Open Space Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2016 05 11

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Open Space Advisory Board Minutes April 13th 2015 Page 3 of 7 Q. Ember was on a panel to review Fort Collins' prairie dog management plan, which was interesting and informational. She learned a lot about urban prairie dogs and how managing them is very different from managing rural prairie dogs. R. Ember also attended a Bureau of Land Management workshop on re- seeding wild lands. S. CIPs go to the finance department this week. T. The City is having a hard time recruiting seasonal employees this year. Golf and Parks are both less than half- staffed. Apparently this is also a problem for surrounding communities, not just Louisville. VII. Board Updates - A. Graeme is starting a new position as Vice President for Conservation and Research at the Denver Zoo. His wife is the new Director of Early Education. B. Graeme has been seeing lots of foxes. VIII. Public Comments on Items Not on the Agenda - A. Todd Olinger (1026 Meadow Ct) & Terry Davis (816 Pike's Peak Ct) gave a presentation about a fencing proposal for the City. Mr. Olinger is the HOA president of the Grove at Harper Lake, which includes 89 houses. There is a fence between the Harper Lake property and twelve of the Grove's houses, that was built by the City in 1986. The fencing on the east side of Harper Lake was replaced a few years back, but the fence on the south side, abutting the Grove houses is in very poor repair. Most of the homes at Harper Lake have gates in their fences, and satellite photos show social trails between most of the gates and the lake. The HOA found a consensus for this proposal amongst the 12 homeowners who abut the Harper Lake fence on the south section. This is the proposal: The city removes the old fence. The HOA partners with the City to build a new fence, splitting the cost 50/50. They have a design in mind that includes wire for dog enclosures, but they would seek the City's design input. Once the fence is built it would become the twelve home - owners' responsibility to maintain it and enforce the design guidelines. Private owners who want gates through the fence must pay 100% of the cost of the gate. Mr. Olinger pointed out that this plan would ensure style consistency around the lake and eliminates maintenance and liability for the City. Ember reminded the board that questions for Mr. Olinger and Mr. Davis are fine, but formal discussion must wait until next month, when it can be listed on the meeting agenda as a discussion item. Christopher asked who owns the fence itself and the land that the fence is on. Mr. Olinger replied that the fence seems to be right on the property line and that it took 6 months to determine that the fence is actually owned by the City. Ember said that the City attorney confirmed this. Spencer asked if the City is required to have a fence there at all. Spencer asked whether the split rail fence on the western side of Harper Lake has an enclosure wire design. Ember answered yes. Mike asked whether there is any sort of City policy about gates into Open Space. Ember said there is no gate prohibition, but building social trails and trampling vegetation would be a violation. Mr. Davis pointed out that there may be some legal distinction between "building a trail" with mowing and gravel and "building a trail" by wearing a pattern with use. Laura asked if the HOA wanted to match the split rail design built by the City on the west side of Harper Lake. Mr. Davis replied that the HOA had concerns about durability issues for that style and preferred a "California fence" style. Spencer asked whether the homeowners could build their own fences. Mr. Olinger replied that any homeowner would have to come to both the HOA and the City for approval. The twelve homeowners 4