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Advisory board forms standing trails committee; Cottonwood Eastland RTP bid, Diamond Creek access discussed
Summary
After months of informal coordination, the board voted to create a standing trails committee to consolidate trail data, vet letters of support and coordinate with volunteers. Members also reported an RTP grant submission for Cottonwood Eastland and discussed Diamond Creek reroute and volunteer cleanup work.
The advisory board voted to establish a standing trails committee to centralize trail information, coordinate with volunteer groups and act on requests for support.
Alan Parks proposed a formal committee to take on requests such as letters of support, consolidate trail data (mapping, GPS photos, maintenance needs) and liaise with groups like the Homer Cycling Club and Friends of the Park. "The trails committee could figure out what's appropriate ... and then we would bring it back to the board," Parks said. After discussion about overlap with an informal pre‑meeting group, a board member moved to create a standing trails committee; the motion was seconded and approved with no recorded opposition.
The board also heard reports on trail projects. Volunteers and the Friends group reported submitting a competitive Recreational Trails Program (RTP) application for the Cottonwood Eastland multi‑use trail; applicants noted a crowded grant field and said they will pursue alternative funding if RTP does not cover Phase 1 costs. Volunteers also described progress at Diamond Creek, where a slide required a temporary reroute; the group hopes to identify a permanent alternative route in spring.
Board members and public commenters raised operational issues tied to trail access: vandalized and hazardous barbed wire, the need for signage directing visitors to official parking at mile 17.4, and options for snow removal (discussion included asking DOT to clear the turnout or contracting local plowing). The board agreed the trails committee should be a clearinghouse for information, and members said they expect the committee to present consolidated data and recommendations at future meetings.
The motion to form the committee was recorded as approved; the board discussed naming a chair and reaching out to community groups for broader involvement. No formal bylaws changes or budget allocations for the committee were made at the meeting.
