MEETING OF THE PARKS & OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

BOULDER COUNTY, COLORADO

Regular Meeting Minutes

Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 6:30 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

Third Floor Hearing Room

County Court House

1325 Pearl Street, Boulder

Members Present:

• Janet George
• Trace Baker
• Paula Fitzgerald
• Jackson Moller
• Kristine Johnson
• Derek Turner

Members Excused:

• Tony Lewis
• Drew Adams
• Carol Byerly

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1.

Call to Order

2.

Roll Call

3.

Approval of Last Month's Minutes

• Moved by Paula Fitzgerald
  Seconded by Derek Turner
  APPROVED

4.

Public Comment Period for Items Not on Agenda

Richard Binzel, Boulder County near Lafayette. He spoke to raise awareness of an Open Space View Corridor that is otherwise subject to development at the SW Corner Arapahoe & US 287.

 

5.

POSAC Members Comment Period for Items Not on Agenda

Janet George spoke about the Tolland Ranch tour. She enjoyed the tour and is impressed with the new trail.

Paula Fitzgerald asked Stefan Reinold to have a future presentation about the brush piles remaining at Caribou Ranch after fire treatment mitigation and the future plans for it.

6.

Presentations

6.1

Integrated Weed Management Updates

Staff Presenters: Tina Nielsen, Special Projects Coordinator and Joe Swanson, Weeds Supervisor

Action Requested: Information only

Carol Byerly (POSAC) who was not in person, joined online to ask if they will have an up or down vote or they can make suggestions in December. Tina Nielson responded that POSAC members will be able to ask questions, suggest amendments, and vote whether or not to recommend the plan to the BOCC.

Erin Mischke, Boulder. She has looked for information on her own to better understand the topic. She has concerns after seeing studies about the negative health effects found in some of those studies.

Shelby Kaminski, Gold Hill. She owns Edaphic Solutions, which makes compost tea. She says compost tea protects plants and prevents weeds and pests. She also spoke about steam weeding. She wants to suggest these solutions for county open space.

Amanda Dumenigo, Hygiene. She is co-founder of Save our St. Vrain Valley and spoke out against aerial spraying of herbicides and wants to see a full ban. She recommends goat grazing.

Kathleen Sands, Lyons. She is with Lyons Climate Action. She would like to see Boulder County staff working more with CU scientists on this matter. She spoke about aerial drift and its impacts. 

Christel Markevich, Nederland. She spoke against pesticides on public lands and would like to see alternatives used.

Tess McDonald, Lyons. She spoke against aerial spraying, especially in Crane Hollow. She doesn't think the existence of weeds is enough reason to spray herbicides. 

Mark Guttridge, Ollin Farms, Longmont. He leases Boulder County open space land for farming. He does not use pesticides or herbicides. He would like to see the county using alternative methods and partnering with local farmers.

 

 

6.2

Agriculture Update

Staff Presenter: Cassandra Schnarr, Land and Leases Team Supervisor

Action Requested: Information Only

Erin Mischke, Boulder. She would like to see more county rules around over grazing. 

Tess McDonald, Lyons. She asked if hobby farmer neighbors lease open space land to graze. She also asked who decides about rotational grazing. She wondered if some lands can be returned to indigenous people.

Mark Guttridge, Ollin Farms, Longmont. He is a county leaseholder. He would like staff and POSAC to consider the economic viability of local farmers. He would like to see BCPOS to partner with farmers to make it easier for farmers to make a living.

6.3

The Boulder County Parks & Open Space Foundation: History, Successes, and Future Opportunities

Staff Presenters: Justin Atherton-Wood, Planning Work Group Supervisor and Tina Nielsen, Special Projects Coordinator

Action Requested: Information Only

Due to time, this item was tabled until a future meeting.

6.4

2013 Flood Video

Staff Presenter: Vivienne Jannatpour, Public Information & Engagement Manager

Action Requested: Information Only

Due to time, this video was not shown.

7.

Director's Update

Camp Tahosa – The cultural survey that POSAC recommended is done. The consultant found 2 culturally modified trees and 1 potentially modified tree. Two were modified by surveyors to mark property boundaries. The third is just a potentially modified tree – it shows a strip of bark gone, which potentially could have been modified by the Ute tribe. It could instead be the result of a lightning strike. Otherwise, the consultant found minimal artifacts on the property, such as an old tin can or a broken bottle in a small handful of places.

Toll Trail Soft Opening – Thanks to Janet and Trace for going out on the field trip last Friday.  Toll is open to the public now. It will close again in mid-October as soon as Eldora Ski Area starts making snow. This is part of the agreement POS made with the Tolls and the ski area to prevent trespassing on their Nordic trail system.  Over the winter we will get a name, update any signage, and be ready for a full season next year.

Community Forestry Sort Yards are winding down their season. They close Meeker on Oct. 21, and Nederland on Oct. 28.

We want to encourage you to join the BOCC on the weeds field tour on Oct. 13 if you are available. It would be a good opportunity to talk to BOCC in the field.

The integrated Weeds Management Plan open house is Oct. 11 at the BCPOS office in Longmont – you're invited to stop by.

POS worked with the Harvest of all First Nations on their second annual Corn Festival. This year it was held for two days at the Agricultural Heritage Center. They estimated over 800 people attended. BCPOS staff helped coordinate the days, Monserrat Alveraz gave an interpretive presentation on Corn, and everyone had a great time. Check out their website – Harvest of all First Nations.

Boulder County is receiving an outstanding partners award tonight from the Boulder Valley and Longmont Conservation District. This is for our long-standing collaboration around agriculture and our new found partnership around forest health and fire mitigation throughout the county.

Closures:

Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain: Full park closure for elk management hunting, Mondays and Tuesdays, Oct. 2-Jan. 31.

Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm: Partial trail closure Oct. 2-5 for culvert installation. The access trail to Stearns Lake will be closed (see map below). Detour to Stearns Lake will be S. 104th St. and the Cradleboard Trail. 

Heil Valley Ranch Main Trailhead Parking: Construction closure of main trailhead only, Oct. 10-12 (Tuesday-Thursday) and Oct. 16-19 (Monday-Thursday). All trails and other trailhead parking lots will remain open.

For updates and information about these and other Boulder County Parks & Open Space closures, please visit boco.org/TrailClosures or the specific park page at boco.org/trails.

8.

Adjournment

9:13 p.m.