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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-01/14/1997-AdjournedJanuary 14, 1997 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO Council -Manager Form of Government Adjourned Meeting - 6:30 p.m. A adjourned meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins was held on Tuesday, January 14, 1997, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City of Fort Collins City Hall. Roll Call was answered by the following Councilmembers: Apt, Azari, Kneeland, Janett, McCluskey, Smith and Wanner. Staff Members Present: Fischbach, Roy, Krajicek. Resolution 97-7 Specifying Projects to Be Included in the Building Community Choices Capital Improvement Program Ballot Item for the April 8, 1997 Municipal Election (postponed from January 7, 1997), Adopted. The following is staff's memorandum on this item. "Executive Sunrnrury On January 7, City Council tabled consideration of Resolution 97-7. Council members asked that two projects be added to the eight year project list, including EPIC enhancements for a studio ice rink, and funding for Performing Arts Center land acquisition. Staff was also asked to provide alternative packages for six and seven year tar terms. Revised project lists are included for Council's review as Attachment A. Staff continues to recommend adoption of the Resolution (Option C) with an eight year tac term, and the projects listed in Attachment A. Staffhas adjusted revenue allocations to bring the project cost total to within the projected S124 million target. Changes from the project list presented at the January 7 meeting include the following: Project,'(rvitlr inflation costs) Increase :Decrease Performing Arts Center S1,575,000 EPIC Studio Ice Rink S2,500,000 Hickory Park S 850,OOO (To be funded throngli other sources) Park Improvements S 600, 000 (Reducedfront S1.05m) School District Projects $ 400, 000 (Reducedfrom $/m) 243 January 14, 1997 Natural Areas 52, 100, 000 (Reduced from $28.1 m) Northside Aztlan Comm. Center S 740,000 (Reducedyom $7.68m) Project Inflation Costs: 896500 S 333,000 54,971,500 $5,023,000 With the eight year program, staff believes that Council can achieve many of its goals for the capital program. Highlights of what is accomplished through the eight year, 314 cent program include the following: Promotes Partnerships: • Poudre School District Cooperative Projects --Helps the community enhance its capital investments in schools and recreation programs. • Lorimer County Open Space Program --Continues the City's commitment to preserving Natural Areas, in cooperation with Larimer County and State funds. Creates a Vision for the Future of the Community—"Trendbenders": • Horticulture Center --Builds on the vision of Fort Collins as a learning community that provides opportunities for environmental and educational activities. • Burlington Northern Railroad Corridor --Creates a vision for the future of Transportation through central Fort Collins. • Enhancing North Fort Collins --Projects including the Northside Aztlan Recreation Center, North College Street Improvements, and the Northeast Truck Route will enhance the fatture of this critical area of the community. • Poudre School District Cooperative Projects --Enhances the vision ofpublic agencies working together to maximize resources. Challenges the Community to create Private/Public Partnerships: • Performing Arts Center Land Acquisition --Provides seed money for a community -led fiord raising effort. • Edora Pool and Ice Center Studio Rink --Challenges skating supporters to raise 5700, 000 to add a "studio" size ice rink at EPIC. Horticulture Center --Challenges community members to provide supplemental funding and significant volunteer hours to operate the facility. Plans for Future Needs: Land Acquisition for a Police Services Building, Performing Arts Center, and a New Main Library --Sets aside land now, while it's available and less expensive, for a time when construction funds become available. 244 V .t January 14, 1997 • Fossil Creek Community Park --Creates the opportunity to filly fund Southwest Community Park through Development Impact Fees. Looks after our Existing Services and Basic Services: • Street Construction Projects --Four street construction projects bring existing streets up to standards for safety and alternative modes --Taft, Shields, North College, and Prospect. • Northside Aztlan Center --Replaces deteriorating facility with a new Youth recreation center. • Library Technology --Provides on -going funding for ensuring adequate technology. • Park Improvements --Brings existing facilities up to safety and ADA standards. • Natural Areas Program --Continues acquisition and stewardship programs. • Street Maintenance and Overlay Program --Continues basic maintenance program. • Pedestrian Plan --Provides additional funds toward a more complete the pedestrian system city- wide. Possible sir and seven year packages are included in Attachment A. Staff does not recommend either of these packages because they do not enable funding for many of the projects and priorities which City Council and the boards and commissions desired to complete through the Building Community Choices Program. For example: by focusing on a six year program, and adding both the Performing Arts Land acquisition, and Studio Ice Rink at EPIC, nearly $13 million would have to be cut from the City Manager's September 1996 recommendation for a six -year program. This might include eliminating projects such as the School District Cooperative projects, Northside Aztlan Community Center, Horticulture Center, Pedestrian Plan, North College Corridor, Regional Trails. This would also likely require a major reduction in the amount offundingfor the Natural Areas Program. A seven-year program would also involve a major reduction to the Natural Areas program, as well as elimination of important Council and board priorities (please refer to Attachment A for specific detail). An additional, yet significant downside to the seven year program is that the renewal of the sales tax when it expires in 2004, if desired, would be poorly timed. It could only be placed as a municipal election on the ballot either in 2003, 1 Y years prior to it's expiration, or in April 200.5, four months after the expiration of the Building Community Choices taxes. Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution on January 14 so that Council and staff may begin working to inform and discuss the package with the voters prior to the finalizing of the ballot language. On February 4, Council will be asked to place the Building Community Choices package on the April 8 ballot. " Council Policy Manager Ann Tumquist gave the staff presentation on this item and outlined changes that have been made as a result of Council direction. 245 January 14, 1997 t" Councilmember McCluskey made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Apt, to adopt Resolution 97-7, Option C as amended. Assistant to the City Manager Frank Bruno responded to Council questions and reported an individual has expressed interest in constructing an ice rink located at the Fort Collins/Loveland Municipal Airport on non -aviation property. He stated it would involve a land lease and construction of a new building and believed this proposed rink would mainly service league sports. Tumquist stated there is adequate demand for an additional sheet of ice at EPIC for lessons, pleasure skating and leagues. Recreation Manager Jean Helburg responded to Council questions and stated rink fees in the Denver metro area are significantly higher than fees charged at the EPIC Center. Joe Solomon, 1721 Lindenwood Drive, spoke in opposition to funding for widening Vine Drive stating it would encourage the rerouting of truck traffic. He suggested creating an underpass at the Burlington Northern switching yard, stating overpasses create a visual nuisance. Jodee Lawrie, Chairperson of Twice the Ice Campaign, spoke in support of funding the proposed EPIC studio ice rink. Sharon Lockwood, 415 E. Pitkin and Boardmember of the Community Horticulture Center, spoke of the value of public/private partnerships and requested Council consider its funding request. She stated the Committee would continue to pursue private assistance. Phil Phalen, manager of Bath Nursery, spoke in support of funding for the Community Horticulture Center and stated he believed the Center would offer cultural diversity for the City. Cheryl Hazlitt, 3125 Meadowlark Avenue, concurred with comments by Mr. Phalen. She stated she currently is working on developing and establishing a children's memorial garden and believed the proposed Center would be an appropriate site for a memorial. Jean Dietemann, a Fort Collins resident, thanked Council for its funding recommendation for the library. Janet Lettang, 5424 Saratoga Circle, urged Council to support the proposed funding for EPIC Center enhancements. Diane Waltman, 412 Chukar Court and Horticulture Instructor at Front Range Community College, spoke in support of the proposed Community Horticulture Center. 246 January 14, 1997 Mark Johnson, a Fort Collins resident, spoke in support of EPIC Center enhancements and of the need for an additional ice rink. Scott Mason, a Fort Collins resident, spoke of the initial recommendation by the City Manager regarding natural area purchases and recommended the tax term be increased to 8 years. He spoke of the need to preserve and protect the wildlife habitat and of the benefits provided by natural areas. David Lauer, 1404 Robertson Street and representing Friends of the Poudre River, spoke in support of the Community Horticulture Center. Paul Perlmutter, 2206 Ouray Court and Transportation Boardmember, spoke in support of the northeast truck route and the EPIC studio ice rink. He urged Council to consider the advanced technological issues (web sites) when considering construction of new Library. Bruce Lockhart, 2500 E. Harmony Road, stated he believed the City would proceed with the proposed projects whether funding is received by the private sector or not and questioned contingency language. Lan Lewmans, a Fort Collins resident, supported the Multi -Modal Project but did not believe the package adequately addressed transportation issues. Carl Glaser, 2631 Silver Creek Drive, supported the northeast truck route stating he believed it was long overdue. He spoke of the importance of linking the Poudre River and Old Town and stated he believed that could not occur until the truck traffic is rerouted. Paul Valentine, 2404 Sheffield Circle East and member of the Transportation Board, urged Council to reconsider funding for the Transit Development Plan. Tim Johnson, a Fort Collins resident, supported funding for the Transit Development Plan, natural areas and Pedestrian Plans. Eric Levine, 145 N. Meldrum, expressed disappointment in the package as presented and believed a better plan could have been proposed. He spoke of the importance of a Transit Development Plan and spoke of air quality issues that will likely occur without a Plan in place. He stated funding was not adequate for the Pedestrian Plan and concurred with previous comments regarding proceeding with the Library Plan, Karen Warren, 1504 W. Mountain Avenue and member of the Cultural Resources Board, supported land acquisition for a Performing Arts Center and spoke of commitment from the community and of the possibility of acquiring grant funds. 247 January 14, 1997 J- Transportation Services Policy Analyst Susanne Edminister responded to Council questions and of the need for additional capital to enhance the hours of operation, including weekend and evening services and of the need for additional facilities to provide maintenance. Helburg clarified that ice time is equally balanced between walk-in, lessons and league use. Assistant to the Director of Cultural, Library and Recreational Services Marty Heffernan stated the CSU Horticulture Center and the Extension Service expressed the desire to work with the City to develop a Horticulture Center, noting they did not have available funds for capital costs. Councilmember Janett offered an amendment to the previous motion to amend Resolution 97-7 Option C (including Attachment A) as follows: changing the dollar amounts decreasing funding by $ .5 million for the Fossil Creek Community Park and decreasing the Horticulture Center funding by $ .5 million, increasing Natural Areas acquisition by $1 million. Councilmember McCluskey, as maker of the original motion, accepted the amendment as a friendly amendment. Councilmember McCluskey spoke in support of the Project list stating he believed it reflected the community requests. Councilmember Smith spoke of the need to reroute truck traffic and support street maintenance to keep up with infrastructure needs. Councilmember Kneeland supported the Multi -Modal Project, the need to support the City's current infrastructure, and emphasized the importance of diversity including a diversity of activities in the community. Councilmember Apt spoke in support of the proposed project list and thanked staff, Boards and Commissions and Councilmembers for their hard work. Councilmember Janett spoke of the timing and of the need to build capital projects, reporting many of the projects identified on the list are considered "catch up" projects. She clarified this was not a tax increase, but a new use for existing taxes. Councilmember Wanner stated he believed it was critical that the Northside Aztlan Center remain as close to its current location as possible. The vote on Councilmember McCluskey's motion as amended was as follows: Yeas: Councilmembers Azari, Apt, Kneeland, Janett, McCluskey, Smith and Wanner. Nays: None. THE MOTION CARRIED. 248 January 14, 1997 Other Business Councilmember Janett requested information regarding the effects of transitioning for ODPs. Director of Current Planning Bob Blanchard presented Council with a list of projects that would be affected by the transition ordinance for ODPs. He clarified ODPs over 100 acres with 20% infrastructure completed and affordable housing ODPs would not be affected by the Ordinance. Councilmember Smith reported the Metropolitan Planning Organization met recently and worked on prioritizing its regional project list. The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. ATTEST: 4 LuJIFAMIgs Adjournment 249