The color of having no money? 

That would be white.

The Town of Mammoth Lakes may be holding a groundbreaking ceremony this coming week for the new MUF/CRC ice tent skate palace, but Mammoth’s Planning and Economic Development Commission (PEDC) reminded us this week that the plans haven’t quite been finalized. 

On Wednesday, PEDC was tasked with final approval of the building colors and logo placement. 

But couldn’t quite get it done. 

All agreed that a second logo planned for placement on the southern roof had to be removed (Planner Amy Callanan said the manufacturer cautioned that the logo would stretch the tensile fabric and compromise its integrity). 

Ditching this logo also saved $35,000.

The white roof, however, divided commissioners. 

Commission Chair Michael Vanderhurst tried to bully it through, arguing that a white roof is not perfect but don’t let the color scheme get in the way of progress. 

“I’m not gonna die on that hill,” he proclaimed.

Other commissioners couldn’t overlook it. 

“This [color scheme options] was supposed to come back to us a year ago,” said Commissioner Jen Burrows. “And I’m concerned with the white top. We can’t set rules for everyone else and not follow them ourselves.” 

Commissioner Greg Eckert

chimed in, “We wouldn’t allow anyone else to build this … It is so massive. If it’s white, it’ll be massive and blinding.” 

Public Works Director Haislip Hayes noted that the fabric is not reflective. 

Vanderhurst reminded his fellow commissioners that the budget is tight and any change might cost dollars the Town doesn’t have. 

“This thing is gonna be huge,” persisted Eckert. “A big, huge whote tent is a big, huge white tent. We’re pursuing budget over project … and while we’re at it, why do we have that huge logo on the front of the building?” 

“It isn’t something we’d approve for anybody else.” 

As for the argument for expediency in the face of budget constraints, Burrows wasn’t having it. 

After swimming in excess Transient Occupancy Tax revenue for so many years, we should surely have saved a bit more so that we could have an extra $30,000 right now to make sure it’s right, she said. 

When Vanderhurst called for a motion the first time, he was met with crickets. 

Eventually, he shepherded through a motion contingent upon the PEDC’s Design Review Committee (which consists of Burrows and Paul Chang) approving a roof color which will ostensibly be something other than white. 

The April 21 groundbreaking ceremony for the $14.8 million project is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Mammoth Creek Park. 

The short description courtesy of a Town presser: “The CRC will be a 40,300 square foot Sprung Performance Arena enclosing an Olympic size rink that will operate in the winter months. In summer, the Olympic size arena will be transformed into a fully programmable and truly multi-use 20,000 square foot RecZone.”