assisting with the Visitor's Bureau for Mariposa County. The request
from county government was to bring the advertising up to date and
move the function to a private/non profit mode where a trained and
educated marketing person can be hired to shepherd our most important
Tourism Industry through the next few years. The tourists last year
left 8.7 million dollars in bed tax behind after visiting Mariposa
County. That tax revenue goes into the general fund and covers more
than half of the services budgeted by the Board of Supervisors. Most
of the social programs are state funded with the county's
contribution much smaller. But for Sheriff, Fire, Library, a sizable
road contribution, Recreation, General County operations and health
and retirement, the General Fund containing the TOT pays the bills.
It then became the desire by the Board to make sure that this revenue
source stays healthy and can be maximized.
The majority of our TOT comes from Yosemite National Park and
those lodging operations directly involved. When there is an interruption
in the TOT, such as occurred last summer with the closure of Hwy 140,
this can cause concern up at the Admin. Building. A thorough
examination of the TOT, its sources and opportunities provides us
with direction and opportunities for the future. Closure of Hwy 140
during the summer months for the first time in our history, Mariposa
County Government and the tourism industry realized the value of
this, our major industry. Declining visitation in Yosemite even has
the Park Service interested. At a recent Socio-Economic conference
held here in Mariposa, discussions were held which helps us to
understand better our future mutual opportunities.
One of the interesting effects of the road closure last summer
was the bringing together of many of the small businesses in Mariposa
into a concerted effort to survive. Most did and it becomes useful
to examine the why and how can we use the experience for the future.
First of all, having the road open with the 28 ft. limitation is still
going to have an effect on the tourism industry. Many tour companies
that usually include Yosemite in their yearly routes are looking
elsewhere. Not all of them stay in Yosemite but enough do to make a
significant impact. Beyond this it is imperative that Mariposa
County Government keep the pressure on CalTrans to affect a quick
permanent solution or at least relieve those areas along the river
which restrict the length of vehicles.
One of the main goals of the Tourism program will be to encourage
visitation in Yosemite especially in the shoulder months. There are
plenty of empty rooms in the off season, so a great opportunity
exists. How successful we can be is yet to be determined.
Next goal is sustaining economic growth outside Yosemite National
Park. A strong Chamber of Commerce supported by involved merchant
groups promoting and using the opportunities given to the business
community by such events as the Civil War Reenactment, the AgriNature
Tourism, Butterfly Days, the Big Fish Planting and Coyote Howl will
all contribute to the effort. The trick here is to market these
events in a targeted way. That is also the responsibility of the
professional at the Tourism Bureau. So keep your eyes open and your
ears to the ground because the best things are yet to come.
Old habits and attitudes will have to change to be successful. Intense economic growth has not always been of interest in Mariposa.
The fear has been that a strengthening economy will somehow
degrade the quality of life. But even those who worry about change
will also complain about the lack of opportunity in this county
especially for young families. We recognize that education in our
county is more than adequate to prepare young men and women for the
future. Higher education is just down the road in Merced, Fresno and
Turlock. Public transportation is available. Then the question is
where are the opportunities to apply that education once the student
wishes to return home. Opportunities for job creation require more
than just capital. It also requires a competent path for the
investor to take. Any path that requires far too much resource
expenditure during the permitting process causes the erosion of
capital. In other words, a permitting process that is endless,
addressing more the needs of process than development, stops
opportunity. Mariposa County government is part of the process but
what has developed over the last few years to create even more
difficulties begins and ends with state government. Increasing
demands by the California Department of Forestry, Cal Trans and Fish
and Game all contribute significant challenges to exercising our
General Plan. Even ten years ago these were not significant.
Over the last ten years or so, I have watched attempts to invest
in Mariposa struggle with process, even when the projects have been
pre-identified by our planning process. Our major focus on
speculative land development has resulted in a diversion of resources
away from major opportunities in economic development. For years we
operated under a development philosophy that emphasized individual
property rights. This created an imbalance between speculation and
actual market needs and demands. Land became a commodity to be
crafted into units and sold like vegetables. In the meantime little
job creation of a stable type, such as light industrial and
commercial development was emphasized. It was simply the problems
caused by too many demands on too little staff to complete the
process in a timely manner. Applications that should have take no
more than 30 to 60 days, were taking a year or more. It is time to
address these deficiencies in process.
To learn much more about Mariposa County along with
historical photos:
A signed copy of "Images of America" - Mariposa County,
By Leroy Radanovich can be purchased at his web site:
Radanovich Galleria & Books
This is a early day photo of the Mariposa Mine in
Mariposa County
that is mentioned in the article to
the left by Mr. Radanovich.
This photo and others can be purchased in various sizes.
All prints are archivally printed on fiber based paper, given a selenium wash which renders the photographs permanent with a
warm tone ready for framing
Radanovich Galleria & Books
Mariposa in 1920
This photo and others can be purchased in various sizes.
All prints are archivally printed on fiber based paper, given a selenium wash which renders the photographs permanent with a
warm tone ready for framing
Radanovich Galleria & Books
Mariposa County Courthouse written by Leroy Radanovich and
Scott Pinkerton is a book about the oldest courthouse in California that is still in use today.
The book is signed by Leroy Radanovich.
To purchase the book:
Radanovich Galleria & Books
Mariposa in 1860
This photo and others can be purchased in various sizes.
All prints are archivally printed on fiber based paper, given a selenium wash which renders the photographs permanent with a
warm tone ready for framing
Radanovich Galleria & Books