OSAC Meeting Notes – September 5, 2019

Study Session

A field trip to view the 75-acre Warner property adjoining Meyer Ranch Park along South Turkey Creek Road.  The property is a mixture of forest and clearings, and fits perfectly into Meyer Ranch Park.  It contains some buildings from the 1870s and a small house which has been modified over time.

Regular Session

Mary Ann Bonnell and Andy Scanlan presented the Dinosaur Ridge Master Plan.  The Plan is a consolidation of the many recommendations to improve the visitor experience, resource preservation, recreation management, programming, facility and amenity functions.  The Plan includes detailed sections on improving visitor safety, drainage and rockfall mitigation, unifying the signage, developing standards for physical improvements, and determining the future visitor center location and site configuration.

The Advisory Committee approved proceeding with acquisition of the Warner Property.  The property will preserve the viewshed in the area and provide trail connections to Meyer Ranch Park.  Because the property had been rezoned for development, the $1,400,000 price is above what Open Space is accustomed to paying.

The Director, Tom Hoby, reported that the August 15 fire at the Deer Creek Canyon Park was contained in three days with the help of 58 agencies and organizations.  The Park was reopened in one week.

Hoby also reported that Open Space Staff are progressing in assembling a County-wide trails plan.