May 2017 Advocacy Minutes

Advocacy Meeting

May 1, 2017 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.

4499 Ruffin Road, San Diego

Ben Stone - Advocacy Committee Chairperson/Vice-President SDMBA

 

Meeting begins at 6:11 PM

 

 

  1. Welcome and Introductions (Ben Stone)

Board members present: Kevin Loomis (President), Ben Stone (VP)

SDMBA staff present: Susie Murphy - Executive Director

 

  1. Questions or comments?

    1. Looking for volunteers for Mission Trails Day on the 20th - Explore mission trails Day - there were 300+ people there last year

    2. Looking for volunteers for Otay River Valley discovery day June 17

    3. Need more people for Ride with Rangers, including sweepers for May 6th and June 3.

    4. CiclaVista event - over 60 kids went through the track

  • Shoutout to everyone who volunteered at this event.

 

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

    1. Located near El Cap reservoir in east county, along with Native American reservation

    2. Bisects Palomar/Descanso regions

    3. Palomar currently has no miles of trail open to mountain bikes

    4. West Side Truck Trail (currently existing) - part of it goes through tribal property, but if it could be ridden or modified, then you could ride from Ramona to Lakeside

    5. Eagle peak road - Cedar Creek is an old historical road bed to Cedar Creek falls

    6. Cedar Creek falls trail - great singletrack but popular with hikers

    7. Can get to Eagle Peak from cuyamaca

 

Point to point ride: 35-40 miles 3/4000 feet of elevation with significant loss

More to come as this progresses. Important easement will need to be had

 

Goals:

  1. Stay engaged in the process

  2. Support the project

  3. Volunteer labor

  4. Potential fundraising project

  5. Alignment to trans-county trail

 

Boulder Oaks goals:

  1. Show up for future meetings

  2. Comment about sustainable trails

  3. Mountain biking access

  4. Regional importance

  5. Future connections to foster truck trail and sycamore goodan ranch

  • Big land manager, and will get more land as we move forward

  • Keep an eye out for this project, as there is potential for new singletrack

  • Foster truck trail comes off the end of this area and then down to the 67, owned by CDFW and it is closed to the public since they purchased it (this is one of the trans-county connections)

  • None of this is open to the public yet

  • Pushing hard on this one

 

Note on Sycamore/Goodan Ranch:

  • Parks and Rec and staff at Sycamore/Goodan Ranch has been shooting down trail alignments on Martha’s, etc. and not necessarily taking feedback, but are hiring a new trails coordinator.

  • We will see how they progress, Ben requested that they hire a company like KTUA to help design trail.

 

PAMO VALLEY/OROSCO RIDGE

  1. Letter of intent from forest service

  • Identified an area of the forest to be developed. Environmental review will need to be done, natural features, minimal infrastructure, we would take over maintenance

  • Signed by Will Metz, forest service supervisor

  • NFS staff: Joey Martin- Assistant Rec ranger, Chris Dowling - forest/fire management, Bob Hiear - has worked in Sedona, has a recreation background and MTBer

 

The vision

  • A world class mountain biking destination

  • Purpose built directional trails in the Orosco Ridge area with varying skill levels - beginner, intermediate, advanced

  • Looking at a phased approach

  • Hiring a professional design firm for plan

 

Enhancing Ramona

  • Looking at this from a tourism perspective

  • there is data that support that mtb brings in revenue

 

 

Q: Do we know what Ramona residents want it?

A: Folks in ramona are somewhere in the middle of wanting solitude but also wanting more money to come into ramona.

  • 65 people showed up to public meeting in ramona - most were from ramona

  • Ramona Trails Association was positive - everyone was in agreement with this

  • Best part of this project - all in federal land

  • No CEQA, no approval from county, will be in NEPA process

  • NEPA - federal equivalent of CEQA - state regulatory process (environmental review)

 

Steps to breaking ground (very tentative timeline)

1.Concept plan 2017

2. Nepa process 2018 to 2019

3. Phase one build 2019

4. Phase two 2020

5. Phase 3 to 4 2021

 

  • Mileage when drawn in trail around valley - approximately 45-55 miles

  • Targeting some directional trail - other trails would lead into these

  1. Multiple flow trails in one area would be the goal, with a connection trail to climb up

  • 12 miles in phase 1, potentially.

  • Rolling hills, changes in elevation are only approximately 800 feet

  • Off-road damage could help to pay for green sticker grants

  • Many roads bisect the canyon - trail needs to be built just to the next road so that road will be able to taken back to staging area

  • Concentrating on southern area as goal

  • Fundraising:$15,000 from 150 donors in 1 month. Board allocated 5,000 and REI grant we will hear back from for potential $15,000.

  • Signed contract, decided to go with IMBA Trail Solutions. A lot of modeling will need to go in this to plan with elevation change

  • 4 proposals were received.  They will be coming out in late May to start work. Will go into forest service in 2018. Will probably get pushed in 2019 but will be a priority then. After that, and when we have a master plan for 80 miles of trail, we will be able to fundraise further.

  • Forest service - unfortunately 29% reduction spending, staff will be lost by 10%. 85% goes toward fire management. We will have to help fund this process to move this along. FOr archaeologists, staff time, biological overlays, etc.

 

Q from Sean: This sounds expensive, are we counting on grants?

A: Build with no volunteers - approx. $120,000 + flow trail is more expensive to build than regular trail

Cost is reduced by almost 70% with volunteers

 

  • Meeting next week with County Supervisor’s office - they allocate 1 million each year to any project they like - community enhancement fund

  1. Liked our project, would like to help us write the grant. County Supervisor has helped with community enhancement, different organizations to help bring tourism to towns

 

Q from Daniel Pitard: referring to Trail Solutions - will there be any trouble with IMBA Trail Solutions because of complications with IMBA?

A: No, they are 2 separate entities.They are well-funded and will potentially help to offset IMBA losses elsewhere

  • Have built Skyline in Big Bear

    • Fuel mod zone - where Skyline trail is

    • Able to get it approved in about two years

  • We are one of the most successful membership chapters in IMBA - The board has spent a great deal of time on this - IMBA will need to listen to us

  • This is a large project that will give IMBA national recognition

  • Board and community drafting what we want and giving it to them

  • Nationally, IMBA are helping us through Laurel Harkness, CA Regional Director

    • Laurel got Garrett Villanueva interested in projects  (NFS SW Pacific Trail Coordinator from Tahoe)

    • Wants to get people interested in outdoors - stewardship conference in SD for forest service and fundraising. He is also now a SDMBA member

    • New guidelines in forest service and volunteers - guide for how to double interest from volunteers - the future is with engaging communities

    • Very supportive of all the projects in proposed in the Cleveland NF

 

COSTS (very rough estimate)

  • $120,000 for phase 1. Looking at $500-800K for entire project

  • Hoping for forest service to defer certain costs until we are able to implement

  • Relationships with forest service will help us to get things done

  • We are the largest volunteer trails group in this area!

 

GOALS:

  1. Directional, changing, sessionable trails with levels of difficulty

  2. Trail that will be multi use - no infrastructure there

  3. Shuttle-able downhill trail system - how can we tie that in next to an existing road

 

  • We are taking a model from other areas - need to have mtb specific directional trails

  • Come to a compromise with equestrians for multi-use trails

  • Community that needs to be represented - DH community and gravity community. We want this to be built legally and be sustainable

 

Q: Mentioning natural features - will no log features be able to be included?

A: There are no trees in this area. However, Corral trail, for example, has jumps and progressive tabletops. No building of manmade features, etc. will be done as outlined in the letter of intent.

 

Q: Skills area/pump track at the bottom?

A: Base is owned by City of SD. This could be brought up with them possibly.

 

Note: see notes from Ramona advocacy meeting to get additional information about Pamo Valley trails plan and questions/answers from Ramona residents.

 

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

  1. SDMBA working closely with the Descanso NFS staff on many potential ideas for trail enhancement

  2. Mt. Laguna has several different endangered species, so there will be a forest service consult on this, along with tribal consult. This will be more difficult

  3. Head ranger Bob Heiar wants to see more recreation in his district - Bob likes the trails map that Ben has come up with

 

  • Forest service has a different mission than other agencies - wants to get people interested and engaged in forest and more volunteers too.

  • Satisfy the needs of a growing county - nearly 3 million people to be 4 million in 15-20 years

  • Federal lands surrounding forest - forest FCI prevented county from zoning areas around forest. The county is now starting to rezone areas in Pine Valley, Julian, Jamul, Alpine, etc.

 

Wooded Hill

 

 Issues arise here with MTB use because of the interpretive trail (hiking only).

  • Creates a new alignment that would give people opportunity to ride interesting section of trail - We can create something equal or better than what is there now

  • Bring people around - head up to Chico, tree covered area

  • Proposed trail that would come into Chico, stay about wooded hill and bring you back to sunrise highway (would be a climb out)

 

Los Gatos

  • Cut off gatos before going down to sand wash?

  • We would decommission sand wash, will need a left and right hand turn

Moving forward:

  • SDMBA currently applying for grant, potentially work on trail maintenance and enhancement on Los Gatos.

  • Adding new trail but taking some out of the most sensitive areas

  • More areas through treelines

  • Potential to add somewhere in the range of 5.5 miles of tree lined trail

 

Other major areas:

  • Looking to the north, redesign Filaree flats and other areas

  • Evan Sollberger and Ben Stone have hiked 60-70% of these trail systems

  • Evan - old mining road that goes up valley from where noble has intersection that goes over to paved road

  • If we can connect with 2 miles of single track, we would be able to ride up Noble without climbing up paved road. Will be a challenge to work with rock cropping, need to stay above or below these.

  • Everything we are proposing, we are signing on the build and maintain

  • Looking at a trail near Sunset trail - would incorporate rock features. Ben has put together a map - will be at the end of list of trail to be implemented

  • Adds to ability to spread users out, fill future needs

 

Lucky 5 to Pioneer Mail

  • Coming out of cuyamaca, 3.5-ish miles of sunrise highway, not fun on a weekend

  • 35 mile loop. Cold springs, lucky 5, pine mountain trail, looks down to indian creek

  • Identifying new connectors to connect lucky 5 to pine mountain. Some of it is in anza borrego

  • Ben got in touch with Kathy Dice - waiting for public access plan to identify this trail

  • Will not start anza until cuyamaca is finished. This is the largest state park in the country, and will potentially take many years

  • Work with anza foundation to get this identified. 3.5 miles of difficult terrain, west side of sunrise highway

 

  • In the ballpark of 12-16 miles of new trail in mount laguna area

  • Lindsay has us inserted into budget for 2019, may have to fund staff time for project and building

  • We need to prove to forest service that we are an engaged community with trail work

  • Red tail roost - barracks with bunk beds - we could potentially do trail work weekends up there

  • Push to do work on noble - conservation crew - building cutouts for erosion

  • Most of this should be able to be done (in progress) by 2019, building as soon as 2019. Gatos reroutes could happen this season

  • Working on getting people chainsaw certified - cert class to get us certified in areas where trees need to be downed

  • Downed oaks all throughout this area, wooded hill area will be a lot of work

  • Another fundraiser for mt laguna - significant amount for this project, starting with grant this month

 

ATT (Anderson Truck Trail)

  • Forest service had identified roadbed to be decommissioned in 2008, we objected to it in 2012 and 2016

  • Objected to funding for it, as you would not be able to access trails without the roadbed

  • Work in progress for public access

  • Identified as alignment in alpine trails plan

  • Future connectivity

  • Eventually looking for a liaison for alpine area/ATT

  • Looking for engagement, someone who knows other builders, someone who wants to be engaged in ATT

  • Connect with Alpine Ride Shop to get individuals there engaged (key to Mt. Laguna/ATT)

 

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

    1. Homefed built another fence, put up another map. Homefed is trying to gain goodwill with the community

    2. A few people have gotten Stowe trail permits, approximately 6 weeks out to process applications

    3. Is everyone clear on southern entrance, fanita and ganley DO NOT PARK IN FRONT OF ANYONE’S HOUSE

    4. Be respectful of other people’s property. Parking has been the number one issue. ATT/Ted’s/Fanita Ranch/etc

    5. Listening to music/being loud in the mornings is detrimental to our process

    6. Temporary easement until trail is finished on the other side. Enter sycamore/goodan ranch

    7. Card has to be in your posession when you are going out there. Children under 10 do not need a permit but must be accompanied by an adult. Parent can drop off application, but child must come in for photos. The whole process - dropping off is 5 minutes, 10-15 minutes to get photo taken

    8. What marines have said to kevin: when on stowe trail, stay on that trail. If riders go on the brushed sections or western areas, our permit could be revoked

    9. When the south side opens up, there will be a lot more work. We will be evaluating trails near Pardee. Sometime toward the end of this year, the trail will open up from Mission Trails (link parts of east elliot to trail around community)

    10. Mel Brooks trails are not currently an issue, but will potentially be in the future.

    11. We have permission to part at Coffee Corner - Kevin will be leading a few meetup rides from there and offer discounts to the coffee shop

    12. Doing ride with a ranger day in a month with MPs/Marines

    13. Evan - why will it be US citizens only? Department of Defense - must be at a higher level to access property

 

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)

 

Progress can be made, it just takes PEOPLE to work on it!

Want lots of trail and want it now? Get on board with forest service! People who know GIS, chainsaw, know how to flag a corridor, etc.

 

 

Meeting ended at 8:27 PM

 

Next meeting: Monday, June 5, 2017

 

 

Matt Bartelt

Seth Hanson

Doug Johnson

Lisa Wood

Bill Harold

Daniel Pitard

Mike Lowry

Philip Erdelsky

Lisa Wood

Julie Klein

Bill Herold

Ian Foster

Josh Basara

Andy Darragh

Siobhan Baloochi

Minette Ozaki

Mike Jennings

Seth Hansen

Sean Murphy

Doug Johnson

Dom Dias

Ben Kiaei

Mark Webb

Karen St. Germain

Kevin Loomis

Bob Ponting

Adam white

Kurt Settembre

Evan Sollberger

Minette Ozaki

Mike Jennings

Sean Murphy