MINUTES  ECUSTATRAILADVISORYBOARD2.0 Thursday, September 5, 2024-3 3:30 pm City Hall Council Chambers  Members Present: Aaron Baker, Chair, Council Member  Mac Morrow, Vice Chair, Council Member Larry Chapman, Transylvania County Commissioner Rebekah Robinson, Conserving Carolina John Ditillo, Friends of Ecusta Trail Doug Miller, Heart ofBrevard Dee Dee Perkins, Tourism Development Authority Sheila Carland, Transylvania Economic Alliance Meredith Carli, At-Large Appointment Madeline Hanley, AtlargeAppointment Chris Burns, Henderson County RTAC Maureen Copelof, Mayor, Ex-Officio Wilson Hooper, City Manager Paul Ray, Planning Director Aaron Bland, Assistant Planning Director David' Todd, City Engineer Stout, Vicki Eastland, various citizens.  Absent: Staff Present:  Guests:  Teresa Buckwalter, Lonnie Watkins, Mark Tooley, Christine  A. Welcome and Call to Order  Committee Vice Chair Mac Morrow welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 3:27  PM.  B. Certification of Quorum C.Approval of Agenda  Quorum was certified by City Planner Katherine Buzby.  Motion by Mr. Hooper to amend the agenda to add discussion ofTrail Terminus at Mountain Industrial Drive before Public Comments at 5:20pm. Motion to approve amended agenda by Mr.  Chapman, seconded by Mr. Ditillo. The motion carried unanimously.  1    D. Encroachment Update  Traffic Planning & Design (TPD) showed a presentation that discusses encroachments by private adjacent property owners and how to categorize them into three categories: high, medium, and Mr. Chapman questioned on what legal liability the City or Conserving Carolina will have at Trail crossings (private driveways, etc.)i ift the public gets hurt. Mr. Ray assured Mr. Chapman that all emeroachmentsycrossings will have an Encroachment Agreement drafted by the City that will contain Hold Harmless language. The Agreement will also have language about any future TPD stated that they were given goals (by] NCDOT) for the Trail that included reducing the environmental impact of the Trail and the impact to adjacent property owners. Mr. Ray also A discussion was conducted about making sure that the Board considers that the screening measures should have unity along the trail (not mixed-matched fences, etc.). Even though' TPD will meet with all the adjacent property owners and discuss their individual preferences, the A discussion was also conducted about who will be maintaining the new screening measures, as itr may require labor-intensive upkeep such a routine weed eating. The Board recommended to save this discussion fora later date, when they know more about how the Trail will be  lowi impact encroachments (See attached presentation).  encroachments into the' Trail Right-of-Way (ROW).  discussed that the rider experience is also an important goal ofthe Trail.  Board should make the decisions based on priority rank and safety.  maintained.  E. Possible Screening Measures  TPD, NCDOT, and the City have developed different types ofscreening measures that can be applied based on the level ofi impact encroachment (i.e. fences, vegetation, boulders, bollards, etc.). The screening options are being covered by the RAISE grant funds. (See attached  presentation) F.Amenities Poll attached.  Aj poll was conducted of the Board members to rank the priorities of amenities. The results are Acomment was received about restroom amenities, that there is more involved than location as the Board needs to think about access to septic systems and water connections. A discussion was made about wayfinding signs as an amenity, and it was stated that Wayfinding signs are covered by the grant as long as they are in the ROW. Mayor Copelofmentioned that the mile markers will need to be cohesive with the Henderson County side, which the numbering system has already may be based on old railroad markers. They are also discussing standards for  2    signs along the Trail. Location ofall signs, kiosks, and mile markers are a decision for a later The Board members also discussed the possibility ofhaving trail amenities sponsored by commercial businesses (such as a kiosk), sO that Trail grant money can be preserved for other  date.  amenities.  G.7 Terminus of Trail and Connector to (former) Estatoe Trail  NCDOT needed a decision about how the Board plans to connect the two Trails into one: either by having them do a temporary connection now off the new cul-de-sac (which can be altered later for smoother transition), or by creating an altemative plan that would not be paid by A motion to have NCDOT do the temporary connector was introduced by Mr. Baker, seconded  NCDOT.  by Ms. Perkins. The motion carried unanimously.  H. Action Items  TPD will assign categories to all the' Trail encroachments (high, medium, or low) sO that the  Board can assess what screening may be appropriate at each location.  L.Public Comments  A citizen asked about if additional parking will be offered on Mountain Industrial Drive. The Board told him that parking lots and trailheads are still being looked into and will take the Mr. Hooper announced the Ecusta Trail Working Group met today and their meetings will probably shadow this Board, so he will be able to update the Board of their progress.  comment under advice.  J. Set Date for Next Meeting September 25, 2024 at 3:30PM.  The next regular meeting oft the Ecusta Trail Advisory Board 2.0 was scheduled for Wednesday,  K.Adjourn  There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:57 PM.  X Aaron  lubht BalkéyChair sb Katherine Buzby, Citylanner  Minutes Approved- 92r124  3    Attachments: TPD Presentation  Amenities Poll    10/21/2024  4ls24 fcuta linAdriior Goara  1- -  Tb  Seiverino  Needed  Scicanng Mevded    10/21/2024  Iyper  Needed  Types  2    10/21/2024  Iypes  Whafs Her!'  atment Irpe  Hert?  Amente Whaidowen mean?  3    10/21/2024  Signs  Co  Slatlon  rutac  4    10/21/2024  lecap  -  totop  Rersp  Questions?  5    10/21/2024  Baed Acihec    10/21/2024  Please rank the following amenities  Please rank the following amenities  Water Tralcounton Bicydle ft  Sth  Please rank the following amenities:  Considering the greater trail project, please  prioritize the following:  Public Retroom Patingl Lats Mror Tralhand  2nd