Gazette needs your questions for candidates

The Copper Gazette will be interviewing District 4 Supervisor Candidates Debbie Ponte and Tom Tryon using questions from the community of Copperopolis.
Is there a question you would like the candidates to answer?
Is there something about the candidates you would like to know?
Here is your opportunity to ask.
Please submit your questions to coppergazette@gmail.com with candidate question in the subject line.
 Deadline for sending in your questions will be Monday October 1, 2012 at 11:00 am.
(This is the third time this article has run.)

Supervisor Candidates on Lake Tulloch vacation rentals

Tom Tryon:(via email)

"I recommended to the board and strongly support the administrative use permit process.  This process will allow the county to determine the number of vacation rentals, their locations, and their owners and agents.  The county will be able to document the number of disturbances, which rentals, if any, are causing the disturbances, and appropriate remedies to reduce or eliminate complaints.  The county will also be able to evaluate the number of disturbances caused by secondary and primary residences."

In an earlier article written by the Copper Gazette Tryon clarified an administrative use permit would include occupancy limitations, watercraft limitations per dock, quiet hours and a 24 hour contact . “I am not comfortable going from lasse faire to a complete ban. We need more data to identify the problem or if a problems exists.”  Tryon also pointed out that there is a hotel and a campground on Lake Tulloch - a public reservoir - that impacts the waterway without known data of the impact.

Russ Thomas: (via email)
I've heard impassioned arguments that vacation rentals are not a problem at Lake Tulloch, however, the fact that four out of the five subdivisions surrounding the lake have prohibitions on the rentals, paints a far different picture.  I sympathize with property owners who feel that they have the right to rent their properties, but I also sympathize with neighbors who have to deal with the nuisances created by renters.  Of course, I am also aware that many of the nuisance complaints are being directed at properties that are not rentals.  The bottom line:  It is the unacceptable behavior that is causing the problem.

Seemingly, the question of the short-term rentals is already 80% resolved -- only Copper Cove still allows the rentals.  However, the overall nuisance problem will not be resolved, or controlled, until the Board of Supervisors adopts a Nuisance / Noise Ordinance, a task that they promised to achieve back in 2009.  Without such an ordinance the Sheriff's Department doesn't have the proper tools to punish the unacceptable behavior.  Obviously, the ordinance is over-due, and the citizens should make it clear that they're tired of waiting.


Debbie Ponte : (via email)

It certainly seems this has been an issue in the area for quite some time and has reached a "boiling" point for many residents around and/or near the lake. I have personally witnessed first hand the "wild west" conditions on Lake Tulloch during the Summer of 2010 and can relate to the residents that are at the 'end of their rope" and looking towards the county for assistance. I believe they have exhausted most of their resources at the community level to deal with the issue and certainly are justified to ask the County for assistance. I commend the work of the Lake Tulloch Alliance as it demonstrates the proactive efforts to help maintain the integrity of the lake and surrounding area. 

I believe the County needs to take immediate action to review the current zoning and codes to ensure and enforce compliance as it seems to be me there are a number of violations in this area.  A more in depth study should take place to review land use zoning and municipal codes and perhaps modify zoning/codes to reflect the desired use of the home and/or area. For instance - if a home intended for single family use is going to be used for commercial purposes that zoning/codes/use permits must be utilized to ensure proper use/compliance.   In addition, these issues certainly need to be addressed at the Copperopolis Community Plan level (currently in progress) so that residents speak up and make their wishes known as to how they want their community to look like in the future - specifically in/around the Lake Tulloch area. 

In the short term, I believe (law and homeowners) enforcement issues needs to be proactive in/around the lake. I recognize law enforcement resources are limited but public safety is a main concern for the homeowners in this area and I would hope for a joint effort of homeowner assn's, local law enforcement and citizens that could a working relationship to create a program to help deter potential problems with boating, sanitation, alcohol consumption. etc. in/around the lake. 

While this issue won't be solved "overnight", I would make this issue a priority and continue to collaborate and bring the various groups to the table to work on solutions to find compromise and balance.  


Responses were posted in the order they were received.

Candidate Forum Re-cap Calaveras County Supervisor Candidates Districts 1, 2 and 4.

Candidate Forum Re-cap Calaveras County Supervisor Candidates Districts 1, 2 and 4.

Calaveras County Taxpayers Association (CCTA) and the Copperopolis Community Center (CCC) hosted a Candidates Forum at the Historic Armory on April 23, 2012.

District 1 includes Wallace, Burson, the downtown portion of Valley Springs, San Andreas, and a lightly populated area between New Hogan Lake and Angels Camp. Candidates: Gary Tofanelli, Valley Springs, incumbent, Cliff Edson, San Andreas, owner of Country Cliff’s Café, Joe Kelly, Copperopolis, retired rancher

District 2 includes a wide swath of northern and central Calaveras County from Paloma to West Point and south to the towns of Sheep Ranch, Calaveritas and Mountain Ranch. Candidates: Chris Wright, Glencoe, Foothill Conservancy executive director, Bryce Randall, West Point, owner West Point Trading Post, Michael Dell’Orto, Mokelumne Hill, businessman and former supervisor, Tom Swartz, Paloma, businessman

District 4 includes Copperopolis as well as Angels Camp. Candidates:  Tom Tryon, Angels Camp, incumbent, Debbie Ponte, Angels Camp, executive director Foothill Village Senior Living Community, Russell Thomas, Copperopolis, businessman and former supervisor.

 L to R : Tryon, Randall, Dell'Orto, Kelly, Edson, Thomas, Ponte.

Candidates were asked a question from questions submitted by residents in attendance. Questions were vetted by Copperopolis Community Center board members and Calaveras County Taxpayers Association members. Candidates were each given a limited amount of time to answer from two minutes to three minutes. Candidates were rotated for each question. Due to the large turn-out of candidates each question posed was only asked of two candidates, the following question were asked of the next two candidates, and so on. The answers posted here are condensed.