Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-24-2011 - 1ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HILLSBOROUGH BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JOINT MEETING AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 24, 2011 SUBJECT: Joint Meeting Discussion Items DEPARTMENT: County Manager/Town PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No ManagerlTown Planning/County PlanninglAsset Management ATTACHMENT(S): As noted in "Background" section INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Clifton, 245-2300; Eric Peterson, 732-1270; Margaret Hauth, 732-1270; Craig Benedict, 245-2592; Karen Lincoln, 245-2580; Pam Jones, 245-2650; Greg Wilder, 245-2300 PURPOSE: To discuss topics of mutual interest between the governing boards of Orange County and the Town of Hillsborough. BACKGROUND: 1. Report and Discussion on County's Economic Development Activities This topic provides the opportunity for the two governing boards to consider the following items: a) Introduction of Gary Shope, the County's new Interim Economic Development Director b) Board of County Commissioners' Consideration of a Reformulated Economic Development Commission (UNC, Interim Economic Development Director, County Manager, and other staff preparing recommendations) c) Towns of Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro Financial Participation (currently $6,000 from each town) -County Manager recommends the County fully fund the effort allowing the Towns to reallocate their funds to local needs d) Pursuit of Utility Infrastructure (County investment & transfer of assets to appropriate towns) e) Collaboration and coordination of joint efforts on prospective projects fl Small Business Loan Program and incubator project(s) The attached documents provide background information for the discussion. Staff will provide any other information at the meeting, and the Boards can discuss issues related to this item as necessary. 2 Attachment 1-a -Building Upon Past Efforts - Creating A Future Focus (materials from the February 11, 2011 Board of County Commissioners Retreat Agenda) Attachment 1-b -Excerpt from "County and Municipal Government in North Carolina" Regarding Economic Development 2. County Buildings in Hillsborough a) Update on County Plans for Vacant County Buildings As a springboard for discussion by the governing boards, staff has provided information on plans and activities at the following County facilities in Hillsborough: 129 East Kin Street .. This property was previously offered for sale; however, no offers were received. On November 18, 2010, the property was reallocated by the Board of County Commissioners for use as offices for the Public Defender. The Public Defender currently resides in space at Carr Mill Mall, for which the current lease will terminate on June 30, 2011. The projected timeline for the move is early summer 2011. The County will issue passes to the ten employees of the Public Defender's office and ask that these employees park in the County's leased spaces in the Eno River Parking Deck. 112 N. Churton Street This property has previously been offered for sale; however, no acceptable offers have been received to date. The sale is conditioned upon the buyer accepting a historic preservation easement and signing a contract with the Historic Preservation Foundation of North Carolina, Inc. to ensure the building's long term historical integrity. Given no offers seem forthcoming, alternative uses have been discussed although none have moved forward for formal consideration by the Board of County Commissioners. The latest staff discussion explores the possibility of the building providing support as a small business incubator through the County's Economic Development Department. 300 West Tryon Street-Whitted Building The Board of County Commissioners has recently approved a bid that will renovate sections of the Whitted Building that will provide additional operational space for the Health Department and expand both the Health and Dental Clinics. The expansion will involve the ground floor and the second floor of Building A and Health and Dental Clinic areas in Building B. Construction is on-going and is slated for completion in early summer 2011, at which time Dental services now offered in leased space at Carr Mill Mall will be consolidated to this location. The Whitted Dental Clinic will be open five days per week. The renovations for the Health Department do not include the area previously occupied by the Library. Both Boards of Commissioners are aware of the on-going interest of the Hillsborough Arts Commission to use this space. In order to do so in the manner the group has specified, or for any use that involves assembly of a large number of people, a sprinkler system would need to be installed throughout Building A. Further, installation of the sprinkler system in a manner to not cause delays to the Health Clinic renovation was critical to on-time delivery of the project and the timely termination of the Carr Mill lease. These factors, combined with the favorable bid pricing and the overall benefit of sprinkling the building, prompted the County Board of Commissioners to approve installation of the sprinkler system in tandem with the Health Department work. A cost sharing arrangement with any non-County interest occupying the old Library space may be negotiated as appropriate. 200 S. Cameron Street- Link Government Services Center The County Capital Investment Plan included funding to renovate areas of the Link Government Services Center for new uses following completion of the West County Campus on West Margaret Lane and the resulting relocation of departments to new and vacated space. Upfit to accommodate the departments relocated to the Link Center has been accomplished. The development of a Board of County Commissioners public meeting room proposed for the site has been suspended at this time, pending further discussion and funding approval. 306 Revere Road-Environment and Agriculture Center Upon completion of the West County Campus, space previously used by the Planning Department and Environmental Health was reassigned to meet space needs for departments occupying the 306 Revere Road building. The remaining space has been developed as a managed records storage area for County departments. An Emergency Medical Services base station has also been established in the old Animal Control building at this location. This 2417 facility replaces the previous base operation on New Hope Church Road and potentially allows improved response reaction for calls in the northlcentral part of the County. 1914 New Hope Church Road The Orange County Schools Board of Education has submitted an offer to purchase the previous site of the Emergency Services Department on New Hope Church Road. The matter is tentatively scheduled for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners at an upcoming meeting in March 2011. Staff will provide any other information at the meeting, and the Boards can discuss issues related to the facilities noted above as necessary. No Attachments b) Draft County Facilities Use Policy The County is currently revising the Facilities Use Policy that governs the use of County facilities by the public and others. A copy of the draft, as presented to the County Commissioners on November 18, 2010 is attached for your information. The revised policy, which incorporates comments from the November work session, will be considered by the County Commissioners in March 2011, with implementation targeted for July 1, 2011. Staff will provide any other information at the meeting, and the Boards can discuss issues related to this item as necessary. 4 Attachment 2-b -11/18/10 Draft County Facilities Use Policy 3. Transportation a) Update on Rail Station The Town of Hillsborough requested funds through Representative David Price's office for the construction of a multi-modal trail station on Town property. To date, no funds have been allocated. The Town also coordinated with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Rail Office on a stimulus funding application. This application has also not been awarded funds yet. The Town remains committed to this project as a top priority and continues to investigate funding options that leverage local funds in the most advantageous manner. Staff will provide any other information at the meeting, and the Boards can discuss issues related to this item as necessary. No Attachments b) Elizabeth Brady Road Alternative Solutions Following up on the Town's decision to support the no build alternative for Elizabeth Brady Road, the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) undertook some traffic analysis within Hillsborough to determine the viability of some alternative projects that were already planned and supported. A September 20, 2010 memorandum regarding alternatives to Elizabeth Brady Road is attached. (An attachment to this memo -the Churton Street Congestion Analysis Report - is available electronically -see below.) This information informed the Town's request to shift funding from the Brady project to a number of other projects during recent TIP discussions. The NCDOT response to the Town's (and MPO's) request was somewhat vague. At the recent quarterly meeting with NCDOT officials, it was agreed that a meeting would be scheduled to discuss the topic in more detail and pursue a potential agreement. Staff will provide any other information at the meeting, and the Boards can discuss issues related to this item as necessary. Attachment 3-b-1 - 9/20/10 Memorandum Regarding Alternatives to Elizabeth Brady Road Attachment 3-b-2 - Churton Street Congestion Analysis Report (Available electronically of www.co.oran_ge.nc.us under "Meeting Agendas" - Board of County Commissioners, Joint Meeting with Hillsborough -February 24, 2011) Attachment 3-b-3 -12/15/09 Board of County Commissioners' Resolution Endorsing The No-Build Alternative For Tip Project Number 03808, Elizabeth Brady Road Extension And Supporting Funding For Improving Traffic Flow In Hillsborough 5 c) Memorandum of Agreement Between Orange County and Hillsborough for Circulator Transit Route In May 2009, the Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution endorsing a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) that includes three (3) years operating assistance for an intra-Hillsborough transit route. The CMAQ Program is a reimbursement program. The County must budget funding for the CMAQ project and establish an account for expending funds until NCDOT provides reimbursement for eligible project costs. Staff submitted a revised application in June 2010 to reflect changes in the proposed transit route and implementation schedule, along with associated emissions reduction calculations. The North Carolina Department of Transportation, in October 2010, approved a Supplemental Agreement for the project that reflects those changes. The Supplemental Agreement: • Moves project funding to Federal Fiscal Years 2011, 2012 and 2013 (from 2009, 2010 and 2011; • Provides for NCDOT to reimburse the County 100% of eligible project costs in FY 2011 (up to $198,000 of operating assistance); and • Provides 80% of operating costs up to $130,680 a year for years 2012 and 2013. The Hillsborough Town Manager has provided a letter of intent to pay the 20% local match for the first three years of transit operations based on estimates for the service provided by Orange Public Transportation. Before initiating the service, Orange County and the Town of Hillsborough should have a written document in place that specifies responsibilities of each jurisdiction for the new transit service. Attached is a draft Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to be reviewed and approved by each jurisdiction. The County and Town Boards should direct staff regarding any revisions to be made before each Board considers approval of the MOA. Staff will provide any other information at the meeting, and the Boards can discuss issues related to this item as necessary. Attachment 3-c -Draft Intra-Hillsborough Circulator Route Memorandum of Agreement Between Orange County, North Carolina and the Town of Hillsborough, North Carolina d) Draft Safe Routes to School Action Plan Orange County received a Safe Routes to School Action Plan Service Award in July 2008 to receive planning assistance to prepare an Action Plan for Grady A. Brown Elementary School, Cameron Park Elementary School and C.W. Stanford Middle School. Orange County's application was one of 16 applications selected throughout the state to receive the planning assistance. The North Carolina Department of Transportation, in 2009, contracted Greenways Incorporated and Greene Transportation Solutions to work with County staff, local agency representatives, School Team leaders and principals of the three schools to identify non- motorized infrastructure improvements that will enhance safety for walking and bicycling and to identify educational and encouragement strategies directed to students, parents and the overall community. 6 The adopted plan will enhance opportunities for Orange County and the Town of Hillsborough to obtain Safe Routes to School (SRTS) grants to implement the Action Plan. Federal Safe Routes to School funding must go through the local and state Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) process. The SRTS Program is a reimbursement program that does not require a local match (100% federally funded). When applying for federal reimbursement grants, the County and the Town should budget funds for the project, and set up accounts for expending those funds until the North Carolina Department of Transportation has reimbursed project costs. Attached is a PowerPoint presentation providing information about the Safe Routes to School Program and the process of developing Orange County's Action Plan. The draft Action Plan will be available on Orange County's website in March. Staff will provide any other information at the meeting, and the Boards can discuss issues related to this item as necessary. Attachment 3-d -Orange County SRTS PowerPoint Presentation e) Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Issues Related to I- 85 and I-40 The I-85 and I-40 widening projects were flagged for further discussion with NCDOT during recent TIP discussions. The concern with the I-85 project relates to the desire from both the Town and County to have interchange work completed as soon as possible. The Town and County have jointly requested that the interchanges be completed first, with actual widening to occur later. Given the spacing of the interchanges, NCDOT has raised safety concerns regarding pursuing the Town and County request. The two governing boards may want to discuss their continued support for this phasing request. Related to the I-40 widening, concern has been raised that the cost of this project absorbs too much of the funding that can come to Orange County under the equity formula. The governing boards may wish to discuss alternatives to the full widening of this stretch of interstate andlor support for funding this project outside the equity formula and possible responses/requests to NCDOT. Staff will provide any other information at the meeting, and the Boards can discuss issues related to this item as necessary. No Attachments 4. Parks a) Update on Riverwalk The Town Board of Commissioners, at its February 14, 2011 meeting, authorized Town staff to move forward with the release of a Request for Proposals/Request for Qualifications (RFP/RFQ} for a feasibility study and bridge design work on the remaining portions of Riverwalk. This work will look at design consideration to extend Riverwalk both east and west from the current Gold Park location - constructing a connection to the Occoneechee Mountain trails as well as extending east to downtown, River Park and the Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trails. This effort is expected to cost about $100,000 and take the remainder of 2011 to complete. This will allow the Town to be properly positioned to apply for a Parks and Recreation Trust Funds (PARTF) grant for design and construction in 2012. To date the Town has spent $2 million on Gold Park, nearly $1 million on land acquisition, and expects the remaining construction to cost $2 million. The Town has also secured nearly $1 million of grant funds to date to assist with these expenditures. Staff will provide any other information at the meeting, and the Boards can discuss issues related to this item as necessary. No Attachments b) Future of Fairview Park Construction of Fairview Park is nearly completed, with a few small amenities and facilities remaining. Final "punchlist" items and closeout work will continue into March with warmer weather. A grand opening is being planned, in conjunction with the Fairview neighborhood residents group and the two Boards, for early-April. Upon opening, Fairview Park will be a 12-acre facility with a basebalUsoftball field, basketball courts, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, trails and other amenities. Because of the successful joint County/Town Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF} grant and the availability of payment- in-lieu funds, it has been possible to effectively complete Phase II of the parkin conjunction with the originally-planned Phase I. As the project moves forward, the two Boards may wish to discuss the intermediate and long- term vision for the facility's operation and maintenance. Fairview Park has a long history that involved both Town and County actions, proposals and agreements. A sampling of this shared history is attached. Staff will provide any other information at the meeting, and the Boards can discuss issues related to this item as necessary. Attachment 4-b-1 -Chronological Timeline of Activities Leading to the Creation of the Park, including Meetings that discussed the Potential Collaborative Relationship between the Two Jurisdictions Attachment 4-b-2 -Copies of Memoranda of Agreement (2) between the County and Town on the Planning, Design and other Logistical Components of the Park Attachment 4-b-3 - Vicinity Map Showing the Park Location in Context of the Surrounding Area Attachment 4-b-4 -Sections of the Joint County/Town PARTF Grant Application Attachment 4-b-5 -Minutes from Past Meetings Dating to 1997 Regarding the Park Attachment 4-b-6 -Excerpt from Town of Hillsborough FY 2010-11 Approved Budget for Fai-view Park 8 FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct financial impact associated with discussion of these topics. There are no action items requiring formal Board decisions. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Managers recommend the Boards discuss the topics listed and provide appropriate direction to the respective staffs.