Agenda - 06-02-20; 8-d - Extension of Little River Regional Park Interlocal Agreement

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1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 2, 2020 Action Agenda Item No. 8-d SUBJECT: Extension of Little River Regional Park Interlocal Agreement DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation (DEAPR) ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Proposed Extension David Stancil, 919-245-2510 Current Interlocal Agreement PURPOSE: To adopt and authorize the Manager to sign a one-year extension of the current interlocal agreement between Orange County and Durham County for the operation of Little River Regional Park and Natural Area. The current agreement term expires on June 30, 2020. BACKGROUND: In 2000, Orange County and Durham County jointly purchased 391 acres straddling the Orange/Durham county line east of Guess Road for the purpose of a joint regional park and natural area. The two counties were named Local Government Conservationists of the Year by the Conservation Trust for NC for this effort. Orange County owns 136 acres on its side of the county line, and Durham County owns 255 acres on its side. In 2004, the two counties opened Little River Regional Park and Natural Area, under an interlocal agreement that addressed master planning, a management plan and operating guidelines for the park, as well as budget and operating provisions. Orange County operates the park on behalf of both counties (Durham County did not have a parks system), and the two counties each fund 50% of the cost of the park's capital, personnel and operating needs. The interlocal agreement for the park was last adopted in the spring of 2014. Some of the plans and internal working documents for the park were not developed in the park's early years, and then other pressing matters kept those components from creation and adoption. For the last 18 months, staff from the two counties have been working to complete the master plan (only a site plan for the developed area of the park was created and adopted at the time of park opening), management plan and operating guidelines, as well as operating principles to clarify means of communication and decision-making. While much progress has been made on these items (a draft master plan is completed and the management plan and guidelines are in initial draft form), the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic this spring has delayed completion of these documents and the needed changes to the interlocal agreement, such that the June 30, 2020 deadline cannot be met.