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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Parks Advisory Board 2019-01-17 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, January 17, 2018 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 17th day of January, 2019. Present Merle Moore Vicki Papineau Wade Johnston Geoffrey Elliot Also Present: Brian Berg, Parks Supervisor Megan Van Hoozer, Public Works Administrative Assistant Patrick Martchink, Town Board Liaison Kevin McEachern, Public Works Operations Manager Absent: Dewain Lockwood Chair Merle Moore called the meeting to order at 8:36 a.m. PUBLIC COMMENT No public was in attendance. The Estes Arts District (EAD) has been preparing for the Friends of Folk Festival. The EAD will be sponsoring many activities and events around town in 2019. Additionally, the upcoming art walk will have trolley service available. The EAD donated funds allowing the purchase of a small crane for the Lumpy Circus. The EAD’s current structure is now aiming for a more independent approach and is working to get donations, etc. through their own efforts and initiatives. GENERAL BUSINESS A motion was made and seconded (Johnston/Elliot) to approve the December meeting minutes and all were in favor. PAB OFFICER ELECTIONS Chair Moore initiated the discussion regarding 2019 officer elections. Trustee Liaison Martchink suggested tabling the elections until after current vacancy interviews occur, which is anticipated to occur prior to the February PAB meeting. This would allow involvement from the newly appointed members. Additionally, Members Papineau and Lockwood’s terms ended December 31, 2018 and are therefore unable to nominate, vote, or be nominated. A motion was made and seconded (Elliot/Johnston) to postpone officer elections until new members are seated on the Parks Advisory Board and all were in favor. Parks Advisory Board – January 17, 2019 – Page 2 MRS WALSH’S GARDEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE (MWGAC) UPDATE Chair Moore stated that the last meeting of the MWGAC involved much discussion on the newly created Google Group for MWGAC. The committee is now working on a policy for plant identification and a mission statement review and upgrade to appropriately fit with the current Town of Estes Park guidelines. Moore reported that Supervisor Berg provided the 2018 year-end budget report to enable planning for 2019. The committee was very appreciative For those plants without identification labeling, the committee has ordered new labels. The committee will continue to working on identification of plants existing in MWG. MWGAC has transitioned to more current resources for label identifications. Priorities have also been identified. NOXIOUS WEED ORDINANCE Chair Moore and Member Papineau met with the Town’s Code Compliance Officer, Linda Hardin a couple times regarding ordinance wording and enforcement of noxious weeds within the Town of Estes Park. Both Hardin and Director Hunt are in agreement with the suggested changes to the ordinance wording. The new wording brings enforcement of noxious weeds in line with the ordinance language for beetle-infested trees, which is far more in-depth. Member Papineau suggested a change to the label of Class C noxious weeds within the Town’s ordinance, to “Estes Valley Noxious Weed List” while maintaining the existing requirements and definitions of Classes A and B listed by the State and County. Class C is not currently part of the Town’s enforcement. However, within the Estes Valley, those weeds on the Class C list are a significant problem. Moore stated that by providing a specific Estes Park designation it would provide more leverage for Town enforcement. Moore feels that, as a result, it would more likely push folks to deal with the weed problems rather than ignore the ordinance. Supervisor Berg reminded the PAB that the reason there is a Class C is because the given weed is so widespread and out of control that it would be near impossible to eradicate. Additionally, if property owners are required to eradicate or significantly deal with a Class C weed, they would be a substantially financially impacted. This is the reason the State doesn’t provide identification of all Class C weeds. Since the Class C weeds are so out of control efforts should be directed to continuing to handle and eradicate the Class As and Bs to keep them from becoming Class Cs. Berg suggested the potential of adding responsibilities of those a Noxious Weed Board would have for properties within town limits. Officer Hardin can issue tickets for violations to property owners however to begin this new enforcement initiative, and the associated additional workload, Hardin would need a seasonal officer or intern to assist. With the 2019 budget having already been approved by the Town Board this would be a 2020 initiative. Member Elliot is familiar with intern programs and stated a curriculum would be required. Without the educational component a seasonal worker would be appropriate. Moore and Elliot will discuss the potential structure to finding someone to fill the role. Hardin and Hunt will write the new code language. They will elaborate on definitions contained in the draft created by Papineau. The policy needs to contain more in-depth definitions. Parks Advisory Board – January 17, 2019 – Page 3 Supervisor Berg will distribute the recently revised Town of Estes Park – Parks Division Weed Management Plan to Moore and Papineau. The desire is to have the enforcement portion in place before weed season. Berg suggested finalizing and distributing the weed listing right away as the code language amendment would take longer to get in place. Papineau will bring the listing with suggested edits for adoption at February PAB meeting. Papineau reported to Berg that there is significant weed growth (musk thistle and mullein) within the fencing erected by the Watershed Coalition near the existing picnic shelter along the river banks on both sides. PARKS DIVISION UPDATE Berg reported the following updates from the Town’s Parks Division: • The Mountain Heritage Festival planning committee had its first meeting prior to the Christmas break. Co-Chair Johnston volunteered his time for the 2018 festival but will be unable to do so for 2019, however he will proceed with the t- shirt design. Berg asked if any other PAB members would be able to fill that void. Co-Chair Elliot volunteered to fill that role on the planning committee for 2019. Member Papineau will be able to help at the booth as she did last year and Chair Moore will be assisting at the MWG booth. The Town’s Parks Division will continue leading this effort as in the past. • After the December PAB meeting, Berg visited Lee and Molly Kemper, caregivers of Annie the Elk. Berg wanted to discuss and explain the vote of the December PAB meeting wherein the PAB declined support of erecting a bronze statue of Annie in Bond Park. Berg explained the specifics of what the PAB found to be unacceptable and that they could certainly go to the Town Board who have the final say on the matter. Berg further stated that if the Kempers desire, they could always reach out to private property owners about erecting the statue on property not owned by the Town. The Kempers weren’t terribly upset and will reach out to a couple landowners about this potential. The art inventory listing reflects privately owned art and Annie could easily be added to the list once something is produced. • The Public Works Grant Specialist, Christy Crosser is actively exploring grants for a potential synced holiday music/light show. The former Public Works Director in Lyons is promoting this as Lyons previously had something similar. This is only in beginning discussions, however Director Muhonen and Town Administrator Lancaster are enthusiastic. • The Town is working on getting fast-chargers and a shelter installed near the Parks Shop for electronic trolley. • Matt O’Reilly is currently dismantling backflow devices • Keri Kelly has completed the flower orders for 2019 • Staff is repairing trail markers • Construction of the Sensory Garden is anticipated to begin January 28 Parks Advisory Board – January 17, 2019 – Page 4 • Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant award for the Big Thompson River Picnic Shelter will occur in March 2019. If awarded, construction of the shelter is anticipated to start in fall 2019. • With the denial of the initial grant application for the Parks Division’s Greenhouse Expansion, Crosser is exploring other potential grant opportunities • The Town Administrator has placed a hold on all capital project spending until Rocky Mountain National Park reopens. • The Estes Park Museum received a grant for needed upgrades at Knoll-Willows Open Space, a portion of which includes installation of permanent binoculars at the existing structure. OTHER BUSINESS The Visit Estes Park (VEP) sculpture walk brochure needs to be modified. Berg is working to schedule a meeting with VEP about this item as well as a few others. VEP is in flux with employees and getting a meeting scheduled has been difficult. Chair Moore asked if a specific request from PAB would be needed to help move this along. Berg would like to invite the new CEO to a meeting and will communicate accordingly. The brochure needs to be made all-inclusive. The existing VEP brochure is not user friendly at all. Berthoud, Colorado has an Arts In Public Places policy that could be very usable for our community. A motion was made and seconded (Johnston/Elliot) to adjourn the meeting at 9:54 and all were in favor. Recording Secretary Megan Van Hoozer, Public Works