The North Star Rails to Trails Advisory Committee presented five recommendations to Council this week, which Council voted to proceed with. The recommendations come from the Trails Committee and the City representatives from Cranbrook and Kimberley.

First, four large volume underground fire-proof garbage receptacles will be purchased and installed on the trail at each of the three washroom locations and at the Kimberley trail head. Funding for these bins is already in the construction budget and will not require new funding.

2. That the paired control gates at road/highway crossings remain the same with the exception of having single gate instead at the Kimberley trail head and the Shadow Mountain crossing. All other gates will remain with two staggered gates to provide a safe highway crossing.

Coun. Don McCormick explained that there has been feedback from cyclists that the gates are awkward to get through and many are just riding around them. In fact three gates have been vandalized since they were installed last summer. Motorists have called describing close calls with cyclists, so for public safety the highway crossing gates remain the double staggered gates.

3. The cities of Kimberley and Cranbrook will put out an RFP for operation of the three public washrooms along the trail.

4. The two cities will develop bylaws to restrict motorized use on the Rails to Trails. An increasing number of offroad vehicles are being reported on the trails. The RCMP cannot enforce non-motorized restriction without such a bylaw.

5. The cities of Cranbrook and Kimberley will include the Trans Canada Trail as an additional insured for the 25 km trail. The North Star Rails to Trails is still awaiting official designation as being part of the Trans Canada Trail.