Girdwood Trails Committee
Minutes of Regular Meeting

Girdwood Community Center, 7:00 pm 
Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Call to Order
	Norman Starkey called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Others present were 
Jim Braham, Dwaine Schuldt, Nels Barber, Diana Livingston, Di Hiibner, Brian Burnett, Jonnie Lazarus, Matt Wedeking, and Todd Foisy.

Approval of Agenda
The agenda was approved as written with the addition of 1) Signage and 2) Holtan Hills.

Approval of Minutes, October 6, 2009
The minutes were approved as written with one name correction.

Introduction of Guests
No guests.

Old Business
Trails Issues

•	Alyeska Highway Bike Path Grant
Jonnie reported that the grant application was submitted with letters of support.

•	Hand Tram Maintenance and Signage
We need a maintenance schedule. Diana will look in her paperwork for a former schedule to use as a model. The old cable is still at Alpine Air and needs to be picked up. Norman and Brian will take care of it.

•	Shed
Jonnie reported that, with the approval by the GBOS, we will have a fully operational conex by this time next year. We may want a shed, conex, and carport area for storage depending on the condition and size of the conex.   

•	Winter Grooming
Matt said that the Nordic Ski Club would be willing to buy a groomer to install on the Trails committee snow machine, with the Committee’s agreement.  We wanted to do this to show our commitment to grooming in the valley. There was agreement to go ahead to install the new groomer.

Jonnie listed Todd Foisy, Carl Skustad, and Sean Stash who are willing to groom, but not lead. She also has the oil and supplies in the shed.  Jonnie has a purchasing card in the shed that can be used for gas at a discount. We can use the purchasing card for fuel until 12/30/09. Groomers are to email her for the pin number.  

Brian will take the snow machine to Anchorage for maintenance and use the card. He will buy some fuel jugs and any other tools that we need.  Jonnie will check on insurance and waivers, and she will make up some sort of operating procedure sheet for all groomers.  Groomers will help with this list.

•	Fungus Fair Fun Run/Calendar
Jonnie asked if members think she should submit the Fun Run to the regional runner’s calendar.  The Committee agreed that she submit it as “Fungus Fair Fun Run in Girdwood.”  Brian mentioned that Alyeska Resort would like to have the Fun Run on their property. He said the Resort has plenty of flat trails to keep purpose of the run as fun.  Their publicity would help all concerned.

•	Other Trails Issues
	1.  Signs--Jonnie has investigated having trail signs made.  Anchorage high school students can make a dozen signs for free.  Riley Cronk, Girdwood resident and shop teacher, would oversee this.   All members are to send Jonnie a list of the trails that need a sign. We also want to think of a way to thank the students.

	2.  Holton Hills—John Gallup received a notice about the Holtan Hills subdivision from the Heritage Land Bank (HLB).  The current Iditarod Trail goes through three lots, so it needs to be realigned on these three lots, and HLB wants direction on how to proceed.    

Norman will contact Carolyn, who can call Kevin Keeler to make arrangements to GPS the trails included in the Holtan Hills subdivision.  Dwaine reported that Kevin is ready to help. Norman and Carolyn will also contact Lori Schanche, MOA planner. We are particularly concerned about the Tiny Creek Trail.  After the next meeting, with Schanche’s and Keeler’s input, Carolyn can write a letter to advocate for specific realignments and perhaps upgrading the trail.	

Budget and Grants
•	2010 Budget
Jonnie handed out the Parks and Recreation budget.  The Trails budget passed the GBOS as proposed except for winter grooming and equipment. 

$20,000 for SAGA, 
    3,000 for Trails Materials, including hand tram rope annual replacement
    1,500 for grooming equipment
       500 for fuel

This budget still has to be passed by MOA. 
 
Next year we will try to have the GBOS go on the trails to see what needs work and what has improved over the past year.  We could give a synopsis of our work at the end of the summer to the GBOS as well. Dwaine mentioned that Trails has done this in the past, and it was helpful getting our budget requests.

Our next meeting will include wish list for money left in our budget, such as a chainsaw and fuel.  

•	Fungus Fair Formal Earnings
The Trails Committee earned $6,000.00 during the Fungus Fair Formal.  Members thanked the Fungus Fair Committee for giving us the opportunity to earn these funds. 

•	Current Trails Committee Funds
Diana reported that we currently have $10,665.70.    

•	Alaska Trails Initiative Grant
Norman said that if we receive this funding, the money will be used for the Alyeska Bike Path.  We have a good chance to receive the money because we received a previous grant, but competition is reportedly quite stiff this year. 

New Trails Map
Di brought examples of the Resort’s trails map with summer use on one side and winter use on the other.  It was agreed that the two maps make the trails clear to the user and that Alyeska’s maps are very good.  Their printer is Pip. We can put this quality and size of map on our wish list for our maps. 

Girdwood Area Trails Plan
Brian reported that he has had little chance to move forward this past month. He plans to get the descriptions finished in the next few months. The Committee will need to figure out which trails we are going to actively manage and which trails we will not.  The managed trails will be on our maps.

This document will be a forward-looking document that will include managed, threatened, or “to-be-worked-on” trails and also routes. This includes trailheads.  The key will be that the document allows for fluidity.  Brian Yanity will inventory all our winter and then summer trails, routes, and potential connectors.  The National Historic Iditarod Trail will most likely be the lynchpin for the valley’s trail plan. 

‘Turnagain Times’ Article
Norman encouraged members to take pictures of people using our trails. Then send them to Kate so she can include them in her articles.

Updates
•	Chugach State Park Plan Feedback—Matt said the Access Plan will come out in 2010. There were 185 comments on the trails plan, and they are slowly working through them.
New Business

Other Business
	Gravel from the Forest Service—Norman announced that we can have 12 truckloads of free gravel—small and large rock--every year by permission of the Forest Service. We just have to pay for the trucking from Portage via Redmonds (approximately $1,000).  Six truckloads have been put on Robbie’s Route near the bridges for drainage this fall. 

Meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:00 pm. 

Next meeting is December 1, 2009
Girdwood Community Center, 7:00 pm