Meeting Minutes for: February 23, 2008 

Board Members Present

• Meeting was called to order by Dave Thomas at 7:00 p.m.

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  • January 16, 2008 minutes approved with edits.

• Actions taken since last meeting:  Dave Thomas.Margie was assigned to city task force charged with solving trail problems relating to dogs.General Liability Insurance Coverage:  Dave Thomas/Tom GattikerIMT Guide/SWIMBA endorsement:  Dave Thomas 

• 36^th and Harrison Hollow:  Steve Steubner discussed the formation of a loose committee to get trail easements and bring the area which may be called North Mountain into Ridge to Rivers.  Kastera is potentially going to develop the area, fences are going up near Harrison Hollow on the ridge line and some survey work is being done.  He wants SWIMBA to endorse the coalition consisting of North Central Foothills, Highlands and Collister associations.  Businesses such as Healthwise are supportive.  The committee wants to buy property from the owners and ideally to protect open space and trails.  He believes Kastera paid $2m for the property, has heard the City offered less to them.  Discussion was held regarding easement as opposed to open space, Kastera’s efforts to trade the land, timing due to real estate market, suitability for development due to steep grades (72/300 acres maximum).  Steve is going to do a first draft of letter for SWIMBA review that will indicate SWIMBA supports continued use of trails and access and is willing to participate in discussions and work with the City and land owners.

• Introductions:  Lisa Hawkes, member of Marketing Committee.

• General Liability Insurance:  Dave reported on the insurance SWIMBA has available.  He will check on DNO insurance and report back.

• IMT Guide:  IMT wants to put together a guide and use the SWIMBA logo in the publication with a plug for SWIMBA.  Margie moved that Dave Thomas have authority to review and approve at his discretion, Tom Foote seconded, passed unanimously.

• Letters from City:  2/8/08 letter from Dave Gordon thanking SWIMBA for Tour de Fat contribution.  Also letter dated 1/24/08 thanking SWIMBA for $4,000 to Ridge to Rivers for Shafer Butte.

• Quiet Commotion:  Dave Thomas presented information about the 5^th Annual Quiet Commotion Summit conference to be held April 30-May 2 in Boise.  The focus is highlighting the importance and need to protect non-motorized uses of public lands, and is designed to create a dialogue among agency people and those who recreate on public lands.  The American Hiking Society, Idaho Conservation League and Wilderness Society are participating.  SWIMBA has been asked to guide a ride or two for conference participants.  Dave Thomas and Al will participate.

• Green Expo:  Jodi said it will be held at the Boise Centre on the Grove May 17-18.  May 17 hours are 9:00-8:00, May 18 hours are 10:00-6:00.  It will include transportation issues such as alternatives to motor vehicles.  BYRDS will benefit from donations.  They want a SWIMBA, Velodrome and BYRDS presence.  IMT has contributed $1,000 for the BYRDS and bike area.  The non-profit booth rate is $300 and Jodi wants to use it for marketing and signup-only three booths are left.  Jill suggests doing a marketing plan for entire year based on key things and wants Jodi to come to meetings and discuss.  There will be a Curt Stigers concert and an eco-friendly fashion show.  Dave Beck indicated the Velodrome will pay $150 of the fee, and the timing is good.  He moved to allocate $150 for the booth, Dan seconded, passed unanimously.  Terry Floyd, Dave Beck, Dave Thomas, Al, Dan, Jodi and Harley volunteered.  Idahogreenexpo.org.

• Trailpalooza:  Jodi said that Chris from IMT will give SWIMBA the Bogus Bonzai event as part of Trailpalooza so long as his name is there.  A couple of people would be needed to work with Lactic Acid on it.  It will end at the Foothills Learning Center.    If SWIMBA wants the proceeds, it will have to run it.  Jodi said Open Space Advertising and Events owns Trailpalooza.  Dave Thomas suggested it be taken offline and discussed.

• Tour de Fat:  Margie gave a report on the meeting with Chris Winn and the New Belgium folks.  The date is 8/23/08, the new venue will be Ann Morrison Park and there will be a new bike route, to be determined.  Two Tour de Fats are gone this year due to lack of participation by the non-profit at the Montana event, and control problems at the Flagstaff event.  The Boise Tour de Fat will have much tighter control over sales of tokens, beer pouring and crowd control.  The beer garden will max out at 5,000 people and then will be one in/one out.  More participation by SWIMBA board and members will be necessary to attain the goals for this year, and keep the event viable. Tom Foote announced the theme will be Peter Pan Meets Pirates of the Caribbean.   

• Marketing Committee Report:  Jill Giese – SWIMBA will not have a booth at the Bike Swap.  Bret developed some cards with a simple message that might be utilized.  Bret indicated he can get a good rate on printing at Table Rock Printing if they can have a small logo on the cards.  Questions were raised about cards having tips which should be education rather than marketing.  Jill said ideally a brochure would be best, but there hasn’t been enough time to get it done.  Discussion was held about the message to convey, the committee wants more people at meetings.  A decision is necessary about having the cards or being absent completely from the Bike Swap.  Bret said they are going strictly for awareness with the cards, that the best thing would be a brochure.  100 cards for $105, 200 for $145, 600 for $185.  Motion for $100 worth died for lack of a second.  Dave Beck said the Bike Swap was very low volume interest in the Velodrome last year.  Dave Thomas feels the cards are very professional and would be better than using old pamphlets, they set a new tone, and he noted the committee was asked to serve and they have a particular expertise and different goals than others.    Jodi noted there is some overlap between marketing and membership, Dave Thomas suggested having that discussion another time.  A new Tour de Fat logo is needed, can be sent to magnusondesign.com.

• Education Committee Report:  Tom Gattiker, Terry Floyd, Tom Grant, Terry Heslin and Harley Parsons are members.  Gary Dinoso is interfacing with them.  Ridge to Rivers has a simpler message, working to change behavior, rules vs norms.  Jenny Riley is the potential mouthpiece for education.  Appealing to a very targeted audience was suggested, direct contact in the foothills is best, such as in the parking lot.

• Gardner Peak:  Dave Thomas said we would be obligated for 1-1.5 miles of trail.  He talked to Larry Donahoo about commitment in perpetuity since the makeup of the board does change.  Larry is OK with a commitment, but doesn’t expect it in perpetuity.  Dave Thomas wants to make sure we understand all the trails we have committed to so far.  Dan said Eastside and Shafer Butte trails require very little effort, there are some individual commitments.  There will be a couple of short reroutes on the mountain at 7,000 feet, Ted Tokumoto is handling them.  Gardner Peak phase 1 & 2 are done, 3 & 4 are left.  They may do the Around the Mountain Trail the following year which will wrap Gardner Peak around to Dry Creek.  The first phase will be 30 days after the snow is gone.  Currently SWIMBA is committed to Hulls Gulch and Rock Island.

  Dave Beck said over the last ten years 4-5 trails a year were built and they were maintaining 20 miles of trails.  4 years ago the master plan was started, trails were inventoried and 20-30 were identified for development.  Ridge to Rivers adopted them out to groups, but not SWIMBA.  The Forest Service has 25-30 miles of new trails that are user driven that will be incorporated into Ridge to Rivers.  Now they want to get Gardner Peak into the master trail system.  It is Forest Service responsibility so Dan committed to adopt it using SWIMBA .  Gardner Peak was started due to the possibility of being kicked off lower Shafer Butte due to logging.  Dave thinks it has lots of potential and is comfortable with it.  Jodi moved to sign the letter of support, Dirk seconded, passed unanimously. 

• Cycling Park:  Dave Beck said the Cycling Park is getting national attention and SWIMBA has the opportunity to look good at the park.  IMBA wants to do a national camp on Take Your Kid Mountain Biking Day on October 4, 2008.  The Coop and Jodi are helping.  There are weekly volunteer trail crew opportunities at 2:30 on Saturday.