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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 08/22/2012Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – August 22, 2012 Page 1 of 5 BE A GOOD STEWARD: Protect & Respect your Parks, Trails & Recreation Facilities Call Meeting to Order: Rob Cagen called the meeting to order 5:33pm Agenda Review & Items of Note: None Citizen Participation: None Approval of Minutes: Discussion: None Bruce Henderson made the motion to approve the Parks & Recreation Board minutes of July 25, 2012, seconded by Todd Galbate – Minutes approved 7:0 Meeting Summary • Mike Applegate, President & Board Chair for the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District spoke to the P&R Board about water issues facing Northern Colorado. He showed how the Colorado Big Thompson project provides water to Northern Colorado, and why more water storage is important to this region. • Craig Foreman, Director of Park Planning & Development, presented the Board with preliminary findings from the Trail Study being done, which will provide information on present and future needs on the trail system. The information will be provided to City Council on December 11th and finalized February/March 2013. • The Grand Opening for the new parks, Waters Way and Registry, will be Thursday, October 11 from 4:00pm- 6:00pm. • The Senior Center was presented with two awards at the 2012 Colorado Association of Senior Centers Awards: Outstanding Program: “Growing Older in Fort Collins-Silver Tsunami as a Golden Opportunity” and Outstanding Seen It All Professional: Presented to Barbara Schoenberger, she has worked at the Senior Center for 20 plus years. • Recreation is in the process of restructuring their fees, passes and membership opportunities to provide consistency throughout all recreational facilities making it easier for customers and staff. • Board Member, Brian Carroll, attended the Oil & Gas Committee meeting and reported that they will be gathering information to bring back to the committee on issues and concerns surrounding the possibility of oil rigs being in close proximity and/or in the City of Fort Collins. Contact either Brian Carroll or Todd Galbate with any questions or concerns you would like to bring forth to the committee. PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD Minutes of Regular Meeting Wednesday, August 22, 2012 5:30 p.m. Council Liaison: Kelly Ohlson Staff Liaisons: J.R. Schnelzer, 970-221-6301 Craig Foreman, 970-221-6618 Bob Adams, 970-221-6354 Chair: Rob Cagen Phone: 970-689-7559 (home) / 970-482-3971 (work) Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – August 22, 2012 Page 2 of 5 Full Minutes AGENDA ITEMS: Water in Northern Colorado – Mike Applegate, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District Items that Mike discussed with the Board were: Overview of Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and Colorado Big Thompson Project; Background on Water Supplies in Northern Colorado; Water Issues Facing Colorado and what that means for Northern Colorado; and Future Projects. In the early 1800’s water rights were bought along the South Platte River, especially along the front-range which in turn started irrigated agriculture in the area. The lagging this created helped to push water out east along the South Platte which made it feasible for agricultural irrigation and development in the east. An estimated 85% of Colorado water is located in western Colorado, and about 85% of the population lives in eastern Colorado. In the 1900’s a feasibility study was done to figure out how to get water to the east which created the Colorado Big Thompson (CBT) Project. The CBT releases about 203,000 acre feet on average in a year. Fort Collins owns 40,000 unit allotments and we have a contract for delivery of water; which is a flexible system that we can control depending on the weather conditions each year. The reality in the west is that 80% of the water supply for Colorado comes from melted snow. It shows up in the spring runoff from May through June (20% of the year). If this water is not caught and stored, the water supply for the rest of the year is gone. As an example, in a year when there’s been good snow pack, about 300,000 acre feet of water is released from Granby because there is no other place to store the water for Colorado. We have Compacts with areas downstream (a Compact is how you share water when there are shortages); which impact our system. In 2050 Colorado’s population is expected to nearly double, which will increase the need for water to between 600,000 and 1 million acre feet. These estimates incorporate new water demands from population growth, energy and other industrial needs including oil shale, and the replacement of non-tributary groundwater. It also accounts for passive conservation. New projects for water storage, like NISP and Windy Gap Firming, are necessary for the future of this area. The possibility of the eastern farms drying up and dying out is a very real possibility without way to store water for the future needs of northern Colorado. Conservation is important but we cannot conserve ourselves into a full water supply. Discussion Board – I heard there used to be a way to know if we were going to have water for a long time or not by a pattern on Longs Peak. Staff – Yes, there’s a zone that appears to look like a champagne glass and if the snow disappears quickly from the stem, we have a shorter run off that year. Board – We had a presentation from the Save the Poudre group and they talked about a possible water park in the downtown area and recreation opportunities and were resistant to NISP feeling it would damage water flow through town and hurt the ecology. Mike – We are always willing to sit down and discuss how the water would be managed. There would be water releases etc. that could make the river better than it’s been in 150 years. Board – I think there is fear that what’s agreed upon could change down the road and if they had the ability to stop water flow that could happen. Mike – I think an agreement is an agreement. The focus needs to be on the area as a region and what’s best for the entire area. Trail Study – Craig Foreman The trail study was identified in Plan Fort Collins and the Transportation Plan update completed in 2010. City staff from, Park Planning and Development, Transportation Planning, Bicycle Coordinator, and Natural Areas are working on the study. The trail study will answer the following questions: How well is our trail system meeting the current needs of the community? How can we improve the trail system to meet the future needs of the community? The trail study is combining information from trail counts, trail intercept surveys, on-line survey, social media, news releases and Boards & Commission. We also look at best management practices from other communities, trail usage, current conditions of trails, connectivity, environmental sensitivity, safety and etiquette, accessibility, trail standards and trail improvements, maintenance and trail funding. To date, we have conducted trail counts and intercept surveys May/June and July at 10 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – August 22, 2012 Page 3 of 5 locations along the trail system; they are also planned for September. What we have found through the Trail Count data is that there is more bicycle than pedestrian use; the highest usage is at Spring Creek Trail and Creekside Park, Spring Creek Trail and Drake/Dunbar and Poudre Trail at Lee Martinez, there is less usage on the weekends but more pedestrians on the weekends. The findings from the outreach will be going to the Boards & Commissions in October/November to be available for review by Council at their December 11 work session. The study will be finalized in February/March 2013. Discussion Board – Does Council take these surveys seriously? Staff – Yes Board – The trail between Lemay and College has so many curves, why? Staff – It was due to rights-of-way while the trail was being built, but as we replace or upgrade sections of the trail we may be able to widen it in a few places to help with the curves. However, the curves do help to keep speeds slower, which is good. Board – The southeast part of town is building up, any plans for connecting trails in this area? Staff – We can’t make connections until the areas are being developed and we can get a trail easement; but we are working on it as we can. Board – Do you take the survey to any events? Tour de Fat might be a good opportunity. Board – How many people use the trail? Staff – The Policy Plan had that information, so we get that to you. STAFF UPDATES Parks Updates • Park RAMS (Resource Allocations Measurement System) book provides information on how money is spent in our parks broken out by park, by area and by program. It helps us to see trends and figure out issues. Each Board member has been provided one for informational purposes. Recreation Updates • The Senior Center was presented with two awards at the 2012 Colorado Association of Senior Centers Awards: Outstanding Program: “Growing Older in Fort Collins-Silver Tsunami as a Golden Opportunity” and Outstanding Seen It All Professional: Presented to Barbara Schoenberger, she has worked at the Senior Center for 20 plus years. • Two grants have also been awarded to Recreation. One is the Office of Health Disparities Grant for the CanDo program and the other is the Amendment 35 Grant to help educate youth on tobacco. • Recreation conducted an analysis of the daily admission fees, passes and membership options available at the Recreation facilities. We found that an updated plan could simplify customer options, clarify available passes, increase member benefits and reduce the risk of lost revenue. The goal is to develop a more customer- centric model that will enable Recreation to conveniently provide high quality recreational opportunities while increasing program participation and revenue. The current system has a multitude of passes and affects customer service because it can be confusing to the front line staff to try to understand the complicated and diverse pass system. Considering that staff has a difficult time understanding the pass system, it is equally difficult for our customers to comprehend. And, although the “superpass” was created and intended to provide affordable and convenience to our customers, it has unfortunately created an unfair price advantage for drop in users as the drop in participants are actually receiving a better price than patrons who have signed up for the entire program. Recreation is prepared to launch new daily admission fee policies, restructured passes and revised membership options. We do expect some complaints and questions once a revised model is implemented; however staff will be well-prepared and knowledgeable on the revised model so they will be able to handle any questions. The revised model will offer pass holders and members additional benefits which will increase program registration and the purchase of passes and memberships. Discussion Board – Are you going to be actively monitoring this new model? Staff – Yes, we anticipate a dip at first, and after about 3 months we should start to see an increase. If not, we’ll sit down and re-evaluate. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – August 22, 2012 Page 4 of 5 Board – Who makes decision to approve this new model? Staff – It goes up the ladder, and we would like to get it implemented in January. Staff – I would like the Boards comments on if there should be a “single” pass or a “daily” pass option. As an example a single pass would mean a person could come into a facility once for a work out. A daily pass would mean a person potentially could come in the morning of a workout and then later in the day to play basketball. Board – Most of the Board agreed that a “single” pass made the most business sense, but could see the idea of a “daily” pass as well, in cases where someone might get called away from their workout and might want an opportunity to return without having to pay again. Board – Should we write a letter supporting Bob on the revised model for the fees, passes and memberships? Board – We should send it to Marty to reinforce the need for Bob’s position. Board – Ragan Adams will write the support letter and send it out via email to the other members for review. Staff – If you have any questions that come to mind after the meeting, please feel free to contact me. Park Planning Updates • Waters Way and Registry Parks will have grand openings on October 11th from 4:00pm-6:00pm. Oil & Gas Committee Liaisons Update – Brian Carroll & Todd Galbate Brian Carroll attended the first meeting of this committee and they are planning on three more meetings the first Wednesday of the month through November. He wasn’t sure of the overall outcome of the meeting because he thought the committee was supposed to be making a recommendation, but felt that things were already happening and the committee’s hands were tied because the oil and gas companies rule the roost. It seems that a lot of questions needed to be asked because this affects the entire State. They could put oil rigs across the street from City Park and there’s nothing we could do about it. There have been no studies done to know how an oil rig could affect the air and water quality; and we do have a few rigs north of our City but there are very few inspection done to watch for safety. A city can send a representative to the oil and gas company to ask to be the inspector. Even though land regulations can be put in place by a city, the oil and gas companies don’t have to abide by them. Longmont has passed a land regulation and is now being sued by the oil and gas companies. Some of our water laws are in place today because of these types of legal battles, so it may be something that cities should consider by forming an alliance and changing some laws. The committee chair asked us to make our Boards or Commissions aware of the issues and bring any questions to the next meeting. Please contact either Brian or Todd before September 5, if you have any questions you would like brought to the committee. Bicycle Advisory Board Liaison Update – Bruce Henderson The Bicycle Advisory Board was also shown the trail study update. They focused on the mid-town redevelopment and the east/west perspective around College, Mason Corridor and the Trails looking for alternate route ideas for bike access on College to the Mason Trail. They will be working on an outreach program as the plans progress. Schedule of Articles/Calendar • Dawn Theis updated the schedule for articles and Council calendar and sent it to the Board members for review. • Todd, Susan and Richard should review the work plan items, and if something sounds interesting that you would like to focus on, please let Rob know. • For the Council calendar if there are sessions we think there should be a Board presence, its better if several of us attend to show our support. BOARD WORK PLAN ITEMS UPDATE None Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – August 22, 2012 Page 5 of 5 Final Question Board – Did the Great Lawn make through the BFO process? Staff – We’re not sure, we haven’t seen the budget yet. Board – Would a letter to the Mayor/Council help push it through if it’s below the line? Board – The Mayor did say to “plant the seeds”, I think we should continue to champion for the Great Lawn. Board – We could write an article as well, just making note of how great the Gardens are and how they would benefit from the Great Lawn once it’s established. Board – Maybe we should wait on any letter or article until we know for sure where the budget for the Great Lawn lands. Bullet Points • Mike Applegate, President & Board Chair for the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District presented the P&R Board with an overview of the Colorado Big Thompson project and background on water supplies in Northern Colorado and the water issues facing Northern Colorado. • The P&R Board recognizes the efforts by Bob Adams, Recreation Director, in restructuring the fees and passes in Recreation to help streamline and simplify the system for the customers and staff. This is an example of the importance of the Recreation Director position in Parks & Recreation. • Craig Foreman, Director of Park Planning & Development, presented the Board with some preliminary findings from the Trail Study being done, which will help answer questions to determine if the trail system is meeting current needs and improvements to be made for future needs. The findings will be presented to Council at the December 11 work session. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned 8:50pm. Respectfully submitted, VtÜÉÄ etÇ~|Ç Carol Rankin Administrative Support Supervisor Parks Department Minutes approved Sept 12: 5:0 Board Attendance Board Members: Ragan Adams, Richard Barnhart, Rob Cagen, Brian Carroll, Michael Chalona, Todd Galbate, Bruce Henderson, Susan Kelly, Dawn Theis Staff: JR Schnelzer, Bob Adams, Carol Rankin, Craig Foreman Guest: Mike Applegate, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District