CA Legislature Terminates Support for OHV Recreation on Federal Lands

[LYIN' KING]

BLUERIBBON COALITION, INC.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Don Amador
Phone: 925.625.6287
Email: brdon@sharetrails.org
Date: June 29, 2012

CA LEGISLATURE TERMINATES SUPPORT FOR OHV RECREATION ON FEDERAL LANDS

SACRAMENTO, CA (June 29, 2012) -- A scheme crafted by an environmental activist and the California Parks Foundation to terminate a 40-year partnership with the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management was signed into law by Governor Brown on June 27, 2012. The "Sustainable Parks Initiative" has as its core tenet a politically motivated directive that functionally eliminates the user-pay/user-benefit grant funding from the California State Park's Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVRD) to local and federal agencies that manage OHV recreation.

The state OHV program is 100% funded with user generated fees that come from OHV fuel taxes, registration, and unit entry fees. The program was created by the legislature in 1971 and used pre-program off-road fuel tax refunds to support management of OHV recreation on local, state, and federal lands. The local assistance grants program was a critically important element to local and federal agencies since most OHV-related fuel tax and recreation occurs on federal lands.

Historically, the grants program has provided funding for OHV-related trail maintenance, engineered trail construction, facilities, recreation staff, habitat restoration, law enforcement, search and rescue, public education, and safety training. Many of the OHV recreation sites are in economically depressed rural areas that depend on the tourism generated by program support. Some county units are near large population centers such as Santa Clara County's Metcalf Cycle Park near San Jose.

Don Amador, Western Representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, states, "Contrary to statements made by the plan's champions in the legislature, neither Senator Joe Simitian, nor Assemblyman Jared Huffman, nor the Foundation ever came to the OHV community to find solutions to the important budget issues that could have been addressed without targeting the grants program for elimination. There was a concerted effort to mislead other legislators, media, and the public that the cuts would not have any impact to OHV, and would not result in any closures or reduced opportunity."

"It is extremely disappointing to me that the Foundation has chosen to align itself with an extreme element of the environmental movement in an effort to drive a wedge between the OHV community and the rest of California State Parks. Dismantling the OHV Program has been the life-long goal of a few green activists, and the Foundation appears to have helped them succeed. Since important federal resource protection projects will now have to be shelved, it proves that advocates of the plan don't care about the environment, but are simply interested in pushing their far-left political agenda" Amador continued.

Amador concluded, "Sadly, rather than address the real issue here to devise and apply a legitimate long-term solution, they have exacerbated the problem by gutting a working, self-sustaining model program."

OHMVR Commission Letter to Governor Brown

http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/E...er-6-27-12.pdf

[Brewster2]

Hey Don
I'm getting lost in this numbers game. The legislature's budget removed $21M from the Grants process. Gov. Brown changed that to $7M. Someone stated that only $10M will be going to the Grants process. And now BRC is stating that there is no funding going to the Grants process.
The detailed state budget numbers aren't posted yet to see what what actually made it into the budget.

Ride on
Brewster

[LYIN' KING]

When the budget numbers are released, we’ll find out whether we were grabbing our toes or holding our knees when the Greens bent us over and had their way with us.

Now that the Governor took his turn and sealed the deal I wonder whether a remedy for the STD they gave us has been discovered and readied for our consumption yet.

[The Wolf]

AB 1464 was signed by the Gov. that bill only allocates $10M for the grants program for the upcoming year. What the gov line item vetoed is taking less from the OHV trust fund. Bottom line though on the grant program, there is only $10M for grants this coming year. If nothing changes, PRC 5090.50 requires 50% of that ($5M) to Operation and Maintenance. Not much money at all that will be going out to keep our trails maintained.

[Brewster2]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

If nothing changes, PRC 5090.50 requires 50% of that ($5M) to Operation and Maintenance. Not much money at all that will be going out to keep our trails maintained.

That will be in line with the pre-SB742 non-CESA funding level. The feds can print more money to pay expenses, the state can't. Hey Obama, how about some stimulus money for the BLM and USFS?

Ride on
Brewster

[OrangeCrash]

Frustration to say the least dealing will this crap, but it generally takes a week or two to figure out where all the body's are buried after a budget is done, trailer bills, vetos etc so Don's blog is a bit pre mature.

[LYIN' KING]

Originally Posted by Brewster2

The feds can print more money to pay expenses, the state can't. Hey Obama, how about some stimulus money for the BLM and USFS?

The U.N. has been wrangling for control of the World Reserve Currency.

Given that it is the only luxury, which affords the U.S. alone a unique ability to continue printing worthless paper, we had better hope he kicks down that stimulus package soon.

[aphantomduck]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

AB 1464 was signed by the Gov. that bill only allocates $10M for the grants program for the upcoming year. What the gov line item vetoed is taking less from the OHV trust fund. Bottom line though on the grant program, there is only $10M for grants this coming year. If nothing changes, PRC 5090.50 requires 50% of that ($5M) to Operation and Maintenance. Not much money at all that will be going out to keep our trails maintained.

This is a "blue pencil" (line item veto) and that was done on the Senate Trailer Bill - SB 1018.

The precise wording is as follows:

I am signing Senate Bill 1018 with the following objection:
Section 127. I am reducing the amount for transfer from the Motor
Vehicle Fuel Account to the State Parks and Recreation Fund from
$21,000,000 to $7,000,000. The remaining $14,000,000 will be
transferred to the Off-Highway Vehicle Trust Fund. I am sustaining
$7,000,000 of the one-time transfer and, in conjunction with the
other amounts I am sustaining for the Department of Parks and
Recreation (Department), these amounts will provide the funding
needed to allow the Department to address its most critical operating
needs.
EDMUND G. BROWN JR.

[Brewster2]

I found it in AB1464:
3790-101-0263—For local assistance, Department of Parks and Recreation, payable from the Off-Highway Vehicle Trust Fund, for grants to cities, counties, federal agencies, or special districts, as specified in Section 5090.50 of the Public Resources Code, to be available for expenditure until June 30, 2015 ........................ $10,000,000

Ride on
Brewster

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by aphantomduck

This is a "blue pencil" (line item veto) and that was done on the Senate Trailer Bill - SB 1018.

The precise wording is as follows:

Correct, the blue pencil line item was on SB 1018. That was the $21M that was going to be taken from the OHV Trust Fund and given to Parks (SPRF) - however, the Gov. cut that amount to only $7M. It still left the $10M from AB 1464 which allocates $10M alone.

[LYIN' KING]

Thanks Steve! Got a source link to that?

BTW, while you're in a sharing mood . . . any idea what Baker, Manock & Jensen's take is on all of this?

[cruzila]

The remaining $14,000,000 will be
transferred to the Off-Highway Vehicle Trust Fund.

This is good right???

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by cruzila

This is good right???

It is, in the sense that the Gov only took $7M instead of the whole $21....

[aphantomduck]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

Correct, the blue pencil line item was on SB 1018. That was the $21M that was going to be taken from the OHV Trust Fund and given to Parks (SPRF) - however, the Gov. cut that amount to only $7M. It still left the $10M from AB 1464 which allocates $10M alone.

Given that the Gov sent this money back to the Fund, I would hope that that money can be utliized in some way to supplement the OHV Grant process.

I would be thinking along the line of our "OHV Leadership" working with the legislative types that could make this happen. I'm aware of a stong Dem Senator that is a friend of motorized recreation that could provide us some answers and just might be willing to make this happen.

[aphantomduck]

Originally Posted by LYIN' KING

Thanks Steve! Got a source link to that?

BTW, while you're in a sharing mood . . . any idea what Baker, Manock & Jensen's take is on all of this?

Here you go to your first question.

I'm not aware of any comment they have made on the current legislative budget voted upon this year and signed by the Gov.

[UglyJeepThing]

The parts of the Sustainable Parks Proposal allowing the creation a license plate, collection of fees at parks, the use lower-paid staff, (the easy stuff) all went through, but most of that doesn't affect OHV.

But instead of the proposed $21 million to be taken from the OHV Trust Fund, the Governor vetoed all but $7 million, and only allowed this for 1 year (instead of the 3 years that was proposed). The Governor also vetoed the take of $10 million from the Clean Water Fund on the grounds that this was not an appropriate use of that money.

So although the Governor vetoed the $14 million dollars and allowed it to continue to be deposited into the Trust Fund, the Grant Program, by statute, is limited to the amount the legislature allocated in the budget that was signed. That amount is $10 million, which is a little less than half of this years (2011 - 2012) grant funding. If everything stays the way it is right now, that means $5 million will be available for on-the-ground Operations and Maintenance funding; instead of $10 million this year, and roughly $13 million the year before (2010-2011). It's a big jump....but we have ideas.

As a community we have to think outside the box. "Public - Private Partnerships" was the big issue discussed to save State Parks during this last budget cycle. Perhaps we can use the same technique to 'partner' with some of our non-profits that work in certain areas, and help them maintain those areas, not through grant funding, but through partnership funding agreements. Maybe we can reallocate some of the funding that was returned to the OHV Trust Fund before the next budget cycle begins through a bill that could be introduced in the legislature. CORVA is looking closely at that option.

We also have to examine ways to bring in money outside of the gas tax to fund the division and the grant program. Since 2006 we have known that the gas tax transfer was under fire, now it's time to perhaps look at creating OHV stamps similar to duck stamps, or something else that Legislators will consider 'sacred' just as Simitian referred to the greensticker registration money. It doesn't mean we won't fight legally for the return of that money, but as anyone involved in lawsuits knows, that's a long-term scenario, when a short term scenario is needed as well.

What did work: I've been working this issue tirelessly, at the Capitol day in and day out - many times alone, talking to people, looking for allies and answers. The hunter and gun lobby has been great to us, and really helped me understand what was going on, and told me to concentrate on changing the Governor's mind. That's exactly what we did, through meetings, petitions and letters. The OHV Commissioners also did a heck of a job, after the veto came out I heard that Eric Leuder's meetings with the Governor's staff made a big difference. So kudos to him, and all the commissioners who went to the Capitol and tried to make a difference.

So let's try looking for new opportunities. I didn't sit with Senator Simitian for more than an hour to see the division taken apart little by little - I sat there listening carefully to his reasoning, knowing that I had to be smart enough to think of options for funding that he (or other Legislators) can't steal. Now it's up to us - if we want to keep a strong division and grant program, we have to start acting and not reacting.

We've learned a lot of lessons this year - suggestions in the next post.

Amy

[Jeff Knoll]

Originally Posted by UglyJeepThing

As a community we have to think outside the box. "Public - Private Partnerships" was the big issue discussed to save State Parks during this last budget cycle. Perhaps we can use the same technique to 'partner' with some of our non-profits that work in certain areas, and help them maintain those areas, not through grant funding, but through partnership funding agreements. Maybe we can reallocate some of the funding that was returned to the OHV Trust Fund before the next budget cycle begins through a bill that could be introduced in the legislature. CORVA is looking closely at that option.

We also have to examine ways to bring in money outside of the gas tax to fund the division and the grant program. Since 2006 we have known that the gas tax transfer was under fire, now it's time to perhaps look at creating OHV stamps similar to duck stamps, or something else that Legislators will consider 'sacred' just as Simitian referred to the greensticker registration money. It doesn't mean we won't fight legally for the return of that money, but as anyone involved in lawsuits knows, that's a long-term scenario, when a short term scenario is needed as well.

What did work: I've been working this issue tirelessly, at the Capitol day in and day out - many times alone, talking to people, looking for allies and answers. The hunter and gun lobby has been great to us, and really helped me understand what was going on, and told me to concentrate on changing the Governor's mind. That's exactly what we did, through meetings, petitions and letters. The OHV Commissioners also did a heck of a job, after the veto came out I heard that Eric Leuder's meetings with the Governor's staff made a big difference. So kudos to him, and all the commissioners who went to the Capitol and tried to make a difference.

So let's try looking for new opportunities. I didn't sit with Senator Simitian for more than an hour to see the division taken apart little by little - I sat there listening carefully to his reasoning, knowing that I had to be smart enough to think of options for funding that he (or other Legislators) can't steal. Now it's up to us - if we want to keep a strong division and grant program, we have to start acting and not reacting.



Amy

I agree with you.

[RUBICONJEEP]

Originally Posted by UglyJeepThing

We also have to examine ways to bring in money outside of the gas tax to fund the division and the grant program. Since 2006 we have known that the gas tax transfer was under fire, now it's time to perhaps look at creating OHV stamps similar to duck stamps, or something else that Legislators will consider 'sacred' just as Simitian referred to the greensticker registration money. It doesn't mean we won't fight legally for the return of that money, but as anyone involved in lawsuits knows, that's a long-term scenario, when a short term scenario is needed as well.

I've always thought that the state should charge an annual license fee for bicycle riders. They use the trails and roads too, so why shouldn't they have to pay?

It is hard to come up with proactive ideas knowing that all but one trail(Rubicon) in the ENF is closed to OHV use. Besides, even if we were to come up with ways to bring in money, what is to keep the state from reallocating that to somewhere else again?

[LYIN' KING]

Originally Posted by RUBICONJEEP

It is hard to come up with proactive ideas

"Vote the Bums Out" perhaps?

/forum/land-use-issues/1069588-vote-bums-out.html

[RUBICONJEEP]

Originally Posted by LYIN' KING

"Vote the Bums Out" perhaps?

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1069588

Everytime! They just keep replacing one with another!

[LYIN' KING]

Yeah, it's the damn Senate sitting on all the access and job friendly multiple-use sustained-yield Legislation the House has passed.

Time to yank the freakin' chairs out from under some long seated Senate pukes!