HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 12/01/2021
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR
Date, Time: Wednesday, December 1st, 2021, 5:30pm
Location: Hybrid meeting: Zoom & 413 S. Bryan Ave.
10/27 /2021 – MINUTES Page 1
1. CALL TO ORDER
• Catherine Carabetta called the meeting to order at 5:33pm.
2. ROLL CALL
• BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
o Catherine Carabetta – Chair
o Mary Carlson
o Ken Christensen – Co-Chair
o Shari Heymann
o Jesse Scaccia
o Bob Kingsbury – Secretary
o Mike Novell
o Mike Tupa
• STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT
o Aaron Harris – Interim Director, Recreation
o Sarah Olear – Senior Recreation Coordinator
o Mike Calhoon – Director, Parks
o Matt Day – Senior Landscape Architect, Park Planning and Development
o Jen Scott – Board Support, Parks
3. INTRODUCTIONS
o None
4. AGENDA REVIEW
o No changes to agenda.
5. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
o None
6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mike Tupa moved to accept minutes as presented, and Mary Carlson seconded.
November 2021 minutes were approved. Motion passed 8 approved, 0 opposed.
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
O BFO SUMMARY
• The BFO process is complete, it passed on 11/26/21.
o Council found $1.2 million in additional funds.
▪ $100,000 for large tree pruning
▪ $100,000 for irrigation at Library Park
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR
10/27 /2021 – MINUTES Page 2
▪ $1,000,000 to replace lights at Rolland Moore
o Asset management was a Council priority.
o Restoration offers were all restored.
o There is momentum at the Council level to move forward with long term
financial needs.
o Park Planning’s offer for design work in existing parks was not approved.
o The Mulberry Pool offer not accepted. The study for improving the pool
(by Counsilman Huntzinger) is on a fast track to be completed in January.
▪ A Board suggestion: Can we leverage CSU PHD and Masters
students to have experiential education opportunities for design
aspects? School of the Mines does this with their bridges.
▪ A program like this exists at CSU, but usually partners with low-
income communities.
o Park Planning can work with potential interns from CSU and can discuss
that idea as well.
o The next BFO cycle will reappear on agenda in 3 to 4 months.
8. NEW BUSINESS
O BOARD RECRUITMENT UNDERWAY
▪ Some Board members terms are coming to end. The City re-opened
applications for the Parks & Recreation Board.
• The City has options for 1, 2 and 4-year term lengths. A Board
member’s total limit is 8 years. However, a person is allowed to do 2
terms, take a 1-year break, and then can serve again.
• Can we promote the Board to CSU Recreation degree?
o All Board members must have 1 year residency.
• To choose the Board, the City Council selects from viable applications
sent from the County Clerk.
▪ The goal is to have a full Board by January.
O 2021 ANNUAL REPORT
▪ No recommended changes.
▪ Shari Heymann moved to accept the 2021 Annual Report as presented, and
Bob Kingsbury seconded. The 2021 Annual Report was approved. Motion
passed 8 approved, 0 opposed.
9. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
o Mike: FC Bikes
▪ Safety Stops were turned down by the state legislature.
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR
10/27 /2021 – MINUTES Page 3
▪ If no traffic, bikes can roll through stop signs. (This is not allowed in
Fort Collins.)
• Speed limits and street closures were discussed
▪ The team looking at trail locations and configurations to provide wider
bike lanes.
▪ Spring Creek Trail needs realignment
▪ Mail Creek trail connection where it crosses the tracks is a hazard
• Park Planning is currently designing an overpass at this location. They
are exploring options to reuse bridges in the design.
o The bridge must be fully enclosed.
• The Mail Creek Trail Timberline Road crossing will be an underpass.
▪ Spin Program - seems to be successful. Devices are all over town. Planning
to assess the program within next 2 years.
− Bike counting is ongoing
▪ Type 1 and 3 E-bikes are allowed on the paved trail system (not type 3).
10. OTHER BUSINESS
1. RECREATION UPDATE – Aaron Harris
o Recreation hired 2 new coordinators
▪ Carrie – Aquatics Coordinator
▪ Taylor – ARO Coordinator
o Athletics Coordinator search closes 12/13/21
o Recreation Director search is currently occurring. Final interviews are scheduled for
the week of December 13th.
o RESTORE offers were all approved
▪ Recreation is struggling to find staff to cover all the hours needed
- The front desk has 120 additional hours to fill
2. PARK PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT UPDATE – Matt Day
o Traverse Park had a soft opening 2 weeks ago
▪ All positive feedback so far
▪ Currently putting finishing touches on restrooms
▪ Will do planting in the Spring
o Bucking Horse is at 50% complete in the Design Phase
o Mail Creek slope rework project
▪ Bank restoration in design and construction
o GOCO Centennial Visioning Grant
▪ It’s a 2-part grant.
▪ The first grant (Visioning Grant) is to assist with master planning and
engagement efforts. PPD is requesting $150,000 in this phase.
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR
10/27 /2021 – MINUTES Page 4
▪ If you get the first grant, then you can apply for the 2 nd part of this grant, the
implementation part, for up to $13 million.
▪ PPD is applying for this grant for the Reach 2 and Reach 4 river areas.
▪ Parks and Recreation Board will assist by providing a letter of support for
PPD
3. PARKS UPDATE – Mike Calhoon
o Ready for snow removal
o Young trees and turf may have some issues and may need to supplement on
watering.
▪ Parks is still awaiting the snowpack report for the first of the year.
There is snow in the high country, but none in middle, lower, or plains
areas.
o Holidays are in full swing
o Holiday Lights are on!
o Ice skating rank
o Santa’s house
o Winter plantings
o Coyote decoys are on the fields
o Need to be moved every 3 days
o Working on Goose Management Plan
▪ Can shoot noise shells (Hazing permits)
• Once geese are on a nest, due to Water Fowl regulations, one
cannot haze the geese.
o May try to introduce egg addling
▪ This reduces reproduction to flatten population
▪ Must work with CO Parks and Wildlife for permits and management
o Vandalism at Twin Silos
o Not as extreme
o Utilizing new security company ($800 per weekend) seems to be reducing
vandalism
o Police support when possible
o There has been an uptick in camping at Buckingham Park
o Legality of camping code enforcement
▪ If there are no rooms in the homeless shelters they cannot write a
camping violation
▪ Parks has asked police to write tickets for trespassing in parks after
dark with compassion and sharing of resources (Space at shelters)
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR
10/27 /2021 – MINUTES Page 5
o Pruning project from Mulberry (College to Shields), Forestry has removed 4 large
trees
o Recreation and Parks were present at 2 CSU games
o Lots of positive public engagement
o Job shortage continues
o Advertising with virtual job fair at EPIC
o For every 1 dollar an hour we go up in the Parks department, the budget
increases $1,000,000
o Natural Areas Director has been selected.
o Katie Donahue from National Parks starts on 10 th of January
o Stakeholder forum will be on the evening of the 13th, for Recreation Director
o Recreation Director should be known by December 15th
o Pilot project: Pass for youth from 0 to 16, access to any community facility during
summer months
o Goal is to keep up youth engagement in the summer
11. 6-MONTH PLANNING CALENDAR REVIEW
o January 25th: Work session wireless telecommunication master plan land use code
strategies
o February 1st : State of the City. City manager position posted nationally on Friday
for 1 month.
o February 22nd: Strategic plan. Basis for the BFO offers, guiding document.
12. MISC
o Recreator Articles
o The Board needs a better system to ensure Recreator article dates are met
o The Secretary of the Board will work with Valarie Van Ryn to coordinate 3 dates
for submission of articles, so as not to miss any article dates in the future.
o Special Recognition
o Mary Carlson’s Contributions
▪ First term was in 1980, during that time Park Planning was breaking
ground with Roland Moore Park.
▪ Mary was on the Board for the construction of 4 of the 7 community parks
▪ Thank you for your service!
13. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn the meeting by Ken Christensen, seconded by Bob Kingsbury.
Meeting adjourned at 7:03pm.