Save Granite Bay is a grassroots organization committed to promoting sensible growth that maintains the rural, residential, family oriented environment of Granite Bay.
Our goals:
1) Being a political force by educating and representing the collective voice of the people.
2) Support any candidate who meets the following criteria:
a. Demonstrates citizen involvement and responsiveness.
b. Listens to constituents; promptly and transparently explaining any controversial decisions.
c. Does not have conflicts of interest such as:
i. Appoints a planning commissioner who is not a developer.
ii. Has no immediate family members who are county employees.
iii. Does not work for or have financial interest in a company contracting with Placer County.
iv. Has accepted less than 20% of their total campaign contributions from developers.
d. Pledges not to support any rezone opposed by it’s neighborhood or the community.
3) Gather signatures to recall Supervisor Uhler.
If you share our goals please consider joining our email membership list.
Background:
As many of you may remember, this web site was announced in February 2009 when a public meeting was held to announce an update of the Granite Bay Community Plan. At that time, it seemed that recall was the only way to stop a runaway county supervisor, who had recently voted to limit public comment at our only local representation (the Municipal Advisory Committee or “MAC”). Then despite public outcry, he supported the first ever addendum of the community plan (new commercial on the South side of Douglas Boulevard), This web site was a place for frustrated residents to gather and find a voice.
Despite a show of hands against the update, it proceeded. First, policy and proposal gathering yielded 49 land use change requests (most higher density or new commercial). A majority (89) of the requests were for no change to the community plan. A second round of surveys found >70% of respondents were against the land use changes or wanted no change to the community plan. At this point, public input seemed to have been ignored three times. In an April 2010 report to the Board of Supervisors, the planning department proposed 5 options. (Including spending $750,000 during a dire budget year to prepare an environmental impact report on the land use changes.) “Option 4” was to drop the land use requests, update policy as required, leave the community plan intact, and add no cost to the county budget. This group, the Granite Bay Community Association, and all but one resident present spoke out in favor of option 4 or no change. As of August 18th, Supervisor Uhler had not revealed which option he would support.
During our first 18 months, membership grew to more than 500. We became aware of reports of malfeasance by Supervisor Uhler. Several individuals and organizations in Placer County offered us support. Seeing no other option to save Granite Bay, before the August 18th budget workshop where options for Granite Bay were to be decided, this group served Supervisor Uhler with a notice of intent to recall. Once again we spoke out strongly in favor of “option 4” (leaving our community plan intact).
It was a happy surprise on August 19th when option 4 was chosen. Supervisor Uhler has responded to our statement of intent to recall in writing. On August 24th we met with Supervisor Uhler, our principal question being what guarantee is there that he will continue to listen? We polled our members to see if they felt satisfied by negotiating, and the majority favor recall.
Leadership Committee:
Harrison Clark
Will Ellis
Chris Erickson
Marlene George
Arlene Keeley