HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 02/18/2014 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 024, 2014, APPROPRIAgenda Item 4
Item # 4 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY February 18, 2014
City Council
STAFF
Paul Sizemore, FC Moves Program Manager
SUBJECT
First Reading of Ordinance No. 024, 2014, Appropriating Prior Year Reserves in the Keep Fort Collins Great
Fund to Fund Further Development of the West Central Neighborhoods Plan.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to appropriate $170,000 of KFCG Other Transportation Reserve funds for
consulting services associated with the Transportation Element of the West Central Neighborhoods Plan. An
update of the plan is scheduled for 2014. The requested funding enhances the overall planning effort by
including an analysis of the neighborhood transportation network, consideration of growth on and around the
Colorado State University campus, recommendations and strategies, and detailed corridor vision and design
for Prospect Road between College Avenue and Shields Street.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
The West Central Neighborhoods Plan (1999) generally encompasses the neighborhoods south and west of
the Colorado State University (CSU) main campus. The planning area includes commercial and institutional
uses as well as the highest residential density of any planning area in the City. In the time since the plan’s
adoption, the area has developed and evolved. Additionally, CSU continues to grow its student population and
expand on-campus facilities. In order to address these changing dynamics, Planning Services is scheduled to
complete an update of the Plan in 2014.
Preliminary conversations with area residents indicate significant concerns about transportation facilities and
services, especially along the Prospect Road Corridor from College Avenue to Shields Street. The 2014
update of the West Central Neighborhoods Plan presents an opportunity to realize efficiencies by coordinating
the neighborhood plan, circulation planning, and the design of this crucial segment of Prospect Road. By
enhancing the transportation element of the plan and including preliminary design for this part of the Prospect
Corridor, the needs and concerns of the neighborhood can be better addressed. At the same time, this project
will inform a future corridor planning effort to address all seven miles of Prospect Road as contemplated by the
Transportation Master Plan. An enhanced transportation element will also provide critical baseline data for
assessing the impacts of a possible on-campus stadium.
The transportation element will promote the development of a corridor and network that are functional, safe,
and identifiable for pedestrians, bicycles, buses, and cars. The project will include a review of existing
conditions, identifying and addressing data needs, establishing a transportation vision, coordinating with CSU
regarding campus development and stadium impacts, recommending updates to existing network plans and
policies, developing design alternatives for Prospect Road, evaluating alternatives, and producing a
preliminary design (30% complete) for the preferred alternative corridor plan.
Agenda Item 4
Item # 4 Page 2
FINANCIAL / ECONOMIC IMPACT
This Ordinance appropriates $170,000 of KFCG Other Transportation Reserves for consulting services
associated with the development of the Transportation Element. These funds will supplement the $135,000
previously approved by City Council for consulting services to update the land use, housing, and urban design
elements of updating the Plan.
By combining the transportation and corridor planning aspects of this project with the scheduled Plan update, a
single consulting team may be used to serve both the land use and transportation needs. Considerable
efficiencies will be realized by conducting a single program of public outreach and engagement, and by sharing
data and design concepts between the land use and transportation modeling phases of the project.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
The current transportation infrastructure in the planning area is subject to numerous deficiencies, including
narrow or absent sidewalks and bike lanes, constrained segments, and lack of parking facilities. The
Transportation Element will identify opportunities to improve the availability of modal choices and to manage
automobile congestion. Both modal shift and congestion management are factors that contribute to
improvements in greenhouse gas emissions and reductions in fossil fuel consumption.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
The recommendation to include transportation and corridor planning in the West Central Neighborhoods Plan
update is a result of preliminary public feedback received by Planning Services. Once initiated, the project will
include an extensive program of public engagement and opportunities for residents to participate in the
planning and design process.
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ORDINANCE NO. 024, 2014
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROPRIATING PRIOR YEAR RESERVES IN THE KEEP FORT COLLINS
GREAT FUND TO FUND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE WEST CENTRAL
NEIGHBORHOODS PLAN
WHEREAS, the West Central Neighborhoods Plan (the “Plan”) which was established in
1999, encompasses the neighborhoods south and west of Colorado State University (“CSU”)
campus; and
WHEREAS, the Plan area includes commercial and institutional uses as well as the
highest residential density of any planning area in Fort Collins; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation element of the Plan is in need of an update in light of
CSU on-campus expansion, student population growth, additional area development, automobile
congestion mitigation needs, and deficiencies of sidewalks, bike lanes, and parking facilities; and
WHEREAS, the update will address transportation facilities and services for the
“Prospect Corridor,” (the portion of Prospect Road between Peterson Street and South Taft Hill
Road) review of existing conditions, identifying data needs, establishing a transportation vision,
CSU campus development, potential on-campus stadium impacts, updates to existing network
plans, and evaluating design alternatives for Prospect Road; and
WHEREAS, the FC Moves Department is requesting a one-time appropriation of
$170,000 from existing reserves in the Keep Fort Collins Great Other Transportation Reserve to
fund consulting services associated with the development of the Transportation Element of the
Plan update; and
WHEREAS, if appropriated, these funds will supplement $135,000 of previously
approved funding for consulting services to update the land use, housing, and urban design
elements of the Plan; and
WHEREAS, the consolidation of funds will result in considerable efficiencies in public
expenditure, outreach and engagement, sharing of data and design concepts between land use
and transportation, and utilizing a single consultation team to serve both land and transportation
updates to the Plan; and
WHEREAS, Article V, Section 9, of the City Charter permits the City Council to
appropriate by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year such funds for expenditure as may be
available from reserves accumulated in prior years, notwithstanding that such reserves were not
previously appropriated; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS that there is hereby appropriated for expenditure from reserves in the Keep
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Fort Collins Great Fund the sum of ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS
($170,000) to support the update of the West Central Neighborhoods Plan in 2014.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 18th day of
February, A.D. 2014, and to be presented for final passage on the 4th day of March, A.D. 2014.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on the 4th day of March, A.D. 2014.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
City Clerk