HomeMy WebLinkAbout047 - 05/20/2008 - APPROPRIATING PRIOR YEAR RESERVES IN THE GENERAL FUND FOR REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OFTHE DRAFT ENVIRONMEN ORDINANCE NO. 047, 2008
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROPRIATING PRIOR YEAR RESERVES IN THE GENERAL FUND
FOR REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF
THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
FOR THE NORTHERN INTEGRATED SUPPLY PROJECT
WHEREAS,the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District(the"District")has proposed
to construct a large water storage and supply project known as the Northern Integrated Supply
Project ("NISP"); and
WHEREAS, in order to move forward with the necessary permitting for NISP, the District
is required to complete an environmental impact review process, conducted in this case by the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (the"Corps") as the permitting agency; and
WHEREAS,as part ofthe review process,the Corps has issued a draft Environmental Impact
Statement ("DEIS") describing a preferred alternative and three other alternative projects, and
analyzing those projects, and the environmental impacts associated with each; and
WHEREAS, the preferred alternative identified in the DEIS involves the construction of a
new reservoir to the northwest of Fort Collins near the mouth of the Cache la Poudre River,together
with development of a project known as the South Platter Water Conservation Project (together
referred to as the"Glade Project"); and
WHEREAS,the City anticipates that the Glade Project may have significant impacts on the
Cache la Poudre River, which flows through Fort Collins and is a focal feature of the City's
Downtown River Corridor Project and other short-term and long-term City plans and projects; and
WHEREAS, the Glade Project may also have significant impacts upon water quality of
concern to the City, including both the quality of the water in the Cache la Poudre River and the
quality of the City's drinking water supply; and
WHEREAS, in order to evaluate and provide comments to the District and the Corps
regarding the impacts the Glade Project is expected to have on the Cache la Poudre River and
surrounding Fort Collins, and on drinking water quality and other matters of concern to the City, it
will be necessary for the City to undertake a thorough and detailed technical analysis of the DEIS
and then develop thoughtful and appropriate comments based upon that analysis; and
WHEREAS, the work involved in analyzing and commenting upon the DEIS will require
substantial technical expertise and assistance; and
WHEREAS,the City has already expended or is in the process of expending approximately
$350,000 for studies and technical assistance related to review of the Glade Project and its impacts,
and the completion of the review will require substantial additional expenditures; and
I
WHEREAS, the City Manager has requested that the Council appropriate $225,000 from
prior year reserves in the General Fund, to be used for continuation and completion of the City's
analysis and response to the DEIS,together with$135,000 of existing appropriations in the Utilities
funds and$50,000 of existing appropriations in the Natural Areas funds available for that purpose;
and
WHEREAS, the requested amount is available from General Fund prior year reserves; and
WHEREAS,Article V, Section 9,of the Charter of the City of Fort Collins 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.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS that there is hereby appropriated for expenditure from General Fund prior year reserves
the sum of TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($225,000) to be
used for the review and analysis of the DEIS for NISP and preparation of a related response to the
Corps.
Introduced,considered favorably on first reading,and ordered published this 6th day of May,
A.D. 2008, and to be presented for final passage on the 20th da May, A.D. 2008.
A"1 .2A�
May r
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on the 20th day of , A.D. 2008.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerklek