Minutes of the Centerville City Trails Committee meeting held Thursday, April 10, 2008 in the Centerville City Business Office Conference Room, 250 North Main, Centerville, Utah.  The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Stephanie Wheatley.

MEMBERS PRESENT    Mark Austin
                                          Denise Cox
                                          Mark Day
                                          Wendy Higgins, was excused at 7:30 p.m.
                                          Matt Johnson
                                          Stephanie Wheatley, Chair

MEMBERS ABSENT      Shari Meyer

STAFF PRESENT     Bruce Cox, Parks & Recreation Director
                                   Sherri Lindstrom, City Council Liaison
                                   Connie Larson, Recording Secretary   

MINUTES REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Minutes of the Centerville City Trails Committee meeting held March 13, 2008 were reviewed and amended. Mark Day made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. The motion was seconded by Stephanie Wheatley, and passed by unanimous vote (6-0). 

Finalize Preparations for Hiking Activities
 
 Wendy Higgins distributed shirts for the Trails Committee to wear when they are conducting hiking activities. Mark Austin reported response for the hikes has been excellent, and the numbers had to be capped off at 250.  Each Committee member will be assigned to a hike and they will do the same hike each week, so that they will know the trail well. Each hike should be for 45 minutes to one hour.  Committee members were given a list of the people who will be in their group, and Committee members will be responsible to call the people in their group to inform them of the rules. Guides will carry cell phones with the phone number of the Police Department. All hikes will begin at 9:30 a.m. Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by a parent in order to participate.

Bruce Cox, Parks & Recreation Director, reported Steve Thacker asked that Committee members hike their assigned trail before the actual day of the hike.  He reported a rattle snake had been seen on the Freedom Hills Trail, and people need to be informed to be cautious.  Mr. Cox said a waiver will not be required to be signed as with the Recreation Programs, but if people cannot do the entire hike, they will be allowed to return to the starting point of the hike. The Committee agreed dogs will not be allowed on the hikes. Lisa Summers joined the meeting and reported she has had people calling her about parking. There is adequate parking at the Freedom Hills Park, but parking for the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and Barnard Creek will have to be on the street.
Parking for the Parrish Lane Trail will have to be done by double stacking.

The Committee agreed volunteer help is needed because of the large response for the hikes, and it was agreed that City employees will be asked to volunteer. Sherri Lindstrom said she will e-mail all City employees requesting volunteers to help on the hikes, and Bruce Cox’s e-mail address will be given for volunteers to register.

Committee member assignments for the hikes are as follows:

 Denise Cox – Freedom Hills Switchback Trail
 Stephanie Wheatley – Parrish Creek Trail
 Sherri Lindstrom & Shari Meyer – Bonneville Shoreline Trail
 Mark Austin – Barnard Creek Trail
 Jim Smith & Mark Day – Deuel Creek Trail   

Wendy Higgins was excused from the meeting.

Finalize preparations for Porter-Walton Park Ribbon-Cutting Event

Stephanie Wheatley reported the Porter-Walton Park Ribbon Cutting will be held on May 1st at 6:30 p.m.  Committee members need to be at the park at 6:00 p.m. to begin cooking hotdogs.  The Committee reviewed the Bamberger Trail that will be used for the one mile walk after the ribbon cutting.  City Trail maps will be provided at this event, and balloons will be given to the children. Ruth Porter and Mayor Russell will be speaking at this event.  Bruce Cox said there will be a sign posted at the Porter-Walton Park to advertise this event, as well as in the City newsletter.

Review Map of Proposed Trails (to be included in General Plan Trails Element), and Determine Whether to Delete the Porter Lane/Deuel Creek Trail From The Plan

Bruce Cox, Parks and Recreation Director, explained that Deuel Creek is on the south side of Porter Lane from Main Street to 400 West. It was previously proposed that a trail be made along the creek, but because of the design of the trail and the plans for trees and shrubs, it is too narrow for both trees and other plants. After discussion, the Committee agreed to not have a trail along the Deuel Creek at Porter Lane between Main Street and 400 West, so there can be vegetation planted in this area.

Stephanie Wheatley made a motion to abandon the Deuel Creek/Porter Lane Trail in order to allow for the planting of vegetation in this area.  Mark Austin seconded the motion, which was passed by unanimous vote (5-0).

Mark Day reported he hiked to the Fremont pictographs in Parrish Canyon, and he said they have been vandalized.  He said some of the pictographs have been scratched, and others have been rubbed out. Mark Day said that he talked with George Haddad about the hikes, and Mr. Haddad thinks they are a great idea.  Mr. Haddad said he doesn’t mind if people walk or bike on his property, but he does not want people to use off-road vehicles on his property because they damage the mountain side.

Trail Kiosks and Signage

Bruce Cox, Parks and Recreation Director, reported he has three Boy Scouts that will be doing their Eagle Scout projects by assembling and building trail kiosks. Spencer Mayby will be building the bridge for the Ford Canyon Trail for his Eagle Scout project, and Mr. Cox said he will be staking the Ford Canyon Trail in the near future.  Matt Johnson will provide a list of what information will be included on the kiosks.

Kiosks will be placed at the following trail locations:

  Ford Canyon (1)
  Deuel Creek (2)
  Freedom Hills (1)
  Parrish Creek (1)
  Community Park (1)
  Parrish Creek North (1)

Confirm Date (May 8, 6:30 p.m.) for Field Trip To See Legacy Parkway Trailhead Sites and Walk the Ford Canyon Trail Corridor

The Trails Committee will take a field trip on May 8th.  Committee members will be visiting the Legacy Parkway Trailhead sites, and the Ford Canyon Trail corridor.  Committee members are to meet at City Hall at 6:30 p.m.

Discussion – Bike Lanes

Sherri Lindstrom, City Council Liaison, reported the City Council is still considering a bike lane along the Frontage Road.  Bruce Cox said there are grants available that are matched 50 percent with State grants.  He said a grant helped fund the Freedom Hills Switchback Trail, and he suggested a grant be applied for to be used for a bike lane on the Frontage Road.  The application must be applied for by May 1, and the selection is made in October. The money would be received in 2009. The Trails Committee agreed they would like to try for a grant, and Bruce Cox said he would apply for the grant for a bike lane by May 1.  Utah Division of Parks and Recreation is where the grant comes from.
 
Next Meeting

The next Centerville City Trails Committee meeting will be held on Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, where the field trip will begin.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

_________________________________   ________6-19-08__________
    Stephanie Wheatley, Chair                                            Date Approved

_________________________________
    Connie Larson, Recording Secretary