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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Parks Advisory Board 2020-01-21Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, January 21, 2020 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the PARKS ADVISORY BOARD of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held virtually in said Town of Estes Park on the 21st day of January 2021. Committee: Rex Poggenpohl Vice Chair, Geoffrey Elliot, Kirby Nelson- Hazelton, Vicki Papineau, Ron Wilcocks Attending: Geoffrey Elliot, Kirby Nelson-Hazelton, Vicki Papineau, Rex Poggenpohl, Ron Wilcocks, Brian Berg, Kevin McEachern, Greg Muhonen, Megan Van Hoozer Absent: Co-Chair Poggenpohl called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m. PUBLIC COMMENT No public comment. APPROVAL OF AGENDA / MINUTES Vice Chair Poggenpohl requested a motion to approve the January agenda. A motion was made and seconded (Elliot/Papineau) and all were in favor. A motion was made and seconded (Hazelton/Wilcocks) to approve the December meeting minutes as amended and all were in favor. 2021 OFFICER ELECTIONS Vice Chair Poggenpohl initiated nominations for PAB Chair and Vice Chair to serve in 2021, further confirming that while he does not have time to Chair, he would be receptive to Vice Chair. Member Elliot volunteered to serve as Chair. A motion made and seconded Poggenpohl/Wilcocks) to nominate Geoffrey Elliot as Chair and all were in favor. Elliot requested nominations for Vice Chair. A motion was made and seconded to nominate Poggenpohl for Vice Chair (Hazelton/Wilcocks) and all were in favor, with Poggenpohl abstaining. ARTS MASTER PLAN – UNIVERSITY ASSISTANCE In January, Poggenpohl and the Town’s Assistant Administrator (ATA) Jason Damweber solicited interest from some area universities for assistance with an Arts Master Plan Plan). Colorado State University (CSU) requested additional information . They were provided the Town’s art inventory listing prepared by Moore and Rustin from past years. The listing reflects $1.75M in assets (70-80 items), showing significant investment. This alone shows a need for maintenance procedures. CSU expressed interest in assisting due to land grant college status. CSU feels an obligation, if they’re able, to develop the Plan. The need for functional, over beautiful, Plan is understood. Additional information will be provided to CSU including the PAB Bylaws, the entire art inventory, brochures, Arts in Public Places Guidelines, etc. Once reviewed, CSU would like to circle back with Town representative to define the scope. Director Muhonen stated that with a small staff, the effort required for this effort is more than Public Works (PW) can produce. The Parks Advisory Board and the Public Works Department are not art experts. The conclusion is being drawn that an art committee or advisory board should be established but separate from the PAB. Internal discussions will need to occur about the best placement for this committee. Town Administrator Travis Machalek is not excited about adding more work to Town staff. Muhonen feels that with the expertise held within the Museum staff, that may be a logical department to aid. If CSU provides proposal, the next step would be for a recommendation to be made to the Town Board. Member Wilcocks has pulled in the art community from outside the PAB Parks Advisory Board – January 21, 2021 – Page 2 to participate in the Historic Women’s Monument. Member Papineau agrees and stated that using Wilcocks as an example, the wonders of what the private art world can do is reflected. Poggenpohl shared that he and former Chair Merle Moore discussed feelings of discomfort with PAB being responsible for the Town’s art assets, but understood that if separate, there would need to be regular collaboration with the PAB. Muhonen stated there would need to be a well-thought-out proposal prior to presenting to the Town Board requesting guidance. Trustee Liaison Cenac reminded Muhonen that acceptance of this workload from another Town Department needs done prior to a proposal being created. Cenac’s only concern, following Wilcock’s model, would be the risks associated to having a group/entity separate from the Town managing the art process. Cenac agrees that a proposal would be a good idea. Wilcocks feel an Arts Advisory Committee, or something similar being associated to the Town in an advisory capacity would help with grants and would provide proper management for assets owned by the Town. The Women’s Monument project is getting authority from the PAB. Wherever this committee were to end up, the Town being behind the actions of the members is important. Supervisor Berg stated that the formation of the AIPP was to serve as a springboard prior to going to the Town Board. Until establishing the Decorating Utility Box (DUB) program, it hadn’t been utilized much. Parks and open spaces wherein art could be installed are finite. It is important to decipher Town-owned versus private art installations, then make that information clear to CSU for proper analysis. Cenac stated her biggest concern is maintenance of the art and who will perform the maintenance. Berg stated that Museum Director Derek Fortini would have the expertise pertaining to art inside Town-owned buildings. For all the bronze on Town-owned land, the Town contracts with a high-end bronze / patina company to maintain bronze. Cenac stated that if Berg doesn’t foresee much additional art coming into the public areas, she wonders about the benefit of establishing a separate arts committee. Poggenpohl feels a separate committee would only need to meet when it had to make decisions and not on a regular monthly meeting, with the exception of the initial planning and grants, selections, etc. which would be intermittent. Cenac has found that those committees that don’t commit to a regular schedule eventually seem to dwindle. There is already a difficulty maintaining advisory board members. Wilcocks agrees that Town needs to define a structure. An ad hoc advisory board will lead to ad hoc results and participation. Committee members and their conduct should be defined in the Plan. Goals need to be established and achieved. It is not adequate to have an ad hoc committee. Elliot stated that the PAB used to have more art members. There are a variety of private art entities and the Town, nor PAB, would want to pick one. Poggenpohl stated that if CSU assists, or builds the Plan they will be speaking to other entities in town. A new art committee should require membership from within the art community. Hazelton feels the best course of action would be for a small group to create a couple of different proposals to bring back for review at the regularly scheduled February meeting , in preparation of potential future Town Board consideration. No more than two members of the PAB can be involved, in order to prevent violating the Sunshine Law. After discussion about member time constraints, Elliot requested Poggenpohl and Hazelton work together to prepare a couple proposals for next month’s meeting. Muhonen stated that if everything is finalized by the February meeting, the soonest it can go before the Town Board in a study session would be March 9, 2021, with a deadline for documents being due no later than February 25, 2021. Parks Advisory Board – January 21, 2021 – Page 3 PARKS DIVISION UPDATES (Parks Supervisor Brian Berg) Supervisor Berg shared that after discussion with the Town Attorney, there are no legal issues with the Estes Valley Land Trust (EVLT) plaque discussed last month and no policy is necessary. Due to the length of time the bench purchaser has waited for plaque installation (4-5 months), the EVLT is requesting we let this one go, with the understanding that an approved template would be used moving forward . Muhonen stated that since there is no existing policy against this type of display on a dedication plaque, coupled with the strong feelings from the family there is no reason not to approve the installation. Cenac doesn’t feel the plaque wording or image are offensive and no template was provided for reference. Members discussed further to determine consensus. Berg will allow the plaque to be installed as shown and no policy will be created. A motion was made and seconded to allow plaque installation Poggenpohl/Papineau) and all were in favor. Visit Estes Park (VEP) provided the Parks Division a $50K donation for installation of a climbing boulder and safe surround material, etc. There is a 10 to 12-week lead time for the climbing boulder. Berg is working toward preparation of a Request For Proposal RFP) for a playground contractor. Additional updates from the Parks Division include: Roundabout landscaping at MacGregor Ave. and Wonderview (Hwy 34) is still in progress, pending equipment. The 2021 flower order is complete. The Thumb Open Space Conservation Easement approval is being finalized. The Rocky Mountain Conservancy offered to continue to assist with trail work to the climbing area. This will resume upon completion of the Management Plan . Member Papineau asked for clarification on the placement of the climbing boulder. Berg shared that it would be located near the parking structure where the existing picnic area is located. Berg is continuing to work through design issues with broadband installation requiring travel through the designated space. Berg hopes to bring plan to February meeting. OTHER BUSINESS Wilcocks has two items he wants to mention. First, there was intensive work done toward completion of the Weed Management Plan and it seems to have fallen by the wayside. He’d like to learn the status of this plan. Papineau stated the Weed Management guide was approved and posted on the Town’s website. Second, Wilcocks wanted to share that the Women’s Monument Project is going great. The subcommittee is heavy into fundraising and detailed proposals are being created. He invited members to provide tax-deductible location to the sculpture. Poggenpohl suggested developing a plan for the PAB for 2021, to be discussed at the next meeting. Poggenpohl would like to invite the Watershed Coalition for collaborative planning to the March PAB meeting. There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded Poggenpohl/Hazelton) to adjourn the meeting and all were in favor. Chair Elliot adjourned the meeting at 10:16 a.m. Megan Van Hoozer, Recording Secretary