HomeMy WebLinkAbout052 - 05/04/2021 - APPROPRIATING PRIOR YEAR RESERVES IN THE NATURAL AREAS FUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF LAND CONSERVATION, VI ORDINANCE NO. 052, 2021
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROPRIATING PRIOR YEAR RESERVES IN THE NATURAL AREAS FUND
FOR THE PURPOSE OF LAND CONSERVATION, VISITOR AMENITIES, RESTORATION
AND OTHER RELATED NATURAL AREAS STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES NOT
INCLUDED IN THE 2021 ADOPTED CITY BUDGET
WHEREAS, the City is committed to preserving natural areas and providing educational,
interpretive and appropriate recreational opportunities to the public; and
WHEREAS, Natural Areas Department ("NAD") programming implements open land
conservation priorities identified in the City's Comprehensive Plan by purchasing conservation
easement interests in key natural areas, community separators, or other open lands; providing
stewardship for lands purchased; and developing trails and interpretive features for public use;and
WHEREAS,the NAD is funded primarily through the collection of City Open Space- Yes
sales and use tax revenue,as well as revenues from the Larimer County Help Preserve Open Space
sales and use tax, investment earnings, and other miscellaneous revenues deposited in the Natural
Areas Fund; and
WHEREAS, funding for purposes other than capital projects lapses each year if it is not
spent; and
WHEREAS,NAD staff has asked that the City Council appropriate$4,484,000 in unspent
2020 budgeted funds and $516,000 in unanticipated revenue to increase 2021 appropriations in the
City's Natural Areas Fund by $5,000,000; 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, Article V, Section Il of the City Charter requires all appropriations
unexpended or unencumbered at the end of the fiscal year lapse to the applicable general or special
revenue fund, except appropriations for capital projects and federal or state grants do not lapse
until completion of the capital project or expiration of the respective grant; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager has determined that the appropriations as described herein
are available and previously unappropriated in the Natural Areas Fund; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager has recommended the appropriation from prior year
reserves in the Natural Areas Fund of a total of $5,000,000, comprised of unspent and
unencumbered appropriations from 2020, to be used for land conservation and restoration,
acquisition,construction,enhancement and maintenance of trail systems,wildlife habitat and other
natural areas, and other NAD stewardship activities to benefit the residents of the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
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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 Natural Areas
Fund the sum of FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ($5,000,000) to be used for land conservation and
restoration, acquisition, construction, enhancement and maintenance of trail systems, wildlife
habitat and other natural areas, and other NAD stewardship activities to benefit the residents of the
City.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 20th day of
April, A.D. 2021, and to be presented for final passage on the 4th day o ay,A.D. 2021.
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Passed and adopted on final reading on the 4th day a74
y, A.D. 021.
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