Open Space Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2016 03 09

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Open Space Advisory Board Minutes February 10th 2015 Page 2 of 7 neighborhoods for weed pulls, with the idea that neighborhoods might be willing to come together and weed on their local open space parcels. D. Staff is working with Bridget from the Louisville Historical Museum to gather historical information for the kiosk at Harper Lake. The goal is to have ecological and trail information on one side of the kiosk and historical information on the reverse. Currently there is a temporary sign at the Harper Lake kiosk. This will likely come to the board for review in March. E. Staff is getting ready to hire the full -time ranger position. They will be interviewing candidates during the last week of February. F. Joe reported that the Lake Park Open Space property is currently zoned as "Open Space" though it has been managed for years as an urban park. Some local residents would like to see it maintained more like a traditional park, with bluegrass turf and irrigation. Other residents would like to see it managed as open space, and kept as undeveloped as possible. Joe has been advised that a group of citizens is planning to approach the City Council with its ideas to develop the property into a more park -like environment. Joe said that re- zoning or re- classifying land parcels can be quite complex and may require a citizen vote, since they are specified by the city charter. Linda asked whether staff had any opinions about how the land ought to be zoned. Joe said that bluegrass would be hard to maintain and also that the parcel really over -grew with weeds last spring due to the heavy spring rains and mowing was difficult. Apparently the shelter at the site needs significant repair work and city has had trouble getting bids to get the work done. Helen said that she would be very interested in contributing to that discussion if it comes up to City Council. VI. Board Updates - A. none VII. Public Comments on Items Not on the Agenda - A. John Steiner, (1712 Steel Street. #7206) brought a document explaining his interest in how Louisville Parks and Open Space may have openings or opportunities for agricultural uses. Mr. Steiner has a background in organic farming. He would like to see a discussion item on organic farming be added to a future OSAB agenda. His idea is that the City would help him establish an organic farm and then, in exchange, the farm would sell local, organic produce to Louisville school lunch programs. Chris asked if Mr. Steiner had any of the City's properties in mind for his plan. He answered that he would need 3 -5 irrigated acres in order to generate enough volume. Chris mentioned that there is a property adjacent to Monarch High School which might be appropriate. Mr. Steiner also saw produce being grown at Harney Lastoka. He also spied agricultural land near North Open Space (perhaps Callahan). Helen asked whether the children would be invited to get involved in the Farm to School program. Mr. Steiner said it would mostly be a food procurement program. Laura asked if he was envisioning the City of Louisville paying for the farming, then donating the produce to the Boulder Valley School District. Mr. Steiner replied he wasn't sure. He said some towns use this sort of program as an incubator for small businesses. Helen asked Ember how agricultural land is currently being leased. Ember replied that the agricultural leases are usually multi- year, there are applications and bidding, and the farmers supply their own equipment. All the City's agricultural land is co -owned with Boulder County and the County handles the lease management, not the City. Joe and Ember also cautioned that procuring water rights for a property is always complex. Spencer asked if there was any precedent for this sort of arrangement. Mr. Steiner replied that there wasn't really, though there were