San Juan Island Trails

San Juan Island Trails

2013 Meeting Minutes

San Juan Island Trails Committee 2013 Meeting Minutes


November 20, 2013

Present:          Bill Severson, Kyle Loring, Theresa Simendinger, Louise Dustrude, Eileen Drath, Karen Vedder, Mike Lazzari, Alice Hurd, David Harsh

Volunteer hours since previous meeting: 47 (including 30 hours reported by Sue Buettell for Roche Harbor Trails for October, 2013)

Discussion:

A.         American Camp Trail Partial Temporary Closure

  • Mike Lazzari spoke with Dave Ryan, Director of the Port of Friday Harbor, and learned that the Port will close the northernmost portion of the American Camp Trail while they construct a new hangar at the airport, starting at the junction of Airport Circle Drive and the trail (near Ernie’s Café);
  • The trail will be closed for a few months once they finalize their permit;
  • Once the trail reopens, a portion near the hangars will be rerouted.  The Port will do that work.

B.         Nominating Committee

  • Alice Hurd has worked with Theresa Simendinger to identify candidates.  The following have accepted nominations:
  • Chair – Bill Severson
  • Vice-chair—Theresa Simendinger
  • Treasurer – Dave Zeretzke
  • Secretary – Louise Dustrude
  • At large – Mike Lazzari
  • The Committee members present adopted the slate of Steering Committee members listed above.
  • The group discussed changing the frequency of the steering committee meetings.  Suggestions included quarterly meetings, ad hoc meetings,

C.         Committee Organizational Health

  • The group discussed organizational health and opportunities for outreach and receiving input.
  • Mike Lazzari suggested a retreat day to plan for the next year and address outreach.

D.        Know Your Island Walks 2014

  • Eileen Drath reported that she is currently scheduling walks and invites suggestions.
  • Eileen also suggested that we gather more information about wheelchair accessibility and promote such opportunities here.

E.         Email policy

  • Kyle Loring will bring to the next meeting hard copy of the Electronic Mail Listserv Policy with proposed changes to address comments from Island Rec board.

F.         Trails Maps

  • Louise Dustrude raised the issue of maintaining the maps on the website.  The group discussed several options for doing so.
  • Mike Lazzari identified the need to determine which Mitchell Hill trails are planned for long-term maintenance.
  • Mike will also contact the National Park Service about mapping the South Beach trail.

Meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Kyle Loring

Secretary

Meeting Minutes, October 16, 2013

Present:          Bill Severson, Cinda Pearce, Kyle Loring, Sally Thompson, Theresa Simendinger, Louise Dustrude, Eileen Drath, Karen Vedder, Jamie Rackley-Schiff, Jack Cory

Volunteer hours since previous meeting: 79 (including 33 hours reported by Sue Buettell for Roche Harbor Trails for September, 2013)

Discussion:

Healthy Communities Survey – Susan Leff delivered a presentation that reported the County’s findings from its survey of the health of San Juan County.  Notable, relevant findings include:

  • Nearly half of the survey respondents identified physical activity as the most important priority for improving health;
  • Next steps include:
  • Public input for recommendations on physical activity options by November 8, 2013;
  • Also, County Health Department working with partners on changes to local physical facilities and infrastructure;
  • Working with partners on Comprehensive Plan changes to promote physical activity.
  • Addressing elevated tobacco use in the County

San Juan County Transportation Policy Updates.

  • Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan – Public hearing Nov. 5th before the County Council.  The current draft increases support for multi-modal transportation, but offers less than the original Planning Commission draft;
  • Transportation Improvement Plan – Christopher Aiken has developed a form that can be used by members of the public to propose non-motorized transportation improvements in the County’s right-of-ways.  The form should be available for public use in the near future;
  • Shore Access Program – the County is working toward public access of marine shorelines at road ends.

Hospital Trail – Cinda Pierce

  • The trail has been completed!  It extends approximately ¼ mile along the southern property line of the new hospital;
  • We have many people to thank, including the following: Steve Ulvi, Mark Pierce, Mike Lazzari, Cinda Pierce, and two hospital employees.

Steering Committee

  • Bill Severson noted that the Trails Committee is seeking volunteers and nominations for service on next year’s Steering Committee.  Bill Severson and Theresa Simendinger were asked about continued service on the Steering Committee and both agreed to do so if desired by the Trails Committee.  Nominations can be forwarded to Alice Hurd, who has agreed to help facilitate Nominating Committee activities.

Meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Kyle Loring

Secretary

Meeting Minutes, September 13, 2013

The Trails Committee was called to order at 5 pm by the chair Bill Severson. Those present were Mike Lazzari, Tracy Roberson, Dave Zeretzke, Karen Vedder, and Louise Dustrude. Those present reported a total of 14 hours of volunteer Trails work during the past month, and the Roche Harbor Trail volunteers reported 52 hours.

Mike Lazzari reported on a hike in the Cascades, and Karen Vedder reported on a bike ride across England and Scotland.

Dave Zeretzke reported that the potluck on September 4 at Fourth of July Beach drew a small but enthusiastic group of trails people.

Mike Lazzari reported that a work party on the new English Camp to Webb Camp trail will be scheduled after some preparatory work is done.

Dave reported that work on the hospital trail will continue but no work dates are scheduled at present. He said the proposed loops at the end of the trail will probably be eliminated.

Dave said he and Doug McCutchen had been working on laying out an addition to the American Camp Trail, but that some issues need to be addressed before a work party can be scheduled.

Mike reminded the group of the Bureau of Land Management meeting on the new San Juan Islands National Monument on Friday, Sept. 27, from 10 am to noon at the Grange.

There is a Know Your Island Walk on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 1 to 4 pm, led by County Public Works Director Frank Mulcahy and Town Public Works Director Wayne Haefele. The walk will begin at the county public works building at 915 Spring Street, and will be an opportunity to learn more about the county’s and town’s plans for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Respectfully submitted,

Louise Dustrude, Acting Secretary

San Juan Island Trails Committee Minutes, August 21, 2013

The Trails Committee was called to order at 5 pm by the vice-chair Mike Lazzari. Those present were Rik Karon, Lee Taylor, Sally Thomsen, Mike Lazzari, Louise Dustrude, and David Harsh. Those present reported a total of 22 hours of volunteer Trails work during the past month.  Roche Harbor volunteers added 35 volunteer hours, for a total of 57 hours.

National Park Superintendent Lee Taylor spoke about a 6/10-mile temporary trail now roughed-in joining Webb Camp to English Camp near Bell Point. She said there will be a need for three bridges over wet spots. The first will need just a small-group effort, probably in early October. Rik Karon and Mike Lazzari will organize a work crew. Rik moved, Louise seconded, and it was passed unanimously to provide up to $500 for supplies.

Louise asked about a request from a middle-school group from Seattle to help with trail building or maintenance September 18 and 19. Lee will check with Jerald Weaver on Monday about utilizing this group of volunteers, and Sally said Island Rec could provide a back-up plan for puling noxious weeds at the gravel pit.

Mike said there will be public meetings on the new National Monument this fall, and encouraged attendance at these.

There is a Know Your Island Walk this Saturday from 1 to 4 pm, led by Mike Vouri, starting at the American Camp Visitor Center.

The fall potluck will be on Wednesday, September 4, at 5:30 at Fourth of July Beach, in place of the steering committee meeting. A more detailed announcement will be forthcoming.

Respectfully submitted,

Louise Dustrude, Acting Secretary

San Juan Island Trails Committee Minutes, July 17, 2013

The Trails Committee was called to order at 5 pm by the chair Bill Severson. Those present were Steve Ulvi, Dave Zeretzke, Lee Taylor, Rik Karon, Theresa Simendinger, Mike Lazzari, Karen Vedder, Cinda Pierce, Bill Severson, and Louise Dustrude. Those present reported a total of 29 hours of volunteer Trails work during the past month, and Sue Buettell reported 27 hours by Roche Harbor volunteers, for a total of 56.

Steve Ulvi reported progress on construction of the all-season walking trail on hospital property, a private trail on private land open to the public. The trail is 1700 feet long, with two possible but unlikely return loops which would add another 800 feet. There are four to six bench sites along the trail. So far there have been 245 hours of volunteer labor, plus 20 hours of planning; seventeen teenagers from Trinity Lutheran Church in Idaho came one weekend and worked for five hours, adding considerably to the total. Work is stopped now for the summer but will resume in September. Two or three more work sessions should finish the job.

Lee Taylor, superintendent of the National Park, passed around a map of Mitchell Hill showing the chosen locations for signposts in this area where hikers periodically get lost. She was helped in working out these locations by Rik Karon, Mark Hetrick, and Lars Sjoholm.

She also told of planning meetings set for July 23 (horse use at Mitchell Hill), July 24 (bicycle use at Mitchell Hill), and July 31 (initial comments about use of both the Mitchell Hill and the Westcott Bay additions to the Park), all at Brickworks in Friday Harbor from 5 to 7 pm.

She also showed a map of a proposed trail from the Bell Point area through the new Westcott Bay property and said she will be asking for our help in building this trail (with one or two puncheons in wet areas) later this year. Several members arranged to walk the proposed route with her on Friday at 2 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Louise Dustrude,  Acting Secretary

San Juan Island Trails Committee Minutes, June 19, 2013

Present:          Bill Severson, Mike Lazzari, Cinda Pearce, Kyle Loring, Sally Thompson, Theresa Simendinger, David Harsh, Louise Dustrude

Volunteer hours since previous meeting: 48 (including 10 hours reported by Sue Buettell for Roche Harbor Trails for May, 2013)

Discussion:

American Camp Trail – Cinda Pierce

  • Provided the following Grand Opening Recap:

On Saturday, June 1 at 11 AM, approximately 50 people gathered at the ballooned and bannered trailhead on Spring Street to celebrate the ACT.  Island Rec commissioner Bill Cumming acted as M.C.  He welcomed everyone, talked about IR’s role in Trails and introduced speakers.  Dave Zeretzke gave a brief history of the trail, and singled out some of the major contributors and all the easement grantors.  Each of the four partners spoke briefly of their relationship with the Trails Committee.  Lincoln Bormann, from Land Bank, Lee Taylor from the National Parks Service, Barbara Merrett and Greg Hertel from the Port of Friday Harbor, and Frank Mulcahey from Public Works.

A ribbon cutting ceremony followed with all partners and easement grantors holding the ribbon that was cut by Louisa Nishitani and Lincoln Bormann.  Refreshments and self-guided walks ended the ceremony.  Many walked the airport loop.  The shuttle picked up 5 walkers at the golf course, and 14 at the AC Visitors Center.  All walkers reported a great experience.

There was good press coverage on line and in the print SJ Journal.

Follow-up is being done on couple signage issues by the Minnie Mae trail entrances, and a meeting is planned with Public Works to address the trail along Cattle Point and Golf Course Roads.

  • Cinda will contact Public Works to resolve confusion about connection with Minnie May trail.

Transportation Element – Bill Severson

  • attended County Council first touch on Transportation Element update;
  • Planning Commission recommended postponing nonmotorized portion until 2017 for consistency with Scenic Byways plan;
  • County Council agreed with staff recommendation to continue to move Element forward;
  • July 16, 2013 – next County Council touch;  early August 2013 third touch;
  • Bill mentioned that can support Council in addressing nonmotorized transportation by contacting them;
  • Councilor Hughes wants to move forward with synergies to connect San Juans with region, through passenger ferries, etc.;
  • Suggestion to contact Trails groups on Lopez and Orcas;
  • Sally Thompson offered to allow Trails Committee to make buttons with the Island Rec button maker;
    • Theresa Simendinger offered to help make buttons;

County Fair

  • Discussed staffing a booth, but declined to take on that project for this year.

Island Rec Appreciation – Sally Thompson

  • Trails Committee volunteers invited to Island Rec appreciation event at Music on the Lawn, August 7th.

End of Season Picnic

  • Tentatively set for September 4th, rather than Steering Committee meeting, at County Park, with 4th of July Beach as the first alternative.

Mitchell Hill Trails

  • Mark Hetrick and Lars met with Lee Taylor and proposed color-coded trail map and signage for Mitchell Hill area.  The colored trails are intended to help people avoid becoming lost on Mitchell Hill;
  • People are making use of existing maps for those trails.

Policy Communications with Trails Committee Members

  • Discussed ensuring that email correspondence falls within the mission of the Trails Committee;
  • Emails regarding meetings and work parties would not be a concern;
  • Kyle will draft some language for a policy about the content of emails disseminated to the email listserv.

Meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Kyle Loring

Secretary