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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 01/03/2006 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 001, 2006, APPROPRI ITEM NUMBER: 13 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: January 3, 2006 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Craig Foreman SUBJECT First Reading of Ordinance No. 001, 2006, Appropriating Unanticipated Revenue in the Neighborhood Parkland Fund - Oak Street Plaza Park Capital Project to Be Used to Construct Improvements to the Oak Street Plaza Park. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of this Ordinance on First Reading. FINANCIAL IMPACT Funding for the improvements to the Oak Street Plaza Park ("Park") consists of previously appropriated funds and additional funds that have yet to be appropriated. The total cost for the park improvements is estimated to be about $982,740. Those funds that have not been appropriated include the following: contributions from the Downtown Development Authority ($350,000), contributions from the General Improvement District No. 1 ("GID")($312,575),and unspent appropriations in the Neighborhood Parkland Fund ($49,000). The Council of the City of Fort Collins,Ex-Officio the Board of Directors of General Improvement District No. 1, will consider appropriating its contribution of$312,575 in Ordinance No. 051 on January 3, 2006. The City currently operates and maintains the Park and the proposed improvements will not require additional funds for operation and maintenance. Funding for the Park has been included in the 2006/2007 Budgeting for Outcomes process and annual operation and maintenance is estimated at $6,000. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Oak Street Plaza Park is an important public space in the downtown area. The Park provides the public a prime venue for small concerts, seating for noontime lunches and a gathering place for people enjoying downtown Fort Collins. The Park was last improved in the early 1980's and is January 3, 2006 -2- Item No. 13 showing its age. The existing concrete plaza, flower beds and fountain require increasing levels of maintenance. The fountain is the type that consumes considerable water when it is operational. A design effort with the Downtown Development Authority,area businesses and interested parties has resulted in a new design for the Park. This design makes the Park functional and inviting by removing the planters to open up the Park for better movement of people, replacing the concrete surface, replacing the fountain with an interactive water spray feature that uses minimal water, improving landscaping and lighting and providing for improved handicap access. Improvements will also include handicap access to the Museum of Contemporary Art building. The Park improvements are scheduled to begin in January, 2006 and be completed in June, 2006. ORDINANCE NO. 001, 2006 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS APPROPRIATING UNANTICIPATED REVENUE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKLAND FUND - OAK STREET PLAZA PARK CAPITAL PROJECT TO BE USED TO CONSTRUCT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE OAK STREET PLAZA PARK WHEREAS, Oak Street Plaza Park (the "Park ) is an important open space in the City's downtown, bounded by the Museum of Contemporary Art to the south, First Community Bank to the north,College Avenue to east,and access to the Museum and Bank,via Oak Street on the west; and WHEREAS,the Park is a focal point in downtown Fort Collins and is used for small concerts and provides a nice setting for people gathering or just relaxing; and WHEREAS, City staff has been working with the Downtown Development Authority,area businesses and other interested parties on a new design for the Park; and WHEREAS,the scope of the planned improvements will make the Park more functional and inviting by removing planters to allow for better movement of people; replacing the existing fountain with a water spray feature while conserving water;and providing new paving and pedestrian lighting, new furniture, a large grass area, ornamental plantings, and better access for those with disabilities (the"Project"); and WHEREAS, the estimated cost to construct the Project improvements is $982,740; and WHEREAS, the following sources have been appropriated and will be used to fund the Project improvements: Neighborhood Parkland Fund impact fees Approved by City Council on November 18, 2003, via the adoption of Ordinance No. 156, 2003 $ 150,000 Unspent interest earnings on Certificates of Participation used to fund the Downtown Intersection Renovation project Approved by City Council on October 18, 2005, via the adoption of Ordinance No. 113, 2005 $ 121,165 Total $ 271,165 WHEREAS, staff has identified the following additional sources,totaling$711,575,which may be used to fund the balance of the costs associated with the Project improvements: Contribution from the Downtown Development Authority $ 350,000 Contribution from the General Improvement District No. 1 $ 312,575 Unspent appropriations in the Neighborhood Parkland Fund 49,000 Total $ 711,575 i WHEREAS, on July 7, 2005, the Board of Directors of the Downtown Development Authority approved funding of$300,000 for the Project and up to $50,000 for additional work on the south side of the stairway to the Museum of Contemporary Art, contingent upon City Council appropriating funds relating to the issuance of City of Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority Subordinate Tax Increment Revenue Bonds, Series 2005A; and WHEREAS, on November 15, 2005, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 121, 2005, appropriating proceeds in the Downtown Development Authority Fund from the issuance of City of Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority Subordinate Tax Increment Revenue Bonds,Series 2005A, for the purpose of making certain capital improvements in the downtown area; and WHEREAS,the aforementioned ordinance included an appropriation of$350,000 to be used for the Project; and WHEREAS,the General Improvement District No. 1 (the"GID")contribution of$312,575 will be available,contingent upon the adoption of Ordinance No. 051 of the Council of the City of Fort Collins, Ex-Officio the Board of Directors of General Improvement District No. 1,on January 17, 2006, authorizing the transfer of appropriations from the GID to the City's Neighborhood Parkland Fund to be used for the Project; and WHEREAS, the Project improvements are scheduled to begin in January 2006, with final completion scheduled for June 2006; and WHEREAS, Article V, Section 9,of the Charter of the City of Fort Collins(the"Charter") 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 appropriation of funds from unanticipated revenue as described herein will not cause the total amount appropriated in the Neighborhood Parkland Fund - Oak Street Plaza Park project to exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received during any fiscal year; and WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Council to appropriate the sum of$662,575, in the form of contributions from the Downtown Development Authority($350,000) and the GID ($312,575), to be used with unspent appropriations in the Neighborhood Parkland Fund($49,000),and amounts previously appropriated by Council ($271,165) to be used to construct improvements to the Oak Street Plaza Park. NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS that there is hereby appropriated for expenditure from unanticipated revenue in the Neighborhood Parkland Fund- Oak Street Plaza Park capital project, the sum of SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($662,575)from the following sources: Downtown Development Authority Contribution $ 350,000 General Improvement District No. 1 Contribution $ 312,575 Total $ 662,575 to be used to construct improvements to the Oak Street Plaza Park. Introduced and considered favorably on first reading and ordered published this 3rd day of January, A.D. 2006, and to be presented for final passage on the 17th day of January, A.D. 2006. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading this 17th day of January, A.D. 2006 Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk