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Mammoth’s Mayor Matthew Lehman attended the Mono County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 14 with his developer hat on rather than his politician’s hat.

Lehman is the proponent of the proposed Rock Creek Ranch project in Paradise, and came before the Board to review his affordable housing agreement. Since the time that his tentative tract map was approved in 2009, the County has suspended its housing mitigation requirements in response to market changes that have increased affordable housing in the County and reduced the need for mitigation.

“The world has changed since your tract map was approved,” said Supervisor Hap Hazard. “I think we should waive all of it [housing mitigation].”

Supervisors Vikki Bauer and Byng Hunt agreed.

“Times have changed and the affordable housing demand is not as large because people can afford market rate,” Hunt said.

“I think it is good that government is getting out of the affordable housing business,” Bauer said. “I’m glad that you aren’t letting your project go into foreclosure like some others have.”

The Board approved the housing agreement with the waived mitigations 4-0. Supervisor Larry Johnston had to recuse himself because he owns a parcel that shares a water system connection with the project.

Photo: http://capp.gbuapcd.org

Local communities will soon see a restored alkali meadow in Lone Pine, an electric tractor and new community gardens in Bishop, a PM₁₀  street sweeper in Mammoth, and new snowplows in Alpine County that will help open local roads much faster following winter snowfall. These are just a few of the projects to be funded across Inyo, Mono and Alpine counties through the Clean Air Projects Program, a joint effort of the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

$4.8 million in CAPP funds provided by the LADWP has been approved to help pay for 22 air quality improvement projects in the Great Basin Air District. As proposed by local applicants, these projects will provide a multitude of benefits throughout the area and beyond.

At its May 24 meeting in Bridgeport, the Air District’s Governing Board unanimously approved funding for the 22 projects as recommended by the District’s Control Officer, Ted Schade, and the Clean Air Projects Program’s selection panel. About 50 project proposals were originally submitted and reviewed, in total requesting more than three times the available amount. Two additional projects were also previously approved last September.

The funding is designated to pay for clean air projects within the Air District with an emphasis on the Owens Lake region. ‘Clean air projects’ are defined as projects that will or could measurably reduce targeted air pollutants, including smoke, dust, and other harmful airborne compounds currently being emitted within the Air District’s boundaries, encompassing Inyo, Mono and Alpine counties.

“Great Basin is very excited to be working with the LADWP and all the funded applicants on these projects to benefit air quality in Alpine, Mono and Inyo Counties,” said Schade. “The projects will provide local air quality improvements where people live, work and play in the District,” he continued. “We appreciate the effort all the applicants put into their proposals. It was certainly a difficult decision getting down to 22 projects.”

Ron Nichols, LADWP General Manager, stated, “We are very pleased that more than $4.8 million of the $6.5 million provided by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has been awarded to 22 different programs to reduce air pollution in Inyo, Mono and Alpine counties. We felt strongly that the funding should go to programs that directly benefit the communities. We were pleasantly surprised by the level of interest shown in this type of program.”

Throughout the Great Basin Air District, supported projects include 12 that are generally located in Inyo County and its preferred “Owens Valley Planning Area,” four around the Bishop area, two in Mammoth Lakes, one in Bridgeport, two in greater Mono County, and one in Alpine County. Of particular note is the Inyo Mono Advocates for Community Action’s approved “Home Heating Emissions Reduction Program,” which will span across and benefit the entire Air District by providing residential weatherization services and heating system upgrades for fireplaces and non-EPA compliant wood stoves.

Several other compelling projects provide immediate dust control through ground cover and paving measures on property surrounding health and educational facilities, athletic fields and visitor centers. Water trucks and a rail-top rodeo area watering system will also provide immediate improvements in local air quality whenever the ground surface is stirred by wind, tires or hooves.

In addition to approved CAPP funds, project proponents are providing more than $850,000 toward their projects through direct cost shares and in-kind materials and activities. “We were really looking for solid projects that had some type of cost sharing element to help us spread our limited funds as far as possible,” explained Lisa Isaacs, CAPP Administrator. “We only wish we could have supported everyone.”

All CAPP project funds are planned to be paid out by the end of 2013. Once in place, however, most of the funded projects will live on for years, continuing to provide benefits for many through ongoing air quality protections.

For more information about the Clean Air Projects Program, including a list of the approved projects with funding amounts and project details, go to the CAPP weblink:  http://capp.gbuapcd.org. -Press Release

The Clean Air Projects Program (CAPP) recently announced that it received 49 proposals requesting $16.5 million (more than triple the funding available) in funding for ‘clean air projects’ throughout the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District, with includes Alpine, Inyo and Mono counties.

With a budget of $5 million, CAPP administration and the Air District’s proposal review committee undeniably have their work cut out as they cull a majority of the requests and select the best of the proposal crop. “The competition is fierce,” noted Lisa Isaacs, CAPP Administrator, in a letter dated Feb. 25. “Given the large numbers all the way around, most will not be selected,” she wrote matter-of-factly to all applicants.

Proposals were due by Feb. 15 and all are now undergoing initial reviews. Final evaluations and project approvals will take place by mid spring.

CAPP funding was provided to Great Basin by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and the funds are designated to pay for clean air projects within the District, emphasizing projects within and surrounding the Owens Lake area. ‘Clean air projects’ are defined as projects that will or could measurably reduce targeted air pollutants, including smoke, dust, and other harmful airborne compounds currently emitted within the Air District’s boundaries.

According to Air Pollution Control Officer Ted Schade, “The CAPP projects will reduce air pollution from sources in our communities that traditionally do not receive funding, even though they impact our health. Although most of the funded projects will be those that provide the largest amount of air pollution reduction per dollar spent, we realize that there are other projects, such as educational efforts, that are investments in the future. Great Basin appreciates the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s funding for the program and we are excited about the CAPP’s benefits to our health and environment.”

For more information about the Clean Air Projects Program, go to http://capp.gbuapcd.org or call 760.914.0388. -Press Release

Determine how best to submit your project proposal

The Clean Air Projects Program (CAPP) is offering three upcoming workshops to assist anyone interested in funding proposals for “clean air projects” within the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District. Those with questions or who want advice on the proposal process are encouraged to attend a workshop this week. All three are open to the public and will follow the same presentation outline covering proposal components and frequently asked questions. Additional discussion will be guided by participants.

On Tuesday, Jan. 24, a Mono County workshop will be held from 1-3 p.m. at the Mammoth Lakes Library across from the high school. On Wednesday, Jan. 25, an Inyo County workshop will be held from 1-3 p.m. at the Lions Club in Lone Pine, behind McDonald’s, next to Veterans (VFW) building. The final workshop will be held in Alpine County on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 1-3 p.m. in Markleeville at the County Administration Building, 99 Water Street, off Hwy 89.

Anyone who is interested in a CAPP project, whether attending a workshop or not, is advised to review the “CAPP Frequently Asked Questions” document online at http://capp.gbuapcd.org. Additional program background, as well as CAPP’s “Notice of Funding Availability and Request for Proposals” is also available at this website. The deadline for proposal submission is Feb. 15. Further questions should be directed to Lisa Isaacs, CAPP Administrator, at 760.914.0388. -Press Release

Calling all clean air projects

At Wednesday’s regular Mammoth Lakes Town Council meeting, Clean Air Projects Program Administrator Lisa Isaacs announced that the Request for Proposals for clean air projects in the Eastern Sierra would be available to the general public on Monday, Dec. 12. Those interested will be able to access the RFP at http://capp.gbuapcd.org. Proposals will be due Feb. 15. The CAPP program will award a total of $5 million to qualifying projects.

Sierra Valley Sites gets trashed

Town Public Works Director Ray Jarvis said that illegal dumping is becoming a big issue in Sierra Valley Sites. He estimated that the Town has picked up 150 random pieces of furniture since Town Cleanup Day at the beginning of summer. The extra trash is a strain on Town staff as well as Mammoth Disposal’s budget. The disposal company is not being compensated for many of the extra pickups. “We need to mitigate the problem,” Jarvis explained. He added that staff believes at least 25 percent of the illegal trash to be from “dump-and- run” scenarios. “People are bringing it into Sierra Valley Sites and leaving it. This could be because the dumpsters are close to the road and it’s easy to quickly dump something next to them and leave.” Moving dumpsters back from the streets may be one solution. Jarvis plans to come back to Council with further recommendations.

Lions lose Gateway argument

Gateway Monument Project Leader Elizabeth Tenney brought the winning entries for the monument’s arrival and departure messages before Council for approval. “Eat your heart out Big Sky, Montana, it looks great,” opened Tenney. The local Mammoth Lakes Lions Club, however, did not fully agree.

Lions representative Joe Joerger stated that the club, which has historically owned the entry sign to town under a Forest Service permit (however the permit has currently expired according to Gateway Monument architect Bruce Woodward), would prefer the entrance sign to read, “Welcome to Mammoth Lakes,” followed by the John Muir quote that was chosen by the voters rather than just “Welcome” plus the Muir quote as the Gateway Committee has planned.

“We like the new sign, but historically it has always said, ‘Welcome to Mammoth Lakes.’ It should tell you where you are,” Joerger said.

Council disagreed and felt that the sign should be allowed to change for the better. The sign on the left-hand side of the road as you enter town will read Mammoth Lakes. Council felt that between Welcome on the right and Mammoth Lakes on the left the message would be loud and clear. It voted unanimously to approve the verbiage as presented by the Gateway Monument committee.

Night of Lights traffic control

Mammoth Lakes Police Chief Dan Watson announced that Canyon Boulevard will be closed to inbound traffic from 5-7 p.m. on Dec. 17 during the Night of Lights in order to avoid traffic congestion. Cars will be diverted to Lakeview Boulevard. The public is encouraged to use public transportation since there will be plenty of it available.

Air service

Winter air service kicks off on Dec. 15. The Town will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new sprung structure on Dec. 14 at 2 p.m.

 Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Jan. 4, 2012 at 6 p.m. in Suite Z.