Amador County – Executive Director Charles Field said Tuesday that the Amador County Transportation Commission began with “a 3-page MOU and a handshake,” and now, “$5.8 Million dollars later,” it has growing pains. Member entity, the Ione City Council talked about ACTC’s future Tuesday, and decided to have a workshop to learn more about its possibly becoming a Joint Powers Authority or a Transportation Authority. Councilman Jim Ulm said he’s “been on ACTC for a few years. I’m glad I’m off of it. But it’s a good thing to pass along to the other council members. It gives you a good understanding.” City Manager Kim Kerr said “we’re still owed another public hearing.” Mayor Lee Ard thought ACTC should have an “operational audit,” so they can see “what it’s been doing since its inception,” so they become a “true transportation authority” and “build some credibility.” Councilman David Plank and Kerr both said they did not want ACTC having power over land decisions inside city limits. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said whether it stays an MOU or becomes a JPA or a Transportation Authority, she was “not sure everybody understands the role of ACTC.” Bonham suggested a workshop. Ard agreed and said he wanted a representative from ACTC there. Kerr said Field was the ideal person to do it. Supervisor Richard Forster said “this is a healthy discussion,” and ACTC’s board has been going over the same questions the last 8 or 9 months. He said the ACTC board did not know how much authority it should have. Questions included whether it should have the power to call ballot measures. If it had too much power, would a future board renig on duties? Forster said he doesn’t like Councils Of Governments, while Sutter Creek Councilman Tim Murphy likes COGs. And whenever Field gets an idea for ACTC, “he has to run to every member entity to get ideas passed.” Forster said ACTC “would like to actually run projects,” which are now led by Caltrans. One area of difference is environmental work, which Caltrans cannot do with a Negative Mitigated Declaration. ACTC has “encouraged a lot of projects, and delivered. The number is in the hundreds,” Forster said: Most were finished on time and under budget; “I think what (ACTC is) trying to do is evolve and become a better agency.” Kerr said she would plan a workshop on ACTC, likely presented by Field. Story by Jim Reece
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Amador County – Executive Director Charles Field said Tuesday that the Amador County Transportation Commission began with “a 3-page MOU and a handshake,” and now, “$5.8 Million dollars later,” it has growing pains. Member entity, the Ione City Council talked about ACTC’s future Tuesday, and decided to have a workshop to learn more about its possibly becoming a Joint Powers Authority or a Transportation Authority. Councilman Jim Ulm said he’s “been on ACTC for a few years. I’m glad I’m off of it. But it’s a good thing to pass along to the other council members. It gives you a good understanding.” City Manager Kim Kerr said “we’re still owed another public hearing.” Mayor Lee Ard thought ACTC should have an “operational audit,” so they can see “what it’s been doing since its inception,” so they become a “true transportation authority” and “build some credibility.” Councilman David Plank and Kerr both said they did not want ACTC having power over land decisions inside city limits. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said whether it stays an MOU or becomes a JPA or a Transportation Authority, she was “not sure everybody understands the role of ACTC.” Bonham suggested a workshop. Ard agreed and said he wanted a representative from ACTC there. Kerr said Field was the ideal person to do it. Supervisor Richard Forster said “this is a healthy discussion,” and ACTC’s board has been going over the same questions the last 8 or 9 months. He said the ACTC board did not know how much authority it should have. Questions included whether it should have the power to call ballot measures. If it had too much power, would a future board renig on duties? Forster said he doesn’t like Councils Of Governments, while Sutter Creek Councilman Tim Murphy likes COGs. And whenever Field gets an idea for ACTC, “he has to run to every member entity to get ideas passed.” Forster said ACTC “would like to actually run projects,” which are now led by Caltrans. One area of difference is environmental work, which Caltrans cannot do with a Negative Mitigated Declaration. ACTC has “encouraged a lot of projects, and delivered. The number is in the hundreds,” Forster said: Most were finished on time and under budget; “I think what (ACTC is) trying to do is evolve and become a better agency.” Kerr said she would plan a workshop on ACTC, likely presented by Field. Story by Jim Reece
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