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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 06/25/2014Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – June 25, 2014 Page 1 of 5 BE A GOOD STEWARD: Protect & Respect your Parks, Trails & Recreation Facilities Call Meeting to Order: Bruce Henderson call the meeting to order 5:34pm. Agenda Review & Items of Note: • Carey Wilkening resigned from the Board due to a work opportunity in Missouri. • Agenda Review: Jessica MacMillan asked that an agenda item be added regarding the English Ranch Community Garden. Board agreed to have a 10 minute discussion on this subject. • Item of Note: There is a Downtown Parking Advisory Committee which has been formed to discuss paid parking downtown. Jessica would like to be appointed to this committee as a liaison from the P&R Board because she feels there is an opportunity to voice the need to have a percentage of the revenue generated support the flowers downtown. Chairman Bruce Henderson made the appointment. Citizen Participation: None Approval of Minutes: Discussion: None Jessica MacMillan made the motion to approve the Parks & Recreation Board minutes of May 28, 2014, seconded by Mary Carlson– Minutes approved 6:0 Meeting Summary • The P&R Board members discussed the controversy surrounding the English Ranch Community Garden and asked to be involved in any future public outreach meetings. • The Board discussed the BFO Enhancement Offers that will be going to the Budget Lead Team for review. The Board highlighted and expressed interest in further reviewing and supporting four BFO offers in particular: o Social Sustainable Offers 83.5 & 83.11: Recreation Scholarship Program, 83.6: PSD After-School Enrichment Program and 83.10: Vida Sana Program o Offers 98.3 & 98.7: Funding for the Southeast Community Park/Crew Chief & Start-Up Costs o Offer 44.4: Assistant Manager for the Gardens on Spring Creek o Offer 99.3: Forestry Emerald Ash Borer Pre-Infestation • Natural Areas presented the Downtown Poudre River Plan to the Board, and the Board will be writing a letter of support for the Natural Areas Poudre River Downtown Master Plan for Council presentation on July 8. • The Board wished Craig Foreman and happy retirement and presented him with a card and gift to thank him for his leadership as a staff liaison to the Board. PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MINUTES Regular Meeting Wednesday June 25, 2014 5:30 p.m. Board Chair: Bruce Henderson, Chair 2014 bmhender6@gmail.com Council Liaison: Gino Campana – gcampana@fcgov.com Staff Liaisons: J.R. Schnelzer, 970-221-6301 – jrschnelzer@fcgov.com Craig Foreman, 970-221-6618 – cforeman@fcgov.com Bob Adams, 970-221-6354 – badams@fcgov.com Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – June 25, 2014 Page 2 of 5 Full Minutes AGENDA ITEMS: Community Garden at English Ranch Park There was an article in the Coloradoan regarding the controversy with the community garden at English Ranch Park. The article stated that neighbors were upset with the fence, and felt the community garden impacting their property value negatively. Jessica MacMillan went to the site and felt that the garden was well maintained. The hose was rolled up, the fence was in good shape and although they were young gardens, they appeared well cared for. She would not support removal of this garden. Discussion Board – If there was public comment during the planning phase, it should be a done deal. These people had their opportunity at this time to speak up. Board – Is it a “squeaky” wheel; or is there a high percentage of neighbors that don’t want the garden? Something like this can be subjective when it’s based on value judgment on “what looks good”; I think it’s better if a decision is being made on percentages. Board – How many neighbors oppose the garden? Staff – There were about 45 residents present at the meeting the other evening and 30-35 of them opposed the garden; but there were 500 notification cards sent out. Board – Could a real estate agent go to the site and tell you if this really does lower the property values? Board – I think something like this is just a hot bed right now; people either like them or they don’t. Board – What is the City going to do? Staff – We are going to be exploring various options from keeping it to modifying it to removing it; but we’ll be doing a more extensive outreach and will have another meeting with the neighbors. Board – We would like to be invited to that meeting. BFO & BOB II Update – Marty Heffernan Most of the Parks and Recreation offers are in Culture and Recreation; and the current level of service offers should be funded. The enhancement offers have been scrutinized by the Results Teams and will be going to the Budget Lead Team (BLT) on Monday for review. The BLT will have the month of July to review and assess the offers for the drilling platform and will official submit the offers to Council on August 29 for their review with final adoption of the budget on November 18. While the BLT is assessing the offers, we may need to defend the enhancement offers and having the P&R Board support will be helpful. The enhancement offers for the Board to review and discuss are: Recreation 83.4 – Recreation Facility Improvement & Equipment Replacement - $220,000 Reserves 83.5 – Recreation Scholarship Program - $50,000 GF 83.11 – Recreation Scholarship Program - $30,000 KFCG Reserves 83.6 – PSD After-School Enrichment - $69,400 GF 83.7 – Passenger Van Lifecycle Replacement - $65,000 KFCG Reserves 83.9 – Communications and Outreach Project - $30,000 GF 83.10 – Vida Sana Program - $33,616 GF Parks 22.1 – Trees along Pavel Recreational Trails - $125,000 GF 44.4 – Assistant Manager for the Gardens on Spring Creek - $95,495 GF 98.2 – ADA Playground Compliance - $115,000 KFCG 98.3 – Southeast Community Park - $116,000 KFCG & KFCG Reserves 98.7 – Southeast Community Park Crew Chief & Startup Costs - $144,411 (2016) GF 98.5 – Shelter at Inspiration Playground - $100,000 – KFCG Reserves 99.2 – Forestry Priority Safety Tree Pruning & Removal $90,000 Reserves 99.3 – Forestry Emerald Ash Borer Pre-Infestation - $53,127 Reserves Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – June 25, 2014 Page 3 of 5 After the Board has had a chance to fully review the enhancement offers; if there are 2-3 that the Board would like to support it would be good to have a letter go to the BLT in July and then again in August to Council. Many offers throughout the system requested staffing conversions to classified positions to provide equity among staff. They decided to pull all of these offers for further review and decision. Discussion Board – Would we like to discuss which of these we feel the Board should support and then review over the next month. At next month’s meeting we can revisit these and others and develop a letter of support. Board – I think it would be good to support the social sustainability offers in Recreation, the Scholarship, After-School Enrichment and Vida Sana but combine them into one supporting statement. I just think these could get looked over if we don’t support them. Board – I think we should also support funding for the Southeast Community Park Board – What happens if we don’t bring Parks into ADA compliance? Staff – If there is not funding of ADA specs, if a piece of equipment breaks it has to be removed from the park because if we try to replace it we have to bring the park into ADA compliance. Lifecycle money could be used if this was a priority, but this takes money away from other life cycle projects and could cause perpetual funding issues. Board – Does Recreation have management levels? Staff – Yes. Board – It seems to make sense to support a management position for the Gardens. Staff – Michelle works very hard fund raising which takes her away from the day-to-day management of the Gardens, so it would be very beneficial to have on-sight management to free up Michelle to focus on fund raising and higher level needs of the Gardens. Board – I think we also need to support the Emerald Ash Borer study. I think it’s very important that we’re prepared for what will happen and what affect this will have on our City. Staff – Another issue involved with this is where the put the tree waste because it can’t be removed from the County and this will affect 60-80,000 trees. BOBII Schedule There is a lot of competition for the BOB II Funding. There was approximately $370M chasing after $70M, so the list has to be reduced to about $150M in projects soon. Council will consider a reduction at their July 22nd Work Session. The BOBII Team is working to prioritize all of the offers. Some of our top projects are: • Downtown River Project • Conversion of irrigation systems to raw water; including updating the irrigation system at the golf course and artificial turf at the oval at Fossil Creek Park • Completion of the Gardens on Spring Creek • Recreation Innovation Center Natural Areas Downtown Poudre River Plan Update – John Stokes The core theme of the Poudre River Plan is Stewardship, Experience, Sustainability and Education; with the keys being habitat, active and passive recreation, flood mitigation and transitions. The goals being to conserve and restore the existing riparian ecosystem and habitat connectivity to promote river health and resilience; improve public safety and flood damage by reconnecting the river to its floodplain while maximizing beneficial environmental and recreational uses of the river corridor; and provide community outdoor gathering places to encourage healthy lifestyles. To view maps go to: http://www.fcgov.com/poudre-downtown/#1 A BFO and BOB II Offer have been submitted for the Poudre River Downtown Project which is the area between College Avenue to the BNSF Railroad bridge; this area pulls all the goals together. We will be presenting this Plan to City Council on July 8; with the hopes of Plan adoption by City Council by resolution on August 19. The Plan is contingent upon funding and permitting which will happen in 2014 and beyond; so earliest possible construction start would be in 2015. Discussion Board – Are the any plans to connect this area to Northside Aztlan Center? Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – June 25, 2014 Page 4 of 5 Staff – Yes, there would be improvements made to Old Fort Collins Heritage Park, which is located behind Northside, with historical interpretations that would connect the park to the river. Board – I like the terraces in this area, but shade structures would be nice. Board – How long has the planning process taken and how many people have you reached out to? Staff – It’s been about a year in planning and we’ve had extensive outreach with public meetings and speaking with outside organization, website surveys, social media feedback, and many different Board interactions. Mostly reactions are positive, but the most negative comments we receive regarding this area is that it appears there is too much hardscape. Board – How much funding is needed? Staff – About $6M; requesting $3M from the general fund, $1M from Stormwater and $2M being fundraised. Board – Would a statement from the Board be advised? Staff – It would be greatly appreciated and other groups are submitting recommendations for the July 8 presentation. Board – Since there is general support for this project, shall the Board Chair draft a letter for review and comments via email correspondence between the other Board members in order that a letter is available for submission to Council next week? Board – Mary Carlson – So moved, seconded by Michael Chalona: Vote 6:0 in favor <<<<<>>>>> 10 minute break in meeting to wish Craig Foreman a happy retirement. <<<<<>>>>> STAFF UPDATES Parks Updates • Hail storm caused some damage to Collindale and Southridge golf courses and the south and southeast parks; nothing significant, but minor flooding and leaf loss. • There will be a 4th of July parade starting at 10:00am from City Park to the Avery House; and fireworks will take place at 9:35pm barring any weather related issues. o Board – How many entries did you get for the parade? o Staff – 37 entries which is about the same from the past two years • Parks has planted about 40,000 flowers in Old Town • The portion of the no-smoking ordinance that involved parks has been pushed back to October. • Collindale Golf Course will host a Drive-Chip-Putt contest on Monday, June 30 from 8:00am-Noon Recreation Updates • We have a campaign called Out Is In to promote parks and recreation activities that get people outdoors and involved. • The Senior Center Grand Opening is scheduled for July 10, but it is currently open and 98% complete. On July 10-12 they will have free events all week and are just asking that people sign-up on-line so they don’t overload a class. Then on July 13-20 they will have free daily admission so folks can tryout the facility. • The Get Outdoors Day event at City Park was very successful and there were approximately 2,000 people who attended. • The Consultant helping us with the Operation Plan is scheduled to update the Board at the August meeting. Park Planning Updates • The design for the Southeast Community Park is coming along. • Con-Trust money has been appropriated to allow for trial construction at Trilby to connect with the Fossil Creek Trail and a connection from the Poudre Trail to Lincoln Jr High for 2015/2016. Currently construction costs are high due to so much competition for services which is causing delays so we’ll have to work through some of this. Bicycle Advisory Board Liaison Update The Bike Library has expanded and moved to the Downtown Transit Center. They have about 3,000 riders per day on MAX and currently there is only space to hold 4 bicycles on the bus, so they are looking at what can be done to accommodate more bikes. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – June 25, 2014 Page 5 of 5 Board Work Plan Items Discussed and assigned members to various work plan items. • Budget – Bruce Henderson - No Update • Communications – Jessica MacMillan & Dawn Theis - No Update o Talk with Coloradoan about having articles back in the Health Section again. • Sustainable Practices – Scott Sinn - No Update • Parks – Michael Chalona – No Update • Trails – Mary Carlson & Brian Carroll o Just an observation that people don’t obey the barricade signs on the trails, is there something we can do to help? Perhaps writing an article about trail closures and safety. • Recreation – Dawn Theis - No Update • Other Projects/Programs • Natural Areas – Brian Carroll & Mary Carlson o Natural Areas is offering fun programs; check out their web page. On Saturday, June 28 there will be an astronomy program at Bobcat Ridge featuring the international space station. Schedule of Articles/Calendar Next article due is from Ragan Adams regarding Dog Parks – due to Coloradoan for August Bullet Points • Discussion on the English Ranch Community Garden and the Boards desire to be involved in the outreach meetings as a proponent for community gardens. • Update on BOB II offers and the BFO offers. The Board expressed interest in further reviewing and supporting four BFO offers in particular: 1) Social Sustainable Offers 83.5 & 83.11: Recreation Scholarship Program, 83.6: PSD After-School Enrichment Program and 83.10: Vida Sana Program 2) Offers 98.3 & 98.7: Funding for the Southeast Community Park/Crew Chief & Start-Up Costs 3) Offer 44.4: Assistant Manager for the Gardens on Spring Creek 4) Offer 99.3: Forestry Emerald Ash Borer Pre-Infestation • Board will be writing a letter of support for the Natural Areas Poudre River Downtown Master Plan for Council presentation on July 8. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned 8:05pm Respectfully submitted, Carol Rankin Carol Rankin Administrative Supervisor Parks Board Approved Minutes 7/23/14: 6:0 Board Attendance Board Members: Ragan Adams, Mary Carlson, Brian Carroll, Michael Chalona, Bruce Henderson, Jessica MacMillan Staff: Craig Foreman, Bob Adams, JR Schnelzer, Marty Heffernan, John Stokes, Carol Rankin Guest: None