CARNEGIE ACTION ALERT - Send Letters to Livermore City Council and Attend May 11 Council Meeting

CARNEGIE ACTION ALERT

Dear Carnegie Fans,

We are getting very close to being able to use the new property!  However, the NO crowd continues to stir the pot with the Livermore City Council.  Council members are getting anti-Carnegie emails from the usual folks as a way to gin up opposition from the Council at their May 11, 2015 meeting.

Once again, we are going to have to show up in large numbers (local riders from Livermore and nearby are important because they are voters!).  I am asking you to do two things:

ACTION ITEM ONE – 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.  Either way – send an email today and ask your rider network to do the same.

LINK to LIVERMORE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

http://www.cityoflivermore.net/citygov/council/default.asp

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.

This project complies with existing statutes (SB 742) and subsequent revisions which authorizes and directs California State Parks to implement and administer a program to manage and enhance off-highway motor vehicle recreational uses, and motorized off-highway access to non-motorized recreation (Public Resources Code, Sections 5090.01 et seq.)

I believe the environmental analysis was substantive and thorough and will help ensure that planned actions such as trail construction will not cause significant environmental impacts.

I urge you and the council to support this plan.

________________________________________________________________________

ACTION ITEM TWO – Attend the May 11, 2015 Livermore City Council Meeting

REGULAR MEETING - 7:00 PM

COUNCIL CHAMBERS

3575 PACIFIC AVENUE

LIVERMORE, CA 94550

OHV Challenges Green's Claim to Divine Right for Use of Tesla at Livermore City Council Meeting

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

http://www.independentnews.com/news/article_18d21f60-7ee6-11e3-86f5-001a4bcf887a.html

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

http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2013/07/east-bay-park-district-votes-to.html

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.

Huge Turnout of OHVers for Carnegie SVRA/Tesla Public Meeting

Big Turnout of OHVers to Support Carnegie SVRA/Tesla

The Recreation HQ wants to commend all of the OHVers who attended the “standing room only” public meeting in Pleasanton last night to review the preferred concept for the Tesla property at Carnegie SVRA.  I did a head count and there were approximately 300 people in attendance with the vast majority of them in support of OHV use on Tesla.

Park Staff Talks with OHVers About Plan

As you know, a small number of hard-core anti-OHV members of the extreme environmental movement (including one of the SVRA’s next door neighbors) have conspired with the East Bay Regional Park District -- in a fraudulent disinformation campaign -- to ban OHV use on the Tesla property that was purchased in the 1990s with OHV Trust Fund monies for dedicated motorized use.  They had joined with the Sierra Club to try and overrun the event with protesters, but they were outnumbered 6 or 7 to 1.

Preferred Concept Highlighted by Planning Staff

This much needed expansion would provide multiple-use OHV trails (ATV, ROV, 4WD, and dirt-bike) on the new property.   The current 1,500 acre riding area at the SVRA would remain for mostly ATV and dirt-bike riding.

Tesla Will Provide Trails for ROVs

4WDs Will Also Have Trails at Tesla

I especially enjoyed seeing a large number of youth riders who attended the meeting with their parents to support new OHV opportunities on the Tesla site.

Chris Carter Talks with AMA- D36's Dave Pickett About the Project

HQ also wants to give a shout out to Chris Carter and his leadership team at Motion Pro for attending the meeting in support of the project.  Chris continues to be an inspiration to me and many other land-use advocates because of his over 30 years of unparalleled support for the fight.

HQ will be reviewing the preferred concept (which appears to be a good compromise between OHV access and resource protection) and will share our comments on the proposal in the next week or two.  I will work with BRC’s HQ on an alert that may help you in crafting your own comments in time to meet the December 13, 2013 public comment deadline.

Link to Carnegie SVRA General Plan Preferred Concept

http://carnegie.engage-sites.com/preferred_concept

Thanks again to all of you who took time out of your busy schedule to attend the meeting!

PS - If you would like to support BRC's effort to challenge the closure agenda of anti-OHV interests at Carnegie and elsewhere -  please join and/or donate today at the link below:
https://www.sharetrails.org/support/join-or-contribute

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.

 

# # #

 

 

 

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.

 # # #

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.

 

 

 

 

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!