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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 04/03/2002For Reference: MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING 281 N. COLLEGE April 3, 2002 Randy Fischer, NRAB Chair - 226-5383 Ray Martinez, Council Liaison - 416-2154 Mark Sears, Staff Liaison - 416-2096 Board Members Present Kelly Ohlson, Reagan Waskom, Steve Ryder, Nate Donovan, Linda Knowlton, Don Rodriguez, Randy Fischer, Phil Murphy Board Members Absent None Staff Present Natural Resources Dept: Terry Klahn, Mark Sears, Michelle Pawar, Karen Manci Parks Planning: Craig Foreman Guests Eric Hamrick, Councilmember Several CSU students Ray Martinez, Mayor Jerry Kaltenhaus, citizen Agenda Review Change "Wrap-up of Long Term Funding Discussion" item to immediately follow the Laporte Trail agenda item. NRD Staff Introductions Karen Manci provided a brief personal and professional background. She also detailed the various aspects and responsibilities of her position in the Natural Resources Department. Laporte Trail Connection, Craig Foreman Foreman provided a power point presentation of the proposed trail project. Disuussion • Ohlson: What are the plans for restoration? Well get with Karen Manci and see how far we can make the budget go. We'll do the best we can. There will be crusher fine trails next to the concrete trail. It helps separate users. Natural Resources Advisory hoard April 3, 2002 Page 2 • Waskom: Are you going to regrade? In some places we will, but I don't know the details yet. • Ohslon: The 150 feet you were talking about, was that trail running along the river bank? Yes. • Fischer: Will you have rip -rap along that stretch? I don't know yet. When 1 work with consultants I give the direction that we want the softest approach possible. But, when we find willing sellers, sometimes we have to be creative. • Ohslon: Originally when we asked to see this we heard that there weren't any. issues involving the placement of the trail. Now, I think it's way more serious than I ever envisioned. I thought we were just crossing the river vertically, but to run parallel to the river for 150 feet; we wouldn't allow a private developer to do that. I agree with some people who say the City shouldn't do things they wouldn't allow the private sector to do. It's not a good thing. We tried everything to get up higher on the property, we spent eight months to a year trying. They owner said "take it or leave it". • Murphy: When you get there, will it be the same 10 foot concrete trail? The side trail will go away. • Martinez: Kelly and I don't always agree on everything, but I'm concerned about this too. How wide are the bridges? Ten feet wide. • Martinez: At the end of the trail, at Lyons Park, is that public parking? Yes, we'll be doing something to provide a handicap stall. • Hamrick: Did you look at going straight across at that point, instead of using all of that river frontage? We had unwilling sellers on the other side. • Fischer: I do appreciate your coming to the board. My recollection at the trails meeting was that there wasn't any valued habitat along this stretch of the river. Now that I see the photos I have some major concerns. Kelly's right, we wouldn't let a' private developer do this. From an engineering perspective I don't think it works. The river hydraulics will be affected. • Ohslon: My suggestion is for this board to advise Council, and let the chips fall where they may. We should send a memo expressing board concerns. We should ask them to advise staff to take another run at this. • Fischer: Is the Army Corp of Engineers going to let you do this? We have a consultant walking us through that piece. A recommendation will be sent to Council expressing concern, and asking that Craig_ and his group go back and see if there's another way to do this. Wrap-up of Long Term Funding Discussions, Michelle Pawar Pawar said the key to the discussion is what should the stewardship fixed look like: How will we allocate revenues, how will they be divided, and will we, or won't we include community separators. Mark Sears said he ran basically ran six different scenarios. Greg Byrne said that what we've tried to do is put a stake in the ground, it's not a proposal. What we've tried to do Natural Resources Advisory Board • April 3, 2002 Page 3 is put things into a model and run them out. At least they help us understand how things work. • Fischer: Is the intent of these numbers for us to pick one? • Byrne: We don't have a recommendation. Long term maintenance is a variable; how much and how long. Future funding is a variable. • Ohlson: Why no recommendation? Is it to be continued? • Byrne: Most certainly this will be continued. We're not prepared as a staff to feel comfortable saying "this is what we need". • Ohlson: What direction do you want to hear from Council? • Byme: We have some questions in the AIS. We would like them to say what long term means. Does Council want a perpetual fund? We don't have to have a number, but it would be nice to know if there is one. • Ohlson: It needs to be made clear that no where in the ballot language did it say "perpetuity". What the funds look like, and for how long is up to Council. • Byme: Yes, it depends on the level of maintenance. Do you want education, and to maintain a level of service, or do you want to provide a minimal level of service? • Ohlson: What I thought came out of the last meeting was there would be some kind of fund created for 3 years past the expiration of the HPOS, which is 2018. That fund would fund standard maintenance kind of things, and buy time for the public to have a chance to continue to have the land restored in some kind of fund beyond that. • Byme: In the AIS we've said the length of time for the long term maintenance must be defined. • Ohlson: You have to define essential maintenance; weed control, fences, public access, no rangers, no interpretation? • Knowlton: What do you want to get out of the study session, what would you like to leave with? • Pawar: We tried to articulate that in questions one and two of the AIS. We would like to walk away with a directed sense of what stewardship should look like. We'll walk through different funding methods. • Hamrick: It would be nice to see a breakdown of the maintenance costs. • Waskom: We need to acquire the land. There's a limited opportunity where we can afford to get the land we need; affordability and opportunity. We need to front load. • Fischer: It's not prudent to squirrel away money. • Ryder: There's an important consideration in the enforcement part. If they're not open to the public, we'll have to pay to keep people out. If we acquire land and don't allow access, there's a cost. Linda Knowlton and Regan Waskom will dral4 a memo for distribution to Council. Jacoby Farm, Mark Sears Sears said he recently brought this item to the board and a recommendation was made to go ahead with the purchase. What we've done is come up with a different strategy. We were hoping to use Legacy grant money for this purchase, but GOCO said no. We Natural Resources Advisory Doard April 3, 2002 Page 4 approached the County about buying it, and they were very excited. They're responsible for that portion of the trails, and were anticipating having to buy right-of-way. • Fischer: I have concerns about the County purchasing this land. I understand the financial aspect might work out better, but I have concerns. The fiasco at Fossil Creek is fresh in my memory. If we as a board agree to do this, at the very least we need to have it nailed down in writing what the rules of the game are. It's a nice piece of property, I would hate to see it mismanaged. They could want it opened to dogs off leash. Being close to Windsor and open to the public, it could be trashed pretty quickly. • Ohlson: We have to get trail placement and dog off leash issues resolved. • Sears: As part of the process they'll have to put a conservation easement on it before they get the GOCO funds. I don't see any harm in going back to the County and saying we need a few reasonable things nailed down. • Rodriguez: They might thank you for putting that in as a condition of the sale. • Ohlson: What about fishing, are they going to allow fishing? • Ryder: Could you make the sale conditional on the mutual agreement of a management plan? • Donovan: How long does it take to write a management plan? Sears: It they want the money at closing they'll have to have a management plan in place. • Ohlson: It would be nice if Larimer County would encourage Windsor to star[ their own open space program. The NRAB recommended approving the sale of the property to the County contingent upon City approval of a management plan. WEBBER — BEE, Mark Sears Sears said this property is not necessary in our land conservation plan, but is important agricultural land, and would serve as a community separator. It's certainly a deal we wouldn't want to pass up. Sears said he doesn't need a formal recommendation right now. • Ohslon: Is this a no-brainer to you? In light of our attempts to accelerate a community separator it is. The board supports the proposal and appreciates it being brought to them at an early date. Sears hopes to bring this back to the May 1 meeting. New Business • Ohlson: At the P&R Board meeting they talked about the downtown river enhancement. If that is the charette, it should also be coming to this board. We need to talk about Fossil Creek and Gateway Park. At some point I would like to talk about Fossil Creek Community Park. What's happening with the Rolland Moore parking lot? • Ohslon: Is someone checking on the status of CFP easements? Sears said there's - someone who is checking on them almost daily. 00 Natural Resources Advisory Board April 3, 2002 Page 5 Monthly Feedback No comments. Action Log No comments. Approval of Minutes The March 6, 2002 minutes were unanimously approved, with the following change; correct Council liaison name. Committee Reports Solid Waste: The next Solid Waste Committee meeting is Wednesday, May 1, at 4:30. Trails: There will be a field trip to Lyons Park on Tuesday, April 16`h, at 12:00 noon. Natural Areas: This committee will meet at Rocky Mountain Coffee Connection on Thursday, April 25 for a field trip to Hazaleus. Futures: Linda Knowlton said she needs suggestion on a date and ideas for an agenda. Budget: When Randy Fischer returns from a business trip a meeting will be scheduled. The work session scheduled for Wednesday, April 17 has been cancelled. Announcements Mark Sears said the replacement for Bonnie Pierce has been appointed. His name is Arvind Panjabi. He will be attending the May 1 meeting. Review Council Six Month Planning Calendar Not reviewed. Future Agenda Items April 17: FIDOS - Cancelled May 1: Rimrock and Kerbel Conservation Easments (if ready) May 15: Rolland Moore Park Plan Fossil Creek Park Plan FIDOS Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m.