The next image shows more of the undesignated trail network - sub-parallel trails across Chautauqua meadow.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
A field trip stop viewed from space
Chautauqua was scheduled to be one of the last stops of the cancelled field trip. However, this site is best viewed from above. A Google satellite image shows a real neighborhood issue - several undesignated trails accessing Chautauqua from the neighborhood below. Many access points are marked by red arrows in the image below. (Try clicking on the image to enlarge it.)
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Some field sites visited.
Up Flagstaff -
First stop was the Civilian Conservation Corp wall along old Chapman drive off of Realization Point.
Then through the gate for the road to Green Mountain Lodge.
Green Mountain Lodge - another CCC project.
Evidence of wildlife
Another wall along E.M. Greenman trail
A re-route of E.M. Greenman trail. I'm not sure when this one dates to but the old route followed the drainage more. This newer section gives us a great view from some nice rocks.
Wildlife spotted.
Snow covered much of the north-facing slopes, masking some of the re-routes. This area is well worth another visit.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Field trip guide available
Maybe some of you were champing at the bit to get out in the field. I made an inquiry and the OSMP staff was nice enough to put together a short field trip guide for anyone who wants to visit the field trip sites on their own. Go to the West TSA CCG Field Trip page to download the pdf file of the guide.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Snow likely to cover trail design issues this weekend
Another reason the field trip has been postponed till January.
Another field trip postponement
We just got word that there will likely be too much snow and ice to safely do the field trip this coming weekend. Therefore it is postponed until January. Stay tuned for further details as we receive them.
Potential Topics for the West Trail Study Area Plan
The CCG field trip scheduled for Saturday 11/14 was unfortunately canceled due to weather.
We are planning to try again next Saturday 11/21.
We received a question about enforcement of rules and staffing levels. This seems like a common theme however doesn't appear directly in the list of Potential Topics for the West Trail Study Area Plan we have been given by staff. I will bring it up at the next meeting.
From OSMP
What Kinds of Topics Will Be the Focus for the Community Collaborative Group’s Work?
The Community Collaborative Group (CCG) will likely develop recommendations on the following topics. This is not a definitive list. The CCG may not address all these items given their preferences and the limitations of a 12-month timeframe. The CCG may decide that some of these issues may best be addressed by staff. The CCG will identify what they intend to accomplish, prioritize their work tasks, and focus on what’s most important first.
Recreational Resources
We are planning to try again next Saturday 11/21.
We received a question about enforcement of rules and staffing levels. This seems like a common theme however doesn't appear directly in the list of Potential Topics for the West Trail Study Area Plan we have been given by staff. I will bring it up at the next meeting.
From OSMP
What Kinds of Topics Will Be the Focus for the Community Collaborative Group’s Work?
The Community Collaborative Group (CCG) will likely develop recommendations on the following topics. This is not a definitive list. The CCG may not address all these items given their preferences and the limitations of a 12-month timeframe. The CCG may decide that some of these issues may best be addressed by staff. The CCG will identify what they intend to accomplish, prioritize their work tasks, and focus on what’s most important first.
Recreational Resources
- Trail Reroutes. Locate corridors for rerouting existing trails to improve visitor experience, trail sustainability, and access to key destinations.
- Undesignated Trails. Determine which undesignated trails should be designated and upgraded, in order to provide sustainable access to key destinations not served by designated trails and provide a high quality visitor experience.
- New Trails. Determine if any new trails should be constructed to provide physically and environmentally sustainable trail access (and trail corridors).
- Existing Recreational Access. Determine where certain existing recreational activities can occur (e.g., horseback riding, fishing, sledding, dog/no-dog opportunities).
- New Recreational Activities. Determine if and where new recreational activities might occur (e.g., bicycling).
- Access Points / Concentrated Use Areas. Identify improvements to parking, facilities, and trail-road crossings.
- Visitor Conflict. Identify ways to reduce or minimize visitor conflict for existing or new activities.
- Trail System. Modify the existing trails system and identify undesignated trails to close, in order to improve protection and restoration of high value habitat areas.
- Visitor Activities. Manage visitor activities to minimize resource impacts.
- Weed Management. Manage visitor access to minimize spread of noxious weeds.
- Education / Interpretation. Provide new or enhance interpretive opportunities.
- Trail System. Modify the existing trails system to improve protection of cultural resources and provide sustainable access to places and features that promote visitor appreciation and stewardship of cultural resources.
- Visitor Activities. Manage visitor activities to minimize resource impacts.
- Education / Interpretation. Provide new or enhance interpretive opportunities.
- Impacts on Neighborhoods. Minimize impacts from visitor use on neighborhood properties (e.g., parking and traffic congestion, litter and waste management, privacy, noise, and safety).
- Access in Neighborhoods. Provide convenient and sustainable neighborhood and visitor access at trailheads and access points.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Collaborative Learning Meeting 1 complete. Field trip on Saturday
Tuesday night was the second CCG meeting and the Reps had lots of reading to do beforehand. Our homework assignment are here: http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11994:ccg-kick-off-and-orientation-meeting-102109&catid=719:west-tsa-ccg-meetings&Itemid=4039#hw
The meeting was primarily staff presentations on the Grasslands Ecosystem Management Plan (GEMP), Forest Ecosystem Management Plan (FEMP) and Visitor Master Plan (VMP).
OSMP also announced that the CCG field trip this Saturday will be open to the public. If you would like to attend please review the information and let the city know as they would like to plan accordingly.
West TSA Field Trip information here:
http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12012:ccg-field-trip-and-pre-trip-meeting-&catid=719:west-tsa-ccg-meetings&Itemid=4039#agenda
and here:
http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/files/openspace/pdf_TSA_West/CCG/Agenda_and_locations_web_info_CCG_Field_Trip_11-14-09.pdf
The meeting was primarily staff presentations on the Grasslands Ecosystem Management Plan (GEMP), Forest Ecosystem Management Plan (FEMP) and Visitor Master Plan (VMP).
OSMP also announced that the CCG field trip this Saturday will be open to the public. If you would like to attend please review the information and let the city know as they would like to plan accordingly.
West TSA Field Trip information here:
http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12012:ccg-field-trip-and-pre-trip-meeting-&catid=719:west-tsa-ccg-meetings&Itemid=4039#agenda
and here:
http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/files/openspace/pdf_TSA_West/CCG/Agenda_and_locations_web_info_CCG_Field_Trip_11-14-09.pdf
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Minutes from 10/22 Neighborhood Listening Session
Minutes from the Neighborhood “Listening Session” for the West TSA
October 22, 2009
This was a meeting intended to hear what neighbors to Open Space had to say to their “Neighborhood Representatives” of the Community Collaborative Group. Although the meeting was designed primarily to get input on what topics were of concern to neighbors as it pertains to Open Space near their homes, there were a few other issues that needed to be aired before that could happen.
Here are the minutes from that meeting:
Introduction
Joe Mantione, Environmental Planner from the OSMP introduced the concept of the West Trail Study Area and what the Community Collaborative Group was conceived to do. He also introduced the representatives who were elected through a caucus format. He fielded questions about the process of selecting the representatives at the September 15th caucus meeting.
There were several people in attendance who expressed strong concerns that the caucus process that evening was flawed and that the neighborhood representatives selected in that process do not representative them. The focus of their concern was that the resulting neighborhood representatives had too much “recreation” perspective. They were specifically targeting the reps that had affiliations with mountain biking organizations in the past.
There were several other participants at the meeting that voiced the following concerns (paraphrased here):
Why should we believe that OSMP is going to listen to the concerns of neighbors when they haven’t done so before? What is going to be different about this process than other times when OSMP has asked for community input?
Others expressed disappointment that the original caucus meeting on September 15th was not adequately publicized to the community at large. They felt that OSMP did not give the community sufficient notification about the meeting nor did they convey its importance, which resulted in much less participation of the broader community who are not involved in specific conservation or recreation groups.
Once the concerns and issues about the process were aired, the meeting shifted to the original purpose: to get neighbor’s input on their concerns for the West TSA. The goal was to get ideas about what problems neighbors of Open Space encounter, what things neighbors would like to see changed and what ideas neighbors who live near Open Space might have to improve the trails and trailheads in their neighborhood.
Transcription of Giant Post-It Notes
Below are the “notes” that were taken at the meeting and posted on big white sticky sheets around the room. The “bolded” questions at the top of each sheet were meant as conversation starters. Attendees were also given smaller pads of sticky notes and could write down their ideas/suggestions, which are also included below.
Why did you choose to live west of Broadway?·
Proximity to Mesa Elementary·
View of the Flatirons·
Proximity to trailheads·
I decided to live west of Broadway to be close to nature and the conservation areas that preserve nature·
Being able to hike with my dogs off-leash·
Ability to walk to trailheads rather than drive
What benefits do you enjoy by living close to Open Space?-
Local access for each neighborhood-
Good trail quality (must stay good)-
Being near solitude/peaceful retreat-
Knowing it’s there and protected (areas w/ no human access)-
Beauty- Access to great hiking-
Access to wild areas-
Wild life-
The great hiking trails
What drawbacks are there in living close to Open Space?-
Parking-
Trash-
Privacy-
Noise-
Damage to private property-
Trail braiding-
Noise after hours-
Dog waste-
Increased traffic / cars-
Bears & mountain lions (or is this a plus?)
What topics merit conversation and are unique to neighborhoods near Open Space?-
Sustainability: use of mountain bikes and their impact on trails, mountain biking is not compatible with other users (creates dust, street traffic, noise, etc)-
Parking needs increasing-
Garbage-
Invasion of privacy-
Noise-
Damage-
NIMBYism-
Too many restrictions means our Open Space is less welcoming-
Restrictions that close off access to open space from neighbor’s properties, loss of access to home owners near Open Space-
Creation of HCA’s equates to loss of access to trails-
There should be access for everyone NOT just for people who live adjacent to Open space-
Quality of the trails - Desire for loop trails & greater trail diversity-
We need thoughtful location of trailheads and diversity of trailheads-
Mountain bikes impair the solitary, peaceful experience of open space trail use-
More limited access-
The idea that Open Space can be a wilderness, and pristine is not reasonable or possible because OS backs right up to urban areas/people’s homes.-
Concerns about funding for any ideas that we come up with-
Need to have more trail connectivity.
What creative Open Space related ideas would make your neighborhood a nicer place to live for you and your neighbors?-
Disperse trail users throughout the West TSA, ability to walk rather than drive to access trails (x 3)-
What should extent of access of mountain bikes? One idea: designated mountain bike trails-
Build a new mountain bike trail through Open Space that runs North to South [it is worth noting that this idea was put forth by someone who also voiced a strong opposition to mountain bikes in Open Space – sd]-
Plan for dog waste, dog latrines further back in OS, closer-in dog waste disposal supplied by OSMP-
For better trail connectivity OSMP needs to design trails that connect areas that users have shown are necessary by evidence of social trails. Use the social trails as an indicator of where we need better connectivity.-
Need bike racks @ trailheads-
Bus access to neighborhood trailheads- Have more neighborhood access points (that can only handle a low volume of users) eliminating car-parking problems, as they are meant to be accessed on foot/bike only. Trailheads that are specifically created for neighborhoods users.
More ways to reach out to neighbors to get their participation and input-
Create flyers for handout-
Post flyers/updates @ Trailheads and Kiosks-
Avoid acronym soup-
Volunteer canvassers-
HOA distribution-
Via the newspapers-Daily Camera-
Chain Email-
Networks-
Obtain email lists from Colorado Div of Wildlife [sign-up list from meetings they held in the Newlands, Freelands]-
“Field Trip” Meetings-
More in-person meeting [geographic spread]-
Conversation starters onto blog to get comments-
Neighborhood email groups-
Mapleton contact: LSCHWEIGER@INDRA.COM
Transcription of individual notes written by attendees
Person A
Creative ideas: The WTSA is not a pie to be divided among interest groups. It is foremost a conservation area and we have a duty to protect it. So, let’s think about limiting access, not expanding it. Consider it a privilege to have the WTSA in Boulder.
Creative ideas: Preserve the WTSA as a nature preserve, with limited access only to low-impact use.
Creative ideas: I remember when there were mountain bikes in the WTSA. For walkers, it was terrifying. What would it be like 18 years later, now that the popularity of the sport has exploded?
Wildlife and HCA’s
I think that limited access to preserve open space and natural habitat is a good thing
Other topics.
Mountain bikes make natural areas less appealing to wildlife. We need to consider the impact of mountain bikes to wildlife.
Other topics. Bikers often drive to trailheads. There is no more room in Shanahan Ridge for parking near Open Space
Person B
Creative OS ideas
Reverse OSMP policies of “restrict, restrict, restrict”—welcome a diversity of user groups, income levels, and modes of transportation to the trailhead!
Creative OS ideas
Bike racks at trailheads (so many Boulderites can get to their hike by using a cruiser, not a car)
Person C
Other topics
- In areas open to mountain biking, other uses decreases. For instance, a recent survey of Dowdy Draw conducted since the trails were opened to biking showed that 87% of users now were bikers.
- Better use of trailside information. Boards for communication to neighbors/users
1. More detailed maps posted to include ALL trails/Access points in the immediate area of each Trailside Information Board.
Person D
- Need more trails
- Suggest diverting land acquisition dollars to trail building, access, impact mitigation and maintenance.
Person E
- An improvement would be to have dogs remain on leash at the beginning of the trails that pass by houses [situated] close to trails.
Person F
Dog Waste:
Need better plan for dog waste – possibly use the Envirowag system (created by Rose?)
- Encourage the use of biodegradable bags
- Dog Latrines
- Active pickup [of trash]
- Compost, high use areas
- Some $ from OS to do this
- Make it easier to clean up
Access:
- Map with locations to show neighborhood access points – to show, big, medium and local access points.
- Access w/out having to drive
- Don’t want to lose local access points
Neighbor participation in this CCG process:
- This a NIMBY issue, so how much weight should be given to the complainers that always show up and speak at neighborhood meetings like this.
- How to recognize the diverse number of opinions and what people are thinking - CCG Not a Democracy
- Hopefully some shade of everyone’s INDiViDual ideas will make it through
- Why just involve neighbors west of Broadway? Aren’t other neighbors relevant?
Improvements, suggestions & concerns:
- Loop trails in neighborhoods where possible
- Identify areas w/parking issues such as Chautauqua vs smaller areas where Neighbors think more parking issues are more likely to occur
Want to recognize public parking in high use / popular areas like Chautauqua or Eben Fine versus the number of small areas that are impacted, for whatever reason.
- OSMP management, what should it be? Disney Land Management or Rocky Mountain Park Experience or a personal local park experience
- Will Open Space have its budget funded to be able to implement whatever the outcome of this WTSA process?
Person G:
- Better use of Trailside Information Boards for communication to neighbors/users
1. More detailed maps posted to include ALL trails/Access points in the immediate area of the Trailhead Info board.
2. Communication of local cultural interest spots, natural wonders and/or conservation issues in the immediate area of each Trailhead Information board.
- Build trail from Mesa/Shadow Canyon/Big Blue area to Shirttail peak
Person H
- We want to be able to walk, rather than drive, with our dogs to trails from our home, so maintaining and expanding voice & sight areas near neighborhoods is important.
- Disperse users! We need more neighborhood access, not less. Walking or biking to neighborhood trailheads will be better for the environment, will reduce parking congestion and will reduce the impacts at the major trailheads (Sanitas, Shanahan Ridge, Chautauqua).
- To avoid issues with parking in neighborhoods, do not include neighborhood access points on trail maps. That way, the neighbors will be the primary users and will typically walk to the access point rather than drive.
- Require dogs to be leashed is the first 300 ft of trailheads. This is where most dogs do their business, so owners will be more likely to pick up their poo.
- Dog waste seems to be a big issue for everyone. Why not require all dog owners to carry poo bags?
Person I
- Negotiate a “trickle” of water year-round through normally dry ditches. Makes great riparian zone – good for all.
Thank you to CU grad student, Steve Konieczka, who transcribe these notes into a Word document and Shelley Dunbar who further clarified them.
October 22, 2009
This was a meeting intended to hear what neighbors to Open Space had to say to their “Neighborhood Representatives” of the Community Collaborative Group. Although the meeting was designed primarily to get input on what topics were of concern to neighbors as it pertains to Open Space near their homes, there were a few other issues that needed to be aired before that could happen.
Here are the minutes from that meeting:
Introduction
Joe Mantione, Environmental Planner from the OSMP introduced the concept of the West Trail Study Area and what the Community Collaborative Group was conceived to do. He also introduced the representatives who were elected through a caucus format. He fielded questions about the process of selecting the representatives at the September 15th caucus meeting.
There were several people in attendance who expressed strong concerns that the caucus process that evening was flawed and that the neighborhood representatives selected in that process do not representative them. The focus of their concern was that the resulting neighborhood representatives had too much “recreation” perspective. They were specifically targeting the reps that had affiliations with mountain biking organizations in the past.
There were several other participants at the meeting that voiced the following concerns (paraphrased here):
Why should we believe that OSMP is going to listen to the concerns of neighbors when they haven’t done so before? What is going to be different about this process than other times when OSMP has asked for community input?
Others expressed disappointment that the original caucus meeting on September 15th was not adequately publicized to the community at large. They felt that OSMP did not give the community sufficient notification about the meeting nor did they convey its importance, which resulted in much less participation of the broader community who are not involved in specific conservation or recreation groups.
Once the concerns and issues about the process were aired, the meeting shifted to the original purpose: to get neighbor’s input on their concerns for the West TSA. The goal was to get ideas about what problems neighbors of Open Space encounter, what things neighbors would like to see changed and what ideas neighbors who live near Open Space might have to improve the trails and trailheads in their neighborhood.
Transcription of Giant Post-It Notes
Below are the “notes” that were taken at the meeting and posted on big white sticky sheets around the room. The “bolded” questions at the top of each sheet were meant as conversation starters. Attendees were also given smaller pads of sticky notes and could write down their ideas/suggestions, which are also included below.
Why did you choose to live west of Broadway?·
Proximity to Mesa Elementary·
View of the Flatirons·
Proximity to trailheads·
I decided to live west of Broadway to be close to nature and the conservation areas that preserve nature·
Being able to hike with my dogs off-leash·
Ability to walk to trailheads rather than drive
What benefits do you enjoy by living close to Open Space?-
Local access for each neighborhood-
Good trail quality (must stay good)-
Being near solitude/peaceful retreat-
Knowing it’s there and protected (areas w/ no human access)-
Beauty- Access to great hiking-
Access to wild areas-
Wild life-
The great hiking trails
What drawbacks are there in living close to Open Space?-
Parking-
Trash-
Privacy-
Noise-
Damage to private property-
Trail braiding-
Noise after hours-
Dog waste-
Increased traffic / cars-
Bears & mountain lions (or is this a plus?)
What topics merit conversation and are unique to neighborhoods near Open Space?-
Sustainability: use of mountain bikes and their impact on trails, mountain biking is not compatible with other users (creates dust, street traffic, noise, etc)-
Parking needs increasing-
Garbage-
Invasion of privacy-
Noise-
Damage-
NIMBYism-
Too many restrictions means our Open Space is less welcoming-
Restrictions that close off access to open space from neighbor’s properties, loss of access to home owners near Open Space-
Creation of HCA’s equates to loss of access to trails-
There should be access for everyone NOT just for people who live adjacent to Open space-
Quality of the trails - Desire for loop trails & greater trail diversity-
We need thoughtful location of trailheads and diversity of trailheads-
Mountain bikes impair the solitary, peaceful experience of open space trail use-
More limited access-
The idea that Open Space can be a wilderness, and pristine is not reasonable or possible because OS backs right up to urban areas/people’s homes.-
Concerns about funding for any ideas that we come up with-
Need to have more trail connectivity.
What creative Open Space related ideas would make your neighborhood a nicer place to live for you and your neighbors?-
Disperse trail users throughout the West TSA, ability to walk rather than drive to access trails (x 3)-
What should extent of access of mountain bikes? One idea: designated mountain bike trails-
Build a new mountain bike trail through Open Space that runs North to South [it is worth noting that this idea was put forth by someone who also voiced a strong opposition to mountain bikes in Open Space – sd]-
Plan for dog waste, dog latrines further back in OS, closer-in dog waste disposal supplied by OSMP-
For better trail connectivity OSMP needs to design trails that connect areas that users have shown are necessary by evidence of social trails. Use the social trails as an indicator of where we need better connectivity.-
Need bike racks @ trailheads-
Bus access to neighborhood trailheads- Have more neighborhood access points (that can only handle a low volume of users) eliminating car-parking problems, as they are meant to be accessed on foot/bike only. Trailheads that are specifically created for neighborhoods users.
More ways to reach out to neighbors to get their participation and input-
Create flyers for handout-
Post flyers/updates @ Trailheads and Kiosks-
Avoid acronym soup-
Volunteer canvassers-
HOA distribution-
Via the newspapers-Daily Camera-
Chain Email-
Networks-
Obtain email lists from Colorado Div of Wildlife [sign-up list from meetings they held in the Newlands, Freelands]-
“Field Trip” Meetings-
More in-person meeting [geographic spread]-
Conversation starters onto blog to get comments-
Neighborhood email groups-
Mapleton contact: LSCHWEIGER@INDRA.COM
Transcription of individual notes written by attendees
Person A
Creative ideas: The WTSA is not a pie to be divided among interest groups. It is foremost a conservation area and we have a duty to protect it. So, let’s think about limiting access, not expanding it. Consider it a privilege to have the WTSA in Boulder.
Creative ideas: Preserve the WTSA as a nature preserve, with limited access only to low-impact use.
Creative ideas: I remember when there were mountain bikes in the WTSA. For walkers, it was terrifying. What would it be like 18 years later, now that the popularity of the sport has exploded?
Wildlife and HCA’s
I think that limited access to preserve open space and natural habitat is a good thing
Other topics.
Mountain bikes make natural areas less appealing to wildlife. We need to consider the impact of mountain bikes to wildlife.
Other topics. Bikers often drive to trailheads. There is no more room in Shanahan Ridge for parking near Open Space
Person B
Creative OS ideas
Reverse OSMP policies of “restrict, restrict, restrict”—welcome a diversity of user groups, income levels, and modes of transportation to the trailhead!
Creative OS ideas
Bike racks at trailheads (so many Boulderites can get to their hike by using a cruiser, not a car)
Person C
Other topics
- In areas open to mountain biking, other uses decreases. For instance, a recent survey of Dowdy Draw conducted since the trails were opened to biking showed that 87% of users now were bikers.
- Better use of trailside information. Boards for communication to neighbors/users
1. More detailed maps posted to include ALL trails/Access points in the immediate area of each Trailside Information Board.
Person D
- Need more trails
- Suggest diverting land acquisition dollars to trail building, access, impact mitigation and maintenance.
Person E
- An improvement would be to have dogs remain on leash at the beginning of the trails that pass by houses [situated] close to trails.
Person F
Dog Waste:
Need better plan for dog waste – possibly use the Envirowag system (created by Rose?)
- Encourage the use of biodegradable bags
- Dog Latrines
- Active pickup [of trash]
- Compost, high use areas
- Some $ from OS to do this
- Make it easier to clean up
Access:
- Map with locations to show neighborhood access points – to show, big, medium and local access points.
- Access w/out having to drive
- Don’t want to lose local access points
Neighbor participation in this CCG process:
- This a NIMBY issue, so how much weight should be given to the complainers that always show up and speak at neighborhood meetings like this.
- How to recognize the diverse number of opinions and what people are thinking - CCG Not a Democracy
- Hopefully some shade of everyone’s INDiViDual ideas will make it through
- Why just involve neighbors west of Broadway? Aren’t other neighbors relevant?
Improvements, suggestions & concerns:
- Loop trails in neighborhoods where possible
- Identify areas w/parking issues such as Chautauqua vs smaller areas where Neighbors think more parking issues are more likely to occur
Want to recognize public parking in high use / popular areas like Chautauqua or Eben Fine versus the number of small areas that are impacted, for whatever reason.
- OSMP management, what should it be? Disney Land Management or Rocky Mountain Park Experience or a personal local park experience
- Will Open Space have its budget funded to be able to implement whatever the outcome of this WTSA process?
Person G:
- Better use of Trailside Information Boards for communication to neighbors/users
1. More detailed maps posted to include ALL trails/Access points in the immediate area of the Trailhead Info board.
2. Communication of local cultural interest spots, natural wonders and/or conservation issues in the immediate area of each Trailhead Information board.
- Build trail from Mesa/Shadow Canyon/Big Blue area to Shirttail peak
Person H
- We want to be able to walk, rather than drive, with our dogs to trails from our home, so maintaining and expanding voice & sight areas near neighborhoods is important.
- Disperse users! We need more neighborhood access, not less. Walking or biking to neighborhood trailheads will be better for the environment, will reduce parking congestion and will reduce the impacts at the major trailheads (Sanitas, Shanahan Ridge, Chautauqua).
- To avoid issues with parking in neighborhoods, do not include neighborhood access points on trail maps. That way, the neighbors will be the primary users and will typically walk to the access point rather than drive.
- Require dogs to be leashed is the first 300 ft of trailheads. This is where most dogs do their business, so owners will be more likely to pick up their poo.
- Dog waste seems to be a big issue for everyone. Why not require all dog owners to carry poo bags?
Person I
- Negotiate a “trickle” of water year-round through normally dry ditches. Makes great riparian zone – good for all.
Thank you to CU grad student, Steve Konieczka, who transcribe these notes into a Word document and Shelley Dunbar who further clarified them.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Its on, the CCG has our first meeting
On Wednesday 10/21 the West TSA CCG met for the first time with a kickoff meeting. The meeting went smoothly and I was struck by the vast knowledge, experience and good will in the room. The agenda:
1. Public Participation
2. Member Introduction
3. Hopes, Needs and Commitments
4. CCG Operation
5. Proposed Meeting Schedule for November - December
6. Homework
We're planning for two meetings a month plus field trips into the West TSA.
We're about to begin the fifth step of the CCG process, Collaborative Learning. Here's a link to stages of the whole process:
http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/images/departments/openspace/images_wtsa/wtsa-ccg3.jpg
We have decided that appointing an alternate in each area can only help our neighborhood representation. We chose the runners up from the initial caucus voting. Please join us in welcoming your new Neighborhood Alternates:
Central - Shelly Dunbar - Shelley.westtsa@gmail.com
North - Joe Zamudi0 - Joe.westtsa@gmail.com
Our current alternate, Guy, will be the South alternate.
Next up:
Tonight the neighborhood Reps, including your new alternates, will hold our first meeting to hear neighborhood feedback. Details are in the posts below.
1. Public Participation
2. Member Introduction
3. Hopes, Needs and Commitments
4. CCG Operation
5. Proposed Meeting Schedule for November - December
6. Homework
We're planning for two meetings a month plus field trips into the West TSA.
We're about to begin the fifth step of the CCG process, Collaborative Learning. Here's a link to stages of the whole process:
http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/images/departments/openspace/images_wtsa/wtsa-ccg3.jpg
We have decided that appointing an alternate in each area can only help our neighborhood representation. We chose the runners up from the initial caucus voting. Please join us in welcoming your new Neighborhood Alternates:
Central - Shelly Dunbar - Shelley.westtsa@gmail.com
North - Joe Zamudi0 - Joe.westtsa@gmail.com
Our current alternate, Guy, will be the South alternate.
Next up:
Tonight the neighborhood Reps, including your new alternates, will hold our first meeting to hear neighborhood feedback. Details are in the posts below.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
TALK to US:
We are hosting a West TSA Neighborhood listening session on Thursday 10/22 at the Municipal Building (Broadway & Canyon) from 6:30pm-8:30pm so we can hear which topics are most important to you and so you can hear your neighbors ideas.
We’ve assembled the questionnaire below to start discussion and so folks who can’t make the listening session can still comment.
We have also created emails so you can contact us directly. While we live in different parts of town, we’re collaborating to find solutions that help all adjacent neighborhoods. That said none of us is focusing only on our North/Central/South and that residents should feel free to approach any of us.
You may contact all of us at: west.tsa.neighborhood.reps@gmail.com
- Art Schwadron art.westtsa@gmail.com
- Guy Burgess (Alternate) guy.westtsa@gmail.com
- Ned Patton ned.westtsa@gmail.com
- Scott Gordon scott.westtsa@gmail.com
Neighborhood Caucus
Collaborative Group Process
Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Western Trail Study Area
Request for Ideas
Collaborative Group Process
Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Western Trail Study Area
Request for Ideas
Based on input we received at the meeting, it's clear that caucus participants would like to see us develop and advocate for policies that provide the best balance of the many competing interests of the caucus members and the larger community. In addition to neighborhood protection and access issues, caucus members also made it clear that they were interested in the bigger picture.
More specifically, they expressed a clear desire to move beyond unnecessary either/or choices between either environmental protection or recreation. Instead, they wanted us to, wherever possible, look for creative both/and solutions which advance both conservation and protection interests.
Request for Ideas
As we prepare for CCG discussions, we wanted your help in assembling a detailed catalogue of issues that you would like the CCG address and, more importantly, your specific suggestions for addressing each issue. Here, it is obviously true that it will be easier for us to persuade the larger CCG to adopt recommendations that are broadly attractive to all OSMP constituents. We, therefore, urge you to try to anticipate what opponents might say about your proposals and adjust your suggestions in ways that increase their attractiveness and address concerns that others are likely to have.
Questionnaire
To gather your ideas, we are using an open-ended questionnaire that recognizes the conventional, closed-ended (checkbox) surveys can't really do justice to the complex issues that need to be addressed. Such surveys also do a very poor job of tapping the community's creative problem solving capabilities. We have developed both a Quick Questionnaire (for folks who have just a few minutes to give us their ideas) and a More Detailed Questionnaire (for those willing to take the time to help develop proposals that are likely to stand a good chance of implementation).
Quick Question:
What neighborhood impacts, access issues, or opportunities do you think need to be addressed? Where?
More Detailed Questions:
If you have time and energy, we would also invite you to write a couple of paragraphs that tell us four things for each issue that you think needs to be addressed:
- What is the problem that you would like to see corrected and/or the opportunity that you would like to see pursued?
- How important is it that CCG address this? (Here answers could range FROM: This issue critically important -- failure to address it will lead to serious adverse consequences (please specify) TO: This would be nice to address if time, money, and energy permit.
- Your suggestions for addressing the issue (remember that prospects for implementing your ideas will be much greater if you can craft them in ways which maximize support and minimize opposition).
- Who we can contact for more information.
- Strategies for limiting adverse impacts on Open Space neighbors,
- Strategies for providing equitable and adequate access to Boulder residents,
- Strategies for providing access to user groups that may be currently underserved,
- Strategies for managing inevitable demands for increased Open Space visitation in ways which provide access while minimizing adverse environmental and neighborhood impacts, and
- General ideas for improving the visitor experience and/or enhancing the environment.
You may contact all of us at: west.tsa.neighborhood.reps@gmail.com
- Art Schwadron art.westtsa@gmail.com
- Guy Burgess (Alternate) guy.westtsa@gmail.com
- Ned Patton ned.westtsa@gmail.com
- Scott Gordon scott.westtsa@gmail.com
Friday, September 25, 2009
Your West TSA CCG Neighborhood Representatives are currently working on our plan to solicit feedback and intend to distribute it by October 5th.
IF you aren't using an RSS feed, we have started a List Serve to notify you of new postings to this blog for your convenience.
If you would like to be notified of new posts by your Neighborhood Representatives via email please go to: http://groups.google.com/group/boulder-west-tsa-neighbors
Click on "Join this Group" on the right side of the page and follow the instructions.
IF you aren't using an RSS feed, we have started a List Serve to notify you of new postings to this blog for your convenience.
If you would like to be notified of new posts by your Neighborhood Representatives via email please go to: http://groups.google.com/group/boulder-west-tsa-neighbors
Click on "Join this Group" on the right side of the page and follow the instructions.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Welcome to the Boulder West TSA Neighborhood Representative Community Collaborative Group Blog.
We are:
Scott Gordon
Ned Patton
Art Schwadron
Guy Burgess (A)
First, thank you for your support. We are just getting started but are planning a Neighborhood Listening Session where all 4 neighborhood reps are present and we can all find out more about the issues on your minds.
More information will be available next week.
We are:
Scott Gordon
Ned Patton
Art Schwadron
Guy Burgess (A)
First, thank you for your support. We are just getting started but are planning a Neighborhood Listening Session where all 4 neighborhood reps are present and we can all find out more about the issues on your minds.
More information will be available next week.
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