The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 03/18/2008 - SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 027, 2008, AUTHORI ITEM NUMBER: 11 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: March 18, 2008 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: John Stokes SUBJECT Second Reading of Ordinance No. 027, 2008, Authorizing the Lease of Natural Area Property at 1425 Overland Trail. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of this Ordinance on Second Reading. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Andrijeski Farm was purchased on September 1,2004 as part of the City's Land Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan. The farm is located within the City's Growth Management Area at 1425 North Overland Trail. In 2007,this property was incorporated into the Reservoir Ridge Natural Area. Since its acquisition,this parcel has been leased for agricultural production. This Ordinance, unanimously adopted on First Reading on March 4, 2008, authorizes the lease of the property to Roger and Keith Amey for agricultural purposes for one year, with the option of up to four annual renewals at the mutual agreement of both parties. ATTACHMENTS 1. Copy of First Reading Agenda Item Summary- March 4, 2008. (w/o original attachments) ATTACHMENT 1 ITEM NUMBER: 17 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: March 4, 2008 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: John Stokes SUBJECT k,.� V-JT- 3i First Reading of Ordinance No. 027,2008,Authorizing the Lease of Natural Area Property at 1425 Overland Trail. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance. The Land Conservation and Stewardship Board reviewed and recommended approval of the lease at its regularly scheduled meeting on February 13, 2008. FINANCIAL IMPACT r 0 P y This lease will generate $3,000 annual income. The tenant will also assist the Natural Areas Program with maintenance activities on the property, including weed control and mowing,thereby reducing Natural Areas Program maintenance costs. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Andrijeski Farm was purchased on September 1,2004 as part of the City's Land Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan. The farm is located within the City's Growth Management Area at 1425 North Overland Trail. In 2007, this property was incorporated into the Reservoir Ridge Natural Area. Since its acquisition,this parcel has been leased for agricultural production. It is the recommendation of Natural Areas staff to again lease the property to Roger and Keith Amey for agricultural purposes for one COY th t ti u fo ual renewals at the mutual agreement of both parties. BACKGROUND This lease involves a 154-acre portion of the Reservoir Ridge Natural Area located at 1425 North Overland Trail. Formerly known as the"Andrijeski property,"this property was incorporated into the Reservoir Ridge Natural Area in 2007 when the acquisition of an adjacent CSU property created contiguous land ownership. March 4, 2008 -2- Item No. 17 This parcel was purchased in 2004 as a high priority property in the local land conservation focus area and it is within the City's Growth Management Area. At the time of purchase,Roger and Keith Amey leased the property for agricultural production, and that lease was extended through 2007. In December 2007 and January 2 at ea ct Request for Proposals process (RFP P 1101) soliciting propos for a ultur u o e Roger and Keith Amey were selected to continue leasing th rope They 'll a using eastern portion of the property for irrigated hay and crop productio to .1 vide t own irrigation water. The western portion of the property will be used for prescriptive grazing limited to 25 animal unit months (AUMs). Cattle will only be present during the period from June 1 through September 1. Natural Areas staff will continue to manage the wetland and pond system on the western portion of the property, which hosts a small population of federally threatened Spiranthes diluvialis (Ute ladies'-tresses orchid). This portion of the property is designated as a Special Lease Area, and will be grazed by the tenant only at the request and discretion of Natural Areas staff. Additionally, a second small wetland area is designated as a Special Lease Area and removed from the annual grazing rotation in order to allow recovery of wetland characteristics. Leasing the property for agricultural production reduces management and maintenance costs for the Natural Areas Program,allows time to implement management options,and maintains the property as a working landscape for local farmers. The lease allows the Natural Areas Program to open the property to the public on a limi is v s ils, parking lots, etc) at staff's discretion. ATTACHMENTS 1. Land Conservation and Stewardship Board minutes - February 13, 2008. ORDINANCE NO. 027, 2008 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AUTHORIZING THE LEASE OF NATURAL AREA PROPERTY AT 1425 OVERLAND TRAIL WHEREAS, the City of Fort Collins is the owner of the property legally described as the South ''/1 of the North %z of Section 5,Township 7 North, Range 69 West of the 6th P.M.,County of Latimer, Colorado, also known as 1425 Overland Trail (the "Property"); and WHEREAS, the City purchased the Property for Natural Areas purposes and it is now included in the Reservoir Ridge Natural Area; and WHEREAS,the City has owned the Property subject to an agricultural lease since 2004;and WHEREAS,City staff has proposed that the City continue to lease approximately 154 acres of the Property as more particularly described on Exhibit A,attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference (the "Lease Area"), for agricultural purposes; and WHEREAS, City staff conducted a request for proposals process soliciting proposals for agricultural use of the Lease Area; and WHEREAS, as a result of proposal process, City staff selected Roger and Keith Amey to lease the Lease Area; and WHEREAS, leasing the Lease Area for agricultural production reduces management and maintenance costs for the Natural Areas Program; and WHEREAS, City staff has also proposed that the Lease Area be leased at an annual lease rate of$3,000; and WHEREAS, staff has proposed that the Lease Area be leased on an annual basis for a total possible lease period of five years; and WHEREAS, staff has negotiated terms and conditions which have been incorporated into a proposed lease agreement,a copy of which is dated February 29, 2008,and is on file in the office of the City Clerk and available for inspection (the "Lease Agreement'); and WHEREAS, the terms of the negotiated agreement allow the City to develop and to allow limited public use of the Lease Area; and WHEREAS, the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board, at its regular meeting of February 13, 2008, recommended that the Council authorize the proposed lease; and WHEREAS, under Section 23-114 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins, the Council is authorized to lease any and all interests in real property owned in the name of the City,provided that Council first finds that the lease is in the best interests of the City. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the Council hereby finds that the lease of the Lease Area as described above is in the best interests for the City of Fort Collins. Section 2. That the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute the Lease Agreement and such other lease documents and other documents as may be necessary to carry out the terms of this Ordinance, together with such terms as the City Manager, in consultation with the City Attorney,determines to be necessary or appropriate to protect the interests of the City,including any necessary corrections to the legal descriptions shown thereon that do not result in a material increase or change in character of the intended lease property. Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 4th day of March, A.D. 2008, and to be presented for final passa4theh day of March, A.D 008. - ATTEST: City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading on the 18th day of March, A.D. 2008. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk