on this committee for transportation. She
would like to have a regional transportation plan. She said that 17,000 parking spaces
seems to be reverting to the year 1950. The impact on the town alone would be hard to
comprehend. The impacts are directly related to the citizens of the County picking up
the bill for a lot of this.
Tony Waldrop said that he agrees that this shows a reliance that they do not want to
have on the automobile. They want to join with the other municipalities and develop a
transportation plan for the future. They are eager to work together.
Commissioner Brown said that the County Commissioners are practical, and this County
is not awash in money and there are very limited resources. She would like to see the
cost-benefit analysis of this development for the County.
Chair Jacobs suggested that they draw in trolleys, busses, and trains because the
subliminal message is all cars. This contradicts what is being said. The pictures are
what make the impact.
Chair Jacobs said, regarding the airport that he would encourage them to make it clear
to the citizens and to the users that the only purpose for the airport is far the program
and not far trustees who have jets to come in for football games. The more constrained
the facility is, the more likely a suitable site will be found.
Commissioner Halkiotis said that the last time the County Commissioners heard this
presentation, there was a bigger delegation, and when the question was asked about
the housing and impact fees being assessed, it was not positive. The Board was
basically told that there would not be any impact fees paid because there would not be
any children coming out of the housing. He is pleased to hear that the door has not
been closed on the opportunity to collect impact fees on this housing. He made
reference to Carolina Inn and the School of Business not wanting to pay the occupancy
tax, and said that the University has not historically been cooperative in County
initiatives with Chapel Hill and Carrboro and collecting revenues that benefit all citizens
of the County.
Commissioner Gordon said that it is to be commended that 75°~ of the proposal is open
space.
Commissioner Brown said that the County Commissioners need to understand what kind
of property taxes will come from this development. Tony Waldrop said that they do
expect that there will be property taxes on the buildings, but not on the land. University
buildings would be exempt. Commissioner Brawn said that they would have to work out
something about that because this is a huge development and will have a lot of impacts.
5. Discussion of Plans for Twin Creeks (Moniese Nomp)
Environmental and Resource Conservation Director Dave Stancil said that there are
three things to discuss:
Carrboro wants a public comment on this project and this could be in August.
Page 5 of agenda -issues about the master plan and if there are revisions the
County Commissioners want to make.
The conditional use permit for the project for Carrboro. The staff can prepare the
application over the summer for a CUP for a possible phase one of the park.
Chair Jacobs said that they could get public input first. They could also solicit County
Commissioners' comments in writing and put it on the agenda as a special presentation.
Commissioner Halkiotis asked for the rationale for Carrboro needing additional public
input. Dave Stancil said that since Carrboro is going to be reviewing the CUP, they
would need to gather additional public input. The other reason is that they talked about
having a community info session for other residents around the park that have not been
heard.
Commissioner Gordon said that it has been a year since the work group finished, so it is
important to move the process along. She would like to start the CUP process with
Carrboro on phase 1.
Commissioner Gordon said that she would like to know about the educational campus
and the use of smart growth design. The campus would accommodate two schools.
Since she has heard some claims that the schools were not located using smart growth
principles, she would like to know which of the smart growth principles that the location
of the schools would be violating.
Commissioner Carey said that he thinks that if Carrboro is making a decision about this,
then the County should acknowledge it and have a public input session. He also thinks
that if there are going to be significant changes after the Board comments, then the
Board should know these before the public input session because the public may want
to input again.
Commissioner Brown said that she is interested in intertwining the educational facilities
and park facility for commonality of use. This did not happen at all because they are
totally separate. She said that they could give up on this principle or look at it again.
She is also concerned about the smart growth principles.
Chair Jacobs suggested having a dinner meeting on June 8t" starting at 5:30 p.m. before
the regularly scheduled meeting. The Board agreed.
Commissioner Halkiotis said that it would help him if the staff and other County
Commissioners commit to writing what smart growth initiatives mean to the County and
then go forth and let everyone know what it means.
Commissioner Brown showed the Board a draft copy of the countywide parks map.
Commissioner Halkiotis asked that it be shown on the map how much it casts to print it
Adjournment
A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Carey to
adjourn the meeting at 10:30 p.m.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Donna S. Baker
Clerk to the Board