The County Riding and Hiking Trails Advisory Committee (CRAHTAC) will meet this Monday, April 10, 2023, 2023, from 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM.
The meeting will be held at the Veteran’s Memorial Hall in Solvang or you can still attend via Zoom webinar as usual.
As noted on the agenda, public attendance and opportunity to comment can be received in-person at the meeting or online by using the zoom link provided below.
Zoom Link:
Passcode: 611623
Public comments are due via email to George Amoon at george@gkaconsulting.com by 5:00 pm, Thursday, April 6th to allow adequate time for review before the meeting. See below for a sample email to send.
Under Item III. Public Comment: At the meeting, during Public Comment we will remind CRAHTAC that the Live Oak trail is still closed and there has been no movement by the Parks Division to restore the parking lot or the trail (the Lucidity Festival is going on this weekend, however). The River is finally getting down to a manageable level and it's time for us to push the County to begin repair work and to allow us on the trail for trail assessment, repair and maintenance.
AND
Under item VIII. Multi-Use Trail Policy: CRAHTAC will discuss the proposed Trail Policy for the Recreation Master Plan – a critical item for equestrians to retain any equestrian trail in the County.
Last month CRAHTAC formed a subcommittee to discuss a trail policy for the recreation management plan. Equestrians have been strongly pushing for a trail policy specifically to allow separate trails for equestrian safety and trail equity.
We will urge CRAHTAC to recommend the following policy included in the cut and paste email below.
Please Send an Email...
Below is a suggested email you may cut and paste into your own email, edit as you like and send to george@gkaconsulting.com Emails must be sent by 5:00 pm, Thursday, April 6th:
Dear CRAHTAC Members:
It has been many months since the Live Oak trail closed due to storm related damage and now the River crossing is becoming manageable and it's time to restore the trail.
The Lucidity Festival is scheduled to go on at Live Oak Camp this weekend April 6th through 9th. If there is adequate area for parking and a margin of safety for hundreds of people associated with the festival, it is safe enough for crews to assess the trail and begin trail repair and maintenance. I urge CRAHTAC to write a letter to the County’s Park Division and encourage them to begin working toward repairs and to re-open the Live Oak trail as soon as possible.
Also, on Item VIII of the agenda on the County’s Trail Policy, I urge CRAHTAC to recommend the following policy language:
“It is the policy of the County of Santa Barbara to provide trails to accommodate all trail users (hiking, equestrian, mountain biking, and others in the future). Trails shall be designated for one-, two-, or more users on any one trail specifically to maximize user experience, promote user compatibility, eliminate user conflicts, and to ensure safety and equality for all trail users. It may not be possible in all instances to accommodate more than one user on every trail. In such instances, separate trails shall be allowed.”
“Trail intent (urban trails for transportation, or rural trails for recreation), characteristics of trail users (speed, noise, silence, operator/rider/behavior), environmental constraints (i.e., wildlife and habitat, water quality, erosion, etc.), historic trail use, dedication or intent, and/or disruption of or conflict with existing land uses (i.e., grazing and other agricultural use), shall be identified and evaluated to determine appropriate and compatible trail uses.”
Thank You, ___Your Name____
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