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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 12/07/2011Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 1 of 27 BE A GOOD STEWARD: Protect & Respect your Parks, Trails & Recreation Facilities Call Meeting to Order: Michael Chalona called the meeting to order 5:37pm Agenda Review & Items of Note: Agenda Review: None Items of Note: None Citizen Participation None – There were three CSU student observers from the Recreation Tourism Class present. Approval of Minutes: Discussion: None. Rob Cagen made the motion to approve the Parks & Recreation Board minutes of November 9, 2011, Bruce Henderson seconded – Minutes approved 9:0 AGENDA ITEMS: Farewell to Greg Miller The Board took a moment to recognize Greg’s years of service to the Parks & Recreation Board. Greg – It has been an honor to serve on the Board. It’s been fun and a great experience. Utilities – City’s Water Supply & Demand Management – Donnie Dustin Donnie Dustin, Water Resources Engineer with the City Utilities Department presented a Water Supply & Demand Management Policy Update to the Parks & Recreation Board. The purpose of the presentation was to make the P&R Board aware of the Water Policy updates. The Water Resources Division’s primary function is to manage the City’s raw water supply, plan for future supply and demand and promote conservation. The current Policy, which as adopted in 2003, guides the Utilities department in balancing future water and supply demands; while providing a safe and reliable supply of water for the use of the community and customers. Some key elements of the policy are; demand management, water supply, additional storage capacity and what to do in a drought. It’s important to review and update Policies, to ensure we’re staying in line with current needs. We have had significant reductions in water use since 2002 and there is a continued need to provide a reliable water supply. We need to be prepared for potential climate changes and ensure we have the proper storage needed for the continued growth of the City. PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD Minutes of Regular Meeting Wednesday, December 7, 2011 5:30 p.m. Council Liaison: Kelly Ohlson Staff Liaison: J.R. Schnelzer, 221-6301 Craig Foreman, 221-6618 President: Michael Chalona Phone: 970-490-2335 (home) / 970-472-8954 x1 (work) Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 2 of 27 Part of the Policy update process has been to work with a Community Work Group, consisting of representatives from agriculture, environmental protection, civic, business, homeowners, University and the State. We had six meetings with extensive education and discussion on Policy issues which can be found at: www.fcgov.com/wsdmp-cwg . We are now in the process of reaching out to Boards and Commissions for their input. We will provide updated Policy information during the City Council Work Session on January 10, 2012, with the intention of Policy adoption in the spring of 2012. The Policy Update elements are: - Align with Plan Fort Collins and embed sustainability - Demand Management (reduce water conservation goals) - Water Supply Reliability - Additional Supplies and Facilities - Water Quality - Surplus Raw Water - Regional Cooperation The Community Work Group had a high level of agreement with most Policy elements. There were several members with divergent views on the planning criteria numbers, but setting numbers aside were in full support of the Policy updates. The Water Board was in support of the updated Policy. They did feel the planning criteria should remain the same to avoid a potential delay in the permitting process for the Halligan Reservoir enlargement. Discussion Board – When you talk about water for landscaping are you talking about residential, City or both? Staff – Both, we look at the appearance of the entire community. Staff – We’re also working on landscape standards. Board – Did adopting a tiered rate for billing make a difference? Staff – Initially we did see a drop, but we’re not sure if it was due to the tiered rate or a more knowledgeable community on how to conserve. Board – Do we get any water from the Colorado River? Staff – Yes, through ownership of units in the Colorado-Big Thompson Project (CBT). However, there is a limited carryover capacity in the CBT system so it’s a small amount and must be used in the following year. Board – Can you put the excess CBT water in the Poudre River? Staff – No it can’t be transferred. It has to have a designated place to be delivered. The water rights in Colorado are very complex. Staff – A good book to read, that can help explain these complexities is Cadillac Desert. Board – Are you more flexible to divert water from the Michigan and Joe Wright to send to the Poudre? Staff – Once releases from Joe Wrights go past our intake facility there’s no way to capture them. The run off is up and down, but it is adequate in most years. Board – Are the large contractual users of water the Breweries? Staff – Yes Board – Did you take into account the many breweries and the water they use? Staff – Yes, but we can only use given projections. There are a lot of uncertainties with supply and demand, but we think we have a good balance. Staff – We are pursuing Halligan for carryover storage. Board – What happens to the water we don’t take? Staff – Any water left in the river is distributed to the next entity with senior water rights; it is a very complex situation. Board – Why can’t we collect rain water from our roofs? Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 3 of 27 Staff – If you’re on the municipal water supply you are not allowed to collect water, because all water is owned by the State. Board – Are the parks on domestic water subject to the rate increases? Staff – Yes. Board – Do you work with the gravel companies? Staff – Yes, we have been pursuing using gravel pits fro large storage. Board – What role will NISP play in this? Staff – Small municipalities along I-25 have a need for water. For the last two years, people didn’t need to pull water off the river, if NISP is built, this is the water they would pull and store for those communities. Staff – If you would like to complete a comment form and return it to me that would be helpful. Trail Signs – David Kemp Part of the 2011 Bike Safety Plan was to help create a safe environment for all bikers by instilling ways to ride safely and responsibly and with etiquette on the trails. In working toward this goal, there was an analysis of trail signs which showed there were a hodgepodge of signs and a lack of consistency. Transportation, Park Planning, Natural Areas, and Parks have been working together to design better signs for the trail system (examples attached to minutes). We will be replacing outdated signs with new signs along the trail that will hopefully have more impact. Along with the installation of the signs, there will be a multi-media outreach promoting the signs and educating the public. The signs will show high traffic areas, with reminders to slow down; there will be signs to use an audible signal before passing on the left; and way finding signs with clearer information. Once the signs are approved, we will have them placed along one trail at a time; probably stating with the Poudre Trail. Discussion Board – Will the signs be on both sides of the trail? Staff – Yes, our hope is to have double-sided signs in some cases. An example of a double-sided sign would be the high traffic beginning/ending signs placed on both sides of the trail. Board – What’s your time table? Staff – We would like to launch the program late February or early March. STAFF UPDATES Parks Updates • Reviewed the Keep Fort Collins Great (KFCG) money for Parks. Some of the money will be ongoing, some was just one-time money and some will need to, once again, be part of the BFO process. Board – How was the tree maintenance from the storm funded? Staff – We had to ask for an additional $139,000 in 2012 to fund the clean up process. Board – How is the clean up going? Staff – Initially we shifted all our crews to tree removal and cleaning for any hazardous conditions. Then October through December, Forestry will make a first pass throughout the entire City for any dangerous tree limbs, and then they will start on a grid system to work on any damaged trees. • We will be taking over the maintenance of Huidekoper Park in 2012. • We now have 11 solar bins (solar compactors) in the downtown area. Recreation Updates • November 17 was our first day of registration, with 89,000 registrations. We had 60% register on-line; which was up 32% from last year. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 4 of 27 Board – Why was there such an increase? Staff – We’re not sure, we have the same programs, so it could be the economy and maybe more people hearing about our programs. Board – Do you have a waiting list? Staff – No, we were able to accommodate everyone. • We have a new recreation app for iphones; and so far 115 people have downloaded the app since Nov 17. • We have 12,000 followers on Facebook and Twitter • In working toward more consistency in Recreation, we now have a new cash handling policy for all the facilities which will go into affect in January. • There was a need for a receptionist in the recreation administration area at 215 N Mason, so we will be making this happen. Board – What’s the plan for a recreation facility in south Fort Collins? Staff – A facility is part of the Work Plan Items. Park Planning Updates None E-Bike Update I would just like to talk about the e-bike situation. I don’t feel that Council gave this item enough discussion before they made a decision. We spent many hours learning about e-bikes and discussing the impacts they would have on the trails. I know that Council has no obligation to listen to our advice, and we were in the minority, but I just think we should go to the next Council meeting to backup our recommendation for the one year trial study. The concerns were about safety, but I think there is a misunderstanding about the e-bikes which took us, as the Board, a long time to really understand. Discussion Board – I think it would be good timing for the one-year trial period, since Park Planning will be doing a trail study next year. Board – It would be hard to bring the e-bike discussion back. Board – We just want to make sure our wording to Council is not argumentative. Board – We could go in support if said in the right tone, but I wonder if we should contact the Council member to find out why he’s not supporting the one year trial. Board – The letters to the editor seemed to affect the vote. Board – Can we talk with Council members between votes? Staff – No, you can give your opinion, but he would not be able to comment. Board – It just seems like it would be a logical path to have e-bikes as part of the trail study. Motion Rob Cagen made a motion: I move that the Board designate Dawn Theis as our spokesperson to go to the second reading to reinforce our position on the e-bike study and the large commitment of time spent by the Board at the request of the City to provide a recommendation. Bruce Henderson seconded. Discussion Board - Having e-bikes allowed with the trail study would provide good information for a logical decision, not an emotional decision. Board – We want to keep open to the opportunities available for the study. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 5 of 27 Amendment Michael Chalona amended the motion: Keep e-bikes open to be included in trail study and revisit for best possibilities in future. Rob Cagen approved amendment Motion Rob Cagen: Move that the Board designate Dawn Theis as our spokesperson to go to the second reading to reinforce our position on the e-bike study and the large commitment of time spent by the Board at the request of the City to provide a recommendation and to keep e-bikes open to be included in trail study and revisit for best possibilities in future. Bruce Henderson seconded. VOTE: All in Favor – 9:0 Discussion Board – We will work with Dawn through e-mail to create an outline for proper wording to use at the Council meeting. We will forward this to Council to let them know were going to discuss e-bikes. Communication & Stewardship Sub-Committee Update Rob Cagen spoke with Miles Blumhardt, with the Coloradoan newspaper, to get information about the Board submitting articles to the paper. They decided that an article could be published monthly on the second Monday of the month. The articles need to be submitted the prior Wednesday, with a 525 word limit and they must remain generic and about Parks and Recreation. To start this off in December, and to meet the deadline, Rob wrote an article on Edora Park. Discussion Board – We should get a schedule in advance so we know what we should write about and who will write the article; as well as have sufficient time to write the article. Board – Who edits the article? Board – Miles Blumhardt will edit. Board – We need to make the articles go up the chain at the City as a courtesy. We need a procedure. Staff – Any media contact, should go through the Communications Office. Board – Natural Areas gave us the eight pages of places where they submit articles. Board – What should we write about next month? Board – Suggestions: Jan, winter activities; Feb, indoor winter activities; spring, disc golf grand opening; recreational trail uses; special amenities in parks, etc. Board – I think we should alternate articles between parks and recreation. Bicycle Advisory Board Liaison Update Last meeting was short, as there was no quorum. I will send out their work plan once it is approved. Other Work Plan Items We will be working on the 2012 work plan with final approval in January. Bullet Points • Water Conservation Plan • Bike trail signage • Community outreach articles Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 6 of 27 Adjournment: Rob Cagen moved to adjourn, Greg Miller seconded. Meeting adjourned 8:35pm. Respectfully submitted, VtÜÉÄ etÇ~|Ç Carol Rankin Administrative Support Supervisor Parks Department Board Approved the minutes, of December 7, 2011 – 9:0 Board Attendance Board Members: Rob Cagen, Brian Carroll, Michael Chalona, Shirley Christian, Bruce Henderson, Greg Miller, Danna Ortiz, Selena Paulsen, Dawn Theis Staff: Craig Foreman, JR Schnelzer, Bob Adams Guests: David “DK” Kemp, Bicycle Coordinator PDT Services; and Donnie Dustin, Water Resources Engineer Utilities Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 7 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 8 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 9 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 10 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 11 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 12 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 13 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 14 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 15 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 16 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 17 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 18 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 19 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 20 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 21 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 22 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 23 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 24 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 25 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 26 of 27 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – December 7, 2011 Page 27 of 27