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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 04/02/2002 - POSTPONEMENT OF SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 04 9 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL DATE: April 2, 2002 a- FROM: Craig Foreman SUBJECT : Postponement of Second Reading of Ordinance No. 045, 2002, Authorizing a Grant Agreement with Colorado State Parks and Appropriating Unanticipated Revenue in the Conservation Trust Fund Trail Acquisition and Development Project to April 16, 2002. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends postponing consideration of the Ordinance on Second Reading to April 16, 2002, EXECUTIVE: SUMMARY: The City's Parks and Recreation Policy Plan identifies the extension of the Poudre River Trail to Laporte as an important extension of the City's trail system. Efforts to build this trail have been ongoing since 1985. Recent key right-of-way acquisitions enable the City to build the trail in 2002-2003. This Ordinance, which was unanimously adopted on First Reading on March 19, 2002, authorizes the Mayor to enter into a grant agreement with Colorado State Parks and appropriate the $90,000 grant for this trail project. Park Planning and Development staff will review the project with the Natural Resources Advisory Board on April 3, 2002. Second Reading of this item is being postponed to April 16, so the Natural Resources Advisory Board can further review the project and provide Council with its recommendations for the project. AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 13 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL DATE: March 19, 2002 STAFF: Craig Foreman SUBJECT: First Reading of Ordinance No. 045, 2002, Authorizing a Grant Agreement with Colorado State Parks and Appropriating Unanticipated Revenue in the Conservation Trust Fund Trail Acquisition and Development Project. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the adoptik ,,kina)n the o first Rea g. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The City of Fort Collins has been awarded a grant of $90,000 from Colorado State Parks for the development of the Poudre Trail from Taft Hill Road to Lions Park in Laporte. The total project cost for the 1.5-mile trail is es' ' at is lable for the City's share of the project in the Conservat' Tru athep i an es receiving a Great Outdoors . Colorado Legacy grant of$3 000 on compl and which will be used to offset City appropriated funds. i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The C;ity's Parks and Recreation Policy Plan identifies the extension of the Poudre River Trail to j Laporte as an important extension of the Ci 's trails stem. Efforts to build this trail have been ongoing since 1985. Recent ri t- -wa ist n na a the City to build the trail in 2002-2003. The Parks and Recreation Policy an (adop ed by rty Counct m 1996) identifies trails that link Fort Collins to surrounding communities, including Laporte. The Laporte Area Planning Commission supports the trail connection. Residents of the Laporte area have expressed support for the trail as a needed recreation facility and as a pedestrian/bike friendly route to access Fort Collins. Existing roads in the area have very limited shoulders and create safety concerns for pedestrian or bicycle use. The Poudre Trail presently ends at Taft Hill Road. The Laporte Trail connection will start on the west side of Taft Hill Road where the trail will follow the abandoned rail line north and west for . about 3/4 of a mile. At this point, the trail will enter the Hyde Natural Area. The trail right-of- way along the rail line will be nearly 100-feet in width and will allow for the trail to meander and provides room for landscaping. t DATE: March 19, 2002 2 ITEM NUMBER. 13 The trail will enter the Hyde Natural Area and will be located along the south and west edge of the natural area to minimize disturbance to the 20-acre site. The City was able to purchase the Hyde Natural Area through a funding partnership between Park Planning and the Natural Resources Department. Trail funding in the amount of $60,000 was added to the Natural Resources funding to accomplish the acquisition. The site provides an important link for the trail from the rail line to private land adjacent to Overland Trail Road. From the Hyde Natural Area, the trail will cross the Poudre River from the south bank by means of trail bridges to the north bank. At this point, the main trail will go under the north abutment of the Overland Trail Road Bridge and terminate at Lions Parks. Access from Overland Trail Road will be made to the trail o si e I The trail will be 10-foot wide oncrete ith Pj 5-fo ide gravel path. The trail width will allow for safe usage by w n tkoll es. The trail will also be ADA accessible. The gravel path will be available for walkers, runners, bikes, and equestrian use. The concrete and gravel trails allow for users to"spread out' and minimize conflicts. The Parks and Recreation Board reviewed the Laporte Trail Connection, and expressed support for the trail. Minutes of the February 27, 2002 Board meeting are attached. By adopting this Ordinance, Council authorizes the Mayor to enter into a grant agreement with Colorado State Parks and appro e e 000 t fo s project. COPYI I i i I I