May 2004

The Board of Directors of Triangle Greenways Council met for its regularly monthly meeting in the board Room of The Healing place on May 24, 2004. Bill Bussey presided.

Other Board members attending were Jeff Brewer, Bill Flournoy, Dean Kanipe, Allan DeHart, Norman Caump, Don Belk, Leslie Kennedy, Barbara Oslund. Also attending was Robert Hinson who was filling in for Larkin Kirkman who is out of Town and guest Chuck Roe Southeast Director of the Land Trust Alliance.

Introductions were made of the group.

Minutes of the last meeting were approved.

The Treasurer’s report was submitted and approved.

Item 3 on the agenda: What’s happening?

Jeff and Dean reported that progress has been made on the Memorandum of Agreement for the management of the Wake County portion of the Falls Lake Trail that is a part of the Mountains to Sea Trail between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wildlife Resources, N.C. State Parks, Wake County Parks and the Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail. The Agreement outlines the responsibilities of each agency and the means to coordinate the management of the trail.

This Agreement should be approved by each agency within the next 4-5 weeks. It also could serve as a model for other local governments, especially with the extension of the trail in Durham County.
Bill Bussey (Bill B.) asked for a copy and Robert agreed to e-mail a copy to Bill B.

Dean and Leslie reported on the proposed Durham to Roxboro rail-trail. The corridor built in 1903 still has ballast, rail and bridges and there are questions as to who will remove the rail components. Dean thinks that the spikes may be of collector value. Leslie thinks that the rails are of salvage value and Bill B. thinks that the bridge is still usable. According to current information the price of the line could be 6 million dollars with possible shared funding of 2 mil from Federal transportation funds, 2 mil from the State and 2 mil. from Durham City/Co. State and local funding is dependent of Federal funding. Barb said that we need to continue to stay in touch with the respective agencies.

Norman reported that there is pressure on the Raleigh City Council to not raise taxes. To avoid a tax increase or to reduce current expenditures several on the Council are considering the postponement of projects such as the Walnut Creek Wetland Education Center and other greenway projects. He asked the Board members to contact city officials and ask support of those projects.

Don reported that the Town of Cary has just sent our a request for submittals of interest for new greenways in the town. He also reported that the Town of Cary and Apex had reached consensus on the White Oak Creek greenway connection to the ATT. Leslie asked if the trail was still planned to be multi-use and allow for equestrian use/ Don was not sure, and that Leslie should continue to stay in touch with Doug McRainey of Cary and John Brown of Apex to insure those interests are heard.

Don also reported that the Town of Cary has scheduled a Public hearing on the Green Level Land Use Plan for Thursday night 5/27/04 at 6:30. The Town is recommending a rural character with recommendations to use greenways in lieu of sidewalks in the developments.

Leslie reported on a multi-use of trails workshop sponsored by the N.C. Horse Council and Jordan Lake Trails Conservation Association (JLTCA), held at Jordan Lake that featured Woody Keene (sp?) of the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA). Leslie and Bill B. reported that the workshop was excellent. Leslie reported that the Wildlife Resources Commission has said no to the equestrian use within the permanent Gamelands on the Jordan Lake Project. However, Steve Brown of the Corps of Engineers has expressed a willingness to work towards shared use of trails in the non-permanent gamelands.

Bill B. suggested that at an appropriate time the Board invite Richard Berner, President of the JLTCA to a TGC meeting to share interests.

Bill Flournoy (Bill F.) brought up the recent death of Wendy Olson and how much she meant to both this organization and others across the region. Discussion occurred on how the organization might recognize and honor her life and efforts. Bill F. said that efforts were underway to name the Occoneeche Mtn. Trail to Hillsborough in her memory and that the recommendation was currently making its way through respective boards. Bill B. reported that live plant/flowers were given for her memorial service by TGC. Bill B. reported that the expense was +/-$50.00 and that $50.00 was still available from the Boards original approval of $100.00. Dean suggested that a TGC Memorial Fund be established that others may contribute to. Jeff suggested that $200.00 be set aside by the Board for the implementation of that fund. A motion and second was approved to establish the Wendy Olson Memorial Fund. Don will include this information in the Newsletter in hopes others might recognize Wendy in this way.

Bill B. reported that REI will be sponsoring activities for the June 5 Trail Day. Other activities are planned across the Triangle. Bill B. also reported on a meeting that he had with Vic Lebsock of the City of Raleigh. The City is currently expanding the Allegheny Greenway and several other projects. The I440 Bridge connecting Meredith College and the N.C. Art Museum Property will not naturally connect to Umstead State Park. City plans are still to attempt to extend up through Crabtree Valley and through the Quarry, however that is still in litigation.

Allan reported that 2 miles of the Franklinton to Louisburg Greenway has started. This is the beginning of a proposed 10+ mile greenway. Future land acquisition and agreements are needed.

Jeff reported that a press release will be out for National Trails Day. T-shirts will be in by Wednesday.

Chuck Roe was then recognized to report to the TGC on the “Land Trust Standards and Practices Organizational Assessment Summary for the TGC – Draft April 23, 2204. Chuck explained that this initiative was funded through a grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation that would allow the N.C. Land Trust Council to allow its members to go through a voluntary process of evaluating themselves in an effort to conform to national standards and practices.

Seven Board members of TGC were asked to fill out a questionnaire. The results are confidential to the Board. Chuck reviewed the results with the Board on the 15 “Standards”. Chuck highlighted the Strengths and Challenges that were noted.

Chuck then shared the “Final Summary and Recommendations” and asked for feedback. He hopes to make revisions and then report back to the N.C. Land Trust Council.

Generous and positive discussion followed.
Allen noted that we may not recognize how much responsibility we have.

Bill F. noted that we have a basic set of policies and hope that those are revised as we grow.

Allen remarked on the magnitude of commitment that it will take for the organization to grow. Allen also noted Larkins e-mail comments to the Board on his belief “that the process on Monday of asking our Board members, and members of the Strategic Planning Committee, to look carefully at the depth of questioning about how we operate that is contained in this self assessment will be a freightening and eye-opening exercise. I hope we will recognize the magnitude of the commitment we have made.”

Bill F. remarked that we have a small volunteer base and the loss of any key person can result in lost geographic representation.

Chuck then referred the Board to recommendations II “Reaching Critical Functional Capacities” and III “Strategic and Fundraising Plans’ that he thought were pertinent to the conversation.

Bill B. asked how do we compare to other groups across the state?

Chuck responded that N.C. has a large # of Land Trusts and that many of them have special interests. He stated that TGC is small but committed and wants to do the right thing. He offered that if TGC wants to expand that more policies and management procedures would likely need to be set. He also offered that me may continue to be an active and positive advocacy group if we id not become a large land trust.

Bill F. stated that our efforts were more towards land banking with the intention of rolling the land over to other groups or municipalities and we don’t wish to have a lot of management responsibility.
Chuck hopes that the recommendations can lead to further discussions and strategic planning.

Barb mentioned that last month Judy Wiseman presented the first efforts of a strategic plan, but that it was skeletal in nature and also the Judy has had to leave the Board.

Dean stated that we need staff to build a volunteer base, solicit grants and build partnerships and that we have lots of ideas but a lack of time and resources to implement them.

Bill F. noted that we are hard pressed from a lack of budget, no strategic plan and that we have an unusual board in that we are involved in multiple interests and not just committed to TGC.

Don B. stated that he finds the work of TGC interesting, but also sees this assessment as “frightening” and “eye opening”. He stated that we need a Strategic Plan, Action Steps to reach goals. He thinks that over the next 2-3 months the development of the Strategic Plan should be the focus of the Board.

Allen noted that at one time, the Board had a more narrow focus, the trail work on Falls Lake and then again referred to Larkin’s letter and its appropriateness.

Chuck said that he would make some limited changes to the recommendations and send it back out for the Board.

The Board adjourned at 9:05.

Respectfully submitted for Larkin Kirkman by
Robert Hinson.