Sacramento – Two bipartisan governmental reform measures authored by 3rd District Assemblymember and Amador County representative Alyson Huber were signed last week by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

AB 1659 and AB 2130 will “create a process to conduct comprehensive and regular reviews of the state’s many boards, commissions, agencies and departments,” said Jennifer Wonnacott, Huber’s spokeswoman, in a release. If entities cannot demonstrate they are being effective and efficient, they will be automatically eliminated.

The governor’s signature completes the final step in the legislative process. The bill previously passed the legislature with strong bipartisan support.

“The Legislature creates new boards and commissions to solve a problem. Far too often, there is no on-going oversight of the newly created bureaucracy to ensure it actually solved the problem it was created to solve. The lack of accountability has been studied and known for years yet no action had been taken, until now,” said Assemblymember Alyson Huber.

She said the review process, known as the sunset review process, “finally gives us the tools we need to really cut down on waste.”

Both bills were co-authored with bipartisan support from Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) and Assemblymember Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks). The bills will make California the latest state to implement a sunset review process.

Texas’ Sunset Advisory Commission created in 1978 saves $27 for each dollar spent on the Commission. Furthermore, total savings achieved by the Commission equals roughly 5 percent of the state's budget – in California 5 percent is $4 billion.

The Little Hoover Commission issued a report in 1989 which found that, “California's multi-level, complex governmental structure today includes more than 400 boards, commissions, authorities, associations, councils and committees. These plural bodies operate to a large degree autonomously and outside of the normal checks and balances of representative government.” The Commission concluded that “the state's boards, commissions and similar bodies are proliferating without adequate evaluation of need, effectiveness and efficiency.”

Huber said, “These bills show that when Democrats and Republicans works together we can take steps in the right direction to achieving the change our state desperately needs.”

In related news, Huber will visit Amador County on Tuesday (October 5th). She will be interviewed here on TSPN for the noon news. She will also be touring the Amador County Interfaith Food Bank at 8:30am and in the evening will be participating in the Amador Child Care Council's Candidate Forum at 6:30pm.

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Amador County – An Ione man and an Angels Camp woman were arrested Monday for charges including possession of a controlled substance, providing false identification and resisting arrest after the man was chased through the parking lot at Jackson Rancheria casino.

At approximately 4 am that morning, Jason Lee Rydel, 33, was spotted by a Sheriff’s Deputy while unsuccessfully attempting to break into a locked Ford Explorer in the lower parking lot of the casino complex. The deputy was driving through the parking lot on a routine check. Rydel claimed the vehicle belonged to his girlfriend and he was attempting to break in because he did not have the keys or the door code. The registration information he provided did not match the name of the person he claimed was his girlfriend.

Rydel then provided the officer with what was supposedly his own name and date of birth, but when no record was located based on that information, Rydel fled the scene on foot.

According to a release from Undersheriff James Wegner: “The subject ran through the parking area, towards New York Ranch Road, then back towards the casino. As the subject fled, the deputy observed him throw an object. The deputy subsequently caught the subject, who was taken into custody without further incident.”

Upon further inspection of the area where Rydel had thrown something, the deputy discovered “a clear plastic baggy containing methamphetamine.”

Rydel’s true identity was subsequently revealed. He was “arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, providing false identification to a peace officer, and obstructing/resisting a peace officer,” said Wegner.

Jackson Rancheria Security officers advised the deputies that during the incident a woman subject had entered the Ford Explorer and moved objects from that vehicle into a nearby Honda Accord.

“Deputies contacted the female subject who was identified as Michele Elaine Smith, 29, of Angels Camp. They also contacted a female seated within the Honda Accord. The female, a 37 year old from San Andreas, was on active CDC parole,” said Wegner.

A subsequent search of the Honda Accord resulted in the discovery of methamphetamine and methamphetamine paraphernalia that belonged to Smith. A search of the Ford Explorer found unlawfully possessed narcotic prescription medications.

Smith was arrested and charged with possession of controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The arresting deputy received assistance from additional Amador County Sheriff’s Deputies, Officers from the Jackson and Sutter Creek Police Department, and Jackson Rancheria Casino Security officers.

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Amador County – Columbia College in Sonora was awarded a $1.1 million federal grant that will be used to expand services to disadvantaged students, the college announced in September.

Coni M. Chavez, executive assistant to the president said Columbia College “has been awarded a $1.1 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education.”

The “Student Support Services” grant will give funding for “increased counseling, advising, and transfer services to students,” Chavez said. The program will also feature group workshops, special activities and events such as field trips to four-year universities. She said the program will “grant aid directly to qualified students.”

The college will hire a full-time faculty counselor/project director and full-time program coordinator to implement the activities.

The Student Support Services grant will be overseen by Dean of Student Services Melissa Raby.

Raby said the “additional funding could not have come at a better time.” She said Columbia College “students really need this extra support, and while our enrollment has been consistently growing over the past few years, our budget has been cut tremendously by the state.”

Chavez said “counselor-student ratios at the college are well beyond generally accepted levels for community colleges,” normally 400 to one. She said Columbia has “only one counselor for every 1,379 students.”

The program will specifically target students that are low-income, disabled, or first-generation college students – each of whom typically experience far lower retention, graduation, transfer, and good academic standing rates other than comparative groups, Chavez said.

In fall of 2008, 1,722 Columbia College students identified themselves as first generation according to a USDE definition, in which neither parent has a bachelor’s degree. The figure represented 73.1 percent of students who provided data regarding their parents’ educational status. Another 43 percent reported meeting low-income criteria, while 14.5 percent reported a disability of some kind.

Director of Development Beccie Michael coordinated the Columbia College grant proposal, which she said “scored 297 points out of 300 possible.”

Michael was hired through another five-year grant to help expand resources available to the college.

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Amador County – The Jackson City Council issued a proclamation of congratulations Monday to the Jackson Woman’s Club to mark the 100th anniversary of formation of the non-profit organization.

Mayor Connie Gonsalves read the proclamation made “on the occasion of their Centennial Celebration, 1910 to 2010.”

Jackson Woman’s Club President Jaimie Little said the club plans a Centennial Celebration October 9th. The celebration marks to the very day 100 years ago that the Woman’s Club of Jackson was incorporated, back on October 9th, 1910.

Little will be a guest on TSPN’s AMLive Wednesday, October 6th, to promote the 100th anniversary festivities and talk about the history of the club.

The proclamation of the Jackson City Council said the club was incorporated as the “Woman’s Improvement Club of Jackson,” with the purpose of “advancing the city of Jackson in the county of Amador, state of California along the lines of civic, social and educational improvement.”

Gonsalves read the proclamation, which noted that the “initial goals of the club were to establish a high school in Jackson … and maintain the beautification of this school’s grounds.” Jackson High School was dedicated June 19th, 1913.

Woman’s Club of Jackson contributed $100 toward the creation of the “State Alpine Highway,” now known as State Highway 88. In 1917, the club reincorporated as the “Woman’s Club of Jackson,” and “was awarded a donation for its community support by W. F. Detert to purchase the Constitution Saloon and borrowed monies to create a suitable meeting establishment.” The former saloon building at 47 Summit Street was sold to the Native Son’s of the Golden West.

In 1917, the proclamation said “the ladies of the club concentrated their energies on rolling bandages, knitting garments, and preparing packages for the troops abroad” during World War I.

The club created a city park, named Detert Park, “which included their donation of playground equipment in 1939,” and “when a scout hut was constructed” there in 1944, the club “provided funding for the fireplace and chimney.”

With the proclamation, Jackson City Council “congratulates the Woman’s Club of Jackson on the occasion of their 100th Anniversary and wishes them continued success for the next 100 years.”

The city seal and council signatures were to be added to the proclamation, including Mayor Gonsalves, Vice Mayor Wayne Garibaldi, and council members Patrick Crew, Marilyn Lewis, and Keith Sweet, with a signature of attest by City Clerk Gisele Cangelosi.

The Jackson Woman’s Club Centennial Celebration is 2-5 p.m. Friday, October 9th at the Jackson Civic Center, 33 Broadway.

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Amador County – A public hearing on an amendment to the permit to operate the Buena Vista Biomass Power plant this week included talk of potential new jobs created by the plant’s reopening.

Applicant Otoka Company, owned by Michael J. Monston, of Bloomington, Minnesota, seeks to truck in woody biomass waste to be burned in the power generation plant on Coal Mine Road in the Jackson Valley.

Steve Brink of the California Forestry Association and Associated California Loggers Executive Director Eric Carlson both spoke in support of the project, for its increase in forest jobs, and potential for helping manage forests.

Calaveras County Supervisor Steve Wilensky also supported the plant. He said the 50-mile radius around the plant “includes my entire district,” where “people have been laid off my whole life.” That radius is identified in the Subsequent Environmental Impact Report as the source for fuels, from forest management.

Wilensky said in the past, 22 mills operated in Calaveras County, but now zero operate there, the last one having closed 12 years ago.

The EIR is thorough, Wilensky said, but he wanted to comment on biological and forest resources. He said it is biologically unsound because plantations have not been managed, leading to three catastrophic fires burning tens of thousands of acres each, the latest affecting Amador County.

He said the economy has “broken four or five generations of continuity,” forests “have been neglected for the better part of a generation,” and “it’s time to put people back to work.”

Robert Smith, a local contractor, said he was currently removing forest fuel through a federal Job Training grant on 450 acres with the Bureau of Land Management. But he said the grant ends soon, and “nine families are about to be out of work.”

Jackson Valley resident and BVBP critic Jerry Cassesi said he is not against jobs, but he thought jobs would mostly be tri-county, not local, at the Buena Vista Biomass Power plant. He said a full EIR might find a better way to use a truckload of wood chips and keep people working.

Cassesi said work already has begun at the Buena Vista power plant on Coal Mine Road, where the county used the Draft EIR to authorize construction. In a letter, he asked for an extension of 30 to 90 days to further review the SEIR, for which comments were due Thursday, Sept. 30.

Commissioner Ray Lindstrom asked about construction already occurring at the plant, and Planner Nathan Lishman said restorative work had been done at the plant, but the company has been told by the county to stop work.

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Amador County – Ione City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing Tuesday on a Public Facilities Fee Update that would lower development impact fees on single-family homes, and create a new way to figure commercial fees.

The update prepared by Pacific Municipal Consultants, using the 2009 updated city General Plan, looks at fees needed for city services, based on growth forecasted out roughly 20 years.

City Manager Kim Kerr in a report last week said “overall, the recommended infrastructure needs of the eight fee categories equal nearly $228 million, of which $115.6 million (51 percent) is allocated to new development.”

The city is responsible for $112.6 million, with the funds coming “from a combination of regional impact fees, grants, special funds, and the general fund,” Kerr said.

The Public Facilities Fee update listed $33.7 million for sewer costs, with $25.3 million to be paid by development fees and $8.3 million coming from the other funding.

The 30-year project list includes $147 million in total roadway costs, with development fees paying $49.5 millions, and the other $98 million coming from other funding.

Development would pay 100 percent of fire service total costs of $2.7 million, and 86 percent of police service costs, of a total $4.7 million. Parks and recreation total costs were listed at $25 million, with $23 million paid by development impact fees.

Bikeways and trails had a total cost of $10 million, with $7 million paid by developers.

The update’s 20-year growth forecast to 2030, includes a population increase from 3,567 current residents, to 18,182 people. Housing units overall are forecast to rise from 1,500 now to 7,400.

Non-residential square footage was forecast in the document to rise from 110,000 square feet now, to 8.7 million square feet, including 2.3 million square feet of office space, and 4.2 million square feet of industrial space.

Jobs, estimated by city staff to be 2,250 at forecast to grow to 18,800 jobs by the year 2030.

A single-family residential unit fee in the update is $14,256, down from the current fee of $17,619 per single family home. Story by Jim Reece

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Amador County – Amador County Public Health last week announced its 2010 Flu Clinic Schedule, which begins with a clinic Wednesday, October 6th.

Public Health has planned a series of six flu shot clinics, with the first scheduled for 2-4 p.m. Wednesday, October 6th, at the public health building.

Vaccines available will be given at a cost of $10 each.

The vaccines available include the FluMist nasal vaccine, intended for healthy people ages 2 through 49 years old. Also available is the flu vaccine for individuals over 6 months of age who are not eligible for a nasal vaccine.

The clinic will also offer the “Tdap” vaccine booster for tetanus and pertussis, commonly called Whooping Cough. The Tdap is for people 11 years old and older.

Pneumonia vaccine shots are available for people 50 years old and older with chronic lung disease.

Costs for each vaccine are $10, and the clinic can bill Medicare for flu and pneumonia. Patients should bring their Medicare cards.

Other clinics are scheduled for October 14th, 18th and 27th, and November 8th and 30th. Times of clinics vary, but all will be held at the Amador County Health & Human Services Building, at 10877 Conductor Boulevard in Sutter Creek.

For more information call Amador County Public Health at 223-6407.

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