HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-26-22 City Council MeetingAGENDA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO September 26, 2022
7:00 p.m. This meeting will be conducted as a virtual meeting, and in person, at 7500 West 29th Avenue, Municipal Building, if allowed to meet on that date per COVID-19 restrictions.
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CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
NONE
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: September 26, 2022 Page -2-
PROCLAMATIONS AND CEREMONIES
1. 2022 Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2. 2022 Domestic Violence Awareness Month 3. 2022 National Pedestrian Safety Month
4. Wheat Ridge Softball League Champions
PUBLICS’ RIGHT TO SPEAK
a. Public may speak on any matter not on the Agenda for a maximum of 3 minutes
under Publics’ Right to Speak. Please speak up to be heard when directed by the
Mayor. b. Members of the Public who wish to speak on a Public Hearing item or Decision, Resolution, or Motion may speak when directed by the Mayor at the conclusion of
the staff report for that specific agenda item.
c. Members of the Public may comment on any agenda item in writing by noon on the day of the meeting at www.WheatRidgeSpeaks.org. Comments made on Wheat Ridge Speaks are considered part of the public record.
***Second opportunity for public input on the 2023 Budget*** CONSENT AGENDA NONE
PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING
NONE ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING NONE
DECISIONS, RESOLUTIONS, AND MOTIONS
1. Motion to cancel the October 24, 2022 regular business meeting due to lack of a
quorum
2. A resolution supporting an application to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Non-motorized Trails Grant Program for the proposed Tabor Lake Trail Construction Project
CITY MANAGER’S MATTERS
CITY ATTORNEY’S MATTERS
ELECTED OFFICIALS’ MATTERS
ADJOURN TO SPECIAL STUDY SESSION
PROCLAMATION BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH OCTOBER 2022
WHEREAS, October 2022 marks 37 years that National Breast Cancer Awareness
Month has educated women about early breast cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment; and
WHEREAS, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer within their
lifetime; and
WHEREAS, when breast cancer is detected early and is in the localized stage, the five-year survival rate for women is 99%; and
WHEREAS, the awareness campaign is remembering those who have lost their fight
against breast cancer, standing with those who remember their loved ones and continuing to support our Nation’s advocates; and
WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society has searched endlessly for a cure through
vital research, and has the mammoth task of educating our community and all Americans of
the risks of breast cancer.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that I, Mayor Bud Starker, and the Wheat Ridge City Council, wishes to recognize October 2022 as “Breast Cancer Awareness
Month,” and encourages residents of Wheat Ridge to celebrate successes and memorialize
lost battles.
IN WITNESS THEREOF on this 26th day of September 2022.
______________________________ Bud Starker, Mayor
____________________________
Steve Kirkpatrick, City Clerk
PROCLAMATION DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH OCTOBER 2022
WHEREAS, domestic violence impacts countless Coloradans, without regard to
age, race, religion, or economic status; as victims suffer at the hands of a spouse or
partner, it affects their children, families, and entire communities; and
WHEREAS, the City of Wheat Ridge is committed to the reduction of domestic
violence and the health, safety and welfare of its residents; and
WHEREAS, the Wheat Ridge Police Department is committed to providing
assistance to victims and witnesses of crime and other traumatic events through victim
assistance partnerships and awareness-related efforts and events; and
WHEREAS, Wheat Ridge joins with others across Colorado and the nation in
supporting victims of domestic violence and shares the worthy goals of this month-long
observance, and likewise supports the work of public and private entities that strive to
provide the best coordinated response to domestic violence in communities across this
state, sending a loud and clear message to abusers that domestic violence is not
tolerated in the City of Wheat Ridge.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that on behalf of the City Council and the
people of the City of Wheat Ridge, I, Bud Starker, Mayor of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, by
virtue of the authority vested in me, do hereby proclaim October 2022 as DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH in the City of Wheat Ridge.
IN WITNESS THEREOF on this 26th day of September 2022.
Bud Starker, Mayor
Steve Kirkpatrick, City Clerk
PROCLAMATION NATIONAL PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MONTH OCTOBER 2022
WHEREAS, the City of Wheat Ridge strives to be a comfortable and safe place to walk and ride a bike for people of all ages and abilities; and
WHEREAS, children walk along our corridors, through our neighborhoods, and
cross our streets on their way to Wheat Ridge schools; and
WHEREAS, the CDC states that physical activity such as walking can help improve overall health, and lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes,
depression, and some cancers; and
WHEREAS, the benefits of walking extend beyond personal and physical, to environmental benefits that can lead to healthier, quieter, cleaner, and safer streets. Walking can also improve local economies and enhance social and community
engagement, leading to more vibrant, resilient, and livable spaces; and
WHEREAS, in 2020, 6,516 pedestrians were killed and an estimated 55,000 pedestrians were injured nationally; and
WHEREAS, people of color, children walking to and from school, people with disabilities, and people over the age of 65 are at greater risk of serious injury or death while walking than the population as a whole; and
WHEREAS, to improve the safety for pedestrians and bicyclists who have the right to arrive safely at their destinations, drivers of vehicles must stay alert and be
cautious while traveling on our roads.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Wheat Ridge Mayor and City Council formally designate the month of October 2022, as
NATIONAL PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MONTH
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, on this 26th day of September 2022.
Bud Starker, Mayor
Steve Kirkpatrick, City Clerk
ITEM NO: A_
DATE: September 26, 2022 REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
TITLE: SECOND OPPORUTNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT ON THE 2023
BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING ORDINANCES FOR 1ST READING BIDS/MOTIONS ORDINANCES FOR 2ND READING
RESOLUTIONS
QUASI-JUDICIAL: YES NO
_____________________________ Administrative Services Director City Manager ISSUE:
Despite the recent network outage, development of the 2023 budget is underway, albeit slightly
delayed. An important phase of this process is inviting the public to provide input to City Council prior to the presentation of the 2023 proposed budget. This is the second of two opportunities. Members of the public are also to provide input at What’sUpWheatRidge.com or WheatRidgeSpeaks.org. Members of the public were first invited to contribute input on August
22, 2022.
PRIOR ACTION: None
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact on this item.
BACKGROUND: Each year, the City invites the public to provide input on the budget prior to the budget being presented to City Council. This community engagement practice is in line with best practices
used by local governments across the country and endorsed by the Government Finance
Officers’ Association (GFOA). Staff includes a summary of all feedback received from these public input opportunities and online contributions in the presentation of the proposed budget to City Council.
Second Public Input Opportunity on the 2023 Budget September 26, 2022
Page 2
The 2023 Budget is slightly delayed due to the network outage and will be presented to council
later this fall. The community will be widely notified of the dates of the budget presentation and subsequent adoption. RECOMMENDED MOTION:
No formal action by City Council is necessary at this time. REPORT PREPARED/REVIEWED BY: Allison Scheck, Administrative Services Director Patrick Goff, City Manager
ITEM NO: 1
DATE: September 26, 2022 REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
TITLE: A MOTION TO CANCEL THE OCTOBER 24, 2022 REGULAR
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DUE TO THE LACK OF A QUORUM PUBLIC HEARING ORDINANCES FOR 1ST READING BIDS/MOTIONS ORDINANCES FOR 2ND READING
RESOLUTIONS
QUASI-JUDICIAL: YES NO
City Manager ISSUE:
October 24, 2022 is a regularly scheduled City Council Business meeting. The Jeffco School
Board will be conducting public hearings that evening to discuss potential school closures in Wheat Ridge. It is anticipated several Council Members will attend those meetings and therefore a quorum will not exist to proceed with the City Council meeting. This motion will cancel the October 24, 2022 Regular City Council meeting.
PRIOR ACTION:
None
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
BACKGROUND:
None
RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends canceling the October 24, 2022 Regular City Council meeting to allow members of the City Council to attend the Jeffco School Board meetings.
Council Action Form – Cancel October 24, 2022 Meeting September 26, 2022
Page 2
RECOMMENDED MOTION: “I move to cancel the October 24, 2022 Regular City Council meeting due to the lack of a
quorum.” REPORT PREPARED/REVIEWED BY: Patrick Goff, City Manager
ITEM NO: 2
DATE: September 26, 2022
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
TITLE: RESOLUTION NO. 38-2022 – A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING
AN APPLICATION TO THE COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE’S NON-MOTORIZED TRAILS GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE PROPOSED TABOR LAKE TRAIL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
PUBLIC HEARING ORDINANCES FOR 1ST READING BIDS/MOTIONS ORDINANCES FOR 2ND READING RESOLUTIONS
QUASI-JUDICIAL: YES NO
Karen A. O’Donnell ____________________________ Parks and Recreation Director City Manager
ISSUE:
City Council included the Tabor Lake Trail construction project in its list of APRA funded projects earlier in 2022. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) offers annual Non-Motorized Trails grant programs in the categories of trail construction, maintenance, planning, and support categories. The Tabor Lake Trail project is eligible to apply for funding through this program. To apply for this CPW program a resolution of support for the completion of the project and a
commitment for long-term maintenance from City Council is required.
PRIOR ACTION: Earlier in 2022, City Council detailed the list of APRA funded programs and projects, which included the Tabor Lake Trail project.
Letters of support for this project were submitted by the Parks and Recreation Commission, Bike
Jeffco, the Wheat Ridge Active Transportation Advisory Team, and the Colorado School of Mines student project team.
Council also supported an application to Jefferson County Open Space’s Trails Partnership Program earlier in 2022 for supplemental funding for this project.
Council Action Form – CPW Non-Motorized Trails Grant Application Support September 26, 2022
Page 2
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The project is estimated to cost approximately $800,000. If supported by Council, the City would
apply for $100,000 in funding from this CPW program. The City has also applied for $400,000
in funding from the Jeffco Open Space Trails grant program for this project.
Not supporting this grant application would result in the potential $100,000 in funding not being available for this project in 2023. With the ARPA funding and potential JCOS funding, this project will likely move forward without any supplemental funding from CPW, but the City
would not have the possibility of the potential $100,000 grant towards this project from CPW.
BACKGROUND: In 2019, the Parks and Recreation Commission proposed the idea of constructing a safe, accessible, stable trail around Tabor Lake to replace the current dirt social trail and connect to the Clear Creek Trail and W. 44th Ave. The City unsuccessfully applied for the CPW Non-
Motorized Trails Planning grant in 2020.
In 2022, the Parks and Recreation Department worked with Jefferson County Open Space to add this trail to the Jeffco Trails Plan. The Department also began working with a senior Colorado School of Mines student team to conduct public engagement and design the proposed trail. That
work began in January 2022 and will conclude in December 2022.
Also, earlier in 2022, City Council included this project in its list of ARPA-funded projects and the Department applied for Jeffco Open Space trails grant funding for this project (decision coming in December 2022).
This project will likely be designed and constructed between 2023-2025. RECOMMENDATIONS: Parks and Recreation Department staff recommend approving this resolution of support to apply
for $100,000 in funding towards the project costs.
Should this resolution not be passed, the project does have ARPA funds earmarked for it through prior City Council action. The potential CPW grant funds would supplement the existing ARPA funds. It is likely (but not guaranteed) that this grant program, and others, will be available in the
future for this type of work. RECOMMENDED MOTION: “I move to approve Resolution No. 38-2022, a resolution supporting an application to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Non-Motorized Trails Grant program for the proposed Tabor
Lake Trail Construction Project.”
Or,
Council Action Form – CPW Non-Motorized Trails Grant Application Support September 26, 2022
Page 3
“I move to postpone indefinitely Resolution No. 38-2022, a resolution supporting an application to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Non-Motorized Trails Grant program for the proposed
Tabor Lake Trail Construction Project for the following reason(s) __________________.” REPORT PREPARED/REVIEWED BY: Brandon Altenburg, Grant and Special Project Administrator Karen A. O’Donnell, Parks and Recreation Director
Patrick Goff, City Manager ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution. 38-2022 2. Tabor Lake Preliminary Design Report
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO RESOLUTION NO. 38 Series of 2022
TITLE: A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING AN APPLICATION TO THE COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE’S NON-MOTORIZED TRAILS GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE PROPOSED TABOR LAKE TRAIL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
WHEREAS, the City of Wheat Ridge has received information through resident engagement and resident committees that building a maintained Tabor Lake Trail is desired; and
WHEREAS, the City of Wheat Ridge wishes to pursue an application for the
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Non-Motorized Trails grant program grant for the purposes
of applying for funds to support contracting with firms to design and build the Tabor Lake Trail; and
WHEREAS, the City of Wheat Ridge agrees to, if grant funding is awarded, complete the project as described in the application by implementing grant funding
supported by in-kind and cash funding and to commit to maintaining the project area for
the long-term.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Wheat Ridge, Colorado:
Section 1. The Mayor and City Council support the application for the Colorado
Parks and Wildlife Non-Motorized Trails Grant program.
Section 2. This Resolution shall be effective upon adoption.
DONE AND RESOLVED this 26th day of September 2022.
Bud Starker, Mayor
ATTEST:
Stephen Kirkpatrick, City Clerk
ATTACHMENT 1
Preliminary Design Report
ATTACHMENT 2
Background ............................................................................................................................................... 1
Design Specifications ................................................................................................................................ 3
Trail Concept #1 – Crusher Fines .................................................................................................................. 4
Trail Concept #2 – All-Concrete Trail ............................................................................................................ 5
Trail Concept #3 – Concrete & Crusher Fines Trail ....................................................................................... 7
Auxiliary Concept #1: Bird Blind .................................................................................................................. 11
Auxiliary Concept #3: Lake Access Points ................................................................................................... 14
Auxiliary Concept Selection: Design Matrix ............................................................................................ 15
Project Progress .......................................................................................................................................... 17
Budget ......................................................................................................................................................... 17
Works Cited ................................................................................................................................................. 18
Background
Tabor Lake is part of the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt open space area and can be accessed via the
Youngfield St. trailhead, 44th Ave. trailhead, and Prospect Park. The proposed trail will be tied
into the existing trail that runs along the south side of the lake at coordinates:
39º 46’ 26” N 105º 08’ 08” W and 39º 46’ 27” N 105º 07’ 52” W, there will also be another tie
into the 44th Avenue Trailhead at 39º 46’ 37” N 105º 08’ 05” W [1]. There is a small island that
lies towards the south of the lake at 39º 46’ 29” N 105º 08’ 01” W, with the closest point to the
shoreline being 197 ft towards the existing trail [1]. There are some existing man-made features
that lie along our boundaries or just outside the boundaries, there are two culverts that run along
the northwest side of the lake just outside our boundary line for 237 ft, and another that runs
from the north side of the lake down to the northeast side of the lake for 1,485 ft. There is a
manhole clean out that lies within the project boundaries on the west side of the lake, the clean
out connects to a drainage pipe that lies below, but they are no longer in use. Project boundaries
are defined in Figure 1.
2
Figure 1: Project boundaries lie within the dotted lines denoted by yellow dashed line.
The average width of the cross section of trail constructed with crusher fines is six feet to remain
compliant with standards set forth by the Americans with Disabilities act (ADA) requirements,
trail width is driven by space constraints particularly on the northeast side of the lake. If a partial
concrete, partial crusher fine trail is utilized, the average width of concrete cross section will be
10 feet. This will allow for bikers and hikers to be on the trail at the same time and leave enough
room for safe passing, again this width is driven by space constraints, but since the concrete trail
will only be on the west side of the lake the narrow east side won’t affect our width requirement.
A major focus of the project is erosion mitigation because Tabor Lake has erosion problems.
Most erosion problems are concentrated on the west slope of the lake but there are also erosion
problems on the east confines of the project. Furthermore, the island on the lake acts as a rookery
to cormorants, a species of bird the client wishes to protect. As such, the City of Wheat Ridge
wishes to discourage recreational activities such as kayaking and paddle boarding on the lake
during the nesting season. Despite concerns, the TrailBlasters believe that the project will not
have an adverse effect on the rookery and nesting of the cormorants as the project confines
remain far away from the rookery island.
Upon initial site investigations, the TrailBlasters determined that erosion in the western confines
of the project is caused by a nearby neighborhood. The neighborhood does not have a storm
sewer, so storm runoff flows into the lake by being conveyed across the cross section of the trail
onto the existing surface by the lake. The TrailBlasters propose mitigating the issue either
through utilizing culverts that will take the runoff before it gets to the slopes or by the city
adding a drainage system to the street itself and not draining through Tabor Lake. The
neighborhood drainage system does not fall within the direct jurisdiction of the client, so
3
recommendations to improve it will be made and the design will be established to accommodate
not repairing the drainage system as well.
Design Specifications
The project is based on the following design criteria:
Criteria More Information Erosion Mitigation The trail running along the lake has dangerous levels of erosion. A major goal of this project is to fix and mitigate the erosion along the trail, especially on the west side which has been closed due to erosion
issues.
ADA-Accessibility The trail must meet all ADA requirements that are applicable to the trail [2].
Supporting Structure To keep the trail at a high level of quality for years to come, supporting structure will be added to the trail. This will keep the trail safe and accessible.
Addressing Grade Grading plays a major role in erosion. The grading will be accessed and help the flow of water run towards the storm drains that are already on
the site.
Vehicle Accessible The city of Wheatridge does a fantastic job of keeping the greenbelt
presentable and accessible to everyone. This requires that their work
trucks can get around the trail and access the desired areas. Therefor the trail will need to be wide enough and have appropriate turning radiuses around corners.
Lake Shore Access Designated areas will be created with safe access to get down to the lake shore.
This project is constrained by:
Constraints More Information
44th Avenue Access 44th avenue must have a trail head that provides access to the trail. This trailhead will eventually tie into the RTD station.
North Housing Project This project must have access to green space.
Northeast Ditch There is a ditch that runs from the North side of the lake to the East. This ditch is not owned by the city so it cannot be moved or destroyed.
Storm Drains Storm drains have already been constructed along the west side of the lake. They were put into place to capture runoff from the neighborhoods. These will be used in the design of the trial. Rookery There is a rookery on the island in the middle of the lake which is home to many different types of birds. This should not be tampered with due to the community of bird watchers that use the green
space.
4
Water Runoff from Neighborhoods The neighborhoods on the east and west side of the lake have very poor water drainage and water runoff.
Width of Existing
Grade
The width of the existing trail is narrow in some locations and can
limit how wide our designed trail can be
Trail Concept #1 – Crusher Fines Trail
The first trail design concept is a crusher fines trail around Tabor Lake. A crusher fines trail
allows easy access to walkers, hikers, and people in wheelchairs. To stay consistent with existing
Greenbelt trail rules, no bikers would be allowed on this trail around Tabor Lake. Below is a list
of pros and cons to consider regarding factors to meet project needs.
Pros:
• ADA accessible
• Crusher fines are cheaper than alternatives
• Our data shows that trail users favor crusher fines more than alternatives
• Natural aesthetic
• Good drainage and resist weeds
• Trail would consist of mostly hikers
• Easier and less time consuming to lay out a crusher fines trail than alternatives
• Easier to maintain
Cons:
• No bike access through the gate leading to 44th
• Material can scatter over time
• No direct benefit for helping with erosion
Concept critique:
Overall, a crusher fines trail would be a simple approach that would be economical, would be
easier to maintain, and would give the walk around Tabor Lake a natural aesthetic. This could
allow more focus on erosion control options, keeping the trail as simple as possible. One of the
main downsides to using crusher fines is that bikers would be kept off the trail and would not
gain direct access to 44th Ave via. Tabor Lake. This is important because bikers use the
Greenbelt very often, and this access point would be extremely convenient. Figure 2 provides a
layout sketch of where the trail would be placed. Shaded in pink, the crushed fines trail would go
around the lake, starting and ending on the existing concrete trail on the south side of the Lake.
The gate doors are shown in red, where there is access to 44th Ave.
5
Figure 2: Crusher fines concept sketch.
Trail Concept #2 – All-Concrete Trail
An all-concrete trail around Tabor Lake is another design option. The use of concrete is a great
option to make flat, easily accessible, public walkways. It also has a long lifespan and requires
little maintenance. Though concrete walkways have been used for many public walkways in the
design of infrastructure, concrete may not be the best for designing a trail all the way around a
lake. Below is a list of the pros and cons of designing the Tabor Lake Trail out of concrete:
Pros:
• Long lasting
o May be cheaper based on length of life
• Able to put in permanent lanes painted on surface
• Surface is better for bikers in general (not considering potential flooding)
• ADA accessible
• Able to prevent erosion from structural integrity
Cons:
• Unnatural aesthetic
o People of Wheat Ridge are mostly against it [3]
• More expensive per linear foot
6
• Encourages more cyclists around the lake
o Speeding
o Tight curves are dangerous for bikers
*Not enough sight distance
*Curve radius would not be adhering to standard due to space constraints
o More signage required
Speed limit
To caution bicyclist of hazards (icy conditions, tight curves, etc.)
• Less porous surface
o Prone to flooding and icy conditions
o Snowmelt is hindered
• Subject to cracking
• *May need new drainage system installed
• *If trail is not wide enough, may need to add retaining wall (could help with erosion but
also expensive)
• *May need to remove foliage and trees
*Further observations required
The areas that would give the most trouble when designing a concrete trail would be the west
side of the lake. This is where erosion is the most severe. Based on where the property line is
determines how wide the trail can be, and the west side is rather narrow. If the trail is going to be
open for bicyclists and hikers, the trail would have to be at least 10 feet wide to accommodate for
safety. There would also need to be adequate support and width for maintenance vehicles.
Figure 3 is a preliminary design of how the trail would look if a retaining wall was required.
This is to show visually the amount of work that would need to be done (at the most) if concrete
is the option to use given the current budget.
7
Figure 3: Concrete Trail Design Concept Sketch.
The team must determine whether the curve radii and sight distances of the curves are feasible in
the design of the concrete trail. Due to the natural curves of the existing surface, some curves
might be too tight to adhere to standard codes. This is important because concrete trails are
designed for the use of bicycles in accordance to previously established rules. AASHTO (p. 38)
currently recommends a minimum radius of 45 feet for cyclists traveling at 15 miles per hour
around a curve with a 2 percent superelevation. Trees and foliage may also need to be removed
or trimmed to account for the recommended stopping sight distance within the curves. Proper
analysis of the trail itself needs to be conducted to determine if it is even possible for bicycles to
be allowed on the trail. Otherwise, concrete would not be a viable option overall.
Disclaimer: Recommendations may be outdated. Access to the most recent AASHTO Green
Book is required for a confident analysis.
Trail Concept #3 – Concrete & Crusher Fines Trail
The second design concept for the Tabor Lake Trail involves a path constructed partially out of
concrete and crusher fines. This concept was built out of the desire to accommodate both bikers
and walkers/birdwatchers. As shown in Figure 4, the concrete portion of the trail will be built on
the western side of the lake.
8
Figure 4: Concrete and crusher fine trail layout .
This portion will extend from the western side of Clear Creek Trail to the parking lot with access
to 44th avenue. Bikers will have easy access to 44th avenue, which was a need stakeholders desired.
To keep bikers safe on this portion of the trail, a guard rail should be considered. Walkers would
also be able to use the concrete portion of the trail, but they will also be able to travel around the
entirety of the lake. Most of the walkers spoken to when conducting community feedback favored
having only hikers on the trail, they expressed concerns that some bikers tend to go over the speed
limit on trails. Taking this into consideration, the concrete portion was designed to simply allow
bikers to get from 44th avenue to the greenbelt where there is more space to accommodate both
hikers and bikers, as shown in Figure 5, the crusher fines and concrete sections of the trail will
split at the 44th avenue trailhead.
Figure 5: A zoomed in view of where the crusher fines and concrete trails will meet, at 44th
avenue.
This section will extend along the northern and eastern sides along Tabor Lake, ending at the
eastern side of Clear Creek. Because Bass Lake has a similar layout, where the path switches from
concrete to crusher fines, bikers will likely have a basic understanding that they will not be allowed
9
on the crusher fine section. Signs can also be postered detailing where bikers are allowed along
the trail. In this way, walkers and birdwatchers will have part of the lake solely set aside for their
needs, with easy access to the parking lot at 44th avenue. Below is a list of the pros and cons of
designing the Tabor Lake Trail out of concrete and crusher fine:
Pros:
• Easily distinguishes where bikers and walkers/dog walkers go
o Bikers on concrete and walkers on crusher fines (similar to Bass Lake)
• Allows bikers easy access to 44th avenue
• Most people surveyed in the community desired crusher fine
• Will allow city vehicles to easily pass through
• ADA accessible on all sides
• Limits erosion by putting concrete one of the most eroded parts of the lake (western side)
Cons:
• May be more expensive due to cost of concrete
• May be difficult to pave path because of eroded spots
• May limit where bird blind can go
• Concrete part will increase water runoff in the area
Trail Design Selection: Design Matrix
To select the most appropriate trail concept for Tabor Lake, a design matrix was created. The
categories selected in the design matrix were as follows: accessibility, cost, design feasibility,
safety, nature preservation, and community input.
The client emphasized how it was most important that the trail be ADA-accessible to
accommodate all users in the city and to adhere to the law, which is why the category of
accessibility was weighed the most. Both the concrete and combined concept scored the highest
in this category because concrete provides the smoothest path possible for wheelchair users [4].
Another high category for the client was safety, which was why it was weighed the second
highest in the design matrix. The category of safety not only considered how safe it was to use
the trail, but how safe it was for trail users if bikers were allowed access or not. Bikers present
more of a risk to hikers, which is why trail concepts that allowed for biker access were rated
lower in safety.
Nature preservation and community input were weighed equally in importance due to what the
client wanted and the team’s desire to incorporate feedback given by the community. Nature
preservation focused on the trail’s ability to keep the surrounding area as natural as possible,
which is why the crusher fines concept was rated highest in that category. Based on the
community survey, most people wanted the trail to be made from of crusher fines [3]. During a
10
client meeting, the client also expressed a preference toward the combined concept, and since it
incorporates crusher fines, this concept was rated the highest.
Design feasibility, specifically how practical it would be to construct the trail concept, was
weighed second lowest. Because the concrete and combined concept incorporates bikers, the trail
will be required to have a certain curve radius, which would make construction a bit harder than
the crusher fines concept. As a result, the crusher fines concept was rated highest in this
category.
Cost was rated the lowest since the client was not too particularly concerned about the cost of the
trail. Since the crusher fines concept is known to be cheaper than concrete, it was rated the
highest in this criterion. Please see Table 1 below for the Design Matrix; within the table, one is
the least desirable and three is the most desirable.
Table 1: Design Matrix for Trail Material
Trail Material Selection
Concept Accessibility (x3) Cost Design Feasibility
(x0.5)
Safety (x2) Nature Preservation
(x1.5)
Community Input (x1.5) Total
#1 Crusher Fines
2 3 3 3 3 2 24
#2 Concrete 3 1 1 1 1 1 15.5
#3
Combined
3 2 2 2 2.5 3 24.25
Based on the design matrix, the combined concept is the most desirable trail to construct. From a
simple engineering perspective, the crusher fines concept is also desirable. However, the
combined concept better encapsulates social considerations, such as what the client and
community desires. As such, when analyzing where a bird blind, picnic table, or access point
should be located on the trail, the combined concept will be considered.
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Auxiliary Concept #1: Bird Blind
A bird blind would be installed to provide ample viewing opportunities for wildlife, particularly
the cormorant. Figure 6 details potential locations for installation of the bird blind along with an
explanation of each location.
Figure 6: An aerial view of Tabor Lake and the points of considering a bird blind installation.
Location 1 offers the best view of all the locations. It has a clear line of site to the island where
the Cormorants congregate and is on a section of the trail with a large amount of clearance.
However, if this section of the trail is paved, it is possible that the area available to construct a
bird blind will be reduced. Furthermore, if the trail is paved and open to bikers, the appeal of
having a bird blind will be reduced significantly.
Location 2 has plenty of space to construct the bird blind and is located close to the existing trail.
It is also located very close to the island with a nearly direct line of sight and is most likely to be
utilized as it is very close to the paved existing trail. Beyond the island, there is likely to be
construction of an affordable housing project which will be visible within the bird blind. The
view of the built environment is likely going to detract from the appeal of using the bird blind.
Location 3 is in a more secluded spot compared to location 2. It also retains a direct line of site to
the rookery island and is positioned away from the built environment, including the existing
asphalt trail and in view of high-rise buildings. This might make it more appealing for nature
enthusiasts to use. However, it is located near the junction between the asphalt and the existing
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dirt trail. It is also located near existing cottonwood trees which might impact the ability to view
wildlife.
Location 4 is in a secluded location and has a good line of sight to the rookery island. However,
this location is not feasible for a bird blind because the right of way is constricted by a canal to
which private owners have the water rights to. There is also a significant amount of vegetation in
the area which would be impacted by the installation of a bird blind.
Location 5 is located far away from the island and does not have a direct view of any high-rise
buildings. It is also located a reasonable distance away from any trail junctures making it
secluded. However, there are limitations on the total amount of space available to construct a
bird blind. The trail will likely need to be widened to account for ADA accessibility
requirements and this might result in the bird blind being located too close to the trail.
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Auxiliary Concept #2: Picnic Table
The client and a fraction of the public have expressed interest in the presence of picnic tables at
various locations around the lake. As such, the same five locations for picnic table have been
analyzed for feasibility as seen in Figure 7.
Figure 7: An aerial view of Tabor Lake and locations which the team considered the installation
of picnic tables.
Location 1 offers a great view of the entire lake as well as the cormorant rookery. There is also
plenty of space for the installation of a picnic table and facilities such as a trash can. This
location is most optimal for a bird blind and installation of a picnic table would prevent
installation of a bird blind. The location is also close to a significant drop-off, and it might be
recommended to consider safety devices such as a handrail to prevent injuries.
Location 2 has plenty of space for a picnic table. It is also close to the existing shelter with a
picnic table and has easy access to the existing paved trail. It is also located near vegetation
which will provide natural shade in the summer months. Furthermore, the proximity to the
existing trail will reduce the cost of construction and reduce the amount of development required
along the sensitive “tabor take trail” corridor. The major drawback is this picnic table will be
located near an existing picnic table which might reduce the attractiveness of utilizing this picnic
table.
Location 3 is near a trail junction which means there is plenty of visibility and access to the area.
There is also plenty of space to install the picnic table and associated facilities without causing
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significant damage to the surrounding area. This location is also a greater distance from the
existing picnic table which makes it more desirable to use. The major drawback comes if a
crusher-fine trail is installed in the area. This makes the picnic table accessible only to
pedestrians and eliminates the ability for cyclists to take advantage of the picnic table.
Locations 4 and 5 do not have enough right of way for picnic tables and are deemed non-feasible
for further consideration of picnic table installation.
Auxiliary Concept #3: Lake Access Points The client expressed interest in developing access points to assorted places on the lake shore. The access points are being developed to provide optimal locations for fishing and viewing
nature. The above figure details three desirable locations to install lake access points as shown in Figure 8.
Figure 8: An aerial view of Tabor Lake with the location of potential lake access points.
Access Point 1 is in an ideal location as it has a direct line of sight to the island in the lake yet is
far enough away to minimize the impact of accessing the lake and the cormorant. This location is
also ideal for a bird blind or picnic table so development of multiple amenities within a confined
location will reduce the impact of construction on the natural environment. However, if the client
chooses to build a bird blind in this location, it might be difficult to accommodate a lake access
point. Furthermore, there is a steep slope down to the lake so additional mitigation efforts will
need to be conducted to bring the risk to an acceptable level.
Access Point 2 is likely to be utilized as it is located near the existing asphalt trail. This is also a
prime location to install a picnic table. Placing the lake access point near the picnic table will
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minimize the amount of development required through the park which will preserve the natural
environment. However, this access point is located close to the rookery which might be a
disturbance to the cormorant if people choose to access the lake near this location.
Access Point 4 is in a secluded location and is near a bend in the trail which will provide a great
view around the lake. This location is also far away from the rookery which will reduce the
disturbance to the wildlife. However, this location might be constrained space wise as there is an
existing culvert near the location and the trail might need to be widened to follow ADA
requirements.
Auxiliary Concept Selection: Design Matrix
To evaluate which location points in Figure 6 would be best for a bird blind or an access point,
design matrixes were created. A design matrix for a picnic table was not created because a picnic
table is appropriate for all the locations it could be placed in. The categories selected for the bird
blind design matrix were as follows: feasibility, view quality, and surrounding aesthetic.
View quality and surrounding aesthetic were weighed the greatest due to community input. Most
members of the community desired to keep the trail as natural as possible [3]. As such, the
category of view quality emphasized how well trail users could see the birds on the rookery.
Since point two was the closest to the island, allowing trail users the best view of the rookery, it
scored the highest. The criteria of surrounding aesthetic referenced the privacy a trail user would
have in using the bird blind as well as the noise level they might encounter (such as nearby
homeowners, bikers, and more). Since points four and five would not have any bikers nearby and
were also more private, they scored the highest in this category.
Feasibility was weighed the lowest since the client was not too concerned with design feasibility.
Since points three to five were in areas where the trail would be narrow, they were rated the
lowest in this criterion. Please see Table 2 for the bird blind design matrix; within the table, a
rating of one is the least desirable location point and five is the most desirable.
Table 2: Design Matrix for Bird Blind
Point Feasibility View Quality (x2) Surrounding Aesthetic (x2) Total
1 4 3 1 12
2 5 5 2 19
3 3 4 3 17
4 2 2 5 16
5 1 1 4 11
Based on the above design matrix, point two would be an ideal location to place a bird blind. To
recall, the design matrix was built with the idea that the bird blind would be built on the
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combined concept trail. While point two may not be the most aesthetically pleasing option, it has
the closest view of the rookery and is highly feasible when compared to the other location points.
Furthermore, to select the most appropriate access points to Tabor Lake, another design matrix
was created, as shown in Table 3. This matrix corresponds to Figure 8. The constraints are
safety, feasibility, disturbance to the rookery in the middle of the lake, surrounding aesthetics,
and erosion control contribution. Erosion control contribution accounts for how well the access
point will help prevent erosion. Safety was a factor that was weighed higher, due to the risks that
people may face accessing the lake regarding erosion and slope of the location. Feasibility was
also weighed higher due to the challenges that come with erosion levels in each location. Within
the table, a rating of one is the least desirable location point and three is the most desirable.
Table 3: Design Matrix for Lake Access Points
Point Safety (x2) Feasibility (x2) Disturbance to rookery Surrounding Aesthetic
Erosion control contribution Total
1 2 3 2 2 3 17
2 3 2 1 1 1 13
4 1 1 3 3 2 12
Summary & Notable Remarks:
Overall, point 1 achieved the highest score in this matrix, followed by point 2. Location 1 is
surrounded by several erosion spots and the second point furthest away from the rookery. If a
person is fishing or skipping rocks, there will be no disturbance to the birds. In addition, there is
already signs of people using point 1 as an access point. In addition, location 2 is very close to
the island, which should be considered greatly. There is also little to no erosion in point 2, so it
would not contribute as much to mitigating erosion. Feasibility for location 4 scored lower than
the other because it would require a bit more work due to a higher slope; this would require more
effort in building an access point to make it safe and ADA accessible. If the bird blind were to
take place on point 1, there are other access points to be considered.
Lastly, picnic table locations may be placed in correspondence to the lake access points selected.
Erosion control
Erosion control is a very important goal to meet in the Tabor Lake Trail Project. After deciding
which concept will work best, the team will further research and develop a more detailed
solution for erosion control for long term success. Soil analysis tests will be conducted to fully
understand the soil quality and type. Concepts that have been discussed so far are listed below:
• Retaining wall (especially on the west side of the lake)
• Fence
• Concrete ramps leading to access points to the water (designed to be ADA compliant)
• Platforms for fishing access
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• Culvert and water passageways to prevent more erosion
Project Progress
Thus far most focus has been defining scope and deliverables to provide to the client. There has
also been engagement with the local community through administering a short questionnaire,
discussion with community members, and attendance at commission meetings. The team’s
current evaluations on the design concepts and trail features are as follows; Trail Concept #3 is
the most practical solution because the client has expressed the importance of connecting 44th
avenue to the existing trail. By having an all-crusher fines trail in Trail Concept #1, where bikers
are not permitted, a large demographic of users is cut off from being able to travel from 44th
avenue to the existing trails and vice versa. When analyzing Trail Concept #2, based off
community engagement, citizens have expressed their desire for this trail to maintain a natural
aesthetic with a null effect on the bird populations that nest around Tabor Lake; thus, the team
believes an all-concrete trail would not maintain the natural aesthetic and could have adverse
effects on bird populations. By utilizing the combined design in Trail Concept #3, which has a
small portion of concrete trail that connects 44th avenue to existing trails, trail users could
traverse between these two locations. At the same time, the crusher fines portion of the trail
maintains the natural aesthetic and will have a lesser effect on bird populations. As far as
features such as picnic tables, bird blinds, and lake access points are concerned, there are options
that are being evaluated. This includes the possibility of collocating features such as having a
lake access point and bird blind in the same area. More research needs to be done to ensure that
no features will conflict with each other.
Following community engagement, the TrailBlasters have begun to survey the land to create a
topographic map of the area which can then be put into computer aided design (CAD) software.
Once the survey has been completed, work will begin designing trail concepts, with a focus on
grading and profile creation. Alongside work done in CAD, geotechnical analysis will be
conducted to determine information about local soil conditions.
Budget
Option #1
Table 4: Price of all Crusher Fine Trail
Material $23,709.38 Delivery $12,096.62
Installation $9,305.09
Bird Blind $200 Picnic Tables $369
Total Cost $45,680.09
Option #2
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Table 5: Price of all Concrete Trail
Material/delivery/installation $89,487.45
Picnic tables $369
Bird blind $200 Total cost $90,056.45
Option #3
Table 6: Price of Concrete and Crusher Fine Trail
Concrete
Material/delivery/installation $35,097.89 River rock crusher fine
Material $14,410.32
Delivery $7,352.20 Installation $5,655.54
Picnic tables $369
Bird blind $200
Total cost $63,084.95
Works Cited
[1] Google. “Tabor Lake, Wheat Ridge, CO.” Accessed: March 10, 2022. [Online]. Available:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tabor+Lake/@39.7756574,-
105.1356051,655m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x876b85dc41a91329:0xb19307bb
73cdc32a!8m2!3d39.7750089!4d-105.132474.
[2] 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, 403.5, US Access Board, 2010. [Online].
Available:
https://coloradosprings.gov/sites/default/files/images/public_right_of_way_ada_reviews.
pdf.
[3] TrailBlasters Survey, “Future Tabor Lake Trail Community Input,” January-April, 2022.
[4] BuildDirect, “Creating a Wheelchair-Accessible Backyard for Visitors, April 4, 2014.
[Online]. Accessed: March 31, 2022. Available:
https://www.builddirect.com/blog/creating-a-wheelchair-accessible-backyard-for-
visitors/.
[5] https://www.arslandscapematerialsandsupply.com/sales-delivery/price-list/