To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Jeff Brauer, Director of Parks and Recreation
Title
Resolution Approving the Agreement between the Town of Castle Rock and the State Board of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
The East Plum Creek Trail travels 6 miles along the East Plum Creek corridor, north to south from Castle View High School to South Perry Street. In addition to daily activity, the trail network is actively used for several special events including Bike to Work Day, Pedal the Moon and the Castle Rock Half Marathon. The East Plum Creek Trail is not only the Town’s most widely used paved trail, but it is also part of a larger statewide network - the Colorado Front Range Trail (CFRT). The CFRT will eventually connect communities along the Front Range from Wyoming to New Mexico.
On July 19, 2016, Town Council unanimously approved the submission of a grant application with the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund (GOCO) for funding of Phase 5 of the East Plum Creek Trail. Phase 5 will include the construction of a paved and ADA accessible, 10-foot-wide multi-use pedestrian trail. This phase will extend the trail 10,800 linear feet southward for 2.05 miles along the East Plum Creek corridor, connecting the existing trail terminus at South Perry Street to Crystal Valley Parkway. Phase 5 will complete Castle Rock’s southern portion of the trail. A map of the project can be viewed in Attachment B.
On October 7, 2016, the State Board of GOCO approved the East Plum Creek Trail Phase 5 Project, awarding the Town of Castle Rock with a Connect Initiative grant of up to $1 million. The Town has three years from the award date to complete construction of this phase.
The signed grant agreement must be submitted to GOCO for review and approval prior to the distribution of the $1 million grant funds. Prior to the distribution of grant funds, the Town must meet the due diligence requirements established by GOCO. One of these requirements is a resolution approving the agreement between the Town and GOCO for the grant award to ensure that the Town will authorize the expenditure of funds to meet the terms and obligations of the grant agreement and application.
The signed grant agreement provides assurance that the Town is aware of all the conditions and terms of the grant, and intends to use the grant solely to complete the East Plum Creek Trail Phase 5 Project. This agreement between GOCO and the Town is required by GOCO policy. GOCO recommends using the Town Manager as the designated official authorized to sign the grant agreement.
Notification and Outreach Efforts
Notification regarding the grant award has been posted to the Town’s website. On October 18, 2017, Parks and Recreation staff hosted a preview event and invited residents to participate in a guided hike to view the future trail alignment. The special preview event was promoted on the Town’s website and social media pages. A press release was issued on October 4, 2017 discussing both the grant award and the special preview event. GOCO representatives also attended the event.
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, or Other Discussions
On June 15, 2016, the Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously endorsed the grant application.
On July 19, 2016, Town Council unanimously approved the submission of a grant application with GOCO for funding of Phase 5 of the East Plum Creek Trail.
Budget Impact
This grant award will supplement the funding required to construct Phase 5 of the East Plum Creek Trail. The project is estimated to cost approximately $2 million. The funding required over the $1 million grant award has been budgeted as an expenditure in the 2018 budget and will come through the Annual Trails Improvement Fund. Town Council has previously approved funding for engineering and design services for the trail project as well.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approving the resolution as introduced by title.
Proposed Motion
“I move to approve the resolution as introduced by title.”
Attachments
Attachment A - Resolution
Exhibit 1 - Grant Agreement
Attachment B - East Plum Creek Trail Phase 5 Site Map