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This is the list of submitted questions by KORC for the ACTION meeting on 1/29. Some were asked, some were edited and thrown into the mix, and some never saw the light of day. Click here to read the all submitted questions.
Video Coverage of the 1 / 29 voter expo
Missed the voter expo? Corky Stanton and Mathew Sands, from Oakhurst Computers have the video posted at: OakhurstArea.com for those who are interested.
This was originally supposed to be an open public forum with a question / answer section from the audience. At the last minute the format changed and questions had to be written down and submitted for approval.
Click here to see all the submitted questions. Some were asked, some were edited and thrown into the mix, and some never saw the light of day.
ABC30 aired this on 1 / 30
Voters in the small mountain community of Oakhurst have a big choice to make on February fifth - Controversial issue known as Measure C
Video Coverage of the 1 / 22 public meeting
Missed the last public meeting on Measure C & Incorporating Oakhurst? Corky Stanton and Mathew Sands, from Oakhurst Computers, attended the meeting and interviewed candidates and residents. The video is posted at: OakhurstArea.com for those who are interested.
Fresno Bee Article 1 / 25 / 08
Oakhurst to vote on incorporation. Residents split over best way to protect community's rural culture. By Cyndee Fontana / The Fresno Bee. Click here for full article.
Fresno Bee Article 1 / 27 / 08
Six candidates vie Feb. 5 for five potential council seats. By Charles McCarthy / The Fresno Bee. Click here for full article.
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Letters to the Editor - Important thoughts on Measure C from local citizens.
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Why I Oppose Incorporation by Bruce Triebold, Oakhurst Resident
When faced with something as important as their vote on Measure C each person has the right and obligation to make an informed decision. Bruce has decided to vote NO on Measure C. Click here to find out why.
To Be Or Not To Be A City By Ramona Frances and Keith Pendleton
Thursday, January 24, 2008 The Madera Tribune
Oakhurst debates incorporation
The future of Oakhurst will be faced Feb. 5 when approximately 4,000 voters will decide whether to incorporate and officially become a city.
The community, located in eastern Madera County, is centered around the intersections of State Routes 41 and 49, an area many drivers pass through on the way to Yosemite National Park southern entrance.
A public forum to discuss incorporation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Oakhurst Community Center.
Proponents of incorporation say they want more influence on future planning and development of the 13.1 mile area and better control over money the area generates.
Tim Madden, a mortgage broker with Financial Advantage, is in favor of incorporation. Madden works in Oakhurst but does not live there.
"We are a donor community (generating) $1.9 million annually. With that money, I believe we could thrive as a city," Madden said.
Tax money generated by the area is collected and dispersed by the Madera County Board of Supervisors, who decide when and how it is used.
With the money available to Oakhurst after incorporation, services such as a 24-hour medical facility, improved parks, after-school programs and programs for seniors would be possible, Madden believes.
In addition, he would like to see police protection concentrated to the proposed area to better protect businesses.
But Bruce Kennedy, a state planning lawyer with offices in Madera and Oakhurst, said a city isn’t a requirement to have a medical facility.
After studying the fiscal analysis of the proposed incorporation, Kennedy contends the plan is poorly thought out.
"A fiscal analysis based on future projects is foolhardy at best. How can we know what is going to happen in 10 years. It was written a long time ago and it is already dated," Kennedy said.
"Rather than generating another level of government, such as a city council, we can perhaps get a better shake from Madera County supervisors another way," Kennedy added.
ACTION PAC committee in support of Measure C claims it is possible to incorporate without raising taxes but Kennedy is not convinced.
"My hope is that it fails, but maybe the energy given to it will produce favorable results regardless," he said.
For example, if two supervisors have responsibility for District 5 instead of one, as Kennedy suggests, they would have greater influence on how money generated in the unincorporated area of Madera County is spent, to the benefit of that area.
Madden also said incorporation of the town will give the community access to increased state and federal grants. However eligibility for some grants depend on population and the area’s population is estimated to be less than 5,000.
"I believe there are a number of different ways — it is financially feasible — to at least maintain our level of [community] services and possibly increase them," Madden said.
Madden said he is most frustrated by fear projected by opponents of incorporation.
"They do not have third party support and validation of their opinion," Madden said.
As a former president of the Oakhurst Chamber of Commerce, Madden believes incorporation will be great for business. He would like to see Oakhurst become a more attractive and popular town.
"Tourists foot most of the bills through sales tax and bed tax, which we love," he said.
But the question of incorporation appears to be polarizing people sharply, particularly as the community nears the primary election.
Those in favor of incorporation say it is the only legal way for Oakhurst residents to take control of tax dollars, and gives taxpayers a lever to control growth and city planning. But others say it gives those with real estate interests the power to subdivide to give the foothill economy a boost.
Those against it believe it will put the city of Oakhurst into financial debt, an area that is already feeling the crunch of a recession. Incorporated cities typically issue fees, rules and regulations, followed by new taxes, Kennedy said.
"Although I live outside of Oakhurst and (am) unable to cast my vote, I am opposed to incorporation. I don’t care what the economic predictors are saying to people. We are in a recession. We are having a meltdown in the housing market. The federal reserve, today, has been reduced by three quarters of one per cent. That is unheard of. In 2000, we had a cut of 1.2 per cent, and that was a lot. People dependent on a thriving economy (are) those who want to create a city council, (but) another layer of government makes no sense to me," Kennedy said.
Kennedy said he has begun to wonder if he can trust the motives of the proponents.
"One can conclude there are those whose interests can be served by incorporation," he said.
Proponents of incorporation counter that local control of tax dollars spent and decisions affecting the area is needed for area residents to control their own destiny, according to the ACTION PAC Committee in support of Measure C. As it is, decisions affecting Oakhurst are made by the five-member Madera County Board of Supervisors, none of whom live in Oakhurst. Tom Wheeler, who represents eastern Madera County, lives in the North Fork area of his district.
With a city council voted in by the citizens of the proposed City of Oakhurst the residents would have voter influence over 100 percent of the people in charge of spending their tax dollars and deciding their future rather than partial influence over one of five county supervisors, according to ACTION PAC documents.