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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 05-16-2000-8cr ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 16, 2000 Action Agenda Item No. $-C SUBJECT: Grant Application to Land and Water Conservation Fund for the Little River Re Tonal Park and Natural Area DEPARTMENT; Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Conservation ATTACHMENT(S): Request for Proposals Proposal Guidelines INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Stancil, 245-2590 Rich Shaw, 245-2591 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-0501 Durham fi88-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider submitting a joint proposal with Durham County for a grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for initial development costs associated with the proposed Little River Regional Park and Natural Area. BACKGROUND: Orange County received a "Request for Proposals" from the NC Division of Parks and Recreation (dated March 20, 2000) for grant funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. A total of $865,426 is available to local governments in FY 1999-2000 for land acquisition and/or development of outdoor public recreation facilities. Earlier this month, Orange and Durham counties received a $250,000 grant from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) for land acquisition for the proposed Little River park. The staff from the NC Division of Parks and Recreation, which administers PARTF, has encouraged Orange and Durham counties to submit a proposal for LWCF funds to help with the initial development costs for the park. ERCD and Recreation and Parks staff would work with Durham County staff to develop the application. A request of $100,000 is anticipated, which would provide funds for initial development of the park entrance roadway, parking area(s), trail development, landscaping and other amenities. The LWCF grant proposal must be received by May 31, 2000. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Staff anticipates submitting a grant request of approximately $100,000. Although LWCF requires a 50% matching contribution, staff has identified adequate matching funds without having to commit any further Orange or Durham county funds toward the project. The $377,000 grant from the state Clean Water Management Trust Fund may be used as local matching funds toward the federal LWCF. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board authorize the County's joint submittal of a proposal (with Durham County) for a grant from the land and Water Conservation Fund before the May 31, 2000 deadline. 3 ~~ _ _ ~' NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ~ r ENVIf$ONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES ~~~~~ NC~EN~ DIVi$10TI OF PARKS AND RECRI=ATION ~- ' -aA. Mazch 20, 2000 .JAMES H.yFLU.N7,JR. ~ GOVERNOR ~~~~~ r~• ~~ .' TO: All Municipal and County Managers of North CazollYla - For the first time since 1995, Congress has included funding for the states' portion of HILL. HOLMAN ~ ',1 the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) in the 1999/2000 budget. North secRerARV Cazolina is to receive $ 865,426 for the funding of acquisition and/or development of ~. ~ public outdoor recreation areas. Normally, the project selection process required by -- the National Park Service is quite extensive. However, since this is a one time :,,; GR.PHIL~P K.MCKNELLV° appropriation with no guarantee of future funding, the requirements of the "Open CIRECTORy ~', ~~:~:~~_~~~~~~:::~•;_~,. project Selection Process (OPSP)" have been waived and states may allocate the ` ~ ~'" ~ money to any project(s) they desire that meets the criteria of the LWCF program. ~, x ; North Carolina has chosen to implement a "Request for Proposals" from local - - governments and eligible state agencies to seek outstanding opportunities within the state to get maximum exposure for the LWCF program. The State will fund a lirnited - _ ':` i number of projects. Our goal for this year is to assist in the development of high - - -: r::r'-r~'~.,: t; :h `~ visibility, high quality outdoor recreation facilities and azeas. We all need to - ~' ~+~ .:' r=:-K~ demonstrate what can be accomplished at the state and local levels with assistance - ~4.. -4G:-~ from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. .. . ~.; Legislation is pending in Washington, D.C. that would fund the states' portion of the - , ~.._•.~ ~ LWCF at $ 450 million annually. The bill is entitled the "Conservation and _ Reinvestment Act " (H.B. 701). If passed, North Carolina would receive ` - approximately $ 9.6 million on a yeazly basis under this proposal. We feel that by putting the majority of North Carolina's $ 865,426 into a limited number of projects _ - that outdoor public recreation azeas will be made available to North Carolinians that „~ , , ;~--. ;:• ; ' will showcase the potential benefit of the LWCF. ..1• .:. _• .:! -~ ~ ' ~~ ~~~~~ ~ If you feel that your local government has a project that would qualify, we encourage ~~ - --~- ^,~•,, you to submit your proposal by the deadline on May 31, 2000. The criteria for a - - - ' ~~ ~.:~ proposal aze attached. ... -: - r,~-, - If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact your regional Recreation Resources Service consultant (map and telephone numbers aze attached). - _ Sincerely, ._ ~ ' ~ Philip K. McKnelly ;,~ : ; =- - . - ~~-'- `- State Liaison Officer ."` .. - - Enclosures -. 1615 MAIL SERVICE GEN7ER. RALEIGH. NORTH CAROLINA $7699-1615 PHONE 419-733.4191 FAX 919-71 5-3085 SAND AID ~AT'~R ~ONS~RVA'~'ION FUND 4 "Request. for Proposals Guidelines" -Funding from LWCF can only be need for land acquisition and/or development of outdoor public recreation facilities. -LWCF requires a 50% match and" is a reimbursable grant The local government must be able to completely fund the development and then submit billings for reimbursement. The 50% local match maybe in the form of cash, value of land donation,, in-kind labor, materials or equipment - Projects must be ready to begin by October, 2000. - All land acquired or developed with LWCF assistance must be utilized in perpetuity for public outdoor recreation use. RFP Guidelines: -Documentation must be submitted that the local government has authorization from its governing body to develop the project and documentation that you have the financial capability to_ execute the project , . " ;Please describe in faun pages or less the specifics of your project including the amount of " LWCF funds you are requesting; location of the project site, why the project is needed, scope of tivork to be accomplished; public support for the project, a project budget categorized by project elements, a time line for completion, any inter-agency cooperation and any other material that you think would be useful in assisting the State in evaluating your project Also, provide 15 copies of a project location map and a site plan depicting the proposed facilities (highlight in green) and" any existing facilities on the site. -Submit materials to the your regional Recreation Resources Service consultant by 1VIay 31, 2000. The State will evaluate all proposals, make site visits where needed and announce results by July ].$, 2000. Approved projects will be required to complete additional documentation as required by the LWCF program prior to a project agreement being executed.. Approved projects will be required to complete. an environmental assessment prior to awarding of the grant. Submit proposals to: Your Regional Recreation Resources Service (RR5) Consultant (See attached map) For questions about this program, please call your RRS consultant.