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Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 08/04/2020 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 096, 2020, APPROPRIAgenda 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. 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) HAVE QUESTIONS? CONTACT US! DENNIS SOVICK 800 Havel Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521 | 970-556-1351 | dsovick@frii.com DOUG SWARTZ 2232 Sun Rose Way, Fort Collins, CO 80521 | 970-222-0962 | dswartz@greyrock.org West Vine Natural Area Properties VICINITY MAP ATTACHMENT 1 2540 West Vine Fort Collins, Colorado GIVE TODAY! Our challenge is to raise $70,000 before June 30. We are taking up that challenge! Every dollar delivered on our pledge to fundraise, is a dollar toward the restoration of 2540 West Vine. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of our neighborhood. Your support is an investment in wildlife, land and scenic conservation. In June 2019, a passionate group of neighbors met with City staff to express support for open space conservation and our willingness to undertake a fundraising campaign to assist in the purchase. That passion and enthusiasm for an open space on this property led the City to place a purchase offer higher than it would have otherwise. The support by neighbors and resident advocates, including the willingness to raise funds from neighbors, motivated the City to keep this property on the front burner. A purchase agreement has been signed for the thirty-eight (38) acres at 2540 West Vine (often referred to as the Ashley property) with a tentative closing at the end of June. The City will guarantee the purchase, but every dollar delivered on the neighborhood commitment is a dollar toward the restoration of 2540 West Vine. DENNIS SOVICK 800 Havel Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 970-556-1351 dsovick@frii.com DOUG SWARTZ 2232 Sun Rose Way Fort Collins, CO 80521 970-222-0962 dswartz@greyrock.org HAVE QUESTIONS? CONTACT US! The 2540 West Vine property has been on the market for at least a decade. It has been the topic of concern and potential development for years. Recall the poorly conceived residential development proposed for that 38-acre parcel? Remember the huge turnout at Unity Church for the neighborhood meeting? And the developer who was never heard from again? The Big Picture ɪ The City acquired the thirty-five (35) acres known as the east Smith Farms property in 2019. ɪ Land management staff will soon release a “Request for Proposals” for the temporary lease of the east Smith property for local food production. ɪ Staff expect plenty of interest from local farming groups and anticipate granting leases as early as 2021. ɪ The City is still interested in conserving the west Smith Farms property (35 acres). The owner plans to keep the property in agriculture for the time being, and has indicated a willingness to sell it to the City in the future. City of Fort Collins Natural Areas -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 -2- TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($76,125) for transfer to the Natural Areas Fund and appropriated therein for the 2540 West Vine land conservation project. 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 Thanks to voter support of sales tax ballot measures, the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department conserves valued lands and provides recreation and educational access to these community treasures. The City’s vision for open space includes: ɪ Preservation of wildlife corridors ɪ Protection of scenic views ɪ Local food production ɪ Enhanced wildlife habitat ɪ Easy access to nature for surrounding neighborhoods and to connect neighborhoods to each other westvineopenspace.webnode.com ATTACHMENT 2