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Approved Minutes - 6/24/2002City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Minutes June 24, 2002 City Council Chambers 1777 Broadway 6 p.m. The, following are the minutes of the June 24, 2002 City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Advisory Bourd meeting (PRAB). A permanent set of these minutes and a tape recording (maintained for a period of 6 years) are retained in Central Records (telephone: 303-441-3043). Board Present: Ed von Bleichert; Chair, Susan Osborne, Vice Chair, Pam Hoga, Thomas Sanford, and Suzanne O'Neill Board Absent: Dave Wining, Charles Manlove Staff Present: Jan Geden, Doug Hawthorne, Sarah DeSouza, Georgia Jackson, Kate Bernhardt, Julya Bridgewater, Ann Wichmann, Teri Olander, Chuck Mc Elwain I. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved as submitted. II. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Citizen Participation was opened. Barb Roper, 216 Seminole Drive, Boulder 80303, expressed concerns over the water reduction plan as it related to Pleasant View Fields. She was concerned that less water would seriously compromise or damage the fields. Roper also spoke about the need for additional soccer fields and said she would like to see fields completed at the East Boulder Community Center as originally planned in 1985. Peter Richards, 470 University, Boulder 8030_, spoke about irrigation in city parks. As an owner of the Anderson ditch, Richards stated there was plenty of water available in the ditch Yhat could be used to irrigate park lands such as Columbia Cemetery, Eben Cr. Fine and Beech Park. He expressed concern over the current water restrictions and suggested the Parks and Recreation Department eonsider using ditch water for irrigaYion. Mo11y Tayer, 620 Ya1e Road, Bouldar CO 8030_, thanked the 6oard and staff for the recent closing on the Mesa Memoriai Church property which would one day be _ _ _ _ " - . . . ..:.....I ~ developed as a future pocket park. She also said the community was willing to work with the deparhnent and help maintain the property until it could be developed. Gabe, a yoixng neighbor living at 705, Yale, also expressed thanks far the city's acquisition of pocket park property. Citizen Participation was closed. III. CONSENT AGENDA Minutes of May 20, 2002 The minutes were approved as submitted. IV. MATTERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT A. Water Reduction plan far Parks and Recreation Presenters: Jan Geden, CPRP, Director of Parks and Recreation Doug Hawthorne, CPRP, Parks Superiatendent Geden thanked Hawthorne for his leadership in putting together a plan for the entire department and spoke about the challenges facing tha city and the department if the drought continued. Geden invited interested citizens and Board members to attend a meeting about short and long term sustainabitity strategies for Pleasant View Fields. The meating would be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 27, in the Meadows Branch Library meeting room. Hawthorne spoke about changes to the water reduction strategy since it was presented to the Board in May. He informed the Board that three fields at Pleasant View would receive more water than the allotted fifteen minutes twice a week. This wauld be for a one-month period using water reallocated from othar parks and Columbia Cemetery, with those areas receiving less than their weekly allohnent of water. Hawthorne added that the condition of Pleasant View fields, the cemetery and parks would be monitored throughout the one-month trial period to assess whether or not to continue with the trial. von Bleichert asked about potential for use of ditch water. Hawthorne replied that the.4nderson ditch shares the city owns are divertible only at the city's municipal intake, higher up in Boulder Creek Basin, and that no Anderson ditch water was available for Columbia Cemetery, He added that a fractional share of the Anderson dttch was already committed to the irrigation ofMartin Parl~ Infrastructure for ditch irrigation at Martin Park was put in place several years ago but a pump and aontrols would still need to be installed at a cost of approximately $75, 000. The decision was made not to install the pump and controls at that time, as the ditch does not have water running throughout the entire irrigation period. Minutes of PRAB Meeting 06/24/2002 - Page 2 Hawthorne said Yhe city did have some shares at Valmont [City Park] that were used for floocl irrigation. Hawthorne said the city also owned some shares of Fartners ditch that could be used to water Pleasant View but that would require installation of a pump station and about one mile of above ground pipe. As Farmers ditch was not a senior ditch, Hawthorne had baen informed that water in the ditch would probably stop running by the second ar third week in July. Hoge asked if the department had other ditch shares and whether they were being used to their full extent. Hawthorne replied that there were ditch shares for Maxwell Lake and Linden [Park}, Foothdlls Commaendty Park and Fdadirons Godf Course and said those shares were being,fully utilized. Sanford and Hoge inquired about the usa of gray water from city sewage treatment plants for irrigarion. Hawthorne replied that water laws require a certain percentage of water to go back into streams. .4nn Wichmann, Environmental Resources Manager, said she had looked into using gray water for irrigation. She found that there was a return to creek issue and a constraint about using gray water in any kind of park or developetl area. Wtchmann said she was unable to obtain permission to apply gray water to trees, even in an out of the way area at the reservoir. Hoge spoke about rotating irrigation of the fields at Plaasant View. Geden replied that Dave Brown [manager for field maintenanceJ felt that roZating the irrigation wouldn't help, and could possibly be a waste of water, as the fields reguired regular watering. Hoge asked about keaping people off the fields. Teri Olander, Acting Superintende~it ofRecreation, responded that the condition of the fields would be monttored on a weekly basis to determine whether they were safe to play on. Osborne arrived at 6:53 p.m. O'Neill said if citizens were going to be away this summer, their wafer consumption would be reduced and if they wanted to donate that water for irrigation of Pleasant View Fields, would that be possible? Geden replied that the issue was management and enforceubility and it would be difficult to determine from whom, where, how much and when that water would be available. Hoge said she was in favar of immediate installation of infrastructure necessary for ditch water in7gation and perhaps have the opportunity Yo use the ditches this summer. Geden replied that use of ditch water could be looked at in terms of long term sustainability. She also said a discussion was needed about whether sand base fields made sense in this rype of environment. The possibility of no outside watering at a!l next year also needed to be considered in the event that the drought continued. Minutes of PRAB Meeting 06/24/2002 - Page 3 Hoge and von Bleichert inquired about use of underground drip systems. Bernhardt spoke about the construction. of underground drip systems. She saitl they were very efficient and cost effective for narrow strips such as right-of- ways, but extremely expensive and not suitable,for large open turfareas. von Bleichert suggested using underground drip systems far irrigating trees in new park construction so that trees could receive water independent of turf irrigation. Hoge said it was more efficient to water less often and far a longer period of time and was disappointed that the city restricted inigation fo fifteen minutes twice a week. Geden said the waCer restrictions were not a perfect solution bur would be helpful in achieving water usage goals, while trying to be as fair and equitable as possible. Hawthorne said part of the strategy included public information and spoke about signs placed at each park site. The signs explained the drought, watering restrictions and how *he turf may be affected. There were also signs in flowerbeds to explain why flowers were not planted this season. B. Scott Carpenter Pool closure update Geden informed Che Board that Scott Carpenter Pool would de6nitely not open this summer. She said that television cameras had been placed in the piping to determine location of the leaks and it did not appear the leaks were in the piping underneath the conarete. The major source of the leak might be a pipe joint outside the deep end of the pool and that area would be excavated, examined and repaired, in order to open the pool next summer. Geden informed the $oard that Facilities Asset Management (FAM) would fund the $SOK cost for the excavation and repair. Hoge asked if Spruce Pool hours had been extended. Olander responded that the hours had been extended in order to accommodate all user groups. von Bleichert asked whether a pool cover would help with water loss due to evaporation at Scott Carpenter Pool. Geden and Hawthorne responded that most of the water loss due to evaporation occurred during the middle of the day when the pool was in use. They explained that the main purpose.for a pool cover was to keep the water warin and help with pool maintenance. C. IPM Study Session update Geden spoke aboixt City Council's approval on June 4 of a motion regarding the moratorium of pesticide application on City property and outlined steps that staff would be implementing as a result. Minutes of PRAB Meeting O6/24/2002 - Page 4 Geden said that IPM was a complex issue affecting Parks and Recreation in many ways. At the sama time the department is dealing with the drought, Scott Carpenter Pool, Pleasant View Fields, all of which are taking a lot of the departmenYs energy and resources. As a result it wasn't possibie to be ready for a study session by September 30 and Geden sixggested moving the study session to a later date. Staff ~avould return Yo the Board in July with a draft timeline and objectivas of the process and how it would be structured, After that process, staff and PRAB could meet with the Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) and then City Council. Osborne asked why the issue was so complex when it was obvious that the issue was to make sure park turf was safa far citizens and children. Geden responded that the department had various kinds of turf,• urban park land, ball fields and r~aCural lands; each witDa varying issues related to IPM'- and for eve~y issue there might be a specific treatment or specific time that treatment could be applied. Maintenance standards [as they would be developedJ and ramtfications would need to be discussed with the public. Osborne questioned who from the general public would coma to public meetings on IPM. Geden replied there was a broad range of constituency from the chemically sensitive to those who were concerned about dandelions in city parks. She also talked about,food vendors at the Farmers Market who recently expressed concern aboutfly larvae landing on their,food. Hawthorne said staff would try to paint a picture for the community and get Yheir feedback - what do they want their parks to look like? He said the issuas were more broad based than just IPM and would deal with how parks are maintainad: from mowing grass to cleaning rest rooms. von Bleichert said he still wanted to have a study session with the EAB in September to determine their original intent for the moratorium and was wncerned over moving back the date of the study session. He wanted the opportunity to sit with the EAB to determine mutual agreemant and concerns with regard to aerial spraying versus soil injection, waterways vs. trees, etc. Geden asked von Bleichert to keep in mind that the department would create a separate tree management plan beginning in September, Geden said her concern was how IPM affected Parks and Recreation, recognizing that there were broader citywide goals that also needed to be discussed. Parks and Recreation might be able to provide some of the leadership as it related to effecting the citywide goals. Geden added that PRAB attd EAB members would be welcome participants throughout the process. Minutes of PRAB Meeting 06/24/2002 - Page 5 Hoge said the challenge was a matter of alternatives chosen: -How to avoid usittg pesticides and break the chemical habit. How long would that take? -What was the level of tolerance for dandelions: How many allowed or how did theylook? -Premise - the department and city were trying to avoid using toxic chemicals. -How would we gat there? What would be the process? -How should future parks be designed for plantings so that they would require using less pesticide? -What was the level of tolerance for losing some trees? Would it be okay to lose one out of twenty traes because of pest management practices or wouid losing 50% of trees be okay? Geden agreed that it was important to detei7nine the level of acceptance that people would support and be comfortable with. She added that it was also important to formalize standards for managing lands. O'Neill said she hoped that the Board would have an inventory of noxious and aggressiva weeds for the discussion so that not all weed issues would be lumped together. Sanford spoke on the importance of establishing standards, working toward those standards and keeping in mind that they were living standards. He also stated that as standards would be met you would reach for the next step, raising tha standard with the goal. von Bleichert spoke about the irony of both sides of the pesticide issue relating to a recent event at the Farmers MarkeY. Because food vendors were concerned about fly larvae landing on food, a decision was made to spray chemicals. Yet the fact that so many people were assembled and an event was being held along the creek corridor were the very reason why pesticide activists wera opposed to a pesticide application. Von Bleichert reiteiated that he would still like to see the study session in September. Geden said she was concerned about managing that with the many issues facing the department this summer. On a parallel track staff was working on the ~aeeds assessment and the public process for that, a nationwide searclt would be conducted for two superintendents, as well as managing issues related to the drought. von Bleichert raplied the September 30 date was not absolute but added that he did not want the study session postponed until chemicals had been ardered and it was too late to affect park maintenance for next year, Geden asked the Board if sCaff could go baek to Council and say the Board supported sYa£f coming back in July with a timeline and steps to achieve the ultimate decisions of how to infuse IPM into the management standards of parks. In addi6on the study session would not take place on September 30. This Minutes of PRAB Meeting 06/24/2002 - Page 6 information would likely be sent to Council as a memo included in the Weekly Information Packet (WIP). Board members expressed their support and Osborne said the reasons why the study session was being postponed should be made very clear. She also felt there needed to be a very clear end product that could necessitate bringing in outside experts as weli as communication with other parks departments. All Board members axpressed a desire to be included in any brainstorming sessions. von Bleichert suggested updating or completing mapping so that Board members could have a better scope of things. He also did not want cost to be a deterrent whan considering options and ideas. Hawthorne spoke about a drought-related issue - an executive order signed by the governor banning all outdoor grilling in park areas - which applied to urban parks as well as natural areas. As a result signs were posted in both English and Spanish explaining that all barbecuing was prohibited. A week prior to the PRAB meeYing, the governor exempted gas fizeled grills in parks which meant that the city could allnw use of propane grills - excepY for the City o£ Boulder's intarnal policy banning propane grills in park areas. The internal ban on propane grills came about after a gas grill accident resulting in injury three years ago. However, the fire marshall and city's risk manager were both comfortable that the use of propane grills ar a small camp stove did not pose a risk to the city or a fire danger in urban park areas. Nevertheless, the use of all grills, including propane, would still be prohibited at Eben G. Fine Park, Chautauqua Park and Eaton Park because of thair proximity to natural areas. Signs would be installed to let people know that use of charcoal grills in those areas was still prohibited. D. Valmont City Park Update Presenter: Teresa Grills, Manager of Valmont City Park Management and Planning Assistance Team (MPAT) Geden asked Board members to think of the best way to provide them with informational updates on Valmont City Park (VCP). She said interested Board members could be involved in M-PAT meetings and report back to the Board. Sanford brought up the matter of Board Liaison assignments and von Bleichert said he would like to„diseuss liaison assignments and vacant positions at the July Board meeting. Grills handed Board members an updated map of Valmont City Park. Sha said the Technical Team had been meetittg to get updated costs for infrastructure and phasing. Grills said the next update could take two to three hours and asked how the Board would like the information presented. Did they want it presented at 3 Minutcs of PRA6 Meeting O6/24/2002 - Page 7 regular Board meeting, a separate study session, or have several liaisons come to the meeting and report back to the Board informally? Board members agreed to change the August 26 Board meeting to a study session and update on Valmont City Park. Grills said Boulder lce would make a twenty-minute presentation at the July 22 meeting and there would be Yen minutes for Yhe Board to ask questions. A month later Boulder Ice would submit a formal proposal for the approval process, answering questions raised at the Juty meeting. Hoge said she would be absent from the July 22 meeting. V. MATTERS FROM BOARD MEMBERS Sanford provided Board members with an update on the renovation of the North Bouldar Recreation Center. He also spoke about a three-acre botanical park in Steamboat Springs and suggested Hawthorne visit the park. Hoge asked for an update on recycling for the Boulder Creek Festival. Hawthorne replied that he was waiting for more information and that an update was scheduled for the July Board meeting. Hoge said motor boats at the reservoir were noisy and obnoxious and wanted to know why they were allowed. Hawthorne said the boats bring in a lot of revenue and added thaz boats were restricted from the no wake areas. Osborne said the Parks and I;ecreation Foundation was ready to submit a GOCO grant for administrative support, a half time staff person. She added that $18K had been raised from the duck race for the EXPAND program. Hoge asked for an update on a recent Board request for additional picnic tables or benches in certain parks. Geden said the idea of having flexibility in the budget to do such things had been discussed along with the capital budget but she didn't recall anything definitive. Hoge said she believed it had been discussed for Maxwell Park. O'Neill suggested homeowner/neighborhood education about Myrtle Spurge for the Maxwell Laka area. Wichmann informed the Board that Myrtle Spurge was also a problem at Violet and that goats brought in to eat the Myrtde Spurge hadn't been interested in it. Wichmann said staff would have to go out to the neighborhoods with information. von Bleichert spoke about the fun he had participating in the prairie dog count June 18 and 20. A coyote mothar and five pups were sighted. He suggested Board members consider participating in the July prairie dog count. Gedere said staff could e-mail the information and dates to Board members. Minutcs of PRAB Meeting 06/24/2002 - Pagc 8 von Bleichart refarred to a student study regarding soccer fields and the potential for fields at the East Boulder Community Center (EBCC). Bernhardt said the planning process for completing the rest of the park was scheduled to begin in 2006. Since almost twenty years will have passed since the original eoneept plan was created, it would be an opportunity to take that concept plan out and rethink the uses that had been designated for the large open area. Geden added that it would also Cie iato the Master Plan. von Bleichart provided Board members with an update on the Greenways Advisory Committee. During a recent discussion about potential budget cuts it was learned that Transportation would prefer to have all budget cuts to come from maintenance and not actual projacts. Greenways Advisory Committee members were concerned and would prefer to go ahead with some of the maintenance. von Bleichert said Transportation's goal was to continue the connections and paths but Greenways would prefer slowing down and doing the projects„well, not just in quantity. von Bleichert spoke about a two-year Greenways pilot project for hand removal of noxious weeds. Geden said the pilot would affect only 10 to 20 percent of the land they managed. Hawthorne added that it would be interesting to see tka results of the experiments and hand pulling in Yhe second year. Geden said that one-third of the Greenways budget was being spent to deal with issues that affected only 10 to 20 percent of their lands. She spoke about how the information gained would be useful to help manage parkland. VI. ITEMS FOR ACTION A. Public hearing and Recommendation to City Council regarding 2003 Pazks and Recreation Operating Budget Presenter: Jan Geden, CPRP, Director of Parks and Recreation Julya Bridgewater, Administrative Services Division Director Chuck McElwain, Administrative Analyst Geden spoke briefly about the budget and the current financial picture of the city. She asked Board members to keep in mind that the department could be asked to make further reductions to the budget being submitted for next year. Bridgewater briefly explained the Operating Budget and fielded questions from the Board. On a motion by Osborne, seconded by Sanford, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted unanimously (5 - 0 with two members absent) to recommand to City Council the 2003 Parks and Recreation Operafing Budget as prasented in the staff inemo dated June 24, 2002. The Chair was reminded that the item was to have a public hearing. Minutes of PRAB Meeting 06/24/2002 - Pagc 9 The public hearing was opened. No one spoke. The public hearing was closed. VII. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/INFORMATION A. Trans~enic (GMO} Crop Policy Presenters: Jan Geden, CPRP, Director of Parks and Recreation Ann Wichmann, Environmental Rasources Manager Board members decided to defer the discussion unril it could be considered as an Action Item at the July 22 meeting. B. Department 2002 work plan and priority goals Presenters: Jan Geden, CPRP, Director of Parks and Recreation Sarah DeSouza, Assistant to the DirecYor DeSouza provided Boarcl members with a brief overview of the work plan and division priority goals. von Bleichert asked about the complete audits of three additional playgrounds. Hawthorne stated that those were safety and conditiort audits. Prior to making any recommendation for future playground renovatdon, staff evaluates current conditions of the playground and comes back with a recommendation on what's the next hlghesC needed playground to be c~eveloped. von Bleichert inquired about developing a city ordinance for Columbia Cemetery. Hawthorne responded that staff was working with the city attorney's offtce to loolc at various ordinances as they related to uses at Columbia Cemetery. This would deal with such Zhings as notification on who can be buried there, whether dogs are allowed in the cemetery, to throwing objects in the cemetery (referring to a fruit cake toss several years ago that damaged headstones). Osborne suggested staff noY try to over regulate, as the cemetery was a lovely place for people to walk and enjoy. von Bleichert suggested adding two things to the work plan: wark around the IPM and next steps for Valmont. Minutes of PRAB Meeting 06/24/2002 - Page l0 VIII. FUTURE BOARD ITEMS AND TOURS As the September 23 PRAB meeting falls during the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association Conference staff asked Board members to consider changing the September meefing date. Board members agreed to reschedule fhe meeYing to September 30. O'Neill said she would not be able to attend a meeting on that date. Tour of Sinton Park - 4 p.m. August 26, prior to Study Session IX. NEXT BOARD MEETING: Monday, July 22, 2002 X. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 10:12 p.m. APPROVED BY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOAR : ~ Ed von Bleichert Board Chair Attest: , ) `- ~. Georgia kson Recording Secretary Minutes of PRAB Meeting 06/24/2002 - Page i l