Rev 8/29/2024
CITY OF MURRIETA
ADOPT-A-TRAIL
RULES AND PROCEDURES
I. Eligibility
The purpose of the City’s Adopt‐A‐Trail Program is to enlist residents/community organizations to assist with removing litter, pulling weeds, reporting graffiti and damaged City property on its multi‐ use trail system. Individuals, private corporations, and non‐profit organizations are eligible to volunteer. Appropriate signage acknowledging the cleanup effort and crediting the volunteer or organization for its work are furnished and installed by the City after the first cleanup effort has occurred.
II. Rules and Conditions
1. The length of the trail varies from trail to trail, but trail cleanup should not exceed two miles.
Only trails designated by the city will serve as acceptable clean up areas. Safety of Adopt‐A‐ Trail volunteers is of upmost importance.
2. No children under the age of 12 may volunteer. An adult 21 years of age or older must always supervise any volunteer between the ages of 12 and 17. The ratio must be one adult to every five minors.
3. The City reserves the right to edit the wording of the sign and has final approval of the sign.
The city will furnish, install, and maintain the sign after the first cleanup effort has occurred.
4. The city will supply litter removal bags and volunteer safety vests, which are to be worn by all volunteers when working on the trail. The volunteer cleanup coordinator and each volunteer/volunteer guardians are responsible for inspecting their vests for defects and choosing an appropriate size before wearing. Volunteers are encouraged to wear protective gloves, eye wear and proper clothing. These items will not be provided by the city.
5. Volunteers will appoint an Adopt ‐A‐Trail volunteer cleanup coordinator to oversee and coordinate cleanup efforts.
6. The Adopt ‐A‐Trail volunteer cleanup coordinator (and all volunteers/volunteer guardians) must read and comply with the safety requirements and sign all waivers and other documents requested by the City’s Adopt‐A‐Trail program coordinator. The volunteer cleanup coordinator must conduct a thorough safety meeting with all volunteers prior to each clean up as safety is a paramount concern for the City of Murrieta.
7. Each volunteer (or parent or guardian of a minor) is required to sign a Release and Waiver of Liability form for each pick up effort before work commences.
8. ASSUMPTION OF THE RISK: Volunteer and/or guardian recognizes and understands that the activities with the City of Murrieta Adopt-A-Trail program shall include, but is not limited to, inherently hazardous activities such as working in a potentially dangerous environment, pulling weeds, picking up trash and debris along public trails, dealing with graffiti and damaged property, and transportation to and from the volunteer work sites. Volunteer and/or guardian hereby expressly and specifically assumes the risk of injury or harm in these situations and releases and discharges Murrieta from and waives any and all liability for any i njury, illness, death, or property damage resulting from the activities of the Volunteer with Murrieta.
Rev 8/29/2024
CITY OF MURRIETA
ADOPT-A-TRAIL
RULES AND PROCEDURES
INSURANCE: All volunteers are expected and encouraged to arrive with their own health insurance plans in effect.
9. Home‐made signs should be removed from all poles, utility cabinets etc. along with any graffiti where practical. Any graffiti that cannot be cleaned up by volunteers or damage to City property should be reported on the Activity Reporting form.
10. The person who signed the Volunteer Agreement Form is required to ensure that a cleanup effort occurs along the designated trail area at least every three (3) months for a minimum of one year.
11. Volunteers must coordinate their pickup schedules with the city to prevent conflicts with trail construction work. Notification two weeks prior to a scheduled cleanup effort is required.
Please contact the City of Murrieta at 951-304-7275 to coordinate the cleanup date.
12. The Adopt ‐A‐Trail agreement shall be issued for one year and is renewable, at the City’s discretion, if the volunteer organization has maintained its segment of the trail to the satisfaction of the City. If the volunteer group fails to fulfill its commitment, the city may assign the trail cleanup effort to a new volunteer group.
13. Cleanup efforts should be performed only in daylight hours and during good weather conditions.
III. Procedures – How it Works?
1. Interested parties should contact the City of Murrieta at 951-304-7275.
2. A City representative will explain and discuss the Adopt ‐A‐Trail program with a responsible representative of the interested party emphasizing that the program involves significant physical work that must be done safely at least every (3) months for at least one year.
3. A Volunteer Agreement form must be completed by the applicant and approved by the city.
4. The volunteer cleanup coordinator submits Release and Waiver of Liability forms signed by all volunteers prior to cleanup effort.
5. Litter removal bags are available for pickup from the Community Services Department, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5p.m., Monday through Friday. Call the City at 951-304-7275 to arrange a pickup time.
6. The volunteer cleanup coordinator must complete and return to the city the Adopt ‐A‐Trail Activity Form and any remaining litter removal bags within 2 days following the cleanup activity.