AGENDA #4a

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Appropriation of Payment in Lieu of Recreation Area Funds for Hargraves Park

 

DATE:             March 7, 2005

 

The attached budget ordinances would appropriate $85,850 in payment in lieu of recreation area funds to a capital project account for Hargraves Park.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The Chapel Hill Land Use Management Ordinance requires the dedication of recreation areas as part of the approval process for most new residential development. Provisions in the ordinance allow developers to make a cash payment to the Town in lieu of providing recreation area in certain circumstances and with the permission of the Council. 

 

State law allows payments in lieu of recreation area dedications to be used for parks and recreation capital projects as long as the projects are located near the development that generated the funds and the funds are spent in a timely manner.

 

DISCUSSION

 

In 2004, the Town received an $85,850 payment in lieu of providing recreation areas from the developer of the Rosemary Village project.  We have identified capital needs at the Hargraves Park site. We believe that the payment in lieu of recreation funds could pay for the following improvements:

 

Replace Outdated Equipment:

  • Bleachers installed in the 1970s should be replaced.
  • The internal sidewalk in the play area has deteriorated and requires replacement this year.
  • The play area is outdated and requires a modern fall surface. We would replace the existing structure and add a modern poured in place fall surface under a portion of the new structure.
  • We would replace several sets of stairs on the park site due to erosion problems.
  • We would replace site furniture at the park including benches, grills, and picnic tables.

 

Site Improvements:

  • We would design and install infrastructure that would improve drainage including areas near and in the play area and the ballfield, among others.
  • We would replace trees and shrubs to increase the attractiveness of the site, improve security, and provide more space for expansion of the play area. Work would include replacement of poor soils so that turf can be established in areas that are now bare.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Parks & Recreation Commission’s Recommendation: The Commission voted 8-1 to recommend that the Council appropriate $85,850 in payment in lieu of recreation funds from the Rosemary Village development for Hargraves Park. Please see the attached Commission recommendation.

 

Town Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council enact the attached budget ordinance creating a multi-year Hargraves Park capital project account with $85,850 in payment in lieu of recreation funds from the Rosemary Village development so that capital improvements listed above can be constructed.

 

NEXT STEPS

 

If the Council authorizes the recommended budget, we will carry out the authorized work during this calendar year.

 

ATTACHMENT

 

1.      Parks & Recreation Commission Recommendation (p. 6).

 

 

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND “THE ORDINANCE CONCERNING APPROPRIATIONS AND THE RAISING OF REVENUE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2004” (2005-03-07/O-1a)

 

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, 2004” as duly adopted on June 14, 2004 and the same is hereby amended as follows:

 

 

This the 7th day of March, 2005.

 

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ORDINANCE FOR VARIOUS CAPITAL PROJECTS (2005-03-07/O-1b)

 

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:

 

SECTION I

 

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.

 

SECTION II

 

The Town Manager of the Town of Chapel Hill is hereby directed to proceed with implementation of these projects within terms of funds appropriated here.

 

SECTION III

 

Revenues anticipated to be available to the Town to complete the project are hereby amended as follows:

 

                                                                        Current Budget          Revised Budget

 

         Total                                                                           6,877,014                    6,962,864

 

 

SECTION IV

 

Amounts appropriated for capital projects are hereby amended as follows:

 

                                                                        Current Budget         Revised Budget

 

        

         Hargraves Park                                                                         0                         85,850

         All other projects                                                         6,877,014                    6,877,014

        

 

         Total                                                                           6,877,014                    6,962,864

 

SECTION V

 

The Town 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 five days of adoption with the Town Manager, Finance Director and Town Clerk.

 

This the 7th day of March, 2005.