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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved Minutes - 5/20/2002DO NOT REMOVE - PRAB File Matenal City of Boulder ~'" Parks and Recreation Advisory Board `~-- Minutes May 20, 2002 City Yards Lunch Room 5U50 E. Pearl Street 6 p.m. The following are the mznutes of the May 20, 2002 Ciry of Boulder Parks and Recreat:on Advisory Board meeteng (PRAB). A permanent set of these minutes and a tape recording (matntatned for a per~od of 6 years) are retatned ~n Central Records (telephone: 303-441-3043) Board Present: Ed von Bleichert, Chair; Dave Wimng, Pam Hoge, Thomas Sanford and Suzanne O'Neill Board Absent: Susan Osborne, Vice Chair; and Chazles Manlove Staff Present: Jan Geden, Chnshne Andersen, Doug Hawthome, Sazah DeSouza, Georgia Jackson, Kate Bernhardt, Ann Wichmann, Ten Olander, Bob Peck, Ellie Bussi-Sottale, Kathleen Alexander, Alice Guthne, Ned Wilhams, Chuck McElwam, Lisa Green ~~... I. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved as submitted. II. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Cirizen Partrcipahon was opened. Enc Johnson, 1111 Maxwell Avenue, Boulder 80304, said he heard the City was considenng use of transgemc soybeans on pazkland. He also expressed concern over the use of the chemical spray, Roundup, and said he would like to heaz the Boazd's view on these issues Mary Lomse Chavers, PO Box 4342, Boulder 8U301, sazd she is peshcide sensirive and that the continued use of pestic~des such as Roundup, Tordon and 2,4-D on pazks and roadways presents severe handicap access barriers for people like her Wuvng and von Bleichert said citazens wishmg to speak about peshcide use would have to wazt unhl the Acfion Item addressing that issue. They stated that Cihzen PazUcipation was an opportumty to address issues other than those hsted as Achon Items with pubhc hearings. , •°- ~ Cihzen Pazhc~pat~on was closed III. CONSENT AGENDA ,''~ A. Approval of mmutes of Apn16, 2002 Study Session and Apn122, 2002 Boazd ~` meehng. The mmutes were approved as submitted. B Commiuuty and Environmental Assessment Process (CEAP) Flood Protechon Levee Reconstruchon and Improvements Bear Canyon Creek - Footlulls Parkway to Arapahoe Avenue von Bleichert, PRAB liaison for the Greenways Advisory Committee, asked Board members to provide their comments to him pnor to the Greenways Advisory Committee meehng on June 5 C. 2003-2008 Greenways Capital Improvement Program von Bleichert, PRAB haison for the Greenways Advtsory Committee, asked Board members to provtde their comments to him pnor to the Greenways Advisory Committee meehng on June 5 IV. MATTERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT A Discussion of water issues ~ Presenters Jan Geden, CPRP, Director, Pazks and Recreat~on Chnstme Andersen, Deputy Ctty Manager for Environmental Services Doug Hawthome, CPRP, Pazks Supenntendent Ann Wichmann, Natural Resources Manager Ned Williams, Director of Public Works for Uhlihes Hawthome spoke bnefly about the DepartmenYs Water Conservahon proposal and reduchon strategies as rt relates to ex~shng pro~ects where landscapmg has been halted, irrigahon of the golf course and city pazks, the flower program and the cemetery. Wilhams spoke about the low level of snowfall and dry wmter with resulhng madequate levels of water storage and altered stream flows. He addressed the issue of water management dunng the summer to have sufficient water supply for the wmter months. Williams also spoke about City Counc~Ps considerarion of changes to the Boulder Revised Code conceming mandatory water conservahon efforts. Sanford asked whether mature trees and shrubs would conhnue to be watered Willzams responded that mature landscaping should surv~ve the drought and less mature planhngs would continue to be watered ~ PRAB Meenng OS/20/2002 - Page 2 ~„T Hoge mquired about dead patches of turf at Scott Carpenter Pazk. Hawthorne ~ replied that the poor quality soil underneath the turf makes it diffzcult to keep the turf healthy Scott Carpenter Park was the former srte of a wastewater treatment plant Hoge asked wluch facility uses the most water. Hawthorne responded that Pleasant View Fields used the most treated water last year with 19 2 mill:on gallons of water used The go[f course uses more water, but uses untreated ditch water Hoge asked if watenng was done at night and whether grass was being cut at a longet length. Hawthorne responded that water:ng was done at ntght. He added that regular park turf can be cut longer, but turf on playing fields cannot be cut longer O'Neill asked if grasses requinng less water were being used m azeas not heavily traveled. [iawthorne responcfed that most open park areas have become defacto ball fields for soccer and the problem with buffalo grass and fescue :s that they are clump grass which pose greater potent:al for in~ury Hawthome spoke about the water loss caused by leaks at Scott Carpenter Pool and the City Manager's decision not to open the pool this season. Andersen spoke about how the City needed to be a leader m water conservahon `w- and how the drought could change the tssue of water supply to a hfe/safety issue. Wimng asked how a public pool could be closed wkule the pool at Flahrons Golf course was open for pnvate use. Hawthorne replzed that the poo! was already full of water and the lease agreement allowed for private use of the pool Wuung asked about the impact on the budget if the pool was not opened for the season. Geden responded that pools do not generate profitable revenue and are usually substdued O'Neill suggested signage for water recychng fountazns Andersen spoke on the importance of commun:cahon wtth the pub[ic and replied that water reducnon strategies would create a number of opportunihes to inform the public of conservation efj"orts. Geden spoke about challenges facmg the department with Scott Carpenter Pool not opemng for the season. The Masters swim pmgram would not have as much pool hme, annual pass holders would have loss of an outdoor pool and there would be canceled classes and rentals. Hoge asked about the cost to repau~ Scott Carpenter Pool. Geden replied that u r would have to be researched and then malang the repa:rs would be a matter of ~,,,, evaluating and repnorihzing other projects PRAB Meetmg OS/20/2002 - Page 3 von Bleichert spoke about the balance of shrubs to be put in at Valmont and the plan6ngs for the reservoir. Wichmann rephed that about 100 shrubs had not been '~ planted and added that a drip watering system had been installed for efficrent "~ watenng. Planttngs at the north dam area of the reservo~r had been abandoned but planhngs were placed ~n the south area and along Sls` Street. Wichmann said that non potable water would be used for watenng von Bleichert asked staff to research turf grasses to find a grass requinng less water than bluegrass yet still suitable for general pazk use. B. Valmont City Park update Presenter: Teresa Grills, Manager of Valmont City Pazk Management and Plamung Assistance Team (MPAT) Gnlls showed Boazd members and updated schemahc plan of Valmont City Pazk that shows wildhfe enhancement area Ophons A, Bl and B2 Wichmann mformed the Board that five volunteers had been trauied and would conhnue with the breedmg bird survey at Valmont City Pazk. von Bletchert asked if the volunteers could note where larger b~rds and raptors are perching at Yalmont Wichmann replied that volunteers could be asked to do that Cmlls mformed the Boazd that a formal proposal was expected from Boulder Ice by July. She added that Boulder Ice was explonng the possibility of partnering ~!, wrth a tenms organization for a ~oint mdoorloutdoor facihty In addihon, Boulder .r~ Ice was aimmg for a gold LEEDS standazd for their facihty. V. MATTERS FROM BOARD MEMBERS Sanford gave an update on the renovahon of the North Boulder Recreahon Center and there was discussion about the gand reopemng. Hoge expressed disappoinhnent that Scott Carpenter Pool would not open ttus year and asked staff to explore the cost of repazrs/refurbishment for next season Hoge said PRAB should ask Crty Council to address the issue of genehcally modified orgazusms She stated that the OSBT addressed the issue and prolvbited use of transgemc crops on open space land. Geden suggested staff research the matter, obtarn the language for the Open Space policy and tnclude the tssue on the agenda for next month's meekng. von Bleichert explained City Council's Information/Reseazch Requests/Rule of Three where the concunence of three council members is reqmred to ass~gn a matter for reseazch by staff The PRAB's Procedural Rules state that "by concurrence of four or more members of the Boazd, the Board may direct prepazahon of a matter for the Agenda or may request staff to expend substanhal time on any matter " von Bleichert stated that ,,,,~ as mdrndual Boazd members bnng up an issue or request for mformahon, it would be ,_,> PRAB Meetmg OS/20/2002 - Page 4 mcumbent on both the Boazd and staff to ask whether four or more Boazd members ~ would I~lce staff to proceed with the matter. '~..~. Geden stated that if a Boazd request would take a lot of prepazahon, she would want to make sure that rt was somethmg the Boazd needs and wants. If that were not the case, she would srill work with the individual Boazd member to see what would sahsfy m the mtenm In response to an earlier comment that Flaurons Golf Course was the oldest golf course in the state, Wnung sazd he decided to reseazch the matter Wuung found that Flatirons Golf Course was the eighteenth oldest golf course m the state and had been built as a pubhc facility m 1933. He shazed with Board and staff the h~story of the golf course from 1933 to the present day. Geden remmded Boatd members to get their mput on the needs assessment to Chazhe Deans by May 24. von Bleichert asked Boazd members to look over Susan Osborne's comments on the needs assessm~nt [a handout to the Boazd] so as not to duplicate them. VI. ITEMS FOR ACTION A. Pubhc Heanng on the Pazks and Recreahon Advisory Board's considerahon of the Environmental Advisory Boazd (EAB) resolurion and considerahon of a mohon to approve the Parks and Recreahon Integrated Pest Management Plan '"~, (IPM) ~ Presenters Jan Geden, CPRP, Director, Pazks and Recreahon Chnshne Andersen, Deputy City Manager for Environmental Sernces Ann Wichmann, Environmental Resources Manager Ellie Bussi-Somle, City Forester Kathleen Alexander, Forestry Assistant Bob Peck, City Pazks Manager Lisa Green, Pazks Supervisor Andersen spoke bnefly about the }vstory of the IPM plan for the enhre city. Wichmann spoke about departmental efforts to implement the City of Boulder's Integrated Pest Management Program and development of a department plan. Geden talked about the recommendation from the EAB asking the PRAB to consider a moratonum on peshcide use in the Civic Center Complex azea and Council's moratonum on the ground application of pesricides and herbicides within 50 feet of creek corridors and m the Civic Center Complex. Geden added that staffrecommended a study session m August or September to present the management plan to Boazd members. r- Alexander spoke about expenmental use ofNeem, a natural derivahve of seeds of ~ the Neem tree, to control hlac/ash borers. Neem's EPA Toxicity Category was II, based on eye sensihvity for apphcators not usmg proper eye safety equipment. PRAB Meenng OS/20/2002 - Page 5 Alexander stated that the oral LD50 for Neem was a Toxicity Level N, the same as for soap, addmg that Neem was approved for use on organic crops. ^~'~ ~.r+ Green showed the flame-weeder to Board members and spoke about rts use and effecriveness for weed cclntrol. Peck mformed the Boazd of a new electnc mower that the departrnent had purchased. He stated that the mower operates on six caz battenes and can run 6- 1/2 hours offthe chazge. The mower is quiet except for the sound of the blades that cut a 44-inch swath as compazed to the 72-mch cut of a standard mower. The Pubhc Heanng was opened. Randall Weiner, 1942 Broadway #408, Boulder 80302, a member of the City of Boulder Environmental Advisory Boazd, urged the Board to contrnue with the Morzel moratonwn in Central Pazk, contmue workmg wrth staff on the IPM program to make it more restnchve and to make Central Park a place where altemahves to chemicals aze used. Cosima Krueger Cumm~gham, 977 Seventh Street, Boulder 80302, speakmg for the Sierra Club, said the crty's IPM pohcy has not been enforceable wluch is why the Sierra Club proposed m the yeaz 2000 that C~ty Council phase out most toxic chemicals over a two yeaz penod. She added that she would hke to see a citywtde phase out and ban on toxic chemicals ~ Orfeo, 4500 19'~ #616, Boulder 80304, self-proclazmed radical env~ronmentalist, spoke about long term safety issues with toxic chemicals He suggested staff use skull and crossbones signs rather than yellow flags that look like cable/uhlity flags to mdicate when chemicals have been apphed. Orfeo asked about monitoring of residue and drift of chem~cal applications. Deb Kemmerer, 5858 Woodboume Hollow Road, Boulder 80301, spoke in support of chemical use on a lim~ted bases m nahve areas as certain species of plants aze difficult to control wrthout chemicals She felt it was important to look at mdividual chemicals and not make a blanket restricrion Mary Louise Chavers, P02990 Glenwood„ Boulder 80301, spoke about toauc peshcide use as a life safety issue and considered pesricide use as bioterronsm. She stated that pesticides have theu ongm m nerve gas made m concentrahon camps in Germany. The Public Heanng was closed. von Bleichert moved, seconded by Wimng, that the Pazks and Recreahon Advisory Boazd (PRAB), m l~ght of hming, [recommends] conhnuing Ctty Council's moratonum [as defined m the Apn124 WIP memo] in Civic Center ~ Park, as well as the area's water bodies (further defined as creeks, ponds, wetlands and ma~or ungahon drtches), wittun 50 feet of those bodies, to include PRAB Meenng OS/20/2002 - Page 6 the onginal language of the moratonum, and would not prolubit tree spraying, ~' with the intent that the PRAB will follow up with a study session involvmg the L" Environmental Advtsory Board (to clarify their intent of the resolurion) as well as other city land managers to fiuther discuss the potenhal of domg a phaseout of pesticide use wittun Civic Center Pazk, also lookmg at potenhal for ripanan azeas (as defined m the Apri124, 2002 WIP memo). Further, as mcluded in the onguial moratorium, there was discussion by Council that the City Manager could gcant necessary excephons. Lastly, the PRAB conhnues to support the DepartmenYs IPM Plan and looks forward to further review. Hoge offered a fnendly amendment to eliminate all broadcast (aenal) tree spraymg, with chemicals,up to and mcludmg Level III, in Central Pazk and nparian comdors (as defined in the mohon), with an exception process. von Bleichert accepted the fnendly amendment but Wining did not. Hoge moved, seconded by von Bleichert, to amend the mohon to ehminate all broadcast (aerial) spra}nng of trees, with chemicals up to and mcludmg Level III, m Central Park and npanan corridors (as defined m the mohon) wrth allowance to be made by the City Manager for exceptions The amendment passed 3 2(wrth 2 members absent), with Wimng and 5anford opposed , ~. `~- The mohon as amended passed 3•2 (with 2 members absent), with Wming and Sanford opposed. Wming and Sanford expressed support for the mohon itself, the EAB resoluhon and City Council's moratonum. Wimng and Sanford did not support the amendment prohibiring spraymg of trees and felt that havmg to go to the City Manager for excephons was too restnchve and would be burdensome for the C~ty Manager. von Bleichert said he would be avazlable at the June 4 Council meehng to clanfy the PRAB's posihon for Council. The Board took a 5-mmute break. B. Pubhc hearing and consideration of a morion to review and approve the 2003 Pazks and Recreation Capital Improvement Plan Presenters: Jan Geden, CPRP, D~rector, Pazks and Recreahon Kate Bernhazdt, Achng Superintendent of Pazks Plamm~g and Conshvction Bemhazdt informed the Boazd that revised budget pro~ecrions provided in mid- May idenrified additional revenue shortfalls of $287,117 from the Permanent Pazks and Recreahon Fund (Fund 230) and $2,250,437 from the .25 Cent Sales r Tax (Fund 118). Bemhardt informed the Board that fundmg currently allocated w.., for renovahon and refurbishment would be preserved, thereby keepmg the park PRAB Meetmg OSJ20/2002 - Page 7 system as healthy as possible. She added that development of new and addihonal park and recreation facilrties would be slowed down. "~ Sanford remazked that one thu~d of the budget was debt service. Wimng asked for clanficahon of golf course expans~on fee revenues being used for operaring expenses. Geden repked that staff would have that anformahon for the next meehng. She added that a business analysis was needed for the golf course because of dechmng revenues and not meehng thetr target Hoge mquired about impacts for Valmont fundmg and the purchase of the Mountazn Ocean building. Bernhardt replied that approximately $900 K had been set aside for the purchase of the Mounta~n Ocean build:ng and was snll avazlable along with any funds left over from development of Phase I Hoge mqwred about availabihty of funds for acqwsihon of property or pro~ects should they become available Geden responded that the budget was a Jlued document that allowed for flexzbility. von Bleichert stated that capttal development dollars would kkely be used tf the posstbtkty of land acqu:sz~on arose The Public Heanng was opened No one spoke. The Pubhc Heanng was closed Wimng moved, seconded by von Bleichert, that the Parks and Recreahon Advisory Boazd accept the staff recommendation on the budget revision and send that recommendation to Ctty Council The mouon passed unammously, 5 0(with 2 members absent) von Bleichert stated that there was general agreement to focus on maintenance and to consider acqwsit~ons when possible. VII. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/INFORMATION A. Update on recyclmg efforts m urban pazks Presenter: Doug Hawthome, CPRP, Pazks Superintendent ~'~R .r+ Hawthome mformed the Board that staff was worku-g with Envuonmental Affairs staff to place recycling containers m the pilot park sites. In addihon, staff was wodang towazd increased waste reduchon at the Boulder Creek Feshval Uus yeaz Next to every trash box there would be a contamer for recycling of cans, glass and plashc bottles. Hawthome sazd he would retum to the Boazd wrth updates on the ~ success of recyclmg efforts. PRAB Meenng OS/20/2002 - Page 8 VIII. FUTURE BOARD ITEMS AND TOURS r~^° `"' June 1 S needs assessment study session - Meadows Branch Library meehng room, 9• 15 a.m. -1 p.m. IX. NEXT BOARD MEETING Monday, June 24, 2002 X. ADJOURN The meering adjoumed at 10:49 p m. APPROVED BY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BO . Ed von Bleichert Boazd Chair r° ~..- Attest: Georgi ckso Recordmg Secre r~^ ~ PRAB Meenng OS/20/2002 - Page 9