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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4 - Lands Legacy 083104Orange County Ex4r1Y nment & Resource Conservatiorl 306-A Revere Road / PO Box 8181. Hillsborough, NC 27278 Phone: (919) 245-2590, Fax: (91.9) 644-3351 MEMORANDUM TO: Board of Commissioners John Link, County Manager FROM: David Stanci'1, Envronment and Resource Conservation Director OP i DATE: August 20, 2004 RE: Lands and Related Funding Sources - Status Report The following pages contain a status report of five different funding sources that are either dedicated for Lands Legacy, or have been used to fund Lands Legacy acquisitions. Some, such as the School/Park Reserve and the Subdivision Payment-in-Lieu fund, provide funding to more than just Lands Legacy acquisitions. Others, such as the 2001 Parks and Open Space Bond (Lands Legacy component) or the Lands Legacy Opportunities Fund, are tied to the program. I feel confident in stating that the first four years of the Lands Legacy program have been a rousing success. In its first four years of operation, funding provided by the Board has enabled acquisitions (completed and pending) of 1300 acres of critical resource lands and/or future park sites. This has been accomplished in conjunction with avariety of partners and over $2.7 million in Federal and State grant funds - which these local funds allowed us to leverage. Given the fact that the County had practically no land holdings for resource conservation or parks prior to the Lands Legacy Program, this has been a dramatic increase largely "from scratch." The status report would tend to indicate that the availability of funds to accomplish our list of short-term priorities varies from one funding source to another, The burgeoning interest in conservation easements over the past three years has largely exhausted currently available funds for easements (another $1 million in easement funding is scheduled for the upcoming two fiscal years in the CIP). Funding for new park sites and other publicly- accessible lands is available in the short-term, however funding needs for the remaining priority projects in the Lands Legacy Action Plans and longer-term priorities will outstrip available funds in the intermediate term (fiscal year 2006-07 and beyond). I have worked with the Budget Director Donna Dean and Finance Director Ken Chavious to ensure that these figures are as accurate as possible. Even so, there are some areas where complete information was not available in time for the August 31 worksession (such as funds expended from subdivision payment-in-lieu funds in the late 1980's and early 1990's). The incomplete figures represent only a small portion of the total fund balance, and we will continue to work to identify these older appropriations or expenses that are not yet reflected in coming months. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Copies: Geof Gledhill, County Attorney Ken Chavious, Finance Director Donna Dean, Budget Director Rich Shaw, Land Conservation Manager 2- 1, (Total Funds Approved in Bond- $7,000,000) Expenditures to Date from this Source Blackwood Farm (future New Hope Park) $743,000 1 FY 03-04 1 -For many projects, multiple funding sources used. This figure represents the amount from this funding source only. Encumbered Funds I Acquisitions Underway Adams Tract (part) I - $35,000 FY 04 -05 New park site (southern Orange County) 1 $1,245,000] FY 04-05 Available Unencumbered Funds: $1,477,000 ($4,977,000 including $3.5 million not yet appropriated) Projected Future Expenditures — Next Two Years Examples identified through the Action Plan or other documents (Note — some of these projects have not been approved, and additional priorities exist — see Attachment 2 go", 1"OEMMIMEEM 101111 1 Lower New Hope Creek Corridor (trail lands) $150,000 FY 04-05 Jordan Lake Macrosite (connect Jordan Lake lands with $300,000 FY 04-05 UNC lands, working with partners) Bolin Creek corridor (with Chapel Hill and Carrboro?) $1,000,000 FY04-05 and beyond Northern Chapel Hill Township Rustic Woodland Trail $300,000 FY04-05 (connections linking Duke Forest with Town and County and beyond parks and greenways) Occoneechee Mountain $25,000 FY 04-05 Seven-Mile Creek Preserve (additional lands including $2,500,000 FY 04-05 Public Access Areas) and beyond North-Central Orange park site $300,000 FY 04-05 / FY 05-06 Southwest Orange park site $600,000 FY 04-05 / FY 05-06 Eno Township park site $600,000 FY 05-06 Twin Creeks/Moniese Nomp additional lands $200,000 FY 04-05 TOTAL $5,975,000 N 2. Lands Legacy 1`111 Fund (annual 'pay-as-you-go' funds) A•• . • . • 0 . s. - $1,590,000 (over last 6 fiscal years) McGowan Creek Preserve $78,548 FY 99 -00 Victor Walters Farm. Easement $108,000 FY 00 -01 Seven -Mile Creek Preserve (Mayes Hill Ltd.) $68,395 FY 01 -02 Seven -Mile Creek Preserve (Mayes Hill Ltd.) $68,395 FY 02 -03 Seven -Mile Creek Preserve (Mayes Hill Ltd.) $68,395 FY 03 -04 Seven -Mile Creek Preserve (Mayes Hill Ltd.) $68,395 FY 04 -05 Shy Farm Conservation Easement (donation) $1,750 FY 02 -03 Steep Bottom Branch Conservation Easement $83,700 FY 03 -04 Eno River Association request (Eno Wilderness, Poplar Grove) $55,000 FY 03 -04 Confluence of the Eno easement (Volpe) $3,138 FY 03 -04 Blackwood Farm stewardship (fence, signs) $5,000 FY 03 -04 Miscellaneous closing costs for acquisitions $32,000 Throughout TOTAL $640,716 1- For many projects, multiple funding sources used. This figure represents the amount from this funding source only. New Hope Creek corridor (Hope Creek Ltd.) $3,600 FY 04 -05 Little River Park stewardship (Laws House) $11,000 FY 04 -05 Seven -Mile Creek Preserve (Mayes - final installment) $68,395 FY 05 -06 New Hope Creek trail easement $30,000 FY 04 -05 Seven -Mile Creek -area easement $150,000 04- 05/05 -06 2004 -06 Closing Costs etc $25,000 FY 04 -06 Conservation Easement Fund shortfall (see next age) $26,259 FY 04 -05 Blackwood farm stewardship (farmstead buildings) $40,000 FY 04 -05 TOTAL $354,254 Projected Future Expenditures The Opportunities Fund is designed to provide funds for acquisition objectives that may become available but are not specifically targeted in the Lands Legacy Action Plan. Opportunities that may arise in the next few years include: • Additional farm conservation easements beyond existing funds • Additional conservation easements and acquisitions along New Hope Creek • Prime Forestland easements (Upper New Hope Creek Forest, others) • Nature Preserves • Closing costs and environmental assessments for acquisitions • Augment other funding sources as funds permit 11 3. Lands Legacy Conservation Easements Fund Funds Appropriated (as of 7-1-04):, $2,000,000 (Total Funds Approved through FY 07: $3,000,000) ditures to Date from this Source Walters Farm Conservation Easement $378,614 FY 03-04 Confluence of the Eno Easement (Volpe) $73,100 FY 03-04 Lemola Ayrshire Farm Easement (Cheek) $344,545 FY 03-04 TOTAL $796,259 I For many projects, multiple funding sources used. This figure represents the amount from this funding source only. Encumbered Funds /Acquisitions Un Ira Ward Farm Easement $220,000 FY 04-05 Cane Creek-area Farm Easements (OWASA 50%)3 $243,741 FY 04-05 Laws Family Farm Easement- estimate 4 $310,000 FY 04-05 Breeze Farm Easement — estimate $240,000 FY 04-05 Kirk Family Farm Easement — estimate $190,000 FY 04-05 TOTAL $1,203,741 2 -- Costs are current best estimates. 3 - Shortfall of $26,259 to come from opportunities Fund until balance replenished 4 - County funds only - does not include 50% of the cost coming from USDA Available Unencumbered Funds: $0 ($1,000,000 including funds not yet appropriated) Projected Future Expenditures The Conservation Easements Fund is designed to provide funds for acquisition of conservation easements — non-public access lands cannot be funded by the 2001 bond funds. Currently, around 15 additional farms and owners of lands of natural resource significance, have expressed interest in selling or donating easements. The total acreage of these properties (not all of the acreage would necessarily be in an easement) is 2,250 acres. A projected total cost estimate to acquire easements for these properties (assuming 75% acreage) would be in the general range of $6,750,000. 5 Funds Appropriated to Date (including interest earnings): $3,434,841 Expenditures to Date from this Source-,fs",. I For many projects, multiple funding sources used. This figure represents the amount from this funding source only. None Available Unencumbered Funds: $391,292 FY 99-00 FY 01-02 FY 01-02 Projected Future Expenditures The School/Park Reserve Fund is designed to provide funds for acquisition of lands for schools and park sites, particularly where potential co-location or proximity location exists. From 1995-96 through 1999 one cent on the County's tax rate was earmarked for the fund. In 2000, as a result of a board policy, the amount was changed 1/3-cent. In'2003 and 2004, no appropriation was made. The School/Park Reserve Fund Policy in 2000 identified the methods of using these funds, and noted that an immediate school/park nexus need not be apparent at the time of expenditure. Projected future uses of this fund may include other potential co-located or proximity- located schools and park sites. I 5. Parlo and Open Space — Subdivision Payment-in-Lieu Funds Funds Collected to Dates : $873,672 '7 —does not include expenditures paid out before April 2001 (Little River Park, other) ditures Since April 2001 from this Source Seven-Mile Creek Preserve (Mayes Hill Ltd.) $260,000 Installments FY01-02 thru 05-06 Twin Creeks (MonieseNomp) $50,000 FY 01-02 Blackwood farm (future New Hope Park) $117,000 FY 01-02 Northern Park (NHSQ additional lands $11,481 FY 03-04 Little River Park facilities $40,000 FY 03-04 TOTAL $478,481 prior to April 2001. Encumbered Funds /Acquisitions Unde New Park – southern $30,000? 1 FY 04-05 Available Unencumbered Funds: Funds are collected and must be expended by district. The following is the estimate of available funds for each district park district as of July 1: Northern District $120,147 Cheeks/Hillsborough District $122,159 Bingham District $118,336, Chapel Hill Township District $16,030 6 - Available funds and expended/encumbered funds show a differential of $12,000, reflecting funds used prior to April 2001. Projected Future Expenditures The Parks and Open Space Subdivision Payment-in-Lieu program is designed to provide funds to help purchase lands and provide park facilities for different areas of the County. Each new subdivision pays an amount based on number of lots created. The funds are paid into accounts for 4 geographic districts, and these funds must be expended in that district for parkland acquisition or facilities to serve the residents in the district. It is anticipated that this funding source would in part help to pay for the acquisition of lands for the future North-Central, Southwest Orange and Eno Township parks, as well as helping to pay for facilities at existing parks such as Efland-Cheeks, Fairview, or other parks. c°aQ0 Lo I PC 'PC WWA PC c°aQ0 Lo I