March 2017 Advocacy Minutes

Advocacy Meeting

March 6, 2017 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.

4499 Ruffin Road, San Diego

Ben Stone - Advocacy Committee Chairperson/Vice-President SDMBA

Meeting Started at 6:08 PM

 

 

  1. Welcome and Introductions (Ben Stone)

    1. Board Members Present: Ben Stone - Vice President, Jose Galaz, Kevin Loomis

    2. Susie Murphy - Executive Director, Siobhan Baloochi - Secretary

    3. Liaisons present: Kirk Riley - Mission Trails Liaison, Evan Sollberger - Liaison Tri-Canyons, Matt Bartelt - Black Mountain Liaison, John Steele - Poway Liaison, Mark Constantino - Laguna/Noble Canyon, Bill Herold - Laguna/BLT

    4. Others present: Mike Jennings, Sandy Jones - SD Trail Alliance, Karen St. Germain, Renee Halsch, Chuck Hickey, Daniel B., Michael McCray, Mark Forte, Daniel Pitard, Mark Costantino, Neil Harold, Philip Erdelsky, Mark Forte, Andy Darragh, Michael Macare, Chris Storms, Sean Murphy, Kyle Gunderman, Bob Ponting, Mark Webb, Casey Goodge, Scott Thompson

    5. Sarah Godfrey - Center for Natural Land Management

 

  1. Guest Speaker: Sarah Godfrey, Center for Natural Land Management

    1. CNLM manages habitat in SD and is a 501C non-profit. The main goal is to manage endangered species and their habitats. CNLM manage land in Washington state along with CA and primarily is funded by endowment.

    2. SD Preserves include 5000 acres of land, mostly in Carlsbad area. Included is the Rancho La Costa preserve system - 1700 acres but mostly urban fragments, including Poinsettia (43 miles of urban edge). 17.4 miles of trail around the Denk Mountain area, along with City of Carlsbad trails.

    3. Facts about Rancho La Costa Trails - Preserve Manager and mountain bikers worked together to create these trails after the Harmony Grove Fire. Denk Mountain managed by CNLM, others by City of Carlsbad. No dedicated funding for maintenance, signage or outreach.

    4. Want to work together to make Denk Mountain viable and more organized

    5. Threatened/endangered species - flora including state, federal endangered species. Development and weeds threaten these.

      1. Methods and Monitoring - run transects and see how climate change and development will affect flora

      2. Index and life history plots will track life and health of plant life

    6. Fauna - Southern Mule Deer, Horned Lizard, Whiptail, Coastal California Gnatcatcher, Least Bell’s Vireo

      1. Methods/Monitoring - Camera traps, ant surveys, observations ants are invasive - argentine ants

    7. Habitat restoration project in the Rancho La Costa/Copper Creek area - part of a mitigation purchase, parcel contains water and removal of eucalyptus is being done.

    8. Denk Mountain Parcel Acquisition - 3 of these parcels have come up for sale - seeing if the funding for acquisition is possible. Working collaboratively, hoping that CA Fish and Wildlife will consider this valuable. Looking to include these parcels into Rancho La Costa system. Section 6 acquisitions - would be CA Fish and Wildlife money. There would be no new trails here. There are no existing trails in this parcel. About $50,000 would be needed to cover management fees and taxes, $15,000 for appraisal, etc.

    9. Opportunities to participate at Rancho La Costa

      1. Trail ambassador patrol program - being discussed

      2. Signage ideas - have trails that are self-sustained and ways to get involved.

      3. Contact : Sarah Godfrey sgodfrey@cnlm.org (760) 300-3187

      4. Rick Minnick (LaCosta@SDMBA.com) is new liaison for La Costa. Drew Englemann also coming in to help with Rich Julien and Dee Folse. They will be coming up with a list of priorities moving forward.

 

  1. Questions or comments?

    1. Do you think that new developments will go to City of Carlsbad?

      1. Southern preserve went with UrbanCorps

    2. Are all the trails on La Costa property permitted?

      1. They are all unofficial trails managed by CNLM. Do not need to be made wider, etc. to comply with City of Carlsbad rules.

    3. May require realignment of some kind, does CNLM have the ability to approve changes in house?

      1. In short, yes, the group would want to do things in the least impactful way possible - not trying to add more trail necessarily, but more sustainable trails that will lead to better ecological function. Need MTB trail expertise to realign trails if necessary.

    4. Copper Canyon fire road?

      1. City of Encinitas has that as part of their master trail plan. It is also an SDGE road coming off of private property. Nick Buck (SDMBA Elfin Forest liaison) would know the right person to talk to about this.

    5. Rancho Summit Road is now a private area and has all been graded, houses will be put there.

    6. Willing to make reroutes for maximizing ecological function. Is there a map that has areas that would improve current assets?

      1. Yes, there are vegetation maps and endangered species maps that could be overlaid. Sarah has them in files that could be looked at where potential reroutes could be made. For example, the switchbacks are not an optimal design. Trail systems need help in a massive way.

    7. Private parcels that are on top currently - who owns property on the right side of the fire road (Shotgun)?

      1. Fig farm, private property in landfills, private property that has been attempted sold. Commercial/industrial development possible there.

    8. Moving forward, what could Sarah use from us?

      1. Fundraising campaign to donate directly to CNLM. Will CA Fish and Wildlife commit? We have not had this confirmed yet.

      2. Better education materials  for people, getting trails in shape to the point where they are functional, trail work days, MTB patrol

      3. As soon as time is right, solicit for donations. Make sure to write “for Rancho La Costa”

    9. Rick Minnick - lacosta@sdmba.com will create a list of people to get a list of priorities together

 

  1. SDMBA Top 10 Priority Project List - Presentation (Ben Stone)

Internal priorities list managed by the board and the advocacy committee, changes to list made by community and board input.

  1. Stowe Trail Alignment

  2. Mission trails master plan

  3. Orosco Ridge project

  4. Mother Miguel    

  5. Sycamore/Goodan Ranch reroutes

  6. SD county bike park - any large county bike park - 1 potential major bike park project (TJ River Valley, Bonita (City of CV))

  7. Hollenbeck Canyon

  8. Lucky 5 to Pioneer Mail

  9. Rancho la costa preserve

  10. Anderson Truck trail

 

  1. MCAS/Stowe Trail update/Work Day 4/1/2017 and permit update- (Ben Stone/Kevin Loomis)

    1. Stowe Trail approved, open to public to connect Goodan Ranch to Santee. This is 20 years in the making! April 1st trail work day.

    2. Marines will be out there, 50 people so far signed up for trail work. Signs every 100 feet will take you down Stowe trail. Everything to the west of signs will be decommissioned.

    3. Media and government officials will be present on 4/1 including Dianne Jacob, Scott Peters, Councilman Sherman, and more.

    4. March 25th ** - important work day at Martha’s. County waived permit fees for the Arch Ride because we are doing this trail work day! We will be installing another bike work station at Martha’s. Check SDMBA meet up page for all events and details and to RSVP.

    5. Southern entrance to the Stowe Trail on the end of Fanita Parkway. Homefed has given a temporary easement that could be cancelled at any time, so we need to make sure to respect neighbors off Strathmore and other areas.

    6. Fanita update: Fanita is from bringing that project to a vote based on bad publicity from Castle Rock Development. The impression was that a vote would be had this year, but Ben doubts that this is the case.

    7. Organized Meetup rides will be scheduled to introduce people into areas into Stowe trail and possible legal connections. Potential meet up location will be at Coffee Corner (plenty of parking, 1 ½ mile ride on road to the southern trail head, amazing support and coffee deals from Coffee Corner that welcomes mountain biker business)

    8. Permit process - Annual permits issues by MCAS Miramar will be required to be carried with every rider. You have to be a US citizen, background check and waiver required. Two visits to MCAS Miramar required to file and pick up permit. SDMBA board is testing this process currently. Instructions to the public to be issued in early April.

    9. There has been vandalism along the Stowe Trail.  Graffiti on US govt. singage, this is unacceptable.

    10. Active duty military will still have to get a permit.  Government ID’s are not acceptable for trail usage.

    11. Bikes could be confiscated if riders are stopped and not carrying a permit.  

 

  1. MTRP Master Plan Meeting 3/7 - (Kevin)

    1. 20+ miles of new trail could be had and road will be decommissioned. Tomorrow night final plan will be gone over, and we need to have a good presence. This will be voted on in May/June by the San Diego City Council.

    2. Mission Trails Regional Park Master Plan with maps, recommended trails, etc. Includes East Elliot, sycamore, Fortuna, etc

    3. We are showing support and presence, understanding the goals. No comments, no changes, we approve. SDMBA has been involved in this for 4-5 years.

 

  1. County of SD -  Otay Valley Trails Meeting 3/14 (Jose)

    1. The most important meeting for the South Bay in years regarding trails.

    2. Getting together with Fish and Wildlife, BLM, County, City of Chula Vista, Otay Water District, Border Patrol, etc.

    3. Trying to come up with some trails recommendations, and these groups are asking what kind of trails we want. Pre survey here.  

      1. There will be more than one of these meetings. It is a “workshop” Tuesday 3/14 at 5:30 PM-8 PM.

      2. It is on our facebook event page for that meeting. Please complete this survey! The effects of this could be huge.

 

 

 

 

  1. City of Carlsbad Trails Plan Meeting 3/16 (Susie)

    1. Another meeting coming up, first of several meetings also posted as an event on Facebook/TrailNews.

    2. Not sure what is desired to hear from the public, but trying to bring all of North County crew together. SDMBA liaisons in the area are communicating with the city to determine the scope of the meeting.

 

  1. USFW Mother Miguel/Rock House update ( Jose)

    1. No big update on this, other than a new route has been walked and it will be great! Final approval is needed for that, approval is a bit behind.

    2. Rockhouse and Sweetwater area - only one trail is legal, but there are many social trails.  Plans are being developed to incorporate some of these trails into an official system.  

 

  1. Black Mountain New Trail Building/Arsenic Update (Matt Bartelt)

    1. Meeting on the 24th, no new news.

    2. Oak Valley at the backside of BM, part of the mountain has been stripped as far up as building will happen. Also will be discussing Black Widow

    3. City is continuing with Arsenic testing in the soil and water; animal trapping to test for arsenic level.  (including wood rats).

 

  1. Descanso Ranger District Update Mt Laguna Anderson Truck Trail (Ben, Susie)

    1. El Cap Reservoir, Mount Laguna

    2. Mount Laguna - Bob Hiele (head ranger for Descanso, has worked in Sedona) working with Ranger Lindsey Steinwachs. She has been there for about a year. Jeff Hayes - Rancho Bernardo office and forest planner.

    3. Anderson Truck Trail - imminent decommissioning process, controlled burns.

      1. Anderson truck trail - World Cup is dead unfortunately due to closure to public access by Indian Reservation.  The east to west road, south to north road being decommissioned. Jeff Hayes - talked about adding it to county trails plan. A trail will be left in place if we can get the county of San Diego to get an easement around a landowner’s property. Ben and Susie meeting with the county tomorrow to talk about this. This trail would have to be allowed if the trail was in Alpine master trails plan, and it is on a steep hillside, but an easement needs to be given. SDRP purchased adjoining piece of property. Public ownership leading almost all the way up.

      2. Original trail and some side trails would remain in place legally if this is done.

 

 

  1. Priorities in Mount Laguna area

    1. Miner’s Road (adding onto it), would come up and bring you to East Mesa Road/Indian Creek meeting place.

    2. The end of the Lucky 5 over to Pine Mountain, to get you off of Sunrise Highway. Through state park land (Anza Borrego) into forest service land. If we can get this identified on its own, we can make it work.

    3. Pioneer Mail to Penny Pines (based on people using the PCT to avoid riding on Sunrise Highway)

    4. Wooded Hill, building a new trail to get people off of interpretive trail (hiking only)

    5. A long list of reroutes for the following: Gatos, Lower Noble, Meadow Trails, filaree flat spur trail, chico ravine, redtail roost loop spur, el prado, lower pine mountain

    6. NEPA is a public announcement, we can get these all on the 2018-2019 budget and will need to publish all announcements in GPX formats.  Get this into a formatted piece of work and deliver this to them. Consultation from USFW, going to need to raise money for archaeologists to walk alignments.

    7. We want to get this done as soon as possible, because then we will be able to get it on budget. Will need to raise $15-20k for this project. Decommissioning of trails like meadow trails. Signing on for ongoing maintenance, but we are becoming the financial and labor partner for getting these things done.

    8. Would people donate money for this? The rangers that we have in place now are easy to work with. 2018 budget is already created, and 2019. If we can get this on paper before June, that would help. Lower Noble would be helpful, GPX alignments are necessary. We need to deliver a project-ready plan.

    9. Have a meeting specifically addressing these? Possibly an east county meeting? Conservation corps will be out there trying to rebuild Lower Noble.

 

  1. Palomar Ranger District Update (Ben)

    1. Pamo Valley project - met with Palomar (Joey Martin and Jeff Hayes). We have a letter of intent signed by Will Metz has decided to sign this letter (Supervisor -  Cleveland National Forest). Intend to start NEPA once they are delivered a plan.

    2. Orosco Ridge - Pamo Valley 23,000 acres of ownership. There are roads that bisect this at several different junctions.

    3. Change bid for conceptual plan to include specific trails plan for this area. This could be put on 2018 budget according to ranger there. To give an idea, Mission Trails is 7000 acres and this is 23000. We will have to start a public fundraising campaign for this as well.

    4. Get trails plan in 3-5 phases put onto one NEPA, to happen as fast or slow as we want. Conceptual plan included 70-90 miles of trail. Potential for shuttle-able downhill trail systems. 1000-3000 foot change in elevation.

    5. Conceptual plan for $15,000. We have REI grant which will be focuses that includes for $15,000. Another $10,000 will probably need to be raised.

      1. Monthly recurring donations can be set up and are available. Specific fundraising events will happen for specific projects, so you can donate to the project that you are interested in.

      2. Some grants can only be applied for once we are through the NEPA process.

    6. How much OHV damage? Enough to get green-sticker grants. Changes to green-sticker grant program? The grants pay for infrastructure. Will this be multi-use? Yes and no.

    7. As long as we can prove that the forest service does not have to manage or build out here, and that we will do it, we can be successful. Bathrooms, parking lots, (infrastructure) etc. are also crucial to this.

    8. Potentially 70-90 miles of trail through Ramona area, a meeting in Ramona might be helpful as well. Help from equestrians would be necessary as well.

    9. Working with Ramona H.S. team, NICA, people with expertise and time in order to work on this.

    10. We will announce this when we get a letter back from the Forest Service, then will will approach a county supervisor and start raising money for this.

 

  1. Rotate Advocacy location? And change of Chairperson (Ben)

    1. Possibly to North County one month, East County one month, other people might be able to be reached.

    2. Project meetings would be a good idea.

    3. Not a different location every month, possibly once a quarter.

    4. Ben is giving up advocacy chairperson, as his family is expanding! Anyone can suggest guests, show up early, help to create agenda with Susie, follow up on loose end projects, print out agendas, etc. Kevin cannot take this over. If you are interested in taking this over, please let Kevin and Ben know. Position includes keeping an eye on number of people present, promoting the event on facebook.

      1. Simply a Committee Chair position, showing up to meetings, etc. Ben will be out as Advocacy Chair after June Meeting, but still involved in ongoing projects and negotiations.

 

  1. Fanita Ranch Update (Ben)

 

  1. MTB Opportunities in San Diego (Kirk Riley) - Mission Trails Liaison

    1. Contacted Indian reservation for downhill park, got momentum going. Made some leeway to make SD a destination. Bike-specific trails are necessary, something that is gravity oriented is necessary as well.

      1. Pay for use bike park would be a more feasible in conjunction with an Indian reservation

      2. With Indian Reservation, there are fewer liability issues, etc.  If you can prove that the reservation will make money, etc. Then interest will occur. Santa Ysabel, for example, is willing to compromise. Only we have rideable winter weather in the mountains!

    2. Mammoth is interested in an area like this, because it is interested in getting more people from the SD areas up to their bike parks.

    3. If anyone is interested in helping that project move forward more, someone who is serious about it, then that would be helpful. We are thinking long term with this situation.

    4. Most of the places so far only will allow natural features, etc. including the Pamo Valley project

    5. It was Kirk only, so it was difficult for him to carry on. Once the first big bike park comes in, it will be less challenging to build there.

    6. Please contact Kirk with more information or to help volunteer. MTRP@SDMBA.com

 

Announcements from Susie:

  • Kid events coming up - Walker preserve Santee Kids Day - need volunteers 3/11

  • April 4/30 CiclaVista, May 5/20 Explore Mission Trails Day, June 6/17 Otay River Valley Disovery Day. Volunteers needed for all of these events. Contact Volunteer@SDMBA.com

  • Arch Ride is almost sold out at 300 riders.

  • We need leads on prizes for Arch Ride - including bikes!! Any contacts for prizes donated would be great. Contact archride@sdmba.com

 

Old Business (Non-discussion items)

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

  2. Sycamore Goodan Ranch Update (Ben late 2017)

  3. Pamo Valley/Orosco Ridge Forest Service Waiting for LOI (Ben)

  4. Fanita Ranch Trails Plan (Ben Stone) (Mid of 2017)

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

  6. Black Mountain/Black Widow (Matt/Susie 2017)

  7. San Diego County Bike Park (Jason Showalter)

  8. Del Mar Mesa Surrounding Development

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

  10. Otay Valley Regional Park - (Jose)

  11. Tijuana River Valley (Jose)

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

  13. San Diego County PLDO Funds

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

  15. Mission Trails Master Plan (Summer 2017)

 

 

Next meeting: Monday, April 3, 2017

Minutes recorded by: Siobhan Baloochi, SDMBA Secretary

 

Upcoming events

(check SDMBA.com calendar or SDMBA meetup for all details)

 

Tuesday 3/7/2017  Mission Trails Regional Park CAC meeting 6:30 p.m.  

                MTRP Visitors Center

 

Saturday 3/11/2017 River Kid Days/Walker Preserve Santee  9 a.m.

 

Saturday 3/11/2017  Trail Work: Cuyamaca/Cold Stream  8:30 a.m.  

 

Sunday 3/12/2017  Trail Work: Noble Canyon  9  a.m.

 

Sunday 3/12/2017  Trail Crew Leader Training, Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve

(a few spots left, see Susie Murphy ASAP)

 

Tuesday, 3/14   Otay Regional Trails Alignment Workshop  5:30 pm

 

Saturday 3/18/2017  Trail Work: Swan Canyon/City Heights  8:30 a.m.

 

Saturday 3/18/2017  Family Mountain Bike event - Sikes Saturday Series

                                 San Dieguito River Park  10 a.m.

 

Sunday 3/19/2017   Trail Work: Laguna/Chico Ravine  8:30 a.m.

 

Saturday 4/1/2017  Trail Work: Stowe Trail 7:30 a.m.

 

Saturday 4/8/2017  Archipelago Ride