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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: May 18, 2021 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-k <br /> SUBJECT: Extension of Little River Regional Park Interlocal Agreement <br /> DEPARTMENT: DEAPR <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Proposed Extension David Stancil, 919-245-2510 <br /> Current Interlocal Agreement <br /> PURPOSE: To adopt a six-month extension of the existing interlocal agreement between Orange <br /> County and Durham County for the operation of Little River Regional Park and Natural Area. The <br /> current agreement term was previously set by extension to June 30, 2021. <br /> BACKGROUND: In 2000, Orange County and Durham County jointly purchased 391 acres <br /> straddling the Orange/Durham county line east of Guess Road for the purpose of a joint regional <br /> park and natural area. The two counties were named Local Government Conservationists of the <br /> Year by the Conservation Trust for NC for this effort. Orange County owns 136 acres on its side <br /> of the county line, and Durham County owns 255 acres on its side. <br /> In 2004, the two counties opened Little River Regional Park and Natural Area under an interlocal <br /> agreement that addressed master planning, a management plan and operating guidelines for the <br /> park, as well as budget and operating provisions. Orange County operates the park on behalf of <br /> both counties (Durham County did not have a parks system), and the two counties each fund 50% <br /> of the cost of the park's capital, personnel and operating needs. <br /> The interlocal agreement for the park was last adopted in the spring of 2014. Some of the plans <br /> and internal working documents for the park were not developed in the park's early years, and <br /> then other pressing matters kept those components from creation and adoption. <br /> For the last two years, staff from the two counties have been working to complete the master plan <br /> (only a site plan for the developed area of the park was created and adopted at the time of park <br /> opening), management plan and operating guidelines. While much progress was made, the <br /> updates needed to the interlocal agreement were not able to be completed in time and an <br /> extension to June 30, 2021 was sought and approved by both counties. <br /> Unfortunately, the continued COVID-19 pandemic impacts through the rest of 2020 and into 2021 <br /> have again delayed completion of these documents and the needed changes to the interlocal <br />