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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 05/22/2002Call Meeting to Order: President Paul Van Valkenburg called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. Agenda Review: No changes to the printed Agenda. Items of Note: Board Member Ross Conniff called to say he would not be able to attend tonight's meeting as he was out of town on business. Citizen Participation: Jerry Kaltenhauser, who lives near City Park, spoke to the Board about the lights installed over the past few years at the park. He thinks that the lights on Pottery Studio are a hazard as they are so bright, as well as the lake side lighting near the pool. He would like this problem and the lighting standards discussed. He doesn't think there is any consistency in the park. Mr. Kaltenhauser resides at 1508 Mountain Avenue. Staff will get back to him. Secretary's note: Refer to enclosed memo. Approval of Minutes: Paul Hudnut felt that the discussion on the Natural Areas citizen initiative was not clear and perhaps the discussion should not have been in the minutes. Marty said that if we discussed it, the minutes need to reflect that. On a motion by Dean Hoag, seconded by Mike Gavin, the Board unanimously (7-0) approved the minutes of the April 24, 2002 meeting. East Mulberry Corridor Plan City Planner Pete Wray spoke to the Board about the draft framework plan and policies of the East Mulberry Corridor Plan as it relates to Parks and Recreation. Parks: In this area, one neighborhood park and two mini parks are planned. The neighborhood -k---�--- -- e- - - -- ec. . - - --- - , r .,-4 t1, etnrm nar xv� a annrnvim tale In aPr c ('ra,o amlam t that xxrA ara taammo � Parks and Recreation Board I utes May 22, 2002 Page 2 Drainage staff to build one mini park. The second mini park is presently in the county and we will work with them to determine what type of park we could build. Trails: The plan shows numerous off street trails. The Cooper Slough trail is a very important natural are and the trail placement will require some cooperative designs with Natural Resources. The plan indicates trail connection north to the future community park and east to the County's proposed Boxelder Creek Trail. The schedule is to hold a joint meeting with City and County in August. As we are in the final plan implementation, Pete said that what we have developed this in accordance with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Craig explained that when the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and City Plan were developed, most of this area was not zoned in the City. Pete added that at this time plan is over 80 percent out of City limits and the City is considering annexation in much of this area. Most of the areas are in the process of annexation. Craig explained that we will only be able to build parks within the City limits where the homes have paid parkland fees. Paul Van Valkenburg asked if the open space is not going to be developed where the Cooper Slough area is located? Pete said there will be negotiations in the area, but will probably be undeveloped or within a 300-foot buffer area. Paul asked what the ownership is in this area? Is it a natural area or grazing land? Pete said on the east side of the slough is industrial area and on the west side of the slough there will probably be residential with a high degree of buffer zone. Paul Hudnut said that this plan addresses our needs and he doesn't see a need for Pete to return unless there is a major issue or change as it relates to Parks and Recreation. Pete said there won't be any changes as the Parks and Recreation components are in line with the master plan. The Board asked for a redraft of Principle ENV-1. The Board feels that the Environmental/Open Lands principles should make a stronger reference to parks and trails. Pete will work on language as it relates to the trails and natural areas and that the trails will not be less important than the natural resources aspect of the plan. Staff will work with Pete and relate this to the Board. Homestead Park Senior Park Planner Jeff Lakey updated the Board on Homestead Park (previously called People of the Clouds Park). This 6-acre neighborhood park is located in southwest Fort Collins in the Ridgewood Hills Subdivision. It will include a multi -use turf area, picnic shelter, playground, multi -purpose court, walkways, and restrooms. He showed the future site for the Thompson School site. He illustrated the connectivity in the park. Craig added that Jeff has designed a special feature for the plow that was on the land that will be in the design. The picnic shelter will be part of that homestead design. We will begin construction in July and final seeding will occur in the spring. It will be Loveland -Fort Collins Parks and Recreation 130 Minutes • May 22, 2002 Page 3 Water service as there isn't any irrigation pond on the site. There will be great walking features on this park. nntdonr Pool Recreation Manager Jean Helburg spoke to the Board about the outdoor pool renovation project. In March, the City Manager, in response to a recommendation from two consultants and City staff, determined that the current outdoor pool would not open due to safety problems. Staff has been working with Aller-Lingle Architects, the City's contracted design firm, and a pool consultant from Denver to develop a renovation plan for the facility. Jean showed the design to the Board, along with a master plan that included additional play features that could be added in the future. She asked the Board for their support of the basic plan. Staff will take this plan to City Council June 4, and, if approved on first reading, will allow design to move forward. Groundbreaking must occur no later than November 1, 2002 in order to open the pool next summer. Jean showed the Board the conceptual design. The pool will have more deck area and it will take out the deep end that was unsafe. It is a shell within a shell. There is a water splash area and the deepest portion of the pool will be 3-1/2 feet. The boiler room will be renovated and the maintenance buildings will be consolidated. The pool will have a zero -depth entry area with water bubblers, some water sprays in the middle of the pool and a lazy river, as well as area for swimming laps. The decking will be replaced to meet current codes. Piping will be included so that some leisure play features can be added in the future. The overall surface square footage is smaller than the original pool, and the filter plant will be smaller as the number of gallons is about half of the original pool. Elimination of the deep water will decrease the pressure on the pool from the adjacent lake. Additional decking will also be added, which has been requested by many patrons. The cost of the renovation project is $1,744,770. The pool master plan includes a tube slide, water playground, a double water slide, and a spray garden feature where the current wading pool is located. The funding is being requested from various sources as follows: $120,000 from the Recreation Fund Reserve; $124,774 from Operation Services; $30,000 from Choices 95, and $1,470,000 from the City's General Fund reserves. Paul Hudnut asked about the heating and water and are we updating all of that? Jean said yes, we are updating the infrastructure and conserving water. One of the major savings will be the amount of water we will use and updating all the filtration and boilers will save immensely. Dean Hoag asked if there are any safety concerns with this design? Jean said that we have discussed safety issues and the new design addresses all safety issues that have been identified. She explained that we would need fewer lifeguards to operate this pool, and overall operating costs would be less. Mary Carlson asked if there are any provisions for lap swimming? Jean said there will be an area that can be used for lap swimming. However, the facility emphasis is on leisure water play activities, which traditionally draw large numbers of users. She said there Parks and Recreation Board i utes May 22, 2002 Page 4 could be water walking and swimming against the current in the lazy river area that will also provide a good work out. Jean said that staff toured three pools in the Denver area and put various ideas from the tour into this design. Lance Freeman asked if City Manager John Fischbach has given any feedback on this? Is he in favor of the City's General Funding paying for this renovation? Marty said that John has been very supportive of this. Operation Services appropriated $124,774 and that was very generous. Staff met with John last Thursday and he was very supportive of this basic plan and the master plan. Lance suggested that we attend this Council meeting on June 4 to support the project. Paul Hudnut said he approves the plan and thinks it fits well in City Park. Paul Van Valkenburg said he appreciates the hard work and quick turn around on a conceptual design and cost analysis. Lance said that this a very important project to us and would like to see the Council fund this project. The plan is very well thought out and wants staff to move forward to have it available next summer. After reviewing the proposed design for the renovation of the outdoor pool and the associated cost estimate to construct this design, the Board, on a motion by Mary Carlson, seconded by Lance Freeman, unanimously supports this design. The Board recommends that the City Council approve this design, authorizing the renovation of the pool and appropriating the needed funding for the project. The Board believes the renovation of the outdoor pool is of critical importance to the community. The Board encourages the Council to adopt an ordinance without delay so the pool can be opened in 2003. Transportation Fundin Marty Heffernan distributed copies of the Council's Transportation Committee agenda item summary of Transportation deficit needs for the next 20 years. They have calculated $1.3 billion in needs. $546 million is the amount of financial responsibility of the City. New dedicated funding sources would be used to expand the Street Oversizing fees; fund Harmony Road improvements from existing funds and renew current one -quarter cent sales tax dedicated to Street Maintenance when the BCC package expires in 2005. The voters could be asked to fund the deficit through a new one -quarter cent sales tax; add a one percent construction fee; add a $1 transportation funding street maintenance fee on utility billing monthly. Marty's purpose for bringing this forward is for informational purposes only. This could affect our capital dollars for CLRS. Parks and Recreation BO Minutes • May 22, 2002 Page 5 Project Updates UP Trail — Staff is working on a sign for PRPA and City cooperation. The fencing contractor has been hired and after their work is completed, the Larimer County Youth Corp will construct a crusher fine path. The concrete trail will then be constructed from Drake to Horsetooth and then from Horsetooth to Harmony. Laporte Trail Connection — Craig met with the Natural Resources Board the first week in May and he and Mark Sears will talk with the landowner this month for an easement or land purchase. Craig said we may want to elevate the trail through this area not to interrupt the butterfly pattern of flight. Paul Hudnut suggested a bridge on pylons through this area and across the river through the Hyde area. Craig said yes, that is a possibility. Hydrology people are looking at all of these options for us at this time. Building Community Choices Ballfields — He commended Alison Brady's excellent work on the project and said she will be greatly missed when she leaves us next month. • Fossil Creek Community Pazk — Clark Construction has been awarded the bid for the park. They will begin the project next week. Gardens at Spring Creek — Horticulture Center project is back on track. We have cooperated with CSURF regarding storm water flows. They have made an extra effort to take this project to the State Agricultural Board in June for their approval. The City is responsible for the Rolland Moore Drive right-of-way and it will cost the project $75,000. We will build the whole road now and then be reimbursed by CSURF when they build on their property. Other Business Kelly Ohlson contacted Marty after reading the Board's April minutes. Kelly feels there is more common ground in the proposed ballot measure for natural areas than reflected in the minutes. Kelly is supportive of trails and recreational uses of land acquired if this measure passes, provided they are designed and placed to protect natural resource values. Kelly said much of the ballot language reads the way it does for legal reasons. He said their projections are the tax would raise around $125,000,000 over 25 years, but it could be more or less if tax projections change. Kelly encourages Board members to call him if they want to discuss these ideas. Kelly is also supportive of more natural areas tax money going to trails. Lance said he still has a problem with the title of the ballot measure because the new tax doesn't include trails and the old does so it is not an extension of the old tax. Parks and Recreation Board 1` utes May 22, 2002 Page 6 Board Members Comments Paul Hudnut gave Jean an initiative on Colorado Trust for $40,000 funding for Obesity Health issue for children. Deadline for submittal for this grant is July 11. This would be a good way to obtain additional funding for youth programming. Reducing Watering in the Parks — what is the plan? Marty replied that we are cutting back and we will try to keep the sports fields watered, but cut back in areas where we can. Adjournment: On a motion by Mike Gavin, seconded by Mary Carlson, the Board adjourned at 7:30 p.m. ssistant Meeting Attendance Board Members: Mary Carlson, Lance Freeman, Mike Gavin, Dean Hoag, Paul Hudnut, Ann Hunt, and Paul Van Valkenburg Staff: Craig Foreman, Marty Heffernan, Jean Helburg, Jeff Lakey, Jackie Rael, and Pete Wray