AGENDA #9
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Allocation of $50,000 for Improvements to the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery and Creation of a Task Force to Plan the Use of These Funds
DATE: November 10, 2003
The attached ordinance would allocate $50,000 from fund balance in the General Fund to a Cemetery Beautification project account in the Capital Improvement Fund.
The attached resolution would establish a process for the Council to appoint members to a joint Town and University task force to plan the use of these funds for improvements to the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery.
BACKGROUND
On August 26, 2003, the Town Council approved a resolution authorizing a revision to the University’s Master Plan permitting the construction of the Cobb parking deck and chiller plant. Stipulation 15b of this approval called for the allocation of $50,000 in Town funds and $100,000 in University funds for improvements at the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery, and the creation of a joint Town and University task force whose objective would be to improve the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery consistent with the Council’s previously adopted Old Chapel Hill Cemetery Master Plan. The specific language of this stipulation is provided in Attachment 1.
Summary of the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery Master Plan and its Implementation
The Old Chapel Hill Cemetery Master Plan is a document consisting of six 24” x 36” sheets that include a comprehensive set of detailed recommendations for renovations and improvements to the physical features and vegetation within the cemetery. It was developed in 1987 under contract to the Town by Mr. David Swanson, a Town resident and local landscape architect, in consultation with a task force of local citizens representing constituencies with an interest in the care of the cemetery.
Attachment 2 includes a list of these original task force members and a summary of Master Plan recommended projects that have been completed to date. Attachment 2 also includes a summary of Master Plan recommended projects that have not previously been funded along with some rough cost estimates for these projects. This summary categorizes the remaining projects into essential maintenance projects, totaling as much as $37,000, and improvement projects totaling as much as $670,000.
Status of Perimeter Stone Wall Restoration Work
Consistent with the Council’s approved stipulations for the Cobb parking deck and chiller plant project, Town and University staff have begun work on the repair and reconstruction of the perimeter stone walls. To date, Town staff has removed volunteer saplings and vines from around most of the wall sections to expose the areas in need of restoration and University staff has completed an archeological study of the western perimeter to make certain that no unmarked graves will be affected by the proposed wall reconstruction in that area. The University staff has also begun repair of the existing dry-stacked stone walls in the southwest corner of the site.
Attachment 3 includes a letter to the Town from Mr. Paul Kapp, the University’s Campus Historic Preservation Manager, detailing how the stone wall restoration work is proposed to be completed along with a summary of their archeological study.
DISCUSSION
The combined $150,000 in funding pledged by the Town and the University will provide the resources needed to make significant cemetery improvements. The proposed task force could recommend to the Council priorities for the use of the available funds.
Establishing a Structure for the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery Task Force
Among interested parties in the community, we suggest that the Council may wish to include the following as members of the proposed task force:
· Members of the previous Old Chapel Hill Cemetery Task Force and/or residents that have assisted in the preparation or implementation of Old Chapel Hill Master Plan’s recommendations.
· Staff and members of the Chapel Hill Historic Preservation Society and/or current and past members of the Town’s Historic District Commission.
· Plot owners or relatives of those interred in the Cemetery and/or other Town residents with an interest in the care of the cemetery and who reflect the diversity of those interred there.
Adoption of the attached resolution would authorize the Town Manager to advertise the need for task force members in the normal manner and to give specific notice to persons who have demonstrated a special interest in the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery through their past work. We believe that the Council should also request that the Chancellor appoint members to the task force. We further recommend that the task force be limited in size to 10–12 members, with at least half appointed by the Council.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the Council adopt the attached ordinance that would allocate $50,000 from fund balance in the General Fund to a Cemetery Beautification project account in the Capital Improvements Fund. We also recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution directing the Town Manager to advertise the need for members of a 10–12 person task force, at least half of which will be appointed by the Council. Finally, we recommend that the Mayor be authorized to request that the Chancellor appoint representatives to the task force.
ATTACHMENTS
2. List of Original Task Force Members and Master Plan Project Summaries (p. 7).
A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE TOWN MANAGER TO ADVERTISE THE AVAILABILITY OF APPOINTMENTS TO SERVE ON A JOINT TOWN AND UNIVERSITY TASK FORCE TO PLAN FOR THE USE OF THESE FUNDS (2003-11-10/R-11)
WHEREAS, the Council’s approval of the University’s revised master plan on August 26, 2003 included a stipulation calling for the Town to appoint members to a joint Town and University Old Chapel Hill Cemetery task force to be created to plan for the use of available funds; and
WHEREAS, the Council has considered the Town Manager’s recommendation to create a task force consisting of 1 –12 members, with at least half appointed by the Council; and
WHEREAS, the Council seeks members of the public to serve on this task force.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Town Manager is authorized to advertise the availability of appointments to serve on a joint Town and University task force to be created to plan for the use of available funds for improvements to Old Chapel Hill Cemetery.
This the 10th day of November, 2003.
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ARTICLE I |
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APPROPRIATIONS |
Current Budget |
Increase |
Decrease |
Revised Budget |
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GENERAL FUND |
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Non-Departmental Transfer to Capital Improvement Fund
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1,170,000 |
50,000 |
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1,220,000 |
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CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND |
1,929,823 |
50,000 |
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1,979,823 |
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ARTICLE II |
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REVENUES |
Current Budget |
Increase |
Decrease |
Revised Budget |
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GENERAL FUND Fund Balance |
2,336,198 |
50,000 |
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2,386,198 |
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CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND Transfer from General Fund |
1,170,000 |
50,000 |
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1,220,000 |
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