Title
Maintenance Agreement between the City of Colorado Springs and the Colorado Springs Briargate General Improvement District 2021
Presenter:
Eric Becker, Special Improvement Maintenance District Administrator / Acting Parks Maintenance & Operations Manager
Britt Haley, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director Nominee
Body
Summary:
The Colorado Springs Briargate General Improvement District 2021 (GID) will assume the functions of the Briargate Special Improvement Maintenance District (BSIMD) beginning January 1, 2023 and shall perform all maintenance and operations of certain public improvements of general benefit to the residents of the GID. This maintenance agreement allows the City of Colorado Springs to accomplish the maintenance responsibilities of the GID and allows for a seamless transition of maintenance and operations. The management of the BSIMD is currently administered by the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department which will continue to perform the same functions for the GID.
Background:
The current BSIMD’s purpose “is to provide for the maintenance of certain public improvements of general benefit to the residents of the district.” The public improvements, “may include parks, open space, trails, bicycle paths, landscaping, fencing, pillars, medians, entry islands, utility rights-of-way, irrigation facilities and associated water system improvements, theme areas and neighborhood theme signage,” located primarily, but not exclusively, on and along primary streets within the district.
In 2018, then District 2 City Council Member David Geislinger held a series of community Town Halls to provide property owners a general update on the BSIMD with a focus on the history and resulting financial challenges facing the BSIMD. He called for citizen involvement and input to help determine the best way forward. A BSIMD Planning Committee was formed at his request. The group held four additional public meetings in 2019 at Library 21C in the Chapel Hills area and used an online survey to continue the information and education process and gather citizen input.
The outcome of this process revealed a strong desire by residents for a pathway to get the district back to its original objectives and principles of equitable cost apportionment, sustainable maintenance operations, and sharing by all who benefit in order to ensure community asset preservation and sustain property values. District 2 Council Member Randy Helms become involved and educated on this issue and carried this option forward.
The process for creating and administering GIDs is governed by Colorado Revised Statutes § 31-25-601 et seq. City Council serves as and separately convenes as the GID board to set the annual budget and attend to other required matters. As with the existing SIMD, Council will have the discretion to appoint an advisory committee to provide input on the budget and district priorities.
On November 2, 2021, Briargate residents passed a ballot measure creating the GID.
Previous Council Action:
City Council created the BSIMD in 1983 (Ordinance 83-163). At some time thereafter, a decision was made to involve the City Parks Department as the entity responsible for budgeting and operations. Numerous inclusions of property were undertaken between 1984 and 2001.
City Council referred an item to the November 2, 2022, ballot requesting the formation of the GID.
City Council approved the creation of the Colorado Springs Briargate General Improvement District 2021 via Ordinance No. 22-16 on March 22, 2022.
Financial Implications:
The GID will have the mill levy set at 4.409 mills. The revenue from the mill levy, and other applicable revenue, will provide the funding for the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department to accomplish the maintenance operations required in the Agreement.
City Council Appointed Board/Commission/Committee Recommendation:
N/A.
Stakeholder Process:
N/A
Alternatives:
N/A
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
Move to approve the Maintenance Agreement between the City of Colorado Springs and the Colorado Springs Briargate General Improvement District 2021.
Summary of Ordinance Language
N/A