Open Space Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2023 08 09

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could be shared with the public. Helen and Laura said they would like to have the presentation included as an addendum to the July meeting's minutes. Laura said that while she watched this presentation with its lists of pros and cons for each mitigation strategy, she found it hard to weigh the tradeoffs without any sort of cost estimates. Some of the strategies are significantly more cost -prohibitive than others, and the Open Space operations budget is tight. Meg and Ember said that they are working on this information and it will be included in the final report. Laura said even a relative cost ranking, like "high -medium - low", might be helpful. Helen felt like it would be helpful to include a few words in this report that place it in the context of the other actions that the city is taking to address the problems of the Marshall Fire. She wanted to be sure people don't think open space hardening is the only solution to the problem of wildfire protection. Ember said that this sort of information would be included in the final report. Sharie Sommer, a Louisville resident, commented that fire mitigation strategies need to be parcel -dependent and would require active, responsive management. She said she is involved with the Louisville Wildlife Advocates group, and they are very interested in prairie dog issues, noting that they would take interest in the plan to use prairie dogs for fire mitigation. Ms. Sommer added that Highway 36 was a huge firebreak and it couldn't stop the fire on the day of the Marshall Fire. Meg agreed, saying that mitigation only works up to a certain point. Meg observed that from her analysis, there was nothing that Park and Open Space management could have been doing differently that would have mitigated the effects of the Marshall Fire on that day. 7. Information Item: Staff Updates, Presented by Ember Brignull, Open Space Superintendent. See Staff Updates on pages 36-58 of the March OSAB Meeting packet. Ember has just learned that the Ditch Company will be removing vegetation in the Goodhue Ditch. This will include the removal of vegetation, including some cottonwood trees at Walnut and Daughenbaugh. The work will likely start soon. Ginger will be posting information on the webpage and putting signs up in the field, as citizens have questions when they see vegetation coming down. Ember and the city forester worked with the Ditch Company to get them to save as many trees as possible. The trails and maintenance staff position has been filled. Candidates are interviewing for the senior natural resource management position. Ember mentioned the Lou program described in the meeting packet, and Jojo asked who the audience for the Lou program was supposed to be: children or adults? Ember replied that it was for everyone. Charles asked for some background about the Church/Tennis/96th Street Trail Update. Ember explained that a few years ago, the board had been asked whether it would be interested in land dedication and a trail running along the eastern edge of the 96th Street properties during