AGENDA #13a
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Southern Community Park – Acceptance of Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Grant and Revision of Phasing Plan
DATE: June 27, 2005
The attached Resolution A would accept a $500,000 Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grant. Resolution B would amend the Council’s phasing plan for the project to reflect the additional PARTF funding.
The attached budget ordinance would appropriate $500,000 in PARTF grant funds to a capital project account for Southern Community Park.
BACKGROUND
In 1986 and 1989, Chapel Hill voters approved Parks bonds, portions of which were used to purchase the Southern Community Park property. In 1997, and 2001, Orange County voters approved Parks bonds that included funds designated for the Southern Community Park.
In July 2000, the Council appointed the Southern Community Park Conceptual Plan Committee. On March 25, 2002, the Town Council adopted the Report of the Southern Community Park Conceptual Plan Committee and directed the Town Manager to prepare an implementation plan. The Orange County Board of Commissioners adopted the park Concept Plan on March 5, 2003.
Concept Plan reviews of this application were conducted by the Community Design Commission on June 16, 2004, and by the Town Council on June 21, 2004.
On December 6, 2004, the Council authorized the Manager to apply for a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Grant.
A Public Hearing was opened on February 21, 2005 and comments were received at that time. The Board of Orange County Commissioners reviewed the plans on March 15, 2005 and provided comments and questions.
On March 24, 2005, the Town Council/County Commission Project Planning Committee (PPC) met and recommended a phasing plan for the project. The PPC also recommended that the Special Use Permit application be amended to show 60 additional parking spaces along Dogwood Acres Drive.
On April 11, 2005, the Council approved the phasing plan and authorized the Manager to amend the Special Use Permit application.
On May 9, 2005, the Council approved a Special Use Permit for the project.
DISCUSSION
2005 Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Grant: We have received notice that the Town will receive a $500,000 Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grant for the Southern Community Park project. PARTF is a State-wide program that provides grants for parks and recreation capital projects.
Budget Issues: The grant requires a match of $500,000. The current project budget has adequate funds to provide the required match. Acceptance of the grant would allow us to increase the project budget from $3,148,000 to $3,648,000.
Current Phasing Plan:On April 11, 2005 the Council adopted a phasing plan that identified the park elements that could be constructed in the first phase with the existing budget. The Council approved a first phase of construction that would include:
· Parking lot (south) with 125 spaces
· All sewer and water extensions, restrooms, and sidewalks
· The portion of traffic calming, dry detention basins, constructed wetland basins, and landscape buffers required to support the first phase of construction
· Public art
· Extension of Fan Branch Greenway Trail to the dog park
· Athletic/soccer fields (3) (This option would not include athletic lights. Lights would be added in a future phase although we would provide all conduits in this phase to make future installation easier)
· Children’s play area (1)
· Picnic Shelters (1 large, 1 small)
· Dog park
· Meadow/grass play area
· Disk golf course
Elements not in the Current Phasing Plan: The following facilities are not in the current first phase:
· Athletic/soccer field lights
· Maintenance building
· Basketball courts (2)
· In line hockey court (1)
· New street to connect US 15-501 to park and ride lot
· De-acceleration lanes on Highway 15-501
· Parking lot (north) with 158 spaces
· Extension of Fan Branch Greenway Trail from the dog park to Merritt Drive
· Children’s splash park (1)
· Youth ballfield
Options for Use of the PARTF Funds: We believe that the funds could be used to pay for a number of different options. However, we believe that the best use of the funds would be to add additional elements related to recreation programs and to enhance the maintenance of the park.
The Council/County Commission Project Planning Committee (PPC) met on June 21, 2005 and recommended that the funds be used to:
· Install the lights for the three athletic fields ($300,000)
· Provide a maintenance building ($75,000)
· Construct the two basketball courts ($30,000)
· Enhance the public art portion of the project ($23,000)
· Enhance funding for the play area with any remaining funds
The funding amounts above are estimates.
The Parks and Recreation Commission also reviewed the plan and recommended that the additional funds be used to:
· Install the lights for the three athletic fields ($300,000)
· Build an in-line hockey court ($150,000)
· Construct the two basketball courts ($30,000)
· Enhance funding for the play area
The Council could also use the funds to build and install other combinations of amenities and/or infrastructure. Our design consultants will be at the meeting and will be prepared to address other possible options that the Council may want to consider.
NEXT STEPS
If the Council accepts the PARTF grant and amends the phasing plan we will begin work on detailed design of the park. We expect to bid the project in late 2005 with an anticipated construction start in early 2006. Construction is expected to take 12 to 18 months.
RECOMMENDATION
Parks & Recreation Commission’s Recommendation: The Commission met on June 13, 2005 and voted unanimously (8-0) to recommend that the Council use the PARTF funds to install the lights for the athletic fields, build the in-line hockey court, and construct the two basketball courts. The Commission further recommended that if the additional funds are inadequate to build the entire program the basketball courts should be delayed to a future phase and any remaining funds be used to enhance the play area.
Project Planning Committee’s Recommendation: The PPC met on June 21, 2005 and recommended that the Council use the PARTF funds to install the lights for the athletic fields, build a maintenance building, construct the two basketball courts, provide an additional $23,000 for public art (the additional $23,000 for art would include the $5,000 that would normally be included in the percent for art program plus $18,000), and enhancements for the play area if any funding remains.
Manager's Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution A which would accept a $500,000 Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grant.
The Manager also recommends that the Council adopt Resolution B which would amend the Council’s phasing plan for the Southern Community Park. Resolution B would amend the phasing plan to include installation of lights for the three athletic fields, a maintenance building, two basketball courts, an additional $23,000 for public art, and enhancements for the play area if any funding remains.
If the Council adopts Resolution A we recommend that the Council also enact the attached budget ordinance that would appropriate $500,000 in PARTF grant funds to a capital project account for the Southern Community Park.
ATTACHMENT
RESOLUTION A
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A $500,000 PARKS AND RECREATION TRUST FUND GRANT FOR THE SOUTHERN COMMUNITY PARK (2005-06-27/R-25a)
WHEREAS, on December 6, 2004 the Council authorized the Manager to apply for a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant; and
WHEREAS, the Town has received notification that the Southern Community Park project has been awarded a $500,000 Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that it accepts a $500,000 Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant for the Southern Community Park project.
This the 27th day of June, 2005.
RESOLUTION B
A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE PHASING PLAN FOR PHASE ONE OF THE SOUTHERN COMMUNITY PARK PROJECT (2005-06-27/R-25b)
WHEREAS, on December 6, 2004 the Council authorized the Manager to apply for a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant; and
WHEREAS, on April 11, 2005 the Council approved a phasing plan for the first phase of development of the Southern Community Park; and
WHEREAS, since adoption of the Phasing Plan the Town has received notification that the Southern Community Park project has been awarded a $500,000 Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that it amends the phasing plan for the Southern Community Park project to include lights for three athletic fields, a maintenance building, two basketball courts, an additional $23,000 for public art, and enhancements for the play area if any funding remains.
This the 27th day of June, 2005.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ORDINANCE FOR VARIOUS CAPITAL PROJECTS (2005-06-27/O-8)
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
Southern Community Park
Orange County Parks and Recreation
Bonds Contribution 3,000,000 3,000,000
Land Sale 148,059 148,059
Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Grant - 500,000
Southern Community Park Sub-Total 3,148,059 3,648,059
Other Projects 2,694,805 2,694,805
Total 5,842,864 6,342,864
SECTION IV
Amounts appropriated for capital projects are hereby amended as follows:
Current Budget Revised Budget
Southern Community Park 3,148,059 3,648,059
Other Projects 2,694,805 2,694,805
Total 5,842,864 6,342,864
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 27th day of June, 2005.