Amador County – Ione City Council heard from staff Tuesday that Amador County Local Agency Formation Commission wants an agreement signed between supervisors and the city before it proceeds with an annexation request.

Mayor Skip Schaufel, a LAFCO board member, said commissioners, “at least three of them … had absolutely no intention to move forward,” and “just flat didn’t have any understanding.”

City Planner Christopher Jordan said Plymouth City Councilman Jon Colburn asked for an updated Municipal Services Review. Ione City Manager Kim Kerr said “no specific reason” was given for the request. 

Jordan said in a year-and-a-half communicating with LAFCO Executive Director Roseanne Chamberlain, she never said they needed an updated Municipal Services Review, but it could be updated using the city’s new General Plan.

Jordan said the big issue that came up was that LAFCO members, Supervisors Ted Novelli and Louis Boitano said they “want to see an agreement approved between the city and the county before they move forward.”

Jordan said he surveyed cities around the state and found agreements with tax sharing, “Best Management Practices,” and a depth of details he did not think Ione and supervisors wanted. Jordan suggested another joint workshop with the county.

Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said the law does not require an agreement. Jordan said it only requires discussion. He said Amador LAFCO has the power to adopt policy and further requirements, but has not done so. ¶ Jordan said he is “concerned that they are holding us to a different standard than Jackson, Plymouth, Sutter Creek or Amador City.” He said: “We are very puzzled at this point.” Councilman David Plank agreed, saying he was hearing some inconsistencies.

Kerr said she was “very mad” at the meeting, and was surprised supervisors led the stoppage. LAFCO also told her it will now do its own notification, after a non-notification complaint, meaning the city must now pay twice for notification.

Jordan said he would send a letter to LAFCO telling them to hold Ione’s $1,000 deposit, and that “we need to know costs as the commission continues to drag this out.”

Kerr said if they try to get an agreement with the county, it “may not be to the level we went to before,” which “was an attempt to try and address some of the concerns that we might face moving forward.” Part of the agreement sought to require the county to have certain zoning within the city’s “Sphere of Influence.”

Jordan said Ione’s Sphere Of Influence change was not as big as that sought by Plymouth. Ione looks to add 160 acres, while Plymouth seeks nearly 1,000 new acres.

Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.