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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved Minutes - Parks & Recreation - November 26, 2007City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Council Chambers,1777 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80302 Monday, November 26, 2007 Action Meeting Minutes Board Present: Stu Stuller, Norm Murphy, Chad Julian, Joel Davidow, Pete Webber Board Absent: Frances Hartogh, Todd Bryan Staff Present: Jan Geden, Alice Guthrie, Sally Dieterich, Abbie Novak, Sazah DeSouza, Jamie Sabbach, Perry Brooks, A1 Quiller Guests Present: Tom Gibney, Shapins Belt Collins Erin Caldwell, National Reseazch Center Cazol Adams, Studio Terra The meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m. I. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved. II. FUTURE BOARD ITEMS AND TOURS Geden mentioned that staff is proposing a PRAB study session for December on the Valmont City Pazk Concept Plan. III. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Tai Patwazdhan, 4507 South Hampton, Boulder, CO, 80301, representing the Boulder RC Club, requested that the City of Boulder Pazks and Recreation Department donate driving space for the Boulder Radio Control Club. John Wise, 6818 Quigley Circle, Firestone, CO, 80504, representing the Boulder RC Club, pooled his minutes with Tai Patwardhan. Bobby Noyes, 2439 10~' St., Boulder, CO, 80304, thanked the Boazd, staff, representatives from Shapins Belt Collins and Cazol Adams of Studio Terra, for their work on the Valmont City Pazk planning process. Chris Grealish, 3158 8~' St., Boulder, CO, 80304, representing DBC Events, gave a follow-up on the Boulder Cup Cyclocross that was held at Hazlow Platts Pazk on November 4, 2007. Lang McKeogh, 2332 Spruce St., Boulder, CO, 80302, representing Boulder Aquatic Masters, spoke on the Kinetics race being cancelled and the impact of that on Boulder not-for-profit groups. Public participation was closed. IV. CONSENT AGENDA Minutes from October 22, 2007 were approved. Stoller suggested that an audio link be added to the Board Minutes section on the Pazks and Recreation web page to enable the public to listen to Boazd meetings. V. ITEMS FOR ACTION There were no Items for Action. VI. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/INFORMATION A. Valmont City Park Concept Plan Guthrie provided a verbal update on the status of the project. Tom Gibney representing Shapins Belt Collins and Erin Caldwell, representing the National Research Center, discussed the results of the V almont City Pazk Citizen Survey. Guthrie said that 74% of citizens surveyed were in favor of a soft surface multi- . use path with 52% favoring a fenced dog park and 51 % favoring multi-purpose fields. Bike trails and facilities that include a bike skills pazk, a BMX track and a mountain bike trail system for the north side of the pazk were supported by 69% of respondents and an 18 hole disc golf course was supported by 31 %.On the southwest portion of the pazk 81 % of respondents preferred amulti-purpose field, a lighted field and a dog pazk. On the southeast portion of the park an outdoor water park was preferred by 47% and 4 soccer/multipurpose fields was supported by 38% of respondents. Lastly, when asked about indoor facilities, 39% of respondents preferred a performing arts center, 38% preferred an ice azena and 35% preferred a basketbalUvolleyball center. The choice for a pazticulaz park design was overwhelmingly Option 2 supported by 49% of respondents.Guthrie said that the survey results have prompted more in-depth study of the data. Gibney and Guthrie also spoke on the Open Houses held for the public on the Valmont City Park Plan. These meetings were well represented by the cycyling groups, disc golf groups and tennis groups. Guthrie asked for PRAB priorities on this issue. Murphy was concerned with feedback received from the Spanish speaking community and sees this as an opportunity to integrate this community in Boulder. He asked what else could be done in terms of outreach to the Spanish community and said that picnic azeas were indicated as an important element of these parks. He asked if there were other efforts that could be made to reach out to the Latino community for design ideas. 2 Stuller mentioned that they are being asked to design a pazk for which there is no money. He asked that the PRAB re-visit the original design of Valmont because historical perspective is valuable. He suggested looking at other data sources to see replications if any, costs of building facilities and to determine need for facilities. Julian asked about future demographic trends in Boulder and what the city's needs would be with an older population and whether that should be factored into this plan. He recalled that former Boazd member von Bleichert had a list of issues regarding Valmont. Julian agreed with Stuller that they use past PRAB data to enlighten the present Boazd about how things have progressed. He mentioned that the water pazk ranked high and was concerned about the short season it would be open. He asked if there aze other water pazks on the Front Range in towns the size of Boulder. Guthrie said that staff has been looking at the city of Golden because they have a water park about the same size as the one proposed. She indicated that staff has information that includes costs and revenues of that water pazk. The city of Broomfield also has a water park that is pazt of a larger park. Julian said from a historical perspective he would like to see more passive recreation areas and pazks to the north of Valmont. He had a question about the existing irrigation pond and if it is kept in its natural state, what would be done to ensure that the lake remains viable. Guthrie said there would not be stagnant water issues because flow through water rights exist at Valmont City Park. Webber asked staff to discuss the water pazk in more detail. Are respondents looking for a splash pazk, swimming, boating, etc.? Adams said there are at least two distinct groups. One looking for kayaking or triathlon training and the other looking for something with spray grounds and slides. She felt the reason Option 2 rated so high was that respondents had very different visions of what a water pazk should be. Webber asked if staff is leaning toward a commercial style splash pazk or fun zone as opposed to a passive, natural body of water. Adams said because the water park scored so high, it would merit more reseazch. Davidow felt that time and the historical perspective are important functions in the process. He referred to the survey as a snapshot with limited time duration. Options he would like to look at during the December study session aze phased development, costs for initial development and operation and maintenance of the 3 development phase. He also asked about potential partnerships for the various phases. Julian asked if other locations have been looked at for a disc golf course due to the low rating received in the survey and the lazge amount of space required. Guthrie said that Appendix K in the Master Plan has a disc golf study. Numerous locations were looked at and ranked accordingly. Murphy spoke of the multi use path and the possibility of sepazating the path for runners, hikers and bikers to avert potential conflicts among these groups. VII. MATTERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT A. Update on department meetings with aquatics groups. Geden gave a brief verbal update on the status of these meetings. She said there have been follow up meetings with Boulder Swimming. Geden added that on December 4 there is a follow up meeting scheduled with Aquateens to discuss potential options of mutually beneficial ways to lower fees or boost membership. Boulder Aquatic Masters was asked for a complete copy of the survey that BAM discussed with the Board. B. Update on City Manager's Work Group on Recreation Financing Geden spoke about the November 13 meeting. She highlighted the following: Kevin Burke, Deputy City Manager, spoke briefly about the business plan and the business plan concept, City Council's community sustainability goals and how they relate to projects, decisions or recommendations that staff would be making to the City Manager and City Council and spoke in detail on the Blue Ribbon Commission. C. Washington School site update. Guthrie and Geden gave a brief verbal update on the status of these meetings. Stuller recused himself as he is an attorney with Caplan and Earnest, LLC, attorneys for the Boulder Valley School District, owners of the Washington School property. Guthrie provided an update from the October 23 City Council meeting that was a special meeting to call up the Washington School site plan. She said City Council approved the plan with conditions that the developer not develop two of the single family home sites on the southeast corner of the pazk for nine months to give the city, the developer and the neighborhood time to come up with other funding options to buy the two lots for park purposes. Since that time some neighbors have submitted a petition to the city to have City Council reconsider the project. If the petition is verified it will have to be reviewed by the newly seated City Council. Geden indicated that those results would then be passed onto the PRAB. 4 D. Department Rules, Regulations and Suspension Policy. DeSouza gave a brief verbal explanation of the new department Rules, Regulations and Suspension Policy, providing conditions under which patrons may be suspended from a depaztment facility or programs. VIII. MATTERS FROM BOARD MEMBERS A. Discussion and possible adoption of Board Operating Procedures Davidow gave a brief update on the status of the Boazd operating procedures, presenting an alternative to Roberts Rules of Order, requesting review by the Board. He suggested using the Standard Code of Pazliamentazy Procedure, 4`n edition, copyright 2001 as an option to Roberts Rules of Order. He said it is a streamlined version of Robert's Rules, eliminating some of the antiquated pazts and updating other azeas. The layout is clear, making it easier to read and understand. He said he believes that under the Code the Boazd can choose their operating procedure type. He recommended changing to the Standard Code of Pazliamentary Procedure. IX. NEXT BOARD MEETING Due to the Christmas holiday, a December Board meeting is not scheduled. A December 17, 2007 PRAB Study Session will be held to prepaze for the Februazy Joint Study Session with City Council on the Valmont City Pazk Concept Plan. The next Boazd meeting is scheduled for January 28, 2008. X. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m. APPROVED BY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD Stu Stuller Boazd Chair Attest: ' ~r~~~~~ ~~u~ Sally Dieteric Recording Secretary 5