Title:
A resolution of the City Council of the City of Colorado Springs, Colorado adopting an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Colorado Springs and El Paso County to establish mutually binding procedures for municipal annexations
Presenter:
Peter Wysocki, AICP, Planning and Community Development Director
Travis Easton, P.E., Public Works Director
Body
SUMMARY:
The proposed Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) is recommended by the City and El Paso County to promote well-planned and orderly extension of municipal infrastructure and services and to further improve the planning and coordination of annexations and the equitable transfer of the ownership and maintenance responsibility of associated public improvements. The IGA establishes six primary objectives:
1. The City to adopt an updated annexation plan;
2. The annexation plan to include maps containing the following information: (a) an area of planning interest outside of the City’s current exterior City limits in which the City and County would coordinate urban-level development; (b) a map showing County enclaves and near enclaves within current City limits; (c) a map of City owned land within the County likely to be annexed; and (d) a map of County-owned/maintained infrastructure that serves current or future significant City population.
3. A process by which El Paso County agrees to adopt (in whole or in part) the City’s annexation plan;
4. Procedures for review of urban-level development within unincorporated areas of the County and within the area of planning interest;
5. Procedures for review of annexation petitions filed with the City; and
6. Procedures for the City to request urban-level development within unincorporated areas of the County and within the area of planning interest to comply with the City’s engineering standards.
The draft IGA was presented to the City Council at the March 22, 2021 City Council Work Session. The Council generally supported the IGA. Since the March 22, 2021 Work Session, two items were added to the IGA:
(1) At the request of the County, subparagraph 1.A.v - referral of the annexation plan to special districts located within the Area of Planning Interest Map; and,
(2) At the suggestion by Councilmember Geislinger and concurrence by the rest of the Council, subparagraph 1.B.iv - related to flood and fire mitigation planning.
The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the IGA (with the two added subparagraphs) at its Mach 30, 2021 meeting.
BACKGROUND:
As one of its six major initiatives, the City’s comprehensive plan - PlanCOS recommends an update of the City’s 2006 Annexation Plan. As part of the annexation plan, the County and the City support better coordination on how to best plan for urban-level development near the City and acceptance of County infrastructure that serves newly annexed areas.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
No additional funding is necessary to administer the IGA.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
N/A
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
N/A
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS:
A draft IGA was provide to the Housing and Building Association. No formal comments have been received. The HBA generally supports City-County annexation planning and coordination.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the resolution and the IGA as presented
2. Approved the resolution with modifications to the IGA
3. Delay action and provide direction to staff
Recommended Action
PROPOSED MOTION:
Move to adopt a resolution of the City Council of the City of Colorado Springs, Colorado adopting an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Colorado Springs and El Paso County to establish mutually binding procedures for municipal annexations