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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.OSB.20250220.Regular MINUTES City of Aspen, Open Space and Trails Board Meeting Held on February 20, 2025 5:00pm at Pearl Pass Room, Aspen City Hall City OST Board Members Present: Julie Hardman, Ted Mahon, Adam McCurdy, Ann Mullins, Dan Perl City Staff Members Present: John Spiess, Matt Kuhn, Michael Tunte, Austin Weiss, Brian Long, Steve Barr, Nick Oliver Adoption of the Agenda: Julie made a motion to approve the agenda; Ted seconded, and the vote was unanimous. Public Comments, for topics not on the agenda: Elijah Knight, local 8th grader and skate park user, read a statement in support of expanding the skate park. He provided public comments on this to City Council in June 2024 and gathered 100+ signatures in support of expanding the skate park. Planned upgrades in 2014 for the park, which opened in 2003, did not happen. Elijah provided user numbers for the skate park to show its heavy use. He mentioned that he had spoken to Austin and Matt last fall and they recommended speaking to this board. Elijah added that scooters and bicycles to be permitted in the park and the sign should reflect this. Elijah’s father, Eric, added that the scooter policy is likely dated and should be updated to provide current rules. Dan asked if there is a formal group that represents skaters; Eric said that Elijah currently serves as the voice for this community. Eric emphasized that the skate park is dated and asked why the 2014 improvements were not made. Dan expressed that staff and the Board will research this and encouraged Elijah to continue organizing the skating community. John obtained Elijah’s contact number. Approval of the Minutes: Adam made a motion to approve the minutes; Julie seconded, and the vote was unanimous. Staff Comments: Austin: none. John: none. Matt: none. Dan asked about the process for making changes to minutes; Matt explained that such changes are made within motions. New Business: Farm Collaborative Report Eden Vardy, director of Farm Collaborative (FC), presented his annual report with an update on the current construction project. Judy Lovins, (FC board member) was also present. Eden provided a board packet and explained that the annual report, as required by the FC’s lease, reflects on the past year, outlines current activities, projects upcoming activities, and demonstrates compliance with lease parameters. Highlights include: a new livestock enclosure, new farm equipment, and construction of the learning center. Work to address sedimentation in the water supply and water allocation for hay production resulted in FC needing to fallow much of their growing space last year. Ground squirrels also impacted food production on site; however overall production was high, supplemented by off-site production. FC’s new site manager will manage repair of the pump and overall operations. A new Farmer in Training Program was launched successfully last year. FC submitted its first incident report, an employee who was injured while using a post-hole driver. While production was low, more than 50,000 lbs. of produce was yielded and distributed to the community (compared to 12,000 lbs. in 2022). Children’s programs were expanded for 2025 and are sold out. There will be a 100% increase in children’s programs over the next two years, depending upon staffing. Scholarships were awarded to all who asked this year. The Farmer in Training Program involves teens as young as 13 as a first job and will be offered again going forward. School visitation program numbers continue to rise; the new learning center will allow for greater capacity. Construction of the new learning center has been the foremost project. Barn wood siding was installed yesterday; renderings where shown. The siding product is Montana Ghost Wood, sourced from beetle-killed trees. Carbon neutrality has been factored into construction and the building. Eden shared indoor views of classroom spaces and the welcome center/farm store. The Farm To Fridge program nearly doubled over the previous year; this production is based in FC’s greenhouse. This program is basically a free farm share; it supplied 2,200 people: 60% was from FC production supplemented by other area growers. This program prevents waste arising from storage challenges and supports both people and farmers. Ann asked if additional staff would be needed to expand school programs. Eden explained that no additional staff would be needed, as groups would be coming to the site rather than FC going to classrooms. Ann asked about summer program staff needs; Eden explained that much of the current staff had participated in FC programs as young children. Ann asked how much employee housing is on site for FC use; Eden explained that there are two tiny home trailers during the growing season. Ann asked if there are plans for more housing; Eden indicated that FC would like to add housing. Pitkin County Open Space and Trails is considering changing the county ordinance related to off-site storage of the tiny homes; the first hearing is next Wednesday. Currently these tiny homes are stored outside of the county during winter. Ted complimented the FC and asked if there were any other challenges. Eden said that construction is going well, but fire-suppression system is challenging. The approved system is not actually buildable. The fire department asked FC to rethink the system and a permit is awaited; this should not result in a significant cost increase, but does delay construction and will impact summer programs. Adam asked about mitigation strategies for ground squirrels; Eden said that lethal methods are not the answer; restoring the riparian zone for better coyote habitat and greater soil moisture will help control them. Dogs and other strategies may be used for squirrel management. The propagation chamber in the greenhouse will allow starts to be grown to a larger size before planting, but overall production will be lower until habitat is restored and any other successful strategies are discovered. Dan asked which schools are participating in FC’s school programs. Eden said that Aspen School District (including Aspen Community School) is the main user; also Aspen Country Day School, Roaring Fork School District, Waldorf School, Ross Montessori, and Yampah Mountain School. Every pre-school in the valley that can travel participates. Dan asked where off-site food production is done; Eden said this was at Sunfire Ranch in Carbondale, however all operations will be focused on Cozy Point going forward. Dan asked about the irrigation outlook; Eden explained that the small pump that operates on one of the water rights, is a priority to restore to full capacity. This pump has a history of issues; irrigation heads clog and break frequently. The filtration system runs too slowly, and the dam needs to be built up. Eden mentioned positive effects from beaver activity; their work also helps flood out ground squirrels. Austin added that the original Cozy Point Management Plan included restoration of Brush Creek. Seth Mason’s site visit concluded that beavers are the best solution. Adam asked about building beaver dam analogs to jump start riparian restoration; John said these efforts are a few years out. Matt added that the beavers have built many new dams over the last 18 months. Dan asked for an update on general water issues at Cozy Point Ranch. John explained that a contractor is exploring options for Wells 1 and 2. Well 2, which has sulphur issues, is dedicated to the FC operations. Options are being explored for water testing, rehabilitating Well #2, and/or drilling another well. This situation must be resolved before other projects are possible. Eden said the current reverse osmosis system is working but is not a long-term solution. Winter Trails Maintenance Brian Long presented procedures, philosophies, and practices related to winter trails maintenance. Brian reviewed board questions: who is served, what are the priority areas/routes, what is the level of service, and are there conflicts with other users. Brian shared a map of winter trail routes. Plowing is the dominant maintenance activity; Nordic trail grooming is outside of this presentation’s scope. Brian reviewed various equipment used for clearing different trail widths. This work is supported by snow blower routes and heavy equipment operators. Staff work four ten-hour days that overlap. Matt added that additional crews work on the downtown core, crosswalks, and on alleyways. Brian presented graphs of winters from 2019 to the present, showing trail counter data from November 1st through March 31st during those years. Dips in graph data correlate to winter storm episodes when fewer people use the trails. Brian commented on the Marolt Bridge which sees the greatest use. Ann asked about a gap in 2019 data; this was a trail counter malfunction. Brian shared the history of trail counter data on the AABC Trail at the Roundabout which demonstrates use 12 months/year from 2012. Low points relate to weather and November and March use is increasing. Brian explained winter trail maintenance priorities, focusing on opening commuter routes such as AABC Trail, Burlingame, and Cemetery Lane. Two passes of clearing are generally required. Geographic efficiency is planned on a daily basis. Secondary routes and stubs are handled later in the timeframe, followed by moving plow spoils and cleaning up messy areas. Challenges occur between storms when ice forms on trails and with equipment failure or crew illness. Intersections with Nordic trail require high level decisions. Labor priorities are determined in a metric way. Snowmass Village has a different trail maintenance philosophy based on fewer trail commuters in winter and a greater focus on recreation. Brian explained various Nordic - plowed trail junctions. Dan asked about community feedback related to winter trails. Brian said feedback is mainly about icy areas which is helpful, other feedback is appreciation. Matt added that the department works closely with the Streets Department on areas where maintenance efforts come together. Steve added that timing is important for clearing trails to schools, although many routes are high priority. The snow-blower route goes to Burlingame first to clear walkways to bus stops. The Maroon Creek Trail was a new addition this winter; this area was formerly snow storage, but new protocols have been developed. Plowing was handled in an east-west way by just a couple of staff ten years ago. At this time, every machine available is in use to maintain service levels. Ann asked if staff and machines were added to maintain the new Maroon Creek Trail. Brian said this was absorbed by one of the work routes; in big winters, snow will be hauled. Ann expressed that commuter trails should remain the top priority. Steve added that keeping experienced employees is valuable. Brian explained some of the finesse required for savvy snow removal. Adam asked if Parks competes with Streets for staff; the work is different, and at Parks, winter seasonal work completes a full year for staff hired based on summer work. Dan acknowledged crew efforts, adding that level of service is critical to maintain even when user numbers may be low. Dan asked if the department could commit to or publish levels of service, suggesting certain trails could be cleared by stated times so users know what to expect. More consistency could provide confidence for regular commuters. Brian suggested a timetable; Dan suggested something like the Nordic pulse system for real-time updates on trail conditions. Brian mentioned certain trails that are not maintained in winter. Ted added that locals accept these conditions and the realities of winter. Ted cautioned that this is a snowy environment and that setting expectations too high could also cause challenges. Brian added that the total length of trails maintained in winter is about 9 miles. Summer Project Outlook Mike Tunte provided an overview of projects planned for summer 2025. At Cozy Point Ranch work concluded on the ranch itself; this summer will focus on the manure compost and operations/storage area. The archery range will see trail and accessibility improvements using CPW grant funds. The large pile of soil in the compost area will be spread out and contained; a clear area for operations will be established, with a 50-foot setback area and screening along Cougar Creek. Herron Park: finish landscaping around the newly installed restrooms to address aesthetics and handle stormwater run-off. Koch Park: sand replacement. Contract to Council on the 25th for this project. Original sand is local sand, and is past its useful life (dusty, sharp), and grass has grown into the edges. The old sand will be re-used at the Lumberyard as bedding material for utilities. New sand will be installed to an 18-inch depth, and the project should be done by April or May. Additional improvements include work on the paths around Koch Park, the interface area with the parking lot, replacing the fence at the parking lot, and adding a soft-surface path for accessibility. Wagner Park playground: The contract for the fabrication contractor, Earthscape Play, will go to Council on the 25th. The fabrication order will be placed, structures will be ready in August or September; and in-house crews will demo the old play structure and prep the site. This site will be fenced off during the summer, but once the new play structures arrive, they will be installed within a week. John presented on two 2025 projects: Interpretive signage at seven open space locations will be overhauled by a team that will address graphic design, content, and continuity. The RFP will go out tomorrow. A management plan for Ute Cemetery is underway; a draft will be brought to this board and will ultimately go to City Council for approval. Ann asked about early documentation of the cemetery; John explained that Ron Sladek of Tatanka Historical Associates created a report in 2001 and updated it in 2024; this information will be a component of the management plan. Ann asked if there is a prior a management plan; John mentioned that a landscape improvements plan was created in 2001, but there is no previous management plan. John added that the site received designation in the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. This management plan will include Ute Park and two adjoining small parcels. The plan is for Council adoption in October. Dan asked if there is any cultural Ute connection to the cemetery; John explained that the name “Ute” is used for this and many other local place names, however there is no cultural tie. Nearby Ute Springs may have influenced the name of Ute Cemetery by proximal association. Adam asked if there will be changes to posts and nets at Koch Park. Mike explained that these elements will remain. A volleyball-compatible edge will be added to delineate sand and grass areas, and irrigation heads will be replaced. Public outreach target to volleyball advocates was conducted, and feedback indicated the special posts are important to retain. Adam asked for clarification of crusher fines an accessible surface; Mike said that “stabilized crusher fines” will be used; this material has a polymeric additive that hardens like concrete. Capital Project Introduction Matt presented the 2025 schedule for preparing budgets for 2026-2030 and provided a high- level overview of upcoming projects. The initial proposal will be solidified in about two weeks. The budget process with City Council starts March 3rd. Matt will deliver a budget packet to the Board on the 14th; this will be reviewed on the 20th toward incorporating any final minor changes that the Board recommends. Matt will submit this to Finance on March 28th. Operating budgets are developed during the summer and Council approves them in the fall. For the 2026 cycle, Matt shared management staff’s vision and strategy. Scaling back on projects is necessary due to increasingly time-intensive contracting, prep, and project initiation. With airport runway repaving work planned in 2026, Parks is adjusting for softening revenues which will affect project capabilities. Anticipated revenue this year is $20-21 million; in 2026 it is projected to be about $17 million. Adam asked for rationale for this projection; Matt said Finance expects the extended airport closure to reduce sales tax revenues. Staff capacity for managers needs to pivot a bit from project management toward toward staff management. Matt provided strategy and vision for the 50-year outlook. It is necessary to limit contracted projects which are increasingly expensive. Last year Parks spent $15 million for contracted projects: Maroon Creek Trail, Iselin courts, and Cozy Point Ranch projects. These large projects were done simultaneously and therefore had to be contracted. Parks has a great in-house team, but they cannot handle such concurrent project volume. Parks is adjusting plans to use in-house crews as much as possible going forward. Aging recreation infrastructure and parks assets are increasing budget factors. There are likely some large projects that the Parks team will be pulled into: Willoughby Park and Lift One Lodge development, the potential Theatre Aspen redevelopment, and progress on the Entrance to Aspen. Planning time into the outlook is important for these large projects. There is an upcoming strategic plan that will shuffle priorities; this plan will be used in 2026 to rebuild and re-envision our capital plan. Matt explained where we are today: Parks took a significant pause in projects which is a big break financially. Recreation facilities represent much of the expenses for the next two years. In 2027, there is a large capital expense anticipated for Parks contributions to the Lift One Lodge project. There is a break in 2028 and then the budget ramps up in subsequent years. Matt showed data broken out for parks/open space and recreation. We are in the third year of bringing certain recreation projects into the Parks fund, and in general we continue to see parks projects taking the greater share of the budget. Matt commented on the huge year that 2024 was and mentioned that scope of work was reduced in 2025. Matt highlighted that Parks is reviewing water treatment options at Cozy Point Ranch; until this is solved, operations and housing development remain unknown. Nick is leading excellent stall upgrades and other work for lower operation costs. The Brush Creek to AABC bridge project will be covered in the next meeting. The attached-82 feasibility study is underway; yesterday’s meeting showed that it is likely not feasible. There are impacts to availability of federal funding as well. Funding could be challenging at the level needed to realize this until 2029 or beyond. We will need to discuss priorities and bonding options in the coming years. Matt highlighted that projects are quickly getting more expensive. Matt explained ballot language that lists what Parks and Lift One are responsible for, noting that Parks’ responsibilities are going to be expensive. He also mentioned improvements to Connor Park; if Council approves upgrades to the armory building, Connor Park improvements will become important. At this point, this project could be a $1.1 million commitment. Ann commented that both mayoral candidates would like to change the direction of the armory development; she asked how flexible the park designs are for any outcomes. Matt said that there is room for flexibility. Matt mentioned emerging projects that are not forecasted in the budget: skate park, property acquisitions, golf course snow-making pond, Pride of Aspen and potential related trails, and work on the Wheeler Ditch and its failing underground pipes. The strategic plan will also bring opportunities to discuss priorities and goals and actions to achieve them. Matt also touched on some delayed and canceled goals. Priority level for the Truscott Trail will be discussed at the next meeting. Repairs to the Marolt Bridge may be pushed out a few years. Staff propose delaying the Cemetery Lane underpass until that intersection is more clear. Connor Park will have cost adjustments. Old Powerhouse site improvements work will be reduced to $100,000. Matt mentioned other possible projects will be revisited per the strategic plan. Matt said that there is not much new information available for Cozy Point Ranch, pending water quality solutions. Matt explained that open space budget is on track, anticipating other future management plans. There is grant funding for a Shadow Mountain forest health assessment that will influence and inform the associated plan. Overall, Council’s goal is to focus on aging infrastructure. The Recreation Center and golf facilities are now 25 years old and are frequent discussion points. Matt will send his slides to the Board and will provide a detailed packet with budget sheets and a memo on the 14th. Old Business: N/A Board Comments: Julie: none. Ted: mentioned his work on the Roaring Fork Outdoor Coalition Community Advisory Group; the work was smooth and is done. Dan: reminded the Board about their ability to be involved as citizens and not referencing position on the Board during the election period. Ann: none. Next Meeting Date(s): Regular meeting March 20, 2025. Executive Session: N/A Adjourned: Ann made a motion to adjourn; Julie seconded, and the vote was unanimous.