The Ventura County Board of Supervisors, on
Tuesday, October 12, in a 4 to 1 vote, passed a resolution to oppose the Adventure
Pass program (Southern California's Forest Service Recreation Fee Demonstration Program
project) and advise the appropriate federal agencies and Congress members to end
the program.
Supervisor John Flynn, seconded the motion on the resolution and also stated that "the forest is really a sacred place. We need to treat it like a sacred place." With this resolution Ventura County adds its name to a growing list of governments in California which have come out against the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program.
The resolution reads as follows:
"WHEREAS, Congress authorized the United States Forest Service to charge visitors to the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, and San Bernardino National Forests daily and yearly fees to obtain a permit to park on forest land, and issue citations for the failure to obtain such a permit; and
WHEREAS, the Adventure Pass program charges $5.00 per day or $30.00 per year for individuals to park their vehicles within the National Forest when they hike or camp in the forest; and
WHEREAS, the Adventure Pass fee constitutes a regressive tax, which bears no relation to the actual costs of many types of passive recreation such as hiking, having a roadside picnic or observing wildlife; and
WHEREAS, while the original intent of the Adventure Pass program was to generate revenue to maintain recreational facilities and enhance visitor services, it has garnered strong criticism from forest users, we are concerned that some residents may be deterred frmo visiting and enjoying our national forest; and
WHEREAS, while controversy over the Adventure Pass continues, the core issue of providing adequate funding for forest maintenance remains unresolved.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Ventura County Board of Supervisors hereby request an end to the Forest Service's Adventure Pass Program and request restoration of the much needed maintenance funds in the Forest Service budget."