2006-2007 Annual Report

It was another good year for the Central Valley Rails to Trails Foundation.  Thanks to the volunteer members of the Board of Directors, and the local community that was generous with their time and financial resources, the following accomplishments were achieved:

• New Board Members were elected for the 2006-2007 fiscal year at the Annual Meeting;
• TrailFest 2007 was a great success with its largest attendance ever;
• Informative meetings were held with local, state and federal public officials;
• Hundreds of community members visited CVRTF information booths at community events resulting in over 200 new trail supporters;
• Board members and volunteers attended grant writing education seminars and conducted research for new funds development;
• CVRTF showed support for the proposed Galt Agriculture/Equestrian Park;
• The annual Wilton Parade, organized by CVRTF, enjoyed cheering crowds and widespread community participation;
• The Concepts for Connectivity project, funded by the Teichert Foundation, developed marketing materials and data to help educate the public on the proposed trail;
• CVRTF received an endorsement from Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails;
• The Foundation ended the fiscal year with a balance of $16,857.63 

2006-2007 Board of Directors

The Board of Directors met in July for the 2006 Annual Meeting to elect new members and officers.  Sherrill Shotigian was elected to fill the remaining year of the vacant seat on the Board.  Mary Upham, Karen Munroe and Doug Baker were re-elected for another two year term. Officers for the new fiscal year were elected as follows:  Sherrill Shotigian, President; Doug Baker, Vice President; Karen Munroe, Treasurer; and Kathy Jacobson, Secretary.   Lora Leerskov and Dr. Robert Hunter were serving terms that expire in July of 2007. 

In May of 2007, at a special meeting of the Board of Directors, two new positions were created with the intention of encouraging representation from bike and running interests.  The new seats will be filled at the 2007 Annual Meeting.

TrailFest 2007

Board Member Dr. Robert Hunter once again welcomed trail supporters to the Hunter Stallion Station for the 2007 TrailFest dinner dance.  The event attracted over two hundred local supporters and generous donations were received from over fifty sponsors and prize contributors. PeopleFinders.com served as the Major Sponsor, and prize donations included breedings to top local stallions, gift certificates from local businesses, works of art, and sports equipment. Dozens of volunteers worked during the event, including serving the delicious tri-tip dinner, skillfully barbecued by Bill Leicht and his team.

Most of the tables were sold in advance, and attendees danced to the sounds of local DJ Rick Henderson (Upromoit Promotions), and live music from Mark Wellendorf, both who donated their services to support TrailFest.  It is only with the hard work and dedication of the community volunteers that this event continues to be such a success. 

Meetings with Public Officials Advance Opportunities to Purchase the CCTC Corridor

Supervisor Don Nottoli continues to move the trail project forward by facilitating meetings with local public officials.  This year, CVRTF representatives made presentations to the Executive Director and planning staff for the Sacramento Area Council of Governments where discussions included potentially sharing the corridor with light rail in the distant future, and the Power Inn Business & Transportation Association’s plans to create a bike pathway linking the CVRTF trail to downtown Sacramento and the American River Parkway.

Supervisor Nottoli also arranged for meetings with Dr. Beverly Scott, General Manager for Regional Transit, Sacramento County CEO Terry Schutten, and Sacramento County Transportation Department officials.  CVRTF representatives had other informal opportunities to communicate with SacramentoCounty officials on the potential for regional trail connectivity should the CCTC corridor be acquired.  The response has been encouraging, and the next steps will be a vote by the entire Board of Supervisors to move forward with the project, and the establishment of a lead agency that will initiate the research needed to begin the acquisition negotiations. 

In November of 2006, a presentation was made to the State Parks Department including Trails Director Steve Musillami and Long Range Planning Manager Stuart Hong.  Discussion centered on the connectivity potential for regional trail systems and grant opportunities for acquisition and development of the corridor.

Community Events Provide Opportunities to Educate Local Residents

Volunteers staffed information booths at community events in Sacramento and San JoaquinCounties resulting in over 200 new supporters and contributors.  Following is a list of the events attended:

Grant Application Seminars Help CVRTF Identify Potential Funding Sources

The Non-profit Resource Center provides local foundations with the research materials and training to identify potential financial resources and to produce successful grant applications.  CVRTF representatives participated in seminars given by seasoned grant application writers, and joined with other foundation grant managers to share knowledge on helpful websites and local contacts. 

CVRTF was also represented at the State Parks Department briefing on the Recreational Trails funding program that could provide significant acquisition and trail development resources for the CVRTF proposed trail.  CVRTF will partner with a local agency to apply for funds once the purchase price has been determined and initial environmental surveys are completed.

Proposed Galt Agriculture/Equine Park Would Link to CCTC Corridor 

Residents and Galt public officials would like to convert an 80 acre piece of land, owned by the City of Galt and designated for recreational usage, into a world-class agricultural/equine park.  The park would have multiple uses such as equine physical therapy programs, cultural activities and sports events that would highlight the farming and equestrian resources in that region.  Located along Skunk Creek, and just a few miles west of the CCTC railroad corridor, this park could be a staging area for Galt residents to use the proposed CVRTF rail trail for equestrian, bike and marathon events.  The Galt City Council was receptive to the proposed park, and the potential to provide Galt residents with access to an extensive regional trail system.

Wilton Community Comes Out to Celebrate Wilton Round-Up Parade

The community of Wilton celebrates its western heritage each year with the Wilton Round Up featuring a chili cook-off, parade and car show.  The event benefits the Wilton Firemen’s Association, the Pacific Burn Institute camp for child burn victims, and other local charities. This year, CVRTF was asked to organize the Wacky Wilton Parade.  Supervisor Don Nottoli served as the Grand Marshall, and the large turn out of parade participants and cheering crowds made for a very successful event.

Concepts For Connectivity Project Provides CVRTF With Valuable Marketing Tools

The Teichert Foundation funded the CVRTF Concepts for Connectivity Project, which facilitated the creation of large informational panels to be used at public events, helped to fund a survey of adjacent property owners to determine their potential usage of the proposed trail, and allowed for the purchase of a computer and projector for presentations to public groups.  The Project was also supported by the Rails to Trails Conservancy through a grant from the CA Dept. of Health Services Healthy Transportation program.  GIS map services were donated by David Wilcox, and trail concepts were donated by Stantec Consulting, Kathy Jacobson, Landscape Architect.

Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails Endorses CVRTF

Breathe California has been fighting for clean air and the elimination of lung disease in the Sacramento Region since 1917.  Representatives of CVRTF presented the proposed trail project to Policy Manager Jennifer Finton in December of 2006.  In April of 2007, their support was formalized with a letter of support that stated, “When implemented, this corridor will provide an invaluable link for people using clean transportation modes between San Joaquin County and the rest of Sacramento County and beyond.  Improving air quality is core to our mission, and projects such as this one will help us all breathe a little easier by providing clean transportation alternatives.” 

Thanks to John Lane Photography, and Teichert Aggregates, CVRTF was invited to attend Breathe California’s annual Clean Air Awards luncheon in May of 2007. This annual event features an awards ceremony for business, government and community leaders in the Sacramento Region who have made significant contributions toward their goal of cleaner air. Representatives of CVRTF were invited to host an information booth, providing an opportunity to educated hundreds of event participants on the proposed trail.

Assets & Liabilities

All of the Foundation’s financial assets are held in a checking account at Stockmans Bank in Elk Grove.  The current balance stands at $16,857.63.  Liabilities include attorney fees (Balance Owed: $3,623.49), appraiser fees (Approximately $15,000 with standing agreement that payment is due when Foundation assets are more substantial); and payment to Upromoit ($853.91) for marketing items.  Other assets include computer and projector equipment purchased under the Teichert Grant, as well as marketing materials used in public presentations.

The contacts made over the course of the 2006-07 fiscal year have expanded the base of support for the proposed trail and brought the group closer to realizing their goal of acquiring the corridor. 

A project of this scope takes a great deal of education, resources and persistence. CVRTF appreciates the continued support from local community members and public officials.

Donations to CVRTF are tax deductible (Fed Tax ID #94-3375724)

and may be sent to: 

CVRTF, Post Office Box 12, Wilton, CA, 95693

E-mail Address: trail@cvrtf.org -- Phone: 916.798.5629