The Agoura Hills Planning Department is in the process of drafting a trails master plan.

The idea is to create a comprehensive map of existing trails, identify opportunities to connect with regional trails, and provide guidelines for the design, construction and maintenance of new trails.

Director of Planning and Community Development Mike Kamino and special projects planning consultant Joyce Parker sought feedback from the City Council at Wednesday night's council meeting.

Among the topics discussed were the options for locations of new trails, potential easement requirements, liability issues, and types of trails, including multi-use trails for hikers, bikers and horses.

Most new trail construction is funded by state and federal grants, which usually require a trails master plan as part of a grant application.

The city could focus on publicly owned land and areas that have current or future open space dedications.

These may include parts of Ladyface Mountain down Kanan Road toward the beach, or the region adjacent to the flood control-drainage facilities behind the Ralphs and Vons shopping centers on Kanan Road.

"We are exploring the possibility of creating a more natural environment around the flood control channel behind the shopping centers," Kamino said.

"A walking/hiking trail at this location would require cooperation with Los Angeles County Public Works, but could be part of a trail that connected northern Agoura Hills to Agoura Village," Parker wrote in a memorandum.

Trail locations involving land owned by homeowners associations or public agencies such as mountain conservancies might require an easement on a portion of the land.

The entity that owns a trail or holds a trail easement is usually responsible for managing and maintaining the trail, said Parker's report, although volunteerism also plays a role.

Councilman Dan Kuperberg mentioned his own preference for single-use trails where hikers do not have to worry about being passed by bicyclists or horses.

Councilman William Koehler and Mayor John Edelston discussed the positive benefits to citizens of having quick access to trails not far from residential neighborhoods.

Parker said in her report to the city that it might be worthwhile to discuss creating some type of open space agency in cooperation with neighboring cities like Westlake Village and Calabasas.

Edelston agreed and referenced the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District.

City planners will discuss their ideas in a subcommittee and report back to the City Council in June to complete the details of the trails master plan.