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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 04/23/2014Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –April 23, 2014 Page 1 of 4 BE A GOOD STEWARD: Protect & Respect your Parks, Trails & Recreation Facilities Call Meeting to Order: Jessica MacMillan, Co-Chair, called the meeting to order 5:35pm. Agenda Review & Items of Note: None Citizen Participation: None, CSU student observed Approval of Minutes: Discussion: None Dawn Theis made the motion to approve the Parks & Recreation Board minutes of March 26, 2014, seconded by Scott Sinn – Minutes approved 5:0 Meeting Summary Lindsay Ex, Senior Environmental Planner presented the Nature in the City project and work plan to the Parks & Recreation Board. The Project Goal is to develop a vision and strategic plan for incorporating nature into the urban environment. Bill Whirty, Manager of Parks, updated the Board on the proposed revisions to the Water Supply Shortage Response Plan. John Stokes, Natural Resources Director, updated the Board on the Natural Areas Master Plan and the Poudre River Downtown Project. In the process of updating the Master Plan, they found that the natural areas are connective areas providing moments outside where people can “feel good” and respond to nature which contributes to health and wellbeing. In addition, the City of Fort Collins is developing a master plan for the Cache la Poudre River in the downtown corridor (Shields Street to Mulberry Street) to improve in-river and bankside recreation, habitat connectivity, restoration and rehabilitation, bank protection, flood mitigation and floodplain management, water quality, public safety and access, and transportation. The Board reviewed the proposed location adjustment of Iron Horse Park site. A Motion was made by Scott Sinn for the Parks & Recreation Board to positively support the land switch for the new Iron Horse Park site as presented. Seconded by Jessica MacMillan – VOTE: 5:0 in favor PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MINUTES Regular Meeting Wednesday April 23, 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 –April 23, 2014 Page 2 of 4 Full Minutes AGENDA ITEMS: Nature in the City – Lindsay Ex, Senior Environmental Planner Lindsay introduced the Nature in the City project and work plan to the Parks & Recreation Board. The project goal is to develop a vision and strategic plan for incorporating nature into the urban environment and there are three phases to this: Phase 1 – Inventory and Assessment; Phase 2 – Strategic Plan; and Phase 3 – Implementation. Currently, Phase 1 is in process looking at this with the triple bottom-line perspective. We are looking at the existing conditions, the value to species (environment), and the value to people (social and economic). We are also looking at the current assessment of Nature in the City and identifying “gaps”. Once this information is gathered, we can form an assessment and develop a policy to address the gaps and prioritize implementation based on values and needs. The timeline for Phase 1 is January- September 2014. In Phase 1 we are currently doing outreach and on April 30 there is an Air Quality Open House at 6:30pm at 215 Community Room; and Nature in the City will have a booth at this event asking “why you value nature and where you access nature in Fort Collins”. Some CSU students are also working on this as a class project and will be doing a student presentation at CSU. For Board members wishing to be a part of the jury to select the best student design for the living wall, please join us at the CSU LA Building (the Natural Environmental Sciences Bldg, Rm B101) on May 13 between 3pm and 6 pm. For more details on this event, please contact Lindsay Ex at lex@fcgov.com or 970.224.6143. Discussion Board – Can we have the CSU students present to the Board? Staff – I’m not sure of the time line, with graduation, but I’ll see what can be worked out. Board – What is the goal with this, is it to have nature within a 10 minute walk? Staff – Yes, I think that’s a starting point. Not necessarily to a park, but also connectivity it’s about providing a variety of experiences because everyone has a different idea of what Nature in the City means to them. Board – I can say that a positive, unintended consequence of creating an urban forest at the Indian Hills Park is all of the wildlife; it’s double or tripled as the trees have grown. Board – What the cost involved with this? Staff – That’s still to be determined. Board – What about all the spaces in the HOAs? Staff – We have not yet included this information in our map, but we are working toward this. Water Supply Shortage Response Plan – Bill Whirty, Manager of Parks There are proposed revisions to the Water Supply Shortage Response Plan. Parks and Utilities are working on the updates. The highlighted revisions include: • Defining food production/vegetable garden and trees separate from flowers and shrubs since vegetable gardens contribute to a household’s food supply and trees are difficult to replace. The update would allow for food production to water at all levels, but flowers, shrubs and trees only to level 3. Trees are often watered with lawns so having them unrestricted would be difficult. • Splash Parks would be allowed to stay operational at response levels 1 & 2, but go off at levels 3 & 4. • Ornamental fountains would go off at level 2. • Outdoor swimming pools (including HOAs) would be allowed as unrestricted except at response level 4 where pools would not be allowed to fill or refill. • Power Washing is proposed to more specifically define it as “essential” cleaning with high pressure, low volume where it is necessary for health and safety reasons and graffiti abatement. The proposed changes will be going to Council in May or June. Natural Areas Master Plan & Poudre River Downtown Project – John Stokes, Natural Resources Director John Stokes reviewed the Natural Areas Master Plan which was last updated in 2004. As they are in the process of updating the Plan, they found that Natural Areas are connective areas providing moments outside where people can “feel good” and respond to nature which contributes to health and wellbeing. The Natural Area Vision and Mission remain the same as they are still motivating and inspiring: Vision: Through the work of the Natural Areas Department, a diverse system of conserved and restored lands connects community members to nature. These conserved lands protect nature and contribute to the health and wellbeing of our community. Mission: To conserve and enhance lands with natural resource, scenic and agricultural values, while providing education and recreation opportunities. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –April 23, 2014 Page 3 of 4 Natural Areas is funded by two ¼ ¢ sales taxes, which is very important for the operation and maintenance. The Department has six divisions: Land Conservation, Land and Resource Management, Visitor Services (Rangers), Public Improvements/Recreation, Facilities Operations, and Education, Volunteer Coordination and Outreach. The Plan is to aspire to our vision, stick to the core mission, continue to conserve critical connectivity, continue to restore land, continue to provide visitor and recreation services, continue to provide education, interpretation and volunteer opportunities, and continue to contribute to the character and culture of our City. The Citizen Survey recognized that 60% of the people want land conservation and trails and that the majority of what we are doing is what people want; and we rated at 95% as “very good” or “good”. In July the draft Plan will be submitted and we’re hoping for approval in September. Discussion Staff – July 19, Nix Farm will be hosting an Open House at 6:00pm to show our new facility. Board – Any thoughts on how to stay at 95%? Staff – It’s always difficult to stay on top, but I think with a devoted work group and continual improvements; that are sometimes behind the scenes, it’s a goal that is obtainable. Poudre River Downtown Project The City of Fort Collins is developing a master plan for the Cache la Poudre River in the downtown corridor (Shields Street to Mulberry Street) to improve in-river and bankside recreation, habitat connectivity, restoration and rehabilitation, bank protection, flood mitigation and floodplain management, water quality, public safety and access, and transportation. The master plan will provide a long term vision and identify projects that will take many years to complete. Staff has been working with a consultant on the concept and vision of the Plan and would like to take this to Council in July for adoption in August and would like to have a recommendation by the P&R Board. ∗ Since members of the Board were not present, the recommendation was tabled until July. A map and information is available online and comments can be provided: http://www.fcgov.com/poudre-downtown/ Currently, we have been working on reconnecting the river to its natural flood plan in the Sterling Natural Area which will help support habitat and mitigate flooding in undesirable areas. We will also be working on a parking lot with trail connectivity so that it will provide and easier and safer way to access the river. The vast majority of the projects along the river are restoration, but we do have one reach that is an urban designed recreation area which is also one of the more popular aspects of the Plan and it is the area just east of College Avenue. There is currently a diversion structure which is no longer delivering water anywhere and since Natural Areas owns 50% of the rights, we are hoping to remove this structure and create a Kayak park; which will also mitigate flooding in this area and over College Avenue in the event of a 100 year flood. It will also provide connectivity for fish habitat to flow in the river as intended. Funding for this section is about $6M; we are asking for in a BFO offer to Council to fund $3M of this project with the other $3M being provided by fund raising efforts. Discussion Board – Is there a concern of impact with use and parking for the Kayak park? Staff – No, by providing a better infrastructure people will be able to access this area in many ways and there are only about three months out of the year where Kayaking is optimal that would possibly bring in a lot of people to the area. Board – When are you anticipating completion of the restoration at the Woodward site? Staff – We’re hoping in August. STAFF UPDATES Parks Updates • New Special Events web page on fcgov.com for event planning • Possibility of a new no smoking ordinance that would include no smoking in Parks and Trails o Board – What is staff’s thoughts about enforcing this? o Staff – Staff is neutral. Although we’re not sure about enforceability it’s a “tool” to use if there are issues o Board – I think it’s not about the smoke itself, but the trash that’s left behind • The BFO offers have been submitted • All of the restrooms are now open and the irrigation systems are on in the Parks. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting –April 23, 2014 Page 4 of 4 Recreation Updates • Kites in the Park event will be taking place on Sunday, May 27 at Spring Canyon Park • National Kids Day is May 17, so The Farm will be ½ price admission • City Park Pool is scheduled to open soon • Senior Center Expansion will have a grand opening in July. o Board – What about the name change? o Staff – We are holding off on possibly changing the name and creating an ad-hoc group to discuss a name change. o Board – Did you give us a statistic on youth baseball/softball? o Staff – Nationally, the numbers are going down, but in the numbers are still on the rise in Fort Collins. Park Planning Updates • CDOT is supportive of the trail overpass on I-25 as an interim option until the widening of I-25 and then the trail will have to go under. However, the widening of I-25 at this location could take up to 75 years to happen. • The Board is being asked for a recommendation to allow for a location adjustment of Iron Horse Park site. Iron Horse Park will be located along East Vine Drive by the Plumber School. The land we have now for the park would have the new Vine Drive location going through the middle of the park; so the developer would like to trade land and move the park to the North of the new Vine Drive which actually provide a bit more acreage for the park. Motion made by Scott Sinn for the Parks & Recreation Board to positively support the land switch for the new Iron Horse Park site as presented. Seconded by Jessica MacMillan – VOTE: 5:0 in favor Bicycle Advisory Board Liaison Update A Bike Expo at the Gardens on Spring Creek – May 4th, Noon-4:00pm 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 - No Update Schedule of Articles/Calendar No update. Next article is due from Carey. Bullet Points • Presentation on Nature in the City • Update on the Water Supply Shortage Response Plan • Presentation on the Natural Areas Master Plan and the Downtown Poudre River Project • Informed about new Special Events web page available on fcgov.com for event planning Adjournment: Meeting adjourned 8:03pm Respectfully submitted, Carol Rankin Carol Rankin Administrative Supervisor Parks Board Approved Minutes 5/28/14: 8:0 Board Attendance Board Members: Brian Carroll, Jessica MacMillan, Scott Sinn, Dawn Theis, Carey Wilkening Staff: Craig Foreman, JR Schnelzer, Bob Adams, Carol Rankin, Guest: Bill Whirty, Lindsay Ex, John Stokes