When the Mammoth Town Council meets Wednesday night, they will once more go into closed session to talk about Mammoth Lakes Land Acquisition and the more than $40 million debt against the Town. That session was set to take place at 5pm.
Earlier this month, Town and MLLA officials met for three days in Mammoth and began negotiations over how the Town will pay the big debt. Apparently both sides will come up with a plan and then take it to the public.
Wednesday night’s meeting goes public at 6pm. Under the consent agenda, the Council will review and accept the Mammoth Lakes Economic Forecast and Revitalization Strategies Report.
A public hearing comes up next with possible adoption of the Town of Mammoth Lakes Trail System Master Plan and EIR. Supporters of the trail system have said publicly that they expect approval by the Town Council.
Under policy matters, the Council may approve the draft scope of work for the Economic Development Program. The Council will also get a look at the Measure R fall award timeline as well as the Town’s own fall applications. And, the Council will also give direction on the prohibition of skateboards on Mammoth’s streets.
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PMDoig……and maybe by doing that,it would be a good start to turn Mammoth Lakes back into what it used to be years ago………a nice,quiet little town in the mountains enjoyed by locals,and not a “hot spot” for Southern Californians…Don’t you got your own mountains down there?
As a skateboarder for the majority of my life I find it absurd to ban what many consider a primary mode of transportation, as well as a great tool for the youth to promote a sense of individuality and self-accomplishment. Furthermore, and I speak on behalf of a steadily growing number of your yearly tourists, if this ban is made effective, those of us who partake in many annual trips to your local snow resort will henceforth boycott your town’s tourist economy. in Layman’s terms; ban skateboarding, say farewell to your city revenue. I am just one voice among a rapidly increasing community against this action. I urge you to think this through.
-Please note the number of individuals who enjoy the parallel between skateboarding and snowboarding/skiing.
@PMDoig –
….no worries on this stuff….check out the earlier post by the Chief:
“Dan WatsonOctober 20, 2011 at 8:43 am#
Steven and the other proponents of skateboarding in the streets can relax. The Council’s action last night was to simply discuss whether a prohibition was warranted. Good government should have open, transparent policy discussions and that’s what happened. After comments from several people, the Council voted 5-0 to not prohibit skateboards on streets.
Hot debate. What do you think? 5 5”
Kat- love the way you back up your beliefs with facts.
K- I live in mammoth and pay the same taxese you and Ken pay. All i’m trying to say is we the town employees are people too not just “STAFF”. My kids go to the same school your kids go to, I shop at the same vons you do, heck were probley neighbors. were all in the same boat with this law suit crap,You,I and the rest of the people of Mammoth will have to suffer from something we had NOTHING to do with. the only difference is I might not have a job when this is over with. Please focus the anger where the bad decissions are being made, not at the bottom of the food chain. Thank you
It’s no point jadie, you’ve been personally attack and singled out by these people who base their opinions on stereotypes and just go with the crowd. I tried to show them my passionate point of view the other week and they got aggitated because of opposition and started attacking members of the community like you and me. I mean “I’ve helped pay your salary”, and “you have been willing to take the towns money”, who the hell does he think he is to say stuff like that to you. The discussion was fine and heated till some weak human being like Ken Warner decides to start singling out people and trying to take the higher pedistool by flaunting his apparent “god like” position. We’re all equal here and if your ego tells you different, take a tip to hollywood and let us know how that works out.
This is perfect example of what happens when sensible people try to debate with old timer, set in there way, discriminative people. Kat is a sensible human being who argues one side, Scott is passionate and loves metaphors :), Robs straight to the point, and then Ken . . . well, if already stated my opinion on him
WOW you helped pay my salary??? when you come down from the clouds we will finish this conversation
jadie – Where exactly do you think the money comes from to pay town employees?
Ken, The point I was trying to make is that we are all in the same boat, I am born and raised in Mammoth (are you??). I have been working for the Town for ten years. and from where I work I have no contact with the airport, I have no contact with the council, and I had no input on the smurf decal. I have no input on what is going on with the law suit, I couldn’t tell you where MMM’s office is. But I can tell you is that for ten years I have worked side by side with people who take pride in their jobs, and work there asses off for the people of Mammoth lakes. Many of which can’t afford to live in the Town. Ken people like you and the people that write the crap for the Sheet should slow down and think before you pull the trigger on everyone that works for the town. If the sheet is so interested in the truth why have we never seen a secretary, parks worker, road worker, or any other manual labor worker interviewed? A single mom scared to death about losing her job just not good reading? Ken the point im trying to make is please choose your word wisely before you lump together honest hard working people with bad judgement and greed. P.S. how long have you lived in Mammoth???
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Jadie, If you re-read my comment, I said nothing that could be construed as a personal attack on city employees. I meant no personal disrespect for you or your job. I did not comment on your degree of commitment to the people of Mammoth Lakes.
The length of time I’ve lived continuously in Mammoth Lakes has nothing to do with finding a way to pay off a debt that should not have been accrued by the Town of Mammoth Lakes in the first place. But if it somehow makes a difference to you — I’ve lived continuously in Mammoth Lakes for the last 10 years — about the time you’ve worked for the town — after Wintering over about 10 times since 1970. I’ve worked for a lot less than you are now. And I was expendable. As a low level employee, I would not feel very secure about future employment.
I liked the area better when it was Mono County than I do now as the Town of Mammoth Lakes.
The town is in debt $40,000,000 (forty million dollars) — the town revenue (money taken in) is around $16,000,000 (sixteen million dollars) and has trouble balancing the budget every year. There have already been layoffs by the town in attempts to balance the budget.
The simple truth is that the money is going to have to come from somewhere. Everybody is pointing their finger at somebody else. None of the big developers for whom the airport was created is going to give any financial aid to the town — that I know of. We have been left to twist in the wind by the very people who talked the town into trying to develop the airport.
What to do?
I’m not voting for any more taxes to pay the debt to MLLA. I don’t think anyone else should either.
So what to do? I asked before — what’s your idea? What happens if the town does declare bankruptcy? Would there be staff cuts? Do you think they would care about the affect bankruptcy would have on your personal situation? Shouldn’t you and the rest of your co-workers be working out a deal right now? Are you being mushroomed* like the rest of us about how the town plans to deal with the FORTY MILLION DOLLAR judgment that grows larger every day by accruing interest?
What’s your idea? Please tell us……
*mushroomed — kept in the dark and fed sh*t —
Someone should be asking how much MLTPA and the Mammoth Lakes Housing staff are getting paid, and maybe do a little trimming there before slashing the salaries of the hard working Town employees who are actually keeping this community up and running.
…and by the way — I’ve helped pay your salary for the last 10 years so have some respect. You have been willing to take the towns people’s money (my money) for 10 years and yet begrudge the need by the town to cut costs and pay a debt that shouldn’t have been accrued in the first place. Your public service job is not an entitlement to personal security. And none of this is my fault. So point your finger at somebody else.
Also, shouldn’t town jobs go to people who actually live in town???
Wow Ken, the pressure of a debate has forced you into personal attack, how do you work?
Ok Ken,… Before you start talking out of your rear end, do a little research
Ken people like you and the people that write the crap for the Sheet
when you come down from the clouds we will finish this conversation
————-
Who? Me?
All respect gone for you mate
Good to know people with short tempers who personally attack people are leading our town!
“Good government should have open, transparent policy discussions and that’s what happened.”
I’d call that a good start. Hope it continues.
Steven and the other proponents of skateboarding in the streets can relax. The Council’s action last night was to simply discuss whether a prohibition was warranted. Good government should have open, transparent policy discussions and that’s what happened. After comments from several people, the Council voted 5-0 to not prohibit skateboards on streets.
I am not surprised – of course they didn’t take any action to try to change the behavior of the skateboarders – I couldn’t be at the meeting last night so will have to try and catch the reruns on TV – should be interesting to hear what the skateboards said and how they explained their behavior, hmmmm …..and now I guess the “so what” squad will continue in their usual ways….so the rest of us will have to start calling 911 when we experience their reckless behavior on the roads, sidewalks and bike trails…..people put 911 on speed dial….
kat……Gotta ask a questions maybe you can respond to..just out of curiosity,due to the fact I VERY rarely travel the streets of Mammoth Lakes.Do you mean to tell me skateboarders are allowed to travel On the streets of Mammoth Lakes,in traffic,to where vehicles are forced to slow down as to not crash into them?….And also allowed to speed down sidewalks…and bike paths,forcing problems with pedestrians and bicyclists….on bike paths and sidewalks? If so,it’s got to be the only town in America that allows such a thing…In my town,NEVER have I seen a skateboarder riding down HWY.395,legally impeading traffic…or skateboarders speeding down the town’s sidewalks forcing people to dodge them or get run into….
Yes, skateboarders in Mammoth are allowed to go where ever they please with no limits…maybe the police would do something if they personally witnessed the reckless behavior of some skateboarders. I think the skateboarders know they won’t get caught and that no one will call the police so they just get more and more reckless. But now the town council members (some of them) say they don’t wish to limit skateboarders’ “lifestyle” or “sense of freedom, transportation or physical work-outs.” Thus, the rest of us were just told by the town council to basically shut up and take it…and just deal with our lifestyle, sense of freedom, transportation and physical workouts being negatively impacted by some reckless skateboarders. Welcome to Mammoth – a place were there are no rules and everyone is “free” to do as they please!
kat……..Your last sentence of your comment seems to be true….But I will tell you what….If someone held a large caliber pistol to my head,and told me I had to spend two weeks in Mammoth Lakes,if I were driving the streets and a reckless skateboarder were to dart out in front of me,and my choices were either to have a traffic collision with another innocent victim in another car in order to avoid the skateboarder,or to run into the reckless skateboarder in order to avoid a serious vehicle accident,guess which one I would choose to do?
Dog parks are for dogs, skate parks are for skating. Out of 10 skateboarders riding on the sidewalk or street, maybe 2 will be considerate of others and not pose safety issues for other pedestrians, vehicles, or themselves. Unfortunately for the 2 considerate riders the rest of the apples cliche applies.
Can you justly categorize dogs and skateboarders together? Maybe this calls for a ban of scooters, or a ban of cycling. Do we now place the elderly and disabled in sanctioned parks where they can safely operate their powerchairs while wearing proper safety equipment, seeing as they do not always abide by the rules of the road either? It’s absurd.
What it really comes down to is communnity acceptance. Skateboarders will continue to fit the persona placed on them by others as long as that persona is fueled. It’s called a product of their environment. Someone tells you that skateboarders are hooligans, and you like skateboarding, so that must mean you are a hooligan, thus you act like one. Acceptance and public opinion can single-handedly change this. You just have to start.
Scott…Maybe skateboarding is a professional sport,but there is a place for professional sports to take place…I have never seen a football game take place on a busy street,or a marathon being run to where vehicles have to be dodging the runners.As you state,maybe skateboarders are willing to accept the risks of riding without helmets or safety gear,but when it comes to the risk of getting run over by a vehicle,or causing an accident involving other vehicles with injuries to others,that is a safety issue for everyone….not just the risk-taking skateboarder.
My truck is bigger then a skateboard. It’s doubtful I’ll end up under their skateboard.
As long as I’m not held responsible when I run them over business as usual is fine with me.
Thats the first real comment to make sense here. Maybe everyone should take a page from Rob’s book
I bet if we had the stats on how many accidents have occurred in Mammoth that were caused by skateboards, it would be really low. In the twenty five years I have called Mammoth my home, I have only heard of one. That is the recent tragic accident of the young kid who was not wearing his helmet.
LAME!
Steven – please see my comment above regarding stats on accidents. Also, the only thing “lame” about this situation is the reckless behavior on our town’s streets and bike paths by some members of the skateboarding community. Additionally, your “so what” attitude regarding this safety issues truly summarizes the perceived attitude of those same reckless skateboarders…and therein lies the problem.
Kat,
I respect your general comments on inappropriate behavior by some skateboarders, but statistically you are more likely to be injured or killed on a bike or walking. There are reasons for it of course: There are more cyclists and pedestrians than skateboarders; but on the other hand, cyclists and pedestrians are also more likely to be in a roadway than a skateboarder.
A similarity shared by both groups, cyclists and skateboarders, is that the average age of people that ride bikes and skateboards are very similar- they are young- generally around or under 15 years of age.
The average age of these groups also explains the propensity for reckless behavior, which is essentially stems from youth and a lack of maturity. And of course, most of those killed and injured are males, who are more inclined to risky behavior as well. Yet, I don’t buy the argument that skateboarding be banned or restricted to skateboard parks anymore than I would for cyclists being banned on streets or restricted to cycling parks.
We complain about having too much regulation in our lives when it affects what we like to do, but of course we are all for restricting what others like to do, especially if it interferes with our own personal enjoyment or our preferences of an activity. How much of human behavior must we keep circumscribing through more and laws and regulations?
We cannot protect ourselves from everybody and everything. There are consequences even to walking. There were 47,000 people that were killed and 688,000 injured… just walking!
On the other hand there were 42 skateboarder deaths and according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), more than 15,600 injuries requiring hospital emergency room treatment each year related to skateboarding.
Biking on the other hand has approximately 600-700 deaths, sixteen times more than deaths from skateboarding, and an additional 48,000 to 50,000 cyclist are injured in traffic crashes, which is 32 times more than skateboarding.
Given the statistics, perhaps it is walking and cycling that should be banned or restricted, leaving the skateboarders alone. (I say that “tongue in cheek, of course.)
Charles – thumbs up on your comment – well said. I was never in favor of taking skateboarding off streets completely. However, they should never be allowed to ride in the middle of the road forcing cars behind them to avoid them. Also, skateboarding is never allowed on sidewalks in any other community that I know of (I am from So. Cal. and the east coast). The bike trail and the road in the lakes basin is a dangerous place for skateboarding too given the amount of downhill speed that is built up and the fact that skateboards have NO braking system. All of these issues combine to spell trouble. My comments all come from personal experiences either being forced to drive behind skateboarders in the road, bike and walk near them on the bike trails and roads and encountering them running stop signs on the frontage road nearing causing accidents and riding down Main Street at night wearing dark clothing. I cannot remember even one negative experience with bikers or walkers. So, although your stats are good, the small town situation here in Mammoth makes this skateboarding problem bigger for us. Simply put, the police need to be more involved to get the message out to skateboarders about the right way to safely travel on skateboards in Mammoth.
I defend, only a right. I believe the skate boarders have heard the call of reason and will pass it along.
There was another skateboarder death on Forest Trail a few years ago. Does it take a high body count before the danger is recognized and safety rules are applied?
Well I guess if your opinion about risks applies, we should all live inside a pillow with our own Self contained breathing apparatus to prevent us from the risks of:
HIV
AIDS
FLU
PNEUMONIA
HEPATITIS
EBOLA VIRUS
MENINGACOCAL
STRESS
HIGH BLOOD-PRESSURE (from ALL the skaters that ravage our streets like wild barbarians)
BEING SHOT
BEING STABBED
BEING STABBED THEN SHOT
BEING COUGHED ON
BEING SNEEZED ON
point is, in Mammoth, the likelyhood of dying from being hit by a car on a skateboard; being killed in your car from an accident involving a skateboarder and so on, is as likely as any of the above, if not less likely. Im still awaiting a valid arguement
Ok Ken, you say cut Town employees salary in half, I make $25,000 a year. Cut that in half and I will be below poverty level. 95% of the people that work for the Town are pay check to pay check blue collar workers. Before you start talking out of your rear end, do a little research
Well the money to pay for the town’s indiscretion has got to come from somewhere.
What do you suggest — bankruptcy? Liquidation of assets? Staff cuts? What?
Or do you expect the towns people to vote for yet another tax. Maybe Measure SB (Screwed Blue)?
Interesting reaction to my post. It’s almost like people don’t want to talk about real solutions…. 🙂
I wondered that myself.
It’s going to play out one way or another and I’ll be here to watch.
The Oxygen starved council wants to ban skateboards on the streets?
I do not ride a skateboard, but a lot of people in town use their skate boards as their primary source of transportation to work and the store and such. Now they will have to buy a car and be even more pedestrian friendly. Just like the town thinks it wants.
More hypoxia on the way folks.
What next, Baby carriages? Actually, that would be great! If you know what I mean.
Mammoth Lakes has a great skateboard park and that is where skateboarders should ride and ride while wearing the proper protective equipment, helmet and pads. Many Mammoth skateboarders ride on Mammoth roads day and night wearing dark clothing, no protective equipment and making the roads unsafe for everyone. They have little to no control of their speed and no way of stopping quickly. They present a danger to themselves and everyone else using the road. It is just a matter of time before there is a serious injury or death because of this reckless behaviour. I favor a rule that will restrict skateboard riding on the roads of Mammoth.
Harry….And when an accident does happen between vehicle and skateboarder,I wonder how,and who will file the NEW Mono County lawsuit….the skateboarder for getting hit by the vehicle?…Or will it be the driver of the vehicle against the skateboarder for being in the road and damaging their car?….Or will it be BOTH driver and boarder against the county or city of Mammoth for not issueing citations,or banning skateboarders from being allowed to travel on city highways?
People drive cars without airbags, fly planes without parachutes and swim without life jackets . . . what’s the difference Harry? How many times have you run into a skateboarder with your car? Im gonna guess zero mate. Skateboarding is a professional sport just like football, swimming and marathon running. You dont go down to the local pool and stop people who dont have snorkles from swimming, so dont try to interfere with skateboarders striving to become better at their passion. They accept the risks and they have a right to participate in any sport they desire. Not all skateboarders are bad, and if you honestly care so much about them not being able to “stop quickly”, maybe you should put forward a closed session about making it mandatory for cars to have beanbags on them considering SO many skateboarders get hit by cars in Mammoth.
Yeah, the difference between skateboarding and professional football; swimming and marathon running is that they don’t do it in traffic. Not even marathon running. And runners and bike riders get hit by cars all the time while in bike lanes. Cars run into each other.
Why do you think skateboarders are somehow not going to be hit by a car?
Streets are not playgrounds —–
All the time hey? I have never in my life in mammoth seen or heard of a car hitting a skateboarder. Ever. I dont know what evidence you base this upon, except for your passion for this motion to pass. All cases need evidence, and you have shown zero. Innocent until proven guilty my friend.
Ken, im sorry but your arguement is rather light as Scott says. Like you say Scott, I believe Ken’s use of the term “all the time” is rather vague. Scott has a point, and until something extremely bad and serious arises, we can do nothing but let the skateboarders enjoy themselves ken.
Becasue skateboarding has been around in Mammoth for decades and no serious or even record worthy examples of cars hitting a skateboarder has been established. Simple
I grew up and most of my favourite pastimes were playing baseball and gridiron in the street. Drive with caution and let the kids have fun is what i say. Im middle aged and i assume a lot of people commenting are the same, why dont we stop hating on people using other methods of transport, coz remember, cars didnt arrive on the scene for a long time people
Scott – and people without brains make illogical posts!
Harry lay off him just becasue he has a different point of view. Go live in a communist country if you cant except other peoples opinions. This is a discussion harry, not a trial
I agree with Harry that there are valid safety reasons for the town to seriously consider limiting skateboarders to the skateboard park. While driving, biking or walking – I would bet that many of us have experienced “close calls” with skateboarders riding out of control on the town’s streets, sidewalks and bike trails. I appreciate the town council looking at this important issue. Regarding the concern that skateboarders would be “forced” to buy a car to get around….that wouldn’t be necessary…. a bike will do the trick while providing the rider the ability to stop quickly and ride up hill too.
So what! Mammoth has an awesome bike park too! Should we ban bikes from our roads now? They have singled out a specific group of people because of their particular life style. I cant wait to vote against these idiots.
I would like to delete the comment above.
My new comment is as follows:
I have just watched the latest council meeting that was aired on10-20-11 at 8:00 AM and it appears that the council has agreed to allow the skateboarders to continue to use town roads to navigate and has advised them to use extreme caution when doing so.
This to me and others was a fair and thought out decision that is to be commended.
Steven – I few comments from the town council will do completely nothing to change the skateboarders behavior – to wish otherwise is pie in the sky thinking. I think that those of us that experience first hand skateboarders riding recklessly should immediately dial 911 and report what we see and experience starting today – maybe even follow them until the police take over. Because no one reports them, they feel they can get away with their crazy skateboarding on streets, sidewalks and bike trails. Heck, they cannot even follow the rules of the skateboard park regarding wearing helmets…who seriously thinks that a warning from Town Council with do anything. Thanks Chief for bring the issue forward – but the outcome is empty and solves nothing.
It appears that you will vote for anyone who agrees with you idiot or not.
Steven – this issues is not about attacking a specific group of people or their lifestyle. It is a safety issue. The recent death of the skateboarder simply brought the issue of some skateboarders’ misconduct on our towns streets and bike paths to light. While there may not be recent cases of accidents or injury b/w skateboarders and cars and bikers and walkers – a large majority of people have been impacted by reckless skateboarders, specifically near misses and high stress situations that need not continue to be a reality in this town. My kids and I were nearly taken out on the Lake Mary bike path by four out of control skateboarders speeding downhill – and later we witness the same ones nearly take out a biker on Meridian Blvd as the skateboarders cut back and forth across the ENTIRE width of the street as if they were snowboarding down Broadway on the mountain – just insane and reckless behavior. It’s too bad for the skateboarding community if a few foolish members are giving you a bad name…but that is exactly the reality of the situation….and it needs to change.
After all of this debate and hot topics, my little nephew has decided to begin skateboarding. After watching him, i have thought about my opinions and believe i have been to harsh on skateboarders in the township of Mammoth. Maybe we are looking to much into the issue, and let them skate, but if any issues arise, we call the police. Just like the rest of America. This is a non-issue
Why would you vote out the idiots? They agreed with you!
What is this closed session stuff?
Aren’t we still a democracy?
no the police get away with a lot the few who are ok, just gets thrown away.
One small contribution to paying off MLLA would be for all city government officials to cut their pay to 0. No more money for the City Council — why should we pay them given the debt they have accrued? Town employee’s should also contribute by suffering a wage cut. Cut their wages in half. That would mean only about $120,000 a year for the city manager. He should be able to get by on that.
“the Council will also give direction on the prohibition of skateboards on Mammoth’s streets”
The police state is here..
When will they ban skis on MM???
Closed sessions are never a good idea…
maybe “we the people” should have a closed session on RECALLS
Bankruptcy today, tomorrow, and everyday after that. Take a good, long and hard look sheepeople. We’re about to be sold down the river just like the water rights that were whored out so many years ago. The only motive to settle here is to protect their investments and so a few can profit. Might be a good time to lawyer up and get your piece of the lawsuit pie while the circus is still in town.