News Archive (6192)
Amador
County – Chuck Iley officially became the new County Administrative Officer for
Iley most
recently served as the director of Developmental
Services in Clay County, Florida, a community of 185,000 residents.
The
Board of Supervisors said in a release Wednesday that “his responsibilities included managing the
operations of the Developmental Services department as well as the development
of all Capital Improvement Plan projects, including three bond-funded road
widening projects totaling approximately $85 million.”
Iley
is also an engineer and an AICP, APA certified planner with a master’s degree
in business administration from the
According
to Board of Supervisors Chairman Brain Oneto, Iley had worked in
Iley’s
starting salary was advertised at $132,165, but according to Kristin Bengyel,
interim CAO and acting director of Health Services, he will start at $118,949
due to current work week cutbacks agreed upon with union negotiators.
“All
input considered, Chuck seems to be a very level-headed, confident individual
and I look forward to working with him,” said Supervisor John Plasse shortly
after the hiring process concluded.
In response
to the Board’s decision, Iley stated, “I am honored that the Board of
Supervisors has placed their confidence in me to assist them in continuing to
tackle the important and difficult issues that face the County. I look forward
to working with the Board and the staff as we identify ways to continue to
improve our service to our residents and address the challenges that lie before
us.”
Council majority support pot dispensary ban in Sutter Creek
Written by Tom
Amador
County – The Sutter Creek City Council voted 4-1 Monday to repeal three city
ordinances that create zoning and other regulations for medical marijuana
dispensaries, while the majority voiced a preference to enact a ban in the
future.
City
Attorney Derek Cole said recent court rulings, including for “compassionate
use,” are changing the legal atmosphere.
He said a
District 4 Appeals Court ruling in
Cole said
the “area of law in medical marijuana is changing every day,” and in November,
after a statewide initiative on legalizing marijuana is closed at the polls, it
could be another change.
He said:
“What I say now may not be the same as what I say in six months, or a year.”
Councilwoman
Linda Rianda asked if they could prohibit marijuana dispensaries in the city.
Cole thought “there is a conflict with federal law, but the only court to rule
has said no.” Cole said repealing the city’s three medical marijuana zoning
ordinances would make city law “silent” on the issue. Then, if an application
for a dispensary came in, the council might have to make a ruling for
consistency’s sake.
He said
applicants may argue for similar uses in city zoning to determine an allowance
for a dispensary.
Planning Commissioner
Mike Kirkley said he was the only “no” vote in a 3-1 commission recommendation
to repeal the ordinances. Kirkley said if the city cannot have a moratorium,
the council should keep the current ordinance.
Commissioner
Robin Peters said the commission recommended repeal because attorneys advised
them that the ordinance was violating federal law, which now may not matter. He
said the commission also recommended the council make clear its stance on the
issue.
Cole said
he believed the commission and city council had the authority to be silent on
the issue, or to also ban marijuana dispensaries with city code. “I believe you
still have the policy authority to allow this use or not, even if you cannot
rely on federal law,” he said. “So far, public agencies have won up to the
appellate court.”
Peters said
“in light of what the attorney said, the basis for our recommendation is no
longer in place.” He said “if the council chooses to act on this, it should do
so without our recommendation.”
Story by
Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
LAFCO tells Ione to sign agreement with County before annexation continues
Written by Tom
Mayor Skip
Schaufel, a LAFCO board member, said commissioners, “at least three of them …
had absolutely no intention to move forward,” and “just flat didn’t have any
understanding.”
City
Planner Christopher Jordan said Plymouth City Councilman Jon Colburn asked for
an updated Municipal Services Review. Ione City Manager Kim Kerr said “no
specific reason” was given for the request.
Councilwoman
Andrea Bonham said the law does not require an agreement.
Kerr said
she was “very mad” at the meeting, and was surprised supervisors led the
stoppage. LAFCO also told her it will now do its own notification, after a
non-notification complaint, meaning the city must now pay twice for
notification.
Kerr said
if they try to get an agreement with the county, it “may not be to the level we
went to before,” which “was an attempt to try and address some of the concerns
that we might face moving forward.” Part of the agreement sought to require the
county to have certain zoning within the city’s “Sphere of Influence.”
Story by
Supes respond to findings in 2009-10 Grand Jury Report
Written by Tom
After some
revision, the board gave approval to an agenda item outlining responses to the
jury’s findings. Each finding includes a response from the department head and the
supervisors.
In his
response, Animal Control Director John Vail disagreed with four of the jury’s
findings.
The Grand Jury said “in cases of stray or
wandering animals and nuisance complaints…adequate documentation of dates and
times is needed to identify habitual offenders.” The report said offenses must
be witnessed by an ACAC Officer. Vail disagreed partially with this finding,
writing in response that not all offenses must be witnessed by an ACAC Officer,
and some reports may first be filed with the District Attorney.
The Grand
Jury also said many of the department’s policies have been modified and are not
contained in writing in the agreements at the General Services Administration
office. Vail disagreed, writing the “agreements have not been modified,” but
“some agreements may be expired and do need to be renegotiated.”
The report
said County leash laws are defined by California Government Code” and “ACAC can
only seize or impound a dog or issue citations if a dog is on property other
than that owned by its owner or the person who has the right to control the
dog.” Vail said California Government Code “does not define County leash laws,”
but “does prescribe actions that may or may not be taken by Animal Control
Officers.”
Jon
Hopkins, General Services Administration Director, said he agrees with some of
the findings, but he has seen “many Grand Jury reports” over the years and they
are “not always accurate.”
Martha
Shaver,
Supervisors
agreed with all of the responses made by Vail.
The Grand
Jury also found some services provided by the Amador County Detention Facility
to be inadequate because of overcrowding, a lack of proper funding and
antiquated equipment. Most findings on this and other departments were
positive.
In a letter
of response to Judge Susan Harlan, who oversaw the grand jurors, Chairman Brian
Oneto said “the report reflects a tremendous amount of effort on behalf of the
grand jurors.”
Supervisors
unanimously approved their response to the findings.
Supervisors
John Plasse and Ted Novelli were absent.
Story by
Sutter Creek eases sign ordinance after pol sign pulled
Written by Tom
Amador
County – The Sutter Creek City Council voted 4-0 with one abstention Monday to
give acting City Manager Sean Rabe the power to enforce or not enforce the
city’s sign ordinance, after complaints that the Sutter Creek Police Department
removed political signs from downtown sidewalks last week.
All of the
signs removed promoted Councilwoman Linda Rianda’s reelection, and were removed
from planter boxes on
One woman
during public comment asked how a complaint by Bart Weatherly, also a candidate
in the Sutter Creek City Council race, could lead to such quick action to
remove the signs. Rabe said he was absent and getting his wisdom teeth pulled
when the complaint came in, saying Rianda’s signs were in the city right-of-way.
The officer on duty asked city staff’s opinion, and determined a city
right-of-way was not a proper place for the signs.
Rabe said
he and City Attorney Derek Cole found First Amendment issues with the city sign
ordinance, and asked the council to “direct staff to suspend enforcement of
that ordinance.” The council agreed, also allowing for removal of signs for
public safety reasons, and from all city property. The council gave the city
manager sole power to remove signs.
Rianda
asked for clarification on whether the sidewalks were city property, and said
she did not intend to put her signs on city property. She asked that if the
signs could be left in the planters if they don’t impede the right-of-way.
Rabe said planters on
Cole said
the only way the city can restrict signs is to outlaw all signs, or issue
encroachment permits. He said the city sign ordinance limiting signs to 2- by
2-foot at residences “violates the First Amendment,” which guarantees freedom
of speech.
Councilman
Pat Crosby said they should follow Caltrans’ lead, regulating all signs with
encroachment permits. He said he did not see a First Amendment issue.
Councilwoman
Sandra Anderson said signs were not always placed by the candidate. And she
disagreed with encroachment permitting, saying: “Let’s not do what Caltrans
does.”
Planning
Commissioner Robin Peters said the commission had the same conversation a week
ago, and he urged the city council to bring the city sign ordinance “into the
modern era.” He said the best idea would be to not enforce the ordinance until
after the November 2nd election, then readdress the issue without
the pressure of politics.
Story by
Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Kirkwood announces record profits for 2009-10 fiscal year
Written by Tom
Amador County - Despite being in the middle of one of the worst economic recessions in our nation’s history, Kirkwood Mountain Resort recently announced record profits for the 2009-10 fiscal year. The resort, located within the eastern border of Amador County, reported last week that net profits were 25 percent higher than any previous year in its history. This marks the second year in row that the resort saw a 50 percent gain in profitability. Julie Koster, Kirkwood Director of Sales and Marketing, said in a release that “operating results were buoyed by a strong winter performance along with a noticeable increase in summer revenues.” Also last fiscal year, Kirkwood’s real estate sales exceeded the three prior years combined nearing over $30 million in finished products. “We are extremely pleased with the results from last year,” commented David Likins, CEO of Mountainspings Kirkwood LLC and Kirkwood Mountain Resort. “This level of performance clearly demonstrates what we have understood all along – namely that skiing provides such a great family value that it will not only survive but even thrive in the face of the very challenging macroeconomic climate gripping California today.” A recent report from Ski Lake Tahoe, a marketing cooperative consisting of the seven major ski resorts in the region, indicated a 17 percent increase in skier visitation last season. The National Ski Area Association announced that the 2009-10 winter season was the second busiest on record. “Kirkwood managed to stay out in front of the economic downturn in late 2008 through its innovative mid-season vacation packages and discounted pass programs, both of which yielded strong results,” said Likins. “The resort plans to continue to find ways to offer added value for its guests along with ushering in a number of off-season improvements both on and off the mountain.” This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. AWA Finance, PR committees to take different angles on GSL task
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency set an October 7th workshop to go through a list of conditions it will have to meet to get a federal loan and grant for its Gravity Supply Line project, proposed for upcountry in the Central Amador Water Project service area. The AWA board of directors on September 7th tabled a discussion of conditions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the AWA’s grant for $5 million and an $8 million loan. Top on the USDA list was “reserves,” which was among 10 items listed as to be completed if approval is issued. Vice President Debbie Dunn asked about the make up of the reserves, and how soon the agency would have reserves sufficient to do the project. She also asked about permits, which listed a zero for cost, so she assumed it would cost them “zero dollars.” Engineering Manager Erik Christeson said some fees were already paid, while others, like county permitting, would be a percentage based on the winning bid amount. Dunn complained about staff not giving enough information, and said it was “the third time we requested a road map to get through these conditions.” General Manager Gene Mancebo said it would help to be clear about what they wanted to have more detail about. President Bill Condrashoff cut off the discussion, and said he would rather not go through the list because it did not show enough detail. Director Don Cooper of District 3 said last week that the overall time frame is 12 months to meet all conditions of the USDA. He said two board committees would be handling separate areas of the GSL. It will include a new financial plan, worked on by the finance committee, of which Cooper is a member. And last week Dunn’s public relations committee started work on the “public education and communications plan” for the GSL. The finance committee starts on the financial plan October 6th. Cooper said the communications plan is about “being able to educate customers in such a way that we’re not really marketing or selling them on one alternative or the other.” It will look at building new pump stations or building the GSL, presented “so that neither one has a sales pitch on it.” He said it will “eventually have to include financial aspects,” but the “communication plan at this juncture is kind of separate from the financial plan.” He said the financial plan likely would not come out before the end of year. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
Amador County – Staff this week will update the Ione City Council on changes recommended to plans for the city’s proposed wastewater plant, including urging the city to move closer to the designing stage. California Regional Water Quality Control Board sent letters in June and August regarding a cease and desist order and related “Report of Waste Discharge” the state found to be incomplete. Concerns included the need for “an engineering or geotechnical analysis, and a groundwater model demonstrating that percolation from the proposed ponds will not impact surface water quality.” The city proposes closing storage ponds 1-3, partially filling ponds 5 and 6, and building a new Pond 8. The letter in June said the “proposed Pond 8 will potentially cause flooding” because its design “would raise groundwater levels further at the city wastewater treatment plant site and in surrounding areas,” potentially raising the groundwater level by as much as two feet. The letter said “Pond 8 would increase risks of spillage or surfacing on-site due to percolation of treated effluent.” It said the site was not ideal for the pond as designed. The letter said seepage has been shown to enter Sutter Creek from ponds 5 and 6. Senior Water Resource Control Engineer Ann Olson in an August letter said as of August 16th, the “maximum liability for the failure to submit a (Report of Waste Discharge)” by the city – at $5,000 per day since the 2003 infraction – was $4.4 million. Olson said staff will not recommend issuance of a civil liability complaint if the agency receives a Report of Waste Discharge by October 1st, including all information requested in June. City Manager Kim Kerr in a report for the city council’s meeting today (September 21st) said the city council approved a contract with Condor Earth Technologies for $17,500 to make the “groundwater modeling study to address issues raised by the Regional Board regarding the proposed Pond 8 site and rainfall accumulation.” Kerr said the “Regional Board visited the wastewater treatment plant on September 8th and focused on the possible seepage along Sutter Creek.” Kerr said wastewater engineer Bob Godwin, city engineer John Wanger and regional board staff “inspected the Sutter Creek bank for seepage and none was observed.” They also visited the Pond 8 proposed site. A “Request for Proposals” continues with the city trying to find a company to design, build, finance and operate the proposed new tertiary-level wastewater treatment plant, as a solution to the cease and desist order. Kerr noted that the RFP’s are due September 28th. She also noted that two companies had withdrawn interest in submitting proposals. They are Auburn Construction and Tiechert Construction of Sacramento. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
Amador County – The Ione Police Department turned a traffic stop last week into felony arrests for possession and transportation of methamphetamine and heroin by two local men. Chief Michael Johnson said a “proactive enforcement stop” by the Ione police “spoiled the weekend for two local felons in possession of methamphetamine and heroin.” Johnson said that an IPD officer’s “keen observations and subsequent traffic enforcement stop” led to the arrest of two men at about 5:30 p.m. Friday, September 17th. A parolee Timothy Mitchell, 50, and Sean Tatum, 26, were booked into the Amador County Jail on charges related to transportation and possession of narcotics. Johnson said: “Upon conducting the traffic stop the IPD officer immediately recognized both occupants of the vehicle from prior law enforcement contacts.” Mitchell, a passenger in the vehicle had an outstanding misdemeanor drug-related warrant for his arrest. Mitchell was placed into custody immediately and was found to have drug paraphernalia on his person. An Amador County Sheriff”s Office K-9 deputy arrived at the scene to back up the IPD officer, and the K-9 officer and his partner conducted a search of the vehicle. Johnson said the “K-9 alerted on locations within the interior of the car.” He said syringes loaded with suspected methamphetamine and a baggy containing suspected heroin were recovered in the search. Tatum, who was driving the vehicle, was placed in custody. The vehicle was towed from the scene and both men were booked into jail on the drug related charges. Johnson said the investigation showed another example of the “cooperation between law enforcement agencies” in the “continued effort to protect and serve the interest of the Amador County community.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
