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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Conservation And Stewardship Board - Minutes - 02/13/2019Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting February 13, 2019 02/13/2019 – MINUTES Page 1 1. CALL TO ORDER 5:30 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL David Tweedale, Vicky McLane, Joseph Piesman, Kelly Ohlson, Raymond Watts, Mike Weber, Alycia Crall. Board members introduced themselves to newly appointed Board member, Alycia Crall. Alycia was appointed to the Board in early February. Excused: Andrea Elson Unexcused: Edward Reifsnyder NAD Staff: Mark Sears, John Stokes, Dan Gulley, Todd Juhasz, Ryan Kogut 3. AGENDA REVIEW Joe asked to move the Elections before the Water Tap action item. After the Executive Session Joe would like to address the Montava Development project, discuss the e-bike issue and provide a report on the Super Boards and Commissions Meeting held on February 4th . 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION: 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Joe had one grammatical correction. Michelle corrected the error. Vicky McLane made a motion to approve the January LCSB meeting minutes David Tweedale seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved 7-0 6. COMMUNICATION AND BOARD MATTERS 7. NEW BUSINESS ACTION ITEM ELECTIONS: David Tweedale made a motion that Joe Piesman remain as Chair and Raymond Watts remain as Vice Chair of the Board. Kelly Ohlson seconded the motion The motion was unanimously approved 7-0 Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting 02/13/2019 – MINUTES Page 2 Ray asked if any board member would be interested in assisting him with communication documents to City Council. This would include drafting memorandums and any other communication documents to City Council. New board member Alycia Crall volunteered. Mike Weber volunteered to act as the Bicycle Advisory Committee Liaison. Joe asked if David would be interested in maintaining his role with Nature in the City. David commented that he had not heard from anyone in Nature in the City. John updated the Board on Nature in the City. Justin Scharton left his position with NAD and is now working with the City of Greeley. Stephanie Kopplin remains on maternity leave. Although there are a lot of changes, staff have been working diligently to interview and fill the vacant positions and Stephanie will return from maternity leave in mid-March. Sale of water taps owned by the Natural Areas Department. Dan Gulley, NAD Real Estate Specialist. The Natural Areas Department acquired water taps over many years as part of acquiring land for natural areas. The Department would like to now sell the water taps and use the funds for additional land conservation. There are currently seven water taps valued at $32K and one at $6K. Originally it was thought the Land Bank might be interested in purchasing these water taps but has since decided to pass on the purchase. Dan reported that NAD is moving forward with marketing the taps and will utilize the City Purchasing Department to sell them. He felt confident that we could get within 10% of what the value of the water taps are. John updated board members that originally NAD was going to sell those taps internally, within the city, so the sale did not need to go before city council. Going outside the city will require city council approval. DISCUSSION: Board members had questions about the process of how those taps would be sold using the purchasing department. Dan noted that prices could go up and NAD should have nothing to lose by marketing the taps. He explained that once NAD finds a buyer a contractor will be hired to abandon the tap connections, most of which are under a road. That will be a cost to the Department of about $5K per water tap. Kelly Ohlson made a motion that the LCSB recommend that City Council approve the sale of seven water taps and one sewer tap. Raymond watts seconded the motion. Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting 02/13/2019 – MINUTES Page 3 The board unanimously approved 7-0 DISCUSSION ITEM Trails Report, Todd Juhasz, Natural Areas Technician, designs, constructs and maintains all of NAD’s natural surface trails. Todd provided an update on all the trail work that was done in 2018. Todd has introduced a new trail amendment to some of the foothill trails in order to improve them when heavy rain and snow impacts many of them. This new amendment has been very successful when absorbing the heavy moisture during winter and spring seasons. The hope is to continue to increase the percentage of “good condition” for many of the foothill trails. He reported and described four new trails to include, On the Rocks Trail at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area; the Prairie Ridge connector, just south of Coyote Ridge; Puente Verde, newest natural areas that would host a trail connector; and lastly Eagle View Natural Area will have neighborhood access with a new loop trail. Discussion: Many Board members wanted to know when Eagle View Natural Area would be open to the public. Todd reported a loop trail around much of the site is planned as well as a connection to both Fossil Creek Trail and the Poudre Trail. Mark reported that other than the wetland and riparian area there was minimal wildlife habitat. One concern from the Board was Maxwell Natural Areas multi-use trail and the condition of the trail for both bikes and pedestrians. Erosion and speed of cyclist coming down the trail, while some users are walking up were a concern. Todd described the intercept survey performed last year to survey users of that particular area as well. The survey indicated that 93% of the users reported they thought Maxwell trails were in good condition. John agreed the trail is typically busy, the size of the trail limits users, but the survey did not indicate this was of major concern to most users. THE BOARD MOVED INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT LAND CONSERVATION EXECUTIVE SESSION 6:32 PM. THE BOARD RESUMED REGULAR BOARD MEETING AT 7:25 PM. Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting 02/13/2019 – MINUTES Page 4 MISCELLANIOUS Mark reported the closing of the Antrim Ring (Bishop Ranch) property, 545 acres west of Lory State Park at the north end of Red Stone Canyon. No closing date has been scheduled for the Robbins property, 33 acres on the west side of Shields St., near Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area, nor the Hazelhurst property, 40 acres just west of Taft Hill Road, adjacent to Coyote Ridge Natural Area. John reported the Acquisition Partnership Administrative Policy was completed and was included in the Board’s packet material. He welcomed any comments or suggestions. David Tweedale summarized the Super Board meeting. David reported that land use, transportation and policy consolidation for the City were topics of discussion. To support the Climate Action Plan, the city would like to reduce the amount of vehicle usage, increase the amount of electricity usage, in lieu of natural gas, and reduce the amount of solid waste. There was also discussion at the meeting about the Montava Development and the proposed 120-acre natural area, as part of the development. John assured the Board that he would bring the item back to the Board before any decisions are made regarding the development. Mike Weber attended the meeting as well and reported that the Parks and Recreation Board is concerned about future park funding from Keep Fort Collins Great. He thought the Parks Board might suggest an additional sales tax to fund city parks. Kelly requested the number of acres the Natural Areas Department has purchased over the last ten years, the cost, the partnership, etc. John reported that Tessa Greegor, presented the e-bike pilot program before the City Council Work Session. He felt City Council was in favor of the pilot but that there were several conversations about piloting only Class I e-bikes versus Class I and Class II. Councilmember Gerry Horak wanted more information on the objectives of the pilot. Mike reported that except for NAD most Boards approved the pilot. The Council’s main concern was signage, safety, education and speed. The Board discussed sending an updated memo to Council about e-bikes to clarify its position regarding e-bikes on paved trails within Natural Areas and to reiterate previously expressed concerns and recommendations. David Tweedale made a motion that the Land Conservation & Stewardship Board send a new communication that would clarify their opposition to inclusion of Class II e-bikes in the pilot study, and that the duration of the study be one year. Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Regular Meeting 02/13/2019 – MINUTES Page 5 Raymond Watts seconded the motion and offered an amendment that the Board also recommend for the pilot study to develop information on effects of e-bike traffic on paved trails in Natural Areas, including effects on user experience. 8. OTHER BUSINESS . 9. ADJOURNMENT The Board adjourned at 8:05 p.m.