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HomeMy WebLinkAbout13743 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.