Future of the Library Task Force Update

The Board received a report on the one-year accomplishments from the Future of Library Task Force recommendations. Presenter included Dr. Jim Woodward, who chaired the Task Force, Gloria Kelley, former Task Force member and current Library Board of Trustee member and Ed Williams, former Task Force member and current Library Board of Trustee member. On March 21, 2011, Dr. Woodward presented the Task Force final report and recommendations to a joint meeting of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and the Library Board of Trustees. This report, provided almost exactly one year later, will update the BOCC on what has been accomplished from the Task Force recommendations over the past year.

Revaluation Report

The Board previously instructed the County Manager and the Tax Assessor to prepare reports to the Board on the subject of ‘Stigma Adjustments’ and to determine the specifics of sending ‘error letters’ to property owners who were sent revaluation notices whose values were not initially revalued using the stigma adjustments previously identified (e.g. foreclosures).

Background

The tax assessor at the request of the Board of County Commissioners instituted a revaluation of property effective 1-1-2011. In the process of performing this revaluation, some properties (identified by Chuck Hicks’ e-mail of 5-23-2011) received a downward adjustment in value because foreclosure levels in certain neighborhoods were 10% or higher. Neighborhoods that had foreclosure adjustments of less than 10% were not reduced in value. Revaluation letters sent to some areas of Mecklenburg used a different valuation approach than other areas. Because of this, Mecklenburg County has a fiduciary duty to insure that ALL property owners are treated equally and fairly, which was not done. To do so requires that the Board instruct the County Manager and Tax Assessor to report to the Board on the specifics of Stigma Adjustments and the process necessary to issue error letters to those property owners who initial values did not take into account stigma foreclosures. Here’s the County Manager’s statement about the proposed merger.

CPCC/WTVI Merger
 
The Board approved the merger of CPCC and WTVI presented at the March 13, 2012 Public Policy Meeting of the BOCC.

BACKGROUND: WTVI and Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) have developed a plan that would result in CPCC operating WTVI. WTVI and CPCC are requesting that Mecklenburg County provide the following as requirements for the merger: Repurposing $5 million in currently approved capital funding for CPCC to renovate the vacant Citizen Center for use as a data center. Currently, the Board authorized providing $5 million in capital funding to CPCC for a production/laboratory facility for its television channel (government access channel 17 on Time Warner Cable). Leasing (or transferring) to CPCC the County-owned properties currently leased to WTVI.

Transition funding of up to approximately $1.17 million over four years, as follows:

• $127,000 in severance costs for WTVI employees to be funded in FY13
• $200,000 for IT connectivity and communication between the current WTVI facilities and CPCC's systems to be funded in FY13 Mecklenburg County
• 50,000 for equipment relocation to be funded in FY13
• $800,000 for equipment replacement to be funded in $200,000 increments in FY13, FY14, FY15, FY16

Board Committees

The Board approved Policy and Procedures for Board Committees. At its March 6, 2012 meeting, the Board directed staff to provide a policy and procedures for the establishment and operation of Board committees, including the maintenance of standing committees and having balanced committee membership. The attached revision to the existing Standard Operating Procedures for Board Committees was drafted to reflect this direction.

Domestic Violence Position in CSS

The Board approved a new position to implement a two-year grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women and appropriated funding in compliance with the grant period. In March, 2011, the Board approved submitting a grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to assist children and youth exposed to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. OVW announced the award in October, 2011 and approved a final revised budget for the $300,000 award in February, 2012. The funding will be used to pay for a senior social worker position to provide evidence-based services to children, ages 2 -17, who have been exposed to domestic violence and to provide services that strengthen the non-abusing parent-child relationship. Services will be provided in partnership with United Family Services of Charlotte. Children exposed to violence are at greater risk for psychological, behavioral and physical health problems. The position costs will be approximately $65,000 annually for two years. No County funding is required for this position. The County will receive $150,000 in federal funds in FY12 and FY13. There is no County-funded match required and all costs associated with the position and function will be paid from federal grant dollars.