AGENDA #4b

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:       County Contribution to Special Olympics Program

DATE:             March 7, 2005

The following resolution would authorize the Mayor to send correspondence to the Chair of the County Board of Commissioners, requesting that Orange County provide $16,000 to increase the Orange County-Chapel Hill Special Olympics Recreation Specialist’s position to full-time status.

BACKGROUND

Special Olympics is an athletic-based program for individuals with intellectual disabilities.  The program is administered by a State office, with local offices representing counties throughout the State. The Town’s Parks and Recreation Department houses the Orange County-Chapel Hill Special Olympics program, which serves all of Orange County.  By policy, the Special Olympics program cannot charge user fees for participation.

The Orange County-Chapel Hill Special Olympics program has historically been funded and operated solely by the Town’s Parks and Recreation Department. In 1994, the local program’s staffing was reduced from one full-time position, with part-time clerical assistance to one part-time, 25-hour per week position. The Town currently dedicates approximately $40,000 for the Special Olympics program, including personnel, supplies, and training. The Town’s community-based therapeutic recreation program, separate from Special Olympics, provides a spectrum of cultural and hobby class activities for individuals with disabilities.

On April 10, 2000, the Council adopted the Open Facilities Policy, reaffirming a reciprocal relationship with Orange County and the Town of Carrboro for resident access to parks and recreation programs and facilities.

The Town currently receives approximately $84,000 annually from the County in recognition of County, non-Town resident use of Town parks and recreation facilities and programs.  The County’s financial contribution is about 3.6 % of the operating costs for the Town’s parks and recreation programs and facilities. The Town of Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department’s operating budget for fiscal year 2004-05 is $2,318,311.

The Town annually appropriates approximately $48,000 to the County for operation of the senior center located in Chapel Hill. The Town Parks and Recreation Department provides staff and facility resources to the Orange County Senior Games program.

DISCUSSION

The Town does not attempt to determine the user population for drop-in use of trails, parks, and other facilities, but we believe the Town’s facilities draw large numbers of non-Town residents, because no other jurisdiction in Orange County currently operates specialized facilities including batting cages, a skateboard park, climbing wall, outdoor pool, and extensive network of greenways and walking trails.

The Parks and Recreation Department maintains records for user demographics of registered, fee-based leisure activity participants. While approximately 5% of participants for all fee-based programs reside in non-Chapel Hill areas of Orange County, over 10% of the discounts provided through fee reduction applications went to non-Town, Orange County residents. Participation in the eight-week summer day camp program accounts for over 90% of fee reductions approved for non-Chapel Hill, Orange County residents. 

The Department also maintains participant demographics for the Special Olympics program. During the current fiscal year the Orange County-Chapel Hill Special Olympics program has served more than 225 athletes, with the assistance of over 100 volunteers.  Overall demographics of Chapel Hill-Orange County Special Olympics in the school-based and community-based program participants are as follows:

• Chapel Hill                               60%
• Carrboro                                  15%
• Orange County                         21%
• Other                                       4%

We believe that our program is a model for the potential of not only Special Olympics programs but indeed, all public parks and recreation activities. The program offers recreation services to those with multiple and severe challenges. We serve those with developmental disabilities, mental illnesses, severe health and physical disabilities, poverty-related concerns, transportation barriers, and behavioral problems. The Special Olympics program meets the needs of pre-schoolers through seniors living in retirement homes. We believe the Chapel Hill-Orange County Special Olympics program supports full programming options for a population of adults and children who need significant structure, supervision, and support.

The Special Olympics program is a two-pronged effort with school-based and community-based participants.

School-Based Program: Both the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City and Orange County public school systems provide transportation to their students for instruction, training, and practices.  The Department works in close cooperation with the schools adapted physical education instructors.  All the participating students have Special Olympics training as part of their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and it is a key component of their socialization opportunities and training to use mainstream recreation centers such as the bowling alley and the pools. 

The Special Olympics program currently serves over 50 youth from five Orange County schools in the school-based swimming and bowling programs in addition to the youth served from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City schools.

Community-Based Program: It is the community-based program that makes the local Special Olympics program unique.  Our recruitment, training, and retention of over 100 volunteers enables the program to accept all eligible athletes for training and competition in sports, including soccer, basketball, softball, swimming, bowling, track and field, golf, equestrian, and skiing.  A unique feature of Special Olympics compared to mainstream athletic programs is that participants do not age out of Special Olympics. It is a life-long program for many citizens. Demographics of the community-based program are as follows:

• Chapel Hill/Carrboro                87%
• Orange County             10%
• Other                                       3%

Neither the Orange County nor Town of Carrboro governments contribute finances or personnel to the Orange County-Chapel Hill Special Olympics program. 

Orange County and the Town of Carrboro provide some programming for special populations, including seniors, at-risk youth, teens, and individuals with disabilities.  Both departments offer monthly special events, such as dances and field trips, and some classes specifically designed for individuals with special needs.  In addition, the Carrboro Department funds two inclusion specialists for its summer day camps.

CONCLUSION

We believe that the current number of participants in the Orange County-Chapel Hill Special Olympics requires one full-time staff position and that participation will not decrease. In addition, we believe that Orange County funding would reflect the County-wide participation in the program.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Parks and Recreation Commission’s Recommendation: The Commission has not officially discussed this issue but one of the Commission’s primary goals in recent years has been to secure full-time funding for the Special Olympics position.

Town Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the following Resolution that would authorize the Mayor to send correspondence to the Chair of the County Board of Commissioners, requesting that Orange County provide $16,000 to increase the Orange County-Chapel Hill Special Olympics Recreation Specialist’s position to full-time status.

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SEND CORRESPONDENCE TO THE CHAIR OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISIONERS REQUESTING THAT ORANGE COUNTY PROVIDE $16,000 TO INCREASE THE ORANGE COUNTY-CHAPEL HILL SPECIAL OLYMPICS RECREATION SPECIALIST’S POSITION TO FULL-TIME STATUS (2005-03-07/R-3)

WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill Council recognizes the importance of inter-jurisdictional coordination and its importance to the provision of recreation and park services and facilities within Orange County; and

WHEREAS, the Orange County-Chapel Hill Special Olympics program, operated by the Town of Chapel Hill serves individuals with intellectual disabilities throughout Orange County; and

WHEREAS, Orange County does not currently contribute resources for the Orange County-Chapel Hill Special Olympics program; and

WHEREAS, full-time funding for the Special Olympics Coordinator position has been a primary goal of the Parks and Recreation Commission for several years;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council authorizes the Mayor to send correspondence to the Chair of the County Board of Commissioners, requesting that Orange County provide $16,000 to increase the Orange County-Chapel Hill Special Olympics Recreation Specialist’s position to full-time status.

This the 7^th day of March, 2005.