In her proposed budget to city council today, department Director Kelly Lasky requested two Ford F-150 four-wheel drive pickups to replace an aging fleet of hand-me-downs from other departments.

The trucks, Lasky said, would help inspectors in their field work. They can't carry ladders in the aging cars they use and there is a limit to the amount of tools they can carry. “There are safety issues when using someone else's ladder.”

(See related story)

The cost of each truck is estimated to be $24,701.

The department has five vehicles that include a truck with 160,000 miles which has broken down at an intersection.

Its Crown Victorias have 160,000 and 130,000 miles on them and one has an issue with the computer system. A 2003 Malibu has 63,000 miles. “We do have significant needs for vehicles. We're spending thousands in maintenance fees. We're talking about vehicles that are 15-years-old,” she said.

Lasky is requesting $100,000 in her proposed capital budget to cover two items for $50,000 each — demolishing the former Roanoke Restaurant at 1026 Roanoke Avenue and developing a Roanoke Avenue streetscape plan.

The former restaurant was declared unsafe in June of 2009, the capital request says, while in 2010 council adopted an order to petition to court for compliance. Last May a judgement was obtained from the court and last November the department solicited bids for demolition.

The bid came in at $48,000. “We're trying to get updated quotes.”

Lasky said the roof has collapsed.

Christina Caudle, Main Street Development director, said the UNC School of Government has been contacted to help the city determine what to do if the building is demolished.

There are two schools of thought, she said.

One is to turn the empty area into a walkway that leads to public parking behind the building, although it would require lighting and other improvements that could mean an additional $50,000.

The other option would be to re-inclose and sell. Caudle said she would like to see the school of government do an analysis.

Meanwhile, the second item in the department's proposed capital budget is for a Roanoke Avenue streetscape plan.

The study area would be the 2-mile avenue corridor, the proposal notes.

The idea behind the plan, Lasky said, would be to create design guidelines that would lead to creating an identity for the avenue. “We would like to see if we can get other cost-sharing involved.”