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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19770804Cj 1d v MTNUTRS ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AUGUST 4, 1977 The Orange County Berard of Commissioners met jointly with the Orange County Recreation Advisory Council on August 4, 1977, at 7:30 p.m., at the Orange County Recreation Department in Hillsborough. Commissioners present were Chairman Richard Whitted, Norman Gustaveson, Jan Pinney, Donald Willhoit, and Norman Walker. Members of the Recreation Advisory Council present were Chairman Robert Strayhorn, Rayford Thompson, Donald Roberts, Vickey Ward, Phyllis Sockwell, Gary Giles, Mary Howes, and Willie Laws. Staff members present were 5. M. Gattis, County Manager, Neal Evans, Finance Director, Wavne [a~ston, Recreation birector, Betty Oakley and Eddie Bowland from the Recreation Staff, and Agatha Johnson, Clerk to the Board. Visitors present were Ann Barnes, Nancy Mayer, and Josephine Barbour. Chairman Whitted called the meeting to order and stated that there are a number of issues which the Board of Commissioners and the Advisory Council should mutually discuss. One specific issue is a recommendation from the Advisory Council of the creation of some 'permanent governing body for recreation in the County. Mr. Whitted referred to a priority list of concerns that the Advisory Council had originated. 1. Designation of Service areas 2. Council creation; Powers and Duties 3. Council Composition; Membership/Attendance 4. Acquisition/Development of Parklands and Recreation Areas 5. Inequity/Distribution of Services 6. Distribution of Funds 7. Associate Agency Communication/Cooperation 8. Council Liaison: Board of County Commissioners 9. ynequity of Taxation 10. Program Growth 11. (Write in) Amore comprehensive Recreation Program that could include all citizens of Northern Orange County 12. (Write in) All recreation areas to be properly lighted to enhance more participation hours. 13. (Write in) Swimming facility in Northern Orange County Mr. Strayhorn proceeded to lead discussion regarding Item 1s Designation of Service areas. Mr. Strayhorn stated that the Recreation Program has been extended to every area where requests have been made. The Recreation Department has attempted to avoid the duplication of services, but has tried to provide recreation where requested. He asked the Commissioners if, this procedure was the intention of the Board. Chairman Whitted stated that he looked at the recreation Program as a County-wide program, recognizing that there are on-going recreation pro- grams in certain areas. The County recreation program should supplement or compliment existing programs. Commissioner [~illhait stated that as he had reviewed the Recreation Advisory Council's minutes, it appeared that equity in the distribution of services had been a big issue. He added that he felt the recreation program should be county-wide and that the County should devise long range planning of the direction to go in providing recreation services. Is the County to provide services within the municipalities, or just support in terms of dollars for specific program. Commissioner Gustaveson stated that he felt this was resolved with the recommendation from the Intergovernmental Task Force, which the Commis- sinners approved, that mainly Chapel Hill and Carrboro would provide Recreational Programs for the southern end of the County and the Orange County Department would be responsibile for the northern end of the County for the major recreation programs. The two departments should work to- gether in designing programs which can be instituted county-wide and with :_. ~~ the use of joint resources. Commissiener Pinney stated that with the use of Lincoln Gv7ri, the county would be able to provide county-wide services to the southern portion of the County. Phyllis Sockwell stated she felt there should be a clearer definition of county-wide programs and that monies be put into the Recreation Depart- ment as monies to be used for county-wide programs, These monies should have no bearing on what goes to•other areas of the County. Mr. Strayhorn stated a concern of the Council is that if an equal amount of money is to be returned to Chapel Hill and Carrboro that per- haps the Advisory Council should be reorganized, i£ Chapel Hill and Carrboro is not to be part of the service area. Mr. Willhoit responded that he felt the recreation program should be county-wide, however, there are some programs provided by the County which Chapel Hi11 and Carrboro already have and should not be duplicated. He added that recreation is an opportunity to bring the County together by participation and involvement. Mr. Strayhorn stated that this gave a distorted picture of the cost of recreation in the County. He added that the Advisory Council had nothing to do with the monies allocated as municipal support for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Recreation Program, however, this is included in the total County Recreation budget. Chairman shitted provided those present with a brief history of the Recreation idea for the County. He stated that the County asked con- sultants to provide a detail report of a study committee which had been formed for recreation and parks in Orange County. A portion of that report was accepted by the County Commissioners and the Orange County Recreation Department was established. In lieu of establishing an over-seeing Commission, the Commissioners chose to establish a council to, among other things, provide input from all areas o£ the County anc~ to make certain recommendations back to the Commissioners in respect to recreation, and in particular the type of permanent commission, council, or board there should be for recreation. He spoke of the number of problems which exist tahere recreation is provided by existing municipalities and where citizens are paying taxes in support o £ the municipalities' recreation program, The Intergovernmental Task Force has studied the problem and has made re- commendations to the Commissioners as to how funding could be channeled into school facilities in the southern part of the County. The facilities re operated by the municipalities to provide recreation, but are available to all citizens without fee. This recommendation was to provide ea__uity in funding to reduce the financial burden which municipalities are facing. Commissioner Gustaveson spoke further o£ the consultant's recommenda- tion and the problems involved. He stated that he hoped the double taxa- tion issue would not be gotten into by the Advisory Councils, but that concern be placed on three major emphasis: 1) this is to be a Parks and Recreation Program, and to provide long range planning for parks and recreation, 2) a concern on the part of the Commissioners is that there are major gaps i.n County areas in terms o.f good recreation programs, 3) the need to focus on programs which appeal to adults, as well as the traditional programs. Mr. Gustaveson stated that he felt the establishing of the Advisory Council had been a wise move. The Council has quickly recognized problem areas and he stated now is the time to resolve some of the problems and to establish some type of permanent body for recreation. Gary Giles stated he felt the Recreation program for southern Orange was at a stand still. He stated that one problem was in the inequity of funding. There has been no real cooperation between the three Recreation Departments in the County and further, Mr. Giles spoke of the different needs of the urban resident as compared to the county resident. Further discussion ensued regarding the inea__uity problem of pro- viding funding and services county-wide. Mr. Strayhorn stated that it is the consensus of the Advisory Council that the problems of inequity in funding should be a concern of the Board of Commissioners. ry ,- - cS v Commissioner Gustaveson stated that the first function of the Advisory Council is to assess the recreational needs of the County, This mould define those areas which lack recreation in the County and then develop ideas to provide recreation for those areas. Mr. Strayhorn stated that he felt the recreation program was a means of drawing the County closer together, however, he feels the County is going .in the wrong direction when it speaks of percentages and amounts of monies. He added he flet monies should be placed into accounts for future development of park areas. Further, he stated that recreation should be a community spirited effort. Commissioner Gustaveson stated he felt the inequity problem is a problem which the County must learn to live with. The County should attempt to work and build a recreation program in relation to the pro- blems which exist. Ann Barnes, who had served an a study commission for recreation in the County, stated that the Commission's recommendation to the County was twofold. 1) To begin programming in recreation, basically in the Northern Orange County area, and 2) to begin immediately to identify parcel of land and to put aside seed monies to get matching monies to acquire parkland in the County. Chairman Whitted asked those present to proceed to discuss a permanent Recreation Council or Commission. He stated that the group needed to dis- cuss areas in the County where programs are needed. He recognized that parkland needed to be identified and to determine the best ways to utilize such areas. Mr. Strayhorn stated that after discussion, the Advisory Council had concluded that they would be more comfortable opening as an Advisory Council in Orange County rather than a Commission. The Recreation Director has prepared a rough draft Ordinance which does need further consideration. The Advisory Council needs direction fror- the County Commissioners of how to proceed. Mr. Strayhorn stated that he was hopeful that the instructions would be to proceed with the stated charge. He spoke of the membership of the Advisory Council. He asked if the Council should consist of the idential make-up as originally chosen? Should the Advisory Council make recommendations to the Commissioners for membership? Ms. Sockwell suggested that a County Commissioner be a member of the Advisory Council. Tt was pointed out that commissioners are hindered from attending the Advisory Council's meetings since the Council meets the same night as the regularly scheduled meeting of the Commissioners. Ms. Sockwell suggested that the Advisory Council change their meeting night. Further, it was requested that all County Commissioners be supplied with minutes of the Advisory Council meetings. Mr. Giles stated that he felt there needed to be a more forrmal method of communication between the County and the two Boards of Aldermen. He also spoke of the need for cooperation between the recreation departments in the County and recreation committees throughout the County. Commissioner Gustaveson asked the Advisory Council how they views[? themselves as an Advisorv Council. Mr. Giles stated that he did not feel that he had been useful. Other members of the Council stated they felt the Advisory Council _ was the best way of assessing needs and developing recreational. programs for the County. In reply to a question from one member of the Advisory Council, Mx. ~Thitted stated that he would like to see the Council spend more time lookinc at the parks need in the County. Emphasis in this direction is the way to proceed. ~•~ ._ r9 C.F U .J Chairman F7hitted summarized the discussion of the meeting. He stated that some liaison person between the Board o.f Commissioners and the Advisory Board would be beneficial. The Board of Commissioners will take recommendations from the Advisory Council for the appointment of new members to the Council. To refine areas of the charge which the Council feels are weak and incorporate into a new charge. Commissioner C,ustaveson stated tha the next agenda of the County Commissioners would include the official extension of the Recreation Advisory Council for another year. Also, a County Commissioner should be added to the membership of the Advisory Council. Mr. 5trayhorn asked of the makeup of the Council. Mr. C;i s stated that he felt the way that the Council worked is good, however, the way which the Council is constituted is not the best. He stated that there were philosophical differences of the workings of recreation in the urban areas as versus the rural areas of the County. Everyone in the County does not need nor want the same. Mr. Giles stated that Chapel Hill and Carrboro did not have a fair input as far as the parks question is concerned, and the way the Council is made up will have an impact on the direction of Recreation. Commissioner Custaveson stated the charge has two basic thrusts 1) is parks, and 2) is recreation. Both areas should be dealt with. Further discussion ensued concerning parks in the County. Commis- sioner Pinney offered a suggestion that the Recreation Aepartment ooerate the Recreation programs and that one committee be established to advise of the Recreational needs for the unincorporated part of the County. ^_'hen set up another committee composed primarily of residents who are interested in parks for the County. Both groups would report directly to the County Commissioners. Commissioner rustaveson stated he felt this would create more problems and added he felt all of the problems mentioned tonight could be solved. Commissioner [4alker asked that the Advisory Council look into the Eubanks Landfill area as a possible parks area. Commissioner [aillhoit stated that as the various Advisory Councils on planning in townships provide input for the 7.oning Ordinance for development of a comprehensive land use plan, potential park areas needed to be identified. Cn7ayne T]eston informed those present that one of the priorities of the Council's objectives was to schedule public hearings in the various townships regarding development of parkland sites in the County. Commissioner Plillho'it suggested these public hearings be coordinated with the Planning Staff. In closing, Commissioner Whitted stated that the official charge would be extended to the Advisory Council, a liaison would be established ?~etween the Commissioners and the Council, a Commissioners would be appointed to serve on the Council, and recommendations for vacancies on the Council should be submitted to the County Commissioners, a Resolution of the Direc- tion in which the Council should proceed would be forecoming, and the Council should change their meeting night. ` Commissioner Gustaveson suggested that a list of definitions and responsibilities of the Advisory Council be submitted to the Commissioners before the two groups meet again. Chairman Whitted informed those present of a recreation project being considered by citizens in the Cheeks Community. These people will appear before the Board of Commissioners at the August 16th meeting. Eddie Bowland announced his resignation as Assistant Recreation Director. The meeting was adjourned. Richard ~[ fitted, Chairman Agatha Johnson, Clerk