Item:
Title
Approval of Capital Project Amendment No. 25CPA024 Creating a New Santee Road Preserve Capital Project (4730DC165) with a Project Budget of $600,000 by Transferring $300,000 of Santee Road Property Fund Funding from the Open Space & Farmland Preserve Capital Project (4730DC083); and Approval of Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 25BCC052 Transferring $276,591.62 of Open Space and Real State General Fund Funding to the PAYGO Fund; and Appropriating $23,408.38 of Santee Road Property Fund Fund Balance; and Authorize the County Manager to Execute a Contract for Master Plan Design Services, including Community Engagement Services, with Surface 678, PA Totaling an Amount not-to-exceed $433,284.50
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: November 25, 2024
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to approve Capital Project Amendment No. 25CPA024 creating a new Santee Road Preserve capital project (4730DC165) with a project budget of $600,000 by transferring $300,000 of Santee Road Property Fund funding from the Open Space & Farmland Preserve capital project (4730DC083); and approval of Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 25BCC052 transferring $276,591.62 of Open Space and Real State General Fund funding to the PAYGO Fund; and appropriating $23,408.38 of Santee Road Property Fund fund balance; as well as authorize the County Manager to execute a contract for Master Plan design services - including community engagement services - with Surface 678, PA totaling an amount not-to-exceed $433,284.50. The balance of the funding will be used for preliminary activities including environmental and geotechnical assessments, surveying and others.
|
Project |
Current Budget |
Increase/Decrease |
Revised Budget |
Project Status |
|
Santee Road Preserve (4730DC165) |
|
600,000.00 |
$600,000.00 |
New |
|
Open Space & Farmland Preserve (4730DC083) |
$13,246,019.70 |
($300,000) |
$12,946,019,70 |
Amended |
After presenting this project to the BOCC in February 2024, the Request for Qualifications (RFQ No.24-035) Architectural Design Services for the Durham County Santee Road Park was advertised on March 3, 2024. Three responses were received by the March 28, 2024 deadline. The responses were evaluated by representatives from the Open Space and Real Estate Division, Project Management, and the County Manager’s Office. Surface 678, PA, was selected as the highest qualified firm for this project.
This contract totals 76.6% MWBE, with Surface 678, PA providing 40% of the scope of work, and the following MWBE subcontractors with their respective percentages of the scope: Katherine Hogan Architects, PA 3.8%; Planning Communities, 29%; and Palacio Collaborative, 3.8%. Please see Attachment 1 for the Proposal for Master Planning Design Services, and Attachment 2 for the Bid Tabulation.
The Santee Road property is an undeveloped 268-acre wooded parcel purchased by Durham County in 2013 to protect water quality, conserve and restore plant and wildlife habitats, and provide a model space for sustainable, nature-based experiences and low-impact recreational opportunities. The purchase of the Santee property was funded, in part, by the City of Raleigh’s Watershed Protection Program and includes a conservation funding agreement that permanently restricts development on the site. The property is near several public schools, and adjacent to the Falls Lake Game Lands, including a portion of the Mountains to Sea Trail. Please see the AAF Supplemental, Attachment 3, for additional site information, policy impacts, maps, and pictures.
This Master Plan development process will include extensive mapping, site analysis, and public engagement in close coordination with prospective partner entities. The resulting Master Plan will outline the uses and layout of the Preserve that best addresses the conservation/restoration and education goals of the County and recommend phasing to best leverage state and federal funding for construction. As this is the first Open Space Preserve that will be managed solely by the County, this Master Plan also includes an assessment of the operational and maintenance expenses associated with the various use elements of the project.
The Santee Road Fund Fund Balance appropriation of $23,408.38 is the amount of interest that has accrued on $300,000 fund since FY 2017-18.
Alignment with Strategic Plan: This item aligns with the following DCo Forward Strategic Plan Focus Areas: Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, Objective 1: Plan for long-term use of County land, facilities, and equipment through Initiative 1c to create, maintain, and preserve vibrant, inclusive spaces in the County; Objective 3: Preserve and restore the natural and built environment through Initiative 3c to improve water quality through equitable and efficient use of resources and land protection and through Initiative 3d to protect and restore natural resources, land, recreational, historical, and rural spaces; and Healthy and Inclusive Community Objective 1: Increase healthy outcomes and quality of life for residents.
Resource Persons: Christy Raulli, Project Manager, and Peri Manns, ASLA, LEED GA, Deputy Director, Engineering and Environmental Services Department; Celeste Burns, Open Space and Real Estate Division Manager; Jay Gibson, P.E., Director, Engineering and Environmental Services Department; and Robert Pratt, PLA, LEED AP, Principal and Partner, Surface 678, PA
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board approve Capital Project Amendment No. 25CPA024 creating a new Santee Road Preserve Capital Project (4730DC165) with a project budget of $600,000 by transferring $300,000 of Santee Road Property Fund funding from the Open Space & Farmland Preserve capital project (4730DC083); and approval of Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 25BCC052 transferring $276,591.62 of Open Space and Real State General Fund funding to the PAYGO Fund; and appropriating $23,408.38 of Santee Road Property Fund fund balance; as well as authorize the County Manager to execute a contract for Master Plan design services - including community engagement services - with Surface 678, PA totaling an amount not-to-exceed $433,284.50. The balance of the funding will be used for preliminary activities including environmental and geotechnical assessments, surveying and others.
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________