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Minutes
OPEN SPACE AND TRAILS BOARD
MEETING OF MARCH 21, 2002
Plaza 1 Conference Room
Board Members Present:
Tom Cardamone, Hawk Greenway, Bill Fales, Rick Neiley
Others Present: Dale Will, Barb Hogan, John Ely, Brook Le Van
Hawk Greenway called the meeting to order at approximately II :04 a.m.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
The minutes of the Regular and Executive Sessions of March 21, 2002 were approved as amended.
STAFF COMMENTS
GOCO Draft Strategic Plan Comments: Dale distributed a draft letter to GOCO to be co-signed by
Patti Clapper and Hawk, addressing concerns regarding GOCO's draft Strategic Plan. Tom suggested
putting questions in bold and adding a line at the end suggesting that we await a reply.
Wingo Junction Overpass Grant: Barb gave the Board an update on the status of the grant application
for that project, stating that the application has been forwarded to the State parks Board with the
recommendation for awarding the full amount requested. Dale noted that RFT A's planning grant to
State Trails was rejected.
Rio Grande Encroachments: Dale informed the Board that construction of David Swersky's home was
red tagged in response to numerous episodes of construction vehicles on the Rio Grande Trail.
Swersky is in the process of completing a ROW permit which will require posting a bond for
restoration of the trail and environmental impacts, ensuring that the trail remain open to the public, and
require flagmen when construction vehicles are crossing the trail. Hawk suggested contacting the
Community Development Department and suggesting that they require barrier fencing along the trail
for all proj ects that border the trail.
Hawk asked about the status of plowing the trail. Dale informed the Board that he notified Public
Works ofthe OSTB's decision to plow the trail and that Brian said that there is no one on staff at
Public Works that knows how to drive OST's tractor that has a snow blade. The Board directed Dale
to inform Hilary ofthe situation.
Land Steward Interviews: Dale informed the Board that there are three Land Steward interviews
scheduled for next, including Hawk.
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District I Interviews: The Board was informed that BOCC/OSTB interviews for the District I seat on
the OSTB would take place on March 26, at 10:30 and 11:00.
Deer Hill: Dale summarized the latest developments involving Deer Hill for the Board. An informal
coalition presented to the City a proposal for a wildlife migration corridor for that property. Hawk
explained that A VL T has offered to donate its property on Deer Hill to the City in exchange for a
"global" conservation easement which would protect the river corridor, the bowl and the sagebrush.
This would shift the proposed Burlingame Village towards Stage Road and reduce the number of
Zoline building sites by about two. The Board discussed the proposal at length. Dale discussed
possible roles for OST in this project. It was noted that the agricultural values of this property are
minimal and that its agricultural status is for tax purposes, and that its ecological values, in relationship
to adjacent preserved lands, was important. Board members felt that the City should consider these
ecological values in the proposed development plan. Board members agreed that a response to this
issue was appropriate, addressing the City and its need to consider the impacts that their decision will
have on adjacent lands that were acquired for conservation purposes. Dale was directed to draft a letter
expressing the OSTB's support for protecting the greater ecological values of Deer Hill and
minimizing the impact of the Burlingame development on surrounding properties held by OST.
LTA Southwest Conference: Dale informed the Board of the upcoming LTA Southwest conference in
Moab May 15-18.
BOARD COMMENTS
. North Star Conservation Easement: Hawk informed the Board that A VL T formally accepted the
conservation easement on North Star at its Board last meeting. Hawk explained that this easement put
A VL T in a tough position, because the BOCC did not want to pay the Land Trust a monitoring
endowment fund. Hawk noted that payment of endowment funds is an industry standard, and that the
monitoring costs for this property will be high because of the permitted commercial uses. He requested
the OSTB to pay an endowment to A VLT, using Dale's discretionary authority, as a symbolic grant.
Bill agreed with the industry standard portion of A VLT's request, but had concerns over the present
"balance sheet" for A VL T with the County. He suggested waiting to see how other financial
arrangements with AL VT work out in the short term, before making this endowment grant. Other
agreed.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board voted unanimously to move into Executive Session at 12:15 p.m., in accordance with CRS
24-6-402( 4)(a), for the purpose of discussing acquisitions. The Board adjourned Executive Session at
I :40 p.m.
Bill departed during Executive Session.
REGULAR SESSION (continued)
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MAA Mining Claims Acquisition: Tom motioned to recommend to the BOCC the acquisition of
mining claims on Smuggler Mountain offered by the MAA for $400,000, with the seller retaining the
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TDR, such acquisition to be made by the County in equal partnership with the City. Rick seconded.
Motioned passed unanimously.
ADJOURN
The OSTB meeting was adjourned at approximately 1:45 p.m.
Approved
Attest
Hawk Greenway, Chair
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