HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 08/17/1999 - SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 133, 1999, AUTHORI AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 13
DATE: August 17, 1999
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL
STAFF: Frank W. Bruno
SUBJECT:
Second Reading of Ordinance No. 133, 1999, Authorizing the Conveyance of a Non-Exclusive
Easement for Parking to Colorado State University Through the State Board of Agriculture in
Connection with the Environmental Learning CenterNisitor Center Project.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on Second Reading.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Resolution 99-97,which was unanimously adopted August 3, 1999, authorizes the Mayor to enter
into an Intergovernmental Agreement with CSU.The agreement specifies the term of the Agreement
(50 years) and sets out the respective rights and responsibilities of the parties regarding the leased
space. The Agreement also sets forth certain terms and conditions between the City and the
University regarding the development of the Center.
Ordinance No. 133, 1999,which was also unanimously adopted on First Reading on August 3, 1999,
conveys an easement to CSU on City property (roughly %z acre on the Resource Recovery Farm).
The purpose of the easement is to allow CSU to develop a parking lot that will serve both the Center,
and the Geologic Gardens(Rock Park-described in detail at the end of this summary). The 2-acre
Rock Park will be located adjacent to the parking lot and the Center,and will be developed in 2000
and 2001.
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 21 A-B
DATE: August 3, 1999
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL
STAFF: Frank W. Bruno
SUBJECT:
Items Related to the Development of the Visitors Center at the Environmental Learning Center(the
Center).
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution and of the Ordinance on First Reading.
TheNdevelOpmen��ofthe�enter will cost approximately$1.8 million.This will be funded roughly as follows: Colorado
State University(46%of total project cost)$850,000,Colorado State Parks(33%of total project cost)$500,000,City
of Fort Collins (19.3% of total project cost) $340,000. Further, CSU will pay $37,000 for parking lot paving and
$107,000 towards future Prospect Road impfofements.City sta"fflexpe b to request Council approval in the 2000-01
Budget to pay for street oversizing related to the project and,jfozrthe construction of a turn-bay into the site from
ospect Road. The City will program funding in future years-for the eventual re-engineering and reconstruction of
Wspect Road. This will follow the adoption-df a storm`watermaster play for the Boxelder drainage basin. The City
will receive a 50-year lease for space within the Center in exchange for its total payment to CSU. Staff anticipates that
the City's share of annual facility operation and maintenance charges(roughly$10,000 to S 15,000)will be paid by the
Cit Is on-site vendor(the Convention Bureau).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
A. Resolution 99-97 Authorizing the Mayor to Enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with
Colorado State University Through the State Board of Agriculture for the Long-term Lease
of Visitor Center Space; o;En4f6fimen Center.
B. First Reading of Ordinance No. 133, 199p,,Authorizing e Conveyance of a Non-Exclusive
Easement for Parking to eoiorado"State'U r; ersity Through the State Board of Agriculture
in Connection with the Environmental Learning CenterVisitor Center Project. `
Resolution 99-97 authorizes the Mayor to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with CSU.The
agreement specifies the term of the Agreement (50 years) and sets out the respective rights and
responsibilities of the parties regarding the leased space.The Agreement also sets forth certain terms
and conditions between the City and the University regarding the development of the Center.
Ordinance No. 133, 1999, conveys an easement to CSU on City property (roughly '/ acre on the
Resource Recovery Farm). The purpose of the easement is to allow CSU to develop a parking lot
that will serve both the Center,and the Geologic Gardens(Rock Park-described in detail at the end
of this summary). The 2-acre Rock Park will be located adjacent to the parking lot and the Center,
and will be developed in 2000 and 2001.
DATE: August 3, 199 2 ITEM NUMBER: 21 A-B
BACKGROUND:
Since 1996,City staffhas been working closely with representatives from Colorado State University,
Colorado State Parks, and the Convention &Visitors Bureau(CVB) concerning the development
of the Environmental Learning CenterNisitors Center.
The Center will focus on environmental education,and will provide information about our local and
state parks, as well as the City's museums, trails and other local attractions. This appears to be a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to implement the vision that many,community leaders have worked
to develop for the past ten years: to establish a multi-function visitor gateway, and environmental
education and cultural complex at Prospect Road and I=25.
Location:
The proposed Center will be located on five(5)acres owned by CSU and located on the south side
of Prospect Road, approximately one-quarter mile west of Interstate 25, and adjacent to the City's
Resource Recovery Farm (see attached map). The property was donated to CSU for the
Environmental Learning CenterNisitors Center by the K&M Company,and has been annexed into
the City as part of the CSU campus.
Vision:
The objective of this project is to ce a 'o rld rea lassvisttor nrl erttnrorunental education complex.
This facility will offer opportunities to cus vzs to attention-on CSU's Environmental Learning
Center,River Bend Ponds,the City''sR&ourceikec�very Farm, CSU's agricultural farm, the trail
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system, adjacent natural areas, and other communitymo amenities.The concept is consistent with the
goals cited in the GOCO Legacy Project, Prospect Road Streetscape Program, and the
recommendations evolving from the Poudre River Land Use Framework Plan. The project is also
compatible with the goals and objectives of the Northern Colorado Regional Planning Study,
specifically the community gateway concept.
Education Element: The facility will include classrooms as well as interactive educational
opportunities within the larger ELC complex.Living demonstrations of native landscape will be used
for interpretative learning, and*re`I:aririier UA nffi Coervation Corps. will organize
programs for at-risk youth o�site that nco velo 1 nt of leadership skills and self-
confidence.
Tourism Element: The State of Colorado has designated the Center as the eighth and final official
State Visitors Center. The State has agreed to provide a minimum of$50,000 in funding each year
to pay for the operation of the State Welcome Center portion of the Environmental Learning
CenterNisitors Center.
In addition,the CVB will relocate its offices to the new center,providing visitor information services
to an anticipated 300,000 to 400,000 visitors during the first year of operation. This estimate was
derived from information provided by the State of Colorado, and is based on the number of actual
visitors traveling south on I-25.In addition,data was evaluated from official visitor centers in other
parts of the state. It is anticipated that this visitor center will be one of the busiest,due in part to the
twenty-million people who pass by each year on the northern corridor of Interstate 25.
DATE: August 3, 199 3 ITEM NUMBER: 21 A-B
This multi-agency approach will provide a more friendly,accessible and informative experience for
the visitor. The CVB will direct the visitor's focus to the activities of the Center and surrounding
properties,as well as providing information on the community's many attractions.This will include
museums, performing arts and events, galleries, trail system, and of course our many hotel
properties,shops and restaurants.The CVB's current location at the comer of Howes and Mulberry
is fairly limited in terms of visitor parking,display area, and overall ability to influence the visitor
before they have made their decision whether to spend time in Fort Collins.
Partnership:
The attached schematic illustrates the conceptual design for the Center. CSU's overall construction
costs for the project are estimate`0 at roughly$l*,S million. CSU v ffi obtain funds for the project as
follows: :-
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Colorado State University >$850,000.
Colorado,State University(parking lot/escrow) $145,000.
Colorado State Parks $500,000.
CVB /Private Sector J Hotels $ 30,000.
City of Fort Collins :.(lease payment) 34� 0,000.
Base Project Total $1,830,000.
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Fundingjrom the City:
The City's lease payment to CSU will bepaid fjim a combination of Lodging Tax Capital Reserve
Funds ($150.000) and a Genera+und appropr ation of$220,000 that was approved by Council as
part of the 1998-1999 City budget.
The Prospect Road tum-bay construction that is estimated to cost$210,000 is expected to be jointly
funded by the City and CSU. CSU has agreed to pay $107,400 toward construction of this
improvement. The City's share, if approved by Council,would be a one-time appropriation as part
of the 2000-2001 City budget. The General Fund may then be reimbursed over a 2-3 year period
from Lodging Tax received over the cap on the City's contract with the CVB. This amounts to
roughly$50,000 per year.The General Fund-%U al quired W)purchase the roughly 3-acre site
that will be used for the parking lot and lie Roi'Ic 2kon theAVater/Wastewater Utility. This
amount may also be reimburs to theeneraliuf; ugh dging Tax receipts.
Other Points to Consider:
The Center will showcase the Fort Collins community, CSU, and the State of Colorado to the
traveling public in a unique and integrated facility.
The project will create an attractive and central gateway to the community that is readily
accessible.
An information clearinghouse will be established that increases visibility for the natural,cultural,
recreational, and historical resources of Fort Collins.
DATE: August 3, 199 4 ITEM NUMBER: 21 A-B
This partnership among various agencies encourages efficient use of resources and building
space, and eliminates monthly rent for the agencies involved, enabling those resources to be
reallocated to facility enhancements and maintenance needs.
The Center will facilitate closer relationships among the partnering agencies, and CSU's
nationally recognized tourism faculty.This will also create opportunities for student interns and
community volunteers to develop links with recreation and tourism professionals.
Geologic/Rock Park Component.
In addition to the exciting work on She Environmental Learning CenterNisitors Center, staff has
been working with the non-profit Geological Societybf America(GSA is headquartered in Boulder)
on yet another exciting concept. GSA 'has proposed the development of a 2-acre Rock Park or
Geological Gardens adjacent tothe,ELC%f ito s Center.The.GSA would raise the funds necessary
to develop the 2-acre parcel on the northern portion of the City's Resource Recovery Farm(the City
retains ownership of the site at all times). The site will be designed in such a way that will enable
the Rock Park to share parking and other transportation options with the ELCNisitors Center.
In essence,the concept involves replicating the geology and topography of the State of Colorado,
roughly in the shape of the State,on the 2-acre site.As you can see from the attached schematic,the
plains, Front Range, mountains, canyons and plateaus will be replicated using rock samples
purchased and moved on site by the GSVollowing.the completedevelopment of the project,the
Park will be turned over to the city dPo#Collins to`operate and maintain.The hours and operation
of the Rock Park will be coon ieny`ated wAh the aetivities and staffing of the ELCNisitors Center.
In exchange for receiving the developed Rock Park,the City will agree to operate and maintain the
Park for a period of 25 years.The City and GSA have agreed to include an early termination clause
in the agreement between the City and GSA in the event that the Park is either not successful, or
becomes an undue burden to operate and maintain. It should be noted that GSA has committed to
covering the costs that may be involved in replacing rock samples, or addressing major Park
restoration.
Since no buildings or significcaat�slruc . _wil .mv ved4t-is estimated that the annual
maintenance cost for this faci,Nty will b in th a of$I%000 to $15,000. (GSA is budgeting
roughly$4,000 per year in ad ''onto this amot t.) I Here will�ie a minimal cost to irrigate plants,
trees and shrubs,and provide e�ii ragency lightirig facility will close at dusk,evening operation
is not anticipated).
GSA anticipates that the development of the Park will cost roughly $700,000, and will require
approximately one year to accomplish. Rock sample collection has been ongoing and with actual
construction of the Park to occur in 2000 and 2001. This would complement the proposed spring
2000 opening of the ELCNisitors Center.
DATE: August 3, 199 5 ITEM NUMBER: 21 A-B
List ofAtiachments:
A. Vicinity Map
B. ELC/Visitors Center Site Plan
C. Parking Lot/Easement Site Plan
D. Rock Park Diaaram
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