TOWN OF BRECKENRIDGE OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMISSION Monday, June 15, 2015 Lower Level Conference Room Breckenridge Town Hall 150 Ski Hill Road

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1 TOWN OF BRECKENRIDGE OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMISSION Monday, June 15, 2015 Lower Level Conference Room Breckenridge Town Hall 150 Ski Hill Road 4:00 Wellington Bike Park and Pump Track Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting (710 Wellington Rd.) 5:30 Call to Order, Roll Call 5:30 Discussion/approval of Minutes May 18, :35 Discussion/approval of Agenda 5:40 Public Comment (Non-Agenda Items) 5:45 Staff Summary 2 Field Season Update Friends of Breckenridge Trails Cucumber Gulch Update 8 Summit Public Radio Utility Easement Fremont/Hoosier Pass Recpath Letter 21 National Forest Foundation Grant 6:15 Open Space Wellington Bike Park and Pump Track Open Space Pro Forma 23 7:00 Executive Session 7:30 Adjourn For further information, please contact the Open Space and Trails Program at (Scott) or (Chris).

2 Memorandum To: Breckenridge Open Space Advisory Commission From: Open Space Staff Re: June 15, 2015 Meeting Staff Summary Field Season Update The Town trail crew worked on the Wellington Bike Park and Pump Track opening for several weeks and has also been working to improve drainage and open the other trails that are (slowly) drying. The trail condition website has been updated twice a week and has been a valuable resource for the community in deciding which trails are dry for summer uses. Friends of Breckenridge Trails The FOBT program has hosted two volunteer sessions in the past few weeks. On May 30 th, the tree planting effort was organized with the help of the Bristlecone Foundation. Turnout was strong with over 35 volunteers helping replant former logging sites with 500 native tree seedlings, 50 pounds of native grasses, and wildflower seeds to revegetate and diversify the future local forests as part of the Legacy Forest initiative. On June 6 th, a National Trails Day event yielded two volunteers who helped construct a portion of the Wirepatch Trail in French Gulch. The next scheduled volunteer day is June 27 th, when we plan to continue work on the Wirepatch Trail construction. Please take the time to attend one or several of the Friends of Breckenridge Trails volunteer days. We can use the help and you will never look at a trail the same again! All volunteer dates for the summer can be found on the Town website. Cucumber Gulch Update On May 27 th, The Breckenridge Ski Area commissioned Stan Miller Inc. to dredge the sediment in the Spreader Pond that has entered Cucumber Gulch Preserve via the 60-inch culvert that transports Boreas Creek from Peak 8. The work was done efficiently and approximately 10 yards of material was removed. Staff and EcoMetrics representatives were present for most of the work, which was done adroitly with minimal damage to the area. Although the 10 yards removed was less than anticipated, this conservative approach minimized impacts to the pond and beaver habitat while also accomplishing the goal of maintaining decent pond depth. Staff will continue to evaluate this issue to see if there are other times or methods for addressing the sediment inflow. Also, attached is a draft chapter, written by EcoMetrics Mark Beardsley, that is being considered for inclusion in a book about using beavers for restoration efforts. Although some of this material serves as a review for BOSAC members, the attached draft also provides a succinct overview of the challenges and management responses that have recently occurred in Cucumber Gulch Preserve. 1

3 Summit Public Radio Utility Easement At its June 9 th meeting, Town Council approved on second reading the utility easement for Summit Public Radio across the Laurium and other joint County/Town open space parcels on the west face of Bald Mountain. SPR fundraising for the project is ongoing, with work expected to occur in Fremont/Hoosier Pass Recpath Letter Attached is a letter from Summit County Government sent to Governor Hickenlooper regarding proposed recpath segments in the area, including Fremont Pass and Hoosier Pass. As you can see by the letter, Summit County is much closer to breaking ground on the Fremont Pass recpath than the Hoosier Pass recpath. However, their letter echoes the recent Town letter encouraging additional involvement of the State of Colorado in the local recpath system. Staff will continue to update BOSAC on this topic. National Forest Foundation Grant Staff recently received notification that the Town received $25,000 from a National Forest Foundation grant to close and restore several non-system routes in the Golden Horseshoe. The routes, located largely in the American Gulch/Farncomb Hill area, were selected because they were not included in the travel system and contribute to water quality concerns in the Swan River. The routes will be decommissioned by machine with naturalization by the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. Open Space Wellington Bike Park and Pump Track Upon completion of the Wellington Bike Park and Pump Track and the ribbon cutting, staff seeks BOSAC s input on the project. The existing pump track near the Illinois Creek trailhead/stephen C. West Ice Arena is slated to become paved parking this fall. The pump track relocation effort presented some challenges, but also provided an opportunity to create a sustainable, long-term riding facility near the French Gulch-area trails and multiple affordable housing developments. As BOSAC will recall, the original pump track was donated, but deemed limited in its scope and ability to provide a progression for riders learning new skills. The new Wellington Bike Park and Pump Track was designed to provide growth steps for bike riders of multiple ability levels, including a beginner level and intermediate-level flow line entry features. Elevated Trail Design, Inc. was hired to design and build the facility with the assistance of the Town trail crew, which helped reduce construction costs. The result is the new facility, which will be easier to maintain and provide more rider growth potential than the previous pump track. Adding length and improving the Wellington Trail this field season will provide another riding experience near the new pump track. Staff requests BOSAC answer the following question: 1. Does BOSAC have any questions or feedback regarding the Wellington Bike Park and Pump Track project? 2

4 Open Space Pro Forma Staff will review the attached revised open space pro forma with BOSAC. 3

5 Town of Breckenridge May 18, 2015 Breckenridge Open Space Advisory Commission Roll Call Jeff Cospolich called the May 18, 2015 BOSAC meeting to order at 7:00 pm, following the Trails Open House. Other BOSAC members present included Jeffrey Bergeron, Chris Tennal, Erin Gigliello, Jeff Carlson, Craig Campbell and Elizabeth Miller. Staff members present were Scott Reid, Chris Kulick, Mark Truckey and Peter Grosshuesch. Brian Lorch from Summit County was also present. Members of the public Jeff Westcott and Mike Zobbe were also in attendance. Approval of Minutes The minutes were approved as presented. Approval of Agenda The agenda was approved as presented. Public Comments Mike Zobbe: The Summit Fat Tire Society is ready and able to help with any directional and more technical trails that may be planned in the area. We do not want to lose that element of the trail system. Regarding the Summit Huts Association, we are hoping for a final decision on the Weber Gulch Hut by the end of May. Based on recent discussion with the USFS and area landowners, we have opted to move the proposed parking lot further to the east, but still west of Humbug Hill Road. As previously discussed, the hut is winter-only and the parking lot will not be utilized during summer until Summit Huts, the Town, County and USFS agree that the existing public trailhead is too small and additional summer parking is needed. Also, as part of the pending decision, Summit Huts anticipates constructing Upper Nightmare on Baldy trail that will serve as a good ski trail for accessing the Weber Gulch hut and as a summer trail for non-motorized users. Staff Summary Wellington Bike Park and Pump Track Construction of the Wellington Bike Park and Pump Track is well underway with an estimated completion date in the second week of June. To date, significant drainage has been installed, the site has been largely cleared of woody debris (standing and down), several shed structures were removed, and over 900 yards of fill material has been transported to the site from the Highway 9 medians. In the coming weeks, additional clay-based soil will be imported to the site and the pump track and flow lines will be sculpted to establish the final site layout. The contractor (Elevated Trail Design) has been on site since the first week of May and the additional assistance of the Town of Breckenridge Public Works crew has been invaluable. Several members of the Town Trail Crew also started work earlier than usual to assist with the pump track site cleanup and construction. Staff plans to hold a BOSAC site visit (and ribbon-cutting ceremony) to the Wellington Bike Park and Pump Track prior to the June 15 th meeting at 4:00 pm. Illinois Creek Water Quality Research Town and Summit County staffs have been assisting the EPA, U.S. Forest Service and other agencies in evaluating the water quality condition in Illinois Creek. The goal of the research is to pinpoint any sources of heavy metal loading in the creek, which is a tributary to the Blue River. Staff assisted with the installation of several water quality monitors in Illinois Creek where it crosses Town property. Staff will update BOSAC on any available results of the water quality monitoring data. Page 1 of 3

6 Town of Breckenridge May 18, 2015 Breckenridge Open Space Advisory Commission Open Space Cucumber Gulch Preserve Weed Eradication Attached is a revised proposal from Claffey Ecological Consulting (CEC) for the reed canary grass and other weed eradication efforts in Cucumber Gulch Preserve for As BOSAC may recall, the Town hired CEC for a five-year effort to locate, map and eradicate reed canary grass in Cucumber Gulch Preserve without the use of herbicides that could affect wetland health. In year one (2014) of the project, CEC and its subcontractors successfully identified reed canary grass patches throughout Cucumber Gulch and found multiple locations in lower Cucumber Gulch, indicating that the infestation is more pervasive than originally thought. Removal techniques are largely focused on shoveling out the reed canary grass root masses and reseeding with native vegetation. In addition, staff asked CEC to eradicate other weeds (e.g. yellow and Dalmatian toadflax, false chamomile, Canada thistle) as they encountered them in their reed canary grass efforts. Dr. Christy Carello s annual weed evaluation was used as a guide so that CEC could target known noxious weeds areas. During the first year (2014) of coordinated weed eradication efforts, CEC and staff learned several things. First, reed canary grass is more extensive than originally thought in Cucumber Gulch and requires better early season detection for effective treatment. Second, locating and eradicating weeds other than reed canary grass has proven more challenging than anticipated and now includes a newly identified noxious weed- meadow foxtail. Finally, treatment of the other weeds warrants mapping to better evaluate the effectiveness of the eradication efforts. The attached proposal from CEC is structured to build on information gained in year one of the effort, eradicate noxious weeds of all types in Cucumber Gulch, and measure the effectiveness of those treatments. From a budget standpoint, Tasks 1 and 3 would be considered research ($11,000) while Task 2 would be considered management ($11,570). Both costs would fit within the approved 2015 open space budget allocations. BOSAC unanimously supported the expenditure of funds to map and eradicate weeds in Cucumber Gulch Preserve in Summit Public Radio Utility Easement Request Recently, Summit Public Radio (SPR) approached the Town and Summit County requesting a utility easement across the Laurium and City Claims open space parcels to replace aging underground communication and power cables. After evaluating multiple routes to access the summit ridge of Mt. Baldy (and the existing property/tower site), SPR opted to seek access along the primary Laurium road, and then up Iowa Mill and Baldy Roads to the ridgeline. Construction will involve two excavators moving in tandem along the roads installing cables and covering the disturbance as they go. The proposed easement document requires SPR to return the roads to preexisting condition following construction. A question that has been raised to staff is the long-term build out plan for the tower site. For example, will the additional power and communication capability affect the ridgeline tower site plans resulting in larger and more visible infrastructure? Staff has been actively seeking additional Page 2 of 3

7 Town of Breckenridge May 18, 2015 Breckenridge Open Space Advisory Commission information from SPR representatives to answer this and other questions. In general, however, the BOCC has given an initial, favorable review to the proposal. Town Council is scheduled to discuss this easement proposal at its 5/26 meeting and seeks BOSAC s recommendation regarding the proposal. BOSAC recommended Town Council proceed with a utility easement dedication to Summit Public Radio for the purpose of installing electric and fiberoptic utilities. Next Meeting The next regular meeting is scheduled for June 15 th at 5:30, in the Lower Level Conference Room at the Breckenridge Town Hall, 150 Ski Hill Road. A ribbon cutting ceremony for the Wellington Bike Park and Pump Track will occur at 4:00 pm at 710 Wellington Road (above the Breckenridge Stables). Mr. Carlson motioned to adjourn the meeting, which was seconded by Mr. Bergeron. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Jeff Cospolich, Chair Page 3 of 3

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21 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS fax East Lincoln Avenue Post Office Box 68 Breckenridge, Colorado Governor John W. Hickenlooper 136 State Capital Denver, CO June 1, 2015 Dear Governor Hickenlooper, The Summit County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) commends you on efforts by your office, CDOT, GOCO and other State agencies promoting regional non-motorized transportation networks throughout Colorado. As you are aware, over the past two decades Summit County has invested millions of dollars to create our internationally acclaimed recreational pathway (Recpath) system, comprising over 54 miles of trails connecting the communities in Summit County. This system has paid enormous dividends in encouraging summer tourism, as well as improving the health and welfare of our residents and visitors, and would not have been possible without strong support and funding from State, Federal and local sources. In the past several years, the BOCC has initiated efforts with our neighboring communities to create regional systems of connected bike and pedestrian routes. Modeled on the hugely successful I-70/Vail Pass Recpath, this system of connected Recpaths and improved roadway shoulders is envisioned to create statewide connections to promote health and economic wellbeing throughout Colorado. You recently received a letter from Mayor John Warner of the Town of Breckenridge requesting your office's support for creating a regional connection between Summit and Park Counties over Hoosier Pass. In June of 2013, Summit County, in cooperation with Park County and the towns of Breckenridge, Blue River, Alma, and Fairplay, completed the Hoosier Pass Recreational Pathway Feasibility Study. This master plan identified opportunities and constraints associated with utilizing several potential alignments adjacent to Highway 9, and received funding and/or technical assistance from all affected local jurisdictions, the State Trails program, CDOT, CDPW, and the US Forest Service. Concurrently with efforts on Hoosier Pass, the BOCC has directed the Summit County Open Space and Trails Department to prioritize efforts with Lake County, Leadville, Climax Molybdenum Company, and the US Forest Service to extend the Tenmile Canyon Recpath over Fremont Pass to connect with the nationally celebrated Mineral Belt Trail in Leadville. This connection is viewed by the Summit and Lake County Commissioners as crucial to promote the summer economic vitality of Lake County. As currently envisioned, the Fremont Pass Recpath would utilize existing train grades to cross through National Forest administered lands, allowing non-motorized users to avoid Highway 91. Climax Molybdenum Company, the owner of the only non-federal land along this corridor, has supported these efforts through a Memorandum of Understanding with Summit and Lake Counties, and funded an

22 independent study in 2014 to identify potential alignments for a grade separated Recpath through Climax property. In our effort to gain USFS approval for the Freemont Pass Recpath, Summit County has commissioned the Freemont Pass Recreational Pathway: Summit County Extension Design Narrative. This planning document evaluates alternatives to utilize approximately three miles of existing train grade on White River National Forest administered lands so bicycles and pedestrians can bypass the narrows, which has long been identified as the most dangerous section of Highway 91 for these uses. We have prioritized this alignment due to the existing graded prism and its current uses as a maintained utility corridor and informal soft surface trail. An Environmental Analysis of the proposed alignment was initiated in 2008 as part of a proposal to restore aquatic habitat in Tenmile Creek. In 2014, the Dillon District Ranger requested the County to provide an analysis of alternative alignments prior to initiating environmental review. We are hopeful that our submission of this document, currently in draft form, will initiate the environmental review of this project by the Dillon Ranger District this summer. We appreciate the State s ongoing technical and financial assistance in support of Summit County s goals of promoting regional connectivity through improved bicycle and pedestrian facilities throughout Colorado. We look forward to working with your office to improve connections between our surrounding communities in the central mountains. Please contact Brian Lorch, Open Space and Trails Director at (970) or Brianl@co.summit.co.us if you have any questions or if we can be of any assistance in your efforts. Sincerely, Commissioner Dan Gibbs Commissioner Karn Stiegelmeier Commissioner Thomas Davidson cc. Senator Michael Bennet Congressmen Jared Polis Scott Fitzwilliams, White River National Forest Supervisor Bill Jackson, Dillon District Ranger Lake County Board of County Commissioners Park County Board of County Commissioners Mayor John Warner, Town of Breckenridge Mayor Lindsay Backus, Town of Blue River Mayor Jaime Stuever, City of Leadville

23 TOWN OF BRECKENRIDGE OPEN SPACE FUND PRO FORMA Actual Budget Projected EXPENDITURES Comments Land Acquisitions 599, , , , , , , , , , , ,720 Budget line items and % annual growth Additional Land Acquisitions 80,000 80, , , , , , , ,000 Additional allocation towards acquisitions authorized fall 2014 Main St. Property Acqusition (Bartlett & Shock Lots 52 & 53) 399, , ,000 Main St. park parcels acquisition, paid back to Town General Fund that carried initial purchase Welllington/Oro Treatment Plant 239, , , , , , , , , , , ,031 Wellington/Oro treatment plant costs (53400), including part-time operator (15k for 2014 and 2015), and plant replacement fund (11k allocated annually) Debt Service B&B 302,540 B&B Payoff 709, , , , , , ,146 Last payment of 2015 of $150,946 on bond has already been made. Entire bond balance to be paid off summer 2015 by combination general fund/open space fund, with payback to general fund over next five years Includes $709,500 payment from open space fund, $1,965,000 loan from general fund, and $9,500 in payoff fees to payoff existing bond debt includes re-payments to the general fund, with 3% annual interest paid. Blue River Restoration/McCain stretch 600, , , ,000 30% of river restoration costs to be shared with capital fund. Total project cost $4.6 million. Habitat/River Restoration 150, , , , , , , , , ,000 Blue River Parks/Block 11 25,000 25,000 45, , , , , and 2016 earmarked for contribution to Swan River project. Future years for Swan River restoration and future Blue River/French Creek restoration projects 2015 is contribution towards parks design by DTJ. Phase 1 of river park improvements in 2016, costs shared with capital fund/housing fund with hopes of $350k grant from GOCO. Future phases (placeholdes included in 2018, 2020, and 2022) would be cost-shared between open space, capital fund, and the housing fund, also with the potential for grants. Reiling Dredge Preservation/Stabilization 27,500 27,500 31,813 47,750 Contribution towards stabilization of Reiling Dredge on Town/County owned open space. Includes three phases outilned in the recently completed Reiling Dredge Preservation Master Plan. All phases are still subject to Town/County approval and determination of what extent of preservation is necessary. Assumes the County and Town share the costs of the preservation 50/ % of the Town's contribution would come from the BHA capital fund and the remaining 50% would come from the Open space fund. Administration 320, , , , , , , , , , , (wages and benefits), (printing and postage), (training, travel, and BOSAC), (garage fund) includes 5k for dump truck purchase in 2014, (facilities fund), liability insurance, (insurance deductibles), overages 468,468 3% annual growth Legal Services 5,312 5,000 5,000 5,150 5,305 5,464 5,628 5,796 5,970 6,149 6,334 6, , Town Attorney time for open space issues, B&B Consent decree followup Consultants 94,756 80,000 80,000 82,400 84,872 87,418 90,041 92,742 95,524 98, , , , Cucumber monitoring (water quality, wildlife monitoring), 3% annual growth Other professional services/forest mgmt 69, , , , , , , , , , , forest mgmt, weed control, GH forest mgmt/health planning, tree planting, Cucumber 133,087 Gulch restoration efforts Other contracted services/surveying 12,094 10,000 10,000 10,300 10,609 10,927 11,255 11,593 11,941 12,299 12,668 13, surveying and appraisals Trails construction and maintenance 86, , , , , , , , , , , , , 52230, 52231, Town trails and landscape construction, GH trails, Friends of Breck, $25k annual growth based on increased trail mileage and associated maintenance Trails/Hoosier Pass Rec Path 100, , , , , , , , , , ,000 Additional allocation towards Hoosier Pass Rec Path TOTAL EXP 2,129,728 3,224,542 3,374,542 2,546,352 2,879,216 2,574,501 2,538,676 2,704,027 2,244,443 2,412,251 2,381,343 2,551,759 REVENUES Sales Tax 2,224,721 2,363,400 2,363,400 2,387,034 2,410,904 2,435,013 2,459,364 2,483,957 2,508,797 2,533,885 2,559,224 2,584,816 Based on 1% annual growth Interest 6,873 9,490 9,490 6,681 4,776 5,404 4,426 5,428 6,067 8,471 12,640 18,576 B&B Land Sales 425,000 Potential divestiture properties (Peabody and Williams Placers--revenues split with County) TDR Sales 9, , , ,090 10,000 10,100 10,201 10,303 10,406 10,510 10,615 10, includes: $129,875 for Town's share of TDR proceeds from Peak 8 development and $9,800 for Beaver Run TDR includes 18.3 TDRs for Breck Mountain Lodge ($357,090 for Town's share assuming most (75%) are purchased from TDR Bank). 1 % annual growth Grants 45,125 82,500 82,500 83,325 84,158 85,000 85,850 86,708 87,575 88,451 89, includes $30.4k for SideDoor state trails grant includes $52.5k for DNR forest mgmt 90,229 grant (Town share) and $30k for first installment on state trails grant (Turks, etc., Town's share Summit County reimbursement 103,624 82,000 82,000 84,460 86,994 89,604 92,292 95,060 97, , , ,991 Wellington/Oro treatment plant costs, not including replacement fund Trails map sales 9,909 7,000 7,000 7,070 7,141 7,212 7,284 7,357 7,431 7,505 7,580 7,656 1 % annual growth Miscellaneous 35,696 10,600 10,600 10,706 10,813 10,921 11,030 11,141 11,252 11,365 11,478 11, Rental income (dogsled rides) and W/O zinc sales 1 % annual growth TOTAL REV 2,435,819 2,694,665 2,724,083 2,936,366 2,614,786 2,643,254 2,670,446 2,699,955 2,729,440 2,761,037 3,219,748 2,830,583 BEG. BALANCE 626, , , , , , , , ,634 1,089,631 1,438,417 2,276,821 previous year's balance 6/10/2015 2:17 PM END BALANCE 933, , , , , , , ,634 1,089,631 1,438,417 2,276,821 2,555,645 W/O Plant Replacement Reserve 22,000 22,000 22,000 33,000 44,000 55,000 66,000 77,000 88,000 99, , ,000 Annual allocation of $11k for replacement of pumps and other equipment at W/O Plant TOTAL FUND BALANCE 955, , , , , , , ,634 1,177,631 1,537,417 2,386,821 2,676,645