Warrenton Trails Work Session
January 10th, 2005, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Warrenton City Hall
Purpose: to develop a work plan for the Warrenton Trail Project
Agenda:
*Welcome and introductions
*Background
*Exploring the facets in the trail vision
*Who will use and benefit from the trail, and who can help make it happen?
*Brainstorming tasks and milestones
*Rough-out a timeline for the project (calendar)
*Next steps
Notes from the meeting prepared by Marc Auerbach
In attendance:
Alex Stone, National Parks Service
Marc Auerbach, WTA
Bob Maxfield, WTA
Eldon Wright, WTA, RC&D
Kathi Merritt, Warrenton Grade School
Jim Scheller, WTA
Frida Freunfelder, WBA
Gill Gramson, Mayor of Warrenton
Krista Greisen, WTA
The following are notes synthesized from my own notes, some taken by Krista before she had to leave, and by Alex's scribed notes on the wall. The wall-notes are reprinted "as is" at the end of this recap "for the record."
PROMOTION
- Create a small, pamphlet or brochure explaining the concept, showing where folks can walk today
- Use logos of partners such as NPS, City of Warrenton, WBA, Clatsop County to establish credibility
- Do a "Walk of the Month Club." Get Volkswalk to use portions of the trail. Sierra club hikes, etc.
- Adopt-a-Trail
- Plan a spring/summer "kick-off" event. Perhaps in connection with SOLV's "Down by the riverside" cleanup event.
- Perhaps a picnic/BBQ at Caruthers
- Promotion serves both to sell the idea, but also to get input and modify the plan to best meet the needs of the intended users. This also serves WTA's interest in continuing to attract interested people to join our group and work on aspects of the plan.
PLANNING
- Get some complete, significant part of the trail done so that people can experience what the whole thing might be like. Seeing is believing. And to increase support for completing additional segments.
- Continue strategy of going after the low hanging fruit, and not tackling the hardest sections first.
- Gil communicated that the city has a legacy 100' easement across the proposed golf course in Segment 12. Apparently the original dike is still there, but covered and filled by dredge spoils.
- Need to address security concerns. Increased use, control of vegetation to balance need to keep the trail isolated from traffic, without making it feel "creepy" to walk along alone.
- Need to get title info on easements and trail ownership.
- Need to test our assumptions on access, trail surface, width, amenities, security, signage, etc. with the potential users of the trail. More outreach to seniors, schools, scouts, etc.
- Formal understandings for maintenance of completed trail. Gil said Warrenton was responsible for their portion.
- When WTA applies for grants, we need to have explicit, written permission to do the project from the jurisdiction involved.
- Look into documenting positive economic effects (the original reason for WBA's involvement).
- Don't overlook positive impacts to: Livability/ Quality of Life / Community Pride
PARTNERSHIPS
- The City of Warrenton is a strong partner. Gil mentioned that the city was in the process of procuring an articulating, flail brush mower. He also offered help in doing title research. However, he made it clear that city is staff is very busy and that they could not manage projects that the WTA might get funding for without hiring additional staff themselves. Thus, grants proposals should be written to include funding for a job foreman or similar consulting help.
Eldon mentioned that NWRC&D had in the past provided management assistance for projects.
- Schools can be good partners on a number of fronts:
- Curriculum
- Use of trails as part of fitness/training programs
- Safe routes to school programs.
- Historical Society
Gil mentioned that the site for the proposed 3rd street park was the original Nygard log pile. He recalled seeing trucks lined up clear down main street and out of town, all with three-log loads (i.e. big trees). This is the sense of history that might be captured in interpretive signs and kiosks.
- Private Developers
Gil mentioned that on one project he was involved with, as a condition of a 23 unit development, a portion of the trail passing along the development will be paved.
-CDC (Centers for Disease Control)
Alex mentioned one project where doctors now prescribe walks on the nearby trail as an element in combating obesity.
PHUNDING
- Quincy Fund
- Grants (306A, RTP, NPS, Marine Board), etc.
- Private fund raising
APPENDIX: "As Is" Meeting Notes
The following are the scribes notes as posted on the wall:
Vision Components
Paving? Asphalt? Other?
Connections - Astoria, Fort Clatsop (FOCL), Fort Stevens (FSSP)
Future: Seaside, Del Ray Beach
Promote Walking/Biking, Warrenton Volks Walk(??), Monthly Walk Brochure of system Measure current use (trail counters?) Signage/Access poor
Personal Security - Self monitored
- Vegetation management for visual access
Funding
State 306
OPR RTP
Marine Board
Quincy Fund
WTA - Promote trail planning
- Include NPS, City of Warrenton in brochure
Outreach
Seniors, schools (e.g. x-country team), Scouts
Marathon?
City Supportive - Joint sponsorship of project (use city logo in brochure)
Map existing trails, opportunities, historic sites (e.g. Nygard, logging, post office) Title research Easements
Access
Parking
Porta-potties (summer May to Sept), plus city facilities 9-5
Implementation sequence & Priorities
(Function, capitalize on opportunities
- in city trail/comp plan
- complete "core" section for increased function
Maintenance
Organize to reduce impact on city staff/budget
- City will purchase articulating, flail mower
Adopt-a-trail, Down-by-the-Riverside (SOLV) events
Educational Program, Kiosks
Need a construction manager for the construction phase.
User benefits
Schools
- Education
- Safe routes to school
- Cross Country runs
- Livability/ Quality of Life / Community Pride
Economic Development
Senior Programs
Community Health (CDC)
Historical Resources
- Historical Society
- School Curriculum
Promotion with a kick-off event (Trail Cleanup, Feed).