1 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:04,140 I don't like the sound of that. 2 00:00:10,580 --> 00:00:11,260 Thank you. 3 00:00:45,740 --> 00:00:49,220 Good afternoon. I'll call this meeting to order. Welcome to the Resurbing 4 00:00:49,220 --> 00:01:12,410 Dispolly Whistler Committee, the whole meeting for June 24th, 2025. Thank you for joining. My name is Jack Crompton. I'm the mayor of Whistler, and I would like to make a motion to appoint Councillor Jen Ford as Chair of this meeting. Is there a seconder? Seconded by Councillor Jewett. Are there any opposed? Motion carries. Councillor Ford. Thank you, mayor. Good afternoon, everyone. 5 00:01:12,410 --> 00:01:17,710 Again, we are grateful to be here today on the Shared Unceded Territory of the Leal Watt 6 00:01:17,710 --> 00:01:22,190 people, known in their language as Leal Watt tool, and the Squamish people, known in their 7 00:01:22,190 --> 00:01:23,690 language as Gohomish. 8 00:01:24,050 --> 00:01:29,550 We respect and commit to a deep consideration of their history, culture, stewardship, and 9 00:01:29,550 --> 00:01:30,030 voice. 10 00:01:30,990 --> 00:01:36,970 I'd like to introduce the other members of our elected council, Councillor Jessie Morton, 11 00:01:36,970 --> 00:01:43,590 Councilor Jack Murrell, Councilor Kathy Jewett, Mayor Jack Crompton, Councilor Al Porzsafe, 12 00:01:43,790 --> 00:01:44,910 and Councilor Arthur Jung. 13 00:01:46,390 --> 00:01:53,250 And we also have many members of our professional staff here today, Chief Administrative Officer 14 00:01:53,250 --> 00:02:01,150 of Virginia Collian, General Managers, Dale Michelson, Karen Elliott, James Halleasey, and 15 00:02:01,150 --> 00:02:04,250 in place of Ted Madison today, we have Carly Price. 16 00:02:05,530 --> 00:02:12,210 And we have a Deputy Corporate Officer, Caitlin Hodson and Council Coordinator, Pilar 17 00:02:12,210 --> 00:02:12,790 Mingietta. 18 00:02:13,130 --> 00:02:15,950 We also have other members of our professional staff here today. 19 00:02:16,070 --> 00:02:16,790 Thank you for being here. 20 00:02:17,750 --> 00:02:21,130 This meeting is being recorded and will be available at wasser.ca. 21 00:02:22,250 --> 00:02:27,950 Could I ask that someone please make a motion that the Committee of the whole adopt the meeting 22 00:02:27,950 --> 00:02:28,910 agenda for today. 23 00:02:28,910 --> 00:02:32,170 Okay, moved by Councillor Forsyth, seconded by Councillor Dijeron. 24 00:02:32,550 --> 00:02:34,670 Do we do first names in committee of the whole? 25 00:02:35,610 --> 00:02:36,410 Okay, we'll do that. 26 00:02:37,850 --> 00:02:40,010 On the motion, all in favour? 27 00:02:40,570 --> 00:02:42,110 Is there anyone opposed to motion carries? 28 00:02:43,190 --> 00:02:47,130 Could someone please make a motion that we adopt the committee of the whole meeting minutes 29 00:02:47,130 --> 00:02:53,310 of June 10th, moved by Jack, seconded by Jesse, all in favour, any opposed to motion carries? 30 00:02:54,430 --> 00:02:54,810 Okay. 31 00:02:54,810 --> 00:02:59,690 Okay, today we have a presentation by the Manager of Parks Planning, Martin Pardo, 32 00:03:00,550 --> 00:03:05,570 who will be presenting the Recreation Trail Strategy Report. Welcome, Martin. 33 00:03:06,990 --> 00:03:13,170 Great, thank you. It's great to be here this afternoon, and we'll run through this presentation. 34 00:03:14,450 --> 00:03:19,650 So the purpose of today is to re-familiarize everyone with the Recreation Trail Strategy. 35 00:03:19,650 --> 00:03:27,770 provide a high level overview, flag critical areas of note, and then identify next steps moving forward. 36 00:03:29,270 --> 00:03:33,890 I'm going to go back in time a bit here to talk about why we're actually doing this project. 37 00:03:34,270 --> 00:03:38,630 And you may recall back in part of the pandemic and in the early days of the pandemic, 38 00:03:38,630 --> 00:03:41,970 there was a lot of concerns about trails in our community. 39 00:03:42,870 --> 00:03:47,710 Things about lack of transparency with how trail planning occurs. 40 00:03:47,710 --> 00:03:52,670 There were environmental and wildlife concerns, parking and access were an issue. 41 00:03:52,870 --> 00:03:56,890 I know the area of Mountain View Drive was sometimes referred to as the next jaw-free 42 00:03:56,890 --> 00:03:58,110 lakes in terms of parking. 43 00:03:58,850 --> 00:04:02,730 There was unauthorized trail building which is always a problem. 44 00:04:03,450 --> 00:04:08,230 There was questions about funding and limits to growth when or enough trails enough, and 45 00:04:08,230 --> 00:04:09,750 there were other headwinds were there. 46 00:04:10,490 --> 00:04:15,370 A lot of these things were captured in the local media over a number of years as well as in 47 00:04:15,370 --> 00:04:16,110 other places. 48 00:04:16,110 --> 00:04:21,950 So with all of that, we thought, let's just take a breath and work on this project. 49 00:04:23,550 --> 00:04:28,050 So the purpose of the REC trail strategy is to respond to feedback from the community 50 00:04:28,050 --> 00:04:34,010 about various trail-related issues, to elevate the community's general knowledge regarding 51 00:04:34,010 --> 00:04:39,090 the trail ecosystem, if I can call it that, in Whistler, provide direction and guidance around 52 00:04:39,090 --> 00:04:43,590 common friction points, and how can we move forward on these items, and provide the basis 53 00:04:43,590 --> 00:04:48,690 is for a future comprehensive trail planning initiative. So, essentially, the 54 00:04:48,690 --> 00:04:52,230 REC trail strategy is intended as a comprehensive forward-looking framework. 55 00:04:53,290 --> 00:04:55,070 Sorry, got my buttons mixed up. 56 00:04:58,100 --> 00:05:00,360 There we go. It's intended as a comprehensive 57 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:04,040 forward-looking framework designed to guide the planning, development, management, 58 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:11,020 and stewardship of Whistler's non-motorized recreation trail network. Before 59 00:05:11,020 --> 00:05:14,880 diving into this, I did want to distinguish between what a strategy is and what's 60 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:19,020 more commonly referred to as a master plan, which we now referred to as a comprehensive 61 00:05:19,020 --> 00:05:19,520 plan. 62 00:05:20,260 --> 00:05:23,800 So a strategy is an overarching guide about how we make decisions. 63 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:29,180 For the RTS, it's designed to answer questions like, what is the trail planning review and 64 00:05:29,180 --> 00:05:33,320 approval process for trails located across a variety of land managers? 65 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:39,080 And how do we determine the most appropriate parts to approach to parking at any given location? 66 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:44,440 Whereas a comprehensive plan of what we would refer to as a master plan is usually more 67 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:50,700 development focused. It aims to answer questions such as where and when can we build more trails to 68 00:05:50,700 --> 00:05:56,640 reduce the load on say the loss lake trail network and which trails could we modify for accessible 69 00:05:56,640 --> 00:06:01,900 mountain biking and skilled development in new riders or wouldn't it be great to build a trail 70 00:06:01,900 --> 00:06:06,320 from here to here to here and we could do this and that that's more a comprehensive trail plan. 71 00:06:06,840 --> 00:06:11,240 So strategy high level guidance comprehensive plan what we need or want and where it should be. 72 00:06:14,280 --> 00:06:20,040 The RTS has been in development for some time, and through several phases, we did retain 73 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:24,640 local consultants' cascade environmental and the Wester Center for Sustainability in 74 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,920 2021 to help provide technical and engagement support. 75 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:34,220 The trail planning working group and the Recreation and Leisure Advisory Committee of Council were 76 00:06:34,220 --> 00:06:40,380 active participants in the early days of the project, and along the way we did make referrals 77 00:06:40,380 --> 00:06:45,360 to both the Lilwatt Nation and the School of Homage Nation of which there has been ongoing 78 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:47,240 dialogue through the course of the project. 79 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:53,260 Like to remind everyone, also there were three rounds of community engagement, the first 80 00:06:53,260 --> 00:06:54,900 of which was in March 2021. 81 00:06:55,840 --> 00:07:00,500 Of course, the pandemic prevented us offering an in-person event, instead we hosted an online 82 00:07:00,500 --> 00:07:02,280 information session and survey. 83 00:07:03,020 --> 00:07:08,220 And during this round, we presented 12 different trail topics, which are things that were 84 00:07:08,220 --> 00:07:12,240 a source of concern, such as on authorized trails, commercial event uses, trail planning, 85 00:07:12,340 --> 00:07:17,740 etc. We asked participants to rate how important each one of these topics was to them and ideas 86 00:07:17,740 --> 00:07:22,800 about how to work through each of them. We also presented draft objectives in a vision 87 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:28,800 and solicited for feedback. The second and third rounds included pop-up in-person info sessions 88 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:34,800 as well as online information sessions and surveys. In March 2023, we presented initial 89 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:39,920 directions for eight of those trail topics engaged the level of support and feedback for each one. 90 00:07:40,900 --> 00:07:47,420 And in October 2023 we shared a sought feedback on a draft suitability analysis and recommendations 91 00:07:47,420 --> 00:07:54,840 for each of those 12 trail network areas within the study area. Overall we had 1700 engagement touch 92 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:58,960 points through the project which were used to inform each of the subsequent steps. 93 00:08:01,340 --> 00:08:02,340 So the main part of 94 00:08:02,340 --> 00:08:08,140 Strategy is represented in the first four chapters and it's a relatively short read at only 14 pages. 95 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:13,640 In the next series of slides I'll just walk you through those documents or this document. 96 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:18,300 The first chapter provides a general overview of Wister's recreation trails. 97 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:25,340 It also discusses the complexity of the trail network because of the multiple land jurisdictions and multiple trail managers. 98 00:08:26,020 --> 00:08:29,660 And it also points out how the RTS aligns with the Wister's vision 99 00:08:29,660 --> 00:08:33,480 as per the official community plan and the climate action big moves strategy. 100 00:08:35,350 --> 00:08:39,750 The first chapter also clarifies the strategy's geographic scope. 101 00:08:40,130 --> 00:08:44,670 So included are Whistler's, municipal trails within Whistler's municipal boundaries plus 102 00:08:44,670 --> 00:08:50,030 some areas just outside of that, which include the Whistler or sorry the Rainbow Sprote trails. 103 00:08:50,730 --> 00:08:56,290 The Whistler Interpretive Forest is included as are the trails on Whistler Blackones commercial 104 00:08:56,290 --> 00:09:01,090 recreational recreation area that are not fee-accessed, so outside of the bike park. 105 00:09:02,030 --> 00:09:06,570 We clarified that the strategy includes both authorized and unauthorized public recreation 106 00:09:06,570 --> 00:09:11,230 trails used by mountain bikers, trail runners, hikers, walkers, dog walkers. 107 00:09:11,980 --> 00:09:16,970 The strategy also considers trail-related support amenities such as parking, staging, and 108 00:09:16,970 --> 00:09:17,410 washrooms. 109 00:09:17,990 --> 00:09:21,810 These are amenities that are critically important to the trail experience and represent 110 00:09:21,810 --> 00:09:23,050 and cost to build and maintain, 111 00:09:23,590 --> 00:09:26,830 and often are not thought about when planning trails. 112 00:09:28,310 --> 00:09:30,410 Excluded from the strategy are, again, 113 00:09:30,570 --> 00:09:32,150 the Wester Blackhomes bike park trails, 114 00:09:32,390 --> 00:09:34,030 trails in the Garibald provincial park 115 00:09:34,030 --> 00:09:35,970 and Wester Olympic park trails, 116 00:09:36,110 --> 00:09:37,810 predominantly used in winter, trails managed 117 00:09:37,810 --> 00:09:40,030 under a provincial commercial tenure, 118 00:09:40,630 --> 00:09:43,990 and motorized used trails other than trials motorcycles 119 00:09:44,430 --> 00:09:46,930 and the valley trail itself is being addressed 120 00:09:46,930 --> 00:09:49,430 through a separate parks and valley trail strategy 121 00:09:49,430 --> 00:09:50,870 project currently underway. 122 00:09:52,370 --> 00:09:56,630 The second chapter details, what it is we're trying to achieve and where we want to go. 123 00:09:57,150 --> 00:10:01,390 This destination, if you will, is defined by the strategy's objective and vision, both 124 00:10:01,390 --> 00:10:04,530 of which were developed and refined based upon community input. 125 00:10:05,310 --> 00:10:10,610 The four objectives here of community environment, tourism based economy and sense of place are 126 00:10:10,610 --> 00:10:16,530 supported by the vision, which is on the left and in blue. 127 00:10:16,530 --> 00:10:22,630 We won't read the entire vision there, but it centers around working towards a network 128 00:10:22,630 --> 00:10:28,010 of trails that are sufficient, supported, and within limits that are carefully planned. 129 00:10:28,410 --> 00:10:31,530 They're responsibly built, maintained, and managed. 130 00:10:32,110 --> 00:10:35,890 And this aligns with the OCP's vision statement shown on the right-hand side. 131 00:10:38,950 --> 00:10:43,850 The third chapter provides an overview and inventory of Whistler's over 400 kilometers of trails, 132 00:10:43,850 --> 00:10:47,350 and considers who is responsible for each of those trails, 133 00:10:47,530 --> 00:10:49,510 such as Worca, the Alpine Club of Canada, 134 00:10:49,670 --> 00:10:52,970 Whistler Chapter, the RMOW, or Reccytes and Trails BC. 135 00:10:53,730 --> 00:10:55,730 Who is the land manager based upon 136 00:10:55,730 --> 00:10:57,370 where that trail is located, 137 00:10:58,130 --> 00:11:00,630 and the typical sort of trail length, difficulty, 138 00:11:00,850 --> 00:11:01,950 and type kind of inventory? 139 00:11:03,070 --> 00:11:05,490 Not all of this information is in the draft currently, 140 00:11:05,670 --> 00:11:07,750 but will be included in the final documents. 141 00:11:08,510 --> 00:11:10,870 This section also discusses the benefits of trails 142 00:11:10,870 --> 00:11:12,350 for recreation, health, and economy, 143 00:11:12,350 --> 00:11:18,550 and no challenges due to increased trail use e-bikes on authorized trail construction, and more. 144 00:11:21,100 --> 00:11:26,980 Chapter three also includes a short section about the financial reality we are currently. 145 00:11:27,500 --> 00:11:35,180 And given the need to rebuild municipal financial reserve contributions to replace our aging infrastructure across the municipal spectrum, 146 00:11:35,540 --> 00:11:41,920 the current direction is to limit building new amenities or increasing services without due consideration. 147 00:11:42,580 --> 00:11:44,960 So, this makes the question, what does this mean for trails? 148 00:11:45,900 --> 00:11:50,760 It means prioritizing reinvestment in existing municipal trails before developing new ones. 149 00:11:51,420 --> 00:11:55,040 Of course, there are some exceptions to this in terms of replacing critical trail infrastructure. 150 00:11:55,620 --> 00:12:00,000 So, recently, we've been able to replace bridges like on 21 mile and currently working on the 151 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:05,580 wedge creek comfortably numberage, and those have been funded by Resort Municipality Initiative 152 00:12:05,580 --> 00:12:09,020 Funding, which is a provincial grant program based upon hotel stays. 153 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:14,100 We're currently refurbishing high demand trails like the work underway on Pinocchio's 154 00:12:14,100 --> 00:12:19,000 perimeter in Los Lake, and then leveraging related in from initiatives such as workers 155 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:23,340 accessible mountain bike trail initiative on fire out in flashback in the Whister and 156 00:12:23,340 --> 00:12:23,860 Turbo Forest. 157 00:12:26,850 --> 00:12:30,010 Chapter 4 is the mediast of the chapters. 158 00:12:30,430 --> 00:12:35,190 It dives into the trail topic areas and really is the main focus of the strategy. 159 00:12:35,670 --> 00:12:40,630 And the first portion is about how we manage and operate existing trails and first of our 160 00:12:40,630 --> 00:12:43,410 trail topics here are unauthorized trails. 161 00:12:43,610 --> 00:12:46,110 Now, these are a problem for four reasons. 162 00:12:47,030 --> 00:12:49,470 The Rolawatt Nation and Squamish Nation have clearly 163 00:12:49,470 --> 00:12:51,890 articulated their objection to the ongoing construction 164 00:12:51,890 --> 00:12:53,010 of unauthorized trails. 165 00:12:53,530 --> 00:12:55,770 This has been spoken about during the development of the RTS 166 00:12:55,770 --> 00:12:58,710 and has featured at the last two Mountain Bike Tourism 167 00:12:58,710 --> 00:13:01,010 Association of BC Symposiums. 168 00:13:01,210 --> 00:13:03,730 As a message to trail builders, you might think you're 169 00:13:03,730 --> 00:13:06,290 building an awesome trail and just scratching it out 170 00:13:06,290 --> 00:13:08,790 in the middle of nowhere, but this perspective is not 171 00:13:08,790 --> 00:13:13,630 shared by those whose land you're working on. First Nations footprints and culturally significant 172 00:13:13,630 --> 00:13:18,390 places are widespread and as a builder of unauthorized trails you risk serious legislative 173 00:13:18,390 --> 00:13:23,690 penalties for disturbing archaeological sites whether they are mapped or not. First Nations 174 00:13:23,690 --> 00:13:28,890 frustrations about unauthorized trail construction is risking decades of access advocacy by Worka 175 00:13:28,890 --> 00:13:35,510 and undermining the reputation of the sport. Second reason unauthorized trails are a problem is they 176 00:13:35,510 --> 00:13:37,710 and also damage sensitive ecosystems and habitats. 177 00:13:38,490 --> 00:13:42,250 They can also sometimes trespass on private property, 178 00:13:42,310 --> 00:13:44,170 which cause a lot of friction. 179 00:13:45,110 --> 00:13:46,510 And they can also undermine the efforts 180 00:13:46,510 --> 00:13:49,230 of long-term trail development and planning. 181 00:13:49,990 --> 00:13:51,770 So the direction and the direct trail strategy 182 00:13:51,770 --> 00:13:54,390 that we're proposing to go is to communicate these impacts 183 00:13:54,390 --> 00:13:57,430 on legislative penalties as related to First Nations, 184 00:13:58,050 --> 00:13:59,330 the environment, municipal property, 185 00:13:59,590 --> 00:14:01,790 private property, long-term trail development planning, 186 00:14:01,790 --> 00:14:05,350 supporting the reputation of support and financial support. 187 00:14:06,470 --> 00:14:11,570 Work with trail builders to develop authorized trail corridors within which trail builders 188 00:14:11,570 --> 00:14:14,290 can apply their visions and fine skills. 189 00:14:15,690 --> 00:14:22,370 Enforce municipal bylaws and fines for unauthorized construction on municipal property like Parkhurst 190 00:14:22,370 --> 00:14:29,490 and redirect municipal funded trail maintenance and operation budgets and grants to decommissioning 191 00:14:29,490 --> 00:14:33,530 and re-vegetating unauthorized trails located on unseated lands 192 00:14:33,530 --> 00:14:35,370 currently managed by the province. 193 00:14:39,540 --> 00:14:41,740 Another trail topic is commercial event use. 194 00:14:42,180 --> 00:14:43,160 Here we have more work to do, 195 00:14:43,460 --> 00:14:45,280 including developing a policy, fee structure, 196 00:14:45,580 --> 00:14:47,900 and review process for a commercial event use 197 00:14:47,900 --> 00:14:49,780 of Worcester's trails in collaboration 198 00:14:49,780 --> 00:14:51,460 with local trail interest groups. 199 00:14:51,860 --> 00:14:53,720 This would align with and build upon work 200 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:56,120 as excellent work to date and seek to streamline 201 00:14:56,680 --> 00:14:59,980 how this whole eco-trial process 202 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:04,840 With monitoring, restriction, and communication, the direction we propose is to expand use of 203 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:09,580 on-site information boards at high use staging areas and trailheads to reach those users who 204 00:15:09,580 --> 00:15:14,140 may not be connected to other trail information channels to continue to work with the problems 205 00:15:14,140 --> 00:15:18,080 to monitor grizzly bear recovery and activity, particularly in the spoken rainbow mountain areas. 206 00:15:19,620 --> 00:15:24,320 And to continue to restrict e-bikes and dogs about the flank trail to mitigate environmental 207 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:29,740 impacts with respect to grizzly bears, otherwise life and sensitive habitat. And on that, we are 208 00:15:29,740 --> 00:15:34,320 We are seeing an uptick in e-bike use on the Alpine trails, which is not permitted. 209 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:44,420 As a public service announcement, we ask that people please prioritize real and genuine environmental concerns ahead of their personal needs. 210 00:15:49,140 --> 00:15:51,080 Another, sorry, here. 211 00:15:54,670 --> 00:15:59,790 The next section of chapter four is about how we plan, develop, and build new trails. 212 00:15:59,790 --> 00:16:10,570 So, with respect to trail access and staging, the direction we're going is to establish staging areas to support trails on popular network areas on Mount Sprode and Rainbow Mountain. 213 00:16:11,330 --> 00:16:22,670 Encourage the use of underutilized parking locations and collaboration with private land and amenity owners. This might include the Creekside Underground parking structure, possibly school parking lots at non-school times. 214 00:16:22,670 --> 00:16:27,930 and then we have more work to do, including assessing and prioritizing the next staging area to be constructed, 215 00:16:28,230 --> 00:16:34,610 exploring paid parking options and implications on trail access and staging guidelines as developed as part of the 216 00:16:34,610 --> 00:16:42,070 REC trail strategy. We also need to assess the Valid Trail Network to identify connection gaps to high use trails and trail areas in 217 00:16:42,070 --> 00:16:50,190 order to increase the use of active transportation. We'd like to explore the feasibility of public shuttle service trail heads that 218 00:16:50,190 --> 00:16:52,390 that are frequently accessed by private vehicles 219 00:16:52,390 --> 00:16:54,650 and experiencing parking challenges such as Skywalk, 220 00:16:54,890 --> 00:16:57,170 Mountsboro, and check out those lake trailheads. 221 00:16:57,390 --> 00:16:58,810 There are many places in North America 222 00:16:58,810 --> 00:17:01,210 that use shuttles as a means of managing parking, 223 00:17:01,430 --> 00:17:02,230 tourism and use. 224 00:17:03,070 --> 00:17:05,190 And we thought we should at least be exploring this. 225 00:17:10,820 --> 00:17:12,780 How we plan a proven construct our trails 226 00:17:12,780 --> 00:17:15,480 is a big topic and the direction we're proposing 227 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:19,200 is to prioritize reinvestment, as we've mentioned earlier. 228 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:22,200 To use new tools developed through the 229 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:28,920 Trial Strategy Project and appended to the report, including a trail review and approval 230 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:32,600 process flowcharts, one of which is on the right-hand side of the screen there. 231 00:17:33,900 --> 00:17:38,940 Trail access and staging guidelines, network area suitability analysis and recommendations, 232 00:17:38,940 --> 00:17:43,200 and most importantly, the environmentally responsible trail planning guidelines. 233 00:17:43,620 --> 00:17:45,880 Each of those are in the appendices of the strategy. 234 00:17:46,700 --> 00:17:51,980 We also seek to strengthen working relationships with a little lot nation and squalmish nation 235 00:17:51,980 --> 00:17:57,800 to collaborate on all trail management and planning work and to align these with our OCP policies. 236 00:17:58,580 --> 00:18:03,860 We also seek to account for long-term cost implications of main trails and the related 237 00:18:03,860 --> 00:18:08,880 amenities during the planning and approval phase of new trails. Capital funding to build a new trail 238 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:13,700 is one thing, but the real cost is in the annual operation and maintenance of those. 239 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:20,540 We continue to improve sustainable trail designs that appeal to a wide range of abilities and skill 240 00:18:20,540 --> 00:18:24,720 sets, including accessible mountain bike trails, continue to collaborate with reccytes 241 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:29,580 and trails BC on trail planning in and around Whistler and continue to encourage collaboration 242 00:18:29,580 --> 00:18:35,620 between Whistler-Blockcomb and Worca, related to the public trails within WB's control 243 00:18:35,620 --> 00:18:36,420 recreation area. 244 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:48,520 Another one of the tools I just spoke of is the Environmental and Responsible Trail Planning 245 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:49,020 Guidelines. 246 00:18:49,500 --> 00:18:53,720 These have been developed so that planning new trails can be done with their clear environmental 247 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:54,300 lens. 248 00:18:54,300 --> 00:19:03,140 So these guidelines act at the desktop level and they recommend mitigation strategies depending on the level of environmental sensitivity for a given location. 249 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:17,240 So moving forward proposed to promote, train and implement these new guidelines with RMOW staff and trail interest groups to maintain up-to-date spatial information including recent work on a priority habitat areas. 250 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:21,960 and we'll continue to avoid trail development within Wester's municipal watershed area and 251 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,000 in identified Grizzly Bear Habitants. 252 00:19:26,360 --> 00:19:31,580 With respect to motorized trials riding, it's typically represented by a small local 253 00:19:31,580 --> 00:19:35,620 user group in the direction we're proposing here is to continue to engage with this group 254 00:19:35,620 --> 00:19:40,300 and explore the feasibility of authorizing existing use areas. 255 00:19:40,500 --> 00:19:45,220 Of course, one risk of doing so is the potential creation of a dedicated and formalized trials 256 00:19:45,220 --> 00:19:51,080 writing zone that puts it on the map and attracts users from elsewhere, generating additional costs 257 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:56,720 and management risks. So we have more work to do there. We also have more work to do with limits of 258 00:19:56,720 --> 00:20:04,320 acceptable change. Here we propose to consider undertaking a study that monitors trail use impacts and 259 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:09,040 the changes that use represents over time and identifying mitigation measures. 260 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:14,020 Chapter five contains 261 00:20:14,020 --> 00:20:17,040 It gains five appendices that support the strategy. 262 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:21,080 The first is the evolving terminology where we're using preferred terms instead of crown 263 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:22,700 lands, stakeholders and master plans. 264 00:20:23,700 --> 00:20:27,160 The second is at the Environmental and Responsible Trail Planning Guidelines. 265 00:20:28,060 --> 00:20:31,660 The third is trail review and approval process flow charts. 266 00:20:32,420 --> 00:20:37,880 So in response to a lack of transparency about how trails are planned, we develop flow charts 267 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:43,960 and resource information for trails proposals on both municipal control lands, as well as 268 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:48,000 on seeded lands is currently managed by the provincial government and it's our expectation 269 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:51,200 that all people involved in trail planning will use these flowcharts. 270 00:20:52,360 --> 00:20:56,420 We also developed some trail access and staging guidelines, so this is more about trailhead 271 00:20:56,420 --> 00:21:02,140 parking, so it informs preferred locations, type of staging areas, and additional enhanced 272 00:21:02,140 --> 00:21:04,540 and many of these required field gaps in the network. 273 00:21:05,820 --> 00:21:12,320 And lastly, there's a cascade environmental, did a deep dive on analysis of 13 network 274 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:19,340 areas that make up the study area of Wistler's Trail ecosystem, each network area identifies current 275 00:21:19,340 --> 00:21:25,860 situations, suitability analysis, and trail-focused recommendations. This is very informative for future 276 00:21:25,860 --> 00:21:26,680 trail planning. 277 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:33,980 So in terms of next steps, well today we're here to committee the whole to reintroduce 278 00:21:33,980 --> 00:21:40,080 the project and the public release of the final draft. Over the coming months we're anticipating 279 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:44,860 some feedback and we have a bit more work to do in terms of developing maps and other images in the documents. 280 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:45,880 So we're working on that. 281 00:21:46,660 --> 00:21:51,620 There is the opportunity for feedback on the Missful Engage Whistler site. 282 00:21:52,260 --> 00:21:59,060 We'll be finalizing the document and we anticipate being back later in the year for adoption of the final document. 283 00:22:00,900 --> 00:22:03,780 With that concludes my presentation. 284 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:06,960 Happy to answer any questions and facilitate a discussion. 285 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:10,580 question. Thank you, Martin. Questions, 286 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:14,180 Arthur? 287 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:23,300 Thanks, Martin. I was very passionate about this. Perhaps I've asked this before, but 288 00:22:23,300 --> 00:22:30,580 as a planner, if you could have a clean canvas and start over on this 416K plus trail 289 00:22:30,580 --> 00:22:36,860 system, what would you do different? If I could go back in time as a planner, I would 290 00:22:36,860 --> 00:22:41,220 come up with a comprehensive trail plan. I think there are some people who might 291 00:22:41,220 --> 00:22:43,480 that watch this presentation, I think, oh God, here we go. 292 00:22:44,420 --> 00:22:46,540 But I think there's a certain efficiency 293 00:22:46,540 --> 00:22:48,200 that one can achieve that way, 294 00:22:48,580 --> 00:22:51,380 and the challenge will be still allowing the creativity, 295 00:22:51,660 --> 00:22:54,600 the soul, the character of our trails 296 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:56,020 to come through that process. 297 00:22:56,780 --> 00:22:57,420 Thank you. 298 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:00,760 I saw that there's a stat that there is five hundred 299 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:03,300 and sixty thousand invested in trail maintenance 300 00:23:04,020 --> 00:23:06,080 over how many years was that? 301 00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:08,220 That's per year in 2024. 302 00:23:08,860 --> 00:23:09,240 Yeah, okay. 303 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:15,720 So that's roughly $1,200 per kilometer, that's good enough. 304 00:23:20,250 --> 00:23:25,550 Are we getting any counts utilization data on the trails? 305 00:23:26,270 --> 00:23:27,910 Yes, we have a number of counters. 306 00:23:28,430 --> 00:23:31,490 We have some more permanent ones on our valley trail system. 307 00:23:31,630 --> 00:23:37,650 The ones on our recreation trails, we do move around, use them more for planning purposes 308 00:23:37,650 --> 00:23:41,450 purposes for new trails, then also recording existing use levels. 309 00:23:41,710 --> 00:23:47,910 So on our recreation trails, we have them the last number of years on SkyWalk Rainbow 310 00:23:47,910 --> 00:23:50,170 Trail and Mount Sproat into the Mystic. 311 00:23:50,770 --> 00:23:58,450 We move others around as need be for areas like Train Rack, Sea to Sky Trail and other municipal 312 00:23:58,450 --> 00:23:58,870 trails. 313 00:23:59,870 --> 00:24:06,450 Lastly, I'm just looking forward to that there, but I think I've seen a stat on the estimated 314 00:24:06,450 --> 00:24:09,590 that ROI on our trail system annually? 315 00:24:09,970 --> 00:24:10,570 Do we have that? 316 00:24:11,090 --> 00:24:13,570 I don't have it annually, but kind of to the center 317 00:24:13,570 --> 00:24:15,990 of the diagram there is a big number of $20 million. 318 00:24:16,850 --> 00:24:19,930 Back in 2016, so almost 10 years ago, 319 00:24:20,630 --> 00:24:23,390 a study was done to determine the economic impact 320 00:24:23,390 --> 00:24:26,610 of biking from Whistler's non-bike park trails, 321 00:24:27,010 --> 00:24:29,950 and that was the value that was assessed, was $20 million. 322 00:24:30,870 --> 00:24:32,830 Presumably, that number is higher now. 323 00:24:34,910 --> 00:24:36,390 I'll shut myself here. 324 00:24:36,670 --> 00:24:43,830 If we catch a rope trail building, I'm going to add a little color to it, in a right 325 00:24:43,830 --> 00:24:49,910 pair and zone, for example, what would be the process of dealing here? 326 00:24:50,130 --> 00:24:55,690 So if it's on municipal property, saying parkour store, loss lake or something, then we can 327 00:24:55,690 --> 00:25:03,070 apply the park use by law against that and also if there was a tree protection by law 328 00:25:03,070 --> 00:25:08,490 and environmental protection by law, we would be able to apply the recourse through those 329 00:25:08,940 --> 00:25:15,850 means. If it's not on municipal property, then it is more challenging for us. There are 330 00:25:15,850 --> 00:25:22,410 no legislative or sorry by law applications, potentially there's legislative concerns or 331 00:25:22,410 --> 00:25:28,150 opportunities there but that's where we're also proposing to redirect current funding that's 332 00:25:28,150 --> 00:25:34,830 provided to trail groups to then be spent on closing or repairing areas. That's part of the 333 00:25:34,830 --> 00:25:39,230 strategy. Go ahead. Thank you for your expertise and stewardship. Appreciate it. Thank you. 334 00:25:41,940 --> 00:25:48,630 Kathy. Thanks very much. Thanks for all the work on this. It's been a long time coming. 335 00:25:49,570 --> 00:25:57,290 Let me see. I'm going to start off with the marking system for trails. We've got green, blue, 336 00:25:57,590 --> 00:26:04,510 black, double black. On the mountain, green means the easiest in the area. Is that the same 337 00:26:04,510 --> 00:26:13,290 with mountain biking or is it more based on standards like grade and that sort of thing that 338 00:26:13,290 --> 00:26:14,370 determine difficulty? 339 00:26:14,370 --> 00:26:18,510 Yeah, that's a great question. It's one that's been evolving over the last number of years. 340 00:26:18,810 --> 00:26:23,090 The provincial government through rec sites and trails BC is attempting to come up with 341 00:26:23,090 --> 00:26:31,770 a more blanket standard of rating trail difficulty. And some of the challenges of finding, of 342 00:26:31,770 --> 00:26:37,810 resolving that are that some areas are inherently more difficult than other areas. So, Whistler 343 00:26:37,810 --> 00:26:42,870 is known to be a little bit more difficult. And some other areas that are more, say, in 344 00:26:42,870 --> 00:26:48,710 the count loops area of rolling hills type thing. So the rating system has been traditionally 345 00:26:48,710 --> 00:26:57,790 more relative to that unique geographic area. And we're waiting to see what requisites 346 00:26:57,790 --> 00:27:03,390 and trails comes up with with their standard. They have tested that as a pilot in the last 347 00:27:03,390 --> 00:27:06,670 two summers, but it is a big one to wrestle. 348 00:27:07,190 --> 00:27:07,710 Thank you. 349 00:27:07,710 --> 00:27:14,250 I think one of the first trails that the municipality was involved in was the West 350 00:27:14,250 --> 00:27:24,990 Plank and in that case, that was a very steep trail and it's had a lot of erosion issues. 351 00:27:25,530 --> 00:27:32,650 I'm trying to think when that was done, it's like 20 years ago or 25 quite a while ago. 352 00:27:32,650 --> 00:27:44,210 So what with the new environmental, sorry, environmental, responsible trail planning 353 00:27:44,210 --> 00:27:52,390 guidelines, are we going to start applying those guidelines to legacy, certain legacy 354 00:27:52,390 --> 00:27:54,170 trails that we see here? 355 00:27:54,990 --> 00:27:56,670 That certainly is one option. 356 00:27:57,010 --> 00:28:01,990 We haven't given a consideration to doing that, but at a desktop level it could be applied 357 00:28:01,990 --> 00:28:11,090 and would reveal certain things and we would need to understand what the implications of that analysis might be. 358 00:28:11,870 --> 00:28:20,890 Right, so by desktop you're talking about looking at the maps, looking at the grades, looking at the cost per meter, 359 00:28:22,330 --> 00:28:27,430 the potential wildlife habitat, the erosion. 360 00:28:27,430 --> 00:28:33,910 It's more looking at the using the information on our geographic information system for 361 00:28:33,910 --> 00:28:39,410 repairing areas and priority habitats, taking that information and then taking the trail 362 00:28:39,410 --> 00:28:43,830 network and lying it over top and seeing where they intersect. 363 00:28:45,110 --> 00:28:49,930 And then asking ourselves, all right, a trail like River Runs through it, a very popular trail 364 00:28:49,930 --> 00:28:53,590 historically, and still well used, easily accessed. 365 00:28:53,590 --> 00:28:59,930 best. Good portion of it is within a repair and zone. What do we want to do about that? 366 00:29:00,970 --> 00:29:05,210 Right. Well, a lot of our new climbing trails go right up the side creeps. 367 00:29:05,570 --> 00:29:11,590 Yeah. So the environmentally responsible trail planning guidelines that are in this identify 368 00:29:11,590 --> 00:29:17,850 high, medium and low habitat sensitivities based upon the data that was available when that 369 00:29:17,850 --> 00:29:24,990 was done and so for repairing areas they can be in the medium or low 370 00:29:24,990 --> 00:29:29,710 priority and then there's mitigation strategies that are identified within 371 00:29:29,710 --> 00:29:36,330 that so for instance if there's a creek corridor that a trail is needs to 372 00:29:36,330 --> 00:29:40,730 cross to get to the other side the intent is to minimize the amount of footprint 373 00:29:40,730 --> 00:29:45,150 that is within that repair in zone so that means that it goes straight across as 374 00:29:45,150 --> 00:29:47,930 supposed to dilly dally around if possible. 375 00:29:48,490 --> 00:29:54,370 It also means that structures that are within that riparian area are suitable for all trail 376 00:29:54,370 --> 00:29:54,850 types. 377 00:29:55,170 --> 00:29:57,090 So having a skinny... 378 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:29,980 Would going through an area of scunk cabbage in a wetland is not on. It would need to be a wider structure that keeps people on that trail and not affecting those sensitive soils and sensitive areas. That's the intent of the guidelines. If one wants to take it further and say that trail shouldn't be there at all, then that's another conversation that the community will need to have. Right, we're in a kind of a difficult situation in that. I mean, I got my first bike mountain bike. 379 00:30:29,980 --> 00:30:35,140 I can 1984 and every trail was a rope trail in those days. 380 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:39,440 So that's kind of how it all started with the trials bikes, as you say. 381 00:30:40,140 --> 00:30:44,020 So we're already adopting trails that were built on a rope basis, 382 00:30:44,620 --> 00:30:48,660 which is kind of where we're going to today. 383 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:57,220 So are we, we're going to continue to invest in improving those so 384 00:30:57,220 --> 00:31:03,380 So that we've got a broader range of skills that can be applied. 385 00:31:04,260 --> 00:31:07,420 The intent from the municipal side of things we can't speak for 386 00:31:07,420 --> 00:31:11,960 work, but the municipal side of things is to maintain and 387 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:16,000 rework our existing trails that the municipality is responsible for. 388 00:31:16,300 --> 00:31:22,960 And then the funding that we provide to work through the fee for service program goes to maintaining and 389 00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:28,820 repairing the trails that they are responsible for, the money that the Miss Polly provides 390 00:31:28,820 --> 00:31:31,780 to work through fee-for-service is not for new trail construction. 391 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:38,800 And you spoke of updating the RMOW trail standards. 392 00:31:39,500 --> 00:31:41,440 Are they compliant with provincial standards? 393 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:44,320 I think it was 2003 that they were last updated. 394 00:31:45,060 --> 00:31:46,280 Yeah, they're pretty close. 395 00:31:46,620 --> 00:31:52,700 The provincial trail standards used are standards as the basis initially, and there's been 396 00:31:52,700 --> 00:32:00,300 some modifications from them. The overall intent is, I'd say it's probably 80-90% sufficient. 397 00:32:00,760 --> 00:32:05,560 There's more that there's slightly different ways of constructing and doing trade, 398 00:32:06,580 --> 00:32:11,220 or sort of building trails, as well as inclusions for accessible mountain biking and technical terrain 399 00:32:11,220 --> 00:32:17,580 features, which have evolved a lot over the last 20 years. And so that's the remaining 10-20% of work 400 00:32:17,580 --> 00:32:21,160 that really needs to be revisited. 401 00:32:22,020 --> 00:32:26,500 As an aging mountain biker, I'm very interested 402 00:32:26,500 --> 00:32:30,720 in seeing climbing trails continue to be accessible. 403 00:32:31,040 --> 00:32:33,120 And one of the best trails I've ever written, 404 00:32:33,500 --> 00:32:36,980 climbing trails in Cumberland, and actually the legacy trail 405 00:32:36,980 --> 00:32:38,160 in Squam is just quite good. 406 00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:42,020 I find some of our climbing trails even the new ones 407 00:32:42,020 --> 00:32:50,880 like Scotia Nova, steep and tight, pretty difficult, and it was noted also in the RTS. 408 00:32:52,660 --> 00:32:59,200 I spoke to one of the trail builders and he said it's because I guess it's easier, it's 409 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:01,240 shorter to build a steeper trail. 410 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:05,880 And so even it happened with the end of the mystic. 411 00:33:06,420 --> 00:33:11,140 Things were going quite nicely, and then all of a sudden it started going up. 412 00:33:11,140 --> 00:33:13,140 very, very steeply. 413 00:33:13,780 --> 00:33:19,160 Will we be looking at that accessibility issue with our trails, with our climbing trails in particular? 414 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:24,220 I can't speak in great detail about it because right now our intent is to focus on 415 00:33:25,200 --> 00:33:29,840 reinvestment in our existing trails like Pinocchio's furniture and the trails in Loss Lake, 416 00:33:30,380 --> 00:33:36,200 which see over 35 to 40,000 users a year in there. 417 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:42,060 There are opportunities to reduce the grades on some trails. 418 00:33:42,380 --> 00:33:46,600 And BORCA does a pretty good job of that when they have the opportunity to do so. 419 00:33:47,540 --> 00:33:52,000 The municipality is working with BORCA on making some improvements 420 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:56,460 to the far out trail upstream from the McLaren crossing 421 00:33:56,460 --> 00:33:59,380 and the Whistler Interpret of Forest as well as downstream. 422 00:33:59,900 --> 00:34:02,420 So that can be an accessible mountain bike trail 423 00:34:02,420 --> 00:34:08,600 and in the accessible mountain bike world what people are finding is that G 424 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:13,140 was this helps everyone it's not just for someone who is in a three or four 425 00:34:13,140 --> 00:34:20,140 wheeled bike so as myself an aging mountain bike her as well I appreciate 426 00:34:20,140 --> 00:34:25,600 those kinds of trails too yeah far out flashback has been a great addition and if I 427 00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:29,320 can just make a comment on the two trails that you mentioned in other jurisdictions I've 428 00:34:29,320 --> 00:34:36,600 written both of those and one of the good things that they have had to work there goes back 429 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:41,120 to the first question that Arthur asked me if you could do it all again, what would 430 00:34:41,120 --> 00:34:41,420 you do? 431 00:34:41,720 --> 00:34:47,140 And it's about having that comprehensive trail plan that sets that as a goal and a standard 432 00:34:47,140 --> 00:34:47,980 at the first place. 433 00:34:48,700 --> 00:34:53,700 And also in those two locations, the nature of the terrain is a bit more gentle than what 434 00:34:53,700 --> 00:34:55,620 we typically have here in Whistler. 435 00:34:56,140 --> 00:34:57,160 And different dirt. 436 00:34:57,160 --> 00:35:02,900 Yes, and in the case of Cumberland, it also works through a lot of well-logged areas. 437 00:35:03,280 --> 00:35:07,860 So there's a lot more freedom to align trails and perhaps here. 438 00:35:08,500 --> 00:35:08,680 Right. 439 00:35:08,980 --> 00:35:09,760 Thank you very much. 440 00:35:12,630 --> 00:35:13,790 Mayor, go ahead. 441 00:35:15,330 --> 00:35:17,730 I'm a firm believer that walkers are people too. 442 00:35:19,530 --> 00:35:25,710 And I see that we recognize hiking as a core trail use. 443 00:35:25,710 --> 00:35:33,850 we look for multi-use harmony and we're working hard to make that happen as far 444 00:35:33,850 --> 00:35:43,710 as the development of new hiking assets. Is that something that is drawing less 445 00:35:43,710 --> 00:35:51,030 attention in your view? I guess full stop is it getting less attention, full stop? 446 00:35:51,030 --> 00:36:08,450 And if so, is that partly, as a result of the advocacy, is it that we're set up better to work with trail riders rather than hikers and what do you see for the future of hiking in our community? 447 00:36:08,450 --> 00:36:10,150 Yeah, it's a great question. 448 00:36:10,830 --> 00:36:19,890 And back in 2012, members of the Forest Wildland Advisory Committee of Council undertook a 449 00:36:20,610 --> 00:36:24,370 great undertaking in the hiking task force and produced a wonderful document that looked 450 00:36:24,370 --> 00:36:30,270 at a much broader geographic scope than what we did in the RTS, but what are those hiking 451 00:36:30,270 --> 00:36:31,210 opportunities there? 452 00:36:31,830 --> 00:36:36,950 They certainly are there, and the cost to build a hiking trail and to maintain a hiking 453 00:36:36,950 --> 00:36:42,010 trail per kilometer is a lot less than a mountain bike trail. The where is just less. 454 00:36:42,630 --> 00:36:47,210 And interestingly, this guy walked trail actually has more user numbers on it than the 455 00:36:47,210 --> 00:36:54,150 inter domestic trail system, which is predominantly mountain bikers. So at this point in time in 456 00:36:54,150 --> 00:37:03,210 Whistler's history, to use a reference that you had made a number of years ago with a lot 457 00:37:03,210 --> 00:37:08,190 a lot of things were in the area where we need to have replacement and our trails need 458 00:37:08,190 --> 00:37:08,830 attention. 459 00:37:09,270 --> 00:37:13,390 And again, go back to the point of in our fiscal position. 460 00:37:15,910 --> 00:37:19,870 The focus is on reinvesting and existing trails rather than building new. 461 00:37:21,350 --> 00:37:26,310 And personally, I think, you know, I would rather have 100 kilometers of consistently maintained 462 00:37:26,310 --> 00:37:32,830 trail, doesn't matter whether I'm walking, biking, or running, or with the dogs, than having 463 00:37:32,830 --> 00:37:36,430 four hundred kilometers of trails that are inconsistently maintained. 464 00:37:37,730 --> 00:37:39,050 That's just my personal opinion. 465 00:37:39,590 --> 00:37:39,930 I agree. 466 00:37:40,710 --> 00:37:41,430 Good answer, thanks. 467 00:37:44,020 --> 00:37:44,120 Rob. 468 00:37:47,380 --> 00:37:47,640 It's Martin. 469 00:37:47,900 --> 00:37:51,540 I'll try to keep it high level, but when you talk about trails, I'm not getting to the dirt. 470 00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:55,680 We know how to say that. 471 00:37:57,480 --> 00:38:02,700 How do we get from, I appreciate the flow charts that you have here to with the trail approval 472 00:38:02,700 --> 00:38:03,160 process? 473 00:38:03,160 --> 00:38:08,420 But how do we get from strategy to comprehensive planning? 474 00:38:09,080 --> 00:38:15,320 So for example, as an alternative to loss lay, which, as you said, 40,000 users a day on 475 00:38:15,320 --> 00:38:22,120 the weekends quite congested, moving or creating that type of trail structure at cut your 476 00:38:22,120 --> 00:38:23,940 virus, which is equidistant from the village. 477 00:38:24,260 --> 00:38:29,100 How do we move from the strategy to execution of an idea like that, if it's pursued? 478 00:38:29,100 --> 00:38:37,400 Yeah, I think the first thing is a bit of a tie change in terms of capital funding and operational funding. 479 00:38:38,100 --> 00:38:45,820 You know, we are at a time where our reserves need refurbishment and we're also at a time of great inflation and uncertainty. 480 00:38:46,440 --> 00:38:49,600 So again, I come back to reinvesting and existing. 481 00:38:50,160 --> 00:38:56,700 When it comes time to develop in more trails to take some of those loads off of places, which inevitably will happen. 482 00:38:58,160 --> 00:39:26,520 One could look at it as a stem discerned comprehensive trail plan or one could look at it as a localized trail plan, which might be the area that you identified, perhaps it's parsed, perhaps it's wister interpretive for us, there's certainly opportunities to do that and if anyone wants to start pre-planning that work, we have some tools for them that they can use to help make that process smoother, provide clear guidance and ultimately end up with better 483 00:39:26,520 --> 00:39:28,620 or quality less impactful trails? 484 00:39:35,150 --> 00:39:39,730 E-bikes in the Alpine, and I know you've explained it to me before, as part of the delegation 485 00:39:39,730 --> 00:39:44,310 authority to the municipality, to the trail network, from the province, there's no e-bikes. 486 00:39:46,070 --> 00:39:52,190 But as you said, we're all getting older, and it's, Lord of the squirrels is a big ride 487 00:39:52,190 --> 00:39:57,170 for me, it takes me all day, and I know lots of people access via e-bikes. 488 00:39:57,530 --> 00:39:58,730 Do you think that policy will change? 489 00:39:58,730 --> 00:40:03,530 And what do you think would require that change? 490 00:40:03,710 --> 00:40:06,750 We have to go back to the province to say, hey, can we allow e-bikes 491 00:40:06,750 --> 00:40:10,710 It reflects the current reality of where the sport and trail use is? 492 00:40:11,090 --> 00:40:12,150 Or how would that work? 493 00:40:13,610 --> 00:40:15,570 Yeah, that is a good question. 494 00:40:15,970 --> 00:40:20,010 We did have a meeting with the province, including the Grozivere Specialists 495 00:40:20,010 --> 00:40:23,490 A year ago to talk about how things are going in the Alpine. 496 00:40:24,030 --> 00:40:26,470 e-bikes was a conversation point that came up. 497 00:40:27,270 --> 00:40:32,670 And at this point, things seem to be in a comfortable place. 498 00:40:33,090 --> 00:40:41,130 We have very much taken a precautionary approach because we are aware that e-bikes improve access. 499 00:40:42,430 --> 00:40:47,890 And we're concerned about a greater number of users in that environment. 500 00:40:49,070 --> 00:40:55,010 And while there's potentially impacts to the wildlife and environment there, 501 00:40:55,010 --> 00:41:02,190 There are also risks to people who may be on an e-bike who are traveling quickly up a hill, 502 00:41:02,310 --> 00:41:09,250 more quickly than certainly I would go on my non-ebike and come around the corner and find the 503 00:41:09,250 --> 00:41:17,170 grizzly. These are things that could happen, I don't want to be a doomsdayer, but it wouldn't look 504 00:41:17,170 --> 00:41:24,930 well for the resort in that regard. So we need to manage it carefully and manage it over 505 00:41:24,930 --> 00:41:31,690 a longer period of time. We can also think of it too is that some of the trails or a lot of the 506 00:41:31,690 --> 00:41:38,670 trails that are above into the mystic and even into mystic itself are not great trails for passing 507 00:41:38,670 --> 00:41:44,010 someone on and when you're on an e-bike going uphill you're obviously going much faster and it's 508 00:41:44,010 --> 00:41:51,930 really annoying for the non e-bike user to constantly be on your left or passing and having to stop 509 00:41:51,930 --> 00:41:56,610 and break their momentum. It's also annoying for the E-viker to have to pass those people. 510 00:41:58,010 --> 00:42:03,370 It can be if numbers are high. So, again, we come back to the precautionary approach. 511 00:42:03,850 --> 00:42:09,130 We'd all like to be able to access the Alpine. I remember hiking black tests when I was in my 20s 512 00:42:09,130 --> 00:42:13,150 and had a full head of hair and that was easy to get to the top and I was up there two years ago. 513 00:42:13,490 --> 00:42:18,330 There's no way I'm going up there and I don't have the ability to do that. We do age, we do get 514 00:42:18,330 --> 00:42:24,150 and we have to self-limit or choose to self-limit ourselves as well and do the responsible thing. 515 00:42:28,380 --> 00:42:34,140 What is the stigma on this theme? What is the current thinking from the province 516 00:42:34,140 --> 00:42:38,540 or from the recreation generally about trails in the Alpine? 517 00:42:38,740 --> 00:42:42,440 Like it seemed when we built into the Mystic and one of the squirrels, 518 00:42:42,540 --> 00:42:46,280 I mean it is an amazing trail and it is incredible to be up there and it seemed like 519 00:42:46,280 --> 00:42:51,180 that's where the growth in the industry was, but is that still the current thinking 520 00:42:51,180 --> 00:42:54,760 Given that we've had so many interactions with wildlife in the last couple of years. 521 00:42:55,920 --> 00:43:02,380 I don't know where the province is at, and I have to talk to contacts at rec sites to better understand that. 522 00:43:02,740 --> 00:43:06,600 But typically there are not a lot of Alpine trails in British Columbia. 523 00:43:06,800 --> 00:43:07,980 We are rather unique in that. 524 00:43:08,280 --> 00:43:14,780 The other ones that come to mind are Frisbee Ridge and Rubble Stoke and the one in Rosland. 525 00:43:19,040 --> 00:43:27,600 There are maybe some others, but I know Golden has a few, but yeah, I don't know where 526 00:43:27,600 --> 00:43:28,100 the problem is. 527 00:43:28,720 --> 00:43:29,040 Okay. 528 00:43:29,480 --> 00:43:31,420 There's that big one up in the UConn, too, which is awesome. 529 00:43:31,820 --> 00:43:32,360 Mountain Hero. 530 00:43:33,100 --> 00:43:33,520 Yeah, that's great. 531 00:43:35,080 --> 00:43:36,520 We can talk about Mountain Bike Mountain all day. 532 00:43:42,860 --> 00:43:46,500 Obviously, right with lots of friends, we have a little group chat, and they're always on 533 00:43:46,500 --> 00:43:57,480 me about all there's many more signs, what etiquette and right of way in Los Lake and on the Valley Trail and so my response is 534 00:43:57,480 --> 00:44:03,920 well that's part of our job as citizens and locals say hey you know ascending writers of the right of way, whatever. 535 00:44:05,120 --> 00:44:15,160 What is the current best practice when it comes to signage on trails like Los Lake or the Valley Trail or anywhere? 536 00:44:15,160 --> 00:44:19,280 because I see the same issues happening and people point to, oh, they do this in West 537 00:44:19,280 --> 00:44:24,080 Van and they do this in North Van, but it's the same, it's the same gong show when it's 538 00:44:24,080 --> 00:44:24,420 busy. 539 00:44:24,980 --> 00:44:31,440 So what is the, what is the best practice or current thinking on signage for a straight 540 00:44:32,140 --> 00:44:33,020 etiquette generally? 541 00:44:33,120 --> 00:44:34,280 Yeah, great, great question. 542 00:44:34,980 --> 00:44:39,620 You know, really it's knowing before you go is the best etiquette and that puts a responsibility 543 00:44:39,620 --> 00:44:40,500 on the users. 544 00:44:40,740 --> 00:44:44,360 So for an area like Loss Lake, you know it's going to be busy at certain times. 545 00:44:44,360 --> 00:44:53,400 So make choices to go elsewhere. That's hard to communicate to those who are having their first visit here, and there's a challenge with that. 546 00:44:54,200 --> 00:44:57,080 It's like the sign that's over at the skate park that says, you know, 547 00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:28,920 In the mornings, when this is less busy, type of thing. So there's that type of thing. There's also with signs. Often it's very easy to get into a situation where there's proliferation of signs and sign pollution. And it gets to the point where nobody is seeing or reading anything there. And certainly many people don't read signs and figure that perhaps things don't apply to them. 548 00:45:28,920 --> 00:45:34,700 So I go back to the know before you go perspective and self-education. 549 00:45:35,820 --> 00:45:36,520 Thanks, Mark. 550 00:45:41,890 --> 00:45:43,610 Anyone have any follow-up questions? 551 00:45:44,830 --> 00:45:45,770 Go ahead, Mayor, then Kathy. 552 00:45:48,270 --> 00:45:51,610 We talk about the Valley Trail as a recreation trail. 553 00:45:51,870 --> 00:45:54,370 Correct? Is that fair, first of all? 554 00:45:54,630 --> 00:45:55,110 Valley Trail? 555 00:45:55,490 --> 00:45:55,650 Yes. 556 00:45:57,350 --> 00:46:01,070 And I'm wondering, does this document 557 00:46:01,070 --> 00:46:13,830 And it's used for commuting, and I'm just wondering how you view that asset over the 558 00:46:13,830 --> 00:46:15,150 next 25 years. 559 00:46:15,510 --> 00:46:27,440 Do we see it ever transitioning in any way so that it can better be a commuter trail? 560 00:46:27,440 --> 00:46:36,500 I think I misunderstood your question. There's a subtle nuance there. So the Valley Trail is first and foremost a recreation amenity. 561 00:46:36,760 --> 00:46:45,640 It's not part of the recreation trail strategy. So the recreation trail strategy typically deals with single track mountain by hiking trails. 562 00:46:46,080 --> 00:46:55,360 So I'll just make that distinction there. But as you ask about the Valley Trail and where it goes, you know, it is a prized asset. 563 00:46:55,360 --> 00:47:02,880 And as it becomes busier, it will become a slower moving system and while it can be used 564 00:47:02,880 --> 00:47:07,040 for active transportation, I certainly see yourself walking there as you see me riding 565 00:47:07,040 --> 00:47:15,360 by, that it can be done so very well if it's used in a responsible way and the key is that 566 00:47:15,360 --> 00:47:19,880 responsibility and it goes back to the etiquette science that Ralph was talking about for potentially 567 00:47:19,880 --> 00:47:21,260 to launch late or something like that. 568 00:47:22,620 --> 00:47:26,800 There is an opportunity to look at, I think, 569 00:47:27,000 --> 00:47:29,940 sorry, part of the challenge for cycle commuting 570 00:47:29,940 --> 00:47:31,400 in this community is your choices 571 00:47:31,400 --> 00:47:33,060 are really the valid trail or the highway 572 00:47:33,060 --> 00:47:36,700 and they're a complete and opposite spectrum 573 00:47:37,200 --> 00:47:39,600 in terms of the quality of the experience 574 00:47:39,600 --> 00:47:41,820 that there really isn't anything in between. 575 00:47:42,480 --> 00:47:44,900 But an idea to have a hybrid system 576 00:47:44,900 --> 00:47:47,020 that in places uses a bit of valid trail, 577 00:47:47,020 --> 00:47:52,880 In places use a bit of municipal road, in places use the highway and focusing on that 578 00:47:52,880 --> 00:47:59,660 as something as a bike route from one end of town to the other is an interesting concept 579 00:47:59,660 --> 00:48:05,460 that potentially has legs and I think that if we can develop that and shift people's 580 00:48:05,460 --> 00:48:11,580 thinking to, you know, use the municipal roads where you can, use the highway with some 581 00:48:11,580 --> 00:48:16,780 additional supports where you can and if you're on the valley trail, watch out for the 582 00:48:16,780 --> 00:48:21,460 seniors around the corner, or the guy fishing, or the guy an electric skateboard pulling, 583 00:48:21,640 --> 00:48:28,600 or an electric skateboard pulling its paddleboard along, or the family of people who are completely 584 00:48:28,600 --> 00:48:33,060 on the wrong side of the trail, and the kids are learning to ride the bike, they're everywhere. 585 00:48:34,140 --> 00:48:34,880 Enjoy the view. 586 00:48:37,660 --> 00:48:44,100 And so, that great answer, to me, the Valley Trail, yes, not a part of the RTS, but it does 587 00:48:44,100 --> 00:48:50,000 seem like it is almost in some ways the backbone for TRTS is how you get around, it's how you 588 00:48:50,000 --> 00:48:59,940 access our recreational trails and as you say we see it as a recreational amenity. I like that 589 00:48:59,940 --> 00:49:08,060 idea that's a really interesting concept about you know kind of reimagining how we use existing 590 00:49:10,060 --> 00:49:16,420 roads and sections of trail. That's exciting to think about, but it seems like it's a 591 00:49:16,420 --> 00:49:25,460 little huge project over that will take some time to really serialize. Thank you for 592 00:49:25,460 --> 00:49:25,640 the work. 593 00:49:28,780 --> 00:49:30,160 Cathy, then Jesse, then Ralph. 594 00:49:36,500 --> 00:49:38,320 Thanks very much. I want to talk about funding 595 00:49:38,860 --> 00:49:44,060 because I think a lot of people don't understand where the money comes from. So in the case 596 00:49:44,060 --> 00:49:50,100 of work with their fee for service that comes from the MRDT, which is the hotel 597 00:49:50,100 --> 00:49:54,300 tax, correct? That's correct. I believe there's also some local taxpayer funds 598 00:49:54,300 --> 00:49:59,720 that are in there as well. Okay. I think but the majority of it is the MRDT. I believe so. 599 00:50:00,200 --> 00:50:09,600 And the RMOW funding for the trails that they build, that is tax dollars. That's correct. 600 00:50:09,600 --> 00:50:11,580 Not RMI or anything like that. 601 00:50:13,080 --> 00:50:16,200 For trail maintenance, it is local tax dollars. 602 00:50:16,980 --> 00:50:17,080 Okay. 603 00:50:17,440 --> 00:50:22,620 The construction of the Alpine Network was Resort Ms. Palli initiative funding. 604 00:50:22,860 --> 00:50:25,960 So that's the grant program from the province, which is tied to a hotel stays. 605 00:50:26,720 --> 00:50:31,540 And then the replacement of some critical infrastructure at the 21 mile bridge and the wedge bridge, 606 00:50:31,880 --> 00:50:35,380 comfortably numb bridge that's currently underway, that is also RMI funded. 607 00:50:35,380 --> 00:50:48,800 I hope that what I like is people understanding how fortunate we are to have the funding come from basically outside the community to support something that we all use. 608 00:50:49,720 --> 00:50:59,620 The other one I want to talk about well also when it comes to funding is the Alpine Club of Canada was the group that built the Skywalk Trail. 609 00:50:59,620 --> 00:51:07,600 that's correct. And then they also have Kevin's trail that does a lap so that you can do kind 610 00:51:07,600 --> 00:51:14,520 of a lollipop. Have they received any funding for that? My recollection is there was RMI funding 611 00:51:15,060 --> 00:51:20,920 available for that. Made available for that. And ongoing for maintenance, do they receive any money? 612 00:51:23,000 --> 00:51:27,200 I do not believe they have applied for a fee for service. 613 00:51:27,820 --> 00:51:33,620 The Miss Pally I believe does not contribute to maintenance staffing on that. 614 00:51:34,620 --> 00:51:34,760 Okay. 615 00:51:35,400 --> 00:51:42,220 And of course that network hooks into the trials riders on rainbows and because I've seen 616 00:51:42,220 --> 00:51:43,400 them when I've gone up there. 617 00:51:44,040 --> 00:51:46,900 The last question is on a commercial and event use. 618 00:51:46,900 --> 00:51:54,540 We have seen events run during extreme weather events, and we also see a lot of wear and 619 00:51:54,540 --> 00:52:00,760 tear on our trails when large events are held on the trails. 620 00:52:01,780 --> 00:52:11,040 Would there be any room for a policy within the strategy on, leave it as you found it for 621 00:52:11,040 --> 00:52:12,520 events and commercial use? 622 00:52:12,920 --> 00:52:14,840 Yeah, I'll come back to that question in a second. 623 00:52:14,980 --> 00:52:18,200 I just want to go back to the funding piece for a moment. 624 00:52:18,380 --> 00:52:21,780 I also like to recognize that it's in the infographic in the center there. 625 00:52:22,300 --> 00:52:28,140 You know, the over 1700 hours, volunteer hours that the work and the Alpine Club of Canada 626 00:52:28,140 --> 00:52:30,500 will put in to maintain their trails. 627 00:52:31,000 --> 00:52:37,060 You know, there isn't a dollar value on that, but if one added it up, it would be a lead to a dollar value 628 00:52:37,060 --> 00:52:42,920 significantly greater than the $560,000 indicated they're invested in trail maintenance in 2024. 629 00:52:44,020 --> 00:52:47,920 On your commercial operator wear and tear question, 630 00:52:48,880 --> 00:52:56,740 Warca has an easy to understand policy for commercial and event use of their trails. 631 00:52:57,120 --> 00:53:04,600 We think there's an opportunity to work with that and develop a policy that can potentially 632 00:53:04,600 --> 00:53:14,960 generate a modest revenue stream to help pay for trail maintenance and repair. I can't 633 00:53:14,960 --> 00:53:22,340 speak to the specifics of any particular event and where that it creates and then how that 634 00:53:22,340 --> 00:53:27,360 is reconciled with, say, work or another group. 635 00:53:27,940 --> 00:53:29,480 It isn't always worker. 636 00:53:30,480 --> 00:53:37,920 And speaking as someone that dealt with behavior on the mountain, the two words that I found 637 00:53:37,920 --> 00:53:40,480 the most useful were common sense and courtesy. 638 00:53:41,840 --> 00:53:42,880 So, thank you. 639 00:53:43,820 --> 00:53:44,600 Jessie, go ahead. 640 00:53:45,380 --> 00:53:46,340 Thanks for all your work on this. 641 00:53:46,560 --> 00:53:48,740 I'm looking at the trail usage. 642 00:53:50,520 --> 00:53:53,920 I use some of these trails and I don't see a bouncer outside with a clicker. 643 00:53:54,020 --> 00:53:57,000 So how do you get these stats of how many people use these trails? 644 00:53:57,000 --> 00:54:06,720 We hide them. They're automatic trail counters that are based on a beam of light and every time the beam is broken it records one count. 645 00:54:07,000 --> 00:54:09,480 Oh, I don't know that. That's really cool. 646 00:54:09,740 --> 00:54:14,620 Sometimes they go sideways or they get vandalized or go missing. 647 00:54:15,160 --> 00:54:15,740 Yeah, cool. 648 00:54:16,320 --> 00:54:20,820 And then unauthorized trails. I don't mountain bike because I'd probably die. 649 00:54:21,440 --> 00:54:26,840 So I walk some of them and how do you know that a trail is an authorized trail? 650 00:54:27,980 --> 00:54:31,960 Well, and that statistic there, 81% of trails are sanctioned. 651 00:54:32,140 --> 00:54:33,940 This is slightly different description. 652 00:54:34,100 --> 00:54:37,780 It's a bit misleading and that many, while I put it this way, 653 00:54:38,160 --> 00:54:42,100 there's few trails that are ambister that are fully authorized. 654 00:54:42,500 --> 00:54:49,080 So things like comfortably numb, section 102 into the mystic 655 00:54:49,080 --> 00:54:52,060 and the Alpine trails, the trails on Rainbow, 656 00:54:52,520 --> 00:54:54,420 those are fully authorized trails. 657 00:54:54,980 --> 00:54:58,760 Many of the other trails have evolved for decades, 658 00:54:59,180 --> 00:55:01,700 mentioned about trails riding as it all started. 659 00:55:02,320 --> 00:55:03,060 Those are there. 660 00:55:04,120 --> 00:55:07,000 It's really hard to determine whether a trail 661 00:55:07,000 --> 00:55:08,760 is authorized or not. 662 00:55:09,160 --> 00:55:11,880 There will be some maps or guidance in this document 663 00:55:11,880 --> 00:55:15,400 when it comes back in its final form that you can look at. 664 00:55:16,160 --> 00:55:22,360 But perhaps what is more important is understanding who's land it's on and that it is on the First Nations land. 665 00:55:23,140 --> 00:55:29,460 And then what is also very important to know is who is maintaining that trail, who has that responsibility. 666 00:55:30,200 --> 00:55:36,200 And those responsibilities are pretty clear through using trail forks, the online trail app. 667 00:55:36,520 --> 00:55:38,980 And then again, that'll be noted in the final document. 668 00:55:38,980 --> 00:55:44,940 Okay, yeah, I just know, I noticed one trail that I walk on regularly that someone's been 669 00:55:44,940 --> 00:55:49,820 maintaining it, but it's on private property, so I'm just, I don't understand it. 670 00:55:49,920 --> 00:55:53,640 If someone wanted to report that, how would they do so? 671 00:55:54,680 --> 00:55:59,520 Well, it's a matter of letting some government agency know whether that's the municipality 672 00:55:59,520 --> 00:56:06,100 or recites and trails would be sea or, and identifying where it is and going from there. 673 00:56:06,100 --> 00:56:16,100 Great. Thank you so much. Ralph, I have a question. Okay. Any other questions? Would you 674 00:56:16,100 --> 00:56:18,140 like to make a comment, Arthur? Go ahead. 675 00:56:20,320 --> 00:56:22,760 Martin, really appreciate the work and the flashback 676 00:56:22,760 --> 00:56:30,560 on my time on W.V. when whistle or black will emerge. We rated all the trails from most 677 00:56:30,560 --> 00:56:35,140 popular to least and there was an environmental, obviously an assessment as well. And we actually 678 00:56:35,140 --> 00:56:41,860 decommissioned the lowest scores and we put most of our money into the premier 679 00:56:41,860 --> 00:56:49,040 trails in fact in some cases widening them and it worked extremely well so 680 00:56:49,040 --> 00:56:52,060 I certainly support I think it's a similar approach here where it's 681 00:56:52,060 --> 00:56:55,600 optimized what you have before you consider building more I think that's 682 00:56:55,600 --> 00:56:59,180 very sound. Secondly I'll finish with a scary 683 00:56:59,180 --> 00:57:04,760 management just did an interview myself and the question was where do mountain 684 00:57:04,760 --> 00:57:07,380 on resorts and theft, invest into the future 685 00:57:07,380 --> 00:57:10,900 for season experiences, summer experiences, et cetera. 686 00:57:11,840 --> 00:57:13,680 And I started running some ROIs 687 00:57:13,680 --> 00:57:14,820 and all the different infrastructure 688 00:57:14,820 --> 00:57:16,940 that we looked at in summer and the trails. 689 00:57:17,540 --> 00:57:20,360 If they're built well to the extent 690 00:57:20,360 --> 00:57:23,000 where people want to come back and do them every year, 691 00:57:23,580 --> 00:57:25,920 the ROI is off the charts. 692 00:57:26,320 --> 00:57:29,220 And nothing else touches it with respect to investment. 693 00:57:29,360 --> 00:57:32,180 We had payback between one to two years 694 00:57:32,780 --> 00:57:40,100 on our seventh heaven trails for example. So these trails are really, they are part, a deep 695 00:57:40,100 --> 00:57:45,780 part of the economic engine to this resource. So again thank you for your, your stewardship 696 00:57:45,780 --> 00:57:46,980 and all your knowledge on this. 697 00:57:47,540 --> 00:57:48,140 Okay, thank you. 698 00:57:51,590 --> 00:57:57,850 Often when I ride with friends and guests alike, they all say this is the 699 00:57:57,850 --> 00:58:03,030 best tax dollars we spend. So then I tell them how much we give to work on, how much 700 00:58:03,030 --> 00:58:06,590 just been here and there and which are work of trails and which ones we maintain. 701 00:58:06,890 --> 00:58:12,270 So yeah, it really is one of the most amazing things about our community, on the 1700 hours 702 00:58:12,270 --> 00:58:18,050 and think of all the trails that got built by people just, it blows my mind when I travel 703 00:58:18,050 --> 00:58:21,530 around British Columbia or anywhere and I think, wow, who built these trails, like how did 704 00:58:21,530 --> 00:58:23,250 you get way out here to build these? 705 00:58:23,410 --> 00:58:28,270 So yeah, I think it's a real testament to the community and the municipalities involvement 706 00:58:28,270 --> 00:58:30,490 in fostering that and creating that culture. 707 00:58:30,490 --> 00:58:32,590 So, thanks to everyone. 708 00:58:36,400 --> 00:58:44,300 Yeah, I want to just, the words I hate the most in local government. 709 00:58:44,780 --> 00:58:47,740 I just want to repeat what Councillor Forsyth said. 710 00:58:49,260 --> 00:58:52,880 Because I think it's just so true, like Alpine Club of Canada, 711 00:58:53,240 --> 00:58:57,300 work, all of these community groups that put in so much time. 712 00:58:57,960 --> 00:59:02,180 I'm really grateful that our organization is taking them very seriously, 713 00:59:02,180 --> 00:59:08,320 seeing their value and doing our very best to work with them because I think it makes 714 00:59:08,320 --> 00:59:13,300 us better and it makes them better. I think this work has helped those organizations 715 00:59:13,300 --> 00:59:17,200 be better than they are and it's helped us be better than we are. So, thanks for your 716 00:59:17,200 --> 00:59:19,220 work. I know it's not easy. 717 00:59:20,860 --> 00:59:21,260 Kathy? 718 00:59:26,080 --> 00:59:31,360 Oh, it's not the same thing. No, I'm going to say, first of all, that I think we can hold 719 00:59:31,360 --> 00:59:36,700 have up high with the quality of trails we have and the variety of trails we have and 720 00:59:36,700 --> 00:59:42,580 I see people working on provincial park trails because they're not up for the standard 721 00:59:42,580 --> 00:59:46,800 of our trails and they're putting in their own sweat equity into those trails and I think 722 00:59:46,800 --> 00:59:55,680 it is that leakage of the pride in where we are and what we have that I don't know how 723 00:59:55,680 --> 00:59:57,080 while the province feels about it. 724 01:00:00,180 --> 01:00:13,740 So, we have a really great trail system here, including what's on WB, the out-to-decker lake, absolutely stunning, and all the way up to Skywalk. So, I think 725 01:00:17,610 --> 01:00:32,510 are there final words? I'd be remiss not to acknowledge that the value that these trail experiences have for physical health, mental health, and for a lot of people of spiritual connectedness to nature. I wanted to make sure we didn't miss that. Thank you. 726 01:00:32,510 --> 01:00:34,390 Thank you. It's in the RTS as well. It's noted. 727 01:00:36,750 --> 01:00:45,150 Okay. Thank you very much. And thank you for your presentation and for the ongoing work here. This is the core of what we are. 728 01:00:45,590 --> 01:00:50,550 So probably some of the most important work will here. 729 01:00:51,830 --> 01:00:59,930 With that, I'll ask that someone please make a motion that the Committee of the Whole report the recommendations to council at the July 8th meeting. 730 01:00:59,930 --> 01:01:04,010 meeting, regular meeting, and terminate this committee the whole meeting. 731 01:01:04,210 --> 01:01:11,370 Chair Ford, there is also a recommendation from staff under agenda item 6.1 regarding 732 01:01:11,370 --> 01:01:13,950 the regional trail strategy if you wish to. 733 01:01:14,690 --> 01:01:16,010 Okay, I was just following the. 734 01:01:18,280 --> 01:01:21,220 Okay, can we just, yeah, 735 01:01:23,690 --> 01:01:24,330 do you want to repeat that? 736 01:01:26,300 --> 01:01:31,540 So the staff recommended motion would be that the committee, the whole recommended council, 737 01:01:31,540 --> 01:01:37,640 that the Recreation Trail Strategy be presented to Council for endorsement in a form substantially 738 01:01:37,640 --> 01:01:42,740 similar to the Regional Trail Strategy attached as Appendix A to Committee of the Whole Report 739 01:01:42,740 --> 01:01:46,620 number W25-009. Thank you. 740 01:01:49,410 --> 01:01:55,550 Moved by Jesse, seconded by Jack. Any comments? All in favor? Any opposed? 741 01:01:55,790 --> 01:02:01,910 Motion carries. And then a motion to terminate this community of the whole? Moved by Kathy, 742 01:02:01,910 --> 01:02:05,450 at the second of my Jack, all in favor any opposed motion carries. 743 01:02:05,950 --> 01:02:06,850 See you at 530.