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Home My WebLink AboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 10/25/1983CITY OF FORT COLLINS PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MINUTES: Regular Meeting - October 25, 1983 The meeting was called to order at 6:35 P.M. by Board President, Chuck Solano. Board members, Mary Elson and Mike ImMasche called, and could not attent. Agenda Review - No change to the printed agenda Citizen Participation - No citizen participation Minutes - The Minutes of the last Regular Meeting of September 27, 1983, were approved unanimously, as submitted. PUBLIC MEETING: RENOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE FARM AT LEE MARTINEZ PARK Board President Solano reviewed the history and purpose behind The Farm for the information of the 23 people who attended this Public Meeting. He asked the public three basic questions: - 1. Is the Farm still a viable project? 2. Should we go ahead with the original Farm concept? 3. Is there some other project that the public would like to see? Summaries of the Public Comments: Mrs. Moore - Lee Martinez's daughter Likes Farm idea Even at smaller scale, if necessary More picnic tables Restroom by the path Caretaker on premises Dogs a problem - need on leash Mr. Benton - Quality of life going downhill Doesn't want quality to slip further People haven't begn getting what they contracted for from City Council 1¢ Sales Tax - DT work and Parks Bond Issue - certain things were promised to the people - Lee Martinez was one of the things promised to the people - Dollars and costs have changed - But the commitment to the people has not changed. They voted for the tax and bonds because of the promised use of that money - Green space, open space still wanted by the voters, just as in 1974 and 1981. Still want Lee Martinez and The Farm. - Part of the quality of life people want to keep Tom Smith - - Agrees with Mr. Benton - Lives 1 block from proposed project - He is in support of The Farm - Important that children understand where their food comes from. - Important to see man's place in the ecosystem - Especially important if man is to deal with problems of the environment - Also supports development of traditional skills - Historical interest also important - but maybe should go beyond the historical - He suggests Community Solar Greenhouse - like one in Cheyenne - Community garden plots - especially for elderly and low income - Connection with Horticulture Department at C.S.U. - Great opportunities for Community Service, especially since it's located close to the City. - Fort Collins Community Solar Greenhouse and associated garden plots could serve as a center for education and information on growing food, energy conservation, etc. - Costs of the greenhouse could be based on the Cheyenne greenhouse (approximately $30,000) - Combine historical and future uses, which are complimentary to each other. (He has copies of Cheyenne Greenhouse Annual Report) Nancy Jackson - Rosemary Kreston - - Need to make The Farm accessible to the handicapped. Many Fort Collins children are in wheelchairs and need to broaden their horizons. Rosemary will offer her services to the City to help make The Farm accessible. Raised Gardening - A new concept for handicapped people. Nancy will also lend her expertise in design and accessibility. Babs Barrett - Just moved here from Seattle - She worked at a similar facility there - She recommends developing The Farm with haste - In Seattle their park/farm was used tremendously - Preservation of farm lands is one of our most important needs - Future citizens must understand farming in order to care and to protect farm land. - With cooperation of C.S.U. - perhaps this type of education could be nationwide - Seattle program was a financial success due in part to: Sale of young animals Educational programs in shopping malls Pony barn (great asset) - Lanes should be provided to divide pastures so public can observe the grazing animals - Need means to transport animals to schools and public places - Barns must have sprinkler system to protect from fire hazard Laura Tawater-Stroh - Support for Farm Project and Solar Greenhouse - She works with VISTA and says VISTA could help with The Farm - They have food and nutrition programs - Many volunteer programs run by VISTA. Contact them at the Volunteer Clearing House. -2- Elizabeth Case - with Historical Society - The Society supports the development of the Lee Martinez Farm Someone then asked if the Master Plan for Martinez is final? H. R. Phillips responded, "No". Then someone asked - "How else would the allocated funds be spent? Chuck Solano responded, "For other Community Parks". Board Members and Staff then made comments, as follows - Dave Adamson - Great idea, but problem with Operations Budget - It's another permanent operation that will drain funding. Couldn't the idea be handled by private industry or some other agency; e.g. the C.S.U. Agricultural School; 4-H; and is agriculture in that great a danger in Larimer County? It is now possible to drive out of the City to farm country. - Wants to see alternatives Fran Bujack - - She would rather take her kids to a farm than a softball game. H. R. Phillips - - Very little space available - Not really able to raise crops Ann Schroeder - - Need to look into revenue producing opportunities - Needs to be mostly self-sufficient rather than draining the public through taxes H. R. Phillips - - All Recreation Programs now have to be 50% revenue producing. He's looking at donations and volunteers. Also fees would be appropriate for various programs and types of participation. Many opportunities for revenue - although probably not 100% self-sufficient. Dave Adamson - - Asked - "Is there a way to commit to a certain percentage of revenue production from The Farm? H. R. Phillips - - Said, "Not at this time" Jan Sheppard - Need to look into other farm programs throughout the country to determine how revenue could be produced. Bob Aukerman - - Researched farm projects like this one across the country - looked at communities of similar population and environment. Found great popularity everywhere. -3- 0 • Especially important for the young parents and young children Tremendous demand from educational and recreational standpoints and other programs; e.g. Champaign, Illinois - are self- supporting; and people are standing in line to Mticipate. Many opportunities for donations and volunteers, etc. Chuck Solano - Farms aren't accessible to families; and C.S.U. is difficult for the Community to penetrate or experience. Jerry P. Brown then explained to the Board their options regarding this matter. The City Council tabled the Resolution to authorize the Agreement to hire Gefroh Associates, Inc. to prepare the final plans and specifications. The Council asked for the Parks and Recreation Board to re-evaluate the project, seek public input, and recommend back to Council its findings. If approved, staff will continue to get Board approvals at each Master Plan decision step. Fran Bujack recommended the Board inform City Council that we should proceed with The Farm project, and hire Gefroh to start. Several Board members suggested that staff and the consultant strive toward as much revenue producing capability as possible. Chuck Solano passed the gavel to Board Secretary, Jan Sheppard. Chuck then made a motion, seconded by Cathy Mulcahy, that ". . the Parks and Recreation Board reaffirm the Lee Martinez Park Master Plan and The Farm concept, and ask staff/consultant to place a strong emphasis on implementing some of the comments heard tonight...". This means that the Board is going on record as recommending to City Council to adopt Resolution 83-162, tabled at the Council Meeting of October 18, 1983. The motion passed on a vote of 6:1, with Dave Adamson voting "No". Jan returned the gavel to Chuck. Other Business - Jerry P. Brown distributed the 1983/84 "City of Fort Collins Boards and Commissions Manuals" to Board members. The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 P.M. MEETING ATTENDANCE Board Members Chuck Solano Jan Sheppard Dave Adamson Bob Aukerman Fran Bujack Cathy Mulcahy Ann Schroeder Staff H. R. Phillips Jerry P. Brown Randy Balok Virgil Taylor Jean Helburg Tom Fisher Peggy Bowers Kathleen M. Allin (City Attorney's Office) Jim Gefroh (Consultant) Respectfully submitted, JAN SHEPPARD, Board Secretary Guests Tom Smith (C.S.U) Laura Tawater-Stroh (VISTA) Sandy Bowden (VISTA) David Green Babs Barrett Don Barrett Bill Benton Stephen Bowers Santana Moore Suzan Moore Matilda Martinez Christine Duran Gary G. Hayter Dennis Hagerty Obadiah M. Hdosi (CSU Grad Student - Tanzania) Carmen Martinez Nancy Jackson (Commission on Disability) Rosemary Kreston (Commission on Disability) Phil Friedman Alicia Bamburg (Human Development; Carol Dunnery Elizabeth Case (Historical Society S. David Loleman