Board approves Gateway Charter with National Park Service to formalize county input on Yosemite-area planning
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Summary
The board approved a Gateway Charter to coordinate with the National Park Service and neighboring gateway counties (Mariposa, Mono, Tuolumne). The agreement creates an advisory forum (non-decision-making under federal rules) to convey local input on park planning, reservations and access issues.
Madera County supervisors voted unanimously to enter an agreement with the National Park Service and three neighboring gateway counties to form a Gateway Charter that formalizes a forum for county input on park planning and operations.
CAO Matt Treiber told the board the agreement grows out of half a year of informal collaboration and is intended to give gateway counties a structured, advisory voice to the park service. The agreement language, drafted by the Department of Interior, follows Federal Advisory Committee Act guidance and specifies the group is advisory only and cannot make binding decisions at those meetings.
Public commenters and local stakeholders supported the charter. John Pero asked for clarification about the clause that prevents the group from seeking consensus and making decisions; county staff explained the forum can receive and forward local input (for example, on reservation or parking policies) but does not replace formal park-service decision-making.
The board approved the motion to adopt the Gateway Charter by roll call; the vote was recorded as unanimous.
