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Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 02/20/2007 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 031, 2007 APPROPRIA ITEM NUMBER: 17 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: February 20, 2007 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: John Stokes SUBJECT First Reading of Ordinance No. 031, 2007 Appropriating Prior Year Reserves in the Natural Areas Fund for the Purpose of Providing Natural Areas Programming Not Included in the 2007 Adopted City Budget. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. FINANCIAL IMPACT Reappropriating these monies does not affect the projected year-end reserve balances because, for budgetary purposes, all appropriated monies are considered spent when estimating reserves prior to completion of audited numbers. This action will also appropriate unanticipated revenue received within the Natural Areas Fund including, Latimer County Help Preserve Open Space(Open Space) sales tax revenue, interest earnings, proceeds from the sale of property, and other miscellaneous revenue. Monies to be reappropriated by this Ordinance are as follows: Land Conservation $1,165,695 2004 Certificates of Participation (Land Conservation) $2,638,295 Resource Management $1,122,255 Public Improvements $1,007,587 Facility Operations $ 665,820 Education $ 3,870 Total $6,603,522 Unanticipated Revenue to be appropriated: Sale of Property $ 900,781 Larimer County- Help Preserve Open Space Proceeds $ 288,084 Earnings on Investments $ 291,403 Other Rents, User Charges, Miscellaneous Revenue $ 38,545 Total $1,518,813 February 20, 2007 -2- Item No. 17 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of the previously appropriated funds remains the same,that being for land conservation, construction of parking lots, fences and trails,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 did not lapse from year to year. During 2004,in order to comply with the Governmental Accounting Standards Board,Natural Area appropriations and funding sources were all moved into the Natural Area Fund, a lapsing fund. The Natural Areas Fund is funded from several sources of revenue, including Open Space - Yes sales and use tax, Larimer County-Help Preserve Open Space sales tax proceeds, and the issuance of the 2004 Certificates of Participation (COP). Land Conservation - $1,165,695. The balance of unspent BCC and County Help Preserve Open Space appropriations, totaling$1,165,695, is to be used for natural area land conservation. 2004 COPS-$2,638,295. This amount represents the remaining amount of the 2004 COP proceeds as well as the investment earnings to date. These funds will be used for land conservation. Resource Management - $1,122,255. This amount represents the amount of restoration work that was started in 2006 and continues into 2007 for natural areas parcels being restored to native vegetation. Major projects include: flood control improvements and restoration at Riverbend Ponds; design and reconstruction of the Benson Reservoir dam at Pelican Marsh; and major restoration at four other natural areas. Public Improvements—$1,007,587. This amount represents amounts for improvements started in 2006 and continuing into 2007. The scope of improvements include: Prospect Road - trail and fencing; parking lot at Running Deer Natural Area; design and construction of an access road at Soapstone; construction of the parking lot and remodeling of the Primrose Studio at Reservoir Ridge; and trail maintenance. Facility Operations - $665,820. Represents amounts budgeted in 2006 for facility operations that were not completed in 2006. Improvements include: restoration of the Nix Bam; construction of the Ranger house at Bobcat Ridge; and the design and remodeling of an historic farm house at Nix for additional office space. Education - $3,870. The Natural Areas program received a $10,000 grant from REI through the Community Foundation to be used for stewardship activities at Pineridge Natural Area, including public improvements to trails and transportation in education. These unspent 2006 dollars,totaling $3,870, are requested for re-appropriation for educational and volunteer projects in 2007. ORDINANCE NO. 031, 2007 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 2007 ADOPTED CITY BUDGET WHEREAS,the City is committed to conserving natural areas in a manner that protects their integrity,while 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 City's 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, fees from royalties, investment earnings, and other miscellaneous revenues received; and WHEREAS, Natural Areas Fund appropriations totaled $17,772,820 in 2006 and expenditures/encumbrances totaled$11,169,298,which left abalance of unspent and unencumbered appropriations totaling$6,603,522; and WHEREAS, Article V, Section 11, of the Charter of the City of Fort Collins ("Charter") requires that all appropriations unexpended or unencumbered at the end of the fiscal year shall lapse to the applicable general or special revenue fund,except that appropriations for capital projects and federal or state grants shall not lapse until the completion of the capital project or until the expiration of the federal or state grant; and WHEREAS,actual 2006 revenues collected in the Natural Areas Fund,totaling$1,518,813 and which were not appropriated in 2006, are in prior year reserves of the Natural Areas Fund as of December 31, 2006; and WHEREAS,Article V, Section 9, of the 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, City staff recommends appropriating from prior year reserves in the Natural Areas Fund the aforementioned unexpended and unencumbered appropriations totaling$6,603,522, and the unappropriated revenues received in 2006 totaling $1,518,813, 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, it is the desire of the Council to appropriate the aforementioned total of $8,122,255 from prior year reserves and unspent and unencumbered appropriations in the Natural Areas Fund 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. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS that there is hereby appropriated for expenditure from prior year reserves in the Natural Areas Fund the sum ofEIGHT MILLION ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($8,122,335) 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. Introduced and considered favorably on first reading and ordered published this 20th day of February, A.D. 2007, and to be presented for final passage on the 6th day of March, A.D. 2007. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading this 6th day of March, A.D. 2007. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk