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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPACKET Parks Advisory Board 2020-10-15The Parks Advisory Board will participate in the meeting remotely due to the Declaration of Emergency signed by Town Administrator Machalek on March 19, 2020 related to COVID-19 and provided for with the adoption of Ordinance 04-20 on March 18, 2020 Options for the Public to Participate Remotely and Provide Public Input: 1. By Electronic Mail: Members of the public may provide public comment or comment on a specific agenda item by sending an email to publicworks@estes.org. The email must be received by 5:00 p.m., Wednesday October 14, 2020. All emails will be provided to the Parks Advisory Board and incorporated into the minutes. 2. By Telephone Message: Members of the public may provide public comment or comment on a specific agenda item by calling (970) 577-3587. The calls must be received by 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 14, 2020. All call-in information will be provided to the Parks Advisory Board and incorporated into the minutes. 3. No public attendance at this meeting. Public Comment Chair Merle Moore Approval of September Meeting Minutes Chair Merle Moore Mrs. Walsh’s Garden Committee Update Chair Merle Moore EVLT Bench Memorial Plaque Discussion Parks Supervisor Brian Berg Member, Vicki Papineau Estes Park Women’s Monument Committee Update Member, Ron Wilcocks AIPP Town Board Study Session Update Co-Chair Rex Poggenpohl Project Updates Parks Supervisor Brian Berg Adjourn Marie Cenac, Town Board Trustee Liaison Brian Berg, Estes Park Public Works Staff Liaison Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, September 17, 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 17th day of September, 2020. Committee: Merle Moore, Chair, Rex Poggenpohl Vice Chair, Geoffrey Elliot, Dewain Lockwood, Vicki Papineau, Ron W ilcocks Attending: Merle Moore, Rex Poggenpohl, Geoffrey Elliot, Vicki Papineau, Ron Wilcocks, Brian Berg, Kevin McEachern, Greg Muhonen, Megan Van Hoozer, Christy Crosser Absent: Dewain Lockwood Chair Moore called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. PUBLIC COMMENT No public comment. Chair Moore introduced and welcomed the recently assigned Town Board Liaison Marie Cenac. Moore extended many thanks to Mayor Pro-Tem Patrick Martchink for keeping us on track and helping with initiatives over the years. Moore suggested the TAB members introduce themselves to both Trustee Cenac and Grant Specialist Christy Crosser, guest. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made and seconded (Poggenpohl /Papineau) to approve the August meeting minutes and all were in favor. COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE GRANTS Grant Specialist Crosser stated that she is attending both the PAB and TAB this month to request letters of support for each of two grants. The grantor, Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW), wants to see partnerships and community outreach related to grant uses. The grant applications are due to CPW on October 1, 2020. The first grant for which the Town may apply is a planning grant for important updates to the Estes Valley Recreation & Parks District (EVRPD) Master Trails Plan (MTP). The MTP was adopted in 2016, but gaps identified within the trail system are now being identified. Crosser stated the importance of updating the MTP due to its frequent reference. While working to assess the trail gaps in and around downtown, and around the school, she felt it critical to get feedback from the PAB. Crosser would also welcome ideas from friends of PAB members or any other interested resident. Co-Chair Poggenpohl asked for Supervisor Berg’s thoughts on trails and improvements. Berg stated he is completely on-board and has been communicating and collaborating with Crosser on this grant endeavor. Berg stated that an evaluation was also needed to incorporate the newer trails that have been installed. Trustee Cenac asked Crosser what type of support letters would be beneficial. The most obvious example would contain support for trail gap connectivity with County trails. Cenac suggested contacting the school superintendent. Poggenpohl shared that he’d like to know CPW’s Chase Rylands is involved and has had input prior to providing letter of support. Crosser stated that Chase Rylands is aware of this application, however the assigned CPW representatives are Jason Duetsch, Area Wildlife Manager and Ben Plankin, Regional Trails Coordinator. Their involvement is a grant application requirement. Poggenpohl also confirmed contact with Rylands with Berg, who affirmed. A motion was made and seconded (Poggenpohl/Wilcocks) to provide Moore authority to work with Supervisor Berg and Member Elliot to finalize the support letter for the planning Parks Advisory Board – September 17, 2020 – Page 2 grant on behalf of PAB, and all were in favor. Wilcocks wanted to confirm that Crosser is requesting a letter of support for the actual grant application without all the specifics, which will come after the grant is awarded (e.g. community outreach, etc.), if awarded. Once confirmed, Wilcocks stated his comfort with not requiring the support letter be circulated prior to submittal. Crosser confirmed there will be many voices participating. The second grant is a maintenance grant for existing trails. Crosser stated that it is very unusual to have a grant that pays to maintain existing infrastru cture. CPW understands there are tight budgets due to the COVID-19 pandemic and wants to support communities with maintenance needs. Most trail funding is being directed to the Fall River Trail at this time. The Town is now looking at other trails and needed safety maintenance. There are a number of crosswalks that intersect with streets and driveways with no, or worn, signage or striping. Areas needing maintenance include the trails located along CO 7 and US 34, and West Elkhorn where it intersects with Fall River Road. On US 34 between the Estes Park Visitor Center and the Lake Estes Trail at the marina, the trail is in need of repair to the failed areas. Another identified location is the trail from Performance Park west to Filbey Court. Drainage issues are causing the need for repairs to the trail just off CO 7 on Community Drive near the golf course. These are priorities. The maximum request is $250K. Poggenpohl asked how soon the Town would need to spend the grant dollars and Crosser confirmed it would be over a 3-year period. Berg reminded the group that the Town would have to provide some matching funds for each of the grants and that it only covers trails within Town limits. Cenac stated that it may be a timing issue, but wanted to mention that crosswalks are a huge talking point at the school so a request for support coming from the school board may be beneficial. Crosser let the group know that Safe Routes to School (SRTS) grants opportunities will be coming up in November which will be used for those areas of concern. A motion made and seconded (Wilcocks/Papineau) for a support letter to be created on behalf of the PAB for the maintenance grant, with Moore and Berg given authorization to construct the letter. Crosser the PAB for their continued support and all the PAB does for the Town. MRS. WALSH’S GARDEN COMMITTEE UPDATE Chair Moore stated the master planning process for Mrs. Walsh’s Garden is coming to an end at the next scheduled Zoom meeting. There will be a presentation of the waterfall and pond remodel to repair 2013 flood damage and thereby expanding planting opportunities in that area. The 30% concept will allow for a design-build RFP. The final plan for the Mrs. Walsh’s Garden Master Plan is anticipated soon and the committee is hoping to have everything in place in October. Moore provided high-level history of MWGC to bring Trustee Cenac up to speed. He shared that the Mrs. Walsh’s Garden Advisory Committee (MWGAC) advised the PAB on what should take place in the scientific garden. Moore is PAB Chair and MWGAC Liaison with Supervisor Berg participating in these committee meetings as well. Most of the year has been spent on the master planning process. Once complete, those will come to the PAB for review and approval and then it will be p rovided to the Town Board for their ratification and approval. The property’s Trust is funding the master planning process and items planted in the garden so no Town funds are required for those items. Papineau asked about status of a sign near the pond in need of replacement. Moore stated that it is to be taken down if it’s not already been done. All signage in the garden is part of the master planning process and, once finalized signage will be replaced. The sign being referenced is in disrepair and should probably be removed at this point. ESTES VALLEY LAND TRUST (EVLT) PLAQUE INVENTORY/WORDING Supervisor Berg continued a discussion from last month’s meeting regarding the Estes Valley Land Trust (EVLT) plaques along the Riverwalk and at the Knoll. Berg stated that there will be only one memorial plaque to be added along the Riverwalk as it’s rather Parks Advisory Board – September 17, 2020 – Page 3 saturated with memorial plaques. In prior years, both the PAB and former Town Administrator Frank Lancaster did not like the stanchions being installed along the Riverwalk containing plaques associated with a memorial bench. Moving forward, the stanchions will be removed and the plaques will be installed on rocks near the donated benches. Berg is now discussing the design of the previously presented plaque. It was originally based on the Dick Orleans plaque however this plaque was on private property which allows more leeway for creativity. A miscommunication occurred on the wording that can be used on plaques that will be placed on Town property. EVLT provided their plaque inventory and wording. Berg reminded the group that a discussion has been had on policy language. He stated that he needs more direction from the PAB members on what they want the policy’s focus to be and asked them to provide him input. Member Wilcocks suggested providing a courtesy review of some sort for approval prior to installing future plaques. Member Papineau stated there is common wording that can be pulled from some, with a template or suggested wording provided for guidance and to set expectations. Poggenpohl stated that, unless the Town Board wants every plaque reviewed, he would prefer a policy to having PAB review everything. Wilcocks feels both options are reasonable and stated there are a fairly small number of plaques being requested. Member Elliot interjected to notify the PAB members that he recently joined the EVLT and will therefore be unable to participate in voting or discussions on this matter. Moore agrees that a policy with a template and suggested wording be constructed. Public Works will provide a template to Moore to create a draft proposal. Berg stated it would need to clarify if this language would be specifically for the EVLT memorial plaques, associated to donated benches, or other plaques donated to the Town. Moore stated that since the benches are not technically part of the Arts in Public Places (AIPP) program so a distinctly separate policy would be appropriate. Poggenpohl requested thoughts from Trustee Cenac’s point of view. Cenac stated that she doesn’t want to speak for the entire Town Board. She suggested guidelines or recommendations rather than a policy. She feels Berg is able to make distinction if something isn’t on track with the recommendation and would know when to bring an item back to the PAB that is questionable. Moore agreed. Member Papineau volunteered to come up with template and recommended wording to be presented at the next meeting. Wilcocks reminded Papineau and Berg that there are several specifics and guidelines identified within the standard Request for Proposal that goes out for art that can contribute to this effort. AIPP FUNDING TOWN BOARD STUDY SESSION OUTLINE Poggenpohl notified the PAB that his Town Board Study Session item related to funding for the Arts in Public Places program is scheduled for October 13, 2020. Poggenpohl provided a brief history of the AIPP program for Trustee Cenac. Guidelines, updated August 2019 and a brochure for the program have been developed but there ’s not much movement with the program. He went on to state that last year, Trustees asked about what PAB doing regarding funding. PAB then asked Rex to manage the funding portion of program. Poggenpohl has viewed over 100 municipalities throughout the country and 20 in Colorado. During that research he found that the problem with funding is that Estes Park doesn’t have anything in place to provide for funding. This update is to tell the Trustees what has been found to make artwork grants feasible. He will be asking how far they’d like the PAB to go to get these grants and will provide an outline. He then requested thoughts. Wilcocks stated that the document looks good and a lot of good work into this initiative. Berg stated it is great opportunity to educate new Trustees and the new Mayor on the program and potentials. Parks Advisory Board – September 17, 2020 – Page 4 PROJECT UPDATES Thumb Open Space: Berg reported that the Town Board approved the purchase contract for the Thumb Open Space. Mayor Koenig signed the contract and Berg received it yesterday. It was immediately sent to Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and partners for review, and will then go back to the seller. One item still dangling is the conservation easement. Berg stated that the attorneys are now discussion some final items and that it should be very close. Once that portion of the process is complete, the Town will get ready for closing and begin creation of the Thumb Open Space Management Plan process. Wilcocks shared that he’s been on the trail and that it is turning out just beautiful. Berg stated that the thanks go to the volunteers. Berg then shared that in 2021 an environmental study will be performed on the property, which will include a rock survey to ensure safety. The Town will get that going January 1, 2021 (depending on Town Board approval of Open Space budget requests). Parks Division Updates: Berg simply stated that it snowed, the flowers died and all is being cleaned up. The Estes Park Women’s Monument Committee has finished reviewing the draft RFP and received great feedback. The RFP will be distributed at the end of this week or early next week. Fundraising is kicking back into gear and the project is happening. October 9, 2020 is the RFP deadline. Wilcocks will send Administrative Assistant Van Hoozer the document to share with the PAB. Member Elliot asked if there is a fundraising plan with targets and process. Wilcocks can share the plan with the PAB. Stakeholder outreach is key. Art acknowledgment depends on different levels of support. Cenac stated that interviews would soon be held for a new PAB member and asked for the PAB’s feedback on the existing needs of the group. When Chair Moore leaves at the end of his term there will be a need for someone with heavy horticultural background. Moore previously served as president of the Denver Botanical Garden. Moore suggested all PAB members review the AIPP guidelines, as is done yearly, and be prepared to discuss at the December regularly scheduled meeting. There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded (Poggenpohl/Wilcocks) to adjourn the meeting and all were in favor. Chair Moore adjourned the meeting at 9:51 a.m. Megan Van Hoozer, Recording Secretary