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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 07/05/1995For Reference: MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING 281 CONFERENCE ROOM - 281 N. COLLEGE AVE. JULY 5, 1995 Phil Friedman, NRAB Chair - 493-2959 Gina Janett, Council Liaison - 493-4677 Tom Shoemaker, Staff Liaison - 221-6263 Board Members Present Don Tidd, Lisa Steffes, Craig McGee, Phil Friedman, Bill Miller, Kelly Ohlson, Phil Murphy, Katy Mason Board Members Absent Ed Secor (excused) Staff Present Tom Shoemaker, Sally Maggart and Rob Wilkinson (Natural Resources), Randy Balok (Park Planning) and Marty Heffernan (Cultural, Library, and Recreational Services) The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Guests Brian Schumm and Marc Palkowitsh (Huntington Hills LLC), Mike Phelan (Cedar Creek Associates) and Dave Osborn (Attorney) Approval of Minutes Bill Miller moved and Don Tidd seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the June 7, 1995 meeting. The motion passed unanimously (8-0). Introduce New Board Member Phil Friedman explained that Ed Secor was not able to attend the meeting. He then introduced Kelly Ohlson who gave the board a summary of his background and experience. Fossil Creek Park Lake Design, Randy Balok Randy Balok, Park Planning and Development Manager, explained to the board a proposed contractual agreement in which Huntington Hills LLC would develop the lake that is anticipated within the Fossil Creek Community Park site. He noted that Huntington Hills would spend $570,000 to build the lake on city property. Balok further explained that the adjacent 100-acre park site on south Lemay contained the original 35-acre Portner Lake. He said that this lake is Natural Resources Advisory Board Meeting July 5, 1995 Page 2 being reduced to 20 acres. Don Tidd asked why the lake was being reduced. Palkowitsh explained that a 20 acre or less lake is exempt from issues related to the existing dam and will be easier to construct. • Lisa Steffes asked if the dam was the reason for draining Portner Lake. Palkowitsh said yes. Palkowitsh said that poor quality wetlands, created through runoff from the area, exist in the lake bottom and will be removed as part of the reconstruction. In response to a question regarding future widening of Lemay, Balok noted that some of the park land will be given up for the road right of way; the timing will depend on when the adjacent land is developed. He added that there are not enough funds at this time to fully develop the park. Palkowitsh said that construction drawings are almost complete to widen Lemay to Fossil Creek Bridge, but there is no time schedule for the completion of Lemay from Fossil Creek Bridge to Trilby. Don Tidd asked about what was going to happen to the prairie dogs. Balok explained that there were not many, if any, in the old lake. Balok explained that City Council requested input from the board regarding questions or concerns about the lake. He added that Gina Janett's concern was about the wetlands. Bill Miller asked where the wetlands will be located. Palkowitsh noted that there will be a 3-acre wetland reconstructed in the area to the northwest of the lake. He added that there may be additional wetlands located around other areas of the lake. Miller asked if the lake will drain under Lemay. Palkowitsh explained that the runoff will come through the wetlands, filter through the lake and then go back down to the outfall. Balok added that an underground pipe will go in later when funding is available. Katy Mason asked what is located north of the wetlands. Palkowitsh said it is the existing Fossil Creek Parkway. Balok said it will be a semi -natural area. Mason asked what "semi -natural" meant. Balok explained that the area has been grazed heavily by prairie dogs and will need revegetation. Bill Miller asked if the name "Fossil Creek Park" is set in stone. He noted that Larimer County, Loveland and Fort Collins have been looking at the land around the Fossil Creek Reservoir. Miller asked if this would be confusing. Balok noted that the park has not been dedicated yet, but it has had the name since 1982 when the city bought the land. Palkowitsh noted that it is the name referred to in the bond offering also. Miller suggested naming it Portner Park after the original reservoir. Natural Resources Advisory Board Meeting July 5, 1995 Page 3 Phil Friedman noted that in the Parks and Recreation Board minutes of May 24, 1995, Marilyn Bames said that "..all these neighbors need to understand that a park will be developed and let's not get into another southwest community park/neighborhood controversy." Balok said that the land was purchased to be developed as a community park. Friedman asked if the city can sell the land for another purpose if the people do not want a park. Balok noted that the neighbors are not opposed to the development of the park. Palkowitsh noted that there have been meetings with the various homeowner's associations and the main concern has been about the lighted soccer fields. Kelly Ohlson said that he had this item pulled off the consent calendar at the last Council meeting. He said he questioned why this had not been originally taken to the Natural Resources Board. Ohlson added that his original concerns related to whether the city's desire for a public/private partnership was affecting park design and causing more intrusion into natural areas, and whether there were additional excavation costs that the city would incur. He said these questions were addressed satisfactorily in the packet materials. Ohlson noted that he still has a concern about how the city views wetlands as "oil filters" for the lake; he felt the city should be more sensitive about the treatment of wetlands. He recommended that the board request mitigation for water quality concerns, such as the runoff from lawns in the area. Palkowitsh noted that there is an area of native grass landscaping along the lake that drainage will filter through before it gets to the wetlands. He added that these issues will be addressed in the final design. Rob Wilkinson noted that the final design is not yet completed. He said that he agreed about the water quality issue concerns; there are plans for a 100 foot buffer between the lot lines and the wetlands. Wilkinson added that some of the wetlands are man-made and, although there is a need to protect them from pollution, they may provide some protection value to naturally occurring wetlands. Tom Shoemaker said that there are several points in the contract where the city has the requirement to review and comment on the design criteria, how it will be met, and make comments and requirements for modification. Marry Heffernan added that there will be an exhibit attached to the contract to show what.the wetlands look like, and there can be no deviation once the contract is signed. Rob Wilkinson explained that the plan presented is one step up from the conceptual plan and that engineering plans will need to be reviewed. He said if the technical expectations are not met, the city has the option to request adjustments. Ohlson suggested letting the developers know this up front in order to avoid delays. Palkowitsh noted that there have been adjustments made already. Dave Osborn requested that the board look at cost/benefit concerns in creating the new wetlands. Natural Resources Advisory Board Meeting July 5, 1995 Page 4 Shoemaker suggested that the board include in the recommendation to council that the design for the lake contain the "best available control technology" to address concerns about water quality entering the lake and wetlands. Wilkinson noted that there will be pockets of cattail vegetation along the shoreline of the lake to provide barriers to goose movement and break up wave action to reduce bank erosion. He added that the slopes going into the reservoir will have to be graded carefully to facilitate the establishment of the wetlands. Miller noted that in "Other Business" in the Parks and Recreation Board minutes of May 24, 1995, concern was expressed about construction debris. He said that construction trash in Fossil Creek is phenomenal and asked if this concern can be addressed in the contract. Palkowitsh explained that builders in Huntington Hills are required to pay a cleanup deposit for every lot; the deposit is refunded only after the area has been cleaned. Miller said that builders need to maintain control during construction. Ohlson noted that there are city regulations controlling litter debris. Kelly Ohlson made the motion that the Board recommend Council approval of the Fossil Creek Park/Huntington Hills Agreement between the City and the developer (Huntington Hills LLC) once the agreement has been modified to require use of best available control technology to minimize water quality impact to the wetlands and the lake. Bill Miller seconded the motion. It passed unanimously (8-0). Miller and McGee thanked Palkowitsh for taking the extra steps in order to benefit the city. Udall Natural Area Restoration Plan, Rob Wilkinson Tom Shoemaker said that Rob Wilkinson has been working with Susie Gordon on this 25-acre site jointly purchased with the Stormwater Utility. He said that it is located upstream from the pickle factory, and has been identified as an important restoration site and a water quality stormwater treatment facility. Wilkinson presented three conceptual plans that were prepared by the consultants, Wenk & Associates, in Denver. ALTERNATIVE 1 - This is the most simplistic plan in terms of habitat restoration. It provides trails, restores the upland grassland, enhances the wetlands, and provides public access parking. ALTERNATIVE 2 - This has everything presented in Alternative 1 plus a series of loop trails Natural Resources Advisory Board Meeting July 5, 1995 Page 5 linked through to the pickle plant. ALTERNATIVE 3 - The water quality component is shifted to the south in this alternative to provide access to the natural area improvements. This creates eight acres of a mixed -use natural area and expands the wetland. Wilkinson explained that the stability of the river channel may be a long-term issue. He noted that the key part in Alternative 3 is in placing the water quality detention pond further to the southwest, and getting it down site from the erosion pressure. Shoemaker told the board that the purpose of the presentation was to have the board review the plans and provide comments and feedback. He said that staff will be returning with reports and a formal recommendation in August. McGee asked what is meant by the "promenade" in Alternative 3. Wilkinson explained that it is an urban walkway. He added that the different options in the three alternatives can be mixed and matched. After lengthy discussion on the term "multiple use meadow", Shoemaker explained that the area would not be used as a ballpark or for balloon festivals. He said that the use would follow the management guidelines for a natural area. Ohlson asked about the funding source. Shoemaker said that Stormwater would pay for the improvements and the natural area sales tax would pay for the restoration. Ohlson noted that the promenade might not fall under the intent of the natural areas funds. Miller said he thought it could with the use of gravel instead of concrete or asphalt. Miller suggested taking the stream bank pressure off by putting the channel four feet higher than the normal water level. He said this would still allow for the meadow. McGee said he liked the flow -through, but he did not want an urban park Mason asked about the timing of the project as related to the Poudre River Land Use Framework. Shoemaker explained that this is a planning study that is consistent with the land use framework. He reminded the board that decisions have not yet been made on the design. After a question on expense, Wilkinson explained that there are no actual cost estimates yet. He noted that Alternative 1 would probably be the least expensive and Alternative 3 would be the Natural Resources Advisory Board Meeting July 5, 1995 Page 6 most expensive. Miller said that excavation should not be an expense; the gravel companies should pay for that. Shoemaker said that he would not recommend the restoration if the expense would be higher than $100,000. Wilkinson referred to the timeline included in the meeting packet. He noted that the project started in April and is now in the alternative design concept stage; the site master plan should be finalized by the end of August. Wilkinson explained that it is difficult to predict the future look of the river, but this is an opportunity to influence the future planning. In conclusion, the board members offered the following comments: 1. This is a natural area and needs to fall under the terms of the management guidelines. 2. The consultants need to be aware of the funding requirements of the natural areas sales tax. 3. This might provide an opportunity to introduce a cottonwood -based riparian habitat. 4. Connect the site to the Gus Swanson Nature area interpretive program. 5. Leave the channel closer to the bank and build a high area for protection, creating an island during flooding. 6. Would the cost be different depending on which side the detention pond is located? 7. Keep it as natural as possible. The natural area tax money can be used for parking lots, fencing areas and restrooms so people can enjoy the natural areas, but not to encourage inappropriate uses. 8. Eliminate the wording "promenade" and "multiple use". 9. Remove the ponds and plant cottonwood trees for a bird habitat. McGee asked if the board will have the opportunity to view the plans again. Wilkinson said that this is not the last opportunity to comment; it will be a formal agenda item at the next meeting. Friedman asked if the stormwater detention pond is a requirement. Shoemaker said that there is no other potential location. Natural Resources Advisory Board Meeting July 5, 1995 Page 7 The board thanked Wilkinson for his presentation. GOCO Follow-up Discussion, Phil Friedman As a follow-up to last month's presentation by Susan Kirkpatrick, Phil Friedman wanted to emphasize the importance of communicating with the county and neighboring communities on GOCO grant applications. He asked Shoemaker if any local clearinghouse exists for collaboration on proposals. Shoemaker said that there is a group that meets quarterly with representatives from Latimer County Parks, City of Fort Collins Parks Planning and Natural Resources Departments, the National Park Service, the National Forest Service and Latimer County Parks Planning Department. He added that there is also a Northern Colorado Regional Planning Study Group that takes a larger regional concept and makes recommendations about priorities among communities. Shoemaker notified the board that the Poudre River gravel reclamation planning proposal submitted to GOCO was approved. He said that a GOCO land acquisition grant for an addition to the Cathy Fromme Prairie has been submitted. Shoemaker added that he will be meeting with Will Shafroth, the GOCO Director, along with representatives from Latimer County and Loveland, to discuss the urgent planning strategy on developing a long term relationship with GOCO in order to leverage money for the "Uncorridor Plan". Larimer County Environmental Advisory Board Representatives, Phil Friedman Friedman announced that the board needs to elect one regular representative and one alternate to the Larimer County Environmental Advisory Board. Bill Miller said that he is willing to continue serving as the regular representative. He noted that the meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in the Commissioner's Hearing Room. Kelly Ohlson offered to be the alternate. Don Tidd moved that Bill Miller be the designated representative and Kelly Ohlson be the designated alternate to the Latimer County Environmental Advisory Board. Craig McGee seconded the motion and it passed unanimously (8-0). Report on Water Treatment Plant Tour, Bill Miller Miller reported that there were about 15 people on the tour, including representatives from staff, Council, the Parks and Recreation Board and the Natural Resources Board. He noted that although public access to the area was stopped in 1976, the Natural Resources Advisory Board has sponsored three or four trips to gain public support for the park. Miller said that funding for the road improvements is estimated at $800,000. He added that the Department of Wildlife, Latimer County Parks and the Forest Service will contribute some funds. It was noted that Gary Kimsey submitted a grant application to the Department of Transportation on June 20. Natural Resources Advisory Board Meeting July 5, 1995 Page 8 Friedman said that the board had recommended to council that $80,000 be budgeted each year for three years to fund the project. Shoemaker said that he has discussed this project with Will Shafroth at GOCO. Mr. Shafroth has seen the area and has commented that it is among the top three opportunities in the state. Shoemaker added that so far this project has not met the criteria for any of the grant cycles. He said that he will discuss it further with Mr. Shafroth. Friedman suggested drafting a letter to council recommending committing funds to a grant proposal. Shoemaker said that staff will draft a letter before the next council worksession for Friedman's review. Committee Assignments Friedman asked board members to think about the committee structure and bring their preferences on membership to the next meeting. Announcements Ohlson said that he is happy to be a member of the board. Miller told the board that the Department of Wildlife is looking for prairie dogs in the Pawnee grasslands; only three sites have been located and they are almost to Sterling. He noted that the disappearance of the burrowing owl is a concern. Other Business Shoemaker said that the Water Utility is looking for partners in the purchase of the Pickle Plant site. He added that it is not a natural area but, in support of the site acquisition, natural areas funds could be available for bank stabilization and restoration. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.