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Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 09/05/2006 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 129, 2006, APPROPRI ITEM NUMBER: 10 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: September 5, 2006 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Craig Foreman SUBJECT First Reading of Ordinance No. 129, 2006, Appropriating Unanticipated Revenue in the Capital Projects Fund - Water Craft Course Capital Project to be Used for a Feasibility Study, Design and Construction of a Water Craft Course Along a Section of the Cache La Poudre River Near the Old Power Plant. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. FINANCIAL IMPACT The estimated design and construction cost for phase one is $150,000. Funding for the course will be provided by private sources and sufficient funds to begin the design are currently available. Annual operation and maintenance costs are estimated at $1,000 to $1,500. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The vision of developing of a water craft course in the Downtown area at the Old Power Plant was identified in the Downtown River Corridor Implementation Plan ("DRCIP"). The DRCIP was adopted on July 18,2000. The course would be located in the area downstream of the North College Avenue Bridge to a take out area at the BNSF Railroad trestle. The DRCIP identified the need for a feasibility study prior to the development of the course. The project has come through the City's Preliminary Design Review. This Ordinance appropriates unanticipated revenue in the Capital Projects Fund to be used for a feasibility study, design and construction of a water craft course. BACKGROUND No water craft course exists in Latimer County. Many people currently drive to courses in Boulder, Lyons, Golden and Steamboat. The popularity of water craft courses in Colorado grows with every passing year. The course will add a recreational opportunity in the downtown area. The total length of the course from the North College Avenue Bridge to the railroad trestle is about 800 feet. Water craft passage is presently possible due to earlier work. The Coy Diversion was modified in the mid 1980's and a downstream boulder drop structure was installed in 1999 to create September 5, 2006 -2- Item No. 10 a water pool below the Coy Diversion. This pool creates a needed higher pool water surface elevation making the passage of water craft easier. The water craft course will require the installation of two boulder drop structures downstream to complete the course. A sandbar area under the railroad trestle has been identified as a good take out point. A gravel path will be constructed from this point along the Poudre River Trail for users to return to the starting point of the course. The first phase of the course includes the new drop structures, small gravel path and re-vegetation of the river banks. Future phases would involve improvements for better access and parking movement in the existing parking area and additional landscaping. The development of the course is scheduled to start in 2007 if the feasibility study, land ownership issues, FEMA requirements and design are completed in time for construction to occur when the river water flow is low. ATTACHMENTS 1. Location Map. 2. Concept Plan. ATTACHMENT LOCATION MAP Water Craft Course Location wSri ' PASCAL.Sr 0 CD On EVINE DR �a 100 Parcels Railroads Proiect Location Street Centerlines .l Rivers,Streams and !'• Ditches G, ■ Lakes and Bodies al 411 Water aO"yh r Old Power Plant City Limits g__ ST t ❑ Wdhn City LmWs Ix 41 MAPLE (% d} v Map waded wdh AnAMS-Copyrght Iq 1992-2006 ES1U Inc. �eee�6 � 3 LLI w Z N J W • a Q z o J _ p V N • • uJ z � Wyyy W - W U v • u_ Z CL N O 0 < • `' - . O O 1 � F F_C LU _ a ►is z W C 7 w N C V O\3/ 0 a DO J 0 m Z J V N c O V �'}„ ` =A' �� i�N ✓j" L` cz m " x ,y�,C z3 - FZ I • y/ _ • r F C ZY � C 4 C - V N i _ F C 0 � aA � = z 0 �4 Z F D d O Q 5 J w rZ LL ns z Z Z ~ kV - Fz az a \ z I 00 F- z �z v< vo � E:- - - hI Q 0 . � - - ' x g y " 2 C - O C„I e W O - On a � a r o Z ORDINANCE NO. 129, 2006 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS APPROPRIATING UNANTICIPATED REVENUE IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND - WATER CRAFT COURSE CAPITAL PROJECT TO BE USED FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A WATER CRAFT COURSE ALONG A SECTION OF THE CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER NEAR THE OLD POWER PLANT WHEREAS, water craft courses, also known as white water parks or play parks, are becoming more popular as a form of outdoor recreation; and WHEREAS, water craft courses are constructed through the use of channel enhancements which may include the use of river rocks and other natural materials added to a river channel to create a series of drop structures and pools; and WHEREAS, the vision for developing a water craft course along the Poudre River in the Downtown area was identified in the Downtown River Corridor Implementation Program (the "DRCIP"), approved by the City Council on July 18, 2000, through the adoption of Resolution 2000-095; and WHEREAS, the DRCIP is a plan of action for the area along the Poudre River near Downtown Fort Collins and is intended to coordinate the implementation of existing and new projects involving natural features, recreation, public infrastructure, historic resources, flood mitigation and development; and WHEREAS, the DRCIP also identified the need for a feasibility study to address issues associated with river channel enhancement projects, including cost, environmental impact, effects on wildlife, available water flow and gradient, and other issues; and WHEREAS,a downtown water craft course is proposed for an 800-foot stretch of the Poudre River from the North College Avenue bridge downstream to the site of the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe (`BNSF") Railroad trestle; and WHEREAS, this section of the Poudre River currently allows for water craft passage by means of the Coy Diversion, and a downstream boulder drop structure was installed in 1999 to create a water pool below the diversion, which allows for the easier passage of water craft; and WHEREAS,the scope of improvements needed to complete the proposed water craft course include the completion of a recreational river channel enhancements feasibility study, installation of two additional boulder drop structures,a gravel path from the take-out point along side the Poudre River Trail to the put-in point, and re-vegetation of the river banks (the "Project'); and WHEREAS, the estimated design and construction cost for the Project is $150,000; and WHEREAS, funding for the Project will come in the form of private sector contributions; and WHEREAS, development of the Project could start in 2007 if the feasibility study, land ownership issues,FEMA requirements, and design are completed in time for construction to occur, prior to the spring runoff; and WHEREAS,Under Article V,Section 9 of the Charter ofthe 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 ofsuch supplemental appropriations,in combination with all previous appropriations for that fiscal year,does not exceed the then current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received during the fiscal year; and WHEREAS, City staff has determined that the appropriation of the aforementioned private sector contributions will not cause the total amount appropriated in the Capital Projects Fund-Water Craft Course capital project 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 City Council to appropriate the sum of$150,000 in private sector funding,upon receipt,to be used to conduct a feasibility study and for design and construction of improvements associated with a Downtown Water Craft Course. 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 Capital Projects Fund - Water Craft Course capital project, the sum of ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS($150,000),upon receipt,from private sector contributions thereon to be used to conduct a feasibility study and for design and construction of improvements associated with a Downtown Water Craft Course. Introduced,considered favorably on first reading,this 5th day of September,A.D.2006,and to be presented for final passage on the 19th day of September, A.D. 2006. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading this 19th day of September, A.D. 2006. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk