Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes ~ 7/13

July 13^th, 2011 ~ Duncannon Borough Office

Attendees:

• Fred Lauster, Duncannon Borough Council
• Jerry Bell, Duncannon Borough Council
• Kim McKee, Appalachian Trail Conservancy
• Karen Lutz, Appalachian Trail Conservancy
• Kim Williams, Appalachian Trail Conservancy
• Tom Grbenick, SEDA-COG
• Trish Carothers, Susquehanna Greenway Partnership
• Gwen Lehman, PA Audubon
• Mike O’Connor, Mountain Club of Maryland
• Barb Van Horn, Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club & Keystone Trails Association
• Robert Peiffer, Perry County Chamber of Commerce
• Brenda Benner, Perry County Commission
• Karl King, Main Line Canal Greenway
• Mike Piaskowski, DCNR
• Roger Smith, Perry County Council of the Arts & Rt. 15 Byway of the Arts
• Dave Robinson, Duncannon Church of God
• Mike Kmiecinksi, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission
• Will Soper, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission
• Jason Finnerty, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (Perry County Planning)
• Paul Smith, Duncannon Resident
• Mary Parry, Trail Angel and Resident

Other stakeholders engaged that could not attend:

• Pat Woods, Susquenita Middle School
• Tanuya Matter, Duncannon Borough Manager
• Dave Lange, NPS, Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program
• Jimmy Rosen, Old Sled Works
• Pat & Vickey Kelly, The Doyle Hotel
• Doug Gibson, Blue Mountain Outfitters (Marysville)
• Steve Fehrs, Duncannon Resident

Stakeholders identified to reach out to:

• Todd Brackovich, Perry County Conservation District
• Rick Dunlap, Hershey Harrisburg Visitors Bureau
• Pat Tomes, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
• Matt Smith, Perry County Rotary/Perry County Chamber
• Stanley Mutzabaugh, Mutzabaugh’s Market
• Annette Mullen, Curves
• John and Corrine Cunningham, Riverfront Campground
• Susquehanna River Trail Association

Minutes:

Designation Event ideas:

• (Fred L) First Saturday in June (National Trails Day) or National Night Out in August
• (Mary) June is when the majority of hikers are coming through Duncannon, hikers could do a hiker presentation/panel
• (Karen) Event should be about a broad vision of Duncannon as a trail community
• Involvement of Boy Scouts and School groups (Robert P.: Scouts would be interested)
• Potential coordination with Susquehanna Sojourn river trips (engage Susquehanna River Trail Association – inquire as to the Sojourn schedule)
• Communication plan for A.T. Community designation – Engaging Hershey/Harrisburg Visitors Bureau important (work to increase the promotion of event and greater promotion Duncannon as a destination)
• HHVB – need to be a paying partner, Rick Dunlap is the contact
• (Barbara) SATC and Keystone Trails Association could lead a hike and float trip
• (Gwen - PA Audubon) Audubon could lead hikes if scheduled in the fall or spring during migration seasons

Apple Tree AlleyWalk

• Overview of Apple Tree AlleyWalk project and planning process from Tom G.
• (Mike K. – Tri-County) Rails-to-Trails Involvement?  (Contact is Pat Tomes)
• (Mike P. – DCNR) Economic Development is key to making this project significant – projects like this in other communities have seen great impacts in filling downtown storefronts/property values rising
• April application for DCNR funding – Borough needs to submit an application, motorized portions can’t be funded by DCNR
• The challenge is local buy-in, a local advocate who keeps close tabs on funding availability and has the project lined up to receive the funding (i.e. funds raised for local match)
• (Mike K. – Tri-County) Metropolitan Planning Organizations (Tri-County) help program the federal transportation funds – connect with Perry County representatives, the annual Tri-County allotment is roughly $900,000
• Apple Tree Alley is first in line to receive funding, but the funds are programmed in advance – all funds are programmed until the 2013 fiscal year
• Transportation Enhancement program’s future is uncertain, the federal highway bill and accompanying funding has expired
• A 20% match (of non-federal funds) is required, recently the emphasis has been on a lot of small projects
• Emphasis on the local advocate as well
• (Robert P.) Can in-kind donations count as a match for TE funding?  Local businesses could contribute materials (trees for planting, gravel, etc) or labor.  Borough could potentially pave and do some construction
• (Jerry) Want to make sure the ATC/Mountain Club of Maryland (MCM) supports the re-reroute through Apple Tree Alley, Starts with the approval of MCM
• (Jason – Tri-County/Perry County) What businesses are supportive?
• (Tom G.) Businesses are in support, Orrstown Bank may agree to participation
• (Kim M.) Businesses contacted were supported, unsure exactly how to get involved
• (Mike P.) What role is the ATC going to play?
• (Karen, Kim W.) ATC can help facilitate, Duncannon should be the driver
• (Fred & Tom) Would like to see ATC/Susquehanna Greenway/Main Line Canal Greenway work together to assist Duncannon
• (Trish C.) Susquehanna Greenway River Towns initiative – planning driving tour kiosk with panels options available for Main Line Canal Greenway and Appalachian Trail
• (Fred) Would like to see examples of similar projects from other towns

Sub-committees to organize:

A.T. Community Designation sub-committee

• Complete application – collect support documentation, draft and submit application to ATC Mid-Atlantic Regional Office before September 1^st, 2011
• COORDINATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
  • Maintain list of sub-committees, contacts, organizations/volunteers who have expressed interest in helping
  • Facilitate communication between sub-committees, send Advisory Committee updates as to what has been happening/what needs to happen
• Designation event-planning – SEE A.T. Community EVENT PLANNING GUIDE for more detail (if you did not receive copy at meeting, email Kim McKee and she will send PDF)
  • Decide on when the event will be held, THEME(s) for event (i.e. conservation, outdoor recreation or “trails,” Duncannon heritage & arts, etc.)
  • Brainstorm/Research A.T. Community designation events and/or similarly-themed events in other towns
  • Outreach to elected local, state & federal officials for support, community groups and regional partners that could be involved, part of programming
  • Develop communications plan – coordinate with Tourism Promotion sub-committee to publicize
    • Collect information on local media contacts, local bloggers, Borough newsletter, newsletters of partner organizations
    • Outreach via social media (local facebook groups, twitter, etc.)
    • Create/distribute fliers to promote event

Apple Tree AlleyWalk sub-committee

• Create and keep updated an online list/database of potential funding options, including upcoming deadlines and contact information for program reps
• Engage contacts at state and regional agencies to monitor funding opportunities – have project included in state, regional or Perry County plans:
  • DCNR
  • Tri-County RPC/Transportation Enhancements
  • Perry County CDBG Funds (administered through Tri-County - Eliz Wimmer is contact)
  • Appalachian Regional Commission
  • DCED/Keystone Communities Program
  • Private Foundations
  • Other
• Prepare grant applications
• Fundraising for local match – local businesses donations and in-kind donations, additional public sources, Borough funds and labor, private foundations
• It looks as though local match may include in-kind contributions: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/bp-broch.htm
• Contact additional advocacy groups to gauge interest in project – Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, PA Walks and Bikes, etc.
• Build support with elected officials – State Rep. Mark Keller serves on policy board of Metropolitan Planning Organization that makes the final decisions on TE funding

Tourism Promotion & Business Outreach sub-committee

• Gauge interest in organizing “Friends” group through this Advisory Committee or Duncannon Revitalization organization with 501c3 status – a group that would actively work with businesses, Chamber, Perry County Arts and community groups to promote Duncannon businesses, recreation opportunities and amenities
• Create list of and engage businesses interested in being involved with A.T. Community events and/or Apple Tree Alley whether via letters of support, donations, event participation, or interest in joint-promotion of local businesses (coordinate with Perry County Chamber)
• Collect information on case studies of projects like Apple Tree Alley in similar communities – with a focus on the ECONOMIC impacts, create print materials to distribute (or web)
• Explore options for a web presence for the Borough of Duncannon targeted to hikers, visitors, businesses looking to relocate  (example: http://www.damascus.org/ or http://www.jimthorpe.org/)

Community Outreach and Youth Engagement sub-committee

• Create list of community groups in greater Duncannon Area and contact to inform of A.T. Community designation plans and Apple Tree Alleywalk project – ask how they would potentially like to be involved, get ideas
• Lead local hikes and trailwork projects that start and/or end in Duncannon – potential active recruitment of Duncannon residents
• Publicize Trails to Every Classroom participation and projects
• Potentially plan events on Apple Tree AlleyWalk corridor to promote usage and COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP of corridor (art projects, bike rides, sled-races, fundraising walks/runs, programming for kids, community plantings, etc. – smaller projects that build interest in and awareness of corridor as an asset to the community) – check on LEGAL issues of corridor-ownership with Borough first
• Explore opportunities to re-route the A.T. through Apple Tree Alley