10/12/2008

Alpine Recreational Strategic Study Council votes to move ahead with management plan And some news about Councillor Ernie Crist Cam McRae

Council meetings are enough to make you want to give all politicians a raise.  This evening's meeting had several agenda additions that lengthened our stay in council chambers but finally, after some public input and a few unrelated discussions, we got down to the meat of the matter. Council eventually voted on whether or not to move forward with the recommendations put forward by District staff in the Alpine Recreational Strategic Study. 

Before that several speakers - notably residents of upper Lynn Valley - claimed they had not been consulted adequately in the process and they petitioned staff to defer the vote.  One resident lamented the condition of the Baden Powell Trail on Fromme.  Apparently this gentleman had not done his homework because any participant in the KneeKnacker - a run that extends from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove on the trail - will tell you that the best kept sections of the 50km trail are the ones maintained by mountain bikers on Mount Fromme.

Several residents also spoke in favour of continued recreation on Fromme - including one woman who was formerly against mountain bikers but has since seen the light.  Hallelujah.

While speaking to another issue Councillor Ernie Crist declared that "Tourism is our ticket" and you can bet that every rider in the audience wanted to bend his ear and ask "what about mountain bikers?"  A group planning a February Mardi Gras party in Capilano River Park was there to ask the District for $10,000 - an amount equal to what the City of North Van has already committed and what they plan to ask West Van for.  This might bring in the odd tourist eventually but mountain biking brings in thousands of tourists already who spend money here - and we haven't asked for or received a penny to maintain trails.

After this it was finally time to deal with regular agenda items.  Mayor Harris put forward a motion to move the ARSS discussion to the top of the agenda since there were so many riders and other interested parties in attendance.  Councillor Nixon for some reason opposed this motion wanting instead to keep us confined to chambers until past midnight.  Perhaps he figured we should suffer since he has to every Monday night. 

Councillor Crist on the other hand - the perennial friend of mountain bikers (or at least those who only ride on the road) - seconded the motion to move the motion forward.

District Manager James Ridge spoke about the effort put forward by staff to complete the report and the need to manage the natural areas on Fromme and elsewhere.  He, along with several others in attendance, made it clear that the plan will necessitated closing or reclassifying some trails - a frightening prospect.  There was also discussion of trails on private land being re-routed.  If this includes land owned by Grouse Mountain this could endanger trails like Upper Oilcan and Bookwos.  To see a map of jurisdictional and private boundaries on Fromme click here.  Mr. Ridge also noted that residents and other user groups were given at least 20 opportunities for input over the past two and a half years - and he pointed out that the Upper Lynn Residents Association was formed in 2005 - long after the study was in full swing.

When Councillor Crist had opportunities to speak his tune had softened.  Gone was his past rhetoric extolling the evils of the mountain bike on "steep forested trails."  I was expecting to see him fired up but something seems to have doused his flames.  Could it be that he too has seen the light?  Councillor Crist did however vote to defer a decision on moving forward with the recommendations of the study so more consultation with the Upper Lynn Residents Association could be undertaken.  Fortunately Councillor Crist's was the only dissenting vote and it looks like mountain biking on Mount Fromme is moving towards legitimacy. 

Let's hope the price isn't too dear.

At this evening's meeting I also discovered that Councillor Crist failed to submit paperwork required enter the election race and retain his seat.  That's right - for the moment at least we've seen the last of Councillor Crist and heard the last of his rants about "extreme stunt biking."  You may think I'm pleased about this but I think we owe Councillor Crist a debt of gratitude.  He more than anyone else can be given credit for galvanizing the mountain biking community and shocking riders out of complacency.  Without his public rants on the radio, in the newspaper and on television there is no way we would have been able to pack Council Chambers with riders on several occasions.  After one particularly boisterous meeting, when it was standing room only, Council's tone changed.  It was that night that they realized riders form a significant voting block.  Once politicians began hearing us many of the preconceptions fell away.  We were not all yahoos who urinate on the lawns of Lynn Valley residents - and some of us actually care about the environment and the impact we have on the forest.  Hell - some of us are even good citizens! 

The solid turnout to tonight's meeting can be trace directly back to Councillor Crists statements about us.

So long Councillor Crist - I for one will miss you.

Those of you who live in the District of North Van please come out and vote on November 19th.  I will be talking about the candidates before that date so stay tuned for information on the candidates for mayor and council who support mountain biking.