Open Space Advisory Committee

Staff
Tom Hoby, Director of Open Space and Community Resources
The staff (over 96 full time employees) works closely with OSAC and the county's administrative staff to provide a unique and successful Open Space Program for the citizens. The Open Space management staff is comprised of a director, who reports to the county administrator, oversees the program organized into five sections.  These sections include:

Administration & Education Services
Don Klima, Manager
This section provides administrative, technical and educational services for the Open Space program. This is accomplished through financial planning and budget processes, human resources, accounting and purchasing services, computer support, and GIS services. In addition, the Joint Venture Grant/Regional Sports Grant programs are administered with (11) cities and (9) recreation districts to accomplish recreational capital improvements. 

The section is also responsible for providing environmental and cultural education programs and exhibits to create an awareness and understanding of the natural resources found within Jefferson County. This is accomplished through programs offered in Open Space parks and at the interpretive facilities of the Lookout Mountain Nature Center  and  Hiwan Homestead Museum.

In addition, the section administers the Volunteers Services Program with over 700 participants providing a wide array of services and skills benefiting the Open Space program. Park Rangers and their activities are part of the Visitor & Resource Protection subsection. 

Park Services
Stanton La Breche, Manager
Park Services provides maintenance and management necessary for the prudent stewardship of resources within the Open Space park and trail system.  The total number of acres managed is over 41,000 with visitation estimated at 1.9 million annually.  Currently, over 200 miles of trails are managed by Park Services crews.

Park Services is divided into four sub-sections that include:

• Natural Resource Management
  
• Park Construction
• Park Services
  
• Trail Services

Planning & Development
Amy Ito, Manager
Open Space Planning and Development is responsible for the draft, review and adoption of the Open Space Master Plan.  Input and review by cities, recreation districts, other county departments and multiple stakeholders are required to make this a comprehensive document.

The Planning Sub-section reviews proposals for acquisition of Open Space lands and trail corridors utilizing overall master plan criteria.  This Section provides for conceptual park plans, resource studies, visitor experience surveys and park counts for Jefferson County Open Space.  The Planning Section further provides support to cities and recreation districts as well as the Planning and Zoning Division to assist in planning efforts. 

The Design and Development Sub-section utilizes a multi-disciplinary team and project management approach to implement the creation of regional parks, trailhead facilities and other recreational capital improvements.  This approach is maintained using available resources with sensitivity to environmental, cultural, historic and social purposes.  This Section deploys design resources and identifies specific design principles relevant to resolving key public issues and creates minimal and sustainable development to permit public access, use and enjoyment while balancing the natural resources.

Public Information
Thea Rock, Manager
Public Information provides a unique opportunity to support all of Open Space in responding to citizens by delivering accurate communications regarding the activities of Jefferson County Open Space programs.  The Public Information team promotes the benefits of Open Space to the community through special events, reception services, brochures, web site, internal communications and media relations. 

Real Estate
Joy Lucisano, Manager
The Real Estate section of the Open Space program continues to accelerate the county-wide Open Space preservation efforts through property acquisition in accordance with the adopted master plan, recommendations of the Open Space Advisory Committee and approvals by the Board of County Commissioners.  Trail corridors throughout the county are also acquired to comply with the trails master plan.  Park and recreation lands are also acquired on behalf of the cities and recreation districts within the county.

OSAC
Open Space Advisory Committee
The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners oversees the Open Space staff and appoints citizens to the Open Space advisory committee (OSAC). The Open Space Advisory Committee consists of ten members and two alternates representing various segments of the county. The members are appointed for a three year term by the Board of County Commissioners and represent various segments of the county. Three members are appointed as City Representatives, three are County Representatives, three are At-Large Representatives and one as a representative for the Recreation Districts. 

OSAC Agenda and Meeting Schedule
The Open Space Advisory Committee monthly meetings are open to the public and scheduled the first Thursday of each month, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Open Space Hearing Room (Ponderosa Room), 700 Jefferson County Parkway, first door south of the Open Space Administration in Suite 100. map (pdf)

OSAC Membership

Last Modified: Jul 8, 2010 03:52 PM