Non-Agenda Item - Update on Boulder Creek and South Boulder Creek Confluence Plan Project
CITY OF BOULDER
NON-AGENDA ITEM
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD
MEETING DATE: November 25, 2002
SUBJECT:
Update on the Boulder Creek and South Boulder Creek Confluence Plan Project
REQUESTING DEPARTMENT:
Bev Johnson, Planning and Development Services
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
None
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Transportation Division will contribute approximately $4,000 or 1/3 of the cost of
developing the plan.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this memo is to update the board on the planning process for the Boulder Creek
and South Boulder Creek Confluence Plan. The purpose of the project is to develop a concept
plan for improvements to the Boulder Creek and South Boulder Creek floodplain area from
Valmont Rd. to 61" St. (See map below.) The project is coordinated through the Planning
Department and includes staff from the Open Space and Mountain Parks Department, Parks and
Recreation Department, Public Works Department (Transportation and Utilities) and Boulder
County Transportation. The proposed process for developing the plan will begin in the winter of
2002 and be completed in the spring of 2004.
AGENDA ITEM Page
Boulder Creek/South Boulder Creek Confluence Plan
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BACKGROUND
Historically, a transportation project was managed by the Boulder County Department of
Transportation with the primary goal of providing a road linkage between the Pearl St./55`x' St.
intersection and 61s` St. in the vicinity of Jay Rd. (Pearl Parkway extension). With the
abandonment of the original Pearl Parkway project, the focus of the project was on providing a
safe, off-road pedestrian and bicycle connection between the Valmont Connector (Valmont and
South Boulder Creek) to the newly constructed bike path on the west side of 61" St. No
decisions were made regarding those earlier proposed alternatives.
This new phase of the project will broaden the scope of the previous planning efforts by
developing a long-term plan or vision for achieving multiple city objectives in this portion of the
Boulder Creek floodplain. The concept plan will depict the location and general strategies for
the following improvements: habitat protection and restoration, bicycle and pedestrian
connections, floodplain improvements, historic and cultural resource protection, water quality
improvements, passive recreation, and water utility protection and enhancement.
AGENDA ITEM I Page
The following list describes the objectives of the planning project:
1. Plan for the environmental protection, restoration and enhancement of Boulder Creek and
South Boulder Creek habitat and floodplain between Valmont Rd. and 61" St. (See
attached map) including the following:
• Stream and floodplain improvements for enhancement of wildlife, fish and plant
habitat, removal of rubble and waste in floodplain;
• Weed control and management;
• Environmental restoration and enhancement of Pit C and Pit D area;
• Terrestrial, wetland and aquatic habitat and protection, enhancement, and restoration;
and
• Potential property acquisition for habitat preservation or flood mitigation.
2. Provide functional multi-use transportation connections between Valmont Rd. and 63`a
St.
3. Protect and plan for utility infrastructure needs (sewer trunk line).
4. Provide opportunities for environmental education.
5. Provide opportunities for passive recreational activities (e.g. fishing, bird and wildlife
observation).
6. Preserve and enhance cultural and historic resources.
7. Reduce impacts from adjacent industrial and residential uses.
8. Enhance water quality and flood mitigation through stream and floodplain modifications.
9. Identify properties for potential acquisition to reduce flood risk and enhance
environmental values of the planning area.
Staff Work Groun:
Planning and Development Services: Bev Johnson - project coordinator
Sean Metrick - GIS
Open Space and Mountain Parks: Don D'Amico
Mark Gershman
City Transportation Division: Mike Sweeney
Marni Ratzel
City Utilities Division: Bob Harberg
Annie Noble
Alan Taylor
Chris Rudkin
Donna Scott
Parks and Recreation: Kate Bernhardt
Boulder County Transportation: Clark Misner
Scott Robson
AGENDA ITEM # Page
INFORMATION GAPS AND DATA NEEDS
The following information gaps have been identified by the staff work group. This information
will be collected through the winter and spring of 2003.
Information needed Who will manage Resource Needs Timeline
the work?
Property ownership and land Bev Johnson Sean Staff time Winter 2002-2003
uses (including BVCP designations Metrick
and surrounding land uses)
Wetland mapping DonD'Amico $3000 May-June 2003
Plant communities inventory Bev Johnson (lead) $1000 May -June 2003
(include weed inventory and Don D'Amico
S iranthes diluvialis mapping)
Wildlife habitat assessment Mark Gershman $1000 April - June 2003
• Avian Inventory-PIF score
analysis
Wildlife habitat assessment Mark Gershman Up to $2000 June-September 2003
• Preble's habitat evaluation (Cary Richardson)
Habitat assessment - vegetation Mark Gershman Staff time May - June 2003
(using methodology developed for
Greenways assessment)
Transportation connection Mike Sweeney (lead) Staff time Winter 2002.2003
needs assessment Annie Noble
• include assessments of Marni Ratzel
connection to Valmont City
Park, County trails plans,
County road improvements,
other connection needs.
Water resources assessment Donna Scott Temp. time and May - July 2003
(using EPA Rapid Water Quality
Bioassessment methodology)
• Channel/bank quality
• Aquatic habitat
• Water quality impacts from
San Lazaro, well and septic in
area, and water quality ponds
Utility/flood needs assessment Bob Harberg (lead) Staff time Winter 2002-2003
• Structural risk assessment of Randy Earley
existing infrastructure (sewer Alan Taylor
line, ROW berm)
• Utility infrastructure needs
assessment and conceptual
plan
• Flood lain/land use issue-
Ditch/water augmentation issues Don D'Amico Staff time Winter 2002-2003
• Assessment of ditch rights, (Bob Crifasi)
locations, etc.
• Assessment of water
augmentation requirements for
AGENDA ITEM I Page
Pit D and implications on
annin .
Historic and archaeological Bev Johnson $1500 Winter 2002-2003
resource assessment
Soils assessment Bev Johnson $2000 Winter 2002-2003
(include mapping of old landfill
areas)
Visitor needs assessment Mark Gershman Staff time Winter 2002.2003
Other resource information Bev Johnson (lead) Staff time Winter 2002.2003
Historic location of creek and Sean Metrick
flood plain Alan Taylor
Out of city utility issues Bev Johnson (lead) Staff time W inter 2002-2003
• Well and septic issues at San Donna Scott
Lazaro and Old Valmont Town
site
County plans and projects Bev Johnson Staff time Winter 2002-2003
• South Boulder Creek overpass
and relocation
• Valmont Rd. improvements
• 63rd St. extension
• Union Pacific trail
Valmont Butte annexation Bev Johnson will Staff time Winter 2002-2003
implications coordinate with
Fire Training Utilities and Fire
Biosolid transport
• Out of city utilities
Prairie dog issues
Adjacent land uses Bev Johnson Staff time Winter 2002-2003
• Western Disposal annexation
and development
7 7 ng Sean Metrick (lead) Staff time on-going
OSMP for back-up
PROCESS AND TIMELINE
1. Inventory and assessment. October 2002- July 2003
2. Non-agenda memo to boards and Council to update on November 2002
process and schedule.
3. Begin work group meetings to review of assessment May - July 2003
information.
4. Inventory and assessment complete. July 2003
AGENDA ITEM # Page
5. Work Group meetings to identify issues and opportunities July 2003
.and prepare for stakeholder meetings.
6. Preliminary meetings with stakeholders to solicit input on August 2003
project goals and objectives, inventory information, and
issues, opportunities and constraints. (landowners, user
groups, city boards, County Commissioners)
7. Work Group meetings to: August - September 2003
- Develop framework plan alternatives
- Evaluate alternatives
8. Public open house to review and comment on alternatives. October 2003
9. Work Group meetings to finalize alternatives and develop October - November 2003
staff recommendation.
10. Meeting with Environmental Services directors to review December 2003
alternatives and to determine staff recommendation (if
needed).
11. Board review and comment on staff recommendation. December 2003 -
TAB February 2004
WRAB
OSBT
PRAB
Planning Board
GAC
12. Staff meetings to finalize framework plan and March - April 2004
develop implementation plan.
13. City Council review and approval of selected alternative. May 2004
BUDGET
The estimated cost of the data collection for the project is $9,000 - $12,000. The cost will be
shared equally among the following city programs: 1) Open Space and Mountain Parks, 2)
Utilities Division, and 3) Transportation Division.
AGENDA ITEM # Page