AGENDA #10.1
MEMORANDUM
TO: Chapel Hill Town Council and Carrboro Board of Aldermen
FROM: Mayor Rosemary Waldorf and Mayor Mike Nelson
SUBJECT: Proposal for a Joint Chapel Hill-Carrboro Community Request for the November 2001 Orange County Parks and Recreation Bond
DATE: March 26, 2001
The two of us have had informal discussions and wish to suggest that Chapel Hill and Carrboro coordinate requests for the 2001 Orange County Parks and Recreation Bond. We note that both the Board of Aldermen and the Town Council have already approved resolutions requesting the commissioners to include specific parks projects. Those resolutions are attached for your information.
We believe that our two sets of requests exceed what the commissioners can include for southern Orange County. Therefore, we put forward for your consideration the following revision and consolidation of Chapel Hill and Carrboro’s previous requests:
Carrboro’s previous requests:
Homestead Park Aquatics Center $ 3,500,000
Southern Community Park 5,000,000
Bolin Creek and Morgan Creek Greenways 4,000,000
(This amount covers both land acquisition and development. These greenways will connect Chapel Hill and Carrboro. The above amount assumes $1.5 million for Carrboro and $2.5 million for Chapel Hill.)
Carrboro land acquisition
Hillsborough Road Park 250,000
Gymnasium site 250,000
Carrboro parks enhancement
Smith Middle School 250,000
Hillsborough Road Park 750,000
Total for Southern Orange County $14,000,000
These are all high priority needs for southern Orange County. We emphasize that the more expensive projects – aquatics center, greenways and Southern Community Park – are regional in nature and would conveniently serve residents of Carrboro and Chapel Hill, as well as many other Orange County residents.
As you know, a special committee has been looking at soccer needs in Orange County, and the commissioners have expressed interest in having this bond assist with soccer needs. We note that the Southern Community Park and the requests for the Hillsborough Road Park and Smith Middle School would include soccer fields.
In summary, our request is that the Town Council and the Board of Aldermen, by resolution:
1. Endorse this consolidated parks and recreation priority list for southern Orange County and authorize the two mayors to forward this list to the commissioners and the bond needs committee;
2. Authorize the two mayors, with appropriate assistance from staff and our fellow elected officials, to make a presentation of this priority list to the bond needs committee; and
3. Work cooperatively to advocate for this consolidated request.
1. Chapel Hill Resolution from February 12, 2001 (p. 4).
2. Carrboro Resolution from March 6, 2001 (p. 5).
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL AND THE CARRBORO BOARD OF ALDERMEN ENDORSE A CONSOLIDATED PARKS AND RECREATION PRIORITY LIST AND PRESENT THE LIST TO THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS (2001-03-26-R-9)
WHEREAS, the Mayors of Chapel Hill and Carrboro have had informal discussions and wish to suggest that Chapel Hill and Carrboro coordinate requests for the 2001 Orange County Parks and Recreation Bond; and,
WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Town Council and the Carrboro Board of Aldermen have already approved two resolutions requesting the Orange County Board of Commissioners to include specific parks projects;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council and the Carrboro Board of Aldermen hereby request:
· Endorsement of this consolidated parks and recreation priority list for southern Orange County and authorize the two mayors to forward this list to the commissioners and the bond needs committee; and
· Authorization for the two mayors, with appropriate assistance from staff and other fellow elected officials, make a presentation of this priority list to the bond needs committee; and
· Cooperative work to advocate for this consolidated request.
This the 26th day of March, 2001.
ATTACHMENT 1
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS INCLUDE $20,000,000 IN BOND ORDERS ON THE BALLOT FOR PARKS, GREENWAY, BIKEWAY, AND OPEN SPACE PROJECTS IN THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL (2001-02-12/R-15)
WHEREAS, approximately $2 million remain from Parks bonds approved by the voters in the Town of Chapel Hill and Orange County for the Homestead Park project, and
WHEREAS, the work of a citizen committee and comments from public forums have indicated that the citizens prefer an aquatics/community center facility that would cost approximately $8.5 million, and
WHEREAS, growth in the southern portion of Chapel Hill and community wide needs for park land indicate a need to develop the Southern Community Park site, and
WHEREAS, the Town has completed or will soon complete only 6 miles of its proposed 28 mile greenway system, and
WHEREAS, a number of bicycle transportation projects have been identified in theMay 2000, Planning for Chapel Hill’s Future: The Comprehensive Plan, the 2002-2008 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program, and the draft 1998 Bicycle Plan, and
WHEREAS, only $1,756,000 remains in the Town’s 1996 Open Space bond fund for the purchase of greenways, open space, entranceways, natural areas, and non-conforming lots,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council requests that the Orange County Commissioners place bond orders on the ballot that if approved by the voters would authorize the sale of general obligation bonds for the following projects in Chapel Hill:
· $7,000,000 for the construction of an aquatics/community center facility at Homestead Park
· $5,000,000 for the construction of Southern Community Park
· $5,000,000 for greenways and bikeways
· $3,000,000 for open space
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council that it is requested that any Parks bond order placed on the ballot by the Board of County Commissioners and any information provided to the voters allow for the possibility that the funds could be used for other parks capital projects approved by the County Commissioners and the Chapel Hill Town Council, if funds remain after construction of the two primary projects.
This 12th day of February, 2001.