Thread by @shayshinecastle

Getting ready to start a #Boulder city council meeting. Lacking my usual vim and vigor, but I'll at least keep you informed.

Tonight's topics are the open space master plan, a discussion of possible ballot measures, and an in-depth look a possible tax on natural gas and a vehicle registration fee, both intended to raise $$ to fight climate change.

Starting with the open space master plan update. (I hate reporting on master plan updates. It's all philosophy, no substance).

But here's something interesting: In a survey of 1,331 residents, here's how the priorities for open space shook out.

1. Ecosystem health and resilience
2. Responsible recreation, stewardship and enjoyment
3. Financial sustainability
4. Community connection, education and inclusion
5. Agriculture

Just 15% of respondents said ag was "essential" (although a further 34% said it was very important and 43% said it was somewhat important.

Of the five items, it had the highest % of respondents say it wasn't important at all: 9%

More than half of respondents say that parking is a problem at 7 OSMP areas. In order of worst parking (according to survey): Chautauqua, Sanitas, Gregory Canyon, Doudy Draw/South Mesa, Marshall Mesa, Bobolink, Flatirons Vista

Deryn Wagner, open space senior planner, had another take on agriculture: 91% of survey respondents said it was at least a somewhat important focus area to add to the master plan (true)

Councilwoman Morzel: "It was their last choice." (also true)

More interesting results: 79% oppose requiring reservations during busy times to visit open space. 63% oppose charging for parking.

Another proposal, providing shuttles to trailheads, got 87% support.
Mayor Jones asks: Doesn't that increase visitation?
Wagner: We're studying that, but in the first year of shuttles at Chautauqua, visitation went down.

59% of respondents want increased opportunities to allow bikes on open space. Boulder's trails are notoriously non-mountain bike friendly, particularly for such a bike-focused city.

Some good mentions of that in this excellent story about Nederland v. Boulder. outsideonline.com/2392458/nederl…

The survey framed this bike question as an either/or: Do you prefer limiting bike access to certain days/time OR opening opportunities for bikes?
This doesn't have to be an either/or, Jones says.

Also in this survey: 59% support lethal control of prairie dogs on or near irrigated farmland where management strategies haven't worked.

Council is still talking about bikes, so they haven't discussed this bombshell.
Morzel is interrogating an OSMP staffer. Guess I'm not the only one with a bug in my butt tonight.

This survey included some residents outside the city. Support for lethal control of prairie dogs was higher outside city limits: 66% vs. 57%

And, wow, 92% would support a sales tax to fund open space. The dept. budget is decreasing quite a bit next year as a tax sunsets and city funds are shifting to transportation.

4% of survey respondents considered themselves experts on prairie dogs... that seems high to me, but then again I'm just a lowly non-prairie dog expert.

Back to open space tax: 54% would support a permanent tax, 46% want it to expire.
Morzel: "I like that."

AND back to dogs (the canine kind, this time)
62% would support requiring dogs to be leashed on more trails

Morzel has an issue that staff referred to ranchers as an "under-served" community.
It's bc it's hard to do outreach to them, Wagner said.

Morzel: I think it’s a real insult to those ppl who are traditionally thought of as under-served and who do face significant challenges in their everyday life. I don’t think (that term) is appropriate in this case.

That's a wrap on the open space presentation. The first draft of the master plan is being released May 20; public comment will be solicited through June 12 (but before June 3 would be better, bc there's a council study session on June 11).

If you could please unroll @threadreaderapp. Thank you.