HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018.04.24 OSTB-BOCC Reg Minutes_S MINUTES
OPEN SPACE AND TRAILS BOARD
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
JOINT WORK SESSION
April 24, 2018
Pitkin County Library
120 N. Mill St.,Aspen
OSTB Present:
Graeme Means Howie Mallory Seat vacant Seat vacant Wayne Ives
Dist. 1 Dist. 2 Dist. 3 Dist. 4 Dist. 5
Chair
Staff Present: Gary Tennenbaum, Janet Urquhart
BOCC Present: Greg Poschman (vice chair), Rachel Richards, Steven Child, George Newman
Media Present: Amy Gab, GrassRoots TV
Greg Poschman called the meeting to order at 11:36 a.m.
Carbondale to Crested Butte Trail Plan Discussion
Gary Tennenbaum told the boards the latest revised draft Carbondale to Crested Butte Trail plan
incorporates requested changes from both boards during previous discussions on March 13 and
April 10. With authorization from the boards, the plan is ready to release to the public for input,
he said. Greg Poschman asked members of both boards if they had any further comments before
the draft plan is opened to public comment.
Steve Child asked what advocacy groups and agencies will meet with Open Space and Trails
during the month of June, as outlined in the draft plan public comment schedule. Staff will reach
out to groups such as Wilderness Workshop, Roaring Fork Conservancy and others, as well as
agencies such as Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Forest Service and offer to meet with them
to go over the plan, Tennenbaum said. If a meetings are desired, it will be arranged, he said.
On page 197, Child suggested the closure dates for the Perham Creek Trailhead be added to the
plan text. Other board members concurred.
On pages 204-208, Child suggested there be no recommended alignment for the Crystal River
Parcel segment, as there is no recommended alignment for the properties to either side of the
parcel. Recommending alignment B on the Crystal River Parcel makes no sense given that no
recommendation is made for the abutting properties, Rachel Richards agreed. The boards
concurred there should be no recommended alignment on the parcel. Tennenbaum said the
recommended B alignment on the Crystal River Parcel reflects ongoing neighborhood use of the
property, a better trail experience than Alignment A would offer and the significant cost
associated with Alignment A. Using Alignment B could also result in the need for bridges on
both ends of the Crystal River Parcel, he said. Howie Mallory asked about the current level of
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use on the property and whether it is closed seasonally. There is no closure; neighbors have
indicated it gets frequent use, Tennenbaum said.
On pages 210-211, Child asked that the Town of Carbondale water line located within the Nettle
Creek trail segment be acknowledged in the text and possibly on the map on page 211. Howie
Mallory agreed the text should be amended. The text can be amended to acknowledge the water
line's existence and the need to accommodate it, Tennenbaum said.
On page 242, Child noted the photograph associated with Alignment A depicts the east side of
the highway; it should depict the west side.
On page 243, Child questioned the depiction of Typical Trail Section B (a 3-foot-wide, natural-
surface trail). The Castle and Hawk Creek sections should depict the potential for a wider trail
and better surface, he said, predicting the section of trail immediately above Redstone will be the
most heavily used segment in the upper Crystal Valley. A wider trail would better accommodate
two-way traffic, he said. Rachel Richards said she does not agree with determining the width of
the trail in the Castle segment at this point in the process. Proposing a wider trail on the dirt road
to be used by Alignment B could result in opposition to the alignment, she said. Graeme Means
said he can envision a wider trail as the segment could be a model for the rest of the trail. Howie
Mallory agreed. Tennenbaum said page 243 will be modified to show both Typical Trail Section
A and B, with a natural surface or crusher fines, as options.
On page 245, Child noted both the A and B alignments need to be depicted extending from the
Castle segment to the Hawk Creek segment. The map needs to be replaced, Tennenbaum agreed.
On page 262, Child noted the Cost Summary acknowledges potential acquisition costs are not
included in the estimated costs. He questioned how to address the unknown additional costs.
Graeme Means predicted the project would put pressure on the Open Space and Trails budget
and said the OST Board needs to analyze where acquisition funds associated with the trail will
come from. The cost analysis shows there is sufficient funding to build the first phase of the trail,
Howie Mallory noted.
Rachel Richards asked that the plan acknowledge the future incorporation of new studies as the
project moves forward, specifically noting studies to be pursued by the Watershed Biodiversity
Initiative. The initiative will address gaps in existing studies, Tennenbaum said.
On page 194, Howie Mallory asked that the language contained in Section A1.4 regarding
Bighorn Resiliency be strengthened to state that it is a goal of the plan to prevent the
disappearance of the Crystal Valley's bighorn sheep herd and to restore the bighorn population to
healthy numbers as determined by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Board members agreed.
A video of the meeting is available at:
https://pitkincounty.ompnetwork.org/embed/sessions/34064/bocc-work-session-04-24-18
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ADJOURN
The OSTB-BOCC joint work session of April 24, 2018 was adjourned at approximately 12:19
p.m.
Approve*• Attest:
rae ►:� eans, Chair Ja Urquhart
"it County Open Space &Trails Board O T Stewardship and Outreach Coordinator
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