Title
Consider Memorandum of Understanding between The Greens of Rock Hill, LLC and the City of Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Strategic Goal: Support the Riverwalk development through infrastructure assistance and public amenities; Work with interdepartmental project team and community organizations to plan, fund, construct and develop a marketing strategy for the Cycling and Outdoor Center of the Carolinas.
Body
On September 28, 2009, the City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding with The Greens of Rock Hill and the Carolina Velodrome Association related to the development of the Cycling and Outdoor Center of the Carolinas at Riverwalk. Among other provisions, this agreement provided for the creation of preliminary plans and cost estimates for a velodrome, preparation of site plans for other recreational and cycling facilities, solicitation of private sponsorships for cycling venues, and the organization of a board to advise the City on matters related to cycling sports. All of this information was shared with City Council in a workshop on April 1, 2010. A copy of a presentation from that workshop is attached.
At the workshop, next steps were identified and discussed:
1. Approve naming rights and other sponsorship proposals
2. Approve binding agreements with Greens of Rock Hill and Cycling Center Partners for construction of a velodrome
3. Implement financing plans for construction of a velodrome
4. Hold a City Council workshop to establish the schedule and funding for Future Phases of Public Amenities Plan (athletic fields, BMX, cyclocross, road course).
Substantial progress continues to be made in the planning and development of recreational facilities at Riverwalk, including the recent opening of the Riverwalk trail and the canoe/kayak launch. However, several important steps remain before it will be appropriate for the City and the developer to enter into binding agreements for construction of a velodrome. These steps all relate to the completion of a financing plan, consistent with previous information provided to City Council:
1. The City will apply for grant funding to pay a portion of the construction costs. Grant applications are expected to be submitted in March 2011.
2. Additional private sponsorships are required to complete the funding plan
3. The City Council must approve a specific mechanism for funding the City's portion of the construction costs.
The purpose of this new MOU is to provide for continued progress by the City and the Greens of Rock Hill while financing plans are being completed. The new MOU accomplishes the following:
1. Affirms plans and designs presented at the April 1 workshop
2. Affirms the City’s intent to construct a velodrome, contingent on satisfaction of financing and other requirements in City Council’s sole discretion
3. Provides schedules for key milestones:
- Intention by City and Greens of Rock Hill to complete construction plans for velodrome and adjacent improvements serving the Town Center area by March 31, 2011
- Intention by Greens of Rock Hill to construct roads, utilities and related infrastructure to serve the velodrome and Town Center by November 20, 2011
- Intention by Greens of Rock Hill to convey velodrome site to City on or before January 31, 2012
- Intention by City to complete construction of the velodrome by December 31, 2012 (subject to City Council’s approval of financing and sponsorships in its sole discretion)
- Intention by Greens of Rock Hill to complete landfill closure activities and prepare the landfill site for use by the City for development of public recreational facilities by December 31, 2011
- Intention by City and Greens of Rock Hill to collaborate on design of additional public recreational facilities
4. Provides for future discussions between the City and Greens of Rock Hill regarding possible roles for The Greens of Rock Hill in construction of a velodrome
City Council is asked to approve the proposed MOU.