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The Inyo National Forest’s 2009 Motorized Travel Management Decision, part of a national effort begun in 2003, is still drawing its share of critics, some of whom suggest that the agency went too far in closing some 700 miles of trails. On Tuesday evening at the USFS Welcome Center in Mammoth, the U.S. Forest Service brought out many of its top staff for a public update on the progress being made in implementing the decision.

On hand were INF Supervisor Ed Armenta, Mammoth District Ranger Jon Regelbrugge, Mammoth and Mono Lake Recreation Officer Jon Kazmierski, new Mammoth Deputy District Ranger Sarah Tomsky, White Mountain District Ranger Diana Pietrasanta and Trails Program Coordinator Marty Hornick, who’s been overseeing the decision for the past several years. Part of the issue with some off-highway vehicle users is how the trails for closure were chosen.

Hornick explained during his presentation that the decision was a major undertaking, trying to find and map any existing roads out there, not just what was on paper but also physically. Many of the 2,300 miles of roads and trails in the INF date back to mining and tree harvesting uses by the public more than 100 years ago and decades before the inception of the Forest Service early in the last century. Of the 1,700 miles left over from those days, more than 1,000 were added back for inclusion in the system.

As with many government programs, a fixed set of national criteria was established to come up with a formula for what trails were and weren’t legal or otherwise redundant, and therefore suitable for closing and rehabilitation. “A lot of effort went into the decision, but there are still tweaks needed to be made,” Armenta commented.

“We know we didn’t get it all perfect,” Hornick acknowledged, citing mapping errors and other imperfections in field information, such as ferreting out what appeared to be different trails that actually emanated from a single point of origin. “We’re still taking notes from the public, and if we screwed up, we can fix it really quickly.” He also pointed out that some routes, even if they’ve been closed, could be added back in if there’s a need.

Paul MacFarland, who was a member of the civilian advisory team during its formative stages, recalled that roads near Hot Creek were added back in because of public comment, which he said shows public input could make a difference.

What Hornick and the rest of the INF team are still dealing with are riders who aren’t happy with some of the closures. While disguising former trails is the preferred method of mitigation and rehabilitation, that hasn’t prevented erosion and encroachment by users. Then there is vandalism, particularly regarding the hacking up of wooden t-bar closures, which Hornick said might feel good, but ultimately costs taxpayers more money, and fundamentally doesn’t change anything. “It’s still illegal,” he pointed out.

Cycle rider Sean Flavin said he appreciates the effort put into the decision, but wonders if the Forest Service wasn’t “spending millions of dollars to solve a problem that’s not a problem.” Mono County District 3 Supervisor Vikki Bauer observed that in the June Lake area of her district, “Even proper trail closures are getting lots of erosion [from trail cutters].”

Not always the best when it comes to effective communication with the public, INF staff finally illustrated some of the myriad problems they confronted when conducting an inventory of the routes. First, some of them overlap with county, private and Bureau of Land Management owned properties. Others go through wilderness land set aside by recent federal legislation. And Pietrasanta said others went through cultural or archeologically important areas, which aren’t necessarily apparent to the average person.

Regelbrugge said a winter-summer staging area in Shady Rest, which Councilmember Matthew Lehman noted is “a popular thing people want to see,” is still in the planning stages, but is being delayed somewhat by ORMAT’s geothermal enhancements to the Casa Diablo power plant. He added completion of the staging area is still expected by 2013.

And, yes, “Green Sticker” registration money is being used in the decision, but not to fund closures. According to the Forest Service, a certain amount set aside for “restoration” purposes is being utilized for planning purposes directly related to rehabbing certain routes where appropriate.

One aspect of the decision the Forest Service said it plans to improve involves wayfinding and signage, marking routes and loops for users such as single-track motorbike riders. “We don’t have enough single-track routes here,” motorbike enthusiast Fred Pierrel commented. “The adults are more responsible, but kids just cut trails. There’s poaching left and right; it’s a mess, anarchy. Protect special areas, yes, but give us enough trails.”

Hornick mentioned that a new grant is specifically earmarked to create an improved single-track network. “There are some policy and resource issues, but those are the types of things we want to hear,” Hornick responded. Armenta added that there would be upcoming opportunities to look at changing some lower-level roads to motorized trail or single-track use.

Additional public relations and media efforts are also being considered. Kazmierski pointed out, however, that while it’s important to get everyone on the same page, speaking “the same language,” often those are the least funded. The state, he said, prioritizes restoration and other needs over awareness. Armenta pledged to continue work on better signage to designate open trails.

Meanwhile, more public involvement was stressed, which the Forest Service hopes will clear up lingering perception problems. “It’s not like there are no opportunities out there,” Regelbrugge said. “The tone is that everything’s closed, whereas reality is that the vast majority [nearly 70% of the original routes] are open.” He went on to add that the motorized community should consider more internal discussions to prioritize how many trails should be dedicated to various uses, which he indicated the Forest Service would find very helpful.

“People are disenfranchised, even though they don’t come to meetings,” Steve Searles suggested. “They’re ripping t-bar closures out of sheer protest.” MacFarland agreed, lamenting a lack of participation, but opining that, “There’s lots of sentiment out there of, ‘Why get involved? It’s not gonna mean anything.’”

“We’re working on closures that are the least visually impactful,” Hornick reiterated, “but I agree, I’m sure it’s a trigger for offending some people.”

Photo: Jo Bacon

Join Friends of the Inyo, MLTPA and the Inyo National Forest for the first 2012 Summer of Stewardship on National Trails Day, June 2! Be at the Pokonobe Lodge on Lake Mary for a bagel breakfast (courtesy of Old New York Deli), safety talk and work assignments at 8:30 a.m. Lunch and raffle prizes included. Dress for trail work with sturdy, closed-toe shoes, hat, long pants and a long-sleeve shirt. Gloves and tools provided. Info: FOI at 760.873.6500, Drew at 805.405.7577 or drew@friendsoftheinyo.org.

Time for reality check?

Dear Editor:

Conditions change. Sometimes initial enthusiasm is crushed by realities, as we’ve seen in the past few years.  In 2008, our Town was just beginning to feel the beginnings of the Great Recession, but our big dreams still lived, as we are optimists by nature, and we continued our pursuit of a “silver bullet” to draw more visitors and T.O.T (room tax) to our town.

The current “silver bullet” is a vision of trails articulated by MLTPA’s (Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access) CEO John Wentworth.

At a recent meeting attended by me and another member of the public, two members of the Recreation Commission, two from MLTPA’s Board, and three Town staff, our differing philosophies of how taxpayer money (Measure R and General Fund) should be spent was one topic. As a former Forest Service District Ranger/Assistant Forest Supervisor, I learned to be frugal and spend as few public funds as necessary to get a project planned and implemented. John and a MLTPA Board member stated that their vision was the “gold standard”, and that meant spending money to reach that standard.

I would probably agree with that philosophy if MLTPA were spending its own money, or money from its fundraising and membership, but I find it very hard to concur when the money that we’re talking about is taxpayer money intended for recreation, parks and trails. Measure R is for “Town-managed programs and facilities”, yet most of our municipal recreation facilities and programs are suffering while over $1.2 million has been allocated to MLTPA since 2009 for trails. Other successful non-profits in the Eastern Sierra operate with fewer staff and lower overhead costs, have membership drives and fund-raisers, and do not rely on taxpayer funds to support the organization, as does MLTPA.

I share MLTPA’s desire to see new trails constructed and our trail system upgraded and maintained. I congratulate MLTPA for pushing to get the TSMP (Trails System Master Plan) approved, including incorporating the SHARP (Sherwin Area Recreation Plan) trail elements. However, their list of 21 “projects” has a lot of bells and whistles that do not look like priorities to me. I urge the Town, working with MLTPA, to renegotiate the Master Agreement so that we taxpayers do not pay for endless meetings, expensive quarterly reports, and vague “projects.” If MLTPA feels that its meetings are essential, then perhaps its staff time should be funded from something other than Measure R or the General Fund. Or, as one member of the public suggested at the last Recreation Commission meeting, perhaps MLTPA might consider donating time for meetings, as do members of the Recreation Commission.

Our Town Council is in a tough position, faced with the realities of the Great Recession coupled with the MLLA (airport litigation) settlement, and they are doing their best to rethink priorities. Councilmembers and the public realize that we are not in a “Cadillac era,” and therefore I ask the MLTPA Board to consider how to make their current budget stretch without asking for more funds, so that we can turn our attention to our badly-needed existing and future recreation facilities and programs. We have a small but excellent recreation department doing its utmost to serve our community, guests and part-time residents, and I feel that it’s time to focus on something more than just a “Cadillac vision” of trails.

Note:  The Measure R application period ends on Nov. 28. See the Town website for applications and information.

Sandy Hogan
Mammoth Lakes

Curb the police state

Lori and George Vest lived and worked in Mammoth Lakes from 1990-1999. They both worked in the Mammoth Schools; Lori in special education and George was the band director at MMS and MHS.

While they now live and work in Kobe, Japan, Mammoth Lakes is their U.S. address of record and they still find time every summer to return to visit old friends and the Eastern Sierra.

Their son Daniel has been active in the OWS (Occupy Wall Street) movement and ended up on the cover of the New York Times Nov. 18 edition.

This letter (attached) is a mother’s plea to all law enforcement officials (i.e. UC Davis) to stop treating the USA like a police state.

The following letter was sent to the New York Times, Mayor Bloomberg and NYPD Commissioner Kelly.

I made my first trip to New York City last summer and spent a small fortune (not for you, Mr. Bloomberg, but on our school teachers’ salaries) enjoying city life. We paid our share of sales tax, city fees, tourist fees, etc. Little did I realize that this would help fund the NYPD to beat my son over the head with a metal club, as he was peacefully trying to follow his convictions

My son is a self-employed farmer, a small business owner, an educator in sustainable farming, and a young man who has helped build houses for Habit for Humanity in three different countries.

As a first grade teacher, I spend lots of time discussing that it is not okay to hurt others, no matter how mad you are. Lately we have all seen pictures of dictators abusing the people of their countries and we are appalled. President Obama said on Jan. 28, 2011, “The people of Egypt have rights that are universal. That includes the right to peaceful assembly and association, the right to free speech, and the ability to determine their own destiny. These are human rights. And the United States will stand up for them everywhere.” However, the same brutality is being shown to peaceful U.S. citizens. It is time we get appalled and stop it, whether we agree with the OWS protests or not. Each demonstrator is someone’s son, daughter, parent, etc.

Lori Vest
Kobe, Japan

Can’t spell Harris without an “S”

Dear Editor:

Americans are an interesting lot.  We are unique in the world with our desire for absolute freedom.  We have preserved to ourselves the right to be free to form our own ideas and speak our piece/peace.  That said, we are intelligent enough to realize that we must balance this idea of freedom with self regulation; the greatest good for the greatest number.  We may have given up our freedom to be free from most regulation but have yet to give up our right to be free from abuse.  Measure “S” is abuse by one neighbor upon another.  It is morally reprehensible.  It is a rigged taxing measure.

Maybe I missed it, but I Googled the words “Measure S” and “Notice” and found nothing that put the two words together with a notice to the 9000 property owners that the MUSD wants to tax. In fact, I could not find any combination of those words except in my own prior complaining.  Measure S is our democracy’s original sin- “taxation without representation”.  The Measure has been rigged to accomplish this result.

In an effort to stop the abuse of these unnoticed special elections, I have previously attempted to appeal to your sense of right and wrong, and I have provided facts about the District that should put any fair thinking person on the path of questioning the finances and management of the District rather than supporting “S”.  Every person to date who wants you to vote for Measure S belies the true financial condition of the District, cries “Wolf”, and appears to simply want more money for the already exaggerated income of the District.  There is a better way, than passing Measure “S”, to raise money for the District.

Most properly run school districts have created a non-profit corporation to invite donations.  As I previously revealed, the district within which I live in San Diego has the PTA run the non-profit corporation and raises enough annually to make the District immune to state financial incompetence.  I’m sure that one of the Mammoth Lakes attorneys will volunteer their time to create the corporation.  It is a simple process.  Solicitations for donations could then be sent by the non-profit corporation to each property owner.  I would certainly “volunteer” a donation each year.  Also, each year the parents of children using the school could be asked to donate. Local businesses also realize the importance of good schools would donate.  This way, everyone can exercise their freedom to support their local school.

At the same time I would demand that the MUSD make changes.  The effort of the District to abuse 9000 property owners is nothing more than an effort to preserve the bulging budget that supports the continuing top heavy administration costs.  We now know from the California Teacher Association  [CTA] and State Legislative Analyst Office [LAO] that the state will fully fund K-12 education next year so voting “NO” on Measure “S” will probably not be enough to cause the District to cut its waste. The District can actually pay these salaries without the Measure S income.  Getting your after school programs and sports programs fully funded will require everyone to put pressure on the District to freeze salaries [to bring them back to near the state averages], cut at least one principal or the superintendent position [1,100 students is actually one small school that can be run by a principal and assistant], and cut the number of teachers [an average class size of 20-25 is reasonable-not the current 16].  Reducing teacher salary and benefits closer to 55% of revenues received (as mandated by the CTA) rather than the 66% now spent by MUSD saves about 1.7 million annually, which more than makes up for the Measure S revenue and also provides revenue for after school programs.

Measure S also contains two curious provisions that warrant further discussion.  Art. 3, speaks of reducing the parcel tax if adding the amount of the tax causes less money to be received from the state or federal governments.  Why this?  Well, the shell game being played by the legislature with school funds takes into consideration the total property taxes collected within a school district.  The “S” tax is a tax on property.  So if the total tax from the state to the MUSD is to be reduced by the amount of the Measure S parcel tax then why are we even discussing this bogus Measure?  Is the District playing its own shell game?  Please note, money raised by a non-profit would not fall within this reduction provision.

Next, is the “Senior Citizen Exemption”. Clearly a discriminatory provision.  The provision does not apply unless that senior has a “primary residence” within the District. I have yet to see this “primary residence” qualification used in Mono County for any lawful purpose.  With this provision, “S” provides unreasoned discrimination between seniors living within the District.  If two seniors are living side by side and one lives in his Mammoth residence 183 days in the calendar year, he qualifies for the reduction but his neighbor who lived there 182 days does not.  Does that provision make any sense to anyone?

I hope I have provided several reasons to vote NO on “S” and to then question the MUSD budget.  Whenever government wants more it is a progressive invasion of our freedom to be left alone.  For the teaching of only 1,100 students, the District needs to explain why it spends 50% more than the state average on each student.  Also, why does the District need a Superintendent, two principals, adequate staff multiplied by three, and 69 teachers (this figure seems to jump between representations of 65 and 69).  Especially when all teachers are paid 12 to 15% more than state averages and more than the average income of Mammoth Lakes property owners.  The District also needs to explain why 66% of all revenue received is spent on teacher salary and benefits instead of “only” 55%.   If it can, the District has taken the first step in justifying a need for Measure S.  Until then Vote “NO”.  Until the District has the courage to give those who are being asked to pay the tax notice and an opportunity to vote the issue, Vote “NO”.

Jean Harris
Mammoth Lakes voter

Ed. note: While I have been reluctant to weigh in until this point, I have to admit that paragraph four pushed a button, as it shows a lack of familiarity with the community in which he owns a residence.

This community has plenty of non-profit organizations devoted to helping support our schools, and many folks donate several times the amount of the $59/year parcel tax each year.

As just one example, Tom Cage said the Mammoth Chevron fundraiser during the last week of September raised nearly $3,000 for the MHS Boosters sports programs.

The insinuation that Mammoth residents create tax measures to shirk their responsibilities in order to dump the burden on second homeowners is just not accurate.

And his suggestion that district budgets be entirely balanced through a gutting of teacher salaries and benefits is … offensive.

Senior dinners serve success

Dear Editor:

Thank you for giving so much support to our Senior class. We very much appreciate that you were able and willing to help us advertise our Senior class dinners while also attending them. We were capable of raising a lot of money that will be a huge impact in decreasing the cost for our Senior class trip. Without your contributions we would have never been as successful.

The Mammoth High School Senior class of 2012 thanks you so much!

Erin Le Francois, Dept. Head
Mammoth High School Social Studies

Ed. note: Shogun Restaurant’s Robbie Tani said he served 1,200 dinners over the span of four days.

A toast to Trails Master Plan

Dear Editor:

On behalf of the Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access Foundation (MLTPA) staff and Board of Directors, I’d like to extend a huge thank-you to the community members who shared in our Trail System Master Plan (TSMP) adoption celebration on Saturday night, Oct. 22.

A great turnout filled the rooms so graciously donated by the Westin Monache Resort — our newest partner in the Mammoth Lakes Trail System — and we were proud to raise a glass of bubbly in tribute to the hundreds of volunteers without whom the TSMP update couldn’t have been completed.

Now that it’s adopted and the EIR has been certified, the TSMP can begin playing its true role as the master development plan for the Mammoth Lakes Trail System (MLTS). The opportunity for the necessary long-term commitment to the MLTS by the Town of Mammoth Lakes is on the horizon, as is a strong partnership agreement between the Town and the Inyo National Forest that will protect, improve, and sustain the MLTS for generations.

If you have any questions, we can be reached at info@mltpa.org or by calling 760.934.3154.

Kim Stravers
MLTPA Foundation

Blood simple

Dear Editor:

On behalf of United Blood Services, I would like to thank Joanne Hunt and the Mammoth Rotary for sponsoring the Mammoth Lakes Community drive on Oct. 18-20.

There were 207 units of blood collected during the drive. Since our laboratory is able to make up to 3 products from each donation, your drive will help save the lives as many as 621 patients in the 22 hospitals we serve. I would say this is pretty awesome!

My appreciation to the volunteers who made calls to donors, baked cookies and helped at the drive. I truly enjoy working with all of you!

I look forward to our next drive with the Rotary Club on Oct 23-25, 2012. Have a wonderful winter, Mammoth, you always come through for us.

Jan McKee
Donor Recruitment Representative for United Blood Services

Cinnamon Bear hug

Dear Editor:

The Cinnamon Bear Inn hosted Mammoth Chamber’s October Mixer, and they outdid themselves. A great time was had by all! Thanks to Russ Harrison, owner, and Pam & Jim Maisey, managers, for the fantastic food and tours of the newly remodeled rooms. Don’t miss the November Mixer at Second Chance, Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 5-7 p.m.

Linda Wright
Mammoth Lakes Chamber Member

Spinners Bike MS Bay to Bay

Dear Editor:

On behalf of our team, the Mammoth Spinners (Brian and Kathleen Knox, Donna Feix, Jean Drummond, Sara Morra and Rachel Georgeson), thanks for getting behind us on our Bike MS Bay to Bay ride last weekend. More than 100 local folks coughed it up and helped us walk the talk; we raised almost $8,000! We saddled up with 2,300 new friends, all with a relationship to Multiple Sclerosis, personally or through friends and family, and banked $1.8 million towards improving treatments and finding a cure.

We felt the buzz of being around so many people pulling to move the unmovable.

And it’s not over yet! Our team will continue landing contributions until Dec. 2. Google “Bike MS Bay to Bay” then search for our team members by name. You can also call any team member or stop in Access Art & Business Center to add to our total.

Brian Knox
Mammoth Lakes

Bit by bit, inch by inch the Mammoth Lakes Trail System is coming into existence. On Dec. 13, the Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access Foundation and Mammoth Lakes Tourism presented the first MLTS Open House to update the public on just how far the program has come. The evening was complete with MLTPA’s signature cocoa and cookie selection to keep stomachs full and brains alert while presentations were given.

MLT Executive Director John Urdi kicked things off by explaining that MLT’s role in the Mammoth Lakes Trail System is raising awareness and exposure of the area and all it has to offer.

“The trail system is a huge amenity for us to market,” Urdi explained. “It is a benefit for athletes and families; something that people will go out of their way to come to Mammoth to experience.”

John Wentworth, CEO of MLTPA then explained that implementation of the trail system is happening now, right under our noses. Not only have signs been put into the ground (have you traveled along the Lake Mary Bike Path yet?), but CEQA analysis of the Trail System Master Plan is underway and the Town is on track to adopt this plan by the spring of 2011, according to Wentworth.

“Partnerships are making all of this happen,” Wentworth explained, referring not only to the cohesive work being done between the Town of Mammoth Lakes and Forest Service, but also the partnerships MLTPA has developed with those two entities.

MLTPA recently signed a Master Agreement with the TOML to work as consultants for moving forward with even more implementation of the Mammoth Lakes Trail System. More signs and implementation are expected in the summer of 2011.

“We are surviving, and local funding sources are reliable,” Wentworth stated, referring to local measures R and U that were passed by the community in the last few years and have made it possible to continue work on trails and recreation even though the economy has taken a nosedive.

For more information on the MLTS and what MLTPA is up to, community members are invited to attend the monthly Recreation Commission meetings. Here, MLTPA will present progress reports on its work with the MLTS. Visit the Town’s website for dates and agendas for these meetings.