Editor: Bill Webb

BVRI BOARD MEMBER CHANGES The board accepted the resignation of Liz Protell with regrets and voted unanimously to have Sue Garratt fill the board vacancy. Liz has been a real spark plug in successfully organizing/running the Annual Homeowners Picnic and she will be missed – Thanks Liz! Sue joins us with a great interest in preserving the beaches and the surrounding BVRI property - Welcome Sue!

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE - DAVE MORLEY

I drove around Bear Valley recently and noticed a number of homes that either look shabby themselves or their yards are cluttered with debris. I also noticed a lot of snowmobiles in plain sight of the road. The BVRI Board has also heard from other members concerning this issue. I know it is too late in the year to do anything about it now but I would ask that each homeowner look at their home and property this coming spring as soon as the snow melts. If you keep your snowmobile on your property during the summer months, please put it under a brown tarp out of sight of the road. Please clean up any "no-natural" debris on your property.

I also noticed one home with shakes falling off its roof. Please take pride in your property and make it look as nice as possible. We have homes and property in a very beautiful area – please don’t spoil it.

I have written letters to many of the homeowners who have snowmobiles in sight of the road.

As I’m sure you appreciate, these restrictions are intended to enhance the natural beauty of the neighborhood and the architectural features of our homes. As the Board of Directors for the owner’s association, we are charged with the responsibility to ensure compliance with the CC&R’s for the benefit of the community as a whole. Accordingly, snowmobiles not garaged in the Transportation Center should be stored inside a building structure or parked in an outdoor location that is least visible from the streets and common areas, and covered with a tarp or similar cover that is brown, dark green or otherwise designed to blend in with the outdoor surroundings. Your voluntary cooperation with this notice will be greatly appreciated. If you would like to discuss any aspect of this request, you may write me at the above address or e-mail me at bvri@bvri.org.

President, BVRI

ELECTON OF BVRI BOARD MEMBERS Six BVRI Board positions will be up for election in February 2002. If you would be interested in standing for election or know of someone who would be interested in serving please contact BVRI Nominating Chairman Jack Wedgewood. Jack can be contacted through the BVRI PO Box / web site or via his e-mail at (jwedgwood@asset-strategies.com).

ANNUAL PICNIC – RAFFLE & SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS Thanks again to all of the volunteers who helped with this year’s Annual Picnic – especially Liz Protell who put it all together!! As a result of a lively raffle the BVRI Board was able to donate a total of $555.00 to the BV EMS. BVRI President Dave Morley also presented a $1,000 scholarship check to Bear Valley School graduate Kristi Stephens to assist in her continuing education at California State University, Stanislaus – Congratulations to Kristi!

The board also voted at its August 26^th meeting to budget $5,000.00 to replace the swimming raft next spring with a new 12’x12’ unit complete with ladder and anchors. Please mark your calendar for next year’s annual picnic which will be held at noon on the Sunday of the July 4^th weekend.

ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE ARC Chairman Ron Murphy reports the following: The 2001 building season in Bear Valley remains active, as far as homes under construction, new home starts and remodels are concerned. Several new homes, approved in previous years, remain under construction. This probably accounts for most of the construction "noise" in Bear Valley.

Plans for two new homes on Bloods Ridge Road were approved during the year, but only one will be completed this year. The other started clearing for a foundation. Both of these new homes requested and received front setback variances due to the unique circumstances of having a private access road between the front property line and the street. Granting a variance into the front setback still keeps the front of the homes 40-50 feet from the street.

Three remodels were approved and will be completed by the end of the season. Six homes approved in the previous two years will probably be completed before the snow flies; two will remain for completion next building season. One new home is presently under review.

Homeowners in the "new" subdivisions of Bear Valley (tracts 1-7, 9) are reminded that any alteration to the exterior of their homes requires ARC approval prior to implementation. (Some exterior changes also require Alpine County Building Department approval.) This includes reroof, repaint/ restain, tree removal, landscaping, remodel---anything that changes the exterior appearance of the property.

Your Architectural Review Committee consists of Ron Murphy (Chair), Terry Woodrow, Robin LaRoy, Clem Soga and Gary Willard. Contact any of them direct with any questions or via the BVRI PO Box/web site ( bvri.org).

SEWER STATUS UPDATE The Bear Valley Water District is planning to send out a poll of its ratepayers on whether to proceed with a tertiary treatment plant. This would raise the sewer rates. The BVRI Board recommends a "YES" vote. Here’s why.

Bear Valley is currently under a Cease and Desist Order which allows only 10 new single family connections per year, due to insufficient capacity of the effluent storage reservoir. The effluent stored is less than tertiary quality (the standard for use in irrigating golf courses,e.g.), and when it spills, the downstream users complain. A tertiary treatment plant would raise the standard of purity of the effluent. This would accomplish several things:

· Downstream users like Stockton East Water District have asked the state to require us to go to tertiary treatment. Building a tertiary plant would reduce their objection to our getting an NPDES permit, which would allow occasional overflows of the reservoir.

· Tertiary treated effluent is an asset which can be used to irrigate areas like the Bear Valley meadow or the ballfield. It would be much easier to get rid of.

· Tertiary treatment would be a big step toward the state lifting the Cease and Desist Order which limits the number of new connections. The Bear Valley Master Plan cannot proceed until this happens.

· Building a tertiary plant would lay to rest once and for all the state’s perception that we are a small District with an incompetent Board. This perception has caused us a skeptical reception by the state and downstream users.

· Tertiary treated effluent is much more benign environmentally, and much less likely to cause pollution problems in the future.

· The Bear Valley Water District Manager says he feels the District will go to tertiary treatment sooner or later. The longer we wait, the more expensive it will be because of rising construction costs.

Bear Valley’s future depends on decisive action by the Bear Valley Water District Board, including construction of a tertiary plant. No one is thrilled about higher utility rates, but the sooner we address the problem, the easier it will be to bear the increase. Please vote "YES" for tertiary treatment. For additional information please contact BVRI V.P. Eric Jung via the BVRI PO Box/web site or his e-mail (eric@bearvalleyrealestate.com)

ALPINE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS VACANCY We are now going on 14 months without a representative for Bear Valley on the board of supervisors. While two candidates have filed for this position, Mark Silverstone & Terry Woodrow, the Governor has not yet appointed this position. The BVRI Board is strongly recommending that all homeowners write to the Governor’s Appointments Secretary Mr. Michael Yamaki @ Office of the Governor, California State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814 and encourage Action Now! A copy of Dave Morley’s November 11^th letter on behalf of the BVRI Board follows:

President, BVRI

Again we encourage you to write to Mr. Yamaki and demand action now – you may also want to support a particular candidate of your choice – send your letter ASAP!!

BEACH COMMITTEE TO BE FORMED Newely appointed Board member Sue Garrett is looking for volunteers to join her committee to restore/preserve our beautiful/important beach property. If you would like to get involved please contact Sue through the BVRI PO Box/web site or e-mail her at (sgarratt@iopener.net). To support this effort the BVRI Board has approved a $2,000.00 lake revitalization budget to get the initial work started.

FIRE HOUSE EXPANSION STARTED Deputy Rick Stevens has successfully lobbied the board of supervisors to secure $580,000 to expand the current fire house. This expansion will allow all of the equipment to be stored locally which will keep storage and maintenance costs down. Bays on the back, front and side will provide an additional six spaces for equipment storage/maintenance. Preparation work has already been started so that foundation work can be completed as soon as the snow melts next spring. "Congratulations" to Rick for a job well done!

ROAD GROOMING FUNDS BVRI Board member Terry Woodrow reports that Leonard Turnbough has successfully secured green sticker funds for road grooming. We have one of the largest concentrations of snowmobiles in our state and a portion of the green sticker funds are granted for road grooming. With the help of a recent snowmobile survey we completed, Leonard has secured $20,000 to help cover grooming costs of our roads. A portion,( $5,000) will go to signage for snowmobiles and a brochure on safe snowmobile riding in the area. The BVRI Board "Congratulates" Leonard on securing this incremental funding!

ALPINE COUNTY REDISTRICTING Effective in ‘03/’04 Bear Valley and Kirkwood will be combined into the same district. Bear Valley has 155 registered voters. Kirkwood has 35 registered voters. This gives Bear Valley additional negotiating strength. We can gain additional voters by having you register to vote in Alpine County. (You do not have to declare it as your primary residence.) Couples for example, can have one voting member in Bear Valley and the other in the Bay Area. You may be called for jury duty but they only call when the roads are open which means June or August (only months they have jury trials when the roads are open. Please contact Terry Woodrow to secure additional information as well as the voter registration form – Terry can be reached via the BVRI PO Box/web site or via her e-mail at (woodrow@premierproperties.com)

TENNIS COURTS At the August 26^th board meeting,BVRI V.P. Eric Jung reports that a site analysis from architect Michelle Plotnik recommends that the first two tennis court be located adjacent to the Children’s Beach. Eric requested the board approve a budget of $3,000 for soil testing and a topo map in order to proceed with the site study. The board approved via a unanimous vote to add an additional $1,100 to a current reserve fund of $1,900 for tennis court feasibility studies.

SNOWMOBILE GUIDELINES - PLEASE POST

SNOWMOBILING IN THE VILLAGE
It's time for everyone to think about safe snowmobile use throughout the Village for this coming winter. The sheriff would everyone to make sure all persons in the household, especially guests, are familiar with the rules of snowmobile operation. The Sheriff recommends you post the following (legally binding) rules in a prominent place in your Bear Valley home.

* The speed limit throughout the village is 20mph except at the groomed roadway on BV & Quaking Aspen Rd. where it's posted at 15mph. Drive slowly and cautiously when encountering pedestrians, skiers, and other snowmobiles on the Village roads.

* Snowmobile travel in the Village is allowed only on the groomed roads.

* Snowmobile travel is not allowed between the hours of 10pm and 6am except for travel to residence or business.

* Snowmobile travel on a common area is not allowed except to gain access to residence or business.

* Snowmobile travel is not allowed on private property, including private roads, without owner's consent.

* All snowmobiles must be properly registered. Current registration sticker must be visible on right side of snowmobile.

* All snowmobiles must be equipped with operating headlight, tail light, and brake light. Modified exhaust systems are not allowed.

* The only allowable attachment to a snowmobile is a trailer specifically designed for a snowmobile. The towing of toboggans, skiers, snowboarders, sleds, saucers, etc. is not allowed.

* Snowmobiles must not be parked on the groomed portion of roads.

* Shut off your snowmobile when not moving to reduce air pollution.

    Snowmobile safety will be a priority of the Sheriff's Department this season. The Sheriff's Department will be actively patrolling all Bear Valley roads this season to ensure snowmobile safety. Be forewarned! The Sheriff's Department has announced that citations will be issued to violators this season. Questions regarding snowmobile operation in the Village should be directed to the Sheriff's Office.

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