CRT Minutes 6 6 2011 BOD Meeting

[Stephen C. Lewis]

Coalition for Recreational Trails
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
June 6, 2011

Call to Order: 3:03 p.m.

Participation:
   Board Members:
      Derrick Crandall, American Recreation Coalition, Co-Chair
      Marianne Fowler, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Co-Chair (via telephone)
      Jenn Dice, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Vice Chair (via telephone)
      Pam Gluck, American Trails, Vice Chair (via telephone)      
      Duane Taylor, Motorcycle Industry Council, Vice Chair (via telephone)
      Sheila Andrews, American Motorcyclist Association
      Rich Dolesh, National Recreation and Park Association (via telephone)
      Christine Jourdain, American Council of Snowmobile Associations (via telephone)
      Lori McCullough, Tread Lightly! (via telephone)
      Greg Mumm, BlueRibbon Coalition (via telephone)
      Larry Smith, Americans for Responsible Recreational Access
      Dave Zayas, American Hiking Society (via telephone)      
                        
   Also participating:
      Catherine Ahern, American Recreation Coalition
      Christopher Douwes, Federal Highway Administration (via telephone)
      Kristy Kibler, International Mountain Bicycling Association (via telephone)
      Dave Tyahla, National Recreation and Park Association (via telephone)

Opening Comments:  R. Dolesh introduced D. Tyahla, who had recently joined the NRPA staff from the U.S. Soccer Foundation, and noted that he would be taking his place as a member of the CRT Board.  D. Zayas provided a brief update on the success of National Trails Day.  C. Jourdain and C. Douwes reported on RTP discussions at the recent International Snowmobile Congress.
      
Minutes of Previous Meeting:  On motion by S. Andrews, seconded by D. Taylor, the minutes of the May 19, 2011 meeting were approved as distributed.

RTP Reauthorization Update:  The Board discussed actions expected regarding reauthorization, including the possible release of the House T&I draft during the following week, to be followed by the Senate EPW bill.  It was agreed that grass-roots action and media outreach on behalf of RTP in key jurisdictions continued to be important, especially if the House draft called for block grants to be sent to the states rather than the continuation of discrete programs like RTP and/or the Senate bill subsumed RTP within a streamlining scheme that did not accommodate activities associated with recreational trails.  With a floor vote possible in the House even before the August recess, it was agreed that CRT should look into the idea of linking the RTP to an existing trust fund and start that process by conferring with Reps. Petri and Michaud staffers.  At the same time, the extensive effort to protect RTP as a discrete program within both the House and Senate bills should continue.  L. McCullough agreed to raise that idea, as well as general support for the RTP, at upcoming meetings of sportsmen groups, including a meeting focused on the President’s America’s Great Outdoors (AGO) initiative.  It was noted that the recent AGO report had expressed support for the RTP as a way to fund needed outdoor resources.  S. Andrews also agreed to discuss support for the RTP at an upcoming function of the American Highway Users Alliance. 

D. Crandall reported that he had been told by a knowledgeable source that if there were only a one-year bill because the House and Senate could not reach consensus, the bill would most likely resemble a T&I Chairman Mica bill rather than an extension of SAFETEA-LU.  The Board also noted that OMB was pushing program consolidation within the Administration.

D. Crandall stated that he would follow up on the idea, discussed at the previous meeting, to raise $10,000 from CRT members to fund a media outreach effort in key jurisdictions that would emphasize the importance of trails to recreation, transportation, community economic sustainability, family life and health. 

RTP Achievement Awards:  C. Ahern reported that the NASPD Awards Committee had selected Massachusetts (Recreational Trails Advisory Committee) and California (State Trails Program) for the state awards.  D. Crandall reported that both awards had been much appreciated.  C. Ahern also reported that Reps. Petri, Michaud, Mica, Duncan, Rahall and DeFazio had been invited to attend the awards ceremony.  D. Taylor reported on the attendance status of award recipients and agreed to follow up where no recipient had been identified.  The Board discussed the FHWA Administrator’s offer to meet with CRT award winners and CRT representatives in his office early on the day of the awards ceremony.  It was agreed that the meeting represented an important opportunity to showcase the RTP.  D. Taylor agreed to follow up with the winners regarding attending that meeting while C. Ahern would solicit attendance from the Board so that an attendance list could be developed and sent to the Administrator’s office.  It was agreed that a senior-level representative of the Administrator would be asked to attend the awards ceremony.  Following discussion, the Board decided that awards should also be presented to Reps. Petri and Michaud in recognition of their leadership of the successful “Dear Colleague” effort.  The Board also discussed the distribution of invitations with S. Andrews and D. Taylor agreeing to join the American Horse Council and ARC in that effort.

Next Meeting:  It was agreed that the next meeting of the CRT Board would be held at ARC on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. EDT.

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 4:43 p.m.