[BoulderCouncilHotline] Fwd: Corrected and revised Comments on Open Space master plan

[Morzel, Lisa]

Evan

I responded and corrected earlier this morning. See below

Thanks

Lisa

Lisa Morzel
Member, Boulder City Council
303-815-6723 c
303-938-8520 h


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Resent-From: <council at bouldercolorado.gov<mailto:council at bouldercolorado.gov>>
From: "Morzel, Lisa" <MorzelL at bouldercolorado.gov<mailto:MorzelL at bouldercolorado.gov>>
Date: June 12, 2018 at 10:45:44 AM MDT
To: "eravitz at gmail.com<mailto:eravitz at gmail.com>" <eravitz at gmail.com<mailto:eravitz at gmail.com>>, Council <council at bouldercolorado.gov<mailto:council at bouldercolorado.gov>>, HOTLINE <HOTLINE at bouldercolorado.gov<mailto:HOTLINE at bouldercolorado.gov>>
Subject: Corrected and revised Comments on Open Space master plan

Thanks, Evan, I was hurrying to get out the door and unfortunately included a bunch of typos. I’ve tried to correct below.

My apologies. And thanks again, Evan

Lisa

Council members and OSBT

I am unable to attend tonight‘s meeting but would like to share a few thoughts regarding topics discussed tonight.

With respect to Open Space, I appreciate the comments and questions we got from a Ms. Trafton regarding some of our expenditures:

“1) There is a projected focus on agriculture that is huge and costly.     According to the Daily Camera, the city will acquire a property and lease for $1 per year to BOSC, the new Boulder Open Space Conservancy, to create an Agricultural Center.        Where will these city funds come from?       Is agriculture an identified focus of public concern?”

I am hoping staff will come prepared tonight to respond to these questions. I know Open Space staff have been negotiating with agricultural land leasees for several years and I have heard recently that many of them are choosing not to renew their leases with the city due to a variety of reasons but also in part due to lease rates. When I asked about this previously, I was assured everything was OK yet now many of these these leasees have chosen to leave the system. Why is that and what does staff anticipate doing?

“3)      Former director Winfree convinced the city to allocate $8M over 5 years for an aggregated campus.       Should this be a top priority when the city is in a budget shortfall?
I have heard from more than 4 staff that the multi-stage and temporary move and renovation  have been wasteful of time and money. “
I too have heard about these expenditures and I’m very concerned why we are spending these kinds of funds (consulting, design, new building??) for Open Space.

Additional comments that I have include:

In the past few years Open Space department has hired several very expensive  high- level employees when we already have excellent long-term employees and really wonder do we need additional staff at this level. Last year, after approving the North Skye trail where council was assured the environment along the trail would be protected and fine. After that the city bought a better easement for the trail for over $600k. While I’m glad the easement was bought, I feel council was misled. $600k is no small amount.



I also am concerned about the amount of funds Open Space is being required to provide the city through cost allocations. Exactly what is the percentage or the amount of money open space and mountain parks is being asked to contribute to the overall city budget each year?  How does that compare to other departments such as planning, human services, housing, transportation, Parks and Recreation?  Please provide a matrix showing how much each department contributes to these cost allocations annually and with that money is spent on.

I also am interested in OSMP’s water portfolio and how that is being managed and what future expectations there are for water use. Is there a connection between the agricultural leasees leaving open space agricultural land and water allocations?  What type of cooperation or partnership is there between the various ditch companies and open space. I came across someone working on cleaning out his ditch who complained somewhat about lack of cooperation between the ditch owners and Open Space staff and opening up the ditches efficiently especially after storms at this time of year when water is critical for our agricultural land leasees

As I wrote a couple weeks ago, I was appalled to find an open space and mountain parks employee broadly spraying diluted glyphosate indiscriminately along the north side of the Open Space part of Four Mile Canyon Creek Greenway. It was explained to me that actually what she had been doing was spot spraying tall oat grass which is an aggressive invasive species but as I read the master plan this species is being addressed through grazing and weed whacking. It was also explained to me that the Glyphosate open space was applying was not round up which was banned in 2012 but actually a glyphosate called rodeo which has less toxic activators. My questions:
Why are we using any kind of glyphosate?

Why are we not noticing the application of herbicide in all cases whether it be broad spraying or spot spraying?  I recognize a legal loophole in the spot spraying clause and that we are not required to notify the public but this is a betrayal of the public’s trust in government especially if someone is chemically sensitive?  I’d like to see this loophole closed so that anytime spray is applied, the public is notified before, during, and for some appropriate time afterwards.

In general I find this version of the Open Space master plan to be a little light and very light on the science side. I’d appreciate seeing more rigorous scientific input with respect to our precious resources.    Boulder is a very smart community with many scientists and intelligent people so our science on open space should reflect that.

Finally the focus also should be on education and how we can best protect our Open Space resources so that people can also enjoy these resources for generations to come.

Thanks.

Lisa

Lisa Morzel
Member, Boulder City Council
303-815-6723 c
303-938-8520 h

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