Dear Voter, We are a grassroots movement of local residents and businesses who care deeply for Oakhurst and our neighbors in the surrounding communities. Some of us have family roots in the area that go back generations; others of us are relative newcomers who feel fortunate to live in this beautiful mountain environment, having escaped the crowded cities we left behind. Though we acknowledge the County has problems, we are unified in our belief that turning Oakhurst into a City is NOT the solution.

As you know, a vote for Cityhood is not taken lightly. Our livelihoods, our properties, and our mountain quality of life are on the line. Once the decision is made, there is no turning back. Here are some of our concerns: Proponents tout "local control" which they claim will improve transparency. But the Incorporation process has been anything but transparent. Boundaries were quietly expanded after the fact, devoid of any public process; 3 community pep rallies and only 1 Public Hearing in 6 years; financial agreements negotiated and agreed to in private; refusal to reveal major donors. Is this the new definition of "transparency?" Proponents complain that the County is making off with our tax dollars and that the 4,200 residents within the proposed City boundaries should be able to keep those dollars all to themselves. This self-centered approach fails to acknowledge that Oakhurst is merely a centralized collection point. Money spent in Oakhurst doesn't just come from those within the proposed boundaries; businesses are largely supported year-round by the more than 35,000 residents of Eastern Madera County—the communities of Coarsegold, Ahwahnee, Bass Lake, North Fork, Yosemite Lakes Park, and other areas. Residents in those communities rightfully deserve their contributions returned in equal services. And some of those services (e.g., North Fork Fire Station, roads, etc) indirectly benefit Oakhurst. Proponents complain about poor planning. The Oakhurst community developed its own Area Plan and prospective planning projects are reviewed by the Oakhurst Community Advisory Council. The opportunity for extensive public involvement has been integral to both processes. Many of those behind the Incorporation movement have themselves participated in these reviews; thus, if all of this planning has been faulty, then it would appear to be an ominous predictor of what will continue as a City. Proponents complain about mismanagement of the Sewer Plant (MD22A), yet the new Waste Treatment Plan was designed and built with the approval of the Oakhurst MD22A Committee and public vote. The claim of mismanagement is disingenuous since many of those driving the Incorporation movement are members of the MD22A Committee. If they allowed mismanagement of a sewer plant, then what lies ahead for the proposed City? Proponents claim they can run the proposed City on 7 full-time employees, 5 of which will be managers. They will then contract back to the same County departments proponents complain about for delivery of services. What’s wrong with this picture? In August, proponents negotiated a Revenue Neutrality Agreement with the County that would obligate taxpayers in the proposed City of Oakhurst to nearly $20 million of debt. At that time consultants (RSG) acknowledged "Incorporation may require the Town to consider additional taxes to meet basic municipal service levels…" Financial data in the August and October CFAs are virtually identical, yet proponents now claim "no new taxes" even though the latter states "establishment of a reserve fund would require additional revenues." A review of the numbers reveals Incorporation is a financial train-wreck… Cities induce growth whether as a result of State-mandated affordable housing targets, retail sprawl, or any other development that can generate cash. Yet there’s no stable source of water to accommodate this growth. Are private wells at risk? Current requirements state that residents within 500 feet of new city water and sewage lines must tap into the systems at their own expense. The Federal, State, and County governments already exercise regulatory and financial control over our lives. Incorporation will increase the heavy-handed intrusion of LAFCo and will add a City Council. When has creating a new government ever reduced regulations or saved money? "You can’t fight City Hall," refers to the power and authority Cities wield with more taxes, fees, and regulations. Local access does not mean local control. Creating a City in our mountains only plays into the hands of power brokers wanting to exploit our area for profit, not improve our rural quality of life. If we want more say in decision-making, then each of us needs to become actively involved in the public process at all existing levels of government. Let’s work together to keep Oakhurst the rural, mountain community we’ve all come to love. Sincerely, Your friends and neighbors working to Keep Oakhurst Rural

Friends and Neighbors who say Vote NO on C

To add your name to this growing list, contact Keep Oakhurst Rural Coalition at (559) 683-1868 or e-mail us at KeepOakhurstRural@gmail.com (FPPC 1303553)

Alkema, James Farlinger, Albert Lewis, Maurice Roberts, Lena Lee, Helen Ashcraft, Dale Farlinger, Joanne Leyva, Marcus Smith, William Lee, Kenneth Adams, Dennis Fox, Richard McDonald, Patricia Schwabel, Chris Estes, Joyce Anderson, Kevin Frischman, Lynda McDonald, George Shears, Bryce Reetz, William Aceto, Lou Frischman, Les Mann, Ed Samora, Joe Englund, Matthew Aceto, Jeanne Froelich, J.R. Mecchi, Ben Samora, Lisa Kennedy, Bruce Anthony, Robert (Ph.D.) Fry, Don McCormick, John Seibert, Leslie Rapier, Gene Bell, Joseph Green, Steven Meadows, Phil Schuhl, Dick Hillyard, Robert Bartholomew, Adele Green, Patricia Meadows, Pat Shagy, Robert Rolff, John Bartholomew, Phil Green, Ray Madaus, Brad Schaal, Richard Reimer, Terrance Bartlett, Richard Green, Leatrice Madaus, Joanie Scott, Glen Kirchmeier, Kathy Bray, Don Garretson, Sr., Bill McMechan, Richard Shubin, Amber DiCicco, Carlo Burton, Bruce Goga, Colette McMechan, Carol Silverman, Alex Meister, Eric Brannan, Margaret Gardini, Richard Mossman, Emmett Sesto, Michael Trainer, Don Bacci, Bob Gardini, Jeri Mossman, Wanda Sesto, Lisa Doe, Grahm Brannan, Lonnie Gearhart, Madelon Meredith, Sharley Shoulders, Peggy Kelly, Tricia Brannan, Don Garrett, J. Gordon Mills, Judy Sargentini, Susan Madsen, Laurie Boswell, Brock Gabbard, Andrea Mattison, Scott Sargentini, Julian Laurence, Wayne Brand, Dennis Ghyselinck, Dolores Montgomery, Waunita Satterfield, Rick Laurence, Lynda Bodine, Kerry Ghyselinck, Gilbert Murphy, Laura Ann Satterfield, Lorene Jones, Jim Bowlin, Elizabeth Gossett, Ken Mahle, William Scott, Susan Jones, Louise Bissett, Roy Gomez, James Minkler, Karren Shimer, Gene Moon , Richard Bissett, Barbara Griffith, Leith Ann Marshall, Gary Stephens, Jim Moon, Denette Byers, Susan Griffith, Roger Marshall, Kay Smith, Jeff Penning, Klaus Byers, Joe Gearhart, Brian Melrose, Tim Salinas, Sherri Penning, Gail Bauer, Leonard Gearhart, Russ Madsen, Garret Tribble, Randy Wilson, Jackie Bauer, Kathryn Haynes, Anna Nilmeier, Elin Tribble, Sharon Fetty, Charley Bertsch, T. Hodgeman, Joanne Nason, Robert Truelove, Elise O'Brien Cathy Champion, Richard Hamby, David Nichelmann, Paul Turner, Tom O'Brien Dave Chandler, Carole Hoyer, Donn Nilmeier, Shea Turner, Marlene Thompson, Doree M. Cable, Joanne Hoyer, Carol Osborne, Becky Thomas, Jill Lawrence, Lonnita Chainey, Jim Hill, Norman Osborne, Denver Tobin, Walter Lawrence, Joe Cox, Rick Hill, Robbie Olsen, Don Triebold, Deanna Martinez, Lorna Craig, Richard Hooper, Doug O’Neill, Pamela Triebold, Bruce Martinez, Rick Capone, Ralph Huskey, Jennifer Perkins, Roger Weiss, James Rytterager, Bill Cantwell, Katie Irwin, John Peters, Richard Wolters, Eric Rytterager, Joan Cudd, Randy Iverson, Richard Privett, Jerry Wallo, Jan Taylor, Robert Clark, Richard Judd, Pamela Privett, Patricia Wilson, Jodee Taylor, Barbara Chandler, Patricia Judd, Kenny Patterson, Diane Wilson, Doug Moore, Jim Chandler, Gerald Jewett, Ron Payne, Steve Walker, Dan Moore, Rosemarie Cox, Gabriela Jewett, Rand Pogue, Cindy Walker, Sally Stephens, Valerie Caire, David Jacobs, Samantha Poindexter, Larry Williams, Mark Oueilhe, Armand Cox, Natalie Jones, Mike Poindexter, Margaret Wolf, Wally Bates, Ed Caywood, Steve Johnson, Jeanne Ruhland, Kay Wolf, Jean Nunes, Louie Campbell, Curt Johnston, David Ruhland, Albert West, Sallie Nunes, Josephine Criswell, Mike Jines, Kathy Richter, Lucie Woodington, Lauren Stamer, Fredrick Dias, Robert Jones, Cleon Recupero, Frank Yale, Jannice Stamer, Michelle Dowell, Jonell Klang, Mindy Rassmussen, Don Erlemann, Claus White, Johan Douglas, LaDonna Kaur, Arvinder Russell, Raymond Lynch, Suzanne Paisley, Elaine Davids, Colleen Kiser, Robert Rousell, Amy Ruiz, George Lee, Nancy Davids, Jim Kliewer, Sheila Rains, Patrick Eppler, Brenda Mediati, Sam Moore, Ed         Moore, Shirley

BUSINESSES who say Vote NO on C     Underwood Insurance Agency Pak & Page Stevens Auto Supply Mountain Candies Mountain Pipe Corrals The Village Hofbrau Sierra Horse Connection Tinker & Association The Didgeridoo Store DiCicco’s Oakhurst Door & Millwork Artifacts Central California Public Service Broadcasters Jersey Dogs Oakhurst Feed Westside Board Shop Shilo Inn Skin Works LLC PayDay Services Plus Capitol Pipe & Supply Advanced Auto Repair Ron’s Great Dogs Castillo’s Mexican Food, Oakhurst Technique Towing Wood Choppers Supply Sierra Automotive Ponderosa Printing Oakhurst Lodge Yosemite Jewelers Bonnie’s Cutting Edge Salon Griffith Custom Embroidery Oakhurst Boot & Shoe Yosemite Smog & Electrical Mutt Hutt C-RAM Computer Repair & Maintenance Gotta Have It Dan’s Auto Center Control Enterprises, Inc. Oakhurst Office Equipment Oakhurst Tire Hills’ Electrical Consulting Service Bob Shagy Jewelers Best Western Yosemite Gateway Inn Bissett Construct & Truss Oakhurst Glass & Mirror Hounds Tooth Inn Golden Oak Auto Parts Sportsmen’s Den Kathy’s Ink Permanent Make-up & Nails Walk in Spirit Specialty Appraisals, Inc. T.H.P Construction & Handyman Services 41 Trading Post Day n Nite Market Yosemite Forks Mountain House Restaurant Ol’ Kettle Restaurant

If businesses where you shop are not on this list, ask them why… If your business wants to be added to this list, call 683-1868 or e-mail us at KeepOakhurstRural@gmail.com (FPPC 1303553)