I'd like to share a realization I had during Monday's (5-24-10) yearly City Council budget review with the DWP. The DWP General Manager believes that there is more water to be found and that the DWP is on a program to find it. He is confident that he will find at least 1000 additional acre feet per year. This, along with our current level of conservation, will allow the DWP to supply enough water for customers beyond build-out.
For those not following Big Bear Valley water issues, there's been an ongoing dispute between the DWP and the CSD regarding how much water is available to pump. The DWP's consultants insist that there is around 5,000 acre feet (a/f) per year to pump. The CSD recently hired a consultant who concluded that there is 16,000 to 21,000 acre feet. Camps on both sides have nearly "come to blows" regarding this figure.
In a way, it's understandable. At 5,000 a/f, we would likely need to find an additional water source in the future. The likely source would be wastewater recycling which is very expensive and considered by some to be of questionable safety. This recent development with the DWP seems to indicate that our 2 water agencies have discovered a middle ground. This is good news for our Valley (whether or not camps from the DWP & CSD decide to call off their feud). (Of course, consolidation of the two agencies would likely bring the cost down further, but that's a story for another time.)
My objective in this blog is to suggest that Big Bear Lake and the broader Big Bear Valley are free to develop as much or as little as it would like. As an elected official, I am charged to determine and pursue the consensus of the CITIZENS. And that is the question I pose:
What is your personal Vision of Big Bear?
- Take the poll to the right
- Post a more detailed answer to this blog post: anonymously, or under your name, or using a screen name
- Sign-up to follow the conversation and poll results
I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Michael
6 comments:
Since there is no agreement on how much water we have, it only makes sense to remain frugal with our water usage. I feel people here are comfortable with the water conservation efforts that are in place now. Let's hope we never get to the point of "Navy showers."
David
Unfortunately, developers have wormed their way into the hearts and minds (and ranks?) of the DWP like a cancerous growth.
Big Bear doesn't need to get any bigger -- we have plenty of existing homes for sale. Older homes can be remodeled or torn down and replaced. Plus they already have existing water/power hookups. Let's focus on incentives for this type of redevelopment before we spread out into the hills.
Logic instead of greed.
Michael,
I constantly hear of the squabbles among merchants and the costs involved in 'improvements'. The bulk of these seem to come from the merchants catering to the tourist trade. Little do I hear about the development of Big Bear as a nice place to live. Where are the discussions on attraction of industry to help pay the taxes needed to support our community development. My personal view of Big Bear is that of a quality tourist area AND a well balanced community.
Beyond build out? What, exactly does that mean?
I believe that the resources in the Valley are there to provide balance. For example, a certain amount of water will support a certain amount of live - plants, animals and people.
If the decisions continue to change the balance by favoring development in favor of one of those life forms, say people, the balance will certainly change as will the Valley itself.
"More" is not necessarily better - today individual people are learning to live within their means - it's time the government and services that support the people learn to do the same.
Presumably, 'build out' means when all lots are built on.
Build-out is an urban planner’s estimate of the amount and location of potential development for an area. Sometimes called a "lot-yield analysis", build-out is one step of the land use planning process. Evaluation of potential development impacts begins with a build-out analysis.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Build-out
Provide incentives to conserve.
Turf buy back makes sense! Continue that program.
There should really be a tax on hotel rooms with jacuzzi tubs. What better example of our water supply literally and figuratively going "down the drain"..
Its sad to me to see grass in front of First Mountain Bank. How about the city passes a law that says businesses can't have real grass. Nottinghams has fake grass and it looks fine. Cheers to them. (pun intended)
Coldwell banker is another example of appalling excessive grass space. )
Bayshore raquet club condo's spends over $50,000 on watering grass every summer.. Can we please force them to sell that turf and put in some rocks!
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