The Trails Advisory Commission on July 28 voted to send the borough mayor a letter recommending that the borough use the Alaska State Parks Trail Management Handbook as an interim set of trail design and management standards for borough trails listed in the Comprehensive Recreational Trails Plan.

Commissioners debated how the handbook would be applied, and staff clarified limits on borough code. Trail coordinator Andrea Jacobs told the commission that "the only trail related borough code that has been adopted is under Title 17 subdivision code" and that those subdivision provisions apply only when a landowner subdivides property.

Supporters said the handbook provides a standardized classification and a framework of Trail Management Objectives (TMOs) that would let staff and the commission describe individual trail character and maintenance needs. Commissioner comments repeatedly stressed that the handbook differentiates trail types and classes and that designation would not automatically change a trail's character; as one commissioner put it, the standards help "disambiguate between different types of trails," so a narrow, community ski trail would not be turned into a wide skate-ski corridor.

Opponents and some residents warned the commission that adopting standards could lead to protracted debates over individual sections of popular trails. Commissioner concerns included how much staff time adoption and implementation would require and whether the process might limit informal volunteer maintenance. Jacobs responded that staff have begun an easement inventory and that classification work could be done incrementally and supported by volunteers or student interns.

After discussion the commission approved a revised draft letter to the mayor, including edits to clarify that the handbook would serve as an interim guiding framework for trails included in the most up-to-date borough Comprehensive Recreational Trails Plan. The commission's recorded vote approved the letter and accompanying edits; commissioners present voted in favor.

The commission asked staff to report back on classification steps and suggested that completed TMOs be shared with the commission for review before further policy changes.

The mayor's office must still consider the commission's recommendation and decide whether to pursue adoption through borough policy or code change.