HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 03/19/2002 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 045, 2002, AUTHORIZ 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 adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading.
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 estimated at $700,000. Funding is available for the City's share of
the project in the Conservation Trust Fund. The City anticipates receiving a Great Outdoors
Colorado Legacy grant of$310,000 once the project is complete and which will be used to offset
City appropriated funds.
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.
The Parks and Recreation Policy Plan (adopted by City Council in 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.
DATE: maren i7=7 2
ITEM NUMBER: 1.3
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 on each side of the road.
The trail will be 10-foot wide concrete with an adjacent 5-foot wide gravel path. The trail width
will allow for safe usage by walkers, runners, bikes, and rollerblades. 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 appropriate the $90,000 grant for this trail project.
ORDINANCE NO. 045, 2002
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AUTHORIZING
A GRANT AGREEMENT WI TH COLORADO STATE PARKS AND
APPROPRIATING UNANTICIPATED REVENUE
IN THE CONSERVATION TRUST FUND TRAIL ACQUISITION
AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
WHEREAS, the 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 needed 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 where the
trail 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,the total cost for the 1.5 mile trail connection on the Poudre Trail from Taft Hill
Road to Lions Park in Laporte is estimated at $700,000; and
WHEREAS, the City was awarded a grant of $90,000 from Colorado State Parks for
developing a trail connection on the Poudre Trail from Taft Hill Road to Lions Park in Laporte; and
WHEREAS,the remaining$610,000 needed for the City's share of the project for developing
the trail connection on the Poudre Trail from Taft Hill Road to Lions Park is already appropriated
and available in the Conservation Trust Fund; and
WHEREAS,the intergovernmental agreement proposed by Colorado State Parks for the grant
requires that any lands used for this Project will not be converted to any non-recreational use with
out prior written approval of the State; and
WHEREAS, the proposed grant agreement further requires that work on the project must
begin within one calendar year of the effective date of the agreement,or the grant can be terminated;
and
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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, do 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 Colorado State Parks
Grant funds 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 during any fiscal
year; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Council to appropriate the sum of$90,000 in Colorado
State Parks Grant funds in the Conservation Trust Fund to be used in developing a trail connection
on the Poudre Trail from Taft Hill Road to Lions Park in Laporte.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the Mayor is hereby authorized to enter into an intergovernmental agreement
with Colorado State Parks for the receipt of Colorado State Parks Grant funds to be used for the
development of a trail connection on the Poudre Trail from Taft Hill Road to Lions Park in Laporte
consistent with the terms of this Ordinance,together with such additional terms or conditions as the
City Manager, in consultation with the City Attorney,deems appropriate or necessary to protect the
interests of the City.
Section 2. That there is hereby appropriated for expenditure from unanticipated revenue in
the Conservation Trust Fund, Trail Acquisition and Development project the sum of NINETY
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($90,000) from Colorado State Parks to be used in developing a trail
connection on the Poudre Trail from Taft Hill Road to Lions Park in Laporte.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading and ordered published this 19th day of
March, A.D. 2002 and to be presented for final passage on the 2nd day of April, A.D. 2002.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading this 2nd day of April, A.D. 2002.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
LA PORTE
Lions Park
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PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
Minutes of
Regular Meeting—February 27,2002
215 North Mason
Community Room
5:30 p.m.
Council Liaison: Bill Bertschy Staff Liaison: Marty Heffernan, 224-6064
President: Lance Freeman Phone: 491-7813 work 484-6789 ome
Call Meeting to Order: President Lance Freeman called the Regular meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.
Agenda Review: No changes to the printed Agenda.
Items of Note: Board Member Ross Cunniff called to say that he would be out of town on a
business trip and would not be able to attend tonight's meeting.
Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Mike Gavin, seconded by Mary Carlson,the minutes of
the January 23, 2002 meeting were unanimously(7-0) approved.
Sheldon Lake Improvements
Craig Foreman reported that the Wilkins Trust donated $175,000 to the City for additional
improvements to Sheldon Lake for construction of a boardwalk around the lake, shoreline
improvements, and irrigation improvements. The Elks Club has also been awarded $125,000 for
this project, which will pay for materials. A portion of the project funds will be allocated toward
the purchase of paddleboats for the recreation boating program at Sheldon Lake. The Elks will assist
City staff with the design and implementation of the project. The Elks will donate their time and
labor to help construct the boardwalk. If there is money left over, the Wilkins Trust requested the
extra money be used to upgrade City Park Center.
Mike Gavin asked if the Boardwalk will be affected by the City Park Pool renovation? Craig said
that will all be considered in the plan. He said the Boardwalk will be a good addition to City Park.
Marty talked about pressure treated lumber and how we will build the decking with non-toxic
material. A railing will be constructed around the boardwalk for safety purposes.
Lance asked about the Master Basin Drainage Plan and how would that relate to the project at City
Park? Craig said that the Canal Importation Basin Master Drainageway Plan on the Mulberry
Parks and Recreation Board Minutes
February 27,2002
Page 2
Corridor will impact City Park, Sheldon Lake and the golf course starting this fall (October). The
stormwater travels down the irrigation canal, overflows the banks, and spreads out north and south
of Mulberry. Heavy stormwaters are not contained in Sheldon Lake. The project will build a
detention pond at the 6' fairway on City Park Nine. This would include a two-phase project with
Sheldon Lake rehabilitation fast taking the lake down 18 to 20 inches and then Phase 2 would be
the project on the golf course. With a 100-year event, the water would drain off the golf course
within 24 hours after the storm and drain into Sheldon Lake. This would eliminate flooding on
Mountain Avenue and Oak Street. Originally, when Stormwater staff spoke to the Board (October
2000), it was thought that this project would not start until 2006-2008, however, it has moved up on
the schedule to this fall
Lance would like the Stormwater personnel to attend our Board meeting to explain the schedule and
the impact on the park. Marty said he has reminded the staff that they need to restore the park to its
present state.
Paul Hudnut asked about the water quality of the lake? Marty explained that the bubble is working
and the water quality is improving.
Poudre River Trail/LaPorte Connection
Craig explained that the Poudre River Trail presently ends at Taft Hill. In the Parks and Recreation
Master Plans (1974 and 1988),both plans showed the Poudre Trail connecting to the Foothills Trail.
In the 1990's the rail line was abandoned and we have been purchasing property for the trail since
then. We purchased most of the rail line right-of-way. Trail funding was used to help purchase
Hyde Natural Area, which was purchased with Natural Resources. We have now purchased the last
piece of property that will extend the trail to Lyons Park (west of Overland Trail). This section of
trail will be under construction this year and we will open the trail to Laporte by next year. The
Laporte Planning Commission is very excited about this project. It has taken since 1985 to 2002 to
acquire all the pieces of property. We received some grants and Lottery funding will be used for the
project,which will cost approximately$750,000. The Youth Corp will assist by adding crusher fine
gravel next to the concrete trail. Marty added that we have issues relating to the floodplain in the
area near Lions Park that we will mitigate.
Paul Hudnut said that the Natural Resources Advisory Board felt they were overlooked on this
project. They want to look at the impact on the Hyde Natural Area. Craig explained the project to
the Trails Subcommittee at a recent meeting. A field trip to the trail site is planned for this spring
with Board members.
Del asked what is beyond Lyons Park? Craig said that the County is planning a trail from Lyons
Park to the LaPorte School and then to Watson Lake. Paul Hudnut said he is glad this is coming to
fruition.
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