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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 08/20/2002 - ITEMS RELATING TO THE CALLING OF A SPECIAL MUNICIP AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 14 A-C DATE: August 20, 2002 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Wanda Krajicek SUBJECT: Items Relating to the Calling of a Special Municipal Election to Be Held in Conjunction with the November 5, 2002 Larimer County General Election, and Placing a Proposed Charter Amendment and Citizen-Initiated Ordinance on Said Ballot. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution and the Ordinances on Second Reading. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: A. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 100, 2002, Calling a Special Municipal Election to be held in Conjunction with the November 5, 2002 Larimer County General Election. B. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 101,2002,Submitting to a Vote of the Registered Electors lip of the City of Fort Collins a Proposed Amendment to Article X of the City Charter, Pertaining to Initiative and Referendum. C. Resolution 2002-075 Submitting a Citizen-Initiated Ordinance to a Vote of the Registered Electors of the City at the Special Municipal Election of November 5, 2002. The City Clerk's Office received an initiative petition on June 24, 2002, which was determined to contain a sufficient number of signatures to place the initiated measure on a special election ballot. Ordinance No. 100,2002, which was unanimously adopted on First Reading on July 16,2002,calls a Special Municipal Election to be held in conjunction with the November 5, 2002 Latimer County General Election. Ordinance No. 101,2002,which was also unanimously adopted on First Reading on July 16, 2002, places a Charter amendment on the November 5, 2002 Special Election ballot. The City Clerk's Office certified the sufficiency of the initiative petition to the Council on July 16, 2002. Generally, upon presentation of an initiative petition certified as to sufficiency by the City Clerk, the Council must either adopt the proposed ordinance without alteration or submit the proposed measure in the form petitioned for, to the registered electors of the city. Because this particular proposed ordinance is subject to the election requirements of Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution (TABOR), the Council must submit the measure to the voters. Resolution 2002-075 submits the citizen-initiated ordinance to a voters at the November 5, 2002 Special Election, and sets the ballot language and submission clause. Any registered elector desiring to protest the proposed ballot title and/or submission clause pursuant to Section 7-156 of the City Code, lipmay do so by filing a written protest in the office of the City Clerk no later than 12:00 p.m. on Monday, August 19, 2002. RESOLUTION 2002- OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS SUBMITTING A CITIZEN-INITIATED ORDINANCE TO A VOTE OF THE REGISTERED ELECTORS OF THE CITY AT THE SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 5, 2002 WHEREAS, under Article X, Section 1 of the Charter of the City of Fort Collins, the registered electors of the city have the power to propose a measure to the Council,and if the Council fails to adopt a measure so proposed,then to adopt or reject such ordinance or resolution at the polls; and WHEREAS, an initiative petition relating to the continuation of the City's existing open space sales and use tax has been submitted to the City,and the City Clerk has certified said petition as sufficient for submission of the initiated ordinance to a vote of the people at a special municipal election; and WHEREAS, the City Clerk has presented said petition to the City Council as provided in Article X, Section 5(f)(4) of the City Charter; and WHEREAS, under Article X, Section l(e) of the City Charter, upon presentation of an initiative petition certified as to sufficiency by the City Clerk, the Council shall either adopt the citizen-initiated ordinance without alteration within thirty(30) days or submit said citizen-initiated ordinance in the form petitioned for,to the registered electors of the city at the next special municipal election to be held within one-hundred twenty (120) days, unless any other regular or special city election is to occur within said period,in which case the initiative measure shall be consolidated with such other election; and WHEREAS,Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution,requires that any proposed extension of an existing tax be submitted to a vote of the registered electors; and WHEREAS, heretofore, the Council has called a special municipal election to be held on November 5, 2002 in conjunction with the Latimer County General Election. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That there is hereby submitted to the registered electors of the City of Fort Collins at the Special Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday,November 5,2002, the following proposed citizen-initiated ordinance: • . CITIZEN-INITIATED ORDINANCE NO. 1,2002 CITIZENS' INITIATIVE TO CONTINUE THE CITY'S EXISTING OPEN SPACE SALES AND USE TAX WHEREAS,the citizens of Fort Collins have shown strong support to preserve and provide open space,natural areas, community separators,wildlife habitat,and trails for today and for the future; and WHEREAS,Fort Collins citizens currently enjoy the open spaces and natural areas;the recreation they provide, such as walking, hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, bird watching, and fishing; the educational opportunities and programs provided to people of all ages and backgrounds;and the beautiful landscapes and views they provide;and WHEREAS,open space,natural areas,wildlife habitat,community separators,agricultural lands,and trails are resources that benefit all members of the Fort Collins commtmity;and WHEREAS,Fort Collins is a rapidly growing city in one of the fastest growing counties in the United States,and its open lands are rapidly disappearing;and WHEREAS, land values in and around Fort Collins are quickly escalating;and WHEREAS, the City of Fort Collins has demonstrated the ability to acquire important lands responsibly; to leverage funds through Great Outdoors Colorado,and to partner with Larimer County,land trusts,private landowners,and other public and private entities;and WHEREAS,there is not enough existing funding to protect and preserve the desired open spaces,community separators, natural areas,wildlife habitat,and valued agricultural lands in and around Fort Collins. . NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. THAT for purposes of acquiring, operating, and maintaining open spaces, community separators, natural areas,wildlife habitat,riparian areas,wetlands,and valued agricultural lands,and providing for the appropriate use and enjoyment of these areas by the citizenry, the existing twenty-five one-hundredths (.25) percent sales and use tax authorized by Ordinance No. 29-1997 of the City Council of the City of Fort Collins and approved by the City of Fort Collins voters, be extended, for a period of twenty five(25) years, expiring at midnight on December 31, 2030 (the "Tax"). Section 2. THAT land conservation projects using revenues from the Tax shall be undertaken where there is an identifiable benefit to the residents of the City of Fort Collins as determined by the City Council,whether undertaken by the City of Fort Collins alone or in partnership with one or more entities. The projects shall be undertaken within the City of Fort Collins and its Growth Management Area boundary;in the areas between Fort Collins and the communities of Wellington,Windsor,Loveland,Timnath,Bellvue,and LaPorte;in the foothills west of Fort Collins;in the Poudre River corridor;and regionally. Section 3. THAT 100 percent(100%)of the proceeds from the Tax shall be deposited into the Sales and Use Tax Fund and shall be apportioned as follows: a) Not less than 80 percent (80%) of the total annual revenue of the Tax shall be used solely for Land Conservation Activities as defined herein. b) Not more than 20 percent(20%)of the total annual revenue of the Tax shall be used solely for Operations Activities and Maintenance Activities as defined herein. • Section 4. THAT"Land Conservation Activities"are herein defined to solely include the following: a) Acquiring interests in real property for the purposes of conserving and protecting open spaces,community separators,natural areas,wildlife habitat,riparian areas,wetlands,and valued agricultural lands. Acquiring interests in real property includes, without limitation, fee simple acquisition, acquisition of perpetual conservation or agricultural easements, and acquisition of development rights, whether alone or in cooperation with one or more entities; b) Acquiring or leasing water rights and water storage rights for the purpose of conserving, restoring, and maintaining conserved and protected lands,or if acquisition of interests in real property is contingent on acquisition of water rights; c) Acquiring subsurface rights,such as mineral(e.g. gravel)rights; d) Allowing expenditure of funds for joint projects between Larimer County, other municipalities, trusts, foundations,GOCO,or other public or private entities for the purpose of land conservation; e) Improving acquired lands by restoring and enhancing native plant and animal communities; f) Providing funds to the Natural Areas Enhancements grants program to protect,restore and enhance native plant and animal communities on private and publicly owned natural areas; g) Hiring land agents,as necessary,to act on behalf of the City of Fort Collins in negotiating contracts with the owners of such interests in real property;and h) Administering and directly supervising Land Conservation Activities as described in this section. i) Land Conservation Activities shall not include any activities defined herein as Operations Activities or Maintenance Activities. Section 5. THAT "Operations Activities" of conserved and protected lands is herein defined to solely include the following: a) Conducting educational and volunteer programs to involve citizens in the ownership of conserved and protected lands; b) Informing the public about City of Fort Collins open spaces and programs, such as producing and distributing newsletters,a website,and brochures; c) Providing public capital facilities to manage human usage of conserved lands, such as trails, fencing, wildlife viewing structures,restrooms,drinking water,trash receptacles,parking areas,signage,interpretive exhibits,or information displays; d) Developing, implementing and updating an overall program master plan, as well as site-specific management plans for conserved and protected lands; e) Administering the natural areas and land conservation programs, including on-going accounting,record keeping, scheduling, personnel management, interacting with the City Council and the citizens, and administering easement requests in accordance with the adopted natural areas easement policy; f) Law enforcement activities for the purpose of enforcing natural areas and open lands regulations and other applicable laws; g) Providing funds for Fort Collins transportation capital needs related to Land Conservation Activities,as outlined in Section 9;and h) Administering and directly supervising all Operations Activities described in this section. i) Operations Activities shall not include any activities defined herein as Land Conservation Activities or Maintenance Activities. Section 6. THAT"Maintenance Activities"of conserved and protected lands is herein defined to solely include the following: a) Controlling noxious weeds and invasive species and maintaining native vegetation and habitats; b) Repairing,cleaning,or replacing public capital facilities as described in Section 5,such as trails,fencing, wildlife viewing structures,restrooms,drinking water,trashreceptacles,parking areas,signage,interpretive exhibits,or information displays,and removing trash and debris; c) Controlling erosion and preventing soil loss due to natural causes or human impacts; d) Monitoring lands protected by less than fee simple acquisition at least annually, through the use of third parry land trusts,the City of Fort Collins,or other appropriate parties,to ensure lands are protected and maintained in accordance with the terms ofthe acquisition and adopted management plans and agreements. Except as otherwise expressly agreed,owners of properties protected by less than fee simple acquisition shall be responsible for maintaining all lands,structures,enhancements,and facilities in accordance with the adopted site-specific management plans and agreements;and e) Administering and directly supervising all Maintenance Activities described in this section. f) Maintenance Activities shall not include any activities defined herein as Operations Activities or Land Conservation Activities. Section 7. THAT all Land Conservation Activities as defined in Section 4 shall be accomplished by agreement with willing sellers. Section 8. THAT the City of Fort Collins shall expend moneys for Land Conservation Activities in a timely and expedient manner,seeking to avoid substantial escalation in costs of real property or the real property being no longer available, including, where appropriate, cooperating with land trusts and other public and private land conservation entities. Section 9. THAT not more than five percent (5%) of the total revenue of the Tax may be used for Fort Collins transportation capital needs,as provided in subsection 5g.Such revenue shall only be used for improvement of existing roads or acquisition of rights-of-way adjacent to property owned in fee simple by the City of Fort Collins that was acquired with the proceeds of this initiative. Such revenue shall not be used for such improvements or acquisitions adjacent to interests in real property that were acquired in whole or in part prior to January 1,2006;provided that such revenue may be used to address the impacts of only the portion of property acquired on or after January 1,2006 with the proceeds of this initiative. Acquisition of rights-of-way shall be at the fair market value of such right-of-way at the time such interest in real property was acquired by the City of Fort Collins. The equivalent of such fair market value of such right-of-way shall be transferred from the fund or account used for Operations Activities to the fund or account used for Land Conservation Activities. Section 10. THAT all revenues generated on open space,natural areas,wildlife habitat,and other Land Conservation Activities performed or acquired with the Tax shall be used for the purposes stated herein. Revenues generated from leasehold interests in real property shall subsequently be used for Land Conservation Activities. Section 11. THAT investment earnings on the revenues of the Tax shall be used for the purposes stated herein and apportioned as provided in Section 3. Section 12. THAT,except with the express approval of the City Council,(a)no interest in real property acquired with the revenues provided by the Tax may be sold,leased,traded,or otherwise conveyed,(b)nor may an exclusive license or permit on such interest in real property be given,(c)nor may the use of such interest in real property be converted to purposes other than those permitted hereby. Prior to such action, the proposed action shall be reviewed by the appropriate board,and a recommendation shall be forwarded to the City Council. Approval of the action may be given only by a majority vote of the members of City Council after a public hearing held with notice provided in accordance with the applicable law. Section 13. THAT, except as provided in Section 9, (a) if any real property or interest therein acquired by use of proceeds of the Tax pursuant to this initiative ever be sold,exchanged,transferred,leased or otherwise disposed of,the consideration for such sale,exchange,transfer,lease or disposition shall be deposited into a fund or account for Land Conservation Activities and be subject to the same expenditure and use restrictions as those set forth herein for the original proceeds of the Tax,including restrictions set forth in this Section;and (b)if any real property or interest therein acquired by use of proceeds of the Tax pursuant to Section 1 of this initiative shall ever be converted to purposes other than those described herein,the City of Fort Collins shall pay into a fund or account for Land Conservation Activities, from any legally available municipal moneys other than the Tax,the then estimated fair market value of such property, as determined by an appraisal. Section 14. THAT the City of Fort Collins is authorized to adopt such uniform rules,regulations,and ordinances as may be necessary for the administration and enforcement of this initiative in a manner consistent with the language herein; and that the City Council or its authorized representatives are hereby empowered to enter into and execute on behalf of the City of Fort Collins any agreements necessary for the administration and enforcement of this initiative in a manner consistent with the language herein. Section 15. THAT the City Council shall designate a voluntary City Advisory Board,either existing or new,to advise and make recommendations to the City Council regarding the expenditure of moneys for the purposes stated herein. Section 16. THAT the City of Fort Collins shall prepare for review by the appropriate board(s) and City Council quarterly financial reports to include revenues,expenditures,and balances in the applicable funds or accounts,and any other appropriate related accounts,and shall prepare a report to the public annually regarding the use of the revenues derived from the Tax. Section 17. THAT the full amount of revenues, and any investment earnings thereon, derived from the Tax may be retained and expended by the City ofFort Collins,notwithstanding any state revenue or expenditure limitations including, without limitation,those contained in Article X,Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution. Section 1 S. THAT,when the Tax expires at midnight on December 31,2030,all moneys remaining from the proceeds of this initiative shall continue to be expended for the purposes set forth herein until completely exhausted, and on December 31,2033,any funds remaining in a fund or account for Operations Activities and Maintenance Activities,as defined herein,shall be transferred to a fund or account for Land Conservation Activities,as defined herein. Section 19. THAT this initiative shall become effective at 12:01 a.m.January 1,2006. Section 2. That the foregoing proposed citizen-initiated ordinance is hereby submitted to the registered electors of the City of Fort Collins at said special municipal election in substantially the following form: CITY OF FORT COLLINS BALLOT ISSUE _ CITIZEN-INITIATED ORDINANCE TO CONTINUE THE CITY'S EXISTING OPEN SPACE SALES AND USE TAX Shall there be an extension of the existing City of Fort Collins 0.25%sales and use tax for trail systems,wildlife habitat,natural areas and certain park projects,which was authorized by voter-approved Ordinance No. 29, 1997, and which is presently scheduled to expire December 31, 2005, with such tax to be extended through December 31,2030, and with all revenue generated by such tax after December 31, 2005, to be used to acquire, operate and maintain open spaces, community separators, natural areas, wildlife habitat, riparian areas, wetlands and valued agricultural lands and to provide for the appropriate use and enjoyment of these areas by the citizenry, through land conservation projects to be undertaken where there is an identifiable benefit to the residents of the City,as determined by the City Council, either within the City or its Growth Management Area or regionally, provided that: • Not less than 80%of the total annual revenue generated by the • tax would be used solely for"land conservation activities"; and Not more than 20%of such total annual revenue would be used for"operations activities" and"maintenance activities"related to those land conservation activities; and further provided that all such land conservation activities would be accomplished by agreement with willing sellers;and that the full amount ofrevenues derived from such extended tax, and any investment earnings thereon, may be collected and expended by the City, notwithstanding any state revenue or expenditure limitations,including,without limitation,those contained in Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, all in accordance with citizen-initiated Ordinance No. 1, 2002? YES NO • Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 20th day of August, A.D. 2002. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 20 10 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL DATE: July 16, 2002STAFF• Wanda Krajicek SUBJECT: Items Relating to the Calling of a Special Municipal Election to Be Held in Conjunction with the November 5, 2002 Latimer County General Election, and Placing a Proposed Charter Amendment on Said Ballot. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption o e Or i ces st Readin EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: A. Presentation of a Petition Relating to Citizen-Initiated Ordinance No. 1, 2002 (Which Continues the City's Exi pe e T Certified by the City Clerk as Sufficient for Placeme on a ial E t' . to B. First Reading of Ordin . 1 2 ling a 'al Municipal Election to be held in Conjunction with the November 5, 2002 Larimer County General Election. C. First Reading of Ordinance No. 101, 2002, Submitting to a Vote of the Registered Electors of the City of Fort Collins a Proposed Amendment to Article X of the City Charter, Pertaining to Initiative and Referendum The City Clerk's Office received an initiative petition on June 24,2002, which has been determined to contain a sufficient number of si natures to lace the initiated measure on a special election ballot. Ordinance No. 100, 2002, ca a Sp Mu * i t t e held in conjunction with the November 5, 2002 Larimer C my Ge al El i din No. 101, 2002, places a Charter amendment on the November 200 cial a on ballot. he proposed Charter amendment was considered by the Council Governance omrmttee on Apri 7, 2002. BACKGROUND: Citizen Initiative The City Clerk's Office has certified a sufficient number of signatures on an initiative petitions received on June 24, 2002. Under Article X of the City Charter, 3,112 signatures of registered electors (at least 15% of the total ballots cast in the last regular City election) are required to place an initiative on a special election ballot. Generally, upon presentation of an initiative petition certified as to sufficiency by the City Clerk, the Council must either adopt the proposed ordinance without alteration or submit the proposed measure in the form petitioned for, to the registered DATE: July 16, 2002 2 I ITEM NUMBER: 20 electors of the city. Because the petition proposes an ordinance that is subject to the election requirements of Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution (TABOR), the Council must submit the proposed measure to the voters. The City Charter requires that,if a petition requests a special election(which this petition does),the Council must call a special election to be held on a Tuesday within 120 days of the presentation of the certified petition to the Council. TABOR elections must either be held at the regular City election or in conjunction with the state general election or on the first Tuesday in November of odd numbered years. Accordingly, Ordinance No. 100, 2002, calls a special election to be held on November 5, 2002 in conjunction with the Latimer County General Election. It also adopts the provisions of the Uniform Elec ' d 2 ' o icipal Election Code of 1965, directs the City Clerk to certi ballot c tent t m Co no later than September 11, and authorizes the City Manager t nter int n int o rnmental reement with Latimer County for the conduct of the election. At the August 20,2002 meeting,Council will be presented with a resolution submitting the citizen- initiated ordinance to a vote of the registered electors at a special election to be held in conjunction with the November 5, 2002 Latimer County General Election. Charter Amendment Article X, Section 1(e) of the C pr ly es u presentation of an initiative petition certified as to suffici cy by City e , th C d shall either adopt the proposed ordinance or resolution witho alterati withi 3 or s mit such proposed measure in the form petitioned for, to the re I r city. H ever, if an initiated ordinance is subject to a vote of the people pursuant to Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution (TABOR),the City Council cannot adopt such ordinance without an election. The proposed Charter amendment amends Article X,Section 1(e)of the Charter to reflect more accurately the alternatives available to the Council when presented with an initiative petition proposing a measure that requires voter approval in advance under Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution. Other Potential Ballot Issues If the Council wishes to consi eaer, t u e •ng transportation funding, or any other matters,before the vote n Nove by ution no later than September L 1 (the statutory deadline for ce ing bt the Cou Clerk). The Council will hold a regular meeting on September 3. r