HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 01/16/2018 - SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 003, 2018, APPROPRAgenda Item 3
Item # 3 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY January 16, 2018
City Council
STAFF
Karen McWilliams, Historic Preservation Planner
Brad Yatabe, Legal
SUBJECT
Second Reading of Ordinance No. 003, 2018, Appropriating Prior Year Reserves in the General Fund and the
Recreation Fund and Authorizing the Transfer of Appropriations in the Recreation Fund to the General Fund
for the James Ross Proving-Up House Restoration.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This Ordinance, unanimously adopted on First Reading on January 2, 2018, appropriates previously received
grant funds of $16,080 received from the Cache la Poudre Heritage Alliance and unanticipated revenue of
$3,357 from the Fort Collins Historical Society for the restoration of the James Ross Proving-Up House. The
total new appropriation is $19,437. The grant is matched by Historic Preservation funds of $32,847 and
Recreation Department funds of $27,000 from prior year reserves. The Ross Proving-Up House is the only
“proving-up” or “filing” house associated with the 1862 Homestead Act still in existence in Larimer County. In
preparation for its restoration, the building was moved last fall to a permanent location at The Farm at Lee
Martinez Park, 600 North Sherwood Street.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on Second Reading.
ATTACHMENTS
1. First Reading Agenda Item Summary, January 2, 2018 (w/o attachments) (PDF)
2. Ordinance No. 003, 2018 (PDF)
Agenda Item 8
Item # 8 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY January 2, 2018
City Council
STAFF
Karen McWilliams, Historic Preservation Planner
Brad Yatabe, Legal
SUBJECT
First Reading of Ordinance No. 003, 2018, Appropriating Prior Year Reserves in the General Fund and the
Recreation Fund and Authorizing the Transfer of Appropriations in the Recreation Fund to the General Fund
for the James Ross Proving-Up House Restoration.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to appropriate previously received grant funds of $16,080 received from the Cache
la Poudre Heritage Alliance and unanticipated revenue of $3,357 from the Fort Collins Historical Society for the
restoration of the James Ross Proving-Up House. The total new appropriation is $19,437. The grant is matched
by Historic Preservation funds of $32,847 and Recreation Department funds of $27,000 from prior year reserves.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
Recognized as a Fort Collins Landmark by Ordinance No. 080, 2017, the James Ross Proving-Up House is the
only known existing “proving-up” or “filing” house in Larimer County. Built in 1890, this one room home was
inhabited by the Ross family of five for nearly eight years in order to satisfy the 1862 Federal Homestead Act
requirements. The building has additional significance for its association with the James Ross family. In addition
to his accomplishments as a homesteader and early businessman, Ross’ son William, who was born in the
house, became the President of UNC in Greeley, and is the namesake for the William Ross Library; and was
the great-grandfather of former Senator Wayne Allard and Kermit Allard, CPA in Fort Collins. At the Farm at Lee
Martinez Park, the proving-up house will be used to explain early pioneer life, the Homestead Act, agriculture,
and the history of water and irrigation in our region.
The singular goal for the project is to restore the James Ross Proving-Up House to its original appearance as
closely as possible, as documented through forensic evidence and a circa 1950s historic photograph.
The work will include removal of existing non-original brick chimney remnants and repairing the roof framing as
needed. Traditional wood shingles will be installed. The trim and clapboard siding will be removed where needed
and repaired or replaced. Rafters, floor joists, studs and ceiling joists will be sistered or replaced. Lead
abatement, if needed, will be done to ensure a safe environment. Completing the exterior work is the repair or
the wood buck door, and repair and re-glazing with restoration glass of the two windows' jambs, frames and sills.
Interior work includes the removal of electric wiring and equipment, plaster repair/replacement, flooring
repair/replacement, case and base trim rehabilitation, and installation of a wood stove, pipe and stone base.
ATTACHMENT 1
Agenda Item 8
Item # 8 Page 2
CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS
The City benefits by a $19,437 in grant and other funds which supports this initiative. No additional funds need
to be appropriated as the restoration project will utilize $32,847 of Historic Preservation Division funds and
$27,000 in Recreation Department funds, from the departments’ 2017 budgets
ATTACHMENTS
1. Final Grant Contract (PDF)
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ORDINANCE NO. 003, 2018
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROPRIATING PRIOR YEAR RESERVES IN THE GENERAL FUND
AND THE RECREATION FUND AND AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER
OF APPROPRIATIONS IN THE RECREATION FUND TO THE GENERAL
FUND FOR THE JAMES ROSS PROVING-UP HOUSE RESTORATION
WHEREAS, in 2017 the City was awarded a grant of $16,080 from the Cache la Poudre
Heritage Alliance, as well as received additional unanticipated revenue from the Fort Collins
Historical Society of $3,357, for the restoration of the James Ross Proving-Up House, for total
unanticipated revenue in 2017 of $19,437; and
WHEREAS, the grant is matched by Historic Preservation funds of $32,847 to be
appropriated from General Fund reserves and Recreation Department funds of $27,000 to be
appropriated from Recreation Fund reserves, for a total project cost to be appropriated of $79,284,
including the grants; and
WHEREAS, the James Ross Proving-Up House is the only known existing “proving-up”
or “filing” house in Larimer County and has historical significance; and
WHEREAS, the James Ross Proving-Up House will be located at the Farm at Lee Martinez
Park and will be used to explain early pioneer life, the Homestead Act, agriculture, and the history
of water and irrigation in our region; and
WHEREAS, the goal for the project is to restore the Ross House to its original appearance
as closely as possible, as documented through forensic evidence and a circa 1950s historic
photograph, which will include both exterior and interior work; and
WHEREAS, Article V, Section 9 of the City Charter permits the City Council to
appropriate by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year such funds for expenditure as may be
available from reserves accumulated in prior years, notwithstanding that such reserves were not
previously appropriated; and
WHEREAS, City staff have determined that the appropriations as described herein are
available and previously unappropriated in the General Fund and the Recreation Fund; and
WHEREAS, the appropriations described herein serve the public purpose of preserving
the City’s historic heritage; and
WHEREAS, Article V, Section 10, of the City Charter authorizes the City Council to
transfer by ordinance any unexpended and unencumbered appropriated amount or portion thereof
from one fund or capital project to another fund or capital project, provided that the purpose for
which the transferred funds are to be expended remains unchanged; the purpose for which the
funds were initially appropriated no longer exists; or the proposed transfer is from a fund or capital
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project in which the amount appropriated exceeds the amount needed to accomplish the purpose
specified in the appropriation ordinance.
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 there is hereby appropriated from prior year reserves in the Recreation
Fund the sum of TWENTY-SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($27,000) for transfer to the
General Fund and appropriated therein for the James Ross Proving-Up House Restoration Project.
Section 3. That there is hereby appropriated from prior year reserves in the General
Fund the sum of FIFTY-TWO THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY-FOUR
DOLLARS ($52,284) in the General Fund for the James Ross Proving-Up House Restoration
Project.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 2nd day of
January, A.D. 2018, and to be presented for final passage on the 16th day of January, A.D. 2018.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on the 16th day of January, A.D. 2018.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Clerk