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ITEM 1 - CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Murphy called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, Lakewood Civic Center, 480 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood, Colorado.
ITEM 2 - ROLL CALL
Those present were: Mayor Bob Murphy, Presiding
Diana Allen
Doug Anderson
Cindy Baroway
Karen Kellen
Sue King
Debbie Koop
Adam Paul
Ed Peterson
Tom Quinn
Vicki Stack
Staff in attendance: Mike Rock, City Manager
Paul Kennebeck, Deputy City Attorney
Full and timely notice of this Study Session had been given and a quorum was present.
ITEM 3 - PRESENTATION - COMMUNITY RESOURCES MASTER PLAN
Kathy Hodgson, Community Resources Director, outlined the process involved in developing the Community Resources Master Plan and introduced several persons who worked on it: Chris Dropinski and Anne Miller, Consultants, GreenPlay; Bruce Peoples, Planning & Construction Manager; George Fivgas, Enterprise Analyst; Ross Williams, Facilities Planner; John Plotkin, Chairman, Lakewood Planning Commission; and Community Resources division managers Michelle Nierling, Mary Masini, Bill Jewell, Steve Carpenter and Kit Botkins. Ms. Hodgson noted that this is the first time a Community Resources Master Plan has been adopted by the Planning Commission and incorporated into the City's master plan. The two documents being reviewed tonight include the master plan adopted by the Planning Commission and the findings and analysis report that includes data and information supporting the master plan. She expressed her hope that after tonight's discussion, the City Council would forward the master plan for final approval at the next regular council meeting.
Chris Dropinski, Senior Principal, and Anne Miller, Senior Project Consultant, GreenPlay, presented an overview of the plan:
Planning Process
o Needs Assessment Focus Groups
o Needs Assessment Survey
o Five Public Meetings
o Interviews - Mayor & City Council
o Four Planning Commission Study Sessions
o Planning Commission Public Hearing
o City Council Study Session
o City Council Regular Meeting
Inventory & GRASP® Analysis
o Component-based
• Indoor and outdoor facilities
o Scored quantity and quality (based on community standards)
o Alternative providers (schools) included
GRASP® Level of Service Maps
o Perspective A: Neighborhood Access to all Components
• 99.8% of Lakewood has neighborhood access to some service
• 0.2% has no neighborhood access
• 93.7% at or above targets
• 6.1% below targets
o Perspective B: Walkable Access to all Components
• 93.8% of Lakewood has walkable access (within 1/3 mile) to some service
• 6.2% has no walkable access
• 62.3% at or above targets
• 31.5% below targets
Environmental and Ecosystem Evaluation
Natural Areas Inventory
o Ecosystem Types
o Wetland Areas
o Wildlife Habitat
o Movement Corridors
Recommendation Action Themes
o Level of Service
o Trail Network
o Facility & Park Management
o Natural Area Management & Environmental Education
o Program Development
o Community Input & Communications
o Pro-active Planning & Sustainable Funding
Level of Service
o Address gaps in service in the eastern part of Lakewood
• Enhance school partnerships
• Improve walkable access
• Investigate land acquisition opportunities
o Look for opportunities to develop facilities to address trends and community
interests
• Teen facilities (i.e. skate parks, climbing walls)
• New components (i.e. disc golf, dog parks)
• Aquatic features (i.e. splash pads, indoor leisure pools)
Trail Network
o Improve trail systems in regional parks
• Implement sustainable trail criteria
• Expand volunteer partnerships
o Increase loop walking opportunities in parks
o Address equestrian users in trail projects
o Advocate for trail connections between parks
o Increase awareness of trails & walking loops
• Develop a signage plan
• Create trail maps with mileages
Facility & Park Management
o Enhance land & facility management plans
• Natural areas
• Forestry
• Street landscape standards
• Replacement programs
• Accessibility/ADA
o Promote water conservation and sustainable building
o Maintain quality golf courses
• Continue environmentally-friendly practices
• Refine customer service efforts
o Enhance maintenance standards
• Develop labor benchmarks
• Evaluate staffing levels
o Develop standards for building and operating dog parks
• Seek partnerships
Natural Areas & Environmental Education
o Develop comprehensive natural areas management plan
• Enhance conservation of existing natural areas
• Integrate natural areas into developed parks
o Expand environmental education
• Partnerships
o Schools, service groups and community/neighborhood groups
• Signage
Program Development
o Support, expand and market recreation and cultural programs and facilities
o Develop new programs/facilities based on trends and community interest
• Fitness & wellness
• Swimming
• Art and culture
• Disc golf, etc.
o Promote Lakewood's heritage and culture
o Expand public art program
• Integrate public art into facilities
Community Involvement
o Solicit community input on program and facility planning
• Advisory Commission sub-committees
• Surveys
• Engage community in planning efforts
o Broaden volunteer opportunities
• Expand environmental stewardship partnerships
• Continue Heritage, Culture & Arts volunteer programs
o Maximize partnerships
• Schools, service groups and community/neighborhood groups
o Increase marketing of programs & facilities
• Expand web-based marketing
• Cross market programs
Planning & Sustainable Funding
o Develop a strategic approach toward parks and open space acquisition
• Adopt guidelines and priorities for future land acquisitions
• Plan for development and operational costs
o Regularly update inventory and plans
o Plan for needs of new developments
• Re-evaluate parkland dedication and fee-in-lieu requirements
• Consider the development of an impact fee
o Maximize alternative funding sources (grants, sponsorships, etc.)
o Maintain facilities and programs at a high level
• Maintain appropriate budget levels
• Support preventative maintenance
• Keep pace with aging infrastructure and increases in utilities costs
• Plan for maintenance costs of new projects
Mayor Murphy invited John Fox, member of the Parks, Trails and Open Space Committee, to provide comment on the master plan. John referred to the written comments he had submitted to City Councilmembers and expressed thanks for the opportunity to comment. He commented that the master plan is an excellent roadmap that will serve as a broad guide for the department to follow to meet the needs of current and future residents of Lakewood.
Mayor Murphy invited City Councilmembers to make comments and ask questions about the master plan. A summary of those comments, questions and staff responses follows:
• Overall praise and thanks was expressed by each councilmember for the
effort that went into the development of the plan, and for the Community Resources
Department in general.
• Parks & Recreation Directors in Jefferson County meet monthly to
discuss coordination of services between jurisdictions, with schools and businesses.
• In response to a question about recreation services putting private services
out of business, Kathy Hodgson stated that recreation services don't "steal"
business. The City offers recreation services that private industry doesn't;
the revenue we collect doesn't come close to covering our costs (except for
the golf courses).
• There is no plan to give up any parkland at this time, no matter how
small the parcel.
• The volunteer program of the Heritage, Culture and Arts division is outstanding,
but that model won't work for all park and recreation services.
• Art in public places programs can attract artists and a variety of community
events.
• Questions that staff will respond to at a later time: Can we promote
recycling throughout our park system? Can our dog parks provide public toilets?
Could we develop a "Friends of the Park" program?
• Development in the Rooney Valley (Solterra) will include its own recreation
center.
There was general consensus amongst City Councilmembers to move the Community
Resources Plan forward for action at the next regular council meeting.
ITEM 4 - REPORTS
Mayor and City Council reported their attendance at previous meetings and events and announced upcoming neighborhood meetings and events.
ITEM 5 - ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council; Mayor Murphy adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m.
Submitted by,
Sharon Blackstock, Acting City Clerk
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