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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/6/2023 - Meeting Minutes MINUTES FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS BOARD MEETING(CDCIP) Monday, March 6, 2023 5:30pm 1. Board Members Board Members Not Present Heidi Steed, Chair Jenny Bonk, Vice-Chair Jake Skog Brooke Young Jason Motley Brad Christensen Elke Opsahl Staff Present Kalli Ruiz, Rachel Molinari- CIP Team Aaron Price, Mike Atkinson, Jordan Smith, and Mary Beth Thompson—Department of Finance Ben Luedtke- Salt Lake City Council Staff Kristin Riker, Tom Millar-Department of Public Lands 2. Staff Updates There were no staff updates. 3. Approval of the Minutes Ms. Young made a motion to approve the minutes from the February 27, 2023. Mr. Christensen seconded the motion. Upon roll call the minutes were approved. 4. Business A. Welcome & Introductions Ms. Steed welcomed the CDCIP Board members and City staff and opened the meeting at 5:32pm. B. Questions & Discussion on Proposed CIP Projects Internal Public Lands Applications: Cottonwood Park Trailhead and Parklet Ms. Bonk asked what the Parks,Natural Lands, Urban Forestry& Trails (PNUT)Advisory Board's role was within the Capital Improvement Program(CIP)process and how its board members were selected. Mr. Millar said that the PNUT Board advises the Department of Public Lands and has been involved in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 process since August 2023. He explained that the PNUT Board brainstorms its collective priorities and then forms the ranking criteria; and that the important factors influencing the PNUT Board's evaluation and prioritization ranking of the top 20 (10 internal and 10 constituent)projects in its support document include: impacts to climate resilience and open space equity, urban reforestation; public safety and aging infrastructure; the values of Equity, Stewardship, and Livability as stated in the Salt Lake City Reimagine Nature Public Lands Master Plan; a reasonable balance between Design, Construction and Asset Renewal categories of CIP projects; the critical need of the project for a community; and lastly, constituent proposed CIP projects that are aligned with approved master or park plans. Mr. Millar said the PNUT Board is comprised of members from each city council district and at large members. He noted that the City Council amended the Ordinance to include two additional board members from indigenous communities and tribes. Mr. Millar said the process follows the same procedure as most of the Mayor's Boards and Commissions in which the applicants are interviewed and ultimately approved by the City Council. Mr. Christensen said he is familiar with the parking lot adjacent to the State building near the park and its typical vacancy. He voiced concern about over serving the park with a paved parking lot. Mr. Millar expressed the same concern and said the Department is always cautious of adding too much or too little parking to its projects. He said the State building is currently vacant and any vehicles parking there are nonrelated to State business. Mr. Millar explained that the Department pursued the property because of its proximity to the park and because people already park in the vacant lot. Mr. Skog asked if the project scope included a connection to the Parkway Trail. Mr. Millar confirmed it does include a formal connection that would either build up the existing path or create one that meets accessibility standards. He noted that one of the benefits of the property is that it is one of the only trailheads that also has parking on the section of the Jordan River Parkway Trail. Mr. Christensen inquired about the restroom availability as a result of improving the park and trails. Mr. Millar stated that there was a constituent application submitted to review and establish best practices for public restroom access and if approved for funding, would allow the Department to investigate the matters further. He added that the current restrooms at Cottonwood Park were closed because of vandalism and lack of patrol in the area. Ms. Bonk questioned why this project ranked first on Public Lands' list and asked for an explanation on the ranking system. Mr. Millar said the Department looked at multiple criteria when developing its list,but the park ranked higher because of its shovel readiness and because it has been underutilized for longer than desired. Library Plaza Structural Assessment and Visioning Ms. Young said that she works for the library, is aware of the issues facing the structure, and how costly the construction improvements will be. She expressed the importance of fixing the plaza in a timely manner. Mr. Skog acknowledged the plaza's structural failures described in the submission and asked if any issues were due to a failure to envision the property accurately. He recognized the plaza's lack of shade as a reason the plaza is not fully activated for events but wanted more background information as to how the City got to this point other than the structural settling issues that have developed over time. Mr. Millar explained that having the plaza sit on top of the parking garage limits what can be put on it. He gave the example of the space not being suitable for trees or significant structures and said the intention for the plaza was to be a community event space but has been difficult to fully activate the area because most events utilize the 200 East roadway and Washington Square instead. Mr. Millar said the Department plans to study best practices for activating the plaza and use the results to determine what can be done to increase the usage of the property. Ms. Riker added that many event organizers want to use Washington Square Park for events due to the shade it offers but are also limited in what they can do because of the trees located on the property. She said the Department wants them to be able to activate the space more and therefore is looking into what can be done to provide a solution that leads to more usage. Mr. Millar said the project would tie into the Green Loop which includes 200 East as a greenspace buffer around downtown. Ms. Young asked if the project would include 300 East. Mr. Millar said they would focus on the most significant structural and settling issues first, but as part of the envisioning process they would look at the area holistically. Ms. Riker said the Public Safety building was originally envisioned to act as another event space and that's why it had the overhead shade structure. Ms. Bonk inquired about the connection this project had to Salt Lake City's bid for the 2030 or 2034 Winter Olympics. Ms. Riker stated that the improvements are needed regardless of SLC hosting the Olympics and reiterated the importance of activating the space. Fire Station No. 7 Tennis and Pickleball Court Restoration and Amenities Ms. Bonk questioned if the local community was asked if they wanted pickleball courts at the fire station, noting that the age range of those with interest in the sport clearly have more capacity to voice their desires over those younger residents who might rather have a playground. She also asked why the PNUT Board ranked it as its top recommendation. Mr. Millar said that pickleball is always a highly requested sport to make available at City sites and that he would get back to the Board as to why the PNUT Board ranked it so high. He explained the site is shovel ready and would only require resurfacing and minor modifications as opposed to adding a playground which is much more expensive and would require significant site modifications. Ms. Steed commented that as a resident of the neighborhood, she thinks pickleball courts are a great addition and would be well used. Mr. Millar explained that the Department is only asking for construction costs because they already have a consultant under contract doing similar work and could modify the scope and budget to include these courts. He said if this project were funded it could begin work immediately and implement the changes quickly. Mr. Motley expressed his excitement for pickleball courts and asked if a bike rack would be added. Mr. Millar explained that the site was too small to accommodate a bike rack within the fenced area,but that Public Lands could work with the Transportation Division to install one in the public right of way. Mr. Christensen commented that adding a drinking fountain to the restroom would be a good addition to this section of the Jordan River Trail. Mr. Millar said that as part of the study proposed in the constituent application the Department would look at this site also to determine what is best. He explained that a sewer system is needed in order to have restroom or drinking fountain which is the most expensive aspect. Parks Bilingual Sip nage Installation Ms. Bonk asked if the City considered adding QR codes on the signage. Mr. Millar said the Department was in phase two of the bilingual sign installation and would get back to the Board about whether QR codes could be used. Richmond Park Community Playground Mr. Skog asked for an explanation on how the City prioritizes playground upgrades. Mr. Millar said the City owns just under sixty playgrounds and that they typically last thirty years. He said on average the Department replaces two playgrounds per year. He explained that they evaluate the condition and look at the remaining life of the asset as well as the anticipated or existing use of the equipment to determine prioritization Mr. Millar said keeping the most amount of people safe by replacing the playgrounds that are in the worst shape, and most highly used equipment are top priority. Mr. Christensen asked if the Department knew the current usage of Richmond Park. Mr. Millar stated that they do not have accurate year over year visitation numbers or usage numbers for any of the parks which is why the application uses the surrounding areas family density as a reference point. Mr. Skog asked if it was a trend to design new playgrounds with features that are appropriate for children of all ages. Mr. Millar explained that you cannot design a playground that is suitable for everyone's needs and therefore different structures are designed for different age groups. Mr. Skog mentioned all the metal playground equipment at a park in his neighborhood, Ida M. Cotton Park, and how it looked like it was in worse shape than Richmond Park. He asked why this park wasn't ranked higher. Mr. Millar stated that the Department has identified several parks, including Ida M. Cotton Park, where external partners are interested in replacing the playground and not spending taxpayer dollars is preferable if an outside party could invest in the improvements. 337 Park Development Ms. Young asked how realistic it was to make a new green space in the park given that parts of the garden failed in the past due to lack of sun exposure. Mr. Millar said that garden was located at the back of the park which is highly shaded during most of the day and that he anticipates the remaining footprint of the park would receive enough sunlight in the afternoon and evening to thrive. He said the proper plants would be installed to ensure survival. Ms. Steed inquired about the increased interest in the lot. Mr. Millar said there have been an increasing number of encroachments and easements in the last two years with pressure to grant additional easements or sell the property. He noted that Council District 4 has the least amount of open space and therefore the Department wanted to keep the property in its inventory. Ms. Steed asked if the Department knew what plans outside parties had for development. Mr. Millar answered that he was unaware of what would be developed. Mr. Skog asked how far in advance would a decision to sell the property be made and if the Department would have a say in the decision. Mr. Millar said the property is owned by Salt Lake City and is within the Department of Public Lands inventory confirming they would have a say in the decision. Ms. Riker added that any sale would have to go through the standard property disposition process which included publicly advertising the disposal of open space land. She said that the Mayor would not be in favor of selling the property because it would go against her State of the City address. Ms. Riker explained that the City got rid of a small portion in the back of the park because it posed a safety threat to the area because people could hide in the back of the park. She said the area has more households with dogs than it does children, and it would be more difficult to sell the property if it was originally purchased with impact fees. Mr. Millar stated that the project's entire budget was impact fee eligible. Jordan Park and Peace Gardens Cultural Landscape Report and Master Plan Ms. Bonk said she appreciates the Department's transparency around how long a study will take to complete and recognizes this approach is in the best interest to design what is appropriate for the area. Mr. Christensen asked how the constituent application for the International Peace Gardens aligns with the Department's application. Mr. Millar explained that the Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) is recommended in Public Lands' Master Plan and that it helps to identify the historic and landmark features of the park while the Master Plan allows them to plan for the next 10-30 years of investment. He said the work done for the CLR and Master Plan will inform the Department about the elements listed in the constituent's application and noted the staff comments document includes the Department's view on the application. Ms. Young asked about the timeline of the project and when people can expect to see progress in the park, noting that people who are passionate about the park could misinterpret no immediate renovation as the City doing nothing. Mr. Millar said the Master Plan would take approximately a year and a half to complete and any capital improvement project progress depends on the amount of funding received. He acknowledged that projects could take many years to complete. Mr. Christensen requested an example of an existing Master Plan that had project completed to highlight the important master plan projects. Mr. Millar provided the example of Allen Park, which the City acquired in 2019, and recently completed a CLR for. He highlighted that the Master Plan was able to begin due to the Bond funding approved in November 2022. Mr. Millar added that the Master Plan has been started more recently. Ms. Riker gave the analogy of a Master Plan being a roadmap and a CLR as fulfilling the roadmap. She explained that there have been many requests to expand the International Peace Gardens over the years and that in order to get it right, the Department needed to work with the community and get feedback. Mr. Millar added that the City Council often asks the Department if something they are requesting funding for is included in a master plan and therefore it was an important standard. Mr. Skog asked for more clarification between a CLR and a Master Plan. Mr. Millar explained the CLR is to identify what exists and what is important, historic, or just old whereas a Master Plan identifies what to do differently and the actions that will be taken. He said the two documents work together, but do not have to be completed together. Mr. Millar stated that it is best to combine the two for historic parks. Rose Park Lane Open Space and Trail Connection Study Mr. Motley inquired about whether the constituent application for Rose Park Lane is dependent on the internal application. Mr. Millar said the internal application is focused on Rose Park Lane's open space where the sidewalk to the Regional Athletic Complex (RAC) is located, and the constituent application is focused on the streetscape, trail, landscaping, lighting, and signage to the south. He said the two projects can be done without each other; however, the constituent application will be dependent on what Public Lands develops in the open space because that will determine where the sidewalk is connected to the RAC and points west of the freeway. Mr. Millar explained that the study will provide best uses of the space once the house is demolished and will include community engagement in its design process. He noted that the neighborhood south of Rose Park feels as though they do not have much publicly accessible open space other than soccer fields in the area. He said the two parties worked closely to develop the submissions. Ms. Ruiz clarified that the internal application is for a study and the constituent application was for construction safety improvements. 11 th Ave Park Pavilion. Trees, and Benches Ms. Bonk asked if the $347,000 listed in this application's budget for 2022 was the amount approved by the Board last year or if it was the amount spent in that year. Mr. Millar said that money was the amount that was approved last year. He added that the application's scope references cost increases that put the project over budget and that the amount requested this year is to cover the gap for the remaining elements of the project's scope. Rose Park and Jordan River Recreation Hub Ms. Steed asked the Department to explain the acquisition of the driving range from the Golf Division. Ms. Riker explained that the driving range is not as heavily used as other ranges and that it needs a lot of work. She said that Public Lands and Golf have been working together to envision what to do with the space. Mr. Millar said the application is focused on the planning and engagement for both the driving range property and the Roots Disc Golf Course. Ms. Riker said Golf is interested in exploring what the course could be and noted it would be a very large open space for the many residents of the area if Public Lands were to acquire it. Mr. Skog questioned if projects centered on a study or design guarantee that something will be done with the spaces in the future or if all the time spent of a study could end up going nowhere and having nothing to show for it. Mr. Millar said that just because planning is done as part of a project does not lock in the required plans to do the work or identified improvements. He said the planning and design is a necessary step to help envision the possibilities of the property. Ms. Steed voiced concern for westside residents who seem to be demoralized by the fact that master plans and envisioning projects take a significant amount of time and who feel like there is no progress being made in their communities. Mr. Millar said that the Department does its best to avoid such issues. Mr. Skog commended Public Lands on its community engagement efforts over the last few years and their attempts to make information and surveys available in languages other than English. Park Strip, Median, Park Irrigation/Water Reduction Strategy and Implementation Mr. Motley asked if the Department was still watering the medians and if so, what the reasoning was. Mr. Millar said they are still watering the medians. Ms. Riker said some medians still have trees on them and they want to keep the trees alive and that residents still want the green space that is provided by the medians. She added that the medians help with the heat island effect by keeping things cooler. Ms. Riker explained that even though this project ranks lowest on the list, it is still important to the Department. She added that the City Council has been interested in water reduction efforts and urged the department to look at better ways to manage medians throughout Salt Lake City. Mr. Motley questioned the use of a consultant as opposed to having internal staff work on these issues. Mr. Millar said there was a lack of staff capacity and that it is faster and more efficient to hire consultants to get the results and implement changes faster. Ms. Riker said the Department consults with experts at SLC Public Utilities, Utah State University Extension, among others to learn from and look into all of the existing irrigation systems. Mr. Motley praised the Department staff member who wrote that Salt Lake City is an innovator. Mr. Millar said Mr. Shields was responsible for writing the submission and would give him the feedback. Ms. Bonk asked if the project would be structured as a pilot program and what success measures the Department would use moving forward. Mr. Millar explained the pilot program was the final step of the study and that the strategies and metrics would be determined by an internal team before implementation. He said the goal was to identify strategic plans for the different sites citywide. Ms. Riker added that there could be instances where the Public Lands staff could implement the strategies recommended by the consultant themselves if it were simple enough to assign a crew to a special project. She reiterated that a consultant was needed to inform the Department to make the best decision. Ms. Bonk said the messaging around what residents should do with park strips in front of their homes was often confusing and would appreciate if the results of the study were published and shared with residents. Mr. Millar said that was an excellent idea that the Department would take into consideration. Mr. Skog asked if the City had a Geographic Information System(GIS) database of all the medians in the City. Mr. Millar confirmed they have all that information. Mr. Skog expressed concern for park strips being converted to rocks or other hostile urban designs that take away from the availability for comfortable public spaces. Mr. Millar said before any changes were implemented that they would consider the current use of all park strips and medians and that any changes would focus on water reduction while maintaining the beauty and character of the public spaces. Mr. Skog asked how much water would be saved by these efforts. Mr. Millar said the percentage would depend on the replacement strategies and that being able to quantify water savings to the public would be an effective tool in communicating the benefits of changing park strips and medians. Mr. Skog questioned if the Department was aware of any other municipalities doing similar projects. Mr. Riker admitted that she has not done much research but knows that St. George, UT does not have many grass medians or park strips. She said they have selectively placed turf on areas heavily used by people and not for aesthetic purposes. Mr. Millar said that case studies would be an important part of the study. C. Overview&Expectations of next meeting Ms. Steed thanked Public Lands staff for their time and willingness to answer the Board's questions. Ms. Ruiz said that the next meeting would take place on Monday, March 13, 2013, covering the Constituent applications related to Public Lands. She stated that the Board would receive their next homework assignment within the coming week to provide ample time to look over the submissions. Ms. Ruiz explained the format of the constituent meetings would include the same Q &A elements, but that each applicant would have a short time to address their project if the Board did not have any questions. She urged the Board to review all the supporting documents uploaded to ZoomGrants. Ms. Ruiz thanked the Board for their time and participation. 5. Adiournment There being no further business. Mr. Skog made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Bonk seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 6:58pm. XHeidi Steed(Mar 14,2023 12:44 MDT) CDCIP Board Chair This document along with the digital recording constitute the official minutes of the CDCIP Board meeting held March 6, 2023. Minutes 03.06.2023 Final Audit Report 2023-03-14 Created: 2023-03-14 By: Rachel Molinari(rachel.molinari@slcgov.com) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAApKL6IJ6fcrB-cJ662Jc-2gl-BmbTksEB "Minutes 03.06.2023" History Document created by Rachel Molinari (rachel.molinari@slcgov.com) 2023-03-14-3:26:41 PM GMT Document emailed to heidisteed@gmail.com for signature 2023-03-14-3:27:16 PM GMT Email viewed by heidisteed@gmail.com 2023-03-14-6:44:31 PM GMT Signer heidisteed@gmail.com entered name at signing as Heidi Steed 2023-03-14-6:44:52 PM GMT 6o Document e-signed by Heidi Steed (heidisteed@gmail.com) Signature Date:2023-03-14-6:44:54 PM GMT-Time Source:server Agreement completed. 2023-03-14-6:44:54 PM GMT Powered by /r Adobe �' Acrobat Sign