HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - COMPLETE AGENDA - 12/12/2017 - COMPLETE AGENDACity of Fort Collins Page 1
Wade Troxell, Mayor City Council Chambers
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Carrie Daggett Darin Atteberry Delynn Coldiron
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Adjourned Meeting
December 12, 2017
6:00 p.m.
• CALL MEETING TO ORDER
• ROLL CALL
1. Resolution 2017-106 Authorizing Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement Concerning
Boxelder Basin Regional Stormwater Authority Project Improvements. (staff: Mike Beckstead; 10
minute staff presentation; 20 minute discussion)
The purpose of this item is to authorize the Mayor to execute a new intergovernmental agreement
among the founding members of the Boxelder Basin Regional Stormwater Authority (BBRSA) and
the Town of Timnath (or the Timnath Development Authority) (Timnath). Several issues and
concerns have been raised by the founding members of the BBRSA concerning fees, long term
asset maintenance and how the BBRSA will be ultimately dissolved. Staff has worked with the other
members and Timnath (not a member of the Authority but a participant in the funding of an Authority
asset) to resolve outstanding issues and propose a path to long term asset care and Authority
dissolution.
The proposed Agreement memorializes the agreements among the parties. With this agreement, all
members commit to promptly remitting all fees due the BBRSA which will allow final payment of the
Day Settlement by Dec 31, 2017. The agreement includes cost sharing details for future expenses,
creation of maintenance reserve accounts for the two principal assets, outlines the transfer of these
assets to Larimer County plus the maintenance reserve accounts after the Colorado Water
Conservation Board (CWCB) loans are paid in full and maintenance reserve accounts have been
filled from BBRSA revenue and provisions for allocation of maintenance and repair costs in excess of
the funded reserve accounts.
City of Fort Collins Page 2
2. Consideration of a motion to adjourn into executive session.
• OTHER BUSINESS
• ADJOURNMENT
Agenda Item 1
Item # 1 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY December 12, 2017
City Council
STAFF
Mike Beckstead, Chief Financial Officer
Judy Schmidt, Legal
SUBJECT
Resolution 2017-106 Authorizing Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement Concerning Boxelder Basin
Regional Stormwater Authority Project Improvements.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to authorize the Mayor to execute a new intergovernmental agreement among the
founding members of the Boxelder Basin Regional Stormwater Authority (BBRSA) and the Town of Timnath
(or the Timnath Development Authority) (Timnath). Several issues and concerns have been raised by the
founding members of the BBRSA concerning fees, long term asset maintenance and how the BBRSA will be
ultimately dissolved. Staff has worked with the other members and Timnath (not a member of the Authority but
a participant in the funding of an Authority asset) to resolve outstanding issues and propose a path to long
term asset care and Authority dissolution.
The proposed Agreement memorializes the agreements among the parties. With this agreement, all members
commit to promptly remitting all fees due the BBRSA which will allow final payment of the Day Settlement by
Dec 31, 2017. The agreement includes cost sharing details for future expenses, creation of maintenance
reserve accounts for the two principal assets, outlines the transfer of these assets to Larimer County plus the
maintenance reserve accounts after the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) loans are paid in full
and maintenance reserve accounts have been filled from BBRSA revenue and provisions for allocation of
maintenance and repair costs in excess of the funded reserve accounts.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
The BBRSA was formed in 2008 with the objective to resolve stormwater issues within the multi-jurisdictional
Boxelder Basin that includes Fort Collins, Wellington and Larimer County. Three major projects were
completed: (1) the Coal Creek Flood Mitigation (Clark Reservoir), (2) the Larimer/ Weld Canal Crossing
Structure and (3) the East Side Detention Facility (ESDF).
Fees were established by the BBRSA for residential and commercial properties within its established
boundary. These fees are primarily collected by the municipalities as part of their Stormwater Utility and
remitted to the BBRSA annually. Fees have been collected by the BBRSA for Larimer County who does not
have a Stormwater Utility.
A large FEMA grant was used to construct the Coal Creek Flood Mitigation project and loans from the
Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) were used to fund the other projects. All projects planned have
been built and are complete. Two issues remain on the ESDF. Final payment of the Day settlement, resolving
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Agenda Item 1
Item # 1 Page 2
litigation in connection with the acquisition of property for the ESDF, must be completed by December 31,
2017 and a potential water augmentation issue must be resolved.
Staff has worked with the member municipalities to define the percentage share of CWCB principal and
interest and BBRSA Operations and Maintenance (O&M) expenditures, and the percentage share of future
long-term maintenance costs for both the Coal Creek Flood Mitigation (Clark Reservoir) and ESDF facilities will
be borne by the feepayers in each jurisdiction. Staff has also worked with Timnath to undertake a share of
long-term maintenance costs for the ESDF. The proposed allocations are based on an estimation of costs and
benefits to the member entities and Timnath.
Table A summarizes how the percentage share of debt payments, O&M, and Day Settlement (including
possible water augmentation funding) and year end 2016 fund balance is allocated.
Table A
Table B summarizes the percentage share for allocation of long term maintenance costs. The percentages
apply to the share for the feepayers of each entity in building the maintenance reserve accounts and the share
that each entity’s feepayers would be responsible for in the event additional funding is needed in the future.
Future funding is subject to appropriation.
Table B
Debt & Operations Cost Debt O&M
Total Debt & Annual O&M $10,975k $110k yr + Infl
Town 25% - $2.7M 25% - $27.5K
County 25% - $2.7M 25% - $27.5K
City 25% - $2.7M 25% - $27.5K
Timnath 25% - $2.7M 25% - $27.5K
Day & Water Aug 2016 Fund Bal
Day Settlement/Water Augmentation & 2016 Year End Balance
Total Debt & Annual O&M $1,361k $489k
Town 25% - $340k 33% - 163K
County 25% - $340k 33% - 163K
City 25% - $340k 33% - 163K
Timnath 25% - $340k 0%
Maintenance Reserve Coal Creek ESDF
Initial Funding Maint Reserve $1M $1.2M
Member Share
Town 50% - $500K 0%
County 25% - $250K 33% - 400K
City 25% - $250K 33% - 400K
Timnath 0% 33% - 400K
Authority Revenues used to fill maintenance reserves
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Agenda Item 1
Item # 1 Page 3
Additional agreement details include;
1. Waive reimbursement of grant matching funds (total $1M; City share $200K) provided by the member
entities in 2009 to fund Clark Reservoir project (FEMA grant funded remainder of this project).
2. All fees for 2016 will be remitted by Wellington to the BBRSA upon approval of the agreement by the
governing body of all parties.
3. Members ratify the CWCB loan modification and the Day Settlement by signature of the new agreement.
4. Commitment to synchronize the CWCB loan paydown with the build-up of the maintenance reserve
accounts.
5. BBRSA dissolves when the loan is paid off and the reserve maintenance accounts are fully funded. At
which time, the assets and the reserve maintenance accounts transfer to Larimer County who has the
responsibility for ongoing maintenance.
6. In the event additional funding beyond the reserve maintenance accounts is required to support the future
asset maintenance, the agreement establishes the percentage share each entity or its feepayers will be
responsible for. These future obligations are also subject to appropriation.
7. Include an annexation clause to address appropriate adjustments in the event of annexation.
8. True up of BBRSA revenue at dissolution to align with percentage share commitments within the new
agreement.
9. Establishment of an oversight committee to meet once or twice a year to ensure the details of the original
Boxelder IGA and this new agreement are maintained.
CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS
The new agreement does not create any new obligations for the City rate payers related to debt, O&M, or
maintenance reserves funded by BBRSA revenue. The new agreement does commit the City to continuing to
collect and pay the fees to the Authority and directly establishes the percentage share for each entity if
additional long term maintenance funding (in excess of the reserve fund for the relevant asset) is required.
BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
The framework and details of the new agreement were reviewed with the Water Board on November 16, 2017.
The Board had several questions, but did not take formal action on the matter.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Powerpoint presentation (PDF)
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Boxelder Storm Water Update 1
November 1 2017
ATTACHMENT 1
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation [Revision 1] (6257 : Boxelder Stormwater Authority IGA)
History
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• Boxelder Authority formed in 2009
• Objectives:
1. Resolve storm water issues within multi
jurisdictional Boxelder basin
2. Wellington, Fort Collins & County
• 3 Major Projects
1. Coal Creek / Clark Reservoir
2. Larimer Weld Canal
3. East Side Detention Facility
• Revenue - $66 per residence, commercial
per impervious area, no charge to
agriculture
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation [Revision 1] (6257 : Boxelder Stormwater Authority IGA)
Issues Under Review
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• Costs exceeded initial estimates
• Board questions on billing accuracy
• How/Who will manage long term
asset maintenance
• Appropriate sharing of future costs
• When should Authority be dissolved
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation [Revision 1] (6257 : Boxelder Stormwater Authority IGA)
Technical Fee Team
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• Billing team has reviewed billing accuracy and prior fee audit reports.
• Fee waivers – resolved per memo from Pinnacle,
• Boundary property and Out Building property – confirmed current policy
Recommend - if outbuilding is 2k sq ft or more, treat as residential
• Agricultural – Recommend no change to current agricultural billing
• Draft Report in process
Team: Ed Cannon (Wellington), Eric Tracy (County) Mike Beckstead (FC)
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation [Revision 1] (6257 : Boxelder Stormwater Authority IGA)
Framework Team
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Discussions focused on:
• Appropriate Member share of future costs
• Debt service
• Authority O&M
• Long Term Asset Maintenance Care
• Long term asset maintenance cost share
• Clark Reservoir
• ESDP
• Share by member / Timnath involvement
• Timing of asset transfer and Authority
dissolution
Team:
• Ed Cannon (Wellington)
• Jeff Kahn (Attorney Wellington)
• Richard Seaworth (Wellington)
• Todd Blomstrom (County)
• Eric Tracy (County)
• Jeanine Haag (Attorney County)
• Bill Ressue (Attorney County)
• Mike Beckstead (FC)
• Judy Schmidt (Attorney FC)
Note: “Member” refers to the rate payers of each member jurisdiction that pay future costs
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation [Revision 1] (6257 : Boxelder Stormwater Authority IGA)
Debt & Operations Cost
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• Revenues between 3 parties is
largely 1/3 each over life loan
• Timnath has committed to ¼ of
ESDP construction/financing
• Timnath supportive of O&M share
• Propose – Syncronize Debt pay
down with LT Maint Reserve
All Funding for These Items comes from Authority Revenues….
No Additional Funding is Needed for These Items after the Authority is
Dissolved and Assets are Transferred
Debt & Operations Cost Debt O&M
Total Debt & Annual O&M $10,975k $110k yr + Infl
Town 25% ‐ $2.7M 25% ‐ $27.5K
County 25% ‐ $2.7M 25% ‐ $27.5K
City 25% ‐ $2.7M 25% ‐ $27.5K
Timnath 25% ‐ $2.7M 25% ‐ $27.5K
Day & Water Aug 2016 Fund Bal
Day Settlement/Water Augmentation & 2016 Year End Balance
Total Debt & Annual O&M $1,361k $489k
Town 25% ‐ $340k 33% ‐ 163K
County 25% ‐ $340k 33% ‐ 163K
City 25% ‐ $340k 33% ‐ 163K
Timnath 25% ‐ $340k 0%
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation [Revision 1] (6257 : Boxelder Stormwater Authority IGA)
Long Term Asset Maintenance
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• Assets part of a system yet
substantially independent
• Town benefits more from Clark
• Timnath supportive of sharing
maintenance cost of ESDP
• Each member should develop
an internal dedicated fund
specific to these assets to
support potential future needs
After Authority is Dissolved and Assets are Transferred,
Funding Requests Will/May Be Needed Over Time – will be Based on %
Maintenance Reserve Coal Creek ESDP
Initial Funding Maint Reserve $1M $1.2M
Member Share
Town 50% ‐ $500K 0%
County 25% ‐ $250K 33% ‐ 400K
City 25% ‐ $250K 33% ‐ 400K
Timnath 0% 33% ‐ 400K
Authority Revenues used to fill maintenance reserves
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation [Revision 1] (6257 : Boxelder Stormwater Authority IGA)
Authority Cashflow
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y
Sources Forecast Indicates Ability to Repay Loan, Build Maintenance
Reserves and Dissolve Authority Prior to 2031
Fort Collins Wellington County Timnath Other Total
Sources
Storm Water Fees $ 6,804 $ 6,996 $ 7,415 $ 21,214
Development Fees 1,049 1,568 249 2,866
Timnath 4,493 4,493
Loans & Grants 11,740 11,740
Grant Match / Other 525 302 821 332 179 2,159
Total Sources $ 8,378 $ 8,866 $ 8,485 $ 4,825 $ 11,919 $ 42,472
Uses
Coal Creek 5,413
County Road 52 1,813
Larimer Weld Canal 932
East Side Detention 12,534
Authority O&M 3,285
Loan Principle & Interest 11,106
Grant Match 985
Maintenance Reserves 2,200
Total Uses $ 38,269
Fund Balance 2031 $ 4,203
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation [Revision 1] (6257 : Boxelder Stormwater Authority IGA)
Agreement Details
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• All member waive grant match reimbursement
• All fees remitted by all members by Dec 2017
• Wellington ratifies and approves the Day Settlement
• Synchronize CWCB pay down with maintenance reserve build up
• Authority dissolved when loan paid down, assets and care reserve transferred
• Anticipate 2027/2028 timeframe
• Need an annexation/revenue adjustment – Mulberry/Timnath implications
• Potential timing of member revenue vs. cost %
• One member may reach thresholds sooner than others
• Pinnacle should track revenue/expenditures per agreement
• Require some degree of ongoing monitoring
• Possible oversight review committee meet once/twice year
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation [Revision 1] (6257 : Boxelder Stormwater Authority IGA)
Summary Considerations
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• Creates no new obligation for the City rate payers related to Debt, O&M,
Maintenance Reserves funded by Authority revenue.
• Long-term – establishes a % of shared cost each member will pay for Debt & O&M
expenditures
• Long-term – County takes over asset maintenance (assets and care reserve
transferred to the county when Authority is dissolved
• Long-term – County will/may ask for additional asset care funding if needed base
on the % noted in the agreement
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation [Revision 1] (6257 : Boxelder Stormwater Authority IGA)
Next Steps
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• CFC Review Scheduled Nov 20th
• FC Council Dec 12th
– IGA/Agreement Resolution Adoption & CWCB
ratification
• County & Town elected officials adoption IGA/Agreement and CWCB
ratification prior to mid December
• Town pays 2016 fees to allow Authority to make the final payment on the
Day settlement by Dec 31.
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation [Revision 1] (6257 : Boxelder Stormwater Authority IGA)
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Back-Up
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation [Revision 1] (6257 : Boxelder Stormwater Authority IGA)
Funding
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• Revenue
• Service Fees (Annual)
• Single Family1
-- $66
• Mobile Homes -- $49.50 to $56.10
• Apartment -- $66 per Unit
• Commercial -- $0.033 per Sq Ft of
Impervious Area
• System Development Fees (similar to PIF. One time
payment at time of development)
• Single Family1
-- $440
• Mobile Homes -- $330 to $374
• Apartment -- $440 per unit
• Commercial -- $0.22 per Sq Ft of
Impervious Area
1 Includes agricultural properties that have a residence
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation [Revision 1] (6257 : Boxelder Stormwater Authority IGA)
Issues Under Review
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• Total Costs exceeded Conceptual Plan Estimates
• Cost Estimates were done 10 years ago
• Larger East Side Detention Facility (Timnath)
• Timnath cost participation offsets increase
• Higher real estate acquisition cost
• Wellington questions on SW fee billing accuracy
• After detailed review, no significant discrepancies
• How/Who will manage long term asset O & M costs
• Appropriate sharing of future O & M costs
• When should Authority be dissolved
• Authority must pay off CWCB loans
• Agreement on asset ownership transfers and long
term O & M costs
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation [Revision 1] (6257 : Boxelder Stormwater Authority IGA)
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RESOLUTION 2017-106
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL
AGREEMENT CONCERNING BOXELDER BASIN REGIONAL
STORMWATER AUTHORITY PROJECT IMPROVEMENTS
WHEREAS, the City of Fort Collins (the “City”), Board of Commissioners of Larimer
County, Colorado (the “County”) and Town of Wellington, Colorado (the “Town”) are the
founding Members of the Boxelder Basin Regional Stormwater Authority (“BBRSA” or
“Authority”), a separate governmental entity to be known as a drainage authority established
pursuant to C.R.S. Section 29-1-204.2(1), under that certain Intergovernmental Agreement for
Stormwater Cooperation and Management dated August 20, 2008, and First Amendment to
Intergovernmental Agreement for Stormwater Cooperation and Management dated June 16,
2014, (collectively, the "Boxelder IGA''); and
WHEREAS, the Authority has, pursuant to the Boxelder IGA, financed, constructed and
completed the Coal Creek/Clark Reservoir Flood Mitigation Project (“Clark Reservoir”), the
Larimer and Weld Canal Crossing Structure, the County Road 52 Project and the East Side
Detention Facility (the “ESDF,” formerly known as the Gray Lakes Project) (each of which may
be individually referred to as a “Project,” or collectively as the “Projects”); and
WHEREAS, the Larimer and Weld Canal Crossing Structure is complete and is owned
and operated by the Larimer and Weld Canal Company; and
WHEREAS, the County Road 52 Project was completed and paid for pursuant to a
separate intergovernmental agreement and is owned and operated by the County; and
WHEREAS, financing for the Projects included three loans to the Authority by the
Colorado Water Conservation Board (“CWCB”), which loans remain outstanding; and
WHEREAS, the Authority has also entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement dated
November 15, 2012, (the “Timnath IGA”) with the Timnath Development Authority of Colorado
(the “TDA”) which provides for TDA’s participation in the cost of constructing and financing
the ESDF; and
WHEREAS, although no further regional storm drainage projects are to be constructed
by the Authority pursuant to the Boxelder IGA, the Authority owns, operates and maintains the
ESDF, has long-term maintenance obligations for Clark Reservoir under an agreement dated
January 5, 2011, with the North Poudre Irrigation Company and assesses fees to properties
located within its service area, which are benefitted by the Projects; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the First Amendment to the IGA, the Authority is to sunset and
be dissolved no later than June 16, 2024, if certain conditions are met, including completion of
the Projects, payment in full of all CWCB loans and agreement among the Members as to (i)
performance of continuing obligations of the Authority, including operation and maintenance
responsibilities for the Projects; (ii) reimbursement of matching funds provided by the Members
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to the Authority for a FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant in the total amount of one million
dollars ($1,000,000); and (iii) disbursement of any revenue remaining in the authority after
termination and winding up of all financial and legal obligations of the Authority (the
“Conditions”); and
WHEREAS, at its meeting on May 4, 2017, the Authority Board of Directors, which
includes directors appointed by the Member entities who are parties to the Boxelder IGA (City,
County, and Town), adopted a motion requesting that the Authority Manager submit a
Preliminary Conceptual Outline for Transition Process prepared by the County (the
“Framework”) to the City, County, Town, and the TDA seeking their participation in working
group to discuss and formulate recommendations; and
WHEREAS, on May 9, 2017, the City Council adopted Resolution 2017-041 supporting
the Framework and the City-named representatives’ participation in the working group; and
WHEREAS, on June 6, 2017, the City Council adopted Resolution 2017-054 expressing
commitment to work in good faith through the working group in an effort to reach agreement
allocating the Authority’s long term obligations for perpetual maintenance and operation of the
Projects, identifying recommended changes to the ongoing operation and maintenance costs
related the operation of the Authority, and facilitating retention by the Authority of fee revenue
to fill its ongoing obligations until payment in full of the CWCB loans, and
WHEREAS, a technical working group of representatives of the County (Eric Tracy), the
Town (Ed Canon, Town Manager), and the City (Mike Beckstead, CFO) has now resolved
longstanding questions regarding the appropriate and equitable assessment of fees among
properties in the service area by the Authority; and
WHEREAS, a second working group of Member representatives has discussed the
Framework and resolution of long-term financial and ownership issues and long-term operation
and maintenance of the Projects that are intended to, over the remaining period of the CWCB
loans, address the Conditions to dissolution of the Authority set forth in the First Amendment to
the IGA; and
WHEREAS, the Members wish to address their participation in the Authority and the
Members and Timnath wish to provide for participation in the long-term maintenance of the
Projects in the manner set forth in the Intergovernmental Agreement Concerning Boxelder Basin
Regional Stormwater Authority Project Improvements among the County, City and Town as
Members and parties to the Boxelder IGA, and Timnath attached hereto as Exhibit “A” and
incorporated by this reference (the “Member/Timnath IGA”) to facilitate satisfaction of the
Conditions over the remaining period of the CWCB loans and prepare for the eventual
termination and dissolution of the Authority at or about the date when the CWCB loans are paid
in full; and
WHEREAS, Article II, Section 16 of the City of Fort Collins Charter empowers the City
Council, by ordinance and resolution, to enter into contracts with governmental bodies to furnish
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governmental services and make charges for such services, or enter into cooperative or joint
activities with other governmental bodies; and
WHEREAS, Section 29-1-203 of the Colorado Revised Statutes and as to the County,
Article XIV, Section 18 of the Colorado Constitution, provides that governments may cooperate
or contract with one another to provide certain services or facilities when such cooperation or
contracts are authorized by each party thereto with the approval of its legislative body or other
authority having the power to so approve; and
WHEREAS, under Section 1-22 of the City code, intergovernmental agreements and
other cooperative arrangements between the City and other governmental entities are to be
submitted to the City Council for review, unless they fit within one of the exceptions that permit
execution by the City Manager; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it is in the best interests of the City and its
citizens to approve and finalize the Member/Timnath IGA.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes all determinations and findings
contained in the recitals set forth above.
Section 2. That the Mayor is hereby authorized to execute the Member/Timnath IGA
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit “A,” with such modifications and additions
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 set forth herein and not
otherwise inconsistent with this Resolution.
Passed and adopted at an adjourned meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins
this 12th day of December, A.D. 2017.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
City Clerk
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AMENDED VERSION
Page 1 of 14
2017‐12‐7 FINAL CITY CLEAN
AGREEMENT
CONCERNING BOXELDER BASIN REGIONAL STORMWATER AUTHORITY
PROJECT IMPROVEMENTS
This Agreement (“Agreement”) is effective this _________ day of
____________________, 2017 among the Board of County Commissioners of Larimer County
("County"); City of Fort Collins ("City"), Town of Wellington ("Town”), and the Timnath
Development Authority of Colorado ("Timnath"). These entities may collectively be referred to
as "Parties" or individually as a “Party”. The County, City, and Town may collectively be referred
to as “Members” or individually as a “Member”.
I. RECITALS
A. The County, City, and Town are the founding Members of the Boxelder Basin
Regional Stormwater Authority (“Authority”), a separate governmental entity known as a
drainage authority established pursuant to C.R.S. Section 29-1-204.2(1), under that certain
Intergovernmental Agreement for Stormwater Cooperation and Management dated August 20,
2008 ("Boxelder IGA" or “IGA”), and First Amendment to Intergovernmental Agreement for
Stormwater Cooperation and Management dated June 16, 2014 ("First Amendment").
B. The Authority financed, constructed and completed regional stormwater facilities,
including those known as the Coal Creek/Clark Reservoir Project (“Clark Reservoir Project”), the
Larimer and Weld Canal Crossing Structure (“L&W Crossing Structure”); the County Road 52
Project, and the East Side Detention Facility (“ESDF”) (which may be collectively referred to as
the “Projects”). The financing for the Clark Reservoir, Larimer and Weld Crossing Structure,
and ESDF Projects included three loans to the Authority by the Colorado Water Conservation
Board ("CWCB Loans"), which loans remain outstanding. The debt service on the CWCB Loans
is referred to as the “CWCB Debt Service.”
C. The County Road 52 Project was completed and paid for pursuant to a separate
intergovernmental agreement pursuant to which the County owns and operates the improvements,
which are integrated into and within the County’s right of way for County Road 52; and
D. The L&W Canal Crossing Structure is also complete and is owned and operated by
the L&W Canal Company; and
E. The Authority has entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement dated November
15, 2012 with Timnath which provides for Timnath’s participation in the construction and
financing costs for the ESDF (“Timnath Agreement”); and
F. The Authority has also entered into the Coal Creek Flood Mitigation and
Operation Agreement with the North Poudre Irrigation Company (“NPIC”) dated January 5,
2011, (“Coal Creek/Clark Reservoir Agreement”) to provide funding and performance of the
long-term maintenance obligations for the Clark Reservoir Project.
EXHIBIT A
AMENDED VERSION
Page 2 of 14
2017‐12‐7 FINAL CITY CLEAN
G. Pursuant to the Boxelder IGA and First Amendment, the Authority owns, operates
and maintains the ESDF, has long-term maintenance obligations for the Clark Reservoir Project
under the Coal Creek/Clark Reservoir Agreement, and assesses fees to properties located within
its Service Area and benefitted by the Projects; and
H. Pursuant to the First Amendment, the Authority is to be dissolved no later than
June 16, 2034, if certain conditions are met, including completion of the Projects, payment in
full of all CWCB Loans and agreement among the Members as to (i) performance of continuing
obligations of the Authority, including operation and maintenance responsibilities for the
Projects; (ii) reimbursement of matching funds provided by the Members to the Authority for a
FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant in the amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000); and (iii)
disbursement of any revenue remaining in the Authority after termination and winding up of all
financial and legal obligations of the Authority (the “Conditions”); and
I. In response to the Projects being completed and to plan for and facilitate the
eventual termination of the Authority, the Parties wish to set out in this Agreement the
commitments and obligations of the Parties to address existing financial and ownership issues
and long-term operation and maintenance of the Project improvements that will, over the
remaining period of the CWCB Loans, address the Conditions to dissolve the Authority; and
J. Since no additional improvements are to be constructed by the Authority in its
Service Area, it is the intent of the Members to work with Timnath and the Authority to continue
collecting development and services fees from fee payers within each Member’s jurisdiction in
an annual and total amount not less than those fees set by the Authority and sufficient over the
remaining period of the CWCB Loans (the “Remaining Loan Repayment Period”) to fund (i) the
CWCB Debt Service; (ii) a separate designated and restricted account to be held by the Authority
for ongoing operation and maintenance of the ESDF in the ultimate amount of one million two
hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000) (the “ESDF O&M Fund”); (iii) a separate designated and
restricted account to be held by the Authority for ongoing operation and maintenance of the Clark
Reservoir Project in the ultimate amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000) (the “Clark Reservoir
O&M Fund”); and (iv) the annual administrative and operating costs of the Authority, such as
legal fees, accounting fees, office administration and office supplies, which are estimated not to
exceed eighty five thousand dollars ($85,000) per year commencing January 1, 2019, with an
estimated annual adjustment for inflation of three percent (3%) per annum commencing on
January 1, 2020 (the “Authority Annual Operating Costs”) (the CWCB Debt Service, ESDF
O&M Fund, Clark Reservoir O&M Fund and Authority Annual Operating Costs may collectively
be referred to and the “Authority Continuing Obligations”); and
K. Relating to the construction of the ESDF, the Authority entered into a settlement
agreement in Larimer County District Court Case 2014CV31057, Boxelder Basin Regional
Stormwater Authority v. John W. Day Family Partnership calling for payment of compensation in
the total amount of one million six hundred seventy-five thousand dollars ($1,675,000) (the “Day
Settlement”), which is also to funded by revenues of the Authority.
II. CONSIDERATION
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NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other
good and valuable consideration received and accepted, the Parties agree as follows:
III. TERMS
A. Financial Obligations of Boxelder Fee Payers within County
1. The Authority shall continue to collect from fee payers within the County
geographical area of the Boxelder Stormwater Basin Service Area service fees, in an amount not
less than the service fees as set by the Authority. The County shall continue to collect from fee
payers within the County geographical area of the Boxelder Stormwater Basin Service Area
development fees, in an amount not less than the fees as set by the Authority.
2. The County feepayers shall ultimately be responsible for the following cumulative
equitable share of the Authority Continuing Obligations over the period commencing January 1,
2018 through the termination of the Authority:
a. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the total CWCB Debt Service, including
principal and interest, over the Remaining Loan Repayment Period.
b. Twenty-five percent (25%) the Clark Reservoir O&M Fund.
c. Thirty-three percent (33%), of the ESDF O&M Fund.
d. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the Authority Annual Operating Costs.
3. It is the County’s intent to contract separately with the Authority to collect service fees and
to pay the cost of obtaining such services from the Authority and to self -collect the development
fees from fee payers within the County portion of the Service Area and to pay the cost of obtaining
such services from the Authority; such costs shall not be included in the Authority Annual
Operating Costs.
B. Financial Obligations of Boxelder Fee Payers within City
1. Commencing January 1, 2018 and thereafter, the City elects pursuant to Section
5.04 of the IGA to collect from fee payers within the City geographical area of the Boxelder
Stormwater Basin Service Area or otherwise remit to the Authority service and development fees,
in an amount not less than the fees as set by the Authority.
2. The City feepayers shall ultimately be responsible for the following cumulative equitable
share of the Authority Continuing Obligations over the period commencing January 1, 2018
through the termination of the Authority:
a. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the CWCB Debt Service, including principal
and interest, over the Remaining Loan Repayment Period.
b. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the Clark Reservoir O&M Fund.
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c. Thirty-three percent (33%) of the ESDF O&M Fund.
d. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the Authority Annual Operating Costs.
3. It is the City’s intent to collect and remit development fees and service fees from fee payers
within the City portion of the Service Area and to pay the cost of such collection; such costs shall
not be included in the Authority Annual Operating Costs.
C. Financial Obligations of Boxelder Fee Payers within Town
1. Commencing January 1, 2018 and thereafter, the Town elects pursuant to section
5.04 of the IGA to collect from fee payers within the Town's geographical area of the Boxelder
Stormwater Basin Service Area or otherwise remit to the Authority service and development fees,
in an amount not less than the fees as set by the Authority.
2. The Town feepayers shall ultimately be responsible for the following cumulative
equitable share of the Authority Continuing Obligations over the period commencing January 1,
2018 through the termination of the Authority:
a. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the CWCB Debt Service, including principal
and interest, during the Remaining Loan Repayment Period.
b. Fifty percent (50%) of the Clark Reservoir O&M Fund.
c. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the Authority Annual Operating Costs.
3. It is the Town’s intent to collect development fees and service fees from fee payers within
the Town portion of the Service Area and to pay the cost of such collection; such costs shall not
be included in the Authority Annual Operating Costs.
D. Financial Obligations of Timnath
1. Commencing on January 1, 2018, Timnath shall pay to the Authority the following
in consideration of benefits it receives because of the Authority's construction of the ESDF:
a. Funding and reimbursements as specified in the Timnath Agreement, which
amounts shall be billed annually and shall be paid until Timnath has paid twenty five percent (25%)
of the construction costs and financing costs of the ESDF as defined in the Timnath Agreement.
b. Thirty-three percent (33%) of the ESDF O&M Fund, which amounts
shall be billed annually
c. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the Authority Annual Operating Costs, which
amounts shall be billed annually.
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E. Operation and Maintenance of Clark Reservoir
1. Beginning January 1, 2018 and thereafter, the County agrees to provide general
administration of the Coal Creek/Clark Reservoir Agreement at no cost to the Authority, Town,
City or Timnath. Such administration includes staff site visits and scheduling/tracking/invoicing.
2. The Authority shall pay for needed maintenance and repairs to the Clark Reservoir
Project in an amount not exceeding the funds in the Clark Reservoir O&M Fund. This includes the
Authority’s obligations under the Coal Creek/Clark Reservoir Agreement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Clark Reservoir O&M Fund must be fully funded in the amount of one million
dollars ($1M) prior to termination of the Authority, as set forth in Section III.O.1. below.
3. To the extent there are insufficient monies in the Clark Reservoir O&M Fund to
pay for needed maintenance and repairs to the Clark Reservoir whether during the remaining
existence of the Authority or after its termination, the County shall fund 25%, the City shall fund
25% and the Town shall fund 50% of the cost of the work. This cost participation shall apply to
future expenses associated with the Coal Creek/Clark Reservoir Agreement during the Remaining
Loan Repayment Period and shall survive and continue after termination of the Authority. The
future fiscal obligations for such amounts are contingent upon annual appropriations by the
County, City and Town.
4. Any expenditures pursuant to the Coal Creek/Clark Reservoir Agreement in excess
of $10,000 must be unanimously approved by the County, City, and Town, which approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld. The County's adopted purchasing policy shall apply and, when
required, a competitive bid process will be used to select a contractor for the work unless the
County, City and Town mutually agree otherwise. The County, City and Town must approve the
award of a contract, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event unanimous
approval is not achieved for any proposed expenditure in excess of $10,000, or for an award of
contract, the City and County will jointly select a professional engineer licensed in Colorado and
the Town will select a professional engineer licensed in Colorado. The two engineers will then
resolve the disagreement.
5. At least thirty (30) days before the date on which the Authority is terminated, the
County agrees to accept assignment of the Coal Creek/Clark Reservoir Agreement and assume the
Authority's management obligations thereunder. This assignment is conditioned on:
a. NPIC’s consent to the assignment if required.
b. Amendment of the Coal Creek/Clark Reservoir Agreement to state that
future fiscal obligations under the Agreement are contingent on annual appropriations by the
County, Town and City.
c. A transfer of the Clark Reservoir O&M Fund held by the Authority to the
County, with said funds being placed by the County in a dedicated interest earning account for
future costs associated with Clark Reservoir.
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F. Operation and Maintenance of East Side Detention Facility
1. Beginning January 1, 2018 and thereafter, the County agrees to provide general
administration and management of the ESDF at no cost to the Authority, City, Town or Timnath.
Such administration includes staff site visits and scheduling/tracking/invoicing for routine
maintenance work.
2. The Parties acknowledge that the Authority is obligated to pay the Day Settlement and
will incur costs to further modify the ESDF to minimize water augmentation requirements
resulting from construction of the ESDF (the “ESDF Modifications”). The Parties agree that the
existing estimated cost to complete the ESDF Modification in the amount of three hundred and
fifty thousand dollars ($350,000) is already included in the expenditures to be funded by the
Authority’s anticipated fee revenues during 2018 and 2019 as a part of the construction costs of
the ESDF to borne equally by the Parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, fee payers in the Town
shall have no obligation for the payment of any such costs in excess of eighty-seven thousand five
hundred dollars ($87,500) (based on 25% of $350,000) and shall have no responsibility for other
augmentation costs or operation and maintenance costs of the ESDF in 2018.
3. Beginning January 1, 2018 and thereafter, the Town shall have no further
obligations or expectations with respect to the ESDF, except as set forth in Section III.F.2. above
and the Town will have the continued right to divert and deliver stormwater flows into the ESDF
not to exceed the historic flows for the 100-year storm event.
4. Commencing January 1, 2018 and thereafter, the County shall pay for maintenance
and repairs of the ESDF in an amount not to exceed $1,000.00 in any given calendar year.
5. Should required maintenance, repairs or restoration (collectively "work") of the
ESDF improvements exceed $1,000.00 in calendar year 2018 or any calendar year thereafter, the
costs of such work shall be paid from the available fund balance in the ESDF O&M Fund.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the ESDF O&M Fund must be fully funded in the amount of one
million two hundred thousand dollars ($1.2M) prior to termination of the Authority, as set forth in
Section III.O.1. below.
6. To the extent there are insufficient monies in the ESDF O & M Fund, the County
shall pay 33.4%, the City shall pay 33.3% and Timnath shall pay 33.3% of the cost of the work.
This cost participation distribution shall apply to future expenses associated with the ESDF during
the Remaining Loan Repayment Period and shall survive and continue after termination of the
Authority. The future fiscal obligations for such amounts are contingent upon annual
appropriations by the County, City and Timnath.
7. The County's adopted purchasing policy shall apply and, when required, a
competitive bid process will be used to select a contractor for the work unless the County, City
and Timnath mutually agree otherwise. The County, City and Timnath must approve the award
of a contract, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event unanimous approval
is not achieved, the City and County will jointly select a professional engineer licensed in Colorado
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and Timnath will select a professional engineer licensed in Colorado. The two engineers will then
jointly select the contractor to whom the contract will be awarded.
8. At least thirty (30) days before the date on which the Authority is terminated, the
County will accept transfer of ownership of the ESDF from the Authority and the Authority’s
ESDF O&M Fund shall be transferred to the County and placed in a dedicated, interest earning
fund for future costs associated with the ESDF.
G. Local Match Reimbursement
The County, City and Town waive reimbursement by the Authority to them of the local
match contributions made by each for the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Disaster Grant that would
otherwise be due under the Boxelder IGA in the following estimated amounts: County: $500,000;
City: $200,000 and Town: $300,000.
H. Town 2016 Fees
1. Within 24 hours after approval of this Agreement by the governing bodies of all of
the Parties, the Town will remit to the Authority all of the Stormwater Service Fees and System
Development Fees collected in 2016 and payable to the Authority in 2017.
2. Such 2016 fees are estimated to total $462,399.73.
I. Ratification by Town
The Town hereby ratifies and approves (i) all modifications and extensions of the CWCB
Loans accomplished prior to the execution of this Agreement; and (ii) the Day Settlement.
J. Prepayment of Fees
To enable the Authority to meet its fiscal obligations for any calendar year, the County,
City and Town may, but are not required to, remit to the Authority all or a portion of the fees each
such entity collected in for such year and which are otherwise payable in the following calendar
year, so long as there is no additional cost to the Authority for such prepayment. All Members
hereby ratify and approve of all prepayments accomplished prior to the execution of this
Agreement.
K. Role of Authority
Based on the completion of the Projects and the County's assumption of administrative
functions for the Clark Reservoir Project and ESDF, the Members will direct that the operation of
the Authority be limited to determining and assessing fees, paying the CWCB Debt Service,
holding meetings as required or needed, obtaining legal advice as needed, and completing required
audits or other reports. Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any other provision of this Agreement,
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nothing contained herein shall modify or constrain the Authority or power of the Authority under
the Boxelder IGA.
L. Due Date for Fees/Payments in Lieu
All fees and/or payments in lieu of fees required to be made by the Parties to the Authority
shall be paid on or before May 1 of each calendar year.
M. Stormwater Service Fee
1. The Stormwater Service Fee shall be calculated and paid to the Authority pursuant
to billing policies and fee schedules adopted by the Authority.
2. The Stormwater Service Fee will continue to be collected by the Authority on
behalf of the County. The County will reimburse the Authority for costs of collection from
properties located within unincorporated Larimer County and such costs shall not be included in
the Authority Annual Operating Costs.
3. Pursuant to section 5.04 of the IGA, the City and Town elect to collect the
Stormwater Service Fees due from fee payers within their respective boundaries and remit such
Service Fees to the Authority.
N. System Development Fee
1. The System Development Fee shall be calculated and paid to the Authority pursuant
to billing policies and fee schedules adopted by the Authority.
2. Pursuant to section 5.04 of the IGA, the County, City and Town elect to collect the
Stormwater System Development Fees due from fee payers within their respective boundaries and
remit such Development Fees to the Authority.
O. Termination of Authority
1. Upon payment in full of the CWCB Loans, availability of the minimum amount of
$1M in the Clark Reservoir O&M Fund and $1.2M in the ESDF O&M Fund, and collection of
sufficient fees to accomplish the equalization as set forth in section III O. 3. below (the
“Equalization Payments”), the County, City and Town shall cooperate to cause the Authority’s
assignment of the Coal Creek Agreement to the County and transfer of fee ownership of the ESDF
to the County pursuant to Sections III(E)(5) and III(F)(7) of this Agreement, transfer funds in the
ESDF O&M Fund and the Clark Reservoir O&M Fund to the County if not already accomplished,
transfer of the funds to Parties as necessary to accomplish the “Equalization Payments” and
terminate the Authority in accordance with Article X of the First Amendment. The funds in the
Authority’s General Fund shall be used to make the Equalization Payments provided that the use
of the Equalization Payments by all Parties shall be restricted as set forth in section III O. 3. below.
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2. Nothing herein is intended to prevent or authorize the County, City or Town from
independently assessing and collecting fees or taxes related to the Projects after the Authority is
terminated, as such matters are beyond the scope of this Agreement.
3. Before termination of the Authority, the Members shall cause each Party to receive
Equalization Payments from the Authority in an amount equal to the fees each Party or its fee
payers have paid in excess of such Party’s percentage of the Authority’s Continuing Obligations
set forth in section III A, B, C and D, as adjusted by section III.P and subject to the limit identified
in section III F 2. The result of these payments shall be that the amounts contributed by each Party
or the fee payers within each Party’s jurisdiction shall equal the percentages set forth in section
III. A, B, C, and D, as adjusted by section III. P and subject to the limit in section III F 2. The
Members may cause the Authority to make the Equalization Payments from funds in the
Authority’s General Fund. Any Equalization Payments received by the Parties pursuant to this
section shall be utilized for the long-term operation and maintenance of the Clark Reservoir Project
and the ESDF.
P. Annexation Adjustments
Should land area within the Authority’s Service Area be annexed from the County to the City,
Town or Timnath, the Parties agree to adjust the financial commitments and cost participation
percentages for the County set forth in this Agreement based on the changes in land area, revenue,
and other financial impact upon the Parties in order to maintain a fair and equitable allocation of
the Authority’s Continuing Obligations among the Parties or their fee payers if the annexation
occurs prior to termination of the Authority, or a fair and equitable allocation of the ongoing costs
of operation and maintenance of Clark Reservoir and the ESDF if the annexation occurs after
termination of the Authority.
Q. Audit Committee
Each Party to this Agreement shall appoint one person to sit on a committee (the “Audit
Committee”) to meet at least annually following the completion of the annual Authority audit and
at additional appropriate times to review compliance with this Agreement and compare all
contributions to the Authority from the Parties or the fee payers within each Parties’ boundaries
with the percentages set forth in section III above. The Audit Committee shall make
recommendations to the Authority on whether to prepay the CWCB Loans, add to the Clark
Reservoir and ESDF O&M Funds, and/or add to cash balances sufficient to make the Equalization
Payments based on the availability of funds and synchronization of the schedule for satisfying
these three conditions before to terminate termination of the Authority as outlined in Section III.
O. No Party shall appoint a member of the Authority Board of Directors to the Audit Committee.
R. Counterparts & Signatures
This Agreement may be executed in several identical counterparts, all of which taken
together shall constitute one single agreement between the parties. Facsimile signatures and
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signatures transmitted via portable document format (PDF) shall be considered as original
signatures.
S. Survival
The Parties agree that the terms of this Agreement shall continue and survive the
termination of the Authority.
T. Timnath’s Role
The Parties agree that Timnath, by its signature of this Agreement, does not become a
Member or a party to the Boxelder IGA. Timnath shall have no obligations under the Boxelder
IGA and Timnath’s rights and obligations shall be limited to those set forth in this Agreement and
those set forth in the Timnath Agreement.
Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank
Signature Page Follows
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF LARIMER COUNTY
By:
Chair DATE
Attest:
Deputy Clerk
AMENDED VERSION
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CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO
By: _____________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Approved as to form:
Sr. Assistant City Attorney
AMENDED VERSION
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Date:
Attest:
____________________
By:
TOWN OF WELLINGTON, COLORADO
Mayor
By:
Town Clerk
AMENDED VERSION
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Date:
Attest:
____________________
By:
TIMNATH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
OF COLORADO
Chairperson
By:
Secretary
City of Fort Collins Page 1
Wade Troxell, Mayor Council Information Center (CIC)
Gerry Horak, District 6, Mayor Pro Tem City Hall West
Bob Overbeck, District 1 300 LaPorte Avenue
Ray Martinez, District 2 Fort Collins, Colorado
Ken Summers, District 3
Kristin Stephens, District 4 Cablecast on FCTV Channel 14
Ross Cunniff, District 5 and Channel 881 on the Comcast cable system
Carrie Daggett Darin Atteberry Delynn Coldiron
City Attorney City Manager City Clerk
The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs, and activities
and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call 221-6515 (V/TDD: Dial
711 for Relay Colorado) for assistance.
City Council Work Session
December 12, 2017
After the Adjourned Council meeting, which begins at 6:00 p.m.
• CALL TO ORDER.
1. Compatibility and Character Code Updates. (staff: Cameron Gloss; 10 minute staff presentation; 1
hour discussion)
The purpose of this item is to provide Council a progress report on three interrelated Land Use Code
amendment projects that together address the compatibility of new construction with the existing built
environment. Those efforts include improved Historic Adjacency Standards (part of the current
Historic Preservation Code review project), and potential amendments to design standards for
downtown and within transition areas at the interface between downtown and the Old Town
Neighborhoods.
• OTHER BUSINESS.
• ADJOURNMENT.
DATE:
STAFF:
December 12, 2017
Cameron Gloss, Planning Manager
WORK SESSION ITEM
City Council
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
Compatibility and Character Code Updates.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to provide Council a progress report on three interrelated Land Use Code amendment
projects that together address the compatibility of new construction with the existing built environment. Those
efforts include improved Historic Adjacency Standards (part of the current Historic Preservation Code review
project), and potential amendments to design standards for downtown and within transition areas at the interface
between downtown and the Old Town Neighborhoods.
GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
1. Is it appropriate to create an expanded downtown zone district?
2. Is Council comfortable with staff’s intention to integrate compatibility requirements in the Land Use Code to
improve overall clarity and predictability?
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
Project Focus
A series of amendments to Articles 3 and 4 of the Land Use Code are necessary to implement policies within the
recently adopted Downtown Plan and the Old Town Neighborhoods Plan and direction provided through the on-
going Historic Preservation code review project.
In order to encourage high-quality new development and maintain a unique sense of place in Fort Collins,
sensitive design solutions are required at the edges of downtown where commercial uses meet residential areas,
at the interface between historic resources and new construction, and at the boundaries between Downtown
Character Subdistricts. New compatibility standards will encourage seamless transitions in building scale and
design at these interface areas.
The project objective is to provide greater predictability in the Land Use Code regulations by clarifying standards
that apply to new infill and redevelopment projects. The Code changes will provide form and performance-based
metrics that augment existing design standards. The new standards need to be predictable, yet allow for creative
building forms and site design options.
This joint Code improvement effort will also align the goals and implementation efforts of the Historic Preservation
code review project, the Downtown Plan, and Old Town Neighborhoods Plan.
Project Management
The Code analysis is being performed under three integrated projects that share staff and consultant resources,
and joint community engagement. City Planning and Preservation staff is managing the project.
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Consultant Assistance
The consultant team is providing expert input on architecture, urban design, review processes, and historic
preservation. Contracts for services have been engaged with Clarion Associates, Tryba Architects, and Peter
Park, all of whom are located in Denver. Clarion Associates is leading the Historic Preservation Code review,
while Tryba Architects and Peter Park lead the urban design process and architectural testing of Code options.
Community Engagement
Urban design policy direction underpinning the compatibility Code project was gathered through countless
community engagement activities during the creation of the Downtown and Old Town Neighborhoods Plans.
Engagement activities for both Plans were varied, from traditional open houses and workshops, listening sessions
and surveys, to more interactive events like walking and bike tours, online wiki-mapping, and events at festivals.
For the Downtown Plan, total outreach included 38 workshops, open houses, or general events, 36 working group
meetings, 2 working group roundtables, 57 presentations to 17 City boards and commissions, numerous coffee
discussion get-togethers, and thousands of individual interactions, survey responses, and comments. A key
component of the Downtown Plan engagement included an email newsletter with over 900 subscribers. The Old
Town Neighborhoods Plan included 21 listening sessions, workshops and open houses, and 10 neighborhood
stakeholder group meetings.
Most recently, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Colorado North Section, in partnership with the City and
the DDA, presented two Community Workshops on Architecture and Design Standards for Infill and Historic
Districts. The workshops, held on October 19 and November 2, were well-attended by members of the design
and development community and featured highly-regard national and regional design experts as keynote
presenters. Both of these events have helped to inform staff on the range of issues present and refinements to
the more general policy direction provided in the Downtown and Old Town Neighborhoods Plans.
Additional information about the community engagement platform is discussed under Next Steps.
Timeline
Phase I - Data Collection May - August 2017
Phase II - Evaluate Regulatory Options August 2017- January 2018
Phase III - Prepare DRAFT Land Use Code Amendments December 2017 - March 2018
Phase IV - Land Use Code Amendment Adoption Process April - June 2018
HISTORIC STANDARDS - Compatibility and Adjacency
Infill and redevelopment projects must be determined to “protect and enhance the historic and architectural value”
of historic properties on or adjacent to the development site. The current Land Use Code language does not
provide the appropriate balance of flexible yet predictable guidelines to achieve this goal, and to ensure that Fort
Collins receives high-quality new construction that represents its own time while integrating comfortably with
existing historic resources and preserving their ongoing viability and value to the community.
The proposed updates to the Land Use Code in both the historic preservation subsection of Article 3 and the zone
district standards in Article 4 will clarify how new development can achieve compatibility with the existing
character of the downtown subdistricts and transition buffer areas, as well as where there are specific
compatibility considerations to protect the ongoing viability of nearby historic resources.
A similar challenge lies with the definition of “adjacency” within the Land Use Code for purposes of reviewing
development applications.
The term “adjacent” is defined in Section 5.1.2: “Adjacent shall mean nearby, but not necessarily touching. The
determination of ‘nearby’ shall be made on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the context in which
the term is used and the variables (such as but not limited to size, mass, scale, bulk, visibility, nature of use,
intensity of use) that may be relevant to deciding what is ‘nearby’ in that particular context. Adjacency shall not be
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affected by the existence of a platted street or alley, a public or private right-of-way, or a public or private
transportation right-of-way or area.”
Development applicants have called for more uniform and predictable method to identify an “area of adjacency”
that applies to historic resource compatibility requirements. The Historic Preservation Code update will include a
predictable metric that will allow development applicants to anticipate in their initial planning process exactly
where compatibility with nearby historic resources will be a consideration. Additionally, an effort to identify and
map historic resources in the downtown and adjacent historic neighborhoods is already underway and will support
the goals of predictability and transparency for development applicants.
DOWNTOWN PLAN- Adding Taller and Larger Buildings
The downtown skyline is expected to continue to evolve with a limited number of additional buildings that will rise
above the tree canopy, in the 7-12 story range, mainly to the west and south of the Historic Core.
Other larger new buildings, generally in the 4-6-story range, may continue to rise throughout the downtown area
under zoning height limits in specific, appropriate subdistrict locations.
Zoning regulations set maximum allowable heights on a given site, but other factors associated with Land Use
Code requirements and development project needs often ultimately determine the height of a specific building.
Maximum building heights are on a block-by-block basis, with the tallest portion of a building limited to these
maximum heights. During the review process, a lower limit may be placed on a building based on design
standards for compatibility.
Although participants in the planning process differed in their opinions about building heights, it was agreed that
limiting the overall bulk, mass and scale and using appropriate architectural design techniques to mitigate impact
on surrounding buildings can make taller buildings acceptable.
Currently, regulations include basic maximum height limits that work in conjunction with qualitative requirements
to shape the size and design of new construction; with the emphasis placed on the qualitative requirements. This
approach needs to shift to a more clearly stated regulatory framework to facilitate more efficient review of
proposed development projects. The pedestrian experience, shadow impacts, and relationships to adjacent
development should all be critical factors in evaluating the compatibility of new development downtown.
Ultimately, revised regulations will result in greater predictability of outcomes in the development review process
Urban Design Concepts Governing Building Height and Size (excerpt from the Downtown Plan)
• Refine building height limits based on location and a height limits maps that aligns with the character
subdistricts.
• Continue to foster downtown’s traditional pedestrian scale and character through upper floor building
stepback requirements. Define appropriate stepback parameters depending upon site context.
• Augment stepback parameters to promote slender building forms that allow view corridors and solar access to
be maintained. Separate any new towers from existing towers in order to maintain view corridors.
• Explore the use of Floor Area Ratio (FAR) limits to mitigate the bulk of new buildings. FAR is the ratio of a
building's total floor coverage to the size of the parcel upon which it is built.
• Set buildings back from streets based upon the streetscape classification for the character subdistricts.
DOWNTOWN PLAN- Preserving the Unique Qualities of Subdistricts
Downtown encompasses much more than the memorable “Old Town” core, with differing areas of varied and
complex character. For example, “Campus North,” the part of downtown directly north of Colorado State
University has a much different character and function than the area north of the river along Vine Drive, yet both
contribute to the downtown.
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To acknowledge this complexity, to customize policies and action items and to better plan for the entire
downtown, the following nine character subdistricts were recognized through the planning process:
• Innovation Subdistrict
• Poudre River Corridor
• River Subdistrict
• North Mason Subdistrict
• Civic Subdistrict
• Canyon Avenue Subdistrict
• Historic Core Subdistrict
• Campus North Subdistrict
• Entryway Corridor
Staff is proposing an expansion of the Downtown (D) zone district to encompass all areas that function within the
sphere of downtown, and to craft Land Use Code standards that recognize unique qualities and opportunities that
define each subdistrict and encourage new development that supports and contributes to subdistrict character.
OLD TOWN NEIGHBORHOODS PLAN- Increasing Density at the Neighborhood Edges
The Old Town Neighborhoods Plan (OTNP) calls for the development in 2017-18 of transition compatibility
standards that apply to the Neighborhood Conservation Buffer zone district (NCB), located at the edges of the
existing neighborhoods where they interface with downtown and Colorado State University.
The existing NCB Land Use Code standards are insufficient to ensure future compatibility for transition areas with
new development adjacent to existing neighborhoods and historic buildings or blocks. The new design standards
will focus primarily on multi-family residential and non-residential uses since present standards address the
design of single family housing. The intent of new standards is to support higher density in transition areas
without compromising neighborhood character.
Compatibility issues considered under the Code changes:
• Shading impacts of new taller buildings
• The height, setback, scale, massing and detailing of adjacent commercial and multi-family buildings should
respond to existing homes and scale
• Permitted land uses mostly appropriate, but need to focus more on design elements such as building height,
building materials, setback/stepbacks, roof form, ground-floor character, site design, and on-site parking
The OTNP included specific policy direction for developing new design compatibility standards for the land use
and transition areas in the NCB zone district.
Policy LUT 2:
Improve transitions between the established single-family neighborhoods and downtown/CSU.
Strategies:
LUT 2.1 Explore options to create new or expanded Neighborhood Conservation Buffer (NCB) zoning
between downtown and the neighborhoods.
LUT 2.2 Develop new design guidelines and standards for neighborhood transition areas and the
Neighborhood Conservation Buffer (NCB) zone district to improve compatibility between
residential blocks and more intense nearby development.
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December 12, 2017 Page 5
During Plan outreach efforts, many stakeholders expressed that the existing land-use mix in the transition areas
of low to medium density residential, professional offices, medical clinics, and community and civic institutions
represented an appropriate mix. Most concerns centered on building design, scale, and materials, parking, and
the relationship of rear facades and alleys to single-family homes.
Given this set of issues, site and building design should be the focus of new transition-area standards.
Opportunity exists to explore new standards relating to building mass, bulk, and scale, roof form, building
materials, ground floor character, and more. The new standards could also be specifically tailored to the individual
context between the neighborhoods and the new Downtown character areas established as part of the Downtown
Plan.
NEXT STEPS
Community Engagement activities will continue where the Fall AIA Workshops left off and includes the following
key dates and timeframes:
• December 12, 2017-Developer Forum with local business, real estate, and development professionals to talk
about current conditions, trends, and issues/opportunities on the business and development environment as
part of the City Plan update.
• January 2018-Interviews with key area property owners, developers, and historic preservation interests
regarding possible regulatory concepts.
• February 2018-Testing of regulatory options through the computer-generated model
• March 2018-Interactive Public Workshops eliciting response to regulatory options
• April 10, 2018-Update to City Council in conjunction with Historic Preservation Code Review
• May-Planning and Zoning Board and Landmark Preservation Commission consideration and recommendation
• June 5, 2018-City Council consideration of Code changes
ATTACHMENTS
1. Public Engagement Summary (PDF)
2. Architecture and Design Standards Community Workshops Invitation (PDF)
3. Powerpoint presentation (PDF)
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PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY
PROJECT TITLE: DESIGN COMPATIBILITY AND CHARACTER LAND USE CODE AMENDMENTS
OVERALL PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT LEVEL: C
BOTTOM LINE QUESTION: How do we create regulations that result in compatible new construction
within Downtown, surrounding interface areas and adjacent to historic resources?
KEY STAKEHOLDERS: DDA, DBA, Downtown and Old Town Neighborhood property owners, and the
Development Community (developers, architects and related design professionals)
TIMELINE: *2016 - June 2018
Phase 1: *Downtown and Old Town Neighborhoods Plan Community Engagement
Timeframe: 2016 – March 2017
Key Messages: Establish Urban Design Policies governing Downtown and the interface at the Old Town
Neighborhoods
Tools and Techniques: traditional open houses and workshops, listening sessions and surveys, to more
interactive events like walking and bike tours, online wiki-mapping, and events at festivals.
PHASE 2: Community Workshops on Architecture and Design Standards for Infill and Historic
Districts
Timeframe: October-November 2017
Key Messages: Discuss the range of options available for regulating infill and redevelopment that
encourage high-quality development and protect our sense of place.
Tools and Techniques: Community Workshops
PHASE 3: Interviews with key property owners, developers and historic preservation interests
Timeframe: January 2018
Key Messages: Share the results of design testing and confirm community perspective and additional
work needed.
Tools and Techniques: Interviews and presentation materials.
PHASE 4: Interactive Public Workshops
Timeframe: March 2018
Key Messages: Develop an understanding of the preferred regulatory option.
Tools and Techniques: Presentations, 3-D computer modelling, keypad polling.
ATTACHMENT 1
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Attachment: Public Engagement Summary (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
You are invited to attend a series of Community Workshops on
Architecture Design & Standards
For Infill and Historic Districts
October 19th and November 2nd
5:30pm Registration & Networking
6pm to 8:30pm Program & Presentations
Rio Grande – Agave Room located on the 2nd floor
143 W. Mountain Avenue in Downtown Fort Collins
Thursday October 19, 2017 - Fundamentals, Principles and Challenges
Featuring a keynote presentation by Annie Levinsky, Executive Director of Historic Denver
Thursday, November 2, 2017 - Case Studies: Applying principles and
finding solutions.
Featuring a keynote presentation by Reed Kroloff, Director of the Cranbrook Academy of
Art and Art Museum, and a nationally known commentator in the world of architecture and
urban design
Snacks provided. Cash bar.
Free to attend. Registration required.
Register online: https://ArchitectureattheRio.eventbrite.com
Presented by: AIA Colorado North Section, The American Institute of Architects
Supporting Partners: City of Fort Collins & The Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority
ATTACHMENT 2
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Attachment: Architecture and Design Standards Community Workshops Invitation (6238 : Compatibility
1
Compatibility Code Updates
Cameron Gloss
12-12-17
ATTACHMENT 3
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
Three Interrelated Focus Areas
2
Downtown
Neighborhood Conservation Buffer (NCB)
Historic Preservation
1.3
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
Recent Guiding Plans
3
1.3
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
Downtown Plan Policy
4
1.3
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
Old Town Neighborhoods Plan Policy
5
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
Code Update Objectives
6
• Retain and enhance our sense of place
• Strengthen compatibility and transition standards
• Promote individual subdistrict character
• Increase clarity and predictability; simplify standards when possible
• Strengthen graphic representation
• Strengthen standards geared towards pedestrians
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
Downtown Zones
7
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
Downtown Zones
8
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
Downtown Subdistricts
9
1.3
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
River Subdistrict
10
1.3
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
River Subdistrict
11
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
River Subdistrict
12
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
Transitions
13
“Compatibility does not
mean the same as.
Rather, compatibility
refers to the sensitivity
of development
proposals in maintaining
the character of existing
development.”
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
14
All of the Land Use Code
shapes compatibility
Transitions
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
15
Between Downtown
and the abutting
neighborhoods
Transitions
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
16
Between character
subdistricts
Transitions
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
17
Between development
and historic resources
Transitions
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
18
Key Concept
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
19
Street Character Types
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
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Organizing Principles
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
21
Current Height Limits
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
22
Example Graphics
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
23
Key Questions
Is it appropriate to create an expanded Downtown zone
district?
Is Council comfortable with staff’s intention to integrate
compatibility requirements in the Land Use Code to
improve overall clarity and predictability?
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)
24
Next Steps
Public events &
stakeholder
outreach in February
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Attachment: Powerpoint presentation (6238 : Compatibility and Character Code Updates)