Minutes 11-08-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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12 Commissioner Yuhasz made reference to the Greene Tract and said that it is important to look at the discussions from the past, but he would not want it to hamstring the process. He said that it is also important to have a discussion about divestiture of the Greene Tract. Chair Pelissier suggested that the task force ask OWASA to look at its policy related to sewer gravity for this specific project. She thinks that the board might be willing to consider this. Commissioner Hemminger said that the community center discussion came up again and it was thought that $500,000 was not going to be enough, and that $650,000 would be more realistic to add to the advancement project (an additional $150,000). She asked the Board to consider additional funding. Commissioner Hemminger said that the business plan from RENA is a dream and a listing of all kinds of possibilities. She asked the Board to view this as goals and a dream only at this time. Commissioner McKee asked about the driver for the increased costs for the community center. Michael Talbert said that staff had talked to Chapel Hill about what size facility could be built on the site and he said the size of the facility has been increased because they want a commercial kitchen and a green building, and more room for other projects. Commissioner Gordon said that they need to figure out what they need in the building first and then figure out the cost. Michael Talbert said that RENA is currently working with an architect, but the goal is to get this funded now so that there is assurance that it will be built. The plan will come back for refinement. Commissioner Jacobs suggested inviting OWASA officers, Attorney, and Executive Director to the AOG meeting to hear the conversations. Commissioner McKee said that he would support this increase in costs but he does not want to chase a moving target. Commissioner Foushee said that there was discussion about having enough money for flexibility for the future and it is less expensive to do it now rather than later. She said that Habitat is not going to be the agency that constructs the building and the County will need to contract with someone to do that. Commissioner Hemminger said that Habitat wanted a figure they could work with and a range. Michael Talbert agreed that Habitat will contract this out, which limits volunteer help. This is what caused some of the increase in costs. Michael Talbert went over the Business Plan briefly. He reiterated that this is a dream and what they want to do for the next 10 years. Several new initiatives include day care, fostering economic development through a catering business, and a business incubator to promote businesses. The budget includes $208,000 in year one, which would start after the building is complete. By year three, the budget will be $345,000. Much of the revenues in the beginning will come from grants - $129,000 out of$208,000. The income from new initiatives would kick in starting in years two and three. Commissioner Yuhasz asked where the grants would come from and Michael Talbert said that this was not specified. He thinks that they would explore all opportunities. Commissioner Yuhasz said that his concern is that this facility will be built and then the neighborhood will look to the Board of County Commissioners to manage and maintain it from now on. He would feel more comfortable if he knew where this money would come from. Commissioner Foushee said that a lot of this goes back to dreams. She said that this group has operated without the County's help for many years. The goals and expectations are that they will continue to operate with little or no help from the local governments. She said