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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.24.22 PRAB MinutesCITY OF BOULDER BOULDER, COLORADO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES To listen to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meetings in their entirety, please go to the following link: www.boulderparks-rec.org Name of Board/Commission: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Date of Meeting: January 24, 2022 Contact Information Preparing Summary: Charlotte O’Donnell, 303-413-7223 Board Members Present: Charles (Chuck) Brock, Elliott Hood, Mary Scott, Raj Seymour, Jason Unger, Pamela Yugar Board Members Absent: Staff Present: Bryan Beary, Jackson Hite, Megann Lohman, Stephanie Munro, Ali Rhodes, Charlotte O’Donnell, Regina Elsner, Tina Briggs, Caitlin Berube-Smith, Christy Spielman Guests Present: Mandy Vink (City of Boulder Public Art), Bryan Bowen and Don McDonald (Caddis Design – Consultants for Public Art) Type of Meeting: Regular Agenda Item 1: Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. A quorum was present for the conduct of business. Motion to approve agenda. Motion by Yugar. Second by Unger. The motion passed 6-0 Agenda Item 2: Future Board Items and Tours Rhodes reviewed upcoming PRAB items and opportunities. Agenda Item 3: Public Participation • Jim O’Neil spoke about rowing at the Reservoir and concerns about increasing fees. • Don Wharton spoke about rowing at the Reservoir and concerns about increasing fees. • Larry McKeogh spoke about his experience with open water swims at the Reservoir and shared concern that fees are increasing prohibitively. • Bella Lynch, youth crew captain, spoke about her experience rowing at the Reservoir. • Jaden Olah, youth crew captain, spoke about his experience rowing at the Reservoir. Agenda Item 4: Consent Agenda A. Approval of Minutes from December 13, 2021 Motion to approve minutes. Motion by Yugar. Second by Scott. The motion passed 6-0. B. Development and Operations Update The Board had the following questions and/or comments : • Excited about the skatepark at the Library. • What is the status of the North Boulder park renovation? •What was the original installation date of the bridge near the library that needs to be replaced? •What is the change in deeds for the cemetery? •Thank you for the information on waste disposal and other farmers market topics. •Spending $200,000 on a contractor for the Historic Places Plan (HiPP) sounds like a lot. How and when does the city decide to bring on consultants instead of staff? •What happens to playground equipment that is at the end of its life? Is it disposed? •Does BPR have standards for how much old material is recycled or how many recycled materials are used in new projects? Agenda Item 6: Matters from the Department A.Public Art Update – Nobel Project This item was presented by Vink, Bowen and McDonald. A summary prepared by Boulder Public Art is attached (Attachment A). The Board had the following questions and/or comments: •Excited for this project. •Concerned that this project will be subject to heavy vandalism and graffiti especially with touch screens and users skating on the elements. •Why was this location chosen? It seems there is already a concentration of art in the civic area. Other places do not have the same level of public art. •How well will touch screens do over time in the weather? Seems like it might not be practical in the long-term. •Need to make sure that there is regular maintenance budget for ongoing expenses. •Concern of having outdoor screens. Would it be possible to have related video station inside the library? Having a video screen outside gives pause. Feels that this would takes away from park setting. •What age group would the design be for? Would it help kids understand what the awards were for. •Feels that outdoor touch screens are not feasible. Would it be possible to use a screen through the window of the library? It would be great to cater to several different age ranges. •The short story kiosk inside the library is great. Would like to see something similar for this interactive project. •Support for the project and the idea. Thinks that outdoor screens would work well. B.Bandshell Landmark Discussion This item was presented by Berube-Smith. The Board had the following questions and/or comments: •Has PRAB sent a formal memo on topics like this in the past? •Why is this being pursued? The current landmark boundary protects the most important elements, staff is at capacity and the area being proposed for addition has been changed continually. Concerned that this landmarking would prevent a future bike path connection from being built and that this would have practical impacts on park operations. •Why is this being pursued at this time? •Is there a planned development nearby? • Is the lawn part of the viewing experience? Do people sit on the lawn and watch the show? • As the PRAB representative to Greenways Advisory Committee, shared information about on-going analysis of the creek path. Timing of landmark process feels siloed and not collaborative to that ongoing work. • Do not appreciate this being put in before CRSS process to try to add an extra steps. • Do not have sufficient information for PRAB to make a statement. What is the timeline for providing PRAB input? • What powers would the Landmarks Board have if this was landmarked? Would they have veto power over any future redevelopment? • Would like PRAB concerns conveyed in BPR staff memo and more information at the next meeting. • This brings forward discussion of other issues around the bandshell. Is this property being maximized? What can be done to make it more accessible, clean and welcoming? Where does historic preservation fit in to these improvements? • Understands staff has limited resources especially when dealing with the downtown area and appreciates continued creative problem solving. • Would like the GAC to be looped in given significant path implications. • What will the citizen input be on this landmark decision? What is that process? C. Boulder Parks and Recreation 2022 Action Plan This item was presented by Rhodes. The Board had the following questions and/or comments: • Grateful for all the staff work. • Is there anything that PRAB can do to support staff at this time? Agenda Item 8: Matters from the Board A. PRAB Master Plan Study Session PRAB decided to meet at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Six board members reported that they will be able to attend. Unger will send written comments if he is not able to make it. B. PRAB Recruitment Open There were no questions on this item. C. PRAB Community Engagement Updates • Seymour spoke on a panel for those applying to city boards and commissions. • Is there a specific way for PRAB to support those impacted by Marshall fires? • Thank you for your communication around the Marshall fire. • Would it be possible to activate board members as volunteers in emergency situations? • Serves as a warning for the winds, grassland, tree interaction. Boulder has been lucky in the past. Need to make plans individually and as a city. Concern is fire and wind season overlapping. Agenda Item 9: The meeting was adjourned at 8:38 p.m. Approved by:Attested: _______________________ _________________________ Raj Seymour Charlotte O’Donnell Board Member BPR Staff Date _____________________ Date ____________________ 3/1/22 Attachment A – Summary of Feedback on Public Art Update – Nobel Project Preliminary Feedback from PRAB 1.24.22 • Generally PRAB members expressed support for the concept of the Nobel Plaza project o Appreciate that it invites greater public awareness of high concentration of scientific community o Cool idea o Design – how to make the concept more understandable? Design and placement to consider diversity of participants: ages, abilities, cultural perspectives. Could education on the project continue within the library? Perhaps another story-telling robot, specific to this project? • Lots of art in this area – have additional locations been explored? • Lots of feedback related to the screen components o Maintenance perspective: some touchscreen, exterior (harsh environment) placement concerns; desire to not have it fail upon installation • Considerations around touchscreen in park setting o Video screens feel in conflict with park/plaza experience; disruptive o Donor “need to bring the Nobelists to life” – could this be explored through other means? QR codes, partnership with Library? • Collective concern on vandalism o Encouraged an ongoing maintenance budget as part of the donation o on ongoing maintenance related to video displays; concern (from shared experience) that the video displays will be down more than successfully working