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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 03/28/2012Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –March 28, 2012 Page 1 of 17 BE A GOOD STEWARD: Protect & Respect your Parks, Trails & Recreation Facilities Call Meeting to Order: Rob Cagen called the meeting to order 5:30pm Agenda Review & Items of Note: Agenda Review: Change topic for Kelly Ohlson to touch base with Board and allow this discussion to be first with Marty Heffernan second on the agenda. Items of Note: Selena Paulsen resigned from the Board for work/life balance. Council had __ applications on file from last submissions so a new member should be available to start with Board in April. Citizen Participation: None Approval of Minutes: Discussion: None Michael Chalona made the motion to approve the Parks & Recreation Board minutes of February 22, 2012, seconded by Ragan Adams – Minutes approved 7:0 AGENDA ITEMS: Talk with Kelly Ohlson Kelly opened up the discussion to any topic the P&R Board wanted to discuss. Discussion: Board – Regarding the new stadium possibility, and Diane Jones being on the Advisory Committee, what is the City’s take on having a stadium in town? Kelly – Council remains neutral on the subject, because we could be called upon to be a Quasi Judicial entity. Board – I understand the logic behind it as a magnet to draw people but Hughes is a heck of an asset to teardown. I’d like to see alternative for other enhancements at Hughes. Board –They didn’t seem to get community ready for the role out. Kelly – This is one of the bigger topics that caught people’s attention. Board – I would like to see a better football team before a new stadium. Board – I moved from Chicago and I can say there is nothing like being at a game at Notre Dame; I assume this is what they are hoping for here. It may take three hours to leave, but it is a big income booster and the crowds seem to enjoy it. Board – Yes, I went to LSU and it is fun, but I would agree CSU needs a better team before they make a change in venue. Board – I grew up in Minneapolis and the on-campus stadium was an event to go to, and people spent money at the surrounding bars and restaurants instead of leaving all at once. Neighbors in the area planned around the events. It’s my understanding that CSU would intend for the new stadium to multi-use. PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD Minutes of Regular Meeting Wednesday, March 28, 2012 5:30 p.m. Council Liaison: Kelly Ohlson Staff Liaison: J.R. Schnelzer, 221-6301 Craig Foreman, 221-6618 Chair: Rob Cagen Phone: 970-689-7559 (home) / 970-482-3971 (work) Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –March 28, 2012 Page 2 of 17 Board – What do you think about the new Median standards? Kelly – We haven’t seen anything on this yet, but I do think a standard and retro-fitting would be good so we can have consistency. Board – We had two issues, Disc Golf and E-Bikes, that we discussed in depth and came to a consensus on, but it seemed that Council went a different direction. It felt that a few opponents outweighed our work. Kelly – Sometimes Council likes to slow down the process to ensure all points have been discussed and processes have been followed. Board – It just seems odd that there’s going to be a trail study, but without e-bikes being a part of the study as we suggested, how will Council know if the e-bikes would be a concern? Kelly – There are citizens that use the trails that are concerned with safety, and we want to have a better understanding of how the trails are used before we move forward with further discussions on e-bikes. Right now we don’t have enforcement on the trails or in parks. Staff – We will have a BFO offer for a Parks Ranger. Board – When Humane Society tickets for dogs off leash, where does that money go? Staff – They are a private entity, so those funds would go to them. Board – I think before you get into enforcement with a Ranger, you should work with Bike Advisory Committee and encourage self-regulation. There is a bike safety plan including signage along the trails; which may be more cost effective. Staff – A Ranger would allow for a combination of enforcement with education. Board – Natural Areas has volunteer Rangers, why not in Parks? We help educate people in the natural areas and have leashes available to give to people when we explain the leash law, etc. Staff – Natural Areas has a Volunteer Coordinator position, with staff, that coordinates all the volunteers. Parks needs a position that can oversee all the volunteers so if we had a Ranger we could have them help with this type of volunteer program. Board – When this is an option, I would be happy to give Parks two years to help the volunteer program get started. Staff – We need the Ranger on staff first, so we’ll see how that progresses. Kelly – KFCG money was projected to come in at $2M, but is coming in at $2.2M. Kelly – I was happy to help in getting 2B passed; but I heard there was a possibility of having banners and advertisement at Parks & Recreation facilities. I would fight any type of corporate advertising in Parks or Recreation facilities. Marty – Parks & Recreation are not proposing any type of advertising. Prior to KFCG, we looked at consequences of ads at City properties including Parks and Recreation, not to advocate but just to see if there was a significant benefit, and we found there was no real benefit. However, advertising did impact Transportation and Transfort. With the base sales tax coming in over estimates, we’re doing fine. Board – With KFCG, is Council in favor of the Garden’s growth? Kelly – Council has always been supportive. Board – The Gardens need $600,000 to finish the great lawn; do you think it will be funded? Kelly – We have to wait for all the BFO offers, and then see where that weighs out. Board – Is it effective for us to come to Council meetings? Kelly – It is effective for Boards to come to Council meetings; we want you to express your view points. It’s also important to provide Council with a detailed memo regarding your view and to speak at the Council meetings. Council does read all the data. Staff – Staff can help craft memos and get information to Council at the work session level. Kelly – Council takes Boards seriously and we believe in active Boards. We would like to see all the Board be more involved. Board – Is there any reason Boards shouldn’t work together on common goals? Kelly – Boards can work together. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –March 28, 2012 Page 3 of 17 Miscellaneous Information and Budget & Alternative Revenue Sources – Marty Heffernan Ten days ago, Parks staff, Vince Castillo, Northern Colorado Disc Golf; Bill Wright, The Wright Life, Craig Foreman and Marty Heffernan met at Edora to see about the possibility of using the area east of the railroad tracks as a site to use for reconfiguring the 18-hole Disc Golf Course. We looked at this site a few years ago, but with the Utilities Substation in the area, Utilities declined our request to use the property for disc golf. However, Utilities is now willing to let us use the property if we install screening to keep discs out of the substation. Parks will put in a BFO offer to help fund the screening. The City is also looking at this site for a consolidated recycling and storage facility and we feel that it will work for both the recycling facility and the disc golf course reconfiguration. NCDG and Bill Wright also feel this will work for the disc golfers; allowing the course to remain an 18-hole course so it’s really a win-win for everyone. Discussion: Kelly – Will this site provide room for the consolidated recycling site and future expansion and still allow disc golf to share the site? Marty – Yes, we feel there is more than sufficient space for both. Kelly - Council will be going out to the site as well to review the space. Since this land is owned by Utilities, they will have to be paid for the site. Marty – Parks only needs an easement from Utilities for disc golf. Craig Foreman (Park Planning), Amy Lewin (Transportation Planning), Kathleen Brake (Transportation Planning), Molly North (Transportation Planning), Kristin Power (Natural Areas) and I, are working on the Plan Fort Collins item to develop a Master Plan for off-street trails. We compare best management practices with other cities looking at weaknesses, enhanced travel corridors, capacity issues, etc. In this, we are looking at standards moving forward, where wider paths from 8ft to 12ft in some areas may make more sense, better alternative routes for areas that flood and connections to neighborhoods and other communities. We need to address the aging population demographic; 10-20-30 years from now, what we want this to be a world-class trail system. Discussion: Kelly – It didn’t sound like you had an environmental member on this team. I think it would be important to ensure someone is on the team that understands the needs of the habitat along the trails. Marty – We can certainly add a member with Environmental expertise. Board – What data are you gathering from the trail study? Marty – We want to know the amount of use, the types of use and how they are used. As an example, we have soft foot paths on the side of the trail, but we want to find out if people know they can use either the soft path or the cement path. Board – I would just like to comment that Parks maintains the trails like they are brand new. It is always a pleasant experience, even in the winter. I think that’s why people support and enjoy the trails. Board – I still feel it would be recommended to have e-bikes allowed on the Power Trail for observation to look at trends. Marty – The trail study is part of Plan Fort Collins regarding the physical structure of the trails and how that impacts the use. It is separate from the e-bikes policy. Board – I would think you’d want to at least look at its impact, because e-bikes could be an accepted standard in the future. Marty – We could write a memo to Council to let them know the Board would like this option looked at. Kelly – I would suggest if you write a memo, to include information on e-bikes vs. loss of walkers. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –March 28, 2012 Page 4 of 17 Although, alternative funding sources for Parks & Recreations is not a pressing concern since KFCG passed, the Board wanted an overview of the funding options: Trail Impact Fee: This will be a part of the BFO process. During the election, we didn’t want this fee competing with KFCG, but it is on the table again. It’s a one-time fee on new residential units. The idea is that the citizens who use the current services help to offset the expenses for future expansion of the trail system. It’s population growth paying its way. ConTrust has paid for building trails, so the impact fee would allow that money to be used instead for annual maintenance for the new Community Park next to Fossil Ridge High School. This would not hurt the build-out of the trail system, because revenue from the fee simply replaces the ConTrust funding going into maintaining the new park when it is built in 2014/2015. We need to see if Council will support the new fee because we can’t start the process to build the Community Park until we have funding to maintain it identified. As a side note we do have secured funding for the O&M for the next five neighborhood parks because of KFCG. Park Maintenance Fee: This would be a fee billed through the Utility billing system which all residents would incur to help maintain the Parks. It would be a dedicated funding source, but Council would have to approve the fee. It would replace the general fund money for Parks O&M and could replace KFCG funding in the future. Some issues that may arise if this would ever be an option, is that other departments like Transportation may want to have a transportation maintenance fee, which would make it more complicated. With the KFCG money, both Transportation and Parks are doing well, so this is not really a pressing problem at this time. Discussion: Board – Could Transportation help fund the Trails? Marty – Parks funds this trails, because we provide the maintenance, so we like the control. Staff – It’s important to remember that we have recreation trails. If Transportation were to fund the trails, there could be a perception that they would be transportation corridors and not recreation trails. Dedicated Sales Tax: KFCG is an example of a dedicated sales tax. Eight years from now KFCG will be up for renewal and it would be possible to go back to the voters to see if they would approve a permanent dedicated tax for Parks & Recreation which would allow us to not be funded through the general fund. Dedicated Property Tax: This would be like a Parks and Recreation district. Based on the value of residential and non-residential property and the P&R Board would become the governing body of the district. Parks & Recreation districts are typically done in unincorporated areas early in growth when they don’t have funding available to provide parks and recreation for the area. Cities our size can fund this on our own. There is also an option to have a dedicated property tax for P&R without creating a district. In this case the City Council would still govern Parks and Recreation, like they do now. Property tax has been viewed to be a good, stable source for funding, but it’s not as appealing anymore because of the decline in property values. Also, the Gallagher Amendment requires non-residential properties to bear the majority of tax burden so property tax increase can be seen as hurting business. Discussion: Board – As a personal note I own a business and pay higher taxes on the business, but since all businesses are in the same boat it doesn’t affect competition so it’s really not as big an issue as you might think. User Fees: We’ve talked about this in the past. We’ll be bringing information to the Board later in the year regarding Recreation’s Strategic Plan. There is a certain impact on Parks, but the lion share of user fees is on Recreation. We’re pretty much in line with other communities, but we want to make sure we stay on the mark. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –March 28, 2012 Page 5 of 17 Discussion Board – In creating a BFO offer to fund a Parks Ranger dedicated to Parks, who approves or stands in the way of that position? Marty – We compete for funding through the BFO process. Board – Should the Board put some type of communication together about the need for a Park Ranger? Marty – That would be great. We’re going to be bringing the Board information from all areas during the BFO process. Board – Can you ask for training for volunteers in the offer? Marty – We would need to decide if we want a Ranger for enforcement or a volunteer coordinator. The difference is that in Natural Areas has the staff to use volunteers to help with education and some enforcement. Parks does not have a volunteer coordinator and needs a Ranger to help with some enforcement needs. Assign Work Plan Items P&R Board Chair, Rob Cagen requested that each Board member take ownership of one of the work plan topics so they can keep informed on the topic and report to the Board as necessary. Work Plan Topics chosen by Board members are: Budget – Bruce Henderson Communications – Dawn Theis Investigate Ways to Partner with PSD – Danna Sustainable Practices – Michael Chalona Parks Review Construction of Radian Park – Michael Chalona Review P&R action items related to Plan Fort Collins – Michael Chalona Trails – Ragan Adams & Bruce Henderson Recreation – Danna Ortiz & Dawn Theis Other Projects/Programs Provide input on Natural Area issues as they related to Parks & Recreation – Brian Carroll Make Recommendations for regional recreational opportunities related to the Open Lands Program – Brian Carroll Critique NISP Revisions; provide Board recommendations to Staff and Council based upon balanced feedback, representing all points of view – Rob Cagen Shirley Christian and new Board Member will be able to select from the following topics that remain open and/or share other topics with the other Board members: Parks Comment on parkland acquisitions Assess the Parks Maintenance Plan update Other Projects/Programs Evaluate the Water Craft Course design Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –March 28, 2012 Page 6 of 17 BFO 101 – Craig Foreman Tabled this topic for the April meeting so new Parks & Recreation Board member would be present. Water – Craig Foreman & JR Schnelzer Parks are developed to use the best options possible for water conservation. We now incorporate no-mow areas, drainage and natural areas into parks. As an example Registry is a 6 acre park, but only about 2 acres are irrigated turf. We use a variety of grasses, taller naturalized grasses and we team with Natural Areas as a resource on best options. Once the park is established we save water and fuel, so we’re going in the right direction. Parks monitors the water used on the parks by evapotranspiration (ET). ET is the amount of water a plant needs in order to survive. Our goal is to stay at 95% ET by controlling sprinkler heads, audits and turf management. Parks staff is very serious about water conservation, and are always looking at better ways to save water. We work with Doc Koski at CSU on our organic turf management at Spring Canyon Park. Discussion Board – Do you use raw or domestic water? Staff – We use raw water in most instances, we still have a few areas such as Downtown where it’s not feasible to use raw water. We design parks for water conservation. Board – Did you transition Rolland Moore? Staff – Parks did. Board – It’s noticeable, the changes are dynamic. Staff – Some people don’t like the natural, no-mow, areas they would prefer a fully manicured park, but we try to incorporate and work with everyone. We are even looking at how we can incorporate these areas at the golf courses. Board – Have you had any discussion about using Frack water? Staff – No, because we need to know what’s in the water and they can’t tell us. We have to be careful of the mineral content to much salt for example can kill trees and turf. Board – I’ve heard of a company that is making this water almost potable. Board – What do you do when the weather is so hot, so early? Staff – We have some water stocked in the ponds, so that helps, and we have a drought plan which includes using potable water taps as a last ditch effort but that would be a really bad drought. Some drought is good because it causes the roots to go deeper which makes for healthier grass. Board – I’ve lived by City Park for 25 years and it’s nice to see the change in watering and I’ve noticed Golf is now in the mode too. Board – Do you do anything with decompression? Staff – Yes we have a turf management team. Board – When do you decide to aerate? Staff – It depends on the area, play areas like soccer fields need it frequently; but other areas maybe only need it every other year. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –March 28, 2012 Page 7 of 17 STAFF UPDATES Parks Updates Parks is celebrating City Park 100 Years and we have a web page and facebook page. We want this to be interactive with the public so they can share their memories of City Park. http://www.fcgov.com/citypark100/ Recreation Updates • The Northside Aztlan gym is up and running again. We even added the City logo in center court. • There is a space in the Recreator for the Director to give a message, and I thought perhaps the Board would like to use this space in one of the issues as another outlet for public outreach. You can use up to 400 words, and it is due in the next two weeks, so if you’re interested let John Litel or Bob Adams know. Dawn & Shirley will put something together and send it for Board approval. • The Senior Center expansion is finally coming up so we’re doing a fund raising feasibility study to see what we can raise and we’ll be creating a business plan. You’ll be seeing more about this. Discussion: Board – Do most seniors have money? Staff – We see a wide variety of income. Board – What have you raised and what’s it going to take? Staff – We’ve raised $90,000 so far. We will get $5.1M from BOB. If we want to include everything on the “wish list” we need $12M. So we’re hoping for an additional $1M from BCC, and we’ll submit a BFO offer for reserve funds from between $500,000-$1M which means we would need to fund raise $5M. If we did the expansion in stages we could make this happen. Board – Have you looked at Grants? Staff – Yes Staff – The next Growing Older event is on Tuesday, April 17 or Thursday, April 26 Board – Can I use the Senior Center? Staff – It’s available for anyone over 18 years old. This is one of the things we want to make more aware to the public. Board – Would the seniors want the name changed? Staff – They’re not opposed to a name change, but they want the focus to continue to be on the adult community. Park Planning Updates Just working on the projects listed on work items you were sent. Bicycle Advisory Board Liaison Update None Other Work Plan Items Dawn provided updated information on articles for Community Outreach, attached. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –March 28, 2012 Page 8 of 17 Bullet Points • Q&A session with Kelly Ohlson, the P&R Board Council Liaison • Future funding options for Parks & Recreation • Water conservation efforts in Parks Adjournment: Bruce Henderson moved to adjourn. Meeting adjourned 8:45pm. Respectfully submitted, VtÜÉÄ etÇ~|Ç Carol Rankin Administrative Support Supervisor Parks Department Board Approved the minutes, of March 21, 2012 – 8:0 Board Attendance Board Members: Ragan Adams, Rob Cagen, Brian Carroll, Michael Chalona, Bruce Henderson, Danna Ortiz, Dawn Theis Staff: Craig Foreman, JR Schnelzer, Bob Adams, Marty Heffernan, Carol Rankin Guests: Kelly Ohlson, Councilman Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –March 28, 2012 Page 9 of 17 Parks and Recreation Board March 28, 2012 Park Planning and Development work items: The Great Outdoors Colorado River Initiative Grant was submitted by Larimer County on the 16th. The project has a total cost of about $10.6m with the GOCO grant amount being about 55% of this total. This project includes our Poudre River Trail from the east end of Horsetooth Road to the east side of I-25. Our cost estimate for the trail work and grade separated crossing of I-25 is estimated at about $1.9m with the GOCO grant request being for about $1.1m. The grant notice of award will be in June. Construction would then occur in years 2012, 2013, and 2014. Policy Plan: The Environmental/Sustainability Best Management Plan Manual is complete and will now be implemented. Budgeting for Outcomes: The 2013/14 BFO process has begun with the formation of the Results Teams who are working on their criteria to give to the sellers. Building on Basics (BOB) Park improvement funds – 2009 funds to Roselawn Cemetery for improvements. Park improvement funds will be available in 2015. NISP: Staff is anticipating the Supplemental EIS to be ready in 2012? Park items: 1. Waters Way Park: Construction is nearly complete with grass to be established in the next couple of months. 2. Tennis court plan for neighborhood courts is being reviewed by management. 3. Registry Neighborhood Park: Construction is nearly complete with grass to be established in the next couple of months. 4. Radiant (was Staley) Neighborhood Park: Park is in the pilot program for The Sustainable Site Initiative program. The park design is nearly complete with drawings and specifications being prepared for the bidding process in March. Trails: 1. Poudre Trail at Nix Farm: Staff will be developing the trail user resting area design. Natural Resources have seeded the area with native grasses. We are sensitive to this costly effort and will plan our construction of the resting area for a later date to minimize disturbance to the new grass. 2. Power Trail: Keenland underpass of the UP in approval process and in the second step of the railroad approval process. 3. Fossil Creek Trail along Stanton Creek north of Carpenter Road is under construction as weather permits. 4. Fossil Creek Trail at east Trilby Road: The project for the trail along Trilby Road east of Lemay Avenue to a new trail underpass of Trilby Road and then new trail south to the Stanton Creek trail section is in the design phase. The project will also join the Power Trail to the Fossil Creek Trail at the new Trilby Road trail underpass. Staff submitted this project into the fall State Parks/GOCO trail grant cycle. 5. Poudre Trail at Lemay: Mulberry Bridge to be replaced by CDOT. The design team has incorporated our trail bridge needs downstream of Lemay into the floodplain analysis. Latest from CDOT is they are planning for construction to start in 2013. The MPO has awarded $368,375 toward the construction of the $530,000 trail project. 6. Poudre Trail to Timnath: Scoping of the project in 2011. Staff will start to work with CSU/Environmental Learning Center for an easement for the trail to extend to Drake Road. The City is a partner with Larimer County for their GOCO River Corridors grant for the trail on the Arapaho Bend Natural Area and the grade separated crossing of I-25. 7. Engineering has the funds to reconstruct County Road #11 including our new trail underpass (our funding) to be constructed in late 2012. 8. Spring Creek Trail east of Centre Avenue to the railroad tracks. R.O.W. is working with CSU (CSURF) about the new trail easement process. We hope to acquire the easement in 2012. 9. Staff is working with the City Bicycle, Natural Resources, Communications Office and Park Maintenance staff on a plan to update our trail signage. 10. Plan Fort Collins action item – Trail Design Standards Amendments in 2011 and 2012. Update bicycle/pedestrian trail design standards to address use of trails for commuting/transportation purposes without impacting the recreation value of the trail system. Designate which trails these new standards would apply to and avoid impacts on environmentally sensitive areas. Staff has a team with Park Planning, Transportation Planning and Natural Resources to work on this item. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –March 28, 2012 Page 10 of 17 Miscellaneous: 1. Veteran’s Plaza at SCCP. Info can be obtained at the web page of the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, News and Events section, and into Veteran’s Plaza page. The final phase involving the installation of the monitors should happen in 2012 if needed funding is obtained. 2. Disc Golf at Hughes Stadium Course: The course at Hughes Stadium is now open. We plan on having a grand opening for the course in May. 3. Disc Golf at Edora Park: Staff is working on the potential for more disc golf holes east of the railroad tracks. A site visit has occurred with Bill Wright, Vinnie and staff to review this area. 4. Water Craft Course – NISP impact unknown at this time and fund raising very slow. 5. Old Fort Collins Heritage Park skate park lights – Group of users are attempting to find funding to supply lights at the skate park. 6. Bike Safety Town location determination process continues with PSD input. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –March 28, 2012 Page 11 of 17 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –March 28, 2012 Page 12 of 17 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –March 28, 2012 Page 13 of 17 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –March 28, 2012 Page 14 of 17 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –March 28, 2012 Page 15 of 17 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –March 28, 2012 Page 16 of 17 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –March 28, 2012 Page 17 of 17 This shows the amount of water in inches applied over an acre of turf grass. Blue line indicates 100% of evapotranspiration (ET) minus rainfall. Green line indicates 95% of ET minus rainfall, which is a parks objective for irrigated turf. Orange line is actual average water applied per acre. *2006 was a very hot and dry summer. City Of Fort Collins - Parks 9 Year ET & Irrigation in inches 23.84 21.30 19.60 17.20 21.26 18.62 19.42 14.91 20.48 22.57 20.09 18.40 16.09 20.06 17.43 13.38 11.89 18.14 21.22 16.77 17.46 13.08 17.69 15.34 21.73 15.98 20.62 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Inches inches/acre @ 100% ET inches/acre @ 95% ET avg. inches/acre of irrigated turf