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7A - Items for Discussion, Transportation Easement Land in the Goss Grove Neighborhood for use as aDO NOT REMOVE - PRAB File Mater~al - CITY OF BOULDER r"' PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD AGENDA ITEM ~..,. MEETING DATE: November 25. 2002 (Agenda Item Preparation Date: November 18, 2002) AGENDA T11ZE: Item for Discussion: Transportation Easement Land in the Goss Grove Neighborhood for use as a Pocket Park REQUESTING DEPARTMENT: Jan Geden, CPRP, Director, Parks and Recreation Doug Hawthorne, CPRP, Parks Superintendent Kate Bernhardt, Acting Parks Planning & ConstruMion Superintendent FISCAL IIbIPACT: It is estimated that capital dollars exceeding $30,000 and operating dollars exceeding $7,500 per year will be needed to improve and maintain these sites `"""' PURPOSE: ~ The purpose of tlus memorandum is to discuss wiW the Board a request made by neighbors of the Goss Grove neighborhood during the September, 2002 Pazks and Recreadon Advisory Boazd meeting for three transportation easement properties to be maintuned by Pazks and Recreation Department. BACKGROUND: On September 30, 2002 dunng the Public Participation portron of the PRAB meeting> a citizen of the Goss Grove neighborhood, Mr. Terry Danko requested that the PRAB consider taking over the mazntenance of three sites located on Grove Street between 18`~ and 20`~ Streets totaling .39 acres from the City's Transportauon Department. Residents are concemed about the lack of mamtenance and improvement of these sites and believe there is not a pazk within reasonable safe distance from residents of ttus azea. The 1995 Ballot Issue that was approved by the ciuzens of Boulder provided for the acquisi6on of "up to" 26 acres of neighborhood and pocket pazks and funds to develop and maintain them. 'The ballot issue language was modified in Nevember 1998 through a vote of the people to lift the limitation of 26 acres. The mtent of the ballot issue was focused on lifting the hmitation of "up to 350 acres" of mountatn park land. There was no identified need at the time to ezceed the 26 acres of neighborhood and pocket pazks. The Pazks and Recreation Master Plan provided for the following ~ definitions and service level standards for Neighborhood and Pocket Pazks: ~ AGENDA ITEM # VII - A Paae 1 Neighborhood Parks Definition The level of service standards seeks to provide a neighborhood pazk wittun one-half mile of every home. The desired minimum five-acre pazk site can help to buffer more act~ve uses from surrounding neighborhoods and incorporate more natural areas. Neighborhood parks should provide a playground, open grass play areas, picmc tables and benches, attract~ve landscapmg wluch preserves and enhances the natural character of the site. They may also include neighborhood-scale play courts. Programmed and unprogrammed uses of the pazks will be balanced based on neighborhood mput dunug the design process. Standards • Atleast 5 acres m size • Located witlun one-half mile of the populaUOn being served, takuig mto account ma~or bamers to access. • One and one-half acres per 1,000 residents m each subcommumty and citywide. Pocket Parks ~"+~ ~ Definition Pazcels of at least five acres are not always avazlable for neighborhood pazks. Pocket pazks offer `~+ services in places where the standazds cannot be met because of lugh land costs or lack of available land. Pocket pazks can provide play areas and places for neighborhoods to gather. Ideally they will incorporate landscaped azeas wluch enhance and preserve the natural chazacter of the site and provide for quiet pastimes Standards • L.ess than five acres in size; usually one to three acres. • Located within ~/a mile of the populat~on bemg served. • Help to meet neighborhood pazk needs where no other altemative exists ANALYSIS: Previous Pazk and Recreation Advisory Boards have considered the Goss Grove sites for potential pocket parks. The Followmg is a brief synopsis of the PRAB meeUng, discussioas, recommendat~ons and actions taken by previous Boazds: January 25, 1999 - diswssion with PRAB members concenung the standards previously identified above for neighborhood and pocket pazks. The reason for the discussion was twofold; concems' regazdmg the City's continued growth in sales taac revenues had been rused, bringing mto questron the ability of the City budget to sustun the pazk service level. The second reason ~ for the discussion was to review with the PRAB (following a two and yz yeaz process to identify AGENDA ITEM # VII - A Paee 2 and negotiate the purchase of potenual pazk sites) what areas continue to be underserved and ~ determine if there was a reasonable approach to recognize areas that will continue to remain ~ underserved. Attachment A are the minutes from that meeting. The Boazd decided that other pubhcly owned and accessible azeas, such as Goss Grove.... Could be used as a nuugating factor, even if there is no joint use agreement for the use of the site for pazk purposes. 2. July 24, 2000 - discussion and mput with the PRAB concernuig the Neighborhood and Pocket Pazk acqmsiuon Project update. Staff proposed that four of eleven remaimng sites be pursued as the final effort m the 1995 ballot neighborhood and pocket pazk acquisiuon pmject and that the other sites be dropped from further consideration. The four sites recommended to be pursued were the Tree Farm/Foothills site at Foothills Pazkway and Baseline, Halcyon School site, located at 31~` and Bucknell, the 28`~ and Valmont site, located south of Valmont between Folsom and 28`" Street, and the Mesa Memorial Bapdst Church site, located at the northwest comer of Yale and table Mesa Drive. One of the remaining sites recommended not to be pursued included the three sites in the Goss/Grove neighborhood. Anachment B are the minutes from that meeting. While the minutes do not reflect a du~ectron, staff was given the direction from the Board to pursue the four sites. 3. Apri130, 2001- City of Boulder Environmental Management Audit - Finding #38 idenhfied an issue with urigated turf maintenance being less efficient when conducted by more than one division. The recommendauon of the environmental audit was "after irrigated turf has been eliminated from medians, transfer mamtenance responsibIlity of areas that will remain ,..~ permanently as urigated turf such as "pocket pazks" and certain underpass azeas to the Pazks ,,~„ Depaztment" There was no recommendadon made of transferring funding to Pazks to pick up these responsibilifles. 4. October, 2001- Request from Council member Riggle to investigate placing a playground m one of the Goss Grove sites Staff mvest~gated the potentials and reported back to the City Managers office that none of the sites would support a playground based on what the definition of pa;i~et park~ and descnption outiined in the ~azks and Recreanon Master Plan. Concem was expressed about the lack of adequate distances and buffenng of tlus activiry from neighboring residents. The potential operations and maintenance of these sites aze not funded m the current 2002 budget or proposed 2003 budget for urban pazks. It appears as though these sites are mazntained to a lesser standard than if pazks were to maintain them. These sites are in need of some upgradmg, repairs and general maintenance. In general the spnnkler systems need to be renovated mcluding upgraded back flow devices, rebwld of existtng zones and the addit~on of at least 1 more zone per site, mstallatron of master valves, and new central control compatible urigation controllers with appropriate surge protechon aad secunty. Each site is in need of prunmg of both trees and shrubs along with topdressmg and overseeding of some of the turf azeas. Estimated costs to bring these sites up to Pazks standards could ezceed $10,000 per site. Estimated annual costs for maintenance could exceed $2,500 per site per yeaz. ,^* In June 2002, the former City Manager, Ron Secnst held a meeung with members of the Goss Grove ~..r Neighborhood Association. The neighborhood associauon approached the City with a request to AGENDA ITEM # VII - A Pa¢e 3 mmprove the maintenance of the sites and to potentrally tum the maintenance of the sites over to ~ Pazks and Recreat~on. Pazks and Pubhc Works staff looked at these sites and pazks staff offered to representat~ves of the neighborhood association a proposal to purchase and mstall benches and a dog poop bag dispenser stadon at each of the three sites. Doug Hawthome met with the neighborhood association on September 19, 2002 to discuss this issue further with the Association It was decided by members of the Associat~on not to provide trash sernce at each of these sites, due to concerns about other citizens dumping private trash m the barrels. The benches and dog poop bag dtspenser stauons will be installed during December, weather permitting. The Neighborhood Associauon received a briefmg on costs to mazntau~ these sites and was informed about the City's current budget situation. PUBLIC CONIl~IENT AND PROCESS: Tlus item is bemg heazd at this pubhc mee6ng, as adver[ised in the Dazly Camera STAFF RECObIIVIENDATION: Staff is recommendmg that these sites not be taken over by Pazks and Recreat~on mamtenance at ttus time. The current 2002 and projected 2003 budget does not have refurbishment or operaUng dollazs to handle these sites. Additionally, we believe that further discussion about these sites should be held dunng future conversations surrounding level of service standazds and needs at the time that the Pazks and Recreatron Master Plan is updated. ~"! ~ ATTACHMENTS: A. - IvLnutes of the January 25, 1999 PRAB meetrng B. - Ivfinutes of the JuTy 24, 2000 PRAB meeung ~ ~ AGENDA ITEM # VII - A Pase 4 Attachment A There was no public comment. r.-. The P66lic Hearing was closed. ti...- On a motion by Overbeck, seconded by Dooley, the PRAB voted (unanimously) to approve and recommend to City Council the acquisition of this 35 acre parcel at 1199 Bison Drive VL TTEMS FOR DISCUSSION/IlVFORMATION A. Report on 1998 Capital Prnjects Board Coaunents and Questions: • Peterson stated that, as expecCed, this list shows that the Department accomplished a lot in the last year. He asked if there is some way that this information can be presented to the public Ideas mcluded.• Pm~ks & Recreation brochure rnrd web szte. Dropirrskr wrll work wtth our Parks cmd Recreatson Staff on gemng the rnformahon to the public. • Bellis asked Staff to look at the long lockers recently installed m the Men's Locker Room at EBCC. The way they are installed prevents them from being used by two people at the same time • Bellis asked Staffto look at the entire area at Scott Carpenter Pazk as they implement changes so that the traffc pattern will flow, makuig it easy to get azound the pazk. Ramsey responded that Staff's tment wtll be to r provrde good cororectivrty throughout. ~ • Bellis asked if anything has happened with Sinton Pazk since the student activity Rrnnsey responded that Staff intends to prck up w:th that pro~ect in summer or early fa1L • Dooley aslced for cost of irrigation system installed in Community Pazk in North Boulder Rmnsey responded rhat rt has rrot yef been mstalled but that the cost ojzmgation systems run beriveen SI.00 and SI.25/sq, f[. Urop:nski adclect that the amount of rmgated tm f for that pca~k has been cut from what was ongrnally planned • Boazd liked the report and felt it was helpful to have all of the mformation in one place. B. Informadon and Discussion Regarding t6e Current Levd of Service Standards for, aad Definition of, Neighborhood and Pocket Parks and the Departinent EtTorts Toward Meeting tLe Goals of the Acquisition and Development Program Notes of Consensus from PRAB meedng on January 25 regarding Neighborhood and Pocket Pazk Discussion Master Plan standards aze cons~dered ~1g that we stnve for, but because r-~ `•-~ PRAB Meeting 1/25/99 - Page 4 AGENDA ITEM #~~, PAGE r ~ of existing circumstances where the neighborhood is already developed, we will not always be able to attain the ideal. The standard is appropriate as ~ written and should be applied as a minimum to all newly developing azeas. ~ In developed neighborhoods, neazby Mountain Pazk or Open Space natural ~ , lands will couat as a mitigating factor where the ideal standard for parkland cannot otherwise be met, and if other public land with play area is located within a half mile radius. We should cocctinue to peirsue easements on Boulder Valley School Disuict (BVSD) properry where school-hour use for the general public is desired. The easement concept may be appropriate even if we do not have general public use during school-hours, but want to secure the land in perpetuity for park purposes • Use agreements with BVSD are appropriate to mitigate where the ideal parkland standard cannot be met even though the generai public use is limited w non school-hours • If developed pazk ameniries are available in the larger azea, an undeveloped pazk s~te would be considered to meet the neighborhood definition of a park when a public process results in little or no development on the pazk s~te • Other publicly owned and accessible azeas, such as Goss/Grove ~ (Transportation), University of Colorado, and schools could be used as a ,~ mitigating factor, even where there is no joint use agreement for use of the site for park purposes. • Regarding the potenrial of future concecn over service areas that are below the ideal, a reminder that the standard is written as general language of j~ and it is not mandatory to meet the ideal, nor will we always be able to meet the ideal. :' ~, ~partnering with neighhorhood givup~to enhanc~,u basic level of secyice - should be pursued on all new park sites (flower ~eds, gardens, etc•) A general concern was raised about how we protect the public interest in use agreements with BVSD for the long term, if they aze to consider selling school district pmperty If the department were to desire to embark on a program to look at potenrial park ~tes in areas that aze detennined to already meet the pazk service standard, the board would feel more comfortable taldng that proposat to the voters. The PRAB is concemed with the high cost of land, a'~ pRAB Meeting 1/25/99 - Page 5 ..e AGENDA ITEM # V I ~_Pr, PAGE~ ~ 4 it :i ongoing maintenance costs and the long term sustainability of the park ,~-- system. ~ VIL 1TEMS FROM THE DIRECTOR Chris Dropinski and Milce Kiley presented the summary and time line for an internal feasibility study of a year-round 50-meter pool. Board Commerns and Questions• • Dooley felt that the scheduled survey should be moved up to the top Kiley resporrded that mmry th:ngs on the hme line will be going on szmultaneously, mrd not ncecss~rly m order as Gsted • Lavely wants Angei Pines pool included in the analysis Ifiley responded that Angel Prnes rs being:ncluded for consrderahon. • Dropinski added that Pazks and Recreation has been approached by BVSD to help develop recreational opportunities. They aze looking at this as a means of ineeting the community's needs with assistance from the School District. Specifically, both Pazks and Recreation and the School District have identified the need for ballfields This may be a way to help develop the ballfields at Valmont Pazk Dropinsld informed the Boazd that she will be on a committee that will be looking at the City's CIP as a whole She will look for Boazd input at appropnate times ~ Dropinsla updated the Boazd on Lottery funds. Pazks and Recreahon has retained use of the Lottery funds for 1999 and doesn't think there will be any change until the Mountain ParlcslOpen Space issue is determined. Dropinsld reviewed the memo on Public-Private Partnership vv~th the Boazd. Retreat scheduled for Saturday, April 10 1~ith regard to the wildlife closure at the Bouider Resen~oir, Bellis asked Staff to look at ~ problems jet slds cause aad to consider banning them from tfie reservoir. She fceis there is : ~ a need for bettercoatrol and enforcemeat of no-wake areas. Dropriukr responde~d thaC"'" ~Sta,~'will fook into-fhematter. - V~. 1TEMS kROM BOARD MEMBERS Win'vig updated the Board on his meetings with the Boulder Arts Commission. An idea under consideration is to do something similar to what the City of Longnont does with an annuat cafl for pubfic art ideas and proposals. Another idea is to take inventory of the public art in Boulder, both on and offpark land. Tours will be set up to identify areas in the City where there is a need for public art ~ Wining would like to revisit the idea of inciuding the stars and comet tail at Scott ~ PRAB Meeting i/25/99 - Page 6 AGENDA ITEM # V/j-A , pqGE~ ~ Attachment B Dropinski explained how the exisUng Foundatioa Boazd has funcaoned m the past and how the Foundation Boazd is to be structured in the future. r ~ On a motion by Manlove, seconded by Wining, the Parks and Recreadon Advisory Board voted unazumously (5-0 with two members absent) to recommend the slate of nominauons to the Boulder Parks and Recreation Foundadon Board. D. Public Hearing and Consideration o[ a motion approving changes to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board's Procedural Rules Presenter: Chris Dropinski, Director of Parks and Recreation Dropmski explauied the changes to tl~e Boazd's Procedural Rules as discussed at the retreat on May 6, 2000. The Pubtic Heanng was opened. No one spoke. The Pubhc Heanng was closed. On a mot~on by Wuung, seconded by Manlove, the Pazks and Recreation Advisory Board voted unanimously (5-0 with two members absent) to approve the changes to the Procedurai Rules. ~1~ ~ VII. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/INFORMATION AO. Neighborhood and Pocket Park Acqnisition Ptoject update Presenter. Russ Driskill, Site Analyst Dnskill updated the Board on the status of the Neighborhood and Pocket Park Project and to reques[ feedback on the proposed staff direction. Boazd comments and c~uesnons: Wimng asked how much money is left in the bond fund and how much tune remauis to spend st. Dropinski responded rhat as (ong as stc~'shows conanued activity and is actively pursuing property to purchase, that should satisfy the requirement. Wmmg asked how many of the sites would require funds. Dr~slull responded that the school s:te would require approximatety $105,000 for the perntanent easement and Mesa Memoria[ Baptist Church has come back with the origina[ contract price of $700,000. PRAB Meenng 7/2M00 • Page 8 f".'. ~ AGENDA ITEM # I/fl - f~', pqGE~ Ramsey reminded the Boazd that there is approximately only $SOO,OOO left in the bond fund and purchase plus ezpenses for both would bring the total cost to approximately $850,000. Funding sources would need to be identified for the difference. Meyer asked when money would start accumulaang in the capital fund to rebuild. Ramsey responded that loaery fundr would stan showing up in the CIP for park acquutaon in 2004. Manlove added that Item No. 10 on the consolidaaon proposal could be a way of replemshing funds. Given the shortage of funding, von Bleichert asked if there is a prionry to acquisiuon of the sites. Ramsey responded that no funds would be needed to acquire the Tree Nursery so that is one thar defimtely should be pursued. The second would be the Goose Creek Channel and the Elmer's Two Mile confluence whtch will come w[tk the uttlttles work on that project, unless the Board would dectde otherwise. Of the nvo remain~ng s:tes, based on neighborhood input, the highest prioriry would probably be Mesa MemoRal. Wining expressed concem that approval aught razse pubhc expectaaon that the pazks will be developed in the neaz future. VIII. Future Board Items and Tours Dropmski mformed the Boazd that the building at Fortune Park has to come down. The issue will come back to the Boazd for use of land for affordable housmg. August 31 - Mountain Pazks land transfer to Open space - pubhc heanng Sept. 6- NBRC schemauc design approval - Possible tour pnor to start of ineeung (3:30 or 4:00 pm) Wimng and Meyer requested a Pro~ect Status update. IX. NEXT BOARD MEETING August 31, 2000 XII. ADJOURN Meeting ad~ourned at 10•40 p.m. PRAB Meenng 7/24/00 - Page 9 ~ ~ AGENDA ITEM # V~ I' , PAGE~,