Amador County – The Ione City Council on Tuesday discussed a letter from Howard Properties that stopped a 107-acre business project application, pending possible action by the council. The council also discussed an e-mail request by Howard Properties Resource Manager Tim Smith to postpone council discussion until he could attend. The city council obliged, placing the issue on its May 4th agenda. City Manager Kim Kerr said the e-mail sought a more productive dialog on the related issues. Kerr received the e-mail, addressed to Mayor Skip Schaufel, who was out of the office. Kerr responded that she would share the e-mail with the council. She also advised Smith that staff practice is to place correspondence on the agenda, which she did with Smith’s April 14th letter to the city council. The letter said Howard Properties had discontinued its 107-acre project application for Ione Business Park, asking the city for a partnership on environmental costs. Councilman Lee Ard said the $300 million company acts as though the city should be glad it wants to do a project, but he thought the company “should follow the law.” Ard called the issue a “sore spot for the majority of the city.” City Planner Christopher Jordan said staff asked Howard Properties for application information, and gave the company 3 pages of comments. Howard Properties also wanted a cost estimate on all work. That included city and state requirements, including California Environmental Quality Act. Area agencies reviewed the information, including Amador Water Agency, ACTC and Caltrans. Vice Mayor David Plank said: “Our process isn’t any different than any other cities.” He said “there shouldn’t be any surprises for him. It’s all spelled out.” Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said: “I think the surprise was the cost.” She said she could see Smith’s point on some of his comments. Jordan said the Howard Properties project could be compared with permitting costs of Wildflower and Castle Oaks. Councilman Jim Ulm wanted the council “to sit on it for another meeting and let Tim comment.” In public comment, one man urged support, saying the city gets a lot more money on industrial projects than it gets on housing projects. Debbie Timmins of Howard Properties asked the council to table the issue to May, so Smith could speak. Kerr said she would analyze Smith’s, addressing the issues in a staff report, which she “will share with Tim.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.-
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Amador County – The Ione City Council on Tuesday discussed a letter from Howard Properties that stopped a 107-acre business project application, pending possible action by the council. The council also discussed an e-mail request by Howard Properties Resource Manager Tim Smith to postpone council discussion until he could attend. The city council obliged, placing the issue on its May 4th agenda. City Manager Kim Kerr said the e-mail sought a more productive dialog on the related issues. Kerr received the e-mail, addressed to Mayor Skip Schaufel, who was out of the office. Kerr responded that she would share the e-mail with the council. She also advised Smith that staff practice is to place correspondence on the agenda, which she did with Smith’s April 14th letter to the city council. The letter said Howard Properties had discontinued its 107-acre project application for Ione Business Park, asking the city for a partnership on environmental costs. Councilman Lee Ard said the $300 million company acts as though the city should be glad it wants to do a project, but he thought the company “should follow the law.” Ard called the issue a “sore spot for the majority of the city.” City Planner Christopher Jordan said staff asked Howard Properties for application information, and gave the company 3 pages of comments. Howard Properties also wanted a cost estimate on all work. That included city and state requirements, including California Environmental Quality Act. Area agencies reviewed the information, including Amador Water Agency, ACTC and Caltrans. Vice Mayor David Plank said: “Our process isn’t any different than any other cities.” He said “there shouldn’t be any surprises for him. It’s all spelled out.” Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said: “I think the surprise was the cost.” She said she could see Smith’s point on some of his comments. Jordan said the Howard Properties project could be compared with permitting costs of Wildflower and Castle Oaks. Councilman Jim Ulm wanted the council “to sit on it for another meeting and let Tim comment.” In public comment, one man urged support, saying the city gets a lot more money on industrial projects than it gets on housing projects. Debbie Timmins of Howard Properties asked the council to table the issue to May, so Smith could speak. Kerr said she would analyze Smith’s, addressing the issues in a staff report, which she “will share with Tim.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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