Letters to the Editor
Put it somewhere else
Dear Town Council:
I would like to voice my concerns in regards to the relocation of the Ice Hockey Rink to Mammoth Creek Park West (MCPW)
My perspective is quite unique on this topic as I am actively involved with the Anaheim Ducks and LA Kings NHL organizations.
I serve as the entertainment director for the Ice Dogs Hockey Organization based out of KHS Ice Arena in Anaheim, I am a season ticket holder to the Anaheim Ducks, my son plays competitive youth travel hockey and I was one of the principal sponsors for organizing and bringing a popular youth outdoor hockey tournament to Mammoth Lakes which will take place again this year from December 31-January 3.
While I am a supporter of expanding the Mammoth ice rink and hockey operations, I have major concerns with relocating the outdoor, non-enclosed ice rink to Mammoth Creek Park West. My primary concern is that the proposed “non-enclosed” ice rink is just too close to residential housing and it is going to cause long term and sustained residential area noise & disturbance which will, over time, weigh on the city, residents and enforcement and law officials. I am all too familiar with the operations of an ice rink and the types of operations, events and activities which occur at ice rinks. I strongly recommend sites be considered which are farther away from residential housing or closer to industrial or commercial facilities as Maria Sandoval and other concerned Mammoth residents and owners have already pointed out in numerous communications.
Noise and Disturbances
Noise from both the ice cooling units (chiller) and the Zamboni will be a big issue, since both of the designated areas for the chiller and garage are positioned adjacent to the La Vista Blanc complex. The Zamboni typically runs every hour during ice rink operation times and the Zamboni is a noisy machine.
Music from open skate sessions, whistles being blown by referee’s during games, pucks hitting the boards, announcers, early morning/late night hockey games and skate sessions will be a continuing disturbance to nearby residents. For example, during XMAS/NYE, there can be hockey tournaments starting at 6 a.m. and adult leagues typically run late into the evening. I am sure nearby residents aren’t going to be happy with 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. hockey games, which will constrain rink operations with specified time zones for operations.
The rear of the hockey rink (garage, chiller cooling units) will face La Vista Blanc directly. This is not only a huge eyesore, but also where most of the noise will be coming from.
Security Risk
The proposed location will put more random people near the residences, including teenage and adult hockey athletes and spectators who may consume alcohol during and after games.
When there are hockey tournaments or large events, parking will overflow onto Meadow Lane and other surrounding areas. Current parking is not likely to sustain the park operations and hockey operations.
I strongly recommend considering the other recommended sites for this outdoor hockey rink. Another added benefit for the town if the rink is moved to a more remote non-residential location, is you will have less time zone operational constraints … early morning 6 a.m. games and 11 p.m. games won’t be an issue with residents, so the rink can be more utilized, generating more revenue for the city.
Damon Frank
Property owner – Mammoth Lakes
Looking ahead
Dear Editor:
We’ve just heard from an excited constituency in favor of Measure Z. The Yes vote passed. The first thought that comes to mind is the old adage, Be Careful What You Wish For.
Truly, here it is, the day after, and nothing has really changed as far as the reality of nightly rentals of Single Family Homes. They exist and they will continue to exist. After all of this time, effort, debate and expense, the only thing that has changed is the prospect of further elections, should even the slightest, most logical expansion of legally zoned rentals were to move across one single street. Moreover, our Town’s historically dysfunctional environment for proper and appropriate development just likely became worse. This law will very well appear as another roadblock or disincentive to the exploration of building something new, even if it be a single family residence.
Moving forward, as we must, serious thought should be given to how we ameliorate the negative aspects of this new zoning law, how to spin it positively for developers and builders, how to develop our response when questioned about it.
Dan O’Connell
Mammoth Lakes
Stop pandering to whiners
Dear Editor:
In response to Mr. Eastman’s letter of Sept. 19, there is a better way. Over one hundred years of fire suppression has brought us to this pass, where the “agencies” you mention have finally, and correctly, woken up to the reality that fire is a part of this environment and we need to LEARN to live with it.
It’s the suppression of it that now gives us the sterilizing impact on the land and the critters you profess concern for. What we need now are true leader5s ideally, or someone with credibility to educate the public to this reality; not misleading comment that blames the federal government for “prioritzing healthy forests” over people or hiding behind “coded” language to disguise a “let burn” policy as something else.
Suppression is suppression, but it’s one thing to suppress fire when and where it directly threatens property, but it’s something else when it sets up entire forests for the inevitable total burn that will occur.
It’s complicated, and like a junkie trying to shake a bad habit, there’s going to be some pain and it will be felt by all. What isn’t helpful are politicians who feel the need to pander to whiners who don’t get it. Badgering these agencies into doing more of what got us here is exactly wrong.
Ken Reed
Bishop
LADWP responds
Dear Editor:
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is providing clarification to information listed on the Owens Valley Committee’s website titled, “No new DWP Wells!” and to the September 29, 2015, Inyo Register article titled, “Inyo Water Commission, OVC: ‘no new wells,’” both of which include errors that misrepresent
LADWP operations in the Owens Valley.
Development of Water Supplies
LADWP has made significant
progress on developing local Los Angeles-based water supplies including continued increases in recycled water use, local stormwater capture, groundwater cleanup in the
San Fernando Valley as well as other local well improvements, and additional water conservation. Los Angeles’ goal is to reduce dependence on imported water from the State Water Project and the Colorado River by 50 percent by the year 2025, just as it has already reduced its average use of water from the Eastern Sierra by 50 percent. Los Angeles, even with a population of over one million more people than existed 40 years ago, uses less water now than it did in the early 1970s. These efforts have made
Los Angeles a national leader in water conservation.
Operations in the Owens Valley
Since 1991, LADWP has managed its ground water operations in the Owens Valley according to the terms and conditions of the Inyo-Los Angeles Water Agreement and the Green Book. Each year, LADWP publishes its Annual Owens Valley Report that outlines operations including proposed pumping, conditions in the Owens Valley, and status of environmental projects. The report is
available to the public and is a clear example of LADWP’s commitment to the goals and principles found in the Water Agreement. LADWP’s 2015 Annual Owens Valley Report is available on the LADWP website, www.LADWP.com.
New Wells: LADWP adheres to the Inyo-Los Angeles Water Agreement, which includes guidelines for pursuing new wells. Article III A of the Water Agreement outlines the underpinnings of managing the region’s water resources: “The overall goal of managing resources within Inyo County is to avoid certain described decreases and changes in vegetation and to cause no significant effect on the environment which cannot be
acceptably mitigated while providing a reliable supply of water for export to Los Angeles and for use in Inyo County.” In dealing with the issue of new wells, Article VI (New Wells
and Production Capacity) of the Water Agreement states, “The Department’s current groundwater pumping capacity may be increased to provide increased operational flexibility and to facilitate rotational pumping. The Department may replace existing wells
and construct new wells in areas where hydrogeologic conditions are favorable, and where the operation of that well will not cause a change in vegetation that would be inconsistent with these goals and principles.” The Water Agreement in Article VI also
sets Inyo County’s role in permitting new wells, “The County shall make application for and obtain any well permits required by the County or any subdivision thereof.”
The Water Agreement is the guiding and legal binding document that Inyo County and LADWP are obligated to operate under. LADWP is committed to protecting the environment and the efficient management and use of water for both the Owens Valley and Los Angeles.
James G. Yannotta
Manager of Aqueduct
