Girdwood Trails Committee
Minutes of Regular Meeting

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

Call to Order
Carolyn Brodin called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Kate Sandberg took minutes. Others present were Jonnie Lazarus, Norman Starkey, Matt Wedeking, Kathy Peters, Brian Burnett, Diana Livingston, and Deb Essex.

Approval of Agenda
The agenda was approved as written.

Approval of Minutes, February 3, 2009
The minutes were approved as written.

Introduction of Guests
Dave Hamre and Jim Braham were welcomed; Dwaine Schuldt was welcomed back.

Old Business
	Trails Issues
		CPG Bridge: Dave Hamre of Chugach Powder Guides (CPG) explained 			that their 48’ snowcat bridge over Winner Creek is crippled with a 				broken beam and has typically five or six overflows a winter.  The 				creek banks are eroding as well. 

	The company believes the best option is to replace the broken bridge this 	spring/summer with a new 70’ bridge 40’ downstream over two rock 	outcroppings.   It will 	involve dirt work with a rubber-tired excavator and 	cutting a new path to the existing trail.  CPG would be willing to 	revegetate the old, unused path where necessary. Dave has checked with 	Alison 	Smith (HLB) and Army Corps of Engineers.  He asked for the 	committee’s support.

	Carolyn reported that she and others in the community went with Dave to 	view the problem. There seems to be no problem with the new location, 	except leaving the old trail. Revegetation would ameliorate the problem.

	MOTION: Trails Committee supports Chugach Powder Guides effort to 	relocate and rebuild its bridge over Winner Creek, and we encourage 	its efforts to revegetate as needed. (Diana/Brian)  

	Passed unanimously.
	Jonnie will call Alison Smith to notify her of our vote of support.

Budget
•	Jonnie will ask for SAGA crews to come in late June.

•	Carolyn will investigate REI grants.

•	Diana reported that we have $5,789.96 in our account with Girdwood, Inc. $2805.00 of that is for materials from John Byrne III, which leaves us with $2984.96 unrestricted.

	Trail Descriptions—GAP Revision
		The Committee decided to have two maps (Winter and Summer) for the 			revision of the GAP. The key and maps will have to be radically redrawn.  		Carolyn will call Thede of MOA Planning to confirm.
		
		Assigned trail descriptions from February should be emailed to Carolyn 			who will collate them and bring the document to the next meeting.

	Summer Signs for Moose Meadow
		Brian will contact Peter Gatreau of Alaska Paragliding to begin work on 			this. Rubber matting also will be discussed.

	Members Designated for User Groups
		Added to the February list is Diana Livingston for Summer Hiking.

	Updates
•	2009 Trails for IGA:  Carolyn will go to Land Use Committee this next Monday and then to GBOS the following week.

		Jonnie reported that HLB is going forward on the previously identified 
		IGA trails.

•	Tract F: No news.

•	Nordic/Multi-Use Trail:  Deb reported that she is working on the permitting now and that their website will be up shortly.  The transfer of land goes before the MOA Assembly in late April with second reading/vote in May.

•	Revision of Summer Trails Map:  The committee decided to give away or sell the remaining maps this year and work on a good, updated map for summer 2010. 
	Norman will contact Ian Moore to get the data from the 2005 version; 	Dwaine will contact Kevin Keeler to see if Kevin has the CD of trail 	GPS coordinates; and Jonnie will get prices for various folding and 	printing options. 

•	Alyeska Bridge Plans: Carolyn passed out a flyer from John Gallup asking for volunteers to help.  The dates for work remain the same as announced in February. 

New Business
None

Other Business
•	It was agreed that the Alaska Trails Newsletter is a good vehicle for Girdwood trails news. Deb will submit her press release about the Nordic/Multi-Use Trail to the Newsletter when the information is available.

•	Diana said that Erik Kristensen has died, and his obituary will announce that memorial contributions may go to the Girdwood Trails Committee. Kate will write a thank-you note to Sarah Cronk or Jeannie Sherman, who have been involved with the decision.

•	Brian announced that he will write an article for the Turnagain Times and Chugach Chronicle to ask trail users to beware of early use because of the fragility of our trails.  He also mentioned that Alyeska Resort will hold a bike race in July to feature their new trails, and that National Trails Day is in June. He will contact Alison Rein to see what has been done in the past for Trails Day. 

Meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

Next meeting is April 7, 2009
Girdwood Community Center