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Coversheet Attachment 16 TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL NORTH CAROLINA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Meeting Date: 2/11/2013 AGENDA # 11 Title of Agenda Item: Greater Chapel Hill Fire District: Annexation Analysis. (R -13) 25 Council Goal: Focus on Economic Development, Land Use, and Transportation for a Balanced and Sustainable Future Background: At the January 14, 2013 Business Meeting, Council considered orange County's request to enlarge the Greater Chapel Hill Fire District to include Area 5. Council was presented with three options: 1. Continue to provide fire service to the area via mutual aid. 2. Enter into a service agreement with orange County to extend the Town's current fire district into the affected neighborhoods. 3. Provide fire protection service following annexation of the area. Council chose to explore annexation of the affected neighborhoods, and requested that staff prepare a report outlining the costs and revenues of annexing the area. Resources from the School of Government and NC League of Municipalities, as well as cost and revenue data from Town departments serve as the basis for the discussion and recommendations that follow. Fiscal Note: A summary of the estimated cost and revenues associated with the annexation of Area 5 are as follows: Recommendations: Based on the financial analysis, it appears that annexation would be beneficial to the Town's long -term financial and development interests. With that said, the legal constraints imposed by current annexation laws, contextual factors related to the neighborhoods in question, and potential resource demands on staff required to initiate annexation male the pursuit of annexation of this area challenging and impracticable. Thus, based on the information provided, I recommend that the Council: Reconsider the option proposed by orange County to enter into a service agreement to extend the Town's current fire district into the affected neighborhoods for a period of two years and initiate conversations with the County about how the changes in annexation laws affect the rational planning model established within orange- County. Town staff can report in September http:// chapelhillpublic. novusagenda .comBluesheet.aspx ?itemid =2121 &mee... 2/14/2013 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Total Cost $434,400 $257,500 $257.5500 Total Revenue $1,039,100 $1,039,900 $1,040,600 Net Revenue J $60417001 $78214001 $783, 100 Recommendations: Based on the financial analysis, it appears that annexation would be beneficial to the Town's long -term financial and development interests. With that said, the legal constraints imposed by current annexation laws, contextual factors related to the neighborhoods in question, and potential resource demands on staff required to initiate annexation male the pursuit of annexation of this area challenging and impracticable. Thus, based on the information provided, I recommend that the Council: Reconsider the option proposed by orange County to enter into a service agreement to extend the Town's current fire district into the affected neighborhoods for a period of two years and initiate conversations with the County about how the changes in annexation laws affect the rational planning model established within orange- County. Town staff can report in September http:// chapelhillpublic. novusagenda .comBluesheet.aspx ?itemid =2121 &mee... 2/14/2013