Friends of Santa Teresa Park Meeting, 6/1/06


  • Attendees: Mike Boulland, Ronald Horii, Kitty Monahan, Paul & Jenel Vincze,  Mario Blaum, Ed Jackson, Sam Drake, Holly Davis, Woody Collins
  • We have $233.44 in our account, after paying UNSCC $200 for insurance and $20 for our annual fee to the state.
  • Mike has been paying $20 a month for our website, out-of-pocket.
  • Holly want to get more members for 4H. She will be going to Baldwain.
  • Report from Eric Goodrich, senior ranger:
    • On Jan. 1st, the department reorganized the way the parks are managed by the senior rangers. Eric handles Region 2, which includes Ed Levin, Santa Teresa, Hellyer, and Field Sports.
    • The old process was that the operations supervisor would attend the volunteer group meetings. Now the preferred method of communications is through the volunteer coordinator (Heidi McFarland).  However, Eric said he could come as needed.
    • A woman in her late 40's broke her ankle while hiking on the Rocky Ridge Trail. She was helicoptered out.
    • A hiker was rescued after suffering from hypertension on the Hidden Springs Trail.
    • A bird landing on a power line started a 1/2 acre fire by the Boundary Trail, mostly on the IBM side.
    • Greg Bringelson has 3 people to work on trails. 1 is out injured.
    • Most trail work is being done by Maintenance.
    • Trail leads can organize their own projects.
    • The Ohlone Trail needs brushing and tread work. It is too narrow. The trail was re-routed around a seep.
    • Split rail fencing has been put up around the Pueblo Area, the parking lot near IBM, and the Heaton Moor entrance to keep 4WD vehicles out.
    • The Brockenhurst gate is not open as a park entrance. The negative declaration has been approved.
    • The pond in the golf course is part of the golf course and is off-limits. It was made off-limits because there were 2 drownings there.
    • The muddy area on the Mine Trail above the Stile Ranch Trail junction is due to a seasonal spring. There's no easy way to fix it. The trail needs to be moved and outsloped.
  • Mike: the master plan revision for Santa Teresa Park at the Pyzak Ranch. The planning has been approved for FY 2007. Funds will be available July 1 to start the planning process. A contract will be awarded for the planning in October, and work will begin on it. There will be meetings held to discuss it. When the plans are complete, funding will be sought to implment the plan. Comments: what about the Bonetti Ranch and Bear Tree lot?
  • The new trail behind the MRU is being re-routed to allow for mult-use. There should be a new map by July 1. There will be  a new CEQA document. They expect the trail to be constructed by October.
  • Mike has a draft of a 5013c document from another group. We can modify it and use it. We need to modify the by-laws to state that we will be a 5013c organization. Once we're a 5013c organization, we can accept donations, and they will be tax deductible. Ron said we should target getting 5013c status so we can ask for donations at the Santa Teresa Community Fest.
  • The Santa Teresa Community Fest will be held as usual in George Miner Park at Santa Teresa Blvd.and Miyuki Drive. It will be on September 16. We need to get there early to setup. Mike won't be able to make. Ron will organize. We can setup a booth next to the STFNA. 4H will have a petting zoo there.
  • Ed Jackson said that the Water District cut down the weeds next to the canal around Santa Teresa Spring.
  • Mike would like to see the BGJ Ranch open on Sunday. The problem is that there's no money to hire someone to do it.
  • Jenel got plans for a new design for the heritage garden at the BGJ Ranch. She contacted the Native Plant Society and was referred to Katherine Morrison, a landscape architect. She came and measured the garden and came with a design a week later. They have a grant to pay for it. They plan to plant in the fall.
  • Mike wrote a letter for a state award, acknowledging John Dorrance's work.
  • There was a trail work day on the Rocky Ridge Trail on 5/6/06. Sam and Ron were there. There was about 2 dozen volunteers there. They split into several groups working on different parts of the trail. Ron has a webpage on it and a slideshow.
  • Ron made a Powerpoint slideshow on the County Parks.
  • Ron showed pictures taken on 6/1/06, showing deer by Bernal Road, the corral fence in the Pueblo Area (needs repair), the new fences around the Pueblo Area, the Hidden Springs Trail with growing thistles, the new fence by the canal at the MRU, heavy grass growth on the Mine Trail just below the Bernal Hill Loop Trail junction, the muddy spot on the Pueblo Trail by the corner of Bernal Road and the Pueblo Area road.
  • On 6/3/06, there is a work day at Calero at the Canada Del Oro side.On the same day, they are also working at Stevens Creek on the Tony Look Trail.
  • Volunteer Hours for May
    • Ronald Horii: 64
    • Mike Boulland: 15
    • Kitty Monahan: 3
    • Holly Davis: 2
    • Sam Drake: 5
    • Woody Collins: 2
    • Paul Vincze: 20
    • Jenel Vincze: 8
    • Ed Jackson: 5
    • Mario Blaum: 8
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Created 6/10/06 by Ronald Horii, secretary of the Friends of Santa Teresa Park