AGENDA #4f
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Response to Greenways Commission’s Petition Related to Bond Sale Schedule and Use of Orange County Bonds for Greenways Purposes
DATE: February 23, 2004
This memorandum responds to the Greenways Commission’s petition received by the Council on January 12, 2004. The petition requests that the Council take actions that would allow the start of design work on the Bolin Creek Trail, begin the process to determine a bond sale schedule, and that the Council contact officials from Orange County to begin the Project Planning process for the 2001 Orange County Parks bond dedicated for greenways projects.
The Manager recommends adoption of the attached resolution, which would authorize the Council’s representatives on the Chapel Hill/Orange County Park Project Planning Committee to request that the full Committee begin discussions related to use of the $1,000,000 in Orange County bond funds designated for greenway projects in Chapel Hill.
In 1997, the Council adopted the Chapel Hill Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan.
In 2001, Orange County voters approved issuance of Parks bonds that included $1,000,000 designated for greenway projects in Chapel Hill. In 2003 Chapel Hill voters approved issuance of $5,000,000 in Parks bonds designated for Greenways purposes.
In 2003, the Council and the Board of Orange County Commissioners agreed to a process for developing projects using Orange County bond funds. The process includes use of a Project Planning Committee comprised of two members and one alternate each of the Council and of the Board of County Commissioners. The Committee has been working since March 2003 on the Southern Community Park and Homestead Park projects.
The Greenways Commission’s petition includes three separate requests:
Commission Request: Take Steps to Allow the Town and OWASA to Jointly Design the Bolin Creek Trail and the Bolin Creek Interceptor Sewer Line
The Commission stated their desire to start work as soon as possible on the design of the proposed Bolin Creek Trail section from Airport Road to Estes Drive Extension. They want the Town and OWASA to work together to jointly plan the Bolin Creek Trail and the Bolin Creek Interceptor Sewer west of Airport Road. The Commission believes that a joint design might minimize disturbance to the environment and save construction costs.
Comment: We worked closely with OWASA during the design of the Booker Creek Trail and the Booker Creek Interceptor Sewer Line between Booker Creek Road and Franklin Street. We believe that the collaboration effort led to minimal loss of vegetation, the smallest number of potential sewer/trail conflicts, and the best possible alignments of both facilities.
We have been in contact with a representative from OWASA concerning OWASA’s plans for the Bolin Creek interceptor. According to OWASA’s representative, the existing pipe is too small to handle anticipated wastewater from future developments upstream. OWASA is expected to determine soon whether or not the existing sewer line will have to be replaced or if it can be expanded in the same location. If the pipe is expanded in the same location there will be little opportunity to take advantage of joint planning.
If OWASA decides to replace the sewer line it might be in both the Town’s and OWASA’s interests to jointly plan in order to minimize potential conflicts in the narrow Bolin Creek valley. Depending on the ultimate location of the sewer line, there may be little room for two separate facilities in the narrowest portions of the site, especially from Airport Road to Umstead Park.
However, it appears that OWASA will complete its design work by mid-summer with other work such as any easement acquisitions taking until near the end of calendar year 2004. We believe that OWASA’s schedule would not allow a joint design of these projects. OWASA is essentially ready to begin design while the Town has several steps to take prior to the design stage.
OWASA has agreed to work closely with Town staff on the interceptor sewer line project. While we may not be able to achieve the same efficiencies we would expect with a formal joint planning process, we believe that by working with OWASA staff we may be able to identify and preserve options for a more efficient location of the proposed trail.
Commission Request: Contact Officials from Orange County and Begin the Project Planning Process for the Bolin Creek Trail
The Greenways Commission would like to start the process to determine how the $1,000,000 in Orange County bond funds designated for Chapel Hill Greenways would be used.
Staff Response: There have been no formal discussions or decisions made concerning the potential use of these funds. We believe that it is a good idea to begin those discussions.
We believe the best forum for initial discussions would be the existing Parks Projects Planning Committee established to work on the Homestead Park Aquatics Center and the Southern Community Park. This committee is familiar with the joint recreation facility development process. The first goal could be to determine how and where the County funds could be spent. If a decision is made to spend money on the Bolin Creek Trail the Committee could then decide to hire a design consultant. The committee could also discuss the possibility of establishing a citizen committee to develop options for trail development.
Commission Request: Begin the Process to Determine a Bond Sale Schedule as Soon as Possible
The Commission stated their desire that the Council determine a bond sale schedule as soon as possible. They also noted that several potential projects would not require funding for several years.
Comment: The Council has not yet determined how bond funds will be used or when bonds will be issued. The Council will conduct a work session later this spring to consider a bond issuance schedule.
We have identified several projects that require local matches for grants. The Morgan Creek Trail, Dry Creek Trail, and Upper Booker Creek Trail projects are programmed to receive Durham/Chapel Hill Metropolitan Planning Organization Direct Allocation funds. The Dry Creek Bridge project will be partially funded by a National Trails grant. Bond funds are one potential source for the required matches. A summary of potential needs is included as Attachment 2.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached resolution, which would authorize the Council’s representatives on the Project Planning Committee to open discussions on how and when to use Orange County’s bond funds designated for Chapel Hill Greenways.
ATTACHMENTS
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNCIL’S REPRESENTATIVES ON THE CHAPEL HILL/ORANGE COUNTY PARKS PROJECT PLANNING COMMITTEE TO REQUEST THAT THE FULL COMMITTEE BEGIN DISCUSSIONS RELATED TO USE OF THE $1,000,000 IN ORANGE COUNTY BOND FUNDS DESIGNATED FOR GREENWAY PROJECTS IN CHAPEL HILL (2004-02-23/R-6)
WHEREAS, in 2001 Orange County voters approved a Parks bond that included $1,000,000 in funds designated by the Board of Orange County Commissioners for greenways in Chapel Hill; and
WHEREAS, in 2003 Chapel Hill voters approved issuance of $5,000,000 in Parks bonds designated for Greenways purposes; and
WHEREAS, the Council and the Board of Orange County Commissioners have established a process for development of Town-owned park projects funded with County bond funds; and
WHEREAS, the Council and the Board of Orange County Commissioners have established a Park Project Planning Committee for the purpose of expediting these projects;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council’s representatives of the Project Planning Committee are hereby authorized to open discussion with the Committee concerning use and schedule of the County greenway funds.
This the 23rd day of February, 2004.
POTENTIAL NEED FOR MATCHING FUNDS FOR GREENWAYS RELATED GRANTS (LISTED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER)
Project Grant Amount Funds Required Year Required
Morgan Creek Trail
(design) 80,000 20,000 2004-05
Dry Creek Bridge
(construction) 30,000 100,000 2005-06
Dry Creek Trail
(design) 64,000 16,000 2005-06
Upper Booker Creek Trail
(design) 64,000 16,000 2005-06
Morgan Creek Trail
(construction) 640,000 160,000 2006-07
Dry Creek Trail
(construction) 560,000 140,000 2007-08
Upper Booker Creek Trail
(construction) 576,000 144,000 2007-08
Total Grants 2,014,000
Total Town Funds 596,000