Open Space Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2017 02 08

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Open Space Advisory Board Minutes January 11th 2016 Page 5 of 6 include creating maintenance matrices as a goal, given the previous discussion item. Laura commented that she was happy to work on this issue, but she didn't want to conflate it with the guiding priorities identified previously. The board discussed the difference between "action items" and "guiding principles." Jim asked whether the hope was trying to create a specific "strategic plan" document. Helen replied that Council asks for yearly goals, but the framework for the document tends to be fluid. Helen cautioned that OSAB can only speak to the goals of the board members, though Council has expressed that it wants help thinking "big." The board discussed how much detail is desirable in this sort of document, trying to balance expediency and strength of the document. Helen asked if we wanted to change the five priorities. The board suggested that the 5th category be changed from "ranger/education" to simply "education," since the ranger position has been implemented. There were no other priorities suggested. Helen suggested we could re -vote on priorities next month with more board members present. XIII. Discussion Item: Review Updates to the Parks & Recreation Department Integrated Weed Management Plan— Ember shared the City's Integrated Weed Management Plan. There were two reasons this document was on the agenda. The first reason was that the plan is supposed to be updated periodically; the other reason was to provide a public forum for citizens to comment on it. There was no public at this meeting. Joe recently received a petition from citizens for "an herbicide/insecticide-free City" also motivating this discussion. The City's Integrated Weed Management Plan was written in 2009 as a response from staff to previous citizens who expressed a desire for an herbicide -free city. At the time it was written, the document had received input, edits, and final approval from many local municipalities, and experts. Helen recommended adding a little piece in the document about its history and the stake holders/authors. Ember shared a few edits to the document, for example, changing "Open Sapce" to read "City -owned land." Staff also added a section on the Colorado Department of Agriculture's "Watch List Species" which didn't exist when the original draft war written. Helen suggested a change on pg. 35, modifying the language from "latest monitoring efforts" to a specific date and location of monitoring. Ember also updated some language/word-smithing in the appendix. She added language to reflect the staff's policy of not spraying near schools when children are likely to be in the area. Citizens concerned about chemical control often request mechanical control instead. Ember reminded OSAB of the relative cost differences in labor between these alternatives. Ember reported that last year Open Space staff did 700 hours of mechanical weed control (e.g. pulling/clipping) and nearly four times less of chemical control. For a specific example, she shared that mechanical control on the cobbled area 7