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Commissioners Brown & Worley - Parks and Recreation - 1) To Approve and Authorize Execution of a Lease Agreement with Duke Energy for Operation of the Southpoint Access Facility; 2) To Authorize a Cost Share Agreement for Construction of a Canoe/Kayak Launch with Associated Parking and Storage and Appropriate the Required Funds ($303,639 - Fund Balance); 3) To Approve Staffing and Fee Schedules to Offset Costs for Operational Purposes of the Facility and Appropriate the Anticipated Revenue and Expense ($195,988)
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STAFF CONTACT
Cathy Hart - Parks & Recreation Director - 704-922-2162
BUDGET IMPACT
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Increase user fee revenues and appropriate $195,988 into operational budget accounts for operations and $303,629 into a capital account for vehicles/equipment and a cost share reimbursement.
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
Minimal impact to the budget ordinance.
BACKGROUND
Duke Energy constructed new recreational amenities at the Southpoint Access area on Lake Wylie. Improvements include walking trails, fishing piers, picnic shelters, restrooms, large event shelters, a sand beach and associated parking and drive areas. The current amenities were fully funded by Duke Energy to provide additional recreational access opportunities at Lake Wylie and the Catawba River for the general public. Duke Energy wishes to partner with Gaston County to operate the facility on a daily basis as part of Gaston County’s park system. This facility would add amenities and lake access to Gaston County’s park system that are not currently available. The Southpoint Access property consists of approximately 68 acres. Areas of the property currently undeveloped provide an opportunity for Gaston County to add amenities in the future such as tent and RV camping, canoe/kayak launch areas, additional walking trails and other features.
Duke Energy also expressed interest in partnering financially with Gaston County to design and construct a canoe/kayak launch area to provide an additional water related amenity and to relieve canoe/kayak traffic from the boat launch area currently operated by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Duke Energy will use their design consultant and will cover the cost of design, permitting and construction oversight for the canoe/kayak launch, associated parking, sidewalks, and storage facility provided Gaston County agrees to reimburse Duke for 25% of the final construction costs, estimated to be $225,000. The existing boat launch will continue to be operated by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
This Board Action approves the draft lease and cost share agreements with Duke Energy, authorizes the County Attorney to make necessary changes to finalize said documents for execution purposes, and authorizes the County Manager or her designee to execute said documents on behalf of Gaston County. Further, this Board Action approves the requested staffing positions for daily operations as outlined in the budget change request. Initial staffing needs include three full-time and two part-time employees. Staffing and operational costs will be offset by parking and rental fee revenues. This Board Action also approves the proposed fee schedule to be implemented once the lease, staffing, and facility access controls are in place.
POLICY IMPACT
N/A
ATTACHMENTS
Park Lease Agreement, Reimbursement Agreement, Fee Schedule and Budget Change Request (BCR)