HomeMy WebLinkAbout13878RESOLUTION NO. 13878 A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING REAUTHORIZATION BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE COLORADO LOTTERY DIVISION IN 2018 WHEREAS, the Colorado Lottery Division (Division) is critical to the administration of the Conservation Trust Fund and the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund and the Division is set to expire unless extended by the General Assembly, which during its 2018 session will consider legislation to extend the Division; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that: SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Pueblo (City) strongly urges the General Assembly to approve legislation during its 2018 session to reauthorize the Colorado Lottery Division. SECTION 2. The City supports the continuation of annual funding provided through the Conservation Trust Fund for parks, trails, and open space projects benefitting City residents. SECTION 3. The City supports the continuation of funding from the Colorado Lottery Division for the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund that has provided 25 grants to the City since 1992 totaling over $12 million. SECTION 4. The officers and staff of the City are authorized and directed to perform any and all acts consistent with the intent of this Resolution to implement the policies and procedures described herein. SECTION 5. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon passage and approval. INTRODUCED: January 22, 2018 BY: Ed Brown MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL APPROVED: PRESIDENT OF CITY COUNCIL ATTESTED BY: ACTING CITY CLERK City Clerk’s Office Item # M-3 BACKGROUND PAPER FOR PROPOSED RESOLUTION COUNCIL MEETING DATE: January 22, 2018 TO: President Christopher A. Nicoll and Members of City Council CC: Sam Azad, City Manager VIA: Brenda Armijo, Acting City Clerk FROM: Steven Meier, Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING REAUTHORIZATION BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE COLORADO LOTTERY DIVISION IN 2018 SUMMARY: This Resolution supports the reauthorization of the Colorado Lottery Division by the General Assembly during the 2018 session. PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: None. BACKGROUND: Colorado voters provided for a statewide lottery to be established in 1983 which has distributed over $45 million to the City of Pueblo from lottery profits used for parks, open space, wildlife, and outdoor recreation purposes. In a subsequent election in 1992, Colorado voters approved the establishment of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund (GOCO). GOCO has provided 25 grants to the City of Pueblo totaling over $12 million, including funds for the Historic Arkansas River Walk, Minnequa Lake, the Arkansas River Legacy Project, El Centro Del Quinto Sol/Fountain Creek, City Park, and many other local park projects. The funds for these programs are administered by the Colorado Lottery Division in the State Department of Revenue. This Resolution strongly recommends that the Colorado General Assembly pass legislation during its 2018 session reauthorizing the Colorado Lottery Division. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: If the General Assembly fails to reauthorize the Lottery Division, there will be no state agency available to administer the Conservation Trust Fund and the Great Colorado Outdoors Trust Fund and the City of Pueblo could suffer a loss of approximately $1.2 million of Conservation Trust Fund revenues annually, and the loss of an average of $480,000 in grant funds awarded annually to the City. BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Not Applicable. STAKEHOLDER PROCESS: None. ALTERNATIVES: Not approve the Resolution. RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Resolution.