· IN ATTENDANCE:

ESTES VALLEY TRAILS COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, May 5, 2015 7:00 P.M

Downstairs Meeting Room Estes Park 18-Hole Golf Course Clubhouse

1480 Golf Course Road Estes Park, CO 80517

Voting Members: Gary Matthews, Lisa Plaut, Dick Putney, Ed Hayek, Danny Basch, Hal Dalzell, Ken TeSelle, Amy Plummer (arrived at 7:30)

Non-voting Members: Non-Voting Members: Erica Goad (EVLT Liaison), Ben Greer (EVRPD Board Liaison); Herb Loveall (EVRPD Interim Parks-Trails Maintenance Manager); Skyler Rorabaugh, EVRPD Executive Director, Tina Kurtz (Town Community Development), Phil Kleisler (Town Community Development)

ABSENT: (excused absence) Non-Voting Member: Janet Carabell, EVRPD Administrative Assistant

GUESTS: Dan Marshall (being considered for membership on the Trails Committee)

Prior notice of this meeting was given by posting a notice at the Town of Estes Park's Municipal Building, the Estes Park Public Library, Estes Valley Recreation and Park District' s Administration Office, the Larimer County Clerk's Office in Estes Park, the Boulder County Courthouse in Boulder.

Trails Committee President, Gary Matthews, called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES

Moved by Dick Putney, seconded by Danny Basch, to approve the March I 0, 2015, Trails Committee meeting minutes, as presented.

Ayes - 7. No further discussion. Motion carried unanimously.

TREASURER'S REPORT

Two financial reports, both dated March 31 , 2015, were prepared by Mary Davis, EVRPD' s Accountant. Year-to-date reports include a trails fund balance and a trails expense report that compares this year's budget to last year's budget. The Trails Fund balance as of March 31 , 2015, is $607,613. Trails Expenses: YTD actual operating expenses are $53,596.20; YTD operating budget is $25,654; total YTD trail expenses are $320,796.

Moved by Hal Dalzell, seconded by Ed Hayek, to approve the March 31, 2015, Treasurer's Reports, as presented.

Ayes - 7. No discussion. Motion carried unanimously.

NEW MEMBER APPOINTMENTS

Dan Marshall explained why he would like to serve on the Trails Committee. Dan is an avid trail user and is particularly into bicycling. Dan had an accident that left him handicapped. Since then, he has been active in utilizing a bicycle to accommodate his needs and that allows him to still be an avid trail user.

Moved by Lisa Plaut, seconded by Ken TeSelle, to appoint Dan Marshall to the Trails Committee.

Ayes - 7. No further discussion. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved by Hal Dalzell, seconded by Ken TeSelle, to reappoint Dick Putney to the Trails Committee.

Ayes - 7. No further discussion. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved by Lisa Plaut, seconded by Dick Putney, to reappoint Ed Hayek to the Trails Committee.

Ayes - 7. No further discussion. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved by Lisa Plaut, seconded by Ken TeSelle, to reappoint Amy Plummer to the Trails Committee.

Ayes - 7. No further discussion. Motion carried unanimously.

OFFICER APPOINTMENTS

Current Officers President: Vice President: Treasurer: Secretary:

Gary Matthews Amy Plummer Dick Putney Hal Dalzell

Moved by Lisa Plaut, seconded by Hal Dalzell, to accept the current officers to serve another term.

Ayes - 7. No further discussion. Motion carried unanimously.

SUBCOMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

Easement Subcommittee Phil Kleisler Amy Plummer Erica Goad (EVL T Liaison)

Field Trip Subcommittee Danny Basch Gary Matthews Amy Plummer Ken TeSelle Herb Loveall (EVRPD staff)

Interview Subcommittee Lisa Plaut Gary Matthews Skyler Rorabaugh (EVRPD staff)

Comprehensive Trails Plan Subcommittee Danny Basch Ed Hayek Dan Marshall Gary Matthews Lisa Plaut Dick Putney Erica Goad (EVLT Liaison) Phil Kleisler/Tina Kurtz (Town of Estes Park Liaisons) Herb Loveall (EVRPD staff) Skyler Rorabaugh (EVRPD staff)

ATTENDANCE RECORD MAY 2014-APRIL 2015

The committee members reviewed the report in the packet and noted that no member had unexcused absences or had serious delinquencies.

EVRPD UPDATES

Updates were provided in the meeting packets. Skyler addressed flood recovery.

Fish Creek Trail is still on target for Phase 2 of Phase IL We hopefully can start construction in the summer of 2016 and wrap that up within the summer or early fall. We have over 50 right-of-way agreements that have to be established with private property owners. We set aside a 6-month period for that. We are at 90% submittal to FEMA and the State but we have a couple issues that will take a little more time, primarily the pedestrian bridges. The trail design will be changed a little but will stay like it was before. There will be curb and drainage outlets. We will have a visual and physical barrier that we did not have before. We had 3 major areas that washed out even before the flood. They will be corrected. Beyond the Hiltons' property there will be better drainage. The Town portion of the trail along the golf course will be made ADA accessible. The Town is in discussions now about the pedestrian bridges. Once the utility work is finished and they are past Brodie, the Town will drop in temporary culverts along Brodie A venue for vehicle access.

Homer Rouse Trail - EVRPD staff will work on it. We are hiring American Conservation Experience to do the final grooming of the trail and a lot of drainage work to do. There will probably be 30 water bars and one culvert. There is a lot of run-off on that trail. There is signage to put up. We were awarded two grants -Colorado Parks and Wildlife and GOCO. Hopefully we can get to that this fall. Amy asked if there will be an opportunity for volunteers to help. There will be and Skyler will let the committee know when the work is lined up. Volunteers worked on signage the first time around.

Lake Estes Trail - We were awarded a $14,000 grant to bring in American Conservation Experience to perform work beyond the bird sanctuary and Fisherman's Nook to restore the banks. A lot of work needs to be done. We are trying to have everything in place before spring run-off. The causeway will require big machinery. Herb reported that he has put a culvert next to the stabilized Highway 36 trail underpass. They poured concrete and put dirt on top. The lines on the trail are scheduled to be repainted. Grinding needs to be done where the slabs have shifted and there is a lip. Herb will use the Town's grinder to bevel them and make it smoother.

Whoever snowplowed the trail between Brodie A venue and the dog park left dirt down the center of the trail. Herb will take care of it. Lake Estes Trail improvements will not be done in 2015, but rather in 2016. An RFP will have to be issued for the work.

Noel's Draw (Common Point) - We are negotiating for a design contract. It will take 14 weeks. Then construction can start. They estimate 6 weeks for construction. We should have a contract in place for the Board to approve this month. There are four different funding sources for this project.

COMPREHENSIVE TRAILS MASTER PLAN RFP UPDATE

The request for proposals was issued a few weeks ago. The pre-proposal meeting is May 13 and the bid deadline is May 20. Six companies have requested information. Skyler is familiar with 5 of the 6 companies, with one of them having worked with Larimer County. The comfort level will be there for the submissions. Lisa discussed the multi-use aspect of the trail. There needs to be separate accommodations for horses and bicycles. The new consultant will consult with the Trails Committee in the beginning. Having enough parking for horse trailers at trailheads is an issue. Fish Creek Trail should connect with the fairgrounds. Horse people want to be able to ride to the arena at Stanley Park. There is the decision of having a hard surface trail or soft surface trail. For a hard surface trail there should be a dirt shoulder. It is nice to have a soft surface for many purposes. Along Fish Creek Trail there will be a 5-foot shoulder constructed on each side of the trail where possible.

ESTES VALLEY COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER

At a recent community engagement meeting, sixty-three people showed interest in serving on a committee. We formalized 8 committees. Our Board meets tomorrow with George K. Baum, financial advisers, whether to have an election and if so when. The committees will meet and move the project forward. The capital campaign will hopefully reduce how much money to request in an election. The project is estimated to cost $25,000,000. Grant sources and foundations are requesting that the District raise 40% of funding; others recommend 60% or more. It is important to move ahead with the capital campaign. We are working with architects and engineers about the site plan. Development of the site plan needs to be in place. We need to have a construction permit by January 1, 2017.

Other mountain communities have been contacted to see how their community centers were funded, what is working and what is not, what are the pitfalls, what are the positive features. There is a lot of opportunity for involvement of the community.

STATEWIDE TRAILS RECREATION MAP PROJECT DISCUSSION

Gary and Hal have been working with the State on gathering information on Estes Valley trails in all stages of development and planning, and whether or not they are recognized by the Forest Service and National Park Service. ln 2005, the Trails Committee developed a master plan for the Estes Valley that will be shared with the project. Everything has been submitted to the state except for proposed trails.

LAKE ESTES FITNESS EQUIPMENT GRAND OPENING CEREMONY PLANS

Saturday, May 30, at 4:00 P.M. at Cherokee Draw - This is the location of the largest fitness station. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony and Gary and Skyler will speak. GOCO representatives will attend. Eric Adams will have somebody at each station. Dan Marshall will demonstrate the ADA fitness station at the

Wapiti Meadows. Zachary Brittain, the Eagle Scout who helped with the Cherokee Draw fitness station, will also attend. The event will be photographed.

EASEMENT COMMITTEE UPDATE

Otie's Trail - Amy contacted the Pratt family regarding the Otie's Trail connection (Steamer Drive to West _J..akej but they haven't answered. L a n~

Aspenbrook Trail - Kent Meyer (YMCA) contacted Skyler regarding discussions he had with the Duncan family about the Duncan and Cowley properties. There is a possibility they will provide an easement. Larry Gamble (NPS) also contacted Skyler, and there will still need to be discussions with the NPS. The Cowley property is the critical one. The Duncan property had the original road across it. This easement may be obtained this summer. The YMCA or EVRPD will hold the easement.

TOWN OF ESTES PARK LIAISON UPDATE

Phil Kleisler is a Planner for the Community Development Department of the Town. Nothing has changed since Dave Shirk' s last report to the Trails Committee. The downtown proposal to make traffic one-way is the hot issue now. The Riverwalk that cuts by the Park Theater is the immediate problem. There would have to be business hours enforced because of security. Before the fire that section was not open 24/7, so it would be a non-issue to the Trails Committee.

OTHER BUSINESS

GOCO Grant - Skyler reported that EVRPD has applied for a grant for the proposed bike park in Stanley Park, and we should be notified by June 18 if it is successful. This is a joint venture with various organizations. We also requested $10,000 from Sunrise Rotary for the Lawson Skate Park. The project involves upgrades to existing features in Stanley Park.

Osprey are trying to nest at the power plant.

Moose have been spotted on Otie's Trail.

NEXT EVTC MEETING

The next Trails Committee meeting is July 7, 2015 - 7 p.m. - in the Downstairs Meeting Room of the Estes Park 18-Hole Golf Course Clubhouse (1480 Golf Course Road in Estes Park).

Potential Trails Hike (TBD)

Meeting adjourned at 8:49 p.m.

A~e~~ Date Recorded by Skyler Rorabaugh & Dale Stapleton