Agenda - 01-24-2012 - 8c - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 Some key activity ideas expressed by local residents included: • County services continuing to be offered in some form at the site; • Meeting room/community center; • Potentially, an Emergency Services base station. Further, small group members agreed the County should solicit public input from other residents in the area. Various means to do so were discussed including, but not limited to, distribution via: mail; some method of surveying preferences (such as Survey Monkey) via the Internet; and flyers in local stores, churches and other community organizations. An open house at the Northern Human Services site is also recommended in order to share ideas and provide a direct avenue for feedback from residents. Based on this discussion, a timeline of possible activities, including atwo-part public input plan, is attached for the Board's comment. The small group discussed a number of ownership options, including leasing or selling the building to a private or other non-profit group. However, staff has learned that deed covenants from the 1976 property conveyance from the Orange County Board of Education to Orange County will require the land and uses of the land to remain `fora public purpose'. In the facility evaluation and subsequent discussion, staff has refined the most likely project possibilities and recommends that two options be identified and discussed with the community residents: Deconstruction/demolition of the existing facility (following a thorough documentation for historic preservation purposes), with future construction of a new public facility (in a future year to be determined as part of the CIP) that would include a "community center" similar to that existing at Efland-Cheeks Park, and perhaps other components to be determined; or Deconstruction/demolition of the existing building wings, and retention and renovation of a core center area, possibly including the gymnatorium and cafeteria (in a future year to be determined as part of the CIP). Staff is prepared to commence a formal public input effort, following a discussion regarding general parameters that should be followed when formulating the project possibilities with the community. The attached facility assessment provides an overview of the facility's status. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The FY 2011-16 CIP includes $250,000 to fund removal of the building and grading/seeding of the site in preparation for future use. There is no current funding in the CIP for new construction or renovation of the facility as listed in the two options above, these would need to be added to the future CIP if desired. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board discuss the proposed timeline and plan of action, make any changes as needed, and instruct staff to begin the public input and project activity process.