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Open Space Advisory Board drafts August report, prioritizes Mountain-to-River trail and Casner Range oversight
Summary
With an August 1 deadline for a required annual report, the Open Space Advisory Board asked staff to draft a memo summarizing the board’s past work and next-year priorities—top among them the Mountain-to-River trail, Casner Range monitoring, trailhead projects and vegetation management.
The El Paso Open Space Advisory Board devoted the meeting’s largest block of time to preparing the board’s annual report, a newly required submission to the city due Aug. 1.
Staff explained there is no city-prescribed template and recommended a memo format that can be converted to a PowerPoint if the board presents to council. Kevin Smith with Planning & Inspections recommended a memo so council members can see accomplishments, next-year priorities and any recommendations in a single document. Board members and staff agreed staff will draft an initial memo and circulate it for member redlines; staff said they can help format the item to meet city memo standards.
Members outlined priorities they want reflected in the report: completion and continued advocacy for the Mountain-to-River trail; maintaining open lines of communication and ongoing monitoring of Casner Range (especially while DoD and remediation work continue); attention to trailheads such as Bear Ridge and Lost Dog; clearer vegetation-management protocols across city and county rights-of-way; and closer tracking of struck-off city parcels that might be candidates for preservation. The board also asked that Parks and EP Water provide updates on specific projects, including the Bear Ridge trailhead meter installation and a breakdown of recent Font/Front Land Alliance reimbursements tied to open-space properties.
Two newly appointed members introduced themselves during the meeting. One identified as "Gutard Corning Studin," a retired professor of biology who said she worked at EPCC and volunteers on local conservation efforts; another introduced himself as "Javier" and described a 35‑year career in education and ties to District 7; he later identified his surname as Rodriguez. Members said the new appointees will broaden valley representation on the board.
What’s next: staff committed to circulate a first draft memo in the coming days for member review and to help ensure the board’s annual report is posted and submitted before the city’s deadline.
