Trails Committee Meeting
Agenda for July 20th
To facilitate and participate actively in the creation, use and maintenance of a network of non-motorized trails on San Juan Island
4:45 Social Gathering
1. Welcome and introductions
Members present: Ken Achif, Sue Buettell, David Dehlendorf, Louise Dustrude, David Harsh, Alice Hurd, Jill Johnson, Rcik Karon, Doug McCutchen, Cinda Pierce, Mark Pierce, Tracy Roberson, Howie Rosenfeld, Jamie Schiff, Theresa Simondinger, Suzie Thomas, Steve Ulvi, Dave Zeretzke
2. Review and approval of prior minutes:
Minutes were approved as circulated by email
3. Trail Tails:
David Dehlendorf reported on hiking and horseback riding in Peru, including a hike on an old Inca Trail. Sue Buettell reported on hiking in the Whitney Portal and Cottonwood Lakes areas where there was an abundance of water due to the melting of the excessive snow pack. Louise Dustrude reported that a number of years ago she and John placed plastic chairs on the airport trail and she recently found a yellow jacket nest below one of them. She called Tom Schultz, County Agent, who removed the nest. A gift was presented to David Dehlendorf in appreciation of the work he did on the slide show for the annual potluck event.
4. Mission, Goals and Vision:
Dave Zeretske circulated the copy of the mission of the trails committee to review and remind the committee of our purpose.
5. Upcoming Events/Notices
Saturday. July 23rd – Hospital ground breaking Ceremony 1:30 pm to 2:00 at the new Hospital site. The site will be open from 12-4:00 pm for folks to view the site and exhibits in the Main Tent.
Saturday. July 23, 2011 – 1 pm. Meet Mike Buettell, Volunteer Trail Builder and Roche Harbor resident, to walk the Roche Harbor Trail System. Meet at intersection of West Valley/Roche Harbor Rds. Length is 3 mi. and approx. 1.5 hour. Terrain is grassy, slightly uneven wooded trails. The rating is moderate. Dogs on leashes are welcome.
Thursday, July 21st – National Park Service Volunteer Workshop re Mitchell Hill, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm PREREGISTRATION IS NECESSARY The National Park Service is offering a workshop on trail maintenance next Thursday, July 21, from 9 am to 4 pm. Attendance at this workshop is a requirement for anyone who would like to volunteer to maintain the trails on Mitchell Hill, which is now a part of San Juan Island National Historical Park. Space is limited to 15 participants. Please RSVP to David Harsh at 378-2240 EXT 2232 (david_harsh@nps.gov). The group will meet at the English Camp Maintenance Facility, 4585 West Valley Road, and carpool from there. Please bring sturdy work gloves, sturdy leather work boots, goggles, lopping shears, hand saws, hardhats if you have them, a lunch and of course drinking water.
Wednesday, August 3rd – 5:00-6:30 Trails Steering Committee – Whidbey Bank Conference Room.
Monday, August 15 at 5:00 at the Whidbey Island Bank – Bike events/planning Tracy Roberson
Wednesday, August 17th – NO Monthly Trails Committee Meeting – Trails Committee Fair Booth week
State Parks Discovery Pass required (as of July 2011) $30/year for unlimited visits to any state site or $10 per visit for Lime Kiln St Park, Moran State Park or any state facility requiring a fee. Passes can be purchased at the State Park for $ 30.00 or for $ 35.00 at Ace Hardware and King’s Market.
Volunteers Needed:
1. Fair Booth Volunteers Needed: See note below re: County Fair Booth
2. Volunteers for trail walks – the 4th Sat. of every month trail walks need more volunteers esp. those with 1st Aid training. Go to at www.sanjuanislandtrails.org for details and contact Eileen Drath at 378-5646 to volunteer.
3. Trail Stewards – Roche Harbor Trails System – see below re Roche Harbor Trails
Sat. Aug. 27- Mitchell Hill with Natl. Park person–more to come—Louise Dustrude is the Trails Person
Sat. Sept. 24- Port of Friday Harbor with Marilyn O’Conner , head of the port (park and meet at Skagit Valley College lot).Trail = Sue B. —NEED RED CROSS certified trails person
Sat. Oct. 22—-Land Bank property, TBD.—–NEED TRAIS AND RED CROSS
6. Continuing Business
County Fair Booth for Trails, August 17th-20th Alice Hurd Coordinator – 378-2362
Most materials already prepared. A tent will be borrowed from Island Rec. Re-use of three Posters/displays, already made up: using the website plant lists, the Trails Committee and what we’re about, Map(s) of SJI and its trails
MORE VOLUNTEER HELP NEEDED – Fair Booth Contact: Alice Hurd 378-2362
1. refresh/repair any of the materials listed for re-use
2. creation of the “know your island walks” poster
3. creation of the notebook made from our website
4. Booth staffing – It’s a fun & easy booth to staff – take a shift.
5. Help with set up, and take down, tent lugging and wrestling.
6. People to loan easels
Mitchell Hill Planning Process of NPS – Steve Ulvi
Discussion regarding the time it has taken to get the process moving on Mitchell Hill.
Peter Diederich is continuing to work to find a planner to begin the process this winter. The park must
Abide by all the national park legal and safety requirements as it works on the park. Additional expression of support by letter writing and appreciation of the local NPS workers to increase awareness of community support of the project was suggested.
Cattle Point Trail- Cinda Pierce There is a neighborhood work party that is being planned within the next week on the Minnie May area. The two trails in the new easement areas will need to be designed and built during September. Fairway Drive status: we are waiting for a survey on the road. The official name of the Cattle Point Road trail needs to be determined so that signage can be posted. There was a discussion regarding potential names and a naming process will be determined. There is a general trail sign at both ends of the Minnie May Trail.
Trail at the new hospital site – Steve Ulvi
Still questions regarding trail usage. Funding is needed before work can begin. Jill Johnson reported that there are no public funds in the construction of the site. Public funds will fund 24 hr coverage and charity and in need cases. The tax levy goes to the EMS operation. Any trail on the site will be open to the general public.
Mitchell Hill maps – Mike Lazarri, Louise Dustrude & Dave Zeretzke worked on updating the Mitchell Hill maps to simplify them. On the reverse of this map will be the Roche Harbor area map which has also been updated by Robin Donneley, David Dehlendorf and Sue Buettell. An idea was suggested of putting gps points on the website maps in the future and that perhaps the Boy Scouts may be interested in producing the points.
7. New business
SJ County Public Works Transportation Plan:
Howie Rosenfeld reported that the proposed Public Works Transportation Improvement Plan for 2012-2017 now includes a trail project on SJI that supports the Turn Pt. Rd./Pear Pt. Rd. connector road. Will try to work to make it possible for trucks to turn left on Warbass. The County Council will have a public hearing on the new TIP on August 8 at the County Council Chambers at 10:15. Written comments are due before the meeting on August 8. SJ County Public Works Transportation Plan: Support for trails and bicyclists always needed. Lopez Trails group has emphasized the need for walking and biking as a greater part of the county road plan.
Roche Harbor Trails
Sue Buettell, 370-5863 H or (949) 533-4647 cell. Thank You to all the Trail Stewards for their work on the trail system that is ready for the Know Your Island Walk on Saturday. Additional trail stewards are needed to adopt a part of a trail and do the once a month trimming. Please call Sue if interested.
8. Other pressing trail developments/issues?
Doug McCutchen reported that the Historical Museum requested assistance in building trails between their buildings.
Meeting Adjourned: 6:40
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Buettell, Secretary