Agenda - 03-19-2013 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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22 1 Michael Talbert said that the Board did approve $500,000 to move forward with a 2 community center in the Rogers Road neighborhood. At the very next meeting, the $500,000 3 grew to $650,000. He said that originally Habitat was going to move the house but it was not 4 feasible, so it evolved from a budget of$650,000 to two lots where Habitat wants to build on. 5 There is temporary approval from the Town of Chapel Hill to move forward with the community 6 center. There are continuing discussions with Habitat on how to make this work. If the two lots 7 were taken out of the subdivision, the process with the Town of Chapel Hill would start over. 8 Habitat wants to maintain control of the lot since it is part of their subdivision. Habitat does not 9 want to be involved in the annual maintenance of the facility. There has been discussion about 10 the towns contributing funds to this facility, but there have been no decisions. 11 Commissioner Rich asked John Roberts to explain his letter and how it differs from what 12 the task force suggested. 13 John Roberts said that what they discussed recently is the streamlined approach and 14 that the County is responsible for construction of the facility and there is no middle man. All of 15 the entities have the same grant opportunities for recreational services and the County could 16 offer this and all of the entities could participate. 17 Commissioner Rich said that if that is the case, the County can move forward with a 18 community center if this interlocal agreement can be created. 19 Commissioner Rich said her goal is that there is action and something in place. 20 Frank Clifton said the difficult issue they face is that when they get to a point, then 21 someone brings up something and they are back at square one. He said if the County 22 Commissioners wants the staff to move forward, then it should direct the staff to move forward 23 with Habitat and an architect, and if the towns want to participate they can. If the County 24 Commissioners want to get all on board before doing this then it will take longer. 25 John Roberts said that this differs from the task force recommendation in that Habitat is 26 not willing to donate the land. To be legally constructed, this cannot be a neighborhood facility 27 only, but a public facility. 28 Commissioner Price asked how much control RENA would have over the facility. 29 John Roberts said that whoever they contract with must accept people from the general 30 public. There must be equal access to the facility. 31 Commissioner Dorosin said that this Board has already committed $650,000 to build the 32 building, whether the towns kick in money or not. 33 Chair Jacobs said the Board of County Commissioners said it was committed to having 34 it built even if it costs $650,000, whether anyone else contributed. 35 Commissioner Dorosin made a friendly amendment to Commissioner Price's motion 36 to instruct the Manager to make a deal with Habitat and to start with construction of the facility 37 and ask the task force to commit to assisting with the operational expenses. 38 Commissioner McKee said that the critical issue is that there have been multiple task 39 forces and Chapel Hill did a small area plan that was never adopted/implemented. He said that 40 these two issues need to be separated out—the sewer and the community center. He said that 41 the community center is set and ready to go. The community center needs to move forward 42 now. He suggested handing the community center to the staff and attorneys and they can take 43 care of a lot of the technical questions. 44 Commissioner Pelissier concurred with Commissioner McKee. She said the Board 45 originally created the task force to get something done and if the towns are not going to 46 participate on the center then she sees no need for a task force. The task force and Board of 47 County Commissioners want to do the community center now and Orange County budgeted for 48 it, so the towns need to budget something too. She is reluctant to create a new task force until 49 the towns commit.