Body
Department of Parks and Recreation
Reference: Resolution Approving the Submittal of a Grant Application to Adams County for an Amount Not to Exceed $983,650.00 for the "CFRT (Colorado Front Range Trail) Along the South Platte River" project; and to Authorize the City Manager to Sign the Grant Application.
To: Mayor Richard N. McLean and Members of City Council
Through: Manuel Esquibel, City Manager
Prepared By: Gary Wardle, Director of Parks and Recreation
Mark Heidt, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation
Date Prepared: January 7, 2015
PURPOSE
A Resolution authorizing the City of Brighton to submit to Adams County Open Space a Passive Grant Application requesting grant funding in the amount not to exceed $983,650.00 for the "CFRT (Colorado Front Range Trail) Along the South Platte River" project; and to authorize the City Manager to sign the Grant Application.
BACKGROUND
The CFRT (Colorado Front Range Trail) Along the South Platte River is located adjacent to and east of the South Platte River from E-470 to the trailhead at Southern Street. The CFRT is the planned trail alignment along the Front Range of Colorado from the Wyoming border to the New Mexico border. Brighton lies within the "Prairie trail section" of the CFRT.
The concepts of this trails project were presented to City Council along with the Ken Mitchell Lakes Open Space and Park Master Plan in summer of 2006. This trail link to Denver is also noted in Brighton's Greenways and Trails Master Plan, 52-85 Trail Master Plan, Colorado Front Range Trail Master Plan, and the Brighton Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update.
The total cost for the "CFRT Along the South Platte River" project is estimated at $2,611,530.00. In 2014 the City received $950,000.00 (36.38% of total project) of GOCO (Great Outdoors Colorado) funding for the "CFRT from E-470 to Brighton" project which is the south end of this grant application project. The "CFRT from E-470" ends at the north end of the Ken Mitchell Lakes Open Space and Park. The City, also in 2014, applied for a Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife - State Trails Grant funding for the : CFRT - Erger's Pond Open Space Section" project that continues the CFRT north to the present trail that connects the trailhead at Southern Street to Veterans Park. The State Trails Grant Application was for funding in the amount of $110,470.00 (4.23% of total), and will be awarded in the spring of 2015. This Adams County Grant Application project is the combination of both grant projects from GOCO and State Trails. Also, this Adams County Open Space Passive Grant Application funding request of $983,650.00 (37.67% of total) will match to the GOCO and State Trails grant funding, along with the City's cash match of $567,410.00 (21.72% of total). The City has budgeted in 2015 and will budget in 2016 Recreation Capital Fund budgets the cash match of $567,410.00.
In order to receive the Adams County Open Space Passive Grant monies, the City would be required to enter into a written Grant Agreement with Adams County. The City has previously entered into similar agreements with Adams County. The attached Resolution authorizes Staff to apply for this grant, authorizes the concept of a Grant Agreement between the City and Adams County, and authorizes the City Manager to negotiate and execute the Grant Agreement, if the Open Space Passive Grant award is made by Adams County. The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the submittal of this Resolution to City Council.
CRITERIA BY WHICH COUNCIL MUST CONSIDER THE ITEM
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Awarded Adams County Open Space Passive Grant Application funds of $983,650.00 will be used for the "CFRT Along the South Platte River" project. The staff has budgeted and will be budgeting a total of $567,410.00 in the 2015 and 2016 Recreation Capital Budgets.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve the Resolution authorizing Staff to submit a Adams County Open Space Passive Grant Application requesting grant funding in an amount not to exceed $983,650.00 for the "CFRT Along the South Platte River" project; and authorize the City Manager to sign the Grant Application.
OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
· Approve the Resolution, or
· Not approve the Resolution.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution