Open Space Advisory Board 2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • Paul Austin, 1123 Enclave, Louisville — Mr. Austin said he has seen no impact of human activity on the Mesa in his 15 years of perimeter running. Chip Heldman, 296 S. Adams — Mr. Heldman is an avid mountain biker who recommended a balanced approach with some protection warranted to protect the limited amount of biodiversity currently found on the Mesa. Ty Gee, Louisville resident — Mr. Gee said the LOSCAB was formed and the language in the City Charter created to initiate the expert, scientific management of Open Space and noted that LOSCAB's decisions have been consistently in favor of scientific management. He also said that scientific studies carry more weight than informal observation and recommended that LOSCAB and the City Council create trails that don't impact sensitive areas. Dave Jansen, 803 Flatirons Ct., Louisville — Mr. Jansen said he would like to see Option 1 with more trail openings. He then stated that "there is no science behind the ESCO report." Mr. Jansen went on to say that because ESCO's Dave Buckner, is a professional plant ecologist and sits on the boards of several professional associations that his opinions re: the classifications put forth in the inventory were biased and invalid. Mr. Jansen then said there is no science behind the sentiment that the trails are being damaged and that because the LOSCAB is taking an extreme position on trail closures that extraordinary measures must be taken to insure they are not. Mr. Jansen closed by saying that the LOSCAB were recommending no dog parks on open space and the closure of the existing dog park on Davidson Mesa. Tom Merrigan, 546 W. Arrowhead, Louisville — Mr. Merrigan, a long time runner and now biker, on the Mesa agreed with Mr. Jansen on some issues and would to provide as much access as possible, keeping most of the existing trails open. He also mentioned that he does not like the notion of interior fences. Eric Slack, 866 Tamarisk, Louisville — Mr. Slack noted that active management is the most important mechanism for preserving sensitive areas and said that he agreed with Ms. Scott re: education and the management via volunteers of what.we have. Mark Feuer, 175 Cordoba Ct., Spanish Hills — Mr. Feuer commented that the vegetation on the Mesa seems "lusher than ever before" and that the current usage levels don't seem to be having an negative impact. Doug Grinbergs, 530 W. Sycamore, Louisville — Mr. Grinbergs voted "NO to an all access, all the time, everywhere" policy, noting the change in management philosophy for open space under the City's Dept. of Land Management. Mr. Grinbergs said that previously, when open space was under the management of Parks & Recreation, we got parking lots and buildings. Under Land Management, there is now a different focus. Mr. Grinbergs also spoke of recently visiting the Mesa himself and observing his own "zone of influence" on the behavior of prairie dogs and coyotes. He also noted the presence of a woman with a dog approximately 150 ft. away in an "on- leash" area. Mr. Grinbergs