HomeMy WebLinkAboutPARKS AND RECREATION BOARD - MINUTES - 02/28/2024
Park and Recreation Board Meeting
February 28, 2024
413 S Bryan
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1. CALL TO ORDER
Ken Christensen called the meeting to order at 5:30pm
2. ROLL CALL
• List of Board Members Present
Ken Christensen
Nick Armstrong
Mike Novell
Bob Kingsbury
Marcia Richards
Paul Baker
Meghan Willis
Josh Durand
• List of Board Members Absent
Patrick Dawson
• List of Staff Members Present
Mike Calhoon – Director of Parks
LeAnn Williams – Director of Recreation
Jill Wuertz – Sr Manager, Park Planning & Development
Rachel Eich – Business Support III
3. AGENDA REVIEW
• Natural Areas Strategic Framework Plan discussion added to New Business
4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
• Kevin Krause
o Community member previously on the Natural Resources Advisory Board
and Bicycle Advisory Committee liaison.
o Previously worked with the BAC to create a recreational bicycling memo
to call out the need in the community for more bicycle parks, trails,
amenities, etc.
o Discussed how the inclusion of planning efforts and discussions for a
potential bike park and the development of the Hughes Stadium site in the
Council priorities provides an opportunity to grow and support the sport for
kids in the community.
Parks and Recreation Board
TYPE OF MEETING – Hybrid Meeting
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o Citizen has observed an explosion of interest in the sport from families
and kids in the community through starting the “Wolf Pack.”
o The skills area at Spring Canyon Community Park is easy to master from
a skills standpoint or challenging to young kids who do not have the
capability/equipment
o Hoping for the City to re-engage the community regarding planning efforts
and inclusion of bike park amenities in future plans
o Paul Baker asked what Kevin sees as missing from Fort Collins
Large scale mountain bike park that is layered from an experience
and skill/ability standpoint
o Marcia Richards asked what size would look like
60 – 80 acres, with varying density
Discussed the bike parks that are being put into schools (size
varies depending on school and area)
o Kevin to provide details to staff on examples of schools that have installed
bike parks
o Mike Novell asked if there is an overall governing body for this sport
Community member discussed how there are different
organizations, but most of the families and kids he interacts with
are utilizing biking as their active recreation time
o Josh Durand mentioned that the Parks and Recreation ReCreate Plan
does include bike parks, but calls them BMX courses
Community member expressed that the BMX park is having trouble
with misuse and is used for fixed events (BMX team or races)
Board member recommended participation in future public process
as the best avenue forward
o Bob Kingsbury asked if this would be a good potential amenity at the
Hughes site
Staff expressed that it’ll likely be discussed with community
outreach beginning this summer.
o Nick Armstrong suggested the community member engage with other
stakeholder groups during this outreach process.
• Rob Cagen
o Previously served as a member of the Parks and Recreation Board
o In attendance to offer support to the board due to previous experience
with the efforts for the 2050 sales tax
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Meghan Willis motioned to approve the January 2024 minutes as written at 6:04pm,
Mike Novell seconded, and all members approved.
Parks and Recreation Board
TYPE OF MEETING – Hybrid Meeting
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6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
• 2050 Tax & Infrastructure Replacement Update – Jill Wuertz & LeAnn Williams
o Grounding discussion on the specific language used for the tax. The tax
funding will not be replacing any current funding the department already
receives for infrastructure replacement ($756,600)
o Will assume roughly $10 - $11 million a year (variable based on tax
fluctuations)
o Staff are currently in the middle of the 2024 mini BFO process to receive
what has been collected; half of what is collected this year will likely go
into reserves
o Park Planning & Development receives funding from multiple areas,
governed through the BFO process.
o Two largest sources of funding:
Capital Expansion Fees for neighborhood park development
Conservation Trust Fund for trail development
o Plans for 2024
Working through top 40 projects in the Infrastructure Replacement
Plan (IRP) – 5-year scope of work
Will also be looking at safety and preventative maintenance
concerns
Funding will go towards a staggered staffing approach through
2026
Planning to continue to update the asset management program
and merge the Parks and Recreation information to better inform
decision making
Earliest initial funding: June 2024
o 2024 mini BFO offer has been submitted, will be presented at Council
Finance on March 20th
o Nick Armstrong asked if there has been any discussion regarding
decommissioning amenities to commission a new amenity in order to
reach level of service standard.
Staff expressed how they will have to look at the Parks and
Recreation Plan in conjunction with replacement plans while
reaching out to community for potential change of use ideas.
o Bob Kingsbury suggested having board members help with parts of the
public outreach for these projects.
o Nick Armstrong asked if there is a Parks and Recreation Communications
Plan.
Staff has a plan, but uses and leans on the CPIO City wide
communications plan
Parks and Recreation Board
TYPE OF MEETING – Hybrid Meeting
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7. NEW BUSINESS
• Natural Areas Strategic Framework Plan Update
o Natural Areas is about to kick off their public engagement for the Strategic
Framework Plan to guide conservation and stewardship.
o Kelly Smith reaching out to understand the level of engagement the
boards wants throughout the process
o Board chair expressed the desire to be as connected as possible for this
plan due to the tight integration that exists between Natural Areas, Parks,
and Trails.
o Josh Durand suggested the Natural Areas staff make a recommendation
for what they deem as the best touch points for the board.
8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
• Marcia and Nick attended the Urban Forest Strategic Plan public open house.
• Marcia and Nick will be part of the Community Working Group for the Strategic
Trails Plan.
• Marcia attended the Transportation Fair and State of the City address.
• Kudos to Mike Calhoon for speaking to Council regarding the donation to fund an
initial feasibility study for a pickleball complex in the City.
9. OTHER BUSINESS
• Recreator Article
o Meghan Willis submitted the article for review by City staff.
o Rachel to bring list of topics and schedule for upcoming Recreator at the
March meeting
• Recreation Update – LeAnn Williams
o Department has started interviews for the Owners Representative for the
Southeast Community Center
Working on developing the internal team and project partners
o Mulberry Pool replacement feasibility study kick off set for March
o Ribbon cutting took place for the NACC childcare renovation expansion
project
o The staff versus Varsity Special Olympics basketball game took place.
o Staff working on budget offers and looking at how fee increases might be
able to add staffing.
o LeAnn will look at the schedule for hosting the March or April meeting at
Northside to tour the new renovation.
o Registration Software launching in April
• Park Planning and Development Update – Jill Wuertz
o The Schoolside Park near Bacon Elementary open house took place on
Parks and Recreation Board
TYPE OF MEETING – Hybrid Meeting
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February 15th (roughly 105 people attended with 46 additional online
surveys).
o The first Community Working Group meeting for the Strategic Trails Plan
is set for Monday, March 4th.
o Mail Creek Trail is under construction – created a great opportunity to
learn what it takes to secure easements in existing sites.
o 9/11 Memorial at Spring Park still under construction after the beam
setting ceremony
o Pickleball Feasibility CityGive project went through second reading at
Council, internal kickoff meeting with Marketing on March 5th
o Staff are getting ready to demo the Westfield tennis courts as a part of the
Infrastructure Replacement Plan.
o Most recent graphics for the Siphon Overpass are in with staff working on
the last piece of the railroad agreement.
Summer bid with Fall install
o PPD staff attended the Transportation Fair, great interactions with
community regarding the trails system
• Parks Update – Mike Calhoon
o Staff are considering installing a small fence with kiosk and automated
gate at the Archery Range
o Finished the ice-skating season in January (10 days of skating)
o Winter Bike to Work Day took place on February 9th
Trails Maintenance team takes a lot of pride in getting the trails
ready for the day
o Holiday lighting season finished, now preparing for the horticulture
program with expanded outreach
o Park Rangers were involved in the Northern Colorado Continuum of Care
and Homeward Alliance to help with the Point in Time count.
o In the process of hiring a fourth Park Ranger – hoping to be fully staffed
this summer
o Some concern about the onset of the Japanese Beetles on the golf
courses
o Urban Forest Strategic Plan public open house on Saturday, March 2nd
Mike Calhoon will reach out to staff regarding opportunity for
inclusion of Trees Along the Trails in the plan.
• 6-month Planning Calendar Review
o Appropriation for Future Design Construction for Fossil Creek Trail Spur
on South College (3/5 Council Meeting)
o Public Hearing about Metro Districts, Strauss Lakes (3/5 Council Meeting)
o IGA with CDOT for the Power Trail and Harmony underpass project (3/19
Parks and Recreation Board
TYPE OF MEETING – Hybrid Meeting
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Council Meeting)
Also placing a conduit along the underpass to get Warren Lake
water to Southridge
o Urban Forest Strategic Plan update (3/26 Work Session)
o 2050 Tax Discussion (4/9 Work Session)
o Community Capital Improvement Tax discussion #2 (4/23 Work Session)
o 2050 Tax Discussion (5/7 Council Meeting)
10. ADJOURNMENT
Ken Christensen adjourned the meeting at 7:35pm