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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-26-24 Public Comment - M. Kaveney - UPF Advisory Board commentsFrom:Marcia Kaveney To:Agenda; Mitchell Overton Cc:Addi Jadin; Alex Nordquest Subject:[EXTERNAL]UPF Advisory Board comments Date:Thursday, February 22, 2024 11:02:09 AM Attachments:Comments on UPF Board Draft Priorities 2.22.24.docx CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Board members- I see that you will be working on your draft work plan for the next two years and am submitting comments for your review and consideration. Thanks for your hard work on these matters. I appreciate your presence on the advisory board. Best,Marcia Kaveney Comments on P&R Dept. Dra� Priori�es 2024-2026 Marcia Kaveney 2/22/24 P & T SMCP Splash Pad- Given our permanent water restric�ons and the new conserva�on measures for water, I have concerns and ques�ons about the construc�on of an open-air splash pad. My main concern is that it doesn’t seem jus�fiable for the city to build a splash pad when residents have restricted water use unless certain measures are taken- which may be part of the plan that I’m just unaware of. Some of my ques�ons/concerns are the following: Does the splash pad fit with the conserva�on measures the city has adopted? Will it be covered to slow evapora�on? Will the water be recirculated through filters? How much water will a splash pad consume daily, yearly? Will it run con�nually every day or only during certain hours? Where does the runoff go? If the splash pad no longer fits with the sustainability and water conserva�on goals of the city, I hope it will be tabled. Perhaps the money could be beter spent on improving one or two access points to the adjacent creek where people can cool off in the summer. AQ: Bogert Pool Leak work … I am glad to see that there will be work scheduled on fixing the Bogert Pool leak. This is work supported by both the city’s sustainability and conserva�on goals. I would also encourage you to add sunshades to the Bogert Pool to help offset evapora�on by direct sunlight. FOR: Develop a Tree Nursery – I think this is a good idea. Many na�ve and mature trees are regularly lost due to annexa�ons and large subdivision developments. I would like to see na�ve trees be emphasized in the nursery. Willows and cotonwoods are the most valuable deciduous trees in Montana for hos�ng insects (Na�onal Wildlife Federa�on) and do not spread like aspens so I think they would be valuable assets for the city and would support the city’s land stewardship goals. Non-na�ve plants are good for shade, shelter, and carbon sequestering but offer much less in the way of biodiversity. Cotonwoods are given a bad rap for their natural pruning quali�es- but they can be pruned like other boulevard trees to help prevent damage. FOR: Update Street Tree Guide- I would like to see na�ve trees encouraged on this guide for reasons stated above. FOR: Increase Community Outreach & Educa�on – I think this is a terrific idea. It would be great to see the UPF board include educa�on on benefits of na�ve plants and trees, support the goals of Homegrown Na�onal Park, and support the goals of Na�onal Wildlife Federa�on’s Backyard Wildlife Habitats, while also including educa�on on being bear aware with increased backyard habitats. For example- increasing natural food for birds while decreasing use of bird feeders in known bear habitat (periphery of city). FOR: Integrate Forestry staff into Building/Planning more-I also think this is a terrific idea. I think we should have advocate for an urban forester or urban ecologist to work with developers very early in the process to protect the exis�ng tree stands, groves, and forests as well as mature individual trees that may qualify as future “Heritage Trees” ( when that program is implemented). I would like to see an urban forester or liaison forester be given the authority to uphold exis�ng and future UDC codes that guide the protec�on of exis�ng trees and prevent damage to the ecosystem, release of carbon, loss of habitat, etc. that we witnessed with the Canyon Gate approval. IDEAS not on dra� list: FOR: Advocate for Trees to be listed as Natural Resource in the UDC. They are not listed in current code or dra� update. FOR: Advocate for a Tree Ordinance that protects exis�ng na�ve and mature trees in new annexa�ons and requires the replacement of canopy for trees that are removed in all new developments. Details tbd.