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Home My WebLink AboutMMPC.2018.1127.Minutes °/°1' TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS 2 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE i MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN PRESERVATION COMMISSION - - November 27,2018 4.t is 010 AGENDA ITEM#1: CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE A public meeting of the McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission was convened and called to order by Chair Bill Myers at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 27, 2018 in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, located at 16705 East Avenue of the Fountains, Fountain Hills, Arizona. AGENDA ITEM#2: ROLL CALL Present at roll call were Chair Bill Myers, Vice-Chair Tom Barberic, Commissioner Bill Craig, Commissioner Klaus Schadle, Commissioner Tom Aiello and Commissioner Ken Thornton. Absent at roll call was Commissioner Stan Ruden. Staff members present were Community Services Director Rachael Goodwin and Executive Assistant Angela Padgett-Espiritu. AGENDA ITEM#3: CALL TO THE PUBLIC No one from the public wished to speak. 41, AGENDA ITEM#4: UPDATE ON THE 2018 MMPC OBJECTIVES Chair Bill Myers reported on the 2018 MMPC Objectives: • Grand Opening of the trailhead: complete • Two Town Fairs: November Fair is complete. Talked to over 719 people. New television, thanks to the Sonoran Conservancy • Adero Canyon Trailhead: Update on agenda • Emergency markers, signage and helicopter landing zone: Update on agenda • Trail counters: We have five counters now. • Budget: no update • Scar on Mountain: no update • Fire wising: done • Test 911: done • Five Layers of Protection: Done • Golden eagle Trailhead Entry Sign: no update and 2019 objective now C McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission Page 1 of 6 G:Commission MMPCIAgenda&Minutes1Minutes12018/082818M • Recognition of the Conservancy: Always need to have more recognition. • Recognition of the Values of the Preserves: Studies have shown economic benefits of having a preserve. • Quarterly Update: did not get done • J2 Plans accepted and build the Trailhead: Thank you to the Town. AGENDA ITEM#5: DISCUSSION OF 2019 MMPC OBJECTIVES Chairs Myers reported on the 2019 objectives: o Determine if first aid kits should be installed at the two Trailheads. o Determine if AED kits (defibrillator) should be installed at the two Trailheads. o Help with any final Adero Canyon Trailhead construction or installation of maps etc. o Provided Kiosk information at both Trailheads o Install sign at Golden Eagle Trailhead o Coordinate two town fairs with emphasis on new Trailhead and trails o Install Lower Sonoran Trail and Trailhead signs o Determine if fire/conservancy/other can fly drones over Preserve to help find lost hikers etc. (some towns in our state are doing that) o 5 trail counters and see that all 5 are working- currently only 4 counters working o Submit for the fiscal 19/20 MMPC budget o Director Goodwin reported that the budget needs to be turned in December 2018 and there will no increase in the budget. I will send out what is currently there and what will roll-over. The base budget will get reviewed in late January. Requested ,00 that anything needed added by the commission may be emailed to her but nothing will be increased. o Better recognition of the SCFH (who really does the big bulk of work at our trailheads) o Quarterly updates of the Preserve to the Council o Two new trails in the Preserve o Put QR codes in some new signs and update codes o Determine if other events should be coordinated at the Trailhead o New grants for trails AGENDA ITEM#6: UPDATE ON THE LOWER SONORAN TRAIL SIGNS Chair Myers reported that of the 228 signs, all were put in with the exception of 14 signs. Hope to have the holes dug and concrete put in early December 2018. AGENDA ITEM#7: UPDATE ON THE UPDATED MAP STATUS • Chair Myers recognized Town GIS Technician/CAD Operator Ken Valverde for his help in making the new maps. We have new rules posted at the trailheads. • Director Goodwin stated that the Town can stock the Kiosks but will not make regular rounds up to the trailheads and that the gates are left open. McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission Page 1 of 5 G:CommissiG.•Commissionda&Minutes1Minutes12018/052218M • • Chair Myers requested if Pam Cissik could come to the Town and get maps to stock at the trailhead. stow • Commissioner Craig commented that Pam Cissik may like to have four to five hundred maps. • Director Goodwin reported that a local resident is a local expert with Trip Advisor and that there is nothing listed on our site as an amenity. We are looking at adding that to our Town Website. • Commissioner Craig commented that Sara Hines one of the owners of CopperWynd indicates that she is very knowledgeable about that and is willing to help. • Commissioner Aiello inquired if the Town putting up a larger sign at the visitor's center? • Director Goodwin responded that she does not know at this time. • Chair Myers reported that there are six signs around town that say Sonoran Trail ahead. Around town we need at least half-a-dozen to replace those. • Commissioner Craig commented that maybe at the end of the Copperwynd property may allow us to put a sign there. • Director Goodwin reported that the intention of the Town was to have all signs color coded based upon category. • Commissioner Schadle commented that doesn't the town have the right to put in signs even beyond the curve? • Director Goodwin responded that we would need to work through the logistics. AGENDA ITEM#8: UPDATE ON TRAIL COUNTERS Updated in agenda item#5 as part of the discussion of 2019 MMPC objectives. AGENDA ITEM#9: UPDATE ON THE SONORAN CONSERVANCY • Commissioner Craig reported accolades need to go to Pam Cissik. She has organized the list of things that the host need to know and organized hosts themselves. She has looked at things that the Town has not addressed such as a stand for holding pet waste bags. • Director Goodwin commented that Pam emailed her a list on a number of questions. For instance, the pet cleanup bags have been ordered,just not received yet. • Chair Myers reported that Director Goodwin, Pam Cissik and himself had a meeting. One of the questions was whether or not hunting with a bow and arrow is allowed in the Preserve. Fish and Game think it might be legal. City of Scottsdale was told by Fish and Game that you have to allow hunting on the Preserve. McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission Page 2 of 5 G:CommissiG:Commissionda&MinuteslMinutes12018/052218M • • Commissioner Aiello commented that he has seen bow hunters go into the Dixie Mine Trail. • Chair Myers commented that we need to get clarification as to whether or not bow hunting is ,, ,$) allowed in the Preserve. Worse case they may allow bow hunters but will find out. • Commissioner Craig commented that hikers are not allowed to go off the trail in McDowell Mountain Preserve but hunters are allowed. AGENDA ITEM#10: DISCUSSION ON QR CODES AND SIGNS • Chair Myers reported no update AGENDA ITEM#11: UPDATE ON TOWN FAIR • Chair Myers mentioned that it was a good fair and that Scottsdale is providing a new map. That will include the Town's new trailheads and will be four-times the current size. • Commissioner Craig inquired as to whether or not we put out the connecting trails map at the fair. • Chair Myers and Vice Chair Barberic commented that they thought the connecting maps was at the fair but if we did not will not make sure to put them out at the next fair. AGENDA ITEM #12: UPDATE ON THE ADERO CANYON TRAILHEAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECT • Director Goodwin reported that we issued Monday the letter of substantial completion. They are going through the punch-list items and when accepted, will officially become property of the Town. • Commissioner Thornton asked if they are maintaining the water for the irrigation at the trailhead? • Director Goodwin responded that they have to maintain it for sixty days after that the Town will take over. We are in negotiation to buy the existing rights for the water tank. • Commissioner Craig asked if ATVs are allowed? He commented that the access at the upper gate has been bent where it bolts. • Director Goodwin responded that the ATVs are not allowed and they are looking into the warranty on the upper gate that has been bent. AGENDA ITEM#13: UPDATE ON THE TRAILHEAD GRAND OPENING Chair Myers reported that this was mentioned with the other updates. AGENDA ITEM#14: UPDATE ON ACCESS TO TRAILS FROM THE TRAILHEAD Chair Myers reported that this was addressed in the agenda along with the other updates. McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission Page 3 of 5 G:CommissiG:Commissionda&MinuteslMinutes12018/052218M AGENDA ITEM#15: CONSIDERATION OF ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Barberic made a motion to adjourn at 5:51 p.m., Chair Myers seconded and the motion passed by unanimous vote. McDo ell M nta' Preservation Commission By: Bill My s, Reviewed by: Rachael Goodwi , irector of munity Services l'1 Prepared by: Y t Angela Padget Espiritu, Executive Assistant CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minu -_ t the McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission Meeting held on November '018. I - ertify that the meeting 1 as duly called and that a quorum was present. By: _ •.._---�- y _ A'Tela Pa~�- a�► • ssistant Dated this January 16, 2018 1111 C McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission Page 4 of 5 G:CommissiG:Commissionda&MinuteslMinutes12018/052218M S