HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 03/19/2019 - RESOLUTION 2019-035 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TAgenda Item 14
Item # 14 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY March 19, 2019
City Council
TITLE OF RESOLUTION AMENDED 3/19/19
STAFF
John Stokes, Natural Resources Director
Wendy Williams, Assistant City Manager
Jody Hurst, Legal
SUBJECT
Resolution 2019-035 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement Between the
City and Poudre School District for the Nature in the City Program.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to authorize the City of Fort Collins Nature in the City Program to enter into an
intergovernmental agreement with the Poudre School District. The Agreement sets the terms by which Poudre
School District and The City of Fort Collins Nature in the City Program will collaborate to build outdoor
educational program spaces, called Learning Habitats, at District schools. These Learning Habitats will provide
engaging outdoor features that connect students to nature, create functional micro-habitat for local wildlife,
increase academic achievement, and drive community engagement.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
The intergovernmental agreement between Poudre School District (PSD) and the City of Fort Collins Nature in
the City (NIC) Program outlines the terms by which NIC and the School District will collaborate to successfully
install projects awarded to the school via the NIC Learning Habitat grant. These terms outline both PSD and NIC
staff roles to facilitate design, construction, and maintenance of the Learning Habitat projects on PSD sites.
NIC has already installed several Learning Habitats at PSD schools in the past, each time renegotiating the
terms, roles, and responsibilities to design, install, and maintain the project. This Agreement sets forth one
standard that can be followed for future projects to increase efficiencies and facilitate success for both entities.
A current project at Lesher Middle School has been on hold since last fall due to challenges in developing this
agreement. Now that both agencies have settled on the attached agreeable terms, and pending approval by City
Council, the Lesher Middle School Learning Habitat will be installed in May 2019. The consequence of not
approving this agreement would be a significant setback to the partnership between NIC and PSD to accomplish
mutually beneficial projects.
CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS
There are no direct impacts to the City’s financial resources from execution of this Agreement. Each approved
project will have its own documentation regarding the scope and cost of the project, which will vary. The
Agreement does set the stage for more efficient processes to reduce staff time negotiating project specifics for
each project, hence it will indirectly save staff time and City resources.
Agenda Item 14
Item # 14 Page 2
BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Due to weather, the March 13, 2019 meeting of the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board was cancelled
so the Board was unable to offer its recommendation.
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RESOLUTION 2019-035
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND
POUDRE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE NATURE IN THE CITY PROGRAM
WHEREAS, on March 24, 2015, the Council adopted the Nature in the City Strategic Plan
as an element of the City’s Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Nature in the City Program’s vision is to have a connected open space
network accessible to the entire community and provide a variety of experiences and functional
habitat for people, plants, and wildlife; and
WHEREAS, to help realize this vision, Nature in the City developed a capital project
program to implement small “on the ground” community projects; and
WHEREAS, coordinating with Poudre School District (“the District”) to leverage these
program funds to create outdoor classrooms and experiential play spaces (“Learning Habitats”) on
District sites advances the level of services for educators and students alike, connects students to
nature, provides wildlife habitat and empowers them to learn and recreate at on-site nature features;
and
WHEREAS, Nature in the City has installed several Learning Habitats at District schools
in the past, each time renegotiating details of those agreements; and
WHEREAS, City Council finds that entering into an Intergovernmental Agreement
(“IGA”) with the District will create efficiencies and facilitate success for the City and the District;
and
WHEREAS, the City and the District have negotiated a proposed IGA, a copy of which is
attached hereto as Exhibit “A” and incorporated herein by reference; and
WHEREAS, Article II, Section 16 of the City Charter empowers the City Council, by
ordinance or resolution, to enter into contracts with governmental bodies to furnish governmental
services and make charges for such services, or enter into cooperative or joint activities with other
governmental bodies; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that entering into this IGA is in the best
interests of the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and
findings contained in the recitals set forth above.
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Section 2. That the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute an agreement
substantially in the form of Exhibit “A”, with such modifications and additional terms and
conditions consistent with this Resolution as the City Manager, in consultation with the City
Attorney, determines to be necessary and appropriate to protect the interests of the City or
effectuate the purposes of this Resolution.
Passed and adopted on at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this
19th day of March, A.D. 2019.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Clerk
EXHIBIT A