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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 07/23/2014Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – July 23, 2014 Page 1 of 5 BE A GOOD STEWARD: Protect & Respect your Parks, Trails & Recreation Facilities Call Meeting to Order: Jessica MacMillan call the meeting to order 5:33pm. Agenda Review & Items of Note: None Citizen Participation: None Approval of Minutes: Discussion: None Michael Chalona made the motion to approve the Parks & Recreation Board minutes of June 25, 2014, seconded by Ragan Adams – Minutes approved 6:0 Meeting Summary • Tessa Greegor, FC Bikes Program Manager, spoke to the Board about the City developing a comprehensive Bicycle Master Plan to shape the future of bicycling in Fort Collins. The Plan will build upon all of the great things about biking in Fort Collins and will establish a blueprint for achieving the City's vision. The Plan envisions Fort Collins as a world-class city for bicycling. It is a city where people of all ages and abilities have access to a comfortable, safe, and connected network of bicycle facilities, and where bicycling is an integral part of daily life and the local cultural experience. • Bill Miller, Audubon Society Director, spoke to the Board about Important Bird Areas (IBAs). IBAs are sites that provide essential habitat to one or more species of birds during some portion of the year (nesting areas, crucial migration stop-over sites, or wintering grounds). IBAs may be a few or even thousands of acres, but usually are discrete sites that stand out from the surrounding landscape. IBAs may include public or private lands, or both, and may or may not already be protected. Bill Miller asked for a letter of endorsement from the Parks & Recreation Board to Council that the area along the Poudre River from I-25 to Watson Lake be designated as an Important Bird Area. The Board made a motion to support the I-25 to Watson Lake Poudre River Corridor as an Important Bird Area as long as it does not preclude the City from making enhancement to areas within the IBA. Vote was 6:0 in support. • John Litel, Recreation Public Relations Coordinator, presented the new Draft Design for an Innovation Community Center in place of the SE Community Center. It would be a 17,000 sq. ft. first phase facility and cost approximately $10M funded out of BOB2. The ideas behind the new design were to develop a multifaceted, flexible and diverse environment that provides well-rounded programs and activities that educated and create a healthy lifestyle. The design would integrate the Park with outdoor “rooms”, design labs or “maker” zones for new technology development, areas to revive with jetted pools, cardio areas, resistance swimming, and areas to socialize with an auditorium, conference rooms, and performance areas. A second phase of the project would then be to incorporate pools and a gymnasium. The Board felt public opinion was clear that a pool was wanted in the southeast part of the City and had concerns that this new Design would not be well received. PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MINUTES Regular Meeting Wednesday July 23, 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 – July 23, 2014 Page 2 of 5 Full Minutes AGENDA ITEMS: Bicycle Master Plan Update – Tessa Greegor, FC Bikes Program Manager The City is developing a comprehensive Bicycle Master Plan to shape the future of bicycling in Fort Collins. This plan will build upon all of the great things about biking in Fort Collins and will establish a blueprint for achieving the City's vision. The Bicycle Master Plan envisions Fort Collins as a world-class city for bicycling. It is a city where people of all ages and abilities have access to a comfortable, safe, and connected network of bicycle facilities, and where bicycling is an integral part of daily life and the local cultural experience. Over the course of 2014, the City of Fort Collins will work with the community to develop a new Bicycle Master Plan for the City. Through data-driven analysis and a comprehensive and inclusive public outreach strategy, the Fort Collins Bicycle Master Plan will integrate existing city plans, best practices and innovative thinking and will revise the City’s proposed bicycle network, way-finding strategies, bicycle facility design recommendations and guidelines, as well as policy and programmatic recommendations. The City recently was designated as Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community and we are now aiming for the Diamond Level by evolving infrastructure and strengthening the bike culture through education and safety programs. The Plan Goals are: Connectivity, Safety, Ridership, Community, Equity, Comfort and Health. To help achieve these goals, we’ve developed a Bicycle Level of Comfort Analysis showing the stress level from low to high depending on the traffic situation a bicyclist experiences where low would be riding on a trail or non-arterial route to high being on a main arterial. To ease the high stress areas connectivity becomes a major goal. Part of that goal would be helping to develop low stress non-arterial networks which would include intersection improvements, trail gap closures, and signed routes. The full vision would be to make improvements to main arterials. The Plan would be phased and the priority of projects would be based on public input and analysis as well as project cost and ease of implementation. Discussion Board – What is the optimum percentage of low stress? What’s the goal? Staff – The target is to have a connected, low stress network (LTS level of 1 or 2). Board – Mulberry has no bike lanes or sidewalks to ride on, is this available to prioritize to be able to bike safely on? Staff – This is the type of feedback we are looking for in order to focus on spot improvements. Board – Lemay has this same issue, no room for bikes. Board – It seems the focus should be on high traffic areas where it’s dangerous to ride. Staff – If there was a connected non-arterial route to use would that be an option for you? Board – Maybe if it wasn’t more than 1/8 of mile out of the way from the main route. Board – What’s the budget for this project? Staff – The next phase of the Plan will develop cost estimates to implement the 2020 Low-Stress Network and the Full Build Vision. Board – Where is funding coming from? Staff – It is anticipated that the Plan would be implemented through various funding sources (local funding sources, grants and through private development). There are proposed BFO/BOB offers that would help implement key projects and programs from the Plan. Board – I think you need to have a strong financial plan available to present to Council, where you’re asking for money to come from and other funding possibilities like grants, transportation, etc. Board – What about the stress trail users have with bike riders on the trails? Staff –We haven’t analyzed the trail system in terms of Stress, but it’s an important point. People love the trails and use them because they feel safe and comfortable – this Plan would help make other routes comfortable and attractive as well. Education is a key piece of this as well and a priority. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – July 23, 2014 Page 3 of 5 Audubon IBA Designation I-25 to Watson Lake – Bill Miller, Audubon Society Director Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are sites that provide essential habitat to one or more species of birds during some portion of the year (nesting areas, crucial migration stop-over sites, or wintering grounds). IBAs may be a few or even thousands of acres, but usually are discrete sites that stand out from the surrounding landscape. IBAs may include public or private lands, or both, and may or may not already be protected. IBAs are designated and ranked against a rigorous set of scientific criteria, set and interpreted by local and then national committees of leading bird experts convened by Audubon. For a place to qualify as an IBA, it must either support a large concentration of birds, provide habitat for a threatened or rare species, or provide habitat for a bird with a very limited or restricted range. Once nominated and selected as an IBA, a site is then ranked as significant at either the state, continental, or global level. To date, 44 sites have been approved in Wyoming and 54 in Colorado and with your help, many more nominations are on the way! The Important Bird Area program is a voluntary, non-regulatory method of protecting habitat that is vital to bird migration, breeding, and wintering. Once a location is designated, Audubon Colorado works with other stakeholders to identify and coordinate restoration activities on the site. While the program places a special emphasis on birds, the designation also benefits many other species that share their habitat. Bill Miller asked for a letter of endorsement from the Parks & Recreation Board to Council that the area along the Poudre River from I-25 to Watson Lake be designated as an Important Bird Area. Discussion Board – How would an IBA impact the Parks and Trails? Bill – There would be no impact, an IBA has no influence. Board – Even for development? Bill – Correct Board – So if Parks wanted to develop an area and caused issues with wildlife in that area it would be okay? Bill – Yes, an IBA does not have any influence at all. Board – What’s the benefit of the designation? Bill – Publicity. It gives Parks & Recreation and Natural Areas a National designation as having areas important to birds. Board – Is there a boundary of this area? Bill – No, but it’s similar to the flood plain. Board – As the Parks & Recreation Board we can’t endorse the natural areas, but we could endorse the areas that would include Lee Martinez Park and the Farm, Northside Aztlan, Archery Range and Legacy Park. Board – I think it would be wonderful to designate this area as a wildlife area as long as it doesn’t preclude the City from doing any enhancements to the area. Motion: Brian Carroll made the motion to: Support the I-25 to Watson Lake Poudre River Corridor as an Important Bird Area as long as it does not preclude the City from making enhancement to areas within the IBA. Seconded by Mary Carlson Discussion: None Vote: 6:0 to in support The P&R Board will provide a letter of endorsement to Bill Miller. Innovation Community Center – John Litel, Recreation Public Relations Coordinator The 2008 Policy Plan included the building of a Recreation Center at Fossil Creek Park or the southeast side of town. In 2013 Recreation was approved for a consultant to find out the feasibility of a Recreation Center; and a Draft Design Plan was presented to Council. Council felt the design did not provide a wow factor or a “uniquely” Fort Collins feel. Council wanted to see an innovative place, so Recreation went back to the drawing board and developed a new Design for an Innovation Community Center. It would be a 17,000 sq. ft. first phase facility and cost approximately $10M funded out of BOB2. The ideas behind the new design were to develop a multifaceted, flexible and diverse environment that provides well-rounded programs and activities that educated and create a healthy lifestyle. The design would integrate the Park with outdoor “rooms”, design labs or “maker” zones for new technology development, areas to revive with jetted Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – July 23, 2014 Page 4 of 5 pools, cardio areas, resistance swimming, and areas to socialize with an auditorium, conference rooms, and performance areas. A second phase of the project would then be to incorporate pools and a gymnasium. Discussion Board – It seems that after the public outreach that the first design gave the public what they wanted, but Council wants something different. There’s a real disconnect here. Board – The new design is a great concept, but it’s not what the public asked for. Board – Where does this design go from here? Staff – We would be presenting this new design to the public for comment. Board – The resistance pool is great, but it sounded like the public wanted a pool. How much more would this cost and how large of a facility would it be? Staff – The pool would be an additional 35,000 sq. ft.; so total facility would be around 75,000 sq. ft. The cost would be approximately $12M. Board – I think the new design has “dead” space. There are so many other companies that offer meeting space free of charge, if you have to charge, who would you see using this space? Staff – I think Council is looking to the future. After researching Innovation Centers, I think it would hard to keep people away. Board – It seems that right now, the budget revenue stream is pretty equal to expenses. There needs to be alternative funding sources to provide cash to give people what they want. Will this facility have a revenue stream; or will it be a cash drain from ongoing maintenance. Staff – I believe that if the community has issues with Council’s direction it will come out in the community input. Board – I would like to voice my opinion that we need a recreation facility on the southeast side of town. Staff – The Board can write a letter stating the need for a facility but that it needs to be what the people want. Board – I think the Council sees a unique vision, but they didn’t get their “innovation” concept to the first public outreach; so it seems like there’s extra time and money being spent to do another outreach for a facility they may not be receptive too. Maybe there needs to be a blend of both an innovation center and a recreation center to help get people interested. Board – Dawn will draft an email to Council with Board concerns. STAFF UPDATES Parks Updates • Board members should be receiving an email to attend a “Super Issues” meeting with Boards & Commission taking place on August 25 at the Lincoln Center. • The next public outreach meeting regarding English Ranch Park will be on August 11. • BFO process is on track • Parks is still addressing the turf area in the oval at Fossil Creek Park. • The Rangers have captured a picture of some kids vandalizing a building by throwing rocks. There have also been small fires set in some of the rest rooms. • The Homeless Committee is working a ways to mitigate the situation as best as possible. Recreation Updates • In August, Recreation will be updating the Board on the Recreation Policy Plan. A draft of the plan will be sent out to the Board for review prior to the August 27 meeting. • Recreation has a new partnership with Columbine Health and is now able to offer 57 new classes. Park Planning Updates • Kurt Friesen has been hired as the new Park Planning & Development Director. He will be starting on August 11. Bicycle Advisory Board Liaison Update None Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – July 23, 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 • Sustainable Practices – Scott Sinn - No Update • Parks – Michael Chalona – No Update • Trails – Mary Carlson & Brian Carroll • Recreation – Dawn Theis - No Update • Other Projects/Programs o Natural Areas – Brian Carroll & Mary Carlson – No Update Schedule of Articles/Calendar • Next article due is from Ragan Adams regarding Dog Parks – due to Coloradoan for August • Brian Carroll, Article for September – A behind the scenes look at Parks • Scott Sinn, Article for October - The Farm at Lee Martinez • Jessica MacMillan, Article for November – Senior Center or Innovation Center Bullet Points • Tessa Greegor, FC Bikes Program Manager, spoke to the Board about the City developing a comprehensive Bicycle Master Plan to shape the future of bicycling in Fort Collins. • Bill Miller, Audubon Society Director, spoke to the Board about Important Bird Areas (IBAs). The Board made a motion to support the I-25 to Watson Lake Poudre River Corridor as an Important Bird Area as long as it does not preclude the City from making enhancement to areas within the IBA. Vote was 6:0 in support. • John Litel, Recreation Public Relations Coordinator, presented the new Draft Design for an Innovation Community Center in place of the SE Community Center. The Board felt public opinion was clear that a pool was wanted in the southeast part of the City and had concerns that this new Design would not be well received. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned 8:05pm Respectfully submitted, Carol Rankin Carol Rankin Administrative Supervisor Parks Board Approved Minutes 8/27/14: 8:0 Board Attendance Board Members: Ragan Adams, Mary Carlson, Brian Carroll, Michael Chalona, Jessica MacMillan, Dawn Theis Staff: Bob Adams, JR Schnelzer, Carol Rankin, John Litel, Tessa Greegor Guest: Bill Miller, Audubon