Sound Bites 2006

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Sunday April 16, 2006 Questions Answers Do you think a PAOT of 60,700 is reasonable and is the PAOT number important to the General Plan Update? Why or why not? If 60,700 is reasonable, how do you suggest we obtain the resources and the personnel to sustain a build out of that size? The PAOT is a relevant number. The interpretation of the PAOT is where I believe we as a community have stalled in the General Plan process. As a community leader/member the thought of 60,700 people in town at one time is unrealistic. As a leader of this community, we have had to research all of our opportunities to provide for a sustainable community in our General Plan. It has been my belief that the final outcome of the General Plan will tell us the true PAOT. The data used to present a formula for the PAOT was used from the existing 1987 General Plan. The dated data was based on a skier capacity of 37,000 SAOT (Skiers at one time). That included 8,000 SAOT for Sherwin Bowl and 5,000 cross country skiers. We know now those are not accurate numbers. When you base the SAOT at 24,000 the PAOT generated would be around 36,000. Our steps should include compiling current data with ancillary data such as workers who live out of town and visitors staying in other parts of the county and Inyo county when vacationing but visiting Mammoth. We have been using capacity build-out numbers in land use. We know now there are land uses that have not used all density and we know now there will be future developments that maximum density "just doesn't fit." We need to calculate those accurate numbers and include all current data when compiling the final PAOT formula. Once we have completed the information the PAOT will be before us and at that time the community can decide if it is too high. A full-time population of 12,000 with a seasonal/visitor PAOT of 36,000 would total 48,000 total PAOT. This is the number I believe we should be setting as our goal. What role does affordable housing play in the growth of Mammoth and where should these units be built? Mammoth’s citizens are the “Heart and Souls of this community.” Providing a "Sense of Community" is leadership’s responsibility. To paraphrase President John F. Kennedy "It is not governments responsibility to build housing, it is governments responsibility to see that there is housing for it's citizens." The formation of the Mammoth Lakes Housing Foundation allowed the organization the ability to build affordable workforce housing with assistance from government through Measure 2002 A. Affordable workforce housing has been a community priority in all of our General Plan Workshops. As one of your leaders of this community, it’s one of my priority's today and will continue to be tomorrow. We must follow our Vision Statement. In order for leadership to provide a sustainable future the town’s workforce must live in town. Affordable workforce housing belongs wherever we can build it. We as leaders must be forward thinking and creative in developing ways in which to purchase existing units for our workforce community members. As leaders, we must be thoughtful and sensitive to surrounding neighbors, but aren't we all neighbors, after all? We are a sensitive interwoven people, of a great many paths. We must integrate our community together wherever we can. Those with "not in my backyard" attitudes should be educated regarding community benefits of affordable workforce housing. Folks living in affordable workforce housing are school teachers, waitpersons, nurses, they're “Mammoth local families”, the heart and soul of Mammoth Lakes To achieve "community" and "economic sustainability," as one of your leaders I strongly supported Mammoth's "Affordable Housing Mitigation" requirements and the increase in "Development Impact Fees," perhaps, the most demanding in the nation. These mitigation's provide continuation of our economic base to build affordable workforce housing. As leadership, we must support the integration of affordable workforce housing into our community today and tomorrow. -30- How do you propose to handle and integrate the flow of traffic, including pedestrian, private auto and public transportation, throughout the town of Mammoth Lakes? This is an exciting question about our community's Vision and success. There are many complicated steps to this issue. First steps: Private auto downsides must be mitigated and public transportation must be provided If were pedestrian friendly and desire no traffic back-ups, a year round Transit System must be a priority along with the passage of Measures “T & S.” Our Vision calls for pedestrian orientation. Old Mammoth Rd. is what our towns pedestrian orientation should be; appropriate down lighting, meandering sidewalks and narrower public roads. Our next step is implementation of “Roundabouts & Parking Structures” throughout town. These will create a traffic calming effect. Its proven successful in other communities. Keeping the “flow of traffic constantly moving” and keeping folks out of their autos as much as possible will help alleviate traffic backup. A “year round Transit System” is another step to our success. Parking private autos in structures or not driving and taking public transit to the mountain and around town is key. Last summers demonstration project, The Trolleys, was so successful we've purchased Trolleys to begin mid-June. They must be adapted to be year-round. Measures “T & S” will begin funding to do that. Another step is being able to access the Towns approved Federal Grants for purchasing busses. To achieve grant access the Town is in negotiations to purchase a facility “Bus Barn” to house the rolling stock. But how is a transit system (O & M) paid for annually? The community needs to support Measures “T” & “S,” taxing visitors an additional 1% T.O.T and increasing sales tax by.5%. A step which will provide approximately $1.2 million annually to fund a transit system serving the visitor and local community neighborhoods and business districts as well, not 9am-5pm but a full fledge 24-7 system.-30-

Saturday March 18, 2006 Re-Elect Tony Barrett--"Mammoth Today and Tomorrow" Dear Voter: The Town of Mammoth Lakes is in a period of exciting opportunity and challenge. The opportunity is here to realize the kind of community we have envisioned, where growth can be accomplished with excellence. It is critically important to have a Town Council with all members working in harmony to achieve our common goals. We, the Committee to Re-Elect Tony Barrett, are convinced that his proven consensus building skills, sense of community, and positive attitude are greatly needed on our Town Council. We earnestly invite your attention to the following information pertinent to his qualifications: PROVEN Leadership PROVEN Accessibility PROVEN Sensitivity A Proven Consensus Builder A Proven “Doer” Brings Solutions, Not Objections Puts Community First Has an Open Door Policy Represents YOUR Priorities Works for Growth with Excellence Local Businessman We, The Committee to Re-Elect Tony Barrett respectfully ask for your vote to re-elect Tony Barrett on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 for the Mammoth Lakes Town Council. REELECT TONY BARRETT--"MAMMOTH-TODAY AND TOMORROW" As a leader who values a strong sense of community, I have been recognized as a consensus builder, problem solver and public servant working for a sustainable future for Mammoth. As our community evolves in its “Renaissance”, I will continue to work hard to ensure the best possible outcome using smart growth standards. I will work collaboratively with agencies and citizen groups to assure decisions are made in a way that works for all and does not jeopardize the environment. I am not too proud to say that I need your help, however. I want to continue to provide leadership for our town, our families and our visitors; but I can’t do it without your help in electing me as your public servant. What I want to do for our town is continue to help lead it in an educated common sense future. These past four years have been the most rewarding years of my life. As your Councilmember, I took the lead on the establishment of the Renewable Energy Task Force, the Public Arts Ordinance which provides 1% of development fees to public art, and what I refer to as the “Gem of Mammoth”, the Volcom Brothers Skateboard Park. I cherished working with Jane Baer and the kids of the community. As a council, we established the most demanding “Affordable Housing Mitigation” and “Development Impact Fee” policies in the Nation. These policies help to form our sustainable future. I have strong values and beliefs on these issues and I would enjoy discussing them with you. We can have coffee in your home or at a neighborhood gathering. Or, please just call me any time at 760/914-0157 or 760/924-0027, or stop by my business, Gallerie Barjur in the Village at Mammoth. If you see me in town or driving down the street, give me a holler, as well. I thank you for your past support and respectfully ask for your vote on June 6th. A vote for me is a voice for you! -- Tony Barrett- "MAMMOTH-TODAY AND TOMORROW"

Some of the goals I have set as priorities over the next four years: · Year round Transportation · Affordable Workforce Housing · Preserving Open Space · Creating Recreational and Cultural Amenities · Fiscally Conservative Decisions that provide    for a Sustainable Community

Tony congratulates local Olympian Mason Aguirre

Energy sound bite - Thursday, March 2, 2006

Renewable and Alternative Energy is a town government policy. Providing education and resources to transform the residential design, development and construction of our town to deliver energy efficiency and environmentally responsible buildings serves both the private and public sectors and will provide for an environmentally sustainable future for Mammoth Lakes and the Eastern Sierra.

“The following is in response to Mr. McPherson's letter in The Sheet, Saturday, February 25, 2006, edition in reference to Mayor Wood and Councilmember Eastman's comments regarding negotiation's of the Intrawest Development Agreement between Intrawest and the town. I will always accept any and all comments and suggestions from the public; after all we are a democratic nation.”

First and foremost, it is important to mention the Intrawest Development Agreement was negotiated by the towns previous council and our prior Town Manager. I was not on the town council when the Intrawest Development Agreement was negotiated and approved by council. The Intrawest Development Agreement was approved in December 2001 by a 4-1 council vote. Councilmembers Wood, Wright, Eastman, and Mayor Cage in favor of the agreement and Councilmember Stapp as the NO vote. Councilmember Stapp’s vote was due to the lack of parking and he argued for changes in language to protect the town on affordable housing. Intrawest had argued parking would not be needed due to the then expected air service and the fact the town would be developing a town wide transit system with capital from Redevelopment. This was supported by the town manager. As one Councilmember, not on council when the Intrawest Development Agreement was negotiated, I was surprised to hear the negotiations included no parking as a trade off to reduce the shopping traffic to the Village. I along with others had been under the belief the "lack of adequate parking" was due to the trade off being “the town would be enacting a town wide transit system which was part of Redevelopment and development of a parking structure on the one acre of land gifted to the town from Intrawest in the agreement.” This information was provided to me by our previous town manager on my being elected and going through a debriefing with the town manager and department heads prior to my swearing in after confirmation of the election results. The Intrawest Development Agreement also “spells out” the terms of the agreement. Nowhere in the agreement does it state “lack of adequate parking is because we do not want to make it to convenient nor do we want a mass exodus to the Village at the expense of the existing town merchants.” My point being the comments being referred to were just that “comments’ not deal breakers nor were they foundations of the Intrawest Development Agreement. There may have been discussions by the past council specific to those comments but nowhere in the Intrawest Development Agreement are those comments the driving force of the agreement. The reason there is inadequate parking at the Village today is because of the deal terms negotiated by the then town manager and Intrawest and then “sold to the past council” on information that we now know to be incorrect. Councilmember Stapp and I have authored the Community Services Initiative for the June 6, 2006, ballot which includes a 1% increase in T.O.T. to start the funding of a town wide transit system and a 1/2 cent sales tax increase (sales tax currently 7.25% raises to 7.75%) which would fund library, childcare, Emergency Services and Operations and Affordable Housing. The Community Services Initiative, if passed by the voters will begin to provide the needed infrastructure for transit, parking and other community needs. One could say because “we are currently on council we should be aware of any and all happenings of the past.” I can assure the community that as councilmembers our work involves working with mistakes and successes of the past for the successes of our future. When an issue arises that was either negotiated or passed by way of resolution or ordinance by a previous council we are able to refer back to the item as it is recorded in municipal code or by resolution, items which are negotiated in closed session for contract are not recorded and only is the final contractual agreement made public or disclosed. As one Councilmember, I can also assure the community if we were to have the same Intrawest Development Agreement come before us today I would not be a yes vote for it until all of the community benefits and necessary amendments were included. In my first year of office I noted what I found to be glaring miscalculations by the then town manager including his part in the negotiations of the Intrawest Development Agreement. I took the lead in garnering the support from the balance of council to not renew his contract. We have a Village today, it has issues, but those issues will be resolved. The first solution to help in resolution of those issues is for the community to support the Community Services Initiative, the second solution to begin to resolve the parking issue is for the community to be involved in our Mobility Plan and support the various parking structures throughout town. Councilmember Stapp and I were council representatives on the Master Facilities Development Impact Fee Committee. After many months of meetings with staff, consultants and community members our development impact fee structure was brought before council. This fee structure is the most stringent in the nation, extracting in some cases up to 4 times the past amounts of fees from developers when they develop in the Town of Mammoth Lakes. We made those decisions based on the current and future needs of this community and the information made available to us at the time. A future council could decide that we today did not do enough or they could decide we enacted a Development Impact fee that was to cumbersome and as a result they may decide to change it. The Intrawest Development Agreement is not an ordinance nor is it a resolution that can be changed simply by a motion of council. The Intrawest Development Agreement is a binding contract and in order to revisit the Intrawest Development Agreement, Intrawest must request to make a change in it. If they did so, this would open the entire agreement for discussion and possible amendments. Does anyone in the community see Intrawest bringing forward changes that would provide a parking structure at their expense? More than likely not! So what do we do? Well, we work for a future that is a sustainable future which includes not making the mistakes of the past. It is time for our community and its citizens to stand strong and proud and stop the finger pointing. I intend to continue working for a sense of community, a community that is sustainable, a community that understands the balance of environment, fiscal responsibility and long term prosperity with managed growth while preserving the jewel of the Eastern Sierra, our town, Mammoth Lakes.

CANDIDATE STATEMENT FOR MEMBER OF THE TOWN COUNCIL

Tony Barrett Age: 49 Occupation: Businessman As a leader who values a strong sense of community, I have been recognized as a consensus builder, problem solver and public servant working for a sustainable future for Mammoth. As our community evolves in its “Renaissance,” I will continue to work hard to ensure the best possible outcome using smart growth standards. I will work collaboratively with agencies and citizen groups to assure decisions are made in a way that works for all and does not jeopardize the environment. These past four years have been the most rewarding years of my life. As your Councilmember, I took the lead on the establishment of the Renewable Energy Task Force, the Public Arts Ordinance which provides 1% of development fees to public art, and what I refer to as the “Gem of Mammoth,” the Brothers Skateboard Park. I cherished working with Jane Baer and the kids of the community. As a council we established the most demanding “Affordable Housing Mitigation” and “Development Impact Fee’ policies in the nation. These policies help to form our sustainable future. I thank you for your past support and respectfully ask for your vote on June 6. A vote for me is a vote for you!

More sound bites! - Saturday, January 28, 2006

As you know, this time period is and will continue to be critical for the Town of Mammoth Lakes. It is important that the community has leadership who truly cares for all in the community and who works proactively to better the quality of life here in Mammoth Lakes. I will continue to put my full efforts into my work as your Town Councilmember by being extremely hands-on. I look forward to coming up with solutions to difficult challenges, bringing new ideas forward, mitigating ongoing and future issues, helping community members and stakeholder groups and working with our town staff to safeguard ours and our children's future, ensuring a sustainable future here in Mammoth Lakes.

Formal Announcement - Friday, January 13, 2006

" I would like to formally announce my intention to seek re-election to the Mammoth Lakes Town Council in the June 6, 2006 election." "The last four years serving you, the great people of Mammoth Lakes, as your councilmember, has been a rewarding and humbling experience." "It truly has been an incredible life experience and I thank you for it. I look forward to serving the great people of Mammoth Lakes for another four years, continuing to demonstrate leadership for all of our community's environmental, economic, social, recreational and day to day issues." "Our sense of community must be kept intact and built upon. Our economic future is dependent on our decisions of today. Our children's town of tomorrow is dependent on our decisions of today." "I will continue to be your voice, the voice of the people, in all of our decision making processes." "I thank you, the community of Mammoth Lakes, for allowing me to serve you these last four years and I humbly request your support on June 6, 2006, so I may continue to serve our community for you and with you."

REGARDING THE SALE OF MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN AND THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN STARWOOD CAPITAL AND INTRAWEST:
"It's absolutely incredible! The sale is going to take this town and the community into the next era. Starwood shares Dave and Rusty's vision for the future of our community and the mountain. I'm elated that this community, due to the sale of the Mountain and the proposed accelerated development of Intrawest properties, will have the possibility in the very near future to see		the fruits of our labor come to fruition with the library, police facilities, continuation of our trails, streets and roads rehabilitation, the skate park completion and hopes and dreams of our year round transit system, childcare facilities, recreation facilities and all of our "wish list" this community has endorsed for many years."

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