COOS REGIONAL TRAILS PARTNERSHIP

Minutes

January 16, 2007

Attendees: John Bragg, Lisa Readel – OET (proxy for Donna Bishop),  Jenny Webster - OET, Don Luce –  SCS, Bonnie Joyce – Coquille Watershed Assoc. , Mike Smith – CRTP – South Coast Trail Riders, Tom Sill – BLM, Karen Rohlf, Archi Davenport, Priscilla Katz, Dan Katz.

Welcome and introductions

Old Business

The Jan. 16, 20907 meeting was the CRTP annual meeting in addition to being a regular monthly meeting. As no quorum was present, board elections for Positions B, D, F, H, J, L and N to two year terms was postponed until February. Board members present agreed to discuss issues but not make any decisions; therefore approval of the minutes of the October 2006 meeting (last regular meeting) was also postponed until February.

New Business

1.  Watershed education – Bonnie Joyce

CRTP welcomed Bonnie Joyce, a Coquille Valley resident and retired teacher, who addressed the CRTP seeking audiences for a presentation she is developing about watersheds. Her presentation addresses the history of use and the physical features of the Coquille watershed. She thought the presentation would be of interest to the CRTP and its member organizations because trails are built and used in watersheds and can adversely affect watershed health. Bonnie defined a watershed as a basin or drainage that catches, holds and slowly releases water, based on characteristics of the soils. Trails may affect the condition of the soil and limit its ability to catch, hold and release water.                                    Several person’s present expressed an interest in having Bonnie deliver her watershed education to the groups they represented.  She is willing to deliver a slideshow to different audiences and answer questions.  She made her phone number and email available to those present.                                          Bonnie Joyce – 541-396-3289  bonnie@harborside.com

2.   Jennie Webster representing Oregon Equestrian Trails (OET) came to make CRTP aware of some concerns she and other members of OET have regarding safety and signage along the Transpacific Highway and to request support from CRTP for the following proposals.

Signage along the Transpacific Highway - Request that caution and speed limit signs be posted along the Transpacific Highway cautioning drivers that hikers, equestrians and bikers are in the area.  The Transpacific Highway borders the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and BLM lands to the north and west of the highway that  are used as recreation areas.  At this time there are not any signs and traffic is becoming quite heavy.  Cars and trucks travel quite fast and there is limited vision in many areas where users access and use the shoulder of the highway.

New Trail Request - Since the beginning of 2006, several trails have been closed to the public by Weyerhaeuser.  The result of this closure has left users with no other alternative than to use the Transpacific Highway to complete loops.  Hiking and riding horses along the Transpacific Highway is very dangerous as there are not any speed limits or caution signs posted along that road and there is extensive truck and car traffic.  The Transpacific Highway borders the Oregon Dunes National Recreational Area on the North side. 

If the Jordan Cove LNG Terminal Project is approved for Henderson Marsh by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, OET would like to propose that CRTP submit a proposal to the FERC to build a trail along the North side of the Transpacific Highway to accommodate users.  The proposed trail would run from where Horsefall Road enters the Transpacific Highway to the BLM boat ramp and/or the BLM equestrian parking lot on the northwest side of the Transpacific.  This project would be proposed as part of the mitigation of the loss of existing trails and Henderson Marsh.

There was some additional clarification of where signs were being requested.   Signs are needed on the section of the highway between the Horsfall Beach turn-off and the end-of-pavement turn-around beyond the BLM boat ramp.

John Bragg agreed to contact someone at ODOT or Coos County Sheriff to inquire about signs or other options for assuring safety, such as a reduced speed and report back.

3. Winchester Trail update

Mike Smith of South Coast Trail Riders reported that brush was cleared from Winchester Trails last fall. Mike thanked Tom Sill for putting a new map of Winchester Trails on the Website.  Mike said that he, Tom Baake and Nancy Hill cleared brush from the John Dellenbeck Trail near Lakeside in a work project last August, for which CRTP says, “Thanks.”

4.   Clarification of South Coast Striders relationship with CRTP and BAH:

A meeting of South Coast Strider participants was held to make decisions about the group.  SCS is now officially the South Coast Striders hiking club.  A three person steering committee was elected to make decisions on behalf of the membership. (Don Luce, Dan Katz, and Carol Young)    There was unanimous approval of a resolution to continue to plan and deliver monthly healthy hikes in their current format and in partnership with the Coos Regional Trails Partnership, the Bay Area Hospital and the Women’s Health Coalition.  SCS steering committee members were authorized to sign and submit a Memorandum of Understanding with the CRTP on behalf of the South Coast Striders hiking club.  SCS 2007 hiking schedule was submitted and approved for public release. 

Don Luce submitted an MOU to the CRTP on behalf of the South Coast Striders Hiking Club.

5.  CRTP Website

Don Luce informed members that the registration of the CRTP website www.coostrails.com was found to be expiring as of Jan 5, 2007 and he took the liberty of renewing the registration for 5 years to avoid expiration and potential loss of the name.   Luce was making the CRTP aware of his out of pocket expense of $99.95 and requesting discussion of reimbursement at the next meeting.

Tom Sill made everyone aware that he is interested in having someone take over running the website.  

Don Luce expressed a willingness to take over responsibility for managing the website but would need to obtain a copy of Microsoft Frontpage 2002 for use on his home computer. 

Meeting Adjourn