AGENDA #17a(1)
TO: Town Council Members
FROM: Mayor Rosemary Waldorf
SUBJECT: Consideration of Orange County Draft Policy Statement on Use of County Funds for Joint Parks and Open Space Projects
DATE: November 26, 2001
You will recall that several weeks ago, we received a draft policy statement from the Orange County Board of Commissioners entitled "Use of County Funds for Joint Parks and Open Space Projects." We referred this to the Manager and the Parks and Recreation Commission for comment. Since then, the chair of the Greenways Commission has also requested that we refer it to the Greenways Commission for comment, and I hope the Council will do so.
Some Council Members and I had concerns that some details of the policy as proposed might lead to micromanagement and unnecessary delay in providing these voter-approved recreational facilities. Council Member Bateman, Mayor pro tem Pavão, and I had an informal meeting with Commissioners Jacobs and Carey to discuss this.
At that discussion, those present agreed that the following step would be reasonable:
Establish a short-term work group to refine the proposed policy so as to protect County prerogatives and develop a review process that is smooth and does not cause unnecessary delay. I have discussed this with Mayor Nelson. He is in accord and will recommend this process to his board.
My suggestion is that the short-term work group include: One elected official from each jurisdiction, the managers and the parks and recreation directors. Ideally, the work group will consider advisory board comments and arrive at a consensus policy recommendation that can be reviewed by all elected boards.
I request that the Council adopt the attached resolution.
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A WORK GROUP TO REFINE THE PROPOSED COUNTY POLICY FOR JOINT PARKS AND OPEN SPACE PROJECTS (2001-11-26/R-22)
WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Commissioners has submitted a draft policy statement entitled, “Use of County Funds for Joint Parks and Open Space Projects”; and
WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Town Council previously referred this report to the Town Manager and Parks and Recreation Commission for comment; and
WHEREAS, Council Members from Chapel Hill and Commissioners from Orange County have met to discuss the draft policy statement; and
WHEREAS, the Council Members and Commissioners agreed to the feasibility of establishing a short-term work group to refine the proposed policy so as to protect County prerogatives and to develop a review process that is smooth and does not cause unnecessary delay; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor of Carrboro has agreed with the feasibility of this work group option;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill hereby requests that a short-term work group be established to refine the proposed County policy for Joint Parks and Open Space.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this work group consist of one elected official from each jurisdiction and the managers and parks and recreation directors; and that the work group consider advisory board comments and arrive at a consensus policy recommendation that can be reviewed by all elected boards.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council ask the Manager to forward a copy of this resolution and the accompanying materials to the Orange County Board of Commissioners and to the Carrboro Board of Aldermen.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of the draft policy statement be provided to the Greenways Commission for comment.
This the 26th day of November, 2001.