Open Space Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2017 06 14

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Open Space Advisory Board Minutes May 10th, 2017 Page 2 of 6 weed control. Mike asked if the public is well -separated from the goats. Ember replied that there are a double electrical fences and signs. Ember said that part of the purpose of the goats is to teach citizens about weed issues on Open Space, commenting that the goats make good ambassadors. H. There will be a bird walk at the golf course at 7:00 on Saturday. I. There will be a weed ID event at 10:00 on North Open Space on Saturday. J. Ember will send the board updates on Boulder County's Open Space bus tour scheduled for May 20th. K. Staff fixed potholes at Aquarius Open Space trailhead. L. Staff have selected and hired a new Open Space Ranger: Aubrey Hilte. She will start on May 30th. M. Staff had to re -open the position for the seasonal maintenance employee. N. A dog poop pick-up event was held on Friday evening at the Davidson Mesa Dog Off -leash Area (DOLA). Nine people attended. Ember shared her idea of Open Space sponsoring a regularly scheduled poop pick up events on rotating Open Space Properties. Laura mentioned that she had a similar idea: a monthly, all -day (extra trash cans, extra waste bags) push for clean-up, held on the first Friday of the month at the Davidson Mesa DOLA, so all the daily -users could pitch in at their regular visiting time, rather than during a specific extra time, like a Friday night. Ember shared some education signs, including a campaign using a mascot called the Poop Fairy. Jim commented that he really liked the "Pick Two" campaign, encouraging people to pick up their own dog's waste plus one other pile. VI. Board Updates - A. Fiona reported that she received a call from Joy Rasor, a neighbor of the Davidson Mesa DOLA. She has multiple concerns about the property. She would like to see the northern social trail closed. B. Update on City Council Budget Discussion from April 25th. Jim and Helen attended. Jim reported that the most interesting part of the discussion for him was Council's discussion about using the Open Space & Park Tax Fund for acquisition projects vs. use for on-going maintenance, and the importance of using money from the fund for management projects like control burns. Joe commented that there are growing public and Council expectations about maintenance on Open Space. He added that Council asked Open Space staff to come back in August with some estimated benchmarks to compare staffing and maintenance funding against comparable communities. Joe added that with increased usage, Council may want two rangers on the properties. Mike commented that enforcement has been inadequate and this is a good example of the maintenance funding that is needed. Ember pointed out how tricky this sort of bench -marking exercise can be, since funding for City programs is often from diverse departments (e.g. Parks vs. Public Works) and differing program elements. Jim reported that former City Manager Malcolm Fleming estimated that the acquisition cost of Open Space in Louisville at $49k/acre. C. Jim reported that the Adler-Fingru property seems to have been denuded by prairie dogs. Ember told him that this parcel of land is co -owned by Boulder County and they are responsible for prairie dog management. VII. Public Comments on Items Not on the Agenda - A. none 3