Big Bear, Ca, August 23, 2011, 12:00pm – The Big Bear Lake City Council honored Jerry Vantine on Monday August 22nd. Vantine is retiring after 12 years of service as the Public Works Superintendent. Director of Public Works and City Engineer David Lawrence spoke highly of Vantine and expressed his gratitude for his years of service, stating that Vantine “made public works a better place then how he found it.” At the City Council meeting Wendy Costello was also thanked for her 15 years of service, as she received her 15-year pin. Council approved in a 4-1 vote the reinstatement of the Improvement agency through AB 27, which means the city will have to send money to the state every year to reform the Improvement Agency. Siri Eggebraten, an associate planner at the City gave a presentation to the City Council and community members in attendance about a grant the city received from Cal Trans to create a master plan for the Big Bear Valley for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians. Eggebraten outlined a time line, stated that a stakeholders committee would be formed first, and that the public, and many organizations would be invited to be a part of the process. Members of the Big Bear Valley Trails Foundation attended the meeting, and presented Eggebraten with a golden pulaski, which is a tool used in trail maintenance, for all of her hard work getting the grant, and for her work with the Trails Foundation. The next City Council meeting will take place on September 12th in Hofert Hall.
