From the Record Searchlight 

Measure C ignites battle

Sides raise funds over plan to limit Shasta Lake lot size

By Kimberly Ross, Record Searchlight
October 12, 2006

SHASTA LAKE -- Financial campaign statements for and against this city's Measure C are in, totaling about $17,000 in attempts to influence voters on whether to limit residential development on the city's west side to no smaller than 2-acre parcels.

Shasta Alliance, collecting funds for the No on Measure C campaign, intends to spend $13,300 fighting the measure, Shasta Alliance Executive Director Lance Frederiksen said Wednesday.

Shasta Alliance members Shasta Alliance, a newly formed pro-business lobbying group, includes these members, all based in Redding, four of which are alliance directors, Executive Director Lance Frederiksen said. They are: • BR Enterprises, a development business • Best Western Hilltop Inn • Chase & Taylor, a land development and home builder • Crown Motors • Duckett Construction Corp. • Darrin Johnston of Financial Capital Inc. • Steve Ross of Financial Capital Inc. • Gaynor Telesystems Inc. (Alliance Director Maureen Gaynor) • Gifford Construction • Golden West Electric (Director Bruce Swanston) • Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce • Kutras Ranch • Laborers Local 185, a construction workers union • Mountain Properties • Nichols, Melburg & Rossetto Architects (Director Les Melburg) • North State Investments • Palomar Builders Inc. • Peters Construction Co. • Shasta Builders' Exchange • Sharrah Dunlap Sawyer Inc. • Shasta Association of Realtors • Shasta Enterprises (Director Eric Batten) • Tullis Inc. • Certified public accountants Dave Scott, Keith Hunting and P. Catanese of D.H. Scott and Co.

Campaign paperwork filed Tuesday by the newly formed alliance lists its 25 members' dues and Measure C contributions. But it also shows contributions from nonmembers, including $1,500 from the Economic Development Corporation of Shasta County.

The EDC gave the alliance $1,500 for an unrelated, independent study of the Shasta Ranch sand-and-gravel operation proposed near Anderson. The Shasta Builders' Exchange gave another $1,000 toward the study, Frederiksen said.

EDC President Jim Zauher said Wednesday that although the organization gets about half its money from public funding and half from the private sector, public dollars did not pay for the gravel plant study.

"We don't get involved in political activities, but we have very often gotten involved in activities that affect our area's economic development," he said.

The EDC paid for similar studies of the Knauf Fiberglass plant and of aggregate supply in partnership with the builders exchange, Zauher said, as well as of local initiatives that related to local economic and industrial development.

"I think there's a distinction between that study and other activities that they (alliance members) may get involved with as an organization," he said. Frederiksen said the alliance will probably take a position on the gravel plant later and wanted a thorough review of its environmental impact report.

The pro-business lobbying group received $37,800 in contributions this year, it reported in financial disclosure statements filed with the cities of Shasta Lake, Redding and Shasta County. Of that, $25,000 was collected through $1,000 membership dues paid by the alliance's 25 members. That money will not be spent on Measure C, Frederiksen said.

If passed, Measure C would prevent lot sizes from shrinking smaller than 2 acres on land west of Lake Boulevard and within Shasta Lake's current and future city limits. It also would allow houses on those lots to use septic systems. Currently, septic tanks are permitted only on lots of at least 5 acres.

The Citizens' Planning Committee, in favor of Measure C, reported receiving $4,077 in campaign contributions as of Sept. 30, city-filed papers show. Nearly all of it came from residents in the area that would be affected by Measure C, and no contributor gave more than $299.

Of the alliance's $13,300 dedicated against Measure C, developer Jaxon Baker has contributed $9,300 through two of his business enterprises, Frederiksen said. The money includes $6,000 from Mountain Properties and $3,300 from Jaxon Enterprises.

Baker's proposal for a Shasta Lake subdivision of about 165 homes could be hindered if Measure C passes on Nov. 7, as his project's lots would be smaller than the measure's 2-acre minimum.

His project also would bring a sewer line to the area served by septic tanks. Measure C opponents say smaller parcels in the area may never get to add houses if sewer lines are not brought to their lots.

The City Council is expected to vote on the subdivision plan at its Tuesday meeting.

The alliance's anti-C funding also gathered:

$2,000 from the Shasta Association of Realtors

$1,000 from the Shasta Builders' Exchange

$1,000 from the Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce

As of Sept. 30, $8,921 has been spent by the alliance, including $2,979 in Record Searchlight ads, $1,500 for Frederiksen's consulting services, $3,611 in signs to Sign-A-Rama and $780 in Shasta Lake Bulletin ads.

Measure C's "yes" campaign spent $1,650 on consulting from Davis attorney Bill Kopper, who has legally opposed several north state Wal-Mart proposals, $200 in filing fees to the city, and $157 in Record Searchlight ads.

Reporter Kimberly Ross can be reached at 225-8339 or at kross@redding.com.