Title
Ordinance No. 16-51 amending Ordinance No. 15-86 (2016 Appropriation Ordinance) for a supplemental appropriation to the Pikes Peak - America’s Mountain Fund in the amount of $150,000 for the Pikes Peak Summit Complex Project
Presenter:
Jack Glavan, Pikes Peak - America’s Mountain Manager - Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department
Body
Summary:
The attached supplemental appropriation ordinance from the Pikes Peak - America’s Mountain (PPAM) Division, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department, is to increase the revenue and expenditure appropriations by $150,000. The source of funds is a transfer from the LART Fund. The LART Fund has provided an additional allocation of $150,000 for the Summit Complex project.
Previous Council Action:
N/A
Background:
Pikes Peak - America’s Mountain is an enterprise operation of the City of Colorado Springs. PPAM operates the Pikes Peak Highway under a Term Special Use Permit issued by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Included in the operation are the associated visitor facilities including the Summit House, Glen Cove Inn and Crystal Reservoir Gift Shop, and the Pikes Peak Recreational Corridor for activities such as hiking, picnic grounds, and interpretive trails. Revenue is primarily generated from gateway entry fees and concessionaire fees. These fees provide visitor and Ranger services, highway maintenance and construction, facility maintenance and construction, interpretive and educational services.
The current summit house was built in the 1960's and hosts more than 600,000 visitors annually. There are three additional support facilities on the summit of Pikes Peak including a utility building (Plant) to support the summit house, a communications building operated by the Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) and a building operated by the United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM). All buildings have exceeded their useful life and need to be replaced.
A plan to replace all existing buildings with a new Summit Complex has been developed. In January, PPAM presented to the USFS for environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and approval, a preferred option of co-locating the Summit Visitors Center, which will contain the CSU communications area, and the High Altitude Research Laboratory (HARL) for USARIEM. These buildings will present a unified visual appearance.
If approved by the USFS, design will be completed in 2016. Construction of the Summit Complex could begin in 2017, with the ultimate goal of completing construction and summit restoration by the end of 2020.
To help defray the cost of this project, a request for LART funds was made in 2015.
In the original 2016 Budget, the LART committee approved the award of $100,000 for the design and construction of a new Summit Complex. However, the cancellation of the Pro-Cycling event in 2016 has made additional LART funds available. The LART committee has agreed to increase the Pikes Peak - America’s Mountain’s award in the amount of $150,000. This supplemental appropriation request is being made so that the additional LART funds can be appropriated in the Pikes Peak - America’s Mountain’s Summit Complex project.
This item supports the City’s strategic goal relating to investing in infrastructure by supporting the construction of a new, improved Summit Complex.
Financial Implications:
The attached supplemental appropriation for $150,000 will allow PPAM to receive the additional LART contribution and appropriate the fund in the 2016 Summit Complex project.
Board/Commission Recommendation:
N/A
Stakeholder Process:
N/A
Alternatives:
City Council could decline to appropriate these funds in which case the Pikes Peak - America’s Mountain Division would not receive the LART funds.
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
Move approval of the proposed ordinance for a supplemental appropriation to the Pikes Peak - America’s Mountain Division in the amount of $150,000 for the Pikes Peak Summit Complex Project.
Summary of Ordinance Language
An Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 15-86 (2016 Appropriation Ordinance) for a supplemental appropriation to the Pikes Peak - America’s Mountain Fund in the amount of $150,000 for the Pikes Peak Summit Complex Project.