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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Conservation And Stewardship Board - Minutes - 10/14/2020 Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting October 14, 2020 5:30 p.m./Zoom Meeting 10/14/20 20 MINUTES Page 1 1. CALL TO ORDER: 5:33 P.M. 2. ROLL CALL: Raymond W atts, Mike Weber, Alycia Crall, Andrea Elson, Vicky McLane, David Tweedale, Kelly Ohlson, Joe Piesman NAD Staff: Mike Auciello, Tawnya Ernst, Charlotte Norville, Dave Myers, Heidi Wagner, Julia Feder; Zoe Shark and Amy Johnson, with Utilities Capital Projects. Charlotte introduced herself and announced she had a short, good news item to report to the Board. 3. AGENDA REVIEW: Ray reported a couple of new items will be added to the meeting agenda. Charlotte Norville will give a quick presentation and Vicky McLane has one item of new business. 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION: Robin O’Malley is participating for general information. 5. APPROV AL OF MINUTES: Ray submitted some language confirming one of the motions made during the September meeting. Michelle made corrections. Board approved. David Tweedale made a motion to approve the September LCSB meeting minutes. Joe Piesman seconded the motion. The motion was approved 8-0 6. COMMUNICATION AND BOARD MATTERS: ACTION ITEMS 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Ray recommended the November LCSB be reschedule to November 12, 2020, in lieu of the November 11th Veterans Day Holiday. Board members agreed. Ray asked if there was an update on the grassland management panel Zoe was organizing. Zoe reported her understanding was that the Board was considering a panel presentation in January or February. Matt Parker with NAD will plan the panel. Oil and Gas Regulation Update Ray summarized the Board’s last discussion about Oil and Gas regulations. Zoe offered to keep up to date on the issue. Specifically, by identifying a clearer role for the City to manage conserved lands, outside of the growth management area. Andrea suggested DocuSign Envelope ID: 034E2BB8-AF10-4107-9F45-C40FA7730BF7 Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting 10/14/2020 – MINUTES Page 2 having a discussion with the County. The County Zoning would be the primary regulator at Soapstone and Meadow Springs. Ray suggested speaking with them to participate in the regulation drafting. Joe reported the County election coming up might play a large role in those decisions. Ray suggested the Board stay aware for right now. Vicky thought City staff and City Council had put a delay on making any recommendations for the new regulations until the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and the Air Quality Control Commission have voted on the regulations and they haven’t done that yet and may not until the end of the year. Reimagining Boards and Commissions Ray has been tracking City Council’s efforts to restructure Boards and Commissions. He reported a large packet was sent out to City Council members with information regarding Boards and Commissions during a Work Session on August 11th. Ray felt there was a lot of information lacking in the packet. He has been working on a draft memo to Honore Depew, with the City Manager’s Office, who is one of the leaders for the discussion. The memo includes some perspectives Ray has, as Chairman of the LCSB. Specifically, he suggests City Council speak to all Board and Commission Chairs regarding what it takes for Boards to be effective. Ray stresses the importance of educating new members on issues each of the Boards are dealing with at the time of appointment. Ray will share the final draft of the memo with Board members. All agreed it was a good idea. Parks and Recreation Master Plan Andrea reported there was not much of an update to report since last month. Andrea put together a memo, from her, to Honore that will discuss some of the Boards concerns, regarding habitat and the City’s holistic vision on the Plan. She requested any comments be sent to her by the end of the week and will share the final memo once completed. Arapaho Bend Natural Area Vicky maintains her concerns for lack of demonstration for alternative parking lot options at Arapaho Bend. She would like NAD staff to come back to the LCSB with other options for the proposed parking lot. Included would be how often the current lots are at capacity and alternative options that have been considered by staff. She would like to see the south parking lot, at Arapaho Bend, be better utilized by users. Ray would like more specific information on the proposed sidewalk along Strauss Cabin road. Vicky McLane made a motion that NAD staff come back to LCSB when they have a more complete assessment on needs and options for the proposed parking lot at Arapaho Bend. This should include, information on how often the current lots are at capacity, what alternatives to a new lot at Arapaho Bend have been considered – for example the City owns a large land parcel west of Rigden Reservoir which the new Poudre River Trail will cross – and other pertinent data. DocuSign Envelope ID: 034E2BB8-AF10-4107-9F45-C40FA7730BF7 Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting 10/14/2020 – MINUTES Page 3 Kelly Ohlson seconded the motion. The motion was approved 6-2 Andrea Elson voted no; David Tweedale voted no 8. NEW BUSINESS Maxwell Natural Area Notice of Alignment (NOA) Dave Myers presented the Maxwell Natural Area NOA which includes a new tank drain line and an existing line located on Maxwell Natural Area. The current request is for a new tank drain. Currently, water drains out of a natural drainage, through a culvert and then goes through a pipe and floods the trail area. This causes a lot of problems for visitor use because the trail tends to stay muddy. The proposed drainpipe installation will eliminate yearly trail damage and alleviate damage to vegetation from people bypassing the wet trails. After considering several alternatives, Natural Areas as well as Water Treatment Facility staff chose a new 8-inch PVC drainpipe and drain into the Dixon canal. Dave explained that the restoration plan would follow the easement policy guideline requirements. They will remove the 8” of top-soil and stockpile it. After the pipe has been installed the topsoil will be replaced along with some grass hay to stabilize the topsoil and replenished with native seed mix. Kelly asked who would be financing the construction and if the HOA would co ntribute any funds. Amy Johnson added the HOA is not contributing any finances to the project. This is a Utilities Department project. She explained the City Utilities is the primary beneficiary of the project. The current infrastructure might require Utilities staff working with the HOA to mitigate the damage. By implementing the drainpipes, it will eliminate the problem. Members of the public use this trail system as well so it benefits all users of the trail as they get to Maxwell Natural Area. Kelly asked what the basic purpose of the original tank was. Amy reported it was not only to store water but assist in the distribution system through the higher elevation system. Amy reported construction would take place in January/February timeframe. Joe Piesman made a motion that the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board recommends that the City Manager sign the Notice of Alignment for a proposed new 8-inch drainpipe and an existing 24-inch steel waterline on Maxwell Natural Area. Alycia Crall seconded the motion. The motion was approved 8-0 DocuSign Envelope ID: 034E2BB8-AF10-4107-9F45-C40FA7730BF7 Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting 10/14/2020 – MINUTES Page 4 9. OTHER BUSINESS Soaring Vista Trail Alignment Heidi Wager introduced herself and provided a presentation on the Soaring Vista Trail Alignment proposal. The proposal for an approximately one-mile loop trail on Soaring Vista Natural Area will be eight to ten feet wide, gravel, and extend from the southmost portion of the property adjoining CR 30. There is also an informal parking lot off CR30, that users can utilize for parking, but the understanding is that many of the users will be from the surrounding neighborhood. At this time, a parking lot is not included in the plan. Should the HOAs be supportive there is a potential to connect to the adjoining subdivisions as well. Heidi and her team used the Visitor Use Impact and Decision Framework to weigh and measure decisions for the alignment. Heidi described the community outreach process NAD staff performed to receive feedback on the trail, that included over 100 contacts both in person, through an online survey, and via postcard. Overall, the response was largely supportive. Mountain Range Shadow community was extremely excited about the connection. Concerns that shaped the proposal were waste, noise and vandalism in general. Along with a positive recommendation from leadership NAD will instill Best Management Practices. Heidi included the Best Management Practices in the memo to the Board. The Board inquired about a prior sewage easement that was requested by NAD in the past on the property and asked if the construction would play any role in that easement request. Dave reported additional discussion on timing for that construction, over the next week or so. Joe asked about the wildlife in the area. It was previously an agricultural area. Has there been any impact study to analyze the wildlife? Heidi’s team did not express any concerns in response to the 18 documented species they initially surveyed. She suggested additional birds might come down from the Fossil Creek area as well. Kelly expressed interest for future presentations to be notified of projects that are both within and outside the growth management area as well as city limits. He would also like to see a cost breakdown for the trail as well as for any other projects NAD is proposing. Kelly was opposed to the project. As a Board member he feels marginalized and disrespected by not being included in the decision making of the trail proposal. Julia reminded Kelly this project was called out in the 2017 Management Plan and clearly outlines the plans. The Board approves those Management Plans. Kelly states the Management Plan is general and bringing the proposal to the Board is important. By bringing these items to the Board too late it makes things more uncomfortable and difficult. He does not understand why this topic is not listed under New Business on the agenda. DocuSign Envelope ID: 034E2BB8-AF10-4107-9F45-C40FA7730BF7 Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting 10/14/2020 – MINUTES Page 5 Mike suggested that NAD address the potential for waste and graffiti near the seating area Heidi mentioned. Based on the map, and the alignment being on the far north end, it might be a challenge for staff to address waste as well as any graffiti, but he thinks it is going to be an issue. Board members were satisfied with the issues discussed. Heidi summarized the Board’s suggestions. Overall wording in future memos should include how NAD is framing their options for issues pertaining to trails. Secondly, to consider an improved background of the issue and ensuring that staff and The Board are aligned with what NAD is asking for. Kelly added he would also like to see a cost breakdown of projects. Kestrel Fields Natural Area Charlotte introduced the proposed name for the Smith/Ashley property on west Vine Street. Working with the Public Engagement Team to select a name for the property, Kestrel Field s Natural Area was chosen. Staff looked at the species in the area, made a site visit to the area and then brainstormed various names. After a list of names was submitted staff agreed on the name Kestrel Field Natural Area. Kestrel raptors frequently are observed by neighbors at the site, so they felt it was a good fit. Charlotte explained the next step will be City Manager approval. The Board asked why “Fields”. Charlotte explained that it has been a cherry orchard in the past, it has also been a hay field and it has an agriculture feel around it. Field seems appropriate. Kelly reminded NAD staff that naming natural areas should be brought to the Board before decisions are made. He does not feel Fields and Kestrels go together. Julia reported early restoration plans are already in place and that the n eighbors have been very supportive. This property is planned to have a conservation agriculture lease on part of the property that has been in agriculture and has available water shares. Kelly suggested having the staff go back and review the naming again. Suggestions from the Board were Kestrel Natural Area and Kestrel Meadow Natural Area. Zoe suggested coming back to the Board in November with the results. Land Conservation Update Dave reported on two fee acquisitions that have closed ; an addition to Crossline Canyon Natural Area for 136 acres, as well as an additional 80-acre parcel referred to as the Wygant property. The Red Mountain Open Space partnership with Larimer County Department of Natural Resources holds fee title and NAD holds a conservation easement DocuSign Envelope ID: 034E2BB8-AF10-4107-9F45-C40FA7730BF7 Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting 10/14/2020 – MINUTES Page 6 for 1,029 acres. Current acquisitions under contract are; a 23-acre and 7-acre fee acquisition in north Fort Collins. 10. ADJOURNMENT: 7:50 P.M. _________________________ Chair, Raymond W atts _________________________ Date DocuSign Envelope ID: 034E2BB8-AF10-4107-9F45-C40FA7730BF7 11/19/2020