Mammoth Trails Committee

Minutes of Regular Meeting

Thursday, December 09, 2021 at 3:00 P.m. - 5:00 P.m.

437 Old Mammoth Road, Suite Z, Mammoth Lakes

Members Present:

• Committee Member Bill Sauser,
• Committee Member John Connolly,
• Committee Member Dan Holler,
• and Chair Caroline Britton

Members Absent:

• Committee Member Finlay Torrance
• and Committee Member Elise Howell

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Caroline Britton called the meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 437 Old Mammoth Road, Mammoth Lakes. Chair Britton attended the meeting in person, the rest of the Board attended the meeting via videoconference.

2.

ASSEMBLY BILL 361 (AB 361) FINDINGS

2.1

Adopt the resolution making findings to allow the Mammoth Trails Committee to meet virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic declared emergency.

Committee Member Dan Holler discussed Assembly Bill 361 which required the Committee to adopt a resolution making findings to allow them to meet virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic declared emergency.

There was discussion among members of the Committee.

• Resolution:

  Adopt the resolution making findings to allow the Mammoth Trails Committee to meet virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic declared emergency.

  For (4)	Committee Member Bill Sauser, Committee Member John Connolly, Committee Member Dan Holler, and Chair Caroline Britton
  Absent (2)	Committee Member Finlay Torrance, and Committee Member Elise Howell

  Carried (4 to 0)

3.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were no comments given at this time.

4.

CONSENT AGENDA

• Resolution:
  Moved by Committee Member Bill Sauser
  Seconded by Committee Member John Connolly

  Approve the Consent Agenda.

  For (4)	Committee Member Bill Sauser, Committee Member John Connolly, Committee Member Dan Holler, and Chair Caroline Britton
  Absent (2)	Committee Member Finlay Torrance, and Committee Member Elise Howell

  Carried (4 to 0)

4.1

Approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 12, 2021

5.

TRAILS MANAGER REPORT

Trails Manager Joel Rathje outlined the information in the Trails Manager Report.

Committee Member Dan Holler left the meeting at 4:00 p.m.

There was discussion between Mr. Rathje and members of the Committee.

6.

MAMMOTH LAKES RECREATION UPDATE

Mammoth Lakes Recreation (MLR) Program Director Kim Anaclerio outlined the information in the MLR Update.

There was discussion between Ms. Anaclerio and members of the Committee.

7.

POLICY MATTERS

7.1

Introduction of Candidates and Possible Nomination and Appointment of New Mammoth Trails Committee Member to Fill Vacant Seat

This item was taken out of order.

Chair Caroline Britton outlined the information in the staff report and introduced candidates, Spencer Ostergaard and David Sheek, for the open seat on the Committee, which if filled would be effective at the next meeting of the Committee.

There was discussion between the candidates and members of the Committee.

• Resolution:
  Moved by Committee Member Bill Sauser
  Seconded by Committee Member John Connolly

  Appoint Spencer Ostergaard to the Mammoth Trails Committee.

  For (4)	Committee Member Bill Sauser, Committee Member John Connolly, Committee Member Dan Holler, and Chair Caroline Britton
  Absent (2)	Committee Member Finlay Torrance, and Committee Member Elise Howell

  Carried (4 to 0)

7.2

Review Fiscal Year 2021/22 Budget Report and Consider Approval of Second Quarter Budget Reallocations

Chair Caroline Britton, Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access (MLTPA) Operations Manager Gretchen Haselbauer and Town of Mammoth Lakes (TOML) Trails Manager Joel Rathje outlined the information in the Fiscal Year 2021/22 Budget Report.

Mammoth Lakes Recreation Program Director Kim Anaclerio spoke about the Adopt A Trail Program.

There was discussion between Ms. Haselbauer, Mr. Rathje, Ms. Anaclerio and members of the Committee. 

• Resolution:
  Moved by Committee Member Dan Holler
  Seconded by Committee Member John Connolly

  Approve Second Quarter Budget Reallocations as presented.

  For (4)	Committee Member Bill Sauser, Committee Member John Connolly, Committee Member Dan Holler, and Chair Caroline Britton
  Absent (2)	Committee Member Finlay Torrance, and Committee Member Elise Howell

  Carried (4 to 0)

8.

COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS

Committee Member Bill Sauser announced that he was no longer the Town Council appointed representative for the Mammoth Lakes Recreation (MLR) Board, but said that he would like to maintain his position on the Mammoth Trails Committee.

Committee Member John Connolly said that he had submitted a letter of support on behalf of the Sierra Responsible Riders for the Shady Rest Inyo Craters (SRIC) project to Trails Manager Joel Rathje. Mr. Connolly reported that he had been hosting on the Mountain, said that he attended the Community Tree Lighting Event in Crowley, and said that he had been spending a lot of time recreating on the user created mountain bike trails system outside of Bishop. 

Chair Caroline Britton reported that she had noticed a large shift in the user group on the user created trails that Mr. Connolly had discussed and said that many visitors were skiing in Mammoth in the morning and hitting the Bishop trails in the afternoon. Chair Britton said that she hoped the upcoming storm would allow Tamarack to open soon and that she looked forward to utilizing the new trail at the propane tanks. She said that she was excited to work with Program Director Kim Anaclerio on the Mammoth premiere of the Buried documentary discussed in Ms. Anaclerio's MLR Update.

Mr. Rathje spoke about his efforts and frustration trying to build trails that would get shot down by local environmental groups, yet trail users were able to create unofficial trails in the same area. Mr. Rathje noted that he was told it would be years before the environmental review for the SRIC project would be processed.

There was discussion between Mr. Rathje and members of the Committee.

9.

REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Chair Caroline Britton said that she would like to work with Program Director Kim Anaclerio to create draft bylaws for the Committee and present them at the next meeting for review. Chair Britton said that she would also like MLTPA Operations Manager Gretchen Haselbauer to give an update on website usage at each future meeting going forward.

There was discussion among members of the Committee and Ms. Haselbauer.

10.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 4:42 p.m. to the next regular meeting scheduled to be held on February 10, 2022.