Ski area business plan still under wraps
The details of the Mt. Ashland Ski Area expansion business plan are a mystery, even to the Ashland City Council.
At a Wednesday night study session, Mt. Ashland Association President Bill Little said the non-profit group will consult with its lawyer before handing over a detailed plan.
An Aug. 8 memo outlined $3.7 million for the first phase of the ski area expansion. The association does not want its competitors to see its plan. The association may give the plan to the city as a confidential document or schedule an executive session to review it.
The proposed expansion is on hold because of two lawsuits filed against the Forest Service claiming they violated the National Environmental Policy Act by not adequately analyzing the amount of erosion the 71-acre expansion would create and not considering an alternative plan that would stay away from the Middle Branch of the East Fork of Ashland Creek, leading into the city's water supply.
Expansion challengers worry a ruling in favor of the Forest Service could result in cutting timber in the expansion area before plaintiffs file for an injunction and appeal to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Mt. Ashland Association operates the local ski area, but the city holds a special-use permit through the U.S. Forest Service that allows it to operate. The council discussed a resolution passed in Sept. 2005 outlining its obligation as lease holder.
Councilman David Chapman was skeptical of the plan's feasibility.
"Don't cut trees down until you know you have the funding to complete the job," Chapman said. "You can't restore it if you cut it down and don't have the funding to move on. How can we get that assurance?"
The city will hire an appraiser to see how much the ski area's assets are worth, in case an economic disaster shut down operations completely. If the liquidation value is less than the $300,000 outlined in the association's contract, Mt. Ashland Association will pay the appraiser. If it is more, the city will foot the bill.
Little would not assure the council the association would raise the $3.7 million before clearing trees.
"We have made no decisions, but we need to be prepared for all contingencies," Little said.
Wednesday's meeting brought a small crowd of passionate citizens. Eric Navickas, who filed the first lawsuit against the Forest Service, led a hike to the proposed expansion area earlier in the day. Angie Thusius, who spearheaded an effort to gather 1,100 signatures requesting the council ask the ski area not to cut trees until the appeals process finishes, stood in a circle with other "Grandmothers and Friends in Green" in Lithia Park. And some, like Ashland resident Bryan Holley, lined up to give the council a piece of their minds.
"They're telling you they won't give you the business plan," Holley shouted toward the council. "Pull their permit."
The persistent comments by residents took the study session more than an hour past its 7 p.m. ending time. Councilmen Alex Amarotico and Russ Silbiger walked out in frustration.
City of Ashland Public Works Director Paula Brown and City Administrator Martha Bennett are now tasked with finding a small group of independent experts to oversee the expansion process. Brown said city staff hopes to have recommendations to bring to the council by Sept. 19.
"They're there to help move construction activities along in an environmentally friendly manner," Brown said of the QA/QC team.
Once city staff selects experts to monitor the expansion process, which is still pending a decision by U.S. District Judge Owen Panner, the council must approve the group. The city wants to hire a monitoring and mitigation team before any expansion work begins.
Michael Hogan, a soil scientist and restoration specialist from the Lake Tahoe Basin, may be part of the QA/QC team. The Mt. Ashland Association hired Hogan at the beginning of August.
City Councilor Cate Hartzell questioned Hogan's independence in the process, while Mt. Ashland Association President Bill Little said the association did not hire Hogan as part of the team but rather as an expert on hand to prepare for the expansion process.
"I don't see him as a project manager," Brown said. "I see him as a consultant."
Staff writer Alan Panebaker can be reached at 482-3456 x 227 or apanebaker@dailytidings.com.
