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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Parks Advisory Board 2020-11-19 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, November 19, 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 19th day of November, 2020. Committee: Merle Moore, Chair, Rex Poggenpohl Vice Chair, Geoffrey Elliot, Dewain Lockwood, Vicki Papineau, Ron Wilcocks Attending: Merle Moore, Rex Poggenpohl, Geoffrey Elliot, Dewain Lockwood, Vicki Papineau, Kevin McEachern, Greg Muhonen, Megan Van Hoozer Absent: Ron Wilcocks Chair Moore called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. PUBLIC COMMENT No public comment. Chair Moore introduction the PAB’s newly appointed member, Kirby Nelson-Hazelton. She introduced herself and shared her connection to Estes Park and all PAB members introduced themselves. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made and seconded (Papineau/Lockwood) to approve the September meeting minutes and all were in favor. MRS. WALSH’S GARDEN COMMITTEE UPDATE Chair Moore shared that at the last meeting of the committee, he received the final Mrs. Walsh’s Garden (MWG) Master Plan from Aloe Terra. The 30% design plans for the restoration of both the waterfall and pond damaged by the 2013 flood. Supervisor Berg will use these design plans in a design/build project. Berg has physical copies of these design plans at the Parks Division office. If want to look at the plans in more detail, please Supervisor Berg. The MWG Master Plan is intended to guide MWG’s development for the next 10 years. The Committee is hoping for the waterfall/pond completion in 2021. The water features include planting pockets within. The RFP will be created soon for the construction of these elements. Muhonen suggested confirming with staff that it is in the existing budget. Staff is able to authorize up to $50K in MWG expenditures. Member Papineau stressed the importance of the liaison role with MWGAC moving forward. Chair Moore has been faithfully serving this need but has announced his resignation from the PAB after the December 2020 meeting. Moore stated he will remain on the Committee so he would be willing to continue bringing updates to the PAB. Poggenpohl made a motion to have Moore be the MWG Committee advisor and consultant to the PAB. Papineau seconded the motion and all were in favor. Member Elliot recommended this agenda item remain at the top to allow Moore to leave after his reports should he choose. The PAB agreed. ESTES PARK WOMEN’S MONUMENT COMMITTEE UPDATE Chair Moore provided an update of the Monument Committee’s Minutes of November 5, 2020 received from Member Wilcocks. Moore stated the Committee is looking for fundraising ideas which will continue at the December 3, 2020 Committee meeting. Once the committee makes final determinations, the recommendation will be passed to the PAB and the PAB will recommend approval to the Town Board. The Town Board has already approved two different sites. One is located at Bond Park and the other near the parking lot at Riverside Drive and Elkhorn Avenue. Parks Advisory Board – November 19, 2020 – Page 2 AIPP TOWN BOARD STUDY SESSION UPDATE Member Poggenpohl, after checking Arts Master Plans in other communities, provided a 15-20 minute update to the Town Board Trustees in a recent study session. The Trustees were very interested and understood the dilemma of attracting grants and/or donors without the key piece being a formalized Arts Master Plan. The Trustees expressed that they’re in favor of pursuing, but not spending money. It was recommended Poggehpohl speak with universities to see if they have interest in helping create this Master Plan. Town Administrator Machalek and Poggenpohl will send a written request for participation to graduate students. A motion was made and seconded (Poggenpohl/Papineau) to approve Chair Moore sign a letter with Machalek and all were in favor. Poggenpohl discussed establishing a subcommittee to the PAB for art and aesthetic review. Machalek stated he was not in favor of creation of a subcommittee for this purpose. He was, however in favor of the art community in Estes Park participate in decisions relative to art. Prior to forming any type of subcommittee, Machalek requested it be brought back in front of the Town Board sharing why PAB isn’t sufficient to serve in this capacity. Poggenpohl stated that the original concept was to have someone with applicable expertise outline the maintenance plan for all art. At this point maintenance of art is only defined for bronze sculptures. There are a variety of mediums of art with no maintenance plan ever established. Member Wilcocks has expressed he may have opportunity to join with the arts community (in addition to PAB) to get some of the maintenance needs figured out. Moore stated that Wilcocks indicated that he understands the individuals working on that project may very well co-mingle with PAB in an advisory capacity – in its evolution and is wondering if it would need to be an Arts Advisory Board. Trustee Liaison Cenac shared that the direction from the Town Board was that, once justified, present as a sub-advisory committee to the PAB with members of the art community. Poggenpohl stated that he should have some thing for PAB to review and agree upon within the next couple weeks. He is attempting to get responses for the end of year to get on agenda for the next semester. If the window is missed, there will likely be no assistance from schools until Fall 2021. Moore asked that Poggenpohl put together whitepaper and bring back to PAB in December, for presentation to the Town Board in January 2021. DRAFT PAB POSITION DESCRIPTION Merle introduced a draft PAB Position Description to members for review, suggested changes and approval for future recruitment. After reviewing a motion was made and seconded (Lockwood/Elliot) and all were in favor. PROJECT UPDATES (Public Works Director, Greg Muhonen) Downtown Estes Loop Director Muhonen shared drawings for the Downtown Estes Loop and discussed needed adjustments. An independent peer reviewer was hired and the recommendations are now reflected. Muhonen asked the PAB if they wanted to view the detailed plant listings or if they’re comfortable with the Parks Division making sound decisions. PAB would like an opportunity to review the plans as the project progresses. Muhonen also referenced the roundabout central island, reminding the group of the original plan for a stone wall with “Estes Park” engraved. Muhonen reque sted a change of the design due to the probability that people would stop and take a picture with that sign as is so frequently done on US 36. Poggenpohl expressed his agreements with the changes. Muhonen shared a conceptual image with the group. Muhonen proceeded to discuss the originally planned enhanced concrete crosswalks. Muhonen will be recommending moving the planned crosswalk on Moraine Ave. further to the North to better accommodate the pedestrians crossing from the West side of Parks Advisory Board – November 19, 2020 – Page 3 Moraine Ave. and will save two diagonal parking spaces. He will propose to u tilize thermoplastic rather than enhanced concrete except where the Riverwalk crosses roadways. This will assist with cost savings as the project continues to get more expensive. Moore stressed the need for flashing beacons due to the busy area. Muhonen agreed and will look for that in the final plans. Muhonen continued reviewing other modifications to Riverwalk and landscape. He shared that the new bridges will have more capacity but there’s no guarantee it will prevent the Post Office parking lot from flooding at extremely high water. He stated the crosswalk near the Riverside Restroom will be synchronized with the intersection pedestrian crossing to improve traffic flow. CDOT is also pushing back on the decorative concrete in the intersection of Elkhorn Ave. (US-36) and Riverside Dr. The existing proposal shows the decorative concrete in an ‘X’ shape to allow for the Barnes Dance. Muhonen will propose a compromise to have the standard thermoplastic added in that form to show p edestrians they can cross any direction. Due to the work with the new floodplain, a KLOMR will need submitted. It t hen takes 9- 12 months for approval. Since the project can’t begin until after approval, and all easements are required (30) to be completed. This phase is just beginning so it is anticipated construction will not begin until 2022/2023. Downtown Wayfinding The original conception of this project was to put signs at select Riverwalk locations providing key destinations. The project is now on track to provide parking signage for the paid parking program. This is all that will be done regarding downtown wayfinding in 2021. Paid parking is on track to begin in 2021 pending approval on November 24, 2020 at the Town Board meeting. Beginning in 2022, the Town will continue to work toward a full wayfinding plan which will be brought back to the PAB for review. Elkhorn Lodge Development Muhonen stated all the work related to the Elkhorn Lodge Development is a ll being done by a private developer, clarifying this is not a Town project. Chair Moore asked if the development plans have finally been approved. Muhonen indicated that the approvals have made it through the Town Board but the developer and Town are still working through final construction plans. There was a requirement to extend their landscape plan and install a new 10’ sidewalk for connectivity. The developer will be adding a crosswalk for pedestrian safety. Their guest traffic will then be able to walk to Mrs. Walsh’s Garden and cross the road safely continuing to the downtown area. Chair Moore asked Muhonen who is responsible for follow-up to new construction landscape plans. He stated that the landscaping at Dollar General is terrible and it appears the landscape contractor messed up. Poggenpohl indicated that no one goes back to check. The development code does not require follow through at that level, but only to confirm the plantings have occurred. He stated the Town needs to be stricter. Poggenpohl suggested meeting with Community Development Director, Randy Hunt. Muhonen shared there is simply a lack of staff to perform this type of post-inspection. OTHER BUSINESS Moore stated that, for the December meeting, the Estes Valley Land Trust (EVLT) plaque inventory will be discussed. He asked members to review the document before the December meeting to discuss what a template may look like. Moore also asked the group to review the AIPP Guidelines and be ready to make any needed updates at the December meeting. Moore shared photos of historic signage purchased by the Estes Park Museum as informational. Parks Advisory Board – November 19, 2020 – Page 4 There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded (Poggenpohl/Hazelton) to adjourn the meeting and all were in favor. Chair Moore adjourned the meeting at 9:51 a.m. Megan Van Hoozer, Recording Secretary