Southern California Mountains Foundation
DEFINITELY NOT in support of this project nor its parameters as presented. See LONG (7+ page) attachment to be provided forthwith in full... patience !! Drew A - 4/3/17
Below are my questions and concerns for information provided on the evaluation criteria form:
# Project Type Project Title Grant Request Match Total Project Cost
2013-14 G13-04-02-R01 Restoration (Baldy Mesa) 1,105,422 388,611 1,494,033
2014-15 G14-04-02-R01 Restoration (NO Projects) 664,152 694,425 1,358,577
2015-16 Not applied for Previous ‘3’ uncompleted 0 0 0
2016-17 G16-04-02-R01 Restoration (Rattlesnake, Baldy Mesa – East, Bee Canyon & Cleghorn Ridge)
985,704 517,620 1,503,624
2013-14 G13-04-02-S01 Education & Safety 96,281 304,907 401,188
2014-15 G14-04-02-S01 Education & Safety 85,514 275,230 360,744
2015-16 G15-04-02-S01 Education & Safety 105,461 349,310 454,771
2016-17 G16-04-02-R01 Education & Safety 107,648 371,170 478,818
2013-14 TOTAL for BOTH Rest + Ed & Sfty 1,201,703 693,518 1,895,221
2014-15 TOTAL for BOTH Rest + Ed & Sfty 749,666 969,655 1,719,321
2015-16 TOTAL for ALL Education & Safety 105,461 349,310 454,771
2016-17 TOTAL for ALL Rest + Ed & Sfty 1,093,352 888,790 1,982,442
(From 2014-15 application) 5. For Applicant’s OHV grant Projects which reached the end of the Project performance period within the last two years, the percentage of all Projects closed out in accordance with Program regulations:
Restoarion (their mis-spelling): G08-04-02-R01; Grant Period 7/1/09 - 6/30/12 & G09-04-02-R01; Grant Period 8/11/10 - 8/10/13 Safety & Ed: G10-04-02-S01; Grant Period: 7/13/11 - 7/12/12 & G11-04-02-S01; Grant Period 7/13/12 - 7/12/13
ONCE AGAIN I REITERATE MY POINT !!! It was filled in as 100% of deliverable accomplished yet I have personally been in these areas lately and have not seen ANYTHING resembling full completion of these projects. ONCE AGAIN, this was not addressed years prior and I expect it won’t be addressed this year either…WHY? ABUSE OF OUR OHV PROGRAM BY THIS PRIVATE ENTERPRISE WHO CONTINUES TO MASQUERADE AS AN OHV-FRIENDLY, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION NEEDS TO BE PUT TO A STOP AND NOW !!!
“SCMF staff hosted two publicly noticed meetings with the general public to review the grant process and discuss the proposed project. Meetings were held 1) February 7, 2017; 6pm-8pm at the Forest Service Supervisors Office in San Bernardino and 2) February 8, 2017; 7pm-9pm at Sizzler Restaurant in Corona, CA”
These so-called “public meetings” were ONLY announced via their SBNFA-OHV “PRIVATE” bulletin board which is NOT made available to the general public. Only their members of this PRIVATE CLUB can access this site and has been this way since early 2011. Furthermore, the Sizzler Restaurant management STILL INSISTS that ALL attendees MUST purchase a meal when entering into the restaurant to attend this so-called ‘public meeting”. This MUST be changed to a more tolerable venue for MY green sticker funds to ever be considered to fund ANYTHING this group does.
“SCMF's OHV program provides multiple hands on and formal class trainings…we attend dealerships, industry trade shows and host kiosks where we distribute printed materials including; maps, brochures, and educational CD's and DVD's”.
ONCE AGAIN, I REITERATE THIS POINT !!! This ‘training’ is ONLY made available to their “PRIVATE CLUB” members and not to the general public to where the true education is actually intended to reach. Take into consideration that they have lowered their On the Right Trail presentations from 24 in 2011 to 15 in 2012 and THEN from a mere 6 in 2013 to ZERO in 2014? What did they have in store for their 2015-16 grant? What was delivered? How about yet ANOTHER great big GOOSE EGG! ONCE AGAIN, they claim, “providing education on site, leading "On the Right Trail" education presentations at visitor centers and schools” YET NO CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS LISTED !! THAT’S RIGHT, FOLKS - ZERO AGAIN… NOTHING… NADA… ZILCH!! What happened?
“ATV Safety Institute and/or Motorcycle Safety Foundation approved training courses are provided to the public”:
This is NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC by any means and they should not be given a point. You have to a member of the volunteer program or a forest service employee.
Two years ago, this group applied for a Restoration Grant (with no active restoration project mentioned anywhere). At that time, they claimed 100% of Projects closed out (10 points). Last year, they requested funds for a Program Assistant to the tune of $7,500 for 500 hours of work. AGAIN, Just two years ago, they asked for 2 positions to be funded at $55,,000+ each for THREE YEARS within a ONE YEAR GRANT totaling more than $165,000 !! ONCE AGAIN, An “OHV Patrol Volunteer Coordinator (applied for in the most covert, fiendishly stealthy and downright sneaky fashion) for TWO YEARS SALARY OF $94,890 ($47,445 per year) within a ONE CALENDAR YEAR PRESCRIBED RESTORATION GRANT !! I can possibly understand one (1) position which is applied for within the Education & Safety Grant but why another – ESPECIALLY with what was applied for two years ago and AGAIN LAST YEAR?
By their own admission, the element of ‘recruiting…and monitoring “volunteers” is mentioned. This very element is supposed to be handled by the Volunteer Coordinator – a position they apply for grant funding for within their Safety & Education Grant to the tune of $51,480 this year (up from $50,086 last year, $49,610 two years ago & $48,000 the year prior to that).
Two years ago, it was a “PART TIME” Program Assistant “Intern” for 15 hours a week to the tune of $12,000 a year PLUS… $10,350 in personal vehicle fuel expenses. This year brings about the SAME position but only for $7,500 and calling the position a part time fulfillment in the request. IN THEIR OWN WORDS, “The Program Assistant is responsible for implementing program deliverables during the busy summer/fall season. SCMF will hire a full-time seasonal paid intern working directly with the Education Outreach Coordinator
The “busy Summer/Fall Season” they claim? NOW, If the other two seasons are NOT BUSY, then why the need for a requested OHV Patrol Volunteer Coordinator within the Restoration Grant? WHY APPLY FOR THAT POSITION WHICH IS CLEARLY ANOTHER “FANCIFULLY CONJURED” NAME FOR AN EDUCATION OUTREACH COORDINATOR? FIRST RULE OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING, WHY BUY ONE WHEN YOU CAN HAVE TWO FOR TWICE THE PRICE?! WELL, I sense SCMF will be licking their lips and rub their hands together contemplating the awarding of MORE $$$ from OUR TAX DOLLARS !!! THEIR GREED FOR GREEN BACKS KNOW NO BOUNDS !!! Could this turn out to be “double dipping”? LIKELY a contingency plan should one of the other two positions are not funded? If so, it should be disallowed.
They brag so heavily about the work of the OHV Volunteers AND of the Adopt-A-Trail Program so why not utilize them? Maybe it’s about money once again. Bottom line, it appears they are spending too much money on employees
Safety and Education Grant - Not in support of this Grant
Based on only 1.5 million dollars available for the entire state (up from 1.3 just last year), ONCE AGAIN, THIS Grant applicant is asking for just under 10% of the available funds. NOW, they sneakily hide the application of funding an OHV Patrol Volunteer Coordinator within the Restoration Grant (for Two Years SALARY, no less!). The available funds need to be shared more evenly throughout all the Grant applicants. Below are my recommendations for this Grant applicant.
Staff: OHV Program Coordinator position should be for a total of 30 hours per week – NO MORE THAN THAT !! Why would WE, the tax payers, allow for the funding of $98,925 for TWO of the EXACT SAME POSITIONS PER YEAR ( WAY up from $50,086 last year, from $49,610 two years ago and from $48,000 the year prior to that) for position(s) whose main objective(s) is/are “recruiting” new volunteers for this “PRIVATE CLUB”? An alarming fact: In 2012, this applicant proposed 24 ORT presentations. Then in 2013, they had decreased by half to just twelve (12). In 2014, it had been cut again to a mere six (6). For 2015, We DID NOT see ANY ORT presentations listed yet they are asking for MUCH MORE MONEY for less deliverables. This is not a sound business practice and proper use of funds. Truly, this looks a lot like more money for less work to US, the tax payers!
Material and Supplies: In the categories of Brochures and Signs, they seem redundant. There are printing costs associated with each category and it should be a bundled request not separated. They are asking for more money than is actually needed. This year, total is back up to $25,000 once again ( up from $22,000 last year, down from $25,000 two years ago and $20,000 the year before that) sure seems excessive for printing needs for one year. In 2012, they were granted $8,000 minus the match which seemed to do just fine. They are MORE THAN TRIPLING the costs of 2012 and have done this the last three years… this seems VERY SUSPICIOUS !! Especially in today’s world of technology, they can put these materials on line and people can chose to print for themselves.
SIGNS TO THE TUNE OF $5000… Good grief !!! Their request states the following: “Funding for sign development and printing cost associated with updating stationary kiosk along the trail and at staging areas with maps, well-defined rules and regulations and area specific information and replacing designated vehicle route signs (DVR's) as needed. AGAIN, they are asking for money for maps which was also requested in “Brochures” in the line item above within their grant request… NO MORE !!!
Equipment Use Expenses:
Other – Mileage Reimbursement – It seems that the amount being requested can be reduced to approximately $3000…Not the proposed ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNT OF 18,000 miles a year to tune of $9,620 for a PERSONAL “FUN RIDE” VEHICLE (claimed $9,720 last year though it is down from $10,350 two years ago). THE EDUCATION OUTREACH COORDINATOR resides a mere 8-12 miles away from either the Discovery Center in Fawnskin or the North Shore Work Center in Lake Arrowhead. So, how in the hell do they justify / claim / request $9,620 for a LIKELY FALSIFIED 18,000 miles a year? AUDIT !!! AUDIT !!! AUDIT !!!
AND GET THIS !!! NOW, they have the nerve to request ANOTHER Position within the RESTORATION GRANT – A RESTORATION COORDINATOR !!! Requested are OUR funds to tune of $59,467 per year (two years’ worth of salary being $118,934 within a ONE YEAR GRANT) !!! WHEN WILL THIS MADNESS BE PUT TO AN END ?!?!
AS FOR MILEAGE, they should use a monthly stipend of $100 per month for travel as this would require the employee to keep track of his/her mileage and receipts for gas. (The volunteers do not receive reimbursement or a stipend for their gas/mileage). Also, the Program Director and other SCMF staff have access to Forest Service vehicles to travel from the office which would greatly reduce the amount they are requesting.
Equipment Purchase - Other: In 2013, the SCMF asked for $18,000 to fund a Mobile Education Kiosk – that was $18,000 for a branding message. What have we received for this – a branding message and not much more than that! I have only ever seen this vehicle at ONE (1) trade show, the Sand Sports Super Show and NOT ANY OTHERS. This IS nothing more than another “recruitment tool” and a waste of tax payer’s money.
Other – Trade Show Fees – OH MY GOSH !!! SEVENTY-FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS !! WHAT IS GOING ON HERE ?!?! Last year, they had claimed that funds ($2,400 they were requesting) goes toward exhibiter fees for the Off-Road Expo in Pomona, CA & the Intl Motorcycle Show in Long Beach, CA. THEIR CLAIM: “Costs have increased this year to cover extra space for our large mobile education exhibit created with OHMVR funds two years ago and to reflect significant increases in price structure for all shows and these groups no longer providing nonprofit free or discounted rates.
THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE AS DISTRICT 37 DUAL SPORT AND BIG BEAR TRAIL RIDERS (AND CORVA, ALL 3 mentioned ARE 501.c3 ‘Non-Profit Organizations) HAVE ALWAYS BEEN “COMP’D” A SPACE AT THE VERY SAME SHOWS THIS GROUP IS REQUESTING OUR TAX DOLLARS FOR !!! SCMF Leadership claims they simply do not have the time nor the resources to facilitate working with promotors to receive a “Comp’d” (FREE) space. WITH THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN SALARIES THEY REQUEST (VIA OUR TAX DOLLARS), THEY MOST CERTAINLY DO HAVE BOTH THE TIME AND RESOURCES… WE ARE PAYING FOR IT … ENOUGH !!!
We feel that these trade shows and expos are still one of the best ways to educate thousands of OHV enthusiasts on responsible recreation on public lands“ THEY USE THESE TRADE SHOWS TO “RECRUIT” NEW VOLUNTEERS AND USE OUR TAX DOLLARS BY WAY OF ‘So-Called’ PROMOTOR-INSISTED SHOW FEES TO DO THIS? AS I UNDERSTAND IT… LEGALLY SPEAKING… THIS IS AGAINST THE RULES AS STATED IN REGULATIONS SET FORTH BY THE GRANT PROGRAM PROCESS & ACCOMPANYING STATUTES PERTAINING TO IMPLEMENTATION !!
SCMF further claims this as an increase to cover space for their large mobile education exhibit created with OHMVR funds three years ago. This group also claims they were unable to bring it to these events due to lack of funding last year (and the year prior). I CAN’T EMPHASZE THIS ENOUGH !!! At the Off Road Expo, the last four-plus years and more, they were openly & actively “RECRUITING” new volunteers from the attending public. They continue to do this at ALL shows they attend. AGAIN, AGAIN, I ASK… Why are public funds being utilized by a “private club” for the purpose of recruitment?
ONCE AGAIN, for an education and safety grant there is not much being asked for on either point; education or safety. The restoration grant is OUT OF CONTROL and needs to be scaled back by 60+ percent (at least) TOO MUCH GREED, FAR TOO MUCH REQUESTED LEAVING EVERY OTHER APPLICANT LACKING GREATLY !! As for Education and Safety, this is absolutely a fluff piece grant and the money should be used to further educate the public on safety. Time to spead the wealth, so to speak, and give other MORE WORTHY applicants a helping hand… NOT SCMF !! Drew A - 4/3/17