CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM MESSAGE

 

 

The Capital Improvements Program traditionally has identified capital projects that may be funded in five or fewer years.  In addition, this year’s Program begins to move the Town toward the goal of developing a 15-year Capital Improvements Program.

 

The Capital Improvements Program is a financial plan for the Town’s major capital and infrastructure needs.  Drawing from the Comprehensive Plan, special studies, and Council, citizen and staff ideas, the Capital Improvements Program identifies capital needs, establishes priorities, and identifies potential funding sources.

 

The Capital Improvements Program is comprehensive in scope.  It includes all identified capital projects and a range of funding sources.  It includes projects that are funded through the Town’s capital repair and maintenance fund, and also those projects that are funded through bonds, state and federal grants, and other sources.  However, the Capital Improvements Program does not include the capital needs of the school system, the Orange Water and Sewer Authority, or solid waste management projects.

 

Summary

 

This document provides a summary of the Capital Improvements Program for fiscal years

2000-2005.  We have included descriptions of project categories and specific projects, and a projection of recommended funding levels over this five-year period.  Also, lists showing unfunded projects, bond projects, grant/other projects and long range projects are included.  Long range projects are those that we anticipate will be needed beyond the scope of the five-year Capital Improvements Program.

 

This report provides a summary of the proposed Capital Improvements Program for the years 2000-2005.  We have used a set of priority ranking criteria to evaluate projects (please see Appendix 1).  The highest priorities are given to those projects which have a Council mandate for funding, those which are needed to meet a legal requirement, those for which we have a contractual agreement, and those that would repair existing facilities.  Projects are listed in priority order; then ranked by whether each project is a Maintenance, Improvement, or Expansion project.  Maintenance projects are those that maintain the capital base.  Improvement projects are those that enhance the Town's ability to provide services, and Enhancement projects are those that expand the capital base.

 

This Report consists of five tables:

 

·        Capital Repair and Maintenance Fund – Funded Projects:  Table 1 includes a projection of recommended funding levels over a five-year period, as well as reappropriation amounts.  We have included brief descriptions of each project in the summary table.  In addition, we have assigned priorities to each project, and have identified whether each project is a Maintenance, Improvement, or Expansion item.

 

This table includes five renovation projects recommended for 10-year installment financing.  The amount shown in the table is the annual installment payment needed.  The five buildings are the Interfaith-Council Shelter building on W. Rosemary Street, the Old Post Office/Courthouse facility on E. Franklin Street, the Glenwood Fire Station, Hargraves Center, and the A.D. Clark Pool and Bathhouse.  Total renovation costs are about $1,355,000, including funds for architectural/engineering costs and construction management.

 

·        Capital Repair and Maintenance Fund – Unfunded Projects:  Table 2 lists other capital repair and maintenance projects submitted by Departments which are not recommended for funding.  We have included brief descriptions of each project, its priority rating, and whether each project is a Maintenance, Improvement, or Expansion item.

 

·        Summary of Bond Projects:  Table 3 shows the schedule for issuing $13,500,000 in authorized 1996 bond projects, as amended by the Council on January 2000.

 

·        Grant/Other Projects:  Table 4 summarizes the capital projects funded by grants or other sources for which funding is available or anticipated.

 

·        Long Range Projects:  Table 5 was prepared to give the Council a list of projects that we anticipate will be needed beyond the scope of the five-year Capital Improvements Program.  This table forms the beginning of our work on preparing a 15-year Capital Improvements Program as requested by the Town Council.

 

This plan proposes that $783,000 from the Town’s capital improvements fund be allocated for capital projects in the 2000-01 fiscal year.  The total amount of funding proposed in this five-year period through the capital improvements fund is $4,217,000, plus a reappropriation of $421,000

 

Proposed funding through the Town’s capital improvements fund in the 2000-2001 fiscal year is as follows:

 

 

Project

Funding Amount

A.D. Clark Pool and Bathhouse*

$ 30,000

Building Condition Assessment

45,000

Community Center Renovations

30,000

Curb Repairs (Americans with Disabilities Act requirement)

25,000

Drainage Assistance Program

20,000

Energy Efficiency Projects

50,000

Extraordinary Maintenance

100,000

Fire Station #_(Glenwood) Renovation*

9,000

Generator at Town Hall

40,000

Greenways

93,000

Hargraves Center Renovations*

33,000

IFC Shelter*

6,000

Municipal Operations Facility Site Acquisition

20,000

Renovation of Post Office/Courthouse Bldg.*

12,000

Scarlette Drive Sidewalk & Wall

20,000

Sidewalk/Bikeways

100,000

Small Park Maintenance Projects

50,000

Tennis Court Reconstruction

60,000

Upgrade Town Topography Maps

40,000

TOTAL:

$783,000

            * Installment payment items.

 

Total funds proposed for all capital projects, from all funding sources, over the five-year period is $23,570,000.  Funding sources for these projects include the capital improvements fund (including reappropriations), bond funds, grant funds and other sources of funding such as gifts or special purpose funds.

 

This year’s Capital Improvements Program includes reappropriated funds from previous program years, which are not included in the sums above.

 

Descriptions of Project Categories

 

Following is a description of each project category included in the Manager's Recommended Capital Improvements Program:

 

Public Buildings and Facilities:  This category includes a variety of improvements to buildings and other facilities owned and maintained by the Town of Chapel Hill.  This category includes projects that affect the quality of the Town’s service operations.

 

Communications, Technology and Information:  This category includes projects which support the communications, technology, and information functions of the Town.

 

Public Works and Infrastructure: This category deals with improvements to Town infrastructure, such as sidewalks, drainage, bike paths, and cemeteries.

 

Public Safety Improvements:  This category includes projects that provide maintenance or improvements to the Town’s police, fire and emergency management services.

 

Parks and Recreation and Greenways:  This category includes projects that develop or improve recreational facilities in the Town.  It may include enhancements to existing parks and open areas, or development of new recreational facilities such as greenways.

 

Citizen Comments

 

On Monday, January 31, 2000, a public forum was held regarding the Town budget.  The Council received several comments and requests regarding Capital Improvements Program funding.  Following is a list of projects that were requested, along with a staff comment:

 

¨                  Sidewalks on Mason Farm Road.

Several citizens spoke in support of additional sidewalks in the Mason Farm area.  A separate staff report on this request was presented at the March 27 Council meeting.

 

¨                  Sidewalks/bikepath on Estes Drive from Seawell School Road to Airport Road.

Funding for sidewalk construction is proposed in this Capital Improvements Program through the Sidewalks and Bicycle Facilities project.  Each year, the Town Council authorizes funding for specific sidewalk and bikepath projects throughout the Town.  Town staff will include this sidewalk request for the Council’s consideration as part of a report on sidewalk and bikepath priorities later this spring.

 

Bond Projects

 

On November 5, 1996, Chapel Hill voters authorized issuance of bonds totaling $13,500,000.  These bond funds will be used for Parks and Recreation facilities, purchase of land for open space and greenways, Fire and Police facilities and equipment, Public Works facilities, and improvements to streets and sidewalks.  For purposes of this discussion of the 2000-2001 Capital Improvements Program, we have used the schedule of projects and bond sales adopted by the Council on September 8, 1997, and revised in January 2000. (Please see Appendix I)

 

Future Steps

 

On Wednesday, May 10, a public hearing will be held to receive citizen comments and comments from advisory boards on the Manager’s Recommended Capital Improvements Program.  The Town Council will consider the proposed budget and Capital Improvements Program on Monday, June 12, 2000.