HCOG forms ad hoc committee to study maintenance, funding and safety for regional trails

The Humboldt County Association of Governments board on Sept. 18 authorized an ad hoc committee to study maintenance funding, safety rules and potential enforcement needs for the region’s growing network of commuter and Bay Trail segments.

Executive Director Byrd told the board the committee will consider funding options, day‑to‑day operations, uniform rules and trail-safety measures because several long-distance trails are now open and “how are we gonna pay to keep these things nice and used and maintained and improved,” he said. The ad hoc committee will bring technical staff from member jurisdictions and agencies together with the Great Redwood Trail Agency and others to develop options and recommendations.

Byrd and several board members said trails have been developed with grant dollars but local maintenance funding is limited. Byrd said day‑to‑day upkeep (graffiti, trash pickup, signage) can be handled by jurisdictions in the near term, but larger repairs — such as pavement rehabilitation after erosion or wave run-up along bayfront sections — could require substantially more funding than local agencies currently budget for. He described those larger repairs as “unforeseen” and could be in the tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the problem and location.

The HCOG technical advisory committee (TAC) recommended the ad hoc formation, and volunteers were identified from Eureka, Arcata, Arcadia, the county and Caltrans. Board members discussed whether board representatives would serve on the ad hoc committee and were told membership would likely be technical staff drawn from the TAC, with the option to add board members later if needed.

A speaker from Eureka, speaking during public comment as a resident and trail steward, told the board she supports a uniform rules approach and nominated Supervisor Madrone as a potential board representative if the board decides to appoint members in the future. A PAC motion to recommend formation of the ad hoc passed unanimously and the HCOG board approved the PAC recommendation by motion.

The board directed staff to convene the ad hoc committee with the TAC‑recommended participants, to scope funding and maintenance scenarios, and to include rules/regulation and public-safety considerations in the committee’s work. Staff said participating agencies will report back with findings and potential budget implications; staff also noted Riedel (a jurisdiction represented by a consultant) may face consultant-staffing constraints.

Byrd said the committee will explore both short-term operations and longer-term options — including examples used elsewhere such as local assessment measures — and will return to the board with recommendations. No funding or new staffing assignments were approved at the Sept. 18 meeting.