HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Parks Advisory Board 2022-10-20Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, October 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 October, 2022.
Board: Chair Geoff Elliot; Members Christian Berry, Donovan
Colegrove, Elizabeth Kostiuk, Vicki Papineau, and Ron
Wilcocks; Trustee Cindy Younglund; Staff Liaison Brian Berg
Attending: Chair Elliot; Members Berry, Kostiuk, Papineau, and
Wilcocks; Trustee Younglund; Supervisor Berg; Recording
Secretary McDonald; and Laura Blevins, Public Works Grants
Specialist
Absent: Member Colegrove
Chair Elliot called the meeting to order at 8:38 a.m. Prior to commencing the official
agenda, he welcomed Laura Blevins as the Public Works Department’s new Grants
Specialist, and all were invited to briefly introduce themselves.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
TRUSTEE LIAISON UPDATES
Trustee Younglund encouraged PAB members to attend the October 25 Estes Arts
District (EAD) event at Avant Garde, where guests are invited to share their insights about
the future of art in Estes Park. The EAD has been asked to create an Arts Master Plan
for the community. The new police chief, David Hayes, begins service on November 28.
The Town’s budget process continues; public hearings take place at the October 25 and
November 8 Town Board meetings.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED SEPTEMBER 15, 2022
It was moved and seconded (Berry/Wilcocks) to approve the September 15, 2022,
meeting minutes, and the motion passed unanimously. Chair Elliot abstained from voting
due to absence from the September 15 meeting.
PAB PRIORITIES REVIEW
Chair Elliot reviewed progress on the PAB 2022 Priorities Matrix items.
With the PAB’s ongoing activities and outreach, Estes Park achieved its 25th anniversary
of Tree City USA designation. Community engagement for Arbor Day included the April
blue spruce giveaway; Supervisor Berg advised that, for the 2023 tree giveaway, he
would order the trees early from Colorado State University. The possibility of an Arts
Master Plan was discussed at length by the PAB and has been entrusted to the EAD.
Parks Advisory Board – October 20, 2022 – Page 2
Support was provided to the Parks Division for the implementation, opening, and
monitoring of the Thumb Open Space; advice was provided for the finalizing and opening
of the Big Thompson Recreational Area. The Parks Master Plan funding will be delayed
by the Town until 2024, when it is hoped a consultant can be secured for its development.
The PAB continues to support the educational efforts of Estes Land Stewardship
Association’s (ELSA) invasive plant management, and the work of the Estes Valley
Watershed Coalition. Since the PAB has not yet reviewed the Environmental
Sustainability Task Force (ESTF) recommendations, Chair Elliot asked Recording
Secretary McDonald to send a meeting follow-up email directing members to the ESTF
report and to the Estes Valley Open Space Plan.
Discussion points included encouraging PAB members to attend the October 25 EAD
event; efforts to manage noxious weeds and pests in the parks and on the trails; the study
and benefits of pocket parks; and recycling options for yard and landscape debris for the
Parks Division and greater community.
PARKS UPDATE
Supervisor Berg’s budget requests for the Parks Division include a greenhouse, reservoir
pots, native and annual planting supplies, Toolcat utility work machine, compost sifter,
lawnmower, and paver work.
Discussion topics included the potential cost savings of building a new greenhouse; status
of the Downtown Estes Loop project after the bids came in over budget; the Space Force
Rock signage, which will be placed after landscaping is put down for the winter; and the
Big Kahuna Memorial (BKM) project, which remains in the location planning stage. The
BKM group will eventually present to the PAB for a vote of support before proposing its
final project plans to the Town Board.
UPCOMING PAB MEMBER TERMS
Chair Elliot advised that he would not be renewing his PAB membership, which ends
December 31. Member Kostiuk intends to apply to renew her term, which also ends
December 31.
OTHER BUSINESS
Member Papineau asked that the PAB either begin discussing new projects for 2023 or
consider meeting less frequently. Since the current PAB bylaws state that meetings must
be held at least monthly, they would need to be officially revised.
Project discussion points included working with Estes Park Elementary School to revive
the Estes Park Mountain Festival in 2023; developing more pocket parks; landscaping
possibilities at the roundabouts; expanding efforts to mitigate noxious trees and plants,
and to educate the community; and the need to review the Art in Public Places guidelines
and current PAB bylaws at the November meeting.
There being no further business, Chair Elliot adjourned the meeting at 9:42 a.m.
Parks Advisory Board – October 20, 2022 – Page 3
/s/Lani McDonald, Recording Secretary