Additions to Agenda 9:00 A.M.

any notes from the meeting?

Although I don't have a great deal of time this morning, I'm going to touch on some highlights of the 7/28/06 TRT meeting. Glenn Montgomery "Lobuck" is working on the audio recording and will have it posted in a few days on the ISDRATRT site http://isdratrt.org/index.php

I'll start with "Jeeps" The Imperial Co. sheriff's are working with the BLM on having an exemption form available for those that tow Jeeps to the dunes. It will be in place prior to the beginning of this season. They did mention that a Jeeper with an exemption form may get stopped but once he/she shows the form, they will be free to leave.

Additionally, the ICSO will have greater coverage to sell passes at the dunes via automated machines and people on the ground with remote credit card machines. Passes will be available on Aug. 14th however they are taking orders via their website and phone.
http://imperialsanddunes.org/isdraMain.html

The ICSO is looking for additional vendors willing to sell passes, all that's required is they have a valid business license, fill out some forms and accept the terms of the agreement. The long term goal is to have 80% of the passes sold via the internet/vendors/telephone rather than on site.

The ISCO will have a new Sheriff beginning in January, Sheriff Ray Loera elect, was present at the meeting and has indicated that his new department will continue their working relationship with the BLM and Sheriff elect Loera also stated that he will be more personally involved in the day to day activities as they relate to the dunes. Additionally, the new Lieutenant in charge of their off highway vehicle team is very receptive to new idea's as opposed to the former Lt. and seems willing to make concessions, provide more training to his staff and work toward the greater good.

A report was given on the new canal being installed along I-8 and the new pipeline that will be both north and south of the canal. The contractors are aware and are working on keeping the dunes totally accessible during construction.

Monitoring of the Piersons Milk Vetch went as expected, low numbers due to no rain and minimal damage due to OHV activity. Many plants were destroyed but it's due to animals eating the plant.

Unfortunately, I don't have time to go on but more information will be provided by Glenn or myself in the next few days.

In closing, I might add that this was a very productive meeting with a great deal of good information.

Larry Jowdy
TRT Vice Chairman

In closing, I might add that this was a very productive meeting with a great deal of good information.

There is a strong possibility that pit toilets will soon be going in down South at Dune Buggy Flats and in the North Washes #4, #6, and #10. This would replace the use of the portable toilets placed in these locations on the major holidays. BLM is in the process of getting the Envirnomental Impact Study completed & approved.

There are some Dune Users (19%) that feel that the portable toilets should be replaced by permanent Pit Toilets and are nearly even split for putting them at Wash Road (36%) and Dune Buggy Flats (35%). However, other Dune Users (23%) feel the portable toilets should be eliminated.

So Glenn, does this mean that the BLM's budget crunch is over? From what you're saying it sounds like they have money to burn just sitting there and are now looking for ways to spend it.

For years the only thing we've heard from the BLM is that they don't have enough money to do the bare minimum and are ending up in the red each year.

What changed that now suddenly the have surplus money sitting around and are looking for was to spend it?

And is this money left over from last year or are they counting their eggs before they hatch and looking for ways to spend this years money even though they don't really know how much they'll have yet?

Jason , my understanding is the money came from the State BLM . Moneys that were not spent on PMV monitoring . Not fee dollars .

There will be some new Pads and some others extended on Gecko Road.

Jason , my understanding is the money came from the State BLM . Moneys that were not spent on PMV monitoring . Not fee dollars .

Plan is to install 14 2 stall toilets in Washroad, Glamis, Gecko road, Dunebuggy flats, and vendors. The contract with current portable toilet company costs 61K year for 6 major weekends. The permanent toilets cost $20K ea. The maintenance of the pemanent toilets will be the same as the portable ones, thus those visiting the ISDRA will have use of toilet facilities year round rather than just the 6 big holiday weekends. The upfront cost is being paid for by fee money.

The BLM's actions make sense if they're required to have toilets..but they're not. I have to wonder if they're using fee money to build infrastructure that will make it possible for them to start charging an entry fee under the FLREA. It seems that they're basically charging us to build the infrastructure they need to be able to legally charge us more.

I'm still wondering what the justificaton is for spending more money on more toilets when the survey shows more people would rather see the toilets gone completely than upgraded...espically when it comes out of our fee money.

It may be cheaper in the long run than keeping the portables - but the survey respondents still seem to have prefered doing away with any toilets to spending more on keeping or upgrading.

There are a lot of people wondering about this. Why have a survey and then act against it?

Jason, You left out the first part of that summary that showed 50% felt the portable toilets should be left at the current quantities. Here is the complete summary of that section of the survey:

They feel that the current level of Trash Dumpsters are fine (64%), and that the Portable Toilets should be left at current quantities (50%). There are some Dune Users (19%) that feel that the portable toilets should be replaced by permanent Pit Toilets and are nearly even split for putting them at Wash Road (36%) and Dune Buggy Flats (35%). However, other Dune Users (23%) feel the portable toilets should be eliminated.




Don't think I don't hear or don't agree with what you're saying about lowering the fees because I do. But we all know that isn't going to happen no matter if the TRT or anyone else recommends it. All the TRT can do is to recommend the best use for the fees that are going to be spend.

The TRT has to look at it this way. If fees can be spent on something that even only 19% of dune users want, while shifting O&M money (approx $78,000 for portables that 50% of dune users feel OK to keep paying) to pay for something that can be available for dune users for 365 days a year instead of 20 - 25 days, it makes sense to do so.

The TRT did not disagree with the BLM in this decision.

The BLM's actions make sense if they're required to have toilets..but they're not. I have to wonder if they're using fee money to build infrastructure that will make it possible for them to start charging an entry fee under the FLREA. It seems that they're basically charging us to build the infrastructure they need to be able to legally charge us more.