HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-03-1997 - 9d 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS .
Action Agenda
I tem No q-d
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 3, 1997
SUBJECT: Adoption of the Senior Centers Development Plan: 1996-2000
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DEPARTMENT Aging PUBLIC HEARING YES NO x
BUDGET AMENDMENT YES NO x
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ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT
Jerry M. Passmore, ext. 2000
Funding Proposal Linda Rahija,Co-chair, Planning
Beth Barba, Co-chair, Planning
TELEPHONE NUMBER
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Mebane 227-2031
Durham 688-7331
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PURPOSE: To adopt the Senior Centers Development Plan: 1996-2000
submitted to the BOCC on August 20, 1996 as information,
recognize the members of the Centers Development Plan
Committee for their work and receive additional funding
information on the Plan prepared by the Orange County
Advisory Board on Aging' s Planning Task Force.
BACKGROUND:
The Orange County Commissioners approved in May, 1994 the
establishment of a county wide Senior Centers Development
Plan Committee and a planning process. The Committee' s
charge was to prepare a long-range county plan for developing
senior citizens centers in to the 21st Century. After a year
and a half of planning, which included a review of past
reports, center operations and demographic projections, and
site visits, preparation of an Interim Report, presentations
to the Town Boards of Hillsborough, Chapel Hill and Carrboro
plus nine public hearings, the final report was prepared for
BOCC review at the August 20th meeting. At the Commissioners
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meeting it was pointed out the need for additional
information about facility costs, sources of funds and the
priority of phasing in the facilities over the next four
years or more. The Advisory Board on Aging' s Planning
committee convened a task Force in November and December and
prepared a Funding Proposal Report for the Commissioners.
(Attachment)
FUTURE SENIOR CENTERS: THE PLAN RECObMNDATIONS.
Specifically, the Development Plan recommends the following:
(1) Establish a large multipurpose Senior Center in
Hillsborough.
(2) Purchase the existing Chapel Hill multipurpose Senior
Center and adjoining space for adult day care and other
multipurpose activities.
(3) Develop and expand satellite outreach senior programs
located in the population areas of Carrboro, Efland-
Cheeks Community Center, Cedar Grove-Northern Orange
Community Center and Chapel Hill/Northside area at the
Southern Orange Senior Center.
(4) Encourage the development of Friends organization at all
Senior Center facilities for community ownership,
financial support as well as volunteers.
(5) Support for the two multipurpose senior Centers should
come from a funding alliance with their respective town
(Chapel Hill or Hillsborough) , the County and the Friends
of each Center.
(6) Management of the two multipurpose senior centers would
be the responsibility of the Orange County Department on
Aging and the coordination of services at the four
decentralized satellite senior programs.
(7) The Orange County Advisory Board on Aging would be
responsible for reviewing the implementation of the
adopted Senior Centers Plan on an annual basis and report
back to the County Commissioners.
(8) The Orange County Department on Aging in cooperation with
the Advisory Board on Aging would develop a funding plan
by December, 1996 for the facility expansion or
improvements approved in the Senior Centers Plan.
RECObbENDATION(S) Assuming Board approval of the Senior Centers
Development Plan, the County Manager recommends forwarding the plan to
the Capital Facility Needs Advisory Task Force to consider the funding
of the large multipurpose Centers in Hillsborough and Chapel Hill.
FN:AB70203B.Doc
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Funding Proposal
for
The Orange County Senior Centers Development Plan: 1996-2000
prepared by
Orange County Advisory Board on Aging's Planning Task Force
January, 1997
On August 20, 1996 the final report on the Orange County Senior Centers
Development Plan: 1996-2000 was submitted to the Board of County Commissioners
prepared by the appointed Senior Centers Development Plan Committee. While the final
report provided a"vision"- recommending a large multipurpose Senior Center in
Hillsborough and in Chapel Hill with satellite outreach programs in Carrboro, Chapel
Hill/Northside area, Efland-Cheeks and Cedar Grove areas, it did not include a funding
plan. In considering the Senior Centers Development Plan, the County Commissioners
pointed out the need for additional information about facility costs, sources of funds and
the staging of the facility construction, purchase, expansion or improvement.
As a result of County Commissioner comments, the Advisory Board on Aging's Planning
Committee convened a Task Force which included the Senior Centers Development Plan
Committee to focus on the funding issues. The Task Force's purpose was to have a
funding plan by December, 1996. Linda Rahija and Beth Ellen Barba, co-chaired the two
funding task force meetings. The first meeting focussed on prioritizing the senior center
facilities while the second meeting addressed the financing- estimated costs, the sources of
funds and the staging of the facility projects.
At the first Task Force meeting on November 4th, members ranked the top facilities along
with listing the positives and the negatives of each facility in the the plan. The concensus
was that all the facilities in the plan were important, but the top priority was a new
Hillsborough Multipurpose Senior Center which would better serve central and
northern Orange County. The current Hillsborough Center is centrally located in the
Whiffed Human Services Center, but there are only three rooms which are small and
scattered within the building. Because of its limited space, governmental location and
lack of outdoor signage, many people are either unaware of the Hillsborough Center's
existence or feel it is designed for low income or frail older adults. A more visible facility
with adequate space would better serve the large number of senior citizens in this part of
the county. The current Chapel EBB Senior Center(located in the Galleria shopping
center)was considered the second priority as it serves the largest number of seniors in
an excellent location, but in a leased facility with no assurance beyond the year 2001 that
the Center would remain there. Members expressed a desire to purchase the facility if at
all possible as well as the adjoining space in order to protect the upfit investment of over
$200,000 by the Friends of the Chapel Hill Senior Center.
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The second Task Force meeting on December 2nd divided members into groups to
address funding issues: (1)funding sources and (2)phasing in the building and renovation
of the Senior Center facilities. The Senior Centers Plan cost estimates of $6,815,000
were reviewed with members. The primary funding sources identified were the towns, the
university, state grants, corporations, sales tax, foundations, and a county bond. It was
felt that the large facilities were more appropriately funded with a county bond similiar to
other North Carolina counties like New Hanover and Lee. Community support such as a
"Friends of the Hillsborough Senior Center" or individual memorials, wills, annuities or
in-kind gifts such as donated land, especially in Hillsborough were mentioned. Members
also pointed out the need for adequate staffing for senior centers and specific activities. It
was felt that Friends organizations would be a good resource for operations and staffing
assistance.
The Task Force was in agreement that the Senior Centers Plan should be funded in its
entirety, but phased in according to facility priority,type of project,funding source
and amount. In reviewing each senior center project, the following funding plan chart
was developed.
Chart: Senior Centers Development Funding Plan
Facility Completion Project
Priority Project Tyne Cost Estimate Date Duration Funding Tv ►pe/Amt
1.Hillsborough Construction $2,025,000 Dec.,1999 36 mos Co. Bond-100%
. Sr. Center - 15,000 sq.ft
2. Chapel Hill Purchase- $3,000,000 Dec.,1998 24 mos Co. Bond-80%
Sr . Center 30,000 sq.ft. Chapel Hill-20%
3. Northern Renovation/ $ 20,000 June,1998 18 mos Sales tax-1001/6
Orange Center Add Deck
4. Southern/ Renovation $ 20,000 Dec.,1998 24 mos Sales tax-100%
Northside Ctr,
5. Efland - Addition- $ 112,500 Dec.,2000 48 mos Sales tax-100%
Cheeks Center 1,500 sq.ft
6. Carrboro Construction $ 750,000 Dec.,2000 48 mos Co. Bond-80%
Sr. Center - 6,000 sq.ft. Carrboro-20%
Thus, the larger construction or purchase facility projects in the Senior Centers
Development Plan should be financed,from a county bond and town funds. The smaller
renovation or addition projects should be financed through the CIP from sales taxes.
It hoped this funding plan will provide direction in reaching a decision on the Senior
Centers Development Plan.
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