The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 08/18/2020 - SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 096, 2020, APPROPRAgenda Item 3 Item # 3 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY August 18, 2020 City Council STAFF Nina Bodenhamer, City Give Director Mark Sears, Natural Areas Manager Ingrid Decker, Legal SUBJECT Second Reading of Ordinance No. 096, 2020, Appropriating Unanticipated Philanthropic Revenue Received by City Give for Transfer to the Natural Areas Fund for Restoration of Land at 2540 West Vine Drive. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Ordinance, unanimously adopted on First Reading on August 4, 2020, appropriates $76,125 in unanticipated philanthropic revenue in the General Fund for transfer to Natural Areas. The funds represent extraordinary community generosity and create a dedicated fund for the conservation of 38 acres at 2540 West Vine Drive, which was recently purchased by Natural Areas. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on Second Reading. ATTACHMENTS 1. First Reading Agenda Item Summary, August 4, 2020 (w/o attachments) (PDF) 2. Ordinance No. 096, 2020 (PDF) Agenda Item 11 Item # 11 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY August 4, 2020 City Council STAFF Nina Bodenhamer, City Give Director Mark Sears, Natural Areas Manager Ingrid Decker, Legal SUBJECT First Reading of Ordinance No. 096, 2020, Appropriating Unanticipated Philanthropic Revenue Received by City Give for Transfer to the Natural Areas Fund for Restoration of Land at 2540 West Vine Drive. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to appropriate $76,125 in unanticipated philanthropic revenue in the General Fund for transfer to Natural Areas. The funds represent extraordinary community generosity and create a dedicated fund for the conservation of 38 acres at 2540 West Vine Drive, which was recently purchased by Natural Areas. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION The Natural Areas Department has long been interested in conserving one to three large tracts of land north of Vine Drive, between Taft Hill Road and Overland Trail. In 2019, 38 acres known as the east Smith Farm property along West Vine Drive were acquired. (Attachment 1) Thanks to voter support of sales tax ballot measures, Natural Areas conserves valued lands and provides recreation and educational access to these community treasures. The City’s vision for open space includes: • Preservation of wildlife corridors • Protection of scenic views • Local food production • Enhanced wildlife habitat • Easy access to nature for surrounding neighborhoods and to connect neighborhoods to each other. This spring, Natural Areas entered into a purchase agreement to acquire a second of these properties located at 2540 West Vine Drive. Passionate residents, long involved in the stewardship of their neighborhood, launched an engagement and fundraising campaign to support and aid Natural Areas in the conservation of this property. This extraordinary community gift is comprised entirely of contributions from individuals. On June 30, 2020, Natural Areas officially acquired the 38 acres at 2540 West Vine Drive. Community members and donors contributed passion, time and stewardship to the wildlife, land, and scenic conservation of this property. As a management plan for the property is developed, Natural Areas will ensure a range of opportunities for neighborhood engagement, input, and volunteerism. ATTACHMENT 1 Agenda Item 11 Item # 11 Page 2 CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS This Ordinance will appropriate $76,125 of unanticipated philanthropic revenue to be transferred to Natural Areas for the designated purpose of the wildlife restoration of the Natural Areas property at 2540 West Vine Drive. The funds have been received and accepted per City Give Administrative and Financial Policy. PUBLIC OUTREACH The community engagement and fundraising campaign was led by two community champions who developed materials, met with neighbors, hosted a Zoom informational session with over 70 neighbor participants, delivered flyers door to door, and launched a website: westvineopenspace.webnode.com. (Attachment 2) ATTACHMENTS 1. Vicinity Map (PDF) 2. Flyer (PDF) -1- ORDINANCE NO. 096, 2020 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS APPROPRIATING UNANTICIPATED PHILANTHROPIC REVENUE RECEIVED BY CITY GIVE FOR TRANSFER TO THE NATURAL AREAS FUND FOR RESTORATION OF LAND AT 2540 WEST VINE DRIVE WHEREAS, the City’s Natural Areas Department (“NAD”) recently acquired 38 acres of agricultural land located at 2540 West Vine Drive in Fort Collins (the “Property”); and WHEREAS, interested community members conducted a fundraising campaign with the goal of restoring the scenic and wildlife habitat resources on the Property; and WHEREAS, as a result, City Give has received $76,125 in philanthropic revenue for NAD to put towards this purpose through future restoration projects; and WHEREAS, this appropriation benefits public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Fort Collins and serves the public purpose of conserving and restoring Natural Areas property; and WHEREAS, Article V, Section 9, of the City Charter permits the City Council to make supplemental appropriations by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year, provided that the total amount of such supplemental appropriations, in combination with all previous appropriations for that fiscal year, does not exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received during the fiscal year; and WHEREAS, the City Manager has recommended the appropriation described herein and determined that these appropriations are available and previously unappropriated from the General Fund and will not cause the total amount appropriated in the General Fund to exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received in these funds during the fiscal year; 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 account to another fund or capital project account, provided that the purpose for which the transferred funds are to be expended remains unchanged; and WHEREAS, the City Manager has recommended the transfer described herein and determined that the purpose for which the transferred funds are to be expended remains unchanged. 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 unanticipated philanthropic revenue in the General Fund the sum of SEVENTY-SIX THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($76,125) for transfer to the Natural Areas Fund and appropriated therein for the 2540 West Vine land conservation project. -2- Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 4th day of August, A.D. 2020, and to be presented for final passage on the 18th day of August, A.D. 2020. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _______________________________ City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading on the 18th day of August, A.D. 2020 __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _______________________________ City Clerk