DRAFT

(Contact the town clerk's office at 919-469-4011 for official minutes)

Minutes of the Town of Cary , NC Aquatics Work Session

January 8, 2008

6:30 p.m.

Cary Town Hall

Conference Room 10035 , 316 N. Academy St. , Cary , NC

Present:  Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Mayor Pro Tem Julie Robison, Council Members Gale Adcock, Don Frantz, and Erv Portman

Council Member Jennifer Robinson arrived late and her arrival is noted in the minutes

Absent:  Council Member Jack Smith participated by telephone

Mayor Weinbrecht called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m.

Mrs. Henderson introduced the consultants working with staff:  Dwayne Brinkley of Brinkley Sargent Architects, Boots Elam of Elam, Todd, d'Ambrosi, and Scott Hunsaker of Counsilman-Hunsaker & Associates

Mrs. Henderson provided an overview and reviewed the history of the aquatics project from August 2000 through April 2007. (Staff’s PowerPoint Presentation is attached to and incorporated herein as Exhibit A.

Mrs. Robinson arrived at this point in the meeting at 6:36 p.m.

Mr. Brinkley said in evaluating the two sites (the Hawes tract and the North Cary site) they received input from citizens, staff and the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board.  He reviewed the proposed site selection criteria and evaluation factors for each site:  proximity, expansion potential, accessibility, visibility, environmental impact, adjacent property buffers, traffic impact, parking capacity, population and cost factors.  He said with the Hawes tract the roads are just being developed and it’s being reforested.  He said they performed a slope analysis to identify buildable areas and looked at what was adjacent to the site.  Mr. Brinkley said there is a virgin forest area on the North Cary site, the slopes are dramatic, it fronts onto N. Cary Parkway, and has some fragile environmental areas, especially in the lower area near the black creek. 

Mr. Brinkley said that they rated the sites and desired elements and developed a matrix.  The Hawes site scoring is higher because of some of the particular elements on that site. Public participation process they asked four questions.  A summary of the comments received, Brinkley Sargent’s evaluation matrix, the programming process, public input participation, program responses for community center and aquatics are included in the PowerPoint presentation.  He said from the information received they put together a preliminary program of spaces that might work responding to a fiscally responsible facility.  He said the preliminary program is about 75,000 square feet, outdoor aquatics, and a side area about 25,000 square feet with a support area. 

Mr. Hunsaker said that they have developed a business model, taking into account site considerations and programming.  He reviewed the financial performance summary and said they are carrying a working budget of about $24 million which is statistically in line with their goals.

Mrs. Adcock asked about the projected attendance.  Mr. Hunsaker said that because they’ve consistently had a moving target they’ve always kept information for the current year to allow for inflation and projecting out; they have allowed a 2-1/2 percent expense increase for inflation for future years.  He said that the revenue numbers are tied to the growth rate in the demographic study. 

Mrs. Henderson said that the PRCR advisory board has evaluated the site selection criteria and unanimously recommended approval of the Hawes site.  She said staff would like feedback regarding the programming. 

Mr. Frantz said he does not support either proposal.  He would like council to look at other sites which are more centrally located and to reduce the size and scope of project or consider a community pool without the community center aspect to provide leisure aquatics for Cary citizens.  He suggested several smaller pools in different areas of town.

Mrs. Robinson said the northwest area needs some amenities because they don’t have any. 

Mr. Portman asked about the demand for additional community centers and how current community centers are utilized.  Mrs. Henderson said that the Town has three community centers:  Herb Young, Bond Park, and Middle Creek.  She said that there is a lot of use by our citizens, mostly for programming and rentals, and there has been an increase in gymnasium usage. 

Mr. Portman said he supports the recommendation. 

Mr. Smith said that they should be focusing on a small municipal pool, see how it works, see if there is usage and interest, and then replicate that municipal pool in other locations throughout Cary .  He said that he received comments from citizens in the North Cary area who said that the recommended complex would be overwhelming and negatively affect their quality of life—they would like to see a smaller municipal pool.  He said that if he had to choose he would reluctantly go with the Hawes tract. 

Mrs. Adcock asked about the water usage.  Mr. Hunsaker said that once an indoor pool is filled it’s not a heavy demand load for water usage.  He said the usage will be with the facilities—showers, bathrooms, etc. He said that the outdoor seasonal component have an increased use of water and there are a number of strategies to minimize water usage. 

Mrs. Adcock asked how it would compare with single or multifamily housing.  Mr. Hunsaker said it’s typically 50-60 gallons a day in a home environment.  He said with an 8 lane 25 yard pool there is typically a water volume in the 200,000 gallon range, which is a one-time fill for the indoor pool.  He said that he’s done a similar study and the comparison was equal to less than 50 homes on an annual basis.  Mr. Coleman added that staff has not done a specific analysis; however, it will have very little impact on the Town’s water supply.  Mrs. Adcock asked staff to provide an analysis. 

Mayor Weinbrecht said he would like to see a site toward the core of town. 

Mr. Frantz suggested council consider buying the land next to Buffalo Lanes at High House and Old Apex because it has enough land, is centrally located, near major thoroughfares, and would be near a demographic that would be able to walk to the pool. 

Mrs. Robinson said they still need a community center at the Hawes tract.  He said it can be designed so that it can be enlarged later if they so choose.  She is open to other sites.

Mayor Pro Tem Robison said that the Town has $15 million capital already appropriated for aquatics with no debt service.  She said they could look at the concept of a smaller community center with an indoor pool at a more centrally located site and use the money that’s already been appropriated.  She said if they want to do more at the Hawes tract that they should consider doing it through a bond referendum in the very near future.  Mrs. Robinson said she supports doing a bond referendum for the North Cary site and Hawes tract community centers.

Mrs. Adcock asked if a scaled down aquatic center would be appropriate for the North Cary site.  Mrs. Henderson said that staff has heard from residents that the area may function better as open space.  She said a small facility would be more appropriate on that site based on staff findings. 

Mr. Portman said they need further information on what can be done with the $15 million in order to make an informed decision.

Mrs. Robinson said that she can’t in confidence vote down the Hawes tract and the proposal unless she knows there is a viable and excellent counter proposal.  Mr. Smith said he is inclined to vote for something smaller.

ACTION:  Mrs. Adcock moved to table council decision on an aquatics center until they have additional data from staff and additional alternatives to consider.  Mayor Pro Tem Robison provided the second.

Mrs. Henderson stated that council is asking for water information based on the program brought forth and for a recommendation on what could be done for $15 million. 

Mrs. Robinson said she would like cost information for different components to have an aquatics only and options.  Mayor Weinbrecht said that location also seems to be an issue.  Mrs. Robinson said she is in favor of putting a pool closer to downtown but not a community center. 

Mrs. Henderson said staff has identified programming.  She said they need to narrow the location.  Mr. Coleman said staff needs to take a look at the options for the facilities, decide on what size tract of land will be required to put such a facility, and then look for sites in various areas of Town that fit those criteria. 

Mayor Pro Tem Robison said she’s heard council members say they would like a pool that is more centrally located.  Mrs. Robinson said she’d like to see things close to downtown.  Mayor Pro Tem Robison added that they should also explore a possible bond referendum so that something can be done at the Hawes tract. 

Mr. Portman asked when staff could bring information back to council.  Mrs. Henderson said 30-60 days, looking at programming and sites in order to come back with something solid.  Mrs. Henderson clarified council’s direction:  look at the $15 million and what can be done, site options, and perform a water analysis.  

Mayor Pro Tem Robison asked that the North Cary site not be taken off the table at this point and that they should discuss the possibility of an alternative community center placement.  Mr. Smith said he would like to see from staff is where the amenities are currently.  Mr. Portman said he would like information on public and private amenities related to aquatics and community centers. 

Council thanked the staff and consultants for their time and effort that has been expended on the aquatics project thus far.  

ACTION:  Mayor Weinbrecht called for a vote on the motion to table and council granted unanimous approval. 

Mayor Weinbrecht adjourned the meeting at 7:57 p.m.