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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMMPC.2023.0124.MinutesTOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN PRESERVATION COMMISSION JANUARY 24, 2023 1. CALL TO ORDER at 5:02 PM 2. ROLL CALL Present Chairman Scott Grzybowski; Commissioner Brian Jennings; Commissioner Bill Craig; Commissioner Janice Holden; Commissioner DJ Willard; Commissioner Steven Nurney; Commissioner Sherry Irwin Staff Parks Superintendent Kevin Snipes; Executive Assistant Patti Lopuszanski Present: 3. CALL TO THE PUBLIC - NONE Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.01(H), public comment is permitted (not required) on matters NOT listed on the agenda. Any such comment (i) must be within the jurisdiction of the Commission, and (if) is subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions. The Commission will not discuss or take legal action on matters raised during Call to the Public unless the matters are properly noticed for discussion and legal action. At the conclusion of the Cali to the Public, individual commissioners may (i) respond to criticism, (ii) ask staff to review a matter, or (iii) ask that the matter be placed on a future Commission agenda. 4. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Approval of the MMPC Meeting Minutes of September 27, 2022 MOVED BY Commissioner DJ Willard, SECONDED BY Commissioner Brian Jennings Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously 5. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Approval of the MMPC Meeting Minutes of October 25, 2022 TABLED Chair Grzybowski informed the commissioners that the Minutes of October 25, 2022 would be tabled until the next meeting due to transcription problems. 6. CONSIDERATION & POSSIBLE ACTION: Approval of the MMPC Meeting Minutes of November 22, 2022 MOVED BY Commissioner Bill Craig, SECONDED BY Commissioner DJ Willard Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission Meeting of January 24, 2023 2 of 5 7. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Trail Naming Survey Report Vice -Chair Nurney provided an overview of the Trail Naming Survey results: • Approximately 100 volunteers were invited to participate in the email survey with 51 responses recorded. • The first proposal was to start the Ridgeline Trail at the trailhead, and have the Overlook essentially be a spur. The options for response were, do you think this would make trail navigation easier for people who are not familiar with the preserve? Or do you not?- 70% of 47 people, in this case, thought that that was a useful idea. • The second question was regarding the Andrew Kinsey Western bike loop, and that was the one that received the highest percentage of folks who agreed that it would be good to make that change. The change noted to essentially eliminate the Western bike loop. A lot of comments mentioned it is not for bikes and not a loop. So why do we call it a bike loop? • The third was changing the name of the Western loop. About two-thirds favored that idea, 1/3 didn't think that that would improve anything. • The fourth was, the one that we knew would be the most controversial, and that was essentially eliminating the name and the Promenade Trail and changing it to the Sonoran. Commissioner Irwin and Commissioner Jennings were in favor of the Ridgeline change. Commissioner Nurney added that he would recommend rather than changing the name to change the signage which would be less controversial. Chairman Grzybowski added that there was no rush for name changes at this time. 8. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Possible New Trails for Vetting It was determined that Possible New Trail Vetting would be discussed further at the February meeting. 9. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Trailhead Rules MOVED BY Chairman Scott Grzybowski, SECONDED BY Commissioner Brian Jennings Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously It was voted to approve the Golden Eagle Trailhead Rules and Adero Canyon Rules as amended with the following changes: • Golden Eagle Sign - Change the word "lease" to "leash" • Trailhead Rules - proper spelling for the word "harassing" 10. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Adero Canyon Trailhead Welcome Signage Mr. Snipes provided the newly constructed gate signage for the commissioners to see prior to it being installed at the trailhead by staff. McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission Meeting of January 24, 2023 3 of 5 11. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Joint Meeting MMPC and Sonoran Conservancy MMPC had previous discussions on the inclusion of a future agenda for a joint meeting to be held with the Sonoran Conservancy Fountain Hills. A working group made up of Chair Grzybowski, Commissioner Nurney and Commissioner Holden will meet with Ms. Goodwin and Mr. Snipes to discuss the scope of MMPC and Sonoran Conservancy and how to be more effective. 12. DISSCUSSION: Non Native Plant (NNP) - Buffelgrass on North Leg Chairman Grzybowski and Commissioner Craig spoke about their observations of a lot of buffelgrass on the North Leg Trail that they found while on the trails. This invasive grass can not be pulled and thrown out but must be disposed of accordingly to not spread further. Discussion continued with Mr. Snipes asking what herbicides were being used in Scottsdale. 13. UPDATE: Sonoran Conservancy Fountain Hills Liaison Commissioner Craig informed the commissioners that the trailblazers should finish the North Lake Trail in February. On Saturday, they were installing the first half of signs for the Lower Ridgeline Trail. He shared that he put in a request with Mr. Snipes and Ms.Goodwin to look at possibly reworking two of the bad areas on the Lake Overlook Trail. 14. UPDATE: Parking at Adero Canyon Trailhead - Status of Cameras Mr. Snipes informed the commissioners that he would get a status update from Justin Weldy on the timeline for technology to be secured for cameras at the Adero Canyon Trailhead. 15. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Hunting in the Preserve Mr. Snipes stated that everything shared with the Town through legal counsel as well as from fishing and game is that our Preserve is off limits by town authority to make that decision for hunting. Per Fishing and Game it's not an authorized hunting area. 16. DISCUSSION: Promenade Entrance Improvements The Promenade entrance is in need of improvement due to I se granite and discussion about the progress of this project was discussed. Mr. Snipes shared that a supplement in the FY24 budget would cover redoing the trail there by moving it over with the help of Justin Weldy. Staloc, a product from Stabilizer Solutions, will be used on this project. McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission Meeting of January 24, 2023 4 of 5 17. DISCUSSION: Borrow a Bell Commissioner Jennings presented information for consideration regarding implementing the Borrow a Bell program to address the growing potential of accidents on a trail with hikers, trail runners and cyclists. The program was initiated by Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers (CCCMB) on California's Central Coast. Samples of the bells were shared with commissioners to hear and it was stated that if hikers could hear approaching mountain bikers, there would be more time for all trail users to meet safely. Bell Boxes can be built and installed at the trailheads and exits to the MMPC. Upon further discussion, it was determined this program would not be well received by mountain bikers and would not move forward for conisderation. 18. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION: Trail Counter Activity The Trail Counter Report was reviewed with no further discussion. 19. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Future Agenda Items Commissioner Craig requested that North Leg Trail signs be placed on the list for a Future Agenda 20. UPDATE: Next MMPC Meeting February 28, 2023. Agenda and attachments due by February 14, 2023 to be included in the next meeting packet. The upcoming meeting date was discussed with the need to submit agenda items two weeks prior to the meeting. 21. ADJOURNMENT at 7:06 PM MOVED BY Commissioner Steven Nurney, SECONDED BY Commissioner Janice Holden Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission Meeting of January 24, 2023 5 of 5 ATTEST AND PREPARED BY: Patti Lopuszanski, Fxe ve Assistant MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN PRESERVATION COMMISSION Sco Grzybowski, Chairman CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular Meeting held by the Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission in the Town Hall Council Chambers on the 24th day of January, 2023. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present. Dated April 3, 2023. i %.9C atti Lopuszanski, xec a Assistant