To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Gini Pingenot, Open Spaces Director
Prepared By:
prepared
Gini Pingenot, Director, Open Spaces and Glen Poole, Operations Manager, Open Spaces
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Subject:
title
Updated Open Spaces Rules and Regulations
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The purpose of this report is to request the Board of County Commissioner’s approval of the Open Spaces revised Rules and Regulations.
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Background and Discussion: On May 21, 2024, staff from the Open Spaces Department presented shortcomings with the county’s current Open Spaces Rules and Regulations. The question at that time was whether or not the Department should focus on drafting revisions to those rules and regulations. On October 8, 2024, staff shared an initial draft of the updates the department was proposing. On November 18, 2024, staff shared a final draft incorporating feedback received to date from county commissioners, other county departments and the public.
By way of background, in 1996 the Board of County Commissioners passed Resolution No. 1012-96 which adopted 15 rules and regulations concerning the unlawful conduct on Arapahoe County owned or operated public recreational lands or facilities. These rules and regulations are posted at County owned parks that are open to the public. According to the resolution when these rules and regulations were adopted, only two park properties were owned by the County (Cheyenne/Arapaho Park and Arapahoe County Community Park). All these parks are within the Arapahoe County Recreation District.
Since the adoption of these rules and regulations almost 30 years ago, the County has greatly expanded services to include things like dog parks, playgrounds, equestrian uses, and bike parks and has acquired multiple other properties. The County now has twenty-eight open spaces, parks, trailheads, greenways, or leased properties as well as a couple of easements or managed/operated lands, many of which are open to the public. Several other acquisitions are in progress (i.e. Arcadia Park and Bijou Basin Extension). It has been 28 years since Resolution No. 1012-96 was adopted.
After reviewing several well-developed Front Range local government rules and regulations, staff concludes that omissions in our current rules and regulations need to be addressed to ensure the protection of the county’s natural resources and assets, protect public safety, and align better from a consistency standpoint with adjacent agencies. Updates will also help address technological advancements, such as drones and e-bikes, that were not as present in 1996.
There are three main goals for this effort: 1) Address omissions in the County’s current rules and regulations; 2) Ensure the county has the rules and regulations necessary to protect the county’s natural resources and visitor’s public safety, and 3) Have Arapahoe County’s rules and regulations be more consistent with other well developed local government Open Space, Parks and Recreation Programs.
The Board approved adding this to the consent agenda at their November 18, 2024, meeting.
Alternatives: The Board could decide to delay, modify, or deny moving forward with updating the Open Spaces Department Rules and Regulations
Fiscal Impact: Depending on the scope of the department’s final updated rules and regulations, signage may need to be updated. Staff is envisioning QR code stickers that directs visitors to the Department’s rules and regulations webpage. Moving forward, signage will be updated and replaced gradually as it approaches the end of its useful life. Pursuant to state statute (CRS 29-7-101(b)) the Sheriff’s Office is responsible for enforcing the Department’s rules and regulations. The Open Space Department anticipates the Sheriff’s Office will triage violations as needed in light of other public safety concerns.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☒Be fiscally sustainable
☒Provide essential and mandated service
☒Be community focused
Concurrence: Public Health, Arapahoe County Sherrif’s Office, Public Works Department
Resolution: Attached is a copy of the draft resolution.