In response to yet another attempt by some anti-OHV
environmental groups and the East Bay Regional Park District to ban or “interfere”
with future OHV use on the Tesla portion of Carnegie SVRA, over 200 members of
the OHV community – including many youth - attended the Livermore City Council
meeting last night to express their support for Carnegie SVRA and future OHV
use at Tesla.
In January, a cabal of anti-OHV groups presented the
Council with their distorted and perverted view that the Tesla property was
actually theirs by Divine Right. They
urged the Council to join and support their politically motivated quest to ban
OHV use at Tesla, a use for which that property was purchased – and approved by
the legislature – in the 1990s.
Jan. 17 Article on Anti-OHV Cabal at Livermore City
Council
A large number of Livermore residents gave their personal
testimony about what an important role that Carnegie SVRA has played in their
family’s life. AMA District 36
representatives, 4WD groups, and others talked about the park’s history and its
economic value to the local area.
BRC’s western representative, Carnegie user, and former
OHMVR commissioner (circa 1994-2000) Don Amador, explained the OHV community’s original
vision for Tesla regarding it being the perfect site for a high quality backcountry
trail experience on designated routes for both non-street legal and
street-legal OHVs including 4WDs, SxSs, and SUVs.
Amador also presented the Council with several letters
that detailed the inappropriate relationship between environmental groups and
East Bay Regional Park District. Those
documents highlight what appear to be violations of CEQA and the Public
Resources Code.
HQ credits Livermore Mayor John Marchand for his acknowledgment
of the Council’s jurisdictional limitations when it comes to formal actions
they can take regarding the Carnegie planning process. The Mayor did say that city staff will review
– per standard protocol – the Carnegie Draft EIR for potential impacts to the
city.
Link to CEQA and PRC Violations
The Recreation HQ commends the OHV community for their
determination to fight for Carnegie SVRA and to challenge those agenda driven
environmental groups who want to interfere with responsible OHV recreation at
the Park.
*If you attended the meeting… please leave a comment on
this forum and tell your story to our readers.
Posts
Don the property was re-named"Tesla Park" by the anti-OHV groups. They try everything to prevent OHV. We should call it the 'Alameda-Tesla Expansion" - its original name, which will also differentiate us from THEM.
ReplyDeleteDon, Pleasure meeting you last night at the meeting. It was a great turn out from the community, lots of great stories, I think more then the city officials had expected. Standing room only and overflow out front of the bulding as well. We need to keep the communication and info flowing to the OHV community and keep fighting the good fight. Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteCarl
The article in the Independent dated January 17 Anti OHV brings up more traffic and added pollution. Have these people even think about all the vehicles that commute on Tesla Road during the weekdays. In the thousands. Should we shut down all commuter traffic during the weekdays? Oh how convenient of the Independent placing the Eastbay Parks ad next to this article...hmmm. Yes I attended the meeting in support of OHV expansion... my thoughts exactly on the points brought up. Future generations, including my children, to continue to ride and the impact of revenue that The City of Livermore receives from those that visit.
ReplyDeleteAlso on return trips to the city for other ventures, restaurants, winery visits,etc. If The City of Livermore gets involve...please go in the right direction. Yes I live in Livermore and love it. Carnegie adds to that love.
I was at the meeting and I was very proud of the off road community for its involvement in the political process. Some of the points that were made include the fact that Carnegie State Vehicle Recreation Area is one of only 8 state/public OHV parks. - Tesla is the site where at the turn of the last century coal was mined. The coal mines, now abandoned, consist of collapsing mine shafts, torn lumber, tailings, scraps from mine operation and mounds of soil pulled from the shafts. There is nothing left of the old coal town that was called Tesla -; The Alameda-Tesla property was purchased when it was for sale in 1998 by the state for inclusion into Carnegie SVRA. - It was purchased for a legitimate public use consistent with the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Act of 1988. - It was acquired with the OHV trust fund money which is purely financed by riders. - The State, by law, must protect, preserve and nurture archeological sites and the environment. - The draft general plan keeps riders out of sensitive areas. - Carnegie attracts off road enthusiasts who support local businesses thereby strengthening the tax base of Livermore.- Off road recreation is a family sport that teaches our youngsters positive values that last a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteWe did a marvelous job presenting our case. Thank you to every one who showed up at the meeting. I just wish the city council members and the mayor could come to Carnegie and see for themselves our off road park.
Diana Tweedy
I got these attendance numbers from Carnegie SVRA staff. Between 80k and 130k riders visited the park during the last 12-13 years (2000-2013). And it looks like attendance is up over 6,000 visitors this year.
ReplyDeleteYes… we need Telsa for OHV!