AGENDA #4L

MEMORANDUM

TO:	Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager
FROM:	J.B. Culpepper, Planning Director Gene Poveromo, Development Coordinator
SUBJECT:	Endorsement of 2007 Annual Report for the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance
DATE:	May 7, 2007

PURPOSE

The attached resolution would endorse a 2007 Annual Report as part of the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Memorandum of Agreement.

BACKGROUND

Chapel Hill participates with Orange County, Carrboro, and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools in management of a Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance.  A Memorandum of Understanding executed by each elected body sets forth the structure of this system.  A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding is included here as Attachment 2.  The basic premise of this system is that, once the adequacy of schools has been achieved (in terms of capacity compared to student enrollment), no new residential construction can be authorized that would push schools over agreed-upon capacities. 

The Memorandum of Understanding calls for information to be prepared and adopted each fall documenting capacity and enrollment (membership) at each level (elementary, middle school, high school).  That report was prepared and adopted on schedule during the fall-winter of 2005.  The Memorandum also calls for an Annual Report to be prepared in the spring of each year, containing the following information:

- Level of Service at each level (elementary, middle, high)

- Building Capacity at each school

- Membership information (enrollment)

- Status of Capital Investment Plan

- Student membership growth rate

- Housing generation rate

An Annual Report for 2007 with this information has been prepared by a Technical Advisory Committee led by the Orange County Planning Department and made up of staff members from each participating jurisdiction.  A copy of the Executive Summary of the report is attached (part of Attachment 1).  The draft report has been posted on the Orange County Planning Department’s web site:  http://www.co.orange.nc.us/planning/admin_SAPFOTAC.asp

The 2007 Annual Report is scheduled to be certified by the Orange County Board of Commissioners at a regular meeting in June, 2007.  On April 16, Commission Chair Moses Carey wrote to Mayor Foy, inviting comments from the Chapel Hill Town Council on this report.

DISCUSSION

We participated in the preparation of this 2007 Annual Report, and have reviewed this version that is under consideration for certification.  We believe that the numbers describing enrollment (membership) and capacity are accurate, and that the projections of future capacity and future membership are reasonable. 

We believe the following conclusions for the Chapel Hill/Carrboro School District are noteworthy: 

Elementary School District

1. Does not currently exceed 105 percent Level of Service (LOS) standards (current LOS is 101.2 percent).
2. Decrease in the increase of the growth rate at this level expected over the next 10 years.
3. Chapel Hill/Carrboro Elementary School #10 is scheduled for a 2008-09 opening.  However, 2009-10 may be a more realistic opening date due to approvals that need to occur and construction time.  If Elementary School #10 does not open until 2009-10, the result could be an overcapacity situation at this level during the 2008-09 school year.  In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and implementing regulations, CAPS (Certificate of Adequate Public Schools) would not be issued during a period of overcapacity.  This means that development approvals for new residential structures could not be made for projects expected to generate students during periods of overcapacity. 
4. Due partially to reduced class size capacities going into effect in 2008-09, the projections are showing a need for Elementary School #11 in 2010-11.

Middle School District

1. Does not currently exceed 107 percent LOS standards (current LOS is 91.3 percent).
2. Decrease in the increase of the growth rate at this level expected over the next 10 years.
3. Chapel Hill/Carrboro Middle School #5 would likely be needed in 2013-14 versus the prior year projection of 2012-13.

High School District

1. Currently exceeds the 110 percent LOS standard (current LOS is 116.0 percent), but Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) suspended the Certificate Adequate Public Schools (CAPS) adequacy test at this level so CAPS may still be issued.
2. Increase in the increase of the growth rate at this level over the next 10 years.
3. Carrboro High School is still needed as soon as possible with current construction schedule estimates at 2007-2008.  After the high school opens, all school levels would be tested for CAPS (Certificate of Adequate Public Schools), in accordance with the Schools Memorandum of Understanding.  Expansion of Carrboro High School from the initial capacity of 800 students to the ultimate capacity of 1,200 students is projected to be needed in 2016-17 versus prior year projection of 2014-15.

RECOMMENDATION

We recommend that the Council adopt the attached Resolution to endorse this report for certification by the Orange County Board of Commissioners. 

ATTACHMENTS

1. Transmittal Letter from County Commission Chair Moses Carey (p. 5).
2. Memorandum of Understanding (p. 15).