4 Feb 2014

Durango’s new Natural Surface Trail System Board Committee–who is on it, what they will do

Posted by Adam Howell

Star Wars Trail in Durango would be the subject of discussion at a Natural Surface Trail System Board Committee meeting, one would hope.

This blogger: Where was the idea for this Committee conceived?

City of Durango’s Parks and Recreation Director Cathy Metz: Last year, there were 7 additional joint Parks and Recreation and Natural Lands Preservation Advisory Board meetings to discuss Oxbow Park and Preserve. Since the natural surface trail system is a similar topic that is discussed by both Advisory Boards, a Board member suggested that we have a committee to work on this topic (outside of our regular Board meetings) and then bring this back to a joint Board meeting later this year to discuss the issues.

This blogger: What is the role of this Committee?

Cathy Metz: The committee will address a variety to topics including social trails, conservation easements on city open space and the impact on trails, wildlife and trails, directional trails, stewardship of trails (maintenance) and new trail development.

This blogger:Who gets to be on it?

Cathy Metz:Natural Lands Preservation Advisory Board representation = Kim Baxter, Paul Wilbert, Mark Smith; Parks and Recreation Advisory Board representation = Richard Speegle, Bill Zimsky and Frank Viehmann

These Board members volunteered to address the natural surface trails.

This blogger: When was it created?

Cathy Metz: We talked about the concept at the last Joint Board meeting in December and reconfirmed the membership in January.

This blogger: When do they meet?

Cathy Metz: We have not met and will likely not meet until February. The committee will discuss the public process relating to discussion of these topics with the broader community and how all of the various issues will be addressed by the city.

This blogger: Who is on it?

Cathy Metz: In addition to the Board representatives, Kevin Hall and myself will be the staff liaisons. We will also meet with Trails 2000 – however, that group is not defined yet (Mary Monroe Brown and a few Board members).

This blogger: Will Trails 2000 be a voting member of the new Natural Surface Trail System Board Committee? In other words, will they be allowed to make a motion or vote on motions raised by other Board Committee members?

Will the Board Committee meetings be held separately from the other Board meetings?

Cathy Metz: Once the committee recommendations come to our full Board discussion (when decisions will be made), only the City Board members can make motions and vote. The Board committee meetings will be separate from the regular Board meetings. When formal action is required, all this will occur at the regular Board meetings. We have not developed the process of how these meetings will unfold with the Board committee yet, but I would imagine that after the Board committee meets and discusses the issues we will bring the topics for decision to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Natural Lands Preservation Advisory Board in a special joint Board meeting.