Open Space and Mountain Parks staff and the City climate initiatives office presented updates on the multimodal improvements assessment (7c) and OSMP’s climate action implementation during the Dec. 10 meeting.

OSMP planners Casey French and Jenna Van Gruen described a year‑long, system‑wide multimodal assessment to identify education/outreach, trailhead/access and trail‑connection improvements that OSMP can direct. The in‑scope work includes wayfinding, neighborhood‑scale access points, potential minor off‑property improvements (e.g., flashing beacons), and identification of key connectors and allowed uses where those would address safety and connectivity without “significant impacts.” Out‑of‑scope items include new large trailheads and parking fee strategy.

Jenna said the proposed planning approach includes background research in Q4 2025–Q1 2026, three community engagement windows with an intercept survey in April, and a draft solution package and feasibility matrix leading to refinement and an expected Q4 2026 completion. Staff said the three engagement windows were chosen to ensure thorough outreach if recommendations exceed current plan guidance.

Jonathan Cohen, director of the city’s climate initiatives department, and OSMP staff summarized the climate action plan’s ‘‘whole‑of‑government’’ approach. Cohen said the city is refining resilience and equity goals and pursuing key performance indicators to show measurable progress. OSMP staff highlighted that approximately 40–60% of department work is climate related, and OSMP’s internal Climate Incentive Fund (~$150,000/year) supports greener elements of existing projects.

OSMP staff also reviewed biomass work with Boulder County to inventory woody material, evaluate vendor capacity and consider compost/processing options; staff said a regional procurement approach is under development and that larger processing partners are limited. Trustees asked about the visitor‑travel emissions estimate (presented as roughly 15,275 metric tons) and staff said multimodal improvements aim to reduce those emissions where feasible.

Staff previewed an emergent Xcel Energy easement amendment to relocate feeder lines on OSMP land and noted remediation, cultural assessments, and restoration requirements will accompany any alignment change. Trustees thanked presenters and asked staff to return with KPIs and assessment findings in early 2026.