MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Public Forum on the Proposed Homestead Park Aquatic/Community Center
DATE: January 29, 2001
The purpose of this forum is to receive public comments on the proposed aquatic/community center to be located at Homestead Park.
In 1996, Chapel Hill voters approved $5 million in parks bonds. The bond information campaign indicated that the proceeds would be used for outdoor recreation facilities at Homestead Park, an indoor aquatic facility at Homestead Park, and the gymnasium at Hargraves Park. After construction of the gymnasium at Hargraves Park and outdoor recreation facilities at Homestead Park, approximately $1.2 million remains.
In 1997, voters approved a $3 million Orange County parks bond. Of that amount, $1 million each has been designated for Homestead Park and the Southern Community Park, respectively. In 1998, the Board of County Commissioners approved the use of $145,000 for extension of utilities and construction of a restroom/concession building at Homestead Park, leaving $855,000 for the aquatic/community center facility.
In June 1998, the Council set aside $53,000 for planning of an indoor pool/community center at Homestead Park.
In the fall of 1998, the Council authorized the Manager to begin the conceptual plan and citizen involvement process for a proposed aquatic/community center facility at Homestead Park.
In the spring of 1999, the Manager selected an architect to serve as the consultant for the Homestead Park Aquatic/Community Center Conceptual Plan Project.
In September 1999, the Council appointed citizen representatives to the Homestead Park Aquatic/Community Center Conceptual Plan Committee.
Throughout the remainder of 1999 and the first 6 months of 2000, the Homestead Park Aquatic/Community Center Conceptual Plan Committee worked to develop an interim report for the Council on the project. A public forum on the project was held in February 2000.
On October 18, 2000 the Council held a work session with the Homestead Park Aquatic/Community Center Conceptual Plan Committee in which the committee’s interim report (Attachment 1) was presented. Council members asked several questions during the work session, requesting additional information.
Attachment 2 is the January 22, 2001 Memorandum and a Staff Report responding to the issues raised at the October 18, 2000 Council work session and contains information requested by a Council member pertaining to the Raleigh Pullen Park aquatic facility.
Attachment 3 includes applicable sections of the Preliminary Recommendations of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Committee.
Key issues to be determined are the features the Council wishes to include in the Conceptual Plan for the Homestead Park facility and the accompanying capital costs of such features.
The Homestead Park Aquatic/Community Center Conceptual Plan Committee has worked with a consultant and staff to consider a range of potential features to be included in the facility. These include:
Aquatic Space:
· Leisure Family Pool with Play Features
· Competitive 25-meter by 25-yard lap pool
· Competitive 50-meter lap pool
· Venue competitive 50-meter lap pool
· Diving well
Indoor Multi-Purpose Space:
· Community Meeting Space
· Arts, Dance, and Cultural Instructional Programming Space
· Gymnasium
· Fitness Area
Staff /Support Space:
· Entrance/Lounge Space
· Locker Room Space
· Facility Staff/Support Space
· Parks and Recreation Administrative Office Space
The consultant has developed cost estimates for various features. Cost estimates include:
· $2,191,000 for leisure/family pool component
· $4,450,000 for 25-meter by 25-yard pool component
· $2,656,000 for core facility (including community and instructional space and all staff/support space)
Potential Add-ons to the Core Facility
· $1,693,000 for gymnasium component
· $2,191,000 for leisure/family pool component
· $3,652,000 for 25-meter by 25-yard pool component
· $6,885,000 for 50-meter pool component
· $7,677,000 for 50-meter venue pool component
Revenues/Recovery Rates: Projected cost recovery rates for the types of aquatics facilities vary. The consultant’s estimates are based on charging the same fees found in similar facilities throughout the nation. Based on these recommended recovery rates, we estimate that in the first year of operation we would expect to recover the following percentages of operational costs:
· 98% for leisure/family pool
· 66% for 50-meter, non-venue pool
· 68% for 25-meter by 25-yard pool
Following tonight’s forum, we will compile the comments received and report back to the Council with recommendations to proceed in development of the Homestead Park Aquatic/Community Center Conceptual Plan.