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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.26.24 PRAB PacketAGENDA All agenda times are approximate I.APPROVAL OF AGENDA (2 minutes) II.FUTURE BOARD ITEMS AND TOURS (2 minutes) III.PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (15-30 minutes) A.This portion of the meeting is for members of the public to communicate ideas or concerns to the Board regarding parks and recreation issues for which a public hearing is not scheduled later in the meeting (this includes consent agenda). The public is encouraged to comment on the need for parks and recreation programs and facilities as they perceive them. All speakers are limited to three minutes. Depending on the nature of your matter, you may or may not receive a response from the Board after you deliver your comments. The Board is always listening to and appreciative of community feedback. IV.CONSENT AGENDA (5 minutes) A.Approval of Minutes from January 22, 2024 B.Updates from the Director of Parks and Recreation C.Parks and Recreation Operations Updates D.Parks and Recreation Planning, Design and Construction Updates V.ACTION ITEMS A.None VI.MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION/INFORMATION A.None VII.MATTERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT A.Pleasant View Access Improvements (10 min) B.Park on Violet Avenue (10 min) C.BPR and Climate Initiatives (5 min) VIII.MATTERS FROM THE BOARD A.May Meeting Date (5 min) B.Letter to Council for Retreat (10 min) C.PRAB Matters (Verbal) (5 min) IX.NEXT BOARD MEETING: A.March 18, 2024, fully hybrid X.ADJOURN Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Hybrid Meeting 6:00 p.m., February 26, 2024 Boulder Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Members 2023 Andrew Bernstein Charles Brock Elliott Hood Anna Segur Jason Unger Sarah van der Star Mission Statement BPRD will promote the health and well- being of the entire Boulder community by collaboratively providing high-quality parks, facilities and programs. Vision Statement We envision a community where every member’s health and well- being is founded on unparalleled parks, facilities and programs. Goals of the Master Plan 1. Community Health and Wellness 2. Taking Care of What We Have 3. Financial Sustainability 4. Building Community 5. Youth Engagement 6. Organizational Readiness 1 PRAB Future Board Items Agenda February 26 March 18 April 22 Hybrid for members & staff. Public Comment remains Virtual. Fully hybrid for members, staff, and community. Fully hybrid for members, staff, and community. Regular Mtg (c) •Debrief on emergency warming center operations at East Age Well Center/EBCC •Boulder Reservoir Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Update •Boulder Reservoir Food Concession Services Update •Annual Sweetheart Dance Update •CAPRA Accreditation Journey Update •PRAB Meetings moving to fully hybrid •The Future of Recreation Centers •Summary of Civic Area Study Session with City Council Regular Mtg (a) •None •None •Fee Policy Updates Regular Mtg (d/i) •None •None •Eurasian Watermilfoil Follow Up Regular Mtg (md) •Pleasant View Access Improvements •Park on Violet Avenue •BPR and Climate Initiatives •Court System Plan: Conceptual Design Alts with Preferred Alterative (30 min) •1st Touch: 2023 Year End Financial Review, 2025 Budget Development (Rev, Exp, Fee Policy Updates, Fee Schedule, CIP) •2nd Touch: 2025 Budget Development (Rev, Exp, Fee Policy Updates, Fee Schedule, CIP) •ANS Update Regular Mtg (mb) •May 27 is Memorial Day. New May meeting date needed. •Letter to Council for Retreat •PRAB Recruitment, Orientation and Departing Board members (20 min) •Chair & Vice Chair selection •Annual Board Email Response Check-in (10 min) •Select Chair & Vice Chair Other Mtgs or Topics •Feb 12-Feb 23: B&C applicant interviews •March 7: B&C appointments (cc) •March 2024 – Planning Board (Land Use) for Proposed Civic Area Historic District, First Reading •April 4-5: City Council Retreat •April 11, 2024 – City Council, 2nd Reading and Public Hearing for Proposed Civic Area Historic District Dept Events & Items of Interest •Feb 19: COB President’s Day closure •March 4: Court System Plan Public Meeting •March 23-31: SBRC Shut down AGENDA SETTING The PRAB Chair, PRAB Vice Chair and BPR staff set the agenda for the next month on Thursday directly following the regular PRAB meeting. PRAB members can submit agenda requests to the Chair and Vice Chair by Wednesday following the PRAB regular meeting for consideration. If time-sensitive matters arise, PRAB Chair and Vice Chair may amend the agenda as needed. LEGEND Action Item (a): A public hearing item to be voted on by the Board (public comment period provided). Procedural Item: (p): An item requiring procedural attention. Consent Item (c): An item provided in written form for consent, not discussion by the Board; any consent item may be called up by any Board member for discussion following the consent agenda. Discussion/Information Item(d/i): An item likely to be a future action item (or council item) and/or that benefits from an in-depth discussion. Matters from the Department (md): Items that will be reviewed and discussed during the meeting but not requiring as much in-depth analysis. Matters from the Board (mb): Items initiated by the Board that will be reviewed and discussed during the meeting but not requiring as much in-depth analysis. City Council Item (cc) Other Boards and Commissions (obc) Community Engagement and/or Events (e) Holiday/Closure (h/c) Italics indicate a tentative date or plan. 2 TO: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board FROM: Alison Rhodes, Director of Parks and Recreation Bryan Beary, Senior Manager, Community Building and Partnerships Mark Davison, Senior Manager, Planning Regina Elsner, Senior Manager, Natural Resources Jackson Hite, Senior Manager, Business Services Megann Lohman, Senior Manager, Recreation Stephanie Munro, Senior Manager, Regional Facilities Scott Schuttenberg, Deputy Director Dennis Warrington, Senior Manager, Urban Parks SUBJECT: Consent Agenda DATE: February 26, 2024 A.Approval of Minutes January 22, 2024 3 CITY 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 4 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 5 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 6 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: _________________ 7 B. Updates from the Director of Parks and Recreation At the February 5, 2024, PRAB retreat, members of the board asked for information on the city’s Sustainability, Equity and Resilience (SER) framework. This city webpage provides background on the connection between the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP) and department plans through citywide strategic planning and the SER framework, and includes a link to the framework. C. Parks and Recreation Operations Update Debrief on emergency warming center operations at East Age Well Center/EBCC Due to forecasts that showed below-zero temperatures and significant wind chills sustained over several days, the city opened an emergency warming center in the East Age Well Center, part of the East Boulder Community Center, from 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 12 to noon on Jan. 16. This overflow shelter served an average of 40-45 unhoused adults each night and Boulder Shelter for the Homeless (BSH) averaged around 160-170 individuals. This was a very intensive effort that was supported by roughly 125 staff and volunteers from the city, county, and partner organizations over the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend to support the 24 hour a day operations. Many city staff, including BPR employees, made this amazing operation happen. • The city’s Housing and Human Services staff led the shelter operations and coordinated with other homelessness providers. • City of Boulder Facilities & Fleet and Parks and Recreation staff kept the East Boulder Recreation Center open, maintained, and continuously addressed issues as they arose as well as provided daily custodial and facility maintenance support. This team also facilitated showers for shelter residents Saturday and Sunday evening after recreation center closure. • Boulder Police Department provided 24-hour coverage with two officers at a time. • Transportation was coordinated by the city’s Transportation and Mobility department in collaboration with Via Mobility providing buses and drivers throughout the operational period. A special bus service operated by Via Mobility Services (Via) ran between 11th and Walnut downtown and BSH, as well as between BSH and the East Age Well Center. This warming shelter operation went smoother compared to the first activation of this nature in December 2022, as learnings from that experience informed this operation, such as using outdoor port-a-lets instead of Age Well Center bathrooms and using EBCC showers under supervision. 8 Boulder Reservoir Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Update Boulder Parks and Recreation (BPR) and Utilities staff, in collaboration with Northern Water, reviewed eight bids for the Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) Management Plan. Barr Engineering and Environmental Consultants was awarded the contract in December 2023 as consultants to develop a Boulder Reservoir EWM Adaptive Management Plan. Barr, city staff, and Northern Water conducted an introductory project kickoff meeting on January 9, 2023, to learn from staff details regarding the Reservoir and EWM’s spread. After reviewing the city-provided materials, including a matrix of management options, the consultant will use their expertise and experience to develop an EWM Management Plan. The EWM Management Plan will recommend strategies to: • Reduce EWM’s spread and density in the Reservoir; • Reduce impacts of EWM to recreational activities on the water; • Proactively mitigate potential water quality impacts such as low-dissolved oxygen, algae growth, eutrophication and related drinking water taste, and odor events due to excessive EWM growth and biomass; • Limit or stop the potential continued introduction of EWM to the Reservoir from connected waterways; • Control EWM’s growth in the swimming areas to protect public safety; • Protect the drinking water intake and Boulder Creek Supply Canal outlet structure from fragment clogging; and • Minimize the likelihood of EWM’s establishment in nearby Coot Lake and limit or stop the spread of EWM from Boulder Reservoir to the Boulder Supply Canal. The EWM Management Plan will also: • Provide recommendations for strategies that could be implemented by BPR to modify recreation in and around the Reservoir to control EWM and prevent further spread; and • Provide informed cost estimates and potential funding sources to assist in implementing the recommended management options. Barr will provide goals and objectives of various strategies that may be implemented to effectively control EWM and outline the use of and reliance on herbicide treatments. The plan will be developed to begin implementing strategies as early as Spring 2024 after the ice melts and before the plant begins growing for the season. At the April PRAB meeting, BPR staff will share the plan, including implementation strategies and recommended operational changes. Boulder Reservoir Food Concession Services Update The Main Building at the Boulder Reservoir was built as a part of the community- approved 2017 Concept Plan. The Plan outlines that the Main Building should promote a healthy and athletic lifestyle while focusing on the sustainability of the facility. The plan also outlines that the Main Building should be a community gathering place with expanded concession offerings. 9 In August 2016, BPR hosted a listening session seeking feedback regarding potential public-private partnership opportunities at the Reservoir. As aligned with the community supported and PRAB-approved Concept Plan, staff initiated a process to identify a suitable partner to provide hospitality at the Reservoir. A Request for Information solicitation was developed and issued through the city’s purchasing department on May 5, 2017. That document was subsequently refined to be a Request for Qualifications that was published by the city’s purchasing department on November 17, 2017. Lease negotiations resulted in an agreement approved by PRAB in December 2018, however the vendor decided not to proceed with the partnership. Therefore, staff received approval to pursue and negotiate in good faith with a sole source vendor Dine & Dash. The lease with Dine & Dash was approved by PRAB on January 2, 2020, and then supported by City Council on February 4, 2020. Dine & Dash attempted to secure a liquor license to operate as the city desired, however, was not awarded one by the Beverage License Authority after testimony that a license would not meet the needs and desires within the defined boundary. The hospitality partnership began in 2020 and continued through September 2022 as the vendor and city strived to develop a model that would be viable without a liquor license. A traditional full-service restaurant, which was the initial intent and agreement, was not financially viable without a liquor license and the parties mutually agreed to end the lease in the fall of 2022. BPR staff developed short-term goals for concession services for the 2023 high season in an attempt to meet the needs of Reservoir users. BPR staff were able to operate limited concession sales during the 2023 high season at the Main Building by selling food items purchased from outside vendors.While 2023 concession sales met the basic needs of Rervoir users, there was a significant workload increase for staff to run the concession operations and revenue did not cover all direct expenses. Staff concluded the annual facility evaluation process in November 2023 and outlined a short-term plan to hire a concessionaire to bridge the gap between current operations and the development of the Reservoir Management Plan in 2024. Staff have prepared and posted a Request for Proposal for a food concession service vendor for the Boulder Reservoir’s 2024 high season. This RFP is for one vendor to provide concession services from May to mid-September with a contract period of one year with an option to renew for an additional year. Intially, concession services will be offered Friday-Sunday and on holidays. The level of service may be expanded by the vendor if desired. The vendor will have an opportunity to pursue a Colorado beer and wine license with the option to add a delivery and take-out permit in the second-year renewal terms. The selection and vendor onboarding timeline is as follows: 10 Request for Proposals (RFP) post February 5, 2024 Boulder Reservoir Site Tour* 1–4 p.m. Boulder Reservoir Main Building 5565 51st Street February 27, 2024 *tour is optional Deadline for questions from respondent March 1, 2024 Response to questions March 8, 2024 Proposal Responses Due March 15, 2024 Finalist Identified March 22, 024 Interviews (as required) March 25, 2024 Vendor selection March 29, 2024 Lease Negotiations / Completion April 1 – April 15, 2024 Vendor Partner hiring, set-up, etc. April 16– May 23, 2024 Grand Opening May 24, 2024 Annual Sweetheart Dance Delights Each year around Valentines' Day, the North Boulder Recreation Center (NBRC) hosts a Sweetheart Dance with a Valentine theme. Parents or guardians join their young ones for dancing, light refreshments, face painting, and even some gymnastics tumbling to have a bit of fun and build community. This year brought 407 participants, the largest attendance in recent history. Staff at the NBRC plan the event for the community and this year a CU sorority also provided 12 volunteers to help decorate for the event. A few volunteers also stayed on to keep the refreshment table stocked. Hundreds of faces were painted, some even in preparation for the Super Bowl the next day, and memories were made. 11 CAPRA Accreditation Journey Officially Begins Boulder Parks & Recreation has officially applied for accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). This kicks off a year-long project of gathering policies and documentation, along with evidence of compliance, that demonstrates that BPR is a top-tier organization. Seven cross-functional matrix teams have been developed and are beginning their work, with each gathering and improving documentation for a specific chapter of the CAPRA standards. This approach will provide professional development and affirm BPR’s culture as the department strives for accreditation. The department’s self-assessment indicates that BPR is starting on a strong footing: nearly all the fundamental (100% required of 36 standards) standards have existing documentation, which will be revised and improved, as do over half of the non- fundamental standards (90% of 118 required). Teams are developing materials for comprehensive review in early 2025. That review is followed by a site visit by CAPRA designees that spring. After the successful visit, formal accreditation will be considered in October of 2025 at the National Recreation & Parks Association (NRPA) conference in Orlando, Florida. PRAB Meetings moving to fully hybrid Beginning with the March 18 PRAB meeting, this fully hybrid meeting format will allow for in-person and remote participants. A Zoom link will still be offered on the PRAB webpage. This meeting format allows for facilitation of public participation to be either virtual or in person. Pontem Security will be on site to assist with security in the building and the Chambers. D. Parks and Recreation Planning, Design and Construction Updates The following information is intended to provide the PRAB with relevant updates on specific projects as they reach major milestones. This section is not all inclusive of all current projects and only illustrates major project updates. For a complete list of all current projects and details, please visit www.BoulderParkNews.org. Overview of Project Status Staff or contractors continue to work on the following projects and will update the PRAB as major milestones are achieved. Project Status Civic Area – Phase 2 Design Civic Historic District Evaluation Planning Central Park Cultural Landscape Assessment Plan Completed Court System Plan Design Future of Recreation Centers Scoping 12 North Boulder Park Scoping Flatirons Golf Course Facility Construction Pleasantview Access Design Park on Violet Design Boulder Creek Safety Plan Design East Boulder Community Park Anticipated Start 2024 Universal Access Plan Anticipated Start 2024 Pearl Street Place Making Anticipated Start 2025 Bouder Junction Pocket Park Anticipated Start 2025 Boulder Creek Management Plan Anticipated Start 2025 Planning The Future of Recreation Centers Building on input received in many planning processes over the past two decades, there is growing interest among the community for indoor swimming pools and other activities such as court sports. As part of Boulder Parks and Recreation’s holistic approach to managing the city’s portfolio of Recreation Centers, the 2024-2025 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) includes an effort to explore unmet needs and the feasibility of addressing them in current and new facilities. The Future of Boulder’s Recreation Centers project will identify existing service levels for indoor recreation activities such as aquatics, indoor courts, wellness, fitness, teen activities, and older adult activities. The project will review existing services at the three existing recreation centers and include consideration for a new recreation center by identifying current and future levels of service, current demand and projected future needs that consider current and future demographic and wellness trends. Through the Community, Culture, Resilience, & Safety (CCRS) Tax, the city has designated funding to support a renovation of the East Boulder Community Center, and this effort will also inform that project. The Boulder Valley School District will be a partner in this effort specifically as it relates to exploring additional pool feasibility. Both BVSD and the city recognize the positive physical and mental health benefits of swimming for youth. The entities also recognize that the city’s existing pools are aging and that there will be limited space in the future for high school athletics if existing pools are closed. The city and the District recognize that it is important to study potential options to respond if and when existing pools are closed. Neither BVSD nor the city have funding for a new indoor recreation facility. This the intent of a joint feasibility study is to accurately understand community and school district demand and desires for aquatics, identify potential facility locations, capital and operating expenses, development funding models, life cycle cost pro-forma and operating models. 13 Finally, the effort will seek to accurately understand the community’s possible financial support of any new facilities. This is a large and complex project, and the schedule below identifies the major tasks and associated dates: • Current: Consultant selection and contracting • July 2024: Project Kick-Off • October 2024: Identify existing service levels for indoor recreation activities and programs, explore existing and future demand, then determine gaps in service. • Spring 2025: Develop Concept plan for East Boulder Recreation Center • Summer 2025: Develop an updated level of service strategy for indoor recreation activities and explore funding models. In 2023, BPR started to explore the Future of Recreation Centers with an initial community engagement. The summary of the engagement was presented to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) in July 2023. The following engagement windows have been identified to garner further community feedback on this effort: • Engagement Window 2 (October 2024): The second engagement window will involve sharing the overall project process and discussing existing programs for each recreation center, covering indoor recreation activities and programs as well as the demand for them. The initial analysis will look towards benchmarks for national and comparable city standards as well as an initial gaps analysis. • Engagement Window 3 (June 2025): During the third window, staff will share outcomes of community input, analysis, and demand to ensure there is an overall understanding of the indoor recreation activities and associated programs for the three existing recreation centers and a future recreation center. Deryn Wagner, Senior Landscape Architect, will be the project manager to lead this effort. As the project kicks-off this summer, BPR will seek a board liaison to support this project. Summary of Civic Area Study Session with City Council The Civic Area Phase 2 Study Session with City Council on December 14th can be found here and the full summary with key takeaways council addressed and that the team will incorporate into the project process moving forward with the design team can be found here . An overview of the key topics council raised during the study session for the Civic Area Phase 2 were: 1. Prioritize equity, diversity, inclusion, and access in the engagement process to ensure effective public engagement. 2. Prioritize the SER Framework in parallel to the seven Guiding Principles to ensure Boulder’s goals for a resilient, sustainable, and viable future. 3. Prioritize multi-modal and universal access to, through and in the Civic Area. Pedestrian, bike, other mobility devises, ADA requirements, universal access and 14 multimodal transportation will be studied in the Civic Area to create a welcoming, accessible, and community-oriented Heart of Boulder, including connectivity to adjacent sites. 4. Ensure and demonstrate how guiding plans and policies will inform the project as it moves towards a final design (and how they intersect) to ensure accountability to the city’s vision, values, and goals. 5. Work to provide clarity around the engagement process (including outreach, roles, input, decision making, etc.), with each stakeholder, partner, and community- based organizations. 6. Develop a process by which acceptable social behaviors are identified to reflect common community goals for the Civic Area that ensure the space is viewed as welcoming and safe for all members of the community. 15 TO: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board FROM: Alison Rhodes, Director of Parks and Recreation Scott Schuttenberg, Deputy Director Bryan Beary, Senior Manager, Community Building and Partnerships Mark Davison, Senior Manager, Planning Regina Elsner, Senior Manager, Natural Resources Jackson Hite, Senior Manager, Business Services Megann Lohman, Senior Manager, Recreation Stephanie Munro, Senior Manager, Regional Facilities Dennis Warrington, Senior Manager, Urban Parks SUBJECT: Matters from the Department DATE: February 26, 2024 A. Pleasant View Access Improvements The purpose of this item is to update the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) on recent community engagement regarding planned physical improvements and collaborative management solutions to reduce parking demand and encourage active travel to and from the site. Overview In April 2023, staff and consultants presented to the PRAB on the results of analysis conducted to better understand the problems this site produces for the surrounding neighborhood. Consultants also shared preliminary concepts for physical improvements under consideration at the time. Since that time, staff have further evaluated these options against project goals and eliminated some like an enhanced drop-off circle that would not substantially advance those goals. Staff have also consulted with neighbors and athletic organizations to both refine the proposed physical improvements and to generate momentum and commitment to low-cost strategies that encourage multimodal access to and from the site. With input from and approval by the PRAB, Boulder Parks and Recreation (BPR)’s 2024 Capital Improvement Program CIP) includes $1,200,000 to improve safe, multimodal access and circulation to and through the highly utilized Pleasant View Sports Complex. Figure 1 illustrates the refined proposal, as it was presented to stakeholders on February 13, 2024. In summary, the proposal includes: • Formalizing a shared parking agreement with the Calvary Bible Church. • Extending the existing path between the Church parking lot and the fields to include a new access gate on the southwest corner. • Extending the sidewalk along the western edge of the BPR parking lot down to Kalmia to create more direct access to the site for cyclists and pedestrians. • Providing secondary egress from the BPR lot by adding a southbound only road connection to Kalmia. • Improving safety where the existing multiuse path enters the BPR lot. • Partnering with Transportation and Mobility (T&M) on signs and messaging to encourage multimodal safety and path etiquette. • Enhancing accessible parking for rear loading vehicles. • Adding or enhancing bike parking strategically throughout the site. 16 • Partnering with athletic organizations to establish a set of voluntary and required measures to reduce and manage vehicle demand on the site. Figure 1: General Illustration of Upcoming Capital Improvements at Pleasant View As staff and consultants incorporate stakeholder feedback on the proposal, design details will advance; however, because stakeholders expressed strong support for the proposed changes, the general design intent is expected to remain constant. Similarly, upcoming review and permitting from the city’s Planning and Development Services department may also result in minor modifications to the general improvements illustrated below. Construction activities are anticipated to begin before the end of 2024 and conclude mid-2025. Some athletic organizations have agreed to begin incentivizing carpooling and active transportation as early as this year. Engagement Over the last couple months, BPR staff connected individually with community organizations most impacted by overflow parking issues (immediate neighbors) and those most able to co- design and implement collaborative solutions to address them (athletic organizations). These organizations include: • Calvary Bible Church • Homeowners Associations in the immediate vicinity of the complex • Friends School • Mountain View Cemetery • Boulder County United (BCU) • Boulder Country Day School • Core GK Academy • Boulder Indoor Soccer • Boulder Rugby • Grassroots Ultimate (GRU) • Altitude Youth Ultimate • Boom Town Lacrosse 17 These preliminary conversations set the foundation for a collaborative workshop on February 13, 2024 held at the Calvary Bible Church and open to the full range of organizations. City staff from T&M also participated and helped facilitate brainstorming with partners about collaborative, creative measures to reduce parking demand. Consultants from Fox Tuttle Transportation Group and the Sanitas group were also key players in sharing information and inspiring collaboration. Summary of Feedback From an operations standpoint, stakeholders – including staff from the Calvary Bible Church – shared their strong support for a formal agreement with the church to provide overflow parking on Saturdays, which is when parking demand at the site most regularly exceeds supply. This would require signing and formalizing public access through the Northfield Commons HOA outlot, which the HOA presidents supports exploring. The Friends School also invited BPR to consider using their lot for overflow parking on Sundays, as well as using their drop-off lane as an interim location to direct drop-off and pick-up. Many felt these solutions would reduce demand on the BPR lot by encouraging access off of Kalmia from 28th. Some suggested that BPR more consistently open gates along Kalmia and in the northwest corner to further facilitate bike and pedestrian access. Staff from T&M also offered ideas regarding Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and invited discussion to gather interest and momentum. Athletic partners from the soccer and rugby communities expressed enthusiasm for both carpooling/ridesharing incentives and proactive communications out to their members. They committed to exploring these and other strategies with their respective organizations. Staff will continue working with athletic partners to formalize expectations and best practices for using parking attendants, hotel shuttles, carpooling incentives, and other TDM practices to encourage active travel to and from the site for local games. As it relates to proposed capital improvements, stakeholders fully supported the overall design. They particularly appreciated the new road and path connections south to Kalmia, as well as improvements to bike parking to support local players and spectators. It was acknowledged that micromobility strategies such as accommodations for shared bikes and scooters were impractical, especially for out-of-town guests, because most visitors come with quite a bit of equipment, coolers, etc. Staff also heard some suggestions regarding minor adjustments to the proposed capital improvements. Staff and consultants will study these suggestions during design development. They include: - Reconsidering whether adding a new gate on the southwest corner is entirely necessary, given the nearby gate around the corner along Kalmia. - Considering whether adding or opening an existing gate on the southeast corner would better encourage bike and pedestrian access. - Adding trash receptacles and consistent trash collection in or adjacent to the HOA’s outlot. Some also asked whether the no parking signs could be removed along Kalmia to legalize roadside parking. T&M operations staff recommend this not be pursued until funding is secured for a protected multiuse path along the northside of Kalmia. Roadside parking creates safety hazards for cyclists, and until a separated path is constructed, bikes will continue sharing the road with vehicles. 18 Next Steps Over the next 3-6 months, staff and civil engineering consultants from the Sanitas Group will further study these refinements to the proposed capital improvements and advance design development in preparation for city permitting. Throughout the process, staff will also continue engaging with stakeholders to formalize parking agreement(s), public access through the HOA outlot, and agreements with athletic organizations regarding parking and demand management strategies. Before any construction activities begin, staff will mail notifications to all neighbors and establish procedures for managing access and fielding questions during construction. BPR staff will also continue coordination with T&M regarding funding for future capital investments, such as a multiuse path bypass around the lot and a separated multiuse path along Kalmia. Questions for the PRAB • Does the PRAB have questions regarding past or planned stakeholder engagement? • Does the PRAB have any questions or input regarding planned capital improvements? B. Park on Violet Avenue The intent of this item is to update the PRAB on progress over the last several months on the park on Violet, including site analysis and continued engagement with Community Connectors, and to preview engagement planned for this spring. Table 1 below outlines the overall project timeline and following the table is a summary of each phase. Table 1 - Park on Violet Timeline Timeframe Phase Status June - Sept 2023 Vision & Values Complete September 2023 Execute contract with consultant team Complete Fall 2023 Site analysis Complete Late 2023 - Early 2024 Initial site design concepts In progress March – April 2024 Engagement Window #2 Planning in progress Mid 2024 Preferred site plan Not yet started Late 2024 Detailed design Not yet started 2025 Final design & permitting Not yet started 2025-28 Phased construction Not yet started Vision and Values Since the last update to the PRAB in September 2023, planning staff completed analysis of input collected during Engagement Window #1 and refined that analysis with the help of the project’s two Community Connectors. In conjunction with the North Boulder Library Branch project, staff then confirmed the major themes or values with the local community at two different engagement events. 19 The following community values start to describe a vision for the future park and represent what is most important to the surrounding neighborhoods: • Loving nature • Food, arts, and culture • Community gathering • Free play • Wellness and mental health • Accessibility • Disaster readiness and resilience The community also discussed and prioritized the types of recreational activities they would like to enjoy at the future park. Figure 1 shows the level of interest in these activities. Figure 1 Desired recreational activities at the future park on Violet Together with community values, these desired recreational activities informed site analysis and are currently driving the development of initial site design concepts to share back with the community in March. Consultant Selection Out of a competitive pool of interested design firms, a panel of staff from Parks and Recreation, Transportation & Mobility, and Utilities (Storm & Flood) selected Sasaki Associates to lead landscape architecture and civil engineering for the park's design. Sasaki's international legacy of award-winning parks also includes work in Boulder going back to the 1970s, including the design of Pearl Street Mall and the original University of Colorado Master Plan that was updated in 2022. Sasaki has subcontracted with firms like Icon Engineering and ERO that bring strong local expertise of Boulder’s floodplains, natural resources, and federal and local permitting. Site Analysis As a first, imperative step in design, Sasaki led a comprehensive site analysis process to understand technical site conditions, as well as opportunities and constraints. To support the effort, BPR natural lands staff commissioned several studies on birds, bats, reptiles, and amphibians. In addition, the project consultant team performed on-site studies and reviewed other available data such as traffic volumes and community demographics. 20 The following major conclusions are directly informing design and placemaking efforts, and they will continue to guide space activation and park management into the future: • Viewsheds: Views to the west are awe-inspiring, as is the scenic experience along the tree-lined creek bed. Viewsheds should be maintained, designed and managed in balance with community safety and privacy for neighboring homes. • Tree conditions: Roughly 25% of existing trees on site may need to be removed because they are invasive, in poor condition, and/or pose safety risks to the public. Park design will maximize conservation of the existing riparian forest. • Plant communities: Roughly half of all plant species on site are non-native, such as invasive grasses that outcompete the native high plains prairie ecosystem. Sediment capture, soil quality, and a more resilient plant palette will improve water quality, better support wildlife, and help establish a pollinator pathway in partnership with the community. • Wildlife: The park is also used frequently as a wildlife corridor for bobcats, bears, coyotes, and mule deer to travel between Boulder’s foothills and the plains grasslands. Park design must continue to support this critical corridor function by providing continuous sheltered spaces with minimal light pollution for traveling wildlife. As many of Violet’s bird species are year-round residents, it will be important to establish a plant community with multiple layers (herbs, shrubs, and trees of different heights) that will support bird nesting and foraging needs. • Climate adaptability: Increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather, such as droughts, floods, and drastic, seasonal temperature extremes, must be considered in designing and maintaining floodplain infrastructure, drainage systems, and shelter from extreme temperatures. To address pervasive feelings of climate anxiety, locally and across the world, park design and programming should also integrate recommendations from Growing Up Boulder’s Ecohealing Project. • Hydrology: All 9 acres of the park site are within the 100-year floodplain. On-site improvements to floodplain function will be sought and maximized; however, the site is only a small fraction of a much larger, complex watershed and opportunities to substantially reduce flood risk for surrounding homes are limited. • Circulation (active travel): Despite Boulder Meadow’s immediate adjacency to Violet Park, the community is not within a five-minute walking distance and only half of the neighborhood is within a ten-minute walking distance. New access points, safer pathways along Violet Avenue, and safer routes to and from the park are necessary to ensure neighbors and people with disabilities feel welcome and comfortable accessing the future park. Initial Site Design Concepts In the coming weeks, the consultant team will prepare draft design concepts that respond differently to community values, desired recreation activities, and site conditions. For example, Community Connectors and staff have heard strong desires from the neighborhood for community gathering spaces. The project team is curious to understand how those spaces should function, what activities they should accommodate, and how the community hopes they look and feel. The next engagement window will provide opportunities for neighbors to further imagine and describe their preferences, based on park precedents from around the world. 21 Engagement The second community engagement window will run mid-March through the end of April, providing community members with the following ways to connect with the project team. Additional details will be made available in the coming weeks on the project website and other mechanisms. Upcoming engagement includes: Youth-led park naming process: Community Connectors are engaging directly with young people living in Boulder Meadows who are part of BPR’s Youth Services Initiative (YSI) Getting Fit Program. Recommendations emerging from this effort will be brought to the broader community in March, with final recommendations going to the PRAB in late spring and summer. New Community Connector focusing on accessibility: In February, staff from several departments and the project’s two existing community connectors are onboarding a third community connector who was hired to engage and lift up voices of people with disabilities. As the successful candidate comes up board, they will help ensure planned engagements are accessible and welcoming and consider how and when additional engagements would further engage people with disabilities. Focus group on how the park can foster mental health: On Thursday, March 14, staff and partners will facilitate conversation with the mental health community to explore how park design and programming can encourage nature connection and the related mental health benefits that time outside in nature provides. Neighborhood canvassing: Community connectors will distribute flyers about the project to the Boulder Meadows neighborhood and engage in one-on-one conversations with residents about the project. Neighborhood gathering / public open house: On Saturday, March 16, Community Connectors and the project team will host neighbors and interested community members at Crestview Elementary School. Attendees will be invited to review site analysis and share their preferences for three preliminary site design concepts. Additional opportunities will invite input on the naming process and ideas regarding safe connections to and from the park. Nature play gatherings for early childhood: Growing Up Boulder will be hosting informal on-site gatherings for children under 5 and their parents and caregivers. These play dates will inspire connection with the land and invite feedback on design concepts. Community Roll ‘n Stroll’ Audit: Play Boulder and BPR received a grant to support safe routes to and from the future park. In late April, national experts from the Safe Routes Partnership will lead a community audit of existing access and connections between the park, surrounding neighborhood, the North Boulder Library, open space to the west, and Crestview Elementary to the south. Results will inform a prioritized approach to improving access for pedestrians, cyclists, and people with disabilities. 22 Next Steps Following this second engagement window, design concepts will evolve to respond to community input, resulting in a preliminary, preferred site plan that will then be shared back with the community in early summer. Engagement window #3 will also be an opportunity to further engage the community around how the park design incorporates best practices in floodplain management. The PRAB’s next involvement in the park design process is anticipated to be in May when a final recommendation for a name has emerged. The PRAB will then be asked to take formal action on the name in July. C. BPR and Climate Initiatives @Verbal Presentation 23 3198 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80304 | www.boulderparks-rec.org | O: 303-413-7200 TO: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board SUBJECT: Matters from the Board DATE: February 26, 2024 A. May Regular Meeting Date. The regularly scheduled May meeting falls on Monday, the 27, Memorial Day Holiday. a. Discussion Needed: PRAB’s input on rescheduling to either Monday, May 20 or Tuesday, May 21. The Council Chambers is available for both dates. B. Feedback invitation for City Council Retreat a. As a whole board, commission, or panel, City Council invites you to share the top two to three community issues or opportunities on your mind, and/or the top two to three items on your group’s existing work plan, for Council awareness ahead of their annual retreat. C. PRAB Matters (Verbal) 24