August 2018 Advocacy Minutes

 

Advocacy Meeting

August 6, 2018 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

4499 Ruffin Road, San Diego, CA 92123

Ben Stone - Advocacy Committee Chairperson

 

  1. Welcome and Introductions (Susie Murphy)

 

Andy Darragh

Michael Elliot

Marcia Elliot

Dom Dias

Ben Stone

Susie Murphy

Jose Galaz

Kevin Loomis

Karen St. Germain

Mike Lowry

Philip Erdelsky

Tony Dickey-Rubio

Cindy Denny

Minette Ozaki

Eric Magnusson

Jay Jackson

Terry O’Hare

Tony Dickey-Rubio

Jose Galaz

Cyndi Denny

Ken Oertle

Bob Ponting

Mark Webb

Brad Lackey

Paul Micheletti

Terry O’Hare

Daniel Bricerio

Jay Jackson

Eric Magnuson

John Durkin

Matt Minch

Colleen Field

Seth Hanson

Davey Johnson

Alison Harmon

Ron Guitard

Siobhan Baloochi

Susie Murphy

 

  1. Questions or comments?

  2. Guests:

    1. Colleen Field (Allstate) - Donation Presentation

      1. Has an allstate agency business - found a coordinator who does donations

      2. Arranged for a $1000 donation through Allstate community giving program

      3. Susie Murphy thanked Colleen for her support through Allstate

 

  1. SDMBA Hiring update - Trails Coordinator (Kevin)

    1. We are working on a lot  of trail project opportunities and could lose them without another staff person

      1. Want to be able to partner with more groups

    2. After evaluating the budget the SDMBA Board voted on adding a trails coordinator

    3. A hiring committee was formed, job posted.  There were several applicants.

    4. Starting out as a 20 hour week position to advance to full-time as finances allow

    5. Orosco, Mission trails, Big Laguna, will need to have someone to manage those projects full-time

 

  1. Final decision of hiring committee will be announced next week and new position will start immediately.

  2. When will trail building start?

    1. Black Widow will start building in about a month or so

 

  1. Sycamore/Goodan Ranch

    1. Working for about 3 years with county to do update access plan for Goodan Ranch

    2. Property was purchased in/around park

      1. Updated trails plan; SDMBA has been consulting with the county and suggesting improvements to the proposed plan.

    3. Issues around Clark Canyon that goes up to Rocky Ridge

      1. Hanson Aggregates - owns parcels and mining operation

      2. Would like to get an eventual easement for Stowe Trail

    4. Matt Sanford - regional ranger for the county

      1. Stepping up enforcement in/around Sycamore/Goodan Ranch

      2. 2 trails have been built onto property that are not legal

      3. Working with county on improving the trail plan in this area

    5. Process has been slowed down a bit

      1. None of our proposed plan is off the map

    6. Question: Stowe pass expired, filled out paperwork and “machine was broken”

      1. Office has been restructured that did this, call the office number that Susie is forwarding

      2. 8/6/2018 New or renewal passes can be applied for and picked up at the Visitor Registration office (miramar East Gate).  Phone number: Front desk 858-577-1463

 

  1. Information regarding comment submitted on Orosco Ridge by the San Diego Trails Alliance (Kevin)

    1. Collaboration has been very important, bringing partners and stakeholders all working together

    2. SD Trails Alliance has been around for about 2.5-3 years

      1. Not a 501c3, but supposed to be an organization that pulls all parties together

      2. Goal is to be for all trail users

      3. Letter of support for Orosco Ridge was promised for Orosco

      4. A letter from SDTA was given, but was more negative and restrictive than CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife towards this project and questioned SDMBA as a viable organization.

    3. In reference to comment period

      1. Part of NEPA, letters and comments that went in during that period

      2. 550 comments of support including Ramona Chamber of Commerce, local elected officials and trail users.

      3. Record number of comments for a project in this district

    4. SDMBA Wanted to become partners with San Diego Trails Alliance

      1. Ben and other SDMBA  reps generally attends meeting in support

    5. SDTA wanted to make sure that it was not all MTB specific trail being built

      1. Adjustment made to make sure that it was not all MTB-specific

      2. A compromise was made to the proposed plan so that 50% of the trails would be multi-use and 50% would be purpose built for mountain biking.

    6. Stakeholders vs partners

      1. Users vs. people who build relationships with one another and trust

      2. Partnership that we have fought for

    7. All of the comment letters are in the public record

    8. To make this project possible, SDMBA has raised over $70,000 to pay for planning, design and to pay for required forest service staff time. SDMBA is in a formal Collection Agreement with the US Forest Service.

 

  1. SDMBA wants to interact with other groups in San Diego and already communicates with many individual equestrian, ultra running, rock climbing, hiking groups.

    1. What is the value in having a partnership with SDTA? Is this worth the effort to continue?

      1. Reached out to groups in Ramona/East county because wanted to have county as a partner on this project. Make sure that county is invested in this kind of recreation

      2. SDTA is not a 501c3 - Cyndi - goal is to get equestrians involved with other groups. Not a membership organization

      3. Dom - Continue to invite equestrians to meetings, but unfortunately equestrians have not been keen to share trails.

    2. Partnerships with individual trail groups that have gone very well for years

      1. Cuyamaca, South county

    3. Bob Ponting - complaint about getting something new, not sharing trails that are already had

      1. Nothing is being taken away, only something is being given

      2. Balance of investment/effort, every group will have an opinion

        1. Group would like to tag on and add parts

        2. Can’t be combative to work with

    4. Kevin - SDTA needs to learn to become a real trail alliance for all trail users, rather than a group for equestrians

      1. Group that represents 1% of trail users, but wants to claim that the group is representing the larger group

    5. Susie - has been invited to the board of the SDTA but would not like to join as it is not a 501c3

    6. Trail user groups came with a united voice on projects like Rockhouse and progress is going well here

    7. Burning time because of these issues because trail users are not bringing a unified voice.

      1. Some people do not want to see more trail in this county

      2. Should be united in our approach to getting more trail

    8. SDMBA should be spending more time with environmental organizations opposed to more trail rather than other trail user groups

      1. Wanted to focus on comments coming from public agencies

    9. Was there opposition to this project?

      1. Chapparal Institute, Native Plant Society, Cleveland National Forest Foundation, Sierra Club.

    10. Botanist was supposed to be out in June, wasn’t quite prepared for weather

      1. Realized that plants were not blooming because of heat and weather

      2. Delayed into next year because of botanical surveys

        1. These checks are a part of the process

 

    1. These surveys are necessary because of letters written about these issues

      1. Forest surveys will have to point back saying that surveys were

      2. Hydrology, botany, biology, archaeology all very important studies

  2. Most endangered species in our country, attracts a lot of good biologists, etc.

 

Quick update on Fanita Ranch:

  • Two volunteers drafted about 30 miles of trails into development

  • Community meetings in Santee - trail planning/community planning

    • Fanita ranch planning meetings

  • Trail plan is “subject to change”

  • Being anti-development doesn’t get us anywhere, working with communities has been supportive

 

  1. City of San Diego Parks and Rec Master Plan Update Public Comments needed - closes mid September

    1. Survey will close in mid/late september

    2. Many community Meetings in June - had meetings around city of SD to talk to planners, people comment about Master Plan Update. Thank you to all MTBer’s who showed up to these meetings.

    3. Update has not happened since at least the 80s

      1. Overarching vision for amount of parks, open space, etc.

    4. Lengthy survey, includes interactive map to pinpoint areas of interest

    5. Have only had about 900 responses

    6. State that you want more natural surface, narrow trails, bike parks, etc.

    7. Can skip questions - talk about open space questions

      1. Reminders have been sent via Trail News with links

 

  1. MTRP MPU/Casey Smith’s replacement (Kevin)

    1. Close to the end before this goes to city council hopefully before the end of the year

    2. Property discussions, including one that had been set aside for mitigation

      1. Been delayed because of this

    3. Trail system in East Elliot, will connect to Goodan Ranch

    4. Want people to be there for city council meeting, then will go to council supervisors

    5. Casey Smith/New Deputy Director of Open space

      1. Casey Was deputy director of open space

      2. Moved to more Heated areas of san diego, more developed areas

      3. meeting with new director, Jeannette, next week. Comes from a rec background, we hope she takes Casey’s philosophy and embraces it

    6. E-bike panel part of SD regional bike summit

      1. Biggest concern is access

      2. Focus bicycles - to donate an ebike to city for rangers to use

        1. Be able to see trail through the lens of trail users

      3. Allowing e-bikes on city trails has been a success according to city

    7. County will do series of videos on trail etiquette

      1. “Share and be aware”

 

  1. County General Amendments

  • Ballot initiative that went forward, barring development - will end up on 2020 ballot

  • 3 developments in each amendment - 12 a year for 2 years

    • Probably will all be approved because of housing crisis

  • Harmony Grove - does not want more neighbors to south and north

  • Otay

  • Lilac Hills Ranch

  • Village 14, 16,17, 19 proctor valley

  • Valley Center

    • Developers raced to get approval before these plans

    • All of them have parks

  • Proctor valley - talked to about trail    

 

  1. Proposed Changes to Advocacy Schedule (Ben)

  1. New changes to schedule are shown

  2. 3 meetings a year - travel meetings south, north, east

  3. 3 social events a year instead of business meeting - ride and mixer

    1. PQ, Black Mountain, Breweries, etc.

    2. Cancelled July this year - everyone on vacation

  4. More community events, casual conversation

    1. Get stakeholders out on trail with us

  5. Potentially inviting political candidates to meetings?

  1. Have not made a formal decision about this yet

  2. County supervisor races that are happening - north county and central SD

  3. Have to follow stringent guidelines in regards to communications with candidates as a 501c3

 

  1. San Marcos bike park

  1. Bike park possible for La Moree - south of campus in San Marcos

    1. Undeveloped area

    2. Has some elevation, about 60 acres

  2. Interested in something kid-friendly

    1. SDMBA Reps Discussed trail system ideas with San Marcos

  3. Unofficial trails may become an issue in the near future

    1. Thought they would have to amend trails plan, but this would be a part of the active park and not a part of “trail”

 

  1. Cleveland National Forest: Mt. Laguna (Ben)

    1. Mount laguna project is a District project, not just a SDMBA project.

    2. Met with SURF, the ultra running group - will donate money for new signage

    3. We will be coming up with around  20k or more for design and build.

    4. Wood features on old county road

    5. Some environmental analysis has already been done to corridor

    6. Los Gatos wood features needs to be fixed

    7. On the forest service budget for this fiscal year

    8. On our website, projects and programs - top 10 projects list. Has a map and timeline connected to it

    9. Mount Laguna Trail Fest Oct. 12-14, 2018- already half sold out

      1. Karen has room for more volunteers, but filling up very fast

      2. Camping, riding, bike demos, scavenger hunt

      3. Lots of different kinds of demos

 

  1. Rockhouse/Mother Miguel Update (Jose)

    1. Nothing new since the last meeting in June, weather stopped us

    2. Finish working on the bottom portion of rockhouse

    3. Hiking has taken over in the last 5 years

      1. Hundreds of people every weekend

      2. Hikers cut trail and have caused a very wide scar straight up and down

    4. Building new trail alignment and new entrance

    5. 80% of trail is already done in the lower section

    6. Hikers are using new trail already because it is safer

    7. Waiting for better trail conditions to work on

    8. Still a steep and difficult trail, rocky sections

      1. Upper part of trail will remain the same

    9. Hoping to finish this fall

    10. Okay to break ground when it rains again?

      1. Yes, ranger jill wants to get this done

 

  1. Black Mountain Open Space Update/Black Widow

    1. Matt Bartelt will be out on black widow to flag alignment

    2. Putting a water buffalo on top of mountain to not be so reliant on rain

      1. Pull in a container to store things, motorized wheelbarrow

    3. ride/fun event out there in september

    4. Trek superstore has donated $5000 on top of $15000 from REI

      1. May need more funding for trail

 

  1. SDMBA Member Discounts (Susie)

    1. Support-sponsor page on website

    2. Current discounts that are available

    3. Includes: shop listed with links

      1. Proof of membership with expiration date

      2. No membership cards but members can verify their status by logging in to website and printing out status page.

    4. Membership information/billing will show your expiration date

    5. Expertvoice.com

      1. Discounts on many major outdoor brands - apparel, helmets, bikes, camping, etc

    6. Directions are on the website to sign up for it

    7. Chris Vine helped to get SDMBA this benefit

 

Comments:

  1. First meeting - thankful for the range of projects, time it takes to work through these things

  2. Ben - pitch on CAC around the county

    1. Opening in otay valley at the end of the year

    2. Susie -  to be officially appointed to the County Parks Advisory Committee

 

Old Business (Non-discussion items)

  1. Tecolote Trails plan - (Evan) - (In progress 2018)

  2. Sycamore Goodan Ranch Update (Ben Stone)

  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 -19)

  6. Sweetwater Summit Bike Park

  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)

  12. San Diego County PLDO Funds

  13. Village 13 Projected Date (First Quarter 2017)

  14. Mission Trails Master Plan (Summer 2018)

 

Meeting ends at 7:47 PM

 

Next meeting:   September 10, 2018 *pushed back due to holiday

4499 Ruffin Road (second floor)

 

-Upcoming events and volunteer opportunities

 

*Volunteers needed for these events. Contact volunteer@sdmba.com (Karen St. Germain)

-Mount Laguna Trail Fest Oct. 12-14 (limited spots remaining)

-Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day  Oct. 6

-Volunteer Appreciation Party Nov. 1

 

Liaisons needed: Daley Ranch, San Marcos, NICA Team Liaison

 

Minutes recorded by: Siobhan Baloochi, SDMBA Secretary