City Council Study Session Agenda and Packet 2014 09 23

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L City at - Louisville COLORADO • SINCE 1878 CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION AGENDA ITEM 11 SUBJECT: DATE: OPEN SPACE RULES AND REGULATIONS SEPTEMBER 23, 2014 PRESENTED BY: JOE STEVENS, PARKS AND RECREATION DAVID HAYES, POLICE CHIEF SUMMARY: The City of Louisville received an e -mail from Gary Baxley requesting that the City review and consider modifications to its Code of Ordinances relative to the posting of rules on open space and trails within the City of Louisville. Mr. Baxley has made some good observations and many appear to relate to way finding efforts that the Open Space Advisory Board and City staff has been discussing for some time. General comments include: • Presently, the City has 33 rules and regulation signs on open space. A lengthy list of "do's and don'ts" may not be an effective way of communicating information. • The Open Space Advisory Board (OSAB), along with the Planning and Parks and Recreation Departments, is working on a consistent way finding program. • Issues relative to signage including intended purpose such as enforcement, educational, informational may not be very effective if too detailed. • While individuals may be able to walk sidewalks 24 hours a day, walking paved trails at night; for example North Open Space or Bullhead Gulch, may impact wildlife, aggravate other residents with late night activity, and be hazardous to one's health as we do have occasional albeit infrequent reported sightings of bear and even mountain lions at North Open Space. • Locations for trash receptacles will be re- evaluated, however, we get complaints about clutter and not wanting a trash receptacle or a sign in resident's line of sight- adding to visual clutter. • Parks and Open Space is working with the Police Department in the context of having more of a presence on open space, and in creating a bicycle patrol to serve as trail hosts or ambassadors on our vast trails network. Overall, Parks and Open Space receives very few complaints about needing more regulatory signs or wanting more trash receptacles excepting an occasional call for more trash receptacles at Davidson Mesa. Most Louisville trail users are courteous and use good judgment whether on a bicycle, jogging or pushing a stroller. As a point of discussion, City Council may want to discuss differences between regional trails and local trails as speeds, uses and purposes do vary. Regional trails may need more regulatory signage. CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION 14