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HomeMy Public PortalAbout01-28-19 Work SessionJan. 28, 2019 Board of Commissioners Work Session Approved: March 11, 2019 Page 1 of 6 • i14 Minutes Board of Commissioners Work Session 7 p.m. Jan. 28, 2019 Town Hall Annex Board Meeting Room, 105 E. Corbin St. Present: Mayor Tom Stevens and commissioners Mark Bell, Kathleen Ferguson, Evelyn Lloyd, and Jenn Weaver Staff: Human Resources Director/Town Clerk Katherine Cathey, Assistant Town Manager/Planning Director Margaret Hauth, Town Attorney Bob Hornik, Town Manager Eric Peterson, Public Information Specialist Cheryl Sadgrove, and Public Space Manager Stephanie Trueblood Absent (excused): Commissioner Matt Hughes 1. Opening of the workshop 7:00:58 p.m. Mayor Stevens opened the workshop. 2. Agenda changes and approval The agenda stood as presented. 3. Miscellaneous budget amendments and transfers 7:02:05 p.m. Commissioner Kathleen Ferguson moved to approve the miscellaneous budget amendments and transfers. Commissioner Jenn Weaver seconded. The motion carried upon a unanimous vote of 4-0. 4. Miscellaneous budget amendments and transfers — Tourism Development Authority (TDA) 7:02:23 p.m. Ferguson moved approval of the Tourism Development Authority's miscellaneous budget amendments and transfers. Weaver seconded. The motion carried upon a unanimous vote of 4-0. S. Discussion and direction to staff regarding comments to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for Orange Grove Road Extension (U-5848) and South Churton Street widening (U-5845) projects 7:02:49 p.m. Stevens introduced the agenda item. Planning Director Margaret Hauth noted that the town would be responsible for 20 percent of the cost of any sidewalks built as part of the projects. Also, she noted that the NCDOT comment period for these projects ended Jan. 25 but that NCDOT had said it would accept comments from staff and the board soon after the closing period. She added that people from Wilmore Electronics and Sports Endeavors were present this evening and had already shared their NCDOT comments with town staff. Hauth said scheduling is another important component that needs to be resolved because NCDOT is also planning to change the interstate interchanges and possibly widen the interstates in this area. Hauth noted Public Space Manager Stephanie Trueblood could answer questions as well. There was brief discussion of the timing of the projects and consideration that NCDOT's timing could change. Stevens invited public comment. Jan. 28, 2019 Board of Commissioners Work Session Approved: March 11, 2019 Page 2 of 6 7:20:05 p.m. Christopher Ely of Wilmore Electronics addressed the board. He said he was attending this evening to listen to the board's discussion. He noted he already had shared the comments of Wilmore Electronics with the planning director regarding the Orange Grove Road extension. He said he had sent a second letter to NCDOT earlier this day and had given Hauth a copy as well. 7:22:54 p.m. Drew Blum with Sports Endeavors addressed the board. He said Sports Endeavors is in agreement with Wilmore Electronics and has also sent a letter to NCDOT. There was discussion between the board and staff regarding disappointment in the scope of the South Churton Street project because it no longer addresses the bridge connecting downtown or improves the intersection with U.S. 70-A. Trueblood shared photographs of roads that are somewhat comparable to the proposed widening of South Churton Street. She noted Griffith Street in Davidson and Renaissance Parkway in Durham are examples of good projects with street trees and a grassy median. NCDOT is suggesting neither street trees nor a grassy median. There was interest in NCDOT considering creating traffic circles. 8:03:49 p.m. Hauth explained that the board could choose to keep the projects moving forward or decide that they are no longer priorities. Stevens said it is premature to say "no" to either project. Ferguson said she wants more information on what the South Churton Street project would look like. Weaver is dissatisfied with the current design for the South Churton Street project and would be reluctant to move it forward as is. Commissioner Mark Bell agreed with Weaver. Bell added that he is dissatisfied with the short time frame for public input. He would also like more discussion about the Orange Grove Road extension. Ferguson agreed and said she is not satisfied with the current design. Commissioner Evelyn Lloyd said she does not know that NCDOT would provide a better plan. Trueblood said if the bridge over the railroad tracks is not replaced, then there is no way to create a pedestrian pathway into downtown. She said the bridge must be replaced some time and perhaps the town should consider taking on more of the pedestrian cost for that portion. Stevens agreed. Lloyd said the town does not have money to pay for sidewalks. Weaver said it is frustrating that one has to build a road to get a sidewalk. 6. Discussion and direction to staff regarding next steps in train station development 8:13:34 p.m. Hauth reviewed that the town's financial contribution to the project is $34,000 and that the state has committed to spending a little more than $8 million. The project has to be complete in five years. Hauth reviewed that the town has done some conceptual work in the past with a contractor, citizens and staff. None of the three conceptual designs is binding. Staff recommends focusing on 5 to 7 acres of town property that includes the train station site and advertising it as a public/private partnership opportunity. 8:22:33 p.m. Ferguson said she wants to see commercial use, affordable housing (first-time homebuyers), and the arts. She does not want to see government uses located there. She does not want the government locations to be decentralized. She likes Tom Campanella's design concept. Campanella was a Hillsborough resident and a professor in UNC -Chapel Hill's Department of City and Regional Planning before he moved out of the area. Lloyd said she doesn't see the need for more houses but perhaps shops. Trueblood said transit -oriented development usually works better if you have a mix of commercial and multi -family uses. And it usually works Jan. 28, 2019 Board of Commissioners Work Session Approved: March 11, 2019 Page 3 of 6 best to have some market -rate housing with the affordable housing. Also, big open plazas do not appeal to people as much as pedestrian -scale meeting areas where you run into someone you know. Weaver said multi -use with affordable housing is the way to go. She does not want to receive a proposal with a sea of parking spaces. Bell would like public input and suggestions to figure out what is important to the public. He would like the property to be designed in phases, and he would like to see some mixed use and affordable housing. 8:33:01 p.m. Hauth advocated for sending out the request for bids first and then asking the public to help the board choose a proposal. Lloyd thinks there needs to be an opportunity at the train station to buy a magazine and a snack. Stevens said there is not a practical way to get public input on the front end. Hauth said we have feedback from previous task forces that met in 2008 and 2014. Bell expressed interest in not duplicating what could be in the Daniel Boone Village redevelopment. Hauth said those who would be responding to the request for bids would have a good idea of what the Daniel Boone redevelopment entails. 8:42:12 p.m. Trueblood said the town gets requests for large meeting spaces for conferences and retreats. People call a lot. The meeting room at the Whitted Human Services Center Complex is 2,500 square feet. When asked whether the board needs to narrow the uses of the train station, Hauth advised leaving it open to some government use and then see what government functions fit there. Ferguson reiterated that she does not think the train station is an appropriate location for government use, even in the train station building itself. She can picture retail and nonprofits. 8:56:55 p.m. Town Manager Eric Peterson said it would be a mistake to ban government uses at the train station. He also cautioned that five years would pass quickly, and the board would need to keep this project in mind when it is considering creating additional work for the Planning Department. Stevens summarized the request for bids would describe that the town must own the train station building and that there is interest in meeting space and affordable housing. Hauth said the board would continue this discussion and staff would bring a request for bids proposal to the board in February. 9:08:40 p.m. Balazs Szabo addressed the board. Szabo said he is an artist who has relocated to the Hillsborough area. He said he has an idea for an underground museum to be located near the train station that would highlight exhibits by undiscovered artists. He would like to purchase land from the town. 7. Other business There was none. 8. Committee updates and reports 9:14:49 p.m. Board members shared committee updates. Jan. 28, 2019 Board of Commissioners Work Session Approved: March 11, 2019 Page 4 of 6 9. Adjournment 9:19:56 p.m. Bell moved to adjourn. Ferguson seconded. The motion carried upon a unanimous vote of 4-0. Respectfully submitted, Katherine M. Cathey Town Clerk TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH FY 2018-2019 BUDGET CHANGES REPORT DATES: 01/28/2019 TO 01/28/2019 CHANGE CHANGE BUDGET REFERENCE NUMBER DATE USER 10-20-5100-5300-080 TRAINING/CONF./CONV. 3,900.00 500.00 Police -Admin To cover CID training 12887 01/28/2019 EBRADFORI 10-20-5120-5300-080 TRAINING/CONF./CONV. 5,000.00 -1,065.00 Police- Inv. & To cover CID training 12888 01/28/2019 EBRADFORI Comm Services 500.00 -1,000.00 10-20-5120-5300-451 C.S. - NCSBI-DCI 1,000.00 800.00 Police- Inv. & To cover account overages 12881 01/28/2019 EBRADFORI Comm Services 3,150.00 1,500.00 10-20-5120-5300-730 DRUG ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS 5,700.00 Police- Inv. & To cover NCSBI-DCI overages 12882 01/28/2019 EBRADFORI Comm Services 30,900.00 30,000.00 10-30-5600-5300-080 TRAINING/CONF./CONV. 31,600.00 Streets To cover Training expenses 12884 01/28/2019 EBRADFORI Streets 10-30-5600-5300-152 HOLIDAY DECORATIONS To cover Training expenses 12883 01/28/2019 EBRADFORI 10-30-5800-5300-360 UNIFORM RENTAL Solid Waste To cover Uniform overages 12885 01/28/2019 EBRADFORI 10-30-5800-5300-457 C.S./COMM.DUMP.COLL. Solid waste To cover Uniform overages 12886 01/28/2019 EBRADFORI WW 30-80-8220-5300-150 MAINTENANCE - BUILDING Treatment To repair HVAC system 12890 01/28/2019 JDELLAVAL Plant WW 30-80-8220-5300-330 SUPPLIES - DEPARTMENTAL Treatment To repair HVAC system 12889 01/28/2019 JDELLAVAL Plant 35-30-5900-5300-165 MAINTENANCE - INFRASTRUCTURE Stormwater To fund backhoe attachment 12891 01/28/2019 EBRADFORI 35-30-5900-5700-741 CAPITAL -EQUIPMENT Stormwater To fund backhoe attachment 12892 01/28/2019 EBRADFORI I_1»:Zf]TI2197CFill DATE: 1/28/19 VERIFIED: Jan. 28, 2019 Board of Commissioners Work Session Approved: March 11, 2019 Page 5 of 6 ORIGINAL BUDGET AMENDED BUDGET CHANGE BUDGET 8,500.00 -500.00 8,000.00 3,900.00 500.00 4,400.00 3,195.00 1,065.00 4,260.00 5,000.00 -1,065.00 935.00 1,500.00 1,000.00 2,500.00 500.00 -1,000.00 1,100.00 1,000.00 800.00 1,800.00 800.00 -800.00 0.00 3,150.00 1,500.00 4,650.00 5,700.00 -1,500.00 3,800.00 32,500.00 -1,600.00 30,900.00 30,000.00 1,600.00 31,600.00 0.00 JDELLAVALLE 01/22/2019 5:13:23PM Page 1 of 1 f1142r03 BUDGET TRANSFERS Meeting Date: 12/17/2018 Jan. 28, 2019 Board of Commissioners Work Session Approved: March 11, 2019 Page 6 of 6 Current New Transfer Account # Account Name Budget Budget Amount Amount Amount Tourism Development Authorkv Revenue 73-00-3900-3900-000 Fund Balance Appropriated $ - $ 5,000.00 $ 5,000.00 Expenditure 73-51-6250-5300.731 Special Projects/Parternships $ 15,500.00 $ 5,000.00 $ 20,500.00 Tourism Board Approved On: Signature of Chair: Mary Catherine McKee, Tourism Development Authority Chair Board of Commissioners (approval needed If amendment is >$5,000) 1/28/19 Approved On: Signature of Mayor:d•� Tom -Stevens, May Verified By: L Katherine Cathey, Town Clerk