JOURNAL 02/25/07

Okay, I have just looked at the clock and determined that I can give you
little people perhaps 35 minutes of my precious time, which still doesn't
seem to be in abundance for anything much beyond work and sleep. Not that
I'm necessarily overworked, but you'd think I'd be a lot more chipper for
the amount of time I devote to rest.

I have been making it to GVCA meetings; I just haven't reported on them.

After a series of bad-news episodes on the recycling front, valleywide, the
best news is: all local governments (municipal and county) are very
concerned and are starting to look at means of intergovernmental cooperation
regarding this matter.

The City of Gunnison was conducting experiments last week (I don't have a
report on the outcome) to see if it has a means of crushing glass well
enough that the county could use it as cover for the landfill. Currently,
the county has to "mine" dirt for this purpose, so while it kind of sounds
as though it's still throwing glass away, landfill cover is something that's
needed.

The city and county were also discussing means by which to get Crested Butte
recylables down to the center in Gunnison, now that Waste Management has
lost interest in its role in the process.

***
The city council will vote tonight on whether to put the rec proposal on
May's ballot. I assume that getting on the ballot won't be a problem, but
the measure needs to be looked at carefully. As of yet, the GVCA has no
official position on this issue, but several members have expressed concern
about the city's ability to repay this obligation should sales tax
collection falter.

Sales tax income was up about 10% this year over last -- it would be
interesting to see a percentage gain comparison over 2000 and 2001, since
our local economy weathered a recession in 2002, and many of our gains since
then have really only been regains of a previous footing. And, we should
also take a close look at sales tax by category: I recall reading that sales
tax from apparel was down compared to 2005.

If construction is driving the sales tax increase, which is my personal
belief, we need to attempt to divine the stability -- over the term of the
bonds -- of this industry. Maybe we're not directly impacted by national
trends, but if you read the classified in this week's Times, you'll notice
an upswing in the number of foreclosures, including two in "affordable"
neighborhoods. Look at Denver: a high foreclosure rate can have a definite
impact on new construction.

The other thing to keep in mind -- and I don't intend to be campaigning
against the rec tax, as I have not yet decided how I will cast my vote --
are the number of other projects and potential projects out there to compete
for dollars, both public and private.

As I read the Times this last week, I was struck by how much of the content
was a plea for financial assistance in one form or another (and the jail and
library aren't mentioned anywhere in the pages): Gunnison Valley School
would like/needs a new building (oh, the aging high school isn't mentioned
either, but it's out there, and Tenderfoot is still happy to accept
donations toward its new building); the Alzheimer's unit at Gunnison Living
Community is seeking a piano; Public Health is applying for a grant to
continue its cardiovascular disease prevention program; the county is
looking into a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program to fund either
land preservation or affordable housing (and the Legacy Program is always
happy to take your donations); the city wants to upgrade the tennis courts
at Char-Mar; there's mention of a dentist shortage in Gunnison, with an
implication that it's going to be difficult to attract any new practices;
the new civics class at the high school seems guaranteed to unleash a
continuing bevy of requests for financial assistance for student projects,
including this week's for funding for a sound system in the high school
auditorium and snowboarding gear; the Niedfeldt family needs help covering
medical bills; Laura Spann graciously thanked the locals who contributed to
her fund-raising campaign in California; people using an aluminum donation
bin for trash may have jeopardized a decades-old fund-raising project for
the Living Community; PAWS says thanks for a recent fund-raiser; Firemen's
concerts; the Fur Ball; fish fry fund-raiser for St. Peter's; the National
Wild Turkey Federation is hosting a fund-raiser banquet; the American Cancer
Society is back with its Relay for Life; don't forget about the Red Lady
Ball, HCCA's premier fund-raiser; thanks to the bidders at the 15th annual
silent auction for the Adaptive Sports Center.

Not that there's a single objectionable request in that list, but it is a
pretty long list for one week's newspaper.

I understand the Civility Initiative, sponsored by the Gunnison Area
Community Foundation (also always willing to help you find a spot for your
spare change) is looking into establishing a community process whereby all
members of the community could choose to participate in a discussion
(probably longer term than a single instance) of prioritizing all these
wants and needs (well, probably not all, but certainly those requiring major
capital construction costs).

Anyway, I guess the short point here would be that so far, GVCA members seem
inclined to want to make sure there will be a sufficient revenue stream to
repay bond obligations for recreational amenities.

And now I have exceeded my self-allotted time, and I haven't even gotten to
the numbers on Gunnison Rising (the square footage available for commerical
and other business interests in the proposal are just about double what is
currently available within city limits), and if I heard right, at total
build-out the traffic generated from this development as proposed would put
200 more cars per hour on Tomichi Avenue. (I probably got all those figures
wrong, and would welcome corrections from someone in the know.) City
development director Steve Westbay has proposed a charette process, first
with just city staff and developers, and then open to a larger, public
audience to address concerns that have so far been enumerated by city staff,
the county, Butch Clark, HCCA and I forget who else.

And quickly, before I go, the League of Women Voters will hear a
presentation from its health care study group on March 13, 12:30 p.m. in the
Blackstock meeting room (upstairs). The public is welcome to attend.

Oh -- in the spirit of Sunday's meeting, just one more thing: I got Kim's
e-mail on lighting, and my question is: why does the city of Gunnison, which
insists on cut-off fixtures for citizens, keep installing those attractive
but seemingly non-compliant street lights that appear to direct the light
more up than down?

And now I'm going. I may be back next week; I may not.

TL