Minutes - 06-18-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Gordon feels that the Board should not wait until August to make the decision on the total amount of the bond referendum. She does not want the citizens to think that the proposed band is a higher amount. She wants to know the amount of the bond and the tax impact over the next few years. This would impact her decision for the impact fee and the total increase in the tax rate. Commissioner Carey said that he feels that $75 million is the maximum and Chair Halkiotis, Commissioner Jacobs, and Commissioner Brawn agreed. John Link agrees that to the extent the County Commissioners can make a decision on the band before the break would be beneficial. Commissioner Brown made reference to the proposed projects for the parks and said that it may be possible for Carrboro to help fund a park or the gymnasium. She also has some questions about Smith Middle School Park. She also questions whether Carrboro will consider Southern Community Park as part of their district park. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to his meeting with Chatham County and suggested sending a letter to Chatham County to see if they are interested in helping to fund the Southern Community Park. Commissioner Gordon suggested talking with the members of the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group before sending a letter to Chatham County. Chair Halkiotis will talk with the mayors to see if they are open to the suggestion of an open attitude for co-use of a facility. John Link made reference to the blue sheet, which outlines the plans for the Efland Cheeks Community Park. Purchasing Director Pam Jones said that the memo lists the highlights of phase I I of the park. She said that phase II would add some trails, add a couple of picnic shelters, stabilize the pond, add a boardwalk to get to the pond, and add barrier fencing around the perimeter. Commissioner Jacobs asked if we could conceptualize the trail system as part of the greenway system. It seems that it would be applicable. Recreation and Parks Director Bob Janes said that the greenway and trails could be incorporated into the easements of the Richmond Hills subdivision. Chair Halkiotis said that the school system met with Habitat for Humanity and designed a simple bridge crossing to allow the children easy access to the school campus rather than coming out on the roadway. Projections for the Schools Commissioner Gordon asked to talk about the projected high school enrollment far the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. She said that by looking at the projections, over-capacity is reached in 2006. She said that the Board has said that when elementary schools pass 105% capacity, middle schools 107°~, and high schools 110°~ we are going to build a school. The SAPFO is very clear that facilities are not shared. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to page two and the projected middle school enrallment. He said that it would not reach capacity until 2007. He said that we could talk about using the capacity of the new middle school to accommodate high school students. He made reference to page six and said that over the next ten years the new high school would not reach 100°lo capacity. This leads us to start to look at things a little mare holistically. He said that there is a need to talk about alternative programs and magnet programs, and get citizens together to talk about the pros and cons of one central administrative facility. He would like to see what the options are. He wants to make the best use out of the facilities and make sure that children get the best possible education. Commissioner Brown agreed with Commissioner Jacobs in sharing facilities as a real possibility with the opening of all the new schools. It will be up to the County Commissioners to show the leadership to start this discussion. The Board agreed that sharing should take place bath between school districts and within school districts. This is an enormous opportunity far cooperation of the actual buildings, allowing children to use both school systems, and finding out how these costly facilities can be shared and used to the optimum.