Minutes 12-12-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 Allan Green requested that their petition, submitted last week, for establishing the route for the MTS, be considered by the BOCC this evening, but that David Stancil, Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation Director, said that would be part of the budget process. He said his group has been before the BOCC many times in the last few years, and the reason that the State indicated Orange County as a low priority is because they feel Orange County is not committed. He said he wanted Orange County to designate the route tonight, but it is only on the agenda as an informational item. Ed Johnson said he is an old time hiker, and the people he has met on the trails have been great people. He said he owns land to the north of Cane Creek Reservoir, and is willing to grant an easement across his property for this trail. Chair Dorosin said the information item on this evening’s agenda recommends that approval of the trail route should concur with budget discussions this spring. He referred to the request of accepting offered easements, and said the staff has been in touch with many landowners in this area, are moving forward, but completion by 2018 may be too ambitious. He referred to the request to establish a relationship with the Friends of MST, and said the information item states this is under way, and a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) is being worked on for trail building and assistance. Bonnie Hammersley said the information item says staff will proceed with the CIP as previously planned, unless otherwise directed by the Board of County Commissioners. Commissioner Jacobs said regardless of the timeline, the public should understand that the Board is committed, and will move forward with this via normal processes. Commissioner McKee said there has been no backing away from what he indicated in his letter of support two years ago. Commissioner Marcoplos said contacting landowners is a tacit acceptance of parts of the trail. David Stancil said the Board gave direction on September 19th, and staff provided a memo summarizing that direction; on October 27th staff received instruction to move forward with landowners who are offering easements. He said this evening’s information item reinforces all of this. He said information was sent out to people who have been in touch with the County, and staff will move forward with discussions. David Stancil said the process may not be completed by February, due to staff and legal reviews, but it is moving forward. Commissioner Price said she asked staff last week if they would be in touch with landowners who are willing to donate land for easements. She said progress, even in small increments, is encouraging that the process is moving forward. David Stancil said every property owner, who has expressed interest, should receive information via the US postal service, which will initiate the process. Commissioner Jacobs said there is concern in the community that an actual path for trail has yet to be determined. He asked if there is a reason that the location of the trail has not been identified. David Stancil said the CIP has broken this process into three phases, which may need to be revisited; and the logical time to do this would be during the CIP process in March or April. He said, however, there is nothing precluding the Board from setting a line on the map right now. He said a proposed route has been identified. Commissioner Jacobs said in the past, projects have had conceptual plans that the Board adopted before it went into the CIP and before the Board had a master plan. He asked if a conceptual plan could be adopted in this case, prior to the CIP. Bonnie Hammersley said yes. Chair Dorosin said to try and get this on the agenda for the January 23rd meeting.