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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 06/23/1999Call Meeting to Order: President Lance Freeman called The Regular Meeting to order at 5:50 p.m. Agenda Review: No changes to the printed Agenda. Items of Note: Del Price called to say he would not be able to attend tonight's meeting. New Board Members Paul Hudnut and Ross Cunniff were introduced to Board members and staff. They are replacing Diane Thies and Marilyn Barnes. Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the May 26, 1999 meeting were unanimously (6- 0) approved on a motion by Jessica MacMillan, seconded by Marilyn Barnes. Citizen Participation: No citizen participation Fossil Creek Communitv Park Park Planning and Development Manager Craig Foreman gave the Board an update on plans for Fossil Creek Community Park. He explained that in 1995, we received $50,000 for the conceptual design of this community park. The developer of Huntington Hills partnered with the City to construct the lakes and wetlands prior to the construction of the park. This gave the developer more marketable lots and saved the City on earthwork costs. Building Community Choices funding will be appropriated in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 for the construction of Fossil Creek Community Park. Design fees $ 550,000 City Project Management 75,000 Construction 9,000,000 Administration Fees 130,000 Contingency 73,167 Total $9.828.167 Parks and Recreation Board N tes June 23, 1999 Page 2 Maintenance Funding starts in 2003. A question was raised about using available money from the Southwest Community Park on Fossil Creek Community Park? Craig said that Southwest Community Park funding is in a separate account that is accumulating at about $1,000,000 annually for new construction for community parks. None of that money can be used for Fossil Creek Community Park. He explained the Community Parkland funding impact fees collected are for construction of new community parks after Fossil Creek Community Park is constructed. Paul Hudnut asked what is the budget for building new parks? Craig explained that construction of a neighborhood park costs approximately $1,000,000 and at our present rate of growth we generate about that much for neighborhood parks annually through the Neighborhood Parkland Fund. Fossil Creek Community Park Schedule: July and August: Conduct UP process to hire an architect August: Meet with area neighborhoods October 1999 to fall 20000: design goes through public process, City Advisory Boards, and Planning and Zoning Board Spring 2001 to January 2003: Construction of park Jessica asked if we are bidding this project locally or nationally? Craig said that we will open the bidding to the City's bid list for design that includes local and regional firms. The construction project will be open to the general contractors who are on the City's list also. Parking: Question was raised if we could park in levels so that it doesn't look so obtrusive. Craig said that is a possibility because of the topography of the land. Design: There will be two lighted fields; skateboard facility, tennis courts, ice skating, small amphitheater, sidewalks throughout, passive areas, shelters, playground, and Fossil Creek trail will run through the park with an underpass at Lemay Avenue. Funding: Building Community Choices. We have a constraint with the $9.8 million. Storm Water increased rainfall intensities because of the 97 flood, we might have to move the ballfields out of the enlarged floodplain. Council adopted buffer requirements which have placed a natural areas buffer along Fossil Creek of 100 feet. Concerns: Lights, traffic, and noise will be the biggest impacts on the neighborhood. Possible Additional Amenities: In -Line Hockey which is a popular sport and wasn't popular in this area five years ago when the conceptual design was done. Parks and Recreation Bowinutes • June 23,1999 Page 3 Diane Thies said it is important to keep our passive and programmed areas in balance. Jessica MacMillan questioned the ice skating area? She said obviously it will be used in the winter and asked how deep will it be? Craig said the arena will be shallow and we will use it for ice skating in the winter and could make it a fountain in the summer. She further asked if we do underground parking, would it free up the area for a passive area with landscaping. Craig said that could be a possibility. Marilyn asked where the restrooms are located? Should there be some closer to the ballfields? Craig said that yes, we need to design some in that area. Paul Hudnut asked when the City builds a, community park like this, who are we designing it for? Craig said that it is designed for the entire community and will have access from the surrounding neighborhoods. It is designed for the community and according to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, a community park serves a four square mile area. He further asked what amenities will be planned for the recreation facility? Jean explained that this is conceptual at this time, but could have indoor pool, meeting rooms, weight rooms, youth activity area, gymnasium, etc. Jean said that a typical recreation center is open seven days a week and is community oriented for recreational amenities to serve the public. City/Poudre School Districts — Building Community Choices Marty Heffernan reported on the progress the Liaison Committee has made with the appropriated $600,000 from Building Community Choices for a joint project between the City and the School District. The Liaison Committee, at their last meeting voted to spend the full $600,000 on ballfields for the community. The project will involve six new ballfields; three on school sites with two at Rocky and one at Poudre. In addition, there will be a three-way joint venture with CSU, the City, and the School District to construct three lighted fields at the Rodeo grounds. This will be brought to the Council/School District for approval. It is our hope to have lighted fields at the rodeo grounds. The Natural Resources Board has shown opposition towards the lights at the rodeo grounds because they feel it will be a disruption to the nocturnal habits of animals. Diane questioned why the Natural Resources Board doesn't come to us (Parks and Recreation Board) and weren't we supposed to work on these conflicts in a subcommittee setting and not send memos to Council without first trying to work together on issues. Lance Freeman and other Board members agreed with Diane's comments. Lance asked what position this Board would like to take on this item? Marty said that the Mayor has gone public supporting this three ballfield complex at the CSU rodeo grounds. Marilyn said that this is a perfect location for three lighted ballfields. Lance said that CSU is willing to work on this agreement for an improvement to the area. Paul Van Valkenburg added that we need to realize the need for lighted ballfields. He added there is new technology for lighting that sheds light down instead of outward. He further stated that we need to explain to the Natural Resources Board that we are not lighting fields as we did in previous years, i.e. when Rolland Moore Park was constructed. We need to collect some data and then explain to them what we are doing. Lance said that we need Parks and Recreation Board T tes June 23, 1999 Page 4 to put some documentation together and then go from there. The Board agreed and asked who would like to represent the Board in a subcommittee on this project. Dean Hoag said he would like to be involved in the subcommittee and Jessica MacMillan volunteered Mary Ness. Marty said that Boulder has a ballfield complex that uses the new lighting technology. Craig said that we also have a video on the new lighting technology. Lance would like to make contact with the Natural Resources Board to meet with them and then our subcommittee could begin meeting. Communitv Horticulture Center Update Marty said that when a site visit with CSURF and City staff was done, CSU had expressed an interest in exploring the City's preference for a northwest/southeast orientation for the boundary of the two -acre parcel. Staff will meet with the design consultants and then we will finalize our discussion on the boundaries. He explained staff also discussed purchasing two acres of additional land for trail relocation and CSU expressed an interest in the sale of the property. The site in the floodway is 15 acres and is more than we need for the horticulture center and gardens. Therefore, we can create a pocket park for the west central neighborhood, which is part of the sub -area plan. Marty has been working with the legal staff regarding a legal agreement with CSU. Their Legal Department is reviewing that at this time. Our intent is to present this to Council in September. CSU will take this to their board at the same time. Diane asked if all goes well, will we be able to construct next year and open in the fall of 2000? Marty replied that the gardens should be established in 2001. Gateway Park Update Craig Foreman illustrated the existing access road to Gateway and described the new entry road construction option. He said the first 70 feet of hillside area may be too dangerous to build a retaining wall and presented other options to the Board. He noted that the Colorado Department of Transportation suggested the possibility of constructing the park entrance just down stream from the curve and stated he believed it could be constructed as a double lane entry. He discussed the possibility of installing a bridge crossing the river to access Gateway Park. He explained that the construction of the road would begin in the spring. Paul Van Valkenburg said that there is a proposed dam that the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy is planning near Gateway Park. The dam would create a reservoir that could be larger than Horsetooth Reservoir. Therefore, Paul explained, we want to focus more on our property at this time than the regional plan we talked about last month. The _ timetable for construction of the dam would probably be at least 15 years from now. Marty further added that the funding we have for the park, and some of the money for the road is from the Department of Wildlife. Therefore, access needs to be granted for people to pass through Gateway Park for hunting and fishing. Parks and Recreation B004inutes June 23, 1999 Page 5 u Craig Foreman stated that Jeff Lakey, Landscape Architect, has made some great design progress on this project. Recreation Facility Use Statistics On a monthly basis, staff has given the Board a copy of the Cultural, Library, and Recreational Services monthly report. This report is generated for the City Manager and no longer requires the statistics that we have been providing the Board. Marty asked the Board how frequently they want to see these statistics? Jean Helburg said she could provide those statistics on a quarterly basis. Jessica said that she would be fine with an annual report of statistics for her informational purposes. Jean asked what information the Board would like to receive? Paul Van Valkenburg asked if we could have EPIC's statistics. The Board agreed they would like to see statistics on a quarterly basis. New Board Member Orientation Lance asked if there is a better orientation process for the new members? He and Marty discussed that we could have two Board members and two staff members talk through some of our issues and projects so that the new members can get up to speed on what topics the other Board members have been discussing. Diane thinks it is a great idea and suggested a tour of our facilities. Lance and Marty will meet and come up with a process. Other Business • The City received a $50,000 Great Outdoors Colorado grant for a skateboard park. This will be located in Edora Park. We will design through the fall with the youth skaters involved in the design. Paul Hudnut asked about the liability insurance on a facility of this type? Marty said the City is self -insured and has governmental immunity protection. If it is designed properly and maintained properly, then the risk is manageable. Marty further added that it would not be staffed. • The City also received preliminary approval for a $42,500 Fishing Is Fun grant from the Division of Wildlife. This grant, along with matching City funds, will be used for the aeration system at Sheldon Lake. This will improve the cleanliness of the water significantly and improve the fishing. Money will be available next spring and the City will match funds with Building Community Choices money appropriated for community park improvements. Board Members Comments • Hickory Park — Diane asked if there is any funding for this park yet? Craig said we have some funding and we will be receiving $700,000 to construct. We will design next year and construct in 2001. Parks and Recreation Board P tes June 23, 1999 Page 6 Lance said that he meets with Marty two weeks prior to the Board meeting and if Board members have items for the agenda, call or e-mail Lance. He encouraged all to participate in subcommittees. Paul Van Valkenburg asked if we need any Board members present at the Council Study Session regarding budget on June 29? Lance said he is planning on attending. • Lance Freeman thanked Marilyn Barnes and Diane Thies for their contributions to the Parks and Recreation Board over the years. He said their participation on this Board will be greatly missed. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, c ie Rael Executive Administrative Assistant Meeting Attendance Board Members Staff Marilyn Barnes Craig Foreman Ross Cunniff Lance Freeman Marty Heffernan Dean Hoag Jean Helburg Paul Hudnut Mike Powers Jessica MacMillan Jackie Rael Diane Thies Paul Van Valkenburg