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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-23-2004-6aORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 23, 2004 Action Agenda Item No. ~ -G SUBJECT: Resolution -Provision of County Funds for Chapel Hill Greenways Project DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Conservation ATTACHMENT(S): 1) Resolution 2) Town Staff Memorandum INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Stancil, 245-2590 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider a resolution regarding the use of $1 million in 2001 County Parks and Open Space bond funds for Tawn of Chapel Hill greenways expansion. BACKGROUND: In the voter-approved 2001 Parks and Open Space Bond, a total of $1.75 million was allocated for .Joint Town/County Open Space to enhance Town greenway projects that connect Town and County open space networks. This funding originated from requests from the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro for greenways projects, as well as long-standing County interest in inter-connectedness between the open space networks. The amount allocated was identified as $1.0 million toward Chapel Hill projects and $750,000 toward Carrboro projects, with the expectation that each would expand greenways that fit into the bigger picture of tying together Town and Cotanty open spaces, In 2003, the Town of Carrboro asked that the $750,000 allotment he used toward the acquisition of the Adams Tract, which is the entry point of Bolin Creek greenway into Carrboro and a key juncture in the open space network, Contingent on acquisition of this property and the granting of a conservation easement to the County, the Board has tentatively agreed to this project. Also, in early 2003, the Board adopted a collaborative process for working on joint County/Town of Chapel Hill projects to be funded by the 2001 band, using a joint Project Planning Committee (PPC) consisting of elected representatives from the Board and the Town Council, Commissioners Jacobs and Brown serve as the BOCC representatives, with Commissioner Gordon as alternate, This group has overseen the planning and preparatory work for Southern Park and the Homestead Park Aquatics Center, and has recently reviewed the third joint County/Tawn project, that of greenway expansion, On June 7, the PPC met to consider a recommendation for funding of Town greenways projects. Since the County's 2001 bond, the Town has passed a 2003 bond for open space, which includes $5.0 million for several greenway projects, After reviewing the different projects, the PPC recommends that an engineering and design study be undertaken to investigate and recommend a corridor for extending the Bolin Creek Greenway from its current western terminus at Airport Road toward the Carrboro line and the Adams Tract. While substantial lands along this section of the Bolin Creek corridor are in Town or other public ownership, a few land acquisitions may be needed. In addition, the corridor is steep and narrow and two substantial road crossings (Airport Road and Estes Drive Extension) will need to be evaluated, The Town has identified $100,000 far initial engineering and design analysis, although it is expected that the total cost of engineering and design will be exceed this amount (a cost estimate is not yet available). The Town plans to develop and release a Request far Proposals this summer to investigate the cast and scope of the project, and initiate the work with their existing funds, The PPC recommends that $2,0 million in Town funds and the $1.0 million in County funds (2001 band) be allocated to the design and construction of the Bolin Creek Greenway toward Carrboro, to an extent to be defined after the engineering and design study, It is anticipated that the project will extend over multiple fiscal years, with initial County funds needed in late FY 2004-05 or FY 2005-06, The attached resolution would concur with this recommendation and identify these funds for the Bolin Creek Greenway project, Alike resolution along with authorization to proceed with the engineering and design study is also being presented to the Town Council, FINANCIAL IMPACT: A total of $1,0 million was allocated in the 2001 bond for this project, Carrboro has previous requested $750,000 for the Adams Tract, and that amount is available through the current funds and the July 2004 bond sale. The remaining $1.0 million is planned for bond sales in subsequent years, and any expenditures needed prior to bond sales can be covered through these funds, The project is likely to extend over multiple fiscal years, and it is anticipated that funding as shown in the Debt Issuance Schedule will allow the project to be funded in a timely fashion. It is proposed that the process for reimbursement and appropriation used for Southern Park, which is another joint Town/County project overseen by the PPC, be used as well for the distribution of these funds. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the attached resolution identifying Bolin Creek Greenway as the project for County bond finds, as recommended by the PPC; and that project funds be made available in accord with the Debt Issuance Schedule and the process used for fund distribution for Southern Park,. ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION Approval of Bolin Creek Greenway Expansion for 2001 Orange County Parks and Open Space Funds WHEREAS, in 2001, the Towns of Chapel Hill and Garrboro requested that Orange County include funds for greenways projects in the County's fall bond referendum, and WHEREAS, Orange County policy and the 1999 Joint Master Recreation and Parks Work Group Report had identified the interconnection of Town greenways with rural open space networks as a high priority, including the proposed Northern Chapel Hill Township Rustic Woodland Trail connector, and WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Commissioners authorized a total of $1.75 million for Joint Town/County Open Space in the bond for these purposes, and WHEREAS, the 2001 Parks and Open Space Bond was approved by voters, and WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners and Chapel Hill Town Council have agreed upon a collaborative planning process forjoint County/Town projects in the 2001 band through the work of a joint Park Planning Committee (PPC), and WHEREAS, the Orange County-Chapel Hill PPC has recommended that work begin on the engineering, design and eventual constn~ction of the next phase of the Bolin Creek Greenway in Chapel Hill, from Airport Road to Estes Drive Extension, and that the $1.0 million in County bond funds far Chapel Hill greenways projects be appropriated for this project in conjunction with $2.0 million of Town funds, and WHEREAS, the Tawn of Chapel Hill plans to initiate the project using $100,000 of Town funds for the initial phase of the engineering and design study; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners agrees to the selection of the Bolin Greek Greenway expansion as the project for use of County bond funds far greenways in Chapel Hill. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County will make its portion of the funding available for this project, contingent on like funding from the Town as identified above, available in accord with the Board's Debt Issuance Schedule. This, the 23`d day of June, 2004. Barry Jacobs, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners ATTEST: Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board 4 MEMORANDUM TO: Chapel Hill/Orange County Project Planning Committee (PPC) FROM: Bill Webster, Assistant Director ofParks and Recreation SUBJECT: Report on Options for Use of Orange County Bond Funds Designated for Chapel Hill DATE: May 19, 2004 This memorandum addresses options for use of $1,000,000 in Orange County bond funds designated for greenways in Chapel Hill.. At the Apri] 8, 2004 PPC meeting the Committee asked for additional information including: • Financial information • Report on feasibility of vazious projects including preliminary cost estimates • A discussion of steps needed to implement projects • Maps showing potential projects FINANCE INFORMATION The financial situation is somewhat complicated by the diversity of funding that is potentially available for various greenway projects. To address this issue we have provided the relevant financial information in two different formats: GREENWAYS FINANCES BY SOURCE OF FUNDS The following potential sources of funds maybe available for greenways projects: Orange County Bonds (2001) $1,000,000 • Not designated at this time Chapel Hill Bonds (2003)' $5,000,000 2004 Bond Sale ($300,000) $100,000 to begin design of Bolin Creek Trail (upstreazn of Airport Road) $75,000 to continue design work on Morgan Creek Trail (Merritt Pasture to Cazrboro Town line) $125,000 to complete some trail work and installation of pedestrian bicycle bridge over Dry Creek 2006 Bond Sale ($4,400,000) z $16,000 to match Metropolitan Platming Organization Direct Allocation (MPO DA) funds for design of the Dry Creek Trail from Perry Creek Road to Eastowne. $2,160,000 to match MPO DA funds for construction of the Morgan Creek Trail. This amount provides the $180,000 required for the match plus an additional $1,980,000 for trail construction. $16,000 to match MPO DA funds for design of the Upper Booker Creek Trail from Homestead Park to Weaver Dairy Road and Horestead Road. $2,208,000 for construction of the Bolin Creek Trail upstream of Airport Road. 2008 Bond Sale ($.300,000) Z • $148,000 to match MPO DA funds for construction of the Dry Creek Trail. $152,000 to match MPO DA funds for constnuction of the Upper Booker Creek Trail. MPO DIRECT ALLOCATION Z $1,984,000 • Dry Creek Trail: Total of $624,000 • Morgan Creek Trail: Total of $720,000 • Upper Booker Creek Trail: Total of $640,000 EXISTING CIP FUNDS/GRANTS $105,000 • Dry Creek Trail: $66,000 • Morgan Creek Trail: $.39,000 These sources total $8,089,000 in potential funding for various greenways projects. 1, The Council has adopted a bond sale schedule. The proposed uses of the bond funds indicated above are preliminary. 2. The preliminary list of projects uses Town bond funds to provide required matches for MPO DA funds. GREENWAYS FINANCES BY PROJECT The following list shows potential funding for each project from al] known sources of funds. This list does not include the $1,000,000 in 2001 Orange County Bonds because those funds have not yet been designated to fund a particular prgject(s). These amounts are not project budgets; however they are potential amounts that could be made available for' a first phase of each project. Bolin Creek Trail $2,308,000 Dry Creek Trail $979,000 Morgan Creek Trail $2,994,000 Upper Booker Creek Trail $808,000 Total $7,089,000 FEASIBILITY OF VARIOUS PROJECTS We have considered only two projects for use of Orange County bond funds because they are the only two projects that could potentially link the greenways systems of different Orange County,jurisdictions. It is our understanding that potential connections across communities are vital criteria for use of the County funds. BOLIN CREEK TRAIL This section of Bolin Creek has the potential of being the most expensive section of trail in Town. The narrow valley, steep slopes, exposed rock, numerous existing bridges, existing sewer line, and other obstacles create a situation Urat will almost guarantee a very high cost per linear foot of traih We believe the trail should be extended upstream from Airport Road to as close to the Carrboro Town line as funds will allow. A first phase could be built to a number of logical ending points depending on the amount of funding ultimately available. These termination points could include: • Umstead Park • Village Drive • Carrboro in the vicinity of Broad Street (this would involve improving a portion of the Tanyard Branch Trail) • Estes Drive Extension • Seawell School Road (this would involve construction of a portion of the Rail Trail) Depending on the phase one termination point the trail would likely cost anywhere from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000, The cost estimate is based on the staff's general previous experience and not on detailed plans. We believe that detailed cost estimates based on actual design could have a high probability of significant deviation from this estimate, Despite the difficulties this section of the trail has the potential of being especially aesthetically pleasing and useful. In the near term it could provide aloes-traffic route for pedestrians and bicyclists traveling to and from Carrboro. Eventually it could be extended to serve the proposed Carolina North campus and neighborhoods in northwest Chapel Hill. Carrboro has plans to extend a trail further along Bolin Creek. The County could also extend the trail from Carrboro into its jurisdiction. MORGAN CREEK TRAIL We are currently in the planning process for this project, A citizen committee met for almost a year and studied options for possible hail locations. They held a public forum in .June 2003. At the conclusion of the public forum the Committee went into recess to wait for updated flood data, We will bring maps to the meeting that will illustrate options for the potential trail that the Committee considered. The section of the Morgan Creek Trail currently being studied would be an extension of the existing Fan Branch Trail and would continue about 1 mile upstream along Morgan Creek to Smith Level Road.. A spur trail would provide access to the Merritt Pasture. We intend to provide parking. The trail would directly link Southern Community Park, Southern Village, Scroggs School, neighborhoods along Culbreth Road, Kingswood Apartments, Frank P. Graham School, and neighborhoods along Smith Level Road.. Carrboro has plans to extend the trail further along Morgan Creek to near University Lake. This future expansion would directly link several large neighborhoods to the trail system, The chief difficulties with this section of trail are related to the meandering nature of the creek and steep slopes. We will soon have access to recently completed FEMA flood information and will be better able to determine locations, number, and sizes of bridges. We believe that at least 4 bridges will be necessary. As many as 6 bridges are possible. We believe that it will take at least $.3,000,000 to build the trail to Frank P. Graham School.. Additional funds will likely be required to continue the trail through the short section of Carrboro's,jurisdiction to the west side of Smith Level Road, Like the Bolin Creek Trail description above, the cost estimate is based on general previous experience. Detailed cost estimates based on actual design could have a high probability of significant deviation fiom this estimate. We believe that we should have a recommended plan by early 2005 if the flood study information is available as early as promised. NEXT STEPS We believe a key decision for the PPC is to determine what project(s) to fund with the $1,000,000 in Orange County bond funds. The PPC has discussed the possibility of using the funds for both the Bolin and Morgan Creek Trail projects. We believe that either project would be a good use of the funds and would result in significant extensions of existing trails. As far as process is concerned we believe that the projects could have significant differences in approaches: Bolin Creek Trail: If the PPC decides to use all or' a part of the bond funds on this project we would need to start from the beginning of the design phase. In this case we would recommend that a citizen committee not be established to guide the process. We generally use citizen committees when a number of viable options exist,. In this case we believe that there may not be any significant routing options available,. The actual location of the trail would likely be driven by engineering constraints, property issues, and utility locations. We believe that citizen involvement would be vital once an engineering evaluation is completed. Citizens could help us decide many issues such as minor variations in route, aesthetic considerations, landscaping issues, and privacy enhancements. If the PPC agrees with this suggestion we would propose the following sequence: • Use the approved PPC process agreement adopted by the County and the Town. • Advertise for design firms familiar with design and construction in difficult terrain, including design in azeas affected by FEMA floodways and floodplains. Use the $100,000 in Town bond funds available in 2004 for the initial design costs. • Determine the most logical route for the trail based on the least amount of alteration to the environment and sound engineering practices. • Solicit public involvement to examine preliminary plans and any options that maybe available. • Present a concept plan to elected officials. • Begin land acquisition based on the approved concept plan. • Begin detailed design based on the concept plan. • Build phase one based on available funds. Morgan Creek Trail: If the PPC decides to use all or a part of the bond funds for this project we would suggest that we continue working with the existing citizen committee. If the PPC agrees with this suggestion we would propose the following sequence: Use the existing design team to analyze options using new flood data.. Present refined options already identified in light of new flood data to the Morgan Creek Trail Committee,. • Present a concept plan to elected officials. • Determine if the existing design Firm should be retained for the next phase of design. Ifnot advertise for design firms and go through a selection process. • Complete land acquisition based on the approved concept plan, • Begin detailed design based on the concept plan, • Build phase one based on available funds. MAPS Maps will be brought to the meeting.