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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPACKET Parks Advisory Board 2018-6-21Patrick Martchink, Town Board Trustee Liaison Brian Berg, Estes Park Public Works Staff Liaison Parks Advisory Board Agenda June 21, 2018 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM Museum Conference Room Estes Park Museum 200 4th Street Current Members: Geoffrey Elliot (12/31/19) Dewain Lockwood (12/31/18) Vicki Papineau (12/31/18) Vacant (12/31/19) Vacant (12/31/18) Merle Moore (12/31/20) Wade Johnston (12/31/20) Public Comment Estes Arts District Approval of May Meeting Minutes DUB Updates Mrs. Walsh’s Garden Committee Update Downtown Estes Loop 70% Plan Update Parks Division Update Support Memo – Capital Project Allocation to AIPP Fund Other Business PAB Vacancy Status Adjourn Current Projects:  Tree Ordinance  Noxious Weeds Ordinance  Parking Garage Landscape  Arboretum  Town Hall Art Exhibit Nick Smith, EAD Chair Co-Chair Wade Johnston Parks Supervisor Brian Berg Parks Supervisor Brian Berg Public Works Director Greg Muhonen Parks Supervisor Brian Berg Co-Chair Wade Johnston Public Works Admin., Megan Van Hoozer Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, May 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 May, 2018. Present Merle Moore Wade Johnston Dewain Lockwood Geoffrey Elliot Also Present: Patrick Martchink, Town Board Liaison Brian Berg, Parks Supervisor Greg Muhonen, Public Works Director Megan Van Hoozer, Public Works Administrative Assistant Absent: Vicki Papineau Chair Merle Moore called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. PUBLIC COMMENT Nick Smith reported that the Estes Arts District attended the Creative Industries Summit in Greeley recently. Several organizations were in attendance including both State and Town officials. Those in attendance toured downtown Greeley witnessing that some of the art displays were also educational and/or functional. It was very impressive. The Dick Orleans Friends of Folk Festival will take place Tuesday, June 26. The festival was also held on a Tuesday in 2017 and positive feedback was received due to lesser traffic. GENERAL BUSINESS It was moved and seconded (Lockwood/Johnston) to approve the April meeting minutes and all were in favor. Parks Advisory Board – May 17, 2018 – Page 2 VICE-CHAIR NOMINATIONS A motion was made and seconded to nominate Member Wade Johnston as the PAB co- chair and all were in favor. MOUNTAIN HERITAGE FESTIVAL RECAP Supervisor Berg reported that the event went very well. No post-meeting has yet been held but there was a good turnout from schools and other local individuals. Further discussions were also held regarding having the event on the following Saturday next year. Elliott recommended not having Saturday be a full day. There was a lower turnout last year on Saturday. Chair Moore and Member Elliot both attended the event. The festival planning committee is pleased with results this year and are taking away some lessons learned. It was suggested to plan more advertising next year. Supervisor Berg stated that the Estes Park schools drive the marketing. If the Town Parks Division and the PAB took a larger role, the turn-out may have better due to a larger target audience . MWG may do landscaping education if the adult audience is large enough. DUB CONTRACT UPDATES All DUB contracts have been signed and approved by the Town Board. Positive remarks were received from Trustee Walker. He stated that this is a very good program and hopes it continues. The contractor sealcoating the 2017 utility boxes and priming the 2018 utility boxes is waiting for opportune weather prior to commencing work. If there is too much delay, due to workload, it may be necessary to look elsewhere for timing purposes. MRS WALSH’S GARDEN (MWG) UPDATE A plant list is in development for the back wall of the garden. Currently looking at summer educational programming. MWG will start adding their plantings to the existing garden plans created with layers. Supervisor Berg walked MWG on Friday to work with Joan to determine appropriate plantings for the area. The plants will be ordered and directly billed to the Town. Berg is looking forward to getting to work more in the garden. Parks Advisory Board – May 17, 2018 – Page 3 PARKS DIVISION UPDATE The Fisherman’s Boot sculpture’s electricity is currently out and not operational. This will need to be rewired and may be moved to a more suitable location. The repair has been scheduled. Chair Moore asked if crosswalk markings would be applied on Spruce Drive where the Riverwalk crosses. There are no existing markings at that area. Director Muhonen will check into getting that area marked. Berg reported that Parks employee Matt O’Reilly was very successful adding 5 new baseline controllers and two antennae were added for the needed communication. Matt also became a certified backflow tester. Parks crews have been raking perennial beds with mulch to be added next week. The crew will be planting the perennials Tuesday at Veterans Monument Park in time for Memorial Day. Trustee Liaison Martchink reminded the group there would be a ceremony at Veterans Monument Park this coming Saturday. As a result, no work will take place in that area until after the ceremony. 2019 STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVES Chair Moore distributed a memo drafted to the Town Board supporting and encouraging Greenhouse Expansion. The Parks Division greenhouse is 20 years old and undersized for area growth and the current plant program. Moore wrote the letter emphasizing the importance of a larger greenhouse. If something is not done soon, and the Downtown Estes Loop commences, there will be added areas of planting and would totally outgrow the current facility. Greenhouse protection is critical to avoid killing the plants. The PAB agreed with the memo and encouraged Moore to submit to the Town Board. Director Muhonen explained the process of moving this type of improvement through the Town’s budget process. Along with all other Town departments, each project proposal must be prioritized collectively. Trustee Martchink stated it would be beneficial for this letter to go from the PAB to the Town Board and to Town Administrator Frank Lancaster prior to September. Chair Moore asked about potential grant funding. Grant funding would have a huge impact within the General Fund competitions. Unfortunately, the Town does not have grant writer on staff to pursue this option. Parks Advisory Board – May 17, 2018 – Page 4 Director Muhonen suggested the PAB research potential grant opportunities like those awarded from the Home & Garden Show, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO). Member Elliot will research grants offered by Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW ). A motion was made and seconded (Johnston/Lockwood) to have this memo put in formal format and added to the September agenda and brought back for approval to formally submit to the Town Board. All were in favor. It was suggested that all grant options be exhausted and information provided in the final memo. DOWNTOWN ESTES LOOP – LANDSCAPE UPDATE Director Muhonen presented the updated landscape plans from CDOT. Two sets of plans were provided. Both options have an ADA ramp with only one having the option of stairs. The PAB discussed the preferred options and grading. CDOT’s design consultant, AECOM, is requesting guidance on this aspect of the plans. At the June PAB meeting, the consultant will bring the modified 70% design drawings. After discussions surrounding snow plowing, erosion and pedestrians, the final consensus was to select the option with the stairs (Option A). Muhonen suggesting closing the stairs in the winter season and not plowing them. Member Lockwood feels that no stairs are necessary if a serpentine sidewalk/ramp is available. Member Elliott suggested the addition of aggressive landscaping or a type of railing to keep pedestrians from walking out into the roundabout. Supervisor Berg will invite his staff to the June meeting to hear the plans and provide collaborative feedback. OTHER BUSINESS Director Muhonen provided an update on the Moraine Avenue Bridge Replacement project. In prior meetings the PAB requested the new hardscape mimic that in Bond Park (stamp and stain). Muhonen presented the idea to the contractor and there would be project delay in order to implement. Although the current plan for this area is not consistent with other patterns in the immediate vicinity it will be aesthetically pleasing and complimentary. Muhonen will revisit this with the consultant. With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 9:48 a.m.