Open Space Advisory Board 2018 01 10 Final Minutes

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Open Space Advisory Board Minutes January 10th, 2017 Page 2 of 6 H. Staff is working on municipal code revisions so that Open Space and Park titles align and are easily understood by the public. Staff is currently reviewing the language, then the City's lawyers will review the suggestions. Council will be asked to vote for the final approval. I. Staff is working on updating the job description for the new ranger-naturalist position. Joe clarified that this position will still emphasize enforcement, but with the flexibility for land-management work, as well. Joe added that there will be CIP budget work in February. Staff will be putting a CIP review packet together for OSAB's review. The budget wouldn't be adopted until fall, but staff wants to hear about OSAB's priorities. Helen asked him how OSAB could best provide input. Joe answered that staff would share the 5 year CIP with OSAB in February and they'd like OSAB to comment on ranking/priority and input/output. Helen asked about the operation budgets. Joe answered that there would be scheduling information about that in February. Joe also announced there is a new City advisory board: the Recreation Board. Fiona asked when the new ranger might start. Ember predicted April. J. Lisa (Linda Smith's daughter) has said that the Smith family is very pleased about the ideas for Linda's memorial. K. Joe reported on the slope failure at Coyote Run Open Space. American Geoservices, the firm contracted to give a detailed study on the site, recently presented their findings to City Council. Council recommended continuing to monitor the site. American Geoservices has suggested four remediation alternatives. There are bids out to get cost/impact estimates for the various alternatives on February 2nd. Staff will continue to keep OSAB informed on the status of this process. Staff have closed off the property's access entry from the housing subdivision above the slump. This was a decision based on safety and liability issues, and was done at the recommendation of American Geoservices. As time goes by, staff wants to figure out how water flows through the site and how people in the area can help mitigate it. City Public Works engineers have approved this course of action. V. Board Updates- A. Helen and Jim attended the City Council meeting held on January 2, 2018. Helen shared her observations and impressions from the meeting. During that meeting, Council debated, then accepted, a motion instructing OSAB not to recommend closing the Davidson Mesa Dog Off-leash Area (DOLA), but supporting OSAB's continued investigation into management issues and solutions at the site. This motion was emailed to OSAB members. Helen reported that there were lots of public comments at this meeting, estimating that about 10 people voiced their support for the DOLA. Helen said that she tried to make the point that the City charter directs OSAB to make suggestions for Open Space management and that passive recreation is the only legal use of Open Space land. Jeff Lipton made a revised motion including the direction that OSAB not suggest closure of DOLA. Mayor Muckle suggested that this language be removed, though he ultimately voted to adopt it, as written. Peter, who was also at the meeting, noted that this motion was approved unanimously. Helen announced that she was concerned that Council directed OSAB not to fulfill its role, as specified by the City Charter. She went on to say that she has subsequently heard from several other City advisory boards about their shared dismay that Council asked OSAB not to make a specific recommendation. She felt Council should know that she and other boards continue to be concerned about this topic. Jim, who also attended, added his concern.