EL
MIRAGE STEERING COMMITTEE AND FRIENDS MEETING
January
14, 2004
El
Mirage Community Center
9:00 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance
Call to order by Ed Waldheim
Introductions: Barry Nelson, Mike Ahrens, Sheri Davis, Gina Robison, Steve Batchebr, (SCTA), Obie O’Brien, Tom Cunningham, Mike Cook (SCTA), Lonnie Martin, Dale Martin, Doug Parham, Paul Davis, Don Davis, Paul Nickolaus, Tom Frei, Louise Egley, Bobby Bettes, Tadeus Udala, George Callaway, Paul Kober, Morris Snow, Catherine Racette.
Absent: San Bernardino, Chuck Kalbach, Jim Wilson
Approval of Minutes: 12/10/03
REPORTS
BLM
Mike Ahrens reported “nothing on the well or Visitor Center, but main road should be completed before summer ’04.”
Barry Nelson thanked Friends for the plaque Tim Read was given at his retirement party. He announced that Harold Johnson will be the acting Field Manager for Barstow F.O. in January and he (Barry) will serve in that capacity the month of February. He will invite some high-level law-enforcement personnel from Barstow to the February 11th meeting.
Thanksgiving weekend, 20 officers were present at Dumont Dunes and 300 citations were issued. Ongoing procedures are in place for increasing law-enforcement. There has been a major increase in use of facilities since 1995, and this comes with an increase in lawlessness as well, and this was affirmed by Sheri Davis of the Film Commission.
He was interviewed, recently, by the N.Y Times.
EL MIRAGE REPORT
Nothing. Later discussion re-surfaced need for maintenance, fence completion, trail upgrade, and a new brochure.
EVENT PERMITS REPORT AND DAC REPORT
Sheri Davis reported that the Inland Empire Film Commission staff has decreased from l9 to 7. They are still enjoying the use of Federal Lands.
GRANTS
BLM Barstow Law Enforcement ’04 $ 503,000.00
BLM El Mirage Development ’04 $1,000,000.00
BLM El Mirage Resource Protection ’04 $ 43,000.00
Mike Ahrens expressed his reservation about Ed Waldheim’s pressure to have separate grant for El Mirage next year.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Paul Nickolaus submitted a detailed balance sheet, for Friends ’03, to those present.
DEMO FEE PROJECT
A committee will meet after the Feb. ll meeting to discuss Demo Fee Project and make recommendations.
EL MIRAGE DAYS
Still in discussion mode. No decisions made.
OTHER BUSINESS
Visitor’s Center: Brainstorming throughout meeting on memorial, monument, design,
Chamber of Commerce (El Mirage Museum)
Dumont Dunes: Clean up March 13,’04
Trail Maintenance: Discussion on tractor training, lake bed mound removal (use-conflict).
Decal: Lonnie submitted a 50 cent decal for approval.
Next Meeting: February 11, ’04,
Same time, same place….
Submitted by: Catherine J. Racette, January 19, 2004
January 14, 2004 Minutes