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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-20-2000 - 9bORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: January 18, 2000 Action Agenda Item No. _ 9- b SUBJECT: Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Application Options DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource Conservation, Recreation and Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Memorandum INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Stancil, 245-2590 Bob Jones, 245-2661 Rich Shaw, 245-2591 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham ~ 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider options for an application to the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund. BACKGROUND: Three options have been identified for a potential application to the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) on this cycle. Applications are due January 31. Option #1 would involve a $250,000 request for facilities development for phase II of the Efland- Cheeks Park. Option #2 would seek $250,000 to lower the County's cost for the potential Little River Regional Park venture with Durham County. Option #3 would seek $125,000 for the Eno RiverWalk project, which could be a joint action with the Town of Hillsborough. The PARTF grant program requires a 1:1 dollar match for all projects. Information on applicable projects and additional details on the three options are provided in the attached memorandum. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Each of the options would seek to acquire PARTF grant funds to lower County acquisition or facilities development cost. A 1:1 dollar match would be required by the County. RECOMMENDATION(S): As the Board decides. Applications to the Trust Fund are due by January 31. Memorandum To: Board of Commissioners John Link, County Manager From: Bob Jones, Recreation and Parks Director David Stancil, Environment and Resource Conservation Director Date: January 4, 1999 Re: Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) Grant Application Priority The deadline for submitting grant applications to the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund is January 31, 2000. Three possible projects for submittal have been identified, but only one project can be submitted per .grant cycle (the cycle is annual from January 31 each year). We are preparing an abstract along these lines for the Board's meeting on the 18"'' Any ideas on these options prior to the meeting would be welcomed. The basics of this grant program are shown in the box below: Parks ana Kecreation Trust Funa 1. Grants may be submitted for acquisition of land and development/renovation of recreation facities. 2. Counties and towns are eligible applicants. 3. Grants require a dollar for dollar match, with a maximum of $250,000 grant. Land donations and in- kind services cannot be used to match. 4. Approximately $6 million is available: 5. Grants are approved by the Parks and Recreation Authority,. an 11-member board appointed by the Governor and General Assembly. 6. Factors considered in approval include criteria in the PARTF point-scoring system, population served,. geographic distribution of projecL~, presence or absence of other funding sources, and level of .compliance with prior agreements. 7. only one grant may be submitted per cycle, and joint applications are encouraged.. 8. Projects will be approved in May-June, with notice of grant by July. The following options have been identified for potential grant submittal. Option #1-Phase II, Efland-Cheeks Community Park A grant application in the amount of $250,000 could be submitted for facilities development for phase II (or a portion of phase II) of this park. Upon completion of phase I in February, 2000, the major park amenities of the original design will be constructed. The park amenities to be constructed in phase II are the nature interpretive trails, boardwalk, outdoor shelter/classroom, repair drainage in open space area, two (2) small picnic shelters and furnishings, and install athletic field lighting for the multi-purpose softball/soccer fields. The estimated cost of construction and engineering fees is $500,000. Application for $250,000 of Park and Recreation Trust Fund would require a $250,000 match from the County. The matching funds will not be required until 12 months from the date of the application. Funds that were expended in the phase I construction cannot be used as a match, however, the appraised value of the property to be developed may be used toward the match. Note: The interpretive trails and boardwalk might be eligible for the N.C. Trails Program grant which is described later in this memorandum. Option #2 -Little River Regional Natural ParkLn~int a~g_lcation_with Durham Coun This grant would be a joint application with Durham County to offset land acquisition costs for the proposed 390-acre Little River Natural Area and Park. As long as some type of trails and/or low-impact recreation is part of the proposal, a grant may be submitted for this project. As in the joint Clean Water Management Trust Fund application for the same properly, Durham and Orange County would split the grant revenues 67%-33% (based on the acreage/cost proportions). If a $250,000 grant were received, it would lower the County's cost for purchase of the 135 acres in Orange County by $87,500. If the Clean Water Management Trust Fund grant is also approved, the County's total cost for acquisition would be lowered to $141,400 (assuming a purchase price of $3,000/acre). Note: If Orange County does not submit this joint application, Durham County plans to submit an application on its own for the Durham County portion of the properly. Option #3 -Eno RiverWalk (joint application with Town of Hillsborough) The original schematic drawing of this park site identified a lengthy trail and walk system to include three (3) bridges, a small gazebo, and a large entertainment pavilion. Most of the identified walks are to be handicap accessible. The estimated cost of construction of these amenities was $250,000. The major performance pavilion was $75,000 and it was anticipated that these funds would be donated but this was not successful. If application for PARTF funds were requested the Town and County could apply jointly for $125,000 and fund a match of $125,000 (half of the estimated cost). However, engineering and technical construction drawings have not been completed to date. The Town of Hillsborough has some funds available that could be used for design fees, the cost of which could be $10,000 - $20,000. In addition, the Orange Soi{ and Water District (with the assistance of the regional RC & D) are completing a stream mitigation plan for the creek behind the Government Services Building that runs to Eno River. They are seeking a grant that would provide funds to restore the creek at little or no cost to the County. Since the trails and walks are identified throughout the park plan, this project may be eligible far the N.C. Trails Program. The funds that the Town of Hillsborough may have available could be applied toward the 20% required match. Alternate Source - N.C. Trails Program Grant Options #1 and #3 are likely also to be eligible for the N.C. Trails Program grant. These grants range between $5,000 and $50,000. Applicants must provide 20% of the total project cost as a match. Eligible projects are those involving trails and trail facilities which are open to the public (development of urban trail linkages; construction of new trails on state, county, municipal lands, or conveyed easements across private lands where a recreational need for such construction is shown; design and engineering costs (up to 10% of the grant); acquisition of easements for trails; and acquisition of fee simple title to property from a willing seller (when acquisition by easement fails). Copies: Rich Shaw, Land Conservation Manager