Confluence Park Executive Board and

Technical Advisory Committee Minutes

Wednesday, January 18, 2012 4:00 p.m.

435 N. Main, LaVerkin, Utah

Present:

Board Members:

Karl Wilson                 La Verkin City

Bob Sandberg             Washington County - HCP

Annette Kleinman       Toquerville City

Advisory:

Trail Kreitzer               Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Steve Meismer            Virgin River Program

Others:

Kathleen Neilson        HCP - Grant Writer

Ray Justice                  La Verkin City Council

Cameron Rognan        HCP

Toni Foran                   Hurricane City

Christy Ballard            La Verkin City

1. Meeting Called to Order: Karl Wilson called the meeting to order at 4 pm.  (Clark Fawcett was not in attendance)

2. Approve Minutes:  Motion was made by Annette Kleinman to approve the minutes of   November 16, 2011 as corrected, second by Bob Sandberg.  Motion carried unanimously.

3. Business:

A. Report on Projects - Bob Sandberg

1.      Fencing still needs to be put up around the parking lot.  In an effort to keep cost down, the rail fence will go around the perimeter of the parking lot and/or post and wire fence will go up to the road to match the motif of the rest of the park.  Then use the power poles that are down there to deviate the parking spots.  Bob and Kathleen went over the price Rocky Mountain Power charges for power poles, new and used.   Rocky Mountain will most likely be donating them but it we would like a value on them to help with the grant match.

2.      The Restoration Project will be having a bid tour January 19 at 10:00am.  Trail explained that the contract went out on the Utah Bidsync website on the 13^th and will close on the 26^th.  It is required that they start working on the project within seven days of the contract closing.  It is a 60 day contract with specifications on how the work needs to be done.    Trail explained the area where they will be working and what they will be doing, stating that he thinks they will be able to get it almost finished with the budget they have.  There are no plans for revegetation planting right now, but possibly later in the year or next year.

Mayor Wilson wondered if there was any firewood worthy trees down there.  Trail stated that he thought there were some and that if they would like to offer it to the public for firewood that could be a possibility.

Kathleen mentioned that we would need the names and amount of time the people used collecting the wood.

3.      We received a second grant from the LaRae McCallister Fund.  Cory Martin from the Forestry Funds State Lands has been doing some cutting where they had left off last year.  The inmates were helping him on Monday, January 16^th.  They will be helping a few more days in January and several days in February.  Bob explained where Cory would be cutting and mentioned that what Trail was not able to get done with his contract Cory could do.

Mayor Wilson commented that we will probably be a year ahead of schedule.

Bob stated that there needs to be a plan for the revegetation and how much money needs to be kept to use towards it.  Kathleen mentioned using the Community Forestry Grant.

Mayor Wilson asked about the willow farm.  Steve discussed some of the issues and stated that he was not sure about it right now.  Mayor Wilson mentioned using some of the water from the power plant off of the La Verkin Canal System and whatever water the Virgin River would want to run through the system to water the farm.  Steve explained where the farm would be located.  Kathleen wondered if that was the only place with access to water.  Mayor Wilson stated that if it was done before the irrigation line project was put it that would be an easy area to put it, because La Verkin City has already piped almost to there so it wouldn't take much more pipe.

Steve asked about the property that Ash Creek owns.  Mayor Wilson answered that they are eventually going to be putting in a Filter.  The pond will be a way to discharge the water.   Right now La Verkin City is in negotiations with Ash Creek to lease that property to put in ball parks and trails and maybe a scout camp until Ash Creek needs the property then La Verkin will withdrawal and Ash Creek will take it over.  Mayor Wilson discussed the thought process on deciding to filter to Type 1 water instead of Type 2, and the way the water discharges.  Steve wondered about that being another location for the willow farm.  Mayor Wilson stated that there may be enough water available now and that the irrigation system is close to there so it wouldn't take a lot to move the water into that area.

Kathleen asked if that water would be available for use at the Trail Head area for the cottonwood grove. Mayor Wilson stated that it would but that it is still 20 years off.  Annette asked if Type 1water could go back into the River.   Mayor Wilson responded that it could but the Sewer District didn't want to deal with the issues that would go along with that.

Mayor Wilson discussed the two detention basins that the Sewer District is building.  The water in those basins is equivalent to Type 2 water that can be percolated.  The Sewer District has also expanded the capacity of the lagoons, which has put off the necessity of the filter to further into the future.

Toni Foran arrived at 4:26pm

4.      There will be a Scout troop camping and doing a service project on                    January 20-21^st.   They will be spreading the chips on the trail and walking the trails to pack them down.

B. Trail names - Bob Sandberg

1. Cameron Rognan handed out a rough draft of the map with trail names and a specific color to designate each trail.  Stating that the Committee can make changes to the trails if they would like and that some of the trails need names.  Cameron suggested looking at the La Verkin Creek Loop on the La Verkin Creek Trail ending at Tortoise Track or it can loop back down to Confluence Trail, and Ash Creek Loop could loop around further to be part of La Verkin Creek Trail.  He also explained the two trails that are not on the ground but are in the master plan of what they would like to see in the future, which are, The Red Tail and the south end of the Virgin River Trail.

There was a discussion on changing Tortoise Track, eliminating where it crosses the Virgin River Trail and creating a new trail with a new name that will be one continuous piece.  Cameron suggested "Chub Trail".                              There was also a discussion on eliminating the section of Tortoise Track that crosses the piece of property that can be farmed.  Kathleen asked about the horse trail, there was a discussion on where exactly the horses                              cross.  Bob and Cameron are going to check and make sure they have the right spot on the map and include it.  The committee would like the Power Plant and the Dairy Farm on the map.  They also would like the future               trials marked with slashes in the color.

"Cottonwood Loop" was suggested for the Trail labeled "Parking Lot Trail".  Kathleen suggested that if anyone has anything specific they would like on the map, to email Cameron.  The map will be moving into                                 production by the next meeting.

2.      Bob stated that Hurricane City will be starting work on the Hurricane Main Street parking area.

C. Grant applications and awards - Kathleen Nielson

1.      There are no new grants.

2.      Interpretive Graphics have been selected to do the Kiosk.  Kathleen has worked with them before.  Bob has talked to numerous people that have used Interpretive Graphics that commented on how good the product turned out.  Kathleen stated that they are the least expensive.  Interpretive Graphics have the information for the Fish Panel and for the Wildlife, and are putting together some ideas.  If they send the ideas over and need an answer before the next meeting, Kathleen will try to get those ideas sent out so that everyone can see.

3.      The Trail Head Kiosk will have the same design as the bus stops in Springdale.  The architect that is working on that has been working with the sign people to make sure everything fits together, it should be done in a couple of days.

4.      The Restroom Grant will need some buy in from the cities or other donators.  The County will dig the hole and do whatever site work is necessary; however, the project still needs $16,000.  There was a discussion on La Verkin and/or Hurricane helping to dig the hole.  Mayor Wilson thought La Verkin would be able to help using their track hoe.  The restroom needs to be done now so that people will come back.  There was a discussion on ways to come up with money.

5.      The Restoration Grant is being worked on.  Bob received a verbal agreement and Kathleen received and email confirmation to go ahead so they have been working on it, but nothing is in writing yet.

The Forestry Partnership Grant is $5,000 and will be absorbed in the Restoration project.

The Quality Growth Commission seems to be happy with what is happening, they may donate some money for planting at the end of the project.

D. Kiosk Panels - Kathleen Nielson

Kathleen explained what information will be on the panels.  Annette will be getting Kathleen information on the first pioneers that homesteaded here, their names and what they did.

Annette Kleinman leaves at 5:02pm

E. Picnic tables - Bob Sandberg

There are several picnic tables that need to be repaired.  If anyone in the community would be interested in taking on that project let Bob know and he will get in touch with them.

Steve asked about vandalism of the kiosk.  Kathleen stated that the only thing that would cause an issue would be bullet holes.

Mayer Wilson commented that someone has taken more pipes from the Park, he explained where.  Bob suggested selling the Aluminum pipe to help pay for the restrooms.

4. Public Concerns for Board Consideration: none

5. Board members concerns:

Bob and Bill McMurran met with people from the FDIC.  They would like to sell the Ken Anderson property. Virgin River Land Trust is going to try to come up with enough money to make an offer.

There was a discussion of what the property appraises for, the size of the property and where it is located.

Bob talked with Elaine York.  The Packard Foundation had asked her for any areas she thought they may be interested in funding.  She did give them this property.

Mayor Wilson asked about doing a separate conservation easement or extending one that is already there.  Trail answered that he would need to talk to Steve Hansen in his Salt Lake office but was sure they could work something out either way.

6. Motion was made by Bob Sandberg to adjourn, second by Toni Foran.  Motion was carried unanimously at 5:14pm.