Agenda - 06-18-2013 - 7e - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 BACKGROUND: On November 8, 2012, the Board of County Commissioners ( "BOCC ") authorized the Manager to proceed with the development of a 10,000 square foot community center on the site of the Northern Human Services Center. The agenda abstract for this Board decision is depicted in Attachment 1, "November 8, 2012 Agenda Abstract ". The former Cedar Grove School was built in 1950 to serve the African - American community in northern Orange County. As a result of de- segregation in public schools, the facility was transferred to County control in 1976, with a deed restriction that the facility be used for a "public purpose ". The facility was initially purposed as a human services delivery location for the residents of northern Orange County, housing numerous County services, including a branch library, social services, educational offerings (including Durham Technical College classes), Head Start programs, other child care services, and recreation programs. The Northern Human Services Center Task Force Future Use Plan, presented to the Board in June 2001, provides a comprehensive overview of the services housed in the facility and contemplated future needs (including Cedar Grove Park that opened in 2009). This report is provided at Attachment 2, "Supplemental Information ", Section A. The Board has endorsed the formation of a resident design advisory group to be involved in the programming and design of this facility. Attachment 3, "Charge for the Northern Human Services Center Resident Design Advisory Work Group ", establishes a purpose, framework and a set of responsibilities for this group. Recent History The Board supported reducing County services programming of the space over the past several years due to a combination of falling demand and high fixed costs to maintain the facility. Although the 2001 Task Force report discussed current and potential uses at the time (as well as subsequent studies examining potential uses of the building), no potential use overcomes the very high operating cost of the facility (estimated at $100,000 annually when fully conditioned and operational) and necessary capital improvements. This general facility assessment summary, not including programming and staffing costs, is attached to the January 24, 2012 regular meeting agenda abstract provided at Attachment 2, "Supplemental Information ", Section B. The single most limiting factor for the facility is the lack of conventional water and sanitary sewer service. The current well and septic system can adequately service a low volume of flow (2,400 gallons per day) suitable for a 10,000 square foot community center use. A higher flow volume necessary to support the full facility and its potential capacity (6,000 gallons per day) was contemplated in the 2001 Task Force report. To accommodate this contemplated added capacity, the Board authorized an engineering study for adjacent land suitable for septic treatment in 2004. This study yielded the purchase of the adjacent 12 -acre parcel (east of the facility across Hwy 86 North) that would allow an expansion of the well and septic system at an estimated cost of $800,000. Information regarding the capacity constraints of the current septic system is located in Attachment 2, "Supplemental Information ", Section C. Based upon the lack of program service demand and the cost of improving the septic system, the Board agreed on June 19, 2012 to de- commission and de- construct the facility with a