Facilitating and participating actively in the creation, maintenance and use of a network of trails for non-motorized use on San Juan Island.
San Juan Island Trails Committee Minutes
September, 2011
Present: Peter Dawson, David Dehlendorf, Louise Dustrude, Mark Hetrick, Jill Johnson, Loren Johnson, Rik Karon, Mike Lazzari, Kyle Loring, Peter Morrison, Cinda Pierce, Tracy Roberson, Howie Rosenfeld, Bill Severson, Suzie Thomas, Dave Zeretzke.
Upcoming Events /Notices:
State Parks Discovery Pass Required- as of July 2011,$30/year for unlimited visits to any state site or $10 per visit to any state site requiring a fee.
First Aid Classes September 26 and 28: The Trails Committee will pay the course fee.
Land Bank Work Party: Third Lagoon Preserve, Sunday Sept. 25th @ 1pm. Meet at the terminus of Cattle Point Rd.. Wear sturdy boots and work attire, including gloves. Bring tools and water.
Trail Walks: 4th Saturday, September 24th Port of Friday Harbor; Oct.22nd Land Bank Third Lagoon.
Volunteer Hours this Month:
September Steering Committee:
Today’s meeting: 16
General volunteer hours reported by attendees:
July- 19
Aug.-36
Roche Harbor Stewardship Group:
July-40
Aug.- 45
Total Hours:156
Call to Order:
The regular meeting was called to order by Chairperson Dave Zeretzke @ 5pm. Minutes from the previous meeting were approved as circulated by email.
Trail Tales: Eileen Drath reported on the symposium she attended on Prairie National Historic Park restoration..First Nations representatives from the Sammish Tribe as well as local families with Island history information were in attendance.
Continuing Business:
Trail Walks: Eileen Drath discussed the Oct.22 Saturday Trail Walk and Trail Walks planning for 2012 which will be Jan.-Oct. 2012. Any suggestions for future hikes would be appreciated.
2011-2012 Steering Committee Nominations: Bill Severson-Chair; Jill Johnson and Louise Dustrude-co-Secretaries, Dave Zeretzke – treasurer; Mike Lazzari- Vice Chair; Theresa Simendinger- At Large. The slate was approved by the members.
2011-2012 Meeting Dates: Will continue to be the 1st Wednesday for Steering Committee and 3rd Wednesday for General Meetings, from 5:00-6:30pm.
Budget for 2012: Budget was presented by Liz Illg and approved by the Committee.
Mitchell Hill Planning Process of National Park Service:
Project 1- Donations were received from the community for repair of a turnpike by the National Park Service with the help of certified volunteers.
Project 2- Mark Hetrick Construction has offered to build, with the help of volunteers, a multi-use replacement bridge in a wetlands area that allows access from Mitchell Hill to Roche Harbor. The projected budget of $700 from the Trails Committee was approved with the stipulations that the plans are approved in writing from the National Park Service, approval from Island Rec, Island Rec recognition as a donor and a Trails Committee member as one of the leaders on the project. The plans were presented by Mark Hetrick and Rik Karon, who is also liaison to the NPS. The hope is to get the bridge in before the wet season. Volunteers will be needed to help move materials to the site and with construction
Lost at Mitchell Hill: It was suggested by Gerald Weaver to break up the existing trails into different modes of travel and then mark with simple color coded symbols. That would enable people to locate their position on the map. This could be done inexpensively by using the existing fiberglass carsonite markers.
David Dehlendorf reported that the maps are at Printonyx and will be put in the map boxes at the trailhead. There are interim maps to get us through the winter.
Hospital Trail: Loren Johnson did not have any new trail information, but building of the new hospital has begun and he will continue to be liaison.
Hiking Passports: Dave Zeretzke gave printing cost estimates of $571, approved by the Trails Committee. They will be available soon.
Website maps: Mike Lazzari and Louise Dustrude said they are finished. Mike Lazzarri encouraged everyone to visit the website, and that he has added information on Island Rec events and hikes on the mainland.
New Business:
Mentors for the High School Class-The first semester of the Friday Harbor High School community service class begins August 31st. This class utilizes committed adult mentors who will guide students through completion of a service project related to community improvement. This is a great opportunity for a partnership between students and local organizations. A suggestion was made to submit the Mitchell Hill bridge building project as a possibility. If not used by the community service class, we could approach the high school Hiking Club. A goal for 2012 is to involve more of our area youth in the Trails Committee.
The Committee expressed thanks to Dave Zeretzke for the wonderful job as Chair this past year!
Meeting adjourned at 6:30pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Jill Johnson
Secretary