02.14.24 OSBT MinutesApproved March 13, 2024
OPEN SPACE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Action Minutes
Meeting Date February 14, 2024
Record of this meeting can be found here: https://bouldercolorado.gov/government/watch-board-
meetings (video start times are listed below next to each agenda item).
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Dave Kuntz, Chair
Michelle Estrella, Vice-Chair
Brady Robinson
Harmon Zuckerman
OSMP STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT
Dan Burke Jeff Haley Jennelle Freeston Heather Swanson Lauren Kilcoyne
Leah Russell Sam McQueen Tory Poulton Bethany Collins Andy Pelster
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.
AGENDA ITEM 1 – Approval of the Minutes
Michelle Estrella moved the Open Space Board of Trustees to adopt the minutes from Jan. 17, 2024 as
amended. Brady Robinson seconded. This motion passed four to zero; Jon Carroll was absent.
AGENDA ITEM 2 – Public Participation for Items not Identified for Public Hearing (4:00)
Lauren Clark spoke about the Voice and Sight Tag Program.
Joyce Frailey spoke about a Boulder County Special Use Application for a tennis center.
Lynn Segal spoke about CU South.
Travis Hugh Culley spoke about the Marshall Fire.
AGENDA ITEM 3 – Matters from the Board (26:20)
The board asked about the written information items. On the “North Foothills Habitat Conservation Area
Implementation” Brady asked about off trail travel and if a map can be provided showing what’s
proposed, along with anticipated use patterns.
On the “Update on the City-Tribal Updated Memorandum of Understanding” Dave asked about the
process for collecting and HCA access, and if Tribal members will be the only group to have special
access.
On the “US 36 / North Foothills Highway Bikeway Feasibility Study” Brady asked when construction
and also completion might take place. Dan said staff is coming back to the Board in May with more
specifics. Michelle expressed how important this project is for safety and also climate goals and looks
forward to it gaining more traction.
On the “Marshall Mine Coal Seam Mitigation and Marshall Mesa Improvement Project” the board asked
about safety concerns for gravel mining, timing for starting this work, and public access options along
with knowing what will be closed. Dan said staff will be back in April to talk about more details.
The Board discussed their process for responding to City Council’s request of what the top two to three
community issues are for OSBT in 2024. Harmon and Brady will create a draft document they will bring
back to the Board in March.
AGENDA ITEM 4 – Request for approval and recommendation to City Council to approve a
request by Public Service Company of Colorado (dba Xcel Energy) and on behalf of
Comcast/Xfinity, CenturyLink/Lumen and the City of Boulder Innovation and Technology
department, to use certain City of Boulder open space lands to install and maintain subsurface
electric and telecommunication utilities via open trenching or boring pursuant to the disposal
procedures of Article XII, Section177 of the City of Boulder Charter (47:50)
Bethany Collins, Real Estate Senior Manager, presented this item.
The Board asked several clarifying questions including, if this will have impact on existing hiking trails,
who is paying for the undergrounding, and if there will be any impacts to the radio tower. They
additionally asked if OSMP will still maintain surface management. Bethany said yes, all agreements
have specific protections.
Public Comment
Lynn Segal spoke in favor of this project.
Travis Hugh Culley spoke about the Marshall Mesa area and radioactivity.
Motion
Harmon Zuckerman moved the Open Space Board of Trustees to approve and recommend that
City Council approve the use of the Batchelder Open Space property lands by the Public Service
Company of Colorado (dba Xcel Energy) and on behalf of Comcast/Xfinity, CenturyLink/Lumen
and the City of Boulder Innovation and Technology department to install and maintain subsurface
electric and telecommunication utilities via open trenching or boring in the general alignments
depicted on Attachment A pursuant to the disposal procedures of Article XII, Section 177 of the
City of Boulder Charter. Michelle Estrella seconded. This motion passed four to zero; Jon Carroll
was absent.
AGENDA ITEM 5 – Matters from the Department (1:06:20)
Sam McQueen, Business Services Senior Manager, presented the “Open Space & Mountain Parks
Comprehensive Fee Review”. The Board responded to the staff questions: “does the OSBT have any
questions about the posted RFP and its contents?” and “what information would the OSBT like to review
throughout the fee study process?” Questions included, the reasoning for this being outsourced to a
consultant, if equity and behavior can be looked at in addition to the impact fees have on residents, and if
there will be a chance for public response to the results from the consultant.
Heather Swanson and Tory Poulton presented the “2023 Annual Prairie Dog Update and 2024
Management Plans”. The Board asked several questions, including about adding additional receiving
sites. They also suggested committing to an in-person option for any future public meetings.
Dan Burke gave several verbal updates including, due to a technology update, the March OSBT meeting
will be held at an alternate location, the joint meeting with City Council will be held on Feb. 22, and the
city is welcoming Tribal Representatives on March 13 and 14 for several key events.
ADJOURNMENT – The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
These minutes were prepared by Leah Russell