* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Clarke
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Informational Hearing - Mountain Biking on City Reservoir Watershed Property
FOR the purpose of inviting representatives of the City agencies concerned with mountain biking on City reservoir watershed property and the mountain biking community to discuss how to allow mountain biking on City reservoir watershed property without harming water quality.
body
Recitals
The City of Baltimore owns and maintains 17,580 acres of watershed property surrounding the 3 city-owned reservoirs that provide water for 1.8 million people in the Metropolitan Baltimore area. This property is used as a natural buffer to ensure that the region's water supply is kept clean, pure, and safe. While the sole purpose of the watershed buffer property is the maintenance of an ample supply of the highest quality water, the City has striven to allow recreational uses consistent with this purpose on these park-like lands.
The mountain biking community has been especially eager to take advantage of the recreational possibilities afforded by the City reservoir watershed property. In an effort to continue to allow mountain biking on the reservoir watershed property without negatively impacting the water supply, the City and representatives from the biking community agreed on a plan for mountain biking on City reservoir watershed property in January 1998. This cooperative plan allowed limited mountain biking in certain designated areas, called on the biking community to assist in maintaining the allowed trails and policing its members' activities, provided for improved trail signage, and laid out a path for the opening of more trails to mountain bike use in the future.
Recently, a renewed focus on watershed quality has led to increased enforcement of all regulations governing the watershed buffer properties, including those restricting mountain biking. This, in turn, has drawn attention to the shortfalls on all sides in implementing the 1998 agreement. While cycling groups have been among the most active stewards of the watershed property and the trail systems on these properties, mountain biking has become widespread outside of the designated areas. Concerns have also been raised about both a continuing lack of proper trail signage and a lack of progress towards officially opening up either more areas for mountain biking or the type of "singletrack" trails that have become more popular in the sport since 1998.
Accordingly, it is apparent that the City and the mountain biking community should revisit the 1998 plan to determine what elements have and have not worked for all concerned. It is hoped that renewed dialogue can facilitate the kind of mutually agreeable cooperative understanding that led to the original plan for mountain biking on City reservoir watershed property.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Head of the Bureau of Water & Wastewater, the Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Committee, the President of the Maryland Association of Mountain Bike Operators, and the Department of Transportation's Bicycle and Pedestrian Planner are invited to appear before the Council for a hearing to discuss how to allow mountain biking on City reservoir watershed property without harming water quality.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Director of Public Works, the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council, the Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Committee, the Head of the Bureau of Water & Wastewater, the President of the Maryland Association of Mountain Bike Operators, and the Department of Transportation's Bicycle and Pedestrian Planner.
dlr 09-0931~intro/18Nov09
ccres/MtnBkRes/tw:nbr
dlr 09-0931~intro/18Nov09
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ccres/MtnBkRes/tw:nbr