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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 01/26/1994CITY OF FORT COLLINS CULTURAL, LIBRARY, AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD CITY COUNCIL LIAISON TO THE BOARD: Councilman Gerry Horak STAFF SUPPORT TO THE BOARD: Jackie Rael, Administrative Aide II, and Jerry P. Brown, Assistant to the Director MINUTES: Regular Meeting -- January 26, 1994 CALL MEETING TO ORDER: The regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Board President Roger Tarum. AGENDA REVIEW: No changes to the printed agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the last regular meeting of December 8, 1993 were unanimously (7-0) approved on a motion by Rich Feller seconded by Mary Ness. Eric Reno joined the Board at this time. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION: No citizen participation. PROPOSED TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS AT LEMAY AND RIVERSIDE Last month, Civil Engineer Craig Foreman presented a proposal for the State Trails Grant from Colorado State Parks/GO Colorado (due in February) for the Spring Creek Trail improvements and the Poudre River Trailhead at Lemay and Mulberry. At tonight's meeting Craig wanted to elaborate on the details of the trailhead project. Park Planning and Development Manager Randy Balok began the discussion by stating we have had many requests for a trailhead at Mulberry and Lemay. In addition to the requests from the trail users, this has become an issue with the staff at the Medical Clinic (on the corner) who complain that patients' parking spaces are taken up by trail users. Craig said the GO Colorado funding will fund $1,000,000 into the State Trails Grant Program. Our project will cost $230,000. GO Colorado is trying to get some visibility all over the state. The two projects Fort Collins is submitting are the Spring Creek Trail repaving at Spring Park and the Poudre River Trail parking area at Mulberry/Highway 14 and Lemay. Craig showed a map of the location on Lemay and Highway 14. He has obtained letters of support from the Highway Department and from the Commission on Disability for the Poudre Trail project. Jessica MacMillan asked how many spaces will be at this trailhead? Craig responded 10 to 20 spaces. Jessica asked if we need a parking lot? Randy said, this is in response to our citizens requests. Jessica feels it is not necessary to have a trailhead at this location. Craig said that several people have asked Parks and Recreation Board Minutes January 26, 1994 Page 2 for parking in this area because the intersection is so busy. K-Lynn Cameron said that the parking lot in this location is very important, that it should be visible and landscaped. This will bring people to use the trail at this section. Sylvia Cranmer asked if that is a requirement to build a parking lot at trail heads? Craig said it is not a requirement. This is customer requested. Rich Feller said he would be in support of anything to remove that billboard on the corner. Mary Ness said that the City made 'an agreement to have that billboard in this area. Marilyn Barnes joined the Board at this time. After much discussion, the majority of the Board think the parking lot is essential and want it to be safe, visible, and aesthetically pleasing. Craig then briefly spoke of the 1995/1996 overview of State grant process. He said staff will be working on the regional transportation, on -street bike lanes with ISTEA funding and off street bike trails, ie., the Stanton Creek project from Boyd Lake to Fort Collins. In the Fall, staff will come back to the Board with a list of projects that staff wants to submit for State Trails/GO Colorado funding. He said the more we can partner with other Northern Colorado entities, the more beneficial for the grant funding. NATURAL AREA ACQUISITION UPDATE Randy Balok updated the Board on this for Natural Resources Director Tom Shoemaker. Randy distributed a site map location for the purchase of 25 acres along the Poudre River just east of Old Town. This area will need restoration. He stated Conservation Trust might add money to this project for the trail. K- Lynn Cameron said that as a taxpayer who voted for 1/4 cent sales tax for natural area acquisition, if she discovered that this funding for natural area acquisition was being used for uses other than originally voted on, she would be upset. Randy said that the percentage would be thus that the partnership of the two funding mechanisms would enhance each other. Jessica MacMillan asked if this is part of the Riverwalk study? Randy replied that it is. K-Lynn thinks this is a great idea. On a motion by K-Lynn Cameron, seconded by Marilyn Barnes the Board voted unanimously (9-0) to recommend to City Council that this acquisition using storm drainage funds and natural areas monies to acquire this 25 acres of natural lands, and if Conservation Trust Funds are used for this area that this be brought back to this Board for approval. 1993 ANNUAL REPORT Jackie Rael presented to the Board (in their packets) the 1993 annual report. This report highlights the Board's 1993 work plan and accomplishments. On a motion by Marilyn Barnes, seconded by Jessica MacMillan, the Board voted unanimously (9-0) to accept the 1993 annual report as submitted by staff. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes January 26, 1994 Page 3 OTHER BUSINESS Parkland Fees Randy Balok informed the Board on the recent direction from City Council. The City Manager suggested that we present these options to the City Council worksession on January 11 with the problem areas highlighted as problem statements. Randy reviewed this memo with the Board that was distributed in their packets. He reviewed the options that Council is interested in. Jerry Brown discussed the Parkland Fund being used for renovation in the older parks. He also stated that since the late 1980's Parkland Fund has been used for one and one-half salaries of the Park Planning and Development Division. Mary Ness said he would prefer the Board review this material and come back in February with the information reviewed. K-Lynn Cameron asked if Council would be interested in our comments? Staff replied yes.. Roger Tarum said that the worksession he attended, the developers want to see the Parkland Fee used for neighborhood parks in the neighborhoods. Diane Thies and Eric Reno said we need to determine the policy before we can make a recommendation. K-Lynn Cameron agreed with the other Board members. She further stated that she would like to make a recommendation to Council, but there is not enough time to review and make a recommendation in a short time frame. The Board would like more time to make an informed decision. The Board asked for a worksession to review the Parkland Fund policy to then make a recommendation. They would like a worksession similar to what was presented to the developers. Rich Feller asked if a study has been done to determine if all the neighborhood parks are being used? Randy said that in 1991, a survey was conducted that showed citizen satisfaction. Rich Feller asked if our parks are being used by non-residents. Answer: We are not developing the community parks as we need, and therefore the neighborhood parks are being impacted by the shortage of community parks. On a motion by K-Lynn Cameron, seconded by Marilyn Barnes, the Board would like to have a worksession during the February meeting to review this, and the Board could give a meaningful input. The Motion was withdrawn. Then on a motion by Eric Reno, seconded by Rich Feller, the Parks and Recreation Board unanimously (9-0) voted to defer its recommendation on Parkland Fees until it has had the funding recommendations with Parkland policies. Randy Balok distributed the new facilities guide. Craig Foreman updated the Board on the Rails -to -Trails project. Staff is Parks and Recreation Board Minutes January 26, 1994 Page 4 making progress between Taft Hill and Overland Trail, and negotiations with the homeowners are going very well. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. es ctfully s bmitted, kie Rael, Administr ide II Meeting Attendance BOARD MEMBERS STAFF Roger Tarum Mary Ness K-Lynn Cameron Marilyn Barnes Sylvia Cranmer Rich Feller Jessica MacMillan Eric Reno Diane Thies Jerry Garretson, Poudre R-1 Rep. Jerry P. Brown Randy Balok Craig Foreman Jackie Rael