Grant introduced Pelah from Five Valley Land Trust.
Pelah Hoyt gave presentation on Mount Dean Stone. The location of Mount Dean Stone was identified and the areas that would be included in the potential open space acquisition were highlighted. Mount Dean Stone Corridor map was provided to the committee which addressed areas within the corridor.
Charles Besancon- Do you see potential risk by putting a portion of the trail on The Nature Conservancy land?
Pelah Hoyt - No because we have the first option to purchase that part of the land. The trail could be rerouted on Five Valley’s Land Trust land if needed.
Pelah Hoyt defined areas outlined in orange on map is what Five Valley's is proposing today and would sell to city. The trail usages will align with south hill spur trail system.
Open Space Advisory Committee members questioned how this proposal differs from what we discussed with when we went on field trip?
Pelah Hoyt informed members that Five Valleys Land Trust was able to secure two additional parcels that were not included in the original proposal.
Grant Carlton- The original was just an out-and-back corridor and didn't include the loop.
OSAC members inquired about bikers and if there is a way to educate. There were concerns about the speed biker’s gain when coming down the trail. Pelah Hoyt informed the committee that the trail will be designed to help with this issue.
Grant Carlton- Morgan Valliant (City’s Conservation Land Manager) has been a part of trails discussion and the trail will be built to city standard and specs.
Pelah Hoyt did address that the proposal does not address the parking challenges. There has been discussion with Morgan and it is presumed that parking will increase at the Sousa trailhead. Grant is trying to identify areas that could solve some parking issues.
Pelah Hoyt stated that the trail connections (House of sky trail and High, Wide, and Handsome) would be completed in 2021. The trail will be 8% grade and would be very accessible for individuals with all abilities.
Proposed budget was presented to OSAC. Trail donation doesn't included seeding, weed spraying and signs. The proposed request from the city would be $925,000 split between 2018 Open Space Bond and the Open Space Estate Gift.
Grant Carlton - The anonymous estate gift of 1.14 million dollars is intended to purchase open space on the south hills. I am working with city employees to incorporate the appropriate amounts and determine if there are other projects/acquisitions in the South Hills that should be considered. The thought right now might be a 50/50 split.
The managers of Parks & Recreation are looking at priorities and what the respective percentages would be.
Kristine Akland would like to see the language of the estate gift and the intent.
OSAC members discussed the distribution of the funds and the intent of the estate gift. DeAnna Bublitz mentioned using estate gift money for conservation easements.
Members asked about wildlife friendly fencing and where the fences would be located. It would be wildlife friendly to meet requirements of FWP. There was discussion by the committee of landowners that live in the area. Signage will help establish the usage.
Grant Carlton informed the committee that the project will be evaluated using the current metrics and tools.