HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.OSB.20250717.Regular
MINUTES
City of Aspen, Open Space and Trails Board Meeting
Held on July 17, 2025
5:00pm at the Ute Properties
City OST Board Members Present: Ted Mahon, Julie Hardman, Ann Mullins, Dan Perl
City Staff Members Present: John Spiess, Mary Oliver, Brian Long, Austin Weiss, Matt Kuhn,
Shelley Grail
Adoption of the Agenda: Julie made a motion to adopt the agenda and Ann seconded.
Public Comments, for topics not on the agenda: None.
Approval of the Minutes: Ted made a motion to approve the minutes; Julie seconded, and the
vote was unanimous.
Staff Comments:
Mary: Provided an update on Connor Park. She shared the most recent plan as well as next
steps including second reading on August 12th. The project approval is tied to the updates at the
Armory. Dan and Julie encouraged the continued design development to provide We-Cycle
access without impacting alley parking.
Brian: Spoke about the recent installation of traffic feature on Hopkins to discourage vehicular
use of Bike-Ped way. If this is successful this year then the same approach will be pursued on
Hallam.
Matt: Let the board know that City council has requested a special parks work session for
August 5th to discuss the budget.
New Business:
Ute Properties Management Plan.
John introduced that tonight the board would be looking at the Ute properties management
plan which covers three contiguous properties off Ute Avenue. The first part of the meeting
included a tour that looked at several spots within the properties including: the original play
structures, Ute Avenue Trail, Wheeler ditch trail, Wheeler Ditch inlet structure, the civil war
headstones, the Ute cemetery entry monuments and concluded at the recently updated Ute
Park play structure.
The second part of the meeting reviewed the suggested management actions included in the
draft plan on page 11.
Ann suggested that the Parks department consider defining what role the parcels play within
the larger park system. Ted asked what is allowed within the parcels. ‘What can we do?’ Are
there special restrictions that define our work.
Maintenance Management Actions:
OSTB supported all of the management actions within the maintenance section. Two of the
management actions generated more conversation than the others formalizing the circulation
patterns and fencing of the property. The fence discussion resulted in an outcome of posts
along the north and west boundary rather than a complete fence. Trail should be established to
the art and formalizing the major trails in the property and leave existing social trails to grave
sites. OSTB also suggested we explore as many ADA options for trails as possible.
Natural Resource Management Actions:
OSTB supported all the natural resource management actions except for revegetating the social
trails. The topic that generated the most conversation is the management of vegetation.
Ultimately, the board agreed to allow for some vegetation removal for habitat improvement
and wildfire prevention. The board linked vegetation management to preserving historic
resources where possible.
Historic Resource Management Actions:
OSTB supported all historic resource management actions.
Recreation and Trails Management Actions:
OSTB supported all recreation and trails management actions.
Interpretation and Education Management Actions:
OSTB supported all interpretation and education management actions. Interpretative panels at
the entrances should be examined but nothing on the interior.
Old Business: N/A
Board Comments:
Ann: none
Ted: Happy to see the bike/ped way on Hopkins. Maybe not as necessary on Hallam.
Dan: Would like to see a better pedestrian and bike connection to Cozy Point.
Julie: none
Next Meeting Date(s): Regular meeting September 18, 2025.
Executive Session: N/A
Adjourned: Julie made a motion to adjourn; Ted seconded, and the vote was unanimous.