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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSigned Minutes - Study Session - 11/06/2000DO NOT REMOVE - PRAB File Material City of Boulder /~ Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Study Session November 6, 2000 George Reynolds Branch Library 3595 Table Mesa Drive 6:00 p.m. The follawrng are the mtrrutes of the November 6, 2000 C:ty oJBoulder Pcvks and Recreahon Adv~sory Board meehng A permanent set of these mtrrutes and a tape recordrng (mcnntcnned for a penod of 6 years) are reta:ned Tn Central Records (telephone: 441-3043). Board Present: Will Meyer, Chair; Gwen Dooley, Vice-Chair, Susan Osborne, Dave Wining, Charles Manlove, Pam Hoge and Edwazd von Bleichert Staff Present: Chns Dropinski, Ken Ramsey, Sarah DeSouza, Georgia Jacksoq Linda Kotowsln, Doug Hawthorne, Russ Driskill, Ann Wichmann D~scussion on Development of V~lmont City Pazk ~ Dropinski informed the Boazd that the driving force for the purchase of lazge parcels of park land was to fulSll recrearion needs that were not appropriate for neighborhood pazk sites As a resuk, land was purchased for the Valmont City Pazk site and the Area III site Dropinski provided the Board with an overview of the evolution of Valmont City Park including the seazch for property, the Valmont City Pazk CEAP and the process from which the concept plan was derived Dropmski addressed the concept of partnering with Transportation, Utilities and Open Space to connect the existing pazk boundaries with property south of Pearl Pazkway as a way to provide opportunity for environmental education in a quality habitat Dropinski stated that staff has already had contact with these departments and they have expressed mterest in fiu-thenng the concept Staff is looking for ways to balance the natural areas of the pazk with the azeas to be developed through pubhc private partnerships Boazd Comments and Ouestions • Dooley ~pressed a desire for the park to have a more rural focus Dooley stated that Park Operations should not be moved, rather it should be completed at its cunent location She added that future requests for recreation needs from groups ought to be reseazched to deternune membership ages and addresses, as Boulder should not provide recreation resources for the entire county Dropmskr responded that rn recent years the east county cahes have built recreahon facalthes, adding that yauth sports encompass dtfferrng boundarres that cover more of the valley. Kotowslci stated that Baulder is the ~ prrmary promder of age group sw~mmmg (Poseidon's mtd Masters) and most of the Boulder Yalley Gtrls' Softball. • Osborne asked what are the unmet and most desired recreation needs that aze appropriate for Valmont She said it would be helpful to heaz from staffwhat the anticipated recreation needs aze As Boulder is approaching buildout, Osborne would like data to ,~ help determine what kinds of facilities are truly needed, and not simply rely on groups to come forward e~cpressing needs " • Meyer stated there is a need for data that is maintained and constantly updated to determine who users aze, what kmds of facili6es aze currently in use and how those facilities aze being used This information would be beneficial to help determine the future development of the park • Hoge expressed concern about the process and sees it as reaction to pressure from organized groups. She stated that the Board ought to take a comprehensive look at what a pazk is and then expand that notion It is her belief that there may be a substantial group of people who want a more natural park, and that those people are not represented as they aze not part of an organized group • Manlove stated that most of the city's facilities provide for mulhple use He cited the North Boulder Pazk which has two baseball fields that do not have fencing in the outfield The lack of fencmg allows for use of the outfield for soccer, football and ultimate fi-isbee and Manlove feels that the same thing can be done at Valmont City Pazk Manlove remuided the Board that Valmont City Pazk was acquired for high impact recreation that would not be appropriate for a neighborhood park • von Bleichert asked how the Boazd should decide which uses to include in the pazk He felt that staff should have a sense of community needs and it would be helpful for him to know what staff thinks He agreed that some groups in the community may not be represented, adding that it would be difficult to make decisions without data Drop:rrslct responded that these queshons wall be answered as part of the Public Pr:vate Parrnershrp ~ process for each proposal brought to the Board • There was discussion about the possibility of the county ballfields being eliminated Diana Smith, City Liaison, stated that she has an appomtment scheduled with the county azchitect's office to discuss the issue. When asked if the county had a responsibility to replace the fields, Dropinski responded that historically the county does not provide recreation facihries and no one seemed to know how they came to be in the first place Kate Bemhardt, Parks Planner, reminded the Board that when the concept plan for Valmont City Pazk was presented to the Boazd in 1997 it mcluded s'uc ballfields She added that the fields at Valmont City Pazk were needed in addition to the county fields, and were not meant to be a replacement for them • Wuung wants the park to be developed for mulh-use recreation purposes with lots of grassy azeas for picnics, soccer practtce, etc He does not want to see it overdeveloped but doesn't envision leaving it all natural or with prauYe dog colonies there Wming said he wouldn't mmd leaving prauie dogs on the property temporarily, but only until the land is developed • Keep as much open azea as possible for multiple use purposes Use of fences runs counter to multi-use • von Bleichert and Dooley suggested that staff look into funding the watchable wildlife and praine dog education through public private partnership. • In response to the Board's question on how to perform a study of the park site to determine compatibility for a managed praine dog colony, Ann Wichmann, Manager ofthe Mountaui Pazks Divisioq said she would reseazch a 1992-1993 study of natural pockets ,.... for potential habitat preservation and restoration She also named several people who 1.., have done small scale studies in the past for the City Wichmann estimated a study to cost PRAB Study Session I1/6/00 - Page 2 between $3,000 and $7,000. ,~,~,~ • Osbome, Dooley and Hoge suggested the Boazd consider the future possibility of a bond ~, issue as a means oF securing funding for the park • The Boazd discussed the draft Interdepartmental Prairie Dog Policy Meyer asked Sue Ellen Hazrison, Assistant City Attorney, what the Board's role should be with regazd to Council's policy Harrison responded that there aze outside forces driving the policy and that it is very important for Council to heaz from boards and staff Council needs to hear from those who are dealing with this issue on a daily basis and to be advised of the cost of managing and containing the prairie dogs The Board gave direction to staff • There was Board consensus that changes to the concept plan would be minor in nature, that the concept plan as presented is supported by the Boazd and for staffto go forward with [Public Private Partnership program based on] this • To look at w~ldlife issues throughout the park, taking a look at benchmazk studies and updating and developing that with a focus on prazrie dogs To contract for an ecologicaVhabitat study of Valmont City Park ($3,000 -$5,000), including a wildlife corridor, to deternvne whether a managed prairie dog colony is compatible with an urban pazk In addition it would determine if there is appropriate or better habitat and whether having prairie dogs on the south side is the best place to locate them Also, to determine types of barriers that should be used and how to contain them within those barriers • Pursue discussions with Transportation, Utilities and Open Space with regazd to partnering to connect existing park boundaries with the property south of Peazl Parkway ~ This would be a potential opportunity for interpretive environmental education and prairie dog viewing The Boazd agreed to hold a study session on environmental sustainability on December 11 Hoge and von Bleichert will work with staff on the agenda Meeting adjoumed at 8 38 p m APPROVED BY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD ~-~-- ~r/ Will Meyer Boazd Chair Attest ~ ~~ ~ Georgia kson ~+ Recording Secretary ~... PRAB Study Session 11/6/00 - Page 3