ESTES VALLEY TRAILS COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, March JO, 2015 7:00P.M

(This meeting was changed from March 3 to March JO due to inclement weather on March 3)

Downstairs Meeting Room Estes Park 18-Hole Golf Course Clubhouse

1480 Golf Course Road Estes Park, CO 80517

IN ATTENDANCE: Voting Members: Danny Basch, Hal Dalzell, Lisa Plaut, Amy Plummer, Dick Putney

Non-voting Members: Erica Goad (EVLT Liaison), Dave Shirk (Town of Estes Park Liaison), Skyler Rorabaugh (EVRPD Executive Director), Janet Carabell (EVRPD Administrative Assistant), Herb Loveall (EVRPD Interim Parks-Trails Maintenance Manager)

ABSENT: (all are excused absences) Voting Members: Ed Hayek, Gary Matthews, Ken TeSelle Non-voting Member: Ben Greer, EVRPD Board Liaison

GUESTS: None

Prior notice of this meeting was given by posting a notice at the Town of Estes Park's Municipal Building, the Estes Park Public Library, Estes Valley Recreation and Park District's Administration Office, the Larimer County Clerk's Office in Estes Park, the Boulder County Courthouse in Boulder.

Trails Committee Vice President, Amy Plummer, called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES

Moved by Lisa Plaut, seconded by Dick Putney, to approve the January 6, 2015, Trails Committee meeting minutes, as presented.

Ayes - 5. No further discussion. Motion carried unanimously.

TREASURER'S REPORT

Two financial reports, dated December 31, 2014 and January 31, 2015, were prepared by Mary Davis, EVRPD' s Accountant. The December 2014 year-to-date report includes a trails fund balance and a trails expense report that compares this year' s budget to last year's budget for the twelve months ending December 31, 201 4. The Trails Fund balance as of December 31 , 2014, was $660,975 and Trails Expenses: YTD actual operating expenses were $34,969.76; YTD (revised) operating budget was $23,791; total YTD actual trail

expenses were $169,466.44. The January 2015 year-to-date report includes a trails fund balance and a trails expense report for the one month ending January 31 , 2015. The Trails Fund balance as of January 31 , 2015, was $659,275. Trails Expenses as of January 31 , 2015 : YTD actual operating expenses were $1 ,707.67; YTD operating budget was $2,202.00; total YTD actual trail expenses are $1 ,707.67.

Dick Putney commented on how clear the financial reports are to read.

Moved by Dick Putney, seconded by Hal Dalzell, to approve the December 31, 2014, and the January 31, 2015, Treasurer' s reports, as presented.

Ayes - 5. No discussion. Motion carried unanimously.

2015 COMMITTEE VACANCIES

EVTC service terms are ending in May 2015 for Amy Plummer, Ed Hayek, and Dick Putney. EVRPD will publish an announcement of the committee vacancies in both local papers on March 27 and April 3, 2015. The announcement will also be posted to EVRPD' s Web site. Amy Plummer, Ed Hayek, and Dick Putney have all expressed interest in continuing to serve on the committee. EVTC Bylaws allow for seven-to-nine voting members. Currently eight voting members serve on the committee. The interview committee (Gary Matthews, Lisa Plaut, Skyler Rorabaugh) will review applications, interview applicants, and make recommendations to the Trails Committee at the May 5, 2015, meeting. The Trails Committee will send final recommendations to EVRPD' s Board of Directors for approval at the May 19, 2015, Board meeting.

EVRPD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE

(Excerpted.from the 1120115 and 2117115 EVRPD Board meeting packets)

Flood Recovery • Lake Estes Trail - Significant riprap work needs to occur for bank stabilization. The large blowout area

under the trail needs to be repaired with flow fill . Portions of the trail that were damaged during the BOR removal of Fish Creek Ann debris were repaired. Interpretive signage is planned for installation this spring.

• Homer Rouse Trail - The majority of the trail still needs a top surface application applied below the Baldpate Inn and the Curry residence driveway. Drainage mitigation components need to be installed. Interpretive signage will be installed later in the year. Additional work to widen the trail is needed beyond the lower footbridge.

• Fish Creek Trail - Planning and design of the road and trail is complete to 30% design for partnership, FHWA and FEMA review. Mr. Rorabaugh attended TAC meetings on December 18 and January 29; a utilities cost share meeting on January 8; a pre-construction meeting on January 12; a design submittal review meeting on January 21; an Estes Valley Watershed Coalition meeting on February 4; and an agency resource meeting on February 9. Mr. Rorabaugh also met with HDR, Larimer County and Town of Estes Park staff to discuss right-of-way and easements related to the road and trail rebuild project. A notice to proceed on phase 1 of the project was issued January 12, 2015; work will begin soon.

• Estes Valley Comprehensive Master Trails Plan - A January 26, 2015 meeting was held with all partner agencies to discuss the project. A revised RFP is being developed and will be publicly posted within the next month.

Additional Comments Mr. Rorabaugh reported that Matt Hines has been hired as a Flood Recovery Project Manager and Rebecca Crawford has been hired to serve as an Administrative Assistant for the Accounting Specialist. Both positions are funded for two years through a State of Colorado Department of Local Affairs flood recovery grant.

EVRPD submitted a GOCO grant application to help fund Phase 1 implementation of the Stanley Park Master Plan. Funding for a bike park and bike pump track were included in the grant application. To-date, $73,000 has been pledged in cash and in-kind donations for a bike park/pump track from multiple organizations and donors.

PARKS-TRAILS MAINTENANCE MANAGER UPDATE

Herb Loveall, EVRPD's Interim Parks-Trails Maintenance Manager, updated the committee on various parks/trails projects: 1) installation of the Lake Estes fitness equipment stations are complete; 2) some concrete slabs on the Lake Estes Trail have shifted. Herb is obtaining bids to grind down the slabs for a smooth trail surface; 3) rip-rap, top soil and seeding is needed in washout areas around the Lake Estes Trail; 4) Herb plans to install some recycling cans along the Lake Estes Trail where possible; 5) Herb is working with the Town's Chief of Police to enforce dog leash laws on the Lake Estes Trail.

COMPREHENSIVE TRAIL MASTER PLAN UPDATE

The Trails Master Plan subcommittee is working with Patsy McEntee from NPS's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program. Project documents are in review. A tentative date of March 27, 2015, has been set to release the Comprehensive Trails Master Plan RFP, with a consultant on-board no later than early May 2015. An online "Mind Mixer" is planned to obtain public input. An updated trails inventory, trail construction and maintenance standards will be developed via this project. CDOT and Boulder County Parks and Open Space are being approached as new project partners.

Dick Putney noted that historic trails (Woman' s Club trails, etc.) should be included in the comprehensive trails plan and trails inventory since they are an important piece of the larger trails system in the Estes Valley.

EASEMENT COMMITTEE/TOWN OF ESTES PARK LIAISON UPDATES

Dave Shirk reported: • There is a narrow strip of land on the east side of Lot 4 near the future site of the Wellness Center at the

Stanley that is owned by the Stanley Heights Homeowner's Association. The Town of Estes Park may install a detached concrete sidewalk in this area to Steamer Parkway to stay off of the Stanley Height's HOA property.

• The Mary's Meadow development plan will be revised to include a trail easement in the area. • The Town of Estes Park has received a grant to fund the design and a NEPA study for the Fall River

Trail (along Fall River Road to the boundary ofRMNP). The Town will release an RFP for this work.

Amy Plummer reported: • Amy has been trying to contact Leslie Pratt regarding a possible easement for Otie' s Trail with little

success. Amy may be able to contact Leslie Pratt' s son. The committee advised Amy to try to talk with the son regarding a trail easement.

LAKE ESTES FITNESS EQUIPMENT GRAND OPENING CEREMONY

The Lake Estes Fitness Equipment Grand Opening has been set for Saturday, May 30, at 4 p.m .. The event will be held at the fitness equipment station in Cherokee Draw. Demonstrations for the equipment will be offered.

OTHER BUSINESS

Dick Putney suggested that EVRPD staff contact RMNP and Town of Estes Park Visitor' s Center staff regarding campground operations transition from Larimer County to EVRPD for the Estes Park Campgrounds at Mary' s Lake and East Portal. Zenda Smith, EVRPD Campgrounds Manager, will be asked to follow up on this matter.

Lisa Plaut asked if there are plans for horse campsites at the Estes Park Campground at East Portal, noting that room would be needed to park horse trailers. RMNP does not have designated horse campsites. Equestrians use RV campsites for horse trailers/horse camping. Danny Basch suggested that the USPS or BLM may be a resource for horse camping information. Danny offered to check for language RMNP uses for horse camping.

Easements for the Aspenbrook Trail (from Lily Lake to YMCA) were discussed. EVRPD may have an opportunity to obtain an easement from a private property owner that would be a key connection between NPS and YMCA trails.

NEXT EVTC MEETING

The next Trails Committee meeting is May 5, 2015 - 7 p.m. - in the Downstairs Meeting Room of the Estes Park 18-Hole Golf Course Clubhouse (1480 Golf Course Road in Estes Park).

Meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m. ;;:>

~~~~· J\\ii ~e~~v-Recorded by Janet ~arabell

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