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"