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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 06/07/2000MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING 281 N. COLLEGE June 7, 2000 For Reference: Randy Fischer, NRAB Chair - 491-6303 Bill Bertschy, Council Liaison - 484-0181 Tom Shoemaker, Staff Liaison - 221-6263 Board Members Present Kelly Ohlson, Don Rodriguez, Reagan Waskom, Bill Miller, Nate Donovan, Phil Murphy Board Members Absent Jan Rastall, Randy Fischer, Rick Harness Staff Present Natural Resources Dept: Mark Sears, Terry Klahn, Karen Manci, Brian Woodruff CPES: Tom Vosburg Guests Sally Craig, Planning and Zoning Board Agenda Review — Report on Nix field trip — Mark Sears suggested adjourning to an executive session for land acquisition updates. Fossil Creek Reservoir Resource Management Plan, Jana McKenzie, EDAW McKenzie said a lot of mapping of resources was completed. Some were mapped in the Fossil Creek Area Plan, which set the parameters for the natural resource area. We looked at vegetation and wildlife, the critical ones that drove decisions were existing stands of trees, prairie dogs, and other waterfowl and wildlife that use the water and coves. Discussion • Donovan: What kind of methods were not taken from the area plan? Data and observations from the Division of Wildlife, and a prairie dog colony was not mapped. • Donovan: Was that mapping done from direct observation? Some yes, but we also use bona fide studies. We had several years in a row in which we had hired a biologist to watch eagles during the winter and see which trees they were using. Natural Resources Advisory B _ d June 7, 2000 Page 2 The water quality is Class 2, non body contact, which disallows any boating use. Currently there is boating, but it's a private use. Land use alternatives were presented at a public meeting. Alternatives discussed included trail development, public access and wildlife access. After we came up with the plan we designated management zones. Donovan: How big is the amphitheater? It's for about 50 people. It's for educational purposes, not for rock concerts. Page 1-1 • Ohlson: We need to keep this in perspective, experts have been quoted as saying this is key wildlife habitat, and a very special place. We need to treat this area differently than other areas that we allow more use on. • Donovan: It looks like there's access to the eastern edge of Duck Lake. There will be a parking lot and viewing area. • Miller: Who manages that? The County will manage everything, except for what's owned by the City. • Donovan: If there's going to be public access, what's the relationship between the intensity of use as opposed to the parking area south of the reservoir? Is it anticipated that people will be all over that area? The County's intent is to have people restricted to a certain viewing area, similar to our observatory. • Craig: My concern is that the parking lot is 300' away, and people can still go fifteen feet beyond that. This area is more valuable than Cooper Slough. • Olson: There shouldn't be a combination of governmental bodies coming up with a buffer of less than 300'. There needs to be more than the bare minimum. There's a lot of information out regarding flushing distances. • Miller: I view that lake quite often. The birds are very un-tolerant. These are wild populations. So, you'd like to see the parking lot closer to the road, and the viewing area as far away as possible.? • Waskom: Will the birders get what they need? • Miller: Yes, you can see the entire lake from there. • Ohlson: My suggestion would be to rethink the placement of that lot. Page 1-2 • Ohlson: There's no representative from the environmental community. No matter how decent the DOW people are, they're not representing the environmental community. There should have been a mailing for a special meeting for the environmental community, they're just as important as everyone else. There's even a coalition of environmental groups now, it's the Northern Colorado Environmental Alliance. Page 2-1 • Ohlson: Why is it that the new agreement possibly includes the City of Fort Collins? I would hope the City of Fort Collins would be involved. Natural Resources Advisory Board June 7,2000 Page 3 Page 2-2 • Ohlson: When it comes to conservation easements now, people just glaze over. I just received information from Boulder about how they handle them. They flush it out. I hope things are laid out so that there are rational and appropriate management practices that do the least harm to wildlife. It's not a matter of saying it's agricultural, we can request certain things. • Ohlson: Is 12 feet the standard for a regional trail? If it's 12 feet, let's not say 10-12, let's say 12. 1 don't know for sure, but I think it was 10 feet, but now it's 12. • Ohlson: The map needs to be clean, I have a hard time distinguishing the colors. We've talked to the drafter. • Donovan: What's on Co. Rd. 32, north of Duck Lake? That's the sanitation district. • Waskom: Where's the discharge? Right into the lake. 2-3 • Ohlson: When are we going to address issues caused by dogs and cats, runoff from people keeping their lawns like golf courses. These things affect the resources. Some issues are addressed in management areas. In reading this it also mentions gaps in the fence. I'm worried, we'll lose battles if what we end up with is fraudulent. I want to know if we'll have a chance to weigh in on these issues. • Miller: The County's animal task force has presented to the Board of Commissioners. When it comes to domestic cats, they don't know what to do. • Rodriguez: I would suggest that you look at innovative strategies for managing the area. Why not a land steward that is employed by the HOA to manage and maintain the buffer area. I've got 3000 students that would be interested in a position like that. • Ohlson: That part of the resource was supposed to be protected. People forget their responsibilities after they get the good stuff. Maybe some guidelines on being a more responsible land owner might be appropriate. Page 2-4 • Ohlson: Is there a plan to clean up the water. No, people will notice there's something different about the water. We don't know what will happen. Page 2-6 • Ohlson: Again, they mention this is a very special place. Page 2-7 • Ohlson: This page refers to the National Resource Conservation Service, and payment to farmers for the retirement of marginal crop land. Is this a 10-year program, or is it a different program, is it permanent? It's not permanent. • Miller: The acquisition has not taken place from the State Land Board. If it is acquired the County could vote for re -vegetation. There's an existing farmer who has been paid to re -vegetate. • Ohlson: Retirement to the average reader means forever. • Donovan: Change the wording from "retirement" to "temporary set -aside of marginal....: '. Natural Resources Advisory L A June 7, 2000 Page 4 Page 2-9 • Ohlson: I hope everyone has the Handbook for Trail Planners. Flushing occurs at a greater distance if someone is with a dog. • Miller: The flushing distance is the last response. They primarily go into a stop feeding, more agitated condition, then they flush. It's the ultimate disturbance, it can interrupt breeding behaviors and proper nutrition. Page 2-11 • Ohlson: These population figures are wrong. Page 3-2 • Rodriguez: You speak to wildlife in all but the high use areas. Maybe there should be a statement with respect to wildlife in the high use areas too. • Ohlson: Need to be careful not to go in with more use, and try to crank it down. In the Restoration Area it says visitors need to stay on designated trails. That implies that you don't have to in other areas. That should be in all zones. • Donovan: Is there supposed to be a trail corridor along the north shore? No, not on the north shore. Page 3-3 • Ohlson: Why does the road need to be a paved surface, is it the fire service? No, the decision was based on maintenance and accessibility, it needs to be an all-weather surface. • Ohlson: Is the trail as environmentally friendly as possible? With the alternatives and the amount of land, it was a nice balance. Why not go to something other than asphalt. It's not just the environmental stuff, it makes it less urban feeling, and there are aesthetic issues. Take ten minutes and make sure that decision is right. • Rodriguez: If you look at Lory State Park, the decision was made not to pave the road. There's a primitive experience you can get at Lory that you can't get at Boyd Lake. This is a special application of the natural areas perspective. We'll look at it and re -discuss with the County. • Craig: There should not be asphalt. I can't believe this, we're taking the most sensitive area, and putting in asphalt. I would like to see this board take a strong stand on this. • Ohlson: We're giving feedback tonight. We'll be passing things on later as a group. • Ohlson: I'm assuming we're paving to provide some ease of disabled access. Yes, but it doesn't have to be a trail you can land an airplane on. • Rodriguez: The standard ADA trail is 60". • Ohlson: The trails need to be appropriate, but not any bigger than appropriate. Maybe some small tables at the shoreline for people to sit and write, or sketch, if it would fit and be appropriate. Natural Resources Advisory Board June 7, 2000 Page 5 Page 3-5 • Ohlson: You're not talking about Rolland Moore type picnic shelters are you? No, more like a county one, with one table. • Donovan: It seemed like a lot, but if it's four shelters that only have one table that's different. If you only have tables, why do you need pads. Accessibility. • Miller: Think about de-emphasizing picnicking and provide more smaller scale benches. • Rodriguez: Add an area of primitive recreation. It would be ok to have 2-3 sites that don't have accessible trails to them. • Donovan: Is the amphitheater really necessary? It seems like demand could drive development of that, rather than putting in before there is a demand. • Sears: It's a big need right now. I'd like to see some in our larger natural areas. • Rodriguez: Have you considered doing berming? Page 3-6 • Ohlson: We need to be careful with the fencing. There's a lot of new information about the impact of fencing on wildlife. We must make sure to minimize the negative impact on wildlife. Page 3-7 • Craig: Why will there be lighting in the parking areas? They are for maintenance and security. There is no need. Page 3-8 • Ohlson: Why do we allow fishing, when humans are not allowed on the water due to poor water quality? And, if we are going to allow it, it ought to be the perfect place and opportunity to speak to responsible fishing. I don't get why we have to allow fishing there at all. • Rodriguez: You'd be setting up for failure if you're allowing access, but not allow people to fish. • Miller: You've got to draw the line somewhere. Not every area is appropriate for a plethora of uses. You'll have line on the shore, and birds tangled in it. • Ohlson: Will fishing be allowed on the whole shore line? I can't go off trail to view wildlife, but they can go off to fish? • Miller: It's probably easier to deny that use to begin with, than to change it after it's established. It's better to drop fishing off the agenda. • Donovan: Can you prohibit fishing in places that are sensitive, but not totally prohibit it? • Waskom: Is there a strong motivation for fishing? There will be, fishing may not be an incompatible use. • Miller: Maybe there should be appropriate seasonal closures for fisherman, as well as other visitors. • Ohlson: Why are we allowing dogs on the loop trail? This is a special area. They're allowed on the regional trail, I don't see why we have to allow them on the loop trail. Natural Resources Advisory L _d June 7,2000 Page 6 Page 3-15 • Ohlson: It needs to be clear that privately owned doesn't mean unused, and undeveloped doesn't mean "no impact". • Ohlson: If we're going to be buying down development, the management plans we talked about need to be developed. If we offer incentives to make improvements there must be agreements on agriculture practices, dogs and cats. We need to make sure it's not without any responsibility on their end. LUTRAQ - VMT Reduction Action Plan, Tom Vosburg Vosburg said the purpose of tonight's presentation is to review the preliminary report, and provide a heads -up on the course of action. Proposing to begin work on establishing work plans. Discussion • Murphy: In the problem statement we're talking about VMT, but there are no numbers. • Donovan: How lengthy is the Mobility Report Card? It measures a wide variety of items. • Ohlson: I'm really pleased to see that one of the things you're talking about is to update the population forecast. We can have different values, but we have to be straightforward and honest in the information. • Miller: There should be some numbers in the statement of the problem. I would have an objection to the goal if it is not set high enough. We should try to get the VMT growth below the population growth. That goal is adopted policy. That would be a policy debate. What we're talking about here are action plans. • Ohlson: I agree that in the other documents those numbers are clear. Why was the decision made to not include them in the this? We were trying to do a concise executive summary. It would be easy to add a sentence like "adopted policy of VMT growth and population growth should be equal". Page 2 • Donovan: Are there parameters on what the funding can be used for? Would it be a violation of federal laws to set some aside for alternative modes? Some transportation funding is earmarked for certain things. This recommendation is that we need an action plan for figuring out how to get long term funding for alternative modes. The idea is to plug the holes not funded by existing transportation funding. • Ohlson: You might want to exclude the little jokes in the council packets. Page 3 • Donovan: Is there a way to briefly illustrate in the document what is meant by the NIlvIBY syndrome? Dispelling the myths is important. There is no magic bullet. • Ohlson: The myth has been created that as soon as we time the signal lights all will be well. Traffic will only get worse, what we can do is minimize the speed of it worsening. 0 Natural Resources Advisory Board June 7, 2000 Page 7 • Donovan: Can you give us some examples of number 4, Internal policy conflicts? There are more connections in projects than there used to be. If there are more connections there are more opportunities for alternative modes, volume drops and traffic is dispersed better. It does require you to drive a bit slower. Land Use Code and Utility standards conflict. There are internal policy conflicts but we trying not to raise a red flag. • Waskom: If I didn't know better I would think that reducing VMT is a goal, it's really only an indication in terms of monitoring. There's been discussion, is the VMT goal the right way to measure what we're trying to get at? We don't want to be perceived as backing away from it. We can also measure congestion, but it is spongier. 1 feel like we're doing well with the significant things, there are incremental changes. • Ohlson: You want the policy decision makers to know why VMT is an issue. • Miller: Somewhere in this document it needs to be stated that VMT is not necessarily the only issue, we need to plan our trips. • Woodruff: That point is well taken, we have focused on where are the action gaps, rather than focusing on explaining the issue. • Vosburg: My sense is that the issue of asking if VMT if the right measure is a different question. So far the staff team has not contemplated trying to work on that. We're working on implementation. • Ohlson: There will be a time when air quality will take a dive. Right now you can show VMT going up, and air pollution going down. We have to explain why VMT's are important to reduce using these other things. VMT emerged as an air quality issue in the early 90's. In the policy plan for air quality, reducing VMT is part of the air quality goal. Congestion is the number one issue that people call the City Mangaer about. We have a policy in place, the City's job is to try to modify the citizens travel behaviors. So many different departments have a role, this project is about pulling together, and accountability for the overall task of reducing VMT growth. • Donovan: The City should be a leader and set an example in the measure in number 8. In particular, travel pricing measures, employees paying for parking, and incentives for trip reduction. • Ohlson: The City built a parking structure, the original proposal was 100% of employee parking would be covered. Before the City tells me what to do, they should stop building parking structures to provide free parking. The City is saying one thing and doing another. • Miller: We should be reducing VMT, not the growth of VMT. • Ohlson: We all agree philosophically, but you lose credibility if it's unachievable. • Miller: If you set the goal too low, you won't accomplish anything. • Ohlson: Affluence has played a role, the number of people having cars. It turns out that one of the best indicators of the family is expendable income. If the income goes up, there's an increase in miles. • Donovan: What is pay -at -the -pump insurance? It would need state legislation to implement. Insurance is included in the price of gas, the amount you pay in insurance premiums disappears. That sends an economic signal to the consumer. Natural Resources Advisory L A June 7, 2000 Page 8 Schaaf Conservation Easement Exchange, Mark Sears Sears distributed a map and said the proposal is to sell Schaaf's 38 acres with a conservation easement in exchange for 24 acres of their land with a conservation easement and $56,000. What we've done is determined the values of the parcel, before and after the conservation easement to determine the actual values the City and Schaaf's will receive. The stewardship plan would be required to be reviewed no less than every five years. This plan has been worked on for quite a few years. There are ten acres for future home sites. They may decide that's not feasible and may want to include that ten acres in the exchange. Discussion • Waskom: They could sell later if they chose, but it would go with a conservation easement? They could sell as long as it's not developed. • Miller: What wildlife values are we giving up? It's a pretty degraded site, non- native grasses, a little wetland, it's not high quality. It's been grazed and abused in the past. There are not species of concern, or any high wildlife use. • Waskom: Is this a done deal? No. The stewardship goals are: 1. Enhance wildlife habitat, no public recreation use. 2. Plan to fence different pastures, no pasture would be smaller than five acres. 3. Fence the area along Harmony Road where the pond is. 4. No horses in the wetland. 5. No billboards or other ads. (One site identification sign for their facility) 6. The area would become certified as a natural area (private). 7. Control noxious weeds on pastures. 8. Only native species would be planted. 9. Remove Russian Olive trees. 10. Keep some of the dead standing wood for perch sites. 11. Trim branches for safety issues. 12. Remove trash and debris. 13. Remove old interior wooden fence. They would not use barbed wire. They would use smooth wire, and may request a variance for electric wire. 14. Level out dirt piles. 15. Remove old shed. • Miller: Will this be a trade of a conservation easement for the use of the land? It's a sale of the land with a conservation easement. • Ohlson: I'm leery about parting with land unless I think it's a really good deal. These agreements are very important. I have some concern about the future home sites. The City organization is not a very good negotiator. • • Natural Resources Advisory Board June 7, 2000 Page 9 • Waskom: To say that weeds will be controlled is not enough. Want to restrict the types of herbicides that can be used. Boulder lists the actual products. • Ohlson: I've pulled articles about fencing. It's becoming an issue. • Waksom: How could this be construed as a natural area, that's a huge stretch? The whole natural area certification program is to promote the planting of native plants. • Ohlson: These things are so complex, the amount of time being spent is huge. Rome is burning and we're certifying a horse pasture. It's been a very low priority, we've been working on it as we have time. I want to make sure we're not losing other things. We need to buy key parcels now. • Waskom: I don't care much about this. I would like you to bring parcels that have some wildlife benefits. • Ohlson: I want us to give our input on details of the management plan. People need to speak up. • Murphy: We need to have a discussion of stewardship plans in general. It seems to me the natural areas sub -committee needs to have a discussion. • Sears: I would suggest we take the next month to polish up the stewardship plan, and bring this back, hopefully with little or no discussion. • Rodriguez: We have a couple people who are experts in holistic range management. Why not get a grad student out there with the new management plan and do some monitoring. The Schaafs would probably be open to that. • Ohlson: At the same meeting let's discuss the certification some more, it seems a little strange to me. Nix Maintenance Center, Mark Sears Sears said he wanted to get feedback from those able to tour the site. There was an open house. Three people showed up. They didn't have any problems with the proposal. We have been asked to look at three other potential sites; 1) Resource Recovery Farm, 2) Pickle factory site, and 3) Western Mobile on N. Taft Hill. The Resource Recovery Farm facility is wonderful, but the location is poor. The LaFarge area is also poor since it is on the east edge of the City and long distance from many of our natural areas. • Ohlson: There was concern about how spread out the dog obedience area was. It doesn't have to be the biggest and best on the planet. There is a huge net gain to the police. • Ohlson: It appeared to a number of us there may be over -kill on the size of office spaces. I was also disturbed to hear that some people will chose to work there, and others will chose not too. There are issues other than the site. The road is over -kill, there can be good access without a twenty -foot paved road. • Rodriguez: The centrality of the site is ideal. If it's done tastefully it could be a good addition. I'm concerned about lighting and security. The biggest concern is cost. • Waksom: Are there any concerns about the natural area, the wildlife? • Miller: Is there any information on how the ponds are being utilized? • Ohlson: We had concerns, there were seven to ten observations. As I recall, there wasn't a "poison pill". Suggested moving the dogs up front, some things that were going to be reversed. Natural Resources Advisory L ;d June 7, 2000 Page 10 • Rodriguez: If the police didn't opt to come to this site, would they remain at Bignall? We really want them out of the Bignall site. • Ohlson: We should provide good office sizes, but this has the potential of going over that line. What seems large now, won't seem as big when there are twenty people out there. • Miller: From what I've heard, this may be the most appropriate site for the center. • Waskom: What about the Pepsi building? It was used as a cost comparison, it ended up costing more. We're within a month of submitting to the development review process. We're hoping that very soon we'd get approval to go ahead and submit. We're 18 months, at a minimum, from submittal to moving out there. • Ohlson: There's a bigger question. An expenditure of this amount of money at this time has many ramifications and I'm not there yet. I need a lot of hand holding, I'm probably further from it than when I started. • Manci: Is the board comfortable with us going to submittal to get the process moving? • Sears: We won't submit before July 5, we will come back prior to submittal • Miller: I don't see a problem with going ahead with submittal. (The board seemed to approve.) • Ohlson: I still have big issues that need to be worked on. Review of Minutes: May 3, 2000 Page 4, 8`h bullet, change to "Give it the appropriate amount of time, but at some time take action. Page 5, 71h bullet, change "Reagan to Waksom". Committee Report None Announcements Rodriguez: Received a call from Lance Freeman on the joint committee meeting with the P&R Board, and voiced my displeasure at his selection. He told me he was going to put together a memo with the names of the folks and get it moving in that direction. • Ohlson: I thought we decided not to do this. • Rodriguez: People were opposed, I thought we were ambushed. • Miller: The benefit of a joint meeting would be listening to the view of each board. • Murphy: I don't want to see it come to the point that compromises are being made. I don't want a unified voice going to Council on some of these issues. Each board is a separate entity with a separate look at what they're doing. • Ohlson: I would hope they would start to accept and understand some of our values. • • Natural Resources Advisory Board June 7, 2000 Page 11 Cooper Slough: Board of County Commissioners denied the applicant based on the sound scientific evidence. The applicant withdrew the project. Applicant can come back, but would have to come back under new land code. It will probably come back when there is change of the composition of the Board of County Commissioners. Review Future Agenda Items June 21, 2000: Parks Management Plan Fort Collins/Loveland Water Line — Coyote Ridge So. Taft Hill Road Project July 5, 2000: Schaaf Conservation Easement Nix Maintenance Center — Alternate Sites The board changed the June 21 meeting from a work session to a special meeting of the NRAB. New Business Ohlson • Howes outfall ponds were never built. We need follow through to make sure we're getting answers in a timely manner. Shoemaker didn't know the ponds weren't done. • Conservation easement agreements are going to be an issue — guidelines and management plans. • Discuss fence design and it's impact on wildlife ■ Was there NRD presence at the community meeting on pets? Was any information sent? • Was someone from NRD plugged into the xeriscape plan? ■ Would still like to get a copy of the Sauer conservation easement agreement. Waskom • How does the City maintain the buildings and grounds? It's strange that the grass is cut so short. Adjourn The meeting adjourned to executive session at 10:35 to discuss land acquisitions.