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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 02/21/2012 - RESOLUTION 2012-011 SUPPORTING THE CITY'S APPLICATDATE: February 21, 2012 STAFF: Michelle Provaznik AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL 16 SUBJECT Resolution 2012-011 Supporting the City’s Application for a Local Parks and Outdoor Recreation Grant from the State Board of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund for the Environmental Education Sites at the Gardens on Spring Creek and Authorizing the Execution of a Grant Agreement. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Gardens on Spring Creek is currently applying for a $350,000 Great Outdoors Colorado Local Parks and Outdoor Recreation Grant. Staff is preparing an application for construction of the Environmental Education Sites at The Gardens. These sites include: (1) Foothills Demonstration Site, (2) Prairie Demonstration Site, (3) Wetland Demonstration Site, and (4) the Undaunted Garden, a xeriscape demonstration garden. As part of the application process, Great Outdoors Colorado requires a resolution which indicates the City’s support for the project, verifies that matching funds must be secured, that the project will be maintained in a high quality condition, the land for the project is City-owned, and designates an official to sign the grant agreement. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) provides grant opportunities for eligible government agencies. In the past, the City has been successful in obtaining numerous GOCO grants, including a $200,000 grant for the Children’s Gardens at the Gardens on Spring Creek. Construction of the Foothills, Prairie and Wetland Demonstration Sites and the Undaunted Garden completes over two acres of The Gardens Master Plan. These areas will be designed to educate the public about local eco-systems; inspire residents to add native or xeric plants to their own landscapes; and connect people to nature. Estimated cost of the project is $554,000. FINANCIAL / ECONOMIC IMPACTS The Gardens staff in conjunction with the Friends of the Gardens on Spring Creek board of directors has been raising funds for this project. Currently, $100,000 has been raised in addition to pledged in-kind contributions of $24,000. The Gardens and the Friends are seeking remaining funds of $80,000, through grant opportunities and donations. If this funding is not secured, the project will be scaled back accordingly. Operation and maintenance funding of the project will be approximately $50,000 per year. These O&M costs will be budgeted in The Gardens future budgets and will be raised by earned revenues generated by the facility. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS The Environmental Educational Sites will replace the alfalfa field north of the new Rock Garden. These sites will improve plant diversity at The Gardens and provide additional wildlife habitat. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution. February 21, 2012 -2- ITEM 16 PUBLIC OUTREACH The Friends of the Gardens on Spring Creek, the 501(c)3 partner of The Gardens, and the Grants Committee is aware of, and supportive of the grant application. In 1999 – 2000, significant public outreach was done to create the Master Plan of the Gardens on Spring Creek. Each of the Sites proposed are a part of that Master Plan. RESOLUTION 2012–011 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS SUPPORTING THE CITY’S APPLICATION FOR A LOCAL PARKS AND OUTDOOR RECREATION GRANT FROM THE STATE BOARD OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS COLORADO TRUST FUND FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION SITES AT THE GARDENS ON SPRING CREEK AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A GRANT AGREEMENT WHEREAS, the City is applying for a Local Parks and Outdoor Recreation Grant from the State Board of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund (GOCO) for the City’s horticulture program in the amount of $350,000 to fund construction of four environmental education sites at the Gardens on Spring Creek (the “Project”); and WHEREAS, as part of its grant application process, GOCO requires that the governing body of any entity applying for grant funds show its support for the grant application, and its awareness of the obligations a grant creates, through a resolution of the governing body; and WHEREAS, such resolution is to include a statement of support for the proposed project; a recognition of the need to provide matching funds; a statement verifying that the project will be properly maintained after completion; verification that the real property necessary for the project will be under the control of the applicant or a project partner for at least 25 years; and a statement authorizing a designated official to sign a grant agreement with Great Outdoors Colorado if the grant is awarded; and WHEREAS, City staff and the Friends of the Gardens on Spring Creek have already secured approximately $100,000 of the funds necessary to complete the Project, and the City acknowledges that, should it receive a GOCO grant, it would be responsible for providing the necessary matching funds for the Project in order to meet the obligations of the grant application and agreement; and WHEREAS, the Project is to be built on property owned by the City and, upon completion, it is the City’s intent that the Project will be owned by the City for at least 25 years, subject to the discretion of future City Councils; and WHEREAS, should the City receive a GOCO grant for the Project and complete the Project as planned, the City intends to maintain the Project in high quality condition, subject to the annual appropriation by the City Council of funds sufficient and intended for such purpose, in its discretion; and WHEREAS, the annual maintenance cost for the Project is estimated to be $50,000; and WHEREAS, the City is authorized to enter into intergovernmental agreements, such as a grant agreement, to provide any function, service or facility, under Article II, Section 16 of the Charter of the City of Fort Collins and Section 29-1-203, C.R.S. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, as follows: (1) That in light of the foregoing, the City Council hereby states its support for the City’s application for a GOCO Local Parks and Outdoor Recreation Grant in the amount of $350,000 for the Project. (2) That, should the City be awarded the GOCO grant described in this Resolution, the City Manager is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the GOCO Board obligating the City to use the grant proceeds to construct the Project, on terms and conditions consistent with this Resolution together with such other terms and conditions as the City Manager, in consultation with the City Attorney, determines to be necessary and appropriate to protect the best interests of the City. Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 21st day of February A.D. 2012. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk