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- Attendees: Mike Boulland, Ronald Horii, Kitty Monahan, Paul
& Jenel
Vincze, Mario Blaum, Woody Collins, Holly Davis, Ed Jackson.
Guests: Darcie Green representing Assemblyman
Joe Coto, Ash Kalra from the San Jose
Planning Commission
- Trail news from Woody Collins:
- Greg Bringelson wants to get an inventory of all trails
in the parks, including soil types, grades, and potential problems. He
wants to see which ones need regular maintenance.
- There are plans to re-route the Stile Ranch Trail around
an uphill portion that tends to get muddy. They also want to discourage
shortcutting.
- To eliminate the steep uphill on the Rocky Ridge Trail
past the bridge, they want to eliminate the bridge by going deeper into
Big Oak Valley and keep the trail higher up the hill.
- The Nature Trail is a dead-end trail, which encourages
illicit activities. They want to loop the Ohlone Trail into it and out
of it. The trail will then run along both sides of the creek.
- Greg measured the Norred Trail. It's 0.8 miles. He
was looking where to put up signs. They may build a retaining wall
along it. The trail drops down steeply into the Mounted Ranger Unit
because Don Rocha did not want to disturb the back of the valley.
- There's a new trail watcher, Angelica. She will be
working at Santa Teresa and Almaden Quicksilver.
- We talked about having a dedication ceremony for the Norred
Trail in June. First we need to see if the Parks dept. wants to have
one, then we can help out.
- Ash Kalra from the San Jose Planning Commission visited to
hear our concerns. He met Mike at a meeting on preserving
the Almaden Feed & Fuel building and property. The planning
commission is made up of 7 commissioners appointed by the city council
and serves as an advisory board on development issues. While they don't
represent particular districts, Ash is the only one from district 2. He
talked about issues such as the upcoming Coyote Valley Environmental
Impact Report and the Hitachi site.
- Darcie Green came, representing state Assemblyman Joe Coto.
Joe Coto represents the 23rd district, which includes the east side,
downtown, and Monterey Road corridor in San Jose. Darcie talked about
bringing pending legislation issues to our attention, such as voter
registration for high school students, affordable housing, and
healthcare. Joe Coto's office can be a liaison with state agencies,
such as the tax board.
- Ron showed park pictures from December and January: the
Norred Trail and the closure signs; Christmas decorations in the ranch
house; construction of the water supply upgrades at the Bernal Road
entrance for the Wright Center; the Ohlone Trail at the archery range,
showing the grass coming back on the burned hills and the pig damage on
the hillsides; trail closure signs around the Pueblo Area and on the
Rocky Ridge Trail; the Hidden Springs Trail, which is in good shape
except for a muddy spot at the start of the trail below the Wright
Center; the Mine Trail starting by the corral at the Pueblo Area, which
is still in good shape; and the creek crossing at the Mine Trail near
the Rocky Ridge Trailhead.
- Ron pointed out that there is a temporary trail closure
sign at the gate to the Pueblo Area. The problem is that it's not clear
whether it applies to one trail (the Pueblo Trail, which is next to the
sign) or all the trails in park.
- Mike said Ranger Julie Lee is re-evaluating the trail
closures in the park, looking to close them only when needed.
- They are closing volunteer trails. One of those is the
trail from the creek crossing on the Fortini Trail, running along the
creek, then heading up the hill to the Stile Ranch Trail. We thought
this would be a good choice for an official trail.
- There have been meetings on the master plan for the
historic area around the Pyzak Ranch. Robin Schaut has been involved.
We need to find out from the park's commission who will be in charge of
the master plan.
- Mike talked about the "Happy Trails" recreational program.
The Stile Ranch Trail is part of that. Mike will take people on tours
of the trail.
- Mario reported that the trails are in good condition so
far. We haven't had much rain. Maintenance has been very good at Santa
Teresa and at Almaden Quicksilver.
- Drew Merry's crew has been doing a good job maintaining the
park. We need to thank him and his crew. Holly will draft a letter to
Lisa Killough and Joe Schultz expressing our appreciation.
- Paul said he'd like to see the end of the Norred Trail at
the Mounted Ranger Unit come down the hill more gradually.
- Paul talked about the service road that branches off the
Ohlone Trail near the archery range. Right now it dead ends at an old
building. He'd like to see a new trail built so it loops back down to
the Ohlone Trail.
- People have expressed interest in flying model gliders in
Santa Teresa. An organization can get a special use permit to do so,
but they need to have $1 million in liability insurance. (Note: SCCMAS used to fly
in Santa Teresa Park until they had to stop. They moved to their
current site on the Coyote Creek Trail.)
- Fandango Day: if it's held again this year, Holly will be
our lead person to help organize our participation.
- Ron will be the lead to organize our participation in the
Santa Teresa Community Fest in September.
- Kitty talked about Adopt-a-Trail. Debra and Jorge Porras
have adapted the Nature Trail.
- Mike said that the scout troop led by Debra and Jorge
Porras have done a lot of work for the park over the years and deserve
recognition.
- We talked about geocaching. Sam (who couldn't come) helped
to make geocaching an officially approved activity in the county parks.
There are now rules for geocaches. Ron updated our geocaching web page
to include those rules.
- Woody has been nominated for an award by the Association of
County Parks. They give awards to volunteers. Woody is getting an award
from the Santa Clara County Parks. It will be award on 2/9 at Coyote
Point Recreation Area in San Mateo.
- Holly said 4H has received a $100 from the County Parks.
They are using it to pay their bills for the plants at the BGJ Ranch.
- Mike passed out award
nomination ballots (here are the
award guidelines) for the Volunteer
Recognition Dinner in April. It will be held at the Santa Teresa
Golf Course Upper Banquet Facility on Thursday April 5 at 6:30 pm in
place of our meeting. Volunteers should have received invitations. RSVP by Friday,
March 23, to Irene Tsobanakis at (408) 355-2278 or e-mail
irene.tsobanakis@prk.sccgov.org. (Contact her if you have been
volunteering and haven't received an invitation.) Award nomination
ballots are due on 3/9/07.
- Volunteer Hours for December/January:
- Ronald Horii: 21/22
- Mike Boulland: 15/10
- Holly Davis: 6/6
- Kitty Monahan: 3/3
- Paul Vincze: 20/15
- Jenel Vincze: 5/5
- Ed Jackson: 6/3
- Mario Blaum: 12/12
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