OSAC Notes:

August 4, 2005 - Study Session

Don Klima, with the help of Park Rangers Mark Olinie and Eric Holzman presented an overview of "Geocaching" in Open Space parks. Geocaching is a treasure hunt of sorts where clues are given on the internet, including GPS coordinates. The searcher, if they find the cache, he or she then exchanges an item in the cache for a new one. As of the end of July, there were 72 known Geocaching sites in 18 Open Space parks. Staff concerns have been disturbance of the habitat, creation of social trails, and objectionable cache contents.

Regular Meeting

Approved a conservation easement on 29 acres in Blue Mountain Estates. The property is at the North end of the East ridge between the railroad tracks and the ridgeline. The easement precludes public access, but is a significant contribution to the mountain backdrop.

Approved acceptance of an easement from Cotter Corporation for a trail connection from White Ranch to Open Space property along Ralston Creek and granting a road easement to Cotter for access to their 577-acre property that contains the Schwartzwalder Mine - now inactive. The trail easement will let Open Space connect White Ranch with Golden Gate State Park.

Approved negotiations on up to 80 acres adjacent to the Cathedral Spires Park, along the South Platte near Foxton, which are suitable for the park access and trailhead.

September 1, 2005 - Study Session

Nanette Neelan, County Director of Transportation, gave OSAC an update on the Northwest Corridor. She stated that in 2003 the then Commissioners were considering the hiring of a design/build contractor to connect Interlocken Boulevard with the Northern border of Golden. CDOT then stepped in as it would not solve Golden’s traffic dilemma. CDOT is now conducting a $16 million Environmental Impact Study. A total of 79 alternatives were considered between Wadsworth, Highway 93, The Northwest Parkway, and C-470. These proposals have been reduced to four that meet the need. They include: a freeway, a tollway, a regional arterial, and a combination. All routes start at the Northwest Parkway, go South along Indiana, turn West along Leyden Creek, and then South along Highway 93. The Combination includes upgrading Indiana and McIntyre into an arterial as far South as Highway 58.

Regular Meeting -

OSAC agreed with staff and voted to forego consideration of a 105-acre property in Coal Creek Canyon. Even though the property connects two Open Space parcels and straddles Coal Creek, there is no way it could be used for a trail connection.

The residence in Mount Galbraith Park is on a separate 5-acre parcel and is now vacant. It is serving no purpose to Open Space, is an ongoing expense, and staff recommended pursuing disposal. Discussion was both positive and negative relative to disposal and a resolution was approved to obtain an appraisal of the house and property.

Negotiations were approved for a 28-acre property contiguous to Alderfer-Three Sisters Park and the Denver Mountain Park (Dedise) surrounding Evergreen Lake.

October 6, 2005 - Study Session

Field trips to North Table Mountain and residence on Mount Galbraith Park. The North Table portion focused on location of trails outlined in the management plan.

Regular Meeting -

Margot Zallen of PLAN Jeffco presented a proposal that approval of the North Table Mountain Management Plan be delayed and that considerations are given to coordinating management with South Table Mountain.

Approval was given to negotiating a public access easement through the RE Enterprises property at the mouth of Clear Creek Canyon.

Revisions to the OSAC Policies relative to acquisition approvals were approved.

Staff presented suggested trail names for Centennial Cone Park. OSAC felt that some names were inaccurate and that some Indian names might be more appropriate. Staff was to bring alternate names in November. Interim signage for Centennial Cone Park also was presented, The signs to be in place this fall.

November 3, 2005 - Study Session

The study session primarily was a presentation of the Oral History Project being done by Open Space. The objective is to research and share the history and heritage of the individuals whose stories were a significant part of the various Open Space Parks by interviewing the previous landowners, relatives, and neighbors. As of November 2005 interviews had ben completed with Ken and Judy Johnson - Lair o’ the bear Park and Eve Douglas Jolivette - Hiwan Ranch.

Regular Meeting -

Approval was given to adding the Wilson property at the Northwestern corner of Tabor Lake to the Wheat Ridge list of priority acquisitions.

Approval was given to adding the Amato-Smaldone property, an in-holding in O’Kane Park (1^st and Teller), to Lakewood’s list of priority acquisitions as the owner now is interested in selling.

Stanton LaBreche presented information as to whether one user group or another causes more damage to trails. Stanton that each user group brought different levels and types of damage and that it is the volume of use that causes the most damage - soil compaction and erosion.

Amy Ito then presented a review of the October 27 Trail Task Force meeting. This meeting focused on potential trails and use on North Table Mountain.

All three user groups supported having separate parking areas for equestrians.

Mountain bikers and equestrians prefer having multi-use trails.

Hikers would like to restrict trails to hikers and equestrians.

Equestrians felt that horse access from the North was most practical for them.

Margot Zallen (PLAN Jeffco) and Peter Morales (TCS Mountain Bike Coalition) proposed that an Ad Hoc Group be organized to make a thorough study and develop recommendations for the use of North Table Mountain. The Group would consist of Margot as Chair, 2 hikers, 2 bikers, 1 equestrian, 1 Open Space staff, 1 Golden representative, 1 soils/plant person, and 1 avian/wildlife person. (See a separate article on the Ad Hoc Committee.) Margot and Peter asked delay in implementing the Management Plan for North Table, but that there did need to be signage to encourage staying on the existing trails.

The consensus of OSAC was to allow the Ad Hoc Group to form and to delay implementation of the North Table Management Plan. A report from the Ad Hoc Group was requested for the December OSAC meeting.

December 1, 2005 - Study Session

Board members and staff from the Ken Caryl Metro District brought OSAC up to date on their long range plans for their Community Center, Open Space owned and leased to the District. Their objective is to make the building more suitable for Community needs than its original racquet club/restaurant configuration. They have completed an enclosure for the indoor tennis facility and now want direct capital toward the Community Center. They also explained their implementation of a 3-tier user fee system, with Ken Caryl residents having the lowest fees, Jeffco residents the next level, and out-of-County residents the highest fees.

A short Executive Session was held to discuss new information on the house and 5-acre portion of Mount Galbraith Park.

Regular Meeting -

Margot Zallen and Peter Morales reported on the Ad Hoc Group. Ms. Zallen said that the Group’s work plan focused on natural resources and recreation management. The Group would begin with natural resources, reviewing all existing information available on North Table. The first meeting, January 8, would be with Open Space staff to discuss baseline information and the acquisition history. Subsequent meetings would include presentations from various outside experts. An update to OSAC is planned for the March OSAC meeting.

Amy Ito reviewed the 25 or so signs that would be placed in and around North Table by the year’s end.

A motion to table the North Table Mountain Management Plan for nine months to allow the Ad Hoc Group time to develop information and recommendations was approved unanimously.

Approval was given to trade approximately 2 acres of Mount Galbraith Park adjacent to the County shops North of Golden Gate Canyon road for 2 acres at the West entrance to Centennial Cone Park.

Rod Tarullo, Director of Parks, Recreation and Golf, for Golden presented an update on the Rooney Soccer Complex. The capping and methane collection systems were completed in the Fall. An agreement still needed to be completed between Golden and the County relating to potential future costs - settling, etc. Mr. Tarullo hoped that the agreement could be completed within the next few months so that construction could begin in the Spring.

January 5, 2006 - Study Session

Dave Cohen, Trails Taskforce member, "Ad Hoc" committee member, and avid biker presented a possible "downhiller" bike trail. The presentation based the trail on the portion of Matthews-Winters Park on the North side of I-70. The trail would start at the Mother Cabrini border and end at the Mount Vernon gas station. The layout would be similar to the International "don’t" symbol - a circle with a slash through it. The downhiller trail would be the slash and the circle would be a counterclockwise, multi-use trail. This would allow bikers to either use US 40 to return to the top or ride up the multi-use trail.

Regular Meeting:

Approved due diligence and negotiations for a 70-acre property in Coal Creek. The property does contain a small house, but is a natural connection between Golden Gate and Eldorado State Parks.

OSAC had a long discussion over a request by Cingular to put a telephone pole cell tower on the Dakota Hogback and the service boxes near the Matthews-Winters parking lot. OSAC generally was against the proposal feeling that the CDOT parking lot would be a better location - Verizon already has a light pole cell tower there. CDOT policy is not to have cell towers on CDOT land closer than 2500 feet. Ralph and Greg were going to work on a waiver.

Jim Smith, Golden Realtor, asked in Public Comment, about the status of the house in Mount Galbraith Park. He felt that if disposal was to be considered, the homeowner’s association might be interested. The item was not on the agenda so discussion was limited. The disposal is on the agenda for February 2, as an information item. Majority of OSAC favors scraping the house, not disposal. Commissioner’s may need convincing.

February 2, 2006 - Study Session

The historical background on the formation of the Trails Use Task Force (TTF) was presented along with the Open Space responses during the next few years (new signage, video, Bike Right events). Staff asked OSAC what their expectation was of the TTF. The consensus seemed to be that OSAC desired and appreciated input from the TTF, but did not feel that the TTF should have any responsibility in setting policy.

Concern was expressed that the bikers and equestrians are organized and appear to have some level of communication within their users. However, the hikers are not as organized and there was concern that communication to and from the hiker representatives was limited. Dave Cohen, biker rep, expressed concern that some hikers felt that no bikers was the only solution and this made work with the other groups difficult.

Consensus was that the TTF should continue that their input and efforts as conflict resolution has been important.

Regular Meeting -

Approval was given to acquisition of two 20-acre parcels adjacent to the northern boundary of the Cathedral Spires. The acquisition also will include an access easement for maintenance travel, etc. to the North side of the Spires.

The information developed by staff relating to the Mount Galbraith house and 5-acre parcel on which the house sits was present as an information item.