Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Bridle Trails Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee presses for clearer maps, pilot enforcement and showgrounds update after council workshop
Summary
Following a council workshop, the committee urged clearer GIS maps showing which bridle trails are exclusive to horses, discussed pilot enforcement at high-traffic pinch points, and requested an update from show operator Wellington Lifestyle (WLP) about stadium and master-plan commitments.
The Equestrian Preserve Committee revisited a council workshop discussion and focused on making bridle-trail information clearer for residents and riders, testing enforcement options and getting a status update from the show operator about master-plan commitments.
Lede: The committee asked staff to improve public GIS trail maps to show whether trails are exclusive equestrian paths or shared multi-use corridors and to consider short pilot enforcement efforts at easy-to-monitor locations such as where key bridle trails empty onto roadways.
Why it matters: committee members said better maps and targeted enforcement would reduce conflict between horses and motorized users, improve rider safety, and help the council weigh strategic investments in bridle-trail upkeep and designation.
Staff reported the village already maintains a GIS application for the 57-mile bridle-trail system and said additional layers could be used to show multi-use corridors. Committee members asked staff to add clearer color coding and to advertise the tool so equestrians can determine whether a trail is exclusive or shared before riding.
Enforcement and pilot ideas: members repeatedly raised Pearson Road and two trail exits near showgrounds as high-priority pilot locations where PBSO and staff could perform short, visible education-and-enforcement shifts during morning and evening peaks. Committee members stressed an educational first approach, with citations as a later step if education fails.
Showgrounds and master-plan concerns: members also discussed reports that a stadium shown in the master plan may not be built and asked staff to invite Wellington International, Wellington Lifestyle (WLP) representatives and show operator Murray Cussler to the April meeting to clarify what conditions (Section 7) remain to be satisfied before major construction proceeds. Public commenter Ralph Hodges urged elevating oversight to council level if commitments are not met.
Equestrian feedback: staff presented a Flash Vote survey option and a draft list of screening questions to capture equestrian priorities the village can address. Staff estimated the Flash Vote sampling panel at roughly 250 respondents (to be confirmed) and said they can add a geographic filter for an equestrian slice; the committee debated whether a short Flash Vote or a larger, professionally designed survey is the right approach.
Next steps: staff will update GIS map layers to improve clarity, confirm Flash Vote sample scope, and seek availability from WLP/Murray Cussler and other stakeholders for a follow-up meeting. Committee members requested staff send the Feb. 9 council-workshop link and a navigation guide to those who have not yet reviewed it.
No formal votes on policy were taken.
