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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016_03_17 OSTB Reg Minutes_S MINUTES OPEN SPACE AND TRAILS BOARD REGULAR SESSION March 17, 2016 Plaza One Meeting Room 530 E. Main St.,Aspen OSTB Present: Graeme Means Howie Mallory Hawk Greenway Tim McFlynn, Tai Jacober, Dist. 5 Dist. 1 Dist. 2, Chair Dist. 3 Dist. 4 Absent Staff Present: Dale Will, Gary Tennenbaum, Paul Holsinger, Lindsey Utter, Janet Urquhart, John Armstrong, Matt Adeletti, Jon Peacock, Fran Soroka BOCC Present: Michael Owsley Others Present: Forest Service: Karen Schroyer and Martha Moran Media Present: Collin Szewczyk, Aspen Daily News and Jason Auslander, The Aspen Times PUBLIC COMMENT No public comment APPROVAL FOR THE MINUTES Tim McFlynn moved for the board to approve the regular and executive session minutes for March 1, 2016 as presented. Hawk Greenway seconded. Motion passed. (4-0) Funding Forest Protection Officer(FPO) with U.S. Forest Service Gary Tennenbaum invited White River National Forest (WRNF)District Ranger for the Aspen- Sopris District, Karen Schroyer and from the same district, Martha Moran to join him. Gary explained how OST with partners could externally fund a federal Forest Protection Officer (FPO) who would have the ability to enforce the Wildwood put-in, Hunter Creek/Smuggler areas and when needed respond to other needs in Independence Pass. This agreement would be entered into as a one year trial basis. The FPO position would be a six month seasonal position with the Forest Service and the FS would cover supervision and securing a vehicle costs. The cost to the outside agency funder is $24,990. The City of Aspen has committed$5,000 and there is potential for additional funding partners with Healthy Rivers & Streams and with a private landowner. The position would be made possible through a FS collection agreement with OST and would be from approximately May 15,h to September 30th on duty from Friday through Monday and as needed. Martha added her district has a long term seasonal returning who is FPO certified, weed certified and is an avid river runner and is interested in the position. The FPO has the ability to write citations which would be heard via the federal court system in Grand Junction. The FS district has established a new law enforcement agreement with the Pitkin County Sheriff. If needed the FPO would request backup support from the Sheriff's office. The FPO role besides having the ability to write citations is to provide education through public outreach. John Armstrong added the FPO position will enhance public compliance, compliment OST Rangers' public outreach and provide the enforcement needed especially in Wildwood. 3/17/2016 OSTB Regular Minutes Page 1 of 6 Graeme Means and Tim McFlynn expressed support and were pleased that Healthy Rivers and Streams may support the FPO. Tim also commented about recent newspaper articles stating the WRNF's generated revenue is ten million dollars greater than WRNF's allotted federal budget. Remembering last year's large wedding party that embarked from Wildwood and floated through North Star, Howie Mallory asked Karen what would change in that scenario with a FPO in place. The additional FS partnership with the County Sheriff's office will come into play. The FPO, deputies, and OST Rangers can be mobilized quickly through shared radio communications to respond, assist with any potential emerging situation or confrontation. Karen responded that with the FPO partnership in place we must be realistic it is one individual. Martha commented that it was at this wedding party event that the new District Ranger, Karen was introduced to the type of public activities occurring on FS land at Wildwood. See Board Action Below. Paul Holsinger left the meeting at 9:15 a.m. Governor's 16 for 16 Indicative— Carbondale to Crested Butte(Crystal Trail extension) Dale reported Karen Schroyer also attended the first meeting March 15th and Forest Service Gunnison District Lead Ranger. Gunnison County has completed a Programmatic EIS for the fifty miles within Gunnison. Karen indicated it was a good kick-off meeting. She also commented her FS District is very supportive and she was pleased that CDOT representatives also attended the meeting. A small working group was identified. Karen responded to the OSTB's Forest Service requirement questions. Before any NEPA process can proceed there are 'right-o-way' issues to clear up. The NEPA process and environmental analysis will need to be accomplished through a third party contract funded by the proponents of the trail. After environmental completion then there will be implementation which would also require funding and another partnership scenario. Gary Tennenbaum added these processes require a significant amount of time involving years. First step is creating the project's purpose, needs and goals statement which will define and drive the need for a Forest Service NEPA process. OST staff needs to take the previous Carbondale to Crested Butte research and reassess all the previously collected data. The next focus would be resolving right-o-way access issues with the Forest Service. Gary continued unlike the Crystal Trail's first phase, CDOT is involved with this project. Forest Service is sending their GIS data and planning documents to OST. Karen Schroyer, Martha Moran and Jason Auslander left the meeting around 9:51 a.m. George Newman entered the meeting at 10:00 a.m. Draft Open Space Stewardship Policy:Protection of Natural Biodiversity and Compatible Human Use Dale presented the draft policy for discussion(restated below) and recommended after discussion to go out for additional peer review and public scoping. Gary contributed that OST strives to mirror this policy but not to overlook the public input process that also influences outcomes. 3/17/2016 OSTB Regular Minutes Page 2 of 6 The Open Space Program seeks to rely on the best available science for property specific study of natural habitat conditions as the starting point for optimal allocation of lands across habitat, agricultural, recreational, and other purposes. If such study reveals specialized habitat management needs, the program will seek to enhance any degraded habitat and will employ spatial or temporal closures to recreational or agricultural uses to protect sensitive habitat. Sensitive habitat may include rare and endangered species, Colorado Natural Heritage Program ranked habitat types and protected conservation areas, as well as more common species that have special needs such as critical winter or summer range, breeding/nesting areas and migration corridors. Human uses will be designed to minimize intrusion into these times and places of special habitat concern. Board members questioned whether the use of the `natural habitat' encompassed enough. Graeme Means offered that he had researched the definition of`habitat' and it is defined as the native environment of an animal or plant. Graeme added he felt the policy added a little more burden onto the board's decision process. Graeme continued he would like the board's decision process to include involvement from biological and wildlife consultants. Dale responded OST typically employs various experts on a property by property basis as a prelude to drafting management plans. Dale added that one of the points being made by this draft policy is that decisions are site specific. Gary suggested including verbiage in consultant contracts that would require consultant to be available and participate when draft management plans are reviewed by the board. During the discussion it was mentioned that there have been occasions when property owners have provided wildlife/ecological studies during negotiations. Tim McFlynn added it would be interesting to know what OST has spent on consultants. Gary responded that OST averages about$25,000 per year far less than a full time staff position and consultants can be selected by their expertise. Tim commented he appreciated and found it very useful the one page policy summary with attached notes from Rick Knight's 2012 board retreat presentation. In regard to the draft policy, Tim suggested adding to the first sentence `eased or acquired' before lands. Gary contributed that he did not feel the policy should be limited by OST lands,but open enough to include the interactions across federal lands boundaries. This point will be more specific when drafting the federal lands policy. Suggested draft policy edits: - Last sentence add `design and implement'. -First sentence change `optimal allocation'to optimal allocation of the uses of lands. - Second sentence change `enhance any degraded'to restore to healthy natural functioning any degraded habitat. -Sensitive habitat may include rare and endangered species, to sensitive habitat may include those habitats used by rare and endangered species. - Change 'more common species'to more common habitat types used by species with special needs. -First sentence second line insert information echoing the mission by including after `habitat'; wildlife, recreation, agriculture, and scenic. Consensus was to reference the mission. 3/17/2016 OSTB Regular Minutes Page 3 of 6 -Add `co-exist populations' content to the policy. Possibly add as part of a preamble. When the draft policy is released, Tim suggested including with the cover letter examples of how the OST process balances uses. The revised draft policy will be reviewed again at the 4/21/16 meeting. Matt Adeletti and Jon Peacock entered the meeting at 10:58 a.m. STAFF AND BOARD COMMENTS Administrative Action Plan The draft retention policy and the revised protection of natural biodiversity and compatible human use policy will be discussed at the April 21st meeting. For the May meetings Dale plans to bring the draft federal lands and partnership maintenance polices to the board for review. North Star Preserve Gary reported a huge public outreach campaign is planned for North Star Preserve. OST, ACES and Aspen with a contractor are working on design concepts and these outcomes will be previewed with the OSTB. In addition to the Forest Service FPO agreement the staff is working with the FS on an agreement to manage the Wildwood property area. The management agreement will require more time to determine management efficiencies and whether a NEPA process is needed. OST Resource Manager Ted O'Brien will be joining the department April 1st. Staff has worked with Ted over several years while he worked for Town of Snowmass Village. Ted will be managing operations. A press release will go out announcing Ted joining the team. Draft Lazy Glen Management Plan Lindsey Utter reported the Lazy Glen residents are excited about the bridge becoming a reality. Staff is working on three bridge feasibility options with the engineering consultants. Two more public open houses have been conducted and mostly new people attended. The project has received good local press coverage. CCLT Conference Dale spoke about attending a conservation easement session that discussed how conservation easements can be designed to assure continued agricultural production by various restriction clauses. He also mentioned a session that discussed purchase and lease back options. Dale offered to forward his conference notes to the board. Prescribed Burns Aspen Firehouse will be hosting a public information open house March 31'about the Hunter Creek/ Smuggler upcoming prescribed burn. 635 landowners have received mailings with detailed information about the prescribed burn. City of Aspen has also included information with their water billing. The Avalanche and Filoha areas are also scheduled. The FS will be conducting the prescribed burns. 3/17/2016 OSTB Regular Minutes Page 4 of 6 Upper Roaring Fork Valley Trails Plan (URFVTP) Aspen and OST in consultation with other users have been working with the consultant developing this plan. The draft is nearing completion and will come before the board at the joint May 19th meeting before releasing for public comment. Basalt Underpass Jon Peacock report that CDOT has approved extending Basalt's bid period and so far the initial bids received by Basalt are comparable to the estimates. The BOCC will discuss contributing at their 3/22/16 worksession. OST has recommended contributing $400 thousand toward the project. COA -Draft Cozy Point Management Plan Howie reported that he attended the March 8th public open house along with Tim and Graeme. Howie added he would know more about how the process is proceeding after tonight's COA OS board meeting. Gary added that he has been in close contact with city staff and that the city has much baseline information to gather. Tim commented the open house visuals did not factor in the adjacent public lands. Connectivity possibilities to the assemblage of lands especially to Sky Mountain Park were not addressed. Graeme requested that staff update the board on OST's interests. The board will have an opportunity to discuss the city's management plan progress at the joint meeting 4/21/16. OSTB District 5 Applications Tai Jacober has agreed to remain on the board until his position can be filled. There are three applicants scheduled for BOCC interviews. Dale will request extending the application deadline by two weeks. BOARD ACTION Funding U. S. Forest Service Forest Protection Officer Tim McFlynn moved for the OSTB to recommend to the BOCC to approve a budget supplemental up to $24,990 for the purpose of funding a Forest Protection Officer (FPO) through an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service. Graeme Means seconded. Motion Passed (3-1)Hawk Greenway voted no. Tai Jacober was absent. Hawk Greenway explained his dissenting vote: He thanked the attending Forest Service members for bringing to the public attention the continual declining budgets placed on the White River National Forest over the past six years even as the forest revenues continue to rise. Hawk commended OST and FS staff on working cooperatively to solve recreational management problems together. He perceives the source of the problem is the federal government's tax cutting strategies reaping Forest Service revenues while continuing to under fund the Forest Service. Hawk believes the use of Pitkin County OST funds is enabling the federal system to continue budget cutting tactics and his `no'vote is to send a message to Colorado politicians to stop undercutting the Forest Service and instead strengthen the WRNF by voting to adequately fund the WRNF. EXECUTIVE SESSION 3/17/2016 OSTB Regular Minutes Page 5 of 6 The OSTB moved to enter executive session in accordance with CRS 24-6-402(4) (a)(e) and (f) for the purpose of discussing acquisitions, negotiations and personnel at 11:14 a.m. The OSTB adjourned executive session at 12:58 p.m. ADJOURN The OSTB meetings of March 17, 2016 were adjourned at approximately 12:58 p.m. A proved: Attest: Howie Mallory, Ch r Fran Soroka Pitkin County Open ace &Trails Board Pitkin County Open Space &Trails Office Manager 3/17/2016 OSTB Regular Minutes Page 6 of 6