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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Parks Advisory Board 2017-09-21 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, September 21, 2017 Minutes of a regular meeting of the Parks Advisory Board of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Conference Room of the Estes Park Museum on the 21st day of September, 2017. Present Celine Lebeau Carlie Bangs Dewain Lockwood Terry Rustin Merle Moore Vicki Papineau Ronna Boles Also Present: Kevin McEachern, Operations Manager Megan Van Hoozer Assistant Patrick Martchink, Town Board Liaison Emily Franklin, EVFPD Absent: Greg Muhonen, Director of Public Works Brian Berg, Parks Division Supervisor Chair Lebeau called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. No public comment GENERAL BUSINESS It was moved and seconded (Rustin/Bangs) to approve the August 17, 2017 meeting minutes and the motion passed unanimously. DUB UPDATE – Member Ronna Boles All scheduled utility boxes have been painted and Smith Signs plans to apply the appropriate sealcoat. The longer the freshly painted boxes cure, the better they will seal. Sarah Clark, Light & Power Administrative Assistant, has been receiving calls from area businesses requesting the utility boxes on their property also be painted. New guidelines need to be created for businesses commissioning artists to paint the utility boxes on their property. The Light & Power Division (L&P) has once again allocated $10K in their budget for 2018 to continue the DUB Program. While painting the utility boxes, the commissioned individuals are being approached to for hire for box paintingto paint individual boxes. Criteria and protocol need defined for gaining approval from L&P to allow artists to paint utility boxes outside the current RFQ process. It was determined that the best approach is to maintain existing criteria, requiring all proper steps be followed. The art design will continue to go through the PAB for approval. There is continued consideration whether the Estes Valley resident requirement will stay in force. Not all PAB members believe it’s a critical requirement. With continued issues of the vinyl wraps peeling from the utility boxes, no further wraps will be purchased until it is seen that they’ll last through the winter seas on. This will continue to be monitored by Member Boles and Sarah Clark. Parks Advisory Board – September 21, 2017 – Page 2 PARKS DIVISION UPDATE The Estes Park Veterans Monument Committee has acquired sufficient funds to commence construction of the new Veterans Monument Park, and has they have hired concrete contractors. The hope is to have the entire plan complete by November 9. The eagle sculpture has been created and the placards are done. The Parks Division removed the existing picnic pavilion which broke during removal. The corners were completely rotted so re-use was not an option. A new picnic pavilion will be installed on the other side of the river. Quotes for the new building have been requested and, while early in the process, show the cost at $30K although there are hopes for more response to provide varied amounts. The pavement dismount signs have been installed along the Riverwalk. Bicycles are slowing down with some folks actually dismounting. The Streets Division will be checking the faded signs that also provide dismount instruction. If determined necessary, the signs will be replaced. Co-Chair Moore suggested creating a concrete form with this instruction and imbed embedding in concrete where the flagstone (only a couple pieces) currently exists. This suggestion needs to be submitted by the PAB to the Public Works Department and the Police Department. Berg has shared enforcement concerns with the Police Department. Member Bangs reminded the PAB that there is a need to stay alert to sign pollution. Once the Downtown Loop is in place there may be less problem with bicycle usage along this corridor due to additional bike accessibility being made available in the downtown area. OTHER BUSINESS Fall River Trail Extension: The Town of Estes Park was not awarded the GOCO grant for which application had been made, therefore, construction of the extended trail will not take place in the coming budget year. Sidewalk Chalk: Although approved through the AIPP process, employee time constraints have inhibited forward progress on the Museum initiatives for sidewalk chalk. Emily Franklin of the Estes Valley Fire Protection District attended on behalf of Chief Wolf to answer any questions to the Firewise Landscaping & Mountain Gardending documentation being distributed with the Recommended Plant Listing. Member Bangs expressed concern that an individual licensed to openly carry a weapon is allowed to carry in Stanley Park. With this being on school complex land, and the existing laws that there is to be no guns at schools and the fairgrounds, it was suggested the rule be expanded to Stanley Park. Bangs wanted to bring this suggestion to the PAB for other thoughts on making this recommendation to Town specific to Stanley Park.? Moore believes it should be expanded to incorporate all Town parks. Additionally, the Estes Valley Recreation and Parks District (EVRPD) and Police Department should be part of this discussion. Moore would like analysis on what other towns have done. In Denver, the entire city and county has outlawed guns. It is believed that in Colorado, the municipality is left to determine the laws for their areas. Bangs will research and write up a recommendation Parks Advisory Board – September 21, 2017 – Page 3 to present to the PAB for a vote. Her research will include discussions with Police Chief Kufeld and Tom Carosello of EVRPD. Member Boles suggested renaming the PAB from Parks Advisory Board to “Public Art and Arbor Advisory Board” to better incorporate the function/goals/responsibilities of the board. Chair Lebeau thought it would be a great idea to change the name to capture this in a name change while Member Bangs didn’t indicate a strong preference. Trustee Martchink assured the PAB that the Town Board will most likely agree to a name change if determined necessary by the PAB. Another name suggestion is “Parks and Public Art Advisory Board”. This will be added to the agenda for October to continue discussions. Chair Lebeau announced her resignation from the PAB stating this would be her last meeting. Lebeau is moving to Ft Collins prior to the next scheduled meeting. An official vote is needed to confirm the Chairperson for the rest of her term. Until that time, Co- Chair Moore will cover Chairperson responsibilities and Member Bangs will cover charge of the Mountain Festival. A motion was made and seconded (Rustin/Bangs) to have Member Boles be the acting Co-Chair in the interim and all were in favor. At the ceremony where Mrs. Walsh’s Garden was turned over to the Town, several individuals who were on the former Mrs. Walsh’s Garden Advisory Committee approached Supervisor Berg expressing the committee be reformed. This advisory board would contain more technical expertise due to the specific plant collection contained. Co-Chair Moore agrees that this may be best and hopes to utilize the garden for education. A motion was made and seconded (Moore/Bangs) that the PAB create a subcommittee as an advisory board to Mrs. Walsh’s Garden and all were in favor. Member Papineau requested there be an update by the subcommittee in October or November to announce the subcommittee members and asked that the associated chairperson provide updates at regularly scheduled PAB meetings. Co-Chair Moore offered to serve as liaison to a newly formed MWG advisory committee and he will report at the November meeting progress in re-forming the committee, including the names and bios of new committee members. With no other business to discuss, Chair LeBeau adjourned the meeting 9:34 am.