Title
Consider Creating Pilot Project of Mountain Bike Trails on County Land
Recommended Action
I move that the County utilize up to $50,000 of the $500,000 previously earmarked for Mountain Bike Trails on Pajarito Mountain, and contained within the CIP Fund, to pursue a pilot project focused on demonstrating the construction and maintenance of a Mountain Bike Flow Trail on County property.
..County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council approve the reassignment of funds as requested.
Body
The Council has an established line item within the CIP Fund of $500,000 for the creation of mountain bike trails on Pajarito Mountain. This funding was intended to be a mechanism to incentivize the new Ski Hill operator to develop trails on Pajarito Mountain that would increase the number of athletes attracted to that facility, thereby enhancing the County's overall economic activity. The motion that set aside these funds was specific to their use at Pajarito Mountain.
With the delays experienced regarding the transfer of land on Pajarito Mountain to both the operator and the County, the County has been unable to utilize these funds. Interested parties within Los Alamos, including both the local mountain bike club and retail biking business, have suggested that in order to create an environment that will attract a significant population of mountain bikers to visit, the available opportunities must include not only lift-served trails but also connections to trails on the Forest Service and County-owned lands. In addition to these connections, it is also believed that a new design for such trails - known as "flow trails" - is important as such trails are the new standard for the expanding mountain biking industry and these designs incorporate many features that will minimize the need for periodic maintenance.
The County has a strategic focus on expanding its high altitude sporting opportunities, specifically including biking, and therefore the request is to utilize some of the available funds to enhance trails on County-owned land while the land transfer at the ski hill is progressing. Representatives of the user groups will be present in order to provide additional information and answer any questions regarding the request.
Alternatives
The Council could choose to not change the intended use of these funds, in which case all of the funds would continue to sit unused while land transfer issues are worked out.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Planned Item
The contemplated action would not alter the total overall budget, but would instead allow for an additional use of already appropriated funds.