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D.I.R.T. Task Force minutes of 2/28/2007

Contributed by: Office of the Mayor on 4/17/2007

MINUTES OF
D.I.R.T. TASK FORCE
February 28, 2007
6:30 p.m.


A. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Chair Stites at 6:30 p.m.

B. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS

Committee Members Present:
Mary Cavarra
Dean Gokey
Paul Hovland
Brent Kelley
Eugene Kiefel
Dick Matthews
Jill McGranahan
Larry Merkl
Rob Osborn
Jim Payne
Kelsey Robb
Susan Seeds
Larry Schulz
Mike Stites
Terry Womble

Committee Members Absent:
Anne Brinkman
Liz George

Also attending:
Joyce Manwaring, Parks and Recreation Director
Tim Paranto, Public Works Director
Karen Adams, City Council
Heather Geyer, Assistant to City Manager
Ann Lazzeri, Recording Secretary

C. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - February 14, 2007

It was moved by Dean Gokey and seconded by Terry Womble to approve the minutes of February 14, 2007 as presented. The motion passed unanimously.

D. PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN

Joyce Manwaring, Parks and Recreation Director, reviewed details and projected costs of projects that the Parks and Recreation Department would like to accomplish. The process involved in developing the Parks Master Plan played a large part in creating the list. A list of various criteria was also applied to each project.

Project #1 - Miscellaneous School Site Upgrades ($1,500,000)
Project #2 - Miscellaneous Infrastructure Upgrades to Existing Parks
($2,800,000)
Project #3 - Senior Center Feasibility Study ($75,000)
Project #4 - Johnson Park Transition to Open Space ($200,000)
Project #5 - 44th and Kendall - Development of Neighborhood Park ($500,000)
Project #6 - Einarsen Property - 38th & Kipling - Development of Neighborhood
Park ($2,200,000)
Project #7 - Clear Creek Trail Connection and Trailheads - ($2,150,000)
Project #8 - Anderson Park, Prospect Park, Historical Park and Baugh House,
Recreation Center Expansion ($31,000,000)

Staff recommended implementing Project #8 first because it dovetails with the Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy in terms of developing along 44th Avenue; it maintains and improves infrastructure in two of the oldest community parks; there is high visibility to the community; these facilities are widely used by a variety of users; and these improvements would provide a wide variety of amenities. They are grouped together because one can't be done without the other. She commented that these proposed improvements are presently cost prohibitive within the city's current revenue sources.

Dean Gokey asked what the cost breakout would be on each of the projects contained in #8. Joyce replied that Anderson Park would cost approximately $12 million and this includes the pool renovation that the city is currently funding to make the total closer to $11 million. Prospect Park would cost approximately $12 million; the Recreation Center expansion, approximately $6 million; the historic park and Baugh house, approximately $1million.

In response to a question from Dean Gokey, Joyce stated that it would be possible to do this project without doing the historic park and Baugh House at the same time.

Terry Womble asked if Prospect Park reconstruction would be adequate to handle the Carnation Festival with all the associated parking. Joyce replied that this would have to be assessed as a part of a master planning process for Prospect Park improvements.

Jill McGranahan asked if the city necessarily wanted to keep the Carnation Festival at a park setting. She had heard discussions about possibly moving it to one of the city's main corridors such as 38th Avenue. Joyce replied that this would merit discussion because the Festival is driven by the business community and the community in general. However, there is still a need festival and concert space.

Eugene Kiefel asked if there were Open Space or Highway Department funds available to for the Clear Creek Trail to go under Kipling because this is an important link. Joyce explained that there are Open Space funds and Conservation Trust funds. Exact costs would have to be pinned down before funds could be applied for. Joyce also explained that the city receives approximately $800,000 every year from Open Space, $500,000 of which is used to pay for park maintenance salaries. The remaining funds are saved up to be used for large projects.

Larry Schulz commented that one recommendation from the NRS was to make better use of the greenbelt and asked to what extent improvements to Anderson and Prospect parks would further the usage of the greenbelt. Joyce stated that one example would be that better access to the trail could be provided

Eugene Kiefel commented that the curve going west into the recreation center is a dangerous curve. Joyce commented that the configuration was necessary in the design process to make everything fit in the site layout.

Larry Merkl asked if it would be possible to upgrade the trail connection from the greenbelt to the recreation center and back onto the greenbelt without constructing a new bridge on Kipling, leaving the area under Kipling as a walk path, and improving the dangerous curve. Joyce explained that this would require the acquisition of some additional land. She suggested another option would be to have no trail head on the north side of the bridge.

Mary Cavarra referred to a newspaper article about the city of Edgewater building a skating rink to generate funds and suggested looking at ways to generate funds in similar ways in Wheat Ridge. Joyce commented that the master plan process didn't identify an ice rink as something that was needed in Wheat Ridge.

Terry Womble suggested using natural resources such as charging for kayaking on Clear Creek. Bicycle lanes along 32nd Avenue for cyclists coming out of northwest Denver might be a good idea. He also suggested considering new items in the parks such as pivoting swings that could be used by seniors as well as children.

In response to a question from Rob Osborn about school site upgrades, Joyce replied that the city constructed the two ball fields in the back and continues to maintain the lighting at Stevens Elementary School. There is still potential for the area where the elementary school connects to the back of Wheat Ridge Middle School.

Rob Osborn asked if there was capacity to combine a trailhead connection with the recreation center upgrade. Joyce replied that there is potential for this and it would warrant further discussion. A more thorough analysis would be necessary in regard to parking and other factors.

Rob Osborn asked if there was a possibility, as some cities have done, to provide funding by renting kiosks in the parks to vendors. Joyce replied that this is certainly something that could be explored.

Jill McGranahan asked if the school district would work with the city to defray the $1.5 million cost for school site upgrades. Joyce replied that the school district could be approached in this regard. In the past these projects have been joint ventures.

Mike Stites asked to know the total cost of the recreation center. Joyce stated that the total project cost $17 million. A half-cent sales tax was instituted and it was paid off in just over a year. Mike suggested looking into revenue sharing with neighboring cities like Arvada and Lakewood. He commented that the NRS showed that the greenbelt is a gem of Wheat Ridge but the entry ways need to be upgraded.

Terry Womble referred to the arts community in Wheat Ridge and suggested placing permanent easels in the parks.

Dean Gokey commented that the tax was a good way to fund the recreation center and revenues made it possible to pay it off early. The recreation center is a strong element that helps draw sustainable households. He complimented Joyce Manwaring as director of the Center

Jill McGranahan commented that she would be inclined to put the Einarson property at the bottom of the list because the rec center is across the street. Joyce explained that neighborhood parks are defined by whether you can walk to them and, also, the rec center doesn't provide park amenities.

Susan Seeds asked if there was enough land to move some amenities from Prospect Park to the historic park and Baugh house. Joyce replied that it would require acquisition of two lots between the two sites.

Larry Schulz suggested that one option for the Einarson property would be to exchange it for other park land.

Rob Osborn asked if the annual allocation from Open Space could be a revenue stream that could be leveraged for a loan for some of the projects. Joyce explained that there is a separate program called the joint venture grant program where the city can apply for matching Open Space funds for projects. There isn't a year that goes by that the city is not funded by a joint venture grant.

Paul Hovland commented that the greenbelt and rec center are crown jewels for Wheat Ridge and asked if there would be any funding from the state for a crossover at Kipling.

Tim Paranto, Public Works Director, stated that reconstruction of the Kipling Street bridge has been in the scope for several years. Two or three years ago, the city funded a study that would keep the bridge in place, make some flood improvements and take the trail under Kipling on the north side. The city and Urban Drainage are presently studying the Clear Creek drainage. One recommendation coming out of that study is replacing the bridge because of flooding problems that could during a hundred-year flood. There are some federal funds available that are routed through CDOT. These funds compete against all other priorities in the State of Colorado. The Kipling bridge has a very high rating which lowers the chances for bridge replacement funds. There are additional federal funds available for trail systems. Application has been made for trails along Kipling that would include a trail bridge across Clear Creek on the east side of Kipling.

Jill McGranahan asked if there is a spearhead for fund applications or it was necessary for each entity to apply for its own.

Rob Osborn stated that Wheat Ridge 2020 would do everything possible to apply for various grants to be used for parks improvements.

Susan Seeds stated that she would like more specific details about proposed changes to Anderson and Prospect Parks.

Mike Stites explained that once projects have been prioritized by the task force, specific details will need to be worked out.

Rob Osborn asked for an estimate of study costs. Joyce estimated that a master plan for each park would be in the area of $100,000. The rec center and Baugh house would probably cost less than that.

Paul Hovland commented that it is important to focus on the city's strong points (rec center and greenbelt.) Trail access visibility is also important. He commented that the Einarson property didn't seem to make much sense for a park and he would be in favor of a land swap that could create funds for other projects.

Larry Schulz distributed rating sheets to each Task Force member and asked that ratings be completed and returned at the next meeting. He also invited other interested citizens to go online and submit a rating sheet.


E. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 7:52 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for March 7.


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Office of the Mayor

Wheat Ridge , CO

Office of the Mayor has posted 186 stories and 15 comments since joining on 9/29/2005. Office of the Mayor's average story rating is 4.06.
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