Minutes of the Centerville City Trails Committee meeting held Thursday, February 12, 2009 in the Centerville City Hall Conference Room, 250 North Main Street, Centerville, Utah.  The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Chair Stephanie Wheatley. 

MEMBERS PRESENT 
     Mark Austin
     Denise Cox
     Wendy Higgins
     Matt Johnson
     Sam Olsen
     Stephanie Wheatley, Chair

MEMBERS ABSENT 
Shari Meyer

STAFF PRESENT  
     Steve Thacker, City Manager
     Bruce Cox, Parks & Recreation Director
     Connie Larson, Recording Secretary

VISITORS
 Paul Meyer  Lee Vanhille

BUSINESS

Introduction of New Member

Steve Thacker introduced Sam Olsen as a new member of the Trails Committee.  Mark Day has resigned from the Committee because of work conflicts.

Minutes Review and Approval

Chair Stephanie Wheatley made a motion to approve the January 8, 2009 Trails Committee meeting as amended. Denise Cox seconded the motion, which was passed by unanimous vote (5-0).   

REPORTS

New Trails Map
 Wendy Higgins distributed a map of the Centerville Parks and Trails that Committee members have worked on during the past month. A copy of this map will be mailed in the City newsletter tomorrow to Centerville residents. The Committee discussed the City website that apparently has not been updated for a long time. Chair Stephanie Wheatley said she visited the website, and she would like to see the website for the Trails Committee be more user friendly. Wendy Higgins thanked Committee members for their work to make this map possible.

Snowshoe Activity
 Mark Day was in charge of the snowshoe activity.  Stephanie Wheatley reported there were 15 people who attended the activity. The activity started at the Parrish Lane Trailhead and went up the mountain for one-half mile. The Committee agreed they would like to see this activity done again next year. 

Spring Hikes – April 18 and May 2
 Chair Stephanie Wheatley reported she talked with Lisa Summers about allowing people to register on the internet for the spring hikes to be held on April 18th and May 2nd. Lisa said she will make a registration form on the internet for the hikes. People will also be able to register at City Hall, and flyers will be given to the students at the area schools notifying them of the hikes. If there is a favorable response for the hikes, more hikes will be scheduled on the same dates at different times throughout the day.

Davis County Trails Committee
 Wendy Higgins discussed a news article from The Clipper that talks about a man in north Centerville by the name of Richard Bagley who conducts hikes throughout the various canyons on his own. Bruce Cox, Parks & Recreation Director, reported he met Mr. Bagley on a hike a few weeks ago at the Freedom Hills Park. Mr. Bagley is not affiliated with any city, and he takes anyone who will join him on his hikes. Stephanie reported she was not able to attend the Davis County Trails Committee meeting this past month. 

Master Plan Seminar
 Steve Thacker, City Manager, reported the Community Planners sponsor a planning seminar several times a year for Planning Commissioners, but they also do specialty sessions for parks and recreation planners. The next meeting for parks and recreation planners will be held on March 27, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Orem.  The cost is $150, and Centerville City is willing to pay the registration fee for Trails Committee members who would like to attend this seminar with Bruce Cox.  The topic of this seminar is “Creating a Parks and Trails Master Plan.”

HIKING INCENTIVE PROGRAM

Chair Stephanie Wheatley reported she is developing a hiking incentive program that will be titled, “Take a Hike in Centerville.”  Mark Austin said he has also thought about this program, and he suggested having a lapel pin made for people who hike at least five Centerville hikes.  The Committee agreed they would like to have the hiking lapel pins, and they requested that Mr. Austin contact Logo Concepts in Centerville to see if they will make the pins. 

FORD CANYON TRAIL

Main Street Connection
 Mark Austin reported he contacted the property owners that are adjacent to the Ford Canyon Trail. He said most of the property owners were favorable of the trail, but two property owners were not in favor of the trail as planned, because people will be able to see into their back yards. A trail was proposed through the catch basin and along the creek – not next to the property owners. Bruce Cox said the City could install a fence post and create an opening with a sign for hikers to be allowed on the trail. Mr. Cox distributed pictures of the trail entrance gate.  The trail would be on county property that is next to Bill Rigby’s property.  Bruce Cox said the County planners will write the easement to allow improvements on the property for the trail. Mr. Ford, the property owner, originally agreed that the trail would be asphalt, but Committee members felt the trail should be of a natural material.  Mr. Ford will be contacted to see if he still wants the trail paved. 

Connection to Fire Break Road
Steve Thacker said he will try to meet with George Haddad about having the Ford Canyon Trail cross his property to the Fire Break Road. 

TRAIL SIGNAGE

Kiosks
The Freedom Hills Park does have a kiosk.  Bruce Cox said a map of the Centerville Parks and Trails will be placed inside the kiosk at the Freedom Hills Park, and is already in all of the other trail kiosks.

Trail Markers
Paul Meyer distributed aluminum/vinyl trail marker signs that he had made for the trails in Centerville. Mr. Meyer said the aluminum/vinyl markers are more durable than metal markers.  The cost for aluminum/vinyl markers is $25 for one to ten markers. If more than 21 trail markers are ordered, they will be $17.50 each. The signs were made by Allied Electric Sign & Awning Company where Mr. Meyer is employed. The Committee agreed to have aluminum/vinyl sign markers and mile markers made for the Ford Canyon Trail. 

Dogs Running at Large
 Steve Thacker reported the County Animal Control Ordinance states that dogs do not have to be on a leash in the mountains, but they do have to be under control by the owner.  Hikers are on their own to protect themselves.  
 
LEGACY PARKWAY TRAIL

Status of Maintenance Responsibility
 Bruce Cox said the maintenance agreement for the Legacy Parkway will not cover the removal of horse droppings.  He suggested a volunteer be assigned to take care of this responsibility.  A grant is being requested to install a restroom at 1275 North that will be part of a trailhead with a parking lot. 

BIKE ROUTES PROPOSAL

Matt Johnson said he met with Fred Campbell for an estimate on the widening of the Frontage Road. If the Frontage Road is widened eight feet, it would cost $50,000 and if it is widened ten feet, it would cost $60,000.  If the Frontage Road is striped for bike lanes, the most economical time to do it is when the City restripes the center lines or does slurry seal. The Committee would need to present their plans for the Frontage Road to the City Council, as it is a large expenditure of money.  The designated bike route at this time is 400 West, and it is intended to be striped in the spring. It must be determined if Farmington has designated the Frontage Road as a designated bike route.      

Mr. Johnson said 400 West would be the designated bike route with striping on both sides of the road in the commercial areas, and no striping in the residential areas.  He said he would like to have signage on 400 East between Parrish Lane and Chase Lane. Neal Worsley, Police Chief, is not in favor of a bike lane in this area because of the blind sight dangers at 400 East and Parrish Lane, and he feels it would be unsafe for bikers. Mr. Thacker reported that Chief Worsley told him parking would need to be prohibited on 400 East if a bike lane is striped between Parrish Lane and Chase Lane. Steve Thacker, Fred Campbell, and Matt Johnson will meet with Chief Worsley to discuss striping Parrish Lane for a bike lane, and possibly 400 East.  

Sam Olsen said he is in favor of a bike lane going to 2025 North on Main Street.  Mr. Thacker stated that Main Street will not have a bike lane because it is a State-owned road. The Public Space Plan will be considered this year for Main Street, which is proposing how space will be determined for light rail on Main Street. The City Council would like light rail to come north on Main Street, but it would end at Parrish Lane. 

SELECT COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR 2009
            
Stephanie Wheatley made a motion to nominate Denise Cox as the new chair of the Trails Committee. Matt Johnson seconded the motion, which was passed by unanimous vote (6-0). 

Lee Vanhille said he is a friend of Matt Johnson, and that he might be interested in being a member of the Trails Committee. 

NEXT MEETING

The next Trails Committee meeting will be on Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

_____________________________    ________________________
       Stephanie Wheatley, Chair                             Date Approved

______________________________
Connie Larson, Recording Secretary