2020 OSAC Retreat Notes

Notes from OSAC retreat February 6 at the Origin Hotel.

All 10 OSAC members were present plus the principal JCOS management staff for about 20 total participants.

Background and JCOS Vision & Values

JCOS Chronology

1972-1979

Acres preserved 11,545
Population 235,368
Funding $33,513,617

Key events
Voters approve the enabling resolution – 1972
First OSAC – 1973
First draft Master Plan – 1973
Trails Stewardship Team began – 1975
Mt Falcon Park dedicated – 1976
Reynolds Park dedicated – 1977
Challenges
Cities claim OS Tax illegal – dismissed – 1976
Three ballot issues – all fail – 1978

1980-1989

Acres preserved 5,667
Population 371,753
Funding $120,053,188
Key events
Ballot issue for capital improvements passed -1980
First composting restroom, Reynolds Park – 1980
Clement Park dedicated – 1987
Park Host program started – 1989
Meyer Ranch Park dedicated -1989
Rangers were deputy sheriffs
Challenges
Moratorium on acquisitions – 1987-1989
Started joint venture program

1990-1999

Acres preserved 23,554
Population 438,430
Funding $216,865,414
Key events
Raptor monitoring began- 1990
Lair o’ the Bear dedicated – 1991
Pine Valley Ranch dedicated -1994
Deer Creek Canyon, Van Bibber dedicated – 1995
Lookout Mountain Nature Center – 1995
Park Ranger program – 1996
$160M Bonds, De-Brucing approved – 1998
Challenges
Trail conflicts as mountain bikes become popular
Trails Force Task Force formed – 1995

2000-2009

Acres preserved 10,115
Population 535,833
Funding $314,665,854
Key Events
Trails Stewardship Team 25th anniversary – 2000
South Valley Park dedicated – 2002
Clear Creek Trail, Ford Street to Sheridan completed – 2004
Flying J Ranch Park, Bear Creek Trail dedicated – 2005
Centennial Cone Park, alternating weekend use – 2006
Challenges
Apex Trail management resistance – 2008
Resources to steward existing lands
Resources to manage newly acquired lands

2010-2019

Acres preserved 4,687
Population 580,233
Funding $417,628,242
Key Events
Hildebrand Ranch Park dedicated – 2010
“There is No Poop Fairy,” national news – 2011
Party for Parks – 2013
North Table Mountain Park opens – 2010
Peaks to Plains segment opens – 2016
Apex Park re-opening following flood damage – 2015
Challenges
Bond Funds fully expended – 2011
Floods – 2013

Survey Results – Reviewed the 2018 Resident Survey & 2019 Conservation Greenprint Survey

JCOS Vision & Values

Vision Statements
a snapshot of the future
aspirational and motivational
prompts immediate and recurring action
A vision statement focuses on tomorrow and what an organization wants to ultimately become

The County Vision: To be in a County government that provides innovative, efficient, and quality service to a thriving and safe community
The current Open Space vision: Enriching life throughout Jefferson County [via] an abundance of open space, parks, trails, and nature-based outdoor activities
Proposed JCOS vision: Nature, heritage & humanity thriving in wild harmony
Discussed at length and approved by all 10 OSAC members.

County values: Safety, stewardship, responsiveness, innovation, integrity, respect, collaboration, inclusivity, resiliency, health and well-being.
Current JCOS values: Responsible stewardship, innovation, collaboration, balance, trust, excellence, learn and share.
Proposed JCOS Values “what guides our actions”: Respect fosters Collaboration which leads to Innovation
Discussed at length and approved.

Vision to Action Framework

Conservation Greenprint – Goals & Strategies

The process in developing the Greenprint was discussed – surveys, public engagement, reviews, consultant, etc. Lots of data. Objective was to generate a simple document, that defined clear goals. A slightly marked up copy of a draft is attached.

Park Plans – Module Approach
In order to minimize the time being spent on park plans, JCOS is switching to a module approach. The modules are: Natural Resources, Park & Heritage Resources, Trails, Visitor Information & Management, Access & Trailheads. The idea is that only modules needing review on a park would be subject to change.

Apex Park – Trail Management This is the park subject to the most conflict. Alternate days is the most despised method of management. They have collected a lot of data. Need is to have alternate trails available. Plan for Apex is multi-use until the Apex and Argos Trails [separate]. Apex Trail and Enchanted Forest Trail would be biker only on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday; and Hiker/Equestrian on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Argos, Pick-N-Sledge, and Grubstake would be the alternate, multi-use trails. Will have a public meeting Feb 26, Trails talk March 25, update OSAC on April 2, and implement in May.

South Table Mountain Park – Draft Access & Trails Plan At present there are 7.95 miles of designated trails, plus 17.5 miles of social trails on Open Space and 9.4 miles of social trails on private property. Will be upgrading the designated trails this year and beginning restoration of most of the social trails.

Mount Falcon / Morrison Trailhead The lower Mount Falcon trailhead parking is way too small and the weekend overflow impacts the neighborhood. Have had discussions with Morrison about building an entrance off Highway 8 with a large parking lot that would serve a new Town of Morrison building, the Morrison Museum, and Mount Falcon. Not cheap, but is a solution.
Access and Trails

Draft Jeffco Trails Plan  There are 966 miles of off-street trails in Jefferson County and 230,000 acres of open space, including the Pike National Forest. Formed a Jeffco Trails council that includes 27 entities. The mission is a park, trail or green space within a 10-minute walk in the urban areas and a 10-minute drive in the mountain (non-urban) areas. Highway 93 and C-470 are the separation line. At present the 10-minute standard fits 77% of the urban residents and 64% of the mountain residents. Goal is 85% urban and 75% mountain in 2030, and 95% urban and 80% mountain in 2050. As a comparison, Denver is at 90%, Aurora at 88%, and Colorado Springs at 74%. Public reviews will be in March and April with OSAC final presentation June 4.

Multi-Modal Access to JCOS Parks Today 93% of access to JCOS Parks is by car, 5% by bike, and 2% walk. There is no data on rideshare or mass transit. The Westracks area is the best area to look at methods to improve mass transit access. RTD already has bus service to the Southeast corner of South Table Mountain. The Alameda bus route could be extended to Dinosaur Ridge. Shuttles could run from the end of the W-line to Apex, Green Mountain, Dinosaur Ridge, Matthews Winters, and Bear Creek Lake Parks.

JCOS Projects and Activities Map JCOS GIS staff are preparing a series of interactive maps that will allow monitoring the parks and parking lots, status of projects, etc. Plan for it to go live later this year. We checked it and there was only one car in the lower Mount Falcon parking lot at 3:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon.

Jeffco Fairgrounds The retreat ended with a discussion on the Fairgrounds. The Open Space resolution does not prevent the Fairgrounds coming under Open Space. What it does prevent is using Open Space revenue for most of the Fairground’s activities. The Fairgrounds was under [Open Space Director Tom] Hoby until it was transferred to the Facilities Department. Tom’s concern is that the equine facilities are in poor shape and only generate about 9% of the Fairgrounds revenue. The majority of the revenue is rental of the event center, where there is competition with other facilities. This limits increasing rental rates significantly. Already lost some renters after the last increase. The Commissioners’ briefing on the Fairgrounds will be February 25.

** end of report submitted by John Litz, PLAN Jeffco **