HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 09/07/2021 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 100, 2021, APPROPRI Agenda Item 4
Item # 4 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY September 7, 2021
City Council
STAFF
Mike Calhoon, Director of Parks
Ted Hewitt, Legal
SUBJECT
First Reading of Ordinance No. 100, 2021, Appropriating Prior Year Reserves and Authorizing a Transfer in
the General Fund for the March 2021 Snowstorm Tree and Branch Cleanup.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to appropriate $306,819 in General Fund reserves to cover the unanticipated costs
associated with the tree and branch cleanup from the March 13-14 spring snowstorm to various City funds.
This appropriation request will be used for the direct costs associated with the cleanup effort but not covered in
the operating budget. This includes personnel overtime, contractor costs, equipment rental and br anch drop
off site charges that are uniquely and directly related to the snowstorm cleanup.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
The snowstorm began on Saturday, March 13, 2021, and lasted through Sunday, March 14, 2021. During that
time approximately 25 inches of heavy wet snow fell across the city. This snowstorm produced over 4 inches of
moisture. The hardest hit species were Hackberry, Ash and Siberian Elm trees. The hardest hit section of
town was bordered on the north by Vine, east by Riverside, south by Prospect and west by Taft Hill Road.
There was substantial damage to trees throughout Fort Collins that impacted rights -of-way, residential areas,
City trees, City parks, cemeteries, golf courses and downtown Fort Collins. The organization quickly
transitioned from snow removal to debris cleanup mode to clear roads of debris and address critical safety
hazards.
Per the Urban Forest Storm Response Plan, the hardest hit area was determined to have reached the Severe
class of damage with a response of curbside branch pickup. The remainder of town was classified as
Moderate, which drives the decision to open branch drop off sites for residents. The City offered two locations
for residents to drop off branches: Hageman Earth Cycle provided free branch drop off under a contract with
the City, and Colorado State University allowed the City to open a second branch drop off at the old Hughes
Stadium site free of charge. The drop off sites were open for six weeks to allow residents ample time to clean
up their property. Grinding operations were completed in May along with two free mulch giveaway days.
Neighborhood Resources quickly created a volunteer base to assist residents who c ould not perform their own
work and/or transportation. Corrective pruning was completed within four months after the storm.
CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS
The table below displays the costs for the tree branch cleanup. The total appropriation requested from
General Fund reserves is a maximum of $306,819. The direct costs include contractual pruning, equipment
Agenda Item 4
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rental, overtime, fuel and equipment costs. Redeployed costs will be absorbed by the individual
Department/Division.
Department/Division Redeployed Cost Direct Cost Total Cost
Streets $ 84,476 $ 41,599 $ 126,075
Parks $ 26,744 $ 26,744
Forestry $ 122,183 $ 265,220 $ 387,403
Natural Areas $ 4,700 $ 4,700
Total Storm Costs $ 238,103 $ 306,819 $ 544,922
BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Council Finance Committee unanimously supported this appropriation at its July 7, 2021, meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Council Finance Committee Minutes (PDF)
Finance Administration
215 N. Mason
2nd Floor
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6788
970.221.6782 - fax
fcgov.com
Finance Committee Meeting Minutes
July 7, 2021
3:00 - 5:00 pm
Zoom Meeting
Council Attendees: Julie Pignataro, Kelly Ohlson, Emily Gorgol
Staff: Kelly DiMartino, Kyle Stannert, Travis Storin, John Duval, Jackie Kozak Thiel,
Ginny Sawyer, SeonAh Kendall, Blaine Dunn, Kelley Vodden, Jordan Granath,
Lawrence Pollack, Dave Lenz, Jo Cech, Zack Mozer, Victoria Shaw, Caroline
Mitchell, Mike Calhoon, Kendra Boot, Drew Brooks, Dean Klingner, Phil Ladd,
Lance Smith
Others: Kevin Jones, Chamber
Chris Telli, BKD LLP
Anna Thigpen, BKD LLP
____________________________________________________________________________________
Meeting called to order at 3:00 pm
A.2021 Winter Storm Clean Up Appropriation
Mike Calhoon, Director of Parks
Kendra Boot, City Forester
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report will update Council Finance Committee on the response to the March 13 th
and 14th spring snowstorm and the associated direct and redeploy costs associated with the recovery.
GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
Does the Council Finance Committee support the request for an appropriation of direct costs in response to the
March 13-14, 2021, snowstorm?
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION The snowstorm began Saturday, March 13, 2021, and lasted through Sunday,
March 14, 2021. During that time 25+ inches of heavy, wet snow fell across the city. Moisture content in the
snow was in excess of 3-inches. The hardest hit area (bullseye) was bordered by Riverside and Taft on the east
and west and Vine and Prospect on the north and south.
There was substantial damage to trees throughout Fort Collins that impacted rights-of-way, residential areas,
City trees, City parks, cemeteries, golf courses and downtown Fort Collins. The organization quickly transitioned
from snow removal to debris cleanup mode to clear roads of debris and address critical safety hazards.
ATTACHMENT 1
The City provided curbside branch pickup in the bullseye and offered two locations for citizens to drop off
branches free of charge. A contractual arrangement was completed with Hageman Earth Cycle to provide a site
on the east side of town. On the west side of town, Colorado State University allowed the use of the old Hughes
Stadium site for a branch drop-off. The drop-off sites were open for six weeks to allow residents to clean and
haul their branches for recycling. Grinding operations have been completed with two free mulch giveaways
being completed. Over 1200 vehicles/trailers were filled with recycled mulch during these giveaways.
Costs associated with the response and recovery:
Direct Costs $306,819
Redeploy Costs $238,133
Total Storm Costs $544,952
Discussion / Next Steps;
GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
Does the Council Finance Committee support the request for an appropriation of direct costs in response to the
March 13-14, 2021, snowstorm?
Emily Gorgol; I support the appropriation. I want to thank everyone for your great work – it was a true rapid
response – a great job! I met so many people who were amazed that 1) the city was plowing streets and
driveways and 2) that the city was offering free branch drop off. One piece of feedback - renters had a hard
time working with landlords especially with landlords out of state.
Kelly Ohlson; I support the allocation of funds.
Julie Pignataro; I support the appropriation. I appreciate the lessons learned – keep being more dynamic and
figuring it out.
Meeting adjourned at 4:55 pm
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ORDINANCE NO. 100, 2021
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROPRIATING PRIOR YEAR RESERVES AND AUTHORIZING
A TRANSFER IN THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE MARCH 2021
SNOWSTORM TREE AND BRANCH CLEANUP
WHEREAS, Fort Collins experienced a heavy snowstorm on March 13-14, 2021, during
which approximately twenty-five inches of snow fell across the city; and
WHEREAS, the snowstorm caused substantial damage to trees throughout the city that
impacted rights-of-way, residential areas, parks, cemeteries, golf courses and the Downtown
area; and
WHEREAS, the City conducted curbside branch pickup operations in the most severely
impacted areas of the City and opened branch drop-off sites for residents for six weeks; and
WHEREAS, the City incurred unanticipated costs for the tree and branch cleanup
operations, including for contractual pruning, equipment rental, overtime, fuel and equipment
costs; and
WHEREAS, the direct costs to the City for tree and branch cleanup operations not
otherwise covered by existing operating budgets totaled $306,819; and
WHEREAS, this appropriation benefits the public health, safety and welfare of the
residents of Fort Collins and serves the public purpose of providing for community-wide
snowstorm tree and branch cleanup; and
WHEREAS, Article V, Section 9 of the City Charter permits the City Council, upon the
recommendation of the City Manager, to appropriate by ordinance at any time during the fiscal
year such funds for expenditure as may be available from reserves accumulated in prior years,
notwithstanding that such reserves were not previously appropriated; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager has recommended the appropriation described herein and
determined that this appropriation is available and previously unappropriated from the General
Fund and the Transportation Services Fund and will not cause the total amount appropriated in
the General Fund and Transportation Services Fund to exceed the current estimate of actual and
anticipated revenues and all other funds to be received in that Fund during this fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, Article V, Section 10 of the City Charter authorizes the City Council, upon
recommendation by the City Manager, to transfer by ordinance any unexpended and
unencumbered appropriated amount or portion thereof from one fund or capital project to
another fund or capital project, provided that the purpose for which the transferred funds are to
be expended remains unchanged, the purpose for which the funds were initially appropriated no
longer exists, or the proposed transfer is from a fund or capital project in which the amount
appropriated exceeds the amount needed to accomplish the purpose specified in the appropriation
ordinance; and
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WHEREAS, the City Manager has recommended the transfer of $41,599 from the
General Fund to the Transportation Services Fund and determined that the purpose for which the
transferred funds are to be expended remains unchanged.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and
findings contained in the recitals set forth above.
Section 2. That there is hereby appropriated from prior year reserves in the General Fund
the sum of TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED TWENTY
DOLLARS ($265,220) for expenditure from the General Fund by the Forestry Division for the
March 2021 snowstorm tree and branch cleanup costs.
Section 3. That there is hereby appropriated from prior year reserves in the General Fund
the sum of FORTY-ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED NINETY-NINE DOLLARS
($41,599) for transfer to and expenditure within the Transportation Services Fund by the Streets
Department for the March 2021 snowstorm tree and branch cleanup costs.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 7th day of
September, A.D. 2021, and to be presented for final passage on the 21st day of September, A.D.
2021.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Interim City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on the 21st day of September, A.D. 2021.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Interim City Clerk