Meetings

[JCA]

Just a reminder that these meetings are coming up. I am not a duner (is that a word?) but I am going to these meeting becuase this is a long term affect and it will set the stage for all areas not just the dunes. I would love to meet with anyone from this board for dinner prior to the meetings. I am planning on attending the El Cajon and Escondido meetings. I will have to look for the date for the Escondido meeting. Paige can you post whatever meetings you know of beyond these? Anyone wantiong tpo do dinner let me know here or PM or Email jca@andrewsracing.com. Also Martin and paige is it good to wear team t-shirts to these or maybe the clean up t-shirts?

Dear Fellow Duner,

Situation:
There is a new Recreation Area Management Plan (RAMP) proposed by the BLM to
run the Imperial Sand Dunes. It decides how the dunes will be run for the
next 10 to 15 years. In its present form, there are many restrictions and
many ways to lock us out of the dunes.

Solution:
We must make productive comments on how we want to see the dunes operated.
That is the way we can influence the shape of the final plan. We stand a
good chance of swaying things our way.

3 Actions needed by you:
1) Attend one of the BLM RAMP meetings below to find out what is going on.
2) Go to an ASA RAMP meeting to clarify the issues, hear our suggested
comments, and learn the requirements of comments to which the BLM will
listen. Meetings to be announced soon.
3) Send in your written comments by the June 28th deadline.

The following are the BLM RAMP meetings - all are at 7 PM.


April 23. 2002
Yuma Civic and Convention Center
1440 W Desert Hills Drive
Yuma, AZ

April 25, 2002
Marriott Mission Valley
8757 Rio San Diego Drive
San Diego, CA 92108

The ASA


J.C. Andrews
Andrews Racing
www.andrewsracing.com

 

[JCA]

And here are the ASA RAMP meetings. Same as above if anyone wants to meet for dinner prior let me know. J.C.


Dear Fellow Duner,

How the BLM plans to manage the ISDRA will affect the way we enjoy the
dunes. By law, the BLM must submit their PROPOSED plan to the public so we
can comment on it. It decides how the dunes will be run for the next 10 to
15 years.

At this time, the plan preferred by the BLM includes the following:
· RIDING IN CENTRAL DUNES BY PERMIT ONLY - only 75 per week to be
issued
· CURFEWS AT ALL MAJOR HILLS
· ALCOHOL BAN
· CAMPING RESTRICTIONS AND CAPACITY LIMITS - limit of 55,403
visitors
· DUNE USE ENVIRONMENTAL TEST REQUIRED
· REOPENING ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF THE TEMPORARY CLOSURES
· SUSPEND ALL OPERATIONS IF WIND GUSTS EXCEED 25 MPH
· SUSPEND ALL OHV OPERATIONS DURING SECOND STAGE SMOG ALERTS

The ASA, in conjunction with the other off road groups, have compiled many
thoughts on what our comments should be. These thoughts must be structured
and presented in such a way that the BLM accepts them as valid comments - WE
WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS AT THE MEETINGS LISTED BELOW. FORM LETTERS
WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE. We have until June 28th to submit our comments.

REMEMBER: the final EIS and RAMP will provide the PLAN for running the ISDRA
for the next 10 to 15 years. In its present form, the plan contains many
restrictions and many ways to lock us out of the dunes. We are in a very
good position to influence the final plan. We cannot afford to miss this
opportunity.

Please plan to attend one of these meetings - your right to ride depends on
it. We will notify you as additional details and meetings are finalized.



Sunday April 28
2 PM
Richard's ATV
7012 N 56 Ave.
Glendale, AZ
623 939 3181

Thursday May 2
7:00 PM
El Cajon Chamber Of Commerce
195 E. Douglas Ave

Thursday May 9
7:00 PM
Escondido Community Center
2245 E. Valley Parkway

Saturday May 11
1 PM
Tatum Motorsports
8741 N 79th Ave
Peoria, AZ
623 979-0808

Wednesday May 15
7:00 PM
Mission Valley Scottish Rite Center
1895 Camino Del Rio S.

Tues May 21
Time:TBD
El Torito Mexican Restaurant & Cantina
2020 E. Ball Rd.
Anaheim CA 92806
714-956-4880 Phone
X street: State College

Thursday May 23rd
7:00pm
Long Beach Motorsports
3291 Cherry Ave.
Long Beach CA. 90813
562-427-2779 Bob or Moe

Thursday June 6
7pm
Funco Motorsports
1280 N. Fitzgerald Ave. Unit F
Rialto, CA
909-421-2558

Saturday June 8
1 PM
Orange County Fairgrounds
Building 17
Costa Mesa CA

Thursday June 13 or Thursday June 20
Time to be determined
Sand Tires Unlimited

The ASA


J.C. Andrews
Andrews Racing
www.andrewsracing.com

 

[Paige]

These are the only meetings I have heard of - the ones sponsored by ASA and the public meetings from the BLM - all responses are due 6/28 - so they have to finish off the meetings before then.

As far as wearing team shirts - you can - to show the other off-roaders in the room who you represent - at the meeting in LB I wore my work clothes and walked in with my briefcase - I got funny looks until I sat down next to Jim from CORVA with his bright orange jacket =-p.

I'd be more than happy to sit down with ya and discuss this stuff =-)

<font color=yellow>Paige<font color=yellow>

 

[Kritter]

Those are some strict rules proposed
I like this way
No to these
· RIDING IN CENTRAL DUNES BY PERMIT ONLY - only 75 per week to be
issued (That would be my campground on a big weekend...gimme a break)
· ALCOHOL BAN (thats the fun of the desert...riding, camping, drinking)
· CAMPING RESTRICTIONS AND CAPACITY LIMITS - limit of 55,403
visitors (no limit. Once they get the right to limit people then it will be a downward spiral like Pismo. Everybody thought it wouldn't be a bad idea and then they kept cutting the limit more and more and it is not even worth the drive to go anymore)
· DUNE USE ENVIRONMENTAL TEST REQUIRED (Good Idea, this will make some of the idiots have to turn around and go home and decrease the number of people there. It should be right when you pull into Gecko and get your Pass.All adults in the car must pass or the rig has to turn around and go home)
· REOPENING ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF THE TEMPORARY CLOSURES(Reopen all the dunes closed in the last few years. North of highway is not a biggie because it has been closed for many years now.
· SUSPEND ALL OPERATIONS IF WIND GUSTS EXCEED 25 MPH (if people are dumb enough to ride in the sandstorm...let em. How are people going to know when it hits 25mph? I usually forget my wind gauge at home)
· SUSPEND ALL OHV OPERATIONS DURING SECOND STAGE SMOG ALERTS (thats rediculous, the only time there would be such a thing is at the drags or at oldsmobile during the day and thats only if they measured the somg solely at those locations which again gives them the right to shutdown and thats a right they should not have. We pay the greensticker, we need a place to ride when WE want)
· CURFEWS AT ALL MAJOR HILLS (no curfews. Once they have that right, they can make it whatever they want)

SO is anybody going to the Anaheim one? Can I express my opinions open or will I jsut be looked down on for doing so?

Kris

"A signature always reveals a man's character -- and sometimes even his name. "

 

[Paige]

Chris,

The second group of meetings are sponsored by ASA - no BLM officials will be there, but you can take your thoughts to the meetings and share them, you can also send them in as a written comment to the BLM for the DRAMP. I will try and make the 5/21 meeting, but I am leaving that evening for Ventura for a conference. - I may go to the Sand Tires Meeting or Funco meeting.

The only bad thing about the testing - is it only says OHVers have to take it - nothing about all visitors to the dunes having to take it.

Regarding the limit you are abosultely right - also the economic impacts to any biz that supplies people who visit the dunes who are outside of Imperial County are not included in the DRAMP.

<font color=yellow>Paige<font color=yellow>