HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 03/06/2018 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 041, 2018, AUTHORIZAgenda Item 10
Item # 10 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY March 6, 2018
City Council
STAFF
Tawnya Ernst, Real Estate Specialist III
Mark Sears, Natural Areas Manager
Ingrid Decker, Legal
SUBJECT
First Reading of Ordinance No. 041, 2018, Authorizing the Conveyance of an Electric Line Easement on City
Property at Soaring Vista Natural Area to the City of Loveland.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to authorize conveyance of an electric line easement to the City of Loveland on
Soaring Vista Natural Area. The line is an extension of a project approved by City Council in August 2016 on
the Northern Colorado Regional Airport property. The electric utility line currently extends from Loveland’s
Crossroads Substation at Boyd Lake Road north to County Road 30. The underground utility line is intended to
extend east along County Road 30 to Interstate 25. The expanded utility service is needed to serve growing
development in the area. The 25- foot wide easement will run under the Natural Area for approximately 688
linear feet - totaling 17,204 square feet or 0.40 acres.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
The City of Loveland Power division is proposing a duct bank of nine 6-inch conduits for its electric
transmission line. The goal of the project is to extend the electric backbone (600A cable) from Loveland’s Boyd
Lake substation to a switch located just west of Fairgrounds Avenue. Wherever the duct bank is bored, it will
be completed using a 36-inch diameter bore, consisting of the duct package and a spacer used to maintain
separation of the conduits.
Normally these utilities would be placed in the road right-of-way, however, County Road 30 has not been built
to its ultimate width. Loveland assessed four potential alignments, including two south of County Road 30.
Unfortunately, the location of the Louden Ditch and other existing utilities precluded those two options. An
additional northern alignment would have required a diagonal bore across County Road 30 and open
trenching. This was not considered desirable.
The selected option, which crosses the Soaring Vista Natural Area (Attachment 1), has the least impact and
will include a directional bore under the Natural Area to Mountain Range Shadows subdivision to the east
(Attachment 2). No aboveground disturbance to the Natural Area is anticipated.
Construction is estimated to begin in June 2018.
Minimal to no impact is anticipated from the project to the Natural Area, given that the line is to be bored under
the property. However, if the project generates unexpected surface disturbance, all areas impacted by the
proposed project will be restored as outlined in Natural Area Department’s Resource Protection Standards.
Agenda Item 10
Item # 10 Page 2
Existing vegetation not otherwise avoided by boring is dominated by non-native grasslands that have minimal
resource value. Restoration of the alignment will utilize only native grasses and forbs.
CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS
There is no financial impact to Natural Areas from this project. The City of Loveland will pay the Natural Areas
Department $2,753 ($0.16/square foot for 17,204 square feet) for the value of the easement and reimburse
Natural Areas for staff time involved in the project.
BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
At its February 14, 2018, meeting, the Land Conservation Stewardship Board voted unanimously to
recommend City Council approve the conveyance of the electric line easement to the City of Loveland.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Vicinity Map (PDF)
2. Land Conservation and Stewardship Board minutes, February 14, 2018 (draft) (PDF)
Soaring Vista Natural Area
Fort Collins-
Loveland Airport
Location of underground
electric line
Fossil Creek Reservoir
Soaring Vista Natural Area
City of Loveland Proposed Electric Line Location
Attachment 1
Land Conservation & Stewardship Board
February 14, 2018
Minutes Excerpt
Easement Request for buried utilities across Soaring Vista Natural Areas
Tawnya Ernst, Real Estate Specialist, reported that the City of Loveland came to NAD, early
last fall and asked for an electric, underground easement across Soaring Vista. The electrical
utility line is an extension of a project approved by City Council in 2016 on the Northern
Colorado Regional Airport property. The last portion of the line will go all the way east along
CR 30 to I25. This easement will assist in the need to serve a growing development in the area.
Tawnya explained to board members exactly where the easement would go. The impacts should
be minimal, with a couple of surface level vaults on adjoining property but with no surface
impacts to the Natural Area. Tawnya explained that NAD will receive $2,752.64 for the value of
the easement and a $1,500.00 administrative fee for the easement, which is a typical charge for
these types of requests.
Discussion:
Andrea mentioned the bank was 10’ and asked why the developers were asking for 25’. Daylan
explained that if they need to come back, in the future, to repair the bank and need to dig it up,
they can. It also provides a safety buffer around the bank that has the conduit in it. Daylan
explained the 25’ was pretty standard for an electric easement.
Daylan explained the area is an agricultural field and that NAD is in the process of restoring it
back to grass. He explained that it’s unlikely that there will be a surface impact but if there is,
then restoration would include native grasses and forbs. Right now, we are in the process of
converting it back to natural vegetation. This is a potential long-term hay source for our bison.
This property, will continue to be managed as a farm.
Vicky McLane made a motion that the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board
recommend that City Council approve conveyance of a utility easement to the City of
Loveland on Soaring Vista Natural Area.
Marcia Patton -Mallory seconded the motion.
The motion was unanimously approved.
ATTACHMENT 2
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ORDINANCE NO. 041, 2018
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AUTHORIZING THE CONVEYANCE OF AN ELECTRIC LINE EASEMENT ON CITY
PROPERTY AT SOARING VISTA NATURAL AREA TO THE CITY OF LOVELAND
WHEREAS, the City of Fort Collins owns property located in southeast Fort Collins
known as Soaring Vista Natural Area (the “Property”); and
WHEREAS, the City of Loveland (“Loveland”) wishes to construct a duct bank for an
electric transmission line connecting the Boyd Lake substation to a switch just west of
Fairgrounds Avenue (the “Project”) by boring under the Property for approximately 668 feet, and
is requesting an easement from the City to complete this work; and
WHEREAS, the location of the proposed electric line easement, totaling .4 acres, is more
particularly described in Exhibit “A”, attached and incorporated herein by reference (the
“Easement”); and
WHEREAS, the Easement would be 25 feet in width and run along the south edge of the
Property directly adjacent to the right-of-way for County Road 30; and
WHEREAS, Loveland would pay the Natural Areas Department $2,752.64 for the value
of the easement and reimburse the Department for staff time involved in processing this request;
and
WHEREAS, the Project should have minimal to no impact on the surface of the Property,
and Loveland would restore any disturbed areas in compliance with the Natural Areas
Department’s Resource Protection Standards; and
WHEREAS, the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board, at its regular meeting on
February 14, 2018, voted to recommend the City Council approve conveying the Easement to
Loveland; and
WHEREAS, Section 23-111(a) of the City Code authorizes the City Council to sell,
convey or otherwise dispose of any interest in real property owned by the City, provided that the
City Council first finds, by ordinance, that such sale or other disposition is in the best interests of
the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED 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.
Section 2. That the City Council hereby finds that the City’s conveyance of the
Easement to Loveland as provided herein is in the best interests of the City.
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Section 3. That the Mayor is hereby authorized to execute such documents as are
necessary to convey the Easement to Loveland on terms and conditions consistent with this
Ordinance, together with such additional terms and conditions as the City Manager, in
consultation with the City Attorney, determines are necessary or appropriate to protect the
interests of the City, including, but not limited to, any necessary changes to the legal descriptions
of the Easement, as long as such changes do not materially increase the size or change the
character of the interest to be conveyed.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 6th day of
March, A.D. 2018, and to be presented for final passage on the 20th day of March, A.D. 2018.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on the 20th day of March, A.D. 2018.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Clerk
EXHIBIT “A”
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
A strip of land for easement purposes, being a portion of that parcel of land as described
in Special Warranty Deed recorded on October 2, 2015 at Reception No. 20150065994
within the records of Larimer County, situate in the West Half (W1/2) of Section
Twenty-two (22), Township Six North (T.6N.), Range Sixty-eight West (R.68W.) of the
Sixth Principal Meridian (6th
P.M.), County of Larimer, State of Colorado, being more
particularly described as follows:
The South Twenty-five (25) feet of that parcel of land as described in said Special
Warranty Deed.
Said strip of land contains 17,204 Sq. Ft. (0.40 Acres), more or less (+/-), and is subject
to any rights-of-way or other easements of record as now existing on said described strip
of land.
SURVEYORS CERTIFICATE
I, Jason S. Allee, a Colorado Licensed Professional Land Surveyor do hereby state that
this Property Description was prepared by me or under my personal supervision and
checking, and that it is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
SHEET 1 of 3
_____________________________________________________
Jason S. Allee – on behalf of Lat40°, Inc.
Colorado Licensed Professional
Land Surveyor #38479
Lat40°, Inc.
Professional Land Surveyors
6250 W. 10th
Street, Unit #2
Greeley, CO 80634
(970) 515-5294
COUNTY ROAD 30
25' UTILITY EASEMENT
12,500 Sq. Ft. (0.29 Acres) - 500.00 L.F.
EXHIBIT "A"
Lat40 , Inc. 6250 W. 10th Street, Unit 2, Greeley, CO 970-515-5294
UTILITY EASEMENT
COUNTY ROAD 30
25' UTILITY EASEMENT
4,704 Sq. Ft. (0.11 Acres) - 188.17 L.F.
EXHIBIT "A"
Lat40 , Inc. 6250 W. 10th Street, Unit 2, Greeley, CO 970-515-5294
UTILITY EASEMENT