HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD-2016-036 Ordinance approving Budget Amendment #2-A for Fiscal Year 2016-17 1
ORD-2016-036
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 18, 2016
Action Agenda
Item No. 7-c
SUBJECT: Designation of the "Headwaters Nature Preserve" and Approval of Budget
Amendment #2-A
DEPARTMENT: County Manager, Environment,
Agriculture, Parks & Recreation
(DEAPR)
ATTACHMENTS INFORMATION CONTACT:
1. Context Map - Headwaters Preserve Bonnie Hammersley, 245-2300
2. Resolution David Stancil, 245-2510
3. Map of Natural Features Rich Shaw, 245-2514
PURPOSE: To officially designate a 60-acre parcel of land owned by the County as open
space and low-impact recreation within the County's Lands Legacy Program, reimburse the
Solid Waste Enterprise Fund for the acquisition of the land, and approve Budget Amendment
#2-A.
BACKGROUND: In 1998, the Solid Waste Interlocal Agreement provided for the transfer of
a 60.0-acre parcel of land formerly part of the jointly-owned Greene Tract (held in common
by the County, the Town of Chapel Hill and the Town of Carrboro) as part of the transfer of
Solid Waste activities to Orange County from the Landfill Owners Group. This land (see
Attachment 1) is located south of Eubanks Road, north of Chapel Hill, and was identified by
the County and then subdivided from the Greene Tract after an investigation of the natural
and cultural resources of the site and the potential for other County interests and uses. The
official transfer of the land ownership occurred on February 19, 2003.
On several occasions over the past 15 years, discussion has arisen regarding the ultimate
plans for the County's 60-acres. In response to a request about plans for the to-be-
designated County 60 acre tract, a March 24, 2000 letter from then-Board of Commissioners
Chair Moses Carey, Jr. to the mayors of Chapel Hill and Carrboro including the following
language about this 60-acre area:
`This area was selected after considerable discussion and review of site
characteristics, and offers an opportunity to preserve important hardwood forest areas
on this tract while also providing for possible rail line access to the southeast. It is the
intent of the current Board of Commissioners that this sixty acres remain undisturbed.'
While many other discussions have taken place over the intervening years, no statement of
intent or further plan for the County's 60 acres has been adopted. (A link to historical
information on the Greene Tract that was provided on September 8 may be found here -
http://server3.co.orange.nc.us:8088/weblink8/0/doc/42513/Pagel.aspx.)
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At the Board's September 8, 2016 work session, the Board indicated agreement with moving
ahead to take formal action to codify the plan for the County's 60 acres at an upcoming
Board meeting.
The attached resolution would take four actions consistent with Board discussion of
September 8:
• Formally announce the intention of the County's 60 acres to be used for open space
and low-impact recreation.
• Transfer and "enroll" the property into the County's Lands Legacy Program with the
name of "Headwaters Nature Preserve," in keeping with the County's parks and open
space naming categories from the adopted "Parks and Recreation Master Plan —
2030."
• Authorize the reimbursement of the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund for the property,
consistent with budget and Capital Investment Plan (CIP) approvals in June for FY
2016-17.
• Direct staff to return with a plan for implementation and opening of the Nature
Preserve (consistent with the planning for the adjoining Greene Tract).
The name "Headwaters Nature Preserve" is suggested since the Headwaters of Old Field
Creek is located on the 60-acre parcel. However, this name is also applicable to the 104-acre
Greene Tract, since the headwaters of Bolin Creek and Booker Creek are on that property. If
the ultimate plan for the 107-acre Greene Tract continues to have an open space component
that is contiguous to the proposed 60-acre Headwaters Preserve, perhaps that designation
could be extended onto the like sections of the Greene Tract — creating a larger contiguous
"Headwaters Nature Preserve".
As noted at the September 8th meeting, Orange County now has a Lands Legacy Program
that is 16 years old with a long track record of conserving important natural and cultural
resource lands. The action to enroll the land in the Lands Legacy Program would give the
land a standing consistent with the other 1,043 acres of nature preserves and parks in the
Lands Legacy Program.
Funding for the reimbursement to the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund was approved as part of
the budget and would be appropriated via this action.
It is recommended that staff undertake an assessment of the 60 acres (see Attachment 3) to
determine the status of the resources present, including the "volunteer" trails that have
evolved by public usage over time. This will enable staff to identify needed improvements to
make trails more accessible and address any erosion problems, review the status of any
cultural or archaeological resources present, and look to answers for access and other
related infrastructure needs. The County's 60 acres is landlocked, and any future access
may have to come through the 107-acre Greene Tract, so linkage and consistency with the
planning for the jointly-held property is of paramount consideration.
An initial review of the plan recommendations and overview map indicate a vision for future
land uses on the proposed Headwaters Nature Preserve that are consistent with the plan
described above — the overview map shows "Conservation Priority" for these 60 acres. There
are, however, a number of new proposals for adjoining lands.
3
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The adopted Capital Investment Plan for FY 2016-17 (Year 1)
includes $668,178 for reimbursement to the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund for this 60-acre
property. The original capital project ordinance included anticipated financing proceeds for
the reimbursement, but staff is now recommending a combination of pay-as-you-go funding
($549,000) and a transfer of available funds ($119,178) from the Lands Legacy Capital
Project, due to the property being a County asset and the reimbursement is coming from the
General Fund to the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund. Currently, there is approximately $3.1
million available in the Lands Legacy Capital Project to cover the transfer portion, and the
pay-as-you-go funding will come from substituting five (5) County Capital Projects (Facility
Accessibility and Security Improvements, Hollow Rock Nature Park, River Park — Phase II,
Little River Park — Phase II, and Parks and Recreation Facility Renovations and Repairs)
from pay-as-you-go funding to financing. Staff will bring back, as part of its assessment, cost
estimates for any recommended short-term and long-term improvements to the nature
preserve, consistent with other nature park and nature preserves.
This Budget Amendment #2-A provides for the following amended Capital Project
Ordinances:
Lands Legacy(-$119,178) — Project#20011
Revenues for this project:
Current FY FY 2016-17 FY 2016-17
2016-17 Amendment Revised
From General Fund (PAYG) $204,500 ($119,178) $85,322
Alternative Financing $3,251,472 $3,251,472
Donations $1,000 $1,000
Appropriated Fund Balance $9,337 $9,337
Total Project Funding $3,466,309 ($119,178) $3,347,131
Appropriated for this project:
Current FY FY 2016-17 FY 2016-17
2016-17 Amendment Revised
Lands Legacy Program $3,466,309 ($119,178) $3,347,131
Total Costs $3,466,309 ($119,178) $3,347,131
Facility Accessibility and Security Improvements — Project# 30001
Revenues for this project:
Current FY FY 2016-17 FY 2016-17
2016-17 Amendment Revised
From General Fund (PAYG) $310,000 ($190,000) $120,000
Alternative Financing $129,000 $190,000 $319,000
Total Project Funding $439,000 $0 $439,000
Appropriated for this project:
Current FY FY 2016-17 FY 2016-17
2016-17 Amendment Revised
Equipment $25,000 $0 $25,000
Construction $414,000 $0 $414,000
Total Costs $439,000 $0 $439,000
4
Hollow Rock Nature Park- Project# 20027
Revenues for this project:
Current FY FY 2016-17 FY 2016-17
2016-17 Amendment Revised
From General Fund (PAYG) $237,500 ($112,500) $125,000
Alternative Financing $0 $112,500 $112,500
Historic Preservation Grant $215,000 $0 $215,000
From Chapel Hill $37,500 $0 $37,500
From Durham County $117,500 $0 $117,500
Appropriated Fund Balance $12,500 $0 $12,500
Total Project Funding $620,000 $0 $620,000
Appropriated for this project:
Current FY FY 2016-17 FY 2016-17
2016-17 Amendment Revised
Equipment $5,000 $0 $5,000
Triangle Land Conservancy $70,000 $0 $70,000
Professional Services $40,000 $0 $40,000
Construction $505,000 $0 $505,000
Total Costs $620,000 $0 $620,000
River Park (Phase II) - Project# 20032
Revenues for this project:
Current FY FY 2016-17 FY 2016-17
2016-17 Amendment Revised
From General Fund (PAYG) $50,000 ($50,000) $0
Alternative Financing $300,000 $50,000 $350,000
Total Project Funding $350,000 $0 $350,000
Appropriated for this project:
Current FY FY 2016-17 FY 2016-17
2016-17 Amendment Revised
Construction $350,000 $0 $350,000
Total Costs $350,000 $0 $350.000
Little River Park (Phase II) - Project#20040
Revenues for this project:
Current FY FY 2016-17 FY 2016-17
2016-17 Amendment Revised
From General Fund (PAYG) $100,000 ($50,000) $50,000
Alternative Financing $0 $50,000 $50,000
Contribution from Durham County $100,000 $0 $100,000
Total Project Funding $200,000 $0 $200,000
Appropriated for this project:
Current FY FY 2016-17 FY 2016-17
2016-17 Amendment Revised
Professional Services $25,000 $0 $25,000
Construction $175,000 $0 $175,000
Total Costs $200,000 $0 $200,000
5
Parks and Recreation Facility Renovations and Repairs — Project#20039
Revenues for this project:
Current FY FY 2016-17 FY 2016-17
2016-17 Amendment Revised
From General Fund (PAYG) $680,808 ($146,500) $534,308
2/3 Net Debt Bonds $2,539 $0 $2,539
Alternative Financing $0 $146,500 $146,500
Other $97,842 $0 $97,842
Total Project Funding $806,500 $0 $806,500
Appropriated for this project:
Current FY FY 2016-17 FY 2016-17
2016-17 Amendment Revised
Equipment $245,213 $0 $245,213
Professional Services $28,500 $0 $28,500
Construction $532,787 $0 $532,787
Total Costs $806,500 $0 $806,500
Land Acquisition — Headwaters Nature Preserve — Project# 20044
Revenues for this project:
Current FY FY 2016-17 FY 2016-17
2016-17 Amendment Revised
From General Fund (PAYG) $0 $549,000 $549,000
From Lands Legacy Funds $0 $119,178 $119,178
Alternative Financing $668,178 ($668,178) $0
Total Project Funding $668,178 $0 $668,178
Appropriated for this project:
Current FY FY 2016-17 FY 2016-17
2016-17 Amendment Revised
Land Acquisition $668,178 $0 $668,178
Total Costs $668,178 $0 $668,178
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are
applicable to this agenda item:
• GOAL: FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND
INEQUITY
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race or color;
religious or philosophical beliefs; sex, gender or sexual orientation; national origin or
ethnic background; age; military service; disability; and familial, residential or economic
status.
• GOAL: CREATE A SAFE COMMUNITY
The reduction of risks from vehicle/traffic accidents, childhood and senior injuries, gang
activity, substance abuse and domestic violence.
The creation of the Headwaters Nature Preserve will offer low-impact recreational and
healthy lifestyle opportunities for the nearby neighborhoods, as well as the community at-
large. Walking the trails and communing with nature has been shown to improve physical
and mental health, and the trails and open space will help provide for a safe community by
offering opportunities for healthy outdoor activity in a natural setting for area children,
reducing the risk of vehicles/traffic accidents from play in streets and offering alternatives to
less-productive or destructive group activities, among other positive impacts.
6
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board consider and approve the
attached resolution, with changes and revisions as needed and authorize the Chair to sign
the resolution as approved by the Board. Staff will be directed to begin the process of
developing a report on the nature preserve and plans to address any needed safety and
access provisions toward an opening date in the future.
The resolution will be shared with the elected boards of the towns of Chapel Hill and
Carrboro, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools Board of Education, and the current Greene
Tract staff working group.
Attachment 1 Headwaters Nature Preserve - Context Map 7
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Land Records GIS Division
- Duke Forest 9/27/2016
RES-2016-064 Attachment 2 8
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION
To Designate and Create the "Headwaters Nature Preserve"
WHEREAS, Orange County owns 60 acres of land south of Eubanks Road, west of Purefoy
Drive, north of Homestead Road and west of the North Carolina Railroad on the north side of
Chapel Hill; and
WHEREAS, the location of this property makes it conducive for public open space and low
impact recreation — including trails, picnic tables and wildlife viewing areas — for the
surrounding neighborhoods and the Rogers-Eubanks community; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners of March, 2000 — citing the
natural resources present on site - expressed an intention to keep this 60 acres of land
undisturbed; and
WHEREAS, a 2002 master plan for the adjoining 104-acre Greene Tract reflected open
space as an important and contiguous future land use, and recent planning efforts for the
Greene Tract continue to show open space and low-impact recreation as a recommended
part of the mix of future uses; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners adopted an FY 2016-17
budget that included funds to reimburse the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund for this property;
and
WHEREAS, on September 8, 2016 the Board expressed a desire to move forward with
designation of the 60-acre suite for open space and low-impact recreation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
That the Orange County Board of County Commissioners hereby designates this 60-acre
property as the "Headwater Nature Preserve' and take the following actions:
1. That this 60-acre property be assigned for use as publicly-accessible open space and
low-impact recreation, with such usage to begin as soon as practical.
2. That this land be enrolled in the County's Lands Legacy Program, to be protected and
conserved for this designated purposes.
3. That the County Manager and staff be directed to develop a plan for implementation.
This the 18th Day of October 2016.
Earl McKee, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Attachment 3 Headwaters Nature Preserve - Site Map 9
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