HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-15-2000-5dORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: August 15, 2000
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Action Agenda
Item No. -- :~ , .~
SUBJECT: U.S. Conservation and Reinvestment Act CARA
DEPARTMENT: BCC
PUBLIG HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Draft resolution
Letter from Governor Jim Hunt
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barry Jacobs, 732-4941
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider a resolution asking North Carolina's Senators to support the
Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) currently under deliberation in the U.S. Senate.
BACKGROUND: The Conservation and Reinvestment Act would provide over $3 billion
annually to land conservation programs at Federal, State and local levels from oil drilling
revenues. The act would provide additional funds for the Lands Legacy program, as well as for
State Parks and funding for land trusts. It would also provide a dedicated source of funds for the
Land and Water Conservation Fund, a fund from which the County has recently been
recommended to receive $262,000 toward the Little River Regional Park and Natural Area.
Conservation leaders across the State have asked local governments to request support from
Senators Edwards and Helms. A draft resolution is attached.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct financial impact to the County. However, the funding
for CARA would tentatively provide $47 million annually to the State, some of which would be
available for local government grants for land preservation. As such, CARA would provide
another potential funding source for the Lands Legacy program.
RECOMMENDATION: As the Board decides.
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Resolution
WHEREAS, the United States Senate is currently considering the Conservation and Reinvestment Act
(CARA), which would provide $3 billion dollazs each year to land conservation programs, especially state
and local governments for land conservation, and
WHEREAS, the U.S. House of Representatives passed CARA on May 11 by a vote of 315-102, with
strong bipartisan support, and the bill has also been forwarded by the Senate Energy and Natural
Resources Committee to the floor of the full Senate, and
WHEREAS, the State Parks system, the Orange County Lands Legacy program and area land trusts
could benefit greatly by the passage of this act and the investment in our nation's green infrastructure and
critical open spaces (over $47 million of which could be sent annually to North Cazolina); and
WHEREAS, CARA would provide a dedicated source of funding for the Land and Water Conservation
Fund to the tune of $900 million pex year, a fund that has recently been recommended to award a
$262,000 grant for the Little River Regional Park and Natural Area, and
WHEREAS, private property rights and the flexibility of local government to maintain its tax base are
not compromised by providing the option to pursue enhanced protection of natural resources and
development of recreational opportunities for citizens through purchase of environmentally significant
properties, and
WHEREAS, conservation leaders in North Carolina have urged local governments to ask North
Cazolina's senators to support CARA.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Commissioners call upon Senators
Edwards and Helms to support the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, and that a letter to this end be
dispatched from the Chair to both senators.
This, the 15`~ day, of August, 2000
Moses Carey, Jr.,
Chair
ATTEST
Beverly Blythe, Clerk to the Boazd
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
O~~lc~ of Tl~ GovERNOR
20301 MAIL SE1tVICE CENTER • R.vli_IGH, NC 27699-0301
J.sr~s B. HUNT JR.
GOVERNOI7
July 21, 2000
The Honorable Moses Carey, Jr.
County of Orange County
P.O. Box 8181
Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278
Dear Chairman Carey:
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Y am pleased to inform you that the State of North Carolina is recommending to the National
Parks Service that the Little River Regional Park and Natural Area project receive a grant from the
Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The recommended amount of the grant is
$262,000.00. The County of Orange must make a dollaz-for-dollar commitment of local revenues to
match federal funds received under the program.
The project will be sent to the National Park Service for final review and approval. Please
remembei that work must not begin on the project until official approval from the National Park
Service is received.
We look forward to assisting you in meeting the park and recreation needs in your area.
My warmest personal regazds.
Sincerely,
James B. unt Jr.
JBH:rcm
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cc: Philip K. McKnelly, Director
Division of Parks and Recreation