Minutes of the Palomar Mountain Planning Organization Meeting
October 4, 2003
Robert Carlyle, Tracy Dixon, Bruce Graves, Susan Humason, Pat Jones, Elliot Miller, Jack Norvall, Bonnie Phelps, Michael Pique, Alan Serry.
The PMPO Board meeting was convened 10:06 A.M. October 4, 2003, at the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department. The minutes of the July 19, 2003, board meeting were distributed and approved. The treasurer, Tracy Dixon, reported income of $100 from donations, expenses of $132.85 for metal signs, $36 for Post Office box rental, and $259 for fire safety newsletter postage for total expenses of $427.85. Our ending bank balance was $32,080.57. The report was approved.
Jack Norvall reported that our colleague Robert Haase has the draft letter to the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service pretty much finished. We need to have one more meeting with him, and need Mike Pique to finish some maps to go with it that summarize the distances between key landmarks in Sections 14, 13, and 24. Haase will mail the letter to Forest Service surveyor Ken Whittaker and invite him to see the stones Jack discovered that we believe are the 1885 Minto mound marking the southeast corner of Section 14.
Tom Burton, Jerry McLees, and Martha Stover from the Summit met with County staff to again advocate the PMPO's case for recognizing Palomar Mountain as a ``Country Town'', but without success so far. Tom thinks we might have to settle for ``Village Core'' designation, and may not even get that. All our public comments, letters, and meetings have resulted in only a one-line entry in the County staff's official report that Palomar Mountain residents want to ``add commercial & increased density''. Bonnie Phelps wants to be sure they know we want to keep our existing 1 dwelling per 8 acres instead of changing us to 1 per 40 acres. Tom Burton and Martha Stover will attend the next meeting, which was rescheduled from September 24. For more information, see www.yahoo.com, search groups for ``PMPO 2020''.
Robert Carlyle has documents needed for incorporating the not-for-profit community association ready for Tom Burton to review.
Elliot Miller has contacted Richard Williamson Jr. and Sr., and Morey Jameson for permission to prepare emergency escape roads across their property. Williamsons are ready to go ahead; Mr. Jameson has liability concerns but is willing to work with us: maybe just a fence and lock to be cut would suffice. He has suggested a revised route that would exit at Jeff Valley.
Bruce Graves reports that 35 numbered reflective ``PMVFD Emergency Locator'' signs have been made and installed in the Crestline and Birch Hill region. More will be made to finish up there and then do a similar job in Bailey Meadows. The Board authorized Bruce and Mike Pique to buy the materials needed.
Karl Bauer, PMVFD Chief, said the PMVFD board has proposed a benefit fee property tax of $120 for a home, $160 for a commercial site, and $8.40 for vacant land, per year, on Palomar Mountain. This will be on the March 2004 ballot and will require passage by 2/3 vote.
Bonnie Phelps reported that Sharon Ackerman is coordinating the scheduling and accounting for the chipper service. Sharon has encountered some problems in keeping chipping cost accounts separate between SDG&E and the Fire Safe Council, and with SDG&E crews moving ready-to-chip piles away from their poles.
Bonnie suggests that non-resident owners could possibly donate unwanted lots to the PMPO or the PMVFD if buyers were ready.
Alan Serry says the California Highway Patrol has changed enforcement for Palomar Mountain from Temecula to Oceanside, which will be to our benefit. Bob Rios had written a letter to Supervisor Horne about the dangerous cyclists but got no response; Alan will follow up.
Robert Carlyle has seen four recently. Alan Serry has talked to Eric Peffer about doing a study on the missing squirrel problem for about $60 per hour, and Fish & Game might also be interested in a study.
Karl Bauer says the sheriff will start having a deputy at the PMVFD house once per week.
The next scheduled board meeting is January 10, 2004.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 A.M.
Michael E. Pique, Secretary.