HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 - Parks And Recreation Board - Annual Report2012 P&R Board Annual Report
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PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
2012 ANNUAL REPORT
The City of Fort Collins Parks and Recreation Advisory Board held 11 regular meetings in 2012 at various park and
recreational facilities throughout the City. The 2012 Board Members were Ragan Adams, Richard Barnhart (new
member in August), Rob Cagen, Brian Carroll, Michael Chalona, Shirley Christian (resigned in May), Todd Galbate
(new member in April), Bruce Henderson, Danna Ortiz (resigned in August), Selena Paulsen (resigned in April),
Susan Kelly (new member in July; resigned in September), and Dawn Theis. The Board elects its officers annually
in February, and Rob Cagen was elected as Board Chair along with Shirley Christian as Board Vice-Chair and Dawn
Theis as Secretary. Bruce Henderson was elected to the Vice-Chair position in May after Shirley’s resignation. Kelly
Ohlson served as City Council Liaison to the Board in 2012. Craig Foreman, Park Planning & Development
Director, J.R. Schnelzer, Director of Parks; and Bob Adams, Recreation Director, served as Staff Liaisons to the
Board, with Carol Rankin, Administrative Support Supervisor, providing staff support.
The Board achieved the majority of its 2012 work plan.
• Budget
• Participated in the 2013/2014 budget process and successfully lobbied for support of the Great Lawn and
the Senior Center expansion projects.
• Presented City Council with a list of budget offers they recommended which was instrumental in the funding
of some of the offers and showed the Board’s understanding of the budgeting process.
• Communications
• Worked on outreach with other Boards by attending meetings of the Women’s Commission and having a
Board member liaison with Bicycle Advisory Board.
• Participated in the oil and gas meetings as a representative of the Parks & Recreation Board.
• Promoted Parks and Recreation accomplishments and stewardship with monthly articles submitted to the
Coloradoan. Developed a spreadsheet to maintain list of ides for articles.
• Reviewed the Council calendar to ensure participation of the Board at Council Meetings where Parks and
Recreation items would be discussed.
• Invited City Manager, Darin Atteberry; Council Liaison, Kelly Ohlson and Mayor, Karen Weitkunat to Board
meetings to discuss the Board’s role and best ways to communicate with Council.
• Sustainable Practices
• Continue to support and share ideas to help Parks & Recreation efforts in “green practices”.
• Discussion surrounding Urban Agriculture with Lindsay Ex, Environmental Planner.
• Participated in the oil and gas meetings as a representative of the Parks & Recreation Board.
• Parks
• Supported the construction of two new neighborhood parks; WatersWay and Registry Park and participated
in outreach and grand openings.
• Supported and participated in the City Park 100 year anniversary celebrations; including the dance at Club
Tico and July 4th parade.
2012 P&R Board Annual Report
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• Trails
• Reviewed and supported the new trail signs design and implementation.
• Supported the trail study to help provide supporting data for trail funding.
• Reviewed and supported the trail expansion bridge over I-25.
• Explored funding options for trails, due to the loss of subsidy from Natural Areas in 2015.
• Advocated for study of e-bikes for inclusion in the overall trail study.
• Recreation
• Reviewed and discussed with disc golf community and staff to help provide support for the new Aggie
Greens Disc Golf Course at Hughes Stadium; and the eventual redesign of the Edora Disc Golf Course.
• Reviewed and supported Bob Adams’, Recreation Director, new fee structure for Recreation facilities; which
will be launched for the winter season starting in November 2012.
• Other Projects/Programs
• Reviewed and supported the Great Lawn project and the vision of the Gardens on Spring Creek.
• Engaged in learning about water resources through agenda item speakers:
– March, Craig Foreman & JR Schnelzer – Water Conservation in Parks during develop and
maintenance
– April, Greg Speer, Save the Poudre: Poudre Water Keepers representative – Mission to protect
and restore Cache la Poudre River and its tributaries
John Stokes, Natural Areas Director – development of a river park
Bob Adams, Recreation Director – How water is used in Recreation facilities
– May, Tim Buchanan, City Forestry – Drought Effect on Trees
– June, Karen Weitkunat, Mayor – Her personal view on water needs/issues
– August, Mike Applegate, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District - Water issues facing
northern Colorado and the need for water storage