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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Parks Advisory Board 2019-03-21 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, March 21, 2019 Minutes of a regular meeting of the Parks Advisory Board of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Administration Conference Room, Room 150, of Town Hall on the 21st day of March, 2019. Present Merle Moore Vicki Papineau Geoffrey Elliot Dewain Lockwood Ron Wilcocks Rex Poggenpohl Also Present: Brian Berg, Parks Supervisor Megan Van Hoozer, Public Works Administrative Assistant Patrick Martchink, Town Board Liaison Kevin McEachern, Public Works Operations Manager Absent: Wade Johnston Chair Merle Moore called the meeting to order at 8:34 a.m. Chair Moore introduced the new member in attendance, Rex Poggenpohl. Poggenpohl shared some personal history and the existing TAB members introduced themselves. PUBLIC COMMENT No public was in attendance. GENERAL BUSINESS A motion was made and seconded (Wilcocks/Elliot) to approve the February meeting minutes and all were in favor. MRS WALSH’S GARDEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE (MWGAC) UPDATE Chair Moore reported that Mrs. Walsh’s Garden’s (MWG) Mission Statement has reached final approval by the committee members. MWG will have a table located near the PAB table at this year’s Mountain Heritage Festival to provide further education about the garden. Supervisor Berg discussed the work occurring at MWG and what is yet to occur, and expressed that he counts on the specialized knowledge of the MWG subcommittee. Committee meetings occur on the second Wednesday of each month and are led by Joan Sapp. MOUNTAIN HERITAGE FESTIVAL UPDATE: Co-chair Elliot stated that the planning phase is going very well. The festival will occur on Friday, May 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The planning committee is working with Avid for Adventure to have the pool set up at the Pavilion where the kids can enjoy fly Parks Advisory Board – March 21, 2019 – Page 2 fishing casting and cardboard boat races. There will be music for the younger audience. A press release will go out later in April. A planetarium will also be available this year for middle school students and archery will be back and farm animals will be available. There will be no Saturday activities this year. Supervisor Berg will work with the library to identify books that the Parks Division will purchase for the annual book donation to the grade school library. The Parks Division will educate attendees on the proper method of tree planting. The Mayor's Arbor Day proclamation will occur around 11:15 a.m. DUB LOCATIONS Supervisor Berg has selected several utility box locations that are geared to high traffic areas in the downtown core. Member Lockwood suggested that the utility boxes located near the drive-thru at McDonalds be done due to the high visibility. Berg stated he likes that suggestion however those utility boxes are on private property so they would not fit into the scope of the work for which we’re requesting proposals. Those utility boxes near the school will potentially be addressed next year. Supervisor Berg will reach out to the teachers to discuss the potential of the schoolkids applying their artwork. The large utility box in Bond Park, belonging to the Parks Division, will also be done this year. The Parks Division will be paying for the decorating of this box outside the standard Light & Power funds used for the others. Wilcocks stated that local artists have been asking how to get involved with the DUB program and he agreed to spread the word. Administrative Assistant Van Hoozer will send a notification to the PAB at the time the RFP has been posted. Box selection is necessary to determine how many boxes we can afford to have painted this year. PAB reviewed the locations suggested by Supervisor Berg and he discussed the selections. A motion was made and seconded (Poggenpohl/Wilcocks) to approve the locations suggested and all were in favor. WEED MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE The Parks Division expanded and revised the previously approved plan, adding information about unfunded state regulations for weed management. Supervisor Berg requested the PAB review and make recommendations for any needed changes or expansion. The Weed Management Plan also relates to the Noxious Weed code work being done by Vicki Papineau and Code Compliance Officer Linda Hardin. NOXIOUS WEED POLICY UPDATE Officer Harden will be presenting the new policy language to the Town Board at a study session on April 9, 2019. If letters of support are being provided, they need received by April 1. Chair Moore is working on list of entities to reach out to for letters of support. Moore will also draft a generic sample support letter and will provide supporting documentation. There is a very short timeline to get this item on the April 9 agenda with the support letters. If not all letters have been received the item m ay need added to a future agenda. The intent was to have the new language in place for the coming weed season. Parks Advisory Board – March 21, 2019 – Page 3 The PAB discussed appropriate communication methods to notify residents and businesses of the new code language. Ideas presented included: notify at distribution of weed booklets; send out as a press release and social media updates; include language in the Town Bugle; request distribution of information by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Supervisor Berg will work with the Town’s Public Information Officer Kate Rusch for promotion of the new ordinance. Trustee Liaison Martchink anticipates resistance to the new ordinance language stating that not all residents fully understand the different weeds. PARKS UPDATE Berg informed the PAB that the Parking & Transit Division is actively working with the Estes Arts District on banner design for the parking structure. All final decisions will come to the PAB to follow the Arts In Public Places (AIPP) process. The Parks Division currently has three or four spots remaining to be filled as a part of the seasonal hiring process. A key member of the Parks crew, Tricia Morales-Diaz’s last day working for the Town is April 12. Berg has decided to hold off on full-time hiring to fill the position and see what the seasonal employees bring to the table. It is about having a good team dynamic. Trees along Brodie Avenue were recently removed to accommodate the new Safe Routes to School path and other improvements this summer. Berg stated they attempted to replant the trees but due to how they’d grown, it would not have been successful. Citizens attending the Citizen Information Academy (CIA) are visiting the Parks shop today. Chair Moore shared a concern about the serious winter problem that occurs at the east end of the pedestrian tunnel under US 36. He stated that a solution needs identified due to the inevitable ice that requires a pedestrian step on it to get through. Berg stated that with the construction beginning in that location, one of the contractors is planning to cut through there within the next month at which time he will be addressing that issue. Moore also stated that the Mountain Ash tree that was removed at Tregent Park was done poorly and needs addressed. Berg relayed his awareness of that but was holding off on full removal due to irrigation currently located on the other side of tree. Berg plans to address this tree in the spring. Moore suggested it be cut to ground. Chair Moore stated that, due to Member Poggenpohl’s background in corporate art, he take the lead on researching avenues for funding for Arts In Public Places for ultimate presentation to the Town Board. Poggenpohl agreed but want to review the available material with Chair Moore first. Member Wilcocks expressed the importance of reviewing the adopted community vision on public art reflected in the Downtown Plan. Wilcocks stated there is strong community and business support for public art. OTHER BUSINESS Elliot asked about the process for utility box painting on private property. Berg stated that defining that process will occur in the future. The DUB process is still fairly new and is still be refined. Parks Advisory Board – March 21, 2019 – Page 4 Wilcocks informed the PAB that the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB), of which he is a member, has been discussing and identifying additional trail needs, along with priorities, and have been reviewing the Estes Valley Trails Master Plan Map. Administrative Assistant Van Hoozer will forward the list, once finalized, to the PAB for review and input. Wilcocks asked if the PAB was aware of the Frisby Golf Course being put in by the Estes Valley Recreation and Parks District. No PAB members were aware. There was also a newspaper article about a Lost Loop Trail that begins at the Visitor Center, winding around town to see 100+ pieces of art or other interesting areas. No PAB members were aware of the trail plans. Moore would like to continue a discussion about an arboretum that was planned in years past. This was not fulfilled due to the irrigation requirements and obstacles. The Parks Division will be thinking about a plan for a type of town-wide arboretum that presents itself most feasible for success. A motion was made and seconded (Elliot/Lockwood) to adjourn the meeting at 9:55 and all were in favor. Recording Secretary Megan Van Hoozer, Public Works