Girdwood Trails Committee
Minutes of Regular Meeting

Girdwood Community Center, 7:00 pm 
Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Call to Order
Carolyn Brodin called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. Others present were 
Jonnie Lazarus, Norman Starkey, Diana Livingston, Alison Rein, and Deb Essex.

Approval of Agenda
The agenda was approved as presented.

Approval of Minutes, May 5, 2009
The minutes were approved.

Introduction of Guests
No guests.

Old Business
Trail Issues
Alyeska Bridge Summary—The entire project was hugely successful, and John is to be thanked many times over for his hard work and community spirit. Articles of thanks have been written for the Turnagain Times. 
John would like to have the bridge painted, and the committee agrees.  If there is grant money left over and when SAGA crews leave, we will see if there is money left over.

Trail between Maxine’s and Chair 5—Brian Burnett wants to upgrade the trail and can speak to this at the next meeting.

Other Trail Issues
Crow Creek Road Project Gravel—The contractor for DOT will let us
have extra gravel for free if we have a truck to haul it away.  Norman will talk to Redmonds to see if they will haul the gravel for us. We have adequate funds for $1000 of hauling. It may be stored at Maxine’s and/or the shed; Norman will arrange it.

Budget and Grants  
Diana said that we have approximately $2200 in Byrne funds for materials and transfer of materials. We have nearly $3000 in trails funds.

Jonnie reported that Isobel Roy of MOA said we could use left-over bridge grant money for patching bike path culvert heaves. Isobel would also help us write a bike path grant if we would like.

National Trails Day Plans
HLB is supportive of coming to Girdwood to walk our trails as invited, but few people could come on June 11.  The activity is postponed until a better time can be arranged—June 23 or 30 at 10:00 a.m.  We will show them the Alyeska Bike Path and the AWWU area on lower Iditarod, and possibly take a walk to the hand tram.
	
SAGA Arrangements
The SAGA crews will be here June 14-July 4.  Norman will take care of the crew. The crews need to contact Norman when they arrive, and he will show them the work sites.  Priorities are:

1.  Beaver Pond Trail—Three or four areas need boardwalk and drainage work. Brushing is needed as well.

2.  Abe’s Trail—Clear trail.

3.  Fungus Fair Run Trail Area—Jonnie will call Betty Charnon who can show Norman and crews the areas of concern for the run.

4.  Lower Valley Trails—these all need brushing and maintenance work. Exceptions are Wagon and Virgin Creek Trails.

Jonnie will confirm the dates with Crow Creek Mine.

Trail Descriptions—GAP Revision
The Planning Department has not contacted Carolyn since the community meeting.  No news this month.

Updates
Summer Signs for Moose Meadow—There is still concern about paragliders creating new trails in Moose Meadow.  Purchasing and installing a portion of a pallet of Geoblock seems reasonable; however, we may need a permit to install it.  Paraglider groups/businesses might want to contribute to the cost of the Geoblock and these people should be contacted.

Deb mentioned that MOA Watershed Task Force is coming to Girdwood this week, and she will ask them if Geoblock is the right material to use to protect the trail area. Jonnie will pursue information through Parks and Recreation about permitting for paraglider use.

Nordic/Multi-Use Trail—The MOA Assembly approved the easement ordinance, and several articles have been published in Girdwood to publicize that. 
The next step is to obtain permits; however, the GNSC has identified more wetlands and creeks than the MOA first identified. The MOA Watershed Task Force is coming this week to survey these wetlands.  The nine wetlands or creeks will have pre-fabricated bridges rather than culverts.  Also MOA archeologists are assessing the area for archeological significance.  If these assessments and surveys meet established criteria, the Army Corps of Engineers will approve permits.  
Deb has created a logo and plans articles in several Southcentral publications.  She, Jim Galanes, and Brian Burnett have rerouted the trail based on topography and distance from the Winner Creek Trail.  She mentioned that the Resort has emphasized the Nordic trail in their latest master plan and that parking will not be an issue. 

Fungus Fair Auction—Jonnie has contacted the auctioneer, and Trails Committee
members need to get contributors.   We will need people to set up the auction (an hour), and five people will be needed for the auction itself. We need 50-60 items.
	Jonnie will send a list of last year’s donors, and a Trails member will divide the list for contacts. The auction is the sole funding raising event, so Trails needs to be sure of the contributions. A special prize for the costume contest is possible.

Other Business
Alison provided updates concerning the trailhead construction on Crow Creek Road. The site is fairly wet and had more organic material than anticipated.  

HLB has agreed that there should be an easement for the Iditarod Trail on the lands that were formerly National Forest.  The Forest Service is working on design for this section of INHT, above the second Crow Creek Road crossing to just past new trailhead under construction.  The Forest Service will be coordinating with the State Office of Historic Preservation (SHPO) on any work since it is an historic resource.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Next meeting July 7, 2009
7:00 pm
Girdwood Community Center