AGENDA #5a

MEMORANDUM

TO:	Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager
FROM:	J.B. Culpepper, Planning Director David Bonk, Long Range and Transportation Planning Coordinator
SUBJECT:	Response to Questions Concerning Issuance of Future Bonds for Sidewalk Construction
DATE:	March 17, 2008

PURPOSE

This report provides a response to questions raised by the Council concerning the status of funding for sidewalk construction.

BACKGROUND

On January 28, 2008, the Town Council received an update on the 2006-2007 sidewalk construction program. At the meeting, the Town Council discussed the possibility of issuing sidewalks and street construction bonds in the fall of 2008 as previously scheduled. During 2004 the Town issued $4 million in general obligation bonds as the first of several anticipated bond issues between 2004 and 2009. The Town has issued bonds in 2004, totaling $600,000 for sidewalks and street construction and $600,000 in 2006. Future bond sales were anticipated to include $600,000 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2008-09 and $800,000 in FY 2009-10.

DISCUSSION

During the Council discussion a Council member requested information supporting the need for the possible issuance of sidewalks and street construction bonds in 2008. The Council member suggested initiating the process for soliciting comments from the public and advisory boards on sidewalk construction priorities.

Staff Comment: The Council previously adopted a plan to sell $600,000 in sidewalk bonds in the fall of 2008. As part of development of the FY 2008-2009 Chapel Hill budget, the Council will decide whether to proceed on that proposed sale.

We have included a copy of the sidewalk master list for the Council’s information (Attachment 1). The list includes 116 projects identified for future completion. Using an average cost per linear foot of $40 for sidewalk construction we estimate these 116 projects would require approximately $4.1 million dollars to complete. We believe additional projects will be identified through the normal process for soliciting public comment, further increasing the total number of projects.

In addition to using bond funds for future sidewalk construction, the Town has agreed to provide a total of $239,960 as the local match for completion of the Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road bicycle and pedestrian project.  We have allocated $85,000 towards this project from the current bond funds but will need $85,000 in fiscal year 2008 and $70,000 in 2009.

With the completion of projects in 2006-2007 sidewalk plan presented at the January 28^th, 2008 meeting, we believe we will have expended all available bond funding. 

If the Council directs the staff to prepare a revised sidewalk construction list we will initiate the following process:

• Council public forum in early April, 2008 to initiate a proposed sidewalk construction program.
• A draft list of recommendations, along with comments received from the April public forum, would then be sent to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, Transportation Board, Greenways Commission, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Active Living by Design Partnership Advisory Committee for review and comment.
• After the Town advisory boards have commented and provided their recommendations, staff would revise the sidewalk construction priority list for review by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board in May, 2008.
• The recommended sidewalk construction program could be presented to the Council in early June, 2008.

CONCLUSION

We believe that the currently unfunded sidewalk requests indicate a need for additional sidewalk construction funds. If the Council wishes the staff to begin the development of a revised sidewalk construction list we believe we could complete the list by June, 2008.

ATTACHMENTS

1. Sidewalk Request Master List (PDF)(P. 3).