Commission reviews Scenic Heights trail drainage and opts for monitoring, education over new speed limits

During the meeting the commission addressed two related issues at Scenic Heights Trail: chronic drainage and whether to regulate speeds for bicycles and electric bicycles.

Commissioner Tom Jones described sections of the trail that become nearly impassable after rain and said prior gravel fills helped temporarily but then eroded, creating muddy transitions at higher and lower trail levels. Parks staff (Brandon) told the commission the trail sits through a marsh/wetland area where water from adjacent slopes converges; he said the most feasible technical solution would be to install a culvert or dig a drainage channel, but that such repairs would require permitting and repeated maintenance. "We can try to do a culvert across and dig in — I would have to look at permitting," Brandon said.

On the question of bicycles and e-bikes, staff reported no collision reports but said riders sometimes travel fast on the trail as a commuter link. Staff outlined alternatives used in other cities — one-way trail segments, physical speed-calming (which can be hazardous to cyclists), and requirements for audible-warning devices such as bells or horns. The commission favored a monitoring-and-education approach: install counters to measure peak usage and consider an outreach campaign to encourage audible warnings and neighborly trail behavior before pursuing code changes or physical traffic-calming features.

Staff will bring data from trail counters and community feedback to a parks subcommittee for follow-up; commissioners agreed the subcommittee should handle detailed planning and possible signage or soft enforcement days with police.