HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 09/17/2002 - RESOLUTION 2002-090 EXPRESSING THE COUNCIL'S SUPPO AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 33
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL DATE: September 17, 2002FROM
Michelle Pawar
SUBJECT:
Resolution 2002-090 Expressing the Council's Support For the Allocation of Funds Within the
Natural Areas Program for Operations and Maintenance Through 2021, as well as for Acquisition
of Community Separators and for Other Land Conservation Opportunities.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This Resolution expresses the Council's support for the allocation of natural areas program tax
revenues to long-term operations and maintenance through 2021, and to acquisition of community
separators and other land conservation activities.
Based on City Council direction from study session discussions on April 9, 2002, and August 27,
2002, Natural Resources Department staff has prepared a long term funding plan that will provide
stewardship (operations and maintenance) of the City's Natural Areas through 2021. This
stewardship period is three years past the expiration of the Latimer County Help Preserve Open
Spaces ("HPOS") tax in 2018.
The use of the projected tax revenues for operations and maintenance only through 2021 allows for
the use of remaining funds in the approximate amount of $16 million (in 2002 dollars) for other
purposes. The Council directed staff to include in its long-term funding plan the use of these
remaining funds for the acquisition of community separators and for other land conservation
opportunities. At its August 27 study session, Council directed staff to prepare a resolution
documenting the Council's support for this long-term plan for allocation of funds in the Natural
Areas program.
RESOLUTION 2002-090
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
EXPRESSING THE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT FOR
THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS WITHIN THE NATURAL AREAS PROGRAM
FOR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE THROUGH 2O21, AS WELL AS FOR
THE ACQUISITION OF COMMUNITY SEPARATORS AND FOR
OTHER LAND CONSERVATION OPPORTUNITIES
WHEREAS, the City currently receives tax revenues for use for natural areas and related
purposes from one-quarter cent of Building Community Choices sales and use taxes ("BCC"), in
effect from 1997 through 2005; and
WHEREAS, the City also currently receives tax revenues for use for natural areas and
related purposes from Latimer County through the County's "Help Preserve Open Spaces" sales and
use tax ("HPOS"), in effect from 2000 through 2018; and
WHEREAS, staff has presented to the City Council for its consideration at study sessions on
April 9, 2002, and August 27, 2002, various proposals for the long-term use of funds to be received
from the BCC and HPOS taxes (the "Tax Revenues"), including options for the time period during
which operations and maintenance of natural areas ("stewardship") would be funded; and
WHEREAS, based on direction received from the City Council at its April 9 study session,
City staff prepared a funding plan to identify funds for operations and maintenance of City natural
areas for a period extending three years beyond the expiration of the HPOS tax in 2018, that is,
through 2021; and
WHEREAS, the City Council further directed staff to prepare the long-term funding plan so
as to designate a portion of the Tax Revenues, consisting of approximately $16 million (in 2002
dollars), that might otherwise be available for operations and maintenance after 2021, to instead be
used for the acquisition of community separators and for other land conservation projects; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has acknowledged that unless and until the Natural Areas
Policy Plan is approved by the Council in a form that identifies the acquisition of community
separators as a program objective, it is the Council's intent that only BCC funds shall be used for
such acquisitions; and
WHEREAS, at its August 27 study session, the City Council requested that staff prepare a
resolution for Council consideration documenting the Council's support of the above-described
allocation of the Tax Revenues for operations and maintenance of natural areas through 2021, and
for the acquisition of community separators and for other land conservation projects.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS that it is the intent of the City Council that the Tax Revenues be allocated and expended
so as to:
A. Provide for the operation and maintenance of City natural areas for a period
extending three years beyond the expiration of the HPOS tax through 2021;
and
B. Provide that a portion of the Tax Revenuess, consisting of approximately $16
million (in 2002 dollars), that might otherwise be available for operations and
maintenance after 2021, shall instead be used for the acquisition of
community separators and for other land conservation projects; and
C. Apply only BCC revenues to the acquisition of community separators unless
and until such time as the Natural Areas Policy Plan is approved by the
Council in a form that identifies the acquisition of community separators as a
program objective.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 17th
day of September, A.D. 2002.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk