Mid-Valley Resident Has Many Questions on CV Link Benefits

VALLñYVÖICË Mid-valley resident has many questions on CV Link benefits

Over the last year or so I have read many letters in The Desert Sun on the pros and cons of building and maintaining the CV Link. To be perfectly transparent, I am completely against what I consider a $100 million dollar boondoggle. Tom Wells Having said that, I would ask the decision makers (as I .or any other of the residents of the valley will not have a comments and projected say) to consider my reasons estimates as to the increase for coming to the conclusion I in.tourism and the accompa- have reached nying increase in revenue If this project were to be that will come to the valley, financed with municipal thanks to the Link. If this is bonds that would be repaid tiue, and I am skeptical, with our tax dollars, and re- where will these people stay? quired a vote of the people, I Every hotel and rental prop- firmly believe it would never erty is fairly well-booked in receive the necessary votes the season, and most of the to pass. In that case, the peo- rest of the year it would be ple would have spoken. too hot to utilize the Link. The nearest põssible point Does that mean that the in- of entry to the wash for me, flux of tourists will have stay and those around me, for the in new hotel rooms, or newly Link is at Cook Street near built homes. If so, what does Palm Desert High School, that do to current water us- which is about two miles age? frommyhome. (Will the If the valley governments "link" bridge Cook?) If there have $100 million dollars to will be access there, or for spend, why not give it away that matter at any entry in the form of scholarships, Þoint, there will need to be or build decent low-income adequate and safe parking. housing, or put that money The maximum safe range toward repairing the Salton of my golf cart, and I suspect Sea, or (vou fillin the most of those in the valley, is bhnk ãtñêE äre untold eight miles. Therefore, once I numbers of better uses for reach the wash at Cook, I this money). would only be able to take the I hope the decision makers link three miles in either consider the points I have direction, and where does made. At the very least, they that take me? How can any should consider building a reasonable person believe portion, say 10 miles, and see there will be much use þy how much it is used for â drivers of golf carts on the couple of years first. I know Link? governments don't have to If I were going to walk on justify expenditures like a the Link (I'm too old to run) I private business must, but either must walk the two maybe, just maybe, the Link miles to get to the wash or should be the exception to , drive tlere in my car or golf that norm. caft. . EmailTomWells olPalm There have been many D es ert at tw ells3@ dc.rr. com. Veatch Hank Plântè Gloria Franz COMMUNITY MEMBÊR COMMUNITY MEMBËR 5-/3-/5 # VALLHV \d&$CË CV Link's critics should join effort to resolve issues It is difficult as an elected official to question an elected official of a neighboring jurisdiction but I witnessed something in the city of Ran- cho Mirage that compels me to do so. Ironically, the same day that Mayor Dana Hobart sent Jan Harnik out a long email criticizing the cv Link project I witnessed a terrible bike accident in the city of Rancho nance funding plan. Addition- Mirage; A S5-year-old bicy- ally, at Thursday's council clist, Mario P., had been rid- meeting the Rancho Mirage ing along the l{ighway 11L City Council pasSed yet an- sidewalk. When it came to an other resolution barring CV end he took a horrible fall. Link from traversing High- First responders were way 111 or Bob Hope Drive. efficient, slowing traffic, The Rancho Mirage City rushing Mario to Desert Re- Council knows full well that gional Hospital with severe, they are blocking all conceiv- but fortunately not life- able routes through their city, threatening, injuries and then seemingly in an effort to quickly cleaning the blood off derail the project. the sidewalk and street. Mayor Hobart continually Mayor Hobart and the City asserts he is not opposed to Council of Rancho Mirage CV Link despite ongoing have made it abundantly efforts that indicate other- clear they do not want CV wise, including asking the Link coming through their executive committee of city. The city requested cer- CVAG to stop work on the .tain routes removed from the project. If Mayor Hobart is project. Most of them were true to his word, I ask that he along the country clubs and state a route that would be CVAG accommodated their acceptable through the city requests. At a recent work- of Rancho Mirage. Let's have shop held at Mayor Hobart's' a rational and reasonable request, he spoke and ques- discussion dealing with oper- tionèd CVAG o¡ the operation ations and maintenance costs. and maintenance costs, quot- More than $75 million i4g excessive and incorrect towards tne.$tOO million con- numbers. At that same work- struction cost has been raised shop a group.of private land- without asking Coachella owners with residences on a Valley cities for one dime. public trail testified CV Link CVAG is working on grants would disrupt their use of the and funding for the additional trail. Soon thereafter the City $25 million.

, Council took action opposing Let's all work together to +he CV Link from passing make this a valuable Coachel- hrough the Butler Abrams la Valley assèt, not take ac- Tþail (a public trail). They tions to stand in the way. Let's also opposed connecting and provide a safe route for bicy- providing access to the pop- clists, pedestrians and low- ular community resource, the speed electric vehicles. Rancho Mirage library. If we build the CV Link up At CVAG, Mayor Hobart to Rancho Mirage's borders testified that "operations and there willbe many more maintenance charges, over accidents like Mario's when the course of decades, comes users are forced to take what- up to hundt'eds of millions of ever route they can through dollars." Despite myriad and Rancho Mirage. Let's not substantiated evidence to the foróe them to do that. contrarf he continues to JanHarnikis amember of maintain and state these ove- the Palm Desert City Councí\, rinflated figures and despite chair s th e C o achella V all ey Mayor Hobart's assertions to As sociatíon of Gov ernment s the contrary, no CVAG com- executíve commíttee and serves mittee. has reviewed, consid- on CV AG's Tl ansp ortation ered nor taken any action on Aòmmitt ee. EmaíI her. at an operations and mainte- jharní[email protected]. Y$LÍR ry*¡(Ë nance: Pathway and electric, Better uses for money they are "uninformed and massive pension and health inflammatory." He goes on to liabilities, should first main- etc.3. Crime: Vandals, graffiti, Why is Supervisor John robbers, muggings, abduc- say, "Building roadwaYs is tain the roads within their own Benoit oushins so hard for the exþensive, MAINTAINING sphere of influence, before tions, insurance, etc.4. Costs: CV Link? Whal does he gain if they thèm is far less expensive' But adding the CV Link. How high with really this boondoggle goes through? Responsibilities: Coun- doing so periodicallY is critical Jens Mueller, Cathedral CitY rise? 5. The entire just Task Force (over- Project so you don't have to fix major ty, Valley With all the things smells bad! oroblems later." sight committee), or cities? is this so questions our valley needs why ' "Maintaining" them is far Too many You read a book from begin- important? end. but when have less expensive? ReallY? Has he It is said that Your life can't ning to You With the drought, the Salton with the end driven some of his county eo according to Plan if You a olãn vou étart Sèa, crime stopping and manY your way back. roads Or is he trans- have no plan. It's also been said arid wórt< items on our lately? you doing the more important ported about on some magic that when you make a Plan Shame on for not agenda, a pathwaY for trash, plan the due ðarpet? Because last I checked make sure You see it through entire for Public's vãgrants, crime and now it is a þotential the county of Riverside needed to its fullest. The CV Link is a diligence. As of other costly waste seems un- nowherê. some serious road mainte- sreat idea at first sight except bridge to important. Wouldn't the Robert F. SYlk, LaQuínta nance. Rancho Mirage main- Tvhat happens next? The first amount of money this will cost tains its roads on a regular costs werì projected in the $53 be better spent elsewhere? schedule! million to $77 million dollar J ohn Pf eifrer, P alm D es er t More than he deserves Here's a suggestion for our range. Now we are at about the county supervisor and avid $100 million. Re: "Killer'living cyclists that reallY, reallY want What about the following? 1' dream,"'May 10 Roadworkneeded Martinez is a con- this government "boondog gle." Safety: Fence, cameras every Ernesto Mr. Benoit has callçd out phone police killeY, He will The @unty, and the 8 other mile anrlemergency victed crltics of the CV Linlt/saying boxes. f Ongoing mainte- continue to kill and the onlY i cities'in our valley, with their lUotfollowing blindly cycling opportunities for riders with disabiìlties, this project is high on my of the CVAG Status reports Sections list of something that is not only desir- Dana Hobart in support of Ran- cited by but also needed for riders who tra- CV Link able cho Mirage's opposition to the verse our roads four inches off the proÞosal of. Tfans' read like a chapter Following the death of a hand- 'parèncy inGovemment by Nancy Pelo- sround. ðvc[st in January 2015 (which was fol- y e to pas s it and then y ou sii' Fírst ouhav lõwed by another death of a bicyclist in what's in it." Our officials wilt find out February) my concerns' it would seem, to find out what wøs in it and bottiered are well-founded. question what wos missing. The reports Recalling an incident that occurred a áppear to have been intentionally mis- few vears back where a double amputee lôá¿ing. The council's position echoes veteran and paracyclist was hit by a car of Rancho Mirage residents the voicès in Palm Springs while waiting at a cor- believe CV Link offers any who do not ner resul[ing in the destruction of his benefit to the community. prosthesis, the ability to ride through Rancho Mirage is PerhaPs the onlY our valley with significantly greater California that is 100 percent free city in safety is4tt something that is a luxury, it of ãebt and operates within its annual is a necessity not an accident; our leaders budget. It's The CV Link and the efforts of all cy- recognize that money they commit to that promote cy- projects taxpayers. It is cling organizations beìongs to the clinã safétv are to be commended for to finance a legacy of their po- notlheirs theii effort!. The CV Link isn't iust trail litical achievemenls. They epitomize a movement to governance. of inconvenience, it's honest and responsible greater and recreational of you or Jan Harnik create safety Would any opportunities for our valley- end to end. blindly invest your personal funds and J u dy A. M ai, r e sion al dír e ct olJ rest yôur financial futures in a project f ::Jh withóut vetting the fine print and seek- ing answers to the missing pieces? Nei- ther would we! We need CV Link's'vibe' Rb,, JI ¿arrow, liancho Mir age Ms. Harnik, thank You so much for vour' suoport of the CV Link. Face the issuc¡s As aäyclist, I havebeen looking forward to the Link for years and am very Re: "CV Linh's critics should join ef- ât Rancho Mirage's opposition. resolve issues," Valley Voice, alarmed fort to They should be ashamed of themselves. May 13 What I smell is the influence of some pushed hard on her agen- Jan Harnik rnoneyed political supporters in CV Link without do- very da for building the a NIMBY attitude future operations Rancho Mirage with ing a cost study for taking priority over Rancho Mirage's anã maintenánce expenses, and she people" of the rest criticized Rancho Mirage "commón and those mightily of the valley' Keep publicly callingthem Mayor Dana Hobart, when, at a CVAG out until they give us a reasonable route CV Link.workshop, "He spoke and ques- main- through their cityl tioned CVAG on the operation and the "vibe" some- quotir{g and in- Doñ't they realize tenance costs, excessive that will give the valley and He raised the issue thine like correct nurilbers." how-good it will be for tourism and she doesn't want to face it' and cross-pollination among our cities? is this: Jan Harnikwrote, What stinks Paula Matos, LaQuinta "No CVAG committee has reviewed, considered, nor taken any action on an ooerations and maintenance funding A different path pian." This is astounding! She is admit- The Kern River Parkway was creat- iine that she has not reviewed nor con- ed in 1976 and runs for 30 miles along sidéred a funding plan. Why on Earth is the Kern River bed. Jan Harnik, chair of the CVAG Execu- The Parkway'has attracted homeless tive Committee, pushing so hard for a who have set up èncampments. Many of CV Link when she is telling us she has no the homeless have been hitting the run- idea of the ongoing maintenance and op- ners and joggers up for food and mone¡ erations costs for this venture? which has ãiicourãge¿ use of the park- It appears Jan Harnik is Part of the wav. "We hãve the money so let's sPend it on îhe result: Use of the ParkwaY bY something" crowd at CVAG who have ioesers and walkers has deèlined and it obviouslynot done their homework nor "no"rí requires full-time police patrols Dãna the thorough research that Mayor seven days a week. Hobart has done. Mr. Hobart is finding Jim de Boom, Rancho Mirage it difficult to shine the light of day on the facts about the ultimate costs of the CV Link. D e e Ann M ads en, Rancho Mir age Rancho Mirage should Pitch in I am so ashamed of mY CitY Council to De Is the Rancho Mirage council now iåffi;äîË ú;üi"i or the valleY?.Is.it ä'#iffiïî"* tie negative spotlisht t"it"fuiti;preciate Mavor Dana. Ho- h*r i,informing" his electorate aoout äî Li"ri.iitã"tã"'t hís blast email have th" dit"ustion and con- ;;;;ütiãéaôfild:lïï"î""î ê\i ilåîïi',i1î"," "

ãr,rli{rg"#;:lnl'.':x;x";Ë:ilmore' But we i"ätül-ãit"ndðes,^and who ãtõo utttu"t tons of cyclists, folks cYcle' ;;;;i;;;i"*'ivñl telax and, Yes, ., tnájot t"totts, including the we-stin in Rançho Mirage' rert blcycles i: i|:r gH:iYåå:i ål:'*åi.,I , of ñir i111"iã ru havebeen the scene åãitv'ãõciuents, some deadlY'. .."'Ëfl "'-rviuvór gouaít, stop being a bully' It's parl tiniäìå u" pãrt of thé solution' not of the Problem Susie HartteY' Rancho Mira¿

Opening riding oPPortunities I have followed, with great interest ,i,J iåiiå' i"eåiãine thð cv Link' Ar iË åË;ì;i;f"ã Profram that Providet

I :'

--Èy Veatch Hank Plante Gloria Franz g lERITUS MEMBER cotr¡tvl u¡l try ¡vi e v ¡R COMMUNITY MEMBER

V&LLHY V&t{H CV Link'breakup' would be better for valley's cities

Except for bragging rights, where is the "magic" in creating a continuous CV Link pathway that connects the cities of our valley? How many citizens of Coachella are going to use it to travel to Palm Springs, and vice ver- sa? It seems that the S0-mile Jeri Barry concept would primarily benefit a relatively small segment of the resident and visiting population interested Let's abandon the idea of a in long-distance bicycle rid- single, continuous CV Link ing and hard-core exercise. needlessly extending down :LE Our forward-thinking .the backbone of the valley in community leaders are look- favor of separate "links" in ing to provide an amenity each city. Revise the name of that encourages tourism and the project to "CV Links" exercise, and prepares the (with an "s") to represent a valley for expanded use of series of separate inner city electric vehicles. But why "links" that deliver users does it need to link the cities? where they actually want to Recent controversies have go. demonstrated that some cit- Where possible, long sec- ies will not accept the impos! tions could be included to tion of the CV Link onto their accommodate those who want already congested roads. For to travel farther distances for privacy reasons, overlaying exercise purposès. If im- the path onto or near already proved health is truly a goal, built-out residential areas is then shorter, less intimidat- also not acceptable tÒ some ing, community-driven path- cities. Some cities feel left ways are much more likely to ou! of the project entirely. encourage additiônal people As proposed, the CV Link to get out and to exercise. would be mostly atop the CVAG already has a plan levee, which is an easy line to that provides options for draw on a map and it accom- future NEV routes in the plishes the goal of "linking" valley. That "Neighborhood cities, but again, for what Electrii Vehicle (NEV) Plan" pirrpose? Additional money is on the.CVAG website would be needed in the future (www.CVAG.org). This report to extend pathways into our addressês each city in detail cities to make the CV Link and provides.a perfect foun- truly relevant. dation for the creation of ,Effective and well-used individual city "links.'tThe pathways deliverpeople' groundwork for CV Links has where they NEED and WANT already been dohe. _. '_, . ,'r..::t{a.1 i!:\'-..::f i ,.ri?tr1*ìlil:- : - to gq grocery stores, the schools,- work, restaurants, IS entertainment venues, shoP' mentation after ping and other entities within is built. But thatrs backwards. iheir own communities. If Why not re-direct the alreadY destinations are worthwhile, pledged CV Link funds to more people will be inclined individual cities NOW for the to walk, bike or abandon their development ofthe NEV Plan car in favor of a Neighbor- and the incorporation of ex- hood Electric Vehicle (NEV). isting city bike and Pedestri- Each city has very differ- an trails. THEN, if warrant- ent objectives, challenges ed, link the city links togeth- and budgets. East valleY resi- er. dents need safe routes that The $75 million in pledged deliver adults to work and funds would probably go kids to school Other cities further to re-configure and need connections between enhance existing streets and hotels, restaurants and enter- paths than it would cost to tainment venues.. Each citY build a brand new concrete ' should be allowed to create a CV Link roadway on the lev- network of internal Paths that . ee. will answer its specific goals. Also, cities should only ac- Jeri Barry ís aresident of cept pathways they can af- Palm Springs. Emaíl her at ford to maintain and secure. [email protected] DAY MAY

o Obituaries 16A o Op¡nion l7A ärnd GV tËmk paih ryËEo¡r reEecteÆ Rancho Mirage councilors worry about safet¡r,impact on homes sherry Barku, "' ' _By ' Much of the intended route rhe Desert sun . . , f9r the s2-mile ;ñ¿i;t"ï;h rhere --. w'rbe nocvLrlk $1.i"äJå'înJHå,,jå#",IîH 111 I-{ighway- or Bob -Hope"" ul'one'th" ti¡-tritewater Wasn. Driveinthe.cityofRanchol\¿i nui-ïnäiãräå'ìs mosily built ¡age,councilmemberssaidon out ¡n nanðho Mirasã- citv r.hur.sdg.v a decision ap_ plaudedbythedozenorsores-,,w-¡at- vranãe".Ränãäribî"ããi.ùilí. wö-iõuna in ãnãrrä_ ide¡ts in rhe audience. ingthi$;j;ri" o"pii,irtÉãt The action, . . however,leaveq tirã iõîí" tf{.ãrgn nän"f,õ n¿ì_ the_question of where'should iã#, b;ä;*-Vniitewater iî'ìËËJ;à; the.lir_¡k go in Rancho Mirage. *iit' ti," River "We don't want ro bç lãy_ cirannei,- wôúi,i È ó ;i;;: salgrl'l Mayor Dana Hobart itous a,i¿ ãisruptive ttrãt it

acceptableäå1,ffiTuì1",'rå,åïåJfi,i l;"m'*i*'r ïmlî:* to us, fine." set of probieftl for the com. . Thursday's decision fol_ munitf;lgyîäè,,äi¿, ^" ""',' lows the April16 reþcrion-of c.ãiriñË"uìäñwav rir in proposals bv rhe coacheila murtiplõðiãsi*ãiürîinåt-ruiË valleyAssociationof Gov_ern- ro. ifie menrs to buitd groo jõãeèT, ù.iesiiffi;'iiiü"r., ti¡e miilion êlecr¡ic ve_ !nJ<.¡e_a1 the Ranòho Mirage "hËË;ñt"nääffi;ï"il;;"iã-;*;ll Public Library,-where rhe ciiy te õãid.---"---' has plans to build an observâ_ Itwouldalsoimpacttraffic, tory, or alone rhe Ruuer_ ,,cooàpianrineióãrü,ñìî Abrams Tþait --- one or the fiw llel, öeäã, Tö volume of ve_ horse trails left in the ciry. hiõ"jää¡fñiit¡rpéãês-*ian * Highway 11L and Bob i{ope traffio'; ;;:¡ ;;ìä;i:ùä; Drivepresenttrafficandsafe- gu"Ë ;.èàn m¡"{'i,rro ¡ui¿,1úãìí l1:.:":r.:tïE_wirh concerns ãüiv-bJ'iåsnively im_ aoour the- rmpact on area pacted,,6v the link. nomes and businesses, council members and residenis said. ptease see GV LINK 6A fr

COURTE5Y OF COACHELLA VALLEY AssOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS A rendering shows part of the planned 52-mile trail calied CV tink.

nate-route... if we can, and can pay for it CVLink (rhe Link)," he said. In April, the City Council pulled back Continued from 3A on its support of the link when Hobart raised questions about CVAG's pioposal ResidentRon Sharrow said he.,vehe- that the nine cities dedicate 8 percént of mently" opposed the link in Rancho Mi- their increased TOT earnings every rage and suggested it run on the north year, from 201,6 on, to cover tËe annuá side of Interstate 10. $1.6 million maintenance costs. No one in the audience.or on the coun, . Hobart estimated that would cost cil spoke in fâvor of the proposed High- Rancho Mirage nearty $1.5 million over way LL1. and Bob Hope Drive routes. nine years. CVAG and the cities involved "I think it's really important for Ran- ?re continuing to discuss options for ch^o- Mirage to stand up and say we are funding the maintenance. different from other cities involved in "I didn't say stop (rhe project) but the link project," res! Councilman Richard slow it down," Hobart said, to eiplore op- Kite said. tions. Looking at an aerial view of the link pillows from Coachella to Desert Hot Springs, Desert Sunreporter Sherry Barkas covers Kite said it wouldn't disrupr the búsinelsé the cities of La Quinto, Indian Welts , lcor districts. of other communities as it Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert. She can wot¡ld in Rancho Mirage. be reoched at "W.e don'q have a whole lot of choices," [email protected] - or (7 60) . \g quid, "I look forward to working wiih 778-4694. Follow her onT\¡titter @TDSshern, CVAG in the future to find some alter- æ Coachella Valley Link project faces,

By Jesse Marx I The Desert sun ,ix,,'. On April 2, Rancho lvlirage City Councii's five members met behincl &*; closed doors. By unanimous vote, they decided to slam the brakes on the nf J,,1illåffiii",'f*tiäìàf I Within minutes, the news spread;"?':J:i"å3?*:Tål"l"if"',",ï:åï*i:î:1" the city was calling into question the M fairness andlegality ofcurrent funding sourcesand demanding answers il of the Coachella Valiey Association of Governments, the lead ágency. tE In the meantime, the city would oppose the $100 million tráil rhe ,"-L largest infrastructure project in Southèrn California in terms of size.- If ¿ç-'i built, the CV Link will run from Palm Springs to Coachella along the Whitewater River wash, with the possibiliiy ofèxtending someday tó the salton sea'

Please see CV LINK, l0A

. çV Link recreation path is shown in a rendering from CVAG. ,òpt' iLLA vALLEy AssocrAlroN oF GovERNMENTs ¡)þs' '''*^*.''_*,{

* .,^/ /* 13

neighborhoóds. ¡Àr !¡rdl UVAG suggestlngthattheannualO&M- _trme, was _ î91!r_; things like ,.pãi.i, ,i CVLink g_r¿rÌltl removal and landic¿p] ,l Continued from 1A i üåI 4iåiå"1i?ålli:f"f"1': From the beginning, the pro- iit,ry"Í,iïi#,ñ ject has been public i,iiÍ:'#s,'Jfi sold to the crry's annual growrh ¡n not just as a touiist magnet and iõï I9y9nue _ using 2016 as the recreational marvel, but as a oase, year _ would .:: boost be set aside. to the desert's impover- sarrs,,"Drart ished neighborhoods. in'Janu- ,nldti"oå3t#f, 3/ i ary, Desert Hot Springs formal- was_the stan ofT , ly joined the project becoming __.r'It conver- the ninth city to do so. Questions l.'$. jlå,";ïå: of fairness and funding had also ä',i:t,r#:[ caused elected leaders there to i¡;ii'åi:1,*uffi 'e"ion;' waver. Rancho Mirage Elsewhere, the project ,. disagreed. has Ìrooarr.accused CVAG,s been hailed as the "spine of the slaff of . valley," "something dramatic, something iconic," something . iË:i".i?Jiffirru'*diisit9.cosjs qhe-y that "takes down barriers.t' ::1:: ¿i¿n't fully r Bvèn Rancho Mirage Council- man Ted Weill's website de- scribed the CV Link as "a revo- naof,ii,å'i¡,?3ffliiååå3,"ft$ï' Deen caughtcdmpletely lutionary new concept in trans- u¡_ , portation." It is ambitious. Yet most of the $100 million construdion : cost three-fourths has already- been set aside -via state; federal and county grants, two years ahead of the slated groundbreaking. Exþenditures since 2011 total $1.7 million, mostly on consultants about $t.5 million of which went- ro Al- tã Planning and Eesign of Port- ì land, Oregon. But it's not so much the cost to build the project that rubs i some folks the wrong way. The Rancho Mirage City Council's decision on April 2 was directly tied to whãt follows construction - the upkeep of the trail: And since then, , Mayor Dana Hobart has been on , the war path, putting his train- , ing as.an attorney to good use. "If it can't stand on its own two feet, èconomically," he said ' of the trail, "it should be killed."

Who pays what

The source of contention are . . three very powerful words in .. . the Coachella Valley: transient occupancy tax. Otherwise known as "TOlL" or "the bed tax," these dollars come from ; hotel and resorts. CVAG has suggested using the funds to pay for the trail's upkeep the logic being that the project- will boost tourism, so tourism dollars ought to þay for the future operations and maintenance, or O&M. The in- tention is to be a self-sustaining system that doesn't rely on cities to go rifling through couches for loose change. In late March, CVAG Bxecu- tive Director Tom Kirk ap- proached some city staff with the idea of dedicating a percent- age of one's TOT revenues rather than a concrete number based on, say, the mileage of trail in their jurisdiction. Kirk .added this proposal to the association's April 6 transportation committee hearing, which is run mostly by local city council members, to establish a CV Link fund for O&M. ' Bynder referred to tle PR ma- ' chine behind the project, in- , cluding commer:cials, as "prop: . aganda." To back i.rp his theory, Hobart ' : points to CVAG's draft mastér ' plan, which was released in Au- . gust 2014. Page 123 rliscusses ^tM and states, in bold letters, rnstruction aird operations of ¿ CV Link will no[ require local funding." However, that same' doiu- ment goes on to list possible funding sources, including local DESER-T SUN FILE PHOTO ones. Rancho Mirage Mayor Dana Hobart, ' Page 126 mentioned TOT specifically and suggests that the city of Palm Springs is con- mento Jewel" is going to take up sidèring using it. The . document some 4,900 acres once built. It is then reads, "Work is uriderway literally a park system. By com- with the . tourism industry to ex- R¡CHARD tUI/fHE DESERT SUN parison, CV Link will touch 105 plore the possibility of growing Riverside Count¡i'Supervísor John Benoit emailed 10 elected officials about acres. TOT revenues and using some their criticism of the CV Link. He also swung and missed at growth of the to fund O&M." aMay 4 transportation commit- These are but a few sen- tee meeting, taking the podium tences in a 158-page report and to say he feared Rancho Mirage their meaning isn't entirely . CV L¡NK FUNDING would be committing itself clear. In fact, different mayors "oveir the courSe of decadeS" to see the TOT issue and Hobart's The Coachella Valley Association of Governments, which is leading the O&M costs totaliig "hundreds complaint in drastically differ- project under the directiòn of local elected officialj, says the following of millions of dollars." ways. grants ent have been set aside for construction of the $j00 million CV LinÈ: Actually, that would take a "These are ideas and op- D CVAG Transportation Fund: $20,000,000 thousand years,. give or take. tions," said Stan Henry, mayor D Ak Quality Mitigation Disrrict: $ j7,400,000 of Cathedral City. "We never r¡ Federal Congestion Mitigation and Air euality: $12,600,000 even got to the point of discus- > CA Active Transportation Program: $10,900,000 Agreement sion." D Desert Healthcare Ditrict: $'1.0,000,000 There is one thingthat every- "There should have been D State Transportation lmprovèment progiam: 92,000,000 one agrees on: Measure. A more open dialogue on the issue > California Strategic Growth Council: $'t,000,000 funds, a voter-approved half- rather than what was written in u Riverside County Parks: $75e000 cent sales tax that raises monies the docurñent," said Adam San- > Cathedral City Bicyclelransportation Account Grant: g74g,500 for public transportation pro- chez, mayor of Desert Hot > Caltrans Env¡ronmentâl Justice Grãnt: $29i,000* jects. 'Springs, referring to the 2014 Total: $75,689,500 But what everyone agrees on draft master plan. As such, he t The City of Palm Desert spearheaded the Caltrans Environmental Justice is that applying Measure A ^:ded with Rancho Mirage in Grant because only a city can apply lor those lunds, according to Gary Le- funds to the trail's O&M budget ing to slow down the.project' ong, CVAG's director of administrative iervices. However, ¡lè ã¿¿ed, t-ne as CVAG has suggested is perform - - . an audit. association provided another 922,500 to match. difficult,-As possibly illegal. Of course, the O&Mbudgetis Hobart has pointed out, in flux, so it's impossible to de- the funds were.intended for termine who will ultimately pay considerable amount of money "Under that scenario, Ran- "streets,. roads, highways," and what. And to make matters and it makes no business sensê cho Mirage would be paying not bicyôle, pedestrian and low- more confusing, the two sides to accept the project if we do not just $42,000 in year 9," Kirk speed electric vehicle paths. can't even agree on thebestway. know tbat wé can meet the re- wrote in an email. "By compari. Even the Riverside County to calc¡late eâch city's future fi- sponsibilities of O&M collec- son, that's less than a quarter of T[ansportation Commission, nancial obligations. Rancho Mi- tively as a group of cities for the what (the) Rancho Mirage coun- which oversees the collection rage says CVAG undeiestimat- decades to come." cil in March agreed to spend ... and distribution ofthè tax,ìs un- ed the city's annual revenue fig- Just last week, CVAG staff to market the 2015ANA Inspira- sure whether Measure A can be ures, while CVAG contends that presentedra new O&M budget, tion golf tournament.'i used on the CV Link. . Rancho Mirage is downplaying slashing an earlier idea to hiré While admitting it isn't a per- "That's unclea¡" said.John a funding cap that was built into 10 full-time Ìangêrs and one fect, comparisonj Hobart 'has Standiford, the commission's the forinula and allows them to managet andcalling instead foi asked his fellow elected offi- deputy executive director. take only so rhuch. volunteér patrols to be the eyes cials to consider the American Standiford added that it These fundamental discrep- and ears of the trail. Overnight, River Parkway trail with its es- could,be as sünple as designat. ancies are all the moré reason to the annual O&M cost dropped timated $6 million a year O&M ing the CV l,ink as an "artérial reevaluate the costs and as- from $1,6 million to $l million, cost. roadway" or adding the project sumptions of lþe project, Ho- which equates to $20,62.? per However, as CVAG qtaff bart said. "We're talking about a mile. have pointed out, "the Sacra- Please see CV LINK, 114 tsui coâärrËlià ' ':'*'-r'- t. rlio'ã'*ärringcläis éït, , : c.ity, and many of those workeri rippãü This would make for a conside the tourism there's a route through Rancho Mirage industry, which in turñius- detour, adding several miies to the tains the desert point ¡our- C\, ,-ink that the residents and city council meñr- economy. This ney - to say nothing of the lÒng-term bers can get behind, must be considered, Hernandez sajd, if cost of the project, In an email, Hobart the question Continued from 10A The problem is that the Whirewater of fairness is going back'on said the city would continue to w'ork with River wa.sh_n!r.rs through several golf the table. CVAG to find other possibie routes, but Nevertheless, to an RCTC expenditure plan for the des- courses, including Rancho Las palmas Hernandez backs Ho- reiterated his central position: nothing bart in calling ert, But that, too, could pose a problem. and the Thunderbird Country Club, both for a review, So that, at the should move forward until the cost con-- very least, the project Before CVAG does anything, Hobart of whom see the coming trail as disrup- cost of the - a val_ cerns raised by Rancho trfirãee ãrôiei- wants to get the opinion'of a"lãw firm tive to their way of life. ley-wìde investment cãn 6e justified. As such, CVA-G public,,, - ,,thât's based outside the desert, preferably in has held two public workshops in Rancho "The he said, what _"No rfrore pussyfooting around the they expect from us,,' ,,We the Los Angeles area, andintends tó in- Mirage and met at least twoiimès with a subject," he wrote. requÍre an- troduce this idea to the executive com- city subcommiltee in the past year to swers." mittee on June 1. talk alternatives. A break in the chain Reach Desert Sun reportet Jessè Marx at good j It should make for theater. Ho- On April 16, however, council mem- es s [email protected] ertsun,com; @marxj esse on, Much of this discussion assumes ba¡t also intènds to call at that meeting bers rejected a proposalto pave the path for an all-day forum where the desertÈ along the Butler-Abrams Ttail or ñear mayorsj city managers and finance'di-' the Rancho Mirage Public Library, rectors can debate each and every O&M where the city has plans to build an ob- financing option. Hobart belieíes the servatory. CVAG had proposed putting current TOT formula is fundamentally an electric vehicle station on undevel- unfair because the majority of the tab oped city land which the city believôi will be covered by five cities his in- would burden- their observatory with cluded that rely heavily - CV LINK - on those tour- light and vibrations. ALIGNMENT ism dollars to function. Three weeks later, the City Council What's more, Hobart emailed CVAG rejected two other alternatives by for- / Proposed Route on May 3 to request that another item be bidding the CV Link from crossing High- put -J AlternativeRoute on the June 1 action agenda - one way 111 or Bob Hope Erive in their juris- that would reopen a two-year-old vote diction, Council members cited sãfety ,,,,," Future Roqte a_nd debate surrounding the financing of concerns and questioned what in- - the 4 tvltLES the construction side of the project. creased traffic would mean for nearby At a Feb. 27,2012, gathering of the business distriets and homes. mayors, Hobart voiced support for a pro- Not every Rancho Mirage resident posal to match air quality mitigation fees cheered at the nèws, Gary Lueders, who from the CPV Sentinel Energy Project also happens to be vice president óf the power plant with CVAG trarñþortaiion Friends of CV Link board, called the re- funds. So long as no other "high-priority,' newed discussion of the project's costs projects were delayed, $20 million could "refr,eshing" he believès sblar power be set aside for the CV Link. then known panels could help- pay for the projeèt. But as the "Parkway 1e11." he was disappointed that the city's ac- The Desert Sun obtained Hobart's tions against the trail will prevent him email request through California's pub- a¡d others from taking a safèr ride to the lic recolds law However, thinkineìhat library. he might have accidentally give-n the "The city is not planning for future d-ocument to a reporter, Ho6art said, residents," Lueders said, ciiing a grow- "Please destroy it." ing national trend in bicycle commúters. He would go on !o say that he no long- Rancho Mirage could simply drop out er rntended to reopen the matching air of the project aliogether, creäting a quality hole mitigation funds at the June 1 in the path. If that's the case, the desert,s meeting. But he also deflected questions more adventurous bicyclists and pedes- about why he had considered rèopening trians would be forced to navigaie pas- that discussion at all. sages like Highway 111 and Bob Hop'e "I prefer to discuss what is,,' Hobart' the same streets that city council mem-- said, ending his half of the conversation. bers wanted to keep bicyclisrs and golf It should be noted that the only person carts arvay from. to vote no at the Feb. 27,2072, meeting Ano-ther option? Build the path was Coachella Councilman Steven Her-- around Rancho Mirage, whichf of nandez, who questioned whether the course, would make more than a few trail would consume funding for other community members happy. improvement projects. The cìty was as- "Our council follows the desire of the sured the money would still be there. residents as much as any other council," "And sure enough, the money has Hobart said, "and our residents cleariy been there," said Hèrnandez, now may- don't want it." or. Rather, Hoþart proposes that the path Of all the cities on the project, Coa- follow Da Vall Drive out of Catheäral chella is on the hook for theleaót amount City and cut easteriy along the fringes of of TOT because it has the least to offer. Rancho Mirage,,toward the train tiacks in fact, the city says it currently brings that run adjacent to the highway. From in zero TOT dollars. fharo if r¡r^"Iâ lrâôJ L^^l-:-.- ô-i- ñ- - rwl su CV Link slowdow¡ç Mirage's Echo Rancho ' concerns about Project

By Jesse Marx The Desert Sun

The Indian Wells City Council weighed. in Thursdav on the CVLink, echoing calls comrng fråmfáÉciro Mirage to slow down the project and clear the air' -"îË;ti ótitre proie"t hqs been the subject of review for yeárs, but tóok on-lew l{e m earlv April when Rancho Mirage Mgyor lJana pa{T9,I Hobärtbegan questioning a proposÍ+t9 the future upkeep of the proposed-$loU lnJulon bicvcle. pedestrian and low-speedelectrlc ve- ---:õãnstructio¡¡:ishicie trâil using local tourism dollars' slated to begin in two yeârs' *t;fiäÌ;"* Þi* Springs io Ce-achella'''It CV LINK, Ptease see !A , , rî,lORE IE\ISIDE ' CVAG valley Association of A rendering of the proposed cV Link, provided.by the coachella to being in two years' äá""ir-"ítr, strows t'tre $100 million proiect that is scheduled CVLink Continued from 1A could later be extended to Des-ert Lfot Springs on thé north and the Salton'Sea- to the south. "It's not about destroying the CV Link idea," said TV Peabody,the mayor of In- dian Wells. nlt's just about getting answers that we don't have." Peabody also sits on CVAG's executive committee and intends on June 1to

consultants. At one ooint, Councilman Ted Mer- tens expreised êoncern with a CV Link "otïoour, wants the Coachell¿i Valley televisiõn commercial. . because it Association of Governments ._'the lead '1lt's kind of misleading he said. "And the authority on the project-jiistify theas- savs 'coming soon,"' the data that are gomg iiist spade of dirt isn't scheduled to be sumntions^future and into cost predictions. In the prorc- turned for two to three Years'" that his and other cit- The feedback from the Public on ess. he's warning line' desert might be signing up for Thursday''was'in much the same ies ín the more that will prove too onerous to One oerson after another' some something slowing down the road' sarcaìtic than others, called for their budgets for keep' L, Hobart will also the project down. TWo called On June Propose from.High- that CVAG obtain an outside legal opi- ing änvptoposed route away Rancho Mirage has al- nion on the use of Measure A funds - a wãv tit, müch as üãri ð""t tax thatfs supposed to þe used readv declared. for the trail- Tñe conversation waveredrat times, on road repair question.of ThufsdaY's- meeting, Pe-a- but kept coming back ts the During- this while body woñdered aloúd about the trail's *ttôttrirr the city could build and insurance €o-sts, casting a maintainine its financial well-being' secúrity you, our elected of- wide nét. He even touched on the loom- "I'm couiting on and not ing economic and environmental disas- ficials. to do vour due diligence portion of this until you ter onlv a few miles away. sign ui for any said Tom Conner, "WËat happens if we don't solve the ee1 coirect answers," resident' Salton Sea pioblem?" he asked. "Anyone ãn Indian Wells Sunpolítical get on that?" ' Jesse Marx is the Desert sonna ot " Indiän Wells Councilman Dana Reed re7ortør. Reachhim s om stressed that, though no actiorl'was tak- j e s s e.mor x@ de er tsun.c *,#Hä:i. ãn thursday,itre city was not t'irrning its * trtÉ F

Pay closer attention I have always thought and said that people don't read what really is being printed. Article in point 'lRancho Mi- rage acts to isolate self fro¡n valley , peers," Valley Voice b¡r Raphael Aguirre, May 27. When Mr. Aguirre blatantly accused Mayor Dana Hobart óf NOT wanting. - the CV Link he was wrong. He has nèv: ei said those words, and if Mr. Aguirre would look more closely at what is þrinted, he might agree. Mr, Hobart is questioning the upkeep cost of the link. I think everyone has rushed into something without thoroughly investigating this situation. . I had to laugh when Mr. Aguirre said he had lived in Rancho Mirage since 1968 and remembered many restaurants on f'Restaurant Row," I have been coming to the desert sinçe the mid-1940s and remember nothing but sand and open spaces until around the 1970s when a few restaurants began opening. We now have closed restaurants and other stores because of the : drop in the econoniy in 2008. You can't blame our mayor for that. I agree that Mr. Hobart does nÒt speak for all resi' dents, but at least he is concerned with where our money goes and how it will affect the future of Rancho Mirage. ßettie Hedlund, Rancho Mirage The CV Link, as envisioned in this'rendering, would I

Weshould.get a vgte Re: "Ranoho Mirage acts to isolate self from valley peers," Valley Voice, May27 I wonder if Mr. Aguirre ever b'oth- ered to attend a City Council meeting in Rancho Mirage and speak directly to the council on the m'atter instead of submitting a few paragraphs to the , newspaper and hoping his elected officials will stumble across it. : I am thoroughly frustrated that we wqn't be given the opportunity to vote on this silly S0-mile sidewalk whichwill sit idle half of the year when it's ovei out. Since

Link to a vote in jurisdictions

Mayor $obart. Robert.Hansen, Pal.m Springs CVLink?Countme in It was with great pleasure that I reao rne recent Valley Voice written bv Raphaet Aguirre. t háve ¡éenái;;;"' tlme resident of Rancho Miraee anã. even as a senior citizen, I am ,Jerv ex- cited about tne Cv Link ãnd i"ok ?". ward to its completion. It will be å ereat opportunity not only to get some cl:se but to meet the wonderful peoole"*îr_-- of the desert communities To-the stick-in_the_mud snobs who feel^ that it will cause mor" crime wlih a path through their neighborh;d, "" - please note that if someone wants to steal your old junk, tirey wil àosã rLth or wttnout the CV Link. Opponenrs ofthe CV Link should read about other ciries, ,u"fiãJWári,_ ington.D.c., rhar have di.làriuili, ä"t are enjoyed_by their resi¿entsi i;m1rÃ* rnar users of the path will particioate in Keeplng lt clean. How about keepjne in mind.all the positivè uenenii ,,sky õiinåii of ha.ving a is falling,, arrltude.:II_tyrgud I would like to see my city oi- Rancho Mirage survive as a uiU.ant. progressive, welcoming city anO noi end up a deserted, geriatric, has-been town. Judy Gaudiano, Rancho Mirage Mostwill benefit . I rhink rhe cv Link is a great idea ror the.luture health and eñjoyment of rne entlre valley, and I think it,s a real sname.that some choose to trv to ob_ struct its creation at this late daie. I assume some of the oplniónsËx_ if:tïiiÏil:i:"?ffi #i,"|,.'"H\T3i,.ï" people who clo not walk or bike or who ,to^Lollpu" kids who wil rõvi.iái"g'" rnelr btkes on it. We all pay taxes foi things thar we don'r Ueneti ¡iõrn ãi: rectly, but thar is.part of beine ämôm_ :"å9l q community. It seemsieally selr¡sh to me that some people onlv look at their own interests a,ia ¿ãn'tìeãdu"" care about whar's best for ttle mãJorítv. Why not get , , rid of the grass and raKes and some of the golf courses in tne valley; thêy,re all so retro and rrantly, rrresponsible, in this time of orought ln our desert. . Let's work together to make deci_ srons that are in the best interest of the maJonty. John Roberts, patm Spríngs

Airing ¡t out ¡mportant Considering , . the CV Link is such a Drg projecf, there's surprisingly little in the way of a forum or v"nu" ü,ú"i" iLä' average resident's views can be heard' Bad spot forCV Link important given th-e This is especially , In reference to CV Link there are fast-track, near steamrolling pace of gjq?dy.Jg trails and paths in the Coa- lobbying effort by the majorpropo- 'cn€rra palm the Valley. Springs has eighlor nents, who ñow aPPear to be on the n¡ne. attack against alt those voicing ob- I live in North u/ere -iections or simply caution, paft of the CV Link is Thank you for providing the oppor- border on tunity,for those with comments, sug- gestiôns - either pro or con to be heard. - David Grisg' La Quinta

Doubters deserve Praise The CV Link is an examPle of an elítist group imposing its wishes on the public take a ride a live in a dream where the trails that have much more your life is at risk if sirnilar Shifley Buch, palm you.use it because of racing cyclists Spring: that dominate the link with no regard for others.

to use How-

the propo: will use it

that are

( ' More CV tinkquestions ( Re: Ongoing CV Link debate t The picture at the top of the front paee ofThe Desert Sunon MaY L7 il- ¡ ius-trates yet another example of the poor planiririg of this project. There is a wall ðeparating the Link from some' one's bãckyard. The wall looks to be about 4-5 feet tall. What's to prevent soineone invading that yard or house b9 dúring the day or night? Will thgre - security patrólling day and night? And' who is goìng to pay for it? There are many homes borilering the Whitewater River wash and their securitY and 'neace of mind must be addressed. Another point: A few Years ago we experienced'an unusual dmount of rain, an'amount that overwhelmed our flood control system and flooded the wash to

about 10 feet from the top. It turned . into a raging river, While we would all like to seè more rain during this drought, this could spell disaster for the Link. There also needs to be a detailed, published plan showing the exact route tire Lint< will take, so everybody can see how it affects their city and neighborhood. D on U ndenv ood, P alm D esert æ

{ffi2 ì

1 ;

1 i

I Ì i

of the link

Ð1"$R v0!cË rs

a cials VC rspute t* get CV Link back rn trerk

The idea,of a S0-nrile-long "greelr" path'"vay connecting the valley's sommunities has treen on a rol1, gåt'nering the t, suppofi of city and legiona-l ì

Vaiiey ;\ssociation of Gov- er'¡rments - thc lcad author- ify in the project * says rvill cost upwards of $100 million remains a fantastic idea. DËrrßTsurrFn€ provided 1¡/''e hopes or'ibranr ¿::år.,¿'Í,li_.ff;:i,:i.*'ïiï1,ïJJ;:-'*n bvrhe nerdv revenue stl'ea1ns springing from tourists flocking to the nerv route port of the plan.ol*1th".. of co¡nnlitting transient oc- se*in a little pie in the sþ proposed model for funding cupancy tax to sucll ex- it'.ç'clear to anyrure rrho sees ongoing maintenance and peuses ¡nust be adrìl'cssed. the itìc¡'eåsing packs of cy- o¡erations. While Rancho Mirage anrl 'clists r¡n rnajor vzúley routes . In respollse, a CVAG com- the other, mole afflucnt Coa-

I mittee on Mondal'postponed chelia Vallcy cities i: such as Highrvay 111 9r F.¡eil líkely r lVering Drive that CV LiÍk adecision on the financing could find funds rvithin their plan, likely rvould see use f¡om . gtY*g cifv officiaìs budgets to cover theil C\¡ Ðay 1. ac¡ross,the valley. rnore time Link upkeep obligations now This special venue cer- to study the proposai, and in the future, Hobart CY Li"f lemajns a great and his councÍi peet's tainiy w'oulcl be a nice com- . . ate plement to our current rec- idea, but the que'stions correct to demand l¡rore reational offerings for visi- raised by Rancho lvlirage ars\\'ers now on ivhat could tor:s and iocals alike. desel'\'e serious study antl be an ever-i¡rcreasi¡g bill CVÂG, meanrvhile, has the disptrte over how future and how the costs nright be will be put together about $ZS milr ulkeltl financecl most equitably shared. lion of the curre't ove.all nrUst be ì'esoh'ed. Construction of the paili constïuetiotr cost without In a Vaì.ley Voice also on isn't expected to begin for at asking Coachella Valley cit- this page, May,or Pro Tenr G. least trvo years. Clearly ieq ¡o pitch in. :f=6i ttte first serious hint i' tho hfiraee's concems about out now to avoid any challce CVAG to pay thc path of dissent arlorlg this happy' lo* Proposes could beconre a *oàItic,n,er,upt"ã o*oentiy for ongoing mai¡tenance of decaying r.virite eìephant when the Ra¡icho l\,Ijrage the route. along the spine of our desert CitS' Council voted unani- In particular, his city's conrmunit¡l so¡netinre in the mously to n'itirdlaw its sup- conçerns atiout the legality future. : v"{åL'â-ËT td$'{Ë il g, â0t5 , {æ8,ff

lSna ota On March 30, Rancho lvlirage first Iealned of the projected .rnnuaì Operation.and Maintenanoe costs for the .proposed,CV Link and who ' would pay them. TVe were shocked. The lead agency, CoacheÌla Valley of Associated Govern- G. Darla hlobart ments, projects that the "cosT of operating and maintaining the CV Link is approxmately $1.6 mi-ìlion per year when the,prior I'ear) in TOT rvould , the S0-mile faci.ìity is fulii; be directed to the CV Link constructed" in about trvo O&IvI Fund." CVAG explains years. Thìs amounts to thåt the TOT receipts from $32,000 pet'mile per year, the various cities rvilì "be increashg by 2 percent annu- used to mai¡tain the sections aìly thereafter. of C\¡ Link rvrthin the juris- Based on in cily Linklvay dictions that are parties to ' mileage Cathedlaì Citi'with the À{OU." This anrbiguous 3.0 miles pays $96,000: Coa- language means if one cityts chella with 5.5 miles pa5'5 TOT taxes are insufficient to $176,000; India¡ lVeils rvith pay for theii'in.city mileage 3,6 miles,pays $1i5,200; Indio of Linkrvay, the TOT r,eceipts \4'ith 5.7 mites pays $182,400; from other cities will cover' La Quinta with 2.ó miles pays tlìât expense. $83,200; Palm Desert rvith 5.3 F\rrthermore, some cities miles Pa¡'s $169,600; Palm are property tax based cities, Springs with 15.8 miles pays unlike Rancho Mìrage and $505,600; Rancho Mü'age tvith other cities rvhose revenues 4.7 miles pays $150,400; Unin- .are principally f¡om TOT cör,poratetl Ril'erside County revenues. wirh 2.0 miles pays $64,000j Rancho Mirage votetl to Desert Hot Springs rvith an reject this folmula,because it estimated 415 miìes pays requires some to pay far $r+*,ooo. more than their respective CVAG apparently recog- percentages of Linkrvay mile- : nizes that ferv r¡alley cities age. Coachella, rvhich has no . are capable of fundi¡g such TOT and,other cities have : enormous O&M costs. insufficient TOT receipts to : : CVAG's plan to address this cove¡ their Linkrvay mileage i situation begi¡s rvith CVAG costs. The cities most nega- proposing t.hat about one- rively inipacted rvould be third of the $1.6 million NOT Palm Springs, Palm Desert, . be chalged to the citics at Indian Wells; Rancho Mir:age .Jeaslnot directiy. CVAG- pro- and l,a Quinta. , . poses that about one-third of TNs proposed TOT ap- ' the O&M costs be paid by ploach also raises serious . takiûg monies from Measrue legalrissues. Proposition ã8 "A" funds and, to å lesser: defines a "special tax" as,any : extent, from A82766 "cJe¿n tax imposed for specific pur- . ai¡" funds. poses, including a tåx im- Measur:e A funds rver,e posed for specific purposes created by a public vote in that is placed into a genelal 2002 rvhich authorized a 0:59o fund; Orice any portion of a sales tax to be used exclu- cityt TOT is obligated for the sirrely for constructing and speäial pul pose of operating niaintaining sreets and arte- and maintainì¡g the CV Link, ¡.'ials il the counry. This is a it arguabl]' becomes,a speciaì vital valley resou-rce. It tax ryhich ca¡not be used seems imprudent to classify unlesS approved by a trvo. the Linl

' ' ''n1'11o'u" "onald ""u' Richroath, pattn sprinss

,,i;*;ärl,î.îî ,,,"1'í#,T,iïåå"î:i,r:,"î

,"i,::"" use a swi¡nrn¡ns -ir%,;f¡:::;:: rvc Mbor" /)à¡¿ r-f J-/ at f + t_ "7-;o-¡ r' colla ls asters ' " ,.;,.....1t , ;:

t. t:!

Ð Cìty tlorrnc.il r.equestcd that Iilc staÌc :.*ri The tesert $un llxsaster highryay depaItrnent quickly i'eplace thc bridge and clilninate the' ,'hâzar.dous Continued lro¡n 1A $4 Million ls Þamage (shal'p and difficuit)

stood Feb.

t¡ridgc which the load span was dc¡wneeì in rìnuâry flood." ltrere å. I(ivel'side . Counl¡r proacheci million. f]*;e¡-/* ,i" ljrr Iack of p¿i 7^îo-5 I ^ to othe¡. lVAS were

.desert at acToss strgams. some'with Highway * -In Scptenber 1.938, the Palm Springr l?Ut e /-J. t/,Lj /i S 7-:l{}-/s:

fi'om yari¡s !00 to near{y a nlile wide. A pr,rr.rion of thc ftoottri,äiã,:r'*äi'¿i- verted near ILonrvoo¿ crriìììü I lr¡wcd örioiiä rhrou gh I n ¿i¿n Welii,'.jr;;i";i;: ro homes in (rol!]t:.lu,".dt+.ge lire sidorä. and-l¡td¡an Wcll.s country club aieïi :,ï:{Jii:ïJiîriil,1Jl*iiå:åõ,,"1"",.ï rale sighr,.Snow. patm Spj.ii,erîrrîiäl lrsr.eo rn aoout two inches of the iöüfiuffv åiiÏ ìLitå;,il",i 'uu'tâniiir lfle J)esel"t Suu pror.luced a special snorv edition to mar.li the l¿re occásion.-

s:üi:," *f,t' í,,i i;?iläl, :ln l,}1;ll,.rl: ¡1! lnct ro {riì.a se rvas deiat;ã d;;ütT; unexpecred snorvfall,,vlü"¡ lce,i"iüã course.

were, Tlte Desert loans, and capturine a portion routes these dollars of cap-and-trade end up tak- dizing the safety, not just of iunäs for rng. Californians, r.oads. The Assembly plan is ' bud îhose iravel- "The way we reçeive reve- through our state." tne brgger of the-two. It would, nue and þS Héb tor tnstance, -spend money is all Þeen tapped to sit on the trans_ eliminate 3.S0ó overtheplace," Mayes said. ,,It portation positions at the California'De_ special session com- rs mcredibly complex and it's mittee. partment of TÞansportation, or broken." This approach Calt-rans, that the Legislative Assembly combining Analyst's member Eduardo new revenue with- improveõ Office has srfugested Garcia, a Democrat from are reoundant. Coa_ oversight and reform ofihe ex_ chella, has said he,s open to a istiTg pot . ge_publicanAssemblymem- more. comprehensive - has the support of ber Chad Mayes, ap_ various b-usiness, local govern_ who repre- proach that would raise taxês sents Palrn_Springs and pãrts me-nt and labor coalitións. As whrle sending s-ome transpor- Robert Lapsley, president ofthe high desert, is co-auihor_ tal,ion õi funds back to their oiigi theCalifornia Busi'ness urg a constitutional Assembly Round- J3 amendment that 1al .in!ent. speak"ei table, noted, the state is iitiinã to would ensure Toni Atkins offered"a ôimitar vehicle fees and go on a. surplus, so that monpy 'C-Ð taxes only fïamework i!.February, t to transportation purpoões. only could be returned to transpöf_ Hê to b_e replaced by Beall's. pornted to charts released tation purposes without'im_ Jesse $ ear_ Opposition to any new form pactrng Marx is The Desert Sun * Iier this year ^ current programs. p by Caltrans aná- of revenue, Garcia ,,a "grab olitic aI r ep ort er. Re ach him ot î added, is "You don't jùst j ,{ lysts showing the various very poor that e s s e.marx@ de s ert sun. com or excuse for jeopar_ money and keep it permanent_ w ôs @mar xj e s s e on Iþt itt er, a rË

(l) aU) c!ú Frl trlo C)

c) þ0 Eä {i ?Ëâr *ËFs ¡Y åãgããffiffiff,ffiååtuËffiffiffffËååffiffffir*gffffffg -{O ïë.9å