HomeMy WebLinkAbout11304RESOLUTION NO. 11304
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PRE - ANNEXATION AGREEMENT AND ESCROW
AGREEMENT BETWEEN PUEBLO, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION AND PUEBLO SPRINGS
RANCH, LLC RELATING TO AN ESCROW DEPOSIT FOR PAYMENT OF CITY'S SPECIAL
LEGAL COUNSEL'S FEES AND EXPENSES INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUEBLO
SPRINGS RANCH ANNEXATION AND ZONING MATTERS, AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT
OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO EXECUTE SAME, APPROVING THE ENGAGEMENT OF
GRIMSHAW AND HARRING, P.C. AS SPECIAL COUNSEL, AND PROVIDING THAT SPECIAL
COUNSEL'S COMPENSATION SHALL BE PAID OUT OF THE ESCROW DEPOSIT
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that:
SECTION 1 _
The Pre - Annexation Agreement and attached Escrow Agreement between the City and
Pueblo Springs Ranch, LLC relating to an escrow deposit for payment of City's fees and expenses
of special legal counsel engaged to assist City in connection with the Pueblo Springs Ranch
annexation and zoning matters, copies of which are attached hereto, having been approved as to
form by the City Attorney, are hereby approved.
SECTION 2
The President of the City Council is authorized to execute the Pre - Annexation Agreement
and Escrow Agreement in the name of the City and the City Clerk is directed to affix the seal of the
City thereto and attest same.
SECTION 3
Pursuant to Section 6 -7 of the charter of the City, the City Attorney's engagement of
Grimshaw & Harring, P.C. as special counsel to provide legal services in connection with Pueblo
Springs Ranch annexation and zoning is hereby approved. Such special counsel's compensation
shall be limited to and paid out of the escrow deposit as provided in the Escrow Agreement.
SECTION 4
This Resolution shall become effective upon final passage and approval.
INTRODUCED May 27, 2008
BY Judy Weaver
Councilperson
APPROVE
ATTEST D BY: �. � y
PPI`81f I T' i ILAHU
n
Background Paper for Proposed
RESOLUTION
AGENDA ITEM # IB.
DATE: May 27, 2008
DEPARTMENT: Law Department
TITLE
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PRE - ANNEXATION AGREEMENT AND
ESCROW AGREEMENT BETWEEN PUEBLO, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
AND PUEBLO SPRINGS RANCH, LLC RELATING TO AN ESCROW DEPOSIT
FOR PAYMENT OF CITY'S SPECIAL LEGALCOUNSEL'S FEESAND EXPENSES
INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUEBLO SPRINGS RANCH
ANNEXATION AND ZONING MATTERS, AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OF
THE CITY COUNCIL TO EXECUTE SAME, APPROVING THE ENGAGEMENT OF
GRIMSHAW AND HARRING, P.C. AS SPECIAL COUNSEL, AND PROVIDING
THAT SPECIAL COUNSEL'S COMPENSATION SHALL BE PAID OUT OF THE
ESCROW DEPOSIT
ISSUE
Should City Council approve the Pre - Annexation, Escrow and engagement of
special legal counsel?
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the Pre - Annexation Agreement, Escrow and engagement of special legal
counsel.
BACKGROUND
Pueblo Springs Ranch, LLC has agreed to deposit $120,000.00 into an escrow
account for payment of fees and expenses of special legal counsel engaged to
assist the City Attorney in connection with the Pueblo Springs Ranch annexation
and zoning matters.
In response to request for proposals, the City Attorney received four (4) proposals
from competent and experienced land use law firms. After review of such proposals
and other investigation, the City Attorney, pursuant to Section 7 -6 of the Charter
engaged Grimshaw & Harring, P.C. to act as special counsel.
The Resolution approves the Pre - Annexation Agreement and Escrow between the
City and Pueblo Springs Ranch,LLC relating to the $120,000.00 deposit for special
counsel's fees and expenses, approves the engagement of such special counsel
and determines that special counsel's compensation shall be limited to and paid out
of the Escrow Deposit.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No financial impact to the City of Pueblo.
PRE - ANNEXATION
AGREEMENT
This Pre - Annexation Agreement ( "Agreement ") is entered into as of May 27, 2008, by
and between the City of Pueblo, a municipal corporation (the "City ") whose legal address is 1
City Hall Place, Pueblo, Colorado, 81003, and Pueblo Springs Ranch, LLC, a Nevada limited
liability company (the "Company ") whose legal address is 5440 W. Sahara Ave., 3` Floor, Las
Vegas, Nevada, 89141, (City and Company may be referred to herein individually as "Party" and
collectively as "Parties "), WITNESSETH
RECITALS
A. Company has filed with the City Petitions to annex to the City Company's
approximately 24,000 acres of land located in Pueblo County, Colorado ( "Land ")
( "Annexation ").
B. In conjunction with the Annexation, Company intends to file applications to zone
the Land ( "Zoning ").
C. Company has requested that the Annexation and Zoning be completed by
February 1, 2009.
D. Such expedited Annexation and Zoning will impose significant and substantial
extra - ordinary duties and responsibilities on the City and its legal staff.
E. The Annexation and Zoning of such a substantial area is unprecedented for the
City and the City does not have the depth of resources including legal staff to review and act on
the Annexation and Zoning in a timely manner.
F. Company will make available to City funds as hereinafter provided for the
purpose of paying professional fees and reimbursable expenses of special legal counsel engaged
by City, in its sole reasonable discretion, to provide legal services in connection with the
Annexation and Zoning ( "Professional Fees ").
Now, Therefore, in consideration of the foregoing Recitals and mutual covenants
contained herein, City and Company agree as follows:
1. Recitals. The Recitals set forth above are true and correct.
2. Deposit and Escrow. Company shall on or before July 1, 2008 deposit
$120,000.00 ( "Deposit ") in an interest bearing escrow account designated as the "Pueblo Legal
Services Escrow Fund" ( "Fund ") to be held by Community Banks of Colorado, 121 West 1st
Street, Pueblo, Colorado, 81003, as escrow agent ( "Escrow Agent ") and disbursed by Escrow
Agent at the request and direction of the City's Director of Finance ( "Director ") for payment of
Professional Fees ( "Request "). Director shall submit with each Request a statement or invoice
from the person or entity requesting payment of Professional Fees to substantiate the amount of
fees and expenses that have been incurred by such person or entity in performing professional
services ( "Statement "). The Fund will be disbursed and paid by the Escrow Agent directly to the
entity or persons performing special legal services for the City in connection with the
Annexation and Zoning as shown on the Request. For informational purposes and not as a
condition precedent to the disbursement of the Fund, Director shall give a copy of each Request
and Statement to Company. In the event a balance exists in the Fund after payment of all
Professional Fees, Director shall file a final Request with the Escrow Agent to pay and distribute
the balance of the Fund to Company.
3. Escrow Agreement. City and Company shall execute and deliver to the Escrow
Agent with the Company's Deposit an executed Escrow Agreement in substantially the same
form and content as the Escrow Agreement attached hereto.
4. Additional Fees. The Deposit is in addition to any other fees or expenses
required to be paid to City by Company with respect to the Annexation and Zoning and is not in
lieu of or satisfaction thereof, either in whole or in part.
5. No Limitation on City Council Powers. Neither this Agreement nor any
provision hereof is intended to be nor shall same be construed to be an approval of the
Annexation and /or Zoning or any part thereof. The Parties understand that any decision to annex
or zone the Land must be made by the City Council of City in its discretion by Ordinance duly
adopted. No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to limit, impair or
restrain any of the powers and authority of City Council conferred by constitution, statute,
charter, ordinance or other laws, including, but not limited to, the lawful exercise of its
legislative powers.
6. Entire Understanding. This Agreement expresses the entire understanding of the
Parties and supersedes any and all prior dealings and commitments with respect to the deposit
and payment of fees and expenses of special legal counsel as provided in this Agreement and
may not be amended except in writing signed by City and Company.
7. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the laws of the State of Colorado, without regard to conflict of laws principles.
8. Notices. Any notices hereunder shall be sufficiently given if given personally or
mailed by certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed:
(a) if to City, City Manager, City of Pueblo, 1 City Hall Place, Pueblo,
Colorado, with a copy to Thomas E. Jagger, City Attorney, 503 N. Main Street, Suite 127,
Pueblo, Colorado, 81003, or
(b) if to the Company, 5440 W. Sahara Avenue, 3 rd Floor, Las Vegas, Nevada,
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89146, Attention: Manager,
or to such other address as either party shall specify in written notice given to the other party.
9. Binding effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the Parties and their respective successors. This Agreement shall not be assigned in whole or in
part by either City or Company.
10. Execution of Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.
11. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held by a court of
competent jurisdiction to, be invalid or unenforceable, such holding shall not affect the other
provisions of this Agreement which shall remain in full force and effect.
12. Parties Interested Herein. Nothing in this Agreement expressed or implied is
intended or shall be construed upon, or given to, any person other than the City and Company
any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or any covenants, conditions or
stipulations hereof, and all the covenants, stipulations, provisions and agreements herein
contained by and on behalf of the City and Company shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit
of the City and Company.
13. Venue, Jurisdiction and Jury Trial. Venue for any action, proceedings or other
litigation of any type brought by either Party against the other Party for the enforcement or
interpretation of the covenants and provisions of this Agreement ( "Litigation ") shall be Pueblo
County, Colorado. All such Litigation shall be filed in the District Court of the Tenth Judicial
District of Colorado, and City and Company submit to the jurisdiction of said District Court.
City and Company waive their respective rights to a trial by jury in any such Litigation, and
agree that any such Litigation is to tried by a court trial without ajury.
14. Attorney Fees. In the event of any Litigation arising under this Agreement, the
prevailing Party in such Litigation shall be entitled to recover its costs and expenses (including
reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs and litigation - related expenses) in addition to any other
relief granted in such Litigation.
Executed at Pueblo, Colorado, the day and year first above written.
[SEAL]
ATTE
Name: F ' i
PUEB 0 SP GS RANCH, LLC
By
Name:
Title:
3-
[S- A-
j
ATTEST' C.�r,Q.nn
- -.City erk —
Approved as to form:
/G es5
City Atto
PUEBLO, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
By_
of the City Council
m
ESCROW AGREEMENT
THIS ESCROW AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 27th day of May, 2008, by
and between Community, Banks of Colorado (the "Escrow Agent "), whose legal address is 121
West 1st Street, Pueblo, Colorado, 81003, Pueblo Springs Ranch, LLC, a Nevada limited
liability company ( "Company "), whose legal address is 5440 W. Sahara Avenue, 3 rd Floor, Las
Vegas, Nevada, 89146, and the City of Pueblo, Colorado, a political subdivision of the State of
Colorado ( "City "), whose legal address is 1 City Hall Place, Pueblo, Colorado, 81003:
WITNESSETH THAT, in the joint and mutual exercise of their powers, and in
consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto recite and agree as
follows:
SECTION 1. RECITALS.
1.01 Company and City have entered into an Agreement dated May 27, 2008 (the
"Agreement "), a copy of which is attached hereto, whereby Company has agreed to deposit
$120,000.00 ( "Deposit ") with the Escrow Agent for the purpose of paying special legal counsel's
professional fees and reimbursable expenses incurred by City in connection with the Annexation
and Zoning ( "Professional Fees ").
1.02 This Escrow Agreement is not intended to alter or change in any way the rights
and obligations of Company and City under the Agreement, but is entirely supplemental thereto.
1.03 The terms capitalized in this Escrow Agreement but not defined herein shall have
the meanings given to them in the Agreement.
1.04 Subject to the terms and provisions of this Escrow Agreement, Company and City
agree to employ Escrow Agent to receive, hold, invest and disburse the Deposit to be paid to
Escrow Agent by Company as described in Section 1.01, all as hereinafter provided; however,
Escrow Agent shall not be obligated to assume or perform any obligations of Company or City
under the Agreement.
1.05 Each of the parties has authority to enter into this Escrow Agreement and has
taken all actions necessary to authorize the execution of this Escrow Agreement by the officers
whose signatures are affixed hereto.
SECTION 2. ESCROW FUND.
2.01 Escrow Agent shall establish and hold the Deposit in a special escrow fund
designated as the "Pueblo Escrow Fund" (the "Fund ") and shall keep such Fund separate and
apart from all other funds and money held by it, and shall administer such Fund as provided in
this Escrow Agreement.
2.02 The Fund shall be disbursed for the following purposes: first, to pay all reasonable
and necessary fees and expenses incurred by Escrow Agent in connection herewith as evidenced
by its statements forwarded to the City's Director of Finance (the "Director "), second, to pay
Professional Fees upon submission to Escrow Agent by Director of written requests for payment
(the "Request ").
2.03 Upon receipt by Escrow Agent of a Request signed by the Director, the Escrow
Agent shall pay out of the Fund such amounts and to such persons as the Director shall specify in
each such Request.
2.04 Escrow Agent shall only be responsible for the safekeeping and investment of the
money held in the Fund, and the disbursement thereof in accordance with the Request signed by
Director, and shall not be responsible for the authenticity or accuracy of such Requests or the
application of amounts paid pursuant to such Request by the persons or entities to whom they are
paid.
SECTION 3. FUND; INVESTMENT.
3.01 The Fund and investments held by Escrow Agent under this Escrow Agreement
are irrevocably held in trust for the benefit of City, and the Fund and investments, together with
any income or interest earned thereon, shall be expended and disbursed only as provided in this
Escrow Agreement, and shall not be subject to levy or attachment or lien by or for the benefit of
any creditor of either Escrow Agent or Company.
3.02 Escrow Agent shall hold and invest the moneys held in the Fund in securities
which are legal investments of public funds as the Director shall designate, or in lieu of such
designation, in a Public Money Market Checking Account with interest at a rate equal to the 91
day T -Bill Rate plus -0- percent. Any income received on such investments shall be credited to
the Fund. The Escrow Agent shall at least semi - annually furnish an accounting of all money,
investments and income therefrom.
3.03 Escrow Agent shall, without further direction from the Director, sell such
investments as and when required to make any payment from the Fund in accordance with
Requests received by the Escrow Agreement.
SECTION 4. ESCROW AGENT'S AUTHORITY.
Escrow Agent may act in reliance upon any writing or instrument or signature which it, in
good faith, believes to be genuine, may assume the validity and accuracy of any statement of
assertion contained in such a writing or instrument, and may assume that any person purporting
to give any writing, notice or advice or instructions in connection with the provisions hereof has
been duly authorized to do so. Escrow Agent shall not be liable in any manner for the
sufficiency or correctness as to form, manner and execution, or validity of any instrument
deposited with it, nor as to the identity, authority or right of any person executing the same; and
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its duties hereunder shall be limited to those specifically provided herein.
SECTION 5. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
5.01 This Escrow Agreement shall be construed and governed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Colorado.
5.02 This Escrow Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties and their respective successors and assigns.
5.03 This Escrow Agreement shall terminate upon written notice given by the Director
to the Escrow Agent specifying the date of termination.
5.04 This Escrow Agreement may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts,
each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same
instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Escrow greement as of the
date and year first written above.
as Escrow Agent
Title:
PUEBLO SP INGS RANCH, LLC
By
Name: �,.
Title: A'SolawO ,
[ S E�A=L_J_, CITY OF PUEBLO, COLORADO, as City
ATTESTS -- B
Cityttrk President of the City Council
APP PV D: l APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Director of Finance City Attorney
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