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Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 04/15/2003 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 064, 2003, AUTHORIZ AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 17 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL DATE: April 15, 2003 STAFF: Craig Foreman SUBJECT: First Reading of Ordinance No. 064, 2003, Authorizing the Acceptance of a Donation of a Trail Right-of-Way from Lafarge West, Inc., and Appropriating Unanticipated Revenue in the Conservation Trust Fund For the Laporte Trail Connection. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The property acquisition is a donation from Lafarge West, Inc. The value of the property is estimated to be $1,875. Maintenance costs for the trail are budgeted into approved budgets. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City's Parks and Recreation Policy Plan shows a planned extension of the Poudre River Trail to Laporte. The extension would start at the present west end of the Poudre River Trail at Taft Hill Road. The trail would follow the rail line northwest to the Hyde Natural Area and then across the Poudre River and under Overland Trail Road to Lions Park. This would be the end of the City's trail system and would connect to future Latimer County trails. The trail will allow for a safe off-street connection between Fort Collins and Laporte for non- motorized travelers. The trail route would be a safe and enjoyable connection between the communities. Efforts to make this trail connection a reality began in about 1985 with staff contacting landowners and exploring various trail routes. The conversion of the Colorado Southern Railroad to a "Rails-to-Trails" route gave considerable emphasis to the project. The rail line created a trail corridor of nearly one-mile in length west of Taft Hill Road. Lafarge West, Inc. is generously granting the last piece of the trail right-of-way for the trail. This segment allows for the trail to connect from Taft Hill Road west to the rail line. Also, the right-of-way includes the north 47-feet of the rail line right-of-way(see attached map). April 15, DATE: ITEM NUMBER: Lafarge West, Inc. is also contributing an amount up to $45,000 toward the cost for the construction of a trail underpass/mining operation overpass. The total cost of the structure is estimated at about $90,000. This structure will allow for safe passage of trail users as heavy equipment and gravel pass overhead. The structure will be located west of Taft Hill Road and be very similar in style to the existing structure located on the trail east of Taft Hill Road. The City has acquired the 100-foot wide rail line right-of-way west of the Lafarge West, Inc. property from willing sellers (Hodgson, Trieber and Hilt) over the previous years. The City acquired the Hyde Natural Area in 1996. This area is an important natural area property while also providing key access from the rail line to the trail easement west of the natural area. The City acquired an important easement for the trail west of the Hyde Natural Area from the Mr. and Mrs. Gary Delehoy family in 2000. The City purchased land for the trail adjacent to Lions Park from the Mr. and Mrs. Jim Brinks family in 2001. The trail land acquisition shows a strong community interest in the trail system from a commercial business (Lafarge West, Inc.), private landowners and potential trail users in Laporte who support the trail. A raised trail section along the Poudre River and a portion of the Hyde Natural Area will protect sensitive vegetation in the area. Additional funding from the Natural Areas Funds will help to make this trail adjustment financially possible. Construction is planned to begin on the trail this summer with completion scheduled for late 2003 or early 2004. . ORDINANCE NO. 064, 2003 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A DONATION OF A TRAIL RIGHT-OF WAY FROM LAFARGE WEST, INC., AND APPROPRIATING UNANTICIPATED REVENUE IN THE CONSERVATION TRUST FUND FOR THE LAPORTE TRAIL CONNECTION WHEREAS,the current Parks and Recreation Policy Plan,adopted by City Council in 1996, identifies trails that link Fort Collins to surrounding communities, including Laporte; and WHEREAS, the City's Parks and Recreation Policy plan identifies the extension of the Poudre River Trail to Laporte as an important component of the City's trail system; and WHEREAS,the Laporte Area Planning Commission and residents of the Laporte area have expressed support for the trail as a nedded recreation facility and as a pedestrian/bike friendly route to access Fort Collins; and WHEREAS,the trail connection will start on the west side of Taft Hill Road where the trail will follow the abandoned rail line north and west until it enters the Hyde Natural Area and then will continue west, cross the Poudre River, go under the north abutment of the Overland Trail Road Bridge and terminate at Lions Park; and • WHEREAS,the trail will be 10-foot wide concrete with an adjacent 5-foot wide gravel path to allow for safe usage by walkers, runners,bikes and rollerblades; and WHEREAS,Lafarge West,Inc.,wishes to donate a right-of-way that includes the north 47- feet of the rail line as indicated in Exhibit "A", attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference (the "Property"); and WHEREAS, the value of the Property is estimated to be$1,875; and WHEREAS,staff has determined that the donation of the Property by Lafarge West,Inc.will assist the City in meeting its goals for developing a trail system; and WHEREAS, Lafarge West, Inc., will contribute up to $45,000 towards the cost of the construction of a trail underpass/mining operation overpass; and WHEREAS,construction is planned to begin in 2003 with completion scheduled for late in 2003 or early 2004; and WHEREAS,Article V,Section 9,of the Charter of the 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 of such 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 donated land and contribution toward construction,as described herein,will not cause the total amount appropriated in the relevant funds to exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received in that fund during the fiscal year; and WHEREAS,it is the desire of the Council to authorize the acceptance of the donation of the Property from Lafarge West, Inc., and to appropriate $1,875 of unanticipated revenue in the form of a donation of land and up to$45,000 in cash or in-kind contributions towards construction of the trail underpass/mining operation overpass in the Conservation Trust Fund. NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the City Council hereby approves and authorizes the acceptance by the Mayor of a deed of conveyance of the Property for trail purposes. Section 2. That there is hereby appropriated for expenditure from unanticipated revenue in the Conservation Trust Fund Laporte Trail Connection Capital Project the sum of ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($1,875)for Conservation Trust Fund purposes. Section 3. That there is hereby appropriated for expenditure from unanticipated revenue in the Conservation Trust Fund Laporte Trail Connection Capital Project an amount not to exceed FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($45,000), upon receipt from Lafarge West, Inc., for Conservation Trust Fund purposes. Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 15th day of April,A.D. 2003, and presented for final passage on the 6th day of May, A.D. 2003. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk • Passed and adopted on final reading this 6th day of May, A.D. 2003. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk i LOCATIONSKETCH Hyde Natural Area • Poudre River City Property • Proposed Trail v 0 a Railroad Centerline Lafarge West,Inc. F Chain Link Fence Location Chain Link Fence Location Potential Location of Mining Road and Conveyor Trail Donation Land Overpass/frail Underpass City Property No Scale I LOCATION SKETCH I LAFARGE WEST INC. PROPERTY S00'48'45"W S 1/4 CDR 120.52' 33-8-69 i I I S88.59'05"E---- 169.87' TPOB 1 I S88'59'05"E . 90.06' S55'15'43"E I 204.72' Z I C100'RRR ROWFORMER I ` N TS i NOVEMBER 1, 2002 i Try THIS SKETCH AND THE AREAS SHOWN DEPICT THE ATTACHED ryryb I j PROPERTY DESCRIPTION ONLY, I i AND 00 NOT REPRESENT A MONUMENTED BOUNDARY SURVEY. P� yy NORTH EASTERLY LINE OF FORMER ate' '100 RR ROW I f ry� I I Vp .,h � 2yh I NORTH LINE i ! SE 1/4, NE 1/4 4-7-69 I SO• � I I I TRACT TO BE DEEDED I 0 CITY OF FORT COWNS 60.00' NORTH OF i 3.571 ACRES NORTH LINE SE 1/4, NE 1/4 4-7-69 h m z-ro [nA If�p I WEST ROW I(I1N NE 1/4, m ^;�TAFT HILL RD I SE 8-6 I SE 1/4, NE 1/4 I f /33-8-69 4-7-69