At the Nov. 21 regular session, Manitou Springs City Council voted 6-1 to approve the Pikes Peak Library District contract and intergovernmental agreement.
Councilor Julie Wolfe opposed.
Because the Manitou Springs Library relocated until it can meet Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements, the PPLD agreed to enter a 25-year lease for a $1.5 million rental. The funds will be put into an escrow account to be used for remodeling the library only. The city owns the building.
According to the agreement, the district will move back into the Carnegie building once it is expanded and remodeled. The library will continue to operate from the Manitou Art Center until then.
In a memorandum to council, City Administrator Denise Howell said the funds will enable a groundbreaking in spring 2024. This $1.5 million will give the city a $3.9 million fund balance with the anticipation of $250,000 from the State Historical Fund and $100,000 from the Manitou Arts, Culture, and Heritage board. The fund balance will be about $4.2 million.
I’m excited about this agreement. – Denise Howell
I think this is the first time for both entities to join in something like this,” Howell said.
Councilor Judith Chandler asked why a renewal option for an additional 10 years with annual rent recommendation was included in the information packet council received.
“Why is that in there? This is a 25-year commitment,” Chandler said.
According to City Attorney Jeff Parker, the PPLD insisted on having the renewal option and asked about rent to satisfy planning purposes.
“There is significant back and forth on that issue, and ultimately this is what we came up with. The district indicated to us they couldn’t do the deal if they didn’t have the right to have a 10-year renewal term at the end of the 25-year term,” Parker said.
“It’s optional on the library district’s part (but) binding on the city if the district exercises the renewal option. If they decide to do that, the city has to allow for the renewal on those terms.”
Chandler continued, “So this is, in effect, a 35-year lease.”
Parker said, “Potentially, yes, 25 for sure, and 10 if they renew.”
Wolfe asked what determined the rent value.
“How did you decide that the first year the rent should be around $57,000? Was there any kind of market analysis done to determine what is the fair amount of rent?” she asked.
PPLD Chief Financial Officer Randy Green explained the process.
“The dollar amounts we started off … at a straight even number each year was at about $63,000 a year,” Green said.
To boil down the details, the library district is losing $1.5 million in interest income and the city is saving the same amount in interest. There are risks on both sides; city staff and the legal team spent hours on this agreement. PPLD’s legal team and board of trustees approved it before it came before council.
Mayor John Graham thanked the PPLD for its work.
“I think we’ve got a great agreement,” he said.
Outdoor Pikes Peak Initiative
Becky Leinweber, executive director of the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance, and Chris Lieber, principal of NES Inc., introduced the Outdoor Pikes Peak Initiative.
Growth along the Front Range is threatening both natural resources and recreational experiences, highlighting a need for regionwide planning for sustainable recreation and tourism.
In 2021, the PPORA was selected as a Colorado Outdoor Regional Partner through the Colorado Outdoor Partnership to advance recreation and conservation planning for the Pikes Peak region. The initiative is the result of this partnership, and it offers an opportunity to engage with other entities supporting region-wide sustainability.
“I think this represents a great opportunity for our region. This is an effort that recognizes the value of natural resources and recreation for our region. It’s unique in that many of the planning efforts we have taken around Pikes Peak have been focused on individual communities,” Lieber said.
Lieber said this is an opportunity to identify specific issues and concerns, and collaborate across boundaries with state support. He said it is an opportunity to provide research, inform state priorities and funding, and inform the public and elected officials about what is being heard community-wide.
“The state of Colorado has said it is looking for regional planning efforts to start setting priorities. Once established, these priorities often become the avenue for funding,” Lieber said.
Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Fortuin said she hopes the Open Space Advisory Committee would be involved with this effort. Councilor Judith Chandler asked about the Colorado partnerships.
“How were these particular partnerships formed, and were they formed for a particular reason?” Chandler asked.
“When we started, there were four of us. Out of those four, we had already had coalitions and they were all a little bit different. Land managers came together in seven counties to form that particular one because of the pressure on the Front Range that they were the only one,” Leinweber said.
“We started with existing coalitions, but the funding came in different ways. Some of the funding was to start building capacity for areas that don’t have an existing coalition. Some of them are … figuring who should be at that table and forming that task force. Others have been focused on trails and with the regional partnerships, they’re expanding that focus.”
Lieber added, “We’re in the process of formalizing recommendations. We hope to come back and share what we’ve heard and wrap up that vision.”
Park hours
Council heard a first reading of Ordinance 1323 to add information about park hours to the Municipal Code.
Parks and Recreation Director Gillian Rossi and Police Chief Bill Otto said the proposal would increase park safety, decrease criminal behavior after dark and provide the Police Department with an enforcement tool.
According to Rossi, park hours are not listed in the Municipal Code.
Proposed hours were 5 a.m.-9 p.m. from November to April, and 5 a.m.-10 p.m. May to October. Fortuin asked about data to support the proposal.
“What has happened that we need to enforce this?” she asked.
“We have had issues with folks camping out in our pavilions, especially when crews are out there in the morning doing rounds, preparing certain pavilions for weddings or other special events. Having those park hours would help,” Rossi said.
Council voted 6-1 for 5 a.m.-10 p.m. year-round hours. Fortuin opposed.
Creek Walk Trail
Council approved a design contract for the Serpentine Creek Walk Trail. The design shows how the trail can be developed along Serpentine Drive and how basic layout options are in harmony with Fountain Creek.
Now that the city owns the property along Serpentine, this area can be improved as part of the Creek Walk Trail Master Plan. In a memorandum to council, City Engineer Dole Grebenik said the $100,000 design phase is a 50/50 multi-model opportunity fund from the Colorado Department of Transportation and OSAC. Council didn’t comment.
Council’s next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 5.