Tom
Tuesday, 07 September 2010 06:40
Sierra Business Council offers free services for PG&E business customers
Amador County - Local governments and businesses in Tuolumne County will have new access to cutting edge energy efficient technology through a new collaboration between Sierra Business Council and Pacific Gas and Electric Company. From 2010 to 2012, Sierra Business Council, a non-profit organization with a new office in Sonora will be offering free energy audits and low-cost retrofits to commercial PG&E customers in the Sierra Nevada (including Amador County) through a new program called the Sierra Nevada Energy Watch. “During this tough economic downturn, we are excited to be able to support our local businesses and governments by offering cost-cutting energy efficiency services,” said Steve Frisch, President of the Sierra Business Council. “This project embodies our long-standing mission of demonstrating that environmental quality and economic prosperity are compatible goals.” Many of the Sierra Nevada Energy Watch installations are performed at highly reduced costs to participating small businesses. Rebates are also offered through the program for measures such as facet aerators, low flow showerheads, and door gaskets for reach-in and walk-in coolers and freezers. In the case of Tuolumne County’s Sierra Outdoor School, a rebate of over $14,000 at a total cost to the school of $3,600 enables them to save nearly $13,000 annually. Their return on investment is nearly 250 percent with payback occurring in just under four months. Visit www.sbcouncil.org to fill out an electronic form and an Energy Associate will contact you. Or visit SBC’s new office location at 85 North Washington Street in downtown Sonora. Walk-in hours are every Wednesday and Thursday, 9am - 5pm. You may also call to make an appointment at 209-532-7200. For more information about the Sierra Nevada Energy Watch Program, and to see tips on saving energy at home and the workplace, see www.sbcouncil.org/energywatch. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Tuesday, 07 September 2010 06:42
Amador Supervisors ask governor to veto SB 602
Amador County - Amador County Board of Supervisors last week unanimously approved a request that the governor veto Assembly Bill 602, which was scheduled to be heard by the State Assembly. The bill would establish a five-year statute of limitations for any party to sue a city or county for claims arising out of housing statutes. In a letter to the Regional Council of Rural Counties (RCRC), Kathy Mannion, a legislative advocate, said “AB 602 would place the 21 rural counties that are still on a five-year housing element under constant threat of lawsuits.” These include Amador, Alpine and Calaveras counties. AB 602 was proposed by Assemblyman Mike Feuer of Los Angeles. Supervisor Richard Forster, an RCRC board member, said “it is unfortunate because you have some big legislators who are supporting this.” He said these “heavyweights” include Assemblywoman Alyson Huber, who represents Amador County and the 10th District. He said he tried to speak with her about it but she had already given her support when the bill passed through the Assembly Local Government Committee. Forster said the possibility remains that Huber could change her vote to a “no” as part of the political process if she sees there are enough votes to either pass or deny the bill. Supervisors last week unanimously passed a motion by Forster to request a veto from the governor for AB 602, with a copy of the request to be sent to Huber. Forster said a letter of opposition from RCRC can be used to help write the language of the request. Governor Schwarzenegger will have 30 days from the time the bill passes the Assembly to act on the motion to veto. The bill is also opposed by the League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties, and the California chapter of the American Planning Association. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Tuesday, 07 September 2010 06:44
Chief, Councilman say IPD has major support
Amador County – The Ione City Council today (Tuesday, September 7th) will discuss a city-wide initiative about the future of the Ione Police Department. The council was expected to consider placing the initiative on the next regular ballot in November 2012, or to consider filing a lawsuit to try to block the initiative. That was before City Clerk Janice Traverso found legal errors in the petition that she said would not allow her to certify the petition and election. The council should discuss that development today. Councilman Lee Ard last week said he did not want to wait 2 years to settle the issue by vote, but he expected a large majority of the Ione registered voters would support the police department if it did go to a vote. He and Vice Mayor David Plank at a past meeting voted to file suit against the petition, but were outvoted by Mayor Skip Schaufel and council members Andrea Bonham and Jim Ulm. At the time, city Attorney Kristen Castanos told the council the initiative was illegal and unconstitutional. Since then, initiative proponents Jim Scully and Denise Roberts gathered enough signatures to place the issue on the next ballot, but may have made an error of omission on the petitions. Ione Police Chief Michael L. Johnson said the city council would “make a decision on the direction they are taking” today. Ard said he doubted Scully’s claim that his petition was about saving money by getting rid of Ione Police Department and replacing it with the Amador County Sheriff’s Department. Ard said the city council heard from Sheriff Martin Ryan in March that he could take over policing Ione at a startup cost of $300,000 to $400,000. And it would also cost at least $1.3 million a year for him to run a police force in Ione. In comparison, Ard said IPD operates with 10 personnel and an $800,000 annual budget. IPD has 6 sworn officers, including Chief Johnson; a records clerk; 3 reserve officers; and a community police assistant. Johnson said IPD received overwhelming support from the community and police leaders (including the sheriff) at the March meeting. He said Ryan remarked that IPD has a good model of policing and good cooperation with other agencies. Johnson said IPD is “effectively tackling a lot of the enforcement issues here and its working well.” He said: “Were not perfect, we make mistakes. And we do everything in our power to correct it and to make sure it doesn’t happen again.” Ard said the department is successfully working to make Ione a drug-free city. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Tuesday, 07 September 2010 06:48
City Clerk finds fatal error in petition to disband Ione Police Department
Amador County – Ione City Clerk Janice Traverso last week reported finding a fatal error in a petition to do away with the Ione Police Department, saying she found the document lacking legally required language, making her unable to certify the petition for election. Traverso last week sent a report to the Ione City Council and a letter to the petition’s proponent, Denise Robertson, notifying her that “the petition is insufficient.” She said the petition for “An Initiative Transferring Responsibility for Providing Law Enforcement Services from the Ione Police Department to Amador County Sheriff” did not have the required “Notice of Intention to Circulate Initiative Petition” attached to each section of the petition, as required by California election law. Traverso said: “Based on my examination, each section of the petition fails to bear a copy of the Notice of Intention to Circulate Initiative Petition as required by law.” She said “no further action will be taken with regard to the petition.” Traverso, City Manager Kim Kerr and City Attorney Thomas Henry in a report to the council for today’s meeting (Tuesday, September 7th) recommended that the city council receive the report detailing Traverso’s findings, and “take no action on the ballot initiative petition.” Amador County Registrar of Voters Sheldon Johnson certified the signatures gathered by Robertson and area resident Jim Scully. Johnson in the August 16th certification said the petition’s 45 sections contained 225 signatures, with 213 found to be sufficient. The staff report said the city clerk “has a duty to ensure that the ballot initiative petition complies with state law for municipal elections.” Part of that requirement is having a copy of the “Notice of Intent to Circulate Initiative Petition” (along with the title and summary) on each section of the petition. The report said after Traverso reviewed “the ballot initiative petition and signature pages, the city clerk in consultation with the city attorney has determined that the petition did not have the appropriate language.” Therefore, the report said the “city clerk is unable to certify the petition.” It said the “city may incur costs if the ballot initiative proponents elect to pursue legal action against the city due to the decision not to accept the ballot initiative petition.” The report included a 1986 ruling in a similar petition case in San Francisco, which was found to have been properly rejected for the petition’s omission of its notice of intent to circulate. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Tuesday, 07 September 2010 06:53
Lloyd Oneto - Ione City Council Candidate 9-7-10
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Tuesday, 07 September 2010 06:57
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alan Sprenkel 9-7-10
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Tuesday, 07 September 2010 06:57
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alan Sprenkel 9-7-10
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Tuesday, 07 September 2010 06:53
Lloyd Oneto - Ione City Council Candidate 9-7-10
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Tuesday, 07 September 2010 06:48
City Clerk finds fatal error in petition to disband Ione Police Department
Amador County – Ione City Clerk Janice Traverso last week reported finding a fatal error in a petition to do away with the Ione Police Department, saying she found the document lacking legally required language, making her unable to certify the petition for election. Traverso last week sent a report to the Ione City Council and a letter to the petition’s proponent, Denise Robertson, notifying her that “the petition is insufficient.” She said the petition for “An Initiative Transferring Responsibility for Providing Law Enforcement Services from the Ione Police Department to Amador County Sheriff” did not have the required “Notice of Intention to Circulate Initiative Petition” attached to each section of the petition, as required by California election law. Traverso said: “Based on my examination, each section of the petition fails to bear a copy of the Notice of Intention to Circulate Initiative Petition as required by law.” She said “no further action will be taken with regard to the petition.” Traverso, City Manager Kim Kerr and City Attorney Thomas Henry in a report to the council for today’s meeting (Tuesday, September 7th) recommended that the city council receive the report detailing Traverso’s findings, and “take no action on the ballot initiative petition.” Amador County Registrar of Voters Sheldon Johnson certified the signatures gathered by Robertson and area resident Jim Scully. Johnson in the August 16th certification said the petition’s 45 sections contained 225 signatures, with 213 found to be sufficient. The staff report said the city clerk “has a duty to ensure that the ballot initiative petition complies with state law for municipal elections.” Part of that requirement is having a copy of the “Notice of Intent to Circulate Initiative Petition” (along with the title and summary) on each section of the petition. The report said after Traverso reviewed “the ballot initiative petition and signature pages, the city clerk in consultation with the city attorney has determined that the petition did not have the appropriate language.” Therefore, the report said the “city clerk is unable to certify the petition.” It said the “city may incur costs if the ballot initiative proponents elect to pursue legal action against the city due to the decision not to accept the ballot initiative petition.” The report included a 1986 ruling in a similar petition case in San Francisco, which was found to have been properly rejected for the petition’s omission of its notice of intent to circulate. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Tuesday, 07 September 2010 06:44
Chief, Councilman say IPD has major support
Amador County – The Ione City Council today (Tuesday, September 7th) will discuss a city-wide initiative about the future of the Ione Police Department. The council was expected to consider placing the initiative on the next regular ballot in November 2012, or to consider filing a lawsuit to try to block the initiative. That was before City Clerk Janice Traverso found legal errors in the petition that she said would not allow her to certify the petition and election. The council should discuss that development today. Councilman Lee Ard last week said he did not want to wait 2 years to settle the issue by vote, but he expected a large majority of the Ione registered voters would support the police department if it did go to a vote. He and Vice Mayor David Plank at a past meeting voted to file suit against the petition, but were outvoted by Mayor Skip Schaufel and council members Andrea Bonham and Jim Ulm. At the time, city Attorney Kristen Castanos told the council the initiative was illegal and unconstitutional. Since then, initiative proponents Jim Scully and Denise Roberts gathered enough signatures to place the issue on the next ballot, but may have made an error of omission on the petitions. Ione Police Chief Michael L. Johnson said the city council would “make a decision on the direction they are taking” today. Ard said he doubted Scully’s claim that his petition was about saving money by getting rid of Ione Police Department and replacing it with the Amador County Sheriff’s Department. Ard said the city council heard from Sheriff Martin Ryan in March that he could take over policing Ione at a startup cost of $300,000 to $400,000. And it would also cost at least $1.3 million a year for him to run a police force in Ione. In comparison, Ard said IPD operates with 10 personnel and an $800,000 annual budget. IPD has 6 sworn officers, including Chief Johnson; a records clerk; 3 reserve officers; and a community police assistant. Johnson said IPD received overwhelming support from the community and police leaders (including the sheriff) at the March meeting. He said Ryan remarked that IPD has a good model of policing and good cooperation with other agencies. Johnson said IPD is “effectively tackling a lot of the enforcement issues here and its working well.” He said: “Were not perfect, we make mistakes. And we do everything in our power to correct it and to make sure it doesn’t happen again.” Ard said the department is successfully working to make Ione a drug-free city. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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