Meeting Minutes. I. Chairperson McDevitt called the meeting to order at 7:30 A.M.

Transcription

1 Meeting Minutes Foothills Conservation Advisory Committee 7:30 A.M. Wednesday, Members Present: Stuart Allyn, Tom Baskin, Annie Black, Milt Gillespie, Anne Hausrath, Chas F. McDevitt, Suki Molina, Shirley Randolph, Mike Reynoldson, Betsy Roberts, and Chris Thometz. Also Present: Diane Baggley; Dave Thompson, Dogs off leash in parks; Margie Rosenberg, Boise Trail Dog; Bruce Eggleston, PDS; Pat Riceci, Boise City Attorney s Office; Jim Hall, Julia Grant, David Gordon, Rich Gardunia, and Margaret C. Lancaster CPS/CAP, Boise Parks & Recreation Department staff. I. Chairperson McDevitt called the meeting to order at 7:30 A.M. II. MINUTES MOTION: A motion was made by Tom Baskin, TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 4, 2009 MINUTES AS WRITTEN, seconded by Suki Molina. III. FURTHER ACTION ON RULE MAKING (DOGS) Chair McDevitt opened by reminding the committee they are here today to review and move forward dog trail use recommendations. We will begin by approving/disproving Component 1 on page 3 of the Ridge to Rivers Staff Recommendations dated June 11, 2008, that was resent to you yesterday and then we ll move onto Component 2 on page 4. Component 1 The trails that will be on leash are specified there on page 3. Military Reserve -- From Ridgecrest Trail down will be on leash, off leash up Cottonwood Creek and around to Eagle Ridge. Table Rock Looking at ¼ mile up Trail 15 and 19 and up 15A being off leash with the lower leg of Castle Rock and Hot Springs Loop being on leash. Comments were made by members about the 1/4 vs. 1/8 miles on leash from the trailhead. Boise Trail Dog recommendation was 200. MISSION STATEMENT Boise Parks & Recreation Department s mission is to enhance Boise s quality of life by working in partnership with the community to foster and support citizen well being and healthy community environments. 4/6/2009/H:\Word\FCAC\09 FCAC Minutes\090311FCACmin.doc/mcl

2 Page 2 MOTION: A motion was made by Suki Molina to go forward with staff recommendations as noted above, seconded by Milt Gillespie. The motion is out of order. The Chairman reminded committee members that Component #1 is being discussed and approval is being sought. MOTION: A motion was made by Suki Molina to adopt staff recommendations in Component #1 consisting of Old Penitentiary Trailhead, Miller Gulch Trailhead, Crestline Trailhead, Veteran s Trailhead, and Seaman Gulch Trailhead all be on leash as well as the first ¼ mile of specified trails, seconded by Milt Gillespie. Committee member Baskin has observed that the majority of foothills users oppose additional off leash laws. Less restrictions cause resource and environmental loss. Dogs off leash cause damage to the resources. If we think dogs running off leash are more important than the resources we should allow them all to run loose. He opposes the motion. Motion passed six (6) Chuck McDevitt, Suki Molina, Milt Gillespie, Stuart Allyn, Mike Reynoldson and Chris Thometz to five (5) Tom Baskin, Anne Hausrath, Betsy Roberts, Annie Black, and Shirley Randolph. Component 2 Encompasses Hull s Gulch Reserve, Military Reserve and Castle Rock Reserve. Is further discussion needed? MOTION: A motion was made by Suki Molina to adopt Component 2 to make Lower Hulls Gulch Reserve, Lower Military Reserve, and Castle Rock Reserve on leash, seconded by Milt Gillespie. Motion passed six (6) Suki Molina, Milt Gillespie, Stuart Allyn, Mike Reynoldson, Christ Thometz and Tom Baskin to four (4) Betsy Roberts, Anne Hausrath, Shirley Randolph, and Annie Black. There could be a new trail to the West of 8 th Street to link Red Fox with lower Hulls without going through the parking lot, that is, if Red Fox Trail were to be an off leash trail, however the vote just taken indicates it would not be off-leash. Julia Grant noted she had three (3) concerns about that new trail extension: (1) presence of Asae s onions (2) building a trail for a special user group and (3) the dog s off-leash may run onto 8 th Street. Committee member Gillespie had a question on the asae s onion issue. Has anyone told us they are hurt by the dogs off leash. Staff stated there are no studies pertaining to dog impact on onions, but it is widely accepted that if the onion or any rare plant is trampled while blooming its survival is compromised.

3 Page 3 Committee member Roberts asked to consider separately a look at Red Fox and the possible extension as she has concerns about the onions also. She is proposing to put Red Fox off leash then look at the onion and all uses together. Director Hall would like to discuss this for a moment. We ve said that could work on Red Fox as a way to provide one off leash trail. We ve had meetings with Council persons Jordan and Tibbs to show that is a way to get an off leash trail up to the ridge. Committee member Baskin asked staff to show him exactly where the off leash trail experience would begin on Red Fox Trail. Staff showed Mr. Baskin using the map on display, at the Chickadee Ridge intersection so as to avoid the riparian area to the east of Red Fox Trail. Committee member Hausrath stated she is uncomfortable where we are going with this. She thought this was voted in December to make Red Fox off leash. MOTION: A motion was made by Anne Hausrath that Red Fox be off leash from 15 th Street to trail junction, seconded by Betsy Roberts. David Gordon noted Ridge to Rivers is working with Boise Trail Dog, but the Committee needs to make the decision. The official Ridge to River Staff recommendation of Red Fox on leash did not change. If you want to make that concession that s okay. Committee member Randolph noted that there are plenty of off leash experiences in the foothills. Committee member Molina agreed with Ms. Randolph. There is plenty of off leash opportunities in the foothills. Hull s Gulch should all be on leash. Mr. Baskin asked Ms. Hausrath to show him on the map what section her motion encompasses. Ms. Hausrath pointed out the Spring Creek area. He stated he is not comfortable with the proposed concession in green and definitely not the additional area Ms. Hausrath pointed out. There are lots of things in there that would be really disturbed by dogs. Motion failed seven (7) Suki Molina, Tom Baskin, Shirley Randolph, Chris Thometz, Stuart Allyn, Milt Gillespie and Annie Black to three (3) Betsy Roberts, Anne Hausrath and Mike Reynoldson. The next area to be looked at is the Military Reserve off leash loop. The recommendation is to make it all on leash. An off leash loop could be considered by the FCAC either on Eagle Ridge adjacent to the off leash Dog Park or on Toll Road/Ridgecrest. Committee member Roberts commented that she thought that more people had settled on the Toll Road.

4 Page 4 MOTION: A motion was made by Betsy Roberts that we accept what has been shown on the map in Green, which is the Eagle Ridge (#25), Eagle Ridge loop (#25A) and the Elephant Rock loop (23A), seconded by Anne Hausrath. Motion passed seven (7) Betsy Roberts, Anne Hausrath, Annie Black, Milt Gillespie, Stuart Allyn, Mike Reynoldson and Chris Thometz to three (3) Tom Baskin, Suki Molina, and Shirley Randolph. The next issue is the number of dogs being monitored per person on the system, both on and off leash. Committee member Molina noted that a person has two hands therefore a person should have no more than two dogs. MOTION: A motion was made by Suki Molina that a person utilizing the trails in the foothills should have not more than two (2) dogs at a time, seconded by Betsy Roberts. Motion passed nine (9) Suki Molina, Tom Baskin, Anne Hausrath, Annie Black, Christ Thometz, Stuart Allyn, Shirley Randolph, Milt Gillespie and Betsy Roberts to (1) Mike Reynoldson The next issue is the recommendation of the number of persons involved enforcement of the dog guidelines and what type of enforcement shall be used in the Foothills. Question was asked if two (2) are efficient and sufficient. Staff does not know what the results would be with four (4) versus two (2). Please keep in mind the two (2) that currently patrol the foothills also patrol City parks. Committee member Thometz stated it was essential to have enforcement if there were going to be new guidelines. A minimum of two (2) is needed, four (4) would be nice for educational purposes. How much time do the officers put in up in the Foothills? They patrol Wednesday through Saturday. MOTION: A motion was made by Anne Hausrath that an enforcement plan with a minimum of two (2) officers and adding weekends be put into place, seconded by Betsy Roberts. Committee member Hausrath noted that she is not in favor of making Lower Hull s Gulch off on leash without more enforcement. David Gordon noted that dog groups are really supportive of enforcement.

5 Page 5 Recommendation is needed for the length of the leash. There was some discussion as to the length of leash needed to abide by current City Code. MOTION: A motion was made by Tom Baskin that the length of a dog s leash in the Foothills be the same as what is currently allowed by City Code in the City of Boise, seconded by Shirley Randolph. Committee member Hausrath is not in favor. Annie Black noted the dog policy recommends 6 foot as does Boise Trail Dog. Pat Riceci, Boise City Attorney s Office noted that the current Code in the City, along the Greenbelt, is that the length not be more than 8 feet and retractable is okay. Tom Baskin withdrew his motion. MOTION: A motion was made by Shirley Randolph that in the Foothills a dog cannot be on a leash longer than 6 feet, seconded by Suki Molina. Motion passed by all present. The fine currently is $25 whether it is a person s first or 10 th citation. Some municipalities have a stepped fine and after the third offense are barred from trails. No motion was made, therefore the fine will stay where it is. Committee member Roberts questioned where the committee left things with potential new trails, Red Fox from Chickadee to the green gate. Committee could look at this in another month. MOTION: A motion was made by Betsy Roberts that we review the proposed connection in respect to the onion and in doing so reconsider off leash on Red Fox at the April meeting, seconded by Anne Hausrath. Motion passed six (6) Stuart Allyn, Chris Thometz, Anne Hausrath, Annie Black, Betsy Roberts and Mike Reynoldson to four (4) Milt Gillespie, Tom Baskin, Shirley Randolph and Suki Molina MOTION: A motion was made by Shirley Randolph that these recommendations be forwarded to City Council for adoption, seconded by Suki Molina. Motion passed seven (7) Chris Thometz, Suki Molina, Mike Reynoldson, Stuart Allyn, Annie Black, Milt Gillespie and to three (3) Anne Hausrath, Tom Baskin and Betsy Roberts.

6 Page 6 IV. BRIEF UPDATE ON VARIOUS LAND EXCHANGES Staff noted that there has been no press on the Oberbillig property. VI. FOOTHILLS LEARNING CENTER No report available. VIII. RIDGE TO RIVERS PARTNERSHIP David Gordon brought the Committee members up to date on the progress of the new shop. Staff should begin maintenance as things dry out in the foothills. The trail awareness run has been scheduled in June this year. There were several conflicts last year when it was scheduled in May. The Trail Use Sub-Committee has met three times to date. Members may begin seeing some events spearheaded by SWIMBA and Boise Trail Dog. These could be important educational opportunities for users. The next meeting will be April 2, Committee members may have seen in the news lately about the muddy trail damage that is occurring this winter and spring. Trails may be closed next year when we get into a freeze/thaw cycle. Signage and education will be used. Bruce Eggleston, PDS update members on the Plano Road project. They are trying to get a mediator. IV. EXECUTIVE SESSION Chairperson McDevitt asked for a motion to move into Executive Session (1) (c)"...to conduct deliberations concerning the acquiring of interests in real property which are not owned by a public agency". A motion was made and seconded TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER IDAHO CODE, (1) (C)"...TO CONDUCT DELIBERATIONS CONCERNING THE ACQUIRING OF INTERESTS IN REAL PROPERTY WHICH ARE NOT OWNED BY A PUBLIC AGENCY. A motion was made and seconded TO RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION. The FCAC returned to regular session at 8:45A.M.

7 Page 7 Meeting adjourned at 8:45 A.M. NEXT MEETING Wednesday, April 1, 7:30 A.M. Foothills Learning Center Conference Room