Minutes - 19980202 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Status and Timelines of Mayor School Capital Protects - John Link presented information regarding the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools major capital projects. Those include the elementary School in Southern Village, an addition to the East Chapel Hill High School and the current status of the Middle School proposed for Meadowmont. He indicated that each of these projects is authorized by a Capital Project Ordinance. The school system will need to amend their present Capital Project Ordinances for these projects. That will then reduce the Capital Project Ordinance by the amount of money requested. There will be an additional opportunity for comment by elected officials during the March/April timeframe when the CIP is presented to the Board of Commissioners. A written outline of his comments is included herein by reference. A copy of that outline is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office. Status of Sportsplex: Commissioner Halkiotis reported that the facility is not in jeopardy of closing its doors. It is in the best interest of the investors that the facility stay open. The Durham Parks & Recreation Department subsidizes their pool operation in the amount of $554,000 for 2 indoor and 3 outdoor pools. The Town of Chapel Hill is also subsidizing pools in the amount of $275,000. Orange County has made a contribution of $400,000 per year. This year $125,000 was returned to the County by way of taxes. That makes the County's net contribution $275,000. The SportsPlex is generating sufficient income to pay its expenses and payroll. The repayment of the bond and debt structure is the area of difficulty that the facility is facing. The debt for this facility may need to be restructured. The Durham YMCA has expressed an interest in stepping in and taking over this operation. The County is committed to the pool remaining open and being available for Orange County citizens, however, who runs the facility is not a primary concern. He agreed to distribute information to the Chapel Hill Town Council regarding the number of Chapel Hill citizens who regularly use the pool facilities. Procedure for Chapel Hill's Acquisition of Park Bond Money- John Link reported that in accordance with proposed debt policy, the County will strive to sell bonds only once each fiscal year. Prior to the Commissioners determination of when to sell bonds and the amount of bonds to sell, project descriptions and cash flow projections are required for each bond project. If the Town anticipates needing this money by fiscal year 1999 that information will need to be presented to the Commissioners by October of 1998. The County is currently planning initial sale of the 1997 bonds in early 1999. This means that the County would need to receive by September, 1998 all timetables and cash flow requirements for all projects to be included in that bond sale. Once the bonds are sold and the County receives the funds, disbursements for project expenditures occur after the adoption of a Capital Project Ordinance by the County. The County then disburses the bond funds upon receipt of documented project expenditures. An outline of John Link's comments are included herein by reference. A copy of that outline is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office. Mayor Rosemary Waldorf asked if it would be possible for Chapel Hill to make a proposal to combine additional school funds with the bond funds. John Link indicated that that might be possible, but it would require a change in the Commissioners policy. Town Manager Cal Horton mentioned that the school system has communicated that if they can receive $100,000 by April they will be in a position to have the soccer field fully operational for all uses. Chair Margaret Brown suggested that the Town Council work with the School Boards. In response to a question from Commissioner Crowther, it was pointed out that a Master Plan for the Southern Park does not exist. Mayor Waldorf stated that since funds from all over the County would build the park she felt that a joint County-wide master plan should be done. Commissioner Halkiotis felt that a member of the Board of Commissioners and the County Manager should be a part of the Task Force that would create such a Master Plan. Natural Area Elements of the Orange County Comprehensive Plan • Commission for the Environment - Commissioner Gordon presented an update on this Commission which will advise the Board of Commissioners on matters of environmental policy, including water resources, air quality and natural resources. In future months the Commission may review and work toward Board of Commissioner goals for natural resource preservation, water resources protection, and wastewater treatment systems. • Water Resources Committee - David Stancil reported that this Committee is charged with investigating ground water quantity and quality issues in Orange County and developing the Geographic Information System (GIS) database of ground water-related information. Phase 1 of the investigation was completed in October 1996, with USGS report on ground water recharge rates in County watershed basins. Phase II began July 1, 1997, and expanded the investigation with USGS to include water quality sampling, wellhead protection, educational programs and refined ground water availability mapping. The Orange County Ground Water Center housed in Soil & Water District offices, provides service/information centers for citizens with questions about ground water. Council member Andresen mentioned that she felt that this was an important and progressive