On October 1, the Town Board of Creede,
Colorado unanimously passed resolution 01-05. This resolution requests that
no Fee Demo project be implemented in Mineral County.
The resolution reads as follows:
"REQUESTING NO RECREATIONAL FEE BE IMPOSED ON FEDERAL LANDS UNDER THE RECREATIONAL FEE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM IN THE VICINITY OF MINERAL COUNTY
WHEREAS, in 1996 Congress authorized the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program, which allows the United States Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to charge visitors daily and yearly fees for recreation on publicly owned land under their management; and
WHEREAS, several Fee Demo programs have actually been implemented in Colorado, including Yankee Boy Basin, Vail Pass, the Gunnison Gorge, Mount Evans, and others; and
WHEREAS, it is reasonable to expect that the Fee Demo program will be extended to the numerous nearby recreation areas on federal land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, BLM, National Park Service and/or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, on which the economy and prosperity of our city depends; and
WHEREAS, recreational fees constitute double taxation which bears no relationship to the actual cost of recreation such as hiking, picnicking, observing wildlife or scenic driving on county roads; and
WHEREAS, while the original inent of the Fee Demo program was to generate revenue to address maintenance backlogs and enhance visitor services, it has instead limited public access and garnered strong public criticism; and
WHEREAS, while the controversy over Demo Fees continues, the core issue of providing adequate funding for public land maintenance remains unresolved; and
WHEREAS, since the purchase of a Fee Demo pass is counted by the federal land management agencies as support of the program, but no means of expressing opposition is provided except to avoid the fee area, we are concerned that some citizens may be deterred from visiting and enjoying the land in Mineral County,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Creede Town Board hereby requests that no recreational fees be imposed on Federal lands in our vicinity under the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program.
APPROVED and ADOPTED by the Town Board of the City of Creede, a Colorado Town, at their regular monthly meeting on October 1, 2001."
On October 9, the Board of Commissioners of
Gunnison County, Colorado unanimously passed Resolution 01-35. This
resolution requests an end to the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program.
The resolution reads as follows:
"A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT NO RECREATIONAL FEES BE IMPOSED ON FEDERAL LANDS IN GUNNISON COUNTY UNDER THE RECREATIONAL FEE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
WHEREAS, in 1996 Congress authorized the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program which allows the United States Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to charge daily and yearly fees to visitors for recreation on publicly owned land under their management; and
WHEREAS, a Fee Demo programs has been implemented in the Canyon Creek area of the Uncompahgre National Forest, including Yankee Boy Basin, Imogene Pass, and Mount Sneffels; and
WHEREAS, it is reasonable to expect that the Fee Demo program could be extended to USFS and BLM public lands in Gunnison County; and
WHEREAS, recreational fees constitute double taxation which bears no relationship to the actual cost of recreation such as hiking, picnicking, observing wildlife or scenic driving on county roads; and
WHEREAS, while the original intent of the Fee Demo Program was to generate revenue to address maintenance backlogs and enhance visitor services, it has instead limited public access and garnered strong public criticism; and
WHEREAS, while the controversy over the Fee Demo program continues, the core issue of providing adequate funding for public land maintenance remains unresolved; and
WHEREAS, since the purchase of a Fee Demo pass is counted by the USFS and BLM as support of the program, but no means of expressing opposition is provided except to avoid the fee area, we are concerned that some citizens may be deterred from visiting and enjoying the public lands in Gunnison County if this program is implemented.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Gunnison County Board of Commissioners hereby requests that no recreational fees be imposed on Federal lands under the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program, or similar programs, within the boundaries of the Gunnison Watershed.
INTRODUCED by Commissioner Starr, seconded by Commissioner Anderson and adopted this 9th day of October, 2001.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF GUNNISON COUNTY, COLORADO"
On October 2, the Board of Commissioners of
Saguache County, Colorado unanimously passed Resolution 6-2001-18. This
resolution requests an end to the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program.
The resolution reads as follows:
"Resolution Of The Board of Commissioners, Saguache County, Colorado Requesting No Recreational Fee Be Imposed On Federal Lands Under The Recreational Fee Demonstration Program in Saguache County
WHEREAS, in 1996 Congress authorized the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program which allows the United States Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to charge visitors daily and yearly fees for recreation on publicly owned land under their management; and
WHEREAS, SEVERAL Fee Demo programs have actually been implemented in Colorado, including Yankee Boy Basin, Vail Pass, the Gunnison Gorge, Mount Evans, and others; and
WHEREAS, it is reasonable to expect that the Fee Demo program will be extended to public lands in Saguache County, which contains numerous popular recretion areas on federally owned land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, BLM, national Park Service and/or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and
WHEREAS, recreational fees constitute double taxation which bears no relationship to the actual cost of recreation such as hiking, picnicking, observing wildlife or scenic driving on county roads; and
WHEREAS, while the original intent of the Fee Demo Program was to generate revenue to address maintenance backlogs and enhance visitor services, it has instead limited public access and gathered strong public criticism; and
WHEREAS, while the controversy over Demo Fees continues, the core issue of providing adequate funding for public land maintenance remains unresolved; and
WHEREAS, since the purchase of a Fee Demo pass is counted by the federal land management agencies as support of the program, but no means of expressing opposition is provided except to avoid the fee area, we are concerned that some citizens may be deterred from visiting and enjoying the public lands in Saguache County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Saguache County Board of Commissioners hereby requests that no recreational fees be imposed on Federal lands under the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program within the boundaries of Saguache County.
Read, moved and approved this 2nd day of October, 2001."