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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-06-07 adjJune 7, 1989 (Afternoon - Adjourned Meeting) (Page 1) An adjourned meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, was held on June 7, 1989, at 1:30 P.M., Room 7, County Office Building, McIntire Road, Charlottesville, ¥i=ginia. This meeting was adjourned from May 24, 1989. PRESENT: Messrs. Edward H. Bain, Jr., F. R. Bowie, C. Timothy Lindstrom, Walter F. Perkins and Peter T. Way. ABSENT: Mrs. Patricia H. Cooke. OFFICERS PRESENT: County Executive, Mr. 'Guy B. Agnor, Jr.; County Attorney, Mr. George R. St. John; and Chief o~ Community Development, Mr. ¥. Wayne Cilimberg. Agenda Item No. 1. The meeting was calle~d to order at 1:36 P.M. by the Chairman, Mr. Way. Agenda Item No. 2. Work Session: July-D~cember 1989 Capital Improve- ments Program. Mr. Agnor said the Board has received a copy of the Planning Commission's recommended Capital Improvements Program for the period of July through December, 1989. This year the CIP review schedule is being changed to the Fall of the year which necessitates that for this year only, there be two reviews, one for July throughIDecember, 1989, ~nd the next will be for January through June, 1990. ~ Mr. Cilimberg said the Planning Commission voted 5-1 to recommend the funding of 22 Capital Improvement projects. He said the Commission also made two additional recommendations: that the CoUnty Executive should approach the coUnties of Buckingham, Fluvanna and Nelson to request "fair share" funding for the Scottsville Rescue Squad in proportion to the number of calls in those counties; and that the fUnding for engineering the Rio Road interchange, part of the Meadow Creek Parkway funding, should not be delayed, so this informa- tion can be available as development occurs, iMf. Cilimberg said the Planning Commission made no recommendation on two projgcts: the Gordon Avenue branch of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library and~he Avon Street/Route 20 connec- tor road. The Commission decided not to prioritize these two projects because they were received late and not reviewed with!the other projects. The 22 projects, with the funding recommended by the Planning Commission, are as follows: 1. Stony Point Elementary Asbestos Removal $54,000 2. Yancey Elementary Asbestos Removal 95,000 3. Murray Elementary Asbestos Removal 99,000 4. Underground Storage Tanks (various school locations) 75,000 5. Southside Transfer Station 140,000 6. Southside School Gymnasium 134,000 7. Sidewalk - Rio Road 55,000 8. Information Services - Purchase/lease 106,500 payments and mainframe utilities/software 9. Hollymead Elementary Roof Replacement 176,000 10. Rose Hill Elementary Library Roof Replacement 7,300 11. Red Hill Elementary POD Roof Replacement 30,000 12. Stone Robinson Elementary Playground 20,000 13. Revenue Sharing Road Projects 500,000 14. Meadow Creek Parkway (engineering Rio Road 116,000 interchange alignment study, northern section) Four Seasons Drive Channel Improvements King George Circle Storm Sewer Southern Regional Park Scottsville Rescue Squad Ambulance Woodbrook Channel (engineering study). Berkeley Storm Sewer Phase II (engineering study only) Meriwether Lewis Elementary Pavement Circuit Court Microfilming and Reader/Printer 15. 4,100 16. 2,700 17. 691,000 18. 36,000 19. 4,500 20. 7,630 21. 12,000 22. 29,908 $2,396,138 2 June 7, 1989 (Afternoon - Adjourned Meeting) (Page 2) Mr. Bain asked the staff to inspect the road (Route 678) behind the Meriwether Lewis School property. A property owner stated that the road is being washed out because of the school construction. He asked if 'the County still holds the bond for that road and if there are plans to install a drain pipe to remove the water. Mr. Way referred to the Avon Street/Route 20 Connector Road and said it has not been decided whether it will be less expensive for the County to build an interchange or a connector road. He said he sees no reason to apply funds to this project immediately. Mr. Way asked Mr. Agnor to summarize the funding available for the CIP. Mr. Agnor said that $15,580,500 was available for the first six months of the 1989-90 CIP and the projects to be funded for this period totaled $13,042,888. This leaves of surplus of $2,537,612 in the CIP budget. In the second six months of the 1989-90 CIP, only $125,000 is available for projects that are estimated to cost $2,902,022, creating a deficit of $2,777,022. Mr. Agnor the total resources available for the 1989-90 CIP equal $15,705~500; the cost of the projects is $15,944,910, leaving a deficit of $239,410. Adding this to the deficit of $1,652,205 leaves the ~989-90 CIP short by $1,891,615. Mr. Agnor then outlined the various projects in the CIP, which projects have been moved from later years in the CIP t~ 1989-90, the projects the Board has already committed to fund in 1989-90, and the projects which have in- creased over the amount allotted to them in the CIP (on file in the Clerk's office). Mr. Agnor recommended that the cost ~shown for the Crozet school project be reduced from the architects' estimate $4,863,500 to the approved project cost of $4,561,995, a difference of $~01,505. He said the State has decreased its funding for highway revenue sharing projects, so the County can also reduce its matching funds for these projsCts from $500,000 to $300,000. He also recommended shifting the funds for the~ Crozet, Southside, Stony Point and Yancey Schools from December to July, 1989-90. Mr. Agnor said he has several other recom~nendations for balancing the CIP budget. He said the Board could show temporary~ loans covering the shortfall. Mr. Agnor said it will not be necessary to borrow temporary funds because the funds raised by the bond issue in the Fall will cover the four school pro- jects. If the Board follows this recommendation, more money will have to be allocated in the later years of the CIP than is currently shown. Mr. Agnor said the second way the Board could cover thiJ deficit is to split the Coun- ty's tax collection, although he suggested reserving this method until the needs become more critical. He said the Board could also shift projects from the 1989-90 CIP to later years. (Note: Mr. St. 3ohn left the meeting at i2:06 P.M., and returned at 2:30 P.M.) Mr. Lindstrom said he has a project he wduld like to see added to the CIP. He asked the staff to get a price for fabricated shields to redirect the lights at Albemarle High School. Mr. Way suggested that the Charlottesville- Albemarle Technical Center make these shields 'as a school project. Mr. Perkins referred to the Planning Commission's recommendation that the County Executive approach the counties of Buckingham, Fluvanna, and Nelson to request funding for the Scottsville Rescue Squad. Mr. Perkins asked if residents of these counties served on the rescue squad. Mr. Way said "yes". Mr. Perkins suggested that these Volunteers ask their boards of supervisors to fund the Scottsville Rescue Squad. Mr. Way said this is a good suggestion. Mr. Agnor then presented his list of projects that could be cut or deferred if the Board does not wish to borrow Short-term funds. He said all new projects, except the projects which involve removing asbestos from the schools, could be either deferred or funded in some other way. He said it may be possible for the School division to use the operations budget to fund the pavement for Burley Middle School, the roof for Rose Hill Elementary School, removing the underground storage tanks, and the repaving at Meriwether Lewis Elementary School. He said it may be possiblelto lease the Hazardous Materi- als Vehicle. It may also be possible to fund the playground for Stone Robin- son from the Parks and Recreation Department. 'He said the closure of the Keene Landfill could be deferred until 1990-91.' 3 June 7, 1989 (Afternoon - Adjourned Meeting) (Page 3) In addition to the deleting or deferring of most of the new projects, Mr. Agnor said, he recommends deferring until 1990-91 the $60,000 needed to design the expansion of the library and internal modifications. He said the follow- ing projects could also be deferred: street lights, improvements to the Greenwood Community Center, improvements at Claudius Crozet Park, the second phase of the Berkeley storm improvements sewer, the Woodbrook channel, improvements to the Ivy Landfill, improvements to the Windham/Jarman Gap channel, the storm sewer on Smithfield Road and the Berkshire road channel. He said funding to acquire rights-of-way for ~he Meadow Creek Parkway could also be deferred, although buying the rights-of-way now could save the County and State money later. He said the Avon Street/Route 20 connector road could be deferred without any problem, as could the~sidewalk for Rio Road. The $134,000 needed for the Southside School gym could be covered by the bond issue. Mr. Lindstrom asked if the improvements planned for Hollymead Elementary School could also be included under the bond issue. Mr. Agnor said the staff has questioned representatives of the Virginia Public School Authority about the possibility of including several small school projects under the bond issue. He said the staff was informed that the Authority preferred to deal with projects of a magnitude that justified the bond issue, rather than a collection of small projects. However, Mr. Agnor said, the Authority did not refuse to accept small projects under the bond issue, so the staff recommends adding some of the smaller school projects roi'the bond issue in the next four years of the cycle. Mr. Bowie said he does nat think it is wise to fund less expensive projects with long-term financing. '~He would prefer to reserve long-term borrowing for major projects. Mr. Lindstrom said the $60,000 estimated ifor the roof and the expansion of the library at Hollymead School is part of ia $615,000 project to improve this school. He asked why the $615,000 is being funded through the CIP, instead of a bond issue. Mr. Agnor said the project could be funded under a bond issue, which is one reason he recommends '-~deferring the Hollymead School Improvements until the Fall review of the CIP.~, Mr. Lindstrom said perhaps the Board should consider consolidating all the School division's roof improvement projects under a bond issue. Mr. Bowie said h~ would prefer that projects such as these be funded through short-term loahs. Mr. Lindstrom said the short-term loans will have to be repaid with e~ther borrowed money or a tax increase. Mr. Bowie referred to the Hazardous Materials Vehicle and asked if it would benefit the County to lease, rather than~buy, the vehicle. Mr. Agnor said leasing the vehicle would cost the County more in the long run, but the cost could be spread over several years. Mr. Bowie said he agreed with the recommendation to fund the pavement at Burley, the roof for Rose Hill, removing the ~jderground tanks, and the repaving at Meriwether Lewis with carry-over m~ney rather than through the CIP. He said the staff has informed the Board!l~that the Keene Landfill will last for one more year, so he thinks funding for this project can be deferred as well. He said he thinks the Southside SchoOl gym can be included under the bond issue and the $60,000 Hollymead project cJn be reincorporated into the $615,000 project and covered under a bond issue. He also thinks the Avon Street/Route 20 collector road can be deferred~I, He said these measures would reduce the shortfall to $1.4 million, which could be covered by short-term loans to be authorized as the need arises. Mrs! Bowie also suggested that the Ivy Landfill improvements ($225,000) be deferred until the Board receives the report from the Engineering Department concern%bg extending the life of the landfill. Mr. Way said the School projects may never be done if they are left to the School division to fund with carry-over mo~ey. Mr. Bowie said the School division may not be able to fund the entire cos~ of the projects he mentioned, but he does think they can pay for part of theicost. Mr. Bain said he would prefer knowing how much carry-over balance the School division will have before deleting theselprojects from the CIP. If the carry-over balance exceeds the amount estimatedi~ then perhaps the excess could go toward funding these projects. He said he i~ also concerned about allocat- ing money to the engineering design for the Meahow Creek Parkway, since VDoT may change the alignment of the roadway. 4 June 7, 1989 (Afternoon - Adjourned Meeting) (Page 4) Mr. Agnor said the reason for allocating money to Meadow Creek Parkway is so the County can let the developer of Dunlora subdivision know the path of the highway. He said this will save the state money in the future. Mr. Bain said he supports Mr. Bowie's list of items to be deferred from the CIP, with the exception of the following projects: the pavement at Burley Elementary School, the removal of underground tanks at various schools, the repaving at Meriwether Lewis Elementary School and the roof at Rose Hill Elementary School. The items he would defer or fund another way are: closing the Keene Landfill ($116,250); the Hollymead roof replacement ($60,000); the Ivy Landfill improvements ($225,000); the Avon Street/Route 20 Collector (150,000); and the Southside School gym ($134~000). Deferring or funding these projects in another way would reduce the amount needed in the CIP budget by $685,250, leaving a shortfall of $1,206,000. He said the funding for the four Schools projects can be decided after the Board learns how much carry- over balance the School division has. He thidks this information should be available by the end of July. Mr. Lindstrom said he can support Mr. Bain's suggestion since the entire CIP will be reviewed in the Fall, but he feels that these deficits will and cause the County problems. Eventually, he said, the citizens of this County will have to lower their expecCations or pay for them. Mr. Bowie commended the staff for the thoroughness of the presentation on the CIP. Mr. Bain concurred. Motion was offered by Mr. Bowie, seconded by Mr. Bain, to set a public hearing on July 5, 1989, for the July through:December cycle of the CIP with the following items deferred until the next CI~ review in the Fall. Any shortfall of the approximately $1.4 million is;authorized to be funded through temporary, short-term borrowing, if necessary.~ Keene Landfill Closure Hollymead School Improvements Ivy Landfill Improvements Avon Street/Route 20 Connector Road Southside School Gymnasium Total $116,250 60,000 225,000 150,000 134,000 $685,250 There was no further discussion. Roll w~s called and the motion carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: Messrs. Bain, Bowie, Lindstrom, Perkins and Way. NAYS: None. ABSENT: Mrs. Cooke. (The Board recessed at 3:34 P.M., and reconvened at 3:50 P.M.) Agenda Item No. 3. Discussion: Legislative Program. Mr. Agnor said the staff recommends that a legislative program focused on a limited number of priority needs would be more effective than an:extensive program covering multiple needs. He suggested the following priorities: That counties be given the same taxing and borrowing powers as cities. : The excessive regulatory and statutory mandates. The Board could request that the state fully fund al~ present, new and expanded services mandated by the state. Dillon.'s Rule. Counties should be g~en more authority to determine local organizational and administrative options without the need for constitutional or legislative amendments for speclflc local matters. Extending meals taxing authority to ~1 counties. June 7, 1989 (Afternoon - Adjourned Meeting) (Page 5) Legislation to make the local option sales tax available to all counties and/or change the distribution formula to provide increases in local revenues. Legislation to permit counties to levy the same transient lodging tax as cities. Legislation shifting local governments' continued financial reliance from real property taxes to a share of the Virginia state income tax. Allowing localities to increase local gasoline tax by five cents per gallon or up to five percent of purchase price. Authorizing counties to levy an admissions tax. Fifty percent of net funds raised from the Virginia State Lottery should be returned to localities to be used as needed (specific legislation could tie funds to transportation, education, school construction, recycling). 11. 12. To defray costs of off-site public improvements necessitated by new development, counties should be allowed to require that developers contribute pro rata shares (or impa¢.t fees) as a condition of site plan or subdivision approval, ii~ Provide additional State CompensatiQn Board funding for local sheriff's departments. Mr. Bain said he thinks it is important fbr the Board to work either through the Virginia Association of Counties (¥ACo) or a legislative liaison to encourage the passage of legislation which ~ould extend counties' taxing and borrowing powers. He said the first objective listed by Mr. Agnor is the most important, because if counties are granted the same taxing and borrowing powers as cities, no further action will be needed to exercise other taxes such as the meals tax and transient lodging taxes. Mr. Lindstrom agreed and said he does not think the County can be expeqged to achieve the second and third objectives, concerning excessive regulations and Dillon's rule. Mr. Lindstrom suggested that the legislative liaison inform the Board of the status of the projects undertaken by the G~ayson Commission. He asked Mr. Agnor to check also with Mr. Cole Hendrix, Charlottesville City Manager and member of the Grayson Commission. Mr. Agnor a~reed and said the staff will draft a resolution after the Board has learned!ihow much progress has already been made in the area of extending the taxing ~nd borrowing powers of coun- ties. -~ Mr. Bowie said he thinks the tenth objective is important, too. He firmly believes that localities are entitled tS some of the revenue from lotteries. Mr. Way asked Mr. Agnor to draft a'~statement of the Board's support for the distribution of lottery revenues to localities. Mr. Lindstrom asked staff to prepare a status: report on the Chesapeake Bay Act for the next agenda, so that any recom~endations can be incorporated as quickly as possible into the County's regulations. He also asked that a discussion of the office complex being built bx the University Real Estate Foundation on Route 20 at its intersection wit~ Route 53 be placed on an upcoming agenda. He noted that this proposed office complex lies in Area B of the City/County/University Planning and Coordination Agreement, an area in which any development proposal by one party mu~t be submitted to the other parties of the agreement. He said this proper~y is zoned RA, Rural Areas. He said the Chesapeake Bay Act, with its provisio] that state agencies shall comply with the land use policies and regulati, of some assistance. ns of the localities, could be June 7, 1989 (Afternoon - Adjourned Meeting) (Page 6) Agenda Item No. 4. Discussion: "Brainstorming" Session on Policy Matters. Mr. Bain said he would like to discuss briefly several issues and then discuss them more fully at a later date. The first item was the possibility of formal joint cooperation with the City of Charlottesville in various areas such as police, schools and fire. He suggested that a committee of represem- tatives from the City, the County, the University, and citizens, be formed to study these possibilities. Next, Mr. Bain discussed, the possibility of Albemarle County taking over county roads from the State Highway System. Other areas Mr. Bain thought the Board should discuss were the establishment of service districts, and the involvement of board members in various boards and commissions. The last item was a suggestion from the League of Women Voters to establish a Fiscal Resources Committee. Mr. Bowie said the County would incur capital costs of over $100,000,000 if it were to take over roads. He said spendSng this money on capital needs, such as the equipment needed to maintain the ~oads and garages needed to maintain the equipment, would leave very little to spend on highway repairs. Mr. Bain said taking over the roads should be considered from a long-term point of view. In the long run, he said, taking over the roads from VDoT would give the County more control over what roads would be built and what roads would be improved to what degree. Mr. Way referred to the Fiscal Resources:Committee and said he has asked that a discussion of this committee be placedlon the Board's agenda for next Wednesday. Mr. Lindstrom said perhaps it would be worthwhile to consider consolidat- ing the City's and County's police forces, but he doubts whether the City would be willing to share the problems the County is experiencing with growth in its schools. He said the City and County, the former urban and the latter still somewhat rural, operate under different~philosophies and he does not think one government could serve both of these philosophies. He said City officials differ from County representatives on growth and land use, because growth is almost an unmixed blessing for the City. Rather than consolidate with the City, M~. Lindstrom said, he would like to~,see the County pay for the increasing need':'for services, such as solid wa~g collection, by establishing service dis{ricts. He said there seems to be ~:~misapprehension on the part of some citizens of the Charlottesville District that they pay more taxes already tha~ their rural counterparts, and establishing a service district in this area ~ould only add to the imbalance. all County residents subsidize the rural a~eas through the land use tax, ~. Lindstrom said, it is just as true that C~unty residents subsidize the urban areas of the County, which were almost ~nnexed by the City, through the Revenue Sharing Agreement. He thinks there s~ould be~some attempt ~o a~dr~ss this misconception concerning the tax burden.::~ He sa~d th~s Board already nas the authority to create service districts andiihe thinks members o the Board should be thinking of ways to implement the a~thority they have. Mr. Bowie said he supports establishing service districts and setting up a Fiscal Resources Committee. He is not interested in pursuing the other suggestions offered at the start of this brainstorming session. Mr. Lindstrom said he thinks it is important to discuss the issues raised by Mr. Bain because he thinks the Board too o{ten reacts to change rather than anticipating change. He thinks how well the ~oard anticipates the changes I:~ . · ' e in coming to this County within the next ten yea~s w~ll make a b~g d~fferenc the quality of life in the County. Mr. Way said there is one other issue concerning the future of this County that he feels the Board should discuss~~ the problem of drugs in the community. He said this is something he want~ to discuss with the new Police Chief. He would like to add this item to Mr. iBain's list and discuss these items one by one on future agendas. June 7, 1989 (Afternoon - Adjourned Meeting) (Page~7) Agenda Item No. 5. Other Matters Not Listed on the Agenda. Motion was offered by Mr. Bowie, seconded by Mr. Lindstrom, to refer disposition of the building located on 414 Fourth Street, N.W., in the City of Charlottesville used by the Monticello Area Community Action Agency, to the County Building Committee for a recommendation. Roll was called and the motion carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: Messrs. Bain, Bowie, Lindstrom, Perkins, and Way. None. ABSENT: Mrs. Cooke. Agenda Item No. 6. Executive Session: Personnel and Land Acquisition. At 4:55 P.M., motion was offered by Mr. Lindstrom, seconded by Mr. Bain, to adjourn into executive session to discuss personnel matters and land acquisi- tion. Roll was called and the motion carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: Messrs. Bain, Bowie, Lindstrom, Perkina and Way. NAYS: None. ABSENT: Mrs. Cooke. The Board reconvened into open session at 7:30 P.M. Agenda Item No. 7. Adjourn. With no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was immediately adjourned.' Chairman