Amador County – The Ione Recreation Commission will see the “Conservation & Open Space” and also “Circulation” Elements of the city’s General Plan update today. Staff reports to the commission this week included a memo from Daniel Hamilton of Pacific Municipal Consultants, and a summary of the elements, along with drafts of each. The Conservation and Open Space document includes a Vision Statement, Related Plans and its relationship to other elements, along with goals, policies and action items. Hamilton said the major issues covered “include agriculture, air quality, flooding, land reclamation, land use, minerals, recreation, scenic resources, soil conservation, a trails system, water supply, and wildlife.” Hamilton said the element included “policies to create a trails system throughout Ione, preserve creeks and wetland areas, protect environmentally sensitive areas and biological resources, and protect water quality.” The element contains “Major Policies of Interest,” which Hamilton said “are among the areas most discussed by the Executive Committee, Planning Commission, and City Council,” in their work on the Conservation and Open Space Element. Policy includes coordination “with relevant State and local agencies, property owners, and local interest groups to restore, enhance, and preserve creeks in and around the city of Ione.” The policy says that “Public and private projects shall be required to avoid impacts to wetlands if feasible. If avoidance is not feasible, projects shall achieve no net loss of wetlands, consistent with state and federal regulations.” Actions include requiring “setbacks and buffers for all development within areas containing wetlands or for development which will occur adjacent to wetlands or waterways.” City Manager Kim Kerr reported that the “General Plan is proceeding to be completed on time in August,” and “staff wanted to provide copies of relevant elements, such as Circulation and Conservation and Open Space, for review and comment by commissioners.” She said “commissioners should provide any comments they have so (staff) can ensure that they get incorporated. The elements are preliminary draft plans that will be going through the approval process in the next few months, but staff wanted to allow the commissioners the time to review and comment. The commission – made up of Russell Baldwin, Rosemary Johnson, Mark Lively, Laurie Lord and Fraser West – also is likely to select a new chair and vice chair for the upcoming year. The Rec Commission meets at 6 p.m. today at Ione City Hall. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.