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RESOLUTION NO. 13743
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PUEBLO
TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE 2017
CONNECT INITIATIVE FOR THE ARKANSAS RIVER
LEVEE TRAIL PROJECT TO THE STATE BOARD OF THE
GREAT OUTDOORS COLORADO TRUST FUND AND
AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL
TO EXECUTE SAME
WHEREAS, City Council supports and authorizes the City of Pueblo to submit a
grant application for the Arkansas River Levee Trail Connect Initiative for the purposes
of constructing a trail on top of the Arkansas River Levee and multiple neighborhood
connections to the new Levee Trail;
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that:
SECTION 1:
The President of the City Council is hereby authorized to execute and deliver the
grant application for the Arkansas River Levee Trail Connect Initiative on behalf of the
City of Pueblo, to the State Board of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund, and the
City Clerk shall affix the seal of the City thereto and attest same.
SECTION 2:
The City of Pueblo is requesting a total of $2,000,000 in Great Outdoors
Colorado funds for the Arkansas River Levee Trail Project. The City will be providing
$100,000 in Conservation Trust Funds and $500,000 of Colorado Department of
Transportation, Transportation Alternative funds for the project. Pueblo Conservancy
District will provide $2,750,000 in-kind matching funds for the project. The total project
cost for the Arkansas River Levee Trail Connect Initiative is $5,350,000.
SECTION 3:
A copy of the grant application is attached hereto and is on file at the City of
Pueblo’s Department of Planning and Community Development.
SECTION 4.
The officers and staff of the City are directed and authorized to perform any and
all acts consistent with the intent of this Resolution to effectuate the policies and
procedures described herein.
SECTION 5.
This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon passage and approval.
INTRODUCED August 14, 2017
BY: Robert Schilling
City Clerk’s Office Item #
M-4
BACKGROUND PAPER FOR PROPOSED
RESOLUTION
COUNCIL MEETING DATE:
August 14, 2017
TO: President Stephen G. Nawrocki and Members of City Council
CC: Sam Azad, City Manager
VIA: Gina Dutcher, City Clerk
FROM: Steven Meier, Director of Planning and Community Development
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PUEBLO TO SUBMIT A
GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE 2017 CONNECT INITIATIVE FOR THE
ARKANSAS RIVER LEVEE TRAIL PROJECT TO THE STATE BOARD
OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS COLORADO TRUST FUND AND
AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO
EXECUTE SAME
SUMMARY:
This Grant will fund the construction of a soft-surface trail on top of the Arkansas River
Levee, Levee Trail connections to the Lower Westside, Grove, Aberdeen, and Blocks,
neighborhoods. The Connect Initiative will also assist in funding pedestrian and bicycle
bridges located south of the Fourth Street Bridge and north of the Main Street Bridge,
that will span the Arkansas River connecting the existing Arkansas River Trail to the
newly constructed Arkansas Levee Trail.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
Ordinance No. 9130, established the Pueblo Arkansas River Flood Levee Master Plan
Project to develop a Master Plan for 2.75 miles of the Arkansas River Flood Levee
corridor, analyzing the existing conditions and identifying potential improvements to
recreation, infrastructure, and neighborhood connectivity.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Pueblo is applying for a $2 million grant through the Great Outdoors
.
Colorado Connect Initiative for the Arkansas River Levee Trail ProjectThe Arkansas
River Levee Trail Project is a new trail project that was developed in conjunction with
the Pueblo Conservancy District’s Arkansas River Levee Rehabilitation Project. The
Arkansas River Levee was constructed in 1925 following Pueblo’s devastating 1921
flood. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers
has required the certification of older flood levees. In order to have the 90-year old levee
certified considerable, reconstruction efforts must take place for the levee to be certified
by FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers. The rehabilitation effort includes lowering
the three-mile-long levee by 12-feet, creating a 40-wide platform on top of the levee,
compaction, and resurfacing the face of the levee. With news of the reconstruction
efforts, citizens and local recreation groups rallied the City of Pueblo and the Pueblo
Conservancy District to make provisions for a trail on top of the levee, access from the
existing Arkansas River Trail to the levee, lower Westside Neighborhood connection,
Grove neighborhood connection, and Runyon Lake/Ball field connection.
Trail construction will focus on creating multiple neighborhood connections to the new
Arkansas River Levee Trail and the addition of site amenities including seating and a
shade structure adjacent to Whitewater Park.
The proposed Levee Trail will be an addition to the 25-mile Pueblo River Trails System
and the Colorado Front Range Trail corridor, which have been identified by Governor
Hickenlooper as a priority trail corridor.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The GOCO Board will award Connect Initiative Funds on September 29, 2017. Funds
for the Connect Initiative Project will be budgeted and appropriated by the City before
entering into a grant contract. The City will make $600,000 available during the term of
the grant between 2018 and 2020. Total cost for the Arkansas River Levee Project is
$5,350,000. The following is a funding breakdown of the Arkansas River Initiative:
GOCO Connect Initiative Funds $ 2,000,000.00
City of Pueblo Conservation Trust $ 100,000.00
CDOT Transportation Alternatives $ 500,000.00
Pueblo Conservancy District In-Kind Match $ 2,750,000.00
TOTAL $ 5,350,000.00
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
No previous board or commission actions.
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS:
The Pueblo Conservancy District and local recreation groups have been active
participants in the GOCO Connect Initiative process and have provided letters of
support for the grant application.
ALTERNATIVES:
Denial of this Resolution will result in the cancellation of the Project.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Approval of the Resolution.