HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 03/15/2005 - RESOLUTION 2005-027 EXPRESSING CITY COUNCILS SUPPO ITEM NUMBER: 29
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: March 15, 2005
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Diane Jones
Don Bachman
SUBJECT
Resolution 2005-027 Expressing City Council's Support of the April 5, 2005 Ballot Measure to
Renew the City's Street Maintenance Sales and Use Tax for Ten (10) Additional Years.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The renewal of the Street Maintenance Program sales and use tax would provide approximately
$5.5 million per year for the program. This funding, in addition to the projected $2.6 million in
General Fund funding, will provide a "full-funding" level for the Street Maintenance Program.
Since a portion of the Building Community Choices revenue from the "Transportation" quarter
cent was earmarked for other transportation capital projects, renewal of the tax with all the
revenue dedicated to Street Maintenance will lower the need for some of the one-time General
Fund resources previously committed to street maintenance.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On February 1, 2005, City Council placed a renewal of the City's Street Maintenance sales and
use tax on the April 5, 2005 City election ballot. The current 1/4 cent sales tax has been in place
since voters approved it in 1997. The tax is set to expire December 31, 2005. By seeking voter
approval of the tax extension, uninterrupted funding of the program can be assured. Ballot Issue
No. 3 asks for voter approval to extend the tax for 10 years, with a term running from January 1,
2006 through December 31, 2015.
The Street Maintenance Program provides funding for the repair and renovation of the City's
street system. All 475 miles of city streets are covered by the program including arterials,
collectors and residential streets. The program covers major maintenance and preventative
maintenance of streets including repairs, renovations and reconstruction when necessary.
Maintenance is also performed on curbs, gutters, bridges, sidewalks, parkways, shoulders and
medians.
March 15, 2005 -2- Item No. 29
The purpose of this resolution is to express City Council's support of Ballot Issue No. 3.
Renewal of the sales tax is a key component of the City's financial stability and the City's ability
to maintain a high quality, efficient transportation system.
BACKGROUND
Two Building Community Choices capital sales taxes are set to expire December 31, 2005. The
"Streets and Transportation Projects" package funded the Street Maintenance and Overlay
Program, the Annual Pedestrian Improvement Program, Phases 1 and 2 of the Mason
Transportation Corridor, and improvements to the North College Corridor. The "Community
Enhancements" package has funded a variety of other projects including road expansions,
recreation programs and land acquisition for future City projects. While both taxes are set to
expire this year, Council directed staff to seek renewal of the Street Maintenance Program at the
April election and defer the "Community Enhancements" renewal until the November 2005
election.
The Street Maintenance Program
The Street Maintenance Program provides funding for the repair and renovation of the City's
street system. All 475 miles of city streets are covered by the program including arterials,
collectors and residential streets. The program covers major maintenance and preventative
maintenance of streets including repairs, renovations and reconstruction when necessary.
Maintenance is also performed on curbs, gutters, bridges, sidewalks, parkways, shoulders and
medians.
The program has been in existence since 1989 when it was funded through the Choices 95
Capital Improvement Program. Prior to that time, the City's street maintenance efforts received
minimal funding and streets were in poor condition. With the funding of the Street Maintenance
Program and the renewal of the funding stream through the Building Community Choices
program, the City has been able to meet its goal of an average pavement condition rating of
75—a "Good" rating. (See attachment 1) Accomplishments of the program have included:
• 263 miles of streets have been maintained since 1989;
• The average pavement condition rating has been raised to 75;
• Aggressive rehabilitation of arterial streets has been undertaken;
• The Hot-in-Place asphalt recycling process was introduced in 2000,
increasing cost effectiveness and minimizing inconvenience for citizens;
and
• Preventive maintenance such as slurry seals and overlays have increased.
Program Funding
The Street Maintenance Program is currently funded from four sources. A substantial portion of
the program funding, $3.7 million (49%), is provided by the Building Community Choices
Program. In 2005, the General Fund will provide $1.6 million in ongoing funds and $2.2 million
in on-time funding for the program. An additional $128,000 from street cut fees was provided in
2004. These fees are assessed to contractors and other builders who cut into City streets as part
March 15, 2005 -3- Item No. 29
of a construction project. The overall budget of$7.5 million is considered to be a full-funding
level for the program. (See Attachment 2)
If the Street Maintenance Program is renewed by voters, $5.5 million of dedicated revenue, plus
a projected $2.3 million of general fund support in 2006 will provide a total of approximately
$7.8 million per year for street maintenance. Though specific funding figures would not be
known until the 2006-07 budget is adopted, General Fund support for the program will still be
required after the dedicated revenue source is approved by voters.
Ongoing funding for the Street Maintenance Program is a high priority for several reasons. It
continues to be one of the City's most basic, core services with excellent past performance. It is
a cost effective program because maintaining average pavement condition rating of 75 saves the
City money. By providing preventative maintenance to streets, repairs can be made when
inexpensive processes can be used, rather than waiting until more expensive and disruptive
major maintenance or replacement is required. With limited alternative funding sources for this
maintenance, this program and its funding source are critical to maintaining the overall condition
of the City's street system.
A Dedicated Funding Source
By continuing this dedicated funding source, separate from the General Fund, the City can
accomplish several goals. First, by maintaining the program as a dedicated sales tax funded
program, funds cannot be diverted to other uses. This ensures that the program remains funded
and preventative maintenance will not be deferred.
A second benefit of a dedicated sales tax is that 30 - 40% of sales tax revenue is generated from
non-city residents that use our street system. By placing a portion of the burden for maintaining
our streets on visitors, workers who commute into Fort Collins and shoppers from neighboring
communities, the sales tax provides an equitable funding source.
For these reasons, the City Manager recommends that Council adopt this Resolution supporting
the passage of Ballot Issue No. 3 at the April 5, 2005 City election.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Pavement Condition Index
2. Current and Projected Pavement Management Funding Sources
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ATTACHMENT
2005 Pavement Management Funding Sources
Street Cut Fees,
General Fund On- $128,000,2%
going, $1,400,000 ,
19%
Building Community
Choices,
$3,700,000 ,48%
General Fund One-
time, $2,300,000 ,
31%
2006 Pavement Management Funding
Projected
Street Cut Fees,
$128,000 , 2%
General Fund ,
$2,300,000 , 29%
Pavement
Management
Renewal,
$5,500,000 , 69%
RESOLUTION 2005-027
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
EXPRESSING CITY COUNCIL'S SUPPORT OF THE
APRIL 5, 2005 BALLOT MEASURE TO RENEW
THE CITY'S STREET MAINTENANCE SALES AND USE TAX
FOR TEN (10) ADDITIONAL YEARS
WHEREAS, the City's Street Maintenance Program (the "Program") provides funding
for the repair and renovation of the City's street system; and
WHEREAS, the Program is funded through a voter approved, one-quarter cent sales and
use tax (the "Tax"); and
WHEREAS, the Program has been in existence since 1989 when it was initially funded
through the Choices 95 Capital Improvement Program; and
WHEREAS, said funding was renewed through the Building Community Choices Capital
Improvement Program in 1997; and
WHEREAS, the current funding source is set to expire on December 31, 2005; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has placed a ballot measure on the April 5, 2005 City
election ("Ballot Issue No. 3") that would renew the one-quarter cent sales and use tax which
funds this Program; and
WHEREAS, Ballot Issue No. 3 asks for voter approval to extend the Tax for 10 years,
with a term running from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the renewal of the Tax would provide approximately $5.5 million per year
for the Program; and
WHEREAS, by seeking voter approval of the extension of the Tax, uninterrupted funding
of the Program can be assured; and
WHEREAS, the Program continues to be one of the City's most basic, core services with
excellent past performance; and
WHEREAS, the Program is a cost effective program because maintaining average
pavement condition rating of 75 saves the City money; and
WHEREAS, by providing preventative maintenance to streets, repairs can be made when
inexpensive processes can be used, rather than waiting until more expensive and disruptive
major maintenance or replacement is required; and
WHEREAS, with limited alternative funding sources for this maintenance, the Program
and its funding source are critical to the overall condition of the City's street system.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS that, for the foregoing reasons, the City Council strongly supports the renewal of the
Street Maintenance Sales and Use tax for a term of 10 years, and urges the registered electors for
the City to vote in favor of Ballot Issue No. 3 on the April 5, 2005 City Election ballot.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held this 15th day of March,
A.D. 2005.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk