Minutes, June 14, 2023, Retreat

Retreat Minutes

June 14, 2023

 

The CPFAN meeting/retreat came to order at 6 pm. CPFAN Board members, Kelly Crosby, Sandy Robnett, Robbie Marks, Patty Paul, Joe Mauro and Georgia Garnsey were in attendance. CPFAN member Mike Fernandez was also in attendance. The minutes of the April 14, 2023 Annual meeting were approved. (Joe moved and Sandy seconded). There was no formal meeting in May for lack of a quorum. A group of CPFAN and CPA members met to brainstorm Land Acknowledgement designs for the City Park Lily Pond with Kristina Maldonado Bad Hand. Sandy, Brooke, Georgia, Patty Cordova, Susan Langley and Mike Fernandez were in attendance along with Kristina.

 

Joe Mauro presented the Treasurer’s Report for April. There was a positive balance of $937.61. The report was approved (Patty moved and Robbie seconded). Joe presented the Treasurer’s Report for May. There was a positive balance of $934.39. It was approved (Kelly moved and Sandy seconded).

 

Georgia presented the slate of officers for 2023-24. They are President, Georgia Garnsey; Vice President, Sandy Robnett; Secretary, Brooke Badon; Treasurer, Joe Mauro. Joe moved to accept the slate and Kelly seconded. The slate of officers was approved.

 

Several announcements were made. Georgia reported on the new DPR policy to replace all non-recreational blue grass park spaces with native grasses and plants over the long term. City Park’s South Meadow is a space that will definitely be replaced. A formal and detailed announcement of this policy will be made toward the end of the year.

 

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is planning to renovate the East Entrance of the museum by removing the 1980’s current entrance to reveal the original staircase leading to the Infinity Theater. The plaza will be redone to accommodate picnics, special events and other activities. There will be ample bike racks to encourage bicycling to this part of the museum. Mike Fernandez, CPFAN member, former CPA President and Associate Editor of the Lark Bunting Magazine, official newsletter of Denver Field Ornithologists, expressed concerns about plans to remove trees that harbor birdlife from the Plaza area. CPFAN members will attend a museum-led tour of the proposed renovations in early July.

 

Several new Committee Chairs were created. Patty Paul agreed to be Program Chair. Kelly Crosby will join that committee. Possible programs include a presentation by Wild Ones Front Range, a chapter of the national Wild Ones organization based in Loveland, which promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity. A how-to session on removing blue grass and creating pollinator friendly landscapes in yards and public areas would be of particular interest. Another presenter could be People and Pollinators, a group that advocates for a no-herbicide/no-pesticide approach to gardening. Another possibility is a program about the making of the film Amache Rose, that was produced by the Denver Botanic Gardens and tells the story of the discovery of the rose, planted 80 years ago by a prisoner at Camp Amache, the relocation center operated during WWII. It was decided that the first program of our season, starting in September, should be about Adopt-a-Flowerbed.

 

Sandy Robnett will serve as CPFAN’s Legislative liaison, alerting members about important City Council meetings and other events where CPFAN’s presence would be important.

 

Georgia nominated Mike Fernandez for the open position on the CPFAN Board. Sandy moved to accept the nomination. Joe seconded. Mike is now a CPFAN Board member in good standing!

 

Georgia asked for adjournment of the meeting. Joe moved to accept and Sandy seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8 pm.