Draft: Friends of the Chester Valley Trail

Nov 20, 2012 East Whiteland Township Bldg. 7:05 pm

Presiding: Tim Lander Board members present: Mike Broennle, Bob Cochlin, Phil Hoke, Bob O’Leary and Steve Warren.

Others: Ben LeGarde, Molly Morrison, Owen Prusack, plus a few others

1. Minutes

· Minutes from Sept 18, 2012 were approved.

2. Treasurer’s Report

· Bob Cochlin reported a current balance of $1,546.84.

3. Membership

· Mike Broennle proposed and the board approved a policy whereby memberships paid on or after Dec 1 run through the following calendar year.

4. County Update

· Park Superintendent Owen Prusack reported Phase 2 construction is 40% complete and projects construction may be completed ahead of schedule by mid-summer 2013.

· Park rangers have begun patrolling the completed sections which are closed to public use until completed.

· New PennDOT regulations are holding up construction of bridges adding cost to the project.

· Four additional D gates have been ordered to create chicanes to slow cyclists approaching the Bacton Hill and SR 401/Conestoga Rd crossings. A purchase order has signed today for crosswalk painting at Bacton Hill.

· The Exton Trailhead toilets were to be heated but are not so a portable toilet is in place for the winter.

· Volunteers from UPI (?) did a tree planting project.

· A mile marker plan will proceed using a standard design for all the county’s trails.

· A Boy Scout plans to construct a kiosk at the Exton Trailhead as an Eagle scout project.

· Church Farm Lane between Swedesford Rd and the Exton Trailhead will get pavement improvement before year-end.

5. CVT Funding Project

· Ben LeGarde and Molly Morrison from Natural Lands Trust reported on their progress in developing a major fund raising project to enhance and construct trails, a partnership between Chester County government, the FCVT, and Natural Lands Trust. A nearly final brochure presenting the case for support was distributed and discussed. It will be presented to Mark Rupsis, CC Chief Operating Officer at a pending meeting.

6. Trail signage

· Bob O’Leary reported the FCVT is partnering with East Whiteland Township to purchase four wayfinding signs directing folks to the East Whiteland Township Building and Battle of the Clouds Park trailheads.

· Tim Lander and Bob are meeting with county staff to develop content for historical markers. As background they reported another trail group spent $40,000 for 10 signs.

7. Circuit Coalition

· The FCVT has been invited to join the Complete the Circuit Coalition, a group of advocacy and trail groups joining to connect and triple the miles of trails in the Delaware Valley Region from the existing 250 miles to 750 miles over the next 20 years. Mike Broennle will draft a letter for our application to join.

8. Trail etiquette

· Tim Lander reported attending a meeting of volunteers in Valley Forge Park where concern was expressed over conflict between cyclists and other users. We have previously discussed suggested trail etiquette. Today we discussed the need for succinct guidelines displayed at trailheads

· Superintendent Prusack reported he wants to develop a trail ambassador program.

9. Board items

· The usefulness of a trail counter was discussed. May cost $2000 per unit.

· Tim Lander discussed 2013 budget concepts: limiting the budget percentage spent of overhead, i.e. maps, stationary; sponsoring events; infrastructure investments; sponsoring benches.

10. New matters

· Questions were raised about the route and timing of the segment of future trail through Uptown Worthington.

Next meeting: January 15, 7:00 pm, East Whiteland Twp. Bldg.

Respectfully submitted,

Mike Broennle