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Wednesday, 17 February 2010 17:00
Sutter Creek Referendum Checked by City, Gold Rush Says It Will Pay for Election
Amador County – Developers of Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort have said they will foot the bill for a special election if one is needed in a referendum aiming at undoing Sutter Creek City Council action paving the way for the development. Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe told the council Tuesday that the referendum has been certified by the County Registrar. He said a short time remains to get the referendum on the June primary ballot. Rabe said the next step that the city council needs to decide is whether the “letter of the law was followed” in circulating of the petition and its attachments. The election must be noticed within 88 days of the June 8th primary, to make it on that ballot. Rabe said: “That means the city would have to have all of its arguments for the ballot ready by March 8th.” Rabe and City Attorney Dennis Crabb will visit the county election office this week, and Rabe asked the council to adjourn the item to next week, to see if questions can be answered about the petition’s legality. Councilman Pat Crosby asked if it would be on the June ballot, and Crabb said “that will be part of the discussion.” Rabe said the council can call a special election between the primary and the November regular election, if needed. Crosby asked about the petitioners’ arguments for the ballot, and Crabb said the city only must supply its own arguments, and “the only thing the proponents have to do or not do is file an argument” for the ballot. Crosby also asked if it was possible to make the June ballot, and Crabb said: “It’s going to be a serious challenge.” Councilwoman Linda Rianda said she did not want to push staff in making legal assessments of the petition, but she “would like to see it done sooner than later.” Mayor Gary Wooten said he thought “there may be reason for a special election” but he would like to see the city get it on the June ballot. Planning Commissioner Corte Strandberg asked about the cost of the vote, and Crabb said: “The developer has agreed they will pick up the costs of the election.” One man, who said he helped in the petition drive, asked that the council not use a special election, because he thought it would affect turnout and he thought it was “very important for people to be heard.” Wooten criticized the comment. The council adjourned the referendum agenda item to 7 p.m. next Tuesday, February 23rd. The item includes discussion and possible action. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 17 February 2010 17:00
Amador Tennis Club Gets $500 from Ione City Council
Amador County – Former Jackson Mayor Rosalie Pryor-Escamilla received a $500 pledge from the Ione City Council Tuesday that will remodel the Argonaut High School tennis facility. Pryor-Escamilla, Amador Tennis Club president, told the council the fund drive goal is $20,000 to refurbish the tennis courts, which were built in 1996 and are showing signs of decay, including hazardous areas for its users. She showed photos of cracks in the court surfaces, and said the courts benefit Ione residents, including players of Junior Team Tennis and at Argonaut High School, as well as any adults burning calories Wednesday and Thursday nights at “drop-in tennis.” She said Junior Team Tennis has introduced 159 kids to tennis, and had 295 kids participate in 3 years. Pryor-Escamilla said 24 percent of Junior Team Tennis players are from Jackson, while 29 percent are from Ione, which does not have its own tennis courts. She asked the council to donate $500 and place a donation form on the city website. She also promised payback. Pryor-Escamilla said: “When you prepare to build tennis courts of your own, I guarantee you the Amador Tennis Club will be there to help you raise money.” She told success stories of Ione girls, including one JTT player who made the Argonaut varsity team as a freshman, and another vying for a varsity spot as a junior. Councilman Lee Ard said the new Howard Park Master Plan includes tennis courts. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham suggested going to the Ione Picnic Committee for other donations, and Mayor Skip Schaufel suggested the Ione Rotary. The council unanimously agreed to donate $500 for the project, and also to post information on the city website. Yesterday, Jackson City Council reportedly also made a donation to the fund drive, giving $1,000 to the cause. Pryor-Escamilla said she would work with City Manager Kim Kerr on possible grants for Ione tennis, and Kerr said they could then turn around and go through the Ione Recreation Commission, because the club can help leverage funding. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 17 February 2010 17:00
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 2-18-10
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Wednesday, 17 February 2010 00:52
AFPA Members Prep Measure M Staff Plans
Amador County – The Amador Fire Protection Association board of directors on Thursday will hear from member agencies about their efforts to create full-time firefighter positions, as the board prepares to decide how to disperse Measure M funding. The AFPA board, made up of Ted Novelli, Jake Herfel, Connie Gonsalves, Hal Gamble, Lee Ard, Greg Baldwin and John Asmus will hear individual entity Measure M staffing plans. The board is scheduled to receive “presentations by each fire agency detailing their efforts toward providing paid fire personnel for their respective areas including information about job descriptions, work schedules, wages and benefits.” The AFPA board will also consider Measure M and Proposition 172 funds, with a scheduled discussion and possible action of distributing those funds. The board will also discuss and possibly take action on the Joint Power Agreement that formed the Amador Fire Protection Authority. AFPA’s member entities are the Amador Fire Protection District, Jackson Valley Fire Protection District, Sutter Creek Fire Protection District, and Lockwood Fire Protection District, along with the cities of Ione, Jackson and Plymouth. AFPA agenda items also include an update on cooperation between Sutter Creek, Jackson, AFPD and Lockwood. The board will also look at the Amador County board of Supervisors’ County Fire Services Plan, with discussion and action possible. The AFPA board will look at the Amador County proposal regarding a “county-wide fire protection services plan.” The AFPA meeting is open to the public and is set for 4 p.m. Thursday in the Supervisors’ chambers at 810 Court Street in Jackson. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 17 February 2010 00:43
AWA Committees Meet Thursday
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors has 2 committee meetings this week, both set for Thursday. The Public Relations Committee, made up of board Vice President Debbie Dunn and Director Gary Thomas meets 9:30 a.m. Thursday, and its agenda items include discussion of a “Media Policy,” the 2010 Amador County Fair Booth and the 2010 public relations committee Calendar. The committee will also discuss a “Marketing Master Plan,” a “Marketing Conservation Plan” and a “webpage competition.” Other topics on the agenda include “draft website revisions,” announcements and media releases and “quarterly newsletter topics.” Also Thursday, the Amador Water Agency board’s “Rules and Rates Committee” meets at 2:30 p.m. Members are Director Terence Moore and Director Dunn. Topics on the agenda, under the “Administrative Policy Manual,” include review of “policy 2025” and also review of “policy 2020.” Another item for discussion is “creation of policy/ guidelines for Vice President and alternate Vice President training,” and review and revision of water code regarding payment of participation fees.” They could also discuss “Conditional Will Serve” commitments, and the agency’s “Strategic Plan,” including draft wording for its “vision and core values sections.” Listed among the Rules and Rates Committee’s future agenda topics are policies on agency news releases, directors’ “communication to media,” “staff and management communications to media,” and records retention. Both committees meet at the AWA office on Ridge Road and the meetings are open to the public. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 17 February 2010 00:48
Senator Dave Cox Named Outstanding Legislator by CSSA
Amador County – The California State Sheriff’s Association (CSSA) announced Tuesday that they have honored State Senator Dave Cox as an Outstanding Legislator for 2009. The nonprofit professional organization comprised of 58 sheriffs from all California counties awarded the title to Cox after an annual review of the lawmakers’ voting record. “It is humbling to be recognized for doing my job,” said Cox. “My commitment to the safety of our citizens and their communities will be unwavering and I appreciate the recognition,” he said. The resolution was presented by Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness, acting on behalf of the association. McGinness praised Cox’s accessibility to residents, saying: “Senator Cox is a loyal public servant who is responsive to the needs of his constituents. The Sheriffs of California appreciate his dedication and support.” According to its website, the CSSA was “formed for the purpose of sharing information and providing assistance to sheriffs and departmental personnel, thus enabling them to improve the delivery of law enforcement services to the citizens of this State.” Cox has represented the 1st Senate District since 2004. His district includes all or portions of Amador, Alpine, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lassen, Placer, Plumas, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Sacramento and Sierra couties. He was previously a member of the California State Assembly, representing the 5th District. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 17 February 2010 00:50
Plymouth Elementary Gets Title 1 Achievement Award
Amador County – Plymouth Elementary School was among the small percentage of California schools to be honored with a Title 1 Academic Achievement Award for 2009-2010, according to an announcement last week. “This is a great honor, and as far as I know a first for us,” said Plymouth Principal Rosalie McProuty, now in her second year. The Title I Academic Achievement Award is given only to schools receiving federal funds through the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. As the single largest federal educational program for K-12 public education, it is designed to meet the educational needs of students living near or at the poverty level. The Department of Education says the criteria to qualify have become more rigorous in recent years. This means schools “must demonstrate that all students are making significant progress toward proficiency on California's academic content standards,” and “the school's socioeconomically disadvantaged students must have doubled the achievement targets set for them for two consecutive years.” In the case of Plymouth Elementary, at least 40 percent of students classified as socioeconomically disadvantaged in 2008 and 2009. “These award recipients prove that with hard work and high expectations, students can overcome challenges and achieve academic success," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. O'Connell personally called the principal at each of the schools selected to express his congratulations. “I feel this award is recognition of the kind of effort the staff, students and community have put in here,” said McProuty. In 2009, Plymouth received an 824 score on the Academic Performance Index - the school’s highest in six years. “By working together, administrators, teachers, staff, students, and parents have raised student achievement and narrowed the achievement gap. I congratulate these schools and everyone who worked hard to make them deserving of this significant award,” said O’Connell. The 2009-10 awardees will be honored at a reception and banquet at the Disneyland Hotel on April 21st. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 17 February 2010 00:45
Ione Reports ’08-’09 Mitigation Fee Data
Amador County – The Ione City Council on Tuesday received a report on last year’s development impact fees, including income and spending, as required to be reported to the public by state law. City Manager Kim Kerr gave the report to the city council, as prepared by City Finance Manager Colleen Pringle, with the help of the city attorney. Pringle prepared a report for fiscal year 2008-2009, which Kerr recommended the City Council receive, take public comment, and direct the city clerk to file. The report is on fees commonly known as development impact fees or public facility fees, and the report is open to the public for review. The report said Fire Services Impact Fees totaled less than $3,000, but the city (through that fund) spent more than a million dollars in the building of the new city fire station, doing so with fund transfers. The Fire Services fund had a beginning balance of negative $247,082 and a similar closing balance. The city spent $1.45 million on its new Fire Station Number 2 (completed last May 5th) and $25,000 on machinery and equipment. The Fire Services fund received $920,000 in interfund transfers or loans, including $278,000 from the General Fund, $600,000 from the Police Building Fund, and $25,000 from the General Administration Fund. The report listed no expenditures. The Police Services Impact Fee Fund had a beginning balance of $870,976 and an ending balance of $84,543. The Sewer Capital Fund began fiscal year 2008-2009 with a balance of $95,000, and ended with $227,000. The city collected $243,000 in the sewer fund, with expenditures totaling $560,000. Of that, $485,000 was paid for the Wastewater Master Plan. The rest went to ponds, monitoring wells and miscellaneous improvements. The report said $449,000 was transferred from sewer operations in fiscal year 2008-2009 for this fiscal year’s capital expenditures. Kerr said the “transfer is a result of the current negative beginning cash balance in the Sewer Capital Fund.” The Park and Recreation Impact Fees Fund collected $101,000 and spent $10,000, most of which went to the Howard Park Master Plan initial study. Its end balance was $249,000. The City Administration Facilities Impact Fees fund collected $33,000 in fees, made no expenditures and had an ending balance of $48,000. The city Local Traffic Mitigation Fee fund also made no expenditures in 2008-2009. It collected $95,000 in fees, and ended the year with a balance of $525,000. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 17 February 2010 00:54
Manteca woman dies in crash near Copperopolis
Calaveras County – A 23-year-old Manteca woman was killed during a head-on collision Sunday on Highway 4 near Copperopolis. At approximately 8 p.m., Virgina Guzman was traveling was traveling eastbound on Highway 4 west of O’Byrnes Ferry Road at an unknown speed when, for unknown reasons, her 1996 Saturn crossed over the solid yellow lane divider and into oncoming traffic. Eugenia Medina, 45, and Mario Tinicio, 38, both residents of Angels Camp, were traveling in the opposite direction in a 2006 Toyota at approximately 50 miles per hour. The two vehicles collided head on. The CHP arrived on scene and called emergency personnel. All parties were subsequently flown to the Dr.’s Memorial Medical Center in Modesto for treatment. Medina and Tinicio suffered major injuries but are reported to be in stable condition. Guzman succumbed to her injuries. All parties were wearing seat belts. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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