Girdwood Trails Committee
Minutes of Regular Meeting

Girdwood Community Center, 7:00 pm 
Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Call to Order
Carolyn Brodin called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Norman Starkey recorded the meeting. Others present were Jonnie Lazarus, Brian Burnett, Todd Foisy, Jonathan Lee, and Marc Jonas.

Approval of Agenda
The agenda was approved as written.

Approval of Minutes, October 7, 2008
The minutes were approved as written.

Introduction of Guests
No guests.

Old Business
Trails Issues
•	Winter Grooming:  Marc Jonas would like to have someone else take the lead for
winter grooming of trails this winter. Todd, Marc, and Brian will talk after this meeting to plan for the winter.  Todd volunteered to replace Marc and will be in charge of grooming this winter.
The snow machine is in relatively good shape; however, it may need a new planer.  We have two extra belts. If parts are necessary, they have been ordered from Yellowstone Grooming in the past.  Paul at Alyeska Resort has worked on the machine in the past, and Brian will see if that can continue.
Required fuel is an average of a full tank of five gallons for approximately 16 weeks.  The Resort has also contributed gas in the past; Brian will check to make sure this is still the case.  Brian will also check to see if the Resort will be grooming Moose Meadow twice a week.
Marc judged that $2,000 for repairs and parts would most likely be enough for the winter. 

•	Other Trails Issues: None

Budget
Jonnie has made a preliminary budget with the approval of John Gallup.  We need to look at grants after the first of the year to get a better discount for SAGA next year.  Grants will be added to the agenda each month as a reminder.

Our budget this coming year will be more than usual—approximately $25,000-26,000.
$36,000 for SAGA—to be shared with Weeds.  This will pay for 2 or 3 weeks of work
$  3,000 materials
$     200 miscellaneous supplies for hand tram
$  1,000 advertising/maps
$  2,000 winter grooming equipment

Letters to the GBOS in support of Parks and Recreation, specifically trails, is always helpful.  Jonnie said that none of these requests are controversial, and if someone has another request, to please contact John Gallup and her.

We still have $2,200 of John Byrne III’s donation to Trails. We need to spend it and to specify to John how the money was used.  The Committee agreed to stock pile wood for next year’s work on the Beaver Pond Trail.  Carolyn will call Diana to confirm the funds.

SAGA Crew Summary
Norman reported that the second SAGA crew was also quite productive. They brushed out the Virgin Creek Trailhead and placed rocks to identify the trailhead. The crew also spent two days brushing the Virgin Creek Trail to Glacier Creek,  took out downed trees, and finished brushing out the loop.   The Committee agreed that signage on this trail may be a good idea so people do not get lost if they are coming from the south.

The crew also brushed a 4’ wide swath from the hand tram to the 1.5 Crow Creek Road parking lot. They also brushed a portion of the Iditarod on the west side of the road.

Updates
•	Turnagain Times Article—The Committee made a few corrections to Kate’s draft and told her to send it in with those changes.

•	Tract F—The trail between Challenge Alaska to Winner Creek through Alyeska Resort property is going forward. Brian reported that it will be wide enough for a snow machine (4 feet wide) and classic skiing.
Jonnie said that Alison would like the Trails Committee to come to the
Forest Service if we do not want to give up the Forest Service easement in Tract F. The easement is being conveyed to Alyeska Resort in return for access to Winner Creek Trail. The Committee agreed that this conveyance is a good one.

•	GAP Revision Maps—Carolyn mentioned that there is no further progress on the revision. There will be a public meeting after January 1, where the current maps will be displayed for public comment.

•	Nordic Multi-Use Trail—Brian said that Deb Essex of Girdwood Nordic Ski Club will ask the LUC for a letter of non-objection for HLB to grant an easement for the proposed trail system. The LUC meeting is next week. The Ski Club plans to first build the yellow trail. 
Brian also reported that DOT will not allow access to the system from the airport, so access will most likely be from the Resort.  Jim Galanes will flag the yellow loop so that people may walk it and see where it will go.

•	Gravel from CA Creek Area—Carolyn talked to Alan Drake of DOT about obtaining the gravel from the temporary bridge. Drake says there are a number of permitting issues involved.   Carolyn will talk to Drake again in mid-December. The gravel will stay as is until spring.

New Business
None

Other Business
•	We need to figure out what time of year we want SAGA in 2009.

•	The Committee members agreed that our local trail map needs to be revised. Examples of revisions are three Alyeska Resort trails and Virgin Creek Loop. A question was raised about the current logo and grant status of the map. Jonnie will investigate.