HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 08/16/2011 - RECONSIDERATION OF MOTION CONCERNING PHASE III OFDATE: August 16, 2011
STAFF: John Stokes
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL 25A
SUBJECT
Reconsideration of a Motion Adopted by Council at a Special Meeting Held on Thursday, August 11, 2011, Expressing
the City’s Objections to Construction on Phase III of the Dixon Creek Substation to Horseshoe Station Transmission
Line Project and Authorizing the City Attorney to Seek a Court Order Enjoining Construction of Phase III, if Necessary,
or To Take Such Other Appropriate Legal Action As May Be Needed to Protect the Interests of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This item relates to a power transmission line project planned for construction by Platte River Power Authority (Platte
River) and Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) in the City’s Pineridge Natural Area. Although Platte River
obtained an easement from the City in 2006 to cross the City’s Colina Mariposa Natural Area with underground lines
in an earlier phase of this project, detailed information regarding the last phase of the project (Phase III) as it crosses
Pineridge Natural Area has not been presented to or reviewed by the City.
Efforts by the City in recent months to seek a delay in the project to allow time for discussion of impacts to the City’s
Natural Area have not been successful. Areas for further discussion include alternative routes, potential impacts,
access routes, mitigation, possible undergrounding, and other similar concerns. Issues have been raised regarding
whether the 1951 easements obtained by WAPA for its original transmission line are sufficient for the project proposed,
whether temporary construction easements are needed for the project, and whether the environmental review
completed by WAPA has sufficiently identified and analyzed the impacts of the proposed project.
Platte River representatives have indicated that the final phase of the project will begin in September, although the
work planned to take place on Pineridge Natural Area may not begin until several weeks later, perhaps as late as
November. However, at this time the City has no assurance that any further consideration of the issues raised by the
City will take place before work proceeds on the City’s property.
At its special meeting on Thursday, August 11, 2011, the City Council adopted a motion by a vote of 6 to 0, finding that
postponing Council action regarding the City’s Objections to Construction of Phase III of the Dixon Creek to Horseshoe
Transmission Line Project would be contrary to the public interest. This finding met the requirement of City Code
Section 2-32(d), in order for the Council to take up an item that was not specifically identified as an action item on the
Council’s agenda.
The City Council then adopted by a vote of 6 to 0 a motion directing the City Manager and City Attorney to formally
express to Western Area Power Administration, Platte River Power Authority and the City’s member-partners in Platte
River, the City’s objections to construction proceeding on Phase III of the Dixon Creek Substation to Horseshoe Station
Transmission Line Project, and authorizing the City Attorney to seek a court order enjoining construction of Phase III,
if necessary, or to take such other appropriate legal action as may be needed to protect the interests of the City.
Although the requirement for action without advance notice was met, Council leadership has asked the City Manager
to bring this item forward for reconsideration on tonight’s agenda in order to allow a better opportunity for public input
on this matter.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends reconsideration of the Motion.