Minutes - 20091013 Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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approval. If the Board indicates its endorsement and takes subsequent action to this effect, staff could convey this to OWASA via a letter from the Chair. 3) May Staff collaborate with the Town of Hillsborough on identifying the MST trail link to the Town's Riverwalk? Hillsborough staff also participated in the stakeholder meetings held by the NC Division of Parks and Recreation to identify the best trail corridor. The Town adopted a resolution in 2005 recommending that the MST incorporate the Eno Riverwalk from downtown Hillsborough to Occoneechee Mountain. Since then, ERCD has participated in two informal meetings with Town staff and the Eno River Association to discuss the potential extension of the Riverwalk, including a proposed "Phase III" of the Riverwalk into the Town's extraterritorial jurisdiction. If the Board concurs, ERCD could work with the Town and others to identify potential trail routes to expand the Riverwalk west to connect Occoneechee Mountain with the Seven Mile Creek Preserve, and east to connect the County's River Park with Eno River State Park. 4) How aggressively should ERCD prioritize MST land acquisition through the Lands Legacy program? ERCD is prepared to include MST corridor planning and acquisition in the 2010-12 Lands Legacy Action Plan, as has been the case in previous two-year plans, but guidance from the Board would be useful in determining how to prioritize this project among the other Lands Legacy projects. State grant funds for land acquisition and trail construction is available from the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (the MST is now a top priority for PARTF grants), the State Recreational Trail Grant Program, and the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund. State Parks staff has indicated State funds for land acquisition will be earmarked for Orange County (once the state budget situation improves) as part of the State's interest in "jumpstarting" the MST in the Eastern Piedmont section. The adopted CIP allocates $1.26 million for land acquisition for Lands Legacy/ Mountains-to-Sea Trail, beginning in 2013-14 and continuing to 2016-17. There is also $2.8 million remaining from the voter-approved 2001 Parks and Open Space bond (Lands Legacy portion) that is or will be available for acquisition of public accessible parks and open space lands. At this point, Board direction on whether to consider this a high, medium or low priority will be useful, as staff is developing the draft 2010-2012 Lands Legacy Action Plan. A listing of other priorities that have been identified to date is available at the Board's places. This draft plan is slated to come to the Board in early 2010, after receiving comments and thoughts from advisory boards.