Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 02/08/2009 09:03 AM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 02/08/2009 09:06 AM
Expires: 01/01/2014 12:00 AM
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Park and Recreation Commission - Volunteers Working for the Betterment of Calaveras County~by Victor Claveau
Written by Staff Writer, Victor Claveau
Calaveras County, CA....While attending the last Commission meeting it occurred to me that our community needs to know about this wonderful group of men and women who are working so diligently to provide for the recreational needs of our communities. The Calaveras Parks and Recreation Commission was established by the County of Calaveras to initiate the process of creating an efficient and adequately funded system of parks and recreational programs within Calaveras County.....
The Commission was formed in order to provide a supporting role to local governments as well as non-profit and volunteer organizations that provide existing park facilities and programs currently serving county residents. In locations not currently within an agency, the Commission shall be the local provider for new facilities as they are proposed and funded.
I asked Commission chairman Mason Goodale what he would like the community to know about the work of the Commission.
He responded, “To answer your question, I'd say I'd like the people of Calaveras to know there is a dedicated group of people furthering the cause of recreation in our county. Our mission includes but is not limited to support and augmentation of all existing recreation groups that provide facilities and programs in Calaveras.
“We are an all-volunteer Advisory Board formed by the Board of Supervisors in an attempt to continue the process started with the Recreation Task Force, which met to address recreation concerns during late 2006 into 2007. While the BoS could not follow the specific recommendations of the task force report, they did not want to lose the momentum created in addressing these issues. The task force report is available on the Parks & Recreation page of the Calaveras County website. http://www.co.calaveras.ca.us/commissions/parksandrec/parks_and_rec1.asp
“Our first achievement as a Commission was to re-write the subdivision code for the county so that Parkland Dedication could truly happen. Parkland dedication in new subdivisions had been codified since the mid-eighties, but never enforced due to it being poorly written and referring to a plan that didn't exist. The Board approved modifying the Subdivision Code last Spring, and along with it a temporary Recreation Master Plan that legitimized the code.
“Our biggest ongoing issue has been the oversight of the Prop 40 Projects. Our Commissioners have assisted the constituency groups that have BOS approved projects get through the process. We have been a liaison between these groups and the County CAO's Office. This has helped all parties tremendously. In some districts we have helped establish new projects gain the approval of the BoS through developing guidelines that serve as a roadmap for recreation groups to move through the process, and by direct assistance by our commission members.
“We have established a Subcommittee of members and outside volunteers (former Task Force folks) to write the more formal and permanent Calaveras County Parks and Recreation Master Plan. This document, when complete, will not only serve to legitimize the subdivision code but also provide a blueprint for Parks and Recreation management and development for the next five to twenty years. We hope to complete this document for submission to the BoS this Spring. We have held community based Public Input meetings throughout the county already. The next meeting is in Arnold on Feb. 11th. The specific goal of these meetings is to get direct input from the public as to the needs of their specific communities, and the County as a whole. The data compiled at these meetings will be integrated into the P & R Master Plan.
“We realize we can do a better job of communicating to the public. We are investigating creating a Blog Site for Calaveras County recreation where users can post items about Parks & Rec in a free format. This was an idea born from the Public Input Meeting held in January in Murphys. Certainly we want to use information sources such as traditional news outlets as well as the County Website and, of course, The Pine Tree.net. As a new body with lots to do and few resources with which to work, we are challenged to serve the public well. The internet is a great way to get the word out with minimal effort and significant effect.
“We welcome all interested parties to come check us out, and perhaps get involved. Aside from our special meetings throughout the county, we meet the third Wednesday of every month at 6pm at the CalWorks Building, corner of Mountain Ranch Rd & Hwy 49/St. Charles Ave, San Andreas.
Commission members:
Commissioner Vanessa Turner represents the 1st Supervisorial District, which includes the communities of San Andreas, Valley Springs, Campo Seco, La Contenta, Commanche, Burson and Wallace. e-mail: turnerranch@mlode.com
Commissioner Pat McGreevy represents the 2nd Supervisorial District, which includes the communities of Mokelumne Hill, Paloma, West Point, Wilseyville, Glencoe/Rail Road Flat, Sheep Ranch and Mountain Ranch. e-mail: mcgreevp@volcano.net.
Commissioner Mary Boblet represents the 3rd Supervisorial District, which includes the Ebbetts Pass area down to, but not including Murphys. e-mail: mboblet@gmail.com.
Commissioner Mason Goodale represents the 4th Supervisorial District, which includes the communities of Angels Camp, Murphys, Highway 4 West to, but not including Copperopolis. e-mail: masong@goldrush.com
Commissioner Dena McAfee represents the 5th Supervisorial District, which includes the residents of Copperopolis, Salt Spring Valley, Milton, Jenny Lind, and Rancho Calaveras.
Commissioner Jeff Davidson represents the Calaveras County Water District, which serves the Arnold to Forest Meadows, Valley Springs to Jenny Lind, and West Point to Wilseyville. e-mail: jeff@caltel.com
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