Open Space Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2015 03 11

Home Browse Search

Open Space Advisory Board Minutes February 11th 2015 Page 4 of 7 general fund the way it did before 2003. She thinks this will be a point of continuing discussion in Council. IX. Discussion Item: Review Proposed 2015 Education & Volunteer Events Ember presented a document that listed the planned Open Space education and volunteer events for 2015. Staff wants to put both of these types of events onto a single document and onto an online calendar. Many of these events are repeats from previous years. Ember and Catherine added the intended target audience for each event, as this has been a point of confusion in previous years. The list includes 13 education events and 7 volunteer events. OSAB members indicated which volunteer events they would like to help with. Projects include: — Raptor Night (Spencer) — Louisville Coyote Management plan night. Staff wants to take advantage of the new coyote management plan to start a public education program. — Trail Volunteer Day to work on Davidson Mesa (Christopher) — Plant Identification class — Coyote education at local elementary schools (Laura) —A flood bike tour of Coal Creek trail (Tom and Helen) —Weed pull (Linda) Linda suggested a climate change talk. Laura suggested it could be Front Range - specific. X. Discussion Item: Benches & Memorials on Open Space Laura wrote a letter expressing her personal thinking on the Open Space Memorial Bench program. She reviewed her letter with the board (included in minutes). Linda asked whether tree memorials on Open Space were a viable alternative to benches. Ember's concern was that the Open Space doesn't have water to irrigate trees, and if the trees die, the family gets upset. Spencer was vehemently opposed to the idea that people can pay to put their names on city property, and felt that we need to find a way to sunset the dedications on the city -owned benches that are already there. Linda felt strongly that we owe the people who bought benches something and we shouldn't insult them. Chris felt we need more information about what was promised the people who "bought" benches. Spencer shared the City's open space charter, saying the City's charge is to preserve Open Space in as natural a state as possible, and in his opinion that precludes memorial benches. Several board members wanted staff to investigate the current agreements with individuals who have memorial benches currently on Open Space, to see whether a retroactive sunset provision for the dedications could be put into place. Tom made a motion to halt the Open Space Memorial Bench program and to investigate the current bench agreements. Spencer seconded. It was passed by the board unanimously. XI. Discussion Items for Next Meeting on March 11th A) Panel Presentation on Acquisition Strategies. Ember asked what OSAB would like to discuss with the panelists. Laura asked to hear about how these institutions manage 5