Amador County – The Plymouth City Council last month discussed the handling of agricultural policy and land use, with a developer suggesting case-by-case work. The council also heard that Amador County Ag Commissioner Mike Boitano wanted Plymouth officials to talk to property owners if they set agriculture land use policy, because he had not heard of such developments in Plymouth. City Planner Paula Daneluk said the planning department notified the county ag office by letter of its General Plan works, including land use designations. City Clerk Gloria Stoddard said Boitano “wasn’t going to say his office didn’t get” the letter, “but he wasn’t aware of it.” Vice Mayor Greg Baldwin said “if the city planners can produce a registered letter” proving notification, “then we can get on with it.” The city council will continue a public hearing on the General Plan update and Environmental Impact Report Thursday night. In public comment “on the Boitano issue, developer Stephanie McNair said: “there’s no one boiler plate solution to deal with” agricultural land “buffer zones.” She said the General Plan says they must deal with zone differences among different projects. McNair said: “I will have ag projects adjacent to developments,” and “different ag users have different ideas for buffer areas.” City Manager Dixon Flynn said Ag Commissioner Boitano mentioned “the very same thing” and said “we have to do this land-owner by land-owner.” McNair said she has done that “personally” with both ag owners her developments would share borders with in Plymouth, who both want secure fencing as a buffer. She said Jackson set a “300-foot buffer,” then when in place, a question arose of who keeps the fire risk down in those zones. The council returns to the General Plan public hearing 6:30 p.m. Thursday. In July committee reports, Plymouth Councilwoman Pat Fordyce said the Amador Fire Protection Association meeting included talk of hiring a consultant to help handle state sales tax revenue from Measure M. She said a consultant bid $38,000, while the AFPA has already received $400,000 in sales tax. Mayor Jon Colburn asked if there was talk of a county-wide fire department, but Fordyce said it was not at that meeting. She said there was some concern by Butch Martin over spending money to buy equipment. Councilman Mike O’Meara said he wanted a future agenda item to consider passing a city council resolution supporting the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and the private ownership of guns by private citizens. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.