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Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 03/16/2021 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 041, 2021, APPROPRI Agenda Item 8 Item # 8 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY March 16, 2021 City Council STAFF Nina Bodenhamer, City Give Director Ingrid Decker, Legal SUBJECT First Reading of Ordinance No. 041, 2021, Appropriating Unanticipated Philanthropic Revenue Received by City Give for Transfer to Natural Areas for Restoration of Bobcat Ridge. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to appropriate $75,000 in philanthropic revenue in the General Fund through City Give for transfer to Natural Areas to support fire recovery and ecological restoration efforts at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area as designated by the donor, the D.R. & V. Pulliam Charitable Trust. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION The purpose of this item is to appropriate $75,000 in philanthropic revenue in the General Fund for transfer to Natural Areas to support fire recovery and ecological restoration efforts at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area as designated by the donor, the D.R. & V. Pulliam Charitable Trust; specifically, the funds shall be used for the purpose of (1) restoration of the “wishing well” at the historic cabin; (2) replacement of the horse ramp for people with disabilities; (3) shrub/habitat restoration; (4) drainage restoration; and (5) trail maintenance and repairs. Opened to the public in 2006, Bobcat Ridge is a 2,600-acre natural area linked to a network of public lands stretching from the eastern plains all the way to Rocky Mountain National Park. Miles of meadows and stunning views surround the wheelchair-accessible shelter and ADA accessible historic cabin. The natural area, with over 17 miles of trails, is currently closed to the public due to the Cameron Peak Fire of 2020. Reopening is expected in the summer of 2021. The philanthropic award supports the Natural Areas Department efforts to restore historic structures, replace ADA features, improve habitat, fire recovery and ecological restoration efforts in a commitment to reopen Bobcat Ridge Natural Area to the public. David Rice (D.R.) Pulliam and his wife, Virginia (Ginny), were the previous owners of the Bobcat Ridge property. Previous funding from the Pulliam Family Charitable Trust has provided for the construction of the D.R. and Ginny Trails, special programming, restoration efforts, and more. The City Manager recommends the appropriation described herein and determined that this appropriation is available and previously unappropriated from the General Fund and will not cause the total amount appropriated in the General Fund to exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be Agenda Item 8 Item # 8 Page 2 received in the General Fund during this fiscal year. Also recommended the transfer described herein and has determined that the purpose for which the transferred funds are to be expended remains unchanged. CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS The Ordinance will appropriate $75,000 of philanthropic revenue which will supplement an existing Natural Areas restoration 2021 approved budget of $360,000 for Planning, Special Projects, and Resource Management within Natural Areas. The revenue is being appropriated into the General Fund for transfer to the Natural Areas Department in the Natural Areas Fund. The funds have been received and accepted per City Give Administrative and Financial Policy. BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION The Land Conservation and Stewardship Board unanimously supported the appropriation at their January 2021 meeting. ATTACHMENTS 1. Land Conservation and Stewardship Board Minutes (PDF) Land Conservation & Stewardship Board January 13, 2021 Regular Meeting – Excerpt 12/11/2019 – MINUTES Page 1 Appropriating Pulliam Fire Recovery Grant Zoe Shark, Interim NAD Director Zoe announced a $75K grant from the Pulliam Charitable Trust designated for Cameron Peak Fire recovery efforts at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area. The Trust has outlined specific allocations for the funds. In order to appropriate the funds into NAD budget Zoe is asking for approval from the LCSB. Mike Weber made a motion that City Council approve the appropriation of $75K from the Pulliam Charitable Trust to be used for fire recovery efforts at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area. Kelly Ohlson seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved 8-0. ATTACHMENT 1 -1- ORDINANCE NO. 041, 2021 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS APPROPRIATING UNANTICIPATED PHILANTHROPIC REVENUE RECEIVED BY CITY GIVE FOR TRANSFER TO NATURAL AREAS FOR RESTORATION OF BOBCAT RIDGE WHEREAS, the City is the owner of a 2,600 acre parcel of land southwest of Fort Collins known as Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (the “Property”); and WHEREAS, the City purchased the Property in 2003 from D.R. and Virginia Pulliam; and WHEREAS, in the fall of 2020, most of the Property was burned by the Cameron Peak Fire; and WHEREAS, the D.R. &V. Pulliam Charitable Trust has awarded the City $75,000 for the Natural Areas Department to use for fire recovery and ecological restoration efforts on the Property; specifically: (1) restoration of the “wishing well” at the historic cabin; (2) replacement of the horse ramp for people with disabilities; (3) shrub/habitat restoration; (4) drainage restoration; and (5) trail maintenance and repairs; and WHEREAS, this appropriation benefits public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Fort Collins and serves the public purpose of restoring historic structures, replacing features needed to accommodate persons with disabilities and restoring habitat, all with the goal of reopening the Property to the public in 2021; and WHEREAS, Article V, Section 9, of the City Charter permits the City Council to make supplemental appropriations by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year, provided that the total amount of such supplemental appropriations, in combination with all previous appropriations for that fiscal year, does not exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received during the fiscal year; and WHEREAS, the City Manager has recommended the appropriation described herein and determined that these appropriations are available and previously unappropriated from the General Fund and the Natural Areas Fund, as applicable, and will not cause the total amount appropriated General Fund and the Natural Areas Fund, as applicable, to exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received in these funds during this fiscal year; and WHEREAS, Article V, Section 10, of the City Charter authorizes the City Council to transfer by ordinance any unexpended and unencumbered appropriated amount or portion thereof -2- from one fund or capital project account to another fund or capital project account, provided that the purpose for which the transferred funds are to be expended remains unchanged; and WHEREAS, because the donated funds are restricted to use for a particular purpose, any appropriations for Art in Public Places that may be required pursuant to Article XII of Chapter 23 of the City Code for the restoration project on the Property will be made with unrestricted funds in other funding appropriations for the project; and WHEREAS, the City Manager has recommended the transfer described herein 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 unanticipated philanthropic revenue in the General Fund, City Give Reserves account, the sum of SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($75,000) for transfer to the Natural Areas Fund and appropriated therein for the Natural Areas Department to support fire recovery and ecological re storation efforts at the Bobcat Ridge Natural Area. Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 16th day of March, A.D. 2021, and to be presented for final passage on the 20th day of April, A.D. 2021. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _______________________________ City Clerk -3- Passed and adopted on final reading on the 20th day of April, A.D. 2021. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _______________________________ City Clerk