Altadena Crest Trail Restoration Working Group (ACTRWG) Steering Committee

Tuesday, December 13, 2016 DRAFT Minutes

Altadena Community Center

1. In attendance:  Robert Staehle, Lori Paul, Robert Ettleman (Los Angeles County), Steve Messer, Marietta Kruells, Aron Tschida (Boy Scouts).

2. Desired Adjournment Time:  8:15. Steve Messer will serve as secretary.

3. Review minutes: October 2016 minutes approved with a note to differentiate Robert E. and Robert S. when referenced in the minutes.

4. Los Angeles County:  Robert E. has composed a letter to property owner at 3636 Skylane drive stating County is aware of their encroachments, and they must be removed within 30 days. Letter will be sent next week. Robert E. knows about the Crib Trail. Rubio-ACT relocation project will move trail alignment off the roadway shoulder in Rubio canyon. Have easement from MRCA, working on easement from AFC; have an agreement with Rubio Water, and from four property owners. ACTRWG will approach Sameer to get clarification of the property sale agreement specifying that there will be easements. Furniture dumped at the end of Canon drive, has been picked up.

5. Serious New Trail conditions. Trees down on Sunset Ridge and Gabrielino were removed by volunteers. Encroachment at 3636 Skylane Drive; homeowner has been contacted by LA County.

6. Current Tasks.   Objectives for 2017 were prioritised by the group as follows:

High priority, expensive/complicated projects:

• Construct La Vina Trails
• Construct Rubio Canyon Gateway trails
• Re-Grading to new County standards on vulnerable trail segments

High priority, inexpensive/easier projects:

• Restore Crib Trail Segment N. of Gymnasium
• Restore driveable-in-emergency fire road from Millard Campground to the top of Lincoln Ave.
• Remove encroachment at 3636 Skylane Drive on Canon
• Get 200’ fence removed from segment of ACT above Windfall Ave
• Create well-marked and publicized trail hub/junction in Hahamongna Watershed Park. Possibility of doing it as an Eagle Scout project.

Lower Priority and ongoing projects:

• Acquire Easement to close Skylane Gap from Penny’s barn to Fair Oaks Ave (through Zorthian property)
• Restore driveable-in-emergency Brown Mountain fire road from top of Lincoln to Arroyo Seco ranger residence
• Remove “dropped” (abandoned) pipe on Chaney Trail, from Coulter reservoir to Chaney Trail. Does not have a County easement, unknown if it is a FS trail.
• Dying Coulter Pines at the Loma Alta staging area.
• Sign trails for “no hunting”
• Open Pinecrest gate to the public 24/7
• Restore water amenities and trough at West Coulter Reservoir

7. Other Old Business:  Los Angeles Conservation Corps has completed another short section of the Gabrielino trail above Oakwilde. Work to resume next year.

8. New Business: Prioritisation of ACT-related tasks and projects

9. Task List:  Lori will call Graham about LAWC pipeline. Robert E. to look for Skylane gap easement in Sapphos report. Marietta will connect Aron and Rosa to discuss Hahamonga Hub. Suggest attending Hahamonga Watershed Park Advisory Council meeting.

Upcoming Events: Next ACTRWG meeting will be Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at the Altadena Community Center. Festival of Lights Hike from Cobb Estate on Sunday, Dec 18 (subsequently cancelled).

Meeting adjourned at: 8:12 p.m.

Altadena Crest Trail Restoration Working Group (ACTRWG) Steering Committee

…from Arroyo Seco to Eaton Canyon  

7:00 PM, Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Altadena Community Center, 730 E Altadena Drive

Meeting Minutes – Draft

1. Introductions for new attendees.

Mitch Marich, Robert Staehle, Lori Paul, Steve Messer, Dennis Merkel (USFS), Marietta Kruells.

2. Desired adjournment time for this meeting? 7:45

3. Decision on meeting Secretary & Recorder of Action Items.  Steve Messer

4. Review Minutes and Action Items from June meeting (thank you Steve Messer!). Approved unanimously.

5. County / City / U.S. Government Announcements of any items not covered later on agenda. USFS: Dennis reported that: court settlement is finalized, so adventure passes are being reinstated according to the terms of the settlement. Fee areas include toilets, trash, parking, signs, picnic tables, information kiosk, patrols, and/or trailheads. Fee areas are within a half mile of these amenities. Identified by yellow and blue “US Fee Area” signs.

National Public Lands Day is on September 24, but a volunteer service event will be held on September 20 at Chantry Flat.

A pilot shuttle program will be run from Arcadia Gold Line Station to Chantry Flat on September 24 (National Public Lands Day), and 25, then October 1 and 2, and October 8 and 9. The shuttle is free, no reservations are required.

6. Any serious new trail conditions or problems requiring immediate attention (first-hand reports strongly preferred; photos much appreciated)?  No new emergencies, but Mitch reports that somebody put in a bypass on Sunset Ridge trail, just above the cabins, that avoids the steep steps. The new route seems to be preferred by the public, but is unofficial. Keith, the former campground host at Millard has moved on, and a new host is now there, Steve Sims, transferred from Gould Mesa..

7. Current Tasks

a) Fire Season Road Maintenenace:  Maintenance budgets are being cut, and fewer roads will be maintained in the coming fiscal year.  Contact the Forest Service Engineer to request a road be maintained.

b) Re-grading to new County standards for erosion control on vulnerable ACT segments.  Mitch is putting together a report including where maintenance is needed along the ACT.

c) Update re: New fence erected along ~200-foot segment of ACT above Windfall Ave (E. of Rubio Gap and Stonehill).  No new reports. Still need to determine whether the fence is on the easement or on the private property.

d) DPW Devil’s Gate Reservoir (Hahamongna Watershed Park) / ACT Trailhead / Recreation impacts?  There is a Fifth District Supervisor’s Candidate Debate on the issue, Thursday, September 15, 7 pm, Creveling Lounge – Pasadena City College, 1570 East Colorado Blvd., Pasadena.

e) La Vina litigation resolved:  One of Marietta’s attorneys in the case has since retired. No new reports.

f) Rubio Cyn Gateway trail planning status. No new updates.

g) Update on locked Pinecrest Gate. No changes to report.

h) Old Crib Trail, now disappeared from County ACT maps and web site.  At a previous meeting we found that the historic Crib trail between Sunset Ridge and Lincoln has been removed from maps and the County trails web site, though it still exists on the ground. Motion made and approved: Send a written request to the County, to reinstate the Crib Trail into the County’s trail inventory, and bring it back up to County trail standards. Include that we were promised a route around what is now the site of the Gymnasium on the west side of Sunset Ridge Road.  

i) Loma Alta Trailhead & Staging Area.  Drinking fountain needs to be repaired. Horse trough has been replaced, but not with the optimal design. Coulter pines and walnut in the staging area and catch basin are dying. They need larger basins. Irrigation tubing has been replaced, but the basins around the trees are not large enough. There is a bathroom in the parking lot that is not functional, and would serve the trailhead and the equestrian community.

8. Other Old Business: Motion made to Draft a letter regarding the Lincoln Ave Water Company pipe on Chaney trail to Ranger Blount.

9. Other New Business:  San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Management Plan public meetings are being held this week.  Public comments are due by October 17.

10. Review of Task List for next meeting

• Mitch to complete maintenance needs report for Olga.
• Marietta: Send a written request to reinstate the Crib Trail into the County’s trail inventory, and bring it back up to County trail standards. Include that we were promised a route around what is now the site of the Gymnasium on the west side of Sunset Ridge Road.  
• Steve: Draft a letter regarding the Lincoln Ave Water Company pipe on Chaney trail to Ranger Blount.
• For future reference, need to give at least 24 hours to the County notice if a meeting will be cancelled.
• Dennis to write a report outlining the status of item 7C, the chainlink fence along ACT.

Carried over from last month:

• Lori and Marietta to write a letter about Loma Alta Park.
• Lori will update fire education brochures and signs out for 4th of July.
• Design a sign to be used to educate the public on fire safety for 4th of July.
• Olga to ask Rudy Valenzuela, head of trails crew, when he is planning to come back to the ACT, to help coordinate repairs with this group.
• Mitch will compile a report of trail conditions for Olga to pass on to the maintenance crew.
• Olga was to supply a map of the Loma Alta Park.
• Rob will look for a copy of the sale agreement between Sameer Etman and AFC, including conditions of the sale requiring a trail easement be granted.
• Olga to check with DPW about the Pinecrest gate and the road right-of-way.

11. Upcoming Events: The Next ACTRWG meeting will be Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at the Altadena Community Center.

12. Adjourned at: 7:58 pm.

Altadena Crest Trail Restoration Working Group (ACTRWG) Steering Committee

…from Arroyo Seco to Eaton Canyon  

7:00 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Altadena Community Center, 730 E Altadena Drive

Agenda (Draft

1. Introductions for new attendees.  Lori Paul, Steve Messer, Mitch Marich, Marietta Kruells, Kevin Singleton, Ward Cochran (Former resident visiting Kevin).

2. Desired adjournment time for this meeting? 8:00

3. Decision on meeting Secretary & Recorder of Action Items.  Steve Messer

4. Review Minutes and Action Items from April meeting (thank you Steve Messer!). Approved unanimously with a few grammatical corrections.

5. County / City / U.S. Government Announcements of any items not covered later on agenda. No official representatives were available for updates.

6. Any serious new trail conditions or problems requiring immediate attention (first-hand reports strongly preferred; photos much appreciated)?  East end of ACT is still in need of the previously noted maintenance, but no new problems reported.

Asphalt has been removed from Loma Alta Park, other improvements were made, but the trees have been neglected and many have died. They continue to die each year. There are some Coulter pines and California Black Walnuts across the street from Loma Alta park. No reason that the SPS needs those areas. Four or more Coulters have died. They need deep watering and a well out to the drip line. Took video of the sprinklers “watering.” They don’t fill the tree wells, they hit the bark, not the dirt, and this summer these trees may not survive the summer. It will make the staging area less pleasant. The horse waterers are broken, slimy and contain mosquito larvae. The water fountain is disgusting, and not up to health standards. The bathrooms have never been opened, even though there is a stall for men and a stall for women. These date back 16 years. Native White Alders were planted to provide shade to the hitching posts. They are dying and not providing shade. Some of the trees have been long gone, the only evidence is the empty tree wells and irrigation. The shade trees need to be replace. There needs to be some kind of rustic seating for the area. There were Adirondack chairs placed in the area, but these have been stolen.  Seating need not be expensive or elaborate; rock or log rounds for seating would suffice.  A safer trail connection could be placed through the park by moving the high fence along Loma Alta up, moving the low fence down and putting in a split rail fence.  

The Crib trail which ran along the south edge of the SPS has been lost, and is an important connection for equestrians to avoid dropping down Sunset ridge road and across Loma Alta on the pavement. The trail does not appear in the County Trails web site.

Motion was made to write a letter to DPW, Parks and Rec, Health Department  made by Marietta. Seconded by Mitch. Unanimous. The letter should include details of the problems with plumbing, landscaping, bathrooms and amenities, and the Crib Trail.

7. Current Tasks

a) Fire Season Preparation:  Lori has been working with Sergeant Manning. County doesn’t have any closure signs for Chaney Trail for July 4th. Lori will follow up to pursue a closure sign.

b) Re-grading to new County standards for erosion control on vulnerable ACT segments.  Nothing to report.

c) Update re: New fence erected along ~200-foot segment of ACT above Windfall Ave (E. of Rubio Gap and Stonehill). Fence blocks obstructs drainage culverts and the view to south from the trail.  No report available.

d) DPW Devil’s Gate Reservoir (Hahamongna Watershed Park) / ACT Trailhead / Recreation impacts?  Nothing new to report.

e) La Vina litigation resolved: Update & resumption of trail planning. No new updates on La Vina.

f) Rubio Cyn Gateway trail planning status. No new updates.

g) Update on locked Pinecrest Gate. Mitch Marich reports that things are relatively normal, with people getting locked in and calling the Sheriff to let them out.  Kevin Singleton reported that the gate was installed about 1980, right after the Pinecrest Fire. The trail was in continuous use since construction in the early 20th century, making this an RS2477 case.

8. Other Old Business

9. Other New Business

4th of July planning for trail safety and wildfire prevention. Early Chaney Trail Gate closure and temporary no parking in turnouts. Keith, the new Millard Campground host may be a resource for fire education of the public.  d

10. Review of Task List for next meeting

• Lori and Marietta to write a letter about Loma Alta Park.
• Lori will update fire education brochures and signs out for 4th of July.
• Design a sign to be used to educate the public on fire safety for 4th of July.

Carried over from last month:

• Olga to ask Rudy Valenzuela, head of trails crew, when he is planning to come back to the ACT, to help coordinate repairs with this group.
• Mitch will compile a report of trail conditions for Olga to pass on to the maintenance crew.
• Olga was to supply a map of the Loma Alta Park.
• Dennis will check with Graham about the Lincoln Ave Water Company permit requirement to remove the pipe from the Chaney Trail/Sunset Ridge connector portion of the ACT.
• Rob will look for a copy of the sale agreement between Sameer Etman and AFC, including conditions of the sale requiring a trail easement be granted.
• Olga to check with DPW about the Pinecrest gate and the road right-of-way.

11. Upcoming Events: The next ACTRWG meeting falls on Tuesday, 2016 August 9 (2nd Tuesday of each month, unless cancellation is announced, 7pm at the Altadena Community Center). Note there is no meeting in July.

12. Adjourned at: 8 pm.

Altadena Crest Trail Restoration Working Group (ACTRWG) Steering Committee

…from Arroyo Seco to Eaton Canyon  

7:00 PM, Tuesday. May 10, 2016

Altadena Community Center, 730 E Altadena Drive

Minutes

1. Introductions for new attendees.   1. Introductions for new attendees.   Jeremiah Small, local resident, Steve Messer, Mitch Marich, Olga Ruano, Rob Staehle, Marietta Kruells, Kevin Singleton, Lori Paul.

2. Desired adjournment time for this meeting?   8:30pm

3. Decision on meeting Secretary & Recorder of Action Items.   Steve Messer will record minutes.

4. Review Minutes and Action Items from April meeting:. Corrected spelling of “For.”  Approved unanimously with this one correction.    
5. County / City / U.S. Government Announcements of any items not covered later on agenda: Nothing new to report.

6. Any serious new trail conditions or problems requiring immediate attention?   

Mitch covered two segments of the trail from Zane Gray to Eaton Canyon, then from Cobb estate to Canyon. On the west end there is a lot of brush growing into the trail, not yet obstructing the trail; primarily mustard. No damage or changes from recent rains, but still some work is needed. The ridge above Skyline where there are switchbacks there is some rutting. As you approach Eaton Canyon Hans Ghekiere reported that there was a landslide that he cleared from the trail. Private property gate at Eaton Canyon, water is undercutting the gate and a rut is developing back up the trail. Another similar rut further down a long fall-line section. It would be best to be pro-active in repairing this damage before it becomes major. The two problems are 50 yards apart. Olga reported that Sup. Antonovich’s trail days event is taking priority for the trail crew at the moment. Olga can ask Rudy Valenzuela, head of trails crew, when he is planning to come back to the ACT.

From Lower Sam Merrill/Cobb Estate, the ACT heading west needs to be completely rebuilt, brushed in, fall-line, unsustainable alignment, with lots of rocks. Camp area with wood pile and graffiti on rocks and trees next to trail. Can’t see it from the road, at approximately 34°12’19.6″N 118°07’37.6″W.

Unauthorized trail up the fire break at Cobb Estate, creating an erosion problem near that location. Downed homeowner’s fence along a section of the trail immediately west of Canon drive.

These and other problems to be compiled in a report by Mitch Marich to Olga Ruano.

New sign 100 yards downhill from Canon has one trail sign pointing to nowhere. There is a proposed school for this location. There may be an opportunity to negotiate an easement for an existing trail. Skyline gap, dead ends at Summer Kids. This easement could cover 75% of the gap. There is no existing easement across Summer Kids. Camp Chiquita historically allowed the trail to be used by the public, but the trail was closed temporarily and stayed that way. If the Summer Kids property is developed, it may be an opportunity to seek an easement. Lori described the historic alignment of the trail through the Skyline gap. A potential easement may be available through the Zorthian Ranch and/or other properties. More research is needed on existing easements, and “lost” easements on deeds that have not made it onto a map. Olga reported that in the early 20th century easements were not surveyed, but just recorded as a description, and they are trying to catch up on their property and easement recordings.

7. Current Tasks   

a) Fire Season Preparation:  Maintain fire roads / trails for Fire Dept. access (cooperation between County & USFS), crew staging, and emergency evacuation routes. Plan 4th of July closures / public education. Olga Ruano / LA County, Dennis Merkel / USFS Recreation Staff Officer.  Lori compiled some information that was discussed in 2012 to clear evacuation routes for local residents in anticipation of a bad fire season.

b) Re-grading to new County standards for erosion control on vulnerable ACT segments. Progress? Robert Staehle / ACTRWG. No Report, but refer to Mitch’s report.   

c) Update re: New fence erected along ~200-foot segment of ACT above Windfall Ave (E. of Rubio Gap and Stonehill). Fence blocks obstructs drainage culverts and the view to south from the trail. Policy changes to prevent future fence / wall obstructions? Olga Ruano / LA County, Dennis Merkel / USFS.  Property owners have not yet been contacted, but it is still planned.

d) DPW Devil’s Gate Reservoir (Hahamongna Watershed Park) / ACT Trailhead / Recreation impacts? Arroyo Seco Foundation Litigation? JPL / NASA Security Gates Project? Marietta Kruells or Lori Paul. No new information, ongoing local concern about water transfer from Arroyo Seco to Eaton Canyon.

e) La Vina litigation resolved:  Update & resumption of trail planning. Marietta Kruells, Olga Ruano / LA County. HOA have agreed to the arranged boundaries with the County and the MRCA. Minor progress.

f) Rubio Cyn Gateway trail planning status / discussion with AFC. Olga Ruano / LA County. Jeremiah Small reported that there is a new section of trail from the Creek up to the Lone Tree trail, with pin flags and evidence of recent work. Sean Green has been maintaining the Lone Tree trail. There was a tool cache up there, probably belonging to Paul Ayers. Robert Ettleman had a conference call with John Howell about the Geotechnical report and MOU with maintenance conditions for a 20’ wide trail easement.

g) Update on locked Pinecrest Gate. Mitch Marich or Paul Ayers. Mitch reported that people have been climbing over the fence, and other ongoing issues.

8. Other Old Business. Ken Burton trail restoration was completed by CORBA and MWBA with 1650 volunteer hours from 98 individual volunteers over 6 months, 15 group days and 16 prep days. Ken Burton’s family were in attendance at the opening, held during the MWBA Pancake Breakfast on May 1st.

9. Other New Business.  The first two chapters of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Management Plan EA have been released to the public in advance of the public comment period. They are available at the USFS web site. 

• On the Mount Lowe Railway right of way trail above Rubio Crest in the northeast corner along Rubio Vista, a gate is rumored to be been planned. We don’t need another gate.
• Marietta asked for a map of the area around Loma Alta Park to aid in planning safer access points to the park.

10. Review of Task List for next meeting:

• Olga to ask Rudy Valenzuela, head of trails crew, when he is planning to come back to the ACT, to help coordinate repairs with this group.
• Mitch will compile a report of trail conditions for Olga to pass on to the maintenance crew.
• Olga was going supply a map of the Loma Alta Park.

Carried over:  

• Dennis will check with Graham about the Lincoln Ave Water Company permit requirement to remove the pipe from the Chaney Trail/Sunset Ridge connector portion of the ACT.
• Rob will look for a copy of the sale agreement between Sameer Etman and AFC, including conditions of the sale requiring a trail easement be granted.
• Olga to check with DPW about the Pinecrest gate and the road right-of-way.

11. Upcoming Events:   The next ACTRWG meeting falls on Tuesday, 2016 June 14 (2nd Tuesday of each month, unless cancellation is announced, 7pm at the Altadena Community Center).  Note that we will skip the July meeting.

• ACONA 24 May Meeting, 7:00-8:30pm at ACC Re: “Traffic, Bike & Pedestrian Safety in Altadena” with speakers from CHP (Capt. Steve Strull, Officer Mike Ulloa, and Officer Phil Cooper) and Altadena Sheriffs (Capt. Vicki Stuckey & Lt. Rob Lewis) / Also, “Fire Danger is Early this Year” re:  Fire laws; property preparation; who to call re: overgrown shrubs, piles of kindling, etc.  
• June 4, 2016, LA County Multi-Use Trail Day at Pathfinder Park in Rowland Heights. A free event including trail activities, entertainment, raffles and food.

12. Adjourned at 8:30.