I just received a very friendly phone call from Ranger Curtis "C.L." Price
from the San Juan Bautista Office in response to a phone message I left on
Lynn Rhode's (District Super.) message machine today. I asked Lynn for a
little phone time to talk about the policy with amateur astronomy, basically
TAC's casual presence on the Peak, and the restrictive conditions about this
activity. Ranger C.L., as the Sector Superintendent, was given the ball by
his boss, Lynn Rhodes, to to respond to me and answer our questions.
In the District's view, the California Parks system generally has been
leaving it up to the resident Rangers within each Park to call the shots on
issues and unwritten policies regarding Park use by day visitors.
Concessionaires (interpretive concessions), such as the FPOA, are treated
differently than visitors and are under a written performance contract (a
cooperating association) whereby there is an exchange of performance between
themselves and the Park. The Park offers the non-profit FPOA an observatory
location and other perks within its grounds and the FPOA performs the
required astronomy programs to the visiting public along with contributing
some money back to the Park's coffers. In this way, the FPOA remains a
non-profit venture. There are Park costs in operating the FPOA's
observatory (insurance, electricity, etc.). There are no plans on the part
of the Park system to change this relationship with us (TAC) with anything
newly written policy. Our existence inside of Fremont Peak after Park
closing hours (1/2 hour after sunset) and into the night will remain as an
unwritten agreement between us and the Monterey District to do our astronomy
as we wish.
In the District's view, TAC is a group of aspiring people who have no
written contract with the Park for any performance agreement and so fits
into the realm of day visitors and the longer-staying campers. The Park
contracts concessionaires. Our only obligation to being in the Park is to
pay a day fee of $3.00. for each night we decide to come and set up for
astronomy. We do have one thing more than the average day visitors do--a
written "exemption" that states that we are exempt from having leave the
parking areas when the Park's closes 1/2 hr. after sunset. We can stay in
these areas throughout the night to do astronomy while day visitors must go
to camping areas to camp of exit the Park entirely. These areas allowed to
us to observe from also includes the parking space just past the resident
Ranger's (C.L.'s) house near the restroom house and the newly created
observing pads next to the FPOA Observatory. Keep in mind, all the roads
leading to these observing areas must be keep accessible (for fire and
emergency access reasons) at all times (24/7). The FPOA has no jurisdiction
over the neighboring observing pads since they are Park property. The pads
are free to use by us at anytime.
We are currently lucky to have a new resident Ranger up at Fremont Peak
named "C.L." He is fully supportive to our astronomy interests on Fremont
Peak and will continue to propose new ideas to us (me) as he gets his feet
on the ground with his new position as Sector Superintendent. His only
concern right now is that we don't let 200 Taco's crowding passed the gate
and setting up in the two observing areas passed the Ranger's house. I
assured him that this would never happen since we all value some operating
space around our scopes; and besides not everyone will desire to observe
from the areas behind the gate but will choose to set up in the Coulter area
or in the SW parking lot. Ranger "C.L." is even concerned that the the
light's inside of his house isn't too bright for us. That's real sensitive
of him for thinking about this.
I asked "C.L" about the District and Coe State Park. He says that this
year's severe deficit in the state budget is straining the Park system's
budget once again and the whole Parks' system is consolidating. Much of this
action is in the works right now and won't resolve for a while. It could be
that Coe will be absorbed into the Monterey District where Fremont Peak
State Park is under. But, since each Park is ultimately run by its resident
Ranger, Coe shouldn't have any policy changes with TAC, so long as Coe keeps
the same Ranger.
I hope this answers a few of the questions about our (TAC's) presence up on
Fremont Peak for enjoying astronomy. I think we are going to be in good
shape as far as the unwritten policy goes with "C.L." running the show.
True, we are all taxpayers and could continue demanding less restrictions of
us while we recreate on the Peak, but in reality there is no totally
unrestricted situation within any publically funded domain. Let's make the
best of what we now have. And, don't forget to pay your $3 day use fee at
the sign post as you enter.
Peter Natscher
Monterey