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Sierra Dinner Train
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Author:  bobyar2001 [ Sun Oct 03, 2004 6:21 am ]
Post subject:  Sierra Dinner Train
Some news from the Oakdale (CA) Leader, concerning the Sierra Railroad's dinner train:

The Oakdale Leader
Wednesday, September 22, 2004


Gravy Train
Deal Keeps Railroad in Town
by Kim Van Meter

Sierra Railroad -- which had considered moving its Dinner Train operation
from Oakdale -- had a snowball's chance of getting the deal it was seeking
Monday night with the city's redevelopment agency. But against all odds,
the business got what it came for.

As a result, the dinner train tourist attraction will remain in Oakdale, but
the station will relocate a block away, and the city will build more
parking.

The fact that Chris Hart, president of Sierra Railroad, came to the council
members with a proposal wasn't surprising. But this time, his proposal was
actually something that had council member shaking their heads in amazement
that it could work.

For the past several months Sierra Railroad has been trying to work out a
resolution with the city that would permit the dinner train to mo to a more
appropriate spot. Initial discussions involved shutting down a portion of H
Street, but that proposal was met with a lukewarm response, which culminated
in a flat-out no.

According to Hart, closure of H Street was necessary to protect the
financial health of his business. Currently, the inability to park his
train near the train station is costing thousands of dollars in overhead
each month and lowering company standards with general inefficiencies.

That denial resulted in Plan B, to move the station, but even that would
take some finesse. Hart needed the support of the redevelopment agency,
something that didn't look promising, due to promises made in the past on
the part of Sierra Railroad that council member felt the dinner train had
not fulfilled. Hart proposed to acquire and develop publicly owned property
at Sierra and H Street, directly south of their current site. In exchange
for the city's cooperation, Hart would sell his station, buy the parcel, and
give up their first-right-of-refusal right on the property located on Sierra
and G Street.

Once Sierra Railroad fulfills its end of the deal, the city will proceed
with building more parking, about 20-30, depending on cost, under the
proposal.

City Council members voted unanimously to move forward with the deal, but as
Mayor Pat Kuhn pointed out, there will be stringent rules and penalties
involved with this agreement.

Hart was agreeable to most of the stipulations, but a final disposition
agreement will be worked out to go over the fine print.

Mayor Pro Tem Farrell Jackson was hesitant at first, but by the end, seemed
encouraged by the proposal. "We, as a redevelopment agency are supposed to
help businesses, and I thing this proposal is a good compromise." he said.

Developer Rich Murdoch, as well as several members of the Chamber of
Commerce, were also in attendance to express their support for Hart's
proposal.

The resolution to the problem that has plagued both the dinner train and
strained relations between the city was a relief to Hart. If the proposal
had been rejected, Hart admitted his next plan may have included moving his
dinner train out of Oakdale completely.

The actual agreement should come back for the redevelopment agency to
approve on Oct. 4.
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