Wednesday, May 6, 2015

CODE RED CARNEGIE ACTION ALERT UPDATE - Important New Items

View of Expansion Property

CODE RED CARNEGIE ACTION ALERT UPDATETWO IMPORTANT ITEMS

Livermore City Council Meeting on May 11 changed to May 18, 2015

Alameda County Parks, Recreation and Historical Commission Meeting May 7, 2015


Dear Carnegie Fans,

YOU made a difference last week by sending in your comment letters.  The council has moved the May 11 date to May 18 so they can better study the issue.

Also, the Alameda County Parks, Recreation and Historical Commission has Carnegie SVRA is on the docket for their May 7 meeting.  Sorry for the late notice but this stuff is popping up like crazy. 

As you know, we are getting very close to being able to use the new property!  Your letter writing and attendance at this meeting is critical to show local decision-makers that OHVers (and voters) support the Carnegie General Plan.

I am asking you to do two things:

ACTION ITEM ONE – Continue to ask your rider network (with a focus on Livermore residents) to send in a pro-Carnegie email to ALL of the Livermore City Council members (each member as an email box where you can cut n paste an email).  I have crafted a sample letter that you may use to send or better yet… craft your own email.  Your letters continue to make a difference!!!  *Again, they need to hear from Livermore residents.  If your family rides at Carnegie… have each member of the family send in a letter.

LINK to LIVERMORE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

YOU MAY ALSO SEND EACH ONE OF THEM AN EMAIL USING THEIR BUSINESS EMAIL

Mayor John Marchand -- Email:  mayormarchand@cityoflivermore.net
Vice Mayor Laureen Turner -- Email:  leturner@cityoflivermore.net
Stewart Gary -- Email:  Swgary@cityoflivermore.net
Steven Spedowfski  --  Email:  SSpedowfski@cityoflivermore.net
Bob Woerner -- Email  BWoerner@cityoflivermore.net

SAMPLE LETTER BELOW

___________________________________________________________________________

I strongly support the Preliminary General Plan, Draft EIR, and Notice of Availability of the Draft EIR for Carnegie SVRA.

Carnegie SVRA became a unit of the State Park system in July 1980. The original 1,575-acre site, which had been used by off-highway vehicles (OHVs) since the 1940s, was operated as a private motorcycle park from 1970 to 1979 before being purchased by the California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) using dedicated OHV Trust Funds. Legislative action (California Public Resources Code, Section 5006.48) authorized State Parks to plan, acquire, and develop the site for OHV use. From 1996 to 1998, State Parks used legislatively appropriated OHV Trust Funds to acquire an additional 3,100 acres of neighboring lands to provide expanded OHV recreation opportunities. The additional acreage was classified as SVRA lands and added to Carnegie SVRA. The additional acreage is referred to as the expansion area.

This plan will help meet the regional demand for managed OHV recreation that includes dirt-bikes, ATVs, SxSs, 4WDs, and SUVs.  The original 1,575-acre SVRA has long been enjoyed by the off-road motorcycle community.  However, there were few opportunities for the larger OHVs.  The expansion area will provide important touring and backcountry type experiences for 4WDs and SxSs on sustainable trails.

I urge the council to support this plan.



ACTION ITEM TWO – Attend the May 18, 2015 Livermore City Council Meeting

REGULAR MEETING - 7:00 PM

*COUNCIL CHAMBERS
3575 PACIFIC AVENUE
LIVERMORE, CA 94550

*Watch for updates on meeting place because the council meeting may be moved to a larger location


ACTION ITEM THREE – Send pro-Carnegie letters to the Alameda County Parks, Recreation and Historical Commission.  HQ knows that many of you will not be able to attend the May 7 daytime meeting, but your voice should be heard by the commission.  Feel free to use the same sample letter that we are using for the Livermore City Council or craft your own.  There will be another commission meeting on June 4 so you have plenty of time to email or FAX in a letter.

 Send letter to:

Alameda County Parks, Recreation and Historical Commission
224 West Winton Avenue
Hayward, CA 94544
FAX: 510.785.8793
Email: Angela.Robinson-Pinon@acgov.org


ACTION ITEM FOUR – Attend the May 7, 2015 Alameda Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

The commission serves as an advisory board to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and has been following the Carnegie SVRA project.  The meeting will be an opportunity for members of the public and the commission to express their views of the draft General Plan and DEIR.  I plan to be at this meeting as do several other OHV leaders.  We understand this is a late notice and that the meeting is during the day so we have your six if you cannot attendThere will be another meeting on June 4 so maybe you can attend that meeting.

Link to Meeting Agenda (Carnegie is on Item #5)


MEETING - 3:30 PM – May 7, 2015

Alameda County Building
224 West Winton Avenue
Public Hearing Room (Room 160)
Hayward, CA 94544

Stay tuned for further updates on this important issue.  

Thanks,

Don