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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 9/27/2016 - Memorandum From Land Conservation And Stewardship Board Re: 2017 Work PlanNatural Areas Department 1745 Hoffman Mill Road PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.416.2815 970.416.2211 - fax fcgov.com/naturalareas Memorandum Date: September 19, 2016 To: Mayor and City Councilmembers From: Land Conservation and Stewardship Board CC: Darin Atteberry, City Manager Re: 2017 Work Plan The Land Conservation and Stewardship Board is pleased to submit its 2017 work plan as well as a Statement of its Role and Responsibilities. Please contact the Board Chair, Kent Leier, if there are any questions or concerns. 2 Key Initiatives/Work Items for 2017 Review the Nature in the City Strategic Plan and associated work plans and initiatives. Discuss and potentially make recommendations regarding priorities and future direction. Review the Natural Areas Department’s public outreach and community engagement strategies and discuss how the Board might assist in these efforts. Develop a 5-year approach to accelerating the City’s land conservation efforts. Discuss and potentially make recommendations regarding priorities and future direction. Review the Mountain Vista Sub-Area Plan. Review the Gateway Natural Area Management Plan as well as other plans or Natural Areas Department management initiatives. Review administrative charges to the Natural Areas Department and develop a better understanding of how Natural Area funds are utilized for general infrastructure needs. Discuss and potentially make recommendations as to how those funding approaches might be improved. Review and make mid-cycle budget recommendations. Discuss how land held in the City’s Natural Areas inventory can be protected against future divestment or fragmentation. If necessary, develop recommendations. 3 Land Conservation and Stewardship Board Role and Responsibilities 1. Review proposed land and water conservation transactions, including fee acquisitions, sales, conservation easements, and right of way easements and make recommendations to Council as necessary. 2. Periodically review plans for local, regional, and community separator land conservation and provide input on prioritization of land conservation efforts. Provide this input to City Council and Planning staff as appropriate. 3. Review and comment on long range land conservation strategies and priorities. 4. Review various legislative and policy proposals that have a relationship to the Natural Areas Department and make recommendations to Council as necessary. 5. Receive updates and provide input on wildlife management, including prairie dog management. 6. Review and comment on Natural Area management issues, programs, and plans as needed. 7. Review and comment on Nature in the City related initiatives as the Natural Areas Department works closely with staff from Planning and in collaboration with staff from Parks, Forestry, Environmental Services, and Stormwater to implement the Nature in the City Strategic Plan. 8. Periodically organize and hold meetings with the Larimer County Open Lands Board, and the Loveland’s Open Lands Board to discuss regional conservation planning and funding. 9. Provide one LCSB member to serve on the Bicycle Advisory Committee, who reports back to and seeks input from the LCSB, currently Ed Reifsnyder. 10. Attend staff sponsored field trips when needed to better understand field management issues or land conservation opportunities in order to stay knowledgeable and able to make informed recommendations. 11. Receive a report on the Natural Areas small grant program applicants and recipients. 12. Review and provide input on Poudre River initiatives. 13. Encourage and welcome public input. 14. Encourage presentations from experts in fields related to land conservation and stewardship. 15. Hold a Board retreat to discuss how the board can be more strategic, provide vision, be more engaged, and have fun doing it. 16. Review all Natural Areas and Parks new trail placement and provide input regarding avoidance or minimization of impacts to critical wildlife habitat. 4 17. Review and provide input on Natural Areas Restoration Master Plan and site restoration plans and invite Stormwater to present its stream restoration projects for input. 18. Review and provide comments on all City Capital Projects that impact Natural Areas. 19. Invite staff from Police, Stormwater, Parks and Parks Planning to meet with the Board to discuss topics that impact Natural Areas.