MEETING OF THE PARKS & OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOULDER COUNTY, COLORADO AGENDA

Regular Meeting Minutes

Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 6:30 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

Virtual POSAC Meeting

Members Present:

• Jenn Archuleta
• Janet George
• Steven Meyrich
• Ann Obenchain
• Heather Williams
• Trace Baker
• Paula Fitzgerald

Members Absent:

• James Krug
• Tony Lewis

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1.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:31 p.m.

2.

Roll Call

3.

Election of Officers

Steven Meyrich nominated Paula Fitzgerald for Chair. Jenn Archuleta seconded. Motion was approved unanimously. 

Jenn Archuleta nominated Heather Williams for Vice Chair. Ann Obenchain seconded. Motion was approved unanimously.

4.

Approval of Last Month's Minutes

• Moved by Janet George
  Seconded by Heather Williams
  APPROVED

5.

Public Comment Period for Items Not on Agenda

Dana Bove, 1935 Tin Cup Ct., Boulder. He represents Front Range Eagle Studies. He spoke about research on Carolyn Holmberg Preserve. 

6.

Presentations

6.1

Wallace (Debra) Acquisition

• Moved by Janet George
  Seconded by Jenn Archuleta
  APPROVED

6.2

Elk and Vegetation Management Plan Update for Red Hill and Ron Stewart Preserve

• Moved by Steven Meyrich
  Seconded by Heather Williams
  APPROVED

6.3

Prairie Dog Management - Proposal to Eliminate Lethal Control Moratorium 

Public Comments:

Anyll Markevich, 5570 Magnolia Dr., Nederland. Against

Christel Markevich, 5570 Magnolia Dr., Nederland. Against

Paula Shuler, 4560 Niwot Rd, Longmont. For

Ruby Bowman, 1512 Lefthand Dr., Longmont. Against

Cody Oreck, 203 Morningside Park Rd., Boulder. For

Lindsey Sterling-Krank, 210 Brook Rd, Boulder. Against

Jessica Albright, 10290 W 14th Place, Lakewood.  Against

Pam Wanek, 2251 W. 154 Pl., Broomfield. Against

Dana Bove, 1935 Tin Cup Ct., Boulder. Against

Keith Bateman, 1819 N 119th St., Lafayette. For

Elizabeth Black, 4340 N. 13th St., Boulder. For

• Moved by Steven Meyrich
  Seconded by Trace Baker
  APPROVED

7.

Director's Update

• The Marshall Fire burned county open space between Marshall and Superior. Approximately 1,700 county acres and over 2,000 acres of city open space were impacted. We want to address questions around the role of open space in the fire.

• • We live in a fire adapted ecosystem. We try to manage that landscape with prescribed fires but having suburban areas around open space means we can’t have prescribed fires as often as we would like.
  • The conditions on Dec. 30 were extreme, with 100-mile an hour winds and weeks of drought. These properties were grazed by agricultural tenants, so the grasses were not left to grow. The fire jumped Hwy 36, so a fuel break would probably would not have stopped the fire. Had this land not been open space, more homes may have been built and burned as a result.
  • We will be looking at new ways to manage open space lands, such as mowing buffers and increasing prescribed fires.
  • With recent snowstorms, Boulder County has not been able to have a good look at the work required before reopening trails. We also need to work with the City of Boulder on the shared trails.

• Sherwood Gulch forestry work is starting and should wrap up by spring.
• The Niwot Passage fish project should finish early this year.
• Parks & Open Space has two new division managers: Jarret Roberts is the new manager for Recreation & Facilities and Stefan Reinhold is the new manager for Resource Management.
• Feb. 5 is the annual POSAC Retreat. It will be virtual again this year.

8.

Adjournment