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Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 05/20/2014 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 075, 2014, APPROPRAgenda Item 10 Item # 10 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY May 20, 2014 City Council STAFF Kyle Lambrecht, Civil Engineer Dean Klingner, Engineer & Capital Project Manager SUBJECT First Reading of Ordinance No. 075, 2014, Appropriating Unanticipated Grant Revenue in the Capital Projects Fund for the North College Improvements - Conifer to Willox Project and Authorizing the Transfer of Appropriations from the North College Improvements - Vine to Conifer Project Into the North College Improvements - Conifer to Willox Project. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to appropriate federal grant funds into the Capital Project Fund for the North College Improvements Project - Conifer to Willox. City Council appropriated the final piece of funding necessary for the North College Improvements Project - Conifer to Willox through budget revision actions at the end of 2013. Since that time, City staff successfully secured additional funding from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) via their Responsible Acceleration of Maintenance and Partnerships (RAMP) program. This Ordinance completes the final project budget with appropriations of (1) New RAMP funding, (2) Previously secured fiscal year 2015 federal grant funding, and (3) Savings from the recently completed North College Improvements -- Vine to Conifer project. These new funding amounts are summarized as follows: RAMP funding: $3,894,000 Final Savings from North College Improvements - Vine to Conifer project: $1,600,000 Fiscal year 2015 Federal Grant Funds: $1,508,000. Previous budget estimations for the project included $1,000,000 in state resurfacing funds that are now included in the RAMP funds, and estimated $1,300,000 in savings from the previous project. The final total project budget has now been revised from $11,800,000 to $12,000,000. The net result of these actions is that $2.9 million of previously appropriated City funds is no longer necessary to complete the North College project. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION Much of the North College Corridor has been constructed to current City of Fort Collins street standards as a result of previous improvement projects. The section of North College from Conifer Street to Willox Lane is the only remaining section of North College within the city limits in need of improvements. Staff is finalizing engineering plans and project specifications, and the project will begin construction in 2014. Improvements will include: Multimodal improvements Access definition/consolidation Agenda Item 10 Item # 10 Page 2 Urban design improvements Raised, landscaped medians Utility upgrades New pavement In addition, a rear access connection west of North College from Hickory Street to 1505 North College will be constructed as part of this project. This connection is in accordance with the CDOT/City adopted US 287/SH 14 Access Management Report. Nearly all property interests necessary to construct the improvements have been acquired. Staff also continues to work with CDOT to gain necessary clearances to construct the project. Construction on the North College Improvements is anticipated to begin in September of 2014, while construction on the rear access road is planned to commence in July, 2014. To facilitate construction of both projects, utility relocations have started and will continue throughout the summer. The project is funded through a combination of sources including (1) Federal Grant Funds, (2) City of Fort Collins Funds (Keep Fort Collins Great Funds, Capital Projects Fund Reserves, and General Fund Reserves), and (3) Savings from the North College - Vine to Conifer Project. The North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO) awarded the City of Fort Collins $2,934,000 in federal funds to design improvements and begin rights-of-way acquisition along North College Avenue between Conifer Street and Willox Lane. Ordinance 016, 2012 appropriated $1,426,000 of these funds into the project. The remaining $1,508,000 was to be appropriated once local funds were available. As part of the 2013 budget process, City Council appropriated $1.94 Million in Capital Projects Fund Reserves (Ordinance 112, 2012) to the project. City Council funded the remaining $4.3 million project deficit as part of the Budget Amendment for Fiscal Year 2014 (Ordinance No.145, 2013). The City partnered with CDOT seeking available RAMP funds in late 2013, This was accomplished by combining three upcoming projects along North College Avenue/US 287; the North College Improvements Project - Conifer to Willox, the North College Pedestrian Bridge Project, and CDOT’s US 287 Improvements Project from Highway One to the Laporte Bypass. $3.9 million was awarded to the City for use on the Conifer to Willox project. This Council Action appropriates $1,508,000, the remaining Federal Funds awarded to the project by the NFRMPO. This Council Action will also appropriate $3,894,000 of RAMP funds into the project. Total federal funds to be appropriated are $5,402,000 In addition, this action will appropriate savings from the North College Improvements Project - Vine to Conifer into the North College Improvements Project - Conifer to Willox to assist in completing the vision for the corridor. This savings was previously estimated at $1.3 million. Actual savings were $1.6 million. Unused local funds will be returned to the City’s General Fund. $2.9 million is proposed to be returned to the General Fund for other uses to be determined. FINANCIAL / ECONOMIC IMPACTS Previous budget estimations for the project had included $1,000,000 in State resurfacing funds that are now included in the RAMP funds and had estimated $1,300,000 in savings from the previous project. Fall 2013 Funding Summary Date of Appropriation Federal Grant Funds (MPO) (Previous) $1,426,360 2010-13 Federal Grant Funds (MPO) (2015) $1,508,000 ANTICIPATED Appropriated Local Funds $2,266,481 2011-2013 Agenda Item 10 Item # 10 Page 3 CDOT Resurfacing $1,000,000 ANTICIPATED Estimated Savings from Vine to Conifer $1,300,000 ANTICIPATED Remainder from City of Fort Collins Funds $4,299,159 2014 Project Total $11,800,000 This council action completes the final project budget with appropriations of (1) New RAMP funding, (2) Previously secured fiscal year 2015 federal grant funding, and (3) Savings from the recently-completed North College Improvements -- Vine to Conifer project. The final total project budget has now been revised to $12,000,000. Revised May 2014 Funding Summary Federal Grant Funds (MPO) (Previous) $1,426,000 Federal Grant Funds (MPO) (2015) $1,508,000 This Council Action Previously Appropriated Local Funds $3,572,000 RAMP Funds (includes CDOT Resurfacing) $3,894,000 This Council Action Estimated Savings from Vine to Conifer $1,600,000 This Council Action Project Total $12,000,000 The net result of these actions is that $2.9 million of previously appropriated City funds is no longer necessary to complete the North College project. One of the primary goals of this project is to support the economic viability of the project area by improving the infrastructure and safety of the North College Corridor, while minimizing impacts to existing property owners. This is consistent with adopted long-term plans for the area, including the North College Corridor Plan (2007) and Fort Collins City Plan (2011). The project will address these goals through the design and construction of multimodal improvements, urban design features, the consolidation and definition of accesses, and other improvements which support existing businesses and encourage redevelopment. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS The project will have a positive impact on long-term air and storm water quality. The addition of improved bicycle and pedestrian facilities will increase the number of people walking and biking along North College Avenue, resulting in air quality improvement. The utility upgrades in this project include improvements to the stormwater distribution system. Stormwater will ultimately be routed to water quality ponds where contaminants from roadway drainage will be removed prior to discharge into receiving waters. BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION The North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO) received a project overview presentation resulting in awarding federal funds to the project. The Transportation Board received, and will continue to receive, updates as the project progresses. PUBLIC OUTREACH The project team plans significant public outreach throughout the project, including public open houses, individual meetings with property owners, regular updates to the North Fort Collins Business Association, and project updates to be posted on the project’s website, http://www.fcgov.com/engineering/ncollege.php>. ATTACHMENTS 1. Location Map (PDF) ÉZYXW ÉZYXW ³I ÕZYXW Project Location Map ¥ North College Avenue - Conifer Street to Willox Lane 0 750 1,500 3,000 Feet 1:10,825 North College Avenue Improvement Area E Vine Dr Conifer St Hickory St Willox Ln Willox Ln N College Ave Cache la Poudre River Legend City Limits - 1 - ORDINANCE NO. 075, 2014 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS APPROPRIATING UNANTICIPATED GRANT REVENUE IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND FOR THE NORTH COLLEGE IMPROVEMENTS - CONIFER TO WILLOX PROJECT AND AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE NORTH COLLEGE IMPROVEMENTS - VINE TO CONIFER PROJECT INTO THE NORTH COLLEGE IMPROVEMENTS - CONIFER TO WILLOX PROJECT WHEREAS, as a result of previous capital improvement projects, much of North College Avenue has been reconstructed to current City street standards; and WHEREAS, the section of North College Avenue from Conifer Street to Willox Lane (hereafter the “Project”) is the remaining section of North College Avenue, within the City limits, that requires improvements to complete the City’s vision for this corridor; and WHEREAS, the Project improvements will include multimodal improvements, access definition/consolidation, urban design improvements, raised landscaped medians, utility upgrades and new pavement; and WHEREAS, the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization awarded the City $2,934,000 in federal funds for design improvements and to begin right-of-way acquisition along North College Avenue from Conifer Street to Willox Lane; and WHEREAS, $1,426,000 of the available federal funds were appropriated last year with Ordinance No. 16, 2012, and the purpose of this Ordinance is to appropriate the remaining Federal funds available in the amount of $1,508,000 for the Project; and WHEREAS, the City, in partnership with the Colorado Department of Transportation sought available Responsible Acceleration of Maintenance and Partnerships (RAMP) funds and $3,894,000 was awarded to the City for use on the Project; and WHEREAS, savings in the amount of $1.6 million have been identified in the North College Improvements - Vine to Conifer Project and these appropriations are requested for transfer to the Project; and WHEREAS, Article V, Section 9, of the City Charter 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 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 revenue as described herein will not cause the total amount appropriated in the Capital Projects Fund to exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received in that fund during any fiscal year; and - 2 - WHEREAS, Article V, Section 10, of the City Charter authorizes the City Council to transfer by ordinance any unexpended and unencumbered appropriated amount or portion thereof from one fund (project) to another fund (project), provided that the purpose for which the transferred funds are to be expended remains unchanged. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That there is hereby appropriated from unanticipated federal grant revenue in the Capital Projects Fund the sum of FIVE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,402,000) for expenditure on the North College Improvements - Conifer to Willox Project. Section 2. That the unexpended appropriated amount of ONE MILLION SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,600,000) in the Capital Projects Fund, North College Improvements - Vine to Conifer Project is authorized for transfer to the North College Improvements - Conifer to Willox Project and appropriated therein. Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 20th day of May, A.D. 2014, and to be presented for final passage on the 3rd day of June, A.D. 2014. _________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading on the 3rd day of June, A.D. 2014. _________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk