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Home My WebLink About7A - Boulder Reservoir Master Plan Update CITY OF BOULDER PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD AGENDA ITEM MEETING DATE: April 27, 2009 AGENDA TITLE: Boulder Reservoir Master Plan Update. PRESENTERS: Tracy Winfree, Interim Director, Parks and Recreation Alice Guthrie, Interim Recreation Superintendent Bev Johnson, Planner EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The purpose of this item is to provide the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) with an overview of the Boulder Reservoir Master Plan scope, planning process and schedule. Staff would also like input from board members on some of its top priorities and issues to address in the master plan. The purpose of the Boulder Reservoir Master Plan is to establish management goals and objectives for Parks and Recreation Department land and activities at the Boulder Reservoir (including Tom Watson Park and Coot Lake) that will guide long-term investment strategies. An interdepartmental staff team has been assembled and staff has initiated Phase I of a three phase process for developing the plan (Attachment A) including the preliminary timing for public and board input. The specific format for public meetings will be further developed as the project moves forward. The PRAB will be asked to provide input and direction to staff during each phase of the project. Staff anticipates completion of a plan by the second quarter of 2010. QUESTIONS FOR THE PRAB: The following is a list of questions to guide PRAB's discussion of this item: 1. What comments or questions does the Board have about the scope and process for the Boulder Reservoir Master Plan? 2. What topics would the Board like to have addressed in the Boulder Reservoir Master Plan? 3. What are the Board's top priorities for the Boulder Reservoir Master Plan? ANALYSIS: Background In 1954, the city of Boulder and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District made an agreement for the development of Big Thompson water for domestic and agricultural demands. AGENDA ITEM #VH-A; PAGE t That year, the Boulder Reservoir was built at the cost of $1,190,000 as a regulator for all Big Thompson water delivered beyond the Boulder Reservoir. Subsequently, the city of Boulder developed the reservoir into a water-oriented recreational area. In November 1981, a bond issue was passed and in 1983 the Boulder Reservoir Development Master Plan was completed. The purpose of the plan was to investigate alternative master planning approaches for redevelopment of the site. The master plan for the reservoir has not been updated since 1983. Over the years, a variety of amenities have been added and recreational use has increased. An updated master plan is necessary to determine future direction for the operations and management of the site, to establish investment priorities and capital needs. Scope of the Plan The purpose of the Boulder Reservoir Master Plan is to establish management objectives for Parks and Recreation land and activities at the Boulder Reservoir (including Tom Watson Park and Coot Lake) that will guide future investment strategies. The plan will be developed through an interdepartmental staff team in order to coordinate city-wide goals, issues, management plans and operations. The plan also will integrate the principles of economic, social and environmental sustainability and will include but not be limited to recommendations about recreational uses, financial management, operations, access and transportation connections, event management, hardscapes and turf management, natural land management, water quality protection and water conservation. The Boulder Reservoir Master Plan will help implement the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation 2006 Master Plan. The 2006 plan includes investment priorities guided by community input, the PRAB and the City Council. The department's investment priorities are based on the city's business plan and the department's financial situation. Investment priorities for recreation facility development are prioritized based on making needed improvements within a fiscally constrained funding level and leveraging existing infrastructure and resources by investing in revenue producing facilities such as the Boulder Reservoir. The department's master plan also includes a goal to prepare management plans for all developed and undeveloped lands. Process and Schedule The project will be conducted in the following three phases: Phase I: Vision, Goals and Issues Phase II: Plan Alternatives Phase III: Draft and Final Master Plan Staff has begun the initial phase of the project and anticipates completion of the plan by the second quarter of 2010. The Parks and Recreation Department will coordinate all planning and resultant operational changes with the Public Works (Transportation, Utilities and Facilities and Asset Management), Fire, Planning, Police, and Open Space and Mountain Parks departments. The staff team will be led by Bev Johnson (environmental planner in the Planning Department) and include staff from the Parks and Recreation, Public Works/Utilities and Open Space and Mountain Parks departments as outlined below. AGENDA ITEM #VII-A; PAGE 2 Core Work Group: Planning Bev Johnson, Project Manager Parks and Recreation Alice Guthrie Matt Claussen Stacy Cole Utilities Kim Hutton Bret Linenfelser Michelle Wind Jim Shelley Additional Advisory Staff: Open Space and Mountain Parks Matt Jones Police Dave Hayes Fire Frank Young A public process will be conducted to gather community input regarding future operations and uses of the Boulder Reservoir. Staff will hold public meetings at each phase of the project and provide the public with on-going updates through the department's Web site and notices to the. project e-mail list subscribers. The PRAB will have an opportunity for discussion and input throughout each phase of the project. The role of the Board will be to coordinate policy development on the current and future use and management of Parks and Recreation Department property. The PRAB will also be asked to review a draft master plan and consider a recommendation to City Council on adoption of a final plan. Staff will also coordinate input from other appropriate boards including the Water Resources Advisory Board (WRAB) and the Open Space Board of Trustees (OSBT). This project will be concurrent with the Lyons-to-Boulder Trail (formerly the Feeder Canal Trail) process. The Lyons-to-Boulder Trail is expected to terminate at the north end of the Boulder Reservoir and will affect the Boulder Reservoir Master Plan. Issues with the development and management of the trail were identified in the Community Environmental and Assessment Process that was approved by the City Council in March 2006. Staff will coordinate both planning processes in order to fully address potential impacts to Parks and Recreation Department facilities and budget. NEXT STEPS: Staff will develop preliminary goals and issues for the Boulder Reservoir Master Plan over the next month. A public meeting will be scheduled for mid-June to introduce the project to the public and get community input on the preliminary goals and issues. Staff will return to the PRAB in June for its input on the goals and issues prior to updating the City Council on the project. ATTACHMENTS: A: Process and Schedule for the Boulder Reservoir Master Plan AGENDA ITEM #VII-A; PAGE 3 ATTACHMENT A Process and Schedule for the Boulder Reservoir Master Plan April 21, 2009 Phase 1 Phase 11 Phase 111 VISION, GOALS AND ISSUES PLAN ALTERNATIVES DRAFT AND FINAL PLAN April - June 2009 July - Ocober 2009 October 2009 - Winter 2010 Staff work group Update to PRAB I Staff develops draft plan Draft plan develops April 27, 2009 alternatives preliminary vision and goals on drag house Pubic workshop on plan plan n aftenudives Staff work group outlines preliminary issues Refine plan Board discussion of draft alternatives I plan • WRAB PRA,B Staff collects and Public meeting on - - reviews data vision, goals and Board discussion of plan Issues alternatives • WRAB Final plan • OSBT • PRAB Board input on ZL Vision, Goals, Issues * WRAB City Council review and PRAB FRefine plan alternatives approval update to City Council - City Council Study Session AGENDA ITEM #VH-A; PAGE -4