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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 03/26/2003MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD SPECIAL MEETING 281 N. COLLEGE AVE. FORT COLLINS, COLORADO March 26, 2003 Randy Fischer, Chair Nate Donovan, Vice Chair Michelle Pawar, Staff Liaison, 970-221-6600 Ray Martinez, City Council Liaison, 970-416-2154 Board Members present: Randy Fischer, Nathan Donovan, Philip Murphy, Kelly Ohlson, Arvind Panjabi, Steve Ryder Board members absent: Linda Knowlton, Sam Otero, Donald Rodriguez Natural Resources Staff uresent: Michelle Pawar, Rick Bachand, Mark Sears Council Members Present: None Also Present: Bill Miller, Audubon Society; K-Lynn Cameron, Larimer County Open Space; Tyler, CSU student observer The meeting was called to order by Randy Fischer, chair, with a quorum present at 6:05 p.m. New Business Aeenda Review There were no changes to the agenda. Natural Areas Policy Plan -- presented by Michelle Pawar, Rick Bachand and Mark Sears. Michelle Pawar provided an update on the process. Presentation to Council was delayed by the blizzard, and is now on the agenda for April 1. Staff has drafted a resolution for adoption of Chapter 5, the enabling language of the NAPP, that evening. After reviewing the presentation materials, Board members made suggestions for improvement. The maps, which will be attached to the resolution, will be tweaked to more accurately portray the areas of potential acquisition north of the City. Arvid Panjabi moved that the Board recommend Council adopt the Natural Areas Policy Plan Update. Nathan Donovan seconded, motion passed unanimous, 6-0. Randy Fischer will draft a memo to Council supporting the Board's recommendation, and praising the efforts of the natural resources staff on this issue. Fossil Creek Wetlands Utility and Road Easements -- Joint presentation with Transportation Board by Don Taranto, TSI, Inc.; Lester Linton, Earth Engineering Consultants, Inc.; Mike Phelan and Steve Long, Cedar Creek Associates, Inc.; and Doug Williams, ICON Engineering, Inc. The joint meeting was for information and discussion of issues raised by the Timberline Road Project; no action was required by either board, but staff and consultants were seeking direction from the NRAB that proposed plans are acceptable to be presented to City Council in April or May. The major issues were groundwater and flood impacts and impacts on raptors nesting and roosting in the area. The original design has been adjusted to the east to lessen the impact on existing wetlands and avoid the State Record Ash Tree; the slope has been modified to 311 rather than 4/1; a four -foot wide gravel recovery shoulder and six -foot -wide bike lane are included; and the roadway will remain two-lane only. Construction will take place in winter to minimize disruption to the spring breeding season of red -tail hawks and burrowing owls, and shallow mudflats inundated with spring runoff. About two acres of cattails and open water will be lost, as well as prairie dog burrows directly in the right-of-way. One -for -one mitigation plans call for restoring a portion of Fossil Creek on the other side of the railroad tracks to a natural condition. There was much discussion of when the complete documentation for the project -- Environmental Assessments, exact location of mitigation area, final easement documents, etc. -- would be available for review, and how, without a presentation of alternatives, Council would be able to properly assess the recommendation. Don Taranto explained that the mitigation specifics will be determined in the field, so more exact information is not yet available. He added that Council will be given all the research that has been done to develop the current route, as well as specific easements that lie along the route and need to be acquired. The Environmental Assessment can't be completed until Council agrees to move forward with the conceptual design. Kelly Ohlson observed that real efforts have been made on placement and mitigation, and the more interactive way in which the plan was developed was a better process that resulted in a better product. Rick Bachand added that Natural Resources staff fully endorses the project and the process, after having raised red flags at the beginning. Randy Fischer confirmed that the issue is on the NRAB agenda for a vote for the following week. Don Taranto agreed to have the Executive Summary of the proposed plan to the Natural Resources Advisory Board for review as soon as possible. Staff and consultants will also be available for questions at the next NRAB meeting if Board members wish. The Board still wants to see final easement documents before making a formal recommendation. Natural Areas Action Items -- presented by Mark Sears and K-Lynn Cameron. Fossil Creek Reservoir Region Open Space IGA -- Two amendments to the hiter- Governmental Agreement are proposed to modify the portion of costs to be paid by Larimer County and the City of Fort Collins. The current agreement calls for the County to pay all development costs; the amendment changes that to a 50150 split between the City and County. For Parcel D, the Sigman property, closing later in the week, the amendment requires the City to pay $300,000 of the $520,000 acquisition cost. Michelle Pawar explained that the landowner is willing to sell the land, but the county is not in a financial position to buy it at this time. The City is willing to take on more of the financial burden to make the deal work for this property. K-Lynn Cameron assured the Board that County and City staff will continue to work jointly on the project. Nathan Donovan pointed out that many details will remain for Council to review; Mark Sears agreed that the final agreement will be tweaked. Kelly Ohlson moved to recommend that Council approve the amendment to the Fossil Creek Reservoir Region Open Space Inter -Governmental Agreement. Phil Murphy seconded, the motion carried unanimously, 6-0. Indian Creek IGA -- The Board reviewed staffs recommendation on the Indian Creek Inter - Governmental Agreement and had no changes. Nathan Donovan moved the Board recommend that Council adopt an Inter -Governmental Agreement with Larimer County for the acquisition of the Indian Creek property. Kelly Ohlson seconded, the motion carried unanimously, 6-0. Worksession Phil Murphy moved that the Board adjourn for the purpose of convening a worksession to hear a Floodplain and Basin Master Plan Update from Storm Water Utility staff. Arvind Panjabi seconded; the motion passed unanimously, 6-0. Meeting adjourned 9:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Kate Jeracki April 13, 2003