Title
Open Space Advisory Subcommittee Report
Body
Tues, February 13, 2018
In attendance: Kevin Holsapple, Jonathan Creel, Liz Aicher, Amy Rogers, Stephanie Nakhleh, Eric Peterson
1. The Open Space Advisory Subcommittee has an opening, since John Hogan is stepping down.
2. Canyon restoration: the first draft of the scope of work is off to Brian Brogan and Chris Wilson. Once they make their edits Eric will provide it to this group. Forest guild scope of work was used as a template. Eric/Open Space is focusing on that severe headcut, with the goal of bringing that back up to normal level. Eric is also working with traffic and streets to reduce the runoff. Open Space will produce an informational project with signs explaining what the County did, and why. Then we will go back to (former PRB/OSSC liaison) Mike Steinzig’s evaluation of work needed and prioritization.
3. Jonathan says Open Space is partnering with PEEC for another cleanup day in Grad Canyon, Pueblo, and it’ll be a training day for volunteers to learn trail work, trimming, etc. Scheduled for April 22. (Earth Day, Sunday)
4. Signs: 55 trail signs have now been installed. Eric hasn’t installed much now due to winter but will kick it back up in March. Eric is working from Camp Hamilton to Aquatic Center and moving into Bayo now. He started in Woodland. He has had to order spares of every sign because he can predict vandalism, but he has signs as securely installed as possible.
5. Flow trail: RFP closed last week. Two bids so far. County is completing conversations with SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office) re: historical roads. Flagged flow trail crosses the historical Bayo Road 2 or 3 times. Also partnering with US Fish and Wildlife, and LANL, to protect trees, animals, etc. Two corridors are flagged near crossings, County will let trail builder (if/when selected) decide which route makes more sense, is more sustainable. Open Space is soliciting letters of recommendation from these folks. (As in, recommend what to avoid: harm reduction.) Amy: The Forest Service has very specific guidelines about trails, users, and space between. Eric: How trails are decided: The community goes to PRB, which goes to Council. You don’t just think of a trail and build it (that was the old way). We need to follow the management plans. Kevin: and the management plans are all multi-use.
6. Camp May kiosk: Rotary Club will be assisting Parks and Open Space to construct an entrance kiosk, the kind of kiosk you’d see at any other campground in New Mexico. Open Space plans to do that in April.
7. North Mesa trail access: Open Space is looking into creating a sustainable equestrian route into Bayo Canyon. A leading contender route is the mostly-disused trail behind the Posse Lodge. The County also might formalize that informal parking spot by the Posse Lodge. Amy: One concern about that route is iciness in the winter. Eric: Of the options this route looks to be safest way, and it doesn’t cross the flagged Flow Trail corridor. It would be multi-use but build to wider standards for horses, with big switchbacks. Amy: the feedback I’ve gotten from places where horse trails and flow trails co-exist is that the horse people just stop using trails. Liz: On that note, we need more signs about who yields to whom throughout Bayo. (Everyone yields to horses.) Amy: Some cyclists really get it but we could use some more education. Eric: County is also investigating a parallel mulch trail that follows the concrete trail from the stables to the roundabout along North Mesa Road.
8. General discussion: Liz: Are you getting involved in stormwater runoff when new developments are being planned? Eric: trying to, but it’s difficult. Liz: The CMO says the County wants DP Canyon (the little canyon the bridge goes over) to be used for recreation. The stuff planned on DP Road will have an impact on Canyon Rim and runoff; someone needs to be paying attention to that. Kevin: there’s still no infrastructure on right side of DP road, which is holding development back. Liz and Kevin: The end of DP road seems an appropriate place for self-storage lockers and RV storage, and other unsightly things. Eric: speaking of Canyon Rim, County is trying to get the next phase to 20th street going (acquiring easements is the challenge), and then the next phase after that, to the hospital, will be even more challenging. That canyon edge is dirty.