memorandum

to:                  Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager

from:            Ray (Butch) Kisiah, Parks and Recreation Director

Bill Webster, Assistant Parks and Recreation Director

Kenneth C. Pennoyer, Business Management Director

subject:      Budget Ordinance for Southern Community Park

date:            October 15, 2008

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to recommend enactment of a budget ordinance to increase the budget for the Southern Community Park by $120,000. Funds would be used to pay for a playground, additional landscaping, and signage.

BACKGROUND

In 1986 and 1989, Chapel Hill voters approved parks bonds, portions of which were used to purchase the Southern Community Park property. In 1997 and 2001, Orange County voters approved parks bonds that included funds designated for the Southern Community Park. 

In July 2000, the Town Council appointed the Southern Community Park Conceptual Plan Committee.  On March 25, 2002, the Town Council adopted the Report of the Southern Community Park Conceptual Plan Committee and directed the Town Manager to prepare an implementation plan. The Orange County Board of Commissioners adopted the Park Concept Plan on March 5, 2003.

On May 9, 2005, the Council approved the Special Use Permit application for the Southern Community Park, which included a play area.

On May 7, 2007, the Council accepted bids for the Southern Community Park project.

Construction of the park started in June 2007.

DISCUSSION

We are nearing completion of the Town’s Southern Community Park and anticipate reaching substantial completion potentially in late October or early November 2008. At that time the contractor will turn the park over to the Town and it will be available for public use.

However, the construction contract did not include installation of playground equipment and signage. The project budget will be completely depleted when the contractor leaves the site making it necessary to find funds for any additional park elements. We would use the additional funds to accomplish the following goals:

• The park plan calls for a large central play area. This play area is required under terms of the Town’s $500,000 Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grant. We would install play equipment for a variety of ages with a wood fiber fall surface.
• Additional landscaping would be installed to screen nearby homeowners in the southern portion of the park and to add shade trees to select areas. These would supplement the existing landscaping.
• Entrance signs would be installed at the main entrance off of Highway 15-501, the southern park and ride lot access drive, and Dogwood Acres Drive. Direction, rules, and warning signs would be installed throughout the park.

Budget Issues: If the Council agrees, the current construction and contingency budget of $5,063,000 would be increased to $5,183,000. As proposed these funds would come from three capital sources:

• $91,112 in capital interest earnings
• $10,000 from the Upper Booker Creek Trail project. The project has been postponed indefinitely. The Metropolitan Planning Organization Direct Allocation funds originally programmed for this project were shifted to other projects.
• $18,888 in revenues received in prior years from the Siena Hotel not assigned to any particular capital project.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Council enact the attached budget ordinance, which would increase the Southern Community Park budget by $120,000 for a playground, landscaping, and signage.