Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Open Board of Directors
San Bernardino Community College District
114 S. Del Rosa Drive San Bernardino, CA 92408
Minutes
Present: Dimitrios Alexiou, Peter Barmack, Carole Beswick, Tom Brickley, Erin Brinker, Ken Coate, Bill Easley, Ray Gonzales, Mark Kaenel, Neil Macready, John Mirau, Charlie Ng, John Prentice, Paul Shimoff, Ty Shuiling, Carlos Valdez and Phil Waller.
Guests: Elliot Hulse
Announcements: 1)The TIGER III awards were announced by Secretary LaHood on December 15, 2011. The only Inland Empire project awarded was Riverside County’s SR-91 Corridor. Efforts to fund the Devore Junction which has national significance in goods movement must continue.
M/S/P: Minutes of the December 13, 2011 meeting Tom Brickley introduced Patricia Lock-Dawson, Principal, PLD Consulting.
A recreational bikeway and trail from the San Bernardino Mountains to the Pacific Ocean was first envisioned over 100 years ago. In 1955, the idea of a Santa Ana River Trail and Parkway was formalized. Real progress was made in 2006, when the Counties of San Bernardino, Orange, and Riverside, as well as, SAWPA and the Wildlands Conservancy entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to assist in completing this regional recreational resource. Also in 2006, the voters of California approved the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act (Prop 84). As a result, $45 M was set aside for the completion of the backbone of the Santa Ana River Trail and Parkway. The goal of the Santa Ana River Trail and Parkway Partnership is to finish the trail by 2015.
The Santa Ana River Trail and Parkway is managed by a Policy Advisory Group, or PAG. The PAG is made up of eight elected representatives from county and city government, an elected member of the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority Commission, and a representative from the Wildlands Conservancy.
The PAG’s role is to monitor progress of the Santa Ana River Trail, discuss key issues, and help coordinate decision making across jurisdictional boundaries to ensure speedy completion of the Trail. Decisions are made by majority vote. The PAG group considers recommendations made by a Technical Advisory Committee in its decision making. The Technical Advisory Committee deals with logistical issues including development and installation of signage and the distribution of responsibilities associated with operations and maintenance and public safety.
Maintenance of the Trail varies as the trail runs through three counties. Agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service as part of the San Bernardino County Regional Parks Dept., Riverside County Regional Park and Orange County Parks will be responsible for the trail maintenance and upkeep.
Current Issues include:
- Working with Army Corps of Engineers to coordinate trail construction and access through Prado Basin
- Working with transportation agencies to complete trail through 91/71 freeway expansion area
- Developing plans for 3 miles of trail to connect OC and Riverside Counties, 22 miles of trail in Riverside County and 11 miles of trail in San Bernardino County
Known challenges with easement access will require communication and negotiations with some 14 different land owners. Additionally they may have issues with the endangered species called the Santa Ana Wolly Star (a wild flowering plant).
Their newly updated web site http://santaanarivertrail.org/home.html has up to date information on parking, location of trail heads and access points, safety, trail etiquette, and calendar of events.
Many portions of the trail have been completed and currently serve the needs of recreational bicyclists, equestrians and even provide an opportunity to use alternative means of transportation for some commuters.
A Q & A period followed.
Meeting adjourned at 8:25 a.m.