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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 02/15/2000 - RESOLUTION 2000-29 AUTHORIZING ONE OR MORE INTERGO AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 19 DATE: February 15, 2000 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL • STAFF: Marty Heffernan SUBJECT: Resolution 2000-29 Authorizing One or More Intergovernmental Agreements with Poudre School District and Approving the Project List for the Building Community Choices City/School District Capital Projects. f RECOMMENDATION: i Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution. FINANCIAL IMPACT: $326,355 has been appropriated in the 2000 budget to spend on these projects. The remainder of the funding, approximately $370,000, is scheduled for appropriation in the 2001 budget. 0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: In August, 1999,the City/Poudre School District Liaison Committee supported a recommendation to expend funds from Building Community Choices (BCC) on several capital projects that will benefit the City, the Poudre School District (PSD), and the community. City and PSD staff conducted outreach this past fall, and found widespread support for the projects. On January 24, 2000, the Board of Education voted to support the Liaison Committee's recommended projects, which include the following: (1) develop a softball field at Poudre High School, Rocky Mountain High School, and Preston Junior High School; (2) renovate existing softball/baseball fields at Blevins and Webber Junior High Schools;(3)move a soccer field at Rocky Mountain High School; (4) build an in-line hockey rink and a skate park at Edora Park; and (5) renovate the skate park at the Northside Aztlan Community Center. DATE: February 15, 2000 2 ITEM NUMBER: 19 BACKGROUND: The passage by the voters of Ordinance No. 31, 1997, in April, 1997, authorized $600,000 (1996 dollars)to fund cooperative City/PSD capital projects. The City/PSD Liaison Committee was given the task of reviewing various project ideas and making a recommendation to the Board of Education and the City Council for final adoption. Many project ideas were identified and discussed since the passage of the Referendum in 1997. Following is a listing of these project ideas: • Various school gymnasium expansions (most notably Putnam Elementary School and Boltz Junior High School) • Development of soccer and softball facilities at Rocky Mountain High School • Softballfbaseball field renovations at Webber and Blevins Junior High Schools • Development of property at Preston Junior High School • Various school tennis court renovations • Addition of ballfield lights at Lincoln Junior High School • LINC library enhancements • Restroom addition at Boltz athletic complex • Community room addition at Barton Early Childhood Center • Improvements to various school meeting rooms,chosen for their geographical, placement around the community, for use by community groups • Roller hockey and skateboard facilities on school property • Roller hockey and skateboard facilities on City property • Grant program to be administered through the junior high schools • Addition of a soccer field at Fort Collins High School/Case Park • Addition of basketball goals at Fort Collins High School parking lot • Addition of lighted ballfields on Colorado State University property southeast of Hughes Stadium(rodeo grounds) • Creation of a youth center at Boltz Junior High School The Recommended Projects The Liaison Committee spent a great deal of time discussing many of these ideas. The Committee eliminated some because they were too expensive. Others were eliminated because the timing was not congruent or the process was cumbersome. After two years of deliberation, the committee agreed to the following list of projects: • Build a softball field at Poudre and Rocky Mountain High Schools and Preston Junior High School • Renovate existing softball/baseball fields at Blevins and Webber Junior High Schools • Relocate a soccer field at Rocky Mountain High School to accommodate the new softball field • Build an in-line hockey rink and a skate park at Edora Park • Renovate the skate park at the Northside Aztlan Community Center DATE: February 15, 2000 3 ITEM NUMBER: 19 These projects were chosen because of the high need in the community for additional quality facilities for youth. They were also chosen because quite a few projects could be accomplished . within the funding available. They also are fairly well distributed geographically throughout the community. Attachment A is an estimated distribution of funding to each project. Project Explanation and Rationale A. Build a softball field at each of three schools: Poudre and Rocky Mountain High Schools and Preston Junior High School;renovate four existing softball/baseball fields at Webber and Blevins Junior High Schools. Fort Collins has a large active youth population and there are not enough ballfields to meet the growing demand. PSD lacks softball fields at Poudre, Rocky, and Preston, and teams from these schools are forced to travel to City parks to practice and play their scheduled games. This has resulted in additional ongoing costs to PSD in time and travel,and prevents drop-in users and non-PSD leagues from using these City fields. PSD's use of City ballfields in the afternoons conflicts with popular City-sponsored evening softball leagues by often creating delays in start times for the evening games. The result is little or no time for maintenance staff to properly prepare the fields to avoid safety problems. The new fields at these three schools create more opportunities for the City and PSD to schedule the numerous private non-profit youth softball and baseball groups. These fields will be used for youth games and community drop-in and will not be lighted. Renovation of the existing fields at Webber and Blevins will not only improve safety and playability for school programs and teams,but also for the private non-profit youth baseball and softball organizations when the schools are not using them. Base path distances will be expanded so a wider age range of teams can use them, increasing their versatility. Renovation will include adding partial sideline fencing and dugouts and replacing the gravel infields with an appropriate mix. The renovation will not include lights. The new and renovated softball/baseball fields at these five schools will create at least five positive results: 1. A better, less costly PSD competitive softball program 2. Expanded facilities for physical education activities 3. Better quality and safer programs 4. More fields available for ballplayers in the community, with an emphasis on youth 5. A good geographical distribution of new or improved fields throughout the city B. Relocate a soccer field at Rocky Mountain to accommodate the new ballfield The new softball field at Rocky fits best on a site that is currently used for soccer. Another space is available and has the ideal topography for a soccer field. Relocation would involve some grading, adding a sprinkler system, and seeding. According to a report published in 1999 by the National Sporting Goods Association,the number of people playing soccer has increased by 53% in the last decade. Both the youth and adult soccer programs in Fort Collins continue to grow, making it imperative to replace this field. DATE: February 15,2000 4 ITEM NUMBER: 19 C. Build a new skate park and in-line hockey rink at Edora Park and renovate the existing skate park at Northside Aztlan Community Center. The City received a Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant in 1999 for part of the construction of a second skate park,which will be located in Edora Park. Additional funding from BCC will provide part of the required match for the grant and also allow some additional flexibility in the design and size of the park. The existing skate park at the Northside Azdan Community Center was constructed several years ago with a limited budget. This was a trial facility to determine the amount of use and the continued popularity of the sport. Staff and the local skateboarders designed it. Use has been significant and sustained. The wood-framed structures need ongoing repairs and rebuilding. Funding would be used to increase the amount of sheet metal on various surfaces to reduce the rate of deterioration. Skateboarding and in-line skating are very popular youth activities and often provide physical activity outlets for youths and teens who do not participate in traditional team and individual sports. These facilities will allow both PSD and the City to serve a youth clientele that is often very different from the kids who play softball, soccer, tennis, and other traditional sports. The National Sporting Goods Association 1999 report indicates that in- line skating has grown 650% since 1990. The City's current skate facility is used not only by boarders,but also by in-line skaters and BMX bikers. Additional facilities will help meet the needs of those who live south of downtown. PSD staff and Board are supportive of more skating facilities for youths and teens. Public Outreach Outreach was conducted last fall at each of the affected schools, and involved physical education teachers, coaches, administrators, and students. Input was gathered from several local businesses that support skateboarding and in-line skating, as well as from people in the community who participate in these activities. In addition,input was sought from the community organizations that schedule ballfields. Finally, input was obtained from the City's Parks and Recreation Board and Youth Advisory Board. The outreach effort was met with widespread support for the projects. Both City Boards supported the project list(Attachments B and Q. Over 300 comments were received from students and adults alike,supporting both the school improvements and the development of the skating facilities. Over 400 names appeared on petitions supporting the skating facilities. Following is a list of outreach participants: - Poudre High School - Rocky Mountain High School - Preston Junior High School - Webber Junior High School - Blevins Junior High School - Fort Collins Baseball Club - Fort Collins Buckaroos DATE: February 15, 2000 5ITEM NUMBER: 19 - Fort Collins Girls Softball - Triple Crown Sports - Skateboard and in-line hockey input - Parks and Recreation Board - Youth Advisory Board - Support letters from the GOCO grant application for the skate park,for which the City received partial funding Staff from PSD and the City will work closely together on these projects,and are prepared to move forward with timeline development and project design as soon as the recommended proposal is approved by City Council. Projects will be prioritized and then completed as quickly as possible, working around school and competitive sports seasons and schedules. City staff will also work with PSD to create one or more intergovernmental agreements to address ownership, maintenance, scheduling, and related issues. I Summary I It is well documented that regular physical activity contributes to the overall physical, mental, psychological,and emotional health of people of all ages. Participation in physical activity releases stress, strengthens muscles, strengthens the heart and lungs, and increases alertness. Competition builds self-confidence, social skills, and teaches life lessons associated with success and failure. It is also well documented that the residents of Fort Collins exceed the national statistics when it comes to sports participation. For instance, the national numbers show a recent decline in softballibaseball participation. This is not true, however, in Fort Collins. The number of Fort Collins youths and adults who participate in organized sports, including baseball and softball,has steadily increased over the past ten years. In 1998,over 9,500 youths and adults or about 9%of the local population participated in organized baseball and softball programs in Fort Collins. In addition,3,516 teams involving 50,170 participants played in local softball and baseball tournaments in 1998. The City and PSD have both experienced a steady increase in the number of requests for indoor and outdoor sports space. In the past few years, neither the City nor PSD has been able to fully accommodate all requests for facility use. As the City continues to grow, the number of requests will continue to increase, and both the City and PSD will continue to fall behind in meeting these needs. Building these important projects will only help community members continue to enjoy these healthy pastimes. i s • ATTACHMENT A ESTIMATED COSTS FOR CITY/PSD PROJECTS ESTIMATED LOCATION ITEM COST Preston Ball field $ 75,000 Webber 2 ball fields (renovation) 75,000 Blevins 2 ball fields (renovation) 75,000 Poudre Ball field 75,000 Rocky Mountain Ball field and soccer field 110,000 Edora Park Skate park 60,000 In-line skating rink 160,000 Northside Aztlan Community Center Skate park(renovation) 60,000 Subtotal: $ 690,000 . 1% for art 6,900 TOTAL ESTIMATED COST: $ 696,900 Parks and Recreation Board Minutes October27, 1999 ATTACHMENT B Page 7 Poudre School District/City Outreach Recreation Manager Jean Helbdrg updated the Board on the outreach process we are doing to get input on the projects we are recommending for the City/PSD Building Community Choices funding. These include new ballfields at Rocky, Poudre, and Preston, renovation ballfields at Webber and Blevins. She explained that a letter was sent to physical education teachers and administrators illustrating how we would lay out fields and what kind of activities would be played on these fields. What we asked is for them to talk about it and get input and enclosed a petition to be passed around the school. We also asked for input on the inline skating park at Edora and helping with the funding for Skateboard Park at Edora and upgrades to the Skate Park at Northside Aztlan Community Center. We are also working with Youth Baseball and Buckaroos. Sandy Martin of PSD is coordinating this with us. Tonight we are asking for the Board's recommendation on these projects conceptually. Del asked if we had input from the School District on developing? Jean said yes, we did for over a vear we worked with the Liaison Committee, which consists of City and School District. This reflects an opportunity for the schools to have their own fields so they don't have to transport students for practice. The facilities will not be fenced and locked. The School District will perform the operation and maintenance on the fields on their property. On a motion by Rebecca Chavez, seconded by Paul Hudnut, the Board recommended that we support the joint projects as submitted by staff. The vote was (8-0 with 1 abstention) Ross Cunniff abstained. Downtown River Implementation Open House Paul Hudnut and Rebecca Chavez attended this open house. Paul said his "major walk away" was the hazardous waste in the area of the river and recreational use were ranked the highest priority. Paddling groups had great turn out. Recreation use would be a strong emphasis on the river property. Rebecca said that none of the audience could speak an opinion at this open house. There was no dialogue allowed. Participants could only fill out a visual preference survey. Marty said the timetable has changed on this project and this won't go to Council until February 21. The flood plain issue will come to the forefront first. Hazardous contamination sites were moved to nl priority. Mike added that this goes to Study Session in December. Del suggested waiting until December 1 to make a recommendation. Paul Hudnut asked for a final plan prior to December. Have the priorities changed since the October open house meeting? Staff will get the most recent recommendation from Timothy Wilder and the tabulations from the Open House. Lance asked the Board what is our stand on the river and what do we want to do with it? The Board members agreed that they want to wait for the outcome of the open house and see the final plan prior to making a recommendation. Secretary's note: This item has been postponed on the Council Agenda until May 2000. The Council wants to address the flood plain plan and the river plan together. ATTACHMENT C Page 1of2 YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES Regular meeting—December 1, 1999 7:00 p.m. Council Liaison: Ray Martinez Staff Liaisons: Peggy Bowers, Recreation,221-057 Scott Gammon, Police,221-6560 Board Chairperson: Ben Brooks,223-6767 Board Members Present: Ben Brooks, Brian Fanning, Phillip Chavez, Ki Shih, Steve Hill, Mike Davis Board Members Absent: Jo Faith Warsteane, Bill Leary, Robin Horak Staff Members Present: Scott Gammon, Staff Liaison—Police Department Peggy Bowers, Staff Liaison—Recreation Division Dave Mosnik, Supervisor—Recreation Division Debra Bueno, Supervisor—Recreation Division Janet Urban, Admin. Support Suprv. —Recreation Division Guest(s) Present: Steven Dike-Wilhelm, Shane Cass, Jenni Pottish • Call Meeting to Order: The regular meeting of the Youth Advisory Board was called to order by Chairman Ben Brooks at 7:07 p.m. Approval of Minutes: The minutes of November 3, 1999 were approved unanimously (5-0) on a motion by Steve Hill, seconded by Brian Fanning. Agenda Review: No changes to the agenda. Citizen Participation: No citizen participation. Agenda: SKATEBOARD PARK UPDATE $600,000 is available through Building Community Choices for joint projects of the City of Fort Collins and Poudre School District. Recreation Administrator Terry Keith presented the proposal that has been prepared by Parks and Recreation staff and Poudre School District staff. PSD is gathering support from schools and physical education teachers; City staff is seeking support from Boards, individuals and user groups. The proposal includes upgrades to existing facilities and the addition of a skateboard park. Schools would have priority use for upgraded facilities during the school year; other user groups would utilize the facilities during the summer. Youth Advisory Board Minutes December 1, 1999 Page 2 ATTACHMENT C Page 2 of 2 The upgrades are as follows: Blevins Junior High and Webber Junior High—upgrade existing ballfields by improving infields, putting in backstops, sideline fences, etc. Preston Junior High—build 1 ballfield Poudre High School—build 1 ballfield west of existing varsity field Rocky Mountain High School—build 1 ballfield and upgrade soccer field Edora Park—build skateboard facility. If money is available, also build an inline hockey rink. Part of the funding for the skateboard facility will come from Great Outdoors Colorado, the balance from Building Community Choices. If the skateboard park is not completed by November, 2000, GOCo money will be forfeited. One disc golf course hole will need to be altered to accommodate the skateboard park. Steve Hill made a motion that the Board endorsg the proposal as presented by Terry Keith for City/school district joint projects. Phillip Chavez seconded the motion; approved unanimously (6-0). The next step is for the proposal to be presented to the City Council/Board of Education liaison committee in January. Staff will keep Board members informed as to when this issue will go to City Council so they can attend if they wish and voice their opinions. YOUTH SERVICE DIRECTORY Jenni Pottish, AmeriCorps Promise Fellow, has nearly completed the youth directory that she has been working on for many months. She would like suggestions from the Board members on a name for the directory and would accept artwork as well. If space allows, there will be artwork inside the document as well as on the cover. The Student Community Involvement Team (SCIT) has been working with Jenny on this document. There are 12 different categories, nearly 400 organizations included. An abbreviated form of the document will be on the website, and it will be distributed through Recreation facilities, maybe schools, faith organizations, counselors, and organizations listed in the directory. Youth Advisory Board members will share their suggestions for distribution at the January Board meeting. Jenni also shared information on the recent volunteer forum. 125 people attended, and teens reported that some agencies are scared of teenagers. Some Lincoln Junior High students are working with Jenni to develop training for agencies so that they can better work with teens. DRUG INFORMATION FORUM The Board again discussed the objective of the proposed drug information forum. It was decided that the goal would be to educate the public on drugs. A possible format would • RESOLUTION 2000-29 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AUTHORIZING ONE OR MORE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS WITH POUDRE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND APPROVING THE PROJECT LIST FOR THE BUILDING COMMUNITY CHOICES CITY/SCHOOL DISTRICT CAPITAL PROJECTS WHEREAS,in April 1997,the voters of the City of Fort Collins approved a one-quarter cent sales and use tax (the 'Building Community Choices Capital Improvements Tax") to fund the construction of certain capital improvement projects identified in Ordinance No. 31, 1997; and WHEREAS, among the projects identified in Ordinance No. 31, 1997, were cooperative City/Poudre School District("PSD")projects to be identified by mutual agreement at an estimated cost of$600,000 (1996 dollars) (the "Joint Projects"); and WHEREAS,the City/PSD Liaison Committee,which is comprised of City and PSD elected officials and staff,has identified and reviewed possible projects,has completed its review, and has made specific recommendations for the Joint Projects; and WHEREAS, the Liaison Committee recommendation included the following: (1) develop a softball field at Poudre High School, Rocky Mountain High School, and Preston Junior High School; (2) renovate existing softball/baseball fields at Blevins and Webber Junior High Schools; (3)move a soccer field at Rocky Mountain High School;(4)build an in-line hockey rink and a skate park at Edora Park; and (5) renovate the skate park at the Northside Aztlan Community Center (collectively, the "Proposed Projects"); and WHEREAS, significant public input regarding the Proposed Projects was gathered from a variety of school and community sources and widespread support was expressed for the Proposed Projects; and WHEREAS,on January 24,2000,the PSD Board of Education voted to support the Proposed Projects; and WHEREAS, the Parks and Recreation Board and the Youth Advisory Board have each reviewed the Proposed Projects and support the selection and implementation of the Proposed Projects; and WHEREAS, City staff will begin negotiating with PSD to develop one or more intergovernmental agreements to set out the respective rights and responsibilities in connection with the Proposed Projects, which will address the following general elements: I. Coordination of project management, including project location, design, hiring contractors and construction oversight; 'f 2. Assignment of Project ownership and operation, based upon the general guideline that facilities located on PSD land should be owned, operated and maintained by PSD and those on City land should be owned, operated and maintained by the City; 3. Requirements for maintenance and repair intended to ensure that the facilities are safe, attractive,kept in good condition, and function well; 4. Facility scheduling rights and responsibilities; and 5. Requirements for future alteration, improvement, or modification of any facility. WHEREAS, the completion of the Proposed Projects will result in mutual benefits to the City and PSD,as well as benefits to the community as a whole; and WHEREAS,the City is authorized to enter into intergovernmental agreements to provide any function, service or facility, as provided in Article II, Section 16 of the Charter of the City of Fort Collins and Section 29-1-203, C.R.S. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the Council hereby approves the Proposed Projects to be implemented as the Joint Projects in accordance with Ordinance No. 31, 1997. Section 2. That the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute one or more intergovernmental agreements with PSD in order to implement and complete the Joint Projects, subj ect to such modifications in form or substance as the City Manager,in consultation with the City Attorney,may deem necessary to effectuate the purposes of the Joint Projects or Ordinance No. 31, 1997, or to protect the interests of the City. Passed and adopted at regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 15th day of February, A.D. 2000. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk