April 2019 Advocacy Minutes
Advocacy Meeting
April 1, 2019 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
4499 Ruffin Road, San Diego, CA 92123
Ben Stone - Advocacy Committee Chairperson
Welcome and Introductions (Susie Murphy)
Questions or comments for items not on the agenda?
Daley Ranch - Scott Hansen commented on lack of maintenance at Daley Ranch. Minette answered by saying Superintendent just changed. Prior Superintendent wasn’t an active supporter of trail maintenance and trail building. There is interest from Ranger Chris, lakes and open space supervisor reached out to us asking for collaboration. Susie will follow up with Scott.
Stowe trail permit process is more streamlined now - one stop shop!
Julie Klein: Coast to Crest - used to be a 4 foot wide trail, but it’s totally washed out and down to a few inches wide now. This has been like this for a year and a half. She continued to work on how to solve this issue.
Transcounty trail by Creekside elementary: Monday construction starts by the city of SD to repair the underground pipe which collapsed some time ago and washed out the trail.
3. CDFW issues/update (Kevin)
Carlsbad Highland Ecological Reserve (known as Calaveras) has been used for mitigation for development over the years but has also been used by the public as well. The land was acquired with mitigation money but no management or access plan was ever done by CDFW. This lack of management for public access has led to a drastic loss of habitat. CDFW previewed a press release with SDMBA reps last Monday, but nothing has been publicly published as of today that SDMBA staff have been able to find. CDFW also said they would be stepping up enforcement on the last weekend of May but SDMBA has not reports of citations or confrontations with CDFW staff. SDMBA needs a point person who lives in north county to take a leadership role in this.
CDFW has started to post new signs and has verbally stated they’re going to start issuing tickets.
Trails around the lake are managed by City of Carlsbad and are legal for hikers and cyclists.
4. Trail booby trap at SDRP (Susie)
A rider came across camoflauged Barbed wire strung across the trail at handlebar height. There have been other reports of barbed wire and fishing line at Hodges and Penasquitos/Del Mar Mesa. SDMBA is working to notify various user groups. If you find anything like this, report to ranger/land manager of area and to law enforcement.
5. Sweetwater Bike Park update (Susie)
-will break ground within the next month. Project is fully funded.
S & B Engineering with Devin Schneider is the builder. Approximate timeframe for completion is end of summer to end of the year.
-See Sweetwater Bike Park facebook page for updates
6. Del Mar Mesa/Cisterra update (Matt)
A the exit off of camino del sur: there is a piece of property which was purchased by Cisterra which is planning to develop it. PQ town council voted it down for the planning change. Cisterra went around this and has a meeting on April 4th with the city. A local group called People of Penasquitos (POP) are looking for support and funding (due to legal fees) to fight this development. SDMBA has formally come out in opposition to this proposed development.
7. Rockhouse/Mother Miguel USFW Update (Jose)
-SDMBA Trail Coordinator Ben Stone used rented mini excavator and completed turn #1 done, closed down a couple of the unauthorized entrances to the trail; cut first two benches on the scar, etc. The use of mechanized equipment for trail building on the SD National Wildlife Refuge in partnership with US Fish and Wildlife is a first for SDMBA. An amazing amount was work was done along with the use of SDMBA’s motorized wheelbarrow and a dedicated crew of volunteers. More work to do here.
8. Lusardi/Black Mountain/Black Widow update (Matt Bartelt)
Much work has been done throughout the wet season and we thanks the tireless work of the volunteers who came out to help on Black Widow. Turns are not entirely completed and trail is not officially open yet. Pavers on turns will be installed soon. The funding provided by REI,Trek Superstores, Zoic and individual donors has really helped move this project forward. Funding helped pay for pavers, machine rentals, motorized wheelbarrow purchase, and volunteer support. Matt continues to work on getting other connectors shovel ready at Cuca Street and in Lusardi.
8. Orosco (in Progress - Kevin and Susie)
-near Ramona in Cleveland National Forest. SDMBA has had three meetings with the new District Ranger at the Palomar District. This is an ambitious project and the studies that are required (that SDMBA has funded) have been bogged down by staffing issues, government shutdown and some additional concerns brought forward by the district. SDMBA continues to work through these concerns and are offering whatever help the District needs to keep the progress going. It has been discussed that this project, because of its scope will require an Environmental Assessment and not a Categorical Exemption. This will increase the timeline to probably 5 years on this project. SDMBA will offer a more complete update of project status soon.
9. Archipelago Ride Updates (Susie)
Arch Ride prep has started in earnest with flagging and some trimming at Copper Creek this past weekend. More to come this week. Pre ARch Ride Happy Hour is Thursday 4/4 5 - 8 p.m. at Green Flash for jersey and tshirt pre order pick up. We have plenty of volunteers now!
Old Business (Non-discussion items)
Tecolote Trails plan - (Evan) - (In progress 2019)
Sycamore Goodan Ranch Update (Ben Stone)
Fanita Ranch Trails Plan (Ben Stone) (Unknown)
Castlerock project date June 2016 grading has begun (One year) Ben
Black Mountain/Black Widow (Matt 2017 -19)
Sweetwater Summit Bike Park (2018-19)
Del Mar Mesa Surrounding Development
Rock House / San Diego Wildlife Refuge- update (Jose/Jason)
Otay Valley Regional Park +Bike Park - (Jose)
Tijuana River Valley (Jose)
Palm Canyon Update (in Progress)
San Diego County PLDO Funds
Village 13 Projected Date (First Quarter 2017)
Mission Trails Master Plan (Summer 2019)
Next meeting: May 6, 2019
4499 Ruffin Road (second floor)
-Upcoming events and volunteer opportunities
Trail Work - various locations see updates at SDMBA Meetup or SDMBA.com calendar
Pre Arch Ride Happy Hour 4/4 5-8 p.m. Green Flash
Archipelago Ride 4/6/2019
California Trails and Greenways Conference April 22-25, 2019. Viejas
Contact volunteer@sdmba.com (Karen St. Germain)
Liaisons needed: Balboa Park, Daley Ranch, San Marcos, NICA Team Liaison
Attendees
Minette Ozaki
Victor Esch
Daniel Wright
Carlos Sarehel
Philip Erdelsky
Aaron Andrews
Scott Hansen
Alison Harmon
Andy Darragh
Dom Dias
Matt Bartlett
Susie Murphy
Seth Hanson
Bob Ponting
Mike Lowry
Renee Halsch
Julie Klein
Cyndi Denny
Karen St. Germain
Al Allson
Doug Johnson
Kevin Loomis