SPRING 2002 BVRI NEWSLETTER

Editor Bill Webb

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – DAVE MORLEY There are two distinct times in Bear Valley – the winter with the pristine snow everywhere and the summer with the openness of the high sierra mountains. We are now entering this second season. I would like to encourage everyone to make Bear Valley as much like the wilderness as possible. Clean up your lots, clear a defensible space around your home, and clean up the roads by picking up litter beside the roads on your walks.

I would also like to encourage everyone to attend the annual BVRI picnic on July 5 at 4:00 p.m. and to attend the general homeowners meeting on July 6th at 10 a.m. in the Perry Walther Building. Please see the announcements below.

 

BVRI BOARD POSITIONS At the March 23rd BVRI Board meeting, the election results were confirmed for the following board members – Jim Blake, Eric Jung, Dave Morley, Leslie Peterson, Don Thorson and Gary Willard. All terms are for three years except Gary Willard who will serve a two year term. The BVRI Board will now have five member positions expiring in each of the next three years. Board member Paul Peterson presented the nominations for BVRI Officers and the board voted unanimously for the following: President Dave Morley, Vice President Eric Jung, Secretary Katherine Aitken-Young, Treasurer Brian Neth.

 

CABLE COMPANY PRESENTATION Mr. John Tripp, President and COO of DCA Cable Vision made a presentation to the board on his companies plans for taking over Mark’s Cable Vision. The new name will be DCA Cable Vision. John addressed the problems that BV Residents are having with the current system and indicated his company plans to take action to rebuild the system and service. Plans include upgrading equipment, hiring local person to help maintain system and adding a new heated dish as first system upgrade. John also indicated he is willing to work with BVRI Board Member Paul Peterson to start up the local dedicated BV Channel 9 to the system. Residents are encouraged to call the 800 number (found on their invoice) if they experience cable signal issues.

 

TENNIS COURT SURVEY The BVRI Board has been investigating the feasibility of tennis courts in Bear Valley. Our conclusions are that:

  1. There are only two sites that don’t require buying land and that will probably work. One is in the Par Course common area behind the old foundation for the Black Forest condos on Creekside Drive. The other is up around the corner from the Children’s Beach on a parcel owned by BVRI on Bear Valley Road.
  2. The Par Course site would likely cost twice as much to develop as the Beach site, because it would require a road and parking area to be built. A rough estimate from architect Michelle Plotnik is that development of the Beach site would probably cost about $125,000 for two courts. The Par Course site would probably cost about $200,000 for two courts, if soil tests prove the site feasible in the first place. The water table is high there, and there could be considerable soil amendment and environmental impact there.
  3. There is no point waiting for grant money to make this happen. It would be nice, and it might still happen. But all rumors of appropriate grants have not panned out.
  4. BVRI will not spend any more of its General Fund money for this. The project must be supported by those who will use it, both for up front construction and ongoing upkeep.

BVRI is sending out a poll to find out if there is enough support for this project to keep going. What is needed is, first, general community agreement that this is a good thing; second, enough financial support to make it go; and third, enough volunteers to do the work necessary.

If you don’t get a copy of the poll, or if you have questions, please write to BVRI, Box 5145, Bear Valley, CA 95223; or, better, e-mail to bvri@goldrush.com

 

BEAR VALLEY WATER DISTRICT/SEWER STATUS

There are two important meetings scheduled in June that will impact our sewer system/rates. The first is a State Board Meeting scheduled for Friday June 7th in Sacramento at the Regional Board Offices. This meeting will determine if the Bear Valley Water District has met the state requirements so that the current restrictions on sewer connections can be lifted. Current connections are restricted to ten homes per year.

Please contact BVRI Board Member Gary Willard through the bvri web site for full details – www.bvri.org

The second meeting is scheduled for Monday June 17th @ 1:00Pm at the BV Water District Office. This is a Sewer Assessment Increase Hearing that will consider a 55% rate increase on current homeowner sewer rates. All interested homeowners are encouraged to attend this meeting. The rate increase being considered is driven by state requirements on the current sewer treatment system. Again, contact BVRI Board Member Gary Willard for additional information via www.bvri.org

 

BEACH REPORT We are pleased to report that a new Swim Platform will be installed this summer at the Big Beach, replacing the old unit that has been retired. The platform is expected to be in place as soon as the weather conditions permit its placement. This will provide a safe platform for all to use during the summer swim season.

BVRI Board Member Susan Garratt has a Summer Job Opening for a Beach Attendant at Bear Lake – please respond to Susan via her e-mail or phone number listed in the following:

SUMMER JOB OPENING

Beach Attendant at Bear Lake

BVRI is looking for a strong, dependable employee to maintain both beaches at Bear Lake for nine weeks beginning the weekend of June28/29 through Labor Day. The job pays $8.00 an hour, three hours per day from 8:30 am to 11:30 am, 15 hours a week – Wednesday through Sunday. Beaches are raked, trash is picked up, trails are maintained, and garbage is removed and taken to dumpster. Minimum age is 15. Please contact Susan Garratt at sgarratt@iopener.net or 650-347-6856.

Susan is also heading up a Save The Beach Project to insure the long term health of our beaches – if you are interested in helping with this important restoration project please contact her at – sgarratt@iopener.net - all volunteers are welcome!!

 

ANNUAL PICNIC/ GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Please mark your calendar now for the Annual July BVRI Picnic, the date is set for Friday July 5th with great BBQ food served starting at 4:00PM!! As is the tradition, we will have a great raffle to benefit both the BV Library & BV Search and Rescue – lots of great raffle prizes will be awarded on the spot to the lucky winners!!! Mark your calendar to hold the 5th for a "Great Community Event"!! Also, the Annual Homeowners General Meeting is scheduled for Saturday morning July 6th @ 10:00AM in the Perry Walther Building – all BVRI homeowner members are encouraged to attend this important meeting. In addition to meeting all of the BVRI Board Members – a open forum will be held to insure your input is received by the board on issues of importance to you – Please mark your calendars now for this important meeting. Also, check the BVRI web site prior to the meeting for the agenda – www.bvri.org

 

ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE As a reminder to all homeowners in the "new" subdivisions of Bear Valley (tracts 1-7,9) that any alteration to the exterior of their homes requires ARC approval prior to implementation. (Some 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 ARC Committee consists of Ron Murphy (Chair), Terry Woodrow, Robin La Roy, Clem Soga and Gary Willard. Please contact any member directly with questions or e mail them through the BVRI web site (www.bvri.org)

 

CC&R’S ARTICLE IV SECTION 9 – SNOWMOBILE STORAGE

BVRI President Dave Morley sent a letter dated April 15, 2002 to all BV Homeowners as a reminder that all snowmobiles should be stored out of sight of the road during the summer months. 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, other homes, 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.

 

BEAR VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL As reported in the last BVRI Newsletter, the 34th Annual Bear Valley Music Festival is fast approaching. Don Bean reports a terrific line up of artists ranging from "Roy Clark", Classical Program with "Maestro Carter Nice" to Opera "Carmen". The full Bear Valley Music Festival Schedule as well as tickets can be secured by going to WWW.BEARVALLEYMUSIC.ORG or by calling 209-753-2574.

Plan on making this year’s festival a Must Attend Event –dates for the festival’s opening and closing are as follows:

OPENING SATURDAY JULY 27TH @ 7:30PM

DAVID CLAYTON – THOMAS with BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS

CLOSING SUNDAY AUGUST 11TH @2:00PM

BEAR VALLEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

CONDUCTED by CARTER NICE

 

FIRE PREVENTION With the snow melt underway, it is time to make preparations for the fire prevention season. The BVRI Board plans an aggressive program this year to assist all homeowners prevent fire potential issues on their property. Plans are underway for all property to be inspected for fire prevention compliance. We can all take an active part in creating a FIRE DEFENSIBLE SPACE on our property. It is everyone’s responsibility and it is mandated by law! You are being asked to fully cooperate by meeting the requirements as listed on the following checklist and then performing a self-inspection of your property. To summarize, you can take these simple actions:

We will begin making spot checks of all Bear Valley properties in July to ensure the fire safety of the community and also ask that you contact us if you are concerned about areas that are not observed to be fire defensible. Violators will be warned and asked to cooperate. Failing to cooperate may result in citations.

The danger of fires in California is always extremely high. We can reduce that risk for Bear Valley by cooperating with the community’s fire protection efforts. If you have any questions about making your home and property fire safe, or have concerns about areas you observe as not fire defensible, please contact us at 209-753-2232.

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