AGENDA #4h
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Authorization to Apply for Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) Grants for the Homestead Park Aquatics Center and the Southern Community Park
DATE: December 6, 2004
The attached Resolution A would authorize the Manager to apply for a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant for the Southern Community Park project. The resolution would also authorize the Mayor to sign the application and guarantee that $500,000 in matching funds would be available if the grant is successful.
The attached Resolution B would authorize the Manager to apply for a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant for the Homestead Park Aquatics Center project. The resolution would also authorize the Mayor to sign the application and guarantee that $500,000 in matching funds would be available if the grant is successful.
The Manager recommends adoption of both resolutions.
In June 2004, a Special Use Permit application was submitted for the Southern Community Park. The application is proceeding through the Town’s regulatory process. We expect that the project will reach the public hearing stage in early 2005. Construction could begin in late 2005 or early 2006.
In November 2004, a Special Use Permit application was submitted for the Homestead Park Aquatics Center. We expect this project to take additional time in order to resolve sustainability and cost issues. A public hearing may be possible by the fall of 2005 with a possible construction start in mid to late 2006.
PARTF is a State-wide program that provides grants for parks and recreation capital projects. This year the program has $11,000,000 to distribute to State and local recreation agencies. Recipients must provide at least 50% of the cost of any project funded through the program. The current limit for a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant application is $500,000. The application deadline is January 31, 2005. The trust fund board and staff expect to announce the recipients of 75% of the grant money in May 2005 and the remaining 25% in July 2005.
We are currently working on Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant applications for the Southern Community Park and Homestead Park Aquatics Center projects. Grant applications are scored on a number of criteria including the extent of the public process, completion of system-wide master plans, completion of site specific master plans, and the number of recreation-based facilities that would be provided at the sites.
Budget for Southern Community Park: All funds for this project have been committed by Orange County.
2001 Orange County Parks Bond $2,000,000
1997 Orange County Parks Bond $842,000
Total Funds for Southern Community Park $2,842,000
We are currently working on detailed cost estimates for the Park. Preliminary numbers indicate that there will be a significant financial gap between the estimated cost of the entire Park program and available funds. A successful grant application would allow us to provide more recreational facilities in the first phase of construction.
If the grant application is successful we would have to guarantee that the Town could provide at least $500,000. The existing budget contains enough funding to meet this requirement.
Budget for Homestead Park Aquatics Center: The project is currently funded through Parks bonds approved by both Orange County and Chapel Hill voters.
1996 Town Parks Bond $1,158,000
1997 Orange County Parks Bond $855,000
2001 Orange County Parks Bond $3,500,000
Total Funds for Homestead Park Aquatics Center $5,513,000
We continue to review cost information for the Aquatics Center. We believe that once all costs have been identified there will likely be a significant funding shortfall. We expect to report to the Council in early 2005 with program options that would allow us to continue with a design based on the existing budget. Grant funds could be used to limit program reductions.
If the grant application is successful we would have to guarantee that the Town could provide at least $500,000. The existing budget contains enough funding to meet this requirement.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached Resolutions A and B, which would authorize the Manager to apply for Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grants for the Homestead Park Aquatics Center and Southern Community Park projects. The resolutions would also authorize the Mayor to sign the applications that would guarantee that matching funds would be available if the grants are successful.
RESOLUTION A
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER TO APPLY FOR A PARKS AND RECREATION TRUST FUND GRANT FOR THE SOUTHERN COMMUNITY PARK PROJECT AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE APPLICATION, WHICH WOULD GUARANTEE MATCHING FUNDS (2004-12-06/R-7a)
WHEREAS, Orange County has allocated $2,842,000 in Parks bonds for the Southern Community Park; and
WHEREAS, the Town has submitted a Special Use Permit application for the project; and
WHEREAS, preliminary cost estimates indicate that existing funds would not allow construction of a substantial portion of the park program;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council that the Manager is authorized to apply for a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant for the Southern Community Park project in the amount of $500,000.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Mayor is authorized to sign a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund application that would guarantee $500,000 in matching funds if the grant is successful.
This the 6th day of December, 2004.
RESOLUTION B
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER TO APPLY FOR A PARKS AND RECREATION TRUST FUND GRANT FOR THE HOMESTEAD PARK AQUATICS CENTER PROJECT AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE APPLICATION, WHICH WOULD GUARANTEE MATCHING FUNDS (2004-12-06/ R-7b)
WHEREAS, Orange County has allocated $4,355,000 in Parks bonds for the Homestead Park Aquatics Center; and
WHEREAS, the Council has allocated $1,158,000 in Parks bonds for the Homestead Park Aquatics Center; and
WHEREAS, the Town has submitted a Special Use Permit application for the project; and
WHEREAS, preliminary cost estimates indicate that existing funds would not allow construction of a significant portion of the building program;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Manager is authorized to apply for a $500,000 Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant for the Homestead Park Aquatics Center project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council that the Mayor is authorized to sign a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund application that would guarantee $500,000 in matching funds if the grant is successful.
This the 6th day of December, 2004.