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Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 08/19/2014 - RESOLUTION 2014-075 NAMING A LOOP TRAIL WITHIN AAgenda Item 22 Item # 22 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY August 19, 2014 City Council STAFF John Stokes, Natural Resources Director SUBJECT Resolution 2014-075 Naming a Loop Trail Within a New 31-Acre Natural Area and Restarting the Process for Selecting an Overall Name for the New Natural Area. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this agenda item is to restart the process with the Natural Areas Department and the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board to make a recommendation to Council of a name for a new 31-acre natural area on the Poudre River conveyed to the City by Woodward Governor and to name a loop trail within that natural area. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the proposed Resolution. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION Earlier this year Woodward Governor conveyed a 31-acre site to Natural Areas along the river and adjoining their new corporate headquarters location. It is the practice of the Natural Areas Department (Department) to name its properties for both interpretive and management reasons. Names typically reflect the natural values of the property or the area, although a number of Natural Areas have been named for persons (Attachment 1). Shortly after the acquisition of the property, Department staff solicited names from the public. Many suggestions were submitted (Attachment 2). Prior to adoption of a new Naming Policy in 2011, staff would have administratively selected a name from the list developed by the public. The 2011 Naming Policy, however, requires that a Council ad hoc committee be appointed to make a naming recommendation to Council for its review and approval if the property is to be named after a person or entity. Based on the language of the 2011 Naming Policy there are two options available for naming City-owned property or facilities. 1. If the property is to be named for a person or entity, the name must be approved by Council resolution and after review by an ad hoc committee “formed for the purpose of selecting and recommending a name for such property…” The ad hoc committee “may be initiated by request of the City Manager or the Mayor or by majority vote of the City Council.” a. If a personal name is to be considered, a resolution adopting the name shall “include a description of the donation or other significant service or benefit to the community… that is the basis for the designation of the name approved.” b. If using a personal name the person(s) shall have been determined “to have provided significant service or direct benefit to the community that has endured, or will endure, over many years.” Agenda Item 22 Item # 22 Page 2 c. If a donation is the basis for the personal name under consideration, the donation generally “should be no less than seventy-five percent…of the value of the property…” 2. If a personal name is not under consideration, the City Manager is authorized to “establish administrative rules and procedures for the selection…” In the case of Natural Area properties, as noted above, staff solicits names from the public and selects a name for the site which can then be reviewed and approved by the City Manager. On January 15, 2014, Department staff recommended the name Coy Hoffman Natural Area to the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board (the “Board”). Staff made the recommendation due to the significant cultural, agricultural, and water rights history associated with the site. John Coy homesteaded the property in 1862 and was one of the earliest citizens of Fort Collins. The water right developed by Coy is the 13th priority right on the river. The Department now owns 50% of the water right. The original Coy barn is still located on Woodward Governor’s adjacent property and there will be a loop trail that brings visitors near the barn. The Hoffmans married into the Coy family and established a mill on the property which operated for many decades. (Attachments 3-8 provide historic information as well as information from surviving family members). The Board, however, was opposed to this name for a variety of reasons. (Attachment 9) Essentially the Board was concerned that the land had not been donated by the Coy or Hoffman families and that a site name reflecting the natural or Native American history would be more appropriate. In addition, the modern settlement history of the property including the histories of the Coy and Hoffman families, could be interpreted as being endorsed by the City as, for example, is the case at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area. At its February 12, 2014 meeting, the Board passed a motion to advise Council of its opposition to the “Coy Hoffman Natural Area” name, but did not recommend another specific name for the Property. On April 1, 2014, City Council adopted Resolution 2014-029 which called for the appointment of an ad hoc Council committee to consider and recommend a name for a new Natural Area recently conveyed by Woodward Governor to the City’s Natural Areas Department. The ad hoc committee met on May 8, 2014. The four members of the committee were not able to reach consensus. Two members favored staff’s original recommendation of Coy Hoffman Natural Area. The other two members of the committee were interested in honoring and recognizing the Coy Hoffman families and their Fort Collins history and accomplishments; however, they were not comfortable using a personal name for a City-owned facility. The ad hoc committee met again on August 11, 2014 and directed staff to prepare a resolution that would name a loop trail on the site the Coy-Hoffman Trail (Attachment 10). Visitors to the loop trail will pass nearby the historic barn. The barn itself is on Woodward Governor’s property but is only a short distance from the loop trail. The ad hoc committee also instructed staff to provide historic interpretation at the barn overlook. The resolution will also direct staff to restart the process to name the property. The process would include public outreach by the Natural Areas Department, a review and recommendation by the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board, and a final review and approval by City Council. The ad hoc committee asked that special attention be paid to the location of the property in the heart of Fort Collins and its historic, cultural, and natural significance. BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION The Land Conservation and Stewardship Board recommended against naming the entire site Coy-Hoffmann. The Board also indicated its support for other potential names representative of the natural features of the area. PUBLIC OUTREACH The Natural Areas Department solicited names from the public (Attachment 2). Staff discussed the name with the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board on several occasions. Staff brought the item to Council on Agenda Item 22 Item # 22 Page 3 April 1st when it appointed a Council ad hoc committee to consider the matter. The ad hoc committee met on May 8th and August 11. Several members of the public and surviving family members spoke in favor of Coy Hoffman Natural Area. ATTACHMENTS 1. Natural Area Site Names that Utilize Personal Pronouns (PDF) 2. Name Suggestions (PDF) 3. Dorothy Whisler letter (PDF) 4. John Coy history (PDF) 5. Carol Tunner memo to Council (PDF) 6. Heather Wolhart note to Council (PDF) 7. Gordon Hazard note to Council (PDF) 8. Janet Williams note to Council (PDF) 9. Land Conservation Stewardship Board memo, May 1, 2014 (PDF) 10. Loop trail map (PDF) 11. Powerpoint presentation (PDF) ATTACHMENT 1 ATTACHMENT 2 Name Suggestions 1 NATURAL CULTURAL Raccoon Hollow The Hicken Loop Er Beaver Point Poudre Head-On-My-Shoulder Humulus (Humulus lupus = hops) Antoine Janis Woodhouse Wonderland Governors’ Woods Woodhouse’s Wonderland Coy Hoffman Woodhouse’s Wetland Temple Grandin Woodhouse Wetlands Pascal’s View Woodhouse Riverside Chief Friday Windhorse Park Old Pickle Factory Whistle Stop Links Lincoln Greens The Woodlands at Olde Town Lincoln Greenway Silver Fox Minnie Luzahan Cottonwood Curve John F. Kennedy Memorial Spring Hatch Woodward Evergreen Augustina Godinez Meadowlard LongsView Greenway Chief Friday’s Camp Sweetgrass Patrick Kind Bankfull Bend Baldwin Willow Brook Bend Old Town Willow Brook Mulberry Mallard Creek Brewer’s Park Mallard Rush Odaroloc Rainbow Bends Stone Mill Cedar Fen John Coy Homestead Cottonwood Old Town Open Space Swift Currents Woodward Woods Cottonwood Falls Hoffman Hollow Red Flicker Falls Udall Cottonwood Corner Woodward Woods Muskrat Meadows Woodward Bend Mink Haven Hoffman Farm Mallard Meanders Coy Park Merganser Meanders John and Emily Coy Park Horned Owl Haven Coy Boxelder Bend Mayberry Poudre Prairie Berrymay Granite Valley LeBerry Streamside Sheltering Place Aera larutan Swallowtail Shores Cottonwood Corridor Riparian Byway Riparian Way Riparian ATTACHMENT 2 Name Suggestions 2 Catnip River Wild River Wild Chelydra Snapping Turtle Bees Poudre River Edge Trail Poudre River Side Trail and Conservation Area Ridgeway Riverside Nature Preserve Remembrance River’s Edge Bee = koho’ok Crow = houu Deer = bih’ih Blackbird = nih’eeno Magpie = woo uh ei Bear = wox Fox = beexou Cottontail = nooku Coyote = koo oh Elk’s Rest Mullin Wood Lightfoot Trail River Side Park Screech Owl Chase Screech Owl Stretch Screech Owl Hollow Screech Owl Burrow Screech Owl Roost Skyline Rist Park Nature Mountain Sky Cloud Riverside Park Eagle Eye Giant Blue Heron White Tail River Island Pearl Wind Fox Song Mink Meandor Lincolnberry Woods Heron’s Haven Serenity Acres ATTACHMENT 2 Name Suggestions 3 Cottonwood Springs Poudre Springs River Run River Walk Foxtail Marshes Cottonwood Corridor Cottonwood Marsh Dogleg Megafauna Meadow River Passage River Pass Caddis Corridor Winding River Coyote Willow Willow Sand Bar Willow ATTACHMENT 3 ATTACHMENT 4 History of John G. Coy Attachment 5 City Manager Atteberry, Madame Mayor Weikunat, and members of City Council: I am writing to recommend that the new natural area bordered by the Poudre River and owned for the last 151 years by the Coy-Hoffman family be named the Coy-Hoffman Natural Area. As documented in my 1995 State Register of Historic Properties nomination: Fort Collins began as “Camp Collins” in 1862 when it was a military outpost organized near present day Laporte. It was founded to protect emigrants and the Overland Stage Line from outlaws and Indians. The flood of 1864 forced the relocation of the camp downriver to a site that was one mile west and across the river from the Coy Farm which had been homesteaded in 1862. The Coy’s accommodated the soldier’s gardens on their land and Chief Friday’s band of Indians camped on Coy’s land when they visited the fort. The earliest settlement had been fur trappers and their Indian wives, but with the gold rush of 1858-59, disillusioned miners retreated to the area along with emigrants like the Coys who staked out the rich bottomland along the river for their subsistence farming. By 1861 there were fewer than ten settlers outside present day Laporte with most of them located on the river bottomlands southeast of present day Fort Collins. The handful of area farmers found their hay and grain products were very marketable to the surrounding gold mining camps. John G. and Emma Coy were married in 1862 and headed west on their wedding trip. A harrowing account of their experiences crossing the country is chronicled in “The History of Larimer County,1911” by Ansel Watrous. In Missouri, their shotgun was taken by highwaymen and their lives were threatened. While in Nebraska, some of their oxen and a cow disappeared or were stolen one night and they limped into the Cache la Poudre valley with few animals to pull their wagon. Emily was the first married white woman in the area. The winter was closing in and the mountains were high so after spotting an abandoned trapper’s cabin down by the river, they chose to stay and Coy filed on his claim in August 1862. By spring, Emily was pregnant with the first of five children to attain adulthood. Second child, Francis, married John M. Hoffman, a miller, and in 1894 he built the notable Hoffman Flour and Feed Mill just across the river from the farm to the south. Hoffman was a prominent citizen as president and general manager of the Hoffman Milling Company. Their Victorian home at the corner of Whedbee and E. Oak Streets is one of Fort Collins’ most important historical buildings recognized on the Local, State, and National Registers. Hoffman Mill Road today takes one into the city’s Nix Farm Natural Areas headquarters. John and Francis Hoffman were the grandparents of James Porter Hoffman, owner of the Coy-Hoffman Farm until it was sold in 2013 to Woodward-Governor. John Coy was Director of the County Fair Association and president in 1881. He was a leader in the formation of the Farmer’s Protective Association in 1884 which built the Harmony Mill still standing on E. Lincoln. He was instrumental in founding the Colorado Agricultural College and he was one of the leaders of the newly-organized grange who plowed up the land and raised a crop to start a local fund to build the college. In 1880 he helped form the Farmers’ Institute for the college. Coy helped establish Roosevelt National Forest and Park. Coy was a charter member of the Larimer County Stockgrowers Association that realized the industry depended on water. The John G. Coy ditch, a low 13th in priority, gives Coy’s land one of the oldest water rights on the Poudre River. In 1867 Coy was a judge of election for Precinct No. 4, Larimer County, he was on the first Grand Jury, and he was County Commissioner from 1874 to 1877 and 1893 to 1896. John G. Coy’s lifelong occupation was as a farmer at the heart of all agricultural pursuits, and they were dependent on the Poudre River. In 1995 the Coy-Hoffman Barn, silos, and milk house stood alone. The barn’s roof was collapsed on the south side and the entire structure was threatened. In 1991 the golf course had torn down the wonderful historic 1862 farmhouse. Jim and Ruth Hoffman asked me to save the barn but this was an outparcel and not able to be locally designated. Just then Dr. Donald Klein of CSU, a barn historian, came into my office and offered to co-chair a restoration with an initial donation of $500. I accepted the challenge to devote three years volunteering to professionally write the successful State Register of Historic Properties nomination, write a $52,000. State Historical Fund grant, and manage the grant and fund-raising. Jim Hoffman donated over $8,000 for the cash match. After we cleaned hay out of the second floor barn, the floor was rotted through - we needed thousands more to replace it. We had a golf tournament on the property, a garage sale, an appeal letter to Fort Collins’ professionals, and Odell Brewery volunteered to give us 25 cents for every bottle sold of Old Barn Ale named after our barn. We raised $25,000 more for barn restoration. Our SHF grant sponsor was the Fort Collins Historical Society. I feel uniquely qualified to have a say in this naming of Coy’s 1862 homestead along the Poudre River. The Poudre nourished and grew this town. Our first 4th of July celebrations were held here. It was once considered to be City Park. Its banks were the cradle of our civilization in the 1850s and 60s. We have lost the river’s historic buildings in the Strauss cabin, Strang farm, Sherwood Stage Station, and Grout House at the environmental learning center to arsonists. What could have been a wonderful trail of history along the river is lost. Coy-Hoffman is all that is left and the pioneer structures in this historic district need to be memorialized permanently in the natural area’s name so generations to come will know of Fort Collins’ beginnings. Interpretation along the river is excellent and should be done but it doesn’t reach everybody and in time that gets removed, replaced, defaced, forgotten. Fort Collins’ ever growing population deserves to know about our communities’ roots permanently in naming the natural area. Carol Tunner Historic Preservation Planner May 6, 2014 ATTACHMENT 6 On May 8, 2014, at 4:51 PM, "Heather Wolhart" wrote: City Council, First I want to thank those of you that were involved in this mornings open discussion about naming the open space property along the Woodward site. Thank you also for allowing and listening to comments from those of us that sat in on your meeting. It appears that there is an impasse on the naming issue that divides along the lines of those committed to the nature part of natural areas and those committed to the historical significance of this particular site. There may be common ground yet vetted completely. John Coy was the original patron of the concept of natural land preservation in this area. He was a very progressive thinker when it came to a deep understanding of the balance needed between using land for agriculture/profit and conserving land for the good of the land itself and the future. He was the force behind what is now Arapaho State forest and Roosevelt Natl. Forrest. His deep understanding of good agricultural land practices and wise water use made him at one point the most successful farmer in the valley. He would probably have been appreciative of the natural area program and its overall purpose. So by acknowledging him in a name for that area you would be honoring someone that was a founder of the natural area concept in this area. Would it therefor be possible to find a name that would incorporate both the family history and the nature benefactor that he was? Something like the John Coy River Bend Wetlands? Just a starter idea, but maybe a way to work towards consensus. Thank you for thinking about this. Respectfully, Heather Wolhart John Stokes From: Wendy Williams Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 1:18 PM To: John Stokes Subject: FW: Naming of new Natural Resources Area - Fort Collins Historical Society &z/ ͲͲͲͲͲKƌŝŐŝŶĂůDĞƐƐĂŐĞͲͲͲͲͲ &ƌŽŵ͗ŐŚĂǌĂƌĚ΀ŵĂŝůƚŽ͗ŐŚĂǌĂƌĚΛůĂŵĂƌ͘ĐŽůŽƐƚĂƚĞ͘ĞĚƵ΁ ^ĞŶƚ͗tĞĚŶĞƐĚĂǇ͕DĂǇϬϳ͕ϮϬϭϰϭϭ͗ϯϭD dŽ͗ŝƚǇ>ĞĂĚĞƌƐ ^ƵďũĞĐƚ͗EĂŵŝŶŐŽĨŶĞǁEĂƚƵƌĂůZĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐƌĞĂͲ&ŽƌƚŽůůŝŶƐ,ŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů^ŽĐŝĞƚǇ DĂǇŽƌĂŶĚŝƚǇŽƵŶĐŝůDĞŵďĞƌƐ͕ dŚĞ&ŽƌƚŽůůŝŶƐ,ŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů^ŽĐŝĞƚǇƐƵƉƉŽƌƚƐƚŚĞƵƐĞŽĨƚŚĞŽǇͲ,ŽĨĨŵĂŶEĂƚƵƌĂůƌĞĂĂƐƚŚĞŶĂŵĞŽĨƚŚĞĂƌĞĂƵŶĚĞƌ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĂƚŝŽŶ͘dŚŝƐŶĂŵĞƌĞĨůĞĐƚƐŚŝƐƚŽƌǇŽĨƚŚĞƉƌŽƉĞƌƚǇ͘WůĞĂƐĞƚĂŬĞƚŚŝƐŝŶĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĂƚŝŽŶǁŚĞŶƐĞůĞĐƚŝŶŐĂ ŶĂŵĞ͘zŽƵƌĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶǁŝůůůŝǀĞŽŶůŽŶŐĂĨƚĞƌĂŶǇŽĨƵƐĂƌĞƐƚŝůůŚĞƌĞ͘ dŚĂŶŬǇŽƵ͘ 'ŽƌĚŽŶ͘,ĂǌĂƌĚ WƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ &ŽƌƚŽůůŝŶƐ,ŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů^ŽĐŝĞƚǇ ϭϰϭϯŵŝŐŚ^ƚƌĞĞƚ &ŽƌƚŽůůŝŶƐ͕KϴϬϱϮϰͲϰϮϮϭ ϰϴϰͲϵϭϵϰ ATTACHMENT 7 ATTACHMENT 8 Sent: Friday, December 06, 2013 2:43 PM To: Sue Kenney Subject: Coy Park -- Name for New Natural Area Dear Natural Areas Department: I am the great-great granddaughter of John and Emily Coy. In response to the article published in the Ft. Collins Coloradoan on November 24, 2013, titled "City is seeking name suggestion for new natural area," I would request that the City consider naming the area the "Coy Park" or the "John and Emily Coy Park." My mother, Dorothy Whisler, mailed a detailed letter to you with information regarding the history of John and Emily Coy's homesteading of the subject property in 1862 and their dedicated community involvement. (If for some reason you didn't receive her letter, please let me know and I will email you a scanned copy of the letter). Ownership of the property remained in members of the Coy family for over 150 years until my mother and her cousin sold the remaining property to Woodward Inc. this past spring. My mom's cousin, Jim Hoffman, and his family continue to reside in Ft. Collins. John and Emily Coy, and their children and grandchildren, and now great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and great-great-great grandchildren continue to be active members of the Ft. Collins community. Thank you for your consideration of incorporating the Coy name into the name for the new natural area. Janet Williams ATTACHMENT 9 ATTACHMENT 10 Site Name for New 31-acre Natural Area Background Woodward conveyed a 31-acre property to the Natural Areas Department in January Natural Areas names its sites for identification, management purposes, and to provide some local flavor Natural Areas staff developed several names for this site, including an option that utilizes a family name Background Based on Council adopted policy, if a personal name is under consideration an ad hoc naming committee must be formed to review potential names and make a recommendation to Council And, if recommending a personal name, it shall be determined by the ad hoc committee that the person or family has made significant service or contributions to the community On January 15, Natural Areas staff brought forward the name Coy- Hoffman Natural Area to the Land Conservation Stewardship Board On February 12, the Board passed a motion to oppose Coy-Hoffman and to favor a name in keeping with the site’s natural characteristics or Native American history Background Ad Hoc Committee The Mayor requested that an ad hoc Council committee be formed to review options for naming the property and to make a recommendation to Council The committee met on May 8th, but was not able to reach consensus on a name Alternatives Swift River Winding River Alternatives Pedestrian Bridge - 1 - RESOLUTION 2014-075 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS NAMING A LOOP TRAIL WITHIN A NEW 31-ACRE NATURAL AREA AND RESTARTING THE PROCESS FOR SELECTING AN OVERALL NAME FOR THE NEW NATURAL AREA WHEREAS, on November 1, 2011, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 134, 2011, which added to the City Code Sections 23-141 and 142 regarding the naming of City properties and facilities; and WHEREAS, on January 15, 2014, Woodward, Inc., conveyed to the City a 31-acre parcel of land adjacent to the Poudre River to be used for Natural Areas purposes (the “Property”); and WHEREAS, on January 15, 2014, Natural Areas staff evaluated names solicited by the public and recommended to the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board (“LCSB”) that the Property be named “Coy-Hoffman Natural Area” after the families that homesteaded and farmed the Property, prior to Woodward, Inc.; and WHEREAS, the LCSB voted not to support the name proposed by staff and took no formal action on a second proposed name, “Swift Current Natural Area;” and WHEREAS, Section 23-141(b) of the City Code states that the naming of a City property or facility for one or more persons or entities shall be approved by the City Council by resolution, after review by an ad hoc City Council committee formed for the purpose of selecting and recommending a name for the property; that the formation of an ad hoc naming committee may be initiated by request of the City Manager or the Mayor, or by majority vote of the City Council; and that the committee may seek such public input and may request and consider such proposals and recommendations of City boards and commissions and the City Manager as the committee deems appropriate; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 23-141(b), Mayor Karen Weitkunat requested an ad hoc City Council committee be formed to select and recommend a name for the Property; and WHEREAS, on April 1, 2014, the City Council adopted Resolution 2014-029, appointing Councilmembers Ross Cunniff, Bob Overbeck, Wade Troxell, and Mayor Karen Weitkunat to an ad hoc committee to review the options for naming the Property and to make a recommendation to the City Council regarding a name; and WHEREAS, the ad hoc committee met on May 8, 2014, and was unable to reach consensus among its members regarding a name to recommend to the City Council for the Property; and WHEREAS, the ad hoc committee met again on August 11, 2014, and voted to recommend a loop trail in the new natural area be named the “Coy-Hoffman Trail,” and to recommend that Council direct staff to restart the process to name the overall natural area; and - 2 - WHEREAS, upon consideration of the recommendations of the ad hoc committee, City Council finds it to be in the best interest of the City to name a loop trail after the Coy-Hoffman family, but to restart the process to select a name for the Property overall. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the City Council hereby directs that a loop trail to be located in a new as of yet un-named natural area donated by Woodward, Inc. on January 15, 2014, be designated the “Coy-Hoffman Trail.” Section 2. That the City Council hereby directs the City Manager to restart the process to select a name for that new 31-acre natural area that should strive to reflect the historical, cultural, geographic and natural significance of the site and area of the site in the heart of the City. Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 19th day of August, A.D. 2014. _________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk