Girdwood Trails Committee
Minutes of Regular Meeting
Glacier City Hall, 7 pm, 
Tuesday, June 7, 2006

The meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m. by Andy Morrison.  Kate Sandberg acted as Secretary for the meeting. 

Present: Due to confusion of the meeting place, two meetings were held. Kate Sandberg, Andy Morrison, Brian Burnett, and Sean Stash attended one; Dario Martinez, Carolyn Brodin, Deb Essex, Norman Starkey, and Matt Wedeking attended the other. These minutes are a compilation of both meetings’ information, but primarily the meeting attended by the secretary, Kate Sandberg. 

Minutes for May 2, 2006, were approved.

Old Business
1. Nissman Memorial Update:  Sean and Kate reported that well over 70 people, including 20 members of the Nissman extended family, attended the June 3 dedication of the Picnic Pavilion.  Carl Skustad and others are to be congratulated for a tremendous effort and beautiful tribute to Jeff Nissman. 

The Pavilion is virtually done with river rockwork, landscaping, and a BBQ pit yet to be completed.

2.  Winner Creek Trail: The gravel has been slung in, and two crews are working on filling in the trail. Sawtooth Inc. will continue working on Upper Winner Creek this summer.  The last two miles down to 20 Mile valley floor will be done next summer.

3.  Beautification Committee:  No report

4.  SAGA Crew Planning:  Matt contacted Sean Mellon and Jillian Morrissey of SAGA. We are on the schedule for the last to weeks of September and the first two weeks of October.  Matt will work on figuring out how to get the money from MOA to SAGA due to Chad Frank’s absence. Suggestions for trail projects due at next meeting for prioritization.

5.  Bike Path Repairs: Members expressed dismay at the further deterioration of the bike path from the Forest Service complex to Crow Creek Road.  It is now becoming dangerous for bike riding. As well, bikers are now using the highway instead of the path.  Kate volunteered to talk to Brandi Hoke, GBOS representative to the Trails Committee, to see what options we have for funding path repairs. 

6.  Disc Golf Course:  Sean Stash reported that he has obtained MOA permits for the seven fairways/baskets in the Forest Fair area and an HLB permit for the remaining two fairways/baskets.  He handed out a map of the course.  This map is available electronically from Kate Sandberg upon request.

Sean has been to the LUC, which gave him a one-year permit to be reviewed at the end of the summer.  The course has been laid out to avoid conflict with other uses of the area, and the baskets/stands are only semi-permanent.  They can be removed easily with no remaining parts above ground. One fairway does go over the volleyball area, but Sean believes cooperation will eliminate problems. Stands and baskets will be removed for Forest Fair.

He and others have brushed out the course, removed the old course, and prepared for the stands.  Brush will be cleared one more time and taken by Greatland.  He will borrow Parks and Rec trimmers to cut back future vegetation growth.

Sean is working with Alyeska to develop an 18-hole course, but this is in the early design stages. He will come back to the Trails Committee for advice on layout.

7.  Bike Path Dedication: The Bike Path Dedication was a success on June 3rd. Attendees included Jerry Lewanski Director of Alaska State Parks, Tom Harrison, Chugach State Park Superintendent, Dan Amyot Chief Ranger for Chugach. Also the Commissioner of DOT was present. Garbage pickup along the path yielded little trash towards Girdwood, but plenty towards Indian. Signs for the newly dedicated trail are on order and will be posted at trailheads. Matt is currently investigating future grants that he can apply for under this new status.

8.  Annual Creek Cleanup: Deb reported that Anchorage Waterways had creek cleanup on May 20.  She was in charge of the Creek Cleanup; and bags, gloves, and maps were available for volunteers (at the Ski and Cyclery).  Cl

9.  Status of Parks and Rec Employee:  The deadline for applications has passed and people are being interviewed for the position. 

New Business
Rafting Business on Glacier Creek:  Andy Morrison had wanted a letter of non-objection from the Committee for his potential business.  With only one voting member attending, that was impossible.  However, other than obtaining permits, the Committee had not expressed objections or concerns in past meetings.  

Andy is in the process of obtaining permits from MOA Parks and Rec and HLB.  He also called Stewart Seaberg, Alaska Fish and Game, and Seaberg said no permits are required for rafting this section.  However, Andy does need a state permit for crossing any state land.

Access to the creek will be just below the hand tram.  Andy plans to use an inflatable-wheel dolly for short trips down to the river, and to store tools in a rocket box in the brush.   He will use 14-foot Puma rafts.   He goes to the LUC next week for approval.

Other Business
Usage for bikes on trails, in particular Winner Creek Trail, was discussed at some length.  Members would like clarification on policies and also to discuss options for use. This item is on New Business for July. 

Next meeting is July 11, 2006