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- Attendees: Mike Boulland, Kitty
Monahan, Ed Jackson, Sam Drake, Ellen Finch, Greg & Roxanne
Koopman, and Ron
Horii.
- We didn't have meetings in January and February. December's
meeting minutes were approved.
- Treasurer's report (Greg Koopman): no outstanding bills.
Balance: $725.75.
- We need to spend $500 for our CAP Grant. We may need
another project before the end of our CAP Grant. The grant money was
released late, so the end date was extended.
- We need to come up with another newsletter before our next
big opportunity to distribute it, which would be Festival in the Park.
That event will be held earlier this year (June 6, Carrie Grisenti is
running it). Get articles to Ron in May, the earlier the better. Greg
can write something about biking in the park. Roxanne can write about
getting kids out to hike in the park. Kitty can write about the Parks
for Life Challenge. Ed can write about the mustard field by Santa
Teresa Spring. Ron or Mike can write about the Coyote Peak dedication
event. We can list sponsors and even put copies of their business cards
on a page. Sam can also write an article. Any articles are welcome.
- There will be a Parks for Life Challenge picnic for winners
this Sunday at the Casa Grande from 12-3.
- Ron showed pictures. They include Santa at the Ranch, views
of and from the hills on clear days, trail conditions including the
Norred Trail, cattle fencing, waterfalls, Rocky Ridge Trail Day,
wildflowers, volunteer open house, Bernal Ranch tours, Santa Teresa
Spring, pig damage by the Ohlone Trail, the Johnson House at the Buck
Norred Ranch, and a potential dirt bike track location by the Mine
Trail below the Hidden Springs Trail junction.
- Ed said that park maintenance cut down the mustard in the
field in front of Santa Teresa Spring shortly after started blooming.
He was told by Ranger Will that they are required to cut down the
mustard when it exceeds a foot in height. They are worried about
snakes, ticks, and vermin. Most of the neighbors like the way it looks
and did not want it to be cut down so early. It's OK when they dry up.
There used to be lots of rabbits in the area. After the mustard was cut
down, the rabbits have gone, maybe picked off by hawks. If we have
complaints about the mustard, we should talk to Phil Hearin, senior
ranger for Santa Teresa. If he can't do anything about it because of
park rules, we can go talk to the Parks Commission.
- There was a Volunteers Orientation event last week. Kitty
spoke about NAQCPA. Mike spoke about FOSTP.
- Park staff is supposed to report back to the Park
Commission on building the trail from the Pyzak Ranch to Santa Teresa
Spring. The project was approved, but money to build it was not put in
the capital budget for 2016. We can go to the next Park Commission
meeting on Wednesday April 1 at 6:30 and speak on the issue. We can
meet there instead of holding our regular meeting in April. Mike will
get back to us on it.
- We got the CAP Grant money. Mike got reimbursed for
spending his own money on the Coyote Peak dedication.
- For this year's project, we can do a scavenger hunt, along
a trail, like the Norred Trail.
- Sam said that on April 16 at 6:30, the Historic Heritage
Commission will be meeting to discuss putting the Mt. Umunhum radar
tower on the county's historic inventory.
- Adopt-a-trail: we adopted the Norred Trail. It got very
muddy after the rains. It needs to have gravel on it. Kitty will talk
to Greg Bringelson. We might be able to request help from Americorps.
The current crew is booked up, but we may be able to get help from
future crews.
- Ed said there has been a lot of activity at Santa Teresa
Spring. High school kids were throwing turtles around. Rangers came. He
said there have been break-ins on the street. Tires have been stolen.
There's been graffiti on the canal by Bernal School. The same graffiti
is by the golf course. Although park maintenance has been emptying the
trash cans, there's still a lot of trash around the spring. We can talk
to George Santiago, head of maintenance at Hellyer about maintenance
concerns..
- Roxanne met with Eric Goodrich at Martial Cottle about
holding the Oak Grove School District's SLUG run at Martial Cottle. It
was approved for May 2. The 5 km race will start and end at Del Roble
School, which is just south of Martial Cottle. The race will use the
park's trails, but not its facilities. 8 elementary schools are
involved There were over 400 runners last year. They expect to get more
this year. The event opens at 7 am. The race starts at 8 am. They
expect to finish by 10 am. There will be lots of families there. We can
have an information booth at the school. In exchange for getting
permission to hold the race, the schools will put in 12 hours of
volunteer time by helping to count trail users.
- Ron is leading a hike at Coyote Ridge this Saturday at 9
am. Registration through the Open Space Authority is required. He is
leading a hike at Rancho San Vicente on March 28 at 9:00. He will be
teaching a photography class and leading a hike at Coyote Lake on May 9
at 10:00.
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