HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-090-10/01/2002-EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS WITHIN THE NATURAL AREAS PROGRAM FOR OPERATIONS AND M RESOLUTION 2002-090
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
EXPRESSING THE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT FOR
THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS WITHIN THE NATURAL AREAS PROGRAM
FOR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE THROUGH 2021, AS WELL AS FOR
THE ACQUISITION OF COMMUNITY SEPARATORS AND FOR
OTHER LAND CONSERVATION OPPORTUNITIES
WHEREAS, the City currently receives tax revenues for use for natural areas and related
purposes from one-quarter cent of Building Community Choices sales and use taxes ("BCC"), in
effect from 1997 through 2005; and
WHEREAS, the City also currently receives tax revenues for use for natural areas and
related purposes from Larimer County through the County's "Help Preserve Open Spaces" sales and
use tax ("HPOS"), in effect from 2000 through 2018; and
WHEREAS, staff has presented to the City Council for its consideration at study sessions on
April 9, 2002, and August 27, 2002, various proposals for the long-term use of funds to be received
from the BCC and HPOS taxes (the "Tax Revenues"), including options for the time period during
which operations and maintenance of natural areas ("stewardship") would be funded; and
WHEREAS, based on direction received from the City Council at its April 9 study session,
City staff prepared a funding plan to identify funds for operations and maintenance of City natural
areas for a period extending three years beyond the expiration of the HPOS tax in 2018, that is,
through 2021; and
WHEREAS, the City Council further directed staff to prepare the long-term funding plan so
as to designate a portion of the Tax Revenues, consisting of approximately $16 million (in 2002
dollars), that might otherwise be available for operations and maintenance after 2021, to instead be
used for the acquisition of community separators and for other land conservation projects; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has acknowledged that unless and until the Natural Areas
Policy Plan is approved by the Council in a form that identifies the acquisition of community
separators as a program objective, it is the Council's intent that only BCC funds shall be used for
such acquisitions; and
WHEREAS, at its August 27 study session, the City Council requested that staff prepare a
resolution for Council consideration documenting the Council's support of the above-described
allocation of the Tax Revenues for operations and maintenance of natural areas through 2021, and
for the acquisition of community separators and for other land conservation projects.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS that it is the intent of the City Council that the Tax Revenues be allocated and expended
so as to:
A. Provide for the operation and maintenance of City natural areas for a period
extending three years beyond the expiration of the HPOS tax through 2021;
and
B. Provide that a portion of the Tax Revenuess, consisting of approximately $16
million (in 2002 dollars), that might otherwise be available for operations and
maintenance after 2021, shall instead be used for the acquisition of
community separators and for other land conservation projects; and
C. Apply only BCC revenues to the acquisition of community separators unless
and until such time as the Natural Areas Policy Plan is approved by the
Council in a form that identifies the acquisition of community separators as a
program objective.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 17th
day of September, A.D. 2002.
Mayor
ATTEST.
City Clerk