Title
Ordinance No. 15-92 amending Section 202 (Deposit and Expenditure of Revenues) and Section 203 (Biannual Independent Audit) of Part 2 (Deposit and Expenditure of Revenues) of Article 6 (Trails, Open Space and Parks Program) of Chapter 4 (Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to expenditure of revenues and independent audit
Body
From:
Karen Palus, Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
Chris Lieber, Park Development Manager/TOPS Program Manager
Summary:
The voter approved Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) Ordinance establishes the framework for the Trails, Open Space and Parks Program. The TOPS Ordinance was originally approved on April 1, 1997 and has since been amended by the voters on several occasions. The current City Code has not been updated to reflect all of the amendments that have been approved by the voters; expressly the requirement for biennial financial audits of the TOPS Program, and the recent change to allow more flexibility for spending within the TOPS Parks Category. Staff is seeking revisions to the City Code to conform to the current voter approved TOPS Ordinance.
Previous Council Action:
N/A
Background:
Staff has prepared draft ordinance language to amend City Code section 202 (deposit and expenditure of revenues) and section 203 (biannual independent audit) of part 2 (deposit and expenditure of revenues) of article 6 (trails, open space and parks program) of chapter 4 (parks, recreation and cultural services) of the code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to expenditure of revenues and independent audit.
The need for an update to the City Code was identified by staff and confirmed via the 2014 TOPS Audit process. The City Auditor has recommended that these changes be made to the City Code for consistency between the voter approved TOPS Ordinance and the City Code. Since the effective date of the voter approved TOPS Ordinance Amendments, the TOPS Program’s actions and activities have been in full compliance with the voter approved requirements for biennial financial audits and parks category expenditure requirements.
The proposed City Code amendment brings the City Code into conformance with the current voter approved TOPS Ordinance.
Financial Implications:
N/A
Board/Commission Recommendation:
The TOPS Working Committee voted unanimously in support of the proposed Code revisions on September 2, 2015. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted unanimously in support of the proposed Code revisions on September 10, 2015.
Stakeholder Process:
N/A
Alternatives:
N/A
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
A motion approving the proposed Ordinance to amend the City Code to conform with the current voter approved TOPS Ordinance.
Ordinance Language
The current City Code has not been updated to reflect all of the voter approved amendments regarding the TOPS Program; expressly the requirement for biennial financial audits and the recent change to allow more flexibility for spending within the TOPS Parks Category.