To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Jeff Brauer, Director of Parks and Recreation
Title Resolution Authorizing an Expenditure from the Parks and Recreation Capital Fund and the Parks General Fund for Recreational Development at Rueter-Hess Reservoir
Body
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Executive Summary
This purpose of this agenda item is to request authorization of an expenditure from the Parks and Recreation Capital Fund and the Parks General Fund to pay an invoice in the amount of $414,000 to the Rueter-Hess Recreation District for recreational development at Rueter-Hess Reservoir.
In 2013, the Town of Castle Rock began participating in initial discussions regarding the potential recreational possibilities at the site. Those discussions centered on the formation of a regional partnership whose goal was to develop and administer the planning, design, construction and maintenance of a recreational master plan for the reservoir.
In 2015, Castle Rock Town Council voted to support an agreement establishing the Rueter-Hess Recreation Authority, acknowledging future Town participation in the site’s recreational development. The Authority’s purpose is to bring recreational opportunities to Rueter-Hess Reservoir and its adjacent property, and set the policies and procedures by which the site is funded, developed and maintained for public recreation. In addition to Castle Rock, Authority partners include Parker Water and Sanitation, Douglas County, the Town of Parker, the City of Lone Tree and the City of Castle Pines. Each partner in the agreement maintains a position on the Authority Board.
Since its inception, the Authority has performed a number administrative functions including establishing bylaws and annual budgets. A recreation master plan funded by Authority members was also completed in 2017. Outstanding public participation in the reservoir’s planning process resulted in a preferred concept for the property’s recreational and educational opportunities. The Parker Water and Sanitation District endorsed a “peaceful and serene” mandate to the Authority based on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and primary mission of providing safe drinking water.
Annually, the members of the Authority financially assess the project’s general costs and future capital development needs. This assessment contributes to capital funding for improvements at the reservoir. The 2018 assessment identified through the invoice in Attachment B will be used to initiate the master plan’s phase 1 capital development, which may include but not be limited to entry road improvements, parking lots, improved water access, shelters, trail development and site furnishings. All capital improvements will be competitively bid.
The 2018 invoice includes a general assessment of $28,000 and a capital assessment of $197,000 for a total assessment of $225,000. The remaining balance of $189,000 is to make up the difference from 2017. The Town of Castle Rock did not pay the full 2017 assessment invoice since the budget time frame for Castle Rock preceded the budget approval process of the Authority. The payment of this invoice will complete assessment dues for 2017 and 2018.
Notification and Outreach Efforts
The public outreach conducted to develop the Rueter-Hess Reservoir master plan consisted of citizen surveys and open houses to solicit input from the community of each participating agency. Castle Rock contributed $25,000 for this effort.
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, or Other Discussions
In 2015, Town Council voted unanimously to support the cooperative agreement with Parker Water and Sanitation District, Douglas County, the Town of Parker, the City of Lone Tree and the City of Castle Pines to bring water-based recreation to the reservoir through the establishment of the Ruter-Hess Recreation Authority. This intergovernmental agreement can be referenced in Attachment C.
In 2016, the Parks and Recreation Commission provided direction that this is a worthwhile amenity to add to the portfolio of services that are offered by the Town; including fishing, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboard and various recreation programming opportunities.
Budget Impact
This expenditure was budgeted and approved by Town Council through the 2018 budget process. The invoice is to be split between the Parks and Recreation Capital Fund and the Parks General Fund. Each fund will be expensed $207,000.
The Authority determined that participating agencies should consider budgeting on two-year cycles so the money requested for the 2017 and 2018 assessments will be paid through this authorization. This advanced budgeting and collection will allow the Authority to contract and undertake projects with funding certainty and will prevent annual shortfalls due to political volatility and potential failure of members to appropriate and contribute budgeted funds in future years.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommend authorizing the approval to process an invoice payment in the amount of $414,000 to the Rueter-Hess Recreation District for the 2017/2018 assessment performed by the Rueter-Hess Reservoir Recreation Authority Board.
Proposed Motion
“I move to approve the resolution as introduced by title.”
Attachments
Attachment A: Resolution
Attachment B: Invoice
Attachment C: IGA Establishing the Rueter-Hess Recreation Authority