HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 04-02-2019 4-e - Presentation of Manager’s Recommended FY 2019-24 Capital Investment Plan 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 2, 2019
Action Agenda
Item No. 4-e
SUBJECT: Presentation of Manager's Recommended FY 2019-24 Capital Investment Plan
(CIP)
DEPARTMENT: County Manager and Finance and
Administrative Services
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Attachment 1. County Manager's CIP Bonnie Hammersley, County Manager,
Transmittal Letter (919) 245-2300
Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager,
UNDER SEPARATE COVER (919) 245-2308
(To be provided at the meeting) Gary Donaldson, Financial Services,
Attachment 2. FY 2019-24 Capital (919) 245-2453
Investment Plan Paul Laughton, Financial Services,
Presentation (919) 245-2152
Attachment 3. Manager Recommended
FY 2019-24 Capital
Investment Plan
To Be Available Electronically at:
http://www.co.orange.nc.us/Archive.as
px?AMID=57
PURPOSE: To receive the Manager's Recommended FY 2019-24 Capital Investment Plan
(CIP).
BACKGROUND: Each year, the County produces a Capital Investment Plan (CIP) that
establishes a budget planning guide related to capital needs for the County as well as Schools.
The current CIP consists of a 5-year plan that is evaluated annually to include year-to-year
changes in priorities, needs, and available resources. Approval of the CIP commits the County
to the first year funding only of the capital projects; all other years are used as a planning tool
and serves as a financial plan.
Capital Investment Plan — Overview
The FY 2019-24 CIP includes County Projects, School Projects, and Proprietary Projects. The
School Projects include Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Orange County Schools, and
Durham Technical Community College — Orange County Campus projects. The Proprietary
Projects include Water and Sewer, Solid Waste Enterprise Fund, and Sportsplex projects.
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The CIP has been prepared anticipating moderate economic growth of approximately 2% in
property tax growth and 4% in sales tax growth annually over the next five years. Many of the
projects in the CIP will rely on debt financing to fund the projects.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There is no Orange County Social Justice Goal impact associated
with this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no immediate financial impact associated with the presentation
of the FY 2019-24 Capital Investment Plan. It is a long-range financial planning tool with a
financial impact in FY 2019-20, if the first year of the CIP is approved by the Board of County
Commissioners with the adoption of the Annual Budget.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board receive the presentation of the
Manager's Recommended FY 2019-24 Capital Investment Plan and provide direction to staff in
preparation for discussion at the April 9, 2019 Budget work session.
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Attachment 1
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
April 2, 2019
TO: Board of Orange County Commissioners
FROM: Bonnie Hammersley
County Manager
Travis Myren
Deputy County Manager
RE: Manager's Recommended FY 2019-2024 Capital Investment Plan
I am pleased to submit the County Manager's Recommended Capital Investment Plan (CIP) for
FY 2019-24 for your consideration. The CIP serves two important functions. First, it authorizes
capital appropriations for the next fiscal year, but it also serves as a plan for the future. The
Plan contains detailed recommendations for capital projects five years into the future and more
general descriptions of projects proposed in the subsequent five years, projecting capital
spending a total of ten years into the future. These future project plans are integrated into the
County's debt model and budget projection model for long term financial forecasting.
Recommended capital expenditures for FY 2019-20 total $47.4 million. Of this amount, $10.1
million is recommended for County capital projects, $2.9 million is recommended for
proprietary fund spending including water and sewer projects, Solid Waste, and Sportsplex, and
$34.4 million is recommended for school capital improvements.
The recommended FY 2019-20 CIP represents a decrease of approximately $19.3 million
compared to the FY2018-19 Amended CIP. The FY2018-19 amended capital budget included
several large projects such as the second allocation of the affordable housing bond ($2.5
million), the Northern County Campus ($34.7 million), the Southern Branch Library ($5.6
million), and building remediation projects ($3.5 million).
This memorandum describes projects that are recommended in the first year of the FY2019-24
CIP and other significant changes that are recommended for consideration in future years.
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Policy Priorities
The Board of County Commissioners adopted a variety of policy priorities in 2016 consistent
with existing Board goals. The CIP recommends funding associated with many of those
priorities as well as funding for projects that have been introduced and approved conceptually
as part of the Board's regular legislative process.
• County Facility Resiliency to Climate Change - $3.25 million
During the FY2018-19 fiscal year, the County confronted several large scale, emergency
repairs related to water intrusions from extreme weather events. The impacted facilities
included the Battle Courtroom, the Government Services Annex, and the Phillip Nick Waters
Emergency Services Building. These repairs necessitated several amendments to the
FY2018-19 Capital Budget totaling $3.5 million. Additional amendments are anticipated to
advance the remediation of the Link Government Services Center, Government Services
Annex, and Soltys Adult Care facility.
The FY2019-20 CIP is recommending increasing the investment in County facilities to
improve their resiliency to more intense and frequent weather events. The recommended
investments are contained in four CIP Projects.
o Government Services Annex/Board of Elections-$375,000
During FY2018-19, the County invested $643,290 to complete urgent repair and
remediation of the Government Services Annex. An additional capital budget
amendment will be presented for Board consideration for an additional $704,360 to
complete many of the remaining remediation activities. These emergency
remediation activities included relocating the electrical service, replacing the
heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system, and cleaning all of the surfaces and
equipment. The underlying cause of water intrusion and moisture in this facility is
its location within the flood plain. Due to this location, any significant rain event
causes flooding in the basement. This project proposes to correct the root cause by
sealing the basement from the first floor of the building and installing storm water
diversion and drainage improvements.
o Heating, Ventilation, and Cooling(HVAC) Projects-$1,157,500
The FY2019-20 CIP recommends increasing the investment in HVAC projects to
mitigate humidity in County facilities. The FY2018-19 investment totaled $142,000;
however, $105,000 was repurposed for emergency remediation projects.
Comparatively, the recommended FY2019-20 investment is over $1.1 million. This
project includes a Humidity Impact Study ($50,000) as well as system replacements
for the Central Recreation Facility ($165,000), Hillsborough Commons ($88,000),
Mural Courtroom ($32,000), Seymour Center ($132,000), and the Southern Human
Services Center ($357,000). This project also contains a backup cooling unit for the
County's data center ($35,000) and an emergency replacement fund ($50,000) for
unexpected equipment failures.
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o Roofing and FaVade Projects-$1,142,800
The goal of the Roofing and Fagade project is to repair known points of failure and to
proactively identify measures to protect County facilities from water intrusions. The
FY2018-19 Capital Budget included $369,800 in roofing and fagade repairs. Of this
amount, $174,800 was repurposed for remediation projects, and a new $41,200 will
be requested to complete urgent roof repairs on the District Attorney's building.
The FY2019-20 project recommends nearly $1.2 million in roofing and fagade
investments. This project will fund a Building and Fagade study ($25,000) and a third
party inspection process ($55,000) as preventative elements. Funding is also
recommended to repair or replace roofing and fagade features at the Motor Pool
Facility ($180,500), Central Recreation ($45,000), Hillsborough Commons ($376,000),
the Justice Facility ($103,000), Orange County Public Transportation ($40,000), and
the Seymour Center ($55,000). The project also funds design services for a large
roofing projects at the Southern Human Services Center ($64,000) as well as a partial
window replacement at the Whitted Building ($111,300).
o Whitted Site Drainage and Storm Water Improvements ($575,000)
The Whitted Building is positioned at the bottom of a hill, subjecting the facility to
significant storm water impacts. These impacts have created water intrusion issues
from the exterior of the building. This project recommends site drainage
improvements, facility waterproofing, and grading changes to prevent water from
penetrating the exterior walls.
• Criminal Justice Resource Department - $216,300
The Criminal Justice Resource Department is currently located in the Justice Center. The
Board of Commissioners has supported the growth of this department to improve outcomes
for residents involved in the criminal justice system as well as those at risk of involvement.
As the department has grown in scope and complexity, additional office space will be
required to meet the needs of additional staff. The FY2019-20 CIP recommends $216,300
to remodel underutilized office space in the Justice Facility to accommodate current staffing
needs and future growth.
• Facility Accessibility and Security Improvements - $371,000
The FY2019-20 CIP recommends several improvements to facility access. The two largest
projects in this category would create an accessible sidewalk to River Park from the new bus
stop on Churton Street ($88,000) and repair the steps, sidewalk and curb outside of the
Whitted Building. The project also recommends the installation of Automatic Emergency
Defibrillators at several County facilities.
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• Economic Development— Piedmont Food Processing Facility Improvements- $185,000
Part of the County's economic development strategy is to facilitate the use of locally grown
food and to support the growth of small businesses. The Piedmont Food Processing Facility
provides a low cost food production environment to reduce barriers to entering the food
production market. This project recommends installing a pre-cast grease interceptor to
comply with food production facility regulations as well as a drive over drain for food trucks
to easily dispose of waste water. The FY2019-20 CIP also recommends a $125,000
emergency generator to provide consistent cooling capability during a power interruption.
Both of these projects are recommended to be funded using Article 46 Economic
Development sales tax fund balance.
• Sustainability Bank- $50,000
The Sustainability Bank project provides funding for small scale sustainability or renewable
energy projects. During the upcoming fiscal year, departments will be asked to submit
project proposals. These proposals will be evaluated and ranked by a staff team and
approved by the Board of Commissioners prior to implementation. Priority will be given to
projects that leverage outside funding or serve as the local match for grant applications.
Funding for the Sustainability Bank was reallocated from the Board's Technology Initiatives
project. The Technology Initiatives project has not been used for several years and
currently has a balance of$200,000.
• Broadband Expansion Project- $150,000
During FY2018-19, the County created a public private partnership with Open Broadband to
expand broadband access to parts of the County that do not have access to broadband
speed and reliability. The first phase of the project focused on northern Orange County.
This project proposes a second phase to focus expand service in the southwest portion of
the County.
• Sheriff Office Body Worn Cameras - $158,380
The FY2018-19 CIP provided $300,000 to implement body worn cameras in the Sheriff's
Office. The FY2019-20 CIP recommends adding $158,380 to this project to equip all sworn
officers in the Sheriff's Office with body camera technology.
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Substation - $450,000
The Board has supported the development of new Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Substations to upgrade and strategically locate emergency response facilities throughout
the County. The FY2017-18 CIP included a partnership with the Orange Rural Fire
Department and the Town of Hillsborough to collocate an EMS substation with a fire station
and police substation in the Waterstone development in Hillsborough. New construction
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cost estimates suggest an additional $350,000 will be needed to fund the County's share of
construction. This project also adds a total of $100,000 for furniture, fixtures, and
equipment in both the Waterstone Station and the Buckhorn/Efland Station.
• Economic Development— Hillsborough EDD Water and Sewer Project - $1,060,000
In FY2017-18, the Board authorized funding to conduct an analysis of the County's
Economic Development Districts (EDD's). This report highlighted the importance of having
sites that are prepared for development including the availability of water and sewer
service. The County has previously appropriated over $5.5 million to build out water and
sewer infrastructure in the economic development districts to stimulate commercial and
industrial development and job creation. The recommended CIP for FY2019-20 adds
$1,060,000 to the Hillsborough EDD project due to rising construction costs and additional
rock discovered in the subsurface that was not anticipated when this project was initially
budgeted. Debt service on water and sewer projects is paid using the portion of Article 46
sales tax revenue dedicated to economic development.
• Orange County Southern Branch Library—$750,000
In October of 2017, the Board approved a development agreement with the Town of
Carrboro to jointly develop a new facility at 203 South Greensboro Street. The facility
would include space for the County's Southern Branch Library as well as Town offices.
Funding for the construction phase of this project was approved in FY2018-19 at $5.6
million. The additional $750,000 recommended in FY2019-20 is intended to fund the
furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the new library. The CIP also continues to recognize
the additional operating expenses that will be required to operate this new branch. The net
new operating costs are currently estimated at approximately $650,000 annually after
deducting the operating costs associated with the two existing County funded library
resources in the Town of Carrboro.
• School Capital Improvements - $34.4 million
The recommended CIP includes a total of $34,377,500 to finance a variety of school capital
improvements and deferred maintenance.
This total amount includes approximately $20 million in general obligation bond funds for
Orange County Schools. This $20 million project will include the construction of a classroom
wing at Cedar Ridge High School, roofing projects, and mechanical system replacements at
several schools. This allocation to Orange County Schools represents the second of three
bond fund allocations for Orange County Schools. The third installment for both Orange
County Schools and Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools is scheduled to occur in FY2021-22.
This allocation will total approximately $14.5 million and will exhaust the $120 million in
bond funds approved by voters in 2016.
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The Recommended CIP also includes $3 million in funding for deferred maintenance
projects. When the County issued $85.4 million in general obligation bonds in FY2017-18
primarily for Chapel Hill High School, it received a bond premium from investors seeking the
favorable tax exempt status of these bonds. The County received a total of just over $6
million in bond premium. The majority of this premium is recommended to be reinvested in
school deferred maintenance over the next two fiscal years.
The remainder of the funding for school capital projects comes from a mix of sources
including lottery proceeds, Article 46 sales tax proceeds, and $1 million in debt financing
specifically targeted at facility improvements in older schools.
Information Technology and Communications
Significant information technology and communication improvements are financed through the
Capital Investment Plan. These projects maintain and expand the capabilities of the County's
current information technology infrastructure, employ new technologies to better meet the
needs of County residents, protect and store critical data, and improve internal operating
efficiencies.
• Information Technology Governance Council Initiatives - $390,000
The Information Technology Governance Council includes representatives from each of the
County's Functional Leadership Teams. The Council evaluates department requests for new
technology and scores those requests based on established criteria. For FY2019-20, the
Council scored a total of nineteen (19) requests, and the eight (8) highest ranking projects
are recommended for funding. The cost of these projects total $390,000. The projects
include Pass Management software for Department on Aging, Pre-Arrest Diversion Program
software for the Criminal Justice Resource Department, Lacherfishe Enhancement for
records storage and retrieval, Patient Care Hardware replacement for Emergency Services,
Neo-Gov Learning Management System to be used by all County departments, and
detention grade security cameras for the Sheriff's Office.
• Information Technology Infrastructure Initiatives - $560,000
The FY 2019-20 CIP also recommends $560,000 for Information Technology Infrastructure.
These infrastructure projects include server upgrades, end user point replacements, data
storage, network improvements, and the continued deployment of wireless capabilities.
• Register of Deeds Automation - $80,000
The Register of Deeds Automation project is funded using automation fees that are
specifically designated by State Statute to improve technology capabilities in the Register of
Deeds Office. Each year, the County budgets $80,000 which is allowed to accumulate over
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time to make these significant technology investments. For example, these funds were
used in FY2018-19 to upgrade the Register of Deeds recording software.
• Communication System Improvements - $273,250
The County has been engaged in a multiyear effort to replace its radio communication
equipment to provide a consistent radio platform for first responders. For FY2019-20,
$273,250 is recommended to complete the replacement of 76 mobile radios and 55
portable radios in the Sheriff's Office.
Building and Infrastructure Improvements
The Recommended CIP also includes building and infrastructure investments that are important
to the continued safety, security, and maintenance of County facilities and operations.
• Court Street Annex- $188,600
The Court Street Annex houses Juvenile Justice and Adult Probation and Parole offices. The
majority of the requested funding in FY2019-20 ($125,000) is to address restroom
accessibility deficiencies. The remaining funds would be used to install security and to
make other minor cosmetic improvements. This facility is located next to the current
Detention Center and will be included in the planning process for the future of that site.
• Justice Facility Improvements - $43,220
The County is responsible for providing facilities for the court system. FY 19-20 funding is
requested to replace recessed lighting fixtures in the Mural Courtroom with LED fixitures,
install a counter in the Juvenile Section of the Clerk of Court's Office to increase security,
install glass partitions at the Clerk of Courts counter to enhance security, and improve the
furniture within the Probate Office to ensure privacy.
• Lake Orange Dam Rehabilitation - $95,000
Lake Orange is a Class II public water supply reservoir owned by Orange County. The Lake's
primary uses are to serve as a public water supply as designated by the North Carolina
Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) and to maintain minimum flows in the Eno
River, as defined within the Eno River Water Management Plan. In the Fall of 2018, NCDEQ
and a private engineering firm conducted an inspection of the lake Orange Dam that
identified numerous deficiencies. This project would begin a multi-year approach to repair
these deficiencies, addressing high priority projects in FY2019-20 and FY2020-21. These
projects include blasting and painting the intake tower beams and gate actuators and
replacing the concrete expansion joints and sluice gate.
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• Major Plumbing Repairs- $250,780
Three large plumbing projects are proposed in the FY2019-20 CIP. The first project would
repair the underground hot water piping at the Whitted Building. This piping failed over the
winter which revealed urgent repairs and caused significant service disruption. The second
project would repair the septic tank line under the Cedar Grove Community Center to
improve flows. This project is intended to address sewer system failures during high
capacity events. If this repair does not correct the capacity deficiencies, a $2 million system
replacement is envisioned for FY2022-23. Finally, this project would connect the Orange
County Public Transit facility to the Town of Hillsborough sewer.
• Parking Lot Improvements - $145,500
Funding approved in FY2018-19 included asphalt repairs, gravel, and site work for the
Sheriff's Office and OCPT vehicle fleets at the Motor Pool facility. This funding was
repurposed during FY2018-19 for emergency remediation projects. Therefore, funding is
requested to complete this work in FY2019-20. Other funding requested in FY2019-20
includes a professional assessment for the Eno River Parking Deck and paving the David
Price Farmer's Market Pavilion parking area.
• Whitted Medical Clinic Renovations- $68,200
The Whitted medical clinic waiting room is currently underutilized. This project requests
$68,200 to create four office spaces. An underutilized storage room in the Whitted medical
clinic would replace the current waiting area. The new waiting area will be next to the entry
to the clinic and would improve wayfinding and patient flow. This project is funded using
Medicaid Maximization Funds.
Parks, Open Space, and Trail Development
The Board has consistently expressed support for parks, open space, and trail development that
preserves natural areas of the County and promotes nature activities for County residents. This
support is represented by the Parks and Open Space Master Plan as well as the individual
master plans that have been adopted and periodically updated for each park property. The
FY2019-20 CIP recommends funding for the following projects:
• Cedar Grove Park Phase II - $550,000
Funding proposed in FY 2019-20 would fund Phase II-A of the Park's development. This
phase of development would feature an additional small baseball/softball fields to address
the loss of similar t-ball fields in Hillsborough in 2020 and associated parking and
infrastructure. Phase II-B in Years 6-10 would add tennis courts, a picnic shelter and
additional parking.
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• Mountains to Sea Trail -$289,000
The Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) is a part of the N.C. State Parks system that is planned to
connect the Great Smoky Mountains with the Outer Banks by trail. A portion of the trail
runs through Orange County. Funding requested in FY2019-20 would be used to acquire
easements and construct trail segments of the MST from Buckhorn Road south, on and
around the OWASA-owned lands at Cane Creek Reservoir, and continuing to the Alamance
County line. The initial segment will also include pedestrian crossing improvements over
Interstate 85/40.
• River Park Phase II - $150,000
River Park is located behind the justice facilities in Hillsborough. Several improvements to
the park are currently underway. These improvements anticipated a small scale
performance shell, but as needs and opportunities were evaluated, an enhanced
performance shell could significantly benefit the park and service to residents. FY2019-20
funding is included to construct an enhanced performance shell using outside funds raised
through a private fundraising campaign.
• Little River Park Phase II - $50,000
Little River Park is a joint Orange County and Durham County initiative guided by an
Interlocal agreement that divides expenses equally between the two counties. Funding
requested in FY2019-20 is intended to address the Laws House, which stands at the park
entrance and has been stabilized pending a future decision on use or deconstruction.
• Fairview Park Improvements - $67,000
A site assessment study for the former landfill area at Fairview Park was started in FY 2017-
18 to investigate opportunities for remediation and park development. This multi-year
assessment is underway and will continue into the summer of 2020. Funds for the landfill
assessment study as well as the eventual mitigation will be reimbursed by the State Division
of Environmental Quality.
• Cedar Grove Community Center- $107,000
Funding is requested in FY2019-20 to replace funds that were re-purposed in FY 2018-19.
This project will install shower facilities in the Community Center.
• Parks and Recreation Facility Renovations and Repairs - $180,000
Funding of $180,000 is requested in FY 2019-20 for ongoing safety, lighting/energy, park
infrastructure, signage, preventive maintenance and landscape improvements to the
County's seven parks. Each year, park and recreation equipment and facilities need
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renovation, safety improvements, repair, replacement and upgrades. This project provides
for a scheduled and prioritized funding source for these needs identified in the 2030 Parks
& Recreation Master Plan process.
Vehicle Replacements -$965,550
The Capital Investment Plan is also used to procure replacement vehicles. The highest priority
vehicles include those used in public safety functions. The FY19-20 CIP requests $965,550 to
replace Sheriff's Office vehicles, an Animal Control vehicle, Ambulance remounts, and an
administrative vehicle for Emergency Services.
Financing the Capital Investment Plan
The Recommended Capital Investment Plan for FY2019-20 totals $47.4 million in expenditures.
Of that amount, $37 million is recommended to be financed by County funded debt. Other
significant sources of funds include Lottery Proceeds and Article 46 sales tax proceeds. Both of
these sources are dedicated to fund school capital needs and are estimated to contribute
approximately$3.3 million to the resources used to support the CIP.
Debt Capacity Target and Next Steps
County policy establishes a debt service capacity target of fifteen percent (15%) of general fund
revenues. As the voter approved general obligation bonds have been issued for school projects
and affordable housing, this policy is expected to be exceeded in future years. Additional
pressure on this policy will occur in future years due to emergency spending on remediation
projects and the increased cost of the Northern County Campus. As the Board considers the
CIP, staff will provide updates and recommend necessary adjustments so that the Board is
comfortable with the current and planned debt over the course of the FY2019-24 CIP.
As the CIP evolves in the future, it anticipates funding for three large projects. The first is a
replacement for the emergency responder radio system. The total cost of this project could
exceed $40 million. This project is currently in the Plan for FY2020-21 and is offset by
contributions from all of the public safety agencies in the County. The second major project is a
new academic building requested by Durham Technical Community College. Current cost
estimates suggest a total project cost of over $26 million. The final significant project
consideration is whether the County proposes additional general obligation school bonds. The
CIP includes the final allocation of the 2016 bonds in FY2021-22. The Plan does not currently
include additional school bond funding.
Thanks and Appreciation
I would like to thank Deputy County Manager, Travis Myren, for leading the development of the
CIP and for working with each of the department directors to create a capital plan that
addresses the Board's priorities. I would also like to thank the County's Finance and
Administrative Services team most notably Chief Financial Officer, Gary Donaldson, Deputy
Finance Director, Paul Laughton, and Budget Analyst, Chaz Offenburg. Their sharp financial
acumen, attention to detail, and impressive work ethic shaped and produced the document we
are introducing today for the Board's consideration.
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1 look forward to working with you over the next several weeks to improve upon the Manager's
Recommended Capital Investment Plan. Please contact me or the Deputy Manager with any
questions.
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