HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-08/29/1974-Special7�
August 29, 1974
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO
Council -Manager Form of Government
Special Meeting - 1:30 P.M.
A special meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins was held on
Thursday, August 29, 1974 at 1:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers in the City
Hall. Mayor Fcad called the meeting to order. Present: Council members
Bowling, Fead, Gray, Preble and Reeves. Absent: Councilmen Russell and
Wilkinson.
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Staff members present: Brunton, DiTullio, Liquin, March and Lewis.
September 1 and 2, 1974 proclaimed as
Ci7 "Jerry Lewis Telethon Weekend in "Fort Collins"
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City Clerk, Verna Lewis, read the proclamation at length in which Mayor
Fead proclaimed September 1 and 2, 1974 as "Jerry Lewis has served as Muscular
Dystrophy National Chairman."
McCall -Ellingson authorized to proceed
with Environmental Impact Statement for
Joe Wright Reservoir
City Manager Brunton gave a detailed history of the acquisition, investments
to date, and problems encountered in the Michigan Ditch/Joe Wright project.
The Manager also reviewed the 1972 recommendation of the Water Board sub-
committee to retain McCall -Ellingson to do the work and have the contract on
the Joe Wright Reservoir.
a recent newspaper article had set forth concerns about the geology as
expressed by Water Board member Waltz.
City Manager Brunton also reported on the concerns of Water Board member
Caulfield regarding a possible five year droug;it and the question of a permit
to do work in the Michigan Ditch/Joe Wright area.
City Attorney March again advised the Council he had researched the Forest
Service files; North Poudre had researched their files and nobody can find
the actual permit. Mr. March stated this could be explained in a couple of
ways. Number one, any permit that were obtained were obtained in the early
1900's. Secondly, it is even possible that the original permit predates the
creation of the National Forest. Also, Mr. March reviewed the basic approach
tiie City has used in working with the Forest Service as being that the City
does not feel that they need a permit, but wants to straignten everything out,
therefore, we are applyir; for a new permit to.take the place of whatever we
had before.
' Mr. March further reported on a prior abandonment of another Michigan Ditch
in Jackson County in which the permit might have actually been destroyed,
intentionally although erroneously.
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City Manager Brunton next reviewed the series of meetings with the Forest '
Service, starting in February in which they had provided the Administration
with flow charts on how to do the statement, the outlines and various parts of
the study in %hich the Forest Service unuld do the environmental impact study.
— At that time tney naa asked tnat the City provide a person or persons tney could use
as contact people on defining the outline of the job.
In June of this year the Administration had been advised by the District
Forester that because of the cutback in finances they were in no position to do
the environmental assessment for the City of Fort Collins. At that time the
Administration arranged a meeting with the Forest Service and Mr. Harold
Ellingson to discuss the next step. At that meeting the Administration
inquired if the City could do the Study. They were informed that they could,
provided that the Forest Service approve the type of reports provided.
bfr. Harold Ellingson reported on the work already undertaken by the firm in the
belief that this had been part of their original charge based on their agree-
ment with the City of 1972, not only infield work, but in obtaining a team
to do the study.
Mayor Fead stated "I was on the committee that chose the McCall -Ellingson
firm or recommended them to Council for selection for this iob. One of the
conditions which the committee recommended and which the Council at that time '
accepted was that we would choose one master contractor to handle this so
we had somebody. responsible and did not end up with the type of mess that
we had on Plant #2 and the sewer treatment, where it never worked properly,
and there was never anybody upon whom to pin the responsibility. As part
of this, McCall -Ellingson were required to accept responsibility for the
Woodward -Clevenger report. If they were not satisfied with it, they were
told to do whatever was necessary to go back and make themselves satis-
fied. But they had accepted the full responsibility for the project, and
I don't think that there is any question but that this would include the environ-
mental impact statement and everything else. They are at liberty to
recommend sub -contractors where necessary and all the rest of it. But if
they are going to accept the responsibility, the City either stays with their
responsibility pinpointed in a master contractor, or we go ahead and accept
the responsibility of all this ourselves and diversify it and end up with no
place to put the blame if something goes wrong. I think that is all there
is to it. Now, most of you know, I am a licensed professional engineer in the
State of Colorado. I hold professional license number 4273. I claim as
my area of expertise, structural engineering and foundations and soil
mechanics. I have known the Woodward Associates for a long time. They
are.one of the most highly respected foundation firms in this nation.
They are maintaining offices throughout the country. Bill Clevenger, who is
the manager of the Denver office, spent many years in the Bureau of
Reclamation laboratories and at that point he was in charge of all the testing
and evaluation of soils and foundation materials for the large dams which the ,
Bureau of Reclamation constructed. I don't think there is any question
about their qualifications, and I am not going to get panicked over the
statements that Mr. Waltz made. I have a great deal of confidence in them,
(Clevenger and Associates) and I think that certainly we need to look into
these allegations. I have heardother comments that have collie to me about
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the project in general, most of them through professional channels. This
is the only one that came to me through the front page of the newsnaoer.
' And I am somewhat disturbed by that. But nevertheless, I don't think
that there is any great deal of excitement. We will have to make sure that
the report is right. I think: and I hone you will raise the questions that
should be raised with Woodward and Clevenger, for their clarification."
Mr. Ellingson responded to Council questions relating to costs and the
additional investigations into the geology.
Mr. Burt Kress of Ecology Consultants stated he had previously been dis-
appointed because his firm had not been allowed to bid for the study. At
Mr. Bnm ton's request he had been requested to review the McCall -Ellingson
,y proposal as it had been his understanding that the Council would be re-
x viewing three alternatives rather than just one., Mr. Kress and attorney
�j Ted Sckmddt spoke to the harts of the study to be done by various sub-
contractors (tears members) and the feeling of Mr. :Cross that the proposal
W of $75,000 to $82,000 should possibly cost from $40,000 to $S0,000.
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Mr. Kross spoke to this morning's meeting in the Manager's office with members
of the Forest Service and stated he felt that if Council was considering
opening the statement up for bids it should on_en up in the normal way that
engineering service contracts are negotiated.
?favor Fead and the Citv Manaaer stated there was a moral obligation to
McCall -Ellingson to nay for the work already done. Mr. Ellingson again
' spoke to the meetings with the Forest Service and the determination made
of the scope of the study.
Councilmembers Bowling and Reeves spoke to the fact that thev were not
comfortable with just one bid. Councilwoman °reble stated Environmental
Statements were not required at the time the contract with McCall -Ellingson
was approved and felt the Citv should proceed with the contract: Mayor Fead
stated if the project were delayed for additional bids it would put the
project over another year, adding "we do have some extreme urgency in this
and if the City.is going out for proposals to all the qualified firms, I
think you have to provide time for all the qualified firms in the whole
area to make proposals. In addition some of this money is already due the
Ellingson firm because we have had them do work that they should not have
had to do if they were not hired to do this job."
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Councilwoman Cray stated, "I think the ouestion also is one I am trying
to resolve, is tkiis the responsibility of McCall -Ellingson or the responsi-
bility of the City. If it is the responsibility of `McCall -Ellingson, then
I think it is up to them to negotiate for the cieapest, the least ex-oensive
way of getting* the job done. If not their responsibility, if we decide it
is ours, then we would have to do it. But I don't think that that question
has been answered. If we decide to put it out to bid then we have to take
it out of their hands. I think we have come to that decision."
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Councilwoman Reeves inquired of the City
^lAttorney
r. March if hedfelt
the
City
policy
made a commitment to McCall -Ellingson.
question.
Mr. William Hansen inquired into the data gathering time tables.
Councilwoman Gray made a motion seconded by Councilwoman Preble that the
Council employ McCalltiEllingson on this project. eas: Councilmembers
Bowling, Fead, Gray and Preble. Nays: Councilwoman Reeves.
Additional Fees and Charges for City's
Bus Line approved
City Manager Brunton stated the administration had two comments:
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1-having to do with student passes; a weekly ticket for $1.00 and
2-a ten ride ticket for $1.20 for 12 and wider and those who qualify for
the 15� ride.
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Councilman Bowling made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Reeves to
approve the above charges as recommended. Yeas: Councilriiiembers: Bowling,
Gray, Preble and Reeves. (Councilman Fead out of the room.) Nays: None
Other Business
Councilman Bowlina read the following statement at length in reply to a '
letter he had received and the other members of the Council had received
from Mr. Kosta Constantine, Airport Manager.
"During the past several months many statements have been made concerning
the proposed expansion of the Fort Collins -Loveland Airport. It is true
that I have been responsible for what seems to be a negative attitude
concerning this entire issue. To me, it is an accepted fact that this
Airport is an economic asset to the entire region; nor should the employ-
ment base or the location and need again be an issue after ten years of
operation. After all, we as a City did create the facility. It is even
difficult to argue that some imorovements are necessary and desirable. It
certainly should be understood that any facility such as this should
certainly grow to meet the current and future needs of those who use and
depend upon its services.
This issue that can be raised and questioned is the use and tax support
of this facility in relationship to the citizens and taxpayers within the
corporate limits of the City of Fort Collins. How deeply should this
Council obligate these taxpayers for a facility that is perhaps more of a
regional facility rather than just a City service facility? If it can be
shown that the air-oort does in fact serve as the Citv Ai2oort, then there
is a valid claim for additional support. However, there are many people
in this community just as interested in aviation that will seriously
contest this point. '
There are certainly a great number of questions that are still to be
.answered. How much expansion is really needed now? Is the proposed
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FAA plan the best plan, and do we really need all that the FAA is
proposing? Are there environmental problems present? Is this expansion
what the majority of our citizens want? Can this City afford to make
this size of commitment? Or should this facility be a Council of Govern-
ments facility rather than a City Airport. Certainly the majority of the
needed answers to these questions and perhaps more should come during
public hearings.
In answer to the specific demands made of me by Mr. Constantine. the
Airport Manager that I reconcile reconsider and chance my feelings
and properly represent him and the large majority of citizens that lie
makes reference to, I can certainly not meet his demands. sty answer has
to be that in order to represent all of the citizens concerned, including
Mr. Constantine, I Must wait until all the facts have been made known,
and all of the facts have have been made public."
No further action taken on this item.
Adjournment
Councilwoman Preble made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Gray, that
the Council adjourn. Yeas: Councilmembers Bowling, Fead, Gray, Preble and
Reeves. Nays: None.
ATTEST:
ity Lierx
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