HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Conservation And Stewardship Board - Minutes - 04/13/2011MINUTES
CITY OF FORT COLLINS
LAND CONSERVATION & STEWARDSHIP BOARD
Regular Meeting
April 13, 2010
DATE: Wednesday, April 13, 2011
LOCATION: 215 N Mason Street, Conference Room 1-A (west entrance)
TIME: 6:00 p.m.
For Reference: Linsey DeBell - 217-7436
Aislinn Kottwitz - 692-9915
Mark Sears, Staff Liaison - 416-2096
Board Members Present
K-Lynn Cameron, Linsey DeBell, Juli Germany, S. Kathryn Grimes, Trudy Haines,
Linda Knowlton, Linda Stanley
Board Members Excused
Michelle Grooms
Council Liaison
Aislinn Kottwitz
Staff Present
Natural Resources / Natural Areas Department: Geri Kidawski, Karen Manci, Mark Sears
Guests
Public Comments
Agenda Review
• Sears: We need to select a Bicycle Advisory Committee representative from this
board, if there is interest. Also, I would like to add an Executive Session at the end of
our agenda.
Review and Approval of Minutes
Germany moved to approve the March 9, 2011 meeting minutes as written. Grimes
second. It was unanimously approved.
Land Conservation & Stewardship Board
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Page 2 of 4
Election of Officers
Bicycle Advisory Board Representative
• Grimes: I would be interested in attending if I could share the position with
another Board member.
• Knowlton: Kathryn can be the representative and if she can not attend a scheduled
meeting she can ask another Board member to attend in her place.
• Sears: They meet the second Monday of month at 215 N. Manson
Strauss Cabin Land Transfer from Larimer County
• Sears: Larimer County would like to transfer the ownership and management of a
1.75 acre parcel along the Poudre River located adjacent to the north end of
Arapaho Bend Natural Area to the Natural Resources Department.
Larimer County acquired the 1.75 acre parcel in February of 1976. Since Natural
Areas owns the Arapaho Bend Natural Area (ABNA) adjacent and south of the
Strauss Cabin property, the transfer of its ownership will benefit both programs.
• Cameron: The history of the Strauss Cabin is very unique. It is an isolated piece
of property away from other County properties, and over the years the discussion
between the city and the county was that it would make sense to accept the
transfer. I would be in favor of this transfer.
Land Transfer from Mike Sollenberger
• Sears: Mike Sollenberger has agreed to transfer the ownership and management
of a 3.0 acre parcel located in Running Deer Natural Area, south of East Prospect
Road, to the Natural Resources Department.
Mr. Sollenberger acquired the 3.0 acre parcel from the previous owner of Running
Deer for the purpose of wetlands mitigation. He successfully established a
wetland on this parcel and had completed his obligation to the Corps of
Engineers.
Since the Natural Areas owns the surrounding property, Running Deer Natural
Area, the transfer of its ownership will benefit the Natural Areas Program (NAP),
and will only slightly increase the NAP maintenance costs.
Knowlton nominated Trudy Haines as Chair. Stanley second. Haines nominated Linda
Knowlton as Vice Chair. Stanley second. It was unanimously approved.
Cameron moved that the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board recommend that
City Council approve the transfer of the 1.75 acre Strauss Cabin Land from Larimer
County to the Natural Resources Department, to be owned and managed by the
Natural Areas Program. Knowlton second. It was unanimously approved.
Land Conservation & Stewardship Board
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Page 3 of 4
Public Improvements and Facilities Operations Update
• Manci: The last time I presented an update to this Board on Natural Areas Public
Improvements and Facility Operations was in January 2010. This presentation
covers highlights of what we accomplished last year and what we are up to in
2011.
Manci presented a PowerPoint presentation to the Board that included:
o New PI and FO Crew Chief
o Public Improvements
o 45 Natural Areas (39 currently open to the public) 41 local and 4 regional
o In addition to Trails – other projects
o 2010 PI Projects – back to basics
o Capital Replacement Schedule
o Gustav Swanson Parking Lot improvements
o Running Deer Welcome Center Kiosk
o Bobcat Ridge for the Horses
o Bog Bridge at Bobcat Ridge (Mahoney Park)
o Trail Maintenance at Bobcat Ridge on National Trails Day
o Trail Improvement at Maxwell Natural Area
o Red Fox Meadows Natural Area
o Floodway Fencing
o Poudre River Planning
o Vandalism
o 2011 PI Projects
o Trail Maintenance Focus
o Repair, Replace or Improve Structures
o Delayed Projects
o Reservoir Ridge Improvements
o Gateway Natural Playground
o 2011 Parks Paved Trails – every year the Natural Areas Program gives
Parks $350,000 for trails
o Public Improvements Expenditures/Budget
o Facility Operations – 6 facilities (12 buildings to maintain and
outbuildings)
o 2010 Projects – Nix Farm
o Gateway Ranger Residence and Office
o Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space
o P2 Inspections
o Nix shop organization
o Ongoing Facility Maintenance
Knowlton moved that the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board recommend that City
Council approve the transfer of 3.0 acres from Mike Sollenberger to the Natural Resources
Department, to be owned and managed by the Natural Areas Program. Germany second. It
was unanimously approved.
Land Conservation & Stewardship Board
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Page 4 of 4
o Soapstone Maintenance Office (A.K.A. Roman Cabin) and Garage/Shop
o Facility Operations Expenditures/Budget
• Cameron: Regarding Gustav Swanson restoration, this goes along with the Linden
Street improvements to the brewery?
• Sears: This is going just to the bridge, but with the increased tourism to New
Belgium we felt that we needed to fix up the area around Gustav Swanson.
New Business:
Land Conservation Updates and Announcements
• Sears:
o Restoration to McMurry Pond will begin next month, and this will be an
extensive restoration for this pond. The next phase will be going up
stream on the river bank itself, which may be tied in with the Shield’s
Street bridge replacement that Larimer County will be doing in 2013 or
2014.
o Ranger highlights
o Master Naturalists and staff gave 8 public programs reaching 198 people;
this included a Spring Break event at Bobcat Ridge.
o Gateway playground: The design for the natural playground at Gateway
was completed and presented to senior staff. Construction will begin in
April.
o Program management – In the City Plan we have an action item that we
would form a multi-purpose land use team to look at opportunities for
primarily, Storm Water, Parks and Natural Areas to partner on multi-
purpose land.
o Wellington Community separator – we hope to have a closing on all three
farms by July 31, which is the extended deadline.
Executive Session
• Potential Acquisitions and sale of real property.
Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Submitted by Geri Kidawski
Administrative Clerk II
Approved____________Mark Sears_________gk_________________________