Agenda 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 I Commissioner McKee asked if the total on these parks is about $40 million, less a bit if one removes the cost share for Millhouse Road Park with the Town of Chapel Hill. David Stancil said about $35 to $36 million total cost, over a ten -year period. He said this amount does not account for any grant funding. Commissioner McKee asked if the anticipated amount of grant funding is known. David Stancil said with Fairview Park, the County was able to leverage 40% of the funding from grants. He said grant sources have maxed out recently, so requests need to be spaced out. He said breaking projects into phases, is helpful. Commissioner McKee said there is $540,000 in payment in lieu (PIL) funds, and asked if the amount of PIL funds generated yearly could be identified. David Stancil said prior to the 2008 a larger amount of PIL funds were generated. He said the PIL formula is from 1987, and staff is looking to update but now. He said the current amount is $422 /lot, which does not generate many funds. Commissioner McKee said PIL is basically negligible going forward. David Stancil said once the $540,000 is spent, it will take considerable time to accumulate significant funds. Commissioner McKee agreed with Commissioner Burroughs, and he said it would be better to finish existing parks, and delay starting new ones. He said he has a problem with letting parkland "sit ", but he is nervous about the County's $7 million deficit this year, as well as future expenses. He asked if the County can fund $30 million for parks, where will the County find the remaining funds, other than from the taxpayer. David Stancil said historically funds have come from a bond referendum. Commissioner McKee said the demand for school facilities is going to override everything else. He said this recent school bond is only the beginning. He said the County must be cautious in how it proceeds, and beware of the promises it makes. Commissioner Rich said she agrees and disagrees. She said things like the soccer.com fields are good, and are an economic development opportunity. She said not all parks are equal, and when looking at these projects, it is important to be mindful of what some parks bring in to the County in terms of economic development. Chair Dorosin asked if article 46 sales tax can be used on soccer.com. David Stancil said the Visitor's Bureau has numbers regarding the economic benefit of the soccer.com facility. Commissioner Jacobs said soccer.com is located where it is, in order to generate economic development. Commissioner Jacobs it may be wise to prioritize these projects. He said if Bingham Park is removed, one quarter of the necessary funding is removed. He said Bingham Park could be put in over the next ten years. He said the MST will serve Bingham. Commissioner Jacobs asked if the parks base fits into this planning process. David Stancil said it is currently listed as part of Blackwood Farm Park, in the third phase. He said it is unlikely that Blackwood Farm would be the location for it, but that is where it is in the current adopted capital investment plan (CIP). Commissioner Jacobs said if the base is being moved to another site, nearer to Hillsborough, it would be possible to sell the Revere Road property, and use the funds to pay for what is being built at the Baird - Ruston complex. He said the funds could be ear marked for a certain percentage for each of the projects that go there, or put it all on one project. He said this may help defray some of the cost. Commissioner Jacobs said he will always be in favor of parks being a part of proposed bond referendums. He said the bulk of funds should go to the schools, and hopefully the state will provide more funding toward the efforts of renovating 60 -year old buildings. He said in 2001, there was a balance between different uses in the bonds. He said he understands why