HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.22.24 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 22, 2024
Contact Information Preparing Summary: Rosa Kougl; 303-413-7223
Board Members Present: Charles (Chuck) Brock, Andrew (Bernie) Bernstein, Anna Segur, Jason
Unger
Board Members Absent: Sunny van der Star, Jason Unger, Elliott Hood, Anita Speirs - resigned
Staff Present: Ali Rhodes, Rosa Kougl, Scott Schuttenberg, Jackson Hite, Mark Davison, Stephanie
Munro, Charlotte O’Donnell, Tina Briggs, Jonathan Thornton, Bryan Beary, Regina Elsner, David
Choate, Clare Brandt, Marcy Gerwing, Shihomi Kuriyagawa, Kristofer Johnson, Brad Mueller, Kristin
Sealey
Guests Present: Michael Svetz, Pros Consulting
Type of Meeting: Regular
Agenda Item 1: Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. A quorum was present for the conduct of business. Motion to
approve agenda with an amendment of moving Item 7B in front of Item 6A, and adding Item 8D
Discussion of the retreat agenda. First motion by Bernstein, second by Segur. The motion passed 4-0.
Agenda Item 2: Future Board Items:
Rhodes, Director of Parks and Recreation, reviewed upcoming agenda items and events.
No PRAB follow up questions or comments.
Agenda Item 3: Public participation:
• None
Agenda Item 4: Consent Agenda
A. Approval of Minutes from October 23, 2023, Joint Study Session with Landmarks Board
Motion to approve the minutes from the December 18, 2023, Regular PRAB meeting. First
motion by Bernstein, second by Unger. The motion passed 4-0.
B, C. Parks and Recreation Planning, Design and Construction Updates,
and Operations Update
No PRAB follow up questions or comments
Agenda Item 5: Items for Action
• None
Agenda Item 7B: Matters from the Department and Agenda Item 6A: Matters for Discussion
7B: Central Park Cultural Landscape Assessment; Davison presented this item.
6A: Proposed Civic Area Historic District; Gerwing and Mueller presented this item.
PRAB combined summary with the following questions/comments:
• Davison presented an overview of the Central Park Cultural Landscape Assessment (CLA)
methodology and findings and answered questions from the board.
• Rhodes and Mueller provided opening remarks. Gerwing presented an overview of the historic
district application. Rhodes, Mueller, Davison, Johnson, and Gerwing answered questions from
the board.
Questions
• How would designation impact the Civic Area Phase 2 Park Planning project and any future
developments?
• Does anything change operationally with the park if it’s included in a historic district?
• Would designation impact services to the unhoused using the park?
• Would the parking lots along 14th Street be included?
• Why is the Atrium Building designated?
• What do you love about the park?
• Are there tax benefits to designating the park?
• Are there budgetary implications for the designation, i.e. in construction delays or redesigns?
• Would designation lead to delays in permitting and approvals?
• Are there other benefits to the potential designation?
Comments
• PRAB board members had a robust conversation to understand the potential benefits and
impacts of the proposed Civic Area Historic District designation.
• At the end of the PRAB discussion on the proposed designation of the Historic District, a board
member requested an informal straw poll: The four members present all agreed that they do not
support designation of a historic district.
• Their concerns can be summarized as thus:
o Lack of understanding of a unifying element or overarching theme that would explain
creating a district.
o Lack of support for additional protection and outsized input by one city board, given
that the buildings, bandshell and some areas of the park are already protected by
designation.
o Disagreement that potential benefits of designation outweigh the added process, time
and thus expense of a district.
The video section of the board chairs statement and the closing board remarks for the PRAB meeting
are:
• Recommendations from PRAB board members: 1:18:35
• PRAB Board Chair statement: 1:06:30
• The link to the PRAB recording for the meeting is here
Agenda Item 7: Matters from the Department
A. Court System Plan
O’Donnell and Briggs presented this item. PRAB had the following questions/comments:
• General questions to understand the maps presented
• Do we think it’s possible to have a complex of 16 courts in one location?
• Has BPR considered purchasing a bubble to put over a small number of courts for colder
months?
• Will this plan include anything about handball courts? Has there any been consultation or
engagement with Hispanic community about the handball courts and needs?
• What bathroom plans are for these permanent facilities that you're going to be standing up?
• Given the changes to the CIP, where is the funding coming from? What other amenities will
not get funding as a result?
• Preference for having facilities that can be accessed by bike and walking.
• Tom Watson specifically is especially hard to get to. East also feels further away.
• Questions about the siting and prioritization of handball
C. BPR 2024 Action Plan
Rhodes presented this item. PRAB had the following questions/comments:
• Is the CAPRA process ongoing and recurring
Agenda Item 8: Matters from the Board Members
A. March regular meeting date
PRAB had the following comment:
• Move meeting to March 18
B. Board Membership
PRAB had the following comment.
• There is an additional opening to fill with Speirs resignation. Request for Board to reach to
community and ask them to apply.
C. PRAB Matters
PRAB had no questions or comments.
D. Discussion of retreat agenda
PRAB had the following comment:
• Agenda to focus on a Staff Access Presentation to include the following conversation:
Citywide Guidance as outlined in the SER Framework and 2022 BPR Plan
Existing Financial Aid and Funding
YSI/EXPAND as targeted programs.
BPR's Equity Goals and 2024 work.
Swim lesson 2024 goals and potential for growth to support swim equity.
Agenda Item 9: Next Board Meeting
Next Board meeting, Monday, February 26, 2024, Hybrid
PRAB Study Session, Monday, February 5, 2024, Hybrid
Agenda Item 10: Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Approved by: Attested:
___________________ _____________________
Chuck Brock Rosa Kougl
Board Member BPR Staff
Date: ______________ Date: _________________
2-29-24