9:30 am, April 27AGENDA #6c
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Meadowmont School/Park Site Mutual Cooperation Agreement
DATE: May 7, 2001
The attached resolution would authorize the Manager to execute a mutual cooperation agreement with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools that would cover use and maintenance responsibilities of recreation facilities proposed to be located on the Meadowmont School site.
The Town and the Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools currently have two active mutual cooperation agreements that deal with public recreation facilities on school property.
An agreement was signed in 1977 that provided for Town and Schools cooperation on a number of school properties. Under that agreement the Town gained access to the Lincoln Gymnasium and Art Center and renovated both buildings. In addition, the Town provided funds for the construction of ballfields on the Ephesus and Culbreth schools properties. That agreement will expire in 2007.
A 30-year agreement related to use of the athletic field at Scroggs School was signed in 1997. That agreement allowed the Town and the Schools to mutually develop, program and maintain the athletic field. The Town provided the necessary land and funds for provision of lights and irrigation. The Schools built the field as part of the construction of the Scroggs School.
The mutual cooperation agreement for the Meadowmont School site would allow the development of the school/park site in such a way that some of the recreation facilities intended for the park could be located out of the Little Creek floodplain and the Army Corp of Engineer’s Jordan Lake flowage easement.
The agreement would be based upon the Council’s preference for development of the school and park sites (Alternatives 1-5 discussed in an earlier agenda item).
Under the terms of the proposed agreement the Board of Education and the Town would agree that:
· The Town would operate and maintain the playing field(s) located on the school property that are not required for school use.
· The Board of Education would operate and maintain one playing field reserved for school use.
· The Town would maintain the greenway trail.
· East/West Partners would be allowed to construct fields and a greenway trail on school property for use and maintenance by the Town.
· The Town would be guaranteed a summer camp site.
· The Board of Education would provide, on a year round basis, restroom and toilet facilities that could be accessed by the general public.
· The public would have use of the Meadowmont School parking lots, sidewalks, playground, and greenway trail. The playground would only be available to the public when it is not in use by the school.
· The practice field located between the school and the pond would be closed to the public during times when school is in session. The field could be programmed or leased by the Town after 4:00 p.m.
· The agreement would be for a period of thirty (30) years, with provisions for a reassessment after 10 and 20 years.
Manager’s Recommendation: We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Manager to execute a mutual cooperation agreement for the Meadowmont school/park site that is based upon the site option selected by the Council and the terms outlined above.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF RECREATION FACILITIES ON PROPERTY WITHIN THE MEADOWMONT DEVELOPMENT AND OWNED BY THE CHAPEL HILL/CARRBORO CITY SCHOOLS (2001-05-07/R-12)
WHEREAS, The Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools owns 22 acres of land adjacent to the Town’s 70-acre Meadowmont Park site; and
WHEREAS, the Meadowmont School and Park Special Use Permit for the site indicate that recreation facilities are to be built on the 22 acres owned by the Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools; and
WHEREAS, by deed covenants, the Town property has been assigned more floor area than is needed for the park and the Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools require additional floor area in order to build the proposed Meadowmont School; and
WHEREAS, recreation facilities originally intended to be located on the park site would be better located out of the Little Creek floodplain and the Army Corp of Engineers flowage easement;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Manager is authorized to execute a mutual cooperation agreement for operation and maintenance of public recreation facilities on the 22-acre Meadowmont School site owned by the Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools that includes the following terms:
· The agreement would be based on the site option selected by the Council.
· The Town would operate and maintain the playing field(s), located on school property, that are not required for school use.
· The Town would maintain the greenway trail.
· The Board of Education would operate and maintain one playing field.
· East/West Partners would be allowed to construct fields and a greenway trail on school property for use by the Town.
· The Town would be guaranteed a summer camp site at some school facility.
· The Board of Education would provide, on a year round basis, restroom and toilet facilities that could be accessed by the general public.
· The public would have use of the Meadowmont School parking lots, sidewalks, playground, and greenway trail. The playground would only be available to the public when it is not in use by the school.
· The agreement would be for a period of thirty (30) years with provisions for reassessment after ten and twenty years.
This the 7th day of May, 2001.