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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 04/21/1998r] MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD SPECIAL MEETING 281 CONFERENCE ROOM - 281 N. COLLEGE AVE. APRIL 21,1998 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, Don Rodriguez, Jan Behunek, Ed Secor, Phil Friedman, Bill Miller, and Kelly Ohlson (at 6:45 p.m.) Board Members Absent Randy Fischer and Craig McGee Staff Present Natural Resource Dom: Sally Maggart, Susie Gordon and Tom Shoemaker Stormwater: Link Mueller The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. Guests Nathan Donovan, citizen. Agenda Review No changes were made to the agenda. Announcements Phil Friedman: • Fifty percent of the dogs seen at Riverbend Ponds over the weekend were not leashed. He observed that dogs, even if they were leashed, caused stress to the birds in the area. • Non -hunters may be banned from the Cherokee Lone Pine State Wildlife Area to protect the wildlife. There is already a ban during fawning season, and mountain bikes are banned entirely. • GSI's newsletter is against trash districting. There are mistruths in the article. • SB 161 will tie the hands of local school boards regarding how environmental education is taught. Bill Miller: • People were observed training a dog with fake decoys at the Wren Pit area. There are problems with people recognizing what natural areas are all about. Education is needed. • Input is still being taken on the use of the land by Fossil Creek Reservoir owned by the State Land Board. Natural Resources Advisory Board April 21, 1998 Page 2 Committee Reports Education: no meeting Solid Waste: • The committee met with Rick Richter, Pavement Management Engineer. This will be summarized at the next meeting. Natural Areas • Memos were drafted regarding water pollution from the feedlots at Prospect Ponds, and the concerns about the Horticulture Center being located at Lee Martinez. These will be finalized by the next meeting. Trails Will schedule a meeting. Stormwater Project on Spring Creek, Link Mueller ISSUE • There was significant erosion damage along Spring Creek from the July storm. An irrigation pond was lost and a 20 foot sanitary sewer line was exposed. • Funding is available from FEMA and FHA for some of the project. • The Parks and Recreation Department has requested reconstructive help adjacent to the fire station parking lot to fight erosion against the bike path. • A presentation was given to the Board showing existing condition photos. • Structural work is needed between College and Remington to save trees. • Preliminary plans were shown that address health, safety and environmental concerns. • Comments are due on the preliminary plans by April 27. • The landscape plans are not yet completed. • Trees removed will be replaced with species acceptable to the Forestry Department. • Spring Creek improvements are being designed to handle the 100-year flow. • The amount of wetland areas will be increased. • Construction should start by July. DISCUSSION • Concern was expressed about the shoreline habitat. • It was asked if the irrigation pond could be reconfigured. It could possibly be moved 10-15 feet to the west. • Why is sanctity given to the crack willow when it can be removed and planted with something more native? It is on private property and the Rivendell School has asked that it not be cut down. • Will this be more highly engineered than before the flood? Yes, cutoff walls will be put along the bottom of Spring Creep a retaining wall will protect the sanitary sewer line, street and bike trail. Patience will be needed with tree replacement and the establishment of native vegetation along the bank • Will there be a net gain or a net loss of wildlife habitat? There should be a net gain with the Natural Resources Advisory Board April21, 1998 Page 3 number of improvements planned - a wider channel, bike lanes moved from the edge of the creek and a change in the vegetative complex. The water temperature will increase with tree removal. Are any other buildings other than the picnic shelter being moved? No. What is the impact on the downstream flood plain? The preliminary hydraulic models show a decrease in water surface elevation to match into Stuart -Stover. There will be a map revision submitted upon project completion that will show no downstream impact. DECISION • The landscape plan will be presented to the Board in May. Review of Lands Purchased with Natural Areas Fund with Potential for Resale, Tom Shoemaker A list of potential natural areas sales/exchanges was distributed. Boardmembers made the following recommendations: Coterie: Too expensive, not high quality habitat. Do not buy with natural areas monies. Perhaps Council could require Light & Power to keep it. Some portion could be sold to Sutherlands. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved to keep the Coterie in Light & Power ownership with a possible lease to and maintained by the Natural Resources Department 2. Red -Tailed Grove: Agreement to not sell the corner. 3. Nix Farm: Keep prospects open for siting the new horticultural center here. 4. Flatiron portion: Sell 16 acres to Hageman with conditions placed on the sale to protect water quality. Maintain first right of refusal for the current appraised cost plus specific inflation rate. 5. Resource Recovery Farm: Still trying to find replacement gravel to minimize mining. Caveat - it would have to be fully permitted for mining. Would want full reclamation upon completion of mining. Agreement to do whatever is necessary to try to protect the land south of the Resource Recovery Farm. The NRAB will be kept fully informed throughout the process. 6. Arapahoe Bend: Parcel 1: OK to sell Parcel 2: OK (reluctantly) to sell Parcel 3: OK to sell or mine Parcel 4: OK to sell Natural Resources Advisory Board April21, 1998 Page 4 7. N. McKee Property (640 acres): If a decision is reached to continue farming, ask for improvements in the current agricultural practices. Shoemaker will keep the Board apprised of negotiations. 8. S. McKee Property (320 acres): Issue of owning open space within Loveland's UGA. Natural Areas Program Review, Tom Shoemaker ISSUE • This is the first step in creating a 5-year action plan. • Feedback is needed for Council's worksession on 4/28/98. DISCUSSION • The lakes and reservoirs should not be the same color on the map as the protected areas. Use more than two colors on the map. • Why haven't we already bought up all the land along the river if we have the funds. • What is the balance between acquisition and implementation of the management plans. • Is success measured by the rate of implementation of the Natural Area Plan. • Where do we dedicate staff resources. (For instance, should we go north on the Poudre or do we go west of Horsetooth Reservoir.) • The river ties the community together. It's where the emphasis should be. • Mountain open spaces should be considered land of interest to Fort Collins residents. • Consider opportunities `outside the box" if the price is right. • More staff is needed. • CSU students could be hired to help maintain natural area sites. Use a creative management approach. • SPECIFIC COMMENTS FOR COUNCIL • If any of the Parks' projects identified in Ordinance 29 escalate in price, the additional money should not come from the Building Community Choices tax. • If we allow the fund to be back -loaded, make sure it is clear that the extra funds in reserve are for maintenance. • Re-emphasize everything that was in the Board's memo to Council. • The Board needs to object to Parks' financial assertions. • Explain the need for adequate staffing. • The natural areas program is not just about acquiring land. Other • A Trail Committee meeting was set to discuss the re -design of the Cathy Fromme Prairie trail. • The Rock Garden/Geological site was approved by Council. It did not get processed by the NRAB. • The USFS agenda item with Friends of the Poudre got voted on by Council. The City was praised for "hanging tough". • Master Trail Plan: A meeting was held at REI by Kelly Roberts and Craig Foreman. The Natural Resources Advisory Board April21, 1998 Page 5 NRAB asked for involvement on this at the November meeting with Mike Powers. Why doesn't this get presented to the Board? Review Action Log Add: Field Trip to Kingfisher Point Memo to Council regarding trash districting report Review Future Agenda Items May 6: Downtown River Corridor Project, Timothy Wilder Horticulture Center Site Selection, Jim Clark Natural Areas Plan Review (ongoing), Tom Shoemaker May 20: Poudre River Plans, Tom Shoemaker Spring Creek Landscape Plan, Link Mueller June 17: Master Trails Plan (5-year), Craig Foreman Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 10:45 p.m.