June 2016 Advocacy Minutes
SDMBA Advocacy Committee Meeting
June 6, 2016 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
4499 Ruffin Road, 2nd Floor
San Diego, CA 92123
Ben Stone – Advocacy Committee Chairperson/Vice-President SDMBA
Call to Order (Ben Stone)
Meeting begins at _______PM
Welcome and Introductions
Guest Speaker: Brian Albright (County Department of Parks and Rec): County Trail Master Plan (approved in 2006) calls for ultimate development of 1,600 miles of off-road trails across SD County (currently at 400 miles.) His impression that mountain bikers historically have not been on the radar until recently, when SDMBA became more organized/sophisticated in advocacy. One P&R goal is to create a trans-county trail that could be a national draw due to weather and SD’s immense biological diversity. SD could be a world class mountain biking destination, with a trail that offers an “epic”-type experience with possible campsites along the route. In 2003, a P&R user survey revealed 12% of trail user population were bikers; 1% equestrian, the remainder runners/hikers. County Parks & Rec “gets” that single track is a “multi-use trail!” (Not just flat gravel paths). County publication “Preserve Trail Design Guidelines” (modified 2014) specifically calls for “narrow tread width” for standard trails of the future. Also includes how to preserve existing county trails. Main impediments to trail expansion and development per Brian: funding (though less of a problem than the other factors), land tenure, environmental regulatory agencies and uncooperative private landowners. New user survey: surprisingly, almost the same numbers as the 2003 trail use survey. However, in latest P&R Needs Assessment, “Mountain Biking” registered as 2nd or 3rd priority overall. Nexus and proportionality: determined by significance of the connection and the contribution to the community. Next two weeks are “Community Enhancement Hearings.” Good time to provide our input.
Bike Skills course: The Capital Improvement Needs Assessment (CINA) makes project eligible for non-PLDO (Park Land Dedication Ordinance) funds. Flinn Springs Park, TJ River Valley and possibly Sweetwater, near Pinery are possible zones. County generally has money for new projects but problem seems to be absorbing maintenance of new facilities. When a user group steps up to operate and maintain, things get accomplished. Maintenance/management options: management agreement, lease agreement, require basically 5-years of collateral for operations. (This was done recently at a county skate park in/near Lakeside). Try to incorporate projects into existing regional parks. Mitigation lands policy is one way to convince land managers to expand trails; restore more habitat than is claimed. County Parks & Rec has MSCP permit that can be revoked from US Fish & WIldlife. Calle de Rob, Stowe, etc. could be included to add 12 miles of additional trails in Sycamore/Gooden Ranch. Statutory immunity built in to trail use. Several tracks in the county are owned by the BLM. County trying to take over those lands (NEPA/SEQA) as local officials more likely to give us what we want than federal gov’t. P&R has eminent domain, but never been used for trail development to Brian’s knowledge.
San Diego County Bike Park (Jay): in 2010, Jay attended county meetings: county was losing money; was going to have to look for alternative funding to maintain current projects. In June, bike park presentation took place. A couple weeks ago, green light to proceed with Flinn Springs. Need to clarify. SDMBA will meet with P&R in July/Aug 2016 Feasibility study/design contest for park. After this, we will begin to be able to start answering questions. Meeting will determine whether or not Flinn Springs will still work. Bike Park Committee will be formed to report to the Board monthly. Looking for volunteers for this Committee.
Mission Trails Master Plan Meeting May 3rd CAC update (Kevin): No update for now.
Fanita Ranch Meeting 6/6 (Ben): Stowe alternative staging area could be a vacant 15-acre lot nearby. Owned by Homefed. Clark Canyon is owned by Hanson.
San Diego River Park Foundation- (Ben) update:
-Overall Alignment
-El Cajon Mountain: Owned by BLM (Palm Springs Office) but leased by County. Has some potential for trails but budgetary constraints.
-Trails Plan Forest Service (Meeting July FS)
MCAS/Stowe Trail update – (Ben & Kevin): Base commander will be attending next SDMBA board meeting to discuss various options. Details soon.
Open Volunteer positions List (Ben): Someone with GPS skills to work on new “SDRP Trail” acquisition (Trans County Trail?) in Ramona in proposed wilderness area.
Black Mountain Next Season and Black Widow (Matt Bartelt, Kirk Riley, Susie Murphy): No news on Black Widow. Land managers working with the city of SD on this proposed project. Going to expand trails to N. Working to get final alignments approved. Must be a biological survey but already on the master plan so it will happen. New repair station will go in near the bench under Camino del Sur bridge on Lusardi Loop. Pardee donated $5k to SDMBA for assistance in construction of Appendix trail.
State Park Preserve Rule Change (Kevin & Susie): Next month’s guest at SDMBA advocacy meeting (July 11) is Alexandra Stehl, Head of CA State Parks Roads and Trails. Sacramento. There is a proposal to change the law (CCR) for State parks to restrict off trail use in cultural and natural reserves/preserves. People could be cited for merely stepping off trail in these areas. Language was vague and it is unenforceable it likely would have passed quietly had we not objected. IMBA is now aware and discussing this. Parks are now listening to mountain bikers and we need a big showing on June 22 meeting to focus on CCR (time and location TBD)
Old Business (Non-discussion items)
Tecolote Trails plan – (Evan) – (In progress 2016 build 2017)
Deerfield Bike Park update (Kirk) In progress w/ City
Valley Center Bike Park/Crows Nest – Project Plan(Minette)
Del Mar Mesa Surrounding Development (No update)
Rock House / San Diego Wildlife Refuge- update (Jose/Jason)
Otay Valley Regional Park – public comment update (Susie)
Tijuana River Valley (Bell Program in Progress May aim)
Palm Canyon Update (in Progress Decision September)
Castlerock project date June 2016
San Diego County PLDO Funds
New Mount Laguna Recreation Ranger (Susie)
Village 13 Projected Date?
Communications Non Agenda Items
IMBA: is our affiliation valuable for the percentage of money that goes to IMBA? We have a California IMBA Rep. SDMBA considering forming an ad hoc committee to investigate the pros and cons of leaving IMBA as a chapter.
Take a Kid MTB Day is on Saturday. MTRP. Need volunteers.
So Cal MTB Race League. Info. session meeting on 6/16 at MJ’s Cyclery on Park Blvd at 7 p.m. Potential high school racers/coaches/volunteers welcome.
Attendance: 27 Total
Brian Albright
Minette Ozaki
Jeff Tanzola
Seth Hanson
Kirk Bennett
Walt Devine
Sandy Jones
Janis Shackelford
Ben Stone
Makoto Toneri
Robert Kay
Gordo Parkham
Philip Erdelsky
Dustin Sharp
Doug Johnson
Gene Bellegarde
Brian Findley
Jose Galaz
Rob Aaronson
Matt Bartlett
Kirk Bennett
Bob Ponting
Mike Lowry
Robert Hubbard
Jay Showalter
Jon White
Julie Warner
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at______ PM
Next meeting July 11, 2016 (second Monday because of 4th of July)
Meeting Minutes Recorded by:
Julie Warner, SDMBA Secretary
June 6, 2016 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
4499 Ruffin Road, 2nd Floor
San Diego, CA 92123
Ben Stone – Advocacy Committee Chairperson/Vice-President SDMBA
Call to Order (Ben Stone)
Meeting begins at _______PM
Welcome and Introductions
Guest Speaker: Brian Albright (County Department of Parks and Rec): County Trail Master Plan (approved in 2006) calls for ultimate development of 1,600 miles of off-road trails across SD County (currently at 400 miles.) His impression that mountain bikers historically have not been on the radar until recently, when SDMBA became more organized/sophisticated in advocacy. One P&R goal is to create a trans-county trail that could be a national draw due to weather and SD’s immense biological diversity. SD could be a world class mountain biking destination, with a trail that offers an “epic”-type experience with possible campsites along the route. In 2003, a P&R user survey revealed 12% of trail user population were bikers; 1% equestrian, the remainder runners/hikers. County Parks & Rec “gets” that single track is a “multi-use trail!” (Not just flat gravel paths). County publication “Preserve Trail Design Guidelines” (modified 2014) specifically calls for “narrow tread width” for standard trails of the future. Also includes how to preserve existing county trails. Main impediments to trail expansion and development per Brian: funding (though less of a problem than the other factors), land tenure, environmental regulatory agencies and uncooperative private landowners. New user survey: surprisingly, almost the same numbers as the 2003 trail use survey. However, in latest P&R Needs Assessment, “Mountain Biking” registered as 2nd or 3rd priority overall. Nexus and proportionality: determined by significance of the connection and the contribution to the community. Next two weeks are “Community Enhancement Hearings.” Good time to provide our input.
Bike Skills course: The Capital Improvement Needs Assessment (CINA) makes project eligible for non-PLDO (Park Land Dedication Ordinance) funds. Flinn Springs Park, TJ River Valley and possibly Sweetwater, near Pinery are possible zones. County generally has money for new projects but problem seems to be absorbing maintenance of new facilities. When a user group steps up to operate and maintain, things get accomplished. Maintenance/management options: management agreement, lease agreement, require basically 5-years of collateral for operations. (This was done recently at a county skate park in/near Lakeside). Try to incorporate projects into existing regional parks. Mitigation lands policy is one way to convince land managers to expand trails; restore more habitat than is claimed. County Parks & Rec has MSCP permit that can be revoked from US Fish & WIldlife. Calle de Rob, Stowe, etc. could be included to add 12 miles of additional trails in Sycamore/Gooden Ranch. Statutory immunity built in to trail use. Several tracks in the county are owned by the BLM. County trying to take over those lands (NEPA/SEQA) as local officials more likely to give us what we want than federal gov’t. P&R has eminent domain, but never been used for trail development to Brian’s knowledge.
San Diego County Bike Park (Jay): in 2010, Jay attended county meetings: county was losing money; was going to have to look for alternative funding to maintain current projects. In June, bike park presentation took place. A couple weeks ago, green light to proceed with Flinn Springs. Need to clarify. SDMBA will meet with P&R in July/Aug 2016 Feasibility study/design contest for park. After this, we will begin to be able to start answering questions. Meeting will determine whether or not Flinn Springs will still work. Bike Park Committee will be formed to report to the Board monthly. Looking for volunteers for this Committee.
Mission Trails Master Plan Meeting May 3rd CAC update (Kevin): No update for now.
Fanita Ranch Meeting 6/6 (Ben): Stowe alternative staging area could be a vacant 15-acre lot nearby. Owned by Homefed. Clark Canyon is owned by Hanson.
San Diego River Park Foundation- (Ben) update:
-Overall Alignment
-El Cajon Mountain: Owned by BLM (Palm Springs Office) but leased by County. Has some potential for trails but budgetary constraints.
-Trails Plan Forest Service (Meeting July FS)
MCAS/Stowe Trail update – (Ben & Kevin): Base commander will be attending next SDMBA board meeting to discuss various options. Details soon.
Open Volunteer positions List (Ben): Someone with GPS skills to work on new “SDRP Trail” acquisition (Trans County Trail?) in Ramona in proposed wilderness area.
Black Mountain Next Season and Black Widow (Matt Bartelt, Kirk Riley, Susie Murphy): No news on Black Widow. Land managers working with the city of SD on this proposed project. Going to expand trails to N. Working to get final alignments approved. Must be a biological survey but already on the master plan so it will happen. New repair station will go in near the bench under Camino del Sur bridge on Lusardi Loop. Pardee donated $5k to SDMBA for assistance in construction of Appendix trail.
State Park Preserve Rule Change (Kevin & Susie): Next month’s guest at SDMBA advocacy meeting (July 11) is Alexandra Stehl, Head of CA State Parks Roads and Trails. Sacramento. There is a proposal to change the law (CCR) for State parks to restrict off trail use in cultural and natural reserves/preserves. People could be cited for merely stepping off trail in these areas. Language was vague and it is unenforceable it likely would have passed quietly had we not objected. IMBA is now aware and discussing this. Parks are now listening to mountain bikers and we need a big showing on June 22 meeting to focus on CCR (time and location TBD)
Old Business (Non-discussion items)
Tecolote Trails plan – (Evan) – (In progress 2016 build 2017)
Deerfield Bike Park update (Kirk) In progress w/ City
Valley Center Bike Park/Crows Nest – Project Plan(Minette)
Del Mar Mesa Surrounding Development (No update)
Rock House / San Diego Wildlife Refuge- update (Jose/Jason)
Otay Valley Regional Park – public comment update (Susie)
Tijuana River Valley (Bell Program in Progress May aim)
Palm Canyon Update (in Progress Decision September)
Castlerock project date June 2016
San Diego County PLDO Funds
New Mount Laguna Recreation Ranger (Susie)
Village 13 Projected Date?
Communications Non Agenda Items
IMBA: is our affiliation valuable for the percentage of money that goes to IMBA? We have a California IMBA Rep. SDMBA considering forming an ad hoc committee to investigate the pros and cons of leaving IMBA as a chapter.
Take a Kid MTB Day is on Saturday. MTRP. Need volunteers.
So Cal MTB Race League. Info. session meeting on 6/16 at MJ’s Cyclery on Park Blvd at 7 p.m. Potential high school racers/coaches/volunteers welcome.
Attendance: 27 Total
Brian Albright
Minette Ozaki
Jeff Tanzola
Seth Hanson
Kirk Bennett
Walt Devine
Sandy Jones
Janis Shackelford
Ben Stone
Makoto Toneri
Robert Kay
Gordo Parkham
Philip Erdelsky
Dustin Sharp
Doug Johnson
Gene Bellegarde
Brian Findley
Jose Galaz
Rob Aaronson
Matt Bartlett
Kirk Bennett
Bob Ponting
Mike Lowry
Robert Hubbard
Jay Showalter
Jon White
Julie Warner
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at______ PM
Next meeting July 11, 2016 (second Monday because of 4th of July)
Meeting Minutes Recorded by:
Julie Warner, SDMBA Secretary