Mammoth Trails Regular Meeting MINUTES November 19, 2009, 4 5:30 p.m. Location: Sierra Meadows Ranch

Transcription

1 Mammoth Trails Regular Meeting MINUTES November 19, 2009, 4 5:30 p.m. Location: Sierra Meadows Ranch A. Call to Order: MLTPA Foundation President/CEO John Wentworth called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. at Sierra Meadows Ranch, 1 Sherwin Creek Rd., Mammoth Lakes, CA Also in attendance were Mammoth Trails Charter Members Hank Garretson (Eastern Sierra Nordic Ski Association), Andrew Kastor (High Sierra Striders), Phyllis Benham and Keith Dawley (Mammoth Nordic), Stacy Corless (Friends of the Inyo), and Malcolm Clark (Sierra Club); MLTPA Foundation Data Manager Chuck Megivern; Town of Mammoth Lakes Principal Planner Steve Speidel; and 395 Fat Tire Council representative Clayton Mendel. B. Additions to Agenda: None. C. Special Updates 1. Meb Keflezighi wins New York City Marathon: Mr. Wentworth congratulated the High Sierra Striders on Mr. Keflezighi s victory. Mr. Kastor announced that Mr. Keflezighi would be honored by riding on the New York float in the Macy s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and that Mr. Keflezighi will be back in town in early December. Mr. Wentworth noted that Danna Stroud, TOML Tourism & Recreation Department Director, made an announcement at the Town Council meeting the previous night, and also notified many people via , that there is a Garmin ad currently running that features Deena Kastor and Ryan Hall training in Mammoth. Mr. Kastor added that the ad made it into 100,000 copies of the recent NYC Marathon program. On a different note, Mr. Wentworth announced that, after much persistence, the aerial photo of Mammoth Lakes in Google Earth that has a cloud covering most of the town has been replaced with a clear photo. 2. TOML Recreation Department: TOML notes a. Update from 11/18/09 Town Council meeting: The TOML was unable to supply notes before this meeting, so Mr. Wentworth provided the update. Mr. Wentworth updated everyone on the TOML Recreation Department reorganization, which was initiated in August and will flow into the recently formed Mammoth Region Recreation Council (MRRC). He noted that MLTPA would use some grant money they have from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) to pay for a facilitator for the MRRC. He commended the members of the Tourism & Recreation Commission, Mammoth Trails Meeting Minutes, 11/19/09 Page 1 of 5

2 Town staff, and Town Council for the great work they had completed thus far as a breakout effort to develop a strategic plan for the aforementioned reorganization. He explained that the tourism portion of the T&R Department would become the new Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) a nonprofit entity separate from Town government and would take with it some portion of the Measure A funds currently being used to fund some of the department s positions, as those monies are specifically intended for marketing. He stated that Ms. Stroud gave Town Council a midterm report the previous night on the reorganization team s work and that he can provide copies of it to Mammoth Trails members if so desired. He continued by stating that the MRRC s work should be completed by early December, and that their results would inform the Town s recreation reorganization. He concluded by saying that the fate of the T&R Commission also will be decided by the reorganization. Mr. Wentworth also announced that the SNC has reactivated and will fund the $180,000 grant to the TOML for CEQA on the Trail System Master Plan and the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and also will reactivate and fund the $190,000 grant to the TOML to perform planning work in the Lakes Basin. 3. Sherwins Working Group and Sherwins Area Recreation Plan (SHARP) Update: John Wentworth and partners: Mr. Wentworth announced that SHARP is complete and that MLTPA hopes to post it to their Web site by close of business the following day. a. Participants discussion: Mr. Speidel stated that he has had the opportunity to read SHARP from an outside perspective and that the SWG did an incredible job. He noted that it is going to be a great model for moving forward with recreation planning, particularly in the Lakes Basin. Mr. Wentworth announced that the formation of the Solitude Canyon/Panorama Dome Working Group and the Technical Review Committee are the SWG s next steps. 4. Measure R Fall 2009 Award Update: TOML notes: The TOML was unable to supply notes before this meeting, so Mr. Wentworth provided the update. Mr. Wentworth referenced the dates provided later in the agenda and noted that the T&R Commission was working through the applications. Mr. Kastor announced that, through the High Sierra Striders association with the Road Runners Club of America, they may be able to take advantage of a discount plan with a timing-system company, which could cut in half the cost itemized in the joint Mammoth Trails application. He noted Mammoth Trails Meeting Minutes, 11/19/09 Page 2 of 5

3 that he would find out if the timing system is Nordic ski friendly before proceeding. Mr. Wentworth announced that MLTPA reduced its request by $25,000 thanks to a recent donation. a. Key Dates: i. Dec. 10: T&R Commission determines their recommendations; ii. Dec. 16: T&R Commission recommendations go to Town Council 5. Winter Recreation Map Update: John Wentworth/TOML notes: The TOML was unable to supply notes before this meeting, so Mr. Wentworth alone provided the update. Mr. Wentworth laid out on the table big printouts of the TOML Winter Recreation Map, which MLTPA had updated and produced. He noted that there are some big differences between the old version and the new: all data is now geospatially referenced and in GIS; the Lakes Basin is now fully included in the map; the new wilderness boundary is represented; the reverse of the map is vertically oriented to show more wilderness areas as well as OSV access near the Mammoth Yosemite Airport; and Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center information has been included. He noted further that MLTPA did this as a contracted service to the Town and did not have any input on the map s content, acting only as the designer. 6. Measure R: Bike Rack Program Update: John Wentworth: Mr. Wentworth announced that MLTPA and the TOML are working to come up with the M -shaped bike rack program prototype and are seeking sites for testing. Mr. Speidel related that the Town was able to get Measure R funding last cycle for 15 prototype racks, and that currently there is one installed in concrete at the entry to the community center. A rack had been temporarily installed in the asphalt in front of Footloose Sports this summer, but there were problems with the mounting. The TOML has designed concretefooting specs for installation in dirt areas (at parks, etc.). Of the original 15 racks, seven remain, plus 10 more that were purchased for the Town by an individual. 7. MLTPA Awareness Campaign: Connect to MLTPA : John Wentworth: Mr. Wentworth explained that this campaign is to ensure that the public knows what s being done with their tax money from Measure R, as well as all of the other efforts MLTPA is currently involved in. He noted that MLTPA is printing flyers, brochures, business cards, and other materials, and that staff and Board members can give a brief PowerPoint presentation to HOAs, clubs, etc., upon invitation. 8. Distribution of TOML Winter Recreation Activities Guide: TOML notes: The TOML was unable to supply notes before this meeting, so Mr. Wentworth provided the update. Mr. Wentworth Mammoth Trails Meeting Minutes, 11/19/09 Page 3 of 5

4 stated that he was fairly certain the guide was out, noting that it contains a small version of the Winter Recreation Map. 9. Recreation This Week Content Development and Distribution: TOML notes: The TOML was unable to supply notes before this meeting, so this item was tabled for discussion at the next meeting. Mr. Garretson noted that KSRW/TV33 has a Mammoth This Week segment and suggested that perhaps Mammoth Trails can do a Recreation This Week piece with Cleland Hoff. D. Organizational Items 1. Approval of October 22, 2009 Minutes: Kim Stravers: The Charter Members accepted the minutes as written by consensus. 2. Mammoth Trails Event Calendar Update: Kim Stravers: Mr. Wentworth stated that MLTPA is still exploring a calendar platform that will work for Mammoth Trails event planning. 3. Data Development: Chuck Megivern a. Additions to Geodatabase since October 22 Meeting: Mr. Megivern stated that he is working through the Sierra Club database provided by chapter president Bryce Wheeler. He will attempt to take some of Mr. Wheeler s computer data and bring it into GIS directly (Excel spreadsheets, National Geographic s TOPO! Software files, etc.). b. Outstanding Data Needs: None. E. Event/Project Updates 1. Mammoth Nordic Update: Phyllis Benham: Ms. Benham announced that the annual big bash for Mammoth Nordic is scheduled for December 11 at the Mammoth Ski Museum. Mr. Dawley informed the group that the current Shady Rest trailhead in town is being moved to Shady Rest Park at the ballfields, so nonmotorized winter users will need to stage from the Welcome Center or the new trailhead. Mammoth Nordic will be grooming this winter from the Welcome Center to the old trailhead location and then along the existing bike path. Mr. Speidel noted that the TOML will contract with a private entity to plow the road and parking area at Shady Rest, and that Mammoth Pacific the geothermal company who will be inputting more wells in the Shady Rest area will put forward some sort of guarantee that if this experiment has a detrimental effect to the road surface, they ll pay for repaving and reassessment. Mammoth Pacific also will pay for the plowing this winter. He further noted that Mammoth Pacific has applications into the Bureau of Land Management and the USFS to put in these additional geothermal wells. These agencies have been advising Mammoth Pacific that it s a good idea to get the community involved to enhance recreation out there at the same time the Mammoth Trails Meeting Minutes, 11/19/09 Page 4 of 5

5 company drills the wells, so Mammoth Pacific has contacted MLTPA about implementing a process similar to the Sherwins Working Group for Shady Rest. Mr. Clark mentioned that at the Sierra Club meeting on the third Tuesday in January, Mammoth Pacific representatives will be speaking about this project. Mr. Dawley noted that the USFS will supply garage space for the Mammoth Nordic grooming machine and will do the first-pass plow on the trails to enable the groomer to get through. 2. Event Updates from Charter Members: Ms. Corless passed out flyers for the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival on December 4 th and 5 th and encouraged Mammoth Trails member clubs to bring promotional materials for display at the Mammoth showing. She noted that tickets are $10, or free if you join or renew your membership in Friends of the Inyo. Mr. Kastor announced that the HSS were going to the Santa Barbara marathon on December 6. Mr. Garretson announced that the Eastern Sierra Nordic Ski Association (ESNSA), in conjunction with Brian s Bicycles and Cross-Country Skis, would be bringing back the Village Championships for cross-country skiing this winter. He noted that the rating system had changed, wherein points will be awarded in age divisions for all events at Tamarack (four scheduled races plus the winter biathlon). 3. Winter 2009/2010 Calendar of Events: Mr. Wentworth reminded the group that they need to start looking at the transition between seasons for 2010, as next summer will be busy and we would like to be prepared next year. F. Announcements and Updates: Ms. Corless announced that Measure A funding to market local events and activities is now available to nonprofits from the TOML via the T&R Commission. She added that the applications are due the week after Thanksgiving, and that people should contact Stu Brown, Danna Stroud, or Jimmy Kellet for details. Information also is available at visitmammoth.com. G. Request for Future Agenda Items: None. H. Next Meeting: Thursday, December 17, 2009, 4 5:30 p.m., location TBD I. Adjourn: There being no further business to come before the group, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 5:18 p.m. Mammoth Trails Meeting Minutes, 11/19/09 Page 5 of 5