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GREENBELT COMMITTEE MEETING
Minutes for January 9th, 2010
Attending members: Mary Cox, Doug Pendleton, Tim Abel

Called the meeting to order at 8:06 AM.
Began the meeting with a review of outstanding issues from previous meeting:

CAMP 12 ROAD – FIRE EGRESS PLAN
We discussed this issue again after hearing the road IS being worked on.  Culverts are being put in at those corners prone to wash out.  After talking to Standing Rock owners regarding their fire egress plan we’ve discovered they don’t have one.   We concluded with the overall impression that this is not a Greenbelt issue and as a committee, we will drop the issue.

GREENBELT PROPERTY VIOLATIONS
The Greenbelts were inspected for violators in October.  This was to make sure there were no abuses of the community greenbelts (i.e. private party using greenbelt for storage or personal use, altering the indigenous landscape, construction of fences or other structures, dumping, etc…).  Several lots were found be trespassing into greenbelt lands and those addresses have been reported to the Board.

TRAIL FEASIBILITY
Several new trails are in the works but one in particular, a trail to connect the Bridge Trail to the rest of the Ponderosa trail system, was walked in October.  There appears to be land available to create a trail however there is considerable elevation loss/gain between here and there.  A bonus to creating such a trail between the power lines and the Bridge Trail is that current beach access is rather steep and dangerous.  A connecting trail can make beach access simple.  We will again talk about the possibilities at the next meeting.

CURRENT ISSUES
Exciting new developments in the direction of the Greenbelt Committee!  We are hoping to include the Wenatchee River as part of our focus.  Doug Pendleton gave a brief overview of what would/could be involved but this is in the exploratory stage just now.  Our vision is to make both Greenbelts and River one committee and change the way we operate from work parties to combining work parties with fun activities such as Botanical walks, Birding hikes and boat floats, to name but a few.  We are also exploring the possibility of the committee being re-named to reflect this broader scope.  Any suggestions?

Dale Whaley from the WSU Extension Office will be out in spring (March/April) to release another batch of bugs on the knapweed in the greenbelt.  Originally the plan was to release them on Ranch Reserve land at the foot of Appaloosa but after discussion, during which it was discovered the Bonneville Power people have no obligation to maintain the land under the power lines (This is Ponderosa property), we agreed the focus of the bug release should be changed to the power lines location.  The committee will look into the possibility of have Dale Whaley out for a short informational chat about knapweed and other noxious weeds in our area during the members’ meeting in May.

We are currently looking for places to plant three more park benches when the snow melts.  I suggested one be put behind the backstop for those playing baseball.  Another suggestion was to create a spur trail to a river overview off of Lupine.  It is a spectacular vista and worthy of a bench and a spur trail would be simple to create through greenbelt property.  There were no suggestions as for placement of the third… as yet.

The Greenbelt Committee is planning on working with the Boy Scouts again this year.  We are hoping to continue selective clearing of brush along Camp 12 with the goal being to break the continuance of fire fuels without clear cutting the reserve properties.  We will consult with the Chumstick Fire Brigade council in regards to suggestions and possible other resources available.

Trail work is planned for the greenbelt from Stirrup to Shetland.  We hope to complete this before summer with plans to link this short stretch into the Balsamroot trail.  Knapweed pulls and limbing parties are tentatively planned to partner with fun activities.  We hope to publish a list of events and dates before April.

Meeting was adjourned at 9:50 AM
NEXT GREENBELT (WATERSHED) MEETING – FEBRUARY 13th @ 1:30 PM