Girdwood Trails Committee
Minutes of Regular Meeting
7 pm, Old Library Building
Tuesday, February 7, 2006

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm by Chair Dario Martinez.  Kate
Sandberg acted as Secretary for the meeting. 

Present: Dario Martinez, Norman Starkey, Kate Sandberg, Carolyn Brodin, Diana Livingston, Alison Rein, Andy Morrison, Deb Essex, Chad Frank, and guest Betty Charnon.

Minutes of December 6, 2005, and January 3, 2006, were approved.

OLD BUSINESS
1.  Nissman Memorial: Jake Thompson is working on the project in his shop this winter, but all outdoor work is on hold until spring. Jake has been paid $5,000.  SBS has been paid to deliver all materials to Girdwood. 

The dedication is planned for June 3, 2006.  Chad would like the Trails Committee to consider paying for the Nissman family members to travel to Girdwood for the dedication.  The Nissmans’ have contributed $16,000 already to the Memorial. 

2.  Bike Path/Bridge Repair Grant:  Alison reported that the bike path bridge will be repaired through the $92,000 grant awarded as part of the Alaska’s Trail Initiative.  Lori Schanche is the MOA project manager.  Samantha Carroll is the administrator of the funds for the State.  Lori will continue to coordinate with Samantha to have the funds transferred so work can begin on this repair project.  The bridge was originally state funded with a user agreement with the Municipality.  It is assumed that the Municipality of Anchorage, which has the plans, owns the bridge.  There is no official timeline yet for fixing the bridge.

More grant money--$2.2 million--has become available.  Samantha said she plans to arrange a conference call with all the contacts for the 14 trail projects that received funds last year to discuss how to distribute the $2.2 million.  Lori is our project’s contact to see if Girdwood’s bike path can receive some of those funds. 

3.  Winter Use and Grooming Issues:  Chad reported that the new snow machine is working well, and there are no grooming problems. Chugach Powder Guides has offered to help groom. 

4.  Girdwood Trails Maps:  Nothing new to report.

5.  Trails Committee Allocation in GBOS Budget:  Committee has its normal $20,000 in the budget and $10,000 is on reserve. 

6.  Old Trails Committee Records:  Nothing new to report.

NEW BUSINESS
1.  Terrain Suitability Study Discussion:  Committee members found that the Heritage Land Bank’s Terrain Suitability Study map does not reflect prior Girdwood plans; it does not include all roads; the proposed golf course is on upper valley wetlands; and other buildings or structures appear to be misplaced.  Trails are not accurately depicted.

The Committee recommended that a member speak on its behalf at future planning meetings.  This item will remain on the agenda for the foreseeable future.

2.  Invasive Plant Project for Bike Path:  Betty Charnon asked for the Committee’s agreement for her to have crews dig or pull out invasive plants along the bike path from the Forest Service building to the Alyeska Hotel.

Motion made, seconded, and carried:  The Trails Committee supports the Forest Service’s Invasive Weed Pulling Project along the bike path from the Forest Service to the Hotel. 

It was suggested that Betty work with crews on Trails Day in early June.

3.  Community Forestry Program Grants:  There is $10,000 available (up to $1,500 per project) for local arboreal work.  Chad will write at least a grant application for the playground and another for Towns Square Park.  The playground is the highest priority. If time, he will write further applications for the Girdwood School and Bike Path.  

Chad will have Patricia Joyner, Alaska Division of Forestry, come to Girdwood for recommendations on trees and shrubs.  Grant application deadline is February 27.

OTHER BUSINESS
1.  Kate announced that Municipality officials from Anchorage Pedestrian Plan will come to Girdwood Monday, February 27, 7-9 pm at the Alyeska Hotel to listen to pedestrian needs for Girdwood.  This meeting is part of series of meetings throughout the borough.

2.  Items for next month’s agenda were listed:  SAGA crew schedule, gravel hauler purchase, disk golf course, beautification committee chair, easements across proposed industrial park, zipline.

3.  Alison asked if Dario Martinez, Chair, would sign a letter that demonstrates the Trails Committee’s support for the rebuilding of the playground. 

Motion made, seconded, and carried: The Trails Committee supports the rebuilding of the playground and asks Dario to sign Alison’s letter.

4.  The Trails Committee has been asked if it has a permanent mailing address. Kate will look into getting a post office box for the Committee.

5.  Several members voiced concern over the old Winner Creek Trail and the new zipline permit.  Access to the zipline is on this trail. It does not appear that the Trails Committee was consulted before the one-year permit was given, and the Committee would like to insure that it is consulted in the future when trails are potentially affected.

Chad will be at the next GBOS meeting and will make the following request:  The Trails Committee asks that people who make proposals that potentially affect Girdwood trails speak to our committee before proposals are approved.   

We would like to speak with the zipline business owner before any further permits are granted.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:28 pm.

Next meeting is March 7, 2006.