Foresthill Forum McKeon Ponderosa Road Ad Hoc Sub-Committee (No Agenda)

# Approved Minutes August 29, 2016

McKeon Ponderosa Way Forum Ad-Hoc Committee members present: Roche, Lunsford, Williams, Frink. absent: Beltrano

In attendance were 15 local people. Three of them asked to be on the committee and were accepted: Ronnie Mingo, Jeff Burnette and Ruth Dyke.

The minutes from August 25 were accepted and filed.

When asked to introduce themselves, people from the committee and the audience engaged in a lively discussion, bringing forth concerns with liability, road maintenance, and public access to public recreational lands. Legal issues relating to liability and prescriptive easements and the enforcement of speed limits on private roads were among those discussed. People agreed legal counsel will at some point be needed, whether County Counsel or private attorneys, for some of these legal questions. Several people suggested the entire street, McKeon Ponderosa Way, from the duck pond forward, be included in any final recommendations to the Forum and the County due to the patchwork and inconsistent history and handling of the street, the need for maintenance along two sections of McKeon Ponderosa Way, the speeding issue, asbestos, etc. It was suggested by some audience members that the committee should gather up all the stakeholder groups and individuals it can before presenting its case to the County, actively enlisting the support of those groups which are invested in public access to public lands as well as all of the people who reside along McKeon Ponderosa Way and its tributaries. Mr. Roche said that he did not believe the County will accept maintenance of the road but might be persuaded to take back ownership along lower McKeon. Mr. Roche said he would like to focus on solutions to the issues of liability and maintenance of lower McKeon and that the great majority of property owners on lower McKeon do not want to gate off public access to White Oak Flat and ASRA. Thus a larger coalition of stakeholders could be possible.

Ms. Lunsford suggested we proceed with a questionnaire to get something in writing as to people’s concerns and preferences. Ms. Williams and Mr. Frink suggested there be opportunities for people to write down additional issues, concerns and suggestions in the questionnaire. Mr. Roche, Ms. Lunsford and Ms. Williams will work on a draft questionnaire before the next meeting. Ms. Williams asked that the committee discuss rules of conduct at a committee meeting per Mr. Jordan’s suggestion. A regular meeting date of the 4th Thursday at 6-8pm at the Fire Station meeting room on Main Street was agreed upon.

Respectfully submitted, Stephanie Williams