Bulletin #10

FIREMEN'S BBQ: The August 14 June Lake Volunteer Firemen's BBQ was a resounding success. Thanks to member contributions, the JLA presented a total donation of $1,525 to Chief Mike Bauer at the BBQ as a gesture of commitment of JLA members to the community.

PUD -- SEWER RATE INCREASE, WATER METERS: Playing catch-up with increasing costs after many years of no rate increases, the June Lake Public Utility District Board voted to approve a 14% increase in the sewer rate at its August 18 meeting. The PUD is also continuing its 5-year process of installing water meters. Large water users are more likely to be on the top of the installation list.

INTRAWEST SALE OF COMMERCIAL HOLDINGS: Intrawest recently announced the sale of commercial properties (restaurants, shops, etc.) at nine of its developments, including the Village in Mammoth Lakes. Please visit our web site for the full story under Current Events. While the impact of this sale on the Rodeo Grounds development is uncertain, speculations are that it is the cause of the delay in the EIR [Environmental Impact Report] process. Intrawest has not been in contact with the Mono County Planning Division since June 3.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GOES BEFORE SUPS…: The June Lake Chamber of Commerce went before the Mono County Board of Supervisors on August 17 with a Position Paper stating the COC's position on development in the June Lake Loop.

Adhering to its mission "to energetically and actively promote and enhance the commerce of the June Lake Loop," and approving "development as a way to enhance our economic well being," but cognizant of the pitfalls of overdevelopment, the Chamber stated: "We the business community did not want to experience what occurred in Mammoth and other resort areas." Addressing developers, the COC states: "The Chamber wants the developer to adhere to the 2010 June Lake Area Plan as written." Reading further, "We want the developers to recognize the uniqueness of our area and to continue to support the uniqueness. We want the developers to acknowledge the close-knit community we have and work within that framework in order to maintain it." And finally, "The June Lake Loop Chamber of Commerce supports development within the area plan guidelines to help contributing to a healthy economic environment."

While there is a full range of opinions among members of both the JLA and the COC regarding the degree of development that should be allowed, consensus is growing in the community that Intrawest must abide by the area plan.

The full text of the Position Paper will be posted on our web site.

… BUT VIGILANCE IS STILL WARRANTED: JLA Outreach Committee Co-Chairperson Patti Heinrich received the following chilling e-mail message from former Snowmass Mayor Jeff Tippett regarding the Intrawest development there. There's good reason for the JLA to keep a close watch on the Rodeo Grounds development process. You will be interested in visiting the web site of Snowmass's JLA counterpart, Citizens for Responsible Growth. Check all of their pages, especially the mission statement. It's definitely deja vu. Go to http://www.snowmasscitizens.com/index.htm.

"To: Patti Heinrich
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 11:56 AM
Subject: Intrawest


"Dear Patti,
Your e-mail was forwarded to me by Jason at the Denver Post. I am part of a small group that includes three former mayors and a former councilmember of Snowmass Village. We have been protesting at public meetings for three years to no avail. Intrawest has co-opted our elected officials and spent thousands to try convert the community to their grossly over-sized plan. Our group lost an initiative election in March that would have limited the council's authority to grand height and density variations by 54% to 46%. We plan to file a referendum as soon as the council grants vested property rights. That will be November or sooner. You can keep posted by checking our local newspaper at www.snowmasssun.com. Also look me up on Google. Some of the letters and guest editorial I have written in the last year should still be there.
Intrawest is bad news. The have just one plan. They do not care what the community wants. They won't hesitate to propose 2x the density and 3x the height in your master plan. When it comes down to mitigation of road impacts, employee housing they will attempt to avoid every expense they can.
I can't figure out how they co-opted our elected officials. I've know some of these people for years and they have just caved. They agree to everything IW wants and have know shame.
My advise is to raise hell. Attend and a speak at all meetings. Write letters to the editor. Organize in the community with neighborhood parties. IW will be doing the same and they will be better organized and they will spend more money. Use your right of recall, initiative, and referendum. We were too "nice" to recall a few of our elected officials a year ago and I now think this was a mistake. We lost an initiative and now it all comes down to a referendum.
Good luck and work hard.
Jeff Tippett"

Citizens' Advisory Committee Meeting Report

The following is reprinted here with the permission of the Mammoth Times:

Wednesday, August 11, 2004 11:12 AM PDT

June Lake Advocates State Their Case?
"We don't want to be like Mammoth!"

By Wally Hofmann
Managing Editor

It's a good thing the June Lake fire marshal stayed home from the Citizen's Advisory Council (CAC) meeting last week. If these anti-development meetings get any more people they're going to have to start building bigger places to meet.

"We don't want to be like Mammoth," was the chorus from the June Lake Community Center. The lyrics would have received a standing ovation, but that half the audience was already standing in the back.

"We're not tree-huggers, NIMBYs, or anti-development whackos," said Scott Davis, president and/or board member of the June Lake Advocates (JLA). "We want development done in an environmentally-sensitive manner and a development that is consistent with the General Plan and the community."

Davis was making a 10-minute presentation that laid out the position of the local advocates who said they represented 400-plus June Lake residents who are demanding compliance with June Lake's Area Plan with Intrawest's "Rodeo Grounds Specific Plans" to build a 900-unit, 90-acre resort across from June Lake Mountain Area. The project includes single-family units, duplexes, fourplexes, and the option for secondary, or "mother-in-law" units. In addition, the project could include up to 50,000 square feet of commercial space and a gondola crossing Hwy 158. The most contentious topic is the potential of 90-foot structures and a claimed density of 2,610 people.

The project is the vision of Intrawest, developers of The Village at Mammoth Lakes.

Representatives of JLA say they sent out 900 surveys asking June Lake homeowners, basically: Do you agree with Intrawest's plans for development in June Lake?

The JLA received back about 435 replies. About 400 rejected Intrawest's plans, although it's not clear what details the respondents were rejecting. Other than heights and densities, specifics of the plan were not provided to respondents. However, it was clear from the survey's numbers, and Davis' comments followed by rounds of supportive applause, that he represents a collection of concerns about how development in June Lake could change the face of life in an undesirable way.

Danny Roberts, the June Lake CAC chairman for more than a decade, reminded the audience that Intrawest's plan was only a wish list, and that it was much too early to be alarmed.

"All we want know," asked longtime resident and JLA board member Igor Vorobyoff, "is, Will you represent the wishes of a majority of June Lake residents?"

At first, the answer was indirect, yet determined. "Of course, it is my job to be responsive," Roberts said.

CAC board member Vicki McGee-Bauer tried to add clarity, saying, "We come to these meetings day-in and day-out to listen to the community. Of course we'll represent you. And if the community's wishes and (Intrawest's) plan are compatible, there won't be a problem."

"The (June Lake 2010: June Lake Area) plan already represents the community after many hours of work over a long period of time," Roberts added. Indeed, the June Lake 2010 Plan represents more than 16 years of residents developing guidelines for future land use.

Scott Burns, Mono County Community Development Director, explained to the crowd that the planning process for this project could take more than a year. "First, Intrawest submits an application, then makes a sizable deposit, and then the County hires consultants to study the application," Burns said. "Then an Environmental Impact Report, Environmental Assessment, and a draft plan will be prepared, followed by a two-month public review. Written comments will be accepted and the consultants will be asked to respond to these comments in writing. A final draft will be published, the CAC will function as a design review board to insure that the proposal complies with the June Lake Design Guidelines, and then the Planning Commission will make their recommendation to the (Mono County) Supervisors to either adopt, adopt with changes, or not adopt."

Burns added that the Supervisors will hold at least one public hearing, as well.

He also explained that the CAC is simply responsible for advising the Planning Commission. "They're job is to be sure that the proposed plans are, indeed, in compliance with the June Lake Area Plan."

Magee-Bauer echoed Burns' sentiments, saying, "It's all very early still. All we've done is to scope the plan."

As with other area plans, all of the policies are not spelled out definitively, there is room for variances. The height limit can be increased with a Use Permit, which in Mono County can, and has, allowed buildings up to 60-foot heights. Heights beyond the 35-foot limit will need to be mitigated, however, to reduce the visual impacts.

Pam Rake, a longtime June Lake resident, one of nearly 500 residents who didn't return the Advocate's survey, said she disagreed with it. Rake, who's husband Don Rake is a former Supervisor, said, "I want to comment when Intrawest has a more specific plan of what they want to build, not a wish list."

Down-canyon Double Eagle Resort owner and CAC board member Ron Black held up a copy of the June Lake Area Plan and said he too would study Intrawest's proposals in the light of the plan. "But we haven't heard all the evidence," he said.

Dwight Hoelscher repeated those words as he left the standing-room-only building. Hoelscher, a 22-year June Lake second homeowner makes the trek to this sleepy "Diamond in the Sierra" resort about a dozen times a year for a cool respite from his Rancho Mirage residence near Palm Desert.

"It doesn't look like much is going to be accomplished here tonight," he said in the starlit parking lot. A Mono County sheriff officer recognized the part-time local. "What kinda trouble you causing, Dwight!" said the green clad officer. The good- natured ribbing and clear air outside were a welcome relief to the tensions and contentious air inside.

"There are lots of people moving here from Mammoth because they're tired of the congestion," Hoelscher added. "I think we should buy the land and give it back to the US Forest Service."

Although some June Lake Advocates claimed that rejection of Intrawest's plans (for a 90-foot limit and 2,610 density numbers) was a unanimous refrain, there were those at the meeting who, publicly and privately, voiced their concerns that the Advocates were getting too confrontational, too fast.

"Hiring lawyers already? Give me a break! Have we sat down with Intrawest and told them, specifically, what we even want?" asked one resident who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "I didn't return the survey because I don't want to create friction between my family and my neighbors. And more residents didn't return the survey than those who did? What does that say? I love this town just as much as anyone here, but not everyone here has the same idea of what should happen in June Lake. We're all different. I don't like the idea of a group going off like this? we should be more patient, learn what Intrawest is asking for, and then make our wishes known."

At the end of the night, it became increasingly clear that both groups, or the many viewpoints represented, wanted the same thing: A community that maintained June Lake's unique character.

Intrawest's proposed Rodeo Grounds Specific Plan is available for review on the Mono County web site: www.MonoCounty.ca.gov (see Community Development Department/Planning Division). Larry K. Johnston and Burns of the Mono County Planning Department are both familiar with the project.

The June Lake Advocates web site is: www.JuneLakeAdvocates.org.

Copies of Intrawest's proposal may also be purchased for $12 at the Mono County Planning Division, 437 Old Mammoth Rd., Suite P, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546, or phone (760) 924-1800. -MT

Wally Hofmann
Managing Editor, Mammoth Times
Sierra Center Mall, 2nd Floor
452 Old Mammoth Road
Box 3929, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
760.934.3929 w
760.934.3951 f
760.937.3929 c
Wally@MammothTimes.com

Associated Press on Intrawest plans...

August 13, 2004

CALIFORNIA
Intrawest to Scale Back Its Interest in Resort Properties


From Associated Press

Intrawest Corp. said Thursday that it would sell a majority interest in its commercial properties at nine resorts — including Mammoth Mountain and Squaw Valley in California — to a real estate investment trust in a transaction valued at $160 million.

The agreement calls for CNL Properties Inc. of Orlando, Fla., to acquire an 80% interest in the resort operator's commercial properties. Intrawest will continue as property and leasing manager and retain a 20% stake. The deal is expected to close by December.

Intrawest would receive about $135 million in net proceeds, said Daniel O. Jarvis, president and chief executive of its leisure and travel group.

The transaction fits with Intrawest's long-range strategy to shift from a capital-intensive to a management-intensive structure, he said.

Intrawest already is in talks with CNL to see if it would be feasible to broaden the partnership to other parts of its business, Jarvis said, adding, "What we have here is really the prototype for the structure that we intend to use as a company going forward, not just for this business but for other parts of our business as well."

Besides the Sierra ski resorts at Mammoth and Squaw Valley, the deal would affect properties at Copper Mountain, Colo.; Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia; Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Destin, Fla.; Lake Las Vegas Resort in Las Vegas; Blue Mountain in Collingwood, Canada; Snowshoe Mountain, W.Va.; and Stratton, Vt.

Shares of Vancouver, Canada-based Intrawest closed up 10 cents at $15 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Bulletin #9

FIRE DEPARTMENT DONATIONS: If you haven't sent in your donations to be presented to the fire department on your behalf by the JLA at the August 14 Fireman's BBQ, and still wish to do so, they can still reach our mailbox from most points in California and Nevada by Saturday if you mail them tomorrow. Please make checks out to the June Lake Volunteer Fire Department and send them to the June Lake Advocates, P.O. Box 610, June Lake, CA 93529. These donations are to be a gesture of our commitment to community support.

FIREMAN'S BBQ: Plan to enjoy the best tasting BBQ of the Eastern Sierras, and to win marvelous prizes, including a 32 inch color TV, in the several raffles to be held in late morning and afternoon at Gull Lake Park this Saturday the 14th. JLA member Ken Harrison of Comedy Traffic Schools has just donated two free class certificates for the raffle.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SUPPORTS AREA PLAN: The June Lake COC is in the process of drafting and approving a position paper scheduled to be presented to the Board of Supervisors at 1 p.m. Tuesday, August 17 in the County Courthouse in Bridgeport. Among several issues addressed in this paper, we are pleased to see the inclusion of a commitment to support the June Lake Area Plan as written in any development that occurs in the June Lake Loop. Please plan to attend this meeting, and to demonstrate your support for the COC's position. Look for a copy of this position paper to be posted on our web site in the near future.

PUD TO PRESENT MASTER WATER PLAN: The June Lake Public Utility District, which postponed its regular meeting to next Wednesday, August 18 at 7 p.m. at the Firehouse, will present its Master Water Plan on that date. One of the items is a proposed 14 percent increase in water rates to $16.58 monthly for residential consumers as of August 2004. In 1979 the rate was set at $7.00 and not changed until May 1995, when it was raised to $11. Since then, the PUD has been playing catch-up to bring rates in line with increasing costs, raising them to $11.33 in 1997, $12.75 in 2002, and $14.54 in 2003.

FIRE COMMISSION SEEKS CONSTRUCTION LOAN: The June Lake Fire Commission is currently shopping for loans to build the Down Canyon firehouse. Pending final approvals, groundbreaking is anticipated in Spring, 2005.

EMERGENCY SERVICES: The June Lake Fire Commission urges property owners to check with the administrative offices of the Mono County Sheriff's Department (don't call 911!) to ensure that your phone number and address in the 911 system are up-to-date. Call (760) 932-7549. It is also the responsibility of property owners to put up house numbers readily visible to emergency services.

JLA Alert 1

Dear friends,

Events are proceeding in a positive channel. Our voice is being heard and responded to by other segments of the community. Our next step is to build consensus within the community so that we could approach Intrawest as a united front. The ball is in our court. We need to demonstrate to persons outside our membership that we have a stake in this community.

There are many ways of doing this, which I will discuss at a later time. For starters, it is our suggestion that you show your support to the June Lake Volunteer Fire Department by sending a donation to it care of the JLA (P.O. Box 610, June Lake, CA 93529) immediately. The proceeds will be presented to the department, as a gesture of goodwill, at the Firemen's Barbecue this Saturday, August 14. Donations need to be in the mail by Wednesday, August 11 to reach June Lake before the barbecue. And if you are in the area on Saturday, come to Gull Lake Park for some of the county's best BBQ and top-class raffle prizes. I'll be the one with the funny hats, selling raffle tickets.

It is my contention that had we made more of an effort to support and participate in the community all along, the problems we face with Intrawest may have been avoided. It is now time for us to make amends.

Thank you for your support.

Igor Vorobyoff, Board Member
June Lake Advocates

Powerpoint Presentation

The Powerpoint presentation from the August 3rd CAC meeting is now posted. One can view the html version of this presentation at:

http://www.junelakeadvocates.org/powerpoint/jla.htm

It may be used as a reference from our meeting.

Presentation to the June Lake CAC

Thanks to everyone who came to the Tuesday, August 3 meeting of the CAC! Scott's presentation will soon be listed on the Web site, and a link to the presentation will be posted here.

We also apologize for not posting the time and place of the Advocates meeting on August 4. In the future we hope to post meeting date reminders here in the blog.

Thanks for all of your support and generosity!