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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 06/23/1993CITY OF FORT COLLINS CULTURAL, LIBRARY, AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD CITY COUNCIL LIAISON TO THE BOARD: Councilman Gerry Horak STAFF SUPPORT TO THE BOARD: Jackie Rael, Administrative Aide II, and Jerry P. Brown, Assistant to the Director MINUTES: Regular Meeting -- June 23, 1993 After a dinner meeting in honor of retiring Board Members John Barnett, Elery Wilmarth, and Cathy Mulcahy for their service on the Parks and Recreation Board, President Roger Tarum called the meeting to order at 6:55 p.m. Poudre R-1 Representative Dave Danielson called to say that he would not be able to attend tonight's Board meeting. Roger introduced new Board Members Sylvia Cranmer and Rich Feller. He also introduced new Poudre R-1 Representative to the Board Jerry Garretson (replacing Dave Danielson who is retiring from Poudre R-1 this month). AGENDA REVIEW: No changes to the printed agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the last regular meeting of May 26, 1993 were unanimously (6-0) approved on a motion by John Barnett, seconded by Marilyn Barnes. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION: No citizen participation. PARKLAND FEE PROPOSED INCREASE Park Planning and Development Manager Randy Balok spoke to the Board about the proposed increase in Parkland Fees. He gave a brief history of the Parkland Fees that have been at $625 per building unit since 1985. Prior to 1985, an annual inflationary increase was built into the fee structure. Jerry P. Brown said that from 1980 through 1984, an annual inflationary percentage was added to the fee. However, developers protested the inflationary cost and Council determined that the fee would stabilize at $625. Due to customer demands, the City has recently built the neighborhood parks complete with youth sports facilities, restrooms, and off street parking. Park Planner Leslie Bryson stated that to develop a park of this magnitude we are spending $80,283 per acre on neighborhood parks. There is a need to increase the Parkland Fee to $956 per unit in order to maintain the existing quality of our neighborhood parks. Staff has held focus groups and round -table discussions as part of the Cost of Development Study. As a result of the Cost of Development Study, there was agreement that the Parkland Fees have not kept up with the price of building a park. Staff is hosting a community outreach meeting on July 1 to discuss the proposed park fee increase and options for parkland policies. John Barnett suggested an incentive for high density to have a lower parkland Parks and Recreation Board Minutes June 23, 1993 Page 2 fee. K-Lynn Cameron said that Larimer County Parks is looking at a community regional fee of $200 per unit inside and outside of the city limits for county parkland. Marilyn Barnes said she is concerned about the people who may need the parks the most are those in low income housing and questions if these fees should be on a sliding scale? K-Lynn mentioned the plans for the county's affordable housing project and said there is talk about waiving the development fees for this project. Roger Tarum asked what the scenario would be if we stayed at $625 per unit? Leslie said we would have to lower our park standards and scale back on building parks. Mike Powers asked the Board if they feel comfortable in supporting the recommendation to City Council to increase the Parkland Fees to $956 per unit? On a motion by John Barnett, seconded by K-Lynn Cameron, the Board voted unanimously (6-0) to recommend that Council raise the current Parkland Fee to $956 per building unit and request that Council direct staff to study a sliding scale concept for affordable housing and high density. The Board further recommended that the new Parkland Fee be implemented as soon as possible. Note: Board Members Mary Ness and Rich Feller left before the Board voted on this matter. FOSSIL CREEK TRAIL CONCEPTS Civil Engineer Craig Foreman addressed the next leg of the trail system. He previously mailed the Board a conceptual plan of the Fossil Creek Trail. He said the main idea for this conceptual booklet is to gather a working report. The conceptual plan has been reviewed and edited by Traffic, Planning, Natural Resources, and Storm Drainage Departments. Craig also received feedback from the County Planning and County Parks Departments. With their feedback, Park Planning Staff developed this conceptual plan. This working draft was presented to the Board tonight for their comments and suggestions. This trail will probably take 10 to 15 years to complete. K-Lynn Cameron said it is a great report and one that can be used by the County to help support the bike transportation system that could tie into this system. Craig talked about the tri-city study and that this plan fits into it. John Barnett said this is going to be very valuable for the County development and this is a really well prepared document. Randy Balok said since the density is moving south it only makes sense to continue the trail south. The first section of the trail will be at Paragon Point (east of Lemay) south to Trilby. An 800 foot portion of the trail has been completed by the developer and the City. Craig said this is a positive example of the developer working with the City. The next area that could be developed rather quickly would be the Ridge to McGraw School since we already installed the culvert box under the road when the Shields Street Project was under construction. This will allow the children in the Ridge subdivision an alternative means of transportation to the school. Craig pointed out that the 0 Parks and Recreation Board Minutes June 23, 1993 Page 3 future trails maintenance costs for Fossil Creek Trail would be put into the project. Since the Board had a chance to review this conceptual booklet, Craig will now make copies for the Council. The Board members unanimously agreed that the plan as presented tonight is a great plan. OTHER BUSINESS - Mike Powers discussed Councilmember Winokur's request for an update on the trail plan. This last major section of the trail to be acquired is Taft Hill to Overland. The money is available to develop this trail section. Mike and John Barnett will meet with the neighborhood June 24. - Mike announced that the Go Colorado Board has been formed. Our representative is Susan Kirkpatrick, and she will be a great representative for Northern Colorado. Representatives from Northern Colorado Parks and Recreation Departments will be meeting with the Go Colorado Board on July 20 in Greeley. These agencies will approach this as a Northern Colorado cooperative with Loveland, Greeley, Fort Collins, CSU, and Larimer County as the key players. BOARD MEMBERS/STAFF COMMENTS - K-Lynn Cameron proudly announced that Larimer County Parks has an approved Master Plan by the County Commissioners. On a motion by John Barnett, the meeting was ly submi ie Rael nistrative Aide Meeting Attendance 8:30 p.m. BOARD MEMBERS STAFF GUESTS Roger Tarum Mary Ness John Barnett Marilyn Barnes K-Lynn Cameron Sylvia Cranmer Rich Feller Diane Thies Jerry Garretson, Poudre R-1 Rep. Mike Powers Jerry P. Brown Randy Balok Leslie Bryson Craig Foreman Jeff Smullen Jackie Rael