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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 12/05/2018Parks & Recreation Board Parks Maintenance Shop – 315 S. Bryan Abe REGULAR MEETING December 5, 2018 12/05/2018 – MINUTES Page 1 1. CALL TO ORDER Rob Cagen called the meeting to order at 5:40pm 2. ROLL CALL • Board Members Present o Rob Cagan – Chair o Catherine Carabetta – Vice Chair o Kelly Smith – Secretary o Ragan Adams o Bob Kingsbury o Sam Houghteling o Bruce Henderson o Mary Carlson o Jessica MacMillan – Conference Call • Staff Members Present o Wendy Williams – Assistant City Manager o Bob Adams – Director of Recreation o Kurt Friesen – Director of Park Planning & Development o Colleen Bannon – Administrative Assistant/Board Support o Suzanne Bassinger – Park Planning & Development o Kevin Williams – Parks o Caleb Feaver – Engineering o Tessa Greegor – FC Moves 3. AGENDA REVIEW • Park Prioritization will be discussed at a later date • This is the last meeting for both Bruce Henderson and Kelly Smith. Bruce participated on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for 8 years. Kelly has participated on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for 4 years. Kelly was also Secretary to the Board. 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION • Greg Obermann – Attended the meeting to observe how the board works. Would also like to recognize Bob Adams for doing a great job working with the pickleball community. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF DECEMBER 5, 2019 Rob spoke with Kurt for clarification regarding the $400,000 dollar cut from trail funding. Add Bud Bredehoft’s last name to page 6, Park Updates Parks & Recreation Board Parks Maintenance Shop – 315 S. Bryan Abe REGULAR MEETING December 5, 2018 12/05/2018 – MINUTES Page 2 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None to report 7. NEW BUSINESS KFCG (Keep Fort Collins Great) Ginny Sawyer – Project and Policy Manager The Keep Fort Collins Great (KFCG) 0.85% dedicated sales tax will sunset December 31, 2020. Since 2011, KFCG has funded basic operations and enabled the City to maintain a desired level of service and respond to community needs in an environment of population growth and annual inflation. Board: Did Council vote that the tax will not increase above 0.85%? Do you think they may reconsider an increase since the transportation and education bills did not pass? Ginny: it would take residents, not staff to sway Council to reconsider an increase Board: If community members want to influence Council, should they write letters or emails to Council? Ginny: Yes Board: Parks are very well accepted in the community. You talked about how we cannot charge separate fees. Parks and Recreation needs to find another source of funding. I have heard Council say we need to fund parks and recreation better. We need more money. Maybe this should be a dedicated tax. Ginny: An increase in service is not on the table. This is only for maintaining current services. Board: Why does this have to be citizen initiated? Ginny: Citizens need to help guide Council Board: That is the charge of this group. It is to offer advice and recommendations. Do we need to form a committee outside of this? I am having a hard time seeing how what we have been presented will adequately maintain our parks. Board: How many people typically vote at the April elections? Ginny: Less than 25%. Board: This is the optimal time for this ask. The economy is good here. How many other taxes will be on this ballet? Ginny: April is only a local election. This will be the only tax on the ballet Board: Should we craft some language and then go home and craft letters to Council, and a Board letter? Ginny: I encourage you to make a statement from the Board. Parks & Recreation Board Parks Maintenance Shop – 315 S. Bryan Abe REGULAR MEETING December 5, 2018 12/05/2018 – MINUTES Page 3 Board: I think we should start with a letter, and I think it should be specific and point out the fact that KFCG’s 0.85% is nice, but it is not sustaining status-quo. We need to take that point directly to Council. Board: As much as letters do the trick, we need to talk to councilmembers one on one. The fact is, we’ve been talking in circles about this for years. The 2008 park policy plan we have say’s there is a need to find more money. Board: Attend the work sessions. These will not offer public comment, so send an email the day of the meeting to express your support of at least maintaining the tax. Grade-Separated Crossings Caleb Fever – City of Fort Collins Engineering Angie – BHA Natalie – Transportation Board This grade-separated crossing will complete the last gap of the Power Trail. It is a 125’ crossing under Harmony Road. Utility location is a big factor in the design of the crossing. Board: What is your timeline for input? Staff: Late January/early February we would like to have input from board members. Board: When you are comparing underpass design options and say one is deeper, and the underpass is surrounded by underground water, does that mean this will be more likely to flood? Staff: All underpass options would need pumps to some degree E-Bikes Tessa Greegor – FC Moves Board: Are you able to identify a couple of trails that are used the most for people who commute to work on an e-bike? Staff: We have not done that study yet. Spring Canyon and Poudre Trail are the most used trails, and that includes people who commute. Board: I’m concerned about speed. Are you going to do a trial on a few trails to get a reaction from the community? Staff: The board can offer a recommendation on what you would like to see. I will be tanking that to Council and have them decide how they would like to use the information. We would like to do a comprehensive study so we have more data Board: Where did you conduct your focus study? Staff: We have 14 locations on the trails, with twice as many on street trails, and at intersections Parks & Recreation Board Parks Maintenance Shop – 315 S. Bryan Abe REGULAR MEETING December 5, 2018 12/05/2018 – MINUTES Page 4 Bruce made motion to support the e-bikes pilot program: Ragan seconds Motion passed 9-0 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Work Plan update Mike Calhoon and I have agreed to take out a page worth of Visions and Goals from the Work Plan Written report due January Edits due to Rob by end of January 9. OTHER BUSINESS Staff Updates Parks Staff Update Santa has arrived at Library Park Skate house and rink are set up in Old Town Holiday shrubs have been installed downtown The trees being planted in the foothills garden at the Garden on Spring Creek, were donated by Tim Buchanan Park Planning & Development Staff Updates Brief descriptions of current Park Planning & Development projects attached The Fossil Creek Trail, from Shields to College, will open Monday, December 10. Ribbon will be cut on the west side of the tunnel Park Planning & Development is working with 1st United Methodist Church to make improvements to Eastside Park. This effort will be part of their 150th church celebration in late 2019 An online application will soon be available for citizens to participate in City Park Refresh design workshop in March A historic infiltration system from the 1930’s, was uncovered during the Poudre River Whitewater Park construction. Recreation Updates This last mass registration was a record registration for winter. Last year, we reached $119k, this year we reached $148k. 63% of registrations were completed online, and there were 429 reduced rate program signups. The 12-week Sports and Economic feasibility study will begin January 8th. This study will analyze if Parks & Recreation Board Parks Maintenance Shop – 315 S. Bryan Abe REGULAR MEETING December 5, 2018 12/05/2018 – MINUTES Page 5 there should be a sports complex in Fort Collins Other Business Catherine is a member of the working group for Land and Water for City Plan. They are in the process of looking into environmental health. The next Land and Water working group meeting is mid-January. There is a goal to collect feedback February and March. Catherine can present to the Board at January’s meeting 6-month Council Calendar • Rob to send out dates from the 6-month Council Calendar 10. ADJOURNMENT Meeting Adjourned at 8:36pm