Friends of Santa Teresa Park Zoom Meeting, 2/4/21

 


    • Attendees: Mike Boulland, Greg & Roxanne Koopman, Kim Garland, Steve Crockett, Sam Drake, Marilyn August, Ron Horii
    • This was an online Zoom videoconference meeting. Mike sent out a meeting link for this Zoom meeting. Here's the agenda for today's meeting.
    • Mike said the parks department is submitting a plan to build a trail from Santa Teresa Spring to San Ignacio, across from Bernal School. They are following the trail route in the Historic Site Plan
      • The plan went before the Board of Supervisors on 1/26/21 and was approved. Bids will be open in March 2021.
      • They will be moving the Bear Tree monument closer to the Bear Tree. 
      • Mike said that his 4th graders buried a time capsule next to the Bear Tree monument in 1992. It may be time to dig it up when they move the monument.
      • Mike suggested that we have a groundbreaking ceremony for when the project starts and/or a ribbon-cutting ceremony when it opens up. We need to wait until the construction dates are set.
    • Treasurer's report (Greg): We got a $100 donation from a parent that liked Mike's talk. Our balance is $1922.70.
    • Mike said he sent in our volunteer work plan to Blair Pagano in the Volunteer Office. She said she would sending it out for approval. 
    • There is a new handicap ramp at the west Bernal Ranch barn at the east end. That's so wheelchairs can go in through the west door and exit through east door or vice versa. The ramp has rails and is not permanently affixed, as the doors cannot be closed with the ramp in place. It has to be stored in the barn and moved into place. 
    • Teri Rogoway of the Open Space Authority wants to request our help with making a Youtube video on activities in parks.
    • Mike will be working on our 501c3 application and hopes to submit it by the end of next month.
    • Ron got a message from a bike rider who said that rangers were stopping bicyclists who were riding on the trails when they were closed after rains. He said that the signage needed to be better. Ron also saw a message from a geocacher who said that the sheriffs were talking to bicyclists about riding on wet trails when they were closed and said that the bikes were tearing up the trails. Ron went out and took pictures of the closure signs at each of the trailheads after the rains and of bicyclists riding on the trails when they were closed. He also took pictures of wet trails that have been rutted by bike tires. He said that the signs are wordy and not very eye-catching. Some are on park roads or access roads, and drivers and bicyclists may not pay attention to them as they pass by. There are no signs at the trailheads in the Pueblo Area.
    • Ron showed pictures: He showed the trail sign and bike-related pictures mentioned above. There is a bicycle repair station with a tire pump and tools at the Hidden Springs trailhead in the Pueblo Area. The gate to the fence around the Bernal Ranch was unlocked in mid-January, but has been locked again recently. The garden boxes need weeding. The palm tree behind the ranch house drops seeds, and palm tree sprouts need to be pulled out. The valley oak tree behind the house has dropped a lot of leaves on the roof of the house and in the yard. They need to be cleaned up. The cabinets need refinishing. The fence needs repainting, and some pickets need to be replaced. Santa Teresa Springs needs to have the walkways swept, vines cut, and mud cleared away from the font and shrine. Ron showed views and trail conditions on the Hidden Springs, Coyote Peak, Stile Ranch, Mine, Fortini, Joice, and Norred Trails. There was a waterfall in upper Laurel Canyon. The pond by the Hidden Springs Trail is almost full. Cattle were grazing by the Hidden Springs Trail. There were virtual presentations by the park interpreters: Rob did a program on famous women of the valley, including members of the Bernal Family. Rachel did a presentation on Filipino farmworkers at Martial Cottle Park. Victoria gave a talk about salamanders. Blair hosted a virtual volunteer social, in which Rachel reprised her Filipino farmworker talk.
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       Created 2/4/21 by Ronald Horii, secretary of the Friends of Santa Teresa Park
    Funding provided by a Beautify San Jose Grant