Girdwood Trails Committee
Minutes of Regular Meeting
Glacier City Hall, 7:00 pm 
Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Call to Order
Vice Chair Norman Starkey called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.  Kate Sandberg acted as secretary for the meeting. 

Others present: Diana Livingston, Jonnie Lazarus, Matt Wedeking, Alison Rein, Eric Teela, Tommy O’Malley, and Nick Danger, GBOS Chair/Parks and Recreation Representative.

Approval of Agenda
The agenda was approved.

Approval of Minutes, May 1, 2007
The minutes were approved as written.

Introduction of Guest
Jonnie introduced Nick Danger, new GBOS Chair and Parks and Recreation Representative.  Committee members thanked Nick for his willingness to come to the Trails meetings and represent them at GBOS meetings.

Old Business
1.  Trails Issues
•	Alyeska Highway Bridge/Bike Path Repairs—Alison reported that we have received, through the Alaska Trails Initiative, $100,000 in the pre-application phase. 

•	Hand Tram Rope—Norman said there is a new rope on the hand tram, but there are no gloves. He will call Rob Martin for a maintenance log.

•	Alpina Trail Update—Kate reported that she and Carolyn Brodin walked the area and found only a trail on the sewer easement. There appears to be no other trail. 

However, there is a good trail along the east side of Glacier Creek on HLB land that needs protection.

•	Other Trails Issues—The unnamed trail along the east side of Glacier Creek is the same trail that Art Eash has mentioned to Jonnie. He says that Planning and Zoning has a case (S-11593-1) that involves this trail, and Art recommends we send a letter of concern by July.   Kate will check the MOA web site, inform members, and draft a letter from their responses.  Norman will send the letter to Art. 

2.  Budget—The following was reported:
•	$40 is needed for last year’s pumping of the SAGA rent-a-can. 

•	Andy Morrison has recommended liability insurance for snow groomers and believes the job requires a contract.   Committee members agree the Hotel will be doing much of the grooming next year, and those trails that we want minimal grooming done will not require an extensive or expensive contract.

Jonnie said that MOA is 'self insured' and as such, no insurance for volunteers- only for 3rd party damages. She also said that if Trails wants to have a contract for the smaller trail grooming, that it would be part of Parks budget and allocated to Trails.  The Trails Committee would have to lobby GBOS for an increase in funding for this OR do less trail work in the summer if the current level of funding was maintained

Norman will talk to former groomers about a reasonable contract budget.

•	Diana still has $562.00 for the Nissman Memorial that needs to be spent this year. Carl has been contacted about these funds.

3.  SAGA Crew—We are ready for SAGA. The toilet will be delivered July 15 (Mine’s first pullout to the left), and Norman will show the crew around. He is available after July 7.  

SAGA will have the added job of collecting garbage and brushing out the campground after Forest Fair.  Forest Fair will add this day for $1000.00.  Tommy O’Malley confirmed this.

4.  2007 HLB IGP Approval of Trails—After reporting to GBOS and waiting a month for community input (and receiving little), the Committee agreed unanimously that Stumpy’s Winter Trail, Tiny Creek Trail, and Wagon Trail will be the next three trails forwarded to Art Eash for IGP Approval.  Kate will draft a letter to GBOS, then after their acknowledgement, send a letter to Art.

5.  MOA and Girdwood Master Trails Plan—Kate related that the MOA Turnagain Arm Area Plan Revision web page (May 28, 2007) clearly states that Girdwood is not part of that plan. MOA expects the Girdwood Area Plan to be the binding planning document.  She had sent the URL to Committee members, and they agree.  Therefore, we will want to have a Trails Master Plan in the GAP revision. Matt Wedeking will lead the subcommittee to draft a plan. Carolyn will be on subcommittee.

6.  Bylaws—Anne Herschleb, former chair of Trails, believes the bylaws are with GBOS. Kate has written Kris Malecha to help find them.

7.  National Forest Foundation Grant—We don’t have time to write a good proposal at this time and will try next year.

8.  Trails Maps—Members had gone to various businesses, and the only one to take maps for Committee reimbursement was the Tourist Trap. After discussion, the Committee decided to continue to try to sell the maps instead of give them away.  The Forest Fair was suggested as a good place to sell them.

New Business
 Bike Race--Darren Mattingly has submitted a request to hold a mountain bike race on Girdwood trails, including the Beaver Pond Trail, this month. He and others have worked on the trails to prepare for it. 

The Committee agreed to allow the race this month only if the Beaver Pond Trail is eliminated from the course due to erosion and trail damage concerns.  Preferably, the race would be held in later summer after SAGA has done more work on the trail.

Other Business
None

No July Meeting

Next meeting is Tuesday, August 7, 7:00 pm, at Glacier City Hall