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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Conservation And Stewardship Board - Minutes - 09/13/2006MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS LAND CONSERVATION & STEWARDSHIP BOARD Regular Meeting 200 W. Mountain, Suite A September 13, 2006 For Reference: Bill Bertschy - 491-7377 Mayor Doug Hutchinson - 416-2154 John Stokes, Staff Liaison - 221-6263 Board Members Present Bill Bertschy, Michelle Brown, Greg Eckert, Michelle Grooms, Greg Snyder, Linda Stanley, Karyl Ting Board Members Absent Paul Hudnut, Vicky McLane, John Stokes Council Liaison Mayor, Doug Hutchinson Staff Present Natural Resources Dent: Daylan Figgs, Geri Kidawski, Mark Sears, Sue Kenney Operations Services/Real Estate Services: Patrick Hyland Guests Latimer County — Facilitator: K-Lynn Cameron Larimer County — Facilitator: Meegan Flenniken Citizen — Seth Anthony Bertschy called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m., and welcomed Mayor, Doug Hutchinson to the meeting. Agenda Review Mark Sears said he would like to add an agenda item regarding the donation of 72.195 acres subject to an existing conservation easement for the benefit of the Natural Area Program. Review and Approval of Minutes Bertschy asked for a correction to the July 12, 2006 meeting minutes. He said the correction would be in regards to the section on the Discussion and Possible Reconsideration of Platte River Power Authority Right of Way Easement on Colina Mariposa Natural Area. He asked that the wording in regards to calling for a vote be changed in two sections from Bertschy made a motion, to Bertschy called for the vote. Linda Stanley motioned to approve the August 9, 2006 minutes. Michelle Grooms second. The minutes were unanimously approved. Land Conservation & Stewardship Board September 13, 2006 Page 2 of 7 Public Comments None Overland Pass Pipeline Easement across Meadow Springs Ranch — Patrick Hyland Hyland passed out Wyoming/Colorado Pipeline map for the Board to review as he spoke about the pipeline easement across Meadow Springs Ranch. Hyland: Last April I attended the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board to tell you about a liquid natural gas line that was going in on northeast area of Meadow Springs Ranch in Weld County. We would like the Board's recommendation to take this to the Water Board and then to City Council for consideration at its October meeting. Hyland explained the specifics of the pipeline easement that will run across Meadow Spring to the Board. Grooms: Are there any downsides? Hyland: No I don't think so; the Federal Government encourages multiple pipeline corridors. The City of Fort Collins will be paid between $13,000 and $14,000 for this easement. Ting: Who takes priority in terms of guaranteeing that the restoration will be done? Hyland: Restoration of prairie ground takes longer than one season. So what they do typically is reseed once or twice in subsequent seasons, and then it takes at least a year for it to grow. Both companies will agree to restore the ground. Entrega will go in there and restore it, but in that year there will be no growth, and then Overland Pass pipeline will have to restore the ground to the way it was prior to Entrega. Stanley: Who checks restoration? Hyland: Meadow Springs Ranch staff does. Entrega is checked by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and their supervisors. The Overland Pass is checked by the Bureau of Land Management. Bertschy: Given the dry conditions, it may take a couple of times for them to go in and restore the land, are we persistent in checking the restoration progress? Hyland: Mr. Comstock assured me that he is. Some of this restoration may take from five to seven years because of the rain and growth cycles. Mr. Comstock specifies the seed used. Snyder: The Water Authority owns this ranch? Hyland: It is owned by the utilities. Snyder: Why does the utilities department own the land? Sears: It's for the application of bio-solids from the waste water plant. Bertschy: What would the Board like to do regarding this request? Greg Snyder make to following motion: Moved to accept the authorization of the conveyance of a right-of-way and the grant of a temporary construction easement, for the construction of a liquid gas pipeline at Meadow Springs Ranch". The motion was second Karyl Ting. It was unanimously approved. Land Conservation & Stewardship Board September 13, 2006 Page 3 of 7 Bertschy: Is there a way to predict that that corridor will continue to widen? Hyland: My assumption is that it will. County Program Update — K-Lynn Cameron and Meegan Flennike, Larimer County Facilitators Cameron: This is the tenth year of the County's Open Space quarter cent sales tax. In early November there will be an event to discuss how has the sales tax been spent over the past ten years. The information for this event will be shared at a later date. K-Lynn and Meegan Flennike showed the board a presentation of the Larimer County parks and open lands discussing: • Impetus for the open space initiative • Open Space Campaigns • Allowable Uses of Open Space Sales Tax Dollars • Open lands Advisory Board — 12 member diverse board • Conservation Easement and Fee -Simple Land Protection Methods • Acres Owned/managed • 2001 Open Lands Master Plan • Open Space Values — Wildlife, Wetland, Passive outdoor Recreation, Agriculture, Separator/Buffer • Partnerships for Land Protection • Resources Stewardship: Protection and Enhancement Activities • Cost of Management • Red Mountain Open Space and Eagles Nest Open Space • Agricultural Priority Areas • Community Separators, Fort Collins — Loveland • Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space, Devil's Back Bone Open Space, Chimney Hollow Open Space, Ramsey-Shockey Open Space, Rimrock Open Space Estes Valley and Regional Trails • Public Outreach There were questions and short discussions by the Board during the presentation. Approval of Conservation Easement on Phase II Round Butte Ranch — Rachel Steeves Steeves: Phase I was brought to the Board early this year. This Ordinance authorizes the conveyance of a 720-acre conservation easement on Round Butte Ranch, Phase II, from the City's Natural Area system to Larimer County and authorizes entering into a grant agreement with the Board of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund. The City will receive a $212,700 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado to support the conservation of the property. The grant requires that a conservation easement be placed on the property and conveyed to a qualified third party, which will be Larimer County. The conservation Land Conservation & Stewardship Board September 13, 2006 Page 4 of 7 easement acknowledges and protects the natural qualities of the property. It also allows a single five -acre building envelope as well as continued ranching and other compatible activities. We are hoping that the Board recommends the Phase II Round Butte Ranch project to the City Council for approval. Stanley: What is cost per acre? Steeves: We purchased it for $750 an acre. If we can sell the underlying feedback for up to $435 an acre that would make a net cost of zero to the City, but if we sold it for less then there would be a slight fee to the City. Stanley: Will this be sold as one piece of property? Sears: We would like to. Bertschy: One of the reasons for purchasing this property was the access rights. Sears: Yes, we are retaining access easement rights, and the primary one is a small strip of land on the Bernard property, and that we already own it was granted at the first closing. Brown: Will you be working with any of the conservation buyers for where they want to put a building envelop? Sears: No. Snyder: With the potential of selling the property at $500 dollars acre, are we creating private estates. Sears: Instead of having a private estate on every 35 acres we may have two on 600 acres. Bertschy: Who owns water? Sleeves: There are no water rights associated with the property. One of the reservoirs is dry and one has a small amount of water. Bertschy: Who owns land? Sears: To the north there is an in holding, but I don't remember who owns that. We've contacted all the owner's of in holdings. To date we have seen no interest from the land owners to sell their property. The Zimmerman's own two sections of the property north of Round Butte. They are leasing a portion of the land that we purchased from the Roman family. We are talking to them about acquiring a conservation easement on their property. Stanley: Our action here is for the conveyance of the Conversation Easement on the City Natural Area Property Round Butte Ranch Phase 11. Sears: Yes. Bertschy: The reason we are recommending to council is because this is a conveyance of easement? Steeves: It's a conveyance of a conservation easement, and acceptance of the related grant agreement with the Board of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund. Linda Stanley made the following motion: Move that the Board recommends to Council that they approve the conveyance of the Conservation Easement on City Natural Area property (Round Butte Ranch Phase 2) to Larimer County and Authorizing a Related Grant Agreement with the Board of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund. Land Conservation & Stewardship Board September 13, 2006 Page 5 of 7 The motion was second by Michele Brown. It was unanimously approved. Property Report — Rachel Steeves Steeves passed out a copy of the property report for the Board to review. Steeves: We started a Land Acquisition database, and created a land evaluation system together with the master plan. We turned this into a report form to share with the Board, and for you to review a standardized form that the Natural Areas Program plans to use with land and conservation easement acquisitions. There is more information in the database if the Board feels the report should be expanded. Soapstone Update/Management Plan Beginnings — Daylan Figgs Daylan Figgs' and Meegan Flenniken presented to the Board a presentation of Soapstone Prairie Natural Area & Red Mountain Open Space. The overview contained: • Planning Process and Timeline • Technical Advisory Group • Baseline Information • Efforts Underway • Management Guidelines • Issues There were questions and short discussions by the Board during the presentation. Bertschy: Since no one on this Board is part of the Technical Advisory Team, I feel this Board needs to be more involved either as members of the team or by having regular check points. Sears: Note that the proposed management plan timeline has scheduled times for reporting back to the Board and for receiving input from the Board. Snyder: Following public meetings the information should be brought to this Board. Stanley: I assume we will receive a draft beforehand, to review. Daylan: We will provide a draft or pre -draft plan in plenty of time to this Board. Please let me know how we can keep this Board informed, we'd be happy to comply. Choose the Best Catch Phrase — Sue Kenney and Mark Sears Sue Kenney is the Education Coordinator for the Natural Areas Program. Kenney: At a special meeting of the Board a while back, we brainstormed some taglines or slogans for the Natural Areas Program. By way of background we are trying to make sure we have a strong recognition and identity in the community. As part of that the crews are wearing new uniforms, and we also looking to standardize our print media and some of our sign media. Sears: We would like your input on the taglines and would like to know which one you all like the best, however John Stokes has reserved the right to make the final decision. The final top 3 taglines are: Land Conservation & Stewardship Board September 13, 2006 Page 6 of 7 -Yours to explore -Your treasures to explore -Naturally Yours Naturally Yours was chosen by the Board with a show of hands. Addition to agenda — Mark Sears Sears: We've been working on this land donation for about two years. The property to be donated is a 72.195-acre parcel known as Tract B, Fossil Lake PUD, First Filing, Fort Collins, Colorado. The current owner and donor will be Everline, LLC, a subsidiary of the Everitt Companies. The owner of this tract purchased and developed approximately 200 acres of land along the north shore of Fossil Lake. The subject parcel, Tract B, abuts the Fossil Creek Reservoir shoreline and is subject to a conservation easement granted to Larimer County by the Everline LLC in 1999. The Fossil Creek Reservoir property is currently being leased and managed by the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Program. We felt that if we owned this parcel it would give us a tighter control over and enforcement of trespassing, and we could restore the vegetation. Brown: When an individual or company donates land to the City what do they get in return. Sears: They will get donation value, which they can write off on their taxes. Michele Grooms made the following motion: Move that the Board recommend to Council that they approve an ordinance, which accepts the donation. Linda Stanley second. It was unanimously approved. New Business No new business Announcements Bertschy: Steve Ryder resigned from Legacy Land Trust, and has taken a job with The Nature Conservancy in Montana, so that position is now opened. Sears: There is a scheduled event on Sunday, September 23, 2006. It'll be a hike/picnic for the Natural Areas volunteers at Bobcat Ridge, lunch will be provided, and there will be several guided tours of the area. The Bobcat Ridge Natural Area grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, September 30, 2006. At noon there will be comments by Mayor Protem Karen Weitkunat and City Manager Darin Atteberry. A barbeque will follow along with bluegrass music provided by Wildwood Holler. We have events scheduled every Saturday and Sunday for the month of October. Land Conservation & Stewardship Board September 13, 2006 Page 7 of 7 Adjourn The meeting adjourned a 9:06. Submitted by Geri Kidawski Administrative Secretary Appproved oy Q f tc o