Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 05/19/2009 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 054, 2009, AUTHORIZ ITEM NUMBER: 10 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: May 19, 2009 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Kathleen Bracke Scott Weeks SUBJECT First Reading of Ordinance No. 054, 2009, Authorizing the Transfer of Existing Appropriations from the Downtown Development Authority Fund to the Capital Project Fund for the Building on Basics Pedestrian Plan Project, Linden Street Streetscape Project, Phase I. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. FINANCIAL IMPACT The Downtown Development Authority has awarded the City of Fort Collins a funding contribution of$500,000 for streetscape improvements along Linden Street from Jefferson/SH14 to the Poudre River. The City is providing$250,000 in local matching funds from the City's Building on Basics (BOB) Pedestrian Plan program and the City has also been awarded $250,000 in funding from the Colorado Department of Transportation(CDOT)for this project. Council has previously approved the City's contract with CDOT and federal funding appropriation for this project. This combined funding from CDOT, City, and the DDA will total $1,000,000 and is intended to cover the cost of design,engineering,right of way,and construction for the Linden Street streetscape proj ect. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Ordinance appropriates funding from the Downtown Development Authority(DDA) into the project account for the Linden Street streetscape project. This funding may be used for any or all of the following phases of the project: design, engineering, right-of-way, and construction for the segment of Linden Street from Jefferson Street/SH 14 north to the Poudre River bridge. The City's matching funds are being provided by existing Building on Basics Pedestrian Plan funds. In addition, CDOT has awarded the City $250,000 in funding for this project to help the project achieve the improvements envisioned in the Downtown River District Project approved by the City and DDA in 2008. May 19, 2009 -2- Item No. 10 BACKGROUND Linden Street is the link between the Old Town Square and the area known locally as the "Downtown River District" which includes existing and future residential areas, cultural & arts venues,commercial/retail centers,and industrial businesses. The portion of Linden Street between Walnut Street and Jefferson Street was improved several years ago and serves as an inviting extension of Downtown whether you are driving, walking, or bicycling. However, north of Jefferson Street/SH14, Linden Street is a busy commercial street serving localized automobile traffic as well as large truck traffic accessing the existing industrial/commercial businesses in the project area including Ranchway Feeds, New Belgium Brewery, Schrader Oil Company,and several others.Linden Street also provides a vital connection to/from Downtown and the emerging residences, recreational facilities, and cultural venues within the Downtown River District and to/from the surrounding neighborhoods. The current levels of automobile and truck traffic coupled with the lack of continuous sidewalks, bike lanes, and streetscape and landscape features make daily trips along this portion of Linden Street uninviting and hazardous. In accordance with the vision and goals of the Downtown River District Project report that was adopted by the City and the Downtown Development Authority(DDA)in 2008,City and DDA staff set out to find resources to begin implementation of the proposed improvements in the Downtown River District. Specifically to help address the existing conditions along Linden Street, City staff applied for Enhancement grant funding from the Colorado Department of Transportation and the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization. This Enhancement funding,in partnership with the City's local matching funds and the DDA funds, will provide for the first phase of implementation of the Linden Street improvements as envisioned in the Downtown River District report. The pedestrian, bicycle, roadway and streetscape improvements along Linden Street will include attractive and functional sidewalks, bikelanes, landscaping, street trees, and designated on-street parking areas. The design of the proposed improvements will complement the existing attractive streetscape along Linden Street, south of project area from Jefferson to Walnut, in order to provide a continuous and inviting connection from the Poudre River bridge to heart of Downtown Fort Collins and Old Town Square. These improvements are extremely necessary to create a safe and inviting environment for people of all ages and abilities and will help connect the Downtown River District to the surrounding areas In addition, Linden Street is located near the original Old Fort Site which was the heart of the community's beginnings almost 150 years ago. Many opportunities exist to celebrate the unique historical context and heritage of the Fort Collins community with this project. The proposed improvements allow unique opportunities to celebrate the past by incorporating the history of the Old Fort area as a theme with the streetscape improvements. All of the planned improvements along Linden Street will be designed and constructive to be environmentally sensitive to the Poudre River and will be consistent with the City's Poudre River Enhancement Project. May 19, 2009 -3- Item No. 10 This newly emerging Downtown River District is coming about through successful public and private partnerships and economic development opportunities, celebrating the Downtown River District's unique past,present,and future. It is important for the local infrastructure with the District to be designed and implemented in a high-quality fashion to support existing land uses as well as the new infill and redevelopment that will take place over time. Throughout the development of the Linden Street project,City and DDA staff will continue to work together in partnership. In addition, the project team will offer an extensive public outreach and engagement process with the many project area stakeholders to ensure the pedestrian, bicycle, and streetscape improvements meet the immediate needs of the area as well as protect the river area and serve the long-range vision of the Downtown River District. Timeline Design and Engineering for Linden Street Improvements: 2009-10 Construction of Linden Streetscape Improvements: 2010-11 ATTACHMENTS 1. Map of the Linden Street project area. Attachment 1 CDowntown River District Streetscape Improvement Project Phase I - Linden Street A =r' J 1 A J M-103 a � _ _ ^ �.r•� � fir `^N3 / � _i�• L '�. . \ 0 , • \ -. w ©. � .t 1 L<Q.nd Bus Stop - -Project area ' HietOrlt Oid Fort Site 0 0.01-5 0.05 0.1 0.15 0Z A19ee C- ORDINANCE NO. 054, 2009 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF EXISTING APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FUND TO THE CAPITAL PROJECT FUND FOR THE BUILDING ON BASICS PEDESTRIAN PLAN PROJECT, LINDEN STREET STREETSCAPE PROJECT, PHASE I WHEREAS, Linden Street is the link between the Old Town Square and the area known locally as the "Downtown River District" which includes existing and future residential areas, cultural and arts venues, commercial and retail centers, and industrial businesses; and WHEREAS, Linden Street between Walnut Street and Jefferson Street was improved several years ago and serves as an inviting extension of Old Town Square for driving, walking, or bicycling; and WHEREAS, the section of Linden Street north of Jefferson Street/State Highway 14, is uninviting and hazardous, primarily because of the current levels of automobile and truck traffic coupled with the lack of continuous sidewalks, bike lanes, and streetscape and landscape features; and WHEREAS, in accordance with the vision and goals of the Downtown River District Project report that was adopted by the City and the Downtown Development Authority (the "DDA") in 2008, the City and DDA staff set out to find resources to begin implementation of the proposed improvements in the Downtown River District, including certain pedestrian, bicycle, roadway and streetscape improvements along Linden Street that will add attractive and functional sidewalks, bike lanes, landscaping, street trees, and designated on-street parking areas (the '"Project"); and WHEREAS, the DDA has agreed to provide the City a contribution of$500,000 for the Project; and WHEREAS, the City will provide $250,000 in local matching funds from the Building on Basics Pedestrian Plan program; and WHEREAS, on March 3, 2009, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 022, 2009 appropriating a $250,000 grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation for this Project; and WHEREAS, the combined funding from CDOT, the City, and the DDA will total $1,000,000 and is intended to cover the cost of design, engineering, right of way, and construction for the Project; and WHEREAS, funds are available for transfer to the Capital Projects Fund from existing appropriations in the Downtown Development Authority Fund and the Building on Basics Pedestrian Plan program; and r WHEREAS, Article V, Section 9, of the City 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, Article V, Section 10, of the City Charter authorizes the City Council to transfer by ordinance any unexpended and unencumbered appropriated amount or portion thereof from one fund to another fund, provided that the purpose for which the transferred funds are to be expended remains unchanged. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the unexpended and unencumbered appropriated amount of FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($500,000) is hereby authorized for transfer from the Downtown Development Authority Fund to the Capital Project Fund for the Building on Basics Pedestrian Plan Project, Linden Street Streetscape Project, Phase 1. Section 2. That there is hereby appropriated in the Capital Projects fund for the Building on Basics Pedestrian Plan Project, Linden Street Streetscape Project, Phase I the sum of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($250,000) for matching funds. Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 19th day of May, A.D. 2009, and to be presented for final passage on the 2nd day of June, A.D. 2009. Mayor ATTEST: Chief Deputy City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading on the 2nd day of June, A.D. 2009. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk