Port Ludlow Trails/NRC Committee Meeting Minutes

07 August, 2007

The meeting was brought to order and presided over by NRC Chairman Dick Ullmann.

The day’s agenda and the 03 July 2007 minutes were approved.

Sub-committee Reports:

            Finance:  CFO Jack Manning presented the financial report for the month ending           31 July, 2007.

Our total current accounts are:

            Trails petty cash checking:                                  808.31

            PLVC account                                                 6969.25

            Grant Sharpe account                                         697.45

                        Total                                                    8475.01

The financial report was approved as presented.

PLVC has not yet transferred their annual donation of $1000 to our account.

The motion which was passed at the July meeting regarding creating a specific line item for future projects has not yet been enacted.

It was mentioned that >$600 check was written shortly after the financial report was prepared to repay Dean Morgan for a collection of receipts for signage, and rental equipment for mowing Timberton and Niblicks is ~$200 per 24 hr. period.

            Maps of the trail system are currently in the care of Jack Manning, who would appreciate someone else stepping forward to be their caretaker. This would entail making sure that both clubs have a sufficient supply and collecting any monetary donations found in the alms boxes attached to the map dispensers. Please call Jack – 437-9522 – if you are willing to do this.

            Natural Resources: NRC representatives participated in manning the new PLVC booth at the Friday Market last week. Several of our Natural Resources Port Ludlow brochures were sold and several maps were given out.

            A stalwart crew planted 4 large rhododendrons at the Interpretive Trail entrance. Dick Ullmann reported that some of the many plants there are doing well and some not so well as is to be expected. Debbie Wills has been helping with weeding and Patty Patterson is helping water.

            Patty is very interested and knowledgeable in native plants and has created a database, including a mapping of the current locations of the native plants at the trail entrance. This is an on-going project and is being done in order to share the information with anyone interested.

            Stewards:  Head Steward Doris Monti gave a thorough report on the various trail conditions from her personal experience. See Trails Status report.

Trails Status:

            Interpretive: Ginger and Errol Johnson are caring for this trail since Bobbie and Bill Collins have both been having health problems. Both Bobbie and Bill are now making good progress and Bobbie plans to be back on duty soon. The picnic bench needs some repair work which Errol will take care of.

            The new bench for the Grant Sharpe listening area has been scheduled to be in place at the end of August.

            Timberton Loop: John Bonderson did some clipping recently and Bill Lane is weed whacking the parking lot. The entire trail has been mowed since the last meeting.

            Around the Bay: Rock #17 needs repainting. Soozie Darrow will take care of that. The numbers on the posts need to be cleared of brush and berries so that they are readable. The retention pond is very full of cattails and perhaps should be dredged, but that is not under Trails/NRC jurisdiction. Doris is not sure whether Dean Rosenthal is still willing to be a steward of ABT so if someone else is willing to take over his portion it would be appreciated. The leaning alder in the Bayview area is still leaning. Julia Blakeney-Smith is keeping busy with her weed whacker on the 2 Bridges portion of the trail.

            Ward’s Walk: Doug Barber has returned and is doing a good maintenance job.            

            Montgomery Loop: New signs have been added to this portion by Dean Morgan and Stan Gustin.

            Ludlow Cove: PLA has asked for help reopening this trail and controlling the Scots Broom. We briefly discussed building a boardwalk in order to make this a loop trail – not an immediate project.

            Rainier Loop: A fallen alder has been cut by Jack Riggen, ferns trimmed by Stan Gustin and a general great continuing renovation done by Mr. Riggen.

            Bay Club Gazebo: Looks good except for leaner tree needs cutting.

            Niblick’s: Has been completely mowed. Final connection is about 15% done and being worked on by the firefighters as well as trail committee.

Old Business:

             Trail descriptions:  None of the trail stewards have asked for new descriptions.

New Business:

            It was pointed out that Tansy Ragwort, an extremely noxious non-native plant, is now blooming throughout our area and should be pulled and, if possible, bagged by anyone willing to do so. Each plant can produce 5,000 to 200,000 seeds which can remain viable in the soil for up to 16 years. The plant has clusters of yellow flowers that resemble asters or daisies and leaves that are deeply lobed with a ruffled appearance. We discussed having a ragwort pulling event but no specific dates were settled upon. Please

Take the initiative yourself and help minimize the presence of this plant.

Goals and Priorities: No change.

Next meeting will be 4 Sept. 9:00 a.m. at the Bay Club

Submitted by: Soozie Darrow, Scribe