HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 06/02/2009 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 064, 2009, APPROPRI ITEM NUMBER: 17
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: June 2, 2009
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: John Stokes
SUBJECT
First Reading of Ordinance No. 064, 2009,Appropriating Prior Year Reserves in the Natural Areas
Fund for the Purpose of Providing Natural Areas Programming Not Included in the 2009 Adopted
City Budget and Authorizing the Transfer of Appropriations to the Capital Projects Fund.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This Ordinance increases 2009 appropriations in the City's Natural Areas Fund by$4,705,000. The
requested appropriation from prior year reserves in the Natural Areas Fund includes $4,705,000
representing 2008 appropriations that were unspent and unencumbered at the end of 2008.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of the previously appropriated funds is for land conservation, construction of public
improvements, restoration of wildlife habitat and other natural areas program needs to benefit the
citizens of Fort Collins.
BACKGROUND
Prior to 2004, the Natural Areas Program was housed within the Capital Projects Fund and,
therefore, funds did not lapse from year to year. During 2004, in order to comply with the
Governmental Accounting Standards Board,Natural Areas appropriations and funding sources were
all moved into the Natural Areas Fund, a lapsing fund.
The Natural Areas Fund is funded from several sources of revenue, including Open Space - Yes
sales tax, Larimer County - Help Preserve Open Space sales tax, and miscellaneous unanticipated
revenues.
June 2, 2009 -2- Item No. 17
The anticipated use of the funds being appropriated will be as follows:
• Land Conservation-$2,808,181. The balance of unspent Open Space Yes! and County Help
Preserve Open Space appropriations,totaling$2,808,181, is to be used for natural area land
conservation.
• Program Management - $25,000. This amount will be used to purchase a Hybrid staff
Vehicle to reduce staff use of their own vehicles and to reduce emissions.
• Resource Management-$91,500. This amount is being appropriated into the capital project
fund for additional cost to the design and reconstruction of the Benson Reservoir Dam at
Pelican Marsh.
• Resource Management - $139,815. This amount represents unspent funds and grant funds
received for resource management projects that will be spent on resource management
projects in 2009 including: consultants for the Poudre River Plan, assessment of the NISP
project, a BioBlitz at Soapstone Prairie, a utility vehicle for Soapstone Prairie, and the
demolition of several buildings.
• Public Improvements-$997,941. This amount represents amounts for improvements started
in 2008 and continuing into 2009. The scope of improvements include:finalize construction
of picnic shelters at several sites; GIS Database update, Picnic Rock design and
improvements,ADA improvements;the parking lot at Red Fox Meadows; and the majority
of the amount is unspent contributions to Parks for paved trail construction.
• FacilitOperations-$588,000. Represents amounts budgeted in 2008 for facility operations
that were not completed in 2008. Improvements include: completion of the Ranger house
at Bobcat Ridge;repairs to the caretaker house at Reservoir Ridge; repairs to the operations
and maintenance center at Soapstone; and the design and remodeling of an historic farm
house at Nix for additional office space.
• Education-$19,563. The unspent 2008 funds and grant funds received in 2008 will be used
in Education to fund: an education program at Bobcat Ridge using the Pulliam grant funds;
remaining Pulliam grant funds used for student transportation to Natural Areas as well as
educational supplies; and to fund an education program for Soapstone Prairie Natural Area.
• Land Management - $30,000. These unspent 2008 funds will be used to fund a Water
Augmentation Plan for the Resource Recovery Farm Gravel Mine on Running Deer Natural
Area.
• Enforcement- $5,000. These unspent 2008 funds will be used to fund an hourly employee
to staff the entrance station on weekends during the summer at Soapstone Prairie Natural
Area.
ORDINANCE NO. 064, 2009
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROPRIATING PRIOR YEAR RESERVES IN THE NATURAL AREAS FUND
FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING NATURAL AREAS PROGRAMMING NOT
INCLUDED IN THE 2009 ADOPTED CITY BUDGET AND AUTHORIZING
THE TRANSFER OF APPROPRIATIONS TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND
WHEREAS,the City is committed to preserving the integrity of natural areas and providing
educational, interpretive and appropriate recreational opportunities to the public; and
WHEREAS, Natural Areas programming implements open land conservation priorities
identified in the City's Comprehensive Plan by purchasing fee simple or conservation easement
interests in key natural areas,community separators,or other open lands;providing stewardship for
lands purchased; and developing trails and interpretive features for public use; and
WHEREAS,the Natural Areas program is funded primarily through the collection of Open
Space - Yes sales and use tax revenue, revenues from the Larimer County Help Preserve Open
Spaces Initiative, proceeds from the issuance of Certificates of Participation in 2004, investment
earnings, and other miscellaneous revenues; and
WHEREAS,Natural Areas Fund has unspent and unencumbered appropriations from 2008
in the amount of$4,705,000; and
WHEREAS, Article V, Section 11 of the City Charter requires that all appropriations
unexpended or unencumbered at the end of the fiscal year lapse to the applicable general or special
revenue fund, except that appropriations for capital projects and federal or state grants do not lapse
until the completion of the capital project or until the expiration of the federal or state grant; and
WHEREAS,Article V,Section 9 of the City Charter permits the City Council to appropriate
by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year such funds for expenditure as may be available from
reserves accumulated in prior years, notwithstanding that such reserves were not previously
appropriated; 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.
WHEREAS, City staff recommends appropriating from prior year reserves in the Natural
Areas Fund the unexpended and unencumbered appropriations totaling $4,705,000 to be used for
acquisition,construction,enhancement and maintenance of trail systems,wildlife habitat and other
natural areas to benefit the citizens of the City; and
WHEREAS,City staff also recommends that$91,500 of the unexpended and unencumbered
appropriations of$4,705,000 should be transferred to the Capital Projects Fund - Robert Benson
Dam Project for the design and reconstruction of the dam at Pelican Marsh.
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 prior year reserves in
the Natural Areas Fund the sum of FOUR MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED FIVE THOUSAND
DOLLARS ($4,705,000)to be used for acquisition,construction, enhancement and maintenance of
trail systems, wildlife habitat and other natural areas to benefit the citizens of the City.
Section 2. That the unexpended appropriated amount of NINETY-ONE THOUSAND
FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($91,500) is hereby authorized for transfer from the Natural Areas
Fund to the Capital Projects Fund—Robert Benson Dam Project for appropriation therein to be used
for the design and reconstruction of the Benson Reservoir Dam at Pelican Marsh.
Introduced,considered favorably on first reading,and ordered published this 2nd day of June,
A.D. 2009, and to be presented for final passage on the 7th day of July, A.D. 2009.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on the 7th day of July, A.D. 2009.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk