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Palomar Mountain Planning Organization Minutes, 5/25/1996 Annual General Meeting minutes
Minutes of the Palomar Mountain Planning Organization 1996 Annual
Meeting Saturday, May 25, 1996 at the Palomar Mountain Lodge
Board Members Present:
Terri Bailey, Robert Carlyle, Halcie
Clark, Russ Day, Donna Dose, Thomas Fortney, Elizabeth Getzoff
(alternate), Bruce Graves, Susan Humason, John Moriarity, Nancy
Moriarity (alternate), Michael Pique, Carol Ravenscroft, John Tainer,
Robert Thicksten, Joseph Weeks.
The annual public PMPO meeting was convened at 11:10 A.M. Saturday May
25, 1996. The Chair Bruce Graves thanked the Palomar Mountain Lodge
and Joe Weeks for hosting the Pancake Breakfast and Annual Meeting.
Secretary's Report:
The minutes from the 1995 annual meeting
were approved.
Treasurer's Report:
As reported in the PMPO spring 1996 annual
newsletter, we began the fiscal year with $9,032.04. Our expenses were
$2,845.11 for consulting fees, $45.00 postal charges, $62.00 for
agendas of the County Supervisors' meetings. The total donations from
our members came to $2,715.00, about $200 short of meeting our
expenses, leaving us with a balance of $8,759.93. The treasurer's
report was approved.
Antennas on Crestline:
Jerry McLees of Brian Mooney Associates
reported on the major use permit modification requested by the El
Centro firm, Relay Engineering, to increase the height of their 35-foot
existing antenna by 100 feet. This antenna is located outside of the
antenna farm zoning area. The PMPO generally believes an Environmental
Impact Report should be required including visual impacts of the new
tower, regulations and risks regarding falling of antenna towers, and
technical and economic limitations of different means of expansion.
Cedar Creek Water Project:
Jerry McLees reported on the status
of William Yale's proposed commercial development along the East Grade
Road to pump and sell well water. Mr. Yale proposes to pump, from his
7 acre parcel, about 48 acre-feet per year accumulated by the 570-acre
Jeff Valley watershed. This is the equivalent of 14 dwellings per acre
in water extraction, a possibly precedent-setting taking of water
resources. Although Mr. Yale plans to apply for a Major Use
Permit, but has not yet done so, no studies on the environmental and
biological consequences of the proposed pumping have yet been done. A
September 1993 48-hour pump test on the well showed direct impacts on
both Cedar Creek and on neighboring wells. The PMPO has asked that Mr.
Yale's consultant look at the biological and long-term hydrological
consequences of Cedar Creek drawdown, the traffic safety issues caused
by limited flat area and sharp curves at the site, and the pollution
and noise impact from the diesel generator planned for high-speed
pumping of the water into waiting tanker trucks. John Tainer pointed
out that harm to the mountain's plants and wildlife would come during
dry years and seasons even if plans and water budgets based on
mathematical "average" conditions suggested safety.
Palomar Mountain State Park:
Susan Grove described her joy at
completing her first year as a Palomar Park ranger; over her 12-year
ranger career, she declared Palomar to be the most beautiful place of
all. She reported 31 campsites open, with hot showers and flushing
toilets, and credited colleagues David Roberts and Jeff Madison with
keeping it all going for the 65,000 visitors last year. A 20-person
National Civilian Community Corps team spent six weeks repairing and
improving trails, especially the Chimney Flats Trail. A goal for this
year is re-opening the road to the Boucher Hill fire lookout. She
reminded residents of the Interpretive Programs from Memorial Day until
Labor Day, and of the Junior Ranger program weekend mornings.
U.S. Forest Service:
Norm Noyes reported that they now have
seven fire engines and a helicopter. Their budget was reduced
significantly at the beginning of the year. Fuel measurements show we
are in a critical fire situation and Mr. Noyes urged residents to clear
around homes and other structures.
Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department (PMVFD):
Fire
Chief Scott Dreisman reported the PMVFD has paid off the station
property. Soon they expect to finish the concrete floor, purchase a
reservoir site, and re-do their well. This year's plans include
erecting a flagpole and generally improving the site for the Labor Day
barbecue. Currently there are 13 volunteer firemen, which is working
out well, with 2 rescue vehicles, 2 pumpers, 1 water tender, and 1
brush truck. They handle 75-80 calls per year, most of them vehicle
accidents, with most of those being motorcycles. He urged residents
needing help to call 911, they are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week.
Palomar Observatory:
Bob Thicksten described this as an
exciting era for astronomers, and for Palomar, that even with six large
telescopes under construction around the world, the Palomar
Observatory's 200-inch Hale Telescope is still overbooked by a factor
of four. The interferometer telescope described last year is
proceeding with results far exceeding expectations, with resolution
allowing seeing detail equivalent to a 100-meter telescope. The
instrument combines light from two, soon to be three, separate mirrors
and will eventually lead to large space-based telescopes.
Election of PMPO Board Members:
The Chair announced that there
are five open seats on the PMPO Board, with John and Nancy Moriarity
declining to run for re-election. A nomination was made from the floor
for Jack Norvall, who accepted. The four incumbents running for
re-election were Bob Thicksten, Robert Carlyle, Halcie Clark, and John
Tainer. After statements by these nominees, the motion to elect them
to terms extending to May 1999 was accepted by acclamation. The other
board members' terms are: Joseph Weeks, Tom Fortney, Michael Pique,
Terri Bailey, Carol Ravenscroft (terms expiring May 1997), and: Bruce
Graves, Donna Dose, Tom Burton, Russ Day, and Susan Humason (terms
expiring May 1998).
The meeting was adjourned at 12:35 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth D. Getzoff, Outgoing Secretary
Michael E. Pique, Incoming Secretary
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