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Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 01/02/2019 - RESOLUTION 2019-004 SUPPORTING THE GRANT APPLICATIAgenda Item 8 Item # 8 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY January 2, 2019 City Council STAFF Michelle Provaznik, Director, Gardens on Spring Creek Ingrid Decker, Legal SUBJECT Resolution 2019-004 Supporting the Grant Application for a School Yard Initiative Grant from the State Board of Great Outdoors Colorado on Behalf of Colorado Early Colleges-Fort Collins for the Innovation Urban Farms Project. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to obtain Council approval to apply for a School Yard Initiative Grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) on behalf of Colorado Early Colleges-Fort Collins (CEC) for the Innovation Urban Farms project. Per GOCO requirements, the application must be submitted by local governments in partnership with schools. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION In October 2018, Colorado Early Colleges-Fort Collins (CEC) reached out to the City of Fort Collins regarding the City serving as fiscal agent for a Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) School Yard Initiative grant of $110,000. As the Gardens on Spring Creek provides technical support for community and school gardens, Gardens staff has been working with CEC and GOCO to facilitate City assistance. For the School Yard Initiative Grant, Great Outdoors Colorado, in partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, is requesting proposals for projects that seek to revitalize school playgrounds and outdoor learning environments across the state with an emphasis on opportunities for nature-based play and learning. Applications must be submitted by local governments in partnership with schools. Colorado Early Colleges is a network of charter schools located along the Front Range of Colorado. The CEC network is comprised of charter schools that provide tuition-free public education that gives all students the opportunity to earn an Associate Degree in high school for free. Schools are located in Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Parker, and Aurora. The Fort Collins school is located at 4424 Innovation Drive. CEC would like to submit the Innovation Urban Farms project at its Fort Collins campus for the School Yard Initiative grant. Innovation Urban Farms will build the future of farming and agriculture education by constructing outdoor learning space to teach and inspire learning. Planned features include a greenhouse, storage sheds, and food gardens. Garden boxes will be built by CEC students, along with mural art to embellish the existing concrete walls. The Farm will be built on the east side of the building, facing the future extension of the City’s Power Trail. An orchard area of apple trees and seating will also be part of the design, adjacent to the trail. Agenda Item 8 Item # 8 Page 2 The design process has been student-led with two design charette meetings held in October and November 2018. Organic produce grown at the Farm will be used in the school kitchen, with partnerships planned with neighboring Kruse Elementary School, the local food bank, and organizations serving low-income families to receive donated produce. If Council approves proceeding with the grant application, the following steps will need future Council approval: 1. An intergovernmental agreement between the City of Fort Collins and CEC outlining the requirements required for the City to serve as fiscal agent. 2. If the grant is awarded, Council will be asked to approve the unanticipated revenues from GOCO for the project. CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS This decision does not impact City financial resources. It allows the City to apply for the grant in partnership with Colorado Early Colleges-Fort Collins. If the grant is awarded, the City will serve as fiscal agent of the grant, passing through the approved funds to CEC. If the grant is not awarded, the partnership is nullified, and no funds will be provided. PUBLIC OUTREACH Colorado Early Colleges-Fort Collins has held two design charrettes open to the public. They have also reached out to neighboring schools and businesses regarding the project. Finally, they are creating partnerships with neighboring schools and local non-profits. ATTACHMENTS 1. Diagrams (PDF) ELEVATIONS NOVEMBER 2018 Colorado Early Colleges CEC NOVEMBER 201 14’x20’ GREENHOUSE 10’x12’ OFFICE SPACE 10’x12’ GARDEN SHED 4 - TABLES W/ CHAIRS 16’x22’ PERGOLA WALLS W/ GRAFFITI MURALS 2 - RAIN BARRELS ATTACHMENT 1 ELEVATIONS NOVEMBER 2018 Colorado Early Colleges CEC NOVEMBER 201 RAISED BEDS 12”-18” HT. RASIED BEDS 24”-30” HT. 2’ HT. RAISED BED ALONG EAST PERIMETER 4’ OVERALL HT. CATTLE PANEL PERIMETER FENCE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM ROOFING NOVEMBER 2018 Colorado Early Colleges CEC NOVEMBER 201 -1- RESOLUTION 2019-004 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS SUPPORTING THE GRANT APPLICATION FOR A SCHOOL YARD INITIATIVE GRANT FROM THE STATE BOARD OF GREAT OUTDOORS COLORADO ON BEHALF OF COLORADO EARLY COLLEGES – FORT COLLINS FOR THE INNOVATION URBAN FARMS PROJECT WHEREAS, the City’s Gardens on Spring Creek is applying for a School Yard Initiative Grant from the State Board of Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) in the amount of $110,000 to fund an Innovation Urban Farms Project by Colorado Early Colleges-Fort Collins (CEC) (the “Project”); and WHEREAS, CEC is a charter school, and GOCO requires schools to have a local government partner to apply, for School Yard Initiative Grants, sign the GOCO Grant Agreement, and serve as the fiscal agent for the Project; and WHEREAS, the Project would involve CEC constructing outdoor learning space on its property, adjacent to the future extension of the City’s Power Trail, including garden boxes for growing produce, an apple orchard, and mural art on existing concrete walls, to inspire nature- based play and learning; and WHEREAS, the Project supports the goals of the Nature in the City Strategic Plan by providing an opportunity for easy access to nature, and helps the City achieve its strategic goal of providing enhanced opportunities for arts and culture throughout the City: and WHEREAS, as part of its grant application process, GOCO requires that the governing body of any entity applying for grant funds pass a resolution to show that it is aware of and supports the application, and recognizes the obligations the grant creates; and WHEREAS, if the City Council adopts this Resolution, City staff will work with CEC to develop an intergovernmental agreement describing the City’s role and CEC’s obligation to meet the requirements of the GOCO grant; and WHEREAS, the City would not be providing any funds towards the Project; and WHEREAS, should the City receive a GOCO grant for the Project, staff will ask the City Council to authorize the City to enter into an IGA with CEC and a Grant Agreement with GOCO and to appropriate the unanticipated revenues from GOCO for the Project. 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. -2- Section 2. That the City Council hereby supports the City’s application for a GOCO School Yard Initiative grant in the amount of $110,000 for the Innovation Urban Farms Project on behalf of Colorado Early Colleges – Fort Collins. Section 3. That the City recognizes the obligations associated with a GOCO grant, and if the grant is awarded the City intends to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Colorado Early Colleges – Fort Collins, subject to City Council approval, to ensure that Colorado Early Colleges – Fort Collins appropriates funds for maintenance of the Project and maintains the Project in a high-quality condition for its useful life, Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 2nd day of January, A.D. 2019. _________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk