Should Ramona Incorporate?
By Tracy Rolling

Members of the Organization City of Ramona Now, Inc. from left, Bob Hailey, Torry Brean, Julie Kiehne-Lamkin, Rath Webster and Paul Tarr.Photo by Tracy Rolling

Should Ramona incorporate and become its own city? It's a question that a group in town - City of Ramona Now Inc. - knows the answer to.

And that answer is "Yes."

"Preserving Ramona's Rural Character through Self Governance" is the slogan for the organization, which recently held an informational meeting and fundraising event outside of Cheers.

The group seems to have the support of at least a few locals. Throughout the evening, passers-by honked and gave a "thumbs up" to voice their approval, while about 60 community members congregated to learn more about the group and its efforts.

Founded in 2003, the nonprofit group is comprised of local businessmen and women whose objectives include, "Keeping Ramona the rural environment it is today," said Paul Tarr, a director with the City of Ramona Now Inc. and a local realtor.

Tarr says that since the organization's inception, members have held about 10 community forums allowing the public to voice concerns about zoning, agriculture, density and local roads.

In addition, the organization has hired the consulting firm, The Rosenow Spevacek Group (RSG), to complete an analysis identifying the benefits of incorporating. Tarr says the analysis "looks promising" but that it may take as much as $700,000 to incorporate.

Such fees would be used for environmental studies, feasibility reports (complete fiscal analysis), and supplies and materials for voter registration signing campaigns.

He adds that incorporating would mean tax revenue and traffic impact fees generated from the city will return in the form of land usage, parks and recreation, business development, road improvements and emergency services.

Tarr emphasizes that the problem under the current leadership is that the San Diego County Board of Supervisors is making critical decisions without a vested interest.

None of the five supervisors or five planning commissioners lives in or near Ramona.

City of Ramona Now Inc. treasurer Bob Hailey says the groups needs the community's support by way of donations and volunteers so that an application can be submitted to the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) for further study.

LAFCO is a state agency responsible for discouraging urban sprawl and encouraging the orderly formation and development of local government agencies.

Tarr says, "Though many of our supporters are associated with local organizations such as the Ramona Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis and the Ramona Planning Group, Ramona Now Inc. has no agency endorsements - yet."

Tarr says the real focus is getting the measure on the November 2008 ballot, where Ramona voters would decide the town's fate. To pass, the measure would require a 50 percent, plus one vote. This would be the first time a measure supporting incorporation would be on the ballot.

For more information about City of Ramona Now, Inc. visit www.cityoframona.org.