Board of County Commissioners Fort Christmas Historical Park Project County Administration and Parks and Recreation Division November 27, 2007

l Background l Ft. Christmas Historical Park Project l TDT Availability l Action Requested Outline

Property Tax Reform Statutory provisions took effect on October 1, 2007 Statutory roll back and 5% cut reduced county’s property taxes by $120 million Constitutional amendment (re-do) will go to voters on January 29, 2008 Background

Background l County’s Budget: 10% cut to operating budgets 10% cut to various agencies Cut 5% of the workforce (except public safety, enterprise and grants) Delayed capital projects and programs

Do Not Undertake Any New Projects Where Construction Has Not Yet Started Shadow Bay Park ImprovementsShadow Bay Park Improvements West Orange Neighborhood ParkWest Orange Neighborhood Park Barber Park Recreation CenterBarber Park Recreation Center Moss Park (Parcel J)Moss Park (Parcel J) East Orange District ParkEast Orange District Park Summerport Neighborhood ParkSummerport Neighborhood Park West Orange TrailWest Orange Trail Shingle Creek TrailShingle Creek Trail Background

Do Not Undertake Any New Projects Where Construction Has Not Yet Started Pine Hills Swimming PoolPine Hills Swimming Pool Econ Environmental CenterEcon Environmental Center West Beach Boat RampWest Beach Boat Ramp Barnett Park GymnasiumBarnett Park Gymnasium Fort Christmas Historic Building RehabilitationFort Christmas Historic Building Rehabilitation Magnolia Park ImprovementsMagnolia Park Improvements Trimble Park ImprovementsTrimble Park Improvements Curry Ford Tennis CenterCurry Ford Tennis Center Clarcona Park ImprovementsClarcona Park Improvements Silver Star Community ParkSilver Star Community Park Bear Creek ImprovementsBear Creek Improvements Background

Do Not Undertake Any New Projects Where Construction Has Not Yet Started Pine Hills Swimming PoolPine Hills Swimming Pool Econ Environmental CenterEcon Environmental Center West Beach Boat RampWest Beach Boat Ramp Barnett Park GymnasiumBarnett Park Gymnasium Fort Christmas Historic Building RehabilitationFort Christmas Historic Building Rehabilitation Magnolia Park ImprovementsMagnolia Park Improvements Trimble Park ImprovementsTrimble Park Improvements Curry Ford Tennis CenterCurry Ford Tennis Center Clarcona Park ImprovementsClarcona Park Improvements Silver Star Community ParkSilver Star Community Park Bear Creek ImprovementsBear Creek Improvements Background

Background l Ft. Christmas Historical Park: Discussion during worksessions about funding this project with Tourist Development Tax (TDT) through the Arts and Cultural Affairs program County Attorney’s Office opined that TDT could be used for the Ft. Christmas project provided the board determines that it promotes tourism and functions as a museum

Outline

Fort Christmas Historical Park Project l Background l Purpose of Fort Christmas Historical Park l Fort Christmas Master Plan l Fort Christmas Historical Society l Proposed Project l Funding Needs

Fort Christmas Historical Park Project l Background l Purpose of Fort Christmas Historical Park l Fort Christmas Master Plan l Fort Christmas Historical Society l Proposed Project l Funding Needs

l Located in Christmas l 26 miles east of downtown Orlando l Points of interest include Replica of fort built in 1837 during the Seminole Indian War Traditional Florida “cracker” house Sugar cane mill & other historical farming equipment Approximately 25 acres Background

Background 2006 Visitor Information l 6,436 youth served with hands on programs l Total attendance – 144,783 l Documented visitors from 39 different states l Daily visitors include people from Austria, Canada, England, Netherlands, Germany, Scotland, Russia, China, Poland, Finland, Argentina, Japan, France, and others

Fort Christmas Historical Park Project l Background l Purpose of Fort Christmas Historical Park l Fort Christmas Master Plan l Fort Christmas Historical Society l Proposed Project l Funding Needs

Purpose of Fort Christmas Historical Park l Provide active recreation to residents and visitors while showcasing historical structures that tell the story of life in this area from the time of Pioneers and Native Americans to the Modern Day.

Fort Christmas Historical Park Project l Background l Purpose of Fort Christmas Historical Park l Fort Christmas Master Plan l Fort Christmas Historical Society l Proposed Project l Funding Needs

Ft. Christmas Master Plan l Updated in 2004

Ft. Christmas Master Plan l Updated in 2004

Fort Christmas Historical Park Project l Background l Purpose of Fort Christmas Historical Park l Fort Christmas Master Plan l Fort Christmas Historical Society l Proposed Project l Funding Needs

Fort Christmas Historical Society l Volunteering 50 active members Over 1,000 volunteer hours per year l Fundraising 1996 to 2006 raised $357,155 Funds used at site (eg. pioneer home furnishings) l Events including Cowboy Reunion, Bluegrass Festival, Old Timer’s Day, and Cracker Christmas

Historical Restoration l Structural Rehabilitation 2000 agreement $348,000 grant l Projects included Beehead House Wheeler Bass House Simmons Houses Fort Christmas Historical Society

Beehead Exterior Fort Christmas Historical Society

Beehead Interior Fort Christmas Historical Society

Wheeler Bass Exterior Fort Christmas Historical Society

Wheeler Bass Interior Fort Christmas Historical Society

Hughlette “Tex” Wheeler The Cowboy Sculptor Fort Christmas Historical Society

Simmons Exterior – (Before) Fort Christmas Historical Society

Simmons Exterior - (After) Fort Christmas Historical Society

Fort Christmas Historical Park Project l Background l Purpose of Fort Christmas Historical Park l Fort Christmas Master Plan l Fort Christmas Historical Society l Proposed Project l Funding Needs

Proposed Project l Rehabilitation and restoration of 3 structures Partin House School House Lunch Room

History l Structures moved to Fort Christmas l Liability concerns with Historical Society performing restoration l Delays due to 2004 hurricanes Proposed Project

History l Orange County Capital Projects Division managing project Developed scope and working drawings Permits l Bid Project l Contractor Selected l Project placed on hold due to property tax reform Proposed Project

Partin House Exterior Proposed Project

School House Exterior Proposed Project

Lunch Room Exterior Proposed Project

Partin Barn Exterior Partin Barn Separate project Renovation to be done by Historical Society Volunteers Fundraising Proposed Project

Fort Christmas Historical Park Project l Background l Purpose of Fort Christmas Historical Park l Fort Christmas Master Plan l Fort Christmas Historical Society l Proposed Project l Funding Needs

Funding Needs l Bid price - $682,200 l Contingency - $68,000 l Total construction budget - $750,200 l Low responsible bidder Howell Construction Group, Inc l Construction bid has been extended to January 16, 2008

Outline

TDT Availability Capital Facilities Program FY Estimated Funds $2.2 million FY Estimated Funds $2.2 million Less: Capital Facilities Program $1.5 million Less: Capital Facilities Program $1.5 million Remaining Balance$700K Remaining Balance$700K

TDT Availability Staff presentation to Arts and Staff presentation to Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Cultural Affairs Advisory Council on November 1, 2007 Council on November 1, 2007 Advisory Council voted Advisory Council voted unanimously to support the unanimously to support the recommendation to use TDT to recommendation to use TDT to fund the Ft. Christmas project fund the Ft. Christmas project

Outline

Action Requested Approval of the following: A motion finding that funding rehabilitation of the structures at Fort Christmas Historical Park will enhance and complete the historical museum located at the park and promote tourism, thereby falling within the uses for the Tourist Development Tax authorized under the Thirteenth Priority of the County’s Tourist Development Plan; and, approval of funding from the Arts and Cultural Tourism – Capital Facilities Fund (1281) in the amount of $700,000 and up to $50,200 from the Parks Fund (1050) for the restoration of the Partin House, School House, and School Lunch Room at Fort Christmas Historical Park. District 5

Board of County Commissioners Fort Christmas Historical Park Project County Administration and Parks and Recreation Division November 27, 2007