BREAKING NEWS - OHV Division Weighs in on East Bay Park District Tesla Vote

 

Many S.F. Bay Area fans of Carnegie SVRA have been following the ongoing and often quite nasty saga regarding East Bay Regional Park District’s attempt to ban future OHV recreation on the Tesla property.

As you know,  I attended and spoke at the July 16, 2013 District meeting where BRC challenged the park board vote to approve the master plan's effort to obtain the Tesla property at some future date.

 

Link to BRC story on July 16, 2013 District Vote

http://www.sharetrails.org/news/2013/07/17/bay-area-park-board-votes-block-motorized-recreation-ohv-park
 

HQ got a call today from a reporter who wanted my comments on an August 21, 2013 letter from the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division to the District.  I told the reporter if he wanted my comments in time for an upcoming article that I would need a copy of the letter.  The reporter sent me the letter.

 

After receiving the letter below from the reporter, I asked myself the question, ”How did this reporter get a copy of the letter since it had only been sent to government officials?”  It appears that some official in the District leaked the document to the media or some environmental group in order to generate more controversy.

 

If the District did leak this letter, I feel it shows a lack of professionalism and good taste.  Rather than reflecting well on the District, this communication appears to show discord and a lack of respect for the public and the law.

 

OHMVRD Aug. 21, 2013 Letter to East Bay Regional Park District

http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Tesla_letter_from_Parks_Dept_08.21.13.pdf

It will be interesting to see how the media covers this story and if they will give OHV a fair shake.  Thanks for your interest and support on this important issue.

 

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East Bay Park District Votes to Continue Effort to Ban OHV Recreation on Tesla Property

View of Central Valley from Carnegie SVRA

 

In one of the most stunning actions that I have ever seen taken by a land management agency, the East Bay Regional Park District Board cast a “here is a poke in your eye” vote to continue their efforts to ban OHV recreation on the Tesla property at Carnegie SVRA.  

 

I attended the District board meeting yesterday where they voted to approve the new Master Plan that includes a map of the Tesla property identified as a future acquisition.   Even though District staff has said they really don’t want the Tesla property for non-motorized use, they continue to stand – like children - in front of the candy store lusting for the forbidden fruit.

 

BRC News Release with info on District Vote, News Articles, BRC 2012 Comment Letter

http://www.sharetrails.org/news/2013/07/17/bay-area-park-board-votes-block-motorized-recreation-ohv-park

 

The brazen vote cast by the District will most certainly poison-the-well of any good will that may have existed in the OHV community in efforts to work in a cooperative manner with the agency.

 

Here is link to some of the Tesla fight in 2012 (good reading and history)

http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2012/09/tesla-continues-to-be-hot-issue-at.html
 

The fight for Tesla continues.

Please consider a donation if you want BRC to be there for you in these tough access fights.

JOIN AND/OR DONATE HERE

https://www.sharetrails.org/support/join-or-contribute

 

Thanks,

Don

 

 

OHV and Nature Can Coexist at Carnegie/Tesla?

The Recreation HQ would like to give an update on the East Bay Regional Park District’s planning effort and how their narrative has apparently softened a bit when it comes to new OHV use on the Tesla property which is part of Carnegie SVRA.

I thought the Bay Nature article below did a pretty good job of weaving through the concept that managed OHV recreation and resource protection are not mutually exclusive and can and do co-exist on many state and federal lands.

Oct. 15 Bay Nature Article

http://baynature.org/articles/can-off-roading-and-nature-coexist/

 

What appears to be a new era of cooperation between the District, OHMVR, and user groups would not have happened without thousands of OHVers and their families showing up at various public meetings and sharing their views both verbally and in writing with District staff and board members.

 

I believe the various letters from OHV groups including BRC’s documents obtained by a public records act request had helped illustrate to the District that it was engaged in a less than robust quasi-CEQA process with unclear goals and objectives. 

 

HQ Blog with Orig. BRC CEQA Concerns and Overview

http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2012/09/tesla-continues-to-be-hot-issue-at.html
 

In addition, I feel that the OHV Commission’s interest in seeing that OHMVRD and the users don’t get railroaded the District’s public-process - that left out the OHV community as legitimate stakeholders—will have an important role in new outreach by the District to OHV groups and clubs.

 

Link to Oct. 15 OHMVR Commission Letter to the District

http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/East_Bay_OHV_Commission_letter_10.15.2012.pdf
 

Let’s hope the end result will be mutual cooperation and respect between the District, OHMVRD, OHV clubs, and environmental groups.  We need to be ready to review the draft policy document when it comes out in January or early February.   Mike Anderson, the District’s lead planner, told me at the Dublin meeting that the public would get a chance to review and comment on the draft policy document BEFORE it goes to the park board for approval.

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Update on Dublin Meeting for East Bay Park's Master Plan

 Park Board Member, Amy Wieskamp, Gives Welcome at Dublin Meeting

 

 

The Recreation HQ attended the public meeting in Dublin last night regarding East Bay Regional Park District’s General Plan.  The ongoing issue of the District “reaching in” to the Tesla property and the fact that the District does not offer one single acre of OHV recreation to the residents of CCC and Alameda counties (over 28K + registered non-street legal OHVs owned by residents who pay prop WW taxes to support the District in those counties) were topics brought up.

HQ also talked with Mike Anderson, the District planning lead, about next steps in the planning process. Mike said it looks like they will not be able to develop a draft plan for public review and comment until January 2013.  He also said there is not deadline for the public comment period.  However, HQ believes that users should try and get comments in before October 10, 2012.

 

HQ encouraged Mike to post this information on the District website so the public can be assured that they will have an opportunity to review and comment on the draft master plan BEFORE the park board casts a final vote.   HQ also got to meet one of the board members, Amy Wieskamp, and hopes that she will consider our input regarding OHV use at Tesla and on other District properties.

 

Thanks to all who came out to the meeting and/or who have been attending the meetings.  Getting involved in the public process is how things get done.  However, I would issue one word of caution to those of you who are posting on other blogs and forums.  It does not benefit our cause or add to our credibility as a user community when a few folks post derogatory and highly inflammable personal comments about District staff or directors.  It is perfectly fine to take them to task on policy issues but keep the personal attacks off the web.  They don’t help.

 The next and final public meeting of this series is Oct. 9 at:

Richmond Memorial Auditorium

Bermuda Room

403 Civic Center Plaza

Richmond, CA 94804

7:00 – 8:30pm

 Again, it is important for OHV to show up and make pro-OHV or other policy comments at the various flip chart stations.  Thanks again to all of you who are taking time out of your busy schedules to attend.

 

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East Bay Park Meeting Tonight in Dublin - Be There

Bowser from the Save Carnegie Xmas Rally Says Be There Tonight!

 

 

There is the next to the last public meeting tonight (Oct. 3) in Dublin regarding East Bay Park District’s General Plan which includes the Tesla property which is part of Carnegie SVRA.  HQ understands that there has been a number of communications between OHMVR Division staff and District staff regarding this ongoing controversy.   I hear some progress is being made in that regard.  However, HQ remains concerned that the District still has a CEQA-deficient process in place that illegally placed the Tesla property on their 2007 General Plan Map.

The Recreation HQ will be there tonight.

Dublin Unified School Dist. Board Room

7471 Larkdale Ave.

Dublin, CA 94568

7pm to 8:30 pm

It is important for OHV to show up and make pro-OHV comments at the various flip chart stations.

Also, HQ expects the much anticipated OHV Commission letter to District Park Directors should be delivered soon.

 

If you want some more info … go to my blog link below: http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2012/09/tesla-continues-to-be-hot-issue-at.html

See you there.

 

 

 

 

Trout Unlimited Defends OHV Trail from Eco-Lawsuit in CO

Hell has frozen over.  OHV enthusiasts in California continue under the threat of trail closures based on our potential impacts to anadromous fish populations in the Sierra and Coastal mountains. For decades OHV recreationists have worked hard with agency staff to maintain trails so that any potential impacts will be minimized.  However at the end of the day, many of us believe that OHV recreation has coexisted with anadromous fish (even the non-existent Carnegie Hoax Fish at Carnegie SVRA) for years in our coastal waterways and mountain streams.

HQ believes our position was strengthened today by an article about the greenback cutthroat trout in Bear Creek near Colorado Springs, CA.  Here you have a coalition of user groups including Trout Unlimited, OHV groups, and others working to reroute a long existing OHV trail and voicing opposition to a recent lawsuit by CBD to close the trail before the reroute is made.

Article on Greenback Cutthroat Trout and OHV Trail Placement

http://daily.gazette.com/Olive/ODE/TheGazette/LandingPage/LandingPage.aspx?href=VGhlR2F6ZXR0ZS8yMDEyLzEwLzAx&pageno=MQ..&entity=QXIwMDEwMw..&view=ZW50aXR5

 

HQ believes that coalitions of various stakeholder groups can find solutions that both protect the environment while allowing for motorized use on designated trails.  How refreshing and cost-effective that approach is compared to the legal route often selected by CBD, PEER, and other branches of the extreme environmental movement to impose their highly selective non-motorized agenda on the public.

 

EXTRA HOMEWORK:

 

Case Study of Eco-Groups Opposing OHV Efforts to protect Wild and Scenic Rivers from heavy siltation during winter months.  Local eco-groups actually got up in front of the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors and defended agency road ripping during the winter rainy season.

http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/05/historic-lawsuit-filed-in-northern.html


Bogus Eco-Lawsuit at Carnegie SVRA
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2012/06/carnegie-lawsuit-win-makes-local-press.html

 

Thanks for your interest in trail management!

 

 

 

 

Tesla Continues to be Hot Issue at Concord Meeting

OHVers made a great showing at the District’s public meeting in Concord last night.   About 130 people crowded into a room with seats for 65.   About 40 off-roaders were in attendance and they included a big turnout from the Diablo 4WD club, Red Neck Roosters MC, BRC, REID Racing, Carnegie Forever, and CORVA.  ClubMoto’s Captain Kirk and his son were there too.

 

The three main topics that rose to the top of the discussion list continued to be OHV or no OHV use at Tesla, future OHV use on District lands, and dog walking.  The Mayor of Concord showed up and visited with the 4WD club.

 

After talking with several District staff members, I got the impression they regretted the anti-OHV tone and direction of their various narratives to date.   However,  I don’t think they appreciate the fact that many of us feel they have a corrupt CEQA process where local anti-OHV groups had undue influence on the District’s board members and staff in creation of the 2007 Master Plan Map and current planning effort.

 

In my considered opinion, their anti-OHV narrative is best highlighted in their official June 11, 2012 comment letter on the Carnegie General Plan. 

 

Here is link to the District’s June 11, 2012 Comment Letter on the Carnegie General Plan

http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/east_bay_district_comment_letterjune11oncarnegieplan0001.pdf

 

Again, the following East Bay Regional Park District response (Sept. 13) to one of HQ’s longtime friends, Scott Sinclair, shows a high level of arrogance, ignorance, and callous against OHV recreationists in general,  Carnegie SVRA staff,  and proposed OHV use at the Tesla property which is part of Carnegie SVRA.

 

EBRPD Response to Scott Sinclair

http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/East_Bay_Sinclair_Sept.pdf

 

 *Note their response did not address the March 2007 tour and two April 2012 tours with Save Tesla Park advocates.   BRC found out about those tours via our public records act request.  BTW – did any OHV groups get invited to the May 11, 2012 tour?   I also believe if you look at the District’s own “surveys” you will find them to be biased or slanted to achieve a certain result. 

I continue to be concerned about what continues to be a truncated quasi-CEQA lite planning process related to the District’s new master plan.

HQ believes that OHV users to must continue to attend the upcoming meetings in Oakley, Fremont, Dublin, and Richmond.   The level of your participation will help decide if the District provides future OHV recreation and if they will back-off their current effort to prohibit OHV recreation on the Tesla property at Carnegie SVRA.

Again, here is BRC Alert with list of meeting sites and sample letter http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/2012/09/06/extreme-environmental-groups-collaborate-with-east-bay-region-park-district-to-impose-closureagenda-on-propose

 

Here is BRC News Release on Public Meetings with link to formal BRC comment letter http://www.sharetrails.org/news/2012/09/10/recreation-group-cites-east-bay-parks-violation-sunshine-laws

 

Also, feel free to check for updates with my good friends at the Carnegie Forever Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/groups/CarnegieForever/permalink/10150997989856599/

 

 See you at upcoming meetings.

OHV Commission and Users Continue Fight with East Bay Parks

The following East Bay Regional Park District response (Sept. 13) to one of HQ’s longtime friends, Scott Sinclair, shows a high level of arrogance, ignorance, and callous against OHV recreationists in general,  Carnegie SVRA staff,  and proposed OHV use at the Tesla property which is part of Carnegie SVRA.

EBRPD Response to Scott Sinclair

http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/East_Bay_Sinclair_Sept.pdf

 

*Note their response did not address the March 2007 tour and two April 2012 tours with Save Tesla Park advocates.   BRC found out about those tours via our public records act request.  BTW – did any OHV groups get invited to the May 11, 2012 tour?   I also believe if you look at the District’s own “surveys” you will find them to be biased or slanted to achieve a certain result. 

  

Their response only further highlights the need for OHV users to attend the upcoming meetings

 in Concord (TONIGHT), Oakley, Fremont, Dublin, and Richmond.   The level of your participation will help decide if the District provides future OHV recreation and if they will back-off their current effort to prohibit OHV recreation on the Tesla property at Carnegie SVRA.

The OHV Commission recently voted unanimously to  challenge the District Board’s effort to ban OHV use on our Tesla property.   It is important to note that even the “environmental appointees” voted strongly in favor of the OHV commission telling the District to butt out!

Again, here is BRC Alert with list of meeting sites and sample letter http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/2012/09/06/extreme-environmental-groups-collaborate-with-east-bay-region-park-district-to-impose-closureagenda-on-propose

Here is BRC News Release on Public Meetings with link to formal BRC comment letter http://www.sharetrails.org/news/2012/09/10/recreation-group-cites-east-bay-parks-violation-sunshine-laws

Also, feel free to check for updates with my good friends at the Carnegie Forever Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/groups/CarnegieForever/permalink/10150997989856599/

 See you in Concord tonight!

OHVers Rock the House at East Bay Park's 1st Public Meeting

OHV Leaders from Carnegie Forever and AMAD36

Sign Into Event

 

The Recreation HQ wants to salute the 40-50 off-roaders who showed up to the East Bay Regional Park District’s 1^st public meeting for the District’s Master Plan.   OHV leaders and enthusiasts respectfully engaged the District staff and other stakeholder groups during the meeting and at various data collection sites/discussion tables.

 

HQ estimates that approximately 300 people crowded into a hall that had seating for about 110 people.  This meeting was in Oakland and it gave OHVers in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties the chance to let the District know about the agency's lack of OHV opportunity.   The District is 112K acres and contains 65 parks.  However, not one square foot of parkland is designated for OHV use by the over 28K registered non-street legal OHVs in their jurisdiction.

 

HQ wants to STRONGLY urge all OHV enthusiasts to attend the remaining public meetings in Concord, Oakley, Fremont, Dublin, and Richmond.   The level of your participation will help decide if the District provides future OHV recreation and if they will back-off their current effort to prohibit OHV recreation on the Tesla property at Carnegie SVRA.

Here is BRC Alert with list of meeting sites and sample letter

http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/2012/09/06/extreme-environmental-groups-collaborate-with-east-bay-region-park-district-to-impose-closureagenda-on-propose

 

Here is BRC News Release on Public Meetings with link to formal BRC comment letter

http://www.sharetrails.org/news/2012/09/10/recreation-group-cites-east-bay-parks-violation-sunshine-laws

 

Finally, feel free to check for updates with my good friends at the Carnegie Forever Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/groups/CarnegieForever/permalink/10150997989856599/

 

This is your opportunity to participate in the public planning process.  I hope to see a lot of you at the upcoming meetings.

 

Carnegie, OHV Wars, and a Call to Action

The General has often said that the rewards of being a land-use professional are few. In fact if you are doing your job well - as pointed out in NIMBY WARS - you will be given little if any credit for a win. HQ’s reward comes when a local rider is awakened out of his or her “land-use slumber” and becomes a grassroots leader who works to inspire others to do the same.
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PHOTO: Infamous Carnegie Hoax Fish

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NIMBY WARS Book Review (overview of various roles we play in land-use)
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2009/12/book-review-nimby-wars-must-read-for.html

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Such is the case with a new SF Bay Area OHV advocate, Diana Tweedy. She recently wrote a great article in Dirt Rider Magazine (see link below) about her epiphany during the 2009 Carnegie Rally to help keep the SVRA from being closed by a judge’s order.

Sept. 2010 DR MAGAZINE - The Battle for Carnegie and Joining the Fight
http://www.dirtrider.com/features/web_extra/141_1009_carnegie_ohv_state_park_freedom_day/index.html

Tweedy hit several common themes that you have seen articulated at the HQ. Public land recreationists have large numbers and we can win if we put differences aside, band together, AND join BRC and other groups fighting for your access rights.

Some riders may ask, “What has OHV won lately?” Well, Carnegie is still open thanks to the huge turnout at the Freedom Rally where that support gave momentum for the OHMVR Division’s legal efforts to challenge the anti-OHV lawsuit.

Recently, a coalition of user groups won a legal victory where the FS was ordered to reopen OHV trails and campgrounds.

OHV Legal Victory to Reopen FS Trails
http://www.mic.org/news070210.cfm

For some more background info on the 2009 Rally at Carnegie SVRA with links to articles, etc. please go to the blog overview below.

Blog on Overview of 2009 Carnegie Rally
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2009/12/miracle-at-18600-corral-hollow-road.html

Tweedy also notes she had often read Jimmy Lewis’ (editor of DR) columns where he urged or pleaded with riders to “get involved” and join BRC and other organizations who are in the trenches fighting the enemy on a daily basis. However, it took a major event such as the imminent closure of Carnegie to wake her up.

Her involvement now gives encouragement to folks like The General and Jimmy Lewis who have been sounding the land-use alarm for many years. HQ thanks her and her friends for becoming soldiers in OHV Wars.

To honor her commitment, HQ requests that you do two things today.

1 – JOIN BRC and a local or state OHV group
https://www.sharetrails.org/secure/join_or_contribute/

2 – Subscribe to DR Magazine
http://www.dirtrider.com/index.html

Without members and member support, BRC cannot do its job. Without subscribers, Jimmy Lewis and DR cannot get the land-use message out to average riders so that when a closure crisis occurs those riders will know what do to (hopefully riders will join before a crisis hits!).

Thanks for your service!

Carnegie - A Win in a Uphill Fight

As The Recreation HQ prepares to lock its doors for the next few days, The General wanted to once again congratulate you for your role in the Victory at Carnegie.

See March 18, 2010 Article on this Win in a Uphill Fight
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100318/A_NEWS/3180327/-1/a_news14

In the article the anti-OHV “Fishing Group” did its best albeit unsuccessfully to spin in a positive light the fact the court essentially had given them a legal beat-down.

As The General told the reporter in the article above….”Land use wars are never really over.” But that stark fact should not prevent us from celebrating during the Easter Holiday and being thankful for the blessings we have.

Well done is better than well said…. And you done good!

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SF BAY AREA LEGAL VICTORY at Carnegie SVRA

As some of you may already know, the appellate court basically dismissed the lawsuit against Carnegie SVRA because the plaintiffs did not “exhaust administrative remedies.”

PHOTO: SVRA is OPEN!

Update from the Court on Carnegie
http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/disposition.cfm?dist=1&doc_id=1929498

All of you who helped with the fight to Save Carnegie should be proud of your involvement because it did make a difference! You should celebrate this victory by hugging your loved ones, family, and yes… even your bike, 4wd, or quad.

The Recreation HQ believes we all owe a deep debt of gratitude to OHMVR leadership, the AG’s office, and the CA Water Board for fighting hard to keep Carnegie open and to prevent anti-OHV groups from interjecting themselves as a 3rd party into inter-agency executive branch decision-making.

Congrats on a job well done! Even though we won this land-use skirmish, The General asks that you remain committed to the fight. OHV Wars is not over yet. There are many battles that remain to be fought on lands both far and near to the SF Bay Area.

Thanks for your service.

OHV Wars Continue at Coastal SVRA

As Carnegie fans wait for both the legal and administrative battle to play itself out, The General wants you who are new to the OHV Wars arena to be aware that anti-OHV groups continue their assault on the SVRA system.

One ongoing battle is down at Oceano Dunes. For many years, OHVers and OHMVR have been fighting to preserve motorized recreation at that popular facility. Just as with Carnegie, you have a 3rd party eco-group at Oceano Dunes trying to interject itself into the inter-governmental decision-making process.

Recent Article on Oceano Dunes Fight
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/dunes/story/1031310.html

The main point of today’s blog is to remind land-use newbies that OHV recreation continues to face some rough times in 2010 and beyond. The Recreation HQ wants to make sure that riders continue to brace for the fight, stand strong, and never give up.

Thanks for your service!

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Carnegie and Executive Branch Authority and Discretion

One thing that surprised The General while attending the January 13 BLM CCMA DEIS public meeting in Coalinga was the number of ranchers and farmers who were monitoring the Carnegie SVRA crisis.

The main concern is that a victory by anti-OHV groups at Carnegie would open the legal floodgates for similar lawsuits - to be filed against property owners – that would seek to interfere with an agency's executive branch authority to exercise discretion regarding how they select to enforce state regulations.

An excellent response and overview on this topic by the CA Water Board on the Carnegie lawsuit is posted by my good friends at CarnegieForever.org:
http://carnegieforever.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/parks-v-superior-court-carnegie-svra-1-11-2010-signed.pdf

What the anti-OHV groups are doing at Carnegie could be likened to having some public interest group filing a lawsuit against the CHP for not properly enforcing the state’s driving or speed laws. As you know, the CHP is given a lot of discretion on how it deploys its officers to enforce said laws. Having a “citizen’s group” successfully insert itself into what is historically an administrative decision-making process at Carnegie could have grave impacts to private property owners, small businesses, and recreationists throughout the state.

As the Recreation HQ has stated before, 2010 will be a very challenging year for OHV access interests at Carnegie, CCMA, and elsewhere. The HQ thanks you for your service and support.