June 2017 Advocacy Minutes

Advocacy Meeting

June 5, 2017 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.

4499 Ruffin Road, San Diego

Ben Stone - Advocacy Committee Chairperson/Vice-President SDMBA

 
  1. Welcome and Introductions (Ben Stone)

NOTE: Susie will be taking over for Ben with Advocacy meeting duties beginning next month

 
  1. Questions or comments?

  2. eBike Policy (Ben)

    • Dave Hekel’s article on eBikes - please read!

    • BLM and forest service have come out with clear policies, citing eBikes as OHV. US Fish and Wildlife will probably be even more conservative on this. State parks has been ambiguous (local land managers could object to eBikes).

    • Garrett Villanueva - NFS Regional - although ebikes are motorized, green sticker grants cannot be used for eBikes

    • Informal survey of the group: Should eBikes be allowed on no trails/some trails/all trails? (most indicated that eBikes should be on some trails)

 

Commentary:

  • Mountain bikes are not mechanized, they are human powered. That is why MTB should be allowed in wilderness. eBikes could make that argument much more complicated.

  • In Dixie National Forest (moab) and Sedona NF, there are no eBikes signs posted.

  • IMBA study on trail wear - slippery slope with restrictions

  • If it has a motor, it is a motorized vehicle .

  • Can we put out a position to bike shops? To the general public? For land managers?

  • Ben’s idea: Forest service is interested in making a niche for eBikes and electric motorcycles - exploring that in the future

  • Considering having an eBike summit in the fall with manufacturers/retailers. TBD.

 
  1. Calaveras, CDFW Issue (Ben and Susie)

    • Susie, Ben, and Kevin met with Regional director of CDFW SoCal, environmental planner, and reserve manager for a meeting. There is contention with CDFW - law does not allow MTB in ecological reserve - Crestridge is an exception.

    • Equestrians here tonight, and also have significant issues with CDFW

    • Any progress at Calaveras to allow MTB will be a long process.  

    • No agreement to modify civil code to allow MTB

    • People reached out to state senator/assembly after SDMBA posted call to action.

    • Property purchased in Calavera by CDFW in 2000. 5-6 distinct illegal trail builders out there building. About 50-60 miles of trail, 25% good trail.

    • More enforcement will be out there in the near future. There are 450 acres that mountain bikers have built a great deal of trail on. CDFW would not seem to give credit for 20-year partnership that developed Crestridge - good management and recreational usage.

    • Calaveras has been the result of lack of management

    • La Canada/San Vicente purchased - closed down to all public except hunting

 
  • However, CDFW is open to ownership in Ted Williams and Foster truck Trail

  • We have to convince state legislature to make changes, or there is a good chance that it will be difficult to change - Ben’s plan. Go to state legislature and move up through the channels.

 
  • Ed Stovin - Having a lobbyist in Sacramento to help is key

  • This will make a difference in Boden Canyon, Del Mar Mesa, Calavera, Foster Truck Trail, and more. May do a public push to reach out to state legislature. Legislators listen to constituents.

  • Next wednesday on the 14th - meeting on Calaveras

 
  1. Sycamore Goodan Ranch Public Access Update (Ben)

    • County is reviewing public access plan. Martha’s, etc.

    • Not open to many reroutes, but looking to get the northern part of the property open.

    • County has outlined new preserve standards - public meetings in the future

    • People should show up in the future in numbers to public meetings to aid in discussion

    • Instead of trying to get new routes, Ben is advocating for fixing trails that are there currently in order to be sustainable

    • County current trail standards - potential for 12 feet wide trail up to 30% grades acceptable (this is not acceptable MTB trail)

 
  1. Fanita Ranch Update (Ben & Evan)

    • Met with developers and landscape architects (Homefed)

    • A lot of trails on the property currently - working on this

    • Architects have tried to amend trail plan that Ben proposed, this is a work in progress

    • Original idea - we would build trails, they would offer a donation. Sign on for ongoing maintenance.

    • Another thing/project to stay engaged on. Come and advocate at future meetings!

 
  1. Stowe Trail Permit Update(Ben & Susie)

    • Reminder: permits are open, some people have been waiting for a few weeks. Over 200 people have applied. Over 100 have been given out.

    • Do not ride out there without a permit! The base is actively patrolling and there have been people out there without a permit.

 
  1. NFS Palomar District Pamo Valley - Pamo Valley Master Plan

    • IMBA Trail Solutions was in town for 11 days in Pamo Valley/Orosco Ridge area for trails concept plan, and thinks it has potential to be on the national stage for an MTB destination!

      1. Funds and implementation are key

      2. Forest service has signed off on the idea - 80 miles of trail and about 23,000 acres of forest service ownership

      3. Rideable granite pieces over toward Sutherland side - align trails that would go onto granite rock

      4. Current non-system trail on there, and some equestrian trails

    • Plans may include multi-use loop in phase one in the southern section - 10-15 miles downhill specific - 1 directional climbing trail.

    • Breaking ground on phase 1 as soon as 2018 - 3rd project on work plan for forest service

    • About a 45 mile loop getting around the entire valley with breakoffs, and one area that would be open for shuttling

    • Forest service do not want bridges, etc. Staging area already in the works for the Coast to Crest Trail - SD River Valley Conservancy thinks this is a good idea for use

    • IMBA Trail solutions is now taking all their data back and we should have a deliverable plan by August.

 
  • Question from Roman De Salvo: how much $ raised?

    1. A: raised $35,000, (donors brought in $15,000, SDMBA board $5,000 from general funds, another %15,000 from REI grant). Paid for master plan update - forsee helping with forest service staff time. Archaeological surveys will be the most expensive.

    2. If we need to help get it funded more quickly, then we may need to help to raise for staff time. 80k goal for end of the year fundraising leveraged against grant applications - hopefully go for 200k in funding

    3. 200k would get us in the park of phase 1 and looking into phase 2. Total cost; about 500-750 to 1 mil (million).

    4. Contracting to bring in machining, then volunteer work

    5. Flow trail - $15 a linear foot, rock gardens maybe double that

    6. Ed Stovin: motorcycle trail in there, green sticker grants available Ben - green sticker funding - trail would have to be open to green sticker

    7. Cost share agreement with forest service - volunteer service hours for funds

    8. Concern with damage in the area - green sticker grants? Talk to forest service to figure out issues that have already happened

    9. Trails to be cut to about 4 feet - 1 foot of growth and accounting for fallout

    10. Corporate donations - see if local companies are interested in getting involved

    11. Hoping that people in Ramona becoming the leaders that we need to build

 

-Groups contacted; San Dieguito River Park Foundation, SURF (Ultra-runners), Ramona Trails Association, San Diego Trail Alliance, County DPR, Supervisor District 2 & 5, Congressman Hunter, SD Off-Road Coalition,  Rancho Guajito - 22,000 acres with a single owner, CDFW,

-Groups not contacted; City of San Diego, USFW, Tribal Groups, Hunting Groups, Adjacent Land-Owners, Lease Holder

 
  1. NFS Descanso District Reroutes and new Trails (Mt Laguna, ATT)

    • Meetings set for July 2017

    • Everything east of El Cap reservoir and south

    • Reroutes in Mount Laguna around the meadow: we will bring them up around the treeline where it could be soggy. Looking at Penny Pines to Pioneer Mail connector - Pine Mountain without Indian Creek. Lucky 5 to Pioneer Mail - avoiding the highway

    • Moving along with that plan

    • ATT - meeting in September in Alpine at the Forest Service office to engage people, take ownership of trail systems

 
  1. Balboa Park/Florida Canyon MTB patrol (Susie)

    • Ranger at Balboa Park - Robert Bejar

    • Start small - if anyone lives near there and wants to help, let Susie know (city volunteers)

    • John Holloway - taken over as Balboa liaison

    • Improvements to trails is under San Diego Canyonlands pervue.  Have been speaking with them.

    • What is patrol for?

      1. Homeless, transience, eyes and ears of ranger

      2. Not enforcement, but to be a host

 
  1. South Bay Bike Park Update (Susie)

    • Waiting for the next county board of supervisors meeting - June  27th

    • Budget to be approved for Bonita bike park from county’s general fund

    • Small bike playground approved by city of SD in a park adjacent to Otay River Valley Trail of Dennery Road. Pump track

 
  • Procurement process is what makes project more expensive (can be priced based on previous skatepark building) - committing to using volunteer work can be helpful

  • Pacific Highlands area bike park development - under construction now.

  • North County - Paul Wyandt at ZOIC talking to people in the City of Carlsbad about possibility of bike park

 
  1. Advocacy Going forward July, August and September (Susie)

    • Susie will be facilitating, setting things up

 

Advocacy Committee Communications:

 

Daniel Pitard: what we can do for membership drive?

  • We lost some members when we publicly voiced opinions and issues about IMBA. Membership - down to around 1000. Hoping to publicize agreement we have come to, push that.

  • Ask friends to come to events, meetings

  • Social media outreach

  • New membership campaign - bike giveaways - media marketing changing

  • Working with Trek Superstores on a trial membership with MTB purchase

  • Possibility to put trail signs to let people know that we are the organization that built and maintained trail systems

  • Successful projects drive membership!

 

Tour de Fat

  • July 8th - Tour de Fat - spots still open for volunteers. Code for 20% off a ticket is available

  • With SDCBC from Panama 66 - bike parade at 3 p.m. on 7/8

  • Battle of the bands on the June 15th for opener at Tin Roof, downtown

  • SDMBA and Bicycle Coalition - raise $ for advocacy… and it is a lot of fun!!

 

Arch Ride donations

  • Arch Ride donation back to community: $500 donation for SD River Park for bike patrol - thanks for Dave Hekel for being such a wonderful partner

  • Elfin Forest Recreation Reserve $500

  • Center for Natural Lands Management $500

  • Escondido Creek Conservancy $500

 

Upcoming events

  • 17th June Kids area at Otay river valley from 9-noon

 

Old Business (Non-discussion items)

  1. Tecolote Trails plan - (Evan) - (In progress 2016 build 2017)

  2. Sycamore Goodan Ranch Update (Ben late 2017)

  3. Fanita Ranch Trails Plan (Ben Stone) (Unknown)

  4. Castlerock project date June 2016 grading has begun (One year) Ben

  5. Black Mountain/Black Widow (Matt 2017)

  6. San Diego County Bike Park (Jason Showalter)

  7. Del Mar Mesa Surrounding Development

  8. Rock House / San Diego Wildlife Refuge- update (Jose/Jason)

  9. Otay Valley Regional Park - (Jose)

  10. Tijuana River Valley (Jose)

  11. Palm Canyon Update (in Progress October-November)

  12. San Diego County PLDO Funds

  13. Village 13 Projected Date “(First Quarter 2017)”

  14. Mission Trails Master Plan (Summer 2017)

 

Next meeting: Monday, July 10, 2017 (note: date moved back due to holiday)

 

Minutes recorded by: Siobhan Baloochi, SDMBA Secretary

 

Advocacy meeting attendance:

 

Mark Webb

Walt Pershing

Kyle Gunderman

Mike Lowry

Tim Pirkey

Doug Johnson

Cyndi Denny

Andy Darragh

John Steele

Louie Cardinale

Diane Carter

Daniel Pitard

Sandy Jones

Julie Klein

Minette Ozaki

Hunter Tomlin

Philip Erdelsky

Siobhan Baloochi

Mike Jennings

Casey Goodge

Dom Dias

Roman de Salvo

Tony Graytok

Dave Hekel

Ed Stovin

Susie Murphy

Seth Hanson

Ben Stone

Rod Simmons