February 2018 Advocacy Minutes

 

Advocacy Meeting

February 5, 2018 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.

4499 Ruffin Road, San Diego, CA

Ben Stone - Advocacy Committee Chairperson/Vice-President SDMBA

Start Time:  6:05pm

Welcome and Introductions (Susie Murphy)

Questions or comments?

 

  1. Guest:  Drew Perkins, Drew Perkins Trail Consulting

    Drew has been hired by SDMBA (thanks to donations!) as the trail designer for the Orosco Ridge Trails Plan to include 20 miles of new trail.  Drew works with the Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz and has been involved in some of the world renowned trails in the Soquel Demonstration Forest among others.  Drew sees plenty of potential on Orosco and in Pamo Valley f    or a destination mountain biking area.  He has been gathering and reviewing mapping data to help identify alignments and will be on the ground over the next 8-10 days scoping the area.  Upon completion of these field studies he will generate a trail design identifying 100 ft. corridor alignments that can then be used by the USFS staff to determine feasibility.  Then the design plan can be used by the professional trail builder(s) to be hired at a later date.

 

         2.  Pamo Valley/Orosco Ridge Update (Ben Stone) ---

  • USFS Palomar District Staff present - Lee Hamm and Joseph Martin. Mr. Hamm states that creating these trails “is a priority” for the district.  

  • Because of roads that already exist on Orosco Ridge, shuttling will be possible using personal vehicles.  

  • Beginning on 2/3/2018, Drew Perkins (Drew Perkins Trail Consulting) with assistance from Craig Brickser of Community Trails Designs has been covering the area and checking out the terrain of potential trails following the alignments outlined in the Master Plan. He has noticed some steep drainages. He is doing walk through hikes to see where to designate trail corridors and what the terrain allow us to do without man made items being brought in. His thoughts are these trails will be filled with a combination of  cross country type trails, gravity trails that take advantage of natural features, flow trails, and a view of the entire valley, hidden mature oaks and large rocks.

 

Questions/Input from public:

  • How much elevation is there on Orosco Ridge -- 600-800 feet

  • A member asked about signage to indicate trails are recommended directional one way.  Have signs for others not to ride/hike up? Also, advised to put skill level signage (advanced or intermediate)up at base of each trail and a gate up to prevent motorcycles from entering.

  • Kyle asks “What can or cannot be built?” Ben answered -  The letter of intent from USFS states no man made or outside devices/elements can be brought in to make the elements.  Trails can use natural elements for features as indicated by studies.

  • Marty Jorgensen from San Diego Trails Alliance expressed concern about equastrian and general access to the area.

  • Kirk Riley - Downhillers have zero places to ride in San Diego. This plan is our chance.

  • Cindy Denny (SDTA) - Back County Horsemen have offered to pack in tools, and have already offered to contribute in this plan.” Equestrians are going to try to fund for the multi-use trails. Ben states “The money coming in will help identify priorities for this plan.”

  • Seth Hanson - Mountain bike interest is only growing but we are lacking adequate trails in San Diego especially those for more advanced intermediate or advanced riders.

  • Matt Bartelt - states that he hears that the main fear of the equestrians are the downhillers.  Do not buy into the media’s coverage of all MTBers as speeding, racing, types. Families, high school MTB race teams, women, etc all enjoy all kinds of mountain biking.  

  • Kevin Loomis - We did not approach any part of this plan with deception. The Forest Service came to us in a public meeting with the idea.  We have to work on chunks of the project based on funding.

Other on Orosco Ridge:

  • Craig Brickser of Community Trails Designs who is working with Drew Perkins states “We design and build trails that are sustainable and therefore easier to maintain over time.  Features can be built into trails that can control riders speed and be sensitive to the natural environment as well.”

  • Drew Perkins invites anyone to go out with him to hike the area this week 2/9-11/2018

    • Susie will help arrange

  • USFS staff already beginning the NEPA process which will be ongoing over the next few months.  This work is being funded by donations received by SDMBA.


3.   Palm Canyon Epic Update (Ben)

    In 2015, a call to action from the SDMBA asking to submit comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for the proposed land exchange between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (ACBCI) that could have potentially impacted access to the "Palm Canyon Epic" (PCE) trails, link . On January 25th, 2018 the BLM released the Final EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) to approve a proposed land exchange between the BLM and the ACBCI, with NONE OF THE LAND PARCELS CONTAINING PCE going to the ACBCI!  Read more HERE.  

 

4.   Sycamore Goodan Ranch Public Access Plan: Public Comments due by February 7 to Melanie.Tylke@sdcounty.ca.gov

Please emphasize in comment the need to differentiate in maps and descriptions the difference between trails and fire roads.  Thanks to everyone who attended the public meeting on 1/24/18. We had plenty of MTBers in attendance to lend their voices!

 

Old Business (Non-discussion items)

  1. Tecolote Trails plan - (Evan) - (In progress 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 -18)

  6. Sweetwater Summit 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)

  12. San Diego County PLDO Funds

  13. Village 13 Projected Date (First Quarter 2017)

  14. Mission Trails Master Plan (Summer 2018)

 

Meeting Adjourned:  8:25 p.m

 

Minutes recorded by: Michelle Holaday

 

Attendance:

Susie Murphy

Ben Stone

Kevin Loomis

Lee Hamm

Joseph Martin

Clark Jackson

Bob Ponting

Sean Murphy

Alison Harmon

Mark Webb

Mike Beale

Mike Vest

Matt Baker

Jose Galaz

Philip Erdelsky

Heath Bigman

Kirk Riley

Paul M

Cindi Denny

Minette Ozaki

Skii Fleeton

Jim Kealy

Craig Brickser

Martin Jorgenson

Paul H

Dom Dias

Andy Darragh

Steve Ford

Evan Sollberger

Chris Storms

Adam White

Matt Bartelt

Karen St Germain

Kyle Gunderman



 

Next meeting: Special North County Meeting

March 7, 2018   6:30 p.m. GoPro, Carlsbad