HomeMy Public PortalAbout2002_04_19budget work session
Town Council Budget Workshop
April 19, 2002
BPjAmoco Room, 25 West Market Street, 8:00 a.m. Mayor Webb presiding.
Councilmembers Present: George Atwell, Mervin Jackson, Leonard McDonald,
David Schmidt, Kristen Umstattd, Robert Zoldos, and Mayor Webb.
Councilmembers Absent: None
Staff Present: Town Manager Robert Noe, Deputy Town Manager Phillip
Rodenberg, Chief of Police Joe Price, Director of Information Technology Michel
Agujia, Director of Parks and Recreation Kaj Dentler, Director of Engineering and
Public Works Tom Mason, Airport Director Doug McNeeley, Director of Human
Resources Dona Wolf, Director of Finance Paul York, Utilities Director Randy
Shoemaker, Deputy Director of Utilities Aref Etemadi, Chief of Comprehensive
Planning Randy Hodgson, Budget Officer Mike Freda, Police Captain Clagget H.
Moxley, Police Captain Jeff Van Gilder, Capital Improvement Manager Nagi
Elsewaissi, Recreation Facilities Manager Rich Williams, Tourism Coordinator
Marantha Edwards, and Assistant to the Clerk of Council Debi Parry.
AGENDA
ITEMS
A. Opening Remarks and Questions
Bob Noe outlined the supplemental Capital Improvement Project information
provided by Mike Freda. He stated Council has 5.1 million dollars to spend, the
handouts suggested ways to spend the money, but Council could move the money
where they would like.
He further stated the real estate tax rate could be dropped to 18.5 percent,
but nothing new could be funded, including no additional police or Ida Lee staff. He
also stated that 1.9 million is needed for the airport.
Mr. Noe reported a transfer of excess bond money from the airport to the CIP
budget would free an additional 400,000 for General Fund requests. Further, there
is an additional 397,000 to spend from an insurance policy that doesn't have to be
paid.
Mayor Webb confirmed that two million would fund the Town Manager's
recommended list thru number 9 for staffing needs and thru number 3 for CIP.
Councilmember Schmidt asked if the town would have to fully fund the airport
terminal.
Doug McNeeley stated that the state would provide 1,000,000, but the Town
has to fund the additional 2.1 million.
Paul York stated there is $400,000 in residual bond funds after the airport.
By using the bond to fund CIP projects, Council could free up $400,000 of General
fund money that could be used to fund other items on the Town Manager's list or any
other items Council would like to fund.
Town Council Budget Worksession Minutes for April 19, 2002 Page 2
Mayor Webb confirmed that the additional money could fund 1 through 11 on
the Town Manager's list, at a real estate tax rate of 22 cents and no meals tax
increase.
B. Capital Improvement Project Presentations
a. Engineering and Public Works Department Projects
Tom Mason outlined the Engineering and Public Works Capital
Improvement Projects. Those included were, Wilson/Pershing Drainage
improvements, South King Street Bridge improvements, Update of the
Stormwater Master Plan, West Market Street sidewalk and storm drainage
design, Fort Evans Road improvements, Town Branch improvements, East
Market Street widening improvements, Battlefield Parkway, and widening
Catoctin Circle, NE.
Councilmembcr Atwell asked staff to look into the possibility of funding
the update of the Stormwater Master Plan with the residual bond funds.
There was extensive dialog from Council regarding the Catoctin Circle,
NE widening and improvements to neighboring streets. It was the consensus
of Council to direct staff to conduct a survey of residents regarding the types
of improvements they would like to see on their streets and then to schedule
a public hearing after the results were in.
Council members McDonald and Atwell asked staff to schedule CIP
evaluation meetings in the fall to allow more time for consideration of the
impact on future years from funding projects now.
b. Utilities Department Projects
Randy Shoemaker outlined the Utilities Department's Capital
Improvement Projects. Those included were, Wastewater Plant capacity
expansion, Odor Control efforts and the interconnection with LCSA.
Mayor Webb asked staff to evaluate the long-term costs of ground
water storage as opposed to elevated storage.
c. Municipal Airport Projects
Doug McNeeley outlined the Municipal Airport's Capital Improvement
Projects. Those included were, security perimeter fence, land acquisition, and
the South Apron Expansion.
Mike Freda reported the runway overlay project has been moved out
one year and the funds set aside for that project could be used to offset the
$80,000 cost for the land acquisition.
C. Additional Capital Improvement Projects
Council member Schmidt suggested adding the Harrison Street sidewalk to
this year's CIP
Councilmember Zoldos suggested approving the Catoctin Street Trail project
to avoid returning the $100,000 grant.
Mike Freda added that any surplus funds from the Ida Lee addition project
could be used to fund the trail.
Town Council Budget Worksession Minutes for April 19, 2002
Page 3
Kaj Dentler stated that if construction is not approved for the Catoctin Street
trail this year the grant will have to be returned to the state.
Councilmember McDonald suggested that Council look at the General Fund
operational issues first and then return to the projects.
Councilmember Schmidt and Vice-Mayor Umstattd asked that the town
branch stormwater projects be placed for consideration as well.
Mayor Webb asked staff to create a sheet to show the impact in later
years for design projects funded this year, the debt service and what the tax rate
would have to be to accommodate those additions.
D. General Fund Staffing Requests
Mayor Webb stated that if the tax rate remains at 22 cents and with no meals
tax, Council could fund positions 1-11 on the Town Manager's recommended list.
Mike Freda stated that for every penny the tax rate drops, Council would have
approximately $500,000 less revenue.
Councilmember McDonald suggested adding the Planner, and a $25,000 sole
source contract for the administrative needs of the Planning Division.
Councilmember Zoldos supported Councilmember McDonald's
recommendations and suggested adding the Zoning Inspector position.
Councilmember Jackson asked to add the Public Works Senior Engineer.
Councilmember Schmidt stated he would like to see funding for the Bradfield
Streetlights added.
Councilmember Zoldos stated he would like to add a second Planner position
as well.
Tom Mason explained how the funding for the Traffic Calming Measures
breaks down.
Councilmember McDonald suggested not funding the two Sergeants and one
Lieutenant, and one of the Communications Technicians positions for the police
department.
He further suggested cutting $142,000 from the Parks and Recreation staff
request.
Councilmember Schmidt stated that he does not support cutting the
Sergeants and Lieutenant positions, but would rather cut more from the Parks and
Recreation budget.
Kaj Dentler stated there would be a $53,000 savings by delaying the opening
of the expansion by eight weeks, and a $40,000 savings from an error in the utilities
costs.
He further stated that if the fees for classes were raised by 5%, an additional
Town Council Budget Worksession Minutes for April 19, 2002 Page 4
$40,000 would be added for a total of $133,000 in revenue.
Councilmember McDonald verified that the County does not provide any funds
to the airport.
Councilmember Schmidt suggested increasing the tax rate on aircrafts to one
cent per $100 of assessed vplue.
Doug McNeeley stated that some owners would be upset by the increase, but
would not be chased away by it.
Councilmember Schmidt suggested eliminating the fee reduction for eight or
more reserved parking spots in the Town Garage.
Mike Freda stated that he would have to report back later on the in potential
revenue from this.
Vice-Mayor Umstattd stated that she would like to lower the tax rate and
eliminate all requested positions for the parks expansion except the lifeguard
position.
Kaj Dentler stated he could not open the expansion and run it at the
current level of service with such limited personnel. He further stated if Council does
take that route, he would have to double the workload of all employees, decrease
the services provided and cut the hours of operation.
There was no Council support for the Vice-Mayor's recommendation.
Vice-Mayor Umstattd stated that she is impressed by Councilmember
McDonalds arguments on behalf of the planning positions.
She further stated that she is not convinced of the need for two Sergeants
and one lieutenant, but would support the addition of police officers if they are
needed to reduce street crime.
Chief Price stated that the additional five police officers are his top priority.
Council set a date of May 1st at 7: 30 p.m. for their next budget workshop.
Council member Atwell asked that Council look at the non-departmental
funding.
Mayor Webb asked Vice-Mayor Umstattd to continue the discussion of non
departmental funding in her absence.
E. Non-Departmental Funding
It was the consensus of Council to eliminate funding for the Marshall
Foundation and to redistribute funds to the Fire Department, Rescue Squad and
Loudoun Caregivers Association.
Council member Schmidt stated his support for the YMCA and suggested
moving $5,000 from the Bluemont Concert Series.
Town Council Budget Worksession Minutes for April 19, 2002
Page 5
Council members Zoldos and McDonald stated they could not support moving
$5,000 from Bluemont.
It was the consensus of Council to return to the YMCA at a later date.
Councilmembers Atwell and McDonald suggested reducing the funds to the
Loudoun County Visitors Association.
Marantha Edwards reported their funding has been cut by the County, and
does not recommend cutting the Town's funding to them.
Councilmember Schmidt suggested cutting the funding to the Library
Foundation.
Council member Atwell stated a lot of their funding goes back to the Balch
Library and he could not support cutting their funds.
Council member Jackson stated the Town is not getting the ridership for
the money given to the Loudoun Transportation Authority and expressed his
concerns in their operations.
Councilmember McDonald stated they are looking at ways to improve
their operations and could not support a cut in their funding.
Council member Zoldos suggested giving staff specific instructions for
improvements and route changes.
The meeting adjourned at 11:55 a.m.