By Deb Murphy
Mammoth Lake’s multi-use facility (aka the ice rink) got the green light at last Wednesday night’s Town Council meeting, by a 3-2 vote. The rink and community center project now heads into the design and environmental analysis phase.
After an hour of public comments, weighted heavily against the Mammoth Creek Park West site, not the concept, council members split, not on the site but the cost. Councilmembers John Wentworth and Shields Richardson both argued the funds and time may be better spent “acquiring additional lands” for the town. “We live in a constrained land mass,” said Wentworth.
Mayor Michael Raimondo seemed to teeter. “We don’t have any money, it’s that simple. For the last four years, all we’ve done is cut.” But, he expressed his approval of the $2 million project, just asking that the $150,000 cost of the environmental documents and design not come out of the Public Works budget, sending councilmembers into a discussion of funding sources. The conclusion: monies could be used from Measure R or the town’s Mello-Roos Community Facilities District accounts.
A pall, of sorts, fell over the Council discussion when the cost of defending the town against potential law suits was brought up. That estimate: $100,000.
Bill Raff, homeowners’ association president at La Vista Blanc, a condo complex that abuts the park, started the lawsuit discussion. Referring to a 1999 Environmental Impact Report on an earlier rink/community center project at MCPW, Raff noted “a lot of major mitigation required.” “If we’re not satisfied,” he said, “we’ll do what we have to do to mitigate…. The lighting, noise and parking” issues.
The pro and con arguments have all been aired before. Those against cited the lighting-noise-parking problems, strongly suggesting relocation to Mammoth Creek Park East, owned by the U.S. Forest Service, or an “industrial/commercial area” as recommended by Raff. Robin Bell suggested the project was like jamming a square peg in a round hole. The rink was also compared to a WalMart. Sharon Clark warned the Council to slow down on the project.
On the pro side, Tom Johnson, a project task force member, admitted he was skeptical at the outset but after going through the site review process “there was no close second.” Another task force member said MCPW was identified as an active-use park from the beginning.
“South Lake Tahoe operates an ice rink successfully,” said Jay Cole, “with 71-percent of its revenues made during 8-percent of its operating hours” hosting tournaments.
During the Council discussion, Colin Fernie stressed the importance of improving the town’s amenities, driving more visitation and providing a better resort experience. City Manager Dan Holler and Public Works Director Grady Dutton both said the city would continue to engage the community in the design phase.
I am wondering how nice of a facility can be built for $2mm. Doesn’t seem like enough money. Why the rush to build this? Will $2mm really build a “world class” facility for this “world class” resort town? Or will it be half-assed since really the land is not the… Read more »
This is such a bad decision by councilmembers Wentworth, Collins, and Bacon. There is no good reason to relocate the ice hockey rink next to a high density residential neighborhood, because they fear Mammoth School District may pull-back someday on the land they are leasing to the town; justifying why… Read more »
This is great! I get to watch the town government flop around like a trout on the bank trying to be even more stupid than they’ve been in the past. Someone (not me) might ask why the money it will cost to move the “multi-use facility” isn’t put into putting… Read more »
Good on ya.
You should probably consult John Eastman.
I don’t use the ice rink so I’ve not paid a lot of attention to this issue. But last saturday, I took a walk around the Old Mammoth Park, over to the condos next door. It appeared to me to be a great place for an ice rink. I don’t… Read more »
The issue is not an owner’s expectation to a perpetual great view. In opposing the Hockey Rink relocation to Mammoth Creek Park West the issue is pushing back, setting precedent, so that no local government can infringe zoning ordinances mixing commercial use with residential use. Preserving the park is not… Read more »
Are you saying that the public use zoning of this parcel conflicts with a hockey rink? I find that hard to believe. And again, there is commerical use next to the park, residential behind it. The park itself is neither commerical or residential….but is public use. Why would we want… Read more »
If your the same Jeremiah J. I know,LONG before your time on Earth,back in the early 80’s,Mammoth Lakes wanted their quiet little town to be like this….wanting an airport….wanting the Olympics….wanting millions of yearly tourists….condos..the “village”…they wanted to be the west coast Vail,Colorado..money,money,money…and the hell with those that owned homes… Read more »
Low Inyo- I totally agree. The key word here is “want”. The various town councils
have refused to deal with the facts and the realities as they are. Instead, they have
created an alternative reality of wishful thinking and fantasies.
This might be the most desperate and foolish Town Council we have ever seen in Mammoth. They will do anything to try and be more like our “peer resorts.” This will not be the last of their bad decisions that disregard the will of the people. They just spent $50,000… Read more »
I see this as a childish response to the voters decision on measure “Z”. This willfully ignorant council is cutting off our nose to spite their face. They are headed for another version of the airport fiasco. Mammoth seems determined to pursue one get rich quick scheme after another- each… Read more »
The hokey rink is in a great place, right where it is. And as for the park, the only thing missing or needed was a little more water for irrigation. It doesn’t take money to leave this little park alone. So leave it alone Mammoth, the rink and the park… Read more »