SPECIAL MINUTES

The Board of Directors of Brooktrails Township Community Services District met in special session on February 20, 2001 in Brooktrails Community Center. President Richard Estabrook called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

President Estabrook thanked the audience members for attending and encouraged them to participate. He asked each person, in turn, to state their name and where they lived.

A. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

B. ROLL CALL

Roll call showed the following Directors present: Venturi, Monteleone, Orth, and Estabrook. Also present were General Manager Chapman and District Counsel Neary. President Estabrook commented that Director Whitney had chosen not to attend because he has stated a conflict of interest on the matter.

C. ADDITIONS/ ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA - None

D. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS - None

E. SPECIAL PRESENTATION - None

F. PUBLIC HEARING - None

G. PUBLIC COMMENTS

One audience member voiced concern about trees that had fallen in the Greenbelt during the recent snowstorm. Director Orth updated her on the District's grant application for development of a watershed management plan, and County Air Quality's recent grant application to obtain funds to purchase a chipper.

H. ACTION AGENDA

1. REVIEW AND PUBLIC COMMENT ON COUNTY PROJECT STUDY REPORT FOR THE BROOKTRAILS SECOND ACCESS.

After a brief opening statement, President Estabrook introduced Doug Ellinger, Senior Civil Engineer with the County Department of Transportation. Mr. Ellinger outlined the process used in selecting alternative alignments. He assured President Estabrook that the Project Study Report was not the final report, but was intended to trim the number of possible alignments to begin the Environment Impact Report (EIR) process.

Public concerns were raised about EIR funding. Mr. Ellinger and Director Orth provided an in-depth explanation of the funding mechanisms available through Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG). In response to Barri Boone, Mr. Ellinger explained that the final decision on the alignment would be made by the agency that funds the project. However, he added that all agencies involved would need to agree on an alignment, as developed by an EIR, before the project would be funded. He pointed out the unique circumstance involved, in that Brooktrails Township is desirous of having a second access, although it is out of its jurisdiction to build it. Therefore, the County, through the Board of Supervisors, has to make the decision, as it is a County responsibility, adding that Brooktrails has a responsibility to make its wants and needs known to the County.

President Estabrook then opened the discussion for public comment. The following list of expectations and concerns was compiled:

Mr. Ellinger commented that funds are available for development of pedestrian facilities and encouraged their development within the District.

With the aid of the overhead projector, President Estabrook provided an in-depth review of the proposed routes, including two alternatives that he developed. Director Orth stressed the importance of building the best possible access road based on current conditions, and pointed out the possibility of adding others as the population grows and the need for further traffic congestion relief increases.

President Estabrook then reviewed each alternative in turn, and provided maps that demonstrated time savings. Local resident Hal Wagenet reviewed the traffic flow effect of each alternative. Public comments were received to assess the pros and cons of each, based on the list of expectations and concerns.

Jack Cunningham voiced concern about the effect of any second access route on traffic in the event that the bypass is not built.

Director Orth noted the importance of the timing of the second access project with the environmental documents for the 101 bypass, as some of the critical decisions can't be made prior to that time.

Director Monteleone voiced concern about delaying the second access pending decisions on the bypass, as the bypass had been in the works for decades.

Mr. Ellinger advocated moving forward with the second access planning.

Hal Wagenet provided an update on the progress of the Willits bypass, and suggested the Board send a letter to the Project Development Team (PDT) Committee stating the most likely second access intersection point with Highway 101.

Bob Houtz pointed out that Alternative C received the most sun, allowing the earliest thaw during cold and snowy weather. Art Ecke countered that it would not serve the most populated areas of the District.

Director Venturi agreed with Mr. Ecke, but noted that law enforcement personnel could most efficiently patrol it in the case of an emergency situation.

Mark Edwards, who works with the owner of the St. Francis Ranch, pointed out the unstable soil in the area of the proposed Brown Road extension to Alternative C. He didn't feel that the route had been studied sufficiently, commenting that it was simply a line on a map, and could end up costing much more than anticipated. He also pointed out that Alternative D followed an existing grade, and spoke in favor of the Alternative E connection to D, as it would remove the heavy logging trucks and other truck traffic from the lower portion of Sherwood Road. He did not think that heavy trucks would want to make a left turn at Brooktrails Drive and go back up a hill as would be necessary with Alternative C.

Director Orth spoke in favor of Alternative C, because of the southern exposure, and because it would effectively mitigate fires burning up from the valley floor. He pointed out that the airport zone is a no development zone, and that C follows the same lower alignment as D and E, which could allow those as future connections. He also commented that commuters could effectively utilize Alternative C.

Director Monteleone spoke in favor of Alternative E, because it provides an emergency exit route for the northern section of Brooktrails, but was against Alternative D because it routes the second access route through a quiet neighborhood.

Mark Edwards clarified for her that the property owner had recently made improvements to the lower section of the existing road, and that has offered its use as emergency access and egress. However, he is not in favor of Alternative C going through the middle of his property, but has expressed an on-going willingness to allow development of Alternative D.

Director Venturi pointed out that many commuters would still go through town to drop off and pick up school children.

Hal Wagenet pointed out that Alternative C would relieve some of the traffic at the Birch Street/Sherwood Road intersection.

With regards to Alternative D, Barrie Boone expressed concern about the increased fumes and other adverse effects of additional traffic on a residential neighborhood.

Director Orth pointed out that Alternative D would not serve to remove truck traffic from Sherwood Road without Alternative E, as heavy traffic would not be permitted on Poppy Drive or Daphne Way. Also, Poppy Drive and Daphne Way would require upgrades, including sidewalks for pedestrians.

Art Ecke felt that Daphne Way would be too steep and winding to accommodate additional traffic if Alternative D were selected.

A resident of Deer Place voiced concern about truck traffic in the area behind his property if Alternative E were built.

General Manager Chapman reported that he had received input from citizens and law enforcement officials who favored the D and E alignments because the airport is considered a "safe zone" for emergency evacuation, and because they provide a better option if Sherwood Road were closed due to fire or earthquake.

Director Orth made a motion that the General Manager write a letter for the CalTrans Project Development Team meeting, stating that the lower portion of Alignment D is the favored alignment, and that it include the concerns raised at the meeting. Director Monteleone seconded the motion. A vote on the motion was taken, which passed unanimously by the members present.

President Estabrook clarified that he did not want the letter to state "Truck Scales" as the preferred intersection with Highway 101.

I. SPECIAL REPORTS - GENERAL MANAGER - None

J. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None

K. ADJOURNMENT

Director Orth moved to adjourn and President Estabrook declared the meeting of February 20, 2001 closed at 10:30 p.m.

MICHAEL V. CHAPMAN

Secretary to the Board of Directors

RICHARD ESTABROOK,

President