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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Donovan, those hard-working, time-pressed
volunteers who were selected from a variety of segments of the community crafted
an ordinance for the overlay zone that had to address not only current but
also future potential uses of that land area. That they have addressed
golf courses in the ordinance does not mean there are any nor necessarily that
there will be any in the future. <EM>They have anticipated a possibility
and made provisions for it. </EM> I don't play golf. I think golf
courses are a colossal waste of resources and unnecessary. But my view of
golf courses is not shared by many, therefore, I'm glad to see willingness to
provide restrictions on how golf courses should be managed with regard to water
use.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Phil Nisbet makes valid points about the ordinance
and I agree with him on some of those. The ordinance is not perfect, but
it is moving in the right direction and will be modified over time as additional
studies are completed. Do I wish we had better tools in the toolbox for
fixing this problem? You bet. But we work with what we've
got.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>One of the reasons water problems and water crises
are having to be dealt with by emergency ordinances and other means today is
that previous elected officials and others did not want to deal with such an
important, and often overwhelming, subject. It's not politically expedient
to ask for conservation or to raise water rates. Citizens want their
resource protected, but seem unwilling to make any allowances
personally. I appreciate the Latah County Commissioners for their
willingness to be the first of the entities that make up the Palouse Basin
Aquifer Committee (PBAC) to take a bold step toward sustainable use of our water
resource.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If people would like to see the cities of Moscow
and Pullman reduce their water consumption, then they must ask their city
councils for good policy with regard to water use, development, and so
forth. Then when councils propose such policies we need to support them
not nitpick them to death. If we want to provide livable communities for
our own future and future of our kids, grandkids, and others, then NOW is the
time to adopt strong conservation measures (many water-saving techniques are
easy to adopt, inexpensive, simple, and do not mean "doing without"), water
rates that reward those that are water-efficient and a clear signal to others to
improve their habits, and a comprehensive plan that allows for reasonable growth
while AT THE SAME TIME consistently reducing our overall demand for the water
resourse. Is this all possible? YES! Just ask Seattle.
They keep growing, but are using less water now than they did 20 years
ago. Is Moscow up to this task? I sure hope so since I plan to
be living here for many decades to come. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This fall, Moscow will have a chance to elect a new
mayor and 4 council persons. Let's ask the tough questions, listen
thoughtfully to the answers and elect LEADERS who will take bold, decisive steps
in solving this and other community issues. As other councils and
commissions have elections, pay attention, elect good people, and then help them
work toward solutions.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dianne French</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>From: Donovan Arnold <<A
href="mailto:donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com">donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com</A>><BR>Subject:
Re: [Vision2020] The GWPZ Hearing<BR>To: Mark Solomon <<A
href="mailto:msolomon@moscow.com">msolomon@moscow.com</A>>, Phil
Nisbet<BR><<A
href="mailto:pcnisbet1@hotmail.com">pcnisbet1@hotmail.com</A>>, <A
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A><BR>Message-ID:
<<A
href="mailto:20050812091227.5594.qmail@web30813.mail.mud.yahoo.com">20050812091227.5594.qmail@web30813.mail.mud.yahoo.com</A>><BR>Content-Type:
text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1<BR><BR>"At least as far as golf courses go, the
ordinance <BR>says it will either be a water conserving course <BR>or not at
all. The only parts of the course <BR>allowed to be irrigated with groundwater
are the <BR>driving tees and putting greens."--Mark Solomon<BR><BR>Mark, how is
this golf course saving water? The only<BR>way I see saving water is not to
build it. It really<BR>pisses people off when they are told that they
cannot<BR>water their lawns because there is no water but there<BR>seems plenty
for golf courses, ballparks, and rows and<BR>rows of brand new three story 8
bedroom 5 bath homes.<BR><BR>Donovan J Arnold<BR><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>