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Home My WebLink About990277.tiff • CORRESPONDENCE RESPONSE DEPARTMENT OF P.L.-IL/14./J24 - [ / tt'LICc) * * * PLEASE RESPOND WITHIN THREE DAYS.* * * IF RESPONSE WILL BE DELAYED, PLEASE NOTIFY "CTB GROUP" BY E-MAIL Weld County Planning Dept. OF EXPECTED DATE FOR RESPONSE. JAN 2 7 1999 RECOMMENDED ACTION: RECEIVED Narrative: • METHOD OF RESPONSE. - Board Action - Work Session - Letter (Attached) Telephone Call ' No Response (explain) I have reviewed the packet, and do not believe that a comment is necessary The process has changed,but is still quite reasonable. We are also in the process of applying for one of these grants. Please advise. Department Head Signature NI:CAROL PMAN\RDC OM P2 (limo"; 10 i W aC22mCYC _ 990277 WELD COUNTY GREAT OUTDOORS """n- COLORADO IG ^ PM 26 t,M( 9: 10 CLERK TO THE B RD January 20, 1999 Dear County Commission Chair: The enclosed copy of the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Draft Strategic Plan Summary is the official copy that is being sent to your county for comment. The only other copies that will be sent to your county will be to people who attended a Great Outdoors Colorado strategic planning meeting in September or October and who signed a sign- in sheet. We encourage you to send one set of comments from your county to GOCO. The deadline for comments is February 9, 1999. Thank you and we look forward to hearing for you. Sincerely, Will Shafroth Executive Director STATE BOARD OE THE GREAT OUTDOORS COLORADO TRUST FUND 303 EAST 17ML Ave. SUITE 900 DENVER. CO 80203 TeLFIUHONE 303-863-7522 FACSIMILE 303-863-7517 (%�f/��O�7 E-MALI.- GOCOLO©AOL.COM / GREAT OUTDOORS COLORADO Draft Summary for Public Comment Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Strategic Plan Comments Due: February 9, 1999 In the Fall of 1998, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) conducted a series of meetings in 14 cities around the state. The purpose of the meetings was to seek the advice of Coloradans about what modifications GOCO should make to the Strategic Plan that guides its spending due to an increase in funds it will begin receiving in 1999. GOCO's share of Lottery proceeds will increase from an average of$20 million annually to $35 million a year adjusted for inflation-- approximately $44 million in Fiscal Year 1999/2000. More than 900 people attended these meetings. GOCO also met with the State Parks Board and Wildlife Commission, and stakeholders from the land conservation, agricultural, urban, and water communities. In addition, Ciruli Associates conducted a telephone survey of 600 citizens. At these meetings and in the survey,the Board asked if GOCO's current grant programs are addressing the outdoor resource needs with which it is charged to fund in the Colorado Constitution. The Board also sought reaction to targeted initiatives, outlined in this summary, that could be undertaken with increased revenues. Based on the input GOCO received at these meetings,the Board has developed spending priorities and initiatives which are summarized in this draft. Great Outdoors Colorado will accept comments on this draft until Tuesday,February 9, 1999 at 5:00 p.m. There are three ways to comment: Via mail: Via fax: Great Outdoors Colorado ATTN: Strategic Plan Comments 303 East I D'Avenue, Suite 900 (303) 863-7517 Denver,Colorado 80203 ATTN: Strategic Plan Comments Via e-mail: cleding@goco.org The GOCO Board encourages you to review this draft and provide comments. The Strategic Plan the Board adopts will guide GOCO's future granting. If you want to see the complete draft of the plan,you can access it on GOCO's homepage at http://aclin.org/code/goco beginning January 23, 1999 or by contacting GOCO at(303) 863-7522. GOCO's funding will remain an important tool to address the outdoor resource challenges Colorado faces. Much has been achieved since GOCO awarded its first grants; however, there is still much more to do. Demand for GOCO grants,which has outpaced dollars available by three to one since 1994,will continue to be significant. The need to work together in partnership to achieve GOCO's mission will remain. Great Outdoors Colorado continues to present a unique opportunity: an opportunity to preserve Colorado's natural heritage, an opportunity to enhance our quality of life, and an opportunity to keep our state as special tomorrow as it is today. The GOCO Board looks forward to working together to optimize that opportunity. /aU,1 7 DRAFT—Great Outdoors Colorado Strategic Plan Summary Page 1 7 / Foreword GOCO's funding increase comes at a time filled with challenges posed by the rapid growth Colorado has experienced in the last decade. Since 1990,the state's population has increased more than 20 percent. Competition for land is intense and real estate prices continue to increase. These factors are resulting in loss of open spaces, destruction of wildlife habitats, and increased demand for places to recreate. At the same time, Coloradans' concern about the state's outdoor resources remains a strong focus as the LOCO Board learned from the more than 1500 people who participated in the strategic planning process. Citizens value our state's natural amenities and share a commitment to preserving them for future generations. Through the meetings and survey results, GOCO learned that: • Coloradans continue to consider growth and its impacts the number one issue that should be addressed in the state. Both metro and non-metro areas share a concern that the state is growing too fast. • People overwhelmingly support using state Lottery dollars to help address the impacts of growth on the state's outdoor resources. • Preserving open space tops the list of local and statewide priorities. It is closely followed by preserving wildlife habitat and maintaining park facilities. • The Board learned grantees and citizens want to see current GOCO programs continue. At the same time, they support dedicating new revenues to targeted initiatives outlined in this summary. • As to current GOCO programs, overall meeting participants said open space deserves increased funding; local government outdoor recreation grants are a close second. However, the priority on these two programs varies from region to region in the state. • Youth education programs have strong support throughout the state. • In the statewide poll,the top five priorities for spending increased Lottery dollars for outdoor projects are acquisition and protection of 1) river corridors, 2)open space, and 3)agricultural land, 4)the expansion of opportunities for youth to participate and work in the outdoors, and 5) acquiring land for future state and local parks. Based on the input it received, the protection and stewardship of land and water for open space, wildlife, parks and outdoor recreation will continue to be the highest priority for the GOCO Board. Every year,the Board will determine the amount and types of grants it will give, and, as has become the tradition of GOCO, it will continue to seek input from Coloradans. The Board will also remain innovative and flexible so that it can address new challenges that arise in the coming years and take advantage of special opportunities. Finally, the Board will establish benchmarks to measure its success in achieving the long-term goals of this plan. DRAFT—Great Outdoors Colorado Strategic Plan Summary Page 2 • Funding Priorities Framework for Funding Priorities —The GOCO Amendment Goals Article XXVII of the Colorado Constitution requires GOCO to allocate its proceeds to four areas in substantially equal portions over time. This framework outlined in the Constitution will continue to guide the Board's overall investment of funds. It will also continue to form the basis of the Board's grant cycles. The four areas are: Wildlife Program Grants through the Division of Wildlife (DOW) which: • Develop watchable wildlife opportunities • Implement educational programs about wildlife and wildlife environment • Provide appropriate programs for maintaining Colorado's diverse wildlife heritage • Protect crucial wildlife habitats through the acquisition of lands, leases, or easements and restore critical areas Outdoor Recreation Program Grants through the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation (DPOR) which: • Establish and improve state parks and recreation areas throughout the state of Colorado CIE Develop appropriate public information and environmental education resources on Colorado's natural resources at state parks, recreation areas,and other locations throughout the state • Acquire, construct, and maintain trails and river greenways • Provide water for recreational purposes through the acquisition of water rights or through agreements with the holders of water rights, all in accord with applicable state water law Open Space and Natural Areas Program Grants through the Colorado Divisions of Parks and Outdoor Recreation and Wildlife, or municipalities, counties, or other political subdivisions of the state, or nonprofit land conservation entities to: • Identify unique open space and natural areas of statewide significance • Acquire unique open space and natural areas of statewide significance • Manage unique open space and natural areas of statewide significance Local Government Program Grants to: • Match local investments to acquire, develop,and manage open space • Match local investments to acquire, develop, and manage parks • Match local investments to acquire, develop, and manage environmental education facilities In addition,the Board will use the latitude provided in the Amendment `to make expenditures which it considers necessary and proper to the accomplishment of the purposes of the amendment". Three Core Programs Derived from Amendment Goals These Amendment Goals provide important direction about how the funds are to be spent over time. The current challenges faced by the state and the desires of the people of Colorado --as expressed through the statewide poll and strategic planning process - provide additional information to help the Board shape its overall approach. The Board will continue to emphasize the protection of land and water as a priority across each of the four Amendment Goals. O-17 DRAFT—Great Outdoors Colorado Strategic Plan Summary Page 3 r In keeping with the goals specifically outlined in Article XXVII and in recognition of the public's priorities,the Board will organize its activities into three core programs: A) Land,Water,and Wildlife Protection B) Outdoor Recreation C) Youth,Environmental Education, and Interpretation The core programs will provide for planning, opportunities for capacity building,project implementation, and in the case of the Land, Water and Wildlife Protection Program, stewardship. • GOCO will continue to offer its existing grant programs. The targeted initiatives outlined in the plan have been developed to provide definable, cohesive and measurable objectives. The initiatives will also be achieved through existing grant programs and new programs to be developed in the future. Addressing Colorado's Diverse Needs This plan strives to meet the diversity of needs in the state, while maintaining an emphasis on protection and stewardship of land and water for open space, wildlife, parks and outdoor recreation. The Board recognizes that strategically focusing its resources means that not all regions of the state will be served by all types of GOCO grants. However,because of GOCO's funding increase beginning in 1999, more dollars will likely be available for all project types,including existing grant programs. In addition, GOCO will continue to encourage projects that support the expansion of outdoor recreation,wildlife, and open space opportunities for urban and rural areas throughout the state and among minority, economically disadvantaged, and physically challenged populations in the state. Under this plan,the approximate allocation of funds to each of the core programs from Fiscal Year 1999 through Fiscal Year 2008 will be: Land,Water,and Wildlife Protection Outdoor Recreation Facilities Youth,Environmental Education, 71.5%of total funds 23.0%of total funds and Interpretation 5.5%of total funds Total of three core programs: 100% From each the funding areas outlined in Article XXVII of the Constitution(see previous page), the following percentages will be dedicated to the three core program areas: Land,Water,and Wildlife Outdoor Recreation Youth,Environmental Total Protection Facilities Education,Interpretation Wildlife 89% 0% 11% 100% Outdoor Recreation 52% 40% 8% 100% Open Space 98.5% 0% 1.5% 100% Local Government 46.5% 52% 1.5% 100% DRAFT- Great Outdoors Colorado Strategic Plan Summary Page 4 A. Land, Water, and Wildlife Protection Program For the Land, Water and Wildlife Protection Program, five targeted initiatives have been developed to reflect the priorities identified through the strategic planning process. The targeted initiatives are intended to provide a framework for a significant portion of the grant-making activities within this program. Initiative 1) Protecting Important River Corridors Initiative 2) Protecting Colorado's Unique Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitats Initiative 3) Protecting Community Separators Initiative 4) Protecting Land for Future Parks and Outdoor Recreation Initiative 5) Protecting Strategic Agricultural Lands Initiative 1: Protecting Important River Corridors Through its public process GOCO learned the protection of river corridors is a priority for Coloradans. These corridors provide rich and diverse terrestrial and aquatic habitats,public and privately owned open space corridors, and recreational opportunities; these projects also afford the opportunity to integrate these aspects of GOCO's mission. Objectives and approaches to achieve protection of important river corridors: Objective: Support the assessment of and strategies to protect important river corridors. Planning and Capacity Building. Award grants to local governments, state agencies and/or nonprofit organizations for the assessment, identification, and protection of important river corridors. Objective: Support land,water and wildlife protection efforts that are compatible with outdoor recreational uses of river corridors. Acquisitions. Award grants for: • Purchase of lands and conservation easements for open space, wildlife habitat, agricultural lands and recreational corridors. • Purchase of water for instream flows that benefit recreation and/or wildlife habitat. • Purchase of easements for recreational access and trails. • Transaction costs associated with the donation of easements, long-term management agreements and/or the donation of instream flows. • Habitat improvements on public lands and cost-sharing grants for private lands. Objective: Provide for the long-term stewardship of lands acquired with GOCO funding. Stewardship. Consider grants to accomplish stewardship activities on lands acquired in part with GOCO funds. *1 DRAFT—Great Outdoors Colorado Strategic Plan Summary Page 5 1(j Initiative 2: Protecting Colorado's Unique Natural Areas & Wildlife Habitats Through its public process GOCO learned the long-term viability of Colorado's remarkable diversity of native species is a priority for Coloradans. These species provide a truly natural legacy that is at risk due to conversion of land to other uses and loss of habitats. Unique habitats have been identified that present protection opportunities -- those areas of the state that provide the most biologically rich, but threatened, landscapes. Objectives and approaches to achieve protection of unique Natural Areas and wildlife habitats: Objective: Support efforts to create and strengthen local partnerships to help achieve land protection strategies within important conservation areas. Planning and Capacity Building. Award grants to local governments, state agencies and non-profit organizations to identify, develop, and/or and refine specific land protection strategies within important conservation areas. Award grants to state and local nonprofit land trusts and local governments to develop and expand their capacity to assist in the protection of important conservation areas. Objective: Support land, water and wildlife protection strategies that protect habitats. Acquisitions. Award grants for: • Acquisition of lands in fee title and acquisition of conservation easements in perpetuity. • Transaction costs associated with the donation of easements. • Acquisition of long-term leases and management agreements (land and/or water). • Acquisition of water/in-stream flows or fund transaction costs associated with management agreements or the donation of flows. • Restoration and enhancement of public and private lands by awarding cost-sharing grants for private landowners to make habitat improvements and by awarding grants for habitat improvements on public lands, such as State Wildlife Areas, State Parks,Natural Areas, and federal lands. Objective: Provide for the long-term stewardship of lands acquired with LOCO funding. Stewardship. Consider grants to accomplish stewardship activities on lands acquired in part with GOCO funds. Initiative 3: Protecting Community Separators Through its public process GOCO learned that, in certain areas of the state,protecting the unique identity and character of communities through the establishment of open space corridors and greenbelts is a priority. Objectives and approaches to achieve protection of community separators: Objective: Support and strengthen local partnerships that result in local strategies to establish and protect community separators. Planning and Capacity Building. Award grants to local governments and nonprofit partners to foster cooperation and collaboration between and among local governments, identify priority community separators and develop site-specific protection strategies. Award grants to local governments and nonprofit partners to ensure their capacity to assist in the identification and protection of community separators. DRAFT—Great Outdoors Colorado Strategic Plan Summary Page 6 Acquisitions. Award grants for the purchase of lands and conservation easements for open space, recreation, and agricultural lands within community separators. Objective: Provide for the long-term stewardship of lands acquired with GOCO funding. Stewardship. Consider grants to accomplish stewardship activities on lands acquired in part with GOCO funds. Initiative 4: Protecting Land for Future Parks 8c Outdoor Recreation Through its public process GOCO learned that securing recreation lands now so that future generations can enjoy the same or higher level of outdoor recreational opportunities we enjoy today is a priority to Coloradans. Objectives and approaches to achieve protection of land for future parks and outdoor recreation: Objective: Support efforts to identify needs and sites for future park and outdoor recreation. Planning. Award grants to DPOR and local governments to identify and develop priorities for future local parks and State Parks and Recreation Areas. Objective: Secure land for future state and local parks and outdoor recreation areas. Acquisitions. Award grants for the purchase of: • Lands or water in fee title for public park and outdoor recreation use. • Land or easements for trails. • Leases on land or water for future outdoor recreation use. Objective: Provide for the long-term stewardship of lands acquired by DPOR with GOCO funding. Stewardship. Consider grants to accomplish stewardship activities on lands acquired in part with GOCO funds. Initiative 5: Protect Strategic Agricultural Lands Through its public process GOCO learned that the protection of agricultural lands is a priority to Coloradans because of the benefits they provide for wildlife habitat, open space, scenic view corridors, and/or community separators and because of their contribution to maintaining a working landscape. Objectives and approaches to achieve protection of strategic agricultural lands: Objective: Assist in the identification of strategic agricultural lands. Planning and Capacity Building. Facilitate planning by convening agricultural, governmental, nonprofit and other interests to help assess and identify strategic agricultural areas of the state. Award grants to develop and/or refine strategies for the protection of strategic agricultural lands and to local, regional and statewide agricultural organizations to ensure their capacity to assist in the protection of strategic agricultural lands. Objective: Assist in efforts to protect strategic agricultural lands. Strategic agricultural lands are key to both GOCO's mission and to the scale and viability of agriculture in a region. DRAFT— Great Outdoors Colorado Strategic Plan Summary Page 7 U��17 RVr Conservation easements and leases. Award grants for: • • Acquisition of agricultural conservation easements. • Transaction costs for the donation of conservation easements on properties where landowners cannot afford them. • Acquisition of long-term leases on lands that provide significant open space,wildlife, recreation and/or scenic values. Objective: Provide for the long-term stewardship of lands preserved with LOCO funding.. Voluntary Stewardship. Encourage stewardship activities which further GOCO objectives on agricultural properties where conservation easements are acquired. B. Outdoor Recreation Facilities Program Initiative: Develop and enhance new state and local parks Through its public process, GOCO learned that providing quality outdoor recreation experiences for all of Colorado's communities is a priority for Coloradans. GOCO will achieve its objectives through its existing grant programs and through grants larger than it has awarded to date: Objective: Support the establishment of new outdoor recreation facilities. Award larger grants to: • Support planning efforts that assess and identify needs for and location of larger outdoor recreation facilities. • Support development of facilities at new State Parks • Provide matching funds for the development of new larger outdoor recreation facilities that serve more than one community at locations across the state. Award regular grants to: • Support local and regional outdoor recreation master plans. • Support the improvement and expansion of existing State Parks. • Provide matching funds for the development and enhancement of local outdoor recreation facilities in communities across the state. These could be in the form of mini-grants or larger grants. Objective: Support the establishment, development, and enhancement of trails. Award larger grants to: • Support planning efforts to assess the need for and impacts of larger,regional trails. • Support the establishment and development of trails of regional or statewide significance. Award regular grants to: • Support the improvement and expansion of locally important trails. DRAFT— Great Outdoors Colorado Strategic Plan Summary Page 8 C. Youth, Environmental Education and Interpretation Programs Initiative: Provide opportunities for Colorado's citizens, especially its youth, to learn about and be involved in the protection and enjoyment of parks, trails, wildlife habitat, rivers, and open spaces. Through its public process GOCO learned that providing opportunities for all the state's citizens, regardless of age, race, economic status or community, to have access to environmental education,parr wildlife, trails and open space resources, is a priority for Coloradans. In particular, the engagement of youth in outdoor activities and opportunities is important, as they are the next generation of stewards of the state's natural resources. Youth opportunities, environmental education and interpretive programs provide a significant opportunity for GOCO to involve all of Colorado's citizens in its mission. Objective: Support programs for the state's citizens, especially youth, to be involved in the protection, restoration and enjoyment of Colorado's parks, trails, open space and wildlife resources. Youth Corps: Award grants for the expansion of youth corps throughout the state, with strong emphasis on metropolitan areas. Youth in Natural Resources/Colorado Youth Naturally: Award grants for existing and new programs of the State of Colorado which involve youth in employment and environmental education opportunities. Volunteer and Community Organizations: Award grants for the development and expansion of volunteer and community organizations which serve youth through employment, experiential, and environmental education opportunities and which provide educational opportunities for all citizens about the protection and use of the state's natural heritage. Objective: Support programs that provide education about wildlife and wildlife environment. Provide information and resources to teachers and other environmental educators through grants to the Division of Wildlife and in collaboration with schools and non-profit partners(e.g. Wonders in Nature/Wonders in Neighborhoods, Project Wet and Project Wild, Teaching Environmental Science Naturally). Provide opportunities for youth to experience educational programs in the outdoors -beyond the classroom -- through grants to the Division of Wildlife and in collaboration with schools and non-profit partners. Objective: Provide access to interpretive and watchable wildlife opportunities at State Parks, State Wildlife Areas and other locations across the state. Interpretive Programs: Award grants for interpretive programs and provide interpreters at State Parks. Watchable Wildlife: Award grants for watchable wildlife programs and facilities at State Parks, State Wildlife Areas, and other locations across the state. Access: Provide access to interpretive and watchable wildlife facilities and programs. DRAFT—Great Outdoors Colorado Strategic Plan Summary Page 9 U3 77 Leadership and Board Initiatives Since 1994, Great Outdoors Colorado has provided leadership through its grant-making process to encourage innovative and creative projects,promote partnerships, leverage resources, and integrate efforts among public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector. With an increase in funding, stakeholders have suggested GOCO is even more uniquely positioned as a statewide organization to expand its leadership role and to undertake new initiatives. Following are examples of ways in which GOCO can expand its leadership. The Board will need to periodically define the priorities within these areas and the resources necessary for GOCO to be effective. External fundraising: A specific initiative the Board was encouraged to pursue during its public meetings is to actively seek funds from public and private sources both within and beyond Colorado to augment GOCO funding. GOCO is uniquely positioned to provide full services for individuals, corporations, foundations and agencies which have an interest in funding projects related to all or part of GOCO's mission. Because GOCO has established systems to award and administer grants, funding sources might find working with GOCO advantageous. Actively pursuing projects: Since 1994, GOCO has attempted be respond to regional needs through its grant application process. However, GOCO funds are not serving every community or resource need in the state. GOCO will work more actively with local governments, state agencies, nonprofit organizations and the private sector where these gaps and needs exist. Once they are identified, GOCO can help provide technical assistance that will result in planning,partnerships and competitive proposals. Without this more proactive approach, certain areas of the state and resource types will not benefit from GOCO's funds, and significant opportunities will be lost forever. Bi-annual conference: GOCO will conduct a bi-annual conference on the state of Colorado's outdoor resources, the challenges to the state's natural resources, and tools and techniques to conserve and enhance Colorado's outdoor heritage. Department of Natural Resources: GOCO will continue to work closely with the Department of Natural Resources and the three Boards whose missions have elements that overlap with GOCO's mission: the State Parks Board,the Wildlife Commission and the State Land Board. Diverse populations: GOCO will communicate information about funding opportunities and activities to diverse populations and will work to disseminate information about Colorado's parks,trails, and wildlife areas in strategic locations that serve diverse communities. Indicators of success/annual report card: GOCO will establish statewide indicators to track progress in preserving and enhancing parks, wildlife,trails,rivers and open space. From this information, GOCO can prepare an annual report card on the state of Colorado's outdoor resources. DRAFT—Great Outdoors Colorado Strategic Plan Summary Page 10 GOCO's Approach to Grant-Making The Board will develop an operations plan which will include revising and expanding the general framework under which it awards grants. Overarching criteria As they have since 1994, GOCO applications will require project sponsors to meet several of the following funding criteria. However,the Board will always consider special circumstances that prevent an applicant's projects from meeting all criteria: Partnership,leveraging, and matching requirements: Due to the pressures of growth, a real estate market where prices have increased faster than GOCO dollars, and high demand for GOCO dollars, GOCO will continue to place an emphasis on project sponsors forging strong partnerships that result in maximum leveraging of resources. Providing matching resources—both cash and in-kind— will continue to be a requirement. Integration: GOCO will continue to encourage that, where feasible,projects integrate as many components of GOCO's four funding categories as possible. The Board will also strive to see that GOCO's programs complement efforts of other state agencies, federal agencies, local governments, special districts, nonprofit organizations, the private sector and volunteers. Planning: Because projects funded outside the context of a plan are more likely to yield fewer results in the long run, projects need to be part of some overall community,regional, or statewide plan. A higher priority will be placed on projects where plans are in place for the immediate and proximate areas and jurisdiction that are consistent with the objectives of the proposed project. Environmental Education: When feasible,the project should provide access to and opportunities for environmental education. Project sustainability: Sponsors need to demonstrate that they are financially able to complete and have viable plans for the operation, maintenance, and management of projects. Impact: The project should address a local or statewide need and benefit a local community, a region, or the state. Environmental impact: The project should avoid, minimize, or mitigate any negative impacts to wildlife and wildlife habitat and,where possible, should provide beneficial impact to wildlife and wildlife habitat. Funding through the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation and the Division of Wildlife The Constitutional Amendment provides that over time, one quarter of the Trust Fund's investments be made through DOW and one-quarter through DPOR. The Great Outdoors Colorado Board will continue to work with the Divisions to fund projects that accomplish mutual objectives outlined in long-range plans. In addition to requiring that half of the Board's funds be invested through the Divisions, the Amendment also has a "no substitution"clause; Great Outdoors Colorado funds cannot substitute for funds that would otherwise be appropriated by the General Assembly to the Department of Natural Resources and its Divisions. As a general matter,the Board will fund parks and wildlife projects that had not been initiated prior to the passage of the GOCO Amendment. DRAFT- Great Outdoors Colorado Strategic Plan Summary Page 11 t U�� Operational Issues Great Outdoors Colorado heard many comments related to the implementation of the Strategic Plan and operational issues during its public process. In response to these comments,the Board is considering the operational changes described below. Matching requirements: For grants to local governments,the Board will adopt a carefully tailored policy permitting it to modify match requirements for small communities provided there is a demonstration of compelling need. Specific guidelines for implementing this policy will be developed in consultation with stakeholders. The Board also recognizes that the resources of DOW and DPOR are not increasing at the same rate as those of GOCO. The Board will work with the Divisions to add flexibility to these matching requirements as well. Stewardship: The Board acknowledges that helping to provide resources for stewardship of open space, parks, and wildlife habitat acquisitions that have been funded by GOCO is an important part of its mission. These stewardship activities, from the Board's perspective,might include grants to support restoration and protection activities. Except for certain newly acquired state agency properties, the Board does not anticipate funding routine operations and maintenance activities. The Board, in consultation with stakeholders, will develop guidelines for distinguishing between stewardship and maintenance, and for providing such resources. Caps on grants: The Board will increase caps for all grants. Specific limits for such funding will be developed in consultation with stakeholders. Multi-year grants: The Board will consider multi-year grant requests for all types of eligible projects, except for mini-grants. Generally, the projects must rank in the top ten percent of successful projects to receive a multi-year funding commitment. Timing of grant cycles: Some grant cycles will be conducted semi-annually rather than annually. New schedules will be established in consultation with stakeholders. Accelerating revenue: The Board will look at a variety of mechanisms to see if it is fiscally prudent to make more of GOCO's dollars available for land protection in the next three to five years. Requiring projects to be part of an overall plan: The Board will continue to attempt to strike a balance between supporting the need for projects to be integrated into overall local planning efforts,as well as supporting its goal of streamlining the application process. Staffing: In response to suggestions that the size of the GOCO staff needs to be increased to provide more technical assistance, develop better connections with and understanding of local needs and projects, and for quicker administration of grants,the Board will consider gradually expanding the size and location of the staff. If pursued,this expansion will be moderate in scale and will reflect,to at least a partial degree,the increased number and size of grants anticipated for future years. With regard to suggestions regarding regional representation, the Board will, in consultation with stakeholders, assess the potential use of existing field offices of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs to provide information and some support to GOCO grantees and applicants. The Board will also assess the potential use of a pilot program assigning individual Denver-based staff to a part-time continuing relationship with individual regions of the state. DRAFT— Great Outdoors Colorado Strategic Plan Summary Page 12 Hello