AGENDA #4c
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Acceptance of a Grant for the Booker Creek Linear Park
DATE: February 12, 2001
The attached resolution would authorize the Manager to execute an agreement with North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) accepting a grant of $349,707 with $87,427 in local matching funds for the construction of the Booker Creek Linear Park.
The attached resolution and budget ordinance would allocate $87,427 from 1996 Parks and Recreation bond interest for the required local match for the grant, and amend the current budget for the Parks and Recreation Facilities Bond Fund to incorporate the grant for this project.
BACKGROUND
On October 27, 1997, the Council adopted a resolution endorsing the concept of building a park and trail along the portion of Booker Creek between Franklin Street and Fordham Boulevard and directing the Manager to seek funding for the project.
On February 9, 1998, the Council authorized the Manager to use up to $25,000 to develop a conceptual plan for the project. The Council also established a Booker Creek Linear Park Advisory Committee.
On July 6, 1998, the Council approved a Special Use Permit for the Staples property that included provisions for a paved greenway trail to be built from Franklin Street to the extreme southeast corner of the property, as well as a direct pedestrian connection to the Eastgate Shopping Center.
On August 23, 1999, the Council adopted the Booker Creek Linear Park Advisory Committee’s Report to the Town Council.
DISCUSSION
Project Description
The Booker Creek Linear Park would be located in the midst of an urbanized area and would be surrounded by major roads and commercial operations. It generally is considered to be the area consisting of the southern end of the Staples property, the southern end of the Eastgate Plaza property, the eastern portion of the Village Plaza, the western edge of the Days Inn Hotel and the western edge of the Mariakakis Plaza. The project consists of 6 major program elements:
· Continuation of the main greenway trail from the southern end of the Staples property, across Booker Creek, to Elliott Road and Fordham Boulevard.
· Stormwater improvements on the western and southern edge of the Eastgate Shopping Center property.
· Provision for entranceway improvements at the corner of Elliott Road and Fordham Boulevard.
· Extension of sidewalks along Fordham Boulevard and Elliott Road.
· Restoration of the Booker Creek floodplain, including removal of debris and trash.
· Preservation of natural areas including enhancement of the existing pond.
Terms of the Agreement
· NCDOT’s limit on financial contributions would be $349,707 regardless of the final cost of the project.
· The Town would be required to pay 20% of all costs associated with the project.
· The Town is responsible for securing all permits and easements.
· The Town must use the project for the purposes noted in the proposal (pedestrian and bicycle transportation, stream restoration, and beautification of the creek corridor). If the Town does not allow these uses the NCDOT could seek reimbursement.
· The Town must maintain a reasonable schedule.
· If the Town abandons the project the Town would be responsible for reimbursing NCDOT for all funds paid to the Town.
Budget
The Booker Creek Linear Park project is anticipated to cost $437,134. Of this amount, the NCDOT has agreed to pay $349,707. The Town would be responsible for the remaining 20% of the project cost, or $87,427.
We believe that the best source for these matching funds would be from accrued interest from the Parks and Recreation facilities bonds authorized in 1996. The attached resolution would designate this project as a bond project, with $87,427 in funding from the interest on the 1996 Parks and Recreation bonds. The attached budget ordinance would amend the current Parks and Recreation Facilities Bond Fund to add this grant and interest earnings to the Booker Creek Linear Park project.
Process and Schedule
If the Council adopts the attached resolution and budget ordinance we would expect to follow the schedule below. The schedule is conservative and meant to reflect the realities involved in NCDOT review of the design and the permitting by different agencies which are part of developing a greenway.
Bid process, Council action, and contract negotiation August 2002
Start construction October 2002
Complete project March 2003
2 Includes all permits dealing with regulatory floodways, wetlands, environmental assessment, right-of-way encroachments, Town Zoning Compliance Permit, and 4 easements.
RECOMMENDATION
Manager’s Recommendation: We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution, which would authorize the Manager to execute an agreement with NCDOT to secure a grant of $349,707 for the Booker Creek Linear Park project. We also recommend that the Council adopt the attached budget ordinance that would allocate $87,427 from 1996 bond interest for the required local match for the grant, and amend the current budget for the Parks and Recreation Facilities Bond Fund for this project.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR FUNDING FOR THE BOOKER CREEK LINEAR PARK PROJECT (2001-2-12/R-4)
WHEREAS, the Town has requested enhancement funding for the construction of 10-foot paved bicycle/pedestrian facilities, connecting existing sidewalks and bicycle facilities, and the improvement of landscaping adjacent to US 15-501 Bypass (Fordham Boulevard) and Booker Creek, including the restoration of a highly degraded pond and reclamation of wetland areas in Chapel Hill and,
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has programmed funding in the 2000-2006 Transportation Improvement Program, as amended, for said improvements under Project E-3807 B, Orange County; and,
WHEREAS, under the proposed Agreement and subject to the Agreement provisions, the North Carolina Department of Transportation shall reimburse the Municipality to the extent of eighty percent (80%) of the approved eligible costs up to the maximum federal award of $349,707;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Council of Chapel Hill hereby allocates $87,427 from interest earnings on the Parks and Recreation bond funds for this project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Agreement for Project E-3807 B in Orange County is hereby formally approved by the Town Council of the Town of Chapel Hill, and that the Town Manager is hereby authorized to sign and execute the required Agreement between the Town of Chapel Hill and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
This the 12th day of February, 2001.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE 1996 PARKS BOND PROJECT ORDINANCE (2000-02-12/O-2)
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 as follows:
Current Budget Revised
Interest Earnings 19,600 107,027
N.C. DOT Grant 0 349,707
Other Revenues 257,200 257,200
Amounts appropriated are for the project as follows:
Parks and Recreation Facilities 5,276,800 5,713,934
SECTION IV
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.
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 Town Clerk.
This the 12th day of February, 2001.