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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Parks Advisory Board 2019-11-21 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, November 21, 2019 Minutes of a regular meeting of the Parks Advisory Board of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Museum Conference Room of the Estes Park Museum on the 21th day of November, 2019. Present Merle Moore Vicki Papineau Ron Wilcocks Rex Poggenpohl Dewain Lockwood Also Present: Elias Wilson, Public Works Administrative Assistant Patrick Martchink, Town Board Liaison Brian Berg, Parks Supervisor Absent: Geoffrey Elliot Chair Merle Moore called the meeting to order at 8:40 a.m. PUBLIC COMMENT: GENERAL BUSINESS: Chair Moore stated that at the bottom of page three and the top of page four references a recommendation made by Mrs. Walsh’s Garden Committee. Moore suggested the addition of the specific recommendation provided in a handout which states the MWGAC requests that the Town Board authorize an RFP to identify a contractor who is qualified, has the appropriate expertise, and who has demonstrated an ability to develop an overall garden master plan that incorporates planting areas designed specifically for site-appropriate native plant materials. The RFP is also to include a specific site development plan for the pond and waterfall areas and a construction bid for that portion. Supervisor Berg suggested the portion referencing a request to the Town Board be eliminated from the recommendation. Chair Moore requested that a copy of the adapted minutes be emailed out to all of the PAB members. A motion was made and seconded (Papineau/Poggenpohl) to approve the September meeting minutes with the amendment and all were in favor. Gateway to Estes Park Memorial Plaque Chair Moore gave the floor to Kathy Groesbeck of the Estes Park Rotary. Groesbeck stated that she has been working on the plaque project since Rodger Thorp passed away. She mentioned that the Rotary club cleaned the sign several years ago. After the cleaning the sign was noticeably cleaner after this work. To honor his memory the Rotary Club thought it would be wonderful to place the plaque on the Welcome to Estes Park Sign. The sons of Rodger drew up the plans for the plaque. Groesbeck stated that the PABs approval is necessary to install the plaque. The family chose the rock in the proposal because they believed the location best recognized Rodger Thorp’s work. Parks Advisory Board – November 21, 2019 – Page 2 Supervisor Berg questioned why the specific rock in the proposed design was chosen. Groesbeck replied that the family believe it would be out of the way of pictures but still be noticeable for individuals to read. Supervisor Berg expressed concern that the plaque will always be visible in pictures and that the plaque would experience significant wear and tear due to the number of people climbing on the rock. The parks department discussed the possibility of placing the plaque on the farthest rock to the right. There, the plaque wouldn’t be climbed on but would still recognize Rodger Thorp. Groesbeck mentioned that right after the sign was installed there was a car that flattened some of the rocks. Member Wilcocks stated that he likes Supervisor Berg’s idea of having the plaque placed on the rock farthest to the right so that when you walk to the sign it will showcase the design. Groesbeck stated that the location of the plaque can be wherever the PAB prefers. She also stated that she believes the plaque would fit on the rock located on the far right. Chair Moore asked if there would is a potential for the car to hit the sign. Member Poggenpohl stated that if the sign if placed high enough a bumper will not hit it. Supervisor Berg commented that there will be 10,000 feet walking on the plaque if it is placed on the proposed rock. Groesbeck shared that Thorp won an AIA award for the design of the sign which he envisioned and drew on a napkin at Poppy’s Pizza and Grill. Chair Moore asked if it would be possible to do a clean cut on the edge where people do park and add rock mulch of the same color as the sign to define where people can and cannot park. Berg responded that adding rock mulch to this area would require a CDOT Right-of-Way permit and that it is difficult to predict how long that could take. Member Wilcocks shared that in the TAB meeting on November 20th, 2019 a CDOT representative shared that CDOT allows almost anything to be done in their Right-of- Way if maintenance responsibilities are accepted by the app lying party. Poggenpohl suggested that PAB ask Supervisor Berg to follow up on the gravel idea. Chair Moore questioned if the sign should be included in the inventory of Public Art and that he would call it a stone sculpture. Berg mentioned that the other replica signs located around town would also need to be considered. Chair Moore asked if there is a motion. Member Wilcocks motioned to allow the rotary to move forward with the proposed plaque project with the plaque being installed on the rock to the far right. Member Poggenpohl seconded the motion. All were in favor. Supervisor Berg asked Groesbeck if the Rotary Club would like the Parks Division to install the plaque. Groesbeck stated that this would be greatly appreciated. Berg asked Groesbeck to ensure the plaque has two threaded studs for installation. Groesbeck stated that this is wonderful and she will let Rodger’s wife and boys know. She thanks the PAB for their time. Mrs. Walsh’s Garden Committee Update Chair Moore shared that Supervisor Berg, the Chair of MWGAC and himself met to begin working on an RFP. There is ongoing discussion about what would be the appropriate scientific names to place on plant labels. Moore stated that once the RFP is out the hope will be to identify a simple master plan. A proposal for the waterfall is also Parks Advisory Board – November 21, 2019 – Page 3 being developed. Moore shared that weekly articles about the plants in the garden were produced in the summer and fall. The kiosk in the garden will also be updated. Moore stated that he believes the garden is functioning how the original owner intended. Supervisor Berg shared that there were five events and a small graduation ceremony held in the garden this year. Parks Updates Supervisor Berg shared that over the last month the tables near Weist were delivered and installed. Berg mentioned that the Parks Division wanted the tables to be off to the sides so that the space had the ability to have future performances. The ADA table is very well done. Eli Ertl began working for the Parks Division since the last PAB meeting. Eli has her Master’s Degree in Forestry and for the past nine years has been working for RMNP. Berg stated that the Parks Division is extremely lucky to have Eli and that she is more than qualified for the job. The Parks Department is putting out an RFP for the completion of baseline controllers. Supervisor Berg shared that the Build Grant Application was unsuccessful. The Parks Division was waiting to see if this grant was successful before addressing the irrigation situation along the Riverwalk. Berg confirmed that the new Trailblazer Broadband will be coming down the Riverwalk and that they will be going down 16 inches deep. Berg is working with Light and Power to determine how everything will work out. He shared that the backflow currently runs from Children’s Park to the Tunnel and that they a re considering coming in off of the line where Pepper’s is and going across to Kind Coffee . When the LOOP Project is completed the planting beds at the Dairy Queen Lot will no longer exist making it important to have water access on the kind coffee side. Supervisor Berg shared that if the Thumb Open Space Proposal is accepted that this space will fall under the Parks Division. The proposal will be discussed at the Town Board Study Session on December 3rd, 2019 and the Town Board will make a decision on December 10th, 2019. Chair Moore asked if the budget for 2020 included any funding fo r a new greenhouse complex. Supervisor Berg responded that this was not included in the budget. Chair Moore also questioned if there was money designated to the production of the ELSA booklets. Trustee Liason Martchink replied that there has been money dedicated to the ELSA. Papineau commented that $2,500 to $2,700 was dedicated for ELSA booklets and monitored weed drop offs. Berg stated that he has the ability to change smaller allocations under $5,000. Chair Moore shared that in a conversation with the Mayor he understood that the budgetary cost may be supplemented. Supervisor Berg shared that every year the Parks Division gets a little bit better at getting what they need and that the approved allocations can be moved without going for a line item. Trustee Liason Martchink shared that moving a few thousand dollars from here to there is a common practice throughout all departments of the town. Supervisor Berg commented that with any budget process citizens have the opportunity to speak to the Town Board. Martchink shared that the final budget meeting will take place on Tuesday November 26th, 2019 and he encouraged everyone to come. Member Poggenpohl questioned if there was a line item for the Tree Board. Berg replied that he found out that there had never been any funds allocated for the tree Parks Advisory Board – November 21, 2019 – Page 4 board. The funds leveraged are 2 dollars per capita. The town is not required to allocate any funding. Member Poggenpohl stated that an AIPP reserve account had been established. He then asked if it shows up as a line item. Berg replied that no one has ever asked to have money placed into the account and that the account has not been formally established. Chair Moore asked Berg if the hole in the ground behind Mama Rose’s had been addressed. Berg replied that the hole had been taken addressed. Papineau asked if the drainage had been addressed at the tunnel. Supervisor Berg stated that there is drifting occurring in the area but the drainage is working well with no signs of ice. Trustee Liason Martchink shared that it is important to remember that the Town is not the deciding factor on the Thumb Open Space because of the dependence on the GOCO grant. Member Poggenpohl asked how much the Parcel costs and the amount the grant would provide. Financial impacts to the town will be discussed at the next Town Board Study Session. Chair Moore asked about the progress of the grant for the picnic shelter. Berg replied that another application was submitted this year for GOCO and that the town will find out in March if the application was successful. Moore questioned if it worth exploring new grants for a new greenhouse facility. Berg stated that he is nervous about an expansion of the greenhouse. With wind and snow we may have to take down the current one to add on. Berg stated that a lot will depend on Eli’s desires moving forward and that the Parks Division may experiment with a non-permanent hoop house. The current greenhouse is almost 30 years old and it currently is used as a house for all of the pots. Trustee Liaison Martchink shared that the Town Board has decided to help the school district with the construction for their CTE building and that this facility will include a greenhouse. He stated that hopefully there is a potential for resource sharing in the future and that if we are dedicating money to help our students, hopefully the school would be willing to help the town. Chair Moore stated that it is remarkable that our displays can be pulled off with the current greenhouse facility. AIPP FUNDING RESEARCH Member Poggenpohl shared that he recently visited Marfa, Texas. Marfa is the world’s most famous small town for art with thousands of acres dedicated for large scale pieces of artwork. Poggenpohl commented that there are currently two different foundations operating in the town and that he was able to speak with a director of one of the foundations. He also shared that he was recently appointed by the State as one of four reviewers of artwork to operate in Northern Colorado. The language of the Draft Ordinance establishes funding for AIPP through the construction costs of capital projects by the town. At the Federal there has been a longtime program where a ½ percent is spent on artwork. This proposal asks the town to commit 1 percent of capital project funds to artwork. Poggenpohl explained that there is currently a proposed cut off at $5 million and then only a ½ percent is committed. Poggenpohl is recommending that $5,000 be put aside by the town annually. He suggested that this should be an amendment to the existing ordinance. Member Poggenpohl said that the Town’s Finance Director has mentioned before that he would hate to see any town funds going towards art. Chair Moore asked Trustee Liaison Martchink if the language of the ordinance should be rewritten and who the Parks Advisory Board should work with to get this Parks Advisory Board – November 21, 2019 – Page 5 accomplished. Martchink stated that the Town Board is aware that the Parks Advisory Board is exploring possible changes and that it does not matter where this starts because Brian and Jackie will both get this to the right place. Supervisor Berg questioned if anything in the ordinance is directed towards funding. Member Poggenpohl said that there language addressing funding. Berg stated that he would look at the wording in that situation. Martchink commented that it does not matter for the Town Board because everything in the ordinance will be reviewed. Berg indicated that he would be the one to write the memo, sit down with the ordinance and figure out the exact wording. He would then bring it to the Parks Advisory Board. Berg also shared that he is fearful of not having the wording solidified before approval. Member Poggenpohl stated that is does not make sense for an amendment to be written. Chair Moore stated that the Parks Advisory Board should be prepared to present an ordinance change including specific guidelines to be approved all at once. Supervisor Berg asked if the Town Trustees have been educated on the topic. Poggenpohl asked if this should go to a study session. Trustee Liaison Martchink stated that this should absolutely go to a study session and that it will be important to look at the makeup of the Town Board. Sometimes you have a board that will simply be against the idea. Member Poggenpohl says that it will be important to discuss the reasons that other towns have adopted this method and why Estes Park should adopt it. He also shared that the Town Trustees were the ones who originally pushed for the Parks Advisory Board to look at Art in Public Places. Poggenpohl suggested that he and Chair Moore take time to look at the language and bring this language to the Parks Advisory Board to adjust and adapt. Supervisor Berg questioned if multi-year projects that are rolled over would be asked to expand their budgets after their approval. Poggenpohl stated that there would be a contingency and that change orders would make it easy to adapt the budgets. Berg stated that he hopes that to not have any negatives before it starts. Chair Moore stated that he doesn’t expect the Town to change the current budget based on the experience with the weed management ordinance. Moore stated that it would be a big push to get this through. Trustee Liaison Martchink shared that the questions being asked are all likely to come up in future board meetings. Poggenpohl said that maintenance projects will be exempt and that it would only apply to new or extended infrastructure. Member Wilcocks said that he understands both sides of the argument and suggested that the language allow for the exemption of a project. Member Poggenpohl shared that what is currently on the table allows and exemption to portions of a project when the funding of the project exempts funds going beyond the project. Poggenpohl asked if the Parks Advisory Board would want to lower the cut off to $2 million. Trustee Liaison Martchink suggested that the artwork be connected to the project in some way. Chair Moore asked if the board is comfortable proceeding down this road. There were no objections. Historic Women of Estes Subcommittee Update Member Wilcocks shared that the subcommittee has held two meeting so far to identify stakeholders, develop ideas and define the type of artwork that is desired. He mentioned that everyone he has reached out to so far has been supportive and wanted to be involved at some level. Wilcocks stated that he would share the minutes from the Parks Advisory Board – November 21, 2019 – Page 6 meeting with Administrative Assistant Wilson to distribute to the Parks Advisory Board and any questions can be sent directly to Wilson. Wilcocks said that the subcommittee has begun discussing possible funding sources and are targeting January to put forward specific ideas. Member Papineau questioned if there are examples of other projects that have been discussed. Wilcocks stated that there have been some examples discussed and looked at. Chair Moore commented that as shareholders are identified it is important to reference AIPP guidelines and that it would be ideal not to have too many performance artists. Wilcocks stated that the subcommittee is trying to honor the Women of Estes Park and not showcase people with performance skills. Wilcocks stated that he wants to make sure that the Subcommittee is following the desires of the Parks Advisory Board and that the proper steps are being followed. Supervisor Berg stated that the Parks Advisory Board will be almost the last step in the process and that if the Subcommittee identifies property that is not town owned the project will not have to come to the Parks Advisory Board. Chair Moore commented that the deadline being August 18th, 2020 which is the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment, is ambitious. Supervisor Berg shared that since the Build Grant was not received there is now $500,000 set aside for one time expenditures and perhaps this project could be one of the expenditures. OTHER BUSINESS Wilcocks shared that the work on proposed Arts Committee will be asking PAB for further direction. Chair Moore stated that he forgot to mention in the MWGAC update that a historical sign is in the park and is weathered. This sign will be updated and a new one will be installed. Chair Moore also shared that Administrative Assistant Van Hoozer contacted the Estes Park Code Enforcement Officer Madachy and Lieutenant Life to see if they would provide an update to the PAB regarding noxious we ed enforcement but she did not hear back from either. Papineau shared that individuals not in compliance could be fined for over $2,000. Moore wanted on the record that he is “put off” that an update was requested from the Police Department and the update was not provided. Dewain commented that the little house utility box in bond park is very well done. He mentioned that at the Walmart in Loveland there is a new painted utility box that is painted and is well done and would be worth a look if in the area. With no other business to discuss, a motion was made and seconded (Moore/Johnston) to adjourn the meeting at 10:19 a.m. and all were in favor. Recording Secretary Elias Wilson, Public Works