S. C. Meeting 16
April 19, 2005 (21 Attendees)

Agenda:
Translator
Zoning Committee
Fund Raising Committee
Summer Secretary
PROFEPA Inspectors
Special Attendees

We now have someone to translate our website, minutes, and other information into Spanish; Jim Heinrich and his wife Dulce. Jim is a Gringo (his word) and was a Spanish professor for 25 years. His wife Dulce is a Mexican, holds a law degree and was a lawyer and law professor for 14 years. They have 7 years of professional experience working together on many types of translation projects for individuals, universities, and companies. We thank them for their willingness to help us in this endeavor and we thank Marcie Cavanagh for finding these kind people and putting them in touch with us.

The Sayulita Zoning Committee met on Friday, April 15, 2005 for 2 hours. They reviewed the existing plan in order to decide what changes in which zones might have the greatest impact. They will focus on the T (tourist) zones, the H (habitation) zones, and the CUC (along the beachfront) zones. The proposals they are considering are -
In all T zones, a reduction from their existing density of 5 - 15 habitations per hectaria to a lower density of 2 habitations per hectaria
In all higher density H zones (H84 and above), a reduction to a lower density of H51 (51 habitations per hectaria)
In the CUC zones, a reduction in density, height restrictions, building design control
In all zones including others not listed above, minimum lot size, minimum street frontage, minimum setback on all property lines, larger percentage of green space
They have scheduled their next meeting for Thursday, April 21, 2005.

We are looking to start a Fund Raising Committee. We need someone who has fund raising experience to chair this committee. We would like to start making plans for a fun raiser for next season, either in November or December. We need ideas, we need volunteers, and we need help. Some ideas that have already been presented - silent auction, raffle, bazaar, meet and greet social including dinner, bunco party. Please contact us with your ideas, your suggestions, and to volunteer your time.

Proposed at the meeting by Rod Rosile was the drafting of a letter, or letters, directed at visitors who come to Sayulita for vacation and/or to purchase real estate. This letter would be placed in rental homes, bungalows, hotels, rental and real estate offices. This letter would urge these visitors to donate in order to support our association in its work to preserve what we already have in Sayulita. A committee to draft this letter formed and has agreed to meet on Saturday, April 23, 2005 at 8 am at Haramara.

Other proposals made to increase our funding were -
Rental Owners to donate a percentage of their rental income - We have one owner, Cap Sparling, who has pledged to do this
Owners selling property to donate a percentage of their proceeds - We have two owners, Cap Sparling and Dan and Coco McCoy, who have pledged to do this
Real Estate Agents to build a small percentage into the commission for the purchase and sale of property for donation to the association

The association now has 270+ people on its contact list. Of that number, only 30 - 35 have made a donation this year. That is a pitifully small percentage of the people who can and will benefit from the work the association is attempting to do. Without more people making donations and supporting it, the association will fail in its attempts due to the lack of funding. If everyone committed to at least $500 a year, or even $50 per month, the association would have the funding to take on many of the other issues that people think we should; such as illegal developments, waste water treatment, and garbage; just to name a few. We thank the people who have donated and ask the ones who haven't to step up and participate.

We have found someone to take over the Secretary's duties for the summer while Jodi Friesen and Cyndy Jones are away. Greg (Gregorio) Hewlett will be spending the summer in Sayulita and is eager to help the association. He has already joined the Zoning Committee and he has been asked to help represent the association along with Sajeela, Ken, and Dr. Szekely at the Urban Development Plan review in June.

It has been brought to our attention that PROFEPA inspectors have been visiting jobsites in Sayulita and insinuating that our association had sent them. This is not the case. Unless an individual member has done so, without knowledge of the association and its officers, the association has only made one request of PROFEPA to inspect a jobsite. This one request was made at the behest of an individual property owner, not the association itself. If anyone has been inspected by PROFEPA and feels that it was done inappropriately, we ask you to provide the association with a copy of the inspection document signed by the PROFEPA inspector and a detailed location of the property inspected. This information will be sent to Dr. Szekely to be reviewed by him and the director of PROFEPA to decide if the inspections were legal or illegal. If deemed illegal, they will determine if it was done as harassment or for a payoff and said inspector will be subject to disciplinary action.

A proposal was made to change the common name of our association "Save Sayulita". A comment was made that "Save" sounded too desperate. Some alternative suggestions made were - Amigos de Sayulita, Futuro de Sayulita, Preserve Sayulita, Pro Sayulita, Sayulita Tomorrow. This will be discussed again in the committee drafting the letter to visitors on Saturday. This would not have any affect on our legal name. This may or may not change our website address. More discussion on this subject at our next general meeting on Tuesday, April 26, 2005.

Our meeting had some first time special attendees -
Maria Gomez, a Mexican business owner (Bungalows Lidia) in San Pancho, had heard about our association and was interested in learning more about what we are attempting to do here in Sayulita.
Nazario Carranza Luna, a Mexican business owner (Bungalows Aurenko) in Sayulita, had also heard about our association and was interested in learning more about what we are attempting to do here in Sayulita.
Pedro Fernandez Somellera, a Mexican from Guadalajara and a writer for the newspaper, El Informador Diario Independiente. He is involved in environmental protection through the Civil Association, BIOJACO, A.C. This association is working to preserve the Bosque de la Primavera and the volcanic region near Guadalajara. He proposed working together with our association to garnering support for us from Mexicans in Guadalajara that own land in and around Sayulita through exposing the problems in Sayulita in an article in the newspaper.
Erik Saracho Aguilar, Director of HOJANAY, A.C.(Hombre Jaguar Nayarit, Asociasion Civil). Promoter of the Conservation of Sierra de Vallejo in Sustainable Development and the Mexican Sanctuary of the Jaguar in Nayarit. He is from San Pancho. He is involved in environmental protection through his civil association and is working to protect the area of Sierra de Vallejo in Nayarit as well as its jaguar population. He proposed working together with our association on an immediate concern having to do with the planned highway between Punta de Mita and Sayulita. At this moment they have already begun work on the stretch from Punta de Mita to Higuera Blanca. The current proposed design is a high speed freeway or autopista with two wide central lanes and two wide shoulders equivalent to the width of a four lane highway that is to run from Highway 200 at the entrance to Sayulita to Punta de Mita where the new FONATUR development is being built. FONATUR plans a city like Puerto Vallarta to be built near Litibu. This plan isn't something we can stop, but the proposal is to offer an alternative in order to reduce the impact on the environment and the jungle ecology. The alternative would be a scenic or panoramic road that would be a part of the trip, not just a means to arrive at a destination. We can be effective but we don't have time to wait. They are already stripping the land between Punta de Mita and Higuera Blanca in order to build the planned highway. Higuera Blanca to Sayulita is next. We have agreed to work together with Erik in what ever way we can.

Our next meeting is Tuesday, April 26, 2005 at 9am at Haramara.

Thank you Janice Rothrock for supplying a copy of your notes to supplement these minutes.

Thank you all for attending.

Write us at contact@savesayulita.org

Visit our website at www.savesayulita.org