HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 1/3/2013 (6)City of
Fort Collins
MEMORANDUM
DT: December 27, 2012
TO: Mayor and City Councilmembers
TH: Darin Atteberry, City Managerk��— � l
Wendy Williams, Assistant City Manager 'WT,
FR: Marty Heffernan, Director of Community Servicesllerl—jll�RE: Mowing Along Paved Trails
Community Services
215 North Mason Street
3" Floor
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2265
970.221.6586 - fax
fcgov.com
At the December 11`h Council Work Session a Councilmember questioned the need to mow the
grasses and brush along the paved trail system. The Parks Department has been occasionally
mowing along the trails for many years, initially in response to complaints from citizens and as a
method of weed control. Runners using the gavel paths next to the trails have also requested
mowing for safety reasons as the path can become narrow with overhanging brush. Parks mows
the trail in Cathy Fromme Prairie because of rattlesnakes. Dogs have been bitten by rattlers and
mowing along the trail provides an extra measure of safety.
In the online trail questionnaire 31 % of respondents indicated mowing along the trails was
important or very important, 39% said mowing was somewhat important and 30% said mowing
was not important. Parks has curtailed trail mowing during tough financial times and received
complaints from trail users.
Parks spends $3,000 to $4,000 annually to mow the trails. They mow only when needed and
simply cut a 3 foot swath on each side of the trail. Newer trail sections have been planted with
low growing grasses that do not need to be mowed very often. These low growing grasses will
continue to be planted along future trails.