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Start time. These meetings are held in a virtual hybrid

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format via Zoom webinar. I will start the webinar now.

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Just a friendly reminder to all PosTC members, presenters and

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public speakers. Please make sure you're within two inches of

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the microphone when speaking. This helps ensures we maintain an

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accurate public record. Members of the committee. Are you ready?

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We are. All right, we're recording. Thank you, Nick. Good

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evening. And welcome to the November 20 19th year 2025

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meeting of the Boulder County Parks and open space advisory

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committee. I'm Terry speaker of Postac, vice chair for this

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term, and I am filling in. For Janet George for

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tonight's meeting. We will start off with. A roll call.

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Christine johnson. Present. And Carol Barley? Present.

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Derek Turner. Present. Boy. Are you just doing this for

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memory? Yes. Tony Lewis, president. Trace Baker? Present. Vicky Lawrence?

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Present. John White. Here and Joan. Letz. Here. Thank you.

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And the next topic will be approval. Of the October

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minutes. Do we have any discussion? No discussion. Do we

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have a motion to approve? I so move second. I

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second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Abstain. Tony was

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not here last week, so he abstained. So the motion

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is passed, the minutes are approved. Before we get started

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on the agenda. I'm anticipating that this might be a

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long meeting tonight, given the number of agenda items. And

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we may have a number of people registered to make

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public comments. For those making public comments, please limit your

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personal time to three minutes and pool time to six.

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Minutes. And please consider not repeating points made by previous

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speakers. And also, if you're speaking on an engent topic,

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please remember to keep your comments relative to that topic.

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We will have an opportunity towards the end of the

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meeting to comment on. Items that are not on tonight's

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agenda. And when somebody is speaking, please be respectful and

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keep. The meeting moving. By refraining from clapping or cheering

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or other expressions of support or opposition. And for members

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of the public speaking. Please start with your name and

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approximate location of your residence. You don't have to give

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your exact address. So we'll start with first topic. And

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we have Melissa Arnold. Presenting the acquisition of the Stillwater

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Bend conservation easement. Great. Thank you very much. As Trace

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said Melissa Arnold. I'm a land officer in the real

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estate division at parks. And open space, and I would

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like to read the real estate land commitment for this

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item in the next two that are acquisitions on our

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agenda. For much longer than parks and open spaces. History

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of stewarding open space the land in this community has

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been. An important to American Indian, urban, native, indigenous and

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other cultural communities that continue to live here. We're making

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meaningful changes to how we do our work that include

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them, incorporate their perspectives. And honor their land stewardship. Legacy

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parks and open space operates within modern legal constructs of

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land ownership to steward Buller county open space and accomplish

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these efforts on behalf of our community. So I'm going

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to be presenting on the Stillwater Bend conservation easement. This

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property. Is located in the northeast part of the county,

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west of Longmont, south of Highway 66, and it has

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been in the hep family for decades. So it's just

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west of the unincorporated town of Hygiene and not too

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far from the annex boundary of the city of Longmont.

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Pellet crossing. Open space is to the southeast gauge. Open

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space to the south. The Braley Raimi Western mobile properties

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are to the west and. A dodge. Dollahan family Farms

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conservation easement is to the north. Here's a closer view

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of the property, showing those surrounding open space lands that

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I just mentioned. And then just to help orient everybody,

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here are some Google Earth images of the property. With

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respect to where the town of Hygiene and Pella crossing

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trailhead are located. And then just a closer up of

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the property itself. Okay. Digging into some of the details

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here. This is a 140 acre property along Hygiene Road.

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It is bisected by the BNSF Railway. And. Consists of

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three parcels. That strip that you see, the flagpole is

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actually under ownership with the landowner and it's connected to

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the peace north of the railway. The property includes 1700ft

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of St. Brain Creek. As you can see from the

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aerial imagery, it also has many reclaimed gravel ponds. And

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in the southwest portion of the property, there's one that

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was filled in by the 2013 flood that has extraordinary

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ecological values that I'll get. Into more later on in

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the presentation. Has about ten acres of hay fields, four

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existing agricultural structures. There are the location of the agricultural

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structures. Two barns, equipment shed and lean to. The landowner

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irrigates the land anywhere with anywhere from ten to 40

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cfs per year, depending on the year from the Chapman

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and McCaslyn ditch and the ditches indicated in the light

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dashed blue line that kind of runs under the railway

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and then down south to. The hygiene road. In the

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hay field that the landowner irrigates with this water circled

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in blue and indicated. With the comment bubble, and then

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there's a dry hay field to the south. Just pointing

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out where the St. Vain Creek is. And the ecological

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backwater area. So when this property was impacted by the

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2013 flood, They worked with the county to restore sections

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of the creek. But. This gravel pond that was filled

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in by the flood was left untouched for wildlife habitat,

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and it's resulted in an ecologically unique backwater area that's

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rare along the St. Brand Creek as it provides off

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channel habitat for native fish, beaver and other aquatic species.

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Since 2019, the Hap family has partnered with our departmental

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wildlife staff to introduce and monitor the health of aquatic

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species in need of conservation. And in 2023. They were

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the recipient of the 20. Excuse me. Yeah. The 2023.

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They were the recipient of. The Land Conservation Environmental Stewardship

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award that Boulder county gives out for allowing the northern

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red Belly Dais recovery project to release these fish, these

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rare Colorado fish, back into the environment here on this

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property. This is a tier. One species of greatest conservation

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need, and this involved multiple students. Across many backgrounds, and

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they were engaged in helping to raise the fish and

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release them into the ponds in 2022. So this area

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continues to be a really valuable ecological area to gather

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scientific data and an opportunity to introduce species to once

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again thrive in the St. Frain Creek. There are some

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pictures. This is that ecological backwater area. A view of

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the property from Hygiene Road and you may recognize that

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tiny little rowboat that's on that island in the middle

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of the picture? It's sort of an iconic view of

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this property. And we have. In the upper left we

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have a section of the creek. And then below is

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the bigger lake on the property. And then just an

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example of some of the mature, beautiful trees that are.

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There's quite a few areas of thick trees, and then

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also, as you see in this picture, Shrublin grassland. And

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a lot of this was restored, like I said, after

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the flood. With Boulder county as part of the Reach

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Three recovery project. And just a couple of pictures. The

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Barnes that I pointed out earlier on the map. So

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Boulder county comprehensive plan designations. These maps are intended to

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be illustrative rather than specific. In the following designations are

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indicators of importance, but not confirmation that these features exist

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on the property. So there is a view protection corridor

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along Hygiene Road. Riparian habitat connector along the St. Grain

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Creek. Can I take questions? Yeah, I'm just questioning about

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the view protection core. Yes. What are those circles? That's

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just how it comes up on the gis layer. Basically

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shows you that along the road. That is where the

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protection is. And if you look at it closely, it

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gives a rating like a number of. How? It's a

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rating of the view protection quarter, but basically that's what

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comes up. On the GIS layer when you pull it

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up. Sorry. Trey speaker. Post hack members, please remember to

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identify yourselves when speaking. Okay, great. It has the riparian

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habitat. Connector along the St. Van Creek critical Wildlife habitat

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for the St. Brain corridor. Prebble's Meadow jumping Mouse Conservation

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Area, zone one mouse management area. Riparian area. Archaeological sensitive

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travel routes. Significant agricultural lands of statewide importance. And I

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just want to show here the proximity of wetlands in

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the comprehensive plan. And often these go to the edge

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of private properties because they're private. And there haven't been

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ways for us to get on and do any data

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collection, but. You can bet that there are wetlands on

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this property. So the deal transaction. The existing configuration is

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that there are three parcels in four development rights with

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the property today. So there are three separate addresses, and

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you can see that that flag pull piece goes with

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the. North part of that northern parcel labeled zero hygiene

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Road. We would propose to reconfigure them into four, I

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think I might have said. Four parcels. There were three.

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We're looking to reconfigure them into four. And the flag

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pole would be. Dissolved in with the respective properties that

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you see. The lower part of the flag pole are

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dissolving in with the green and the upper. Part of

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the flagpole property dissolving in with the blue, and I'll

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tell. You more what those are. We have what would

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be an 88 acre preserve. Approximately, because we're doing the

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survey now. So these are all approximate. Approximately seven acre

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west. Lake house lot. Approximate 13 acre East Lake House

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law and approximate 32 acre North Lake House lot. So

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for $1,700,000, these 140 acres would be reconfigured. Into four

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parcels and protected with two conservation easements and two restrictive

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covenants, which I'll detail in a minute. And it would

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remove one development, right? So that 80 acre, that approximate

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88 acre preserve would be encumbered with a restrictive conservation

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easement that would protect the abundant conservation values, including that

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ecological backwater area. In the same brain creek corridor that

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I talked about earlier. No residential uses would be allowed.

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And the Chapman McCaslan water rights would be tied to

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the property. The West Lake house lot would be encumbered

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with what we call a house lock conservation. Easement. It

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would permit one residence and structures. Accessory to the permitted

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uses on the property. The approximate 13 acre East Lake

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House lot and the north Lake house lot would both

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be subject to restrictive covenants that would both permit one

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residence and structure as accessory to the permitted uses. On

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the property. So two conservation easements and two restrictive covenants.

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So a very exciting result of this negotiation is that

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the landowner in the county will enter into an agreement

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allowing departmental staff and its partners to continue. Continued access

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to the ecological backwater area of the preserve for its

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ecological and educational research and monitoring. So we're very thankful

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to the landowner for agreeing to that. And staff recommends

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approval. This property has been on the county's priority list

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for many years, and the opportunity to finally preserve this

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land into perpetuity will ensure that there will be limited

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development. It'll. Protect unique aquatic and wildlife habitat along the

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St. Vain Creek and add to hundreds of acres of

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contiguous open space and conserved conservation easement land in the

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area. And the fact that, as I mentioned, We're allowed.

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Continued access to that area is quite remarkable. So at

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this time, staff request. That Posak recommend this project to

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the board of County Commissioners for approval, and I would

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be happy to take your questions. Question. Let's start to

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the right with Joan. Yes. Joan loots Posac and thank

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you for that presentation. The area around the creek is

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just biologically valuable, and I didn't. Know about the red

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belly days, but it was pleasant to see ducks paddling

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around. I'm just. Wondering. Not having read the conservation easements

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and so on, In the restricted covenants. Some of this,

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like, for example, the preserve area that would allow up

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to 5000 square foot structures. Does that mean the existing

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barn that's there in the southeast corner, or in addition

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to. The barn. That would be included. Yes. So 5000

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total. Okay. All right. Because some of these square footages.

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Are quite large. For. 6835. Hygiene. The west Lake house

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a lot. It'd be up to 11,000. Square foot structures,

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and I'm just wondering. If it was desired to. Build

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in one of those areas. That. Might be in a

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floodplain, for example, would they have to go through the

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same administrative procedures that anybody else would have to go

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through. Yeah, thanks for asking that question so I can

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have the opportunity to share why this is a great

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preservation deal? Because, yes, first of all, they will still

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be subject to all the. Regular community planning and permitting

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reviews. That would happen through a site plan review process.

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And as you all know our land use code is

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very strict on that, so they're subject to all of

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those restrictions, floodplains and all that. This is an additional

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layer on top of that. And so our conservation easement

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program staff, our CE team, would be reviewing any proposals

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carefully to ensure they're in compliance with the conservation easement

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there will be with that particular parcel. Being a house

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lock. Conservation easement will also have other restrictions on protecting

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the conservation values on the land as to the size

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that. Is quite a standard that we will allow landowners

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when they have given up a lot of rights. To

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00:16:50,683 --> 00:16:52,963
conserve their land that we will permit what is a

237
00:16:52,963 --> 00:16:57,563
threshold limit of the county's house sizing. So a 6000

238
00:16:57,563 --> 00:17:03,076
square foot limitation is not unusual for our transactions. And

239
00:17:03,076 --> 00:17:05,796
also for a house lot. And as I say, in

240
00:17:05,796 --> 00:17:08,676
comparison to the parcel preserve, which is purely a preserve

241
00:17:08,676 --> 00:17:11,556
with no residential uses and then to have some accessory

242
00:17:11,556 --> 00:17:14,756
structures is also a normal thing as well. To give

243
00:17:14,756 --> 00:17:18,516
them the ability to store equipment and have garages, things

244
00:17:18,516 --> 00:17:21,716
like that. So this is a pretty standard square footage

245
00:17:21,716 --> 00:17:25,792
restriction. Okay. I don't understand how the barn was allowed

246
00:17:25,792 --> 00:17:29,632
to be built fairly recently in a critical habitat zone.

247
00:17:31,606 --> 00:17:34,246
Is that just something that you can get a variance

248
00:17:34,246 --> 00:17:38,784
for? Well. That all happened through the regulatory department of

249
00:17:38,784 --> 00:17:43,115
Community Planning and permitting. And the Hep family. They are

250
00:17:43,115 --> 00:17:46,035
impeccable with their stewardship and their care for the land,

251
00:17:46,035 --> 00:17:48,675
and they absolutely went through all the right processes and

252
00:17:48,675 --> 00:17:52,449
are very thoughtful and careful and. I think I can't

253
00:17:52,449 --> 00:17:54,489
speak directly to that process because I work at parks

254
00:17:54,489 --> 00:17:57,762
and open space and. Didn't review it because there was

255
00:17:57,762 --> 00:18:00,162
no conservation easement on it at the time, but I

256
00:18:00,162 --> 00:18:04,282
can say that anything was approved, went through that rigorous

257
00:18:04,282 --> 00:18:07,384
process. And you'd have to look at details to see

258
00:18:07,384 --> 00:18:11,944
what was discussed. But you can bet that. That was

259
00:18:11,944 --> 00:18:16,924
handled as best as it could. And wherever it was

260
00:18:16,924 --> 00:18:18,644
put was something that had a lot of thought and

261
00:18:18,644 --> 00:18:21,696
care into it and. It is on public record. Okay.

262
00:18:23,344 --> 00:18:26,824
And just one additional thing, which is that although the

263
00:18:26,824 --> 00:18:30,824
background information we were provided describes the floor, as undisturbed

264
00:18:30,824 --> 00:18:36,250
grassland and trouble. And unfortunately, There are mostly ways visible

265
00:18:36,250 --> 00:18:42,069
from Hygiene Road. For example, a dense, homogeneous monoculture, smooth

266
00:18:42,069 --> 00:18:45,669
broom grass, which probably started along the roadside, but it

267
00:18:45,669 --> 00:18:47,869
spreads, and as far as I can see, and of

268
00:18:47,869 --> 00:18:50,509
course, it's private land, so I couldn't go on it.

269
00:18:50,509 --> 00:18:53,469
But also there are groups of tiesl, non need or

270
00:18:53,469 --> 00:18:57,109
black. Locust, crack willow, and a great amount of russian

271
00:18:57,109 --> 00:19:00,411
olive trees around the ponds, for example. And russian olives

272
00:19:00,411 --> 00:19:03,651
are in the list. Be noctose weed species in Colorado.

273
00:19:05,637 --> 00:19:08,917
Because it competes with our native cottonwoods that provide rucine

274
00:19:08,917 --> 00:19:13,183
and nesting sites for birds. But they may not be

275
00:19:13,183 --> 00:19:18,327
aware of this. These things are insidious. And noxious weeds

276
00:19:18,327 --> 00:19:23,210
are great. A threat almost. It's climate change. To the

277
00:19:23,210 --> 00:19:30,430
biological diversity. On these parcels, but I'm hoping that the

278
00:19:30,430 --> 00:19:32,870
county could do something to encourage the removal. Of the

279
00:19:32,870 --> 00:19:37,190
russian olive and encourage the planting of cottonwood trees, for

280
00:19:37,190 --> 00:19:42,007
example. Or do the conservation easements not address this? Even

281
00:19:42,007 --> 00:19:44,527
if they don't, I'm hoping that the access allowed to

282
00:19:44,527 --> 00:19:49,217
the county. In the preserve area would encourage communication because.

283
00:19:50,346 --> 00:19:54,026
Restoring natives would make the property more valuable and pleasant

284
00:19:54,026 --> 00:19:56,586
to the owners as well. Yeah. Excellent, Joan. Thank you

285
00:19:56,586 --> 00:20:00,391
for that. Well, first I'll just say that. In the

286
00:20:00,391 --> 00:20:03,111
real estate division. We do acquire these properties as is.

287
00:20:03,111 --> 00:20:06,071
We have to take advantage of preserving them when the

288
00:20:06,071 --> 00:20:08,311
landowners are ready. So that's what we're able to do.

289
00:20:08,311 --> 00:20:11,751
Now. But the fantastic part about putting conservation easements or

290
00:20:11,751 --> 00:20:14,471
restricted covenants on these that they then go into the

291
00:20:14,471 --> 00:20:17,871
careful stewardship of our CE team, our conservation easement team,

292
00:20:17,871 --> 00:20:20,509
who have regular contact with these landown. Landowners as they

293
00:20:20,509 --> 00:20:23,309
do their stewardship visits, and we pull in resources of

294
00:20:23,309 --> 00:20:27,269
our weed staff, our Wilde staff and we bring the

295
00:20:27,269 --> 00:20:30,389
management plans. We have conversations like this, and it's a

296
00:20:30,389 --> 00:20:33,229
whole nother way to provide support to the landowner, education,

297
00:20:33,229 --> 00:20:35,669
encouragement for them to make exactly what you just said

298
00:20:35,669 --> 00:20:40,149
those changes, the conservation event itself won't make steadfast require.

299
00:20:39,903 --> 00:20:42,093
Requirements if you need to remove these things by such

300
00:20:42,093 --> 00:20:44,853
and date, but they are subject to the state laws,

301
00:20:44,853 --> 00:20:48,039
and we do work with them. Like we will other

302
00:20:48,039 --> 00:20:51,119
landowners that are interested. But we work with them to

303
00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:53,279
manage, help them come. Up with a plan to manage

304
00:20:53,279 --> 00:20:55,919
their weeds, and that is a benefit of having our

305
00:20:55,919 --> 00:20:58,479
conservation easement. Team work with them over the years. Thank

306
00:20:58,479 --> 00:21:04,704
you. Yeah, thanks for bringing that up. John. Vicky. Vicky

307
00:21:04,704 --> 00:21:09,641
Lawrence Posak. I just have a quick, actually. Just question,

308
00:21:09,641 --> 00:21:14,081
is the backwater area connected via any kind of channel

309
00:21:14,081 --> 00:21:15,641
to the same brain river? Or is it all just

310
00:21:15,641 --> 00:21:20,001
groundwater that keeps the water in? Yes, great question I've

311
00:21:20,001 --> 00:21:21,961
had. To learn a lot about this from our wildlife

312
00:21:21,961 --> 00:21:24,121
team, who spend a lot of time out here. Running

313
00:21:24,121 --> 00:21:26,081
these projects, and they're familiar with the area. So I

314
00:21:26,081 --> 00:21:28,561
went out on site and learned some more. So, yes.

315
00:21:29,194 --> 00:21:31,074
That's what makes it unique, is it's called an off

316
00:21:31,074 --> 00:21:34,394
channel kind of backwater. Area so that the water does

317
00:21:34,394 --> 00:21:37,714
run through into there allows for some really unique habitat

318
00:21:37,714 --> 00:21:40,714
for the fish and other species to get off the

319
00:21:40,714 --> 00:21:44,554
creek and reproduction purposes. And then it does lead back

320
00:21:44,554 --> 00:21:47,074
into the creek. So it's opportunities to have a place

321
00:21:47,074 --> 00:21:50,211
to release. For example, these red belly. Days, have them

322
00:21:50,211 --> 00:21:52,331
get to a place where they're large enough, confident enough

323
00:21:52,331 --> 00:21:53,891
to get out. Into the creek, and then they can

324
00:21:53,891 --> 00:21:57,331
exit back out into that. Into that creek. So, yes,

325
00:21:57,331 --> 00:21:59,851
it is connected to the St. Rain Creek. Okay, thank

326
00:21:59,851 --> 00:22:07,305
you. Tony. I'm still formulating some questions. Okay, Derek. Carol.

327
00:22:09,294 --> 00:22:16,485
Carol byerly posec. My question is. How much development. Would

328
00:22:16,485 --> 00:22:22,383
be possible absent this deal. So there would have been

329
00:22:22,383 --> 00:22:27,143
an additional house, possible, a fourth development. Right. And the

330
00:22:27,143 --> 00:22:31,983
houses could have gone. Into various locations on the preserve

331
00:22:31,983 --> 00:22:34,903
piece, which is the part that we're most concerned about.

332
00:22:34,903 --> 00:22:38,263
To protect with the conservation easement and the conservation values.

333
00:22:38,263 --> 00:22:42,023
So we're able to direct those three remaining building rights

334
00:22:42,023 --> 00:22:44,703
to other locations. And I also want to take this

335
00:22:44,703 --> 00:22:47,967
time to point out that. It's hard to project exactly

336
00:22:47,967 --> 00:22:49,687
what's going to happen in the future and the city

337
00:22:49,687 --> 00:22:52,207
of Longmin is not very far away, and there's always

338
00:22:52,207 --> 00:22:54,207
been in the back. Of our minds. What would happen

339
00:22:54,207 --> 00:22:57,447
if there were to be some day a flagpole annexation

340
00:22:57,447 --> 00:23:00,487
and. The properties could be divided into way more smaller

341
00:23:00,487 --> 00:23:03,487
pieces. And this would be prevented because the documents all

342
00:23:03,487 --> 00:23:06,967
will prohibit annexation and division, which would then create more.

343
00:23:07,264 --> 00:23:10,464
Houses. But to answer your question, right now, four houses

344
00:23:10,464 --> 00:23:14,994
would be possible without these protections. Placed in various locations

345
00:23:14,994 --> 00:23:19,356
with these protections. Three houses in very specific locations. But

346
00:23:19,356 --> 00:23:24,235
if it went on the market. And. Longmont had access

347
00:23:24,235 --> 00:23:27,577
to it. It could be worse. A lot of things

348
00:23:27,577 --> 00:23:29,897
would have to change because it's not annexed right now,

349
00:23:29,897 --> 00:23:34,234
but. That would be possible. Okay. Yeah. That would be

350
00:23:34,234 --> 00:23:40,348
possible. Okay. Thank you. Yeah, you're welcome. Christine. Christine Johnson

351
00:23:40,348 --> 00:23:44,628
Posack. I'm wondering if beavers are a factor in the

352
00:23:44,628 --> 00:23:48,068
backwater. As well. Yes. In fact, they're active beavers. Back

353
00:23:48,068 --> 00:23:51,308
there. There's a dam. In the lodge and this is

354
00:23:51,308 --> 00:23:55,168
excellent habitat for them. This kind of habitat is so

355
00:23:55,168 --> 00:23:58,008
unique on the St. Brain corridor, and so we're really

356
00:23:58,008 --> 00:24:00,874
excited about that. And is there any plan to manage

357
00:24:00,874 --> 00:24:04,274
them away as they have been at some other properties?

358
00:24:06,601 --> 00:24:08,601
This is a conservation easement, so the county, as you

359
00:24:08,601 --> 00:24:10,881
know, won't own it. It's still going to be owned

360
00:24:10,881 --> 00:24:13,121
by the Hep family and have these restrictions stored by

361
00:24:13,121 --> 00:24:17,321
our department, and that is not something that is possible

362
00:24:17,321 --> 00:24:21,559
under the conservation easement. The AdA Acre Preserve Conservation amusement

363
00:24:21,559 --> 00:24:25,359
will be very strict with protecting its conservation values. So,

364
00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:29,985
yeah, the beaver will be encouraged to stay. I had

365
00:24:29,985 --> 00:24:37,460
a question about water rights. I know that. With prairie

366
00:24:37,460 --> 00:24:40,460
run. The water rights figured into some of the water

367
00:24:40,460 --> 00:24:48,606
there, and I'm wondering. How? I assume. Somebody. The beaver

368
00:24:48,606 --> 00:24:53,092
owns the water that's in the back water. How and

369
00:24:53,092 --> 00:24:55,692
why is that being allowed to happen? And is it

370
00:24:55,692 --> 00:24:58,172
secure for the future? Why is what being allowed to

371
00:24:58,172 --> 00:25:02,382
happen. Is the backwater an impoundment of water? And is

372
00:25:02,382 --> 00:25:08,787
their concern about that? There's no concern about any of

373
00:25:08,787 --> 00:25:11,187
the water on this property that I'm aware. Of it

374
00:25:11,187 --> 00:25:14,067
is all fed. Because these were gravel mines. They're all

375
00:25:14,067 --> 00:25:16,547
groundwater fed. And then some of this is fed from

376
00:25:16,547 --> 00:25:19,267
the creek as well, because as we showed, that broke

377
00:25:19,267 --> 00:25:24,143
into. That area with the flood. And then the beavers

378
00:25:24,143 --> 00:25:28,532
have impounded it. And so it is. I know of

379
00:25:28,532 --> 00:25:32,020
no concerns about that in terms of water rights. Right.

380
00:25:32,020 --> 00:25:34,820
And then I had a question whether there's going to

381
00:25:34,820 --> 00:25:39,839
be. Any other plan changes to the other lakes. No.

382
00:25:41,943 --> 00:25:44,303
Nothing is planned at this point. Everything is pretty much

383
00:25:44,303 --> 00:25:47,559
to remain as is. Of course, there are acts of

384
00:25:47,559 --> 00:25:51,223
nature that change things. But there's just. The landowner will

385
00:25:51,223 --> 00:25:53,223
continue to use and manage the land as they have.

386
00:25:54,891 --> 00:26:00,605
And I want to register. That. We're going from zero

387
00:26:00,605 --> 00:26:05,004
houses to possibly three. I understand. That there is some

388
00:26:05,004 --> 00:26:12,755
sacrifice in order. To. Save the preserve area, and the

389
00:26:12,755 --> 00:26:16,294
worst could happen. But it makes me feel a little

390
00:26:16,294 --> 00:26:20,374
sad. Yes. And I hear you. Thank you for sharing

391
00:26:20,374 --> 00:26:23,414
that. And I will say that there are zero houses,

392
00:26:23,414 --> 00:26:26,054
but there could be four. And to get the landowner

393
00:26:26,054 --> 00:26:29,723
to the table. We had to allow for them to

394
00:26:29,723 --> 00:26:33,190
retain some of their development rights. So they could get

395
00:26:33,190 --> 00:26:36,675
some of their economic value back on the land. I

396
00:26:36,675 --> 00:26:41,397
get that. It's very adult math. Thank you. Perfect. Tony,

397
00:26:41,397 --> 00:26:45,517
have you formulated a question, or. Derek. Derek Turner, pozak

398
00:26:45,517 --> 00:26:51,261
and thanks. Good questions. Christine, I appreciate the explanation. Because.

399
00:26:52,979 --> 00:26:56,219
My first question is, is the subdivisions and the partial

400
00:26:56,219 --> 00:26:59,019
boundaries, have that been, has that been vetted by county

401
00:26:59,019 --> 00:27:01,699
planning. Do they have to go through a full blown

402
00:27:01,699 --> 00:27:07,277
subdivision process? For what? For taking three parcels and making

403
00:27:07,277 --> 00:27:11,197
four. That is something that the county can do through

404
00:27:11,197 --> 00:27:15,285
this process. Through a division of land. That is. So

405
00:27:15,285 --> 00:27:17,045
if you're a landowner, you do have to go through

406
00:27:17,045 --> 00:27:20,205
the subdivision process. But when you work with our department

407
00:27:20,205 --> 00:27:22,205
to do an open space deal. We can use the

408
00:27:22,205 --> 00:27:25,405
division of land process that the county has. Okay, good

409
00:27:25,405 --> 00:27:29,961
question. And I guess with that in mind, especially. $1.7

410
00:27:29,961 --> 00:27:35,578
million to get a subdivision. And. These houses not guaranteed,

411
00:27:35,578 --> 00:27:38,166
right? They have to go through the process. But that

412
00:27:38,166 --> 00:27:40,406
seems like a really great deal for the landowner and

413
00:27:40,406 --> 00:27:42,446
a lot of money. I would love to hear a

414
00:27:42,446 --> 00:27:47,598
little more about. Why? There's no public access. There will

415
00:27:47,598 --> 00:27:51,518
never be public access. Right, because it's private. Land. And

416
00:27:51,518 --> 00:27:54,798
I hear about the preserve and the education and the

417
00:27:54,798 --> 00:27:57,532
study. I would love to hear a little bit more

418
00:27:57,532 --> 00:28:00,732
about why this is a really good use of $1.7

419
00:28:00,732 --> 00:28:05,896
million. This is actually an excellent deal for the county.

420
00:28:07,195 --> 00:28:12,841
One development right in this area is worth an. Extraordinary

421
00:28:12,841 --> 00:28:15,270
amount of money. And the ability to restrict these parcels

422
00:28:15,270 --> 00:28:18,230
from ever being further divided, annexed. To be able to

423
00:28:18,230 --> 00:28:21,150
restrict the square footage on them to what they are,

424
00:28:21,150 --> 00:28:23,990
to be able to conserve the conservation values and prevent

425
00:28:23,990 --> 00:28:27,030
disturbance of, especially that whole area that's under the preserve,

426
00:28:27,030 --> 00:28:30,670
which is really the gem. Of the conservation on these

427
00:28:30,670 --> 00:28:35,993
properties. Is. All I can say is that our staff

428
00:28:35,993 --> 00:28:39,193
feels like we negotiated a fantastic deal for this. And

429
00:28:39,193 --> 00:28:42,513
we have been working with the hep family for years

430
00:28:42,513 --> 00:28:45,782
to try to come to a deal. And everybody feels

431
00:28:45,782 --> 00:28:50,019
very positive about this outcome. And often when landowners have

432
00:28:50,019 --> 00:28:53,860
this much property. They do want to retain some development

433
00:28:53,860 --> 00:28:56,860
rights, and if we were to have purchase more, this

434
00:28:56,860 --> 00:29:00,180
would have been two, three, four times more, depending on

435
00:29:00,180 --> 00:29:02,420
each of those houses, because of the value of not

436
00:29:02,420 --> 00:29:05,980
just that development. Right. Because of its location along the

437
00:29:05,980 --> 00:29:08,740
edge of a private body of water. Far off any

438
00:29:08,740 --> 00:29:12,802
loud roadways. All these things that make for that development

439
00:29:12,802 --> 00:29:16,906
right to be so pristine. And I definitely understand what

440
00:29:16,906 --> 00:29:20,586
you're saying about knowing houses going in, wanting to understand

441
00:29:20,586 --> 00:29:21,746
how that is a good deal. But all I can

442
00:29:21,746 --> 00:29:25,183
tell you, it's a good price. I just felt a

443
00:29:25,183 --> 00:29:30,458
tab. I passed over the mic. I just like to

444
00:29:30,458 --> 00:29:33,178
add to that Janice Wism, real estate division manager. Thanks,

445
00:29:33,178 --> 00:29:35,978
Melissa. That was a really good explanation. Could you go

446
00:29:35,978 --> 00:29:39,298
back to the slide that shows the current configuration of

447
00:29:39,298 --> 00:29:45,247
the parcels. Thank you. This one here. Okay? And remind

448
00:29:45,247 --> 00:29:51,200
everybody how large the green outlined one is. 88 acres.

449
00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:53,520
It's going to be 88 acres. But what is it

450
00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:57,379
now? It is right now. 93 or something is 93.

451
00:29:57,379 --> 00:30:01,339
Okay, so there are three legal parcels there now. The

452
00:30:01,339 --> 00:30:04,779
green one can legally split into two under the state's

453
00:30:04,779 --> 00:30:07,175
one per 35 law. All they have to do is

454
00:30:07,175 --> 00:30:09,135
record a deed to do that. So there's no land.

455
00:30:09,135 --> 00:30:12,062
Use process. To get that division done, which is why

456
00:30:12,062 --> 00:30:15,974
they have four development rights with the property. They also

457
00:30:15,974 --> 00:30:19,374
can then go into site plan review for all four

458
00:30:19,374 --> 00:30:22,752
of those and go through the process. To get approval

459
00:30:22,752 --> 00:30:27,027
to build their homes. So what I'm hearing is, You're

460
00:30:27,027 --> 00:30:31,257
talking about going from zero to three houses. Or adding

461
00:30:31,257 --> 00:30:33,977
and creating a subdivision. We're doing the opposite. We are

462
00:30:33,977 --> 00:30:38,057
going from four to three, and we're reconfiguring it so

463
00:30:38,057 --> 00:30:41,566
that we can preserve the part. That's really important. In

464
00:30:41,566 --> 00:30:44,447
that scenario right there. So we are definitely getting rid

465
00:30:44,447 --> 00:30:47,327
of the one development, right, which is worth at least

466
00:30:47,327 --> 00:30:49,847
the 1.7 that Melissa is talking about, and I would

467
00:30:49,847 --> 00:30:54,033
encourage you to think about it that way. Adult math.

468
00:30:54,033 --> 00:31:00,586
There you go. Thank you, joan. This is Joan Lax

469
00:31:00,586 --> 00:31:03,826
Posaic. And in the future, it would be good for

470
00:31:03,826 --> 00:31:07,026
us to have access to the language of the conservation

471
00:31:07,026 --> 00:31:12,358
easements in any restrictive covenants because. Just so we know.

472
00:31:15,062 --> 00:31:19,288
What they say, it could be anything. Without us being

473
00:31:19,288 --> 00:31:21,328
able to read it. So thank you for that question,

474
00:31:21,328 --> 00:31:25,091
Joan Janice Wisman, again. That is not what we're going

475
00:31:25,091 --> 00:31:27,291
to provide to you. I'm sorry. We are. Giving you

476
00:31:27,291 --> 00:31:30,051
the details in these memos and giving you the presentation

477
00:31:30,051 --> 00:31:33,051
of the outlines of what's in those documents. But they

478
00:31:33,051 --> 00:31:35,771
are long documents. They're legal documents. It's part of our

479
00:31:35,771 --> 00:31:39,651
job to do that, and we are giving you the

480
00:31:39,651 --> 00:31:41,851
important parts of that, but. It is not your job

481
00:31:41,851 --> 00:31:44,974
to read through them and parse through that. We are

482
00:31:44,974 --> 00:31:47,734
telling you, and we just need you to acknowledge and

483
00:31:47,734 --> 00:31:51,014
understand that we are giving you the details of the

484
00:31:51,014 --> 00:31:54,174
value that's coming out off of these properties through this

485
00:31:54,174 --> 00:31:58,305
purchase of a conservation easement. But we don't even have

486
00:31:58,305 --> 00:32:01,465
the board of county commissioners review these documents because that's,

487
00:32:01,465 --> 00:32:03,945
our job, and we work with the county attorneys to

488
00:32:03,945 --> 00:32:07,545
do that in. Those documents changed constantly. Between when we

489
00:32:07,545 --> 00:32:10,025
first start talking with the landowner and get them under

490
00:32:10,025 --> 00:32:13,861
a letter of intent. All the way through closing. So

491
00:32:13,861 --> 00:32:16,821
we welcome your questions, but that's a detail that we're

492
00:32:16,821 --> 00:32:19,141
not going to give you those documents in your packets.

493
00:32:20,855 --> 00:32:23,882
Okay, but. Will those be filed in the comment? They

494
00:32:23,882 --> 00:32:27,167
ultimately get filed, yes. We have to get through the

495
00:32:27,167 --> 00:32:30,924
closing where we pay for the interest. And immediately after

496
00:32:30,924 --> 00:32:33,684
the closing, they're filed in their public record. And then

497
00:32:33,684 --> 00:32:36,887
we have a website. That we add them to. So

498
00:32:36,887 --> 00:32:38,527
you have to give us a few days to get

499
00:32:38,527 --> 00:32:40,527
it added. But then you can go click on the

500
00:32:40,527 --> 00:32:43,877
property and then you can see the documents there. Okay?

501
00:32:43,877 --> 00:32:45,757
Because it would be good to just at least get

502
00:32:45,757 --> 00:32:48,397
the highlights. I'm sorry. We're not going to do that.

503
00:32:48,397 --> 00:32:50,677
We're in the middle of negotiating the details with these

504
00:32:50,677 --> 00:32:53,597
landowners, and we're working on all of the due diligence

505
00:32:53,597 --> 00:32:57,968
and all of the language. Constantly through the deal. And

506
00:32:57,968 --> 00:32:59,888
what we're doing now is we're telling you this. Is

507
00:32:59,888 --> 00:33:02,608
the strategy. This is the outline of the deal. These

508
00:33:02,608 --> 00:33:05,708
are the deal terms. They aren't going to change unless.

509
00:33:07,202 --> 00:33:09,922
We actually get Commissioner approval to change them, but we're

510
00:33:09,922 --> 00:33:12,602
going to go present to the commissioners the same deal.

511
00:33:12,602 --> 00:33:14,762
We'll get the approval. We'll try to close it. That

512
00:33:14,762 --> 00:33:18,282
way. If there's some snafu in what that is, then

513
00:33:18,282 --> 00:33:20,762
we will go back. To the commissioners to get approval

514
00:33:20,762 --> 00:33:24,630
of the change. But this is our 50 year history

515
00:33:24,630 --> 00:33:27,166
of doing it this way. And it's just not something

516
00:33:27,166 --> 00:33:29,726
that we're able to give you because it's, part of

517
00:33:29,726 --> 00:33:33,526
this confidential negotiation that's happening. We're telling you the public

518
00:33:33,526 --> 00:33:35,806
part. That we can tell you now, and you're just

519
00:33:35,806 --> 00:33:37,766
going to have to wait until after. Closing and things

520
00:33:37,766 --> 00:33:41,088
have been recorded. And I'm sorry to be firm about

521
00:33:41,088 --> 00:33:45,257
that, but that's the answer. This is Melissa Arnold. Again.

522
00:33:45,257 --> 00:33:48,617
I will offer that I love legal documents and conservation

523
00:33:48,617 --> 00:33:54,475
easements as does our CE team. I'm not kidding. So

524
00:33:54,475 --> 00:33:56,075
if you would like to ever make a meeting to

525
00:33:56,075 --> 00:33:59,467
go over them together. They're fascinating, they're complex, and I'd

526
00:33:59,467 --> 00:34:02,627
be really happy to walk through. Them and just kind

527
00:34:02,627 --> 00:34:07,298
of talk about. What they mean and help maybe explain

528
00:34:07,298 --> 00:34:11,807
some of that, okay, because I am an attorney. So

529
00:34:11,807 --> 00:34:13,807
I have interest in it. Yeah, maybe, like, after the

530
00:34:13,807 --> 00:34:15,447
deal or something, we could even look. At these, so

531
00:34:15,447 --> 00:34:17,287
just let me know. It's so hard to know what

532
00:34:17,287 --> 00:34:20,313
we're. These are the important parts that we feel you

533
00:34:20,313 --> 00:34:25,884
need to make the deal, so thank you. John. Wright

534
00:34:25,884 --> 00:34:35,302
posek. Conservation easement preclude using the hate fields. That have

535
00:34:35,302 --> 00:34:37,262
to be natural. Or is it? They continue to use

536
00:34:37,262 --> 00:34:39,942
it with. Yeah. So the areas that were circled on

537
00:34:39,942 --> 00:34:43,795
the map, showing. Which. Ones. Sorry. I thought I had

538
00:34:43,795 --> 00:34:47,162
that there. The earlier pictures showing you where the hay

539
00:34:47,162 --> 00:34:49,002
fields are, they are going to be allowed to continue.

540
00:34:49,002 --> 00:34:51,962
To hay those because agriculture is an open space value.

541
00:34:53,376 --> 00:34:56,757
So those would not be precluded. Great question. Okay. Anybody

542
00:34:56,757 --> 00:35:01,357
else? Poseac. I think I'm ready. Okay. Tony, Melissa, thank

543
00:35:01,357 --> 00:35:05,687
you. Appreciate the information. One question and then just one

544
00:35:05,687 --> 00:35:11,889
reflection. What about the construction of roads in these parcels?

545
00:35:11,889 --> 00:35:14,769
No new roads. How does somebody build a house? Without

546
00:35:14,769 --> 00:35:20,428
a road. Driveways. Oh, I see. No, they're going to

547
00:35:20,428 --> 00:35:23,628
be allowed for those house lots. They will be. Able

548
00:35:23,628 --> 00:35:28,428
to have driveways for the construction of the houses. They

549
00:35:28,428 --> 00:35:29,788
will not be able to be I was thinking of

550
00:35:29,788 --> 00:35:32,788
the preserve. Apologize. No new roads on the preserve. Yeah,

551
00:35:32,788 --> 00:35:35,788
that's what I figured. Okay, I think what I'm hearing,

552
00:35:35,788 --> 00:35:39,466
and Janice brought it to a fine point. Is you're

553
00:35:39,466 --> 00:35:43,626
asking us to vote and not you. Sure Pon is

554
00:35:43,626 --> 00:35:48,881
asking this committee? To vote. On the recommendation of a

555
00:35:48,881 --> 00:35:54,074
parcel purchase. At the same time without us really understanding,

556
00:35:54,074 --> 00:35:56,954
because we're not in the weeds. So to speak of

557
00:35:56,954 --> 00:36:02,046
how much this is worth. And we have some sense

558
00:36:02,046 --> 00:36:06,326
of it. Right. And we know you have negotiated with

559
00:36:06,326 --> 00:36:10,046
sellers in good faith. So we take the good faith

560
00:36:10,046 --> 00:36:13,366
as well to the staff of what you've negotiated. But

561
00:36:13,366 --> 00:36:15,966
we don't know the details of the conservation easement and

562
00:36:15,966 --> 00:36:17,846
we're not. Going to know the details of the conservation.

563
00:36:20,268 --> 00:36:23,188
And so I think I find myself. I won't speak

564
00:36:23,188 --> 00:36:26,228
for the others in a somewhat awkward position of saying,

565
00:36:28,196 --> 00:36:30,796
Do I move this to approval of the county commissioners?

566
00:36:32,696 --> 00:36:36,337
When it's hard for me to judge. Is this the

567
00:36:36,337 --> 00:36:40,017
right amount for sale or not? On a conservation easement

568
00:36:40,017 --> 00:36:45,118
versus a fee title? And yes, we have to take

569
00:36:45,118 --> 00:36:50,923
staff recommendations and word. And. It's kind of like, yeah,

570
00:36:50,923 --> 00:36:53,083
don't worry. We're telling you everything you need to know.

571
00:36:54,762 --> 00:36:57,482
Yes, that is a bad statement from the government. Let

572
00:36:57,482 --> 00:37:01,447
me just say. Because I've seen that play out in

573
00:37:01,447 --> 00:37:04,367
lots of other governmental agencies. And by the way, they

574
00:37:04,367 --> 00:37:08,341
didn't tell us everything we needed to know. So I'm

575
00:37:08,341 --> 00:37:11,221
saying that's the tension, and I just want to call

576
00:37:11,221 --> 00:37:14,575
that tension. Out. I'm not asking you to change anything.

577
00:37:14,575 --> 00:37:17,575
I'm not asking you for more information. I just want

578
00:37:17,575 --> 00:37:21,010
to acknowledge. There's a tent in there. When a group

579
00:37:21,010 --> 00:37:24,570
is to provide a recommendation to move something. Forward and

580
00:37:24,570 --> 00:37:28,010
is not completely privy to all the information they need,

581
00:37:28,010 --> 00:37:32,299
and I understand that's the way it is. May I?

582
00:37:32,299 --> 00:37:40,593
Janet is going to. Answer. Okay? I mean, Janice is

583
00:37:40,593 --> 00:37:45,897
going to answer. Yes, thank you. Janice Wisman. Again, I

584
00:37:45,897 --> 00:37:48,657
just thought that I would provide a little bit more.

585
00:37:48,657 --> 00:37:54,756
About the value piece of this. I do feel like

586
00:37:54,756 --> 00:38:00,834
a lot of people think what we do. Is simple.

587
00:38:02,070 --> 00:38:06,670
And that I often hear people even say this. I

588
00:38:06,670 --> 00:38:11,396
bought a house. How hard can it be? Right. We.

589
00:38:13,958 --> 00:38:17,398
Are professionals with lots of experience in doing this, and

590
00:38:17,398 --> 00:38:20,238
I know that it's hard to accept that. But just

591
00:38:20,238 --> 00:38:23,438
like you would accept the word of a biologist standing

592
00:38:23,438 --> 00:38:27,712
before you saying, What they know. Please think about that

593
00:38:27,712 --> 00:38:30,712
for us. And so then, to help you understand the

594
00:38:30,712 --> 00:38:34,632
valuation here in the background and we've gone through this

595
00:38:34,632 --> 00:38:36,992
and happy to do this again at another retreat where

596
00:38:36,992 --> 00:38:39,952
we can have an executive session about our process where

597
00:38:39,952 --> 00:38:41,992
you can ask us all kinds of questions. About what

598
00:38:41,992 --> 00:38:47,947
goes into. This in detail. We look at sales comps

599
00:38:47,947 --> 00:38:55,213
just like realtors do. We value third party transactions. And

600
00:38:55,213 --> 00:38:58,339
figure out whether or not. What we are being asked

601
00:38:58,339 --> 00:39:02,539
by the landowner to pay is reasonable. We negotiate very

602
00:39:02,539 --> 00:39:05,419
hard to get. The price. That's the best price for

603
00:39:05,419 --> 00:39:08,539
the county. So we do have a documentation that's in

604
00:39:08,539 --> 00:39:10,659
our files about what we've gone through to do this.

605
00:39:12,272 --> 00:39:17,473
And. It's been very detailed. We look at all of

606
00:39:17,473 --> 00:39:19,753
these properties in a couple of different ways, and so

607
00:39:19,753 --> 00:39:21,833
just to try to help you understand the background here.

608
00:39:23,466 --> 00:39:27,481
If you have a development, right? You can have a

609
00:39:27,481 --> 00:39:30,721
home on a two acre, let's say small two acre

610
00:39:30,721 --> 00:39:36,009
parcel, right? So that development, right? Could be. Worth on

611
00:39:36,009 --> 00:39:40,194
this parcel. The same that somebody else has sold a

612
00:39:40,194 --> 00:39:43,920
two acre lot for that's vacant in the area. So

613
00:39:43,920 --> 00:39:46,120
we look at it that way. We also look at.

614
00:39:47,301 --> 00:39:50,305
How much? Could you get if you sold a parcel

615
00:39:50,305 --> 00:39:54,769
at a 35 acre size? Because the 90 acre parcel

616
00:39:54,769 --> 00:39:57,889
can be 235 and you add all the acreage together,

617
00:39:57,889 --> 00:40:01,409
you could come up with enough to make 435s here,

618
00:40:01,409 --> 00:40:04,941
so. We look at sales comps for that. We look

619
00:40:04,941 --> 00:40:10,404
at the comps. For what's happening in the county. If

620
00:40:10,404 --> 00:40:13,204
we were to hire an appraiser to do this, a

621
00:40:13,204 --> 00:40:15,124
lot of times they would go look at what's going

622
00:40:15,124 --> 00:40:17,324
on in Larrymer county. Some of them will bring in.

623
00:40:17,324 --> 00:40:19,364
All kinds of stuff, and they'll call it the neighborhood.

624
00:40:21,426 --> 00:40:23,186
They've got their own expertise as well, right? That we

625
00:40:23,186 --> 00:40:26,786
all have to appreciate and value. But we look at

626
00:40:26,786 --> 00:40:28,946
what's going on in Boulder county because we know that

627
00:40:28,946 --> 00:40:31,386
these values here are different than what's in Weld county

628
00:40:31,386 --> 00:40:36,718
or Laramar county, et cetera. So. We're constantly looking at

629
00:40:36,718 --> 00:40:39,838
values every day about each area of the county when

630
00:40:39,838 --> 00:40:43,582
we're working on a deal. And because it takes a

631
00:40:43,582 --> 00:40:47,702
long time to negotiate, even throughout that negotiation, we relook

632
00:40:47,702 --> 00:40:49,462
at it and relook at it and relook at it.

633
00:40:49,462 --> 00:40:51,942
A lot of times it's because a landowner continues to

634
00:40:51,942 --> 00:40:55,099
ask us for more money. And they think that the

635
00:40:55,099 --> 00:40:58,299
passage of time will automatically mean it's worth more, which

636
00:40:58,299 --> 00:41:02,356
is not necessarily the case. But we are confident that.

637
00:41:03,823 --> 00:41:06,423
We are really using our own expertise and also really

638
00:41:06,423 --> 00:41:13,548
going. Into a very detailed analysis and evaluation of what

639
00:41:13,548 --> 00:41:17,527
something is worth. And I don't know if you remember,

640
00:41:17,527 --> 00:41:20,567
but we've been bringing some deals to. You where a

641
00:41:20,567 --> 00:41:23,567
building, right in Boulder county. And not necessarily exactly in

642
00:41:23,567 --> 00:41:26,167
this area, but in Boulder. County is worth about $2

643
00:41:26,167 --> 00:41:29,906
million. On a two acre parcel. You might get the

644
00:41:29,906 --> 00:41:32,706
same on a 35 acre parcel. Sometimes the market's really

645
00:41:32,706 --> 00:41:37,338
funny. During the downturn, economic downturn in the 2008 time

646
00:41:37,338 --> 00:41:41,929
frame, we had houses. That were 35 acre parcels that

647
00:41:41,929 --> 00:41:45,489
had houses on them going for less than a 35

648
00:41:45,489 --> 00:41:49,529
acre vacant parcel, which is really odd. But we look

649
00:41:49,529 --> 00:41:51,889
at that and then this area west of Longmont. Tends

650
00:41:51,889 --> 00:41:54,569
to be a more desirable area of the county, just

651
00:41:54,569 --> 00:41:56,849
like it does when you get closer. To Lafayette, Louisville

652
00:41:56,849 --> 00:42:00,825
and boulder. So this is very close in to the

653
00:42:00,825 --> 00:42:06,313
long Mount area. And we've got. Lots of sales comps

654
00:42:06,313 --> 00:42:08,433
that lead us to believe this is a very good

655
00:42:08,433 --> 00:42:11,033
price for just the one development right. If we were

656
00:42:11,033 --> 00:42:14,793
doing nothing but lifting a development right on the 90

657
00:42:14,793 --> 00:42:17,793
acre parcel and nothing else, it would be a screaming

658
00:42:17,793 --> 00:42:21,547
deal. So I know Melissa's tried to explain that to

659
00:42:21,547 --> 00:42:24,987
you, and it is impossible for us. To walk you

660
00:42:24,987 --> 00:42:26,827
through all of this. I think part of what you're

661
00:42:26,827 --> 00:42:29,347
wanting to do. I hear this often. People kind of

662
00:42:29,347 --> 00:42:32,227
want to do our job and get into the details

663
00:42:32,227 --> 00:42:34,747
and I know that you don't want to hear us

664
00:42:34,747 --> 00:42:37,467
to say we're doing it. And we're giving you the

665
00:42:37,467 --> 00:42:41,772
expertise that we have, but. I just want to let

666
00:42:41,772 --> 00:42:45,332
you know that we are also in a position where

667
00:42:45,332 --> 00:42:47,452
there's a certain amount of information we can share in

668
00:42:47,452 --> 00:42:50,972
a public setting and still a retain the confidentiality of

669
00:42:50,972 --> 00:42:54,372
this deal and B retain the ability to negotiate on

670
00:42:54,372 --> 00:42:58,606
other deals that we're trying to work on and. We

671
00:42:58,606 --> 00:43:01,966
can't give you slides of all of our evaluation and

672
00:43:01,966 --> 00:43:04,886
our analysis with all of the data in it and

673
00:43:04,886 --> 00:43:07,526
still retain the ability to do a good job negotiating

674
00:43:07,526 --> 00:43:10,646
for open space. Deals for the county. So that's the

675
00:43:10,646 --> 00:43:13,766
fine line we're walking on our end. Appreciate that, Janice.

676
00:43:13,766 --> 00:43:22,319
Thanks. No. Okay, Christine. I just want to note that.

677
00:43:22,800 --> 00:43:28,252
We had an extraordinary. Executive session meeting with Janice and

678
00:43:28,252 --> 00:43:31,983
Teres. Let me tell you, members of the public, it

679
00:43:31,983 --> 00:43:40,195
was wonderful to be there. And. The professionalism.

680
00:43:41,975 --> 00:43:45,540
Of the real estate division. Was proven in that meeting.

681
00:43:47,217 --> 00:43:54,508
And tony and derek. Okay, good. Thank you. Any other.

682
00:43:58,017 --> 00:44:02,994
Okay, john and then vicky. John white bosec. At what

683
00:44:02,994 --> 00:44:06,380
point? Near the end of this you said that. Some

684
00:44:06,380 --> 00:44:10,460
of these were conservation easements, and some of them were

685
00:44:10,460 --> 00:44:15,044
something else, preservation. What was so two restrictive covenants and.

686
00:44:17,334 --> 00:44:22,120
That is the far east side. The orange. Test the

687
00:44:22,120 --> 00:44:27,377
human. That was nick. The orange parcel and the sort

688
00:44:27,377 --> 00:44:31,984
of salmon colored one. Those are restrictive covenants. I'll explain

689
00:44:31,984 --> 00:44:33,504
a little more of those in a minute, and. Then

690
00:44:33,504 --> 00:44:38,283
the green and the blue are conservation easements. Does Nick

691
00:44:38,283 --> 00:44:42,523
know? You can't hear him? We use restrictive covenants as

692
00:44:42,523 --> 00:44:45,483
a lighter touch. In areas where we're looking to restrict

693
00:44:45,483 --> 00:44:52,009
things that are more regulatory, things like. The size of

694
00:44:52,009 --> 00:44:55,809
houses, the uses, no annexation, no division, and there's less

695
00:44:55,809 --> 00:44:59,329
of a conservation value restriction on those it allows us

696
00:44:59,329 --> 00:45:02,588
to free up. The funds that we pay toward the

697
00:45:02,588 --> 00:45:05,308
properties that have the conservation easements, too, which restrict a

698
00:45:05,308 --> 00:45:08,148
lot more and basically remove more rights that are worth

699
00:45:08,148 --> 00:45:12,964
more value. Thank you. Yeah. You're welcome. Good question. Vicky.

700
00:45:14,345 --> 00:45:23,029
Never mind. Okay. Any other questions? Comments from Posac. Okay,

701
00:45:23,029 --> 00:45:28,842
do we have anybody in the hearing room here? Who

702
00:45:28,842 --> 00:45:33,556
wants to. Comment on this conservation easement. I don't see

703
00:45:33,556 --> 00:45:40,598
anybody. Nick, do we have anybody online? Yeah. For those

704
00:45:40,598 --> 00:45:42,518
on the zoom call, if you would like to make

705
00:45:42,518 --> 00:45:44,958
comments of this agenda item. Please raise your hand and

706
00:45:44,958 --> 00:45:47,697
I will allow you to speak. I don't see any

707
00:45:47,697 --> 00:45:55,354
hands raised. Okay. Thank you so posac. Do we have

708
00:45:55,354 --> 00:46:05,170
a motion regarding? Approval of this conservation easement. Carol byerly

709
00:46:05,170 --> 00:46:11,568
Posak ISO move. Do we have a second? John White

710
00:46:11,568 --> 00:46:16,468
second, is there further discussion among fosak. Okay, we'll take

711
00:46:16,468 --> 00:46:20,748
it to a vote. All those in favor. Aye. Aye.

712
00:46:23,073 --> 00:46:28,198
All those opposed? So the motion carries unanimously. Thank you.

713
00:46:28,198 --> 00:46:32,990
Thank you, Melissa. Thank you very much. So our next

714
00:46:32,990 --> 00:46:39,974
agenda item is the Forsyth Rock conservation easement acquisition. With

715
00:46:39,974 --> 00:46:41,414
Aaron Clark presenting.

716
00:46:54,166 --> 00:47:01,992
Hopefully it pops up here at some point. There we

717
00:47:01,992 --> 00:47:06,345
go. All right. Miracles of technology. All right. That was

718
00:47:06,345 --> 00:47:09,025
extraordinarily nice. Now I have to follow that, so we'll.

719
00:47:09,025 --> 00:47:12,046
See how well we do. So. My name is Aaron

720
00:47:12,046 --> 00:47:14,726
Clark. I'm a land officer with parks and open space

721
00:47:14,726 --> 00:47:18,871
and. I am here initially. To discuss the acquisition of

722
00:47:18,871 --> 00:47:22,471
a conservation easement on what we're calling the Forsyth Rock.

723
00:47:22,471 --> 00:47:28,525
Property. Forsythrock is right about there, east of Netherland on

724
00:47:28,525 --> 00:47:31,285
County Road 68 near Magnolia, just a little bit west

725
00:47:31,285 --> 00:47:36,321
of gross reservoir. It is along County Road 68, as

726
00:47:36,321 --> 00:47:40,403
I believe I might have mentioned. Adjacent to the existing

727
00:47:40,403 --> 00:47:43,923
short ridge conservation easement and in close proximity to a

728
00:47:43,923 --> 00:47:46,963
very large Chunk of lands owned and managed by the

729
00:47:46,963 --> 00:47:51,009
United States Forest Service. And County Road 68 is part

730
00:47:51,009 --> 00:47:55,299
of a view protection corridor. It won't surprise you to

731
00:47:55,299 --> 00:47:57,899
find out that the site's most prominent feature is indeed,

732
00:47:57,899 --> 00:48:04,539
forsythrock, which rises steeply to 8324ft, and it's visible from

733
00:48:04,539 --> 00:48:06,939
many points in the county on this day. I did

734
00:48:06,939 --> 00:48:08,499
not get the chance to climb it, but I will

735
00:48:08,499 --> 00:48:12,148
go back. The owner wants me to climb it, and

736
00:48:12,148 --> 00:48:16,608
I'm going to. Property is 36 acres. Owner is the

737
00:48:16,608 --> 00:48:21,130
John Shortrages Junior Trust. Property is forrested with a few

738
00:48:21,130 --> 00:48:24,090
open meadows, and as you can see on the aerial,

739
00:48:24,090 --> 00:48:27,850
several large rockout croppings, including for a size rock itself.

740
00:48:29,489 --> 00:48:33,929
This conservation easement restricts development completely. No new structures will

741
00:48:33,929 --> 00:48:40,540
be permitted. Agreed price for that. Is $400,000. We just

742
00:48:40,540 --> 00:48:42,860
read this slide about comprehensive plans, ignitions. I'm not going

743
00:48:42,860 --> 00:48:46,540
to go ahead. And talk about comp plan areas near

744
00:48:46,540 --> 00:48:50,620
this map or near this property. Here we have the

745
00:48:50,620 --> 00:48:55,340
blue on top is archaeologically sensitive areas recommended for preservation.

746
00:48:55,340 --> 00:48:57,420
And on the south, there is the I hope I

747
00:48:57,420 --> 00:49:03,098
pronounce this right. The Winnagar Ridge. Landscape natural landmark designated

748
00:49:03,098 --> 00:49:06,804
for its visual and scenic prominence. You can see the

749
00:49:06,804 --> 00:49:09,964
thing is surrounded by environmental conservation areas. I believe there

750
00:49:09,964 --> 00:49:14,004
are four of them. And the light green are significant

751
00:49:14,004 --> 00:49:18,916
natural communities. Presence of critical plant associations and a relatively

752
00:49:18,916 --> 00:49:24,610
undisturbed area. Lastly. We have? Following an ephemeral creek that

753
00:49:24,610 --> 00:49:28,949
heads down towards. South Boulder Creek. This is wetlands and

754
00:49:28,949 --> 00:49:34,707
repairing areas. In the neighborhood of the property. I like

755
00:49:34,707 --> 00:49:38,507
pictures. So here's just a couple of open meadows in

756
00:49:38,507 --> 00:49:40,587
the area. Thought I'd give you something besides just the

757
00:49:40,587 --> 00:49:43,587
rock. It was a gorgeous day. Had a low time.

758
00:49:43,587 --> 00:49:47,617
Walking around in these meadows. I think on the right.

759
00:49:47,617 --> 00:49:51,057
That's an upright blue beard. Tongue. That's what I. Naturalist

760
00:49:51,057 --> 00:49:55,090
said. And lastly, a note on the funding source we

761
00:49:55,090 --> 00:50:00,695
are proposing to use and its purpose. Forsythrock is approximately

762
00:50:00,695 --> 00:50:03,815
a mile and a half from Garish reservoir. We propose

763
00:50:03,815 --> 00:50:06,535
to acquire the easement with funds from the 2021 and

764
00:50:06,535 --> 00:50:10,895
gross reservoir settlement between Denver Water and Boulder county that

765
00:50:10,895 --> 00:50:14,815
settlement allotted $5.1 million to Boulder county for acquisitions of

766
00:50:14,815 --> 00:50:19,447
open space. Acquisitions of fee properties, conservation easements and trail

767
00:50:19,447 --> 00:50:22,887
corridors. The board's direction has been to seek potential acquisitions

768
00:50:22,887 --> 00:50:27,287
that meet community priorities of habitat protection. Undeveloped passive recreation

769
00:50:27,287 --> 00:50:33,741
are both. And response from the public also strongly desired

770
00:50:33,741 --> 00:50:37,021
acquisitions close to the gross growers of our community. This

771
00:50:37,021 --> 00:50:38,781
is the closest one I've been able to do so

772
00:50:38,781 --> 00:50:43,358
far as we've discussed. They are immediately around. The reservoir

773
00:50:43,358 --> 00:50:46,958
is already very heavily developed. It's hard to find things.

774
00:50:46,958 --> 00:50:48,598
Right in that neighborhood. So we've had to look a

775
00:50:48,598 --> 00:50:54,484
little further afield. And this one. 's certainly. In our

776
00:50:54,484 --> 00:50:57,843
view, fits the bill. And that's what we have on

777
00:50:57,843 --> 00:51:00,563
this one. As I always say, park supports this project.

778
00:51:00,563 --> 00:51:02,243
And I hope you do, too. And I'll take any

779
00:51:02,243 --> 00:51:05,083
questions at this time. Trace baker. Postac. Let's start on

780
00:51:05,083 --> 00:51:13,625
the left, this time with Christine, Carol, Derek, Tony. Nice

781
00:51:13,625 --> 00:51:17,505
job, Aaron. Appreciate it. Seems so simple, doesn't it? I

782
00:51:17,505 --> 00:51:19,385
was thinking. Why you're? Going to love this one. This

783
00:51:19,385 --> 00:51:22,745
is great. Just one other question. Is this the first

784
00:51:22,745 --> 00:51:26,185
purchase? Using the gross reservoir funds. No, this is the

785
00:51:26,185 --> 00:51:28,745
third one. Third one. Okay. How far are the. Other

786
00:51:28,745 --> 00:51:31,685
properties. Are they in this area? They're a little bit

787
00:51:31,685 --> 00:51:35,911
farther west. Last pose act meeting. I brought the Paintbrush

788
00:51:35,911 --> 00:51:41,589
easement acquisition, which. Is on. Cole Creek Canyon drive a

789
00:51:41,589 --> 00:51:44,989
little farther west, closer to Ned. And then earlier in

790
00:51:44,989 --> 00:51:48,229
the year, the county acquired the bear Bearry property, which.

791
00:51:49,078 --> 00:51:53,812
Just kind of straddles Boulder in Gilpin County. Adjacent to

792
00:51:53,812 --> 00:51:57,972
the paintbrush easement and the elk tracks open space. We

793
00:51:57,972 --> 00:51:59,492
did that earlier in the year, and that was the

794
00:51:59,492 --> 00:52:05,646
first acquisition with the gross dollars. Cool. Thank you. Vicky

795
00:52:05,646 --> 00:52:11,269
john. Well, I think this is a great acquisition, and

796
00:52:11,269 --> 00:52:16,250
I'd also recommend. The short little one and a half

797
00:52:16,250 --> 00:52:20,127
mile one way. For a canyon trail down to gross

798
00:52:20,127 --> 00:52:26,410
reservoir. It's really nice, and there's nobody on it. Will

799
00:52:26,410 --> 00:52:36,279
be gone. Yeah. We

800
00:52:36,279 --> 00:52:43,251
can come back to you. Christine. Christine Johnson Posak. I

801
00:52:43,251 --> 00:52:48,026
hesitate to ask this. It seems like the rock is

802
00:52:48,026 --> 00:52:51,859
special because of how it looks, and then. That site

803
00:52:51,859 --> 00:53:00,253
is surrounded by high value areas. My simple question. The

804
00:53:00,253 --> 00:53:08,203
point. In this acquisition. Is to limit development. Yes. Other

805
00:53:08,203 --> 00:53:11,483
than just the rock. Yeah. Correct. The point is to

806
00:53:11,483 --> 00:53:15,279
limit development on this property, yes. The rock is. We

807
00:53:15,279 --> 00:53:17,399
call them the conservation values. Of course, the things we're

808
00:53:17,399 --> 00:53:20,239
looking to protect that. Make this worth our while. Make

809
00:53:20,239 --> 00:53:23,719
this worth us keeping development off this property, but yes.

810
00:53:23,719 --> 00:53:30,818
The idea is to prevent development. Vicky. Vicky lawrence posac.

811
00:53:32,341 --> 00:53:36,453
You presented this very quickly. So a little challenging for

812
00:53:36,453 --> 00:53:40,557
me to keep up in some ways. Is this property?

813
00:53:40,557 --> 00:53:43,677
Does the owner live adjacent to this property? Why? Do

814
00:53:43,677 --> 00:53:46,751
they want to own it? They obviously don't want to

815
00:53:46,751 --> 00:53:49,191
sell the property to the county. They just want to

816
00:53:49,191 --> 00:53:53,000
give up the conservation easement. I don't know why I

817
00:53:53,000 --> 00:53:55,320
asked owners why they purchased a certain piece of property,

818
00:53:55,320 --> 00:53:59,840
but. This is close by to the landowners residents. And

819
00:53:59,840 --> 00:54:04,890
when I came up on the market, He thought it

820
00:54:04,890 --> 00:54:06,970
needed protection. Then he was able to acquire it quite

821
00:54:06,970 --> 00:54:12,150
quickly. But. He wants to maintain it privately and not

822
00:54:12,150 --> 00:54:15,921
turn it over to the county altogether. That's correct. Further

823
00:54:15,921 --> 00:54:25,725
questions from Postac. Is there anybody. In the meeting hall

824
00:54:25,725 --> 00:54:30,587
who wants to? Comment on this acquisition of a conservation

825
00:54:30,587 --> 00:54:36,811
easement. Nick, do we have anybody online? I'm not seeing

826
00:54:36,811 --> 00:54:42,131
any hands raised for zoom participants. Thank you. So, Postac,

827
00:54:42,131 --> 00:54:48,382
do we have. A motion. Concerning recommendations to the county

828
00:54:48,382 --> 00:54:53,022
commissioners. Sure, Tony Lewis Posak I recommend the approval of

829
00:54:53,022 --> 00:54:57,222
the project forwarded to the community commissioners as described above

830
00:54:57,222 --> 00:55:02,391
and described by staff. Do we have a second. Joan

831
00:55:02,391 --> 00:55:07,877
Lott's aye second. Posac any further discussion. Okay, then we'll

832
00:55:07,877 --> 00:55:11,397
have it for a vote. All those in favor? Aye.

833
00:55:14,038 --> 00:55:20,165
Opposed. Okay. The motion carries unanimously. So we will move

834
00:55:20,165 --> 00:55:27,714
on. To. The parish. Three and four. Then these are

835
00:55:27,714 --> 00:55:33,763
acquisitions, not conservation easement. And again, Aaron Clark. All right.

836
00:55:33,763 --> 00:55:37,723
Wait a second for my slides to pop up. Here.

837
00:55:37,723 --> 00:55:40,528
You can do it. There we go. All right. This

838
00:55:40,528 --> 00:55:42,648
is a long one, so I'll try to take a

839
00:55:42,648 --> 00:55:48,146
little more time. All right, so here we are. Just

840
00:55:48,146 --> 00:55:52,826
discuss an acquisition of fee interest and a conservation easement.

841
00:55:54,370 --> 00:55:58,565
On the parish three and four properties. The property is

842
00:55:58,565 --> 00:56:02,485
on both sides of the Laramar Boulder county line, northeast

843
00:56:02,485 --> 00:56:06,925
of Lions and southwest of Berthed. The address, roughly, is

844
00:56:06,925 --> 00:56:10,125
15 720 Parish Road. There really aren't any major public

845
00:56:10,125 --> 00:56:14,205
growth intersections anywhere nearby. The closest one would be Parish

846
00:56:14,205 --> 00:56:19,990
road and Larama County Road two. Here. Is kind of

847
00:56:19,990 --> 00:56:23,110
a vicinity map of the area. The lands in question

848
00:56:23,110 --> 00:56:26,510
are owned by the parish. Family conservation partnership. This deal

849
00:56:26,510 --> 00:56:28,590
has been a very long time coming. We're working with

850
00:56:28,590 --> 00:56:31,150
the family for coming up on a year and a

851
00:56:31,150 --> 00:56:34,343
half now to get this done. When they first reached

852
00:56:34,343 --> 00:56:39,126
out. Regarding a deal. The acquisition will take place in

853
00:56:39,126 --> 00:56:44,936
two parts. Parish three, the orange on the south. Is

854
00:56:44,936 --> 00:56:49,256
approximately 60 acres and three parcels in Boulder county. As

855
00:56:49,256 --> 00:56:51,682
you can see. It's adjacent to Rabbit Mountain there on

856
00:56:51,682 --> 00:56:55,322
the south. Boulder county proposes to acquire fee title to

857
00:56:55,322 --> 00:57:00,358
this property. Parish four, which is the pink to the

858
00:57:00,358 --> 00:57:03,998
north? The darker pink there in the middle is within.

859
00:57:03,998 --> 00:57:08,108
Larmer county. That's about 80 acres. Adjacent again to Rabbit

860
00:57:08,108 --> 00:57:11,228
Mountain on the south and on the west is Larama

861
00:57:11,228 --> 00:57:14,948
County's Redtail ridge open space on the east as Alarma

862
00:57:14,948 --> 00:57:20,796
County's arrowhead redtail open space. Acquisition of parish four will

863
00:57:20,796 --> 00:57:24,876
be a cooperative effort between Boulder and Larrymer counties. The

864
00:57:24,876 --> 00:57:27,036
first such time we've had a chance to do that,

865
00:57:27,036 --> 00:57:30,436
so we're pretty excited about that. Larama county will acquire

866
00:57:30,436 --> 00:57:33,396
fee title to the land and Boulder county will hold

867
00:57:33,396 --> 00:57:37,457
a conservation easement. We'll go back to parish three and

868
00:57:37,457 --> 00:57:39,217
I'm going to bounce back and forth. Here as I

869
00:57:39,217 --> 00:57:44,633
discuss each deal. So again, parish three entirely within Boulder

870
00:57:44,633 --> 00:57:49,396
County. Proposed to grab fee title to this property. As

871
00:57:49,396 --> 00:57:52,036
you can see on the property, it has been used

872
00:57:52,036 --> 00:57:55,716
as a campground, as an event center. Also for agricultural

873
00:57:55,716 --> 00:58:00,426
purposes, for hanging and grazing. The Little Thompson river on

874
00:58:00,426 --> 00:58:04,668
the south flows through the property. Acquisition of this property

875
00:58:04,668 --> 00:58:08,468
also comes with water rights, six units of Colorado, Big

876
00:58:08,468 --> 00:58:12,428
Thompson water and a 50% undivided interest in one share

877
00:58:12,428 --> 00:58:15,508
of the supply irrigation niche the county already owned. The

878
00:58:15,508 --> 00:58:20,513
other 50%. Like Melissa. I'm fond of throwing the Google

879
00:58:20,513 --> 00:58:22,273
earth out there so you can get a little bit

880
00:58:22,273 --> 00:58:25,553
better idea of the topography of parish three. You can

881
00:58:25,553 --> 00:58:27,273
see it kind of sits in the valley of a

882
00:58:27,273 --> 00:58:34,442
little Thompson. Between Rabbit mountain there on the left. And

883
00:58:34,442 --> 00:58:39,247
redtail ridge there on the right. So here's a closer

884
00:58:39,247 --> 00:58:42,807
look. Back to parish four. Just a note. I flipped

885
00:58:42,807 --> 00:58:45,087
this map. On its side so that north is facing

886
00:58:45,087 --> 00:58:47,807
to the right. Just the nature of the property that's

887
00:58:47,807 --> 00:58:49,967
a little bit easier to get a little closer in

888
00:58:49,967 --> 00:58:53,372
so we can all see where we're looking at. This

889
00:58:53,372 --> 00:58:58,328
is 80 acres in one parcel. Adjacent to Rabbit Mountain

890
00:58:58,328 --> 00:59:01,288
on the south, Redtail Ridge, the large pink area on

891
00:59:01,288 --> 00:59:06,625
the west. An Arrowhead redtail on the east. The water

892
00:59:06,625 --> 00:59:09,025
course. You see, there is the St. Frane supply canal.

893
00:59:11,034 --> 00:59:14,474
Again. The proposition is that Larry Murray title to this

894
00:59:14,474 --> 00:59:17,714
and Boulder county will hold a conservation easement. Interest. There

895
00:59:17,714 --> 00:59:21,634
is an existing conservation easement on the property held by

896
00:59:21,634 --> 00:59:26,394
Colorado open lands that easement is from the year 2000,

897
00:59:26,394 --> 00:59:29,554
and it does permit the construction of two residences. So

898
00:59:29,554 --> 00:59:32,397
the idea is that open? Lands, will transfer that easement

899
00:59:32,397 --> 00:59:34,877
interest to Boulder county, and we will then amend and

900
00:59:34,877 --> 00:59:39,117
restate that easement to eliminate the two building rights and

901
00:59:39,117 --> 00:59:42,517
to update it to be more in line. With modern,

902
00:59:42,517 --> 00:59:47,883
modern day Boulder county easement language. And again, the topography

903
00:59:47,883 --> 00:59:49,483
is important of this one. So I just thought I

904
00:59:49,483 --> 00:59:52,603
would put the Google earth. Slide back on there. This

905
00:59:52,603 --> 00:59:55,403
is facing north, so you can see how the supply

906
00:59:55,403 --> 00:59:59,403
canal cuts. Through it. And redtail ridge is that prominent

907
00:59:59,403 --> 01:00:02,678
feature there on the left hand side. All right, now

908
01:00:02,678 --> 01:00:09,310
let's get into the dollars. The parish three acquisition. Provision

909
01:00:09,310 --> 01:00:16,734
for the land is $2,062,000. $20,000 for the 50% undivided

910
01:00:16,734 --> 01:00:19,934
interest in one share of the supply. Irrigating ditch and

911
01:00:19,934 --> 01:00:24,905
$53,000 per unit for six units. Of colorado, big thompson.

912
01:00:26,559 --> 01:00:31,479
Total is $2,420,000 from open space sales tax funds for

913
01:00:31,479 --> 01:00:37,456
parish three. Parish four. Boulder county proposes to chip in

914
01:00:37,456 --> 01:00:42,941
$400,000 from the Conservation Trust fund. Larmer county will contribute

915
01:00:42,941 --> 01:00:49,341
$250,000. Total price is $650,000. Laramore hold the fee. Boulder

916
01:00:49,341 --> 01:00:52,341
county will hold a conservation easement. Total cost of Boulder

917
01:00:52,341 --> 01:01:01,404
county for both projects is $2,820,000. One additional facet. If

918
01:01:01,404 --> 01:01:04,530
you pardon me, in my mouth is dying. That's much

919
01:01:04,530 --> 01:01:11,693
better. There is an existing agricultural lease. You see that

920
01:01:11,693 --> 01:01:16,468
yellow hash there, to the south of parish three? That

921
01:01:16,468 --> 01:01:18,708
is a part of Rabbit Mountain. The parish one and

922
01:01:18,708 --> 01:01:23,143
parish two properties. Anagle east was placed on those properties

923
01:01:23,143 --> 01:01:27,729
pretty much at the time the county acquired them. 25

924
01:01:27,729 --> 01:01:31,051
years. Due to expire in 2028. As part of this

925
01:01:31,051 --> 01:01:35,971
transaction, this county has negotiated terminating that agricultural lease now.

926
01:01:37,675 --> 01:01:44,009
So Boulder county will resume management of those lands. Comprehensive

927
01:01:44,009 --> 01:01:50,577
plan. Detonations coming up. Bucker your seatbelts. So again, just

928
01:01:50,577 --> 01:01:52,937
bearing in mind this is the Boulder county comprehensive plant,

929
01:01:52,937 --> 01:01:55,537
where I won't have these data for the piece that's

930
01:01:55,537 --> 01:01:57,817
in Larama county. So this is all going to be

931
01:01:57,817 --> 01:02:03,597
mostly going to be parish three. Environmental Conservation area for

932
01:02:03,597 --> 01:02:08,437
Rabbit Mountain. These are large landscape areas that we look

933
01:02:08,437 --> 01:02:12,197
for for conservation and the red hash is the rabbit

934
01:02:12,197 --> 01:02:16,836
mountain natural area. Here we have the next slide. That

935
01:02:16,836 --> 01:02:23,299
kind of orangey hash our archaeologically sensitive areas. And the

936
01:02:23,299 --> 01:02:25,259
yellow and green that follows the course of the little

937
01:02:25,259 --> 01:02:30,059
Thompson is provosto jumping mouse. Habitat zones one and five.

938
01:02:31,560 --> 01:02:34,680
For the mouse management area and for an area of

939
01:02:34,680 --> 01:02:37,040
non continuous habitat, this is kind of away. From a

940
01:02:37,040 --> 01:02:39,160
lot of the stuff that's down the same brain. It

941
01:02:39,160 --> 01:02:41,280
doesn't really connect up, but it is again. It's an

942
01:02:41,280 --> 01:02:45,763
area. Zone one mouse management area. So here we have.

943
01:02:47,885 --> 01:02:51,725
Critical wildlife habitats is the red hash and the green.

944
01:02:53,572 --> 01:02:58,092
Is CNHP high biodiversity area b, one for rabbit mountain

945
01:02:58,092 --> 01:03:02,172
that is outstanding biodiversity significance know that in the comp

946
01:03:02,172 --> 01:03:06,172
plan as irreplaceable on a global scale. You can see

947
01:03:06,172 --> 01:03:08,732
that area since that state data that does go up

948
01:03:08,732 --> 01:03:12,504
into Larama County a little bit. Here we have. This

949
01:03:12,504 --> 01:03:14,824
one's a bit of a mess, so this one is

950
01:03:14,824 --> 01:03:19,024
showing you. Significant natural communities. This is also showing you

951
01:03:19,024 --> 01:03:23,144
repairing areas, wetlands and rare plant areas. So this is

952
01:03:23,144 --> 01:03:28,264
just showing you the broad diversity of natural resources, both

953
01:03:28,264 --> 01:03:33,826
on and close to parish three and parish. Four. Parish

954
01:03:33,826 --> 01:03:36,346
four. The folks at Larama county were very helpful in

955
01:03:36,346 --> 01:03:40,962
providing me some languages to why. According to their plan.

956
01:03:40,962 --> 01:03:43,162
This is important to them, and I'll just kind of

957
01:03:43,162 --> 01:03:46,980
read some. Of this off. Native foothills grass and show

958
01:03:46,980 --> 01:03:49,540
plans and the drainage is and in some of the

959
01:03:49,540 --> 01:03:53,851
perennial springs up there. There are pairing areas, Little Thompson

960
01:03:53,851 --> 01:04:00,091
river and Rabbit Mountain, CHP Conservation, high biodiversity areas. I

961
01:04:00,091 --> 01:04:01,771
think for me, the really important part of this one

962
01:04:01,771 --> 01:04:03,851
is the connectivity. This is right in the middle. This

963
01:04:03,851 --> 01:04:07,566
fills in this gap. That's the really important part. This

964
01:04:07,566 --> 01:04:10,726
hooks everything in the area up and fills in the

965
01:04:10,726 --> 01:04:13,406
gap in the conservative landscape. So that will help protect

966
01:04:13,406 --> 01:04:18,160
the view shed. From far away, this ridge is pretty

967
01:04:18,160 --> 01:04:20,320
visible. So this is protecting kind of the lower slopes

968
01:04:20,320 --> 01:04:23,560
of that ridge and the property itself is geologically quite

969
01:04:23,560 --> 01:04:28,281
complex. So again, Worth being preserved. And here, just as

970
01:04:28,281 --> 01:04:31,761
a quick picture of that parish for property. And if

971
01:04:31,761 --> 01:04:33,561
you look way up on the right, you can kind

972
01:04:33,561 --> 01:04:36,361
of see parish three, kind of that area with. Some

973
01:04:36,361 --> 01:04:40,151
of the buildings kind of under rabbit mountain. And here

974
01:04:40,151 --> 01:04:42,751
are just some shots of parish three. I thought it

975
01:04:42,751 --> 01:04:46,751
was neat. How dramatic. Rabbit mountain. Just rises right behind

976
01:04:46,751 --> 01:04:49,751
it. You can see the hay field. As I mentioned,

977
01:04:49,751 --> 01:04:52,551
there's a. Campground on the property. Some of those old

978
01:04:52,551 --> 01:04:56,839
structures are right there on the bottom left. Finally getting

979
01:04:56,839 --> 01:05:01,399
to staff recommendation. Staff recommends approval. This is a tremendous

980
01:05:01,399 --> 01:05:06,079
opportunity for connection high prior to natural and scenic resources,

981
01:05:06,079 --> 01:05:09,119
the focus area for boulder and Larimer counties and is

982
01:05:09,119 --> 01:05:11,559
the first chance for these two partners to do to

983
01:05:11,559 --> 01:05:17,416
work on the joint acquisition. It's tremendous. I don't think

984
01:05:17,416 --> 01:05:19,336
I have to say that. Park supports this project, and

985
01:05:19,336 --> 01:05:24,913
we hope you do too. Thank you. Trace Baker, Posack.

986
01:05:24,913 --> 01:05:29,313
So do we have any questions or comments from Postac?

987
01:05:29,313 --> 01:05:33,525
John, your hand. Was up first. Two questions about parish.

988
01:05:33,525 --> 01:05:38,885
Four, if Larrymer county is buying it, why are we

989
01:05:38,885 --> 01:05:43,613
doing a conservation easement on top of it. Excellent question.

990
01:05:45,231 --> 01:05:51,311
No, it's worthwhile. Because we are chipping in funds to

991
01:05:51,311 --> 01:05:55,351
help. Right. And if they're going to hold the fee.

992
01:05:55,351 --> 01:05:58,951
Border county needs to come with an interest to show.

993
01:05:58,951 --> 01:06:00,791
Hey, we paid up some money. For this. We pointed

994
01:06:00,791 --> 01:06:02,871
up some money for this, so we're not just going

995
01:06:02,871 --> 01:06:06,471
to throw in $400,000 and say, okay, learner, enjoy your

996
01:06:06,471 --> 01:06:08,991
fee. We're going to walk with a property interest in

997
01:06:08,991 --> 01:06:11,486
that land. And that's what that easement represents. So not

998
01:06:11,486 --> 01:06:15,006
only does that easement modernize it. Eliminate the two very

999
01:06:15,006 --> 01:06:20,795
expensive. Building rights, but that also represents. Boulder County's interest

1000
01:06:20,795 --> 01:06:25,246
and Boulder County's investment in that property. Okay, you said

1001
01:06:25,246 --> 01:06:31,102
this comes out of a conservation. Trust. What's that? So

1002
01:06:31,102 --> 01:06:35,080
basically, that comes out of lottery dollars. There's a formula

1003
01:06:35,080 --> 01:06:39,299
by which. They're divvied out to local governments, but it's

1004
01:06:39,299 --> 01:06:41,419
a separate area. That comes out of the lottery funds.

1005
01:06:41,419 --> 01:06:43,699
So that's why we're allowed to do you're allowed to

1006
01:06:43,699 --> 01:06:49,403
do that in Larama county? That's correct. Okay. What's going

1007
01:06:49,403 --> 01:06:52,843
to happen to the buildings on Paris three if we're

1008
01:06:52,843 --> 01:06:56,549
buying the property. That is something that we'll have to

1009
01:06:56,549 --> 01:06:58,998
look at after. We make an acquisition, there's going to

1010
01:06:58,998 --> 01:07:01,958
be a planning process. We'll have to go through. There

1011
01:07:01,958 --> 01:07:05,118
are some things that may just need to be removed

1012
01:07:05,118 --> 01:07:09,346
and some things that may provide an opportunity. We'll have

1013
01:07:09,346 --> 01:07:13,844
our planning staff, our building staff and facility staff. Will

1014
01:07:13,844 --> 01:07:15,684
definitely want to have a closer look at that and

1015
01:07:15,684 --> 01:07:19,244
discuss what could be used and how are you planning

1016
01:07:19,244 --> 01:07:22,255
on? Opening right now when you go near that road.

1017
01:07:24,041 --> 01:07:26,961
There are giant signs that say, no trespassing. Stay away

1018
01:07:26,961 --> 01:07:30,611
from Rabbit Mountain. Are there? Plans? Or is it too

1019
01:07:30,611 --> 01:07:32,931
early to ask to get into rabbit mountain from the

1020
01:07:32,931 --> 01:07:36,611
backside? I would say at this point? That's too early

1021
01:07:36,611 --> 01:07:39,451
to say. We're going to have to have a significant

1022
01:07:39,451 --> 01:07:42,051
planning process to mark that out, and there is still

1023
01:07:42,051 --> 01:07:45,394
substantial private land in the area. So anything would need

1024
01:07:45,394 --> 01:07:50,546
to be very carefully done. Thank you, joan. Just a

1025
01:07:50,546 --> 01:07:53,586
comment that I hope that there never is a connection

1026
01:07:53,586 --> 01:07:59,140
between. The Lamar county open space. Across the Little Thompson

1027
01:07:59,140 --> 01:08:02,500
to Rabbit Mountain, because my understanding is that rabid Mountain

1028
01:08:02,500 --> 01:08:07,519
is one of the best parcels we have. As far

1029
01:08:07,519 --> 01:08:10,399
as diversity of Flora and so on, and so I

1030
01:08:10,399 --> 01:08:14,053
hate for it to become part of. A big regional

1031
01:08:14,053 --> 01:08:16,493
park and get overrun. But that would be quite something

1032
01:08:16,493 --> 01:08:25,603
to cross the little Thompson. Thank you, Vicky. Yeah. Vicky

1033
01:08:25,603 --> 01:08:27,523
Lawrence Posak. I had a couple of questions, Aaron. Thank

1034
01:08:27,523 --> 01:08:30,918
you. Why are we helping Larrymer county? Do they not

1035
01:08:30,918 --> 01:08:33,118
have enough money to purchase? This is it. Just our

1036
01:08:33,118 --> 01:08:36,078
goal to get rid of those building sites that Lehmer

1037
01:08:36,078 --> 01:08:41,892
county was not going. To get rid of. That's really

1038
01:08:41,892 --> 01:08:49,275
maybe our investment in. Parish four represents. Those building sites.

1039
01:08:49,275 --> 01:08:52,475
If they were developed, traffic would be coming through Balda

1040
01:08:52,475 --> 01:08:55,755
county property to access those. I see. So you're trying

1041
01:08:55,755 --> 01:08:59,675
to close the access to potential building sites there, right?

1042
01:08:59,675 --> 01:09:01,795
Do you mind going back to the slide that showed?

1043
01:09:02,921 --> 01:09:06,722
The amount you're paying for parish three. I was trying

1044
01:09:06,722 --> 01:09:09,042
to do some math there quickly, and I wasn't quite

1045
01:09:09,042 --> 01:09:12,162
making that work. Out. You're paying $2 million for the

1046
01:09:12,162 --> 01:09:17,362
land, $20,000 for this first. Share, but then another 53,000

1047
01:09:17,362 --> 01:09:20,082
per unit for six, which I come out to 300,000.

1048
01:09:21,401 --> 01:09:24,041
On top of that. I guess that all worked out.

1049
01:09:24,041 --> 01:09:26,081
Sorry. It went by fast enough. I couldn't get all

1050
01:09:26,081 --> 01:09:28,921
the math together. Okay. Thank you. I had to do

1051
01:09:28,921 --> 01:09:30,561
it nine times to make sure I wasn't making a

1052
01:09:30,561 --> 01:09:32,601
mistake. And when you said that, I thought, oh, no.

1053
01:09:32,601 --> 01:09:40,914
I've done something wrong. Thank you, Joan, again. But. It

1054
01:09:40,914 --> 01:09:44,914
is really a wonderful site, especially parish three. And you

1055
01:09:44,914 --> 01:09:48,565
can get to one point. On Rabbit Mountain and look

1056
01:09:48,565 --> 01:09:55,808
down. And the little Thompson. From the trail. And it's

1057
01:09:55,808 --> 01:09:59,860
just so great to see the sand and. How it's

1058
01:09:59,860 --> 01:10:04,957
pretty much unfettered. There. Thank you. Tony. Tony. Lewis Postac.

1059
01:10:04,957 --> 01:10:07,037
Could you just run through that all one more time?

1060
01:10:07,037 --> 01:10:10,586
Absolutely. Let me go get another cup of coffee and

1061
01:10:10,586 --> 01:10:15,347
get to it. 's a complex deal. It's interesting. I'm

1062
01:10:15,347 --> 01:10:17,547
glad to see us partnering with Larrymer County. I think

1063
01:10:17,547 --> 01:10:23,042
that's great. I think. The only concern I have. And

1064
01:10:23,042 --> 01:10:26,482
I guess here's the question that Janice will not lose.

1065
01:10:26,482 --> 01:10:30,122
Her mind over but can nod or shake her head.

1066
01:10:32,007 --> 01:10:36,493
I always worry when we buy property with buildings. And

1067
01:10:36,493 --> 01:10:38,413
it's always like at a later date. We'll figure out

1068
01:10:38,413 --> 01:10:40,413
what to do. With those. It kind of reminds me

1069
01:10:40,413 --> 01:10:42,413
of some of the mining claims where, at a later

1070
01:10:42,413 --> 01:10:46,173
date, it's about $7 million to rehab at property. So

1071
01:10:46,173 --> 01:10:50,102
I'm just curious. If in the planning process. Do you

1072
01:10:50,102 --> 01:10:53,110
look at that at all? Do you look at? Wow.

1073
01:10:53,110 --> 01:10:55,550
We're going to maybe demo those buildings, and that's. Going

1074
01:10:55,550 --> 01:10:59,510
to come out of this budget versus the acquisition budget.

1075
01:10:59,510 --> 01:11:01,390
We think we might have some money. For that next

1076
01:11:01,390 --> 01:11:03,110
year or it's going to be a couple of years

1077
01:11:03,110 --> 01:11:07,328
off. Is that part of the understanding of putting this

1078
01:11:07,328 --> 01:11:10,168
deal together? I knew I'd get Janice. Adversity for this

1079
01:11:10,168 --> 01:11:13,889
one. And I'm not asking for the details. No, I

1080
01:11:13,889 --> 01:11:17,969
know. Trying to understand. So, Janice Wisman again. Real estate

1081
01:11:17,969 --> 01:11:23,637
division manager. So our staff invite other staff members to

1082
01:11:23,637 --> 01:11:29,973
participate in the conversation as we're negotiating. And. We have

1083
01:11:29,973 --> 01:11:32,613
people who have expertise with all of those things. We've

1084
01:11:32,613 --> 01:11:36,238
got our buildings and historic preservation group. We've got our

1085
01:11:36,238 --> 01:11:39,918
rental house group, all kinds of other expertise that you

1086
01:11:39,918 --> 01:11:43,648
see here before. You more often. And they all weigh

1087
01:11:43,648 --> 01:11:46,288
in about whether or not they think there are concerns

1088
01:11:46,288 --> 01:11:53,079
or potential uses. For improvements on properties. This one has

1089
01:11:53,079 --> 01:11:55,679
quite a bit of structures on it compared to other

1090
01:11:55,679 --> 01:12:02,710
ones. And they are not something we've evaluated yet. I

1091
01:12:02,710 --> 01:12:04,950
don't know if Erin's had the chance to get that

1092
01:12:04,950 --> 01:12:07,630
part of our due diligence includes home inspections and structure

1093
01:12:07,630 --> 01:12:10,590
inspections and things like that. So we're gathering all of

1094
01:12:10,590 --> 01:12:13,670
that information. And because we're gathering it at the same

1095
01:12:13,670 --> 01:12:15,190
time, we're. Trying to get the deal done and we're

1096
01:12:15,190 --> 01:12:16,830
trying to get the deal done in the time frame

1097
01:12:16,830 --> 01:12:21,816
for the seller that they need. We don't have the

1098
01:12:21,816 --> 01:12:26,285
opportunity to have the staff evaluation conversation. In time to

1099
01:12:26,285 --> 01:12:29,245
make decisions before we come before you, or even before

1100
01:12:29,245 --> 01:12:33,579
we go to the board. And. Sometimes. We don't even

1101
01:12:33,579 --> 01:12:35,499
try to do that before we get to the acquisition

1102
01:12:35,499 --> 01:12:37,299
because there are hundreds of steps that we have to

1103
01:12:37,299 --> 01:12:41,339
do to get to the acquisition and just to put

1104
01:12:41,339 --> 01:12:43,859
so that everyone understands what Erin means by a planning

1105
01:12:43,859 --> 01:12:47,219
process. He does not mean a management plan process. For

1106
01:12:47,219 --> 01:12:50,699
this property or for some bigger complex. He means a

1107
01:12:50,699 --> 01:12:55,146
staff evaluation, which. Is what you're asking about. Does that

1108
01:12:55,146 --> 01:12:57,346
answer your question, Tony? It does. I think the only

1109
01:12:57,346 --> 01:12:59,306
worry and I don't. Think it's a worry with this

1110
01:12:59,306 --> 01:13:03,812
property is if you had some environmental concern. About some

1111
01:13:03,812 --> 01:13:06,292
kind of contamination? Yes. So that's why we do a

1112
01:13:06,292 --> 01:13:09,532
phase one environmental hazards. Assessment, and we pay professionalists to

1113
01:13:09,532 --> 01:13:13,325
do that for us. Okay. Prior to actually. Before we

1114
01:13:13,325 --> 01:13:17,045
acquire. Yes. That's one thing that would potentially cause us

1115
01:13:17,045 --> 01:13:18,805
to back out of a deal. If there's a significant

1116
01:13:18,805 --> 01:13:22,405
issue there, that's great to hear. Thanks. It maybe didn't

1117
01:13:22,405 --> 01:13:25,838
do that in the past, but. It's definitely. We've learned.

1118
01:13:25,838 --> 01:13:29,878
Yes, thank you. That's helpful. I'll. Add just one thing

1119
01:13:29,878 --> 01:13:32,982
about this property in particular. Janice joined me on a

1120
01:13:32,982 --> 01:13:35,822
site visit out there to meet the family and tore

1121
01:13:35,822 --> 01:13:37,382
the grounds and we were looking at some of the

1122
01:13:37,382 --> 01:13:40,862
older structures, and one of the property owners opened this

1123
01:13:40,862 --> 01:13:44,462
door. Into this pump house, and it was dark and

1124
01:13:44,462 --> 01:13:48,342
foreboding, and I went, yes, looks great. And Janice dove

1125
01:13:48,342 --> 01:13:50,742
right in. It was one of my favorite Janice whistleblower

1126
01:13:50,742 --> 01:13:52,889
moments. No fear. At all. Just right down the stairs.

1127
01:13:54,717 --> 01:13:58,009
All right. That's great. That's why you're the boss. Thanks,

1128
01:13:58,009 --> 01:14:06,768
Aaron. Further questions comments from Poseack. Christine Christine Johnson Posack

1129
01:14:06,768 --> 01:14:10,288
First, a comment. Every time I go to Rabbit Mountain,

1130
01:14:10,288 --> 01:14:12,768
I look to the north, and I worry. And I

1131
01:14:12,768 --> 01:14:15,928
worry about development. So I'm glad you have your eyes

1132
01:14:15,928 --> 01:14:21,238
on it. My question is. What intentions do you have

1133
01:14:21,238 --> 01:14:24,918
with the water rights? The water rights will remain on

1134
01:14:24,918 --> 01:14:27,438
the property and. Be used as part of the ag

1135
01:14:27,438 --> 01:14:33,028
operation. Derek. Derek Turner. Follow up to that. Is that

1136
01:14:33,028 --> 01:14:39,404
a requirement? Of the purchase or is that. I know

1137
01:14:39,404 --> 01:14:43,640
that's typically. Part of, especially the share of the ditch

1138
01:14:43,640 --> 01:14:48,520
company. But CBT units are the most flexible water right?

1139
01:14:48,520 --> 01:14:50,720
You could move them around at this point, but the

1140
01:14:50,720 --> 01:14:53,360
ag operation on site needs them to. Take them off

1141
01:14:53,360 --> 01:14:56,080
the property would really damage the open space values we're

1142
01:14:56,080 --> 01:15:02,535
trying to protect. I don't foresee us doing that. And

1143
01:15:02,535 --> 01:15:06,655
then, yeah, comment. I think this is a great opportunity.

1144
01:15:09,068 --> 01:15:10,748
I suspect the county is not going to run a

1145
01:15:10,748 --> 01:15:13,908
campground, but I would encourage you to consider it. There's

1146
01:15:13,908 --> 01:15:18,249
not a lot of opportunities. Especially close to the front

1147
01:15:18,249 --> 01:15:21,249
range, like close to the communities where this opportunity is

1148
01:15:21,249 --> 01:15:24,264
around. There are still available sites on hip camp here,

1149
01:15:24,264 --> 01:15:26,824
and I know I've heard of music. Festivals, and this

1150
01:15:26,824 --> 01:15:30,824
is a really popular place for people who've come there.

1151
01:15:30,824 --> 01:15:33,424
And so part of me thinks that if it closes

1152
01:15:33,424 --> 01:15:35,344
and it's never open to the public and nobody has

1153
01:15:35,344 --> 01:15:38,940
that. That's a loss. And I know that's not up

1154
01:15:38,940 --> 01:15:41,260
for discussion today, but I also don't know. When it

1155
01:15:41,260 --> 01:15:44,060
will be up for discussion, when the public gets a

1156
01:15:44,060 --> 01:15:47,260
chance to weigh in. So I would love some creative

1157
01:15:47,260 --> 01:15:53,372
thoughts about what can we do? I know that. It's

1158
01:15:53,372 --> 01:15:54,612
hard to access. Right? You have to go into delhi

1159
01:15:54,612 --> 01:15:56,932
county to get back. Yeah. It's hard to get, rangers

1160
01:15:56,932 --> 01:15:59,612
and all. I know you could think of all the

1161
01:15:59,612 --> 01:16:04,140
problems. With something like that, but from trying to find

1162
01:16:04,140 --> 01:16:08,460
places to hike and experience that area, it's. Really hard,

1163
01:16:08,460 --> 01:16:12,425
and so. To have public property that I would encourage

1164
01:16:12,425 --> 01:16:16,712
you to consider it because. The positives can outweigh, I

1165
01:16:16,712 --> 01:16:22,903
think, the drawbacks. Thank you. Vicky. Vicky Large with Posac.

1166
01:16:22,903 --> 01:16:28,081
Again, two things, actually. I promote a campground there. But

1167
01:16:28,081 --> 01:16:30,241
my other question was. So you said you're going to

1168
01:16:30,241 --> 01:16:32,081
leave the water rights with. The property. But you also

1169
01:16:32,081 --> 01:16:35,885
said that. You're taking the lease back on the hay

1170
01:16:35,885 --> 01:16:39,145
field. Does that mean you're planning on leasing it to

1171
01:16:39,145 --> 01:16:41,545
somebody else? I don't think Boulder county is in the

1172
01:16:41,545 --> 01:16:44,985
business of running hay, so the lease area is to

1173
01:16:44,985 --> 01:16:48,705
the south and further uphill. It's not irrigated. That's range

1174
01:16:48,705 --> 01:16:52,819
land. There's no water on that property. The CBT units

1175
01:16:52,819 --> 01:16:55,299
are on the hay field. Here, let me pull a

1176
01:16:55,299 --> 01:16:57,019
map down. Do we have a map. I know I

1177
01:16:57,019 --> 01:16:59,499
made a map. Okay, so you see the hay fields

1178
01:16:59,499 --> 01:17:03,349
here on. This property. That's where the water is being

1179
01:17:03,349 --> 01:17:06,858
used. So the lease area. Sorry, I didn't see where

1180
01:17:06,858 --> 01:17:10,253
this. Area is that hashed area to the south and

1181
01:17:10,253 --> 01:17:14,013
east, and especially on that southwestern corner, a lot higher

1182
01:17:14,013 --> 01:17:22,239
up. So that's not being irrigated. I'm still confused. Right,

1183
01:17:22,239 --> 01:17:24,799
but I don't understand where they're using the water, because

1184
01:17:24,799 --> 01:17:28,399
I thought you. Said you were closing those leases out.

1185
01:17:28,399 --> 01:17:33,233
That was ending with the purchase of this property. That's

1186
01:17:33,233 --> 01:17:36,388
correct, but. This agleef that I'm discussing. This is a

1187
01:17:36,388 --> 01:17:41,403
grading lease. So the area, the hash area. They're running

1188
01:17:41,403 --> 01:17:46,659
cattle on it. They're not irrigating it, okay? Further questions

1189
01:17:46,659 --> 01:17:53,937
from Posac. Do we have anybody in the hearing room

1190
01:17:53,937 --> 01:17:56,537
who wants to comment on the parish three and four?

1191
01:17:56,537 --> 01:18:01,009
Acquisition? Yes, please. Come up. State your name in your

1192
01:18:01,009 --> 01:18:10,599
approximate residence. You have three minutes. No problem. Suzanne Webble

1193
01:18:10,599 --> 01:18:14,439
and I live in unincorporated builder county near Table Mountain.

1194
01:18:16,498 --> 01:18:19,218
And I think I probably have a unique perspective on

1195
01:18:19,218 --> 01:18:24,010
this area because. I personally have ridden my horse over

1196
01:18:24,010 --> 01:18:28,669
the whole valet that goes up there. Past the campground.

1197
01:18:30,275 --> 01:18:31,515
And the dance hall. Did you all know there was

1198
01:18:31,515 --> 01:18:35,020
a dance hall in that building? And I wrote there

1199
01:18:35,020 --> 01:18:37,860
with the parish family, so I feel like I had

1200
01:18:37,860 --> 01:18:41,300
a nice private tour. Which was great, and I've had

1201
01:18:41,300 --> 01:18:43,180
it as a soft spot in my heart ever since.

1202
01:18:46,118 --> 01:18:48,518
It is fair to say that when I did this

1203
01:18:48,518 --> 01:18:52,478
was probably 20 years ago, and the parish is number

1204
01:18:52,478 --> 01:18:56,158
one told me that they wanted to see a public

1205
01:18:56,158 --> 01:18:59,918
trail connection from this area to Blue Mountain, which is

1206
01:18:59,918 --> 01:19:04,308
in larmer County. And I would hope that you all

1207
01:19:04,308 --> 01:19:10,845
will incorporate that. Into future plan for the property. It

1208
01:19:10,845 --> 01:19:13,485
is also true that the Paris told me that they

1209
01:19:13,485 --> 01:19:15,725
wanted to see a lot of development. Over on that

1210
01:19:15,725 --> 01:19:19,861
east hogback. And I agree that when I come across

1211
01:19:19,861 --> 01:19:21,741
the top of Rabbit Mountain and I look at that,

1212
01:19:21,741 --> 01:19:25,061
hogback. I don't want to see development there either, but

1213
01:19:25,061 --> 01:19:28,661
I don't think it's either or. I think there's a

1214
01:19:28,661 --> 01:19:31,981
lot of room to have some public access to let

1215
01:19:31,981 --> 01:19:34,861
people get down to the creek. Let's have a campground,

1216
01:19:34,861 --> 01:19:38,462
let's at least talk about it instead of just. Closing

1217
01:19:38,462 --> 01:19:42,096
everything to the public. So I would urge you to

1218
01:19:42,096 --> 01:19:45,895
consider keeping. A significant amount of it open for public

1219
01:19:45,895 --> 01:19:51,450
access. And areas that are environmentally sensitive, it's fine. They

1220
01:19:51,450 --> 01:19:54,570
can be closed space, but the defaults should not be

1221
01:19:54,570 --> 01:20:00,303
closed space. Thanks. Thank you. Any other comments from the

1222
01:20:00,303 --> 01:20:05,121
public in the hearing room? Nick, do we have anybody

1223
01:20:05,121 --> 01:20:12,548
online? I don't see any hands raised. Thank you. So,

1224
01:20:12,548 --> 01:20:19,100
Postac, do we have a motion regarding this acquisition? Recommendation

1225
01:20:19,100 --> 01:20:23,840
to the county commissioners. Derek Turner Posek I move that

1226
01:20:23,840 --> 01:20:27,000
we recommend that county commissioners approved the acquisition as outlined

1227
01:20:27,000 --> 01:20:32,167
by staff. Do we have a second? John White. Second?

1228
01:20:32,977 --> 01:20:37,339
Postac further discussion. Then I'll bring it to a vote.

1229
01:20:37,339 --> 01:20:43,229
All those in favor of the motion? As stated, say

1230
01:20:43,229 --> 01:20:50,752
aye. Opposed. Okay. The acquisition is unanimously approved by Post

1231
01:20:50,752 --> 01:20:53,712
act, so please pass that on to commissioners. Thanks very

1232
01:20:53,712 --> 01:20:58,163
much, and thank you very much. Erin and Melissa. Thank

1233
01:20:58,163 --> 01:21:00,763
you. And I have an important announcement from our division

1234
01:21:00,763 --> 01:21:03,864
that I'd like to share with everybody. And that is

1235
01:21:03,864 --> 01:21:07,984
that our fearless leader, Janice Wisman, will be retiring on

1236
01:21:07,984 --> 01:21:12,037
December 4. And Tina Burkhart will be our new division

1237
01:21:12,037 --> 01:21:15,086
manager. So I just wanted to make sure that was

1238
01:21:15,086 --> 01:21:18,606
recognized since this is Janice's last posec. Meeting. The last

1239
01:21:18,606 --> 01:21:22,457
one. For the last 20 years of her career here.

1240
01:21:24,006 --> 01:21:30,096
Thank you. Well, thank you, Janice. Okay, trace Baker, postc.

1241
01:21:30,096 --> 01:21:36,979
So we are going to move on. From the topics

1242
01:21:36,979 --> 01:21:43,052
of recommendations to a couple of information only topics. And

1243
01:21:43,052 --> 01:21:49,452
the first one. Is. Big game management at Rocky Flats

1244
01:21:49,452 --> 01:21:54,410
National Wildlife Area presented by. David Lucas of the US

1245
01:21:54,410 --> 01:21:55,090
fish and wild lice.

1246
01:22:14,835 --> 01:22:18,635
Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Thank you, David.

1247
01:22:18,635 --> 01:22:23,646
All right. Well, of course. Thank you to the postac.

1248
01:22:23,646 --> 01:22:25,726
Thank you to Terese and all the wonderful staff in

1249
01:22:25,726 --> 01:22:30,174
Boulder County. You're going to see myself. I'm the refuge

1250
01:22:30,174 --> 01:22:32,814
manager. Project leader for us fish. And wildlife and the

1251
01:22:32,814 --> 01:22:36,653
national wildlife refugees on the Colorado Front Range. I also

1252
01:22:36,653 --> 01:22:38,533
have David Portillo with me in the back who will

1253
01:22:38,533 --> 01:22:43,893
be helping us with outreach. And public information related to

1254
01:22:43,893 --> 01:22:46,173
what we're talking about tonight in Colorado, parks and wildlife

1255
01:22:46,173 --> 01:22:50,108
is also here. If you have any particular questions for

1256
01:22:50,108 --> 01:22:53,755
them. So tonight we're talking about rocky Flats National Wildlife

1257
01:22:53,755 --> 01:22:58,591
Refuge in big game management. Rocky flats national wildlife refuge.

1258
01:22:59,987 --> 01:23:03,428
A little over 5000 acres. In northern Jefferson county with

1259
01:23:03,428 --> 01:23:08,172
a little bit in Boulder County. But represents a small

1260
01:23:08,172 --> 01:23:13,572
fraction of 100,000 acres of protected, contiguous land. Pretty remarkable.

1261
01:23:14,679 --> 01:23:19,216
What exists there. Multigenerational, decades worth of work protection by

1262
01:23:19,216 --> 01:23:24,176
both sides of county lines. Various organizations, including Boulder county.

1263
01:23:24,176 --> 01:23:28,464
So large landscape that we are talking about. Home to

1264
01:23:28,464 --> 01:23:32,064
numerous big game species, black bear, mountain lion, moose, mule

1265
01:23:32,064 --> 01:23:36,064
deer, and rocky mountain elk. We're mainly talking about elk

1266
01:23:36,064 --> 01:23:40,112
this evening. Appropriate management of these populations of deer and

1267
01:23:40,112 --> 01:23:44,872
elk was fully considered, and the refuge's comprehensive conservation plans.

1268
01:23:44,872 --> 01:23:47,232
You guys were talking a lot about your master planning

1269
01:23:47,232 --> 01:23:50,632
for your open spaces. This would be the similar equivalent.

1270
01:23:52,538 --> 01:23:55,498
But it includes an environmental impact statement and public process

1271
01:23:55,498 --> 01:23:59,789
as well. At the time. So guided with that in

1272
01:23:59,789 --> 01:24:02,269
mind in that hunt management plan and all of the

1273
01:24:02,269 --> 01:24:05,709
I'm sorry. That comprehensive plan and all the work that

1274
01:24:05,709 --> 01:24:10,628
went in there, we will be developing. A specific step

1275
01:24:10,628 --> 01:24:14,700
down plan, as we call it. A hunt management plan

1276
01:24:14,700 --> 01:24:19,180
that provides specific details on the goals, objectives, safety, et

1277
01:24:19,180 --> 01:24:24,401
cetera, related to hunting in this area. Our goals. Us

1278
01:24:24,401 --> 01:24:27,961
fish and Wildlife Service conservation efficient wildlife and their habitats.

1279
01:24:32,367 --> 01:24:37,863
Our number one goal. Is. The health and the sustainability

1280
01:24:37,863 --> 01:24:40,703
of the elk populations in this area. However, they are

1281
01:24:40,703 --> 01:24:43,823
overpopulated and we'll see some additional slides on that. So

1282
01:24:43,823 --> 01:24:46,463
we need to reduce the population of elk when he

1283
01:24:46,463 --> 01:24:50,943
do improve their herd health, better body condition, lower diseases,

1284
01:24:50,943 --> 01:24:54,783
improving habitat quality, reducing over browsing. And we'll talk a

1285
01:24:54,783 --> 01:24:56,902
little bit more about that, because rocky. Flats in particular.

1286
01:24:58,328 --> 01:25:03,928
Has globally rare grasslands and habitats, reducing erosion, controlling invasives.

1287
01:25:03,928 --> 01:25:05,488
We heard a lot about that, too. In your last

1288
01:25:05,488 --> 01:25:11,035
presentations and improving that native plant biodiversity. However, protecting human

1289
01:25:11,035 --> 01:25:15,235
health and safety is also huge, reducing vehicle collisions and

1290
01:25:15,235 --> 01:25:22,161
reducing future infrastructure damage to neighbors. And hunting is a

1291
01:25:22,161 --> 01:25:25,561
wildlife dependent recreational use on our lands, so we manage

1292
01:25:25,561 --> 01:25:30,321
800 million acres nationwide. 585 units, one in every state

1293
01:25:30,321 --> 01:25:36,498
and territory. Our policies and our legislation identifies six priority

1294
01:25:36,498 --> 01:25:40,898
public uses that we allow. Those included hunting, fishing, wildlife

1295
01:25:40,898 --> 01:25:48,447
observation, wildlife photography, interpretation, et cetera. So hunting. Is a

1296
01:25:48,447 --> 01:25:52,407
pretty well known commodity on our lands, so population growth

1297
01:25:52,407 --> 01:25:54,927
is what I will start with. We've been working for

1298
01:25:54,927 --> 01:25:57,607
many years with Colorado parks and wildlife. Colorado parks and

1299
01:25:57,607 --> 01:25:59,727
wildlife is a great partner to you all and to

1300
01:25:59,727 --> 01:26:03,379
us. They have been studying this area. This is called

1301
01:26:03,379 --> 01:26:07,419
e 38. This is a large area that's. Kind of

1302
01:26:07,419 --> 01:26:11,699
I 70 Cabrini shrine, golden up all the way into

1303
01:26:11,699 --> 01:26:14,779
North Boulder into some of the properties that you guys

1304
01:26:14,779 --> 01:26:18,099
manage, Red Hill and rabbit in those worlds, so a

1305
01:26:18,099 --> 01:26:22,351
large area. With a lot of elk, but on. This

1306
01:26:22,351 --> 01:26:27,817
area. We're talking specifically about rocky flats. We completed. A

1307
01:26:27,817 --> 01:26:31,857
habitat condition and a carrying capacity analysis and determined that

1308
01:26:31,857 --> 01:26:34,897
about 200 to 250 animals should reside on the property

1309
01:26:34,897 --> 01:26:39,137
that this elk heard currently utilizes. So we installed satellite

1310
01:26:39,137 --> 01:26:42,177
collars on these elk. About five, six years ago and

1311
01:26:42,177 --> 01:26:45,327
kind of mapped where they are going. They generally stay

1312
01:26:45,327 --> 01:26:48,767
on rocky Flats east of Highway 93. They do go.

1313
01:26:50,079 --> 01:26:52,839
Into Boulder county onto the Boulder open space on the

1314
01:26:52,839 --> 01:26:56,319
north side of Highway 128. That's their main area that

1315
01:26:56,319 --> 01:26:59,959
they spend time. Occasionally they will go across the street

1316
01:26:59,959 --> 01:27:04,056
into Westminster or broomfield. So we're sitting in a good

1317
01:27:04,056 --> 01:27:08,576
range in 20, 19, 20, 20, 20, 21. Then something.

1318
01:27:08,576 --> 01:27:11,736
Horrible happens in December of 2021, we get a big

1319
01:27:11,736 --> 01:27:14,296
fire and it burns down lots of houses. It was

1320
01:27:14,296 --> 01:27:17,736
horrible. Marshall fire was horrible. And those Elkurd that were

1321
01:27:17,736 --> 01:27:22,306
up there decided to move permanently to the south. Further

1322
01:27:22,306 --> 01:27:28,040
increasing our ilk population. So the population continues to increase.

1323
01:27:28,040 --> 01:27:31,440
Starting in 2023. We did some sampling, a small number

1324
01:27:31,440 --> 01:27:33,720
of animals cold. And then last year, we called 80

1325
01:27:33,720 --> 01:27:37,480
animals, and we will continue to do that. Moving forward,

1326
01:27:37,480 --> 01:27:39,920
but as you will see, would like to shift some

1327
01:27:39,920 --> 01:27:44,881
of that workload. And process to and increase our toolbox

1328
01:27:44,881 --> 01:27:47,801
and give us more options by allowing some hunting opportunities.

1329
01:27:49,212 --> 01:27:53,372
But this number, even in 2024, is a little off.

1330
01:27:53,372 --> 01:27:55,772
We had 405 animals we saw on the property. So

1331
01:27:55,772 --> 01:27:59,532
we do all of. These locations on the same day

1332
01:27:59,532 --> 01:28:01,332
in February to try to make sure we get all

1333
01:28:01,332 --> 01:28:04,692
the animals so that's on your properties, our properties, all

1334
01:28:04,692 --> 01:28:09,352
of these. At that day, about 150 animals were down

1335
01:28:09,352 --> 01:28:14,853
at the Ralston reservoir to the south. In Arvada because

1336
01:28:14,853 --> 01:28:17,573
it was about a month, three weeks after we had

1337
01:28:17,573 --> 01:28:21,213
been calling, so. We're probably sitting at about 700 animals

1338
01:28:21,213 --> 01:28:25,964
in this area right now. Herd health. Again, our number

1339
01:28:25,964 --> 01:28:29,324
one goal is healthy wildlife populations. Disease is a major

1340
01:28:29,324 --> 01:28:34,664
concern of populated herds. Chronic wasting diseases. Our biggest concern

1341
01:28:34,664 --> 01:28:36,344
in this area on the Front range, we know it's

1342
01:28:36,344 --> 01:28:39,264
in deer. We know it's in elk. Prevalence in elk

1343
01:28:39,264 --> 01:28:43,224
is lower when we sampled in 2023, we had zero

1344
01:28:43,224 --> 01:28:45,944
animals. It's not a huge sample of 15 in that

1345
01:28:45,944 --> 01:28:47,944
year. But when we sampled 80 last year, we had

1346
01:28:47,944 --> 01:28:52,945
about 5%. Still about where we should be, but chronic

1347
01:28:52,945 --> 01:28:57,219
wasting disease is spread. By urine and feces. And when

1348
01:28:57,219 --> 01:28:59,019
the animals are on top of the same piece of

1349
01:28:59,019 --> 01:29:01,059
ground. And on top of the same animals all the

1350
01:29:01,059 --> 01:29:07,774
time, we see that spread. Habitat. Again, rocky flat has

1351
01:29:07,774 --> 01:29:12,334
some very unique, amazing habitat. Over 800 plants documented on

1352
01:29:12,334 --> 01:29:17,106
this property. And again, globally rare is Eric. The last

1353
01:29:17,106 --> 01:29:19,666
twelve acres of tall epline shrublin on the planet. On

1354
01:29:19,666 --> 01:29:24,013
this property. So overgrazing and over browsing does create the

1355
01:29:24,013 --> 01:29:29,653
opportunity for degradation of these communities. Thought let's talk invasive.

1356
01:29:29,653 --> 01:29:32,893
We're battling invasive, just like everybody else. Harry, Willow, herb

1357
01:29:32,893 --> 01:29:37,644
is. Our newest friend. Dots on the south was where

1358
01:29:37,644 --> 01:29:41,164
we started, where he first identified this list, a species.

1359
01:29:42,995 --> 01:29:45,235
And we know it's being spread by our elk between

1360
01:29:45,235 --> 01:29:55,022
these wetlands. Safety. This is real. We always hear about

1361
01:29:55,022 --> 01:29:57,982
vehicle strikes and people think about driving across Pennsylvania and

1362
01:29:57,982 --> 01:30:02,098
hitting a white tail. This is a different game. These

1363
01:30:02,098 --> 01:30:04,498
are extremely large animals that have the potential to cause

1364
01:30:04,498 --> 01:30:08,618
fatal collisions with drivers and occupants. But also, secondary accidents

1365
01:30:08,618 --> 01:30:12,149
are a big deal. You hit your brakes, you swerve

1366
01:30:12,149 --> 01:30:14,829
across the road, you hit your brakes, other people wreck.

1367
01:30:14,829 --> 01:30:20,644
Behind you. These are real. State Highway 128 and State

1368
01:30:20,644 --> 01:30:23,724
Highway 93. We get pretty good data. We actually get

1369
01:30:23,724 --> 01:30:27,835
GPS data. Indiana street. On the eastern side of this

1370
01:30:27,835 --> 01:30:30,435
property is a county road, so we only get a

1371
01:30:30,435 --> 01:30:33,035
stretch of data all the way from superior down into

1372
01:30:33,035 --> 01:30:36,355
Arvada, and we know how many. Strikes occur in that

1373
01:30:36,355 --> 01:30:40,152
area. We did a transportation study. In relation to trying

1374
01:30:40,152 --> 01:30:41,792
to get a grant in the last couple of years

1375
01:30:41,792 --> 01:30:45,834
for crossing under 128. It was done by Montana State

1376
01:30:45,834 --> 01:30:48,394
and this Western Transportation Institute, and they give you some

1377
01:30:48,394 --> 01:30:52,194
of those. Numbers. They're 46 d. Ornell crashes, but they're

1378
01:30:52,194 --> 01:30:57,559
highly underreported. This photo is just kind of funny. In

1379
01:30:57,559 --> 01:30:59,750
a sad way. Obviously there was an animal that got

1380
01:30:59,750 --> 01:31:01,990
killed, but I hadn't to make the call to. This

1381
01:31:01,990 --> 01:31:04,749
individual and said, we found your car. But it was

1382
01:31:04,749 --> 01:31:08,826
already stolen and it's destroyed. So it was a bad

1383
01:31:08,826 --> 01:31:10,746
day for the owner of this vehicle, but it kind

1384
01:31:10,746 --> 01:31:14,146
of shows what can happen when a BMW hits an

1385
01:31:14,146 --> 01:31:17,266
elk at a high rate of speed. So this is

1386
01:31:17,266 --> 01:31:22,159
a real issue. Vehicle strikes are increasing. They correlate very

1387
01:31:22,159 --> 01:31:27,534
tightly to increased numbers of animals. Nearby elconting I have

1388
01:31:27,534 --> 01:31:29,574
what I call traditional hunting. So this would be our

1389
01:31:29,574 --> 01:31:32,534
Colorado and parks and wildlife, folks issuing licenses and people

1390
01:31:32,534 --> 01:31:38,559
hunting on private lands or forest service lands. There's just

1391
01:31:38,559 --> 01:31:42,399
really limited opportunities in this area. Access is extremely limited.

1392
01:31:43,739 --> 01:31:46,899
So you're not going to see great results in terms

1393
01:31:46,899 --> 01:31:50,099
of reducing populations. We have special hunts as the way

1394
01:31:50,099 --> 01:31:52,499
we call them in Boulder county. You guys have Rabbit

1395
01:31:52,499 --> 01:31:55,795
Mountain in Red Hill? They've been good and successful. In

1396
01:31:55,795 --> 01:31:58,355
Jefferson county, they have the centennial cone. So by special

1397
01:31:58,355 --> 01:32:01,715
hunts, we're saying Colorado parks and wildlife is issuing tags

1398
01:32:01,715 --> 01:32:05,475
and working with us, but we're implementing some additional regulations

1399
01:32:05,475 --> 01:32:08,235
or restrictions on top of that to help with our

1400
01:32:08,235 --> 01:32:13,614
goals or some other localized public safety things. So our

1401
01:32:13,614 --> 01:32:19,882
next steps. Again, large organization, 580 units. What we do

1402
01:32:19,882 --> 01:32:23,562
to make this easier is nationally, we make proposals to

1403
01:32:23,562 --> 01:32:26,762
make changes to our hunting and fishing regulations once a

1404
01:32:26,762 --> 01:32:31,456
year. It's timed based on hunting seasons, so we start

1405
01:32:31,456 --> 01:32:35,521
early in January. In order to provide public comment, issue

1406
01:32:35,521 --> 01:32:39,041
promulgation to where those things can be effectively executed. By

1407
01:32:39,041 --> 01:32:43,290
the fall. If approved, Elcon could be authorized starting in

1408
01:32:43,290 --> 01:32:47,130
fall of 26 with the public hunts with CPW's. Big

1409
01:32:47,130 --> 01:32:51,761
game brochure beginning in the fall of 27. Guided by

1410
01:32:51,761 --> 01:32:55,452
that ccp. We will do a very specific. And we're

1411
01:32:55,452 --> 01:32:58,772
working on a hunt management plan currently, Jefferson. County, Boulder

1412
01:32:58,772 --> 01:33:03,331
County. Department of Energy Colorado Parks and Wildlife inrel our

1413
01:33:03,331 --> 01:33:06,971
Windtower friends, they're all part of this planning team helping

1414
01:33:06,971 --> 01:33:09,291
us come up with a hunt management plan. So a

1415
01:33:09,291 --> 01:33:11,971
draft would be issued with that during the rulemaking process.

1416
01:33:13,404 --> 01:33:17,667
Some of those. Unique refuge specific regulations. There would be

1417
01:33:17,667 --> 01:33:21,987
no high powered rifles center fire rifles due to proximity

1418
01:33:21,987 --> 01:33:25,427
of neighbors, honey, would only be allowed in certain areas.

1419
01:33:26,620 --> 01:33:31,699
Safety buffers, residential development, nearby roads. Hunting would only occur

1420
01:33:31,699 --> 01:33:36,764
during traditional seasons, so September to November. Colorado parks and

1421
01:33:36,764 --> 01:33:39,964
Wildlife would utilize its current processes to issue licenses and

1422
01:33:39,964 --> 01:33:44,840
tags. All hunting would comply with Colorado state law for

1423
01:33:44,840 --> 01:33:50,481
hunting and then those additional refuge specific regulations. And then,

1424
01:33:50,481 --> 01:33:52,201
like all of our plans, some of your all rabbit

1425
01:33:52,201 --> 01:33:57,298
mountain or Red Hill monitoring, adapting. As we go. And

1426
01:33:57,298 --> 01:34:04,504
that is my final slide. Well, thank you, David. Do

1427
01:34:04,504 --> 01:34:08,904
we have questions, comments from Posac? So let's just. Go

1428
01:34:08,904 --> 01:34:12,144
down the road here. Road here. Starting with Joan. Joan.

1429
01:34:12,144 --> 01:34:15,864
Let's go back and I. Support your plan. And the

1430
01:34:15,864 --> 01:34:18,864
one time I was on that property, we came across

1431
01:34:18,864 --> 01:34:21,944
a herd of. Elk, and instead of, like, running away,

1432
01:34:22,753 --> 01:34:25,886
From us. They approached us, which I thought. Was kind

1433
01:34:25,886 --> 01:34:30,224
of unnatural behavior. So again, maybe too many of them.

1434
01:34:32,141 --> 01:34:35,501
John White. Poseack. You have a thing about high powered

1435
01:34:35,501 --> 01:34:40,650
rifles. Won't be authorized. Seems to me that earlier this

1436
01:34:40,650 --> 01:34:45,716
year there's a presentation about ilk management. At red hill

1437
01:34:45,716 --> 01:34:53,364
or red mountain. Where? You guys had restricted. You use

1438
01:34:53,364 --> 01:34:59,411
lower powered rifles or crossbows or something? And the problem

1439
01:34:59,411 --> 01:35:01,891
is that people would wound the hill instead of kill

1440
01:35:01,891 --> 01:35:10,236
them. You don't want people firing. Into houses. But we

1441
01:35:10,236 --> 01:35:16,604
also don't want wounded elk. John Trace Baker from Postac.

1442
01:35:16,604 --> 01:35:24,064
If I may interrupt. The regulations. On red hill. And

1443
01:35:24,064 --> 01:35:30,082
Rabbit Mountain. Where? County? They were not. Federal. Well, still

1444
01:35:30,082 --> 01:35:33,776
would be, yes. It's the same issue, but just clarifying.

1445
01:35:33,776 --> 01:35:37,896
Who promulgated the regulations? Sorry, no. It's a great question.

1446
01:35:39,335 --> 01:35:42,300
What we've been seeking to do over the last. I've

1447
01:35:42,300 --> 01:35:45,851
been around too long. But what we've been really trying

1448
01:35:45,851 --> 01:35:48,851
to do over the last 1015 years is to get

1449
01:35:48,851 --> 01:35:50,651
a heck of a lot more consistent with our state

1450
01:35:50,651 --> 01:35:54,811
partners so that we have consistent regulations. That people understand

1451
01:35:54,811 --> 01:35:59,564
the hunters. That the game wardens on both sides, federal,

1452
01:35:59,564 --> 01:36:02,604
state, county, everybody understands. So to your question, it's a

1453
01:36:02,604 --> 01:36:08,091
great question. We would authorize shotguns, we would authorize archery,

1454
01:36:08,091 --> 01:36:14,682
we would authorize muzzle loaders. We would just. Drop. The

1455
01:36:14,682 --> 01:36:18,162
very long range, high powered rifles. So to your question

1456
01:36:18,162 --> 01:36:22,843
about injured animals, that is a concern. A highly skilled

1457
01:36:22,843 --> 01:36:29,487
person with any of those tools. It would not be

1458
01:36:29,487 --> 01:36:31,742
a problem. A non skilled person with any of those

1459
01:36:31,742 --> 01:36:35,205
tools, it's a problem. But we are aware of that.

1460
01:36:35,205 --> 01:36:38,245
And an injured animal and retrieval is a big aspect

1461
01:36:38,245 --> 01:36:41,005
of what we do if we get notified of that,

1462
01:36:41,005 --> 01:36:42,805
we quickly go deal with that and we deal with

1463
01:36:42,805 --> 01:36:46,738
that a lot throughout the year. Not throughout the year,

1464
01:36:46,738 --> 01:36:51,691
hopefully, but throughout hunting season. But as Joan mentioned, at

1465
01:36:51,691 --> 01:36:54,331
the moment, the animals I do not think will present.

1466
01:36:56,403 --> 01:37:00,443
Long distance shots for these individuals. Unfortunately, they are kind

1467
01:37:00,443 --> 01:37:06,851
of accustomed to not being pressured. During archery season, they

1468
01:37:06,851 --> 01:37:11,558
could be called in relatively close. Muzzle loader shots at

1469
01:37:11,558 --> 01:37:16,402
150 yards. That's a fair shot that most of those

1470
01:37:16,402 --> 01:37:19,301
folks should be able to take. But it is a

1471
01:37:19,301 --> 01:37:23,934
concern for us. If we get those calls, then we

1472
01:37:23,934 --> 01:37:26,454
have to go help and euthanize the animal, but. We

1473
01:37:26,454 --> 01:37:30,015
certainly don't want to see an animal suffer. Thank you,

1474
01:37:30,015 --> 01:37:34,775
Vicky. Vicky Lawrence PoSeack thanks, David, for your presentation about

1475
01:37:34,775 --> 01:37:37,015
this. I know I've certainly seen elk in that area

1476
01:37:37,015 --> 01:37:41,464
a lot. I have two comments, though. Is there any

1477
01:37:41,464 --> 01:37:45,224
thought or consideration? You mentioned it briefly but didn't. Really

1478
01:37:45,224 --> 01:37:48,704
talk about it. In getting animal passages on 128, or

1479
01:37:48,704 --> 01:37:52,344
especially 93, is probably the worst in Indiana. Yeah, it's

1480
01:37:52,344 --> 01:37:56,021
kind of interesting when I've come to these meetings. You're

1481
01:37:56,021 --> 01:37:58,574
now my fourth. And that's been kind of the hot

1482
01:37:58,574 --> 01:38:03,599
button question. Obviously, there's. A financial component to that. There

1483
01:38:03,599 --> 01:38:07,439
are actually two crossings proposed on Highway 93, one at

1484
01:38:07,439 --> 01:38:09,799
woman Creek which would be about a mile and a

1485
01:38:09,799 --> 01:38:13,079
half north of Cole Creek canyon. And there's also one

1486
01:38:13,079 --> 01:38:17,479
on where Cole Creek goes down near 128 proposed, but

1487
01:38:17,479 --> 01:38:21,519
it has to be when 93 gets its road construction

1488
01:38:21,519 --> 01:38:27,982
and. Its expansion. There are wildlife crossings and fences and

1489
01:38:27,982 --> 01:38:32,542
mitigations proposed along Indiana street, but it's proposed with the

1490
01:38:32,542 --> 01:38:36,782
Jefferson Parkway, so it's kind of a chicken egg. Unfortunately,

1491
01:38:36,782 --> 01:38:39,582
we did with the bill, Ira. We put in for

1492
01:38:39,582 --> 01:38:45,365
a grant for the highway underp. Underpass. Boulder county actually

1493
01:38:45,365 --> 01:38:50,047
supported us. We worked together. We were just unsuccessful. We

1494
01:38:50,047 --> 01:38:52,127
were beaten out by I 70 and some of those

1495
01:38:52,127 --> 01:38:58,116
kind of projects that are bigger. And. It's hard. It's

1496
01:38:58,116 --> 01:39:00,516
clearly a need throughout the state in many places. Okay,

1497
01:39:00,516 --> 01:39:06,009
so, of course. I'm a great proponent of wildlife overpasses

1498
01:39:06,009 --> 01:39:09,969
and underpasses. I think overpasses are better. They've been proven

1499
01:39:09,969 --> 01:39:12,689
to be a little better. So my next question was.

1500
01:39:14,821 --> 01:39:18,221
Is there a concern, since there aren't a safe crossings

1501
01:39:18,221 --> 01:39:21,261
for the wildlife across these highways? That. Then you start

1502
01:39:21,261 --> 01:39:24,621
allowing hunters in there, and the animals run from the

1503
01:39:24,621 --> 01:39:28,701
hunters and blindly run. Out into the road where they

1504
01:39:28,701 --> 01:39:31,261
might have given it some consideration were they not being

1505
01:39:31,261 --> 01:39:36,221
pressured by gunfire or whatever. How do you think about

1506
01:39:36,221 --> 01:39:37,821
that? Do you think about where you allow them to

1507
01:39:37,821 --> 01:39:40,061
hunt so they're far enough away from roads that the

1508
01:39:40,061 --> 01:39:43,895
elk won't be pushed into the roads. It's a fabulous

1509
01:39:43,895 --> 01:39:45,735
question that we think about all the time, even when

1510
01:39:45,735 --> 01:39:49,487
we're culling. Where are they going to go? And what

1511
01:39:49,487 --> 01:39:51,727
is our plan if they decide to go somewhere? So.

1512
01:39:51,727 --> 01:39:53,727
I think it'll be a big discussion point in this

1513
01:39:53,727 --> 01:39:56,447
step down hunt management plan on how we deal with

1514
01:39:56,447 --> 01:40:00,591
that. The problem is we're at now at 700 and

1515
01:40:00,591 --> 01:40:03,191
we need to get to 200. I think if we

1516
01:40:03,191 --> 01:40:06,911
get to 200, then maybe we don't see the pressuring

1517
01:40:06,911 --> 01:40:09,631
and the bouncing and the pushing off of the various

1518
01:40:09,631 --> 01:40:16,004
roads and the neighborhoods and all of these issues. I

1519
01:40:16,004 --> 01:40:20,120
think they've unfortunately compound, right. So I can say that

1520
01:40:20,120 --> 01:40:23,080
we will talk about that as a part of our

1521
01:40:23,080 --> 01:40:25,320
hunt management plan. I mean, I don't know if we

1522
01:40:25,320 --> 01:40:30,317
put up some flashing signs during those periods. We are

1523
01:40:30,317 --> 01:40:33,277
talking about some rest days built in here and there,

1524
01:40:33,277 --> 01:40:35,517
some we might hunt some days. Rest some days. I

1525
01:40:35,517 --> 01:40:38,718
think you do that on some of your properties. And

1526
01:40:38,718 --> 01:40:40,638
that would make management a little easier, but, yeah, it's

1527
01:40:40,638 --> 01:40:46,529
a concern. That. If suddenly 700 animals go barreling across

1528
01:40:46,529 --> 01:40:49,649
Highway 93 at the wrong time, that could be a

1529
01:40:49,649 --> 01:40:54,854
challenge. So, Vicky Lawrence, still with Posac. One further question,

1530
01:40:54,854 --> 01:41:01,950
then. God, I hate it when my brain. We'll come

1531
01:41:01,950 --> 01:41:06,750
back to it. Okay. Thank you, Tony. Thanks, David. Great

1532
01:41:06,750 --> 01:41:15,724
presentation. Thank you, Derek. Carol. Thank you, Carol. Byerly

1533
01:41:15,724 --> 01:41:19,924
Posak, when you're in the calling process, do you select

1534
01:41:19,924 --> 01:41:25,873
certain individuals, do you go for dough's or bulls? Or

1535
01:41:25,873 --> 01:41:27,793
is there? So, thankfully, we have some really smart biologists

1536
01:41:27,793 --> 01:41:31,265
that are helping us with some models. To help us.

1537
01:41:31,265 --> 01:41:33,865
But yes, this last year and a half that we've

1538
01:41:33,865 --> 01:41:36,665
been doing this. We have been highly targeting the females.

1539
01:41:38,570 --> 01:41:41,610
To avoid the recruitment, obviously, but now we have 350.

1540
01:41:43,474 --> 01:41:46,365
Males. So there will have to be some males that

1541
01:41:46,365 --> 01:41:50,220
are reduced as well. Further question. Do you go for

1542
01:41:50,220 --> 01:41:58,323
older individuals? Or is that possible? It is possible. On

1543
01:41:58,323 --> 01:42:00,923
the mail side where we can tell the difference. On

1544
01:42:00,923 --> 01:42:03,643
the female side, it's almost impossible to tell the difference

1545
01:42:03,643 --> 01:42:07,659
between. A young versus an older one at a distance,

1546
01:42:07,659 --> 01:42:11,262
so, yeah. But in general, an elk is going to

1547
01:42:11,262 --> 01:42:14,902
hit reproductive status in its second year. So anything over.

1548
01:42:16,837 --> 01:42:22,560
Two can have babies. Okay. Thank you. Christine christine johnson

1549
01:42:22,560 --> 01:42:29,280
posak. Maybe I'll rephrasing some of what you're saying. In

1550
01:42:29,280 --> 01:42:33,680
a positive way. Is hazing part of the plan? And

1551
01:42:33,680 --> 01:42:37,870
so you're planning for the hazing? Where might they go?

1552
01:42:39,481 --> 01:42:41,401
That's where this is a fun conversation, that we're all

1553
01:42:41,401 --> 01:42:45,681
working together as neighbors. And partners and everybody, because. We

1554
01:42:45,681 --> 01:42:48,201
have to deal with the elk population across the game

1555
01:42:48,201 --> 01:42:50,801
management unit because they're going to move from one person's

1556
01:42:50,801 --> 01:42:54,898
location to another person's location and back. So that's why

1557
01:42:54,898 --> 01:42:56,978
it has to be collaborative and we have to work

1558
01:42:56,978 --> 01:43:01,942
together. At the moment without pressure. They found these spots

1559
01:43:01,942 --> 01:43:06,345
that we call refuge at various locations. And they're happy

1560
01:43:06,345 --> 01:43:10,725
there. But yes, there'll be some hazing to move them

1561
01:43:10,725 --> 01:43:15,564
around. As well as the haze, the pressure that comes

1562
01:43:15,564 --> 01:43:19,887
from the individual hunters. Is that an answer? Yeah. Okay.

1563
01:43:22,730 --> 01:43:29,495
Vicky. Thank you. Vicky Lawrence Poseac. I have concerns about.

1564
01:43:29,495 --> 01:43:35,247
I know that. There were moves, I think, by you

1565
01:43:35,247 --> 01:43:38,167
guys to start clearing out some of the mountain lines

1566
01:43:38,167 --> 01:43:40,167
in. The northwestern part of a state that there was

1567
01:43:40,167 --> 01:43:41,887
going to be mountain line hunts. Maybe I have that

1568
01:43:41,887 --> 01:43:47,820
wrong? But irrelevant to that. I assume mountain lions are

1569
01:43:47,820 --> 01:43:50,980
the main predator since we don't have wolves here on

1570
01:43:50,980 --> 01:43:55,882
the elk. Are you guys culling mountain lions in this

1571
01:43:55,882 --> 01:44:01,726
area? Why are there not enough mountain lions there? To

1572
01:44:01,726 --> 01:44:05,486
compensate. The Rocky Flats refuge has two females that are

1573
01:44:05,486 --> 01:44:09,407
occupied. That is probably as many that will reside on

1574
01:44:09,407 --> 01:44:11,727
that property just because they don't like to be that

1575
01:44:11,727 --> 01:44:13,887
close together. Yeah, and they are fat, dumb and happy.

1576
01:44:15,323 --> 01:44:16,923
And they have lots of kittens every year, though, right?

1577
01:44:18,535 --> 01:44:23,015
Coyotes make a reasonable predator impact on them as well,

1578
01:44:23,015 --> 01:44:27,755
particularly on the calves. And there's a very strong coyote

1579
01:44:27,755 --> 01:44:32,896
population as well. But it's just out of balance. Unless

1580
01:44:32,896 --> 01:44:35,416
they're moving around and unless they're having access, you're not

1581
01:44:35,416 --> 01:44:37,616
going. To have a mountain lion or five mountain lions

1582
01:44:37,616 --> 01:44:41,856
come down from plain view in there and hunt. Like

1583
01:44:41,856 --> 01:44:44,496
some of the more pack animals might like a wolf.

1584
01:44:46,343 --> 01:44:49,383
With mom's there with her kitten. With her kittens and.

1585
01:44:51,623 --> 01:44:54,343
She's going to protect that area. So the kittens move

1586
01:44:54,343 --> 01:44:57,223
off, then after they don't. Stick around because there's not

1587
01:44:57,223 --> 01:45:00,423
enough physical space. Correct. There's plenty of prey, not in

1588
01:45:00,423 --> 01:45:05,706
a physical space. Thank you. And thank you for caring

1589
01:45:05,706 --> 01:45:10,419
about the Harry Willow herb. It's just getting started. Another

1590
01:45:10,419 --> 01:45:11,899
one of those things. I'm getting too old. I've been

1591
01:45:11,899 --> 01:45:15,699
fighting weeds my entire life in various forms, fashions. And

1592
01:45:15,699 --> 01:45:16,859
I know you guys are going to have a great

1593
01:45:16,859 --> 01:45:22,030
presentation about it after me. But we are making a

1594
01:45:22,030 --> 01:45:25,030
dent on certain weeds as a group, and then some

1595
01:45:25,030 --> 01:45:27,630
of them. It's just like, I don't know, tease them.

1596
01:45:27,630 --> 01:45:31,268
I don't know. Some of these are really hard, and

1597
01:45:31,268 --> 01:45:33,668
particularly when they're getting spread on the fur of animals

1598
01:45:33,668 --> 01:45:36,988
that are wandering across properties in hundreds of miles and

1599
01:45:36,988 --> 01:45:41,288
dropping them into your wetlands. It's. Really hard. Thank you.

1600
01:45:41,288 --> 01:45:45,888
Mar from Posec. This is Trace Baker from Postac, and

1601
01:45:45,888 --> 01:45:50,842
I have quite a few questions and comments here. One

1602
01:45:50,842 --> 01:45:55,962
is that for the hunts at Rabbit Mountain? Red Hill,

1603
01:45:55,962 --> 01:46:02,188
Boulder county requires hunters to take. A training course. Will

1604
01:46:02,188 --> 01:46:07,226
your organization be training hunters? So we are planning an

1605
01:46:07,226 --> 01:46:12,164
orientation process to talk about neighbors, rules. All those various

1606
01:46:12,164 --> 01:46:15,044
things. At this moment, we're not planning on a proficiency

1607
01:46:15,044 --> 01:46:19,825
test. It could be something we could discuss if it's

1608
01:46:19,825 --> 01:46:22,905
important to people, but we are not. Requiring a proficiency

1609
01:46:22,905 --> 01:46:25,945
again, back to staffing and scheduling and all the steps

1610
01:46:25,945 --> 01:46:27,865
that it takes to get through that, but we are

1611
01:46:27,865 --> 01:46:32,935
requiring an orientation, which, obviously, we can record, share. Okay?

1612
01:46:32,935 --> 01:46:36,615
Yeah. Because neighbors and those of us who drive 93

1613
01:46:36,615 --> 01:46:42,936
fairly frequently might. Appreciate that. Another question. What will happen

1614
01:46:42,936 --> 01:46:46,136
with the meat? That the hunter skill, they will take

1615
01:46:46,136 --> 01:46:49,816
it. Home as a part of Colorado parks and wildlife.

1616
01:46:51,298 --> 01:46:53,578
We have to take four quarters and the back straps

1617
01:46:53,578 --> 01:46:59,841
according to rule. Okay, thank you. And our chair, postac

1618
01:46:59,841 --> 01:47:03,881
chair here. Janet. George was unable to be here tonight,

1619
01:47:03,881 --> 01:47:07,380
but. She did send a couple of questions that I'll

1620
01:47:07,380 --> 01:47:11,133
ask on her behalf. First of all, she says it's

1621
01:47:11,133 --> 01:47:14,793
good to see that. You're going to be. Actively managing

1622
01:47:14,793 --> 01:47:20,347
elk numbers. She was asking if non lended ammunition will

1623
01:47:20,347 --> 01:47:26,187
be required for firearms, both shotguns and muzzle. Loaders so

1624
01:47:26,187 --> 01:47:31,155
that. Is a big aspect of the rulemaking process at

1625
01:47:31,155 --> 01:47:34,235
the moment. Colorado parks and Wildlife and US locally at

1626
01:47:34,235 --> 01:47:38,189
the National Wildlife Refuge at this level. Support lead free.

1627
01:47:39,965 --> 01:47:42,165
And that's based on, particularly on the bald and golden

1628
01:47:42,165 --> 01:47:46,330
eagle populations in this location. And the fact that there

1629
01:47:46,330 --> 01:47:49,330
would be a high concentration of carcasses based on what

1630
01:47:49,330 --> 01:47:52,210
we're talking about here. If we were taking 50 animals

1631
01:47:52,210 --> 01:47:54,890
and leaving 50 carcasses with lead, it would be a

1632
01:47:54,890 --> 01:47:58,625
different scenario. Than if lead was used up on the

1633
01:47:58,625 --> 01:48:03,011
mountain, on the forest. Right. Okay, but you say support,

1634
01:48:03,011 --> 01:48:07,140
but you do not yet know if you'll require. That'll

1635
01:48:07,140 --> 01:48:09,180
be a part of the rulemaking process that happens in

1636
01:48:09,180 --> 01:48:15,025
January and February. Okay. Thank you. And Janet also asks.

1637
01:48:16,329 --> 01:48:18,529
At one time, there seemed to be a connection between

1638
01:48:18,529 --> 01:48:24,689
rocky Flats elk management and table Mountain elk. Issues, which

1639
01:48:24,689 --> 01:48:27,169
was also table mount as a federal, federal property, of

1640
01:48:27,169 --> 01:48:31,766
course. Janet believes, and she used to work for Colorado

1641
01:48:31,766 --> 01:48:38,324
parks and wildlife as biologist. A rocky flats personnel were

1642
01:48:38,324 --> 01:48:43,164
helping count elk on Table Mountain. Could rocky Flats elk

1643
01:48:43,164 --> 01:48:50,810
management lead to. Active management of elk on Table Mountain

1644
01:48:50,810 --> 01:48:55,846
or they separate initiatives. Great question. She probably remembers. We

1645
01:48:55,846 --> 01:49:00,428
know Janet. She probably remembers this collaring project that we

1646
01:49:00,428 --> 01:49:03,745
all work together on. We actually went up there in

1647
01:49:03,745 --> 01:49:06,465
collared animals, and we do still count animals on Table

1648
01:49:06,465 --> 01:49:10,662
Mountain. But yeah. It was quite an ordeal capturing those

1649
01:49:10,662 --> 01:49:13,854
animals. But, yeah, we definitely were involved in that. I

1650
01:49:13,854 --> 01:49:17,953
mean, my feeling is. As a collaborative and a partnership

1651
01:49:17,953 --> 01:49:21,927
together. If we can show success working together. It will

1652
01:49:21,927 --> 01:49:26,886
lead. To additional opportunities for us to. So if we're

1653
01:49:26,886 --> 01:49:30,126
currently restricted on Table Mountain, maybe over time. If the

1654
01:49:30,126 --> 01:49:33,206
animals are hanging out there, then we can utilize these

1655
01:49:33,206 --> 01:49:37,486
as best case lessons learned. Best management practices to assist

1656
01:49:37,486 --> 01:49:42,024
them, because that is Department of Commerce. Not necessarily the

1657
01:49:42,024 --> 01:49:48,423
same agency as us. Thank you. And a comment on

1658
01:49:48,423 --> 01:49:54,166
hazing because. I believe. My experience with parks and open

1659
01:49:54,166 --> 01:49:59,272
space predates Christine's. For a while, and this was some

1660
01:49:59,272 --> 01:50:04,097
years ago. We were trying to. Haze elk on Rabbit

1661
01:50:04,097 --> 01:50:09,321
Mountain. And one of my other volunteer gigs with the

1662
01:50:09,321 --> 01:50:13,721
county was participating with one of the wildlife biologists in

1663
01:50:13,721 --> 01:50:17,654
hazing. And number one, we could never get close to

1664
01:50:17,654 --> 01:50:22,538
the animals. And compared to what Joan was observing. And

1665
01:50:22,538 --> 01:50:27,406
number two. When the animals did realize that we were

1666
01:50:27,406 --> 01:50:32,967
just walking around unarmed. They would certainly vacate the property,

1667
01:50:32,967 --> 01:50:34,727
but they would never go in the direction that we

1668
01:50:34,727 --> 01:50:38,462
wanted. Them to. And so that was one of the

1669
01:50:38,462 --> 01:50:42,342
experiences that led to approval of hunting up on Rabbit

1670
01:50:42,342 --> 01:50:48,627
Mountain. Should have been on horseback. And. Final topic here.

1671
01:50:50,246 --> 01:50:56,213
Is that? For the rocky Frathplats property. I understand that

1672
01:50:56,213 --> 01:51:02,173
residual activity or radioactivity and other contaminants are believed to

1673
01:51:02,173 --> 01:51:07,933
be below federal safety standards. But will hunters be either?

1674
01:51:09,280 --> 01:51:16,468
Advised. Or be shown signage. Regarding. Residual radioactivity so they

1675
01:51:16,468 --> 01:51:18,548
can make an informed choice over there. They want to

1676
01:51:18,548 --> 01:51:21,188
hunt there. Or not? It's a great question. And yeah,

1677
01:51:21,188 --> 01:51:23,868
obviously we have thought about that. The animals that we

1678
01:51:23,868 --> 01:51:28,148
collected in 2023 were sampled for radio nucleiids and all

1679
01:51:28,148 --> 01:51:32,482
were non detect in all tissues. There was also studies

1680
01:51:32,482 --> 01:51:35,202
done going all the way back to the cleanup and

1681
01:51:35,202 --> 01:51:38,837
why the lands that are the refuge were released. For

1682
01:51:38,837 --> 01:51:40,357
what they can say. I want to get it right.

1683
01:51:40,357 --> 01:51:45,317
It's ue unlimited use. Unlimited exposure. So it's non restricted

1684
01:51:45,317 --> 01:51:47,677
in general. So there were studies back then we sampled

1685
01:51:47,677 --> 01:51:52,484
15. In 2023, and we actually plan to sample an

1686
01:51:52,484 --> 01:51:58,875
additional 15 this winter during the colon process. Regarding notification.

1687
01:51:58,875 --> 01:52:01,275
It will be a part of the history of rocky

1688
01:52:01,275 --> 01:52:02,915
Flats, will be a part of the hunting brochure and

1689
01:52:02,915 --> 01:52:07,115
that orientation, for sure. Great. Thank you, David. Further questions

1690
01:52:07,115 --> 01:52:12,256
from Posac. Well, David, thank you for. A very informative

1691
01:52:12,256 --> 01:52:17,576
and very comprehensive proposal. I mean, presentation. Thank you. Okay.

1692
01:52:17,576 --> 01:52:24,358
Thank you. Okay, our final. I'm sorry, David, before I

1693
01:52:24,358 --> 01:52:29,524
let you go. I'm sorry. I forgot a couple of

1694
01:52:29,524 --> 01:52:36,394
things. Number one. Do we have people registered to speak

1695
01:52:36,394 --> 01:52:41,386
in person? Yes, please come up. State your name. Yeah.

1696
01:52:41,386 --> 01:52:49,978
This is only about hunting on rocky flats. Tess McDonald,

1697
01:52:49,978 --> 01:52:54,778
Lions, Colorado so I'm wondering if you sampled deer and

1698
01:52:54,778 --> 01:52:58,858
if you've ever tested the deer for chronic wastings disease?

1699
01:53:00,166 --> 01:53:02,886
And if you do sample for chronic wasting disease, do

1700
01:53:02,886 --> 01:53:07,849
you also sample for neurotoxins? Like in Nasaflam. Tests. This

1701
01:53:07,849 --> 01:53:11,329
is a public comment period, David. You may ask if

1702
01:53:11,329 --> 01:53:16,002
you choose to, you're not required. There were a couple

1703
01:53:16,002 --> 01:53:18,322
of questions there. Test. So I'll try to answer. Yeah.

1704
01:53:18,322 --> 01:53:21,442
Chronic wasting. Disease is one of the things we tested

1705
01:53:21,442 --> 01:53:25,730
significantly in the elk. So at the moment. The deer

1706
01:53:25,730 --> 01:53:28,290
population is not large, so we're not doing a lot

1707
01:53:28,290 --> 01:53:34,412
of deer sampling or deer studying so the 2012. Surveys

1708
01:53:34,412 --> 01:53:37,772
were of mule deer and included chronic wasting disease and

1709
01:53:37,772 --> 01:53:43,366
radonuclei. This last round has all been exclusive to elk.

1710
01:53:43,366 --> 01:53:46,926
Okay, so we did sample the 15 animals in 2023,

1711
01:53:46,926 --> 01:53:50,486
and they were all non detect for chronic wasting disease

1712
01:53:50,486 --> 01:53:55,326
in 2023. However, I know there's chronic wasting disease because

1713
01:53:55,326 --> 01:53:59,827
we get called to deal with symptomatic animals. Unfortunately. They're

1714
01:53:59,827 --> 01:54:02,147
generally down on one of those highways right next to

1715
01:54:02,147 --> 01:54:03,867
the road, and we need to euthanize them, and then

1716
01:54:03,867 --> 01:54:07,837
we sample them, and they have chronic wasting disease. Those

1717
01:54:07,837 --> 01:54:11,317
15 animals. We did sample for radio nucleiids as well,

1718
01:54:11,317 --> 01:54:13,917
and they were all non detect. And edible tissues that

1719
01:54:13,917 --> 01:54:18,760
we looked at. Muscle, kidney, liver. No other chemicals, but

1720
01:54:18,760 --> 01:54:22,400
we did not. And Dazzaflam, I guess, helped. Me out

1721
01:54:22,400 --> 01:54:27,953
with the brand name that. Juvra. Thank you. Yes, we

1722
01:54:27,953 --> 01:54:31,803
have not. Sampled. We have not sampled. We didn't sample

1723
01:54:31,803 --> 01:54:34,243
at Rabbit Mountain. We were only down at the rocky

1724
01:54:34,243 --> 01:54:37,603
flats doing the sampling. Okay. Thank you so much. You're

1725
01:54:37,603 --> 01:54:43,248
welcome. Thank you. Any other comments from people in the

1726
01:54:43,248 --> 01:54:47,772
room? Nick, do we have anybody online wishing to comment?

1727
01:54:47,772 --> 01:54:51,492
We have no hands raised. Thank you. Okay, David. Thank

1728
01:54:51,492 --> 01:54:55,960
you very much. Okay. Thank you. Okay, so it's getting

1729
01:54:55,960 --> 01:55:01,160
close to 830, which is our typical adjournment. Time. We

1730
01:55:01,160 --> 01:55:07,848
still have one more topic. Postac. Are you needing a

1731
01:55:07,848 --> 01:55:14,920
break? Okay, so I think we will proceed. To an

1732
01:55:14,920 --> 01:55:20,358
update on the integrated weed management plan. And we have

1733
01:55:20,358 --> 01:55:28,295
Joe Swanson. Presenting here. Good evening, everybody. Hope your evening

1734
01:55:28,295 --> 01:55:32,495
is going well. Joe Swanson, parks in open space, noxious

1735
01:55:32,495 --> 01:55:37,428
weed supervisor. And I'm back at your request. Actually, if

1736
01:55:37,428 --> 01:55:39,788
we go back to last year when last time I

1737
01:55:39,788 --> 01:55:44,387
saw you, I think you were requesting that. We come

1738
01:55:44,387 --> 01:55:49,379
in and provide you an update? With. How our initial

1739
01:55:49,379 --> 01:55:55,256
year plan updates was going wrong. So here I am

1740
01:55:55,256 --> 01:55:58,349
tonight to provide that to you. That does not look

1741
01:55:58,349 --> 01:56:04,288
like. You don't know that. Let's see where I'm at

1742
01:56:04,288 --> 01:56:11,134
here. 's a nice podcast on plant blind that maybe

1743
01:56:11,134 --> 01:56:17,211
you miss. Peacock. I'm a little lost here. Do I

1744
01:56:17,211 --> 01:56:21,565
need to change? I wanted to know. Notes, mode second.

1745
01:56:24,481 --> 01:56:28,170
Yeah. Does it need to go through teams? Extending up

1746
01:56:28,170 --> 01:56:33,538
there. Okay. You can just change it.

1747
01:56:39,124 --> 01:56:44,996
If you duplicate it, you will. Oh, no, because you're

1748
01:56:44,996 --> 01:56:50,595
right. So I don't know if this. I need to

1749
01:56:50,595 --> 01:56:55,865
go through teams, perhaps. Do another unplug of that HDMI

1750
01:56:55,865 --> 01:56:59,397
cable, okay? And I'll plug it back in. Let's try

1751
01:56:59,397 --> 01:57:07,926
that, okay? Not sure what it's.

1752
01:57:12,407 --> 01:57:15,372
Hopping up here. Nick, I may need you to come

1753
01:57:15,372 --> 01:57:16,972
up here. I can't figure this out, all right? I'm

1754
01:57:16,972 --> 01:57:20,687
from now. Sorry about this.

1755
01:57:29,281 --> 01:57:30,881
I'm trying to get to where I have the notes.

1756
01:58:01,887 --> 01:58:02,607
That I've had that we.

1757
01:58:12,957 --> 01:58:18,699
May have. So in the meantime, Did you miss me

1758
01:58:18,699 --> 01:58:27,910
over the last. Year. Install windows.

1759
01:59:18,592 --> 01:59:26,201
Maybe you think the wire is bad. I've had a

1760
01:59:26,201 --> 01:59:35,609
bad wire lately. They should have just got.

1761
01:59:41,094 --> 01:59:44,934
At one point because we had the. Was it we

1762
01:59:44,934 --> 01:59:52,401
had the kayak? It was a paddle board. I do

1763
01:59:52,401 --> 01:59:58,768
have. It on. What do I know? Yeah. Go grab

1764
01:59:58,768 --> 02:00:04,046
it if you need to try that. Not about watercraft.

1765
02:00:04,046 --> 02:00:13,942
Watercraft? Individual watercraft. I'm wrong.

1766
02:00:24,066 --> 02:00:27,866
Driving across Pennsylvania, I think about running into elk in

1767
02:00:27,866 --> 02:00:28,226
Colorado.

1768
02:00:37,785 --> 02:00:44,891
What do you mean that have to be called? Yours,

1769
02:00:44,891 --> 02:00:53,841
though, all right? It's all out of whack.

1770
02:01:07,066 --> 02:01:07,506
There's some success.

1771
02:01:23,848 --> 02:01:29,092
What is that? How much trouble with that.

1772
02:01:37,990 --> 02:01:46,296
There we go. Okay. I think we have success. Once

1773
02:01:46,296 --> 02:01:49,216
again, Joe Swanson, Parks and open space noxious suite supervisor.

1774
02:01:49,216 --> 02:01:56,612
It's good to be in front of you again. Per

1775
02:01:56,612 --> 02:01:58,852
your request, we're bringing this to you. When last we

1776
02:01:58,852 --> 02:02:02,174
met, you did ask for. A one year update to

1777
02:02:02,174 --> 02:02:04,494
the plan. This also happens to be our one year

1778
02:02:04,494 --> 02:02:09,070
anniversary of the commissioner signing the plan this month. So

1779
02:02:09,070 --> 02:02:12,461
excited to be here in front of you. The idea

1780
02:02:12,461 --> 02:02:15,221
behind this update that I put forward for you tonight

1781
02:02:15,221 --> 02:02:22,298
was that we did have seven. Goals that. We had

1782
02:02:22,298 --> 02:02:28,788
implemented in the plan. Let me back up. We had

1783
02:02:28,788 --> 02:02:31,068
seven goals within the plan that we were going to

1784
02:02:31,068 --> 02:02:34,068
be implementing over the course of the next three to

1785
02:02:34,068 --> 02:02:39,972
six years. A lot of these had long range. Goals

1786
02:02:39,972 --> 02:02:46,475
to them reaching out to 2030. We had an impetus

1787
02:02:46,475 --> 02:02:48,515
to get in some of the quicker goals, the goals

1788
02:02:48,515 --> 02:02:54,630
that we really did. Not. Have. A lot of information

1789
02:02:54,630 --> 02:02:56,790
on as we went through the plan. If you recall,

1790
02:02:56,790 --> 02:02:59,470
we did talk a lot about the pilot projects. We

1791
02:02:59,470 --> 02:03:02,496
really didn't quite know what those. Projects really meant or

1792
02:03:02,496 --> 02:03:06,598
looked like. When we last met did not really have

1793
02:03:06,598 --> 02:03:09,798
an idea of what we might replace our data management.

1794
02:03:09,798 --> 02:03:14,252
Software with so that we could track. Our field activities.

1795
02:03:16,177 --> 02:03:21,100
And herbicide use. Labor hours, all of those things. So

1796
02:03:21,100 --> 02:03:23,420
we did come up with pretty good results in all

1797
02:03:23,420 --> 02:03:26,460
of those things here in our first year going through

1798
02:03:26,460 --> 02:03:28,540
this management plan. So I was going to focus on

1799
02:03:28,540 --> 02:03:31,700
goal three and goal six. I did, however, in the

1800
02:03:31,700 --> 02:03:33,460
last couple of weeks, have a little bit of a

1801
02:03:33,460 --> 02:03:35,660
breakthrough. I didn't think it was going to happen, but

1802
02:03:35,660 --> 02:03:37,620
I do have an update for goal number two as

1803
02:03:37,620 --> 02:03:39,848
well tonight that I'll do a little. Later in the

1804
02:03:39,848 --> 02:03:43,136
slideshow. First, I want to give you a big thank

1805
02:03:43,136 --> 02:03:50,644
you. As we went through the plan. I believe you

1806
02:03:50,644 --> 02:03:53,044
all recognize that we did have a need for added

1807
02:03:53,044 --> 02:03:57,404
staff to help accommodate the new features of this revised

1808
02:03:57,404 --> 02:04:00,809
integrated wheat management plan. That did flow up the change

1809
02:04:00,809 --> 02:04:03,689
to the commissioners. The commissioners agreed. So they did award

1810
02:04:03,689 --> 02:04:07,369
us with a new Fte. We got a field technician.

1811
02:04:08,696 --> 02:04:10,856
Full time employee, Alex Wendorf. I believe you just met

1812
02:04:10,856 --> 02:04:13,936
him last month with the weed warriors. Program, so he

1813
02:04:13,936 --> 02:04:16,496
has joined our staff from nurmer county. He's a great

1814
02:04:16,496 --> 02:04:21,386
addition. Comes from our program, much like ours. Sees a

1815
02:04:21,386 --> 02:04:23,666
lot of the same things in Larmor county that we

1816
02:04:23,666 --> 02:04:26,146
encountered there in Boulder. County, so he's been a great

1817
02:04:26,146 --> 02:04:31,761
addition to this. One of the avenues that we came

1818
02:04:31,761 --> 02:04:35,201
through with the development of our weed management plan was

1819
02:04:35,201 --> 02:04:39,010
that we did identify. Four unique management areas that we

1820
02:04:39,010 --> 02:04:42,831
would focus. Our resources towards. You can see them labeled

1821
02:04:42,831 --> 02:04:45,151
there on the left. By adding that fourth person, it's

1822
02:04:45,151 --> 02:04:47,591
been really nice that we've been able to assign one

1823
02:04:47,591 --> 02:04:51,324
full time staff member to each area. Of noxious feed

1824
02:04:51,324 --> 02:04:54,914
management that we represent within our weed management plan. It's

1825
02:04:54,914 --> 02:04:59,655
been really big in helping us. Be more efficient, cover

1826
02:04:59,655 --> 02:05:05,214
more property. Just in general, get more done. There is

1827
02:05:05,214 --> 02:05:10,502
still a lot of. Cross management collaboration between my staff,

1828
02:05:10,502 --> 02:05:12,902
but they all have their priorities that they focus on,

1829
02:05:12,902 --> 02:05:15,222
so it's been really nice to have that added person

1830
02:05:15,222 --> 02:05:20,512
to the staff. Thank you for that. And it really

1831
02:05:20,512 --> 02:05:25,750
helped us get our stuff done this year. So one

1832
02:05:25,750 --> 02:05:27,110
of the big things, I'm going to jump to goal

1833
02:05:27,110 --> 02:05:33,068
six. This was a goal that was going to update

1834
02:05:33,068 --> 02:05:37,187
our reporting methods and increase our availability. With our weed

1835
02:05:37,187 --> 02:05:41,373
management activity data. This was actually a very key implementation.

1836
02:05:42,605 --> 02:05:45,792
I would say success for this year. This was the

1837
02:05:45,792 --> 02:05:50,152
use of Opengov data asset management system that Boulder county

1838
02:05:50,152 --> 02:05:52,312
has adopted. This is the first time it was really

1839
02:05:52,312 --> 02:05:58,783
used in a land management. Aspect. This is a countywide

1840
02:05:58,783 --> 02:06:07,514
deployment software. Primarily used for infrastructure buildings. Park bench just

1841
02:06:07,514 --> 02:06:10,394
to kind of keep tabs of all of the infrastructure

1842
02:06:10,394 --> 02:06:13,848
pieces that we have. Across the County. This was the

1843
02:06:13,848 --> 02:06:15,968
first use that we really kind of moved it into

1844
02:06:15,968 --> 02:06:21,208
a land use category. Christy. Spielman approached us in late

1845
02:06:21,208 --> 02:06:26,901
2024 to maybe consider using this data management system. We

1846
02:06:26,901 --> 02:06:28,741
weren't quite sure how it would work, but I will

1847
02:06:28,741 --> 02:06:31,461
have to say that going through the revision process with

1848
02:06:31,461 --> 02:06:34,781
all of you over that twelve month, 13 month, 18

1849
02:06:34,781 --> 02:06:39,673
month period that we did. Was very beneficial because I

1850
02:06:39,673 --> 02:06:41,953
believe trace was the one who had kind of wanted

1851
02:06:41,953 --> 02:06:46,673
to really see us come through with a flowchart diagram

1852
02:06:46,673 --> 02:06:50,553
of how our work progresses and how we make decisions

1853
02:06:50,553 --> 02:06:54,718
not only. With our treatment operations, but just in general,

1854
02:06:54,718 --> 02:06:58,598
when we're assessing sites and what our processes are because

1855
02:06:58,598 --> 02:07:03,530
we did develop that diagram. That flow, that workflow chart.

1856
02:07:03,530 --> 02:07:06,770
We had a great place to start with implementing this

1857
02:07:06,770 --> 02:07:10,177
data management. Software. So we really kind of got started

1858
02:07:10,177 --> 02:07:13,257
in earnest in December. I didn't think we'd really be

1859
02:07:13,257 --> 02:07:18,184
able to use this software much through 2025. There was

1860
02:07:18,184 --> 02:07:19,704
a big lift we didn't think we'd just be able

1861
02:07:19,704 --> 02:07:24,298
to get. Everything ready and in a usable situation. I

1862
02:07:24,298 --> 02:07:26,258
am happy to say that with a lot of work

1863
02:07:26,258 --> 02:07:29,178
and effort from our staff, we got our data transferred

1864
02:07:29,178 --> 02:07:31,778
over from our old system, which we knew was woefully

1865
02:07:31,778 --> 02:07:34,658
inadequate for the data and information that we wanted to

1866
02:07:34,658 --> 02:07:39,214
keep and provide. So by March, we were fully active

1867
02:07:39,214 --> 02:07:41,894
in this program. That's not to say we're not having

1868
02:07:41,894 --> 02:07:45,825
tweaks and some changes. We're still trying to understand a

1869
02:07:45,825 --> 02:07:48,545
little bit of how we're tracking everything, whether it might

1870
02:07:48,545 --> 02:07:50,905
be a non asset that we're working with or an

1871
02:07:50,905 --> 02:07:53,880
asset that we're. Working with. We had to upload all

1872
02:07:53,880 --> 02:07:56,640
of our previous information into this database that we would

1873
02:07:56,640 --> 02:07:59,520
have it. Big, big lift. But we did get it

1874
02:07:59,520 --> 02:08:03,173
done, and we have been using. This software to track

1875
02:08:03,173 --> 02:08:06,956
all of our activities this year. One of the things

1876
02:08:06,956 --> 02:08:10,513
that. We can just share with you a little bit.

1877
02:08:10,513 --> 02:08:12,433
Here are some of the things we can now do

1878
02:08:12,433 --> 02:08:15,273
is we can track, we manage our herbicide records through

1879
02:08:15,273 --> 02:08:18,873
this. Who we can manage our field workflows through this.

1880
02:08:20,244 --> 02:08:25,306
Collect labor hours, assign cost values to. Those and just

1881
02:08:25,306 --> 02:08:29,826
in general, keep far better track of our data and

1882
02:08:29,826 --> 02:08:32,529
information. The work on the front end is a little

1883
02:08:32,529 --> 02:08:34,889
bit heavier, but the work on the back end is

1884
02:08:34,889 --> 02:08:37,849
much lighter, which you will get to experience when we

1885
02:08:37,849 --> 02:08:41,603
submit. Our annual report in January, which will be our

1886
02:08:41,603 --> 02:08:46,494
target time frame for our 2025 annual report. Of all

1887
02:08:46,494 --> 02:08:50,054
of the things that we accomplished in 2025, no later

1888
02:08:50,054 --> 02:08:55,449
than January 31 of 2026, This program is making us

1889
02:08:55,449 --> 02:08:58,889
far more efficient with everything we do. Another aspect of

1890
02:08:58,889 --> 02:09:02,329
this is that we can also share information across our

1891
02:09:02,329 --> 02:09:08,835
departments. Other departments can make requests if they find noxious

1892
02:09:08,835 --> 02:09:12,774
weeds in different parts of the county. Different parcels. They

1893
02:09:12,774 --> 02:09:16,572
can make those requests online through directly to us. Another

1894
02:09:16,572 --> 02:09:18,412
aspect of this is that we do now have an

1895
02:09:18,412 --> 02:09:24,409
AsK Boulder county page. So if you are experiencing. Noxious

1896
02:09:24,409 --> 02:09:29,209
wheel issues, safety issues with roadsides, whatever it may be.

1897
02:09:30,630 --> 02:09:32,270
If we have weeds that are coaching on your properties

1898
02:09:32,270 --> 02:09:34,070
that you'd like to make us. Aware of. You can

1899
02:09:34,070 --> 02:09:37,710
go through this ask of Boulder county website. You can

1900
02:09:37,710 --> 02:09:39,670
make your request and it will come straight to me,

1901
02:09:39,670 --> 02:09:41,430
to which then it does get distributed out to my

1902
02:09:41,430 --> 02:09:45,248
staff or wherever it may need to go. This has

1903
02:09:45,248 --> 02:09:47,568
AlSo gone live for our county road system. So our

1904
02:09:47,568 --> 02:09:49,048
county roads. If you have problems with the roads, you

1905
02:09:49,048 --> 02:09:54,183
could also now go to. This asporter county and submit

1906
02:09:54,183 --> 02:09:57,183
requests or notices through that. So, as I said, this

1907
02:09:57,183 --> 02:10:05,559
is a countywide program. Software. And. It is. Active across

1908
02:10:05,559 --> 02:10:07,759
the board, and we were the first ones. It's been

1909
02:10:07,759 --> 02:10:10,679
an experience and a challenge at times to see this

1910
02:10:10,679 --> 02:10:14,338
go through. But we are getting there. One of the

1911
02:10:14,338 --> 02:10:15,618
things that we do feel like this is going to

1912
02:10:15,618 --> 02:10:19,720
help us with. Is not only our internal communication, but

1913
02:10:19,720 --> 02:10:25,006
with our external communication as well. In January 2026. We're

1914
02:10:25,006 --> 02:10:32,025
hoping. This will become live. We have a. Test page

1915
02:10:32,025 --> 02:10:33,865
right now where we are working this out, a proof

1916
02:10:33,865 --> 02:10:35,745
of concept page that we are working on right now.

1917
02:10:37,355 --> 02:10:39,195
This will help us with our workflow. So currently, right

1918
02:10:39,195 --> 02:10:45,433
now, As we enter herbicide applications into our system. And

1919
02:10:45,433 --> 02:10:47,673
then for a public notification process that we approved through

1920
02:10:47,673 --> 02:10:52,647
our integrated weed management plan. We now have. To take

1921
02:10:52,647 --> 02:10:55,367
that information, go to a separate page, reenter it into

1922
02:10:55,367 --> 02:10:59,047
a second public facing page. On our website for people

1923
02:10:59,047 --> 02:11:01,207
to come and see where we're actually doing our activities

1924
02:11:01,207 --> 02:11:04,567
and our work in this case, as they enter in

1925
02:11:04,567 --> 02:11:07,567
their tasks, if it's a herbicide, task. That task will

1926
02:11:07,567 --> 02:11:11,831
automatically be updated to this page. Highlighting our transparency with

1927
02:11:11,831 --> 02:11:13,431
the work we're doing, they can go see what the

1928
02:11:13,431 --> 02:11:15,391
work is. Where it's going to occur, when it's going

1929
02:11:15,391 --> 02:11:18,991
to occur, if it's been completed. It'll keep that record

1930
02:11:18,991 --> 02:11:21,871
for us online there. So this is really exciting for

1931
02:11:21,871 --> 02:11:23,111
us. I think this is going to really help us

1932
02:11:23,111 --> 02:11:27,031
with our workflow, make us far more efficient with communicating

1933
02:11:27,031 --> 02:11:29,071
with the public and also allow us to get our

1934
02:11:29,071 --> 02:11:31,867
own work done just. A little bit better and faster.

1935
02:11:33,349 --> 02:11:39,473
So, goal three. That was the one with all of

1936
02:11:39,473 --> 02:11:44,794
our pilot projects. This was the goal in which we

1937
02:11:44,794 --> 02:11:47,874
were going to look at many various alternative methods for

1938
02:11:47,874 --> 02:11:51,594
weed. Management. And see how they might be able to

1939
02:11:51,594 --> 02:11:55,182
help us improve. Our weed management activities. If there was

1940
02:11:55,182 --> 02:11:57,302
a way to help us reduce our herbicide use through

1941
02:11:57,302 --> 02:12:01,874
these methods. And just get us into thinking out of

1942
02:12:01,874 --> 02:12:04,834
the box just a little bit. So we had decided

1943
02:12:04,834 --> 02:12:09,474
on five of those programs. There were two that were

1944
02:12:09,474 --> 02:12:16,225
mechanical, weed pulling programs, including the weed warriors. Which you

1945
02:12:16,225 --> 02:12:17,945
just had a presentation on last month, so I don't

1946
02:12:17,945 --> 02:12:19,185
know if you need. Me to go into this too

1947
02:12:19,185 --> 02:12:22,905
much. This has been a very successful program. I feel

1948
02:12:22,905 --> 02:12:25,785
it is. Working. There are some things I think we

1949
02:12:25,785 --> 02:12:28,065
need to still consider over the next few years as

1950
02:12:28,065 --> 02:12:32,882
this moves forward, but overall, I think. This has been

1951
02:12:32,882 --> 02:12:35,202
for us, working with the public has been a very

1952
02:12:35,202 --> 02:12:38,042
good program, and we will continue to try to make

1953
02:12:38,042 --> 02:12:41,527
it better as we go forward. The Harry Willowerb as

1954
02:12:41,527 --> 02:12:47,798
you just heard from. Our last presenter. This weed is

1955
02:12:47,798 --> 02:12:50,718
becoming a problem. It is a list a. It is

1956
02:12:50,718 --> 02:12:55,445
a perennial. Weed. So this pilot project started off at

1957
02:12:55,445 --> 02:13:00,294
Pelopons. And a smaller area. There's 140 acres. That whole

1958
02:13:00,294 --> 02:13:04,033
140 acres is not covered by this. Weed. But it

1959
02:13:04,033 --> 02:13:07,659
does occur in many locations across that site. The idea

1960
02:13:07,659 --> 02:13:10,179
here is to see how effective we can be hand

1961
02:13:10,179 --> 02:13:12,979
pulling the swede. It's. Not a lot of fun, as

1962
02:13:12,979 --> 02:13:15,739
you can see by some of the volunteer hours there.

1963
02:13:15,739 --> 02:13:18,459
Most of this work is being done by our staff

1964
02:13:18,459 --> 02:13:20,339
hours. It's not a lot of fun. To go crawl

1965
02:13:20,339 --> 02:13:23,659
down into a wetland type area. Mosquitoes and bugs and

1966
02:13:23,659 --> 02:13:28,493
snakes and frogs. And 95 degree heat. Not a lot

1967
02:13:28,493 --> 02:13:29,733
of fun to be down in there working in the

1968
02:13:29,733 --> 02:13:32,693
muck, trying to pull these out, get them bagged up

1969
02:13:32,693 --> 02:13:35,853
and hauled off. So this is a work in progress.

1970
02:13:35,853 --> 02:13:37,373
We have seen a little bit of success with this

1971
02:13:37,373 --> 02:13:40,231
program. In areas where we have been able to thin

1972
02:13:40,231 --> 02:13:44,189
it enough, we have seen a flush of. Natives come

1973
02:13:44,189 --> 02:13:45,989
back in native floor and font come back in through

1974
02:13:45,989 --> 02:13:49,749
there. However, with this being a list a species. The

1975
02:13:49,749 --> 02:13:54,863
target objective is eradication. Which this may be very difficult

1976
02:13:54,863 --> 02:13:57,663
for us to achieve. With this pilot project, but we

1977
02:13:57,663 --> 02:13:59,503
will continue to work at it and see what we

1978
02:13:59,503 --> 02:14:03,795
can provide. These are all still under evaluation. No decisions

1979
02:14:03,795 --> 02:14:07,595
have been made with any of these pilot projects, so.

1980
02:14:07,595 --> 02:14:10,240
Far. We're really in our first year with a lot

1981
02:14:10,240 --> 02:14:14,148
of these. The goat browsing pilot. This was very, very

1982
02:14:14,148 --> 02:14:15,828
popular with a lot of people, a lot of our

1983
02:14:15,828 --> 02:14:19,774
neighboring communities have started. To utilize goat browsing, I tend

1984
02:14:19,774 --> 02:14:22,873
to be a little more. Of a stickler by using

1985
02:14:22,873 --> 02:14:26,753
the term browsing. You hear a lot about goat grazing.

1986
02:14:26,753 --> 02:14:31,033
Great. Goats really aren't grazers. Their diet is 97% broadleaf

1987
02:14:31,033 --> 02:14:33,553
plants and woody vegetation. So the grass is really left

1988
02:14:33,553 --> 02:14:37,689
behind. So when we consider some of those aspects, Of

1989
02:14:37,689 --> 02:14:42,246
how they operate in a system. I wanted to look

1990
02:14:42,246 --> 02:14:44,286
at a couple of different ways that we could maybe

1991
02:14:44,286 --> 02:14:46,686
utilize them and see. If we could find some really

1992
02:14:46,686 --> 02:14:49,046
strong benefits through them. One of the ways we looked

1993
02:14:49,046 --> 02:14:53,175
at them was just general noxious wheat suppression. The second

1994
02:14:53,175 --> 02:14:56,175
way was through our restoration site. So as you're probably.

1995
02:14:57,619 --> 02:14:59,019
Very aware when we get out and we try to

1996
02:14:59,019 --> 02:15:02,340
reestablish our native grasses and things like that. Weeds tend

1997
02:15:02,340 --> 02:15:06,947
to be our biggest competition in reestablishing those sites. We

1998
02:15:06,947 --> 02:15:08,747
don't tend to really want to use herbicides to help

1999
02:15:08,747 --> 02:15:11,067
control those weeds, although that is one of the primary

2000
02:15:11,067 --> 02:15:13,187
methods to help control the weeds and get the grass.

2001
02:15:13,072 --> 02:15:17,502
Grasses out competing the weeds in the system. But in

2002
02:15:17,502 --> 02:15:19,062
this case, I wanted to see if there was the

2003
02:15:19,062 --> 02:15:22,022
potential for the goats to be able to work around

2004
02:15:22,022 --> 02:15:24,182
through those areas, eat the weeds. Out. Leave the grass

2005
02:15:24,182 --> 02:15:27,542
alone. Have their hoof action, help, maybe stir the soil

2006
02:15:27,542 --> 02:15:29,822
a little bit. More get their manure back in for

2007
02:15:29,822 --> 02:15:33,174
fertilizer purposes. Potentially even broadcast a little bit more seed

2008
02:15:33,174 --> 02:15:37,734
out behind them to see what kind of establishment extended

2009
02:15:37,734 --> 02:15:41,531
establishment we could get. And that worked actually fairly well

2010
02:15:41,531 --> 02:15:44,771
this year for us. The wildfire mitigation portion I worked

2011
02:15:44,771 --> 02:15:47,811
with David Garcia in our water group, who has been

2012
02:15:47,811 --> 02:15:54,673
tasked with monitoring wildfire mitigation efforts in ditch areas. We

2013
02:15:54,673 --> 02:15:58,414
had a couple of sites. Right along. Via API we

2014
02:15:58,414 --> 02:16:01,534
have an abandoned stretch of Mayhoffer ditch that I had

2015
02:16:01,534 --> 02:16:06,523
received. Some complaints for with the overgrowth that was occurring

2016
02:16:06,523 --> 02:16:10,624
there. We were over Twin Lakes. And on a ditch

2017
02:16:10,624 --> 02:16:12,744
over in that area, and we did do the browsing

2018
02:16:12,744 --> 02:16:15,664
down through there. The picture there on the bottom right,

2019
02:16:15,664 --> 02:16:18,189
you can kind of see. That's the one. At. Along

2020
02:16:18,189 --> 02:16:21,469
with the happy away over in Lewisville, this one was

2021
02:16:21,469 --> 02:16:24,869
a little interesting. The things you do kind of learn.

2022
02:16:24,869 --> 02:16:27,509
One of the neighbors that backed up to this drop.

2023
02:16:27,509 --> 02:16:29,709
Well, first this is in town, so it's really hard

2024
02:16:29,709 --> 02:16:32,211
to kind of get to. I believe they took 100

2025
02:16:32,211 --> 02:16:34,451
goats over into this area for maybe about a half

2026
02:16:34,451 --> 02:16:37,251
an acre site. They had to come through. The city

2027
02:16:37,251 --> 02:16:40,968
of Louisville owns a property. Like an old lot that

2028
02:16:40,968 --> 02:16:43,088
had never been built on. So we came through one

2029
02:16:43,088 --> 02:16:45,528
of the side. Streets between the homes into the site.

2030
02:16:47,157 --> 02:16:48,917
They had their fences set up, turned the goats loose

2031
02:16:48,917 --> 02:16:51,757
in there. One of the neighbors, it was. Three houses,

2032
02:16:51,757 --> 02:16:55,479
I think, along this stretch. One of the homeowners had

2033
02:16:55,479 --> 02:17:02,237
a dog. They kept letting out in the yard. And

2034
02:17:02,237 --> 02:17:03,597
he would run the fence line and he would bark

2035
02:17:03,597 --> 02:17:05,437
at the goat. So when you go to the site

2036
02:17:05,437 --> 02:17:07,677
and take a look. As you see there in front

2037
02:17:07,677 --> 02:17:10,637
of you, the west end. Of the ditch. Looks very

2038
02:17:10,637 --> 02:17:15,150
good. Very cleaned up and very. Well browsed, then. There's

2039
02:17:15,150 --> 02:17:16,990
a little section in the middle where the dog kept

2040
02:17:16,990 --> 02:17:18,470
coming. Out and disturbing the goats. Goats didn't want to

2041
02:17:18,470 --> 02:17:20,630
hang out there. So when you got right behind one

2042
02:17:20,630 --> 02:17:25,352
certain house. A little bit more brush. And vegetation. And

2043
02:17:25,352 --> 02:17:27,432
then when you got to the east end, they were

2044
02:17:27,432 --> 02:17:29,752
back away. So it is interesting how you see some

2045
02:17:29,752 --> 02:17:34,608
of these things work. But overall, for fire mitigation, it

2046
02:17:34,608 --> 02:17:37,488
seemed to work pretty well as far as limbing. Up

2047
02:17:37,488 --> 02:17:40,248
everything and cleaning out some of the extra debris within

2048
02:17:40,248 --> 02:17:43,728
those sites. I think the other site this was an

2049
02:17:43,728 --> 02:17:45,728
interesting one to me as well. If you look there

2050
02:17:45,728 --> 02:17:48,368
in the middle, the two pictures. This is Aaron arsenal

2051
02:17:48,368 --> 02:17:52,771
property right on the south edge of superior. This is

2052
02:17:52,771 --> 02:17:58,345
their old town mining site. It is littered with coal

2053
02:17:58,345 --> 02:18:01,385
tailing piles and lots and lots and lots of wild

2054
02:18:01,385 --> 02:18:05,920
ferro. Rye. Which winter annual invasive grass that we have

2055
02:18:05,920 --> 02:18:08,240
in these systems, we can't really access it. A lot

2056
02:18:08,240 --> 02:18:09,880
with our mowers and our tractors, so we can't really

2057
02:18:09,880 --> 02:18:13,149
get a lot of mechanical work up in there. So

2058
02:18:13,149 --> 02:18:15,789
we did do this 28 acre site with the goats.

2059
02:18:17,110 --> 02:18:19,270
And as you can see, the difference there, they were

2060
02:18:19,270 --> 02:18:21,910
able to knock down a lot of that. They would

2061
02:18:21,910 --> 02:18:23,350
feed off the sea deads. I don't know how much

2062
02:18:23,350 --> 02:18:25,830
of the actual straw they were eating, but they did

2063
02:18:25,830 --> 02:18:27,030
actually try to knock it down, eat to bring it

2064
02:18:27,030 --> 02:18:29,864
out. Of the heads of all of. The plants up

2065
02:18:29,864 --> 02:18:34,878
and through that area. So it was an interesting. Pilot

2066
02:18:34,878 --> 02:18:37,158
project this year. We hope to continue. No real decision

2067
02:18:37,158 --> 02:18:39,798
has been made, but we saw a lot of good

2068
02:18:39,798 --> 02:18:43,584
attributes coming from this. Overall, the goat Sprout is about

2069
02:18:43,584 --> 02:18:48,586
100 acres for us in Boulder county this year. The

2070
02:18:48,586 --> 02:18:51,466
contract was awarded to a company called Restoration Grazing out

2071
02:18:51,466 --> 02:18:56,540
of Valley Center, Kansas. They found. Our contract bid process

2072
02:18:56,540 --> 02:18:59,777
through bonfire. They did provide the winning bid for that.

2073
02:19:01,483 --> 02:19:05,098
Rex and susan. Rutledge. Excuse me. And they came in

2074
02:19:05,098 --> 02:19:09,922
from Kansas and spent about 55 to 60 days. Working

2075
02:19:09,922 --> 02:19:13,505
a lot of these areas. Date. Different sites included ahi

2076
02:19:13,505 --> 02:19:16,505
or let's property or keys property over on the south.

2077
02:19:16,505 --> 02:19:22,550
Side of Longmont. Several of these little, small, remote areas

2078
02:19:22,550 --> 02:19:24,910
with the ditches. They are an arsenal property, and we

2079
02:19:24,910 --> 02:19:28,710
spent a lot of time on Ahi, working russian olives

2080
02:19:28,710 --> 02:19:33,090
and. Teasl trying to work through all of that. Another

2081
02:19:33,090 --> 02:19:36,090
site location that we did use was Harney Lasoka Mayhoffer

2082
02:19:36,090 --> 02:19:38,770
farms area right there on the east edge of Lewisville

2083
02:19:38,770 --> 02:19:42,186
in that area. There and you can see that top

2084
02:19:42,186 --> 02:19:46,279
left picture. I was really quite pleased. One of the

2085
02:19:46,279 --> 02:19:51,885
concerns I had with this. Was. What evitation would they

2086
02:19:51,885 --> 02:19:55,441
take and what do vegetation would they leave behind? They

2087
02:19:55,441 --> 02:19:58,601
did not bother the cottonwoods at all. Through these drainages,

2088
02:19:58,601 --> 02:20:03,326
I saw one green ash. Get. Harmed. And then the

2089
02:20:03,326 --> 02:20:05,406
rest of it, they really seemed to desire. The siberian

2090
02:20:05,406 --> 02:20:07,326
element runs through there. Which is now a list C

2091
02:20:07,326 --> 02:20:10,944
species for us here in the state of Colorado. They

2092
02:20:10,944 --> 02:20:13,944
did or did not. They did. The three trees you

2093
02:20:13,944 --> 02:20:16,184
see there in that top left are siberian elm and.

2094
02:20:17,906 --> 02:20:21,934
They really lived high on those plants. They went after

2095
02:20:21,934 --> 02:20:24,294
them with a lot of vigor and effort, so that

2096
02:20:24,294 --> 02:20:26,334
was nice to see. I think the one question I

2097
02:20:26,334 --> 02:20:29,970
may have is. What our post work might have to

2098
02:20:29,970 --> 02:20:31,330
be with some of these areas. We have a lot

2099
02:20:31,330 --> 02:20:34,330
of standing Deadwood trees. When they're green, they're not as

2100
02:20:34,330 --> 02:20:36,930
fireable. They're. Not as flammable. When they're dry and standing,

2101
02:20:36,930 --> 02:20:39,050
they may become a little bit more of a burning

2102
02:20:39,050 --> 02:20:42,890
hazard, but overall. I think it was a good first

2103
02:20:42,890 --> 02:20:51,894
year for this pilot. Steam weeding. This was another one

2104
02:20:51,894 --> 02:20:54,454
of those new innovations that we had talked about trying

2105
02:20:54,454 --> 02:21:00,148
to use. In this case, Rabbit Mountain parking lot was

2106
02:21:00,148 --> 02:21:01,988
set aside for this. About a two acre parking lot.

2107
02:21:03,464 --> 02:21:12,617
Adafix. Solutions won this contract. It's about $4,000 contract. They

2108
02:21:12,617 --> 02:21:15,537
had set up and provided six treatments across the season.

2109
02:21:17,259 --> 02:21:18,779
About one every month for the most part. One every

2110
02:21:18,779 --> 02:21:21,179
six weeks. And as you can see in the pictures.

2111
02:21:21,179 --> 02:21:24,065
It was very effective. They were able to control the

2112
02:21:24,065 --> 02:21:26,796
weeds. The process behind steam weeding is. Think of a

2113
02:21:26,796 --> 02:21:30,937
Stanley steamer. They've got a steam head about the size

2114
02:21:30,937 --> 02:21:32,817
of what they might run across your carpet. So when

2115
02:21:32,817 --> 02:21:34,337
you think about two acres and they're going across a

2116
02:21:34,337 --> 02:21:36,777
lot of these sites, it's a lot of work, a

2117
02:21:36,777 --> 02:21:40,953
little bit time consuming. It emits water temperature it emits

2118
02:21:40,953 --> 02:21:44,913
water at a temperature of about 325 to 400 degrees.

2119
02:21:44,913 --> 02:21:47,633
That heat and steam bursts the cell structure within the

2120
02:21:47,633 --> 02:21:52,656
plants. And effectively kills the plant on the surface of

2121
02:21:52,656 --> 02:21:55,854
the soil. And it does pretty well, but it does

2122
02:21:55,854 --> 02:21:59,134
need repeated treatments. I was very pleased with the way

2123
02:21:59,134 --> 02:22:01,974
this worked. I was not real sure how this might

2124
02:22:01,974 --> 02:22:05,917
come across, but it worked out very well. I'm considering

2125
02:22:05,917 --> 02:22:08,117
potentially moving this into another parking lot as well, and

2126
02:22:08,117 --> 02:22:10,077
maybe trying to do two parking lots here in the

2127
02:22:10,077 --> 02:22:18,394
future. They also do offer. Probe steaming. So I suppose

2128
02:22:18,394 --> 02:22:20,194
the best way to maybe think of this is as

2129
02:22:20,194 --> 02:22:23,954
you get into some of these surrounding areas next to

2130
02:22:23,954 --> 02:22:27,834
the parking lots and around the structures where you do

2131
02:22:27,834 --> 02:22:34,441
have native grass. Areas, perhaps. There's. Larger weed thistle, curly

2132
02:22:34,441 --> 02:22:36,641
dock. That's something of that nature. They can actually shove

2133
02:22:36,641 --> 02:22:38,001
the probe. Down in next to the base of the

2134
02:22:38,001 --> 02:22:40,961
roots and steam kill the weed from down into the

2135
02:22:40,961 --> 02:22:45,007
ground in a root face. So we may even try

2136
02:22:45,007 --> 02:22:47,487
a little bit more of expanding that out into those

2137
02:22:47,487 --> 02:22:50,341
areas and see. What kind of efforts we can get

2138
02:22:50,341 --> 02:22:51,901
out of that, what kind of feedback we can get

2139
02:22:51,901 --> 02:22:55,320
from that type of work as well. But overall, I

2140
02:22:55,320 --> 02:22:59,982
thought this was pretty good. Turned out. For something I

2141
02:22:59,982 --> 02:23:05,648
wasn't really aware of and how it really worked. I

2142
02:23:05,648 --> 02:23:06,888
was a little impressed with the way it came through

2143
02:23:06,888 --> 02:23:12,773
in the end. So is seating impossible? Christine Johnson Posec

2144
02:23:12,773 --> 02:23:16,213
is seeding a possibility in conjunction with the steam, or

2145
02:23:16,213 --> 02:23:19,533
are they incompatible? That's a good question. I'm not really

2146
02:23:19,533 --> 02:23:24,731
quite sure yet. I do question we talk about. Soil

2147
02:23:24,731 --> 02:23:26,851
health and things of that nature. Now, this is in

2148
02:23:26,851 --> 02:23:29,971
parking lots where we're looking. For bare ground efforts anyway,

2149
02:23:29,971 --> 02:23:33,564
but. To your point, as we move into areas, natural

2150
02:23:33,564 --> 02:23:36,732
areas, in and around. These facilities, parking lots and things

2151
02:23:36,732 --> 02:23:40,384
of that nature. I'm really curious what 400 degree water

2152
02:23:40,384 --> 02:23:44,224
does to microbes and worms and all of the soil

2153
02:23:44,224 --> 02:23:47,304
biota that's underground. So that's something that we would have

2154
02:23:47,304 --> 02:23:49,904
to still kind of consider and work at these projects

2155
02:23:49,904 --> 02:23:52,224
are planned to go for three to five years. So

2156
02:23:52,224 --> 02:23:53,744
I think we'll have plenty of time to try to

2157
02:23:53,744 --> 02:23:55,984
address some of those topics. And issues, but, yes, thank

2158
02:23:55,984 --> 02:24:03,347
you for that question. And then our final. Pilot project

2159
02:24:03,347 --> 02:24:07,692
was the soil amendment pilots. I believe Stuart Jennings came

2160
02:24:07,692 --> 02:24:11,292
in. Or someone from Lyons. I'm trying to remember his

2161
02:24:11,292 --> 02:24:15,572
name. Had recommended that Stewart come and speak to us.

2162
02:24:15,572 --> 02:24:21,228
Stewart is the owner of a daffix. Products company. And

2163
02:24:21,228 --> 02:24:27,284
soil amendment is one of. His proxy does sell. This

2164
02:24:27,284 --> 02:24:30,724
was in reference to potentially being able to use basically

2165
02:24:30,724 --> 02:24:34,564
a fertilizer to help us. Control weeds and cheat grass

2166
02:24:34,564 --> 02:24:38,508
across native prairie areas. This one took a little bit

2167
02:24:38,508 --> 02:24:40,988
longer for us to get in. This was originally slated

2168
02:24:40,988 --> 02:24:44,508
for Walker Ranch, but due to the nature of how

2169
02:24:44,508 --> 02:24:47,480
we have to apply this product, In this case, with

2170
02:24:47,480 --> 02:24:52,256
this study, we did about £350 per acre. As fairly

2171
02:24:52,256 --> 02:24:56,538
recommended for heavy, dense ggrass sites. But one of the

2172
02:24:56,538 --> 02:24:58,058
things we noticed up a Walker ranch was one we

2173
02:24:58,058 --> 02:25:01,138
couldn't really find a large enough accessible area to get

2174
02:25:01,138 --> 02:25:04,858
equipment in to spread the spread the fertilizer so this

2175
02:25:04,858 --> 02:25:07,178
actually got bumped over to rabbit mountain. So we're up

2176
02:25:07,178 --> 02:25:11,081
on Eagle wind trail. Kind of. In the hardware of

2177
02:25:11,081 --> 02:25:14,291
the elk. Used to hang out. It was also part

2178
02:25:14,291 --> 02:25:16,211
of our tour, public tour. We went now to see

2179
02:25:16,211 --> 02:25:19,411
the aerial application that's south into Rabbit Mountain. We're down

2180
02:25:19,411 --> 02:25:22,851
in that region of. Rabbit Mountain. This is going to

2181
02:25:22,851 --> 02:25:27,809
be a full blown. Research type study. If we would.

2182
02:25:27,809 --> 02:25:29,209
Our hope is that if we do want to see

2183
02:25:29,209 --> 02:25:32,983
it get published, we would. Have the scientific research data

2184
02:25:32,983 --> 02:25:36,041
to back that up. And really send it off to

2185
02:25:36,041 --> 02:25:40,075
have somebody. Want to perhaps write up an analysis of

2186
02:25:40,075 --> 02:25:42,795
this study. It's three sites, kind of up. There on

2187
02:25:42,795 --> 02:25:46,115
top of the hill. There's 14 replications within each site.

2188
02:25:46,115 --> 02:25:51,677
It's. A comparison with standalone soil amendments combinations. With other

2189
02:25:51,677 --> 02:25:54,477
herbicides and then maybe even actually comparing it to actual

2190
02:25:54,477 --> 02:25:57,677
herbicide standalone. So we can kind of get a good

2191
02:25:57,677 --> 02:26:01,183
idea all the way around. What the benefits, what the

2192
02:26:01,183 --> 02:26:06,895
power of this product can be. So that was the

2193
02:26:06,895 --> 02:26:11,605
last of our pilot projects. I thought these were kind

2194
02:26:11,605 --> 02:26:13,325
of interesting. I really felt like these were the ones

2195
02:26:13,325 --> 02:26:15,165
that I wanted. To bring to you tonight and show

2196
02:26:15,165 --> 02:26:17,325
you, as part of our update, the rest of our

2197
02:26:17,325 --> 02:26:21,485
weed work this year was very normal to our activities

2198
02:26:21,485 --> 02:26:25,389
that we would do generally. I do have one more

2199
02:26:25,389 --> 02:26:26,989
update for you. And that was. I didn't know if

2200
02:26:26,989 --> 02:26:28,749
this was going to happen this year or not. I

2201
02:26:28,749 --> 02:26:32,709
did get word from contracting just here in the last

2202
02:26:32,709 --> 02:26:36,323
seven to ten days. I forgot to stable citizens. Just

2203
02:26:36,323 --> 02:26:40,683
kind of a summary of those five projects that you

2204
02:26:40,683 --> 02:26:46,519
can see. Their staff hours involved volunteer hours. Acres associated

2205
02:26:46,519 --> 02:26:48,559
with those. Just to kind of summarize all of that,

2206
02:26:48,559 --> 02:26:49,999
and if you would, like to see this a little

2207
02:26:49,999 --> 02:26:52,931
more. I can come back to this. But I did

2208
02:26:52,931 --> 02:26:56,085
just learn here in the last. Oh, it's on the

2209
02:26:56,085 --> 02:27:00,292
other. It was on my other slideshow, so I don't

2210
02:27:00,292 --> 02:27:01,212
know if I'm going. To be able to show it

2211
02:27:01,212 --> 02:27:03,252
to you or not. I did get word from our

2212
02:27:03,252 --> 02:27:08,209
contracting office. That our drone application for cheat grass did

2213
02:27:08,209 --> 02:27:09,489
get through this year. I didn't think it was going

2214
02:27:09,489 --> 02:27:10,609
to happen this year, I thought we're going to have

2215
02:27:10,609 --> 02:27:12,609
to put it off. Till 2026, but they did get

2216
02:27:12,609 --> 02:27:15,452
it through, so. We will be doing a drone cheat

2217
02:27:15,452 --> 02:27:20,252
grass application on the Red Hill area. Along Highway 36

2218
02:27:20,252 --> 02:27:24,355
there. Here in the month of December, weather permitting. So

2219
02:27:24,355 --> 02:27:31,108
that would be the one update. To our second. Program

2220
02:27:31,108 --> 02:27:36,519
note. That will be occurring this year. So with that.

2221
02:27:38,035 --> 02:27:40,635
It's not all seven goals, but I thought this was

2222
02:27:40,635 --> 02:27:44,935
the goals that. We really had the most benefit of

2223
02:27:44,935 --> 02:27:49,131
learning from this year and showed the most interest. And

2224
02:27:49,131 --> 02:27:54,828
degree of gain and knowledge for us, anyway. So thank

2225
02:27:54,828 --> 02:27:58,108
you, Joe, for the details, and thank you for your

2226
02:27:58,108 --> 02:28:02,167
patience with the equipment at the start. Let's start with

2227
02:28:02,167 --> 02:28:09,700
Christine this time. Come back to me, okay, Carol. I

2228
02:28:09,700 --> 02:28:18,268
read the Carol Byerly poset. And. I read the full

2229
02:28:18,268 --> 02:28:22,995
report that we approved last year. I think this is

2230
02:28:22,995 --> 02:28:29,095
different. I think this feels different. You don't start with

2231
02:28:29,095 --> 02:28:34,369
chemicals, you start with cultural. And so I think that's

2232
02:28:34,369 --> 02:28:44,151
good. We're recognizing new approaches. In fact,

2233
02:28:44,151 --> 02:28:52,174
even apparently embracing them. The report even mentioned. Bees in

2234
02:28:52,174 --> 02:28:55,134
it. And so that was when you're thinking about that,

2235
02:28:55,134 --> 02:29:03,293
so. I was gratified. I think. A lot remains to

2236
02:29:03,293 --> 02:29:07,023
be seen. And it's not what everybody. It's not as

2237
02:29:07,023 --> 02:29:13,018
far as everybody would like us. To go. But. I

2238
02:29:13,018 --> 02:29:17,602
use steam to kill the ants in my patio. I

2239
02:29:17,602 --> 02:29:21,972
pour boiling water on them. It's very. But it works.

2240
02:29:21,972 --> 02:29:28,147
It totally works. I mean, the ants. But anyway, so

2241
02:29:28,147 --> 02:29:31,207
I want to. Thank. I'm glad the commissioners gave you

2242
02:29:31,207 --> 02:29:35,239
another person. And I'm very interested to see this report.

2243
02:29:35,239 --> 02:29:44,545
I appreciate the comprehensive. Update. And so let's see where

2244
02:29:44,545 --> 02:29:49,352
this takes us. Absolutely. Yeah. I will say. My staff

2245
02:29:49,352 --> 02:29:51,432
really embrace this plan? I mean, I think we all

2246
02:29:51,432 --> 02:29:54,973
did. This was a big, concerted effort from all of

2247
02:29:54,973 --> 02:29:59,287
us in this room. And voices from the public, and

2248
02:29:59,287 --> 02:30:01,967
I felt like we had arrived at a really good

2249
02:30:01,967 --> 02:30:05,519
compromise and brought the plan forward and my staff. Did

2250
02:30:05,519 --> 02:30:07,959
really embrace it and took it to heart and started

2251
02:30:07,959 --> 02:30:11,868
to really try to get it moving. This year. Thank

2252
02:30:11,868 --> 02:30:14,828
you for that. Okay. Thank you. Derek. Derek Turner, Posac.

2253
02:30:14,828 --> 02:30:19,869
Thanks for the presentation and thanks for highlighting. These more

2254
02:30:19,869 --> 02:30:25,067
newer strategies. I have some questions. I kind of skimmed

2255
02:30:25,067 --> 02:30:28,786
through. The plan that was approved, and I got to

2256
02:30:28,786 --> 02:30:31,826
the section that requires an annual report and the annual

2257
02:30:31,826 --> 02:30:34,986
report has a lot of detailed requirements, a lot more

2258
02:30:34,986 --> 02:30:40,674
than some of. These. So. This isn't a summary of

2259
02:30:40,674 --> 02:30:45,519
the annual report. January. That's coming in January. Yes, and

2260
02:30:45,519 --> 02:30:49,611
it will be a heavily detailed report. I know Sherstine,

2261
02:30:49,611 --> 02:30:52,251
who's sitting here behind me, is kind of excited. She's?

2262
02:30:52,251 --> 02:30:56,467
Kind of become her database guru and. The old software

2263
02:30:56,467 --> 02:30:58,707
that we were using really was not up to par

2264
02:30:58,707 --> 02:31:00,867
for the amount of work. And the amount of data

2265
02:31:00,867 --> 02:31:03,447
that we wanted to collect. There was so much work

2266
02:31:03,447 --> 02:31:05,527
on the back end that she would spend hours sorting

2267
02:31:05,527 --> 02:31:08,127
through that, creating tables and moving through all of it.

2268
02:31:08,127 --> 02:31:09,687
So, yeah, I think one of the things we're going

2269
02:31:09,687 --> 02:31:11,167
to see out of the benefit of this new software

2270
02:31:11,167 --> 02:31:13,927
that we're using, this asset. Management software is that Shurstine

2271
02:31:13,927 --> 02:31:16,488
is going to be able to play. In the end

2272
02:31:16,488 --> 02:31:18,928
here and come up with some really great reports for

2273
02:31:18,928 --> 02:31:22,008
Utah. Follow and see and read. So, yeah, I'd look

2274
02:31:22,008 --> 02:31:24,128
for a highly detailed report coming through to you in

2275
02:31:24,128 --> 02:31:28,387
January. And I guess. Part of me wonders if our

2276
02:31:28,387 --> 02:31:31,747
conversation and reflecting on the update would be more would

2277
02:31:31,747 --> 02:31:34,427
be a month or two after the annual report that

2278
02:31:34,427 --> 02:31:38,194
we can see a full picture. And speaking of the

2279
02:31:38,194 --> 02:31:42,034
more traditional methods, you can go to the website and

2280
02:31:42,034 --> 02:31:48,825
you can see. On a daily basis. Multiple days where

2281
02:31:48,825 --> 02:31:52,625
you have applications of pesticides. I do note that the

2282
02:31:52,625 --> 02:31:55,185
information that the public has in that list that you

2283
02:31:55,185 --> 02:31:58,145
had the slide that highlighted that doesn't have the specific

2284
02:31:58,145 --> 02:32:03,997
amounts. Or the concentrations. I know that you're required to

2285
02:32:03,997 --> 02:32:06,237
provide that in the annual report, and. It looked like.

2286
02:32:07,936 --> 02:32:11,877
You're going to launch the portal that will provide. Assist

2287
02:32:11,877 --> 02:32:14,197
the people to see that. One of the things I

2288
02:32:14,197 --> 02:32:17,278
would like to point out. We did expand the amount

2289
02:32:17,278 --> 02:32:22,632
of reporting that we were doing for transparency. So we're

2290
02:32:22,632 --> 02:32:25,192
also reporting on our closed spaces that we treat in

2291
02:32:25,192 --> 02:32:29,648
natural areas. A lot of those. Shurstine will often remind

2292
02:32:29,648 --> 02:32:32,728
me that Joe. I went out and sprayed. Ted Knifert

2293
02:32:32,728 --> 02:32:35,048
sites today, and I used less than a half a

2294
02:32:35,048 --> 02:32:38,288
gallon of herbicide because there's so many just spot treatments

2295
02:32:38,288 --> 02:32:40,448
that we do in a lot of cases, especially in

2296
02:32:40,448 --> 02:32:45,292
eradication purposes, we're looking at small. Populations. We're looking at

2297
02:32:45,292 --> 02:32:48,212
small little stands here and there, so really it doesn't.

2298
02:32:48,212 --> 02:32:49,932
Take a whole lot. So while it looks like there's

2299
02:32:49,932 --> 02:32:52,772
a lot of application going on, if you look at

2300
02:32:52,772 --> 02:32:55,732
the overall amount that's actually going on the ground, it's

2301
02:32:55,732 --> 02:32:57,892
actually very small in a lot of cases, and I

2302
02:32:57,892 --> 02:33:00,772
think that will be better seen in the new reporting

2303
02:33:00,772 --> 02:33:03,412
process that we're going to have. Nice. And I look

2304
02:33:03,412 --> 02:33:06,738
forward to seeing. Like the second year after the second

2305
02:33:06,738 --> 02:33:09,938
annual report, because ultimately the number one goal is reducing.

2306
02:33:11,140 --> 02:33:15,220
The amounts chemicals. So we really can't absolutely determine success.

2307
02:33:15,220 --> 02:33:18,982
Yeah, and that's why I kind of chose. The two

2308
02:33:18,982 --> 02:33:21,262
that I really looked at here today, and that's because

2309
02:33:21,262 --> 02:33:23,702
the others are long. Range goals. Right. And we're really

2310
02:33:23,702 --> 02:33:25,262
probably not going to be able to demonstrate a whole

2311
02:33:25,262 --> 02:33:26,782
lot on those for a couple of two or three

2312
02:33:26,782 --> 02:33:29,622
years before we really start seeing some of those changes

2313
02:33:29,622 --> 02:33:31,942
in trends just because they are long range goals for

2314
02:33:31,942 --> 02:33:34,142
us that we set up. Thank you through the plan.

2315
02:33:35,768 --> 02:33:39,648
Tony. Tony Lewis Posek. Thanks, Joe, for the update. Appreciate

2316
02:33:39,648 --> 02:33:42,248
that. And I think more than anything just looking forward

2317
02:33:42,248 --> 02:33:46,168
to January and getting more detailed information, having that discussion.

2318
02:33:48,109 --> 02:33:52,551
Thanks. You bet, Vicky. Thanks. Yeah, I have a couple

2319
02:33:52,551 --> 02:33:56,251
of questions. First of all, can you explain the soil

2320
02:33:56,251 --> 02:33:59,171
amendment? So I wasn't here last year when. All this

2321
02:33:59,171 --> 02:34:02,491
weed stuff went on, thankfully. So explain to me what

2322
02:34:02,491 --> 02:34:05,851
the soil you're trying to outlets. Other grasses outcompete the

2323
02:34:05,851 --> 02:34:09,651
cheat grass. Is that what you're promoting? Yeah. The idea

2324
02:34:09,651 --> 02:34:15,053
behind the soil amendment is that. One. We're adding amendments

2325
02:34:15,053 --> 02:34:18,484
to the soil. That, in essence, a lot of the

2326
02:34:18,484 --> 02:34:20,764
wheats do not like the annual cheat grass does not

2327
02:34:20,764 --> 02:34:24,967
like. And then secondly, to help assist the natives that

2328
02:34:24,967 --> 02:34:28,297
are on those sites. To gain the resources they need

2329
02:34:28,297 --> 02:34:32,401
to help out, compete. In this case, cheat grass, which

2330
02:34:32,401 --> 02:34:35,176
can be pretty prevalent in a lot of places. So

2331
02:34:35,176 --> 02:34:37,456
what is it that she grass doesn't like? Well, that's

2332
02:34:37,456 --> 02:34:39,336
a good question. We're trying to understand that part of

2333
02:34:39,336 --> 02:34:44,213
the. That's a whole nother conversation. In itself, and I'd

2334
02:34:44,213 --> 02:34:46,413
be happy to go into that with you sometime, but,

2335
02:34:46,413 --> 02:34:49,453
yeah, that's. A whole nother conversation. One other question in

2336
02:34:49,453 --> 02:34:51,973
there again, probably just because I wasn't here. Last year

2337
02:34:51,973 --> 02:34:55,733
was. What are the drones applying? I'm assuming that you're

2338
02:34:55,733 --> 02:34:59,730
using some kind of an herbicide. Yeah. It's a rejuvena

2339
02:34:59,730 --> 02:35:05,465
herbicide. It's in Dazzaflam. It's kind of a revolutionary product.

2340
02:35:05,465 --> 02:35:10,033
It's been out now for 15 years. We see it

2341
02:35:10,033 --> 02:35:15,483
control winter annual invasive grasses extremely well. Insights that we

2342
02:35:15,483 --> 02:35:17,763
have. We actually just had a couple of publications this

2343
02:35:17,763 --> 02:35:20,923
year get published, one in the journal of Ecology and

2344
02:35:20,923 --> 02:35:24,064
one. In the Society of Range Management. Range Lance Publications.

2345
02:35:25,942 --> 02:35:29,182
It controls the seed bank for us. So any seed

2346
02:35:29,182 --> 02:35:34,687
that was to germinate. When it reaches the swap, it's

2347
02:35:34,687 --> 02:35:36,167
its little root radical end of the soil to try.

2348
02:35:36,167 --> 02:35:38,767
To grow, absorb the herbicide. It can no longer form

2349
02:35:38,767 --> 02:35:41,647
cellulose, so it can no. Longer form roots. We can

2350
02:35:41,647 --> 02:35:44,967
control that seed at that point, and within just one

2351
02:35:44,967 --> 02:35:48,032
growing season. So we do that treatment here this fall.

2352
02:35:49,673 --> 02:35:54,679
By spring. That next growing season, the cheap grass is

2353
02:35:54,679 --> 02:35:58,449
subdued. And the natives that are currently in the soil

2354
02:35:58,449 --> 02:36:00,929
really erupt from the soil, and I can send you

2355
02:36:00,929 --> 02:36:02,369
a few things if you'd like to get a little

2356
02:36:02,369 --> 02:36:07,185
more information on that. But. It's pretty incredible. How long

2357
02:36:07,185 --> 02:36:09,545
does that herbicide last? On the ground. On the ground?

2358
02:36:11,470 --> 02:36:14,390
About two years. After two years, it really fades. Even

2359
02:36:14,390 --> 02:36:17,927
after the first year, it starts to fade. But after

2360
02:36:17,927 --> 02:36:20,529
two years. It's the amounts that you would be fined

2361
02:36:20,529 --> 02:36:23,726
in the soil. Is greatly, greatly reduced. It's a fraction

2362
02:36:23,726 --> 02:36:25,726
of what it was when it was put down. So

2363
02:36:25,726 --> 02:36:28,566
were you blanket spraying with that? Yeah, it is watching.

2364
02:36:28,566 --> 02:36:31,686
And you're just going after. There's a little Pomper. Yeah.

2365
02:36:31,686 --> 02:36:34,326
So this would be more of a broadcast application. That

2366
02:36:34,326 --> 02:36:37,902
we do use this for. Thank you so much. John.

2367
02:36:37,902 --> 02:36:43,612
Same question she did. Joan. Okay. I was just out

2368
02:36:43,612 --> 02:36:47,452
on the eagle wind trail the other day, and I

2369
02:36:47,452 --> 02:36:51,852
was seriously thinking of reporting to the ranger that somebody

2370
02:36:51,852 --> 02:37:00,646
had taken. Had joyrided off trail. Because. I just wonder.

2371
02:37:02,341 --> 02:37:04,941
The vehicle appears to be so large and heavy that

2372
02:37:04,941 --> 02:37:08,908
was used and. There was some crushing of yucca and

2373
02:37:08,908 --> 02:37:12,108
sumac and ball cactus, although it's lower. Down in the

2374
02:37:12,108 --> 02:37:14,708
ground. Now, that's getting to winter, and I just wonder

2375
02:37:14,708 --> 02:37:17,406
if it could. Be done. In a less heavy handed

2376
02:37:17,406 --> 02:37:23,082
way. So what you're referring to? Is. The pilot site.

2377
02:37:24,125 --> 02:37:26,445
For the soil amendment that is right up there in

2378
02:37:26,445 --> 02:37:29,045
that portion of the ground. It has to be broadcast

2379
02:37:29,045 --> 02:37:33,725
spread. It is a granular product. £350 an acre. I

2380
02:37:33,725 --> 02:37:36,285
think we were in. These test plots, we were putting

2381
02:37:36,285 --> 02:37:39,178
out as much as, like, £100 across. These individual test

2382
02:37:39,178 --> 02:37:41,378
plots, and the only way we can get it on

2383
02:37:41,378 --> 02:37:45,418
the ground efficiently and effectively. Is to use some sort

2384
02:37:45,418 --> 02:37:49,613
of mechanical device of that nature. That's all going into

2385
02:37:49,613 --> 02:37:51,973
part of this. When I talk about this being a

2386
02:37:51,973 --> 02:37:54,533
research project. We went out and did all of our

2387
02:37:54,533 --> 02:37:59,653
baseline information, data collection. So we have species composition. We

2388
02:37:59,653 --> 02:38:05,521
have biomass. Amounts of g grass and also of the

2389
02:38:05,521 --> 02:38:07,081
natives that can be found on those sites at the

2390
02:38:07,081 --> 02:38:11,376
same time. So it's a fairly involved. That's a fairly

2391
02:38:11,376 --> 02:38:15,739
involved. Pilot project. But, yeah, I'm not sure how we

2392
02:38:15,739 --> 02:38:19,189
can avoid doing some of those things. That is one

2393
02:38:19,189 --> 02:38:21,149
of the reasons we do like the thought of using

2394
02:38:21,149 --> 02:38:25,349
drones, and that is because we can access more steep

2395
02:38:25,349 --> 02:38:29,349
properties where we cannot get ground equipment and be effective

2396
02:38:29,349 --> 02:38:33,027
with our treatments. In those regards. Couldn't use a smaller

2397
02:38:33,027 --> 02:38:38,373
light. Away broadcaster. Potentially. Well, it's going to take me

2398
02:38:38,373 --> 02:38:42,881
more money. But maybe. I don't know. It's just really

2399
02:38:42,881 --> 02:38:47,785
hard. To. I'm not sure what else we might be

2400
02:38:47,785 --> 02:38:49,545
able to use in that regard. That would get us

2401
02:38:49,545 --> 02:38:53,486
across that land up in that portion. I'll take it

2402
02:38:53,486 --> 02:38:56,326
back. And highly consider that. And, Steve, if I can

2403
02:38:56,326 --> 02:38:58,246
find a better solution or answer for you for that,

2404
02:38:58,246 --> 02:39:00,246
but, yeah, right now, that's kind of where we're at

2405
02:39:00,246 --> 02:39:06,606
with it, okay? Soil amendment. Makes me think of fertilizer

2406
02:39:06,606 --> 02:39:10,817
and hummus and so on. But help me to understand.

2407
02:39:10,817 --> 02:39:14,057
It just seems like some of the best, most biologically

2408
02:39:14,057 --> 02:39:18,257
diverse areas. At rabbit are just, like, practically bare rock

2409
02:39:18,257 --> 02:39:22,777
at the surface and just, like, crumbled gravel. And some

2410
02:39:22,777 --> 02:39:27,798
of those areas have the least weeds. And the most

2411
02:39:27,798 --> 02:39:31,877
native, so I hope. We're not. Yeah, that's why we're

2412
02:39:31,877 --> 02:39:34,437
doing smaller test sites with this, just to kind of.

2413
02:39:34,437 --> 02:39:36,614
See how it works. We do this with a lot

2414
02:39:36,614 --> 02:39:40,286
of. With a lot of our different methods. As we

2415
02:39:40,286 --> 02:39:42,286
will try it out on a smaller site just to

2416
02:39:42,286 --> 02:39:46,086
see what the ramifications are of those different activities and

2417
02:39:46,086 --> 02:39:49,126
then move forward from there. That'll all be accounted to.

2418
02:39:49,126 --> 02:39:51,366
We're in this pilot project so that we can kind

2419
02:39:51,366 --> 02:39:56,630
of identify. We did do soil health sampling prior. To

2420
02:39:56,630 --> 02:39:59,070
this pilot project so that we can follow up with

2421
02:39:59,070 --> 02:40:02,025
those in three or four years, five. Years. And see

2422
02:40:02,025 --> 02:40:07,148
what the soil. Health change might be across those sites.

2423
02:40:07,148 --> 02:40:10,428
Yeah, well, if it was an experiment, I would wish

2424
02:40:10,428 --> 02:40:15,719
that. You would go. To. An open space that. Was

2425
02:40:15,719 --> 02:40:21,106
not as precious. Rabbit Mountain. Because I was told it's

2426
02:40:21,106 --> 02:40:24,567
one of our most biological. And I know there's the

2427
02:40:24,567 --> 02:40:29,496
prairie dogs. Okay. And then another question on a different

2428
02:40:29,496 --> 02:40:34,736
matter. Would you ever consider authorizing volunteers to collect? You

2429
02:40:34,736 --> 02:40:38,136
could say certain weeds, just one weed, for example, as

2430
02:40:38,136 --> 02:40:44,092
they walk county trails on their own. Obviously only after

2431
02:40:44,092 --> 02:40:50,428
thorough orientation. Et cetera, because many of these weeds get

2432
02:40:50,428 --> 02:40:53,588
started along trails. I mean, I'm just thinking the beginning.

2433
02:40:55,380 --> 02:41:01,673
Of the Grindstone Quarry trail. There's. These big. They're about

2434
02:41:01,673 --> 02:41:05,313
to become tumble weeds, non native, and I would love

2435
02:41:05,313 --> 02:41:08,833
to collect. Them in a bag and dispose of them

2436
02:41:08,833 --> 02:41:12,673
properly before they go spreading all over. And I know

2437
02:41:12,673 --> 02:41:15,513
volunteers. It costs money to train them and so on.

2438
02:41:17,055 --> 02:41:19,135
But I just wonder if that's a possible. Yeah, I

2439
02:41:19,135 --> 02:41:21,135
think that's really what this weed warrior program is that

2440
02:41:21,135 --> 02:41:23,855
we've established a walker ranch. That's really kind. Of a

2441
02:41:23,855 --> 02:41:26,135
pilot to try to identify what our abilities are to

2442
02:41:26,135 --> 02:41:29,018
do to do that. And maybe start relying a little

2443
02:41:29,018 --> 02:41:32,578
bit more on our citizen volunteers to maybe conduct those

2444
02:41:32,578 --> 02:41:36,842
types of treatments for us. Once again, it's all stuff

2445
02:41:36,842 --> 02:41:39,442
that we're kind of trying to look at and review

2446
02:41:39,442 --> 02:41:41,682
and see how we can best take that forward with

2447
02:41:41,682 --> 02:41:46,703
the results that we see. Thank you. John sean white

2448
02:41:46,703 --> 02:41:54,181
posek. The steam cleaning of the. Parking lot.

2449
02:41:57,257 --> 02:42:00,337
Is one thing. If you're talking about going out into

2450
02:42:00,337 --> 02:42:03,977
the fields where things like Curly dog are and sticking

2451
02:42:03,977 --> 02:42:09,101
in a probe. You're wiping out a ton. Of biologically

2452
02:42:09,101 --> 02:42:16,609
rich. Life. And. When you're not near a parking lot.

2453
02:42:16,609 --> 02:42:20,289
That matters a lot, right? So what are you? Planning

2454
02:42:20,289 --> 02:42:24,034
on using? Where are you planning on using the probe?

2455
02:42:24,034 --> 02:42:28,593
Where? It's not going to wipe out the biota. So

2456
02:42:28,593 --> 02:42:31,073
right now, that's just. Kind of a thought in process

2457
02:42:31,073 --> 02:42:33,313
for us right now as a potential pilot to kind

2458
02:42:33,313 --> 02:42:37,242
of see this is one of our alternative. Methods that

2459
02:42:37,242 --> 02:42:39,722
we're trying to use. Right. Our goal is to reduce

2460
02:42:39,722 --> 02:42:42,722
our use in herbicides we're talking about putting steam water

2461
02:42:42,722 --> 02:42:45,442
into the ground, which is perceived by many to be

2462
02:42:45,442 --> 02:42:48,242
a better situation. I think a lot of that still

2463
02:42:48,242 --> 02:42:52,842
needs to be evaluated and looked at. And so, once

2464
02:42:52,842 --> 02:42:57,155
again, this would be a small test area. Perhaps. In

2465
02:42:57,155 --> 02:42:59,275
the natural area surrounding the rabbit mountain parking lot that

2466
02:42:59,275 --> 02:43:01,915
we might extend into and take a look at that

2467
02:43:01,915 --> 02:43:04,555
and kind of see what those impacts might be, how

2468
02:43:04,555 --> 02:43:10,380
effective it actually is in the end. Anyway. So you're

2469
02:43:10,380 --> 02:43:14,177
going to evaluate things like. How bright earthworms you run

2470
02:43:14,177 --> 02:43:16,377
it up with. Yeah. I mean, hopefully it doesn't. Come

2471
02:43:16,377 --> 02:43:18,737
to that. Absolutely. But, I mean, that would all be

2472
02:43:18,737 --> 02:43:20,337
part of. We'd have to. Kind of design, what we

2473
02:43:20,337 --> 02:43:22,017
wanted to look at and how we wanted to go

2474
02:43:22,017 --> 02:43:25,070
forward with that. But this is just an attempt to

2475
02:43:25,070 --> 02:43:28,030
try to find some alternative methods to the herbicide use.

2476
02:43:29,704 --> 02:43:37,938
Anybody else on postac? Christine Christine Johnson Posak. I really

2477
02:43:37,938 --> 02:43:41,818
appreciate seeing you and looking forward to reading the report

2478
02:43:41,818 --> 02:43:45,837
in January. I think there's been a lot of engagement.

2479
02:43:48,215 --> 02:43:51,095
From the public around this, especially around the alternatives. And

2480
02:43:51,095 --> 02:43:55,543
I wonder. Your photos were really intriguing. I'm wondering if

2481
02:43:55,543 --> 02:44:00,469
we could have some kind of a tour. Or even

2482
02:44:00,469 --> 02:44:03,890
something that's open to the public. I don't know. Like

2483
02:44:03,890 --> 02:44:06,810
two years in or whatever. I think people would love.

2484
02:44:06,810 --> 02:44:09,170
I would love to get out and. See this. I

2485
02:44:09,170 --> 02:44:11,250
would imagine there's other folks who would love to get

2486
02:44:11,250 --> 02:44:13,570
out and see. It, so I'm just putting in that

2487
02:44:13,570 --> 02:44:16,110
request. Well, maybe we can add that to your field

2488
02:44:16,110 --> 02:44:18,830
tour here in 2026 to do one of your field

2489
02:44:18,830 --> 02:44:20,350
trips out to maybe take a look at some of

2490
02:44:20,350 --> 02:44:23,532
this stuff? And I'm hoping that we'll be able to

2491
02:44:23,532 --> 02:44:28,927
provide. Feedback or questions to the report when we get

2492
02:44:28,927 --> 02:44:32,310
that. I was really curious about a couple of things

2493
02:44:32,310 --> 02:44:36,013
that you said. And I'm wondering, so with the harry

2494
02:44:36,013 --> 02:44:43,369
willow herb and the trees, it sounds like. The handweeding

2495
02:44:43,369 --> 02:44:46,129
and the goats are not fully effective, but I'm wondering

2496
02:44:46,129 --> 02:44:48,049
if you. Might be able to do sort of a

2497
02:44:48,049 --> 02:44:53,890
one two punch where. If this is something you would

2498
02:44:53,890 --> 02:45:00,330
consider. Using a less invasive process to reduce the load

2499
02:45:00,330 --> 02:45:04,220
and then do spot treatment. As a follow up, and

2500
02:45:04,220 --> 02:45:08,142
if that is something you'd consider. Yeah, absolutely. I mean,

2501
02:45:08,142 --> 02:45:10,702
that's really kind of the idea behind the whole integrated

2502
02:45:10,702 --> 02:45:14,062
weed management. Plan, right, is that we can utilize different

2503
02:45:14,062 --> 02:45:18,595
methods to attack the same problem. And try to expand

2504
02:45:18,595 --> 02:45:20,875
that I will add to this just a little bit.

2505
02:45:22,446 --> 02:45:23,886
When we talk about using the goats for some of

2506
02:45:23,886 --> 02:45:27,006
this work, it was really interesting at the earn arsenal

2507
02:45:27,006 --> 02:45:29,726
property where the Ferrell rye was, because that is a

2508
02:45:29,726 --> 02:45:33,046
graze. That is a tenant grazed lease. And once the

2509
02:45:33,046 --> 02:45:36,566
goats were done there, the nicals came through themselves behind

2510
02:45:36,566 --> 02:45:38,646
all. Of that, and I haven't had a chance to

2511
02:45:38,646 --> 02:45:40,286
really go down and evaluate it yet. And take a

2512
02:45:40,286 --> 02:45:43,118
look at it, but I think that. When we think

2513
02:45:43,118 --> 02:45:45,238
about the evolution of our prairies and things like that.

2514
02:45:47,032 --> 02:45:51,152
Many different grazers and browsers utilize the different resources across

2515
02:45:51,152 --> 02:45:53,792
the bray right at Buffalo then an elk might do

2516
02:45:53,792 --> 02:45:55,512
something a little different than an antelope might do something

2517
02:45:55,512 --> 02:45:57,792
a little. Different and on down the line. I think

2518
02:45:57,792 --> 02:46:02,228
in some of these cases, even. For other applications that

2519
02:46:02,228 --> 02:46:03,988
could maybe potentially be something that we could use to

2520
02:46:03,988 --> 02:46:08,554
help manage some of these weed problems we have. And

2521
02:46:08,554 --> 02:46:11,754
I think that flows nicely into my next question, which.

2522
02:46:13,087 --> 02:46:16,757
Is. I'm hearing a lot about suppression, and I think

2523
02:46:16,757 --> 02:46:24,682
grazing is part of the answer. But. I'm curious about

2524
02:46:24,682 --> 02:46:29,035
what's being done. For the encouragement or establishment of healthy

2525
02:46:29,035 --> 02:46:33,297
native vegetation. So some of that. Sometimes it's grazing to

2526
02:46:33,297 --> 02:46:38,848
encourage. Denser grass cover, and I'm wondering about seeding. Are

2527
02:46:38,848 --> 02:46:42,738
you seeding along with all of this. That was in

2528
02:46:42,738 --> 02:46:44,698
the plan. One of the problems I ran into this

2529
02:46:44,698 --> 02:46:46,058
year, I had a little bit of a stag with

2530
02:46:46,058 --> 02:46:48,138
my contracting process, and so the goats got to the

2531
02:46:48,138 --> 02:46:50,218
sites a little bit late in the year, so we

2532
02:46:50,218 --> 02:46:52,378
had some pretty good effectiveness on some weeds, but then

2533
02:46:52,378 --> 02:46:55,098
some weeds were past the point of really being viable

2534
02:46:55,098 --> 02:46:56,458
for him. I mean, they'll get to a point where

2535
02:46:56,458 --> 02:46:59,858
even the ghosts that want to eat them. So unfortunately,

2536
02:46:59,858 --> 02:47:02,258
but so that will be remedied this year. I think

2537
02:47:02,258 --> 02:47:04,565
one of. My other challenges to your point is that

2538
02:47:04,565 --> 02:47:07,925
when we use them as suppression, suppression is really kind

2539
02:47:07,925 --> 02:47:10,205
of a two or three time a thing when we're

2540
02:47:10,205 --> 02:47:14,150
trying to control these weed populations. And working with Susan

2541
02:47:14,150 --> 02:47:17,699
and Rex through this process. They want to bring their

2542
02:47:17,699 --> 02:47:19,859
goats in. I mean, they're trying to earn money with

2543
02:47:19,859 --> 02:47:22,619
their product. They want to bring goats in, they want

2544
02:47:22,619 --> 02:47:24,259
to get the job done, and they want to move

2545
02:47:24,259 --> 02:47:26,939
on. And so then the potential to have them come

2546
02:47:26,939 --> 02:47:30,162
back. Might be a little difficult to get that second

2547
02:47:30,162 --> 02:47:35,168
round of suppression work done through the goats. So all

2548
02:47:35,168 --> 02:47:36,768
just these little things. That's why I say all of

2549
02:47:36,768 --> 02:47:40,945
this is still under. A high evaluation and. I'm really

2550
02:47:40,945 --> 02:47:42,905
looking forward to seeing how some of this stuff works

2551
02:47:42,905 --> 02:47:44,545
out in the end. And what we can find to

2552
02:47:44,545 --> 02:47:50,980
help make it work. And. I wanted to underscore. That.

2553
02:47:50,980 --> 02:47:54,676
I think that the weed warrior program. Is effective both

2554
02:47:54,676 --> 02:47:58,796
in terms of. The weeding, but also in terms of

2555
02:47:58,796 --> 02:48:04,259
education, and I would encourage you to. Expand that as

2556
02:48:04,259 --> 02:48:07,739
widely as you can. And also, I would encourage anyone

2557
02:48:07,739 --> 02:48:12,705
in the room. Who's interested in this, especially in alternatives

2558
02:48:12,705 --> 02:48:15,265
to volunteer for the program, put your money where your

2559
02:48:15,265 --> 02:48:20,420
mouth is. And the last thing that I'll say, I

2560
02:48:20,420 --> 02:48:25,804
think soil is pretty resilient. And steam. Is probably the

2561
02:48:25,804 --> 02:48:30,374
least. Impactful thing we could be treating the soil with.

2562
02:48:30,374 --> 02:48:38,652
And that's it. Thanks. Any other questions? Comments from Postac

2563
02:48:38,652 --> 02:48:44,386
Joe, thank you. I have. A couple. Of comments here.

2564
02:48:44,386 --> 02:48:48,626
And first of all, Christine, the public are invited to

2565
02:48:48,626 --> 02:48:52,855
the field trips and they do participate. So those are

2566
02:48:52,855 --> 02:49:00,669
mentioned publicly and people can sign up. And I'm very

2567
02:49:00,669 --> 02:49:04,758
happy to see that you have adopted. All of these

2568
02:49:04,758 --> 02:49:10,895
various pilots, some of which. Were suggested and supported by

2569
02:49:10,895 --> 02:49:18,586
public participation. During the 2024. Meetings on weed management, so

2570
02:49:18,586 --> 02:49:24,514
thank you. For setting those up and running them. I'm

2571
02:49:24,514 --> 02:49:28,394
also very happy to see you're using that asset management

2572
02:49:28,394 --> 02:49:34,917
software application. To collect and report data. And.

2573
02:49:38,903 --> 02:49:43,525
From looking at. The handout that we received before the

2574
02:49:43,525 --> 02:49:48,237
meeting. I want to make sure that when you do,

2575
02:49:48,237 --> 02:49:54,786
do your final report. That you do. Have very definite

2576
02:49:54,786 --> 02:50:02,312
metrics. Areas treated, species removed, species remaining. That's going to

2577
02:50:02,312 --> 02:50:09,702
be very important, so thank you. Any other Postac questions

2578
02:50:09,702 --> 02:50:18,906
comments. Okay, then do we. Have any. Public comments. Not

2579
02:50:18,906 --> 02:50:24,364
questions, but comments from people in the audience. Yes, tess,

2580
02:50:24,364 --> 02:50:27,719
I think you had your hand up first. So it

2581
02:50:27,719 --> 02:50:36,468
sounds like Tess McDonald lions. It sounds like Joe. You

2582
02:50:36,468 --> 02:50:40,148
used Tyler's soil amendments and tend to be used near

2583
02:50:40,148 --> 02:50:44,663
lions. To make your rejuvena experiments on rabbit mountain look

2584
02:50:44,663 --> 02:50:52,669
better. Hello, Posac. As most of you know, this POS

2585
02:50:52,669 --> 02:50:57,669
team blanketed my neighbors with Rejuvena. On November 1, 2022.

2586
02:50:59,155 --> 02:51:02,075
I have neighbors who haven't been able to grow carrots

2587
02:51:02,075 --> 02:51:06,708
or sprout seeds. On their property since the spray. Let

2588
02:51:06,708 --> 02:51:10,679
that sink in. One neighbor's baby broke out into a

2589
02:51:10,679 --> 02:51:13,959
rash, as you know, from head to toe. His health

2590
02:51:13,959 --> 02:51:18,958
could be affected for the rest of his life. Another

2591
02:51:18,958 --> 02:51:24,733
neighbor lost her baby due to. Impossibly non genetic neurological

2592
02:51:24,733 --> 02:51:30,300
disorder. I know the difference between causation and correlation. One

2593
02:51:30,300 --> 02:51:33,620
is hard to prove, the other is almost impossible. But

2594
02:51:33,620 --> 02:51:37,900
Bobby Kennedy was able to prove roundup caused non Hodgkin's.

2595
02:51:37,900 --> 02:51:42,540
Lymphoma. And now we see whole towns have epidemic rates

2596
02:51:42,540 --> 02:51:46,745
of a once rare cancer. All I need you to

2597
02:51:46,745 --> 02:51:51,145
do is recommend that PoS abstain from aerial sprain pesticides.

2598
02:51:51,145 --> 02:51:57,184
Rather from helicopter or drone. This weed management's team's actions

2599
02:51:57,184 --> 02:52:00,304
show a pattern of practice that is out of compliance

2600
02:52:00,304 --> 02:52:05,887
and therefore life threatening, especially to the most vulnerable. I

2601
02:52:05,887 --> 02:52:08,647
know you don't make decisions, but you are supposed to

2602
02:52:08,647 --> 02:52:11,847
be part of the process. And like you, we the

2603
02:52:11,847 --> 02:52:16,898
public. Were left out of the aerial spray. Discussion. In

2604
02:52:16,898 --> 02:52:20,458
fact, BCPOs should have never aerial sprayed in the first

2605
02:52:20,458 --> 02:52:23,698
place because the aerial spray wasn't even on the 2004

2606
02:52:23,698 --> 02:52:31,964
Integrated weed management plan. Then my unemotional, practical side. Thinks.

2607
02:52:31,964 --> 02:52:35,684
Wouldn't it just be cheaper to spray gasoline anyway? Probably

2608
02:52:35,684 --> 02:52:41,310
would be just as effective. But that sounds ludicrous. Sprain

2609
02:52:41,310 --> 02:52:46,942
pesticides from a helicopter or drone. Sounds ludicrous. Too. What

2610
02:52:46,942 --> 02:52:52,231
if sprain petrochemicals aerially is actually causing fires? We should

2611
02:52:52,231 --> 02:52:56,671
stop this practice until independent scientists can prove they don't.

2612
02:52:57,849 --> 02:53:01,649
So the question is, do you continue to recommend Pos.

2613
02:53:02,426 --> 02:53:07,266
Test petrochemicals on conservation land, cultural lands, or on the

2614
02:53:07,266 --> 02:53:11,226
town of lions without getting proper permits without following the

2615
02:53:11,226 --> 02:53:16,264
labels or conducting environmental impact studies. Or should we be

2616
02:53:16,264 --> 02:53:21,264
listening to Commissioner Ashley Stoltzman, who's a chemical engineer? Dr.

2617
02:53:21,264 --> 02:53:25,264
Peter Cowdrie Corvin, another chemical engineer, and I have his

2618
02:53:25,264 --> 02:53:30,704
white paper on endazophilam. Rich Andrews, another chemical engineer, Dr.

2619
02:53:30,704 --> 02:53:34,864
Robert Brackenridge, a full, bright researcher from CU Dr. Tim

2620
02:53:34,864 --> 02:53:38,086
C. Said. Who all argue that pesticides are more harmful

2621
02:53:38,086 --> 02:53:41,486
than sheet grass or Joe Swanson as time is up.

2622
02:53:41,486 --> 02:53:46,151
Please finish up. I don't claim to be an expert,

2623
02:53:46,151 --> 02:53:48,391
but I know when something is more troubled than it's

2624
02:53:48,391 --> 02:53:52,591
worth. Seeu is one of the leading schools for drones.

2625
02:53:52,591 --> 02:53:54,951
Maybe they can spray. Water on the land. I'm sure

2626
02:53:54,951 --> 02:53:58,431
bees, butterflies, plants, deers, hikers would appreciate that. A lot

2627
02:53:58,431 --> 02:54:01,591
more than neurotoxins. Thank you for your service, and please

2628
02:54:01,591 --> 02:54:04,716
help end Ariel spray of pesticide. Thank you. Tess. There

2629
02:54:04,716 --> 02:54:07,156
is somebody with their hand up sitting next to Tess.

2630
02:54:09,358 --> 02:54:18,254
Yes. Hi. My name is Amanda Domenega, and I'll be

2631
02:54:18,254 --> 02:54:21,494
also pulling time from Robin. Lucas in case I need

2632
02:54:21,494 --> 02:54:27,663
it. Okay. You will have six minutes, then. Okay, great.

2633
02:54:28,838 --> 02:54:31,958
I'm speaking as my personal capacity and also representing save

2634
02:54:31,958 --> 02:54:39,142
our Saint Brain Valley SOSV. And environmental nonprofit. Members of

2635
02:54:39,142 --> 02:54:42,742
POSAC, thank you for the opportunity to speak. Welcome to

2636
02:54:42,742 --> 02:54:48,683
new members. I thank all presenters for Pos. Even presenting

2637
02:54:48,683 --> 02:54:52,203
on land acquisition, have already done some of my job

2638
02:54:52,203 --> 02:54:57,883
for me by impressing upon POSAC members, the high biodiversity

2639
02:54:57,883 --> 02:55:03,683
and unparalleled natural resources on Rabbin Mountain and it was

2640
02:55:03,683 --> 02:55:07,003
evident from POSAG members. Comments so you're all familiar with

2641
02:55:07,003 --> 02:55:10,837
the area anyway. So I'll just get to some updates.

2642
02:55:13,133 --> 02:55:17,573
Since our long 18 month review of the IWMP that

2643
02:55:17,573 --> 02:55:20,813
had then been 16 years out. Of compliance with the

2644
02:55:20,813 --> 02:55:25,528
CDA until we brought it to your attention. On April

2645
02:55:25,528 --> 02:55:31,048
29, 2022. Pos lead manager and tonight's presenter, Mr. Joe

2646
02:55:31,048 --> 02:55:36,288
Swanson. Stated publicly that Boulder county was ground zero for

2647
02:55:36,288 --> 02:55:40,690
the research and operational testing of the. Bear ag product

2648
02:55:40,690 --> 02:55:46,869
in Dasaflam, which he referred to tonight as. Our rejuvena

2649
02:55:46,869 --> 02:55:51,589
using products Esplanade which has the same contact of endassophrom.

2650
02:55:51,589 --> 02:55:57,709
Mr. Swanson appears to have, according to Cora documents, and

2651
02:55:57,709 --> 02:56:02,883
this public admission. Escalated the research and testing that was

2652
02:56:02,883 --> 02:56:08,843
taking place on Cmax land, which is owned heavy industrial

2653
02:56:08,843 --> 02:56:15,043
and was done via backpack. Applications of plots to broadcast

2654
02:56:15,043 --> 02:56:21,571
helicopter spraying on Rabbit Mountain Hale ranch. Ron Stewart Natural

2655
02:56:21,571 --> 02:56:26,131
Preserve south down Indian Mountain, which was actually deeded to

2656
02:56:26,131 --> 02:56:33,037
the county in 1997. For expressed cultural resource. Protection and

2657
02:56:33,037 --> 02:56:38,725
instead became the testing site. For again in Dasaflam by

2658
02:56:38,725 --> 02:56:45,943
using. Esplanade, which was limited to industrial uses. As Tess

2659
02:56:45,943 --> 02:56:52,183
pointed out, all public research, including federal sites. Quora documents

2660
02:56:52,183 --> 02:56:59,333
show the spray zones. It's very, very clear. It was

2661
02:56:59,333 --> 02:57:04,373
done without environmental impact study, without a special use authorization,

2662
02:57:04,373 --> 02:57:09,365
without. BOCC approval, and it's been stated that POS doesn't

2663
02:57:09,365 --> 02:57:12,725
get to make decisions, but I think the public deserves

2664
02:57:12,725 --> 02:57:16,445
to know. How did plot tests with CSU starting in

2665
02:57:16,445 --> 02:57:21,525
2024 escalate to what has been admitted and confirmed through

2666
02:57:21,525 --> 02:57:28,768
Cora documents to Rapyrian. Habitat. And. The most. I think

2667
02:57:28,768 --> 02:57:31,968
it was said special sites. Now, I do appreciate the

2668
02:57:31,968 --> 02:57:36,582
efforts the goat grazing. The new things that are being

2669
02:57:36,582 --> 02:57:40,302
implemented that the community pushed for. But I don't think

2670
02:57:40,302 --> 02:57:44,700
we can push under the rug. The admitted testing that

2671
02:57:44,700 --> 02:57:47,420
has yet to be addressed. There is an open CDA

2672
02:57:47,420 --> 02:57:51,860
investigation into this. And I think it's important for the

2673
02:57:51,860 --> 02:57:56,580
local regulatory bodies to regain trust after being out of

2674
02:57:56,580 --> 02:58:00,970
compliance. After it's unanimous and unilateral that they had no

2675
02:58:00,970 --> 02:58:05,386
oversight. To consider why and under whose authority did Robin

2676
02:58:05,386 --> 02:58:11,467
Mountain become research and testing for BaER envu? And we

2677
02:58:11,467 --> 02:58:14,707
will be following up to send you the detailed data,

2678
02:58:14,707 --> 02:58:19,700
but. The label. The EPA label doesn't just talk about

2679
02:58:19,700 --> 02:58:22,980
what chemical is used. And the cora documents, it clearly

2680
02:58:22,980 --> 02:58:27,691
states that. There were tank mixtures determined on site. The

2681
02:58:27,691 --> 02:58:31,291
notice to proceed was on BOCc letterhead. And it was

2682
02:58:31,291 --> 02:58:36,372
signed by Mr. Swanson, and it stated that. It was

2683
02:58:36,372 --> 02:58:40,953
closed to the public. South down indian mountain is where

2684
02:58:40,953 --> 02:58:43,873
Marty Chase alone in his group and the county has

2685
02:58:43,873 --> 02:58:47,953
awarded for cultural preservations. It's a Lakota group that used

2686
02:58:47,953 --> 02:58:51,753
to be on my land. They were recruited by BCPOs,

2687
02:58:51,753 --> 02:58:54,593
so it is not close to the public. I find

2688
02:58:54,593 --> 02:58:59,158
research and testing that without environmental impact study or. A

2689
02:58:59,158 --> 02:59:04,217
special use authorization, BOCC approval. To be reprehensible, and I

2690
02:59:04,217 --> 02:59:09,464
advise. Posak to please encourage the BOCC to take a

2691
02:59:09,464 --> 02:59:16,058
proactive approach. The label also limits not just quantity. Which

2692
02:59:16,058 --> 02:59:18,858
was abused. And it's all in the core of documents

2693
02:59:18,858 --> 02:59:23,938
as well. What was used. Including indasiflam, glyphosate and tank

2694
02:59:23,938 --> 02:59:28,135
mixtures to be. Shown on site, so we don't actually

2695
02:59:28,135 --> 02:59:31,575
know. But I did hear Mr. Swanson say as the

2696
02:59:31,575 --> 02:59:36,375
manufacturer says that one use is sufficient. So I think

2697
02:59:36,375 --> 02:59:39,895
everyone needs to be just asked. The basic question. Why

2698
02:59:39,895 --> 02:59:45,255
have we been spraying rabbit Mountain with esplanade Rejuvena? Plus

2699
02:59:45,255 --> 02:59:50,276
this research. And testing. Both csus and poses was used

2700
02:59:50,276 --> 02:59:54,196
for the approval of reduver plus in 2020. And for

2701
02:59:54,196 --> 02:59:58,781
Vira, Tm or, sorry, reduver. Plus I think in. 2020

2702
02:59:58,781 --> 03:00:03,341
and then reduver TM in 2022. And we're still sprayed.

2703
03:00:03,341 --> 03:00:08,041
They still sprayed. In Dasaflam on Rabbit mountain. And the

2704
03:00:08,041 --> 03:00:10,881
only people that have tested that and said it was

2705
03:00:10,881 --> 03:00:15,081
okay are the very culprits that escalated the research and

2706
03:00:15,081 --> 03:00:19,441
testing from what CSU? Was doing on industrially zoned CMaX

2707
03:00:19,441 --> 03:00:23,681
land to the highest cultural assets in Boulder. County. Thank

2708
03:00:23,681 --> 03:00:33,634
you. Thank you, Amanda. Good evening, Hosak.

2709
03:00:33,634 --> 03:00:35,354
Thank you for the opportunity to speak. My name is

2710
03:00:35,354 --> 03:00:38,194
Aaron Meshki. I live in boulder and represent myself. It's

2711
03:00:38,194 --> 03:00:39,994
been a while since I've been to a post hack

2712
03:00:39,994 --> 03:00:43,434
community or a site tour, but the integrated beach weed

2713
03:00:43,434 --> 03:00:45,314
management plan has stayed on the top of my mind

2714
03:00:45,314 --> 03:00:47,554
because I'm part of a group pro se lawsuit against

2715
03:00:47,554 --> 03:00:50,474
the county for conflicts of interest in creating the 2024

2716
03:00:50,474 --> 03:00:54,171
Integrated weed management plan. Ways, it does not comply with

2717
03:00:54,171 --> 03:00:57,891
state statute and BCPOs's current refusal to do their duty

2718
03:00:57,891 --> 03:01:00,171
to review the Cropland policy, which was up for its

2719
03:01:00,171 --> 03:01:04,251
triennial review on December 7, 2024. Over the last couple

2720
03:01:04,251 --> 03:01:06,571
of years, we have uncovered a pattern and practice of

2721
03:01:06,571 --> 03:01:10,611
noncompliance with BCPOs. That should concern everyone who wants to

2722
03:01:10,611 --> 03:01:13,425
protect our open spaces. But I don't. Have time to

2723
03:01:13,425 --> 03:01:16,124
cover that this evening. A major flaw in the integrated

2724
03:01:16,124 --> 03:01:20,004
weed management plan is the supposed reduction in pesticide use.

2725
03:01:20,004 --> 03:01:22,564
I made this point during the process, but it warrants

2726
03:01:22,564 --> 03:01:27,764
reiteration. Pesticide reduction based on acreage is almost meaningless for

2727
03:01:27,764 --> 03:01:31,964
actual pesticide use. BcPOs could use more quantity of pesticides

2728
03:01:31,964 --> 03:01:35,779
on less area and given information, Mark Guttridge sent. To

2729
03:01:35,779 --> 03:01:39,379
Posac and the commissioners in July. Pesticide use was up

2730
03:01:39,379 --> 03:01:43,985
300% at that. Point. The goal two of eliminating 3000

2731
03:01:43,985 --> 03:01:46,825
acres of cheek grass is in direct conflict with reducing

2732
03:01:46,825 --> 03:01:50,709
pesticide. Use. It is also important to note. That goal

2733
03:01:50,709 --> 03:01:53,069
to allows a broad variety of research, some of which

2734
03:01:53,069 --> 03:01:55,989
can be incredibly toxic. Like what? Was conducted on open

2735
03:01:55,989 --> 03:02:02,529
space within. Products since at least 2018. Boulder county residents

2736
03:02:02,529 --> 03:02:04,449
did not sign up to be guinea pigs, nor were

2737
03:02:04,449 --> 03:02:07,849
they consulted about experimental testing on open space areas where

2738
03:02:07,849 --> 03:02:12,289
they recreate and even hold indigenous religious and healing ceremonies.

2739
03:02:12,289 --> 03:02:15,609
The public facing application database does not show the acreage

2740
03:02:15,609 --> 03:02:19,009
treated or the amount of chemical applied, so accountability is

2741
03:02:19,009 --> 03:02:23,910
basically nonexistent unless. BCPOs chooses to present that information or

2742
03:02:23,910 --> 03:02:27,310
a quora request forces disclosure. So goal six is a

2743
03:02:27,310 --> 03:02:30,910
promise that has noble implemented. I was glad to hear

2744
03:02:30,910 --> 03:02:33,150
about the updates on the pilot. Projects, but most of

2745
03:02:33,150 --> 03:02:37,550
the communities concerns were not heated. Drone sprays are imminent.

2746
03:02:37,550 --> 03:02:41,902
Pesticides are still widely used, as they were before. The

2747
03:02:41,902 --> 03:02:44,502
dramatic increase in 2025 seems to be making up for

2748
03:02:44,502 --> 03:02:48,062
lost time. And despite what you all voted for BcPos

2749
03:02:48,062 --> 03:02:51,702
is still able to use glyphosate on our open spaces.

2750
03:02:51,702 --> 03:02:54,902
There is nothing barring postac or the commissioners from insisting

2751
03:02:54,902 --> 03:02:59,102
on revisions to the 2024 Integrated Weed management Plan for

2752
03:02:59,102 --> 03:03:03,068
greater protection and accountability before the three. Year requirement, especially

2753
03:03:03,068 --> 03:03:07,765
given what has surfaced during. Since that plan was passed

2754
03:03:07,765 --> 03:03:12,066
last year. You are our representative. You are our line

2755
03:03:12,066 --> 03:03:14,746
of defense, and what the community needs from postac. Right

2756
03:03:14,746 --> 03:03:23,313
now. isn't more land acquisition recommendations but better oversight of

2757
03:03:23,313 --> 03:03:25,371
bcpos thank you thank you aaron Is there anybody else

2758
03:03:25,371 --> 03:03:35,352
who wants to speak? Yes, please come up. Suzanne

2759
03:03:35,352 --> 03:03:39,072
Webble, five seven throughout prospect road long lot I wasn't

2760
03:03:39,072 --> 03:03:43,007
planning to speak, but I can't resist. The whole thing.

2761
03:03:44,987 --> 03:03:49,986
Is integrated pest management. And you have to use, when

2762
03:03:49,986 --> 03:03:52,386
it comes to weeds, you have to use the right

2763
03:03:52,386 --> 03:03:57,096
weed for the right plant pests, whatever it is. And

2764
03:03:57,096 --> 03:03:59,776
I think Boulder county has been doing a fantastic job.

2765
03:04:01,446 --> 03:04:05,032
The weird situation. Is essentially out of control. I have

2766
03:04:05,032 --> 03:04:09,112
an 80 acre farm, and I'm a weed wonk. I

2767
03:04:09,112 --> 03:04:12,872
hate weeds. And I think it was fate that brought

2768
03:04:12,872 --> 03:04:16,152
me to this piece of distressed property that was nothing

2769
03:04:16,152 --> 03:04:21,127
but weeds and rocks. And in 25 years, it is

2770
03:04:21,127 --> 03:04:27,649
now certified weed free. For hay. And where it isn't

2771
03:04:27,649 --> 03:04:30,609
possible to hay it. I go after those weeds by

2772
03:04:30,609 --> 03:04:33,209
pulling them. By hand. And I do spray when I

2773
03:04:33,209 --> 03:04:36,397
have to, but I try not to. Because I get

2774
03:04:36,397 --> 03:04:39,317
it. This is bolder, and it's the right thing to

2775
03:04:39,317 --> 03:04:42,952
be thinking. About. But there are times when. You have

2776
03:04:42,952 --> 03:04:48,603
to evaluate what's the worst. Is it the weeds? Or

2777
03:04:48,603 --> 03:04:52,243
is it the chemicals? And sometimes the weeds are worse.

2778
03:04:52,243 --> 03:04:56,403
The weeds are choking out native vegetation. I've seen it

2779
03:04:56,403 --> 03:05:00,563
happen on my own farm. The weeds choke out wildlife,

2780
03:05:00,563 --> 03:05:05,393
and, yes, The elk did bring. Harry Willow Herb, which

2781
03:05:05,393 --> 03:05:08,817
is the worst thing. That's happened to my farm in

2782
03:05:08,817 --> 03:05:10,977
a long time, and I don't have a clue how

2783
03:05:10,977 --> 03:05:13,537
to take care of it. It is rampant and I'm

2784
03:05:13,537 --> 03:05:17,817
embarrassed, but I keep everything else as best I can,

2785
03:05:17,817 --> 03:05:21,057
under control. And I've got russian olives that I've. Taken

2786
03:05:21,057 --> 03:05:26,876
out thousands of them. By hand. If you don't stay

2787
03:05:26,876 --> 03:05:29,996
on top of it after you've cut them off, you've.

2788
03:05:29,996 --> 03:05:33,756
Got another 15 russian olives. That sprout from the trunk,

2789
03:05:33,756 --> 03:05:36,516
it's ridiculous. And then they spread all their weeds with.

2790
03:05:38,141 --> 03:05:44,222
Their seeds from all of those saplings. So. In very

2791
03:05:44,222 --> 03:05:49,747
limited places. I go after my russian olive stumps. With

2792
03:05:49,747 --> 03:05:53,736
roundup, because if you don't. You're worse off than you

2793
03:05:53,736 --> 03:05:58,032
were before you started. So cut these guys Some Slack.

2794
03:05:58,032 --> 03:06:00,192
I think they're doing a good job. And your job?

2795
03:06:00,192 --> 03:06:05,066
Is to just make sure that. It's in balance. So

2796
03:06:05,066 --> 03:06:08,793
thanks. Thank you, Suzanne. Is there anybody else in the

2797
03:06:08,793 --> 03:06:13,859
room? Who wants to comment? On the topic of weed

2798
03:06:13,859 --> 03:06:18,513
management. I don't see any hands raised. Nick, are there

2799
03:06:18,513 --> 03:06:22,835
people online? We did have some people sign up. I'm

2800
03:06:22,835 --> 03:06:27,604
not seeing any hands raised. Okay, here we go. We've

2801
03:06:27,604 --> 03:06:34,514
got Crystal Markovich. Crystal, you need to unmute yourself. Can

2802
03:06:34,514 --> 03:06:37,754
you hear me? Yeah. Yes, we can. Crystal recall you.

2803
03:06:37,754 --> 03:06:45,046
Have three minutes here. Okay. Hi, I'm Castor Makovich, Newerland,

2804
03:06:45,046 --> 03:06:49,486
Colorado. So during the campaign to stop the aerial spraying

2805
03:06:49,486 --> 03:06:55,766
of glyphosate and indosiphram, Buddha county residents demonstrated the care

2806
03:06:55,766 --> 03:06:59,966
for the public lands, the approval of using drones to

2807
03:06:59,966 --> 03:07:04,682
spread the highly toxic herbicides. In those eplam by two

2808
03:07:04,682 --> 03:07:10,722
of a commissioner on BCPOs natural land hit our community.

2809
03:07:10,722 --> 03:07:15,487
Hub. It is understandable. As our community is very well

2810
03:07:15,487 --> 03:07:20,587
informed that industry flams toxicity. To which they are exposed.

2811
03:07:20,587 --> 03:07:24,707
And our community is not alone in being concerned. I

2812
03:07:24,707 --> 03:07:28,747
encourage you to read the fact sheet created by the

2813
03:07:28,747 --> 03:07:35,077
public employees for. Undermodal responsibilities. Where public employees express their

2814
03:07:35,077 --> 03:07:41,517
concern regarding the widespread use of Indoziflam on Tubi clans,

2815
03:07:41,517 --> 03:07:44,683
however. We did not want to be left with a

2816
03:07:44,683 --> 03:07:50,283
feeling of being abundant and powerless. Our community created an

2817
03:07:50,283 --> 03:07:55,443
email list for opportunities to join and support local ecosystem

2818
03:07:55,443 --> 03:08:01,363
restoration project. On public network land without exposure to recent

2819
03:08:01,363 --> 03:08:06,426
herbicide spraying. One of this project is the community based

2820
03:08:06,426 --> 03:08:11,788
local ecosystem restoration project. On Winigurridge in collaboration with the

2821
03:08:11,788 --> 03:08:16,888
National Forest Service. This project is approved by the local

2822
03:08:16,888 --> 03:08:22,408
USFS ecologist with whom I coordinate. We also receive guidance

2823
03:08:22,408 --> 03:08:28,565
from other local ecologists. Under my direction, volunteers manually collect

2824
03:08:28,565 --> 03:08:33,125
seeds of chickwas, canadian fishers, and mullins to limit the

2825
03:08:33,125 --> 03:08:36,965
spread and to give an advantage to native plants without

2826
03:08:36,965 --> 03:08:43,045
disturbing the soul. Essentially, the community demonstrates that it can

2827
03:08:43,045 --> 03:08:48,674
successfully steward land in Boulder. Country and achieve excellent results

2828
03:08:48,674 --> 03:08:52,868
in collaboration with the National Forest Service. This project was

2829
03:08:52,868 --> 03:08:58,475
celebrated by the Society of Ecological Restoration. For an in

2830
03:08:58,475 --> 03:09:04,591
person presentation. During the 11th World Conference on Ecological Restoration

2831
03:09:04,591 --> 03:09:08,289
in Denver this October. In the email I sent you,

2832
03:09:08,289 --> 03:09:11,689
you can watch a recording of our presentation and view

2833
03:09:11,689 --> 03:09:19,702
the associated posture in the attachment. If bcos. Ever creates

2834
03:09:19,702 --> 03:09:24,632
a restoration project or natural lands. That have not been

2835
03:09:24,632 --> 03:09:28,752
recently spread with a beside let us know so that

2836
03:09:28,752 --> 03:09:32,912
we can advertise it on our list of volunteers. See

2837
03:09:32,912 --> 03:09:37,311
my email. To see my email to you for more

2838
03:09:37,311 --> 03:09:41,471
details on why the Cuban to withdraw your program ruined.

2839
03:09:41,471 --> 03:09:45,751
By the BCP or staff does not qualify as such

2840
03:09:45,751 --> 03:09:51,215
a project. Crystal. Time's up. Thank you. Nick, do we

2841
03:09:51,215 --> 03:10:00,364
have anybody else online? That was all we had. Okay.

2842
03:10:00,364 --> 03:10:06,167
Thank you. Do we have any public comments on items

2843
03:10:06,167 --> 03:10:12,707
not on tonight's agenda? Anybody in the room? If you

2844
03:10:12,707 --> 03:10:20,982
could submit it. Through Renata, and she could send it

2845
03:10:20,982 --> 03:10:24,311
to all of us at the same time, please. Thank

2846
03:10:24,311 --> 03:10:32,106
you. Anybody else? Okay. Thank you.

2847
03:10:33,866 --> 03:10:37,506
What about online, Nick? Anybody wanting to comment on items

2848
03:10:37,506 --> 03:10:43,707
not on tonight's agenda? No hands. Raised. Thank you. Posac.

2849
03:10:43,707 --> 03:10:47,547
Does anybody want to comment on items not on tonight's

2850
03:10:47,547 --> 03:10:56,353
agenda? Yes, john. Lutz Posac and I just like to

2851
03:10:56,353 --> 03:11:00,073
reiterate, even though it seems like a hopeless cause that

2852
03:11:00,073 --> 03:11:03,113
I do wish we could be given pertinent information about

2853
03:11:03,113 --> 03:11:07,273
conservation easements. Because it's one thing to have the conservation

2854
03:11:07,273 --> 03:11:12,033
easement that, for example, prohibits antler gathering. And that's all

2855
03:11:12,033 --> 03:11:16,838
it does. Versus one that pro. Prohibits annexation or further

2856
03:11:16,838 --> 03:11:22,223
subdivision. If we could be told this about Stillwater during

2857
03:11:22,223 --> 03:11:26,382
the POSAc meeting. Why not include it in the package

2858
03:11:26,382 --> 03:11:29,542
of written information that was shared with us in the

2859
03:11:29,542 --> 03:11:33,872
public? A week before the meeting. Okay. Thank you. Thank

2860
03:11:33,872 --> 03:11:41,776
you. Thank you. Anybody else? Christine christine johnson posak.

2861
03:11:43,760 --> 03:11:48,045
I just wanted to express. That last week I attended.

2862
03:11:49,582 --> 03:11:57,291
The Colorado pollinator summit. On the Cu campus. And. An

2863
03:11:57,291 --> 03:12:04,095
interesting fact or factor. Of that summit looking. At decline

2864
03:12:04,095 --> 03:12:10,237
in species after species after species. Of native pollinators. Butterflies,

2865
03:12:10,237 --> 03:12:19,746
bees, hummingbirds. And concerns were expressed. About.

2866
03:12:21,451 --> 03:12:28,076
Changes in land management. Climate change, but especially pesticides. And

2867
03:12:28,076 --> 03:12:36,179
pesticides. In general were fingered as the predominant. Concern. For

2868
03:12:36,179 --> 03:12:42,109
most of the species. And. I want to express gratitude

2869
03:12:42,109 --> 03:12:49,470
to. Pos staff and to the community. That there's concern

2870
03:12:49,470 --> 03:12:53,110
about this and that we are considering all of this

2871
03:12:53,110 --> 03:12:58,107
carefully. I see all of you, including this staff, and

2872
03:12:58,107 --> 03:13:02,587
I appreciate that we're spending a lot of time thinking

2873
03:13:02,587 --> 03:13:06,791
about this. I do feel like we are making. Some

2874
03:13:06,791 --> 03:13:13,724
incremental progress. I would encourage. Staff to. Keep working at

2875
03:13:13,724 --> 03:13:19,404
whatever you can do. To reduce pesticide use. Thank you.

2876
03:13:21,323 --> 03:13:25,829
Thank you. Anybody else? Okay. So before we move on

2877
03:13:25,829 --> 03:13:31,186
to the director's update, I want to mention that two

2878
03:13:31,186 --> 03:13:39,009
other staff members. Very central to. Postac success. Are retiring

2879
03:13:39,009 --> 03:13:43,890
this year. Renata Fry and Vivia Janatapur. And I want

2880
03:13:43,890 --> 03:13:47,210
to thank both of you for all the support you've

2881
03:13:47,210 --> 03:13:51,626
given us. For the entire seven years that I've been

2882
03:13:51,626 --> 03:13:59,096
involved on Postac. So thank you very much. So we'll

2883
03:13:59,096 --> 03:14:02,696
turn it over to Teresa Glocky for the director's update.

2884
03:14:04,228 --> 03:14:08,788
And I also want to mention that Teresa is retiring

2885
03:14:08,788 --> 03:14:13,486
this year. And we won't have a December meeting. So

2886
03:14:13,486 --> 03:14:16,406
on behalf of all postac members, Teresa I want to

2887
03:14:16,406 --> 03:14:21,340
thank you for your years of service. To Boulder County

2888
03:14:21,340 --> 03:14:25,460
Parks and open Space Advisory committee as director and in

2889
03:14:25,460 --> 03:14:33,026
other positions, you've held. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate

2890
03:14:33,026 --> 03:14:36,546
that. Yeah. And thank you for recognizing Renata and Vivian.

2891
03:14:38,357 --> 03:14:41,077
Yeah. They have been instrumental in PoSac for all the

2892
03:14:41,077 --> 03:14:43,917
years that they've worked. Here. And they wouldn't be retiring

2893
03:14:43,917 --> 03:14:47,077
if they hadn't been here longer than 15. Years. So

2894
03:14:47,077 --> 03:14:51,554
that's 15 years more than that. 18. You're both at

2895
03:14:51,554 --> 03:14:55,234
18, 1918 and 19, so it's a lot of years.

2896
03:14:55,234 --> 03:14:57,314
We're going to be turning over. And you heard Janice

2897
03:14:57,314 --> 03:15:00,874
as well. 20 years and then. We saw Tina brief

2898
03:15:00,874 --> 03:15:05,463
appearance this evening. Tina is also retiring. And the reason,

2899
03:15:05,463 --> 03:15:08,503
just so that you all know the reason, is that

2900
03:15:08,503 --> 03:15:12,143
the county is looking for cost savings and has offered.

2901
03:15:14,090 --> 03:15:17,410
Voluntary separation incentive program to all county employees that have

2902
03:15:17,410 --> 03:15:20,410
been here for 15 years or more. Parks and open

2903
03:15:20,410 --> 03:15:24,130
space had 48 employees who have been here for 15

2904
03:15:24,130 --> 03:15:27,810
years or more. That's quite a number of those 48.

2905
03:15:27,810 --> 03:15:32,619
We've had eight people who have accepted. The incentive program.

2906
03:15:32,619 --> 03:15:37,761
So there will be changes, that's for sure. And actually,

2907
03:15:37,761 --> 03:15:39,081
I was going to say this at the end, but

2908
03:15:39,081 --> 03:15:41,961
since we're talking about it. There is no Posac in

2909
03:15:41,961 --> 03:15:48,195
December and in January since I'm leaving. The county commissioners

2910
03:15:48,195 --> 03:15:53,697
have not yet. Named an interim director, even, and the

2911
03:15:53,697 --> 03:15:56,777
process for hiring my replacement has not started. They've had

2912
03:15:56,777 --> 03:15:59,297
other things on their mind, including hiring a new HR

2913
03:15:59,297 --> 03:16:07,040
director, which they did. So. I would be cautious on

2914
03:16:07,040 --> 03:16:12,901
whether or not. Don't cancel your January. Your. Third Thursday

2915
03:16:12,901 --> 03:16:16,901
in January. But whoever the interim director is will be

2916
03:16:16,901 --> 03:16:19,221
reaching out to you because Renata won't be here to

2917
03:16:19,221 --> 03:16:21,581
reach out to you, so we'll make sure that that's

2918
03:16:21,581 --> 03:16:26,048
on their list. And if there are acquisitions, we will

2919
03:16:26,048 --> 03:16:29,166
have a meeting in January. If not, it may be

2920
03:16:29,166 --> 03:16:36,401
a February meeting. Someone will be. So just a few

2921
03:16:36,401 --> 03:16:42,730
things to update you on. The podcast voices of open

2922
03:16:42,730 --> 03:16:47,005
space is still going strong. Another issue. Was another episode

2923
03:16:47,005 --> 03:16:49,645
was released today. I highly encourage you to pick up

2924
03:16:49,645 --> 03:16:52,920
some of those. Some of those podcasts. You can watch

2925
03:16:52,920 --> 03:16:55,800
them on YouTube if you want. And thank you to

2926
03:16:55,800 --> 03:17:00,480
Poria for all his amazing work helping get those off

2927
03:17:00,480 --> 03:17:04,480
the ground. Recorded, edited and then produced. So. They're wonderful.

2928
03:17:05,869 --> 03:17:09,469
Volunteers were one of the most recent ones and was

2929
03:17:09,469 --> 03:17:12,869
a long term volunteer naturalist who's been a volunteer for

2930
03:17:12,869 --> 03:17:15,469
47 years. So it puts to shame those of us

2931
03:17:15,469 --> 03:17:19,071
that have been here. For 15 or 20 years. Anyway,

2932
03:17:19,071 --> 03:17:21,899
I encourage you to listen to the podcast. We have

2933
03:17:21,899 --> 03:17:28,478
a big celebration. The ballot initiative to change. Our. 15%

2934
03:17:28,478 --> 03:17:31,758
sales tax, which was set to expire in 2030, has

2935
03:17:31,758 --> 03:17:35,798
been extended by the voters of Boulder county in perpetuity,

2936
03:17:35,798 --> 03:17:39,764
and that was approved by 74%. A wonderful margin, so

2937
03:17:39,764 --> 03:17:42,482
that is really good news. It gives us a little

2938
03:17:42,482 --> 03:17:45,162
breathing room as far as looking at our long term

2939
03:17:45,162 --> 03:17:50,538
projections. To fund open space. Now, a few greedy things

2940
03:17:50,538 --> 03:17:53,738
you may have seen out and about. Loggerman parking lot

2941
03:17:53,738 --> 03:17:57,818
we are updating that it's been years in the making.

2942
03:17:57,818 --> 03:18:00,298
We are virtually doubling the size. And making it more

2943
03:18:00,298 --> 03:18:05,017
accessible to horse trailers. That should be done in the

2944
03:18:05,017 --> 03:18:10,797
next couple of. Months for sure. Prince Lake. The dam

2945
03:18:10,797 --> 03:18:16,369
agricultural dam restoration out near Erie. We're at 90% completion.

2946
03:18:16,369 --> 03:18:17,849
It'll be done by the end of this year. So

2947
03:18:17,849 --> 03:18:19,649
if you live out in the Erie area and you've

2948
03:18:19,649 --> 03:18:21,929
seen a big construction project, right adjacent to the homes.

2949
03:18:25,124 --> 03:18:28,004
That's Boulder County's Prince Lake. We're very glad that that's

2950
03:18:28,004 --> 03:18:31,844
done our prescribed fire. This is our prescribed fire season.

2951
03:18:33,355 --> 03:18:36,075
We have been able to burn some ditches and black

2952
03:18:36,075 --> 03:18:40,884
lined a large. Area at Hall Ranch to do a

2953
03:18:40,884 --> 03:18:46,044
broadcast burn. So if weather conditions are right, we will

2954
03:18:46,044 --> 03:18:49,004
be able to do more burning. That is a good

2955
03:18:49,004 --> 03:18:53,844
thing for both weed management, natural resource management. So watch

2956
03:18:53,844 --> 03:19:00,431
for notices on that. The AG division manager. So Mike

2957
03:19:00,431 --> 03:19:04,817
Foster, who you have met, left us in June. And.

2958
03:19:06,096 --> 03:19:10,183
The position. Has been advertised. We've gotten applicants back, their

2959
03:19:10,183 --> 03:19:12,743
staff are going through the process, and there will be

2960
03:19:12,743 --> 03:19:16,903
a public survey asking the public what you are interested

2961
03:19:16,903 --> 03:19:19,063
in, what qualities and traits you would like to see

2962
03:19:19,063 --> 03:19:21,303
in an ag division manager. And what kind of questions

2963
03:19:21,303 --> 03:19:26,232
would you recommend? Staff ask the final candidates. So that

2964
03:19:26,232 --> 03:19:29,539
should be released tomorrow. We've already put that similar survey

2965
03:19:29,539 --> 03:19:33,223
out to our ag tenants and gotten their feedback. So

2966
03:19:33,223 --> 03:19:36,223
if you are interested, check our website out tomorrow and

2967
03:19:36,223 --> 03:19:38,463
you'll be able to give your opinions and tell your

2968
03:19:38,463 --> 03:19:42,634
friends and neighbors too. We're very excited. It does look

2969
03:19:42,634 --> 03:19:46,832
like we have a good candidate pool. Prairie run, which

2970
03:19:46,832 --> 03:19:49,632
many of you approved about the same time as the

2971
03:19:49,632 --> 03:19:54,672
integrated weed management plan construction has started on the 109th

2972
03:19:54,672 --> 03:20:00,278
street parking lot. And the 2.2 miles of trail, and

2973
03:20:00,278 --> 03:20:02,718
that is expected to be done in the spring. The

2974
03:20:02,718 --> 03:20:08,594
first phase, the southwest corner of that. Park basically is

2975
03:20:08,594 --> 03:20:12,154
expected to be opened in the spring, spring, December next

2976
03:20:12,154 --> 03:20:15,820
year. And that is all I have. It has been

2977
03:20:15,820 --> 03:20:19,820
a pleasure serving you. I have always appreciated the perspective.

2978
03:20:19,820 --> 03:20:23,940
Posac brings the tough questions that you all bring tonight.

2979
03:20:25,290 --> 03:20:28,511
Is no exception. You really come at it with heart

2980
03:20:28,511 --> 03:20:31,151
and with really good questions for our staff, and you

2981
03:20:31,151 --> 03:20:35,511
make us think as we're writing management plans and being

2982
03:20:35,511 --> 03:20:38,351
responsive to the public. So thank you. It's been a

2983
03:20:38,351 --> 03:20:42,536
pleasure working with you. And maybe I will see you

2984
03:20:42,536 --> 03:20:45,496
in my three minute time frame. Speaking about something parks

2985
03:20:45,496 --> 03:20:49,964
and open. Space is doing. Thank you, Teresa. Anybody on

2986
03:20:49,964 --> 03:20:55,843
Postac have any questions or comments for Therese? Thank you.

2987
03:20:58,320 --> 03:21:04,714
Very much. Absent a December meeting. I want to wish

2988
03:21:04,714 --> 03:21:10,157
staff Posack and the public. Happy holidays in whatever tradition

2989
03:21:10,157 --> 03:21:13,157
you celebrate. And thank you all. Bye bye.