Inyo County Board of Supervisors Meeting, March 23^rd, 2004

Our Presentation on Hummingbird FRC Operation of the Tecopa Hot Springs Park and Campground

COUNTY CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING ALTERNATIVES

 Reduces or eliminates county operation deficit.

Yes. We have provided an analysis of county figures with sound recommendations for any Park operator. We are offering to contribute 2% of gross revenue to the county each year.

 Provide a professional and financially stable operator.

Yes. See our professional qualifications, budget and development plan. We maintain staff programs, advanced accounting and project oversight techniques. However, as this is the end of the camping season and Parks is evicting all long-term campers next week, there is no viable income source until next October, or legal option for existing experienced campers to stay on as hosts. It seems unlikely that the county or anyone else could operate the park under existing circumstances, and as the hiring freeze continues, the county could not reopen with seasonal employees in the fall.

 Ability to reduce/resolve liability concerns.

Yes. We offer solutions to current concerns, and prevent future ones that the county may not have thought of. Our insurance covers campgrounds, volunteers and workman’s compensation, but given the loss of long-term campers and lack of timeline on essential repairs, we can’t calculate reasonable estimates without more information.

 Provide immediate facility improvements.

Yes. We will immediately improve the appearance of most park infrastructure, using visuals in keeping with our theme of local history. However, we believe that the county should fulfill its overdue commitment to make essential repairs with Prop 40 funding. Millions have been spent on other parks in recent years. However, with proper planning, we can contribute thousands of dollars in manual labor in November, and additional help and ongoing maintenance throughout the year.

Maintain a county presence in the area.

Yes. We already have a daily working relationship with existing staff.

 In addition, our proposal supports the role of local government.

• It leaves the community intact and supports it economically, upholds local beliefs and agreements, offers the kind of economic development the voters want, protects the local environment, and provides a funding base for essential social services

• It supports the needs of tourists and residents alike.

• It does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability or economics.

• It upholds the will of the vast majority of the People.

 We ask the county government to work with us for six months to a year to affect a smooth transition.

  HOT SPRINGS CENTRAL THROUGHOUT TECOPA HISTORY

The Native village surrounding the hot springs was Yaga, the largest of 20-25 villages from the Panamint to the Kingston Ranges. In the Coso mountains, petroglyphs show a bent man with a stick entering the healing springs and then emerging erect, his stick abandoned.

1775- First recorded white visitor for a stopover was Father Garces.

 1830- New Mexican horse traders opened up the Old Spanish Trail, formerly a major Native trade route. They stopped at Yaga for water, home to 70 people at the time.

1845- General John C. Fremont recorded an April stop at nearby Resting Springs.

1851-52- California Natives signed 18 treaties with the federal government. They were never ratified but placed under a Congressional order of secrecy until 1905, the year Chief Tecopa died. It is unknown whether the Tecopa Treaty was one. However, oral tradition has kept the ‘traditional use’ agreement firmly alive for 100-150 years.

1860’s on- Gold, silver, lead and later talc, gypsum, iron and more brought a population that has fluctuated from the thousands to the hundreds and in between.

1872- By then, the mining camp had been named Tecopa by J.B. Osbourne for the Paiute Pakwinavi, or Spokesman, for the entire region, an extraordinary man who helped keep the peace during the dangerous years of intense immigration by miners which led to wholesale slaughter elsewhere in California and Nevada. One story states that his famous top hat was given in lieu of the $200 he asked for the use of his name.

1881- A surveyor establishing Inyo County surprised everyone by finding Tecopa to be inside the line by a matter of feet, and it was reassigned from San Bernardino.

1907- the Tonapah and Tidewater (T&T) Railroad finally made it through the Amargosa Canyon, and somehow attained the rights to the springs for water supply.

Late 1920’s- For $10, Jim Francis, owner of the Snake Room Bar, and Harry Rosenberg obtained the right from J.B. Johnson, T&T President, to build the first public bathhouse for community use at the hot springs.

1930- President Herbert Hoover signed an Executive Order on June 4^th, withdrawing Tecopa Hot Springs from private use for all time to protect access to the hot spring.

1961- Inyo County signed a 20 year lease with the BLM, renewed in 1981, “for a campground, community center, and public bath houses and related facilities”.

1974- Hurlbut-Rook Community Center was built, with much labor and materials donated by local people. Earl Hurlbut was the first County Director of Tecopa Hot Springs, and County Supervisor from 1928 to 1952. Carl Rook was a long-time Road Department supervisor.

Campground cost and income provided by Inyo Parks Dept. Figures for actual operation of Community Center, requested by us for 5 years, (including Freedom of Information Act requests) were finally included in Inyo County recommendation to the Board received on March 6th. We have deducted these amounts to isolate actual campground expense. We also removed solid waste cost, as Inyo has a sales tax for that purpose, and charging a fee would be double-billing. True Park 'deficit' was about $21,624 last year.

Here is the same information about the supposed Park deficit presented graphically.

1.         $21,624 is 21% of total camping fees ($104,172) last year. Raising all user fees by 21% could eliminate the deficit. We don’t recommend this, but it would work.  

2.                  Accept $21,634 as a fair price to provide the only public park and a badly needed community activity (baths) to a 1,500 square mile portion of the county.

3.                  Retire one F/T Ranger position and replace with camp hosts (model suggested by CLM and local nonprofits). This would result in immediate profit of about $30,000.

4.                  Implement community suggestions and work with the community:

• Begin group bath rates with vehicles of 5 or more. More vans are coming now.
• Charge a camping or parking fee for vehicles staying longer than one hour.
• Add some 50 amp pull-through sites and assess graduated camping fees for larger RVs which use more electricity, based on 10-foot increments.
• A strong donor policy with posts inside bath houses and signage on doors could raise $21,624 with just 10 $3 donations a day in each bath house.

OUR PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN

What are the some of unique features of Tecopa?

·        The thermal waters have excellent healing qualities.

·        The town and springs were named after an extraordinary Paiute Pakwinavi, from a tumultuous and colorful period.

·        Next year is the 100^th anniversary of his death.

·        We may have the Last (functioning) Treaty in America, whether anyone has a written copy or not.

·        Students and others come from all over the west to study the local geology and fossils.

·        The area is full of fascinating sites for the hiker.

·        Recent lectures or hikes have been well attended.

·        We have a number of experts on geology, Native ways, local history, trails and sites, photography, and various art media through the Shoshone Museum, China Ranch, PooHaBah Native Healing Center and many individuals.

  Interest in Native ways and natural healing continues to grow rapidly. A well-planned and publicized annual series of lectures, workshops, hikes and celebrations will appeal to new campers without replacing the old. Many low-cost publicity methods can be used, such as a wide range of email lists, message boards, large RV clubs and our own website, as well as brochures and magazine advertising. Our website, www.TecopaCA.com/Baths/, receives about 200 hits a week now.

WHAT CAN WE PROVIDE THAT OTHERS CAN’T?

 Like CLM’s, our proposal offers significant savings through a camp host structure.

Unlike CLM’s, it also satisfies community needs and concerns by:

• Offering badly needed jobs to local people with spinoff jobs for massage therapists, herbal wraps, etc;
• Keeping monthly camping for seniors and others;
• Providing quick response through local management and oversight;
• Keeping revenue for the community and county, not a distant millionaire;
• Protecting the fragile and under-protected local environment from escalating ATV abuse, through a health, not recreational facility;
• Protecting the irreplaceable healing properties of the hot spring water;
• Reducing risk of inappropriate behavior and liability from pool partyers by keeping gender-separate bathing;
• Upholding continuity of century-old traditional use spa bathing;
• Providing a cause that donors can believe in;
• Keeping the baths accessible to those who moved here to use them;
• Preventing further local anger and protests with county;
• Building promotional campaign on local pride, history and resources; and
• Sustaining vital social services with an ongoing funding base for the Hummingbird Family Resource Center. (Startup funds will run out soon, and there are few alternative sources for ongoing funding.)
  

KEY ISSUES: 1. SEPARATE OR MIXED BATHING

Separate gender bathing is absolutely key to a health-oriented facility. Prayer, meditation, and personal story-sharing are all part of this experience. This is not possible in a recreational setting.

We have repeatedly suggested adding a small outdoor pool for family-style recreation. We have offered to help construct it.

We realize there are allegations regarding inappropriate behavior in the men’s bathhouse. See sidebar for updates.

Mixed bathing could cause a much wider range of behavior problems, through sheer numbers. Dumont Duners and other weekend partyers passing to and from Pahrump and Las Vegas number in the multi- thousands.

Besides unwanted behavior, alcohol use and hot water cause serious health risks!

2. REQUIRED BATHING SUITS

No other hot spring spa or campground in Tecopa allows the use of bathing suits while in mineral baths.

The high mineral content in the water, as well as added chemicals, would leach dyes and laundry products into the water, contaminating endangered species habitat in the marsh.

Coliform bacteria is already a problem in the park baths. Bathers showering with suits on would be even less likely to wash thoroughly. Higher coliform counts and body oils lead to more chemicals added to the water, and additional closure for cleaning. Available hours, water quality and healing properties would be further downgraded, as well as the local environment and habitat. Water is a very precious resource here!

Many tourists visiting the Death Valley area are European and Asian, with their own spa bathing traditions, and would oppose clothing in a health spa themselves.

 3. HOURS OF OPERATION

Due to overcrowding in winter and extreme heat in summer, as well as work schedules for residents, night time hours for the baths are essential.

If sexual activity is occurring, it must be stopped. It is contradictory to a healing type of energy. But please address the problem directly. Spot checks by the deputy had good results before. Or, temporarily close the men’s bathhouse at 10:00 pm for a few months.

 And finally, if bathing in the same pool with the women is the only way you feel you can save the men, send us in now! We’ll take our brooms and clean house.

CAMP STAFF

1  Full-time Camp Maintenance position- emphasis on maintenance and pool skills.

1  Half-time Office Manager position-organizational, bookkeeping and human resource skills.

 Inquiries have already been received. See below for more info on hiring and criteria.  

HOSTS & VOLUNTEERS

Camp hosts in 3 sections during the peak season. In exchange for a campsite, hosts will assist certain hours each day. Each host will have a bulletin board for important information and messages and be responsible for:

• Daily walk-through greeting guests,

• Providing information on activities and resources and answering questions;

• Maintaining clean restrooms and campsites in their section;

• Checking for camp fee receipts morning and evening;

• Assisting camp staff with tour groups, volunteers, and disability access.

 Several commitments have already been made by very experienced camp hosts for the following season, if approved.

 Volunteers have kept the Park alive. New and existing tasks would include:

• Helping with pool cleaning and fee collection for dumping, and parking;

• Hosting bath houses to ensure health and safety rules are followed;

• Basic maintenance and landscaping;

• Coordinating any special tasks or needs with camp hosts and Park Coordinator.

 Screening and training for camp hosts and volunteers will be rigorous. Priorities will include previous experience and training, and time management and communication skills. The appropriate attitude toward fellow workers and park visitors will always be courteous, respectful and polite. Training will vary according to responsibility, but may include health and safety issues, specific procedures to follow, defusing difficult situations, the appropriate decision-making matrix, and adult/child CPR.

 Trainers will include staff and board from the Hummingbird  Resource Center, the Southern Inyo Fire District, and outside specialists.

 HUMMINGBIRD BOARD AND PERSONNEL

Board Member Jann Rucquoi has been a professional artist and designer, teacher and business owner around Europe and the U.S. for many years. In recent years, she is self-employed in providing unique interior murals and visual wall effects for homes and businesses from San Diego to Las Vegas. She also has a strong background in appropriate and sustainable architecture, technology, and landscaping.

Jann also founded and directed the nonprofit Highland Center for the Arts in Pennsylvania for 17 years, where she involved an entire community in producing extraordinary outdoor events and theatre, and the infrastructure and volunteer teams to support them. Her administrative skills include board, small business and promotional development, acquiring grant and business funding, docent and volunteer training and coordination, and professional writing and speaking. Her husband Paul Messenger is a licensed NV building engineer for hotels and resorts as well.

 Board Member and Hummingbird Director Jennifer Olaranna Viereckspent many childhood summers in the campground which her parents helped staff during the summer when not teaching school. She also has 30 years of nonprofit administrative experience with public service, education, promotional and spiritual organizations. For 5 years, she was the fiscal officer for multi-million dollar promotional campaigns for groups like Greenpeace and Planned Parenthood. For 9 years, she coordinated the funding, planning, and infra-structure for outdoor camping events for up to 3,000 attendees. She has extensive training in mediation, project planning and implementation, and staff management. Additional skills include grant writing, budget development, accounting, web building, publishing, layout, professional writing and speaking.

Jennifer has owned and operated several businesses including two restaurants and a toy store now in its 23^rd year. She is the founder and Director of the Hummingbird Family Resource Center. In 2003, she was able to raise commitments for over $91,000 to start up, operate, purchase and renovate the facility. She also remains a consultant to various CA and NV small businesses, tribal and nonprofit groups.

 Board Member Hawk Fann operated a hot springs facility for three years in Northern California and brings a wide range of hands-on experience to this endeavor.  

Back to TecopaCA.com    Website by Blue Heronworks     Revised: January 31, 2008.

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