Agenda - 06-16-2009 - 4q - Laserfiche WebLink

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0 collection rate was 97.72 %. This compares to the collection rate of 98.02% at the end of February 2008. The registered motor vehicles collection rate at the end of February 2009 was 89.59% while the collection rate at the same time last year was 90.08 %. The overall collection rate for the period ending February 2009 was 96.95% compared to a total .collection rate of 97.25% at the end of February 2008. Revenue staff will continue to work diligently and cooperatively with taxpayers during the current economic situation to ensure taxpayers can pay their bills and the County can meet tax collection projections. Please let me know if you have questions or would like more information. 4. Twin Creeks Linear Park/Trail Status Report On February 10 the Board of County Commissioners discussed the possibility of using 2001 Parks and Open Space-bond funds allocated for Twin Creeks Park to construct a linear park or trail in the Orange Water and Sewer Authority ( OWASA) sewer easement. While the Board has not yet taken formal action to approve the project, staff was directed to pursue the design and construction of a paved trail option. Environment and Resource Conservation Director David Stancil and other staff have been working on identifying the steps and actions needed to pursue this project and is meeting again next week to further refine a gameplan and timetable. As noted on February 10, there are several issues that need to be resolved or addressed to pursue the trail. The following bullet points list these items and the activity staff is pursuing toward this end: • Master Plan revision — The May 2005 approved master plan for Twin Creeks Park and Educational Campus will need to be revised to show the change in trail location. This can be accomplished in- house. Staff is currently looking at whether any deviations from the OWASA sewer easement path will be needed. • Trail Design and Engineering — The County has an existing contract with a firm to develop engineering and construction drawings for the first phase of Twin Creeks Park. Since the trail would effectively become Phase I, if this is pursued, it appears likely the existing contract could be modified to have the consultant design the trail, which includes grading plans, subsurface work, pedestrian bridge design, and other engineering. • Access / Lack of Connection / Signage — A trail built on the County's Twin Creeks property would not connect to the south, as private property abuts the Jones Creek and OWASA easement corridor. Staff has discussed signage at the presumed trailhead (Morris Grove Elementary), along the route, and heavily at the end of the trail to note there is not a connection to the south and that private property is adjacent. The Town of Carrboro, meanwhile, is in the early stages of looking at ways to make a connection to the existing greenway in Lake Hogan Farms, but this does not exist at present and may not for some time. Signage would indicate the trail does not connect to the south, and users should return up the trail to the school. A looped area with benches is also envisioned at the southernmost terminus of the trail, along with the signage described above to reinforce the lack of access to the south at present (until such time as Carrboro secures access). Based on public comments to date indicating citizens are using the sewer easement corridor as a pedestrian path at present, this will present an access conflict for persons currently using the trail to connect to Lake Hogan Farms across private land until a connection is secured. Carrboro is looking at two possibilities of making the connection to the south. Access to the trail in the meantime would only be from Morris Grove Elementary School and coordination with school officials will be needed regarding this matter.