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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015.10.01 OSTB Reg Minutes_S MINUTES OPEN SPACE AND TRAILS BOARD REGULAR SESSION October 1, 2015 Plaza One Meeting Room 530 E. Main St.,Aspen OSTB Present: Graeme Means Howie Mallory Hawk Greenway Tim McFlynn Tai Jacober Dist. 1 Dist. 2 Dist. 3 Dist. 4 Dist. 5 Absent — Vice Chair Staff Present: Dale Will, Gary Tennenbaum, Lindsey Utter, Fran Soroka, Janet Urquhart Others Present: Chuck Downey Hawk Greenway called the regular session to order at 9:04 a.m. PUBLIC COMMENT Chuck Downey asked about the status of OST's acquisition of the Schumacher property in Redstone and urged the board to complete the purchase, calling the land beneficial to the community of Redstone as open space. Hawk Greenway explained that Pitkin County has the property under contract but that there are "ongoing wrinkles." Fran Soroka, speaking as a member of the public, voiced the Roaring Fork Valley Horse Council's support for the proposed Glassier trailhead. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Graeme Means moved to approve the OSTB regular and executive session minutes of Sept. 17, 2015. Tim seconded. Motion passed(3-0). Tai Jacober entered the meeting at 9:15 a.m. Chuck Downey departed the meeting at about 9:20 a.m. Glassier Trailhead Gary Tennenbaum presented conceptual plans for a trailhead parking area to serve Glassier Open Space and the Rio Grande Trail in Emma, as well as the plan for a multi-use, soft-surface trail linking the parking area and Glassier Open Space. The separated, soft-surface trail will be located mostly within the Rio Grande Trail corridor, managed by the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority(RFTA). A soft-surface component along the Rio Grande is called for in RFTA's comprehensive plan, and Tennenbaum said he anticipates support for it from the RFTA Board of Directors. The parking lot is a significant improvement to the limited parking available at the nearby RFTA lot, he added. The proposed new parking area includes space for five horse trailers and 29 other vehicles. The trailer spots will be designated with signage, but not limited to horse trailers unless the restriction is deemed necessary, Tennenbaum said. Staff will take public comment on the conceptual plans and present the plans to the BOCC. The proposed 2015.10.01 OSTB Regular Session Minutes Page 1 of 3 multi-use trail will go to the RFTA Board in January. Board members expressed support for moving forward with the plans. 2016 Budget Dale Will presented OST's multi-year budget projections and explained how the projections conform to the open space program's charter regarding the division of spending. Adjustments to those funding percentages will be explored when the program looks for reauthorization, he said. Deciding on projects for 2016 will drive the discussion about staffing, Will added. Staff is not seeking decisions with today's discussion, but rather, direction, he said. Pitkin County Treasurer Tom Oken entered the meeting at 9:35 a.m. Hawk Greenway questioned what projects the debt service amount is paying off The Joy Smith property is a big one, but there are others, Will said. Tom Oken offered to provide a list to the board. Gary Tennenbaum presented the Stewardship and Trails Action Plan(STAP) to the board. Hawk Greenway said he has heard conservation-minded members of the public express concern about the number of trail projects that have been occurring, while Tim McFlynn said 2016 projects that have a public access component would be a good idea. Hawk Greenway asked if the Lazy Glen bridge construction could be moved up to 2016. Tennenbaum said getting the bridge both permitted and built next year may not be possible. Tennenbaum named the Deer Creek Ranch and Lazy Glen Open Space management plans, and the Castle Creek Trail project as significant endeavors in 2016. Also planned is a Roaring Fork River conservation plan, historic structure policy, plans to rework Stein Park and Jaffee Park, an assessment of Brush Creek and pond restoration at Sky Mountain Park, among other projects. The staff also plans to submit the continuation of the Crystal Trail for the state's "16 Trails in 2016"trail funding initiative. That application is due Oct. 10, Will said. If the application makes the list of 16 statewide projects, staff will return to the board on Oct. 15 with a revised list of priorities for 2016, Will said. Much is still unknown about what timing of construction would be expected under the state trail initiative, Tennenbaum added. If something must be built on the Crystal in 2016, the STAP should be revised to reflect it, Hawk Greenway suggested. Construction on the Crystal Trail could not occur next year,but other work on the project could begin. Tennenbaum said. The board endorsed the proposed slate of 2016 projects with the caveat that the Crystal Trail may need to move up on the project list if it makes the state's list. Both Graeme Means and Tim McFlynn said they don't want to see timing of the Castle Creek Trail pushed back. Gary Tennenbaum discussed the need for the addition of a resource specialist to the OST staff In addition, there is an additional seasonal ranger and seasonal maintenance positions in the proposed budget, as well as the conversion of a seasonal maintenance person to a full-time employee who would be split with Public Works. The board voiced support for the proposed additional staffing. 2015.10.01 OSTB Regular Session Minutes Page 2 of 3 • The board will be asked to formally approve the budget on Oct. 15; it will be presented to the BOCC on Oct. 27, Will said. Tim McFlynn suggested the budget memo to the BOCC be reduced to a bullet list of projects to be done and what can't be accomplished without the addition of a resource specialist. Tom Oken departed the meeting at 10:36 a.m. BOARD AND STAFF COMMENTS Graeme Means said he had changed his mind and no longer supported installation of a camera in the heronry at North Star Nature Preserve. Gary Tennenbaum said OST was moving ahead with a camera to view the ospreys at Emma Townsite and was no longer pursuing the camera at North Star for the time being. Dale Will said the recent social gathering at Emma Farms went well. Tim McFlynn noted the networking that occurs at such informal events can be beneficial. BOARD ACTION Bionaz Gulch Tim McFlynn moved to recommend to the BOCC the acquisition of the Bionaz Gulch property of about 34 acres as open space for a purchase price of$190,000 plus transaction costs. Graeme Means seconded. Motion passed(4-0). EXECUTIVE SESSION The OSTB moved to enter executive session in accordance with CRS 24-6-402(4) (a) and (e) for the purpose of discussing acquisitions and negotiations at 10:53 a.m. The OSTB adjourned executive session at approximately 12:54 p.m. ADJOURN The OSTB regular and executive sessions of Oct. 1, 2015 were adjourned at approximately 12:55 p.m. Approved: Attest: f.„4, Hawk Greenway, i e hair n(Janet Urquhart Pitkin County Op Space &Trails Board Pitkin County Open Space & Trails Howie //a-//on/, &yeti' Stewardship Outreach Coordinator hi I', Greene 2015.10.01 OSTB Regular Session Minutes Page 3 of 3