Vendors, boaters and conservation groups urge outreach before any sticker hike

Several public commenters told the board they broadly support stronger quagga-mussel prevention but asked for substantial outreach and vendor engagement before implementing large sticker increases.

"The ramp monitors and the businesses are the ones that are gonna get the face of the backlash of this program if it goes out and rolls out without the proper outreach and education and support," said Angela DePomitau, executive director of Lake County Land Trust. She and others urged the county to re-create the advisory and outreach process used when the program started in 2005–2008.

Tournament organizers and former county staff echoed that view. Scott De Leon, a former county water-resources director, said the program depends on vendor and community buy-in and warned a large immediate increase could push participants away. Greg Giusti, a long-time advisory committee member, urged staff to seek targeted funding and keep businesses involved: "The line drawn in the sand that we cannot cross, we cannot lose the business community," he said. Board members asked staff to prepare an outreach plan and return with stakeholder feedback before any final fee decision.