The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 11/20/2007 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 137, 2007, APPROPRI ITEM NUMBER: 14 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: November20, 2007 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Mark Sears SUBJECT First Reading of Ordinance No. 137, 2007, Appropriating Unanticipated Revenue in the Natural Areas Fund and the Capital Projects Fund- Soapstone Prairie Public Improvements Capital Project to Be Used for the Design and Construction of Public Improvements at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of this Ordinance on First Reading. The Land Conservation and Stewardship Board will make its recommendation at its regularly scheduled meeting on November 14 and that recommendation will be provided to Council. FINANCIAL IMPACT This Ordinance appropriates $5,100,000 in Natural Areas Program designated revenue into the Capital Projects Fund, to construct public improvements for public recreation at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Soapstone Prairie Natural Area will be opened for public recreation in June 2009 in accordance with the recently adopted management plan. Prior to opening, the construction of public improvements is required. The improvements include: 9.5 miles of gravel access road; an entrance station; two gravel parking areas;interpretive features;picnic shelters and vault toilets;and over 30 miles of soft trails. Construction of the access road started in October and will be completed by spring 2008. Construction of the remaining improvements will start in the spring and be completed prior to June 2009. BACKGROUND The most direct public access to Soapstone Prairie Natural Areas(SPNA)is to follow County Road 15 north off Highway 1. The last six miles of road, from County Road 84 north to SPNA, and the 3.5 miles of interior roads to the two parking lots, do not currently meet Latimer County road standards. Larimer County is requiring this road to meet its least stringent standards referred to as November 20, 2007 -2- Item No. 14 Appendix G. The road will be a 20-foot wide, 30 mph, gravel road. To meet these standards three bridges are required: a 192-foot span over Rawhide Creek; a 70-foot span over Wire Draw; and a double 12-foot by 5-foot box culvert over a tributary to Wire Draw. Easements have been acquired, where necessary,for the construction of the road. An entrance station will be constructed at the front gate to allow staff and/or volunteers to greet visitors as they arrive and to answer questions and provide helpful information. Cost of the access road,bridges and entrance station is estimated to be $3,500,000. Two gravel parking areas will be developed to provide trail head access to over 30 miles of trails. The south parking area will provide 30 to 50 parking spaces and 15 horse trailer or bus spaces, several picnic shelters and a double vault toilet. The north parking area will provide approximately 50 parking spaces, several picnic shelters and a double vault toilet. Interpretive features will be provided to explain both the cultural and natural richness of the site. Modest operations and maintenance facilities will be constructed in a screened area to store the necessary equipment and supplies for the maintenance of the public improvements and the natural resources. Cost of the trails,parking areas,shelters,toilets,interpretive features and maintenance facilities is estimated to be $1,600,000. Funds being appropriated for this project will come from designated Natural Areas Program revenues as shown below: Funds Budgeted in 2007 $2,166 000 Unappropriated Funds Available in 2007 $ 800,000 Funds Budgeted in 2008 $2,000,000 Funds Budgeted in 2009 134,000 Total Appropriation $5,100,000 Grand Opening of SPNA is scheduled for June 2009. ORDINANCE NO. 137, 2007 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS APPROPRIATING UNANTICIPATED REVENUE IN THE NATURAL AREAS FUND AND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND - SOAPSTONE PRAIRIE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS CAPITAL PROJECT TO BE USED FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AT SOAPSTONE PRAIRIE NATURAL AREA WHEREAS, the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Program ("MAP") purchased approximately 12,579 acres in 2004, known as the Soapstone Ranch, from the Soapstone Grazing Association; and WHEREAS, additional parcels of land adjacent to the Soapstone Ranch, totaling approximately 6,149 acres, have subsequently been purchased by the City's NAP; and WHEREAS, the additional parcels and Soapstone Ranch are now known as the City's Soapstone Prairie Natural Area and encompass 18,728 acres of shortgrass prairie, foothills shrub lands, cliffs and rock outcrops, wetlands, springs, and prairie streams; and WHEREAS,on September 25,2007,NAP staff adopted a comprehensive management plan (the"Plan")for Soapstone Prairie Natural Area following a careful,deliberate,and detailed planning process using input gathered from the public, technical experts, and various agencies; and WHEREAS, the Plan establishes preliminary management decisions and provides a solid platform from which to make future decisions at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area; and WHEREAS, NAP staff has used the Plan to develop improvements at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area intended to provide outstanding visitor experiences and preserve the natural and cultural resources of the site; and WHEREAS, using the Plan, staff has identified improvements needed at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area(the "Project") to allow for public recreation at the site beginning in June 2009; and WHEREAS, the scope of the Project includes construction of 9.5 miles of gravel access roads, an entrance station, two gravel parking areas, interpretive features, picnic shelters, vault toilets, and over 30 miles of soft trails; and WHEREAS,the estimated cost of the Project is$5.1 million with construction of the access roads to be completed by Spring 2008 and construction of the remaining improvements scheduled for completion prior to June 2009; and WHEREAS, staff has identified the following funding sources to construct the Project: Natural Areas Fund - 2007 Budget Existing Appropriations $ 2,166,000 Natural Areas Fund - 2007 Budget Unanticipated Revenue - Savings from 1/4 Cent Natural Areas Capital Project $ 800,000 Natural Areas Fund - 2008 Budget $ 2,000 000 Natural Areas Fund - 2009 Budget $ 134,000 Total $ 5,100,000 WHEREAS,Article V, Section 9, of the Charter of the City of Fort Collins permits the City Council to make supplemental appropriations by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year, provided that the total amount of such supplemental appropriations,in combination with all previous appropriations for that fiscal year, does not exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received during the fiscal year; and WHEREAS, City staff has determined that the transfer of project savings from the Capital Projects Fund- 1/4 Cent Natural Areas capital project will not cause the total amount appropriated in the Natural Areas Fund to exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received during the fiscal year; and WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Council to appropriate the sum of$2,166,000 in the Capital Projects Fund - Soapstone Prairie Public Improvements capital project, and authorize the appropriation of$800,000 in the Natural Areas Fund,representing project savings from the 1/4 Cent Natural Areas capital project in the Natural Areas Fund for transfer to the Capital Projects Fund - Soapstone Prairie Public Improvements capital project,for appropriation therein,to be used for the design and construction of public improvements at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That there is hereby appropriated for expenditure from unanticipated revenue in the Capital Projects Fund - Soapstone Prairie Public Improvements capital project, the sum of TWO MILLION ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS($2,166,000)representing a transfer from the Natural Areas Fund, to be used for the design and construction of public improvements at Soapstone Natural Area. Section 2. That there is hereby appropriated for expenditure from unanticipated revenue in the Natural Areas Fund, the sum of EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($800,000), representing project savings transferred from the 1/4 Cent Natural Areas capital project,for transfer to the Capital Projects Fund - Soapstone Prairie Public Improvements capital project, and appropriated therein,to be used for the design and construction ofpublic improvements at Soapstone Natural Area. -2- Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 20th day of November,A.D.2007,and to be presented for final passage on the 4th day of December,A.D.2007. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading on the 4th day of December, A.D. 2007. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk -3-