Letters
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- Written by: Sandra West and Susan Harmon
On behalf of the executive and community board members of Mt. Konocti Facilitation, we wish to thank Maryann and Peter Schmid, The Lodge At Blue Lakes and The Special Events Center at The Lodge At Blue Lakes, for their generous tax deductible donation of $500.
Paying it forward, as you have done through your contribution, is one of our goals, as your success is our success.
Together we share the passion of our community in developing a strong and sustainable local economy, one that we can all be as proud of as we are of the hospitality at The Lodge At Blue Lakes and The Speical Events Center at The Lodge At Blue Lakes.
Sandra West and Susan Harmon are the facilitators for Mt. Konocti Facilitation, which offers free and confidential guidance for businesses. Mt. Konocti Facilitation may be contacted at 707-995-8133; all calls are returned within 24 hours. Visit Mt. Konocti Facilitation online at www.mtkonocti.com,
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- Written by: Jacqueline Armstrong
I wanted to comment on the accident at Lakeview and Sayre in Nice (“Bicyclist hurt in collision alleged to have been drunk,” Lake County News, April 28).
Most of my neighbors and I don't think that the bicyclist's intoxication was as much at fault as other safety factors at that intersection.
People in cars and kids on bikes cut that corner all the time. There are no line delineating lanes.
The corner has so much heavy vegetation that nobody traveling in either direction on Lakeview can see oncoming traffic until they're in the intersection. The only sign to yield is on Sayre.
I've contacted the county Department of Public Works and they're going to take a look at it.
In the meantime, it just seems like an oversimplication to blame the bicyclist's impaired condition when kids on bikes and many other drivers are just as careless.
I think it was really only a matter of time until someone got hit. Too bad it wasn't two cars instead of a truck and a bike.
Jacqueline Armstrong lives in Nice.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
It seems to me the board wisely concluded that it is not in anyone’s best interest to simply evict these residents. A compromise (or at least a slow approach) is to everyone’s benefit. Park owner Nikki Tavares made it clear that seasonal and weekend tourist traffic will not bring in enough money to support her park. The philosophy “clear it, and they will come” alone will not bring in more tourist trade and may simply result in some of the parks going belly up.
Let me correct a figure that I perhaps did not make clear at the meeting. Calculating one person per RV living on a disability pension brings in $2.46 million income to the county – people who spend their entire check here and do not drive to Santa Rosa or order from L.L. Bean online. The actual figure is higher (larger incomes, and often two incomes to a unit). This has to be compared to the sporadic income generated during fishing season and weekends.
I’m hoping the county can find a way to augment the taxes that finance increased code enforcement. Permits could be required for month-to-month residencies, making up for lost “transient” taxes for overnight stays. (Increased supervision would result in attrition by tenants who are not respectful of the park or other tenants.) The county could also take back inspections of mobile homes and RVs from the HCD and ask for the money the HCD would have paid state workers for this service; this would additionally bring back to the county revenue for issuing Certificates of Occupancy for new mobile homes in parks. Raising sewer fees to full-time levels was also discussed.
Increased regulation and supervision was the trade-off when Sonoma County got involved in allowing long-term residents in Sonoma Grove to stay in their RVs. Since a large consideration in Lake County is lakefront property, perhaps the county could purchase or build an RV park in a less scenic environment as a relocation site (good management could run this at a profit for the county), or the county could encourage a private enterprise.
“Grandfathering” was brought up at the meeting, but unfortunately it was confused with the term “selective enforcement” (obviously a legal can of worms). Many people emphasized the need for “case by case” consideration. I suggest that “grandfathering” should be considered – starting from this point on. Supervisor Rob Brown astutely made the point that the county owes nothing to people from outside who hear that this is a cheap place to live and come here in the future.
If it is found appropriate in the future to exclude month-to-month rentals in some parks, then “grandfathered residents” (based on number of years’ residency) should be allowed at least 90 days to relocate. It should be remembered that neither the county nor the state government enforced zoning for many years (nonfeasance), and people who moved here did so in good faith. They didn’t know they were violating code. And, in fact, the county was happy to have their income. I have personally met residents in RV parks who have been here as long as eight years—law abiding, voting members of the community who should be accorded the same respect as other Lake County residents.
If RV residents are both long-term as well as government dependent (aged, blind or disabled), it is not enough to simply refer them to a helping agency. Disabled persons should not be displaced until or unless affordable housing is actually located for them.
Finally, I would like to point out that there is nothing inherently or morally wrong about living in an RV. In fact, the smaller footprint is probably good for the planet – and certainly worth considering as a possible solution for those with very low incomes or who are at risk of homelessness. The real issue is that the county is charged with the health and safety of RV occupants.
I thought the board came up with a pretty reasonable working strategy – that is, for the moment to focus only on issues of health, safety, and imminent danger; to consider rezoning commercial areas to “mixed residency” so as not to financially burden the park owners and allow some residents to stay in place or relocate to a different park; and to explore various ways of increasing county revenue so that the county can enforce improvements in resort parks and hotels.
Janis Paris lives in Spring Valley.
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- Written by: Doyle Stein
The students and teachers at Coyote Valley Elementary want to give a great big thank you to all of the volunteers, sponsors, donors and golfers who helped to make the inaugural “Eagles for Education” golf tournament a great success!
We are always reminded of what a wonderful and supportive community we live in during events like this. Our students love and appreciate each and everyone one of you: Albion Surveys, Brassfield Estate, Chateu Montelena, Charles Krug Winery, Craig Sharp, Crave Coffee, Coyote Valley Elementary PTO, Darling Vitamins, Desserts on Demand, Ed Quinnan, Foods Etc., Gentry Family, Grant Fahs, Hardesters, Hillside Honda, H.V.L.A., Jazzercise, Jeri-Co Doors, J.T. Autoglass, LaFave Construction, Leroy Bowser, Linda Fergusson, Linnell Printing, Lotus Zen Massage, McKenney Family, Middletown Animal Hospital, Mrs. Pyzer’s 5th graders, Muscle Matrix, Rays, Safeway, St. Helena Hospital, Steele Winery, Stephen Hebert Painting, Store 24 and Wiloth Ranch.
Doyle Stein is president of the Coyote Valley Elementary Parent Teacher Organization.
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