HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Parks Advisory Board 2021-10-21 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, October 21, 2021
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 21st day of October,
2021.
Board: Chair Elliot, Vice Chair Poggenpohl, Members Berry,
Nelson-Hazelton, Papineau, and Wilcocks
Attending: Chair Elliot, Vice Chair Poggenpohl, Members Berry,
Nelson-Hazelton, Papineau, Wilcocks, Manager McEachern
and Recording Secretary Disney
Absent: None
Chair Elliot called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT.
None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED SEPTEMBER 16, 2021.
It was moved and seconded (Hazelton-Nelson/Poggenpohl) to approve the August
19, 2021 meeting minutes, and it passed unanimously.
2021 PARKS ADVISORY BOARD (PAB) INITIATIVES.
Chair Elliot provided updates on 2021 initiatives and stated recommendations had been
provided to the Town Board for consideration of a Parks Master Plan in the 2022
budget. Vice-Chair Poggenpohl inquired about the status of Arts in Public Places
recommendations which were provided to the Town Board. Member Nelson-Hazelton
provided an update on conversations with Estes Valley Fire Protection District Chief
Wolf regarding wildfire mitigation and it was suggested to contact Rocky Mountain
Conservancy on their fire restoration efforts.
ESTES VALLEY WATERSHED COALITION (EVWC) PRESENTATION.
Estes Valley Watershed Coalition (EVWC) Coordinator Wilynn Formeller provided a
presentation on the core values of the EVWC and highlighted the addition of forests and
wildlife projects to their current projects, wildfire protection efforts, updating the 2008
Wildlife study, educational efforts, and defined the boundary of the coalition which
focuses on the Big Thompson watershed starting at the Great Divide.
The Board discussed environmental education efforts, formulating ongoing weeding
projects, updating the recommended plant list to clarify locations of plants, seasonal and
long-term plants, enforcement consistency of noxious weeds, clarification of the
Wandering Wildlife Society, the Wildlife Management Plan and future cooperation
between the Board and the EVWC.
Gordon MacAlpine, Town Citizen stated the Executive Director of the Estes Valley
Watershed Coalition was a member of CompPAC, provided further background on the
Environmental Sustainability Task Force (ESTF), and spoke against herbicides which
cause health and environmental impacts.
WOMEN’S MONUMENT PROJECT UPDATE.
Member Wilcocks provided an update on the Women’s Monument; the dedication was
well attended and the monument has since had increased visitation. A spelling error on
one plaque has been corrected, the last meeting was held on October 7, 2021 and the
team continues to determine how remaining funds would be used; discussions included
an updated sidewalk and ramp. The Board discussed the efforts of the community to
create the monument and Arts in Public Places.
Parks Advisory Board – October 21, 2021 – Page 2
THUMB MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE.
Vice-Chair Poggenpohl stated several meetings have been held with neighborhoods,
HOAs, and other stakeholders affected by the Thumb Open Space, outreach has been
held and would continue, and a Public Meeting would be held on November 10, 2021 on
the Thumb Management Plan. Chair Elliot added the stakeholder group has formed
subgroups to focus on specific details of the plan and a draft plan would be forthcoming.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DISCUSSION.
Vice-Chair Poggenpohl provided details on the Comprehensive Plan and highlighted the
long-term nature of the plan, the concentration on Town infrastructure and physical
make-up, and stated public outreach would run through March 2022. He requested PAB
provide input for the Comprehensive Plan during the outreach period and recommended
listening to previous meetings and visiting the website engageestes.org. Member
Hazelton-Nelson stated the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee has been
focused on groundwork and research and would begin drafting the plan.
OTHER BUSINESS.
Vice-Chair Poggenpohl attended an ESTF meeting and discussed PAB efforts on
environmental education, community needs, and noted the addition of an environmental
education subgroup to the Task Force.
Manager McEachern stated staff has discussed including a Parks Master Plan for the
Town Board as part of the 2023 Strategic Plan recommendations to the Town Board
and directed PAB identify gaps in the Bond Park Master Plan.
It was moved and seconded (Poggenpohl/Wilcocks) to adjourn the meeting at 9:33 a.m.
and it passed unanimously.
/s/Kimberly Disney, Recording Secretary