ENTRY GATE BACKUP - Pass Checking at the Gate EMAIL to the BOARD

Dana, please forward the following note to the board for consideration.

Folks, I was down at MCC the other day, and discovered a new policy at the front gate effecting vacation and other short term renters that is totally unacceptable. As I understand it, the driver must physically hand the security officer the MCC access pass. First, the guard might be inside the guard-house so he would have to walk to the door and open the door. As for the driver, this involves reaching in front of the wheel, electronically rolling down the window, handing this pass to the guard who must physically "touch the pass" before handing said pass back to the driver. Incidentally, will the guard inspect the pass or merely "touch it"? If it is night time, will the guard then bring it inside to inspect the pass in a clear light?

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.....

As the vacation resident (or short term renter) will be forced to perform this action several times a day this will prove a major inconvenience and annoyance. Unfortunately, frustrations may frequently be taken out on the guards (not the board) at the gate who are just doing their job thus leading to a morale problem.

So, with reasonable civility, I am asking that this policy be reconsidered and rescinded at the next board meeting.

Let me point out some additional considerations. Not many folks down there in August, Sept, but some snowbirds start arriving in October and by season there is a significant influx of traffic. Want a nice big traffic jam, consider this! Given that Monterey Ave is a heavy traffic and high speed thoroughfare, given that there is a short light in front of the entrance to MCC, and given that this burdensome and unnecessary inspection at the border (sorry, I meant gate house) guess what the results will be.....nice long traffic lines on Monterey Ave backing up into the thru lanes (which will also effect not only full time residents but board members as well), people rushing to beat the light and, who knows, traffic accidents. So the situation will be elevated from one of inconvenience to a safety issue effecting the residents of Palm Desert and the surrounding communities. Plus as this policy might be considered a contributory factor, MCC could wind up being part of law suits. As we all know, in this litigious society everyone sues everyone.

So I request that this access policy be ended ASAP and that access revert to the previous (and long standing) method.

If not, I will bring this to the attention of the City of Palm Desert and its police department as a safety and traffic issue, and it will be on record,

whether they choose to act or not, for any potential lawsuits that may arise as a result of this poorly thought out policy.

Vic Asselin

326 Villena Way