Open Space Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2018 08 08

Home Browse Search

July Minutes Continued Ember Brignull From: Gary Mansdorfer Sent: Friday, July 06, 2018 9:57 PM To: Ember Brignull Cc: City Council; Parks and Rec Attachments: 20180706_150849jpg Dear Ember, Since you are the Staff Liaison with the OSAB, I am sending this e-mail to you to forward to the OSAB members, as well as cc Open Space staff if possible. I have also cc'd Council as I have been told that this issue came down through them, and I know that Council cares deeply about our Open Space.1 also feel so fortunate to live in a city where our elected officials and city staff are so committed to finding fair solutions to everyone involved. Our home borders the Davidson Mesa Open Space. I have become aware that the city is making a renewed effort to eliminate private encroachments on open space. I am familiar with this issue. During the time frame of 2004-2006, I was on the OSAB when we developed the initial City of Louisville Open Space Management Plan, as well as worked with the county to develop the jointly owned open space management plan. That was a busy time for us as well as a time of significant change since there were few formal policies and procedures prior to that. At that time, there were significant encroachments on 05, especially in the Dutch Creek neighborhood where many of the residents had vegetable gardens as well as some who had swing sets, lawn furniture, etc. We began a dialog with these residents and began formulating policies to eliminate these encroachments. It was the right thing to do, but we were careful to work with those residents since many of them had these encroachments for decades and it became emotional for many. At that time, we told residents that they could keep a small strip of weed barrier along the fence to stop weed encroachment. We did not give anyone official permission to mow on 05, but it was decided at that time to not go after residents who were mowing within a reasonable band so as not to upset more people. Because I have always been appreciative and respectful of this issue of encroachment, for most of the 20 years I have lived along 05, 1 have not done anything to create an encroachment. I have battled Bindweed encroachment from the OS to our lot continuously for all of these years. The only way to effectively do this is through the use of chemical herbicides. Since I think that we should do everything possible to reduce the use of these chemicals, early last summer 1 put in a 12" wide weed barrier on the OS side of the fence. The results have been wonderful. I have totally.$Jip( ted• *. herbicide applications and our landscaping and lawn have been free of Bindweed all of last summer and so far.this' , summer. I have attached a photo of this 12" wide strip that currently exists. You can barely see it from a few feet away and it is totally invisible from more than about ten feet away. You certainly cannot see it from the multi -use path on the 05. Once again, I cannot tell you how nice it has been to have a permanent, non -chemical solution to Bindweed encroachment. I want to make it clear that I am not emotionally attached to my solution, but I am emotionally attached to the concept of a solution. If there is a better, non -chemical solution, I would be happy to remove my weed barrier. Therefore, I would like to ask the OSAB and the OS Staff to explore this issue and begin a dialog with residents on solutions that will work for everyone. I know that I am not going to be the only resident who wants a reasonable dialog on seeking solutions. Here are a few additional comments: 1 9