Next Meeting

For the July meeting we will return to Giovanni's, 9353 Clairemont Mesa
Boulevard at the corner of Ruffin Road. Their phone number is 279-6700.
Hopefully that will be our home for the foreseeable future. We have a
commitment from Giovanni's to allow us the use of the room on the first
Tuesday of every month except for November and June. In those months we
have the meeting room on the first Thursday of the month in order to avoid
meeting on Election Day.
A buffet including all-you-can-eat pizza, salad and soft drinks will
commence at 6:00 p.m., and the meeting proper will begin promptly at 7:00
p.m. Hope to see you there!

Chairman's Corner
- Jim McGarvie

Fee$

Once again the issue of paying to use our traditional OHV recreation areas
has raised its ugly head. This time the area in question is the Imperial
Dunes Recreation Area; aka Glamis, Gordon's Well and Buttercup.

The BLM is in the process of holding a series of open houses at which they
are discussing many issues regarding the revision of the management plan
for the dunes. The subject that seems to raise the most public outcry is
the concept of charging fees at the dunes.

The BLM's claim is that ever-increasing competition for funds, both from
the "green sticker" fund and the general budget, is resulting in a decrease
in the revenues from those two sources. At the same time, the cost of doing
business is on the rise due to inflation and public demand for increased
services such as law enforcement and trash collection.

Many users object to paying fees. After all, our "green sticker" fund
provides nearly half of the money going to new facilities as well as
operation and maintenance, the other half coming from the federal budget
(our tax dollars). We shouldn't have to pay anything additional when we go
to the dunes. Besides, can't the BLM get by on the money they already receive?

On the other hand, many users want to see increases in services and
facilities, and that costs money that is not available in either the "green
sticker" fund or the general budget. And user fees in general are becoming
increasingly prevalent throughout the country as the public insists upon
reduction in their income taxes. Not only that, but even at our very own
State Vehicular Recreation Areas, bought and paid for exclusively with
"green sticker" funds, additional fees are charged (the only exception is
Ocotillo Wells, and that is only because it is currently impractical to
charge fees there). So why should users object to a reasonable fee to use
the Imperial Dunes?

As you can see, there are no easy answers. And if the off-road community
can't agree on a position, isn't the BLM free to do as it pleases regarding
the fee issue? So where do you stand? Strongly anti- or pro-fees? Perhaps
we should adopt a compromise position: we don't want fees, but they appear
to be a necessary evil which will be forced upon us regardless. Let's at
least try to influence the amount of the fees and how they are
administered, to make sure that at least we get the maximum benefit from them.

Come to the July meeting and let us know how you feel on this issue, and we
will pass that information along to the BLM.

On another front, Phone Tree Chairman Dick Miller is in desperate need of a
few new phoners. The phone tree has proven to be potentially a very
effective means to spread important information, but it only works when
there are sufficient numbers of willing phoners who conscientiously perform
their minimal duties: simply making six to eight short phone calls,
generally no more often than once per month. How about helping out?

Finally, in light of ongoing efforts to improve the quality of our
newsletter, we are soliciting articles, announcements and other input. Let
us know what you would like to see. This is, after all, your newsletter.
Please submit all material by the 15th of the month, electronically if
possible. Thanks!

Acknowledgements

This month we would like to express our appreciation to McMillen Realty for
their generous donation. We also wish to thank SDORC member Brian Bott of
Access Marketing and Manufacturing, makers of SLiME, for their contribution
of a case of SLiME for our use as raffle prizes, membership incentives,
etc. Thanks folks!

Legislation and Natural Resources
- Alan Klumph

Public Workshops for the OHV Route Location Study

The big item in the county continues to be the Off Highway Vehicle Route
Location Study. It was released at the first of May for a 90-day public
review and comment period. You need to be involved in the public review and
comment on this study. Below are listed some public meetings and workshops
where you are encouraged to participate.

Phase Two of the Study has resulted in the preliminary study report and
candidate route map being completed and distributed for a 90-day public
review. Potential routes for various OHV designations are shown on the map.
The goal of the study is to consider a broad range of off-highway vehicle
recreational activities and to produce a map that identifies potential
routes that could be included in an OHV system. All comments for this phase
of the study need to be submitted by August 5, 1998. Please send them to
Stephen Thunberg, Director, Department of Public Works, 5555 Overland Ave.,
San Diego, CA 92123-1295. If you can, please also send a copy to your
County Supervisor because they need to know you support this program and
send the Coalition a copy for our records.

The completed study will be presented to the County Board of Supervisors
next year. At that time, the Board will consider adoption of the map and
associated text into the County's General Plan.

Representatives from County Public Works and the Study consultant, KTU&A,
will hold public workshops at the dates, times and locations listed below
to provide information regarding the study and answer any questions you may
have:

Workshop #1 - El Cajon
Date: June 30, 1998
Time: 7pm to 10 pm
Location: El Cajon Community Center, 195 E. Douglas Ave., El Cajon, CA 92040

Workshop #2 - Vista
Date: July 14, 1998
Time: 7pm to 10 pm
Location: San Diego County Library, Vista Branch, Community Room, 700
Eucalyptus Ave., Vista, CA 92084

The County and KTU&A will also make a presentation at the Ramona Community
Planning Group meeting in July which is open to the public. If you live in
or near the Ramona area you should attend this meeting:

July 2, 7:30pm	Ramona Community Planning Group, Ramona Community Center,
434 Aqua Lane.

The OHV Route Location Study report contains the primary conclusions of
Phases 1 and 2 of KTU&A's efforts (as contracted by the County) to locate
possible OHV routes in San Diego County for both street legal and Green
Sticker vehicles. Public input and agency review will then be incorporated
into the final phase of the study and route recommendations will be made.
County staff will review this, there will be another 90-day public review
on the final (Phase 3) submittal and a Preliminary Environmental Review
will be conducted.

The completed study will be presented to the County Board of Supervisors
next year. At that time, the Board will consider adoption of the map and
associated text into the County's General Plan.

The complete version of the San Diego County - OHV Route Location Study -
Phase 1 & 2 Draft Report (as it is officially titled) is a standard size
(8-1/2 X 11 inches) black and white printed document that is 7/8 inch thick
contained in a three ring binder that includes many fold out (11 X 17
inches) map pages. Because of the black and white printing, on many of the
maps it is somewhat difficult to distinguish between the different
designated areas. Also part of the study report is a large color printed
map which shows existing trails, routes and roads and new proposed
designations and a clear "overlay" that shows the general alignments of the
Draft Regional Trails and Pathways Map (non-motorized).

The above document and map is available for viewing at the following
locations:

1. The Department of Public Works, Land Development Division, located at
5201 Ruffin Road, Suite D, San Diego, CA 92123.
2. Each of the 34 County of San Diego Library Branch locations.
3. Each of the 26 Community Planning and Sponsor Group Chairpersons for the
unincorporated area.

The study report is one of three volumes that make up the full submittal.
The other two documents are an Executive Summary and a binder containing
community letters and OHV user questionnaire responses received concerning
this study. The Executive Summary is made up of selected parts (at 40 pages
long) of the study report and is available for the asking by contacting
Jeff Bosvay at (619) 694-3266. The binder containing the letters and
questionnaires is available for viewing at the Department of Public Works
on Ruffin Road.

At the public workshops and planning group meeting there will be numerous
large maps which show considerable detail of various aspects of historic
and current route uses, proposed designations under the OHV Route Plan,
land use designations, political boundaries and highways. If you have an
interest in the OHV Route Locations then you should plan on attending one
of the workshops or planning group meeting.

Technology That Could Save Your Life
- Jan McGarvie, OHV Commissioner

You and your buddy are enjoying the thrill of dune riding in the Imperial
Sand Dunes. Suddenly you find yourself sliding down to the bottom of the
bowl without your ATV only to look up and see it coming after you!

After catching your breath you discover you are pinned under your ATV and
your leg is bent where it doesn't normally bend.

Now what? In days past your buddy would ride back to camp for help and then
spend precious time trying to find where he left you, some-where in the
118,000 acres of sand.
Today there is new technology that can locate an injured person and cut
rescue time to a minimum. It is called Global Positioning System (GPS).

That's right, forget about buying a compass. GPS is the latest buzz being
talked about in all the recreational and outdoor supply stores. So what
better time than now to utilize this exciting technology? For those of you
that have never heard of GPS, it's a $12 billion system developed by the
U.S. Department of Defense that is based on a constellation of 24
satellites orbiting the earth at a very high altitude. The satellites are
high enough that they can avoid the problems encountered by land based
systems, and they use tech-nology accurate enough to give pinpoint
positions anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day. Reports have it that
people are getting measurement accuracies better than the width of an
average street. And using a "differential mode" which is similar to a
correction factor, measurements can be as close as a centimeter.

Your buddy marks the coordinates using his dunes map and GPS before he
leaves to return to camp for help. Now he knows exactly where you are and
can direct the rescuers to the exact location. The dunes volunteer rescue
buggy or life flight are also equipped with GPS units and can be dispatched
to the exact spot of the injury accident.

Your GPS unit can also add to the fun and enjoyment of the dunes, allowing
riders to select a destination determined by coordinates. Ranger Jeff
Hrycko and staff at the Cahuilla Ranger Station have mapped the dunes using
GPS. The coordinate chart is printed on the back of the map available for
free from the station or a ranger on duty in the area.

TANKSLAPPERS CARLSBAD RACE
- Julie Allen, Secretary

Just a reminder that Tankslappers Motorcycle Club race is coming up on July
12, 1998 (Sunday). I will have a sign-up sheet at the general meeting for
anyone interested in volunteering to work the race. We could use help with
track set-up on Saturday (then help eating a carne asada dinner Sat. nite).
We mostly need help with flaggers on Sunday. This puts you out on the
course in the action during races. Your job is to wave a yellow caution
flag if a rider goes down. We provide drinks and lunch on Sunday.

This is work, but it is fun work. Bring hats and sunscreen and a six-pack
cooler that we will fill. We try to run 2-3 hour shifts. This is probably
the last opportunity to see great racing at Carlsbad.... You also get an
event tee-shirt for working.

Please sign up to volunteer at the SDORC meeting or give me a call at home
619-588-8851. I need to put your names on a gate list for free entry. Thanks!
[Note: we will have the SDORC booth set up at the race, and could use help
manning that. In addition, this will be a good opportunity to pick up SDORC
shirts, ball caps, decals and the like, as well as membership forms and
brochures. - Ed]

Highway Clean-up
- Roy Denner, Education Chairman

In the dead of winter (or at least it felt like it), eleven SDORC members
braved the rain and fog to drive to the Buckman Springs exit on Route 8 for
our "Adopt A Highway" clean up. At least the rain eased up as we prepared
to don our vests, helmets, goggles and gloves. Luke and Sharon Batcher, Roy
and Nancy Denner, John Ellis, Anita and Jim Karasek, Alan Klumph, Jan
McGarvie, Rick Moore and H. P. Tietz grabbed bags and pickers and piled
into the back of Jan's pickup truck to be transported to our designated
spots along the two mile stretches of both the east and westbound sides of
Route 8. Somehow, can't imagine why (after all, it is June 7th), Rick
didn't bring a jacket but fortunately Alan had an extra.

After spending about 3 hours picking up trash (it was nowhere near as bad
as January), we all gathered in the rest area for beer, soda and submarine
sandwiches. Fortunately there was still some hot coffee in the thermos.
Should have planned a BBQ again 'cause then at least we'd have had
something to warm our hands.

One thing I forgot to mention. Roy was driving Jan's truck back and forth
along the freeway, picking up full bags, dropping off empties and offering
cold drinks (no takers) and on one of his trips along the westbound side,
he happened to catch sight of something flipping along the freeway. At
first he thought it was a big piece of cardboard but then he realized it
was small pickup truck that had spun out of control and flipped over down
the embankment just before the Buckman Springs exit. Roy checked on the
driver, a young Marine on his way from Yuma to Camp Pendleton, and found
that he was badly shaken up, had a cut on his hand but otherwise OK.
Evidently he had put some belongings in the back of his pickup that were
getting wet and, in attempting to pull over to bring them inside, hit the
brakes too hard and went into a spin. Good old California roads during the
rain!

Fortunately we had our first aid kit along. The police and tow truck were
on the scene before too long. The young man declined the officer's advice
about seeking medical attention but then agreed when Dick Miller drove up
in his van. Dick had come out to check on the highway cleanup and
volunteered to drive the man to a hospital in El Cajon.

[Not only did we fulfill our commitment to maintain the cleanliness of
"our" section of freeway, we earned $15.75 from the recyclables! - Ed]

Membership Update
- Bill Quackenbush, Membership Chairman

This month SDORC would like to welcome Mark Garrett as a new member. In
addition, members renewing this month were:

Eric Schoeppner, Justin Cole, The Teasley Family, Tim Brown, Edgar Maigue,
Lori Chenowth, Gary Magee, The Klumph Family, Brad Guske & Julie Allen.

Need a membership form? They are available online at
http://www.off-road.com/~sdorc

They will also be available at the Coalition booth at the Tankslappers GP
at Carlsbad Raceway on July 12.

Membership questions? Contact the Membership Chairman: billq@san.rr.com

Club Information/ Announcements:

Any clubs or individuals wishing to post announcements in this newsletter
or have their website linked from our site please contact Bill Quackenbush
- billq@san.rr.com.

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*Safe riding!  From your friends @ The San Diego Off Road Coalition!*

Last Updated July 13, 1998