Open Space Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2022 11 09

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Open Space Advisory Board Minutes October 12, 2022 Page 4 of 8 Charles said that he understood why the area around Dutch Creek needed to be paved for maintenance/flooding reasons, but did not perceive a need for this. Ember confirmed that this section of the Coal Creek Trail has been prone to washouts and concreting the section will allow water to pass over and reduce trail closures and maintenance efforts. David asked about the cost for concrete from US 36 to Dillon. Cameron said that this project had been estimated at $720k, including contingencies. Susan asked if the current crusher fines surface has caused any accidents or injuries on this trail. Cameron said he has no information about that. Ember reported that staff doesn't know of any. David said he thought this was the least important piece of the underpass initiative, and just because it is cheap, doesn't mean it should be done. Furthermore, he is hearing from people that they are concerned that the city intends to convert all the city's trails to concrete. He added that he feels that what Superior is doing to the Coal Creek Trail on their side of the highway is irrelevant —they have a very different concept of what kind of space along Coal Creek they want. David asked what the board should do if it is opposed to this plan. Cameron suggested that OSAB state its concerns in a memo to council. Charles asked about this project's timeframe. Cameron said he thinks it has been removed from the budget. He later confirmed this. Charles commented that he doesn't like the Superior section of the Coal Creek Trail and if this section gets paved, then about half of the Coal Creek Trail will be paved in Louisville. He would like to be proactive in voicing the board's disapproval of this plan. Laura agreed. Ember mentioned that since this is a regional trail, the city should be careful about making decisions about the trail without input from the regional partners. Charles commented that he thinks it doesn't make sense to pave a section of the trail simply to tie it into an underpass program that doesn't exist. Ember said if the board thinks the concrete would impair the user experience, they should state that. Charles and Laura pointed out this project would cost twice as much as the wayfinding project, something that the board has been advocating for years. Adam said the next council budget meeting would be at next Tuesday, so a memo should come quickly. The board was unanimous that they are not in favor of this project. Charles volunteered to write up a memo to that effect. The board wants to get this memo to Council by next Tuesday. The board decided that the memo should touch upon these points: • The board prefers the user experience of soft surface trails and are hearing from citizens that they don't want too much concrete in the city.