New Zoo Review: County Supervisors Approve Purchase of Golf-Course Adjacent Land for Moonridge Animal Park

Big Bear Lake, CA — After 50 years in Moonridge, the Moonridge Animal Park is moving—to Moonridge. The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, the governing body which oversees the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District responsible for the zoo, approved the $2 million purchase of a 10.46 acre parcel at the opposite end of the golf course in their meeting yesterday. The new site, on the corner of Clubview Drive and Moonridge Road, will more than quadruple the size of the existing facility, which is home to 150 birds and animals representing over 80 local species. The new acreage for the zoo is being purchased with over $1.5 million in Proposition 40 state park funds, and the remaining balance will be paid with previously dedicated County funds from the zoo’s CIP budget. In a statement from our Third District County Supervisor Neil Derry, he says, “For more than a decade, the County has been working to relocate this treasured asset. Finishing this project was a top priority of mine, since we were at risk of losing state funds if we did not act quickly.” Though the appropriation of funds for the purchase was approved on April 27, Reese Troublefield with the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District tells KBHR, “I don’t think it is in escrow yet, but it will be very shortly. When we acquire land like this, the County is going to go through the CEQA process and then, during that time, there will be some engineering and things we are trying to accomplish simultaneously. It is such a vague time right now, as we have to wait for escrow to close before any of this gets real and then, at that point, we will move forward diligently. It’s great to be making what looks like positive progress after such a long time.” Funding to operate the Moonridge Animal Park, which also serves as a rehabilitation facility for injured animals, comes from the County’s Special Districts through property tax revenues, though additional funding comes from gate admission, program fees, and the fundraising activities of the Friends of the Moonridge Zoo (who’ve planned two fundraising concerts, scheduled for May 30 and August 7). However, Supervisor Derry notes that the ultimate goal for the zoo is to become financially self-sufficient, through gate revenue and private donations. “This is the first step toward reaching that goal,” Derry says, “and establishing the zoo as a regional, if not national, must-see destination.” On a more local level, Troublefield adds, “The zoo is a cherished local staple in the community, and the Park District, and the Supervisor’s office and County Special Districts as well, are really excited about the opportunity to upgrade the facility and make it a place that you just can’t wait to go to.” Current hours for the Moonridge Animal Park, at the southern end of the Bear Mountain Golf Course, are 10am to 4pm weekdays and 10am to 5pm on weekends.

David Pickard, Local Realtor for 34 Years and Father to Five, Passes Away at Home on Saturday

Erwin Lake, CA — David Pickard, owner of Boulder Bay Real Estate with wife Teresa and a realtor in the Big Bear Valley for 34 years, passed away at his home in Erwin Lake on Saturday, April 3. Prior to purchasing his own company in 2007, Pickard had worked for Spencer Real Estate and, in the early 1990s, had the foresight to design the agency’s marketing software program, which is still in use today. His former Office Manager Judy Harris, who worked with Pickard for 17 years, says, “Dave was a great professional and personally trained every Spencer agent. I would guess that more than half of the agents working in Big Bear today were trained by Dave. He was a very good person who was entirely dedicated to his job, and he had great professional integrity.” Pickard is also described as a great outdoorsman, taking his family cross-country to National Parks and, closer to home, hiking with stepchildren Anna and Micah Peckham, and horseback riding along the Pacific Crest Trail; he also captured the Big Bear Valley in photographs, many of which were used in Big Bear’s first real estate magazine. Pickard’s family, in addition to wife Teresa and Anna and Micah, also includes stepdaughter Erin Peckham (a PhD candidate at UCLA), daughters Jami Pickard and Jennifer Carlson and her family (husband Bob and daughter Rhiannon), as well as former wives Judy Courtney and Lupe Pickard, and his six siblings. A funeral mass for Pickard, who passed at age 58, will take place at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (on the North Shore, just east of Stanfield Cutoff) on Monday, April 12 at 11am, to be preceded by a Sunday viewing from 4 to 6pm and a Rosary service at 6pm on the 11th. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in the name of David Pickard to the Big Bear Association of Realtors for a memorial that is being planned in his name.

Note to Property Owners: Taxes Due by April 12 to Avoid 10% Penalty

San Bernardino County, CA — Homeowners are reminded that the second property tax installment is due in less than two weeks. San Bernardino County Tax Collector Larry Walker reminds that taxes from property owners must be received by Monday, April 12 to avoid penalties, though many payment options are available. Property taxes can be paid over the phone at 387-8308 (which is without a fee if using an e-check from a checking or savings account; a fee is applied if paying by credit card). Online payments can be made via MyTaxCollector.com, which will also allow for viewing and printing of your bill. Property taxes can also be paid in person, at 172 W. Third Street, First Floor in San Bernardino (92415), or mailed; payments postmarked on or before April 12 are considered on time. However you choose to pay, just be sure that your property taxes are received by the County Tax Collector by April 12 to avoid a 10% penalty.

Swap, Sale and Deed: Community Services District Excited About Property Exchanges With County and Park District

Big Bear City, CA — During agenda items for the Board of Directors for the Big Bear City Community Services District, President Marge McDonald announced, “I could not be happier with these things listed under Old Business.” The business item at hand, at the March 1st CSD meeting, addressed the reassignment of East Valley properties–via sale, swap and redeeding—between CSD, the County of San Bernardino, and the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District, as initially outlined in the Paradise Park Memorandum of Understanding drafted in 2007 (and, at that time, referred to as a “win-win situation” by Rec and Park’s Reese Troublefield). The properties at issue include the Erwin Lake Park (owned by CSD), the property beneath the Sugarloaf Fire Station (owned by Rec and Park), the former Bear City Park property on which the Lions Club building is situated, and CSD’s well #9 parcels, currently owned by the County. Though no action was taken last night (and the Rec and Park Advisory Commission will address the property swaps in a 4pm Thursday meeting), President McDonald thanked County Supervisor Neil Derry for his support before adding, “I see the light at the end of the tunnel for the Lions Club, and that makes me very happy.”

As explained by CSD’s General Manager Mike Mayer, the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District is offering a 1.6 acre parcel containing the Lions Club building to CSD; this is the parcel adjacent to the Historical Museum (already deeded to the Big Bear Valley Historical Society in June 2008) and the four-acre runway protection zone across from the airport. If CSD were to consider ownership of the 1.6 acre parcel, GM Mayer suggested that staff continue meetings with involved parties to address how maintenance and liability issues will be shared with regard to the parking lot and restrooms off the Greenway Drive location. Rec and Park’s Troublefield also proposed to CSD the potential purchase of roughly 11 acres among the Pan Hot Springs Meadow, for a possible zoo relocation site and, adds Mayer, “Mr. Troublefield also sweetened the real property issues contained in the MOU between CSD and BBVRPD by offering to deed the CSD’s well #9 parcels in the Bear City Park instead of charging approximately $62,000 as originally stated in the MOU.” The land swap of Erwin Lake Park and Sugarloaf Fire Station properties between the two agencies would remain unchanged.
Lions Club members, including the service club’s District Governor Mel Niez, voiced their support and commitment to the plan and though no official action took place, other than a vote to continue with the MOU, a pleased McDonald said, “There is a lot involved in it, but I know it’s going to happen.”

Community Services District’s Board to Discuss Properties in March 1 Meeting

Big Bear City, CA — As today marks the first Monday of the month, the Board of Directors for the Big Bear City Community Services District, now overseen by President Marge McDonald, will convene for their regular meeting at 5:30pm this evening. Today’s meeting, at the CSD offices at 139 E. Big Bear Boulevard in Big Bear City, will include employee service recognition and paid call firefighter badge presentations, as well as discussion and possible action with regard to properties, including the Pan Hot Springs Meadow, and Bear City and Paradise Parks. CSD Board meetings are open to the public.

County Supervisors Reduce Local Parks Commission by Two, Though a Vacancy Remains; Grant Funding to Be Pursued for Paradise Park

San Bernardino County Supervisors addressed Big Bear parks and park commissioners in their meeting on Tuesday. Per the recommendation from our Third District County Supervisor Neil Derry, the number of Advisory Commissioners for the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District was reduced from seven to five and, subsequently, Kathryn Poole was reappointed to another term on the commission that also includes Gloria Rose and Bob Ybarra. Don Pletcher also remains on the commission on an expired term though, per Joseph Turner from Supervisor Derry’s office, Pletcher will be reappointed, and this should take place at the next Supervisors’ meeting on March 2. Of the other three posts on the up-until-now seven-member commission, both Jennifer McCullar and Rudy Macioge resigned, per the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District, and Commissioner Cassy Benson did not receive re-appointment, as indicated by last week’s Rec and Park meeting agenda packet. So, all that being said, once Pletcher’s re-appointment is confirmed, there will still be one vacancy on the local parks commission and those interested in serving on behalf of the community at large—rather than on behalf of a specific Big Bear Valley area, as had been the case—can apply via the website of the County’s Clerk of the Board. According to Turner in San Bernardino, “We are currently taking applications and, so far, have two applicants.”
County Supervisors also took action with regard to the park land lease agreement for Paradise Park in Big Bear City, and funding to develop it. Supervisors unanimously approved a 40-year lease agreement with the Big Bear City Community Services District, to place the park on the 5.48 acre parcel on Paradise Way through 2050 at an amount of $1 per year. The Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District was also given the go-ahead to pursue grant funding to develop the park through the Proposition 84 Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program Grant, which would be worth $2.5 million. In a conversation with Rec and Park’s Lorie Judd today, she says, “We have the approval from the Board of Supervisors today–all stamped, sealed and delivered–and we are so excited about submitting the Prop 84 grant application. We’ve been waiting a long time to get this submitted and get started on Paradise Park. It’s a beautiful project and we feel our chances are really, really good. If we get this, this is going to be Big Bear’s playground; it’s going to be beautiful!”

Improvement Agency Funds to Provide for Ongoing Updates to Village of Big Bear Lake

An update to the Village of Big Bear Lake is underway, and community input on the long-term project will be welcomed during public workshops in May. In attending to Improvement Agency business during Monday’s City Council meeting, $129,000 in Improvement Agency funds were approved for contract services to prepare phase two of the Village Specific Plan Update. As explained by the City’s Redevelopment Director Lyle Haynes, who has overseen the project, complete with community input in 2009, “The Village Specific Plan Update will develop land use and design alternatives for the future vision of the Village. The idea is to come up with various development alternatives; then, the community and the decision-makers can choose which alternatives will go through the environmental review process. It’s kind of a combination of things. On the private side, we’ll look at updating the development standards, such as height requirements and setbacks, as well as signage, and allowing for more outdoor dining and things that will make the Village more pedestrian-friendly. On the public side, we’ll look at new amenities and public improvements, including more restrooms and the placement of parking, as well as improving pedestrian linkages to the lakefront. We’d also like to add a central gathering spot or park with potential for an outdoor amphitheater.” Haynes anticipates that this will, all told, be a fairly long process, which would include community meetings and workshops in May, followed by public hearings during IA meetings over the summer and, he adds, “We hope to have a plan that will go through the environmental review process by September.” In order to be eligible for the funding to implement these kinds of projects, Improvement Agency funds (designated from property taxes) are also mandated to include projects such as those for affordable housing. As Haynes explains, “Twenty percent of Improvement Agency funds must be used to produce affordable housing in order for the other 80% of these local property tax funds to be directed toward improvements such as public infrastructure and amenities, as well as facilities, and general economic development.” To that end, the City Council’s Improvement Agency, chaired by Mayor Pro Tem Bill Jahn, also moved forward with one of two previously selected affordable housing projects; at the February 22 meeting, an exclusive negotiation contract with National CORE, Inc. was approved, for potential development of 60 affordable housing units on three parcels on Jeffries Road, just west of Big Bear Middle School.

Big Bear Lake City Council Recognizes Firefighters, School District; New Housing Agreement Approved

Big Bear Lake, CA — Big Bear Lake firefighters were recognized during this week’s City Council meeting, in a presentation by Fire Chief Rod Ballard and Mayor Liz Harris. Those singled out for recognition and service pins were Captain John Arden and Firefighter David Jayne. Chief Ballard pointed out that Arden had been in Big Bear during the winter of 1969, though his career with the Big Bear Lake Fire Department dates to 1990, when he started as a paid-call firefighter. Citing Captain Arden’s many accomplishments, Ballard said, “He is a true, actual hero.” Upon receiving his 20-year pin, Arden told Council, “It has been a pleasure to serve the community that raised me.” Fifteen-year firefighter David Jayne, who has also worked for both the Forest Service and the County’s Public Works Department, also started as a paid-call firefighter and now oversees the PCF program, prompting Chief Ballard to say, “He is a mentor.” Jayne, who also grew up in the Big Bear Valley, took his moment at the podium to thank the guys of the department, and his wife.

Bear Valley Unified’s Superintendent Dr. Nancy Wright also stepped up to the podium, along with School Board President Beverly Grabe, and told Council that though she’s only been here three months, she was here for the epic storm. “I am honored to be a part of this community,” Wright said, “because it took care of my children in the school district.” She went on to thank the City, fire and sheriff’s departments for their assistance to the district before adding, “I feel very much at home here.” The City responded in kind, with City Manager Jeff Mathieu thanking Dr. Wright and the school district for generosity during the storms, as BVUSD facilities and staff were utilized in January.
Though the bulk of the February 8 meeting was directed toward Community Development Block Grant funding, Council also authorized the grant application process for the Big Bear Valley Trails Foundation (to be implemented by city staff); approved expenditures of $22,000 for new trash cans and up to $30,000 for an emergency groundwater remediation project for the Performing Arts Center; and moved forward in the negotiation agreement with EAH Housing, Inc., to develop an affordable housing complex between the Interlaken Center and Sandalwood Drive. This project, for potentially 160 units on 13+ acres, was initially approved during the September and November presentations before Council’s Improvement Agency and the Planning Commission of Big Bear Lake.

Anne Zimmerman Retains Top Position on Planning Commission; Resort’s Building Requests Approved

In yesterday’s meeting of the Planning Commission for Big Bear Lake, the Commission voted to keep both Chairman Anne Zimmerman and Vice Chair Richard Lambert in their current posts. Commissioners for the City, who are appointed by the City Council, also include Jim DeGroot, Craig Smith and David Caretto. As compensation for their time at first and third Wednesday meetings, Commissioners receive a $400 monthly stipend. In terms of action items at the January 6 meeting, the building requests from Snow Summit were approved, though per Director of Building and Planning Jim Miller, with some modifications in terms of architectural treatments. The resort additions will include a new, 10,340 square foot beginners center and ski and snowboard rental building, and expansion of 2,112 square feet to an existing 1,900 square foot building for use as a kids camp; the two buildings will be on a 3.15 acre parcel zoned Commercial Recreation.

City Council Update: New PCFs Take Oath, Village Specific Plan Moves Forward, Marijuana Dispensaries Denied, and Street Name Changes Approved

This week’s meeting of the City Council of Big Bear Lake opened with two presentation items, including a proclamation recognizing Big Bear Discovery Center Director Denis Thomas (who retires in January after an eight-year run) and the oath of office to the Big Bear Lake Fire Department’s new paid call firefighters Jared Cheek, Jenny Plumhoff, Brian Geary, Brandon Draucker and Carl Birkholm. The December 14 meeting adjourned, under just-elected Mayor Liz Harris, in memory of Ernie Stoll (a former World War II fighter pilot and, more recently, longtime volunteer with Citizens on Patrol) and Curly Musgrave of Crestline (an entertainer at the Cowboy Gathering, who passed away on Sunday). In the spaces in between, the City Council approved the final tract map for an eight-lot subdivision on the northwest corner of Fox Farm and Sandalwood; approved the name change on portions of Lakeview Drive and Paine Road to Big Bear Boulevard (at a cost of $2600 in new signage); approved the first reading of an ordinance that would deny the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries in Big Bear Lake; and approved the preliminary report prepared for the Village Specific Plan update process, directing staff to contract with RRM Design Group for completion of the update. Big Bear Lake City Council also adopted a resolution in support of the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Protection Act of 2010, a future ballot initiative that, if passed, would amend the state constitution and, essentially, close the loopholes that have allowed the legislature to borrow from cities, counties, and special districts.

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