Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 03/26/2014Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – March 26, 2014 Page 1 of 4 BE A GOOD STEWARD: Protect & Respect your Parks, Trails & Recreation Facilities Call Meeting to Order: Bruce Henderson called the meeting to order 5:33pm. Agenda Review & Items of Note: None Citizen Participation: None Approval of Minutes: Discussion: None Dawn Theis made the motion to approve the Parks & Recreation Board minutes of February 26, 2014, seconded by Jessica MacMillan – Minutes approved 8:0 Meeting Summary • The Board was updated on the West Nile Virus Technical Advisory Committee, and their mission to “reduce the risk of human WNV infection while limiting adverse human health and environmental impacts”. Council direction was for the TAC to reconvene and add representatives from urban agriculture and pesticide sensitive registry, develop a program manual, and review program response guidelines. The TAC has met several times to discuss the program operations and provide enhancement recommendations. The P&R Board was asked to provide any feedback via email. • Presentation on the Lincoln Corridor Plan final draft phase that will be presented to City Council on April 15; with P&R Board recommendation. The Parks & Recreation Board made a motion to support Council approval of the Lincoln Corridor Plan with emphasis on the needs and priorities of the businesses and neighborhoods as presented in the Plan. A vote was taken with unanimous approval of 8:0 • Ragan Adams and Bruce Henderson will alternate meetings to represent the P&R Board as joint liaisons to the Bicycle Advisory Board. • Report on the Natural Areas activities at Soapstone Prairie this summer. They will be celebrating Soapstone Prairie –“Looking Forward by Looking Back” featuring presentations and activities on site. There are additional events through the summer at Soapstone, culminating with a symposium in October featuring Lindenmeier experts. PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MINUTES Regular Meeting Wednesday March 26, 2014 5:30 p.m. Board Chair: Bruce Henderson, Chair 2014 bmhender6@gmail.com Council Liaison: Gino Campana – gcampana@fcgov.com Staff Liaisons: J.R. Schnelzer, 970-221-6301 – jrschnelzer@fcgov.com Craig Foreman, 970-221-6618 – cforeman@fcgov.com Bob Adams, 970-221-6354 – badams@fcgov.com Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – March 26, 2014 Page 2 of 4 Full Minutes AGENDA ITEMS: Presentation from the West Nile Virus Team The City has been working with West Nile Virus for 12 years. Last year, 2013, was the most active a year with neuroinvasive cases since 2003. The City created a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to work on a West Nile Virus policy; and the TAC mission is to “Reduce the risk of human WNV infection while limiting adverse human health and environmental impacts”. The purpose is to mitigate WNV in the community using the least invasive methods to the most (adulticiding) invasive method. The WNV program is funded by the general fund, natural areas fund and the utilities fund. http://www.fcgov.com/westnile/ Council direction after the October 29, 2013 work session asked to; reconvene the TAC, add representatives from urban agriculture and pesticide sensitive registry, develop a program manual, and review program response guidelines. Currently, the TAC has reviewed program manuals from the City of Boulder and is using their manual as an example. They have also been investigating the best management practices of other agencies in Washington, Florida, California and the Xerces Society. A draft manual will be completed for the Council Work Session in April. The TAC is comprised of city-appointed experts, and provides technical recommendations to City Council regarding the WNV management policy; and has met several times to discuss the program operations and provide enhancement recommendations. The recommendations are: • Communication: Use existing tools of bill inserts, PSAs, door hangers and add videos, City website postings and Cable 14. • Laval Management: Expand the existing 1 mile outside City limits to 2-3 miles outside City limits and return to a weather based larval program • Source Reduction: Education of City employees to perform backyard inspections, and County inspectors as well as working with CSU Extension to assist with agricultural watering practices • Vector District Approach: Support the implementation of a mosquito control district and fund by a dedicated mill levy tax. • Opt-Out Program: Under discussion due to concerns over potential program efficacy issues. • Zones: Under discussion due to pending additional research with CSU statistician The consensus items of Communication, Larval Management and Source Reduction equates to a $75,000 enhancement. The non-consensus items will be brought to Council in May for direction. Board feedback via email is welcome. There will be an Integrated Pest Management Coordinator BFO offer through Environmental Health and Sustainability. Discuss Board – Were there any reported adverse cases from spray? Staff – There was not one case of someone impacted from spraying reported from PVH or Health Department. Board – What about a loss of hives? Staff – I’m not aware of any hives that were lost. Board – How many cases of West Nile were reported? Staff – 60 total cases, 9 neuroinvasive cases and 3 blood donors. 84% of the cases contracted pre-spraying and 16% of the cases contracted were the week of spraying or after. We only spray when absolutely necessary and we take it very seriously. Board – What about adding more bat boxes? Staff – Natural Areas does have a program to promote bat boxes Lincoln Corridor Plan Q&A Session The Lincoln Corridor Plan final draft is ready to go to Council on April 15; and a letter of recommendation from the P&R Board is welcome. The Lincoln Corridor Plan is a priority as there are longstanding existing infrastructure deficiencies and some emerging issues in the area need to be addressed. In addition, it has been noted in the City Plan as a “gateway” to downtown. As Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – March 26, 2014 Page 3 of 4 discussed in the past, there have been many opportunities for community engagement and we addressed many of the issues that were brought forth and incorporated them into the final draft plan. The project cost, including design and construction will be approximately $19.3 million. Operation and maintenance is estimated at $92,000 (medians= $72,600/parkways=$19,500). The funding gap is about $8 million. The project would be a phased approach. Separately funded from the Lincoln Corridor Plan is the Neighborhood Improvement Plan. The feedback received from the community outreach was to improve the infrastructure in these neighborhoods. There will be a BFO offer for $850,000 to improve the area with sidewalks, way-finding, transit stop improvements, push-button pedestrian signal/crosswalk, and possibly new neighborhood park elements. Plan documents are available online at: http://www.fcgov.com/advanceplanning/lincoln.php Discussion Board – What percentage of trees, turf, flowers, etc. are in the corridor? Staff – The Plan meets the current parkway treatment standards. Board – How will you phase the project to deal with the $8 million gap? Staff – There are various ways we can phase the project, this will still have to be determined. Board – Can you get a loan? Staff – This would have to be determined. Board – How was this determined to be a gateway? Staff – Historically, Lincoln was the entrance into downtown before Mulberry. Board – Would this be competing with other offers? Staff – It would be competing with other capital projects for BOB II funds. Board – What’s the time frame of construction? Staff – 8-10 years is optimistic with work possibly starting 2018/2019 Parks & Recreation Board Motion The Parks & Recreation Board made a motion to support Council approval of the Lincoln Corridor Plan with emphasis on the needs and priorities of the businesses and neighborhoods as presented in the Plan. A vote was taken with unanimous approval of 8:0 STAFF UPDATES Parks Updates • Parks is working on BFO offers, and will have a draft to Marty by April 11; and we should be bringing information to the Board on the offers for the May meeting • Both Park Rangers are actively working in the parks and along the trails. • Fields are open and being used Recreation Updates • Recreation is focusing on BFO offers, same as Parks. • Operations Plan – starting focus group meetings Park Planning Updates • The Poudre Trail by the Woodward Site is now open. • Park Planning is also working on BFO offers. The enhancement to be aware of is the Conservation Trust money to go back to funding the trail construction only. • Southeast Community Park plan has four neighbors approach with concerns about traffic, lights, etc. One neighbor was recently new to the area, but the other three had not attended any of the open houses. Gino will be visiting with them, but wanted to make the Board aware in case this grew into a bigger issue. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – March 26, 2014 Page 4 of 4 Bicycle Advisory Board Liaison Update The BAC meets the forth Monday of the month at 6:00pm. They have a representative from most of the other boards with only three at-large members. They discuss transportation issues as they relate to bicycling. Discussion Board - Are any P&R Board members interested in being a liaison to the BAC? Board – Ragan Adams proposed that she and Bruce Henderson alternate meetings to represent the P&R Board as joint liaisons. Bruce agreed. Board Work Plan Items Discussed and assigned members to various work plan items. • Budget – Bruce Henderson - No Update • Communications – Jessica MacMillan & Dawn Theis – No Update • Sustainable Practices – Scott Sinn & Carey Wilkening - No Update • Parks – Michael Chalona - No Update • Trails – Mary Carlson & Brian Carroll – No Update • Recreation – Dawn Theis - No Update • Other Projects/Programs  Natural Areas – Brian Carroll & Mary Carlson o Brian Carroll reported on activity at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area – Sketching Lindenmeier Landscapes. On May 17 from 9am-12pm folks are invited bring sketching pads and hiking boots and follow in the traditions of Edwin G. Cassedy, the Smithsonian artist who sketched the terrain at Lindenmeier during the Smithsonian visit 80 years ago. Afterwards, they will be celebrating Soapstone Prairie –“Looking Forward by Looking Back” featuring presentations and activities on site. There are additional events through the summer at Soapstone, culminating with a symposium in October featuring Lindenmeier experts. Schedule of Articles/Calendar No update. Bullet Points • Update on the West Nile Virus Technical Advisory Committee, and their mission to “reduce the risk of human WNV infection while limiting adverse human health and environmental impacts”. • Presentation on the Lincoln Corridor Plan final draft phase that will be presented to City Council on April 15; with P&R Board recommendation. • Report on the Natural Areas activities at Soapstone Prairie this summer. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned 7:38pm Respectfully submitted, Carol Rankin Carol Rankin Administrative Supervisor Parks Board Approved Minutes 4/23/14: 5:0 Board Attendance Board Members: Ragan Adams, Mary Carlson, Brian Carroll, Bruce Henderson, Jessica MacMillan, Scott Sinn, Dawn Theis, Carey Wilkening Staff: Craig Foreman, JR Schnelzer, Bob Adams, Carol Rankin, Mike Calhoon