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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-09-2003-9et ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: December 9, 2003 Action Agen a Item No. SUBJECT: Soccer Superfund -Policy and Guidelines DEPARTMENT: ERCD, Recreation & Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Commissioner Barry Jacobs Draft Policy and Guidelines Lori Taft, 245-2660 David Stancil, 245-2590 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider a draft policy and set of guidelines for use of the Soccer Superfund.. BACKGROUND: In November 2001, Orange County voters approved a $20 million bond package for parks and open space. Included in this package was $2 million to create a Soccer Superfund to fund new soccer fields around Orange County. This concept grew out of the Soccer Symposium Task Force report of 2000, which investigated needs for soccer fields throughout the County. Before any funding can be appropriated from the Soccer Superfund, the Board asked that a policy and guidelines be developed regarding uses of the fund. County staff, in conjunction with Commissioner .lacobs, have developed the attached draft document in recent months, and it is provided here for the Board's initial review and feedback. The draft policy and guidelines would propose to: • Identify the purposes of the Superfund (construction of new fields and, as a secondary use, acquisition of land for new fields) • Outline guidelines for construction of new fields by the County • Create a matching grant option for qualified private and non-profit entities Develop conditions and criteria for evaluating appropriations from the Superfund • Outline guidelines far use for land acquisitions Qnce the Board has discussed and is comfortable with these guidelines, the document would be brought back for action. FINANCIAL IMPACT: This policy and guidelines would govern the types of expenditures made from the Soccer Superfund, at the Board's discretion, There is no provision that requires funds to be appropriated, as such decisions would be up to the legislative decision- making of the Board. The Soccer Superfund had $500,000 appropriated in FY 2002-03, According to the 2002 Bond and Alternative Financing Timetable, $600,000 was to be appropriated in the current FY 2003-04 fiscal year, with a like amount in FY 2004-05, The proposed FY 2005-06 allotment is $300,000, RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board review and discuss the draft document, providing feedback and input to staff as desired, The document would be brought back for action at a subsequent meeting. DRAFT Proposed Soccer Superfund Policy and Guidelines November 18, 200.3 Orange County has created a "Soccer Superfund," funded initially by bonds approved by County voters in November 2001. At its discretion, the Board of County Commissioners may consider appropriation of funds (as available) from the Soccer Superfund:. Purposes of the Soccer Superfund Funds from this source are intended to be used primazily for' the development of fields used exclusively for soccer in Orange County, A secondazy purpose for these funds is for the purchase of land in Orange County for the development of soccer fields, No less than %2 of the total fund will be reserved for a Soccer Park of at least six (6) fields.. A. Construction of Public Soccer Facilities Facilities funded by the Soccer Superfund should be developed using a process that includes opportunities for public comment and review. 1. Facilities Constructed by Orange County a. Facilities should be constructed on land that is owned by Orange County, or on private land where the County holds along-term lease (20 years or more) b, Facilities should be designed by, and oversight of construction should be managed by, the Orange County Enviromnent and Resource Conservation Department and the Recreation and Parks Department, as defined in their depaztmental duties, Other persons or entities, such as a County Construction Manager, maybe involved as directed by the County Manager or the Board of County Commissioners. c. Facilities should be managed by Orange County Recreation and Parks Department, which should be responsible for the programming and use of the facility.. The Recreation and Parks Department will schedule these Facilities for use by Orange County programs, and when available, for use by non-profit outside recreation agencies and groups 2. Facilities Constructed Through Matching Grants to Qualified Private Non-Profit or Other Public Agencies Qualified private agencies or other public agencies may apply for up to 50% matching funds from the Soccer Superfund to assist in soccer field development prgjects. The acceptance of in-kind services towazd the private match will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Board of County Commissioners, The Board of Commissioners will make a determination on the approval of matching grants, at their discretion acid as funds permit.. 4 To apply for matching funds, an application request must be submitted to the County. The application should state the name of the applying agency, its Federal tax status (501 c3 or other qualifying status), the purpose of the proposed project, the anticipated cost of the project, and other details as shall be specified on the application fonn. The application will be evaluated by County staff; with a recommendation submitted to the Board of Commissioners„ Criteria for evaluating project applications will include (but are not limited to): a) Best Management Practices /Field Management Ability b) Commitment to Outreach and Inclusion of Minority Participation c) Commitment to Sportsmanship and Competitiveness Values in Agency Leadership and Program Policies and Practices d) Accessibility of Field(s) for Public Non-programmed Use e) Access to Public Transportation Orange County retains the right to assume controlling management and operation of facilities for which managing entities have received grant monies from this fiord, should the Manager and the Board determine that field management, maintenance and/or availability expectations based on the above criteria and spelled out in the contract authorizing grant approval have not been maintained. Construction of soccer fields through matching grants to qualified organizations must be initiated within three (3) years of the grant award. .3. Conditions and Priorities for Funding Consideration Priority consideration for funding (both County projects and matching grant projects) will be given to projects that meet the following criteria, Projects that meet multiple criteria will receive higher weighting: 1) Incorporate economies of scale (i.e., two or more fields situated together that share lighting and ancillary facilities) 2) Construct full size fields (approximately 360' in length by 225' in width) 3) Construct fields which include plamred lighting 4) Construct fields which include planned irrigation 5) Construct fields that are readily accessible for public use*. 6) Construct fields that receive approval of appropriate regulatory agencies 7) Locations where water and sewer is available (especially for proposed "soccer pant" projects).. 8) Construct new fields that are not previously approved as pazt of a park master plan * -Fields that are funded by the Soccer Superfund must be reasonably available for use beyond that of the grantee. Any contract for matching grant must specify how and when community use of the field will be made available B. Purchase of Land for Construction of Soccer Fields The Soccer Superfund may also be used to fund the acquisition of land(s), which will contain fields to be used exclusively for soccer, at the discretion of the Board of Commissioners and as funds are available, The following criteria will be used to evaluate proposals for land acquisition projects, whether by County or by matching grant application. (Note: Matching grant proposals shall use the same application form as for facility development): 1, At least 67% of the total land area in the proposal must be used for soccer fields or other related facilities associated with the fields 2. The compatibility of the proposed land acquisition with the Master Recreation and Parks Plan (Parks and Recreation Element of the Comprehensive Plan) 3. The proximity of the site to population centers and geographic location of other fields 4. Accessibility of the site for transportation purposes (including public transportation) 5. The impact of construction of fields on the proposed site on natural and cultural resources either present on site or within a reasonable proximity to the site 6, Compatibility with existing zoning and other development regulations, and potential for site plan approval of field construction 7. Potential for co-location with other public facilities under the management of Orange County Government, 8, Finite plans for development of fields through the matching grant program must accompany a land acquisition application, Contractual language will stipulate that construction of fields must begin within three (3) years.. C. Other Funding from the Soccer Superfund will be made available by the Board of Commissioners at their discretion as part of the annual budget process. Approval of projects is contingent on availability of funds. This policy shall be amended by the Board of County Commissioners as needed. This, the _ day of , 200_