• ­AR: thanks for showing up to public meetings. ­
• Hermit Park work days: we will send out a sign up soon, but work day on Aug 6 th , rain day Aug 27 th ­
• Highway 7 and other updates: construction on Highway 7 to start this fall, but no resurfacing until this spring. First priority is storm water drainage fixes. However, CDOT is aware of bike and pedestrian needs associated with the project. Suggested that EPCC puts together a letter to send to Rich Christie, CDOT project director. ­
• Dry Gulch project is moving forward, updates were provided by various members. ­
• Kim Sliniger with EVRPD: provided update on Trails Master Plan ­
  • Connectivity is the focus
  • ­Biggest priority: safe and secure access to RMNP through downtown ­
  • Other connections: Spur 66 multi­use trail idea to connect to Aspen Brooke trail.
  • ­Factors: Is it feasible? Available resources?
  • ­$670,000 in account currently for building trails thanks to mill levy. Will try to leverage funds with GOCO and other options. Maintaining existing trails is a priority as well.
  • ­Closed meeting with USFS, Boulder County, etc. on southern end of EVRPD. Possible connection with Front Range? ­
  • Master Plan also includes Trail Standards, i.e. erosion controls, grades. Much more stringent than USFS standards. Anything above 10% is much more difficult to maintain. ­
  • Trails Master Plan product: dynamic document at end of May that allows prioritization. Provides credence with funding sources moving forward. ­
  • Next Trails MP meeting: April 28 th , 5­7pm (?) Town Hall ­
  • Another product is a map of existing trail ­
• Ride the Rockies: Bike wash station, parking and traffic support, baggage, food/beverage provider, booth, fun activity for the riders. ­Club decided bike washing station and a booth ­
• YMCA: Trek rental retailer, would maybe rent bikes one day. ­
• Bikes on shuttle buses: hard with insurance on the leased shuttles, but potentially on the trolleys?
• ­Bike Park update: currently 9 people on the committee. RFP in progress, short list of 10 or so bike park designers. Next firm step: get a design, then go to EVRPD and Town Board to build out. ­
• Next EPCC monthly membership meeting: April 20 th , 6.30pm, Rock Cut Brewing 

1. Erica Goad presented on how to vote on-line for the nine nominees for the five positions on the EPCC board. Voting ended on Sunday 11.22.15. Members who were voted in to be board members are: Thad Eggen, Erica Goad, Mike Lewelling ,Todd Plumber and Alicia Rochambeau.

2. Alicia Rochambeau requested that anyone who is not receiving EPCC emails send her their email address. Please send her an email at alicia@bikeestes.org or sign up at http://www.bikeestes.org/newsletter-archive/

3. Erica Goad updated us on the Tom Carosello, the new executive director of the Estes Valley Recreation District, enthusiasm to develop trails. There will be another group of public meetings in January and February to gather input for the next ten years of the trails master plan. We will keep you posted on dates and times for these meetings.

4. Todd Plummer and Randy Biddle updated the group on the current status of the proposed bike park. The Rec district did not win the first grant that it applied for and the grant writing committee is waiting on direction from Tom Carosello to apply for other grants. Tom has received the maps and plans for a potential bike park. Good news is that there is $5,000 from a silent donor to pay a professional bike park designer to draft plans. Families for Estes is still willing to donate $10,000 for design and creation. A professional designed bike park plan seems to be an essential piece for the grant application process. A caveat to the bike park is that the Rec District would like EPCC to maintain the bike park (we got that )

5. Steven Wens, aka Mr. Speed, presented on Cross of the North. Steven has presented the idea of Estes Park hosting the Cross of the North. Karen Lynch, the fairgrounds contact person, has been contacted and after the holidays the planning committee of Cross of the North and she will meet and discuss this exciting opportunity. We all know Steven is excited to get dirty at home, on his bike.

6. T-shirts were discussed. EPCC members want more! And in different colors. Kay and Zenda have been contacted and we should know more by next meeting.

7. By next EPCC meeting, tentatively the 20th of January, the new board will have met and discussed membership dues, membership discounts, EIN and other official business stuff, and hopefully Chris Johnson from Bike Ft. Collins will be able to join us and discuss their bike club.

1. Belle Morris updated the group on the Transportation Advisory Board

   1. A study has been initiated on improving Dry Gulch

   2. a bike lane was requested

   3. a sidewalk has been proposed

   4. proposed increase to width of road

   5. proposed tunnel under Highway 34

   6. please send any comments, supporting or encouraging letters to Belle Morris at bellesmorris@hotmail.com

2. Jason Bertolachi from IMBA came up to answer some questions about EPCC becoming an IMBA chapter. We will be voting next meeting, June 17th, on whether or not to become an IMBA chapter. Please read the pros and cons below:

Pros-

• An easy way to achieve 501c3 status without $1000 dollars in legal fees and around a hundred hours of volunteer time, which brings lots of benefits including the ability to accept tax-deductible donations

• Membership drive; IMBA will handle the annual membership renewal

• Business tools such as: membership statistics, connections with government agencies, fundraising ideas and initiatives, industry connections, know how: trail building, bike friendly communities, guidance and counsel with difficult political situations, mailing list

• Ability to maintain our mission and vision (we are a unitarian church of cyclist: roadies, mountain bikes, fat tires and tag-a-longs accepted)

• Contacts to help us obtain Liability Insurance.

• Access to Bike Park Designers (Needed for our Stanley Park project.)

• Allows us to be more effective and efficient with our outreach and communication to our members

• Will give us some more credibility, clout and help us to be more official

Cons-

• image- International Mountain Biking Association

• membership cost $30 + $20 donation (average donation)

• Membership revenues split 60% to IMBA, 40% to EPCC

• Requires that our Club obtain Liability Insurance at an approximate cost of $500/yr.

• Initial application fee of $500 for EPCC

• EPCC will have to file tax information each year

3. Rick Life talked about the Courage Classic- “The Courage Classic Bicycle Tour is a fully supported, three-day bicycle event that provides everything you need along the way.

Great food and drink will fuel your ride through various route options including over Vail Pass, Hoosier Pass, and through Breckenridge. Help ensure that the children in our communities and their families will never be turned away from the help they might need in the case of sexual or physical abuse.” http://www.childrenscoloradofoundation.org/courage-classic

Rick Life and Walt Hester are excited to do this with some other folks this year, if you are interested in joining them contact Rick at rlife@estes.org

4. Erica Goad reported that there will be a public process associated with the Estes Valley Recreation and Parks District comprehensive trails master planning effort.  Public input will be gathered this summer and fall and with the master plan reaching completion in Spring 2016. Stay tuned for information regarding public input.

5. EPCC discussed trail and road rides. Now that that it is warming-up, post any group rides you may have planned on fb, or have a fellow EPCC member post for you.

6. Alicia Mittleman shared some details about Bike to Work/Bike to Play week.

• She informed us that Zach Zehr and the Estes Park Mountain Shop will be offering a bike maintenance workshop at the Mountain Shop on June 17th at 5:30.

• The official Bike to Work Day morning events will be June 24th from 6 AM to 9 AM at the Visitor Center.  Please attend!!

More information to follow via fb and email!

Randy Biddle started with an update on the grants status for the Bike Park. We will know by mid-June if we have been awarded grants! Discussion continued on EPCC’s commitment to help maintain the Bike Park and trails under the guidance of the Recreation District. If all goes according to plan we might see groundbreaking as soon as next fall. Thanks again to Randy Biddle and Todd Plummer for all their time and efforts to keep this project moving!

Of note, a bobcat approached the windows of the meeting and hunted down and capture a grey squirrel while we were discussing the Bike Park.

Glenn Case presented on Bike and Walk to School Day. Time and date are : May 5th starting at 6:30 AM. EPCC has been solicited to help with crossing guards and ride marshals. The Estes Park High School mountain bike team will facilitate some games before school starts. Ideas were shared that EPCC create an educational flyer about EPCC and our projects to put in the Friday folders of Elementary and Middle School students.

Greg Sampson discussed IMBA and the possibility of becoming a chapter organization of IMBA. One of the main factors motivating this possibility is the 501c3 status EPCC would be allowed to use through IMBA. Greg will lead a team to present at the next meeting the pros and cons of becoming a chapter of IMBA and voting will occur at that meeting- April

A brief discussion regarding a proposed multi-use trail in Rocky Mountain National Park followed. While by no means an in-the-bag project, it is in a 10-15 year plan. Information was shared about the efforts of the Grand Lake bike club to create a multi-use trail in RMNP that is close to becoming reality on the West side of the park.

Erica Goad presented on the Trails Master Plan of the Recreation District. Public meetings will be held this Summer and Fall to collect input. Erica has promised to keep us apprised of meeting times and dates so we can contribute to this process. The Recreation District is looking to create trails that will connect users to recreation areas throughout the expansive Recreation District area of responsibility. Thank-you Erica!

Steve Wens, Mr. Speed, presented an incredible presentation on training. His presentation focused on part 1 of 4 of an endurance training program. Steve’s presentation was informative and inspirational, Steve even put on his “look smart” glasses. He has promised to share the power point with EPCC- we will post it as soon as we receive it. Don’t miss his next presentation at the next meeting! Much appreciated Mr. Speed!