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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 06/03/1998MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING 281 CONFERENCE ROOM - 281 N. COLLEGE AVE. JUNE 3,1998 AMENDED July 2,1998 For Reference: Phil Murphy, NRAB Chair - 491-6303 Bill Bertschy, Council Liaison - 484-0181 Susie Gordon, Staff Liaison - 221-6265 Board Members Present Phil Murphy, Bill Miller, Kelly Ohlson, Jan Behunek, Phil Friedman, and Randy Fischer Board Members Absent Craig McGee, Ed Secor, and Don Rodriguez Staff Present Natural Resources DelLt: Sally Maggart, Susie Gordon, Terry Klahn and Tom Shoemaker Water Utility- Mike Smith and Steve Comstock The meeting was called to order at 6:04 p.m. Guests Visitors from the City of San Luis Obispo, CA: Neil Havlick and Ken Hampian U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Laramie, WY: Mike Lockhart, Fish & Wildlife Service Planning & Zoning Board: Sally Craig Agenda Review Add: Committee Member Recruitment Move: Natural Areas Action Plan Update and Committee Reports Black -footed Ferret Relocation: Mike Lockhart Wyoming Game & Fish Dent ISSUE The City's Meadow Springs Ranch is being considered as a possible site for the relocation of the National Black -footed Ferret Conservation Center presently located in Wyoming. Council approval on the sale of a 20-30 acre site would be needed. QUESTIONS • Are there any problems with inbreeding? The Center tries to maximize genetic diversity. • Would Meadow Springs Ranch be used as a release site? No, the purpose is to maintain the population in captivityfor breeding. Natural Resources Advisory Board June 3, 1998 Page 2 • Is there an existing prairie dog colony at the Ranch? No. • Are there any public education facilities planned? The Center is closed to the public except for limited tours. • What is the current use of the Meadow Springs Ranch? It is leased to a grazing association for cattle range. The primary intended use is for sludge management. • Is the Ranch part of the natural areas inventory? No. • What is the City's policy with the Grazing Association regarding prairie dog management? There has been no formal policy because there has not been any population ofprairie dogs on the Ranch. • What is the specific location being considered for the site? There are four or five areas being considered on the southern end of the Ranch. • What is the length of the cattle grazing lease? It is a six year lease, ending in 2000. COMMENTS • The Environmental Learning Center might provide an opportunity ity for a satellite interpretive center. • Education is needed requiring prairie dog habitat in urban areas. • This is important and good work. • Supportive of program, and would like more information on the Ranch at a future meeting. • Would like to look at other alternatives for the Ranch, e.g., bison instead of cattle. DECISION • A tour of the Ranch will be planned. • A motion will be made at the next meeting to support the USFW proposal. Review and Approval of Minutes The minutes of the May 6, 1998 Regular Meeting and the May 20, 1998 Special Meeting were approved as written. Announcements Phil Friedman: • Distributed pictures of the Wind Power farm. Kelly Ohlson: • Attended a meeting regarding the Super Wa1Mart store. • Took a field trip to the proposed amphitheater site by Coyote Ridge. • Attended a Poudre River Trust meeting on Saturday. • The proposed Lee Martinez site for the Horticulture Center was not supported by Council. Phil Murphy: • Don Rodriguez will represent the Board on the Horticulture Center site selection committee. Natural Resources Advisory Board June 3, 1998 Page 3 Councilmember Bertschy wants the NRAB and the Parks & Recreation Board to get together to discuss issues. Committee Member Selection Timothy Wilder, Advance Planning, is recruiting a volunteer for the City Plan "Seeding Initial Development" Project (Principle GM-7). There will be two meetings of two hour duration, with the first meeting on June 18. Phil Murphy said that he will attend the meeting on June 18. Committee Reports Trails No report Growth Management • A memo was written to the Council's Growth Management Committee regarding land use code revisions. The Committee replied that they needed more information. Tom Vosburg, Policy Analyst, will provide a work plan for staff response. There are three categories: 1. Things that are being done and action taken; 2. Items that need further study and clarification; and, 3. Areas with freestanding laws or other codes that are potentially not land use code issues. The next meeting will be June 15 at 11:00 a.m. Natural Areas A second meeting was held on the specifics of the Poudre River Natural Areas Management Plan. There will be a full presentation to the Board on July 15. Solid Waste No meeting Education No meeting Review Action Log • Leave the "trail memo" date open. • Done: Black -footed Ferret presentation • Add: • Draft letter to support Black -footed Ferret Project • Future discussion about Natural Areas classification process • Working with Parks Board • Pre-scoping meeting for the "Seeding Initial Development" study • Meadow Springs Ranch field trip Natural Resources Advisory Board June 3, 1998 Page 4 Mid -year review in July Impact of development in mountain communities on drinking water sources Review Six Month Planning Calendar • Update on Poudre River -related plans postponed. • June 16: Natural Areas Annexation Review Future Agenda Items • June 17: Fossil Creek Park and Southwest Community Park • June 17: Going away party for Craig McGee and Ed Secor • July 1: Presentation on Mountain Vista Subarea Project Natural Areas Action Plan {°Forced Choice" Exercise • Tom Shoemaker Natural Resources Dept. Minutes were not taken on this portion of the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.