AGENDA #4j
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Acceptance of National Trails Program Grant for the Dry Creek Trail Project
DATE: November 24 , 2003
The attached resolution would accept a $30,000 National Trails Program grant for the construction of two bridges to access the Town’s 34-acre Dry Creek open space property.
The attached budget ordinance would increase the Dry Creek project account by $70,000 ($30,000 grant and $40,000 transfer from the Greenways Capitals Improvement Program).
In 1991, the Town of Chapel Hill, Orange County, City of Durham, and Durham County adopted the New Hope Corridor Open Space Master Plan. The only portion of the plan physically within Chapel Hill’s Town limits or planning jurisdiction is Dry Creek. The Plan includes trails along Dry Creek that would connect Chapel Hill to Durham.
Throughout the 1990s, we worked with East Chapel Hill High School and the developers of various subdivisions (including Silver Creek, Springcrest, and Erwin Ridge) to preserve the best and most important portions of the stream corridor. As a result, the Town now owns extensive portions of the Dry Creek stream corridor including some of the best wetland areas.
On June 23, 1997, the Council adopted the “Dry Creek Greenway Conceptual Report to the Town Council”, which set as a goal the construction of a trail along Dry Creek from East Chapel Hill High School to the Durham County line.
On May 26, 1998, the Council adopted the “Chapel Hill Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan”. The plan includes a trail along Dry Creek from East Chapel Hill High School to the Durham County line.
In 2000, the Town acquired the 34-acre Dry Creek open space property, bounded by Erwin Road and I-40, from the developer of the Springcrest subdivision.
In 2002, the Council authorized the staff to implement the Greenways Commission’s request to build natural surface trails on the property. However, after evaluating the project we determined that there were no safe means of accessing the site.
In 2003, the Council accepted a $4,630 Adopt-A-Trail grant to provide a small parking area that would allow safe access to the site from Erwin Road. We are currently in the process of designing the parking area.
In late 2002, we submitted a National Trails Program grant application requesting the maximum amount of $50,000 for the Dry Creek Trail project. We have just learned that the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation has awarded the Town $30,000. If the Council accepts the grant the funds would be used to build a bridge over Dry Creek from the Springcrest neighborhood and a second smaller bridge over an unnamed tributary to access the northwest portion of the site. These locations are shown on the attached map.
The property is bordered on the north by I-40, on the west by a tributary of Dry Creek, to the south by Dry Creek, and to the east by Erwin Road. Currently there is no safe access to the property; however, vehicular access will be possible in late spring 2004 once the small parking area off Erwin Road is complete.
A bridge would serve two primary purposes:
Budget: We believe that a very rough estimate of the total cost of the project would be about $100,000. This amount should cover the required flood study, design, and installation of the bridges. We currently have about $40,000 in the existing Greenways Capital Improvements Program that could be used for this project (leaving about $15,000 for other projects). We recommend that the additional funds required for this project be allocated from the first sale of 2003 Greenways bonds after we have developed better cost estimates.
PROPOSED SOURCES OF FUNDS
Existing Greenways Capital Improvement Program $40,000
National Trails Grant 30,000
Future Sale 2003 Parks Bond * 30,000
Total Project Budget * $100,000
* The $100,000 figure is a rough estimate at this time. The amount needed from the 2003 Parks bond could be altered once a flood study is completed and the size of the primary bridge can be determined. It is understood that the Council has not yet considered its schedule of bond sales or its priorities in the use of bond funds. However, failure to accept the grant would likely make it more difficult for the Town to be successful in future efforts to secure additional trail grants from the State.
Next Steps: If the Council accepts this grant we would take the following steps:
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the following resolution accepting a $30,000 National Trails Program grant for the construction of two bridges to access the Town’s 34-acre Dry Creek open space property, authorizing the Manager to proceed with design of the project, and authorizing the Manager to solicit comments from the public.
If the Council accepts the grant, we recommend that the Council also enact the attached ordinances that would increase the Dry Creek project account in the non-bond multi-year project fund by $70,000 ($30,000 grant and $40,000 transfer from the Greenways CIP).
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A $30,000 NATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM GRANT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO BRIDGES TO ACCESS THE 34-ACRE DRY CREEK OPEN SPACE PROPERTY (2003-11-24/R-9)
WHEREAS, in 1991, the Town of Chapel Hill, Orange County, City of Durham, and Durham County adopted the New Hope Corridor Open Space Master Plan, which includes trails along Dry Creek; and
WHEREAS, on June 23, 1997 the Council adopted the “Dry Creek Greenway Conceptual Report to the Town Council”, which set as a goal the construction of a trail along Dry Creek from East Chapel Hill High School to the Durham County line; and
WHEREAS, in 2000 the Council purchased the 34-acre Dry Creek open space property; and
WHEREAS, in 2002, the Council authorized the Manager to build natural surface trails on the 34-acre Dry Creek open space property; and
WHEREAS, the Dry Creek Trail currently ends at Perry Creek Road; and
WHEREAS, construction of a bridge over Dry Creek would allow extension of the Dry Creek Trail to Erwin Road and pedestrian access from the Springcrest and Silver Creek neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, there is currently no safe access to the property from the Springcrest and Silver Creek neighborhoods;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council accepts a $30,000 National Trails Program grant for the construction of two bridges on the Town’s 34-acre Dry Creek open space property.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Manager is authorized to begin design of the bridges and to report back to the Council at a future time to present a final recommended design and budget.
This the 24th day of November, 2003.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND “THE ORDINANCE CONCERNING APPROPRIATIONS AND THE RAISING OF REVENUE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2003 (2003-11-24/O-4)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Budget Ordinance entitled “An Ordinance Concerning Appropriations and the Raising of Revenue for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2003” as duly adopted on June 9, 2003 be and the same is hereby amended as follows:
ARTICLE I
Current Revised
APPROPRIATIONS Budget Increase Decrease Budget
CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS FUND
Greenways 50,000 40,000 10,000
Transfer to Multi-
Year Capital Fund 0 40,000 40,000
This the 24th day of November, 2003.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ORDINANCE FOR VARIOUS CAPITAL PROJECTS (2003-11-24/O-5)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that, pursuant to Section 13.2 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes of North Carolina, the capital projects ordinance for various capital projects funded from a variety of sources is hereby amended as follows:
The capital projects as authorized by the Town Council includes various capital projects funded from grants, the Capital Improvements Program funds, and other miscellaneous sources of revenue for a variety of projects extending beyond one fiscal year.
The Manager of the Town of Chapel Hill is hereby directed to proceed with implementation of these projects within terms of funds appropriated here.
Revenues anticipated to be available to the Town to complete the project are hereby amended as follows:
Current Budget Revised Budget
Adopt-A-Trail Grant 39,630 69,630
Clean Water Management Grant 200,000 200,000
Chapel Hill-Carrboro School 148,059 148,059
Metropolitan Planning Grant 79,000 79,000
State Bicycle/Pedestrian Grant 300,000 300,000
Pritchard Park Gift 100,193 100,193
Pritchard Park Interest & Rental Income 63,807 63,807
Donations 2,000 2,000
Orange County Bond Funds 205,000 205,000
Transfer from CIP Fund 423,549 463,549
Transfer from General Fund 76,875 76,875
Transfer from Library Gift Fund 383,450 383,450
Interest Earnings 88,156 88,156
N.C. Transportation Grant 212,865 212,865
OWASA Reimbursement 42,931 42,931
Pedestrian Signal Reimbursement 5,000 5,000
N. C. DOT Grant 207,500 207,500
Current Budget Revised Budget
Installment Purchase Proceeds 1,200,000 1,200,000
Library Gifts and Donations 175,000 175,000
Other 30,209 30,209
Public Arts Commission Grant 6,000 6,000
Total 3,989,224 4,059,224
SECTION IV
Amounts appropriated for capital projects are hereby amended as follows:
Current Budget Revised Budget
Booker Creek Linear Park 20,000 20,000
Dry Creek Trail 275,430 345,430
Lower Booker Creek Trail 721,749 721,749
Pritchard Park 164,000 164,000
Southern Community Park 205,000 205,000
Willow Drive Bridge 343,952 343,952
Hargraves 50,000 50,000
Scroggs School Athletic Fields 148,059 148,059
N. C. 54/Hamiliton Improvements 170,000 170,000
Morgan Creek Trail 89,375 89,375
Hargraves Renovations 1,206,000 1,206,000
Percent for Art Program 7,000 7,000
Carolina Sports Art Building 30,209 30,209
Library Technology Plan 558,450 558,450
Total 3,989,224 4,059,224
SECTION V
The Manager is directed to report annually on the financial status of the project in an informational section to be included in the Annual Budget, and shall keep the Council informed of any unusual occurrences.
SECTION VI
Copies of this projects ordinance shall be entered into the Minutes of the Council and copies shall be filed within 5 days of adoption with the Manager, Finance Director and Clerk.
This the 24th day of November, 2003.