Orange County NC Website
6 <br /> for asking for it. Carrboro is saying that this project is a high priority. He wants to see how Carrboro <br /> wants to fit into the picture. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that when he met with Chatham County, he asked them about participating <br /> financially in the Southern park project. Chatham took the plan and said that they would get back with <br /> comments soon so as to not delay construction. <br /> Commissioner Brown asked about the soccer superfund and how that would work. John Link <br /> said that as we look at the parks we will be developing we would keep in mind that there is money for <br /> soccer fields. Also when they work with both school systems we will look at the feasibility of adding <br /> soccer fields at school facilities. <br /> Commissioner Gordon made reference to page 182 and the SportsPlex. She noted that the total <br /> cost is 10.9 million. John Link said that the Board might want to stop their contribution after the tenth <br /> year. He asked to leave this in for several years. The Board can zero it out or continue paying $400,000. <br /> The $400,000 would take us out to 2005. Rod Visser said that the $10.9 million number is too high. He <br /> will check this figure and correct it. <br /> The Board agreed that a policy decision needs to be made regarding the SportsPlex. <br /> Donna Dean made reference to the senior centers (page 9) and said that she has reviewed the <br /> projects in the CIP to see if funds can be reallocated and feels that there are funds that can be used for <br /> planning these senior centers. <br /> Chair Jacobs asked for a timeline showing when a decision needs to be made on a site. <br /> The funding sources for this proposed CIP are as follows: <br /> ❖ Alternative Financing 16% <br /> ❖ Bonds 36% <br /> ❖ Pay-As-You-Go 48% <br /> Donna Dean said that there are factors to consider in looking at the need for school facilities. <br /> These include the following: <br /> ❖ Student Membership <br /> ✓ Current student population <br /> ✓ Future projections which need additional analysis <br /> ❖ Mandated state initiatives to provide learning opportunities for pre-K children <br /> John Link made reference to the High School planning considerations. The Chapel Hill Carrboro <br /> City Schools have articulated the need for additional high school space. The recommendation from the <br /> Capital Needs Task Force was to recommend money for planning for a new high school in the $85 <br /> million bond packet. As the Board of County Commissioners responded to the report, they decided on a <br /> $75 million bond issue, which did not include any monies for additional high school space. Chapel Hill <br /> Carrboro City Schools have been talking about a 750 student High School and in the CIP that Neil <br /> Petersen has proposed to his board and that has been recommended in this report is for$8.5 million to <br /> come from impact fee and alternative funding. He thinks it would be a good idea for the County <br /> Commissioners and school board to look at how they have approached new high school space in the <br /> past. Orange County financed their new High School from impact fees and alternative funding and <br /> Orange County schools have been strapped by this funding not leaving much for other projects. He <br /> recommends that this be an item for discussion when the County Commissioners meet with the two <br /> school boards next Monday. The focus for the proposed work group would be as listed below: <br /> ♦ Need for and timing for additional space <br /> ♦ Review and clarify latest transmittals from CHCCS <br /> ♦ Options to pay for new space <br /> ♦ Location and size <br /> ♦ Long-term educational benefits <br /> ♦ Remaining capacity at existing high schools <br /> ♦ Level of service standards for measuring overcrowded situations <br /> ♦ Appropriate revisions to adopted school construction standards <br />