465  MINUTES BREVARD CITY COUNCIL Budget' Workshop April 12, 2024  Thel Brevard City Council met foral Budget Workshop on Friday, April 12,2024, at 8:30 a.m.i int the Council Chambers at City Hall, with) Mayor Maureen Copelof Present- Mayor Maureen Copelof, Mayor Pro Tem Gary Daniel, Council Members Mac Morrow, Aaron Baker, Pamela Holder, andI Lauren' Wise Staff Present -City Manager Wilson Hooper, City Clerk Denise Hodsdon, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Dean Luebbe, Assistant to the City Manager Alex Shepherd, Planning Director Paul Ray, Human Resources Director Kelley Craig, Fire Chief Bobby Cooper, Public Works Director Wesley Shook, Water Treatment Plant ORCI Dennis Richardson, Wastewater Treatment Plant ORC Emory Owen, and Community Center Director Tyree Griffin. Police ChiefTom Jordan joined via telephone.  presiding.  Press - Jon Rich, Transylvania Times  H. Welcome and Call to Order - Mayor Copelofo called the meeting to ordera at B. Certification of Quorum - City Clerk Denise Hodsdon certified a quorum C.A Approval of Agenda - Mr. Hooper noted that a closed session needed tol be added to discuss a pending litigation matter. Mr. Wise moved, seconded by Ms. Holder toa approve the agenda as amended. The motion carried unanimously.  8:30 a.m. and welcomed those present.  present.  D. Review Priorities 29,2024Strategic Planning Retreat:  1. Review Priorities The following priorities were identified att the February  Community safety Infrastructure investments Economic incentives Affordable housing  Community partnerships & engagement Efficient, high-quality organization Connected transportation network  2. Affirm Priorities Mr. Hooper noted that the budget has been built around the priorities set by Council: att the Strategic Planning Retreat. He asked Council to affirm these priorities. There was consensus to affirm the priorities as listed.  E.Generall Fund (w/Sanitation)  Revenue Review - Mr. Hooper reviewed General Fund projected revenue. Mr. Hooperi isi recommending thei following changes to our revenue Increase transfer from Water/Sewer Fund to General Fund from $525,000 to $661,000 tol better reflect administration employees' time spent on water/sewer matters, including half of the cost of the new  scheme:  Assistant City Manager/City Engineer position    466  Redirect revenue from paid parkingl kiosks into the General Fundi in the Increase in refuse collection fee by $1/month from $20t to $21 Increase commercial dumpster fee from $20/month for 8 pickups to $100/month for 8j pickups plus $20 for each Increase commercial cardboard fee $1/month  amount of$100,000. Increases in Sanitation Revenues  additional pickup  General Fund Requests for Additional Funding Council reviewed the entire list ofrequests fora additional funding. Mr. Hooper noted thati most of these requests were. submitted bys staff, but they are in pursuit of Council's goals.  Her noted that Scenario 1 would fund all of these requests.  a. Notable Service Level Change (SLC) Requests Mr. Hooper explained that! he wanted to discuss these separately because he thinks these can only be fundedi ifv we do SO discreetly andi int total. Three Additional Full-time Firefighters in order toj provide two full-time firefighters pers shift. The County has declined to fund the additional expense so the City would have to absorb 100% oft the cost. To do SO would require a 2-cent increase in the taxi rate and thati is not included in this recommended Stormwater Maintenance Mr. Hooper said he is proposing toe establish a stormwater program to raise funds and use them forr makingi improvements to our stormwater system. The proposal is for a $5/month flat fee on all property owners in FY25 and then developa a more equitable fee structure: for future years, such as Black Mountain's tiered rating system based on the amount ofaj property's impervious surface. There was discussion that we need to establish a more equitable fee structure now for FY25, rather than ai flatf fee across thel board.  budget.  Operating Units Line-Item Detail  a. Governing Board - Total recommended is $194,410. However, Mr. Hooper noted that this budget includes thel Non-profit contributions, and we received more: requests than we are ablet to fund, so this is an: area where there will probably be: some b. Administration- - Total recommended: is $1,049,500. Finance Total recommended: is $967,200. d. Planning Total recommended: is $1,005,400. Community Centers Total recommended: is $155,700. Police -Total recommended is $4,109,600 andi includes $125,000 forr rent and expenses for the new facility at 132 Commerce Street, and $140,0001 for 21 new police vehicles. Public Works - Administration- - Total recommended: is $626,000 andi includes salary for thei new Assistant City Manager/City. Engineer position. That expense may be moved to h. Public Works Buildings and Grounds - Total recommended is Public Works - Garage Total recommended: is $462,800. Public' Works- - Sanitation - Mr. Hooper is recommending that we fold Sanitation backi into the General Fund, rather than asa separate enterprise fund. He noted that there are no significant changes in expenses, butt there is an increase: ini revenue based on  negotiation.  the Administration budget.  $557,500.  Minutes Brevard City Council Budget Workshop- April 12, 2024  Page 2of6    467  the recommended feei increases. Total recommended: is k. Public Works- - Streets Local -Total recommended is $824,400. Public Works - Streets Powell Bill- - Total recommendedis m. Public Works - Recreation - Total recommendedi is $287,900. n. Non-Departmental. -Total recommended is $1,484,740. This includes transfers to various other funds and debts service. Mr. Hooper noted that the recommended transfers do noti include funding for thel Multi-use Path Fund or thel Downtown Master Plan Fund, andt this would be discussed during the FY24 Supplemental  $1,157,600. $243,000.  Spendingl Plan.  Reserve Fund Summary- Mr. Hooper reviewed a summary of current Scenario 1-1 Fully Fund All Requests withl Millage Rate Increase - Mr. Hooper said! he didn'tthink this was ai realistic scenario, but hei includedi it anywayj justt toi illustrate that we can'tafford to fund all oft the additional funding requests. This scenario would requirea2 27.5 cent tax rate increase. Scenario 2-1 Balance Budget w/Current Revenues - Mr. Hooper explained that this scenario balances thel budget with no changes to our revenue. Itv would cut pay adjustments for employees, itl leaves a loto of our funding needs unfunded, gives our non-profits zero, cuts our housing allocation by 34 ofaj penny, ands sends nothing tol Downtown or the trails. Scenario 3 - Balance Budget with) Manager's Proposed Revenue Enhancements - Mr. Hooper explained that this scenarioi is a mix of unfunded, fully funded, and partially funded priorities and hel believes this is what thel budget will ultimately lookl like. Itincludes:  reserve fund balances.  3.25% COLA for employees 4% contribution to 401Kf for all employees rather than the current match Raise on-call pay from $.90/hour to $2/hour Partially funds technology upgrades Rent/utilities for 132 Commerce Street Twoj police vehicles Vehicular wayfinding signage update Plusurbia contract Phase2 2  Tracking software andi investigation fund for Police Department $100,000 in contributions to non-profits that help us accomplish our stated priorities. Itv was noted that some of the non-profits wel have funded in the past, such as the Farmers Market and Rise & Shine, are not included and it could have a bigi impact to their budgets. There was considerable discussion oft the non-profit requests. There was aj proposal tor reduce contributions to Pisgah SORBA andt tol Pisgah Conservancy by $2500 each to fund Rise & Shine's request for $5,000. There was consensus to continue discussion oft thel budget and tryt to find $10,000 for the Partial funding for Housing ata' "Penny and a half for housing" Nof funding for Downtown Master Plani infrastructure projects, but use existing FY24 sidewalk" "feei in lieu" proceeds to fixbrick and concrete concerns identified in thel HOB walkability study, as part oft the FY24 Supplemental Spending Plan. Nof funding for Estatoe Trail, but Mr. Hooper noted that with current funds work will continue with construction of Tannery North, a wayfinding study on merging the Estatoe and Ecusta Trail names and placing signage at appropriate spots, 30% Minutes- Brevard City Council Budget Workshop- April 12,2 2024  Farmer's! Market.  Page3of6    468  design oft thel Estatoe Trail froml Main Street tol MCJCCC, funding for trail betterments study needed toi integrate the Asheville Hwy portion oft the Ecusta Traili into downtown, andi in exchange for construction of the Rosman Hwy crossing we willl build the sidewalk: from the terminus of our Tannery Southt trail to the gas Council tooka a 30-minute break for lunch at 12:00 p.m. NN  station.  F. Fire Department Fund  1. Revenue Review- A vast majority of thel Firel Department's funding is a General Fund contribution and the remainder is from the County. 2. Firel Fund Requests for Additional Funding. The Department has requested funding fort three additional full-time firefighters. Mr. Hooper reported that the County has only approved modest increases to current compensation: anda a few operational increases. Theyl have said no to funding theirs share of thet three new firefighters. Ifthat goes forwardi ity would be entirely 3. Operating Line-Item Detail - Total recommended is $1,092,900. 1. Revenuel Review Mr. Hooper saidl he is proposing two changes to our feesi in order tos start banking money for our wastewater treatment plant project. Onei isa 4%i increase in the water and sewer consumption fees. The second ist to establish: a high-strength waste surcharge for commercial and institutional users to account for the treatment costs specifically attributable to 2. Water/Sewer Fund Requests for Additional Funding Mr. Hooper reviewed the additional funding requests. He noted that iti includes addinga  underwritten byt the General Fund. G.V Water/SewerFund  thel high-strength waste they produce. full-time utility maintenance position.  3. Operating Unitsl Line-Item Detail  a. Water' Treatment Plant- - Total recommended is $1,081,200. b. Water Distribution - Total recommended: is $744,600. Wastewater Treatment Plant Total recommended is d. Wastewater Collections Total recommended is $1,151,600. Water/Sewer Non-Departmental -Total recommended is 4. Water/Sewer Rate Discussion Mr. Hooper reviewed thej proposed rates and examples for residential, commercial andi industrial customers, including the applicable tiered high-strength waste surcharge.  $1,731,900. $2,723,500.  H. FY24 Supplemental Spending Plan  1. City Manger's Recommended FY24 Supplemental Spending Plan Mr. Hooper explained that we can'tafford to do everything in the FY251 budget, but he wants tol be able tol keep Council's priorities going. Hei is recommending that we dipi into: some of our reserve funds toj pay fors some oft thosei items that can bei met with one-time payments. His recommended FY24 Supplemental Spending Plan Minutes- Brevard City Council Budget Workshop- April 12,2 2024  includes:  Page 4of6    469  City Halll Reconfiguration 132 Commerce: Street upfits One-time paving supplement  $40,000 $100,000 $100,000 $3,000 $72,000 $50,000 $20,000 $75,000 $21,000  Fixb brick/concrete concerns in HOBI Walkability Study $ 40,000  Phases 1 &2ofE Probart St.' Traffic Calming Norton Creek Streambank Restoration Phase2 Estatoe/Ecusta Trail Wayfinding Signage Study Estate Trail Main St. tol MCJCC30% design R5800 traill betterments study Rosman Hwy connecting sidewalks  There was discussion about spending the $100,000 for one-time paving Mayor Copelof proposed using $30,000 to complete all of thel Probart Street' Traffic Calming and $25,0001 for engineering for thej picnic shelter at Mr. Daniel said) he would like to see thel Farmers Market fully funded this year. There was some question regarding whether the funding request from the Farmers Market included a portion oft their operating budget, whichi is not allowed. There was a suggestion to fund $10,000 to them in FY24 and $10,000 inl FY25, with the caveatt that staff will research to assure thati itis within the funding guidelines set byt the state. Ms. Holder said she would be willing to fund Mr. Baker said he doesn't want to move away from ongoing funding of the Estatoe Trail. He said he would rather split the $100,000 equally tot thel Multi- use Path Fund andl Downtown Master Plan Fund and also find thei money to fund Mr. Wise suggested dividing the $100,000 as follows: $30,000 for Probart Street; $5,0001 for Rise & Shine; $20,000 for Farmers Market; $22,500 for Multi- a. Alternatives tol Manager's Recommended Supplemental Spending Plan Proposal re' Trails It was decided to send this tot the Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee for saision/recommendaton 1. Review Adds and Deletes - Mr. Hooper reviewed the proposals for a. Divide the $100,000 one-time paving supplement- $20,000 for Farmers Market; $5,000 for Rise and Shine; $30,000 forl Probart Street Traffic Calming; $22,500 for Multi-use Path Fund; and b. Divide the one-time paving supplement 50/501 between thel Multi- use Pathl Fund and thel Downtown Master Plan Fund Take $25,000 from the one-time paving supplement: and dedicatingi itt to Silversteen picnic shelter design d. Take $30,000 from the one-time paving supplement and use it fund Probart Street traffic calming Delay hiring ofe engineer and use funds toj payf for Probart Street Use $10,000 from allocation for downtown planters and $10,000 from thej paving supplement to fund Farmers Market Reduce contributions to Pisgah SORBA and tol Pisgah Conservancy by $2500 each to fund Rise & Shine'srequest: for $5,000 Minutes- Brevard City CouncilE Budget Workshop April 12, 2024  on other items: Silversteen Park.  $10,000.  thel Farmers Market and Probart Streett traffic calming.  use Path Fund; and $22,500 for Downtown Master Planl Fund.  Straw Votes add/deletes:  $22,500 for Downtown Master Plan  Page5of6    470  2. Conduct Straw Vote  a. Votet tol Reduce contributions tol Pisgah SORBA and tol Pisgah Conservancyl by $2500 each to fund Rise & Shine's request for b. Vote to use $100,000 from one-time paving supplement to fund $30,000 for Probart Street traffic calming; $20,000 for Farmers Market; $25,0001 forl Multi-use Path Fund; and $25,000 for Downtown Master Plan Fund -5yes; 1 no (Holder)  $5,000-5yes; 11 recusal (Holder)  Following discussion, Council asked the manager toj prepare his recommended budget toi include the 2-cent] property taxi increase for firefighters, and toi include a table showing what the taxi increase anda all other feei increases will look like for different  Closed Session - At: 3:25 p.m. Mr. Baker moved, seconded by Mr. Wise to enteri into closed session to discussa aj pendingl litigation matter City ofE Brevard vs. Bauslaugh Casel No. 21-CVS-381 andt to clear Council Chambers. The motion carried unanimously. Authorized to remain for the closed: session with Council and the Attorney were City Manager Wilson Hooper, City Clerk Denise Hodsdon, Planning Director Paul Ray and Council Returned to Regular Session - at 3:58 p.m. Council resumed thei meeting inr regular session. No official action was takeni in closed: session and the minutes ofthe K. Adjourn - There being no further business, at 3:58 p.m. Ms. Holder moved, seconded by Mr. Baker, to adjourn the workshop. The motion carried unanimously.  sized households.  Assistant Planning Director Aaron Bland. closed session are authorized tol be sealed.  Bidhuln Denise Hodsdon, CMC City Clerk  Maureen Copelof Wllapg Mayor  Minutes Approved: June 17,2024  Minutes - Brevard City Council Budget Workshop- -April12,2024  Page 6of6