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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Recreation and Parks Committee - 03/24/2022 Joint Committee Meeting of the Recreation & Parks and Natural Resources & Conservation Committees: Red Rocks Park Management Plan Update Thursday, March 24, 2022; 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Virtual Location via GotoMeeting Interactive Online Meeting (audio & video): https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/836995429 By telephone (audio only): 1-571-317-3122; Access Code: 836-995-429 AGENDA 1) Welcome & Review of Process for Virtual Meetings (6:00 pm) 2) Orientation of Joint Meeting Process • Identify Committee Member Roles for Forum 3) Presentation of the Red Rocks Park Management Plan Update • Red Rocks Management Plan Update (Main Document) • Red Rocks Management Plan Update (Appendices) 4) Discussion Period 5) Adjourn (7:00 pm) JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING: RED ROCKS PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE (2022) Thursday, March 24, 2022; 6:00 PM Virtual Meeting via GotoMeeting Welcome & Agenda •Why update the existing plan? •Review Important Updates •Discussion & Questions •Next Steps Project Team - Many thanks to the members of the City’s Natural Areas Management Plan Task Force. These members included City staff, representatives from the Recreation & Parks and Natural Resources & Conservation Committee, and state experts in natural resources. This document was prepared by the following: Ashley Parker, City Project Manager Holly Rees, Director of Recreation & Parks Adam Cate, Deputy Director of Public Works Andrew Noonan, Park Foreman Craig Lambert, City Arborist Lisa Yankowski, Natural Resources & Conservation Committee Jon Pence, Recreation & Parks Committee Ethan Tapper, Chittenden County Forester Eric Sorenson, VT Department of Fish & Wildlife Mike Bald, Got Weeds? Task Force Mission – The City of South Burlington established the Natural Area Management Plan Task Force in 2019 to ensure that there was a group focused on creating and updating management plans that would ensure the long-term sustainability of any natural area property purchased by the City. Priorities include natural resource conservation, best management practices, and preservation for public use. The City recognizes the importance of having a management plan that considers internal capacity to fulfill management plan expectations and also meet the needs of the community, while ensuring the longevity of our protected natural area lands. Where to find the Draft Update Documents - •Red Rocks Management Plan Update (Main Document) •Red Rocks Management Plan Update (Appendices) Why Update the Old Plan? •Since adoption of the 2014 plan, park usage, maintenance needs, and staff capacity/resources have changed. •Original plan suggested revision after 5 years of implementation. •Management of natural areas is constantly evolving and best practices change. •Create tiers of management to provide staff options that pair with changing budgetary restrictions. Vision for this management plan update: Red Rocks Park is an important piece of South Burlington’s natural and cultural history. It is valued for its unique ecological connections and features, as well as the numerous recreational opportunities that are highly valued by the community. Therefore, it will be managed to provide high-quality visitor experiences without sacrificing conservation priorities. New Material- •Public Outreach Summary •Assessment of Each Management Priority •Identification of Management Strategies (with estimated costs) for Natural Communities •Recommended 10-year Management Actions for Each Management Priority •Updated Maintenance Activity Timeline •Updated Partnership Opportunities •Inclusion of Any New Maps Goal: To better understand how the park is used by visitors in order to align management needs with park use. •Released in 2019 (open about a year) •Available online and shared via the City website, newsletters, Front Porch Forum, and sent to all City Committees and City Council •Paper copies distributed on-site during events and via volunteers •Staff received 129 responses Recommendation:Conduct additional surveys to gather more data, continue to track trends, and monitor changes to management needs. Public Outreach Summary- Key Survey Takeaways: •Natural Area Conservation is valued more than recreation (77%) •Visits to the park are high –and only increased during the pandemic. •74% of respondents from South Burlington •Favorite Park Uses: Hiking (88%), Dog Walking (42%), Swimming (40%), & Meditation (38%) •Top 3 Management Needs: Trail Maintenance (64%), Erosion Control (55%), & Invasive Plant Removal (54%) •10 comments related to off-leash dogs and dog waste Public Outreach Summary- Identified Park Management Priorities: •Natural Communities •Physical Resources (Geology, Soils, & Hydrology) •Trails •Forest Health & Wildlife Management •Invasive Plants •Off-Leash Dogs •Beach Management •Parking & Traffic Management •Recreation & Education •Champlain Water District Easement •Signage, Wayfinding, & Park Information •Funding Evaluation of Management Priorities- •Incorporates the 2013 natural resource assessment. •Staff recommends a more current assessment to reflect existing conditions. •Valuable resource: Wetland, Woodland, Wildland: A Guide to the Natural Communities of Vermont (Thompson & Sorenson, 2005) •Each natural community can dictate differing management strategies. •Enact a tiered management approach –Tier 1 = strategies requiring greatest amount of resources; Tier 3 –strategies requiring the least amount of resources. •Management notes are provided for each community, as well as management recommendations. Natural Community Management Strategies- Management Recommendations: Tier 1 Forest Management Plan focused on Regeneration and Sustainability 10K for a plan Tier 2 Invasive Plant Management and/or trail maintenance as needed. 7K annually Tier 3 Allow natural process to occur undisturbed.No Cost Example: management recommendations for the Hemlock-White Pine-Northern Hardwood Forest Community •Current plan identified all activities that could occur seasonally in the park. -Assumption tasks are completed by staff. -No funding attached to proposed task or inclusion of tasks staff do annually. •Updated timeline includes a column to assign tasks to an “entity”. -Doesn’t fix funding issue, but provides partnership opportunities to allow flexibility of resources. Recommendation: Evaluate this timeline regularly, and determine which tasks are priority. Implement a monitoring checklist to complete after a site visit. Updated Maintenance Activity Timeline- Example: Spring Maintenance Activities Timeline Discussion & Questions Next Steps- •Revise & Finalize Plan •Committee Support of the Recreation Director’s Adoption of the Plan •Update City Council •Initiate Updates to the Wheeler Nature Park Management Plan Remaining Questions? Thank you for your time! If you have any remaining questions, please contact Ashley Parker, City Project Manager, at: aparker@southburlingtonvt.gov.