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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Parks Advisory Board 2022-01-20 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, January 20, 2022 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the PARKS ADVISORY BOARD of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Municipal Building in said Town of Estes Park on the 20th day of January, 2022. Board: Chair Elliot; Vice-Chair Poggenpohl; Members Berry, Nelson- Hazelton, Papineau, and Wilcocks Attending: Chair Elliot; Members Berry, Nelson-Hazelton, and Papineau; Trustee Cenac; Supervisor Berg; and Recording Secretary McDonald Absent: Vice-Chair Poggenpohl, Member Wilcocks Chair Elliot called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m. PUBLIC COMMENT None. TRUSTEE LIAISON UPDATES Trustee Cenac summarized the Town Board’s current ballot initiatives: discontinuing the full-text newspaper publication of passed ordinances; discontinuing the newspaper publication of bills and statements concerning contracts and rebates; and whether the Town government’s existing tax revenue should be used without restriction for community priorities, such as public safety and emergency management. In upcoming meetings, the Town Board and Parks Division would be discussing the Parks Master Plan, Art in Public Places (AIPP), and Thumb Open Space (TOS) Management Plan. APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED DECEMBER 16, 2021 It was moved and seconded (Nelson-Hazelton/Berry) to approve the December 16, 2021, meeting minutes, and the motion passed unanimously. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES GUIDELINES REVIEW AND TOWN BOARD STUDY SESSION FOR FEBRUARY 8, 2022 Chair Elliot noted that some updates had been suggested for the AIPP policy and guidelines since the December PAB meeting. It was agreed that the PAB would table formal adoption of these AIPP documents until after the Town Board Study Session on February 8, 2022, and that it would be good for the PAB to review the final documents once a year. THUMB OPEN SPACE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN Supervisor Berg advised that the TOS Draft Management Plan continues in the reviewing phase and would be due for legal review today in preparation for the Town Board Study Session on February 8, 2022. Input received at the Town Board Study Session on January 11, 2022, focused primarily on the Plan’s Guided Climbing Instruction section. The Executive Summary was cleaned up and shows that the monitoring of vehicle counts would be fine-tuned by volunteers, Parks staff, and mechanical photographic sensors. Discussion points included language clarity issues in the Plan, which Member Papineau volunteered to help resolve before today’s deadline; the land’s history with the Estes Valley Land Trust (EVLT); the anticipated popularity of the TOS for students and other locals, particularly dog owners; and whether and how future advertising would encourage official climbing companies and groups. Supervisor Berg advised that the trailhead has poor reception for the use of QR codes for current information and restrictions to be communicated to visitors. It was agreed that the PAB conditionally supports the current draft Plan, but it was moved and seconded (Papineau/Nelson-Hazelton) that PAB members would review the draft Plan prior to the February Study Session, and the motion passed unanimously. Supervisor Berg advised that the Plan, once finalized, be reviewed yearly by the PAB, and then every five to seven years. 2021 INITIATIVES REVIEW AND 2022 INITIATIVES PLANNING Parks Advisory Board – January 20, 2022 – Page 2 Chair Elliot facilitated discussion points of the 2021 PAB Priority Initiatives and Steps: consultation with Estes Park Elementary School Principal John Bryant about the school’s potential involvement with 2022 Mountain Fest; the PAB’s ongoing work with the Town Board on the AIPP program; the need for collaboration of time and resources with the Power & Communications Department on the utility box art project; the development status of Big Thompson Recreation Picnic Area, which should be open by July 4, 2022; native landscaping progress at Mrs. Walsh’s Garden, for which Members Papineau and Berry agreed to volunteer; the Town Board Study Session on January 25, 2022, regarding the development of Pocket Parks and the merging of the Parks and Bond Master Plans through a 2022 budget amendment or the 2023 budget; and support for the Estes Valley Watershed Coalition’s (ELSA) ongoing activities. Member Nelson-Hazelton will invite ELVT’s Jeffrey Boring to a future PAB meeting; she had also been referred to Larimer County and the National Park Service to discuss fire restoration issues. For the PAB’s 2022 Initiatives Planning, Chair Elliot will develop and share a Google Document for member collaboration. OTHER BUSINESS Supervisor Berg reiterated that the Parks Department would be busy with Town Board activities through the month of February. Other projects in process are the name change application for the Estes Park Women’s Monument and interviews for Parks Maintenance Worker. Flowers have been ordered. Member Papineau commented that the Town’s advisory board terms have been adjusted to end on March 31, rather than December 31, for all appointments after three years. Further discussion points included the Estes Park Museum’s definition of historical items, and determining the location of the most recent inventory of Town-owned art (Recording Secretary McDonald will research). It was also agreed that the PAB would consider following the Town Board’s lead when it reassesses, in February, whether to meet virtually or in person while public health remains a concern. There being no further business, Chair Elliot adjourned the meeting at 9:08 a.m. /s/Lani McDonald, Recording Secretary