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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 07/19/2016 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 094, 2016, APPROPRIAgenda Item 19 Item # 19 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY July 19, 2016 City Council STAFF Craig Kisling, Landscape Architect Kurt Friesen, Director of Park Planning & Development SUBJECT First Reading of Ordinance No. 094, 2016, Appropriating Prior Year Reserves in the Capital Expansion Fund for Transfer to the Capital Projects Fund and the Cultural Services and Facilities Fund for the Art in Public Places Program for the Southeast Community Park. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to request appropriations for the Southeast Community Park Project in the amount of $1.6M from the Community Parkland Capital Expansion Reserves. The park is currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2017. An additional appropriation is needed to fully fund the park as designed. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION Southeast Community Park is a new park in southeast Fort Collins that is currently under construction and scheduled to open in summer 2017. There is currently a shortfall of $1,638,000 needed to fully fund park construction. There is approximately $2.8M available in Community Parkland Capital Expansion Reserves, which is sufficient to fund the shortfall. The sources of these funds are community park impact fees which can only be used to fund community park design and construction. An appropriation of $1,638,000 from the Community Parkland Capital Expansion Reserves will fully fund the park as designed. To comply with the City’s Art in Public Places (APP) ordinance, one percent of the project funds appropriated by this Ordinance will be transferred to the Cultural Services and Facilities Fund. A funding summary of the project is provided: Total Spent to Date (Tennis Courts, Pond, Streets, Design) $4,000,000 New Construction $10,500,000 Permit/Fees $838,000 Contingency (8%) $780,000 Total $16,118,000 Funding Available $10,000,000 Nature in the City Contribution $100,000 Stormwater Stream Rehabilitation Program $380,000 Funding Shortfall $1,638,000 Art in Public Places Contribution $16,380 Total Funding Request $1,654,380 Agenda Item 19 Item # 19 Page 2 The following chart outlines the individual cost of park elements to be funded with this request: Park Element Cost Back Porch, Harvest Room and Orchard $405,000 Ballfield Restroom $386,000 Sports Field Lighting $326,000 Community Garden $63,000 Basketball Court $49,000 Dog Park $42,000 Orchard Trellis Structure $34,000 Hops Trellis $28,000 Concrete Band at Coulees $27,000 Gabion Seat Walls $18,000 The park design was presented to Council at the June 28, 2016 Work Session. At this meeting, several concerns and questions were raised. Responses to these issues are provided below: Creek Play Area Design The creek play area is designed as a place where visitors can safely access and play in McClelland Creek. The creek is a popular place for play today, with numerous rope swings fabricated by residents. In its current state, McClelland Creek is approximately 3’ wide, with many instances of steep slopes and eroding banks. In order to stabilize the eroding banks, the slopes of the creek banks will be laid back with additional plantings provided for stabilization. The restoration of the creek banks are being designed and funded through the Stormwater Stream Rehabilitation Program. A similar restoration effort was completed at Radiant Park in 2013. Meandering crushed stone paths lead visitors down to the creek play area. Sandstone blocks steps, and low walls are provided at the edges of the banks to provide places to sit and play. A concrete ramp provides safe entry into the creek. The width of the creek in the creek play area is approximately 24’ wide. The bottom of the creek play area is surfaced with a textured concrete that provides a non-slip surface for wading in the water and reduce erosion. Water depth is approximately 6”. There is a sand beach play area on the north side of the creek and in the island. Reclaimed logs from the site provide bridges for crossing the creek in several places. Trees and vegetation envelop the creek play area. Handicap Accessibility The park is designed to provide handicap accessibility to every major element within the park, including the shelter, restrooms, harvest room, orchard, back porch, ball fields, creek play, community garden, multi-purpose fields, basketball court, BMX course and trails throughout the park. The playground is designed to provide accessible play elements that comply or exceed requirements of the American Disabilities Act (ADA). Within the play barn and silo structures, there are a total of 28 elevated play events provided. Of those 28, 23 are accessible by either transfer steps or ramp. In addition to the elevated play elements, there are 18 ground level events that are accessible. As shown in the chart below, these totals far exceed what is required by the ADA. Southeast Community Park Playground Accessibility Provided Required Total # of Elevated Play Components 28 - Total Events Accessible via Transfer Steps 15 8 Agenda Item 19 Item # 19 Page 3 Provided Required Total Events Accessible via Ramp 8 8 Total Accessible Ground Level Events 18 9 Different Types of Ground Level Events 12 5 Rationale for Nature in the City Funding Nature in the City’s (NIC) 2016 capital budget is $200,000. Thus, the proposed $100,000 investment in the Southeast Community Park represents 50% of the 2016 capital budget. The creek play area represents an opportunity to meet many of the programmatic goals of NIC such as access to nature and encouraging native wildlife (in this case reintroduced native fish). From staff’s perspective, the play area represents a high leverage investment given the adjoining investments in public infrastructure and an expected high level of public use. Staff currently are exploring and pursuing numerous other NIC opportunities with public and private partners throughout the community Lee Martinez Park Raw Water Funds Based on Council input at the June 28 Work Session, the $300,000 appropriated for raw water conversion at Lee Martinez Park will not be used for raw water purchase at Southeast Community Park. Instead, other improvements to existing community parks will be considered. Council Involvement in Future Community Parks At the June 28 Work Session, Council expressed interest in more involvement during the design process for community parks. More discussion needs to occur on this topic, likely at the time the Parks & Recreation Plan will be updated, currently scheduled for 2019. CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS The sources and amounts of the appropriation request are as follows: Community Park Capital Expansion Reserves $1,638,000 Transfer to Cultural Services and Facilities Fund $ 16,380 Total $1,654,380 City staff recommends approval of a project shortfall appropriation in the amount of $1,638,000. Use of existing Community Parkland Capital Expansion Reserves will shift available funding to an ongoing project with an imminent need. These funds are intended for community park construction purposes and will be applied to satisfy that purpose at the Southeast Community Park Project. BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION The Parks and Recreation Board has reviewed the Southeast Community Park concept, along with staff recommendations to address community concerns, and supports the overall park design. The Board has not reviewed the proposed funding approach for the project. PUBLIC OUTREACH Four community meetings were conducted over the life of the project to gather resident feedback on the Southeast Community Park design. An online survey was prepared for citizens to provide input. The park concept was revised considerably based on citizen feedback to address concerns of light spill into adjacent neighborhood and traffic congestion. Following these changes, the park has been well received and eagerly anticipated by residents. Agenda Item 19 Item # 19 Page 4 ATTACHMENTS 1. Powerpoint presentation (PDF) Kurt Friesen, Park Planning & Development Director 11 7-19-16 Southeast Community Park ATTACHMENT 1 Park Location 2 Mulberry Mulberrry ulb ry Prospect Drake Horsetooth Harmony Ziegler Kechter I-25 Timberline Lemay Park Site Khtt K Design Process Overview • 4 project community meetings conducted • Park design changed considerably in 2014 in response to neighborhood concerns and the silo relocation opportunity • On line survey comments received • The park as designed has received enthusiastic support from residents 3 Neighborhood Concerns • Traffic congestion along Kechter • Lighted fields near homes • Playground close to Kechter • BMX course highly visible from Ziegler 4 Neighborhood Concerns Addressed • Park entry off Ziegler instead of Kechter • Dispersed parking • Ball fields lighted away from homes • Playground centrally located • BMX course in discreet location BMX P P P P Playground Lighted Ball Fields Multi-purpose Fields Prairie Landscape 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 13 The Coulees Multi- Purpose Fields Ball Fields Dog Park BMX Prairie Landscape Pond The Homestead 13 14 15 Community Garden Hops Trellis Farm House Shelter Harvest Table Back Porch Orchard Vertical Gardens Creek 16 Farm House Shelter Silos – Timberline & Prospect 17 18 19 20 21 Playground Accessibility Ground Level Event Transfer Accessible Event Ramp Accessible Event Elevated – Not Accessible Transfer Step Example 22 Ground Level 23 24 Level One 25 Level One 26 Level One 27 Level Two 28 Level Two 29 30 31 32 33 Sand Beach Sand Island Log Bridges Sandstone Steps Crushed Ramp Stone Walk Log Benches Sandstone Edge Nature in the City Partnership 34 • 2016 NIC Capital Budget is $200,000. $100,000 is proposed to Southeast Community Park creek play area • The project meets NIC goals including access to nature & encouraging native wildlife (reintroduced native fish) • High leverage NIC investment with adjoining park • City Boards to review NIC projects Level of Service Comparison 35 Fossil Creek Community Park Spring Canyon Community Park Southeast Community Park Park Acreage 99.5 110 54 Shelters 2 group, 1 picnic 5 group, 3 picnic 1 group Tennis Courts 533 Multi-purpose Fields 252 Basketball Courts 2 lighted 3 unlighted 1 unlighted Dog Park 1 acre 2 acres 1 acre Skate Park 110 Unique Elements In Line Hockey Mountain Bike Trials Course Sand Volleyball Veterans Memorial Harvest Room Fruit Orchard Hops Trellis Community Garden BMX Course Park Funding Summary 36 Total Spent to Date (Tennis Courts, Pond, Streets, Design) $ 4,000,000 New Construction $10,500,000 Permit/Fees $838,000 Contingency (8%) $780,000 Total $16,118,000 Funding Available $10,000,000 Nature in the City Contribution $100,000 Stormwater Stream Rehabilitation Program $380,000 Funding Shortfall $1,638,000 Art in Public Places Contribution $16,380 Total Funding Request $1,654,380 Staff Recommendation Staff recommends full funding of the park • As designed, the park provides a comparable level of service with other community parks • The park provides some unique elements not found in other parks in the City • The park design has been enthusiastically received by residents of southeast Fort Collins 37 -1- ORDINANCE NO. 094, 2016 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS APPROPRIATING PRIOR YEAR RESERVES IN THE CAPITAL EXPANSION FUND FOR TRANSFER TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND AND THE CULTURAL SERVICES AND FACILITIES FUND FOR THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM FOR THE SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY PARK WHEREAS, in order to construct the Southeast Community Project (the “Project”) as designed and on the current schedule, staff has identified a need for additional funding; and WHEREAS, staff has identified One Million Six Hundred Thirty Eight Thousand Dollars ($1,638,000) available from the Capital Expansion Fund Reserves as an eligible funding source to complete the Project as designed; and WHEREAS, staff presented its proposal for additional Project funding and sought Council input at the June 28, 2016 Council work session; and WHEREAS, under the City Code, one percent of the final appropriation for the Project must be transferred to the Cultural Services and Facilities Fund for a contribution to the Art in Public Places (APP) program, with 75% (totaling $12,776) reserved for the APP artwork component of project and 25% (totaling $3,604) reserved for maintenance of the artwork and operations of the APP program; and WHEREAS, Article V, Section 9, of the City Charter permits the City Council to make supplemental appropriation by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year, provided that the total amount of such supplemental appropriation, 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, staff has determined the appropriation of revenue proposed 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 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 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: -2- Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and findings contained in the recitals set forth above. Section 2. That there is hereby appropriated from prior year reserves in the Capital Expansion Fund the sum of ONE MILLION SIX HUNDRED THIRTY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,638,000) for transfer to and expenditure in the Capital Projects Fund for the Southeast Community Park Project. Section 3. That the unexpended appropriated amount of TWELVE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY SIX DOLLARS ($12,776) in the Capital Projects Fund for the Southeast Community Park Project is authorized for transfer to the Cultural Services and Facilities Fund and appropriated therein for the Art in Public Places Art Project. Section 4. That the unexpended appropriated amount of THREE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FOUR DOLLARS ($3,604) in the Capital Projects Fund for the Southeast Community Park Project is authorized for transfer to the Cultural Services and Facilities Fund and appropriated therein for the Art in Public Places Maintenance and Operations. Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 19th day of July, A.D. 2016, and to be presented for final passage on the 16th day of August, A.D. 2016. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _______________________________ City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading on this 16th day of August, A.D. 2016. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk