June 3, 2010

Minutes of the Centerville City Trails Committee meeting held Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Public Works Conference Room in the Public Works Building, 655 North 1250 West, Centerville, Utah.

MEMBERS PRESENT
 Mark Austin
 Denise Cox, Chair
 Julie Creer
 Matt Johnson
 Shari Meyer

MEMBERS ABSENT
 Sam Olson
 Lee Vanhille

STAFF PRESENT
 Bruce Cox, Parks and Recreation Director
 Connie Larson, Recording Secretary

VISITORS
 George Chipman
 Bob Murray

MINUTES REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Minutes of the May 6, 2010 Trails Committee meeting were reviewed.  Chair Denise Cox made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. Matt Johnson seconded the motion, which was passed by unanimous vote (5-0).  

FAMILY FUN RIDE LESSONS LEARNED, FUTURE PLANS

The Trails Committee agreed the Family Fun Bike Ride held on May 8th was a success. It is estimated there were around 50 people in attendance. This activity will be held again next year, and at different locations throughout Centerville in the future.
 
FARMINGTON TRAILS PRESENTATION BY GEORGE CHIPMAN, FARMINGTON TRAILS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

George Chipman, Farmington Trails Committee Chairman, and Bob Murray, Assistant, displayed a file from Google Earth that shows the canyon trails in Davis County.  The F.O.O.T. (Friends Of Our Trails) patrol method is operated by a trail chief who is responsible for a section of a trail in Farmington.  The mission of the Committee is, under the direction of Farmington City, to work to maintain, promote, and preserve the trails in Farmington.  The keys to success for their Committee are:

• Consistent city support
• Active volunteer group
• Participating land owners
• Informed citizenry

Mr. Chipman reported trails increase the value of land development, and provide a service to citizens without a user fee.  In Farmington, there is a trail within ten minutes of every resident in their city.  Mr. Chipman referred to an article in Scouting Magazine that referred to an alarming increase in “nature deficit disorder,” which is a term used for children that are not getting enough outdoor activities. Farmington is planning water trails at Farmington Bay, and there are currently 109.9 miles of mountain, paved, sidewalk, and natural trails in their city.  The trails are maintained by the Trail Chief Program. Citizen volunteers are recruited as “Trail Chiefs” to help maintain a one-half mile section of trail, and there are currently 32 Trail Chiefs.  This has helped to give citizens a sense of ownership in the community, and creates brotherhood and sisterhood in the city.  The Trail Chiefs are expected to walk the trails that are their responsibility a minimum of three times a year and pick-up trash, remove rocks and branches from the trail, and trimming of encroaching vegetation. If additional help is needed beyond the time or abilities of the Trail Chief, they can organize a work project to do additional work on the trail. Farmington has a Power Hiker Incentive Program where citizens can hike 15 miles of original trails and earn a patch, and there is a patch for those who hike 75 miles of trails. The Trails Committee discussed having a sign-up sheet at the 4th of July booth for interested citizens who would like to be a Trail Chief in Centerville.

MISCELLANEOUS

Bike lanes are planned to be striped on the Frontage Road after it is widened.  It is hoped to connect bike lanes with Farmington at some point in the future on 400 West and on the Frontage Road. Mr. Chipman reported that Centerville’s Main Street connects with Farmington’s 200 East, and Farmington plans to eventually stripe bike lanes on both sides of 200 East. 

Bruce Cox, Parks and Recreation Director, reported the City Council would like to have the book on Centerville’s Mountains and history, that Royce Allen has compiled, displayed at a booth at the 4th of July festivities. A sign-up list will be available for those citizens who are interested in receiving a published copy of Mr. Allen’s book.

Mr. Cox reported there is going to be a work session held in the near future with the Forest Service, land owners, police department, and interested citizens regarding the damage that is being done on the hillsides above Centerville by ATV’s and what can be done to stop this problem.

NEXT MEETING

The next Trails Committee meeting will be held on Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Public Works Building.
 
ADJOURN

The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

__________________________     _______10-07-2010________
Denise Cox, Chair                                               Date Approved

__________________________
Connie Larson, Recording Secretary