sections of interest.....
| The June Tribune - Sept.2006 |
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| Written by JLEDC website admin | |||
| Wednesday, 20 June 2007 | |||
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The June Tribune Newsletter of the JLEDC - Volume 1 WELCOME to the first edition of the June Lake EDC newsletter. Our goal is to keep the community informed of the Corporation’s activities as well as other issues of community interest. The board has decided to make the newsletter available through a variety of methods, including direct mail, pickup at participating local businesses, and internet/email. We invite you to visit our website at http://jledc.org for latest updates. Also, if you have received a paper copy of this newsletter we'd like you to consider signing up for our email list instead, so that we may conserve mailing costs and natural resources. Just fill in your email address in the field provided on our homepage and you will be asked whether to “opt-out” from receiving paper mailings. We will be using a number of “reporters” to interview community members and to gather and synthesize information. We would be happy to receive input from the community at large as well. MISSION The stated mission of the June Lake Economic Development Corporation is as follows: to develop and maintain a sustainable, balanced and diverse year-round economy within the June Lake Loop and specified areas of Mono County, and to support a proactive and collaborative relationship with June Mountain and future developers while maintaining the unique character of the community. HISTORY At the March 7, 2006 meeting of the June Lake Citizen's Advisory Committee, Rusty Gregory, CEO of the Mammoth Corporation that also owns June Mountain, announced a plan to reduce June Mountain's operations to four days per week for the 2006-07 season. The possibility was also raised that the ski area may be scheduled to close permanently in the future. An ad-hoc community group was quickly and spontaneously formed by a number of citizens who have had concerns about the continuing decline in the viability of June Lake as a community. This group, in conjunction with the June Lake Chamber of Commerce, conducted a study among the current local business base and determined that any such curtailment of operations at June Mountain would pose a serious threat to our town's economy. The JLEDC was subsequently formed to provide a voice for the advocacy of a community that has a sustainable economy and makes a substantial contribution to our local county government, while continuing to provide a quality environment in which its citizens may live and work together. In a meeting on March 30, 2006 representatives from JLEDC and the June Lake Chamber of Commerce met with Rusty Gregory and Carl Williams of June Mountain. Among the things discussed were the existing state of June Lake business enterprises and the projected loss of revenues if June Mountain closed for three days or permanently. An appeal was made to Mr. Gregory to delay the consideration of any closing of operations at June Mountain, based upon a short-term plan for the coming season, designed to foster increased mid-week visitation for the ski area and the community:
On April 13, 2006, Mr. Gregory announced his decision to keep June Mountain open seven days per week next year, but cautioned that we need to be looking at long-term plans, including an increase in the available local bed base for the future of the ski area. He stated a target figure of about 1000 hotel units or equivalent. We are currently considering the following longer-range goals:
JUNE LAKE STATISTICS An article was published in the Mammoth Times July 7, 2006 which cited statistics indicating a declining full-time population in June Lake. It was also stated that a declining population leads to economic decline. In order to illuminate this issue further, Vikki Bauer, Mono County supervisor was interviewed. It was she who had assembled the numbers used in the article. She stated that the US census statistics for 1980 showed 802 residents, and by the year 2000 that number had decreased to 613. Because there are no US Census statistics available after 2000, figures were compiled from records of the June Lake Public Utility District, by counting the number of customers who receive their bill locally in June Lake, and the number of people living in the home. From these statistics it is apparent that June Lake's permanent population has continued to decline. Figures suggest that in 2004 there were 482 full-time residents, and by 2006, only 410. We also wanted to ask how declining full-time residency translates to a declining economy. Ms. Bauer’s answer was that loss of families is a primary contributor to this problem. Returning to U.S. Census data, she went on to say that in 1990 there were 180 families (household’s w/2.4 people), but by 2000 there were only 85 families residing in June Lake. Supervisor Bauer also brought up other issues such as the need for affordable housing, how hotel rooms compare to residences in providing revenues to the county and how emergency services could be negatively impacted if the Loop’s economic viability is not restored. JUNE LAKE FACT: (Each month we will present pertinent facts in the Newsletter) The average income for a two-person working household in June Lake is $54,000 per year IN CONCLUSION As Intrawest and Mammoth Corporations make plans for the development of the currently unentitled Rodeo Grounds property, we residents are faced with the question of what will come next and how we will react to proposals for additional community development. In this day and age it is rare that citizens have much voice in the future of their communities. The June Lake Economic Development Corporation is a collaborate voice working to address some of the complex issues we face as a community of people living in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Our Meetings are public and all are welcome to attend. |
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