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Borough staff, landowners and volunteers to hash out trail maintenance agreements after TAC discussion
Summary
Commissioners discussed the need for clear maintenance standards and formal agreements for volunteer and nonprofit trail stewards; staff proposed a working group (up to 3 commissioners plus staff) and suggested using interagency standards as a baseline.
The Trails Advisory Commission on April 28 opened a detailed discussion about creating formal maintenance agreements to govern grooming, routine upkeep and site improvements for trails that cross private land or easements.
Multiple public commenters and landowners said they want to be involved in decisions that affect trees, trail width and other changes beyond routine grooming. "What I would like to see the borough do is ensure involvement and participation of the landowners whose land is within the easements along the Category B trails," said Ted Swem, a property owner adjacent to the Scarlyn Trail.
Andrea Jacobs, the borough's trail coordinator, said staff has draft agreement language from other entities (for example, a draft agreement submitted by the Student Conservation Association) and noted that legal and risk review is ongoing. She framed two challenges: (1) balancing best practice trail design and grooming requirements (which sometimes require widening or regrading) with landowner preferences; and (2) the borough’s capacity to administer individualized trail outreach and agreements across many parcels.
Commissioners proposed practical next steps. Mr. Boyce suggested a small working group and volunteered to serve; Jacobs said staff can host a working group so long as it includes no more than three commissioners and the staff member to avoid Open Meetings Act violations. TAC members raised the option of adopting Alaska State Parks/interagency trail maintenance guidance rather than reinventing standards.
The commission agreed to pursue a working group that will draft language for formal maintenance agreements and to prepare a letter recommending that the borough consider maintenance standards. Jacobs noted the borough has a draft agreement under legal review and volunteers to circulate that draft to the working group and the commission for comment.
The discussion stopped short of adopting formal standards or binding agreements; commissioners recommended further work to identify the scope of maintenance covered by borough agreements, clarify responsibilities for gates/bollards and long‑term stewardship, and provide staff with direction to return to the TAC with a working group product.
