HomeMy WebLinkAbout7A1 - Boulder Nordic Club Snowmaking Pilot ProjectMemorandum
DATE: October 5, 2000
'~ TO: Pazks and Recreation Advisory Board members
L...
FROM: Chris Dropinski, Duector of Pazks and Recreat~on
Sazah DeSouza, City Liaison Contract Manager
Teresa Grills and Diana Royce Smith, City Liaison Office
RE: Boulder Nordic Club Snowmaking Pilot Project
PURPOSE:
Update the Boazd on the current Boulder Nordic Club proposal to pilot-test snowmaking at
Valmont City Park during the 20000-2001 winter season and request feedback from the Boazd
Boulder Nordic Club (BNC) has been interested in proposing a snowmaking system for the
Cross Country Ski Trail to be located within Phase One of Valmont City Pazk. Based on the
mterest of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, they have received a"Letter of InteresP' as
propos~ng partners and aze compiling their formal proposal for an additional connecting trail and
for the possibility of snowmaking operations As part of the work to gather information
regazding the proposed snowmaking system and its viability for this location and use, BNC
r.-~ presented a demonstration of this proposed snowmaking system at the June 5, 2000, PRAB
~. meeting
BNC would like to try a pilot project for theu proposed system for this upcoming winter season
They would like to fund and operate a temporary mobile snowmaking system on a temporary
trazl Since Phase One construction will not begin until at least late fall of this year, BNC
proposes that the pilot pro~ect take place on the north side of Valmont Road They will not do
any "trail building", but will simply blow snow and create tracks on existing landscape They
propose to walk the srte with City staff and the City Liaison as the snow season begins to best
design the temporary trazl location wittun site constraints Pazking and access would take place
neaz the Temporary Dog Pazk access lot, and water and power issues have been addressed.
City Lisison staff and the primary involved Pazks and Recreahon staff are investigaung the
impacts of this idea on vegetation, wildlife, neighborhoods, and the lessors of the Platt
fazmhouse regarding this idea to see if there aze any additional concerns To date, we have not
found any overtly limiting reasons or problems with this proposal
PROPOSED ACTION
City staff and the City Liai'son Office recommend acceptance of the BNC proposal for the
Temporary Snowmaking Pilot Project at Valmont City Park, dependent on the successful
outcome of the investigations to take place before the meeting of the Boazd on October 23, 2000
~ We feel the repomng, documentation, and evaluation of this temporary pilot snowmaking project
` will provide better information for future evaluation of the viability of snowmaking proposed for
the future permanent cross-cauntry slu trails
~~ ~neeting with Pazks and Recreation Department senior management on October 4, 2000 the
City Liaison was directed to work towazds the agreement for this pilot project with BNC, taking
the foliowing steps
~
1 Complete the investigations and provide information about ttus Pilot Project to the Boazd for
the October 23, 2000 meeting
2 Include the City Liaisoq BNC, and specific City staff members on the walk to detemune the
trail siting The recommended staff members are Ann Wichmann (to address natural
resources/wildlife), Kate Bemhardt (planning), and Bob Peck (pazks maintenance) This
meeting will be scheduled for some time after snow falls, presumably in November Board
members are welcome to attend, and notice of the date and time will be provided.
3. Contact Bob Peck to confirm the availability of space for equipment storage.
4. Obtain a copy of the written agreement from Public Works concerning water usage
5 The City Liaison Office will contact adjacent neighborhoods prior to the October 23, 2000
date
Assuming that there aze no overtly limiting concerns identified as we take the steps oudined
above, we will proceed to draft an agreement covering these pilot project operations with BNC
for management staff approval. If approved, the pilot project snowmalnng operations would
begin sometime azound December 1, 2000 and end in the Spring of 2001, with documentation
due from BNC to the City Liaison Office on April 15, 2001
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