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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019 - Land Conservation And Stewardship Board - Annual Report Land Conservation & Stewardship Board 2019 Annual Report January 28, 2020 1 Summary Fort Collins Natural Areas provide the City with world class conservation along with extensive opportunities to experience nature. Natural Areas receive broad community backing, expressed by support of 82% of voters in the Help Preserve Open Spaces tax measure on the 2014 ballot. Members of the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board (LCSB) are privileged to contribute to continued excellence of Natural Areas, in partnership with the highly professional Natural Areas Department (NAD). The LCSB regularly reviews and makes recommendations to the NAD and to City Council on the following topics, and other topics as needed: • Sustainability of Natural Areas and regional natural resources • Financing of land conservation and Natural Areas management • Priorities for acquisition of land and conservation easements • Resource management plans • Maintenance of the quality of user experience on Natural Areas • City policies that affect Natural Areas 2019 Highlights Meadow Springs Ranch The LCSB discussed the future of Meadow Springs Ranch (MSR) multiple times during 2019. MSR first came to the LCSB’s attention in 2018 as Platte River Power Authority made plans for electric transmission lines across MSR, which is owned by the City’s wastewater utility and is currently used for leased cattle grazing and disposal of biosolids from water treatment plants. Present issues aside, this City-owned property is one of the largest intact land parcels along the northern Front Range and is the highest in conservation value. Although the LCSB has not communicated with Council about MSR in 2019, LCSB continues to urge NAD, Utilities, and Council to develop a strategic plan for conservation of MSR, while recognizing the responsibilities of Utilities to rate payers. Motors versus nature Electric power vehicles—e-bikes, e-scooters, segways, and various types of powered riding boards— are growing in availability and popularity. Some are now allowed on City sidewalks (e-scooters) and, with limitations, on paved recreation trails (e-bikes). At their core, these are motor vehicles and, as such, are contrary to the spirit of Natural Areas, as well as to long-standing prohibition of Land Conservation & Stewardship Board 2019 Annual Report 2 motor-powered conveyances in Natural Areas. They have serious potential to degrade wildlife habitat and user experience of Natural Areas, and to cause resource damage that is costly and slow to restore. The LCSB has communicated concerns about e-bikes and e-scooters to other Advisory Boards and to Council; it will continue to monitor policy development. Land acquisition and stewardship The City, in partnership with Larimer County, added significant land to the conserved area west of Horsetooth Mountain Park and Lory State Park. The LCSB emphasizes the importance of habitat continuity and applauds this contribution to prevention of future habitat fragmentation. NAD adopted a revised Foothills Management Plan, using a web-based presentation of proposed revisions that the LCSB found to be effective for communication to the LCSB, and which was also used effectively for public review before adoption. The new plan incorporates references to documents that establish standards for natural resource stewardship. The LCSB continues to support NAD’s evolving emphasis on habitat metrics, and particularly NAD’s hiring of a Geographic Information System (GIS) specialist in support of land and habitat management. These steps help both NAD and the Board in monitoring stewardship of the abundant resources of Natural Areas. Cross-Department issues Planning and Zoning Department is working on multiple plans of interest to LCSB. • Dark skies policy has high potential for improving habitat conditions in Natural Areas within and close to the City. • Harmony Gateway plans affect the Poudre River floodplain, Natural Areas along the river, and river corridor habitat in general, particularly during future high-water events. • Nature in the City offers opportunities to improve connectivity of habitat through corridors within the City, providing contact with nature for people and improving wildlife safe passage between large habitat reservoirs in the foothills, on the plains, and along the river. Utilities Department (Wastewater Utility) was mentioned earlier in reference to Meadow Springs Ranch. The LCSB continues to review and support interdepartmental efforts to naturalize water detention and conveyance areas managed by the Stormwater Utility; these provide habitat reservoirs and corridors in addition to those protected by the Natural Areas Program. Ongoing concerns Long-term conservation security The Natural Areas enjoy remarkable public support through taxpayer-approved, dedicated sales taxes. Current taxes are time limited, and prospects for their extension are excellent. Nevertheless, LCSB has concerns about the implications of population growth along the Front Range over the next Land Conservation & Stewardship Board 2019 Annual Report 3 few decades. That growth will make land for conservation less available and more expensive. Although the economy and sales-tax revenue will grow, the LCSB is concerned that land prices will grow faster, thereby eroding effective purchasing power. As Natural Area land holdings grow, expenses of managing that land also expand—further diminishing funds available for conservation purchases. For these reasons, the LCSB recommends purchasing land and conservation easements at the earliest opportunity. Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) and Halligan Reservoir Although 2019 has been a relatively quiet year for NISP matters, LCSB continues to track the effects of NISP on river flows and channel maintenance. The city’s proposed Halligan Reservoir expansion will affect flows of the North Fork of the Poudre River, although this fork provides modest flows compared to the main stem. There are 18 Natural Areas closely connected to the Poudre River, so everything that affects the river affects our Natural Areas. Transaction and budget reviews A month-to-month activity of LCSB is review of legal transactions involving Natural Areas. Numerous reviews have been done under the following categories, with advisory recommendations transmitted to City Council: • Utility easements • Easements for resource management (e.g. water quality monitoring) • Corrections of legal descriptions • Right-of-way easements and deed adjustments, particularly in cases where property boundaries and fences were historically improperly located • Water rights and water taps acquired with land purchases The LCSB reviewed and approved NAD’s Acquisition Partnership Administrative Policy, describing policies and practices for acquiring lands and easements in partnership with other organizations. Board operations The LCSB works closely with and is well supported by the Natural Areas Department. Daylan Figgs (since resigned from City government and moved to Larimer County), Mark Sears, and John Stokes have served as liaisons between the Board and NAD management in 2019. Michelle Vattano provides excellent administrative and secretarial support. Joe Piesman served as Chair, Ray Watts as vice-chair, and Alycia Crall assisted with writing of LCSB documents. All Board members have completed required Respectful Workplace training. Land Conservation & Stewardship Board 2019 Annual Report 4 Mike Weber was re-appointed in January 2019 for a four-year term. Mike serves as liaison with the Bicycle Advisory Board, a function that has been important in keeping LCSB abreast of e-bike issues. Alycia Crall joined the Board in February. Terms of two Board members ended in December: Joe Piesman and Vicky McLane. In October the LCSB held a retreat to jointly consider long-term threats, opportunities, and goals for Natural Areas. LISTING OF BOARD ACTIVITIES FOR 2019 Recommendations - The LCSB recommended that City Council/City Manager approve the following: • Ballot measure for .85% sales tax renewal, continuing funding from the Keep Fort Collins Great ballot measure and rolling the continuation into the 2.2% base tax rate. • Appropriation (rollover) of prior year reserves for the Natural Areas Department in the 2019 budget. • One-year pilot study of Class 1, but not Class 2, e-bikes on paved recreation trails. • Conveyance of an easement to Larimer County on Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area for drilling and monitoring ground water test wells. • Amendment of Longview Farm Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions and correction of the legal description. • Sale of seven water taps and one sewer tap that had been acquired incidentally with land acquisitions. • Modification of the Municipal Code, changing the current review period for applications for Special or Commercial use of Natural Areas, from five (5) to fifteen (15) business days. • Modification of the conservation easement on the Hazelhurst Property, making technical adjustments and assigning the easement to Larimer County. • Transfer of title (through quit-claim deed) to a small, unused strip of Natural Area land in exchange for an easement, giving NAD administrative access to Kingfisher Natural Area, through an adjacent property on Mulberry Street. • Grant of a utility easement to the Fort Collins Loveland Water District on Maxwell Natural Area. • Grant of a utility easement to Interstate Land Holdings LLC on Soaring Vista Natural Area. Land Conservation & Stewardship Board 2019 Annual Report 5 Presentations – NAD staff and others provided presentations and updates on: • Keep Fort Collins Great revenue replacement options • Natural Areas trail work for 2018 • Proposed Partnership with Montava Development • Impact Decision Framework (IDF), a new approach to developing NAD management plans • Enhancement Certified Natural Area Fund • Update on status of the bison herd at Soapstone Natural Area • Colorado Front Range/Poudre River Trail Initiative, and history of the Paved Trails Master Plan • Foothills Management Plan and public comments • Nature in the City • Natural Areas Enhancement Fund • Lighting Code Update with dark skies objectives • Harmony Gateway Amendment • Budgeting for Outcomes process for 2020 Board periodic review: Gerry Horak, Council liaison to the LCSB, addressed Board members on both the draft LCSB 2019 Workplan and the Board Roles and Responsibilities. Memos to City Council: • Recommendations for the pilot study of electric bikes (e-bikes) on City paved recreation trails with emphasis on those trails that pass through Fort Collins natural areas. • Support for City Council’s position of disallowing e-scooters on paved recreation trails during pilot e-bike study period. • Endorsement and support for the Foothills Management Plan • Support for the budget initiative to increase the City’s base rate sales tax by .85 cents. Executive Session: The Board moved into Executive Session in February, March, May and August to discuss Land Acquisitions Miscellaneous: • John reported that Daylan Figgs resigned from the Natural Areas Department and accepted the position of Director, Larimer County Department of Natural Resources. • The Board approved the 2018 Annual Report to City Council Land Conservation & Stewardship Board 2019 Annual Report 6 • Board members attended a Soapstone Prairie Natural Area tour on December 5th, led by David Tweedale and Norine Duchane. • Board members participated in a Nix Farm tour to view the new construction of the shop expansion • John Stokes updated the Board on House Bill 1271, allowing the Colorado Water Conservation Board to augment streamflow.