HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-068-07/15/2008-AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING THE BOXELDER BASIN REGIONAL STO RESOLUTION 2008-068
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT
ESTABLISHING THE BOXELDER BASIN REGIONAL STORMWATER
AUTHORITY AS A SEPARATE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY AND APPROVING
THE BOXELDER CREEK REGIONAL STORMWATER MASTER PLAN
WHEREAS, City staff has worked since 2005 alongside representatives of the Town of
Wellington and Larimer County to develop a plan to address regional stormwater issues in the
Boxelder Basin (the "Basin"), a storm drainage basin that includes portions of each of the three
entities'jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS,in addition,these three entities have worked with the Colorado Department of
Transportation,the Colorado Water Conservation Board,Boxelder Sanitation District,two irrigation
and reservoir companies, and private property owners in the Basin to fund and direct the
development of the master plan; and
WHEREAS, these efforts have resulted in the completion of a master plan for the Basin,
entitled the Boxelder Regional Stormwater Master Plan, prepared by PBS&J, Inc., dated October
2006 (the"Master Plan"); and
WHEREAS, the Master Plan describes $12.5 million in regional flood control and
stormwater management improvements that would benefit the City, as well as the Town of
Wellington and Larimer County, and would reduce the potential for flooding in a significant area
outside of the original Boxelder Creek floodplain; and
WHEREAS,in order to carry out the design,construction,operation and maintenance of the
improvements described in the Master Plan, City staff has worked with representatives of the Town
of Wellington and Larimer County to develop aproposed Intergovernmental Agreement(the"IGA")
to form a storm drainage authority pursuant to Colorado law,specifically Colorado Revised Statutes
Section 29-1-204.2; and
WHEREAS, a substantially final version of the IGA, dated July 9,2008, is attached hereto
as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by this reference; and
WHEREAS, the IGA forms the Boxelder Basin Regional Stormwater Authority (the
"Authority") and designates as the service area of the Authority those lands tributary to or
contributing runoff to Boxelder Creek; and
WHEREAS,the Authority would be responsible for ongoing operation and maintenance,and
repair and replacement,of Authority improvements to be constructed in accordance with the Master
Plan and would be authorized to collect stormwater fees and stormwater development impact fees
throughout the Basin within a range approved by all member entities to pay for the cost of carrying
out those responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, the IGA provides that each of the member entities would have the option of
paying to the Authority the amount representing the fees that would be collected from properties
within that entity's jurisdiction,thus allowing the City to pay to the Authority the amount attributable
to Fort Collins properties within the Authority's service area; and
WHEREAS, the IGA would thus allow the City to participate in the Master Plan
improvements without modifying the City's own stormwater fee structure or fees or significantly
affecting the City's existing 30-year stormwater program plan; and
WHEREAS, the completion of the Master Plan improvements is expected to dramatically
reduce the cost of addressing stormwater management issues in the Basin in Fort Collins for the City
and for private property owners; and
WHEREAS,the completion of the Master Plan improvements would reduce the potential to
flood damage to existing structures and reduce overtopping of roadways and the cost of constructing
public improvements to accommodate predicted flood flows that the City would otherwise incur;and
WHEREAS,the IGA requires that the Authority operate in a manner consistent with Urban
Storm Drainage Criteria Manual Best Management Practices and provides for regional cooperation
on compatible public purposes and uses such as stormwater quality,natural resource protection and
enhancement, and trails; and
WHEREAS, regional improvements identified in the Master Plan provide the opportunity
to improve the lowest quality reaches of the stream; and
WHEREAS,the City Manager has recommended that the City Council approve the Master
Plan and the IGA in order to form the Authority and move forward with the funding and construction
of the Master Plan improvements.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the Council hereby finds that it is in the best interests of the City for
Council to approve the Master Plan and to enter into the IGA and form the Authority, because in
doing so the City will make the most efficient and effective use of its powers and responsibilities by
cooperating and contracting with other governmental entities for stormwater improvements in the
Boxelder Basin.
Section 2. That the Council hereby approves the Master Plan.
Section 3. That the Council hereby approves the IGA and authorizes and directs the
Mayor to execute the IGA on behalf of the City in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A, together with such additional or modified terns and conditions as the City Manager, in
consultation with the City Attorney, determines to be necessary and appropriate to protect the
interests of the City and advance the purposes set forth in this Resolution.
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Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Co o the City of Fort Collins this 15th
day of July A.D. 2008.
May r
ATT66T11EST:
D(
City Clerk
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EXHIBIT A
July 9, 2008
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT
FOR STORMWATER COOPERATION
AND MANAGEMENT
THIS INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR STORMWATER COOPERA-
TION AND MANAGEMENT (this "Agreement'), entered into this day of ,
2008, by and among THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF LARIMER COUNTY,
COLORADO (the "County"); THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, a municipal
corporation (the "City"); and THE TOWN OF WELLINGTON, COLORADO, a statutory
municipality (the"Town").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, recent growth in the Fort Collins Urban Growth Area (the "City UGA") and
the Wellington Urban Growth Area (the "Town UGA") suggests that increased coordination and
cooperation between the City, the Town and the County may result in better management,
problem resolution, design, construction, maintenance and joint financing of stormwater
facilities; and
WHEREAS, the City has established and currently operates its own stormwater utility
and its own stormwater utility enterprise (hereinafter referred to jointly as the "City Stormwater
Utility Enterprise") to provide and finance stormwater services within the City; and
WHEREAS, the Town has not established a stormwater utility but intends to do so and
further intends to operate such stormwater utility as a stormwater utility enterprise (the "Town
Stormwater Utility Enterprise") to provide and finance stormwater services within the Town; and
WHEREAS, the County currently collects a stormwater impact fee at the time of
development of properties within the Boxelder Creek Basin (`Boxelder Basin" or the "Basin")
below County Road 70; and
WHEREAS, the Boxelder Creek Floodplain (the `Boxelder Floodplain") is designated in
a Flood Insurance Study prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and dated
December 19, 2006; and
WHEREAS, the County is authorized to establish, expand and operate a stormwater
utility or stormwater utility enterprise throughout all portions of the Boxelder Basin that are
located solely within the boundaries of the County and outside any municipality, pursuant to
C.R.S. Section 30-11-1-7(1)(w), Section 30-20-401, et seq., and Section 37-45.1-101, et seq.;
and
WHEREAS, a basin master plan titled "Boxelder Creek Regional Stormwater Master
Plan" dated October 2006 and prepared by PBS&J Consulting Engineers (the "Plan") has been
adopted by the City, the Town and the County; and
WHEREAS, recent engineering studies indicate that constructing stormwater facilities
within the Boxelder Floodplain to store stormwater would reduce the threat of floods for
approximately 4,900 acres in the Boxelder Floodplain, which acres are located in portions of the
City, portions of the Town and in unincorporated Latimer County and would reduce damages to
public and private properties, reduce the risk to citizens, increase protection for public roads,
bridges and other facilities in the Boxelder Basin; and
WHEREAS, the parties anticipate that areas in the Basin and in the unincorporated areas
of the County will be annexed into the City or the Town in the future, subject to the urban
growth area boundaries and standards of the City and the Town; and
WHEREAS, the elimination of such flood hazards, as well as the resulting relaxation of
associated land use restrictions, would alleviate some of the financial hardships associated with
developing those properties that are now located within the Boxelder Basin; and
WHEREAS, the various risks and hazards existing or anticipated to exist in the Basin can
be alleviated most efficiently and at the least cost through a regional effort; and
WHEREAS, it appears that financing the construction of the needed stormwater facilities
for the Boxelder Basin on a regional basis is best accomplished by the County and the other
Members hereto forming an Authority as provided herein, to include those properties located
within the Boxelder Basin; and
WHEREAS, the City currently charges a City-wide stormwater impact fee as a condition
of issuance of a building permit or, if no building permit is required, upon commencement of
construction for new development on those properties located within the City, and further
charges an ongoing monthly stormwater fee to all developed properties within the City's
boundaries; and
WHEREAS, the Town intends to charge a stormwater basin fee as a condition of
issuance of a building permit or, if no building permit is required, upon commencement of
construction for new development on those properties located within the Town; and
WHEREAS, as noted above, the County currently charges a stormwater basin impact fee
at the time building permits are issued for new development on those properties located in the
unincorporated areas of the County within a portion of the Boxelder Basin; and
WHEREAS, it appears that the financing, construction, maintenance and operation of the
needed stormwater facilities in the Boxelder Basin are best accomplished by the County
expanding or establishing a stormwater utility enterprise (hereinafter referred to jointly as the
"County Stormwater Utility Enterprise") to work cooperatively with the Town's Stormwater
Utility Enterprise and the City's Stormwater Utility Enterprise; and
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WHEREAS, construction, operation and maintenance of said additional stormwater
facilities for the Boxelder Basin in accordance with Urban Storm Drainage Criteria Manual Best
Management Practices is necessary and beneficial to the public health, safety and welfare; and
WHEREAS, each of the parties has materially relied on the participation of all parties to
this agreement and on the inclusion of all of the property within the defined Service Area to
accomplish the purposes set forth in this Agreement, and
WHEREAS, the City, the Town and the County desire to enter into this Agreement in
order to delineate the duties and responsibilities of each Member with respect to the proposed
stormwater improvements for the Boxelder Basin; and
WHEREAS, C.R.S. Section 29-1-203 authorizes the City, the Town and the County to
cooperate and contract with one another to provide any function, service or facility lawfully
authorized to each of them, which cooperation may include the sharing of costs and the incurring
of debt; and
WHEREAS, C.R.S. Section 30-20-402(1)(h) authorizes the County to enter into and
perform contracts with the City and the Town for or concerning the planning, construction, lease
or other acquisition and the financing of stormwater facilities and the maintenance and operation
thereof; and
WHEREAS, C.R.S. Section 29-1-204.2(1) provides that a combination of municipalities
or other political subdivisions of this State may establish, by contract with each other, a separate
governmental entity, to be known as a drainage authority, to be used by such contracting
Members to effect the development of stormwater and drainage facilities for the benefit of the
inhabitants of such contracting Members or others at the discretion of the Directors; and
WHEREAS, C.R.S. Section 29-1-204.2(4) and (5) provides that a drainage authority
established by such contracting Members shall be a political subdivision and a public corporation
of the State, separate from the members to the contract and that it shall have the duties,
privileges, immunities, rights, liabilities, and disabilities of a public body politic and corporate;
and
WHEREAS, the provisions of Articles 10.5 and 47 of Title 11, C.R.S., shall apply to
moneys of the entity and the bonds, notes and other obligations of a water or drainage authority
formed under the provisions of this Agreement shall not be the debts, liabilities or obligations of
the original contracting Members or Members that may enter the establishing contract in the
future; and
WHEREAS, C.R.S. Section 29-1-204.2(6) provides that the contracting members may
provide in the contract for payment to the separate governmental entity of funds from proprietary
revenues for services rendered by the entity, from proprietary revenues or other public funds as
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contributions to defray the cost of any purpose set forth in the contract, and from proprietary
revenues or other public funds as advances for any purpose subject to repayment by the entity.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the Members hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
Section 1.01. Definitions. In this Agreement, capitalized terms not otherwise defined
shall have the meanings respectively assigned thereto in the Recitals to this Agreement or as
provided in this Section 1.01, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning:
"Agreement" means this Intergovernmental Agreement for Stormwater Cooperation and
Management and any amendments hereto.
"Authority" means the Boxelder Basin Regional Stormwater Authority.
"Boxelder Project" means acquisition and construction of the Project Improvements
described in the Plan.
"City"means the City of Fort Collins, Colorado.
"County"means Larimer County, Colorado.
"Directors" means the members of the Authority's Board of Directors.
"Fiscal Year" means the calendar year.
"Flood Insurance Study" means the official report in which the Federal Emergency
Management Agency ("FEMA") has provided flood profiles, as well as the Flood Boundary-
Floodway Map and water surface elevation of the base flood, in all or a part of the Service Area.
"Member" means the City, the County, the Town and any additional member government
added as a party to this Agreement by amendment after the date hereof.
"Operation and Maintenance" means the ongoing maintenance, operation, repair and
replacement of the Project Improvements.
"Plan" means the Boxelder Creek Regional Stormwater Master Plan dated October 2006,
together with any amendments thereto approved by a unanimous vote of the Members.
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"Project Improvements" means, without limitation, detention areas or flood storage
facilities; reservoirs; open channels; irrigation canal overflow or spill structures; diversion or
confinement berms; utility relocations; road and railroad crossing structures; water quality
enhancement features; and landscaping of disturbed areas, to the extent contemplated by the
Plan.
"Service Area" means the area shown on Exhibit"A"hereto.
"State" means the State of Colorado.
"Stormwater Service Fee" means a recurring, monthly or quarterly fee charged to all
customers of the Authority upon the basis of such customers' relative contributions to storm
flows on a continuing basis, and applied to Operation and Maintenance and debt service
requirements of the Authority.
"System Development Fee" means a one-time charge imposed upon rezoning of property
or the issuance of a building permit with respect to property in the Service Area, for the purpose
of recovering a reasonable portion of the Authority's existing or future capital investment in the
Project Improvements.
"TABOR"means Article X, Section 20 of the Constitution of the State.
"Town"means the Town of Wellington, Colorado.
ARTICLE II
CREATION AND GOVERNANCE OF THE AUTHORITY
Section 2.01. Creation of Authority. The City, the Town and the County, by this
Agreement, hereby establish the Authority as a drainage authority pursuant to C.R.S. § 29-1-
204.2(2). The Authority shall exist until dissolved or terminated in accordance with this
Agreement.
Section 2.02. Name and Service Area. The Authority shall be known as the Boxelder
Basin Regional Stormwater Authority and the Authority shall carry out the Responsibilities set
forth in this Article The initial Service Area of the Authority shall include those portions of the
Service Area in the City, the Town or the unincorporated areas of the County as of the date of
this Agreement, as shown and described on Exhibit"A", which is attached to and made of part of
this Agreement.
Section 2.03. Board of Directors. The Authority shall be governed by a board of
directors consisting of five (5) members (the "Directors"), consisting of one each selected by the
City, the Town and the County, and two unaffiliated members, representing the public at large,
one selected by the City and the County upon mutual agreement and one by the town and County
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upon mutual agreement. No more than one of such unaffiliated members shall be employed by
or an elected official of any Member. Each director shall serve a three (3) year term, with terms
staggered and expiring on the 1st day of April or as soon thereafter as the successor director is
approved. The staggered terms of Directors shall expire each three (3) years with the first
Directors' terms expiring as follows: The Town-appointed director — 2009; City-appointed
director and County/Town-appointed director — 2010; County-appointed director and
County/City-appointed director -- 2011. Officers of the Authority shall consist of a president,
secretary and treasurer, which shall be appointed by a majority of the board of Directors and
shall be re-appointed on the 1 st day of April of each year or as soon thereafter as successors may
be qualified. Each board member shall have one (1) vote. The majority of the Directors shall
constitute a quorum and a majority of the quorum shall be necessary to take any action by the
board. The board shall comply with all obligations and may exercise all powers authorized by
Title 29, Article 1, Part 2, C.R.S.
Section 2.04. Distribution of Property of the Authority Upon Dissolution. If the
Authority is dissolved, property of the Authority shall pass jointly to the Members as tenants in
common thereto, except as otherwise expressly agreed in writing.
Section 2.05. Actions of Board and Members. Generally, actions may be taken by the
Authority upon majority approval the Directors; provided, however, that the following actions
may only be taken with the following approvals:
(a) This Agreement may only be terminated or dissolved by unanimous vote
of the Members, and only in the event that all bonds, notes and other financial obligations
of the Authority and the obligation to operate, maintain, repair and replace any existing
improvements of the Authority have been paid or duly provided for by escrow or
otherwise;
(b) Fees, rates and other charges consistent with Article V of this Agreement
may only be established by a majority vote of the Directors;
(c) Preliminary and final engineering studies for improvements to be
constructed by the Authority in accordance with the Plan, including but not limited to the
Boxelder Project, as hereinafter defined, may only be approved by a majority of the
Directors;
(d) Any amendments to the Plan may only be approved by a unanimous vote
of the Members;
(e) Any amendments to this Agreement may only be made on a unanimous
vote of the Members; and
(f) Any borrowing, issuance of debt, or multiple fiscal year financial
obligation may only be approved by a unanimous vote of the Members.
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Section 2.06. Description of the Boxelder Project. The Boxelder Project may include,
without limitation, any Project Improvements described in the Plan. The Members intend and
acknowledge that implementation of the Plan will include the design of permanent natural
habitat and other natural features as part of the stream stability and erosion control improvements
to be constructed, and, to the extent practicable, as part of other improvements to be constructed
by the Authority. All improvements of the Authority will be designed so as to minimize the
potential for introduction of human-caused pollutants in accordance with the Urban Storm
Drainage Criteria Manual Volume III — Best Management Practices, or such other subsequently
adopted standard as the Directors may approve. The Members further intend and acknowledge
that the enhancement and restoration of native vegetation, wildlife habitat, naturally meandering
stream channel topography, and other similar natural features are beneficial for the sustained
maintenance of the Boxelder drainage.
Section 2.07. The Authority's Responsibilities. The Authority shall have the following
responsibilities:
(a) Plan and establish a financial structure that equitably distributes among all
properties within the Service Area the costs of the Boxelder Project. The financial
structure will include both impact fees and service fees;
(b) Plan and arrange for the Operation and Maintenance of the Project
Improvements;
(c) Plan and establish a financial structure that equitably distributes among all
properties within the Service Area the costs of acquisition and construction of the Project
Improvements, Operations and Maintenance of the Project Improvements and costs of
administering and operating the Authority. The financial structure to fund said expenses
will include service fees and such other sources of revenue as the Authority may
determine to be appropriate and sufficient to support the acquisition and construction of
the Project Improvements, the Operation and Maintenance of the Project Improvements
and administration of the Authority, in a fiscally sustainable manner;
(d) Obtain any necessary Stormwater MS4 Permitting (stormwater quality)
required for its undertakings within the Service Area;
(e) Comply with all local laws including land use and zoning laws and similar
applicable land use code provisions; and
(f) Cooperate and collaborate with the Members, other governmental entities
and jurisdictions, nonprofit and private entities and persons and property owners, to
incorporate into Authority project plans, to support, and to encourage the design of,
development and use of Authority property and improvements, to provide for natural
habitat preservation and restoration, preservation of viewsheds and aesthetic values, and
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transportation connections, and to advance other compatible public purposes and uses,
insofar as the same are not in conflict with the primary stormwater objective of the
Authority.
Section 2.08. Enterprise Status. To the extent practicable, the Authority shall be
operated as an enterprise within the meaning of TABOR and the Water Activity Enterprise Law,
Part 1 of Article 45.1, Title 37, C.R.S. For such purposes, payments to the Authority by
Members pursuant to Sections 5.03 or 6.03 hereof shall not constitute"grants."
Section 2.09. Particular Duties of the Board. The Board shall diligently pursue the
implementation of the Plan, and shall comply with the applicable provisions of Article 1, Title
29, C.R.S.
ARTICLE III
POWERS OF THE AUTHORITY
Section 3.01. Powers. The Authority shall have and may exercise the following powers
together with any additional powers conferred upon drainage authorities by C.R.S. Section 29-1-
204.2 as it may be amended from time to time:
(a) Pursuant to the Plan to develop stormwater systems or facilities or
drainage facilities in whole or in part for the benefit of the inhabitants of the contracting
Members or others, at the discretion of the Directors, subject to fulfilling any conditions
or requirements set forth in this Agreement or in any other contract concerning the
Authority;
(b) To make and enter into contracts;
(c) To employ agents and employees;
(d) To acquire, construct, manage, maintain, fund, plan and operate drainage
and flood control systems, facilities, works, or improvements, or any interest therein;
(e) To acquire, hold, lease (as lessor or lessee), sell, or otherwise dispose of
any real or personal property utilized only for the purposes of providing drainage, flood
control, or stormwater quality control or for related or accessory purposes;
(f) To condemn property for public use;
(g) To incur debts, liabilities, or obligations, including without limitation by
the issuance of bonds, notes and other financial obligations;
(h) To sue and be sued in its own name;
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(i) To have and use a corporate seal;
0) To fix, maintain, and revise fees, rates, and charges for functions, services,
or facilities provided by the Authority;
(k) To adopt, by resolution, regulations respecting the exercise of its powers
and the carrying out of its purpose;
(1) To exercise any other powers which are essential to the provision of
functions, services, or facilities by the Authority and which are specified in this
Agreement or any other contract concerning the Authority;
(m) To do and perform any acts and things authorized by Section 29-1-204.2,
C.R.S., and this Agreement under, through, or by means of an agent or by contracts with
any person, firm, or corporation;
(n) To permit other municipalities, special districts, or political subdivisions
of the State that are authorized to provide drainage facilities to become Members in the
manner provided in this Agreement;
(o) To provide for the rehabilitation of any surfaces adversely affected by the
construction of pipelines, facilities, or systems or of stormwater or other drainage
facilities through the rehabilitation of plant cover, soil stability, and other measures
appropriate to the subsequent beneficial use of such lands; and
(p) To the extent permitted by law, to justly indemnify property owners or
others affected for any losses or damages incurred, including reasonable attorney fees, or
that may subsequently be caused by or which result from actions of the Authority.
Section 3.02. Insurance. The Authority shall comply with all minimum insurance
requirements of the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, C.R.S. Section 24-10-101, et seq.
Unless the Members vote unanimously to approve other insurance limits, the Authority shall
maintain commercial general liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 combined
limit for each occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate, including products/completed
operations and personal injury. So long as any obligation is owed to the Colorado Water
Conservation Board ("CWCB") the company providing the insurance coverage shall be
acceptable to the CWCB.
Section 3.03. Authority Not a Taxing Entity. The Authority shall not have the power of
taxation.
ARTICLE IV
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REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS OF MEMBERS
Section 4.01. The County's Representations and Covenants. The County makes the
following representations and covenants:
(a) It will promptly transfer to the Authority all revenues, fund balances,
improvements and responsibilities associated with the County's existing stormwater
impact fee in the Service Area, and will transfer to the Authority any amounts
representing fees applicable within its jurisdiction to the extent it elects to make payment
to the Authority in lieu of the collection of such fees pursuant to Section 5.04;
(b) It has adopted or will adopt the Plan;
(c) It will duly appoint initial and replacement Directors in accordance with
Section 2.03 hereof,
(d) It will, to the extent it is necessary to locate certain stormwater
improvements within the unincorporated areas of Larimer County and if requested by the
Authority, cooperate with the Authority in any condemnation actions, including the
County's use, with approval of the County Board of Commissioners in its sole discretion,
of its powers of eminent domain to acquire property as requested by the Authority, so
long as all costs of the County are reimbursed by the Authority, and the County is held
harmless;
(e) It will allow the Authority, within the County's standards and
specifications, to utilize easements and rights of way dedicated to the public for the
Authority's purposes, subject to the primary use of the right of way and applicable police
powers;
(f) It will cooperate in preparing all preliminary and final engineering
services necessary for the design and construction of the Boxelder Project;
(g) It will establish and implement stormwater standards, to be applied in
connection with subdivision, development and building review and approval, that are
consistent with the analytical assumptions and objectives of the Plan; and
(h) It will cooperate with the Authority and other Members in seeking
approval of changes to the Flood Insurance Study or underlying components, and consent
to the Authority's submission of the same to FEMA.
Section 4.02. The City's Representations and Covenants. The City makes the following
representations and covenants:
(a) To the extent permitted by any ordinances authorizing bonds and other
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obligations of the City Stormwater Utility Enterprise in effect or existing as of the
effective date of this Agreement, it will transfer to the Authority any amounts
representing fees applicable within its jurisdiction to the extent it elects to make payment
to the Authority in lieu of the collection of such fees pursuant to Section 5.04;
(b) It has adopted or will adopt the Plan;
(c) It will duly appoint initial and replacement Directors in accordance with
Section 2.03 hereof,
(d) It will, to the extent it is necessary to locate certain stormwater
improvements within the City and if requested by the Authority, cooperate with the
Authority in any condemnation actions, including the City's use, with approval of the
City Council in its sole discretion, of its powers of eminent domain to acquire property as
requested by the Authority, so long as all costs of the City are reimbursed by the
Authority, and the City is held harmless;
(e) It will allow the Authority, within the City's standards and specifications,
to utilize easements and rights of way dedicated to the public for the Authority's
purposes, subject to the primary use of the right of way and applicable police powers;
(f) It will cooperate in preparing all preliminary and final engineering
services necessary for the design and construction of the Boxelder Project;
(g) It will establish and implement stormwater standards, to be applied in
connection with subdivision, development and building review and approval, that are
consistent with the analytical assumptions and objectives of the Plan; and
(h) It will cooperate with the Authority and other Members in seeking
approval of changes to the Flood Insurance Study or underlying components, and consent
to the Authority's submission of the same to FEMA.
Section 4.03. The Town's Representations and Covenants. The Town makes the
following representations and covenants:
(a) It will transfer to the Authority any amounts representing fees applicable
within its jurisdiction to the extent it elects to make payment to the Authority in lieu of
the collection of such fees pursuant to Section 5.04;
(b) It has adopted or will adopt the Plan;
(c) It will duly appoint initial and replacement Directors in accordance with
Section 2.03 hereof,
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(d) It will, to the extent it is necessary to locate certain stormwater
improvements within the Town and if requested by the Authority, cooperate with the
Authority in any condemnation actions, including the Town's use, with approval of the
Town Board in its sole discretion, of its powers of eminent domain to acquire property as
requested by the Authority, so long as all costs of the Town are reimbursed by the
Authority, and the Town is held harmless;
(e) It will allow the Authority, within the Town's standards and
specifications, to utilize easements and rights of way dedicated to the public for the
Authority's purposes, subject to the primary use of the right of way and applicable police
powers;
(f) It will cooperate in preparing all preliminary and final engineering
services necessary for the design and construction of the Boxelder Project;
(g) It will establish and implement stormwater standards, to be applied in
connection with subdivision, development and building review and approval, that are
consistent with the analytical assumptions and objectives of the Plan; and
(h) It will cooperate with the Authority and other Members in seeking
approval of changes to the Flood Insurance Study or underlying components, and consent
to the Authority's submission of the same to FEMA.
ARTICLE V
RATES AND CHARGES; PROJECT PAYMENTS
Section 5.01. Power and Duty to Impose. The Authority shall be authorized and
required to impose the following rates, fees and charges on property within the Service Area: (a)
a Stormwater Service Fee and(b) a System Development Fee.
Section 5.02. All rates, fees and charges shall be consistent with the terms of this
Agreement. The Members have obtained a financial feasibility study report prepared by Alex
Brown Consulting, identified as Boxelder Creek Alliance Financial Analysis, and dated May 22,
2008 (the "Feasibility Study").
(a) In order to fund the Authority's projects and operations in accordance with the
Feasibility Study, the Members agree that the Authority shall no later than January 1, 2009,
establish a Stormwater Service Fee to be collected on an ongoing, regular, basis from owners of
property within the Service Area. The Stormwater Service Fee shall be set by the Authority
generally based upon impervious area, and on average shall not exceed $ 0.04 per square foot of
impervious area per year or be less than$ 0.03 per square foot of impervious area per year.
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(b) To provide additional funding for the Authority's projects and operations, the
Members agree that the Authority shall no later than January 1, 2009, establish a System
Development Fee to be collected in connection with development of property within the Service
Area no later than at the time of issuance of a building permit. The System Development Fee
shall be generally based upon impervious area, and on average shall not exceed $ 0.30 per square
foot of new impervious area or be less than $ 0.20 per square foot of new impervious area.
(c) The Authority shall review the Stormwater Service Fee and System Development
Fee on a biennial basis, and shall adjust the System Development Fee to reflect the investment in
the value of assets of the Authority and depreciation of those assets. Modifications of the
permitted average range of Stormwater Service Fee and the System Development Fee parameters
may be made by adoption of an amendment to this Agreement.
Section 5.03 Uniformity and Rates and Charges. The rates, fees and charges collected by
the Authority shall be uniform within the Service Area, and shall as nearly as practicable result
in similar charges to similarly-situated properties. Such rates and charges shall be imposed in
sufficient amounts to provide for the Operation and Maintenance expenses of the Authority, and
to defray, or provide a reasonable reserve for the payment of, its capital requirements. The
Authority is authorized to pledge all or any portion of the revenues derived from its rates, fees an
charges, including amounts received from Members pursuant to Section 5.03 hereof in lieu of
rates, fees and charges, to the payment of the principal of and interest on the obligations of the
Authority issued pursuant to Section 3.01(g) hereof.
Section 5.04. Option of Members to Contribute in Lieu of Authority Collection of Rates
and Charges. It is not intended that this Agreement shall deprive any Member of its inherent
power to charge for stormwater services and facilities within its boundaries. As to any fiscal
year a Member may at its discretion elect to pay directly to the Authority an amount equal to the
total of the Authority's rates, fees and charges imposed on property within such Member's
jurisdiction, in which case the Authority shall credit the account of each such property and
refrain from billing and collection in the affected area. Direct payments of such amounts shall be
made by a Member so electing no later than the dates upon which payments by property owners
to the Authority would have been due if the Authority had billed such property owners directly.
A Member electing to make such payments shall file a written notice with the Authority not later
than November 1 of the year preceding the fiscal year as to which it makes such election, stating
the fiscal year as to which such election is effective and the specific rates, fees or charges
affected, together with evidence satisfactory to the board of the Authority of the appropriation
and assignment of funds by such Member's governing body sufficient to fully provide for all
payments due as the result of such election. In any case where a Member so elects, nothing shall
prevent it from imposing and collecting rates, fees and charges to customers within its
boundaries which differ from the Authority's prevailing rates, fees and charges, provided that the
Authority does not thereby receive less revenue than it would if it were directly imposing and
collecting its own prevailing rates.
Section 5.05. Enforcement/Unpaid Charges a Lien. Any charge due hereunder which
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shall not be paid when due may be recovered in an action at law by the Authority. All rates, fees
and charges imposed pursuant to this Article shall be a lien upon the property to which such fee
is associated from the date the fee becomes due until such fee is paid. The owner of every
building, premises, lot or house shall be obligated to pay the fee for all service provided for the
premises which obligation may be enforced by the Authority by action at law or suit to enforce
the lien. In the case that a tenant in possession of any premises or buildings shall pay the charges,
it shall relieve the landowner from such obligation and lien but the Authority shall not be
required to look to any person whatsoever other than the owner for the payment of such charges.
No changes of ownership or occupation shall affect the application of this Article and the failure
of any owner to learn that he or she purchased property against which a lien for stormwater
authority rates, fees or charges exists shall in no way affect the responsibility for such payment.
Any delinquent amount may be enforced by assessment upon the property and premises served
and certification to the County Treasurer for collection under and pursuant to the authority and
procedure provided in by applicable law.
Section 5.06. Initial FEMA Grant Funding. The Members have applied for, and
received preliminary notice of award of, a FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant in the
approximate amount of $3 million, for design and construction of certain improvements
described in the Plan (the "PDM Grant"). The Members anticipate that the Authority will
receive the PDM Grant and use the PDM Grant funds, together with local matching funds in the
approximate amount of$1 million, to design and construct the grant-funded improvements and
administer the PDM Grant. The Members agree to share the local match obligation among them,
and cash funds or in-kind services in the following approximate proportions: the County — 50%;
the Town — 30%; the City — 20%. Such Member contributions shall be made to carry out and
complete the PDM Grant project in the specific manner mutually agreed by the Members.
Section 5.07. Repayment to Member Entities. The Authority shall be obligated to,
and hereby covenants to repay in full, any amounts advanced or obligations incurred by Member
entities on behalf of or under agreement with, the Authority, except as expressly waived in
writing by the Member to which such repayment would otherwise be due.
ARTICLE VI
FINANCIAL RECORDS AND ACCOUNTING
Section 6.01. Annual Audit. The books and financial records of the Authority shall be
examined annually by an independent auditor, whose report thereon shall be completed and filed
for public inspection at the office of the Authority not later than July 1 of the calendar year
following the close of the fiscal year for which such records are examined.
Section 6.02. Budget. The Authority shall propose and adopt an annual budget for each
ensuing fiscal year, not later than September 1 of the year preceding the fiscal year for which
such budget is prepared. The budget shall contain a complete plan for the financial operations of
the Authority for such ensuing fiscal year, including an estimate of revenues based upon the then
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current or most recently adopted schedule of rates, fees and charges and including any other
anticipated source of funds for operating or capital purposes, an estimate of the cost of Operation
and Maintenance, an estimate of the cost of capital additions and the debt service requirements of
bonds, notes or financial obligations issued in connection therewith and a five-year capital
improvements plan.
Section 6.03. Payments to and Contributions by Members. Nothing in this Agreement
shall prevent any one or more Members from acquiring or constructing all or any portion of the
Boxelder Project by agreement with the Authority. Any such agreement may provide either for a
cash payment by the Authority to such Member or Members or for a credit in kind against
amounts owing by such Member or Members to the Authority, the amount thereof in either case
being based upon the actual amounts expended by such Member or Members upon such
acquisition or construction. The Authority shall not enter into agreements to extend credit in
kind to such an extent that its funds available for Operation and Maintenance and debt service
requirements are impaired.
ARTICLE VII
ADMINISTRATION
Section 7.01. Authority Staff, Attorney, Auditor and Other Staff and Services. The
Authority,through its board, shall hire or retain the following:
(a) Authority Manager. The Authority shall retain a manager on a full or part
time basis to manage the Authority, or shall contract for management services. The
manager shall be answerable to the Directors and may be an employee of any of the
Members and, if an employee paid by a Member,the Authority shall enter into a separate
contract with the Member which employs the manager, according to the separate
agreement to be entered into between the Authority and the Member employing the
manager.
(b) Attorney. The Authority shall retain an attorney or shall contract for legal
services as needed. The attorney shall be answerable to the Directors.
(c) Auditor. The Authority shall retain an auditor or shall contract for
auditing services as needed. The auditor shall be answerable to the Directors.
(d) Other Authority Administrative and Professional Staff and Staff. The
Authority shall retain such additional administrative or professional staff on a full or part
time basis, or shall contract for administrative or professional services as needed. Any
such employees shall be answerable to the Directors and may be an employee of any of
the Members and, if an employee paid by a Member, the Authority shall enter into a
separate contract with the Member who employees the employee, according to the
separate agreement to be entered into between the Authority and the Member employing
15
the employee.
Section 7.02. Due Diligence. The Members agree to exercise due diligence in
performing their duties under this Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.01. Notice. Any notice or other communication given by any Member to the
other Members relating to this Agreement shall be hand delivered or sent by certified mail,return
receipt requested, addressed to the other Members, at their respective addresses as set forth
below; and such notice or other communication shall be deemed given, when so hand delivered
or three (3) days after so mailed:
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If to the City: With a copy to:
Utilities Executive Director City Attorney
City of Fort Collins City Attorney's Office
P. O. Box 580 300 LaPorte Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80522 P. O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
If to the County: With a copy to:
Public Works Director George Haas
Larimer County Larimer County Attorney's Office
Storm Drainage Engineer 224 Canyon Ave., Ste. 200
P. O. Box 1190 P. O. Box 1606
Fort Collins, CO 80522 Fort Collins,CO 80522-1606
If to the Town With a copy to:
Town Administrator J. Brad March
Town of Wellington Wellington Town Attorney
P. O. Box 127 March, Olive & Pharris, LLC
Wellington, CO 80549 110 E. Oak St., Ste. 200
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Section 8.02. Annexation. In the event that any parcel of real property currently located
in unincorporated Larimer County and in the Service Area is annexed into the City or the Town,
the Authority, County and annexing entity shall work cooperatively to ensure that the fees, rates
and charges collected from or attributable to the annexed property are equitably apportioned.
Upon completion of the construction of the Project Improvements, all such Improvements shall
be owned by the Authority, except as otherwise expressly agreed and documented in writing by
all Members. It is the intent of the Members that annexation of property within the Authority
boundaries by a non-Member municipality will not alter the Authority's power or the rates, fees
or other charges imposed by the Authority upon such property, except as expressly agreed in
writing by the Authority and such annexing municipality.
Section 8.03. Financial Obligations of Members. At the option of any Member
obligated to make any payment hereunder, such payment may, at such Member's discretion,
constitute an obligation of such Member or its respective Stormwater Utility Enterprise.
Obligations of the Members pursuant to this Agreement are hereby made expressly contingent
upon the respective governing bodies of the County, Town or the City appropriating annually
any funds necessary for the fulfillment of such obligations.
Section 8.04. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
Members hereto (including their respective Stormwater Utility Enterprises) and their
17
respective successors and assigns.
(b) This Agreement is made in and shall be construed and interpreted in
accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado.
(c) This Agreement shall not be assigned by any of the Members without the
prior written consent of the other Members.
(d) The paragraph headings used herein are for convenience of reference and
in no way shall define, limit or prescribe the scope or intent of any provision of this
Agreement.
(e) This Agreement shall be construed according to its fair meaning and as if
prepared by all Members and shall be deemed to be and contain the understanding and
agreement among the Members with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
There shall be deemed to be no other terms, conditions, promises, understandings, except
as expressly agreed in writing by the Members.
(f) Statements or representations, either expressed or implied, concerning this
Agreement shall not be binding on any Member except as set forth in any official action
or subsequent writing signed by all of the Members. Amendment of this Agreement shall
require unanimous consent of all Members.
(g) The Members agree to cooperate in good faith in fulfilling the terms of
this Agreement. The Members agree that they will attempt to resolve, by good faith
negotiations before reverting to litigation, any disputes concerning the interpretation of
this Agreement and any unforeseen questions and difficulties which may arise in
implementing this Agreement.
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other
incorporated provision, the Members recognize that there are legal constraints imposed
upon each of the Members as governmental entities by the constitutions, statutes, and
rules and regulations of the State of Colorado and of the United States, and by the
respective charters and codes of such Members. Each Member agrees that, subject to
such constraints, such Member expects to carry out the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. Such constraints include, without limitation, the constraints of TABOR
relating to governmental entities incurring multi-year fiscal obligations. Therefore,
notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall
any Member exercise any power or take any action that shall be prohibited by applicable
law. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such a
manner so as to be effective and valid under applicable law.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Members have executed this Agreement as of the date and year
first above written.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,
LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO
By:
Chair
ATTEST:
Deputy Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Assistant County Attorney
THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO,
a Municipal Corporation
By:
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Assistant City Attorney
THE TOWN OF WELLINGTON, COLORADO,
a Statutory Municipality
By:
Mayor
ATTEST:
Town Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Town Attorney
19
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