Tom

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.

Published in Water

Friday, 26 February 2010 00:56

Bureau of Land Management Invites Public Comment on Off Highway Vehicle Applications

Amador County – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is inviting the public to comment on applications it has submitted to the California Department of Parks and Recreation in order to help fund and coordinate its Off-Highway Motor Vehicle program. The BLM said in a release that the OHV grant applications are an annual process that is a key part of the partnership between BLM and the state of California, which issues grants to a variety of entities to improve or mitigate OHV recreation. This year, over $27 million is available for allocation to federal, state and county agencies. The draft 2010 BLM applications encompass more than 50 projects, ranging from law enforcement, facility developments, trails projects, restoration work and other OHV related projects proposed throughout BLM’s 16 field offices in the state. Jim Keeler, BLM OHV coordinator, said the BLM is also reaching out to interested publics through public meetings, personal contacts and through BLM-California's electronic newsletter, Newsbytes. The public review and comment period will run from Tuesday, March 2 through Monday, April 1, 2010. View the applications online at OHMVR's website at the address on your screen. Copies are also available at BLM's field offices. A TSPN TV Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Transportation

Friday, 26 February 2010 00:48

Amador County News TSPN TV with Alan Sprenkel 2-26-10

Published in Video

Wednesday, 24 February 2010 17:00

AWA Special Workshop Looks at CAWP Retail Finances, Rates

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors hosts a special meeting 9 a.m. Friday to consider financial plans for Central Amador Water Project retail customers and to consider possible rate increases. The agency announced the special meeting called by Board President Bill Condrashoff, with a public notice that said “members of the public will have the opportunity to directly address” the AWA board “concerning any item listed on the agenda” either before or during consideration of the items on the agenda. The board will hold a CAWP retail water system financial plan and rate workshop, with discussion and possible direction regarding a draft financial plan and rate study. The agenda also includes “discussion and possible direction to send out rate notices in accordance with the Proposition 218 process for the CAWP retail water system.” The board hosted a workshop on the system and the “Gravity Supply Line” project February 1st. Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo said there were “5 points that the board had by way of direction.” One was to “verify the reliability and vulnerability of the flume system that provides water to the tiger creek reservoir.” They were also to take a look at connection fees and how they would perhaps be increased with respect to the GSL or the pump station increase, and how much revenue would be generated with new connections. Mancebo said staff also was told to look into the possibility of using solar power for existing pump stations or at other locations where power could be put in to benefit the CAWP system. The board also asked for “staff to give estimates that they are comfortable with,” in effect that staff determine if they “feel good about those” estimates. Mancebo said he read into it that staff should “double check your numbers.” They were also instructed staff to search for grants, including for solar power, the Gravity Supply Line, pump expansions, and “anything and everything” for which they could seek grants. They would also look into a state solar grant program recommended by David Evitt. The meeting is 9 a.m. Friday at the AWA office on Ridge Road in Sutter Creek. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Wednesday, 24 February 2010 17:00

Gold Country Lanes Hosts 7th Annual Jackson Rancheria PBA Classic

Amador County – Sutter Creek’s Gold Country Lanes hosts a weekend of professional bowling with the 7th Annual PBA Jackson Rancheria Classic, starting with a Pro-Am tournament Friday. The professionals hit the lanes Saturday and Sunday in the PBA West Regional Jackson Rancheria Classic. Jan Krum of Gold Country Lanes said there were 90 regional Professional Bowling Association bowlers signed up for the tournament. That includes a couple of local bowlers, who bowl in leagues at Gold Country Lanes. They are Sutter Creek resident Robert Harmon; and recent Argonaut High graduate Ricky Lague (Lay-Hue). Krum said Lague “is bowling this weekend in his first tournament as a professional.” Lague also recently bowled his first perfect game, getting 300 on the way to a 700 series. The Jackson Rancheria Casino, Hotel & Conference Center is sponsoring the PBA tournament for the 7th year at Gold Country Lanes, on Lower Ridge Road in Sutter Creek. Krum said that by Wednesday, there were 90 PBA regional bowlers signed up for the Rancheria Classic, and 50 amateurs signed up for the Pro-Am Tournament, which starts 6:30 p.m. Friday. Krumm said they probably had room for another 20 amateurs for the Pro-Am, during which 3 professionals will bowl alternating games with amateur teams. KCRA Channel 3 and the Sacramento Bee are reportedly planning to cover the Pro-Am, which begins with a raffle drawing that supports a family at orphanage in Haiti. Gold Country Lanes, owned by Ed Swift and operated son John Swift, has 13 leagues, which will be ending the season in May. Summer leagues start at the end of May. Gold Country Lanes bowlers are part of the Sierra Gold United States Bowling Congress, which was formed from 3 different associations of men, women and youth congresses. Krum said Sierra Gold USBC has 900 bowlers, with members in Amador and El Dorado Counties. It was formed when the Amador and El Dorado Men’s Association joined the Amador County Women’s Bowling Association and the El Dorado County Women’s Bowling Association. Sierra Gold USBC members bowl in 13 leagues at Gold Country Lanes and 13 at Knotty Pines Bowling Center in El Dorado. They are certified, so to bowl in leagues, bowlers must join the USBC. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Wednesday, 24 February 2010 17:00

Sutter Creek Puts Gold Rush Project on June 8 Ballot

Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council on Monday approved a referendum to determine the fate of the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort project, placing it in a special election to be held on the June 8th primary ballot. City Attorney Dennis Crabb recommended the council certify the petition meets legal standards. He also recommended adopting a “resolution calling for and giving notice of a special municipal election for submission of the resolution to the voters for final action.” The council approved both on 5-0 votes. Crabb said the “petition requires that the council either repeal the adopted resolution approving various aspects of Gold Rush” or “submit the resolution to the voters for final action.” The question to be put to voters suggested by staff was: ““Should Resolution Number 09-10-16 entitled “A resolution of the Sutter Creek City Council approving the Gold Rush Ranch Specific Plan, General Plan amendments, and phased vesting large lot tentative subdivision map” be enacted?”” The council agreed to list, among other things, the parks, golf course, houses and open space that will come with the project. Councilwoman Sandy Anderson said she wanted people in Sutter Creek to know why she voted for Gold Rush, and supported listing the different things that the city would get from its agreements with Gold Rush. She said it was important for people to know why they made their decision. Mayor Gary Wooten, Councilman Pat Crosby and Councilwoman Linda Rianda agreed. Mayor Pro Tempore Tim Murphy was in favor of leaving the referendum with minimal wording in the question. Wooten suggested that the council form a committee to write the council’s statement to be published in the sample ballot and on the actual ballot at the polls. Wooten said: “Sandy’s a good writer,” and he asked her to be on the committee, and he asked Planning Commissioner Frank Cunha if he wanted to help her. Sutter Creek resident Sharyn Brown said she supported the work the council did on the project to get the benefits for the city, from Gold Rush. Brown said she did not sign the petition because she wants a new sewer plant, part of the project’s agreements with the council. She said the full project, including 1,335 equivalent dwelling units, “will not be built out in our lifetime.” Crabb said “the county clerk serves as the city elections official,” and the goal “is to have the county handle most, if not all of the process, with payment of the county costs by Gold Rush Ranch,” though the city clerk may handle some duties. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Wednesday, 24 February 2010 17:00

County Budget Review Reveals Projected Deficit of $4.7 Million

Amador County – County Administrative Officer Terri Daly presented a mid-year budget update Tuesday before the Board of Supervisors, urging them to continue to “take steps early and often” in order to stay solvent. “Because our (Supervisors) has taken action early and often, starting as far back as 2007, that enables me to say we are financially sound,” said Daly. She said the county must continue to spend conservatively in order to keep expenditures in line with revenues in the General Fund. As of December 31st, 2009, General Fund revenues are down 15.1 percent from one year before. Expenditures are also down 1.8 percent over last year at the same time, following a 9.6 percent decrease in 2009 over 2008 due to the implementation of the 36-hour workweek. Based on projections created by Daly and staff with assistance from County Auditor Joe Lowe, she said they expect to conclude this budget year with General Fund revenues and expenditures in the $34.4 million range. The budget report estimates total General Fund revenues during the 2010-2011 budget year will total approximately $39.1 million. Projected expenditures over the next year will be $43.8 million, resulting in a projected deficit of about $4.7 million. She said the two major factors contributing to the current deficit over the last year are a decrease in property tax revenue and approximately $2 million in “encumbered costs” which she and staff our currently developing budget strategies for in the coming year. She said “major actions” are necessary to balance the 2010-2011 budget. “I think its time, because we haven’t ever done it, to really take a look at what are the priorities of the county and…really start doing some long term budget planning,” she said. She urged a “County-wide department reorganization” to avoid a “redundancy in services.” Although the $43.8 million expenditure projection includes reverting back to the traditional 40-hour work week, Daly suggested the 36-hour work week be continued for one more fiscal year. She said with every dollar the county brings in, about 60 cents goes out to personnel. Supervisor John Plasse questioned whether it was cost effective to continue the 36 hour, 4 day work week and asked Daly to compare that with the normal 40 hour 5 day work week in terms of savings in energy costs. He said current 9 hour days could also mean less productivity because of the “fatigue factor.” Daly also urged they approve a continuation of the Early Retirement Incentive Program “that would offer $500 per year of service to all retirement-eligible employees.” She said there are still question marks that could effect budget projections. These include a big increase in the amount the county will pay for PERS retirement funding and what funding they will receive to build the new jail. The Supervisors agreed to bring back the item for discussion after Daly and staff bring back specifics on their requests and more information on a departmental reorganization. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Thursday, 25 February 2010 05:13