Welcome and thank you for being here! Kick-Off Public Workshop November 19, 2014
OPEN SPACE MATTERS: Boise s First Reserve Master Plan Julia Grant Foothills and Open Space Manager City of Boise Ellen Campfield Nelson Agnew::Beck
How planning efforts fit together
Project Phase Timing Listening Phase survey, Workshop #1 August to November Drafting Phase draft plan, Workshop #2 November to March Final Development Phase revised draft, Open House March to April
TONIGHT S AGENDA 6:00-6:15 6:15-7:00 Welcome and Introductions Project Orientation: Open Space Matters Survey and Reserves 101 7:00-8:00 Breakout sessions, by reserve (All workshop participants select a reserve table and work in small groups to answer key questions) 8:00-8:30 Issues and Solutions Gallery and Wrap-Up
Project Questions and Your Vision (vision statement card)
What should happen in the future? What do you hope our reserve system looks like in the next 10-20 years? Where should we put our resources? How can we best manage our open spaces for future generations?
Use and Values: We want to ask you some questions (and share some results) Please pull out your clicker and wait for instructions!
How to use the clickers When submitting your responses please point your clicker towards the front of the room After entering your response, hit send Enter only one response per question Raise your hand if you have questions or need assistance Let s do a test = slide has an audience response component
Sample Question: What is your favorite kind of ice cream? 1. Chocolate 2. Vanilla 3. Strawberry 4. Mint Chip 5. I don t eat ice cream 6. Other
What is your favorite kind of ice cream? 16 12 8 5 0 2 Chocolate Vanilla Strawberry Mint Chip I don t eat ice cream Other
Did you bike ski to the workshop this evening? 42 1. Yes 2. No 4 Yes No
How often do you visit the City s open space reserves? 1. Never 2. Less than once per month 3. Once per month 4. Once per week 5. 3-5 times per week 6. Daily
How often do you visit the City s open space reserves? 21 10 2 6 5 4 Never Less than once per month Once per month Once per week 3-5 times per week Daily
Which reserve do you visit most frequently? 1. Camel s Back 2. Castle Rock 3. Foothills East 4. Hillside to Hollow 5. Hulls Gulch 6. Mesa (adjacent to Table Rock Area) 7. Military 8. Noble 9. Oregon Trail 10. Polecat Gulch 11. Stack Rock 12. I m not sure
Which reserve do you visit most frequently? 10 7 7 5 4 5 4 2 1 0 0 0
When visiting a reserve, what is your most frequent activity? 1. Biking 2. Hiking/Walking 3. Horseback Riding 4. Photography/Drawing/Painting 5. Trail Running 6. Viewing Plants/Wildlife 7. Other
When visiting a reserve, what is your most frequent activity? 17 16 9 0 3 1 0
When visiting a reserve, what is your second most frequent activity? 1. Biking 2. Hiking/Walking 3. Horseback Riding 4. Photography/Drawing/Painting 5. Trail Running 6. Viewing Plants/Wildlife 7. Other
When visiting a reserve, what is your second most frequent activity? 10 16 7 13 2 3 3
How often do you bring a dog when you visit a reserve? 1. Never 2. Less than half the time 3. About half the time 4. Almost always
How often do you bring a dog when you visit a reserve? 22 19 6 7 Never Less than half the time About half the time Almost always
Which of the following best reflects your preference for the city s overall approach to managing open space reserves?
Over the next 10 years, the first priority for the reserve system should be 1. Purchasing additional reserve lands in the Foothills 2. Purchasing additional reserve lands in other parts of the City 3. Setting aside land for plant/wildlife habitat protection 4. Developing additional trails within the reserves 5. Managing and maintaining existing reserves 6. Promoting more events and activities within the reserves 7. Developing more amenities (e.g. trailheads, restrooms and parking) 8. Increasing trail connectivity between the reserves 9. Not sure 10. Other
Over the next 10 years, the first priority for the reserve system should be 22 Purchasing additional reserve lands in the Foothills 9 Increasing trail connectivity between the reserves 6 Developing additional trails within the reserves 6 Managing and maintaining existing reserves 5 Setting aside land for plant/wildlife habitat protection 5 Purchasing additional reserve lands in other parts of the City 2 Developing more amenities (e.g. trailheads, restrooms and parking) 2 Other 1 Not sure
Over the next 10 years, the second priority for the reserve system should be 1. Purchasing additional reserve lands in the Foothills 2. Purchasing additional reserve lands in other parts of the City 3. Setting aside land for plant/wildlife habitat protection 4. Developing additional trails within the reserves 5. Managing and maintaining existing reserves 6. Promoting more events and activities within the reserves 7. Developing more amenities (e.g. trailheads, restrooms and parking) 8. Increasing trail connectivity between the reserves 9. Not sure 10. Other
Over the next 10 years, the second priority for the reserve system should be 12 Increasing trail connectivity between the reserves 9 Purchasing additional reserve lands in the Foothills 8 Purchasing additional reserve lands in other parts of the City 7 Developing additional trails within the reserves 6 Setting aside land for plant/wildlife habitat protection 4 Managing and maintaining existing reserves 3 Developing more amenities (e.g. trailheads, restrooms and parking) 1 Promoting more events and activities within the reserves
1 st Priority 2 nd Priority 22 Purchasing additional reserve lands in the Foothills 9 Increasing trail connectivity between the reserves 6 Developing additional trails within the reserves 6 Managing and maintaining existing reserves 5 Setting aside land for plant/wildlife habitat protection 12 Increasing trail connectivity between the reserves 9 Purchasing additional reserve lands in the Foothills 8 Purchasing additional reserve lands in other parts of the City 7 Developing additional trails within the reserves 6 Setting aside land for plant/wildlife habitat protection
Thanks for your responses! You can take the full survey and encourage others to take it at www.openspacematters.com (open until Nov. 25) Results will be published in December.
Reserves 101 (Give us all the same starting point)
OVERVIEW What are they? Where are they? Why do we have them? How were they created? How do people use them? What do they cost? How are they managed? What should happen in the future?
What are they? About 10 reserves Total 4,000 acres About 40 miles of trails Riparian areas, grasslands, alpine forest Raptors, deer, coyote, reptiles, small mammals Amenities including restrooms, dog waste stations, signage, garbage cans, horse ramp
What are they? Polecat Hillside to Hollow Camelsback/Hulls Gulch Oregon Trail Military Foothills East Castle Rock Mesa Stack Rock Noble Johnston parcel
Where are they? Most (but not all) within the Foothills Management Area Mix of elevations (some low, some high) Mix of proximity (some easily accessible, some less visited)
Where are they? See map handout
Why do we have them? Wellness and recreation Economic vibrancy Ecosystem health Culture, history and learning Sense of place Social connectedness
How were they created? Mix of public money and private donations Foothills levy in 2001 allowed us to acquire most of the acreage we have today Foothills Advisory Board was citizen-based group that advised on levy priorities (sunset in 2012) $1.75 million remaining of levy funds
How do people use them? Information comes from Parks and Rec survey (2011) http://parks.cityofboise.org/aboutus/comprehensive-plan-(2011)/survey/ Annual trail user survey (yearly) http://parks.cityofboise.org/about-us/foothills/ Open Space Matters survey (currently open at www.openspacematters.com)
How do people use them? Parks and Rec City-wide Survey 64% said they don t visit the Foothills Of those that do use the Foothills 70% for hiking, 40% for viewing wildlife and scenery 31% biking and walking dogs on-leash 26% for both running and walking dogs off-leash 4% horseback riding
How do people use them? Annual trail use survey (2014) 1,680 users surveyed at 13 trailheads About 30% are dog owners At least half are hikers/walkers About 20% are runners About a third are bikers Almost 5% horseback riders Total trail use up, overall
How do people use them? Use overall is up (Boise population has been increasing by about 2% per year for last decade) More pressure on parking areas In general, use trends are relatively steady There is differentiation of use by reserve (Hulls Gultch, Military most used)
Many other uses Wildlife viewing and bird watching Enjoying vistas and views Family outings Outdoor education Other conservation values and ecosystem benefits are provided by the reserves
How do people use them? Trail designations (pedestrians only, mountain bikers only) increased to now 77% from 26% in 2009 Support for more dog on-leash trails went up slightly to 53% in 2014 from 48% prior year 74% of people indicated they would be willing to pay a trail user fee The number of visitors who come by car increased from 42% in 2009 to now 63%
How do people use them? Open Space Matters Survey Response 600 results from trailhead survey 112 results from postcard survey Postcard invitation sent to randomized Boise addresses with private survey url to filter responses Nearly 1,200 results from the open online survey
What do they cost? Budget is about $130k/year for Foothills Open Space Conservation (planning and administration, most of which is staff costs). Ridge to Rivers budget is mostly funded (75%) by City: $230,832 in 2013. 910 volunteer hours in 2013.
What do they cost? Location Acres Staff Boise 4,000 1* (5.5 including R2R) Missoula, Montana 3,600 38 Albuquerque, New Mexico 28,231 36 Fort Collins, Colorado 11,472 24 *Indicates the Foothills Open Space Manager. Most management personnel is trail related and comes from Ridge to Rivers, which has three permanent full-time staff, two seasonal employees and 1 part-time ranger.
What do they cost? Location Acres Operating Budget $ s Per Acres Boise* 4,000 $135,000 $30 Albuquerque** 28,231 $2,700,000 $93 Broomfield** 5,190 $593,764 $114 Santa Fe** 6,609 $584,510 $88 East Bay, CA** 112,000 $188,100,000 $1,679 *Operating revenue from property taxes only **Operating revenue from a mix of financing mechanisms.
How are they managed? City owns and manages the land City works with private owners, interagency partners (BLM, USFS, Ada County, Boise County, IDFG) and NGOs (LTTV) Volunteer coordination helps accomplish a lot, and we hope to increase this No comprehensive management plan in place, currently (our job!)
How are they managed? The focus of this effort is on the City-owned reserve properties and how they should be managed, overall. Management goals can include anything from education to conservation to recreation. In 2015, Ridge to Rivers intends to embark on a Trails Management Plan that will focus on trails (which are cross-jurisdictional).
Example from Missoula Mgmt Plan Goal Manage conservation lands that adjoin other properties in cooperation with those landowners Provide a diverse and appropriate range of recreational and educational activities on MCL while limiting impacts by users to the ecological and cultural resource. Policies Maintain, enhance, and encourage landscape connectivity between Conservation Lands, other parklands, federal, state, and private properties. Develop appropriate management plans (fire, wildlife, weeds, recreation etc.) with adjacent landowners. Inventory individual Conservation Lands for their current and potential recreation uses, current and predicted usage levels, and impacts on ecological and cultural resources. Develop and implement general and, where appropriate, parcel-specific management strategies and regulations to address uses including, but not limited to, dog walking, bike use, paragliders, hang-gliders, horseback riding, organized recreational events, hunting, research, formal education activities. Maintain open communications and conduct public information and education campaigns concerning the general and specific regulations, including the reasons for the regulations.
Breakout Sessions by Reserves Choose a reserve. Find your table. No more than 10 per table, please. Please see your instructions sheet.
1. Open Space Values The top three strengths/aspects we value about this reserve are
2. Vision Our future vision for this reserve is
3. Challenges The management issues and/or management challenges in this reserve are
4. Solutions What solutions would you suggest to help address these challenges?
Issues and Solutions Gallery Walk around to the tables and view results of break-outs. Place a dot by the ideas you agree with. These will be shared online after the workshop. Thank you!
Wrap Up: Results posted online (in about a week) Ability to comment online Your ideas will be used to inform the plan s goals Please turn in sheets! Thank you!
Thank you for participating!