Page 2: Another view of the View
In a follow-up to the May 21 story “Some Rooms With a View,” which referenced the proposed Mammoth View development, I did get a response from Brittania Pacific’s Eva Hill in regard to the following question.
Q: Several folks I have spoken with about the D.A. said they would be in support of such an agreement only if there was a “trigger.” – i.e. the terms of Mammoth’s financial assistance should be predicated upon getting shovels in the ground within one year. Is this realistic? Is this a condition you could agree to?
A: We will begin with the full architectural drawings once entitlements are in hand and the fee modification agreement is achieved. We intend to start construction as soon as practicable once our drawings are complete and the building plans have been approved. The delays in obtaining the fee modification have put the schedule under pressure to the point that a 2012 start may no longer be possible given the time needed to complete drawings and the need to start construction in May/June of each year due to the short building season. We are hopeful that the process from here will move expeditiously.
Hmm. Well-crafted response, but was the question answered?
Hill did say the company is leaning toward operating the hotel itself under its own brand – Handmade Hotels.
In further conversation, Ms. Hill, who has been with the company since 1988, said she felt the article promoted the misconception “that we want to take money out of the Town’s pocket.”
Of the $6 million requested in financial assistance, said Hill, $1.6 million is related to Town fees. $1.4 million involves fees that would be levied by other governmental entities, and $3 million is in required off-site improvements (sidewalks, undergrounding of utilities, etc.)
She argues that you would never see the $3 million in off-site improvements if the project is not built, nor would you see the generation of T.O.T. (although there is the argument that new rooms do cannibalize from existing rooms). The only true sacrifice in hard cash she sees is in the Town foregoing its $1.6 million in anticipated fees.
The trouble with building in Mammoth, she said, is that the fee structure is a disincentive. Hotel projects – the tax revenue-generating projects that the Town would prefer get built – do not pencil, whereas residential projects do.
Hector Caldera announced at Council Wednesday that neighbors to the Alpine Circle drilling project would be happy to know that the drilling had been completed as of that evening. According to Caldera, the drilling was a success. Temperatures at the surface are 125 degrees Fahrenheit, which means that temperatures at the depths of the drilling are 150-175 degrees Fahrenheit. “Hot enough for an eco-hotel,” he said.
Hill believes the geothermal component would be a great marketing opportunity for the town.
And from Geisel’s desk …
Parcel Tax back on ballot in November
During its regular meeting last Thursday evening, the Mammoth Unified School District Board of Education passed a resolution calling for a local parcel tax election this coming November.
The move gives the green light to begin not only the paperwork required to put the $59 per parcel tax on the ballot, but also to mount a campaign to win community approval for it. MUSD Superintendent Rich Boccia and District Finance Director Jim Maxey said the tax was at one point a supplemental source of funding for the district. Recently, however, it has become an essential part of budgeting, given an increasingly long series of cuts and deferrals from the state, not to mention challenges to County property tax revenues.
Maxey and Boccia stressed that the tax replaces a previously approved tax that’s scheduled to sunset this year, and is a one-tax-fits-all amount for all parcel owners, irrespective of assessed value.
Boccia made a presentation of sorts to Mammoth High School Principal Gabe Solorio in honor of MHS’ recent California Distinguished Schools award. Turns out that the state celebration at Disney in Anaheim was cancelled due to — three guesses, and the first two don’t count — budget problems! Even the plaque didn’t arrive on time. Solorio good-naturedly had to settle for a very nice flower and vase.
The Board also recognized the retirements of Eileen Burger, Karen Greene, Teddy Glende, Mike Boucher and Guidance Technician Sharlean Magid. Boucher, who began the successful Health Science Academy, and has taught not only at all three Mammoth schools but also schools in Bolivia and Argentina, said, “It’s been exciting to see young men and women exploring new career paths.”
Overheard following his comments, BOE Member Greg Newbry, who quipped, “Is it true you’re running for Town Council?” Boucher replied he and wife Debbie plan to do more hiking and traveling.
Back to Lunch …
Love your trees
While many of us are bemoaning a drop off in business this spring, there does appear to be one growth industry – tree service.
The heavy winter, particularly the December storms, did a number on local trees.
My property in Swall Meadows has a total of four trees. Only one didn’t lose limbs this winter under the weight of that December snow.
I can still recall walking the dogs around the neighborhood during one of many power outages listening to the regular cracks of branches breaking.
I called Eastern Sierra Tree Service recently to have the broken branches trimmed, and learned all sorts of things.
For example, 90% of the calls they get are from people hoping to get their trees “topped,” because that’s what people they think they’re supposed to do (to remove risk to property from large trees).
Turns out tree topping not only reduces a tree’s lifespan but makes it more susceptible to disease, and removal of a dead tree can be quite expensive.
Like anything, with trees, preventative maintenance is key.
Eastern Sierra Tree’s Rochelle Hair is an arborist and has a biology degree. Her husband Bill has a mechanical engineering degree and has been cutting trees since he was 14 years old.
“There’s a lot of science behind cutting,” says Rochelle. “You can cut to promote growth on a particular side (as she did with our damaged apricot tree) or to stunt growth … how you cut a limb can also affect its susceptibility to disease.”
Eastern Sierra Tree Service is one of two licensed tree services in Mammoth Lakes. Homeowners insurance won’t cover damage incurred (or workmen’s comp) by unlicensed services.
Reach Eastern Sierra Tree @ www.easternsierratree.com or 760.934.6142
