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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-08/25/1992-AdjournedADJOURNED MEETING I OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO Council -Manager Form of Government August 25, 1992 6:00 p.m. An adjourned meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins was held on Tuesday, August 25, 1992, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the City of Fort Collins City Hall. Roll call was answered by the following Councilmembers: Azari, Fromme, Horak, Kirkpatrick and Maxey. Councilmembers Absent: Councilmember Edwards and Winokur Staff Members Present:, Burkett,. Krajicek, Roy Resolution 92-134 Approving a Five -Year Transportation Improvement Plan for the Expenditure of Regional Transportation Funds Provided Through the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, Adopted. I The following is staff's memorandum on this item. "FINANCIAL IMPACT The financial impact is difficult to determine. The projects submitted to Council for review will be grouped with the projects from the other areas of the region and prioritized in the Regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) of the North Front Range Transportation & Air Quality Planning Council. The first year of the TIP (Annual Element) is the only year which is considered a commitment to the projects. There are also different matching ratios for the Federal funding categories, dependent on the type of project. It is possible that not all of the projects submitted to the NFRT & AQPC will be funded. Staff will keep Council informed on the prioritization and project selection process. After the. NFRT. & AQPC has prioritized the regional transportation projects, staff will identify the financial impacts. Depending on which projects are programmed and constructed there will be ongoing maintenance costs associated with these transportation improvement projects. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 changed the responsibilities for programming federally funded transportation projects. As has been discussed with the Council, the NFRT & AQPC now has the responsibility of determining transportation needs and prioritizing. projects on a regional ' level. The NFRT & AQPC must. now examine the. projects submitted from Fort 64 August 25, 1992 ' Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Larimer County, and other local jurisdiction and determine which projects will receive funds for implementation. There are a number of factors that will be utilized in determining priorities, however, an exact process has not yet been developed. The prioritization and programming of projects is completed using a document called the Transportation Improvement Program. The first year of the document is the Annual Element (AE) and represents those projects the City is committing to complete. The out years of the TIP (1994-1997) are projects that are needed and identifies a desire by the City to implement, but the projects are not associated with a capital commitment by the City. Next year at this time, Council will be reviewing and making commitments to projects for 1994 with the out years of 1995-1998. The first step in deciding projects for inclusion into the TIP began with a "brain -storming" session with staff representing the departments of Transporta- tion, Transfort, Streets, Engineering, Planning, and Parks and Recreation. The purpose of the session was to try and identify a list of all the needed transportation projects within the Fort Collins area. The list was categorized by funding category, short or long term needs, and estimation of cost. Exhibit A is a listing of projects from this step. Overall, staff identified $56 million in transportation projects for the area. The next phase of the process was to develop a list of priorities. ' This priority phase involved examining the projects that were considered short term needs by category and determining which projects could be completed within the next five years. Exhibit B displays the. results of the priority process. The last phase of the process involved looking at the projects from Exhibit B and phasing the projects over a course of a five-year program. For example, although the City could anticipate receiving approximately $1.8 million over the next five years, the amount per year is questionable due to the MPO process and the issues of regional transportation needs. Exhibit C shows the proposed five-year plan by funding category. Additionally,. some of .these projects affect the state, highway system. The proposed five-year plan shows a contribution from the:.City to work with the CDOT in implementing some projects. For example, the Shields Street/U.S 287 project has an estimated cost of $350,000. The proposed five-year plan shows a $75,000 contribution by the City in regional ISTEA funds to help this project to get Funding at the state level. Staff is proposing to use the projects listed in Exhibit D as those projects that will be brought to Colorado Transportation Commissioner Neal as part of the State's process in developing the State's Five - Year Program of Projects. The projects in Exhibit D will be submitted to the State at the regional meeting that will be held on September 22. The following is a more detailed description of the proposed projects that are shown in Exhibits A-D. A map of the project. locations is also attached. , 65 August 25, 1992 CONGESTION MITIGATION PROJECTS Commuter Pool The project expands the existing Commuter Pool project to one with a regional focus. Staff will work with the local municipalities, including Loveland and major employers within the MPO region to develop a more successful ridesharing program. The project may also utilize Surface Transportation Program funds from the region to support the project. Vanpool The project consists of purchasing vans and leasing them to major employers as a demonstration vanpool program. ENHANCEMENT FUND PROJECTS Sidewalk/ramps/ The project would. construct sidewalks and access ramps, to. ADA address City compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act.. N. College Ave. Improve the landscaping, sidewalks, and add bike lanes to North College Avenue from Jefferson Street to Shields Street. Regional Bikeway The NFRT & AQPC has programmed funds to conduct a Regional Plan Update during FY 1993. The scope of the plan includes a Regional Bikeway Element for both recreation and commuters. It is anticipated that following approval of the document, the cities, counties, andthe state can cooperate.in implementing. this project. Billboard Removing one billboard per year for the next five years. Staff has estimated that the cost is $10,000 per year for five years to replace lost income to the owners of the billboards. Trolley Barn The project would structurally stabilize the Trolley Barn located at Howes Street and Cherry Street. The project has been submitted to the State for consideration at this time. It is recommended by staff that other sources of funds. be. located for this project. CARRYOVER FAUS FUNDS Centre Avenue The project would provide a Bikeway from Centre Avenue just Bikeway south of Prospect across Spring Creek to Centre Ave. in the Center for Advanced Technology. This is a joint project between CSURF and the City of Fort Collins. Only a bikepath will be built at this time. The collector street will be built sometime in the future. 1 66 August 25, 1992 Taft Hill The project would construct bike lanes on North Taft Hill Road Bike Lanes from Laporte to the Poudre Trail. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM PROJECTS Redwood/Linden Construct the bike path from Redwood Street to Linden Street Connection as recommended in the NEATS. The collector street would be built sometime in the future. Harmony Road Construct the bikeway on Harmony Road. Bikeway Poudre Bridge The project transfers $80,000 of regional STP funds to the State DOT for enhancements to the Poudre Bridge on North College Avenue to be used for landscaping, sidewalks, and bridge railing upgrades. 287/Shields St. A joint project with COOT to fund geometric upgrade, traffic signal and railroad crossing equipment. Bike Signage This project will increase bike lane and trail signage. ' Sanding Program This, project will reduce the negative impacts on air quality of sanding operations during snowstorms by reducing the amount of particulates released in the air. By investing in current technologies, the amount of sand needed to ensure safe travel will be reduced and sand will be picked up more quickly following a storm. H.S. Bike This project would provide for an bicycle/pedestrian underpass Connection at Vermont and Timberline and provide better access to the new High School and southeast Fort Collins. Spring.Creek Sidewalks, and bike.lanes from The Spring Creek Trail north to Bike Connection Prospect on Shields Street. The project is intended to coordinate work with the Choices 95 Project on Shields Street. Concrete Inter. A joint project between the City of Fort Collins and COOT, similar to the Drake and College, and the Prospect and College project of last summer. The two intersections are yet to be determined. 67 1 ' August 25, 1992 Signal Const. This project is a traffic signal construction project that would provide for new traffic signals and pedestrian signals as needed. Opticom The project is a joint project between the Transportation Division and the Poudre Fire Authority for expanding the use of Opticom traffic signal pre-emption. The program enhances emergency response time by pre-empting signal operations. Double Left The construction of a double left -turn bay for westbound SH 14 @ Lemay traffic on Mulberry. The project is intended to reduce accidents and reduce the amount of delay currently experienced at the intersection. STATE PROJECTS SH 14 Relocation This project is the alternate Northeast Arterial as selected with the completion of the Northeast Area Transportation Study. The final alignment is yet to be determined. The City's prioritized list of projects (as approved by City Council in this Resolution) will be submitted to the NFRT & AQPC for review and inclusion into ' the Transportation Priority List. The Resolution, which also addresses the projects on the state system, will be presented by the NFRT & AQPC to the Transportation Commission and CDOT on September 22 at the Regional Meeting. The Air Quality Task Force and the Transportation Board have reviewed the. attached exhibits' and their input has been included for your review." Councilmember Maxey made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Azari, to adopt Resolution 92-134. Community Planning and Environmental Services Director Greg Byrne gave a presentation on this item outlining the criteria used to prioritize the projects. Byrne noted the Trolley Barn funding had been approved by the State. Jim Reidhead, 707 West Mountain. Avenue, representing the Stabilization and Reuse: of Important Structures program at Colorado -State University, spoke of the Trolley Barn Stabilization project and. reported -that a set of guidelines are being compiled describing the various categories. Rheba Massey, Chairperson of the Landmark Preservation Commission, thanked staff for its efforts in obtaining funds for the restoration of the Trolley Barn and spoke of prioritizations concerns. The vote on Councilmember Maxey's motion was as follows: Yeas: Councilmembers Azari, Fromme, Horak, Kirkpatrick, Maxey. Nays: None. August 25, 1992 ' THE MOTION CARRIED. Resolution 92-135 Supporting the Prospect Avenue Interchange with I-25 as the Eastern Terminus of the Cache La Poudre River - North Park Scenic Byway, No Action Taken The following is staff's memorandum on this item. "EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On January 23, 1992, the State Scenic and Historic Byway Commission designated Colorado Highway 1.4 from.Walden.to Fort Collins as a scenic and historic byway, under the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways. Program.. The lead, proponents for the designation (local districts of the U.S. Forest Service, and Larimer and Jackson Counties) were late in securing public participation in the proposal for the Byway. As a result, some issues. continue to complicate the planning and implementation processes for the Byway. Adoption of this Resolution will clarify the City's preference for the eastern terminus of the Byway, which is important for promotional purposes. This matter has been brought to Council for prompt action to enable the effective planning, ' dedication and implementation of the Byway. The dedication ceremonies for the Byway are slated for Sunday, September 27, 1992. Background on Scenic Byways. The Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Program began in 1989 with five byway designations. There are now a total of seventeen, . including the Poudre River Byway. Designations are made by the State Scenic and Historic Byways Commission from nominations forwarded by local and regional groups. The State program is an offshoot of the U.S. Forest Service's National Byways Program. It is intended to enhance tourism in the national forests and other parts of the State outside the Denver area. Issues. Two separate (but related) issues of interest to.the.Ci.ty'.arise from the: designation. The first relates to federal restrictions on new billboards along scenic byways, and. the second relates to the eastern end -point for the Poudre River Byway.. Regarding the first issue, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) prohibits the construction of new billboards along designated scenic byways. The State Byway Commission was unaware of the ISTEA restrictions when they made the Poudre River Byway designation and others. Now, local billboard interests would like to see the Poudre River Byway terminate at Ted's Place (west of LaPorte, at the mouth of the Poudre River Canyon) in an effort to preserve future opportunities for billboard placement along Colorado Highway 14. ' 69 I August 25, 1992 In -town billboard locations along Colorado Highway 14 are already limited under the City's "cap and replace" policy. Billboards may soon be similarly restricted outside City limits under the pending revisions to the County sign code. The County has enacted a six month moratorium on new billboards, and is anticipated to adopt new measures that are in line with most City sign requirements. Staff does not support the sign industry's proposal to terminate the Byway at Ted's Place. Given the existing City codes and evolving County codes, the Ted's Place terminus does not really solve the concerns of billboard interests. The Byway connection to I-25 is important to the City because it will pull tourist traffic in from the interstate highway. The direct connection of the Byway to I-25 is required by the State in order to place the distinctive scenic byway signs on the interstate highway, enabling greater visibility to tourist traffic. The exact location of the eastern terminus of the Poudre River Byway is the subject of the Resolution before Council. The eastern end -point for the Byway is spelled out in the nomination submittal as the Colorado Highway 14 connection I-25. The submittal was sponsored by the Forest Service, in partnership with Larimer and Jackson Counties, which did not confer with the City prior to making the application. City staff believes the Prospect Avenue interchange may be a ' more appropriate eastern terminus. The criteria for scenic byway status include outstanding scenic values, unique historic features, and exceptional recreational opportunities. Staff believes the Prospect Avenue route (west on Prospect, then north on College) when compared to the Mulberry Avenue route (west on Mulberry, right turn onto Riverside, then north on College) is preferable because it offers greater tourism related values. The advantages of the Prospect Avenue route include: • Outstanding scenic views of the Colorado Front Range from the interchange. The sweeping pastoral vista is not interrupted by urban development, utility lines, or highway traffic. • Unique opportunities for cultural and historic interpretation, possibly-inc.luding prehistoric archaeological sites, the old Overland Stage route, the Colorado State University campus, and Historic 0.1d Town. • Roadside attractions featuring immediate access to trails, fishing ponds and natural areas. Hiking, picnicking, and wildlife observation are activities traditionally sought out by tourists. Additionally, should the proposal for the Colorado Welcome Center on Prospect be approved, co -location of the Poudre River Byway entry would be ideal for tourist ' information. services. 70 August 25, 1992 ' If Council agrees that the Prospect Avenue route should be the official eastern terminus for the Poudre River Byway, the State Byway Commission has a process to change the existing designated route-. Conclusion. Council is asked to clarify its preference for the Prospect Avenue interchange of I-25 as the eastern terminus of the Cache La Poudre River -North Park Scenic Byway, and direct staff to pursue amendment to the designation of record." Councilmember Horak made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Azari, to adopt Resolution 92-135. Senior City Planner Kari Van Meter -Henderson, gave a presentation on this item and explaned the Byway Route. City Attorney Steve Roy stated ISTEA's billboard restrictions would not apply because Prospect is not a state highway. However, the City's cap and replacement ordinance would apply. Jim Reidhead, 707 West Mountain Avenue, spoke in support of the Resolution. John 0. Walker, 421 West Howes, supported the route and stated it would be a good opportunity to clean up East Mulberry. ' Councilmember Maxey opposed the Resolution. I Councilmember Horak, with agreement from Councilmember Azari, withdrew his earlier motion to adopt Resolution 92-135. Councilmember Horak made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Azari, to support and affirm the existing eastern terminus of the Byway at East Mulberry and I-25. Mayor Kirkpatrick stated she did not view East Mulberry as a scenic byway and did not support the motion. Councilmember Fromme spoke in support of the motion. The vote on Councilmember Horak's motion was as follows: Yeas: Councilmembers Azari, Fromme, Horak and Maxey. Nays: Mayor Kirkpatrick. THE MOTION CARRIED. Other Business City Manager Steve Burkett reported Employee Development Director Jaime Mares was investigating an alleged racial incident at EPIC and stated he would report back to Council with the findings and recommendations in the next week. 71 1 I August 25, 1992 Chief of Police Fred Rainquet reported on the recent shooting involving a Fort Collins Police Officer and spoke of the debriefing process. Councilmember Fromme requested a copy of the report regarding gun control issues that had been issued earlier in the year. City Manager Steve Burkett responded to Council questions regarding the incident at EPIC and on compensation rates for seasonal employees. Councilmember Horak expressed concerns about the Diversity Task Force meeting in Executive Session and urged that the meetings be open to the public. Councilmember Azari clarified a decision has not yet been made whether the meetings will beopen to. the publi.c or held in an Executive Session. Councilmember Fromme asked if the site for the 1996 South West Community Park/Youth Sports Park acquisition had already been selected and expressed concerns regarding the proposed location. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk 1 72