Agenda - 05-05-1997 - 10b - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 County Projects 1. Review the capital needs recommended by the County Manager for the 1997-2007 Capital Improvements Plan and follow any priorities identified by the Board of Commissioners. 2. Identify the need for and the timing of County capital projects, including those for parks and recreation. The Task Force met in a series of eight meetings, beginning in February. The initial meetings oriented members to the capital needs of the Schools and of the County. To help Task Force members become familiar with the projects and conditions of existing facilities, the group toured some of the schools and held its meetings at various School and County locations. During the orientation sessions, several new projects, not considered in the $40 million bond package, were introduced. The Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools told the Task Force that the original plan to spend $11.8 million to complete the East Chapel Hill High School would not be adequate. Bond funds had not been included in the $40 million package for this project, since State Bond proceeds and funds from impact fees had been planned to cover the amount needed. However, revised estimates from the School System indicated that an additional $3 million would be needed to complete this facility, bringing the total additional cost to complete this facility to $14.8 million. The Task Force was asked to consider adding the shortfall ($3 million) to the bond package being considered. The Orange County School Board introduced the need for a second high school in their district. The total cost of the facility is estimated by the Orange County Schools to be $25 million, with a planned opening in 2002-03. This facility was not included in the $40 million package. The Task Force received information on Recreation and Parks, Affordable Housing, Senior Centers, and the Efland Sewer. Funding for all of these areas in the original $40 million package totaled $2 million, which was not specified for any particular project. The Task Force developed criteria to be used to evaluate both School and County projects. The criteria for evaluating School projects were as follows: • Projects should meet the philosophical criteria for bonds, that is, they should have a useful life of 15 to 20 years, such as a new school project or a major renovation. (This would not include computer hardware and maintenance of facilities.) • Consider the number and spectrum of present and future citizens who would benefit both directly and indirectly from the proposed project. • Look for efficiencies, such as, when multiple needs can be met (such as combining school sites with parks). • Schools should be given the highest priority and addressed by the Task Force first. • Projects should be "big ticket" only (suggestion of$1 million or more) or projects that, when combined, are considered "big ticket." • Capital projects must respond to a need identified by the appropriate elected board. 2