REVISED

(Deleted—Item 4)

 

THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA

 

Monday, March 6, 2006

 

Durham County Government Administrative Complex, Commissioners’ Room (2^nd Floor)

200 E. Main Street, Durham, NC  27701

 

9:00 A.M. Worksession

 

AGENDA

 

1.     Citizen Comments—Victoria Peterson

                                                                                                                                                            05 min.

Ms. Peterson, P.O. Box 101, Durham, NC 27702, has requested to speak to the Commissioners about African-American males and crime in Durham.

 

2.     Durham Public Schools Supplemental Funding Request

                                                                                                                                                            30 min.

        Superintendent Ann Denlinger has requested an additional $1,307,291 in Current Expense funding to accommodate an increase of 488 students in the student population for the 2005-2006 Academic Year.  The increase was computed from Average Daily Membership (ADM) reports for the second month of enrollment as published by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.  The Board of Commissioners approved a Current Expense appropriation of $83,227,705 for the 2005-2006 Fiscal Year.  At that time, the projected student population was 30,790, resulting in a per pupil expenditure of $2,703.

.

        Resource Person(s): Michael M. Ruffin, County Manager; Pam Meyer, Budget and Management Services Director; and Keith Lane, Senior Budget Analyst

 

County Manager’s Recommendation: The Manager recommends that the Board authorize a budget amendment on the March 13, 2006 Consent Agenda to increase the Current Expense appropriation for the 2005-2006 Fiscal Year in the amount of $900,000, from $83,227,705 to $84,127,705. 

 

3.     County Funding for Durham Public Schools (Non-Current Expense)

                                                                                                                                                            25 min.

        Chairman Reckhow requested information relative to County services provided to Durham Public Schools that are not included in the annual Current Expense appropriation that is approved for the school system.  The information indicates that $2.1 million in County dollars are provided for school nurses, health educators, school resource officers, school social workers, and the System of Care for children.

 

        Resource Person(s): Ellen W. Reckhow, Chairman; Mike Ruffin, County Manager; Carolyn Titus, Deputy County Manager; Pam Meyer, Budget and Management Services

 

        Director; Sammy Haithcock, Social Services Director; Brian Letourneau, Public Health Director; Ellen Holliman, Mental Health Director, and Wes Crabtree, Chief Deputy

 

County Manager’s Recommendation: The Manager recommends that the Board review and discuss the information; advise staff if any additional action is necessary.

 

4.     Update on Holton Middle School

                                                                                                                                                            10 min.

The Board is requested to receive an update on the proposal to renovate the former Holton Middle School for a vocational training and recreation center. 

       

On September 25, 2003, Durham Public Schools Board of Education declared Holton Middle School as surplus.  Subsequently, the building was identified for conversion to a vocational training center and a City of Durham recreation center.  In spring 2005, the City engaged an architectural firm, Carter-Burgess, to provide programming services and conduct a feasibility study.  Funding for the project is a partnership between Durham County, the City of Durham, and Durham Public Schools.

 

A summary of the programming and feasibility study efforts to date are provided in the memoranda dated December 7, 2005 and February 15, 2006.  The architectural firm will be revising the cost estimate and reviewing the scope of the project to bring it within the available funding in the near future.

 

        Resource Person(s): Glen Whisler, P. E., County Engineer

 

County Manager’s Recommendation: The Manager recommends that the Board receive the update and provide direction to staff, if appropriate.

 

5.     Civic Center Update

                                                                                                                                                            15 min.

The Board of County Commissioners is requested to receive a report from the Civic Center Authority regarding the 2005 Civic Center Market and Feasibility Study conducted by the City and County.  The Commissioners requested the report in late 2005.

 

In addition, the Chairman of the Civic Center Authority will update Commissioners regarding relevant work and activity of the Authority since its last presentation.

 

Resource Person(s): Rod Abraham, Chairman, Civic Center Authority

 

County Manager’s Recommendation: The Manager recommends that the Board receive the report and provide any feedback as deemed appropriate.

 

6.     Durham Workforce Development Board Annual Report              

                                                                                                                                                            20 min.

The Board is requested to accept the Durham Workforce Development Board Annual Report as required by the City-County Consortium Agreement, Sec X.

 

        Resource Person(s): Pat Sturdivant

 

County Manager’s Recommendation: The Manager recommends that the Board accept the Durham Workforce Development Board’s Annual Report.

 

7.     Durham Performing Arts Center Update

                                                                                                                                                            20 min.

The Board is requested to receive an update on Durham’s Performing Arts Center. 
Mr. Alan DeLisle, Director of the Office of Employment and Economic Development with the City of Durham, and Philip Szostak, AIA, of Szostak Design Inc., will provide an overview of the progress to date, including theatre operators, theatre programming, and theatre design.

 

Resource Person(s): Carolyn P. Titus, Deputy County Manager; Alan DeLisle, Director of the Office of Employment and Economic Development, City of Durham; and Philip Szostak, AIA, Szostak Design Inc., Architect

 

County Manager’s Recommendation: The Manager recommends that the Board receive the presentation.

 

8.     Vehicle/Equipment Replacement Policy

                                                                                                                                                            10 min.

The Finance Department requests that the Vehicle/Replacement Policy be placed on the agenda for discussion purposes.  This policy was developed at the request of the BOCC.

 

Resource Person(s): George K. Quick, Finance Director

 

County Manager’s Recommendation: The Manager recommends that the BOCC review the policy.

 

9.     District Court Attendance

                                                                                                                                                            30 min.

        Recent newspapers articles have brought increased attention to attendance in the four courtrooms used by District Court on the fourth floor of the Courthouse.  Specifically, Courtroom 4-1 has been a source of concern since the Fire Marshal was first called to the Courthouse on February 9.  Since that time, the County Manager commissioned a survey on courtroom usage on the 4^th and 5^th floors.  The survey for the period
February 10 through February 16, 2006 indicated that on two occasions capacity in Courtroom 4-1 was exceeded.  Interestingly, several courtrooms were not in use on various mornings and afternoons during the survey period.

 

        Resource Person(s): Mike Ruffin, County Manager; Jeff Batten, Fire Marshal; and Kathy Shuart, District Court Administrator

 

County Manager’s Recommendation:  The Manager recommends that the Board discuss the matter and advise the staff, if appropriate.

 

                                                                                                                                                            ______

                                                                                                                                                      2hrs.35mins