5 - Information Item, Greenways Program Status UpdateWEEKLY INFORMATION PACKET
TO: Mayor Will Toor and Members of City Council
FROM: Ronald A. Secrist, City Manager
Ned Williams, Directar of Public Works for Utilities
Anne Noble, Interim Greenways Coordinator
DATE: March 22, 2001
SUBJECT: Information Item - Greenways Program Status Update
Background
On May 5, 1998, City Council approved an updated Greenways Map and directed staff to update
the Greenways Master Plan. Since that time, a_core group of staff representing multiple city
divisions and departments (Greenways Coordination Team) have been meeting to evaluate issues
and participate in the development of the Greenways Master Plan update. Tasks associated with
the Greenways Master plan update for 1999 and 200Q in addition to other Greenways Program
accomplishments are shown in Attachment A. AnticipaYed Greenways Program tasks for 2001
are shown in Attachment B.
The Greenways Master Plan update was divided into three phases. Phase I included an
evaluation of the program to date and historical information about the program. This was
completed in June 1999. Phase II was the development of projects and oppartunities for each
program objective. During July 2000, the five advisory boards that have an interest in the
Greenways Program reviewed and recommended for approval the proposed projects and
opportunities shown on a revised Greenways Map and described in the Reach Inventory , with
Council review and acceptance in September 2000.
The final phase of the Master Plan involvas reaching consensus on the following issues:
• the development of procedures and processes for project planning and public
involvement
• an organizational structure
• a financing plan
• a maintenance strategy
The Greenways Coordination Team has been meeting to discuss options and develop a staff
recommendation for each of these remaining Greenways Master Plan issues. Staff inet with the
Environmental directors (the department directors that report to Christine Andersen) on March 9,
2001, to receive approval on proposed staff recommendations related to these issues and to
obtain direction on unresolved issues. Staff and the directors reached consensus on the first two
issues listed above: the Greenways project review process and organizational structure for the
Greenways Program. These recommendations are as follows:
Greenways Project Review Process
Canital Improvement Pro~ram (CII')
The Greenways coordinator, in conjunction with a group of staff representing all the objectives
of the Greenways Program (Greenways Coordination Team), will identify projects for the CIP
based on development activities, available outside funding sources and the opportunity to
coordinate work with other city projects. The CIP is developed for a six-year period consistent
with the rest of the city.
Individual Project Review Process
The Greenways coordinator or project manager, in conjunction with the Greenways Coordination
Team will develop alternatives and conceptual plans as part of the Community and
Environmental Assessment Process (CEAP). Development of the CEAP far Greenways Program
projects will be consistent with other city CIP projects and includes review by the Development
Review Committee. _
Also recommended was that all capital projects ($SQ000 or more) proposed within a Greenway
(whether funded through the Greenways Program, a private developer or another city workgroup)
be reviewed by the Greenways Coordinator and Greenways Coordination Team for compliance
with the Greenways Master Plan and Greenways Design Guidelines.
External review of the CIP and CEAP
Greenways CIP and CEAPs would be reviewed by the Water Resources Advisory Board
(WRAB). Input would be requested from the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB), Pazks and
Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) and Open Space Board of Trustees (OSBT) as part of an
information item (non-agenda) with comments directed to WRAB and/or the Greenways
coordinator. A meeting and public hearing would be hosted by the WRAB with a
recommendation to the Planning Board for the CIP and to City Council for CEAPs. All projects
proposed on land managed by Parks or Open Space wouid be taken to the respective board as
well. The Greenways CIP wouid also be brought to the Planning Board for recommendation,
consistent with all other city CIPs.
Greenways Organizational Structure
The Greenways coordinator will be part of the Utilities organizational structure, reporting to the
Utilities project coordinator. The Greenways coordinator will work with an interdepartmental
staff review group (Greenways Coordination Team) representing the various objectives of the
Program. The Greenways Coordination Team will be responsible for coordinating information
about the Program with their board members and other city staff from their departments.
Maintenance of the Greenways System will continue to be done by various work groups within
the city, as well as by outside agencies. Maintenance of the system for habitat and water quality
objectives need to be addressed through the organizational structure either under the direction of
the Greenways Coordinator or through the maintenance work groups.
Maintenance of the Greenways System
The Greenways System is currently maintained by several maintenance work groups within the
city. Tasks are divided by geographical location, as well as function. City staff, representing the
different work groups that maintain the Greenways System, identified and evaluated the
maintenance activities associated with the Greenways system. In an effort to clarify existing
responsibilities and establish consistent levels of service, a matrix of current practices was
developed. The matrix identifies the tasks and frequency performed by each work group. A GIS
map was also developed to clarify maintenance responsibilities by geographical location. Using
the Current Practices matrix, maintenance practices between the different work groups were
compared and a consistent standard was agreed upon.
In an effort to reduce confusion regarding maintenance responsibilities, a procedure for reporting,
tracking and correcting maintenance problems was established. All Greenways maintenance
problems can be reported to the Street and Bikeway Maintenance hotline at 303-413-7177. The
Street Maintenance staff will follow up on the problems that are within their jurisdiction and
forward the other items to the appropriate work group. A data base oF reported maintenance
problems is kept by Street Maintenance, with other work groups having access to it.
Most of the Greenways maintenance requirements are currently being addressed through the
existing organizational structure. Additional funding needs to maintain the vegetation along the
Greenways to provide high quality habitat and water quality functions are currently being
evaluated.
Next Stens:
The Greenways Coordination Team will continue to work with the Environmental Directors
through flie budget process to develop a funding plan to address all of the Greenways objectives
identified as projects and opportunities in the Greenways Master Plan, as well as maintenance
activities associated with minor restoration and preservation of vegetation, stream bank
restoration and weed control for habitat and water quality improvements.
If you have any questions or comments, contact Annie Noble at ext. 3242 or
noblea@ci.boulder.co.us.
Attachment: A. Accomplishments of the Greenways Program during 1999 and 2000.
B Anticipated Tasks of the Greenways Program during 2001
cc: Water Resources Advisory Board
Transportation Advisory Board
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Open Space Board of Trustees
Planning Board
Attachment A
Accomplishments of the Greenways Program
1999
The Greenways Master Plan update was the focus of the Greenways Program's efforts during
1999. The following tasks were completed as part of the Greenways Master Plan:
• A Greenways web site was established in May to provide a better informational link and
can be found at www.ci.boulder.co.us under Departments.
• Phase I report which documents historical information about the Program was complied
and distributed to the board members, City Council and interested members of the public
on June 8, 1999, in conjunction with a Greenways Open House.
• Several other Greenways forums were held over the summer to solicit public input.
• Three bicycle rides were held in September, which were intended to inform citizens about
upcoming projects along the Greenways comdors, as well as solicit comments from the
public.
• A staff bicycle ride was heid in August for the purpose of evaluating past projects and
identifying what worked well and what did not.
• A Greenways Riparian Habitat Assessment was performed during the summer of 1999 to
fill the data gaps in the city's environmental information.
• A public presentation of the results of the Riparian Habitat Assessment was held on
October 23, 1999.
Other Greenways Program Accomplishments
• Circie Boulder by Bicycle event was held on June 16, 1999
• Fourmile Canyon Creek Greenway west of Broadway was completed
• Fourmile Canyon Creek at Pleasantview Soccer Field low water crossing was repaired
and major wetland mitigation was constructed
• Fourmile Canyon Creek at Sumac work was done for preparation for sale of property
• preliminary design of the Boyd Smelter Site Rest Area was completed
• Jumping Mouse Study of the South Boulder Creek Greenway Trail at the East Boulder
Community Center was performed
• Update of the Greenways Self Guided Tour Map was done
2000
Work on the Greenways Master Plan update continued to be the focus of the Program's efforts.
The following tasks were completed as part of the Greenways Master Plan:
The core staff group identified and evaluated goals and criteria for each of the objectives
of the Greenways Program
Staff also identified projects and opportunities for each of the Greenways objectives along
the designated tributaries and Boulder Creek. This information was presented at a public
meeting held on March 2, 2000.
A Ranking of Greenways Objectives by Reach and associated Ranking Criteria to
identify conflicts (recommendations on how to address these conflicts are described in the
Reach Inventory) was developed
Based on the input from the public meeting, staff prepared a revised Greenways Master
Plan map in GIS showing the identified projects and opportunities and a description of
each project and opportunity in the Greenways Master Plan Update Reach Inventory
Projects & Opportunities which was presented to the five advisory boards in July and
Council in September
Additional GIS Maps were developed and include:
• Restoration/Preservation Areas in Square Feet
• Greenways Mileage Map
• Multi-use Path Maintenance Management Map•
• Greenways Ranking of Objectives Map
• Very Good and Excellent Habitat Map
• Map Identifying Environmental Sites
Other Greenways Program Accomplishments:
• Circle Boulder by Bicycle event was held on June 11, 2000
• Design and easement negotiation for the Wonderland Creek Greenway was completed
• Preliminary design of Skunk Creek, Broadway to Moorhead was completed
• Path reconstruction at South Boulder Creek & Baseline was completed
• Boulder Creek at 55`h Street & Pearl Parkway, bank stabilization project was done
• Boulder Creek at 55`h Street & the pedestrian bridge, bank sYabilization project was done
• Boulder Creek upstream of the Fish Observatory, bank stabilization project & drop
structure repair was completed
Attachment B
Anticipated Tasks of the Greenways Program during 2001
The Greenways Coordination Team is continuing to work on the final phase of the Greenways
Master Plan. Tl~e following Greenways Master Plan tasks are currently in progress:
Greenways Environmental Projects Top Ten List
Cultural Resource Inventory
Resolution of the Remaining Greenways Master Plan Issues is in progress including:
• Greenways Project Review Process
• Greenways Organizational Structure
• Greenways Funding
• Maintenance of the Greenways System
Other Greenways Program Tasks:
• Circle Boulder by Bicycle event is scheduled for June 3, 2001
• Completion of the Wonderland Creek Greenway from Valmont to Pearl
• Completion of the Elmers Twomile Greenway from Iris to Glenwood
• Preliminary design and easement negotiation for Fourmile Canyon Creek Greenway 26`h
Street to 28`h Street
Master Plan and CEAP for Skunk Creek, Broadway to Moorhead