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Extreme Environmental Groups Collaborate with East Bay Region Park District to Impose Closure-Agenda on Proposed New OHV Use
Dear OHV Fans of Carnegie SVRA,
As many of you know, extreme environmental groups have been collaborating with the East Bay Region Park District to impose their closure-agenda on proposed new OHV use on the 2,000 acre Tesla property purchased with OHV Trust Fund monies in the late 1990s. It's time for the OHV community to stand up and fight back!
BRC has been investigating the apparent undue influence that preservationist groups have had on the District's decision-making process.
BRC News Release with Information from a Public Records Act Request
Green Groups Influence Bay Area Regional Park District to Support Ban on OHV Use at Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area
The District is hosting a number of public meetings in the San Francisco and East Bay Areas. These meetings start on September 11, 2012, and are part of the District's Master Plan update. It is critically important for OHV recreationists in Contra Costa and Alameda counties to attend these meetings, and ask why OHV recreation has been targeted for elimination by the District?
Enthusiasts should also ask why the District has not provided for any OHV recreation on its lands?
The Park District's Master Plan is a policy document that guides the District in future expansion of parks, trails, and services, defines their vision and mission, and sets priorities for the next decade. The District's Master Plan Website
Here is the schedule of public meetings:
September 11, 2012
7 - 8:30 p.m. - Oakland
Richard Trudeau Training Center
Redwood Regional Park
11500 Skyline Blvd
Oakland, CA 94619
September 19, 2012
7 - 8:30 p.m. - Concord
Concord Senior Center
2727 Parkside Circle
Concord, CA 94519
September 22, 2012
10 - 11:30 a.m. - Oakley
Big Break Visitor Center at the Delta
Big Break Regional Shoreline
69 Big Break Road
Oakley, CA
September 29, 2012
10 - 11:30 a.m. - Fremont
Fremont Community Center
40000 Paseo Padre Pkwy.
Fremont, CA 94538
October 3, 2012
7:00 - 8:30 p.m. - Dublin
Dublin Unified School District
Board Room
7471 Larkdale Ave.
Dublin, CA 94568
October 9, 2012
7:00 - 8:30 p.m. - Richmond
Richmond Memorial Auditorium
Bermuda Room
403 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, CA 94804
Besides attending the public meetings below, off-roaders should send in comments via the District's website, Online District Comment Form, or send in a letter to the address below in the sample letter.
SAMPLE LETTER
East Bay Regional Park District
Master Plan Policy Update
2950 Peralta Oaks Court
Oakland, CA 94605
Dear EBRPD:
Please accept my comments on the East Bay Regional Park District's 2012 Master Plan (Plan). As an OHV recreationist, I am concerned about the lack of managed OHV recreation on District park lands. I am also very concerned about collaboration between anti-OHV organizations and the District to ban OHV recreation on the 2,000-acre Tesla property.
The Tesla property was purchased in the late 1990s with OHV Trust Fund monies. The California legislature approved this purchase so that the area would be added to the Carnegie SVRA for additional OHV recreational opportunity.
The District manages 65 regional parks, over 112,000 acres of open space and 1,200 miles of non-motorized trails. OHV recreation is a legitimate form of public land use and an activity recognized by the District in their 1973 and 1980 Master Plans. OHV recreation is the fastest growing and most popular activity on state park lands. Yet, the District does not provide a single acre of OHV recreational opportunity.
The current planning process is supposed to maintain a careful balance between conservation and preservation, while offering recreational use of parklands for all to enjoy.
The 2009 Survey on Public Opinions and Attitudes on Outdoor Recreation in California (SPOA) found OHV recreation was a popular activity on park lands. SPOA found that 48.1% of respondents in the Central Valley participated in OHV recreation in the last year compared with 45.9% for beach activities, 39.3% for swimming in lakes and streams and 12.5% for day hiking on trails.
OHV users and organizations were left out of the process to develop the Master Plan Map in 2007 which identified the Tesla property for takeover by the District for non-motorized recreation. The District appears to be using that Map as the authorization for aggressive efforts to ban or restrict OHV recreation on Tesla land.
No such outreach to OHV stakeholders has been found to date regarding the District's 2012 planning process.
Homes in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties are taxed at a rate of $10 per year per $100,000 of assessed valuation (i.e., a home assessed at $400,000 will pay $40 per year) to pay for District efforts to provide diverse recreation for residents.
Currently there is no legal OHV recreation in Contra Costa County and most of the 1,300-acre Carnegie SVRA resides in San Joaquin County, not in Alameda County. The District should plan for a representative amount of OHV recreation on its lands that will serve the almost 28,000 non-street legal OHVs registered in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties and the tens-of-thousands of street legal dual-sport motorcycles and 4WD vehicles in the area.
Compared with the District's 112,000 acres, the 1,300 acres at Carnegie SVRA represents just 1% of land in the District's sphere of influence available for OHV recreation. If the 2,000 acres of the Tesla property are added to Carnegie SVRA for OHV recreation, that combined total of 3,300 acres would represent just 3% of lands in the District's sphere of influence available for OHV recreation.
It appears that District board members and staff attended two tours of the Tesla property during the current CEQA planning process that were not open to the public. Those tours occurred on 4/16/12 and 4/23/12. OHV groups were not invited as this group discussed plans on how to ban OHV recreation on the Tesla property.
Recommendations
I urge the District to replace or amend the 2007 General Plan Map to reflect current and future needs for OHV recreation on public lands in the District's jurisdiction.
I request the District Immediately remove the Tesla/Alameda property from the 2007 General Plan Map.
The District should conduct a new survey that includes OHV recreation as an approved or authorized activity on District lands.
The District should cease and desist its current effort to influence (e.g. ban OHV recreation) OHV recreation on the Tesla property which is part of the ongoing Carnegie SVRA General Plan Update.
Finally, the District should withdraw its July 11, 2012, comment letter to the Carnegie SVRA General Plan where the District advocates for non-motorized use on the Tesla property.
Sincerely,
John Doe Rider
This is your chance to have your voice heard and to demand accountability from government officials who work for the District.
Thanks for your prompt attention to this matter.
Don Amador
Western Representative
BlueRibbon Coalition, Inc.
The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible recreation, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. With members in all 50 states, BRC is focused on building enthusiast involvement with organizational efforts through membership, outreach, education, and collaboration among recreationists. The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is here. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742 or http://www.sharetrails.org
_______________________________________________________
As a non-profit, grassroots organization funded primarily by membership dues and donations, we greatly appreciate your support. Visit http://www.sharetrails.org/make-a-difference-now to help fund our efforts to protect your trails!
Dear OHV Fans of Carnegie SVRA,
As many of you know, extreme environmental groups have been collaborating with the East Bay Region Park District to impose their closure-agenda on proposed new OHV use on the 2,000 acre Tesla property purchased with OHV Trust Fund monies in the late 1990s. It's time for the OHV community to stand up and fight back!
BRC has been investigating the apparent undue influence that preservationist groups have had on the District's decision-making process.
BRC News Release with Information from a Public Records Act Request
Green Groups Influence Bay Area Regional Park District to Support Ban on OHV Use at Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area
The District is hosting a number of public meetings in the San Francisco and East Bay Areas. These meetings start on September 11, 2012, and are part of the District's Master Plan update. It is critically important for OHV recreationists in Contra Costa and Alameda counties to attend these meetings, and ask why OHV recreation has been targeted for elimination by the District?
Enthusiasts should also ask why the District has not provided for any OHV recreation on its lands?
The Park District's Master Plan is a policy document that guides the District in future expansion of parks, trails, and services, defines their vision and mission, and sets priorities for the next decade. The District's Master Plan Website
Here is the schedule of public meetings:
September 11, 2012
7 - 8:30 p.m. - Oakland
Richard Trudeau Training Center
Redwood Regional Park
11500 Skyline Blvd
Oakland, CA 94619
September 19, 2012
7 - 8:30 p.m. - Concord
Concord Senior Center
2727 Parkside Circle
Concord, CA 94519
September 22, 2012
10 - 11:30 a.m. - Oakley
Big Break Visitor Center at the Delta
Big Break Regional Shoreline
69 Big Break Road
Oakley, CA
September 29, 2012
10 - 11:30 a.m. - Fremont
Fremont Community Center
40000 Paseo Padre Pkwy.
Fremont, CA 94538
October 3, 2012
7:00 - 8:30 p.m. - Dublin
Dublin Unified School District
Board Room
7471 Larkdale Ave.
Dublin, CA 94568
October 9, 2012
7:00 - 8:30 p.m. - Richmond
Richmond Memorial Auditorium
Bermuda Room
403 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, CA 94804
Besides attending the public meetings below, off-roaders should send in comments via the District's website, Online District Comment Form, or send in a letter to the address below in the sample letter.
SAMPLE LETTER
East Bay Regional Park District
Master Plan Policy Update
2950 Peralta Oaks Court
Oakland, CA 94605
Dear EBRPD:
Please accept my comments on the East Bay Regional Park District's 2012 Master Plan (Plan). As an OHV recreationist, I am concerned about the lack of managed OHV recreation on District park lands. I am also very concerned about collaboration between anti-OHV organizations and the District to ban OHV recreation on the 2,000-acre Tesla property.
The Tesla property was purchased in the late 1990s with OHV Trust Fund monies. The California legislature approved this purchase so that the area would be added to the Carnegie SVRA for additional OHV recreational opportunity.
The District manages 65 regional parks, over 112,000 acres of open space and 1,200 miles of non-motorized trails. OHV recreation is a legitimate form of public land use and an activity recognized by the District in their 1973 and 1980 Master Plans. OHV recreation is the fastest growing and most popular activity on state park lands. Yet, the District does not provide a single acre of OHV recreational opportunity.
The current planning process is supposed to maintain a careful balance between conservation and preservation, while offering recreational use of parklands for all to enjoy.
The 2009 Survey on Public Opinions and Attitudes on Outdoor Recreation in California (SPOA) found OHV recreation was a popular activity on park lands. SPOA found that 48.1% of respondents in the Central Valley participated in OHV recreation in the last year compared with 45.9% for beach activities, 39.3% for swimming in lakes and streams and 12.5% for day hiking on trails.
OHV users and organizations were left out of the process to develop the Master Plan Map in 2007 which identified the Tesla property for takeover by the District for non-motorized recreation. The District appears to be using that Map as the authorization for aggressive efforts to ban or restrict OHV recreation on Tesla land.
No such outreach to OHV stakeholders has been found to date regarding the District's 2012 planning process.
Homes in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties are taxed at a rate of $10 per year per $100,000 of assessed valuation (i.e., a home assessed at $400,000 will pay $40 per year) to pay for District efforts to provide diverse recreation for residents.
Currently there is no legal OHV recreation in Contra Costa County and most of the 1,300-acre Carnegie SVRA resides in San Joaquin County, not in Alameda County. The District should plan for a representative amount of OHV recreation on its lands that will serve the almost 28,000 non-street legal OHVs registered in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties and the tens-of-thousands of street legal dual-sport motorcycles and 4WD vehicles in the area.
Compared with the District's 112,000 acres, the 1,300 acres at Carnegie SVRA represents just 1% of land in the District's sphere of influence available for OHV recreation. If the 2,000 acres of the Tesla property are added to Carnegie SVRA for OHV recreation, that combined total of 3,300 acres would represent just 3% of lands in the District's sphere of influence available for OHV recreation.
It appears that District board members and staff attended two tours of the Tesla property during the current CEQA planning process that were not open to the public. Those tours occurred on 4/16/12 and 4/23/12. OHV groups were not invited as this group discussed plans on how to ban OHV recreation on the Tesla property.
Recommendations
I urge the District to replace or amend the 2007 General Plan Map to reflect current and future needs for OHV recreation on public lands in the District's jurisdiction.
I request the District Immediately remove the Tesla/Alameda property from the 2007 General Plan Map.
The District should conduct a new survey that includes OHV recreation as an approved or authorized activity on District lands.
The District should cease and desist its current effort to influence (e.g. ban OHV recreation) OHV recreation on the Tesla property which is part of the ongoing Carnegie SVRA General Plan Update.
Finally, the District should withdraw its July 11, 2012, comment letter to the Carnegie SVRA General Plan where the District advocates for non-motorized use on the Tesla property.
Sincerely,
John Doe Rider
This is your chance to have your voice heard and to demand accountability from government officials who work for the District.
Thanks for your prompt attention to this matter.
Don Amador
Western Representative
BlueRibbon Coalition, Inc.
The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible recreation, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. With members in all 50 states, BRC is focused on building enthusiast involvement with organizational efforts through membership, outreach, education, and collaboration among recreationists. The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is here. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742 or http://www.sharetrails.org
_______________________________________________________
As a non-profit, grassroots organization funded primarily by membership dues and donations, we greatly appreciate your support. Visit http://www.sharetrails.org/make-a-difference-now to help fund our efforts to protect your trails!
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