AGENDA #9
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Financing Options for Moving Umstead Play Area
DATE:
This memorandum discusses options
for financing the relocation of the
The Manager recommends adoption
of Resolution A, which would authorize the Manager to include the
Resolution B would authorize the
Manager to use the remaining $27,000 in existing funds for Small Park
Improvement and $9,000 of the Council’s contingency funds to move the
BACKGROUND
On August 27, the Council adopted
a resolution authorizing the Manager to move the
A professional installer of playground structures evaluated the site and determined that the structure could be located in an area that has been observed to be just above the highest velocity floodwaters to just below the existing picnic shelter/restroom. In order to accomplish the move, the site would need to be graded, a retaining wall built, sidewalks extended, new wood fiber fall surface installed, and the existing structure disassembled and rebuilt. The contractor estimated that the total cost for such a move would be about $31,500.
We recommend a contingency allowance of 15% of the estimated project budget because of the difficulties in estimating the costs of the extensive site work. In addition, some of the structure’s parts may be damaged during the move or may be found to be no longer allowed under modern safety standards.
We recommend that the following estimates be used for a project budget:
Relocate Structure $31,500
15% Contingency 4,500
TOTAL $36,000
At some time when more funds are available it would be possible to change some of the wood fiber fall surface to a poured-in-place resilient surface in order to increase wheelchair access to the lower portion of the structure and reduce maintenance costs.
We believe the Council could either consider the project in the FY 2002-2007 Capital Improvement Program budget process or use some source of funds from the current year. If current year funds are used we believe that the most appropriate sources would be a combination of a portion of the Council’s contingency fund and the remaining Small Parks Improvement portion of the Capital Improvement Program.
Option 1: Consider the Project during the FY 2002-2007 Capital Improvements Program Process: The Council could consider the project as part of the Capital Improvements Program process for FY 2002-07.
This option would have the following advantages:
· The Council could consider the relative need for this project at the same time it considers other Town needs.
· We could proceed now to correct several potential safety-related problems that have already been identified.
· We would not spend funds in the CIP and the Council’s contingency funds for this project that could be used for other projects and emergencies in the near term.
The option would have the following disadvantages:
· The play structure could not be moved until at least FY 2002-03.
Option 2: Use the Remaining $27,000 in Existing Small Parks Improvement Program Funds and $9,000 from the Council’s Contingency Fund: One possibility would be to use the remaining $27,000 of the current years Small Parks Improvement Program funds and $9,000 of the remaining $30,800 in the Council’s contingency fund.
This option would totally deplete the Small Parks Improvement budget for this year, which we had intended to use to address potential safety related projects such as:
Failure to address some of these issues may result in the need to close or remove facilities.
This option would have the following advantages:
· We could potentially move the Umstead Play structure as early as the fourth quarter of this fiscal year.
The option would have the following disadvantages:
· The Small Parks Improvement portion of the Capital Improvements Program fund would be totally depleted in the second quarter. This fund is normally kept partially funded through at least the beginning of the fourth quarter in order to preserve funding options in the event of an emergency.
· The Council’s contingency fund would be reduced to $21,800 (from its original budget of $50,000) in the second quarter.
· Repair of several already identified maintenance problems would be delayed until such time as funds could be secured.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution A authorizing the Manager to include the Umstead Park Play Structure project in the Capital Improvements Program budget process for FY 2002-2007.
Resolution B would authorize the Manager to use the remaining $27,000 in existing Small Park Improvement, Capital Improvements Program funds and $9,000 of the Council’s contingency funds to move the Umstead Park play structure.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER TO INCLUDE THE RELOCATION OF THE UMSTEAD PARK PLAY STRUCTURE AS A POTENTIAL PROJECT IN THE FY 2002-2007 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM BUDGET PROCESS (2001-10-10/R-9a)
WHEREAS, the play structure at Umstead Park is located in the Bolin Creek floodplain and has been repeatedly damaged by flooding; and
WHEREAS, it would be in the best interest of the Town to relocate the structure out of the floodway; and
WHEREAS, the Town will develop a Capital Improvements Program budget for FY 2002-2007;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the proposal to relocate the Umstead Park play structure be included in the Capital Improvements Program process for FY 2002-2007.
This the 10th day of October, 2001.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER TO USE EXISTING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM AND COUNCIL CONTINGENCY FUNDS TO MOVE THE UMSTEAD PLAY STRUCTURE WITHIN UMSTEAD PARK IN FY 2001-02 (2001-10-10/R-9b)
WHEREAS, the play structure at Umstead Park is located in the Bolin Creek floodplain and has been repeatedly damaged by flooding; and
WHEREAS, it would be in the best interest of the Town to relocate the structure out of the floodplain; and
WHEREAS, funds are available in the current fiscal year;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Manager is authorized to use the remaining $27,000 in Small Parks Improvement funds and $9,000 of the Council’s contingency funds to relocate the Umstead Park play structure within Umstead Park and adjacent to the picnic shelter in FY 2001-02.
This the 10th day of October, 2001.