Friends of Santa Teresa Park Meeting, 12/7/06




  • Attendees: Mike Boulland, Ronald Horii, Kitty Monahan, Paul & Jenel Vincze,  Mario Blaum
  • Jenel talked about Coyote Crest 4H. They are having a potluck in January, a talent show in March, and dance for all ages in April.
  • At Founders Day Fandango, 4H gave out seeds for heirloom flowers and winter vegetables like turnips, carrots, and radishes.
  • Some kids were spotted tagging the canal. They were caught and their car was impounded. A brave young witness (who shall remain anonymous) pointed the suspects out to the police.
  • Santa night will be held at the BGJ Ranch on December 16, 1-4 pm.
  • The master plan is funded and on-schedule. Planning will start in February. A commissioner will be appointed to work on it. They will hire a consultant to help with the planning. We had some comments about the master plan:
    • What is the scope? What areas does it include? Does it include the Norred Ranch?
    • Ron said he'd like to see Curie widened to make it safer for bicycles and pedestrians travelling east on Curie to San Ignacio.
    • We'd like to have access to the historic areas, which are not restricted.
    • Paul said he'd like to see the "no parking" area along Curie changed to limited-time parking.
    • Mario said he'd like to see the parks buy more property, such as the Lagatutta property in the center of the park
    • He'd also like to see the park expand into the hills west of the park towards Snell. Mike pointed out that there are 2 mercury mines in this area, and the tailings would have to be dealt with.
    • We'd like to see the Coyote-Alamitos Canal from the Mine Trail to Bernal Road made into an official trail.
    • Paul Bernal wants to see the ranch's adobe buildings reconstructed at the Bear Tree Lot.
    • We like to see an orchard by the springs and a community center and community garden at the Bonetti Ranch.
  • The Board of Supervisors told the Parks Commission to raise revenues. Fees were raised. It will cost $375 to reserve the group picnic shelter in the Pueblo area. Parking fees will be raised from $5 to $6. Half of the parking revenues go to the company servicing the parking ticket maches. The other half goes to the county's general fund. A small percentage of that goes to the parks.
  • Paul said the Ohlone Trail is being used by bikes. It's been worked on. It's been widened with the Sweco bulldozer.
  • Mike said the draft for the 501c3 application is in the final draft stage and is being reviewed. Once it is done, he can see changes are required for our application.
  • The trails look good. The trail crews have been doing a good job. Drew Merry is in charge of trail maintenance. He has 3 crew members. We should do something to recognize the trail crews. We should also recognize Joe Schultz and the Boy Scouts that are on adopt-a-trail for the park trails.
  • The new trail was to be called the "Los Alamitos Trail," and there is a sign on the trailhead calling it that. It was discovered that the trail is called the "West Norred Trail" in the master plan. Since there is no "East Norred Trail," they decided to name the trail the "Norred Trail." The trail will be closed until June 1. We should have a dedication ceremony when the trail opens. We can invite forrest Williams.
  • At the last meeting, we talked about naming the new trail "The Santa Teresa Spring Trail." They decided to give that name to the path that runs to the spring.
  • Ron showed a video of the dancers and musicians and pictures from Fandango Day. He also showed pictures taken today at noon of the Norred Trail at the Mounted Ranger Unit. He showed pictures of the start of the Norred Trail, just above the bottom of the Mine Trail, across from the Coyote-Alamitos Canal. The new trail runs on the lower part of the hill, above and parallel to the service road in the Mounted Ranger Unit. The lower paddock, which was open and cleared, had a path leading down to the trail and one leading to the upper paddock There was a horse trough at the end of the lower paddock. The upper paddock was also open and clear. Horses may be able to bypass the paved part of the Mine Trail by going into the upper paddock, down to the lower paddock to the Norred Trail, and then to the bottom of the Mine Trail. Ron also showed pictures of the park entrance on Bernal Road. There are piles of dirt and pipes indicating some construction is going on.
  • Ron showed the new webpages on Founders Day Fandango and Fantasy of Lights.
  • We need to thank Jim McGrath for letting us use the banquet facility and Tom Campbell, the night manager, for letting us in.
  • Mike wants to see a park policy that defines and clarifies how park vounteers should be treated and what is expected and not expected of them. That's to avoid confusion.
  • The January 4 meeting will be a potluck dinner at Mike's house.
  • Volunteer Hours for November:
    • Ronald Horii: 54
    • Mike Boulland: 25
    • Kitty Monahan: 3
    • Paul Vincze: 20
    • Jenel Vincze: 20
    • Mario Blaum: 10
    • Sam Drake: 15 (reported by e-mail)
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Created 12/7/06 by Ronald Horii, secretary of the Friends of Santa Teresa Park