MINUTES  City Council Parks, Trails, & Recreation Committee  Wednesday, July 31, 2024-3:30PM City Council Chambers  Members Present: Aaron Baker, Chair, Council Member  Lauren Wise, Vice Chair, Council Member Howie Granat, Citizen Member Wyn Birkenthal, Citizen Member JD: Powers, Citizen Member Reba Osborne, Citizen Member Mayor Maureen Copelof, Ex-Officio Nancy DePippo, Citizen Member Wilson Hooper, City Manager Wesley Shook, Acting Public' Works Director Aaron Bland, Assistant Planning Director Becky McCann, Communications Coordinator Denise Hodsdon, City Clerk  Absent: Staff Present:  Guests:  Gary Lowden, Pisgah Area SORBA; Charles Taylor and Owen Taylor, Monte Vista, Inc.; Nicole Bentley, Heart of Brevard; and Jack Duncan  A. Welcome & Call to Order  Committee Chair Aaron Baker welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at  3:30 pm.  B. - Certification of Quorum  Quorum was certified by City Clerk Denise Hodsdon.  C. Approval of Agenda  Mr. Hooper requested to add an item regarding an update regarding the Davidson River Pedestrian Bridge. Motion by Mr. Power, seconded by Ms. Osborne, to approve the  agenda as amended. The motion carried unanimously. D. Approval of Minutes from May 15, 2024 Meeting  Mr. Wise noted an error in Ms. DePippo's name in Item D. Motion by Mr. Wise, seconded by Ms. Osborne to approve thei minutes of the May 15, 2024 meeting as  amended. The motion carried unanimously.    E. Davidson River Pedestrian Bridge Update  Mr. Hooper announced that the new Davidson River Pedestrian Bridge has been set on its buttresses. Itis not yet open to the public as they still need to secure it: and build the ramps, but that projecti is nearing completion. Mr. Baker suggested following up with NCDOT to inquire whether the planned crosswalk on Route 276 would be painted prior to completion oft the roundabout. He noted that once the pedestrian bridge is open, that  crosswalk will be important and hoped it would be painted soon. F. Bracken Preserve Maintenance and' Trail Building Update  Mr. Hooper reported thatl hel has met with Keith Arbogast of Brevard Music Center (BMC) about the easement we need on their property. Mr. Arbogast requested a written proposal recording our request to take tol his board of directors for approval. Mr. Hooper also reported that he and staff have been working with Pisgah SORBA on the maintenance agreement. He asked Gary Lowden of Pisgah. Area SORBA to share their plan for next steps. Mr. Lowden said that SORBA will inventory the Bracken trails over the next two weeks toi identify anyi issues/concerns and then generate an action plan and timeline for the projects that need tol be done. SORBA is planning two Mr. Granat presented the Bracken Preserve expansion project produced by' Todd Branham of Long Cane Trails. He noted that the project has been broken out into three phases soi itcan be built in sections as funding becomes available. The first piece oft trail work, cleaning up the first 150-200 foot section has been completed. They are currently working in the second piece of Phase I, which involves repairing the first half mile of the trail system and adding the new climbing trail. The new climbing trail will have a grade of approximately 10-12% and allow us to cut out the existing steepest section, which has a grade of15-20%. With the funds ofa approximately $13,500 currently remaining with Conserving Carolina, we have enough to do the climbing trail. The $20,000 we received from TCTDA would be used for the emergency access trail and Mr. Granat reviewed the trail easement proposal to be presented to BMC. The plan for the new climbing trail stays mostly within our own land, but also includes a 0.1-mile access across the Music Center's property. He noted that with an easement from BMC, we would save approximately $16,700 in trail building costs. Additionally, a number of BMC: students and faculty frequent the Bracken Preserve trails and we would offer BMC aj promotional recognition on our: signage. IfBMC gives us the easement, we have the funding, the builder is ready to go, and the hope is that it can be completed by the end of  volunteer days for this year.  to start the construction of Phase 2.  this year.  G.E Bracken Preserve Emergency Access Agreement  Mr. Hooper reviewed a draft agreement with Monte Vista, Inc. to provide an emergency access from Laurel Falls Road. The access route would expedite emergency response efforts to existing trails while also creating an established point ofe entry for first Minutes--Council Parks, Trails, & Recreation Committee Meeting-July 31, 2024  Page 20 of3    responders to the new trails. In exchange, the City would provide two access points available for use by residents ofLaurel Falls Road. The agreement will go to City  Council in August. H. committee/Public Comment  Mr. Baker mentioned that there will be a couple ofi items on the upcoming Council agenda related to the Ecusta Trail -1 the reconstituted membership ofthe Ecusta Trail Advisory Board and thej potential for the Ecusta Trail to go all the way tol Main Street. He also mentioned that the Mountain Industrial Drive extension is now open and includes a spur of greenway that crosses the new road, and the long-term intention of Mr. Granat commented that Conserving Carolina will have a table at Oskar Blues in Mr. Hooper mentioned that we have recovered the old digester from the Ecusta Mill property and temporarily "parked" ita at the Sports Complex until we can fund and  that was to connect to the Ecusta Trail.  September to fundraise for Bracken Preserve.  construct the landscaping and betterments on the roundabout.  There was no public comment. Set Date for Next Meeting  The next regular meeting oft the Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee was scheduled  for Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at3 3:30 PM.  Adjourn  There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:29PM.  Aaron Baker xdelbbr Chair, CouncilMember Denisel Hodsdon City Clerk  Minutes Approved: Auguet +8,2004  X Duatpain  Minutes--Council Parks, Trails, & Recreation Committee Meeting-luy31,2024  Page 3of3