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Monday, 01 March 2010 00:32
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alan Sprenkel 3-1-10
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News Broadcast Videos
Monday, 01 March 2010 04:59
Board of Supervisors Pre-Agenda Report with Richard Forster 3-1-10
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Amador County Board of Supervisors Reports
Monday, 01 March 2010 00:59
ACUSD Authorizes 'Intentions to Dismiss'
Amador County – The Amador County School District Board of Trustees discussed Wednesday the inevitable implementation of drastic layoffs and other cost-saving measures because of reductions in funding from the state. Speaking before a large audience, Superintendent Dick Glock said “even the conversation is devastating and very discouraging to have to hold.” The board unanimously approved four resolutions that allow notices of possible dismissal to be sent to 56 district and 10 special education employees. A final decision must be made before a state-imposed deadline of March 15th. “There are no good outcomes to this unless we are able to rescind these layoffs at a later date,” said Glock. The State Department of Education predicts another $5.6 million is expected to be added to the difference between projected versus actual funding for Amador County education in 2010-2011, increasing the total reduction in funds to $13.9 million. “The state has given us a certain parameter of cuts and that is what we’re planning for. We can only go by what they tell us,” said Glock in an interview Friday on TSPN. He said if they laid off everyone on the list they “still would be a million dollars short” of breaking even. He said at that point the district would likely look into reducing the length of the school year or discussing wage and benefit reductions with special bargaining units. The district must also raise class sizes closer to 30 students. “We’ve tried to stave off direct cuts to the (classroom)…and now there is no other place to go other than raising class size,” said Glock. The state requires certain courses, including English, Math, Social Studies and Science, be retained as essential in order for students to be eligible to graduate. The survival of elective courses, on the other hand, depends on enrollment. “The electives that get to about 30 (students) will be retained and those that have less we’ll have to look at shutting down,” said Glock. Amador County Teacher's Association President Mike Delaney said his group understands that the budget cuts are out of local control and the responsibility lies with state lawmakers. He said what is needed is an “uprising to make your legislators fear for their safety (of remaining) in office.” Board President Karl Knobelauch said he never thought he would be “presiding over such a wholesale dismantling of our education system.” He called it a “very sad place the State of California has brought us to.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Education
Monday, 01 March 2010 00:56
Sutter Creek to Consider Council Statement for Gold Rush Ballot
Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council tonight will consider the wording of a council statement to be printed on a citywide referendum ballot that could decide whether the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort continues as planned or goes back to the drawing board. The city council last week placed the referendum on the June 8th primary ballot, and appointed staff to add more detail about the project on the ballot question, which was approved February 15th. Resolution 09-10-17 asks: Should the city council’s resolution “approving the Gold Rush Ranch specific plan, general plan amendments, and phased vesting large lot tentative subdivision map, be adopted to authorize development of a public golf course, a hotel, timeshares, residential units and various commercial uses and requiring provision at developer expense of community park, open space, trails, sewer plant and donation of land and funds for community us?” The council will also consider a City Council statement that will accompany and be printed on the ballots and sample ballots for the election. Councilwoman Sandy Anderson and Planning Commissioner Frank Cunha were appointed by the council last week to write the statement, which would tell – in part – why the city council members voted 4-1 to approve the Gold Rush project. The statement has a 300-word limit. Proponents of the referendum also may write a statement for the ballot, with a 300-word limit. The resolution stated that “primary arguments must be filed within 14 days of calling the election, rebuttal arguments to be filed within 10 days after the close of primary arguments.” The city in the resolution also directed City Attorney Dennis Crabb to conduct and write an “objective analysis” of the measure, which will be limited to 500 words. Crabb will prepare “an impartial analysis as to the effect of the measure on existing law and the operation of the measure.” The meeting is 7 p.m. today at city hall. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Local
Monday, 01 March 2010 00:54
AWA Sets March 25 Date to Consider Gravity Supply Line Project
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors took public comment on the environmental impacts expected from a Gravity Supply Line project, then tabled the issue for more work last Thursday. The board also set a March 25th meeting date to consider whether to approve the project. The board considered staff answers to 7 comments letters received about the project, which would build a gravity-powered water line that would carry water on a 6.6-mile pipeline from PG&E’s upper storage bay on Tiger Creek to the Buckhorn water treatment plant. Interim General Manger Gene Mancebo said the board took no action but decided to digest the information from comments received last Thursday (February 25th) and take some time to formulate comments. The board plans to bring back the comments, on the agency’s environmental review and a proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration on the project, but no date is yet determined to do so. The board did choose March 25th to hold a meeting to consider approval of the project. Comment letters came from Caltrans, state Fish & Game, the Foothill Conservancy, Cal Fire, and Amador County Transportation and Public Works. AWA Board President Bill Condrashoff submitted comments in writing, so that “there will be a written record of my questions and concerns.” The agency also received 4 letters commenting on the Gravity Supply Line project. The AWA also spent several hours last Friday in a special meeting discussing financial plans of the Central Amador Water Project, whose customers would be served by the Gravity Supply Line. The financial plan did not include either a Gravity Supply Line or a replacement of the existing pump system. The plan indicates a need for rate increases even without the projects. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Water
Monday, 01 March 2010 00:48
AWA Hears Upcountry Calls For Fire System Water
Amador County – A meeting looking at the environmental impacts of a proposed Gravity Supply Line turned toward fire suppression capabilities last week at the Amador Water Agency office. The AWA board of directors acknowledged that there is a need to address water flows to help firefighting, but staff noted that it was not a main part of the Gravity Supply Line. Debra Howard told the board that the Amador County Association of Realtors board of directors voted unanimously to support the GSL. She said the “decision was not based on finances” but was also based on water quality and safety matters. Buckhorn resident Linda Stroh representing Sierra Highland Homeowners Association said 3 recent house fires and 2 wildfires in her neighborhood show that “we need water Upcountry, for irrigation, domestication and fire protection.” Sherry Curtis said Amador County and AWA share responsibility and possibly liability when the area has “no ability to stop a fire at a house.” David Evitt said the “need a definitive answer” on whether the Gravity Supply Line “will or will not increase fire flow and capacity.” AWA Interim General Manger Gene Mancebo said Friday that “the bottom line is, for the most part, it doesn’t.” The AWA board took input Thursday and “at this point they are acknowledging” the need for fire system improvements. That includes the Pioneer area system maintained by the AWA, and infrastructure self-operated by Mace Meadow, Rabb Park and Pine Grove areas. He said Director Don Cooper has been appointed to a committee by the Upcountry Community Council to look at fire protection in the Upcountry. Mancebo said the “real improvement has to occur after the treatment” or the supply line is installed. Aging infrastructure and hydrant systems need improvement, and if they “don’t have a reliable way to get water to the plant, then it becomes an issue for fire protection too.” Distribution system improvements must be looked at, in projects separate from the GSL, and see “what can be done to improve the system.” Mancebo said fire protection would most likely mean using treated water for fire suppression; otherwise they would have to put in separate systems. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Water
Monday, 01 March 2010 00:46
TAC to Consider Buena Vista Biomass Power Permit Revision
Amador County – The Amador County Technical Advisory Committee will return Wednesday to considering amendments to a use permit at the Buena Vista Biomass Power plant on Coal Mine Road. The TAC members will continue to evaluate the potential environmental impacts. The committee “may propose conditions and mitigation measures;” and it could “possibly make a recommendation” to the Amador County Planning Commission. Buena Vista Biomass Power is looking to amend a use permit that was issued to the Jackson Valley Energy Partners at the Cogeneration plant at 4655 Coal Mine Road near Ione, and in Amador County’s unincorporated area of Supervisorial District 2. The company seeks to remove “fuels currently allowed,” including “a requirement in the Amador Air District permit to burn a minimum of 20 percent lignite.” The permit change would replace lignite fuels with “100 percent renewable woody biomass fuel sources, including (but not limited to) forestry waste, agricultural waste; and clean urban waste.” The request notes that Buena Vista Biomass would not use painted, pressure treated or other “altered” fuel sources. And the company “is also proposing to upgrade the existing facility to incorporate best available control technologies such as installation of a new ‘bag-house’ and selective non-catalytic reduction for particulate capture.” That also includes a “continuous emission monitoring system.” The applicant “is also proposing to grade or fill “the fuel pad area, including an onsite balance and cut fill of approximately 10,500 cubic yards of native fill material to expand the existing fuel supply pad.” Proposed site work would include redesigning a truck ingress and egress, installation of 2 truck dumps, and “additional facility restorative work.” In late January, the company hosted a meeting at Bishop Hall in Ione, with about 90 people attending. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Local
Friday, 26 February 2010 00:58
Environmental Impact Questions Answered at the AWA Gravity Supply Line Discussion
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors discussed the Gravity Supply Line and potentially approving a Mitigated Negative Declaration Thursday, with staff indicating that environmental mitigation plans were the latest practices in the field. AWA Vice President Debbie Dunn said it was a little “disconcerting” to her that the plan included bulldozing work to be done only 14 days after a walk through the project’s land “to look for a bird that could stop us.” She was also worried about American Indian historic sites, and did not like the document’s approach that the agency will “wait until we find it.” Dunn said “14 days prior to bulldozers does not seem to be a good path.” Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo said “at that time, you mitigate it. The intent is to protect the species,” and they would not want to walk through the project area, then wait 2 months to start building. Director Terence Moore said the mitigation is to move the pipeline’s footprint. Dave Beauchamp of environmental consultants PBS&J, which wrote the Negative Declaration and helped answer comment letters, said the mitigation plans are standard. He noted that the California Department of Fish & Game “asked us to use their language” and it didn’t change the document’s language at all because it was already in place. Beauchamp said 14 days is a standard time frame for scoping out a Nesting Raptor. The plan also has “special mitigations” that come into play if a Yellow Legged Frog is found in the project area. He said as far as culturally sensitive American Indian historic sites, the standard “mitigation is to have an archeologist at the site when the trenching is done.” Beauchamp said “we’ll have monitors at all of the construction areas.” Dunn said she feels “handcuffed” because there is no environmental review in building a 5 “cubic feet per second” capacity pipeline, while the agency’s diversion rights are limited to a flow of 3 “cubic feet per second.” AWA attorney Steve Kronick said “there will be an environmental document prepared before the state acts on that application.” He said “they realize that the supply line is being designed for a larger amount than the agency has a right to divert.” David Evitt in public comment said the state studies that are required are “kind of a rubber stamp.” Kronick said “our environmental document has to address growth-inducing affects.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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News Archive
Friday, 26 February 2010 01:00
AWA Discusses the Size of the Gravity Supply Line Project
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency discussed the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Gravity Supply Line project Thursday, with the outcome not available by deadline late Thursday. Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo said “information has been provided to the board,” including about 7 comment letters, the environmental study document, and proposals and plans for mitigation measures. He said staff, including attorney Steve Kronick were involved in writing the Mitigated Negative Declaration, which in effect would say that environmental impact was not necessary to merit a full Environmental Impact Report under the California Environmental Quality Act. Mancebo said they have “also met with the Foothill Conservancy regarding their concerns.” Foothill Conservancy’s Katherine Evatt, Pete Bell and attorney Thomas Infusino met with AWA staff and reportedly emerged satisfied with the approach to the GSL’s size. Mancebo recommended the board approve a resolution making the Negative Declaration, while the board also would consider making a policy decision whether to approve the Gravity Supply Line project. Kronick said approval of both would trigger a timeline for protests of the Negative Declaration. The board could make the negative declaration without approving the project. One concern was that the GSL was designed for a maximum flow of 5 cubic feet per second, while AWA only has diversion rights from the Mokelumne River for 3 cubic feet per second. Board Vice President Debbie Dunn said “we’re 2 CEQAs short,” noting that they did not have expanded diversion rights, and faced a prospect of needing to expand the Buckhorn water treatment plant to handle the extra flow. Mancebo said “this is a project-specific document” and the agency is “looking at the GSL,” not increased rights or capacity. He said environmental work on other projects would be handled separately. Director Terence Moore said: “all we’re talking about here is building the pipeline. Who knows how long the capacity increase will take.” Mancebo said the aim is that the GSL’s size outlives the capacity of the agency. Kronick said the agency has already applied to the state for a diversion capacity increase of 2 cubic feet per second. He said the state will not consider that application until an environmental review is done. That would include a review of “growth inducing effects.” Kronick said AWA “spent a considerable amount of time over this issue” with the Foothill Conservancy, whose members he said were satisfied that the agency would analyze growth inducement in that environmental analysis associated with a diversion increase application. AWA President Bill Condrashoff said that process would be open to public comment, like the negative declaration. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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News Archive
