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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-03-29 adj78 March 29, 1988 (Afternoon Meeting Adjourned from March 28, 1988) (Page 1) An afternoon meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, was held on March 29, 1988, at 1:00 P.M., Meeting Room 7, County Office Building, McIntire Road, Charlottesville, Virginia. This meeting was adjourned from March 28, 1988. PRESENT: Messrs. Edward H. Bain, Jr., F. R. Bowie, Walter F. Perkins and Peter T. Way. ABSENT: Mrs. Patricia H. Cooke and Mr. C. Timothy Lindstrom. OFFICERS PRESENT: County Executive, Guy B. Agnor, Jr.; Deputy County Executive Robert W. Tucker, Jr.; and Administrative Assistant Roxanne White. Agenda Item No. 1. The meeting was called to order at 1:05 P.M. by the Chairman, Mr. Way. Agenda Item No. 2. Pledge of Allegiance. Agenda Item No. 3. Moment of Silence. Agenda Item No. 4. Work Session: 1988-89 County Budget: Monticello Area CommanityAction Agency (NACAA), Ken.'Ackermmu. Requested $26,805; Recou~_nded $26,805. Mr. Tucker said MACAA's total request reflects a 7.5 percent increase for present services, a $2000 increase to implement a new Summer Youth Employment Academic Reinforcement Program and $3000 to expand Project Discovery in the County. Other increases are duelto inflation and cost of living and wage increases. The Program Review Committee recommends funding MACAA at the requested level. Although MACAA's application did not score high enough to justify a 32 percent increase, the Program Review Committee feels that the Summer Youth Employment Academic Reinforcement Program and Project DisCovery are worthwhile programs providing needed services to County youth. The ~ommittee also commends MACAA for establishing a computerized data colle~tion system. It is hoped that this new system will improve overall documentation. Mr. Ken Ackerman addressed the Board on behalf of MACAA. He said MACAA has been successful this year in obtaining funding from o~her localities throughout the region. In July 1987, for the first time, !MACAA received state funding. ~. Mr. Way asked Mr. Ackerman for more details on the expansion of Project Discovery. Mr. Ackerman said that MACAA conducts workshop,8 designed to encourage high school students to attend college. He said~, students tour the University of Virginia and Piedmont Community College. Mamy of the high school students who participate in this program enroll in '~olleges and univer- sities and are usually the first generation of their families to do so. He said he anticipates receiving state funds for this program~ but in order to be eligible for this money, MACAA must serve more students than it can now. Mr. Way asked if the School Board allocated any fundslto Project Discov- ery. Mr. Ackerman said "no". He said MACAA had requested i'funds from the School Board, but Mr. Overstreet said the School Board did!not want to set the precedent of funding groups outside the school. ?i Mr. Bowie asked for the results of the reinforcement program. Mr. Ackerman said of the 27 students in the program during the~i~summer of 1987, 25 improved in reading and mathematics, as demonstrated by te~ting at the end of the summer. The average increase was 1.4 grade levels. M~. Bowie asked how many of these students were still in school. Mr. Ackerman!!said this informa- tion was sent to the School Board; he will forward a copy to the Board. WVPT TV, Arthur Albrecht. Requested $4500; Recommend~xl $-0-. Mr. Agnor said ~-gPT requests $4500. While those who drew up the budget for WVPT claim this figure represents a contribution of $.10 per capita, ~r. Agnor said, he thinks this is an error. Based on prior Board decisions n6t to fund ~PT and March 29, 1988 (Afternoon Meeting Adjourned from March 28, 1988) 79 (Page 2) staff opinion that public funds should not replace or reduce private sector contributions, the County Executive recommends against funding this request. Planning and Co~unityDevelopment, JolmHorne. Planning. Requested $544,027; Reco,ieended $531,005. Mr. Tucker said a $44,518 (nine percent) overall increase reflects an 8.4 percent increase in personnel costs, and a 13 percent increase in operating expenses. Other significant increases and decreases include: an increase of $5000 (38 per- cent) in consultant fees to conduct feasibility studies and alignments for Comprehensive Plan roadways; a decrease of $2000 (50 percent) in use of data processing consultants; a decrease of $5000 (50 percent) in printing and copy services, due to the completion of Comprehensive Plan; an increase of $500 in advertising due to increased volume and rate~ for block ads; an increase of $4596 (20 percent) in contract services which reflects additional temporary help to transcribe Planning Commission minutes; an increase of $800 (36 percent) in postal service due to increased Volume and rate increase; a decrease of $500 (14 percent) in telephone based on actual usage; an increase of $700 (30 percent) in office supplies based on FY 1987/88 underestimation and actual usage; an increase of $446 (21 percent) in data processing supplies due to additional computer and laser printer~ and, an increase of $200 (17 percent) in pool car expenses due to the increased volume of travel. The County Executive recommends funding for additional program require- ments and a new microcomputer and printer. Requested increases in printing, data processing supplies, books and travel were denied or reduced ($3950). Requests for new furniture and fixtures ($4072) were recommended for purchase in the current year. ~ Mr. Bain asked if there were enough perRonnel in the Planning Department to handle the workload. Mr. Tucker said "ye~", but if the workload increases, there will be a need for more people. ~ - Mousing. Requested $136,196; Reco~e~ded $128,196. Mr. Tucker said this year's budget request shows a dramatic increase (66 percent) due to this being the first year the Section 8 Housing P~ogram and the Moderate Rehabilitation Program have been combined int~ one budget. The County Executive recommends that this request be funded with the exception of the $8000 consulting fee which is associated with the start-up phase of the Moderate-Rehabilitation Program. The start-up phase is expected to end on 3une 30, 1988. Mr. Tucker said if .the County were granted an extension, he may return to the Board with a request for additional funds for the consulting fee which will be reimbursed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Mr. Tucker said that federal and state funds account for 87 percent of the budget for this program. Mr. Home said even if the County does n0t receive an extension, he may need to request more money for projects in th~ planning stages, such as the Scottsville School project. Zoning, Charles Burgess. $237,909; Recommended $218,332. Mr. Tucker said the proposed budget reflects an overall ~ncrease of $2658 (1.2 percent) over last year. The six percent decrease in ~perating costs is reflected in the following significant increases and decreases: an increase of $228 (48 percent) in maintenance contracts for three new computer terminals and printer; an increase of $500 (45 percent) in printing costs to replenish brochures for the Development Office; an increase of $466 (19) percent in advertising to offset the increased costs of %egal advertisements; an increase of $500 (33 percent) in office supplies as a result of underbudgeting in FY 1987-88 and need for replacement batteries for radios; a decrease of $1100 (42 percent) in merchandise for sale; an increase ,of $900 (900 percent) in pool car expenses due to increased usage by Deputy iAdministrator to perform field inspections; and, an increase of $1500 (375 p~rcent) for furniture and fix- tures to replace two desks and two chairs. 8O March 29, 1988 (Afternoon Meeting Adjourned from March 28, 1988) (page 3) The County Executive recommends against funding a new vehicle ($7800) for the Deputy Administrator, since the projected usage did not justify a new vehicle. In lieu of the vehicle, additional funds are recommended for pool car usage. It is also recommended that the recording secretary be under contract, rather than a permanent part-time position as requested. A combined reduction of $2850 in repair/maintenance, office supplies, vehicle equipment supplies, merchandise for resale, fuel/lubricants and travel are also recommended. Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC), Nancy O'Brien. Requested $178,789; Recomended $178,789. Based on a total local budget of $74,872, and a population estimate of 60,900, Albemarle's share is assessed at $0.49 per capita. The contribution for FY 1988-89 represents a 3.27 percent increase over last year's appropriation. The County Executive recommends funding at the requested level. Ms. Nancy O'Brien addressed the Board and described some of the accomplishments of the TJPDC during 1987-88. In addition to working with the County on the Moderate Rehabilitation program, she said the TJPDC also helped the County develop its Comprehensive Plan and plan the development of the old Scottsville School property. On the regional level, she said, the major project this year is the Jefferson Area Community Census, ia mid-point census designed to provide information to the region in between the national cen- suses. Mr. Bowie said he has worked with the Commission fore'five years. During that time, he said the Commission has succeeded in instilling a spirit of cooperation among the localities it represents. The counties are no longer fighting, he said, now they work together and are beginning to accomplish something, i~ Visitors Bureau, Bobby Cochran. Requested $55,174; Recommended $47,025. Mr. Agnor said an overall 23 percent budget increase from~/.last year's appro- priation is being requested. The County Executive recommends a 4.5 percent inflationary increase over last year's budget request, allocating $38,383 for operations and placing $8,642 in a contingency fund pending renegotiation of the contract .... Mr. Bowie asked if the contribution of the Chamber o~i Commerce was being reconsidered in the renegotiation of the contract. Mr. A~nor replied "yes". Ms. Cochran gave the Board copies of the new brochur~ designed and used by the Visitors Bureau. She defended the request for increased funding, saying the Bureau keeps growing in spite of itself. This ~ast year, she said, the Visitors Center had 175,000 visitors in the walk-in a~ea, compared to the 138,000 visitors in 1986. This increase necessitated the ~mployment of a part-time employee, which cost $6100 in salary and benefits. In addition, she said, their mailing list has grown and postage rates have ~ncreased. Soil & Water Conservation, Gordon Yager. Requested $_12,754; Recommended $12,754. Mr. Tucker said copy supplies have increased by ~140 (233 percent) over last year's budget. The County Executive recommends ~unding as requested. Watershed Manage~ent, William Norris. Requested $37,477; Recommended $37,427. Mr. Tucker said the total budget for Watershed M~nagement increases by 3.36 percent, with a 3.9 percent increase in personnel ~osts and a decrease of 0.46 percent in operations. There are no significant i~creases or decreases in nor any program additions. The County Executive recommends funding as requested, except travel which was held at the ~Y 87-88 level. Mr. Bowie asked why there was an increase of $2000 in,fringe benefits. Mr. Agnor replied that the performance awards now came from the individual departments rather than from the Personnel department. He!isaid that the budget for the Personnel department decreased $53,000 as a!~result of this change. March 29, 1988 (Afternoon Meeting Adjourned from March 28, 1988) 81 (Page 4) VPI Extension Progrnms, CharlieGoodman. Requested $89,330; Recommended $75,185. Mr. Tucker said the proposed overall budget increase of 14 percent reflects a $2334 (19 percent) increase in peTsonnel costs due to a reclassi- fication and a 19 percent increase in operating costs due to the addition of the gypsy moth program. The County Executive recommends the request including additional funding for the gypsy moth program. Mr. Tucker explained that $14,145 was placed in the Board's contingency budget to fund a Gypsy Moth Coordinator. This position is to begin in Janu- ary, 1989. He said that federal and state funding will provide the training, staffing and equipment for this coordinator'; the County will provide office space, secretarial support and office supplies. Mr. Tucker said the staff recommends the Board authorize the County Executive to negotiate an agreement with the State to provide this service. Once this agreement has been authorized and accepted, the allocation for the salary can be deleted from the contingency fund, retaining about $1000 for Office supplies. Motion was offered by Mr. Bain and seconded by Mr. Bowie to authorize the County Executive to negotiate an agreement with the State to provide for the training, staffing and equipment for a Gypsy lMoth coordinator. There was no further discussion. Roll was called and the motion carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: Messrs. Bain, Bowie, Perkins and Way, NAYS: None. ABSENT: Mrs. Cooke and Mr. Lindstrom. (Note: At 2:00 P.M., the Board recesseR and reconvened at 2:16 P.M, with Mr. Bowie absent.) (Mr. Bowie returned at 2:20 P.M.) Alb~-mmrle Housing Improvement Program (AHIP), Theresa Tapscott. Requested $219,981; Recommended $219,981. Mr. Tucker said increased funding is requested to support additional work crews~ required by increased grant funding. The County specifically guaranteed $387,615 over two years in support of the Community Development Block Grant (March 18, 1987). The Program Review Committee recommends full funding for AHIP. The Committee commends AHIP for diversifying its services to rehabilitate rental units using private sector resources and tieing efforts to the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation subsidies. For futura funding requests, AHIP should provide more complete information in its initial application on target area and county-wide housing rehabilitation, rehabilitation types and significant budget increases. ~ Piedmont Council of the Arts, Helen Snook. Requested $15,000; Recommended $5000. Mr. Agnor said the Piedmont Council of the Art's request to the County is for $15,000 to provide full-time staffing assistance, $5000 of which could be matched by the Virginia Commission of the Arts. The County Executive recommends level funding of $5000. Mr. Bain asked if the $20,000 projected ~tate funding for FY 1988-89 was in addition to the matching funds requested f~om the City and the County. Ms. Helen Snook answered that the $20,000 included $5000 her agency hoped would be channeled through the County and $5000 through the City. Ms. Snook said the Piedmont Council is facing an explosion in the arts. Over 300,000 admissions were recorded during the last year at arts and art-related events in Charlottesville and Albemarle. There are now i66 member organizations in the Piedmont Council of the Arts. This explosion, she said, has increased the workload of the Piedmont Council to a point bgyond what volunteers can handle. Ms. Snook said the Council needs a Director a~d somebody in the office eight hours a day to answer the telephone. She sai~~ the Council can bring revenues to the City of Charlottesville and the County }of Albemarle. One way she mentioned was the dinner theatre packages arranged by several restaurants and hotels in the area in conjunction withthe Heritage Repertory Theatre. She said these packages keep tourists in the area ilonger, a great benefit to local businesses. Ms. Snook asked that the Board t~ink of funding the Piedmont 82 March 29, 1988 (Afternoon Meeting Adjourned from March 28, 1988) (Page 5) Council of Arts as an investment, a way to increase the tax base and bring in more revenue. Bus Service - Route 29 North, Helen Poore. Requested $16,519; Recom- mended $16,519. Mr. Tucker said the County's cost represents a $2915 (21 percent) increase over last year's appropriation. However, when funding for Saturday service for the handicapped is added to the FY 1987-88 budgeted amount, the increase is only $415, or a 2.6 percent increase. City/County Revenue Sharing Agreement. Requested $2,368,027; Recommended $2,368,027. Mr. Agnor said this was a 3.96 percent increase, or $90,074, over last year's allocation. If it were not for the cap in the formula, which limits the payment to one tenth of one percent of the taxable real estate base, the payment would have been $2,513,521. Mr. Agnor pointed out that the payments have increased by 83 percent since the Agreement began in 1982. Debt Service. Requested $2,043,666; Recommended $2,043,666. Capital Improvo~aents Transfer. Requested $1,000,000~ Recommended $1,000,000. ~ Mr. Bain asked if the interest rate remained constant for Virginia School Authority loans. Mr. Agnor said "no"; interest rates forlithese loans follow the market rates, unlike Literary funds, whose interest r~tes remain fixed. Items from Other Work Sessions for Discussion/Reconsideration. Mr. Way reminded members of the Board that the Board will meet April 6, 1988, to discuss the budget for County schools. At this time, anyii!member of the Board who wishes to recommend changes to the General Governmenti~budget may do so. Mr. Bain asked when the School Board was to give the iinformation the Board had requested. He would like to examine this information before the meeting, at least by Monday, April 4, 1988. Mr. Way aske~ that the School Board deliver whatever information it had ready on Friday~ April 1, 1988. Mr. Bowie said it does not make sense to discuss the School b~dget any further if Board members do not have the time to examine the justification for the funds requested. He said he will not vote on the School budget i'~until he understands Mr. Bowie said he also had some problems with some of, the General Government's budgets. He was concerned that the estimates~ for the Planning department's budget were consistently higher than the depaktment's actual expenditures. He said there may be some funds in this department that could be escrowed or eliminated; it is not necessary, he said, for a budget to increase every year automatically. Mr. Way agreed that other budgets were to be carefully scrutinized, so should that of General Government. (Note: Mr. Bain left the meeting at 3:00 P.M.) Mr. Perkins said he discussed with Mr. Charles Goodman the $25,000 consulting fee intended for the Fire/Rescue Needs Study a~H asked him if the Extension Service had the staff and resources necessary to i conduct such a study. Mr. Goodman thought the Extension Service did. MrI Perkins suggested that the Extension Service conduct the study. Mr. Perkins asked if there were any projected increas~ in the fees charged for building permits. Mr. Tucker said it has beeni~!three years since staff has reviewed the fee schedule for the Building and I~spections Department. This is the first year in quite some time, he!isaid, that the fees have not paid for the operation of the department. Mr. TuSker said the staff plans to suggest increasing inspection fees. He said it m~y also be time to raise some of the fees for Parks' and Recreation as well. ~te said other localities, such as areas in Northern Virginia and Tidewater charge much higher fees for zoning applications and planning review items. March 29, 1988 (Afternoon Meeting Adjourned from March 28, 1988) 83 (Page 6) Mr. Bowie said he thought staff should review entrance and utility fees for County parks. The following agenda items were carried forward to the next working session: Agenda Item No. 5. Agenda Item No. 6. County Budget. Agenda Item No. 7. and Public. Set Tax Rates for 1988. Order Advertisement of Public Hearing on 1988-89 Other Matters Not Listed on the Agenda from the Board Agenda Item No. 8. Adjourn to April 6, 1988, at 1:00 P.M. No motion was made to adjourn the meeting, due to the lack of a quorum.