Duke Energy spokesman Davis Montgomery (left) and Deputy City Manager
Jim Westmoreland at a tree ordinance subcommittee meeting.
Tonight I'll be tweeting live from the Greensboro City Council meeting. Follow along for short updates at @yesweekly. At this point, council is already through its consent agenda and is on the first public hearing agenda item.
Council will be voting on the city budget tonight, as well as the tree ordinance aimed at adjusting Duke Energy's tree-trimming practices for power line maintenance in the city.
Just a moment ago, council approved a public hearing to revisit the noise ordinance on July 16, with Councilwoman Marikay Abuzuaiter voting no because many young professionals and students who care about the issue are out of town during the summer.
Full coverage of the tree ordinance decision and the city budget will appear in the June 26 issue of YES! Weekly. UPDATE: Council didn't finish meeting last night and hasn't addressed the budget yet. It will resume at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday) and yours truly will be there with Twitter updates again.
None of these photos will be showing up in our next issue (which will feature a dirt article about the city's proposed 2013-14 FY budget), but these shots were too good to disappear into the abyss of my iPhoto not to share.
The city held its first of three budget meetings with council and city staff today, and it's a lot of material to go through. Sometimes the meetings are dry, boring or complex (above). Other times, you don't know what to think (below — also notice Chief Miller's expression).
And there are moments of what could best be described as frustration:
Did you miss today's meeting? Not going to be at the next two? Feeling left out? Don't worry, I have an idea: how about a caption contest for these photos (including the one below)? I didn't mean for any of these shots to be entertaining, but too many of them are and I'm curious what our readers can come up with. Council members and city staff are allowed to participate. GO!
Greensboro City Manager Denise Turner Roth proposed a $459 million budget for fiscal year 2013-2014, which includes $4.3 million in budget cuts. The largest decreases would come from infrastructure funding and citywide reductions including a reducing the city's contract with Lankford Security. From the press release:"Included are budget reductions of $1,043,194 in infrastructure, $982,244 in public safety, $715,762 in culture, recreation and community character, and $227,569 in general government. In addition, 14 full-time equivalent positions would be eliminated under the proposal, with no impact on sworn employees, and another $2,350,201 in organization-wide reductions." The budget does include some increased spending as well: "$40,519 is proposed for additional resources for code enforcement and inspections, and first-year funding of $70,000 for a newly proposed Office of Accountability." The proposed budget would also "eliminate funding for the Greensboro Youth Council Carnival" and "supplemental pay for worker’s compensation, reducing the level the City pays to the state mandated amount" and would "transfer ownership of War Memorial Stadium to NC A&T State University." The press release does not mention participatory budgeting, which some residents have been encouraging council to adopt and that several council members have said they supported looking into. Council will hold a public hearing on the budget at its June 4 meeting and will vote on it at its June 18 meeting. The city will post the full budget at www.greensboro-nc.gov/recommendedbudget by noon on Wednesday.
IAFF Local 682 President David Pollard reacts to a decision by Winston-Salem City Council to cut fire inspector positions.
Winston-Salem City Council took a machete to the budget on Monday, chopping out three fire inspector positions in a split decision as part of review of a set of recommendations by a citizen committee to find cost savings through either spending cuts or fee increases.
Supporting the elimination of three fire inspector positions were Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke, who chairs the public safety committee, Councilwoman Wanda Merschel, Councilwoman Molly Leight and Councilman Robert Clark. Mayor Allen Joines does not vote unless there is a tie. Councilwoman Denise D. Adams was not present for the vote.
"I want to make clear to the public that we will not be jeopardizing safety," Burke said before making the motion to cut the positions. She added that she was relying on the expertise of the city manager's office to make that judgement. The cuts will save the city an estimated $135,000.
Councilman Dan Besse, Councilman James Taylor Jr. and Councilman Derwin Montgomery opposed the cuts.
Besse said there was legitimate difference of opinion between the city manager's office and fire department on whether the cuts would have a negative impact, adding, "I am going to err on the side of public safety." Taylor said he trusts the people who fight fires to know their business the best. More than 20 Winston-Salem firefighters represented by the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 682 witnessed the vote.
The organizational efficiency document prepared by the city manager and the budget office states that the city's inspection schedule exceeds state requirements, and that by bringing the city's schedule in line with state standards five suppression personnel could take on the workload currently performed by the three full-time inspectors. Deputy City Manager Derwick Paige said the suppression personnel would have to each spend an additional hour and 30 minutes per day performing fire inspections to make up for the loss of manpower. Local 682 President David Pollard took issue with Paige's reasoning after the vote. "The point that was brought out as far as being able to cut those inspectors and put the load on the other inspectors is, those three inspectors, that's all they do," Pollard said. "They do nothing but fire inspections. The other employees in that office, they have a lot of other responsibilities that they do with fire investigations in the city, with a lot of their training, with a lot of the teaching opportunities that they do. So there's a lot more responsibilities there. They cannot focus on all these additional fire inspections as well as these three inspectors can."
The organizational efficiency document warns that the "recommendation could lead to an increase in the number of preventable fires resulting in property damage, injuries and death."
Fire Chief Antony Farmer said because of the department's current staffing levels, Winston-Salem has an enviable track record of protecting commercial buildings.
"When the firefighters go in to do an inspection it's an opportunity for them to see the business," Farmer said after the vote was taken. "It's like a pre-fire survey to see how things are positioned and to talk to the owner about a plan. I suspect that we will find that the other cities around the state have a few more fires in commercial areas. When we added them back in 2007, these inspectors had a 100 percent re-inspection rate, meaning that they re-inspected every single building where they found a violation."
After voting to cut positions for the three inspectors the council decided by consensus to send a related recommendation to adopt state inspection standards back to the public safety committee for further review. Clark signaled some confusion with the move, remarking that when he voted to eliminate the three positions it was with the understanding that the state's more relaxed schedule would make the workload manageable for the remaining inspectors.
The vote to eliminate fire inspectors was by far the most contentious item on the slate of recommendations considered by council, which amounted to a total savings of $1.5 million.
Council members unanimously voted to have the fire department respond only to life-threatening EMS calls, saving $145,000 and to increase parking fines from $10 to $15, raising $70,000 in additional revenue. A proposal to tighten up the city's backyard garbage collection program by requiring a doctor's note from residents who wish to take advantage of the special service was sent back to the public works committee. The recommendation had previously advanced from public works to the committee of the whole on a split 1-1 vote, with Clark in favor and Besse opposed.
The change would save the city an estimated $114,000.
Besse repeated an argument that there is no evidence that the program is being abused, and said the other cities in the state, which require doctor's notes, are likely denying service to people with disabilities because they're unable to obtain the required documentation.
Montgomery and Leight said they have some concerns about how the program is currently being managed.
"I do believe there are individuals in some places, and even individuals that I have spoken with who said they simply submitted a form because they could," Montgomery said. Leight added, "I have had citizens tell me that 'my neighbor has backyard pickup, so I just put my trash in their bin.' So, yes, there is definitely abuse. I see nothing undignified in asking your doctor for a — people do it with parking tags. So I agree that it could probably be looked at a little more closely." Merschel expressed caution about pursuing changes. "I do remember this is one of the concessions that the current council made, so I guess I'd like to see a little more notification perhaps," she said. "'We're looking at it. We're studying it.' Kind of an 'Oh by the way, this might come up in six months' or something. Because I do understand there is a lot of conversation on behalf of our seniors. And we're just kind of trying to ease into that."
Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum and Bowman Gray Stadium for sale
In a day full of momentous developments for Winston-Salem, City Manager Lee Garrity announced that the city has received a formal offer from Wake Forest University to buy Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, while Winston-Salem State University has made a tentative offer to purchase Bowman Gray Stadium, pending approval from the NC General Assembly.
The council asked Mayor Joines to schedule a committee of the whole meeting as soon as possible so that members can review the terms of the proposed sales. City leaders say the sale of the facilities could potentially save the city $30 million.
Council heard from members of the public who were both in favor and opposed to the sale of the two city facilities on Monday afternoon. Public comments sometimes took on a racial tone, particularly relating to the potential demotion of Lawrence Joel, a black Medal of Honor recipient who fought in the Korean and Vietnam wars, and worries that the survival of stock-car racing would be imperiled under the ownership of historically black university.
The coliseum has been appraised at $33.1 million. The city estimates a savings of $8 million in operating losses over the next 20 years while avoiding the need to invest $14.3 million in capital improvements. Subtracting an additional $1 million for event and lease commitments and $1.8 million for deed restrictions, the city is considering selling the facility to Wake Forest University for $8 million.
The city has negotiated with the university to retain the wording "Lawrence Joel veterans memorial" in the lobby and plaza in addition to the website. Wake Forest would receive all other naming rights. "In order to mitigate the operating loss, they are proposing they would sell the main name of the coliseum but retain the name in the lobby and plaza," Garrity said. Some council members acknowledged that money trumps the city's commitment to honor its veterans. "It is about the money in a lot of ways," Joines said. "If we were to turn our backs on $30 million, we would not be upholding our fiduciary responsibilities to the citizens."
Merschel suggested the city can find other ways to honor veterans.
"Brick and mortar is not a living monument to anyone," she said. "The way we treat each other with respect is a living, breathing monument."
Merschel went on to say that she was "astonished" that a citizen had said that only people of color could feel reverence for Joel's name. The council woman added that she believes Winston-Salem has made significant progress in race relations over the years. "The people I consider colleagues and friends here," Merschel said, "I believe we're past bricks and mortar." Former mayor Martha Wood noted that the city has recently realized $800,000 by switching over to rolling carts for its recycling program, and suggested that surely it could close a $400,000 annual operating deficit through similar management improvements.
"Surely our city can find a way to plug such a hole without selling the soul of our city," she said.
Garrity responded that, unfortunately, the cost savings from the recycling program can only be achieved once. He challenged the notion that the coliseum's operating deficit could be closed through better management.
"We can bring in more events," he said, "but I assure you we'll lose more money."
The former mayor's husband, Frank Wood, said that whatever council members' intentions, if the name Lawrence Joel (a black man) is removed and the name Bowman Gray (a white man) is retained, the city will have reached "a racist result." Councilman Clark protested, "To play the race card at this point I thought was most offensive." A handful of white citizens spoke warmly of attending races over the years at Bowman Gray Stadium, citing it as a facility built with working-class taxpayers' money where friendships were forged and affordable entertainment could be enjoyed.
Winston-Salem State University has agreed to honor an existing leasing agreement with Winston-Salem Speedway Inc. so that racing can continue. The name Bowman Gray will also remain. But Charles Phillips, a High Point resident, expressed skepticism that the university would capably manage the stadium as a racing facility.
"Money's not everything," said Tim Bowman, a former Winston-Salem resident who now lives in Clemmons. "The dignity of the people in this town is a little more important than money. We pay your paychecks and we put you in office. Next time we vote, we'll remember this."
Clark said he might consider the two potential sales separately, adding, "As far as Bowman Gray, if the racing folks are not happy, I'm not happy."
Some citizens asked whether council members who have formal relationships with either university should be excused from voting on the potential sales of the facilities. Mayor Pro Tem Burke acknowledged that she holds a seat on Winston-Salem State University's board of trustees. City Attorney Angela Carmon said there was no conflict of interest for any council member, including Burke, to vote on either transaction. "I have not even participated with the trustee board when the matter comes up," Burke said.
The Winston-Salem City Council meets at 6 p.m. tonight in Room 239 of City Hall to consider recommendations for cost savings submitted by a citizens' organizational efficiency review committee.
IAFF Local 682, which represents Winston-Salem firefighters, has been maintaining a nearly constant barrage of tweets, urging members and supporters to show up at the meeting to oppose a recommendation to eliminate three inspector positions.
In the past hour, the union has tweeted, "Help support our brothers/sisters @ risk of losing jobs due 2 incorrect info @ council meeting." And, "Help fill the room 2nite, support WS fire safety. 3 fire inspector positions are @ risk."
The organizational efficiency document, which was released in early March, contends that the fire department inspects commercial properties at a frequency that exceeds state-mandated requirements. The committee recommends that small- and medium-sized commercial firms be inspected every two or three years instead of annually, as is the current practice. Local 682 President David Pollard told WXII 12: "These men and women who do these inspections, they're out there preventing fires from happening, and really the biggest fact right now is that in light of recent events in Boston and Texas, now's not the time to cut public safety positions out of the budget. I mean, the saying is, 'You show me your budget and I'll show you your values,' and right now is not the time to cut public safety from the budget."
Staff from the Winston-Salem Sanitation Department will present recommendations for addressing operational concerns raised by employees at a meeting of the public works committee of city council at 5 p.m. today.
The committee is chaired by West Ward Councilman Robert Clark. Other members include East Ward Councilman Derwin Montgomery, North Ward Councilwoman Denise D. Adams and Southwest Ward Councilman Dan Besse.
The committee also plans to review measures recommended by the Citizens' Organizational Efficiency Review Committee to save the city money. Relevant to concerns raised by sanitation drivers and laborers about friction with residential customers, the committee recommends introducing more stringent requirements for qualifying for backyard garbage collection, saving the city an estimated $114,000.
The committee is also considering a recommendation to raise fees for parking violations from $10 to $25. The proposal has caught the attention of the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership. Downtown business owners have voiced concerns that the fee increase would negatively affect downtown activity, at the urging of Jason Thiel, the partnership president.
Raising the fine amount would bring in an additional $210,000 in revenue, the city estimates. Should council approve the increase, Winston-Salem's minimum fines would be equal to Charlotte's and higher than Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham, which are respectively set at $15, $20 and $10.
The city is looking at ways to reduce costs in its brush collection program. City staff estimated that eliminating the program altogether could save the city $2 million, according to a memo by Budget & Evaluation Director Ben Rowe. The city estimates that converting brush collection to an on-call, fee-based service could save up to $991,000. Brush collection is currently offered to residents free of charge. The organizational efficiency review committee found that reducing frequency of pickup from once every two weeks to once a month would save the city $1.3 million and result in a reduction of 23 full-time equivalent positions.
Other recommendations include
• Increasing fees for Dumpster garbage collection to break even on the program, at a savings of $122,000;
• Increasing annual fees to residential customers for yard cart service from $60 to $65 to generate $73,000 in additional revenue and cover the full cost of the program;
• Increasing fees for opening plots at New Evergreen Cemetery by 10 percent, from $700 to $770 for adults and from $600 to $660 for children, creating an additional $42,000 in revenue.
