City staff outline trail easements, 2004 bond funds and an IGA with ADOT for Route 66 improvements

City staff told the advisory committee they are working to put a dated but still available 2004 bond fund to use for trail easements and small acquisitions, and asked the committee to help prioritize candidate projects.

Staff said the fund balance available for easements is roughly $2,200,000 and that about $800,000 may be earmarked for a matching grant; members urged moving quickly to apply the money to projects that already have design momentum, including Sawmill, a Sinclair Ridge trail connection, and an Elks Lodge connector used informally by cyclists.

Staff also summarized an intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Transportation for a Route 66 milling/overlay project. As negotiated, ADOT will install an 8‑foot concrete trail from Railroad Springs to Woodlands Village Boulevard, perform curb/gutter work in places and consider wider shoulders and restriping where feasible. The ADOT work was delayed to avoid conflict with the Route 66 centennial celebration and construction was described as forecast for late summer or fall 2027.

Committee members asked about private‑land connectors and the risk that privately controlled links could later be closed; staff said some connections are on county land and others will require easements. Staff asked the committee for priority recommendations; no binding allocation decision was made at the meeting.

Next steps: staff will refine a priority list for easement use, follow up on ADOT design coordination and return with more detail on funding allocation and proposed acquisitions.