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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Conservation And Stewardship Board - Minutes - 11/12/2008MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS LAND CONSERVATION & STEWARDSHIP BOARD Regular Meeting 200 W. Mountain, Suite A November 12, 2008 DATE: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 LOCATION: 215 N. Mason, Conference Room 1-A TIME: 6:00 p.m. For Reference: Linda Stanley - 491-7377 Mayor Doug Hutchinson - 416-2154 John Stokes, Staff Liaison - 221-6263 Board Members Present Raymond Boyd, Linsey DeBell, Chris Gaughan, Trudy Haines, Karyl Ting Board Members Excused Michelle Grooms, Linda Stanley Council Liaison Mayor, Doug Hutchinson Staff Present Natural Resources / Natural Areas Department: Geri Kidawski, Mark Sears, John Stokes, Zoe Whyman Guests Denise Weston — Fort Collins, Environmental CSU History and Policy Class: Jeff R. Miller Heather L. Taylor Nichole Wardo Kevin Boyle Adam Williams Amanda Miller Trish Barrere Alysse Brice Aaron Berscheid Land Conservation and Stewardship Board November 12, 2008 Page 2 of 6 Public Comments Haines: The League of Women Votes, next Monday, November 17"' at 7 p.m. at the Harmony Library, will have a Community Separators public forum. They will talk about lands that separate the communities, open lands, and agricultural lands that keep each community unique. John Stokes will represent Fort Collins, and there will also be representatives from Larimer County, Wellington, Johnstown, Windsor, Loveland, Berthoud and possibly Timnath. Agenda Review Review and Approval of Minutes Boyd moved to approve the October 8, 2008 meeting minutes as written. DeBell second. It was unanimously approved. Update on the 392 Interchange and 1601 CDOT Process • Weston: I'm the project manager for the City of Fort Collins, on the environment component. We are going to all the Boards with this presentation so that everyone understands the framework, how we are moving forward, and how there is a direct connection with the North I-25 Environmental Impact Statement. Weston gave a PowerPoint presentation which included: - Overview of all project phases with include three phases — currently in phase two - 1601 Process — overview of outcomes - 1601 Process — Design Update — "Tight Diamond" - 1601 Process — Conceptual level design allows cost estimates to be prepared. - 1601 Process — Environmental Update - 1601 Process — Finance Update Stakeholders — CDOT, City of Fort Collins, Town of Windsor & Private Sector - Schedule and Milestone Decisions - Next Steps — December and January • December Work Session • Haines: Why will the road swing out so far to the West of I-25? • Weston: Because of the intersections that are needed both for the ramps and the frontage road, this is the optimum location for safety and efficiency. If it goes any closer to the East those intersections are too close. • Haines: What do you mean one to one mitigation regarding wetlands? • Weston: They would relocate the same amount of wetland at another area. • Haines: The road swings out to the West early, can the angle go out gradually, can you tighten the road and still maintain safety and protection to the open area? • Weston: It could be cut in a little thinner. Currently we are at 20 percent design, and we are trying to make sure it does not go further west. • Whyman: How many prairie dogs will be impacted by this? Land Conservation and Stewardship Board November 12, 2008 Page 3 of 6 • Weston: A survey count will be done, and the prairie dogs will be relocated, because there is plenty of prairie dog habitat in the area. • Haines: How long will the capacity last? • Weston: Anything done on a Federal interchange is a 20 year plan. • Haines: The option of retail, does that change? • Weston: Absolutely, but all analysis was considered with full build out. • DeBell: Can a traffic light be installed? • Weston: A traffic light can only let through a certain amount of cars. • DeBell: When would this interchange be built? • Weston: Our goal is to have it cleared so that it can be built by 2010. • DeBell: If there is a longer wait will the analysis be redone? • Weston: Yes, the environmental clearance includes traffic analysis and has a three year shelf life. If it's not dealt with within three years you do have to reassess. I can't speak for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), but they are encouraging us to finish this project. • Haines: Where would retail go on the East side • Weston: The current push is on the northeast side. • DeBell: What does retail mean? • Weston: We can't say what will go on the East side of I-25, because it belongs to the Town of Windsor. • Haines: The overall problem in the State is allowing all the retail development on the interstate. The interstate is supposed to be a highway that gets people from one town to another. Retail creates pressure all along the interstate. • Weston: CDOT does not necessarily discourage that. • Gaughan: This is an interesting discussion of why the interstate systems were put in and how they were done. At each interchange the Federal government may have had the opportunity to buy up the land and they didn't, they left it private. • Weston: At one time the interstate didn't benefit from it. Now they may see it as a potential funding agent for interchange improvements. • Weston: We will go back to Council in December with the full 1601 package. They will make a decision in January, and then it will go on to the Transportation Commission. • Haines: Can we determine if this Board would like to make a comment to Council regarding designing the intersection with less impact to the open space on the West side of I-25. • DeBell: I wouldn't oppose it, but I do not feel strongly one way or another. • Stokes: The staff is aware of this issue and they are trying to make it the tightest design possible. • Weston: I do know from a general standpoint that Council would be happy to know that this was brought before this Board and if you could, please provide them with any comments regarding this presentation it would help the process. • Haines: I'll write the note and circulate it among the other Board members for their comments. Land Conservation and Stewardship Board November 12, 2008 Page 4 of 6 2008 Education and Outreach Update Zoe Whyman, manager of the education and outreach program for Natural Areas, gave a brief overview of the what, why and who of the Natural Areas Education Program. • Whyman: How do we provide education and recreation for the Fort Collins community? - Increase awareness and support of natural areas - Promote understanding of natural systems - Foster each individual's realization of the importance and meaning natural places add to tour lives • How we accomplish the mission - Public Education Programs — 238 programs serving 10,500 people - Publications — Brochures, Newspaper articles, Graphic standards, branding - Interpretive Signage — Kiosks, sight sign, interior signs - Website - TV/Radio — Use of Channel 14, Nature of the Poudre River, Nature Next Door, Discover new places, Community at Work - Teacher Support — Eco Week, Last. Child in the Woods book groups, Field trip transportation funds. - Volunteers — Master Naturalists, Volunteer Ranger Assistants, Adopt -a - Natural Area, Citizen Scientists (80 volunteers volunteered for the frog survey), Resource Management and Public Improvement projects. - Volunteer Care and Feeding — Volunteer picnic ■ The Future 2008-2010 Strategic Plan Goals: - Promote visitor enjoyment - Develop balanced demographic - Increase the number that articulated value of the Natural Areas Program - Open Soapstone Prairie Natural Area - Increase use of volunteers - Improve website - Increase awareness of Poudre River Plus - More technology - Better use of Cable 14 - Junior Naturalist booklet/program • Whyman: We have three full time staff plus myself - Sue Kenney — Education and Outreach Coordinator - Susan Schafer — Education and Volunteer Coordinator - Deborah Price — Bobcat Ridge Natural Area Educator o Pam Smith — (Seasonal) Soapstone Interpretive Guide o Leonard Ewy — (Seasonal) Soapstone Interpretive Guide • Gaughan: The education programs, what is the percent of volunteers/staff that run these programs? • Whyman: I believe they are about 90 percent volunteer run. • Haines: Will the intern also access the understanding of the finding? • Whyman: Yes, he is doing that through the interviews. zN =. Land Conservation and Stewardship Board November 12, 2008 Page 5 of 6 • Haines: How many volunteers are experts in this area? • Whyman: A lot of our volunteers are highly qualified, educated and skilled. • Gaughan: Do you have any volunteer ranger assistants who live near Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, because that area will require patrolling. • Whyman: People are eager to volunteer at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. • Stokes: Volunteer Ranger Assistants will be a big part of our work plan for Soapstone; we will need a lot of volunteer help up there. We have an internal strategic plan which we redevelop every spring, and this year we wanted to focus on outreach in the community to heighten the awareness of the Natural Areas Program. Zoe and her staff have done a wonderful job. • Gaughan: Do we have any Spanish speaking volunteers? • Whyman: Yes we do. Picnic Rock Update • Stokes: The City has been paying $18,000 a year, from the General Fund, for minimal maintenance at Picnic Rock; the General Fund is gone after 2008. The Staff at Gateway Natural Area does management and site cleanup. The City owns 1.3 acres, half of which is in the river, and the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) owns about 400 acres at Picnic Rock. However, the DOW does not want to manage the parking lot. The site has a history, and at one time was managed by other entities, for instance when State Parks managed Picnic Rock they charged a day fee. We decided to do a traffic count this year from May 1 - September 7, 2008, the count revealed that there were 40,000 vehicles in the parking lot, 20,000 of these vehicles were on weekends, with July having the peak use. We have been in discussions with the DOW, Friends of the Poudre River,. Forest Service, Latimer County and others as to how are we going to mange this site. The City of Fort Collins is the only one willing to step-up to manage Picnic Rock. Our concept is: - Enter into a long term lease with the DOW, which would allow us to enforce City code. We are discussing this option with them. - Institute a gate fee — we will come back to this Board with a more detailed budget. There would be no charge during the week, a parking fee would be charged on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The complication with a parking fee is that, on a busy day people all ready park on the highway and those people who do not want to pay a gate fee will park on the highway. We will need to get help from the State Highway Patrol, and are currently working with CDOT, and hope to meet with them by March. • Ting: Does CDOT have any evaluations regarding barriers? • Stokes: We have not had that discussion with CDOT. • DeBell: My concern is that people will be tubing higher up the river, which can be dangerous. • Ting: Is there any consideration for a season pass? • Stokes: Yes we are talking about a combined pass. Land Conservation and Stewardship Board November 12, 2008 Page 6 of 6 • Gaughan: Any thoughts of talking to Transfort? The bus line goes up the canyon. • DeBell: The kayak community would support it as long as there is a season pass. • Stokes: One of the reasons to charge a fee is to decrease visitation. We have so many people living along the Front Range that we need to manage the resources differently. • Gaughan: I like the idea of the Picnic Rock parking lot looking like a Natural Area parking lot because design can go a long way. • Stokes: The upper unit parking lot is closed, and we are considering opening this for additional parking. • Stokes: The other alternative is to close Picnic Rock. As a natural resource, we as a community have a responsibility to manage this area. • Kevin Boyle: Why is there a fee at Gateway Natural Area? • Stokes: The parks department inherited Gateway from the Utility department when they moved the water treatment plant away from there. The Parks department charged a parking fee and a couple of years ago Council and the City Manager asked the Natural Areas Department to manage this area, so we decided to retain the parking fee. The fee gives us a little revenue to manage the site. New Business: Announcements: Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 8 p.m. Submitted by Geri Kidawski Administrative Secretary